(Friday Church News Notes, December 28, 2007, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from an Associated Press article "First December 25 Xmas Tied to Pagan Shrine," dated Dec. 22, 2007: "The church where the tradition of celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 may have begun was built near a pagan shrine as part of an effort to spread Christianity, a leading Italian scholar says. Italian archaeologists last month unveiled an underground grotto that they believe ancient Romans revered as the place where a wolf nursed Rome's legendary founder Romulus and his twin brother Remus. A few feet from the grotto, or 'Lupercale,' the Emperor Constantine built the Basilica of St. Anastasia, where some believe Christmas was first celebrated on Dec. 25. ... In 325, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, which fixed the dates of important Christian festivals. It opted to mark Christmas, then celebrated at varying dates, on Dec. 25 to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating the birth of the sun god, Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza University, told reporters Friday. The Basilica of St. Anastasia was built as soon as a year after the Nicaean Council. It probably was where Christmas was first marked on Dec. 25, part of broader efforts to link pagan practices to Christian celebrations in the early days of the new religion, Carandini said. 'The church was built to Christianize these pagan places of worship,' he said. 'It was normal to put a church near these places to try to save them.'" CONCLUDING NOTE FROM BROTHER CLOUD: I have visited Rome three times and on each occasion I have been more strongly impressed by the fact that Roman Catholicism is Christianized paganism. See part 4 of our report "In the Footsteps of Bible Translators" -- http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/in-thefootsteps-bibletrans/Page-4.htm. The Protestants kept too many of Rome's practices, and Baptists have adopted too many things from the Protestants. If someone wants to meditate on Jesus' birth at this time of the year, that is their business as far as I am concerned, but we must not deceive ourselves by thinking that Christmas is a biblical institution. It has far more to do with Romanism and paganism than biblicism. One thing wise Christians can do with Christmas is use it as an evangelistic opportunity. It is a great opportunity to explain who Jesus is and why He came.
Read More ..
Tampilkan postingan dengan label english corner. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label english corner. Tampilkan semua postingan
Rabu, 17 Desember 2008
HEAD OF ANGLICAN CHURCH SAYS VIRGIN BIRTH NOT NECESSARY TO CHRISTIAN FAITH
(Friday Church News Notes, December 28, 2007, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Speaking on BBC Radio Five, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, said that although he "believes" in the virgin birth of Christ he advised that new Christians need not fear that they had to leap over the "hurdle" of belief in the Virgin Birth before they could be "signed up" ("It's All a Christmas Tall Story," The Times, Dec. 20, 2007). In fact, it is difficult to know in what sense Williams himself "believes" in the virgin birth, because The Times reported: "He hinted that decades ago he was not 'too fussed' with the literal truth of the doctrine of the Virgin Birth. But as time went on, he developed a 'deeper sense' of what the Virgin Birth was all about." Theological liberals have this amazing way of believing that biblical statements are true even when they (allegedly) aren't historical facts. It is an abuse of language, of course, but it is part of the deception of heresy. Anyway, it is certain that the Archbishop claims that belief in the virgin birth is not a necessary part of the Christian faith, and that is a gross error. If Jesus was not literally virgin born He was a mere sinner just like the rest of us, and he was not therefore the eternal Son of God, and he could not have made atonement for our sin by his sacrifice. Further, if Christ was not virgin born the Bible is a lie. The virgin birth of Christ is at the very heart of the biblical Christian faith, and it is no "hurdle" to those who believe in Almighty God. If one believes that Genesis 1 is true, then Matthew 1 follows easily. "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 Ghost" (Matthew 1:18).
Read More ..Sabtu, 08 November 2008
Armageddon: What the Bible Says
Armageddon: What the Bible Says
by: Britt Gillette
Through the centuries, the human race has been fascinated with the concept of Armageddon. During that time, the word has been separated from its original biblical context. The true meaning of Armageddon has been replaced by the secular concept of humanity destroying itself. The word is now synonymous with nuclear war, natural disasters, impact from a comet or an asteroid, and any number of creatively conjured existential threats. Yet, the bible doesn’t connect a single one of these events with Armageddon.
Even a majority of devout Christians hold erroneous beliefs about Armageddon. Many correctly view Armageddon as the gathering place of the Antichrist and his armies prior to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, but they misinterpret the motive of this gathering. A commonly held belief is that these armies gather together at or near Armageddon in order to do battle with each other, or to annihilate the Jewish people. Then, only through the physical intervention of Jesus Christ is humanity saved from either destroying all life or the Jewish people.
But neither of these motives is correct. The Bible clearly states why these armies gather together at Armageddon, and once we realize why, it’s easy to see why most Christians find it difficult to believe.
What Does the Bible Say?
The biblical concept of Armageddon is first introduced by name in the Book of Revelation:
“And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” Revelation 16:16 (NLT)
Armageddon is the Hebrew name of a geographical location in Israel known as Megiddo. Megiddo is a hill which overlooks the Jezreel valley. It is here where, in the last days, Satan and the Antichrist will gather the world’s rulers for battle. As previously stated, a common misconception is that they gather together to make war against each other. But the passage never says this, and further examination of the context in which this event transpires will make it clear that this is not their motive.
Remember, in the last days, the Antichrist will be ruler over the entire globe:
“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)
The Antichrist will also be a popular ruler, worshipped for his awesome power:
“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)
In addition, the Antichrist will have total control over the purchase and sale of all goods:
“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)
With complete political, religious, and economic power, what army could or would gather for war against the Antichrist? In fact, Revelation 13:4 poses this very question: “Who is able to fight against him?” The bible is clear that the armies at Armageddon do not gather to fight each other. Instead, they are united against a common enemy.
If this is true, who do these armies gather against? The answer can be found throughout the scriptures, beginning with one of the most overlooked prophecies of the bible. Almost everyone can recount the story that led to this prophecy, yet very few remember the prophecy itself.
The Tower of Babel Prophecy
In Genesis Chapter 11, we learn the story of the Tower of Babel:
“At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. ‘Come,’ they said, ‘let’s make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.’
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. ‘Look!’ he said. ‘If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and give them different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.’
