Are You Zealous for the Truth?

A personal message from the Editor in Chief, Roderick C. Meredith

Perhaps the major weakness in most people’s God! The Apostle Paul was inspired to describe a great approach to religion is their lukewarm and careless false religious system—a system which would deceive approach to Truth. In our time of “political correct- the whole world—that was “already at work” when he ness”—of conforming to this world’s society with its wrote 2 Thessalonians 2:7. He wrote that this false approach of “no absolutes”—some of you may consid- religion would come “with all unrighteous deception er this very unimportant. But learning, teaching and among those who perish, because they did not receive practicing the full Truth is enormously important to the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (v. 10). the God of the Bible! Bible prophecy shows that this system will soon man- Are you interested in what the great God who ifest itself with great power and essentially take over inspired the Bible says about this vital topic? the professing Christian world! The stakes involved We at Tomorrow’s World want to teach you the are life and death! Please understand! Truth! Anything less than that is actually dangerous— Using Paul’s inspired phrase: Do you have the believe it or not. The Jesus Christ of the Bible said: “love of the truth”? “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must wor- God’s word shows that most people will be ship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). He said that if swept away by “strong delusion, that they should you, personally, wish to enter into eternal life, you believe the lie that they all may be condemned who must worship God in Truth! did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in What is the ultimate Truth about why we were unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12). Paul born, the purpose of life and how to fulfill that was also inspired to warn us, in the final book he supreme purpose? Jesus said: “Your word is truth” wrote: “For the time will come when they will not (John 17:17). Jesus Christ Himself said that the Holy endure sound doctrine, but according to their own Bible—God’s word—is, in fact, the ultimate Truth desires, because they have itching ears, they will from our Creator. He also told us: “Man shall not live heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside Throughout His ministry, Jesus constantly to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). acknowledged as “Scripture”—as the inspired word of That is a key reason why Paul earlier instructed God—those books of the Bible that we today call the Christians: “Study to show thyself approved unto Old Testament. Referring to the Old Testament, He God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, told the Jews: “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, “You are gods’’’? If He called them gods, to whom the KJV). We all should genuinely study God’s inspired word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be bro- word—not just carelessly read it, or merely read a few ken)...” (John 10:34–35). So Jesus made it very clear sentimental passages for comfort. We need to get out of that the Old and New Testaments—when correctly our “comfort zone” and find out what our very understood—do not contradict each other. For the Creator is telling us in His Instruction Manual—the New Testament is simply an expansion or “magnifica- Holy Bible! tion” of the Old Testament (Isaiah 42:21, KJV). A few years ago, U.S. News & World Report ran a Yet—perhaps without even realizing it—people very well-researched article on “Faith in America.” today virtually “trash” the Bible in terms of what they After citing a number of studies and polls, the author actually believe and practice in their professed noted: “Meanwhile, more than 3 in 4 Americans “Christian lives.” Over the centuries, “mainstream believe all religions have at least some elements of Christianity” has devised countless false ideas, con- truth—even though few say they know much about cepts and practices that are totally contrary to the clear religions other than their own. And nearly 70 percent teachings of the Bible! In nearly every issue of think spiritual experiences are the most important Tomorrow’s World magazine, we point this out clearly part of religion. ‘If one’s religion is more about indi- from the Bible itself. We sincerely want to help all of vidual identity than doctrine or creed, it’s a lot easier our readers learn the full Truth of what the Bible actu- to be tolerant,’ says Egon Mayer, a sociologist at the ally says. And we ask you to prove what we say—right Graduate Center of the City University of New York. out of your own Bible! For Truth is very important to (Continued on page 30) Contents Volume 7, Issue 6 • November–December 2005 Cover 10 Will You Inherit the Earth? When you die, will you inherit a cloud of your very own? Will God give you a harp and a sheet of music? Or does He have something far more inspiring planned for you?

Features 4 A New Covenant? Are you experiencing the blessings of the New Covenant in your life? Many do not understand the Christian’s relationship to God’s law, and how it is written on the heart of a Christian. 16 The Return of Religion It was not that long ago that secularism appeared to be the “wave of the future.” Why have so many returned to religion—and what does this portend for the years ahead?

22 Does Character Really Matter? We commonly hear of people seeking wealth, power and prestige. How often do we hear of someone seeking to develop greater character? What can character do for you?

28 Hurricane Katrina: A Wake-Up Call What lessons should we learn from the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina? Are you ready for what will come next? Departments 14 Prophecy Comes Alive 26 Tomorrow’s Youth 21 Questions & Answers 31 TV/Radio Log 25 Letters to the Editor

EDITOR IN CHIEF Roderick C. Meredith Tomorrow’s World ® is published bimonthly by the Living Church of GodTM*, 2301 Crown Centre Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227. ©2005 Living Church of God. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Richard F. Ames permission is prohibited. Canada subscriptions: Canada Post Agreement Number 40034253. Send change of address information and EXECUTIVE EDITOR William Bowmer blocks of undeliverable copies to P.O. Box 409, Mississauga, ON L5M 2B9. Postage paid at Charlotte, NC and at additional mailing offices. REGIONAL EDITORS Rod King (Philippines), Postmaster: Send address changes to Tomorrow’s World , P.O. Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Bruce Tyler (Australasia), Gerald Weston (Canada), Tomorrow’s World is protected through trademark registration in the United States, and by international treaties. Trademark registration pending in other coun- Douglas S. Winnail (Europe) tries. The symbol ®, appearing herein, does not indicate trademark registration in countries where it is not yet registered or protected by treaty. RT IRECTOR *Application pending. The symbol TM* appearing herein does not indicate trademark registration. A D Donna Prejean PROOFREADERS Sandy Davis, Linda Ehman, Tomorrow’s World has no subscription price. Its free distribution is made possible by tithes and offerings of members of the Living Church of God, and Elizabeth Martin by others who have chosen to become co-workers with us in proclaiming Christ's true Gospel to all nations. Contributions are gratefully acknowledged NEWS BUREAU June Olsen and may be tax-deductible in the United States, Canada and other countries. All scripture references are from the New King James Version (©Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers) unless otherwise noted. BUSINESS MANAGER J. Davy Crockett, III

PHOTO CREDITS: ©CORBIS, ©ISTOCKPHOTOS, ©LIQUIDLIBRARY, ©2005 NEWSCOM, ©PHOTOS, ©PHOTOSPIN, ©TOMORROW’S WORLD, ©NATO 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?” (Matthew 7:15–16, KJV). Your Bible shows clearly that we live in a deceived world! “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” (Revelation 12:9, KJV). In the midst of this confusion, Christians should realize that God blesses human beings— nations, families or individ- uals—to the degree that they choose to live by God’s basic spiritual law, and that they will receive curses and things will go wrong to the degree they disobey Him. Does this surprise you? One of the major deficien- cies in “mainstream Christianity” is its total misunderstanding of the Old and New Covenants. God Almighty knew in By Roderick C. Meredith advance that many would misunderstand the Apostle Paul; He inspired the Apostle Peter to write the On what values should society be based? Are the following warning: “Consider that the Ten Commandments merely “Ten Suggestions”? longsuffering of our Lord is ost “mainstream Apostle Paul brought a new “gospel salvation; as also our Christian” ministers and of grace” that supplants God’s spiritu- beloved brother Paul, priests teach that Jesus al laws. Others say that the Ten according to the wisdom M Christ brought a New Commandments are not binding, and given to him, has written to Covenant that somehow “does away” are “spiritualized” away except for you, as also in all his epis- with the Ten Commandments. Yet those specifically restated in the New tles, speaking in them of even these religious leaders are con- Testament. these things, in which are fused among themselves. Some say No wonder there is such great some things hard to under- that Christ did away with the law at confusion. As Jesus warned: “Beware stand, which untaught and the cross. Others teach that the of false prophets, which come to you unstable people twist to 4 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org their own destruction, as they do I will be their God, and they shall ciples of all the nations, baptizing also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 be My people [a genuinely right- them in the name of the Father Peter 3:15–16). “Therefore, dear eous, Christian nation]” (v. 10). and of the Son and of the Holy friends, since you already know This powerful New Testament Spirit, teaching them to observe this, be on your guard so that you verse makes it very clear that, far all things that I have commanded may not be carried away by the from “doing away” with God’s law, you” (Matthew 28:19–20). error of lawless men and fall from the New Covenant validates God’s Christ’s death did not end your secure position” (v. 17, NIV). laws by putting them right into the the need to “observe all things” Yes, Peter warned against false minds and hearts of true that Jesus had commanded. teachers who are “lawless men.” Christians! Throughout the Gospel How could it be otherwise? accounts, we find Jesus teach- Does the New Covenant Jesus Christ said: “Do not ing, “Keep the commandments” think that I came to destroy the (Matthew 19:17). So, how can Abolish Law? Law or the Prophets. I did not human beings possibly reason The book of Hebrews address- come to destroy but to fulfill. For around their Savior’s clear es the New Covenant specifically, assuredly, I say to you, till heaven statements? more so than any other book in and earth pass away, one jot or the New Testament. We read: “But one tittle will by no means pass Did God “Start All Over”? now He [Christ] has obtained a from the law till all is fulfilled. more excellent ministry, inasmuch Whoever therefore breaks one of Some who want to “do away” as He is also Mediator of a better the least of these commandments, with the Ten Commandments like covenant, which was established and teaches men so, shall be to say that God virtually “started on better promises” (Hebrews called least in the kingdom of all over” in the New Testament. 8:6). The New Covenant is not heaven; but whoever does and They reason that God’s laws, as established on different laws, but teaches them, he shall be called revealed in the Old Testament, on better promises—the promised great in the kingdom of heaven” were crude and incomplete, and indwelling help of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:17–19). that God inspired the Apostle and the reward of eternal life! Jesus “magnified” God’s law Paul to reveal a whole new con- Continuing: “For if that first (Isaiah 42:21, KJV). He taught cept of how to serve Him, which covenant had been faultless, then that Christians are not to murder, was not wedded to the old teach- no place would have been sought and must not even harbor an atti- ings of obedience to His laws and for a second. Because finding fault tude of hate (Matthew 5:21–24). ways. Rather, their reasoning with them, He says: ‘Behold, the Not only are Christians forbidden goes, one need only have “faith” days are coming, says the LORD, from practicing physical adultery; in Christ and His shed blood in when I will make a new covenant Jesus added a new dimension: order to inherit eternal life. with the house of Israel and with “But I say to you that whoever This theory of “religious evo- the house of Judah’” (vv. 7–8). looks at a woman to lust for her lution” tries, in one master stroke, Nothing is said about finding has already committed adultery to negate the entire way of life “fault” with God or His law. The with her in his heart” (v. 28). that God had revealed to the fault was with a physical people Our Savior magnified or patriarchs and prophets—which who lacked the spiritual love and enlarged God’s Ten He had revealed through the strength to obey God. This is Commandments and made them Word, Jesus Christ, whom many essentially the same problem that even more binding. Christians fail to realize was the God of the the United States and British- must keep the “spirit” or intent of Old Testament. It portrays the descended nations face today. the law as well as the letter! Jesus’ Old Testament as a collection of “For this is the covenant [rela- advice to any person seeking eter- “interesting” stories, allegories tionship with God] that I will nal life is: “If you want to enter and poetry by the primitive make with the house of Israel after into life, keep the command- Hebrew people, whose concept of those days, says the LORD: I will ments” (Matthew 19:17). God was gradually developing. It put My laws [divine, ethical stan- After Jesus Christ died and considers the Old Testament his- dards of conduct] in their mind was resurrected, He told His apos- tories as largely unreliable, the and write them on their hearts; and tles: “Go therefore and make dis- prophecies as uncertain—and the Nov.–Dec. 2005 5 revealed laws as certainly not just as grace and truth came become acquainted with God and binding on Christians today. “through” Jesus Christ (John His way of salvation! Yet, although liberal theolo- 1:17). Paul told Timothy, the young gians accept this concept as truth, “Therefore remember that Jewish evangelist: “From child- it is a damnable lie hatched by you, once Gentiles in the flesh; hood you have known the Holy Satan! In fact, the Apostle Paul who are called Uncircumcision by Scriptures, which are able to told the Gentile Christians at what is called the Circumcision make you wise for salvation Ephesus: “Now, therefore, you are made in the flesh by hands; that through faith which is in Christ no longer strangers and foreigners, at that time you were without Jesus. All Scripture is given by but fellow citizens with the saints Christ, being aliens from the com- inspiration of God, and is prof- and members of the household of monwealth of Israel and strangers itable for doctrine, for reproof, for God, having been built on the from the covenants of promise, correction, for instruction in foundation of the apostles and having no hope and without God righteousness” (2 Timothy prophets, Jesus Christ Himself in the world” (Ephesians 3:15–16). Remember, the only being the chief cornerstone,” 2:11–12). These Gentiles prior to “Scripture” Timothy had as a (Ephesians 2:19–20). True their conversion had no hope, child was the Old Testament, Christianity has a “foundation”— and were “without God” because which Paul said could make him an undergirding upon which all they were aliens from Israel and “wise for salvation.” else is built. That foundation “strangers from the covenants of God did not “start all over” in includes the “prophets” of God— promise.” Paul stressed that God’s the New Testament! The entire way including Moses! God’s law came “covenants” of old were very of life that the early Church under- “through” Moses (not from him), important! They helped people stood and taught had its “roots”

