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For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 (New King James Version)

The Book of Revelation: Is It Relevant Today?

Many people believe the book of Revelation is all about bad news. Although it reveals where our actions and decisions will take us, it also shows how mankind will finally experience a world of peace.

Is the book of Revelation relevant today? Is it possible for us to understand it? Can we know to whom it was written—and why? What are the meanings of its mysterious symbols?

The name of the book, Revelation, is a translation of the title in the original New Testament Greek, Apocalypsis —the origin of the other name by which the book is now known, the Apocalypse. The Greek term denotes an unveiling or uncovering—thus, a revelation. It here signifies an opening up of hidden knowledge to understanding.

This book has perplexed readers for almost 2,000 years. Over the centuries it has been one of the world's most misunderstood and misinterpreted books. Yet it need not be so.

The fundamental message of the book of Revelation is simple. It promises that God will institute universal peace, prosperity and cooperation over all the earth immediately after the return of Jesus Christ. It reveals how this wonderful new world will be established and why it will never be destroyed or superseded by any other way of life or social order.

The book of Revelation also describes an incredibly deceptive alliance of internationally powerful political and religious entities attempting to prevent Jesus' reign from ever being established. Their opposition to Him and His saints will result in a time of international turmoil and suffering unlike anything the world has ever seen.

The terrifying weapons developed and manufactured using modern technology are an indication that the terrible time of trouble may be much nearer than we think. Nations have already stockpiled more than enough weapons to annihilate all human life from the face of the earth. Rogue nations increasingly gain the ability to produce and use horrifying weapons of mass destruction.

Even more frightful are terrorist groups, unable to attain their goals by conventional arms or diplomacy, that now have access to such deadly weapons. Respected advisers on international security warn that the danger of nuclear weapons being used by rogue nations or terrorist groups grows ever higher. Nuclear weapons are only one of several means of mass destruction available to unscrupulous leaders and terrorists bent on achieving their ends by any means, including mass carnage.

The book of Revelation presents us with good news and bad news about the future, giving us both aspects of the picture. On the one hand it describes the terrifying tools of destruction our advanced technology will produce —and a deceived humanity will use—at the end of this age. But it also reveals how the living God, the Creator of the universe, will intervene to prevent the annihilation of humankind. It further reveals the wonderful time of peace and a transformed world that will follow those horrible days.

You need to understand God's description of what lies ahead—and what it means to you. You need to understand how you can be a part of the good news He reveals about the future. Once you grasp the message of Revelation, you, too, will see that it contains the most remarkable message of hope ever written. Its fundamental message is plain and its conclusion certain.

Three Days and Three Nights

On one of the many occasions when Jesus was challenged by Scribes and Pharisees, He was asked to offer them proof of His Messiahship: they wanted him to show them a miraculous sign. Answering His critics, Jesus first chastised them, pointing out they were part of “an evil and adulterous generation” that required signs, and then He turned to them and said:

“ …no sign will be given to it (the present generation) except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so too will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth.” (Matthew 12:39-40)

This was the sign Christ was willing to give the recalcitrant Pharisees: the sign involving His death, which they were seeking, and His resurrection, which was something they would later deny. It was the true sign He was the Messiah, their Savior. The miraculous healings they had already witnessed could be reasoned away, but His resurrection from the dead after three days and three nights in the tomb? Never! This was ultimately the proof Christ would offer to those who doubted Him, and it was the evidence countless generations of Christians would point to as proof of His divinity.

Given the importance of the miracle of His resurrection, Christ prophesied using a precise timetable showing when He would rise from the dead. Strange as it may seem, however, modern Christianity commemorates this event on a day when it could not have happened, EASTER SUNDAY! In their ignorance, Christians deny the very sign He gave them as evidence that He is their Messiah. They do not understand Christ could not have been resurrected on their popular holiday.

How long was Christ in the tomb?

No human witnessed Christ’s resurrection. The only record we have of it is the one contained in the Bible. Thus the answer to when Christ was resurrected must come from inspired scripture. Otherwise we are simply speculating. A close look at Jonah’s confinement in the belly of the great fish should give us the answer.

Most would agree that the three days and three nights Jonah spent in the fish’s belly constitute a period of seventy-two hours. The daytime period is generally understood to mean a twelve hour period of light, as confirmed by Christ in John 11:9-10:

John 11:9-10: 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." NKJV

If we accept that Christ was working from the principle of a day being twelve hours, and a night being twelve hours, then three days and three nights constitute a seventy-two hour period.

If one needs to find further evidence for this point, the account of Genesis 1:4-13 provides it. Here we see again that God divided the day into two halves:

"[God] divided the light from darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening [darkness] and the morning [light] were the first day ....And the evening [darkness] and the morning [light] were the second day .... And the evening [now three periods of darkness called night-- three nights] and the morning [now three periods of light called day -- three days] were the third day" (Gen. 1:4-13)

From the text above one can see that three full days are equal to three night (darkness) periods and three daytime (light) periods, constituting a full seventy-two hours.

It may seem a bit trivial to spend so much time defining a day and a night; nevertheless, proponents of an Easter resurrection have based the accuracy of their timeline on numerous and “innovative” ways of counting. The truth is, the three days and three nights Christ gave as evidence of His Messiahship are exactly what any rational person would believe them to be, a period of seventy-two hours.