In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.” Genesis 11:1-9 (NLT)
In the sixth verse, God specifically states his reason for scattering the human race and confusing them with different languages. He wants to avoid the inevitable disaster wrought by global government and a common language. Why do these things concern Him? Because if they continue unabated, in due time, “nothing will be impossible for them!” This should be viewed as more than a passing comment by God. It should be interpreted as a prophecy of things to come. And in the last days, mankind will fulfill all the requirements of this prophecy. They will have:
Political Unity
“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)
United Purpose
“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)
The global government featured in the Book of Revelation will unify humanity politically for the first time since the days of ancient Babylonia. Thousands of years after God put a stop to this act of monumental arrogance, humanity will once again establish a unified political structure under the rule of the Antichrist.
So what does this mean? What will happen as a result of this global government? Something so bad, God put a stop to it the moment He saw it happening. The human race will directly challenge God. After all, what was the motive in building the Tower of Babel?
“Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness!” Genesis 11:4 (NLT)
The people wanted to build a monument to their own greatness, exalting themselves above God and extending their tower far into heaven with the intent of usurping God’s glory and authority. This desire of the human race did not end with the Tower of Babel. It continues to this day, and it will culminate in one final attempt to usurp the authority of God. This great rebellion will be launched from a place called Armageddon.
The Word of God and Armageddon
The scriptures are clear when it comes to the purpose of Armageddon. The human race will gather its armies at Armageddon in order to do battle with God Almighty:
“These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:14 (NLT)
Three chapters later, we learn more about this gathering:
“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Revelation 19:19 (NLT)
The gathering at Armageddon is preparation for a war, a war the kings of the earth are plotting against “the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Who is the “one sitting on the horse”? The one sitting on the horse is Jesus Christ.
The armies of the world do not gather to fight each other or to destroy the Jews (although destruction of the Jews is a primary aim of Satan and the Antichrist). Rather, the ultimate purpose of Armageddon is to emancipate the human race from God’s authority. Psalm 2 describes this futile plan:
“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)
Notice who the rulers plot against. They don’t plot against each other or Israel. They plot against “the Lord and His Anointed One.” Who is “His Anointed One”? Jesus Christ. The armies of the world actually plot against the Prince of Peace Himself.
In describing the Antichrist, the Book of Daniel confirms this plot:
“From one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and east and toward the glorious land of Israel. His power reached to the heavens where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling them. He even challenged the Commander of heaven’s armies by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple.” Daniel 8:9-11 (NLT)
Jesus Christ is the Commander of heaven’s armies, and the Antichrist will have the brazen audacity to challenge Him. This concept is reiterated later in the same chapter:
“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception, defeating many by catching them off guard. Without warning he will destroy them. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.” Daniel 8:23-25 (NLT)
This master of intrigue, the Antichrist, will take on the Prince of princes in battle. Like the Tower of Babel generation, his arrogance will extend all the way into the heavens, where he will attempt to usurp the glory and authority of God Himself. Note that the last verse of this passage states that the power of the Antichrist will not be broken by humans. This illustrates once again that the Antichrist will be the undisputed world power of his time. No one will be able to make war against him. At least no human will be able to make war against him. When the Antichrist engages the Lord Jesus Christ in battle, he will be utterly destroyed.
The Book of Joel provides us with a glimpse of this future time, when the armies of the world will gather to make war with Christ. The human race will severely overestimate its own power, while Jesus Christ tread the winepress of His fierce wrath:
“Say to the nations far and wide: ‘Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors! Let all your fighting men advance for the attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors. Come quickly, all you nations everywhere! Gather together in the valley.’ And now, O Lord, call out your warriors! ‘Let the nations be called to arms. Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I, the Lord, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all. Now let the sickle do its work, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the winepress because it is full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.’” Joel 3:9-13 (NLT)
The End Result of Armageddon
The end result of Armageddon is not quite what the Antichrist and his minions have in mind. The Book of Revelation describes their total destruction at the hands of Jesus Christ, with a valley of dead bodies laid out as a feast for the birds of the world. The beast and the false prophet are captured, and both are thrown into the lake of fire where they will experience everlasting torment:
“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And all the vultures of the sky gorged themselves on the dead bodies.” Revelation 19:19-21 (NLT)
The victory of Christ during the campaign of Armageddon will usher in the Millennial Kingdom, a time of unprecedented peace and tranquility on earth with God dwelling among men. Jesus Christ Himself will rule the nations, and those who have placed their trust in Him will experience all the blessings God has reserved for them.
Conclusion
Armageddon is a reminder of what the human race is like without Christ. Burdened by our sinful nature, God gave the free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept this gift. But those who reject it will become slaves to sin, and their degeneracy will one day culminate in outright physical rebellion against God Himself.
Armageddon isn’t about asteroids or comets. It’s not about nuclear annihilation or war between nations. It’s about mankind’s fruitless rebellion against God. In a pop culture which has managed to skew and blur the truth about Armageddon, Christians have a prime opportunity to set the record straight. So the next time someone you know mentions Armageddon, ask them what they mean. If it’s not in line with what the bible says, take the time to share the scriptural account with them. But more importantly, tell them about the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ. Read More ..
by: Britt Gillette
Through the centuries, the human race has been fascinated with the concept of Armageddon. During that time, the word has been separated from its original biblical context. The true meaning of Armageddon has been replaced by the secular concept of humanity destroying itself. The word is now synonymous with nuclear war, natural disasters, impact from a comet or an asteroid, and any number of creatively conjured existential threats. Yet, the bible doesn’t connect a single one of these events with Armageddon.
Even a majority of devout Christians hold erroneous beliefs about Armageddon. Many correctly view Armageddon as the gathering place of the Antichrist and his armies prior to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, but they misinterpret the motive of this gathering. A commonly held belief is that these armies gather together at or near Armageddon in order to do battle with each other, or to annihilate the Jewish people. Then, only through the physical intervention of Jesus Christ is humanity saved from either destroying all life or the Jewish people.
But neither of these motives is correct. The Bible clearly states why these armies gather together at Armageddon, and once we realize why, it’s easy to see why most Christians find it difficult to believe.
What Does the Bible Say?
The biblical concept of Armageddon is first introduced by name in the Book of Revelation:
“And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” Revelation 16:16 (NLT)
Armageddon is the Hebrew name of a geographical location in Israel known as Megiddo. Megiddo is a hill which overlooks the Jezreel valley. It is here where, in the last days, Satan and the Antichrist will gather the world’s rulers for battle. As previously stated, a common misconception is that they gather together to make war against each other. But the passage never says this, and further examination of the context in which this event transpires will make it clear that this is not their motive.