What Is a “Covenant”? that the only place [in the New Testament] where this word means ‘testament’ is Hebrews 9:16–17” Readers (and translators) of the New (p. 426)! Testament sometimes have difficulty understand- In other words, scholars acknowledge that if ing the subtle distinction between the English we use our terminology accurately, the “New words “covenant” and “testament.” These words Testament” should more properly be called the are both used to translate the Greek word “New Covenant”! And if we are consistent, we diatheke, which occurs 33 times in the New must admit that Jesus Christ’s instruction, “If you Testament. In classical Greek, diatheke was used want to enter into life, keep the command- to mean a will or a testament. But in the Greek ments” (Matthew 19:17), applies to all Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Christians today! Old Testament), the Greek word diatheke is more A “covenant” is simply an agreement between than 300 times rendered as the equivalent of the two living parties. So, now, let us understand what Hebrew berith, which always translated into the Old Covenant involved. In Exodus 19:5, God English as “covenant.” proposed this Covenant with Israel: “Now there- “The essential distinction between the two fore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My meanings is that in a testament the testator covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to expresses his will as to what shall be done after Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” God his death, especially in respect to his property; promised that, if Israel would accept, He would the covenant is an agreement between living per- make the nation His special treasure and a king- sons as to what shall be done by them while liv- dom of priests. Did Israel agree? “Then all the ing” (Ralph Earl, Th.D., Word Meanings in the New people answered together and said, ‘All that the Testament, 1991, p. 277, quotes E. D. Burton, A LORD has spoken we will do.’ So Moses brought Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle back the words of the people to the LORD” (v. 8). to the Galatians, p. 500). In Exodus 20–24, God spelled out the terms Dr. Earl concludes his analysis of diatheke by and conditions of His Covenant. In Exodus 20 He stating: “We would agree with most commentators restated and codified the Ten Commandments

6 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org firmly planted in the Hebrew truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). The New Bible—and in the law of God. The false teaching that God’s spir- Covenant Proposed When Jesus Christ, James or itual law is “done away” under John spoke of God’s law or of the the New Covenant would simply Christ came “to confirm the “commandments,” they were “blow the minds” of the apostles promises made to the fathers” speaking about the Ten and prophets who originally (Romans 15:8). He outlined the Commandments—often referring wrote about it! terms and conditions of the New to them specifically, in almost the same breath, to make their points The Ten Commandments clear. “For whoever shall keep the What does God’s law of whole law, and yet stumble in one love mean in the life of a point, he is guilty of all. For He Christian? who said, ‘Do not commit adul- tery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adul- tery, 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 Write for our FREE booklet, The Ten Commandments, or download it from the Booklets section Him,’ and does not keep His com- of our Web site www.tomorrowsworld.org. mandments, is a liar, and the

that Abraham, like all of God’s servants, had ment, the Sinai Covenant could not destroy what it known about and previously kept (Genesis 26:5). did not bring into force! These commandments were spiritual laws. The bottom line is that Israel agreed to enter Therefore, they are the basis of every relationship into a covenant with God. This covenant was to be God has ever had with human beings, and are the a way of life with blessings if they obeyed, or pun- very foundation of holy, righteous character. ishment and death if they disobeyed. The God also gave Israel many statutes and judg- Israelites said: “All that the LORD has said we will ments that made up the ancient nation’s actual do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). This was civil law. The statutes and judgments were the immediately after Moses had read to the people “law of the land”—interpretations based directly the “Book of the Covenant,” which contained the on a “letter of the law” magnification of the Ten Ten Commandments and the statutes and judg- Commandments as applied to specific issues. ments that were to guide the people’s daily con- Abraham—the father of the faithful—under- duct (v. 7). stood and obeyed these statutes (Genesis 26:5). Moses then sealed the Covenant by sprinkling Moses stated: “I make known the statutes of God blood on the people (v. 8). “As is evident elsewhere and His laws” (Exodus 18:16). This was before in the Bible, covenants were concluded in order to God thundered the Ten Commandments from the create quasi-familial relations. Parties bound by mountaintop—before the Sinai Covenant was covenant regularly employed family terminology made. [The LORD would be their father (Jeremiah 31:9) If we were to accept (for argument’s sake) the and they would be His children (Isaiah 45:11)]. classic Protestant and Catholic proposition that The role of blood was to create an artificial tie of the Sinai Covenant ceased at the death of Christ, consanguinity [blood relationship]” (The Anchor then how could these statutes and laws cease— Bible Dictionary, “Blood,” Vol. 1, 1992, p. 763). laws that existed and were empowered before Now they were committed to obey God’s laws and Sinai—by force of the Sinai Covenant’s dissolu- walk in His ways—knowing He would make them a tion? Nothing in the Bible ever says that they “special treasure” above all nations of the earth if were dissolved! After all, by the logic of this argu- they did so—or terribly punish them if they did not.

Nov.–Dec. 2005 7 Covenant, saying: “Man shall not in regard to the conscience; con- These thousands of Jews (v. live by bread alone, but by every cerned only with foods and 41) who heard Peter knew, from word of God” (Luke 4:4; drinks, various washings, and their teaching in the synagogues, Deuteronomy 8:3). As He fleshly ordinances imposed until what sin was! Do you know? explained: “The law and the the time of reformation” Scripture had taught them plainly prophets were until John. Since (Hebrews 9:9–10). that sin is a matter of disobeying that time the kingdom of God has Animal sacrifices, washings God’s spiritual law—the Ten been preached, and everyone is and the carnal ordinances of the Commandments (see Exodus 20; pressing into it. And it is easier Levitical priesthood were added Psalm 119). As the Apostle John for heaven and earth to pass away later, as we have seen—and are no was inspired to write: “Sin is the than for one tittle of the law to longer necessary for the “Israel of transgression of the law” (1 John fail” (Luke 16:16–17). God” (Galatians 6:16), now that 3:4, KJV). Remember, when the young the sacrifice of Christ has been At baptism, a truly converted man asked Him the way to eternal made and the Holy Spirit is avail- person enters into a genuine New life, Jesus answered: “keep the able to spiritually cleanse convert- Covenant relationship with God, commandments” (Matthew ed Christians. and must repent of breaking God’s 19:17). God has commanded all Israel Ten Commandments. Sincere Which commandments? Did to walk in His ways—in the spiri- repentance means being so sorry this forever include the animal tual law of the Ten that you will forsake your lawless sacrifices and ceremonial laws Commandments, and in the way, then turn around and go the that God later added as a statutes that He gave them. For other way—the way of God’s law! reminder of sin, after He had God—Jesus Christ—never Clearly, then, at baptism, a given the spiritual laws and prin- changes His underlying spiritual real Christian makes a covenant ciples of Exodus 20–24? Animal laws, which reflect His basic char- with the Creator to quit sinning— sacrifice and ceremonial laws acter. “For I am the LORD, I do to stop breaking God’s spiritual were not part of the original Sinai not change; therefore you are not law! “For this is the love of God, Covenant. These were added later, consumed, O sons of Jacob” that we keep His commandments. after the covenant was enacted by (Malachi 3:6). And: “Jesus Christ And His commandments are not blood (Exodus 24:8). is the same yesterday, today, and burdensome” (1 John 5:3). God clearly explains that He forever” (Hebrews 13:8). A new Christian looks for- did not give Israel these things After Jesus’ death and resurrec- ward in faith to the promise that when the Old Covenant was made. tion, God began to share the Holy the Holy Spirit will empower the As the prophet Jeremiah was Spirit with all those who would mind with love and strength to inspired to write: “For I did not become the “firstfruits” (John obey God’s law, “because God’s speak to your fathers, or command 16:7). On the day of Pentecost, love has been poured into our them in the day that I brought Peter exhorted the thousands of hearts through the Holy Spirit them out of the land of Egypt, Jews gathered at the Temple of that has been given to us” concerning burnt offerings or sac- God: “Repent, and let every one of (Romans 5:5, NRSV). rifices. But this is what I com- you be baptized in the name of Of course, we will not keep manded them, saying, ‘Obey My Jesus Christ for the remission of the commandments perfectly in voice, and I will be your God, and sins; and you shall receive the gift this physical life. However, we are you shall be My people. And walk of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). exhorted to “grow in the grace and in all the ways that I have com- So, this promise was to “all”— knowledge of our Lord and Savior manded you, that it may be well even to those “afar off”—whom Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). God with you’” (Jeremiah 7:22–23). God would “call” in years to come expects us to walk in His com- The author of Hebrews (v. 39). Now, notice the conditions mandments as a way of life! If we describes the physical ministry of by which people may receive fall short, we are to repent and the Levitical priesthood: “It was God’s Spirit and be partakers of confess our sins to God, so we can symbolic for the present time in the New Covenant. For what pur- continually be cleansed and forgiv- which both gifts and sacrifices are pose did Peter say they were to en (1 John 1:9–10). offered which cannot make him repent and be baptized? “For the Jesus said: “If you keep My who performed the service perfect remission [forgiveness] of sin.” commandments, you will abide in

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My love, just as I have kept My make themselves and others mis- “do our own thing.” We must Father’s commandments and erable throughout eternity. This genuinely surrender to let Christ abide in His love” (John 15:10). also applies to Christians who, rule our lives (Luke 6:46). The Apostle Paul wrote: “I have after receiving the Holy Spirit, If we do so, then when we are been crucified with Christ; never- later in life rebel against God glorified—and can participate fully theless I live, yet not I, but Christ and turn to a life of sin. As it in the New Covenant at Christ’s liveth in me; and the life which I is written: return—we will be “ready.” For, as now live in the flesh I live by the “For it is impossible to restore ancient Israel was “married” to faith of the Son of God, who again to repentance those who Christ, so spiritual Israel loved me and gave Himself for have once been enlightened, and (Galatians 6:16)—the Church of me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV). have tasted the heavenly gift, and God—will be “married” to Christ Through the power of the have shared in the Holy Spirit, at His second coming. “Let us be Holy Spirit, Christ will live His and have tasted the goodness of glad and rejoice and give Him life anew in the truly converted the word of God and the powers glory, for the marriage of the Lamb Christian. As Christ does not of the age to come, and then have has come, and His wife has made change (Hebrews 13:8), He will fallen away, since on their own herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). live in today’s Christian the same they are crucifying again the Son Converted members of God’s obedient life He lived in the flesh of God and are holding him up to Church—the affianced bride of 1,900 years ago while human! contempt. Ground that drinks up Christ—will, with the help of the Do you now understand? The the rain falling on it repeatedly, Holy Spirit, have overcome. They New Covenant in no way does and that produces a crop useful to will have actively yielded to let away with, or “waters down,” those for whom it is cultivated, God build within them His divine even the letter of God’s spiritual receives a blessing from God. But character. They will then truly be law. Rather, it empowers genuine- if it produces thorns and thistles, “one” with Christ and “one” with ly converted Christians, by God’s it is worthless and on the verge of God the Father (John 17:20–21). Spirit, to obey that law in the let- being cursed; its end is to be In this fashion, the purpose ter and in the spirit. It enables burned over” (Hebrews 6:4–8, of the New Covenant will be ful- Jesus Christ—through the NRSV). filled. Countless repentant and Spirit—to live His life in Our initial reconciliation to yielded human beings will even- Christians: “I will put My laws in God, our overcoming and our tually be imbued with the very their mind and write them on ultimate salvation are all accom- nature of God the Father. At the their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10; cf. plished through God’s mercy— resurrection, when Christ Jeremiah 31:33). This prepares us and through the love and strength returns, they will be born, literal- for immortality in the Kingdom of of Christ living His life in us ly, into the very Family of God, God! through the Holy Spirit. But to and so fulfill the great purpose of No, we do not thereby “earn” receive that mercy, we must quit human existence! How will you our own salvation! This is a false making excuses just so we can respond? concept that has been foisted on the Protestant world for genera- Restoring Apostolic Christianity tions. It is a false, misguided attempt to reason around obedi- InIn thethe KingdomKingdom ofof God,God, everyoneeveryone willwill livelive byby God’sGod’s ence to God and His laws! lawlaw ofof love.love. ButBut youyou cancan havehave thethe benefitsbenefits ofof thatthat Eternal life is God’s gift, but God wayway ofof lifelife ttooddaayy!! will not give this precious gift to rebellious people 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” (Romans 6:23). God will not give immortality to Write for our FREE booklet, Restoring Apostolic Christianity, those who rebel against His law or download it from the Booklets section of our Web site www.tomorrowsworld.org. of love (1 John 5:3), who would

