Millions have heard a gospel “about” Jesus Christ, but they have NEVER HEARD the gospel HE BROUGHT to this earth, and delivered to His disciples! Jesus Christ came preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom of God.” Few know WHAT He preached! As shocking as it may sound; as INCREDIBLE as it may seem, millions of professing Christians have NEVER HEARD the real Gospel!

How many times have you heard it? “If you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, you may be saved!” Thousands of times, in hundreds of radio and television programs each Sunday, and in thousands of pulpits across the land, people hear a story ABOUT THE PERSON of Jesus!

They hear His name praised; they hear about how He died to save sinners. All this is TRUE, of course, and there is nothing whatsoever wrong with telling ABOUT Jesus Christ, so long as you do not completely ignore the message He delivered to His disciples —the message He commanded them to proclaim and publish to all the world!

As astonishing as it sounds—millions of professing Christians who “BELIEVE ON” Christ (they really do!) have NEVER HEARD the message He BROUGHT!

Suppose you were expecting a message from a relative about an inheritance. Suppose a bicycle-riding Western Union telegraph boy came to your door, waving a yellow slip of paper in his hand. You then began to exclaim about what a “clean-cut, nice-looking young man” he was; commenting on his neat hair cut, and his clean and pressed uniform. You noticed how he had combed his hair, and that his nails were clean. You congratulated him on his mild, gentle manner. Then, you couldn’t WAIT to tell all your friends about the “nicest young messenger boy” you had ever met; what a fine example of a hard-working young American man he was!

But you utterly neglected to ask him about the MESSAGE he had come to deliver; a message that said a new and different GOVERNMENT would soon be set up; a message that said you were an HEIR to a FORTUNE BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS!

Wouldn’t you say such a scenario would be RIDICULOUS?

Why is it, then, that you have heard endless, repetitive stories about the MESSENGER who came to deliver a message, but have never heard the MESSAGE He brought? Like the familiar old hymn, “Tell Me The Old, Old Story,” the “gospel” millions have heard seems to them something old, something ancient. Those who believe they are hearing the “gospel” from radio and television preachers, or from the pulpits of local churches, hear about “Jesus and His love” again and again. They believe they are hearing a very old story; something that took place about two thousand long years ago.

Far from being only the story about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, the gospel is the message He brought; the astonishing GOOD NEWS He painstakingly taught His disciples; the HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT He commissioned them to take to all the world!

Believe it or not, the gospel Jesus Christ preached has to do with our day, now, and with the immediate future. The word “gospel” itself conveys afuturistic message; a description of the world in the next century, and on into the future for all eternity.

The good news Christ delivered includes the answers to the most perplexing questions confronting mankind: who are we, what are we, WHY are we here? Are we a conscious “soul” inside of an aging body; a “soul” which lives on consciously after the body dies? Do we live on a soul factory, where thousands of “souls” are coming into existence each day all over the world, as other thousands, whose bodies have died, are flitting up to heaven, or going down to “hell”?

Is God like an “absentee Landlord,” who set all this in motion, and then departed into the “great beyond,” or the great somewhere “up there,” having delegated to “St. Peter at the pearly gates” the task of welcoming incoming souls, while the devil dances with glee as he welcomes those who descend to “hell”?

The Good News About The Kingdom

If I were to write about the Kingdom of Great Britain, or the Kingdom of Holland, or the Kingdom of Jordan, you would know immediately that I am writing about a GOVERNMENT; a specific country, or empire; a king or queen; a system of law; subjects who live in that kingdom, and who are subject to that royal throne.

But instantly, when I speak of the “Kingdom of God,” it is as if the mind goes “tilt”! Suddenly, all is ethereal, vague, nebulous, “other-worldly,” spiritual, mystical, UNREAL! To most, the expression “Kingdom of [not “in”] Heaven,” as Matthew alone, among the gospel writers, expressed it, or the “Kingdom of God,” as Mark, Luke and John expressed it, is not real, but imaginary; fantastic; something that belongs in the realm of the surreal.

Few know WHY that is! There is a reason, however, and the reason involves a deliberate plot to obfuscate, pervert and distort the message Christ brought to this earth into a completely different message—”another gospel,” which is NOT the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

God’s Word reveals that a great arch-demon, called Satan, has deceived all nations with lies and impenetrable “mysteries,” thus wholly obscuring the clear, plain TRUTH of the gospel! God says, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9).

If you are a nominal Christian; Catholic or Protestant, you firmly believe that all Hindus are deceived! You believe Shintoists, Animists, Confucianists, Buddhists, and Orthodox Jews are deceived. Catholics believe Protestants are deceived, and Protestants believe Catholics are deceived. The point is, most people are willing to concede that a deceivedperson is a sincere person; that deception has nothing to do with honesty, integrity, or moral values.

To believe that another is deceived is to believe they are sincerely mistaken, not that they are a bad person. Notice! Paul wrote how he had not resorted to clever trickery or deception, as he preached the truth to the people in Corinth, but that he had “…renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

“In whom the god of this world [Satan!] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:2-4). The expression “are lost” is in the present progressive, or aorist tense in the Greek, and means “are being” lost.

Millions are deceived! They are spiritually blinded to the truth. Christ Himself said, in answer to His disciple’s query about His habit of speaking to the crowds in puzzles, “Therefore speak I to them in parables [puzzles; conundrums]: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

“And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15).

This plain statement of Christ is almost NEVER quoted from the pulpits of Catholic and Protestant churches. Why? Because it flies directly in the face of the underlying belief of all evangelicals; the underlying premise upon which they base their “old, old story” about Jesus! They mistakenly assume Christ tried to convert everyone He could. They assume He never turned anyone away; that he was trying to “get the world saved” during His 33 and one-half years on earth. Not so. Even His own disciples did not understand until AFTER the day of Pentecost, when they were imbued with the Holy Spirit.

Just prior to that stupendous event, they saw Jesus Christ for the last time on earth. He had appeared to them many, many times over the span of a month and ten days. Notice the account, “To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:2-8).

Notice that His disciples asked about the restoration of an Israelitish nation; the KINGDOM OF ISRAEL! They had no idea of a globe-girdling kingdom which would encompass all nations. They expected the restoration of the kind of greatness Israel had enjoyed before the death of Solomon—a kind of greater Davidian or Solomonic kingdom, extending from modern-day Syria to the Tigris/Euphrates River, to the Nile Delta.

For years, Christ’s disciples believed He would set up His kingdom THEN AND THERE! Many, many incidents during His three and one-half year ministry convinced them of it; at the feeding of the four and five thousand; at the overthrow of the moneychangers in the Temple; at the triumphal entry into Jerusalem; they believed He would cause a popular uprising, overthrow the corrupt Sanhedrin, expel the Roman occupying forces, and mount a throne. It was not until the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that they began to perceive the truly world-wide scope of their calling. Even then, they believed His kingdom; His earthly government, would be set up within their own lifetimes!

Even Paul thought so. He wrote, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52). Paul said “we,” including himself and those who worked with him, as well as the brethren in Corinth.

We tend to think in terms of “then and there” when we read the Bible. The Protestant and Catholic churches have tended to make the “old, old story” an ancient one; a musty, dusty, “story” that belongs to the distant past—two thousand and more years ago. But you and I know we are living in the “here and now.” The trouble is, we rarely apply the scriptures in the same sense; realizing that the apostles were living in the “here and now” so far as their daily lives were concerned.

NEVER did Paul, Peter, John, Luke, or any of the New Testament writers believe they would all die—molder in their graves— while century after century passed; while the 4^th, and the 7^th, and the 13^th, and the 19^thcenturies dragged slowly on. NEVER did they realize that Christ would NOT return to this earth until early in the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY!

Think how cruel it would have been had they known! Such knowledge would hardly have been calculated to inspire zeal, enthusiasm; an urgent zest for doing the work of God! Instead, it would have led to defeatism!

However, insofar as their lives were concerned, since they have been lying in their graves absolutely oblivious to the passage of time, the resurrection will occur, just as Paul said it would, and, in a “moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (so far as their consciousness is concerned) they will be in the Kingdom of God!

These men were, indeed, “young revolutionaries.” Just like millions in ages past; and so many today, who form cliques, parties, bands, militia, groups, juntas, clubs or gangs; just like misguided organizations who seek to overthrow incumbent governments, they believed they were part of something which would SET UP A NEW AND DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT very soon in their own lifetimes!

Their question, quoted above from Acts 1, absolutely proves it!

They did not ask about the centuries to come. They did not ask about far off lands; about Britain, or Spain, or Africa—they asked only about restoring the kingdom (government) to ISRAEL; to their native land.

Paul’s Message Was About The Kingdom of God

The apostle Paul continually preached about the KINGDOM OF GOD! Not only this, he preached the gospel of the kingdom from the Old Testament, which constituted the only scriptures extant during his day.

Christ had set the stage for exactly this kind of preaching when He instructed His disciples. Luke wrote of how the women and the disciples were reluctant to believe Christ had been resurrected, and how He expounded to them FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT all the scriptures about Himself; about His great eternal past; about His impending suffering, death, burial and resurrection; about His glorious second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Have you ever gone to church, and heard a modern-day preacher PREACH CHRIST exclusively from the OLD TESTAMENT? Christ did! Paul did! Peter did! John did! All the apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers of the New Testament church did!

They did not possess a single scrap of the “New Testament” of the Bible until Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in about 52 AD. By no stretch of the imagination did they attach the importance of “inspired scripture” to Paul’s letter! Furthermore none of the other apostles were ever aware of such a letter, and very likely, not a single one of them ever read it! Yet, 1 Thessalonians, together with Matthew’s book of the gospel, comprise the first two pieces of New Testament literature!

Notice a few examples of some of the scriptures Christ used when He expounded to them about Himself: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6, 7).

This prophecy about Christ was NOT “the first Noel,” or a beddy-by story about a “Little Lord Jesus.” It was NOT a syrupy, sweet, sentimental story ABOUT THE PERSON of Christ, but about His awesome POWER; about His great COMMISSION; about who He was; what He was; why He came; what He taught; why He died; why He was resurrected, and the fact that He is going to return to this earth at the head of millions of CONQUERING ANGELS to set up His WORLD-RULING GOVERNMENT!

Notice how Paul continually emphasized the Kingdom of God! “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).

Just as Christ had expounded to His disciples about His great mission on this earth from the “law of Moses,” or the first five books of the Bible, as well as from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and all the other prophetic books, so all the apostles did the same. Remember, these were the only “sacred books,” or “Holy Scriptures” extant at the time!

Under house arrest, awaiting trial before Caesar, Paul remained steadfast to his calling. Notice, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:31). Luke deliberately chose this phrase to close his lengthy treatise to his friend, Theophilus. These words were written in the latter 60’s AD, or about thirty years after the resurrection.

What Is A Kingdom?

As mentioned previously, none of us have any problem understanding when we speak of the “Kingdom of Great Britain.” Yet, when one speaks of the “Kingdom of God,” it seems all the spiritual deception and confusion comes into play. Not one out of ten thousand church-going professing Christians truly believe in, or expect, the establishment of a new world order under Jesus Christ right on this good, green earth!

Instead, they think of “going to heaven.”

But such is sheer nonsense, and will not stand the test of inspired scripture.

To constitute a kingdom, there must be a KING. The KING of His Kingdom, soon to be established on this earth, is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Remember the scripture in Isaiah 9 quoted above. Now, notice what Christ said to Pilate, when He was on trial for His life: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:36, 37).

The Greek word “world” comes from the word cosmos, meaning “society,” or the worldly system. Notice Christ said His kingdom was not a part of “this world” THEN!

Now, notice John’s description of Christ at His second coming, as He vanquishes the armies of the Beast power which will fight His return: “These [the armies of the Beast] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

Now, notice the description of Christ’s second coming: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

How can ANY professing Christian doubt the plain meaning of this tumultuous, awesome prophecy? Christ is COMING BACK TO EARTH to RULE it with a rod of iron!

The KING of His Kingdom is Jesus Christ! The “good news of the coming government of God” is the same thing as “The gospel of the Kingdom of God.” It is not vague, nebulous, ethereal nonsense, but a powerful advance message about a super, world-ruling government!

A Kingdom Must Have Territory

The kingdom of Great Britain is no longer the “British Empire,” as it once was, but today is called “the United Kingdom.” It includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. A king rules over TERRITORY!

Christ’s Kingdom is not a nebulous “kingdom” in the “heavens,” as many imagine it to be. Instead, it is to be set up HERE on this earth!

Notice the prophecy of the archangel Gabriel to Mary, announcing the coming birth of the Savior of all mankind: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Where is David’s throne? It is here, on this earth! Notice how God sent Nathan to confirm an unconditional promise to David of a perpetual earthly throne: “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

“And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

“Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

“And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

“He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

“But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

“And thine house [lineage; seed] and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:8-16). With some of his last words uttered on earth, David said, “…yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant…” (2 Samuel 23:5).

For an in-depth study of the perpetual covenant God made with David, and the astonishing TRUTH about the identity of the British Royal Family and the British people, as well as the identity of the United States in Bible prophecy, write or call immediately for your copy of Europe and America in Prophecy.

God promised David his EARTHLY throne would never cease! Christ is returning to this earth to inherit an EARTHLY throne! Notice how John saw, in vision, the very throne of God descending FROM heaven down to THIS EARTH: “And 1 John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:2-4).

THIS EARTH is the territory which will be ruled by Jesus Christ and His resurrected saints, who will then be BORN of God; changed instantaneously into SPIRIT BEINGS (1 Corinthians 15:50-52). Notice it: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations [nations of human beings are on this earth, not up in heaven!]:

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26).

Jesus Christ continually spoke to His disciples of an EARTHLY kingdom to come. Notice His parable of the young nobleman: “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

“And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

“Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

“And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

“And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

“And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

“And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

“For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

“And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

“Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

“And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

“(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

“For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him” (Luke 19:12-27).

Christ is the young nobleman. The “far country” depicts heaven. His servants are given sums of money, analogous to talents and abilities; responsibilities and callings. Each is given responsibility according to his own natural ability. Notice that the reward is RULERSHIP over CITIES! Notice that Christ continually emphasized HIS RETURN to THIS EARTH—the servants did not go up to heaven!

As the saints cry out, Thou “…hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth“(Revelation 5:9, 10).

Read the entire chapter of Isaiah 11, which depicts conditions to become extant ON THIS EARTH during the millennial reign of Christ. Here are a few excerpts: “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

“And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

“And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ [adder’s] den.

“They [ravenous beasts; predators; poisonous snakes] shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:4-9).

Later, God says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands [coastlands: margin] of the sea.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble theoutcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from thefour corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11, 12).

Can anything be plainer? Again and again, in entire chapters of the Bible, we are told that Jesus Christ is going to RETURN TO THIS EARTH to rule it with a rod of iron for 1,000 years! Notice! “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle [this is the great battle depicted also in Revelation 19, at the time of the second coming of Christ].

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3, 4).

Now, notice the prophecy about His disciples and His saints: “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

“That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29, 30). These words were spoken by Jesus Christ during His famous “Last Supper,” when some of His disciples began arguing about who would be the “greatest” in His kingdom. Remember, they expected Him to set up His earthly government THEN AND THERE. They had no idea more than two thousand years would transpire before this prophecy would be fulfilled.

Christ, then, is the KING over His coming kingdom, and the TERRITORY over which He will rule is THIS GOOD, GREEN EARTH!

As an aside, there are many tens of thousands of Sabbath-keeping people who believe the earth will be totally “desolate” during the Millennium; believing that the saints will be “up in heaven” during that time, while Satan wanders about the “desolate earth” in violent rage.

They believe this because of a deliberate, calculated distortion of Scripture by a woman some of them held to be a “prophetess.” But God’s Word says, “If they speak NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD it is because there is no light in them.”

The pivotal scripture used by the lady in one of her major books is Isaiah 24. If you were to compare this chapter with the lady’s prophetic book about The Great Controversy, you would find one of the all-time classic examples of deliberate wresting of Scripture in order to make it say something it does NOT say, or to OMIT the portions which directly contradicted her theory! You need to read the entire chapter slowly and carefully! It declares God’s judgments upon the land of Israel, as well as other nations. Notice especially verses 3 through 6, which read as follows (I will include the numbers of the verses for your reference): “3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

“4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

“5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

“6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

Now, notice the same passage, with the portions highlighted in bold, which the would-be prophetess DELIBERATELY OMITTED in her attempt to prove a “desolate earth” theory:

“3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

“4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

“5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

“6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left”

Would YOU deliberately omit the words highlighted in bold type above? They include such phrases as “…the haughty people of the earth do languish,” and, “The earth is defiled UNDER THE INHABITANTS thereof,” and “…FEW MEN LEFT!”

Notice a few more verses from this same chapter, which were deliberately omitted by the would-be prophetess: “13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

“14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

“17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

“21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

“22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.”

This is most embarrassing, to see how someone would deliberately OMIT statement after statement in the sacred Word of God in order to cling to an assumed notion, and deceive readers! It is true that Isaiah 24 is a powerful and horrifying witness against God’s people Israel; that it shows great loss of life and destruction. But it does NOT show a “desolate earth” without a single inhabitant, and it does NOT show saints “in heaven” for 1,000 years!

How utterly DISHONEST it would be to place a period where a comma appears in your Bible, as in the case of verse six, where the lady ended her quotation with the word “burned” and OMITTED the phrase “…and few men left!” Did you notice the three little dots between the first quotation marks and the word “and?” Honesty in journalism REQUIRES those little dots to be inserted, which indicates to the reader that some preceding or succeeding words have been omitted. The three dots invite the reader to turn to the source of the quotation, and see what went before, or came after. To omit them is to pretend the remainder of the verse does not exist.

Now, notice the final capstone of the whole chapter, which refers to the heavenly signs (Revelation 6) to appear just before the Day of the Lord and the second coming of Christ: “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously” (Isaiah 24:23).

The Great Tribulation occurs BEFORE the heavenly signs, and the heavenly signs occur BEFORE the Day of the Lord. Notice the proof: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:31). “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).

Therefore, the great events depicted in Daniel and the book of Revelation occur in the following order: (1) The GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21, 22); (2) The HEAVENLY SIGNS (Rev. 6; Joel 2:31); (3) The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1; Revelation 16).

God’s Word issues stern warnings against either adding to it, or taking from it. It is a GREAT SIN to deliberately TWIST SCRIPTURE.

Read again all the scriptures in this section which absolutely PROVE, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ will set up His Kingdom ON THIS EARTH, and rule over the nations for 1,000 years with His reborn saints!

A Kingdom Requires Subjects Living Within The Kingdom

Time and time again, we have seen references to the SUBJECTS who will be within the TERRITORY ruled by Christ and His reborn saints. Many of the scriptures quoted above not only include statements about the EARTH being the realm of Christ’s Kingdom, but include statements about Israel, Judah, and many, many other nations.

Notice a few more references as to the SUBJECTS of the kingdom: “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time [the first time was when He delivered them from Egypt] to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah [called the diaspora]from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:10-12).

Now, notice how ALL NATIONS will be forced to recognize the new, world-ruling government of God: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

“But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

“For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:1-5).

Clearly, this is describing the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ! It speaks of “MANY PEOPLE,” and “STRONG NATIONS,” not of “heaven,” nor of a “desolate earth!”

A parallel passage is found in Isaiah 2: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house [symbol for Christ’s new world-governing capital in Jerusalem]; shall be established in the top of the mountains [biblical symbol for nations; governments], and shall be exalted above the hills [lesser nations or governments]; and all nationsshall flow unto it.

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Today, a black veil of ignorance and superstition blankets the minds of tens of millions. Satan has deceived all nations (Revelation 12:9). Only a precious FEW truly understand the great purpose and plan of God. As we have seen, Christ spoke to the masses in puzzles, riddles, and “parables.” When His disciples asked Him about it, He quoted a passage from Isaiah the 6^th chapter, which says, “And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

“Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate…” (Isaiah 6:9-11).

The blanket of ignorance and deception will remain in place until AFTER the intervention of God in human affairs.

Perplexed by this prophecy, Isaiah asked, “Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

“And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

“But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof” Isaiah 6:11-13). This strongly implies there will be only TEN PERCENT of God’s people Israel left ALIVE by the time of the second coming of Christ.

A “tithe” of God’s people will be gathered, and settled on their “old estates”; Americans to America; Britons to Britain; Canadians to Canada; Australians to Australia. Notice the description of this time: “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

“For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:

“And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:

“And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:8-11).

The expression “ye shall know that I am the Eternal” (from YHVH, or Jehovah) does not apply today, for MILLIONS do not truly know the Eternal, and they DO NOT KNOW that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the member of the Godhead who said “Let there be light,” or who said, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Genesis 2:26 with John 1).

Notice how God shows the regathering of His people to their “old estates” in the beginning of the Millennium will result in their spiritual CONVERSION: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” [symbol of baptism, and the “washing of water by the word”].

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

“And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:24-28). Notice which kinds of LAWS will govern all the nations of the world when Christ sets up His millennial rule.

A Kingdom Requires A System Of LAW

Read again the thundering pronouncements of God through Isaiah (Isaiah 2) and Micah (Micah 4); how the LAW SHALL GO FORTH OUT OF ZION!

The “law of the land” for the whole world will be the TEN COMMANDMENTS, as magnified by Jesus Christ in His famous “Sermon on the Mount.”

There will be no further arguments, then. No bickering, arguing, debating, reasoning among men who strive to use the Bible to DO AWAY with God’s laws because they HATE THE SABBATH! Then, they will be FORCED to obey, and the penalty for sin will be imposed swiftly, and sternly, if men refuse to repent!

Now, notice how not only the WEEKLY SABBATH will be ENFORCED upon mankind during Christ’s government, but also the ANNUAL Sabbaths will be kept!

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

“This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19). It does not matter who a person is; it does not matter their race, color, language, or religion, they WILL BE KEEPING THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES in Christ’s world-ruling government.

Notice what God says about His weekly Sabbath: “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:23, 24). This horrifying picture describes the bodies of those who have broken God’s laws; who have resisted Christ at His coming. The expression “their worm shall not die” refers to maggots, feasting on rotting human flesh, which do not die, but become newly-hatched flies.

Notwithstanding the clever attempts to do away with God’s Ten Commandments by thousands of theologians who teach that Christ “nailed it all to His cross,” there is simply no getting around the fact that these Old Testament scriptures are plainly referring to God’s Ten Commandments; His weekly Sabbath (the fourth commandment), and His annual Sabbaths!

Review what you read earlier, from Isaiah 2 and Micah 4; how “THE LAW shall go forth from Zion!” By no remote stretch of the imagination does this mean anything but the holy, righteous TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD!

Notice some of the MANY scriptures in the New Testament which uphold God’s Ten Commandments: Jesus Christ said in His sermon on the mount, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17, 18). To “fulfil” means to “do, or perform.” If you have an obligation to keep a promise; to fulfil it, you must do or perform the acts required by the promise, not abrogate the promise!

When a young rich man came to Jesus Christ to ask what he need DO to inherit eternal life, notice what Christ told him: “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). When the young man wanted to know which specific ones, Christ cited several of the Ten Commandments, making it clear exactly which law it was to which He had referred.

Millions of professing Christians—church-going, believing people—adamantly REFUSE to believe they must KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS! Their pastors have been deceived; taught by worldly seminaries that the “law has been done away!”

Read all the powerful scriptures listed above about how Christ will administer HIS LAWS; the TEN COMMANDMENTS from His future world capital of Jerusalem!

Do you think the One who GAVE the law in the first place—who was the One who BECAME CHRIST (read John 1 with Hebrews 1) would give His people a law which He knew He would CHANGE?

Would God put people to death for Sabbath-breaking in Moses’ day, and then CHANGE His law, allowing MILLIONS of people to break it today, and then CHANGE IT AGAIN, imposing it during the millennium? How utterly stupid would be such an assumption!

Let God answer: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch [this is the “Day of the Lord” just prior to Christ’s second coming].

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall [depicting the return of Christ; His peaceful reign for 1,000 years].

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts [we already read how this will occur “from Sabbath to Sabbath” in the millennium].

“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” (Malachi 4:1-4)

These closing words of the Old Testament deal with the coming of Christ, and the establishment of His new world order! They command all mankind to REMEMBER GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS!

Did God CHANGE them? “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Paul wrote, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Millions do not know the Bible definition of SIN! They do not know what sin IS. God says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

The penalty for breaking any one of the Ten Commandments is DEATH. It is not the FIRST death, for it is “given for men once to die,” but is the SECOND death — death by Gehenna fire, from which there is no resurrection! It is total annihilation; destruction; BY FIRE! You have already read how the righteous who will be in the Kingdom of God will tread down the ashes of those who rebelled against God.

Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Here are two opposites! DEATH on the one hand, and ETERNAL LIFE on the other! But God will not save a single person He cannot GOVERN! We will either surrender our will to God; in unconditional surrender, becoming willing to OBEY Him in everything, or we will not be in His kingdom!

Notice how Paul held the law of God in such awe: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).

John, the disciple who Jesus loved, was inspired to write much about God’s Ten Commandments, which he loved. He said, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3).

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Obviously, one who says “How nice it is to `know the Lord,'” yet refuses to KEEP THE VERY LAW HE WROTE WITH HIS OWN FINGER, is guilty of a great lie! You cannot “love Christ” Who WROTE THE LAW, and reject the law He wrote, or turn your back on the fact that sin is the BREAKING of that law, and that Christ died to SAVE SINNERS—those who BROKE HIS LAW! The very reason for Christ’s sacrifice was because of LAWBREAKING!

John also wrote, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:2, 3). What is “GRIEVOUS” about the command to love God; to have no other Gods before us; to honor and love our parents; to refrain from stealing that which does not belong to us; to refrain from committing adultery; to refrain from lying?

Each one of NINE of the Ten Commandments are BELIEVED by millions of professing Christians, even if they are not always followed. But the FOURTH commandment is singled out for special wrath! Millions absolutely DETEST the Sabbath day, calling it “Jewish!” To them, anything “Jewish” is an abhorrent thing, and the word is spat out of countless professing Christian mouths as an epithet. But Jesus said, “…The Sabbath was made for man [He did not say “made for the Jews”], and not man for the Sabbath:

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:26, 27). Which day, then, is “The Lord’s Day”? It is the day of which Christ is LORD! The SABBATH day!

David, a man after God’s own heart, said, “Oh how LOVE I thy law, it is my meditation all the day!” (Psalms 119:97). David, who repented bitterly when he broke God’s law, will be YOUR KING and mine in the millennial reign of Christ!

Ezekiel prophesied: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

“And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it” (Ezekiel 34:23, 24).

God says that a fragment of refugees; the “remnant” of all the nations of ten-tribed Israel will be delivered by the intervention of God by the heavenly signs, the seven trumpet plagues, the seven last plagues, and the second coming of Christ! It will be a HORRIBLE time—a time when perhaps NINETY PERCENT of the populations of many nations will die!

God told Jeremiah to write this stupendous warning in his book: “For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah [bring them out of captivity again, for the second time], saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

“And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

“For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it [“Jacob” is ISRAEL; ten-tribed Israel, as distinct from Judah, the Jews. They are to be saved “out of” the Great Tribulation, but they shall go THROUGH it].

“For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck [the “yoke” of the Beast and false prophet: Read Isaiah 47:5-11], and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

“But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

“Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid” (Jeremiah 30:3-10).

Can anything be BETTER NEWS than to hear that CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN? Can there be any more GREAT, ENCOURAGING, GOOD news than the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the “Good News of the coming KINGDOM OF GOD” which is to RULE this world for one thousand years?

And can you think of any greater promise than to be given an opportunity to RULE WITH CHRIST over nations such as America, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, and Japan? Notice! And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26, 27).

We must OVERCOME this evil world under Satan’s sway; OVERCOME our own human natures through the power of God’s Holy Spirit!

Peter commanded the shocked, frightened perpetrators of Christ’s death, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

The GOOD NEWS Of The Coming GOVERNMENT OF GOD

The “gospel” is a message of great, good news about the coming intervention of God in human affairs! It is a “NOW” message about world-shaking events of such imagination-defying magnitude that it boggles the mind!

Christ’s Olivet prophecy, as recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, speaks of massive earthquakes; of droughts and famines; topsy-turvey weather; of WARS and rumors of wars; of terrible religious persecution!

He said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet [the end of man’s civilization as we know it].

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows.

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:6-10). Truer words were never spoken! We are now living in the time just before the events he depicted here; just before the remainder of this astounding, tumultuous chapter. He said, “And because iniquity [lawlessness — sin] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end [either the end of his life, or the end of the age], the same shall be saved.

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

“Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day [Christ would never have issued such a warning about the TIME OF HIS SECOND COMING if the Sabbath day were not STILL A COMMANDED Sabbath!]:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:12-22).

How utterly DIFFERENT is the REAL TRUTH about the dynamic good news of the coming GOVERNMENT OF GOD to rule on this earth from the “old, old story” about the PERSON of Jesus Christ, while ignoring the message He brought!

Now, you have seen with your own eyes, in your own Bible, the real TRUTH about the gospel! It is the strategic plan for the future. It is the map for the 21^st century. It is the program of God Almighty and Christ His Son, to bring PEACE to this sin-sick, plague-ridden, war-torn, poverty-stricken, hate-filled world of Satanic confusion at last!

May God give you the gracious mercy to HEED His witness and warning, and to REPENT before Him. As Peter cried out, “…Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).

In the near future, Almighty God is going to INTERVENE in human affairs! He has commissioned His servants to proclaim that advance good news! It is a VAST message; one which explains the very purpose for human life; WHY God placed mankind on this earth; WHY Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind; WHY He is coming again! All those who God calls are expected to HAVE A PART in that great WORK of preaching the good news to the world!

Are YOU one who God is calling? If you wish a visit by an authorized representative of the Intercontinental Church of God, which is in close affiliation with the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association, please call (903) 561-7070, or write or send E-mail to the addresses below.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Gospel… A Message for the Next Millennium first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Millions have heard what they believe is the “gospel.” Most have heard a gospel “about” Jesus Christ, but they have NEVER HEARD the gospel HE BROUGHT! Jesus Christ came preaching the “gospel of the Kingdom of God.” Few know WHAT He preached! As shocking at it may sound, as UNBELIEVABLE as it may seem, millions of professing Christians have NEVER HEARD the real gospel!

To most, the word gospel refers to the distant past. Like the familiar old hymn, “Tell Me The Old, Old Story,” it is something old, something ancient. Those who believe they are hearing the “gospel” from radio and television preachers, or from the pulpits of local churches, hear about “Jesus and His love,” again and again. They believe they are hearing a very old story, something that took place about two thousand long years ago.

Millions assume this “old, old story” about Jesus is the “gospel.” Yet, as surprising as it may sound, millions have never heard the real gospel! Such a statement sounds incredible. Yet, it is true.

Far from being only the story about Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, the gospel is also the message He brought.The gospel Jesus Christ preached has to do with our day, now, and with the immediate future. The word gospel itself conveys a futuristic message, a description of the world in the next century, and on into the future for all eternity.

The real gospel includes the answers to the most perplexing questions confronting mankind for his entire existence on earth: Who are we? What are we? WHY are we here? Are we a conscious “soul,” inside of an aging body; a “soul” which lives on consciously after the body dies? Do we live on a “soul factory,” where thousands of “souls” are coming into existence each day all over the world, while thousands are flitting up to heaven, or going down to “hell”?

Is God like an “absentee Landlord,” who set all this in motion, and who now waits somewhere “up there,” with “Saint Peter at the pearly gates” busily welcoming the incoming souls, while the Devil dances with glee as he welcomes those who descend to “hell”?

The real gospel answers the most profound questions of life. Christ’s message explains how we can be changed from flesh to spirit; how we can be reborn into spirit; how we can become coheirs with Christ, sharing with Him the wondrous power of eternal life, judging, ruling with Him during His millennial reign on earth. What you are about to read is the truth. It stands proved beyond the shadow of a doubt in your own Bible.

“Repent,” said Jesus Christ, “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 4:17). All three of the other Gospel writers, Mark, Luke, and John, used the expression Kingdom of God. “Now after that John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Contained in those words is a globe-girdling, centuries-long prophetic message, a message about our time now, and the years just ahead of us, which millions of professing Christians have never understood! Notice that Christ’s gospel was not entitled “The Gospel About Me.” Instead, it was the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

The English word gospel might as well be deleted from most dictionaries, and expunged from the language. Millions, while believing they have “received Christ,” and while they “believe on Jesus,” have not the faintest idea of the real meaning of the word. The English word gospel carries with it many different “religious” connotations. As stated above, the first and foremost meaning attached to it is the story about Jesus Christ. People who go to an evangelistic campaign or a revival service to “hear the gospel” expect to hear about Jesus Christ, not a message about wars and rumors of wars, droughts, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and a great false prophet calling down fire from heaven.

People say, “That’s gospel, brother,” meaning “that is the truth.” There are “gospel” churches, where the real messageJesus preached is never heard, but where hundreds of sermons about Christian living, love, joy, peace, faith, and other Bible themes are preached. “Gospel” music means a huge, multi-billion-dollar industry of dozens of singing stars, quartets, and family singing groups.

Countless numbers of professing Christians have gone to church services all their lives, participating in responsive readings and prayers, song services, and baptisms; reciting the “Apostles’ Creed,” and listening to sermons. Yet, they have rarely, if ever, heard about the future destiny of all nations; about the cataclysmic time of the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord. The hair-raising scenes described by Jesus Christ are not popular material for sermons. That is why most preachers avoid prophecy, and prefer to stick to sermons about the three graces of love, joy, and peace, and sundry religious philosophies.

Christ certainly spoke about love. He spoke about forgiveness and humility. He gave mankind the “golden rule,” that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. But Christ also continually referred to His coming kingdom. His was a message about the coming resurrection from the dead; about massive wars, droughts, famines, and destructive earthquakes; about signs in the heavens, and the nations of the earth staggered by imagination-defying plagues. His message was about His return to this earth in the splendor, power, and glory of God; a message about smashing the God-defying governments of this world, and establishing His globe-girdling, wonderful kingdom, bringing world peace at last!

The word gospel comes from two old Anglo-Saxon words. It comes from “good,” and “spell,” or spiel, in the German. Simply, it means “good news.” Not understanding the main thrust of Christ’s message, most have concentrated on the Messenger, and ignored the message He brought. It would be as if a family answered their doorbell to find a Western Union messenger boy at the door. As he attempted to deliver to them the message he had been sent to deliver, the family ecstatically embraced him. Then, they wanted to know all about him: Where was he born? How old was he? What were his favorite tastes? How did he wear his hair? Was he a nice boy? Was he gentle and kind? What did he believe? How about his dear mother? Then, after he left, they turned away from the door, oblivious to the telegram he had dropped on the porch. As the years passed, they continually spoke of the “wonderful messenger boy” who had come to their home that day, so long ago. Millions of nominal Christians have adoringly “believed on” the Messenger, while remaining ignorant of His message. To truly understand the gospel message Jesus Christ brought, we must understand each of the following points:

(1) Who, or what, was Jesus Christ before His human birth?
(2) Why did He come into this world?
(3) What was the message He delivered to His disciples?
(4) Why did He speak in puzzles (parables) to the general public?
(5) Why did He die?
(6) Was He resurrected?
(7) How long was He in the tomb?
(8) Is He alive today?
(9) What has He been doing ever since His resurrection?
(10) Is He going to return to this earth?

Each one of these vitally important questions must be answered. Each one of them bears directly upon the main elements of the gospel, and each was addressed by Jesus Christ Himself.

Who, or What, Was Jesus Christ Before His Human Birth?

Not only is this question one of the most important that could be asked, the answer to it unlocks to our understanding many, many fundamental truths from God’s Word. It answers questions about whether the law of God is “done away,” whether the “Old Testament is done away,” whether the New Covenant means a Christian need not obey God’s Ten Commandments, whether the Sabbath day is required to be kept.

Now, notice this important passage of Scripture from John’s Gospel. Read it slowly and carefully, and believe God’s Word:

“In the beginning was the Word [Greek: Logos, meaning “Spokesman”] and the Word was with God [Greek: Theos, the equivalent of the Hebrew Elohim], and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).

There are only two places in the Bible where the phrase in the beginning is used: here in John 1:1, and in Genesis 1:1. Here, we read that the One who created the universe, the One who “spoke and it was so,” was the same Personage of the Sovereign Godhead who became Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Notice further: “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own [the Jews], and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born [Greek: gennao, which means either “begotten” or “born”], not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:10-14).

There is simply no argument whatsoever that these plain words mean anyone except Jesus Christ. He was the “Word,” or the Divine Spokesman, who said “Let there be light,” and “Let the dry land appear,” and “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:3,9,26). For centuries, nominal Christians have assumed that God of the Old Testament was the Father.

They assume that Jesus Christ came to this earth many centuries after Moses and the prophets to do away with His Father’s old law! But why would anyone assume such, when these scriptures, in the very first chapter of John, one of the four Gospel accounts, absolutely prove that the One whobecame Jesus Christ is the One who did the creating?

Then what are the logical consequences of this truth?

They are that millions do not know that Jesus Christ, in His prehuman form, was the One who called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the One who wrestled with Jacob, and renamed him “Israel”; the One who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush; the One who wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger! He is the One who proposed the Old Covenant to Israel; the One who inspired the prophets; and the One who sent both Israel and Judah into captivity for breaking His laws!

Notice further proof from your own Bible: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The entire book of Hebrews magnifies the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The first chapter, which sets the stage for the twelve chapters to follow, exalts Jesus Christ as the One “for whom, and by whom, are all things.” Read now, with some inset explanations for clarification, the beautiful words which extol and exalt our Savior; how He is the One through whom the divine Father created all things:

“Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten [Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary] into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. “And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers [“servants,” another expression for angels, not humans] a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O GOD [Greek, Theos], is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom [Jesus Christ will rule on this earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 20:4)]. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, thou, Lord [referring to Jesus Christ], in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands” (Hebrews 1:4-10).

There is simply no question whatsoever about the meaning of both John 1 and Hebrews 1. Both reveal that Jesus Christ, in His prehuman state as a divine member of Elohim, was the Creator of the universe, of this earth, and of all life upon it!

Notice the eternal inheritance of Christ: “They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:11-14).

If millions of professing Christians knew these profound yet simple truths, they would have an entirely different concept of Jesus Christ. They would recognize Him as the One who gave His law to Israel, and they would come to know that Jesus Christ is “the same, yesterday, today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), and that He says He “changes not” (see Malachi 3:6). Now that we know who Jesus Christ was prior to His human, physical birth, let’s see why He came into this world.

Why Did Jesus Christ Come Into This World?

Millions have puzzled over the plan of salvation. They wonder, “Why did Jesus have to die for the sins of mankind?” And many wonder, “How could the death of just one man atone for the sins of so many?”

First, we must understand that God Almighty is reproducing after His own kind! Creation was not finished in the Garden of Eden, it was just begun! The creation of the universe and our earth took place perhaps nearly five billion long years ago, the way man counts time. When God (the One who became Christ in human flesh) created our earth, He created a beautiful, perfect world, and then placed an archangel, named Lucifer, over His creation.

The world was lush, verdant, teeming with pre-Adamic life; it was a place of precious stones and metals, a fabulously beautiful place. Notice how God’s Word describes this pre-Adamic world, and tells us what happened:

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius [ruby], topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezekiel 28:11-13).

Here, the king of Tyre is used as a type of Lucifer, who became Satan the devil. The expression, “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty,” could never be spoken of any human being.

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:14). God’s throne is depicted by the famous Ark of the Covenant, which had two cherubim with their wings overspreading the “mercy seat.” The ark was a symbol of God’s throne; the two cherubim represented two of the spirit beings around God’s throne.

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:14,15). Truth is truly stranger than fiction. While millions eagerly devour such motion pictures or television movies as Star Wars, and those featuring great empires in the universe, locked in space-age combat with death rays and spaceships; whole stars and planets exploding–very few understand the truth about pre-Adamic creation; about the time, perhaps billions of years in the past, when an archangel ruled the world.

But Lucifer was not content with his assigned place on earth. God had placed fully one third of the angelic hosts beneath his control. For countless years, Lucifer “walked up and down” on the earth, talking, reasoning, arguing, trying to sell his point of view. He felt God was not fair; that God had the whole universe while he, Lucifer, had only the earth to rule.

Notice the description given of these events in Isaiah:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Lucifer finally succeeded in completely perverting the angels who were under his rule. Lucifer attempted to mount up to heaven and overthrow God.

Notice: “By the multitude of thy merchandise [“trafficking,” going about as a salesman, merchandising] they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:16,17). The phrase “multitude of thy merchandise” is obscure in the old King James English. It means “the abundance of your trafficking,” conveying the idea of merchandising, or selling. It was a revolutionary idea Lucifer was selling. Bullinger’s Companion Bible says: “Merchandise=traffic, or going about, as in v. 18. Hence it meant calumniator (slanderer), in a moral sense” (p. 1146).

Finally, the time came when Lucifer and his angels attempted to overthrow God Himself. But God hurled them out, and in a frenzy of hatred and anger, Satan and his angels destroyed the earth. All astronomy shows a wrecked solar system; our lifeless, pockmarked moon shows that countless meteors and asteroids have smashed into its surface. The other planets and their moons show identical characteristics. Mars’ lifeless surface is littered with rock; Venus is obscured beneath thick, poisonous gases; Jupiter’s storms, larger than the earth, swirl and rage.

Notice that our Bible opens with the scene of a lifeless, ruined earth; the tectonic plates and continental land masses lying beneath raging, stygian black seas, covered by the thickest clouds.
“In the beginning God [Elohim: more than one person] created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was [became] without form [Hebrew: tohu], and void [Hebrew: bohu]; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).

Now, notice the biblical proof that the earth was not originally created “void and waste,” which is conveyed by the Hebrew words tohu and bohu.

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain [tohu], He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18).

Bullinger’s comment on this verse is interesting: “in vain=tohu. The same word as in Gen. 1.2 (‘without form’). Therefore it must have become tohu: which is exactly what Gen. 1.2 declares:…In Gen. 1.1 we have ‘the world that then was’ (cp. 2 Pet. 3.6); and in v. 2 we have the ruin into which it fell. We are not told how, when, or why, or how long it lasted. When geologists have settled how many years they require, they may place them between vv. 1 and 2 of Gen. 1. In Gen. 1.2-2.4, we have ‘the heavens and the earth which are now’ of 2 Pet. 3.7. Both are set in contrast with the ‘new heavens and the new earth’ of 2 Pet. 3:13″ (Bullinger’s Companion Bible, p. 989).

