12 Dec 2010

The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes
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SecondThessalonians 2 and the Rapture Part III

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice

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Theophostic Gospel JacobSupplanter OldTestament Salvation
Daniels SeventyWeeks of Years Part III

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The Calling of theTwelve Disciples Bartholomew

Pg. 27
Much More thanThis

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The incredible doctrine of the return of Christ commands us to investigate The Great Mystery of the Rapture.
Jesus promised:I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). And angels told the disciples,this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). There is no doubt about it: Jesus must and will come again. When the last one from among the Gentiles is added to the Church, then something remarkable is going to transpire: Jesus will come for His own:For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Thats our future, thats our hope, and thats why I wrote the book, The Great Mystery of the Rapture. It is a book you need to read. It is a message of great comfort, the comfort we need in these days.
THE GREAT MYSTERY OF THE RAPTURE

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Roman Christmas
By Norbert Lieth
The wordsRoman Christmascould remind us of the Vatican City and the traditions connected with itor the Romans at the time of Jesus.We are not concerned with these things here, however, but rather the Christmas discoveries of Paul in his letter to the Romans.
34 S W I T Z E R L A N D
Scientists Claim Existence of Parallel Universe
35 E U
Parliament Urges 20Week Maternity Leave
10 Second Thessalonians 2 and the Rapture Part III

By Dr. Ron J. Bigalke
In Second Thessalonians 2, Paul articulated reasons why the Day of the Lord had not begun, because he was concerned that their error in this regard would compromise their hope to experience thegathering togetherhe had described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It is because 2 Thessalonians 2 is such a pivotal chapter in teaching eschatological doctrines that this third and final part will review the primary teachings of this chapter.
36 U K
Armed Forces to Be Drastically Reduced
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RUSSIA
17 Daniels Seventy Weeks of Years Part III

By Norbert Lieth
20 Much More than This

By Ernst Kraft
Planned Mosque Sparks Controversy in Moscow
27 The Calling of the Twelve Disciples Bartholomew

By Marcel Malgo
38 U S A
Derivative Bubble Could Destroy the Entire World Financial System
30 Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice

By Samuel Rindlisbacher
DEPARTMENTS

4 40
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Peter Malgo
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Arno Froese THEOPHOSTIC GOSPEL...JACOBSUPPLANTER...OLD TESTAMENT SALVATION
Midnight Call
DECEMBER 2010
E D I T O R S
N O T E
Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty.

B y P e t e r M a l g o
hese words from Isaiah 33:17 show the prophetic significance of Christmas. When Jesus was born in the stable of Bethlehem, however, He in no way resembled a king. He came into the world in lowliness and poverty. Nothing of beauty could be seen. Isaiah impressively describes how Jesus grew up: For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). Just as most people today only see the child in the manger in what happened at Christmas, and as only a few truly recognize the deep meaning of Christmas, so it was only a small group then as well which recognized this Jesus as the future King and prized Him as the sovereign Lord and Savior above all else. These were, first, the wise men from the east who recognized by the star in the firmament that a King had been born and set out to seek and adore Him. The shepherds in the field also came to Jesus because an angel had informed them of the birth of the Savior. After they
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had seen Him, they praised and adored God for it. Then there was old Simeon, who came into the temple pursuant to the suggestion of the Holy Spirit, met the child Jesus, and praised God for this. And finally, there was the aged prophetess Anna, who saw Jesus, praised Him, and then told everyone of Him. These various meetings with Jesus came to pass only because God had given completely clear signs and indications. This was Christmas then. Now, as we stand at the end of this age, if we are allowed to celebrate Christmas once more, its significance for today should become known to us in a deep way. Today, God gives us other signs which show us that a meeting with Jesus Christ lies immediately ahead of us. We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19). In Psalm 45, the children of Korah sing prophetically of this future glorious king: I speak of the things which I have made touching the kingThou art
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fairer than the children of men (Psalm 45:1-2). Thy throne, O God, is for ever and everThou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness (Psalm 45:6-7). The imminent meeting with our Lord should be our highest aim. When we will once stand before the Lord seated on the throne, it will be revealed which reward we receive. In this connection, Paul speaks of a victory prize, of a jewel, and compares us to runners in a race. At the last Olympic winter games, the Dutch ice sprinter Sven Kramer was already sure of his gold medal. He was on the track of success and had a huge lead over his competitors. Then his trainer made a disastrous decision: he led the sprinter onto a wrong track. Sven Kramer already had the victory prize almost in his hands, but then he was disqualified due to the wrong decision of his trainer. Let us examine ourselves: are we on the right track? Are we moving toward the prize of victory? Or are we perhaps led astray because we allow ourselves to be led by wrong directions? God gives us clear instructions through His Word and through the voice of the Holy Spirit, which speaks to our conscience. But at every crossroads, someone else stands as well, who wants to lead us astray by the words, Yea, hath God said? as he did in his time in paradise (Genesis 3:1). If we listen to his seductive voice and choose a wrong track, we will lose what is best. May Christmas cause us to have the meeting with our Lord before our eyes in fresh newness, and may we resolutely press on to reach it! MC
Note: Wilfred Hahn has taken another break this month from his column, due to a busy traveling schedule.
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Mitternachtsruf (German) Ringwiesenstrasse 12a, 8600 Du bendorf, Switzerland; Middernachtsroep (Dutch) Postbus 192, 4140 AD Leerdam, Netherlands; LAppel de Minuit (French) Ringwiesenstrasse 12a, 8600 Du bendorf, Switzerland; Chamada de Meia Noite (Portuguese) Obra Missionaria Chamada de Meia Noite, Caixa Postal 1688, 90001970 Porto Alegre RS, Brazil; Llamada de Medianoche (Spanish) Apdo. Postal 1400, 01901 Guatemala; CDM Italia (Italian) Via Monte Rosa 88 D, IT 10155 Torino TO; Ejfeli Kialtas (Hungarian) H-1135 Budapest, Pelo c u. 2 (no longer available in Russian) OUR TASK Midnight Call Ministries is a nonprofit missionary organization, dedicated to proclaiming the entire Bible as the unfailing and eternal written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the unerring guide for the Christian faith. The object of Midnight Call is to call people everywhere to Christ, to proclaim the Second Coming of Christ, to prepare Christians for His coming, and to uphold the faith and warn of false doctrines. Midnight Call magazine is available in twelve languages. All work done through radio, literature and missionaries is supported entirely by the gifts and free will offerings of Gods people. STATEMENT OF FAITH WE BELIEVE in the divine inspiration of the whole Bible and therewith the infallibility of the Holy Scripture, which is Gods Word, and in the eternal Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. WE BELIEVE Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and shed His blood to save mankind. He died and arose bodily the third day and later ascended into heaven. WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of each individual sinner and that all who believe in Him as their personal Savior are justified through His shed blood and have become children of God. WE BELIEVE that Israel is Gods chosen people, and that the restoration of the Jews to their own land is the fulfillment of the Word of God. WE BELIEVE in the pretribulational appearance of Jesus Christ for the Rapture of His Church (all born again believers). WE BELIEVE in the immortality of our souls and the resurrection of our bodies, and in the resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
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DECEMBER 2010
NORBERT LIETH
The wordsRoman Christmas could remind us of the Vatican City and the traditions connected with itor the Romans at the time of Jesus. We are not concerned with these things here, however, but rather the Christmas discoveries of Paul in his letter to the Romans
n the letter to the Romans, we are presented with a few gifts that we have received through the incarnation of Jesus Christgifts which amaze us. I was once sent a Christmas card on which it said, Christmas is also a time for presents. In stores everywhere we can buy the most beautiful things to give others pleasure. But the greatest and most unique present was given us by God Himself, in that He gave us Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. This gift never loses its value or validity. Particularly the last sentence moved me deeply. In Jesus we have something that, in contrast to things belonging to our daily lives, does not lose its value or validity; on the contrary, we can say that the best is yet to come. As far as heaven is concerned, we are
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still living in the time preceding Christmas. C. H. Spurgeon once spoke of a personal experience he had: Some time ago a young lady wanted to speak to me who had embraced the doctrine of the Mormons. She said she had come to convert me. Apparently she had chosen the wrong man. I listened to her words, and after she had finished I said, Good. You have shown me your way to heaven. Now let me describe mine. When I began to speak to her, she was very surprised. Do you believe, she said, that all your sins are forgiven? Certainly, I believe that, I replied. But, she said, do you also believe that you can never perish? Certainly, I replied again. Are you sure that you will ultimately stand before the throne of God, thenin
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Christmas is also a time for presents.In stores everywhere we can buy the most beautiful things to give others pleasure.But the greatest and most unique present was given us by God Himself,in that He gave us Himself in His Son,Jesus Christ.This gift never loses its value or validity.
spite of everything that could happen? Then, you must be a happy man. I am, I replied, I am in truth a happy man. Then there is no more that I can say to you, she said, You already have more than I can offer you! Certainly in Christ we have what no other can offer us. though she had been a Christian for a long time, the question kept coming back of whether this sin had really been forgiven. Whoever has received the righteousness of Jesus, however, is completely newly attired in Him. Paul testified to this in Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Baptism was put on a par with conversion at the time of the apostle, because people were baptized immediately after their conversion (Acts 2:38 & 41, 8:12 & 3638, 9:18 and 10:47-48). What does it say in our text? They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness. We can only receive abundance of grace as a gift. It is Gods gift to us. God would like to give this to all people: salvation in Jesus Christ is for everyone. But only those who receive it really benefit from it. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18). As truly as sin and condemnation came to all people through Adam, just as truly the gift of righteousness is for all people, not just for a few elect. It cannot be that the one thing applies to all men and the other not. Yet ultimately, only those who claim the gift of Jesus Christ for themselves will be justified and made righteous. I would like to give you an example of this: A soap manufacturer once had a conversation with a pastor. The manufacturer criticized Christianity with the words, I respect your commitment, but be honest: what has the church achieved in the 2,000 years of its existence? The world has not become a better place through the Christian faith. Evil still has the upper hand and we are surrounded by wicked men. The pastor pointed to a young boy on the sidewalk and said, Look at that dirty little boy. You have been producing soap for
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1. Abundant grace and righteousness. For if by one mans offence

death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). To reign in life by one, Jesus Christ means that we do not manage to live our lives through our own power and efforts, but through Jesus. Sometimes, there are two things in a gift package that belong together. That is how it is here: 1. Abundant grace and 2. righteousness. Abundant grace. When something is full of a good thing, that is good. When it is full to the brim, that is better; but when something is so full that it overflows, that cannot be surpassed. In Jesus Christ we have received an abundance of grace, an overflowing fullness of grace. Each one of us can live out of the fullness of the grace of God, and God always gives above measure. What does the Psalmist say? My cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5). Righteousness. How would you like a new suit or dress for Christmas? Made out of a material that does not exist on this earth and is incomparable to any other. A material that puts the creations of Karl Lagerfeld, Hugo Boss or Giorgio Armani in the shade. I am speaking of the robe of righteousness, made of the material of the abundant grace of God, which was shown to us through the redemptive work of Jesus, and whose designer and tailor is the Creator Himself. Once an elderly lady called me on the phone, who had made a wrong choice in her youth. Al-
There is a better way.We can receive a pardon here and now and have the guarantee not to have to appear before the judgment seat of God.Our advocate,the Lord Jesus Christ,will take care of this.He will come into your prison and hand over to you the document of complete amnesty.
years in your firm, and yet there is still dirt and dirty children in the world. The manufacturer laughed and said, Soap is only of use if it is used! You see, said the pastor, Faith too! with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:1517). It is wonderful not to have God as judge, but to have Him as a father surpasses all! We often read that celebrities adopt children from the third world. Many of them do it out of love, because they have the finances needed, but some of them also to keep their names in the news or to improve their image. God does it because He really wants you! It is almost incomprehensible but true: saved sinners, as Gods children and heirs, are nearer to God than the angels. The angels even desire to look into salvation, into the Gospel of the salvation of the children of God (1 Peter 1:12). The angels are ministering spirits to the children of God (Hebrews 1:14).
2. A document of pardon. There is therefore

