The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes midnightcall.com August 2018—$4.75 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • Catholic Church • Original Language • Lost Forever Pg. 36 WORLD FOCUS ID Cards for Cows • Gun-Loving Country with No Shootings Since 2007 • Create Life from Nothing? Has the Great Falling Away from the Faith Begun? – Part 2 The Coming End of the Earth’s Water World – Part 1 Pg. 12 Bible Doctrine and Traffic Citations Pg. 15 Germany, the Most Exemplary Country in the World? Pg. 18 Good and Bad Role Models Pg. 21
Transcript
The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes
midnightcall.com August 2018—$4.75
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
• Catholic Church• Original Language
• Lost ForeverPg. 36
WORLD FOCUSID Cards for Cows • Gun-Loving Country with No Shootings Since 2007 • Create Life from Nothing?
Has the GreatFalling Away fromthe Faith Begun?– Part 2
The Coming End of the Earth’sWater World – Part 1
Pg. 12
Bible Doctrine and Traffic Citations
Pg. 15
Germany, the Most Exemplary Country inthe World?Pg. 18
Good and Bad Role Models Pg. 21
We notice the words “…have left none of them any
more there.” Where? In the land of captivity among
the heathen; that means all the nations of the
world. Thus, the Jews are destined to return to the land of
their fathers. Verse 29 gives the reason: “Neither will I hide my
face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit
upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.”
Israel’s Threefold ExodusWe made our first announcement about this new book in the
March 2018 issue, and are happy to inform you that the book
is now nearly ready for the printers.
There is a great mystery behind this threefold return of Is-
rael to their land.
The Exodus from Egypt gave to the Jews—and through
them to the entire world—the Old Testament.
The second Exodus, from the land of Babylon, is high-
lighted by the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Then, af-
ter many centuries, the coming of the Son of God, the
Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world: Jesus Christ the
Lord. Thereby we received the New Testament.
What will the third return of the Jews, from all the coun-
tries of the world, result in? We believe that the work of God
the Holy Spirit will complete the building of the spiritual tem-
ple, which is the Church of Jesus Christ, consisting of all born-
again believers the world over. They will have to be removed
for the third temple to be built. That stands to reason; we
can’t have two temples on earth, the spiritual one and the
physical one. Thus, we recognize that the fullness of the Gen-
tiles and the fullness of the Jews in Israel are interrelated.
While the process of the Jews returning to the land of Israel
started in 1882, with the first large-scale immigration from
Russia, that process continues until this day. Israel has now be-
come a powerful nation, with the world’s most effective mili-
tary; in several fields, they have become a world leader.
This process indicates the completion of the spiritual tem-
ple, or as the apostle Peter writes: “Ye also, as lively stones, are
built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spir-
itual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter
2:5). The apostle Paul also relates the completion of the
Church to the deliverance of Israel: “…blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come
in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall
come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodli-
ness from Jacob” (Romans 11:25-26).
Invitation Letter SponsorsWe continue our program sending tens of thousands of let-ters to Christians offering a subscription to Midnight Call.The response is heartwarming. I take this opportunity tothank you most sincerely for your participation and yourcontinual prayer that our work may increase in these endtime days.
Our hope is not anchored in any political party, govern-ment, or leader, but exclusively in our Savior, the Lord JesusChrist. May His spirit touch many hearts throughout this na-tion to fully realize the Christian’s responsibility to be lightand salt to the world. Light is not noisy, nor is salt, but servesa very specific purpose: to make those who are in darknesssee the light of the world, Jesus Christ the Lord.
BY ARNO FROESE
5 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y O F M I D N I G H T C A L L M I N I S T R I E S U S A
“Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be ledinto captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, andhave left none of them any more there” (Ezekiel 39:28).
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it”(Psalm 68:11). I fully agree that the printed word is absolutely essential for our turbulentdays. With the Lord’s help, I will be a sponsor to reach people everywhere with the soul-saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Has the Great FallingAway from the FaithBegun? – Part 2By Stephan Beitze
For many, the pursuit of pleasure comes beforeeverything else. This thinking is unfortunately alsoseen among Christians. If we’re not in the mood, wefeel we have the right to disobey God.
12 Money: Ends and Trends
The Coming End of the Earth’s Water World – Part 1 By Wilfred Hahn
15 Bible Doctrine and Traffic CitationsBy Dr. Ron J. Bigalke
18 Germany, the Most Exemplary Country in the World?By Norbert Lieth
26 ICELANDGun-Loving Countrywith No ShootingsSince 2007
27 JAPAN
Canon Shuts 80-YearHistory of Film Cameras
28 USA
Amazon WristbandTracks WarehouseWorkers
29 NETHERLANDS
Create Lifefrom Nothing?
30 SWEDEN
Alarmed by Cash-free Society
MIDNIGHT CALL
Editor’s Note
What Is the One Doctrine of theApostles?
Many different, oftencontradictory thingsare preached in the
bazaar of Christian opinions.Paul was hardly squeamish re-garding the possibly goodpreaching of false brothers:“What then? notwithstanding,
every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ ispreached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will re-joice” (Phil 1:18).
This is an important principle, especially if we donot agree with our brothers and sisters in our views.True believers may also have different views on doc-trinal questions. But where is the true doctrine ofthe Christian faith, “once delivered unto the saints”(Jude 3), which we can be certain is not influencedby differences of opinion? How do we recognize thatJesus Christ is really being proclaimed? There isonly one “sound doctrine” of the apostles (2 Tim4:3).
In the 5th century, a certain Vincent of Lérins(died in 450) pondered this question, because evenat that time, false teachers had a penchant for abus-ing Holy Scripture. His conclusion was: We recog-nize right faith as “that faith which has beenbelieved everywhere, always, by all.” If a Bibleteacher follows the “universality, antiquity, and con-sent” of the church since the apostles, then he is onthe safe side. The concern of every Christian should
be, at all costs, to abide by the “glorious and venera-ble rule of our holy calling” (Clement of Rome).
The apostle Paul summarizes this one doctrine—that one “rule of faith” (Irenaeus of Lyons; 2 Thess2:15)—which we believers must unconditionallypreserve in the “unity of the Spirit”: “There is onebody, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in onehope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one bap-tism, One God and Father of all, who is above all,and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:4-6).
The church has one faith, and this one faith canbe summarized as: Jesus is Lord (Acts 16:31; 20:21).The one faith expresses itself in the one body ofChrist: where the church gathers in the name of theLord Jesus, worships Him, fosters the fellowship ofthe body in the breaking of the bread of Holy Com-munion, and preaches the doctrine of the apostles(1 Cor 10:16-17; Acts 2:42).
The teaching of the apostles in the one faith andin the one body is about the one Spirit, the one Lord,the one Father, and the one baptism. Baptism in thename of the Father and of the Son and of the HolySpirit (Matt 28:19) is, to a certain extent, the door tothe church of the Triune God (cf. 1 Cor 12:13). TheFather and the Son and the Holy Spirit is the onetrue God in three persons. The Trinity of God—thedistinction between God the Father, the Lord Jesus,and the Holy Spirit, and yet His acknowledgementas God Himself—is the essential feature of theChristian faith and the apostolic doctrine, as it has
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STATEMENT OF FAITHWE BELIEVE in the divine inspiration of the whole Bible and there-with the infallibility of the Holy Scripture, which is God’s Word, andin the eternal Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was conceived of theHoly Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and shed Hisblood to save mankind. He died and arose bodily the third day andlater ascended into heaven.
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of eachindividual sinner and that all who believe in Him as their personalSavior are justified through His shed blood and have become children of God.
WE BELIEVE that Israel is God’s chosen people, and that therestoration of the Jews to their own land is the fulfillment of theWord of God.
WE BELIEVE in the pre–tribulational appearance of Jesus Christ forthe Rapture of His Church (all born again believers).
WE BELIEVE in the immortality of our souls and the resurrection of ourbodies, and in the resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlastingblessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
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been through the ages (and differences of opinion), and has never beendestroyed.
Moreover, the apostolic doctrine marks the realization that the Fatheris “above all, and through all, and in you all.” Everything we do is aboutHim and His honor. Being a Christian is a life of right worship in thepresence of God. Wherever we rise and walk, there God is, and so wewant to glorify Him through our lives.
We find an incentive to do this in the one hope of our vocation;namely, in the firm confidence that Christ will come again, and we willalways be with Him. Our unshakable goal is eternal, unclouded fellow-ship with the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit in the glory ofheaven and the resurrection.
Anyone who believes and proclaims these things moves within theframework of the apostolic teaching. Anyone who rejects these things,however, moves beyond the boundaries of the “historical” Christianfaith, into their own and false doctrines, which are neither inspired bythe Spirit nor desired by the Lord, and also do not honor the Father.
Maranatha, our Lord, come!
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6 M I D N I G H T C A L L6 M I D N I G H T C A L L
Stephan Beitze
There have always been passionate preachers who warned ofthe approaching apocalypse and denounced the corruption ofsociety. What is different today?
Has the GreatFalling Away fromthe Faith Begun?
– Part 2
C O V E R S T O R Y
The Apostle Paul continueson with “heady” or rash (2Timothy 3:4). Many are risk-
ing their lives more recklessly. Wecan see this in the various videosuploaded to YouTube. The actionsare increasingly risky. Bungeejumping is child’s play by compari-son.
The next evil feature that Paulcovers is “highminded.” These peo-ple don’t accept anyone or anythingexcept themselves and their ownopinions. This can be seen on thepolitical level, but unfortunatelyalso among those who call themselves Christians.
And now Paul comes to a quality that is well-known to all of us: “lovers of pleasures more thanlovers of God.” We live in a world where pleasure,hobbies, fun, and leisure have become the highestpriorities of many. I once asked a woman whereher husband was, since I didn’t see him in the con-gregation. She answered, “He stayed home towatch a Superman movie.”
For many, the pursuit of pleasure comes beforeeverything else. People do what they like, what’sfun, or what they just feel like doing. Everythingelse simply gets left behind. This thinking is un-fortunately also seen among Christians. If motiva-tion is lacking, then Bibles go unread, prayersneglected, church services unattended, or theLord’s work undone. Our wishes even take prece-dence over clear biblical mandates. If we’re not inthe mood, we feel we have the right to disobeyGod.
One of the biggest industries of our time is enter-tainment, which unfortunately steals a lot of timefrom the Christian as well. This doesn’t mean thatwe can’t enjoy something beautiful. But it must not
conflict with God, His Word, our ministry, and ourpriorities.
In their craving for pleasure, many often developa frivolous attitude toward immorality. Some try tolive for God a little, and also give way to worldlydesires; God and His work lose out. When we letthe apostle James have his say, it becomes evenmore serious: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, knowye not that the friendship of the world is enmitywith God? whosoever therefore will be a friend ofthe world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Whenman follows the prince of this world, the naturalconsequence is the destruction of values, family,and most of all obedience to God.
In verse 5, Paul then names the quality that sum-marizes all of the previous ones: “Having a form ofgodliness, but denying the power thereof: fromsuch turn away.” The aforementioned qualities ofend-times humanity can be found in Christendomand in the church. That’s the terrible thing! Theapostasy increases more and more, right up to thewords of Jesus about the time of the Antichrist:“For there shall arise false Christs, and falseprophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;
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For many, the pursuit of pleasure comes before everything else. People dowhat they like, what’s fun, or what they just feel like doing. Everything elsesimply gets left behind. This thinking is unfortunately also seen amongChristians.
insomuch that, if it were possible, theyshall deceive the very elect” (Matt24:24). This reaches a high-water mark,about which Jesus asks in Luke 18:8,“…when the Son of man cometh, shallhe find faith on the earth?”
It will be a society marked by reli-gious hypocrisy. Outwardly, these peo-ple act like Christians, but inwardlythey are far from Christ. How many callthemselves Christians today, but don’tlive according to His will? How manyhave a religious life, but no true innerrelationship with Him? Because of this,they open themselves to all kinds ofdark influences. The apostle had alreadywarned in 1 Timothy 4:1, “Now theSpirit speaketh expressly, that in the lat-ter times some shall depart from thefaith, giving heed to seducing spirits,and doctrines of devils.”
The seduction reaches into ourchurches. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the apostle lists onemore feature of a society marked by apostasy: “Forthe time will come when they will not endure sounddoctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap tothemselves teachers, having itching ears; And theyshall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall beturned unto fables.” A dangerous tendency can beseen in evangelical circles. We hear the argumentagain and again: “We have to give the believers whatthey like or what makes them feel good.”
Such an attitude will influence the depth and seri-ousness of Scripture and the understanding of sin.The churches become Christian clubs, where youparticipate in what is fun or pleasurable. Christianswho resist it are branded legalistic, conservative, orfanatical, and are despised. The Bible is being pushedfurther and further to the sidelines by many Chris-tians and churches. New fashions, trends or teachingsare in demand. It is more interesting to follow a manthan the Word of God. The floodgates are enthusiasti-
cally opened for every new Internet craze, withoutmeasuring it against the Bible. Since lots of people aredoing it, it must be good. In any case, it is “in.”
Unfortunately, such false brothers can also befound in the churches. Therefore, Timothy cried,“…from such turn away” (2 Tim 3:5). That meansturning away from them in horror. “Whereforecome out from among them, and be ye separate,saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:17).
All of this will not continue without just punish-ment: “For of this sort are they which creep intohouses, and lead captive silly women laden withsins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, andnever able to come to the knowledge of the truth.Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so dothese also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds,reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Tim 3:6-8).
The penalty falls on the apostates. They will fallvictim to their own lusts and run after each new re-
Has the Great Falling Away from the Faith Begun? – Part 2
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It will be a society marked by religious hypocrisy. Outwardly, these people actlike Christians, but inwardly they are far from Christ.