Nov.–Dec. 2005 9 By RichardRichard F.F. Ames

Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth, but millions believe that they will go to heaven when they die. What does your Bible really say? illions—perhaps billions—believe that the Armenians, Jews, Cambodians and many others? Even bliss of heaven is the reward of the saved. today, one out of every eight nations is fighting a civil MThis belief is shared not only by most who war (The Economist, May 22, 2003). Yes, the world call themselves Christians, but also by members of needs God’s Kingdom to come! many other religions around the world. Christ taught that there would be a Great Tribulation Christians believe in the words of Jesus Christ. before His Kingdom would come. How severe would this Jesus gave some of His most basic and fundamental tribulation be? He said: “And unless those days were teachings in what is commonly called the “Sermon on shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22). the Mount” (Matthew 5–7). How did He begin His Thankfully, Christ promised to intervene, and by His teaching? “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is Second Coming put an end to warring mankind’s efforts the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, to destroy the earth. If you are watching world events for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for carefully, you realize that unless God intervenes, current they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3–5). military trends would lead to total cosmocide—the anni- Notice carefully. Did Jesus say that the poor in hilation of mankind. Ever since the first atomic bomb spirit would go to heaven, while the meek would was exploded over Hiroshima in 1945, human beings inherit the earth? No! He said that the poor in spirit have had the power to destroy themselves with an ease would be blessed with the Kingdom of heaven. The never before known in history. And technology has Kingdom of heaven will come to earth when Christ become more powerful since then! Left to themselves, returns! That is when the saved will be resurrected, warring nations would eventually destroy themselves. and will inherit the Kingdom. My friends, the Kingdom of God is not already Jesus taught us to pray: “Your Kingdom come” here! Jesus Christ is not yet exercising His rule over all (Matthew 6:10). Was He asking us to pray for some- the earth, or there would not be the chaos and devas- thing to come that is already here? If the Kingdom is tation we now see. Christ must return to save all here, then why has the world experienced such hor- nations—spiritually and physically. rors as the two great World Wars of the last century, as Thankfully, He is coming soon to save the world well as the terrible genocides carried out against physically. And He has a plan for the spiritual salvation

10 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org of humanity. He reveals that plan through the Holy Days, Who is the ruler of God’s Kingdom? The Bible which Jesus and the Apostles observed—and which they answers this question in many places, Notice what the taught the first Christians to observe. Most professing Apostle John wrote: “Now I saw heaven opened, and Christians know that the very first step in this plan to behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was save humanity is the redemption God gives to repentant called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He sinners, through the blood of Jesus Christ. But many do judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of not realize that Jesus and the Apostles commemorated fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a His sacrifice and His redemption of humanity by observ- name written that no one knew except Himself” ing the New Testament Passover, with unleavened bread (Revelation 19:11–12). Jesus Christ, wearing many and wine. Christ and the Apostles kept this annual crowns, will return to earth as its conquering King! memorial, and instructed Christians to do the same. Here is another description of Jesus’ appearance at Notice how the Apostle Paul emphasized Jesus’ sac- His Second Coming: “He was clothed with a robe dipped rifice: “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). In the very next verse, Paul the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and tells even the Gentiles to keep the Feast—the Festival of clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His Unleavened Bread. You may find these terms unusual, mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike but for those who want to follow Jesus Christ, they are the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of vital—and full of hope and encouragement! Jesus never iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness kept Christmas and Easter, nor did the Apostles or the and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and Christians whom they taught. From the beginning, on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND Christians have kept the biblical festivals, following the LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:13–16). example of Jesus Himself. To learn more about the true Yes, the Ruler of the soon-coming Kingdom of biblical festivals picturing the steps in God’s plan of sal- God will be Jesus Christ Himself! Are you praying, vation for mankind, please request your free copy of our “Your Kingdom come”? Are you eagerly anticipating informative booklet, The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan. Jesus’ return to this earth? The Apostle John certainly was. John concluded the next-to-last verse in your Where Is the Kingdom? Bible with his prayer and fervent hope: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). The Apostle John explained that God has called When Jesus Christ comes, His territory will be the His servants and redeemed them “out of every tribe whole earth! And His subjects will be all of humanity. and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Scripture describes that the whole world will learn the What will be their destiny? Will they go to heaven? way to peace. People will come to worship their King, The Apostle John explains in the very next verse: “And every year, in Jerusalem. The whole earth will learn to have made us kings and priests to our God; and we observe the same biblical Holy Days that Jesus and the shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Apostles observed. “And it shall come to pass that God did not offer to save us so that we could rest idly everyone who is left of all the nations which came in bliss in heaven. He calls us to become kings and priests, against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to wor- who will assist Jesus Christ—the King of kings—in estab- ship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast lishing lasting peace on earth. This is why Jesus said that of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16). the meek—those who humbly follow Jesus rather than Every nation on earth will worship the King—and their own self-will—will inherit the earth. When we pray, will keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Many do not realize “Your Kingdom come,” we are praying for the coming of that the Holy Days are still filled with meaning for that Kingdom which will bring peace to all humanity, and Christians today. The New Testament Church was found- in which faithful Christians will serve their beloved Savior, ed on the day of the Feast of Pentecost, though many Jesus Christ, as kings and priests under His direction. today have forgotten that Pentecost is one of the biblical Over the years, some have taught that the church, on Holy Days that God gave to His people. In the book of earth, is the Kingdom. Others believe that the Kingdom Acts, we read that throngs of people were gathered is in your heart. However, the Kingdom of God is a liter- together to observe the Feast of Pentecost when the al kingdom, whose King will be Jesus Christ! Apostles preached to them and converted thousands. The What, exactly, is a kingdom? Every kingdom has people were gathered together to observe the day because four basic elements: a ruler, a territory, laws and sub- it was commanded in the Bible! As the NIV Study Bible jects. But how does this apply to the Kingdom of God? states: “Pentecost is also called the Feast of Weeks (Dt

Nov.–Dec. 2005 11 16:10), the Feast of Harvest (Ex 23:16) and the day of bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your firstfruits (Nu 28:26)” (p. 1,645). True Christians today body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ASV). understand that the Feast of Pentecost commemorates True Christianity is a way of life. Once you repent, that stage in God’s plan of salvation when He calls the believe the gospel and commit your life to Jesus Christ “firstfruits” to salvation in this present age, preparing through baptism, He can live in you through the Holy them to rule under Christ in the Millennium. Spirit. Then, you can grow as a Christian, and trans- form your life from a life of selfishness into one of What is the “Gospel”? service and love toward God and your fellow human beings. Those whom God is calling today are not being Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came preaching a message called merely for their own salvation; He is calling that many may think they know, but that surprisingly them to prepare to serve in His coming Kingdom as few actually understand. What did Jesus preach? “The kings and priests, as we saw earlier. Their first oppor- time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. tunity to rule will come in the Millennium—the thou- Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Jesus sand-year period described in your Bible, when Jesus taught that it was time to stop sinning, believe His mes- will rule a healed earth. As John wrote: “Blessed and sage and prepare for the soon-coming Kingdom of God. holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over Have you repented? To “repent” means to acknowl- such the second death has no power, but they shall be edge that you have sinned—transgressed the Ten priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him Commandments, God’s law. It means not only to a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). express sorrow, and repugnance at your sin, but to hate From Where Four Elements of a Kingdom Will Christ Reign? From where will Jesus reign on the earth? He will •Ruler reign from Jerusalem. He says: “I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” (Zechariah 8:3). •Territory•Territory In fact, when He reigns, Jerusalem will have another name. The very last verse in the book of Ezekiel states •Subjects that “the name of the city from that day shall be: The •Laws LORD Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35). In Hebrew, that name is Yahweh Shama. From there, He will rule His Kingdom: “And the LORD shall be King over all the that sin so much that you turn from it, and begin to live earth” (Zechariah 14:9). a new life without that sin. Repentance means that you When Christ comes back to rule the earth, He and commit—with God’s help—to change your life. What is the glorified saints will rule over the nations—over sin? John wrote: “Whoever commits sin also commits physical human beings. Christ will teach the nations lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). As the way of life that produces peace. Today’s another translation puts it, “sin is the transgression of Christians—resurrected as spirit beings (the “first- the law” (v. 4, KJV). fruits”)—will rule under His direction, as the kings and You cannot believe the gospel unless you under- priests who will rule over cities and nations (see Luke stand it! Many who say that they believe in Jesus 19:17; Revelation 2:26). These kings and priests will Christ do not, in fact, believe—or act on—what He educate the world about God’s truth. Notice this inspir- preached. Jesus asked: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, ing scripture, describing those who will be taught God’s Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). ways during the Millennium: “And though the LORD If you are truly a Christian, you will do what Jesus gives you the bread of adversity and the water of afflic- commanded. If you truly become a Christian, you will tion, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner accept Jesus not in some abstract way as a “Savior” anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers” (Isaiah whom you do not obey, but as your Lord and Master 30:20). You could be one of those teachers. And what whom you strive to obey, with the help of the Holy will the glorified saints—the kings and priests—teach? Spirit. As Paul wrote: “Or know ye not that your body “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right have from God? And ye are not your own; for ye were hand or whenever you turn to the left” (v. 21).

12 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org

In the Millennium, the teachers will teach God’s per. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall law. The prophet Isaiah gives us an inspiring foretaste of bless the LORD your God for the good land which He what will come. “Now it shall come to pass in the latter has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:6–10). days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be Your Glorious Future exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go Can you visualize your part in teaching the up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God nations to observe God’s commandments, and helping of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk all people live the abundant life God promises them? in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and If you are among the “meek”—one who seeks God’s the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2–3). will rather than your own—God can use you to teach Humanity’s often-contradictory and unjust laws will others His ways. be no more. God’s laws will be taught and administered Our planet, even today, stands out like a jewel in the from Jerusalem. And the Ten Commandments are the vastness of space. But a time is coming when God will foundation of those laws. Remember, Jesus said: “But if purify the earth with fire, and renew it, before heaven you want to enter into life, keep the commandments”— will come to earth (2 Peter 3:10–13). As the Apostle John then He went on to list several of the Ten Commandments wrote: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, (Matthew 19:17). Moreover, in His “Sermon on the coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a Mount” Jesus actually magnified the Ten bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice Commandments. He made them more comprehensive, from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is and more binding, because Christians need to observe the with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall Ten Commandments in the spirit, not just in the letter! be His people. God Himself will be with them and be What will be the effect of God’s government on their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their this earth? “He shall judge between the nations, and eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cry- rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into ing. There shall be no more pain, for the former things plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:2–5). shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). You can have a part in that awesome future. God When Christ returns, He will re-educate the whole calls His children His heirs, and “joint heirs with world to the way of peace. “The cow and the bear shall Christ” in Romans 8:17. As heirs of God, faithful graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and Christians will not only inherit the earth—they will the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child inherit the universe. We read: “He who did not spare shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth (Romans 8:32). Also: “You have put all things in sub- shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters jection under his [mankind’s] feet” (Hebrews 2:8). cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:7–9). In these last two verses, the Greek expression In Tomorrow’s World, all nations will know the translated as “all things” is ta panta, which literally true God of heaven and earth—the God of your Bible— means “the all”—in other words, everything that is and He will bless those who keep His commandments, seen and unseen. Yes, faithful Christians will eventual- as He has always done. Notice this inspiring passage ly inherit the whole universe! Today, many of us dream from the book of Deuteronomy, describing the bless- of traveling to the far reaches of the galaxy, and marvel ings that come when we obey God’s law. “Therefore you at the beauty of the stars, nebulae and other awe-inspir- shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, ing and beautiful features of our universe. The time is to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the LORD your coming when today’s faithful Christians will be able to God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks travel across the universe at the speed of a thought! of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of val- Yes, God wants you to inherit the earth—and leys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and more! As He tells us: “He who overcomes shall inherit fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My honey; a land in which you will eat bread without son” (Revelation 21:7). May God help us all to seek scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose Him, and His Kingdom, that we may soon inherit the stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig cop- earth, the universe and all things!

Nov.–Dec. 2005 13 ProphecyProphecy ComesComes AliveAlive A Different Gospel?

