Amended Newsletter 29 “This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” Alpha and Omega Christian Foundation, Telephone: 0416 295 270; E-mail: aocf <at> optusnet.com.au; www.thechristianherald.info Newsletter 29 (7/2015) 1 Friends And Leaders Around the World, Greetings Again A year ago we informed you that we were curtailing the publication of Newsletters and concentrate on The Christian Herald magazines only. We took that decision for the following reasons: 1. An increasing number of our readers were coming from countries to which we had never sent any Newsletters. That indicated to us that perhaps our Newsletters were no longer needed as they were in the early stages of this work. That would allow us to redirect our time, efforts and expenses to areas that are in greater need. You may have noticed that our web site was not quite right in recent times. There are expenses in this work that we have not always been able to keep up to date. 2. It became obvious to us that word of mouth had spread out knowledge of this work far and wide, much more effectively than our Newsletters could ever do. However, with the publication of The Christian Herald No 31, we found ourselves in a great need of a Newsletter. Not because we needed to inform our readers about it, who have come to us uninvited from 188 countries, but because we desperately needed to inform political, national and religious leaders, as well as media and other personalities, of extraordinary developments that are beyond the scope of an annual publication. On the day we published our magazine, Greece failed on its debt repayments, the Stock Market took a dive, the world exploded into a series of terrorist attacks – in Tunisia, France, Kuwait, Egypt, other places, and more importantly, America’s Supreme Court imposed “gay marriage” on all 51 States of the United States of America – an extremely ominous development. So why is a Newsletter needed to tell the world about developments that are written large on media headlines all over the world? Because we look at the world from God’s point of view and you will not find that in any comparable publication in the world. There is a spiritual element in everything that is happening in this world, one that is missing in world media reports and commentaries, and without it the best they can do is fire shots in the dark. The recent upheavals in the world – Ukraine, Middle East, South China Sea and elsewhere, cannot be understood outside their proper prophetic milieu. The world is in a far worse condition than people realize. The world is heading at high speed into a catastrophe unequaled in history. You will find details in The Christian Heralds, as usual on line at our web site: www.thechristianherald.info In the service of Jesus Christ Grigore Sbarcea Coordinator: Alpha and Omega Christian Foundation The Christian Herald No 32 Page 1 Global Warming Worse After Paris Conference In November 2015, the United Nations held a Conference in Paris about the recent worldwide Climate Changes. In the end they decided to hold the Global Warming to less than 1.5 C degrees. We wish them good luck, however something was glaringly missing from their deliberations: they forgot, probably because no one has told them, what God thinks about these developments. God says that the main reason for the recent rise in global temperatures is not carbon emissions, but humanity’s plunge into a morass of immorality, sins and blasphemies the likes of which this world has never seen. For this reason, it will face a Great Tribulation the likes of which it also has never seen. Mat 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Rev 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth." [The “natural disasters” we see in the world at present – droughts, epidemics, AIDS, infectious diseases, diabetes, obesity, social problems, terrorism, wars, etc. – are symptom of the wrath of God]. Rev 16:2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Rev 16:3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. [Biblical prophecies usually begin with Israel and spread to the rest of the world. At the time of Jesus Christ, there was a sea in Israel called the Salt Sea. Today it is called the Dead Sea. The world’s oceans, lakes and rivers, groan under the weight of human refuse, sea life is in stress everywhere, and a large part of humanity that depends on it, is heading towards famine and oblivion at high speeds]. Rev 16:4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. [The prophet saw water pollution and described it as blood. The word ‘pollution’ did not exist then]. Rev 16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." And I heard another from the altar saying, Rev 16:7 "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." Rev 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. [Global Warming through solar heating and radiation at God’s command]. Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. [Disregard of God’s laws and blasphemies against Him are the real reasons for Global Warming. And what did humans do about that? They did not repent, did not give Him glory, and blasphemed even more. So they got more of God’s wrath too, and will continue to get more until they learn their lesson. The great tragedy of our time is that having embraced so many of Satan’s sins, lies and deceptions, humanity has lost its way and seems unable to return to God anymore. Certainly not without His forgiveness and guidance! Carbon emissions and thrashing of the environment are manifestations of alienation from God and descent into unprecedented spiritual darkness. What we have in the world at present is not a crisis of the matter, but a crisis of the spirit. Before scientists are having Conferences to save the world their way, religious leaders should have Councils to save the world God’s Way. But where are they? In order to be seen as “progressive” they have embraced Satan’s way of life – the way of immorality and blasphemies, and the sin that God calls and abomination – homosexuality. That is not the way of God. Act 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. Notice, ‘the Way’, not ‘the ways’, for there is only one Way, “written in the Law and in the Prophets”, that leads to God and life, the way of truth, faith, humility and righteousness, not the way of overt self-confidence, unbelief, and disregard for other people’s rights. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The Christian Herald No 32 Page 2 One can search the world as long as he wants, he will not find a Church or a preacher that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ anymore. We have not found any after decades of search. Bear in mind that the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ include the biblical Holy Days which no Church keeps at the right time or in the appropriate manner. Rev 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Another great blasphemy is the denial of a Creator and belief in evolution – a fallacy propagated by the ‘wise’ of this world, the ‘wise’ of both academia and theology, all of which have become fools in the eyes of God. Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. Psa 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. Psa 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, Psa 14:3 They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. 1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1Co 1:19 For it is written: "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT." 1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Rev 16:12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. What is happening in the Middle East has its roots in the wars against Saddam Hussein of Iraq. During those wars, he dried up the extensive marshes of the river Euphrates in order to destroy the livelihood and hiding places of his ‘enemies’. A coalition of forces ‘from the east’, some as far as America, removed him from power. Now those forces are reshaping the Middle East again. So then, the primary reason for Global Warming is the departure from God’s ways. The more sins and blasphemies people commit, the faster they are heading towards what Jesus Christ called a “Great Tribulation”. Now were the world leaders who met at the Paris Conference on Global Warming aware of these facts? Has anyone brought them to their attention during their deliberations? If anyone had brought God into their discussions, most likely he would have been considered mad. This is an ‘enlightened world’, and ‘enlightened people’ have no need for God, because they created themselves through evolution. Did they ever wonder why their darned evolution ‘evolves’ this world exactly in the direction that God’s prophecies have foretold long ago? The latest news from scientists is that Global Warming is not merely getting worse, but a global catastrophe is in the making right now. The ice caps on the earth’s poles are melting faster than anyone predicted just a few years ago, and as a result ocean levels are also rising faster too. 2015 was hottest on Earth by a wide margin, scientists say NASA scientists say melting ice sheets like this one in Greenland, are melting faster than ever, and oceans are warming and expanding much more rapidly than they have in years past. (Screen shot: YouTube) WASHINGTON: NASA says year was 0.23 degrees warmer than in 2014; 4th time in 11 years that planet breaks record The Christian Herald No 32 Page 3 Last year wasn’t just the Earth’s hottest year on record — it left a century of high temperature marks in the dust. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and NASA announced Wednesday that 2015 was by far the hottest year in 136 years of record keeping. NOAA said 2015’s temperature was 58.62 degrees Fahrenheit (14.79 degrees Celsius), passing 2014 by a record margin of 0.29 degrees. That’s 1.62 degrees above the 20th-century average. [Within weeks of the Paris Conference, the goal of keeping Global Warming below 1.5 C degrees has become redundant]. NASA, which measures differently, said 2015 was 0.23 degrees warmer than the record set in 2014. Because of the wide margin over 2014, NASA calculated that 2015 was a record with 94 percent certainty, about double the certainty it had last year when announcing 2014 as a record. Although 2015 is now the hottest on record, it was the fourth time in 11 years that Earth broke annual marks for high temperature. “It’s getting to the point where breaking record is the norm,” Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe said. “It’s almost unusual when we’re not breaking a record.” Scientists blame a combination of El Nino and increasing man-made global warming. [Yes, man-made global warming because of sins, not because of carbon emissions. These are merely the consequence of it. Ed.] Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University said a strong El Nino, like this year’s, can add about a third of a degree of warming to Earth’s temperature. “Records will happen during El Nino years due to the extra warming boost they provide,” Mann said in an email. “That boost of warmth however sits upon the ramp of global warming.” And it’s likely to happen this year, too. NASA scientists and others said there’s a good chance that this year will pass 2015 as the hottest year on record, thanks to El Nino. “2015 will be difficult to beat, but you say that almost every year and you get surprised,” said Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at the College of DuPage outside of Chicago. Measurements from Japan and the University of California at Berkeley also show 2015 is the warmest on record. Satellite measurements, which scientists say don’t measure where we live and have a larger margin of error, calculate that last year was only the third hottest since 1979. (Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press/ Times Of Israel, January 20, 2016) 'Drastic' Antarctic melt could double global sea-level rise Global sea levels could rise by more than double the current best estimate, according to a new analysis of climate change in Antarctica. The modelling assessment says that Antarctic melting alone could contribute more than a metre to sea level by the end of this century. By 2500, according to the study, the same source could cause levels across the world to rise by 13m. The authors say that rapid cuts in carbon emissions could limit this risk. Competing ideas In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that, without any restrictions on carbon emissions, the seas around the world likely rise by up to 98cm by 2100. However, the IPCC estimates contained a minimum contribution from Antarctica. Other analyses since then have projected bigger increases, with a recent study