sign in sign up
<<
Home , Quiet Time

GladGlad TidingsTidingsof the Kingdom of God 1580

Upside-Down World – page 3 The Book of Revelation – page 7 The Examined Life – page 14 www.gladtidingsmagazine.org GladTidings ContentsContents of the Kingdom of God 132nd YearA16 1580 A monthly magazine published by the Upside-Down World...... 3 (brothers and sisters in Christ) and available throughout the world. The Lethal Addiction ...... 5 Its objectives are – to encourage the study of the as God's The Book of Revelation ..7 inspired message to men; to call attention to the Divine offer of forgiveness of sins through Christ; and to warn men World Government by and women that soon Christ will return to Earth as judge and Jesus Christ...... 10 ruler of God’s world-wide Kingdom. “Thy Kingdom Come”...12 Glad Tidings Distributors for orders and payments The Examined Life ...... 14

King Josiah...... 16 United Kingdom – Cilla Palmer, “Highlands”, 78 Mildenhall Road, Fordham, Ely, Cambs, The Only Living God .....18 England CB7 5NR Tel: (01638) 723959 (24 hrs & Fax) The Best of Books ...... 19 [email protected] Australia – Jon Fry, 19 Macey Street, Croydon South, Victoria, Australia 3136 [email protected] Canada – Vivian Thorp, 5377 Birdcage Walk, Acknowledgements Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7L 3K5 [email protected] Cover Photograph: Domburg Castle, The Nether- New Zealand – Neil Todd, 14 Morpeth Place, Blockhouse lands Bay, Auckland 7, New Zealand Ken Anderton [email protected] U.S.A. – Pat Hemingray, 3079 Kilburn West, Other Illustrations: Rochester Hills, USA MI 48306 Pages 3,19: clipart.com; pgs 5,12: istockphotos; pg 8: David Pearce; Other Countries – Andrew Johnson, 22 Hazel Drive, pg 9: David Miles; pg 11: Glen Hollywood, Birmingham, England B47 5RJ Mitchell. [email protected]

Editor: Andrew Hale, 52 Mardale Crescent, Bible Versions The version most used in this issue is Lymm, Cheshire, England WA13 9PJ the New King James Version (NKJV) [email protected] and other versions are sometimes used. ✤ The New King James Version is Publisher: The Glad Tidings Publishing Association copyrighted by Thomas Nelson. A registered charity – Number 248352 ✤ The is published by Harper Collins Publishers © 2001 by Crossway Bible Talks, Study Classes, Sunday Schools and Youth Clubs are , a division of Good News held regularly by Christadelphians worldwide. The address of Publishers. Used by permission. your nearest group can be obtained either from one of the ✤ The New International Version is Glad Tidings Distributors listed above, or from one of the contact copyrighted 1978 by New York addresses listed on the back cover. Bible Society. Upside-DownUpside-Down WorldWorld

Jesus once healed a blind man in two stages. First he put spit on his eyes, laid his hands on him and asked if he could see anything. The man gave a curious answer: “I see men like trees, walking”. So Jesus put his hands on his eyes again and this time the man’s sight was perfectly restored. You can read the full account of this miracle in Mark’s gospel, chapter 8, verses 22–26. Then, immediately after the account Why Two Stages? of the healing of the blind man, Jesus asked them “Who do you say that I Whatever Jesus did was significant. It am?” (Mark 8:29) and it was Peter certainly wasn’t the case that he was who made a breakthrough in their struggling to give this man sight, and understanding when he said “You are only just managed it at the second the Christ” (see also Matthew attempt. Jesus did many miracles with 16:13–20). apparent ease. Paralytics were told to walk and did so easily; deaf people Misunderstanding had their hearing restored; sick people Perhaps you think that the twelve dis- were immediately cured, as were ciples, who spent years with Jesus, epileptics and the mentally deranged. understood everything immediately So why did the Lord cure this man in and never had any difficulty with any- two stages, when he could have given thing their Master said. But it wasn’t him instant sight? It seems that he like that at all. They took a long time to wanted to teach his disciples a lesson understand that Jesus had come to about their struggle to obtain spiritual save mankind from sin and death and insight. that he was to sacrifice his life as part Read the account in its setting in of God’s wonderful plan to rescue Mark chapter 8 and you will find it sinners. sandwiched between two episodes Peter made his breakthrough state- where the disciples were struggling to ment, which Jesus said had been understand what Jesus was saying and revealed to him by God, but when he who Jesus really was. He had cau- began to teach them about his tioned them to “Take heed, beware of impending rejection, his death and his the leaven of the Pharisees and the resurrection, Peter lapsed straight leaven of Herod”. He was warning back to his previous confusion: about the dangerous teaching of two groups who were opposed to every- Peter took him aside and began to thing that Jesus said and did; but the rebuke him. But when he had turned mention of “leaven” had the disciples around and looked at his disciples, he thinking about food instead. rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind

132nd Year 3 me, Satan! For you are not mindful of That blind man needed his confused the things of God, but the things of vision to be sorted out by Jesus. He men (Mark 8:32–33). could see, but his sight was badly impaired. The second time he got to Developing Insight see things as they really are. There were many people like him who saw The disciples understood something Jesus in the flesh, but who didn’t about the work of Jesus, but couldn’t recognise him for what he really was – see it clearly. Their insight was like the the Son of God. They were Bible developing sight of the blind man – at readers but their understanding fell stage one – and it was some consider- short, as Jesus said: able time before they came to appreciate what Jesus was all about. “You search the Scriptures, for in them When he was arrested, tried and cruci- you think you have eternal life; and fied, they were bereft. When the these are they which testify of me. But women came to say the grave was you are not willing to come to me that empty and the Lord was alive, they you may have life” (John 5:39–40). could not believe it. Only when the risen Jesus appeared to them did they “Come to me” begin to understand that everything We don’t want that to be said of us – that happened had been part of God’s that our understanding falls short of plan of salvation. Even then Thomas accepting Jesus as the God-provided was unconvinced, as he said: Messiah, who came to give his life for The other disciples ... said to him, “We each of us, and who will come again to have seen the Lord.” So he said to complete the work of recovery and them, “Unless I see in his hands the restitution, when he establishes God’s print of the nails, and put my finger kingdom on earth. into the print of the nails, and put my Today’s world has got everything out hand into his side, I will not believe” of perspective. Mankind is glorified; (John 20:25). human laws and justice systems ignore God’s law and establish man- Second Stage made morals and values in their place. Greed, exploitation, money, power and Thomas came to believe when Jesus privilege are everything. appeared to him as well, but it goes to This world-system is about to be show that it takes time to understand replaced by the Kingdom of God and just what God is doing, as His great the man who will rule the world is the plan of redemption unfolds. The one who can give sight to the blind and problem the disciples had was that health and healing to mankind. He is they had a preconceived idea of what the saviour the world needs and God the Jewish Messiah would be like and will send him soon. Meanwhile we his dying wasn’t included in their need to read about him, listen to his scheme of things. words, and come to him that we might That understandable difficulty is a have life. warning to all of us for we too can have religious ideas which don’t match Bible teaching and they can prevent us from Editor seeing things clearly.

4 Glad Tidings TheThe LethalLethal AddictionAddiction

“Please help me”, pleaded Mark. He looked totally forlorn and desperate. “I’ve tried to stop but after a while I just do it again. It’s like I can’t help it.” The counsellor smiled encouragingly. “Well, you’ve made the first important step. You’ve admitted that you have a problem and you’ve come to the right place for help. Please try to follow exactly what we tell you, because, as you know, continuing as you are would be life-threatening. Fortunately, you have not left it too late, and we do know what can work for you.” The Problem of Sin but how to perform what is good I do In this world of stress many people not find (Romans 7:15–18). turn to addictive behaviour such as comfort eating, drinking, smoking or What is Sin? drugs. None of these addictions is good for us, but some are particularly We do well to consider what God dangerous. While most people regards as sin. According to His Word, manage to live contented lives without the Bible, sinning is not just doing resorting to these, there is one thing to what we would consider awful things which we are all naturally addicted. like murder or stealing, although they This addiction is sin – doing things that definitely are sins. Sinning is not even God does not like. necessarily unpleasant – in fact it can We are all, without exception, natu- be quite enjoyable (Hebrews 11:25). rally self-centred and not God-centred. The Bible says that our ‘natural’ There is only one person who never thoughts and reactions can be sinful displeased God: His Son Jesus Christ. ‘works of the flesh’. Everyone else has been and is addict- Now the works of the flesh are evident, ed to sin. The great apostle Paul which are: adultery, fornication, described his struggle: uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, For what I am doing, I do not under- sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealou- stand. For what I will to do, that I do sies, outbursts of wrath, selfish not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, If, then, I do what I will not to do, I murders, drunkenness, revelries, and agree with the law that it is good. But the like; of which I tell you beforehand, now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin just as I also told you in time past, that that dwells in me. For I know that in those who practice such things will not me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians dwells; for to will is present with me, 5:20–21).