now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:1-3). God gives to us the document of pardon. The flesh cannot fulfill the law. Through the weakness of our lives and bodies, we are not capable of living in a way that will make us righteous before God. We are condemned by our nature and are heading toward our judgment. Every person has an inborn fear of having to stand before God one day and be condemned. For this reason, some would prefer to do away with Him, and others want to forget Him, not be reminded of Him, something which has not been achieved and never will be. There is a better way. We can receive a pardon here and now and have the guarantee not to have to appear before the judgment seat of God. Our advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, will take care of this. He will come into your prison and hand over to you the document of complete amnesty. We fail on account of our bodies of sin to keep the law of God, but sin failed over the body of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:6 and 1 Peter 2:24). Because sin was condemned in His holy and righteous body, the sinner who believes on Jesus Christ will not be condemned and judged.
4. The gift of glory. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Paul is referring to our momentary situation, of sorrow, sickness, loss, worry and care. Psalm 112:4 says, Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. The NIV translates this verse as follows, Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man, and there is a footnote referring to this verse that says, Or for the Lord is gracious and compassionate and righteous. This is the great difference; the child of God may well sit in darkness, but in the midst of his darkness the bright light from eternity shines. If a person is not a child of God, he likewise sits in darkness, but without this wonderful light. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
3. The gift of adoption. For now ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
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For which cause we faint not;but though our outward man perish,yet the inward man is renewed day by day.For our light affliction,which is but for a moment,worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-12). God has prepared a glory for His own which is hidden from the people of this age. It is only given to those who have received His Spirit. So just as a person only knows through his own spirit what is taking place in his thoughts, feelings and will, he lacks the glimpse into the thought world of the other, unless he has that persons spirit. In the same way, only the Spirit of God knows of Gods intention to save. But because God gives His Spirit to those who believe in Jesus, they can now recognize what God has given them. They become participants of the knowledge of God. They have part in the thoughts of God. The spirit of this world can never grasp this. We must practice this vision of glory. The more we appropriate this, the less things can move us. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:1618).
5. Accompanying gifts. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Often, in addition to the main gift, there are little accompanying gifts, such as candy or chocolate. These things usually are less appreciated than the main gift. Besides the great gift of salvation in heaven, there are other accompanying gifts, namely, innumerable things which already now work together for good. One day we will be amazed at how many things worked together for good which we did not even notice, or complained about.
6. The all-inclusive gift. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). What person can give us everything? Nobody! Some can give a lotKing Herod was prepared to give half his kingdom to Herodias daughterbut nobody can give us everything because it does not belong to him. Only God, to whom all things belong, can give us all things, and He does. He has the power to give each individual one of His children everything, and He is none the poorer for it. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christs; and Christ is Gods (1 Corinthians 3:22-23). William MacDonald writes, If God has already given us the greatest gift, is there any lesser gift that He would withhold? If He has already paid the greatest price, will He refuse to pay a smaller price? If He has gone to so much trouble to redeem us, will He ever let go of us again? How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? The language of unbelief, Mackintosh writes, says, How shall he? The language of faith says, How shall he not?1 Let Him give you everything for Christmas!
(MR1209/409)
ENDNOTES
1 Commentary on the New Testament
DECEMBER 2010
THESSALONIANS 2 AND THE RAPTURE

PART III
By Dr. Ron J. Bigalke
Second Thessalonians 2 corrected the thinking of the church with regard to the Day of the Lord, which someone had taught them was already occurring. Paul articulated reasons why the Day of the Lord had not begun, because he was concerned that their error in this regard would compromise their hope to experience the gathering together he had described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It is because 2 Thessalonians 2 is such a pivotal chapter in teaching eschatological doctrines that this third and final part will review the primary teachings of this chapter.
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The perspective in 2 Thessalonians, however, is that they were in that period and some people were telling them that the Day of the Lord had occurred. The Day of the Lord is a prophesied time of intense judgment that God brings upon the wicked, and also against Israel, to bring them to salvation, to judge them for their sins, to prepare them for the receiving of Messiah, and for the establishment of His Kingdom.
THE COMING OF CHRIST AND THE GATHERING TOGETHER

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and gathering together to Him is referenced in verse 1. The Greek word for coming is parousia, which is a very common word. Some think it has a technical meaning, which would mean that anytime the word is used, it only refers to the second coming, but such a notion is incorrect. However, context always determines whether the reference is with regard to either the rapture or second coming. The gathering together to Him is parallel to the promise of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, with regard to the Lord coming, descending in the clouds and gathering His church from this world. Of course, the 1 Thessalonians passage is where the language is derived for the rapture, because the Greek was translated rapier (i.e. rapture) in the Latin Vulgate. The Western church uses the Latin term for the doctrine of the rapture, but the teaching is certainly taught in Scripture. The reference in 2 Thessalonians 2 with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, is to the rapture. According to verse 2, some were concerned with regard to teaching that the Day of the Lord had come. Only a pretribulational understanding of the text would make sense, because if Paul had taught the Thessalonians that they had to experience the tribulation, they would just be looking at the calendar and counting how much persecution they would have to endure until they would be delivered at the second coming. The perspective in 2 Thessalonians, however, is that they were in that period and some people were telling them that the Day of the Lord had occurred. The Day of the Lord is a prophesied time of intense judgment that God brings upon the wicked, and also against Israel, to bring them to salvation, to
judge them for their sins, to prepare them for the receiving of Messiah, and for the establishment of His Kingdom. There are certainly some Christians who favor an idealist interpretation of this passage, which means that the text is simply addressing general troubles and difficulties that the church experiences. Therefore, the text is non-literal and spiritualized, and simply instructing the church with regard to the ultimate victory in Jesus Christ. In other words, the text is not chronological in any manner because the chapter must bear a direct relationship to the present day and age. In response to such assertions, it would be wise to consider the Old Testament prophecies of Messiah, and the kingdom. The generations that received those prophecies were thousands of years removed from fulfillment. Was it any less important or relevant to them? Certainly not! Simply because events may be future, it does not mean there is not an application or relevancy to the church in the present age. There are some that think conversely, and they attempt to spiritualize these things, or seek to find some first century fulfillment, which would mean we are reading historical fulfillment about these things.
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Apostasy or religious departure is not truly a sign, but something that is always present with the church. The history of Israel and the church is one of frequent apostasies, even among themselves, and would not be a noteworthy sign.
The problem is that when you read individuals that embraced these different views, such as preterists, idealists, and historicists, they all contradict one another regarding the fulfillment. They just cannot be unified regarding whether the events of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 have already passed, or if the events are being fulfilled in the present age. Those who interpret the text literally have amazing agreement with each other, and generally only have minor points of disagreement. There may be many possible interpretations with regard to the best sense of the biblical text, but readers must always seek the best meaning of the text, which would be pretribulationism. Some had taught that the Day of the Lord had come and the church was experiencing this persecution, leading them to think they had missed the rapture, that is, the coming prior to that period. Therefore, Paul said not to be deceived, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He said two things have to occur: apostasy, and the man of lawlessness being revealed. Contextual examination of the Greek word that is translated apostasy would be better understood as a physical departure. If one were to examine the meaning of the word in Greek lexicons and grammars, it would seem that a physical departure is based upon the context of what Paul had written previously. The church was already experiencing lawlessness, which would hardly qualify as a sign. Lawlessness has been a continual force against the church since its inception. The spirit of Antichrist is ever with the church; therefore, a religious departure from the faith would hardly be a sign that one was not entering the Day of the Lord. Even today, church members discuss the apostasy of the church and how it is increasing progressively. It is amazing what people thought was sinful ten or twenty years ago, now looking at what is being taught and embraced as truth. The point is that apostasy can always get worse. During the time of the Protestant Reformation, it was a time when it did not seem that things could worsen, and then
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God appointed individuals to proclaim the truth of Scripture, such as justification by faith alone, and tremendous revival occurred, of which all Christians are recipients. Apostasy or religious departure is not truly a sign, but is something that is always present with the church. The history of Israel and the church is one of frequent apostasies, even among themselves, and would not be a noteworthy sign. Pauls exhortation not to be deceived would relate best to Daniel 9, where it prophesies with regard to the prince who will come and make a covenant with the Jewish nation and promise them peace for a seven-year period of time. Second Thessalonians 2 prophesies apostasy, and then the man of lawlessness is revealed, the person who makes the covenant with the Jewish nation. Verse 4 gives further explanation with regard to the man of lawlessness, the one who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Approximately AD 40, the Roman emperor Caligula entered the Holy of Holies and established an image of himself, and declared himself as God. Paul did not say that was fulfillment; rather, he said that the event was still future when writing Thessalonians (probably in the early 50s of the first century). Even the First Epistle of John prophesies that there will be a future Antichrist. Second Thessalonians 2 is prophesying with regard to events that have not yet occurred, and predicting a man of lawlessness who will proclaim himself as God in the Temple. The Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple in AD 70, and there is also mention of a Temple in the Book of Revelation, which was written in AD 95. If those things were fulfilled in the first century, then Paul could have cited the case of Caligula, or John, in the Book of Revelation, which was written twenty-five years after the destruction of the Temple, could have referred to that event as fulfillment. The correct understanding is that the prophecies are with regard
SECOND THESSALONIANS 2 AND THE RAPTURE PART III
The Holy Spirit is removed only as He indwells the church. The Holy Spirit is not taken from the earth because He is God, and therefore omnipresent. The removal must involve the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian at the moment of baptism into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique for the church; a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit never occurred in the Old Testament.
coming of the Lord, the rapture, the man of sin, a Temple, etc., which demonstrates that he considered these things to be important. Verse 5 is instructive to believers not to neglect the teaching of any aspect of Gods Word. Paul was obviously saying that it was important for the Thessalonians to understand these things, and it is important for the church also, to understand prophetic truth. Such teaching is essential to victorious Christian living.
PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE LORD

