Norbert Link will be speaking this Sabbath on the sometimes misunderstood topic of the “restoration of all things.” What does the Bible mean with this phrase and when is the time of its occurrence?

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.”

In Matthew 12:34, Christ made this timeless statement, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” What He is explaining here is that eventually, what we really are will be revealed by what we say. Christ also pointed out that it is not what goes into the ears that defiles us, but the words that come out of the mouth.

How can we make sure, then, that our heart is in harmony and conformity with God? Philippians 2:5 states, “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” What mind was that? It was the mind of God. When Christ’s mind is ours, then our thoughts will be His thoughts, and our words will be His words. Then, we need not be ashamed to speak our minds on any given topic.

On the other hand, if we refuse to develop within us the mind of Christ, we deny Him. Christ told us, though, that when we deny Him, He will deny us. We are going into the winter season. A fair amount of time will pass till we reach the spring Holy Days. It is really important for us to draw close — and remain close — to God, especially at this dark time. The darkness of the winter months is also a reflection of the darkness of this entire world, which is right now in total chaos. Anyone who just picks up a paper or listens to the news should be able to see this. It seems like Satan is on a rampage, which would indicate that time is getting short.

We must not allow that the darkness of this world influence or overtake us. Instead, we must build a strong relationship with God, which is developed by talking to Him, and letting Him know what is on our minds, and what our hopes and our dreams are. James 5:16 tells us that, “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” All of us must be vigilant in our prayers, especially during this coming winter season. At the same time, we are not to neglect our Bible study, since that is how we get to know our God better. In prayer, we speak to God our Father. During Bible study, our Father speaks to us, through His Word, Jesus Christ.

Finally, let’s not forget meditating about what we read in God’s word, praying to God to make the meaning clearer to us. Sometimes, it requires fasting to show God how desperately we want to know Him and His way of life.

Let us all fight the winter doldrums by developing a close and personal relationship with God and Christ. Then, the mind of Christ will be in us, and we need not be ashamed about what we speak.

Mahdi

In a speech in Denver, Colorado, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel commented on the present threat of world terrorism: ” ‘[This] war must be won or we will be lost,’ he said. ‘With suicide killers in Israel, Jordan, Bali, the threat of unimaginable biological terrorism–it means a danger to the whole world’.” (As reported in the Rocky Mountain News,October 29, 2002.)

Shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, U. S. president George Bush described the events as “war”. Some, at the time, thought his statements to be a bit extreme. However, what has emerged in the intervening months is a shocked acceptance that religion is behind the attacks on the United States and the many horrific murders in other nations. Many writers have identified the attackers and their accomplices as Islamic fundamentalists, waging their peculiar war against the “infidel” secularism of the West.

As the world once more dips deeply into implacable violence, it is chilling to note that 22% of the world’s population is Muslim (about 1.2 billion), and it is growing progressively larger.

With war against Iraq now an almost certain conclusion, ever-increasing numbers of Islamic extremists are sure to seek revenge on a frightening scale. These kinds of events are on the near horizon for people all around this world. Germany has just issued a warning that terrorist attacks can be expected there, and that they would be a certainty, if Germany were to support a war against Iraq in any way. We will also see soon the arrival of a powerful Islamic leader, referred to in Scripture as the “king of the South.” He is commonly known in the Islamic world as the “Mahdi,” the expected Muslim messiah. The Bible predicts that this Islamic leader will engage in a confrontation with the West, and especially with the future leader of a United Europe, referred to in Scripture as the “beast” or the “king of the North.” This confrontation will lead to outright war in the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-43). Understand, only God’s direct intervention through the return of Jesus Christ will now stop what will eventually threaten the existence of all life in every nation. And if we do understand, then let each of us follow the admonition to be among those who “sigh and cry over all the abominations…” (Compare Ezekiel 9:4).

Online Europeans

In an Associated Press article appearing this past week, an interesting projection about buying on line shows the subtle if not unstoppable advance of a Unified Europe: “Europeans will spend more money online this holiday season than consumers in other regions, including North America, according to projections released Monday by a research firm.”