132nd Year 5 None of us can say that we have ❖ Admit our desperate problem and never been guilty of these things. This helplessness, sort of thought and behaviour is so ❖ instinctive that we are addicted to it. Come to God in the way He has provided, Sin and its Consequences ❖ Do what He asks of us, in humility Like other dangerous addictions, this and obedience. way of life is killing us. In fact left to This also brings great blessings here our own devices our position is so and now, helping us to cope with the serious that we are even enemies of stresses of life which could lead to the God (Romans 5:10). Our sinful nature other sorts of addictions: stops us entering the kingdom of God and inevitably results in eternal death. Having been justified by faith, we have As the apostle Paul said: peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have The wages of sin is death, but the gift access by faith into this grace in which of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our we stand, and rejoice in hope of the Lord (Romans 6:23). glory of God. And not only that, but we Like Mark, we all need to admit that also glory in tribulations, knowing that we have a serious problem which we tribulation produces perseverance; simply cannot solve by ourselves. We and perseverance, character; and need to recognise that there is a solu- character, hope (Romans 5:1–4). tion, provided by God. That is why Jesus came – to live a sinless life, to Stage by Stage give his life as a sacrifice for sin and to be raised from the dead so that he can At what stage are you? Are you happily now sit in glory at his Father’s side, to indulging in your addictive sins, enjoy- help his people. ing life and hoping for the best, but allowing your sins to destroy you? Or For God so loved the world that He are you genuinely searching the Bible gave His only begotten Son, that and trying to obey God? God cannot whoever believes in Him should not save you unless you respond to His perish but have everlasting life (John message of hope. He asks you to be 3:16). baptised and to follow Jesus. Jesus commanded his disciples: The Solution “Go therefore and make disciples of all There are many myths about addic- the nations, baptizing them in the tions and many false beliefs about name of the Father and of the Son and what the Bible actually says. Some of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to people do not even base their beliefs observe all things that I have com- on the Bible. Mark needed profession- manded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). al help and we need help from the God When Jesus returns your opportunity of the Bible. There is no other way. As to be saved may be over. If this addic- the counsellor said to Mark, we must tion to sin is killing you, don’t leave it conform to what the Bible says if we too late. want to be saved. This means we must: Anna Hart

6 Glad Tidings Books of the Bible – 45 TheThe BookBook ofof RevelationRevelation This last book of the Bible was penned applied to a new but similar situation. by the apostle John, probably towards We will find strong links to the visions the end of the First Century. He writes of the prophet Daniel, who saw four in a time of persecution, when he has amazing beasts with features that fore- been sent into exile by the Roman told the course of history from his day authorities, marooned on the island of up to the First Century. John’s visions Patmos “on account of the word of take over where Daniel’s left off, and God and the testimony about Jesus” we shall meet Daniel’s beasts in a new (Revelation 1:9). Patmos is a tiny guise, used this time to predict the island off the coast of Turkey, about 13 events of European history through square miles (34 square kilometres) in many centuries. area. Perfect Number Inspired Visions A key idea in the Revelation is the The Revelation is the record of a series number seven. Seven is the perfect of inspired visions in which John sees number, the cycle of days that com- and hears his Master Jesus talking to pletes a week and then starts again. him, passing on a message for the The book is divided into groups of Christian brothers and sisters. The sevens – seven lampstands and seven opening verse is important – “The letters, seven wax seals on a scroll, Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God seven trumpets that blow in turn, and gave him to show His servants—things seven altar bowls poured out on the which must shortly take place” (Reve- earth. There is another twist – seven in lation 1:1). seven. This concept comes from the The vision was to show John things conquest of Jericho by Joshua. that must take place, so it was a The soldiers of Israel marched round prophecy, like the prophecies of Isaiah the city of Jericho once a day for six or Jeremiah. It predicted the course of days. But on the seventh day they events far into the future, so that marched round seven times, and on God’s servants would be prepared and the 13th circuit, the walls collapsed strengthened in times of persecution, and the city fell. So in the Revelation knowing that world events are in God’s there are six seals, but when the hands, and move steadily towards the seventh is cut through it is found to goal of His Kingdom being established enclose the seven trumpets, and when on earth. the seventh trumpet begins to blow it To appreciate the book of Revelation conceals the seven bowls. Only when we need to have read the rest of the we reach the seventh bowl does the Bible first, because it is full of links and Kingdom of God finally arrive in all its allusions to the earlier writings. Practi- glory. cally every phrase and theme has been Here is a schematic diagram which plucked from the (in illustrates the way the book of Reve- some cases the ), and lation is laid out in sets of sevens:

132nd Year 7 imagine a drama, a historical pageant acted out as a series of scenes on the stage of a theatre. John the observer is invited up into the royal box for the per- formance. Looking down, he sees the earth and the sea below him. As each act is announced, the char- acters come and go, accompanied by appropriate sound effects. As an added refinement, the ‘royal box’ is defined in chapter four as the Temple from the Old Testament, complete with: ❖ an Ark (the ‘throne’ on which God’s angel once sat as His representa- tive), Unfolding Drama ❖ an incense altar, an altar for sacri- In the opening chapter John sees his fices, master, the Lord Jesus, in heavenly ❖ a great reservoir or ‘sea’ for water, glory. Jesus is walking amongst seven golden lampstands, which John is told ❖ a lampstand, and represent seven Christian congrega- ❖ tions in the province of Asia. Each in four cherubim or ‘living creatures’. turn is given a written report, dictated He also sees in the foreground 24 to John, outlining their successes and elders, who serve the Lord as did the their weak points, just like the tradi- 24 orders of Levites in the Temple of tional end-of-term report at school. Solomon. Each letter ends with a beautiful promise, held out to “him who con- The Scroll Opened quers”. It is a surprise to find seven In the opening scene, John sees the churches in the same area with such a Lord God, seated on the throne, variation in their spiritual health, from holding a scroll in his hand. It is made Ephesus – patiently enduring and up of seven sections, each separately bearing up for Jesus’ sake; to Laodicea sealed with a string and a wax – smug and complacent, but in Jesus’ pendant. Nobody could read the scroll view close to death (see Revelation until the strings were cut. John sees a 1:11 to 3:22). wounded Lamb approach the throne. It At this point John is invited to come is Jesus, the Lamb of God, and he is up into heaven so that he can watch given the right to open the scroll. history unfold before his eyes. Unlike He cuts the first string, and as the the Seven Letters, which were sent to scroll flies open a white horse gallops his contemporaries, the rest of Reve- across the stage with a warrior on his lation relates to events after John’s back. The next seal introduces a red lifetime. To understand the setting horse ridden by a man with a dagger. from this point onwards, we need to The third horse is black. His rider