suggesting that the oceans were rising faster than at any time in the past 2,800 years and by 2100 they could be up to 1.31m higher. The exact level of Antarctica's impact on these projections has been vigorously debated. Late last year, a research paper suggested that projections of a contribution of a metre or more were not plausible. But this new study argues that by 2100 the world could see 1.14m of sea-level rise from Antarctica alone. Additions to the model The scientists say that their model is able to provide a more accurate prediction because it incorporates the impacts of some physical processes for the first time. While other models have focused on the impact of warmer waters melting the ice shelves from below, this new study also includes the effect of surface melt-water and rain trickling down from above and fracturing supporting ice, hastening its slide to the sea. The model also calculates the impact of the disintegration of floating ice shelves. If this happens, it will reveal walls of ice so tall that they cannot support their own weight. The scientists involved expect that these extra factors will kick in over the coming decades, as warming from the atmosphere (not just from warmer waters below) becomes the dominant driver of ice loss. "One reason that other models didn't include the atmospheric warming is because it hasn't started to happen just yet," said co-author Dr David Pollard from Penn State University, US. "In Antarctica, around the edges at sea level, it's just beginning to get up to the melt point in summer. "With that warming, the flanks of Antarctica will start to melt drastically in about 50 to 100 years - and then it will start to kick in according to our model." The authors believe that they have demonstrated the accuracy of the new model by correctly replicating sea-level rise in warm periods, millions of years into the past. "Recently, we looked at the long-standing problem posed by geological evidence that suggests sea level rose dramatically in the past, possibly up to 10 to 20 metres around 3 million years ago, in the Pliocene," said Dr Pollard. "Existing models couldn't simulate enough ice-sheet melting to explain that." The Christian Herald No 32 Page 4 'Right questions' If the world continues to emit "business as usual" levels of carbon dioxide over the coming decades, the scientists argue that sea-level rise will be double what has already been estimated for the coming 100 years. "If these processes do kick in and they end up being as important as we think that they could be, then they really do have a big impact," said Prof Robert DeConto from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "West Antarctica is responding very soon in these simulations and that ends up having a big impact on North America in particular." Other researchers have praised the development of the new model for including impacts such as surface melt water and ice-cliff collapse, but they are uncertain about the conclusions. "I have no doubt that on a century to millennia timescale, warming will make these processes significant in Antarctica, as well as Greenland, and drive a very significant Antarctic contribution to sea-level rise," commented Prof David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey. "The big question for me is, how soon could this all begin, and could it be early enough to drive substantially higher sea levels by 2100? I'm not sure, but these guys are definitely asking the right questions." The authors believe that there is "good news" in their report. If global emissions of carbon are curtailed significantly then the extra factors that substantially boost Antarctic melting will be avoided. Seas will continue to rise, but not at the runaway rates suggested by this paper, which has been published in the journal Nature. (Matt McGrath, BBC, April 01, 2016) Raising ocean levels are not only threatening the lives of billions of people in low lands and coastal areas, but warmer waters are killing marine micro-organisms upon which the life of this planet depends. Did our illustrious representatives discuss those matters at their Paris Conference? Hardly anyone knows what they discussed, for not much has been published except that they decided to hold Global Warming to below 1.5 C degrees. They assured the world that things are not as bad as some people make it; that humanity could live with a warming of 1.5 C degree. Could it? Do these people really know what they are talking about, or what is happening out there in the real world? It’s hard to see it from their ivory towers! The world is upside down, nations are uprooted, or dried, or flooded, or frozen, like never before, and yet they say that the planet has warmed by a mere 0.7 C degree in a century and a half of record keeping. If the planet has warmed by 0.23C degrees in last year alone, what chance is there of keeping it below 1.5C degrees by the end of the century, when at this rate that figure will be surpassed in just seven years? Are we being led by serious people or by dreamers? And where did they pick up that figure of 1.5 from? Before they went to Paris they used to talk of 2 C degrees; then they decided to play God and order the planet to warm up by no more than 1.5 C degrees. Isn’t it amazing what the spirits can do to human beings? French spirits! Now considering the track record of past Conferences, whose goals have never been fully realized, would our visionary leaders consider holding the next Conference in a more auspicious place, where they could really feel the pulse of the planet, like in open air close to the Sahara, near the people who keep losing their livelihood to the relentless advance of the desert sand dunes. Instead of French food, they would savor some food morsels that the United Nations keep handing out to the starving millions of Africa. Instead of French champagne they could quench their thirst with natural water from puddles like the natives. Instead of sleepless nights in stuffy hotel rooms worrying about their bank accounts, they would fall asleep in open air, in awe at the beauty of clear unpolluted African skies. A glorious return to natural living, like their ancestors (not ours) used to live in the “cradle of mankind”. Would they still say then that humanity can live with a warming of 1.5 C degrees? What would the natives say, or the Pacific Islanders who are also losing their homes to the rising oceans? Our visionary leaders might even discover God by then, as humans tend to do in dire situations! For sure, they would pray to Him to spare them another Conference like that. Paris would never look more beckoning. They might even take God’s prophecies seriously, which say that carbon emissions are not the main reason for Climate Change, but humanity’s sins and blasphemies against Him. The only way by which Global Warming can be stabilized and reversed, is by turning to God first. But do you think that the United Nations and the European Union would change their statutes to protect Christianity instead of homosexuality? Homosexuality is enshrined in their statutes; Christianity is not. As a result of their policies, this is what this world is coming to. Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Mat 24:15 "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), Mat 24:16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Mat 24:20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Mat 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, Mat 24:22 no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.” The Christian Herald No 32 Page 5 Mission Accomplished At one time, Jesus’s disciples asked Him about His return and the signs that would lead to the end of this world. Take note what He replied, for it was something they did not expect. Mat 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. Mat 24:2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Mat 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. . . . He went on to list a number of signs that would portend the end of this world, and then added: Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. They assumed that when He returns, He would restore the Kingdom of Israel and they would be freed from Roman occupation. Yet He told them that even what was left of their nation, in particular Jerusalem and its Temple, on which the Jews placed great value, would be raised to the ground. Then He said that the end will come after the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations. They had no idea what He was talking about. What Gospel and what Kingdom was that? Why preach it in all the world and not to the Jews only, “the chosen people”, who were not even allowed to mingle with the Gentiles let alone preach a certain “Gospel” to them? Why preach it as a witness, and who would preach it? Witnesses are heard in Courts of law, not out there preaching in the whole world. After being with Jesus for three years or so, and hearing Him preach, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”, all they wanted to know was when He would restore the “Kingdom to Israel”, even after He was resurrected from the dead. Act 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; Act 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Act 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, Act 1:7 "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. Act 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Even after He told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world, the disciples still did not get that He was talking of a different Kingdom and a different world than the one they were living in. Obviously, the disciples had one mind, and Jesus Christ had quite another. Years later, Apostle Paul made these interesting statements: Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Php 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Php 2:7 Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Php 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Php 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, Php 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, Php 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Act 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Act 1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white The Christian Herald No 32 Page 6 Act 1:11 apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." It was only when they received the Holy Spirit several weeks later on the day of Pentecost that they remembered everything He preached to them, and the Scriptures became vividly alive before their eyes. Only then did they understand what the Gospel of the Kingdom was all about, and that they and their disciples would be the ones to preach that Gospel in all the world. Jesus’ last words to them were symptomatic of the great mission that stood before them, one that required nothing less than laying out their lives for the sake of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. They could finally see that the ‘Gospel of the Kingdom’, was not about the Israel of this world, which lost its mission because it failed to keep the Law of God, but about a new Israel, and people of all nations, who would also be given a place in the Kingdom of God, something that enraged the leaders of Israel, who keep denying this mission and fighting against the plan of God to this day. This is what, in short, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is all about. Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Rev 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" Rev 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. Rev 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. Rev 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Rev 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the Rev 5:9 saints. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Rev 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, Rev 5:12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Rev 5:14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. After being enlightened by the Holy Spirit about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the Apostles went out with zeal preaching that Gospel to the world that they knew in their time. Now read carefully this passage from the epistle to the Colossians, for it says something very interesting on this topic. Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Col 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; ‘Saints’ are living members of the true Churches of God, not the dead ‘abominations’ made saints by men. It is utter blasphemy in the eyes of God to worship the dead, or to ascribe miracles to them. The Christian Herald No 32 Page 7 Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Ecc 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. Eze 43:7 And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. Eze 43:8 When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. Eze 43:9 Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. Think carefully before you worship those made ‘saints’ after death by human being, for in truth they are not saints, and know nothing anymore. Worship is always for God the Father and Jesus Christ only. Rev 19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." See, even angels must not be worshipped. Col 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of Col 1:6 the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated Col 1:21 and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body Col 1:22 of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which Col 1:24 I, Paul, became a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Col 1:25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, Col 1:26 but now has been revealed to His saints. Mystery has been revealed to living ‘saints’, not to carcasses made saints by misguided humans.. What we are after in these passages, are verses 6 and 23. We want to discuss them with you in their context, but first we must answer the question asked by Jesus disciples: “when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3) There are two places in the Bible that give us an indication when the end will come. The first one we saw in Matthew 24:14-15: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” The next one is found in the following passage: Rev 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Rev 6:10 "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on Rev 6:11 the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. So, when the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached in all the world, as a witness to all the nations, and the number of people who are to be saved for the Kingdom of God is completed, the end will come. And what does that mean? That this world has served its purpose and a new heaven and new earth will be set up. 2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Christian Herald No 32 Page 8 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2Pe 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 2Pe 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Rev 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Rev 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. Rev 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." Rev 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Human beings would have no problem knowing when the first point is accomplished. All they need to do is watch when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and they would that this world is on its last legs. The second point however, is not for human beings to know, for only God knows when the number of the people He wants to save is completed. All we know is that there are certain stages in that process. First Jesus Christ was resurrected to become KING of Kings and LORD of Lords (Rev 19:16). Then there will be one hundred and forty-four thousand people, resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium, who will be Kings, Priests, and Judges in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Rev 7:1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Rev 7:2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, Rev 7:3 "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed. These are the same people mentioned in this passage. Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. Rev 14:3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. Rev 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— Rev 14:7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." The Christian Herald No 32 Page 9 Then, at the end of the Millennium Kingdom, there will be a larger resurrection of people from all nations, and the number of people for the Kingdom of God will be completed. Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Rev 7:11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, Rev 7:12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" Rev 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. Rev 7:16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any Rev 7:17 heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." The judgment of God cannot occur in one day. This will be the role of the one hundred and forty four thousand Kings and Priests who will reign with Christ during the Millennium, but who will also have the role of looking at the life-files of every human being and decide their fate. In the general resurrection, at the end of the Millennium Kingdom, people will be presented with the facts of their life, and their fate determined accordingly. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. As you can see, the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the Kingdom of God – is very different from what the preachers of today are preaching in their Churches. God cannot call on any of them to preach His Gospel in all the world as a witness to all nations, because they would preach a different Gospel. The true Gospel must be preached as a witness in all the world to show humanity were its spiritual leaders have brought it, and why the world needs to be cleansed not only of its physical and moral pollutions, but also of the spiritual deceptions that have veiled the minds of all people. 2Co 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 2Co 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. Some may well say, we know that what they preach in other religions is not right, but what is wrong with what they preach in the Christian Churches? It would be easy for us to make a general statement and say, everything is wrong: doctrines, beliefs, holy days, practices, etc., but we know that people want us to be more specific. This is a huge topic, and we cannot do it justice here, so we have just a brief look at the main beliefs of Christianity and its Holy Days. 1. Today’s preachers tell their followers that they have immortal souls. God says otherwise. Eze 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. Eze 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Mat 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The Christian Herald No 32 Page 10