In spite of necessary pecuniary adjustments that the European citizens had to make, since the Euro was introduced, it is still interesting to see the economic wealth available to the Europeans, in addition to the technical sophistication and familiarity that the average citizen enjoys in an ever modernizing Europe. In addition, millions of Euro dollars are currently being wasted by certain fractions within the European powers-to-be on ill-conceived and poorly administered programs. It is easy to visualize the potential of a centralized European government, which would be run by a more money-conscious — and more powerful — central administration. These trends, along with many other incremental advances, forecast an ever more dominant European Union–one that will soon overshadow even the might of the United States and the United Kingdom.

United States of Europe?

On Tuesday evening, October 29, the British news announced a move, as discussed in Brussels, to rename the European Union (EU) as the United States of Europe. A few people were interviewed and the general consensus was that which has been consistently reflected in the opinion polls– that the British and the EU do not make good bedfellows.

The next day, tucked away in the Times of London, a very small article was published, entitled “The game kicks off to name bigger EU.” The article stated:

“The future name of the enlarged European Union became a political football between Britain and France yesterday. Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Wales and former Europe Minister, opened the scoring when he flatly rejected the names, United States of Europe and United Europe. Mr. Hain went on to say that ‘the first implies a superstate and the second looks to me like a football team,’ he told amused members of the Brussels convention that is developing a blueprint for Europe’s future. He added: ‘The European is a successful brand name, a name we are all proud of. Let’s not open an unnecessary debate.’ Pierre Moscovici, the French Government representative on the convention, quickly equalized. ‘Lots of British football clubs used the name United,’ he said. ‘The British might come to like it. People feel very affectionate towards their own football team.'”

For decades, the Church of God has been talking about a United States of Europe when others just scoffed. But, at last it seems, that scoffing has ceased. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer just used the words “United States of Europe” in an interview shown on American television on Thursday night. Maybe such events may trigger thought, if not action, in those who have read our writings over the years. Interesting times lie ahead.

There are many passages that convey and support the understanding that oil is used biblically as a symbol for the Holy Spirit.

For instance, we read in Mark 6:13 that Christ had His disciples anoint sick people with oil, and they were healed. We know that Christ healed the sick with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 8:43-46 — the Authorized Version has here, “virtue,” but the literal meaning is, “power,” compare New King James Bible. Compare, too, Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19).

Christ gave His disciples the same ability to heal sick people by the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:18), which presence is symbolized by the anointing of the sick person with oil (James 5:14).

Another example for this symbolism is found in the famous parable with the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:3, 4, 8). They all fell asleep, and the oil of the five foolish virgins was going out — that is, they were loosing more and more of the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

1 John 2:27 speaks of our anointing abiding in us. This is a clear reference to the Holy Spirit that had been promised by Jesus Christ (John 14:16; 16:13). In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul admonishes Timothy to “stir up” — or to “re-kindle” — the gift of God, referring here to the Holy Spirit.

We also read that the Holy Spirit rested upon Christ (Isaiah 11:2). At the same time, we read that the Father anointed Christ with the “oil of gladness, more than” His “companions” (Hebrews 1:9) — as Christ had received the Holy Spirit not by measure (John 3:34, Authorized Version).

In addition, Samuel anointed Saul with oil (1 Samuel 10:1), and Saul received the Holy Spirit (verses 6-9). Later, Samuel anointed David with oil, and at that moment, David received the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13). In Psalm 89:20, it is emphasized that God had found His servant David, whom He anointed with His holy oil. (Compare also Psalm 23:5). As God’s servant, David would have obeyed God before his anointing to an extent. We are reminded of Acts 5:32, telling us that God gives His Holy Spirit only to those who are already obeying Him to a degree.

God also explains to us in Isaiah 61:3, that those who will be converted in the Millennium and receive the Holy Spirit, will receive “the oil of joy” — since the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of joy (Galatians 5:22; Acts 13:52).