8 Glad Tidings said to represent the lives of Christian believers. Many of them were indeed martyred for their faith by the pagan (idol worshipping) Emperor Diocletian around 300 AD. The Sixth Seal opens with dramatic sound-effects – an earthquake, and the removal of the sun, moon and stars – a traditional Bible symbol for a change of rulership. This links with the revolutionary change that took place when Constantine battled successfully for control of the Empire. Pagan Rome became Chris- tian Rome as he removed, once and for all, the persecution of those who refused to the ancient gods. Constantine came to power in AD 312. The 144,000 During the quiet time that follows, John sees in chapter seven 144,000 The four horsemen of the Apocalypse depict people, marked in the forehead by an events that were “shortIy to come to pass”. angelic messenger, like those faithful Illustration by David Miles (with permission) men Ezekiel saw set aside for God before the fall of Jerusalem in his carries scales for weighing out daily vision (Ezekiel 9:4). They come from food rations. The fourth is the colour of the 12 tribes of Israel, but one is a corpse, and the skeleton on its back omitted from the list, for these are not is accompanied by a symbolic grave, literally Jews, but a harvest of believ- shovelling up the dead over a quarter ers, reaped under the new and of the earth. favourable regime, in the lull before the destruction of the Empire by the Four Horsemen barbarian tribes. The four coloured horses are taken They form part of a huge multitude, from the Old Testament prophet from all nations under heaven, that Zechariah. It is not difficult to line up John now hears praising God, in a the four seals with the history of the comforting vision of the Kingdom of Roman Empire after John’s death – an God. But before that reward can be initial period of prosperity and peace, given, there are others who must be followed by civil war, then famine and called out to join them, and so Seal pestilence, especially in the Italian divi- number seven introduces the seven sion of the Empire, which was divided trumpets – the next phase of “those into four quarters at this time. The time things that must soon take place”. period covers AD 100 to AD 270. The next Seal introduces an altar David M Pearce splashed with blood, and the blood is To be continued

132nd Year 9 A Christadelphian’s Faith – 30 WorldWorld GovernmentGovernment byby JesusJesus ChristChrist Men and women have always longed been given eternal life by God, so that for good government. There have been when he rules he can rule for ever. rare periods when there has been Jesus has all these qualities in perfec- peace and security for some people tion. but sadly that has been at the cost of much suffering for others. Foretold! The ‘Pax Romana’ of New Testament The coming of Jesus had been prophe- times (the time when the Romans sied 700 years before in Isaiah brought a sort of stability to Europe 11:1–9, where Jesus is compared to a and the Middle East), was enforced by new strong shoot springing from the physical force and hideous cruelty, the roots of an old tree (the family of King worst example being when they cruci- David): fied Jesus. There shall come forth a Rod from the It was the same during the ‘Pax Brit- stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall tanica’ when Britain ruled a big grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the empire, whilst many people in the UK Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of itself and in other countries endured wisdom and understanding, the Spirit terrible sufferings. of counsel and might, the Spirit of Four Essential Qualities knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, The fact is that unaided human beings and he shall not judge by the sight of are too flawed to rule their fellows his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of properly. There are four problems. Men his ears; but with righteousness he and women lack: shall judge the poor, and decide with ❖ the necessary wisdom, equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his ❖ the essential goodness, mouth, and with the breath of his lips ❖ the power to enforce good govern- he shall slay the wicked … They shall ment, and not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of ❖ immortality; so that if – very rarely – the knowledge of the Lord as the a really honest, well-meaning, waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:1–9). capable person does arise, before The Gospels show us how Jesus had long he or she is removed by death. the first three qualities, even as a The difference between Jesus and mortal man, and he gained the fourth everyone else is that when he was after his resurrection. here he demonstrated that he does ❖ Wisdom – When he had come to have the first three of these rulership his own country, he taught them in qualities. Now, in addition, he has their synagogue, so that they were

10 Glad Tidings astonished and said, “Where did which shall not pass away, and His this man get this wisdom and these kingdom the one which shall not be mighty works? (Matthew 13:54); destroyed (Daniel 7:13–14). ❖ Goodness – Which of you convicts The Bible gives us a clear idea of me of sin? And if I tell the truth, what this world-wide rule by Jesus will why do you not believe me? (John be like. Read Psalm 72 for an insight 8:46); into the sort of life God has promised when Jesus is King. Read the rest of ❖ Power – They were all amazed and the Bible to find out what God wants of spoke among themselves, saying, you if you are to be there with the Lord “What a word this is! For with Jesus when he comes. authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come John Woodall out” (Luke 4:36); ❖ Eternal Life – He laid his right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death (Reve- lation 1:17–18).

