The rider on the pale horse, unveiling the Fourth Seal of Revelation, is a prophecy about the pestilences and diseases that will strike the earth with greater intensity as the prophectic clocks ticks closer to the Second Coming of Christ. In Matthew 24:7, Christ stated that pestilences and diseases will be a sign of His Return and of the end of the age.
Reports are emerging that mankind is fighting a no-win battle against diseases and epidemics. Not only are new diseases emerging, but old diseases like tuberculosis and malaria are mutating into antibiotic-resistant forms. Poverty, war and poor sanitation are spawning epidemics in many parts of the world. It used to be that the third world countries are at risk. But no longer so as globalisation brings people and super germ closer home to even the developed countries!
The stark reality is that many people die without even knowing what really hits them. New and more potent drugs developed are trailing behind the proliferation of super germ that baffles even the best medical minds. Diseases like tuberculosis, yellow fever and cholera which once taught being eradicated are making a come-back in more potent form. Some of the fatal diseases are able to transmit from birds and cattles to humans.
Revelation 6:8 states, 'And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger, and with death, and the beasts of the earth.' Frightening as it may seem, these are God's word of prophecy that will come at the appointed time. The sense of hopelessness and helplessness engulfing much of the undeveloped nations will descend upon even the developed world - unless they turn to the true living God!
All these deadly diseases happen primarily because man has failed to abide by God's laws of health and right living. As warned in Leviticus 26:15-17 and Deuteronomy 28:58-62, when man failed to obey God's commandments, plagues and sicknesses will follow. Those who obey will have no fear of life threatening diseases to come. Psalms 91:5-10 spell it out clearly, 'You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge even the most High, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.' Such is the promise of God to those who obey Him. The question is, will you believe and abide?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
THE THIRD SEAL OF REVELATION
The first horseman (white horse) represents religious deception and the second horseman (red horse) represents war. The third horseman (black horse) represents famine (Rev 6:5), one that follows directly after a bitter war that is prophesied to happen just before the return of Jesus Christ. Some sixty years prior to the Apostle John penned Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ gave a similar reply to His disciples when asked when the end of the age would come. 'For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places.' (Matthew 24:7).
There are numerous biblical accounts of famines from the time of Abraham (Genesis 12:10) to Joseph (Genesis 41:56) to the famines caused by warfare, corrupt leadership and sins (2 Samuel 21:1; 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 16:4; Isaiah 14:30). After the city of Jerusalem was ravaged by the Roman army in 70 A.D., the famine was so severe that according to Jewish historian Josephus, many people resorted to cannibalism!
During the first several centuries after the first millennium A.D., also known as the Dark Ages, wars and diseases took their toil on soldiers and civilians alike. Some whole cities were struck by famine that famished people did resort to cannibalism.
The famine of modern times is usually structural in nature due to poverty and neglect. Images of drought, famine and hunger in Third World countries are all too familiar scenes splashed over the mass media. Inspite of massive aids given to many of these countries, the problems seem to stay. Some of the main reasons are due to war and corruption that allow funds and resources to be channelled to the wrong causes.
In places where war and corruption are not so rampant, land and water pollutions have done irreparable damage to crops and their yield. The biblical law of land sabbath (Leviticus 25:2-5) by allowing the land to rest every seventh year to replenish its nutrients has been ignored. The result is poor crops and poor harvest. Many people today, especially the young, are malnurished. This is because the foods are no longer providing the required nutrients due to over-cultivation of the land. Popping of vitamins and minerals may help to some extent, but they are not feasible for the masses, especailly for those living in the Third World.
Man has not only ignored the land sabbath, but has continually contribute to destruction of the eco-system that God has created. All the greed and selfishness of man has brought the problems of this world to its knee. Just like the 'Parable of the Prodigal Son' (Luke 15:11-32), it took 'severe famine in that land' (verse 14) for him to come to his senses. It looks like it may take the next big one to wake many from their slumber.
The Good News to follow after the calamity is that in the coming kingdom of God, all His laws and statutes will be obeyed. The result is abundance, fruitfulness, peace and blessings like never before. The prophet Amos put it succinctly in Amos 9:13-15 thus, 'Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountain shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of my people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them - says the Lord your God'.
In the age to come after Christ's return, the world will be taught the whole truth and counsel of God. The people who survived the Great Tribulation will then hunger and thirst after righteousness. That will be the time when deception, war, famine and pestilence will be eradicated (Revelation 7:16-17). Are you praying for it ?-Your kingdom come (Matthew 6:10).
There are numerous biblical accounts of famines from the time of Abraham (Genesis 12:10) to Joseph (Genesis 41:56) to the famines caused by warfare, corrupt leadership and sins (2 Samuel 21:1; 2 Kings 25; Jeremiah 16:4; Isaiah 14:30). After the city of Jerusalem was ravaged by the Roman army in 70 A.D., the famine was so severe that according to Jewish historian Josephus, many people resorted to cannibalism!
During the first several centuries after the first millennium A.D., also known as the Dark Ages, wars and diseases took their toil on soldiers and civilians alike. Some whole cities were struck by famine that famished people did resort to cannibalism.
The famine of modern times is usually structural in nature due to poverty and neglect. Images of drought, famine and hunger in Third World countries are all too familiar scenes splashed over the mass media. Inspite of massive aids given to many of these countries, the problems seem to stay. Some of the main reasons are due to war and corruption that allow funds and resources to be channelled to the wrong causes.
In places where war and corruption are not so rampant, land and water pollutions have done irreparable damage to crops and their yield. The biblical law of land sabbath (Leviticus 25:2-5) by allowing the land to rest every seventh year to replenish its nutrients has been ignored. The result is poor crops and poor harvest. Many people today, especially the young, are malnurished. This is because the foods are no longer providing the required nutrients due to over-cultivation of the land. Popping of vitamins and minerals may help to some extent, but they are not feasible for the masses, especailly for those living in the Third World.
Man has not only ignored the land sabbath, but has continually contribute to destruction of the eco-system that God has created. All the greed and selfishness of man has brought the problems of this world to its knee. Just like the 'Parable of the Prodigal Son' (Luke 15:11-32), it took 'severe famine in that land' (verse 14) for him to come to his senses. It looks like it may take the next big one to wake many from their slumber.
