Many sincere people have the idea that they should just "stay put" in whatever church or organization they are in. People are creatures of habit. Familiar faces and church rituals encourage people to "stay put.”' Some ministers, whose congregations are bored or disgruntled by their lifeless teachings, try to hold on to their people by telling them, "You should stay where God has placed you"!

This may sound good on the surface. But when you really study the Bible, you find that most of God's servants down through the centuries—specially in the New Testament period—have had to LEAVE some prior religious organization in order to truly obey God! Jewish Christians living in the latter part of the first century A.D. had to totally SEPARATE themselves from synagogue worship due to persecution. To encourage them, Paul wrote, "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come" (Heb. 13:12-14).

At the time of their call, Jesus' disciples “forsook ALL and followed Him" (Luke 5:11). Later, when pressured by their "familiar," community, religious leaders to "get back in line," the apostles exclaimed, "We ought to obey GOD rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

Down through time, religious organizations have always tended to "water down," to forget or to pervert almost everything God ever commanded! That is one reason God said, "REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do NO WORK" (Ex. 20:8-10). Men and women of genuine humility and FAITH have always found a way to keep God's Sabbath which enables them to be faithfully instructed in "the whole counsel of God," including the Ten Commandments (Acts 20:27)!

But, in regard to the Sabbath and most other true biblical teachings, most men and most churches—sad to say—have taken the path of least resistance. They have compromised repeatedly with "the world." They have made it "easy" for their members to divorce and re-marry—often CONTRARY to the clear teachings of the Son of God (Matt. 5:32).

Soren Kierkegaard wrote, "The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist. Millions of people through the centuries have little by little cheated God out of Christianity, and have succeeded in making Christianity exactly the opposite of what is in the New Testament."

Jesus NEVER told people to mindlessly accept some religious status quo. He said, "If you abide in My Word [the Bible], you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

The test of a true Christian is how close he is to the Truth in his beliefs and practices. Again, Jesus said, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and TRUTH" (John 4:24). But many will say, "Well the people in my church are nice people, so I can just stay among them and in my heart I'll still believe the Truth." But that approach is both hypocritical and WRONG!

Jesus wants His true followers to be a "light" to the world (Matt. 5:14). How can you remain in a church which you know in your heart has watered down and compromised God's TRUTH and still be a "light" to anyone? Those inside of that church or organization will think that you must agree with its teachings or you wouldn't be there! Outsiders will naturally assume that you think that church has the TRUTH or you wouldn't be in it. Either way, you are effectively misleading people and setting a wrong example!

God's Word and human experience both show that if you continue to compromise and "hang around" in religious fellowship with people compromising with the Truth—you will end up doing the same thing yourself! The Apostle Paul was inspired to write, "`Do not be deceived: `Evil company corrupts good habits.' Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor. 15:33-34).

In powerful visions the Living Jesus Christ revealed to His beloved apostle, John, the nature of the huge politico-religious system which will dominate the world at the end of this age. He described it as, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17:5).

Christ warns you through His angel, "COME OUT of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4).

We encourage you to study and check up on the TRUTH we present to you in this magazine and in our other publications. Gaining knowledge is important, but eventually the time will come for ACTION. Don't be complacent! Don't procrastinate. Be brave! If God is calling you and giving you understanding of His Truth, then act on it. Don't be afraid to LEAVE where you are, if you see your church or your group is in serious error. "Go FORTH to Him, outside the camp!"

May God grant you the faith and courage—and the true LOVE of God—to stand up for the full TRUTH of God and to show it by your actions.

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by Roderick C. Meredith

In his recent State of the Union address, U. S. President Bill Clinton remarked, "Our civil life is suffering in America today. Citizens are working together less and shouting at each other more. The common bonds of community which have been the great strength of our country from its very beginning are badly frayed. What are we to do about it?" (The New York Times, Jan. 26, 1995).

The United States has the highest percentage of people attending church of any nation in the Western world. As President Clinton noted in that speech, "I'm proud of the fact that the United States has more houses of worship per capita than any other country in the world." But the United States also has the highest percentage of illegitimate births. Our murder rate, drug use and constant lying and cheating in public duties and private lives contradicts the oft-claimed status of "Christian" when applied to the U.S.A. as a nation!

What's going on? Why are our educators, sociologists and other "leaders" flailing wildly about searching for "values"—trying to agree on some acceptable "standards of behavior"? Why can't they see the obvious?

President Clinton says, "We must forge a new social compact to meet the challenges of this time.... I call it the New Covenant but it's grounded in a very, very old idea.... Our New Covenant is a new set of understandings...how we can change the way our government works to fit a different time and, above all, how we can repair the damaged bonds in our society and come together behind our common purpose. We must have dramatic change in our economy, our government and ourselves."

Surprisingly, Mr. Clinton stumbled onto some good terminology. Yes, if this were a truly Christian nation, then we would know that our CREATOR has a specific "common purpose"—which He delivered in a truly dramatic "State of the Union" speech about 3500 years ago—summarized by the Ten Commandments!

Americans and all peoples should know that to the degree nations, families or individuals choose to live by God's basic spiritual law, blessings will follow. But that to the degree nations, families or persons disobey the Ten Commandments, they receive a series of curses—all kinds of things go wrong. If we are a Christian nation, WHY don't our citizens understand this simple truth?

Why the CONFUSION?

Most American ministers and priests teach that the New Covenant that Jesus Christ brought somehow "does away" with the Ten Commandments! Yet even these religious leaders are confused among themselves!

Some say that Christ did away with the law at the cross. Others teach that the Apostle Paul brought a new "gospel of grace" which supplants God's spiritual laws. Others say that the Ten Commandments are not binding, except for those commandments that are restated in the New Testament (NT), and that those not restated are "transformed" or "spiritualized away" in some manner.

No wonder there is such great confusion in determining society's basic ethical standards. Your Bible shows clearly that this is a DECEIVED society we live in! "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev. 12:9 KJV).

Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matt. 7:15-16 KJV).

What are the "fruits"—the results—of today's "Christianity" in the lives of most Americans? Are they far less likely to lie, to cheat, to steal or to commit adultery?

Again, one of the MAJOR deficiencies of today's "Christianity" is its total misunderstanding of the Old and New Covenants. Many ministers have been confused by the writings of the Apostle Paul. God Almighty knew in advance that this would happen. He inspired this warning by the Apostle Peter:

Consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures [2 Pet. 3:15-16]. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of LAWLESS MEN and fall from your secure position [v. 17 NIV].

It is striking that the New International Version, which is so often unclear or even technically inaccurate in areas pertaining to obedience, here makes it clear that false teachers are usually "LAWLESS men" who reject the laws of Almighty God!

DOES the New Covenant Abolish Law?

The major place in the NT where the New Covenant is specifically addressed is in the book of Hebrews. "But now He [Christ] has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). The New Covenant is not established on different laws, but on better promises—the promised indwelling help of the Holy Spirit and the reward of eternal life!

Continuing, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: `Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah'” (vv. 7-8).

Nothing is said about finding "fault" with God or His law. The fault was with a physical people who lacked the spiritual love and strength to obey God. This is essentially the same problem with America today!

"For this is the covenant [relationship with God] that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put MY LAWS [divine, ethical standards of conduct] in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people [a genuinely righteous, Christian nation]" (v. 10). This powerful NT verse makes it very clear that—far from "doing away" with God's law—the New Covenant VALIDATES God's laws by putting them right into the minds and hearts of true Christians!

How could it be otherwise?

Jesus Christ said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:17-19).

Jesus magnified God's law (see Is. 42:21). He taught that Christians are not to murder and must NOT even harbor the attitude of hate (Matt. 5:21-24). In sexual conduct, Christians are not only forbidden to commit adultery, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (v. 28).

Humanity's Savior magnified or enlarged God's Ten Commandments and made them even more binding. Christians must keep the "spirit" or intent of the law as well as the letter! Jesus' advice to any person seeking eternal life is: "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:17).

After Christ's resurrection—after everything that was "nailed to the cross" was already abolished—Jesus told His apostles, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28: 19-20).

Note the Son of God's commands regarding the continuing ministry of His apostles. He told them to go into "all the nations" teaching them to observe "ALL THINGS" that He had commanded them! The Gospel accounts about Jesus repeatedly quote Him effectively saying, "Keep the commandments"! How can human reasoning possibly get around the clear statements of the Savior?

Did God "Start All Over" in the New Testament?

One line of reasoning that men use to try to "do away" with the Ten Commandments is the theory that God virtually started all over in the New Testament. They reason that God's laws—as revealed in the Old Testament—were very crude and incomplete. So their theory is that when the Apostle Paul came along, preaching to the Gentiles, God then revealed a whole new concept of how to serve Him which was not wedded to obedience to His laws and ways which had been taught before. Now, the reasoning goes, all one needs to do to inherit eternal life is to have faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood!

Thus, in one master stroke, the entire WAY OF LIFE which God had revealed to the patriarchs and prophets—through the Word (Jesus Christ)—suddenly becomes negated or "transformed" into spiritual NOTHINGNESS by this clever teaching!

The OT writings are seen as "interesting" stories, allegories and poetry of the primitive Hebrew people who were gradually evolving a concept of God. These "religious evolutionists" see the historical parts of the Old Testament as NOT necessarily reliable. The prophecies, they maintain, may or may not actually happen, and, according to them, those "old laws" of the Hebrew Bible are certainly not binding on Christians today.