Good Friday to Easter Sunday

Since Christ was to be in the grave for seventy-two hours, it becomes immediately apparent that the Good Friday to Easter Sunday timeline celebrated by most Christians today is flawed. If Christ was killed in the afternoon of “Good Friday” as most Christians believe, there is no way he could have risen on the morning of Easter Sunday. It is impossible to squeeze seventy-two hours into that scenario. Here is what scripture has to say on the subject:

"And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and AFTER three days rise again.” (Mark 8:16)

Any way you count it, Sunday morning cannot be three full days from Friday afternoon, unless you want to redefine a day and a night as “parts of three days and three nights”, which does not square at all with Christ’s clear teaching. However, this is the explanation and justification for celebrating Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday morning given by most theologians today.

When was Christ crucified?

In order to get this whole matter straightened out, it is perhaps best to begin first by determining when Christ was crucified. Scripture tells us that the crucifixion took place on the day referred to as the “preparation" day. According to Jewish practice this was the day preceding a "Sabbath" (Matt. 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54). As we know already, a day in the Bible is counted from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32, Genesis 1:19), not from midnight to midnight as is common today.

The Bible further records that Jesus cried out from the stake then died soon after "the ninth hour". This would be three o'clock in the afternoon by modern reference. Also, Christ was crucified on a “preparation day”, but not the preparation day that regularly precedes the weekly (Saturday) Sabbath. Rather the crucifixion took place on the day that preceded an annual High Sabbath that began the festival of Unleavened Bread (Matt. 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:44-46), which immediately follows the day of the Passover. By Jewish tradition, all criminals had to be taken down from the stake before the start of the festival – before the sun set signaling the High Day had begun (Matt. 27:57; Luke 23:52-54; John 19:42).

We read in the book of John: "There laid they Jesus…..because of the Jews' preparation day for the sepulcher was nigh at hand”. According to the laws observed by the Jews, all dead bodies had to be buried before the beginning of a Sabbath or festival High Day. Hence Jesus was buried before sunset on the same day He died. It is clear that Christ's body was buried in the late afternoon sometime between 3 p.m. and sunset on the preparation day preceding the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as these scriptures clearly indicate.

Many who know very little about “Judaism” are confused by the reference to a “preparation day”, believing it refers only to Friday when Jews traditionally prepare for the weekly Sabbath observance. Lacking knowledge of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, they do not make distinction between the preparation day of the weekly Sabbath and the preparation day, which precedes a Holy Day or a High Sabbath. It is important to understand the Bible makes reference to two types of Sabbaths. The first is a weekly seventh-day Sabbath, and the second is a Holy Day Sabbath or “High Sabbath” which occurs annually and can fall on any day of the week (See Leviticus 16:31; 23:24, 26-32,39).

The book of John gives us a clear reference to what kind of Sabbath followed the day of Christ’s crucifixion, “Now it was the Preparation day of the Passover” (John 19:14 NKJV) The whole period from Passover through the Festival of Unleavened Bread was referred to as the Passover, but the High Days occur at the beginning and the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was the preparation day before a High Day, not the weekly Sabbath, that Christ was crucified on. Thus the crucifixion did not necessarily take place on a Friday.

Putting the Story Together

What we do know is that Christ was crucified in the late afternoon and buried before the evening began. We also know that Christ had to be in the tomb for seventy-two hours, which is to say, three days and three nights; and thus He must have been resurrected immediately at the end of the seventy-two hours, which would have been at the time of day we would call the late afternoon, before sunset. Finally, we know that the day He died was the day of preparation for the annual “High Day” which could have fallen on any day of the week. If we carefully use these facts, we can clearly understand when Christ was crucified.

The first people to visit Christ’s tomb and report He was resurrected were some of the women disciples including Mary Magdalene who showed up early on the FIRST day of the week, which according to the Jewish calendar would be Sunday (John 20:1). When Mary and the other women arrived, they saw a tomb that had already been opened (Mark 16:2-4). Many Christians today read into this account the false premise that this meant Christ was resurrected Sunday morning, but in fact that is impossible. For Christ to have been resurrected on Sunday, he would have had to rise in the late afternoon in order to complete the seventy-two hour time cycle (Remember, since he was buried just before sunset, he would have to rise at the same time seventy-two hours later). John 20:1 only tells us that by Sunday morning he had already risen:

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” (John 20:1 NKJV)

What Mary Magdelene and the others found was a tomb that was already empty and an angel who appeared to them and told them Jesus had already risen. Since we know Christ had to be resurrected before sunset (72 hours after He was buried), it is clear that the end of the seventy-two hour period came BEFORE Sunday even began, before the sun set on the preceding Sabbath day. This means He rose late Saturday, which fulfilled perfectly the sign He gave the recalcitrant Pharisees: the sign of Jonah’s literal three days and three nights in the belly of the fish!

What day of the week did the crucifixion fall on?

In order to discover the actual day of the week Christ was crucified on, we must count back seventy-two hours from just before the sunset ending the Saturday Sabbath observance. Counting backward we come to Wednesday just before sunset! This means that Christ died on a Wednesday afternoon, the preparation day for that year’s High Sabbath that began the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was placed in the tomb just before the sun set.