In a more general sense, the Bible uses the word “oil” to symbolize God’s presence (We read in Genesis 28:18-19 that Jacob poured oil on the pillar stone, calling the name of the place “Bethel.” Jacob understood that God was present). “Oil” can also symbolize a consecration, or a special setting apart for a holy purpose. “Oil,” then, can refer to the Holy Spirit abiding in a person, or it can also refer to God’s presence, through His Spirit, to motivate, guide or lead a person, although the Holy Spirit might not reside in the person. When Moses was instructed by God to anoint Aaron and his sons into the office of priest, thereby using the “anointing oil” (Leviticus 8:2, 30; compare regarding the anointing oil, Exodus 30:22-33), they were set apart or consecrated for God’s holy purpose (But not many of Aaron’s descendants did actually have the Holy Spirit within them). In addition, God required the use of oil to symbolize His involvement in the consecration of the leadership of the nations of ancient Israel and Judah (although God’s Holy Spirit would only reside within a very few of the national kings at that time).

Our latest member letter, which you can find attached, was dated and sent out, Thursday, October 31, 2002. It discusses the situation in Europe and the currently shattered relationship between Germany and the United States. It also addresses our individual and collective responsibilities in these end times.

We have just received approval from the Post Office and are now able to send out the member letter and our other literature with the reduced mailing rate accorded nonprofit organizations.

The Feast of Tabernacles 2002 has come and gone, and the next annual Holy Days, the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, are almost six months away. However, God has not left us without feast days in the meantime. In fact, God’s Church keeps a feast day every week – the Sabbath. But how are we to observe this weekly festival?

The Statement of Beliefs of the Church of the Eternal God explains:

“We believe that we are to observe certain weekly and annual Holy Days, during which time we are to attend Church services and to refrain from secular labor, including school, college or university attendance, and which time we are to dedicate and devote to worship, spiritual study, prayer, fellowship with Church members, and physical rest.”

To properly celebrate the Sabbath, we need to understand that it is a feast day, which is holy to God. When the sun sets on Friday, we are entering God’s holy time.

Since the Sabbath is a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:3), we should attend Church services as often as possible (compare Hebrews 10:24-25). We have always understood and taught, of course, that it is more difficult, if not impossible, for our scattered brethren to do so. Many of those who cannot physically attend our assemblies, participate in our live Internet Sabbath services, or, if even that is not possible, listen on the Sabbath to our audio sermon tapes.

We need to keep firmly in mind that whatever we do and think on the Sabbath should be in realization of the fact that we are spending time that God has set aside for a holy purpose (Isaiah 58:13-14).

In an interesting article of the Corvallis Gazette-Times, of February 10, 1998, titled, “A Matter of Faith,” the conflict of athletes, who refused to play on the Sabbath, was addressed. A Jewish Rabbi was quoted in the article, saying, “‘It’s part of a greater conflict – how to live a religious life in secular America. Some parents will just forget it and take their kids to the soccer games.'” But if we really want to be obedient to God’s will, we must not do so.

At the same time, the Sabbath is a Feast day (compare Leviticus 23:1-3). We must be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the Pharisees who made a burden out of the Sabbath, by adding to God’s law humanly devised restrictions (Matthew 23:4). The Jewish historian, Moses Hodas, explained, “The rabbis were men of faith, and their object was the service of religion, but their method of securing discipline was, like Plato’s, to provide authority for men’s smallest actions.”

Let’s review some of the laws devised by the Pharisees, as they relate to Sabbath observance. While doing so, let’s ask ourselves whether we have devised in our minds similar laws for others and ourselves?

The Pharisees decreed that a person was guilty of breaking the Sabbath if he carried a sheet of paper, or any food which weighed as much as a dried fig, or if he carried more than one swallow of milk, or enough oil to anoint a small part of the body.

If a fire broke out in a person’s home, he could carry out only the necessary food for the Sabbath. This meant, that if the fire broke out Sabbath evening, the person could take out enough food for three meals; if the fire broke out on the afternoon of the Sabbath, he could only take out enough food for one meal. The rest could not be carried out and had to be left to burn with the building. Further, only necessary clothes could be taken out of a burning house.

One might wonder whether their former Babylonian environment subconsciously influenced the Pharisees, when they devised these Sabbath laws. The Babylonians had set apart the seventh day of the Babylonian week, called “Shabattum,” as “ill omens” or “evil days.” It was forbidden on those days to eat flesh cooked upon coals, to change garments, or to call for a physician. This reminds us how the Pharisees accused Jesus consistently of Sabbath breaking, when He healed sick persons on that day.