Today, many Looking ahead to our time today, Paul issued this assume that the prophetic warning: “In the last days perilous times “gospel” is simply will come… men will… be lovers of pleasure rather about Jesus—that than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but deny- He loves us and ing its power… from such people turn away!” (2 died for us, and Timothy 3:1–5). Paul foresaw the rise of a false that those who “Christianity” that would twist and deny the very give their hearts teachings of Jesus Christ. If you compare the doc- to Him will go trines and teachings of “modern Christianity” with to heaven. This what is written in your Bible, you will find some star- “good news” is tling differences! presumed to be the essence of Christianity. Yet this is not the same “gospel” that we find Jesus preach- Defining the Gospel ing in the Scriptures. In fact, the New Testament is replete with prophetic warnings about false teachers Many wrongly assume that when Paul wrote in 1 who would come preaching a “different gospel.” Corinthians 15:1–4 of Christ’s life, death and resurrec- tion, he was providing a complete definition of the Forgotten Warnings gospel, rather than addressing a specific misunder- standing about the resurrection. In fact, however, we At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus warned His cannot understand the One who proclaimed the gospel disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you unless we understand His message. in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous Many who recognize the need for Christ’s life, wolves” (Matthew 7:15–20). Christ was speaking of death and resurrection fail to understand why Christ smooth-talking ministers who would beguile their fol- lived, died and rose from the dead. The very first chap- lowers by preaching a false gospel. At the end of His ter of Mark records the thrust of Jesus’ preaching: “The earthly ministry, Jesus again warned: “Take heed that beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ… Jesus came to no one deceives you. For many will come in My Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” name… and will deceive many… For false christs and (Mark 1:1, 14). In the book of Matthew, Jesus referred false prophets will arise and show great signs and won- to His own death and resurrection (which is part of the ders, to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew gospel) only three times, yet He referred more than 30 24:4–5, 24). Jesus foretold that a widespread religious times to the coming Kingdom of God (e.g. Matthew deception, distorting His message, would be a key sign 4:17, 23; 5:3, 19; 6:33; 10:7; 24:14). Bible scholars that the end of the age was near. admit that “there is clear agreement among the synop- The Apostle Paul added another dimension to tic Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke] that the kingdom these warnings when he advised first century of God was the principal theme within Jesus’ message… Christians not to be deceived by false teachers who the kingdom of God constituted a primary focus of preach “another Jesus whom we have not preached… Jesus’ theology” (Oxford Companion to the Bible, p. or a different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:1–4). Paul 408). The apostles continued that emphasis (see Acts admonished the Galatians for “turning away so soon… 8:12; 28:23, 31)—but we rarely hear that message to a different gospel” preached by those who wanted “to preached today. pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–9). The Instead, many hear that the “good news” (the Apostle Peter warned that “there will be false teachers gospel) is that we will go to heaven if we accept Jesus among you, who will secretly bring in destructive as our Savior. However, the Bible contradicts this heresies… and many will follow their destructive teaching, plainly stating that “no one has ascended to ways… they will exploit you with deceptive words” (2 heaven but He [Jesus] who came down from heaven” Peter 2:1–3). (John 3:13). Not even David went to heaven (Acts 14 TWM mesmes AliveAlive

2:29, 34; rejected as the absurd invention of heresy and 13:36)! The fanaticism” (Decline and Fall of the Roman true gospel, as Empire, vol. 1, ch. 15). explained in Gibbon’s account is correct; false teachers Scripture, came into the early Church and gradually began reveals that the to teach a different gospel—emphasizing the reward of the person of Jesus, but altering His message and saints will be to denying the literal meaning of scriptures reign on this earth about the Kingdom of God. These false as kings and priests, teachers either ignored or attempted to in God’s coming explain away clear prophecies that describe Kingdom, under the good news about what will take place in Jesus Christ (see the coming Kingdom of God (see Isaiah Daniel 2:44; 7:27; 35, Jeremiah 33, Amos 9:11–15). Revelation 1:4–6; 5:10). This is why we do not Jesus told His twelve dis- hear the true gospel ciples that they would being proclaimed “sit on twelve thrones, judg- today. In its place, ing the twelve tribes of “mainstream Israel” (Matthew 19:28; Christianity” teaches a Luke 22:24–30). Jesus “gospel” that has been taught that Christians corrupted by elements who bear much fruit will taken from pre-Christian be given authority over cities in religions—even the the Kingdom of God (Luke 19:11–19). invented birthdate of Bible prophecies reveal that the saints will be teachers Jesus Christ (supported in the Kingdom of God, explaining to all mankind the nowhere in Scripture, nor laws of God and the way to peace (see Isaiah 30:20–21; ever observed by Christ or Psalm 119:165). This re-educational process will begin His apostles) on December 25 is an anti-historical bor- in Jerusalem, and will spread over the entire earth rowing from sun-worshiping pre-Christian sects. (Isaiah 2:2–4; 11:6–9). The Bible calls this the “times The New Testament writers explain that the of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). widespread dissemination of a different gospel is the result of Satan’s deliberate efforts, over the centuries, Cause of Deception to deceive Christians. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a devil (Satan), and that he is a liar and the But why do “mainstream Christian” churches fail “father of lies” (John 8:44, KJV) “who deceives the to teach this exciting aspect of the true gospel? The whole world” (Revelation 12:9). The Apostle Paul answer is found in the prophetic warnings given by taught that “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to Jesus and the apostles, who foretold that false teach- those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this ers would come with deceptive words and a different age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of gospel. Historian Edward Gibbon described how the the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of true gospel, with its message of the Kingdom of God, God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). was changed: “The assurance of such a Millennium Paul understood that even in the first century after was carefully inculcated by… [those] who conversed Christ, many were already being misled into believ- with the immediate disciples of the apostles.… But ing a different gospel. Bible prophecies indicate that when the edifice of the church was almost complet- many will continue to be deceived in the “last ed, the temporary support was laid aside. The doc- days”—but you do not need to be misled when you trine of Christ’s reign upon earth was at first treated see the exciting prophecies of the Kingdom of God as a profound allegory, was considered by degrees as begin to come alive. a doubtful and useless opinion, and was at length —Douglas S. Winnail Nov.–Dec. 2005 15 By Douglas S. WinnailWinnail The global resurgence of religion has surprised modern secular leaders. Why is it happening? Where will it lead?

n the closing decades of the that even greater surprises will notion that religion is archaic and 20th century, religion re- erupt on the world scene in the irrelevant has caused many to I emerged as a contentious years just ahead! overlook the importance of reli- issue in country after coun- gion in human affairs. As a result, try. As Harvard University’s False Assumptions they have been taken by surprise Samuel Huntington observed: by the return of religion. As Peter “The late 20th century has seen Secular leaders and scholars Berger, one of the world’s leading the global resurgence of reli- have been surprised by the resur- sociologists of religion, wrote: gions around the world” (The gence of religion, because they “Those who neglect religion in Clash of Civilizations, p. 64). put their faith in the assumption their analysis of contemporary Karen Armstrong, a former nun that modernization would lead to affairs do so at great peril” and best-selling author, wrote: secularization and to the decline (Berger, p. 18). But what has “One of the most startling devel- of religion. This idea—the so- spawned the modern revival of opments of the late 20th century called “secularization theory”—is religion, and the spreading rejec- has been the emergence within widely accepted in academic and tion of secular society? every major religious tradition political circles. It assumes that as of a militant piety known as societies modernize and become Fundamental Reasons ‘fundamentalism’… this reli- more secular, religion will wither gious resurgence has taken away as an archaic and useless Growing numbers of people many observers by surprise” branch of knowledge. Their around the globe are becoming (The Battle for God, p. ix). assumption was that if religion disenchanted with the effect of The new wave of religious became irrelevant, and human secularism on our modern activism is driven by serious believ- beings became more reasonable, world—the fragmentation of soci- ers of many faiths—Protestants, they would dwell together in ety, the weakening of social cohe- Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus peace and happiness in a modern- sion, the absence of noble ideals and others—all of whom are ized world. worth pursuing, the lack of solid adamantly opposed to many of the However, human history did values, the social acceptance of values commonly accepted by mod- not follow this “reasonable” path what was formerly considered ern secular society. Though their to a secular utopia. The closing perversion, the spread of crime specific beliefs differ, they share the decades of the 20th century “pro- and the lack of effective punish- ultimate goal of restructuring socie- vide a massive falsification of the ment, the emptiness of con- ty on the basis of scriptural belief idea” that modernization and sec- sumerism and materialism, the and practice. ularization will lead to a decline breakdown of the “welfare state,” French researcher Gilles in religion. Instead, we are wit- the failure of communism, the Kepel, in his book The Revenge of nessing a massive upsurge in reli- chaos in schools and the break- God, has carefully documented gion around the world (The down of families (Kepel, p. 5). this largely unexpected turn of Desecularization of the World: Once-formidable ideologies events. The simultaneous appear- Resurgent Religion and World have been found unsatisfactory ance of fundamentalist religious Politics, Berger, p. 6). This resur- and have even collapsed. Millions movements on a global scale has gence of religion has also played a are abandoning the depressing major implications for the 21st part in an increasing number of philosophical wasteland of theo- century, which according to violent conflicts around the ries that consider human beings Huntington, “is dawning as a cen- world. Secular intellectuals and mere animals with no future tury of religion” (Who Are We?, p. elites have been shocked by this beyond death, and no purpose in 15). Mankind is witnessing a development, because it is prov- life other than to survive. In place major shift in the course of human ing that their fundamental of communism and consumerism, history, and is moving along a path assumptions about human beings many are searching for “new foretold long ago in the pages of and human society are absolutely sources of identity, new forms of the Bible. Bible prophecies indicate wrong! The modern secular stable community, and new sets of

Nov.–Dec. 2005 17 moral precepts to provide them The Apostle Paul prophesied: Father” and, in some circum- with a sense of meaning and pur- “In the last days, perilous times stances, even Sanctissimus pose… there is a quest for some will come: for men will be lovers Dominus Noster—“Our Most Holy higher explanations about man’s of themselves, lovers of money… Lord.” purpose, about why we are here” lovers of pleasure rather than The Apostle John depicts this (The Clash of Civilizations, p. 97). lovers of God, having a form of end-time religious leader and his The final decades of the 20th godliness but denying its power” (2 religious organization as a century demonstrated dramatical- woman riding a beast—that ly that man does not live by reason “beast” being the revived Roman alone, and that human beings Empire (Revelation 17:3, 7). This need a transcendent purpose in woman, a great false church, is life, solid moral guidelines and a described as immensely rich, inti- clear sense of identity. Secular mately involved with the world’s science and philosophy have not governments—and as the “moth- provided convincing answers to er” of other churches. She is life’s fundamental questions and described as having deceived the basic human needs. As a result, world with her false doctrines we are seeing more and more of a (see Revelation 17; 18). John rejection of the secular, and a reveals that during the three-and- return to the sacred, because peo- a-half-year period when this ple find in religion some com- politico-religious system gains pelling answers to the most prominence, God will have two important questions about witnesses (Revelation 11:1–10) human existence. This global Timothy 3:1–3). Paul’s words on the earth who will do miracles resurgence of religion has a pro- show that, at the end of the age, to counter the influence of this found significance that few today people will maintain a façade or false system. The activities of even begin to recognize. an appearance of religion, but will these two witnesses will be felt deny truths and practices that worldwide, but far from being What Prophecy Reveals God deems necessary to true bib- glad about their activities, the lical religion. Paul foretold that, at peoples of the world will rejoice More than 25 percent of the the time of the end, there will be when the two witnesses’ ministry Bible is prophecy—much of which a great “falling away” from true is brought to an end (Revelation refers to the time of the end, lead- biblical religion, and that in its 11:9–10). ing up to Jesus Christ’s return to place a prominent religious figure These key prophetic chapters this earth. Many prophecies reveal of global stature will promote an in Daniel and Revelation reveal that the end of this age will be a ecumenical movement to bring all that as we approach the end of time of great religious activity. religions together (Revelation the age, we will see an increase in Jesus told His disciples to watch for 17:17). This leader will deceive religious activity on this earth. specific events that would indicate millions by exercising supernatu- Bible prophecy indicates that His return was near. One of those ral powers (2 Thessalonians many will be shocked when these signs would be the appearance of 2:1–12). long-prophesied religious events many false teachers who would The prophet Daniel calls this erupt on the world scene deceive many by showing “great same religious leader a “little (Matthew 24:36–51; Revelation signs and wonders” (Matthew horn” who arises in the latter days 13:3). Millions will be surprised 24:3–5, 24). Jesus also foretold that to persecute true believers and because they assumed that the the true gospel of the Kingdom of dominate an end-time revival of Bible only contained myths and God “will be preached in all the the Roman Empire (see Daniel 7). fables and that its prophecies did world as a witness to all nations, This leader is prophesied to speak not portend real events! The Bible and then the end will come” “pompous words”—certainly a indicates that the present resur- (Matthew 24:14). Jesus was speak- fitting description of anyone who gence of religion around the ing of recognizable religious events would take on such titles as world today is prophetically signif- that would arise on a global scale. “Vicar of Christ,” “Most Holy icant—and that it is a prelude to

18 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org even greater religious activity that (or more) in those countries Constitution. Although European will mark the end of this age and believe in God—and the percent- intellectuals rejected religion in the imminent return of Jesus age is even higher in heavily the Constitution, significant por- Christ to this earth. Roman Catholic countries like tions of the European public Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland. rejected the Constitution—54 per- The European Exception British sociologist Grace Davie cent in France, 62 percent in wrote that “we might more accu- Holland. One poll showed that 83 One major factor in the mod- rately say that Western Europeans percent of Germans would have ern resurgence of religion is the are unchurched populations, rather rejected the Constitution if they widespread belief that the than simply secular… believing had been allowed to vote (The Messiah will soon appear. without belonging” (Berger, p. Times, June 3, 2005). When sev- Hundreds of millions of profess- 68). Although many modern sec- eral of Europe’s leading nations— ing Christians expect Jesus Christ ular Europeans act as if they are including Germany, Italy, Poland to return soon. Many Orthodox unaware or unappreciative of the and Spain—actively campaigned Jews also expect their Messiah to important role religion has played for a religious reference in the appear in the very near future. in their past, “enough of the reli- European Constitution, one can- Millions of Muslims also yearn for giously inactive in Europe have not say that religion is dead in what they call “the advent of the retained a nominal attachment to Europe! hidden Imam, the Mahdi, who their churches that the churches’ Today, the Roman Catholic will conquer the world” and will representative role is still possi- Church sees Europe as a “mission dispense justice (Kepel, p. 28). ble” (Berger, pp. 80, 82). The field” that is ripe for harvest. One Many observers note that the return to religion in Western of the main themes of Pope John situation in Western Europe is Europe could be triggered by the Paul II’s pontificate was the need quite different; that the modern appearance of a powerful religious for a “second evangelization of return to religion is occurring personality, or by a crisis threat- Europe” (Kepel, p. 48). From a “virtually everywhere, apart from ening Western Europe. Roman Catholic perspective, Western Europe” (Who Are We?, Significantly, Bible prophecy Europeans’ current pursuit of sec- p. 15). Though it was the birth- reveals that both of these situa- ular, materialistic goals is bound to place of the “Holy Roman tions will develop (Daniel 11:40; run aground on the rocks of reality Empire,” the Inquisition, the Revelation 13:11–18). Faced with as it has in other cultures around Reformation and the Counter- an external threat, the nations of the world. The Roman Church is Reformation, Europe today is Europe could quickly rediscover prepared to offer an alternative massively secular! On a typical feelings of unity and appreciation view of society in contrast to the Sunday in Western Europe (not of their common Roman Catholic shoddy, empty life under commu- counting Ireland), only about 20 bonds (Who Are We?, pp. 18–20). nism and the selfish pursuit of percent of the population attends The Roman Catholic church material things under western cap- church. In Paris, the figure is less and the papacy in Rome are italism—with the long-term objec- than 10 percent (Berger, p. 69). acutely aware of Western Europe’s tive of creating “a society with To many Europeans, the increas- spiritual condition. They under- Catholic foundations” (Kepel, p. ing rhetoric of religion in stand that political ideologies and 97). To this end, Poland (with its American politics seems silly and economic regulations “are unlike- 95 percent Roman Catholic popu- odd. But in light of the global ly to sustain a nation for long” lation) has served as a laboratory resurgence of religion, “it is and that deeply felt religious for the resurgence of faith in Europe rather than the United beliefs are a much more potent Eastern Europe, and a model for States that is the exception” glue to hold nations together what the Vatican hopes will be a (Berger, p. 76). (ibid. p. 19). This is why Pope re-Catholicizing of Europe. Europe However, the situation in John Paul II made numerous has been united under Catholicism Europe is not as simple as it may appeals for Europeans to “discov- before, as in the Middle Ages, and seem. Although only about 20 er their [Roman Catholic] roots” what has happened in Poland percent in most Western and why he lobbied hard for could easily spread across Europe, European countries attend Europe’s religious heritage to be spurring a return to religion in church, an average of 70 percent mentioned in the European those countries where the majority

