It is finally published—the long form of President Obama’s birth certificate. You can see it most everywhere. It’s on most news clips and on the official White House website.
It was high political drama. The President took to the air to belittle all those who focus on lesser issues at the expense of rescuing the national economy from disaster. One such focuser is Donald Trump, presumed Republican front-runner whom the President characterized by inference as a “carnival barker” Moments later, Trump expressed pleasure that the certificate was public and took credit for accomplishing what no one else had done.
A birth certificate does matter. In this instance, it makes legitimate the Obama presidency. In other ways, it is proof if citizenship for passports, drivers’ licenses, Social Security and the like.
I tilted toward believing the certificate was valid all along and wondered at what crucial political juncture the issue would be resolved, although I did wonder why it was taking so long. So the President was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. Now Donald Trump knows and both he and the President can turn to more vital issues such as averting national bankruptcy.
Actually, everyone should be more interested in a personal birth certificate in Heaven than the President’s filed in Hawaii. Mortal certification is important, but Heaven’s registration is crucial. I discovered the relative importance of both in reverse order.
My heavenly birth certificate was filed above on August 7, 1948 at about 6:30 PM in a church basement on West Colvin Street in Syracuse, New York. I sought out a preacher who had preached John 3:5 & 7 in a camp meeting only days before declaring, “Ye must be born again.” (Actually the original Greek word is “anothen” meaning “from above.”)
At a church supper, I knew he was in the building, and afterwards I requested his counsel. Taking me into the church storeroom among retired Bibles, songbooks, mops and towels, he led me to the Savior. New-birth life surged through my soul. Coming out the door of that obscure room, I was not the same as I went in. Moments later, outside, several other recent converts sang our welcome song: “Ring the bells of Heaven, there is joy today, for a soul returning from the wild. See The Father greets him out upon the way, welcoming His weary, wand’ring child.” My spiritual birth certificate was filed in heaven, an entry in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:7).
Getting my first birth certificate was much more difficult, and in this I can sympathize with the president. Wanting to visit Israel in 1982 meant I needed a “raised seal” birth certificate for passport application. The fine penmanship on the doctor’s copy that was in my family files for years verifying my birth in Baldwinsville, NY was not good enough, although all the vital stats were there. I needed to apply for an official copy in Albany, NY, the state capitol.
After a considerable period, a poor copy of a mangy looking piece of paper arrived. This was long before digital or clear copying machines. All the facts were there on an actual photocopy matching what my delivering doctor had inscribed. It had been in Albany all those years, and I had never seen it. And it had a raised seal meaning my copy was as good as the original. I could now officially proclaim my birth.
So I now know that I was officially born once in the eyes of the state of New York, and, more importantly, God knows I was born again into His eternal heavenly kingdom.
If as much effort is placed into getting the President’s spiritual birth certificate in Heaven as has been expended in the Hawaii matter, he is in the Kingdom of God and will be in Heaven when that sacred second roll call is made. Only he and God know.
I don’t know about the President, but I do know about me. Both of my personal birth certificates are valid. One says I have human life; the other says I have eternal life. We have no choice about our first birth, but we surely do about our second birth.
Dave Virkler
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Where Did All The Easter People Go?
With every life comes great blessings, and of course, some unpleasant and even devastating trials. Some of the so-called ‘downers’ may be physical, emotional, or economical. They can arise from damaged relationships, career disappointments and dozens of other areas. The list is lengthy and no two people will experience the exact same things.
When considering experiences in spiritual realm, those who are heavily involved in full or part-time ministry, or even in the upper leadership positions in a local church, also go through times of great highs and sometimes equally difficult lows within the body of believers to whom they are connected.
Oddly enough, perhaps one of the best examples is a phenomenon that revolves around the Easter season. Obviously, resurrection Sunday is typically the single greatest morning of the 52 Sundays on the yearly church calendar. The momentum usually begins to build around Christmas. Sometimes that interest tapers off for a time due to weather issues in areas where months like January and February can be truly brutal. But by Palm Sunday, and then of course the grandest morning of all, resurrection Sunday, it all peaks and comes together in a special and unique fashion - and rightfully so.
Christ’s crucifixion and subsequent resurrection from the dead to prove His deity is the cornerstone and foundation of the faith. Nothing can top it or replace the reality of God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and the miraculous power evidenced in the resurrection. Again, It is the highlight and pinnacle of the Christian faith and the ultimate display of God’s love for fallen man.
For obvious reasons, churches generally experience their finest hour of the year on Easter morning. The faithful are all there.
The good news, especially for those who rarely attend, is that there is at least that rare opportunity for them to hear the “Good News” of salvation in Christ. And typically, most pastors are keenly aware of their isolated chance to present the living words of Scripture that can literally change the life and eternal destiny of a lost sinner as Paul recorded in Romans 10:17. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That opportunity truly is good news. It is beyond exciting just to know what is at stake and what could occur even during just that one short hour or two if the words are right, the heart is open, and the Holy Spirit at work!
But following this greatest and busiest of all church days then comes what is sometimes known in pastoral and church-related circles as “Low Sunday”. It is not that Christ’s resurrection is any less exciting, effective, or meaningful than it was the previous week – especially if salvation has visited a local assembly on that day. And it is not that those came to Christ, or their loved ones, have forgotten what occurred just seven short days earlier. But the reality remains that the Sunday following resurrection Sunday is typically the lowest attended service of the entire year. It feels to church leaders like a form of attendance whiplash. This very real issue sometimes leads pastors like the one below to reveal his feelings like this one did on his blog.
“My fears were confirmed this week when I went to church. Just seven days ago, I was enthralled in the excitement of a spectacular Easter celebration service. The choir was lively, the music was grand, the message was direct, and the congregation showed up in record numbers (we had to add an extra service). Smiles were everywhere as I was greeted, visitors were abundant, and from the look of the giant games and activities in the parking lot, the kids’ church appeared to be competing with Disney Land.”
The inner feelings and reflections of this one local shepherd are felt throughout the nation and probably in church settings world-wide. And the phenomenon has probably been in place almost as long as there has been an organized church. So as exciting, meaningful and productive as Easter morning may be, the truth remains that it is almost always followed one week later by its greatest numerical low point.
For the church pastoral staff and leadership who face this ‘downer’ each year, they must depend on God to ‘minister through it’. They must try to keep their heads above spiritual waters and resist the temptation of just ‘going through the motions’. They must pray, prepare and prove to the ‘regulars’ that each and every Lord’s day is vitally important regardless of where it falls on the calendar and who, or who does not, come and worship the Lord even on that so-called “Low Sunday”.
The life of any Christian encompasses many aspects and God’s word has made clear what He expects His people to do and not do. One major ingredient is faithfulness. And in that crucial category, few things are more important to Him than what the writer of Hebrew recorded. He shares in no uncertain terms that attending of God’s house is not optional and to be done just when it is convenient, easy, seasonal, or just feels right on a given day. Hebrews 10:23-25 records God’s command as follows. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Some Christians have taken advantage of God’s great salvation but don’t seem to grasp the that there are consequences involved when they avoid coming to His house for fellowship and instruction and inspiration. They miss out on numerous blessings and place self-imposed limits on their own spiritual growth. They forgo the joy of associating with others of like faith and becoming close with their spiritual family through personal contact and prayer.
The reality is that every part of a local spiritual body is crucial and their absence effects both themselves and those they distance themselves from when they fail to attend. They may not see it like that, but God does as Paul revealed in his first letter to the young Corinthian church. “But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
Every member of God’s family is important. Their regular presence is an encouragement to others when they come, worship together, and use their God-give spiritual gifts, and build one another up ‘as they see the Day approaching.”
Bill Breckenridge
Thursday, April 21, 2011
A Thursday or Friday Crucifixion?