The Good News to follow after the calamity is that in the coming kingdom of God, all His laws and statutes will be obeyed. The result is abundance, fruitfulness, peace and blessings like never before. The prophet Amos put it succinctly in Amos 9:13-15 thus, 'Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountain shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of my people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them - says the Lord your God'.
In the age to come after Christ's return, the world will be taught the whole truth and counsel of God. The people who survived the Great Tribulation will then hunger and thirst after righteousness. That will be the time when deception, war, famine and pestilence will be eradicated (Revelation 7:16-17). Are you praying for it ?-Your kingdom come (Matthew 6:10).
Friday, October 29, 2010
THE SECOND SEAL OF REVELATION
The white horseman of the four horsemen of the apocalypse is perhaps the most insidious because it produces universal religious deception. His followers go forth conquering and to conquer based on the false belief that the white horseman is Christ Himself, when in reallity it is Satan in disguise! Their minds and doctrines are so warped that they are preaching 'another gospel' (Gal 1:6-9) and following 'another Christ' (2 Cor 11:4) without even knowing it. They will buy into the lies of the false prophet and false Christ (always looking for signs and wonders) and ignore the warnings of the true prophets. Instead, they will be busy looking for signs and wonders (spiritual toys) and compromise the truth with the nations (such as joining the ecumenical Charismatic Movements) to fight the true Christ when He returns (Rev 19: 15). They are unable to distinguish the truth from falsehood. The Lord Christ will then say to these people, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (those churches that are outside the Governmental Authority of Christ - Luke 19:27)!' All who refused to be ruled by Christ in the church age will be disqualified to rule in His coming kingdom.
The second seal opens with the red horseman waging religious wars on mankind all in the name of religion! The six thousand years of human history is plagued by conflicts and wars with sufferings and destructions beyond imagination. Was Christ referring to wars in general or any specific war? The answer is both. Mankind has undergone alternating periods of war and peace. But the red horseman refers to a very serious war (probably a nuclear WW III) that could wipe out all humans on earth if not for the divine intervention of Christ Himself (Matt 24:22)!
The key to understanding bible prophecy is to let the bible interprets itself. The Olivet prophecy spoken of by the Lord Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 interprets the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6 penned by the Apostle John. Only those who are under the Government and rule of Christ can understands because only the Lord Christ can open the seal. In Matthew 24:6-7, Christ taught His disciples, 'And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.' In A.D. 70, the city of Jerusalem was ravished by the Roman army with the Jewish population almost decimated and the temple destroyed. Duality of bible prophecy tells us that the anti-type of this will happen again during the Great Tribulation just before Chrust returns!
Many politicians had hoped that World War II was the war to end all wars. But that was not to be. Today the hydrogen bomb can be a thousand times more deadlly and destructive than the atomic bomb. What Christ warned in Matthew 24:22 and in Revelation 6 could not be fulfilled at any other period in human's history. Satan is the mastermind behind all human conflicts when he took away peace at the Garden of Eden. He knew his days are numbered (Rev 12:12) and he is unleashing disasters during the Great Tribulation to do maximum damage before he surrendered the throne to Christ. The damage will be so devastating that even cities will be laid waste, without inhabitant (Jeremiah 4:7).
The first 10 verses of Joel chapter 2 and Revelation 9:17-18 paint a gruesome picture of what lays ahead. The very elect of God who are not taken in by deception will be provided a place of safety (Rev 3:10 ;12:14). The rest will suffer immeasurably worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined in August 1945! The very thought of this made prophet Habakkuk sick (Habakkuk 3:16). God in His mercy will intervene at the last minute to prevent total annihilation of mankind. This will happen at the blast of the seventh and final trumpet by the seventh angel with a loud voice declaring, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will then become the King and Ruler over all nations of the world.
The Good News that follow after the cataclysmic events was the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach (Luke 4:43- initiated by the Heavenly Father) and expect all His true disciples to do likewise (Mark 1:14-15;16:15). All implements of war will be destroyed (Isaiah 2: 2-4) and converted to useful tools for unimagined productivity. Even the cruel nature of the animal kingdom will be changed (Isaiah 11: 6-9). Deserts and wastland will blossom (Isaiah 35: 1-2) and the weak, the blind, the lame and the deaf will be healed (Isaiah 35:3-6) and much more! The true saints will be in the First Resurrection to minister and preach the whole truth to all the human beings that survived the cataclysmic events ('The people who survived the sword' -Jeremiah 31:2). What a wonderful world that would be.
The second seal opens with the red horseman waging religious wars on mankind all in the name of religion! The six thousand years of human history is plagued by conflicts and wars with sufferings and destructions beyond imagination. Was Christ referring to wars in general or any specific war? The answer is both. Mankind has undergone alternating periods of war and peace. But the red horseman refers to a very serious war (probably a nuclear WW III) that could wipe out all humans on earth if not for the divine intervention of Christ Himself (Matt 24:22)!
The key to understanding bible prophecy is to let the bible interprets itself. The Olivet prophecy spoken of by the Lord Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 interprets the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6 penned by the Apostle John. Only those who are under the Government and rule of Christ can understands because only the Lord Christ can open the seal. In Matthew 24:6-7, Christ taught His disciples, 'And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.' In A.D. 70, the city of Jerusalem was ravished by the Roman army with the Jewish population almost decimated and the temple destroyed. Duality of bible prophecy tells us that the anti-type of this will happen again during the Great Tribulation just before Chrust returns!
Many politicians had hoped that World War II was the war to end all wars. But that was not to be. Today the hydrogen bomb can be a thousand times more deadlly and destructive than the atomic bomb. What Christ warned in Matthew 24:22 and in Revelation 6 could not be fulfilled at any other period in human's history. Satan is the mastermind behind all human conflicts when he took away peace at the Garden of Eden. He knew his days are numbered (Rev 12:12) and he is unleashing disasters during the Great Tribulation to do maximum damage before he surrendered the throne to Christ. The damage will be so devastating that even cities will be laid waste, without inhabitant (Jeremiah 4:7).
The first 10 verses of Joel chapter 2 and Revelation 9:17-18 paint a gruesome picture of what lays ahead. The very elect of God who are not taken in by deception will be provided a place of safety (Rev 3:10 ;12:14). The rest will suffer immeasurably worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined in August 1945! The very thought of this made prophet Habakkuk sick (Habakkuk 3:16). God in His mercy will intervene at the last minute to prevent total annihilation of mankind. This will happen at the blast of the seventh and final trumpet by the seventh angel with a loud voice declaring, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will then become the King and Ruler over all nations of the world.