All the events depicted in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 concerning Lucifer’s abortive attempt to overthrow God took place between the time when the earth was created in flawless beauty and perfection, and the time when it became tohu and bohu, or empty, waste, and chaotic. There may have been a vast amount of time–perhaps billions of years the way we reckon time today–between the earlier, perfect creation, and the time of the recreation of earth’s surface revealed in Genesis 1:2 and subsequent verses.

Jesus Christ frequently made reference to His prehuman existence. He enraged the Jews when He told them, “Before Abraham was, I AM!” (John 8:58). Will we believe Christ, as well as “believe on Him”? When His disciples returned to Him, joyous that demons had obeyed them in Christ’s name, He said to them, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven!” (Luke 10:18). Of course He did, for He was there, with the Divine Father. The two of them, both of whom comprise Elohim were at the site of the throne of God when Satan attempted his violent rebellion! Do you believe Christ? He said He was there to see Satan fall like a flash of lightning or a blazing comet from heaven to this earth!

Following the creation of man, Satan instantly appeared in the Garden. It was essentially the same location he had inhabited prior to the wreckage of the earth, as we read in Ezekiel 28:13. But Satan did not appear as a snake wound around a tree. The Hebrew word is nachash, which means “whispering enchanter,” and conveys no physical aspect.

From the very beginning, the one who became Jesus Christ had planned, with the one He revealed as the “Father,” the creation of man as a prototype of the Divine Family. They said to each other, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Genesis 1:26). They placed in Eden a tree, called “the tree of life,” and another tree, called the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil.” Adam and Eve were told they could eat of any tree, of which there were hundreds, but were not to partake of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). Were they real trees? The Bible says they were. Many fables have been built around the creation account, and the story of “Adam and Eve in the Garden.” But there is no evidence the evil fruit was an apple. And the “voice box” visible in many men’s throats is not really their “Adam’s apple.”

One of the most harmful fables is that the first sin was a sex sin. But that is ludicrous on its face, for God said, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Later, He said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). God’s Word contains much about marriage. The Third and the Seventh Commandments have to do with the family and the home, as does the Tenth Commandment.

The creature that appeared to Adam and Eve may well have been like a cherub. Lucifer, who became Satan, was one of three named “archangels” in the Bible. The others are Michael and Gabriel. Apparently, God assigned one-third of all the angels to each one. Study Ezekiel 1 and 10, together with Isaiah 6, for information about cherubim and seraphim. Each cherub appeared in four aspects: that of a man, an eagle, a lion, and an ox.

Throughout many ancient civilizations, including those in Mexico, Central and South America, the Mideast and far beyond, in China and Japan, are mythological creatures which display the characteristics of cherubim and seraphim. The Sphynx, guarding the great pyramid, features the body of a lion and the head of a man. Huge, man-headed bulls, with eagle’s wings and lion’s claws and tails appear as decorations on the walls of ancient cities, and in their palaces. A “winged flying serpent” was worshiped by many of the ancient Indian tribes of Mexico and Central and South America, called “Quetzalcoatl.” Quetzal is a bird, and coatl meant “serpent.”

Satan, appearing in whatever aspect he did, immediately began influencing Eve. He implied that God was unfair. “Now the serpent [Hebrew, nachash, meaning “whispering enchanter”] was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1-5).

Eve listened to the arguments of the “whispering enchanter,” and took of the forbidden fruit. Adam joined with her, and thus was committed the original sin. The sin was a combination of several things. First, they disobeyed their only Parent, who was God. They allowed the forbidden fruit to come between them and obedience to God, making it an “idol,” for “covetousness is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). They stole the fruit, which did not belong to them, but was expressly forbidden. They coveted the “knowledge of good and evil,” and they listened to the Devil’s subtle arguments, wanting to be “like God!”

Adam and Eve were created with “human nature.” Human nature is a mixture of many motives, emotions, and passions; primarily those of vanity, jealousy, lust, and greed. Speaking of the nature of man, Paul wrote, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:5-7).

The word carnal means “physical,” or “fleshly.” Adam and Eve were not spiritually minded, for they had not yet taken of the “tree of life” which God placed in the Garden. They were both easily influenced by Satan.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2,3).

The Bible says Adam was “not deceived,” because it was Eve who listened to the Devil’s arguments; who took of the forbidden fruit, and then gave it to her husband. Adam docilely went along with his wife’s decision.

Paul told Timothy, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13,14). Through our first parents, original sin entered the world. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).

Writing of this essential truth, Paul said, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law [the codifying of the law at Sinai] sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who [Moses, not Adam] is the figure of Him that was to come” (Romans 5:12-14).

Almighty God is perfect. He is perfect character; perfectly righteous and holy. God is ALL POWERFUL. He has the power to create, and He has the power to destroy. Once the first family had sinned; had yielded to the Devil’s temptations, God would not allow them to partake of the tree of life. Study the second and third chapters of Genesis. Once they had sinned, Adam and Eve became aware that they were naked. Now, nakedness carried shame with it, where previously they had been like two little children, blissfully unaware, and unashamed.

Notice the account: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art [the Hebrew word connotes “red clay.”] and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:6-19).

God revealed long ago to His righteous patriarchs, His prophets, and the apostles, that the reference to “her Seed” is a veiled reference to Christ. Modern Bible scholars agree on this. Halley wrote, concerning the Seed of the woman: “Here, immediately after the Fall of Man, is God’s prophecy that His Creation of Man would yet prove to be successful, through the ‘Seed of the Woman.’ This is the Bible’s first hint of a coming Redeemer. The use of ‘He’ (15) shows that One Person is meant…: Here, right at the start of the Bible story, is this foregleam of Christ; and, as the pages pass. Hints, Foregleams, Glimpses, Pictures and Plain Statements, become clearer and more abundant, so that, as we come to the end of the Old Testament, there has been drawn a fairly Complete Picture of Christ” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 67).

For centuries, philosophers have puzzled over why God did not make man so he could not sin. The answer is very simple. God is not in the process of creating automatons. He is recreating after His own kind! God is holy, righteous, perfect character! Character requires freedom of choice. It requires free moral agency.

God Almighty does not sin because He WILL NOT sin! There is no higher power that will not let God sin, for God is all powerful! But God is SELF-ruled! Because He is perfect will power–divine, righteous, holy character–God will always make the right choice!

You and I are creatures of choice. Each day, we choose whether to do this or that; whether to strive to live according to God’s laws, and repent of our sins and weakness when we fail, or whether to live in defiance of God and His righteous laws.

God makes it clear that He has placed a choice before mankind. To Israel He said, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). God makes it clear that our human experience consists of two opposites. The way of life, and the way of death.

Innately, we tend toward the way of death, the way of sin. What does mankind experience? Look at the state of all of mankind today, and ask how far we have come toward the utopian blessings we all seek. What do we want out of life? We want good health, sound minds, strong bodies, love and understanding, success and material possessions. We want happy marriages; happy, healthy, obedient children; peaceful societies. But what does man experience? Mostly, he experiences sickness and disease, divorce, desertion and abandonment, infanticide in the form of abortion, illegitimacy, deformities, rampant crime even among our youth, drug abuse and addiction, murder, extortion, theft, mental illness, and war.

Why? Because of human nature, which is vanity, jealousy, lust, and greed!

God expelled our first parents from Eden, lest they partake of the tree of life in their sinful state!

From the very beginning, God knew Adam and Eve would commit sin. To ask, why He did not prevent it is to ignore the fundamental truths just discussed. But God also had thought out the plan of redemption of all mankind. John, transported forward in time through a vision from God, saw a symbolic woman, the church, which is both a shadowy depiction of Eve as well as Mary.

He wrote, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars [symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven [angels: Revelation 1:10], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne” (Revelation 12:1-5).

In these five verses, God reveals His timeless plan of redemption and salvation; of Satan’s rebellion and Christ’s triumph, as well as His ultimate reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus Christ came into this world for all of the following reasons:

(1) To suffer and die for the sins of all mankind; His own creation! Because Jesus Christ is the Creator of all life, His ONE life is worth more than all the rest of human life combined.

(2) To qualify to become the future King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the future RULER of the world!

(3) To disqualify the present evil world ruler, who is Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9).

(4) To call and train His disciples, delivering to them the gospel message.

(5) To form His disciples into His Church (Matthew 16:18) and to commission them to carry the message He brought, the gospel, to all the world as a witness (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:44-49).

(6) To set all mankind an example, that we should follow in His steps, live as He lived.

(7) To fulfill the many Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ as the Messiah.

(8) To be resurrected from the dead after exactly three days and three nights in the tomb (see Matthew 12:40), thus becoming the “Firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

(9) To send the Holy Spirit as He promised, thus building His true Church on the first Day of Pentecost.       One could easily amass many more reasons why Jesus Christ came to this earth as the humble carpenter from Nazareth. However, millions of nominal Christians believe Jesus Christ came to “save the world!” He did no such thing! Had He wanted to “save” it, He would have done so! But He did not come to save the world then. He said Himself that He spoke to the masses in puzzles, so they would not understand His message (Matthew 13:10-17).

Why? Because God Almighty has a great plan He is working out here below, and that plan is designed to fit a God-ordained time frame. God wants to eventually see billions of sons and daughters in His kingdom for an awesome, breathtaking purpose! Eventually, much, if not most of mankind will be saved.

What Was the Message He Delivered To His Disciples?

As we saw at the beginning of this book, Jesus Christ came preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom of God.” Jesus Christ did not come to “start the Christian religion”! He did not come to cause a revival in the synagogues. He did not come to “save” the world then! He came for all the reasons enumerated above, not the least of which was to deliver to His disciples the message He brought to this earth from His Father.

Christ said, “I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him. They understood not that He spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him. As He spake these words, many believed on Him” (John 8:26-30).

Time and time again, Jesus Christ insisted that the Father had expressly sent Him; that the Father had given Him the message He was to deliver to this world: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:49,50).

Constantly, Christ spoke of His coming kingdom. He spoke of the time when the righteous prophets and patriarchs would be in that kingdom; of the time when the disciples would sit on twelve thrones, judging the tribes of Israel!

During the famous Last Supper, an argument arose between some of the disciples about which one of them would be “the greatest” in Christ’s kingdom. He chided them, reminding them that the gentile rulers “lorded it over their subjects,” but commanded His disciples to be humble, as servants. Then, He said, “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:30).

Jesus Christ was prophesied to inherit an earthly throne; the throne of His father David. His disciples fully expected Him to ascend to a throne in Jerusalem, ruling over a restored kingdom like that of Solomon’s time. They expected Him to throw out the occupying Roman armies, overthrow the Sanhedrin, and establish a theocracy.

When the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of the Messiah, he said, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Because of the false doctrines about the “immortality of the soul,” and concepts of “going to heaven” when we die, millions are completely ignorant of the true gospel–the good news that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth to rule it with a rod of iron!

Christ illustrated that fact by His “kingdom parables.” He showed how the Kingdom of God would eventually fill the earth in His parable about leaven (Matthew 13:33); how it is of inestimable value (Matthew 13:44-46); how there will be some who answer His call to repentance, and some who will not, but who will be cast out (Matthew 13:47-50).

In one particularly outstanding parable, Christ described Himself as a young nobleman, who had traveled far away to obtain a kingdom, and then return: “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds [British monetary standard], and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (Luke 19:12-27).

This beautiful parable is rich in types. The young nobleman is a type of Christ. Each of the servants is a type of those He calls to share in His coming kingdom. The single “pound,” or sum of money, is given to each of the servants, according to their natural talents and abilities. One, through diligent effort, which typifies living a life of overcoming,increases by tenfold. Another, through equal effort, but with less natural ability, increases his gift fivefold. The thirdresents the gift and the Giver. He is angry because it is not his money! He complains that the nobleman, Christ, is an “austere man,” who “reaps where he did not sow,” or who benefits from the labors of others! Rather than being thankful for the free gift, which typifies salvation, and then diligently working to increase the gift, which typifies overcoming, he hides his money, preparing to “give it back” exactly as he received it. Because he has not produced; because he has not grown, he loses out on both his reward and salvation!

The plain statements that the two who produced and overcame are to be “over cities” is a type of the fact that Jesus Christ promised positions of rulership over the nations to those who overcome.

Notice: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26,27). A potter, when he finds a pot that is defective after he has formed it, casts it down, smashing it to little pieces.

Notice how this same kind of analogy is used in Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34,35).

The great image represents the four great world-ruling gentile kingdoms from the time of ancient Babylon to the present, and on into the future. The head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, the chest and arms of silver the Persian Empire, the belly and thighs of brass the Greco-Macedonian kingdom under Alexander the Great, the legs and feet of iron mixed with clay the Roman Empire, which was to have successive resurrections down through history to our time. The ten toes represent the final union of ten nations which will be smashed into oblivion by Christ at His second coming (Revelation 17:12-14; 19:11-21).

Daniel interpreted the dream for Nebuchadnezzar. Notice the inescapable reference to the Second Coming of Christ; how He will smash the ten-nation combine called the Beast: “And in the days of these kings [the ten, depicted by the toes of the image] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone [a type of Christ, returning from heaven] was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:44,45).

This is not a “religious” prophecy! If you were to read news reports of a “United States of Europe” forming, armed to the teeth with nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; a massive superpower of 250 million people with the economic, industrial, and military power to conquer the United States; if you read news reports of such a power occupying Palestine, you will not be reading of a “religious” event!

Christ’s gospel was very much prophetic, as you can immediately see by reading His famous Olivet Prophecy found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, together with the book of Revelation.

Millions of churchgoing, professing Christian people know nothing of the calamitous, tumultuous, catastrophic events Jesus Christ foretold. They remain ignorant of the powerful witness and warning about the FUTURE; about our time, now, and the immediate future before us in the next century!

These great events are to take place HERE, on our earth, among the nations of this world, in the near future. What was the message Jesus Christ delivered to His disciples? It is contained in the four Gospel accounts, of course. In a very brief summary in modern language, He explained to them that He was going to establish a world-ruling kingdom on this earth–the Kingdom of God. He showed it is to be a kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ Himself, and that they, and all others who will repent and receive God’s Holy Spirit, can have a part in it. He showed that the powerful end-time Beast power will resist His return; how He will smash the Beast power and the False Prophet into oblivion, and bring PEACE to this war-torn world at last.

His disciples expected all this to happen in their lifetimes! Even after His resurrection, just before He was taken up into heaven, they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

The disciples had no doubt whatsoever about the globe-girdling significance of Christ’s message. Read Matthew 24 in its entirety, and compare it with Luke’s version of the same prophecy in Luke 21. Here are a few excerpts:

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [Greek: “age,” not the end of the earth]? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end [of the age; the time of His Second Coming] is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences [massive disease epidemics], and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows [trouble, or the Great Tribulation]” (Matthew 24:1-8).

Most of Jesus’ teachings recorded in the Bible were given in private to His disciples. They were astonished when He told them the huge walls, columns, and buildings of the Temple would be leveled to the ground. They wanted to know what would signify His coming as King of Kings to rule the world; what signs they should expect would signal the end of the age of man’s organized societies.

Notice how He characterized His Olivet Prophecy, calling it “THIS gospel,” because it also contained the promise of His Second Coming: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness; defiance of God’s laws] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end [of the age; the end of civilization as we know it] come” (Matthew 24:9-14).

It is as much a witness against the nations as it is a witness to them, for it predicts massive wars, the loss of millions of human lives, cataclysmic “natural” disasters, and signs in the heavens, to be followed by Christ’s return.

For decades I have asked, “What is ‘religious’ about a drought? What is ‘religious’ about a famine?” These are not “religious” predictions, but far-reaching, globe-girdling predictions of the most disastrous, mind-boggling destruction of human life and human civilization ever told!

It is a NOW message, a message for the immediate future, for the beginning of the next century!
Notice the stark predictions of Christ: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [alive! This is not speaking of spiritual salvation, but the sparing of human life]: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21,22).

Compare Christ’s prophecy with a prophecy delivered by an archangel to Daniel concerning the same time: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nationeven to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1,2).

What is the time element of this prophecy? It is exactly the same time as Christ described. There cannot be two times “such as have never been before,” or they would mutually exclude each other. The phrase is hypersuperlative, a unique time in all world history.

Never could such language be completely understood until the advent of the atomic and hydrogen bomb. Now, man has stockpiled enough nuclear explosives to wipe out all life on twenty worlds the size of ours! There are 25,000 nuclear warheads in the Russian arsenal alone! Many nations possess stockpiles of deadly biological agents, which can spread anthrax over vast regions; “botulin toxin,” which can kill millions. Many nations possess horrifying chemical agents, such as poison gases. Such weapons were used by Saddam Hussein against his own people, the Kurds. Chemical weapons were stockpiled in forward ammunition dumps in the Gulf War. It has finally been admitted by the Pentagon that such an ammunition dump was blown up near the Kuwaiti border, and thousands of U.S. troops believe they were exposed to the chemicals, causing many different kinds of terrible disorders.

Today, a single B-52 bomber can carry the equivalent explosive force of more than two times the explosives unleashed by all sides during World War II. A single nuclear-powered submarine, called a “boomer” (because they carry many ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads), can unleash far more explosive power than all of World War II.

Jesus Christ did not deliver a sanctimonious message of sentimental “religious” posturing to His disciples, but a message about the coming end of civilization as we know it,and the earth-shaking INTERVENTION OF GOD in the form of the return of the conquering Christ!

Notice how Jesus Christ described this great event: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and falseprophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible [but it is not!], they shall deceive the very elect…Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:23-27).

Even today, there are those who will spread exactly such a false rumor. The word lightning merely means “a brightening,” or “a glare.” Because we say “thunder and lightning,” we associate the brilliant discharge of electricity during a thunderstorm with the sound it makes and the rumbling echos produced by the clouds. Yet, the discharge of electricity during a storm can be from the ground up, or from cloud to cloud, or from the clouds to the ground. The only “lightening,” or “brightening,” or “glare” of which we know that “comes out of the east” and then “shines even unto the west” is the sun!

Christ is returning in such power and splendor that He will shine like the SUN in all its glory; so bright, so brilliant, that no human eye can look upon Him!

Notice how John described the glorified Christ He saw in vision: “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Revelation 1:14-17).

The sun “transits the sky” once each day, as we express it (actually, it does no such thing; the earth rolls “away” from the sun which appears to “rise” in the east and “set” in the west).

At the Second Coming of Christ, there will be such awesome, gargantuan displays in the heavens that no human being on earth will remain unaware of them! The Day of the Lord may, on the “day for a year” theory (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6), actually consume one year being fulfilled!

The Great Tribulation, Heavenly Signs, and the Day of the Lord together consume three and one-half years. This is the same three and one-half-year period during which the following great events take place: (1) God’s people Israel enter the Great Tribulation, and are taken into captivity; (2) Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles”; (3) the False Prophet sits in the “temple of God, showing that he ‘is God'”; (4) the Two Witnesses fulfill their prophecy; (5) the saints of God are horribly persecuted.

The horrors of the Great Tribulation are cut short by the mind-boggling display of God’s Heavenly Signs. Notice the description: “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth [a massive meteorite shower, greater than any in history], even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places [earthquakes on a scale never before imagined]. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

These tumultuous events are very much a MAJOR PART OF THE GOSPEL!

Notice the time order of these events: (1) the Great Tribulation; (2) the Heavenly Signs; (3) the Day of the Lord. Absolute, incontrovertible proof of this is seen by looking at only two scriptures. They are Joel 2:31, which says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, beforethe great and the terrible day of the LORD come,” and Matthew 24:29, which says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”

Jesus Christ is being quoted in person in the scripture just given above. Notice the following verse: “And then [after the Heavenly Signs] shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man [not looking on His face, but seeing a brilliant light, as if the SUN were approaching the earth!] coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

Now you know a major part of the message Jesus Christ delivered to His disciples. It was a powerful message about His coming world-ruling government (Isaiah 2; Micah 4; Isaiah 11; Revelation 20). It was also a message about repentance; about how human beings can receive God’s Holy Spirit, and eventually become a child of God. It was about being “born again” so that, at the last trump when Christ descends to this earth, each converted Christian can be born into the ruling Family of God; become a part of the Kingdom of God!

Why Did Christ Speak In Puzzles or Parables to the General Public?

Millions assume Jesus Christ tried to save everyone He could. They assume He continually shouted out; preached to people in public, urging them to understand. Millions assume He would never turn a single person away; never refuse anyone who came to Him. These assumptions are simply not true.

His own disciples wondered why He spoke to the people in parables, or puzzles. “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hearnot, neither do they understand” (Matthew 13:10-13).

Christ showed His disciples that the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees had hardened their hearts against Him. He showed how they were spoken of by Isaiah. He said, “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matthew 13:14-17).

Because the people were “dull of hearing,” blinded by their own self-righteous, religious superiority, Christ said He deliberately confused the meaning of His teachings “lest they should be converted!”

Why? Because God is working out His plan here below on a definite time schedule! It was not time for the masses to understand then. When Isaiah was commissioned with His vast and important prophecies, He revealed that he had seen in vision seraphim, which, like cherubs and archangels, are created spirit beings around God’s throne. He said one of them flew to him, having a coal from the altar, which he touched (in vision) to Isaiah’s lips. Isaiah then said he was ready to convey God’s messages to the world (Isaiah 6:1-8).

Notice: “And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate” (Isaiah 6:9-11).

In other words, until the time of the end of the age, when the “veil” that has been placed over the eyes of the masses will finally be lifted.

Speaking of the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, and of the time of the wondrous millennial reign of Christ, Isaiah prophesied, “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:6-8).

Christ explained that it was only those whom God is calling who can understand. He said, “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

Many are extremely puzzled over this. Not understanding that God is working out a great plan here below on a specific time schedule for a great purpose, they wonder if God is “unfair” somehow. Are those who are blinded; those who cannot understand; those who have not been called lost?

One of the major false doctrines accepted by millions is the “saved or lost” concept. Major denominations teach that today (meaning in the lifetime of the people to whom they preach) is the “only day of salvation!” Not understanding Christ’s teaching about the Great White Throne Judgment; about the great, general resurrection of the dead (Revelation 20), they believe one is either “saved” during this lifetime, or one is “lost.” This belief obviously consigns countless millions of Chinese, Indonesians, Japanese, Mongolians, Nepalese, Indians, Kurds, Afghans, and dozens of other nations, as well as hundreds of millions of believers in Islam, to an “everburning hell.” Is the “God” they worship that cruel? Would God, who says He is love, cause innocent little children who have never heard one word about the Christian religion–never heard the name of Jesus Christ–to burn like a steak on a skillet, writhing in agony, day after day, week after week, year after interminable year, because they never had a chance to hear or understand the gospel? How much can a little child understand in any event?

As a classical, hypothetical case, such a belief means that, if a little five-year-old Chinese girl is deathly sick, and a missionary is on his way to her village, but has a flat tire on the primitive roadway, and therefore cannot reach the little girl before she dies to teach her about “the little Lord Jesus,” she goes instantly into an everburning hellfire for all eternity. Catholic doctrine, while equally untrue, since it is based on the false concept of the “immortality of the soul,” is a bit more practical with regard to some of the fundamental questions concerning such situations. They say there is a special “limbo,” into which the “souls” of such children go; a special “limbo,” like a compartment of “purgatory” where, in an intermediate state, “unsaved” souls wait for indeterminate periods of time before they can attain to the “beatific vision.” Thus, limbus patrium (for the patriarchs and those who lived prior to the time of Christ) and limbus infantum are invented.

Christ Himself showed that even many of those who hear the truth of God do not comprehend it. Following His “parable of the sower,” He explained why He spoke to the people in puzzles they couldn’t understand. Then, He explained the meaning of His parable to His disciples in private:

“Hear ye therefore the parable [puzzle] of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23).

Obviously, then, Jesus Christ shows that when many are called of God by hearing His truth, some are so deeply enmeshed in Satan’s world that they quickly reject it. Others receive it, begin with enthusiasm, but soon abandon their faith and commitment because of family and friends; because of persecution from others in society who believe they are embracing a “strange” religion. Still others allow the lust for material things–houses, cars, money, investments, physical security, and the “deceitfulness of riches”–to “choke the word.” They become completely absorbed in this brief physical life, and lose sight of the wondrous Kingdom of God.

Now, is God “unfair,” somehow, because He allows some to be blinded, and specially calls others? Paul explained this important question to the Gentiles in Rome. Study carefully Romans 9, 10, and 11. Space does not permit reprinting all this material here. A few excerpts must suffice. Paul shows that God sometimes not only allows people to be blinded, and not to receive salvation during this first, physical life span, but that He sometimes deliberately hardens their hearts in order to work out His purpose:

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth” (Romans 9:13-17).

Paul was showing how God had allowed the Jews to become blinded. He used the analogy of an olive tree, referring to Israel as the tree, and the Gentiles as a “grafted” tree, replacing the original tree.

Anticipating their question about whether God is “fair” to do this, Paul told the Romans, “Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:18-24).

Paul explained that “blindness in part” had occurred to the Jews so that the “fullness of the Gentiles” might come in.

Notice: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all [“shut them up,” or blinded them] in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O 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 11:29-33).

Millions who believe they have heard the “gospel” know nothing of these profound truths. God chose His people, Israel, calling them out of Egypt and proposing a covenant with them. If they would obey His laws, He would bless them with unimaginable blessings. Paul likens them to the “natural olive tree,” which was cut off, so the “wild olive tree,” the Gentiles, could be “grafted in,” thus receiving the promise of salvation.

Whether or not we like or agree with it, Jesus Christ plainly said that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Whether the anti-Semitic world likes it or not, Jesus Christ was a Jew. As you read earlier, “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” The Samaritan woman asked Him, “How is it that thou, being a Jew…?” He is expressly said to be of the “House of Judah” (Hebrews 7:14).

Notice what Paul explained to the Romans: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh [i.e., Jews. Paul said he was a “Hebrew of the Hebrews”]: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption [sonship] and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God [the service in the Temple, the only site approved of God at the time of the earthly priesthood for the true worship of God], and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:1-5).

When the Jews rejected Christ, which they continually have done from the time He began His ministry in Nazareth nearly 2000 years ago, the prophecy of Hosea came to pass. He said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).

Can we believe Jesus Christ? He plainly said the prophecies of Isaiah about spiritual blindness had come to pass; that He therefore spoke in puzzling parables, LEST they should “convert,” and He should heal them!

Millions do not know WHY Christ spoke in parables, even though He plainly explained it! Now you know. Jesus Christ did not attempt to save the world then. He knew His own people were spiritually blinded and that their hearts were hardened against Him. He told His disciples they had been specially called. He also said that “many righteous men” had desired to know the things He was teaching them, but that it was “not given” to the masses at that time.

Jesus Christ Promised, “I Will Build My Church”

More misunderstanding and confusion exists over the word church than over the word gospel. Millions think of the word church as a building, or as a denomination, or a religious organization. Common expressions are: “I am going to church,” or, “We are members of such-and-such a church.” A church is a building with a steeple (which you should investigate–the origins of the custom are interesting), stained-glass windows, and often shaped like a cross. People think of bascilicas, cathedrals, and large, imposing stone and brick structures as being “churches.”

But the Greek word for “church” does not remotely connote a cathedral, or a building. The word is ekklesia, and means, simply, “assembly.” It can be rendered “group,” or “called-out ones.”

Christ said to Peter and His disciples, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [Greek: Petros, a stone, or pebble], and upon this rock [Greek: Petra, a large stone, such as a monolith, or a mountain of rock] I will build my church; and the gates of hell [hades, the grave] shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18,19).

The Greek language has masculine and feminine endings, just like the Latin languages. The word petros is the masculine for “rock,” and means “a stone,” such as one might pick up in one’s hand. The word petra, with the feminine ending, means a large rock, such as a monolith. This is vitally important, for millions have been taught that Christ built His church upon Peter, that Peter “had the primacy.” This is not true. Christ Himself was and is the Head of His true church, and never gave the headship to any man.

Only two chapters later, Christ is quoted as saying to allthe disciples, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).

He did not say “Where Peter is…,” but said that where any “two or three” of them were gathered together, He, Christ, would lead and guide them.

Notice that Christ, not Peter, is the HEAD of His church: “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him [as we have already seen, in John 1 and Hebrews 1]: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:16-18).

To the Ephesians, Paul said that Christ was “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And [the Father] hath put all things under His [Christ’s] feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:21-23).

Notice the analogy that the church is the body of Christ, not the body of Peter!

Paul insisted that he was in every sense Peter’s equal, even though he was as one “begotten out of due season,” called later, after Pentecost. He wrote, “For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5). Later, he reaffirmed, “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing” (2 Corinthians 12:11).

As a final and incontrovertible proof, notice that the apostles, plural, sent Peter and John on a mission. It was not the other way around: “Now when the apostles [plural! All of them!] which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14,15). The Jerusalem conference shows that it was James, not Peter, who rendered the final decision (Acts 15:19).

What IS “the church”? It is that collective group of called-out individuals who are commissioned to preach the good news of Christ’s coming kingdom to the world. Jesus Christ said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). He showed that His was to be a persecuted group; that they would be scattered. “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31).

As John recorded, Jesus said, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:32,33).

Christ said the persecutions which scattered His people were a fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones” (Zechariah 13:7).

Never did Christ prophesy that His church would become a great, visible, “universal” church! Read the interesting article in Halley’s Bible Handbook (pp. 757-804). You will see incredible information about the rise of an apostate church, and about terrible martyrdoms of hundreds of thousands of people over the centuries. Jesus Christ did not intend that His true church become a huge, monolithic hierarchy, fabulously wealthy, wielding political power over nations, and having concourse with earthly governments. The great false church, on the other hand, is described as exactly that. John saw a vision of the great apostate church when he was spiritually transported forward into time, into the Day of the Lord.

He wrote, “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication [she is a state as well as a church, having political dealings with governments], and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication [symbolic of her false doctrines]. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration [shock, alarm, awe, not approval]” (Revelation 17:1-6).

Jesus Christ called His disciples, taught them the message He had received from His Father, then commissioned them to preach that message to the world. The term evangelistic association actually conveys to one’s mind a more accurate picture of the true function of the church insofar as its responsibilities toward the nations of the world are concerned. However, Jesus Christ gave His apostles a two-part commission. The first part was to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the world. The second part was to “feed my sheep,” or to care for the church. Thus, as the early church grew, Jesus Christ inspired the early apostles to create many different functions in the church, such as pastors and teachers, deacons and deaconesses, “helps, governments,” and the like. Study 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Timothy 3 in this regard.

God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and so Jesus Christ placed government and organization within His church. Never did He intend it to become an autocratic dictatorship, with swaggering, haughty, superior people of “high rank” lording it over the flock! Instead, His ministers (servants) were to become “helpers of their joy.”

Now, let us understand one of the most vital truths of all:

Why Did He Die?

Millions of professing, churchgoing “Christians” believe Jesus Christ’s death has “saved” them! Many believe “once saved, always saved,” and believe that there are no works whatsoever required for salvation.

 Almighty God has given mankind His law, which is so righteous, so holy and perfect, that Moses’ face shone when he came down from the Mount with the two tables of stone. God showed that obedience to His law meant long life, good health, wonderful crops, healthy children, and peace in the land. It also meant an absence of every evil, such as sickness and disease, insanity, destruction of crops and property, military conscription and heavy taxation, and war. Study the “blessings and cursings” of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

God told Adam, as we have seen, that in the day he disobeyed God, he was under the sentence of death! The “wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:26). But God Almighty LOVES mankind! He made man in His own image, after His own likeness. He is recreating after His own kind. Now we come to the favorite scripture of millions of professing Christians: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Countless thousands of sermons have been preached from this verse. It is displayed on banners at major sports events, where those eager to “witness” about their religion paint huge characters, “JOHN 3:16” on a sheet and hang it where they believe the television cameras will show it.

Millions know it by heart. Yet, many of them do not believe what it plainly says! Jesus Christ Himself stated these words in the context of a lesson about the two opposites of life on the one hand, and death on the other. He used the word perish! In the entire context, Christ was showing that the result of sin is death, destruction–perishing! Read Malachi 4:1-3. On the other hand, repenting of sin, which is the breaking of any one of God’s laws, results in forgiveness of sin, and belief in Jesus Christ as the one who paid the penalty for sin in our stead is the first step toward salvation.

Notice the verses preceding and following: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (verse 13). The nominal Christian world utterly rejects this statement of Christ. Millions believe the “saints” of the Bible ascended up to heaven; that people’s “souls” ascend up to heaven when they die.

Notice further: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up [referring to His being affixed to “a tree,” or the stake, and being “lifted up” to die upon it]. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but [on the other hand, as an opposite of perishing] have eternal life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:13-19). Deeds, not just “beliefs.”

Jesus Christ offered His life, the life of the very Creator, whose one life is worth more than all the rest of human life put together, for the sins of the world! The penalty for sin is death, not eternal life in an “everburning hellfire.”  Christ Himself spoke many times of destruction in Gehenna fire (see Matthew 10:28; 23:33).

Notice what John wrote: “And He is the propitiation [or “atoning sacrifice”] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments [in other words, if we quit sinning!]. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:2-4). Millions love to say how nice it is to “know the Lord.” Yet those same people refuse to obey God’s commandments–especially the fourth one, which they insist is “done away.”

One of the most commonly heard expressions in nominal Christendom is “Christ died to save sinners.” One may see these words painted on barns along roadways, on old buses, on billboards, and on rocks. Insofar as the expression goes, it is true.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 2:15,16). But the death of Jesus Christ is efficacious for the forgiveness of sins, NOT blanket permission to continue sinning!

If you were to see a drowning man who had deliberately thrown himself into a lake, but who then began calling for help, and you rescued the man, how would you feel if he then threw himself into the same lake again?

When Christ rescues us, when His shed blood atones because we have sinned, He does not give us blanket permission to go right back into the life from which He saved us! Notice that salvation includes not only Christ’s death for our sins, but His LIFE, as our daily High Priest in heaven: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:8-10). If Christ’s death saved the world in itself, then there was no need for His resurrection! It is because He LIVES today, that He overcame sin in the flesh, that He qualified to become the world ruler, and that He was raised from the dead that the plan of salvation is complete!

When we are forgiven, God expects us to live a new and different way of life, the way of God’s laws. When we are baptized after we repent, the law considers us “dead.” The penalty has been paid. Christ paid the penalty in our stead. It would be a terrible slap in the face to Jesus Christ Himself if we then, like the man who threw himself back into the lake, continued to live in the same old way as before.

Paul put it this way: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin [the breaking of any point of God’s law] therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Romans 6:8-12).

Why did Christ die? He died because His love, and that of His Father in heaven, is SO GREAT toward God-defying, God-rejecting, sinning, lawless mankind that He willingly gave His life, which followed horrible humiliation, beating, and suffering for His own creation! As you now know, there is so much more to understand than that which is conveyed to most people by the oft-repeated statement, “Christ died to save sinners.”

Did Jesus Christ Really Rise From the Dead?

There is no greater question. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivotal truth upon which the entire Christian religion depends. Continually, Jesus Christ predicted His own resurrection. On one occasion, Christ allowed Peter, James, and John to see a vision of His coming kingdom in what is called the “Transfiguration.” Read it, in Matthew 17. After the vision had passed, and as they came down from the mountain, Jesus “charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead” (Matthew 17:9).

Only a little later, He specifically predicted His death and resurrection: “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry” (Matthew 17:22,23). When the arrest, brutal scourging, and death of Jesus Christ occurred, true to His predictions, all the disciples forsook Him and fled. Study John 18-21 for many details. As is evident from the writings of the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ death, His own disciples did not believe He had been resurrected!

Yet, on five separate occasions Jesus Christ had told them personally that He would die and be resurrected from the dead. The first was following Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, no matter the false stories circulated that Jesus was “Elijah,” or “John the Baptist,” or “one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). The second was the example we just saw, following the Transfiguration. The third was following the healing of an epileptic (Luke 9:44). The fourth was as they were passing through Galilee (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:31). The fifth was near Jerusalem, and was quite specific:

“Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken” (Luke 18:31-34).

No matter how repetitively or explicitly Jesus Christ told them of His impending death, burial, and resurrection, they did not truly understand! This is why they were unbelieving immediately following His resurrection.

This is an important point, for the story was deliberately spread then, and has been repeated ever since, that “His disciples stole the body away.” Books alleging that He was merely “in a swoon,” or that His disciples plotted with Him to fake His resurrection, have been written over the centuries.

Yet, notice that the disciples did not believe He had been resurrected: “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not” (Luke 24:1-11).

It was not until after Jesus Christ had appeared to them in person several different times, in different places, even miraculously “materializing” through solid walls, that they finally believed! Read verses 13 through 31 of this same chapter; how they walked toward a village called Emmaus, and Christ appeared to them.

After hearing their unbelief, He chided them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

A short time later, while they were eating, He “took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight” (Luke 24:30,31).

Who has not heard of “doubting Thomas”? Christ had suddenly appeared inside a large, closed room, where the disciples “were assembled for fear of the Jews, [then] came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19,20).

When they joyously told Thomas of it, notice what happened: “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signstruly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:24-31).

Not only are there many recorded instances when Christ appeared to His disciples and others following His resurrection, but John says there are many others which were not recorded.

Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

James, the brother of John, was beheaded (Acts 12:1,2). Paul himself was martyred–probably thrown into the arena at Rome! Stephen was stoned (Acts 7). Many of Christ’s servants were murdered! Now, think! Do men willingly go to their deaths, including such horrible deaths as being torn by wild animals, or being burned alive, for the sake of a conspiratorial “plot” they KNOW is an hoax? Not by the faintest stretch of the imagination!

Did the Jews “steal His body away”? Nonsense! If they had, they would have displayed it publicly! They were the ones who approached the Romans, insisting that His tomb be guarded day and night!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not a fanciful theory which was “added” by writers of the Christian faith in later years. No, it was the very cause of their faith! A major part of the gospel is the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, and the breathtaking truth about WHY He was raised from the dead! He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven only UNTIL His enemies are vanquished, until “His enemies be made His footstool,” until the “time of the restitution of all things.”

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear [flaming coronas of fire around their heads; a roaring, rushing sound of a mighty wind], For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool” (Acts 2:32-35).

The most important fact the apostles repeated over and over again was that they had been eyewitnesses of His death, then had been eyewitnesses that He was ALIVE! This message was the cause of their persecution!

“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day…” (Acts 4:1-3).

Study the famous “resurrection” chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. Paul made it very plain that if Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, then the entirety of the Christian religion is vain! He wrote, “Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:12-20).

The “firstfruits” from the dead is reference to the meaning of the Feast of Firstfruits, which became known as Pentecost. This was because the feast was determined by counting from the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread until the “morrow after the seventh Sabbath,” which would be the fiftieth day. Hence, Pentecost, which merely means “fiftieth.” Christ is the “firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Those who are eventually born of God will become members of the same spiritual family as Jesus Christ, who is the FIRSTborn. Study 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 and Romans 8:15-29 in this regard. 

How Long Was Jesus Christ In the Tomb?

The only perpetual sign Jesus Christ said He would leave to the world as proof that He was the true Messiah was the exact length of time He would be in the tomb! He said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Yet, for many centuries following the great apostasy that overcame the large, visible church, millions have been taught that Christ was only “part” of three days and three nights in the tomb. Thus, without realizing it, many generations of nominal Christians have unconsciously rejected the only sign Christ left!

Because of the pagan traditions surrounding “Easter,” which was nothing other than a celebration of the vernal equinox and new life in the spring, the “Good Friday–Easter Sunday morning” fable was adopted. This is a vast subject, and there is vast literature to prove how Easter was eventually enforced upon the visible church.

Jesus Christ was not entombed on a Friday, and He did not rise on “Easter Sunday.” He was buried on a Wednesday late afternoon, and arose exactly three days and three nights later, on a late Sabbath afternoon.  A very good source for information about the exact time of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is contained in the notes and appendices of The Companion Bible by Bullinger.

Christ Himself specifically stated how long He would be in the tomb. He quoted the prophet Jonah, and Jonah was written in the Hebrew language, not Greek! Millions have been told that the expression “three days and three nights” is a Greek idiom, and doesn’t mean what it says. Some, intent on clinging to the traditions handed down from the time of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, have even alleged that the book of Jonah uses an idiom!

The apostle John wrote in detail of the death of Christ. Notice: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost [Greek: “breathed His last,” or “expired”]. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross [Greek: stauros, or stake] on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away” (John 19:30,31).

This was the “High Day Sabbath,” or the first Day of Unleavened Bread (see Leviticus 23:6), not the regular weekly Sabbath. It fell on that Thursday, so the bodies were buried on a late Wednesday afternoon. The feast always fell on the fifteenth of Nisan, the first month of the sacred year. Christ died on the fourteenth, just as the first paschal lambs were being slain. It was because thousands of true Christians tenaciously clung to Christ’s custom and the practice of the apostles of the first century that they became called “Quartodecimans.” The word means “fourteenthers.” These Christians observed the same customs Christ gave to His apostles (1 Corinthians 11:23). The Quartodecimans were mercilessly persecuted; many thousands of them were put to death because they refused to observe the pagan Easter, and clung to the fourteenth of Nisan instead.

In Appendix 144 in Bullinger’s Companion Bible, you will find a thorough explanation of the exact meaning of the “three days and three nights” of Matthew 12:40. In part, he says, “When the number of ‘nights’ is stated as well as the number of ‘days’, then the expression ceases to be an idiom, and becomes a literal statement of fact.

“Moreover, as the Hebrew day began at sunset the day was reckoned from one sunset to another, the ‘twelve hours in the day’ (John 11.9) being reckoned from sunrise, and the twelve hours of the night from sunset. An evening-morning was thus used for a whole day of twenty-four hours, as in the first chapter of Genesis. Hence the expression ‘a night and a day’ in 2 Cor. 11.25 denotes a complete day (Gr. nuchthemeron).

“When Esther says (Esther 4.16) ‘Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days’, she defines her meaning as being three complete days, because she adds (being a Jewess) ‘night or day’. And when it is written that the fast ended on ‘the third day’ (5.1), ‘the third day’ must have succeeded and included the third night.

“In like manner the sacred record states that the young man (in 1 Sam. 30.12) ‘had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights’. Hence, when the young man explains the reason, he says, ‘because three days agone I fell sick’. He means therefore three complete days and nights, because, being an Egyptian (vv. 11,13) he naturally reckoned his day as beginning at sunrise, according to the Egyptian manner (see Encycl. Brit., 11^th [Cambridge] ed., vol. xi, p. 77]. His ‘three days agone’ refers to the beginning of his sickness, and includes the whole period, giving the reason for his having gone without food during the whole period stated.

“Hence, when it says that ‘Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights’ (Jonah 1.17) it means exactly what it says, and that this can be the only meaning of the expression in Matt. 12.40; 16.4, Luke 11.30, is shown in Ap. 156” (p. 170).