This "politically correct" concept is accepted as "truth" by liberal theologians—but it is a damnable LIE hatched by Satan!

The Apostle Paul told the Gentile Christians at Ephesus, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone," (Eph. 2:19-20). True Christianity has a "foundation"—an undergirding upon which all else is built. That foundation includes the "prophets" of God—including Moses! God's law came "through" Moses (NOT from him), just as grace and truth came "through" Jesus Christ (John 1 :17).

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh; who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands; that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:11-12). These Gentiles prior to their conversion had no hope and were "without God" because they were aliens from Israel and "strangers from the covenants of promise." Paul stressed that God's "covenants" of old were very important! They helped people to become acquainted with God and HIS WAY of salvation!

Paul told the young Jewish evangelist, Timothy, "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:15-16). Remember, the ONLY "Scriptures" Timothy had to read as a child were the Old Testament Scriptures. And these, Paul said, could make Timothy "wise for salvation."

God did NOT "start all over" in the New Testament! The entire way of life which the early apostolic church understood and taught had its "roots" firmly planted in the Hebrew Bible and in the law of God.

When Jesus Christ, James or John spoke of God's law or of the "commandments," they were speaking about the Ten Commandments. Often they specifically referred to some of them in almost the same breath to make that very clear. "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, `Do not commit adultery,' also said, `Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law" (James 2:10-11).

The Apostle John exhorted believers, "He who says, `I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" ( 1 John 2:4).

These theologians who teach that God's spiritual law is abrogated under the New Covenant would simply "blow the minds" of the apostles and prophets who originally wrote about it!

What IS a "Covenant"?

Readers and translators of the NT sometimes have difficulty understanding the subtleties between the English words "covenant" and "testament." These words are both used to translate the Greek word diatheke which occurs 33 times in the NT. In classical Greek it was used to mean a will or a testament. But in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible (OT), the Greek word diatheke is over 300 times given as the equivalent of the Hebrew berith, always translated into English as "covenant."

"The essential distinction between the two meanings is that in a testament the testator expresses his will as to what shall be done after his death, especially in respect to his property; the covenant is an agreement between living persons as to what shall be done by them while living" (Ralph Earl, Th.D., Word Meanings in the New Testament, 1991, p. 277, quotes E. D. Burton, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, p. 500).

Dr. Earl concludes his analysis of the proper translation of diatheke stating, "We would agree with most commentators that the only place [in the NT] where this word means `testament' is Hebrews 9:16-17 (p. 426)! Surprisingly, if we are to be accurate in our terminology, the commonly used name for the Greek Bible which is now the "New Testament" should be changed to the "New Covenant"!

It is interesting that these highly respected scholars acknowledge that the entire New Testament should be called the "New Covenant"! And if they were consistent, this would force them to admit that Jesus Christ's instruction, "If you want to enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" (Matthew 19:17), undoubtedly applies to ALL Christians today.

A "covenant" is simply an agreement between two living parties. So, now let us understand what the Old Covenant involved.

In Exodus 19:5, the Eternal God proposed this Covenant with Israel, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine."

So God promised—if accepted—to make Israel a special treasure and a kingdom of priests. Did Israel agree? "Then all the people answered together and said, `All that the LORD has spoken we will do.' So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD" (v. 8).

In Exodus 20-24, God spelled out the terms and conditions of His Covenant. In Exodus 20 He restated and codified the Ten Commandments which Abraham and all of God's servants had known about and previously kept (Gen. 26:5). These commandments were spiritual laws. Therefore they are the basis of every relationship God has ever had with humans. They are the very foundation of holy, righteous character.

Also, God gave Israel many of the statutes and judgments which made up the actual civil law for ancient Israel. The statutes and judgments were the "law of the land"—interpretations of the Ten Commandments on specific issues. They were based directly on and were simply a "letter of the law" magnification of the Ten Commandments.

Abraham—the father of the faithful—understood and obeyed many of these statutes (Gen. 26:5). In Exodus 18:16, Moses stated, "I make known the statutes of God and His laws." This was before God thundered the Ten Commandments from the mountain top—BEFORE the Sinai Covenant was made.

If we accept (for argument's sake) the classic Protestant and Catholic proposition that the Sinai Covenant ceased at the death of Christ, then how could these statutes and laws cease—laws which existed and were empowered before Sinai—by force of the Sinai Covenant's dissolution. NOTHING in the Bible ever says that they were dissolved! After all, in the logic of this argument, the Sinai Covenant could not destroy what it did not bring into force!

The bottom line is that Israel agreed to enter into a covenant with God. This covenant was to be a way of life with blessings if they obeyed, or punishment and death if they disobeyed. They said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient" (Ex. 24:7). This was immediately after Moses had read to the people the "Book of the Covenant"—containing the Ten Commandments and the statutes and judgments which were to guide the people's daily conduct (v. 7).

Then, Moses sealed the Covenant by sprinkling blood on the people (v. 8). "As is evident elsewhere in the Bible, covenants were concluded in order to create quasi-familial relations. Parties bound by covenant regularly employed family terminology [The LORD would be their father (Jer. 31:9) and they would be His children (Is. 45:11)]. The role of blood was to create an artificial tie of consanguinity [blood relationship]" (The Anchor Bible Dictionary, "Blood," Vol. 1, 1992, p. 763). Now they were committed to obey God's laws and walk in His ways—knowing He would make them a "special treasure" above all nations of the earth if they did so—or terribly punish them if they didn't.

Sheep, A Vineyard, A Marriage—A Family Relationship

In proposing the Sinai Covenant, the Eternal was entering into a formalized, family relationship with the physical people of Israel.

When you understand it, the "LORD" of the Old Testament, the Rock of Israel (Deut. 32:4)—the Spirit Personality who covenanted with ancient Israel—was actually Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul wrote, "For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4). Moses only mediated between the covenant's parties, physical Israel and the LORD, when the Sinai Covenant was established (Ex. 20:19-21; Heb. 9:19-21). Centuries later, Jesus Christ would, in place of Moses, mediate a New Covenant between God the Father and a spiritual people, the "Israel of God" (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb 8:6; Gal. 6:16).

When the LORD became flesh and was born of a virgin, Mary, and named Jesus, He was not accepted by physical Israel: "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:1 1 ). He was physical Israel's "Everlasting Father": "You, O LORD, are our father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name" (Is. 63:16; cf. Is. 9:6; Jer. 31:9; Mal. 1:6; 2:10). So it was actually the One who later emptied Himself of His divine glory (Phil. 2:7) to become all humanity's Savior who covenanted with ancient Israel! The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, "And I thought you would call Me, My Father, and would not turn from following Me. Instead, as a faithless wife leaves her husband, so you have been faithless to Me, O house of Israel, says the LORD" (Jer. 3:19-20 NRSV).

The LORD used a number of analogies to explain His feelings and perceptions in His relationship with His covenanted people. As the Good Shepherd, God was the Leader and Protector of His flock. "Then he led out his people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid" (Ps. 78:52-53 NRSV). This presented a relationship in which the people could depend on and trust their "Everlasting Father."

God also used the shepherd-sheep analogy to show how the Chief Shepherd is concerned about the character of the human leadership leading His people: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD" (Jer. 23:2 NRSV).

The Scriptures also describe the LORD's covenant expectations of ancient Israel by using the analogy of the vine and the vineyard (Ps. 80:8-16; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 15). "Let me sing for my Beloved my love-song concerning His vineyard.... Judge between Me and My vineyard. What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?" (Is. 5:1, 3-4 NRSV). God was frustrated with ancient Israel because they just didn't live up to His expectations to produce good fruit.

To make His anger strongly understood at this betrayal by His people the LORD described His intense emotions using the husband-wife relationship. "For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds, and you said, `I will not serve!' On every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled and played the WHORE. Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then did you turn degenerate and become a wild vine?" (Jer 2:20-21 NRSV).

The One who became Christ "married" ancient Israel—taking her as His "bride" upon her promise of loyalty and obedience. But Israel was disloyal and disobedient and the LORD punished her, but He did not forsake her.

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.... For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you [Is. 54:5-7, 10 NRSV].

The NEW Covenant Proposed

Christ came "to confirm the promises made to the fathers" (Rom. 15:8). He outlined the terms and conditions of the New Covenant, saying, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word of God" (Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3).

Jesus explained, "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail" (Luke 16:16-17).

Again, when the young man asked Him the WAY to eternal life, Jesus answered, "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" (Matt. 19:17).

Which commandments? Did this forever include the animal sacrifices and ceremonial laws that were added as a reminder of sin after the spiritual laws and principles were given in Exodus 20-24? Animal sacrifice and ceremonial laws were NOT part of the original Sinai Covenant. They were added later—after the covenant was enacted by blood (Ex. 24:8). God makes it clear that He did NOT speak to Israel of these things at the time the Old Covenant was made! The Prophet Jeremiah was inspired to write, "For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, `Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you'” (Jer. 7:22-23).

The author of Hebrews describes the physical ministry of the Levitical priesthood: "It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation" (Heb. 9:9-10).