C O V E R S T O R Y
ligious trend, without ever being really satisfied.When their lives or doctrines are tested by God,they turn out to be useless: “But they shall proceedno further: for their folly shall be manifest unto allmen, as theirs also was” (v. 9). Their apostasy be-comes more and more destructive: “But evil menand seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,and being deceived” (v. 13). Eventually, they believetheir own lies. We should not be surprised if our so-ciety gets more and more spiritually and mentallyill. Worst of all is that this will produce God’s judg-ment. It’s already just around the corner.
In four of the churches that the apostle Johnwrote to in Revelation by order of the Lord, we findthis accusation of the Lord. He reproaches thechurch at Pergamos for accepting the teachings ofBalaam and the Nicolaitans, who approve of a life ofmingling with worldly lusts (Rev 2:14-15). We findsimilarities in the church of Thyatira. A womannamed Jezebel tries to seduce members into im-morality and is tolerated (Rev 2:20-21). There areonly a few left in the community of Sardis who havenot polluted their clothes; that is, their lives (Rev3:4). And in Laodicea we find lukewarmness, com-
placency, materialism, and the missing presence ofthe Lord. The only thing that would stop the judg-ment of God is deep and sincere repentance (Rev2:16, 21-22; 3:19).
On the one hand, when these attributes are evi-dent in all of society (which calls itself Christian)and leak into the churches, this is a sign that thecoming of the Lord Jesus is just around the corner.And we can comfort ourselves and rejoice over it.On the other hand, this also serves as a seriouswarning to us. For if we discover such qualities inour lives, it is high time that we repent and turn toGod again.
Thank God, He has given us many things whichcan save us from fraud, counterfeiting, and the dan-gerous influences of apostasy. The apostle Paul listshimself, along with the mother and grandmother ofTimothy, as a model: “But thou hast fully knownmy doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflic-tions…But continue thou in the things which thouhast learned and hast been assured of, knowing ofwhom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim 3:10-11,14).
New fashions, trends or teachings are in demand. It is more interesting tofollow a man than the Word of God. The floodgates are enthusiasticallyopened for every new Internet craze, without measuring it against the Bible.
Certainly, we also know such examples aroundus, besides those mentioned in the Bible: brothersin the Lord, who consistently walk with Him andwhom the Lord can use in a wonderful way. Do youknow someone who is a role model through his tes-timony, his family, and his ministry? Imitate him!Only the faithful dare to swim against the tide.There are only a few, but they still exist. In 3 John11 we are admonished: “Beloved, follow not thatwhich is evil, but that which is good. He that doethgood is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seenGod.”
The author of the book of Hebrews introduces usto the gallery of the heroes of the faith, with the fol-lowing warning: “But we are not of them who drawback unto perdition; but of them that believe to thesaving of the soul” (Heb 10:39). After the authorlists the fidelity of the heroes of the faith, in spite oftheir struggles, privations, or even their martyr-dom, he gives the following instruction: “Where-fore seeing we also are compassed about with sogreat a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside everyweight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,and let us run with patience the race that is set be-fore us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisherof our faith; who for the joy that was set before himendured the cross, despising the shame, and is setdown at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb12:1-2).
None of these heroes of the faith found it easy toremain faithful, not even the Lord Jesus. It cost Himsevere struggling, tears, and blood-soaked sweat inGethsemane, and His suffering and death at Cal-vary. But this steadfastness brought the fullness ofblessings. It’s worth it to follow these examples!
Even in 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul encourages Timo-thy, and us as well, “Study to show thyself approvedunto God, a workman that needeth not to beashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Andin chapter 3, after listing evil qualities, he empha-
sizes, “And that from a child thou hast known theholy scriptures, which are able to make thee wiseunto salvation through faith which is in Christ Je-sus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God,and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor-rection, for instruction in righteousness: That theman of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnishedunto all good works” (vv. 15-17).
Why should we pay attention to dubioussources, if we find in the Bible safety, blessings, andall we need for healthy maturity? It seems to methat God must say the same about our generation asHe did about His people in those days: “For mypeople have committed two evils; they have for-saken me the fountain of living waters, and hewedthem out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold nowater” (Jer 2:13).
We need to renew our minds, align with Godand His Word, and not allow ourselves to be filledwith worldly principles. “If ye then be risen withChrist, seek those things which are above, whereChrist sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your af-fection on things above, not on things on the earth”(Col 3:1-2).
What do we use or waste our free time on? “Foras he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Prov 23:7).If there is much worldliness in our thoughts, thenwe will act like the world. But when our thoughtsare full of Christ, His Word, and His presence, thenwe will become more and more like Him. There-fore, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”(Col 3:16).
In 2 Timothy chapter 4, the apostle gives anotherform of protection from apostasy: “I charge theetherefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at his ap-pearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be in-stant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,exhort with all long suffering and doctrine…Butwatch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
Has the Great Falling Away from the Faith Begun? – Part 2
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Do you know someone who is a role model through his testimony, his family,and his ministry? Imitate him! Only the faithful dare to swim against the tide.There are only a few, but they still exist.
C O V E R S T O R Y
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy min-istry.” (vv. 1-2, 5).
This apostolic exhortation to Timothy shows ushow important it is to carry out the mission thatGod has given us and for which He has prepared us(Eph 2:10). Instead of squandering time, investingin the world, or opening our ears to its seduction,let us serve the Lord faithfully in the place He hasset us, and do the works He has prepared for us. Ifwe do this, then we will not have time to waste anyresources in these “evil” days (Eph 5:16).
Given the increasing apostasy and the words ofthe apostle Paul, we might ask ourselves whether itreally pays to be faithful to the Lord and His Word.Therefore, Paul closes this sad letter with a fewwords of joy, comfort, hope and encouragement inlight of the future.
One of the Christian’s greatest joys is knowingthat he has fulfilled his duty. The apostle Paul bearswitness to his life: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7). Is there anything greater, at the end of ourlives here on earth, than being able to witness that
we have been faithful and car-ried out the works for whichGod has created and enabledus? If the Lord were to call ushome today, could we give thesame testimony as the apostle?
And if that alone seems little,the apostle, through the Spiritof God, gives us a glimpse ofthe moment after the rapture ofthe church, at the Judgment ofChrist: “Henceforth there islaid up for me a crown of right-eousness, which the Lord, therighteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only,but unto all them also that lovehis appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). TheLord will examine our ministry
and our lives and reward accordingly. If we keepthat in mind, it really is worth fighting, investingin eternity, and faithfully doing our ministry! Andthis reward is related to the constant expectation ofthe coming of the Lord.
We don’t know how much time is left until theLord comes. The opposition is big, the fight is bru-tal, and the influence is powerful. Sometimes, likethe apostle, we think that there is no one on ourside (2 Tim 4:16a). But in the same breath, he con-fidently says a truth that could also be valid for ustoday: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,and strengthened me; that by me the preachingmight be fully known, and that all the Gentilesmight hear…And the Lord shall deliver me fromevery evil work, and will preserve me unto hisheavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever andever. Amen” (vv. 17-18).
Therefore, may we courageously and confi-dently run the course laid out for us, “Lookingunto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”(Heb 12:2).
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What do we use or waste our free time on? “For as he thinketh in his heart, sois he…” (Prov 23:7).
12 M I D N I G H T C A L L12 M I D N I G H T C A L L
For resources on "endtime economics," visit Wilfred's website www.eternalvalue.com or
Water. It covers 75% of the surfaceof the earth. No other planet hasever been discovered to date that
has liquid surface water. Earth has just theright amount of water … not too much; nottoo little. Too much, and the mountainswould be covered; too little, and the earthwould be an equally uninhabitable desert.
Yes, water is essential for life. However,there are probably trillions of other essentialconditions required for life on earth. Godhas created an earth that has water … and,spectacularly, life. The fact that water mole-cules might be found on other planetarybodies, is no more significant than findingiron or carbon or any other element or com-pound.
Crucially, not only did God create wateras a necessity for life, but also that it mightplay a very significant role in the cosmolog-ical story of mankind. He has used thisunique feature of His earth—water—tocarry out His plan for mankind. How so?
The Bible tells us that God will intercedein the geological structures of the world
with respect to water at least four times (ifnot more). To begin, as already intimated,He created the seas on the second day …this after having separated the water to be-low and above the “expanse” (atmosphere).
Then, when mankind became utterlygodless (only some 1,650 years after Cre-ation)—when “the Lord saw how great thewickedness of the human race had becomeon the earth, and that every inclination ofthe thoughts of the human heart was onlyevil all the time” Genesis 6:5)—He inter-vened again, allowing a great worldwideflood that extinguished all mankind save foreight.
The next and third time that the Lordwill intervene with a global impact (with re-spect to water) is the Tribulation period.God, in wrath, destroys seas and rivers, dec-imating the marine networks of mankind… these being the proud, smug achieve-ments of mankind’s rich elites.
The tribulational decimation happensin several steps. First, Revelation tells usthat “a third of the living creatures in the
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THECOMING ENDOF THE EARTH’SWATERWORLD – PART 1
From outer space, the most differentiable feature of planet earth is itsblue color. No other planet has such wonderful hues of blue andgreen.
By Wilfred Hahn
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sea died […]” (Revelation 8:9). This is af-ter the second trumpet sounded by theangels.
Then, finally, the great trading colos-sus, whose great men were merchantsand sea captains, is completely de-stroyed, never to be restored (Rev-elation 18). And, to make sure ofthat, God wipes out all of theworld’s seas. This is the 4thintervention. Says the Bible,“Then I saw a new heavenand a new earth, for thefirst heaven and the firstearth had passed away,and there was no longerany sea” (Revelation 21:1).
This is where we will pickup the thread from our recentseries, which focused on the end-time resurgence of the spirit of Tyre … thisbeing the same spirit that inhabits Babylon,the Great City. These are both shown to beseafaring entities that amass great wealth.And, in each case God intervenes, Tyre beingthe foreshadowing of the annihilation ofBabylon the Great City.
Ship-shape for the End-timesShip-shape is an old saying originating inthe 1600s, meaning orderly or organized. Tobe ship-shape was to be ready and fitted fora journey. In this sense, the world is rapidlybecoming “ship-shape” for the last days.But, you may be surprised to learn that theshape of the times also has to do with ships… yes, seafaring vessels. It is an interestingdevelopment of our day that is propheticallysignificant.
In Revelation 18, we read the accountof one of the last epic events on earth be-fore the Millennium begins—the sud-den destruction of Babylon the Great:‘In one hour such great wealth has been
brought to ruin!’ Every sea captain, and all
who travel by ship, the sailors, and all
who earn their living from the sea, will
stand far off. When they see the
smoke of her burning, they will
exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city
like this great city?’ They will
throw dust on their heads,
and with weeping and
mourning cry out: ‘Woe! Woe,
O great city, where all who
had ships on the sea became
rich through her wealth! In one
hour she has been brought to ruin’
(verses 17-19).
This account is somewhat puzzling. It is theend of days—supposedly a modern time—and a world-impacting destruction is takingplace, where seemingly only people engagedin seafaring trade are weeping and mourn-ing. We envision sea captains, and thosewho make their living from trade, standingafar off throwing dust on their heads. Thisis strange. What about the rest of the peopleof the world? Why is it that ships are men-tioned so prominently?
Ships are referred to one additional timein the book of Revelation, this at the timeafter the second trumpet, as mentioned.“The second angel sounded his trumpet,and something like a huge mountain, allablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third ofthe sea turned into blood, a third of the liv-ing creatures in the sea died, and a third of
The Coming End of the Earth’s Water World – Part 1
Crucially, not only did God create water as a necessity for life, but alsothat it might play a very significant role in the cosmological story ofmankind. He has used this unique feature of His earth—water—tocarry out His plan for mankind.
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To the Greeks, a ship was a trading ship. The key to see is that shipsare generally associated with the notion of goods trade—in otherwords, the import and export of merchandise.
MC
the ships were destroyed” (Revelation 8:8-9).
To conclude, both references to theprominence of ships mentioned in Revela-tion concern the time of the Great Tribula-tion. While that time is yet future, it isalready possible to see the shadows of thattime reflected in worldwide trends. So it iswith ships. In fact, reviewing the develop-ments within the world’s marine industryover the past half-century, it would not beunreasonable to conclude that future eventsspoken of in Revelation are fast approach-ing.
Shipping in Biblical TimesShipping developments in the world todayare unprecedented and fascinating. But be-fore we investigate this global industry, let’sfirst examine what the Bible has to sayabout ships. We find that several types arementioned in the Bible—for example,smaller boats of the size that might ply theSea of Galilee, or papyrus boats.
In the Old Testament, we find anothertype mentioned, which in Hebrew roughlymeans “transporter of Tarshish.” ManyBible versions simply translate this phraseas the word ship. However, in doing so,something is lost in the translation.
The ships of Tarshish were the trans-port ships of the Mediterranean, the RedSea area, and possibly the Indian oceans.One could consider this term as a class ofship such as we today use the classifica-tion of Panamax (ocean-going vesselssized to pass through the Panama Canal)1
or Great Lakes freighter (the ship size thatcan navigate the North American GreatLakes, the Welland Canal and the St.
Lawrence River). There are numerousother classes.
The ships of Tarshish were the tradingships of ancient times. For example, KingSolomon had “a fleet of trading ships [navy ofTarshish] at sea along with the ships of Hi-ram. Once every three years it returned, car-rying gold, silver and ivory, and apes andbaboons” (1 Kings 10:22).
In the New Testament, however, Tarshishis never associated with the word ship. Ofcourse, by this time, the world trading empireof Tyre (which was associated with Tarshish)had disappeared many centuries before. Be-sides, the Greeks themselves were a seafaringnation. Therefore, a trading ship would notbe referred to as a “ship of Tarshish.”