The Good News that follow after the cataclysmic events was the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach (Luke 4:43- initiated by the Heavenly Father) and expect all His true disciples to do likewise (Mark 1:14-15;16:15). All implements of war will be destroyed (Isaiah 2: 2-4) and converted to useful tools for unimagined productivity. Even the cruel nature of the animal kingdom will be changed (Isaiah 11: 6-9). Deserts and wastland will blossom (Isaiah 35: 1-2) and the weak, the blind, the lame and the deaf will be healed (Isaiah 35:3-6) and much more! The true saints will be in the First Resurrection to minister and preach the whole truth to all the human beings that survived the cataclysmic events ('The people who survived the sword' -Jeremiah 31:2). What a wonderful world that would be.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
THE FIRST SEAL OF REVELATION
Bible prophecy is history written in advance. Looking at world events unfolding before our very eyes, the end-time prophecies are nearer than we think. Mankind can know and understand because the Revelation of bible prophecy comes from God the Father Who gave it to Jesus Christ. Christ then sent it to His angel who in turn gave it to the Apostle John (Revelation 1:1). Blessed are those we reads and obey the very Word of God (1:3). The Apostle John recorded these events which have great relevance for God's servants of the end-time church. The end-time bible prophecies were sealed for our times (Daniel 12:9) and only the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
John was in a vision at the island of Patmos where he was in exile. Only Christ was found worthy to open the seven seals. The first seal that John saw was a white horse. The rider of this white horse must not be confused with the rider depicted in Revelation 19:11. The one in Revelation 19:11 is Jesus Christ Who will return to earth to establish the kingdom of God at His Second Coming. The rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2 represents false Christ, false Christianity and counterfeit church which will go forth to deceive the majority before the Lord's return! The fact that it resembles the true Christ and true Christianity shows that the false one looks and sounds convincing. The counterfeit is hard at work in deceiving the masses -For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work (2 Thess 2:7).
The false prophets and preachers are gone out into the world to ensnare the naive and gullible (1 Tim 4:1-2). The rider of the white horse in Revelation 6 had a bow while the horseman in chapter 19 goes forth with a sharp sword that strikes the nations (19:15). This signifies that the true Christ will return with power to judge the world with the Word, for the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The counterfeit white horseman comes with a different source of power derived from the great deceiver. The real Christ wears many crowns (19:12) whereas the counterfeit one wears only one crown (6:2). The one crown probably represents his mastery of the art of deception. The false Christ looks and sounds so convincing that many servants of the Lord were also being deceived!
The first four seals represents a prelude to the Great Tribulation. The fifth and sixth seals usher in the cataclysmic events of the Great Tribulation while the seventh seal brings in the Day of the Lord - the last one year of the Great Tribulation when God will judge His people. After that Christ will return to set up the kingdom of God on earth with Jerusalem as the Headquarters. These two white horses depict different events in different time setting - the false Christ and counterfeit Christianity intensifying at the beginning of the end-times and the true Christ appears in person with His resurrected saints at the end of the Great Tribulation (Zechariah 14:5b).
Many Christians today are taken in by 'signs and wonders'. They forsake the warnings of Christ, 'For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.' (Matthew 24:24-25). Human beings are so fickle-minded and gullible that they will follow with a herd instinct to where the glamour and glories are! They will be punished during the Day of the Lord for those who are still living. Some will repent and turn to God for mercy but at the price of severe sufferings and even the cost of their lives (Isaiah 13:6,9).
The false Christianity started at the time of Nimrod and his wife Semiramis. Their followers practise the Babylonian Mystery Religion which till today, their doctrines and practices have taken roots in many churches. The false doctrine of the immortal soul is one such false doctrine - the belief that one who is dead has a soul that lives on in the spirit realm. This gives rise to the false doctrine of 'going to heaven if you believe in Christ when you die or forever burn in hell if you do not.' This is contrary to the teachings of Scriptures. 'The soul who sins shall die' (Ezekiel 18:4 and 20). 'But the dead know nothing' (Eccl 9:5). 'For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth' (Psalm 37:9,11,18,22,29,34). Christ Himself affirmed this truth, ' No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven' (John 3:13). Is it any surprise then when Christ told His people that where He goes you cannot come (John 8:21)? At the Mount of Olives, Christ told His disciples, 'Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth' (Matthew 5:5). The wicked do not have eternal life in hell, they will simply be annihilated at the lake of fire (Malachi 4:1).
Shortly after the first Apostles died at the close of the first century A.D., the counterfeit Christianity movement went into overdrive. Christian and fiction writers alike think up creative ideas and myths to propel Christianity into a popular religion accepted by the masses. Many of the Christian writers were influenced by Greek philosophers, thinkers and writers and their ideas were readily accepted by the Catholic church of the early centuries as part of their doctrines. Church history shows that only a small miniority were kept pure to the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Many of these saints were persecuted and martyred in cruel deaths throughout the centuries of the early church.
As prophesied in Revelation 12:6, the true church of God had to flee in the midst of severe persecution. The council of Nicea was formed in 325 A.D. to resolve the differences in Christian doctrines. The end result was that even the council condemned the practice of true Christianity. The Roman Emperor Constantine, a sun-worshiper, enforced the decree of compliance mainly for political reasons.
The true gospel of the kingdom of God was suppressed for fear of coup d'etat by the Jewish people who were largely mistaken in believing that the kingdom of God would be ushered in during their time to overthrow the Roman Empire. They were expecting a Messiah with supernatural power and charisma to deliver them from their oppressive masters - the Roman authorities. Little did they know that the meek and gentle Jesus Christ's first advent was to deliver the good news of the gospel of His coming kingdom (to displace Satan from the throne of this world), to die for the sins of mankind to cancel out the death penalty (through resurrection) and found a church of called-out saints (to qualify as sons of God in the divine Royal Family) for His eventual return to save all of mankind who has ever lived with the hope of life in eternity!
Just like a watchman (Ezekiel 3:16; 33:1-33), my role is to inform and warn as the Scriptures command. Those who reads these prophecies, let him/her understands (Matthew 24:15). We have to be vigilant as bible prophecy states that during the last days, the Babylonian Mystery Religion will again surface with greater intensity to dominate the world's religious scene. The Ezekiel warning (Ezekiel 33) is timely for Christians living in our times to guard against religious deceptions. However, all of us have to account to God someday for the truth made available to us. Those found to be faithful stewards of all that are entrusted to them (including the Word of truth) will be amply rewarded.