Animal sacrifices, washings and the carnal ordinances of the Levitical priesthood were added later as we have seen—and are NO LONGER necessary for the "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16) now that the sacrifice of Christ had been made and the Holy Spirit is available to spiritually cleanse converted Christians.

God has commanded all Israel to walk in His WAYS—in the spiritual law of the Ten Commandments and in the statutes that He gave them. For God—Jesus Christ—NEVER changes His underlying spiritual laws which reflect His basic character. "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob" (Mal. 3:6). Again, we read, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

After Jesus' death and resurrection, it was time for the Holy Spirit to be generally accessible to humanity (John 16:7). On the day of Pentecost, Peter exhorted the thousands of Jews gathered at the Temple of God, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

So this promise was to "all"—even those "afar off'—whomever God would "call" in years to come (v. 39). Now notice the CONDITIONS by which people may receive God's Spirit and be partakers of the New Covenant!

Why did Peter say they were to repent and be baptized? "For the remission [or forgiveness] of SIN." These thousands of Jews (v. 41 ) who heard Peter knew from their teaching in the synagogues what sin was! Do YOU know?

By the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jews had been taught repeatedly that sin was a matter of disobeying God's spiritual law—the Ten Commandments (see Ex. 20; Ps. 119). In the Greek Scriptures the Apostle John was inspired to write, "Sin IS the transgression of the LAW" (1 John 3:4 KJV).

At the time of baptism, a truly converted person enters into a genuine New Covenant relationship with God. This person is required to REPENT of breaking God's Ten Commandments. Sincere repentance means being SO SORRY that you will forsake your lawless way, turn around and go the other way—the way of God's law!

Clearly then, at the time of baptism, a real Christian makes a covenant with his CREATOR to quit sinning! To STOP breaking God's spiritual LAW! "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

The new Christian looks forward in FAITH to the promised help of the Holy Spirit to empower the mind with the love and strength to OBEY God's law "because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Rom. 5:5 NRSV).

Of course, we will not keep the commandments perfectly in this physical life. However, we are exhorted to "GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). God expects us to walk in His commandments as a WAY of life! If we fall short, we're to repent and confess our sins to God so we can continually be cleansed and forgiven (1 John 1:9-10).

Jesus said, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). And the Apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20 KJV).

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ will LIVE HIS LIFE anew in the truly converted Christian. As Christ does NOT change (Heb. 13:8), He will continue to live the same OBEDIENT life He did live in the flesh 1900 years ago while human!

Do you now UNDERSTAND? The New Covenant in NO WAY does away with, or "waters down," even the letter of God's spiritual law. Rather, it empowers genuinely converted men and women by God's Spirit to obey that law in the letter AND in the spirit. It enables Jesus Christ-through the Spirit-to LIVE His life in the Christian. "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts" (Heb. 8:10; cf. Jer. 31:33). This prepares us for immortality in the Kingdom of God! NO, WE DON'T thereby "earn" our own salvation! This is a false concept that has been foisted off on the Protestant world for generations. It is a false, misguided attempt to get around obedience to God and His laws!

Eternal life is God's gift, but God will not give this precious gift to rebellious men who spurn His law and way of life. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). God will not give immortality to those who rebel against His law of love (1 John 5:3), and so would make themselves and others miserable throughout eternity. This applies to Christians who, after receiving the Holy Spirit, later in life rebel against God and turn to a life of sin. As it is written:

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over [Heb. 6:4-8 NRSV].

Our initial reconciliation to God, our overcoming and our ultimate salvation are ALL accomplished through God's mercy and through the love and strength of Christ living HIS life in us through the Holy Spirit. But, we DO have to quit reasoning around and making excuses just so we can "do our own thing." We do have to genuinely SURRENDER to let Christ RULE our lives (Luke 6:46).

In this way, when the saints are glorified and can participate fully in the New Covenant at Christ's return, they will be "ready." For, as ancient Israel was "married" to Christ, so spiritual Israel (Gal. 6:16)—the Church of God—will be "married" to Christ at His second coming. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).

Converted members of God's Church—the affianced bride of Christ—will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have overcome. They will have actively yielded to let God build within them His divine CHARACTER. They will then truly be "one" with Christ and "one" with God the Father (John 17:20-21).

In this fashion, the purpose of the New Covenant will be fulfilled. Millions of repentant and yielded human beings will eventually be imbued with the very nature of God the Father. At the resurrection, when Christ returns, they will be born, literally, `into the very Family of God and so fulfill the great PURPOSE of human existence!

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by Raymond F. McNair

After emerging victorious from the most bloody global war in human history, Winston Churchill, the "Brit" who rallied the United Kingdom during the darkest days of its struggle for national survival, reflected on the brotherhood his nation shared with its chief ally. Speaking in the House of Commons in 1947, Mr. Churchill said, "I must turn to the United States, with whom our [British] fortunes and interests are intertwined.... The Americans...have become today the GREATEST STATE AND POWER in the world, speaking our own language, cherishing our common law, and pursuing...the same ideals" (House of Commons speech, Oct. 28, 1947). But very few people realize that it was God Almighty who made both Britain and America GREAT.

Mr. Churchill also spoke of the "sense of brotherhood" between the Americans and Britons (A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Vol. 1); and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher referred to the American and British peoples as "members of the same family: (Time, Jun. 20, 1988). Bible prophecy and history reveal that our Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples have descended from the same family of JOSEPH, and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

It is impossible to understand why the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples of America and the British-descended Commonwealth nations achieved such wealth, power and fame—without first comprehending the fabulous promises which Almighty God gave Abraham's great-great-grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:15-20)!

Some Bible critics deny that God kept His promises of national greatness to Abraham and his descendants Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. If you depend on God for your salvation, you need to know whether or not God keeps His Word (Gen. 17:19; 18:18; 22:16-18)!

The Almighty promised Abraham's grandson, Jacob, "May God give you [Jacob] the...FATNESS [Heb. FAT PLACES, i.e., N. America, Australia, New Zealand, N. W. Europe] of the earth" (Gen. 27:28). God also inspired Jacob to bestow upon Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the most fabulous promises of future greatness ever given to any people! Unfortunately, few Anglo-Americans realize that our national blessings, wealth, power and prestige are the direct result of the fulfillment of those divinely given promises.

Notice the fantastic birthright blessings which Israel (the Patriarch Jacob) was inspired by God to pass on to his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. "And he [Israel] blessed Joseph, and said, `God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me...bless the lads [Ephraim and Manasseh]; let MY NAME [Israel] be named on them and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a MULTITUDE [of nations] in the midst of the earth'” (Gen. 48:15-16).

Israel then said, "He [Manasseh] will grow into A NATION, he will be GREAT, but nevertheless his younger brother [Ephraim] will be GREATER and his descendants will become a MULTITUDE OF NATIONS" (Gen. 48:19 Moffatt).

Which nations today represent the "Great Nation" and the "Multitude of Nations" (Gen. 48:19)? God's Word solemnly says that the "BIRTHRIGHT was given to the sons of Joseph [Ephraim and Manasseh]" (1 Chron. 5:1-2). What is a birthright? It is a special blessing (a double blessing) which usually goes to the firstborn son. When Jacob was inspired by God to pass on to Joseph's sons the birthright blessing, they received a double blessing, instead of a single blessing which was given to each of Jacob's other eleven sons (Gen. 48:22)!

Prophesied Military Might of Joseph's Descendants

The Bible reveals that of all of Israel's descendants, Joseph's offspring would become the most powerful of the twelve tribes when it came to military prowess. In fact, they would become the most powerful nations on earth!

"And Jacob called his sons and said, `Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days'” (Gen. 49:1 ).

"Joseph is a fruitful bough...by a well; his branches run over the wall. The archers [his enemies] have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob...who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you" (Gen. 49:22-25). Clearly, Joseph's descendants would become MIGHTY in military power "in the last days."

A similar picture of Joseph's military dominance was given under divine inspiration to Moses shortly before his death. "And of Joseph he said: `Blessed of the LORD is his land.... His glory is like a firstborn bull, and his horns [symbol of his military power] are like the horns of a wild ox; together with them he shall push the peoples [Gentile nations] to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh"' (Deut. 33:13, 17). Ferrar Fenton translates verse 17 as follows. "His [Joseph's] horns are the horns of a bull; with them he will conquer nations"!

During Israel's 40-year sojourn in the desert, the enemies of God hired Balaam, a false prophet, to employ enchantments against the people of Israel—hoping to curse them. But, God forced Balaam, against his will, to prophesy good things regarding Israel (Num. 22-24). Balaam asked, "How shall I curse [Israel] whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced.... He has strength like a wild ox" (23:8, 22).

"How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!... He has strength like a wild ox; he shall CONSUME the nations, his enemies; he shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who will rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you [Israel], and cursed is he who curses you" (24:5, 8-10).

Bible prophecy reveals that "in the last days" Israel's descendants would be very powerful, like a "wild ox." The Jews, from time immemorial, have maintained that Joseph's tribal emblem was an ox!

Interestingly, "John Bull" is a national nickname for the British, and they have both the lion and the unicorn (wild ox) displayed on their national coat of arms!

Israel to Become Earth's Mightiest People

The Prophet Micah also revealed that the descendants of Israel would be like the king of beasts, the "lion" among the nations of this earth. "And the remnant [last generation] of Jacob [or Israel] shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, who, if he passes through, both treads down and tears in pieces, and none can deliver. Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and ALL YOUR ENEMIES SHALL BE CUT OFF" (Mic. 5:8-9)!