He is Worthy In Jesus, God has provided a worthy ruler for the whole earth. He is the key to those promises about the future Kingdom of God that we find in the Old Testament: statements like these: In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever (Daniel 2:44);

“I was watching in the night visions, King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon had and behold, One like the Son of Man, a dream about future world empires coming with the clouds of heaven! He which was in fact a timeline of what came to the Ancient of Days, and they would happen after his empire had brought him near before Him. Then to ended. One empire was to succeed him was given dominion and glory and another until God intervenes to set up a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, His own Kingdom on earth. Read all and languages should serve him. His about it in Daniel chapter 2. dominion is an everlasting dominion,

132nd Year 11 “Thy“Thy KingdomKingdom Come”Come”

Some people say that leaves a legacy of hun- God’s Kingdom is here dreds of orphans, and already, as a state of murder and strife is part of being in the hearts of daily life for so many. In men and women who the Kingdom there will be have embraced it and no more boundaries, and seek to live according to thanksgiving will dwell in its principles. You have to every heart. admire their attitude, but He shall have dominion the coming Kingdom of also from sea to sea, and God on earth is very much from the River to the ends more than an attitude of of the earth (Psalm 72:8). heart and mind. Hard Times Salvation The modern world needs a The Bible says that before supreme monarch who, God takes over the rulership of His with God’s authority, will reign over all world, things will have deteriorated in nations. We need someone who can many ways and that is what we now solve the world’s problems for all see happening. Troubles beset the people, not just for the rich and nations on all sides: immorality, law- famous. Today the needy are often lessness, racism, famine, disease, trodden underfoot, exploited, driven tears and overmuch sorrow. The threat from their homes and treated abom- of modem warfare is enough to drive inably. He will be their champion, and terror into the hearts of many. Their none will dare resist him. He will not fears are justified, for the Bible is cate- only be victorious over world forces, gorical in telling us that war will sweep but his justice and righteousness will the nations, and morally things will get be acknowledged everywhere. Listen worse. There will be no improvement to what the Psalmist promises: until that glad day when the Lord Jesus returns in glory, to set up his rule over He will deliver the needy when he all the nations. cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper (Psalm 72:12). Righteousness Psalm 72 resonates with hope. It Abundance speaks of the coming king, and says The poor and helpless are often seen that in his days the righteous shall queuing up for welfare handouts from flourish, and there will be an abun- various charities and agencies, but it dance of peace. It speaks of an will not be like that in God’s wonderful everlasting kingdom, ruled by the kingdom: greatest man who ever lived. Some There will be an abundance of grain in find it difficult to imagine what that will the earth, on the top of the mountains; be like given that today’s warfare its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; and

12 Glad Tidings those of the city shall flourish like grass awaits that city. As a river flows gently of the earth (Psalm 72:16). to the sea gathering springs on the What a vision! No more pot-bellied way, so the peoples of the world will children, their eyes covered with flow to the place where they will learn disease-carrying flies. The change will of the mercy of God. The Lord Jesus be dramatic. The harvest will be so will be enthroned there, and immortal abundant that there will be hardly time saints will have the privilege of offering to gather it before it is time to sow words of life to all. The prophet Isaiah again. The Father of all blessings will adds to what the Psalmist has said shower His abundance on the whole with these heart-stirring words: world. There will be freshness, beauty Many people shall come and say, and vigorous growth as never before. “Come, and let us go up to the moun- tain of the Lord, to the house of the Glorious Earth God of Jacob; He will teach us His When the Lord Jesus rules over a ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” worldwide empire many will be attract- For out of Zion shall go forth the law, ed to follow him and make his teaching and the word of the Lord from and his law the centre of their lives, for Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). Jesus will bring a blessing when he Right-thinking men and women from returns from heaven: all nations will want to worship God His name shall endure forever; his and meet His appointed King – the name shall continue as long as the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be no reti- sun. And men shall be blessed in him; cence then in talking about religion, all nations shall call him blessed but a zeal to hear the words given. (Psalm 72:17). What a change for those people who have been starved of Bibles for years. The sense of joy will be so conta- It will be a splendid time. So the Chris- gious. The evil of the present day will tian prays, “Thy kingdom come, thy will contrast with the contentment of the be done on earth”, knowing it is the time to come. We try to contemplate only hope for a hopeless world. God’s the healthy, glowing faces of the new will is already done in heaven, but noy paradise, and can only exclaim, yet on earth. That must change. “Blessed be God”. The Psalmist is That kingdom is not here yet, but all clearly exhilarated himself as he looks the signs suggest we are living in an forward to everything he has been age that is the overture to Paradise. inspired to reveal, for he concludes the The Lord Jesus is inviting you to be Psalm with these uplifting words: with him in that day. He is the answer Blessed be His glorious name forever! to mankind’s need. He asks but one And let the whole earth be filled with thing of us, “Follow me”. It means self- His glory. Amen and Amen (Psalm denial now which, God willing, will 72:19). result in a wonderful transformation in the future. God grant that you will Jerusalem – a Joy answer the call. A kingdom must have a centre, and God has decided that it will be at Ken Clark Jerusalem. What a transformation