Remember, in the last days, the Antichrist will be ruler over the entire globe:
“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)
The Antichrist will also be a popular ruler, worshipped for his awesome power:
“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)
In addition, the Antichrist will have total control over the purchase and sale of all goods:
“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)
With complete political, religious, and economic power, what army could or would gather for war against the Antichrist? In fact, Revelation 13:4 poses this very question: “Who is able to fight against him?” The bible is clear that the armies at Armageddon do not gather to fight each other. Instead, they are united against a common enemy.
If this is true, who do these armies gather against? The answer can be found throughout the scriptures, beginning with one of the most overlooked prophecies of the bible. Almost everyone can recount the story that led to this prophecy, yet very few remember the prophecy itself.
The Tower of Babel Prophecy
In Genesis Chapter 11, we learn the story of the Tower of Babel:
“At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. ‘Come,’ they said, ‘let’s make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.’
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. ‘Look!’ he said. ‘If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and give them different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.’
In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.” Genesis 11:1-9 (NLT)
In the sixth verse, God specifically states his reason for scattering the human race and confusing them with different languages. He wants to avoid the inevitable disaster wrought by global government and a common language. Why do these things concern Him? Because if they continue unabated, in due time, “nothing will be impossible for them!” This should be viewed as more than a passing comment by God. It should be interpreted as a prophecy of things to come. And in the last days, mankind will fulfill all the requirements of this prophecy. They will have:
Political Unity
“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)
United Purpose
“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)
The global government featured in the Book of Revelation will unify humanity politically for the first time since the days of ancient Babylonia. Thousands of years after God put a stop to this act of monumental arrogance, humanity will once again establish a unified political structure under the rule of the Antichrist.
So what does this mean? What will happen as a result of this global government? Something so bad, God put a stop to it the moment He saw it happening. The human race will directly challenge God. After all, what was the motive in building the Tower of Babel?
“Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness!” Genesis 11:4 (NLT)
The people wanted to build a monument to their own greatness, exalting themselves above God and extending their tower far into heaven with the intent of usurping God’s glory and authority. This desire of the human race did not end with the Tower of Babel. It continues to this day, and it will culminate in one final attempt to usurp the authority of God. This great rebellion will be launched from a place called Armageddon.
The Word of God and Armageddon
The scriptures are clear when it comes to the purpose of Armageddon. The human race will gather its armies at Armageddon in order to do battle with God Almighty:
“These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:14 (NLT)
Three chapters later, we learn more about this gathering:
“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Revelation 19:19 (NLT)
The gathering at Armageddon is preparation for a war, a war the kings of the earth are plotting against “the one sitting on the horse and his army.” Who is the “one sitting on the horse”? The one sitting on the horse is Jesus Christ.
The armies of the world do not gather to fight each other or to destroy the Jews (although destruction of the Jews is a primary aim of Satan and the Antichrist). Rather, the ultimate purpose of Armageddon is to emancipate the human race from God’s authority. Psalm 2 describes this futile plan:
“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:1-4 (NLT)
Notice who the rulers plot against. They don’t plot against each other or Israel. They plot against “the Lord and His Anointed One.” Who is “His Anointed One”? Jesus Christ. The armies of the world actually plot against the Prince of Peace Himself.
In describing the Antichrist, the Book of Daniel confirms this plot:
“From one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and east and toward the glorious land of Israel. His power reached to the heavens where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling them. He even challenged the Commander of heaven’s armies by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple.” Daniel 8:9-11 (NLT)
Jesus Christ is the Commander of heaven’s armies, and the Antichrist will have the brazen audacity to challenge Him. This concept is reiterated later in the same chapter:
“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception, defeating many by catching them off guard. Without warning he will destroy them. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.” Daniel 8:23-25 (NLT)
This master of intrigue, the Antichrist, will take on the Prince of princes in battle. Like the Tower of Babel generation, his arrogance will extend all the way into the heavens, where he will attempt to usurp the glory and authority of God Himself. Note that the last verse of this passage states that the power of the Antichrist will not be broken by humans. This illustrates once again that the Antichrist will be the undisputed world power of his time. No one will be able to make war against him. At least no human will be able to make war against him. When the Antichrist engages the Lord Jesus Christ in battle, he will be utterly destroyed.
The Book of Joel provides us with a glimpse of this future time, when the armies of the world will gather to make war with Christ. The human race will severely overestimate its own power, while Jesus Christ tread the winepress of His fierce wrath:
“Say to the nations far and wide: ‘Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors! Let all your fighting men advance for the attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors. Come quickly, all you nations everywhere! Gather together in the valley.’ And now, O Lord, call out your warriors! ‘Let the nations be called to arms. Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I, the Lord, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all. Now let the sickle do its work, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the winepress because it is full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.’” Joel 3:9-13 (NLT)
The End Result of Armageddon
The end result of Armageddon is not quite what the Antichrist and his minions have in mind. The Book of Revelation describes their total destruction at the hands of Jesus Christ, with a valley of dead bodies laid out as a feast for the birds of the world. The beast and the false prophet are captured, and both are thrown into the lake of fire where they will experience everlasting torment:
“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And all the vultures of the sky gorged themselves on the dead bodies.” Revelation 19:19-21 (NLT)
The victory of Christ during the campaign of Armageddon will usher in the Millennial Kingdom, a time of unprecedented peace and tranquility on earth with God dwelling among men. Jesus Christ Himself will rule the nations, and those who have placed their trust in Him will experience all the blessings God has reserved for them.
Conclusion
Armageddon is a reminder of what the human race is like without Christ. Burdened by our sinful nature, God gave the free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept this gift. But those who reject it will become slaves to sin, and their degeneracy will one day culminate in outright physical rebellion against God Himself.
Armageddon isn’t about asteroids or comets. It’s not about nuclear annihilation or war between nations. It’s about mankind’s fruitless rebellion against God. In a pop culture which has managed to skew and blur the truth about Armageddon, Christians have a prime opportunity to set the record straight. So the next time someone you know mentions Armageddon, ask them what they mean. If it’s not in line with what the bible says, take the time to share the scriptural account with them. But more importantly, tell them about the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ. Read More ..