How did God fulfill His many promises and prophecies regarding the people of Israel becoming powerful as a lion, or as a wild bull, among the nations of this world?

The Key to Global Military Power—Naval Supremacy!

During the last four long centuries, the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples of Britain and America have dominated the seven seas! And during much of that time they dominated much of the world, both economically and militarily! How did they achieve naval supremacy on the high seas?

Before the scattered peoples of the "Lost Ten Tribes" could fulfill God's promise that they would "SPREAD ABROAD [colonize] to the west and the east, to the north and the south" (Gen. 28:14), they would need to gain mastery of the high seas. How "Britannia" came to "rule the waves" is a fascinating story.

England had fought with France for centuries. The Hundred Years War between England and France began in 1337 and ended in 1453, at which time only Calais was left in English hands. England, which once ruled over much of France, lost its French territory in the late 1400s, and then had to look elsewhere for an Empire. Once America was discovered in 1492, this opened up to Spain and Portugal fantastic opportunities to establish overseas colonies. At first, Britain, as well as other European nations, could only look on with envy at the enormous riches Spain was extracting from the New World.

But the status quo among nations is never static. Power shifts. Nations rise and fall. Less than 100 years after America was discovered in 1492, circumstances beyond the control of the common man forced Britain into a show-down with Spain—whose tremendous wealth at that time had made it the most powerful nation in Europe. Spanish ships enjoyed almost total naval supremacy.

But in the early 1500s, Britain's king, Henry VIII, had a wandering eye and a desire for progeny that led him to divorce his Catholic queen, Catherine of Aragon, who was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. King Henry's divorce, contrary to the Pope's wishes, pushed Britain onto the Protestant side of the Reformation—that bitter religious struggle then sweeping European civilization. Henry VIII seized control of the Church in England, circa 1527, and established himself "Head" of the Anglican Church. A huge rift developed between Protestant England and Catholic Spain. A titanic showdown was inevitable!

In 1587 England's Protestant Queen Elizabeth I had Catholic Mary Queen of Scots beheaded, because of her part in a conspiracy to seize the English throne and reestablish Catholicism. Mary's co-conspirator was Spain's King Philip II who was determined to bring England to heel. To accomplish his desire, Philip launched a massive (for that time) invasion fleet to destroy Queen Elizabeth's forces.

But the times were changing; the Spanish Armada was defeated. Even though English seamen fought bravely against Spain's "Invincible Armada" in 1588, it was stormy weather that really defeated the Spaniards.

Nearly half of the 130 ships which set sail from Spain were destroyed in that ill-fated crusade before the remaining ships of the Armada limped back to Spain. Half of the nearly 28,000 Spanish invasion force died in battle or by shipwreck. Two-thirds of the survivors were so malnourished that within a month of making port, they died of the effects of hunger, dysentery and disease. The defeat of the Armada had far-reaching consequences on England's future—and on the future of the world!

Regarding the defeat of the Armada in 1588, Winston Churchill wrote, "But to the English people as a whole the defeat of the Armada came as a MIRACLE. For thirty years the shadow of Spanish power had darkened the political scene. A wave of religious emotion filled men's minds. One of the medals struck to commemorate the victory bears the inscription `Afflavit Deus et dissipantur'—`God blew and they were scattered.'

"Elizabeth and her seamen knew how true this was. The Armada had indeed been bruised in battle, but it was demoralized and set on the run by the WEATHER [which God has control over!].... The nation was transported with relief and pride" (A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Vol. II). After the defeat of the Armada, the Dutch also struck a medal showing the "terrestrial globe" slipping out of the hands of Spain.

From that day forward, English seamen confidently believed they could more than hold their own against Spanish seamen. Elizabeth's skilled seamen, such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins and Admiral Charles Effingham, believed they could engage Spanish vessels anywhere they chose. During the next few decades, the English made many raids on Spanish ships and colonial ports, seizing much treasure—all to the "annoyance" of the Spaniards! Perceptibly, the Brits gained naval power.

It was English naval confidence on the high seas which gave England the confidence to make permanent settlements in North America. Beginning in 1607 at Jamestown, and continuing until her colonies were strung all along the east coast of North America from Canada to Georgia, the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic claim to North America was secure.

Napoleon's Adventures Frustrated

By the late 1500s, the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples of Britain were fast becoming the most powerful maritime power in the world. Since then, they and their descendants, now known as Anglo-Americans, have retained their dominant position as the world's top maritime power. During the 1600s-1800s British seamen had many naval encounters with Spain, France and Holland.

It was the British navy which thwarted Napoleon Bonaparte's attempt to seize Egypt, gain control of the Mideast, and eventually wrest India as a prized imperial possession from the British. In 1798, Britain's Admiral Horatio Nelson tracked Napoleon's French fleet to Aboukir Bay, and then almost destroyed it at the famous Battle of the Nile.

"Overnight, the Mediterranean became an English sea. Napoleon's army, although intact, was stranded in Egypt. Bonaparte could not march to India which was his plan—without a fleet behind to supply him. He tried to move up through the Levant [Eastern Mediterranean] but a British naval squadron stopped him at Acre. `If it had not been for you English, I'd have been Emperor of the East,' he said later. `But wherever there is water to float a ship we are sure to find you [English] in the way'” (The British Empire, BBC TV TIME-LIFE BOOKS, Vol. I, p. 274).

Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in 1804. One of history's most significant naval engagements occurred in the following year, 1805, when British Admiral Lord Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar and captured 20 enemy ships. Although Lord Nelson died in battle, France, Spain and other nations were forced to acknowledge British supremacy over the high seas.

"The presence of the sea, at once insulating the Mother Country and linking it with the Empire, gave the British an imperial confidence" (James Morris, Pax Britannica, p. 46). British pride in her supremacy of the seven seas was aptly illustrated in the words of British Admiral St. Vincent, who once remarked, "I do not say the French cannot come. I only say they cannot come by sea."

In the fateful years 1853-54, American naval power, under Commodore Matthew C. Perry, persuaded the Japanese leaders to crawl out of their isolationist cocoon, thereby opening up Japan to the outside world. And American sea power enabled the U.S. to achieve a quick victory over Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Anglo-American dominance of the high seas was crucial in their victory over the Central Powers in World War I and the Axis Powers in World War II. Even though Germany and Japan seriously challenged the U:S. and Britain on the high seas during World War II, Anglo-American naval strength, aided by Almighty God, finally won out!

God promised to give Abraham's seed possession of their enemies' "GATES," including, of course, the strategic "Sea Gates." America and Britain have possessed or controlled most of the strategic "Sea Gates" of the world. Some of these international "gates" have already been lost. Bible prophecy reveals that our peoples will lose control of more of those vital "gates" in a soon-coming, worldwide, titanic struggle, which Jeremiah called "Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:6-7). Christ spoke of that same time as "The Great Tribulation" (Matt. 24:21)!

Chosen to Serve by Almighty God

The American and British people need to realize that it was God Almighty who, thousands of years ago, promised that Joseph's sons would achieve victory over all their enemies—and this would include supremacy on the oceans of the world. God promised HE would strengthen "the arms" of Joseph's descendants (Gen. 49:22-24).

Yet, have American and the British-descended people gratefully acknowledged the real Source of their blessings and greatness?

President Abraham Lincoln eloquently stated "We [Americans] have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven"! Any of the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic people could say the same thing about their countries as well. We who have been so greatly blessed must never be ungrateful or arrogant, saying, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth" (Deut. 8:17). "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth" (v. 18)!

We Americans and Britons must never forget that God has blessed us, not because of our own innate intelligence, goodness, or imagined superiority, but for His own high purpose! We have been chosen by God to fulfill a special purpose in His Great Master Plan (Ex. 19:4-6; Amos 3:2). As plainly stated by the late Prime Minister Churchill, "He must indeed have a blind soul who cannot see that some GREAT PURPOSE and design is being worked out here below of which we have the honour to be faithful servants.... I avow my hope and faith...that in the days to come the British and American peoples will, for their own safety, and for the good of all, walk together in majesty, in justice, and in peace" (Speech to U.S. Senate, Dec. 26, 1941).

Dr. Curzon, bishop of Exeter, England, once said, "If we dare to use the word `a chosen people,' all boasting will be excluded if we remember that in the language of true religion `chosen' means chosen for SERVICE, perhaps for suffering, never for FAVOURITISM" (Brian Williams, Judgment On Britain, 1966 ed., p. 11)!

A British minister, C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), once said, "I judge that God has blessed the two great nations of the Anglo-Saxon-[Celtic] race—England and the United States—and given them preeminence... [so that] they may spread abroad the knowledge of the glory of God..." (Treasury of the Old Testament, Vol. 2, p. 145). How true!

The Anglo-American peoples have sent hundreds of millions of Bibles, in virtually every known tongue, into all nations! And it has been primarily through those same peoples that the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached WORLDWIDE—and must yet be preached and published, GLOBALLY (Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Mark 16:15)! We Americans and Britons have been chosen not for FAVOURITISM—but for SERVICE toward the other nations of the world! How well will we fulfill our God-ordained destiny?

One reason for British-American supremacy on the high seas is that they possessed nearly all of the important “sea gates” of the world. This, too, was prophesied thousands of years ago.