132nd Year 13 The Examined Life

A few weeks ago I was in a doctor’s Self-Examination waiting room, and was going to be there for two or three hours. In my When we correctly examine ourselves, hurry I had forgotten to bring anything we become wise. But don’t confuse to read, but there on the table beside wisdom with ‘education’—book learn- me was this book, “Philosophy for ing; wisdom is insight on life and how Dummies”. It looked brand new and to live it. Natural man struggles to find was clean—no germs—something I the good and sometimes he will, but always wonder about in doctors’ what was it Paul told the Jews at Rome offices. I picked it up and started about natural law? He said to the reading. Jews, you’ve got the law and you can’t keep it. Look at the Gentiles around Daily Routine you: they don’t have the law but they do by nature the things required by the It began with a statement by the law; they are a law unto themselves for philosopher Socrates who said that the its requirements are written on their unexamined life is not worth living. hearts: Really? Author Tom Morris explains: “Unfortunately, it’s one that far too Who show the work of the law written many people live: getting up, dressing, in their hearts, their conscience also eating, going to work, breaking for bearing witness, and between them- lunch, working some more, going selves their thoughts accusing or else home, eating again, watching TV, excusing them (Romans 2:15). leafing through magazines, exchan- Paul’s conclusion was shattering to ging a few words with family members Jews who were so proud of their cir- in the house or with friends on the cumcised state: phone, changing for bed, and falling to He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and sleep—just to repeat the same thing circumcision is that of the heart, in the over and over and over without ever Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is thinking what it all means or how life not from men but from God (Romans should be really lived. 2:29). “We wake up already in motion in this life. Rarely, if ever, do we stop to Know Thyself reflect on what we truly want in life, or who we are and want to become, on Cervantes, creator of Don Quixote, what difference we want to make in urged us to make it our business to the world, and thus on what’s really ‘know thyself’. He called it the most right for us. And that is the unexa- difficult lesson in the world. Turn to the mined life—almost as a sleepwalker, Bible itself, and look at the lives and on automatic pilot—a life based on teaching of the people it describes. values and beliefs that we’ve never King David for example, is often found really looked at, never really tested, seeking to know himself, with God’s never examined for ourselves.” help:

14 Glad Tidings Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have But we need to acknowledge that walked in my integrity. I have also this is an examination of ourselves and trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. not others. If you spend all your time Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; talking about how bad everybody is, try my mind and my heart. For Your you are not looking at the real enemy. lovingkindness is before my eyes, and All we’re doing then is making our- I have walked in Your truth (Psalm selves look good by comparison, like 26:1–3). the Pharisee, depicted in the parable But on another occasion, after he Christ told (Luke 18:9–14). His (unan- has lost his integrity: swered) included the words “God, I thank You that I am not like Have mercy upon me, O God, accord- other men – extortioners, unjust, adul- ing to Your lovingkindness; according terers, or even as this tax collector…” to the multitude of Your tender (18:11). By saying this he demonstrat- mercies, blot out my transgressions. ed a problem we all share: he was Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, self-absorbed. What we don’t want is and cleanse me from my sin … The to be gold-plated, our religion being a sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a veneer over a base metal, like the broken and a contrite heart – these, O Pharisee in the parable. God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:1–2, 17). Make Time Examine Yourselves You know, you can’t spend your life in self-examination. That will result in When our lives do have meaning in the paralysis by analysis. But you can set a eyes of God, the implication for us is time – daily, weekly, monthly – mark it that we should live an examined life. on the calendar – when you commit or An examination implies a test. You are recommit your life to obey God in your being compared to a standard. We thoughts, words, and actions. All of can’t examine ourselves against the them need to be tested regularly. standard of wisdom; success requires One way to set the stage for our self- a substantive, defined focus against examination is to bring to mind the which to be measured. The apostle need for baptism – the way that God Paul suggests this: has appointed by which we make a Examine yourselves as to whether you commitment to follow Jesus and find are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do salvation. Here’s a prayer that might you not know yourselves, that Jesus help us at that time: Christ is in you? – unless indeed you Search me, O God, and know my are disqualified (2 Corinthians 13:5). heart; try me, and know my anxieties; How do we examine ourselves? A and see if there is any wicked way in good test for Paul’s counsel may be to me, and lead me in the way ever- look to yourself to see if you are pure lasting (Psalm 139:23–24). in heart – the essence of wisdom. Why? Because we’re told that it is the Leroy Canoles Jnr pure in heart who will see God. Is your heart impure? What makes it so? From: thepreachersays.com With permission