To the Greeks, a ship was a trading ship.The key to see is that ships are generally as-sociated with the notion of goods trade—inother words, the import and export of mer-chandise. The two times that ships are men-tioned in Revelation, we should considerthat the text is referring to this type of seavessel—the trading ship. Clearly, trade is abig preoccupation of the world at that fu-ture time. Is that time near?
In Part II, we will lay out the evidence forthe answer to that question. Global ship-ping has been completely transformed overthe last six decades. In our view, its trendrepresents another one of those fast-mov-ing, exponential time pieces of the last daysthat mark the “season” of our times.
ENDNOTE1 Ships classified as Panamax are of the maximum dimen-
sions that will fit through the locks of the Panama Canal,
each of which is 1000 ft long by 110 ft wide and 85 ft
deep.
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Bible Doctrine and Traffic Citations
Dr. Ron J. Bigalke
Iknew that I was driving the last posted speedlimit, and also checked my GPS, so I did not de-crease my speed as the officer targeted me. Imag-
ine my shock when the lights began flashing behindme and I was forced to stop. The officer informed methat I was going 10 miles over the speed limit, towhich I explained my understanding. The officer didnot direct me to the posted signs requiring me to de-crease my speed (because they were absent); rather, hestated that the construction zone required me to drive10 miles under the normal speed limit. As the officerdeparted with my license, I was hoping and thinkingsurely he would give me a warning. To say I was livid when issued a citation is an understatement.
Later, at home, I searched for current law in thisstate, and found what I suspected: it was illegal to is-sue me the citation without posting a reduced speedlimit sign. I was thinking to fight the ticket, but re-ceived another shock when realizing the officer liedregarding the speed I was traveling. He fabricated myspeed as five miles over the normal speed limit (55MPH), so it would not help my case even if I provedthe absence of a reduced speed limit sign.
“What does God want to teach me,” I thought. I eventually overcame my anger by meditating upon
Scripture and how it affected my unfortunate situa-tion. My experience is certainly an exception to theotherwise stellar law enforcement officials who servewith great integrity. Nevertheless, if you have experi-enced frustration or injustice with particular cir-cumstances, then perhaps this article will be anencouragement to you, and assist you to think bib-lically in those experiences, just as it was/is neces-sary for me.
Grace and MercyMy first thought regarding my adverse experiencewas the mercy of God. The mercy I was seeking fromthe traffic officer was entirely absent, and yet I believeit was appropriately deserved. The contrast with Godis that His mercy is not deserved, yet freely given torepentant sinners trusting in His grace through faithin Jesus Christ. Truly, grace and mercy are two inte-gral aspects of God’s favor toward sinners.
The dispositions of grace and mercy were all themore evident in the substitutionary death of JesusChrist. At the cross, the demands of the Law were sat-isfied, and God extended mercy by sparing sinnersfrom eternal condemnation. The undeserved love ofGod is offered graciously in the person of Christ Je-
Recently, I was traveling on a highway
notorious for speed traps, so I was
monitoring my speed circumspectly.
I was driving at the last posted speed
limit, upon entering a construction zone.
There were no signs posted to decrease
speed, and I saw the officer readying his
radar gun to aim at my vehicle.
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sus, and through faith in Him, the Lord grants eternallife to guilty sinners. The grace and mercy of God arenot only the basis of initial forgiveness at conversion,but also they are the means for the ongoing relation-ship between the believer and the Lord. Through Hisgrace and mercy, God extends His forgiveness, yet thejustice of God is never compromised. God is “faithfuland righteous” in His readiness to forgive the sins ofrepentant sinners (1 John 1:9). He is just in demand-ing the death of His Son, who paid the wages of sinthrough His propitiatory sacrifice (2:2).
God is also faithful and righteous to forgive andcleanse from all unrighteousness when sinners con-fess their sins (1:9). The lack of dependability andfaithfulness on the part of humanity is an evidentcontrast to the faithfulness and righteousness ofGod. The recognition that one is a sinner in need ofGod’s forgiveness, reminds the believer that God’sattributes of justice and mercy, and love and graceoperate in perfect harmony. Unmerited mercy isprovided through undiminished justice, and unlim-ited love is based in undeserved grace.
Justice and Mercy IllustratedJesus told a parable concerning laborers in the vine-yard. The purpose for the narrative was to illustratethat, within the kingdom of heaven, “the last shall befirst, and the first last” (Matt 20:16). In other words,operations within the kingdom of God often functionin a manner diametrically opposed to those procedureswithin human kingdoms. Jesus’ parable illustrates therelationship between mercy and justice, and provides arelevant context for understanding Romans 9.
Although the parable of Matthew 20:1-16 doesnot concern salvation, it does illustrate principlesconcerning generosity and justice within God’skingdom, which are concepts addressed in Romans9. In His illustration, Jesus’ landowner selected allavailable workers for his vineyard, and these labor-ers were added to the workforce each time that hewent to seek more.
Romans 9 addresses similar concerns (as Matt20), since it references the entire mass of humanity(just as Jesus’ parable referenced all available labor-ers). Matthew 20 and Romans 9 communicate theparallel concept that individuals lacked certain abil-ities, and were entirely dependent upon the gen-erosity (mercy) of another to alter their destinies.According to Jesus’ parable, the landowner dis-played justice because he paid the first group as hepromised. He demonstrated generosity by payingwhatever was right to the last group. He is also mer-ciful, because he gave the final group what they didnot deserve. While grace is receiving what one doesnot deserve, mercy is not giving what is warranted.How does Jesus’ parable relate to Romans 9?
In the previous section (Rom 8:28-39), the Bibleemphasized God’s sovereign capacity to save Hispeople, in addition to the absolute impossibilitythat any other power could separate them from Hislove “in Christ Jesus.” Some believers perceived anapparent contradiction in regard to Israel. If thechosen people of God had been rejected, how couldbelievers today know that He will not also rejectthem? If God was unable to save Israel, how can Hebe trusted to save believers today? The answer tothose questions is the subject of chapters 9—11 ofthe book of Romans.
Unless one understands the association betweenGod’s justice and mercy, it will be impossible to un-derstand His plan of salvation. Romans 9 introducesmercy as the primary concept in “God’s purpose ac-cording to His choice” (v. 11; cf. 12:1). Scripture ex-plains why it appears that God has been unfaithful,yet He has not, which is evident in the remnant ofIsraelites who have believed, and in considerationof Israel’s predominance in the future.
Therefore, “it is not as though the word of God hasfailed” (v. 6), because the Lord has been faithful to Hispromises toward Israel; indeed, He has been more thandependable. He demonstrated mercy when only judg-ment was deserved. And, because God has been faith-
Bible Doctrine and Traffic Citations
The recognition that one is a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness, reminds thebeliever that God’s attributes of justice and mercy, and love and grace operate inperfect harmony.
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ful, believers today may know that God will like-wise be faithful to keep His promises for them (e.g.1 Tim 2:1-4). The fulfillment of God’s promises willresult in a world absent of injustices and unright-eousness; it is this kingdom for which the believerlongs (and the recognition that until that day, be-lievers will experience the effects of a world systemthat is opposed to the character of God’s kingdom).
Paying TaxesRomans 13:8-14 explains the responsibilities thatChristians have as a consequence of their relationshipto God. Verses 8-10 reveal that the primary motiva-tion for the Christian’s behavior is love. The thoughthere resumes the discussion that concluded Romans12. Christians are to “owe nothing to anyone exceptto love one another.” The thought of this verse de-rives emphasis from the immediately preceding state-ment in verse 7, to pay “tax to whom tax is due.”
Taxes and debts are legal obligations, and shouldbe reduced as much as possible. However, the be-liever’s spiritual obligation is to love others in a man-ner that is continually increasing. In this sense, love isthe only debt that should never be regarded as paid“in full.” The rule to love is the fundamental principleof the Old Testament law. Christians are to love Godand love their neighbor. Only when love is the be-liever’s motivation, can one fulfill responsibilities toGod, to other believers, to society, and to the state.
While not a tax, a traffic citation is a reminder to“render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and toGod the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). When theLord Jesus spoke those words, He acknowledged thelegitimacy of human government (as opposed to anar-chy). In addition to the family and church, God has or-dained human government; thus, it has the prerogativeto collect taxes, and citizens have the responsibility topay them. Government also has the right to make laws,and those governed are responsible to obey them.Other writers in the New Testament, especially Peterand Paul, reaffirmed and expanded upon the Lord’swords, even as they lived during the maniacal reign of
Emperor Nero (cf. Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-8; 1 Pet2:13-17). While recognizing that “every good thinggiven and every perfect gift is from above” (James1:17), Christians understand that the ability to payfines and taxes is a result of God’s provision, andthus can be given in thankfulness.
ConclusionsMercy is a communicable attribute of God that ex-presses His goodness and love for the guilty. Whilefalse accusations are present manifestations of afallen world, God’s declaration of human guilt is ir-refutable, and thus His compassion toward sinnersis truly amazing. The God of the Bible is entirelyunique from the gods of the world religions, foronly He completely forgives sins.
Until the Lord’s return in faithfulness to fulfill Hispromises, believers can acknowledge that to some de-gree all governments serve the purpose of promotinggood and punishing evil (Rom 13:3-4). Governmentlimited to these ideals satisfies the biblical parame-ters, for if Romans 13 demands obedience to govern-ment, Revelation 13 illustrates what occurs whengovernment commands the believer to do that whichGod has forbidden (and thus no government com-mands the believer’s unqualified support). Until theLord establishes His kingdom on earth, injustices willremain. Nevertheless, a personal relationship withGod necessitates that His people demonstrate justiceand righteousness in society, while awaiting the timeof the Lord’s return. (934)
While not a tax, a traffic citation is a reminder to “render to Caesar the things thatare Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).
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Irecently received a message with the fol-lowing content: “What do you get if youcross the following borders illegally, with
false or no documentation? USA: Imprison-ment and deportation, with the use offirearms if necessary. Australia: Imprison-ment, internment. Afghanistan: You get
shot. China: At least 10 years’ imprison-ment. Saudi Arabia: Lifelong imprisonment,possible flogging, possible conviction as aspy. Venezuela: Conviction as a spy. UnitedKingdom: Imprisonment up to 10 years, ex-pulsion, fine. Germany: free lodging, meals,free Wi-Fi, a stipend, social assistance, child
NORBERT LIETH
What happens to you when you cross the following borders with no documentation or false documentation?
Germany, the Most Exemplary Country in theWorld?Germany has opened its doors wide for refugees. The result: lots of criticism from conservative circles,
and an increasing Islamization of society. But what is actually the Christian approach to this problem?
Imprisonment and deportation, with the use of firearms if necessary
Imprisonment, internment
Execution
USA Australia Afghanistan China Saudi Arabia Venezuela Great Britain Germany
benefits, free medical care, new identifica-tion (according to the information you pro-vide), free language courses (notcompulsory); The new coalition has alsoagreed to a limited reunification of fami-lies.”
Don’t you think that Germany is behav-ing in the most Christ-like and ideal man-ner here, and is the one acting the mostaccording to the Bible? Germany loves itsenemies, does good to those who hate it,lives by the principle, “It is more blessed togive than to receive,” gives to those whoask, is hospitable, takes in the persecuted,cares for the poor, bears the disadvantages,prefers to allow itself to be cheated, sharesand does good, offers protection, proveslove in action, and more.
Granted, this is an ironic exaggeration. Agovernment also has a duty to protect itsland (Rom 13:1-7). And yet, if we visualizeChristian values, there’s something to all ofthis. On the one hand, it is exaggerating themedia and politicians, who argue that weonly have to see the positive and sweep the
problems under the rug. On the other hand,quite a few Christian publications fall intothe other extreme. They’re “only” warningus, they give ample way to their displeasure,and sometimes even (certainly uncon-sciously) stir up hatred. Many are quick toannounce their disapproval and tar every-one with the same brush. Foreigners andasylum-seekers are summarily declared ene-mies, and many “Christians” agree; some-times, it seems like the worst are also themost devout. We observe that even believersaren’t free from prejudice. And yes, some-times they’re right, too.
The danger that lurks is real. The statemust act legally and equitably. There is noquestion that foreigners should assimilateand not be ungrateful. But the truth is thatmany of them are ashamed, afraid to makecontacts, and do not know how they shouldbehave. When we greet them on friendlyterms, we are often surprised by their sud-den accessibility. The well-known TurkishIslamic scholar Fethullah Gülen points outboth sides of the coin: On one side, “Mus-
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Imprisonment and deportation, with the use of firearms if necessary
Imprisonment, internment
Execution
USA Australia Afghanistan China Saudi Arabia Venezuela Great Britain Germany
At least 10 years’ imprisonment
Lifelong imprison-ment, possible flogging, possibleconviction as spy
Condemnation as aspy
Imprisonment (up to10 years), expulsion,fine
Free accommodation,meals, stipend, freemedical care, etc., etc.
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lims must also reject and avoid conspiracytheories, which have so far only helped usavoid facing our social problems. Instead,we must tackle the real questions…” Andon the other side, “Anti-Islamic rhetoricdoes more harm than good…”
We must not overlook the fact that manyrefugees really come from the greatest needand persecution, from regions afflicted bywar and disaster. Among them are numer-ous children, elderly, and helpless women.