John was in a vision at the island of Patmos where he was in exile. Only Christ was found worthy to open the seven seals. The first seal that John saw was a white horse. The rider of this white horse must not be confused with the rider depicted in Revelation 19:11. The one in Revelation 19:11 is Jesus Christ Who will return to earth to establish the kingdom of God at His Second Coming. The rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2 represents false Christ, false Christianity and counterfeit church which will go forth to deceive the majority before the Lord's return! The fact that it resembles the true Christ and true Christianity shows that the false one looks and sounds convincing. The counterfeit is hard at work in deceiving the masses -For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work (2 Thess 2:7).
The false prophets and preachers are gone out into the world to ensnare the naive and gullible (1 Tim 4:1-2). The rider of the white horse in Revelation 6 had a bow while the horseman in chapter 19 goes forth with a sharp sword that strikes the nations (19:15). This signifies that the true Christ will return with power to judge the world with the Word, for the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The counterfeit white horseman comes with a different source of power derived from the great deceiver. The real Christ wears many crowns (19:12) whereas the counterfeit one wears only one crown (6:2). The one crown probably represents his mastery of the art of deception. The false Christ looks and sounds so convincing that many servants of the Lord were also being deceived!
The first four seals represents a prelude to the Great Tribulation. The fifth and sixth seals usher in the cataclysmic events of the Great Tribulation while the seventh seal brings in the Day of the Lord - the last one year of the Great Tribulation when God will judge His people. After that Christ will return to set up the kingdom of God on earth with Jerusalem as the Headquarters. These two white horses depict different events in different time setting - the false Christ and counterfeit Christianity intensifying at the beginning of the end-times and the true Christ appears in person with His resurrected saints at the end of the Great Tribulation (Zechariah 14:5b).
Many Christians today are taken in by 'signs and wonders'. They forsake the warnings of Christ, 'For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.' (Matthew 24:24-25). Human beings are so fickle-minded and gullible that they will follow with a herd instinct to where the glamour and glories are! They will be punished during the Day of the Lord for those who are still living. Some will repent and turn to God for mercy but at the price of severe sufferings and even the cost of their lives (Isaiah 13:6,9).
The false Christianity started at the time of Nimrod and his wife Semiramis. Their followers practise the Babylonian Mystery Religion which till today, their doctrines and practices have taken roots in many churches. The false doctrine of the immortal soul is one such false doctrine - the belief that one who is dead has a soul that lives on in the spirit realm. This gives rise to the false doctrine of 'going to heaven if you believe in Christ when you die or forever burn in hell if you do not.' This is contrary to the teachings of Scriptures. 'The soul who sins shall die' (Ezekiel 18:4 and 20). 'But the dead know nothing' (Eccl 9:5). 'For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth' (Psalm 37:9,11,18,22,29,34). Christ Himself affirmed this truth, ' No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven' (John 3:13). Is it any surprise then when Christ told His people that where He goes you cannot come (John 8:21)? At the Mount of Olives, Christ told His disciples, 'Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth' (Matthew 5:5). The wicked do not have eternal life in hell, they will simply be annihilated at the lake of fire (Malachi 4:1).
Shortly after the first Apostles died at the close of the first century A.D., the counterfeit Christianity movement went into overdrive. Christian and fiction writers alike think up creative ideas and myths to propel Christianity into a popular religion accepted by the masses. Many of the Christian writers were influenced by Greek philosophers, thinkers and writers and their ideas were readily accepted by the Catholic church of the early centuries as part of their doctrines. Church history shows that only a small miniority were kept pure to the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Many of these saints were persecuted and martyred in cruel deaths throughout the centuries of the early church.
As prophesied in Revelation 12:6, the true church of God had to flee in the midst of severe persecution. The council of Nicea was formed in 325 A.D. to resolve the differences in Christian doctrines. The end result was that even the council condemned the practice of true Christianity. The Roman Emperor Constantine, a sun-worshiper, enforced the decree of compliance mainly for political reasons.
The true gospel of the kingdom of God was suppressed for fear of coup d'etat by the Jewish people who were largely mistaken in believing that the kingdom of God would be ushered in during their time to overthrow the Roman Empire. They were expecting a Messiah with supernatural power and charisma to deliver them from their oppressive masters - the Roman authorities. Little did they know that the meek and gentle Jesus Christ's first advent was to deliver the good news of the gospel of His coming kingdom (to displace Satan from the throne of this world), to die for the sins of mankind to cancel out the death penalty (through resurrection) and found a church of called-out saints (to qualify as sons of God in the divine Royal Family) for His eventual return to save all of mankind who has ever lived with the hope of life in eternity!
Just like a watchman (Ezekiel 3:16; 33:1-33), my role is to inform and warn as the Scriptures command. Those who reads these prophecies, let him/her understands (Matthew 24:15). We have to be vigilant as bible prophecy states that during the last days, the Babylonian Mystery Religion will again surface with greater intensity to dominate the world's religious scene. The Ezekiel warning (Ezekiel 33) is timely for Christians living in our times to guard against religious deceptions. However, all of us have to account to God someday for the truth made available to us. Those found to be faithful stewards of all that are entrusted to them (including the Word of truth) will be amply rewarded.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
THE HOPE OF GLORY
In Colossians 1:27-28, we read of the hope of glory, which is Christ in you so that everyone who understands the gospel and abide in Christ Jesus will be made perfect. But what actually does these verses mean? Is it simply believing in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and nothing else and then get to heaven when we die? If that was so, the Apostle Paul would not have to mention 'stewardship' and 'mystery' in the preceding verses of 25 and 26. It is more than just meets the eyes.
Jesus Christ is the only firstborn Son of God. While on earth in the flesh but before His resurrection from the dead, He was the begotten Son of God (John 1:14). The word 'begotten' means not yet born. After His resurrection, he became the Son of God - the firstborn among many brethren - meaning that He will not be the last for many will follow after the last trumpet sounded at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:52). But who are these who will be born again at the first resurrection as spiritual immortal sons of God? These resurrected saints are the overcomers (Rev 3:21) who are the 'called, the chosen and the faithful (overcomers)' (Rev 17:14). But what do they overcome? While in this mortal life, they will be tested (1 Peter 4:17) and have to overcome the temptations of Satan and his demons, the pomp and glamour of a materialistic society and the selfish and sinful nature of self. This is the hope of glory for the saints.