In verses 6-12, Paul continued his instruction regarding events that must occur before the beginning of the Day of the Lord, and he did that by placing emphasis upon the lawlessness of that period. In these verses, Paul explained more clearly to the church why the rapture had not occurred and why they had not missed it; therefore, they were not experiencing the Day of the Lord, the time of Gods judgment and the time of Gods wrath. Verse 7 mentions he who now restrains, and in the Greek, the word is in the masculine tense. The church is never referenced in that manner; the Greek New Testament always uses a feminine gender for the church. Therefore, the question is with regard to the masculine gender in verse 7. The reference is to the Holy Spirit, which is why it uses the masculine gender, to give emphasis upon the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is removed only as He indwells the church. The Holy Spirit is not taken from the earth because He is God, and therefore omnipresent. The removal must involve the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian at the moment of baptism into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique for the church;
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to a third Temple, a rebuilt Temple, which is not there today. It is certainly easy to understandgiven situations currently in the Middle Eastthat if an individual can promise peace, and find a way that the Muslims can worship Allah and the Jews can rebuild their Temple, that the world would hail this individual as a great leader. We have already seen here in Americawithout addressing the merits or demerits of the current presidencyhow someone can achieve a celebrity status as president, and how amazingly that peoplethrough use of media could proclaim an individual to have a Messiah-like character. Combine that with the actual sense of accomplishments, achieving peace in the Middle East, and then it is easy to understand how all the world will worship an individual as a great leader. Therefore, verse 5 reads, Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? Paul was reminding the church that he had been with them a few weeks, and he had taught them all these things. The Apostle taught them all manner of chronological events with regard to the
The judgment associated with the second coming of Christ to earth, and then the establishing of the kingdom, is paralleled. Consequently, the judgment mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 is parallel to the teaching of Revelation 19, and the fact that Christ himself will destroy the man of sin, the lawless one.
a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit never occurred in the Old Testament. Revelation does not mention any kind of indwelling of the Holy Spirit either. It mentions an indwelling, but it is the indwelling of the man of sin by Satan. The restraining influence in 2 Thessalonians 2 is the Holy Spirit as He indwells the church. The restraining influence is the church, which will be removed from the earth at the rapture, which is the removal of the restrainer. The rapture and the restrainer being removed are equal in meaning. Subsequent to the removal of the restrainer, the man of lawlessness is revealed by what he does according to Daniel 9, and then that would be the beginning of the Day of the Lord. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8, there is good indication of the wrath of God being mentioned when it addresses the Lord coming and slaying with the breath of His mouth this man of lawlessness. Such teaching very much correlates with Revelation 19; it is the same picture of Christ descending from heaven, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and by the words from His mouth, His destroying the wicked. The very next chapter in Revelation prophesies concerning the millennial kingdom, which seems to be sequential. The judgment associated with the second coming of Christ to earth, and then the establishing of the kingdom, is paralleled. Consequently, the judgment mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 is parallel to the teaching of Revelation 19, and the fact that Christ himself will destroy the man of sin, the lawless one. The only indication of a future wrath in the two epistles to the Thessalonians is 1 Thessalonians 1:10, where it notes that the church was to wait for [Gods] Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues [the church] from the wrath to come. The wrath mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 is in reference to a coming of Jesus and how this coming is going to prevent the church from experiencing a future period of wrath. The scenario is of a coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, which provides deliverance from future wrath. One could certainly
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think that this deliverance is from the wrath of the tribulation, and it is referencing the second coming. Such a notion, however, would be incorrect because at the second coming, the wrath is completed and it will be time for establishing the kingdom, so it could not be the second coming mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, nor in 2 Thessalonians 2. The coming has to be a delivering, a coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that coming results in one being delivered and not experiencing a future period of wrath, which would be the tribulation. Such statements are indications of a rapture, a gathering of the church, prior to the beginning of the seven years of tribulation. Expounding upon verse 3, where it referenced the apostasy, Paul addressed all these texts with regard to what restrains the man of lawlessness. Part II of this article series indicated that the best manner to understand the restrainer is that this is dealing with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the church, and that when the church is removed from this earth in the rapture, that restraining influence is taken so that then the man of lawlessness is revealed. The church is the pillar and the support of the truth (1 Tim 3:15); therefore, it is necessary to remove the pillar and support of the truth, and then the man of lawlessness can be revealed. It is impossible currently for such an event to occur because the church is still present on this earth. As bad as things may be or seem, it is comforting to know that the church has a restraining influence. Anytime society goes bad, the church should always look at self first and ask what is the church doing or not doing that is contributing to the fall. Sometimes religious individuals may persecute the church; sometimes difficulties are the righteous judgment of God; and sometimes the responsibility lies with those who should be more obedient. Second Thessalonians 2 is saying that the restraining influence has to be removed before the man of lawlessness can be revealed. It is stated in verse 7 that this mystery of lawlessness is already at work. It was already at work in the first century,
SECOND THESSALONIANS 2 AND THE RAPTURE PART III
Probably everyone reading this article is able to recollect someone who heard the gospel proclaimed, and did not even want to hear the truth or think regarding the demands of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They would rather pretend that God does not exist, or that the gospel is unclear or untruthful, which is the same as what is expressed in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
which is why it cannot be the Roman Empire or something similar. It cannot be human government, because this is something that existed in the first century and continues even today, and will culminate in one specific individual, a lawless one that the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His mouth. Verse 9 indicates the power that this individual will possess, a power from Satan to deceive many people into following him through signs and false wonders. Of course, this is something that the second beast of Revelation is also able to do; he is able to perform counterfeit miraclessigns and wondersthat deceive people. People are deceived by the so-called miraculous displays because it seems that the individuals possess the power of God.
GODS GLORY IN SALVATION AND JUDGMENT

Verses 10-12 mention those who are deceived and are perishing. The text indicates that those who did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved received a deluding influence from God. There have
been some that have taught that if the lost hear the gospel prior to the rapture and do not believe it, they will receive a deluding influence so that they will never have another chance to believe. In other words, anybody who heard the gospel and rejected it prior to the rapture cannot be saved after the rapture, but this is not the correct interpretation. The motivation of these teachers is sincere: to cause individuals to think seriously with regard to faith in Jesus Christ. The biblical text, however, is just simply indicating the type of people (i.e. unbelievers) who do not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved, and who take pleasure in wickedness. They willingly reject the gospel before the rapture and after the rapture, which is an accurate description of all unbelievers who do not receive the truth and willingly reject it; they will be given a deluding influence so as to believe what is false. The conscience is seared. According to Romans, all humanity possesses knowledge of Gods existence. All humanity is without excuse; all have natural revelation (creation); all have a conscience; consequently, all humanity is accountable to God and without excuse for not living in a manner consistent with such knowledge. Romans 1:18-20 teaches that humanity does not rebel because there is insufficient knowledge of Gods existence; it is not that the conscience fails to convict; rather, fallen humanity suppresses the truth of God in unrighteousness. Probably everyone reading this article is able to recollect someone who heard the gospel proclaimed, and did not even want to hear the truth or
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Praise God for His grace and salvation. The grace of the Lord will continue to enable His people to stand firm, to hold to the traditions that are taught in Scripture, and do all things as to His glory and by His grace.
think regarding the demands of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They would rather pretend that God does not exist, or that the gospel is unclear or untruthful, which is the same as what is expressed in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. God sears the conscience and gives the unbeliever a deluding influence, which leads to eternal punishment. There is a somber application to this text for when the church proclaims the gospel. It is to say that if the lost hear the gospel and reject it, there cannot be any confidence that God will not send a deluding influence so that there is not opportunity to trust again. For those who do not love the truth and reject it, God will give a deluding influence and help them to believe what is false. The text clearly demonstrates that God not only is glorified in the salvation of the righteous, but He is also glorified in His judgment of the wicked. It is a humbling teaching that God is glorified in the judgment of the wicked, which is something that all humanity deserves. God would be tremendously glorified if there were no saved people, not a soulif Adam and Eve, and all their children after them, if none of them ever entered heaven, God would be glorified, God would be praised for all of eternity by the angels. The thought is sobering. Why are any saved? It is because God is gracious and merciful. He is glorified in the salvation of the righteous; He is also glorified in demonstrating His justice against those who persist in wickedness, which according to Romans 3 and Ephesians 2 included all humanity. The only difference in believers as the church is that God in His grace drew them to Christ, and He is to be praised for His grace and mercy. But the individuals in 2 Thessalonians 2 are those with whom He does not demonstrate His grace and mercy, and He is glorified for His actions.
GRACE AND MERCY FROM GOD

In the closing verses of 2 Thessalonians 2, the emphasis is upon Gods calling. Paul gave thanks for his readers salvation, praise for their perseverance, and hoped that they appreciated the secure
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position they had in holding to apostolic teaching. In contrast to the wicked unbelievers that were referenced in verse 12, Paul expressed his gratitude for his readers, those who are part of the church. The reason for his joy, he said in verse 13, is the result of Gods choice of them for salvation before He created the world. Consistently throughout the New Testament, from the beginning indicates a time prior to the world being created, before the foundation of the world, before creation itself; the emphasis is upon Gods choice of individuals for salvation. The initiative for salvation comes from God; it is His choosing; it does not come from man; rather, God accomplishes His salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit, which is the reason for Pauls joy (i.e. the fact of God choosing for salvation). Paul gave thanks for those that have received Gods salvation. In verse 14, Paul gave thanks that God called the Thessalonians so they could share splendor with the Lord: that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The experience of being made holy (sanctification) occurs in three different realms. Positional sanctification is equivalent to justification. Experiential sanctification is the believer becoming being more and more Christ-like. Ultimate sanctification is the glorification of the body when believers are confirmed in holiness. Paul was addressing the latter when he referenced believers receiving splendor and honor, the ultimate glorification of the body. Praise God for His revelation regarding the present times and what the future entails for believers. God is gracious in calling sinners unto salvation. What longing there should be for the day when believers will be with God and experience all the splendor and honor of their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture gives a hope unlike any other. Praise God for His grace and salvation. The grace of the Lord will continue to enable His people to stand firm, to hold to the traditions that are taught in Scripture, and do all things as to His glory and by His grace.
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Daniels SeventyWeeks of Years Part III

BY NORBERT LIETH The revelation of the 70 weeks of years belongs to the soundest proofs for the credibility of the Bible. Here is Part 3.
aniel 9:25 says, From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks. In Part 2, we explained in detail that this commandment of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, to rebuild and restore Jerusalem in the month of Nisan, must have taken place in the year 445 B.C. After the first 7 weeks (49 years) and the 62 weeks (434 years), which together make 69 weeks (483 years), the Messiah will return as Prince. With this we come to the time of 32 A.D., once again in the month of Nisan, that is, March/April. Holy Week occurs during this time! Various educated men have reckoned that between March/April 445 B.C. and March/April 32 A.D. lie exactly 173,880 days, taking all the leap years into consideration and the shift to the solar year, and the fact that between the year 1 B.C. and 1 A.D. only one year is calculated, as there is no year 0. It was also taken into consideration that a prophetic year has only 360 days, because in the
Bible every month is reckoned as having 30 days. Three examples that confirm this are: In the book of Revelation, the three and a half years are called 1260 days (3 years x 360 days = 1260 days). The three and a half years are also called 42 months. 42 x 30 days = 1260 days (Revelation 11:2-3, 12:14 and 13:5). The Bible names the 17th day of the second month as the beginning of the flood (Genesis 7:11), and the 17th day of the seventh month as the day on which the ark landed on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:3-4). This proves 5 months = 150 days. To return to Daniels weeks of years, 69 x 7 weeks of years x 360 days = 173,880 days. If we count from the 1st of Nisan in 445 B.C. 173,880 days, we come to the 10th of Nisan 32 A.D., the Holy Week (Palm Sunday).
How do we know that Jesus died in 32 A.D.?

The Lord began His public ministry in the 15th year of the government of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:123). Tiberius ruled from 14 to 37 A.D.; 14 + 15 = 29 A.D. According to Luke 3:23, Jesus was approxiS T E M E R 22 DE EP C E M BB E R 00 11 00 17 17
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them...
mately 30 years old when He appeared on the scene and began to teach. Jesus worked for three years openly as Messiah. The Gospel of John reports of three Feasts of the Passover that Jesus participated in after His baptism (John 2:13, 6:4 and 11:55, compare also Luke 13:7). 29 + 3 = 32. In this time from Nisan in 445 B.C. to Nisan in 32 A.D., the 173,880 days fit exactly. For the fulfillment of the 69 weeks of years, 173,880 days after the commandment of Nehemiah 2, the Lord openly rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as Prince (King) and was even greeted as such, And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest (Matthew 21:1-9).
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Why does it say, The Lord hath need of them? Jesus had never said or done this on previous Feasts of the Passover. But now the prophecy of Zechariah was to be fulfilled, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9). Now the time of the 62nd week of years had come, of which Daniel had prophesied that the Anointed One would appear as Prince and then be exterminated, And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined (Daniel 9:26).
The death of the Messiah after 7 + 62 = 69 weeks of years. After threescore and two weeks
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself (Daniel 9:26). The NIV translates this, the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. Five days after Palm Sunday (the 15th of Nisan), the Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross. He was forsaken by all. He possessed nothing. The living God pointed in a wonderful way to Jesus, the Messiah, and His path of suffering through the Passover lambs in the Old Testament. The Passover lambs were selected on the 10th day of Nisan and kept till the 14th to prove whether they were fit, for they had to be without blemish, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak
Daniels Seventy Weeks of YearsPart III
On the evening of the 14th of Nisan, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, and on the 15th of Nisan, at 9:00 in the morning (Mark 15:25), He was nailed to the cross as the Lamb of God.
ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an houseyour lamb shall be without blemishand ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening (Exodus 12:2-3 & 5-6). Let us note: Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Jesus came to Bethany six days before the Passover, according to John 12:1, and on the following day, the 10th of Nisan (five days before the Passover!), He entered into Jerusalem (John 12:12). In the following four days, until the 14th of Nisan, Jesus was watched suspiciously by the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes, And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governorAnd they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peaceThen certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said. And after that they durst not ask him any question at all (Luke 20:20, 26, 39-40). They found no fault in Him. On the evening of the 14th of Nisan, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, and on the 15th of Nisan, at 9:00 in the morning (Mark 15:25), He was nailed to the cross as the Lamb of God.
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DECEMBER 2010
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Much More thanThis

BY ERNST KRAFT
And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this (2 Chronicles 25:9).
ave you reached a point in your life when you are almost breaking down beneath your troubles and problems? No matter how difficult and impossible your situation may be, you will never hear the Lord Jesus say, Your problem is too difficult for Me. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea (Psalm 93:3-4). However mighty the waves are in your life, the Lord is mightier. When Nathanael met Jesus for the first time and was astonished by what He said to him, the Lord said to him, Thou shalt see greater things than these (John 1:50). Jesus is much greater, more glorious, loving and compassionate than we have experienced Him. One day we will exclaim in heaven, Behold, the half was not
told me (1 Kings 10:7), as the Queen of Sheba once said to Solomon. When we pray and bring Him our troubles, our problems often seem unsolvable, the mountain too high or the way too dark. However your way may look now, however, Ephesians 3:20 testifies that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. The enemy may attack you and want to destroy you, but Jesus is much mightier. One day He will consume the coming Antichrist with the breath of His mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and begin His reign (Revelation 19). Where Jesus is, the power of darkness is broken. Just think of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-20. And yet, we can come to a point where we do not know which way to turn and have no hope. This is what happened to the servant of the prophet Elisha, And when the servant of the man of God was risen
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When we pray and bring Him our troubles, our problems often seem unsolvable, the mountain too high or the way too dark. However your way may look now, however, Ephesians 3:20 testifies that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. The enemy may attack you and want to destroy you, but Jesus is much mightier...Where Jesus is, the power of darkness is broken.
early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? (2 Kings 6:15). But Elisha was able to say, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them (verse 16). Jesus is still greater! Psalm 145:3 says of the Lord, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
To what conclusion should this truth lead us?