God told Abraham, “By Myself I have sworn…I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven…and your descendants shall possess the GATE of their enemies” (Gen. 22:16-17)! The following promise was reiterated to Israel’s mother, “May you [Rebekah]…become thousands of myriads; may your offspring [the Israelites] gain possession of the gates of their foes” (Gen. 24:60 NRSV).

What is a “gate”? A gate is simply “a means of entrance or exit” (The Oxford Encyc. English Dictionary, 1991 ed.). Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (tenth edition), also defines a gate as “a means of entrance or exit” or as a strategic “gateway.”

Since 1588, British sea power, and later American naval power, have dominated the seven seas of the world—and they have also possessed, over a period of four centuries, most of the major “sea gates” (the vital maritime choke points) of the world!

Those important “sea gates” included at one time or another.

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by Jeffrey H. Patton

In many nations in the Western world, the men and women who in the past were exalted as our heroes—admired for their nobility of character, courage or outstanding achievements—today are being derided and criticized in the harsh glare of historic or religious revisionism. Some commentators think it is a good thing to debunk "holy cows"—and that such skepticism is a healthy sign of personal or national maturity and growth.

But in this cynical dog-eat-dog world where life's hopes and dreams face reality's ugly meat grinder, can you and I subsist on anti-heroes who exalt the crass, the vulgar, the con or the reprobate?

In America we are all familiar with the revisionists' destruction of heroes. Some revisionists say that Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage most notably represents the beginning of the oppression and destruction of the "peaceful" native peoples in the Western hemisphere, or that the defenders of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, were just a bunch of drunken, rebellious, slave-owning yahoos.

Columnist George Will recently commented on this patriotism-bashing trend, "For the 50th anniversary this August of Hiroshima, the Smithsonian is planning to display the fuselage of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the bomb. The Smithsonian wants to portray Japan as yet another victim of racist, imperialist America. Said the Smithsonian's initial script, `For most Americans, this...was a war of vengeance. For most Japanese it was a war to defend their unique culture against Western imperialism.' Never mind that the Japanese used bayonets to try to pin their unique culture to Manchuria, China, Southeast Asia and the Philippines" (Times Advocate, Jan. 26, 1995).

The revisionists portray President Harry Truman's decision to drop the atom bomb on Japan as coming from a mean-spirited, coldly calculating, power-hungry man who was only concerned about extending American domination over Asia. For the many heroes who sacrificed themselves in the Pacific to free America, the South Pacific and Asia from the scourge of an aggressive, foreign invader, this revisionist view of history is inflammatory.

In the relatively young State of Israel, such a reappraisal of national heroes is only a recent phenomenon. During the last few months, the myths and heroes of the Jewish, Zionist society are now being attacked in Israeli films, stage plays, novels and history books.

Moshe Dayan was once viewed heroically as, "Politician, military commander, a legend in his own lifetime." But the revisionists portray him as "a womanizing, grave-robbing, scheming megalomaniac. The former chief of staff and defense minister is charged with deliberately sacrificing Israeli troops on the Suez Canal in the 1973 Yom Kippur War in order to further his own political goals" (quote from Hillel Mittelpunkt's play "Gorodish," as cited in The Jerusalem Report, Dec. 29, 1994, p. 14).

Another Israeli hero under attack is Golda Meir, one of the founders of the modern State of Israel. "Out of her strength, she helped create a nation; out of her spirit, she helped mold a people. If Israel had a voice in the world, it was the voice of Golda" (The Jerusalem Report). But the revisionists now make the accusation, "The choice of Golda Meir to conduct the negotiations [with Jordan in 1948] was one of the worst blunders in the annals of Zionist diplomacy...[she showed] not the slightest hint of flexibility" (quote from Avi Shlaim's book, "Collusion Across the Jordan," The Jerusalem Report, p. 14).

During the past few years, a small group of revisionists have produced cultural works that constitute an unprecedented, ferocious attack on some of Israel's most revered figures.

One of the greatest of the Israeli heroes under attack is mostly unknown outside of Israel. Hannah Szenes is to the Jewish world what Joan of Arc is to the French.

The musical version of a poem she wrote, "Eli, Eli," (in English: "Elijah, Elijah") became Israel's unofficial anthem like "America the Beautiful" is to Americans. Hannah was a "Hungarian-born kibbutznik recruited by the British Army in Palestine in 1944 as one of a group of Jewish commandos parachuted into occupied Yugoslavia. Her mission was to make her way into her homeland and contact the underground there, but she was captured by the pro-Nazi Hungarian regime. Refusing to break under torture, she was executed in Budapest" (The Jerusalem Report, p. 16).

The Israeli made-for-TV movie, "The Kastner Trial," written by Motti Lerner, had one of its characters alleging that Szenes cracked under torture, compromised with her Nazi captors and betrayed her comrades.

What lies behind the revisionist attacks on such heroes? "Disagreement over myths and heroes for the most part breaks along political lines. This argument over Israel's past is also very much a debate over its future" (The Jerusalem Report, p. 16). The artists, playwrights, academics, authors and religious leaders involved in "myth-breaking" have an agenda of their own. They want to remold and change society to fit an image of their revisionist devising.

Israeli novelist Moshe Shamir, who supports right-wing Israeli parties, declared, "We are currently in the politics of retreat, and a culture is developing to justify it, one which is weakening us." Another Hebrew author and leftwing Labour party supporter, Aharon Megged said, "I am one of those people who has long been for compromise in the peace process, but we should compromise out of strength, not weakness. Flinging mud at heroes like Hannah Szenes—whom I personally knew as an idealistic and heroic young girl—simply breeds a cynicism which undermines our society, rather than strengthens it" (The Jerusalem Report, pp. 16-17).

Many older Israelis are intensely concerned that their young people are turning away from the Zionist, national heroes who built the country to "American-spawned cultural heroes like Batman, Ninja Turtles, Madonna and Michael Jackson." Consequently, the ideals and values of the men and women who struggled to build a dream of Zion, a homeland for an oppressed and persecuted people, are not being transmitted to a younger generation. This is seen as the catalyst which is producing an "egoistic, individualistic Israeli culture. Or as Hannah Szenes's brother, Giora, bitterly and memorably told one interviewer! If young Israelis no longer want to admire Hannah Szenes, then let them find new heroes on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange'” (The Jerusalem Report, p. 17).

"Yet democracies, like all human societies, and indeed like all individuals, need heroes and require a vision of greatness if they are to achieve their potential" (John Silber, Straight Shooting: What's Wrong with America and How to Fix It, Harper & Row, 1989, p. 37). In his book, Silber quotes the philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, on this essential role of heroes, "Moral education is a fundamental education of the whole self into action or being. This is impossible apart from the habitual vision of greatness. If we are not great, it does not matter what we do or what is the issue" (Straight Shooting, p. 46).

Heroic Men and Women of Faith

The Creator God of all humanity has known the need for—and power of—good examples of courage and faith. He inspired a whole history recounting heroic people's lives for just this purpose. In the Greek Bible (New Testament), one of the most prolific writers of Scripture, the Apostle Paul, recounted in chapter 11 of Hebrews a quick summary of some of the Bible's great heroes. These courageous men and women of faith "conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained [divine] promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—f whom the world was not worthy" (Heb. 11:33-38 NRSV).

Evidently, the Bible's God felt it extremely important that the accounts of His heroes, male and female, be preserved in order to inspire succeeding generations. He has a sound reason for doing so because He is concerned that you and I make the right decisions and choices when we are put to the test during our lifetimes. "Therefore," exhorts the Apostle Paul, "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart" (Heb. 12:1-3 NRSV).

The fact that there are many biblical revisionists today, who deny, harshly criticize, make fun of and reinterpret what they consider "myths" of the Bible—does not surprise God. In fact, he knew this would happen. "First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts" (2 Pet. 3:3 NRSV). Yes, the scoffers indeed have their own agenda as they try to refashion the world and the Church to accommodate their lusts. But the LORD of Hosts sternly warns these revisionists, who kick at His Word, "Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you" (Acts 13:41 NRSV).

The Courage to Stand Up, The Courage to Speak Out

God has an equal opportunity policy when it comes to heroes. He uses men and women alike to do His Work. Everyone has an opportunity to serve Him. "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise" (Gal 3:28-29 NRSV).

Due to an unusual circumstance, one of Abraham's descendants had a remarkable opportunity to do God's Work some 25 centuries ago. Her name was Hadassah, although the ancient Persians called her Esther, from the Persian word stara, meaning "star." (Some scholars alternatively suggest that Esther's name came from the Median word astra, meaning "myrtle," which is also the meaning of the Hebrew "Hadassah." cf. The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 2, p. 633.) Esther is a godly hero whose character sets an example worthy of emulation by all of God's people because she had the courage to stand up and speak out!

Esther's story is a classic account of a young person born of a poor, captive people whose hard times got harder when both of her parents died. But neither God nor her family forsook her. Esther's uncle, Mordecai, adopted her and loved her as his own daughter (Esther 2:7). Esther could have now expected life to be reasonably predictable and comfortable because Mordecai worked for the Persian government, gaining a reasonable income (v. 21 ). But circumstances overtook and changed forever the ordinary hopes and dreams of this "fair and beautiful" Jewish girl (v. 7).