Let’s allow ourselves one sobering ques-tion: If Almighty God had not permitted it,would these people still be here, throughwhatever means? The Lord is opening adoor for us to reach our fellow man with thelove of God and the Gospel. Foreigners be-come converted; they can see in a non-Mus-lim foreign country a society that worksmuch better together, in terms of equalityand the economy, than the nations fromwhich they come and in which Islam praisesitself so much. Many are disappointed intheir religion and are ready to open them-selves up. Why don’t we use the opportunityfor an example of charity and the proclama-tion of the Good News? To this day, mis-sionaries go abroad, not infrequently amid
great hostility, to spread the active love andGospel of Jesus Christ in very different cul-tures. Now God is sending the other cul-tures to us, and we shut down…
Is egoism and lovelessness the image thatwe want to convey to strangers to Christian-ity? In his book Christentum und Islam(“Christianity and Islam”), Dr. DetschkoSvilenov mentions two pieces of wisdomfrom antiquity that should make us think ofWestern believers, who for the most partrevel in almost royal wealth. Firstly, “Thereis only one crime in the wilderness that ismore terrible than murder and more gravethan theft: to know where there is water,and not to tell it!” On the other hand, “Wemust not tear down a man’s hut in which hehas been living for years, and force him tomove to a nicer house. It is enough if webuild a royal castle near his hut. Then hewill voluntarily leave his hut and move tothe royal castle.”
There is a danger from extremist Mus-lims, that is true, and it is precisely theWestern state authority that must be onguard. Still, if the Islamists become a greatdanger, then that too is sent by God. Allowme the remark: Maybe we do not deserveanything different, and a divine wake-upcall is simply necessary. The state cannottolerate any violations of the law, no matterthe guilty party, which is why we have topray all the more for the government (1 Tim2:1 ff.).
Let us remember that as Christians, wehave only one purpose: namely, to serve theMost High. He who innocently gave His lifefor us; who did not resist but loved us whenwe were still His enemies (Rom 5:8-10). Weshould set the love of the Savior in motion,focus on it, and not dwell on the negative.
(MR0318/930)
Germany, the Most Exemplary Country in the World?
6Refugees learning the German language. The Lord is opening a door for us toreach our fellow man with the love of God and the Gospel.
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In Philippians 3:17, the Apostle Paul pre-sents himself as an example: “Brethren, befollowers together of me, and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an example”(cf. Phil 4:9). This entreaty of Paul is not a re-flection of pride, rather of his life, his service,his devotion and fervor for Christ and theChurch.
“To emulate Paul” means to trust in Christ aloneand to regard all else as dirt, just as Paul did: “Butwhat things were gain to me, those I counted lossfor Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things butloss for the excellency of the knowledge of ChristJesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss ofall things, and do count them but dung, that I maywin Christ” (Phil 3:7-8).
Good and Bad RoleModels A continuing series on the epistle to the Philippians, by various writers forMidnight Call. Part 25. Philippians 3:17-19.
Thomas Lieth
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“To emulate Paul” means to commit totally toChrist and to discard all human fears. “EmulatingPaul” includes being a prayer warrior, always beingalert to the needs of the Church of Christ. It alsoencompasses his sufferings, his total and uncom-promising submission. It means to take Paul as anexample in one’s actions, one’s thinking and one’slife (Phil 2:17-18).
However, Paul did not think of himself as aunique role model, but speaks of “them whichwalk so as ye have us for an example” (Phil3:17). Such as Timothy, for instance, who to-gether with Paul wrote the letter to the Philippi-ans and whom Paul praised very highly (Phil 1:1;2:19-22). This is what he says about Timothy:“For I have no man likeminded, who will natu-rally care for your state” (Phil 2:20). And not toforget a certain Epaphroditus, who also was sin-gled out and complimented by Paul: “my brother,and companion in labor, and fellow soldier…forthe work of Christ he was nigh unto death, notregarding his life, to supply your lack of servicetoward me” (Phil 2:25-30).
The highest embodiment of an exemplary life,of course, is Jesus Christ Himself: “Fulfill ye myjoy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing bedone through strife or vainglory; but in lowlinessof mind let each esteem [the] other better thanthemselves. Look not every man on his ownthings, but every man also on the things of others.Let this mind be in you, which was also in ChristJesus” (Phil 2:2-5). Paul emphasizes this againand again. Since his conversion, his whole life ispatterned after Christ’s example. As he says in hisletter to the Corinthians: “Be ye followers of me,even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1).
If we talk about an example to follow, it mustnever become adulation of a human being. NeitherPaul nor the other disciples ever fell into that error.Quite the contrary. Paul vehemently opposed thehabit of some to say: “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apol-los,” or “I am of Cephas” (1 Cor 1:12). In this con-nection he states: “…lest the cross of Christ shouldbe made of none effect” (verse 17). It is all aboutChrist and the gospel of the cross, not the venera-tion of a human being.
This is just as relevant today. It is legitimate andhelpful to learn from great men of the faith; andyes, to emulate them. “Remember them which havethe rule over you, who have spoken unto you theword of God: whose faith follow, considering theend of their conversation” (Heb 13:7). But we mustnever let these shining examples have center stage.We should copy their faith—that is the decisive fac-
Good and Bad Role Models
The highest embodiment of an exemplary life, of course, is Jesus Christ Himself:“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, ofone mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind leteach esteem [the] other better than themselves. Look not every man on his ownthings, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which wasalso in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:2-5).
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tor—because in their spiritual life Jesus Christ wasthe unquestionable focus. And then Paul warnsabout seducers, who of course must not becomeour inspiration. He even calls them enemies of thecross: “(For many walk, of whom I have told youoften, and now tell you even weeping, that they arethe enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is de-struction, whose God is their belly, and whoseglory is in their shame, who mind earthly things)”(Phil 3:18-19).
Paul repeatedly warned the churches concern-ing false doctrine and fraudulent teachers. In hisletter to the Roman congregation, for instance, hewrites: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark themwhich cause divisions and offenses contrary to thedoctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.For they that are such serve not our Lord JesusChrist, but their own belly; and by good words andfair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”(Rom 16:17-18). And to the Galatians he wrote:“…there be some that trouble you, and would per-vert the gospel of Christ” (Gal 1:7). Finally, to theEphesians he sent this admonishment: “That wehenceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,and carried about with every wind of doctrine, bythe sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14).
The first churches were made up of Gentiles andJews—coming from the most diverse cultural andreligious backgrounds. For instance, take the Ju-daizers: they were Jews whose very identity residedin the law and sacrificial worship. They were opento the gospel, yet wanted to cling to the law. Thiscould have been for different reasons, such asavoiding a threatening persecution of Christians.Also, the expression “whose God is their belly”could be referring to Jewish law (also self-right-eousness) concerning dietary regulations. Basi-cally, this would be rejecting grace and clinging tothe belief that if I keep the dietary laws (“my Godis the belly”), I can merit God’s good will.
Concerning honor, “…whose glory is in theirshame” (Phil 3:19). This could also be an allusionto circumcision: again, an external formality whichwill gain one favor with God. These Jews wereproud of their sacrificial services, the dietary laws,and even more so of the circumcision. This waswhat distinguished them from the heathen. “Asmany as desire to make a fair show in the flesh,they constrain you to be circumcised; only lestthey should suffer persecution for the cross ofChrist. For neither they themselves who are cir-cumcised keep the law; but desire to have you cir-cumcised, that they may glory in your flesh” (Gal6:12-13). Paul specifically spoke on the subject ofcircumcision earlier in chapter 3: “Beware of dogs,beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.For we are the circumcision, which worship Godin the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and haveno confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:2-3).
These verses can let us deduce that when Paulwarns of the enemies of the cross, he is thinking ofthe Judaizers. But this forewarning also fits the so-called “liberals”—those who came out of a heathennation, usually influenced by either Greek or Ro-man culture and religion. And it is indeed the sametoday; we must always deal with two extremes.There are those so steeped in legalism that theydisregard grace, constantly veering toward self-righteousness; and on the opposite side, those whocompletely pervert the concept of grace, abusing itfor their selfish purposes. For those, “God is theirbelly” means: “Everything is lawful to me. Let useat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” In their livesno change can be observed. There is no differencein that kind of “Christian” from the ungodly.Solemnly and in tears Paul says: “Whose end is de-struction” (Phil 3:19).
We see a classic example in the church ofCorinth: “It is reported commonly that there is for-nication among you, and such fornication as is notso much as named among the Gentiles, that one
There are those so steeped in legalism that they disregard grace, constantly veeringtoward self-righteousness; and on the opposite side, those who completely pervertthe concept of grace, abusing it for their selfish purposes.
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should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffedup, and have not rather mourned, that he thathath done this deed and might be taken awayfrom among you” (1 Cor 5:1-2). The Corinthi-ans were proud and puffed up, instead of hidingin shame: “And whose glory is in their shame.”Thus, it appears that Paul’s admonishing wordsfit both groups. Whether Jew or Gentile,whether legalistic or liberal; the central and fun-damental issue is skirted: “For all seek theirown, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s”(Phil 2:21).
The shocking aspect in all this is the fact thatwe are not dealing with enemies from the out-side; rather with those who are within the con-gregation (read also Acts 20:28-30). The greatestenemies do not lie in wait outside the churchdoor—they are already ensconced in the pews.They are like metastases, which slowly butsurely eat away at the congregation from the in-side. Paul comments again: “…of whom I havetold you often, and now tell you even weeping,that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ”(Phil 3:18). Paul is deeply grieved that God’sgrace is met with such blatant disregard. Paul’stears are not for himself, not because he felt de-prived of the fruits of his labor; no, it greatlypained him to see the cross trodden underfoot.
The cross was always Paul’s central focus, andnow he had to see God’s grace thoughtlessly re-jected in many places, and the precious blood of
the Lord Jesus being treated like dirt.That was distressing, especially when itwas done by those who have heard thegospel and initially seemed to under-stand it. Paul weeps, perhaps also withcompassion and love for those who arelost and “whose end is destruction,” butfar more out of love for God’s grace andHis work of salvation. Beyond this it is
also his love for the body of Christ, and his con-cern about the devastating effects of those de-ceptive metastases, once they have taken root ina congregation.
Paul’s plea and prayer concern, after all, is forthe churches to increase and grow in love: “Andthis I pray, that your love may abound yet moreand more in knowledge and in all judgment;That ye may approve things that are excellent;that ye may be sincere and without offense tillthe day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits ofrighteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, untothe glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:9-11).
The more one is focused on Christ and rootedin the Word of God, the clearer one’s ability willbe to discern and judge divergent spirits. Onlythen can one be armed against false teachers andmisleading doctrines. We must follow those rolemodels who are spiritually minded, who focuson Christ’s central importance and who preachthe gospel of the cross.
Enemies of the cross—and I mean thosewithin the Church—are those who are worldlyminded. Their lives are not marked by devotionto Christ and His Church, but rather character-ized by self-centeredness and self-righteousness.“Whose end is destruction…who mind earthlythings.” But “…our conversation is in heaven;from whence also we look for the Savior, theLord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:19-20).
(MR0218/933)
Good and Bad Role Models
Paul’s plea and prayer concern,after all, is for the churches toincrease and grow in love.
I N D I A
ID Cards for CowsIndian Prime Minister NarendraModi’s government’s liking forcows is no secret. Modi’s BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) and its Hindunationalist allies have turnedbovine protection into one of themost important topics of publicdiscourse in the country over thepast couple of years.
Cow vigilantes and right-wing Hindutvagroups have also grabbed attention
now and then with their vicious attacks onpeople suspected of mistreating cattle.
In this context, it is not surprising that Fi-nance Minister Arun Jaitley’s move in the an-nual budget to set aside millions to come upwith ID numbers for the nation’s cows provedcontroversial.
The government plans to spend about 500million rupees (around €6.26 million, $7.81million) to assign 40 million cattle a unique12-digit identity number, in the same way ithas come up with a unique ID for every indi-vidual as part of the nation’s ambitious iden-tity card scheme, called Aadhaar.
The reasons given to justify the project aremultifold: to keep track of the nation’s cattle;protect them from smuggling gangs; help intaking care of abandoned animals and man-agement of cow shelters, among others. “Wewant to improve breeding and milk produc-tion, and double the industry’s income by2022,” said an agricultural ministry officialworking on the National Mission on BovineProductivity scheme.
Even before the fresh outlay of funds forthe scheme, several states ruled by the BJPhad already begun tagging cows. In the east-
ern state of Jharkhand, for instance, 12,000cows have been tagged, of the province’s to-tal 4.2 million cattle. It is one of the few statesin the country where the Prevention of CowSlaughter Act enacted in 2005 is in place.Those found guilty of violating the law mayface a hefty financial penalty or imprisonmentof up to five years, or even both.
This enthusiasm is not shared by the gov-ernment’s critics, who suspect the initiativecould be misused to target minority and un-derprivileged communities under the pretextof cow protection. “This is finally going to bea witch-hunt and there is bound to be moretargeted violence against minorities in thecountry in the years to come,” said RasheedKhan, a dairy farmer in Delhi.
“There has been a string of cow-related vi-olence against Muslims in the country. Bandsof right-wing Hindus who seize the cows areoperating essentially as private militias andthat should be stopped,” D Raja of the Com-munist Party of India told DW.
In many countries across Europe, cattletagging helps in tracing of animals for veteri-nary purposes, which is of crucial importancefor the control of infectious diseases such asthe mad cow disease.
-www.dw.com/en, 16 February 2018
Commentary: These so-called “unique IDnumbers” are actually relatively old. Severaldecades ago, when the Eastern Bloc countriesapplied for EU membership, they were sur-veyed by the European Commission. Live-stock, for example, was identified withuniquely numbered tags permanently at-tached to the cow’s ear.
However, this identity project is reli-giously motivated. It’s primarily Hindusagainst Muslims. One statement highlightsthis fact: “‘Cow produces more milk than nec-essary for its own kids and is god’s arrange-ment for nourishment of humans. Therefore,the cow is selfless and we need to protect it,’Radhey Shyam, the caretaker of the Hare Kr-ishna Gaushala, a cow shelter in Delhi, toldDW.”