For centuries, so-called “scholars” have claimed that Christ died in A.D. 29, 30, 32, or even 33! Never would they choose A.D. 31, even by “accident,” for it is the only year in that period of five years in which the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or the fifteenth of Nisan, begins on a Thursday!

Jesus Christ died on a late Wednesday afternoon. He was buried quickly, in a new tomb which was close at hand to Golgotha. Notice: “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand” (John 19:40-42). The preparation day was Wednesday, the preparation for the “High Day Sabbath” of the Feast!

Is Jesus Christ Alive Today?

When Christ was resurrected, He was changed from His human, fleshly form to become literally composed of Spirit.The huge stone covering the sepulchre was not rolled back to let Christ out of the tomb, but to allow the world to look in! By the time the women came to the sepulchre, He had already risen some hours earlier.

Matthew wrote, “In the end of the Sabbath [the weekly Sabbath, the third day since Christ had been buried], as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was [Greek: “had been”] a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” (Matthew 28:1,2). Even the marginal note in many King James Bibles says “had been” instead of “was.” Bullinger’s Companion Bible has a note concerning the words “rolled back,” saying, “had rolled back.” The earthquake, which dislodged the stone, was a past occurrence; it had taken place prior to the women’s arrival. As you have seen, there are many proofs of Christ’s resurrection.

Christ promised He would never leave His disciples and would continually be with His people, watching over His church: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Mark wrote, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:19,20).

When Stephen was martyred by stoning, he cried out as he died, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul” (Acts 7:55-58).

Saul was struck down on the road to Damascus, became deeply converted, and became the apostle Paul. He may have seen Jesus Christ over a period of more than three years in the desert. He wrote, “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1). The only time Paul could have seen Jesus Christ personally was when he was in Arabia.

He wrote to the Galatians, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:15-19).

Not only were there many hundreds of eyewitnesses to the fact that Jesus Christ was alive, but Paul may have seenJesus Christ again and again while he was in the Arabian desert.

The entire book of Hebrews is about the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. It is a profoundly important book of the Bible which shows Christ’s daily intercession on behalf of His people, interceding in their behalf before His Father at His left hand.

Notice: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The whole point of the book of Hebrews is the efficacy of Christ’s living High Priesthood over that of the Levitical Priesthood–that He is alive, and able to guide, direct, and correct His church, to intervene in the course of human events, to intercede on behalf of His people, and is waiting for the moment of His return to this earth.

Following the beautiful eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which lists many of the most famous and revered of the martyrs of God through the ages, we are urged to remember these great witnesses, and to look to Jesus Christ as the living Savior: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Millions of nominal Christians, without realizing it, tend to think of a dead Christ, hanging on a cross! Their minds are not focused upon a living Savior, seated at the right hand of the Father, His face blazing like the sun in its strength, able to hear and to feel our heartache, our distress, suffering, and pain, and turn to His Father as our Advocate, intervening in our behalf. Yes, and we should praise God daily for the fact that Jesus Christ is alive today!

Is Jesus Christ Going To Return To This Earth?

One of the most powerful points of the gospel, which is the good news of the Kingdom of God, is that Christ is coming again! He said so continually! Christ told the haughty, self-righteous Pharisees that they would see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of God, and they themselves rejected, cast out!

Millions believe it is “easy” to be saved! All you must do is “believe in your heart” and “confess with your mouth” that Jesus Christ “died to save sinners,” and you can be saved, they say. But Jesus Christ plainly said it is not quite so easy!

“Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait [narrow; difficult] gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity [lawlessness]. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:23-29).

As you have seen, the famous Olivet Prophecy, which is the most important prophecy in all the Bible, has as its main theme the return of Christ to this earth in the power and glory of God: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27). Jesus Christ spoke continually of the time of His return to this earth to establish His kingdom!

Notice the promises He gave for those who overcome during this brief, human life: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26,27).

He described His Second Coming to His disciples in the Olivet Prophecy several times. He said, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30,31).

And where will Jesus Christ BE when He “comes again to this earth”? Why, on the earth, of course! Many, many prophecies proclaim this fundamental truth! Christ Himself said it over and over again!

The very first message that ever came back to earth from a heavenly messenger as Jesus Christ was taken up reconfirmed it! Notice: “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so comein like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).

Where will Christ be when He returns? Notice Zechariah’s prophecy: “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3,4).

There are many, many prophecies in God’s Word about the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on this earth.

Isaiah wrote, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

While millions have been deceived into believing that “souls” go immediately to heaven when they die, the Bible clearly says Christ will resurrect the “dead in Christ” first, and that those who are alive and remain at the time of His Second Coming will be “caught up together with them in the clouds” (which are part of this earth’s atmosphere), and will then dwell in the Kingdom of God with Christ. While they ascend up to meet Christ in the clouds, only a few thousand feet above the land, they will be conveyed by God’s angels (Matthew 24:31) to descend “in that day” upon the Mount of Olives!

Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:22-25).

To the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air [part of this earth’s atmosphere]: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). And where will the Lord BE? He will be on this earth, establishing His spiritual capital in Jerusalem!

Notice the description of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ seen by John in vision: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-21).

Anyone who doubts for a moment the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a person who simply rejects what Christ Himself said over and over again, and rejects the focal point of all prophecy! Nothing is emphasized any more powerfully or continually than the return of Christ to this earth to rule it as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The GOOD NEWS Jesus Christ brought to this earth so long ago is for OUR DAY, NOW, and for the years just ahead of us! It is an up-to-the-minute message about world conditions that are inexorably leading us into the time of the prophesied Great Tribulation, a time of world trouble such as has never been from the beginning of the world until that time.

Daniel prophesied of this time, just as did Jesus Christ Himself. An archangel said to Daniel, “And at that time [the “time of the end,” see Daniel 11:40-45] shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1,2).

The greatest news you and I could ever hear is that Jesus Christ will intervene in human affairs and HALT the insane, satanic wars impending in the future, when, except for God’s intervention, not a man, woman or child would be left alive on this earth!

Luke wrote of Christ’s encouraging reminder that when these terrible things BEGIN TO HAPPEN, His people should “lift up their heads,” and know that their redemption is very near! He said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear [many will drop dead of heart attacks!], and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And He spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:25-36).

As you now know, the so-called “gospel” millions have heard is only a small part of the message Jesus Christ brought to this earth and commissioned His disciples to preach to all the world as a witness! His great good news was that He will intervene in the course of human events; He will return to this earth to RULE it with a rod of iron!

The work of God’s church today is the work of proclaiming this globe-girdling, tumultuous, awesome message to all the world as a witness! God says many will reject it; they will refuse to believe Christ’s message; they will refuse to repent and receive baptism as a sign of their repentance before God. But some will hear, and understand. Some will receive the seed into the “good ground,” where it will take root, and grow.

Could you be one God is calling? Could you be one who will be used of God Almighty to have a part in His work?The time is growing near when God will no longer plead with people by the means of preaching and writing. The time is growing near when there will be no doubt whatsoever in people’s minds about the existence of the Almighty God! Soon now, when the prophesied Tribulation is upon us, when the awesome Heavenly Signs are displayed, there will be no remaining doubts in any human mind! Soon now. . . .

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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus.

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Today, millions believe there is life in outer space. Millions are enthusiastic about “UFO’S,” about “close encounters” with beings from other planets. Dozens of books festoon bookshelves in major bookstores dealing with such alleged sightings and experiences.

The American taxpayer is assessed BILLIONS of dollars to finance NASA probes of Mars and other planets as evolutionists seek to determine whether LIFE may exist, or may have once existed, on the Red Planet. Scientists, driven by the evolutionary mind-set, speculate about whether life began on Mars, rather than earth. They utterly reject the Biblical account of creation, continually speaking and writing about “evolution,” which seeks to explain creation without a Creator; life without a Life-giver; design without a Designer; laws without a Lawgiver—an empty theory which utterly denies the existence of God.

Few know they possess a book which details a visit to this earth by a great, superhuman Being from outer space. Few know that an intergalactic Traveler, who lives in a completely DIFFERENT DIMENSION from our three-dimensional, physical world, visited this earth on many occasions; that He left His dimension of spirit, became human, and walked among us. His name, in the English language, is “Jesus Christ.” Hundreds of millions have heard His name. Yet, those same people know little about Him, and even less about the MESSAGE He brought from His Father. That message He called “The GOOD NEWS.” In contrast to the news we hear nearly every day, it is the BEST news we could EVER HEAR!

Before we learn the startling truth about this great intergalactic Traveler and the great, glorious GOOD NEWS He delivered to mankind, think about the many things most people DO NOT KNOW about Christ.

(1) Millions know nothing about His pre-human state. They do not know that He was the CREATING AGENT; the divine member of the awesome family of “GOD” called ELOHIM who said, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Genesis 1:26).

(2) Millions do not know when He was born. They suppose He was born on December 25th, and celebrate “Christmas” (the Catholic-invented “Mass of Christ”), believing that Christ was born in the middle of winter in Bethlehem.

(3) Millions do not know WHY He came to this earth. There are SEVEN MAJOR REASONS why Christ came among the human race; most can speak of only one: “Christ died to save sinners.”

(4) Millions do not know the MESSAGE He brought. While they worship the Messenger, they know nothing about the MESSAGE; the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

(5) Millions do not know what Christ looked like. They suppose He appeared as the classic portraits available in Bible book stores depict Him; or like pictures in many pictorial Bibles; the usual long hair, beard and mustache, sad, wistful expression, long robe, shepherd’s crook, with a lamb in His arms, and a halo around His head.

(6) Millions do not know to which race Christ belonged. Many African Americans believe Christ was a black man. Anti-Semites refuse to believe He was a Jew. Many racists harbor biased racial views about Jesus’ genealogy. Yet, the Bible clearly declares He was from the tribe of Judah, and was a Jew.

(7) Millions do not know HOW HE DIED! Many suppose He died of a “broken heart.” Some have proposed that He was STONED to death! Others suppose He died of exhaustion. Many who “profess Christ” refuse to believe that He shed His life’s blood for the sins of the world.

(8) Millions do not know IF HE WAS REALLY DEAD! Their theologians tell them that during the time He was in the tomb, He went to “hell” to witness against tortured souls!

(9) Millions do not know the SPECIFIC LENGTH OF TIME HE WAS IN THE TOMB, yet it was the ONLY SIGN He said He would leave the generations to come of proof of His Messiahship; that he would be EXACTLY three days and three nights in the tomb, (Matthew 12:40).

(10) Millions DENY HIS RESURRECTION, believing He was only in a “swoon,” or that His death, burial and resurrection was faked, or that His disciples stole away His body.

(11) Millions who believe He was resurrected DO NOT KNOW what He has been doing ever since, or what He is doing today!

(12) Millions DO NOT BELIEVE His prophecies; His predictions about the conditions on this earth in OUR TIME, now. They DO NOT BELIEVE He is coming again!

A Lot “Not To Know”

The above twelve points represent “a lot NOT TO KNOW” about someone. Suppose your father was a soldier during World War II. Suppose he told you, from the time of your childhood, about a close buddy of his, “little old Joe McGillicuddy,” who had been badly wounded on Guadalcanal. Your dad said Joe had lost his left eye, his right leg, and two fingers on his right hand when he had taken a blast from a Japanese hand grenade. Joe had smothered the grenade with his body to save his friends, including your dad. Your father described how Joe had stood only 5’5″ tall, had a balding head, and a high-pitched, scratchy voice. But your dad had loved Joe, and told many, many stories about his sense of humor; his stoic manner of dealing with his injuries.

Then, one day, long after your father had died, your telephone rang, and someone called “Joe McGillicuddy” was on the line. He wanted to come over to see his former buddy’s family. Excited, you waited for the moment of the little old wounded veteran’s arrival. At length, the doorbell rang, and you opened the door.

There, standing on the porch, was a big man of 6’3″, with a shock of thick white hair, a powerful build, and a deep, booming voice. “Hi there!” He said, putting out a large hand and giving you a firm handshake, “I’m Joe McGillicuddy!” What would you think? Had your father lied? Had he been mistaken? Was he passing on stories he had heard from others? No doubt, you would be utterly shocked!

Such would be the SHOCK to millions of professing Christians if Jesus Christ of Nazareth were to appear to them today JUST AS HE APPEARED IN THE FIRST CENTURY!

When you DO NOT KNOW anything about how a person looked, when he was born (and therefore how old he is), what he believed, taught, and stood for; when you do not know to which race he belonged, that’s a “lot not to know” about someone.

The Intergalactic Traveler

The REAL BEGINNING of the Bible is found in the first chapter of the gospel of John. This chapter is utterly rejected by MOST of the professing Christian churches; utterly ignored by others. The consequences of BELIEVING John’s first chapter are too overwhelming for most professing Christians.

John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The English term “Word” comes from the Greek Logos. We use the term in many ways, such as a “logo” for a document, or a television program. The Greek word means “Spokesman.” As we read in Genesis the first chapter, Elohim said, “Let there be light,” or “Let the dry land appear.” The One who gave these commands was the divine “Spokesman” or theLogos. He was the creating Agent! It was He who said, “Let US [more than one!] make man in OUR image, and after OUR likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

Because the mainstream churches REJECT this awesome knowledge, they do not know who or what Jesus Christ really was prior to His human birth! They do not know that the One we know as “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” was the “Jehovah” (JHVH—there are no vowels in the ancient Hebrew), who dealt with the patriarchs, called Abraham, appeared unto Moses in the burning bush, wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger, parted the Red Sea before Israel, and dealt personally with all the great men and women of the Old Testament! If they would admit the simple, yet profound truth of only a few verses of the gospel of John, they would NEVER believe that Jesus Christ came to DO AWAY with God’s law! Instead, they would know HE IS the divine LAWGIVER of the Old Testament!

The first verse of John could read, paraphrased, “In the beginning was the divine Spokesman, and the Spokesman was with Theos [Elohim; the Hebrew equivalent, which means MORE than one!], and the Spokesman WAS Theos[Elohim].”

Notice how many times John reaffirms this vital and awesome truth!

“The same was in the beginning with God.

“All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:1-5). Almost NO ONE in the professing “Christian” world truly BELIEVES that “all things were MADE” by Jesus Christ! All assume it was the Father to whom Christ prayed who was the Creator. They assume it was God the FATHER who wrote the Ten Commandments, and who dealt with the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Notice further, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

“He came unto His own [the Jews], and His own received Him not.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [the Greek word is “tabernacled”] among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:10-14).

Jesus Christ came to this earth far more times than most believe. It was the One who became Christ in the flesh who was the inter-galactic Visitor from space! It was He who knelt by a stream in Palestine and fashioned the first man, Adam (which means “red mud, or clay”) with His own hands; breathed the breath of life into his lungs, then performed the fabulous miracle of fashioning Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. But long prior to the great creating Family called Elohim decided to have the “Spokesman” come to this earth from outer space, they had PREPARED the world for man’s habitation.

Imagine, if you will, this earth in its preadamic state. For perhaps countless millions of years, a great archangel called “Lucifer,” which means “Light bringer,” or “Shining star of the dawn,” had reigned over a beautiful, jewel-like world, teeming with life. Lucifer was magnetic, beautiful; a “whispering enchanter” to all the angels subordinate to him. He was a charming, wonderful conversationalist.

Following the original creation of our earth, perhaps four to five billion years ago, Lucifer was placed in charge of the whole world. With him were one-third of the angels. Notice how God’s word describes the earth during that distant time, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created [Lucifer, like all the angels, is a CREATED being who dwells in the spirit world].

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth [two cherubs, or cherubim, decorated the mercy seat over the ark of the covenant, symbolizing the cherubim around God’s throne]; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity [lawlessness; sin!] was found in thee.

“By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezekiel 28:12-18). Here, the King of Tyre is used as a “type” of Lucifer, who became Satan. The descriptions concerning a fabulous preadamic world; the “garden of God” (Eden), and the fact that the one being described is a created being, not a natural-born human, can only mean Lucifer.

Notice Isaiah’s account: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning [“Shining star of the dawn,” or “light bringer,” his original name]! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds [the earth’s atmosphere; proving water was present]; I will be like the most High.

“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [Sheol, the grave— blending back into the anti-type, the King of Babylon], to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

The obscure phrase, “by the multitude of thy merchandise” in the King James version is not as clear as it could be. It means, “by the abundance of your going about as a salesman; as a `trafficker’ in calumny and propaganda.” For countless years, Lucifer argued his case among the angels in his realm. Finally, he convinced them to follow him in a rebellion against God!

In the original “Star Wars,” Lucifer attempted to mount up above the clouds of this earth with his angels, and THROW GOD OFF HIS THRONE! Instead, God cast him back down to this earth! Christ said, “…I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). The great Creator, who was the Logos; Jesus Christ in the flesh, was THERE when Satan rebelled. He was intimately involved! When the divine sovereign Family ELOHIM threw Satan out of heaven, he plummeted back toward earth like a hurtling meteor—flashing like a streaking bolt of flame and light! Christ said HE SAW IT HAPPEN!

Originally, this world was created in spectacular beauty. It was a perfect environment. Life teemed; billions of creatures swarmed, swam, flew and walked about on earth. Speaking of this PREadamic creation, God said, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain [Hebrew: tohu, meaning chaotic, empty, void, waste], He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18).

Yet, when God cast Satan and his demons back out of heaven, a massive, gargantuan upheaval occurred. The earth was destroyed! Meteors smashed into its surface; the continents split apart; were submerged beneath raging, turgid seas that rushed back and forth. Billions of creatures were suddenly buried beneath massive layers of mud and silt. The tectonic plates slid back and forth, crushing, folding, grinding together as the mountains were built. Massive “geosynclines” heaved into being as the continents groaned. Huge upthrusts of granite soared into the sky, while great volcanoes spewed billions of cubic yards of molten magma into the skies to come back in pyroclastic showers of rock upon the land, or to shoulder up from cracks in the tectonic plates beneath the seas, to form vast island chains like the Hawaiian Islands.

For perhaps billions of years, Satan and his demons were forced to remain in the earth’s atmosphere, seeing only the vast, black, tossing seas; seeing the results of their attempt to overthrow God from His throne. Their great space war had wrecked the solar system! Planets were destroyed. Venus became enshrouded in a thick, impenetrable mantle of gas. Clouds of space debris formed huge rings around the lifeless face of Saturn. Stars exploded. Fiery gases were hurled through trillions of miles of space. Countless billions of meteors and astroids were flung in all directions to begin their aeons-long journeys through the blackness of empty space. Ugly, misshapen moons, like captured astroids, began to circle the many planets. The lifeless, wrecked, empty hulks of planets began to circle the sun, held fast by its gravitational field. The moon, orbiting around the earth, was smashed time and time again by huge astroids; some up to 100 miles in diameter. Billions of years passed as each planet orbited about its neighboring star, held fast by the gravitational field of the larger body. Isostatic pressures, combined with the rotational patterns and orbits of planets and their moons, gradually caused them to assume a spherical shape from the smashed, jagged ruggedness of their violent birth. As the billions of years passed, the earth heaved above the seas time and time again, then subsided beneath the waves once more.

Finally, the One we know of as Jesus Christ; the divine “Spokesman” for the great, sovereign Family of God called Elohim came down to the earth. A great Visitor from outer space had arrived upon the scene of Satan’s destruction! Our world looked like Venus from afar; covered with a thick blanket of impenetrable clouds which reflected the sun’s rays, but failed to pierce through to the surface. There was only stygian blackness beneath. The earth lay tohu and bohu, wasted, destroyed, lifeless, chaotic, empty. Daily tides swept back and forth over shallow land masses submerged beneath the waters. There was no physical life.

At this point, God began to keep a record through His first humans. Adam himself may have been the writer of some of the “Creation hymn” of the first chapters of Genesis.

We are told, “In the beginning God [Elohim, meaning more than one. We know, from John 1, that the One who did the creating was the One who became the Savior of His own creation!] created the heaven and the earth.

“And the earth was [Hebrew: “became”] without form,and void [Hebrew: tohu and bohu, but it was not originally created that way, as we saw in Isaiah 45:18]; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters [The earth was submerged beneath the seas. There were no continents protruding].

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light [This was not the original creation of the sun, but the parting of the clouds to allow sunlight to reach earth’s surface once again].

“And God saw the light, that it was good” (Genesis 1:1-4).

Study the first chapter of Genesis with the TRUTH about the RE-creation of the earth in your mind. Contrary to the belief of some, this earth could easily be 4 billion years old, or 10 billion, or 20 billion years old. There was a vast, indeterminate period of time between an earlier, perfect creation and the RE-creation of the earth just prior to the creation of Adam. During this time, God allowed Satan’s wrathful violence to prepare the earth for man’s use. Trillions of tons of coal was formed by the burial of huge rain forests. Massive, floating logjams, many hundreds of feet thick, were deposited atop drying mud, then covered with layers of heavy mud from the huge tidal bores which flooded the earth as the continents heaved. The bodies of billions of creatures were buried deep beneath thousands of feet of sediment, there to decay, and form crude oil. “Fossil” fuel is what drives all modern “developed” nations today. The symbol of one major oil company is that of a dinosaur, because much of its oil is pumped from the “Permian” basin (one of the so-called “geologic ages” of evolutionary thought) in Texas. Few realize that the thousands of products from petrochemicals utilized by average people today are formed from the buried life that once thrived in the preadamic world when Lucifer and his angels ruled the earth.

The One who created Adam was the SAME personage of the divine sovereign Elohim (called “God” in English) who became flesh, and tabernacled among us. He was the One we know as “Jesus Christ.”

Notice verse 26, “And God [Elohim: MORE than one; the One who became Christ] said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness [The two members of the divine Family called Elohim discussed creation together!]: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

“So God [Elohim] created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28). God’s word describes the appearance of God without minute detail. The Bible speaks of His eyes, His arms, His hands and His ears. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father,” yet also said, “no man hath seen God [the Father] at any time” (John 5:37). Moses was allowed to see the back parts of the One who became Christ (Exodus 33:11-23). Jesus Christ is called the “express image of His [the Father’s] person” (Hebrews 1:3). Christ is described in detail in His glorified state as John saw Him in vision: “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

“And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

“And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:13-16).

The divine Elohim designed and created man in the exact image of Elohim, or God. The One who did the actual creating was the one we know of as “Jesus Christ!”

Thus began the great PLAN of God! Our heavenly Father is begetting CHILDREN! He is re-creating in HIS OWN IMAGE!

Millions know nothing of God’s great PLAN. They remain IGNORANT of the very purpose for the creation of mankind; ignorant of the awesome HUMAN POTENTIAL! It is the knowledge about God’s great PLAN, and the great, GOOD news about how you and I can participate in it which is the BEST NEWS you could ever hear!

The PLAN Of God

Millions suppose this world to be like a “soul factory.” Through pagan superstitions, they suppose that each human being is imbued with an “immortal soul” which is somehow brought into being at each human birth.

Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists; dozens and dozens of denominations, sects and church organizations believe in the “immortality of the soul.” To them, death means the “soul” departs the body, to live CONSCIOUSLY either in an ever-burning “hell fire,” or in heaven, with God. Each day, thousands upon thousands of human babies are born. Each day, thousands upon thousands of humans die. The traditional concept is that, unless those “souls” are “saved,” they are “lost.” If “lost,” they are consigned to burn for ever and ever in “hell.”

Millions of sermons have been preached over centuries, depicting the agonies of the traditional idea of “hell.” Preachers have described how your hair catches fire; how your eyebrows burn off; how your fingers and toes are blistered—described, in detail, how a HUMAN BODY burns!

If some curious member of their congregation should ask, “Yes, but do souls have nerve endings?” or, “Do souls have hair?” or, “Do souls look like male and female?”

The minister, no doubt a bit unsettled by such logic, might tell the curious one not to worry; that it is not “physical” fire but “spiritual” fire, burning “spiritual hair,” or affecting “spiritual nerves.”

The concept of the “immortal soul” is found nowhere in the Bible. For decades, I have offered a “$10,000 certified cashier’s check” to anyone who can find the words “immortal soul,” or “immortality of the soul” in the Bible. No such phrase is in God’s word.

Instead, God’s word speaks of the human SPIRIT. “There IS A SPIRIT in man,” Job declared (Job 32:8). David prayed, “Into thine hand I commit MY SPIRIT” (Psalms 31:5). Solomon wrote, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly” (Proverbs 20:27).

The Hebrew word translated “soul” in the English language is nephesh. It is used in many, many ways, but never to connote anything “immortal” or eternal. It is used several times in the first chapter of Genesis of lower life forms, such as “creatures” before it is ever used of man. Bullinger’s Companion Bible contains many notes on this subject, as well as a thorough study of the Hebrew word in one of its appendices. The word nephesh is also translated as “body.” Notice one outstanding example among dozens, “He that toucheth the dead body [Hebrew: nephesh] of any man shall be unclean seven days” (Numbers 19:11). Nephesh can be rendered “that thing, that one, he, it, life, body, being, creature,” and in many other ways. It does NOT ever connote anything eternal or immortal. God’s word uses the word “immortal” only ONCE. This is found in 1 Timothy 1:17, and says, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” This is speaking of Jesus Christ, and not of any man.

The Bible uses the word “immortality” only five times. Here are some outstanding examples: “Who [God, not any man!] only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:16).

Paul wrote, “For this corruptible [we humans, in our physical, temporal state] must put on incorruption, and this mortal [physical, susceptible to DEATH] must put onimmortality [we do not have it now].

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53,54).

Paul did not write about any so-called “immortal soul,” but wrote, instead, of the human spirit, showing how the Spirit of God unites with SPIRIT, not with flesh. He said, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

“The Spirit itself  [God’s Holy Spirit, emanating from God] beareth witness with our spirit [our human spirit; our innermost psyche, volition, will power, personality], that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:14-16).

It takes flesh uniting with flesh to create a new human being. You and I came into being at the instant our father’s sperm fertilized our mother’s egg. At that instant, two lives; two intricate PATTERNS of life in the DNA, which is like a “code” containing instructions for cellular growth, formed one NEW life! Though we were tinier than the period at the end of this sentence, we WERE IN EXISTENCE. Neither you nor I have ever been here before. We are a first time, once only, never-to-be-again human being, produced by two parents. We are human. We are members of a FAMILY. We carry the genes; the patterns of both parents. We are LIKE them, for they MADE us.

Human reproduction is a fabulous MIRACLE that man takes for granted. Life is, itself, a fabulous miracle. When God (the “Word” who became flesh) said, “Let us make man in OUR IMAGE,” He knew He was creating a man out of “red clay.” The name “Adam” is not truly so much a name as it is a designation of what the man Ish (Hebrew) truly WAS. He was made of the mud of this earth. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust [dirt] of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). This is what man BECAME. Man IS a “living soul” or “living nephesh,” which means “living being; creature; person; one; thing”; but DOES NOT mean man “has” a soul! Man IS a soul, he does not “possess” a “soul.” Notice another vitally important scripture where nephesh is translated “soul,” but where God clearly tells us that “souls” (meaning physical beings) can DIE: “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). This is repeated again in verse 20. Obviously then, the Bible term “soul” does NOT mean anything “immortal” at all, but is merely speaking of a human being; a person! Not so many years ago, it was commonplace to read of a shipwreck or airplane accident in which so many “souls” perished! This is correct usage of the term! “Souls” merely meant “individuals,” and had nothing to do with “immortality.”

You and I are made as physical prototypes of what we are to become. Just as man was made as a human, physical “type” of God, so God is creating within us a NEW CREATURE, not molded and formed by DNA according to the pattern of our parents, but molded and formed by the Holy Spirit of God, and the mind of Jesus Christ, to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST!

Creation was not completed in the Garden of Eden. It was only BEGUN!

The BEST NEWS you could EVER HEAR is found in the gospel message of Jesus Christ! It is a message about repentance of sin; about being reconciled to God; about how sin brings death, which is the penalty for breaking God’s laws, and about how Christ’s shed blood atones for our sins when we repent. More, it is the truth about why we were born; who and what we are; why we are here; where we are going! It is the breathtaking truth about our incredible human potential—our eternal destiny!

“REPENT YE, and believe the GOOD NEWS” were the first words out of Jesus’ mouth as He began preaching (Mark 1:15). Notice, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17). It is the Kingdom OF heaven, not the Kingdom “in” heaven! Mark, Luke and John all refer to it as “The Kingdom of God,” while Matthew uses the term “Kingdom of Heaven.” But both terms mean the same thing. It is the coming kingdom of God which will rule ON THIS EARTH (Revelation 2:26; Revelation 20:4).

The very first step toward becoming a member of God’s governing, ruling Family is repentance!

What Is Repentance? Repent of WHAT?

“Repent” means contrition. It means remorse; sorrow over having committed sin. Millions do not know WHAT SIN IS! Their pastors have convinced them sin is “something displeasing to God,” or that sin is “dancing, drinking, card-playing and gambling,” or that sin is “cursing, swearing, smoking and tobacco-chewing!” Tens of thousands of sermons have been preached by hoarse-voiced, shouting, perspiring “evangelists” who rail against “sin.”

But for all these thousands of sermons, virtually NONE of them ever get around to informing their listeners where the Bible definition of sin can be found!

Notice what your Bible says sin IS: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). That is what sin IS. It is the breaking of God’s LAW!

The law of God is summed up in the Ten Commandments, written with the finger of the One we know of as Jesus Christ. Now, WHICH of the ten is the one which is SO REPUGNANT to millions of church-going, professing “Christians” that they virtually HATE THE LAW?

How many sermons have you heard, railing against the commandment which says, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me?” None. How many have you heard in which the pastor condemns the laws against murder, or theft, or adultery, or striking one’s own parents? None. How many have you heard in which the pastor condemns the law against coveting? None. Not a single one.

But how many have you heard; how much have you read, trying to justify SUNDAY-observance when the fourth commandment plainly enjoins upon us the SABBATH?

Listen to the words of the one who became Christ, speaking through Isaiah: “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

“Neither let the son of the stranger [Gentile; foreigner], that hath joined himself to the LORD [Always, in the KJV the word “LORD,” when appearing in capital letters, comes from the Hebrew YHVH, sometimes pronounced “Jehovah.” This is the Logos who did the creating; the one of the divineElohim who became Christ!], speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

“For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

“Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain [a type of God’s Kingdom in the millennial reign of Christ], and make them joyful in my house of prayer…” (Isaiah 56:2-7).

“Stranger” merely meant “foreigners,” or gentiles. God called His people ISRAEL to be a nation of kings and priests. But Israel rebelled, and went after pagan gods, like those of the nations around them. Israel’s greatest national sins were always idolatry and SABBATH-breaking! Time and time again, Israel was attacked by powerful nations; her cities and villages pillaged; her citizens taken captive. Always, when the King returned to God, it was the restoration of the SABBATH days, including the ANNUAL Sabbaths of God, that resulted in God’s gracious forgiveness, and restoration of peace.

Study the great restoration under Josiah as one example! Read carefully the 34th and 35th chapters of 2 Chronicles for all the wonderful details. The priests had discovered the Book of the Law (the “Torah,” or the first five books of the Bible) in the rubble of the temple. Josiah was only a boy of eight when he ascended to the throne. At age sixteen, he began to do “…that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.”

For two years, this young king cleansed the land of the filthy idolatry that had caused such destruction. “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

“And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them [Josiah ordered the idolatrous priests to be put to death!].

“And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

“And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

“And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 34:3-7).

It was another SIX YEARS that Josiah spent in purging idolatry from among the people before Josiah felt the time was right to restore the temple to its former magnificence. When he was 26, he ordered that all the offerings that had been collected by the Levites be used to rebuild the temple (2 Chronicles 34:8-15).

Notice that when the LAW of God was discovered in the rubble of the ruined, neglected temple of God, Josiah asked that Shaphan read it to him “And Shaphan read it before the king.

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes” [a sign of great humility and repentance]…[he then said]…”Go, inquire of the LORD [the one who became Christ!] for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:18-21).

Josiah then declared national repentance, and immediately began to celebrate the PASSOVER and the Days of Unleavened Bread, which were upon them. “And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days [Read Leviticus 23].

“And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

“In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept” (2 Chronicles 35:16-18).

Always, when a righteous leader turned away from idolatry and Sabbath-breaking, the most outstanding example of national repentance was a return to God’s holy days and His Sabbaths; a return to the LAW of God.

Repentance means to be deeply sorry for one’s sins, and to return to the LAW of God! Sin is the breaking of the LAW. To repent of sin means to be deeply sorry one has broken God’s holy LAW! To turn away from sin is to turn TOWARD God’s law!

Thousands of sermons have been preached AGAINST God’s law! Thousands of sermons have been preached which deceive people into believing one is attempting to EARN salvation; obtain salvation by WORKS if one OBEYS GOD! Nonsense! Sheer foolishness! You and I did not EARN our citizenship. If you live in a free country, such as the United States, you automatically, by right of birth, enjoy many, many freedoms. You have the right to assemble; to practice your religion, to speak your mind, to write to anyone, expressing your beliefs. You have the right to disagree with government. But if you BREAK THE LAW, such as going out and robbing a bank, you can LOSE your freedom!

Supposing a bank robber was caught, went to trial, and, because of extenuating circumstances, the judge put the robber on probation. Perhaps it wasn’t a real gun. Perhaps his children were starving. What does the judge say to the repentant would-be robber? Does he say “You are free to go—free to go out and rob any number of banks you wish“? Because someone has BROKEN THE LAW, and repents of having done so, does the LAW go away? No, the judge sternly warns the man to never attempt to rob another bank!

By living a life free from bank-robbing, does the repentant thief EARN the freedom the judge allowed him to maintain? Of course not!

In the same fashion, when we repent of BREAKING GOD’S LAWS, we do not EARN God’s loving forgiveness; His freely-given, gracious pardon which leads us to salvation in Christ. Salvation is the GIFT of God! Never, in one thousand lifetimes of 100 years each, living perfectly within God’s laws, could we EARN salvation! But by BREAKING His laws we EARN something! We earn “wages.” And the “payoff” we earn is DEATH!

Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death; but the giftof God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

You and I are carnal, flesh and blood human creatures. Of and by ourselves, we are imbued with a physical, fleshly CARNAL mind. God says, “For to be carnally minded [the normal, unconverted human mind with all the physical, fleshly appetites and desires] is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:6,7). By our very natures, we tend toward antagonism against authority. Human nature wants to SIN; live a life of least resistance; indulge every whim, notion, fancy, thought, appetite–but not have to suffer theconsequences. When we were children, we learned that fire burns; that sharp things cut; that rocks, door jams, coffee tables, car doors and dull objects bruise; that such things cause pain. We don’t like pain, so, hopefully, after some minor burns, we learn to quit touching a stove, or an oven; after a number of cuts, we try to be more careful around knives and sharp objects; after a number of bruises, we try to avoid colliding with things.

Yet, spiritually and morally, there are many, many things in life which cut, bruise, and burn the conscience, or the innermost heart of man. The Bible speaks of habitual liars, whose “conscience is seared with a hot iron,” who, as is said, “would lie when the truth would do better.” Habitual lying can eventually sear the conscience, until the liar feels no remorse whatsoever. Lying becomes like a game; like a way of life. A few decades ago, some comedian first came up with the expression, “Would you believe…?” in answer to a question. In other words, it makes no difference what the TRUTH of the matter is—what is the person willing to believe is the truth? The expression has become commonplace today.

Without realizing it, millions of church-going, professing “Christian” people are antagonistic against God and His laws.

They want to “love” the Lord. They want to “praise His name,” and to express all kinds of “Christian” forms of worship. But they don’t want to OBEY Him! They want Him as their “Savior,” and their “best Friend,” and their “Lord.” But they don’t want Him as their BOSS!

There was a quaint “country western” song not so long ago which contained the words, “I’ll love you forever if I want to!” The idea is expressed that the one singing the song has been rejected by a former lover. Nevertheless; even though the rejected one has been told to get lost, he or she says, spitefully, “I’ll love you forever if I want to” (Pronounced, “Ah’ll luv yew ferever if ah wont to!”).

This sums up the ATTITUDE of many a professing “Christian.” THEY will decide. THEY will determine if, where, when, how and why. They will “love” God when they get good and ready, and in the manner in which they wish. Many a tobacco-chewing, cursing, Sabbath-breaking man will speak of the “good Lord” almost casually, as if he had some relationship with Christ. Many are self-deceived into believing that they will settle all accounts on their deathbed, or when they are taken to the hospital with emphyzema or cancer. Then, they reason, they will talk to the “GOOD Lord” about everything.

No. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus commanded all men “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel!” He didn’t say “Just believe, and live life any old way you wish.”

These ones do not understand that God has not left it up to us to decide HOW we will worship Him, but only WHETHER!

God is the One who is the RULER! He is our CREATOR, who gives us every breath of life we breathe!

Repentance from SIN means to be deeply sorrowful that we have broken God’s Ten Commandments. James wrote, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

“For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:10-12). This applies to EVERY ONE of the Ten Commandments! Your Bible says that anyone who breaks, for instance, the FOURTH commandment is also guilty of the crime of murder, or of robbery! In other words, no one of the ten takes precedence over another. God does not allow us to “select” which ones of His laws we “like,” or which ones we agree with. God does not give us the choice of HOW we worship Him—only whether! Notice that God’s law is the standard of judgmentof human conduct, and that it is called the “law of LIBERTY!” Millions view God’s law as restrictive; as a burdensome, unwanted yoke of bondage.

As we already saw, the very first words out of Jesus Christ’s mouth as He began delivering the BEST NEWS YOU COULD EVER HEAR were “Repent ye, and believe the GOODNEWS!”

The Kingdom Parables

But “good news” ABOUT WHAT?

Jesus called His message the “good news of the KINGDOM OF GOD.”

If I were to write about the “Kingdom of Great Britain,” or the “Kingdom of Norway,” or the “Kingdom of Thailand,” you would know, immediately, that I am speaking of a literal kingdom on this earth; a land where a royal person sits on a throne as a ruler. But when most read of the “Kingdom of God” in the Bible they immediately “spiritualize it away!” Centuries ago, men believed that the “Holy Roman Empire” was the “Kingdom of God” on earth! Many Catholic writers claimed that the “stone which smote the image on his feet” (Daniel 2:44) was the rise of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE! Some began to teach, during the heyday of the British Empire, that IT was the “kingdom of God” on this earth!

But this is nonsense. Christ spoke of HIS coming kingdom which will rule this world with a rod of iron for 1,000 years. Read Revelation 20:4; Revelation 2:26 and 3:21. Study the second half of the 19th chapter of Revelation, which describes the second coming of Christ, the annihilation of the beast and false prophet and their armies! These scriptures are not spiritual fantasies, or “pie in the sky” promises, but real predictions of what WILL take place on this earth in YOUR LIFETIME!

Jesus Christ continually spoke of His coming Kingdom. He spoke of its inestimable VALUE; of its EXTENT; of its REWARDS, and HOW one must enter into it.

Notice a few of His famous “Kingdom parables.”

“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

“When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom [the GOOD NEWS about Christ’s coming Kingdom], and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

“Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word [perhaps because family and friends believe he has taken up with some “weird” religion!] , by and by he is offended.

“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful [“Success” today is measured by the size of one’s bank account!] .

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23).

Notice how true to human nature! For many decades, my father before me and I have preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God to MILLIONS of people around the world! During the late 1950’s, all through the 1960’s and into the mid `70’s, I was heard by perhaps 30 million Americans each week! We BLANKETED the nations of Canada, Australia, the Philippines and the United States with RADIO! For decades, we were on HUNDREDS of radio stations; by 1978, 360 of them in the U.S. alone, as well as 165 television stations!

MILLIONS heard! But MOST of them “received seed by the wayside.” They “enjoyed” the broadcasts. They listened. Hundreds of thousands of truck drivers would listen up to four or five times in the same night as they drove across country! But only a precious FEW received “seed into the good ground.” Only a FEW let it take root, grow, and flower into real understanding, so that they ACTED on it.

Others began requesting literature; began studying their Bibles. Eventually, some were baptized, and began attending church. But, like those who “received seed among the thorns,” they allowed pressures from family and friends, or disappointment in “church politics,” or the “deceitfulness of riches” and the daily concerns of this life to “choke” the seed, and eventually drifted back into the world from whence they had come.

Christ then explained that we all DIFFER in degrees of education and ability; that some become truly fruitful—as He said “an hundredfold,” while others only grow comparatively little, spiritually.

Christ likened the Kingdom of God to leaven; showing how the word of God spreads slowly, like leaven in dough prepared for cooking, until finally, massive numbers have heard: “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Mat. 13:33).

He spoke of a “mustard seed”, one of the tiniest of seeds, representing the kingdom. He showed how it starts small, yet grows into a large plant—so large birds could rest in it! This was analogous to Christ’s own ministry, and that of the early New Testament church. It is also analogous to God’s work today! Christ said, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it [this is the “open door” of mass communication; of radio, television, the printed page, personal evangelism, the “Internet”, over which Christ’s GOOD NEWS can be delivered!]: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev. 3:7,8).

Christ spoke plainly about His second coming; about how He would descend from heaven to establish His globe-girdling, world-ruling kingdom! It is only those who are wholly ignorant of His powerful prophecies and the GOOD NEWS He brought who could believe His kingdom is “here, now.”

Christ said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days [described in the preceding verses] shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken [see Rev. 6 for another description of these “heavenly signs” which will precede the Day of the Lord, and Christ’s return]:

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

The dead in Christ will rise (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) to meet the living saints in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and to then descend to the Mount of Olives! “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle [the “Battle of Armageddon”].

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3,4).

Notice John’s visionary description of Christ’s return: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself.

“And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations [by divine COMMAND, Christ will cause the destruction of hundreds of thousands of those who will try to FIGHT Him at His second coming! Read Zechariah 14:12, which describes how their flesh will consume from their bones while they stand!]: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

“And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

“…And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-21).

Does this sound like something which has ALREADY OCCURRED? Yet, there are some who would “spiritualize away” the coming Kingdom of God, and deceive people into believing it is HERE, now!

Are YOU Experiencing The Joys Of God’s Kingdom?

Today, many protestant evangelicals teach and write that the “Kingdom of God is HERE, NOW,” in the form of the CHURCH! They say all one must do is “enter” it, meaning receive Christ as Savior, and become a member of their church!

Such utter, ludicrous nonsense!

LOOK at this filthy, war-torn, disease-ridden, crime-filled world today! The vast majority of mankind lives in unbelievable poverty. Infant mortality, endemic disease, drought, famine, starvation, squalor, crime, pollution; a lack of the basic necessities of life is the daily way of life for countless millions in such nations as China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, and HUNDREDS more! In the “developed” countries such as Britain and Europe, Canada and the United States, political corruption, pollution, organized crime, rape, arson, robbery, graft, “white collar crime,” theft, murder, sickness and disease, the spread of AIDS, and horrible WEATHER are the daily fare! Because people have FORGOTTEN GOD, God has turned His back on them!

