Today’s Eye of Prophecy post is number 328 since this online website began in July 2013.

An unusual introduction but for a suitable reason: It’s an unusual article! Different (partially) from the preceding 327 articles.

Somewhat dissimilar because it will be necessary to spend some time/space on personal matters; to accomplish a greater goal. One that is intended for and hopefully reached in every Eye of Prophecy article, directly or indirectly.

As found on the Home Page: “…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b).

And restated on the About Page: The major emphasis of Eye of Prophecy website is to, “give a clear witness for Jesus,” who is the very essence of prophecy.

Most Biblical predictions consists of two main subjects: (1) Messianic prophecies that focus on the 1^st and 2^nd Advents of Messiah. (2) The physical restoration of Israel as a nation and spiritual redemption of the Jews who have believed and received their Jewish Messiah, Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Also found on the About Page of Eye of Prophecy: The intent, form, and content of Eye of Prophecy is presented through Eschatology

P I C T U R E S

Prophetic Inspirational Connections Through Understanding Relevant Events (and) Scripture.

In that context of “connections” there are three other “C” words that I want (hope) to realize through the Eye of Prophecy ministry: clarification, correlation, correction, as applied to all five categories. Each article is placed in one of those categories: Current Events; Prophecy in General; The Rapture; The Antichrist; Devotional/Miscellaneous.

With correction intended as a result (as opposed to a deliberate end unto itself) of a more accurate application of some Biblical prophecies. With clarification and correlation achieved by comparing Scripture with Scripture and Biblical prophecy with fulfillment (historical events) and those awaiting fulfillment.

To clarify (clarification) and to correct (correction) are pretty much self-defined.

But let’s look at Webster’s definition of correlate: “to establish a reciprocal or mutual relation; to show a causal relationship between; to present or to set forth so as to show relationship; a phenomenon that accompanies another phenomenon … usually parallel to it (as in form, type, development, or distribution) and is related in some way to it.”

In addition to parallel, other synonyms of correlation: association, connection, relationship, link, and correspondence. With a definitive implication that there are varying degrees of correlation. On the stronger side: parallel, connection, and link. On the softer side: association, relationship, and correspondence.

The Lord has graciously given me the gift of teaching (explaining the truth). With a little extra dose of discernment, and some disclosures that resulted in more accurate correlation and clarification of a handful of Biblical prophecies. Plus, correction of mainstream applications of a few prophecies. Yet, I encourage you not to simply take or leave my word for it. In addition to my second book, Out of the Abyss, read as many Eye of Prophecy articles as time permits.

Then ponder and decide for yourself.

On a Personal Level

Because my teaching (mostly through writing) ministry began later in life, there is not the degree of exposure, or the more noticeable platform established by well-known prophecy students and teachers … especially those in the media.

Thus, I can identify with one of the more obscure (termed “minor”) prophets, Habakkuk. When the Lord said to him: “…Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled….” (Habakkuk 2:2-3b, emphasis added).

We are living in that future time. In what I am persuaded is the final generation spoken of by Messiah Jesus when he said: “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34).

What things? Pre-Rapture Birth Pains such as natural disasters increasing in number and magnitude; The Rapture; Seven-Year Great Tribulation; Second Coming of Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth; and Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

In my articles, I don’t (need or want to) draw any more attention to myself than marginally necessary to accomplish that higher purpose of giving a clear witness for Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). To exalt the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This article is somewhat of an exception. However, the personal references will ideally serve more to thank and praise the Lord for the blessings, insights, and disclosures given to me, some in the context of prominent Biblical numbers, especially three and seven.

An Excerpt from My Second Book (Non-Fiction) Out of the Abyss

Taken from last part of Chapter 11 (Let’s Summarize), the final chapter of Part I … in italics:

Students of prophecy exponentially increased in number and knowledge primarily throughout the 19^th, 20, and now the 21^st century. All Christians and students of the Bible have been given the awesome privilege of possessing the entire Word of God. Conversely, the Old and New Covenant prophets were given these direct revelations from God on a periodic and/or progressive timeline. Yet, no individual prophet painted the complete portrait or possessed every piece of the prophetic puzzle. That same principle applies to the study of the closed Canon of the Bible, particularly as applied to prophecy.  

Thus, it is vitally important that I clarify something before you read Part II and Part III of this book. It is not my intent to prove anyone wrong, as though that was an end unto itself. That is not my heart. Rather, it is a matter of contributing to the completion of the prophetic puzzle. I and others have used this metaphor of a puzzle as a very appropriate way of visualizing the intricacies of comparting Scripture with Scripture—a piece here and a piece there, leading to the synchronized composite whole of the Bible. Another metaphor is that of connecting dots, at least the key dots, until we can distinguish the outline of what the dots represent.

Particularly in the last seven decades or so, students of prophecy have enthusiastically begun to assemble this prophetic puzzle. But they, no less than you or me, have had to sometimes start over with the frame of the puzzle or, otherwise, refit certain pieces….

During the writing of this book, I found yet another “hidden gem” in the Bible. I use that term because that is how the Word of God works. Whether we read a verse for maybe the first time, or have read it many times, there’s always something else or new that the Holy Spirit shows us. Were it not for this verse I probably would not make the following bold statement:

The Lord will disclose to us through his Word all crucial things that pertain to the fulfillment of God’s prophetic proclamations. And he will do so before the Rapture. This observation applies to anything in Scripture unless the Bible specifically states that a future prophetic event cannot be known, such as the day or hour of Messiah’s return.

The hidden gem is found in the Book of Amos. Incidentally, here was another blessing for me. In addition to the contents of the verse, it is from Chapter 3, Verse 7. Such good numbers!

…Anything includes more information than most Bible students or Christians in general would think possible or even acknowledge as knowable.

Would that, for example, apply to ascertaining the identity of the Antichrist? My answer would be a resounding, yes! In fact, Revelation 13 and 17 challenges the reader to figure out both the origin and identity of “the beast.” We’re going to do that in Part II and Part III.

*Note: A pause here to say to say that other disclosures—which are often part of the gift of teaching condensed into accurate clarification, correlation, and, if necessary, correction (partial refitting of the prophetic puzzle)—will be provided later in addition to the identity of the Antichrist that was the main subject of Out of the Abyss. Although identifying the Antichrist is not necessarily the most significant of these refitted pieces, it is probably the most startling.

Returning to the excerpt from Out of the Abyss:

I will say again: I am not a predictive prophet, as defined and demonstrated in the pages of the Bible. I have not, cannot, and will not “predict” anything, not in the manner in which the Lord revealed the future to his appointed and anointed prophets through dreams and visions. The Special Revelation of God including predictive prophecy (God and only God directly revealing future events) ended with the closed Canon of Scripture, the Book of Revelation.

Returning to the analogy of the prophetic puzzle, the Lord has graciously shown me some pieces of the puzzle. Remaining is to replace a piece that doesn’t fit, with the correct piece.

I am only one of several who have collectively spent much of their lives and time in studying God’s prophetic masterpiece. And, in so doing, I am hoping to help with the fittings in and on an already solid frame and foundation assembled and poured by well-known prophecy scholars, teachers, pastors, and some lesser-known students.

*Note: I then listed by name twenty-one of these better-known scholars/teachers, such as Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsay, and Dave Hunt. Preceded by the question as to why the Lord has given to me (as one of the lesser-known scholars … which is not a matter of concern or complaint for me … just wondering): …these somewhat veiled truths, when I don’t have the credentials or platform of so many men and woman of God, who are well recognized in the media mainstream of Biblical prophecy.

Frankly, I don’t yet have an answer to my question; nor in the final analysis do I really need to know. But I do know and believe this: the discernment given to me is no more important than any other gift given to every believer in Christ. Though it may be a little more specialized, it is by no means special, meaning in comparison or contrast to other gifts to and contributions by other believers. I also know that I am grateful and honored that the Lord has given these things to me. And now, I share them with you (Pages 98-101).

Before examining in summary form seven special disclosures that help put some of the correct pieces of the prophetic puzzle in place, let’s look at two events that are extraordinary examples of clarification and correlation (connecting the dots … linking in parallel fashion).

An Astounding Correlation Between (Enemies of) 5^th Century B.C. Israel and 20^th Century Israel

First, a reference to Eye of Prophecy post, Significant Sets of Twos in the Bible (posted 3-30-19).

Ten of the most prominent pairs found in Scripture and/or history are identified in that article.

The twosomes can either complement or contrast each other. Either way, it’s clear that the Lord is into clarification, correlation, and correction, if required. And often does so by tying things (especially loose ends!) together to accomplish his perfect plans and powerful purposes.

For example, one of the ten pairs cited in that article: The Birth and Rebirth of Israel. Another set: The Old Covenant & The New Covenant.

In the contrasting seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (with the emotional backdrop of the story of Joseph and ten older brothers who betrayed him), we read these poignant and providential words of Joseph to his brothers that clarify and connect otherwise conflicting episodes in their lives:

“…Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:19-20).

(Depiction of Joseph forgiving his brothers)

Then the New Testament (Covenant) counterpart written by the Jewish Pharisee Saul turned Apostle Paul because of his stunning encounter with the risen Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Paul believed and received as Savior and Lord. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writing to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, Paul proclaimed:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

Now for the remarkable correlation involving the Jews (Israel), spanning some 2,400 years.

The Purim Link Between Nazis and Anti-Semitic Iran

That is the title of an article written by Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa; reposted in the February 2021 edition of the Levitt Letter, one of the components of Zola Levitt Ministries out of Dallas, Texas. (Having misplaced this edition for several months, I read it only a few days before starting on this week’s article).

The setting is the series of 13 post-World War II Nuremberg Trials from 1945 to 1949 in which dozens of high-ranking Third Reich officers, political leaders, and prominent civilians were tried for war crimes.

You may know about one of these (later) trials which took place in 1948 from the highly acclaimed movie, Judgment at Nuremberg. Directed by Stanley Kramer and released in 1961, it boasted some of Hollywood’s most well-known actors at the time: Spencer Tracy, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, and a young William Shatner. However, the German defendants at that trial were four judges who allowed doctors/lawyers to conduct gruesome sterilization experiments and other assorted medical-type (civil rights violations in today’s terminology) crimes.

(Spencer Tracy in middle, as Chief Judge in Movie, Judgment at Nuremberg)

However, the trial referred to by Rabbi Goldstein is the first and most famous of the trials (November 1945 to October 1946), given the designation of an International Military Tribunal. It was called by one of the British Judges, Sir Norman Birkett, “The greatest trial in history.”

*Comment: If Sir Norman Birkett is referring exclusively to trials involving guilty bad guys, then an argument could be made that it was the “greatest trial in history.” Even, perhaps, to this day. If the reference point is an unjust trial involving a totally innocent good guy (as in the perfect Son of God), then the greatest trial (two-parts) in history was that of Jesus of Nazareth before the Jewish Sanhedrin led by High Priest Caiaphas. Then later the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.

See Eye of Prophecy article: The Three Greatest Trials of All Time (Posted 11-10-18).

There were twenty-four defendants at that 1^st Nuremberg tribunal; most were found guilty with varying sentences, including the death penalty for 12 of them. However, one of the twelve (Martin Bormann) was given the death penalty in absentia, as he had died not long before the trials began.

Rabbi Goldstein began his article:

“Something unexpected happened when Julius Streicher, one of the high-ranking Nazis sentenced to death at the Nuremburg Trials, was executed.”

He went on to say that just a short time before Streicher was hanged on October 16, 1946, Newsweek reported, “He shouted to witnesses facing the gallows. ‘Purimfest, 1946.’”

Rabbi Goldstein continued his article with a perceptive question:

“Why would a condemned Nazi mention Purim in his last words? Streicher was obviously familiar with Queen Esther’s history, in which Haman planned a genocide of the Jews. However, when Haman’s plans were thwarted, he and his 10 sons were hanged.

“Streicher was acutely aware of the irony of history—that he was one of 10 Nazis hanged after being sentenced at the Nuremberg Trials. (In fact, 11 had been sentenced to die, but Hermann Goering committed suicide before his sentence was carried out). Ten were hanged, just like Haman’s 10 sons in the Book of Esther. Amazingly, Streicher saw the historic link between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide of Haman. Like the Nazis, Haman also intended to wipe out every Jew—man, woman, and child” (parenthesis in the text of the article).

Note: Rabbi Goldstein omitted the 12^th (Martin Bormann) as his death sentence was a technicality for symbolic purpose. In actual or practical terms, he correctly stated that 11 defendants were condemned to die and only 10 were put to death.

(One of many photographs taken of the Nuremberg Military Tribunal; two rows of defendants seated behind the divider)

Although I have read about this Nuremberg Trial; have seen historical film footage of it; and am familiar with Streicher’s ironic (poetic justice) acknowledgment of the Jewish observance of Purim as linked to his death sentence, I was not aware of the next part of Rabbi Warren Goldstein’s article:

“There is a deeper irony, of which Streicher was certainly not aware. Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther) lists the names of Haman’s 10 sons. According to the Halacha (collective works of Jewish law and custom), three of the letters in these names are written in smaller font than the rest of the text—a tav, a shin, and a zayin—and one letter is written in larger font—a vav” (parenthesis in the text of the article).

Rabbi Goldstein then wrote that for generations various explanations were presented as to the meaning of/for these different size letters. Not until the 20^th century could any correlation be made. Moreover, the connection could be understood through Hebrew gematria— (although he doesn’t use the term)—counting by using the Hebrew alphabet.

He continues: “The large vav is numerically 6, corresponding to the sixth millennium. The small tav, shin, and zayin are numerically 707. Together, the four numbers refer to the 707^th year of the sixth millennium—in other words, the Jewish year 5707, which corresponds to 1946, the year in which these 10 high-ranking Nazis were hanged. Thus, the unusually sized letters—vav, tav, shin, and zayin—found in the names of Haman’s 10 sons allude to the year of the execution of these 10 Nazi war criminals.”

*Note: The keeping of Jewish time/calendars is unlike Gentile time or the Julian/Gregorian calendar. There are 12 Jewish months, but each month contains 30 days … the new moon cycle. Also, Judaism does not recognize B.C. or A.D. (BCE and CE are the more modern abbreviations) demarcation of years. Rather the Jewish years are continuous, i.e., year 1 through…. Hence the Jewish year 5707 is the Gregorian year of A.D. 1946.

Rabbi Goldstein concluded this fascinating application (correlation) in the first half of his article by stating:

“Of further interest is that the ten men were sentenced on the 1^st of October, in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur of 1946. They were hanged on the 16^th of October, on which in 1946 fell Hoshanah Rabbah, the day that judgment of the world is finalized.”

*Comment: Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the Jewish (civil) New Year that always begins on the 1^st day of the 7^th month (based on the religious calendar) called Tishrei. The month of Tishrei overlaps the months of September and October. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is observed ten days after the civil New Year begins … the 10^th of Tishrei.

(Hebrew calendar with months of year numbered, beginning with Nissan; Tishrei is spelled T I S H R I on this pictorial)

In one of Rabbi Goldstein’s summary observations (commentary), he states:

“Our celebrations on Purim attribute all of the Esther miracles to God’s direct intervention in history, albeit hidden behind the machinations of politics and world affairs …. Viewing history at large with Esther’s message in mind powerfully demonstrates God’s involvement in the affairs of people and the direction of civilizations. The supernatural miracles of national Israel’s rebirth and renewed Torah learning following the Holocaust are but two examples that show God’s power and presence in everything.”

He then makes a comparison between ancient Persia and modern-day Iran, whose evil agenda is identical to that of Haman—genocide of the Jewish people.

(Among several Eye of Prophecy articles on Iran—most in the context of being one of the three main nations along with Russia and Turkey to attack Israel in the Gog/Magog invasion found in Ezekiel 38 & 39—please refer to: Divine Consequences of Iran’s Arrogance, Part I & Part II, posted 5-23 & 5-30-2015).