Nov.–Dec. 2005 19 of the population is now at least again and again turned to the the Jews’ sacrifices would indeed nominally Roman Catholic, Middle East—and specifically to be restored at the time of the end, including Spain (99 percent), Italy the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is but that those sacrifices will be (98 percent), Portugal (97 per- sacred to members of three major abruptly stopped by an occupying cent), Austria (85 percent), France religions—Judaism, Christianity power (Daniel 8:9–11; 9:26–27). (81 percent) and Belgium (75 per- and Islam—who continue to fight Jesus told His disciples that at the cent). Remember, Bible prophecy over access to, and control of, the time of the end Jerusalem would reveals that, just before the end of holy places sacred to their faiths. be surrounded by armies, that a this age, ten European nations will Bible prophecies indicate that pagan idol or symbol would be ultimately surrender their sover- Jerusalem will become a major set up in the temple and that eignty to a “beast” power that is focal point of world events as we Gentiles would occupy the city ridden by a “woman” symbolizing approach the end of the age. and take half of its citizens (the a great false church (Revelation Today, Jerusalem is the tinder- Jewish half) into captivity for 17:1–3). box at the center of the Middle three-and-a-half years (Luke In Europe today, there is a East conflict. In spite of numer- 21:20–24; Matthew 24:15). While sleeping religious giant that has ous attempts to negotiate peace this is transpiring, the ministry of yet to awaken—but when it does, between competing political and God’s two witnesses will also take it will surprise the world! Kepel religious factions, the issue of place in Jerusalem (Revelation observes that “nobody had fore- Jerusalem seems to defy a solu- 11:1–8). All these prophecies seen” the birth of the Islamic tion—an impasse that was proph- indicate that religious activities in Republic of Iran in the 1970s, and esied long ago! The prophet and around Jerusalem will that “history played a trick on Zechariah foretold that the city of become a focal point of interna- Western Foreign Offices” who Jerusalem would become like “a tional attention as we approach were expecting a Marxist revolu- very heavy stone for all peoples; the end of the age. tion in the Middle East; the all who would heave it away will This phenomenon that we experts were watching for the surely be cut in pieces, though all are seeing today—the global wrong signs (Kepel, p. 17). nations of the earth are gathered resurgence of religion—is help- Samuel Huntington also notes against it” (Zechariah 12:3). This ing to set the stage for dramatic that “few people anticipated the prophecy shows that international and prophetically significant dissolution of the Soviet Union efforts to negotiate a peace in events that will shape the future and the movement toward possi- Jerusalem will ultimately fail, of the world in the years just ble decomposition of the United despite the intervention of foreign ahead, while true Christians wait Kingdom before they got under- powers. with anticipation for Jesus Christ way… yet the end of the Cold Some Orthodox Jews even to return and set up the War, the collapse of the Soviet today are making preparations for Kingdom of God on this earth. Union… and September 11 the renewed offering of sacrifices Be sure that it does not take you remind us that history is full of in Jerusalem. Daniel foresaw that by surprise! surprises” (Who Are We?, p. 11). While modern Europe currently Do You Believe the True Gospel? appears to be massively secular, Bible prophecies indicate that a As religious deception increases and the return of major return to religion in Europe Jesus Christ growsgrows nearer,nearer, can you be sure you are is just around the corner. a truetrue follower of Jesus Christ? Yes,Yes, you can! However, Europe will not be the only focal point of increasing reli- gious activity as the end of the age approaches.

Jerusalem Write for our FREE booklet, Do You Believe the True Gospel?, or download it from the Booklets section Throughout the last half of of our Web site www.tomorrowsworld.org. the 20th century, world attention

20 TWM Question: Does the Bible give any guidelines as to how Christians should observe Christmas?

Answer: Many are surprised to learn that was the date of the Saturnalia; it was also a “holy there is neither biblical command nor example day” for worshipers of Mithra and Sol Invictus. for Christians to commemorate the anniversary As pagan “converts” changed the original teach- of Jesus Christ’s birth. ings of Christianity to suit their old habits, they Not once does Scripture record a birthday continued to observe a December 25 holiday, celebration for or by Jesus Christ. Some wrongly merely changing their object of worship. assume that Matthew 2:1–2 is the first occasion But is there anything wrong with of Christmas gift-giving, but in fact the “wise “Christianizing” the world’s custom of birthday men” were paying homage to the “King of the celebrations and applying it to our Savior? Jews”—already a young child—not giving birth- Scripture explains that we cannot worship the day gifts to a newborn infant. true God by abandoning His ways in favor of It is instructive to note that the only “birthday customs used in the worship of false gods parties” we find in Scripture are associated with (Deuteronomy 12:30–32). Notice: “Learn not unpleasant events. In Matthew 14, for example, the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed King Herod’s “birthday gift” was the decapitated at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dis- head of John the Baptist. Even as late as 245AD, mayed at them. For the customs of the people the noted scholar Origen “repudiated as sinful are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the for- the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ” est, the work of the hands of the workman, (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed.). with the axe. They deck it with silver and with Scripture does, however, give us some hints gold; they fasten it with nails and with ham- about the date of Christ’s birth, telling us that He mers, that it move not” (Jeremiah 10:2–4, was born when there were “shepherds living KJV). God’s people should not adopt heathen out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock customs, such as the custom—described in by night” (Luke 2:8). During the cold Judean these verses—of decorating a tree as part of a winters, shepherds slept indoors. We also read celebration. Does that custom remind you of that while Zacharias was serving at the Temple one particular holiday, much beloved by the in the division of Abijah, an angel appeared to world? him and announced that he would have a Jesus Christ asked His followers: “But why son—John the Baptist (Luke 1:5–25, 57–58). do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the The division of Abijah was the eighth to serve things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). In a world that each year, and by calculating the dates forward becomes obsessed with “Christmas” festivities, it we find that John the Baptist was born near may be tempting to take part in what may seem Passover, in the spring, and Jesus was born six like an “innocent” celebration, and it may be months later (Luke 1:24–26), which would place socially awkward to refuse. But, as Christians, His birth in September or October—not on we must refuse. Instead, we should follow December 25! Jesus’ example and observe the actual Holy Since Scripture does not establish a celebra- Days that God gave His people, which portray tion of Jesus Christ’s birthday, and makes it clear His plan of salvation for humanity. To learn that He could not have been born on December more about these Holy Days, please write for a 25, how did the custom of a December 25 free copy of our booklet, The Holy Days: God’s “Christmas” originate? In Rome, December 25 Master Plan. misconduct have themselves become caught up in scandals involving their own professional ethics. In years past, there was a moral con- sensus in the U.S. and British-speaking nations regarding what constituted good character. Increasingly, however, we find that in our present day this moral con- sensus has largely broken down. Different segments of society hold wide- ly diverging views as to what is accept- able behavior. The example of the Boy Scouts of America illustrates how this moral con- sensus has changed over the course of the last century. The Scouting movement had its origin early in the 20th century through the efforts of British military leader Lord Baden-Powell. It was designed from the start as a character- building institution for boys. Scouting was intended to produce young men who were “trustworthy, loyal, kind, brave, clean and reverent.” Yet for sever- al years the Boy Scouts were locked in a court battle over whether they had to accept acknowledged homosexuals as Scoutmasters. Can you imagine such an issue even being a controversy a genera- tion ago? Societal agreement about what By John H. Ogwyn constitutes good moral character has become so eroded in the last few decades that it is hard to get a wide range of agreement on anything. It seems that tol- erance is increasingly being touted as the chief, and perhaps only, virtue. haracter is in the news. Politicians are accusing each other of How can we even discuss the issue lying to their constituents. Businessmen are finding them- of character without a clear-cut defini- Cselves in court, defending against charges of financial corrup- tion of right and wrong? When all is said tion. Religious leaders are under scrutiny for financial and personal and done, does character really matter? sins that appear to violate the principles they preach. Sports fans are Is there any overriding reason for the wondering which of their favorite athletes will next be found to have development of right character, beyond used illegal “performance-enhancing” drugs. merely clearing up the scandals that grip All of this raises the vital question: what is character, and how our world and its institutions? important a role should it play in public life? Is a leader’s private behavior even relevant to his or her public performance? Attitudes Toward Within the last decade, the United States has seen one President Character Development impeached, and another accused of lying in order to drum up support for war. Congressmen who preached “family values” have endured In the more than two centuries since messy public scandals revealing that they did not practice what they the U.S. was founded, there has been a preached. Yet elected officials are not the only ones caught up in great shift in public attitudes toward the questions of character; even some of the reporters covering political importance of character development.

22 TWM www.tomorrowsworld.org

In 1790, the U.S.’ first President, George Washington, fect himself but to lean back in sensual enjoyment” wrote to his nephew that “a good moral character is the (p. 91). first essential in a man.” Throughout the 19th century The Great Depression and World War II brought a this emphasis persisted, and was reflected in most temporary slowdown in the pace at which values aspects of life, including child-rearing. changed. But by the 1960s and 1970s, the pace of However, by the end of World War I the emphasis change had picked up speed once again, as “baby had shifted remarkably. Noted Harvard professor and boomers” reared amid post-war affluence brought criminologist James Q. Wilson called attention to this their new perspectives to bear on society. Over the last shift in his book, On Character. “In 1890, 1900, and 1910 generation or two, these new perspectives have seen one-third of the child-rearing articles published in a sam- many urban areas turned into battle zones, and much ple of articles from the Ladies Home Journal, Women’s of public education turned into an environment that Home Companion, and Good Housekeeping were about fosters violence and disrespect for authority. These character development; in 1920 only 3 percent were. trends are making themselves felt even in highly selec- Personality development had taken its place” (p. 3). tive environments, and in institutions that have long Why did this change occur? One key reason was prided themselves on high test scores and honor the change in how human beings were viewed. No codes. longer were men and women seen as having free choice; they were increasingly seen as merely the prod- The Cheating Game uct of various external stimuli. Far-seeing educator and social commentator Richard Weaver noted: “The From grade school to graduate school, it seems social philosophers of the nineteenth century found in that students everywhere are cheating. In its Darwin powerful support for their thesis that human November 22, 1999 issue, U.S. News & World Report beings act always out of economic incentives, and it ran a feature story on the role that cheating plays in was they who completed the abolishment of freedom American culture. In a USN&WR poll, 84 percent of of the will. The great pageant of history thus became college students said that they need to cheat to get reducible to the economic endeavors of individuals ahead in the world today. Ninety percent of college and classes… Man created in the divine image… was students do not think that cheaters will ever really pay replaced by man the wealth-seeking—and consum- the price for their actions. ing—animal” (Ideas Have Consequences, p. 6). The USN&WR article goes on to point out studies New ideas about mankind and its nature had been showing that students who cheat are likely to make the subject of philosophical speculation in both the cheating a way of life as adults. Why should we be sur- 18th and 19th centuries, but did not really penetrate prised that the workplace is full of adults who have the popular mind until shortly after World War I. The lied on a resumé to get a job, then continue to lie about writings of men like Sigmund Freud and John Dewey any number of other matters on the job? And if they popularized a new view of human beings and of the will lie, they will steal! Several years ago, a University factors that contribute to their proper development. of Southern California study estimated that employee The post-war atmosphere of the “roaring twenties,” theft costs retail stores about 16 million dollars a day! with its emphasis on being “modern,” provided fertile Recognizing the correlation between student cheat- soil in which these views thrived. ing and future job performance, the U.S. Air Force These new ideas had their origin in the philoso- Academy was shaken several years ago in the wake of a phy of ethical optimism, which taught that “man has cheating scandal. The aftermath of the scandal led the a natural moral sense which can be relied on not only academy to establish, in July 1993, a Center for to recognize virtue but to delight in it” (Weaver, pp. Character Development. General Patrick Gamble, the 79–80). This approach leads away from discipline cadet commandant at the academy, told the Colorado and toward impulsive individualism. Weaver noted Springs Gazette Telegraph why this seemed to be neces- this trend and its outcome: “Egotism in work and sary at the time: “The raw material is not coming in the art,” he wrote, “is the flowering, after long growth, of door with the same values that our grandparents and a heresy about human destiny. Its abhorrence of dis- parents taught us 30, 35 years ago.” cipline and form is usually grouped with the signs of Why not? Because character cannot exist in a ‘progress.’ It is progress for those who neither have a moral vacuum! At the bedrock of right character has sense of direction nor want responsibility. Their to be a clear-cut sense of right and wrong. Even most heresy is that man’s destiny in the world is not to per- “religious” people—and their ministers—have long