Those who are called and predestined to become the sons of God will have to overcome deceptions from the great deceiver. Many Christians are ignorant of the false doctrines that have infiltrated the church throughout the centuries. Most of them have their roots in the Babylonian system which the Bible has warned, 'Come out of her (the Babylonian system), my people (the true church), lest you share in her sins (idolatry) and lest you receive of her plagues (cataclysmic events during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord)' - Rev 18:4. Sadly, most people pay no heed to God's word even if they know about it. Many will be sorry when the time of reckoning comes. Understand this - only those who are found worthy will escape all these things (the Great Tribulation) - Luke 21:36.
The hope of glory is not just about resurrection as immortal spirit beings but also to become members of God's divine family. God is a Family and He is the Head of the divine family as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Eph 3:14-15). Many Christians mistakenly think that they are already 'born again' when they say the sinner's prayer. But this is not so. Christ told Nicodemus specifically, 'unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:3); 'that which is born of the flesh is flesh (natural physical birth) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (supernatural spiritual birth at RESURRECTION) - John 3:6. This is affirmed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 15:50, 'that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God'.
Those who claim that the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now are being deceived because Christ states that 'many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God) - Matthew 8:11. Since the patriarchs are nowhere to be found in any church of the church age, they are in effect claiming that Jesus Christ lied and that is blasphemous!
The kingdom of God is a world ruling government that shall never be destroyed, not ruled by people (humans) and will stand forever (Daniel 2:44). Those who are called to be sons of God will be trained in the government of God to train and teach (royal priesthood) and ruled over humans with Christ when He returns. They will inherit the nations during the millennium.These saints were and are the begotten sons (not yet born as immortal spirit beings) and heirs of the promise that will inherit all things in the kingdom of God (Matthew 24:47). Those who are called in the church age are members of the true church of God who will become the Bride of Christ to form the Family of God (Rev 19:7-9). Those who do not possess the spiritual character qualities of Christ and with righteous deeds will not qualify (Matthew 22:11-14).
Make no mistake about this - the ultimate quest for any human being is to be born into the divine family of God - it is also the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach, the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). That is why he told His disciples to 'seek first the kingdom of God (your goal is to see and enter the kingdom as sons of God's divine royal family) and His righteousness (God's spiritual laws and commandments) and all these things (all your needs and longings) shall be added to you' - Matthew 6:33. There is no higher calling for man's destiny in all of eternity!
The family structure is the bedrock on which God's divine family will derive its members. It is the very foundation on which every civilization is built upon. Those who break this spiritual law will find themselves on the wrong side of the eternal divide. The Apostle Paul warned that those who are immoral (including homosexuals and adulterers) and idolaters (including those who worship paganism) will not inherit the kingdom of God - Eph 5:5; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21.The family unit is the channel for God's plan and vision to reproduce His divine family for His eternal purpose. This is what is meant in 1 Cor 2:9 when the Apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 64:4, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him'. Indeed, this is the blessed hope of glory for all who understand and obey, for it is the ultimate quest of being!
Jesus Christ is the only firstborn Son of God. While on earth in the flesh but before His resurrection from the dead, He was the begotten Son of God (John 1:14). The word 'begotten' means not yet born. After His resurrection, he became the Son of God - the firstborn among many brethren - meaning that He will not be the last for many will follow after the last trumpet sounded at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:52). But who are these who will be born again at the first resurrection as spiritual immortal sons of God? These resurrected saints are the overcomers (Rev 3:21) who are the 'called, the chosen and the faithful (overcomers)' (Rev 17:14). But what do they overcome? While in this mortal life, they will be tested (1 Peter 4:17) and have to overcome the temptations of Satan and his demons, the pomp and glamour of a materialistic society and the selfish and sinful nature of self. This is the hope of glory for the saints.
Those who are called and predestined to become the sons of God will have to overcome deceptions from the great deceiver. Many Christians are ignorant of the false doctrines that have infiltrated the church throughout the centuries. Most of them have their roots in the Babylonian system which the Bible has warned, 'Come out of her (the Babylonian system), my people (the true church), lest you share in her sins (idolatry) and lest you receive of her plagues (cataclysmic events during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord)' - Rev 18:4. Sadly, most people pay no heed to God's word even if they know about it. Many will be sorry when the time of reckoning comes. Understand this - only those who are found worthy will escape all these things (the Great Tribulation) - Luke 21:36.
The hope of glory is not just about resurrection as immortal spirit beings but also to become members of God's divine family. God is a Family and He is the Head of the divine family as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Eph 3:14-15). Many Christians mistakenly think that they are already 'born again' when they say the sinner's prayer. But this is not so. Christ told Nicodemus specifically, 'unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:3); 'that which is born of the flesh is flesh (natural physical birth) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (supernatural spiritual birth at RESURRECTION) - John 3:6. This is affirmed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 15:50, 'that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God'.
Those who claim that the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now are being deceived because Christ states that 'many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God) - Matthew 8:11. Since the patriarchs are nowhere to be found in any church of the church age, they are in effect claiming that Jesus Christ lied and that is blasphemous!
The kingdom of God is a world ruling government that shall never be destroyed, not ruled by people (humans) and will stand forever (Daniel 2:44). Those who are called to be sons of God will be trained in the government of God to train and teach (royal priesthood) and ruled over humans with Christ when He returns. They will inherit the nations during the millennium.These saints were and are the begotten sons (not yet born as immortal spirit beings) and heirs of the promise that will inherit all things in the kingdom of God (Matthew 24:47). Those who are called in the church age are members of the true church of God who will become the Bride of Christ to form the Family of God (Rev 19:7-9). Those who do not possess the spiritual character qualities of Christ and with righteous deeds will not qualify (Matthew 22:11-14).
Make no mistake about this - the ultimate quest for any human being is to be born into the divine family of God - it is also the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach, the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). That is why he told His disciples to 'seek first the kingdom of God (your goal is to see and enter the kingdom as sons of God's divine royal family) and His righteousness (God's spiritual laws and commandments) and all these things (all your needs and longings) shall be added to you' - Matthew 6:33. There is no higher calling for man's destiny in all of eternity!