Easter is a calendar date, a Christian observance, and the focus of lots of intriguing current news.
Believers around the world and across the ages have held that spring is the season of crucifixion observance and the resurrection, although they are by no means united as to the actual days these events actually occurred.
The latest entry into the calendar debate comes from University of Cambridge professor Colin Humphreys, who claims his ardent research reveals that the Last Supper was held on Wednesday evening and that the events between then and the crucifixion were more and longer than previously thought. Over the years, some churches celebrated Maundy Thursday, also claiming that the crucifixion actually occurred on Thursday and not Friday.
I believe as more evidence from that time is compared with historical and biblical study, that both the professor and Maundy Thursday celebrants will be vindicated. Here’s how.
The Gospel accounts take one only through the day on Wednesday, not Thursday. If a Thursday crucifixion is correct, a Wednesday Last Supper has to be correct.
Convoluted dating for a Friday crucifixion includes the popular idea that Jewish thinking counted parts of days as whole days, which would make three days from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. But Christ predicted, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40).
The biggest problem with that idea is that the body of Christ could no way be in the tomb that long if the crucifixion took place on Friday. That it was His body (temple) is clear in John 2:19-22: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”
The events of crucifixion day would make interment after 6:00 PM (the end of the Jewish day). Consider the length of time for “It is finished!”, the spearing of Christ’s side to confirm death, the appeal for His body, taking down the body, transporting it and the involved and time-consuming embalming process before entombment (John 19:31-42). Christ’s body wouldn’t have been in the tomb on Friday at all, and it would already be Saturday. At least we have parts of three days with the crucifixion on Thursday.
Exodus 12 seems to settle the date of the crucifixion on Thursday. The best minds claim that Palm Sunday was on the 10th of Nisan (somewhat corresponding to March-April on our modern calendar). That was the day Jewish fathers selected their unflawed lamb for Passover: “…On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a house.” (Exodus 12:3).
On Palm Sunday, Christ first allowed his followers to claim Him King, which would have been seen as sedition by to Romans. Only they had the right of capitol punishment to effect a crucifixion. In effect, He was publicly selecting Himself as a sacrificial Lamb. The final charge tacked on the cross was “King of the Jews.”
Passover lambs were to be killed on the 14th day of the month. “… Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.” (Ex. 12:6) If the 10th was a Sunday, the day for slaying the lamb would be a Thursday. “Twilight” (“evening” in the old King James Version) is literally “between the evenings.” Some believe that this is actually mid-afternoon.
Another interesting piece of the dating puzzle is that there were so many lambs to be slaughtered that two Passover days were held, one on Thursday and another on Friday, which explains the seeming conflicts between the Gospel accounts.
While examination and even speculation is intriguing, the real issue is “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4) These are facts no matter what days they occurred.
God doesn’t demand of us a knowledge of proper dates but personal faith in Christ’s finished work. A favorite Easter song is a biographical testimony I hope you can also give:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming – O glorious day!
Dave Virkler
Believers around the world and across the ages have held that spring is the season of crucifixion observance and the resurrection, although they are by no means united as to the actual days these events actually occurred.
The latest entry into the calendar debate comes from University of Cambridge professor Colin Humphreys, who claims his ardent research reveals that the Last Supper was held on Wednesday evening and that the events between then and the crucifixion were more and longer than previously thought. Over the years, some churches celebrated Maundy Thursday, also claiming that the crucifixion actually occurred on Thursday and not Friday.
I believe as more evidence from that time is compared with historical and biblical study, that both the professor and Maundy Thursday celebrants will be vindicated. Here’s how.
The Gospel accounts take one only through the day on Wednesday, not Thursday. If a Thursday crucifixion is correct, a Wednesday Last Supper has to be correct.
Convoluted dating for a Friday crucifixion includes the popular idea that Jewish thinking counted parts of days as whole days, which would make three days from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. But Christ predicted, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40).
The biggest problem with that idea is that the body of Christ could no way be in the tomb that long if the crucifixion took place on Friday. That it was His body (temple) is clear in John 2:19-22: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”
The events of crucifixion day would make interment after 6:00 PM (the end of the Jewish day). Consider the length of time for “It is finished!”, the spearing of Christ’s side to confirm death, the appeal for His body, taking down the body, transporting it and the involved and time-consuming embalming process before entombment (John 19:31-42). Christ’s body wouldn’t have been in the tomb on Friday at all, and it would already be Saturday. At least we have parts of three days with the crucifixion on Thursday.
Exodus 12 seems to settle the date of the crucifixion on Thursday. The best minds claim that Palm Sunday was on the 10th of Nisan (somewhat corresponding to March-April on our modern calendar). That was the day Jewish fathers selected their unflawed lamb for Passover: “…On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a house.” (Exodus 12:3).
On Palm Sunday, Christ first allowed his followers to claim Him King, which would have been seen as sedition by to Romans. Only they had the right of capitol punishment to effect a crucifixion. In effect, He was publicly selecting Himself as a sacrificial Lamb. The final charge tacked on the cross was “King of the Jews.”
Passover lambs were to be killed on the 14th day of the month. “… Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.” (Ex. 12:6) If the 10th was a Sunday, the day for slaying the lamb would be a Thursday. “Twilight” (“evening” in the old King James Version) is literally “between the evenings.” Some believe that this is actually mid-afternoon.
Another interesting piece of the dating puzzle is that there were so many lambs to be slaughtered that two Passover days were held, one on Thursday and another on Friday, which explains the seeming conflicts between the Gospel accounts.
While examination and even speculation is intriguing, the real issue is “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4) These are facts no matter what days they occurred.
God doesn’t demand of us a knowledge of proper dates but personal faith in Christ’s finished work. A favorite Easter song is a biographical testimony I hope you can also give:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming – O glorious day!
Dave Virkler
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
American Beliefs About Universalism
According to a new study by the Barna Group, an organization that has for decades tracked religious beliefs in America, a surprising trend has surfaced that might have been under the radar in earlier days or has just gained in popularity more recently. This analysis on the above issue ended in 2011 after 5 years of study. Each survey involved a minimum of 1,000 respondents who were randomly selected from across the continental United States with those age 18 and older.
The particular belief in question is nothing new on the list of theological options concerning the subject of salvation. The only real question then is whether or not it is biblically correct? That is always the main question that must be considered when considering the veracity of any spiritual truth or doctrinal matter. This particular one has other names but is best known as ‘Universalism’. And when looking at what it adheres to, it is easy to see why it would become popular to people who have no biblical foundation or background to evaluate its claims.
Briefly stated, ‘Universalism’ is the notion that everyone will eventually be saved and make it into heaven. And again, with that obviously appealing option, it is no wonder why the current statistics on this view seem to be gaining momentum. About 43% of all Americans now believe that it really does not matter what religious faith you follow because they all supposedly teach the same basic ideas. Another 40 % state that people will experience the same outcome after death regardless of their religious beliefs. Add to these numbers that a stunning 7 of every 10 Americans today concur that, if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in heaven. The problem with this aspect, among other things, is deciding on the accurate definition of ‘good’. Whose standard is to be used? Also, how would anyone know when they have been ‘good’ enough or ‘done’ enough to merit salvation? It seems that this logic boils down to taking a rather monstrous risk, on an all-important and eternally critical matter, while basing beliefs on some very limited and shaky data.
Also there is one other related and shocking trend to add to the above movement. It seems that 59% of adults now also believe that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. While these same folks may admit that each religion has different names and some varying beliefs regarding God, they still maintain that the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all basically different expressions of the same spiritual truths.
Despite this new trend of an old system, even a somewhat casual study of the Bible will quickly dispute the above beliefs on Universalism, not to mention the other world religions also referred to. But with that said, some will ask, why believe what the Bible says over any other human book? Is it just a book written by man like any other religious instruction manual? And to be fair, that question is valid. But it also can be answered without question in the various areas of what it claims and teaches.