132nd Year 15 Living like a King KingKing JosiahJosiah

Josiah was the last good king of Judah. of David his father, and he did not turn After him three of his sons reigned, aside to the right or to the left” (2 and one of his grandsons. None lasted Kings 22:2). very long; two reigned for just three When he had reigned for 18 years, months. Finally the people of Judah Josiah began to institute reforms. He went into exile in Babylon. Although sent a messenger, Shaphan the scribe, they returned about 70 years later they to Hilkiah the High Priest to arrange for never had another king. the temple to be repaired and cleaned. Josiah’s reign seems like a chapter In the reigns of the two predominantly of missed opportunities. He was only wicked kings before him – Manasseh 39 when he was killed in battle, and Amon – it had become neglected, although he had been king for 31 dirty and in disrepair. In the process of years. He introduced some excellent setting things back to rights, Hilkiah reforms in the nation, but very quickly found a scroll described as “the book after his death the nation forgot all of the Law”. He gave this to Shaphan, about them, and reverted to their who read it. It is extremely unlikely that wicked ways. That may well have been Hilkiah was unable to read, but quite because he led the way in everything possible that his eyes were unable to and the people did what they were told see the text on the scroll. I am not to do but did not share their king’s quite sure exactly which book is enthusiasm. described. It could have been Leviti- cus, or more likely a scroll of Promised and Promising Deuteronomy, perhaps the original Josiah is one of the seven men in the copy (see Deuteronomy 31:26). Bible who are named well before they were born. Josiah’s birth was prophe- Reforming Zeal sied in the reign of Jeroboam I, about When Shaphan and Hilkiah had read it 300 years before he was born. they took it to King Josiah, and read it “Behold, a son shall be born to the to him. The effect was electric: the house of David, Josiah by name” (1 king tore his clothes, realizing that the Kings 13:2). Josiah, son of Amon, book condemned much of the life of became king at the age of eight, when the nation, despite his best intentions. his wicked father was overthrown. His He was now even more determined in mother’s name was Jedidah, but little his zeal to bring the people back to the else is known about her except where true worship of the LORD God for he she came from. Was she the good recognized the danger the nation were influence in the young king’s life? Pre- in if they ignored the word of the living sumably there was someone who God: provided such, because we are told “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and that “he did what was right in the eyes for the people, and for all Judah, con- of the Lord and walked in all the way cerning the words of this book that has

16 Glad Tidings been found. For great is the wrath of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 35:18). the LORD that is kindled against us, It was a very joyful time for the nation. because our fathers have not obeyed They remembered their redemption the words of this book, to do according from slavery in Egypt, and also the to all that is written concerning us” happiness of a return to godly ways. (2 Kings 22:13). Sadly it did not last. If there is one thing we should learn from Josiah it is the need to read God’s Early End word for ourselves, to take note of Nothing further is recorded about what it teaches and put it into action in Josiah until the thirty-first year of his our own lives. Fortunately Josiah had reign. Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt was godly men and women amongst his on his way to fight against the Assy- advisors and counselors, one of them rians at Carchemish. He sent a was Huldah, the prophetess, the wife message to Josiah saying that he had of Shallum. She sent messengers back no quarrel with him, nor with Judah, to Josiah with the message that evil and that God had commanded him to would come to the nation, but that make haste to battle at Carchemish, because Josiah had sought to obey but undeterred Josiah went out with God’s word the judgment would not his army to fight in the plain of come in his time. Megiddo. Like another king before him “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to he was struck by a stray arrow, and your fathers, and you shall be gath- was mortally wounded. ered to your grave in peace, and your It was a tragic loss, for the reforms eyes shall not see all the disaster that he had begun were not sufficiently I will bring upon this place” (v 20). embedded in the lives of the people to survive his death. Jeremiah the Second Reformation prophet was one of the foremost to lament his death: A period of intense activity followed. Josiah now made a determined effort “Weep not for him who is dead, nor to remove all vestiges of idol worship grieve for him, but weep bitterly for him from the land and to bring the people who goes away, for he shall return no back to the true worship of the Lord more to see his native land” (22:10). God. The most obvious sign of this was The world is full of “what ifs” and it is the keeping of the Passover. The tempting to ask “What if Josiah had people should have kept the Passover not intervened with Neco, would the each year on the anniversary of the effect on Judah have been very differ- nation leaving Egypt (Exodus 13:10). ent?” It is impossible to answer that, The Passover kept in Josiah’s time was because what happened was part of unparalleled. God’s plan. The time for Judah to be No Passover like it had been kept in restored fully was not yet. That has to Israel since the days of Samuel the await the coming of the Lord Jesus. prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept Mark Sheppard by Josiah, and the priests and the Quotations from the ESV Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of