The CURSES God promised would come upon His people if they rejected Him are HERE WITH US NOW!

Listen to what God—the One who became Jesus Christ, said would be the reward of those who keep His laws—the very principles of life which would give us every blessing we could ever want: “Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

“If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

“And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

“And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

“And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

“And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

“For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

“And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

“And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people” (Leviticus 25:2-12).

Could any nation be any more richly BLESSED than to have such bountiful crops that the “plowman overtakes the reaper”? Think of it! No taxation, no military conscription, no sickness or disease, no WARS, and therefore no huge federal government taxing its citizens into poverty to support billions of dollars in military costs!

But Israel did NOT obey God, and did NOT receive such blessings except for some very brief periods of time under a rare king who followed God’s laws. The modern descendants of those same people are not obeying God’s laws today!

Now, notice a description of exactly what we see all around us—the very things we DO NOT WANT, and what many of us experience every day: “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

“And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

“I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes [colds and flues, pneumonia, and diseases like measles which can cause blindness] and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

“And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

“And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

“And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass [drought!]:

“And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

“And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

“I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

“And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

“Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

“And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

“And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

“And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

“Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

“And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

“And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

“And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

“And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it” (Leviticus 26:14-37).

A parallel description is given in great detail in Deuteronomy 28. Notice only a few brief excerpts: “The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

“And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

“The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:22-24).

These ominous scriptures plainly tell us that when we OBEY GOD’S LAWS, we reap the AUTOMATIC blessings and benefits that come with our obedience! God’s laws reach into every aspect of life; into business, agriculture, industry, education; marriage and the home. When we obey God’s laws, we are blessed. When we break His laws, we are cursed.

The one we know of as “Jesus Christ” in the New Testament was the member of the divine Godhead, Elohimwho pronounced all these things! He cried out, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

God sets before us a CHOICE.

He then urges us to CHOOSE RIGHTLY—choose the way of blessings and benefits; the way of good health, bounteous crops, good weather, happy marriages, healthy, obedient children, and an absence of disease, heavy taxation and war!

By REFUSING TO CHOOSE GOD’S WAY of life, people AUTOMATICALLY make the wrong choice! God does not allow us to decide HOW we will worship Him—only WHETHER!

All of us make daily choices. But most make the wrongchoices. What we see all around us is the result of mankind making the wrong choice at every turn. Carnal, God-rejecting, law-breaking human nature wants to live the way of least resistance; the way of sin, and then have God remove the penalty! Remember, it was the One who became Jesus Christ who delivered all the wonderful promises of blessings for obedience we read above. But it was also the SAME One who delivered the ominous curses for sin; the very things that make up our daily news!

Are YOU living “in the Kingdom of God” right now? What utter nonsense!

“You Must Be Born Again”

Now, it is time to understand the miraculous process by which you and I can finally enter into the Kingdom of God! As we have already seen proved, your Bible says the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected from their graves to meet the returning Christ in the air. Those who are “alive and remain” will be “caught up” together WITH the resurrected dead, to be transported to meet Jesus Christ as He descends to the Mount of Olives.

But at that moment in time, none of these; not those who died long ago, and who are the “dead in Christ,” nor those who died only a few years or a few weeks previously; not any who are the living, will be transported to meet Christ in their physical, human state!

No, they will have been CHANGED, instantly!

They will now have become SPIRIT BEINGS; inducted into the growing Family of “God” (Elohim), to become “co-heirs with Christ,” and to RULE with Him in His kingdom!

Notice what Paul wrote, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians15:50-53). It is only by understanding this miraculous CHANGE from flesh and blood to spirit; from human to divine, that we can understand the words Christ spoke to Nicodemus.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

“Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6). Study this passage very carefully. It contains marvelous, yet simple truths which are not understood by millions of professing, church-going Christians.

Nicodemus did not remotely understand Christ to use any words or phrases which indicated Jesus was speaking of a “religious experience!” Yet, millions believe this passage says Christ wants us to “speak in tongues,” or to “receive Christ” as Savior.

But Nicodemus heard no such thing. He heard Christ use the word which is commonly used for “birth,” whether the birth of a human, or a dog, or a horse, or a camel! This is the ONLY explanation which satisfies Nicodemus’ startled (and perhaps a bit crude) rejoinder. He wanted to know HOW could any man enter into the womb of his MOTHER, and be “born again,” meaning Nicodemus knew Jesus was using the word for any kind of BIRTH, and not a word which means a “religious experience!”

The PROOF is contained in the entire passage. You and I are FLESH! We are living, physical, air-breathing, water-drinking, food-ingesting human beings. But we CANNOT enter into God’s kingdom in our human, physical state. As Paul wrote, we must be CHANGED!

Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh IS flesh [that is what you and I ARE], and that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT! They are then COMPOSED of Spirit, and no longer composed of FLESH!

When Jesus had been resurrected from the dead, He was able to manifest Himself physically, yet He was now BORN OF GOD by the resurrection! Do you doubt this? Turn to and read it in your own Bible! “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

The stone which sealed Jesus’ tomb was not rolled back to allow Christ to step out of the tomb—it was rolled back to LET THE WORLD LOOK IN! Christ had walked through solid stone many hours earlier! Notice how Christ could walk right though stone in His REBORN Spirit state:

John wrote of “doubting Thomas'” experience, when Christ in His Spirit state, walked right through a solid wall, then “materialized” right in front of His startled disciples: “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:26-29).

Christ was the FIRSTBORN from the dead; the very FIRST human being to be miraculously changed from flesh and blood into Spirit!

Notice, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [are dead].

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive [in the future; at the resurrection. They do not go immediately to heaven in a disembodied “soul” when they die!].

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; AFTERWARD [and not one split second before!] they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:19-23). Read over once again the scriptures we saw from 1 Thessalonians and Zechariah 14.

Now, go back to John’s 3rd chapter once again, and see how PLAIN Jesus Christ made everything to Nicodemus: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth [wherever it will], and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so IS every one that is born of the Spirit [that is what they ARE—they BECOME SPIRIT!].

“Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:7-13).

Jesus explained to Nicodemus how a spirit being is like the wind; INVISIBLE—how one can hear the wind around the eaves of one’s house, or sighing through the trees, but cannot see it. He said that is how one who is finally BORN OF THE SPIRIT shall become!

Notice, in passing, that Jesus said NO MAN had “ascended up to heaven.” Go back, and review what you have read. Remember that flesh and blood cannot enter God’s Kingdom. Christ said we must be “born of the Spirit,” and Paul said we must be CHANGED in a moment, in the “twinkling of an eye” at the last trump.

Now, let’s understand the miraculous PROCESS by which Almighty God, the Great Elohim; Father and Son, are enlarging their Spirit family!

The Human Family And The God Family

You and I are unique. There is no one else exactly like you; no one else with your fingerprints, your exact shape, texture of skin, texture and color of hair—especially, no one else with your own mind and personality.

Where did you come from? How did you get here? Why, by being conceived by your father, and being born from your mother’s womb, of course. When did you first exist? At the moment of conception! Moments BEFORE that event, there was only the POTENTIAL for your existence. There was equal potential for hundreds of thousands of others, who, while they would have been the child of your parents, they would not have been YOU!

When you and I were conceived, we were smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. Yet, because of our father’s DNA in his sperm, and our mother’s genetic code in her egg, all that you were to become; your general physiognomy, height, shape, texture of skin, color of eyes and hair—all was determined by the miraculous, microscopic “genetic code” from your two parents.

At the instant of conception, you were BEGOTTEN, but you would not be BORN for another nine months! The Greek word gennao means BOTH the process of birth and begettal. Notice that Jesus Christ was called the “first begotten”: “For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:5,6).

Jesus Christ was very God, composed of SPIRIT. But He “emptied Himself,” came down to this earth to become a human fetus in the womb of a lovely, righteous, virginal woman, Mary. God’s word says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God [He was the Logos; a part of Elohim, as we have seen]:

“But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7). The Diaglott, translating literally from the Greek, says, “Himself emptied,” and in the margin, “divesting Himself.” Thus, the One who was to become the FIRST BEGOTTEN among all mankind from the Father, and the One who was to eventually become the FIRSTBORN among all mankind began life in human, physical form just as you and I did.

THINK of it! If these statements were written in a science fiction novel, people would be intrigued; fascinated! But the TRUTH really IS “stranger than fiction!” As I said at the beginning, many people are very excited about the possibility of LIFE in outer space; about “creatures” from other planets. There IS life in space—MILLIONS of angels; God the Father, Christ the Son, the twenty-four Elders, cherubim and seraphim, Gabriel and Michael, the two loyal, faithful archangels—all exist in what we refer to as SPACE. We have no concept whatsoever as to the location of the “third heaven” described by Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). But in that “third heaven” dwell the RULERS of the WHOLE UNIVERSE! Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father on high, waiting until the moment when He will once again launch Himself toward this earth, this time at the head of MILLIONS OF ANGELS! This time, He is coming to CONQUER, and to RULE! May He come SOON, even as He instructed us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come!”

But nearly two thousand years ago, the great One who is called “I AM,” and “JEHOVAH”, and the Logos who was one of the two members of the Elohim LEFT heaven, came down to this earth, and “divested Himself” of His glory He had with the Father from ALL ETERNITY (something our limited human minds cannot begin to fathom!), became a tiny HUMAN LIFE; a developing fetus in the womb of a wonderful, sweet, meek, righteous virgin called Mary! He was BORN of God by the resurrection; changed once again to His SPIRIT form, but He was BEGOTTEN of God from the womb, having the Holy Spirit “without measure” from birth.

Notice further, “So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

“As He saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

“Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared;

“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;

“And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:5-10). Look at the rich truth in these precious and beautiful verses! They are a great PART of the BEST NEWS you could ever hear! Jesus Christ is in heaven. He is ALIVE. He promised His church, “I will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you!” He is our DAILY HIGH PRIEST, turning to His Father in intercession for us when we pray with broken hearts and humble spirits, asking forgiveness for our sins and faults. He KNOWS what it is to strive against the flesh, for He did so—PERFECTLY, with “strong crying and TEARS” during His sojourn here among His own creation.

Notice that He is the Author of salvation to those who OBEY Him, not just those who “believe on Him!”

Just as this great Visitor from space made we human beings in the very physical image of the divine Family called Elohim, so, through the process of repentance, forgiveness, baptism, and the begettal with the Holy Spirit of God, He is forming, recreating IN HIS SPIRITUAL image! He is RECREATING after HIS OWN KIND!

“A New Creature In Christ”

When you and I were conceived, we were a NEW CREATION! We had never been here before. We were (and are) utterly unique. One of a kind. The first time ever—never to be, in exactly the same shape and form; with the exact same personality, again! For only seconds, just prior to our physical conception, we were in competition with millions of potential brothers and sisters. There was a momentary “window of opportunity” before us. WE WON! We are HERE, while millions of potential members of our families LOST OUT. They did not succeed in becoming conceived as a new, never-before, separate human being.

When God places His Holy Spirit with OUR HUMAN SPIRIT, we become, at the instant of spiritual conception, a NEW SPIRITUAL CREATURE!

Let the rich words of God sink down into your mind and heart, and BELIEVE the awesome, BEST NEWS you could ever hear! Paul likened the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit as a “baptism” into the “body of Christ,” which is the ever-growing FAMILY of God: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit [using the analogy of water for God’s Spirit—common in scripture]” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Earlier, Paul had told the Corinthian brethren, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). God’s Holy Spirit is the power, life, mind, nature and character of God!

Peter spoke of this. He wrote, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:3, 4). When you and I were conceived, we were given, in microscopic, invisible physical form, a part of the very NATURE of our two parents! We are LIKE them, for they created us and brought us into being.

God’s word uses many physical analogies to help our human minds to comprehend spirit. His Holy Spirit is likened unto fire, as an example. Study Acts the 2nd chapter. Read how His Spirit appeared visibly like leaping tongues of flame, forming crowns, parting from the ceiling and slowly settling on the heads of each of the twelve disciples! Here were Christ’s disciples, now begotten with the Holy Spirit, speaking with power and conviction about the resurrection of Christ and His coming Kingdom; their hair appearing to be on fire, and not a single one singed!

The Spirit of God is also analogous to water. It was said to have been “poured out.” Notice, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spiritupon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and  your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

“And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17,18). Notice carefully the language of this quotation by Peter from the prophet Joel. God says He will “pour out of HIS SPIRIT” upon human beings. Such language does not admit to the concept of the Holy Spirit of God being a “third person” of the Godhead! The word “trinity” is NOWHERE in the Bible. Instead, the Bible speaks of the “Spirit of the Father” and the “Spirit of the Son,” either one of which is called “Holy,” since the One who gives the Spirit is Holy.

Jesus, speaking in Solomon’s porch on the “Last Great Day” of the Feast of Tabernacles, said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water [that is, out of his innermost being; from the “heart” should flow “rivers” of the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit].

“(But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:37-39).

There are many other references to the Spirit which are analogous to water. Water is the essence of life. It is pure. It cleanses, washes, scours, and makes clean. It is a solvent. Describing how God’s Holy Spirit can cleanse us as we read and study His word, Paul wrote, “That He might sanctify and cleanse it [the church] with the washing of water by [through] the word” (Ephesians 5:26).

As we saw in the exchange between Christ and Nicodemus, the Spirit is also likened unto wind, or the air. Invisible, yet powerful! Again, we must have water to live. We live on a “watery planet,” the only one known. We are about 98% water. We must breathe the air around us, extracting the life-giving oxygen from it. Without fire to warm us, to cook our food, to effect chemical change in the elements of the earth, we could not survive.

God’s Holy Spirit does not come into our kneecap, or our elbow, or our thumb. Instead, He begets a NEW SPIRITUAL CREATURE by uniting His life-giving Spirit with OUR HUMAN SPIRIT!

Notice this profound truth: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [“sonship,” implying far more than mere adoption, but actual begettal], whereby we cry, `Abba,’ Father.

“The Spirit itself [God’s Holy Spirit] beareth witness with our spirit [our human spirit; the “spirit in man”], that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17). In these four verses is contained some of the most profound truth of the ages! The truth is not only ASTONISHING, it is the BEST NEWS YOU COULD EVER HEAR!

Read each one of these precious words slowly, comprehending each one, digesting this fabulous truth, BELIEVING it!

It was when the life of your father united with the life of your mother that TWO living cells combined to form ONE NEW LIFE! When that moment occurred, your human father had GIVEN YOU YOUR LIFE! At the instant you were conceived; not a moment before, YOU came into being! It is our Creator who designed the human reproductive process. He is the CREATOR. How completely natural that the great miracle of human reproduction should portray to us the very plan of God. Notice that God says His Holy Spirit witnesses with OUR HUMAN spirit that WE ARE HIS CHILDREN! Thus life united with LIFE to produce NEW life!

When we repent of sins, are baptized, and have hands laid upon us, we are at that moment begotten! A NEW, never before spiritual creature is conceived in spirit form! A new spiritual creation has occurred.

Because of this, we call God our “FATHER!” This is not a mere theological title, or a name of respect. It is a FACT! He IS our real spiritual FATHER! When you said “daddy” or “dad,” or “father” to your human parent, you were calling him what he IS; the one who begat you; who gave you your life! When we pray, as Jesus Christ commanded us to do, to our spiritual Father in Heaven, we are addressing Him by what He IS—our FATHER! We are His offspring! We are to finally be BORN into His family!

Read the rest of the passage above slowly and carefully: “…if children, then HEIRS; heirs of God…” And what does God own? What does He have? He says, “All the silver and gold is MINE.” He has ALL POWER. He possesses ETERNAL LIFE. He is the RULER of the vast universe! If you were the sole heir to a multi-billionaire, what would you inherit? Why, everything he had!

What did Christ inherit? Eternal life! Glory! Many Crowns! A KINGDOM! RULERSHIP OVER THE WHOLE EARTH FOR ONE THOUSAND YEARS, and rulership of the whole universe on into eternity!

Now, notice, “…and JOINT-heirs WITH CHRIST!”

That means equal sharing!

Can you comprehend it? Will your mind permit you to accept it? Can you see what your God is telling you in His sacred word?

YOU were born to become a SPIRIT BEING! You were born merely as a temporary, human, physical prototype! You are to be begotten of God’s Spirit; to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ until you become more and more LIKE Him; to eventually be either CHANGED in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, or to be resurrected from the dead; to be caught up to meet the returning, conquering Christ in the air; to descend with Him on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, and to RULE the nations of this earth with a rod of iron for 1,000 years!

Notice now how Paul explains this marvelous, breathtaking truth: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You and I were, at the instant of conception, NEW CREATURES. We were HERE, in tiny, microscopic form.

The instant God places His Holy Spirit with a repentant human spirit, a spiritual conception has taken place; a begettal! Just as we had to be nurtured in our mother’s womb for nine months until we were ready to be born, draw our first breath, and begin living apart from our mother’s umbilical, so we will not finally be ready to be BORN of God to begin life in a new and different form, until the resurrection, or the time of instantaneous change!

God Is A Family

The use of familial terms in the word of God is not merely to sound “spiritual.” Jesus Christ said, “My Father is GREATER than I,” and continually referred to His Father in heaven. Why? Because Christ was BEGOTTEN of the Father from the womb!

We have already read, in Hebrews 1:5, how Paul wrote, “For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art MY SON, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a son?”

God (Elohim) reveals to us the presence of a FATHER and a SON. Jesus said “I and My Father are one,” obviously meaning that the two of them are in perfect agreement; perfect harmony; perfect unanimity of Spirit. Yet, He also said, “My Father is greater than I,” and said He had come to “reveal” the Father. Continually, He insisted the BEST NEWS YOU COULD EVER HEAR was about your personal destiny; about the coming world-ruling Kingdom of God on this earth which was delivered to Him by His Father! He said, “I speak that which I have seen with my Father…” (John 8:38). Read the entire 8th chapter of John, where Jesus continually referred to His Father. He said, “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

“And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

“It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

“I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

“Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” (John 8:15-19).

It is utterly nonsensical to believe in the “Jesus only” doctrine as taught by some churches. One would have to rip out of the Bible many, many plain statements of Jesus Christ Himself, as well as many of the prophecies. Remember, as we read at the beginning, Elohim means more than one! “Elohim said, Let US make man in OUR image.”

Though there are hints in the Psalms about Father and Son, and obvious reference to both in Daniel’s visions, it remained for Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, to REVEAL the presence of the FATHER of the divine Elohim.

Jesus commands us, that, when (not “if”) we pray, we should say, “Our FATHER, which art in heaven…” The Bible uses many familial terms to demonstrate the spiritual relationship of each of us. We are the “children” of God. His “offspring.” Christ is the “First-begotten” among all living humans. We are “brothers and sisters” in Christ. Christ referred to His disciples as His “brethren.”

The pagan doctrine of the “trinity”, accepted back in 325 AD at the Council of Nicaea as proposed by Anathasias, obfuscates the real truth about the divine sovereign FAMILY of persons called Elohim.

The nations of this earth are FAMILIES grown large. The word “nation” has to do with BIRTH. The prefix “nat” is found in “nativity,” “natal,” “pre-natal,” “natural,” and so-on. When God changed the name of Abram to Abraham (which meant “Father of many nations”), He said, “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

“Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

“And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations [plural! This is not referring to `that One Seed,’ which is Christ, but to multiple seed!] for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Genesis 17:3-7).

Abraham is the progenitor of all the modern nations of ten-tribed Israel, as well as many of the Arab nations! His nephew Lot is the progenitor of Moab and Ammon, probably some of the peoples of Iraq and Jordan. Esau, Jacob’s brother, is the progenitor of the Turkish people.

A family became a clan. A clan became a tribe. A tribe became a “nation.” Of course, there is a wide difference between a political entity, like a modern “state” and a “family of people” who might live within such a state. Few national borders recognize purely ethnic differences. For example, Belgium is made up of two main stocks: Flemish and Walloons, plus many French, Germans, Dutch, and others.

Jesus Christ showed that He is going to return to this earth to set up the KINGDOM OF GOD! But the Kingdom of God is much, much more than a ruling POLITICAL government. It is a RULING FAMILY into which YOU AND I MUST BE BORN!

By analogy, the monarchies of the world were FAMILIES, ruling over dozens of nations down through history. In Europe, England, Scotland, Wales; even in Germany and Russia, those families were often related. One was BORN to be a king or queen, not elected!

This same analogy is used in God’s word! Notice, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people [children!] of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9,10). Many times, the re-born children of God are described as KINGS AND PRIESTS in God’s kingdom—having obtained their exalted station and their scepter of rulership by right of BIRTH: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).

Notice another example: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9,10).

A throne is an official chair of state. It connotes RULERSHIP. Notice John’s vision of Christ’s coming Kingdom: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

The great FAMILY OF GOD will be a RULING FAMILY of Kings and Priests—sharing CO-REGENCY with Jesus Christ during the millennium: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

WHY is this not understood by so many millions of professing Christians? WHY do they IGNORE these grand, glorious promises? WHY would anyone deliberately turn their back on the BEST NEWS THEY COULD EVER HEAR?

“REPENT Ye, and BELIEVE The BEST NEWS YOU COULD EVER HEAR!”

As we saw at the beginning, millions of professing, church-going Christians have “received Christ” (or so they think). They “believe on Him,” even though they know next to nothing about Him! They adore the MESSENGER, but they have TOTALLY IGNORED THE MESSAGE He brought from His Father! How GLORIOUS is the truth of God compared to the dark, pagan superstitions of the “immortality of the soul,” and “going to heaven” when you die! There are no nations needing rulership with a rod of iron up in heaven! Jesus Christ of Nazareth promises CO-RULERSHIP with HIM over this entire earth!

That is the heart and core of the gospel! Christ came, proclaiming that He was the very Son of the Father; God (Elohim) in the flesh! He came to set us an example, that we should live as He lived. He came to qualify as the future King of kings and Lord of lords. He came to disqualify the present evil world ruler, Satan. He came to die for the sins of all mankind. He came to be resurrected to sit at the right hand of the Father until His enemies be made His footstool. He came to become our daily HIGH PRIEST, making intercession for us to the Father. And He is COMING BACK TO THIS EARTH AGAIN a LOT SOONER than most think!

Notice what Christ promises you and me! “And he that over-cometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

“And I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:26,27). Keeping the WORKS of Christ means believing all His wondrous miracles; believing in everything He taught; believing and obeying His EXAMPLE, and obeying His great COMMISSION to His church! It means “holding fast to the faith once delivered to the Saints,” never wavering, never deviating, never turning away from God’s truth! It means DOING THE WORK that Christ has set before us of preaching the BEST NEWS THIS WORLD COULD EVER HEAR as a witness, and, if people reject it, a warning about what is coming in the future!

This is no empty promise! It is LITERAL! Do you know of nations which need the divine RULERSHIP of Almighty God? How about Saddam Hussein, and Iraq? How about Libya, or Syria, or Bosnia, or Northern Ireland, or Korea, or China, or India? How about Zimbabwe, or Rwanda, or Angola, or Kenya? Yes, and HOW ABOUT THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA, and every other nation on earth?

Think of it!

A time when GOD’S LAWS will be ENFORCED on all the peoples of this earth—and the offer to YOU, that YOU can have a part in abolishing war; doing away with all crime and violence—bringing PEACE to this war-torn, sin-sick world at last!

God promises, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house [a mountain is a symbol of government] shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares [converting tanks into tractors] , and their spears into pruning hooks [converting rifles into rakes and hoes]: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Can anything be BETTER news? No more poverty, squalor, sickness or disease! No more heavy taxation, or military conscription. No more CRIME or violence! No more cheating, lying, conniving politicians to exploit the people. No more WAR! Think of your children and grandchildren; of the world in which they must live today. Then, let your mind picture the glories of the reign of Jesus Christ and His re-born Saints, as a part of the governing, ruling FAMILY OF GOD, now grown great into the KINGDOM of God!

Micah was inspired to write almost identical words, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

“But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:1-4).

There are many beautiful scriptures which portray to us the glorious reign of Christ and the Family of God on earth. Perhaps none is quite so inspiring as Isaiah’s 11th chapter, however. He wrote, “But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked [justice will be JUST, and it will be SWIFT!].

“And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

“And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

“They [neither wild animals, snakes, nor men] shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:4-9).

WHY would any human being REJECT the stupendous, breath-taking, amazing, marvelous GOOD NEWS about Christ’s coming kingdom? When I consider all of God’s word that we have seen in this booklet, and then look into the faces of my precious grandchildren—when I think of all the suffering children of the world; of all the poverty, disease, starvation, floods, famines, fires, wars—when I think of all the heartache, misery, distress and pain among so many millions—it is then that I realize that God has given me the BEST NEWS I COULD EVER HEAR! Thank God our Savior, and praise to His great and holy name for giving us the bright, shining HOPE of the gospel!

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But Jesus Christ did not come to preach a gospel of a mysterious, “invisible” metaphorical “kingdom” in order to get across a message which would encourage overcoming, financial success, peace of mind, accomplishment, or material gain. His gospel was both a witness and a warning, a part of its message cutting asunder, piercing the heart, causing violent outrage in the hearts of recalcitrant sinners, and bringing about deep and broken-hearted repentance among those who would receive it as little children.

Is the Kingdom “Here…Now”?

In 1982. television evangelist Pat Robertson, collaborating with Bob Sloshser, were published by Bantam books with their best seller The Secret Kingdom. While there is much in the book that is good principles applicable to everyday life, principles concerning financial success, peace of mind, goal setting, positive living – nevertheless, the subtle inference one gleans, not the least of all from the title itself, is that Robertson espouses the notion that the Kingdom of God is something which is “here, now” in some mysterious and invisible way.

Robertson seriously errs when he says, “Each of the gospel writers said it similarly. ‘The time has come,’ Jesus declared in essence. ‘The Kingdom is here, and I have come to open it to you and show you how it works’ ” (The Secret Kingdom, Robertson, page 36).

Robertson continued, “Many of us are now discovering this central purpose of our Lord, perceiving that the Kingdom of God, though invisible, is right now nonetheless real, nonetheless powerful…. Yes, the Kingdom of God is here – now. And the message of the Bible is that we can and should look from this visible world, which is finite, into the invisible world, which is infinite….We should do more than look, however, if we believe the scriptures. We should enter. We should reach from the visible into the invisible and bring that secret Kingdom into the visible through its principles – principles that can be adopted at this moment.”

To be sure, Robertson speaks of the millennium, and of the eventual moment when the Kingdom of God will become “visible.” Yet, one is urged to believe that Jesus, in proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God, was teaching that the Kingdom was already on this earth, merely invisible. Robertson even goes so far as to allege that Jesus said, “Reach into the invisible and apply it to the visible,” which of course, Jesus never said at all.

Is the Kingdom of God “here – now”? And can you enter into it? Robertson says you can. The Bible says you can’t.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption!” (1 Corinthians 15:50).

For centuries, blinded men have led the spiritually blind down the primrose path of deception, preaching that the Kingdom of God is here, now.

For centuries, the so-called “holy” Roman Empire, following the days of supposedly converted sun-worshiper Constantine, was viewed as the “Kingdom of God” on earth. The official Roman Catholic doctrine, as set forth in the Catholic Encyclopedia, weaves a subtle. skillfully-written theme from various scriptural inferences that the kingdom is the Catholic Church.

“In the mouth of Christ,” the article says, “the ‘kingdom’ means not so much a goal to be attained or a place – though those meanings are by no means excluded; cf. Matthew, verse 3; XI, 2, etc – it is rather a tone of mind (Luke XVII. 20-21), it stands for an influence which must permeate men’s minds if they would be one with Him and attain to His ideals; cf, Luke, IX, 55. It is only by realizing these shades of meaning that we can do justice to the parables of the kingdom with their endless variety” (Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. VIII, page 646-647, emphasis mine).

After admitting the Kingdom of God means a goal – something in the future to be ultimately attained; the writer of the article then asserts “it is rather a TONE OF MIND.” But isn’t that just so much “double-talk”? What is the Kingdom of God? It is a goal – a quest set before us toward which we daily press – the goal of entering into a completely different realm; a different civilization; higher order; different form of government; a realm governed by God, who will RULE over all nations on this earth with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26; 3:21) for one thousand years (Revelation 20:4) on this earth (Revelation 5: 10), or is it a MIND SET?

The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “The Kingdom of God means, then the ruling of God in our hearts; it means those principles which separate us from the kingdom of the world and the devil; it means the benign sway of grace; it means the Church, as that divine institution whereby we may make sure of attaining the spirit of Christ and so win that ultimate Kingdom of God where He reigns without end in “the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Vol. VIII, page 647, emphasis mine).

What error!

“That ultimate kingdom” to which the writer of the article referred IS the Kingdom of God – the ONLY Kingdom of God – which Jesus preached! By no means is the Kingdom of God “set up in the hearts of men,” and by no means does Christ’s gospel lead you to believe that “by men of good will working together everywhere, the Kingdom of God will be set up.”

Notice the scriptural reference in the first quotation from the Catholic Encyclopedia, Luke 17:20. Turn to this passage, and read it for yourself.

“And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”

It is puzzling how so many scholars over such an incredible reach of history could be so utterly obtuse as to persist in the complete misunderstanding of this verse, lift it out of its proper context, and attempt to imply that Jesus was stating the Kingdom of God is some “spiritual” something or other; some “better feeling,” or “rapturous grace” within the human heart, rather than what He plainly said it was!

When understanding any scripture, especially a seemingly ambiguous or difficult one, you need to ask “who, what, where, when, why, and how’?”

Look at the context! It was the Pharisees who “demanded” that Jesus tell them when this Kingdom of which He constantly spoke should come!

And who were the Pharisees? They were the ones of whom Jesus said, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!…you blind guides…you fools and blind…ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell [hades, meaning the grave]” (Matthew 23:13-33).

These are the same Pharisees of whom Jesus said, “You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men!” (Matthew 15:7, 9).

He then said, referring to the same group, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” These are the same Pharisees who plotted Jesus ‘ death from the time of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus!

Notice! “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we’? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took council together for to put Him to death!” (John 11:45-53).

As the “right-wing” religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees “sat in Moses’ seat,” and constituted a powerful, pervasive authority over the private lives of many in the Jewish populace. Judea was a Roman province, occupied by the Roman Empire. Following the pattern of the ancient Persian satrapies, the Romans set up puppet governments where possible, allowing the greatest measure of self-determination or semi-autonomy within certain bounds, as a guarantee against social unrest, mass disturbances, or sudden coups. The social and religious customs were dominated by the Sanhedrin, the high priest (the priests in the temple were Sadducees) and the Pharisees. Certain infractions of the Mosaic code could actually bring about a stoning, in which the Romans would not interfere.

The Pharisees were plotting continually how to trap Jesus in His words; to propose some “trick question” to Him which would cause Him to commit some alleged “infraction” of the law and result in His death by stoning.

John records, “Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where He were, he should shew it, that they might take Him!” (John 11:57). This was just prior to the final Passover, and Jesus’ ultimate crucifixion!

Now do you see?

To whom did Jesus say, “The Kingdom is within you”? He said it to hate-filled, murder-plotting PHARISEES! Was Jesus saying the Kingdom of God was “within” the hearts of the same individuals He called hypocrites, vipers, fools, blind guides, deceivers, and who He knew were busily plotting His murder?

Nonsense!

Actually, the word “within” should better be rendered “among.” It is the same word used by John when he wrote of what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees: “John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not…” (John 1:26). The reference, of course, was to Jesus Christ!

In the same chapter, where it is clear Jesus Christ is that member of the Godhead who did the creating, John wrote, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Think about it. Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the advance emissary of the Kingdom of God! He came to this earth to qualify for future rulership, to qualify to be KING of kings, and Lord of lords, ruling over the entire earth for one thousand years during His millennial reign.

He was like an ambassador, representing the Kingdom of God on this earth! He was not truly a “citizen” of any earthly governments; He swore no allegiance to any earthly king, though He preached obedience to whatever laws of man did not directly contradict the higher laws of God.

As such, Jesus was like a citizen of a higher and a different kingdom.

Read the rest of the context of His statement to those murder-plotting Pharisees.

“And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within [among] you. And He said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in His day. But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah so shall” it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto Him, Where, Lord? And He said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together” (Luke 17:20-37).

I have included here the entire passage so that you may refer back to it in your leisure. Notice Jesus said He would be “as the lightning,” clearly visible, seen by all and that the day of His coming would be as tumultuous and as catastrophic as was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the destruction of all mankind at the flood!

For years, many have pondered His seemingly ambiguous and puzzling statement “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together,” not understanding this obvious statement in its correct context.

What He was impressing upon His audience was the fact that when Jesus Christ comes back to this earth in all the power and glory of God the Father it will be at the climax of the great DAY OF THE LORD, following the outpouring of the Great Tribulation, the seven trumpet plagues, and the seven last plagues!

It will be the single greatest, most earth-shaking, tumultuous, calamitous, catastrophic event from the time of creation till that moment!

How ludicrous it would appear for some individual at this day and time to deceive Christians by saying, “Christ is over here-in this nation, hiding in a cave,” or “Christ came last night, and He is hiding out in a cave in Jordan,” or some other foolish, lying statement.

Jesus was saying to His disciples, paraphrased, “There is no need for you, who are my true followers, my own disciples, to worry about some other person, some ‘third party,’ coming to you, and informing you that I, the Son of man, have arrived back on earth! For,” He might have said, “YOU WILL BE THE VERY FIRST TO KNOW!”

The analogy He drew is plain, if you look at it.

If a farmer had lost a cow, and he went abroad into the grasslands in search of his lost animal, and he saw a group of eagles or other carrion-eaters slowly circling in the distance, where would he look for the body of the cow?

Obviously, he would not turn his back on the circling eagles, crows, magpies or vultures, but would go immediately to that spot, knowing that the cow had probably died, and that the carrion-eaters were clearly marking the spot!

Jesus spoke this parable or analogy to enforce the point with His disciples that wherever the “body” is (in this case, the CHURCH!) there will the “eagles” (in this case Jesus Christ at His return!) be gathered together!

In other words, Christ is coming for His own – He is not coming “in secret,” and any true worshipper of Jesus Christ, any member of His true Church, will have no need of “being informed” by others that Christ has arrived!

The second coming of Jesus Christ will be a vastly tumultuous, calamitous event, beheld by the whole world! John wrote, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: And He shall RULE THEM with a rod of iron; and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

John wrote, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM…” (Revelation 1:7).

There you have the real meaning of Christ’s statement to the Pharisees that the “Kingdom of God cometh not with ‘observation’.” You now understand what He really meant when He said the Kingdom of God is “among” you – meaning that He as the advance representative of that Kingdom evinced its power and glory, its love and compassion, its mercy and great kindness, as well as its rule and authority.

In another sense, because Jesus Christ was completely filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and the very presence of God the Father was powerfully indwelling within Him, Jesus could speak of Himself as being virtually a member of the Kingdom of God, in much the same way that the apostle Paul wrote that we, when we are converted and have God’s Holy Spirit within us have our “citizenship” in heaven! (Philippians 3:20).

By no stretch of the imagination was Jesus ripping out whole chapters, books and segments of the Bible, including all of the many detailed descriptions in the major and minor prophets of the Kingdom of God, and His own lucid and graphic prophecies of the Kingdom of God by saying that the Kingdom was somehow “within” the blackened, evil, murder-plotting “hearts” of the Pharisees!

Is the Kingdom the Church?

There are those who “spiritualize” the Kingdom of God into the church, drawing on metaphor, analogies and subtle inferences from scriptural ambiguities.

The simplest way to disprove such theories is to see what the Bible says about the church.

Christ said, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [Greek; Petros, a pebble, or small stone], and upon this ROCK [Greek; Petra, meaning a craggy cliff, monolithic rock, a mountain of stone] I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell [Greek; hades, meaning the grave] shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16: 18).

The Greek word for church is Ekklezia, which is better rendered “assembly” or “group.”

Today, the word “church” in the English language has become corrupted. Most think of a “church” as either a national or international organizational hierarchy (like the Catholic “Church”); as a denomination, (like the “Methodists”), or as a building (“That is my church over there on the corner”).

One might say, “I will see you in church today,” meaning they will meet inside a building called a “church.”

But the Bible was not written in English – it was written in Hebrew. Greek . and Aramaic. The Greek word, Ekklezia which Jesus used. no more means “building” than the word “typewriter” means “airplane”! There is simply no connection between the two!

Christ meant He would establish His group of specially-called and chosen disciples (who would become the original apostles), empower them with the Holy Spirit, and that “assembly” of individuals would represent, collectively, the church!

Christ is the HEAD of His true church. “…and gave Him to he the HEAD over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

Paul went on to say, ”Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners. but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20, 21).

Both 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 represent the church as analogous to a body, or a building, having various members and parts.

The Church of God (its authorized name, used more often to describe the church than any other) is that group of converted, called-out ones who are committed to perform the WORK of God on this earth; that of fulfilling Christ’s great, two-fold commission.

Notice!

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all rations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [margin; ‘age’], Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

The commission to the church is to preach the Gospel OF THE KINGDOM!

The church is NOT the Kingdom – it is the spiritual organism, made up of individual human beings who may, from time to time, be organized, humanly, to perform the work of the church – and the church is commissioned to preach the advance good news (and warning) contained in the gospel!

And what is that Gospel?

It is the “glad tidings,” or “happy announcement” of the coming KINGDOM OF GOD! The church is NOT THE KINGDOM, it is the organism responsible for ANNOUNCING the coming Kingdom!

Christ told His disciples, following His resurrection, “…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached…” IN HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem! (Luke 24:47).

He prophesied, “And this gospel OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

In a sense, the church is a type of the Kingdom; a microcosm. But it is NOT THE KINGDOM! The church does not “rule them with a rod of iron!” or smash governments of hostile, God-rejecting nations like shards of broken pottery! (See Revelation 2:26, 27.)

The church is called OUT of this world (John 15:18, 19; 1 John 2:15-17), and told NOT to partake of its Babylonish sins (Revelation 18:4). It is not “ruling” or holding sway over governments IN this world!

Contrary to the belief of those who like to justify a church organization structured as a vast, rich, powerful, worldly hierarchy, Jesus Christ spoke of His true Church as a “little flock” of persecuted, rejected, despised people – not having great, worldly pomp and splendor, NOT accepted by this world’s leaders!

Christ predicted His true servants would be DRAGGED before kings. emperors, dictators, prime ministers, presidents and various heads of state – NOT WELCOMED WITH A RED CARPET!

“Behold, I send you [THE CHURCH] forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, and ye shall be brought [manacled, under arrest] before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when-they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be HATED OF ALL MEN for MY NAME’S SAKE, but he that endureth to the end [of his life, if need be], shall be saved” (Matthew 10: 16-22).

Christ never intended His true church to have concourse with world leaders; to become respected, receiving accolades and approval from governments! He said, “If they have hated me, they wil1 hate you!”

It is a terrible PERVERSION of scripture to suggest the church is the KINGDOM OF GOD on earth. It is NOT. The church is the instrument in the hands of God to ANNOUNCE the coming Kingdom – it is described as a small, weak, sometimes scattered group, not rich in this world’s goods, yet rich in faith, doing the WORK OF GOD!

Daniel’s Vision – Christ, the ROCK

Centuries before Christ, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon saw a vision which only God’s prophet Daniel could interpret. You read of it in Daniel’s second chapter.

Following Daniel’s rehearsal of exactly what the king had dreamed (without first being told – God revealed the secret to Daniel), Daniel gave the king the interpretation: “Thou, 0 king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:37-45).

Dozens of biblical, archeological, and historical references corroborate the truth of this inspired interpretation.

It is commonly understood by biblical scholars and historians that the vision of the great image seen by Nebuchadnezzar was nothing more than a graphic depiction of the four great world-ruling Gentile kingdoms which would supersede one another, culminating in the Roman Empire, which would in turn have several “resurrections” down through history until the time of the end.

It is impossible to misunderstand verses 44 and 45!

Clearly, when Daniel said, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom… [and] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall STAND FOREVER,” it is obvious this prophecy culminates in the establishment of the KINGDOM OF GOD on earth!

Daniel explains: “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, [from a supernatural source] and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the kings what shall come to pass hereafter;…” (Daniel 2:45).

Jesus Christ is the symbolic STONE.

Notice! “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual ROCK that followed them: and that ROCK was Christ!” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

Jesus Christ Himself is the ROCK or the “stone that was cut out without hands” which smashes the future United States of Europe represented by the ten toes of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar.
      
Zerubbahel was a type of Christ. The name meant “One who is born in Babylon,” and Zerubbabel was used, together with Ezra and Nehemiah, to effect the return of the captured Jews from their long captivity in Babylon, and to set about to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The book of Zechariah contains many analogies relating to the establishment of God’s Church, and to the setting up of the Kingdom of God on this earth in the future. Notice, “Who art thou. O great mountain? [a symbol for a great nation] before Zerubbabel [a type of Christ] thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” (Zechariah 4:7).

Here, Christ is called the headstone of the temple, which is a type of the church.

Christ referred to Himself as the ROCK on which His true Church would be built! (Matthew 16:18). The entire 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy refers to Jesus Christ continually. “He is the ROCK, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He…then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the ROCK of his salvation…of the ROCK that begat thee thou are unmindful…” (Deuteronomy 32:4-18).

When the archangel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary, he said, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His KINGDOM there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Many times in scripture Jesus Christ is portrayed as a great ROCK. Read 2 Samuel 22:2, Psalms 27:5, 31:3, and Isaiah 8:14.

Now, notice the time setting of the prophecies concerning the four world-ruling Gentile kingdoms. For this, go to Daniel’s seventh chapter. In the first seven verses, you see four great beasts, the lion representing ancient Babylon, the bear representing the Medo/Persian empire, the leopard representing the Greco/Macedo-nian empire under Alexander, and the four heads (verse 6) of the leopard representing Ptolemy Soter of Egypt, Antipater of Macedonia, Laomedon of Syria, and Seleucus Nicator of Babylon; the four generals who carved up Alexander’s empire prior to his burial.

In the seventh verse is a picture of the emergence of the Roman empire, with its ten horns.

That these horns are not the same as the ten horns of the 17th chapter of Revelation is clear from verse 8, which places them successively, and not contemporaneously, showing that the “little horn” (the Vatican) causes three of the first horns to be “plucked up by the roots” (verse 8) which was the overthrowing, over a lengthy period of time, of the Ostrogoths, Vandals, and the Heruli from northern Italian provinces and the city of Rome.

That the “little horn” representing the papacy with its “eyes like the eyes of a man, and the mouth speaking great things,” (verse 8) prevails UNTIL the time of the second coming of Christ is made clear by verse 9: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down [exactly analogous to the smashing of the toes of the image in the second chapter by the rock “cut out without hands”] and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set and the books were open” (Daniel 7:10, 11).