A Personal Correlation

Although Rabbi Goldstein identified the Hebrew year (5707) that corresponds to 1946, he didn’t say in which month or on what day October 1, 1946, fell on the Hebrew calendar (day when the Nazis were sentenced). Immediately I knew that the date was the 6^th day of Tishrei in the year 1946 … without needing to look it up on the online Hebrew conversion calendar!

Why would I know or why did I even think of such a connection?

Answer: About seven years ago, I wanted (more like a need) to find out when my birthday fell on the Hebrew calendar. Beginning with a drumroll disclosure of my birthday to everyone reading this article: September 28, 1946. Yes, I’m a Baby Boomer—born in the first year of that generation. Just kidding on the drumroll part!

And some seven years before that I had changed my email address to include the numbers 73, then later to 773. It had to do with my profound interest in (not anything approaching an obsession to the extent of numerology and certainly not astrology) certain numbers of Scripture that manifest a great deal of significance to the Lord himself. Those two numbers have been involved in a few personal experiences (blessings) for me, with some examples provided in my book, Out of the Abyss. And a small handful of Eye of Prophecy articles.

The following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article: Three … A Divine Number of God! (8-17-19), in italics:

This is the third time that I’ve begun an article on a personal note. The reason: this week’s post is number 300 since my first article was published.

Given that 300 is an obvious multiple of 3, what better subject than the number three!

(Note: I had forgotten how I had begun that article. Which makes this week’s Eye of Prophecy article the fourth to begin on a personal note)!

Continuing with the excerpt:

There are several numbers in Scripture that bear remarkable relevance to the accomplishment of God’s providential plans for his creation, especially humanity. Such numbers as 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 40, 70, 400, 1,000. But none more so than 3 & 7, which are divine in both essence and expression. They are the numbers that, above all, reveal and relate to God’s ultimate sovereignty in all things pertaining to life and death—past, present, and future.

The number three decisively defines who God is; I AM … everlasting to everlasting.

The number seven dramatically demonstrates what God does in the course of his interaction with people and nations, reflecting his creative love but also his consuming judgment of sin and evil. For example: the seven days of creation and seven years of the Great Tribulation, soon to come.

Thus, it’s no coincidence that there are three sets of seven judgments each (Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls in the book of Revelation) in preparation for the magnificent Kingdom of God on earth. Which will bring mankind full circle back to where it all began in the Garden of Eden. Only this time even better and lasting forever—New Jerusalem, new heavens, new earth!

Returning to my birthdate on the Hebrew (Jewish) calendar and relevancy to the numbers 3 and 7. Also, in the context of the Nuremberg Trial and the dates identified by Rabbi Goldstein.

A Dramatic Discovery & Personal Blessing

By using the Hebrew/Gregorian Online Conversion Calendar, I learned my Hebrew date of birth: The 3^rd of Tishrei, 5707. (Equal to September 28, 1946).

As indicated, that took place around seven years ago, several years after my interest in Biblical numbers (especially 3 & 7) began to grow.

Although the 1^st day of Tishrei is the beginning of the Jewish New Year, it is technically the 7^th month of the Hebrew year … as found in Scripture and ordained by God himself. Using the method of identifying one’s date of birth by the often-used numerical order of the Gregorian calendar, my DOB would be shown as 9-28-1946, or 9/28/1946.

With the Hebrew calendar, it would read: 7-3-5707!

Which was (is) a personal blessing and somewhat of a personal (providential) correlation; with the most applicable synonym of correlation in this case to be association.

Why did I instantly know that October 1^st, 1946 (date of sentencing for the Nazi war criminals) was the 6^th day of Tishrei (6 representing the number of mankind with a poetically justified sentence of death for 11 of the criminals, with the ironic number of 10 hanged that same month)?

Answer: My DOB is the 3^rd day of Tishrei of that same year … three days earlier. Which was a Saturday … the Jewish Sabbath.

I am part German, part English, with a little Dutch thrown in. I constantly thank the Lord for giving me life—the breath of life through physical birth. Then giving me life again—eternal life through spiritual rebirth which took place 7-8 years after my 7/3/5707 birth date … Hebrew calendar.

(Do you remember or have heard of Roy Rogers & Dale Evans? Pictured here because it was Dale Evans who led me to the Lord at a Youth For Christ meeting in Kansas City, MO. these many years ago! Yes, there have been a few Christians in Hollywood!)

The Lord graciously included me in his grafting of Gentile believers to the tree of Israel—from which came the Jewish Messiah Jesus to save all who would believe and receive him as Personal Savior … Jew and Gentile alike!

Wrote the Apostle Paul:

“Did God’s people (Jews) stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

“I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were (spiritually) dead!” (Romans 11:11-15, parenthesis mine).

Paul elaborates further with a metaphorical correlation of Israel (Jews through Abraham) as the original natural tree and Gentiles as the wild tree.

“But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.

“…. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong” (Romans 11:17 & 23-24).

*A Pause: For you out there, including (unfortunately) even some Christians, who believe that national Israel and individual non-Messianic Jews have no place in God’s soon-to-come Kingdom on Earth (Messianic Age through Messiah Jesus), what are you going to do with these verses just quoted? Plus, hundreds of Old Testament prophetic passages that paint a powerful portrait of Israel’s physical and spiritual restoration. Which began with the rebirth of the Sovereign State of Israel in 1948, and the reclamation of all Israel, including Jerusalem, in the amazing Six-Day War of 1967. With millions of Jews immigrating to Israel and millions more born there in the last 73 years (yes it’s been 73 years since Israel’s statehood) in stunning fulfillment of these prophecies.

(Israel’s current population; Haredi means observant, religious Jews)

Paul wasn’t done yet.

“I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters (still speaking to the Gentiles), so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts (many still do to this day), but this will only last until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved…” (Romans 11:25-26a, parenthesis mine, italics for emphasis).

Refer to Eye of Prophecy article: Times of & Fullness of the Gentiles … What Do They Mean? (Posted 4-21-18).

**As indicated earlier in this week’s article, which contained more personal information than I’ve shared in any previous article, I had intended to list seven specific disclosures given to me by the Lord. We’re just about out of time/space, so they will need to wait for the next Eye of Prophecy post.

Things to Ponder

As stated in the opening sentence, today’s Eye of Prophecy post is number 328. I didn’t realize or think about what number it was until compiling most of the material for this article, including Rabbi Goldstein’s article.

The extended correlation (association): I was born on the 3^rd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. And on the 28^th day of the Gregorian month of September. 3 & 28 … 328.

One more: Just a few hours before posting this article (early morning of 8-28-21), I happened to check the current number of visitors to Eye of Prophecy. It had reached 73,773!

Coincidence? Not to me. More like providentially calculated and crafted!

Thank you, Lord, for caring so much for those whom you have saved, even the smaller details of our lives!

God is still sending showers of blessings and performing miracles on a national stage, particularly for reborn Israel, as prophesied in the Old Testament. But mostly, I believe, on individual levels to believers the world over. And I’m convinced that the godsends (what we sometimes call a God thing) are bestowed in areas of our lives that mean the most to each of us.

That’s what makes them personal and that much more precious.

I love the Lord because he first loved me. And I love Israel and the Jewish people because God loves them and chose them to bring Messiah to the world to save all who put their trust in Him for salvation.

Once again, listen to the word of the Lord through the Jewish Apostle Paul:

“Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God (during the Old Covenant period of the Law), but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead (beginning with the New Covenant). Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy” (Romans 11:28-31, parenthesis mine).

Rabbi Warren Goldstein concluded his article with these moving words: “May God once again bless His people with redemption and liberation. Then may we give thanks to Him as we say in our Purim prayers, ‘for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds, and the victories in battle, which You performed for our ancestors in those days and in this time.’”

If only Rabbi Goldstein (and many others) would take one more step to realize that the New Covenant promised by God through the prophet Jeremiah (Chapter 31) has arrived—some 2000 years ago! Through Jesus of Nazareth by his death, burial, and resurrection!

And upon his return, Israel (collectively and individually) will fully experience the answer to Purim prayers … miracles, redemption, mighty deeds, victories in battle. When he delivers Israel from the onslaught of Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition. And when He, “pours out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem…” (Zechariah 12:10).

To now—so they won’t have to go through the Great Tribulation—embrace the truth of the Good News (Gospel of Messiah Jesus) so clearly expressed by the Jewish Apostle John:

(Not wish, not wonder … but know that you have eternal life!)

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God…” (I John 5:1).

Can the world get any more divided?

There are so many ways to divide: politically, socially, economically, geographically, nationally, racially, and religiously.

There are so many differences that cause (sometimes deep) divisions. Such as: Republican (conservative) or Democrat (liberal); upper class or lower class; capitalist or communist; city dweller or rural … an island paradise or slums; North Korea or South Korea; Jew or Arab … black or white; Christianity or Islam.

Then there are those universal distinctions which can and too often do create clashes.

Male/female … battle of the sexes; as experienced in the 20^th century feminism movement. And now in the 21^st century, some men in power abusing women, i.e. MeToo movement.

Young/old … generational gaps. A seemingly ever-widening gulf between parents and children. Never so obvious as in the attitudes and behavior over COVID-19 which has caused one new normal after another. Yet, the young seem oblivious to it because many have no or only mild symptoms. They continue to party with (imagined) immunity and impunity.

It does not take a geopolitical or socioeconomic expert to expose and explain the deepening divisions within virtually every level of life: families, communities, cities, states, nations, and internationally.

We talk about changes needed of “the system” as the only viable way to create mutual respect and unity within/between all the things that divide us. Unfortunately, we seem even more determined to solve the problems by treating the symptoms. Which often begs the age-old question: Can you legislate morality or unity?

Unity is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as: “a condition of harmony; the quality or state of being made one; unification; the quality or character of a whole made up of intimately associated elements, parts, or individuals.” Synonyms are: Solidarity, integrity, agreement, unison, accord.

Yet after thousands of years of failed governments and societies and “systems” of all kinds (to “progressively” right the wrongs and lessen the ills of humanity), we are digressing in things that really matter. Not the least of which is morality. There is more disharmony, disagreement, disunion, discord than ever. The divorce rate tells us that, which is just one of many ailments of society.

(Do Black Lives matter? Of course they do. But anarchy is not the answer)

The Real Problem & Solution

We misdiagnose both the problems and the remedies because we define them horizontally … exclusively in human terms. Not vertically from God’s divine perspective. According to God’s very Word, the Bible, disunity in the world originates in the human heart because of sin and rebellion against God. That from the inside out the heart must first be transformed (made right with God) before our mind and behavior can/will be changed to the extent that we truly seek the welfare of others.

Listen to the Jewish Apostle Paul, who was miraculously changed by the risen Messiah (Jesus of Nazareth); thereby coming to terms with his own sin nature and all the wrong things that sin produces in people.

“Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one’” (Romans 3:9-12).

Paul then directs his primarily Jewish readers (at the time) to the New Covenant of Grace in sharp contrast to the former (Mosaic) Covenant of Law.

“Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law (which no one can do as Paul also writes… we break one law, we break them all), as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…” (Romans 3:19-25, parenthesis mine).

Before all the differences and divisions that separate segments of society the world over can be dealt with, there must first be a supernatural change of the human heart which naturally is bent toward selfish (me, me, and me) desires.

Listen to the Apostle Paul as he explains this new life in Christ to new believers:

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirt wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21, emphasis added to fit this week’s main theme of divisions).

For the record, Christians do sin. The huge distinction is that if someone is participating in one or more of the above listed “desires of your sinful nature” on a regular (lifestyle) basis, it’s highly unlikely that person is a believer. Thus, he/she will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Which means living forever in heaven, beginning with the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus upon his glorious return to the earth.

As Christians grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18), we will not be sinless. But we should/will sin less.

Repeating Paul’s instructions: So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Paul goes on to say:

I believe it would take only one or two of these supernatural spiritual byproducts (fruits) to harmonize humanity. To unite the disunited. And to bind the broken. Can you imagine if all nine were working at the same time!

A Division That Is Essential

There is one schism vital to humanity: Truth vs. Error (Lies).

It is a split so obvious that we metaphorically compare these opposites to light and darkness … day and night. It would be unimaginable if Planet Earth were covered in darkness all day long. It would be intolerable for every living thing if night did not yield to morning. It would literally be a matter of life and death.

So, too, is Truth a matter of life … eternal life. Beginning with the soon-to-come Rapture resurrection of those believers in Messiah Jesus who have died and their transformation (along with living believers) into our immortal, imperishable bodies equipped to live forever in heaven.

I’m referring to much more than those things in life that are proven to be true versus those that are false. With a simple example: If someone tells you that a hot stove burner will not burn you if you touch it, is that the truth or a lie? A more complex case would be all the religions and cults of the world, each one claiming that it is right and true. Can they all be right when in fact their theology is so different and often mutually exclusive or contradictory. That is clearly a rhetorical question.

Truth by very definition is exclusive. Meaning it excludes and precludes its’s opposite … lies.

The pivotal point here is the source of all truth. Indeed, Truth itself.

Do you remember Jesus’s trial when Pontius Pilate questioned him as to whether Jesus was, in fact, a king (of the Jews)?

“Pilate said, ‘So you are a king?’

“Jesus responded, ‘You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true’” (John 18:37).

Then Pilate cynically asked a question that many have posed, whether out of sincerity or sarcasm.

“What is truth?” (Verse 38).

To simplify and clarify anything and everything that people perceive to be true; and to answer the critics who contend that (most) truth is relative or those who claim (religiously or philosophically) to have a corner on truth; or to those sincerely seeking answers to this life and the life hereafter, Jesus had previously made this stunning statement:

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father (one and only true God) except through me” (John 14:6, parenthesis mine).

It would be entirely appropriate and accurate if each of these three claims by Messiah Jesus were capitalized in this verse. Because Jesus said no one could come to Father (God) except through him, he was unequivocally declaring that he is the only Way, Truth, and Life. That he came into this world (as the Son of God) not just to show the way, tell the truth, and bring life (everlasting) to people. Oh, he has done all that.

No, he is more. He, “radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God…” (Hebrews 1:3).

He IS (the) Way.

He IS Truth (itself).

He IS Life (both now and forever).

He proved this when he, himself, arose from the dead.

Just prior to raising Lazarus from the grave, Jesus said to Lazarus’s sister, Martha:

“…I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live even after dying. Everyone who lives in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (John 11:25-26).

Biblical salvation is both exclusive and inclusive. Redemption comes only through Christ, but everyone is invited to believe in and receive him as Personal Savior. But a choice must be made. There is no neutrality when it comes to deciding for or against Messiah Jesus. Otherwise, he died (willingly gave up his life) for no reason.

Do you believe what Jesus told Martha (and the whole world) is true? Do you believe that he is Truth itself? The only Way to eternal Life?

That’s all that God asks of you … of anyone. As Jesus said to a prominent Jewish religious leader Nicodemus who came to him searching for the truth about who Jesus was/is:

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Then Jesus told him exactly what must be done to be born again:

“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:14-19).

So, the only real and (ever) lasting solution to our sins that separate us from God and from each other is not found in any system. It is found in a Person. That is as clear as day is from night!

From Eye of Prophecy article, Kingdom of God (published 1-17-15). In italics as follows:

Jesus spoke often of the Kingdom of God; for example, comparing it to a mustard seed … the smallest of seeds that when planted grows into an enormous tree. Which is exactly what has happened to the body of Christ; an exponential growth down through the ages, to now consist of believers from virtually every nation and language on earth. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts and minds of those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of Christ. Next, will come the final physical Kingdom of God on this earth; at which time all people, all governments, all nations will be brought under the authority of God’s magnificent Son. He will rule the nations with firmness, but fairness.