132nd Year 17 TheThe OnlyOnly LivingLiving GodGod

We really only understand what life is called the “living God” – from when we have seen death. To see a Deuteronomy 5:26, when Moses dead animal, a bird, or sadly a loved marvels at having heard the voice of one brings the message home that the living God, right through to the death is the end of life. There is Book of Revelation. nothing there anymore. All signs of life Even a king who worshipped gods and animation are gone: the canvas is made of wood and stone came to blank. recognize the difference: that the prophet Daniel’s god was “a living god” Dead gods (Daniel 6:20, 26). Yet there are many people who worship inanimate, and therefore dead, gods – Immortality images made out of metal, wood or God’s life has always been there and stone. They have no life in them, always will be there. It is inextinguish- having been carved or shaped by able, for God is immortal. At present, craftsmen trying to imitate life. Long our lives are of limited duration ago a Hebrew man summed up idol because we fail to think and behave as worship in this graphic way: God does. But He has a plan to deal Their idols are silver and gold, the work with that and Jesus Christ has shown of men’s hands. They have mouths, us that we too can have immortal life. but they do not speak; eyes they have, When Jesus said that “the Father has but they do not see; they have ears, life in Himself”, the statement contin- but they do not hear; noses they have, ues “He has granted the Son to have but they do not smell; they have life in himself” (John 5:26). hands, but they do not handle; feet Redemption they have, but they do not walk (Psalm 115:4–7). Jesus is the first human to gain life in Then he added this devastating himself – to become immortal (Psalm assessment: “Those who make them 21:4) – and the whole plan of redemp- are like them; so is everyone who tion centres on the idea that many trusts in them” (Psalm 115:4–8); in others will follow. other words, worship a lifeless god and This can happen to us, if we follow expect to become lifeless yourself! the example of Jesus in our attitude to God and in our behaviour to each The Living God other. We must believe what God has told us about the coming Kingdom on The God of the Bible states that He is the earth. Then we can look forward to full of life, always has and always will being truly living beings – full of life, be full of life. He alone has immortality energy and zest for doing what is right. (1 Timothy 6:16); has always existed The emptiness of death will then be (Psalm 90:2); for, as Jesus explained, gone for ever. “The Father has life in Himself” (John 5:26). Throughout the Bible God is Cynthia Miles

18 Glad Tidings TheThe BestBest ofof BooksBooks

On a visit to our local library recently, I decided to browse in the section labelled “Religion”. I found a wide range of books covering world reli- gions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, atheism, agnosticism, even magic. There were very few on Christ- ianity and not a single Bible. It is a sad reflection of society in many parts of the world today. Of course we don’t want to return to the days of compulsory adherence to State religion but hasn’t the pendulum swung too far the other way? Is it really the case that nobody wants to know what is all about? Self-Improvement The next section of books was labelled All Scripture is given by inspiration of “Mind Management” and contained God, and is profitable for doctrine, for books on self-help, feeling good, Yoga, reproof, for correction, for instruction etc. There are innumerable theories on in righteousness, that the man of God offer to help us feel better but, if effec- may be complete, thoroughly equipped tive, they only have a temporary for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16– benefit. They may help us cope with 17); the strains and stresses of daily living For the word of God is living and but they can’t solve the basic problem powerful, and sharper than any two- of our human frailty. Nor can they show edged sword, piercing even to the us how to face the ultimate problem of division of soul and spirit, and of joints life: death and oblivion. and marrow, and is a discerner of the Only God can do that and He has thoughts and intents of the heart revealed the reason for our existence (Hebrews 4:12). and has explained why we are mortal creatures. Fortunately, He has also Why not start reading the Bible, with provided the solution to all our prob- an open mind? If you don’t know lems – in the Bible. where to start, I suggest the short gospel of Mark which will give you an Bible Reading overall picture of God’s message to us through the life and death and resur- Why are we so resistant to opening the rection of His son, Jesus Christ. Why book of books and reading it for our- not start reading it today? selves? Do we think that we know what it says already and that it has nothing for us? Just look at what it claims: Marion Buckler

132nd Year 19 Free Offer Contact Details To find out about your nearest GladTidings Christadelphian Meeting, or if of the Kingdom of God you want some free Bible liter- ature, or a correspondence If you would like to course, write to the address receive the Glad nearest you. Tidings maga- zine FREE for 6 United Kingdom months – send your name and FREEPOST GLADTIDINGS address to one of [email protected] the addresses Africa & Europe below. Or go to our Christadelphian Bible Mission, website. 404 Shaftmoor Lane, Birmingham, Your Name (BLOCK CAPITALS please) England B28 8SZ [email protected] The Americas Address CBMA, 567 Astorian Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA Post Code [email protected] Country Caribbean Addresses for the Free Offer : CBMC, Box 55541, Unit 119, 15280, 101 Avenue, Surrey, BC, In the UK write to: FREEPOST GLADTIDINGS Canada V3R 0J7 [email protected] [email protected] In Africa and Europe write to: Anne Bayley, 68 Hay Lane, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, India England B90 4TA In other countries, to: Andrew Johnson, T Galbraith, GPO Box 159, 22 Hazel Drive, Hollywood, Birmingham, England Hyderabad, 5000001, India B47 5RJ [email protected] [email protected] South and East Asia ACBM, PO Box 42, Wallacia, NSW, Visit our website: Australia 2745 www.gladtidingsmagazine.org [email protected]

Local Information

Printed by Jarvis North West Print