Gog and Magog: What the Bible Says
Gog and Magog: What the Bible Says
by: Britt Gillette
The Bible warns of a future time when the nation of Israel will be surrounded by its enemies, with no allies to come to its defense. The prophet Ezekiel revealed more than 2,700 years ago that, in the last days, a coalition of nations led by Russia would gather together to invade Israel. When this happens, God will use this moment to display His glory to all the people of the world. The details of this future battle are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:
“This is another message that came to me from the Lord: ‘Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.’” Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)
The nations cited in the verses above are associated with their Old Testament predecessors, but they all represent nations that exist today. Long before Russia became a world power, biblical scholars identified Magog as the nation of Russia and Gog as the ruler of Russia. The other nations referenced above are identified below, with the original Hebrew listed first, followed by its modern English equivalent:
Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia
Persia = Iran
Cush = Ethiopia
Put = Libya
Gomer = Turkey
Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor
According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in the last days.
“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies – a vast and awesome horde – will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.” Ezekiel 38:7-9 (NLT)
The Russian coalition, “a vast and awesome horde” will attack the land of Israel. This will happen at a time when Israel is recovering from a recent war and residing in a relatively peaceful state. Notice that this attack occurs “after the return of her people from many lands,” an indication that this attack will be directed toward the modern state of Israel (whose people have been re-gathered in just such a way), and is not a reference to a past war or a war in the distant future.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! I will go to those once-desolate cities that are again filled with people who returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder and take many slaves, for the people are rich with cattle now, and they think the whole world revolves around them!’ But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Who are you to rob them of silver and gold? Who are you to drive away their cattle and seize their goods and make them poor?’” Ezekiel 38:10-13 (NLT)
Prior to this attack, Israel will be “an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages.” In the days of Ezekiel, it was unheard of to build a city without walls, a certain invitation for invasion by a foreign power. But in this modern era of warfare, walls do little to repel an invading force. So just as Ezekiel said, Israel will be a land of “unwalled villages.” Once again, this attack is referenced as taking place against “those once-desolate cities that are again filled with people who returned from exile in many nations” – yet another indication that modern day Israel is the target of Gog’s invasion.
However, we learn that several nations question the impending invasion – Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish. Sheba and Dedan represent the modern nations of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Tarshish can only be translated as southern Spain, but may well represent the Western democracies.
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, and you will cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future. I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 38:14-16 (NLT)
Again, God reiterates that Russia will invade Israel in the last days, covering the land like a cloud with its armies. The entire world will watch on the edge of their seats, none lifting a hand to help Israel. It is at this moment that God will make himself known to the nations. He will utterly destroy this invading force while all the world watches, and everyone will know that He is Lord.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in future days I would bring you against my people. But when Gog invades the land of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord, my fury will rise! For in my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. All living things – all the fish, birds, animals, and people – will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. I will summon the sword against you throughout Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn against each other in mortal combat. I will punish you and your hordes with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! Thus will I show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord!” Ezekiel 38:17-23 (NLT)
The invasion of Israel will trigger an earthquake so strong every living creature on the face of the earth will tremble in God’s presence. The invading armies will be totally annihilated. God will cause them to turn on each other while striking them with plagues, torrential rain, hail, fire, and burning sulfur. As a result of this awesome display, the world will wake up to God’s existence. No longer will people be able to deny the existence of the Almighty, for it will be abundantly clear who intervened to save Israel.
“Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. I will knock your weapons from your hands and leave you helpless. You and all your vast hordes will die on the mountains. I will give you as food to the vultures and wild animals. You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 39:1-6 (NLT)
Not only will the hordes of Gog be struck down by the God of Israel, but their dead bodies will become food for vultures and wild animals.
“Thus, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let it be desecrated anymore. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.” Ezekiel 39:7-8 (NLT)
God has made it definitively clear that this judgment against Gog will happen just as He has said. He will no longer tolerate the desecration of His nation, and at a time unknown to us, this event will occur just as He has promised.
“Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years! They will need nothing else for their fires. They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all they need. They will take plunder from those who planned to plunder them, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:9-10 (NLT)
When God strikes down the enemies of Israel, their weapons of war will litter the landscape of the Holy Land. The people of Israel will use these weapons as fuel for a period of seven years, meaning Gog’s invasion will take place at the beginning of the Tribulation or at some point before it begins.
“And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. The path of those who travel there will be blocked by this burial ground, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. It will take seven months for the people of Israel to cleanse the land by burying the bodies. Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord. At the end of the seven months, special crews will be appointed to search the land for any skeletons and bury them, so the land will be made clean again. Whenever some bones are found, a marker will be set up beside them so the burial crews will see them and take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. (There will be a town there named Hamonah – which means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.” Ezekiel 39:11-16 (NLT)
The destruction of these invading armies will be so vast it will change the topography of the land. So many dead bodies will litter the landscape that it will take seven months to bury all the dead, even with the help of every citizen in Israel!
“And now, son of man, call all the birds and wild animals, says the Sovereign Lord. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel and there eat the flesh and drink the blood! Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and fat young bulls of Bashan! Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. Feast at my banquet table – feast on horses, riders, and valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:17-20 (NLT)
God will call the birds and wild animals of the earth to feast upon the dead bodies of Israel’s enemies. His purpose is nothing less than to make Himself known to, and display His glory among, the nations of the world.
“Thus, I will demonstrate my glory among the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power I have demonstrated. And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile – it was punishment for sin, for they acted in treachery against their God. Therefore, I turned my back on them and let their enemies destroy them. I turned my face away and punished them in proportion to the vileness of their sins.” Ezekiel 39:21-24 (NLT)
The nations will acknowledge the God of Israel as the one true God.
“So now the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on Israel, for I am jealous for my holy reputation! They will accept responsibility for their past shame and treachery against me after they come home to live in peace and safety in their own land. And then no one will bother them or make them afraid. When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, my holiness will be displayed to the nations. Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God – responsible for sending them away to exile and responsible for bringing them home. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my back on them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon them, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:25-29 (NLT)
The Spirit of the Lord (the Holy Spirit) will be poured out on the people of Israel, and never again will the Lord turn His back on them. All of this will happen in the last days. Read More ..
by: Britt Gillette
The Bible warns of a future time when the nation of Israel will be surrounded by its enemies, with no allies to come to its defense. The prophet Ezekiel revealed more than 2,700 years ago that, in the last days, a coalition of nations led by Russia would gather together to invade Israel. When this happens, God will use this moment to display His glory to all the people of the world. The details of this future battle are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:
“This is another message that came to me from the Lord: ‘Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.’” Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)
The nations cited in the verses above are associated with their Old Testament predecessors, but they all represent nations that exist today. Long before Russia became a world power, biblical scholars identified Magog as the nation of Russia and Gog as the ruler of Russia. The other nations referenced above are identified below, with the original Hebrew listed first, followed by its modern English equivalent:
Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia
Persia = Iran
Cush = Ethiopia
Put = Libya
Gomer = Turkey
Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor
According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in the last days.