The Bible, believe it or not and like it or not, is not just a human book and man’s concept of God’s existence and interaction with man. It is not like any other book or one that just rehashes in different terms the same basic concepts as all the others. The pen that inscribed the precise words in the Old and New Testaments may indeed have been in the hands of flawed men. But the things recorded there were directed by the Holy Spirit of God as 2 Peter 1:19-21 reveals. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Then Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3:16 that biblical truth, from cover to cover, was originally inspired of God. This means literally ‘God–breathed’. Verse 16 reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word ‘inspiration’ means that it came from the very mouth and mind of God Himself and is therefore errorless in all it says and teaches.
But there will still be some that declare that this is just the Bible speaking about itself and it therefore carries no more weight than any other religious book. Again, is that a reasonable question? To be fair - yes. But it is only those who have not studied it deeply, and been affected by it internally, who fail to see how unique and supernatural the Scriptures really are.
Because it would take far too much time to explain, perhaps a few examples of the trustworthiness and truth of the Bible can be quickly mentioned. The Bible alone has been verified by numerous proofs down through the centuries. No other book of any kind has proven to be 100% accurate in matters of science, history, archeology, and in possessing the supernatural ability of changing the human heart from the inside out. Then there is perhaps the greatest validation of all. Only Scripture can boast 100% accuracy in predicting hundreds of prophecies – something no other book can even begin compare with. These and other undeniable proofs exist, if one is willing to fully seek out the truth about what the Bible is, what it says, and who authored it.
With that said, what about its view on salvation and specifically this topic of “universalism”? Is it true? Does it match up with God’s word in any way, shape or form? Are there multiple gods and multiple ways to heaven other than through Jesus Christ? And can one work his or her way to heaven through good works – however defined and however many that might require? The brief answer to these questions is simple. Absolutely not! It is also no shock to Bible students that such false teachings would be around, come around, and even take hold of many according to 2 Timothy 4:4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Also see 2 Peter 2:1.
The Bible, especially in the New Testament, contains scores of clear-cut passages about who the one true God is, how sin afflicted His once flawless creation, and the solitary means whereby He provided mankind a way to gain forgiveness from sin, and spend eternity in heaven with Him. Here are a few verses just for starters.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2:5-6)
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”em> (John 14:6)
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Then too, many other verses substantiate this same foundational reality such as Acts, 16:31, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Romans 5:7-10, John 10:1, Acts 16:31, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:20. God has left no doubt whatsoever about His person, His uniqueness, His power and His method of dealing with the eternal penalty of human sin. He shares no attributes or works along side of any other so-called gods to provide man a vehicle to be saved. He alone is God as Deuteronomy 6:4 states. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”
The teaching and promoting of Universalism is an extremely serious biblical error bringing with it unthinkable and lasting consequences. In Christendom, there are many church camps. Sometimes there are certain theological beliefs that don’t quite match up between denominations on certain doctrinal positions. This does not always mean that people in these groups will not be in heaven together. Maybe once in eternity, they might then find out who was on target and who may have been a little off center in one of the more secondary doctrinal basics. But when any theological teaching tampers with and spreads dangerous error on the most critical doctrine of salvation, this becomes of the utmost importance as it affects the single most important thing in this life and the next - the final destiny of a human soul.
If the Bible is the Word of the true God and perfect source of spiritual truth, and it is, then those who are banking on the increasing teachings of universalism had better rethink and search out the stated position of the collective 66 books known as the Holy Bible. The God who authored it made it certain that even a child can grasp the truth of who He is, what man needs, what Jesus did to meet that need, and how to be properly ready to face Him in eternity. The writer John summed it us as well as it can be and needs to be.
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:10-13)
Bill Breckenridge
The particular belief in question is nothing new on the list of theological options concerning the subject of salvation. The only real question then is whether or not it is biblically correct? That is always the main question that must be considered when considering the veracity of any spiritual truth or doctrinal matter. This particular one has other names but is best known as ‘Universalism’. And when looking at what it adheres to, it is easy to see why it would become popular to people who have no biblical foundation or background to evaluate its claims.
Briefly stated, ‘Universalism’ is the notion that everyone will eventually be saved and make it into heaven. And again, with that obviously appealing option, it is no wonder why the current statistics on this view seem to be gaining momentum. About 43% of all Americans now believe that it really does not matter what religious faith you follow because they all supposedly teach the same basic ideas. Another 40 % state that people will experience the same outcome after death regardless of their religious beliefs. Add to these numbers that a stunning 7 of every 10 Americans today concur that, if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in heaven. The problem with this aspect, among other things, is deciding on the accurate definition of ‘good’. Whose standard is to be used? Also, how would anyone know when they have been ‘good’ enough or ‘done’ enough to merit salvation? It seems that this logic boils down to taking a rather monstrous risk, on an all-important and eternally critical matter, while basing beliefs on some very limited and shaky data.
Also there is one other related and shocking trend to add to the above movement. It seems that 59% of adults now also believe that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. While these same folks may admit that each religion has different names and some varying beliefs regarding God, they still maintain that the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all basically different expressions of the same spiritual truths.
Despite this new trend of an old system, even a somewhat casual study of the Bible will quickly dispute the above beliefs on Universalism, not to mention the other world religions also referred to. But with that said, some will ask, why believe what the Bible says over any other human book? Is it just a book written by man like any other religious instruction manual? And to be fair, that question is valid. But it also can be answered without question in the various areas of what it claims and teaches.
The Bible, believe it or not and like it or not, is not just a human book and man’s concept of God’s existence and interaction with man. It is not like any other book or one that just rehashes in different terms the same basic concepts as all the others. The pen that inscribed the precise words in the Old and New Testaments may indeed have been in the hands of flawed men. But the things recorded there were directed by the Holy Spirit of God as 2 Peter 1:19-21 reveals. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Then Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3:16 that biblical truth, from cover to cover, was originally inspired of God. This means literally ‘God–breathed’. Verse 16 reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word ‘inspiration’ means that it came from the very mouth and mind of God Himself and is therefore errorless in all it says and teaches.
But there will still be some that declare that this is just the Bible speaking about itself and it therefore carries no more weight than any other religious book. Again, is that a reasonable question? To be fair - yes. But it is only those who have not studied it deeply, and been affected by it internally, who fail to see how unique and supernatural the Scriptures really are.
Because it would take far too much time to explain, perhaps a few examples of the trustworthiness and truth of the Bible can be quickly mentioned. The Bible alone has been verified by numerous proofs down through the centuries. No other book of any kind has proven to be 100% accurate in matters of science, history, archeology, and in possessing the supernatural ability of changing the human heart from the inside out. Then there is perhaps the greatest validation of all. Only Scripture can boast 100% accuracy in predicting hundreds of prophecies – something no other book can even begin compare with. These and other undeniable proofs exist, if one is willing to fully seek out the truth about what the Bible is, what it says, and who authored it.
With that said, what about its view on salvation and specifically this topic of “universalism”? Is it true? Does it match up with God’s word in any way, shape or form? Are there multiple gods and multiple ways to heaven other than through Jesus Christ? And can one work his or her way to heaven through good works – however defined and however many that might require? The brief answer to these questions is simple. Absolutely not! It is also no shock to Bible students that such false teachings would be around, come around, and even take hold of many according to 2 Timothy 4:4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Also see 2 Peter 2:1.