Paul shows us this in Philippians 3:7, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. He loved Jesus above all else. In verse 3, he rejoices that he belongs to Christ and no longer relies on his flesh. God has given us everything in Jesus (Romans 8:32). Where He is concerned, the truth remains, a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42), more than the Queen of Sheba saw of glory and wisdom in King Solomon. She had to admit, Behold, the half was not told me (1 Kings 10:7). But Jesus is much more glorious. This is why Paul wanted to gain Christ (Philippians 3:8). Only our Lord Jesus Christ Himself leads us to true and lasting satisfaction. How poor the lives of such Christians as those in the Church at Laodicea, who say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing (Revelation 3:17). Yet Jesus wants us to increase in Him more and more. We should not remain as we are. More should take place in us than what has already occurred. The Lord is able to give thee much more than this (2 Chronicles 25:9). It is normal that a person grows: from a baby to a child, from a child to an adolescent, from an adoles-
cent to a man or woman, and from a man or woman to a father or mother, perhaps. We are never at the end of this process, and those who think they are become poor and stunted. This is the trouble: we should have grown much more in Christ. And yet we are still like little children where our faith is concerned, although we should long since have become teachers. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe (Hebrews 5:12-13). How often are there childish problems in the Church! A child always needs attention, or else it gets it by behaving badly. If one member is not greeted by another by some oversight, he or she already feels snubbed. We should have the mind of Christ. Have you maybe problems because you are still a child, although you should long since have become a teacher? We should always be increasing in zeal for the Lords business so that Jesus can say, I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first (Revelation 2:19). Of Samuel it says in 1 Samuel 2:26, And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.
This increase in the spiritual sphere is often lacking in us, because it costs us something. John
the Baptist said, He must increase, but I must deDECEMBER 2010 21
Much More than This