Isn’t that what most people want? They want law, order, equality, safety, peace. And they want someone who has the kind of authority to realize those dreams, but also someone who is kind and considerate with that authority. One who truly cares about people and what is best for them, who can rule and judge with impartiality and kindness. A truly wise and benevolent King whose attributes perfectly reflect who and what he is: Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy.

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together… For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Colossians 1:15-20).

Jesus stated assertively that he is the (only) Way. Which means that every person who doesn’t make a decision for Christ is deliberately driving into a danger zone marked, “Wrong Way, Do Not Enter.”

Said the Apostle John to believers late in his life: “So I am writing to you not because you not because you don’t know the truth, but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ (Messiah … God’s chosen one to redeem mankind). Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (I John 2:21-23, parenthesis mine).

John’s message here is both simple and profound. He is reducing all anyone wants or needs about knowledge (facts … such as 2 + 2 =s 4) and truth to the very essence of Truth itself … where it originated and where it is contained.

The peace that comes through believing in Christ’s (as the Lamb of God) substitutionary sacrifice has brought about the Kingdom of Heaven, in the hearts of all those who receive him as Personal Savior. But not until Messiah Jesus returns as King of all kings will the glorious Kingdom of God be established on Planet Earth. A Kingdom of righteousness, justice, and world peace.

Until then, we will continue to experience divisive rifts caused by disunity, disorder, discord, disarray, destruction and (unnecessary) death the world over.

How bad is it getting, and will it be? So bad that, despite overwhelming evidence during the (soon-to-come) Great Tribulation of God’s judgment on the entire world, “…they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:21)

One Of, If Not the Most Divisive Dichotomy of All

It is a proverbial bone of contention that has split society within nations and between nations, particularly in the 20^th & 21^st centuries. One that garners headlines more than just periodically.

It is the real or perceived fracture between religion and politics. A demarcation demanded by many, especially the liberal among us. In the United States, Europe, and other Western Countries, it is mostly referred to as the division between church and state. Whereas in most Muslim nations, especially the non-Arab nations of Iran and Turkey, there is (to differing degrees) such a union, i.e. an Islamic state or regime that controls nearly every feature of life.

Because time/space doesn’t permit in this week’s article and because I’ve written about it somewhat extensively, and because the main purpose here is a reminder of how contentious this issue has become, we’ll examine some evidence more hurriedly … in deference to the ultimate remedy. Which, as indicated, is found in a Person, not a system. Certainly not one that constitutes and/or ends with an “ism.” Such as: Catholicism, Mormonism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Socialism, or Communism. Yes, communism is a religion (belief system) that also has a god. Its’ god is the state and sometimes the ruler of that state. And, of course, Islam.

For that matter, even Judaism, when only part of God’s Word is acknowledged … Old Testament. And reliance on keeping the Law of Moses to the exclusion of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:17-20) for right standing with God. Even Abraham was made righteous by his faith (Genesis 15:6), long before God gave the Law to Moses. Conversely, not recognizing the historical authenticity of the New Testament and its authors also inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I did not include Christianity because it is not a religion as such, i.e. a system of regulations, rituals, (impossible to keep) requirements, including a common denominator to all religions—good works outweighing bad deeds to merit the favor of their god or gods. Whereas the (true) Christian faith is based exclusively on a relationship to a Person and through him God the Father.

It is the only faith that says all people need to be redeemed (by a Redeemer) and, in fact, recognizes that Redeemer as the Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

As examples of how much “intrusion” should be allowed of religion into politics, we will look at incidents/situations in three countries concerning this ongoing controversy.

United Kingdom

In an article entitled: When rabbis should not keep quiet, posted in the online source of Jewish News Syndicate on September 10, 2020, British author Melanie Phillips begins with:

“The former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Jonathan Sacks, has come in for some stick over remarks he recently made about religion and politics. In an interview with JTA, he was asked what he thought about the observation by Rabbi Shmuel Kamenstsky, the head of the Agudath Israel Council of Torah Sages, that Jews should vote to re-elect President Donald Trump out of gratitude for the things he has done for the Jewish people.

“Rabbi Lord Sacks, who was made an independent member of the House of Lords in 2009, delivered an impassioned reply. ‘The division between politics and religion is absolutely fundamental,’ he said. ‘It’s one of the greatest things Judaism ever taught the world: Don’t mix religion and politics. You mix religion and politics; you get terrible politics and even worse religion. It’s an absolute and total outrage.’”

*Note: For what I think is a pretty balanced view of this church/state issue, you may want to read Eye of Prophecy articles: Separation of Church and State … For or Against? Part I & Part II (posted April 2016).

Melanie Phillips continued: “When he was chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sacks drew some criticism from the Jewish community that he was politically timid. He always insisted, however, that rabbis had a duty to keep out of contentious political debate….

“As he said in his recent interview, politics was inherently divisive while religion should be about bringing people together. In Israel, the mix of politics and religion was ‘a catastrophe and may one day threaten the very survival of the state.’ As soon as religion became political, it, too, inevitably became divisive.

“The truth of that last remark was promptly demonstrated in the reaction to his comments. Jews who supported Trump and Sacks should have spoken in support of him. Jews who were against Trump and Sacks should have spoken against him. Ironically, therefore, Sacks denunciation of political divisiveness produced division.”

In her article, Ms. Phillips mentioned both Israel and (indirectly) the United States when speaking of President Trump in the greater context of the religion/politics enigma.

(Do you think both pictorials make valid points? My opinion … yes they do)

The United States

Just a couple of observations, the first general in nature, the second more specific.

General: I was born in Lawrence, Kansas, one of fifty states comprising the United States of America. The very reason for the formation and existence of the USA is because our ancestors revolted against England’s tyrannical rule. A British government that fit the classic definition of a State Church or a Church State (Anglican) that itself was formed when a couple hundred years earlier King Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, whose popes controlled kings and queens and nations all over Europe.

Not in the entire history of our country has there been anything remotely resembling a religion church-controlled government in America. God forbid that would ever happen. God never intended Israel or the Jews to turn the truth of Torah (Old Testament) into a religion, as such. Rather, Israel’s very inception as a nation, both corporately and individually was based on a relationship with their Creator, not a religion, as such.

In a sweeping overview of what God really wanted for/from his people, we read:

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

It was in Micah’s time and long before in Moses time and it is to this very day: a matter of the heart. Of trusting and obeying the Lord because we want to, not because we must, i.e. rote keeping of requirements and rituals.

In his commandments, the Lord tells us what is right. Such as love the Lord with all our heart and honor our parents. And what is wrong … stealing, adultery, etc. Yet, God never forces anyone to comply, which is why organized religion (such as Islam, Catholicism, Mormonism, or any Protestant denomination) should not mix with politics in terms of forcing or enforcing specific doctrines of that religion. Which is a misguided and sometimes a malevolent top-down institutional control of people.

Specific: On the other hand, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with certain leaders of a country who embrace a specific faith being elected by the people. Such as U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence on the same ticket (2016 & 2020) as Donald Trump, with Pence a professed Christian. In that regard, we have a bottom to top paradigm in which those governed choose (by voting) their leaders based on political platforms that (in the case of American voters) have a Judaic/Christian heritage, based in turn on Biblical truths and values.

The evidence is convincing: Were it not for the evangelical block of voters, it’s highly unlikely that Donald Trump would have beaten Hilary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Is that a mixture of religion and politics? Answer: Sure is. But not in the classical sense of church vs. state.

Which, by the way, infuriated Hilary Clinton. Do you recall what she said about some of those who voted for Donald Trump?

Was she referring to millions of evangelical Christians? No matter who she was referring to, what a deplorable thing to say.

Yet, it’s illustrative of the ongoing conflict between all things political and all things religious. Except that in the United States and European countries it is almost exclusively the Christian faith that is attacked and accused of “meddling” or even “peddling” in politics.

Israel

Rabbi Sacks observations that the rift in Israel between secular and religious Israelis could one day threaten the very survival of the state is only a slight exaggeration. There seems to be increased friction between these two groups, intensified even more because two of the parties in Israel’s coalition-style parliamentary government (Knesset) consists of observant Jews—mostly Orthodox or Ultra-Orthodox. They are the Shas party … 9 members. And United Torah Judaism … 7 members. Essentially, they support the right-wing Likud (of which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs) which is the largest party.

Let’s pause here for an excerpt from my first book, a novel entitled O Israel … the end is the beginning for those left behind. One of the main characters, an American Jew Avram Levitt, is reminiscing about the paradoxical diversity and unity of Israel. In italics:

Avram marveled at Israel and its people. For a country not much larger than the state of New Jersey, with a population smaller than many of the world’s cities, Israel’s cultural, religious, and political diversity equaled that of many larger countries. No better expression of variance could be found than in the two cities that characterized Israel: Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. They balanced on distant points of the cultural and religious pendulum, yet both cities were distinctively Jewish.

…he proudly hailed Tel Aviv as one of the most modern, industrialized, high-tech cities in the world. It was Tel Aviv that best expressed and defined Israel’s remarkable progress … beautiful galleries, grand theatres, contemporary concert halls, modern restaurants, seaside skyscrapers, and luxurious beach hotels.

Jerusalem was always the ancient city … you will find the long, storied past of Israel, with its patriarchs, judges, prophets, kings, and divinely appointed destiny of land and people. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Temple Mount Wailing Wall or the Knesset. Take in some synagogues, yeshivas, Christian holy sites, and all four quarters of the Old City…

If a citizen of Israel preferred the label of Israeli, there was a good chance that person lived in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem or surrounding towns, residents embraced the time-honored appellation of Jew. After all, the word Jew originated from Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel….

For Jacob’s descendants who practiced Judaism, whether conservative, orthodox, or ultra-orthodox, Jerusalem was the main attraction. The secular, the atheistic, and the liberals preferred Tel Aviv. For the Reformed? Either city would do.

But all Israelis passionately exhibited one unifying trait and defended one ultimate purpose: the survival of Israel as a people, as a sovereign democratic state, as a nation reborn from the floods of dispersion and from the fires of Nazi death camps.

Jews synthesized over another common denominator … an enemy who wants to reduce them to ashes, to drown them in the sea, to erase Israel from memory, from all maps of the civilized world (Pages 15-16).

The main (some say sole) reason that it’s taken three Israeli elections in about one year’s time to finally form a viable government is because Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beytanu party, bailed out of the Likud-led coalition after initially giving the support of his party. Which resulted in a less than majority (61 Knesset seats) coalition. In turn, requiring two more elections since then.

And the main reason (some say exclusive reason) that Lieberman and his party members withdrew from the majority coalition was over his demand that all (not just a select few) religious Jewish students studying Torah and/or to become a rabbi must serve in the IDF (military) was not acted on in the form of a vote. That and his disdain for the very idea of religious (especially the Orthodox) Jews serving directly in the Knesset.

(Members of the United Torah Judaism party)

The Priest/King Dichotomy

Here is an excerpt from the article, Separation of Church and State, Part II. Beginning with the profound but practical (Church-like and State-like) instructions that the Lord gave to his people when (not if … the Lord knew it would happen) Israel switched from the administrative blend of priests and judges to being ruled by a king.

“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear (respect, hold in awe) the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20, parenthesis mine).

When God permitted Israel to change from a Kingdom of Priests to a Kingdom of Kings, he also made allowances for the faults, frailties, and failures of the people. Thus, the Lord’s instructions to the king did not, by compulsion, mandate that the people do the same thing. It would be much better for them individually and as a nation if they did seek and acknowledge God in both private affairs and affairs of state; but above all, God still gives the human race free will to choose. No better exemplified than America’s freedom to vote someone into office, but then accept the consequences (good, bad, or indifferent) of that choice.

With divine foreknowledge the Lord knew all too well that unrestrained, unconditional power corrupts and that the vast majority of national and international leaders throughout history would be or become malevolent monarchs instead of benevolent, he also told Israel that the same man could not be both king and priest.

In that respect, there was a (balanced) separation of kingly duties and priestly duties. What we would probably identify today as some semblance of Separation of Church and State.

For one thing, no one person had the time or energy to occupy both offices. Also, if a king was wicked—which the vast majority of Israel’s king were, as were nearly all Gentile kings—the priests and the people that faithfully followed the Lord could still live and prosper in the land because of God’s faithfulness to keep his promises (of blessing).

Listen again to the well-known words that vividly explain God’s grace and mercy if people as a nation turn to him:

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

Make no mistake … this beautiful land of opportunity that we call the United States of America was, in fact, given to us by the true and living God. The surest way to lose our freedoms, if not the land itself, is to as a nation (all three branches of government) abandon, reject, and mock our Creator and Savior. Ironically, this is being done by many who claim they are protecting those liberties by eliminating all things shown, said, or done that smack of religion, with practically everything they do directed against Christians (true believers). Their real agenda is to eliminate the name of Jesus and take away the rights of those who name the name of Christ, including freedom of worship, speech, press, and assembly, in say a meeting room on a high school or college campus.

I firmly believe if we and especially our presidents, senators, representatives, governors, mayors, and judges adhered to (the basic) truths and principles found in Scripture, at least acknowledging God’s ultimate authority and thanking him for all of his blessings, there would be no need to debate the issue of Church and State separation. Our leaders would fully comprehend what it means to serve both God and the people. This service would not need to in any way, shape, or form result in a man-made religion or hierarchical religious denomination or institution to impose a distorted view of government ON the people.

Things to Ponder

When God approved Israel’s demand for a king, it was crystal clear that the king could not be a priest.

However, long before God’s people—the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—became a nation, there was a man who was both priest and king. And there would be again.

He was the man called Melchizedek. We first read about him and his interaction with Abraham in Genesis 14. “And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High…” (Verse 18).

(Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article: Melchizedek … A Man of Mystery! Published 3-3-18).

Right after Abraham’s encounter with this mysterious man, God reaffirmed his covenant with Abraham (Genesis Chapter 15, as first found in Genesis Chapter 12). This included Abraham’s descendants inheriting Israel as their special perpetual possession; plus, not only Israel but the Gentile nations to be blessed. First and foremost, God’s blessings would be accomplished through His Messiah who would bring the ultimate blessing of redemption to Israel, individually and collectively as a nation. Individually as their High Priest. Nationally as their King (of all kings).

Listen to this spectacular prophecy of the coming Messiah in one of the most Messianic books of the Old Testament. One of many that makes yet another distinction between the Old Covenant of the Law and the New Covenant (through Messiah) of Grace.

“…Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles” (Zechariah 6:13).

Salvation for the individual, Jew and Gentile alike, via the New Covenant of Grace by faith alone (not good works) was implemented through the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth—a historical fact some 2000 years ago. This was/is his role as High Priest with one major difference. He offered himself (in our place) as the once for all sacrifice for sin.

It was in no uncertain terms: The greatest sacrifice ever made by the highest price ever paid.

“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey (believe and receive) him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:8-10, parenthesis mine).

When Messiah Jesus returns to bring redemptive restoration and rescue to Israel (from her enemies) as a nation, Israelis and Jews the world over will finally recognize him as both High Priest (Lamb of God) and King.

“Together they (Antichrist and his coalition) will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him” (Revelation 17:14, parenthesis mine).

That massive defeat of the armies of the world which dare to take on God’s Son will usher in the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

At which time, there will be no more discussion of church and state separation!

There will be no more angst over mixing politics and religion! In fact, there will be no more religion(s).

Why?

Because:

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Hallelujah!

Christmas has come and gone … 10 days ago.

So why am I posting a Christmas article the first week of the new year … 2020!

Let me explain.

From the Thought of the Day in the Almanac section of the December 24^th, 2019 Arizona Republic newspaper (yes, I read it daily!), I found the following quote: “Christmas comes, but once a year is enough.”

Though most quotations are from well-known individuals, this one was labeled an American proverb. One that I had never seen before; thus, I have no idea how old it is or how many Americans have heard it. Or how many agree with it. If they do agree, to what extent?