One might laugh today about those restrictions, but we must realize that they were no laughing matter at the time of Jesus Christ. He collided with the Pharisees on numerous occasions, when He refused to abide by their man-made Sabbath regulations.

Let’s ask ourselves again: Have we created for others and ourselves similar rules as how to keep and not to keep the Sabbath – although these rules cannot be found in the Bible? We must be very careful not to do so, lest we fall into the same trap of self-imposed religion that the Pharisees had fallen into. God did not accept their worship – and neither will He accept ours, if we follow their lead.

EU EXPANDS EASTWARD

“To the relief of Europe’s leaders, Irish voters dropped their objection to European Union expansion and gave a resounding ‘yes’ to a plan for NEARLY DOUBLING EU MEMBERSHIP and extending the Union to the borders of Russia, official results showed Sunday.” (As reported by the “The Associated Press” in the “Online Edition of the Post” of Ohio University for October 21, 2002).

This expansion is scheduled to take place in 2004 if all negotiations are wrapped up. The ten states who will join are supposed to be Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

“Reuters” reported that the Dutch parliament has backed government plans to support this enlargement just hours before the European Union was to meet in Brussels to pave the way for the 10 countries to join.

The Bible clearly states in Revelation 17:12-13 that in the very last days, “10 kings” will give their power to the “beast.” This term (“the beast”) is a reference to the final political and military leader of the “Holy Roman Empire,” and to the entire end-time European system. We have always understood that the “10 kings” can refer to the leaders of 10 nations or groups of nations, and they can also refer to the nations or kingdoms themselves (In the Bible, the terms “kings” and “kingdoms” are used interchangeably). These 10 kingdoms or nations do not have to be identical with the humanly-devised states which we are familiar with today. For example, the “states” of Germany and Austria might very well be just “one” nation or kingdom in Biblical terminology.

We have also recently heard that, in order to facilitate the political and military unification of Europe, nations like Germany and France have proposed a “core” of several European nations to lead the rest of Europe (It is possible that this “core” of nations will become a reality, and that some of the ten Eastern European nations, such as Poland or Hungary, that are supposed to join, might end up comprising part of those “core” nations). It would be very likely, then, that it is these leading “core” nations that are referred to as the “10 kings,” giving their power to the end-time “beast.”

JORDAN AND GERMANY

Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan have visited Germany this week with a view to rescheduling their debt–which Germany accepted. In further commentary from the Internet version of “The Jordan Times” for Wednesday of this week, emphasis was made about Jordan’s opposition to a US military strike against Iraq.

Quoting: “Meanwhile, Germany has become the most outspoken European OPPONENT of strikes against Iraq, with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder taking a stridently anti-war line in his successful campaign for reelection last month.”

The deep mutual respect and common world view between Germany and Jordan was highlighted in the following comment from King Abdullah: Germany is ” ‘a symbol of hope to people working for freedom and development around the world.’ ” Continuing, ” ‘We have watched with admiration your active and constructive role in supporting your neighbors as they gain their places within the European Union.’ “

Der Spiegel reported on October 21 and October 23, that Queen Rania warned the West, not to engage in a war with Iraq. She stated that such a war would only lead to more terrorism, as it would ignite the furor of the Arab world. In addition, King Abdullah surmised that it is a 90% certainty that the United States will attack Iraq. He asked Chancellor Schroeder to continue the German peace policy, in order to prevent a war with Iraq that is looming on the horizon.

Both leaders agreed that the war against terrorism must continue, and that ways must be found to bring peace to Palestine.

What is significant is the emerging status of the EU and Germany in particular in terms of Middle East influence. Slowly, the U.S. is effectively being finessed out of its economic pinnacle of dominance in these areas as NEW ALLIANCES are established and strengthened. All of this is part of the on-going preparations as individuals and nations enter the fulfillment of the great prophetic events of the end of this age! Our new booklet on “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord” explains in more detail that those new alliances will involve Germany and Jordan.
 

In your new booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound…”, you are referring, on page 11, to the “law of jealousy,” as quoted in Numbers 5:29-30, as a “ritualistic procedure” to determine whether a wife had committed adultery or not. What is that “spirit of jealousy”? Is this law still to be applied and practiced today? If not, how are we in the Church to determine whether a wife is guilty of adultery or not?