“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies – a vast and awesome horde – will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.” Ezekiel 38:7-9 (NLT)
The Russian coalition, “a vast and awesome horde” will attack the land of Israel. This will happen at a time when Israel is recovering from a recent war and residing in a relatively peaceful state. Notice that this attack occurs “after the return of her people from many lands,” an indication that this attack will be directed toward the modern state of Israel (whose people have been re-gathered in just such a way), and is not a reference to a past war or a war in the distant future.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! I will go to those once-desolate cities that are again filled with people who returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder and take many slaves, for the people are rich with cattle now, and they think the whole world revolves around them!’ But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Who are you to rob them of silver and gold? Who are you to drive away their cattle and seize their goods and make them poor?’” Ezekiel 38:10-13 (NLT)
Prior to this attack, Israel will be “an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages.” In the days of Ezekiel, it was unheard of to build a city without walls, a certain invitation for invasion by a foreign power. But in this modern era of warfare, walls do little to repel an invading force. So just as Ezekiel said, Israel will be a land of “unwalled villages.” Once again, this attack is referenced as taking place against “those once-desolate cities that are again filled with people who returned from exile in many nations” – yet another indication that modern day Israel is the target of Gog’s invasion.
However, we learn that several nations question the impending invasion – Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish. Sheba and Dedan represent the modern nations of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Tarshish can only be translated as southern Spain, but may well represent the Western democracies.
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, and you will cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future. I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 38:14-16 (NLT)
Again, God reiterates that Russia will invade Israel in the last days, covering the land like a cloud with its armies. The entire world will watch on the edge of their seats, none lifting a hand to help Israel. It is at this moment that God will make himself known to the nations. He will utterly destroy this invading force while all the world watches, and everyone will know that He is Lord.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in future days I would bring you against my people. But when Gog invades the land of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord, my fury will rise! For in my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. All living things – all the fish, birds, animals, and people – will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. I will summon the sword against you throughout Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn against each other in mortal combat. I will punish you and your hordes with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! Thus will I show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord!” Ezekiel 38:17-23 (NLT)
The invasion of Israel will trigger an earthquake so strong every living creature on the face of the earth will tremble in God’s presence. The invading armies will be totally annihilated. God will cause them to turn on each other while striking them with plagues, torrential rain, hail, fire, and burning sulfur. As a result of this awesome display, the world will wake up to God’s existence. No longer will people be able to deny the existence of the Almighty, for it will be abundantly clear who intervened to save Israel.
“Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. I will knock your weapons from your hands and leave you helpless. You and all your vast hordes will die on the mountains. I will give you as food to the vultures and wild animals. You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 39:1-6 (NLT)
Not only will the hordes of Gog be struck down by the God of Israel, but their dead bodies will become food for vultures and wild animals.
“Thus, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let it be desecrated anymore. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.” Ezekiel 39:7-8 (NLT)
God has made it definitively clear that this judgment against Gog will happen just as He has said. He will no longer tolerate the desecration of His nation, and at a time unknown to us, this event will occur just as He has promised.
“Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years! They will need nothing else for their fires. They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all they need. They will take plunder from those who planned to plunder them, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:9-10 (NLT)
When God strikes down the enemies of Israel, their weapons of war will litter the landscape of the Holy Land. The people of Israel will use these weapons as fuel for a period of seven years, meaning Gog’s invasion will take place at the beginning of the Tribulation or at some point before it begins.
“And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. The path of those who travel there will be blocked by this burial ground, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. It will take seven months for the people of Israel to cleanse the land by burying the bodies. Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord. At the end of the seven months, special crews will be appointed to search the land for any skeletons and bury them, so the land will be made clean again. Whenever some bones are found, a marker will be set up beside them so the burial crews will see them and take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. (There will be a town there named Hamonah – which means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.” Ezekiel 39:11-16 (NLT)
The destruction of these invading armies will be so vast it will change the topography of the land. So many dead bodies will litter the landscape that it will take seven months to bury all the dead, even with the help of every citizen in Israel!
“And now, son of man, call all the birds and wild animals, says the Sovereign Lord. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel and there eat the flesh and drink the blood! Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and fat young bulls of Bashan! Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. Feast at my banquet table – feast on horses, riders, and valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:17-20 (NLT)
God will call the birds and wild animals of the earth to feast upon the dead bodies of Israel’s enemies. His purpose is nothing less than to make Himself known to, and display His glory among, the nations of the world.
“Thus, I will demonstrate my glory among the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power I have demonstrated. And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile – it was punishment for sin, for they acted in treachery against their God. Therefore, I turned my back on them and let their enemies destroy them. I turned my face away and punished them in proportion to the vileness of their sins.” Ezekiel 39:21-24 (NLT)
The nations will acknowledge the God of Israel as the one true God.
“So now the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on Israel, for I am jealous for my holy reputation! They will accept responsibility for their past shame and treachery against me after they come home to live in peace and safety in their own land. And then no one will bother them or make them afraid. When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, my holiness will be displayed to the nations. Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God – responsible for sending them away to exile and responsible for bringing them home. I will leave none of my people behind. And I will never again turn my back on them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon them, says the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:25-29 (NLT)
The Spirit of the Lord (the Holy Spirit) will be poured out on the people of Israel, and never again will the Lord turn His back on them. All of this will happen in the last days. Read More ..
Are You Going Up or Going Down
Are You Going Up or Going Down
by: Craig Condon
The Pope, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts all died on the same day and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. St. Peter said to them, “I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that we are full right now and I am going to have to send the three of you down to the devil. The good news is it should be temporary and I’ll have you back in six weeks or less”. St Peter made a quick call to Satan to arrange the necessary accommodations, and then the three went for a brief stay in hell.