The family structure is the bedrock on which God's divine family will derive its members. It is the very foundation on which every civilization is built upon. Those who break this spiritual law will find themselves on the wrong side of the eternal divide. The Apostle Paul warned that those who are immoral (including homosexuals and adulterers) and idolaters (including those who worship paganism) will not inherit the kingdom of God - Eph 5:5; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21.The family unit is the channel for God's plan and vision to reproduce His divine family for His eternal purpose. This is what is meant in 1 Cor 2:9 when the Apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 64:4, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him'. Indeed, this is the blessed hope of glory for all who understand and obey, for it is the ultimate quest of being!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
THE GREAT DECEPTION
Ever since the first century Apostles died, the church of Jesus Christ has been under constant attack with many false doctrine and half truth about what the true Gospel is all about. Not only that, even the true identity of the person of Christ has been masked to project Him as someone He is not!
For those who have been following my blog posts will know, the true Gospel is about the kingdom of God and Christ the Savior is the means to inherit the kingdom of God - the end destiny for mankind. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father not only to save mankind from condemnation of death - the death penalty due to sin - but also to proclaim the true Gospel of the kingdom which God the Father sent Him to proclaim. The kingdom of God has yet to come and that is why Christ told all His true disciples to pray to God the Father, 'Thy kingdom come' - Matthew6:10. Many were deceived thinking that the kingdom of God is the church of this age. If that is true, then why would Christ told His disciples that it is not for them to know the time and season why asked when the kingdom of God would be restored - barely fifty days hence to Pentecost when the church would be founded just before His ascension to heaven! (Acts 1:6-8). It simply just doesn't make sense.
Besides, Christ said in Matthew 8:11 that 'many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God)'. If the kingdom of heaven (God) is the church of the here and now as many proclaim, then where on earth are the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In the closing words of the parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus Christ also told His disciples recorded in Matthew 13:43 that 'the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father'. If the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now, who among the saints have shine forth so brightly? Have they done so, the world would not have face so much trouble and conflicts! No, my friends, the kingdom of God is NOT yet here but will be installed when Christ returns to earth to reign with His saints (Daniel 7:13,14,18,21,22,27; Rev 11:15) for a thousand years to restore all that had been lost to the great deceiver!
Over one billion folks the world over who proclaim to be followers of Christ worship on a Sunday. But the Bible states categorically that the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week which falls on Saturday. The power that be of the Roman Empire then had changed the time of worship to that of Sunday which is the first day of the week. The fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy (Exodus 20:8) has been most ignored as the world's system maintain Sunday to be the public holiday. But Sunday was originally kept by pagan worshippers of the sun god! This is one of many idolatrious practices that have infiltrated the church.
Then there are Christmas and Easter holidays which have nothing to do with Christ as the Savior was not born on December 25th and was not resurrected on Sunday, but on a Saturday! The easter egg is a symbol of fertility used in the worship of an ancient fertility goddess Ishtar, aka Ashtoreth as was known in Israel during biblical times. It was idolatry condemned as an abomination to the Lord! The original word 'Pascha' is the Greek equivalent for Passover and not Easter. The word Easter in Acts 12:4 in the KJV has been mistranslated. Millions if not billions of people celebrate Christmas and Easter annually without a proper understanding of the significance. The irony is that such festivals are not even mentioned in Scriptures let alone commanded to observe, but churches ignore the celebration of holy days like the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles which were observed by Christ and the early Apostles.
As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to worship God as instructed in Scriptures (Deut 12: 32) and not in any manner we like for man's ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8). No wonder that man-made religious systems have so blinded man that they cannot see Christ's true Gospel of the kingdom of God which He was sent by God the Father to proclaim as the Good News - the hope for all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed - when all wrongs and injustices will be put right. That will be the time when this upside down world will be put rightside up - the time of restitution of all things during the millennial reign of Christ - perhaps even the earth will be tilted straight up with extreme climate and freak weather patterns resigned to history.
Some may say that celebrating Christmas and Easter are a remembrance of Christ and honoring Him. But there is no command in Scriptures to celebrate Christmas and Christ was not born in December - probably in September or October. Together with Santa Claus, these celebrations compromise with paganistic worship practices.Though they are meant to be fun and good for the merchants and the economy, they have nothing to do with Christ and God's plan for mankind. By adopting the method of pagan idolatry and tagging them as part of Christian worship is a direct violation of the First Commandment - 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3). If they have to be celebrated, they should not be roped in as part of church worship.
Throughout the centuries, man has stolen Christ true identity and given Him a complete makeover - without His approval. He was often portrayed as the long-haired guy with a halo on His head. But in the Hellenistic Greek culture of His days, man had short cropped hair as seen on statues, busts and carvings of that period. Though Christ was a Nazarite, He was not under a Nazarite vow which would forbid drinking wine or touching a dead body - both of which he partook while on earth. His short hair enabled Him to escape from the religious leaders with ease by merging with the crowd of men who have short crops!
To be sure of one's salvation as a born again immortal spirit being (sons of God) in God's divine family, one has to understand these truths, believe and obey them. Only by understanding the truth and practising them will set them free. All those who are not called and predestined to be sons of God will have to wait for the second resurrection to take place towards the end of the millennial age, judge by Christ and be taught the truth by the resurrected saints who form the royal priesthood. When truly repented and forgiven by the blood of Christ, they will be born again as immortal spirit beings (children of God) in the kingdom of God.
For those who have been following my blog posts will know, the true Gospel is about the kingdom of God and Christ the Savior is the means to inherit the kingdom of God - the end destiny for mankind. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father not only to save mankind from condemnation of death - the death penalty due to sin - but also to proclaim the true Gospel of the kingdom which God the Father sent Him to proclaim. The kingdom of God has yet to come and that is why Christ told all His true disciples to pray to God the Father, 'Thy kingdom come' - Matthew6:10. Many were deceived thinking that the kingdom of God is the church of this age. If that is true, then why would Christ told His disciples that it is not for them to know the time and season why asked when the kingdom of God would be restored - barely fifty days hence to Pentecost when the church would be founded just before His ascension to heaven! (Acts 1:6-8). It simply just doesn't make sense.
Besides, Christ said in Matthew 8:11 that 'many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God)'. If the kingdom of heaven (God) is the church of the here and now as many proclaim, then where on earth are the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In the closing words of the parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus Christ also told His disciples recorded in Matthew 13:43 that 'the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father'. If the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now, who among the saints have shine forth so brightly? Have they done so, the world would not have face so much trouble and conflicts! No, my friends, the kingdom of God is NOT yet here but will be installed when Christ returns to earth to reign with His saints (Daniel 7:13,14,18,21,22,27; Rev 11:15) for a thousand years to restore all that had been lost to the great deceiver!