In Numbers 5:11-31, God gave Old Testament Israel a supernatural means of determining whether a wife had committed adultery or not, although she had not been caught, and no witness was present (Numbers 5:13). When “the spirit of jealousy” came upon the husband, so that he suspected a transgression of his wife, the husband could bring his wife to the priest, and he had to bring at the same time the “grain offering of jealousy.” (Numbers 5:15).

It is possible that the “spirit of jealousy” describes the fact that the husband became jealous in his spirit or mind. It is also possible, that the “spirit of jealousy” was at times actually a spirit being causing the husband to become jealous. We need to note that the “spirit of jealousy” would at times come upon the husband even when his suspicions were false. Since God would not give a husband a spirit of jealousy if his suspicions were baseless, it is possible that in such a case, the husband upon whom the “spirit of jealousy” came, might have actually been influenced by an evil spirit.

The priest gave the woman “holy” or “bitter” water to drink, after she had denied, under oath, any transgression. God then saw to it, that her belly would swell, if she was in deed guilty.

This ritual law and its different “components” are no longer binding for us today, as the application of the law was inseparably connected with the bringing of an oath and of sacrifices. Christians today are not to swear (Matthew 5: 33-37; James 5:12), and sacrifices are no longer required.

Today, God has given His ministers the ability, through the workings of the Holy Spirit within them, to discern sinful conduct and the existence or lack of repentance (John 20:22-23). At times, as is recorded in Acts 5:1-11, God might still supernaturally intervene in spectacular ways to make known circumstances and the truth to the Church. Barring those unusual occurrences, no accusation against anyone, including the accusation of adulterous conduct, is to be received by the ministry, unless at least two witnesses can support the accusation (Deut. 17:6-7; John 8:16-17). Although a guilty person might seemingly get away with sin for a while, we must always remember that, unless sins are repented of and forgiven, we will have to give account of them to God in due time (1 Peter 4:17; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

In addition, God requires of His ministers to be merciful, as Christ was, when judging a given situation (John 8:10-11). They are to look at the heart, as much as God allows and inspires them to, in order to determine whether the person is repentant and deserving of forgiveness.

Norbert Link will be speaking this Sabbath, October 19, on true and righteous judgment.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.

We have just completed the observance of God’s fall festivals and in so doing have now for another year kept God’s Annual Holy Days in accordance with His instructions (Lev. 23, Numbers 28 & 29, Deut. 16).

Upon returning home we now must immediately face the holidays of this world’s religions, which have been established by men in the keeping of their religious ideas. These days have been set aside by men for the intended purpose of honoring God. Yet, He admonishes us not to do such things! (Deut 12: 29-32).

Just today, I read an article in The Californian, an edition of The North County Times, in which author Caryl Krueger, in an effort to “focus on fun” in the observance of Halloween, suggests that youngsters be educated in the tradition of Halloween.

Quoting from this article, Ms. Krueger writes, ” What can we do to reinvent this celebration, formerly beloved by families?

“Well, Halloween can be saved. First, let’s consider how the word is pronounced since that has something to do with how it is celebrated. It is not hollow-een, as many say. Hollow means empty or worthless. It is Hallow-een. To hallow means to make holy or blessed. Halloween means holy evening, the night before All Saints’ Day.

“Share with your youngsters the way some Halloween traditions started. The Irish contributed jack-o’-lanterns. These commemorated a miserly person named Jack who was unable to enter heaven because of his sins, nor could he go to hell since he had played pranks on the devil. So he was doomed to walk the earth with his lantern.”

She goes on to write of, “… the ancient Druids, who thought that witches, ghosts, fairies, and spirits roamed about trying to harm people. They also thought that cats were sacred and they were formerly human beings being punished for evil deeds.

“These same Druids held a festival each autumn called Samhain (pronounced SOW-en, with the first syllable rhyming with plow) to honor the end of summer. Other Europeans had a similar harvest celebration.

“Then in the year 700 when the Roman Catholic Church established November 1st as All Saints Day, all the old pagan customs and the Christian feast day were combined into one grand festival for October 31, the night before All Saints Day.”