There are numerous other biblical scriptures, even prophetic points, that support this time-line. However, many will wonder why it matters at all. The short answer to this is that the true timeline of Christ’s death shows that the celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday do not have any basis in historical fact, and are in no way connected to Christ’s true sacrifice. Moreover, understanding the truth regarding Christ’s resurrection reassures us that His proof of His being the Messiah was true. Christ does not require us to understand complex mathematical formulas or reason around the obvious in order for us to prove who He was. In fact, all we have to do is read the four separate accounts that tell us when and how the crucifixion happened (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), count three days and three nights, and then we see the resurrection occurred when and how Christ told us it would.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:19 (New King James Version)

Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion

Growing to Spiritual Maturity

Correctly understanding the scriptural truth that the Holy Spirit is God's power that can transform our lives helps us better understand His purpose and will for us.

Paul wrote that "we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15, NRSV). He also said, "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature" (1 Corinthians 14:20).

This growth process involves overpowering the pulls of the flesh, replacing them with the character of Christ. Where do we begin?

John tells us: "Those who are God's children do not continue sinning, because the new life from God remains in them. They are not able to go on sinning, because they have become children of God" (1 John 3:9, New Century Version) The converted Christian does not habitually practice sin. He has, after all, determined to turn away from sin.

The sense here is not that, as a Christian, we will never sin (1 John 1:8), because we remain human and imperfect and can still be influenced by our nature and the degenerate world around us.

Instead, the sense is that a Christian will not make it his practice to sin. He or she will strive mightily to avoid sin, to the point of fleeing circumstances where one might be tempted into wrongdoing (1 Corinthians 6:18).

In Ephesians 4 Paul presents an easy-to-understand formula for overcoming sin. He illustrates the method with several examples so we may readily comprehend what is involved. When we examine these verses we notice three steps we need to take to shift from a sinful life to one that properly represents God's working with us and in us.

Paul's instruction regarding overcoming our inclination to sin is to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and ... put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV).

Out with the old

The first step, says Paul, is to "put off your old self." To do this we must realize that the old person is our carnal, selfish nature, which is hostile to God (Romans 8:7).

The "old self" to whom Paul referred is both our unconverted mind and the individual acts of sin that spring from it. As discussed earlier, our former self must be put to a symbolic death through the waters of baptism (Romans 6:1-4).

Over time God can work miracles in changing the worst of us through the transforming power of His Spirit. He can free us from the many sins that imprison us—sins that we may think we can never overcome. We can be released from the bonds that have ensnared us and held us captive.

With God's help we are progressively liberated from a wrong way of life that Paul described as slavery (Romans 6:16). To break free of enslavement Paul tells us to "put to death ... whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5, NIV).

As we study God's Word, even after we are baptized and converted, we continue to see details of our human nature revealed to us. The Scriptures help us identify changes we still need to make. The Word of God, if we let it, powerfully cuts and penetrates to the core of our being "and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

God's Word helps us identify our wrong practices and thoughts (see "Why Bible Study Is Necessary for Spiritual Growth"). We can then turn away from them and think godly thoughts and do godly works. But we cannot do them alone!

We need to stir up the gift of God's Spirit within us (2 Timothy 1:6). That Spirit can renew us every day and will empower our new nature for the successful fight against sin (2 Corinthians 4:16). With the help of His Spirit we can "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13).

Some flounder in their fight against sin when they attempt to overcome it by their own strength rather than putting to use the power God makes available through His Spirit. Paul acknowledges this human deficiency. He knew full well the impact of human nature on our conduct. "... Evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good," he wrote (Romans 7:21). This scripture describes the struggle of Paul—and every Christian—between his human nature and his new godly nature.

It is through Jesus dwelling in us (Galatians 2:20) that we can live a new, godly life. We can be redeemed "from every lawless deed" and purified as "His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14). With God's help we can overcome.

In with the new

If we strive only to put off the old self, the process of overcoming is incomplete. Now comes the most challenging part. We must, with God's help, build into our character the positive traits that are the opposite of the flaws we have identified. As Paul explained, we must "put on the new self" (Ephesians 4:24) with all its godly attributes. We must focus our attention and effort on the godly behavior we desire to practice.

We must concentrate on the positive to eliminate the negative. This is where the examples Paul uses are so instructive and helpful: "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor' ..." (verse 25).

When is a liar not a liar? He doesn't cease being a liar just because he keeps his mouth shut. He is still a liar between lies, so to speak. The only way a liar can demonstrate a change in his character is to "speak truth with his neighbor."

He must put off the old by putting on the new. When a former liar consistently begins telling the truth, his old ways of dishonesty and evasion begin to shrivel up and die. This is what happens when, with the help of God's Spirit, we strive to overcome our old ways of living and replace them with God's ways.

Paul lists another example, that of stealing. When is a thief not a thief? Someone who is not at this moment stealing something may be a thief between jobs. The only demonstrable proof that a thief has changed his ways is if he begins consistently to do the opposite.

Stealing is simply the act of unlawfully taking. The opposite approach to a selfish, thieving attitude is giving. With God's help a thief should learn to work "that he may have something to give him who has need" (verse 28).

Destructive or constructive words?

