APRIL 2016 Vol. 14, No. 7 IBT Founder (Late) Rev. Prof. S. Panneer Selvam WORD OF TRUTH - Annual Subscription : Rs. 100/- PUBLICATION OF INDIAN BIBLE TRANSLATORS Single Copy : Rs. 10/-. WORLD EVENTS : HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE? INTRODUCTION not succeed. Many wars have since been fought and we have lived through those years Prophesy is part of God's law. Jesus says and we realize the invisible hand of God in Mt 5:17,18 "Do not think that I came to protecting Israel from her enemies. We read in destroy the Law and the Prophets. I did not Amos 9:13-15 how God plans to bless Israel. come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly I In fact, as late as Oct 1, 2013, the PM of say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, Israel addressing the UN ended with this one jot or one title will by no means pass quote : "In our time the Biblical prophecies are from the law till all is fulfilled." This simply being realized," Netanyahu noted. "As the means that any prophesy given by the Lord prophet Amos said, they shall rebuild ruined will be fulfilled and nothing can prevent it from cities and inhabit them. They shall plant being fulfilled. Over 360 OT prophecies have vineyards and drink their wine. They shall till been fulfilled in Jesus. God promised to bring gardens and eat their fruit. And I will plant the Jewish people back to the land of Israel them upon their soil never to be uprooted from all over the world. Formation of Israel as again. Brothers and Sisters, the people of a nation in our time was also a fulfilment of Is Israel have come home never to be uprooted 66:8 "Shall the earth be made to give birth in again." one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?" On May 15, 1948. Many nations gathered World events shake us and we are left together and fought against Israel but could wondering what is coming next. Since 9/2011 SATHTHIYA VAARTHAI 1 APRIL 2016 - earthquakes, tsunami in the Indian Ocean; l Famines and pestilences — Lk. 21:11 earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan (tsunami); nuclear disaster in Japan; volcano in Iceland; l Political turmoil — Lk. 21:10 Middle East uprisings; College fee protests in l False christs and false prophets — UK, beheadings of Christians in the Middle Mt 24:11; Mt 24:24; II Pe. 3: 3-7 East and Africa, terrorist killings in France, UK, US and a lot more yet to come. Jesus l Scientific Advances — Rev 9: 7-10; Joel said in Lk 21: 11 that there will be fearful 2:3; Nah 2:4; Dan 12:4 sights. What we are seeing is probably just the beginnings of what is yet to come!!!! With l Judgement of the Nations — Eze. 29:32; all these happenings around us as Christians, Isa. 19: 22-25; Eze. 30: 5; 38: 5; how then are we called to live? Especially Eze. 38-39; Isa. 17:1-3. Jesus warns us about the five virgins (Mt 25) Not being hypocritical - Lk 12: 1-3 that were not ready when the bridegroom came. We should be ready at all times and Jesus speaks about the Pharisees. These not live a sinful lifestyle. were the leaders who knew the Old Testament scriptures, but, failed to Jesus in the gospels spoke to His disciples comprehend that Jesus was the fulfilment of about events that will precede His return. all of those Messianic prophesies. They were Some of the scriptures are as given below. I hypocritical in their questioning Jesus. Their plan to write an article in greater detail aim was to find fault with Him. However, they regarding the End Times at a later date. Take could not trap or ensnare Him for He too was a look at the different aspects of the signs of well versed in the scriptures. There are other the end times listed just in the following bullet scriptures where Jesus points towards their items. In Lk 21:25, Jesus speaks thus, "and attitudes. In Mt 7:3 and 5:8, he points out that upon the earth distress of nations with they are very particular about the outward perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring". works and they prided themselves in it. In Since we see these things happen before our Lk. 16:4, it says that they were covetous. In very eyes, let us see what Jesus says about Mt. 23:23 He says that they do pay their tithe, how we should live as given in Lk. 12 : 1-48. but forget law, justice, mercy and faith". In l Nature is Impacted - Lk 21:11 Lk. 18 : 11-12, they justify themselves before "earthquakes, sun, moon, stars etc. " God and boast about their self-righteousness. Also, in Mt. 23 : 15 Jesus describes their l Social/Cultural Changes - II Tim 3:1-5; unholy practices. These things are written that Lk. 17:26-30 we may profit by the teachings of Jesus, because God looks at our hearts as in Mt. SATHTHIYA VAARTHAI 2 APRIL 2016 16:15. " ... but God knoweth your hearts for Fearing God - Lk 12: 4-7 that which is highly esteemed among men is Jesus in this discourse continues to say abomination in the sight of God". Jesus is that man will try to find fault with us and hate saying that one day everything will be us because we belong to Jesus when we try uncovered (or revealed) and that nothing can to do the things that please Him. In this day be hidden from God's sight. Jesus is and age, we see the persecution of Christians encouraging His hearers not to try to impress as never before and at the same time we also man but God, because He is the one who see a sense of apathy among the Christians searches our hearts. Yes, people will see the towards living the life that Jesus calls us to work that we do for the Lord, but let it be live. Jesus warns us that we can expect more done with a sincere and humble heart as ‘unto and more persecutions in the end times. In the Lord’. V. 4 Jesus says, " .. be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that In 1 Pe. 4 : 3, Peter talks of the times they can do". We can be persecuted in past before being born again, that we walked different ways in different parts of the world. In with those unbelievers who are perhaps parts of the world, meeting as Christians to involved "in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of study God's Word is banned. wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatories:" Since our life is changed by the In some countries Christians are restricted Lord, he urges us not to take part in the past to their churches and not permitted to sins, even though they may now speak ill of evangelize. In some parts of the world, they can have churches only in homes and cannot us, because we now belong to Christ. As in worship openly. Jesus encourages us saying the above scriptures, he says in V. 5 that we at best they can kill only the physical body in will one day "give an account to Him that is which we live. Instead, He urges us to fear ready to judge the quick and the dead". God who has authority over both soul and Knowing, therefore, that the coming of the body. He talks about hell and sometimes it Lord nears as we see scriptures fulfilled, we has become a habit to fail to be bold enough need to be serious about our Christian walk to warn that there is a real hell waiting for as he says in I Pe. 4:7 "But the end of all those who refuse to accept the gospel of our things is at hand; therefore be serious and Lord Jesus Christ and to exhort not live in sin. watchful in your prayers". He lists out things One day I was speaking to a gathering, where that we should be doing (I Pe. 4:8-10) such I would go once a month to preach there. In as being charitable, being hospitable, one of my messages, I mentioned that there ministering to one another using the gifts that is a real hell and after the message, I was the Lord has given us. SATHTHIYA VAARTHAI 3 APRIL 2016 warned by one of the authorities not to the Holy Spirit will speak through us on our mention the word hell!! If we can talk about behalf. This has happened throughout the heaven for believers, we cannot hold back centuries since His ascension. We are also and not warn the unbelieving about hell. Here cautioned not to sin against the Holy Spirit. It are some scriptures regarding it. In Mt 25:41, is also recorded in Mt 12: 31, 32 and Mk it is described as 'everlasting fire', in Mt 25:46, 3:29. Constant rejection of the gospel is it is described as "everlasting punishment" and considered as speaking against the Holy in Mt 8:12 as "outer darkness" and in II Thes. Spirit, because, in Ge. 6:3 God says, "My 1:9 as "everlasting destruction" and in Rev. Spirit shall not always strive with man … ". 19:20 as "lake of fire". Also, attributing the work of God to the devil is recorded in the above reference in Mt.