The Bible, especially in the New Testament, contains scores of clear-cut passages about who the one true God is, how sin afflicted His once flawless creation, and the solitary means whereby He provided mankind a way to gain forgiveness from sin, and spend eternity in heaven with Him. Here are a few verses just for starters.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2:5-6)
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”em> (John 14:6)
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Then too, many other verses substantiate this same foundational reality such as Acts, 16:31, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Romans 5:7-10, John 10:1, Acts 16:31, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:20. God has left no doubt whatsoever about His person, His uniqueness, His power and His method of dealing with the eternal penalty of human sin. He shares no attributes or works along side of any other so-called gods to provide man a vehicle to be saved. He alone is God as Deuteronomy 6:4 states. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”
The teaching and promoting of Universalism is an extremely serious biblical error bringing with it unthinkable and lasting consequences. In Christendom, there are many church camps. Sometimes there are certain theological beliefs that don’t quite match up between denominations on certain doctrinal positions. This does not always mean that people in these groups will not be in heaven together. Maybe once in eternity, they might then find out who was on target and who may have been a little off center in one of the more secondary doctrinal basics. But when any theological teaching tampers with and spreads dangerous error on the most critical doctrine of salvation, this becomes of the utmost importance as it affects the single most important thing in this life and the next - the final destiny of a human soul.
If the Bible is the Word of the true God and perfect source of spiritual truth, and it is, then those who are banking on the increasing teachings of universalism had better rethink and search out the stated position of the collective 66 books known as the Holy Bible. The God who authored it made it certain that even a child can grasp the truth of who He is, what man needs, what Jesus did to meet that need, and how to be properly ready to face Him in eternity. The writer John summed it us as well as it can be and needs to be.
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:10-13)
Bill Breckenridge
American Beliefs About Universalism
According to a new study by the Barna Group, an organization that has for decades tracked religious beliefs in America, a surprising trend has surfaced that might have been under the radar in earlier days or has just gained in popularity more recently. This analysis on the above issue ended in 2011 after 5 years of study. Each survey involved a minimum of 1,000 respondents who were randomly selected from across the continental United States with those age 18 and older.
The particular belief in question is nothing new on the list of theological options concerning the subject of salvation. The only real question then is whether or not it is biblically correct? That is always the main question that must be considered when considering the veracity of any spiritual truth or doctrinal matter. This particular one has other names but is best known as ‘Universalism’. And when looking at what it adheres to, it is easy to see why it would become popular to people who have no biblical foundation or background to evaluate its claims. Briefly stated, ‘Universalism’ is the notion that everyone will eventually be saved and make it into heaven. And again, with that obviously appealing option, it is no wonder why the current statistics on this view seem to be gaining momentum. About 43% of all Americans now believe that it really does not matter what religious faith you follow because they all supposedly teach the same basic ideas. Another 40 % state that people will experience the same outcome after death regardless of their religious beliefs. Add to these numbers that a stunning 7 of every 10 Americans today concur that, if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in heaven. The problem with this aspect, among other things, is deciding on the accurate definition of ‘good’. Whose standard is to be used? Also, how would anyone know when they have been ‘good’ enough or ‘done’ enough to merit salvation? It seems that this logic boils down to taking a rather monstrous risk, on an all-important and eternally critical matter, while basing beliefs on some very limited and shaky data. Also there is one other related and shocking trend to add to the above movement. It seems that 59% of adults now also believe that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. While these same folks may admit that each religion has different names and some varying beliefs regarding God, they still maintain that the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all basically different expressions of the same spiritual truths. Despite this new trend of an old system, even a somewhat casual study of the Bible will quickly dispute the above beliefs on Universalism, not to mention the other world religions also referred to. But with that said, some will ask, why believe what the Bible says over any other human book? Is it just a book written by man like any other religious instruction manual? And to be fair, that question is valid. But it also can be answered without question in the various areas of what it claims and teaches. The Bible, believe it or not and like it or not, is not just a human book and man’s concept of God’s existence and interaction with man. It is not like any other book or one that just rehashes in different terms the same basic concepts as all the others. The pen that inscribed the precise words in the Old and New Testaments may indeed have been in the hands of flawed men. But the things recorded there were directed by the Holy Spirit of God as 2 Peter 1:19-21 reveals. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Then Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3:16 that biblical truth, from cover to cover, was originally inspired of God. This means literally ‘God–breathed’. Verse 16 reads, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word ‘inspiration’ means that it came from the very mouth and mind of God Himself and is therefore errorless in all it says and teaches. But there will still be some that declare that this is just the Bible speaking about itself and it therefore carries no more weight than any other religious book. Again, is that a reasonable question? To be fair - yes. But it is only those who have not studied it deeply, and been affected by it internally, who fail to see how unique and supernatural the Scriptures really are. Because it would take far too much time to explain, perhaps a few examples of the trustworthiness and truth of the Bible can be quickly mentioned. The Bible alone has been verified by numerous proofs down through the centuries. No other book of any kind has proven to be 100% accurate in matters of science, history, archeology, and in possessing the supernatural ability of changing the human heart from the inside out. Then there is perhaps the greatest validation of all. Only Scripture can boast 100% accuracy in predicting hundreds of prophecies – something no other book can even begin compare with. These and other undeniable proofs exist, if one is willing to fully seek out the truth about what the Bible is, what it says, and who authored it. With that said, what about its view on salvation and specifically this topic of “universalism”? Is it true? Does it match up with God’s word in any way, shape or form? Are there multiple gods and multiple ways to heaven other than through Jesus Christ? And can one work his or her way to heaven through good works – however defined and however many that might require? The brief answer to these questions is simple. Absolutely not! It is also no shock to Bible students that such false teachings would be around, come around, and even take hold of many according to 2 Timothy 4:4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Also see 2 Peter 2:1. The Bible, especially in the New Testament, contains scores of clear-cut passages about who the one true God is, how sin afflicted His once flawless creation, and the solitary means whereby He provided mankind a way to gain forgiveness from sin, and spend eternity in heaven with Him. Here are a few verses just for starters. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2:5-6) “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Then too, many other verses substantiate this same foundational reality such as Acts, 16:31, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Romans 5:7-10, John 10:1, Acts 16:31, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:20. God has left no doubt whatsoever about His person, His uniqueness, His power and His method of dealing with the eternal penalty of human sin. He shares no attributes or works along side of any other so-called gods to provide man a vehicle to be saved. He alone is God as Deuteronomy 6:4 states. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” The teaching and promoting of Universalism is an extremely serious biblical error bringing with it unthinkable and lasting consequences. In Christendom, there are many church camps. Sometimes there are certain theological beliefs that don’t quite match up between denominations on certain doctrinal positions. This does not always mean that people in these groups will not be in heaven together. Maybe once in eternity, they might then find out who was on target and who may have been a little off center in one of the more secondary doctrinal basics. But when any theological teaching tampers with and spreads dangerous error on the most critical doctrine of salvation, this becomes of the utmost importance as it affects the single most important thing in this life and the next - the final destiny of a human soul. If the Bible is the Word of the true God and perfect source of spiritual truth, and it is, then those who are banking on the increasing teachings of universalism had better rethink and search out the stated position of the collective 66 books known as the Holy Bible. The God who authored it made it certain that even a child can grasp the truth of who He is, what man needs, what Jesus did to meet that need, and how to be properly ready to face Him in eternity. The writer John summed it us as well as it can be and needs to be. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:10-13) Bill Breckenridge