Paul cites yet another example of the way we communicate. Our tongue is often an accurate indicator of our dominant nature, whether good or bad. Jesus noted that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). James tells us that the unbridled tongue is "a world of iniquity" (James 3:6).

Keeping silent so that no corrupt communication slips out may be a step in the right direction. But keeping our mouth shut is not proof in itself that our nature has changed. After all, "even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace" (Proverbs 17:28). Our nature has fundamentally changed when we begin using our tongue in a positive way. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29, NIV).

To overcome the wrong use of speech, we need to ask God, through the power of His Spirit, to help us concentrate on encouraging and building up others instead of berating them or tearing them down. Our words should spring from "a well of life" (Proverbs 10:11). Our talk should be as "choice silver" (Proverbs 10:20). We should pray to God that our speech be "always with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6).

We can overcome our base traits by concentrating on upright behavior. Apply this formula and, with the help of God's Spirit, change becomes a lasting part of our character.

Which spirit will be with you?

God's Spirit is contrasted with the spirit of "bitterness and wrath" in Ephesians 4:31-32: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." When we indulge the nature of the old man with all its corrupt practices, we "give the devil a foothold" (verse 27, NIV). When we are kind and forgiving we reflect the Spirit of God.

Perhaps now we can understand why we quench God's Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) if we refuse the leading of God's Spirit and indulge in stealing or corrupt communication such as lying. Satan thrives in such an environment.

But, when we put on the spirit of the new man, the opposite results prevail. Satan hates godly behavior and cannot prevail in such a setting. God's Spirit, however, flourishes in a person who lives a godly life.

All this beautifully illustrates some simple yet profound truths: When we "submit to God" and "resist the devil," he will flee from us (James 4:7). As Paul explained: "Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

The simplest way to remove the air from a glass is by filling it with water. Likewise God can overcome our human nature by filling our minds with His nature and its many wonderful attributes.

This does not mean we will never sin again, because as long as we are physical we remain subject to human weakness. However, we need not become discouraged in the face of our sins. Indeed, we should rejoice that we are mindful of them, because awareness is the first step toward their eradication.

Paul shares with us that he never attained perfection in his efforts to eliminate sin from his life. But he gives us this perspective: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

From the book of Hebrews come these encouraging words: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV).

"Therefore ... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV).

Our ultimate transformation

The entire conversion process concerns the wonderful transformation that God—through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit—makes in us. The final and most dramatic aspect of our transformation will occur at the resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns.

The apostle Paul reveals what will happen to the "called, chosen and faithful" disciples of Christ at that time: "What I mean, my friends, is this: flesh and blood can never possess the kingdom of God, the perishable cannot possess the imperishable. Listen! I will unfold a mystery: we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet-call.

"For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise imperishable, and we shall be changed. This perishable body must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal with immortality. And when this perishable body has been clothed with the imperishable and our mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the saying of scripture will come true: 'Death is swallowed up; victory is won!'" (1 Corinthians 15:50-54, REB).

Daniel also speaks of this marvelous occurrence: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament [heavens], and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:2-3).

Finally, Paul describes the wonderful conclusion to all that God is doing for us: "... Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21, NIV).

Therefore, says Paul, by "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:12-14).

Leviticus 23 (New King James Version)

Feasts of the LORD

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.

The Sabbath

3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Genesis 1 (New King James Version)

Genesis 1

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[b] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Footnotes:

Genesis 1:2 Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Genesis 1:26 Syriac reads all the wild animals of.

Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 10:14 (New King James]

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 (King James Version)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (King James Version)

There are twelve events in the Biblical account of creation that science has confirmed are correct and in the correct order. As a mathematician I ask myself, what are the chances of just guessing the correct order.

Here are the events:

1. Light separated from darkness

2. Creation of the earth covered in water

3. The separation of the dry land from the seas

4 - 6. The creation of plants in a particular order - grasses, shrubs and fruit bearing trees

7. The placing of the heavenly bodies in relationship to the earth (this is often explained as the clearing of the atmosphere enough to see these creations)

8-11 The creation of animal life in a particular order - fish, birds, land animals, live stock

12. The creation of man

Think of the problem like this. Take a deck of cards. Keep just one suit -let's say hearts. Toss out the ace. Hand the remaining twelve cards to a one year old child. Ask him/her to hand you the cards one at a time. In order. What are the chances said toddler will start with the two and give them all to you in order right up to the king? It's a basic probability question (no, come back! forget I said anything about math.) I'll just tell you the answer. It's one chance in 479,001,600. (If you want the formula it's below) In other words Moses had less than one chance in 479 million of just correctly guessing.

Now compare this to other creation stories or myths. Many of these have remnants of the true creation story in place. Most leave out the hard and fast details found in Genesis. Many don't even come close to actual events or the order of actual events.

What's the simplest explanation? Moses actually just did guess it correctly? The ancients knew a lot more about science and the origins of the earth than their records show? Or Moses got it straight from the creator of the universe during one of his "face to face" talks with God (Exodus 33:11) or from information handed down to him from ancient prophets?

The simplest explanation is Moses got it straight from the creator.