Notice how many times in this seventh chapter various prophetic references to the final Gentile kingdom, the last resurrection of the Roman Empire culminates in the second coming of Christ, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth!

You have already read of one such proof in verses 9 and 10.

Now, notice “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven [see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 24:30, 31; Revelation 1:7], and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a KINGDOM, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” There you have the second time in this same chapter in which the vision concerning the great successive Gentile world-ruling kingdoms in the second coming of Christ, the absolution of these Gentile powers, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth!

Notice the third example: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings [remember that king and kingdom are used synonymously], which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:17, 18).

Now. notice the fourth example: “And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them: UNTIL the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom” (Daniel 7:20-22).

The fifth example is found in verse 27, “And the kingdom and dominion. and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven. shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions [worldly governments] shall serve and obey Him!” (Daniel 7:27).

Now. turn to and read Zechariah 14. Read the whole chapter, paying particular attention to the first few verses, verse 9, and verses 12 through 19!

Plainly, this refers to the second coming of Christ, the beginning of the RULE of the Kingdom of God on earth, and the establishment of the first annual observance of the Feast of Tabernacles!

You Can INHERIT the Kingdom

Notice that the Kingdom of God is something we inherit. Jesus Christ of Nazareth has already inherited the Kingdom of His Father; and, like a multibillionaire benefactor, has written His will, designating each one of us as potential inheritors of His vast, unlimited estates – called the Kingdom of God!

Notice how Paul explains it, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

When we hear the dynamic message of the Kingdom of God; the gospel, which includes a demand that we repent (Matthew 4: 17), and when we are convicted by Christ’s powerful message, we are commanded to be baptized, and then we are to receive, through the laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:38; 9: 17).

The Holy Spirit of God is given to those who obey God! (Acts 5:32).

When we receive the Spirit of God we are begotten with “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:23), but we are not yet BORN of God! We are heirs, not yet inheritors!

The New Testament comprises a legal document, as conveyed by its very name, the “New Testament,” or the new WILL!

The Old Testament or old will was a covenant between Almighty God and the physical nation Israel, based upon material rewards for obediencein the letter of the law.

The new will, or New Testament is a document spelling out the terms and conditions by which we may become heirs of God – candidates to be drafted into His soon-coming Kingdom.

It is made quite clear we cannot EARN salvation, that salvation is from God’s free, loving GRACE, and can never be “earned” by anything we can do! (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Yet, the apostle Paul asked, “…shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” He then said, “God forbid! How shall we, that are dead to sinlive any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk [live] in newness of life. For if we have been planted [a symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of the old self – baptism] together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection!” (Romans 6:2-5).

And what is sin? Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) as set forth in the Ten Commandments, and magnified by Jesus Christ in the sermon on the mount, and by His entire life and teaching.

Remember, Peter said repent, and be baptized and you shall receive the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:38).

But repentance, baptism and the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit do not put you into the Kingdom of God! For you are yet flesh! Remember, the Bible clearly says, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD!” (1 Corinthians 15:50).

Notice how Paul explains it, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then HEIRS, heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS with Christ!” (Romans 8: 17).

Yes, heirs – not yet inheritors! Paul goes on to explain in the eighth chapter of Romans how the entire creation “waits for the manifestation of the sons of God…” and how we now have but the “firstfruits of the spirit” (verse 23) but that we have not yet inherited the Kingdom of God!

Notice! “Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep [die – become completely oblivious, unconscious in the grave] but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and WE [we who are alive and remain – we who are among the living at the time of the second coming of Christ which is announced by the last trump!] SHALL BE CHANGED.” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).

Do you see? The Holy Word of God tells you very plainly that before you can enter into the Kingdom of God, you must be changed from human to spirit; from mortal to immortal; from decaying, earthly flesh to eternal, spirit life!

Jesus Christ is called “the firstfruits of them that slept!” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

He is called “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Notice the order plainly stated in your Bible; “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be [in the future] made alive! But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits: afterward [and not one second before!] they that are Christ’s AT HIS COMING!” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

What is a “Kingdom”?

In common, everyday usage, we speak of “the human kingdom.” “the animal kingdom,” “the plant kingdom,” or other various kingdoms referring to various species, phyla, genera, or “kinds” of life! When one speaks of “The kingdom of Great Britain” one knows immediately it is the nation of Great Britain, located in the British Isles, with its capital at London, with a prime minister and a parliament consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and, at least in titular office, commanding great love and respect among the British people, Queen Elizabeth II.

When Almighty God is first “introduced” to humankind in the book of Genesis it is through the “creation hymn” in the first chapter.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The word for “God” is Elohim, which is a word with a plural ending (the singular would be Eloah just as in the case of Seraph (one seraph) or seraphim; two seraphs or more).

The proof is not only in the meaning of the Hebrew word, but evident in the context. “And God [Elohim – MORE than one person] said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26).

There is an important scripture in the New Testament which begins even prior to the account in Genesis the first chapter. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were MADE by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He [John] was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness to that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN. AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:1-12).

Of whom is this speaking’?

Can there be the remotest shadow of doubt in your mind’?

Obviously, this is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who “was in the world” and who “came unto His own” and gives them power to become “the sons of God” that believe on His name!”

And what does this tell you?

It tells you, conclusively, unequivocally that Jesus Christ of the New Testament IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT!

Notice! “And the Word was MADE FLESH and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). Compare this with Hebrews, the first chapter. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [a] Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds: Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The Greek expression “express image” is Karakter from which our English word “character” derives. It means “engraving – the figure stamped; exact copy, representation!” Moffatt renders it “stamped with God’s own character.”

Believe it or not, Christ, that member of the dual family of God who became a human, born of the virgin Mary, is the PERSON of the godhead who did the creating! 

That’s right! Jesus Christ of the New Testament, in His life with the Father from eternity, was that member of the divine family of beings called “God (Elohim) who did the speaking (your Bible says He was the Word!) and who said “let there be light!”

For generations, millions have assumed through the false teaching of many of the so-called Christian churches that the God of the Old Testament was a harsh, unloving, angry and vengeful God, wreaking terrible vengeance upon those who incurred His wrath.

They assume that Jesus Christ came along, virtually usurping His Father’s authority, overthrowing of the harsh, judgmental laws of the Old Testament, and substituting a newer, gentler, easier set of “laws” (which many people read as “suggestions”) in the “New Testament.”

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Notice that Almighty God created TWO of everything! There is duality throughout the creation, and duality throughout the plan of God.

Almighty God created two sexes, two human beings dissimilar only in their reproductive organs; yet similar in dozens and dozens of other ways!

We all have two eyes, two ears, two hands, two legs, two feet, etc., etc.

There are two poles, the north and the south; two “polarities” so far as electricity is concerned, positive and negative. Throughout the animal and the plant kingdom, one sees this pattern of duality portrayed.

There is type and antitype, a first and a second fulfillment of biblical prophecy. There is the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Paul spoke of “the first man Adam” and the “second man Adam,” contrasting the original man, created by the hands of God, and Jesus Christ who was born of God by a resurrection from the dead.

Almighty God, as Elohim, represents a divine, spirit FAMILY of beings!

The human family is the microcosm of the Kingdom of God! Almighty God is the “inventor” of marriage, the author of the family!

He is the one who “invented” procreation, the limited creative ability of we human beings to “replenish the earth,” by reproducing after our own kind.

The family is also a microcosm of the Church (Ephesians 5:22-32) and is a divinely-appointed unit of human beings, in and through which Almighty God intends we learn lessons vital to being brought into His Kingdom – His spiritual family!

It is because of this family relationship that God chooses to reveal Himself as our Father, and to whom Jesus said we should pray, “Our Father which art in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9-15). Jesus Christ is portrayed as our elder Brother, and people within the Church are called “brothers and sisters.” We are all, collectively, called the “children of God,” or “sons of God.” Clearly, all of these are family terms! Spiritually, the Church is referred to as “Jerusalem which is above…which is the mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22).

What you see from this is that Almighty God is a FAMILY of divine beings; the Father and the Son. We may be begotten of Almighty God by His Holy Spirit, and eventually BORN of God either by an instantaneous change (1 Corinthians 15:50-52), if we are among those living at the second coming of Christ, or else born of God by a resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23, 52).

Even as God started the whole of the human race – now approaching FIVE BILLION individuals – with but two original parents, so Almighty God is reproducing after His own kind – reproducing after the GOD KIND through a process called repentance. begettal, and salvation.

The Kingdom of God, then, has at its helm the divine, ruling family of the Father and the Son; it is the divine FAMILY OF GOD, into which we may be born!

The Kingdom of God Will Rule On This Earth!

Dozens of scriptures in the Bible absolutely prove that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is coming back to this literal, physical earth!

Notice but a few; “…ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven!” (Acts 1:11).

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east. and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be…then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they [human dwellers on this earth! J shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:27-31).

As Christians, we are warned “Watch ye therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh!” (Matthew 25:13).

In John’s visions of the Day of the Lord and the second coming of Christ, he wrote, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls [Greek: psuche. meaning lives] of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

In vision, John saw the very heavenly throne of God the Father and Jesus Christ coming down to this earth!

Notice! “And 1 John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down form God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:1-3).

Emulating the praise of the saints of God, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders before the throne of God “…sung a new song, saying thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests [a “KINGDOM,” margin] and WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH!” (Revelation 5:9, 10).

Jesus Christ is coming again to this literal, physical earth! And where will He be? ON THE EARTH! Notice! “Behold the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; [this depicts the battle of Armageddon at the end of the day of the Lord, just prior to the seven last plagues!] …then shall the Eternal go forth, and fight against those nations, …and His feet shall stand IN THAT DAY upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east…” (Zechariah 14:1-4).

What constitutes one of the greatest possible promises Christ. ever made to you, as an individual’?

Surely you cannot surpass the promise made through John in the book of Revelation, when Christ said, “And he that over-cometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall RULE them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my father” (Revelation 2:26, 27).

Jesus Christ was predicted to inherit “…the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of HIS KINGDOM there shall be no end!” (Luke 1:32, 33). David was promised that he would never fail of his progeny to sit on the throne of David which was established forever on this earth! Speaking of the removal of that throne from Palestine to the British Isles, and the eventual inheritance of that same throne at His second coming, Jesus Christ prophesied, “Thus says the Lord Eternal: Remove the diadem [a symbol of kingly office!] and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low [a type of Jesus Christ who came as a meek, lowly and humble Savior] and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more [overturned! J until HE COME WHOSE RIGHT IT IS; and I will give it Him!” (Ezekiel 21:25-27).

Remember, you read that the very throne of God will be on this earth!

Now, notice what Jesus promises: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

There you have it!

The Kingdom of God is the divine, ruling family of God, a family into which we must be born!

How vastly different; how enormously more meaningful, how much GREATER is the real truth of the gospel of the Kingdom of God than the false gospel proclaimed by many professing Christian organizations today! Millions upon millions are simply deceived (Revelation 12:9). They hear a message about the person of Jesus Christ: they hear about Him as a dead Christ hanging on a cross, or the “little Lord Jesus away in the manger,” and learn to sing childhood songs such as Yes, Jesus Loves Me, and are taught to love, and adore “the Lord.”

They assume that the gospel is the story told over and over again at Christmastime about the birth of Jesus Christ, about His life, His ministry and His death. But they also believe in the purely PAGAN doctrines of the “immortality of the soul,” and the pagan myth of an “ever-burning hell.”

To millions the world represents nothing so much as a “soul factory.” They assume each one of us has an “immortal soul” within us from the time of birth. Millions assume it is as if an automatic “switch” were set at the ‘moment of our birth, which pronounces us GUILTY for some sin Adam committed!

Because of this “original sin” that switch points down to hell fire at the time of our death! Millions of professing Christians are taught that they are predestined to “go to hell” when they die! They see portrayed the desperate attempts of evangelists to “save” as many of these “souls” as they can! Not only do they hear of missionary efforts in the third-world countries abroad, and all around the world, but “home missions” aimed at our own populace of English-speaking peoples, and, frequently, one hears an impassioned evangelist stirring up to fever pitch the loyal and faithful in his congregation to give more in this desperate attempt to “save souls” from hell!

Lurid descriptions and accounts are given of the sufferings and torments of those who are in “hell.”

But your Bible says, “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years are finished!” (Revelation 20:5), and plainly says there is coming a one hundred year period during which those who never had a chance for salvation (which may well include some of your own loved ones, deceased relatives and family members!) will RECEIVE THAT CHANCE!

Read the entire 20th chapter of Revelation! Toward the end of that chapter you will see described the “Great White Throne Judgment” and how a great, latter-day resurrection of countless hundreds of millions of human beings will take place!

By that time, the Kingdom of God will have been in place on this earth for one thousand years!

By that time, Almighty God, now at the helm of a vastly enlarged family of divine beings will have produced on this earth literal UTOPIA! It will be a world of plenty, harmony, happiness, peace, abundance and JOY!

Your loved ones. perhaps your own children, a beloved mate, someone you loved very deeply and very dearly will be brought forth at that day into a glittering, dazzling, beautiful world, and, if God is calling you now, YOU WILL BE THERE able to participate in the resurrection of that loved one, able to teach that beloved individual the TRUTH Almighty God is showing you now!

How vastly DIFFERENT; how fantastically GREATER is the truth of Almighty God when compared to pagan fables!

Somehow, Almighty God is allowing you to learn some of His priceless truth!

Is your mind open to receive it? Have you carefully looked up and researched even scripture you read in this booklet’?

If you have, then you know you are believing in the truth of your own Bible, and not the cleverly-spoken words of some human leader who is trying to deceive, or “make merchandise” of those who he hopes will become “his followers”!

Surely. every one of us has a great purpose in our human lives! There is a purpose for your life! Isn’t it about time you were busily fulfilling that purpose?

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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post What is the Kingdom of God? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

My wife and I were grocery shopping many years ago with our three sons, aged 2, 3 and 5 at the time. One friendly lady patted the boys on their heads and commented about how nice they looked and asked their names.

        Pointing out each one, I replied, “Mark, David and Matthew!”

        “Oh, how nice!” she said. “Such good gospel names!”

        We chatted briefly and she went her way. I couldn’t help but think about her statement. Any “Bible” name was a “gospel” name to her.

        But just what is the gospel?

        “Gospel” is not a modern English word but quite an old one. It was carried over from the Old English word godspel (meaning “good news”) and preserved in the King James translation of the Bible. The Greek word evangelizo means “to announce good news; to declare, bring (show) glad tidings, or to preach the gospel.” The Greek word evangelion comes from the same root and means “a good message,” or “the gospel.” Evangelistesis the Greek word translated “evangelist,” and means one who is a preacher of the gospel.

        So “gospel” means glad tidings, good news. But good news about what? Let’s allow God to give us the answer, directly from His Word.

        Before Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary, your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

        “And she shall bring forth a son and you shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20, 21).

        In this first announcement to Joseph, there is emphasis on His saving work; that He would be the Savior; to save people from (not “in”) their sins. No mention is made here of proclaiming a message to the people. However, only a few chapters later, after a brief summary of the ministry of John the Baptist and an account of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness, the Bible says, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

        Only a few verses later, in chapter 5, we see the whole basis for all that Jesus taught them:

        “And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him;

        “And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,

        “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:1-3).

        In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught how to live. He taught the “beatitudes,” as they are called—the beautiful Christian attitudes of humility, meekness, mercy, peacemaking, gentleness, goodness, willingness to receive persecution, and the need to love even our enemies, to “turn the other cheek” and to not judge one another.

        Practically the whole meaning of Christianity itself is summed up in those fabulously moving, beautiful, powerful words of Matthew 5 through 7.

        These principles are what He taught. Technically they are part of the gospel, for they speak of the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. And yet they are directed more toward man’s relationship with God, with friends and even with enemies, rather than the specifics of the Kingdom contained in the “Kingdom parables” of Matthew and Luke.

        Notice an important part of the commission Jesus gave to His servants:

        “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

        “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world [consummation of the age]. Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

Making Disciples of All Nations

        The gospel Jesus commissioned His servants to preach is a vast subject, It has many facts and facets, contains many teachings, analogies, similes, parables, examples and commandments for us.

        Jesus commissioned His disciples to do several things. First, He said His disciples must go. They were to have a pioneering attitude guided by a spirit of impermanence, of willingness to leave cherished places of abode with the comfortable good life of things and personal possessions. Paul spoke of being “buffeted” and having “no certain dwelling place” (1 Corinthians 4:11) when he traveled throughout the Mediterranean world preaching the gospel.

        Next, Jesus said His disciples were to teach all nations. The Greek word used here is mathetuo, which means “to become a pupil; to disciple; to enroll a scholar, or disciple; to instruct, or teach.” This is a different word from the one Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount. There He used didasko, referring to those who “do and teach” the commandments.

        Jesus is clearly instructing His followers to go and to make disciples of all nations, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

        When one comes to a decision to be baptized, he does not do so lightly. This decision is reached as a result of repenting and believing the gospel. When one repents, he needs to know what to repent of; what sin is (1 John 3:4). He needs to realize that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). He needs to understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but that after confession of sins Jesus Christ the Savior is faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9).

        He needs to count the cost (Luke 14:25-32) concerning his new life. The newly repentant Christian must understand the great choice he is making and know that he fully intends following through with it.

        Baptism, defined in detail in Romans 6, is the symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is also the symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of the one being baptized—the death of the “old man.” He becomes “dead to the law” and buried “by baptism with Him unto death,” to rise from a watery “grave” to “walk in newness of life”; receiving the precious gifts of forgiveness from sin and God’s Holy Spirit.

        Such a major decision in life should be made with both the intellect and the “heart” (emotions). It is a more important decision than deciding who and when to marry and whether to have children. It is more important than starting a business, buying a home, buying an automobile, moving from one country to another, or any other decision in life.

        Surely Jesus meant, then, that the message must reach the conscious minds of those who hear the gospel . He is telling His disciples to make disciples of all peoples—to teach them by explaining, expounding, preaching, counseling, answering questions and satisfying the hunger for knowledge.

        Notice further that Jesus said His disciples were to teach others “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded YOU.”

        All of Jesus’ instructions in the Sermon on the Mount must be included. Therefore, Jesus’ message of love toward God, love toward fellowman and love toward one’s enemies must be included in the gospel message which is taught to all nations.

        It is impossible to “make disciples” and to “baptize” without reaching the conscious minds and hearts of people with the beauty of Christ’s calling, His perfection, what He taught, why He came and how He died, as well as the truth about His resurrection and that He is alive today.

        Prior to Christ’s ascension into heaven, the disciples wondered when He would set up the Kingdom. Notice what Jesus emphasized:

        “When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

        “And, He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His power.

        “But, you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

        Notice He said “witnesses unto Me.” He told His disciples they would not only share the message He brought but would also share the truth about the Messenger.

Christ and Him Crucified

        Peter, preaching on Pentecost, first explained how the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 had been fulfilled (Acts 2:16-20), then Peter said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (verse 21). Can this be left out of the gospel message?

        Peter began showing how Jesus had been made “Lord” by the resurrection:

        “You have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

        “Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it” (Acts 2:23, 24).

        Peter continued:

        “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
        “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on His throne;

        “He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul [Greek: “body”] was not left in hell [Greek: “the grave”], neither His flesh did see corruption.

        “This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:29-32).

        Notice that Peter spoke both of Jesus’ resurrection and that He was to sit on David’s throne in the future. He was a witness to the fact of the resurrection. But he was also giving testimony to a future happening—the hope of our own resurrection and of the Kingdom of God.

        Later Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

        The importance of Jesus’ death for each repentant sinner was paramount in the teaching of the early apostles. These men were believed because they believed. They spoke powerfully and with conviction because of what they had seen. They spoke continually of His death, burial and resurrection (Acts 3:15, 26; 4:2, 10, 12).

        Read the first few chapters of Acts. Read the inspiring events of thousands of baptisms, many hearings, how the early apostles were jailed and beaten and rejoiced for the sake of Christ. You will read of the apostles’ sparkling zeal for and conviction of Christ’s resurrection.

        You will read of their deep awe and respect for His name and the great miracles accomplished through faith in His name (see Acts 2:1-6). You will read how it was with great power that the apostles gave “witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33). “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).

        Christ was the central theme of their teaching and preaching. The whole story of salvation came pouring out of their innermost beings. They gave powerful witness of “all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” as Jesus had said.

        Yes, they spoke about “the Kingdom of God.” But that message never ignored the preaching of “Christ and Him crucified.”

        What was the focal point of Peter’s sermon before the house of Cornelius?

        “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that was oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.

        “And we are witnesses of all things which He did in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

        “Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly;

        “Not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.

        “And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [the living] and dead.

        “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sin” (Acts 10:38-43).

        On this occasion, before these Gentiles, Peter concentrated on personal salvation. The message was not one of coming rulership over the nations, of eternal reign with Christ, or of rulership over towns, cities or countries. That was to come later. Rather, He taught forgiveness through Jesus Christ and His resurrection. The Kingdom of God was later expounded, but, in the early euphoria following the miracles on Pentecost after the Holy Spirit was given, these inspired apostles were concentrating on the personality of Christ—His life, what He taught, how He lived. They stressed why He came and what He accomplished, that salvation was possible through Him, and through Him only!

Very shortly following his ordination, Paul was preaching in Antioch and Thessalonica. Read his inspiring sermon found in Acts 13:16-41. And the conclusion? “Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:38).

        The early apostles emphasized repeatedly the risen Christ and that this Jesus was willing and eager to forgive sins. They preached salvation to the people, the hope of the resurrection. They preached a dynamic, personal message. It was a message that got right down to the roots of the deeper questions of each individual: “What about me; what should I do?”

Notice another example. When Paul was in Thessalonica, he went to a synagogue of the Jews:

        “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

        “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:2, 3).

        Here is a perfect example of the fulfillment of Jesus’ commission to His disciples. Paul was preaching to Jews and Greeks alike. He was “teaching all nations” and making disciples of them. “And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few” (Acts 17:4).

        Notice how Paul stayed in Corinth “…a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11).

        This was not a quick trip to give a short lecture, rather a continuous teaching of the people. And what was the theme? Jesus Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. He preached the good news that all men can be forgiven.

        Acts 18:24-26 tells of Apollos, an eloquent Jew from Alexandria who came to Ephesus to “speak and teach diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John [the Baptist].”

        Priscilla and Aquila then “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” And what was the summary of his message after this additional teaching? He was already “mighty in the scriptures” and had been “instructed in the way of the Lord” and was speaking boldly in the synagogues.

        “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:28).

        Notice how Paul, in his defense before both Festus and Agrippa, emphasized the resurrection. “Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day” (Acts 24:21).

        “But [the Jews] had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive” (Acts 25:19).

        Before Agrippa, Paul asked, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8).

        At the conclusion of this powerful defense, he said:

        “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

        “That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22, 23).

        When Paul was under “house arrest,” notice what he taught. “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him, into his lodging: to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).

        He labored, expounding, explaining, reading, teaching all day long, going through the scriptures of the Old Testament and painstakingly teaching just as Jesus had commanded.
        The book of Acts concludes:

        “And Paul dwelled two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him.

        “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30, 31).

        Paul, in his introduction to Romans, says, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle … separated unto the gospel of God … concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord … declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:1-4).

        Here the gospel is called “the gospel of God.” But once again it is the good news “concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” and showing He is “very Christ” by His resurrection.

        Paul and the early apostles preached Christ—all that His life, ministry, message, death and resurrection meant. Remember Paul’s statement to the Corinthians, “For I was determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

        The gospel is a vast subject. It includes the whole meaning and purpose of Christ’s coming; His life, example, purpose, and teachings; the message He brought to deliver to His disciples; His place in the very Godhead even prior to His human birth; His great purpose concerning mankind; how He overcame the temptations of Satan, disqualifying him as world ruler; how He qualified to become our King; how and why He died and was buried and was raised again according to the Scripture; what He has been doing since that time; and the fact of His soon coming return to this earth to rule for 1,000 years.

        The gospel is called the “gospel of God,” the “gospel of Christ,” the “gospel of the Kingdom,” the “gospel of the Kingdom of God,” “the gospel…… Christ’s gospel,” “the gospel which I preached” and by other similar terms. It encompasses ultimately the whole message of the Bible. God’s servants must preach it all. People in India, Japan, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia are not going to repent and believe on Jesus Christ and become His disciples unless they hear the whole gospel, the real gospel, and unless God chooses to call them into repentance and knowledge of His truth. 

The Kingdom Parables

        Jesus described what His Kingdom was like by parable after parable. He showed His disciples the universality of His coming Kingdom, showed how it would finally fill the whole earth, just like the figurative stone mentioned in Daniel 2:34, 35.

        He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33). That the Kingdom permeates the whole “lump” in this parable shows the global nature of God’s coming Kingdom.

        In showing the priceless value of the way into the Kingdom, Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).

        In the parable that follows, Jesus mentioned the “pearl of great price,” which again illustrates the value of the Kingdom.

        To show that there is judgment coming; that a separation will occur between “the children of the Kingdom” and the ones that are to be “cast into outer darkness,” He said:

        “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

        “which, when it was full, they threw it ashore and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

        “So shall it be at the end of the world [Greek: “consummation of the age”]: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

        “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-50).

        The Parable of the Sower also shows a division will be made between the “children of the wicked one” and the “children of the Kingdom.” When His disciples came to Him privately, following His delivery of this lengthy parable, they asked:

        “Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

        “He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man;

        “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

        “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

        “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

        “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all the things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

        “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:36-42).

        From the joy of first receiving the knowledge of the Kingdom (as in the treasure in the field or the pearl of great price), Jesus progresses through the fact of rejection by some, of separation in the judgment and of punishment for those who will not repent and “enter into the joy” of their Lord.

        Jesus’ message was a mixture of “good news and bad news,” in a sense. He very strongly warned of the penalties for rejection, as well as spoke of the joys, happiness and rewards for acceptance of His message.

        Because Jesus knew many people supposed He would immediately set up His Kingdom, he spoke the Parable of the Nobleman who “…went into a far country to receive for himself the kingdom, and to return.”

        In this lengthy parable (Luke 19:12-27), Jesus showed the rewards for overcoming. Ten men were given one pound (a unit of money) apiece. Only three of the 10 ever return; one gained tenfold, another fivefold, and the third kept his pound wrapped in a napkin.

        The first one received from his master “authority over ten cities.” The second received “authority over five cities.” And the pound was stripped away from the third because he did nothing with it. It was given to the one with 10.

        No mention is made of the other seven. Are they included in the statement, “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (Luke 19:27)?

        In this parable Jesus shows how entrance into the Kingdom and receiving the rewards over and above salvation (for both the first and the second man enter into the kingdom, but with different responsibilities) is a lifelong process. As in the Parable of the Talents (another denomination of money), Jesus shows people being rewarded according to what they do with what they have. Each is given a reward proportionate to the degree of his overcoming, his increase. God judges us according to our “own several abilities.” Thus, one who does not have as much natural talent or ability is not required to produce as much. One who has much natural talent and ability is required to produce more. Each one begins equal in the amount of money given, but different people overcome in different degrees and are rewarded accordingly.

        In these and other parables, Jesus is illustrating the governmental aspects of His Kingdom. He was showing it is to be global in effect; it has to do with rulership; and when His Kingdom is finally set up there will be judgment against those who have rejected it.

        Many scriptures emphasize the universality of God’s coming world rule and the potential of humankind to inherit that Kingdom (see Revelation 2:26, 3:21). But these scriptures do not cancel out the many scriptures already cited (and there are dozens more) concerning the message about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“These Ought You to Have Done”

        What we do with the knowledge we have is very, very important.

        Remember, a vital part of the commission is to teach all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:19, 20).

        In order to trap Jesus in His talk, a pompous Pharisee invited Him into his home for dinner (Luke 11:37-54). As they began to eat, the Pharisee began exclaiming how Jesus and His disciples had not “washed before dinner” (verse 38). In a stinging rebuke, Jesus showed the Pharisee what was really important:

        “You fools, did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also?

        “But, rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

        “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not leave the other undone” (verses 40-42).

        The Pharisees were careful to tithe, but they left out the judgment and the love of God.

        Notice one of the most powerful of all the predictions about the coming of the Kingdom. It is found in Matthew 25:31-46:

        “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

        “And before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

        “And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

        “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (verses 31-34).

        Why? What did they do? What was their way of life?

        “For I was an hungred, and you gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in:

        “Naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came unto Me” (verses 35, 36).

        These, the “righteous” of whom the parable speaks, are astonished. They ask:

        “Lord, when saw we You an hungred, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?

        “When saw we You a stranger, and took You in? or naked, and clothed You?

        “Or when saw we You sick, or in prison, and came unto You?

        “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me” (Matthew 25:37-40).

        These “righteous” people gave food, drink and clothing to others. They visited the sick and those in jail. Their lives were lives of service. They opened their arms to the world around them in outgoing love and concern. They were involved. They were not exclusivists, cloistered and remote from their fellowman. They were working, sharing, giving, serving, visiting, laying down their lives (for life consists of time and goods) for the sake of their fellowman.

        These are vital, hardworking, giving, sharing people—quick to help in trouble; ready to give clothing, food and drink when fire, flood or windstorm wipes out those around them; eager to spend their time to encourage those who are sick in bed or who are in prison. This is the attitude, the way of life Jesus urges upon every Christian.

        And what about the wicked? “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” and then he repeats the list of deeds he says the children of the devil did not accomplish (verses 41-44).

        Paul said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [giving, outgoing, serving love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

        He said, “Charity [love] suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not: charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.

        “Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil,

        “Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

        “Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

        Jesus also warns:

        “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached, spoken] in Your name? And, in Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works?

        “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22, 23).

        In this scripture, toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of judging the fruits:

        “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

        “You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

        “Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.

        “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

        “Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

        “Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.

        “Not everyone who says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:15-21).

        But what is the will of the Father toward men?

        Jesus expressed it in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. And John summarizes it beautifully when he says:

        “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

        “But whoso has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?

        “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18).

        John was that “disciple Jesus loved.” Though He loved them all, even Judas, He and John had a special camaraderie—a special, warm, deep, masculine relationship. Because of this, John was specially qualified to write about the love of God.

        To “lay down your life” for the brethren means not only willingness to be martyred, but it also means to give of your time, your substance, your thoughts, your concern and your prayers.

        These beautiful scriptures show an outgoing concern toward the world, toward fellowman. They show those who are in the body of Christ and performing the work of God must be involved in whether the people hearing that message are believing it and acting on it or not.

        For too long some people have tried to absolve themselves of responsibility in the preaching of the gospel. The following example will help illustrate the attitude.

        If all that constitutes the gospel is contained in one book and you have the book in your hand, it is like approaching a group of people you call out to and say, “Hey! I’ve got the gospel to give to you!” With that you toss it over to these astonished people and let it plop down at their feet. Then, turning to leave, you say, “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. There it is. I gave it to you. It’s yours now. And what you do with it is your business. I couldn’t care one way or the other.”

        Not that anyone ever consciously does this, but the attitude of being “uninvolved” with people, whether they actually choose to believe the truth or not, could occur.

        How? By overemphasizing one part of an important scripture and ignoring or under emphasizing another. Notice the statement made twice in John 6:

        “No man can come unto Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

        And, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father” (verses 44 and 65).

        If read this way, “NO MAN CAN COME TO ME (except the Father which has sent Me draw him),” then the emphasis is placed on the statement that no man can come to Christ. But what if the Father does draw all men unto Himself?

        It is true that none could come to Jesus then and none can come even now unless or except the Spirit of the Father draw such a person. But is God calling only a tiny handful? What about the 144,000? What about the vast, innumerable multitude of Revelation 7? Where do they come from?

        The Holy Spirit was not yet available to all repentant sinners when Jesus preached. Most rejected His message then. Even His own disciples fled and had to be convinced by many miraculous signs before they would believe. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them on the Day of Pentecost, they became converted. They were begotten of God. Suddenly, beginning that very day, it became possible for all mankind to have access to the Father through Christ the Son, whose death and resurrection made it possible for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon all flesh. (See Acts 2:16-21.)

        God works through His church and His ministers in sending out that call. As in the Parable of the Sower, they have the seed to scatter abroad. Some may fall on the stony ground, and some in shallow soil, and some among thorns, and some on the good soil, but all receive the seed.

        Notice what Jesus said:

        “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

        “And I, if I be lifted up [crucified] from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:31, 32).

        Jesus has not set any limits on how many people can be called. He has not placed any limits on how many must hear the gospel, nor how many may be converted. If He had, why would the apostles have spoken of laboring so hard, being “brought on their way by the prayers” of people? Why would Paul have asked that they pray that he might “open his mouth boldly” in preaching the gospel?

        Why would he speak of Satan hindering them, and ask the brethren to pray that Satan not get an advantage over them. Why the urgency of striving to preach the gospel in more and more places?

        Because it makes a difference!

Because they cared what people did with the information they had to give; because a feeling of zeal and urgency and necessity was laid upon them. Paul said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). 

The New Message—Jesus!

        Perhaps it is difficult for us today to understand the reason for the great emphasis the apostles placed on “Christ and Him crucified.”

        Remember, most of them were eyewitnesses to His death and His resurrection. Consider Peter. Having been one of those who had been with Jesus from the very beginning, Peter had continually expected Jesus to make some move to bring about an immediate revolution. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, His disciples watched and waited expectantly, hoping Jesus would stand up during the Feast when tens of thousands would be in Jerusalem and would perform some sensational sign or miracle to announce himself as King.

        Several times they thought He was doing it. Think of the triumphant entry back into Jerusalem that final Passover. The thousands were laying palm fronds in a path of His never before-ridden colt, shouting and chanting at the top of their voices, “HOSANNA!” The religious leaders were beside themselves with rage. Jesus’ retort to their demand that the people stop this chant was, “Even the rocks would cry out if these should hold their peace.”

        Peter and the others were elated. When He entered the temple the second time to throw out the money changers and cattle, they were sure of it. But later, when He was again shamefully driven from the temple amid a storm of pelting stones, their spirits sagged. Peter, staunch and loyal from the earliest moments of Christ’s ministry, had a serious weakness Jesus understood.

        When Christ asked him three times, using a more intense form of the word each time, “Peter, do you love me?”, Peter’s mind was stricken with embarrassment. A few hours later his affirmations of love turned to gall in his heart when he cursed and said he didn’t know who Jesus was.

        All the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. But later, after the many miraculous appearances, they were convinced. They had seen Him following His resurrection, eaten with Him, talked to Him, handled His flesh. Thomas ( Didymus), the “doubter,” actually placed his hand inside Jesus’ wounds. Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the great miracle occurred and the Holy Spirit of God came into their minds. Suddenly they were not only convinced, not only persuaded, not only did they believe, now they were convicted. Now they knew.

        The greatest miracle in history had occurred. Jesus had been resurrected. Not that they hadn’t known about Lazarus (who had been dead even longer), or about the widow’s son at Nain, or Jarius’ daughter, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

        But this was different.

Jesus was not raised from the dead as a human being to live out the remainder of a natural life span; He was resurrected to eternal life, to be accepted of His Father in heaven and to come back as very God.

        Following the heart-quickening, mind-boggling events of the past few weeks, the apostles were all assembled together as Jesus had commanded, waiting to be imbued with “power from on high.” When they were filled with the Holy Spirit they were overcome by the spiritual conviction that came only through Christ’s very indwelling presence. They knew now that they were under the saving grace of Jesus’ own blood, that they had been forgiven all, that they were saved spiritually. They were begotten of God’s Holy Spirit, empowered to preach His truth. They spoke boldly about “the wonderful works of God,” the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

        The focus of their message through the whole first century was “Christ and Him crucified.” The central theme of the gospel they preached was Jesus. He was the One who brought them the message. He was the Son of Man, and Son of God. He was the One who had qualified to be the future world ruler by overcoming Satan’s temptations and ordering Satan away from Him. He was the One who was God, changed into flesh, born of the virgin by a great miracle. He was the One who had set them the example of how to live. He was the One who had taught them all the guidelines and principles of life. He was the One who had to offer Himself for the sins of the world. He was the One the Scripture said “must needs suffer.” He was the One killed, buried and resurrected. As the coming King, as the gentle Shepherd, as the Firstborn among many brethren, as Melchisedec, as Savior, as Judge, as Head of the Church, He had the “preeminence” in all things.

        Their message fairly rung with conviction. They were believed because they believed. They convicted their listeners because they were convicted. Remember, never before had anyone come “in the name of Jesus Christ” to perform miracles or to preach the gospel. This was all new—a new message. Years later the Romans were to write of “one Crispus” who they claim some said had been “raised from the dead.” But consider the contrast with today. Today millions in the Western world have heard the name “Jesus” from earliest recollection. Millions belong to one or another of the hundreds of churches which “believe in His name.”

        So today it seems almost redundant, almost superfluous, to teach and preach about “Christ and Him crucified.”

Which “Jesus”?

        But wait! Which Christ?

        Could it be that the name of “Jesus Christ,” so commonly believed and spoken, brings to millions of minds a personality different from the real Jesus of the Bible?

        Paul spoke of those who came preaching ‘another Jesus,” a different gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4), and warned, “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but, there would be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-8).

        From the close of the first century until now, deception has crept into the confessing-Christian religions until the name “Jesus Christ” may not even bring to mind a part of the actual personality, or the life and teachings, or the real gospel of Jesus Christ.

        Think of the picture that comes into your own mind. You probably think of the little babe in the manger, overshadowed by his mother, the angels, the shepherds, the wise men and the others. You may think of a youngish, brown-haired (long, flowing locks spilling loosely over his shoulders), aquiline-nosed, rather effeminate-looking man wearing a white robe, with a halo around his head, perhaps with clasped hands, staring off into space or standing with a lamb in his arms.

        You may think of a pained, twisted figure on a cross, with a crown of thorns and one unsightly drop of blood visible on his temple, with a loosely draped portion of an undergarment around his waist and hips.

        Do you? What comes into your mind when the name “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” is mentioned? If the real Jesus, the One who really lived back then and who is alive today, actually comes into your mind, then perhaps the assumption that we don’t need to preach much about the person of Christ is true.

        But do you know the answers to the following questions about Jesus?

        When was He born? How was He begotten—how did very God become man? Why did He come? What race was He from? What did He look like? What was His personal “life-style”?

        What did He teach? What did He accomplish? How did He overcome and resist Satan? How did He qualify to become world ruler? How did He choose His disciples?

        Why did He have to die? Or did He die, or was He off somewhere else “preaching to the spirits in prison”? How did He die? Did He die of a “broken heart,” or through loss of blood? When did He die? When was He buried? How long did He remain in the tomb?

        When was He resurrected? What was He composed of after His resurrection? Did He really ascend into heaven? Or was His body “stolen away” by His disciples or by the Romans, or by the Jews? Or was He not really dead, but in a coma, and His entire death, burial and resurrection only a “plot”?

        Is He alive today? If He is alive, what has He been doing these past 1,950 years? Is He going to come again? If so, approximately when?

        Now, that is a lot not to know about someone.

        Much information is available in the Old and New Testaments alike. The life story of Jesus is there, albeit it is sketchy concerning His childhood and early youth. But His whole ministry is there in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And what He prophesied to do is there, in Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13 and the book of Revelation.

        Yet millions remain ignorant of the real Jesus and depend upon so-called “professionals” to inform them concerning Him.

        No, it is even more essential today to preach “Christ and Him crucified” than it was in the first years following Jesus’ actual death, burial and resurrection. Think. If, by the time of the A.D. 50s Jude and Paul both had to warn of apostasy, of a falling away from original truth, of a substitute Jesus and another gospel, and had to warn about getting “back to the truth once delivered,” then how far away from it is this world today, almost 2,000 years later?

        The truth is we just can’t go wrong if you stick to the Scriptures.

The life, personality, teachings and message of Jesus must all be taught without leaving out anything. He is central to the gospel, central to the whole Bible, central to your life.

        If Jesus’ modern disciples are to fulfill His commission, making disciples of all nations” and “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever” Jesus taught His disciples, the combination of broadcast media, the printing press, education, counseling, explaining, expounding, satisfying the thirst for people’s personal quest for knowledge is all required.

        When Jesus is pictured as saying, “Come, you blessed of my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34), He meant much more than only giving of the material goods to suffering people.

“For I was an hungred, and you gave Me meat.”

        The Bible, the Word of God, is called meat (Hebrews 5:14), and Jesus even characterized the job He had to accomplish as “My meat.”

        Feeding the hungry can also apply to preaching the gospel, teaching through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ, nourishing the starving people in this world through feeding them with the knowledge of salvation. 

“I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink.”

        To the Samaritan woman, Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says unto you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10).

        He said, “But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

        Paul wrote that Christ would sanctify the church and cleanse it with a washing of water by the Word” (Ephesians 5:26), thus referring both to the thirst-quenching properties of the Word of God, satisfying the thirsty soul, and indirectly referring to baptism, being immersed in water as a sign of burial of the “old self” to rise in newness of life.

        Those who give the thirsty to drink are those doing the whole work of God: fulfilling Jesus’ commission, a vast task having many facets. It requires a labor of love on the part of the whole church working together in every way to accomplish that task together.

“I was a stranger and you took Me in.”

        Peter had to learn at Cornelius’ house that God intended calling “strangers” (Gentiles) into the knowledge of the truth. Once such a person is called and converted, Paul said, “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, in the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

        Jesus showed here that feelings of group instincts, tribalism, chauvinism, racism and exclusivism do not belong in the hearts of those who are willing to see a “stranger” and invite him in. This also applies toward all who are “in the world.”

        God tells His servants to come out of the world (1 John 2:15, James 4:4, Revelation 18:4), and says they are not of the world—meaning the habits, customs, sins, the society of this world. Yet He said, “Go unto all the world.”

        He said, “God so loved the world,” and, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

        When the Church of God makes people in the world welcome to come in and hear the precious Word of God, it is inviting them to come out of the world and making them welcome in the church. Remember that Jesus never ate a meal during His early ministry with a converted human being. His constant contact with the carnal minds of His own disciples, His own family and the people of the world did not “taint” His spiritual condition. Jesus said:

        “I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.

        “They are not of the world [civilization, society], even as I am not of the world.

        “Sanctify them through your truth: Your Word is truth.

        “As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:15-18).

        Jesus was called the “friend of harlots, publicans and sinners.” He wore the label humbly. No one is going to be instrumental in winning over sin-sick people by shunning them, by repelling them, by keeping them out.

        There is nothing wrong with saying to the world they are “welcome” to come into God’s church. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son” (John 3:16). And “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).