The particular belief in question is nothing new on the list of theological options concerning the subject of salvation. The only real question then is whether or not it is biblically correct? That is always the main question that must be considered when considering the veracity of any spiritual truth or doctrinal matter. This particular one has other names but is best known as ‘Universalism’. And when looking at what it adheres to, it is easy to see why it would become popular to people who have no biblical foundation or background to evaluate its claims. Briefly stated, ‘Universalism’ is the notion that everyone will eventually be saved and make it into heaven. And again, with that obviously appealing option, it is no wonder why the current statistics on this view seem to be gaining momentum. About 43% of all Americans now believe that it really does not matter what religious faith you follow because they all supposedly teach the same basic ideas. Another 40 % state that people will experience the same outcome after death regardless of their religious beliefs. Add to these numbers that a stunning 7 of every 10 Americans today concur that, if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in heaven. The problem with this aspect, among other things, is deciding on the accurate definition of ‘good’. Whose standard is to be used? Also, how would anyone know when they have been ‘good’ enough or ‘done’ enough to merit salvation? It seems that this logic boils down to taking a rather monstrous risk, on an all-important and eternally critical matter, while basing beliefs on some very limited and shaky data. Also there is one other related and shocking trend to add to the above movement. It seems that 59% of adults now also believe that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. While these same folks may admit that each religion has different names and some varying beliefs regarding God, they still maintain that the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all basically different expressions of the same spiritual truths. Despite this new trend of an old system, even a somewhat casual study of the Bible will quickly dispute the above beliefs on Universalism, not to mention the other world religions also referred to. But with that said, some will ask, why believe what the Bible says over any other human book? Is it just a book written by man like any other religious instruction manual? And to be fair, that question is valid. But it also can be answered without question in the various areas of what it claims and teaches. The Bible, believe it or not and like it or not, is not just a human book and man’s concept of God’s existence and interaction with man. It is not like any other book or one that just rehashes in different terms the same basic concepts as all the others. The pen that inscribed the precise words in the Old and New Testaments may indeed have been in the hands of flawed men. But the things recorded there were directed by the Holy Spirit of God as 2 Peter 1:19-21 reveals. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Then Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3:16 that biblical truth, from cover to cover, was originally inspired of God. This means literally ‘God–breathed’. Verse 16 reads, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word ‘inspiration’ means that it came from the very mouth and mind of God Himself and is therefore errorless in all it says and teaches. But there will still be some that declare that this is just the Bible speaking about itself and it therefore carries no more weight than any other religious book. Again, is that a reasonable question? To be fair - yes. But it is only those who have not studied it deeply, and been affected by it internally, who fail to see how unique and supernatural the Scriptures really are. Because it would take far too much time to explain, perhaps a few examples of the trustworthiness and truth of the Bible can be quickly mentioned. The Bible alone has been verified by numerous proofs down through the centuries. No other book of any kind has proven to be 100% accurate in matters of science, history, archeology, and in possessing the supernatural ability of changing the human heart from the inside out. Then there is perhaps the greatest validation of all. Only Scripture can boast 100% accuracy in predicting hundreds of prophecies – something no other book can even begin compare with. These and other undeniable proofs exist, if one is willing to fully seek out the truth about what the Bible is, what it says, and who authored it. With that said, what about its view on salvation and specifically this topic of “universalism”? Is it true? Does it match up with God’s word in any way, shape or form? Are there multiple gods and multiple ways to heaven other than through Jesus Christ? And can one work his or her way to heaven through good works – however defined and however many that might require? The brief answer to these questions is simple. Absolutely not! It is also no shock to Bible students that such false teachings would be around, come around, and even take hold of many according to 2 Timothy 4:4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Also see 2 Peter 2:1. The Bible, especially in the New Testament, contains scores of clear-cut passages about who the one true God is, how sin afflicted His once flawless creation, and the solitary means whereby He provided mankind a way to gain forgiveness from sin, and spend eternity in heaven with Him. Here are a few verses just for starters. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2:5-6) “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Then too, many other verses substantiate this same foundational reality such as Acts, 16:31, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Romans 5:7-10, John 10:1, Acts 16:31, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 5:20. God has left no doubt whatsoever about His person, His uniqueness, His power and His method of dealing with the eternal penalty of human sin. He shares no attributes or works along side of any other so-called gods to provide man a vehicle to be saved. He alone is God as Deuteronomy 6:4 states. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” The teaching and promoting of Universalism is an extremely serious biblical error bringing with it unthinkable and lasting consequences. In Christendom, there are many church camps. Sometimes there are certain theological beliefs that don’t quite match up between denominations on certain doctrinal positions. This does not always mean that people in these groups will not be in heaven together. Maybe once in eternity, they might then find out who was on target and who may have been a little off center in one of the more secondary doctrinal basics. But when any theological teaching tampers with and spreads dangerous error on the most critical doctrine of salvation, this becomes of the utmost importance as it affects the single most important thing in this life and the next - the final destiny of a human soul. If the Bible is the Word of the true God and perfect source of spiritual truth, and it is, then those who are banking on the increasing teachings of universalism had better rethink and search out the stated position of the collective 66 books known as the Holy Bible. The God who authored it made it certain that even a child can grasp the truth of who He is, what man needs, what Jesus did to meet that need, and how to be properly ready to face Him in eternity. The writer John summed it us as well as it can be and needs to be. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:10-13) Bill Breckenridge
Monday, April 18, 2011
150th Anniversary of The Civil War
On Tuesday, in Charleston, SC, cannon fire and somber-sounding music marked a commemoration of the Civil War – the nation's bloodiest internal conflict ever. The events re-creating the siege of Fort Sumter began the four-year national commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the brutal struggle that nearly ended the literal existence of a young prospering nation.
At 4 a.m., a single beam of light reached far into the sky. A half-hour later, around the same time the first shots of the Civil War were fired, there was a second beam that represented a nation that had been torn in two. Later, an authentic 1847 seacoast mortar fired and was met by sounds of cannons from around the harbor. A Union re-enactor then tossed a wreath into the water after which men dressed in gray fired a 21-gun salute. The display was in memory of all who died during the conflict on South Carolina soil. Lastly, just following these symbolic gestures, two buglers played "Taps."
As most know, this particular war was characterized by some seemingly unsolvable philosophical divides. There were two sides at the time that could not be much farther apart in their core beliefs. The differences were so profound that even blood brothers were sometimes willing to fight each other to the death when the situation arose. Today, such a thing seems nearly incomprehensible.
War, and fighting on any level, typically comes from a gap that is hard for the opposing sides to close or heal - regardless of who may be right or wrong. These can be massive as seen when entire nations engage in battle. They can also be as minor as two children fighting over the same toy. But in the heat of the moment, the combatants do all they can to prevail and make their point.
The Bible really is the story of a gap – the most destructive chasm ever. This great gulf exists between a fallen and sinful human race and a righteous and holy God. No two sides could be more divided and no gap greater, because this one involves the most serious of all consequences because it is both spiritual and eternal.
In Luke chapter sixteen Jesus told of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. To make a long story short, poor and righteous Lazarus ended up going to heaven at his death while his counterpart did not fare so well and ended up in a place of torment. The passage presents a painful exchange with the suffering soul begging for relief and comfort in his great agony. Verse 24 begins, "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said in response, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
But to make matters far worse, Abraham also related that this man’s horrific torment and location would also be ‘endless’ and with no way of return or reversal. His eternal fate had been sealed during life by having no time for God. The awful finality regarding his fate is seen in verse 26. “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” His sins were never forgiven and thus his doom forever.
The Civil War is past history and hopefully the great moral and inspirational lessons learned will continue to act as a foundation for future generations. But unlike when men fight among themselves, the war surrounding human sin, although still fully raging, has already been won decisively by Jesus Christ. The victory came when He cried out “It is finished” from the cross where He offered Himself up as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. (1 John 2:2) His completed payment for rebellion against God means there is no reason for anyone to be eternally lost and someday find themselves on the wrong side of sin’s dreaded ‘gulf’ forever. Christ’s built the one redemptive bridge that allows escaping from the eternal penalty caused by sin. But that spiritual route must be found and followed in this life as the story of Lazarus graphically shows.
The same Jesus who spoke the above words, also spoke to Thomas concerning the gulf dug deep by sin and mankind’s universal need to fill it. The Savior revealed to him in John 14:5-6. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Then John added his own words on the subject in 1 John 5:10-13. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” It would seem that even a young child should be able to grasp this basic and critical spiritual concept!