On the other hand, that doesn’t really matter; the reality is all too evident in our increasingly secularized society. A post-modern world so politically correct that we risk frowns and sometimes even contempt if we say Merry Christmas in mixed company.

By mixed company, I’m referring to the agnostics and atheists among us; to those of other religions and cultures who want nothing to do with Jesus Christ, and certainly not his claim that he is the (only) Way to God the Father. That salvation from our sins and pardon from the penalty thereof is possible only by believing and receiving him as Personal Savior.

Or those who claim that: (1) Separation of church and state is found in the United States Constitution … it is not; (2) Consequently, there should be no reason to commemorate Christmas with any “religious” overtones or symbols.

What’s your take on this proverb? Do you know anyone who feels that way about Christmas? Do you?

Because of the pressures of the season—buying presents, decorating trees, stringing lights, entertaining relatives, preparing extravagant meals—is it a relief that Christmas comes only once a year? After all, life is stressful enough; the notion of celebrating such a demanding holiday more than once a year would be….

Until I read this American proverb, I wasn’t going to write an article about Christmas (last year 2019). That and reading the results of a research survey conducted by OnePoll in Great Britain, reposted in the Christian Post. One geared to the generation that has been given the tag of Millennials.

As follows: nearly 40% of Britons in the 21-28 age group could not identify the baby in Christmas Nativity displays. Nor could they name Joseph or Mary. And less than 10% knew the three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) from the Magi.

This phenomenon is a clear-cut indication of the of the anti-Christian culture that has become prevalent throughout Europe. And it’s catching on in the United States of America. So much so that many in the Western world prefer that such scenes not be displayed publicly (or even privately) at all.

Sadly, for many, Christmas would be more tolerable without reminiscing, let alone cherishing, the true Christmas story. Others ostensibly celebrate the birth of a world-famous baby without knowing why that child came to humanity. Nor do they really care. No need to remember who or what the season is all about. Just do Christmas and when it’s over, sigh: I’m glad it only comes once a year.

What Child Is This?

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us… (Isaiah 9:6a).

This amazing prophecy was referring distinctly to Israel’s Messiah, who also would be the Messiah to the Gentiles as declared in Isaiah 49:6 and other passages.

None other than Jesus of Nazareth, born in a lowly manger, “…whose origins are in the distant past” (Micah 5:2).

He is the Son of God, Son of David, and (as Jesus often referred to himself) Son of Man. Indeed, he is THE UNIVERSAL SON of mankind. Yet, he is also divine, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus was qualified to be the perfect (sinless life) substitutionary sacrifice to forgive sin and make us right with God.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (II Corinthians 5:21).

Continuing with Isaiah 9:6-7: “…The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Although this week’s article is (slightly) post-Christmas, I’d like to think it’s timeless—appropriate for any time of the year. Especially to our younger generation, those in their teens and twenties and even thirties. Every generation has its unique set of problems, depending on national and international military, political, cultural, and economic changes, challenges, and crisis. And, as I’ve stated in several prior articles (tracking Biblical prophecy with 20^th & 21^st century events and ongoing developments), we are surely living in the last days of the end times.

The waning importance and impact of Christmas didn’t happen overnight. It began with my generation.

As a Bible Scholar, I’ve studied extensively and intensively the Scriptures (particularly prophecy) and secular history. Neither two World Wars nor the Great Depression of the 1930s led to the kind of spiritual complacency and moral decay (a direct result of secular humanism mentality) that has mushroomed in the last 50 years or so—particularly the past decade. Yet, the increasing indifference and (sometimes) hostility toward the real meaning of Christmas is not just about Christmas itself. It is a symptomatic tip-of-the-iceberg spectacle that represents the perplexing apathy and antagonism for the light of God’s truth found only in His Word—the Bible.

We’ve lost our innocence. No stronger proof of which is the disrespect harbored and expressed by old and young alike towards authority and toward each other.

Polarization is the buzz word in today’s hostile world. Conservative (Republican) / Liberal (Democrat); Old / Young; Male / Female; Rich / Poor; and White vs. Person of Color.

Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote as a mentor to a young believer, Timothy, concerning the end times. Notice that Paul doesn’t talk about geopolitical rivalries, national or international conflicts, or cultural and racial differences. Rather, he cites the spiritual condition of the final (Omega) generation, focusing mostly, but not entirely, on the youth.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred (such as the Christ of Christmas). They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly (the power of God’s salvation to change their heart and revere the Christ of Christmas). Stay away from people like that!” (II Timothy 3:1-5, parenthesis mine as pertaining the symptomatic suppression of the Christ in the current Christmas mindset of many).

Then, in stark contrast, Paul encourages Timothy: “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (II Timothy 3:14-16).

Messiah Jesus’s Mission

In both letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul reminded him of who Jesus was/is and why he came to this earth. In every one of these passages, we could easily insert a parenthetical commentary to the effect: It all began with the birth of Christ. We must never forget that. Remember why he came and what he has done and will do for all who place their faith in him.

For example: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…’” (I Timothy 1:15).

“Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom (from sin and its penalty) for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time” (I Timothy 2:2-6, italics for emphasis, parenthesis mine).

And what a time that was!

“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire…. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David (so was Mary), he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son…” (Luke 2:1-6, emphasis added, parenthesis mine).

You know the rest of the story … don’t you!? It’s the epic Christmas Chronicle; the beginning of the Greatest Story ever told.

Back to Paul and Timothy.

Regarding Messiah’s return (second coming), Paul again emphasizes the timing of it: “For, at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords” (I Timothy 6:15).

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes: “For God saved us and called us to live a holy (set apart) life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News” (II Timothy 1:9-10, parenthesis mine).

From before time began, God conceived a perfect plan for what he knew would become fallen humanity. At the ideal time, that plan was set into motion with the awesome birth of God’s Son. The perfect timing of his birth changed the very keeping of time … from B.C. to A.D. Thus, altering the course of human history by conquering death through his remarkable resurrection from the grave.

“Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendent of King David was raised from the dead. This is the good news I preach” (II Timothy 2:8).

Christmas is the beginning, but not the end of the story. So, let’s not leave baby Jesus in the manager. Let’s not let our nights (and days) be silent just because Christmas is over for another year. Let’s sing and shout (or at least remember) Joy to the World, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King! (Personally, I could sing that song anytime of the year—say, the 4^th of July!)

Let’s fully acknowledge, appreciate, and apportion (share) the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the New Covenant of salvation through faith in God’s gracious gift. Which began with the birth of Messiah Jesus. He is the child born to us; the son given to us.

In the last chapter of Paul’s final letter before he was executed during Nero’s reign, he writes:

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching….” (II Timothy 4:1-3a).

Those who are more familiar with older translations of the Bible, such as the New American Standard will recognize verse two as: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…”

The deeper repercussion and more serious problem of Christmas without Christ is that it can and has adversely affected every season of our individual and national lives. Many no longer need or want God in their lives. They no longer acknowledge his sovereignty or seek his counsel. They ignore his precious promises and powerful prophecies concerning Messiah Jesus, that have and will continue to shape our destiny. They consider things 20 years ago as irrelevant, let alone 2,000 years ago. Nothing is timeless to them.

What do I mean by a Christ-less Christmas affecting every season of our lives, including other significant Holidays? I’ll answer that with a couple of excerpts from an Eye of Prophecy article posted on 12-20-14. Entitled: Merry Christmas … What’s It All About?

As follows (in italics):

Stay with me; you know what I’m saying. It isn’t whether we use the word happy or merry. It’s that word, Christmas that causes all the fuss. Shhh … not so loud.

More than that: it’s the name Christ that gets so many people all up tight. That’s right … all it takes is a mention of his name. That is, unless it’s used as profanity … no problem then. A person is compelled to say something meaningful when they hit their thumb with a hammer. Right?

Why? Because His name is who he is (Yeshua in Hebrew, Jesus in Greek/English, both mean Savior), and a lot of folks just can’t handle that. They don’t want or need a Savior. Certainly not one who claims that he is the Son of God, that he alone is “The Way, The Truth, and The Life” (John 14:6). How exclusively narrow-minded can anyone be? The fact that he was born of a Virgin, performed amazing miracles, and then arose from the dead to validate his claim as Messiah who alone can redeem, can forgive sin; is an affront to those who maintain that self-enabled good works and innate self-worth is the only way to God.

PC is the Password

…No other holiday causes anything close to the angst experienced and consternation expressed by the secular among us or those of another religion who take offense at hearing the very name of Jesus or even a special representation of his name—Christmas. In fact, the very name of Christ and Christmas is an embarrassment to many. It’s just not politically correct.

…According to those who dislike, even detest the name of Jesus Christ, or perhaps the less adamant who, nevertheless, don’t want to offend anyone else of a different religion, wouldn’t it be better just to omit any reference to Jesus Christ during Christmas? (Shhh … not so loud).

Do Muslims or non-Muslims whisper when they say Mohammed or Ramadan? Jews or non-Jews when they utter Moses or Hanukkah? Since whispering doesn’t fit with all the sights of Frosty the Snowman, smells of roasting chestnuts, and sounds of Jingle Bells, many simply change the real meaning of and reason for Christmas not necessarily by speaking softly and carrying a big peppermint stick. Rather, by replacing a simple but intensely meaningful, joyful, and hope-filled greeting with a ho-hum, humdrum, monotonous, “Happy Holidays.” We have no problem with Happy Valentine, but “Merry Christmas” creates real issues. (I know … not so loud).

Simple solution isn’t it: Just say Happy Holidays. And presto, no more infringement on all those who champion the cause of tolerance, of broad-mindedness, of acceptance. Oops … except for the Christians. But then, non-Christians have no obligation whatsoever to be tolerant of Christians. After all, aren’t Christians the most intolerant people ever to walk the face of the earth? They are so inconsiderate because they believe that Christ came to this earth to die for their sins, to save them from hell; that he arose from the dead to prove that he was telling the truth—that he is the majestic Son of God—that only he can bring light and peace to a dark and troubled world? That’s about as exclusively one-sided as you can get.

Then a little later in that article:

Yet, the only way a tolerant person can be truly tolerant is to first be selectively intolerant of whoever or whatever they think is intolerant. Did you get that? If not, who can blame you? Because that is how intolerably unenlightened the logic is of those who contend (pretend) that tolerance should trump all other world views no matter that tolerance in the extreme leads only to intolerance. Meaning that if just one person or group of people disagrees with you; then for the sake of tolerance at all costs, you must make an exception and be intolerant of those dissenting views. If someone didn’t get that, then they’re not as tolerantly open-minded as they think.

What’s the use …? I give up. I’m going to be PC and wish you a very Happ….

Wrong. Make that a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For you see

It occurs to me

That we can make something else

Of this thing called PC.

Positively Christian!

Yes, I’m borrowing a lot from that article … nevertheless, let’s continue:

Without Jesus, is there really any reason whatsoever to celebrate Christmas? …Why bother to put Christmas lights on something once known as a Christmas tree? Why take the time to fight the crowds in order to do something as frustrating as Christmas shopping? Why on earth would anyone want to send greetings of good will and cheer on something as archaic as a Christmas card? Who in their right mind would be so cheeky as to sing irrelevant Christmas carols like Joy to the World, when Frosty the Snowman can accompany us all the way to our Holiday shopping spree and back?

…So, let me get this straight: It’s still (PC) appropriate to give and receive gifts, but don’t say Merry Christmas to the clerk who just wrapped the gifts you purchased for your children and your spouse. After the sale, be polite and wish her Happy Holidays; which is what she said to you after taking your money. And when opening the gifts under the Holiday tree, certainly don’t wish your child a Merry Christmas. He could get the wrong impression: that the gift opened might just represent and be in remembrance of the greatest gift of all time—God’s own Son as a ransom for our redemption. We can still put up lights … preferably holiday lights. But no nativity scenes anywhere in public places. God forbid: Someone might be offended or get the wrong impression that this Holiday is truly holy… instead of just another holiday.

Sorry, did I say God forbid. How careless. You know what I meant to say: Would the man upstairs please overlook my outdated, irrelevant, presumptuous, intolerant notion that Christmas ever existed in the first place. Or if it did, it has no relevance whatsoever in today’s post-modern existential, expedient, politically correct society that tolerates anything and everything except one thing: The Name of Christ or anything or anyone that bears His name. Whatever is thought, said, or done: don’t say that name or anything that reminds the world who he is.

…I happen to love Israel, love the Jewish people, and love the Jewish Savior who is Jewish through and through. But even if I didn’t, I have no problem with Happy Hanukkah. I do, however, have a problem with Happy Holidays. It’s more than just semantics. It’s a deliberate politically correct, socially expedient substitution for the very essence of my faith and the faith of millions of others who have trusted in what God’s Son did for us and the whole human race; starting with his miraculous birth (Christmas), culminating in his miraculous resurrection from the dead (Easter resurrection day).

For one thing, we have plenty of Happy Holidays throughout the year.

What’s so wrong with the one time of year that incorporates the very best of all those holidays into the most precious, powerful, and profitable sequence of events ever to hit the human race: The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Messiah Jesus.

So Then, How Is It Possible to Leave Jesus Christ Out of Christmas?

Marginalizing or (worse) ignoring the fact that Christ Jesus is the one and only real reason for a Christmas season is both cause and effect of spiritual blindness and deafness to such truths as: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

I’m not talking about a state religion or a religious state that seeks to legislate morality. Please see Eye of Prophecy articles, Separation of Church and State, Part I & Part II (April 2016) for what I believe is a balanced view of that ever-present issue.

In fact, if you know anything at all about the Bible, you’ll find that the Lord abhors all man-made religions. Reason: all religions have one thing in common. They seek to appease or please God (or their own man-made god, such as Allah) through their self-worth or good deeds.

Whereas, Biblical redemption declares:

Man-made religions and cults say: Do what our religion says to do, and you just might make it.

God’s salvation says: It’s been done … just believe and receive the One who did for us what we cannot possibly do for ourselves.

Thus, the Christian faith is NOT a religion. It is a relationship with Messiah Jesus who came to us in human form through a divine birth. How, then, is it possible that Christ can be (has been) removed from Christmas by so many?

For a nation—via governmental restrictions or regulations—to disparage or deny or even to downgrade what the true and living God considers to be the most significant event of human history (life, death, resurrection of His Son, beginning with his birth) is to jeopardize and eventually forfeit God’s blessings on that nation, as expressed in the truth and principles of the Bible.

Such as: “Trust in the Lord and do good (we do good because we’ve been redeemed, not in order to get saved). Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you… Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act…” (Psalm 37:3-7a, italics for emphasis, parenthesis mine).

Yes, the Lord blesses and honors people and nations whose God is The Lord.

“Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed” (Psalm 37:34).

The United States of America was clearly a gift from God to honor those who came to this land seeking freedom to worship God and begin a new life built on the Judeo/Christian heritage. He blessed this nation with that freedom and great abundance. It amazes me that so many in today’s America (indeed, the whole world) have forgotten or never recognized this correlation between honoring God and being honored and blessed in return.

There’s another practical principle of God’s blessing in Scripture. One that pertains to treatment of the Jews and Israel—chosen by God to bring us the Scriptures and the Living Word … Messiah Jesus (John 1:1): Those who bless Israel will, in turn, be blessed. And those who curse Israel…. (Genesis 12).

Removing Christ from Christmas is another sign of eliminating God from our national conscience. Doing either can lead to loss of God’s provisions and protection. Most of all … his presence.

Why? Because God the Father’s magnificent plan for humanity—individually and corporately—is centered in his Son’s extraordinary life (teaching and miracles), substitutionary sacrificial death, and astounding resurrection from the dead. And it all began with Jesus’s miraculous birth—the very heart of Christmas.

What every person does about Jesus Christ will determine their eternal destiny—heaven or hell. God allows no neutrality when it comes to his Son. You either believe and receive Christ as personal Savior or you don’t. Moreover, this life on earth is the only time given to us to make that decision. After we die, it’s too late.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle John also wrote:

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know (not just think or hope, but know beyond any doubt) you have eternal life” (I John 5:11-13, parenthesis mine).