Perhaps you do not understand why you have to endure so many troubles and go through so much humiliation. Jesus gives you the answer in John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
crease (John 3:30). A great hindrance for many who do not grow and increase spiritually is that they do not want to decrease in themselves and become smaller. They say things like, I have experience. I already know that. What does so-and-so have to say to me? But this is not the way. Only when our ego decreases can we grow spiritually. Our natural pride hinders our spiritual growth, and also the blessing. If we were humbler and more prepared to be at Jesus disposal, God would give us more and more grace and blessing. He could work mightily in our lives, but we hinder this working through our pride. This is why many Christians are spiritually stunted. In one way we may have increased; for instance, in our heads. We have gained much knowledge, but hardly put any of it into practice. Our knowledge does not lead to spiritual growth; it remains theory. This is why Ephesians 4:15 says, But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. We must strive to grow in every sphere, so that Christ is formed in us (Galatians 4:19). James said, Ye have not, because ye ask not in James 4:2. Before Jesus healed a blind man, He asked him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? (Mark 10:51). What do you want to receive from Jesus?
God Himself is working in our lives to bless us more and more. Perhaps you do not understand why you have to endure so many troubles and go through so much humiliation. Jesus gives you the answer in John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
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that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Much more than this. This is why you are coming under more pressure. Afterwards, you will bring forth more fruit and more blessing can flow to you. God is cleansing you so that He can bless you more. Say yes, therefore, to the trials that you encounter to make you smaller and able to experience Gods blessing more and more. If you decrease and are nothing in yourself, the blessing will begin to flow. And you may expect that the blessing in your life increases, because God has much more to give to you. Are you prepared to be purged in Gods school so that you can bring forth more fruit and greater things can happen than before? God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). Are you expecting more? God can do over and above all that we ask or think. Those who ask for little will receive little. Those who ask for much and expect much, will receive much. The prophet Elisha once came to the king of Israel and said to him, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice (2 Kings 13:18-19). Do not stand still, but grow and expect the Lord to give you much more! My desire is that you grow in Jesus Christ and experience the words of Psalm 115:14 in your life, The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
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n the 18th of May 2011, we will embark on a 12-day tour of Israel.This once-in-a-lifetime tour carries the low price tag of only $1995 plus airfare.To secure your seat, please send a $400 deposit for each person. We will be limited to one bus; this means only 45 people will be able to participate, so be sure to reserve your seat early. Your host will be the director of Midnight Call Ministries and noted Bible prophecy teacher, Arno Froese. He will highlight the Scriptural significance of sites along the way and regarding the people and land of Israel in general. Your tour guide will be Ariel Winkler, the son of the Swiss and Dutch directors of Beth Shalom: Fredi and Beate Winkler. Beate is the daughter of Midnight Call founder, Wim Malgo. Fredi is also the international editor of News From Israel. Ariel was born
18 29 May 2011*
and raised in Israel; he grew up in Haifa and, like his father, is a government licensed tour guide with an impressive understanding of the history and geography of every corner of Israel, along with a deep knowledge of the Bible. He is fluent in Hebrew, Dutch, German, and English. Along with the bus driver and Mr. Froese, he will determine the most efficient and effective routes that will allow you to see as many of the important sites in Israel as possible during these exciting days. The price listed includes accommodations, breakfast and dinner each day, and all entrance fees to sights and parks covered in the itinerary. Prices are based on double occupancy; if you are coming alone and have not specified a roommate, you will be assigned a roommate of the same gender. Alternatively, you may pay an additional $525 for a single-room. You will need to make round-trip airline reservations to Tel Aviv separately. We recommend that you use the services of Travel Concepts (Toll Free: 1-800-366-4124), but you are free to use whatever agency or online booking service you like.
* Notice: Although this is considered a 12-day tour, depending on your airline reservations, you may not be back in the USA until Monday, 30 May 2011.
Depart the USA on an overnight flight to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport.
Day 1 Wednesday, 18 May 2011 Day 2 Thursday, 19 May 2011 Day 3 Friday, 20 May 2011
We arrive in Israel,where Beth Shalom staff is awaiting us.After customs, we board our bus and travel to Haifa.Dinner and accommodations at our very own Hotel Beth-Shalom.
sarea Philippi.1 We will continue through the Golan Heights,and have a chance to peer over the border into Syria at the Quneitra crossing.As we travel through the territory of the Golan Heights,we will be witnesses to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy,as we see the land being made fertile:This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden(Ezekiel 36:35).We will have dinner and retire at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. 1 Matthew 16:13-16
After breakfast at Beth Shalom,we board our bus to travel to Caesarea,1 the Roman fortress where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. Then on to Muhraka (Mt.Carmel),2 where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal.From here we will also have a panoramic view of Harmaggedonthe Valley of Armageddon.We now turn to the north to visit the ancient city of Akko (Acre).Alexander the Great conquered this city in the 4th century BC.Akko is a UNESCO world heritage site.Many remnants remain from the Crusader period.This beautiful city on the Mediterranean3 will leave a lasting impression. Finally,we return to Haifa and end the day with a tour of this beautiful harbor city.We return to Beth Shalom for dinner. 1 Acts 8:40, 23:23 2 1 Kings 18:19 3 Numbers 34:6-7; Joshua 1:4, 15:47
We leave after breakfast for Megiddo.1 We will see the archaeological excavation and ascend to the top of thistell(artificial hill) to overview the Jezreel Valley,connected to theBattle of Armageddon.2 Then to Nazareth,3 the city where Jesus grew up fulfilling the Biblical prophecy:And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets,He shall be called a Nazarene(Matthew 2:23).Next,its on to Beit She'an,one of the greatest archaeological exhibitions in Israel.We will also ascend Mount Gilboa4 before returning to Beth Shalom for dinner. 1 1 Kings 4:12; 2 Kings 23:29-30 2 Revelation 16:16; Zechariah 12:11 3 Matthew 21:11; Luke 1:26, 4:34; John 1:46 4 1 Samuel 31:1
Day 4 Saturday, 21 May 2011
After breakfast,we will circle the Sea of Galilee,1 visiting three places: the Mount of Beatitudes,Tabgha,2 the place of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes,and of course,Capernaum,3 home of the apostles Peter,Andrew,James and John.For lunch,well stop at a special kibbutz restaurant,En Gev,for a traditional meal of St.Peters fish.After lunch,our group will board a replica of a first century sailing ship and head out onto the Sea of Galilee.Besides sightseeing,we will have time for a special fellowship on these historically and biblically important waters called Gennesaret or Kinneret.4 We will have some free time in the evening to stroll next to or swim in the Sea,and possibly visit the Yardenit Baptismal site at the Jordan River.5 We will have dinner and spend our final overnight in the Galilee. 1 Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:18-19 2 Mark 6:41-42 3 Matthew 4:13-15; Luke 4:31 4 Mark 6:53 5 Mark 1:5
Day 6 Monday, 23 May 2011
After breakfast,we will pack up and move to the Galilee.First,we will visit Karmiel,a modern city in northern Israel founded in 1964,and its surroundings.Then,past Safed into the upper Jordan Valley,to the Banias waterfall and the source of the Jordan:the springs at Cae-
Day 5 Sunday, 22 May 2011
We make an early departure after breakfast,because well have a big day ahead of us,culminating in Jerusalem! We will travel down the Jordan Valley,past Gilgal1 and Jericho,2 all the way down to the Dead Sea.Here we will see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at the ancient ruins of Qumran.After that,we will take a cable car up to Masada,where the Romans crushed the final remnant of the Jewish resistance.Then we will visit the shores of the Dead Sea and have a salad buffetlunch at the Hotel Lot.Here you will be able swim (well,float) in this,the lowest and saltiest place in the world.The lunch and access to beach & changing rooms are included in the price of this tour.Finally,we will travel up the Jericho road to Jerusalem,check into our final hotel and have dinner. 1 Joshua 4:19 2 Joshua 6:1-27
Day 7 T uesday, 24 May 2011
For our first day in Jerusalem,we will do a lot of walking,so a healthy breakfast is in order.First,we will ascend the Temple Mount,1 the center of the great global controversy.Then to the Pool of Bethesda,2 following the Via Dolorosa.Walking through the ancient narrow streets of Jerusalem will be an unforgettable experience.We will see the Church of The Holy Sepulchre,and then the famous Wailing (or Western) Wall,and finally,the Ophel Park (Davidson Center) excavations just outside the city wall.Then,back to the hotel for dinner. 1 2 Chronicles 3:1-2 2 John 5:1-18
Day 8 Wednesday, 25 May 2011
This day we will have only one goal after breakfast:Bethlehem.1 Since this town where Jesus was born is now under Palestinian control, we have to allow extra time to get there and return,but it is well worth it;we will see many sites,including the Church of the Nativity. Upon returning to Jerusalem,you will have free time to spend as you wish before dinner. 1 1 Samuel 16:1; Matthew 2; Luke 2; John 7:42
Day 9 Thursday, 26 May 2011
After your final Israeli breakfast,you will likely have free time in Jerusalem on Sunday morning before heading back down to the Ben Gurion airport for your flight back home.You may be able to attend a local church and worship with believing Jews and/or Arabs; ask the tour guide for suggestions.
Day 12 Sunday, 29 May 2011
After a good nights rest,we are ready for another exciting day in the city of Jerusalem.First,we will visit the City of David.1 Then on to Yad Vashem,the museum that commemorates the murder of over 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany.Well visit the place where Peter denied the Lord.2 Then on to Mount Zion,3 where our tour will lead us to the Upper Room,4 the place where our Lord served the Last Supper. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 1 2 Samuel 5:9 2 John 18:16-17 3 Psalm 48:2, 11-12 4 Luke 22:12-13
Day 10 Friday, 27 May 2011
Depending on your airline reservations,you may still be en route from Israel to the USA on Monday morning. Note:Itinerary is subject to change
Day 13 Monday, 30 May 2011
This will be a day of discovering the biblical historical treasures of the city of Jerusalem.We start with a place that has become the favorite of many Christians:the Garden Tomb and Golgotha.1 We then ascend (by bus) to Mount Scopus for a unique overview of Jerusalem to the west and the Judean wilderness2 to the east.Then on to a most significant place,the Mount of Olives,3 from which Jesus ascended into heaven and to which He is going to return. Well walk down the mountain to the Chapel of Tears,4 then to the Garden of GethFishing boats on the semane.5 Finally,we will visit the Israel mubanks of the seum and see the amazing Model of the Sea of Galilee, Israel Temple and the exhibition of the Shrine of the Book (the Dead Sea Scrolls).We will fellowship and reminisce at our final dinner in our hotel in Jerusalem. 1 Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, John 19:17 2 Matthew 3:1 3 2 Samuel 15:30; Acts 1:12 4 Luke 22:44 5 Matthew 26:36
Day 11 Saturday, 28 May 2011
Nazareth is the capital and largest city in the northern district of Israel.
19 May 22 May Hotel Beth-Shalom http://www.beth-shalom.co.il
Accommodations Limitation of Liability
22 May 24 May Kibbutz Guest HouseMaagan Holiday Village http://www.maagan.com/english 24 May 29 May Ramada (Royal Wing) Jerusalem
For participant-initiated cancellations, a full refund of the landonly portion of the tour ($1995 per person, plus optional $525 single room supplement) will be made up to 45 days before departure (4/4/2011), and at a sliding scale down to zero for noshows on 19 May 2011. If we need to cancel the tour for any reason, you will receive an immediate and automatic refund of everything you have paid Midnight Call for the 2011 tour; this refund will release Midnight Call from any further obligations. Since you will be making air travel arrangements separately, the airlines cancellation/refund policy applies. If you feel it necessary, purchase travel interruption insuranceeither from our travel agent or another source.
Cancellation Policy
Midnight Call Inc. (Olive Tours) and its agents assume no responsibility nor liability in connection with the service of any vessel, carriage, aircraft or other conveyance, which is used, either wholly or in part, in the performance of its duty to the passengers. Midnight Call Inc. will not be held responsible for an act, error, or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any vehicle, or through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purpose of this tour. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable, or for any reason whatsoever, we reserve the right to alter the itinerary or arrangements as needed. Significant additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passengers; conversely, a refund will be made to the passengers if any significant savings result from a change.
Olive Tours/Midnight Call Ministries PO Box 280008 Columbia SC 29228 1-800-845-2420 Fax: 803-755-6002 kathy@midnightcall.com Latest information: http://www.midnightcall.com/israel_tours.html
MC1210
J Yes, I wish to join the Promised Land Prophecy Tour. Please reserve _______seat(s) for me(us).
I enclose $400 deposit for each person. J Just send me a complete information package at this time. J Please reserve a single room for me ($525 extra).
Midnight Call Ministries P.O. BOX 280008 Columbia, SC 29228
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We will need additional information for each participant. If possible, please use the detailed registration form found on our website: http://www.midnightcall.com/israel_tours.html in lieu of this coupon.
The Calling of the Twelve Disciples
Bartholomew
BY MARCEL MALGO
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him (Matthew 10:1-4).
he New Testament does not say much about the disciple called Bartholomew. In the lists of the apostles, he is always mentioned together with Philip (cf. Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:14). In the Gospel of John, his name is not mentioned at all; on the other hand, the name Nathanael is mentioned a couple of times, always together with Philip, in John 1:45, for instance, Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. As Nathanael is not mentioned anywhere else, it is assumed that he is identical with Bartholomew. After Philip was called to discipleship by the Lord, we learn how he invited Bartholomew, i.e. Nathanael, to follow Jesus, and what consequences this had, Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael
said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:45-51).
Nathanael must have been a man beyond reproach, or the Lord would not have said of him,
an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile (John 1:47). Jesus said this before Nathanaels mighty
DECEMBER 2010 27
The Calling of the Twelve Disciples
Bartholomew
We may have reached a high standard of morality, but this will still not get us to heaven.
To enter heaven, each one of us must receive the true righteousness, and this is the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22).
testimony, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel (John 1:49). This was, in a manner of speaking, the conversion of Nathanael, and yet the Lord testified before this that he was a man without guile. In the Old Testament, many people believed with all their hearts on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and were in this sense absolutely irreproachable men or women. Probably, Nathanael was just such a person. His integrity could have been of the sort that many people possess in the world today. Is it not a fact that there are people today who have attained to such a high level of integrity that they seem to outshine many Christians? Whether Nathanael possessed such integrity, comprised of faithfulness to the Old Testament or a high moral standard, neither of these helped him. This integrity was something outside of Jesus. And it seems as though Nathanael perceived this in his heart, for he said to Jesus, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. He was converted and attained to the only true righteousness there is, namely the righteousness in Jesus Christ. Among my readers there may also be Nathanaels, people possessing integrity who have not yet come to the most important confession of their lives, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. In 1837, a man wrote the following hymn (translated roughly from German), Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, come down from Your throne and save my soul! Come with Your blessedness,
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Your reflection of the Fathers glory, and let me choose You alone! Lovely, glorious, without suffering will be our joy when we praise You above! If only it were here, the time of passion when I will warm from death on Your breast! Then I shall see You, God, and thanks to You, all those who were dear to me, and can embrace them forever! Eternally alive, standing before You, to see You, my life will blossom anew. The man who wrote this hymn was Friedrich Engels. He grew up in a Christian family, but later turned away from Jesus Christ in order to become one of the philosophical forerunners of atheistic communism, together with Karl Marx. At the time of writing the hymn, he was a man of integrity, but he had never testified with all his heart, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. We may have reached a high standard of morality, but this will still not get us to heaven. To enter heaven, each one of us must receive the true righteousness, and this is the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art
the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? (John 1:48-50).
upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22). Nathanael realized that, in spite of his integrity, he had not yet reached his goal. He was converted. Have we all received this righteousness through faith in the Lord? Are we true Nathanaels? Our Lord sees us always and everywhere! He even sees the next step that we do not yet see. David expressed this as follows, O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:1-3). Job clung to this knowledge and said, He knoweth the way that I take (Job 23:10), and, Doth he not see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:4). Are we not sometimes like Nathanael reticent, critical, or even closed up? Perhaps we have experienced some kind of disappointment that we cannot deal with. Not even a Philip can cheer us up. But right then it must strike us like a bolt of lightning, The Lord sees me, He is watching over me, He sees the next step I have to take. Nothing escapes His eyes, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9). And it is always in love that He looks at us. Think of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21, Then Jesus beholding him loved him. He sees the whole way that lies ahead of us. This knowledge must grasp us and encourage us, just as Nathanael grasped it, who could only exclaim, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel!
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Nathan the critical: Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see (John 1:45-46). Philip did not let himself be influenced by Nathanaels critical, destructive attitude. When Nathanael met with the Lord Jesus, who said, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile, the reserved, critical nature of Nathanael was revealed for the second time, Whence knowest thou me? (John 1:48). This sounds like a gentle rebuke, How can you say such a thing, although You have never seen me? Then Jesus spoke the words that overcame all Nathanaels reticence, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? (verses 48-50). Jesus had already seen Nathanael before Philip spoke to him, and this convinced him. This is the wonderful certainty that each of us may have.
DECEMBER 2010
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BY SAMUEL RINDLISBACHER
The Old Testament king Saul is the tragic example of a person who knew Gods Word well and was blessed by God, yet in the end he went his own way and failed. Finally, God had to say to this king, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:22-23). How could this happen?
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It is interesting to note that the Lord puts love for Him and obedience to Him on par with one another. To love Christ means to keep His commandments. But we cannot keep His commandments if we do not search the Scriptures in order to find out what His commandments are. Do you know Gods commandments, the clear New Testament directions for your life?
ing Saul, the highest judicial authority in Israel, received the following command by God, the highest judicial authority of creation, Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not (1 Samuel 15:1-3). With this command, Saul (and with him Israel) became the instrument of Gods judgment upon a completely degenerate, godless and sinful people who were no longer capable of repenting. Yet against Gods specific will, Saul only carried out this judgment in part, But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly (verse 9). This disobedience of Saul led to God saying to Samuel, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments (verse 11). Although Saul had realized the extent of the consequences of his disobedience, he made light of the matter and fell into the pattern of hypocrisy and lies, And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord (verse 13). We cannot hide anything from God, however. Everything is visible to Him. He knew of Sauls sinful secret and led Samuel to ask him,
What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (verse 14). Although Saul was convicted, he still sought a way out by lying. The people did it! Saul saidthe people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed (verse 15). Sauls true nature was revealed more and more. Suddenly he says, the Lord thy God, as though he himself had never had a genuine relationship with God. Was His faith-life a mere pretence? God said to him through Samuel, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (verses 22-23). God is not seeking pious words in the first place. God desires obedience, obedience to His Word! This is very clear from the fact that God said of Saul, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments (verse 11). Gods first priority in our lives is obedience to His Word. Because Saul rejected this, He ultimately came to the verdict, Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king (verse 23).
A word that is so unpopular today, that is so insignificant, that has been cast onto the pile of obsolete terms, a word that sealed the destiny of King Saul, is the word obedience. Obedience holds highest priority with God. Jesus Christ
DECEMBER 2010 31
Is it the Bible that gives you daily your life in Jesus Christ? Is it the Bible, the revealed Word of God, which determines your everyday life? Is it the Bible that shows you your hopeful future? Our unconditional attitude toward the Bible is a clear testimony to the genuine nature of our new birth and our obedience. Let us not forget, To obey is better than sacrifice.
even says that obedience is the true sign of a new birth, He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21). It is interesting to note that the Lord puts love for Him and obedience to Him on par with one another. To love Christ means to keep His commandments. But we cannot keep His commandments if we do not search the Scriptures in order to find out what His commandments are. Do you know Gods commandments, the clear New Testament directions for your life? live for Him and are at His disposal. Our thoughts, feelings, words, motives and deeds are determined by, accompanied by and ruled by Jesus Christ. This is the will of God for our lives. It is His command to us who call ourselves Christians. Are you obedient to it?
The expression of our obedience is also spiritual growth.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:11). If we make Gods cause the main thing in our lives, not only in our spare time but also in our daily lives, this obedience will cause us to grow spiritually. We will be changed and transformed, and the fruit of the Spirit will become visible (Galatians 5:22). Where this is not the case after years of being a Christian, the reason is not in the difficult character of the person concerned, but more in the lack of obedience toward the Word of God. To obey is better than sacrifice.
True Christians are characterized by the fact that the Bible is their daily bread. Let the word
of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). Is it the Bible that gives you daily your life in Jesus Christ? Is it the Bible, the revealed Word of God, which determines your everyday life? Is it the Bible that shows you your hopeful future? Our unconditional attitude toward the Bible is a clear testimony to the genuine nature of our new birth and our obedience. Let us not forget, To obey is better than sacrifice.
Obedient Christians are also industrious Christians, Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Christians who sit in the congregation like sacks of potatoes, who do not want to work, do not belong in the Church of Jesus Christ. Such Christians should be characterized by the words, approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and not people who are lazy, who hang around killing time, who say, Others can do it, who lack Bible
Gods will is our sanctification. For this is the