What has God continually told His people concerning such pagan practices and the combining of His truth with the teachings of this world, which we know as syncretism?

“You shall not worship the Lord your God that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods” (Deut. 12:31).

God tells us in Amos 5:21 – “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.”

Yes, God hates the traditions that have been established by men in the worship of their gods and he forbids us to have a part in such doings, especially in our worship of Him. They are anathema to God and to His Way and we must not have anything to do with those ways.

Let’s be aware now, more than ever before, as the evils of this world and their leader, Satan the devil, try to beguile God’s chosen people away from the One True God and His Truth – For we must be diligent to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4: 23-24).

Anything contrary to His teachings is unacceptable to God!

OUR FRAGILE WORLD

Nothing in recent experience has so emblazoned the precariousness of our “modern” world as the outbreak of terror attacks.

On Sunday of this week, a deadly bomb killed at least 181 people on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Just as fear has stifled air travel in the U.S. following 9-11, now the world is on notice that Muslim extremists are prepared to disrupt any nation for their cause–and the world is reeling as terror finds new footholds in which to emerge.

Based on the French tanker explosion off Yemen a week ago and the shooting of two U.S. Marines on an island off Kuwait, a report in “The Straits Times Interactive” (a Pacific area newspaper) quotes the following: “American officials say they fear that attacks attributed to al-Qaeda in the past week and taped messages from the group’s leaders signal the beginning of a NEW WAVE OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY and possibly a large-scale attack.”

Events such as these highlight how inter-dependent the world has grown in this first decade of the twenty-first century. The actions of a few well-trained and determined individuals can completely disrupt the economy and safety of whole nations. Likewise, the recent West Coast dock strike in the U.S. pinpointed how a small group could stagnate an economy that is now totally dependent on “just-in-time” production arrangements. President Bush was forced to implement an executive order through the courts in order to send the dock workers back to their jobs.

As we have begun to witness, single events can sweep across international boundaries and literally cause such upheavals and disruptions that the whole world is seriously undermined. Yet, we know from Matthew 24 and other prophetic warnings, there is MORE turmoil ahead. As we watch and consider these things, we are further encouraged by Jesus Christ with these words:
“But he who ENDURES TO THE END shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13).

DEVELOPING NEWS:

NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA
On Thursday, ominous news has broken as North Korea admits to having a well entrenched nuclear production program. This flies in the face of several signed agreements with Western nations in which Korea expressly agreed to limit such activity in exchange for Western aid. Now, it appears that the West will be held hostage with this threatening capability. All of this goes on while the North Korean people are literally starving. The underlying fear is that some of the terrorist groups will be able to purchase a complete nuclear weapon from North Korea in the near future.

POPE LAX ON PEDOPHILIA
Vatican rejection of key elements of the American Bishops’ new policy for dealing with sexual predators within the priesthood has many people voicing shock and outrage. Although the full response of Catholic hierarchy is due to be announced on Friday, it is said that the partial rejection will essentially strip this agreement of any practical usefulness.

BELTWAY SNIPER
As this week draws to a conclusion, the search for the East Coast sniper does not. Military surveillance aircraft have been brought into the investigation to aid law enforcement–although the military of the U.S. cannot, by statute, actively engage in this hunt beyond aid to civilian authorities. Also, there is a growing banter calling for an isolation of potential terrorists. This, in specific terms, would mean a kind of concentration camp mentality. This kind of groundswell attitude is merely talk at this point. In this same context, CIA director George Tennet, in testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence committees, summarized that America was just as vulnerable to terrorism now as it was before 9/11, because the terrorists are still out there, still determined to strike. This week’s events forewarn of ominous measures in the near future–both from the terrorists and from governments that will be forced to take stronger and stronger methods to defend against terrorism.
 

Matthew 24:34 is not dealing with the same set of events as in chapter 16:28. Note the context of Matthew 24 and 25. In verse 3 of the 24th chapter, the disciples of Christ asked him the following: ” ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age.’ ” Christ then goes on to answer them by pointing out events that literally span the entire church age, but He deals primarily with those events that signal His imminent return to the earth.