But there is more to it than meets theeye: in ever-increasing numbers, people theworld over are turning to veganism, whichmeans no meat or animal products. Whilethis may be recommended for health rea-sons, we as Christians follow the instruc-tion of Scripture: “Whatsoever is sold inthe shambles, that eat, asking no questionfor conscience sake: For the earth is theLord’s, and the fullness thereof. If any ofthem that believe not bid you to a feast, and
ye be disposedto go; whatso-ever is set be-fore you, eat,asking no ques-tion for con-science sake” (1 Corinthians10:25-27). 6787(See Death of a Guru,
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The Modi government has turned cows intoa major topic of public discourse in India
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I C E L A N D
Gun-Loving Country withNo Shootings Since 2007Like many of his countrymen, OlafGarðar Garðarsson is eager to gethis hands on a rifle.
But he can’t just walk into a store and buyone. Instead, he is sitting through a
mandatory four-hour lecture on the history andphysics of the firearm.
This is Iceland—the gun-loving nation thathasn’t experienced a gun-related murder since2007.
“For us, it would be really strange if you couldget a license to buy a gun and you had no ideahow to handle it,” says Garðarsson, 28, a me-chanical engineer. “I would find it very odd if [agun owner] had never even learned which is thepointy end and which is the trigger end.”
Iceland is a sparsely populated island in thenorthern Atlantic. Its tiny population of some330,000 live on a landmass around the size ofKentucky.
St. Louis, Missouri, which has a populationslightly smaller than Iceland’s, had 193 homicideslinked to firearms last year.
“The system here works,” said Gunnar RúnarSveinbjörnsson, a flip-flop-wearing spokesmanfor Reykjavik’s police department. “We would beglad to help.”
Like many outside the U.S., Sveinbjörnssonstruggles to comprehend the extent of Americangun violence.
No other country in the developed worldcomes close to the U.S. when it comes to gunownership, gun homicides, mass shootings andpolice killings.
Gun control advocates in the U.S. sometimespoint to countries such as Japan, where strictlaws and a pacifist culture mean there are veryfew guns, and as a result very few gun deaths.
But guns are everywhere in Iceland, about onefor every three people, and many here arestaunch advocates of their right to own a firearm.
The last gun killing here was 11 years ago, andthere have only been four in the past two
decades, according to GunPolicy.org, a projectrun by Australia’s University of Sydney.
Iceland’s modern peace contrasts with the vio-lent past of this land of fire and ice.
It sits on the shifting boundary between theNorth American and Eurasian tectonic plates,formed by spewing lava and carved by colossalglaciers.
It was first settled by Norwegian Viking outlawsin the 9th century, but plagues, volcanic eruptionsand inhospitable weather meant it has remainedone of the most sparsely populated countries onearth.
And like many countries in Europe, most policehere are unarmed.
Only specialist units, like the Viking Squad, Ice-land’s version of a SWAT team, can carry gunsand even then, they are kept in locked boxes thatrequire senior approval to open.
Since the Icelandic police was established in1803, its officers have only shot and killed oneperson. This was in 2013, and afterward the po-lice chief, Haraldur Johannessen, said he was“deeply saddened” and apologized to the victim’sfamily.
-www.nbcnews.com, 28 May 2018
Commentary: In the early annals of history, welearn that weapons were made to kill or to de-fend, of which the result is the same. It all de-pends on which weapon is used against whom.
This reminds us of seemingly contradictorystatements in Scripture: “Then said Jesus unto
him, Put up again thy sword into his place: forall they that take the sword shall perish withthe sword” (Matthew 26:52). Luke 22:36 re-ports: “Then said he unto them, But now, hethat hath a purse, let him take it, and likewisehis scrip: and he that hath no sword, let himsell his garment, and buy one.”
The disciples did not understand prophecy;they were thinking of a literal, physicalreestablishment of the kingdom of Israel. Thisis evident from the fact that, when Peter tookhis sword to oppose Jesus’ arrest in the Gardenof Gethsemane, he was strictly forbidden to doso. It is my understanding that Luke 22:36 is aprophecy for the future. When Jesus was pre-sent, they needed no money, scrip (bag), orshoes, as we see in verse 35. But now, some-thing different is going to take place: the disci-ples, and with them the Church of Jesus Christ,should properly prepare. In my service, when I travel, I must have money with me; my mes-sage must be prepared; I must buy a planeticket, and preferably an insurance policy incase of cancellation; in other words, one doesthe normal, sensible things like anyone else onplanet earth. This also has spiritual application:“Think not that I am come to send peace onearth: I came not to send peace, but a sword”(Matthew 10:34).
What we do know with absolute certaintyis what we learn from the Acts of the Apos-tles, the epistles, and early Christians. Theynever physically defended themselvesagainst the enemy. That was later addedwhen politics became religionized and reli-gion became politicized. That, unfortunately,
is the case in to-day’s politicizedchurch. We shouldlearn what itmeans to be in theworld but not ofthe world. 6786(See The Sure Foundation
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The last shooting murder in Iceland occurred in 2007.Anton Brink Hansen / for NBC News
I S R A E L
Canadian Companies Need Israel’s Spy DronesIsrael Aerospace Industries haspartnered with Canada’s L3 MASto offer the state-of-the-artArtemis Unmanned Aerial Systemfor the Royal Canadian Air Force’sRemotely Piloted Aircraft System(RPAS) program, the company an-nounced.
Even though Israel is not a member ofthe Missile Technology Control
Regime—an informal voluntary associationof 35 countries which act to limit trade inUAS systems that can deliver Weapons ofMass Destruction (WMDs)—it has agreed toonly export strategic weapons systems suchas combat UAVs to member countries, suchas Canada.
Ottawa has been seeking a high-altitude,long-endurance system for surveillance ofits vast northern regions as well as an armedMALE UAV for its deployments abroad.
“The Artemis UAS is uniquely positionedto assist Canada in preserving its nationalsecurity and sovereignty interests at homeand abroad,” read a statement released byIAI.
According to IAI, L3 MAS will be the primecontractor and will be building on its exten-sive In-Service Support (ISS), airworthiness,
integrated logistics and program manage-ment experience.
L3 MAS, which is located in Mirabel, Que-bec, will also lead the Artemis Canadian in-dustrial team, including Pratt & WhitneyCanada, which will provide the power plantfor the UAS, as well as other prominentCanadian partners to be named at a laterdate.
The Heron TPs are IAI’s most ad-vanced UAVs with 40-hourendurance, maximum take-offweight of 11,685 pounds and apayload of 2,204 pounds. Theycan be used for both reconnais-sance as well as combat andsupport roles, and can carry air-to-ground missiles to take outhostile targets.
While IAI’s export Heron TPvariant is almost identical to thecompany’s domestic version, theexport variant carries a 992-pound payload in order to allowmembers of the Missile Technol-
ogy Control Regime to procure the UAV.-www.jpost.com, 4 June 2018
Commentary: Although not a member ofthe Missile Technology Control Regime,comprised of 35 member countries, Israelis already leading the technology.
Reading prophecy concerning Israel, onesenses Israel is racing toward world leader-ship: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In thosedays it shall come to pass, that ten men shalltake hold out of all languages of the nations,even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is
a Jew, saying, Wewill go with you:for we have heardthat God is withyou” (Zechariah8:23). 6780(See Prophecy for Ju-
dah, Item #1084,
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An Israel Aero Space Industries (IAI) Heron 1 un-manned aerial vehicle (UAV) stands on the tarmac dur-ing a media presentation at the airbase in the centralSwiss town of Emmen September 20, 2012. (photocredit: REUTERS/ARND WIEGMANN)
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J A PA N
Canon Shuts 80-YearHistory of Film CamerasCanon announced it wouldend sales of its EOS-1v, the lastremaining model of film cam-era that the company has soldin Japan. The company’s filmcameras, which symbolizeCanon’s old-time roots, willcome to the end of their 80-
year history.As the sales offilm cameras
have been on a de-cline due to thespread of digital cam-
eras, the companystopped the production of the EOS-1v
in 2010 and currently is shipping its remain-ing stock.
The company said it will continue to ac-cept repair orders and other customer in-quiries until Oct. 31, 2025, even afterfinishing selling the product.
Canon’s film cameras have a sales his-tory of about 80 years since the company’spredecessor released the Hansa Canon in1936, having developed it from a prototype.
-the-japan-news.com, 31 May 2018
Commentary: One technology simplyburies the previous one. That’s what’scalled success.
In opposition, we are reminded of theprophet Isaiah: “The grass withereth, theflower fadeth: but the word of our Godshall stand for ever. O Zion, that bringestgood tidings, get thee up into the highmountain; O Jerusalem, that bringestgood tidings, lift up thy voice withstrength; lift it up, be not afraid; say untothe cities of Judah, Behold your God!Behold, the Lord God will come withstrong hand, and his arm shall rule forhim: behold, his reward is with him, andhis work before him” (Isaiah 40:8-10).Reliance upon His Word is eternally se-cure and unchanging. 6783(See Life-changing Bible Verses You Should Know, Item
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U S A
Amazon Wristband TracksWarehouse WorkersAmazon has patented designs fora wristband that can preciselytrack where warehouse employeesare placing their hands and use vi-brations to nudge them in a differ-ent direction.
When someone orders a product fromAmazon, the details are transmitted to the
handheld computers that all warehouse staffcarry. Upon receiving the order details, the workermust rush to retrieve the product from one ofmany inventory bins on shelves, pack it into a de-livery box and move on to the next assignment.
The proposed wristbands would use ultra-sonic tracking to identify the precise locationof a worker’s hands as they retrieve items.One of the patents outlines a haptic feedbacksystem that would vibrate against the wearer’sskin to point their hand in the right direction.
The result? Human workers can fulfill moreorders—until robots develop the dexterity toreplace them altogether.
The wristbands are, according to the patentdocuments, first spotted by GeekWire, de-signed as a labor-saving measure to keeptrack of products throughout the warehouse.
A less generous interpretation would bethat the wristbands provide Amazon manage-ment with new workplace surveillance capa-bilities that can identify the workers wastingtime scratching, fidgeting or dilly-dallying.
Amazon already has a reputation for turninglow-paid staff into “human robots”—workingalongside thousands of proper robots—car-rying out repetitive packaging tasks as fast aspossible in an attempt to hit goals set byhandheld computers.
This month, the 24-year-old warehouse workerAaron Callaway described having just 15 seconds
to scan items and place them into the rightcart during his night shifts at an Amazonwarehouse in the UK. “My main interaction iswith the robots,” he said.
-www.theguardian.com, 31 January 2018
Commentary: As repeatedly mentioned in thiscolumn, man becomes more and more de-pendent on his own inventions. Robotic ac-tivity is increasing, as Mr. Callaway stated:“My main interaction is with the robots.”
Welcome to the new age of automationand robotics! Some fear it will take awayjobs from people, but that fear has provento be unsubstantiated since the beginningof the Industrial Revolution.
Nevertheless, we point to the fact thatman becomes increasingly part of the ma-chine. Since a machine does not have a souland a spirit, man’s spirit becomes more and
more dull. Thus, thewarning: believers,be cautious not toneglect time withyour Creator.
6788(See How to Study the Bible
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LThe proposed wristbands would use ultra-sonic tracking to identify the precise loca-tion of a worker’s hands as they retrieveitems. Photograph: Amazon / USPTO
C H I N A
Rapidly Advancing WarMachineChina is rapidly building spaceweapons and other advancedarms infused with artificial intelli-gence capabilities as part of Bei-jing’s bid for military dominance,according to a congressionallysponsored study.
Anti-satellite missiles and orbiting killersatellites, swarms of attack drones, hy-
personic missiles, maneuvering warheads,lasers, and high-speed rail guns are key sys-tems China is fielding in the coming years in abid to leap ahead of the U.S. military supremacy.
“All of China’s advanced weapons systemsare moving forward at ‘full speed’ and are allseen as ‘priorities given [China’s] overarchingemphasis on finding a vulnerability in the U.S.armor,’” the report warns, quoting a 2013Chinese military strategy.
The study examined five advanced armsbeing developed by China: space weapons,unmanned vehicles, maneuverable missilewarheads, directed energy weapons, andelectromagnetic railguns.
The strategic competition between Chinaand the United States, from Beijing’s view, isdesigned to counter what China perceives asregional efforts to “contain” Chinese hege-mony, the report said.
“China views its role as capitalizing on theopportunities presented by globalization andthe informatization of society to propel itselfforward economically, socially, and techno-logically,” the report said.
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A key capability the Chinese military is pur-suing is artificial intelligence—the fusing ofmasses of data with high-speed computing toproduce weapons capable of reacting veryquickly without human intervention.
“Artificial intelligence stands out as an es-pecially powerful catalyst of the developmentof ‘gamechanging’ military capabilities,” thereport said. “China recognizes that AI willtransform warfare.”
-freebeacon.com, 11 May 2018
Commentary: China is the world’s most pop-ulous country. It seems destined to be thelargest single country economically in theworld.
As repeatedly highlighted in this col-umn, China has an ancient history and verymuch desires to be the deciding nation onthe Asian continent.
It is of interest that virtually all nationsnow call their war machines defense,which actually began with Hitler’s Ger-many, when the military was calledWehrmacht (“defense power”). Of course,they did the opposite; aggressively attack-ing other nations, even Russia, which hadsigned a non-aggression pact with Hitler’sgovernment.
‘War Department’ or ‘Defense Department’Here we must not allow political opinionand rhetoric to have its day. Regarding thenations of the world and their intentions, theprophet Joel proclaims: “Proclaim ye thisamong the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake upthe mighty men, let all the men of war drawnear; let them come up: Beat your plow-shares into swords and your pruninghooksinto spears: let the weak say, I am strong”(Joel 3:9-10). That simply means, as long asthere are nations—political identities—therewill be weapons of war. While each claims itis for defense, in reality it is aggression.