Formula:

The chance of getting the first card correct is 1 in 12. If you get that correct you have eleven cards left. The chance of getting the next card correct is 1 in 11. What are the chances of getting the first and second cards correct? It's 1 in 12 times 1 in 11 or 1 in (12 times 11) or 1 in 132. So the answer for getting all twelve in order is 1 in 12*11*10*9*8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1 or 1 in 479,001,600.

Margaret S. Agard, is a Bible history enthusiast and contributor to the Amazing Bible History Timeline with World History. Her website at http://agards-bible-timeline.com offers free access to the entire 6000 years of Biblical and World history; Bible history articles and answers to the most asked Bible and world history questions.

In 586 BCE, on 9 Av, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, including the first Temple. Two thousand five hundred fifty-three years later, on 28 Iyar 5727 (June 7, 1967), during the Six-Day War, Israel regained control of biblical east Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount. Israel, for the first time in more than 2,500 years, was in complete control of the entire city. Unfortunately, within a few days, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan gave control of the Temple Mount to the Moslems. However, he did manage to maintain Israeli sovereignty over the Mount. Thirteen years later, Israel adopted its "Basic Law: Jerusalem", declaring, "Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel".

If the above had happened in any other nation, it wouldn't have received much attention from the rest of the world. But it didn't happen in just any other nation. It happened in the nation of Israel. Because of this, the entire world is in an uproar.

On November 29, 1947 -- six months before the declaration of the State of Israel -- the United Nations passed Resolution 181 (II). One of the main points of this resolution was the establishment of Jerusalem as a corpus separatum ("body of separate covenant"). It means, basically, that the UN separated the city of Jerusalem from the rest of the world and created a separate covenant for it. The impact of this is very significant. This has never been done before in all of history. Eventually, in 1950 the UN adopted the "Statute for the City of Jerusalem." This document set forth the rules and regulations for the administration of the city of Jerusalem by a trusteeship set up by the United Nations. It would be an international city; it would not be linked to or controlled by any nation or government except the United Nations.

Why would the world's leaders be so concerned with an ancient city like Jerusalem? Physically, it's not that special. It's located approximately 27 miles inland from the coast. It has no natural resources. Most of it is built upon the ruins of previous structures. So what is it that makes it so important that the United Nations would deem it necessary to set it apart from any other city or nation in the entire world?

An interesting fact about Jerusalem is that it has never been important to the nations unless it was important to Israel. When the Jewish people began returning to the Land in large numbers during the late 1800's, the nations of the world began to stir. It was just a little more than 50 years later that the UN adopted its "Statute for the City of Jerusalem".

The truth is that the importance of Jerusalem lies in its spiritual aspect, not its physical makeup. It's a city that lives and responds to Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. Yahweh declared to Ezekiel how He had mercy on Jerusalem, how He blessed her and made a covenant with her (Ezekiel 16.6-14). Jeremiah lamented of her misery and suffering after Yahweh judged her (Lamentations 1.1-22). Yet Yahweh declared that He will not forget Jerusalem; He will establish an everlasting covenant with her (Ezekiel 16.60-63). Jerusalem is the center of the earth, according to the Yahweh (Ezekiel 5.5). Its very existence continually proves that there is a God and that He will judge every man and hold him accountable for his deeds.

Yahweh has declared that Jerusalem is the place from which He will reign: "At that time they shall call Jerusalem 'Throne of Yahweh'" (Jeremiah 3.17a). The Lord said He was "exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem" (Zechariah 1.14). Many of the prophets spoke of Yahweh's return to Jerusalem. Yahweh declared through Zechariah, "'I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it'" (Zechariah 1.16a; see also Zechariah 2.12; 8.3)..

Yet Yahweh also declared that Jerusalem would be a problem for the nations of the world (Zechariah 12.2-3). He also gave warning of His judgment against those who come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12.9; 14.12).

Jerusalem is important to Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. It is the place that He has chosen to dwell in the midst of His creation for all of eternity. It is also the place from where He will judge the nations.

In our day literally all of the nations of the world are gathering against Israel. The line has been drawn in the sand. It is the people of Yahweh, the God of Israel, standing against all the nations of the world. Whose side will you be on? This is not the time to be straddling the fence. Now is the time to make a stand. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for through her peace will come the peace of the world. Enter into the battle. Stand and see the salvation of Yahweh.

Lee Underwood writes Biblical-based articles and commentaries, which can be found at: http://www.shamar.org. The purpose of the Web site is to spread biblical truth; to correct false teachings and general misunderstandings, and to help those who have suffered spiritual abuse at the hands of false teachers and self-appointed leaders. In addition, he also writes, edits and publishes news of Israel for the

"Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." James 3 : 16.

Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man. Revelation 1:13

Then I said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left? And I answered the second time and said to him, What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves? So he answered me, saying, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord. Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth. Zechariah 4:11-14

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. Revelation 11:3-4,7

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45 (New King James]

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. Luke 10:27 (King James Version)

The Question that Changed My Life

Anumber of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of minis try. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this: Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise. Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old--barely out of diapers--and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.” After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.” She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.” She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, “Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.” I didn’t dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class. Martha’s question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her quesion at least once every day. “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question. The answer is “Yes.” The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

What do I mean when I say “really know Him?” Our understanding of knowing and knowledge stems from our western culture (which is based in ancient Greek philosophical thought). We believe we have knowledge (and, by extension, wisdom) when we have collected information. A collection of information is not the same thing as knowledge, especially in the culture of the Bible (which is an eastern, non-Greek, culture). In the eastern culture, all knowledge is experiential. In western/Greek culture, we argue from premise to conclusion without regard for experience--or so we think. An example might be helpful here. Let us suppose a question based upon the following two premises: First, that wheat does not grow in a cold climate and second, that England has a cold climate. The question: Does wheat grow in England? The vast majority of people from the western/Greek culture would answer, “No. If wheat does not grow in a cold climate and if England has a cold climate, then it follows that wheat does not grow in England.” In the eastern culture, the answer to the same question, based on the same premises, most likely would be, “I don’t know. I’ve never been to England.” We laugh at this thinking, but when I posed the same question to my friends from England, their answer was, “Yes, of course wheat grows in England. We’re from there, and we know wheat grows there.” They overcame their cultural way of thinking because of their life experience. Experience trumps information when it comes to knowledge

Matthew 7:21-23 (King James Version)

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (King James Version)

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8 (King James Version)

www.cephasministry.com | bornagaingaz@tiscali.co.uk

ROMANS CHAPTER 13 REVISITED

By Chuck Baldwin

July 15, 2009

NewsWithViews.com

It seems that every time someone such as myself attempts to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters to resist an unconstitutional or otherwise reprehensible government policy, we hear the retort, "What about Romans Chapter 13? We Christians must submit to government. Any government. Read your Bible, and leave me alone." Or words to that effect.

No doubt, some who use this argument are sincere. They are only repeating what they have heard their pastor and other religious leaders say. On the other hand, let's be honest enough to admit that some who use this argument are just plain lazy, apathetic, and indifferent. And Romans 13 is their escape from responsibility. I suspect this is the much larger group, by the way.

Nevertheless, for the benefit of those who are sincere (but obviously misinformed), let's briefly examine Romans Chapter 13. I quote Romans Chapter 13, verses 1 through 7, from the Authorized King James text:

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Do our Christian friends who use these verses to teach that we should not oppose America's political leaders really believe that civil magistrates have unlimited authority to do anything they want without opposition? I doubt whether they truly believe that.

For example, what if our President decided to resurrect the old monarchal custom of Jus Primae Noctis (Law of First Night)? That was the old medieval custom when the king claimed the right to sleep with a subject's bride on the first night of their marriage. Would our sincere Christian brethren sheepishly say, "Romans Chapter 13 says we must submit to the government"? I think not. And would any of us respect any man who would submit to such a law?

So, there are limits to authority. A father has authority in his home, but does this give him power to abuse his wife and children? Of course not. An employer has authority on the job, but does this give him power to control the private lives of his employees? No. A pastor has overseer authority in the church, but does this give him power to tell employers in his church how to run their businesses? Of course not. All human authority is limited in nature. No man has unlimited authority over the lives of other men. (Lordship and Sovereignty is the exclusive domain of Jesus Christ.)

By the same token, a civil magistrate has authority in civil matters, but his authority is limited and defined. Observe that Romans Chapter 13 clearly limits the authority of civil government by strictly defining its purpose: "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil . . . For he is the minister of God to thee for good . . . for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

Notice that civil government must not be a "terror to good works." It has no power or authority to terrorize good works or good people. God never gave it that authority. And any government that oversteps that divine boundary has no divine authority or protection. This is a basic principle of Natural Law (and all of America's legal documents--including the U.S. Constitution--are founded upon the God-ordained principles of Natural Law).

The apostle clearly states that civil government is a "minister of God to thee for good." It is a not a minister of God for evil. Civil magistrates have a divine duty to "execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." They have no authority to execute wrath upon him that doeth good. None. Zilch. Zero. And anyone who says they do is lying. So, even in the midst of telling Christians to submit to civil authority, Romans Chapter 13 limits the power and reach of civil authority.

Did Moses violate God's principle of submission to authority when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster in defense of his fellow Hebrew? Did Elijah violate God's principle of submission to authority when he openly challenged Ahab and Jezebel? Did David violate God's principle of submission to authority when he refused to surrender to Saul's troops? Did Daniel violate God's principle of submission to authority when he disobeyed the king's command to not pray audibly to God? Did the three Hebrew children violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to bow to the image of the state? Did John the Baptist violate God's principle of submission to authority when he publicly scolded King Herod for his infidelity? Did Simon Peter and the other Apostles violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to stop preaching on the streets of Jerusalem? Did Paul violate God's principle of submission to authority when he refused to obey those authorities who demanded that he abandon his missionary work? In fact, Paul spent almost as much time in jail as he did out of jail.

Remember that every apostle of Christ (except John) was killed by hostile civil authorities opposed to their endeavors. Christians throughout church history were imprisoned, tortured, or killed by civil authorities of all stripes for refusing to submit to their various laws and prohibitions. Did all of these Christian martyrs violate God's principle of submission to authority?

So, even the great prophets, apostles, and writers of the Bible (including the writer of Romans Chapter 13) understood that human authority--even civil authority--is limited.