In verse 34, Christ says, ” ‘Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.’ ” From the broader context, we understand that in this verse Christ is speaking about that generation that is alive when the dramatic intervention of God in human affairs actually occurs.

In Matthew 16:28, Christ is here quoted as follows: “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Does this verse imply that some of the disciples would live over two thousand years? No, not at all. The explanation can be found quite clearly by reading on into chapter 17 of Matthew.

In verses 1 through 13, we find the account of Peter, James and John being with Christ when He was transfigured before them. In this vision both Moses and Elijah appear as if glorified with Christ–verse 9 shows that Christ identified what had happened as a vision. You can get even more details of this event in the parallel accounts found in Mark 9:1-13 and Luke 9:27-36.

To show how easily some of these things are misunderstood, look at the statement that Christ made about John in the book of John, chapter 21 and verse 22: “Jesus said to him (Peter), ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.’ ” Verse 23 shows that some of the brethren later believed that John would not die, but it is further explained that Christ was merely using figurative speech to make His point with Peter. In fact, John did die–being, by historical tradition, the last of the original Apostles to do so.

The account in Matthew 24 deals with prophetic events and the generation of mankind alive when Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God. Matthew 16 is dealing with the promise by Jesus Christ that some among His disciples would–in vision–see the Kingdom of God. To read more about the generation of the time of Christ’s return, please refer to CEG’s update number 60 (dated September 13, 2002) and note the Editorial entitled, “We Are Closer Than We May Think!” Also, please consult pages 14 and 15 of our booklet, “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God,” for further details on the vision described in Matthew 16.

Edwin Pope plans to continue to speak relative to the doctrines with part 2 of his sermon entitled – “Doctrine! … How Important?”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.

Growing up we used to play a game called “That’s Good, That’s Bad”. One person would start a scenario and then everyone would chime in accordingly and say, “That’s good!”, except for the next person in the circle who would say, “No, that’s bad because…” and then everyone would say in unison, “Oh, that’s bad!”, except for the next person in the circle who would say, “No, that’s good because…” and so on and so forth.

For example:
A young man went riding on his favorite horse one day.
That’s good.
No, that’s bad because he fell off and broke his leg.
Oh, that’s bad
No, that’s good because a war broke out and he wasn’t able to be recruited.
Oh, that’s good.
No, that’s bad because…

It was a good opportunity to teach us as children that not everything that seemed good was good nor was everything that seemed bad,bad.

The same is true for us today as adults in God’s Church. We are enduring many trials and sometimes we may wonder to what end. We may ask ourselves how anything good could possibly come out of what I am going through now. We can rest assured knowing that God is working out a purpose in our lives, one in which He is refining us and shaping us into His image.

There is a reason for what we are going through now and many times when we say, “Oh, that’s bad”, God is saying, “No, that’s good!”. During these times of hardship it is our part to be happy with whatever state that find ourselves in and to be thankful in all things as God does a GOOD work in us.
 

RUMORS OF WAR

Early in the week, U.S. President George Bush addressed the nation concerning what is tantamount to an approaching war in the Middle East. The nation and the world are being prepared for what is sure to follow. Even as the week winds down, both houses of Congress are falling into line with Presidential policy.

In addition, an internet posting from the “Guardian Unlimited” reported on October 10, 2002:
“British Prime Minister Tony Blair carried a potentially strong hand into talks on Iraq with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday evening amid signs that the Kremlin may be softening its opposition as the United States and Britain push for tough action.”

Grave concerns are being voiced in Japan about the possibility of war against Iraq. Japan is dependant on Middle East oil, and any major conflict will threaten an already weakened Japanese economy.

In the Middle East and amidst reluctant acceptance, various countries are positioning themselves in a kind of fence-straddling position in order to play both sides. The wild card is Israel. If Saddam Hussein unleashes an attack on Israel in the event of a U.S. led assault, there is a growing fear that this targeted objective may spill over into a broader conflict. Much more is at stake in this coming war than that of the war with Afghanistan. Like Japan, Europe is heavily dependant on the free flow of oil from the Middle East. The world economy has been suffering a downturn already, and the potential for catastrophic damage hangs on these future events as America implements its new security strategy of the pre-emptive use of force.