A week later, St. Peter received an urgent call from Demon HQ. It’s the Devil himself. “You have to get these guys out of here and now! I mean NOW!” “What’s the problem?” St. Peter asked. “It’s like this,” the Infernal One explains, “The Pope is going around blessing everyone, Billy Graham is saving everyone, and Oral Roberts has raised almost enough money to put in air conditioning!”
On Oct. 29, 1999, the CBS Morning Show went to Hell. A headline in the Detroit News on Nov. 3, 1999 read, “Businessman Sees Hell as Tourist Site.” A headline in the Chicago Tribune on Oct. 29, 2000 read, “Saints and Sinners Can All Go to Hell”. On Jan. 27, 2001, a headline in the Detroit News read, “Almost Cold Enough to Freeze Hell Over”. The article read, “The deep freeze that hit the nation in recent weeks and buried several states in an unending wave of snow had one more odd effect: Hell almost froze over”.
What each of these stories was referring to is a small town between Detroit and Lansing, Michigan called Hell. A small town of just a few hundred residents, it has capitalized off its name. The Chamber of Commerce has a billboard visible to travelers traveling along a nearby highway suggesting they go to Hell. The town gets calls throughout the year from TV and newspaper weather reporters to find out if there town is truly hotter or colder than hell. Husbands send alimony cheques through the post office so that they are postmarked in Hell. Many citizens in the surrounding area come to this little town every April to mail their tax returns so that they bear the Hell postmark.
We can laugh about hell all we want, but in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus reveals that hell is a real place that is no laughing matter. Where we end up after we die depends on where our heart is in this life. God calls us to celebrate the riches of life, not a life of riches. Where our treasure is, so is our heart. A good example of this is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Both wanted to enjoy the good things in life, but the rich man wanted everything for himself. This is typical of the “me first” world we live in today. No one in his right mind who is right with God would refuse to help a neighbour in times of trouble, but that’s what the rich man did when he refused to help Lazarus. The rich man chose to live according to the chasm his god-money-created in life. He couldn’t cross the great chasm in death. The price we pay for our love of money is a deep chasm that divides us from each other. The rich man enjoyed a life of plenty on earth, while Lazarus enjoyed a life of material poverty. When they died, they went in opposite directions-the rich man to hell, and Lazarus to heaven.
The rich man’s thirst in hell is the same thirst we have-a thirst to know God. For the rich man, it was too late. For us who are living, it is never too late to know God. Knowing God won’t save us from times of trouble, but faith in Jesus will give us an anchor to hold on to during life’s storms-just like the words of the hymn “Will Your Anchor Hold” say. God wants us to know Him because He loves us and wants to provide for our needs. He wants to provide for us because of the special covenant He has with us. He wants us to be as close to Him as His shadow. God wants us to be dependent on him so we can experience our greatest happiness and freedom. God never stops giving. Coveting feeds a lack of contentment, encourages roving, restless eyes and causes us to look for satisfaction in the things we don’t have instead of the riches God has given us to enjoy. God uses money to steer our lives into the areas in which He wants us involved. He does this by giving or withholding money.
God is the constant companion of the poor. If we develop a relationship with the poor, we also develop a relationship with the God who continually relates to them. Just as the rich man ignored Lazarus, we often ignore anyone who can’t help us achieve our goals. The way to life involves keeping the Ten Commandments, especially as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke’s message to the rich calls on them to share their wealth. They are not more valuable because they have more valuables. They are not owed a privileged status. Social status and material possessions are no guarantee of our standing with God. The rich man’s tragic flaw is that he suffers from a deep spiritual deafness, an inability to hear and listen to the call for mercy and justice, or even the practical plea for just plain bread and some salve for the sores the dogs lick.
God does not condone poverty or condemn plenty. The difference between Lazarus and the rich man wan not what they owned, but what owned them. The rich man was rich materially but poor spiritually. On the other hand, Lazarus was poor materially but rich spiritually. He was a good example of the 2nd Beatitude mentioned in Luke 6:20-“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God”. The Pharisees loved material things more than they loved God, so Jesus used this parable to teach them what was really important. Just as the neglect of physical health leads to physical death, the neglect of spiritual health leads to spiritual death.
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal”. The rich man’s experience warns us of the possibility of being rich enough in this world to live luxuriously, yet so poverty-stricken in the next that we have to beg for a drop of water. The best type of collection to have is one that is given away. That’s why Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:18, “Be rich in good works…” Remember Dorcas, the woman who made garments for the poor in Acts 9:36-43. She is the same woman Peter later raised from the dead. We are urged in Psalm 91:16 to use ourselves to glorify God and share the Good News of our salvation with everyone we meet.
If you were to die suddenly, where do you think you would go? Sudden death in particular should be a warning to all of us, for we do not know when our time is up. A good example is what happened to my brother-in-law’s mother recently. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but she passed away very suddenly after being rushed to the hospital one evening after she started coughing up blood. We need to be prepared (as the Boy Scout motto says) for the unexpected. It will be too late after we die. Hell is a permanent place from which there is no escape. There is no love in hell, only hate. It is a dark place where there is no freedom. The lost in hell will remember all the chances they had in life to repent. They will have no second chances in hell.
Jesus loved to talk about hell because that was part of His mission. He loved to talk about the Valley of Hinnom, which was Jerusalem’s garbage dump and most hated place. It was also the place where the bodies of the poor were buried, so it was likely the place where Lazarus was buried. Jesus did something in this parable that He didn’t do in any other parable-He mentioned specific names. This leads scholars to conclude that this is a true story. The rich man went to hell not because he was rich, but because He rejected Christ. The choices we make today will determine our eternal state.
If you want to know if hell is a place of literal fire, just ask someone who has been there-the rich man. It’s no wonder he wanted Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. It’s no wonder he himself wanted to go back and warn them. There is no escape from hell. Hell enlarges itself daily. It is occupied by the multitudes who did not have to go there. It is occupied not only by some of the worst criminals and dictators in history, it is also occupied by those who chose to reject Christ. We need to hear hell’s solid conviction. Hell is a bottomless pit, a prison or dungeon where there is intense darkness. The meanest, cruelest, filthiest people in history will be there along with the unsaved church members and the people who trust in their own righteousness for salvation.