Over one billion folks the world over who proclaim to be followers of Christ worship on a Sunday. But the Bible states categorically that the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week which falls on Saturday. The power that be of the Roman Empire then had changed the time of worship to that of Sunday which is the first day of the week. The fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy (Exodus 20:8) has been most ignored as the world's system maintain Sunday to be the public holiday. But Sunday was originally kept by pagan worshippers of the sun god! This is one of many idolatrious practices that have infiltrated the church.
Then there are Christmas and Easter holidays which have nothing to do with Christ as the Savior was not born on December 25th and was not resurrected on Sunday, but on a Saturday! The easter egg is a symbol of fertility used in the worship of an ancient fertility goddess Ishtar, aka Ashtoreth as was known in Israel during biblical times. It was idolatry condemned as an abomination to the Lord! The original word 'Pascha' is the Greek equivalent for Passover and not Easter. The word Easter in Acts 12:4 in the KJV has been mistranslated. Millions if not billions of people celebrate Christmas and Easter annually without a proper understanding of the significance. The irony is that such festivals are not even mentioned in Scriptures let alone commanded to observe, but churches ignore the celebration of holy days like the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles which were observed by Christ and the early Apostles.
As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to worship God as instructed in Scriptures (Deut 12: 32) and not in any manner we like for man's ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8). No wonder that man-made religious systems have so blinded man that they cannot see Christ's true Gospel of the kingdom of God which He was sent by God the Father to proclaim as the Good News - the hope for all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed - when all wrongs and injustices will be put right. That will be the time when this upside down world will be put rightside up - the time of restitution of all things during the millennial reign of Christ - perhaps even the earth will be tilted straight up with extreme climate and freak weather patterns resigned to history.
Some may say that celebrating Christmas and Easter are a remembrance of Christ and honoring Him. But there is no command in Scriptures to celebrate Christmas and Christ was not born in December - probably in September or October. Together with Santa Claus, these celebrations compromise with paganistic worship practices.Though they are meant to be fun and good for the merchants and the economy, they have nothing to do with Christ and God's plan for mankind. By adopting the method of pagan idolatry and tagging them as part of Christian worship is a direct violation of the First Commandment - 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3). If they have to be celebrated, they should not be roped in as part of church worship.
Throughout the centuries, man has stolen Christ true identity and given Him a complete makeover - without His approval. He was often portrayed as the long-haired guy with a halo on His head. But in the Hellenistic Greek culture of His days, man had short cropped hair as seen on statues, busts and carvings of that period. Though Christ was a Nazarite, He was not under a Nazarite vow which would forbid drinking wine or touching a dead body - both of which he partook while on earth. His short hair enabled Him to escape from the religious leaders with ease by merging with the crowd of men who have short crops!
To be sure of one's salvation as a born again immortal spirit being (sons of God) in God's divine family, one has to understand these truths, believe and obey them. Only by understanding the truth and practising them will set them free. All those who are not called and predestined to be sons of God will have to wait for the second resurrection to take place towards the end of the millennial age, judge by Christ and be taught the truth by the resurrected saints who form the royal priesthood. When truly repented and forgiven by the blood of Christ, they will be born again as immortal spirit beings (children of God) in the kingdom of God.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
THE NEW COVENANT
The central message of Christ's Gospel of the kingdom of God is about changing the hearts and minds of human beings - the epitome of God's creation. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. (Hebrews 10:16). The purpose of life and death for all mankind is dependent upon whether man will allow God, through His Holy Spirit, to do just that. For those who submit to the will of God, they will inherit eternal life of immortality. But for those who would not, their life will be only physical and temporal. All human beings will be given the opportunity for God to work through them, either in this age or in the age to come.
Christ's first advent was to found the church to begin the process of transforming the hearts and minds of a small group of those God has called, a renewal process through partaking of the body and blood of Christ known as the New Covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26). There will be forgiveness and great blessings for all recipients of this New Covenant. But only after His Return will all people experience the full impact of this promise.
The New Covenant that Christ came to deliver did not in any way abolish the Old Covenant (also known as the Sinai Covenant).The Law of God still stand except they are no longer engraved on stones but on the tablets of the hearts and minds of the recipients of the promised New Covenant. Since God is impartial (Romans 2:11) and no respecter of persons, He has extended this promise to all peoples regardless of race and nationalities for those who would willingly obey Him.
The Old Sinai Covenant established the historical ancient kingdom of Israel. The New Covenant will establish the kingdom of God that will encompass people of all races and nationalities to rule the whole earth upon Christ's return. That is the meaning of Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) . Notice that He did not command the church to make all nations of disciples - not in this church age!
In the Old Testament, God chose righteous individuals of character to be the bearer of His covenants. He first chose Noah who already was serving God from his heart when the peoples around him were evil to the core. After Noah, God chose Abraham and made personal covenants with him (Genesis 15:8; 17: 1-11), for Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. And then God made a covenant with David that through him, the Savior of the world will come. That is why the opening verse of Matthew 1:1 reads, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham'. It is through Abraham and David that God's plan of salvation for mankind will be fulfilled!
It is worthy to note that God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7).This everlasting covenant concerns Abraham's natural and spiritual descendants. His natural descendants would be numerous as the dust of the earth (Gen 13:16) and spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:29) as numerous as the stars of the heavens (Gen 15:5). While the natural descendants will hold on to the land of Palestine, the spiritual descendants will inherit the kingdom of God. Most of Abraham's spiritual descendants are Gentiles (those of the church age), even though they came to the knowledge of salvation much later than the Israelites, they shall be the first to inherit the kingdom of God - for many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matt 19:30). The fact is that without a divinely transformed heart and mind, no one can be born again as an immortal son of God to inherit the kingdom of God!
God's promise to David is an everlasting Dynasty (2 Samuel 7: 12-16; 1 Chron 17:12). This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who will be the everlasting King in the coming kingdom of God to be established on earth upon His return. The Sinai Covenant that God gave to Israel had its limitation. Without the gift of God's Spirit indwelling the people, it would be impossible to fully obey all of God's commandments. That is why the high priest of the Old Testament has to enter the Holy of Holies every year to perform the rituals of cleansing and forgiveness of sins.Only with an indwelling Spirit of God inside the minds of repented true believers can God's Law be fully obeyed. But this promise has yet to be fully consummated as the Spirit of God is given only to those who are the called and chosen in this church age. However, when Christ returns, the Spirit will be made available to all mankind for the word of God says that the Spirit of God will be poured out on ALL flesh (Joel 2:28) so that all people (living and resurrected) will learn of God's Law and His ways (Isaiah 2:2-4) and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).