Here is the final excerpt from, Merry Christmas … What’s It All About?

Jesus is the Reason for Every Season!

New Year’s: An exciting time for all to contemplate a new start … to be better, to do better.

Jesus, himself, the giver of second chances, of a new beginning, a new life … everlasting. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Corinthians 5:17). In the next to last chapter of the Bible, God said to John: “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5).

Martin Luther King Day: A champion of racial equality, of equal opportunity for all.

In Christ, all are equal. There is absolutely no discrimination by Christ. Yes, his salvation is exclusive, because he is the only way to God and everlasting life (Acts 4:12). But he and his message are also unconditionally inclusive to ALL who believe and receive him. “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26 & 28).

Valentine’s Day: Love makes the world go around. “Would you be my valentine?” we plead.

Concerning true everlasting love and life, we need only ask, “Jesus, would you be my Savior?”

God IS Love. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Memorial Day: Brave men and woman fought and gave their lives to help us preserve freedom from tyranny and oppression.

Christ gave his life to free us from sin which produces tyranny and cruelty and all that is wrong with humanity.

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).

And so, we remember what Christ said and did: “He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.’ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you’” (Luke 22:19-20).

Independence Day (4^th of July): A constitutional body founded on the profound principle of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We salute a flag that symbolizes a vibrant government of the people, by the people, and for the people. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

Even greater is the body of Christ, as Paul writes to the believers in Corinth: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:12-13).

Christ has great power to change the world, one redeemed heart at a time. Listen to the Apostle Paul, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself” (Ephesians 1:19-23).

Labor Day: Each year we set aside this day to rest from our weary labor that provides for our families.

But Christ is our ultimate rest … a respite from the unnecessary struggle to gain salvation through good works. From the guilt of sin, from the uncertainty of death. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Thanksgiving: The Pilgrims and founding fathers were immensely grateful to God for his providence and provisions in sustaining them through troubled times of testing and trials.

Without Christ’s willingness to come to this world he created, take on human form, and then die for the horrible things that everyone has done (some more than others but God doesn’t grade on a curve), we all would be helpless and hopeless.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NASB, italics for emphasis).

And don’t forget Easter. For those who place their trust in Christ, that day represents the first day of the rest of their lives … life that goes on and on and on, ad infinitum. Unless Christ rose from the dead, there would be no hope of our resurrection from the grave. And a Merry Christmas—any kind of Christmas—would have no meaning at all.

Mother’s Day. Father’s Day. Pick a holiday … any other holiday not listed here. And you’ll find that Jesus can also be the reason for that season.

Things to Ponder

We are just a few days past that time of the year.

Did you miss it?

Many might say: “Of course, I didn’t miss it. Put up a tree, strung some lights, listened to holiday music, exchanged presents, ate everything in sight. It was okay, but I’m glad it’s over.”

Let me put it another way: Did you miss Him? Did you even think about Jesus? Did you speak his name aloud?

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

We all have a choice:

“But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved….” (Joel 2:32).

What say you about the Christ of Christmas?

(A belated) MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy New Year

A Personal Introduction to This Week’s Article

This is the third time that I’ve begun an article on a personal note. The reason: this week’s post is number 300 since my first article was published.

Given that 300 is an obvious multiple of 3, what better subject than the number three!

After my 2^nd book Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? was published in 2011, a few people asked if/when I would write a third book. At the time, I had no answer for them or for me. But the Lord knew, and it wasn’t long afterward that he answered that question with the inception of Eye of Prophecy blog site in July 2013.

Out of curiosity I searched the statistics available through my blog site host Word Press for the combined word count of all 299 articles prior to this week’s post. That count: 1,400,049 words. Then I divided that number by the manuscript word count of Out of the Abyss (111,470 … 286 pages).

The comparison: these 299 articles would be the equivalent of 12.5 books the length of Out of the Abyss!

This is in no way, a boast. Instead, I’m in awe of the Lord who can and will do for his people, that which we could not do for ourselves … either in quantity or quality.

Said Jesus to his followers: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The profound implication here is that we can do nothing that produces eternal dividends unless we are in Christ and Christ in us.

There are several numbers in Scripture that bear remarkable relevance to the accomplishment of God’s providential plans for his creation, especially humanity. Such numbers as 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 40, 70, 400, 1,000. But none more so than 3 & 7, which are divine in both essence and expression. They are the numbers that, above all, reveal and relate to God’s ultimate sovereignty in all things pertaining to life and death—past, present, and future.

The number three decisively defines who God is; I AM … everlasting to everlasting.

The number seven dramatically demonstrates what God does in the course of his interaction with people and nations, reflecting his creative love but also his consuming judgment of sin and evil. For example: the seven days of creation and seven years of the Great Tribulation, soon to come.

Thus, it’s no coincidence that there are three sets of seven judgments each (Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls in the book of Revelation) in preparation for the magnificent Kingdom of God on earth. Which will bring mankind full circle back to where it all began in the Garden of Eden. Only this time even better and lasting forever—New Jerusalem, new heavens, new earth!

Continuing briefly with the personal introduction of today’s post: In Romans 12:6-8, the Apostle Paul lists the seven gifts given (one to each believer in Messiah Jesus) by the Holy Spirit. They are:

Prophecy (forthtelling, not foretelling as that ended with the closed Canon of the Bible): Declaring the Truth.

Service: Practicing the Truth

Teaching: Explaining the Truth

Exhortation: Applying the Truth

Giving: Supporting the Truth

Leading: Organizing the Truth

Mercy: Ministering the Truth

(Note: Credit goes to my Pastor, Mark Martin; Senior Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, AZ for the concise one-word summary of how each believer uses his/her gift to serve the Lord)

The Lord has graciously given me the gift of teaching, primarily through the written word. And by the Lord’s grace, through the discernment and insight given to me, I will do as exhorted by the Apostle Paul: “…If you are a teacher, teach well” (Romans 12:7).

Whether I have taught well is not mine to gauge. That critique belongs first to God, then to the readers.

Whatever the result or harvest, it is a profound privilege and humbling honor to serve him.

One other observation: Today’s article is the 21^st in the Category of Devotional / Miscellaneous (one of five categories for Eye of Prophecy articles). Which is meaningful to me in the following way: 3 x 7 =s 21!

The Number Three

The number 3 is used 467 times in the Bible. Then the intriguing fact that there are 27 books in the New Testament. Which is 3 x 3 x 3. With the 39 books of the Old Testament also a factor of three … 3 x 13.

Although there are several sets of threes in Scripture, we’re only going to examine the two most prominent. The first set comprising the very essence/existence of God; the second set containing the three primary attributes of God. Plus, a third general group presenting analogies to or examples of threes that track with their divine counterpart.

But first, I need to cite three passages that encapsulate the purpose, productivity, and (hopefully) the profitability (spiritually to the readers) of Eye of Prophecy website. Particularly to help believers, whether students of Bible prophecy or not, to: “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. (II Peter 3:18).

First Passage: “…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b). Without changing the meaning of this part of the verse, the idea could accurately be expanded to: For Jesus is the very essence of prophecy.

Second Passage: “…defending and confirming the truth of the Good News” (Philippians 1:7b). Because we are near the end of this age, there is no greater time in history for the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached, defended, and confirmed by believers, through the gift given to them.

Third Passage: “Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (Psalm 96:3, emphasis added). Thanks be to the Lord, people from 189 nations have visited this website.

First Significant Set of Threes: The Trinity

Trinity is a theological term that succinctly describes the Triune God; however, the word itself is not found in Scripture. It doesn’t need to be. Because the existence of One God (the only true and living God) in Three Persons is crystal clear in the Bible: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are even a handful of situations (passages) in which all three are identified at the same time. For example, Matthew 28:19.

Based on this universal, eternal truth, Webster’s Dictionary defines Triune as: three in one; of or relating to the Trinity (of God).

There are multiple references in both Old and New Testaments to confirm the existence of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but in keeping with today’s theme, only three pivotal passages (with relevant associated verses) will be quoted. Beginning with the very beginning of the Bible … the Book of Genesis.

First Passage:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

Most know that the original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew. Elohim—the first of several names/titles of God found in the Bible—is in the plural. In His magnificent account of creation given to Moses, the Lord makes this astounding statement:

“Then God (Elohim) said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” (Genesis 1:26, NASB, emphasis added, parenthesis mine).

Although Judaism doesn’t recognize the Triune existence of God and unfortunately will not accept the Biblical evidence that God has a Son as clearly conveyed in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Lord plainly pronounces from the beginning that he is Three Persons in One.

Jewish scholars have tried to explain away this remarkable referral of God to himself as “Us,” by proposing that the plural is used in deference to (God’s) divinity or royalty. Which is sometimes the case with rulers (monarchs) when referring to themselves. At the very best, this is a woefully weak argument as applied to the account in Genesis. If that were the case, then the Lord would have more frequently and consistently referred to himself in the plural throughout the many times he spoke in the first person to Moses and subsequent prophets.

Instead, God uses the plural of his name in a startling manner to specifically reveal (from/in the beginning) that He (Us) created tri-part man/woman—body, soul, spirit—in His image.

God the Father is a Person and has personal characteristics, three of which we will examine shortly. The Holy Spirit is also a (the third) Person of the Godhead and was there at creation, “…hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). God the Son was first introduced immediately after Adam and Eve sinned; disobedience that would devastatingly result in death and all their descendants inheriting that sin nature. A nature that could only be transformed by God’s remarkable plan of redemption, which would come through a special man (in bodily form).

Thus, God said to Satan, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head (an eternal death blow), and you will strike his heal” (Genesis 3:15, parenthesis mine).

This strike on the heel would be a temporary wound (Jesus’s death on the cross) that would providentially lead to eternal salvation to all who believe that God raised his Son from the dead and then receive the Son as their Personal Savior.

“For God loved the world (you/me) so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, parenthesis mine).

Second Passage:

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’) (Isaiah 7:14, parenthesis in the text).

This is a powerful prophecy of the coming Messiah, a child (son) born of a Virgin. Moreover, this Son would indisputably be from the woman’s seed only … as we read in Genesis 3. With the extraordinary evidence that the child would not be fathered by a man, rather through God’s supernatural means by which the woman (Mary) would conceive her son.

Said the angel Gabriel to Mary: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his kingdom will never end!’

“Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin.’ The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.… For nothing is impossible with God’” (Luke 1:31-35 & 37).

Returning to the book of Isaiah; just two chapters after God announces that a Virgin will conceive and deliver a son who would be Immanuel (fully man and fully God), we read what is one of my all-time favorite passages in the Bible … though all of Scripture is dear to me.

How plain can anything be? This supernaturally conceived child, this son (of God) IS God, as much as God the Father is surely the only true and living God. Furthermore, the child was born and given to us—the whole world. Which is why Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man. Meaning universally.

Third Passage (Another Messianic prophecy/reality):

“For the Lord declares, ‘I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.’ The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father (the today would be the composite “day” of the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah Jesus some 1,000 years later)….’

“Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 2:6-7 & 10-12, parenthesis mine).

The existence of the Trinity is overwhelmingly manifest in Scripture, both stated and implied. Including the exceptional evidence that God has a Son and King David recognized the Son as his Lord (Psalm 110).

Note that these three leading passages have been taken from the Old Testament, commonly referred to as the Hebrew Scriptures. This to once again demonstrate (with love and concern for both non-believing Jews and Muslims) that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit comprise the One God in Three Persons. Whereas, those believers in Messiah Jesus, Jew and Gentile alike, already know that the New Testament is replete with references to our Triune God.

Second Significant Set of Threes … The Three Omni(s)

There are a multitude of attributes ascribed to the Triune God, all of which express the Lord’s glory (essence). Such as: God IS Love; God IS Truth; God IS Righteousness; God IS Justice; God IS Light (literally and spiritually); God IS Immutable (does not change), and God IS (the very source of) Peace.

Yet, there are three features that supremely contain and supernaturally convey God’s sovereign capacity to accomplish his purpose and plan for humanity.

All three of these characteristics begin with the word, Omni.

The word (used almost exclusively as a prefix) Omni is derived from the Latin word omnis which Webster’s Dictionary defines simply as: “all; universally.”

As applied to God’s absolute divinity this prefix, by default, both states and infers that the following three ascendant attributes of God belong only to Him. Not to mankind and certainly not to man-made gods such as the god of Islam, or of any other religion or cult.

God’s Omnipotence (All Powerful)

We’ve already read Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and bear a son (through the non-physical spiritual power of the Holy Spirit). The same Holy Spirit who “hovered above the waters” at Creation. When Mary asked how such a thing could be, Gabriel explained it by summarily saying: For nothing is impossible with God.

Amazingly enough, the first time this expression to communicate God’s omnipotence is found in Scripture regards another miracle birth of a child. Nearly every student of the Bible (and even many unbelievers) know the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. Sarah was 90 years old when she gave birth to the promised child, Isaac … impossible!

Do you remember the Lord’s (the first Pre-Incarnate appearance of Messiah Jesus) response to Abraham when Sarah laughed at the thought? Read with me:

“…Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything to hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son” (Genesis 18:13-14, emphasis added).

Throughout Biblical times right up to our post-modern world, we see God’s unequaled power (omnipotence) on display through mighty miracles, not the least of which is Creation itself that established the natural laws of physics in the universe and biological order of life itself.

Then more miracles that transcend those laws; often performed to deliver and defend his chosen people. Each of the ten awesome plagues against the Egyptians that led to the Exodus, fall into the category of “super” natural (above and beyond the natural). As did the Lord’s unimaginable extension of daylight hours, enabling Joshua to soundly defeat Israel’s enemies during the conquest of Canaan. There are dozens of incidents in the Old Testament where God divinely intervenes in the affairs of people to demonstrate his sovereignty and omnipotence.

And, of course, the Gospels of the New Testament are replete with miracle after miracle performed by Messiah Jesus to irrefutably validate that he is the Son of God and God the Son. To wit: Setting aside the laws of nature by turning water into wine and then walking on water. Feeding thousands of men, women, and children with hardly enough food for one person. Healing hundreds (if not thousands) from incurable diseases and irreversible deformities. Casting out demons with but a simple command. Raising the dead. And the greatest of all: his own resurrection from the grave.

Once again in the soon to come Great Tribulation, our Triune God’s incomparable power and authority will be on full display. This time to judge the earth and prepare the whole world for Messiah’s return to establish the eternal Kingdom of God. It will begin with God’s decisive defeat of the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel.

The result: “In this way, I will 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 38:23).

By the time that the seven seal, seven trumpet, and seven bowl judgments have run their seven-year Tribulation course, there will be no doubt whatsoever among all the earth’s inhabitants who have chosen the Antichrist over the true Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, that: “I am the Lord; there is no other God … so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:5-6).

And, “For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place… I am the Lord, he says, and there is no other…. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right…. For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other” (Isaiah 45:18-19 & 21b-22).

Did you come away with the same conclusion as I did from these verses (and many others like them): The Lord alone is God and there are no other gods! That assuredly includes Islam’s Allah and the Koran which is virtually devoid of miracles and prophecies in stark contrast to the Bible which contains a plethora of both.

Speaking of prophecies, the second sovereign attribute is that of:

God’s Omniscience (All knowing)

Scripture tells us that God is timeless; indeed, he created time itself. He is everlasting to everlasting … with the past, present, and future the same to him. He knows precisely what will happen tomorrow, next month, next year, and for all eternity. This omniscience is why only God can foretell the future with 100% accuracy and has done so countless times throughout Scripture. Then through his providential omnipotence, he brings his prophecies through his prophets to pass. Thereby, accomplishing his purpose and plans for humanity. With the greatest of these: His (free) gift of salvation through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ to pardon the penalty of our sins.