will of God, even your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Sanctification means being set aside for God. We have been separated, set apart for God; we
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The positive and Biblical stand is: are you earning money? Wonderful! Use it to provide for your family and to invest as much as possible in the Kingdom of God. Christians who work give their all, their strength, intelligence and knowledge, be it in a factory, at the kitchen sink, as manager of a business, or as a salesman. Everything we do, we do for the glory of Jesus.
study or are cowardly in passing it on and confessing Christ. To obey is better than sacrifice, by applying the Word of God to this sphere of our lives. the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Sauls disobedience may surprise us, but do we behave any better? Allow me to ask you, what are you doing to carry out this divine command? We are all given the command to go. Many like to quote the following Bible verse, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Yet they forget that this promise is tied to a clear command, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (verses 19-20). This is a fourfold command: Go ye therefore means active missionary work. Teach all nations means to tell them about Jesus. Baptizing them is the confirmation of their conversion. And teaching them to observe all things is active instruction in the Word of God. The missionary command is a command that concerns the whole Church. Nobody is excluded. What is your contribution? There are no excuses. Here too, To obey is better than sacrifice. Only those who obey Gods command will experience the promise of Jesus, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Many Christians experience the practical help and presence of Jesus Christ so little in their daily lives because they do not put Gods command into practice. Our Lord Jesus says unmistakably, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Begin today to make Gods cause the main thing in your life. May our faithful Lord give you grace daily to do this.
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Everything we do, we should do for God, unless it

is sin, And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:23). This verse describes the goal we should have in all our dealings. Let us consider the situation first from the negative side. Are you saving more and more money for your own use? Are you working more and more in order to find satisfaction in it? Are you learning more and more in order to increase your knowledge and improve your image? Do you not miss a church service so that you dont lose the respect of man? Such motives have their origin in your own ego and are against the Word of God. The positive and Biblical stand is: are you earning money? Wonderful! Use it to provide for your family and to invest as much as possible in the Kingdom of God. Christians who work give their all, their strength, intelligence and knowledge, be it in a factory, at the kitchen sink, as manager of a business, or as a salesman. Everything we do, we do for the glory of Jesus. In this way we prove ourselves to be industrious workers. We have one great goal: the glory and honor of the One whose name we bear as Christians, Jesus Christ. Are you really conscious of this? To obey is better than sacrifice.
We all know the one great will of God: The Lord isnot willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Is it not so that Jesus Christ put His Church in this world to be a light and salt, as His ambassadors? He gave them the clear command, Go ye into all the world, and preach
DECEMBER 2010
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SWITZERLAND
Scientists Claim Existence of Parallel Universe

Physicists probing the origins of the cosmos hope that next year they will turn up the first proofs of the existence of concepts long dear to science-fiction writers such as hidden worlds and extra dimensions.
And as their Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN near Geneva moves into high gear, they are talking increasingly of the New Physics on the horizon that could totally change current views of the universe and how it works. Parallel universes, unknown forms of matter, extra dimensions... These are not the stuff of cheap science fiction but very concrete physics theories that scientists are trying to confirm with the LHC and other experiments. This was how the ideas men and women in the international research centers Theory Group, which mulls over what could be out there beyond the reach of any telescope, put it in CERNs stafftargeted Bulletin. As particles are collided in the vast underground LHC complex at increasingly high energies, what the Bulletin article referred to informally as the universes extra bitsif they do exist as predictedshould be brought into computerized, if ephemeral, view, the theorists say. Optimism among the hundreds of scientists working at CERNin the foothills of the Jura mountains along the border of France and Switzerlandhas grown as the initially troubled $10 billion experiment hit its targets this year. By next year, [proton] collisions will be occurringif all continues to go wellat a rate producing what physicists call one inverse femtobarn, best described as a colossal amount, of information for analysts to ponder. The head-on collisions, at all but the speed of light, recreate what happened a tiny fraction of a second after the primeval Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago which brought the known universe and everything in it into being. Science and science fiction are often closely related. In this case, mans attempt to uncover Gods secret of creation is wholly based on science fiction. Why all the fuss? The gigantic undertaking? The immense resources invested? The answer is simple: man refuses to acknowledge the truth found in the Word of God: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). 3921
The Carina Nebula, located 7,500 light-years away from Earth, in an image taken by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010. Credit: Reuters/NASA/Handout
CHINA
Despite centuries of increasingly sophisticated observation from planet Earth, only 4 percent of that universe is knownbecause the rest is made up of what have been called, because they are invisible, dark matter and dark energy. Billions of particles flying off from each LHC collision are tracked at four CERN detectors and then in collaborating laboratories around the globeto establish when and how they come together and what shapes they take. The CERN theoreticians say this could give clear signs of dimensions beyond length, breadth, depth and time because at such high energy particles could be tracked disappearingpresumably into themand then back into the classical four. Parallel universes could also be hidden within these dimensions, the thinking goes, but only in a so-called gravitational variety in which light cannot be propagateda fact which would make it nearly impossible to explore them.
-news.yahoo.com, 20 October 2010
British and French Urged to Surrender ChineseTreasures

The Chinese administration urged Western leaders, museums and private collectors to return the treasures of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing.
It mostly goes about the events of the Second Opium War of 1858-1860 and about the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion at the end of the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th centuries, when British and French troops plundered the Chinese capital, including the emperors residence.
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ChineseTreasures
Many of the stolen items are currently preserved in [the] worlds most renowned museums. Chinese officials said that the invaders had stolen as many as 500,000 culturally valuable items. A similar problem exists between Great Britain and Greece. In 2004, on the threshold of the Olympic Games in Athens, then prime minister Costas Simitis urged his British counterpart Tony Blair to return the treasures of the Parthenon, a temple in the Athenian Acropolis. The treasures were delivered from Greece in 1817 to the British Museum, where they still remain. Last year, Greek President Karolos Papoulias repeated the requirement to return the treasures, but the British do not seem to be willing to listen. Unlike Greece, Beijing is not going to keep silen[t]. The Chinese administration is strongly determined to retrieve the cultural treasures. Nikolay Makarov, the director of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences: For many years, especially during the era of colonization, there were no laws which would restrain world powers from plundering archeological findings. The international laws have changed since then, and now countries may claim the return of their treasures. By the way, there is practically no French item among the exhibits of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The same can be said about the British Museum. China has probably been inspired by Egypt, which succeeded in its claims to Britain to return 25,000 artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone (a fragment of an Ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele, the engraved text of which provided the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs). The returned artifacts are dated from the Stone Age to the VII Millennium BC. The English stole the rarities during the campaign against Napoleon in Egypt. Egypt has been very persistent in the endeavor to return the stolen works of art. The efforts taken by the country during the recent years have resulted in the retrieval of over 30,000 culturally valuable pieces from Britain, Germany and France. Egypts cultural success has sent a message to those who want to settle scores with the raiders of ancient treasures. An international conference was
organized in April of this year to unite the countries that had suffered from Western looters. China is not alone in the struggle. Egypt, Iraq, Greece and India are in the club too.
-english.pravda.ru, 21 October 2010
The time of conquering and dividing the spoil ended with the Second World War. Today, all treasures are carefully catalogued and documented. The U.N. has developed a list of world heritage places. The success of these countries asking for the return of their treasures points to the continuous development of making planet Earth a truly global society. Those who have robbed and stolen will now be confronted with their past. The new spirit of the end times requires transparency of all nations. We are reminded here of the coming Antichrist the prophet Daniel speaks about: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand (Daniel 8:24-25). 3920
gued Portuguese Socialist MEP Edite Estrela, in charge of drafting the parliaments position. Adopted by 390 votes in favor, 192 against and 59 abstentions, the bill aims to raise the minimum legal period for maternity leave from 14 weeks paid at sick leave levels to a fully-paid period of 20 weeks, including two weeks for the father. This goes beyond the EU Commissions original proposal, which called for an extension to 18 weeks, out of which only the first six would have been fully paid. For the remainder of the leave, the commission only recommended granting full pay. Austerity-driven member states, notably Great Britain, are openly against the bill, which would double the cost of maternity payments at a time when London is announcing overall budget cuts of 25 percent. Britain currently has the EUs longest maternity leave, at 52 weeks. But only the first six weeks are paid at a 90 percent level, the rest being allocated at a fixed rate for everyone. Other countries, such as Estonia, have already more than 20 fully paid weeks and are not really affected by the bill.
-euobserver.com, 20 October 2010
E U
Parliament Urges 20Week Maternity Leave

Euro-deputies on 20 October resisted pressure from national capitals and voted in favor of extending maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks in all EU countries.
The bill is likely to be watered down in the final version agreed with austerity-driven member states. Maternity cannot be regarded as a burden on social security systems, it is an investment in our future, ar-
Europes healthcare is the envy of the world. Looking at statistics for life expectancy at the high end and infant mortality at the low end, Europe dominates the chart. Quite naturally, well-compensated, well-rested workers and excellent healthcare guarantees European leadership. But one significant problem is overlooked: the decline of the birth rate, the lowest of any continent. The urge to live well, rest long, and be pampered by the healthcare is a contributing reason for Europeans to have few children. How can the population be sustained? Through immigration. That, in turn, causes difficulties because of integration problems, thus Europe finds itself in a Catch-22. They need foreigners to make up for the low birth rate, but often vehemently oppose the development of new cultures in Europe.
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DECEMBER 2010
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U K
Armed Forces to Be Drastically Reduced

[The] U.S. is not happy with the United Kingdoms plans to reduce its armed forces. In the next four years, according to the plan of the Labor Party, the defense budget will be reduced by one third. Every year, it will be squeezed by eight percent. This was stated by Prime Minister David Cameron, who presented the Strategic Review of the Defense and Security to the Parliament.
As a result, the number of British army by 2015 will be reduced [by] seven thousand people and will amount to only 95,500 people; five thousand military will be laid off in the Air Force and Navy. Civilian personnel will be affected the most, as their number will decrease by as much as 25 thousand people. This decline is the largest since the end of the Cold War. As a result of the reduction, Britain will lose a significant part of its power. This is especially true with [the] Royal Navy. The number of frigates and destroyers will be reduced by nearly 20 percent by 2020 (from 23 to 19). Its flagship, aircraft carrier Ark Royal, will also be sent for scrapping ahead of time, although earlier it was planned that she [would] serve until 2016. Only one of the two new aircraft carriers that are being built now will be put into operation. According to Cameron, one of them is cheaper to finish than to send for scrap. It is not ruled out that the UK as a result can generally be left without sea (and deck) aircrafts for many years. First, Ark Royal will be replaced, in the best case, only in 2019. Secondly, the British will stop the construction of the storm troopers with the vertical takeoff and landing Harrier. It is not clear when they will be replaced by the fifth-generation fighter F-35, because at the moment they are still being tested. It is worth mentioning that it was the Navy of Great Britain, including the deck aircrafts that played the key role in defeating the Argentineans during the Falklands conflict in 1982. The Air Force will be markedly reduced at the expense of surveillance aircraft Nimrod. Cameron said that they will be replaced by cheaper and more convenient drones. Yet, he failed to explain what will offset the reduction of the order for Typhoon by nearly 50 percent. To a large extent the cut will affect land forces as well: the number of The reason for this development seems relatively obvious. Conquering of land has been replaced by conquering of commerce. The new consumer-oriented culture has superseded the borders of the nations; in many cases, these borders virtually do not exist. The most obvious reason is that a military force has become virtually ineffective when it comes to fighting militia revolutionists and terrorists. Israel has the most effective military force. They have the very best soldiers, yet are unable to annihilate Muslim-inspired terrorism within their own borders. Israels intelligence knows every single house and family in the land, they speak the language, they know virtually all movements, yet terrorism has not been eradicated. Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north are the proof of military ineffectiveness. In the meantime, the United States is sinking deeper into debt, and many international experts agree that in the not too distant future, the Chinese communist and the European socialist will be more reluctant to invest their money in support of he United States. Finance and economics are the key. This is clearly evidenced when reading Scriptures such as Revelation 18:3: For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. No military might is mentioned, but politicians (kings), economists (merchants), the financial elite (waxed rich), and consumer products (abundance ofdelicacies). Besides, the Antichrist must be successful to create 3923 peace on earth, although temporarily.
tanks and artillery guns will be reduced to 40 percent. Military budget cuts will affect even the forces of nuclear deterrence. Sea-based ballistic missiles Trident will be replaced with new ones. Yet, there will be significantly fewer warheads. Only the US has the ability to independently pursue its interests at any point on the globe right now, said President of Foundation Politika Vyacheslav Nikonov. As for the UK, it could solve these problems only in the 19th century. In recent years, its security was provided by NATO, mainly the U.S. And now, London does not set a global goal to solve serious world problems, because the emphasis is on preserving the union with the United States. In addition, the reduction is attributable to the fact that London is trying to cope with the financial crisis. As expected, in this regard on October 20 Prince Osborne announced a global cost reduction of 83 billion pounds, which will affect not only the defense sector.
-english.pravda.ru, 21 October 2010
Something strange is happening in the world todayglobalization on all levels of society. International borders are well established in most parts of the world; only minor conflicts are items of concern. Except for the United States, virtually all progressive countries have decreased their military spending. Now, Britain is following in that direction.
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RUSSIA
Planned Mosque Sparks Controversy in Moscow