The New Covenant does not do away with God's Law. What has changed is that the intent and purpose of the Law shall be observed and obeyed from the heart and mind with the help of God's Holy Spirit. The ceremonial duties of the high priest is no longer required as Jesus Christ became our High Priest that is perfect in all ways as He is also the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6). The problem is not in the Law of God per se, the problem of the Sinai or Old Covenant was that the people lack the willing heart to obey because the Spirit of God was not given them. Only the patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets and a select few were given the Spirit of God to help them. In a sense, a veil of blindness was over the natural descendants of Abraham even up till this day when they read the Old Testament . However, when they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil is lifted (2 Cor 3:11-18). Under the New Covenant, the shed blood of Jesus Christ permanently blots out the sins of all those who repented and turn to Him. If they abide till the end, the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) for them will be annulled forever!
The Law of God given to the peoples in the Old Testament era was a blessing to them only if they obey. The two chapters in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 clearly spell out the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience respectively. Right behavior and right living bring peace, health, safety and prosperrity and the reverse will incur the judgments and curses of God. If the ancient nation of Israel had taken heed, they would have been a model for the surrounding nations to follow and abide in God's Law. We who live in the church age are so fortunate and ought to be grateful to God for Christ has become our High Priest to assist us in our journey of discipleship for those who would abide and obey His commandments. Christ sums it up succinctly,' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' (Matthew 22:37-40). The world is currently in great turmoil shows the extent of defiance of God's Law. Great blessings and grace will follow all those who live it out in their lives.
Christ's first advent was to found the church to begin the process of transforming the hearts and minds of a small group of those God has called, a renewal process through partaking of the body and blood of Christ known as the New Covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26). There will be forgiveness and great blessings for all recipients of this New Covenant. But only after His Return will all people experience the full impact of this promise.
The New Covenant that Christ came to deliver did not in any way abolish the Old Covenant (also known as the Sinai Covenant).The Law of God still stand except they are no longer engraved on stones but on the tablets of the hearts and minds of the recipients of the promised New Covenant. Since God is impartial (Romans 2:11) and no respecter of persons, He has extended this promise to all peoples regardless of race and nationalities for those who would willingly obey Him.
The Old Sinai Covenant established the historical ancient kingdom of Israel. The New Covenant will establish the kingdom of God that will encompass people of all races and nationalities to rule the whole earth upon Christ's return. That is the meaning of Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) . Notice that He did not command the church to make all nations of disciples - not in this church age!
In the Old Testament, God chose righteous individuals of character to be the bearer of His covenants. He first chose Noah who already was serving God from his heart when the peoples around him were evil to the core. After Noah, God chose Abraham and made personal covenants with him (Genesis 15:8; 17: 1-11), for Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. And then God made a covenant with David that through him, the Savior of the world will come. That is why the opening verse of Matthew 1:1 reads, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham'. It is through Abraham and David that God's plan of salvation for mankind will be fulfilled!
It is worthy to note that God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7).This everlasting covenant concerns Abraham's natural and spiritual descendants. His natural descendants would be numerous as the dust of the earth (Gen 13:16) and spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:29) as numerous as the stars of the heavens (Gen 15:5). While the natural descendants will hold on to the land of Palestine, the spiritual descendants will inherit the kingdom of God. Most of Abraham's spiritual descendants are Gentiles (those of the church age), even though they came to the knowledge of salvation much later than the Israelites, they shall be the first to inherit the kingdom of God - for many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matt 19:30). The fact is that without a divinely transformed heart and mind, no one can be born again as an immortal son of God to inherit the kingdom of God!
God's promise to David is an everlasting Dynasty (2 Samuel 7: 12-16; 1 Chron 17:12). This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who will be the everlasting King in the coming kingdom of God to be established on earth upon His return. The Sinai Covenant that God gave to Israel had its limitation. Without the gift of God's Spirit indwelling the people, it would be impossible to fully obey all of God's commandments. That is why the high priest of the Old Testament has to enter the Holy of Holies every year to perform the rituals of cleansing and forgiveness of sins.Only with an indwelling Spirit of God inside the minds of repented true believers can God's Law be fully obeyed. But this promise has yet to be fully consummated as the Spirit of God is given only to those who are the called and chosen in this church age. However, when Christ returns, the Spirit will be made available to all mankind for the word of God says that the Spirit of God will be poured out on ALL flesh (Joel 2:28) so that all people (living and resurrected) will learn of God's Law and His ways (Isaiah 2:2-4) and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).
The New Covenant does not do away with God's Law. What has changed is that the intent and purpose of the Law shall be observed and obeyed from the heart and mind with the help of God's Holy Spirit. The ceremonial duties of the high priest is no longer required as Jesus Christ became our High Priest that is perfect in all ways as He is also the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6). The problem is not in the Law of God per se, the problem of the Sinai or Old Covenant was that the people lack the willing heart to obey because the Spirit of God was not given them. Only the patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets and a select few were given the Spirit of God to help them. In a sense, a veil of blindness was over the natural descendants of Abraham even up till this day when they read the Old Testament . However, when they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil is lifted (2 Cor 3:11-18). Under the New Covenant, the shed blood of Jesus Christ permanently blots out the sins of all those who repented and turn to Him. If they abide till the end, the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) for them will be annulled forever!
The Law of God given to the peoples in the Old Testament era was a blessing to them only if they obey. The two chapters in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 clearly spell out the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience respectively. Right behavior and right living bring peace, health, safety and prosperrity and the reverse will incur the judgments and curses of God. If the ancient nation of Israel had taken heed, they would have been a model for the surrounding nations to follow and abide in God's Law. We who live in the church age are so fortunate and ought to be grateful to God for Christ has become our High Priest to assist us in our journey of discipleship for those who would abide and obey His commandments. Christ sums it up succinctly,' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' (Matthew 22:37-40). The world is currently in great turmoil shows the extent of defiance of God's Law. Great blessings and grace will follow all those who live it out in their lives.
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