        Jesus said, “Come unto me,” to those who were “weary, and heavy-laden,” and promised rest unto their souls. His conversation with a Gentile woman in Samaria has the same significance. He showed love toward strangers. In the same way, God’s servants must never hide their lights, never pretend the gospel is a narrow message sent only to a few exclusive people. His people must realize it is a vast message sent unto all flesh.

“Naked, and you clothed Me.”

        Spiritual nakedness is mentioned (Revelation 3:17) as the attitude of being lukewarm, of lacking in zeal and enthusiasm for God’s work. One can be “rich and increased with goods,” pridefully boasting of great possessions, income and accomplishment—and yet be “spiritually naked.”

        In feeding and giving drink to the spiritual poor of the world, Christ includes clothing them with proper garments just as those who are invited to the Great Wedding Supper of the Lamb must have the proper garments.

        Paul spoke of immortality (salvation and entry into the Kingdom) as clothing:

        “If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

        “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality must be swallowed up of life” (2 Corinthians 5:3, 4).

        Clothing the naked is not only literal as in giving clothing to those in desperate need, but also giving the gospel to those whose spiritual nakedness desperately needs clothing.

“I was sick, and you visited Me.”

        And spiritual “sickness” is a condition of heart, soul and mind that must be healed through God’s Holy Spirit. He also said:
        “. . . They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

        “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31, 32).

        National sins are called “sickness” (Hosea 5:13), and, in the analogy of the body in Isaiah, God says, “. . . The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint, for the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it: but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isaiah 1:5, 6).

“I was in prison, and you came unto Me.”

        And the Bible says, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19). Being in sin is being “under the law,” and is the opposite of being “free from the law of sin and death” and “standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free” (Galatians 5:1).

        Speaking of the second coming of Christ, Jeremiah wrote:

        “For it shall come to pass in that day, says the Eternal of Hosts, that I will break his yoke [see Isaiah 47] from off your neck, and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him,

        “But they shall serve the Eternal their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them” (Jeremiah 30:8, 9).

        Notice that the work of Christ is predicted in Isaiah 42. “I the Eternal have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles [nations];

        “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (Isaiah 42:6, 7).

        Sin is prison. Being virtually enslaved and captured by human nature in its physical appetites, the millions are pictured as in prison to their own desires.

        Of Christ, in prophecy, Isaiah wrote:

        “The Eternal is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.

        “But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers” (Isaiah 42:21, 22).

        In the commission He gave, Jesus Christ meant much more than only doing what any Christian would do, in sharing of this world’s goods with the poor, the thirsty and the naked.

        The real gospel of Jesus Christ is a vast message.

        It will fulfill the very life’s work of Ezekiel, who never reached the leaders his prophecies named, but who wrote for our time. It will fulfill the life’s work of Isaiah and Jeremiah and all the other prophets. It is doing the very work of Elijah (see Malachi 4:5, 6) and of John the Baptist—preparing the way for the coming of Christ.

        It means preaching all the truth, showing people why they need to repent, and being earnestly involved in whether they will or not.

        It is the message of the whole Bible, the good news of personal salvation from eternal death and a Gehenna fire. It is the good news of a way of escape (Luke 21:36) for those who God says are found worthy—of the strength to endure to the end, even when faced with martyrdom (i.e., Revelation 11, the Two Witnesses) for the sake of Christ.

        It is the message of the beautiful personality of Jesus Christ, His person, and the wonderful message He brought. It consists of how He taught as well as what He taught. It must include the signs He performed, His compassion on the people in the hearings He performed. It is the message about Jesus Christ as a human being, born of a virgin, tried in the flesh, crucified and resurrected to eternal life.

        It includes the prophecies that He will come again—and the great call to repent and believe the gospel.

        It is a vast message, an international message, to all flesh.

Remember, then, Jesus said if He were “lifted up” (crucified), He would draw all men unto Him!

        He said we must lift up our eyes and see that the fields are white with harvest.” He told Peter, “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.” Paul said he became all things to all men that he might by all means save some.

        Christ wants all to be saved. He yearns for more human beings to receive His saving blood and to repent before God, calling on His name so they can be saved.

        Jesus warned those who are ashamed of Him that He will be ashamed of them when He comes. Can you say with Paul, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes”?

        This is the real gospel. Not a secular gospel of saying “education is salvation,” or claiming the gospel is an “announcement.” But it is the whole gospel of Scripture, the gospel Jesus delivered to His disciples, the gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles, the advance good news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God in all its splendor, glory and magnificence, and with its shining hope for all mankind.

        It is a beautiful message, a message of tender love and concern for people. And those who have a part in preaching it are actually fulfilling the deepest requirements of Jesus, who will say, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the earth.”

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post What Is The Real Gospel? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

But do any of them truly have the answer? As shocking as it may sound, you have never yet read the REAL purpose for human life. You will be astounded to discover how plain, how simple the answer really is. At the same time, you will be amazed at the miraculous complexity of it all-inspired as you never thought possible to learn of the awesome human potential.

Did you ever cry, “Why ME?” How many millions, beset with frustrations, setbacks, heartaches, personal tragedies. cry out. “Why me, Lord?”

To what degree is everything that happens to you mere happenstance?

Is your life only an insignificant, little-noticed existence-a few fleeting years of sensory perceptions, moods, attitudes, emotions-the never-ending struggle for survival? Are you and your life, only an , random accident?

Or do you really “fit” somewhere, in the scheme of things?

What is the PURPOSE of human life?

Why are you here? Where are you going? What happens when you die?

Of course, there are literally hundreds of so-called “answers” to profound questions like these.

The so-called “Christian” philosophies say man possesses a “soul” which is predetermined to go to an ever-burning hell unless we somehow “get saved” and go, instead, to “heaven.”

Thus, the Christian philosophies teach that conscious life, albeit in some other form, continues after death. They see this human, physical existence as merely the first step to some greater, transcendental existence in some other state.

But, alas and a lack, not one single “Christian” audience has ever heard a sermon telling them what they will be doing in heaven on the third day, third week, third month-or after three hundred and ninety-seven years, or throughout eternity. That’s because there are no such scriptures.

Many believe they were “here” before. Some believe they will go on to some other “phase” of life after death; speaking of what they hope they will be able to do “in their next lives”. Some are convinced, probably due to the drab, monotonous boredom of their present existence, that they must have had a far more interesting “previous life,” or they would not be so bored, today.

Atheists and evolutionists, of course, believe that man is not unlike an animal. The “hairless ape” is here today, gone tomorrow. Thus, the atheistic denial of God also relegates moral responsibility into the comparatively unthreatening area of transitory societal mores-certainly not of the stature of divine law.

But notwithstanding these and other philosophies-what is the truth?

And, how can you know?

The answer begins with the most fundamental question of all-is there a God? Does God exist? If so, can you prove it?

Millions say disease, poverty, squalor, crime and war prove God does not exist.

“Cannon Fodder, or Soul Farm?”

Is it any wonder a German soldier, cowering in a frozen trench outside Stalingrad during World War II, wrote a bitter letter to his priest back in Germany that God could not exist? Was this embittered German soldier any different from literally millions of other human beings who have had similar experiences? How many plaintive cries have echoed through the corridors of time, complaining that, “If there is a God, why does He ALLOW WAR?”

All right, why?

Why accidents, sickness and disease, crime, suffering, poverty and privation; why murder-why WAR?

With the advent of the nuclear age, military and political leaders gradually began to realize that science had endowed them with the means to exterminate human life from the face of the earth.

Now, as the great powers remain deadlocked in an ideological struggle; as more and more nations join the “nuclear club,” developing nuclear weapons of their own, it becomes increasingly clear to the more negative among historians and philosophers that mankind may not escape the nightmare of a nuclear war prior to the close of the present century.

By now, you have seen and heard enough about nuclear armageddon to make you thoroughly sick of the whole thing.

The theme has been exploited by motion pictures, television specials, magazines and books; how many pamphlets have you seen with the familiar mushroom-shaped cloud?

But, sick of it or not, the reality still remains. The fact is, the combined nuclear arsenals of the big powers contain enough explosive force to more than obliterate several times the population of this good green earth.

Now, there is talk of “avoiding nuclear war by accident”

Various scenarios are portrayed, like those in books such as Countdown to Armageddon, and The Late, Great Planet Earth.

Many so-called “Christian” organizations, assumedly believing nuclear holocaust is surely coming, confidently predict to their members that some form of escape is going to be provided. Either they will; (a) be “raptured” away to be with Jesus while billions die during the great tribulation, or, (b) be taken to a secret “place of safety” where they will wait out the holocaust in a desert cave or, (c) they will be miraculously protected right where they are, witnessing the violent collapse of all civilization in a global nuclear World War III.

Down through history, men have pronounced each new weapon the development that would virtually outlaw war. When shields and metal armor were developed against the longbow, some enterprising soul promptly invented the crossbow, which could shoot a metal arrow completely through armor.

The crossbow was (and is) a deadly weapon.

But then came the rifle; a method to propel a lump of metal at incredible velocity from a metal tube, hurling it with such force over such distances that it could penetrate human flesh and bone, smashing into vessels and arteries, delivering a powerful, shocking blow to the vitals, and killing, instantly.

Rifles did away with crossbows, for no crossbowman could ever get close enough to a man armed with a rifle.

Then came the machine gun.

In the battle of the Somme, approximately one million men died. Time and time again the allied generals urged their brave soldiers ‘”over the top,” out of the trenches, up the slopes of the battle-scarred hills, directly into German machine gun nests, which busily mowed them down like so much scythed hay.

Some began to wonder if the machine gun was not the “ultimate weapon”; began to wonder if men would not now sit down and “outlaw” war.

At first, aircraft were used merely as observation planes. Then someone thought of dropping a wrench out of his airplane onto an enemy airplane below. Some enterprising soul thought of taking a pistol along, and took a few potshots at an enemy airplane. Then, came fowling pieces and rifles. Finally, someone thought of mounting a machine gun on the fuselage and, presto, the modern fighter plane was invented.

From dropping projectiles by hand in World War I, the nations of the world developed bombers which through evolution of military invention and design, resulted in such bombers today being supersonic, capable of carrying in their bomb bays more explosive force in just one bomb than all of the force unleashed by all participants in all wars fought by all mankind to the present.

With the explosion of the first “low-yield” crude atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, some once again thought war would be outlawed.

The United Nations was formed as “man’s last chance.” Yet, the world has fought approximately 65 wars from that time to this, albeit avoiding the use of nuclear weapons to date; and in all of those wars usually at least one or both of the participants have been members of the United Nations, which was billed, in 1946, as man’s last hope for peace.

The historical record is not reassuring.

If one is to merely look at history as a guide-then ask the question “Will mankind survive into the twenty-first century without a major nuclear war?” one is not encouraged to answer in the affirmative.

And then what? What will be the outcome of such a nuclear bomb world war?

At best, those who attempt to assess such mind-boggling occurrences agree that civilization, as we know it, would surely perish. They paint the ugly scenario of comparatively few areas of the earth “untouched” by direct bomb blasts, radiation, and radioactive debris in the stratosphere.

However, they are quick to point out that such total destruction would bring about massive upheavals in many other directions; dramatic changes in the temperature of the earth and the jet streams, incredible pollution of the upper atmosphere and the resultant cooling of the earth’s surface which would bring about bizarre and disastrous weather changes; pollution of rivers, bays, lakes, estuaries and the oceans themselves; with even the remote potential of triggering shocks along the tectonic plates of the earth, inducing man-made volcanic activity, earthquakes, and tidal waves.

The very darkest possible scenario is, of course, total extinction of all life, and the supposition on the part of a handful of atheistic scientists that the “whole evolutionary process would begin anew,” with perhaps some form of surviving bacteria.

So this is what it’s all about? This mind-boggling, hideous and macabre spectacle of the lemming-like extinction of humanity, is the “final outcome” of man’s frantic search for the “good life”? Is nuclear oblivion what awaits all of us?

Are we merely here, this generation of human beings looking over into the beginning of the twenty-first century, to become “cannon fodder” for man’s ultimate weapon; the hydrogen bomb?

Or, is there a God “up there” somewhere-“someone, in the great somewhere,” as the song goes, who is busily “soul farming”?

Are You a “Soul”?

Are you-that is the real you, your personality, deepest psyche and character really a “soul” held imprisoned inside a wasting body? And if so, where did you get your soul? Did it come into you at birth?

Can you take it out and look at it? Have you ever seen it, touched it, tasted it, smelled it, or otherwise “experienced” the idea that you have a “soul” by physical or pragmatic means?

No, you haven’t.

But millions are confident they have an “immortal soul.” For twenty-nine years, I have been offering a certified cashier’s check in the amount of ten thousand dollars (which I recently upped to twenty thousand dollars) to anyone who can find the words “immortal soul” or “immortality of the soul,” in the King James Bible. And for twenty-nine years, people have sent me various vague scriptures which they say infer the “immortality of the soul,” but in all those nearly thirty years, not one single human being has ever been able to claim the money.

The Bible plainly says that man “became a living soul…” at the creation of Adam. Read Ezekiel 18:4 and verse 20:

“The soul that sinneth it shall die.” But don’t just take my word for it, look it up in your own Bible, and you will see the absolute PROOF that we are not possessed of an “immortal soul” at all, but that there is, in fact, a “spirit in man” of which the Bible speaks; that spiritual quality of the mind of we human beings which lifts us far above the animal plane; makes us human, made in the image and similitude of God, possessed of a conscience, able to build character, and creatures of free moral agency and volition.

The Bible plainly shows that, at death, there is no further consciousness. Solomon said, plainly, that he did not know whether the spirit returned to God, or went back down into the earth-but one thing he knew, as did David his father, there is no further consciousness in death.

What would God want with all of those “souls,” anyway? Have you ever heard a sermon wherein the pastor tried to tell you what you will be doing the third year you are “up in heaven”? How about your thirtieth year, three hundredth year, or the end of your third millennium? Life on this earth can be fairly interesting-especially if it involves a good deal of education, travel, and a wide range of experience. As Solomon said, our eyes are never satisfied; our ears are never filled. our thirst and taste never truly sated. Just because we have seen one gorgeous sunset does not mean we want it to be our last, we are not yet tired of hearing the beautiful sounds of nature, of beautiful music, the voice of loved ones, the happy laughter of our own babies-in short, we human beings are never really through living so long as we can still enjoy life.

What if the Bible promises you, not “heaven” in some wraith-like condition of a “soul” wafting around shuffling through harp music for billions of years, but promises you, instead. the first one-thousand years of co-rulership with Jesus Christ busily straightening out the incredible evils that grip this planet?

What if the Bible issued to you such challenges as becoming a mayor, president, king or ruler over small or great countries? What if, once given the great wisdom, patience, understanding, vast knowledge and experience, you are also equipped with the spiritual POWER to carry out your edicts? What would you do? Would you see to it there was no more crime? Would you eradicate poverty? Would you do away with sickness and disease? Would you outlaw war? Would such an opportunity be desirable?

Believe it or not, Almighty God DOES offer you an opportunity to help straighten out this world in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. And, believe it or not, God is going to outlaw war, yet, human nature will remain pretty much the same during the first one-thousand years of the rulership of God’s kingdom on this earth.

No, the world is not a “soul farm” with thousands dying daily and going either to “heaven or to hell.”

What is Man?

To truly understand what we are, we must decide, based upon the facts, in favor of only one or two great alternatives. They are evolution, or creation.

There are no other possibilities. We’re here, we know that. We got here by the process of birth, and, so far as we can discern through any physical or scientific evidence, so did our ancestors, as far back in history as fossil remains indicate there was life on this earth.

Evolutionists say, “In the beginning was the hydrogen atom…” God says, ”In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1).

Which is correct?

Evolutionists propose an extremely wide variety of possible origins for the earth, our solar system and the universe.

The “big bang” theory is most in vogue. It presupposes that in the far distant past, there was one “giant hydrogen atom” (which boggles the mind) which for some reason or other, exploded.

Science knows the “basic building block” of the entire universe is the hydrogen atom. The “big bang” theory helps them account for an ‘expanding” universe, apparently rushing in all directions outward from the supposed “center” of the universe (if, indeed, something so fathomless as interstellar space has a “center”).

Another less popular theory is the “oscillating” universe; supposing that, eventually, all of the billions upon billions of stars will come back together in one gigantic super-cataclysmic explosion, and start the whole process all over again. Then, there is the “steady-state” theory.

So far as the origin of life is concerned, evolutionists promote a wide variety of completely contradictory theories.

Some say life began by a chance spark, perhaps touched off by a lightning bolt in a primordial methane and ammonia soup.

Another theory claims life began in “cracks in rocks.” Still another claims life began from “brown scum.” Then there are the believers that life began in “green slime,” or on “polka-dotted air bubbles in the sea.”

There are the advocates of life beginning under conditions of extreme cold, and their opposite numbers, who believe life began under conditions of extreme heat.

Hydrogen atoms, amino acids, proteins, cells, living forms-evolutionists are thoroughly universal in their adoption of the theory that all life, as incredibly complex as we know it to be, began with something which they call “simple.”

There is insufficient space in this booklet to completely expose and destroy the theory of evolution, for such would require several volumes. However, I would urge you to obtain a few books for your own personal library, and study them. Excellent reading on creation versus evolution can be found in The Deluge Story in Stone by Nelson; The Story of the Fossils by George McCrady Price (Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California); The Genesis Flood (Whitcomb and Morris); Evolutionary Geology and New Catastrophism (George McCrady Price).

There are many, many others, including a very recent book entitled The First Genesis by William Dankenbring which I would recommend as a collegiate-grade textbook on the subject, for it pulls together information from dozens of quarters and leaves no stone unturned.

Here are a few facts for you to consider:

First the concept that one always finds fossil forms of life from “simple” to “complex” is utterly false. There is nothing “simple” about any life forms; and certainly nothing simple about the trilobites found in the so-called cambrian strata.

Secondly, there is no such thing as a uniform geologic succession of strata. The strata are found in every conceivable condition of disarray. Evolutionists, in order to twist the facts to suit their theories, have claimed that whole mountain ranges have moved scores of miles to explain why certain so-called ‘”older” strata are resting ‘”conformably” atop so-called “younger” strata. They refuse to believe what their own minds and eyes ought to tell them; that when the fossil record appears to be in jumbled disarray, it is not the fossil record in disarray, but their theories. Clinging to their theory, they seek to explain away dozens of instances in global geologic phenomena where “older” fossil forms are found high above so-called “younger” fossil forms; and where, according to their theories, literally millions upon millions of years separated the different forms. So how did the “older” fossils end up on top of the “younger”?

They refer to such puzzles as “deceptive conformity,” saying that even though the layers of stone appear to your human eye as being undisturbed-leading you to believe they were laid down exactly as you see them-they say your eyes are deceiving you, and this is merely deceptive conformity.

Note this well. There is no place on earth where even a major portion of the so-called geologic succession of strata is in evidence. It is in evidence only in textbooks, in such books as North American Index of Fossils or various collegiate-grade books on geology and paleontology, but is nowhere visible in nature.

The books I have mentioned cover such points, as well as dozens of others including such interesting questions as why fossils are found on the tops of the highest mountains on earth; why dozens of varieties appear to have died suddenly, and were buried alive; why mammoths were found in the frozen tundra (like one specimen in the Smithsonian with greenery still in its mouth) “quick frozen” and preserved for our inspection today; what carbon-fourteen dating is all about; why there are no “intermediate species”; the proof of creation illustrated by symbiosis-wherein animal and plant mutually support and preserve one another (for example, the helpful bacteria in our own digestive systems without which we could not survive); and many, many other interesting aspects of the proofs of God’s creation.

There are seven basic proofs God exists. Properly, they belong in a separate book all by themselves, but I will cover them briefly here.

(1) That there is a great CREATION is obvious. The very fact of the existence of THINGS; the universe, the solar system, the earth and all myriad forms of life upon it, demands a CREATOR.

(2) The existence of great, immutable, powerful LAWS (and I speak of the “laws” governing the physical universe; the laws of science and chemistry; laws governing the action of water in its three states; the cleavage and fracturing properties of minerals; gravity, inertia, isostasy, etc., etc.). The existence of these great laws demands a lawgiver.

(3) The intricacy of complex design; whether the feathers on the wing of a bird; the eye of a fly; the breathing apparatus of a dolphin; billions of intricately-designed snowflakes; your own muscular, skeletal, digestive and circulatory systems-etc., etc., requires a great DESIGNER.

(4) LIFE exists. Life in myriad forms. You and I both know that life only comes from preexisting life. This is called the “law of biogenesis.” Life demands a great LIFE GIVER.

(5) Life only comes from preexisting life of the same kind. Thus, there is procreation, and the sustaining of life on our planet; the constant recycling of falling trees, rotting vegetation; the bacteria which break it down to become food for the insects which are food for dozens of other creatures, which are in turn food for larger creatures, which are in turn food for man; the cyclical character of our symbiotic environment which, like a gigantic machine was once “wound up,” and is gradually running down, requires a sustaining force. Inherent within this proof are the laws governing the “conservation” of energy” and the laws of thermodynamics. It is obvious our universe has a great sustaining force-a GREAT SUSTAINER.

(6) Fulfilled prophecies, of which there are dozens, with dozens more yet to be fulfilled, constitute a great proof of Almighty God. Even simple high school or beginning college-level Bible handbooks such as Halley’s, or the Angus Bible Handbook contain fascinating proofs from the spade of archeologists corroborating the prophecies of men who foretold the collapse of great empires and the emergence of others centuries and centuries beyond their own lifetime. Now, we are able to look back at such men as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and others, and see what they foretold actually HAPPENED exactly as they foretold it.

Many of the biblical prophecies are in process of being fulfilled. The serious student of biblical archeology knows that it is axiomatic that, wherever archeology reveals information about ancient civilizations, it always corroborates the biblical record, never refutes it.

(7) The final proof–one which dyed-in-the-wool disbelievers will doubtlessly scoff at–is answered prayer. Of course. God does not answer the prayers of skeptics and disbelievers. However, those individuals who have experienced the answer to PRAYER; those who have been healed of their sicknesses and diseases, who have actually seen miracles performed, are no longer doubting, but believing. Answered prayer is definitely a proof that there is a God who can hear. and answer.

We Are Mortal-Temporal-Subject to Death

Each one of these proofs of God deserves a whole book. For twenty-nine years, I have been offering proof that Almighty God exists; I have done so in thousands of radio and television broadcasts, in hundreds and hundreds of hours in college classrooms, and in dozens of articles and booklets on the creation; exposing the fallacies of evolution.

You can prove Almighty God exists.

Think about it. Do explosions in print shops result in encyclopedias? Does randomness and happenstance bring about intricate design and beautiful order?

Everywhere around you, you see intricacy, interdependency. harmony, beauty, flawless design. Place the feather of a bird. the wing of a fly, the petal of a rose, or a human hair under a powerful microscope. The closer you look at those things in the natural creation, the more you become overawed by the marvelous creation of God.

Go to any high school level encyclopedia (like the World Book) and read a few of the articles on such subjects as water, air, the sun, the human eye, the articles on electricity, magnetism, gravity, or the cleavage properties of minerals.

How long has it been since you pondered the fathomless mysteries of this beautiful creation of which you are a part?

When we ask “What is man?” we can only answer that he is a created being, given limited CREATIVE powers.

We are a physical, chemical, air-breathing, food-eating, water-drinking temporal existence-absolutely dependent upon our surrounding biosphere for our survival.

Study the marvels of reproduction. Ask yourself about the miracle of heredity and environment; how we pass on to our children the genes and the chromosomes that determine general height, shape, weight, texture of skin, color of hair and eyes; that oftentimes determine even certain special proclivities. talents, and abilities, as well as striking similarities to grandparents, maternal or paternal.

The cycle of birth is a true cycle. It is interrupted at death, or by abortion. However, there is no other method by which human beings can be brought into existence than by conception; introducing a male sperm cell into a female ovum, or female egg. The beginning for this cycle was at creation.

Is there anything so approaching the miraculous in our environment as is our ability to reproduce after our own kind?

As human beings. we look about and see no greater living creature in all of God’s creation than ourselves. Man stands at the top of the “food chain.” We have been endowed with a mind. With that mind we can assimilate knowledge and information: think, reason and PLAN. We can then. with the marvelous skills of the human hand and body, form, shape, construct and bring about the production of things according to the plan formed and shaped in our minds.

Man has been endowed with inventiveness, creativity, ingenuity; a thirst for knowledge, and a desire to produce and achieve.

God inspired the apostle Paul to write “But one in a certain place testified, saying, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedest him with glory and honor. And didst set him over the works of thy hands:

“Thou has put all things in subjection under his feet” (Hebrews 2;6-8).

Read that again. Notice that God says He created man only a little lower than the angels. At the physical creation. God said “Let us [the word for ‘God’ is Elohim, which means MORE than one] make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:26).

The Bible says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; man and female created He them.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

Almighty God used the physical materials of this earth in His creation. “And the Eternal God formed man of the dust [physical, chemical elements of the earth] of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).

How is your physical, chemical life sustained? It matters not whether you sit down to dine in the most fabulous restaurant in Paris, France; eat from a tray on your lap at thirty-nine thousand feet high above the Atlantic Ocean in a jet airplane; eat at your the favorite restaurant near your own home, or simply sit on a log over a campfire, eating out of doors with your own hands. Foods do not come from kitchens. Milk does not come from a carton. Foods come from the ground; milk comes from cows.

Not only are we human beings composed of the very “dust” (meaning chemical elements of the earth) of the ground. but our lives are supported by eating those things which grow in that same earth from which we came.

And what happens to us when we die? Even as the oft-repeated phrase at funerals, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” so it is true that our bodies decay and become just so much fertilizer, returning to the ground from whence we came. That much, medical science affirms. Medical science, of course, cannot tell us anything about an alleged “soul” within this human flesh, and does not attempt to do so.

Did you notice, carefully, what God said? He said, when He breathed the breath of life into Adam that Adam BECAME a living “soul.” The Hebrew word (the Bible was not written in English) is nephesh. This Hebrew word is used five times in the first chapter of the book of Genesis of lower life forms BEFORE it is ever used of man.

Man is mortal. We are temporal, of this earth. As a fleshly, chemical, transitory human being, we are subject to aging, senility. and death.

Of these fleeting lives, the Bible says, ‘There is one Lawgiver. who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

“Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor. That appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:12-14). God says. “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field:

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the spirit of the Eternal bloweth upon it: Surely the people is grass.

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever” (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Of this physical, chemical existence, the apostle Paul said,

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the flrstfruits of them that slept.

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.

“Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

“For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:19-26).

Notice. “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

“As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold. I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:47-52).

What fabulous information is contained in these few verses. Here, we see that the fate of physical, carnal man is nothing more than death. Adam is said to be “of the earth, earthy.” We then see revealed that, unless there is a resurrection from the state of death, we have no future life. It is in the “hope of the resurrection” that true Christians die. God says when we die “our thoughts perish,” and says there is “no consciousness” in the grave.

He says that “God only hath immortality.” and says “The soul that sinneth it-that soul-shall die.”

Notice that Jesus Christ is called the “first-born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29) and “the first fruits” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23).

Who Was Jesus Christ?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John .:1-3).

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. And the Word was made FLESH. and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:9-12, 14).

The Greek for “word” is logos. This word means “spokesman,” indicating the executive member of the Godhead who did the commanding; who did the creating.

Read, with your own eves in your own Bible what this scripture plainly tells you. You need no interpreter to understand the meaning of these plain scriptures. It is telling us that the very individual who MADE THE UNIVERSE: the individual who was in the very beginning with “God” and who “WAS GOD,” was that individual who became Jesus Christ. born of the flesh, of the virgin Mary, and who became a human being (the “Word was made flesh”.) and lived here on this earth. Now turn to and read Hebrews, the first chapter.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, BY WHOM also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. But unto the Son He saith, thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. And, Thou, Lord. in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-12).

Here is absolute corroborating proof that the individual who “made the worlds” is that same individual who “by Himself purged our sins” and who is Jesus Christ.

Notice verse 10 again. “Thou, Lord [speaking of Jesus Christ] in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.” And who was Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ was the very Son of God.

By the miracle-working power of God, He was changed from divine life-from VERY GOD life-into a tiny, human embryo. He developed in the womb of His mother in exactly the same fashion as did you and I. He was born of the flesh and He was flesh.

He was God-lN THE FLESH..

And when He was human-He was just as human as you and I are human; subject to the same emotions, longings, desires, temptations-subject to cold, heat, hunger, fatigue, pain.

Notice. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:9,10; 2:14-18).

Christ took part of flesh and blood.

Now, notice what the Bible says about His visage; His form and shape:

“Who [Christ] being the brightness of His [God, the Father] glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of HIS PERSON, and upholding all things by the word of His power…” (Hebrews 1:3).

The words “express image” are clear. Christ was made in the exact image of God, the Father. The Greek word for the expression “express image” is karakter, which means, “the figure stamped” (as, a certain letter is a “character,” etc.), or the ”engraving,” or “exact copy,” or “representation.”

As the “only begotten of the Father,” Jesus Christ was absolutely preeminent as the Author; Captain, Originator; the Guarantor of our salvation. He was the PIONEERING member of the God family who took upon Himself the incredible challenge of becoming human; subjecting Himself to the pulls and tugs of human nature, overcoming sin in the flesh; living perfectly, according to the spiritual intent of God’s perfect law-then dying for our sins.

God said. “.. when He bringeth the firs begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him” (Hebrews 1:6)

Do you know why the angels of God literally worship Christ? Why He is called the ”captain” of our salvation?

Because Christ is the greatest HERO of ALL TIME. He is the CHAMPION of ALL CONTESTS-the CONQUEROR of the greatest challenge of all-that of overcoming HUMAN NATURE. He conquered SATAN. He conquered DEATH.

Christ Had A Choice

Now, you need to understand one of the most profound truths of the plan of God.

By its very definition, character, believe it or not, is something which cannot be instantaneously produced by divine flat. Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, is the greatest, supreme Character in the universe.

One very good definition of character is as follows:

Character consists of the wisdom and discernment to define the difference between right and wrong-then consists of having the will power to force the self to choose the right.

Character is the purest form of self-rule; of self-government.

As such, it is something that must be acquired through education, testing, and experience. God has so decreed it.

Many fail to see what a great Savior they have-they fail to realize Christ faced daily CHOICES during His human, physical life-that He oftentimes wrestled with HIMSELF-forcing Himself to make the right CHOICE every time.

Many are so ignorant of the great purpose and plan of God it would be blasphemous to them to admit CHRIST COULD HAVE FAILED. To many, there was no “real” risk involved. Christ, to some, is like the world-champion weight lifter, who is accustomed to picking up many hundreds and hundreds of pounds. His trials in the human flesh are viewed as a little twenty-pound weight, which he tossed off with consummate ease.

But no. Your Bible shows Christ made daily decisions; that He faced many temptations.

Read it. “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared:

“Though He were a Son, yet LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED” (Hebrews 5:7-8).

Jesus Christ made supplication to God the Father with “strong crying and tears.” He put His heart into it. He meant it. One does not pray with loud, choking sobs; with brokenhearted cries of anguish-unless one REALLY MEANS it.

Time and again, the disciples said Jesus would rise up early, while it was yet dark, and go to a mountain alone, to pray. He prayed all night long before making the decision to choose His disciples. He struggled with Himself-DRIVING Himself to His knees–forcing Himself to pray–working, laboring in prayer before God.

On the night He was betrayed, three times He flung Himself down on the ground, imploring His Father to “to work it out some other way.” He FASTED and prayed for forty days and nights before meeting Satan in a terrible battle of wills-His great temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4).
Jesus Christ did not just “toss off” these great trials; He did not treat great events casually; carelessly ignore the need for prayer. No, He wrestled with Himself; He fought the pulls and tugs of human appetites and carnal nature-He battled temptations, and HE WON.

Yes, He had God’s Holy Spirit. But, He knew the Holy Spirit could wane-that He could grow lukewarm if He did not continually drink in of the mind, will and love of God through prayer. He described the Spirit of God as LIVING waters; like a flowing, rippling, happy brook-moving, flowing IN from God, and out in love, and good works toward God and fellow man.

Do you see?

Christ COULD HAVE FAILED. It was POSSIBLE. If not, you HAVE NO SAVIOR. If there was NO RISK involved; if Christ did not RISK IT ALL-then there was NO SUFFERING involved; no BATTLING; no WRESTLING with human nature; no STRUGGLING with the temptations that came along.

But what does the Bible say? “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED; and being MADE perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Christ SUFFERED in His trials. He suffered greatly-suffering mental anguish on the night He was betrayed. Then, He suffered, and bled, and died-suffering physically as well as mentally, on the stake. He WON a GREAT victory.

BUT HE HAD TO CONTINUALLY CHOOSE.

Always, looming just ahead-every single day, was the possibility of making JUST ONE MISTAKE.

Jesus Christ was a free moral agent. He was not an automaton; not “automatic” in His resistance to the pulls of the human flesh. No, He had to resist those pulls by conscious effort. He had to choose.

How could Jesus. who was a PERFECT baby; a perfect child of twelve; a perfect man- “be made perfect?”

Does Paul imply Jesus was IMperfect in some way?

Not at all. Jesus, as a child of two or three, did not sin. He was perfect. But a child of two or three is nowhere near so well developed, or knowledgeable, as a child of twelve. Nor is a boy of twelve so knowledgeable and mature as a young man of twenty-one.

Through each year; through each phase of His growth and development, Christ had to meet every challenge. He had to choose, daily. By continually struggling with human nature; by staying close to God in prayer; by allowing the Holy Spirit to flow powerfully through Him in good works and love toward God and man. Christ BUILT HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, PERFECT CHARACTER. You see, CHARACTER REQUIRES TIME.

It is NOT Automatic.

Satan was created a PERFECT being. Perfect in beauty; in stature, in radiance, in his music, and his splendid appearance. (Read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.) But his righteousness CORRUPTED him. He allowed vanity to creep in. He became puffed up with egotism; with pride, and self-importance. He began to think HE was alone supreme in beauty, and in power. You see, Satan did not have perfect character. He was perfect in beauty-in his radiant, magnetic appearance. God says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom [befouled your character-your knowledge] by reason of thy brightness…” (Ezekiel 28:17).

Character must be developed.

Christ was never IMperfect-but He was not as MATURE at age twelve as at age thirty. At age thirty, He had not yet experienced His turbulent, trying, exhausting, demanding three-and-a-half-year ministry. He had not yet suffered, and bled, and died. He was MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING-so says your Bible. (Hebrews 2:10).

If God could create holy, righteous, perfect CHARACTER by divine fiat-then He would have done so. But no, He created MAN, and gave man a natural, carnal, human nature-a nature that can, and must be changed.

The Carnal Nature of Man

Physically, we human beings have a mere chemical existence. God says, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19).

Mentally, emotionally and spiritually, however, man is possessed of what we call “human nature.”

And what IS “human nature”? The answer to this question contains the key to understanding the so-called fall of man, and the need for spiritual redemption.

Almighty God placed within man the senses, and an imaginative, creative, fabulously intricate mind, by which man could accumulate knowledge.

Almighty God placed clear-cut choices in front of our first parents. Read the first three chapters of Genesis. Notice how our first parents were completely “neutral” toward God-feeling neither fear nor threat from the Divine Presence. Books could be written describing the first few days of creation; how God led a procession of animals before Adam to see what names he would give them; the creation of Eve, and the presentation to Adam of his wife.

God gave the man and woman careful instructions. They could freely eat of every one of the trees in the garden-bearing every type of fruit. There was only one “forbidden fruit” of which man was not to partake. Notwithstanding the arguments which have lived through the centuries as to whether the trees were literal or figurative or both, the biblical account tells us that a bright, magnetic being (not appearing as a “snake.” which the Hebrew word nachash does not demand) subtly caused Eve to make the wrong choice; to partake of the “forbidden fruit” from the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil,” and to give of the fruit to her husband.

Read the account. Immediately after their sin. our first parents’ very nature seemed to have become sullied, altered.

Where they were cheerfully companionable with God, neither fearing His presence nor His voice-now, suddenly, they hid from Him.

Where they were unconscious of their nudity, exactly as tiny babies are completely unabashed and unashamed (how many mothers have been shocked when their tiny toddlers of only a year and a half or so have ventured out into the yard or even down the street following their bath, wearing not a stitch?), now, they were “ashamed” of their nudity.

Why?

First, you need to understand that the popular view of what happened in the garden is sheer nonsense. The tree was not an apple. The protuberance in human necks is not an ”Adam’s apple,” but the vocal apparatus, the “forbidden fruit” did not consist of sex. After all, had not God commanded them “Be fruitful, and replenish the earth.”? Read Hebrews 13:4. God says. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled.” He had explained that the very purpose for presenting Eve to Adam, was that a “man should leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife,” saying they “twain” (together) “shall become one flesh.”

In other words, Almighty God instituted marriage.

It is not true, no matter the philosophies of human religious organizations; the books and doctrinal arguments that have gathered dust down through the ages alleging to the contrary, that the first sin was sex.

Actually, Adam and Eve broke several of the Ten Commandments.

They disobeyed their only parent, thus breaking the fifth commandment. They coveted what they saw with their eyes, thus breaking the tenth. They stole that which was not rightfully heirs, thus breaking the eighth commandment. They allowed their desire for the “forbidden fruit” to come between them and God, thus breaking the principle of the commandment against idolatry, the second commandment. (Paul said “covetousness is idolatry”.) Thus, they directly broke four of the cardinal points of God’s Ten Commandments, and as James said, if we break one point, we are guilty of all.

”Sin is the transgression of the law’.” (1 John 3:4).

Adam did not “fall,” he was pushed by Eve, who had listened to Satan, the devil.

Now, what was changed?

The change was in the ATTITUDE of man toward God. God’s attitude toward man had not changed one whit. But Adam and Eve, by giving in to the pulls and tugs of their human sensory perceptions; by seeing with the eye, perhaps smelling with the nose, reaching out to investigate with the sense of touch and feel, they lusted after the very fruit which God had forbidden.

Now, guilt and shame set in.

God says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:6-7).

As a result of breaking God’s laws, Adam was denied access to the tree which represented eternal Life.

Think about it. Almighty God possesses all power. He is Creator. Since God has the power to create, He also has the power to DESTROY. But Almighty God is holy, righteous, PERFECT character. He is not capricious; not whimsical, not given to radical change-but sound, wise, righteous, just and GOOD.

Now, Almighty God could not allow our first parents to become immortal, spirit beings, because, in their corrupted state of sin; with their attitude of guilt, shame and resentment, they would have the power to DESTROY-they would not be perfectly SELF-governed.

Paul explains it thusly, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the flrstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:19-26).

Notice it is “by man” that death reigns.

Because Adam directly rebelled against God. Adam died.

“In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” God said.

“…in Adam ALL DIE…” says Paul. The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23).

But, “In Christ shall all be made alive.”

Obviously. the first death-human, physical natural death, from whatever cause, is not the penalty for sin. Sin may cause death, as in murder. But the murderer who is put to death (very rare in today’s society) is not paying the penalty for his sin. Society may exact a penalty, according to its laws, but society cannot carry out God’s penalty.

No matter how “good” you are-no matter how fine a person-the day is coming when you shall die. Death is the natural end of life, because life is a physical, chemical, temporary span of time-sustained by the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Deprived of any of these three, we die.

God says. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; So Christ was offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

God says, speaking of the great resurrection to judgment (NOT to “sentencing,” there is a difference.), “But the rest of the dead [those who were not the ‘dead in Christ’; not converted Christians-but those who had died in ignorance and disbelief ] lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).

Notice. The Bible speaks of TWO DEATHS. The “first death” is what has come upon man, naturally, as a result of Adam’s sin-the inevitable consequences of living; whether through old age. Or for whatever cause-death.

But the Bible speaks of a “second death”-a death in GEHENNA FIRE, which is the final result of sin which is UNREPENTED of. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power…” (Revelation 20:6).

Do you see? The wages of sin is death-the SECOND death, from which there is NO RESURRECTION. “And death and the grave [margin] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14).

The Proverbial Controversy

The traditional view of man and his destiny goes something like this; Almighty God constructed a beautiful creation. He placed innocent, child-like, perfect human beings in the midst of a garden filled with wonderful animals and beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers. Here was an absolutely fabulously, PERFECT creation. God was completely satisfied. Apparently, while God’s “back was turned” (as if that is possible with God), along comes Satan the devil, like a garter snake entwined around the branches of a small tree, and somehow entices the woman to give the man of the forbidden fruit.

God then returns from His journey, and lo and behold, His perfect creation has been wrecked. Satan the devil has managed to somehow “sneak in,” influence the man and woman, and DESTROY God’s beautiful handiwork.

Now, God devises an idea. It may be makeshift; something like the chewing gum and baling wire approach the farmer might use on his broken-down tractor, but God decides He will attempt to “redeem” man; He will try to salvage His perfect creation, by sending His own Son to die for the sins of suffering mankind-and then, those who will receive and accept Jesus Christ can once again achieve a beatific state, and someday their “souls” can go to heaven.

Every bit of this traditional fable is just that-FABLE. It is sheer nonsense.

Believe it or not, Almighty God has never allowed anything to occur over which He had no control.

If you can get this concept down deep into your mind; if you can come to UNDERSTAND what you have already read about CHARACTER-about the requirement that character must be built, and cannot be produced by divine fiat, automatically, then you will come to a level of understanding that is shared by only a minuscule percentage of the human race.

That truth is this: The creation was not COMPLETED in the garden of Eden-it was only BEGUN.

Adam and Eve did not represent a “finished” creation. They were merely a clay model-a prototype. Physically, they were made in the similitude and image of God. But spiritually, they fell far short. God’s great PLAN of redemption was conceived from the far reaches of eternity-long before the construction of matter, and the creation of our universe, solar system, and this earth.

Man’s Nature Must be CHANGED

God’s Word reveals that all of us, from the time of our childhood, have been human beings possessed of a carnal nature. That nature is defined as an almost automatic resentment against God; resenting control, direction, law and authority. Of and by ourselves, we are cunning, avaricious, greedy, egocentric, selfish, impatient, angry; we have resentment, jealousy, hatred; human nature is basically a collection of vanity, jealousy, lust, and greed. It is, above all things, egotistic. It wants to acknowledge no authority but that of SELF.

Anciently, God set down the parameters for human behavior. Get this. Understand it. Almighty God has decided HOW we are to worship Him-He has left man to decide whether.

He places before us daily choices. Read it. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19).

From time immemorial, our human forebears have made the wrong choice.

Look around you in the world today, and you will see that man persists in making the wrong choice every time. The world is ravaged by despotism, dictatorships, leftist guerrillas, communist insurgents, Islamic mystics and “holy men” who drench the gulf region in blood. Brutal, egotistical, self-centered human leaders have sacrificed the lives of countless millions of human beings down through the ages to satisfy their own lusts.