URBAN TERROR

This week has seen a re-emergence of terror in America. This time, however, it appears that one or two individuals have communities in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. unnerved by wanton acts of indiscriminate murder.

To date, nine shootings with seven resulting in death have occurred. One piece of possible evidence involves a tarot card with a scribbled message to the police with the claim “…I am God.” Tarot cards are used by various psychics and others who try to foretell the future. Some place the origin of their use in Egyptian worship–worship that involved the worship of demonic forces.

The inevitable worry on the part of authorities is that “copy-cat” actions will arise fueling even more terror as schools, businesses and families put their lives on hold. In the prophetic “song of Moses” recorded in Deuteronomy 32, God pleads with His people to consider their “latter end”–verse 29. In verse 30, these timely words appear: “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?” This nation will continue to face outbreaks of terror until we turn to God–Who alone is able to bring true and lasting peace and safety!

Paul is talking here about rulers in general, who uphold certain laws to guarantee a civil and peaceful harmonious lifestyle amongst their citizens. Paul is referring to the submission to and the enforcement of civil and criminal laws, such as theft or murder.

Paul is not talking here about the Hitlers or Neros, etc., who are encouraging their citizens to betray Christians or the Jews, so that they can be killed. We need to remember Christ’s statement to OBEY the Pharisees in all that they tell the people, but later, Peter did not obey them when they told him not to preach in the name of Christ. Christ would not obey them, either, to follow their rules of ceremonial washing, or to have no contact with “sinners.” So, Christ was talking about matters which were not in conflict with God’s word. (Notice, too, that John the Baptist openly rebuked Herod for committing adultery with his brother’s wife (Luke 3:19-20). Also, Daniel refused the obey the order of king Darius, not to pray to God, and his three friends disobeyed the order of king Nebuchadnezzar to worship the golden image).

In John 19:11, Christ told Pilate, “‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the GREATER sin.”

Christ is giving here an implicit forewarning of accountability and judgment on those — including rulers — who are evil. We are to be ambassadors of Christ and of the Kingdom of God. As such, we still need to be subject to the laws of man, as long as they are not in conflict with the laws of God.

Also, in Luke 4:6, Satan states to Christ that all authority over the kingdoms of this world have presently been given to Satan, and that it is he who gives it to whomever he wishes. Christ does not dispute this claim. In fact, we read that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) and the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), who still has a throne on this earth (Rev. 2:13). He and his demons are the current rulers over this world (Eph. 6:12), inspiring civil leaders to obey their will (1. Cor. 2:7-8).

Today, this world is cut off from God, and it is subject to the rule of Satan. God had placed Lucifer on the throne of this earth, but he rebelled and became known as Satan. When he inspired Adam and Eve to sin, God gave mankind 6000 years to find out for themselves that we need God. Still, God decreed that Satan is to remain on his throne, until Jesus Christ comes back to replace him and to restore the government of God on this earth. In that sense, there is “no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1), and all authority “has been given from above” (John 19:11), in that God has not yet replaced Satan and his demons and in that they cannot do anything which God does not ALLOW them to do. At times, God might even directly intervene to insure that a particular person takes over rulership in a particular country, so that God’s overall plan for mankind can be fulfilled (Ex. 9:16). But, we are not to follow them, or their laws, when they are opposing God.

The Broadman Bible Commentary has this to say about Romans 13:3:

“…State officials as rulers deserve the loyalty of Christians only when they do approve good conduct (vv. 3-4a). The corrupt politicians who appeal to the Christian conscience to protect their unjust reign of terror and tyranny should be totally repudiated… As God’s public servant the ruler is to promote the good against the bad.” (p. 257).

The German “Lexikon zur Bibel,” by Fritz Rienecker, points out, under “governing authorities” [“Obrigkeit”]:

“The Bible instructs us, because of God, to obey the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14), and to pray for them (Jer. 29:7; 1 Tim. 2:2). The reason is, that every authority is appointed by God and that it is His servant (Romans 13:1,4)… There is, however, a limit to obedience. That limit is reached, when the instructions of the authority prevent a human being from obeying God (Acts 4:19; 5:29). This freedom, not to follow the will of the authority, Peter defends before the spiritual authority of his own people.”