Says the Lord: “…I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future” (Isaiah 44:6-7, emphasis added).

Can anyone know all that God knows? Or do what he has done and will do? Yet, there are a host of philosophies, religions, and geopolitical schemes that purport to know and presumptuously tell billions of people on this planet what’s best for them. With these man-made religions and systems and their adherents, “…refusing to love and accept the truth that would save them” (II Thessalonians 2:10). Whereas, true Christianity is NOT a religion. Rather it is a personal relationship with the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Ever so sadly, billions on Planet Earth have and will continue to reject their only hope for salvation. They don’t want to know and do not acknowledge the truth of God’s Word, such as:

Regarding mankind’s vain search for wisdom and knowledge that excludes the very source of both, God issues a challenge with some fascinating images.

“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?” (Isaiah 40:12-14).

Despite theory after changing theory, to this day secular scientists still disagree over how the universe came into being.

They still cannot explain precisely where gravity came from or how such an invisible force can hold the heavenly bodies in place. Or the wonders of where a sperm and an egg came from originally or how the union of the two can produce thousands of species after their own kind, the most intricate and most complex of which is human life. How is it possible that certain cells create certain organs, then for these organs to fit and work together with intricate body chemistry, not to mention sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch? And the capacity to inductively and deductively think (the human brain). And how on earth did the blood originate?!

Here is another challenge from the Lord regarding his Omniscience and his amazing ability to predict the future, to include false gods and false prophets not even able to recall the distant past with any degree of accuracy or certainty, let alone the future:

“Present the case for your idols, says the Lord. Let them show what they can do, says the King of Israel. Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us. But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves” (Isaiah 41:21-24).

There’s more: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens” (Isaiah 42:8-9).

Hundreds of years later, the Apostle Paul summarized the matchless knowledge and wisdom of the true and living God, but this time in the context of the New Covenant—established and sealed through the once for all shed blood of Messiah Jesus for our sins.

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.’

“So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish…. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:18-24).

What’s your preference? Have you looked to astrological horoscopes or to so-called psychics or to political and socioeconomic pundits to tell you what’s going to happen? Do you seriously believe they can, with 100% accuracy? Or any accuracy at all? Would you really trust them with your life and future?

(The Stars won’t determine our future. But the One who created them will, if we only let Him)

As for me, I have entrusted my eternal destiny to the God of miracles, whose prophecies (promises) are fulfilled 100% of the time. Whose Son rose from the dead to prove that he is who he said he is: “The way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). With the Holy Spirit sealing my salvation and indwelling (guiding, counseling, comforting) me during my time on this earth.

“In him (Messiah Jesus) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3, parenthesis mine).

God’s Omnipresence (Everywhere, All at Once)

Our Great God is confined neither to time nor space, because he created both. He can be anywhere he chooses; at any time, he chooses. If you think about it, that’s incredible. No human being can do that. Nor can any other god, because there are no other gods. Even Satan and his demons (fallen angels) can not be in two places at once.

The Third Person of the Triune Godhead, the Holy Spirit, is the one who expresses God’s divine attribute of omnipresence. Although Messiah Jesus is Omnipotent and Omniscient and though he has an immortal glorified body since his resurrection from the grave, he can only be in one place at a time. However, the primary purpose and practical performance of the Holy Spirit is to indwell believers in Messiah Jesus world-wide (from every nation, language, and peoples) to do what Jesus would do if he were still on earth. And do so everywhere, all the time.

Listen to these stirring words from Jesus given so his followers would not be discouraged when he returned to heaven until Father God’s appointed time for him to return to earth:

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you (that he would be leaving them). But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

“…When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me’” (John 16:5-15, parenthesis mine).

Which effectively means that Jesus—who is the express image of God and who reveals to us the very essence of God (Hebrews 1:3 & Colossians 1:15 & 19)—is also omnipresent, i.e. through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

By virtue of the Holy Spirit indwelling believers, God the Father and God the Son is with every believer ALL THE TIME, wherever we are. Not just individually, but in groups of two or three or three hundred or three thousand … on and on. No matter how many of these groups happen to be meeting at the same time around the world.

That is truly amazing!

Third Significant Set(s) of Threes

Here, we’re going examine in more general terms examples of threes that represent (analogies to) and/or resemble (examples of) the dynamics of the Trinity.

The Sun: Though it’s nigh on impossible to fully wrap our minds around God’s existence as Three Persons in One, it’s possible to at least partially grasp this phenomenon by considering the intrinsic qualities of our Sun, as applied to the Trinity. It’s a paradigm I and others have used before. The Sun (as a whole) itself represents God the Father. The light of the Sun depicts the Son of God, Messiah Jesus—who said himself that he is the light of the world. The warmth of the Sun is reflective of the Holy Spirit who envelops believers in the wonderful warm-heartedness of God’s unconditional love, protection, provisions, promises, and very presence.

Water: Nearly everyone knows from elementary school science that water can be in three forms or states of existence—liquid, solid (ice) and gas (vapor or steam). This is a three-in-one dynamic because at any time under the right conditions, each of these behaviors of water can become one of the other two. If this prototype of three-in-one exists in the natural (nature), then why not in the spiritual (supernatural).

Human Beings: Although each of us is one person, we consist of three distinct parts—body, soul, and spirit. This unified yet tri-part existence is what makes us in the image of God. Among other things (like language), it is our spirit that distinguishes us from the animals, for our spirit is eternal. (And one day so will the bodies of believers be transformed to that which is immortal … spiritual bodies).

Every(body) is unique, even identical twins. As is our soul (persona, who we are).

However, the human spirit is the same in every person.

It is our spirit that connects us to God. Yet, because we are born with a sin nature, the Bible tells us that our sprit is dead (to God). It must be made alive. Jesus explained the spiritual rebirth (of all who personally accept him as Lord and Savior) as that of being “born again” (John 3:3).

Without the second (spiritual) birth, no one can truly relate to God, be in right standing with him, or spend eternity in heaven with him (Romans 3:22-25).

Measurement & Experience of Time Itself: Past, Present, & Future.

Obviously, we always experience time itself in the immediate present. A second after we live the next moment of the future, it becomes the past. However, think about it: for one fleeting nanosecond, we are essentially in the past, present, and future all at once. Which for all practical purposes, makes these divisions of time three-in-one.

A Three-Branch Government: Until Messiah Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth which will effectively be a Divine Monarchy with Christ as the King of all kings, the best form of government is one of checks and balances via Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Each is separate from the other, but each serves to identify and (hopefully) unify the people governed as one nation. Whether this is through a Republic or Parliamentary representative system doesn’t matter that much, if the three branches serve in the role designed for each branch without any one branch usurping the constitutional designated authority of the others. At least in principle, this is a three-in-one model.

Things to Ponder

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

“When you came to Christ, you were ‘circumcised’ but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature…. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:8-11 & 13-14)

If you were condemned to die, wouldn’t you accept a pardon if freely offered to you as a gift? Especially, if someone else had died in your place to make that pardon possible?

No one can earn God’s favor or work their way to heaven by hoping their good deeds outweigh the bad. It’s not only impossible, it’s an insult to God. Because, if our intrinsic worth or good works could set aside our sins, then Messiah Jesus died for absolutely no reason.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) … God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:4-5 & 8-9, parenthesis in the text).

Now, three more threes:

“…Grace and peace to you from the (1) one who is, (2) who always was, and (3) who is still to come (1 God the Father); from the sevenfold Spirit (2 another name for the Holy Spirit) before his throne; and from (3) Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:4-5a, parenthesis mine).

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (II Corinthians 13:14).

Without Israel there would be no Messiah. Without the Messiah, there would be no Israel.

Without either, there would be no redemption for humanity.

Praise be to our great and glorious God! It is through Israel that Messiah came, and it is to Jerusalem that he will return.

Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem, Israel from the tribe of Judah, through the lineage of King David; the Son of David, a title for the Messiah. He was born of a Jewish virgin, Mary; the Son of Man (born to and for all mankind). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit; the Son of God—as he always has been and always will be.

As indicated in a few prior Eye of Prophecy articles, God’s panoramic plan for people is in two parts.

(1) His selection of Abraham some 3,800 years ago to be the father of a people who would bring to all nations the Messiah. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the Patriarchs whose descendants became a nation after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and triumphant entrance in and possession of the Promised Land of Israel. Through the extraordinary world-wide return of Jewish immigrants to this Promised Land and the miraculous rebirth of Israel in 1948, this plan is nearing final fulfillment in our generation.

(2) The coming of Messiah some 2,000 years ago as foretold by Jewish prophets; to create the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts of all who believe and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. And his magnificent return to establish the physical Kingdom of God on earth. The whole earth will be filled with his righteousness, justice, and peace.

God knew from the beginning that when our original parents decided to go their own way and do their own thing, mankind would be incapable of bridging the gulf between Himself and people caused by sin and rebellion against a Holy God. Thus, it was necessary for the Lord to take the initiative.

To provide a place (Israel), a people (the Jews), and a person (Messiah Jesus) for our lost paradise to be restored, beginning with individual redemption from sin and its awful penalty.

Said God the Father about and to His Son, the Messiah:

The Essence of Prophecy

“…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b, from the New Living Translation which I cite, unless otherwise noted in my articles). As you’ve probably noticed, this quote is near the top of the Home Page of Eye of Prophecy website.

From the New American Standard Bible, the last part of Revelation 19:10 reads: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

From these or any other translation, the verse is also telling us: Jesus is the essence of prophecy.

Biblical prophecy is a declaration of the end from the beginning, with 100% accuracy in its’ fulfillment. Which is only possible by our Triune God who is the Beginning and the End; First and Last; Alpha and Omega. Which are attributes expressed by the name of God as first given to Moses: I AM. It is the name that contains God’s glory, his very essence. He is everlasting to everlasting. The one who created all things, including time itself. Yet he is above and apart from time.

Jesus confidently used that same name of himself: “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!’” (John 8:58).

That is the reason he was crucified—because he said he was/is God, though he had already demonstrated he could do what no other person had ever done, i.e. his multiple miracles. Later, he conclusively proved his bold claim by rising from the dead!

Why is it that so many people casually dismiss, and others outright reject these historical facts? The answer is all too evident. To acknowledge what Jesus said and did (and why … especially on the cross) is to also accept and act on Jesus’s exclusive claim that highlights his Messianic mission on earth to restore people back to God.

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

There is no neutrality with Jesus. Either we believe and receive him as personal Savior, or we don’t. The choice is ours to make, and the consequence is ours to take.

In the first chapter of the last book of the Bible, Jesus declares: “…I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Then in the last chapter of the last book, Jesus again announces: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth… He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together… For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself” (Colossians 1:15-17 & 19-20).

Jesus’s Amazing Announcements While on the Cross

Many sermons have been preached; multiple books, articles, and commentaries have been written about Jesus’s words during the six hours that he hung on that cruel cross. Most of the messages and commentary concentrate on one or two of Jesus’s expressions at a time.

We’re going to examine these startling statements in the broader perspective of God’s panoramic plan of salvation.

We all die. Death is a direct result of sin. But we weren’t born only to die. We were born to live and while alive to make the most important decision (by far) of our lives. A decision that is literally a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Not so with Jesus. He was already eternal; yet he was born as a human being for the express purpose of dying. A sacrificial lamb’s death of the righteous for the unrighteous, just for the unjust, innocent for the guilty.

It’s amazing to me that Jesus could or would say anything while on the cross. Even more remarkable: what he said.

It’s clear that he was already weak from the severe beating in the early morning hours that followed a night with no sleep at all. Being nailed to a cross was excruciating. In fact, we get our English word excruciating from crucifixion. The weight of his entire body borne by the nails in his wrists and feet made it (moment by passing moment) more difficult to even breathe, let alone talk.

Each of his seven statements (the divine number of completion and finality) synchronized the very substance of Biblical redemption. Some of his words were direct quotes from Old Testament Messianic prophecies, applied to himself.

Three of these declarations are found in the Gospel of John, three in Luke’s Gospel, and one (the same one) in Matthew and Mark. They will be presented in the order Jesus spoke them. I’m persuaded that this succession parallels the progression of God’s plan of salvation as first proclaimed in the Garden of Eden.

(1) “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)

Seriously?!

Jesus had been secretively seized (the religious leaders were afraid to arrest him publicly), illegally tried, unjustly accused, brutally beaten, wrongly sentenced to death, and ruthlessly nailed to a cross like a common criminal. Then maliciously mocked—as if slowly killing him wasn’t enough.

He had every (divine) right to retaliate against those who were killing him. To put them on trial before his Father in heaven, pronounce them guilty, and call for God’s punishment of his accusers and executioners right then and there. Instead, the first words out of his mouth was an intercession for the Jews and Gentiles complicit in his impending death. Astonishing!

Why would Jesus say such a thing? The Jewish and Roman leaders knew exactly what they were doing. What was the underlying meaning of and motive for these wonderful, yet bewildering words?

For the benefit of those watching and listening and for millions down through the ages who would later read the account of his death on the cross and reason, thereof, Jesus was referring to more than just what his accusers were doing to him. That it wasn’t the actual act of killing Jesus—one of many sins they had committed (like all people everywhere) that would condemn them. This astounding request to his Father was in the greater context of what they would do about his death once he arose from the grave three days later. Whether they would fully realize that what they had done ultimately could lead to their redemption (forgiveness) if only they would believe and receive as Savior the very person whom they had murdered.

Jesus was asking his Father to give them the benefit of the (their) doubt, even though the horrific consequence was his very death. The real issue was whether they would continue to deny that Jesus voluntarily had given up his life to save them because he was, in fact, the Son of God … The Messiah.

This goes all the way back to Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden.

They, too, knew exactly what they were doing. What they didn’t contemplate, accept, or know (for sure) is whether God would impose the penalty of death on them, just like He said would happen if they disobeyed Him, i.e. the full consequences of their actions. In fact, they did die, but (like their descendants until the Great Flood) not for hundreds of years. Why? Because the Lord gave them ample time and an all-important second chance to set aside the spiritual component of their death sentence (eternal separation from God) by trusting the Lord’s plan of atonement—through the shedding of innocent blood.

Right then and there in the Garden, God announced this marvelous plan of salvation by telling Satan, as Adam and Eve listened, that a Savior would come from the seed of the woman.

This woman would be Israel in general and Mary in particular.

The seed of the woman was the Messiah. From that first prophecy came hundreds more prophecies pertaining to Israel and her Messiah.

Thus, Jesus’s first poignant words were in keeping with the Triune God’s redemptive plan for mankind, that began in the Garden of Eden. His plea for God’s forgiveness of those who had falsely accused him, unfairly sentenced him, and were mercilessly killing him was tantamount to God withholding his immediate judgment against them. Just as Adam and Eve didn’t die on the spot after eating of the forbidden fruit. Just as Jesus had foregone his power and authority to call a legion of angels to annihilate those who arrested him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus caringly asked his Father to give them a second chance to fully realize that what they were doing (at the time) was part of God’s sovereign plan. Eventually, however, they would have to do something about what they had done.

In the first Gospel message after Jesus returned to heaven (preached by the Apostle Peter at Pentecost), Peter concluded with: “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!

“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?'” (Acts 2:36-37).

Because we were all complicit in Jesus’s death, the Apostle Paul wrote:

“…The message is very close at hand. It is on your lips and in your heart. And that message is the very message about faith that we preach. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-9).

If after his resurrection from the dead—which proved Jesus is who he said he is—they still did not believe in Him; then their sins, including putting Jesus to death, would not be forgiven. They would have no excuse whatsoever, because they would be guilty of something even worse, of eternal consequence: Persistently refusing to believe that Jesus was, in fact, their Messiah and Savior (accessory after the fact).

Father forgive them… With these incredibly compassionate words, Jesus expressed the very essence of the Triune God, when God the Father (for the second time) revealed his name to Moses.