Nov.–Dec. 2005 23 since moved away from talking seriously about sin. In Proverbs 31, the king’s mother admonishes her Such talk is viewed as judgmental, and has been son about the virtues that are essential in rulers. She replaced by platitudes helping people to “accept them- reminds him to “waste not your strength on women, selves” and to “feel better about who they are.” The your love on these destroyers of a king” (v. 3, Moffatt). Bible has increasingly been ignored, and the result is She admonishes him that it is not “for rulers to desire the crisis of character with which we are confronted. strong drink; lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted” (vv. Character and Leadership 4–5, RSV). How many leaders have failed because they lacked the character to say no to their lusts? Sexual The Bible says much about government, leadership immorality and alcohol abuse have destroyed the effec- and right character. In fact, these topics are very much tiveness of many. Lacking the character to rule them- intertwined. Declaring that human beings are not by selves, they have sought instead to master and rule oth-

The corruption and injustices so prevalent in our society are, to a great extent, the products of self-indulgent leaders. When leaders lack character, the institutions they guide will reflect it—and will suffer accordingly. nature good, but rather are a mixture of good and evil, ers. The corruption and injustices so prevalent in our the Bible lays out in clear terms the distinction between society are, to a great extent, the products of self-indul- right and wrong. It also defines the virtues that are nec- gent leaders. When leaders lack character, the essary for those who would lead others—whether a hus- institutions they guide will reflect it—and will suffer band leading his family or a ruler leading a nation. accordingly. When he appointed ancient Israel’s magistrates, King David, near the end of his life and his long reign Moses recorded the essential criteria for leaders. First, over Israel, gave final advice to his son (and to all rulers they were to be capable of doing the job. Ability alone, who would come after him). In 2 Samuel 23:3, he empha- however, was far from enough. Yes, leaders needed to sized that those who rule over men must be just, ruling have intelligence, and be able to analyze situations and in the fear of God. This is a matter of character, and right deal with people. However, another attribute was vital. character begins with fear and awe of the great God. In addition to having capacity, the leaders of the nation Living life in deep awe and awareness of the presence of were to be those who feared God, who loved truth and God will lead to treating others fairly, without showing hated covetousness (Exodus 18:21). favoritism or taking advantage for personal benefit. The fear of God lies at the starting point of good character. Because God is not real to most people, they Producing Right Character feel emboldened to do whatever they believe that they can get away with. Proper fear of God means to hold Right character is not simply a matter of knowing Him and His ways in awe and reverence. It involves what is right; it requires doing what is right! We can deep, abiding respect for the Creator and Judge of the identify three primary ingredients necessary to the universe. When an individual lives his life in the fear development of good character. The first is knowledge of his Lord, it means that he is deeply conscious of the of what is right and virtuous, the second is habitual reality of God, and seeks consciously to please God practice of what is right and the third is perseverance in with his actions and attitudes. doing right—even when facing adversity. It is one thing Leaders who have this approach will not be for to practice doing the right thing when it is convenient sale at any price! They will understand the profound or even advantageous. It is quite another to do what is meaning behind Jesus’ question: “What will a man right in the midst of stresses and pressures to compro- give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). mise or to give up. The Apostle Paul explains that Those who love truth and hate covetousness will pur- “pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient sue what is just and right, without seeking personal and unswerving endurance. And endurance [fortitude] profit or advantage. Such leaders will not be swayed develops maturity of character—that is approved faith by opinion polls or potential financial gains when dis- and tried integrity…” (Romans 5:3–4, Amplified Bible). cerning which side of an issue to support, or what course of action to take. (Continued on page 29)

24 TWM I was sure I would gain a lot when I make the very sound point that Jesus kept the requested your free literature from the law—including the Sabbath during His life. The arti- Internet. And it really happened when I cle was very consistent with Scripture and the teach- received a booklet and the magazine ing and practices of the Jews, and clearly proved with the cover article “Abortion: A Modern that Jesus did observe the Sabbath—albeit not with Holocaust?” [March-April 2005]. It didn’t take me the additional burdens added by some Pharisees, more than a day to read the magazine and write but considering the Scripture, the very Word of God you this letter. I am a medical student in Ethiopia, as His guide. A very good article, indeed. where abortion is not yet legalized. I had been hav- ing the view that abortion should be legalized. But D. H., Allen, TX now I have changed my mind after reading your magazine. The biblical evidence and the figures for I just wanted to take a moment and let you the “reasons” for abortion have changed me much. know how much I appreciated and enjoyed John Thank you very much, and God bless you! H. Ogwyn’s article, “Evolution: Fact or Fiction?” [May-June 2005]. I was able to put some of your E. G., Oromiya, Ethiopia information to immediate use in the battle to get “Intelligent Design” introduced into the public I just received my first copy of Tomorrow’s schools here in Kansas. I hope we will see more World, and immediately absorbed every tidbit of articles on this important subject, because evolu- information. I was truly touched by Charles E. tion is a false worldview that has been used to dis- Bryce’s “A Legacy of Character” [May-June 2005]. credit the Bible and to turn many to unbelief. Every article was surely a truth few care to hear. I myself am enthralled by current events and the A. W., Overland Park, KS imminent return of Jesus Christ. Having recently received my three booklets as B. O., Coal Township, PA requested, I am now requesting three more. I did not realize just how much depth there was to my Thank you for sending me the reprint article last three. They certainly have given me much “Is God Really a Trinity?” by John H. Ogwyn. It was food for thought. The Ten Commandments, I have very helpful. I shared the article with a couple of read three times, and will read many more times. my friends, and they thought it to be more believ- These booklets are invaluable to me. They and the able than believing in the Trinity. I appreciate your Bible are my constant source of knowledge. literature very much, as not too many people talk about prophecy these days. Everybody is just con- J. N., Mannum, South Australia cerned about the present, and they miss out on seeing the real truth. Keep up the good work, Your Bible Study Course has been really uplift- informing us of the good news of things to come. ing. Completing it is almost like graduating from a school. I hope to continue to refer back to some D. A., Niagara Falls, ON, Canada of the lessons as I do more of my own study. Because of it, I am always able to give an answer I just received my May-June issue of in discussion. God has broadened my knowledge Tomorrow’s World. I want to thank Mr. Rod of Him and His plan. Thank you for organizing the Reynolds for the fine article entitled, “Did Jesus Bible Study Course; the scriptures just jump off the Break The Sabbath?” The article was well-written page, and the historical references that you give and used convincing sources from the writings help as well. Thank you for your service. and research of Alfred Edersheim, coupled with the Mishna and other traditional Jewish sources to D. W. Tuscaloosa, AL

We encourage you to share with us your reactions to Tomorrow’s World. Please direct your correspondence to “Letters to the Editor” at our United States address, or send e-mail to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Remember to include your name, address and daytime phone number. Tomorrow’sTomorrow’s YouthYouth “I want to be an individual... just like all my friends.”

Forty-year-olds rarely his gyrating pelvis, at least the uni- think about whether they are form was generally clean cut. But as conformists or non-conform- time progressed, this changed. The ists. Work and family have Beatles arrived in North America long since taken center stage; with a new sound and a new hair- but at age 16 it is another style that shocked the WWII gen- story. Conformity vs. non-con- eration. By today’s standards, John, formity is serious stuff as one Paul, George and Ringo appeared tries to sort out such important pretty clean cut, but to the former questions as the meaning of life, GI’s who fought in Europe and and where one fits in the grand Asia this seemed like a new “fem- scheme of things. inized” look for boys. The most honest and Every few years, a new class informative comment I ever of youth chose a more degener- heard on this subject came from ate look and sound to take up a sincere young man who said, “I as “their own.” Buddy Holly, want to be an individual… just Johnny Mathis, Blue Hawaii like all my friends.” How could and Jailhouse Rock were replaced by the harsh anyone state more simply and succinctly the inner sounds of Mick Jagger, AC/DC, and more recent- struggle and frustration of youth? There is both the ly by rap and hip-hop. With each new gimmick desire to find one’s own identity, and at the same that shocked the older generation, more money time a desire to conform—or, put more properly, rolled in. not to be an outcast for being different from one’s The intent has always been the same: shock peers. parents, and make young people think it is their Junior high and high school can be difficult and own special expression. What has changed is how sometimes cruel years. One would think that those explicit and vile it has all become. And a 2001 PBS who have negotiated that contradictory and stress- Frontline special, “Merchants of Cool,” illustrated ful stage in life would do all they could to assist that it will only grow worse. Correspondent those who follow, but such is not the case. Sadly, Douglas Rushkoff described how Viacom, Disney, some who know better are actively making it more AOL/Time Warner, Universal Vivendi and Rupert difficult, in order to gain wealth and prestige. Murdoch’s Newscorp control an overwhelming Following World War II, advertisers discovered degree of what is recognized as youth culture today. a growing and largely untapped economic gold Together, these five massive media giants “look at mine—their children. To put it more precisely: the teen market as part of this massive empire that everyone else’s children. All they needed to do was they’re colonizing. You should look at it like the find a means of separating young people from their British Empire or the French Empire in the 19th money. What better way to fleece this market than century. Teens are like Africa. You know, that’s this through music, and tapping into youthful desire to range that they’re going to take over, and their become independent, to conform to one’s peers and weaponry are films, music, books, CDs, Internet to find love? access, clothing, amusement parks, sports teams. At first, the music was dressed in a tuxedo. That’s all this weaponry they have to make money While parents did not always like Elvis’ sound or off of this market.” In short, these conglomerates

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control the purpose of taking their money. These strangers looks, sounds do not have the slightest concern for their well- and attitudes being—and if it means separating them from of today’s parents who have cared for them, and loved youth, and their them through the most difficult of times, so sole concern is be it! Part of their toolbox is to paint parents market share: as old-fashioned and out-of-touch with Youth “want to be their children’s concerns, compared to the cool. They are carefully created idols who supposedly impressionable, and “understand” them. Their message to they have the cash. teens is that people they do not know, They are corporate and who have given them America’s $150 billion nothing, should be idol- dream.” ized above the ones who Take MTV as just love them the most. Does one example. this make sense? Of “Everything on course not! MTV is a commer- If you are a teen, the cial,” explained fact that you are reading University of this indicates that you may Illinois communi- have a level of maturity other cations professor Robert teens do not have. You recog- McChesney. “That’s all that MTV is. nize the difference between Sometimes it’s an explicit advertisement paid for those who love you—your par- by a company to sell a product. Sometimes it’s going ents—and the marketers who to be a video for a music company there to sell music. only want to exploit you. Do not Sometimes it’s going to be the set that’s filled with be afraid to be an individual! Do not be afraid to say trendy clothes and stuff there to sell a look that will “No!” Remember: “If you faint in the day of adversi- include products on that set. Sometimes it will be a ty, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). show about an upcoming movie paid for by the stu- Most teens want to be thought of as mature. dio, though you don’t know it, to hype a movie that’s One sign of real maturity is having a long-term coming out from Hollywood. But everything’s an view of life—recognizing that there is a tomorrow. infomercial. There is no non-commercial part of A mature person will appreciate what the Apostle MTV” (ibid.). How can a 16-year-old comprehend this John wrote about conforming to the world’s expec- manipulation? What about a 13-year-old? tations—not just in outer attire, but also in the Young people certainly do not like being manipu- inner person. “Do not love the world or the things lated by pot-bellied 50- and 60-year-old advertising in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of executives. That is what makes this sordid business so the Father is not in him. For all that is in the tricky, but you do not become Rupert Murdoch or world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, AOL/Time Warner by lacking savvy. Marketers are and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of very clever in how they go about the task. Sell “cool,” the world. And the world is passing away, and the but never make it look like a cheesy advertisement. lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides Make it look as if it were spontaneously driven by forever” (1 John 2:15–17). young people themselves. Some people think that teens cannot live up to Young people are not stupid. In fact, most are quite this. Marketers are selling the idea that you bright. The problem is that few have enough experi- should be an individual, just like all your friends. ence to fully understand that very smart middle-aged Will you send them the message that you are not men and women have infiltrated their world and are buying? carefully crafting a new image to sell to them, for the —Gerald Weston