Some of us get too busy for God. We can’t belong to His church. We don’t want to be part of the folks that are going to heaven. We’re too busy doing everything else, and then we die, and that’s it. Some who are lost appear to be saved because they live good, moral lives. There are people who are saved who may, at times, appear to be lost. The real test of whether or not a person is saved comes at the time of death. Everyone lives forever-some in heaven, the rest in hell. Everyone who refuses to accept Christ has chosen to live their eternal lives in hell. They will not lose their memory or identity. They will remember everything they did, said or thought while on earth, and they will remember it for eternity. Judgment is a very real fact in this world and the world to come.
We do not need to be deliberately evil to miss the gate of Heaven. All we have to do is be indifferent to the needs of those around us. We need to have a missions conscience. The church must also listen carefully to the world’s concerns as it determines its programs and direction. We need to help the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the dying. The way we treat other people in this life is the way we will be treated in the next life. In other words, what goes around comes around. We will have to deal with our decision to help or ignore them when we stand before God’s throne on Judgment Day. Our mistakes will come back to haunt us for eternity.
When the rich man died, he found out ten things:
1. Death does not end it all.
2. God had a record of his sins.
3. Satan lied to him.
4. Hell is the kind of place Jesus said it was.
5. He missed the greatest thing in life.
6. He still had his memory.
7. Hell was a mad house.
8. All opportunity to be saved was gone.
9. There is only one way of salvation.
10. The redeemed received the opposite 5 minutes after death.
One of the most fascinating works of poetry I have ever read or heard is a poem entitled “Five Minutes After I Die”, and I would like to conclude my sermon by reading it to you, because it sums up the points of my message very clearly.
Loved ones will weep o’er my silent face
Dear ones will clasp me in sad embrace
Shadows and darkness will fill this place
Five minutes after I die.
Faces that sorrow I will not see,
Voices that murmur will not reach me,
But where, oh where, will my soul be,
Five minutes after I die?
Never to repair the good I lack,
Fixed to the goal of my chosen track,
No room to repent, no turning back,
Five minutes after I die.
Marked forever with my chosen prong,
Long is eternity, o so long,
Then woe is me, if my soul is wrong,
Five minutes after I die.
Oh what a fool—hard word, but true,
Passing the Saviour with death in view,
Doing a deed I can never undo,
Five minutes after I die.
If I am flinging a fortune away,
If I am wasting salvation’s day,
“Just is my sentence,” my soul shall say,
Five minutes after I die.
Thanks be to Jesus for pardon free,
He paid my debt on Calvary’s tree
Heaven’s gates will open for me,
Five minutes after I die.
Oh marvelous grace that has rescued me,
Oh joyous moment when Jesus I see,
Oh happy day when like Him I’ll be,
Five minutes after I die.
God help you to choose! Your eternal state
Depends on your choice; you dare not wait.
You must choose now; it will be too late
Five minutes after you die.
God has given us gifts to share. When He empties his coffers and becomes poor, we become rich spiritually. This Parable is about values, not money. The rich man’s sin was not his wealth, but his hard heart. Those who are rich have an obligation to help the poor. How we use what we have leads to God’s judgment. Read More ..
by: Craig Condon
The Pope, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts all died on the same day and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. St. Peter said to them, “I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that we are full right now and I am going to have to send the three of you down to the devil. The good news is it should be temporary and I’ll have you back in six weeks or less”. St Peter made a quick call to Satan to arrange the necessary accommodations, and then the three went for a brief stay in hell.
A week later, St. Peter received an urgent call from Demon HQ. It’s the Devil himself. “You have to get these guys out of here and now! I mean NOW!” “What’s the problem?” St. Peter asked. “It’s like this,” the Infernal One explains, “The Pope is going around blessing everyone, Billy Graham is saving everyone, and Oral Roberts has raised almost enough money to put in air conditioning!”
On Oct. 29, 1999, the CBS Morning Show went to Hell. A headline in the Detroit News on Nov. 3, 1999 read, “Businessman Sees Hell as Tourist Site.” A headline in the Chicago Tribune on Oct. 29, 2000 read, “Saints and Sinners Can All Go to Hell”. On Jan. 27, 2001, a headline in the Detroit News read, “Almost Cold Enough to Freeze Hell Over”. The article read, “The deep freeze that hit the nation in recent weeks and buried several states in an unending wave of snow had one more odd effect: Hell almost froze over”.
What each of these stories was referring to is a small town between Detroit and Lansing, Michigan called Hell. A small town of just a few hundred residents, it has capitalized off its name. The Chamber of Commerce has a billboard visible to travelers traveling along a nearby highway suggesting they go to Hell. The town gets calls throughout the year from TV and newspaper weather reporters to find out if there town is truly hotter or colder than hell. Husbands send alimony cheques through the post office so that they are postmarked in Hell. Many citizens in the surrounding area come to this little town every April to mail their tax returns so that they bear the Hell postmark.
We can laugh about hell all we want, but in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus reveals that hell is a real place that is no laughing matter. Where we end up after we die depends on where our heart is in this life. God calls us to celebrate the riches of life, not a life of riches. Where our treasure is, so is our heart. A good example of this is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Both wanted to enjoy the good things in life, but the rich man wanted everything for himself. This is typical of the “me first” world we live in today. No one in his right mind who is right with God would refuse to help a neighbour in times of trouble, but that’s what the rich man did when he refused to help Lazarus. The rich man chose to live according to the chasm his god-money-created in life. He couldn’t cross the great chasm in death. The price we pay for our love of money is a deep chasm that divides us from each other. The rich man enjoyed a life of plenty on earth, while Lazarus enjoyed a life of material poverty. When they died, they went in opposite directions-the rich man to hell, and Lazarus to heaven.
The rich man’s thirst in hell is the same thirst we have-a thirst to know God. For the rich man, it was too late. For us who are living, it is never too late to know God. Knowing God won’t save us from times of trouble, but faith in Jesus will give us an anchor to hold on to during life’s storms-just like the words of the hymn “Will Your Anchor Hold” say. God wants us to know Him because He loves us and wants to provide for our needs. He wants to provide for us because of the special covenant He has with us. He wants us to be as close to Him as His shadow. God wants us to be dependent on him so we can experience our greatest happiness and freedom. God never stops giving. Coveting feeds a lack of contentment, encourages roving, restless eyes and causes us to look for satisfaction in the things we don’t have instead of the riches God has given us to enjoy. God uses money to steer our lives into the areas in which He wants us involved. He does this by giving or withholding money.