Joel speaks about the end times, the fi-nal judgment of the nations, as the nexttwo verses proclaim: “Assemble your-selves, and come, all ye heathen, andgather yourselves together round about:thither cause thy mighty ones to comedown, O Lord. Let the heathen be wak-ened, and come up to the valley of Je-hoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge allthe heathen round about” (Joel 3:11-12).What will be the end result? “The Lordalso shall roar out of Zion, and utter hisvoice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and
the earth shallshake: but the Lordwill be the hope ofhis people, and thestrength of the chil-dren of Israel”(verse 16). 6764(See End-Times Super
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N E T H E R L A N D S
Create Life from Nothing?The experimental research com-bined two types of stem cells andcreated a viable embryo—whichthe team say would provide an un-limited stock for medical research.
The created embryos would also be usedfor medical treatment testing and help
shed light on one of the biggest infertility enig-mas—why embryos fail to implant in the womb.
However critics say it is a huge step to-wards human cloning.
Lead researcher, Professor Nicholas Rivronof Maastricht University, said the main use forthe embryos would be to test drugs and solvethe infertility riddle.
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge of the Fran-cis Crick Institute added while the experimentwas a huge breakthrough for modern science,it may come as a relief it cannot be replicatedin humans yet.
Cloning continues to fascinate the scienceworld, particularly after Dolly the Sheep madeheadlines across the globe in 1996.
-www.express.co.uk, 3 May 2018
Commentary: Man will not cease in his at-tempt to create something from “nothing.”That, of course, he cannot do.
Creation, from a Biblical perspective,means to speak something into existence.As we can read in the first page of ourBible: “And God said, Let there be light:and there was light. And God saw the light,that it was good: and God divided the lightfrom the darkness. And God called the lightDay, and the darkness he called Night. Andthe evening and the morning were the firstday” (Genesis 1:3-5). All other so-called“creation” really means alteration.
Regarding Bible prophecy, we knowthat the false prophet demonstrates a sign:“And he doeth great wonders, so that hemaketh fire come down from heaven on theearth in the sight of men” (Revelation13:13). Yet, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 exposesthis supernatural sign: “Even him, whose
coming is afterthe working ofSatan with allpower and signsand lying won-ders.”
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War Machine (continued from page 28)
The experimental research combinedtwo types of stem cells
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S W E D E N
Alarmed by Cash-free SocietyIt is hard to argue that you cannottrust the government when thegovernment isn’t really all that bad.This is the problem facing thesmall but growing number ofSwedes anxious about their coun-try’s rush to embrace a cash-freesociety.
Most consumers already say theymanage without cash altogether, while
shops and cafes increasingly refuse to acceptnotes and coins because of the costs and riskinvolved. Until recently, however, it has beenhard for critics to find a hearing.
“The Swedish government is a rather niceone, we have been lucky enough to havemostly nice ones for the past 100 years,”says Christian Engström, a former MEP forthe Pirate Party and an early opponent of thecashless economy.
“In other countries there is much moreawareness that you cannot trust the govern-ment all the time. In Sweden it is hard to getpeople mobilized.”
There are signs this might be changing. InFebruary, the head of Sweden’s central bankwarned that Sweden could soon face a situa-tion where all payments were controlled byprivate sector banks.
The Riksbank governor, Stefan Ingves,called for new legislation to secure publiccontrol over the payments system, arguingthat being able to make and receive paymentsis a “collective good” like defense, the courts,or public statistics.
“Most citizens would feel uncomfortable tosurrender these social functions to privatecompanies,” he said.
The central bank governor’s remarks arehelping to bring other concerns about a cash-free society into the mainstream, says BjörnEriksson, 72, a former national police com-missioner and the leader of a group called theCash Rebellion, or Kontantupproret.
Until now, Kontantupproret has beendismissed as the voice of the elderly andthe technologically backward, Erikssonsays.
“When you have a fully digital systemyou have no weapon to defend yourself ifsomeone turns it off,” he says.
The best case scenario is that we arenot as secure as we think, says MattiasSkarec, 29, a digital security consultant—the worst is that IT infrastructure is sys-temically vulnerable.
“We are lucky that the people who knowhow to hack into them are on the goodside, for now,” he says. “But we don’tknow how things will progress. It’s notthat easy to attack devices today, butmaybe it will become easier to do so in thefuture.”
The Pirate Par ty—whichmade its name in Swedenfor its opposition to stateand private sector surveil-lance—welcomes a higherpolitical profile for theseissues.
And while Sweden’sgovernment might be rela-tively benign, a quick lookat Europe suggests there isno guarantee how thingsmight develop in the fu-ture.
“If you have control of theservers belonging to Visa or Mas-terCard, you have control of Swe-den,” Engström says.
-www.theguardian.com
3 April 2018
Commentary: This, in short, de-scribes total digital control.
Neutral Sweden, EU member,can show an excellent report card.Their 2017 per capita GDP was$51,300. They have a life ex-
pectancy of 82.1 years. Wealth distribution inSweden is noteworthy; the lowest 10% earnersconsume 3.4% of the national income, whilethe top 10% consume 24% (USA: lowest 10%consume 2%, highest 10% consume 30%).
Cash takes on new meaning, since digi-tal money is growing exponentially theworld over. Cash can avoid control; digitalcash cannot.
Regardless of the various developmentsthe world over, in the end, total control
will be imple-mented religiously,commercially andeconomically.
6733(See Revelation 13: Satan’s
Last Victory, Item #1067,
SALE $8.)
L Shops and cafes in Sweden increasingly refuse to acceptnotes. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo
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“To the only wise Godour Saviour, be gloryand majesty, dominionand power, both nowand ever” (Jude 25).
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In the Upper Egyptian city ofMinya, five Christian familieswork in a printing house.
They produce and distribute agreat deal of Christian literature,particularly tracts and books.This work supports families to-taling 36 people. The printinghouse has a good reputation, be-cause the brothers and sisters inthe faith go to great lengths tocomplete each assignment at the right time.
Unfortunately, the press hasn’t worked properly inseveral years. It frequently stalls, and at the moment isalso losing oil. Despite various repairs, inspections, andreplacement of old parts, too many pages are comingout of the press with black streaks or even creases. This
costs more effort, patience, ink, andpaper. And it means that some jobsaren’t completed on time, eventhough our brothers and sisterswork late into the night. Threeyears ago, they were able to installnew cylinders for the old machine.
On my last business trip in No-vember 2017, however, I saw thatthe machine can no longer workproperly. There was so much
smearing on the pages. So, in faith, I forwarded the re-quest for a new press to Midnight Call Ministries. Thisproject was prayed over by the Midnight Call commu-nity during prayer time. And, as always, we trust in ourLord, who has blessed this work in Egypt for years,where it isn’t easy to print tracts. (MR0518)
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, whichye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints,and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
In Upper Egypt, several Christians operate a printing press to spread the Gospel.
The old printing press in Minya
New Printing Press for EgyptBy Elia Morise
32 M I D N I G H T C A L L Visit midnightcall.com32 M I D N I G H T C A L L
Ebenezer is like no other place I’ve been. Withboth staff and residents believing in Yeshua,it sets it apart in a very special way, with
Yeshua at the center of our lives.As a volunteer,
I had the option tocome serve any-where from 6-24months. I chose 6months, but soonrealized I did notwant to leave, andquickly decided toextend my time
here to as long as possible. I smile as I hear thenewer volunteers commonly exclaim after their firstmonth serving, “I just can’t imagine leaving afteronly 6 months. It goes by so quickly and I feel like I just arrived, and yet I’ve already spent 1/6 of mytime here. I can’t possibly leave so soon!”
We all feel the same way…being a volunteer is a re-ally special experience! From the bonds of friendshipthat are quickly made, to your faith being challengedand deepened in a special way…it’s just really hard toput into words what life is like here. When you comewith the attitude of giving Yeshua your all, you soonrealize just how blessed you are in the process of serv-ing. Yes, it’s hard work. There are days that are chal-lenging, situations that are hard, but this soon makesyou realize just how much God’s grace IS sufficient,and just how much His mercies are new every singlemorning! It makes you realize just how much weneed to daily depend upon His strength and not leanon our own frailty. There is no doubt that the buildingof a Nursing Ward and upgrading of the Home will beof great value for the community of believers in Israel,no matter what background they come from.
It’s taught me so much about compassion, trying toreally understand each other, and loving uncondition-ally. At the end of the day, we all know what really
N U R S I N G W A R D P R O J E C T
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ebenezer
Note: Donations forthe project bycheck/money ordershould be made out toMidnight Call, andspecify Ebenezer Homein the memo line.
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From A Volunteer’s Perspective at theEbenezer Home - Haifa“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all tothe glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
N U R S I N G W A R D P R O J E C T
matters…faith in Yeshua as our Lord and Savior. Itdoesn’t matter what Christian background or denom-ination you come from. We all set our differencesaside and focus on what is truly important: lovingYeshua with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind,and loving our neighbor as ourselves. When you trulybegin to seek Yeshua with your whole heart, you willbe surprised at the truths that come alive here in theland of Israel. The Word of God truly comes alive!
You learn to truly rejoice with those who re-joice, and mourn with those who mourn. At times,you find yourself laughing and having fun with
the residents; but then you also find yourself hold-ing them while they mourn the loss of a closefriend, or listening to them while they share theirhearts with you. At other times, you find yourselfsitting on their beds and praying with them, orsharing what God has been teaching you in theWord, encouraging each other, etc. Whether it’sthe staff, residents, or volunteers, we all seem likeone big family in Yeshua, with one goal in mind:that whatever we do, we would do it all to theglory of God.
Celebrate 70 Years Israel with Us! In honor of Israel’s 70th birthday, thestaff of Midnight Call Ministries hasdesigned a t-shirt appropriate toshow your support and love for thenation.
Israel has a future like no othercountry in the world: “He showeth hisword unto Jacob, his statutes and hisjudgments unto Israel. He hath notdealt so with any nation: and as forhis judgments, they have not knownthem. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm147:19-20).Yes, God has not dealt so with any
nation in the world except Israel. Takeadvantage of this opportunity to cele-brate 70 years of Israel in their landagain.
Three colorsavailable!
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Send check or money order to: Midnight Call Ministries • PO Box 84309 • Lexington, SC 29073
This is quite an amazing prophecy,which Zacharias the priest utters,inspired by the Holy Spirit.
We immediately note that Zachariasdisregards time. He made statementssuch as, “hath visited and redeemed hispeople.” That was even before the birthof Christ. And, in verse 71 he states,“That we should be saved from our ene-mies, and from the hand of all that hateus.” That’s something that hasn’t hap-pened for 2,000 years. The Jews havenot been saved from their enemies. Sev-eral reliable organizations report thatanti-Semitism is on the rise across theworld, but Zacharias says they’re saved“…from the hand of all that hate us.”
Oh, what wonderful propheticwords! The word is true, reliable, andeternal. Time, as we understand andmeasure it, does not exist from a heav-enly perspective. Old Zacharias thepriest declares Israel’s coming salvationand the completion thereof, ignoringthe 2,000 years that lie in between.
Reputable historians claim that morethan 14 million Jews have been killedsince the destruction of the second tem-ple in 70 AD. The worst carnage in Jew-ish history was the Holocaust, whenGermany—under Hitler’s rule—deci-mated 6 million Jews systematicallythroughout Europe. But Zacharias men-tions no such thing; he just tells us thatthe light of the Gentiles has come, andfor the Jews, the best is yet to come.
In the meantime, Russia recognized(West) Jerusalem as the capital city ofIsrael in April 2017. Eight months later,US President Donald Trump too recog-nized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
May 14, Israel’s 70th anniversary oftheir independence, was the day pickedto symbolically open the American em-bassy in the city of Jerusalem. Not all,but a large part of Israelis rejoiced atthat event, the opening ceremony of thetemporary embassy in Jerusalem. Thus,the question: why not all? Because, hu-manly speaking, it is all but impossible
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hathvisited and redeemed his people, And hathraised up an horn of salvation for us in thehouse of his servant David; As he spake by themouth of his holy prophets, which have beensince the world began: That we should be savedfrom our enemies, and from the hand of all thathate us” (Luke 1:68-71).
Ac ion for Israel
MIDNIGHT CALL
34 M I D N I G H T C A L L
BY ARNO FROESE
AUGUST 2018 35
for Israel to erase the Arabs’ long historyin the city of Jerusalem. So, we ask:what is Jerusalem’s future? Will EastJerusalem become the capital city of astill nonexistent Arab Palestinian state?That is the policy of virtually all coun-tries in the world.
However, we emphasize that’s not fi-nal, because Jerusalem has another des-tiny; it is “the house of the God ofJacob.” Here is what the prophet Micahwrites: “And many nations shall come,and say, Come, and let us go up to themountain of the Lord, and to the houseof the God of Jacob; and he will teach usof his ways, and we will walk in hispaths: for the law shall go forth of Zion,and the word of the Lord fromJerusalem. And he shall judge among
many people, and rebuke strong nationsafar off; and they shall beat their swordsinto plowshares, and their spears intopruninghooks: nation shall not lift up asword against nation, neither shall theylearn war any more” (Micah 4:2-3).
It’s the time when the Messiah of Is-rael, the King of the Jews and Savior ofthe world, will return to Jerusalem andorder world peace: no more war, nomore weapons. All military schools andcolleges will be closed, “…neither shallthey learn war any more.” That is whatthe prophetic Word is all about; itshows the beginning and the end, butoften does not give details about thetime in between. Nevertheless, we arefully convinced that what God haspromised He will fulfill in His time.
Mail to: Midnight Call Ministries, PO Box 84309, Lexington, SC 29073
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“I will bless them thatbless thee...” (Genesis 12:3).
Ac ion for Israel
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May 14, Israel’s 70th anniversary of their independence, was theday picked to symbolically open the American embassy in the cityof Jerusalem. Not all, but a large part of Israelis rejoiced at thatevent, the opening ceremony of the temporary embassy inJerusalem.