The king of the Persian Empire, Ahasuerus (usually identified as Xerxes I who reigned from 486-465 B.C.), had a "respect" problem with his queen, Vashti, and deposed her. But when the king cooled off—ah, how he missed the charms of the woman who had the personality and character to be queen. "Then the king's servants who attended him said, `Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. And let the king appoint commissioners in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in the citadel of Susa under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women'.... So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in the citadel...Esther also was taken into the king's palace..." (Esther 2:2-3, 8 NRSV).

Did Esther and Mordecai consider this intrusion into their ordinary hopes and dreams a disaster? Circumstances changed. They had to adapt to a new situation. But did this mean forsaking their values and the people of God?

Thrust into an extremely competitive and, perhaps, dangerous situation, Esther relied upon the godly principles and training she had received in her parents' and Mordecai's homes. How do we know this? Because Esther obtained favor and grace in the eyes of those who had power over her life. "Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths" (Prov. 3:3-6 NRSV).

Four years after the search for a new queen started, Esther was taken in to King Ahasuerus and "the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti" (Esther 2:17 NRSV).

Esther understood genuine loyalty and faithfulness. "Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him" (Esther 2:20 NRSV). This simple, humble approach to her adopted father proved essential in saving the lives of all of God's covenant people living in the vast expanse of the Persian Empire!

Sometime after Esther became queen, a remarkable enemy of the Jews came to power as prime minister—Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite or Amalekite. The Amalekites had been one of the Jews most tenacious enemies (Ex. 17:8-16, 1 Sam. 15). This Haman cast a plot to "to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [Adar]" (Esther 3:13).

When Haman's holocaust instructions were sent out to all of the Persian Empire's bureaucracy, Mordecai learned of it and asked Esther to intervene with the king and entreat him for the lives of God's people. But Esther realized there was a deadly obstacle blocking her. She responded to Mordecai, "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days" (Esther 4:11 NRSV).

When was the last time you risked your life just to get an interview with the boss? And remember, you have NO guarantee that he will even agree to recognize you let alone grant your request!

But Mordecai would not be put off., Esther just had to have the courage to STAND UP and go see the king and the courage to SPEAK OUT about what was right. "Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, `Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this" (vv. 13-14 NRSV).

Knowing the consequences, Esther decided to trust in the LORD with her whole heart and not take counsel of her fears. She asked Mordecai and the rest of the Jewish community to fast on her behalf, "After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish" (v. 16 NRSV).

Esther succeeded. God's supporting hand was clearly evident in the remarkable chain of circumstances which led to a complete reversal of Haman's genocidal plans. Where did Esther find the courage to stand up and speak out against evil? "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7 NRSV). Using human instruments, God intervened and His covenant people were preserved while Haman and his supporters were destroyed. Esther's heroic example should inspire all of God's people today.

Today's Heroes

The fearful and the cowardly—and the anti-heroes—are not going to inherit God's Kingdom (Heb. 10:38-39; Rev. 21:8). To be a real Christian, a spiritual Jew (Rom. 2:29), in today's world means that we must be prepared to face the dangers that our natural enemies will throw at us. "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet 5:8 NRSV).

Today's mothers and fathers need courage daily to see the needs of their family, the Church and their community and to stand up, speak out and address them. Courage is necessary to put aside selfish concerns in favor of a family's good. Teen-agers need courage to stand up and speak out against drug use and sexual promiscuity among their peer group—in private and public. They need courage to show loyalty and faithfulness to their parents and their God. Speaking and teaching the Truth in today's revisionist society is not popular. Yet it is a Christian's responsibility to do so, especially so that the next generation is preserved. Our enemy would like nothing better than "to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate" morally and spiritually all those of the household of faith. It is a time of testing for God's people. "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Pet. 4:17 NRSV).

If you feel yourself under attack, remember Esther and the faithful witness of a cloud of biblical heroes. Let their example inspire you. Think about what they went through and take heart. God's heroes, after all, are being made today just as they were in centuries past. Will you be one of them?

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Why do countless millions, including many professing Christians, today seek to minimize, or in some way nullify, the perfect code of law which God to man nearly 3500 years ago? And why do so many mistakenly assume that Christ abolished His Father's law?

One "Christian" preacher recently told his congregation, "The law will even DEHUMANIZE you!" Really? Do the Ten Commandments dehumanize people? Or is it, rather, the transgression of those commands which really dehumanizes? When one dishonors his parents, murders his fellow humans, or commits adultery—don't those actions dehumanize both the aggressor and the victim! God's law always has a civilizing, humanizing effect on the lives of all who obey it!

Today's religious liberals espouse an emotion-based, self-defining and self- justifying code of conduct. With their mouths they have perfected the proclamation of love. But when it comes to defining godly ideals and divine standards of human conduct that you and everyone else in your community should agree to try and live up to, they vehemently argue, "You see, the law can dehumanize you. It's not on relationships.... The law can blind you from what's really important.... It will make things so impersonal to you."

These ethical "do-it-yourselfers" downgrade the Bible's consistent scriptural instructions. A Protestant minister recently remarked, "See, the Bible, I hope this doesn't sound sacrilegious to you, but the Bible, you might as well read some other book. Now, it's got some good things in it. You see, even in the Koran it says to love your neighbor.... In the writings of many philosophers and religions they all talk about loving your neighbor." True, many great authors have written about love. The "Christian" leaders of Europe for the last millennium professed love, but the record of history reveals a practice of hate.

Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, once said, "I did not love, indeed I hated this just God...for I was indignant against Him, saying `as if it were really not enough for God that miserable sinners should be...oppressed with all kind of calamities through the law of the Ten Commandments...' Thus I raged with a fierce and most agitated conscience..." (Encyc. Britannica, 1970 ed., vol. 14). Why should people be so hostile toward God and His perfect law summarized by the Ten Commands?

The Apostle Paul explained man's natural hostility toward God and His law as defined in the Bible, "Because the carnal mind [the natural, unconverted mind] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the LAW OF GOD, nor indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7)! Man must repent of that hostility toward God and His law, if he wants to be truly blessed!

All of humanity's woes, sufferings, hatreds, adulteries, crimes, murders, wars, headaches, heartaches and miseries are the direct result of man having broken God's "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25), the most perfect code of love ever given to man!

When the LORD proclaimed His "royal law" (James 2:8) at Mount Sinai, He did not give TEN SUGGESTIONS! Rather, He promulgated the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20), fully intending that, eventually, His spiritual law (often called a "moral" or "ethical" law) would become a universal law for all mankind (Num. 15:15-16, Is. 2:3). The Ten Commands are sometimes called the Decalogue, or are referred to as "The Ten."

Jesus Magnified the Law of God!

Nearly 15 centuries before Christ, the Prophet Moses foretold the coming of the long-expected Messiah. "I [the LORD, Heb. YHWH] will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him" (Deut. 18:18). The Prophet Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah would uphold and magnify God's law. "The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He [the Messiah] will MAGNIFY THE LAW and make it honorable" (Is. 42:21)!

How did Jesus magnify God's law? "You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not murder'... But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:21-22). Christ did not abolish God's command forbidding "murder" (Ex. 20: 13)—rather, He magnified it!

Jesus also upheld the seventh commandment which forbids adultery. He said humans should not only keep the "letter" of the law, but should also obey the "spirit," that is, the obvious intent of the law. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matt. 5:27-28).

When an adulteress was brought to Christ, He did not condemn her for her serious lapse in moral character, but He told her not to repeat the sin (John 8:3-11). "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more," said a merciful Christ (v. 11)! He upheld the seventh command (Ex. 20: 14).

Isaiah also revealed that Christ would entrust the law of God to His disciples for safekeeping. "Bind up the testimony [God's words], seal the law among My disciples" (Is. 8:16)! When Christ lived on earth, He always upheld God's law, and taught His disciples to do the same.

"God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34 KJV). He doesn't have one law for the Jew and another for the Gentile. Even during Old Testament times, God ordained the same law for both Israelites and Gentiles. "One law shall be for the native-born [Israelite] and for the stranger [foreigner] who sojourns among you" (Ex. 12:49). "One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you" (Num. 15:16; cf. v. 29).

God has always had only one law and one religion for Israelites and Gentiles alike. To say that God intended the Jews to keep His spiritual law (the Ten Commands), while requiring the Gentiles to just have "love" and pay no attention to His spiritual law, makes a mockery of God and His justice!

Did Jesus Abolish or Establish the Ten Commandments?

One Protestant minister recently told his congregation, "Jesus was not trying to abolish or establish the law.... He came to REPLACE the law with HIMSELF!" Nonsense!

Some Bible scholars totally misunderstand, and therefore misrepresent, what Jesus meant when He said, "Do not think that I came to destroy THE LAW or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to FULFILL. For assuredly... one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matt. 5:17-18).

"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (v. 19).

What does fulfill really mean? The Greek word pleroo means "to fill...to fulfill, [to] complete" (Vine's Expos. Dictionary of N. T. Words, art. "Fulfill"). Pleroo means to "fill full" or fully do or perform what was written in the Law and the Prophets. "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled [Gk. pleroo, kept] the law," said Paul (Rom. 13:8)!

lf one loves his neighbor as himself, he will NOT kill him, lie to him, or commit adultery with him or her. Through the help of God's Spirit, he will ,fulfill (keep!) the Ten Commandments which tell man how to love his neighbor as himself. "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment [Gk. pleroma, fullness] of the law" (Rom. 13:10).