The awful gap of sin between God and man is real. It has everlasting results and its consequences are far beyond any human understanding. But He has given adequate warning through His word. His bridge back to forgiveness and a right relationship with Himself is equally real, fully effective and clearly defined. Once found, understood, and accepted, it changes ones future destiny instantly and eternally. His is the only pathway able to close and heal the great spiritual divide between God and man as is promised in John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Bill Breckenridge
At 4 a.m., a single beam of light reached far into the sky. A half-hour later, around the same time the first shots of the Civil War were fired, there was a second beam that represented a nation that had been torn in two. Later, an authentic 1847 seacoast mortar fired and was met by sounds of cannons from around the harbor. A Union re-enactor then tossed a wreath into the water after which men dressed in gray fired a 21-gun salute. The display was in memory of all who died during the conflict on South Carolina soil. Lastly, just following these symbolic gestures, two buglers played "Taps."
As most know, this particular war was characterized by some seemingly unsolvable philosophical divides. There were two sides at the time that could not be much farther apart in their core beliefs. The differences were so profound that even blood brothers were sometimes willing to fight each other to the death when the situation arose. Today, such a thing seems nearly incomprehensible.
War, and fighting on any level, typically comes from a gap that is hard for the opposing sides to close or heal - regardless of who may be right or wrong. These can be massive as seen when entire nations engage in battle. They can also be as minor as two children fighting over the same toy. But in the heat of the moment, the combatants do all they can to prevail and make their point.
The Bible really is the story of a gap – the most destructive chasm ever. This great gulf exists between a fallen and sinful human race and a righteous and holy God. No two sides could be more divided and no gap greater, because this one involves the most serious of all consequences because it is both spiritual and eternal.
In Luke chapter sixteen Jesus told of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. To make a long story short, poor and righteous Lazarus ended up going to heaven at his death while his counterpart did not fare so well and ended up in a place of torment. The passage presents a painful exchange with the suffering soul begging for relief and comfort in his great agony. Verse 24 begins, "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said in response, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
But to make matters far worse, Abraham also related that this man’s horrific torment and location would also be ‘endless’ and with no way of return or reversal. His eternal fate had been sealed during life by having no time for God. The awful finality regarding his fate is seen in verse 26. “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” His sins were never forgiven and thus his doom forever.
The Civil War is past history and hopefully the great moral and inspirational lessons learned will continue to act as a foundation for future generations. But unlike when men fight among themselves, the war surrounding human sin, although still fully raging, has already been won decisively by Jesus Christ. The victory came when He cried out “It is finished” from the cross where He offered Himself up as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. (1 John 2:2) His completed payment for rebellion against God means there is no reason for anyone to be eternally lost and someday find themselves on the wrong side of sin’s dreaded ‘gulf’ forever. Christ’s built the one redemptive bridge that allows escaping from the eternal penalty caused by sin. But that spiritual route must be found and followed in this life as the story of Lazarus graphically shows.
The same Jesus who spoke the above words, also spoke to Thomas concerning the gulf dug deep by sin and mankind’s universal need to fill it. The Savior revealed to him in John 14:5-6. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Then John added his own words on the subject in 1 John 5:10-13. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” It would seem that even a young child should be able to grasp this basic and critical spiritual concept!
The awful gap of sin between God and man is real. It has everlasting results and its consequences are far beyond any human understanding. But He has given adequate warning through His word. His bridge back to forgiveness and a right relationship with Himself is equally real, fully effective and clearly defined. Once found, understood, and accepted, it changes ones future destiny instantly and eternally. His is the only pathway able to close and heal the great spiritual divide between God and man as is promised in John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Bill Breckenridge
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Libya in Bible History and Prophecy
Libya has roared into our daily news. It is an ancient country with past historic significance and present trouble, and it is a Bible country of substantial and tragic prophetic importance.
Libya is located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Africa. It is bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia. The term “Libya” once designated the third continent of Africa west of the Nile River, the other two being Europe and Asia. It stretched from the sea to the hinterlands in the south.
Its name derived from an Egyptian designation of “Levu,” which morphed into “Libya.” Reaching back as far as the two thousand years before Christ, it was settled by people loosely known as Berbers, apparently of Indo-European origin from southwest Asia. The Berbers never sought nationhood but choose identity in tribalism and individual clans. As a result, Libya has been a historic geographic, economic and political football bouncing between Greece, Rome and most recently ruled by a wretched dictator, Muammar Khadafi.
By the second century AD, Libya was mostly Christian from early evangelism. This happy state changed dramatically changed in 647 when 40,000 Arabs wrenched it away from the Byzantine control and transformed it into Muslim control. It most famous city is its capitol, Tripoli, popularized by the Marine Hymn: “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli….” This refers to the U.S. Navy subduing the Muslim Barbary Pirates who practiced pillage and mayhem in the Mediterranean for centuries. In 1794, the young United States of America refused to pay protection tribute, established its first national navy and stopped the carnage. (This Tripoli is not to be confused with a city by the same name in northern Lebanon.)
In the New Testament, Libya is most noted as the home of a bearer of Christ’s cross, converts at Pentecost and effective missionaries.
When Christ stumbled beneath the cross on His way to Calvary, a man from Libya was pressed into service. Matthew 27:32 says, “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Cyrene is close to Tripoli in Libya.
The account of Pentecost says, “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (Acts 2:8-11) This indicates a strong dedicated Jewish presence in faraway Libya who had come to observe Passover.
Evidently the persecution following Stephen’s death took some of the converts from Pentecost to Antioch in Syria. “But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:20-21)
Out of this came a spiritual church that became the first organized foreign missions effort of New Testament times. “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:1-3)
So Libya became largely Christian, far from what it is today—a Muslim hotbed of strife and revolt. Some of the “rebels” are admittedly al Qaeda trainees, and the U.S. and NATO have gotten themselves into a dangerous posture of unsolvable problems.
But what of the future? Libya will join other Islamic nations in the brutal attack on Israel prophesied in Ezekiel 38:5. Evidently, it will also fall in step with Antichrist in his subtle campaign to control Israel as Daniel 11:43 states: “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.” This apparently ends in catastrophe as Ezek. 30:5 says of Egypt and her western neighbor, “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
The great hope of this hour is that Gospel outreach—now largely through Internet, radio and TV—will reach the millions of distraught people in Muslim lands and that they will find redemption in Jesus Christ, their only hope for time and eternity. According to prominent author Joel Rosenberg, millions are turning to Christ in the Muslim world, but precious little response is being recorded in Libya. Let’s pray that this changes and many more “Simons from Cyrene” will gladly bear Jesus’ cross in converted discipleship. Libyans did so in the past. Let’s pray that they do it again.
Dave Virkler
Libya is located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Africa. It is bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia. The term “Libya” once designated the third continent of Africa west of the Nile River, the other two being Europe and Asia. It stretched from the sea to the hinterlands in the south.
Its name derived from an Egyptian designation of “Levu,” which morphed into “Libya.” Reaching back as far as the two thousand years before Christ, it was settled by people loosely known as Berbers, apparently of Indo-European origin from southwest Asia. The Berbers never sought nationhood but choose identity in tribalism and individual clans. As a result, Libya has been a historic geographic, economic and political football bouncing between Greece, Rome and most recently ruled by a wretched dictator, Muammar Khadafi.
By the second century AD, Libya was mostly Christian from early evangelism. This happy state changed dramatically changed in 647 when 40,000 Arabs wrenched it away from the Byzantine control and transformed it into Muslim control. It most famous city is its capitol, Tripoli, popularized by the Marine Hymn: “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli….” This refers to the U.S. Navy subduing the Muslim Barbary Pirates who practiced pillage and mayhem in the Mediterranean for centuries. In 1794, the young United States of America refused to pay protection tribute, established its first national navy and stopped the carnage. (This Tripoli is not to be confused with a city by the same name in northern Lebanon.)