The leaders of Moscows 1.5 million strong Muslim community say they desperately need more places of worship. But a plan to build a new mosque has run into local opposition which is being fuelled by nationalists calling for a clean Moscow without Muslims and foreigners.
Small trees are supposed to be keeping the Muslims out of Tekstilshchiki, a district in southeastern Moscow. A young man sets to work with his shovel, pushing it into the earth with a determined kick. Then he places a seedling into the hole and sprinkles earth over it. Using her watering can, Maria Sotova pours some water onto the seedling. We want a park here and not a mosque or a church or anything else, says the mother who is here with her six-year-old son. There are about a hundred residents of Tekstilshchiki gathered on this lawn and they want to prevent the start of construction on an Islamic religious center. The Moscow media have already christened this patch of green the Russian Ground Zero in a reflection of strife over the mosque being built near Ground Zero, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center stood in New York before the terror attack of 9/11. The countrys largest online newspaper, gazeta.ru, drew parallels with other European controversies surrounding Islam: The burqa ban in France and the immigration debate now raging in Germany. Europeans are frightened of Islam because the religion's values are utterly foreign to them, the article said. Now we are experiencing something similar in Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to estimates by the Moscow council of muftis (equivalent to a council of deacons in the Christian faith), up to 20 million Muslims live in Russia today. Muslims have dominated some parts of the country for centuries. While the predominantly Muslim Republic of Tatarstan in the Volga region is regarded as moderate, guerrillas are fighting to set
Fireworks over the Akhmad Kadyrov mosque in Grozny, Chechnya,in 2009.Up to 20 million Muslims live in Russia today.
There are plans to build a new mosque which would only be the fifth in Moscow,even though this metropolis of 10.5 million has more than 1.5 million Muslim residents.In comparison,Berlin,which has a proportion of Muslims amounting to less than a sixth of Moscow's,has at least six large mosques.
Recently tens of thousands of believers could not get into the city's largest mosque to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Many simply unrolled prayer carpets on the street in front of the mosque.The Moscow council of muftis says the city should have up to 40 mosques.
up an Islamic state in the northern Caucasus. Islamic extremists were behind the suicide bomb attacks that shook the Russian capital this March and killed 40 people. Up until recently only political non-entities, extreme right wingers and ultra-orthodox Christians were openly Islamophobic. Since state authorities have started cracking down on Russias far-right scene, the groups involved have begun resorting to more subtle tactics. In Tekstilshchiki, an organization of former neo-Nazis is trying to stir up local sentiment against the mosque by citing arguments that people find easier to relate to than abstract words or ideologies: they claim to be opposing the mosque because they want to protect Moscows green areas. The planned mosque would only be the fifth in Moscow, even though this metropolis of 10.5 million has more than 1.5 million Muslim residents. In comparison, Berlin, which has a proportion of Muslims amounting to less than a sixth of Moscows, has at least six large mosques. That is why the Moscow council of muftis wants more mosques to be built and says Moscow should have up to 40. Recently a huge crowd of Muslims gathered outside Moscows largest mosque on Prospekt Mira avenue. Tens of thousands of worshippers were trying to get into their house of prayer to celebrate the end of Ramadan. You had to know the imam per-
sonally to clinch a place in the mosque, Rustem, a student from Uzbekistan, recalls. Like many others, he simply unrolled his prayer carpet on the street in front of the mosque. Others placed theirs in between tram tracks in order to kneel upon them. Cries of Allahu Akbar, or God is great, rang through the streets while Moscow drivers were tormented by long detours through the traffic.
-www.spiegel.de, 19 October 2010
Islam is insistent on its presence in all countries. That has caused much opposition throughout the world, particularly in Europe. During the 70 years of the Soviet Union rulership, religion of any kind was greatly discouraged. But today, as is evident in Russia, religion is alive and well. Although a large percentage of Russians and this can also be said for Europeans have no actual relationship with their church, nevertheless, they perceive a cultural threat to their traditional religion. What will be the end thereof? Peace. As Christians, we must permit ourselves to be guided exclusively by Holy Scripture. Revelation 13:8 says, All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, that is, the Antichrist and Satan. Thus, there will be unity among all. 3925
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A F G H A N I S TA N
USA
Russia for a greater role in exploiting those resources. Two Chinese firms have committed themselves to a $4 billion investment in the vast Aynak copper mine, south of Kabul, the biggest non-military foreign investment so far in the country. Another big contract to mine an estimated 1.8 billion tons of high-quality iron ore in the remote mountainous region of Hajigak is expected to open for international bidding this year. Firms from India and China are eyeing the contract, which the Afghan mines ministry says is the largest unmined iron deposit in Asia. According to the U.S. study, the biggest deposits so far are of iron and copper and the quantities are large enough to make Afghanistan a major world producer. Other finds include large deposits of niobium, a soft metal used in producing superconducting steel, rare earth elements and large gold deposits in Pashtun areas of southern Afghanistan.
-reuters.com, 14 June 2010
The $1Trillion Mineral Discovery Bonanza

Afghanistan could be holding $1 trillion of untapped mineral deposits including critical industrial metals such as lithium, the New York Times reported, quoting U.S. government officials.
Derivative Bubble Could Destroy the EntireWorld Financial System

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends upon or is derived from the price of something else. A derivative has no underlying value of its own. It is essentially a side bet. Originally, derivatives were mostly used to hedge risk and to offset the possibility of taking losses.
But today it has gone way, way beyond that. Today the world financial system has become a gigantic casino where insanely large bets are made on anything and everything that you can possibly imagine. The derivatives market is almost entirely unregulated and in recent years it has ballooned to such enormous proportions that it is almost hard to believe. Today, the worldwide derivatives market is approximately 20 times the size of the entire global economy. Because derivatives are so unregulated, nobody knows for certain exactly what the total value of all the derivatives worldwide is, but low estimates put it around 600 trillion dollars and high estimates put it at around 1.5 quadrillion dollars. The truth is that the danger that we face from derivatives is so great that Warren Buffet has called them financial weapons of mass destruction. Unfortunately, he is not exaggerating. It would be hard to understate the financial devastation that we could potentially be facing. A number of years back, French President Jacques Chirac referred to derivatives as financial AIDS. The reality is that when this bubble pops there wont be enough money in the entire world to fix it.
(continued next page)
The previously unknown deposits of iron, copper, cobalt and gold are so huge that it could transform the impoverished nation into one of the worlds important mining centers, the report on the newspapers website said. The mineral wealth, discovered by a team of Pentagon officials and U.S. geologists, is scattered throughout the country including in the south and east along the border with Pakistan, where the Taliban-led insurgency is the most intense. There is stunning potential here, the newspaper quoted General David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, as saying in an interview. There are lots of ifs, of course, but I think potentially it is hugely significant. An internal Pentagon memo said Afghanistan could become the Saudi Arabia of lithium, the New York Times said. Lithium is a key raw material in the manufacture of batteries for laptops and other electronics such as mobile telephones. The report about the countrys untapped wealth is likely to intensify competition among regional players such as China, India and even
How accurate these discoveries are remains to be seen. The other unanswered question is, who will benefit from these immense riches in the country of Afghanistan? Presently, under the leadership of the United States, 28 nations (of which all are European except Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) are participants in the socalled war on terrorism. Quite naturally, these countries will not be the most favored ones to take advantage of these gigantic mineral deposits; thus, we see China, India, and Russia vying for investment in the recovery of these untapped mineral resources. Will the Taliban be the winner in the end? We must recall that during the Soviet Union days, the U.S. supported the Taliban in their guerrilla warfare against the USSR. Now the Taliban has become the decisive enemy of the invasion forces. One thing has become clear: Afghanistan will become an important 3907 resource country in the future.
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Bubble
But ignorance is bliss, and most people simply do not understand these complex financial instruments enough to be worried about them. Most Americans dont realize it, but derivatives played a major role in the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. Do you remember how AIG was constantly in the news for a while there? Well, they werent in financial trouble because they had written a bunch of bad insurance policies. What had happened is that a subsidiary of AIG had lost more than $18 billion on Credit Default Swaps (derivatives) it had written, and additional losses from derivatives were on the way which could have caused the complete collapse of the insurance giant. So the U.S. government stepped in and bailed them outall at U.S. taxpayer expense of course. But the AIG incident was actually quite small compared to what could be coming. The derivatives market has become so monolithic that even a relatively minor imbalance in the global economy could set off a chain reaction that would have devastating consequences. Far from being some arcane or marginal activity, financial derivatives have come to represent the principal business of the financier oligarchy in Wall Street, the City of London, Frankfurt, and other money centers. A concerted effort has been made by politicians and the news media to hide and camouflage the central role played by derivative speculation in the economic disasters of recent years. Journalists and public relations types have done everything possible to avoid even mentioning derivatives, coining phrases like toxic assets, exotic instruments, andmost notably troubled assets, as in Troubled Assets Relief Program or TARP, aka the monstrous $800 bil-
lion bailout of Wall Street speculators which was enacted in October 2008 with the support of Bush, Henry Paulson, John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the Obama Democrats. One day some event will happen which will cause a sudden shift in world financial markets and trillions of dollars of losses in derivatives will create a tsunami that will bring the entire house of cards down. All of the money in the world will not be enough to bail out the financial system when that day arrives. The truth is that we should have never allowed world financial markets to become a giant casino. But we did. Soon enough we will all pay the price, and when that disastrous day comes, most Americans will still not understand what is happening.
-pravda.ru, 9 August 2010
and Brazil. Will there be anyone left the next go-round? That is the question this article asks and does not answer. There is one specific Scripture we must mention here in relationship to riches: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days (James 5:1-3). 3899
The financial system is so complicated that even seasoned investors have great difficulty in following the trends. Although the majority of the leading nations in the world have implemented new rules and regulations, no one really knows if they will work, and if they do, for how long? Many experts point to the 1929 Great Depression, attempting to predict the future, but old rules are no longer applicable. Today, we find ourselves in a virtual casino gambling financial system environment. No one knows when the next crash will happen and the extent of damage it will inflict upon the world economy. The financial meltdown in the United States during the Bush administration affected virtually the entire world. It was saved from total collapse primarily by the strong economy of communist China and several socialist countries such as Germany
Just what lies ahead for
America?
For Christians, perilous, faith-killing times are todaytheyre a form of Apocalypse Now for the believer. How can believers avoid becoming prey to the lethal devices of a rapidly encroaching, end-time money snare and remain faithful and free stewards?
GLOBAL FINANCIAL APOCALYPSE PROPHESIED