Men such as Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and the Ayatollah Khomeni have sacrificed countless millions on the altar of their own incredible, swelling ego.

Our society is filled with pornography, burglary, arson, rape, robbery, incest, homosexuality, child abuse, kidnapping, mass murder. We view a planet ravaged by war. Civil war, with participants from every conceivable political and religious point of view continue to fight in the turbulent, war-ridden Middle East. Guerrilla-type warfare rages in country after country from Central America to Southeast Asia. “Christians” murder each other under the symbol of the ”cross” in northern Ireland.

Today, in a world armed with supersophisticated nuclear weapons; with the capacity for the destruction of the WHOLE EARTH-human leaders continue to reject the government of God; to attempt, instead, to rule through the human, carnal reasoning of selfish, egotistical human nature.

The harsh truth is, that until HUMAN NATURE is CHANGED, we shall have only WAR.

God’s great plan has to do with the changing of human nature.

That change is called “repentance” in the Bible.

Following his inspired message on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

When we repent, God says He will, after we undergo baptism (study the sixth chapter of Romans.) give us of His Holy Spirit. Yet, God says He gives His Holy Spirit to those who “obey Him.” (Acts 5:32).

Now, we are called a “new creature in Christ Jesus.”

At this point, God begins to use the analogy of the family.

Kind Begets Kind

Remember, God created man in the image of God. As stated, human reproduction is a true cycle. We can discover no beginning of the cycle short of actual creation.

Not only did God reveal that He created man “in His image,” but when Adam and Eve had children, the Bible says “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and called his name Seth” (Genesis 5:3). Of course, Cain and Abel came along before Seth, and perhaps several daughters were born somewhere in between, but the important point is that in this first of the genealogical tables of the Bible, God’s Word says Seth was “in the image” of Adam and Eve, his parents.

There is no more obvious law at work in our ecosphere than that of the law of biogenesis. Kind begets kind. Like produces like. Horses do not produce dogs; chickens do not produce cows; dolphins do not come from elephants, and, for all the obvious similarities in comparative embryology, (which should prove to questing minds the fact that the same great DESIGNER produced all forms of life.) the embryo of the egg becomes a chicken, and the human embryo becomes human.

It is a fabulous MIRACLE that a microscopic spermatozoon (male sperm cell) can unite with a virtually invisible human female egg in the womb of the mother, and that this new life which is now engendered by the uniting of male and female cells, is on its way toward becoming a separate, individual HUMAN BEING.

I have said, for many years, that birth is ABSOLUTE. There was a moment when you did not exist. Then, there was a moment when that life which became you was the result of intense competition between potentially hundreds and thousands of others, but YOU were begotten, instead.

Humorously, I have told audiences for many years that “never has a young girl come home, frightened, and said to her mother, ‘Mom, I am half pregnant.'”

Begettal is a positive act. When it takes place, a separate, unique human life is being developed.

It is a fabulous miracle that height, shape, weight, texture of skin, color and texture of hair and eyes, tone of voice, abilities and proclivities, talents and aptitudes can be conveyed from parent to child.

No wonder David marveled that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.” No wonder David gave God the credit for having “knit me together in my mother’s womb,” and exulted, “How marvelous art all thy works, 0 Lord God.”

When human parents reproduce, it is as if a microcosm of the whole plan and purpose of GOD-a microcosm of ultimate human destiny.

There was a moment in time when you were begotten. For the sake of understanding one of the great “mysteries” of the plan of God-understanding your own human destiny, you need to understand the process by which YOU came to be. You need to understand the difference between begettal (conception), the gradual development of the fetus in the womb, and actual parturition, or birth.

Obviously, begettal and birth are not the same. There is difficulty with a Greek word, gennao, which means the entire process of begettal and birth. The Greek makes no distinction between begettal, and birth, but is used interchangeably.

It is only in the context that we can discern whether the Bible is speaking of a spiritual begettal, or spiritual BIRTH.

And there is a DIFFERENCE.

When you were begotten, your mother was probably unaware of it. She may have discovered it about a month or so later, but wasn’t really sure, until after two or three months, and a visit to the doctor. Meanwhile, you were gradually developing within the womb of your mother. Now, the placenta that was forming was causing the nutrients from your mother’s own bloodstream to flow into the tiny, strange-looking little shape (bearing resemblance to other types of embryos) that was to someday become YOU.

The Bible instructs us through analogies often. It speaks of God (the great God whom Jesus came to reveal, but who no man has ever seen.) as “the Father.”

Jesus said we are to pray “our Father, which art in heaven…” He warned us not to call any man “father,” in a spiritual sense on this earth, for “One is your Father, who is in heaven.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The church is depicted as a woman (see Revelation 12) and is spoken of as the “mother” of those who are the members of the church.

Within the church, converted men and women are called “brothers and sisters.” The apostles spoke of “the brethren,” and these family terms are found throughout the New Testament.

What have we here? We have words commonly applied to a human family being applied to God and Christ in heaven, to the church, and to members of the church.

Now, follow the analogy: Even as you, as a tiny embryo, had to be protected and nurtured in the womb of your mother; so newly-begotten Christians must be “fed with the milk of the word” (1 Corinthians 3:1,2), and must be nourished and protected within the church, which is a group or assembly of “called-out ones.”

The nourishment is not physical, but SPIRITUAL. The food comes through sermons from the pulpit, perhaps radio broadcasts or telecasts, written literature such as articles, Bible study courses, pamphlets and booklets, through personal/social contact with other Christians, through private conversation, and, MOST importantly, through personal Bible study and PRAYER. In these ways, God’s Holy Spirit flows into the mind of the newly-developing Christian, in similar fashion as nutrition flows through the mother’s body into the placenta, and to the developing embryo.

At last, after approximately nine months in the womb, you were “full-term,” and ready to be BORN.

Now, a shocking change occurs.

No longer are you carried about in the womb of your mother; no longer are you fed through the umbilical cord directly into your stomach from your mother’s bloodstream and the placenta. Now, shockingly, you enter the world, gasp your first breath, perhaps begin to cry from the shock and surprise of it all, and are truly ON YOUR OWN. Of course, if a loving mother (or nurse) did not care for you immediately, you would die of starvation or exposure, or both.

But now, you are truly a separate human being.

Another analogy can be developed beginning at birth, relating the Christian development, but for the sake of the analogy I am drawing here, being BORN of your human parents, becoming completely SEPARATE; beginning to develop your own personality, your own peculiar talents and abilities, developing your own thoughts and mind, developing your own individuality, your own conscience and personal morality-all these things are uniquely YOU.

These analogies are not imaginary-the Bible truly uses analogous representations of the family unit as a teaching method. It is through understanding the physical creation we can come to understand Almighty God as an invisible Spirit Being.

“The invisible things about God are clearly seen by looking at what He has created-they are understood by the things He made-including His eternal power and godhead-so ungodly men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, paraphrased).

Jesus used the physical creation; specifically, the phenomenon of wind and its actions in attempting to teach Nicodemus about spiritual rebirth.

“You Must Be Born Again”

Jesus told Nicodemus “Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again [gennao, Greek-meaning ‘born from above’], he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

The Greek word Jesus used has already been explained. You can only discern whether He intended “begotten” or “born” in the context.

In this case, we need not wonder, for Nicodemus was responding to Jesus in the Greek language.

“Nicodemus said unto Him, how can a man be born [gennao, Greek] when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4).

Do you see? Was Nicodemus engaging in a little sarcastic humor? The point is, Nicodemus did not misunderstand the word Jesus used. He knew the word Jesus used connoted birth. Stunned, dumbfounded by Jesus’ statement, Nicodemus spoke of the utter impossibility of what Christ implied.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT.

“Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again.

“The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell where it comes from, and where it goes. So is everyone that is born of the spirit” (John 3:5-8).

Paul was inspired to write, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised in-corruptible and we [we who are alive and remain at that time] shall be CHANGED.

“For this corruptible must PUT ON incorruption, and this MORTAL must PUT ON immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

Read that again. Come to understand.

Your Bible plainly tells you that you CANNOT ENTER the “kingdom of God” as a human being.

Jesus Christ said you must be born anew-born from above. When Nicodemus assumed Jesus was referring to the impossible, Jesus told him “Marvel not.” He then explained. He said you can hear the noise the wind makes in the trees, or under the eaves of the house-but that the wind, while powerful enough to uproot trees, blow down buildings, or sink ships with hurricane force, is invisible.

And what did He say? “SO IS everyone that is born of the spirit.”

How is one who is born of the spirit? He is like the wind. He is invisible. He IS SPIRIT.

WHY cannot many sincere, yet deceived people see the plain, simple TRUTH of what Jesus SAID?

He said, “That which is born of the flesh [you and I-we human beings who are physical, fleshly, created ‘in the image’ of our physical parents.] are flesh.”

So far, so good. Are you physical? Are you human? Are you FLESH?

Of course you are.

Were you born of fleshly parents? Of course.

And what are you? You are FLESH.

Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh IS FLESH.”

Now then. Read the rest of John 3:6. “and that which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT.”

Have you, then, been “born” of the spirit? How to answer the question? ARE you spiritual essence? Are you composed of spirit? Can you appear or disappear at will? Can you walk through solid stone, granite, concrete block or brick? Can you zip around the heavens, visiting Mars, Venus and Jupiter?

No, you are mundane, temporal, mortal, human, FLESH.

Then you HAVE NOT been “born of the spirit” according to what your Savior, Jesus Christ, plainly tells you.

You can become “begotten” by God’s Holy Spirit. You can repent, be baptized, and receive a spiritual begettal by receiving the Spirit of God. (Acts 2:38).

But you cannot, now, be “born of the spirit” UNTIL a certain moment, of which you have already read. (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Go back and read that quotation from 1 Corinthians 15 again. Better yet, turn to and read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. Here is the “resurrection chapter.” If you read it slowly, carefully; if you ponder what you read, drinking in meaning from each word, you will learn great and profound truths which are not known; not taught, by the churches of this world.

No one, reading the simple and beautiful words of Almighty God concerning the coming resurrection at the return of Christ could believe in the pagan fables of the “immortality of the soul”; that people go either to heaven or an ever-burning hell when they die.

Rather, they would come to know the TRUTH of the Bible; that man is physical, fleshly, mortal. That when man dies, his very thoughts cease, and he shares the very same kind of death as do beasts.

And what did Paul say? “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”

What is the Kingdom of God?

You have heard of “the plant kingdom,” “the animal kingdom,” and “the human kingdom.”

Biologically, the term “kingdom” is often used to connote flora and fauna, or humankind. A famous television series is entitled, “Wild Kingdom.”

Technically, however, a “kingdom” is the government of a king.

A “kingdom” correctly includes four parts: (1) A king, (2) A territory over which that king rules; (3) Subjects, living in the territory under the rulership of that king; (4) Laws, by which that king rules over his subjects in his territory.

When we speak of “the kingdom of Great Britain,” or “the kingdom of Norway,” we know exactly what we mean. Even though parliamentary and democratic-type governments have supplanted monarchies, the expression “kingdom” is clearly understood.

Read Revelation 19. In this shocking chapter, you see the description of the returning, conquering CHRIST. Notice. “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16).

The great KING of the coming kingdom of God is Jesus Christ.

His territory? THIS EARTH. Notice many Bible PROOFS. “And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: [the physical, human nations of this earth.] and He shall rule them with a rod of iron…” (Revelation 19:15).

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the EARTH.” (Matthew 5:5).

“…ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven SHALL SO COME in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).

“Behold, the day of the Lord cometh. . then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.

“And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.. .and the Eternal shall be King over all the EARTH: in that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one.” (Zechariah 14:1-9).

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10).

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations [on this physical earth.] and he shall RULE them with a rod of iron… (Revelation 2:26, 27).

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne [on this EARTH.] even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years… blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1-6).

Study Isaiah 11, the whole book of Zephaniah, Zechariah 14, and especially the latter chapters of the book of Revelation.

Jesus Christ is the returning, conquering KING of the kingdom of God.

The territory over which His kingdom will rule is this earth. The subjects are those human, physical remnants of rebellious, war-making nations which will still be alive following the great battle of Armageddon, the outpouring of the last plagues of God, and who will be forced to submit to the government of God after the second coming of Christ.

The laws by which Jesus Christ will administer His kingdom are God’s Ten Commandments as magnified by Jesus Christ; GOD ‘S LAWS, mercifully and justly applied at last to a sinning, rebellious, war-mongering world.

The kingdom of God is the living, ruling, governing FAMILY of God. At this present moment, it consists only of Father and Son.

Yet, it is into this ruling family we must be BORN.

Now comes the greatest truth you could ever come to understand.

Christ the “Firstborn”

Jesus Christ is called the “firstborn from the dead”.

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

Do you now understand what that scripture means?

When Jesus came back to His disciples after His resurrection He said, “ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth-go ye therefore…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Did you notice it? Jesus said He had now inherited ALL POWER. Now, He was no longer merely flesh and bone, but SPIRIT. He was once again VERY GOD.

He had risked everything, and won. He had overcome Satan the devil; dispossessing and disenfranchising him as the present world ruler. He had overcome sin in the flesh. He had qualified to become the super WORLD RULER. Now, as VERY GOD; having been BORN OF GOD by a resurrection from the DEAD, He said He had inherited “all things.”

Yet, He says you and I have the opportunity to be born of God just as HE WAS.

He is the Captain and Author of our salvation-the “first born” from the dead.

Notice. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [son-ship.] whereby we cry, ‘Abba,’ Father.

“The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then HEIRS [not yet inheritors.] heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:15-17).

And what did Christ inherit?

ALL THINGS. He has been given eternal life forevermore. He now has ALL POWER. He has conquered death. He will live forever in joyous happiness; ruling, administering, carrying out the plans, policies and purposes of God the Father at His right hand. As such, Christ is the executive member of the Godhead; the KING of the coming “kingdom of God” to rule on this earth for one thousand years and throughout the UNIVERSE for all eternity.

And what did He promise you? Read again the promises of Revelation 2:26 and Revelation 3:21.

He promises you… are you ready for this? Are you willing to believe it? He promises you CO-RULERSHIP with Him in His kingdom.

Notice. “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Christ has been resurrected from the dead. He is alive. He is VERY GOD.

If you are to be BORN into the very family of God, then what will you BE?

Will you be a kind of “superhuman”? Will you be at the angel level? Will you be like a spiritual “plaything,” a “pet,” or some lesser being, staring up adoringly into the eyes of the Father?

What are you, now, in relationship to your human parents? Are you not, in every way their equal, except that you owe them HONOR as your parents? Are you not of their very flesh, bone and blood? Are you not a mature, adult human being, on an equal level with your fleshly, human parents? Are you not an intimate member of their family?

Of course you are.

And when you are BORN OF GOD what will you be? Will you not be a member of the very FAMILY OF GOD? Notice. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.

“But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”

No one has ascended to heaven except Christ Himself. He said so. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13).

What is the order of events-WHEN can you and I be born into God’s kingdom? You just read it-“AT HIS COMING.” And not one second before.

Do you see, now? God is your Spirit FATHER. Christ is your Spirit OLDER BROTHER.

IF you are converted-begotten of God by His Holy Spirit, then you are ON YOUR WAY to becoming a full-BORN member of GOD’S OWN FAMILY.

Now, drink in what you are about to read-and NEVER FORGET it.

God is a Family

The Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created…” is “Elohim.” Elohim is a plural. The “im” ending connotes MORE than one-a duality of Persons in the Godhead.

Notice. “And ‘Elohim’ [God] said, ‘Let us make man in our image…'” He did not say, “I will make man in my image”-but, “Let us,” MORE THAN ONE-“make man in OUR image.”

You know now that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is the Person or the Godhead who DID THE CREATING. (John 1:3, 10). The member of the Family of God who wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger; who parted the Red Sea; who wrestled with Jacob; who spoke to Abraham-that Person was one of the Divine Beings called, in the Hebrew tongue, Elohim. He became HUMAN; changed from Spirit to flesh, born of a virgin, and came among us as Jesus Christ of Nazareth-a human, to become the Author of our salvation; our redeemer from sin and Satan-the firstborn from the dead.

He revealed to us that He had a FATHER in heaven.

He said, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:18).

Jesus said, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me…” (John 8:18). He enraged the Jews when He proclaimed, “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58).

The Jews knew by heart what God had said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM; and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel; I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14).

To them, this was BLASPHEMY. They “took up stones to cast at Him” when He made that statement. They later accused Him of “making Himself EQUAL WITH GOD.”

And WHO WAS Christ?

He WAS THE CREATOR-come in HUMAN FLESH. He was the executive member of the Elohim (GOD) who did the commanding; who “Spoke, and there was light,” Truly, before Abraham was ever thought of-HE EXISTED.

He reveals to us that there is a divine FAMILY of beings; which HE chooses to call the “Father,” and the “Son.”

He says we can be “begotten by His Holy Spirit, and become “children” of God. We are then “brothers and sisters” in Christ.

The church, which nourishes and protects us, is likened to our “mother.” When we are resurrected, or when we are instantaneously changed, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…” at the second coming of Christ, then we are BORN OF GOD. Yes BORN into our new, spiritual, divine FAMILY.

We are then “JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST.”

And what did Christ “INHERIT?”

ALL THINGS.

Now do you see?

Your great human potential-your divinely-appointed human destiny-YOUR PERSONAL FUTURE is to become a MEMBER OF GOD’S OWN DIVINE, SPIRIT FAMILY.

YOU are to become a MEMBER of the FAMILY (KINGDOM) OF GOD.

Paul said, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Yes, those who are resurrected in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5) are to share RULERSHIP OF THE WORLD with Christ for the first one thousand years (Revelation 2:26, Revelation 20:4), and are to be like “pillars in the temple of God” (Revelation 3:12) living, ruling, reigning with God the Father and with Jesus Christ His Son FOR ALL ETERNITY.

God says the time will come-after the millennium-AFTER the great judgment of the “rest of the dead” (Revelation 20:5, 11:15) that He, God the Father, will come down to THIS EARTH-and “…. the throne of God and of the Lamb [Christ] shall be in it…” (Revelation 22:3), and then Christ says, God will”… MAKE ALL THINGS NEW” (Revelation 21:5).

Then is a “NEW BEGINNING” in the great plan and purpose of God.

THEN it will come clear WHY Almighty God is SO GREATLY enlarging HIS FAMILY. Then we will know perfectly what we can now know only in part.

Does your mind comprehend it? Can you really grasp it? YOU were born of your human parents as a POTENTIAL MEMBER OF GOD’S SPIRIT FAMILY. As you are a full-fledged member, an equal, in your HUMAN family, so through God’s Holy Spirit-through growth, development, overcoming-and, finally, through an actual, literal CHANGE; a change from HUMAN to DIVINE; a change from FLESH TO SPIRIT-you will experience your own great personal, human destiny-YOU WILL BECOME A SPIRIT BEING-A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING KINGDOM, THE FAMILY OF GOD.

This GREAT TRUTH is somehow hidden from the eyes of the MILLIONS, today. The churches don’t teach it. But you have SEEN, with your own eyes, in your own Bible, the real truth about YOUR personal DESTINY.

May God help you to surrender your will to HIM; to repent; to be baptized; to receive His Spirit-to become HIS CHILD-to finally be BORN into His great Spirit FAMILY. That is the only real reason you are living on this good, green earth.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations
freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post What is Your Destiny? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

What you are about to read will shock you, for it will challenge age-old concepts about the very purpose of human life. What are you, after all? Are you—the deeply private, thinking, feeling, hoping, sensitive human person—the real you—a “soul” imprisoned inside a temporary physical body? Are you a reincarnation of a former life, as some believe?

What happens when you die?

In this booklet, you will see some of the most puzzling mysteries of human existence made PLAIN. Finally, you will come to understand one of the greatest mysteries of the universe: your own astounding human potential!

How long has it been since you looked up articles in major encyclopedias like the Americana, Britannica, or World Book about yourself? How long since you studied how marvelous is your skeletal, nervous, digestive, circulatory, muscular systems; how the human eye or ear is formed; how you see, hear, feel, walk, and talk? When did you last study, then ponder an article about the air you breathe constantly; that incredible substance that keeps you alive? How long since you looked up articles about water, and saw how much of it is contained in air; in your own body?

You are a living, breathing, physical organism; a unique human being whose life is sustained by air, water and food. You are in many ways a very strong, enduring organism, yet in others very fragile, susceptible to sickness and disease, to accident, to death.

We all know “nothing is surer than death and taxes, ” but few seem to know what really happens at death. Our courts often disagree on what death is and when it occurs. Those who are said to be brain dead are kept living in a comatose state, like a vegetable, by life support systems in hospitals. Who has not heard about sensational cases involving “the right to die”?

We know when our hearts cease supplying oxygen-bearing blood to the brain and our bodies, we die. Yet, for a considerable period of time following heart stoppage, vital organs are yet alive.

Most have some concept of death. But is that concept based on ancient mythology, on past religious training, or upon the Bible, which is the handbook from the Creator of mankind about who we are, what we are, and WHY we are?

We know the bible says the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It also says it is appointed to all men to die once, but after this comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). But worldly church tradition says, “No, that is not correct! You already have immortal life—you have a soul which will live forever, either in heaven or in hell. ” But God’s Word insists death and eternal life are two opposites! The one is FINAL, the end of life!

Further, the Bible says eternal life is the gift of God through Christ; not something inherently possessed by every person.

Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14). Christ said … the hour is coming … when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live … marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [judgment]” (John 5:25-29).

Paul was inspired to write, “If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). This quotation is from the famous “resurrection chapter” where the whole subject is thoroughly explained.

You and I know we are temporal; a fragile, transitory life of a physical, chemical existence which can be abruptly terminated in any number of ways. Deprive of us air, and we die. Of water, same result. Of food, the same. It is only a matter of time in each case. By studying articles in encyclopedias we can come to understand the incredible, miraculous creatures we are; how we breathe, walk, talk, hear, feel, see, think, reason, react, sneeze, cough, laugh, cry, grow older, and finally die. But in no encyclopedia can we find WHY we are here—what is our final destiny!

Is not the most important information of all, the WHY of it all?

Being Born Again––What Does it Mean?

A signboard outside a local church near my home proclaimed, “Those who are born of God are sure to resemble Him.” I’m sure the members of the church were pleased by the slogan; sure they were happy that thousands of people driving by on the busy highway had to see it.

But did the pastor really understand the words on his signboard? Before you reply in the affirmative, consider:

The first time in all history anyone heard the phrase “born again” is recorded in John chapter 3. Jesus Christ said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Who today has not heard about “born-again Christians”? Millions believe they have been born again. The goal of thousands of sermons is to cause people to be born again Christians. But did Jesus mean we should have a religious experience; including believing on Jesus, asking for forgiveness of sins, and receiving God’s Holy Spirit; that this experience is “being born again”?

Nicodemus’ startled reply helps us understand the meaning of the phrase as Jesus originally spoke it. Remember, He spoke in Aramaic, and His words were translated into the language of John’s Gospel, which was Greek. The Greek word for “born” is gennao, from which you will no doubt recognize some of our English words, like enGENder; GENerate, GENerations, etc.

However, as distinct from our English word “born,” the Greek gennao means the entire process of birth, including conception, fetal development and parturition. It can be rendered either “begotten” or “born, ” depending on the context. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance lists the word as including the following applications: “…to procreate (prop. of the father, but by extens. of the mother); fig. to regenerate: -bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.”

Notice that the Greek expression Jesus used could easily be translated in a number of different ways. However, from Nicodemus’ startled reply, it is obvious the rendering “born” is correct.

It is also obvious Nicodemus did not understand Jesus’ remarks in spiritual context. He did not think for one minute Jesus was talking about the experience of “speaking in tongues,” or “receiving Jesus.” Jesus used a phrase which meant literal birth. Nicodemus heard it that way. He understood it that way. He answered by another question, which proves what Jesus’ statement had conveyed to his mind.

Nicodemus’ startled retort was not deliberately off-color. He was so amazed by Jesus’ statement he merely referred to the impossibility of what Jesus’ words had conveyed to him. Read what he said. He asked how it was possible for a grown man to enter into his mother’s womb the second time, and be “born again.” Can there be any doubt in your mind what Nicodemus understood Jesus to say?

Why, then, don’t the churches understand that Jesus was talking about a literal rebirth; that He was not referring to some ecstatic experience, or an emotional “acceptance” of Christ at an evangelistic rally or church revival? The meaning of Jesus’ words will come completely clear as you read the surprising number of scriptures bearing on this most important subject.

Now, notice! Jesus plainly said “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” You and I are physical creatures, sustained by breathing air, eating food, drinking water. Were you born? Of course. Were you born of flesh? Of course. Are you then, FLESH? These seem nonsensical, don’t they—ridiculous questions? Can you answer the next questions as simply?

Jesus said, “That which is born of the spirit is spirit!” Are you composed of spirit? Of course not. Are you like the wind, invisible, powerful, able to go quickly from place to place, unseen? Ridiculous.

Yet, Jesus said plainly, “That which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT!” He explained, likening the true spiritual rebirth to the wind, which, while exerting power, blowing “wheresoever it will,” is invisible; cannot be seen!

Has Anyone Yet Been Born Again?

Now for the final question: Have you been born again? The only answer you can give in the light of Jesus’ statements is “no,” for you are yet flesh, not spirit. Supposing you had never heard the expression “born again” previously, if an adult said to you, “I have been born again,” you would look at him as if he were insane! You would, like Nicodemus, be wholly puzzled by such a statement. Perhaps you would see humor in it. You might respond, “But you couldn’t have been born again, or you’d be holding a baby rattle, and sucking your thumb!” But because you have heard the phrase many times; heard it applied by the churches to a religious experience, you have assumed they must know what it means.

Many years ago, an elderly lady asked me about Jesus’ statements to Nicodemus about being born again. She was a widow; had lived with her husband, a Methodist minister, for over fifty years. All her adult life, she had been taught that being “born again” meant a spiritual experience, “receiving Christ… being saved.” I patiently explained the passage verse by verse, word by word. I went through many other scriptures showing the nature of man; that a man dies as does the beast; that all have one breath (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).

I asked her, “Were you born of the flesh?” She said, “Yes.” I grasped my forearm and said, “I am flesh, born of the flesh! ” I touched her forearm, and said, “You are flesh, too, aren’t you?” She admitted she was.

I said, “I am not spirit — for I am visible. You are not composed of spirit, for I can see you. We are both composed of flesh!

I then painstakingly went through Jesus’ statement, “That which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT”; showed how spirit is invisible; reminded her how Jesus was able to materialize and dematerialize through stone walls following His resurrection. I explained that Christ had been changed from flesh to spirit at the resurrection; showed her that Christ is called the “firstborn among many brethren.”

1 finally posed the question: “So have you yet been born of the Spirit?”

Her answer? “Oh, yes! Praise the Lord!”

I was shocked, but taught a valuable lesson. I learned that some human minds are closed to the truth of God; that years of false teaching, continuously reinforced, cannot be dislodged no matter how clearly and logically the truth is presented.

This dear lady could not see the truth—for it would have meant repudiating all those sermons her beloved husband had given to the contrary.

I doubt anyone could have explained those simple texts any more patiently or clearly. What about you? Can you see the truth right before your eyes, in your own Bible? The answer will be evident by the time you finish reading.

The Bible describes a begettal prior to the final spiritual birth—In exactly the same fashion as God designed human reproduction! Creation was not completed with the Garden of Eden, it was only begun. Almost no one understands the awesome plan of God; the great purpose He is working out on this earth. Almighty God is reproducing after His own kind! Even as we human beings were first conceived, and then, following nine months of fetal development, born as little babies, so each child of God is first begotten of God through His Holy Spirit, trained, taught, put through trials and temptations, then finally born of God, either through the resurrection from the dead, or through being instantaneously changed from flesh to spirit at the coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

Christ the Firstbegotten

Jesus Christ was the very first human being to be begotten of God. Paul wrote that Christ was “…the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature [Greek: Prototokos; first begotten or firstborn]: For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before [both in time, and supremacy] all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the Beginning, the First born from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-17, emphasis mine throughout).

Paul wrote to the Hebrews, “And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him’ ” (Hebrews 1:6).

Christ is the Author of salvation; the first human being—God in human flesh—Who had the indwelling presence, without measure, from the time of His birth, of the Holy Spirit of God the Father.

Not only was Christ the first human begotten of God; He was the first born of God: “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [those who died]. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward [not a moment before] they that are Christ’s [those who are converted Christians] at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Please note that scripture very carefully! When will the dead in Christ finally become born of God? Not until the moment of Christ’s Second Coming!

Following His resurrection, Christ manifested Himself to His shocked, unwilling disciples many times. He walked through walls; suddenly materialized before their startled eyes (John 20:19). Even as He said to Nicodemus, He was now “like the wind, ” with Divine power; able to become invisible. He had been born of God. He had been changed by the power of God, through His resurrection, from human flesh to Divine Spirit!

God says, “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; [flesh, subject to decay] it is raised in incorruption [Spirit]: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown [placed in the grave] a natural [fleshly] body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body [“that which is born of flesh is flesh”] and there is a spiritual body [“that which is born of the spirit is spirit”] … and as we have borne the image of the earthy [born of our fleshly parents], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [born of God, changed from flesh into SPIRIT!].

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be CHANGED” (1 Corinthians 15:41-52).

Study those words carefully! You see how perfectly they help explain Jesus’ words to Nicodemus? God’s Word does not portray a “soul” leaving the body, wafting off to heaven or some place in “purgatory.” Instead, the Bible reveals a resurrection will take place; that human flesh will be changed into spirit. As Christ told Nicodemus, you and I have been born of earthly parents. We are weak, subject to physical debility and death. But when we shall be born of the Spirit, we shall become Spirit—shall become composed of Spirit! So says your Bible!

Do You Have God’s Holy Spirit?

Recently, a friend told me, “I consider myself a ‘born-again’ Christian… ” This person is not a member of God’s church; uses profanity, smokes, drinks to excess, and pursues the materialistic goals of this world. While he would be embarrassed to label himself a “sinner,” he freely tramples underfoot God’s Ten Commandments. Certainly, he is not exemplary of all those who claim to be “born again.” Yet, he had, at some time or other in his life, gone through the usual experience of “receiving Christ,” perhaps at a revival, or evangelistic campaign. In his own mind, he considers himself to be a “born-again Christian,” because, while he does know he needs to obey God; to quit sinning by using profanity, smoking, Sabbath-breaking, etc., he believes on Jesus. To him, he is “born again.”

Yet, this man has never understood what is sin (1 John 3:4); that he is commanded to “repent, and be baptized,” for the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). God says His Spirit is given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

What does the Bible say about receiving God’s Holy Spirit? Paul wrote, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9).

These are not my words, but the Holy Word of God. Do you own a Cadillac? You either do, or you do not. If you do, then it is a fact that you own and drive a Cadillac. If you do not, then it is a fact that you do not! Do you have the Spirit of Christ? It is a fact if you do, and it is a fact if you do not. It is an absolute that you either have God’s Spirit or you do not! Owning a Cadillac is not some fanciful state of mind. It is not the way you “think. ” Being begotten of God, possessing His Holy Spirit within you, is not some “idea” or mind set; it is not the way you think or reason. Either you have God’s Spirit, or you do not.

Suppose you have purchased a new home. You wish to have power supplied to the home to run your electrical appliances. How do you receive power in your home? Do you go to the living room, sit on the couch, and then “think up” power? Do you set your mind in a certain way, and, presto, the lights come on? Do you get into a certain mood, or wish for it hard enough? Do you “tarry,” holding up your hands, praying?

Ridiculous? Of course. You go to the utility company, deposit a check, and they turn on the power supply to your new home.

If you have the power of God’s Holy Spirit actually lodged within your brain, connected to the human spirit God gave you at birth, then you have power supplied from God. You do not receive this power by inducing a righteous “mood,” or setting your mind, or “believing”! Christ gives several required, distinctive steps by which you may receive God’s Spirit.

How Does One Receive God’s Spirit?

The Bible answers: “Repent, and he baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

He told His disciples ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you…” (Acts 1:8).

If there is any such thing as a “formula” for salvation, this is it! It consists of three distinct parts, each of which requires deep understanding. There is no OTHER “formula” for salvation—no short cuts—no special individuals who find salvation in some other way. Some will argue, “But doesn’t the Bible say you must believe on Jesus and be saved?” Yes, it does, but your Bible does not contradict itself. It stands or falls on any one of its parts. The Bible says you must accept Christ; that you must not only believe He is the Son of God, but that you must BELIEVE Christ—believe what He said is true. But simple “belief” is not enough! The devil is a “believer. ” He knows Christ is the Son of God. He knows Christ died on the stake for the sins of man, for Satan helped engineer His death. He was present, having entered into Judas Iscariot to betray Christ. Does that “belief” mean the devil is “saved”? Blasphemous! Ridiculous! As you see clearly, BELIEF is not enough (James 2:19).

Now, let’s come to understand that three-part formula for salvation!

Peter said, “repent, and be baptized. To repent means to be deeply contrite and heart-broken over one’s sins. It means self revulsion and the desire to be absolved of guilt through Christ’s sacrifice!

Repent of WHAT?

John the Baptist, who came preparing the way for Christ’s first coming, preached a message of repentance. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2).

At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, “… Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’ ” (Matthew 4:17). Christ commands us to repent of our sins; the sins which took His life! We repent when we see ourselves in clear contrast to CHRIST; see His wondrous example, His beautiful life, His flawless perfection in contrast to our filthy, unspeakable sins, our wretched attitudes, our selfishness, vanity, and personal ego.

Christ commanded us to repent, then said it is urgent we do so because “the Kingdom of Heaven” is at hand! The other Synoptic Gospels render this statement, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” for it is not the kingdom which is “in” heaven any more than it is the kingdom which is “in” God; but the kingdom which is ruled from heaven, coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2-4). The Kingdom will rule ON EARTH! (Revelation 20:4; 5:10; Isaiah 2:3, 4; 11:1-9; Micah 4; Zechariah 14:1-9).

Your dictionary says to repent means: “To feel sorry or self-reproachful for what one has done or failed to do; be conscience stricken or contrite.”

Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!” (Luke 5:32). When He commissioned His disciples, He said, “…Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins [forgiveness of lawbreaking] should be preached in His name among all nations…” (Luke 24:46-47).

To repent means to be deeply broken up, to be heartsick, conscience stricken over having sinned against God! All sin is against God. David prayed, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned…” (Psalm 51:4), even though he was repenting because of the murder of Uriah, and adultery with Bathsheba.

And what is sin? Let your Bible answer: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW!” (1 John 3:45).

Christ magnified the Ten Commandments; lifted the “letter” of the law to a spiritual plane, showing that the law is binding not only on human acts, but on human thought. Where it had been a sin to kill, now Christ said it was the equivalent of murder if you hate a fellow human being! Study the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew, and see the many examples of how Christ applied the intent of the law, not just the letter. Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Which is the more binding: the “letter” of the law which made it a sin to complete the act, or the “spiritual intent” of the law which makes it a sin to lust about the act?

Unless one repents, with the mind and intellect as well as with the “heart,” or the emotions; unless one realizes fully WHY we are to repent; to repent of doing WHAT — then it is absolutely impossible to receive the Holy Spirit of God!

“… And Be Baptized”

Baptism is the second step in a three-part formula, as it were, for salvation. CHRIST is the central figure in the rite of baptism.

The Greek word baptizo means to “plunge into,” or “to immerse.”

Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized [plunged into water; immersed] into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? [In a figure of His death.] Therefore we are BURIED with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk [live] in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Notice carefully that baptism is a symbol of burial of a dead person, and the repentant sinner is lowered into water; completely covered by water, even as a body is buried in the earth.

Dead people are not stood against a tree, only to have a clergyman walk by, toss a handful of dirt into their face, and declare them “buried. ”

The popular concept of “sprinkling” and calling it “baptism” is as ludicrous as “sprinkling” dirt on a dead body! “Pouring” is equally ridiculous– and is totally unauthorized, as a method of “baptism.” The practice of “christening” infants is absolutely ridiculous in the light of God’s Word concerning baptism. Baptism is not for children. It is to be done only after a mature human being has come to understand WHAT IS SIN; deeply repent of that sin; understand the enormity of Christ’s sacrifice; ask God to apply that blood sacrifice to atone for the sinner’s life, and then be baptized in humble obedience, understanding the sinner’s very life is now forfeit; that he or she is considered dead because of sin, but alive in Christ!

When we repent of sin, we realize the wages of sin is death; that we have become worthy of the death penalty because of our sins. Then, we look to Jesus Christ in heartbroken contrition, calling out to God the Father in self revulsion and repentance, asking God, in His limitless mercy, to allow the shed blood of His precious Son and our Savior to be applied to us. We come to realize our sins caused the death of Christ; that He died because of sin; that He died in our stead, so we do not have to die. We know we richly deserve the death penalty for our sins, and we experience an inestimable feeling of relief, of joyous gratitude that God is so merciful He allowed His own Son to die for us!

We then willingly approach the baptismal pool in the most sober, repentant manner; keenly aware that the rite of baptism pictures our human life forfeit; being “covered up,” but only with water as a symbol, not with six feet of earth; that just as Christ was buried in a tomb for three days and three nights, so we now, through baptism, are momentarily picturing burial of the old self, as well as the “washing of water by the Word,” the figurative “washing away” of our sins.

Jesus Christ Himself, though not needing baptism, was baptized to set us an example! “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness … and Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water [notice He was down in the water; had been immersed]: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ ” (Matthew 3:13-17).

On the Day of Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection, Peter witnessed powerfully of the fact that Christ had indeed risen from the dead. Those who saw and heard the miracles were deeply convicted. Peter’s command to those thousands who heard him on that day (Acts 2:38) is the formula for salvation. God’s Word says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

Repentance and Baptism Are a Gift From God

Think about it! These people had killed Christ! Yet, God, in His limitless mercy, was offering them repentance! You see, even repentance comes as a gift from God! It is not something we produce out of our own sorrow, or our own goodness, but a gift, granted of God! Notice: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

When Peter learned the meaning of the vision concerning the house of Cornelius, and explained it to the Jewish faction in Jerusalem, they finally “held their peace, and glorified God, saying, ‘Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life’ ” (Acts 11: 18).

Jesus said, “No man can come unto me [repent, be baptized, and receive God’s Spirit] except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). Later, explaining, He said, “There are some of you that believe not … Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65).

Do you see? Even coming unto Christ; feeling that shame, remorse, and self-revulsion at the knowledge of the greatness of your sins, even that emotion is a gift from God — something God grants!

Now, back to our verse in Acts, the second chapter. The convicted Jewish citizens who repented experienced shock, fear, self-revulsion—they became deeply heartsick over what they had done! That’s the first step in repentance! Peter and the other apostles’ powerful messages came smashing into their consciences like an avalanche, cutting deeply into their minds like a powerful, two-edged sword! Then, when they heard the enormity of their sin—when they were convicted of their terrible sin—realized they could be baptized, as an outward symbol of death and burial (for sin results in death) they were joyous!

Notice! “For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die…” (Romans 5:8).

There were many Medal of Honor recipients on Iwo Jima during World War II. Several times during that battle, Marines flung themselves over grenades, smothering them with their own bodies to save their comrades! One man flung himself on a grenade, shouting out a warning, just as a second grenade came rolling down into the shell hole where he and his buddies were crouching. Quickly, he grabbed it, stuffed it under him. Immediately, both went off, killing him instantly! Though injured, his buddies survived.

Such tales of heroism are not commonplace—but they do happen. It’s true; mothers have died to save children; a friend has died to save a friend. But do people die to save an enemy? Do men give their lives to save people who are trying to kill them?

But God says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners CHRIST DIED FOR US! Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life!

Can we even begin to grasp the great goodness, the generosity, the benevolent mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Father and ours? Here was Peter and the rest of the apostles, offering repentance to the very ones who, only fifty some days earlier, had participated in the death of Christ!

What most of us do not realize is that we, too, are guilty of the blood of Christ, because sin brings death! God says, “For the wages of sin is DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Here are two opposites. You do not have eternal life inherent within you! It is the gift of God!

Since the wages of sin is DEATH, and God says, “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), that means each one of us have come under the penalty of the law, which is DEATH! It is NOT “eternal life” in some other place, like a supposed ever-burning fire, but DEATH!

The Wages of Sin

Everybody dies eventually. As Solomon wrote, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 3:19).

The Bible says the wages of sin is death. But the result of sin is not just the “first death,” which is common to all, but death for all eternity—death by the horrifying method of FIRE as punishment for sin!

You and I are human beings, subject to aging and death. Each day, thousands die. Millions starve to death every year; tens of thousands perish in wars, through disease, or accidents. But these deaths, whether occurring in impoverished “third-world” countries, or among your own family and loved ones, are not the penalty for sin. While it is true sin may cause death (as in the case of murder, drunken driving, etc.), the first death is not the penalty for sin. Here is proof from God’s Word:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). Yes, the day of judgment is to come after the first death, no matter the cause.

John writes: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls [Greek: psuche, meaning “lives”] of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished…” (Revelation 20:4-5). 

Here, we see the resurrected saints, converted Christians who are resurrected at Christ’s coming (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) reigning with Christ (Revelation 2:26; 3:21) for one thousand years, during what is commonly called “the Millennium.” And who are “the rest of the dead”? They are those who did not have a chance for salvation during their physical lifetimes; countless millions from Asia, Africa, Russia, India, Japan; people from every race and nation who never heard the Gospel of Christ, and who never had an opportunity to consciously reject it.

Notice how God’s Word speaks of the punishment for sin as “the second death”: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection [at Christ’s coming]: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

John then saw, “A great white throne … and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell [Greek: hades, meaning “the grave”] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell [the grave] were cast into the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH” (Revelation 20:11-14).

Now, see what we have learned: So far, we have dealt with but two classes of people, the saved and the unsaved. Clearly, the saved are either resurrected at the moment of Christ’s Second Coming, or, if alive, changed instantaneously, caught up together with the resurrected saints into the clouds immediately above this earth as Christ returns, then continues descending until “…His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east… ” (Zechariah 14:4). Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward [and not one moment before] they that are Christ’s [the saints] at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

These converted Christians, now changed from human to Divine, will rule with Christ for 1,000 years (Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 5: 10; 20:4).

But the rest of the dead are not resurrected until after the 1,000 year period of Christ’s rule (Revelation 20:5; 11-15). The “rest of the dead” includes every human being who has ever lived, from the time of Adam until the end of the Millennium, who has never had an opportunity for salvation! This is the VAST MAJORITY OF ALL MANKIND!

Then, you might ask, “What about the incorrigibles; those who are guilty of unpardonable sins; those who were given ample chance, but who rejected salvation?”