God is the constant companion of the poor. If we develop a relationship with the poor, we also develop a relationship with the God who continually relates to them. Just as the rich man ignored Lazarus, we often ignore anyone who can’t help us achieve our goals. The way to life involves keeping the Ten Commandments, especially as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke’s message to the rich calls on them to share their wealth. They are not more valuable because they have more valuables. They are not owed a privileged status. Social status and material possessions are no guarantee of our standing with God. The rich man’s tragic flaw is that he suffers from a deep spiritual deafness, an inability to hear and listen to the call for mercy and justice, or even the practical plea for just plain bread and some salve for the sores the dogs lick.
God does not condone poverty or condemn plenty. The difference between Lazarus and the rich man wan not what they owned, but what owned them. The rich man was rich materially but poor spiritually. On the other hand, Lazarus was poor materially but rich spiritually. He was a good example of the 2nd Beatitude mentioned in Luke 6:20-“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God”. The Pharisees loved material things more than they loved God, so Jesus used this parable to teach them what was really important. Just as the neglect of physical health leads to physical death, the neglect of spiritual health leads to spiritual death.
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal”. The rich man’s experience warns us of the possibility of being rich enough in this world to live luxuriously, yet so poverty-stricken in the next that we have to beg for a drop of water. The best type of collection to have is one that is given away. That’s why Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:18, “Be rich in good works…” Remember Dorcas, the woman who made garments for the poor in Acts 9:36-43. She is the same woman Peter later raised from the dead. We are urged in Psalm 91:16 to use ourselves to glorify God and share the Good News of our salvation with everyone we meet.
If you were to die suddenly, where do you think you would go? Sudden death in particular should be a warning to all of us, for we do not know when our time is up. A good example is what happened to my brother-in-law’s mother recently. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but she passed away very suddenly after being rushed to the hospital one evening after she started coughing up blood. We need to be prepared (as the Boy Scout motto says) for the unexpected. It will be too late after we die. Hell is a permanent place from which there is no escape. There is no love in hell, only hate. It is a dark place where there is no freedom. The lost in hell will remember all the chances they had in life to repent. They will have no second chances in hell.
Jesus loved to talk about hell because that was part of His mission. He loved to talk about the Valley of Hinnom, which was Jerusalem’s garbage dump and most hated place. It was also the place where the bodies of the poor were buried, so it was likely the place where Lazarus was buried. Jesus did something in this parable that He didn’t do in any other parable-He mentioned specific names. This leads scholars to conclude that this is a true story. The rich man went to hell not because he was rich, but because He rejected Christ. The choices we make today will determine our eternal state.
If you want to know if hell is a place of literal fire, just ask someone who has been there-the rich man. It’s no wonder he wanted Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. It’s no wonder he himself wanted to go back and warn them. There is no escape from hell. Hell enlarges itself daily. It is occupied by the multitudes who did not have to go there. It is occupied not only by some of the worst criminals and dictators in history, it is also occupied by those who chose to reject Christ. We need to hear hell’s solid conviction. Hell is a bottomless pit, a prison or dungeon where there is intense darkness. The meanest, cruelest, filthiest people in history will be there along with the unsaved church members and the people who trust in their own righteousness for salvation.
Some of us get too busy for God. We can’t belong to His church. We don’t want to be part of the folks that are going to heaven. We’re too busy doing everything else, and then we die, and that’s it. Some who are lost appear to be saved because they live good, moral lives. There are people who are saved who may, at times, appear to be lost. The real test of whether or not a person is saved comes at the time of death. Everyone lives forever-some in heaven, the rest in hell. Everyone who refuses to accept Christ has chosen to live their eternal lives in hell. They will not lose their memory or identity. They will remember everything they did, said or thought while on earth, and they will remember it for eternity. Judgment is a very real fact in this world and the world to come.
We do not need to be deliberately evil to miss the gate of Heaven. All we have to do is be indifferent to the needs of those around us. We need to have a missions conscience. The church must also listen carefully to the world’s concerns as it determines its programs and direction. We need to help the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the dying. The way we treat other people in this life is the way we will be treated in the next life. In other words, what goes around comes around. We will have to deal with our decision to help or ignore them when we stand before God’s throne on Judgment Day. Our mistakes will come back to haunt us for eternity.
When the rich man died, he found out ten things:
1. Death does not end it all.
2. God had a record of his sins.
3. Satan lied to him.
4. Hell is the kind of place Jesus said it was.
5. He missed the greatest thing in life.
6. He still had his memory.
7. Hell was a mad house.
8. All opportunity to be saved was gone.
9. There is only one way of salvation.
10. The redeemed received the opposite 5 minutes after death.
One of the most fascinating works of poetry I have ever read or heard is a poem entitled “Five Minutes After I Die”, and I would like to conclude my sermon by reading it to you, because it sums up the points of my message very clearly.
Loved ones will weep o’er my silent face
Dear ones will clasp me in sad embrace
Shadows and darkness will fill this place
Five minutes after I die.
Faces that sorrow I will not see,
Voices that murmur will not reach me,
But where, oh where, will my soul be,
Five minutes after I die?
Never to repair the good I lack,
Fixed to the goal of my chosen track,
No room to repent, no turning back,
Five minutes after I die.
Marked forever with my chosen prong,
Long is eternity, o so long,
Then woe is me, if my soul is wrong,
Five minutes after I die.
Oh what a fool—hard word, but true,
Passing the Saviour with death in view,
Doing a deed I can never undo,
Five minutes after I die.
If I am flinging a fortune away,
If I am wasting salvation’s day,
“Just is my sentence,” my soul shall say,
Five minutes after I die.
Thanks be to Jesus for pardon free,
He paid my debt on Calvary’s tree
Heaven’s gates will open for me,
Five minutes after I die.
Oh marvelous grace that has rescued me,
Oh joyous moment when Jesus I see,
Oh happy day when like Him I’ll be,
Five minutes after I die.
God help you to choose! Your eternal state
Depends on your choice; you dare not wait.
You must choose now; it will be too late
Five minutes after you die.
God has given us gifts to share. When He empties his coffers and becomes poor, we become rich spiritually. This Parable is about values, not money. The rich man’s sin was not his wealth, but his hard heart. Those who are rich have an obligation to help the poor. How we use what we have leads to God’s judgment. Read More ..
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