ITEM# 1068 340 pgs. Paperback
$14.95 Author: Wilfred J. Hahn $10

DECEMBER 2010 39
LET TE RS TO TH E ED ITOR
Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Midnight Call, P.O. Box 280008, Columbia, SC 29228. 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.
Theophostic Gospel... JacobSupplanter... Old Testament Salvation
Theophostic Gospel Dear Mr. Froese: The focus of my letter is TPM Theophostic Prayer Ministry, and a book called Healing Lifes Hurts, by Dr. Edward M. Smith. It is now published by New Creation Publishing, Inc., Kentucky, 2002. Dr. Smith developed this powerful ministry in the early 1900s. On pages 14-15, Dr. Smith writes:
The Bible is available in a host of translations and formats that include electronic computer versions that allow mind-boggling quick search features. However, it seems there is a shortage when it comes to people having genuine experiential encounters with God. Our cognitive understanding of God is unsurpassed but it seems we may be a bit anemic when it
come to experiencing the presence of Christ. Receiving truth through discipleship, teaching, and Biblical instruction plays a vital role in the life of the believer. However, ongoing authentic encounters with the person of Jesus are just as important. One without the other leaves a void. Theophostic Prayer Ministry is focused on encountering Christ but recognizes the need for both. When the Apostle Paul declared, to know Him and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3), he was not referring to gaining more biblical knowledge. He was crying out for experience. Both cognitive expansion and experience are a necessary part of the mind renewal journey...If a person has an authentic encounter with God, there should be a noticeable change. If there is not, then the encounter may be questionable.
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Mr. Smith purposely does not disclose how the experience with Christ comes about because one must be trained in this area. I have been told the action involves discussion and identification of problems, praying, and waiting for Jesus presenceexperientially. With His appearance, there are often demonstrations from the counselee (screaming, crying, etc.) noted as a release and victory. Since the spring of 2009, I have been involved with worship music in a large congregation. Recently, in dialoguing with the pastor, he brought up Mr. Smiths TPM without full explanation, saying many in the congregation have been trained. He said he would find out where the training was being held, the church would pay for me to attend, and I could head up the ministry in the church. I was amazed! It didnt take me long to do research to find that two churches had divided over TPM, others I respected had nothing to say, and Sunday-morning I visited a church that offered training. It was an emergent wreck and I left soon after I walked in. This is the day when everyone wants a quick fix, right? At this junction, I reviewed the thoughts and observations of the ministry in the church where I have been playing. Many issues have troubled me, and I began to see the reason was this root in the leadership. There is a darkness involving
secrecy, busy activities, traditions, no evangelism, believing people are saved as infants, etc. I gave my resignation and am planted in a Gospel-preaching church I had earlier attended, and was welcomed back. I would appreciate your take on this, especially for others that might be tricked. I believe it is an end-time work of the devil.
J.Wada, MN
believers to remember wounds from childhood in order to abound in the fruit of the Spirit. -www.psychoheresy-aware.org
Based on the material quoted from Dr. Smiths book, I certainly would not recommend participation in the Theophostic Prayer Ministry.
Answer: The Bible says We walk by faith, not by sight. Also,The just shall live by faith, not by experience. We know that only the Word of God can make us free; thus, more biblical truth gives us more freedom. The Word of God is identified with the person of Jesus: His name is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13). PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries writes:
When reading Smiths writings, one often notices his unique interpretation of Scripture to support his theophostic brainchild. Smiths prayer ministry is problem-centered, with the primary emphasis on earlylife problems, and thus dependent on a faulty remembering that he irresponsibly ignores. In his desire to plunge into the past, Smith claims that in Philippians 3:13, the Apostle Paul is NOT referring to his painful past but rather the great accomplishments of his life. The Lord used Paul to explain the essentials of the faith and of sanctification, growing into the likeness of Christ. He gave details of what to put off (the old man) and what to put on (the new man created in Christ Jesus). However, Paul never did instruct
JacobSupplanter Dear Brother Froese, Abraham and Isaac lied to Abimelech, but we dont call them liars because their names are used as one of the God of Israels names. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob cannot be negative or used negatively. Esau called Jacob a deceiver, but Jacob did deceive him! Peoples names start at birth: Abraham: father of nations Isaac: laughter Jacob: heel grabber (Genesis 25:25-26) Israel is called the house of Jacob: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:33). Check Acts 7:46: Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob, and, Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of JacobIsrael then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew (Deuteronomy 33:4, 28). So Jacobs name has to be used in a positive way only.
-A. Golden, ISRAEL
DECEMBER 2010
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LE T T E R S TO TH E E DITOR
I know the Word tells us that in the last days there will be many deceiversand theyll be quite good at it. If one sends money to these people/organizations, and weve done it in good faith on our part, will God give us credit for these gifts, or is it null and void? People want to do good and help spread the Gospel, or are we sometimes being deceived?
-V. HANSEN, MT
Answer: Permit me to quote just three Scriptures to show that Jacob indeed is mentioned in a negative way: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins (Isaiah 58:1); The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein (Amos 6:8); Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity (Micah 3:9). It seems significant that the name Jacob does not appear after Hebrew 11, while Isaac is mentioned in James 2 and Abraham in 1 Peter 3. We must keep in mind that these names are earthly ones. These three important biblical figures were not perfected on earth, but they waited for the coming salvation. To the angel of the Church of Pergamos, the message is given, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth it (Revelation 2:17). In Jacobs case, his name was changed with a very clear statement, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. Yet two chapters further in Genesis 35, we read, and God said unto Jacob. The Jacob nature is the flesh and blood nature; it continued to be with Jacob, but within him was born the new name, Israel.
Old Testament Salvation Dear Brother Froese: With the exception of Paul the apostle, Scripture does not tell us when, where and how righteous people got saved. All we can do is presume from the context whether a specific person is righteous or unrighteous. So it is with King David. Acts 13:22, And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Many psalms were written by David wherein he praises God and/or appeals to God for protection and comfort, something hardly attributable to an unsaved man. Therefore, I feel that its safe to sayand verified by 1 John 5:13that King David was a born-again Christian who knew that upon his death he would go to the abode of the righteous dead, where he would positively be reunited with his infant son. Some might say that 1 John 5:13 is not applicable because it was written eons later than 2 Samuel 12:23. That is true, but God who inspired all Scripture is not hampered by the dimensions of time. Your version proposes that you dont know whether David was saved or lost, but God does.
-J. Olsen, IN
Answer: The Bible says,there is none righteous, no not one. Even our very best is unclean, as Isaiah 64:6 states, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as
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filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Salvation based on the rebirth was not available until the day of Pentecost. King David and all the other saints of the Old Testament looked forward to the coming salvation. So did father Jacob, who said, I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. About Abraham, Jesus said, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (John 8:56). Do not confuse salvation of ones life and salvation through the creation of a new spiritual person. Again, 2 Samuel 12:23 does not say more than that David will go to the place of the dead, where his son was. However, when Jesus arose from the dead, Scripture reports that many saints arose too. What happened to them? Ephesians 4:8 answers, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive. The names of those in captivity are not mentioned in Scripture, but there is no reason to doubt that David and his son were included.
proclaims the pure Gospel and the Church is spiritually nourished. Deacons may be appointed, but their office relates more to the practical aspect of the work directly concerned with the functioning of the local church. A deacon is to fulfill the command of another. An elder, whether pastor, bishop or leader, must be a ruler over the flock. But all service is for the spiritual well being of the Church. Elders are always present in any true Church, although they may not be identified by such a title.
Elders or Deacons? Mr. Froese, I am concerned about what to think or say about the church I go to. They have appointed deacons, but we dont have elders. Can you tell me if the elders come before or after deacons? What I read in the Bible tells me that the elders were chosen first. Please help me out.
-L.Weatherford, ME
Answer: Elders are the pillars of the church who see to it that the pastor
Where Is Paradise? Dear Editor, I respect your answers to Bible questions very much, so I have a question for you. My wife just died, and I was wondering what happens to us when we are Christians. Jesus said to the thief on the cross that Today you shall be with me in paradise. Where is paradise? When our soul leaves our body, it immediately goes to be with the Lord, but where is that? We get a new body at the Rapture, but what are the conditions we are living in until then? As far as our Bible study group is concerned, we cant seem to come up with an answer. Can you enlighten us? Also, I most strongly disagree with you on your stance of KJV-only. To the younger generation it is almost unintelligible, and your stance that it is the most accurate is not true either.
R. Jones, AB, CANADA
Answer: When the apostle Paul wrote absent from the bodypresent with the Lord, he did not identify the location. The Bible does not reveal the place that God has prepared for those who love Him. When Jesus told the thief on the cross, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise, it meant the same thing, absent from the body, present with the Lord. We try to humanize heaven too much, instead of realizing that something totally new will take place. For example, Revelation states, The first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Without the sea, life is impossible on planet Earth, so something totally new and incomprehensible to our minds will take place when Jesus returns. We will eternally be inexhaustibly amazed at His glory. I am not KJV-only, but use this government translation in all of my writings. Keeping in mind that the Bible is eternally true, translations are made by man, and man is subject to error. Incidentally, it would be quite strange to me to quote John 3:16 or Psalm 23 in another translation.
Muslim Invasion Dear Mr. Froese, In the September 2010 issue of Midnight Call you responded to a Letter to the Editor by N. Ward refuting your conclusion about a Muslim invasion. I found your response to the letter almost as objectionable as the original article. You say that in 2 Corinthians 11 where it speaks of another spirit, another gospel and of fake ministers of righteousness, it is not speaking of comDECEMBER 2010 43
LE T T E R S TO TH E E DITOR
munists, atheists, Muslims, etc. I would disagree: I believe these attributes accurately describe all of these entities, including Islam. You dodge the Muslim invasion issue by switching the topic to the Antichrist, claiming he will be a Christian. Even if this is true, it in no way lessens the threat of radical Islam. In the original article, you say: Some reports almost convincingly show that Muslims will dominate Europe in the not-too-distant future. If you dont believe that is possible, just look at Turkey. Constantinople was the imperial capital of the Roman Empire and the divided Roman Empire. Constantinople was also the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was finally defeated in 1923, which led to Turkey becoming a pro-western nation. But within just the last couple of years, Turkey has been transformed into a Muslim nation, one that now advocates the reestablishment of the Ottoman Empire. Even though Turkey, as a member of NATO, has the most well-equipped army in the region, the Islamic takeover was accomplished without having a shot fired. As for the Antichrist being a Christian first, I can find no Scriptural evidence to reinforce your assertion. In fact, 1 John 2:22 says, Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Again,
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this accurately describes those whom you say are not being spoken of. I am not aware of Israel having made or having tried to make peace with any Christian nation, in either the Old Testament or the New. I know of no Christian nation that has ever, at least physically attacked Israel. And ever since Israel was re-established as a nation, all of the nations and powers that have attacked Israel have been Muslim. Since that day, Israels desperate attempts at peacemaking have always been with Muslims, not Christians. If the U.S. were able to broker a Middle East peace deal today, it would be between Israel and the Muslim so-called Palestinians, not Israel and the U.S. Daniel wrote, And he shall confirm the covenant with many (Daniel 9:27). I cant imagine anyone would question that the covenant spoken of is being made with the Jews and Israel. Such a treaty is necessary only with Israels enemies, all of whom are Muslim. So he must be from the enemy camp, and as such must be a Muslim.
-C. Grimsley,TX
Answer: Allow me to approach this matter from a different angle. Jesus identified the Antichrist with the words,I am come in my Fathers name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive (John 5:43). That is the person who will be welcomed by the Jewish
people as the long-awaited Messiah, and the rest of the worldChurchianity, Muslims, Hindus, etc.will jubilantly welcome his appearance. The confusion has come about by replacing the word covenant with peace treaty or some kind of political agreement. The prophetic Word speaks of the covenant that the Antichrist will establish with the Jewish people, which includes the rebuilding of the Jewish temple and the reinstating of the sacrificial service. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Daniel 9:27). Not only will the Antichrist deceive the Jewish people, but his spirit is also active today within the Church. That is why the apostle Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. These false apostles and false ministers of righteousness are in the midst of the Church today, as they have been for almost 2,000 years. That is evident from 1 John 2:18, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. The fact that the integration of Muslim immigrants into the European world is a difficult issue, cant be denied. But neither can we deny that the children and grandchildren of
these immigrants are full-fledged European citizens, demonstrating good civil behavior. Therefore, I insist that the Muslim invasion hysteria propagated by Churchianity is a dangerous and false alarm. Should the Lord delay His coming for the next 10 to 20 years, you and I will then see that the Muslim invasion was a convenient trick of the great deceiver to detract many believers from the real issue.
done it in good faith on our part, will God give us credit for these gifts, or is it null and void? People want to do good and help spread the Gospel, or are we sometimes being deceived? This is my question.
-V. Hansen, MT
Credit for Giving? Dear Mr. Froese, I know the Word tells us that in the last days there will be many deceiversand theyll be quite good at it. If one sends money to these people/organizations, and weve
Answer: Jesus clearly stated, They [believers] know [My] voice. In John 10:5, For they know not the voice of strangers. When one recognizes that he or she has been led astray, confession must be made and forgiveness asked. Will God give credit for gifts sent to the enemy? I dont think so. Give least to those who ask most seems appropriate here. MC
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