Catholic ChurchDear Bro. Froese,
My concerns are as follows: theCatholic Church is NOT the onlyglobal religious institution around.The body of Christ (the church) isworldwide and actively engaged in es-tablishing local assemblies, hospitals,schools, etc. One way or another, thisis proof of nothing. Satan, as “the godof this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), promotes“good works” across the globe. It is allpart of his deception.
My greatest concern is your state-ment that “the Catholic Church isbuilt upon the sure foundation of theScripture.” Nothing could be furtherfrom the truth! Catholicism is builtupon lies, deception, worldwide chi-canery, and the traditions and doc-trines of men. It is a damnable system,evolving and growing over the years asone of Satan’s masterpieces.
-R. Ives, WI
Answer: The Catholic Church, as a religious in-
stitution, is global like no other. The body of
Christ is a non-organizational identity; and,
you are correct, the Church is global.
In the Catholic Catechism, under Profession
of Faith, Article 1, the Revelation of God, item
93 states: “Christian faith cannot accept ‘reve-
lations’ that claim to surpass or correct the
Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment…”
And, item 107 partially reads: “…We must ac-
knowledge that the books of Scripture firmly,
faithfully, and without error teach that truth
which God, for the sake of our salvation,
wished to see confided to the Sacred Scrip-
tures.”
However, interpreting Scripture is another
story. Much can be said about many Protes-
tant churches as well. Doubtless, horrible mis-
takes—and yes, outright deception—have
been committed by the organizational institu-
tion of the Catholic Church. But the Word of
God is read and multitudes have broken
through to a living faith in Jesus. Why they re-
main active members in the Catholic
Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Midnight Call, P.O. Box 84309, Lexington, SC
29073. Include full name, address, and daytime phone number. Without name and address, letters will
be discarded unread. All material is subject to editing. Midnight Call assumes all publishing rights on
letters sent to the Editor.
Note: All letters will be answered by the Executive Editor, Arno Froese.
36 M I D N I G H T C A L L Visit midnightcall.com36 M I D N I G H T C A L L
AUGUST 2018 37 % 1-800-845-2420
Church—and for that matter many
others who follow questionable
teachings—lies not in my jurisdic-
tion to judge. I claim Philippians 1:18:
“What then? notwithstanding, every
way, whether in pretence, or in truth,
Christ is preached; and I therein do
rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
Original LanguageDear Editor,
I have been reading Mid-night Call for some time. I have two questions which I have never seen answered.
Question 1: What languagedid Adam and Eve speak, ifany?
Question 2: What universallanguage was spoken at theTower of Babel, prior to God’sconversion to many languagesworldwide?
Thank you.-T. Myers, FL
Answer: There is no scientific or fac-
tual explanation regarding the lan-
guage spoken by Adam and Eve. The
best explanation, however, comes
from the Jews. Here is an answer
from a rabbi:
“We see evidence that Adam
spoke Hebrew because he gave Eve
two names, each of which makes
sense only in Hebrew. He called her
isha (woman) because ‘she was taken
from ish (man),’ and he called her
Chava (Eve) because ‘she was to be
Mother of all chai (life).’ The very
name Adam is from the Hebrew
word adamah (earth), referring to
the fact that G-d created Adam from
the earth.”
This should also answer question
two, since all the world spoke one
language.
Lost ForeverDear Editor,
I am writing to you regard-ing Letters to the Editor. Inthe letter on “Eternal Punish-ment,” you quote Revelation20:15. This is in regard to theGreat White Throne Judg-ment, Revelation 20:11-15.Verse 14 says, “And death andhell were cast into the lake offire. This is the second death.”Revelation 21:8, referring toall kinds of sinners, says theirpunishment is the seconddeath. How do you reconcilethese verses?
What about the multitudesof people who have neverheard the gospel even once?Do they suffer eternal punish-ment too? Then there is Gene-sis 3:22-24. God did not wantanyone to eat of the tree of lifeand live forever.
Revelation 20:10 says thedevil, the beast and falseprophet are tormented dayand night forever. Do unsaved,ordinary people suffer likethat? This is no problem forme personally, because I havebeen born again. But I amafraid for many relatives andothers who have not beenborn again. Then I think aboutthe multitudes of people whohave never heard the gospeleven once. What happens tothem?
I would really appreciatehow you reconcile these seem-ing contradictions!
-K. Friends, WI
Answer: Eternal punishment means
forever and ever; I dare not change it.
Please keep in mind that death does
not mean non-existence. Our physi-
cal death means absent from all that
is called the earth. The second death
means absent from all that is called
God and heaven.
What happens to those who
never heard the saving gospel of Je-
sus Christ? The Bible does not give
an answer to that question, so I bet-
ter do likewise. However, I think Ro-
mans 2:14 is helpful: “For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do
by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves.” That,
however, does not change John
3:36: “He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life: and he that be-
lieveth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on
him.”
Humanity knows by nature what
is good and what is evil. Why? Be-
cause our first parents had eaten of
the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. Besides, the Holy Spirit was
poured out upon the world to con-
vict man of sin; that means, there is
no excuse for anyone.
Horizontal RaptureMr. Arno Froese:
Where is one place inMatthew 24 that tells of a hori-zontal rapture? Quite evidently,there is none.
Letters to the Editor
Matthew 24:21: “For thenshall be great tribulation, suchas was not since the beginningof the world to this time, no,nor ever shall be.”
Verse 29: “Immediately AF-TER the tribulation of thosedays shall the sun be darkened,and the moon shall not giveher light, and the stars shall fallfrom heaven, and the powers ofthe heavens shall be shaken.”
Verse 30: “And then shall ap-pear the sign of the Son of man[Jesus] in heaven: and thenshall all the tribes of the earthmourn, and they shall see theSon of man coming in theclouds of heaven with powerand great glory.”
Verse 31: “And he shall sendhis angels with a great sound ofa trumpet [the Last Trump],and they shall gather togetherhis elect from the four winds,from one end of heaven to theother.”
We will be caught up to bewith the Lord at this LastTrump.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2: “Nowwe beseech you, brethren, bythe coming of our Lord JesusChrist, and by our gatheringtogether unto him [the rap-ture], That ye be not soonshaken in mind, or be troubled,neither by spirit, nor by word,nor by letter as from us, as thatthe day of Christ is at hand.”
Those who teach a pretribu-lation rapture are preparingthe hearts of the people to re-ceive the Anti-Christ, when he
appears on the scene doinggreat signs and wonders, be-cause they are taught that Je-sus must come first.
-J. Daniels, KS
Answer: Matthew 24 is addressed
to Israel. We read in verse 31 that
the Lord sends His angels to gather
His elect “from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other.” We
note that it does not say where to.
Yet, the next verse clearly speaks of
Israel.
First Thessalonians 4:14-18 speaks
to the Church. In this case, the Lord
does not send His angels, but He
Himself comes in the clouds of
heaven. The meeting place is re-
vealed: “in the air.” That is the verti-
cal rapture; the other I call the
horizontal rapture, when the Lord
will gather all of Israel to the
Promised Land. This gathering to
their land is prophesied, for exam-
ple, in Ezekiel 39:28b, “I have gath-
ered them unto their own land, and
have left none of them any more
there.”
The StoneDear Mr. Froese,
I’ve come across a new min-istry: Stone Kingdom Ministryof Asheville, NC, headed byJames Bruggeman. He tracesDaniel’s prophecy of the stonecut without hand, which de-stroyed all the different kingdomspictured by Nebuchadnezzar’sstatue made of different metals:from the head of gold down tothe feet of iron mixed with clay.He believes that the Stone
kingdom is the USA, which co-incides with my belief system.
God’s use of metaphor isquite precise; His calling for abird of prey from the FAREAST in Isaiah 46 is moreproper in these end times.ALL birds of prey are strictlysolitary, unlike in the animalkingdom where tigers are justone of a few solitary preda-tors. You will soon get to talkwith John the Revelator. Didhe see the activity of the birdof prey?
-G. Sison, NY
Answer: Regarding the interpreta-
tion of the prophecy of Daniel, there
are different opinions among schol-
ars and laymen alike. What we know
for sure is that the four Gentile king-
doms can be identified as: 1) Baby-
lon 2) Persia 3) Greece 4) Rome. The
mixture of the clay with the iron
points to the Jewish people, as the
clay. This is not unusual because Is-
rael, during Samuel’s time, wanted
to be just like the heathen nations;
they chose a king instead of God.
Even today, modern Israel, in their
Declaration of Independence, clearly
states they want to be just like all
the nations of the world. So when
we read in Daniel 2 about the mix-
ture of the iron with the clay, then
we must realize the clay represents
the Jews (see also Jeremiah 18:6 and
Isaiah 64:8).
I am not familiar with the “Stone
Kingdom Ministry,” but I can tell you
with assurance the “Stone kingdom”
is no other nation on planet earth
except one—Israel.
38 M I D N I G H T C A L L Visit midnightcall.com38 M I D N I G H T C A L L
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7-8 October 2018 Sands Resorts
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The key word is “waiting.” This man, Simeon, was waiting.
Why? Because he was “just and devout.” In plain words,
he was totally honest and dedicated to the prophetic
Scripture, which promised the consolation, the Redeemer, the
Messiah of Israel.
During the last few years, we have been bombarded with
all kinds of sensational reports. Unfortunately, lots of predic-
tions issued from the Christian camp, which proved not to be
true.
That’s just another reason why we are looking forward to
this year’s Atlantic Coast Prophecy Congress, which will be
held under the theme “Israel at 70.” We will spend this time
studying, hearing and reading what Scripture says.
It is significant that Simeon made a revealing prophecy: “A
light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel”
(Luke 2:32). Interestingly, the Gentiles are mentioned first, as
for about 2,000 years, the bulk of Christianity has been made
up of Gentiles, not Jews. But, in the end it says, “…and the glory
of thy people Israel.”
Here are the last two message synopses from speakers at
the Congress:
JEFF KINLEYWake the Bride: A Compelling Call to the ChurchThe book of Revelation was written, not just to inform, but to
transform the Bride, and to help prepare her for the return of
her Bridegroom. The portrait of the risen Christ from Chapter 1,
along with the portrayal of the Church in Chapters 2-3, com-
bine for a trumpet blast of truth, awakening today’s Chris-
tians from their slumber, and motivating them to live with
purity and purpose in these last days.
VICTOR KALISHERAt 70...So How Do I Look? We will examine the current happenings in Israel and what
the Lord is doing there today at 70. What is the current situa-
tion of the Messianic movement in Israel, and where is it
heading? How can the global Church and the Messianic
movement strengthen their unity to impact Israel?
I hope you are preparing for this event that will take place 7-
8 October 2018, at the beautiful Sands Resorts right on the
Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
REGISTER NOWWe eagerly await your registration for this Prophecy Con-
gress. Just in case, if for any reason, at any time you find that
you cannot attend the Congress, your registration fee will be
fully and cheerfully refunded. However, when it comes to
room reservations, the hotel’s policy is applicable. Whatever
your decision, it is important that you register and make your
room reservations now, because this event is going to take
place in just two months.
“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation ofIsrael: and the Holy Ghost was upon him” (Luke 2:25).
MIDNIGHT CALL
URGENT! Make
ReservationNOW!
AUGUST 2018 39
2 0 1 8 A T L A N T I C C O A S T P R O P H E C Y C O N G R E S S
Jeff Kinley is on a lifelong mission to empower peo-ple with God’s vintage, lifechanging truth. The authorof 31 books, Jeff served as youth pastor and seniorpastor for over three decades in churches rangingfrom small community congregations to mega-churchsize. Jeff is known as a “discerner of the times,” andhas been described as a “rising voice in the world of
Bible Prophecy.” He delivers a unique communication style that con-nects with this generation, engaging them with biblical truth in a posi-tive, practical way. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas (BA)and Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM). Jeff and wife Beverly have beenmarried for 35 years and have 3 grown sons. His website isjeffkinley.com
Ron Bigalke is the Georgia State Minister with CapitolCommission, and missionary with Biblical MinistriesWorldwide. Dr. Bigalke has more than twenty years ofexperience in numerous discipleship and evangelisticministries. He is a frequent contributor to and editorfor various publications through Eternal Ministries.His church and leadership experience includes confer-
ence speaking, pastoral ministry, pulpit ministry, and youth ministry. Dr. Bigalke is an ordained minister, and serves as a research associatewith the University of Pretoria (missions and ethics project). He and hiswife Kristin have two children.
Victor Kalisher is Director of The Bible Society in Is-rael and elder of a local messianic congregation inJerusalem. He was born in Jerusalem in 1964. His par-ents are Jews who came to Israel following the Holo-caust, and with the establishment of the state ofIsrael in 1948. Both came to saving faith in Yeshua theMessiah shortly after and became one of the first
Messianic families in Israel.Victor Kalisher has been leading the work of The Bible Society in Is-
rael for the last 10 years, after 18 years of working at a leading high-techcompany and 6 years of service in the Israeli Navy as an officer. He ismarried to Esther and together they have 4 girls: Roni, Naomi, Odeyaand Gili.
Wilfred Hahn comes from Canada. He is known for hiswritings and insights on present-day world economicand money trends, viewed from a Biblical perspective.He has global investment industry experience span-ning three decades, having held various executive po-sitions from Director of Research for a major WallStreet firm, to Chairman of Canada’s largest global in-
vestment group.