“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! (I AM) The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren…’” (Exodus 34:6-7, parenthesis mine).

During Jesus’s trial, do you remember what the people shouted after Pontius Pilate (who knew that Jesus was innocent) literally washed his hands of the whole matter?

“And all the people yelled back, ‘We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!’” (Matthew 27:25).

They knew what they were doing. Yet, if they would later come to their senses, God would forgive them; for this forgiveness was the reason that Jesus allowed them to crucify him.

But so great a salvation available through the Lord’s “unfailing love and faithfulness” was only possible if they fully realized (knew) and acknowledged as Messiah Savior the very one whom they put to death. Ultimately, the guilty in God’s eyes are those who refuse to believe and receive His Son.

“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment” (John 3:36).

(2) “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)

Many, both believers and unbelievers, know of this second surprising statement that Jesus made while on the cross. It was more extraordinary evidence that Jesus was thinking of the eternal welfare of those around him; though he was suffering an excruciating death at the hands of his enemies.

As we know, there were two condemned guilty men crucified with Jesus; one on his left, the other on his right. One of them sarcastically mocked Jesus (both did, but the other one came to his senses). Said this criminal: “…So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” (Luke 23:39).

That’s what the Roman soldiers and Jewish religious leaders were also saying aloud. Did this criminal think that the Romans would take him off the cross if he joined most of the crowd as they ridiculed Jesus? Or was he taunting Jesus out of sheer spite? Or both?

“But the other criminal protested, ‘Don’t you fear God, even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom’” (Luke 23:40-42).

What an unexpected thing for his man to say to Jesus!

Then and there he placed his eternal destiny in Jesus’s hands, by doing the only thing he could do—the only thing any of us can do. He obviously couldn’t be and wasn’t baptized (which is a sign of our salvation, not the means to redemption); nor could he do anything to make up for his sins. He called Jesus by name and put his entire trust in this man who he now realized and believed was the Messiah. It’s obvious that he knew little to nothing about the kingdom. But he knew that this kingdom belonged to and would be ruled by Jesus and would be far better than any man-made domain on earth, because the man said, “your Kingdom.”

Though Jesus had taught frequently about the Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven, not even Jesus’s disciples yet understood that their Teacher’s death (then resurrection) would usher in the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts of all who believed in Him. Or the Kingdom of God that would be established on the earth upon Jesus’s return. Whatever or wherever the Kingdom was, this man desperately wanted to be there with Jesus. For all intents and purposes, he was asking Jesus to forgive him and save him from eternal death.

And that’s exactly what Jesus did; because the request was made with the same kind of faith (trust) that Abraham had, which the Lord credited to Abraham as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).

Faith that produced an eternal perspective on God’s plan for all peoples: “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed by God” (Hebrews 11:10). Faith that God would restore mankind full circle from the paradise lost to a paradise restored—through the once for all substitutionary sacrifice of the Messiah, originally promised to Adam and Eve.

Accordingly, Jesus assured the man that he would be with him that very day in paradise. By granting his request, Jesus made it crystal clear that simple trust in God and his remedy for sin—His Son’s sacrifice on the cross—was the only requirement for citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. And in the ensuing Kingdom of God on earth.

(3) “Dear woman, here is your son.… Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27)

Students of Scripture know the context of this emotional announcement of Jesus, and to whom he was speaking. The woman is Jesus’s mother Mary; the son is Jesus’s disciple John, but John was not Mary’s son. The end of verse 27 says: “…And from then on this disciple took her into his home” (to care and provide for her). It’s evident that Mary’s husband, Joseph, had died by now; otherwise there would be no need for someone else to take care of Mary.

The most common commentary on this verse is twofold: (A) Taking care of the needy, especially widows and orphans, as is so often depicted in both the Old and New Testaments. For example: “Sing praises to God and to his name! …His name is the LORD (I AM)—rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows… God places the lonely in families…” (Psalm 68:4-6, parenthesis mine).

(B) Instead of selecting one of his half-brothers to care for his (their) mother Mary, Jesus chose John; most likely because John was his beloved disciple, one of the inner-circle three—the other two, Peter and James. Or, because John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross.

These commentaries are accurate and applicable to what Jesus was saying. But I believe there’s more: a profounder relevance.

The value of family cannot be overestimated. As a natural progression of marriage, it is the bedrock institution of civilization. The family is the foundation of communities, cities, states, and nations. Yet, the unity of every family, natural or blended, is temporary. Families are inevitably diminished by children growing up and leaving the household and by death of loved ones. Families are prematurely disrupted and even destroyed by abuse and by divorce.

In addition to solving the sin problem for each of us individually, Jesus also came to establish a whole new family unit.

One that would last forever!

It is the family of God!

And who can belong to this family?

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:10-13, italics for emphasis).

To all even included the Gentiles, which must have stunned the Jews—especially the religious leaders. Later, the Jewish Apostle Paul (a former Pharisee steeped in Judaism) who was radically changed when he, too, became a true child of God, wrote:

“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy (set apart) people. You are members of God’s family. Together (Jew and Gentile), we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19-21, parenthesis mine).

As precious as the family is to God and is (should be) to people, here is what Jesus said when told that, “…Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you. Jesus asked, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’” (Matthew 12:47-50).

And what is God’s ultimate will for people? In another scene, we read:

“They replied, ‘We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?’ Jesus told them, ‘This is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the one he has sent’” (John 6:28-29).

Thus, this new spiritual family of God is the New Covenant outcome of joining God’s original families (descendants of Abraham) with strangers and foreigners through the mediator (Jesus) of the New Covenant that the Lord promised through Jeremiah (Chapter 31). As a result, millions from virtually every race, language, and nation have been born (again) into the family of God.

“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations…. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross and our hostility toward each other was put to death” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Wrote the Apostle John to believers:

The beginning of this supernatural (born from above) new family of God began with the phenomenal birth of the promised child, Isaac. From whose lineage came the miraculous birth of the final Child of Promise—Messiah Jesus.

(4) “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)

This startling statement continues the progression of events that encompassed God’s plan of redemption, to the Jew first and then to the Gentile.

After Jacob’s family (twelve sons) became the nation of Israel, we read more about the problems of God’s chosen people in the Old Testament than any other topic. The main subject is that of the Jews turning from the Lord in favor of pagan man-made gods of wood, stone, and metal … gods that didn’t even exist, except in the minds of the Gentiles, and then the Jews. It was an agnostic abandonment of the Lord their God; who had rescued them from Egyptian slavery, gave them a land flowing with milk and honey, made them into a great nation, and prospered them physically and spiritually.

Was Jesus asking (wondering) why his Father had forsaken him … the reason for it? No, Jesus knew full well the reason. Yet, as the Son of Man (his human side), Jesus was expressing the unbearable thought that his Father God could or would do such a thing.

It was the same action that God took when he judged Israel by abruptly abandoning his people to their enemies (withdrawing his protection). However, after hundreds of years of rebellion, they deserved God’s justice through judgment. So, too, when God severely punished the Gentile nations which had crossed the divine line in their sadistic cold-hearted conquests of Israel.

Though Jesus understood what was happening to him and why, to fully grasp that God had totally abandoned him for that terrible moment in time was more than he could bear. It was worse even than the intense physical pain of the cross. The realty that his Father was judging him in the same fashion that he judged the people of Israel and in the same fashion that God will judge the sins of all those who reject Him and his perfect plan of redemption (through His Son) compelled Jesus to cry out, “Why….”

Why, my Father, must your judgment be so severe?

Though he was completing his mission and doing his Father’s will, it was a cry much like his agony in the Garden before he was arrested. “Abba, Father … everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36).

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (II Corinthians 5:21).

Consequently, God will never leave or forsake those who have placed their eternal trust in what His Son did for us, in our place.

God totally abandoned his Son and poured out full judgment on him … punishment that we deserve. The extent of which I don’t think even Jesus (as a man) realized would be so enormous until it happened to him. The full extent of which we will never fathom.

(5) “I am thirsty” (John 19:28)

Commentators have rightly discerned that these distressing words of Jesus expressed his humanity as much or more than anything else he said or did, before or on the cross. Jesus, who is Immanuel (God with us) as foretold by the prophets, was incredibly thirsty. Not only from the agonizing trauma inflicted on him, but also because he probably had nothing to drink since the Last Supper, some 20 hours earlier.

Though not nearly as thirsty, we remember that early in his ministry, Jesus stopped at a well in Samaria and said to the woman who was drawing water, “…Please give me a drink” (John 4:7).

“She said to Jesus, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water’…. ‘But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life’” (John 4:9-14).

At the conclusion of this stirring scene, Jesus plainly told her: “I AM the Messiah!” (Verse 26).

We drink water and we are thirsty again. We eat and are hungry again. Many fill themselves with possessions, pleasures, power, and prestige and are still empty inside.

In the same scene where Jesus told the crowd that the only thing God ultimately requires is that they believe in the one whom he sent, Jesus says:

“…I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty … For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:35 & 40).

As the Son of Man, Jesus was terribly thirsty on the cross—part of his severe suffering for our sins. But because of his great love for you and me and his dying (and undying) concern for our eternal destiny, he was willing to bear this thirst and all the other terrible pain he suffered—body, soul, and spirit. As the Son of God, Jesus would satisfy the spiritual longing of all who acknowledge that only he can quench such thirst and hunger.

“…Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

(6) “It is finished!” (John 19:30)

It’s fitting that this was Jesus’s sixth utterance on the cross. Six is the number of mankind.

And, oh, what an announcement!

The Second Person of the Great Triune God (Three in One) spoke these three words, which means: The debt is paid in full.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23).

Sin comes with a heavy price. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). Which separates what was created to be an eternal body from our still eternal soul and spirit. That’s a given.

But the price (debt) that we owe God to keep us from being separated (spiritual death) from Him forever is impossible to pay by anything we say, do, or are. That’s why Jesus paid the debt once and for all.

Completing Romans 6:23, we read: “…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

It is finished.

The only thing God requires of us to believe in Jesus and receive him and what he did for us as a gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB).

(7) “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46)

Jesus’s final of seven announcements on the cross, uttered with his dying breath.

Jesus wasn’t hoping nor asking (making sure) that the Father would take care of his spirit. That was understood.

He was expressing the culmination of God’s magnificent plan of salvation, assuring those who have believed and received Jesus as Savior and Lord that our spirit is safe and secure with the Lord when we die. As the Son of Man, Jesus was effectively saying: My spirit belongs to you; thus, I belong to you. I trust you Father with my spirit.

When God created us in his image, it was the soul and spirit that is the essence of that image. Our soul is who we are, our persona. It’s what makes us unique, each person distinct from another. But the human spirit is common to all people; it is our spirit that connects us to God our Creator, because God is Spirit.

When Adam and Eve sinned, their spirit died; thereafter, all people were born spiritually dead.

When we are “born-again” the Holy Spirit indwells us and makes our dead spirit alive; restoring the Garden of Eden fellowship that our parents had in the beginning with the Lord our God.

The Apostle Paul speaking to believers said: “But God is so rich in mercy and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4-5, parenthesis in the text).

Biblical salvation is the reconciliation and restoration of the soul and spirit (who we really are) back to God. Yet Jesus took this a step further. He arose from the dead … bodily! Which completes God’s marvelous plan of redemption—body, soul, and spirit. When the Rapture takes place, the spirit of every believer (those already dead and those still alive) will be united with our new eternal spiritual bodies that will live forever.

In summary: Each statement of Messiah Jesus while on the cross tracks with the Lord’s panoramic plan of redemption for humanity, as it has unfolded down through the ages.

With the best yet to come!

Things to Ponder

Every person on this earth—past, present, and future—will live forever. What makes all the difference in the world is WHERE and with whom.

For believers: Eternal life with God and the host of heaven. Paradise restored. Our spirit is in God’s hands.

For unbelievers: Eternal death in the Lake of Fire. Paradise still lost. Outside of God’s family.

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins (bears witness) with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory…” (Romans 8:15-17).

“…We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:23).

It doesn’t get any better than that!

If you have believed and received Messiah Jesus as your personal Savior, your first response would probably be: “Obviously, God is great. Of course, he’s so good. So, why does the title of this week’s article include the word yet (so good)?”

It’s clear that yet is used here as a conjunction, with the meaning of: “but, nevertheless” (Webster’s Dictionary).

However, an unbeliever’s reaction would more likely be: “If God is so great, then why does (a good) God allow bad things to happen? Particularly to good people?”

Life is hard, wouldn’t you agree. Bad things happen to us, even in the best of times. Thus, the last thing I want to do is minimize and certainly not trivialize the heartaches that everyone on this planet has experienced—some more than others (an enigma in and of itself). Such as the loss of loved ones, especially children or those who die before their time.

Messiah Jesus is the Son of God, proven by the amazing authority of what he said and how he said it. And even more by powerful miracles of all kinds that no one before or since has come close to doing. Most of all by his magnificent resurrection from the dead. Yet, as the Son of Man (completely human as well as divine), Jesus also agonized over the troubles that befall humanity.

“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief…. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down… But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” Isaiah 53:3-5).

Though he brought joy to thousands of people during his ministry on earth and millions more since then, his very purpose for coming to this earth in human form (Immanuel, God with us) was to suffer and die to bring God’s salvation to humanity. “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants…” (Isaiah 53:10, emphasis added).

Who are those descendants? “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13).

On at least two occasions (the ones recorded), Jesus shed tears. The first time is when Lazarus fell ill and died.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35, NASB).

Jesus cried, even though he knew that he would raise his friend from the dead. A miracle to prove the truth of what he said just before raising Lazarus:

Jesus not only wept but also became quite angry.

“When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled” (John 11:33). Not slightly, but deeply angered and troubled.

Even though it’s easy to understand why Jesus wept, what was it that made him so angry? No guessing is needed here. It’s the same thing that angered him on other occasions, i.e. the sorrowful state of humanity that not only led to physical death, but spiritual death (eternal separation from God) caused by sin. Coupled with so many who had already rejected him as the only hope for the human race’s abysmal condition. And many more people right up to the present day, who refuse to trust in Messiah Jesus—God’s only remedy for sin and death.

Which is also why he wept over his own people as he approached Jerusalem just a few days before the Jews (mainly the religious leaders) demanded his crucifixion and the Romans carried it out.

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ‘How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42).

He went on to say that Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed (which it was some 40 years later), providing the reason for that tragedy to come: “…because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation” (Verse 44). Also, see Matthew 23:37-39, for more poignant words that Jesus spoke as he approached Jerusalem that day.

Not long before that, he had vented his anger toward the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and brood of vipers. Why? Because they were the blind leading the blind. They not only had rejected the clear evidence that Jesus was the Messiah but had flaunted and misused their position and power to persuade countless others to ignore what Jesus had said and done to prove that he was their Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 23:13-36).

Proof that God is not only great, but also so very good. So good that he would send his only Son to take our sins upon himself and pay the ultimate price to pardon the (our) penalty for those sins.

Totally Trusting God in Good Times and Bad Times

This side of eternity, we may never know the reasons for everything that goes wrong in our lives. Nevertheless, God provides a broader-life perspective and world-view principle for everything and everyone; for those who question and even challenge the premise of God’s greatness and goodness in the context of life’s troubles and tragedies. This perspective and principle can be summed up in two words: Trust Him.

That trust is generated directly from who He is and what he says and does—as contained in His Word. For example:

In a moment, we’ll look more closely at why (we can say) God is great, yet so good; by contrasting those two divine qualities to that of people—particularly those who are in positions of power and authority. First, let’s examine three things concerning this matter of God’s greatness and goodness in the context of bad things that happen.