Plus, Paul makes it clear that our submission to civil authority must be predicated on more than fear of governmental retaliation. Notice, he said, "Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." Meaning, our obedience to civil authority is more than just "because they said so." It is also a matter of conscience. This means we must think and reason for ourselves regarding the justness and rightness of our government's laws. Obedience is not automatic or robotic. It is a result of both rational deliberation and moral approbation.

Therefore, there are times when civil authority may need to be resisted. Either governmental abuse of power or the violation of conscience (or both) could precipitate civil disobedience. Of course, how and when we decide to resist civil authority is an entirely separate issue. And I will reserve that discussion for another time.

Beyond that, we in the United States of America do not live under a monarchy. We have no king. There is no single governing official in this country. America's "supreme Law" does not rest with any man or any group of men. America's "supreme Law" does not rest with the President, the Congress, or even the Supreme Court. In America, the U.S. Constitution is the "supreme Law of the Land." Under our laws, every governing official publicly promises to submit to the Constitution of the United States. Do readers understand the significance of this distinction? I hope so.

This means that, in America, the "higher powers" are not the men who occupy elected office; they are the tenets and principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Under our laws and form of government, it is the duty of every citizen, including our elected officials, to obey the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, this is how Romans Chapter 13 reads to Americans:

"Let every soul be subject unto the [U.S. Constitution.] For there is no [Constitution] but of God: the [Constitution] that be [is] ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the [Constitution], resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For [the Constitution is] not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the [Constitution]? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For [the Constitution] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for [the Constitution] beareth not the sword in vain: for [the Constitution] is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for [the Constitution is] God's minister, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Dear Christian friend, the above is exactly the proper understanding of our responsibility to civil authority in these United States, according to the teaching of Romans Chapter 13.

Furthermore, Christians, above all people, should desire that their elected representatives submit to the Constitution, because it is constitutional government that has done more to protect Christian liberty than any other governing document ever devised by man. As I have noted before in this column, Biblical principles and Natural Law form the foundation of all three of America's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

As a result, Christians in America (for the most part) have not had to face the painful decision to "obey God rather than men" and defy their civil authorities.

The problem in America today is that we have allowed our political leaders to violate their oaths of office and to ignore--and blatantly disobey--the "supreme Law of the Land," the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, if we truly believe Romans Chapter 13, we will insist and demand that our civil magistrates submit to the U.S. Constitution.

Now, how many of us Christians are going to truly obey Romans Chapter 13?

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Every problem is an opportunity to trust God.

Because of Christ's death, you can be adopted by the Father you rejected, forgiven by the Husband you cheated on, and embraced by the Friend you betrayed.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (King James Version)

Michael Jackson. Elvis Presley. Marilyn Monroe. Princess Diana. Ronald Reagan. Pope John Paul II - what do they have in common? They're all famous, and they're all dead. No matter how large a person's bank account, or how attractive their physical appearance, or even how close to God they may become in this life, "All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean...after that they go to the dead" (Ecclesiastes 9:2, 3, italics added). "But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," penned Benjamin Franklin. He was correct.

So far I have built my case that when a human being dies - whether saint or sinner - they are truly dead, that is, they lie unconscious in their graves awaiting the resurrection. To briefly summarize, Solomon said "the dead know nothing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that "there is no work, or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). David wrote about "the sleep of death" (Psalm 13:3), Daniel said the dead "sleep in the dust of the earth" (Daniel 12:2), and Jesus Christ emphatically declared that someday "all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28, 29). These passages describe man's condition at death, his sleeping in the grave, and finally, a bodily resurrection back to life.

To repeat what I have written previously, I realize that majority opinion thinks differently. Shortly after Pope John Paul II died at the ripe age of 84, Vatican officials declared that their departed leader was now "looking down from heaven" after being "welcomed into the presence of Jesus." With all due respect, I don't think so. If you are Catholic, please don't take offense. I would say the same thing about my own mother whom I love dearly. A careful study of the Bible reveals that Pope John Paul II and countless others are not in heaven at this moment. Rather, they are silently sleeping in their graves waiting for Resurrection Day.

In my last two articles I examined two biblical passages often quoted to support the common view of 'instant heaven at death': 1) Paul's expression about longing to be "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8) and 2) Jesus Christ's promise to a dying thief about being with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:42, 43). For those who have read those articles, I think the arguments are convincing. It's time to examine a few more verses often misinterpreted to teach 'instant heaven' rather than literal death, unconscious sleep, and future bodily resurrection.

Paul's "desire to depart and be with Christ" (Phil. 1:23): Paul knew that sometime after he died he would be with Jesus, yet it as an assumption to think that in Philippians 1:23 he meant at the moment of his death. In another letter, Paul clarified that he expected to "always be with the Lord" when Jesus Christ returned to resurrect the dead (read 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). It is significant to note that the very last letter Paul penned was 2 Timothy. In that letter's concluding chapter, notice carefully Paul's 'famous last words':

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8, italics added).

Here again Paul clarified - just like he did in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 - that he looked forward to being with Jesus Christ on "the Day" of "His appearing".

Souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9-11): In the book of Revelation, John beheld under a heavenly "altar" "the souls" of many Christian martyrs calling out for vengeance against their persecutors. "There!" some claim, "There are souls alive in heaven after they died!" But look closer. This entire passage is filled with symbolism. In the same chapter John also saw four horses with riders, the fourth rider being "Death" itself, followed by "Hell" (Revelation 6:1-8). Can "Death" literally ride a horse? Are literal souls crammed underneath a physical altar? Not a very pleasant place to hang out, do you think? Biblically speaking, the idea of martyred souls crying out for vengeance is rooted in Genesis 4 when God told Cain after he murdered Abel, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!" (Gen. 4:10) Does this mean that Abel's blood literally muttered syllables through dirt? Obviously not. Again, this is symbolic.

The appearance of Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:28-32): Not long before Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, "Moses and Elijah" appeared to comfort the Savior. This supposedly proves that Moses, Elijah, and all the saints are now alive 'on the other side'. But it doesn't. First of all, it was not disembodied 'souls' that appeared before Christ and His disciples, but "two men" (Luke 9:30) in physical form. Second, Elijah himself never died, but was translated in Old Testament times without seeing death (see 2 Kings 2:11). Thirdly, Moses did die, but Jude 9 implies that "the body of Moses" was at some point raised back to life. In Luke 9:28-32, Elijah appeared representing all those who shall one day be translated at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, while Moses represented all others who shall be resurrected "at the last day" (see John 11:24). Again, the text says "two men," not two ghosts. Why did Moses and Elijah appear to Christ anyway? The answer is: to encourage the Savior to go through with His death, burial, and resurrection and to assure Him that millions of other believers in His sacrifice - just like them - would someday be translated or raised from the dead to live forevermore.

Let's make sure we are believers in Jesus Christ too, and in His Word.

To learn more about what really happens at death, see Steve Wohlberg's fascinating booklets, Solving the Mystery of Death, and Perils of Talking to the Dead, now available at http://whitehorsemedia.com/

Romans chapter 8: 21a says, '...in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage of decay...' In our texts, Joel 2:2-28-32 and Rom 8:21, we understand that there is hope for the creation in spite of the damage that has been done by the devil and his cohorts.

Having understood the pains and groaning of the creation, it is only expected that, when there is a problem, hidden in that problem is a solution. So, we shall be discussing the hope of the creation and in fact our texts are explanatory enough. The major hope is the manifestation/revelation of the sons of god.

The creation has been brutally frustrated and its agony so much that the healing power can only come via the revelation of the sons who have been supernaturally endowed to bring the creation back to its divine beauty (place).

There are many people crying, waiting, mourning, languishing and suffering on daily basis, bond with the chains, arrested by the wicked one. But then God relies on your manifestation in that area which you are living, be it city, village, town, hut and other suburbs to liberate the creation and bring the hope into fulfillment.

The question is how can the hope of creation be fulfilled? Do you think that the hope of the creation will be fulfilled or has been fulfilled/met, looking at the situation of things in this present age? Can you figure out ways or things the creation hope to get from the sons of God at their manifestation and how you can immensely contribute to its success? In what ways, do you think some of the sons of God have been constituting barriers to the fulfillment of the hope of the creation?

In conclusion, the creation was corrupted through one man, Adam and ever since, it has been hoping to be redeemed via any means from the wicked one, Satan. Thus, God used His secret wisdom, Jesus that has been hidden for ages, against the devil, to reconcile back unto Himself. This assignment was extended for accomplishment to us. Don't disappoint the divinity!

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Oluwanisola Seun - EzineArticles Expert Author

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:34-35 (King James Version)

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:5-6 (King James Version)

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (King James Version)

Take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Joshua 22:5 (King James Version)

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:10-12 (King James Version)

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Question: "Did God create evil?"

Answer: At first it might seem that if God created all things, then evil must have been created by God. However, evil is not a “thing” like a rock or electricity. You cannot have a jar of evil. Evil has no existence of its own; it is really the absence of good. For example, holes are real but they only exist in something else. We call the absence of dirt a hole, but it cannot be separated from the dirt. So when God created, it is true that all He created was good. One of the good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good. In order to have a real choice, God had to allow there to be something besides good to choose. So, God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil). When a bad relationship exists between two good things we call that evil, but it does not become a “thing” that required God to create it.

Perhaps a further illustration will help. If a person is asked, “Does cold exist?” the answer would likely be “yes.” However, this is incorrect. Cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. Similarly, darkness does not exist; it is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of good, or better, evil is the absence of God. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good.

God did not create evil, but He does allow evil. If God had not allowed for the possibility of evil, both mankind and angels would be serving God out of obligation, not choice. He did not want “robots” that simply did what He wanted them to do because of their “programming.” God allowed for the possibility of evil so that we could genuinely have a free will and choose whether or not we wanted to serve Him.

As finite human beings, we can never fully understand an infinite God (Romans 11:33-34). Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought. God looks at things from a holy, eternal perspective. We look at things from a sinful, earthly, and temporal perspective. Why did God put man on earth knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? These questions cannot be adequately answered this side of eternity. What we can know is whatever God does is holy and perfect and ultimately will glorify Him. God allowed for the possibility of evil in order to give us a true choice in regards to whether we worship Him. God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 (King James Version)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19 (King James )

FALSE READINGS ? NO ONLY TRUTH RECORDED

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. John 3:18 (King James Version)

"The Word became flesh and dwells among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of graceand truth. John. 1 : 14. N.K.J.V.

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Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 (King James Version)