Nov.–Dec. 2005 27 Hurricane Katrina: A Wake-Up Call In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, life has supplies were quickly depleted. Area police certainly changed for many of us. My brother guarded the gasoline stations where lines were and I experienced Hurricane Katrina while long until the storage tanks were drained visiting family and friends in Mississippi last empty. Prices skyrocketed as supplies dimin- August. My cousin’s home in New Orleans ished. The heat skyrocketed, too, as we was flooded; my mother’s home in Jackson, endured summer temperatures above 90 Mississippi was spared but was without degrees Fahrenheit—with 90 percent humidity, power for more than a week. A tree landed no electricity and no air conditioning. It was all on the roof of my grandfather’s home out in very sobering. We could only begin to imagine the country just north of Clinton, Mississippi. what it must have been like to the south of us Stores were closed, no gasoline was avail- in Gulfport and New Orleans. Within a day, life able, and all were very concerned about in the path of Katrina changed the lives of more those living closer to the areas worst affected. than 1.5 million people! This was a disaster of a scope that the United My brother and I stayed for a few days to States had never before experienced. An take care of our family, then headed back to entire city of a half-million people was devas- our homes in Wyoming. As we headed home, tated, left almost uninhabited, and more than we thanked the folks we met for being there likely will not be active again for a long, long to provide services that we sometimes take for time. Other cities along the Gulf Coast, too, granted. We knew that many we left behind

Whatever else you may do, be sure to plan for the disasters that may affect you in the future. Make physical plans—set aside emergency supplies and create a disaster plan for your family—but do not neglect your spiritual plans. were entirely wiped out. More than 1.5 mil- were in for a very difficult time. Thankfully, lion people were displaced by Katrina, which though we saw the price of gasoline rise spanned the size of Great Britain across the sharply, we had enough fuel to breach the southern Mississippi River country. storm-ravaged area and make it back to parts Emergency crews came from all over the of civilization that were still working. nation to help the devastated region recover. Whatever else you may do, be sure to plan Though many were spared, hundreds of lives for the disasters that may affect you in the were lost, and it has made many realize—per- future. Make physical plans—set aside emer- haps for the first time—that we are indeed gency supplies and create a disaster plan for mortal and that our human strength is com- your family—but do not neglect your spiritual pletely powerless over the forces of nature. plans. Be sure you have the spiritual resources Watching the storm from my front porch was to withstand the spiritual disasters that lie an experience I will never forget. The power of ahead. Jesus Christ warned that at the end of the wind-driven rain and tornado-like activity the age, there will be both spiritual and phys- was awesome. Trees were falling all around us. ical disasters that will test His people in ways Huge limbs were crashing to the ground, break- they have never before been tested. ing power lines and smashing into homes. We Thousands in New Orleans were told to could not watch the television news, as there flee the danger, but would not heed the was no power; we could only imagine what warning. As a result, they were trapped, and damage was being inflicted elsewhere. many died. I can imagine a time yet future But it was only when the storm finally when another call will come to flee danger, stopped, and the winds ceased, that we truly yet many will not heed it. This storm was a realized what trouble lay ahead. We could buy wake-up call for all of us. Are you prepared? ice and some food from the one neighborhood If not, begin today! grocery store that was open, but its —Ben Whitfield

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Does Character Really Matter? character of Jesus Christ Himself, knowledge, are the first two steps (Continued from page 24) for Christ is accounted as the first- toward developing righteous char- born among many brethren acter. Then comes the third ingredi- It is the struggle against adver- (Romans 8:29). ent necessary to “set” our charac- sity that deepens and solidifies our The returned Christ is to reign ter—the trials and adversities of life. character. If we learn to make right as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Apostle Paul put our trials into choices even when those choices Who are the kings that will reign perspective when he explained: seem to be to our immediate detri- under Him? Revelation 20:6 and “Our troubles are slight and short- ment, we are developing the long- other scriptures make plain that it lived; and their outcome an eternal term view that lies at the heart of is the resurrected saints who will glory which outweighs them far” (2 right character. This view is based literally rule over the cities and Corinthians 4:17, NEB). When we upon an understanding of the ulti- kingdoms of this earth. actually demonstrate our willing- mate reason why right character is The Christian life is meant to ness to suffer for righteousness’ so important. prepare us for our ultimate destiny. sake as Jesus Christ did, God sees The Apostle John explained the At the resurrection, we are to be that we value eternal life with Him great transcendent purpose behind born into the universe-ruling fami- far more than we value anything character development. He wrote: ly of God. To prepare us for that this present world has to offer. “Behold what manner of love the destiny, God reveals in Scripture Individually and collectively, Father has bestowed on us, that we the laws and principles that distin- we are in the throes of a character should be called children of God… guish good from evil. Only crisis that no human legislation Beloved, now we are children of through God’s revelation can we can solve. Most of mankind has God… but we know that when He truly know what is right and what forgotten its Maker, and utterly is revealed, we shall be like Him, is wrong. God offers all of mankind disregarded His “instruction man- for we shall see Him as He is. And forgiveness for past sins upon com- ual” for human life. In our materi- everyone who has this hope in Him ing to Him through Jesus Christ in alistic and self-indulgent age, peo- purifies himself, just as He is pure” a spirit of faith and repentance. He ple are taking the soft and easy (1 John 3:1–3). When we recognize then offers us His Holy Spirit so path, avoiding suffering and hard- the great purpose that God has for that we may share in His very ship at all costs. “Values” are seen us, we have every reason to seek to nature (2 Peter 1:4). Through that as financial measurements, rather purify ourselves and to cooperate Spirit, He actually begins to than principles of right and wrong, actively with God in the develop- inscribe His laws into our minds or justice and injustice. But if ment of His holy, righteous charac- and hearts (Hebrews 8:10). We are each of us will come to understand ter within us. We understand that admonished to be followers—imi- the great purpose God is working when Jesus Christ returns to this tators—of Jesus Christ in our daily out here on earth, we will come to earth in power and glory, we are to lives (1 Corinthians 11:1). understand why character really be glorified with Him, as members Right knowledge, and the matters—and why it matters not of His family. After all, God is habitual practice of that right only now, but forever! bringing many sons unto glory (Hebrews 2:10). What Is a True Christian? God’s very purpose for placing mankind upon this earth, created When Christ lives His life in us, our lives—and the in His own image, is that we might world around us—will change. some day be born into His very family as real sons and daughters (Romans 8:16–19; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18). Does this sound strange or even blasphemous to you? Regardless of how it may sound, it is the plain and simple truth straight from your Bible! True Write for our FREE booklet, What Is a True Christian?, Christians are to be shaped and or download it from the Booklets section of our Web site www.tomorrowsworld.org. molded to conform to the very

Nov.–Dec. 2005 29 Are You Zealous for the Truth? not be Christians of any type, because about two- (Continued from page 2) thirds of all human beings do not even call themselves “Christian.” Gallup says that the high degree of religious toler- That is why Jesus Christ said: “Enter by the nar- ance reflects, in part, ‘not only a lack of knowledge of row gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that other religions but an ignorance of one’s own faith.’ leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by In some polls, he says, ‘you have Christians saying, it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way “Yes, Jesus is the only way” and also, “Yes, there are which leads to life, and there are few who find it” many paths to God.” It’s not that Americans don’t (Matthew 7:13–14). That is why the Apostle Paul believe anything; they believe everything’” (May 6, wrote: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” 2002). (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). Instead of drifting into that kind of confusion, we My friends, we must become even more excited should be zealous in truly exerting ourselves to find about learning the true way to eternal life than about out what the Bible actually says. In every part of your who won the latest football game or popularity con- life, please remember this key principle: “Whatever test! This may seem obvious, but very few people have your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there their priorities straight—even when their eternal life is is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the involved. grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). We must all learn to be zealous—to be diligent— Remember how God’s word commended the Berean in seeking God, and in searching out and acting on Christians for really studying and proving the Truth the Truth. In his last letter, the Apostle Peter wrote: for themselves by diligent Bible study: “These were “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that your call and election sure, for if you do these things they received the word with all readiness, and searched you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be sup- the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things plied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom were so” (Acts 17:11). of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter Please ask yourself: “How many hours a week do I 1:10–11). personally spend watching television—the ‘boob Why do you believe the things you believe? Is it tube’?” Then ask: “How many hours a week do I spend because you honestly and zealously studied the Bible actually studying the Holy Bible—the inspired revela- with an open mind to find out the revealed Truth? tion and Instruction Manual from my Creator?” Your From this day on, may God help you to do just that. honest answer to these important questions will prob- As this present society around us begins to disinte- ably be very instructive! grate, and as the powerful prophetic events predicted The point is that our Creator expects us to be in the Bible begin to unfold with increasing speed, zealous in seeking the Truth! For your own sake, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to study please do not carelessly assume that “all religions are and to genuinely prove to yourself the basic issues of the same” or that “the majority is always right.” life. Learn to be zealous for those things that really Think! If the majority is always right, then we should count!