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight CallMinistries U.S.A. and editor-in-chief of the critically-acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call andNews from Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecyconferences in the U.S., Canada and Israel.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
❏ Sand Dunes OF Jr. Suite $82/night❏ Sand Dunes 1 Bdrm Suite $92/night❏ Sand Dunes 2 Bdrm Suite $132/night❏ Sand Dunes 3 Bdrm Suite $152/night
CONGRESS REGISTRATIONMail to: Midnight CallPO Box 84309, Lexington, SC 29073
Registration by phone:(800) 845-2420 or (803) 755-0733 Web: midnightcall.com/acpc2018
MC0818 HOTEL RESERVATIONMail to: Group Sales Dept., Sands Resorts, PO Box 2998, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578Reservations: (800) 599-9872 or Fax (843) 449-1652 Please mention Atlantic Coast Prophecy Congress when calling.
Registration Fee: $59 per person (under 18 free)# in party: ______x $59 Total Registration $ ________________# Banquet: ______x $48 Total for Banquet $ ________________ Total Enclosed $ ________________
Your Name:____________________________________________
Security Code:_______ Signature:_____________________________40 M I D N I G H T C A L L
AUGUST 2018 41
Midnight Call’s August Resource Guide
Bible charts, maps, and time lines for study and teachingThis carefully researched and visually stunning resource helps orient you to the ideas,events, places, and people of the Bible in a memorable way. With a spiral binding to aidin reproduction for classroom use, The Baker Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and TimeLines will quickly become one of your primary resources for biblical study.
It features more than 100 pages of memorable Bible charts • 25 pages of detailed maps • 25 pages of time lines and archaeology • 25 pages of stunning illustrations and reconstructions
THE BAKER BOOK OF BIBLE CHARTS, MAPS, AND TIME LINES ITEM #2318 240 pgs. • Casebound
$29.99 Sale $25 Editor: John A. Beck
Grasp the majesty, beauty, and significance of God'sdwelling placesVisually stunning and theologically rich, this full-color resource brings together the latestscholarship and archeological discoveries to make God's dwelling places come alive formodern believers. It places these important structures in their historical and theologicalcontexts, connects them with the overall biblical story, and shows how they bring meaning anddepth to the faith of Christians today.
THE TEMPLE AND THE TABERNACLE ITEM #2314208 pgs. • Paperback
$19.99 Sale $15 Author: J. Daniel Hays
A Clear and Reliable Guide to Each Book of the BibleWith beautiful, full-color photos, maps, and illustrations, this book-by-book companion to the
Bible provides a fascinating and carefully crafted summary of the information you need to knowto grasp the big picture of the Bible.
THE BAKER ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE BIBLEITEM #2316 • 176 pgs. • Paperback
$14.99 Sale $12Authors: J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall
ZONDERVAN HANDBOOK OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY ITEM #2339408 pgs. • Hardcover
$42.99 New Author: Randall Price
NEW
A Book by Book Guide to Archaeological DiscoveriesRelated to the Bible
42 M I D N I G H T C A L L Order online: midnightcall.com/store
MESSIANIC PSALMS ITEM #1074 384 pgs. • Paperback
$14.95 Sale $10 Author: Norbert Lieth
The Old Testament Psalms containimmense treasures!
Norbert Lieth has produced a most fascinating and immenselyinformative book titled Messianic Psalms. This book uncovers
the often hidden treasures of the Psalms, highlighting thosewhich directly relate to the Messiah.
The Olivet DiscourseChapters 24 & 25 of the book of Matthew have given birth to
numerous doctrinal stances. Largely those doctrinalstatements have revolved around eschatological issues.
Many vital questions concerning the timing of endtimeevents are dissected and addressed in the examination
of these prophetic chapters.
HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
ITEM #1060 • 208 pgs. • Paperback
$10.95 Sale $8 Author: Norbert Lieth
Read aboutSatan’s plan to
create peace andprosperity
throughdeception!
Finally, it seems the world has aleadership they can trust, admire,even worship. How Satan and his
cohorts accomplish this feat ofdeception, and how far his
preparations have progressed is thetheme of this book, Revelation 13:
Satan’s Last Victory.
REVELATION 13: SATAN’S LASTVICTORY ITEM #1067
256 pgs. • Paperback
$11.95 Sale $8Author: Arno Froese
Somethingstrange ishappening in theMideast. The awakening of the Arab nations her-alds to the world the coming greatchange—the Arabs are to be counted asan important power structure on earth.
Democracy Invades Islam reveals howthe Arab revolution will hasten the es-tablishment of the final world govern-ment under the auspices of Democracy,led by Antichrist.
DEMOCRACY INVADES ISLAM ITEM #1072
256 pgs. • Paperback
$12.95 Sale $9 Author: Arno Froese
The incredible doctrineof the return of Christcommands us to investi-gate The Great Mysteryof the Rapture.
THE GREAT MYSTERY OF THERAPTURE ITEM #1038 368 pgs. • Hardcover
$18.99 Sale $12Author: Arno Froese
GLOBAL FINANCIAL APOCALYPSE PROPHESIEDITEM #1068 • 340 pgs. • Paperback
$14.95 Sale $10Author: Wilfred J. Hahn
How will a global financial apocalypse unfold?How can believers avoid becoming prey to the lethal devices ofa rapidly encroaching, end-time money snare and remain faith-ful and free stewards? For those seeking answers, this book of-fers a guiding light in the dark days of the current turmoil.
% 1-800-845-2420 AUGUST 2018 43
Your Key to Understanding RevelationThis DVD will enable people to read the last book of theBible with renewed appreciation and a much greaterunderstanding of why it’s so important to them. A won-derful resource that’s great for use with church andhome study groups.
UNDERSTANDING REVELATION IN 60 MINUTES (DVD)ITEM #7084
$19.99 Sale $15 Speaker: Ed Hindson
DVD
What will happenduring Armageddon?
101 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE BOOK OFREVELATION ITEM #2295 256 pgs. • Paperback
$13.99 Sale $12Author: Mark Hitchcock
Uncovering the Mystery of the End TimesThe book of Revelation begins and ends with guarantees that its inspiringmessage leads to blessing. Popular Bible teacher and author Ron Rhodes
guides readers on an encouraging journey through this prophetic book,interpreting its picturesque language and revealing its reassuring promises.
40 DAYS THROUGH REVELATION ITEM #2301304 pgs. • Paperback
$13.99 Sale $12 Author: Ron Rhodes
Can Revelationbe made simple?YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEBOOK OF REVELATIONITEM #2306Paperback • 256 pgs.
$14.99 Sale $12 Author: Skip Heitzig
An Informed Response to Islam’s Warwith Christianity In The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent, readers will discoverhelpful answers to these questions and more:
• How does Islam’s growing influence affect me personally?• In what ways are our freedoms of speech and religion in
danger?• How can I extend Christ’s love to Muslims around me?
THE CROSS IN THE SHADOW OF THE CRESCENTITEM #2300 • 256 pgs. • Paperback
$14.99 Sale $12 Author: Erwin W. Lutzer
Who Is Satan? WhatIs Spiritual Warfare?
101 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONSABOUT SATAN, DEMONS, ANDSPIRITUAL WARFARE ITEM #2289
240 pgs. • Paperback
$13.99 Sale $12Author: Mark Hitchcock
44 M I D N I G H T C A L L Order online: midnightcall.com/store
Many people are unaware of the signs of the times.
WAKE THE BRIDEITEM #2302224 pgs. • Paperback
$14.99 Sale $12Author: Jeff Kinley
Everything You Needto Know About theEnd Times in OneEasy GuideANSWERS TO THE MOSTIMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUTTHE END TIMES ITEM #2312192 pgs. • Paperback
$10.99 Sale $9Author: Dr. John Hart
IRAN AND ISRAEL ITEM #2283 • 224 pgs.
Paperback
$13.99 Sale $12Author: Mark Hitchcock
A war against Iran holds frightening implications.
In Iran and Israel, Mark Hitchcock brings a strongbiblical perspective to current events, answeringthese questions and more:
• Will this put us on the road to Armageddon?• What can we expect in the days to come?• Will there ever be peace in the Middle East?
An eye-opening survey of where things stand, andhow it all ties in with Bible prophecy.
You can understandBible prophecy!In this guide, originally titledUnderstanding BibleProphecy for Yourself, you’llfind all the essentialbuilding blocks forunderstanding prophecyand more:• step-by-step examples ofhow to interpret Biblepassages on the rapture,
second coming, and millennial kingdom• charts that present a clear outline of the future• exercises to help you get a precise understanding of keyBible prophecies• a comprehensive overview of God’s plan for the future
BIBLE PROPHECY FOR EVERYONE ITEM #2305248 pgs. • Paperback
$14.99 Sale $12Author: Tim LaHaye
Understanding the Ongoing ControversiesTHE 8 GREAT DEBATES OF BIBLEPROPHECY ITEM #2287
288 pgs. • Paperback
$15.99 Sale $12Author: Ron Rhodes
What can people onEarth expect during thelast days? 15 FUTURE EVENTS THAT WILLSHAKE THE WORLD ITEM #2285212 pgs. • Paperback
$13.99 Sale $12Author: Ed Hindson
% 1-800-845-2420 AUGUST 2018 45
What to Do WhenGod Does Nothing
WAITING ON GODITEM #2311256 pgs. • Paperback
$15.99 Sale $12Author: Wayne Stiles
What Does theBible Say AboutHeaven?
THE 100 BEST BIBLEVERSES ON HEAVENITEM #2313112 pgs. • Paperback
$9.99 Sale $7Author: Troy Schmidt
Rediscover theOne who firstloved you.
REMEMBER & RETURNITEM #2317208 pgs. • Hardcover
$14.99 Sale $12Author: John MacArthur
The Truth aboutHeaven, Angels, andEternal Life
THE GLORY OF HEAVEN
ITEM #2309Hardcover • 224 pgs.
$22.99 Sale $18Author: John MacArthur
Read the story of Queen Esther and learn how Godthe Almighty is always in control—He was then andHe is today! What is the picture in the Middle East today? We see that enmity toward Israel becomes evermore threatening, pressing from all sides, intensifying as time passes. The whole world seemsto not only hear but also accept anti-Semitic defamation. The nations of the world have becomedesensitized and incapable of distinguishing between truth and lies. Meanwhile, Israel’sinternational position deteriorates daily. Yet God refrains from action…He is waiting. And that isfor the best, because His inaction serves a very specific purpose…
THE REMARKABLE STORY OF QUEEN ESTHER ITEM #1087
24 pgs. • Booklet
$2.50 Sale $2 Author: Norbert Lieth
46 M I D N I G H T C A L L Order online: midnightcall.com/store
THE REMARKABLE RECORD OF JOB ITEM #2273 144 pgs. • Paperback
$8.99 Sale $8 Author: Henry Morris
The Ancient Wisdom, Scientific Accuracy,& Life-Changing Message of an AmazingBookPerhaps the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job touches on manysubjects of science and history. This commentary on the controversialBook of Job is very different from most of the seminary and Churchteachings so prevalent today, for it attests to the historicity of a mannamed Job who understood at the end of his life that God cannot be“figured out,” but He can most certainly be trusted.
A Verse-by-Verse Exposition of His Amazing RecordA Raging storm, a rebellious prophet, and somewhere out there, a greatfish?
This book is a fascinating commentary on the life of the great prophet:• Could a man spend three days inside a huge fish?• His prayer of deliverance• Why did he run from God?• The influence of the ancient city, Nineveh• Jonah and the twenty-first century
THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF JONAH ITEM #2272 135 pgs. • Paperback
$9.99 Sale $9 Author: Henry Morris
Ancient insights from theSong of Solomon,Proverbs, and EcclesiastesInheriting and expanding a magnificent kingdomfrom his father, King David, Solomon attained bothspiritual and material wealth, confounding his enemies and thrilling his own people. The Bibleclaims there will never be another like him. Hislegacy includes three canonical works that flowedfrom God to his pen—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, andSong of Solomon.
THE REMARKABLE WISDOM OF SOLOMON ITEM #2223 256 pgs. • Paperback
$12.99 Sale $10Author: Henry Morris
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When I walked out of the theater after watching Heaven Is For Real, I felt uncomfortable, for the almost subliminal message wasthat, eventually, all people go to Heaven. Since the movie did not show the Biblical road toheaven, it leaves a message that all people will go there.
Since the danger to people’s souls is so great and is ETERNAL, Frazier speaks boldly andcompassionately as he gives the full Biblical teaching about what Hell is and why it is so terrible.Most of Frazier’s warnings come directly from the lips of Jesus, since He taught more about Hellthan any other subject, and more than any other inspired Bible teacher.
Gary Frazier also weaves into this subject the most common misconceptions people haveabout Hell: For example:
1) I will party with my friends in Hell for eternity.2) Eventually all people go to Heaven.3) A loving God will never send anyone to Hell.4) I am a good person and all good persons go to Heaven.5) Frazier carefully explains the ETERNITY of Hell, a concept most unsaved just do not seem to
comprehend.6) Hell is so real and so terrible, Frazier urges people to make the decision NOW to repent and
ask forgiveness of sin through the blood sacrifice of Jesus, before God closes the Age of Grace.
Frazier ends with the Plan of Salvation, so this video becomes a valuable Soul-Winning Tool.
HELL IS FOR REAL: CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION ITEM #7085
75 min. • DVD
$19.95 Sale $15Speaker: Gary Frazier
According to the results of recent surveys,Americans overwhelmingly believe that HEAVEN exists, though a much smaller number believe that HELL exists,with only one-tenth of one percent believing they will go there when they die. Gary Frazier helps readers:
• Discern what beliefs are based on fact or fiction• Discover the truth in the midst of so much deception• Understand the depth of Scripture that speaks of HELL more than HEAVEN.
Hell is for Real is a clear search for truth, and truth matters for the simple reason that we all have a divine appoint-ment with death. What if those who do not believe in HELL die one day and find they made a tragic and eternal mis-take? Where do we turn for real answers? Should we look to movies, television, and stories of personalexperiences, psychics, or religion?