James also explains the meaning of "fulfill": "If you really fulfill [Gk. pleroo] the ROYAL LAW according to the Scripture, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well... For whoever shall keep the whole law [in context, "whole law" means the Ten Commands], and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, `Do not commit adultery,' also said, `Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law" (James 2:8, 10-11). James twice calls God's law a "LAW OF LIBERTY" (James 1:25, 2:12). God's law never enslaves or dehumanizes anyone—it always LIBERATES and humanizes!

Christ came to "fulfill" the law in two ways: firstly, He came to fulfill the prophecies regarding Himself which were written in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44); secondly, Jesus also came to fulfill God's law—that is, to OBEY it, "to put [it] into effect" (Merriam Webster'.s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth ed., "fulfill").

If Christ abolished His Father's law, then there is today no law to transgress—consequently, there is no sin to repent of—for it is not possible to transgress a law that doesn't exist. And if there is no law, then you haven't sinned; and if you haven't sinned, then you don't need a Savior to save you from "sin," which supposedly doesn't even exist! Such an unscriptural belief renders the blood of Jesus Christ null and void (Heb. 10:28-29)!

Did Jesus' Apostles Uphold God's Law?

The inspired NT writers unanimously showed that Christ, far from abolishing His Father's law, always honored and obeyed that law. Jesus said, "I have kept My Father's commandments" (John 15:10). He realized that His Father was the Supreme Lawgiver (James 4:12).

But what about His apostles? Did they, like Christ, also teach all men to "keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:17)? The Apostle Peter said, "Repent [of sin], and...be baptized" (Acts 2:38). How can one repent unless and until he knows what he is to repent of? The Bible shows us that we must repent of sinning—that is, must turn away from "the transgression of [God's] law" (1 John 3:4 KJV).

The Apostle John wrote, "He who says, `I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" ( 1 John 2:4).

Will God even hear our prayers if we don't KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS? John wrote, "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22). "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2-3)

When John wrote the last book of the Bible about 100 A.D., he said, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city [New Jerusalem]" (Rev. 22:14).

What did the Apostle James, brother of the Lord, think of the Ten Commandments? He called God's law a "law of liberty"—not a law of bondage. "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed [not cursed!] in what he does" (James 1:25).

The Apostle James says, "If you really fulfill [Gk. pleroo] the royal law according to the Scripture...you do well" (James 2:8).

James shows that God's law is a royal law, a perfect law of liberty, and that if we break even one point (one of "The Ten"), we are guilty of all—that is, we incur the death penalty for breaking even one commandment, just as much as if we had broken all ten of God's commands (James 2:8-11)!

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, asked, "Do we then make void [abolish] the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31)! "Therefore," said Paul, "the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good" (Rom. 7:12). Would God do away with that which was holy, just and good? Paul also said, "the law [of God] is SPIRITUAL" (v. 14). God's Ten Commandments are not a "ceremonial" or "ritualistic" law—but are a SPIRITUAL LAW!

Surely any honest inquirer would have to admit that not one verse in the entire NT gives the slightest hint that any of the Ten Commandments were abolished, either by Christ, or by any of His apostles! The Ten Commands make up the basic, spiritual law of God! Without them, man would grope around, helplessly trying to find his way in a very dark, confused world. "For the commandment is a lamp, and the LAW is light..." (Prov. 6:23).

Bible prophecy reveals that in the not-too-distant future, "the law" of the LORD shall go forth from Jerusalem unto all nations (Is. 2:3); then all mankind will, at last, learn to obey God's perfect spiritual law, the Ten Commandments!

When men sincerely resolve to keep God's spiritual law, then they will "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (v. 4)! Only then, in the wonderful Kingdom of God, will all nations experience abundant health, happiness, prosperity and universal peace (Is. 11:6-9)!

Now if we all lived by the Ten Commands, treating all our neighbors with genuine love and respect (Matt. 7:12; 22:39), then everyone could have genuine peace of mind—thus eliminating much of mankind's emotional and mental illnesses. The result? Our hospitals and mental institutions would quickly go out of business.

If everyone really lived by God's Ten Commandments, there would be no coveting, cheating, lying, stealing, adultery or murder. Crime and violence would cease. Substance abuse (misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs) would disappear from the earth. Children would learn to honor their parents—showing proper love and respect to their fathers and mothers (Ex. 20:12). Husbands and wives would love and respect each other, and would never cheat on their spouses (Ex. 20:14). Divorces would be reduced until there would eventually be none. All our family problems would soon be resolved.

Little children could then safely play in their own backyards, without fear of being molested, raped, kidnapped, or murdered! All city slums and ghettos would vanish. Our cities would then overflow with healthy, happy, starry-eyed children playing in beautiful, safe, clean streets. "The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets" (Zech. 8:5). That prophecy would become a reality, not only for the city of Jerusalem, but for all cities and towns worldwide.

King David, the man after God's own heart, wrote, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward" (Ps. 19:7-11).

God's spiritual law will not dehumanize you, nor will it lead to mechanical, impersonal relationships. Rather, only when the law of God becomes the universal standard for human conduct will people live in peace and happiness for the first time in history. Only then will love for God and neighbor be perfected, not just in profession, but also in action!

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by John H. Ogwyn

Are evil plots and conspiracies at the root of America's national decline? Are the Trilateralists and the Council on Foreign Relations really bent on destroying American national sovereignty in order to create a "New World Order"? What about the role of secret organizations such as the Illuminati and the Masons? As far back as the days of the French Revolution, these societies have been accused of conspiring to destroy "Christian civilization."

The Jews have been a focus of conspiracy accusations for centuries. They were suspected of having been the cause of such things as the Black Death that swept Europe in the 1300s, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, as well as fabricating the magnitude and character of the Nazi holocaust during World War II.

Let's not forget the Rothschilds (those nasty rich Jews according to conspiratists), the Rockefellers, the Federal Reserve System and international bankers in general. As for the international bankers, when major financial crises have gripped the Western world in the 1830s, the 1880s and the 1930s, they were accused of having brought the crisis about for their own profit. Suspicion and distrust of international bankers has been at the heart of the Populist Movement in the United States in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Anyone who remembers the 1950s and 1960s knows that the "international communist conspiracy" was seen as the real culprit lurking behind the door of virtually every problem or difficulty faced by the West. With the demise of communism in recent years, however, a new adversary has become the primary focus of what might be termed the "religious right." Today, most of those who consider themselves evangelistic Christians view the New Age movement with increasing alarm. Many popular television evangelists, ministers and authors view the New Age movement as the religious arm of a great conspiracy to destroy "Christian civilization" and replace it with a Satan-inspired New Age. Many of these speakers and writers link the New Age with the New World Order, believing that a sinister, orchestrated plot is afoot.

For centuries, in America and in Europe, various individuals and organizations have been accused of playing a shadowy background role in the events occurring on the world scene. While it is true that America and Britain are in decay and decline, are these national problems REALLY the result of a century-spanning, secret conspiracy?

Evidence from the Past

Those who blame the nation's and the world's problems on a conspiracy point to certain evidence involving past wars and financial crises. There is no question that in times when most have suffered, there have always been some who seemed to prosper. Why? Was it due to simple opportunism or free market economics, or was there something far more sinister involved?

Most of the evidence is based on observation. These accumulated facts are subject to more than one interpretation. Clearly, the individuals who are in the highest echelons of financial, educational and governmental circles represent an international elite. Many of these individuals also have a network of connections with one another. They generally attend the same schools, belong to the same clubs, and have family and business connections which may stretch back for several generations. They also, not surprisingly, usually share similar viewpoints on national and international issues. Often they are able to influence national policies.

Let's look at the record of history. Just prior to the French Revolution there were various secret clubs and societies that were continually meeting, scheming and plotting, not only in France, but also in Germany and Italy. Most were not taken all that seriously until the French Revolution came to pass. Groups like the Jacobins, a secret revolutionary club which derived its name from its meeting place, a Jacobin Monastery in Paris, went on to become major radical forces during the Revolutionary period.

In the aftermath of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815, revolutionary rhetoric and planning mostly disappeared from public view temporarily. However, a number of intellectuals continued to be enamored with revolutionary schemes. By 1848 much of the plotting that had been going on in coffee houses across Europe for the last three decades erupted in revolutionary unrest. The social problems that were created by the rapid rise of industrialization and urbanization in Europe provided a fertile field for discontent and revolutionary talk.

The 1848 publication of The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels made public a revolutionary agenda. These Marxists, however, were considered by most to be simply a radical fringe element, espousing unrealistic schemes. This perspective changed totally in 1917: The problems brought to a head in Russia by World War I made possible the overthrow of the Czar and the subsequent takeover of the Russian Revolution by Lenin and a handful of revolutionary followers. The communist takeover of Russia, coupled with the instability and unrest throughout Europe after World War I, made the existence of secret, revolutionary organizations something to be taken very seriously. The fact that the communists talked of world revolution and that there were communist parties and communist front organizations in virtually every nation only heightened concerns.