The answer to this logical question reveals yet a third and final resurrection! Notice that those who are resurrected to “judgment” during the period of the “Great White Throne Judgment” (Revelation 20:11-15) are “judged out of those things which were written in the books.” The Greek word is Biblos, which is translated “Bible” in English. “Bible” really means “books,” and unless connected with the word “Holy” can mean any collection of books.

Now, HOW does God judge you and me? He judges us by the standard of His written Word, the books of the Holy Bible! God says He changes not (Malachi 3:6), and that Jesus Christ is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not judge one generation in one way, and another in a different way. Peter wrote, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God [the church!]: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).

The resurrected millions who have never heard the gospel will be judged out of the same book, the books of the Holy Bible, in the same manner by the same God as you and I! God’s standards remain the same.

Remember, judgment is not a sentencing! Millions have interpreted these verses in the last half of Revelation 20 as a final sentencing, as if God is handing out a final decision based upon past acts; the deeds already done in a person’s lifetime.

Not so. Speaking of the time of the New Heavens and New Earth, God says, “There shall be no more thence an infant of days [no new children will be born — God will supernaturally halt the human reproductive cycle], nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:17-22).

This strongly implies a one-hundred year time span for the Great White Throne Judgment; a period of one hundred years AFTER the Millennium when God will judge the billions of people who never previously had an opportunity for salvation.

But now, what of those who reject God’s loving offer of forgiveness?

God says, “And death and hell [Greek: hades, meaning “the grave”] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). This final judgment of the wicked is pictured by Christ’s parable about Lazarus and the rich man, in Luke’s 16th chapter. Peter describes this lake of fire, the FINAL judgment of God prior to the New Heavens and New Earth: “Seeing then that all these things [material things] shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [conduct] and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

John wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea”(Revelation 21: 1). But earth is the “watery planet”! Life can only exist because of water, and air! You are reading of a total change in the very character of planet Earth—ITS DESTRUCTION BY FIRE—changing this earth from a watery blue planet to one of molten metal!

Obviously no physical life of any kind—from bacteria to elephants from plants to mankind—can survive such an event!

Even as Nebuchadnezzar saw a being “like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25) walking about in the midst of the fiery furnace unharmed, so the saints, now SPIRIT IN COMPOSITION, no longer flesh and blood, will be here on earth to witness this stupendous event.

Remember, then—the wages of sin is not the first death, but the second death; death by Gehenna fire; death for all eternity from which there is no resurrection!

But those who repent of sins; who are baptized and who receive God’s Holy Spirit will receive eternal life in God’s Kingdom. On them, the second death will have no power.

What is the Holy Spirit?

Is the Holy Spirit a wraith-like, hooded “ghost” of some sort; like an apparition? Is the Holy Spirit the third member of the Godhead part of the trinity?

Briefly, remember that the archangel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit [The KJV uses the erroneous word “Ghost” which is a very poor translation. The Greek word is pneuma, and means “spirit,” not “ghost”] shall come upon thee…” (Luke 1:35). Matthew wrote, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1: 18).

Clearly, Jesus continually prayed to His “Father” in heaven. He said, giving His outline of prayer (commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer”), that we should pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven… ” Therefore, since the Bible says Mary was “found with child of the Holy Spirit,” if there were such a thing as a trinity, Jesus prayed to the wrong Father!

God’s word uses many different analogies to explain to our human minds the deeply spiritual truths about God’s Spirit.

Christ likened the Spirit to wind (John 3:8); and to water (John 7:37-39). Notice the following expressions: “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

“And there appeared unto them tongues of flame, equally distributed among them, like fire. And it sat upon each of them…” (Acts 2:2-3 correct translation, Interlinear Bible).

Here, when God’s Spirit was first made available to mankind on the Day of Pentecost, God caused a sound to be heard, like a roaring tornado, or a hurricane! He also produced a visible manifestation of His Spirit, like crowns of leaping fire appearing to settle over the head of each of the apostles!

Notice: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh… ” (Acts 2:17). This does not say the Father will send some other person of the Godhead to mankind, but says He will pour out of His Spirit upon them!

When Peter explained these miraculous events, he said, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this which YE NOW SEE AND HEAR!” (Acts 2:32-33).

Notice, God “shed forth” His Spirit. And what did all those thousands of people see and hear? A wraith-like, hooded specter; some “person” called “the Holy Spirit” as a third member of the Godhead? No! They heard the sound of a rushing mighty wind and they saw flickering flames of fire!

God’s Holy Spirit is His great power; it is His method of imparting spiritual life to His children! It enlivens, energizes, begets His children! By His Spirit, He causes great miracles to occur.

Spiritual Begettal

Christ is called the First Begotten among all humans. “For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?

“And again, when He bringeth the First begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him” (Hebrews 1:5-6).

First begotten obviously implies there are to be others begotten of God! Paul wrote, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

Christ was born of God by His resurrection from the dead! He was changed from flesh to Spirit; from human to Divine! Though Christ was very God, He nevertheless became flesh, and He died by shedding His life’s blood for our sins! (See Revelation 1:18; cf. Luke 23:45-46; John 19:30).

The Bible says “…we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things [Christ was the Creator described in the Old Testament!], in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:9-10).

John wrote, “And the Word [Greek: Logos, meaning Spokesman] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

In two significant ways, Jesus Christ was begotten of God! First, by the limitless POWER of God’s Holy Spirit, Christ “emptied Himself” of His Divine status (Philippians 2:7, margin), and was begotten in Mary’s womb as a tiny human embryo! Not only was Christ therefore “made flesh” (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14) and took upon Himself “the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16), but He was filled with God’s Holy Spirit from the womb! Christ Himself said, “For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him” (John 3:34).

Thus, not only was Christ a Divine Spirit Being Who had become flesh, He was also begotten of God’s Spirit in His mind; filled with God’s nature, His wisdom, His Divine grace; His character, goodness, mercy, knowledge, judgment and discernment, compassion and patience—given the very Divine nature by the powerful indwelling presence of the Spirit of His Father.

What is a Begettal?

What are you? You are a once only, never before, thinking, feeling, living, breathing human being. How did you get here? How did you come to have your life, your being?

Why, from your two parents!

For billions of years, you did not exist! Then, when your life was only seconds from commencing, there was the potential that you might come to be — but YOU did not yet exist!

What existed before you did?

Your father and your mother. In your mother’s body was a tiny, microscopic egg, which was, potentially any one of perhaps hundreds of thousands of human beings, depending upon which even tinier male spermatozoon united with that egg. Once united, YOU WERE ALREADY IN EXISTENCE. You, not any one of millions of possible siblings, which would not have been you, but a different child of your parents. At the instant of fertilization, the exact instant a microscopic zygote was formed, you were on your way to fetal development and eventual birth as a distinctly separate, unique human being. Don’t even think about disagreeing with what you have just read; don’t doubt, for an instant, the absolute, chemical, scientific, biological truth about the origin of your human existence.

Likewise, do not doubt for an instant the reality of the method by which God is reproducing after His kind, enlarging His Divine family.

When you see two young married women, one of whom is pregnant by two days, what is the difference? Absolutely no difference, to the human eye. Yet, an enormous difference in reality—correct? Surely. The young wife who is expecting may not even be aware of the fact as yet; but as surely as the turning of the earth, a new human life — never having previously existed –  absolutely UNIQUE, is being formed in her womb. So the pregnant young woman, while outwardly appearing the same, is actually host to an unseen, tiny LIFE that is within her. Is that life real? Does it actually exist? Does it have any existence apart from the mother?

By the same token, the new spiritual life begotten within each repentant sinner—the “new creature in Christ” — is just as real as any human embryo, and, like such embryo, has no separate existence, independent of the human spirit, connected to the human mind.

When we receive the Spirit of God following repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17; 9:17), something happens. We are then said to be “begotten of God”! What you have probably never realized is the fact that a wholly new creature, now configured according to its Divine Father, not its human father, has been begotten within your mind!

Paul put it this way: “Because the carnal [fleshly, physical] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

“So then they that are ‘in the flesh’ cannot please God. But ye [you converted Christians] are NOT ‘in the flesh,’ but IN THE SPIRIT, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you! Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:7-8). He wrote to the Ephesians, “…the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off the former conversation [conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after [according to; in like fashion] God is created [the “new man” is created within us!] in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).

God’s Holy Spirit does not unite with flesh! His Spirit does not come into our elbow, or our kneecap, or our shoulder. It enters our mind, where dwells, in direct connection with our human brain, our human spirit!

Job said, “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (Job 32:8). Paul was inspired to write, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [Greek: huiothesia, meaning “sonship”], whereby we cry ‘Abba,’ Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with OUR SPIRIT, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

The human spirit is that spiritual essence most people have erroneously called “the soul,” thinking it is immortal, has separate intelligence, and lives on after death. Not so. The human spirit has no life apart from its connection to the brain. It is this human spirit that makes us “human,” and no mere animal; that lifts us above all other creatures, capable of experiencing compassion, sorrow; becoming conscience-stricken. This human spirit is what gives us our “humanity”!

Just as your human life started by the uniting of two distinctly separate life cells, male and female, so the “new creature in Christ” is formed by the union of the Holy Spirit of God with our human spirit.

The frontal lobes of your brain contain that portion of your mind wherein dwells your personality, your volition, your decision-making capacity, your willpower. The Bible often speaks of this portion of our mind as our “heart,” as a reference to that part of our mind which is capable of emotion, of feeling, of contrition, introspection, and decision-making.

What happens when you repent?

You have repented, not with the portion of your brain that controls your physical coordination, your memory, your speech, your eyesight, or any other function except that of your conscience; your ability to feel shame and remorse! You are said to have experienced “a change of heart.” We know there are “good-hearted” people, and people who have “bad hearts,” meaning wrong attitudes of resentment and vindictiveness.

When that human spirit is made willing through repentance and baptism, God will then implant His Divine Spirit which contains a portion of His LIFE and His NATURE as surely as our physical father implanted his life and his nature into the egg of our mother to form OUR LIFE!

Notice! “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through wrath” (2 Peter 1:4).

As surely as you inherited your father’s very nature by His having engendered you — so we become partakers of the Divine character and nature by being begotten of our Heavenly Father!

Notice again! “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make spiritually alive] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8: 11).

What is a begettal? When you were begotten by your father imparting his life, his nature and physiognomy to you, that is precisely when YOU began! From the moment of your begettal, you existed; you were undergoing a dramatic period of fantastic growth and development until you would be born from your mother, emerging as a totally unique, separate, never-before, never-to-be-again human being! Yet, you were made in the image of your father and mother.

And when we are begotten of God’s Holy Spirit, we begin a period of growth in the (by analogy) “womb” of the church, which is called “Jerusalem which is above … the mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26); a period of growth through trial and test, Bible study and prayer, fasting and meditation—overcoming the lusts of our carnal human nature, resisting the clever enticements of Satan’s evil world, until we are a mature “new creature in Christ,” ready to be born of God!

Begettal with God’s Holy Spirit is the beginning of a new spirit being, a yet-to-be-born member of God’s own Family, which, when it comes to the time of birth, is to be born of God! When you were born of your parents, what did you become? Human! You were not placed in a little house behind the house; not placed outdoors—but became a member of your family, to be nurtured, loved, and cared for. You were born on the same level of humanity as your parents.

When we are born of God, what will we become? Can you accept it? Can you grasp it? We are to be born of God!

What it Really Means to be “Born Again”

At the beginning of this booklet, you read what Jesus said to Nicodemus about being “born again.” Now, what is born? When one is finally born of God by a resurrection, or by being instantaneously changed if yet alive, what kind of creature emerges?

Notice: “But some man will say, ‘How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come?’ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened [made alive] except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body” (1 Corinthians 15:35-38).

Take a tiny radish seed, a grain of corn, and a kernel of wheat. Slice them into smaller pieces with a razor. Look at each under a powerful microscope. Can you learn why, locked within the germ of the kernel of wheat; why, locked within each of the tiny seeds is a pre-ordained pattern which determines what will happen when the seed is planted, portions of it decay, stimulating the germ to put down roots, and begin growing a bulb, or a stalk?

The Bible tells you “God gives it,” meaning plants, “a body as it hath pleased Him.” Plants are beautiful. They feed and clothe us. God designed them!

Observe a grain of corn. That particular grain of corn never existed before, and if it is planted, most of it will die. That particular grain of corn will never exist again if it is eaten, or even if it is planted, and begins to grow into roots and stalk, finally forming a large, many leafed stalk with perhaps five or six ears of corn—perhaps producing thousands of new grains of corn!

Those new grains of corn never existed before! They are new wealth, produced from the soil. What pattern in the tiny germ locked within the grain of corn caused the roots to pick out those particular minerals and vitamins; those particular nutrients which would give each stalk and each leaf, each ear and every new grain within it its color, fiber, texture, smell and taste? When you look at the new ear of corn, you are looking at a never before, first time, new creation—something which, if you eat it, can become a part of your body!

What difference is there between a single, decaying grain of corn in the soil, and a large, seven-foot tall stalk of corn with many fat, yellow ears in tassel? Is not the difference astonishing? As the old saying goes, “Great oaks from little acorns grow!”

What is the difference between a six-foot, nine-inch linebacker on a professional football team and a microscopic zygote in his mother’s womb? Is not the difference astonishing?

God says, “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial [stars and planets, as well as spiritual and human]: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness: it is raised in power:

“It is sown a natural body [physical, fleshly—the normal human form], it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:36-44).

What is the difference between a corpse in a coffin and a brilliantly shining, vibrantly alive, translucent, powerful, SPIRIT BEING; a member of the FAMILY OF GOD ALMIGHTY?

What is the difference between a living spirit being, able to zip around Mars and back in less than a second, and an elderly person hobbling around with a walker, stooped over with arthritis, trembling from old age, pain and weariness, with poor eyesight, nearly deaf? An incalculable difference, isn’t it?

Can you comprehend it? Can you grasp the astonishing truth of God from your own Bible that what is to be BORN OF GOD is a MEMBER OF HIS DIVINE FAMILY, a new creation of the spirit world, destined to inherit the very power of God—possessing never-ending, eternal life?

God is a FAMILY

The first words of the Bible are “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). The Hebrew word for our English word “God” is Elohim, which is a plural word, connoting more than one Person (see Genesis 2:26).

That God uses the family as an analogy to express His great and mysterious truths to us is no accident. It is not the clever artifice of some religious teacher, but God Himself Who calls Himself “Father,” Who refers to Jesus Christ as His Son, and Who calls we human beings “brethren. ”

Look at a few analogies for a moment: God is the Father, Christ is the Firstborn of Mary, the Son of God, and the Firstborn from the dead (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:23). He is also Firstborn among many brethren.

The saints, converted members of God’s true church, are called “brothers and sisters” in Christ. The church is called “Jerusalem above, the ‘mother’ of us all.” The church is pictured as a woman who delivered a man child, who was persecuted by Satan (Revelation 12). Christ is pictured as a Bridegroom, and the church as His bride. His return, and the spiritual birth of the church is pictured as a great wedding supper (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-9).

These family references are God’s doing, and that of no man. Millions of professing Christians are blinded to the fabulous truth that creation was not finished in the Garden of Eden—only begun! That God then produced merely a physical prototype; that His plan involves the RE-CREATION OF THE GOD FAMILY—GOD REPRODUCING AFTER HIS OWN KIND!

When Christ plainly said He was very God in the flesh, the religious leaders of His day said He was guilty of blasphemy! Read it! “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath [their man-made traditions, not God’s Sabbath], but said also that God was His Father, making Himself EQUAL WITH GOD” (John 5:17-18).

But Christ WAS VERY GOD! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word [Greek: Logos, or Spokesman] was God” (John 1:1).

When Christ walked through solid rock following His resurrection, He was able once again to dematerialize, to live and move in the spirit world. The stone was not rolled away to let Christ out of the tomb near Golgotha, but to let the world look in! Christ appeared inside rooms, behind locked doors, suddenly materializing before His disciples.

Once again, He was Divine, not any longer flesh and blood, but spirit! However, even as He materialized before Abraham (Genesis 18), He appeared before His disciples having the same human form, complete with the terrible wounds of His beating and crucifixion (John 20:24-31).

Later, His disciples saw Him miraculously ascending to heaven, being slowly assumed into the clouds (Acts 1:10-11).

Now, Christ was born of God by the resurrection—CHANGED from human to Divine; from flesh to Spirit! He is called “…the first-born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). When we are finally born of God, we shall become a part of that same Divine FAMILY; brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, children of the same Father, members of HIS FAMILY!

Christ was not blaspheming when He “made Himself equal with God,” for He said, “I and my Father are One,” showing their togetherness, their sameness. They are One Spirit Family of Divine Beings, Each clearly identified in specific role, or rank; God the Father SUPREME, Christ the Son, equal with His Father in everything, yet subordinate to Him.

Now, let’s understand how a spiritual begettal is real; how, once the “new creature in Christ” is begotten, it must finally come to full term and be born of God.

Why Abortion is Murder

When did you begin? Why, at conception, of course. As we have seen, our human lives commenced at the precise instant we were conceived by our parents. From that instant forward, you, with your color, texture of skin, general physiognomy, color and kind of hair, color of eyes, ultimate height and build––even inherited characteristics from maternal and paternal grandparents––were beginning to form in your mother’s womb.

In several instances in the Bible, God reveals He foreknew certain ones, like Jeremiah, and John the Baptist. That means God, by a miracle, caused their births — that their ultimate destiny was predetermined as early as conception.

Now, think seriously. When did Christ become CHRIST? Why, at the precise instant of conception! From the moment Christ “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7, margin) and by the power of the Holy Spirit became a tiny, microscopic human zygote in Mary’s womb, He was a separate, never before in history, distinctly unique human being; GOD IN THE FLESH, Human, yet DIVINE!

You and I began at conception, not six weeks later, or when we reached the point that we might be able to survive apart from the womb, even though only six or seven months in development.

All attempts to equate the gradual fetal development with chickens, rabbits and other animals merely shows all had the same Great Designer, but do not present cogent arguments for evolution. We are, though we may pass through stages which appear like some animal, TOTALLY HUMAN at conception!

Now, look at the obvious truth of our spiritual conception!

When we are begotten of God a first time, never before, absolutely unique spirit being has been conceived. This tender little life is supposed to be carefully protected by the spiritual “womb” of the church! It must GROW to maturity. Paul wrote, “And He gave some, apostles: and some, prophets: and some, evangelists: and some, pastors and teachers:

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up; constructing] of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect [Greek: teleios, meaning “mature”] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children … but speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-15).

A little later, Paul wrote, “…put off concerning the former conversation [conduct; way of life] the old man [our carnal minds], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND [a new creation!]; and that ye put on the new man, which after God [from, or according to God] is CREATED [a new created being in Christ] in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).

If any person turns back, gives up and quits, REJECTS God’s truth and God’s rule in his life after once repenting, being baptized, and receiving God’s Spirit, it is the same as a spiritual abortion! But with an important difference!

But when a new creature in Christ is spiritually “aborted,” meaning the carnal nature succeeds in overcoming the little, tender, beginning spiritual creature, there is only the second death awaiting in GEHENNA FIRE!

Peter wrote, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome [overwhelmed, conquered], the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

“For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

“But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, ‘The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire’ ” (2 Peter 2:18-22).

Now, think of the analogy of a young wife who finds she is pregnant, and instantly decides to avoid all toxins of all kinds, all alcohol, and all harmful substances. She is a wise, loving, caring young mother-to-be, for she knows that if she smokes, drinks, uses drugs, or even breathes a lot of “second-hand” smoke, she will pass on all these harmful addictive substances to her baby!

If she also wisely chooses to eat a balanced, healthy diet of plenty of fruits, whole grains, vegetables; drink lots of milk for calcium, avoid too many sweets, starches, sugars and artificial sweeteners, flavors, preservatives and the like, she will be a very wise young mother, indeed.

But what if she does none of these things?

Today, helpless little infants are being brought into this world who are already addicted to drugs! Many are diseased, malformed, mentally deficient! What kind of a mother would casually imbibe alcohol, smoke cigarettes, eat fatty foods, or artificial soft drinks laden with artificial colorings and flavor, preservatives, and caffeine? Millions do!

As a result, our peoples are afflicted with an enormous number of tragically malformed, deficient babies; some born with drug withdrawal symptoms.

Will God allow you, as the physical prototype in whom a “new creature in Christ” is to be formed, to pollute this new creature with assorted, continual sins?

Paul wrote, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed [by baptism, and the “washing of water by the Word”—Bible study], but ye are sanctified [set apart for holy use and purpose], but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

It has been said, “You are what you eat.” In like fashion, your mind is composed of what you take into your mind, as surely as a computer is programmed; information inserted into a machine. You are what you think; what you hear, see, read, feel, experience—the sum total of all your mental input.

Which person among us is unaware of the ghoulish, foul. rotten, satanic influence of “horror” movies, “splatter” movies; motion pictures and videos which portray endless explosions, car wrecks, machine-gunnings, garrotings, stabbings, rapes, bludgeonings, slashings—every conceivable method of bloody murder?

Millions drink in of this virulent filth, just like swilling PURE POISON—polluting their minds and consciences!

Make no mistake! Your mind is just like a computer. Once you enter data into the “memory ” disk in your computer—it is IN there! By the same token, once you put something into your mind, it is IN there. There, it stays. As surely as bad food becomes a part of you, so bad scenes, bad words, bad moods and attitudes, resentments, hatreds, jealousies, animosities; vicarious sexual experiences, murders—become a part of your mind.

Will God allow a converted member of His church, one in whom the developing “new creature in Christ” resides, to wallow in filth, continually imbibing pollution, to finally be BORN OF GOD?

There will be no malformed, no missing limbs, no deficient minds, no “thalidomide babies” in God’s Kingdom!

Therefore if we, as the vessels in whom future members of God’s own Family are being formed, should carelessly befoul those new creatures, God will reject us—we shall never come to full term; never enter into His Kingdom!

The Old Man and the New Man

Notice how Paul was inspired to reveal this concept of inner conflict; the downward tug of human appetites and passions struggling with the upward pull of God’s Spirit with our human spirit:

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I [the “old man,” the fleshly human being] am carnal, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). Paul was by no means denying His baptism and conversion. Continually, he referred to the shocking vision he experienced on the road to Damascus; to the fact of his deep conversion (Acts 26:1-28). He is not rejecting his spirituality here; not denying he has traveled far down the road toward God’s Kingdom. No, he is comparing the outward “old man” of whom he wrote so often with the “new creature” in Christ!

In order to better understand this rich, encouraging passage, let’s think about ourselves. We say, “This is my hand,” or “This is my leg.” But when someone has lost an arm, or a leg, he is still there. Helpless human beings have lost both arms and both legs, yet live. What has been lost? Parts of the physical body. But the person with his whole store of knowledge, his will and volition, his innermost psyche, his personality—the human individual is still there.

Now, in order to drink in of the whole meaning of Paul’s comforting words, let’s continue with a close paraphrase of what he so wisely wrote: “For that which I, the fleshly human being, do, I, the new man in Christ, wish I wouldn’t do, because the things the new man in Christ really wants to do, the carnal human being seems not to accomplish. What I, the innermost converted me, actually hates, that I, the fleshly human, seem to do.

“If then I do that which I wish I wouldn’t, I consent unto the law that it is good.

“Now then it is no more I, the new creature in Christ, that do it, but sin that dwells in my human, physical nature! For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh), dwells no good thing: for to will [to want to; to desire to] is present with me, but how to do those good things I fail to find. For the good that I, the new creature in Christ, would do, I, the carnal human nature, do not; but the evil I wish I wouldn’t do—I find myself doing.

“Now if I do that which I would not, it is no more I [the new creature in Christ; Paul, the converted man with God’s Holy Spirit added to His human spirit, changing his human nature] that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man [the new creature in Christ]: but I see another law in my members [note the personal pronouns!], warring against the law of my mind [God’s laws, written in his heart through God’s Spirit: Hebrews 8:10], and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members [his physical body, with its appetites].

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind [the inner, new creature in Christ] I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh [the physical human being with its carnal appetites] the law of sin” (Romans 7:14-25).

What comforting words!

How many times have we felt God is so disgusted with us He will never hear our prayers again? How many times have we cried tears of repentance, only to have the same temptations overwhelm us again?

Paul fought the same fight. God inspired Him to show us how there is a struggle between the two natures: the human, carnal being we are, and the new creature in Christ, striving to overcome our carnal human nature, to be more like Christ!

Perhaps now we can understand more fully some of the truly deep things in Paul’s writings, things “hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16). For example, did Paul have an “out of the body experience?” Let’s see:

Did the Apostle Paul Have an “Out of the Body” Experience?

Driven to distraction by accusers and critics, Paul continually found himself defending his motives, his conversion, his apostleship—not merely before the Greek philosophers and other pagans—but to the membership of the church!

Read the three chapters of 2 Corinthians 10, 11, and 12. To truly understand chapter 12, you need to read up to this mysterious passage, understanding its context. Paul wrote, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell: or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

“And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

“Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities” (2 Corinthians 12:2-5)

The Holy Spirit inspired these words! It is obvious Paul was writing about himself, for why would he “glory” one way or the other if this were some other person?

Here are the facts:

1) Paul was inspired to write he was “caught up to paradise. ” That is the truth of God, inspired of His Spirit. He really was “caught up to paradise, ” in one dimension or another.

2) Was he caught up as a fleshly human being; the person, Paul of Tarsus—caught up by the power of God, to view heaven? Paul said he honestly DID NOT KNOW. And if Paul did not know, then you and I cannot know. The method of his being briefly transported to the “third heaven” is known only to God.

3) Instead of being caught up bodily, did he have an “out of the body experience”? Did the “new creature in Christ” within Paul’s mind, the creature which is to be born of God by a resurrection in the future, LEAVE Paul’s body? Was that new creature caught up to heaven? Paul was inspired to write that he honestly did not know.

We are left with the FACT that Paul was caught up! This much, we know, and cannot deny!

We are left with the FACT that Paul did not know whether it was bodily, or an out of the body experience! Therefore, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EITHER!

Certainly, God’s Holy Spirit did not inspire this passage lightly! It is in the Word of God for a very important reason—to remind us of the future life we shall have in the spirit world no longer as a flesh and blood, air breathing, water drinking, food eating human, but as a member of the Divine Family of God!

When Paul said, “Of such an one will I glory,” he was saying, “There is nothing about my flesh, this physical life, which leads me to exult, to rejoice, to passionately embrace emotionally! But as a SPIRIT BEING? Yes! Then, let me passionately exult, rejoice, leap, dance, sing, praise God as did David before the Ark of the Covenant; GLORY in such a state of being, such a vision! ”

Clearly, he was contrasting the vainglory of pompous religious leaders who rejoiced over circumcision and the like, with a vision of God’s Kingdom, God’s Family, which is great cause for glorying, for praise, and grateful thanksgiving!

Did Paul have an “out of the body experience”? Even Paul did not know, and therefore, we cannot know. One thing is sure. He was, either bodily, or the new creature in Christ out of the body, “caught up” to the third heaven for some moments, as a foretaste of that great event of which he wrote, “… we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

How God’s Martyrs Overcame Fear

Now, we can understand what Jesus meant when He said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul [Greek: psuche, meaning “life”]: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy BOTH soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:28).          

Those who heard Jesus’ words knew immediately what He meant by “Gehenna,” for He referred to the Valley of the sons of Hinnom, which was called “Geena,” or “Gehenna.” It was the town dump—a narrow valley below a precipitous cliff where trash, garbage, dead animals, and even the bodies of criminals who were put to death were thrown. Fed by perpetual fires, this ancient dump site, with its flames and perennial smoke, was used by Jesus Christ as analogous to the “Gehenna fire” which God will use to destroy the wicked; eventually, to totally change the character of our watery planet (2 Peter 3:10-13).

The Greek words used by Matthew were psuche (translated “soul”), and soma, which means “body.” The word psuche has no etymological relationship to anything spiritual, of the spirit, extra-physical, or immortal, but refers to the physical, chemical existence of all animal life. It should have been rendered merely, “life,” for clearer understanding.

I know people who have lost limbs. They might say, “I lost my arm in an accident,” or, “I lost my leg.” But the “I” doing the speaking is complete. Same mind, same personality, same memory, same hopes and dreams, same conscience — the same person. What if someone had lost all four limbs, both eyes, one lung, and had had both a liver and a heart transplant? As grotesque as this picture might be, the point is clear — that person is still there; for our physical lives and the “new creature in Christ” abide together in the mind. One is physical life—the human brain, energized by oxygen, and the blood supply. The other is spiritual life—the “new creature in Christ,” composed of the unity between our human spirit and the Holy Spirit of God, which begets a “new creature.”

Christ plainly said that we need not fear man, who, though he has the power to destroy this human body, can have no power over the new spiritual creature begotten of God.

The traditional concept of the “immortality of the soul” misses the mark widely. The Bible teaches no such doctrine. The words “immortal soul” appear nowhere in Scripture. However, the Bible does show that each human being possesses the human spirit, or the “spirit in man,” if you prefer. That spiritual essence is linked directly to the brain, and has no consciousness; no life apart from it.

The Bible speaks of the dead as oblivious, unconscious: “Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

“Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:11-12). God says, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other…” The death of a cow, horse, or dog is identical to the death of a human. There is no difference. They are the same. “Yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast … all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).

There is no consciousness in death—no more thought, reason, awareness—only the blackest oblivion, like the deepest possible sleep! “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:3-4).

God says His people need not fear death. The fear of death, as well as superstitions and fables connected with death (like an ever-burning hell, and other bizarre punishments), has resulted in weird pagan practices, including infant sacrifice.

God says, “…He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same [human mortality]; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

To most, death is an abhorrent, yawning black pit; a terrible, fearful, hated thing—something to be put off, avoided at all cost. But, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). Jesus said not to fear man who can only kill the body, but cannot destroy the human spirit; cannot terminate the “new creature in Christ,” which has a spiritual existence.

Once God has begotten a “new creature in Christ” in our minds, He says we should be “…Confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. ” Paul wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul said, “Let your conversation [conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,’ so that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

What tremendous peace of mind can be ours when we know we are saved; know a new creature in Christ is begotten within us; know that the innermost person we are SHALL NEVER DIE! As Paul wrote, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk [live] not after [according to] the flesh, but after the Spirit!” (Romans 8: 1).

With such confidence, Christians have faced swords, spears, fire, raging lions, torture racks, and firing squads! A Christian can look death in the face and say, “You have no power over me! Oh, you can kill this body; you can destroy my flesh, but YOU CANNOT KILL ME!” Our lives are “hid with Christ in God.” We are not any longer susceptible to the “fear of death” which results in great evil, but possess the love of God, which cancels fear!

Some professing Christian teachers keep their members continually in fear. Threats of “losing out,” of being “left behind,” of being thrown into a lake of fire, of being “put out” of the church are used by unprincipled men who seek only control over their followers’ lives. But our confidence in Christ is not susceptible to fear, doubt, insecurity — constant uncertainty about our spiritual state.

God says, “And this is the record, that God HATH GIVEN [past tense!] to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” The moment one becomes completely repentant, is baptized, and receives God’s Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 9:17), a new creature in Christ is begotten! Though there is no consciousness apart from its connection to the human brain through the human spirit; no separate existence any more than a human fetus has separate existence from its mothers’ womb, this spiritual life does exist. It is real. It has been begotten, and, if brought to full term through a lifetime of overcoming, Bible study, prayer, church fellowship –– growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it shall come to the birth — finally be born into the God Family!

Why did John write such comforting words? He said, “These things have I written to unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13).

This wonderful knowledge—this confidence that, “That good work that has begun in us” is real; that we already possess citizenship with God (Philippians 2:20; margin) — helps us to be able to stare physical death in the face without fear. No man has power over that new creature in Christ! Only God can destroy it!

What is your confidence? Why, that Satan cannot overthrow you; God will not; man cannot destroy your spiritual life—only you can make the daily choices, and the final decisions affecting eternal life.

Living in Temporary Houses

Now we can understand the deep significance of God’s annual Festival of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-44). For many decades, God’s people were taught that the Feast of Tabernacles was like a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, that it was a picture of the government of God on earth, the Millennium.

So far as it went, this picture was not erroneous—only incomplete. Not understood was the true significance of the “new creature in Christ” that is to be begotten within each Christian, and how these newly begotten children of God form a rich tapestry of meaning with the typology of the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering.

Notice what God says about the feast: “Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths [tabernacles; tents, temporary dwelling-places]: that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Eternal your God.”

Except you look elsewhere in biblical typology, search the Scriptures for the meaning of all the annual Sabbaths, and see them in their whole perspective, you would be left with: “I want you to live in booths, to picture the fact that I made you live in booths.” For the only explanation in the original chapter setting forth the Feast of Tabernacles is that you just read!

Now, why did God make them sojourn for forty years in temporary dwelling places?

Look at the typology: Egypt was a type of sin. Pharaoh was a symbol of Satan. The two magicians, Jannes and Jambres, types of the “beast” and “false prophet.” Individual Israelites were pictured as slaves to sin; Israel as a nation, a type of the church, while Moses is seen in two shadowy types, both as God the Father (in his relationship with Israel, and in the giving of the law), and as Christ (as the intermediary between the people and God).

The Red Sea typified baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-4); the pursuing armies of Pharaoh pictured Satan’s world, and Satan himself, striving to hold on to each person who escapes from sin, repents, is baptized, and receives God’s Holy Spirit.

The wilderness of sin pictures this human life span, living in Satan’s world (Revelation 12:9; 1 Corinthians 4:4), enduring trials and temptations. The forty years symbolize testing, trials.

The promised land pictured the Kingdom of God; the Jordan River, the final crossing; death of the old, birth of the new.

The entire generation that came out of Egypt perished in the wilderness. Only their children, those born during their parents’ wanderings, entered the promised land under Joshua, who is a type of Christ. The Hebrew “Joshua” is a direct synonym with “Jesus. ”

The older generation pictures our human, physical bodies, formerly enslaved to sin, under Satan’s sway, giving in to the temptations of Egypt. The newer generation who crossed Jordan under Joshua pictures the “new creature in Christ,” coming out of the older generation, crossing Jordan (rebirth, or the resurrection), and entering into the Kingdom of God!

Notice the obvious picture painted by Paul: “But we have this treasure [salvation, “Christ in us, the hope of glory”] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Here, Paul likens our physical bodies to clay pots, showing their temporality, but the eternal nature of the “treasure” of the spirit.

Read up to the end of this chapter for more complete understanding of 2 Corinthians 5. Paul wrote “…we faint not; but though our outward man perish [our human bodies age, and finally die], yet the inward man [the new creature in Christ] is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. ” Here, men placed a chapter break. But the theme continues with 2 Corinthians 5, verse 1: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1).

Paul likens our physical bodies to “tabernacles,” booths, tents, or little shelters made from branches of trees and palm fronds. Reference to the Feast of Tabernacles is unmistakable.

Now, study carefully each word of the remainder of this passage in the light of what you have learned: “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [our permanent spiritual body]. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked [exposed as a result of sin—not possessing a permanent spiritual home]. For we that are in this tabernacle [our physical bodies] do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life” (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).

Paul’s references to “groaning” refers to the yearnings of the spirit; the impossible-to-be-articulated desire of the new creature in Christ to finally achieve birth into God’s Kingdom. Notice, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God … likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

“And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:16-27).

Even as Paul heard words which “cannot be uttered” during his brief view of the third heaven, so he likens our innermost yearnings for God’s Kingdom; our agonies of striving against sin, to “groanings which cannot be uttered,” saying God’s Holy Spirit intercedes, that God knows our hearts and innermost being; that God searches the “mind of the Spirit.”

Paul continued, “Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest [like a down payment, or token] of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we [the new creature in Christ] are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body [the new creature in Christ finally liberated from; separate from, these physical bodies], and to be present with the Lord.

“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present [in our physical bodies] or absent [no longer in our physical bodies], we may be accepted of Him.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:5-10).

Now notice the climactic truth God reveals through Paul: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh [we no longer judge according to physical appearances; according to the vain socioeconomic standards of Satan’s evil world]: yea though we have known Christ after the flesh [we saw Him as a physical human being; beheld His physical body], yet now henceforth know we Him no more [physically].

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATURE; old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).

The Greek word for “creature” is ktisis, and means “original formation—building, creation, creature…” It is interchangeable with the word “creation” in English.

How plain is God’s truth to those who have had their minds opened by His Spirit! Not only does the Feast of Tabernacles look forward to the reign of Christ on this earth for 1,000 years, it also looks into the present; pictures our sojourn during a physical lifetime in temporary “tabernacles, ” enduring trials and testing, looking forward to the typical river Jordan; crossing over into the promised land, which is death and resurrection, or an instantaneous change at Christ’s coming!

Have You Been Convinced?

I have known many people who have accepted various points of truth; studied their Bibles diligently, comparing scripture with scripture, to finally agree concerning this or that doctrine.

They then accepted this new doctrinal point, convinced it was true.

What about you? Are you a “believer”? That is, do you have certain “belief’ which you hold to be true; beliefs you accept as God’s Word; beliefs which form your philosophical and doctrinal underpinnings—that make you what you are, religiously?

I want you to take serious warning at this point; to think deeply about what you are about to read!

Everything you have learned in the preceding pages is the truth of God from the pages of your own Bible. It is dangerous knowledge in a sense, for it requires action on your part—either to accept it, and believe, or reject it, spurning God’s truth. However, even to merely accept it is not enough!

Here’s why!

The “new creature in Christ” of which you have been reading is REAL. It is not a figment of imagination. It as as real as you are real. And it is only those who have repented of sin; who knew what sin is when they repented; knew what to repent of, who underwent water baptism, and who received God’s Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands who have had a “new creature in Christ” actually begotten within them!

Being a Christian is NOT MERELY AN ATTITUDE OF MIND!

Remember what we learned about Satan and demons, and “belief”?

Satan is a believer! Do you think his belief makes him a Christian?

Many professing Christians have come to “see” a doctrinal argument here and there, have “accepted” some point of truth or other. In their goodness, since they are the kind of people (they pridefully assume) who always “accept truth” when they see it, they agree with “truth” when it is revealed to them. They add another doctrine to their store of “beliefs.”

But such people have never experienced bitter, soul-shattering, emotional BREAKUP over SIN! They have never truly REPENTED!

And, unless we REPENT, and do so with the whole mind, with unreserved emotion of self-revulsion and disgust; do so with joyous acceptance of Christ and His sacrifice—unless we do exactly as Peter said in Acts 2:38—then no “new creature in Christ” has been begotten within us!

That would be precisely like a young married woman thinking she is pregnant, expecting a son or daughter, only to find she was not pregnant in the first place—no child is forthcoming! You did not get here because your mother “thought” she was going to have a child!

And you will never enter the Kingdom of God because you “think” a certain way, accept certain points of truth, or are convinced of an argument!

Just as surely as you cannot “imagine” electricity into your home, you cannot “imagine” your way into God’s Kingdom! Being born of God is not a mind-set!

As shocking as it may sound, there will be MANY who will be inducted into God’s Kingdom who will have had little opportunity to learn very much about biblical history, about prophecy, about doctrine! Christ said the “first shall be last” and the “last shall be first.” There is coming a time when millions will repent when they see the awesome power of God in gigantic, globe-shattering display, during the GREAT TRIBULATION, and the coming Day of the Lord! Out of this climactic time will come not only the 144,000 of Revelation 7, but a vast, countless multitude as well!

None of these will have gradually, begrudgingly, reluctantly been dragged along, one intellectual argument after another; accepting one point of truth after another, finally building some systematic liturgy forming a body of “doctrine” which makes up their concept of “Christianity.” No, they will have REPENTED, in shocking, soul shattering attacks of conscience; the knowledge of just HOW GREAT is God!

Do you see?

Christ said it best! “Except ye REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3-5).

Now, let your mind contemplate the moment of your human birth. You cannot remember it, but it happened. A tiny, wet, human form emerged from the body of your mother a certain number of years ago. From those first moments when you began taking your first breath of this earth’s air supply through your own lungs, now separate from your mother’s blood supply, YOU were on your own. Oh, your parents had to nurture, care for you, protect you; feed you, clothe you, clean and wash you. But you were here, a certain number of years ago.

You were destined to undergo all life’s experiences; learning to walk, to talk; go to school, perhaps marry, and have children of your own—undergo heartache, suffering, joy, happiness, pain, sickness, triumph, tragedy—years of sometimes wonderful, sometimes terrible human experience.

Why?

Why Were You Born?

Without attempting to be overly “clinical” in explaining the answer to this ultimate question, let us apply the same question to our father’s life-giving male sperm cell prior to our begettal. Why was it created? Why did it exist? What was its purpose?

Pretty obvious, isn’t it?

It came into being so WE could come into being, so we could be given these human physical lives! What did we become, once our father’s male cell united with our mother’s female egg? We became exactly who we are! And our human, physical lives began at conception, not a moment later!

Though we were then a tiny, microscopic zygote within the womb of our mother, we were nevertheless human; possessing the genetic codes which would give us our entire physiognomy; determine our ultimate height, general build, skin color and texture, color of eyes and hair, tenor of voice, and certain proclivities and talents!

In like manner, when God begets a “new creature in Christ” by the power of His Holy Spirit, uniting with our human spirit, WHAT IS BEGOTTEN?

Does your mind deny it? Do you shy away from the answer? Do you believe it sounds blasphemous?

But Paul wrote, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: and if children, then HEIRS: heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST” (Romans 8:16-17).

What has Christ inherited? At what level does Christ exist in His Divine Family?

Christ has inherited ALL THINGS—the universe, in all its imagination—defying glory and splendor! He now dwells beside His Father in ETERNAL POWER AND GLORY, and is VERY GOD!

And what shall we finally become when we are BORN OF GOD? John said, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is!” (1 John 3:2).

The name “God” comes from a Family term, Elohim, and means more than One! When I was born, I was born an “Armstrong. ” You were born, likewise, into your family. And when we are finally born of God, that is what we shall BECOME—members of the Divine FAMILY of God; lesser than Christ, and subject to Him; yet, members of His own Family! Can you now comprehend? Can you now understand, at last, your astonishing human potential?

No wonder David prayed, “For thou hast formed my reins: thou hast knit me together in my mother’s womb.

“I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 

“My frame was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, from the day they were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:13-17).

Why are YOU?

You are here because God Almighty loves you; because He put you here—produced you, for a FABULOUS, UNSPEAKABLY GREAT SPIRITUAL PURPOSE! Do not miss your opportunity! Do not waste your human, physical existence which is so brief, which is for the sole purpose of ultimately being made a member of the very Divine Family! Have you repented? Have you been baptized? Have you received God’s Holy Spirit? Has a “new creature in Christ” been formed within you by the power of God?

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

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