In the New Testament, Libya is most noted as the home of a bearer of Christ’s cross, converts at Pentecost and effective missionaries.
When Christ stumbled beneath the cross on His way to Calvary, a man from Libya was pressed into service. Matthew 27:32 says, “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Cyrene is close to Tripoli in Libya.
The account of Pentecost says, “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (Acts 2:8-11) This indicates a strong dedicated Jewish presence in faraway Libya who had come to observe Passover.
Evidently the persecution following Stephen’s death took some of the converts from Pentecost to Antioch in Syria. “But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:20-21)
Out of this came a spiritual church that became the first organized foreign missions effort of New Testament times. “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:1-3)
So Libya became largely Christian, far from what it is today—a Muslim hotbed of strife and revolt. Some of the “rebels” are admittedly al Qaeda trainees, and the U.S. and NATO have gotten themselves into a dangerous posture of unsolvable problems.
But what of the future? Libya will join other Islamic nations in the brutal attack on Israel prophesied in Ezekiel 38:5. Evidently, it will also fall in step with Antichrist in his subtle campaign to control Israel as Daniel 11:43 states: “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.” This apparently ends in catastrophe as Ezek. 30:5 says of Egypt and her western neighbor, “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
The great hope of this hour is that Gospel outreach—now largely through Internet, radio and TV—will reach the millions of distraught people in Muslim lands and that they will find redemption in Jesus Christ, their only hope for time and eternity. According to prominent author Joel Rosenberg, millions are turning to Christ in the Muslim world, but precious little response is being recorded in Libya. Let’s pray that this changes and many more “Simons from Cyrene” will gladly bear Jesus’ cross in converted discipleship. Libyans did so in the past. Let’s pray that they do it again.
Dave Virkler
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Nation Title Decisively Decided
The name Butler is not typically thought of by most when it comes to a dominating or legendary college basketball team. But the school, one that most fans cannot even pinpoint on a map. made it all the way through March Madness and to the deciding game. It was only there that they fell short – very short!
The opponent was the University of Connecticut (UConn), a team that is synonymous with winning and championship basketball. The were favored to win the title, but Butler’s play up to that point hand many wondering and even in doubt about the final outcome.
It started out well for Butler as UConn trailed 22-19 after a first half. But at halftime, Uconn’s coach made a forceful locker room speech. The result was that they returned to the court and won the title with a defensive showing for the ages. They held Butler’s shooting from the floor to a pathetic 12-for-64. The 18.8 percent performance turned out to be historic as the second worst ever in a title game. When the dust settled, and the shoes stopped squeaking on the floor, the final score was 53-41 and could have been even worse.
"The halftime speech was rather interesting," said Calhoun after the game. Among other things, he said to his team, "We are going to out-will them and outwork them." And that is exactly what they did. The coach is now the oldest to ever win a national championship and one of a select few to own three victories in the famed tournament. He also uttered about his team, "They truly were brothers, they truly were trusting in each other, and that was very, very special. This group has taken me on a very special journey, better than I could possibly imagine."
Calhoun’s feeling about the unity, trust, and teamwork of his club is something that God covets for those on His elect roster of faith. In 1 Corinthians chapter twelve, the Apostle Paul conveys how the local church is really that of a spiritual team made up by a variety of members each having special skills and playing specific positions given them at the moment of salvation.
In verse 12 Paul writes, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.”
Verse 20 continues by stating, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
It is when the various spiritual gifts given to every Christian are developed, used properly, and exercised regularly in the local church team that a ministry flourishes and glorifies the One who put it all in place.
Again, Coach Calhoun declared of his guys, "They truly were brothers, they truly were trusting in each other, and that was very, very special. This group has taken me on a very special journey, better than I could possibly imagine." That was likely true for the now legendary college coach this year. But there is absolutely nothing comparable to the unique journey of committed Christian brothers and sisters working together in spiritual harmony and using their spiritual gifts to achieve God’s plans and purpose. Paul referred to this great truth and God's will both in Ephesians and in Philippians.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)
Five or ten years from now, few will even recall the two teams that played in the 2011 national basketball college championship. Nearly none, other than perhaps the players themselves, will be able to give the accurate score of the somewhat disappointing game. The same basic holds true with most any major sports title after enough time has passed. But those whose earthly journey reflects heavenly values, and whose daily lives parallel Christ's mind and attributes, will someday fully comprehend and forever experience the blessed reality recorded by the Apostle John.
"And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:17)
Bill Breckenridge
The opponent was the University of Connecticut (UConn), a team that is synonymous with winning and championship basketball. The were favored to win the title, but Butler’s play up to that point hand many wondering and even in doubt about the final outcome.
It started out well for Butler as UConn trailed 22-19 after a first half. But at halftime, Uconn’s coach made a forceful locker room speech. The result was that they returned to the court and won the title with a defensive showing for the ages. They held Butler’s shooting from the floor to a pathetic 12-for-64. The 18.8 percent performance turned out to be historic as the second worst ever in a title game. When the dust settled, and the shoes stopped squeaking on the floor, the final score was 53-41 and could have been even worse.
"The halftime speech was rather interesting," said Calhoun after the game. Among other things, he said to his team, "We are going to out-will them and outwork them." And that is exactly what they did. The coach is now the oldest to ever win a national championship and one of a select few to own three victories in the famed tournament. He also uttered about his team, "They truly were brothers, they truly were trusting in each other, and that was very, very special. This group has taken me on a very special journey, better than I could possibly imagine."
Calhoun’s feeling about the unity, trust, and teamwork of his club is something that God covets for those on His elect roster of faith. In 1 Corinthians chapter twelve, the Apostle Paul conveys how the local church is really that of a spiritual team made up by a variety of members each having special skills and playing specific positions given them at the moment of salvation.
In verse 12 Paul writes, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.”
Verse 20 continues by stating, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
It is when the various spiritual gifts given to every Christian are developed, used properly, and exercised regularly in the local church team that a ministry flourishes and glorifies the One who put it all in place.
Again, Coach Calhoun declared of his guys, "They truly were brothers, they truly were trusting in each other, and that was very, very special. This group has taken me on a very special journey, better than I could possibly imagine." That was likely true for the now legendary college coach this year. But there is absolutely nothing comparable to the unique journey of committed Christian brothers and sisters working together in spiritual harmony and using their spiritual gifts to achieve God’s plans and purpose. Paul referred to this great truth and God's will both in Ephesians and in Philippians.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)
Five or ten years from now, few will even recall the two teams that played in the 2011 national basketball college championship. Nearly none, other than perhaps the players themselves, will be able to give the accurate score of the somewhat disappointing game. The same basic holds true with most any major sports title after enough time has passed. But those whose earthly journey reflects heavenly values, and whose daily lives parallel Christ's mind and attributes, will someday fully comprehend and forever experience the blessed reality recorded by the Apostle John.
"And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:17)
Bill Breckenridge
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Date of Christ’s Return?
End-time Messianic alerts are multiplying these days.
Chief among the morose and likely false predictions is the absolutely non-negotiable forecast of maverick religious broadcaster Harold Camping of Family Radio. He has set the date of May 21, 2011 as the day of Christ’s return and the beginning of the end heading toward Judgment Day. Using a self-invention of numbers, dates and mystical meanings, Camping is announcing his date on radio, on his website and through bus caravans. According to Camping, May 21 is absolutely, positively the day Christ returns and begins the somber judgment upon all the world.