Another factor that fed the concerns of some about a great sinister plot was the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the Communist Revolution in Russia. Lenin was in exile in Switzerland when the Russian Revolution began. He was put in a sealed boxcar by the German government and shipped across German territory to Russia. Similar unusual circumstances concerning the return of Leon Trotsky to Russia have. been pointed out by highly respected historian Anthony Sutton of the Hoover Institute. In his book, Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution, Sutton demonstrates that Trotsky was released from a Canadian jail as a result of American and British pressure and furnished with an American passport in order to return to Russia. Also, there is clear evidence that millions of dollars to finance the revolution came from Jacob Schiff, senior partner in the New York banking house of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.

Why was Jacob Schiff, a Jew, involved with a Russian revolutionary? If you have ever seen "Fiddler on the Roof," a movie and stage play, you ought to be aware that the Czarist governments regularly launched bloody pogroms against the Jews living in Russia—killing thousands. Some Jews thought they could change Russia's government for the better, but jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.

The seemingly inexorable growth of communism during its first fifty years after the 1917 Red Revolution heightened fears and suspicions. Events on the international scene that diminished American power and influence provided additional empirical evidence. The no-win policy of the Trumann administration in Korea, the uncovering of communists such as Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White in high positions in the United States government, the eventual loss of Cuba to the communists, and the drawn-out American debacle in Vietnam all contrived to make a conspiracy seem very real. During the 1960s, there were radical movements inside the United States which stridently threatened to bring about an internal collapse. While these radical boasts were mostly empty threats, people were scared by the hot air and high media profile given these radical groups. The civil rights unrest, calumniating in the riots that swept many American cities in the aftermath of Martin Luther King's 1968 assassination, coupled with the violent anti-war demonstrations of the same year, made many think that America was on the verge of anarchy and collapse.

The cyclical nature of the West's prosperity-recession economy has fueled many conspiracy theories. Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson there have been serious suspicions toward the big, eastern, American bankers. By the time of the American Civil War, many of the big New York banks had established international connections with old European banking houses such as the Rothschilds.

Wars came and went, prosperity boomed and busted, but it appeared that certain international banking houses always grew richer. This, of course, is at the root of much of the suspicion which has been directed toward the international banking elite. From the days when there were Rothschild brothers living on opposite sides of the English Channel, bankrolling both sides of the Napoleonic Wars, it seemed evident that regardless of who "won" the war, certain financial institutions never really seemed to lose from backing the "wrong" side.

Today, as back then, many of the major Western banks, corporations and endowments are really "run" by the same people through interlocking directorates. Some of these connections are interesting and can be fairly easily verified. But the question remains, what is the significance of it all? What is the evidence that an orchestrated conspiracy is afoot? If there is a conspiracy, who is behind it and how has it maintained itself over a period of more than two centuries? What is the ultimate objective?

Making Sense of World Affairs

To collect miscellaneous facts of history and then to genuinely understand their significance are two totally different things. Just because someone may study history and world affairs is no guarantee that he will understand what lies ahead. For proof of that, go back and read any of the books written about world affairs in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. How many authors foresaw the reunification of Germany and its emergence as Europe's superpower? How many writers foresaw the collapse of communism and the Soviet empire? Even when the streets of Berlin filled with demonstrators in the fall of 1989, noted network commentators did not grasp that the reunification of Germany would be an accomplished fact within about a year.

However, there is a Source that does make sense of what is happening in the world today. This Source also reveals where world events are leading over the next few years. God declares "the end from the beginning" (Is. 46:10). The pages of the Bible are the only sure source for making sense of what is happening in today's world—showing where tomorrow's world is headed. There is a behind-the-scenes Planner who has an agenda which will culminate in the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth to rule all nations. The Scriptures also reveal another invisible mover and shaker in world affairs—the unseen spirit forces of Satan and his demons. The Scriptures reveal that ordinary human obedience or disobedience to God's law is a crucial factor in determining whether nations are blessed or cursed.

One of the greatest disservices done by most of the "mother hens" who hatch conspiracy theories is their overlooking the fact that it is righteousness which truly exalts a nation. Sin brings it down (Prov. 14:34). By making an elite group of internationalists the scapegoats for all of our problems, the peoples of America and Britain are presented as victims. Actually, to quote from the American comic strip character, Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

There is no question that the lust for power and wealth has proven to be a major motivating factor in human nature since history began. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there have been many wealthy financiers and industrialists who have used their power and influence to manipulate events in ways they thought would profit themselves. Those whose financial interests are spread internationally have a vested interest in the creation of a global system. They want to transfer assets and do business across international lines with a minimum of interference from independent national governments.

The Tower of Babel account records man's first attempt to create a "one world government"—the Devil's way (Gen. 11). Today, our modern civilization is imitating in attitude that ancient effort. Our present civilization is collectively labeled "Babylon" by the last book in the Bible, Revelation. In prophetic vision, the Apostle John recorded the existence at the "end time" of a great economic-political system called "Babylon the Great." Revelation 18 describes this latter day "Babylon" as having a global economic and trading network, while Revelation 13 and 17 reveal its great military and political might. Revelation 17 also makes plain that there is a seducing religious component to "Babylon" which deceives the whole world.

Many religious people who are interested in conspiracy theories tie in the New World Order and the New Age movement with Revelation's "Babylon the Great " However, most of these commentators overlook the fact that Babylon means "confusion." Therefore this word is not descriptive of a well-ordered, virtually omnipotent, centuries-old conspiracy. But the real conspiracy that genuinely exists is the one most people ignore. There is a "secret" conspiracy by Satan and his demons—unseen spiritual entities—who actively plan the destruction of mankind. Another name for Satan is Apollyon, the Destroyer (Rev. 9:11). Satan mostly works by influencing people who would indeed bring about the total annihilation of human life were it not for the sure intervention of Almighty God (Matt. 24:22).

As for a New World Order, the Bible certainly does speak of the emergence in "Babylon the Great" of a leading human personality known as "the beast" (Rev. i7:10, 13). However, the Scriptures don't tell us to simply use our imagination to designate who will ultimately fulfill this prophecy.

As the Apostle Peter explained, "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Pet. 1:20). The Bible interprets and explains its own symbols: In Daniel 2 and 7 we find a prophetic description parallel to Revelation 13 and 17.

In Daniel 2, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, has a remarkable dream. In this dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image with a head of gold, a chest and shoulders of silver, thighs of brass and two legs of iron. The Prophet Daniel explained that this symbolized a succession of world-ruling empires from the time of Nebuchadnezzar—"You are this head of gold" (v. 38)—on down to the time ahead of us when "the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed" (v. 44). History shows that events happened exactly as foretold by Daniel. The Babylonian Empire fell in 539 B.C. to Cyrus the Great of Persia. The Persian Empire fell about two centuries later to the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great. The Hellenistic Greek empires were displaced by the emerging Roman Empire, symbolized by the legs of iron in Daniel 2. The Roman Empire has continued on "in spirit" through a series of various medieval and modern revivals and awaits yet one final resurrection.

Rather than wildly speculating that anything from Social Security numbers to the universal product code is somehow the fulfillment of Bible prophecies about the Beast, we need to examine closely what the Bible really says. In upcoming issues of The World Ahead there will be in-depth articles showing the real significance of world events, pinpointing the rise on the world scene of a coming oppressive, worldwide economic-political system which will fit the shoes of the prophesied "Babylon the Great."

Another issue that must be looked at is the emphasis by many professing Christians that the New Age movement is the fulfillment of the final religious deception prophesied by Revelation. New Age is a hodgepodge of the occult, Eastern Mysticism, and feel-good psychology. It is certainly false teaching. However, the Bible makes it plain that the primary end-time religious deception would involve, not neo-paganism, but those who would actually come in Christ's name, acknowledge Him as Messiah, and yet deceive people (Matt. 24:5).

How is it possible to foster religious deception on people while acknowledging Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah? Simple. Jesus stated, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men" (Mark 7:7-8). The prophesied deception pays lip service to the worship of Jesus Christ, yet actually teaches doctrines totally contrary to those taught by Him. Jesus Christ taught obedience to God's law. He said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:17) and, "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).

Clearly, in biblical terms, living faith is evidenced by our absolute, yielded obedience to God. This is the prerequisite for God's protection in the troubled times ahead. Perhaps the greatest flaw in the world view fostered by conspiracy theorists is that they blame our nation's decline and decay on the machinations of some mysterious elite. In fact, the greatest single component in bringing about our future national collapse will be our own individual and collective sins. The key to national revival and individual survival rests not in voting in new politicians or in preparing for individual armed defense of "our liberties," but in genuine repentance—walking with God! Sure men can and do conspire! But if a nation pleases God, He turns even the conspirators' planned curse into a blessing (Num. 22:10-12).

The Bible certainly does show that the people's leaders have caused them to err (Is. 3:12). God does indict the leaders of government, finance, the media and organized religion (the princes, the prophets and the priests in biblical terminology) for their greed, selfish ambition and their failure to provide the proper direction for the people (Ezek. 22:26-28). But ultimately, all of us as individuals have to shoulder our own personal responsibility. God inspired one of His servants of old to write, "The prophets prophesy falsely [in my name]...and My people love to have it so." (Jer. 5:31 ).

The times we're living in are prophesied to be perilous (2 Tim. 3:1): Yet there are answers, help and hope. And those answers lie in a Book that you most likely already possess—God's Book—the Bible.

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