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30 TWM GA, Atlanta: AIB—Cable, THUR 9:30 pm; SAT 1:30 am NY, Syracuse: Community Access—Ch 98, SUN 7:30 pm INTERNATIONAL: GA, Atlanta: PTV—Ch 24, FRI 2:00 pm NY, Utica: Adelphia—Ch 3, MON 9:00 pm GA, Macon: Cox Cable—Ch 18, SUN 5:00 pm; NY, Woodbury: Cablevision—Ch 20, WED 5:00 am —AUSTRALIA TUE 7:30 am; FRI 2:00 pm OH, Centerville: MVCC—Ch 23, FRI 2:30 pm NSW, Sydney: Nine Network—Ch 9, SUN 5:00 am HI, Lihue: Ho’ike—Ch 12, MON 1:30 pm OH, Cincinnati: Media Bridges—Ch 8 & 24, SUN 12:00 am; NSW, Willoughby: Nine Network—SUN 5:00 am IA, Davenport: Mediacom—Ch 19, MON 4:30 pm; WED 8:30 am TUE 12:30 pm QLD, Brisbane: Nine Network—Ch 9, SUN 5:00 am IA, Des Moines: Mediacom—Ch 15, SAT 10:00 am; OH, Dayton: DSTV—Ch 12, SAT 3:30 AM; TUE 11:00 am Briz31-Ch31, SUN 11:00 pm SUN 11:00 am OH, Fairborn: CAC—Ch 23, TUE 12:00 pm SA, Adelaide: Nine Network—Ch 9, SUN 5:00 am IA, Dubuque: TCI of Iowa—Ch 16, THUR 8:00 pm; OK, Tulsa: KTFO—Ch 41, SAT 12:30 am VIC, Melbourne: Nine Network—Ch 9, SUN 5:00 am MON 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm; TUE 10:00 pm; WED 2:00 pm OR, Ashland: RVTV—CH 15/31/95, SUN 10:00 pm MCTC - Ch 31, SUN 11:30 pm ID, Boise: TVTV—Ch 11, SAT 10:00 pm; SUN 12:00 pm OR, Portland: MCTV—CH 11, SUN 12:30 pm WA, Perth: Access 31—Ch 31, SUN 9:30 am ID, Pocatello: Vision—Ch 12, WED 2:30 pm; FRI 1:00 pm PA, Johnstown: Atlantic Broadband—Ch 9, MON 10:00 pm IL, Bloomington: Insight—Ch 20, SUN 1:00 pm; PA, Philadelphia: Urban—Ch 5, THUR 9:00 pm; SUN 5:30 pm —BARBADOS MON 10:00 pm PA, Sayre: Time Warner—Ch 18, MON-FRI 5:00 pm St. Michael: CBC—Ch 8, SUN 9:30 am IL, Chicago: WGN—Ch 9, SUN 5:00 am RI, Providence: WPXQ—Ch 69, MON 11:30 am IL, Moline: MediaCom—Ch 75, MON-WED 2:00 pm; THUR SC, North Charleston: Comcast—Ch 78, SUN 8:00 & 12:00 am —CANADA 6:00 pm; FRI 3:00 pm; SAT & SUN 2:00 pm TN, Chattanooga: WDEF—Ch 12, SUN 8:30 am ON, Toronto: Vision—SUN 5:30 pm ET; MON–FRI 3:00 am ET IL, Peoria: KY, Ch 20, SUN 7:30 pm TN, Knoxville: WVLT—Ch 8, SUN 6:30 am ON, Toronto: Christian Channel—Ch Cable, SUN 9:30 am; SUN 8:00 pm IN, Bloomington: CATS—Ch 3, MON 5:30 pm TN, La Follette: WLAF—Ch 12, TUE 10:30 pm KS, Chanute: Cablevision—Ch 5, SUN 7:30 am; TUE 5:30 pm TN, Memphis: WPTY—Ch 24, SUN 6:30 am —JAMAICA KS, Parsons: Time Warner—Ch 21, WED 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm TN, Nashville: WZTV—Ch 17, SUN 7:00 am Kingston: TVJ—Ch 7, 9, 11 & 13, SUN 9:00 am KY, Latonia: PEG 17—Ch 17, WED 5:30 pm; THUR 12:00 am TX, Austin: Community Access—Ch 11, WED 7:00 pm KY, Lexington: Ch 14, Check Local Listing TX, Corpus Christi: Time Warner—Ch 10, SUN 10:30 am; —NEW ZEALAND KY, Louisville: Insight—Ch 16, SAT 12:00 am WED 8:30 am Nationwide: PRIME TELEVISION—SUN 8:30 am KY, Paducah: Public Access—Ch 2, WED 3:30 pm TX, Dallas: Community Television—Ch 14b, SAT 1:00 pm; LA, Baton Rouge: KZUP—Ch 44, SUN 8:00 am SUN 11:00 am —PHILIPPINES LA, Lafayette: KATC—Ch 3, SUN 9:00 am TX, Dallas: KFWD-TV—Ch 52, SUN 8:00 am Bansalan: Bansalan Cable—Ch 10, SAT 10:00 am LA, Shreveport: KSHV—Ch 45, SUN 8:30 am TX, Houston: KTBU—Ch 55, SUN 8:00 am Borongan: Borongan Cable—Ch 4, SAT 3:00 pm MA, Malden: Access TV—CH 3, SUN 11:00 am TX, Lufkin: KTRE—Ch 9, SUN 6:30 am Camiguin: Cable TV—Ch 21, SUN 8:00 am MD, Rockville: Community TV—Ch 19, THUR 5:00 pm TX, Midland: KMID—Ch 2, SUN 9:00 am Kidapawan: Metro Cable—Ch 19, SAT 8:30 am MD, Westminster: Adelphia—Ch 19, THUR & FRI 10:00 am TX, San Antonio: Time Warner—Ch 20, SAT 9:00 am Nabunturan: Nabunturan Cable—Ch 21, SAT 10:00 am ME, Auburn: GFTV—Ch 11, SAT 9:00 am; SUN 8:00 pm TX, Temple: KPLE—Ch 31/45, SUN 7:30 pm Naga City: PBN—Ch 5, SUN 8:00 am ME, Brunswick: Cable 7—Ch 7, SAT 8:30 am; SUN 6:30 am TX, Tyler: KLTV—Ch 7, SUN 6:30 am Maasin City: Maasin Cable—Ch 13, SAT 10:00 am MI, Southfield: Comcast—Ch 7, SUN 7:30 am VA, Charlottesville: Adelphia—Ch 13, MON 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm Ormoc City: Ormoc Cable—Ch 3, SAT 12:00 pm MI, Traverse City: TCTV2—Ch 2, SUN 5:30 pm VA, Chesterfield: Comcast—Ch 6, THUR 6:30 pm Sogod: Sogod Cable—Ch 13, SAT 12:00 pm MN, Bird Island: BICC—Ch 7, MON 6:30 pm, WED 6:30 pm VA, Fairfax: FPA—Ch 10, MON 12:00 pm MN, Duluth: Public Access—Ch 24, SAT 11:00 am; SUN 7:00 pm VA, Roanoke: WDRL—Ch 24/54, SUN 7:00 am —SOUTH AFRICA MN, Hutchinson: HCVN—Ch 10, FRI 4:00 pm; TUE 4:00 pm VA, Virginia Beach: Cox—Ch 71 & 74, SAT 8:30 am Randburg: CSN—Ch Multi, SUN 5:30 pm MN, Minneapolis: Metro Cable—Ch 6, SAT 8:30 pm VT, Bennington: CAT—Ch 15, WED 9:30 am & 12:00 am; MN, Minneapolis: MTN—Ch 75, THUR 6:30 pm THUR 12:00 am & 9:30 pm; SAT 8:00 am & 4:30 pm —TRINIDAD & TOBAGO MN, Minneapolis: NW Community—Ch 19, SAT 10:30 pm; VT, Manchester: Adelphia—Ch 15, FRI 11:00 pm; SAT 11:00 am; Trinidad, Port of Spain: CCN—Ch 6, SAT 3:30 pm SUN 4:30 am, 10:30 am & 4:30 pm SUN 11:00 am; MON 11:00 am; TUE 11:00 am MN, Roseville: CTV—Ch 15, TUE 8:00 pm; WED 4:00 am & 12:00 pm VT, Montpelier: Community Access—Ch 15, TUE 8:30 pm; —UNITED KINGDOM AND NW EUROPE MN, St. Paul: SPNN—Ch 14, SUN 8:30 pm WED 2:30 pm United Kindom: SKY-TV—Ch 678, SUN 10:00 am; MO, Joplin: KOAM—Ch 7, SUN 7:00 am VT, Richmond: Community TV—Ch 15, SUN 2:00 am & MON-FRI 1:30 am UTC MO, Kansas City: KCWE—Ch 29, SUN 8:00 am 9:00 am & 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm; MON 7:00 am & 1:00 pm MO, Kansas City: Time Warner—Ch 4, SUN 10:00 pm VT, Springfield: SAPA TV—Ch 8, THUR 10:00 pm; MON 12:00 pm —EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST: MO, Springfield: KSPR—Ch 33, SUN 8:30 am WA, Everett: Comcast—Ch 77, WED 4:30 pm Europe, North Africa, Middle East: Hotbird 6—Ch 811, MO, St. Charles: Charter—Ch 47, SUN 9:30 am & 9:00 pm WA, Kennewick: Charter—Ch 13/99, SUN 8:00 pm; TUE 8:00 pm SUN 10:00 am; MON-FRI 1:30 am UTC MO, St. Louis: Double Helix—Ch 22, MON 4:00 pm WA, Seattle: TCI—Ch 29, SUN 9:00 am MS, Jackson: Time Warner—Ch 18, SUN 10:00 am; WED 4:00 pm WA, Spokane: AT&T—Ch 14, MON 8:00 pm MS, Jackson: WAPT—Ch 16, SUN 8:30 am WA, Vancouver: FVCT—Ch 11, SUN 9:30 am NC, Burlington: Time Warner—Ch 5/10, SUN 9:00 pm WI, Wausau: Charter—Ch 10, THUR 9:00 pm; FRI 7:30 am UNITED STATES: NC, Charlotte: INSP—Ch Multi, SAT 1:00 am WY, Casper: KTWO—Ch 2, SUN 10:00 am NC, Charlotte: WHKY—Ch 14/19, MON 7:30 pm WY, Cheyenne: KLWY—Ch 27, SUN 6:00 am AK, Anchorage: GCI—Ch 16, SAT 10:00 pm NC, Greensboro: GCTV—Ch 8, SAT 7:30 am; SUN 8:00 pm AL, Birmingham: Bright House—Ch 4, THUR 2:30 pm NC, Wilmington: Time Warner—Ch 4, WED 10:00 pm AL, Troy/Montgomery: WRJM—Ch 67, SUN 6:30 am NE, Omaha: KPTM—Ch 42, SUN 8:00 am RADIO STATIONS: AR, Fayetteville: KNWA—Ch 51, SUN 6:30 am NH, Hanover: CATV—Ch 6, SUN 6:00 pm; AR, Fayetteville: Access TV—Ch 8, SUN 8:30 pm MON 12:00 am & 6:00 am & 12:00 pm; THUR 7:00 pm; Argentina, Bahia Blanca: Vida—107.7 FM, WED 10:00 am; AR, Fort Smith: KFTA—Ch 24, SUN 6:30 am FRI 1:00 am & 7:00 am & 1:00 pm THUR 8:00 pm; SAT 2:00 pm AR, Little Rock: KASN—Ch 38, SAT 8:00 am NJ, East Windsor: Comcast—Ch 27, WED 5:30 pm Argentina, Buenos Aires: La Nueva Radio—650 AM, SUN 8:30 am; AZ, Lake Havasu City: KLHU—Ch 45, SUN 10:30 am NJ, Oakland: Cablevision—Ch 76, SUN 11:30 am; Thur 5:00 pm WED 12:00 pm AZ, Phoenix: Access—Ch 22, FRI 4:00 pm NJ, Trenton: Comcast—Ch 26, MON 10:00 pm Argentina, Rio Grande: Radio FM Aire Libre—96.3 FM, SAT 8:00 pm AZ, Prescott: Cable—Ch 13, SAT 5:30 pm; SUN 6:30 am NM, Albuquerque: CCC27—Ch 27, SUN 6:30 pm Colombia, Medelin: 1350 AM, SAT 10:30 am AZ, Tucson: Access—Ch 73, SAT 2:00 pm; SUN 11:30 am NM, Rio Rancho: CABLE ONE—Ch 51, THUR 7:00 pm CA, Eureka: Cox—Ch 10, MON 8:00 pm Costa Rica, San Jose: Radio La Gigante—800 AM, SUN 8:00 am NV, Carson City: Access TV—Ch 10, SAT 9:00 pm Grand Canary Islands: Radio Emisora—93.6 FM, SAT 10:30 am CA, Garden Grove: Time Warner—Ch 6, SUN 9:30 am NV, Gardnerville: Community Access—Ch 26, SAT 3:30 & 6:30 pm Martinique: Radio Banlieue-Relax—103.4 FM, SUN 6:15 am am & 3:30 pm; SUN 3:30 am & 3:30 pm Peru, Lima: Radio Altura—97.7 FM, SAT 7:00 am; SUN 1:00 pm CA, Glendora: Adelphia—Ch 3/99, TUE 7:00 pm NV, Reno/Sparks: SNCT—Ch 30/16, SUN 8:30 pm CA, Modesto: Access—Ch 8, TUE 3:00 pm Philippines, Cebu City: DYLA—909 AM, SUN 6:00 am NY, Albany: Time Warner—Ch 18, THUR 5:00 pm Philippines, Davao City: DXUM—See Local Listing CA, North Orange County: Adelphia—Ch 95/97/98, SUN 3:30 pm NY, Batavia: Time Warner—Ch 19, TUE 5:30 pm CA, Orange County: Cox—Ch 96, SUN 2:00 am Philippines, Manila: DWBL—1242 AM, THUR 10:30 pm; NY, Binghamton: Time Warner—Ch 4, FRI 5:00 pm SUN 3:30 pm CA, Sacramento: RCCTV—Ch 19, MON 5:30 pm NY, Brookhaven: Cablevision—Ch 20, SAT 9:00 am CA, San Diego: Cox—Ch 18 & 23, THUR 6:00 pm Philippines, Ozamiz City: DXOC—1494 AM, SUN 5:00 am NY, Brooklyn: BCAT—Ch 56/69, SUN 7:30 pm USA, La Follette, TN: WLAF—1450 AM, SAT 3:00 pm CA, San Francisco: Access TV—Ch 29, THUR 7:30 pm NY, Canandaigua: FLTV—Ch 12, SUN 11:00 am CA, San Jose: Community TV—Ch 15A, SAT 11:30 pm NY, Elmira & Corning: Time Warner—Ch 1, SUN 8:00 am CA, Sonora: TCCCA—Ch 8, SUN 8:00 pm NY, Fairport: FACT—Ch 15, SUN 7:30 am • Canada CA, Turlock: Charter—Ch 2, MON 8:00 pm NY, Hauppauge: Cablevision—Ch 20, SAT 9:00 am CO, Denver: Comcast—Ch 15, SUN 9:00 am NY, Irondequoit: ICAT—Ch 15, SUN 7:30 pm; VISION—SUN 5:30 pm ET; MON–FRI 3:00 am ET CO, Fort Collins: Comcast—Ch 68, SUN 9:00 am WED 11:30 am & 7:30 pm CO, Greeley: Comcast—Ch 19, SUN 9:00 am NY, Ithaca: Pegasys—Ch 13, SAT 8:00 pm; SUN 7:30 am & 1:30 pm CO, Loveland: Comcast—Ch 3, SUN 9:00 am NY, Manhattan: MNN—Ch 67/110, FRI 11:00 am CO, Pueblo: Comcast—Ch 96, SUN 9:00 am NY, Oneida: Community Access—Ch 99, THUR 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm • Nationwide Cable CT, Enfield: Comcast—Ch 15, THUR 6:30 pm NY, Oneonta: Time Warner—Ch 23, WED 8:30 pm CT, Naugatuck: Tele-Media—Ch 10, TUE 9:30 pm NY, Queens: QPTV—Ch 34/35, SUN 1:00 pm; TUE 6:30 pm FL, Gainesville: Cox—Ch 55, SUN 8:00 pm NY, Riverhead: Cablevision—Ch 20, MON 4:30 pm WGN—SUN 6:00 am ET FL, Ocala: Cox—Ch 71, SUN 10:00 am NY, Rochester: Community TV—Ch 15, SUN 9:30 am; SAT 10:00 am INSPIRATION NETWORK—SAT 1:00 am ET FL, Tampa: WTTA—Ch 38, SUN 8:00 am NY, Staten Island: CTV—Ch 34, SUN 8:00 pm; TUE 12:00 pm WGN:WGN: SUNSUN 6:00 am ET INSPIRATION NETWORK: SAT 1:00 am ET VISION, Canada: SUN 5:30 pm ET; MON–FRI 3:00 am ET

NEW TELEVISION STATIONS: CA, Orange County: Cox Cable—Ch 96, SUN 2:00 am CO, Loveland: Comcast—Ch 3, SUN 9:00 am MI, Southfield: Comcast—Ch 7, SUN 7:30 am NC, Charlotte: WHKY—Ch 14, MON 7:30 pm NY, Albany: Time Warner—Ch 18, THUR 5:00 pm OR, Ashland: RVTV—Ch 15/31/95, SUN 10:00 pm TX, Dallas: KFWD-TV—Ch 52, SUN 8:00 am

CANADA ON, Toronto: Christian Channel—Cable, SUN 9:30 am & 8:00 pm

PHILIPPINES Philippines, Naga City: PBN—Ch 5, SUN 8:00 am

SOUTH AFRICA South Africa, Randburg: CSN—Multi, SUN 5:30 pm