WHY WAS JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED?

Traditional Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified for the sin of mankind. While this is an absolute truth on God's Plan for the salvation of mankind, there are more to the reasons and circumstances that led to His crucifixion.

When God redeemed Israel out of slavery from Egypt, He entered into a covenant with them to bless them as long as they obey His commandments. This was ratified with the blood of animal sacrifices (Exodus 24:6-8). Since the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (Heb 10:4), God has to establish a better covenant and with better promises (Heb:8:6) that came in the Person of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world (John 3:16; John 6:54).

Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of virgin Mary in Bethelem. He was the God of the Old Testament (1 Cor 10:4) and came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:11). During His first advent, thousands heard Him speak and teach, saw Him casting out demons and healing the sick. The Pharisees and Sadducees - the religious elites of that time - demanded proof from Him of His identity with a sign from heaven. But none will be given except that of the prophet Jonah, when He will be in the grave for three days and three nights after His crucifixion.

These religious elites felt threatened by His teaching and popularity as they could lose their the support of the Jews. Besides, their power and authority were derived from the Roman authorities from where they were given some minor governmental roles. If they allow Christ to preach the true Gospel of the kingdom of God - a higher authority than that of the Roman emperor - these religious leaders could be implicated with sedition and treason which demand the death penalty. These prompted the religious leaders to plot the death of Christ in order to save their own skin (John 11: 45-53).

The Pharisees knew that Christ came from God the Father (John 3:2) and the Gospel of the kingdom that He proclaimed is about the coming supergovernment of God on planet earth. But to safegurard their interests and positions, they were determined to undermine Jesus Christ at every opportunity to stop Him in His track! They attempted to trap Him with His words so that they can accuse Him of sedition or treason before the Roman government. (Matt 22:15). But Christ saw through their intention (verse 18) and silenced them with His wisdom (verse 21).

Christ performed many miracles and spoke of strong words that the masses found difficult to stomach. After feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, Christ went over to Capernaum. The masses continue to follow Him hoping for more physical food to feed their stomach. But Christ told them to feed on spiritual food that will eventually lead to eternal life. When He spoke to the crowd that He is the Bread of Life and told them to feed on Him (the Passover symbols), many of His disciples turned away and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). Little wonder that Jesus said to His country folks, 'A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house' - Mark 6:4.

It was one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him to the religious leaders for thirty pieces of silver and Christ was delivered to the Roman governor Pilate to be tried. It is commonly believed that the Jewish leaders have no power to sentence Him to death based on John 18:31, 'It is not lawful for us to put any man to death'. However, this is true only for charges involving sedition or treason - for which Jesus Christ was accused of since He preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God - the very Gospel message sent from God the Father. The religious leaders accused Christ of blasphemy, but they falsely charged Him of treason to let Pontius Pilate put Him to death. In this way, they could wash their hands off (and so they thought) and yet have Christ crucified. Jesus Christ came to preach the Gospel (Luke 4:43: John 18:37) and to set up the church (Matt 16:18) so that mortal human beings could be born again as immortal spirit beings in the Family of God to inherit God's kingdom (Rom 8: 16-17, 29-30; Heb 2:10). He died doing the Father's will!





 

THE LAST GREAT DAY

The Last Great Day is also known as the 'eighth day' in Leviticus 23:36 as it follows immediately after the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. This final Holy Day commemorates the final judgement of God and some major events that follow after the Millennial Rule of Christ on earth. Some of these events include the Second Resurrection, the Third Resurrection, the New Heaven and the New Earth. All those who are called in this church age and qualifies in the First Resurrection will be rulers  (Rev 3:21) and priests (1 Peter 2:9) in the kingdom of God. They will be the pioneers who will assist Christ to govern and turn the hearts of rebellious mankind to be reconciled to God the Father.

The prophet Ezekiel in the book that bears his name states the vision of the 'Valley of the Dry Bones' (chapter 37) of physical resurrection (Second Resurrection) of all who had ever lived but are not already in the First Resurrection. Starting with the Israelites, all people who had died will be resurrected to flesh and blood physical beings to learn of God's truth and plan of salvation - to be lead and taught by Christ's called and chosen saints (Rev 17:14) in the First Resurrection who will become immortal spiritual beings (1 Cor 15:51-54; Rev 20:4-6). These saints will be members of the Family of God (Hebrews 2:10) and will be 'kings' (1 Tim 6:15) and 'gods' (Ps 82:6; Micah 4:5) to bring in the great harvest for the kingdom of God. They are currently being trained and judged by God in this present age for the great task ahead (1 Pet 4:17).

Only a small percentage of the world's population will survive to live in the millennial age - the large majority having perished in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord preceding that. They will be given the full truth of God's grace, mercy and Plan of Salvation for mankind. Just before The Last Great Day, Satan will be let loose on earth to deceive the people (Rev 20:7-10), and many will fall away. Subsequently, Satan and his demons will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10) and they will never again influence humanity.

Then comes the Second Resurrection or the Great White Throne Judgment - not sentencing - where all of humanity who have ever lived will be physically resurrected as flesh and blood beings to experience the life of peace, joy and prosperity since Satan and his demons were put away for good. This group of people will include all those who lived during the Pre-Flood era. Regardless of their age from infant to the elderly, they will live for another 100 years and be given all of God's truth for salvation (Isaiah 65:20-24; Acts 4:12). They will be judged on how they live their lives during the last 100 years of the millennial age and not their past life before the Return of Christ. All their works post resurrection will be recorded in the book of life (Rev 20:12) and judgment will be meted out based on post resurrection living.

Christ taught this in John 7:37-38, 'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried, saying "If any man thrist, let him come unto me and drink." He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' His mesage was given probably on the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles. In Christ's teaching, the living waters refer to partaking of the Holy Spirit, which God will pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh (Joel 2:28) during the Last Great Day to give eternal life on all those who will accept God's way of life - the way of giving rather than Satan's way of getting.

The physical resurrection of all human beings during the last 100 years of the millennial age is not a second chance for salvation, but for all who have never had the opportunity to know the Creator and the truth of God. Their judgment will occur during the time of Christ's rulership when earth will be a paradise, after booting out Satan as god of this world (2 Cor 4:4) and as a great deceiver (Rev 12:9). The vast majority of the resurrected will have the opportunity to learn, experience and grow in God's way of life and have their names inscribed in the book of life. All those who refused to accept  God's way of life will experience the Third Resurrection. They will be those living during the 6,000 year period of Satan's rule, the millennial age or the last 100 years before the end of the millennial age. The merciful God will put them out of misery, casting them into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15) to be annihilated (Malachi 4:1, 3) in the 'second death' (Rev 20:14)  as if they have never been born and with no possibility of resurrection - they will not have eternal life in 'hellfire'. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23) - not eternal life in any form of 'hellfire'!

All who qualifed for eternal life are either those who lived during the 6,000 years of Satan's rule, during the millennial age or at the last 100 years before the ushering in of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Even the inhabitants of ancient cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom, which angered God for their depravities will find mercy on the day of judgement and probably many will be saved and reconciled to God (Matt 11:21-24). God the Father will come down from the third Heaven to reside in the kingdom of God (headquarters will be in Jerusalem) and dwell with mankind (Rev 21:3). Man's destiny is to inherit the earth (Matt 5:5) where the throne of God (kingdom of God) resides. All who accept God's way of life will be born again as immortal spirit beings and be part of God's divine Family. But that is only the beginning - the universe needs to be transformed to conform to God's purpose for eternity!