I might be inclined to carefully examine Camping’s calculations were it not for the fact that he has gone through this back in 1992 when he also predicted the return of Christ and the end of the world. Only then, his book, 1994?, had an appropriate question mark in the title, and his follow-up volume, Are You Ready?, published in 1993 was subtitled, Much More Evidence that 1994 Could Be the End of the World (emphasis mine). His present doomsday has no allowance of a question mark.
If Harold Camping is not in Heaven or dead on May 21, his entire reputation and radio empire comes crashing down in despicable shambles leaving gullible souls to fumble along in the morass of false prophecy. The last time around, a North Jersey follower of Camping committed suicide when Jesus didn’t return as Camping had Him scheduled.
Mr. Camping is not alone in these strange ravings. In 1988, Edgar Whisenant published a book entitled, 88 Reasons Why Christ Will Come in 1988, and had it down to Sept. 11, 12, or 13 of that year. He also said that there would never be another two-term president and that Jimmy Carter was the last one in America. Reading these mathematically cluttered texts is enough to make an engineer’s head spin.
Not to be outdone, some Koreans published a small book asking, Are You Ready for the Rapture? October 28, 1992. This conviction came through “…visions, dreams, prophecies and voices a few years back.” That is the worst way to do it.
Camping’s absurd forecasts sound more like pagan Jewish Kabbalistic mysticism than any brand of careful biblical analysis. Indeed, the same Jewish folks who trumpeted the strange Bible Codes a few years ago show that they have four layers of interpretation with three below the normal, obvious meanings in the text. Camping is down about three of these as he rummages around somewhere below the textual surface.
I am not saying Christ could not come on May 21 or any other day. I hope Camping is wrong and Jesus comes today. But date-setting has a wretched history of error.
The misguided Adventists of New England in the 1800s and Jehovah’s witnesses of the early 1900s were constantly revising their dates and eating humble pie. A few years ago, some misguided folks waded out into Long Island Sound to meet Jesus and then had to slosh back out to face the reporters. Yet this spiritual sickness persists.
Think about it. The calendar is so messed up with variations and revisions that no one really knows what year it is. The slightest variation or miscalculation crumples these predictions like the proverbial house of cards. Also, the benchmarks many use all seem potentially flawed as to exact dates.
And another point: Which day east or west of the International Dateline is to be used? As I write this, another day has dawned on the other side of the globe. Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt 24:44 – KJV). That would leave any date but May 21 according to Harold’s calculations if we all bought his reasoning.
In quoting the verse, I’ve used the old King James Version because “ye” means plural “you.” I suggest that Jesus was including all the disciples, and He was saying, “You’ll never have an accurate agreement.” Maybe that’s good so that we would always be on the watch which is the only proper way of waiting. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matt 25:13).
How can Camping know the day when this verse says you can’t? Prov. 27:1 says that we can’t know what another day may bring forth. That applies to May 21 as well as any other day.
What is the sensible approach? Christ can come anytime, and that is the meaning of the term “immanent.” Certain things are being accomplished which, when complete, will mean the return of Christ in the Rapture. Christ said He was going away to prepare heavenly dwelling places for His own. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
In this Church Age, God is calling out a people for His Name (Acts 14:15), and when the last person of the New Testament church is saved, the heavenly mansions will match the number of the redeemed occupants. This time is known only to God. Since believers are to be engaged in sharing the Gospel, which when believed, places one in the Church, we should be more interested in the task rather than the time. We should be ready always.
The story of the spiritual and waiting mother has always moved me. Each evening as she tucked her children in bed, she would go to the window and quietly breathe, “Perhaps tonight.” In the morning on waking them, she would again go to the window and quietly say, “Perhaps today.”
Date setting is absurd. Daily watching is the norm. Perhaps today?
Dave Virkler
Chief among the morose and likely false predictions is the absolutely non-negotiable forecast of maverick religious broadcaster Harold Camping of Family Radio. He has set the date of May 21, 2011 as the day of Christ’s return and the beginning of the end heading toward Judgment Day. Using a self-invention of numbers, dates and mystical meanings, Camping is announcing his date on radio, on his website and through bus caravans. According to Camping, May 21 is absolutely, positively the day Christ returns and begins the somber judgment upon all the world.
I might be inclined to carefully examine Camping’s calculations were it not for the fact that he has gone through this back in 1992 when he also predicted the return of Christ and the end of the world. Only then, his book, 1994?, had an appropriate question mark in the title, and his follow-up volume, Are You Ready?, published in 1993 was subtitled, Much More Evidence that 1994 Could Be the End of the World (emphasis mine). His present doomsday has no allowance of a question mark.
If Harold Camping is not in Heaven or dead on May 21, his entire reputation and radio empire comes crashing down in despicable shambles leaving gullible souls to fumble along in the morass of false prophecy. The last time around, a North Jersey follower of Camping committed suicide when Jesus didn’t return as Camping had Him scheduled.
Mr. Camping is not alone in these strange ravings. In 1988, Edgar Whisenant published a book entitled, 88 Reasons Why Christ Will Come in 1988, and had it down to Sept. 11, 12, or 13 of that year. He also said that there would never be another two-term president and that Jimmy Carter was the last one in America. Reading these mathematically cluttered texts is enough to make an engineer’s head spin.
Not to be outdone, some Koreans published a small book asking, Are You Ready for the Rapture? October 28, 1992. This conviction came through “…visions, dreams, prophecies and voices a few years back.” That is the worst way to do it.
Camping’s absurd forecasts sound more like pagan Jewish Kabbalistic mysticism than any brand of careful biblical analysis. Indeed, the same Jewish folks who trumpeted the strange Bible Codes a few years ago show that they have four layers of interpretation with three below the normal, obvious meanings in the text. Camping is down about three of these as he rummages around somewhere below the textual surface.
I am not saying Christ could not come on May 21 or any other day. I hope Camping is wrong and Jesus comes today. But date-setting has a wretched history of error.
The misguided Adventists of New England in the 1800s and Jehovah’s witnesses of the early 1900s were constantly revising their dates and eating humble pie. A few years ago, some misguided folks waded out into Long Island Sound to meet Jesus and then had to slosh back out to face the reporters. Yet this spiritual sickness persists.
Think about it. The calendar is so messed up with variations and revisions that no one really knows what year it is. The slightest variation or miscalculation crumples these predictions like the proverbial house of cards. Also, the benchmarks many use all seem potentially flawed as to exact dates.
And another point: Which day east or west of the International Dateline is to be used? As I write this, another day has dawned on the other side of the globe. Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt 24:44 – KJV). That would leave any date but May 21 according to Harold’s calculations if we all bought his reasoning.
In quoting the verse, I’ve used the old King James Version because “ye” means plural “you.” I suggest that Jesus was including all the disciples, and He was saying, “You’ll never have an accurate agreement.” Maybe that’s good so that we would always be on the watch which is the only proper way of waiting. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matt 25:13).
How can Camping know the day when this verse says you can’t? Prov. 27:1 says that we can’t know what another day may bring forth. That applies to May 21 as well as any other day.
What is the sensible approach? Christ can come anytime, and that is the meaning of the term “immanent.” Certain things are being accomplished which, when complete, will mean the return of Christ in the Rapture. Christ said He was going away to prepare heavenly dwelling places for His own. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
In this Church Age, God is calling out a people for His Name (Acts 14:15), and when the last person of the New Testament church is saved, the heavenly mansions will match the number of the redeemed occupants. This time is known only to God. Since believers are to be engaged in sharing the Gospel, which when believed, places one in the Church, we should be more interested in the task rather than the time. We should be ready always.
The story of the spiritual and waiting mother has always moved me. Each evening as she tucked her children in bed, she would go to the window and quietly breathe, “Perhaps tonight.” In the morning on waking them, she would again go to the window and quietly say, “Perhaps today.”
Date setting is absurd. Daily watching is the norm. Perhaps today?
Dave Virkler
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