(1) God’s Original Plan for Mankind: Creation of the universe for his own purpose and pleasure. And formation of a beautiful earth on which his special creation (in his image) of man and woman would live and prosper. With the ability to think, talk, and move about. With the pleasures of food, drink, spousal intimacy, family companionship, and the amazing privilege of fellowship with their Creator. All of which are affected (good or bad) by the most profound of God’s gifts:

(2) Free Will—The Freedom to Choose: For that God-given liberty to mean anything to mankind, there must be a choice between right and wrong, good and evil, life and death. Already, one of God’s highest angels (Satan) had exercised his free will and rebelled against God—along with one-third of the angels. As we know, Satan immediately set about to persuade Adam and Eve to join him in this rebellion.

The essence of humanity’s choice, one that would influence all other choices, was quite simple: Take (trust) God at his Word.

We point to Adam and Eve’s failure by often citing the word disobedience. Which is true and exactly what happened. But the reason they refused to comply is because they chose to trust in themselves for what they thought would be good for them. That, and wanting to somehow be greater than they were. As great as God … to know all about “good and evil.”

They decided not to trust God who KNEW what GOOD really was. Not just good, but what was totally best for them in order to live and thrive in the ready-made paradise where God placed them—in which everything they needed had been provided. Even the wild animals were tame. A world in which there was only one decree, not ten commandments (given through Moses after the fact of man’s fall). And certainly not the hundreds or thousands of laws that govern us in today’s world to deter everyone from doing what seems right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).

All of humanity’s ills—disease, natural disasters, accidents, wrong doings of all kinds, and death are a direct (or indirect) result of man and woman’s original sin, a spiritual and physical defect inherited by all. And this sinful condition is simply because our parents chose not to trust (believe) God in what he said and what he would do. They chose death over life. That same choice of eternal life or eternal death remains for all people to this very day.

(3) God’s Remedy to Reconcile Humanity to Himself: The choice of life has been simplified even more, so much so that a child can understand it. Summed up in what is the most quoted and memorized verse in the New Testament. Jesus’s very words spoken for all people as given to one of the Jewish religious leaders, Nicodemus. I’ll reference the chapter/verse first, as many readers will immediately know the words. You may even be able to quote it, before you read it.

John 3:16:

In what is one of the most (if not the most) quoted/memorized passage in the Old Testament, we also find the way not only to eternal life but living life on this earth after salvation. It, too, is a matter of trust (in God) to know what’s good for us … the best.

Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight” (NASB; KJV says, he will direct your paths).

Concerning Unbelievers: The path of life for those who have not yet trusted God’s plan of salvation is found only in Messiah Jesus, as we read in John 3:16. (Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—John 14:6).

The crooked paths that will lead straight to hell are those carved out by the detour deceptions of man-made religions, humanistic philosophies, and self-righteousness of those who do not believe they need God’s righteousness imparted to them through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (II Cor. 5:21).

Concerning Believers: Though we don’t always see our paths clearly, they are straight and true and the best way to travel with the Lord when we totally trust Him.

Which brings us back to our main theme today:

God Is So Great and Yet So Very Good

A full acceptance of and appreciation for the first part of the premise; but sometimes taken-for-granted second part of the equation.

Believers in Messiah Jesus are keenly aware of God’s greatness. We are in awe of his attributes, including, but not limited to: all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere he chooses. And believers proclaim along with the Psalmist: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1; emphasis added—His faithful love endures forever is repeated in all 26 verses of that chapter).

Why is the “yet” part of this paradigm so incredibly awesome?

Answer: Because people, especially those with great power and authority, are not always (some never) good … to or for us. Human greatness and goodness rarely go together. When they do, it’s, at best, temporary. If for no other reason than whatever kindness people in authority may display or impart fades away when they’re replaced or die. Whereas, our Great God and Savior is from everlasting to everlasting!

Of course, God is great. This greatness is manifested in his creation of all things. One of his names is El Shaddai … Almighty God.

Yet, he is so good. The extraordinary gift of His Son’s sacrificial death on the Cross to purchase our redemption and grant us eternal life in heaven is God’s goodness (grace) in action. Thus, he is also called Adonai (Yahweh) Tsidqenu … The LORD Is Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 33:16, capitalization in the text).

And that’s just the beginning. For example: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh (are new) each morning… The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him” (Lamentations 3:22-23 & 25).

As the song goes, “God is good, all the time.”

God’s greatness and goodness are absolute Biblical stand-alone truths. However, about two years ago while praying one day, I spontaneously said aloud, “Lord, you are so great, yet so good.” I had often said the Lord is great and the Lord is good, and sometimes combined them. But never had I inserted “yet” between the two.

Realizing what I had said not long afterward, I exclaimed (again aloud), “Lord, of course you are so great and so good.”

Why would I add “yet” to the expression? What was I thinking?

Then it came to me.

Despite God’s infinite power and sovereignty over the heavens, the earth, rulers, and nations (his greatness), he loves each of us, individually. For those who have placed their trust in Messiah Jesus: “And we know that God causes everything (including wrong things we do or are done to us) to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added, parenthesis mine).

God’s goodness begins with his heart’s desire that everyone ever born would believe and receive His great plan of redemption through the once-for-all sacrifice of His Son; to forever forgive our sins and restore us back to himself—as it was in the beginning.

This, in stark contrast to even the best ruler or government or religious and idealistic systems on this earth—past or present—that aren’t consistently capable or able at all to show that kind of concern for people. Yet, billions down through the ages have yielded their allegiance and even staked their lives and destiny on those who claim they know what’s good and best for them.

Defining Greatness & Goodness

Though it’s impossible to adequately define (put in a box) the Lord’s infinite greatness and goodness, we can see God’s preeminence by experiencing his love, grace, mercy, and blessings.

We also can try to objectify these concepts on a more horizontal level with at least a working definition, so as not to reduce greatness and goodness to the subjective level of (say, for example) beauty—which as said: is in the eye of the beholder.

Some meanings found in Webster’s Dictionary for, great: “remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness.” Also, “larger than life.” Some synonyms are: predominate, distinguished, eminent.

As expected, there is a plethora of meanings for good. With those definitions (as an adjective) specifically related to the following synonyms: Attractive, profitable, wholesome, agreeable, pleasant, virtuous, just, right, true, satisfactory, commendable, kind, benevolent. And others.

It’s probably one of the top ten words that aren’t personal pronouns used in the English language (any language) especially when used as a modifier.

Good is such an all-inclusive term that we use it frequently in everyday life—far more than its’ synonyms. How many times have you said or heard, “that’s good.” We often use it in place of bad by saying, “That’s not good.” We use it to summarize pleasant experiences with people, places, things, and events in our life. And to express a virtual likeness to something, both negative and positive. Such as “good as dead,” or “good as gold.”

When (used as) a noun, good is: “something conforming to the moral order of the universe.” *Note: It’s good that the Webster folks recognize a “moral order of the universe!”

Also, “praiseworthy character; goodness (of or pertaining to that which is good, parenthesis mine); beneficial; or something that has economic utility or satisfies economic want.” This commercial meaning is applied to such things as produce and products. We call them, “goods.”

Listen to the words of Jesus speaking directly to his twelve disciples and indirectly to all who want to follow him. The context was James’ and John’s impetuous (through their mother!) request that they be given the highest position of honor in the Kingdom of God; one at Jesus’s left hand, the other at his right.

“…You know that the rulers of this world lord it over their people and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus was referring to leaders in all walks of life—political, social, economic. More specifically, he was identifying those “of this world.” Meaning people in authority who do not (infrequently or never) acknowledge God in their personal, community, or national lives. Also, “religious” leaders who misuse their positions for personal gain and glory. Whose greatness doesn’t translate into goodness.

The exceptions are few and far between. Those in authority whom we consider to be good lead (for the most part) by persuasion rather than by power. They do not abuse and misuse their status just for a personal agenda. But whoever they were (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill … pick some of your own) none of them were deemed “good” by all the people all the time.

History and daily experience teach us that, as a rule, the greater a person’s position and power the more selfishly despotic and greedily autocratic they are or become.

I would guess that many people in positions of authority may begin with good intentions. But we also know that: Hell is paved with….

Deferring once again to Webster’s Dictionary, corrupt is defined: “to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; morally degenerate and perverted.” Corruption is defined as: “impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle.”

Perverse (perverted) is one who has: “turned away from what is right or good.”

Though we often apply another meaning of great to those who are, “superior in character or quality,” the idea of great or greatness can also relate to rulers who are flat-out tyrants. At some point in time and through most of their reign, these dictators were revered to the point of worship, especially by their own people. Until their evil actions were too obvious to be missed or dismissed, their followers believed them to be the very embodiment of good.

In fact, whether great or small (with all the connotations of that contrast), no one is innately good (by God’s measurement). And it is God’s absolute standards that ultimately determine goodness, morality, and righteousness. Otherwise what’s good to or for me may not be good to or for you. Thus, Adolph Hitler was a messiah-like savior to most Germans; for some, even to the bitter end. To others, especially European Jews, he was evil incarnate. Which was the truth as exemplified by his actions and those who yielded their loyalty to him.

Thus, if we want to see and experience the very essence of integrity, we need to look to the universal source of such (great) goodness: The God of the Bible.

All people, both bad and good need the Lord. Really … good people, too? Why?

Because: “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless (in God’s eyes). No one does good, not a single one’” (Romans 3:10-12, parenthesis mine).

Wow! Such an indictment of humanity.

How, then, can anyone be or do good, no matter how great they are … or aren’t?

Answer: We can’t, because innately we won’t. That’s why God took the initiative. He fully understands that it takes a supernatural change of heart, possible only by God imparting his righteousness and goodness to us when we believe and receive Messiah Jesus to pardon us from the sin that separates us from God. Just one sin makes it impossible for anyone to be enough or do enough to earn salvation. Just one sin (let alone the innumerable sins each one of us commits) makes us a sinner in need of God’s salvation. In fact, we sin because we are born sinners.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…” (Romans 3:23-25).

Tributes to God’s Greatness & Goodness

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” (Psalm 147:3-5).

God’s immeasurable blend of greatness and (yet) goodness is replete throughout Scripture. Mostly in one or two verses at a time, especially in the Psalms like the one just quoted. There are also lengthy Biblical passages of individuals who praise the Lord for his greatness (who he is) and goodness (what he does). A combination that is both rare and temporary with people.

Such as Mary when told she would conceive the Savior (Messiah) by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:46-55); Zechariah after the birth of his son, John the Baptist, who would prepare the way of Messiah Jesus (Luke 1:67-79); Daniel when praising God for keeping his promises (Daniel 9:4-19); King Solomon after the splendid Temple was built (II Chronicles 6:14-42).

Even pagan rulers including one of the greatest kings of all time; who acknowledged the true and living God after God had humbled him and stripped him of his crown for seven years, then restored him to the throne. Said this mighty king about the God of Israel: “…His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him…. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud” (Daniel 4:34 & 37).

These anthems of praise for God’s greatness and goodness are astounding. My personal favorite is King David’s accolade to the Lord after David led a joyful procession to (successfully, the second time) bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. It’s found in I Chronicles 16:7-36.

Here are a few excerpts from that magnificent tribute:

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done” (Verse 8).

“Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given…” (Verse 12).

“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (Verses 23-24).

“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!” (Verses 25-26).

“Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’” (Verse 31).

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he his good! His faithful love endures forever” (Verse 34).

Summary

Regarding God’s sovereignty that will ultimately accomplish his great purpose and good plans; whose absolute power is combined with compassion not corruption, here is an excerpt from my book, Out of the Abyss (in italics):

We don’t know what’s going to happen next hour, let alone next month or year. Yet, by our decisions and actions, by our good choices, bad choices or indifferent choices, we can change things that otherwise would or would not have occurred. We can also be changed by the decisions and behavior of others, by events beyond our control.

How then, does God still achieve his plan? How can he make all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) to those who love him and who are called according to his purpose? Okay, I’ll give you a hint: Because he is God!

…But that still doesn’t explain how he does it. So, we are left begging the question because it is simply beyond our natural, finite comprehension; which is why God doesn’t demand or even ask that we completely grasp his providential sovereignty. If we could wrap our finite minds around his infinite omnipotence and omniscience, I suppose that we would be God.

Ironically, that’s exactly what most of mankind, including natural scientists, human secularists, occult spiritualists, God-less governments and agnostic academia in general try to do. They inevitably ascribe to themselves the controlled capacity, the distinctive domain, and the potent position of determining their destiny. And if you will but afford them the privilege and opportunity; if you will “give them an ear,” they will gladly assist you in discovering your origin and purpose for life. Ultimately, if you yield complete attention and allegiance, they will be delighted to direct your future.

…Every man and woman must choose what they believe and to whom or what they will listen and follow.

Make no mistake; we all believe in something and we all follow someone or an ideal, even if it’s ourselves (Pages 22-23).

Next is an excerpt from an Eye of Prophecy article, entitled Kingdom of God (posted January 2015). In italics:

From the dawn of human existence virtually every kind of government has been in place at one time or another. A country’s government is often a reflection of its people … their race, beliefs (religious or secular), moral values, ethnic upbringing, and tribal territory. But sometimes government can be an ill-conceived and unwanted bureaucracy with leaders vying for power and supremacy. All too often, innocent people are victimized by such power struggles, both citizens of the country and residents of neighboring nations that take exception to such Machiavelli type systems.

…Moreover, the destiny of nations (both good and bad) has often been determined by the benevolence or malevolence of rulers … the laws they make and enforce, the decrees they issue, decisions they make, benefits they provide, and goals they aspire to. As the leaders go, so go the people. A ruler with integrity, compassion, and wisdom can be, and often is, a moral compass to the entire nation. Conversely, a selfish, deceitful, evil ruler can bring an entire nation down.

…The rise and fall of great leaders, noble and ignoble; of great nations, moral and immoral, is the stuff that legends are made of. And many of these individual and national epitaphs can be found in the Bible as well as secular history. For example, the glorious rise and inglorious fall of Babylon.

Concluding with:

Jesus spoke often of the Kingdom of God; for example, comparing it to a mustard seed … the smallest of seeds that when planted grows into an enormous tree. Which is exactly what has happened to the body of Christ; an exponential growth down through the ages, to now consist of believers from virtually every nation and language on earth. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts and minds of those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of Christ. Next, will come the final physical Kingdom of God on this earth; at which time all people, all governments, all nations will be brought under the authority of God’s magnificent Son. He will rule the nations with firmness, but fairness.

Isn’t that what most people want? They want: law, order, equality, safety, peace. And they want someone who has the kind of authority to realize those dreams, but also someone who is kind and considerate with that authority. One who truly cares about people and what’s best for them; who can rule and judge with impartiality and kindness. A truly wise and benevolent King whose attributes perfectly reflect who and what he is: Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy.

Things to Ponder

What do you believe in? In whom do you place your trust? Who can you turn to when you truly need help? Who will listen? Who will care enough? If they do listen and they do care, can they help you? If so, how much? How often? All the time? Are they great enough and/or good enough to trust them with your life, both now and forever? Can they guarantee what the Lord does for those who love and know him as their personal Savior?

“Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you’” (Psalm 16:1-2).

Said the Apostle Paul: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

That is pure greatness and goodness.

“The (Holy) Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him” (Ephesians 1:14).

When we praise and glorify God, his blessings exceed our expectations.

God is so great and so good that he (alone) can and will listen to an unbeliever’s prayer for salvation and all believer’s prayers—anytime, anywhere on earth. We don’t need an appointment with the Lord, as would be required with any person of power—good or bad. We don’t even need to “dress up” or “get our act together” for such a meeting.

Imagine every believer on earth (hundreds of millions) beginning to talk to God at the same time. Unlike with earthly rulers (who would never allow such a thing in the first place), they wouldn’t need to stop and take turns. The Lord can do anything and everything all at once if he chooses. He places no time and space restrictions for his people when he extends his invitation:

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence” (Ephesians 3:12).

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16).

Lord, you are so great! And yet so very good!

I trust you with my life, such as it is!