The Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 2

The best way to begin this week’s discussion may be to repeat a question that was asked towards the end of “Part 1.” Why is it that throughout the writings of the Apostles there is absolutely no mention of John ever exhibiting even one of the powers of Elijah? Those who believe that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah must provide an acceptable answer to this question; if only to themselves.

Have you ever taken the time to search the Old Testament account of Elijah; and of Elisha who not only took up the mantle of Elijah but also inherited his powers? If you have not, then perhaps it’s time you did.

In 1st Kings 18:22 Elijah said of himself: “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD”; and yet, if we are to understand the full powers of Elijah we must also research the experiences and abilities of Elisha. Notice 1st Kings 19:15-16 “[The Lord said to Elijah:] ‘Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.’” And then in 2nd Kings 2:9 “And so it was ... that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’”

2nd Kings 2:15 “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw [Elisha], they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.”

Remember: it is not the actual Elijah who fulfills the prophecy, but someone who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah! You must decide for yourself, in the light of Holy Scripture, whether this was fulfilled by John the Baptist -- or by Jesus the Christ.

The following passages compare the powers displayed by the Old Testament prophets Elijah and/or Elisha with the powers which were manifest by Jesus. Rather than insert comments of my own with each example, I would prefer that you determine for yourself what these comparisons may or may not mean. It is also strongly recommended that you read each and every one of these passages by yourself, from the pages of your own Bible, placing each pertinent fact carefully within its own scriptural context:

1st Kings 19:7-8 “And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched [Elijah], and said, ‘Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights...”
Matthew 4:1-2 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry.”

1st Kings 17:10-16 “The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.”
Matthew 14:15-21…The five loaves and two fishes feed a multitude -- and Matthew 15:32-38 the seven loaves and a few fishes also feed a multitude.

2nd Kings 5:1-27...Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, is healed of leprosy by Elisha.
Matthew 8:1-3 “When [Jesus] had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

1st Kings 18:37-39…The miracles of Elijah cause the people to say: “The Lord he is the God.”
John 4:48 “Then Jesus said: ‘Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.’”

1st Kings 17:17-23…When the son of the widow of Zarephath died: “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the [life] of the child came back to him, and he revived.”
Mark 5:35-42…The daughter of a ruler of the temple had died … “[Jesus said], ‘Little girl, I say to you, ‘arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked...”

2nd Kings 6:4-7 “…the axe head fell into the water…[Elisha] cut down a stick and cast it into [the water] and the iron did float.”
Matthew 17:27 “[Jesus said to Peter:] ‘...go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money...’”

2nd Kings 6:15-17 “And when the servant of [Elisha] arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And [the servant] said to [Elisha], ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So [Elisha] answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Matthew 26:51-53 “And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?’”

In a previous posting to this blogsite “Turning Water into Wine” I discussed what it must take for anyone to carry out his or her first miracle. For even Jesus to successfully carry out a miracle, he would not only have to believe the miracle would work, but know it was correct (before God) to even make the attempt.

Before turning the water into wine at the feast of Cana, Jesus had survived a fast of forty days and forty nights, a feat no human could accomplish without the intervention of God; and at the completion of this fast God’s angels had come and ministered unto him. Both of these events were manifestations of miracles which were carried out for, not by Jesus -- miracles which had also been carried out for, not by the prophet Elijah!

The Bible refers to yet another event which I consider one of the most beautiful examples of God’s mysteries. This event is mentioned in a rather offhand and obscure way so you may need to spend a little time thinking about it; but consider the deep meditation which must have been the habit of our Saviour and try to learn from it. Notice:

2nd Kings 6:8-12 “[The secret plans of the king of Syria were being relayed to his enemy, the king of Israel, and he was convinced there was a traitor in his house:] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, ‘Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?’ And one of his servants said, ‘None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.’”

Now consider the first meeting of Jesus with Nathaniel, who later become one of His twelve principal disciples:

John 1:45-47 “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ And Nathanael said to [Philip] ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’”

From this passage it may be assumed that both Philip and Nathanael were well versed in their knowledge of the Scriptures and were actively looking for someone of prophetic importance to appear. Now notice the reaction of Nathanael as the meeting continues:

John 1:48-49 “Nathanael said to [Jesus], ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.’”

You really need to study each of these passages, in context, from the pages of your own Bible. The immediate reaction of Nathanael to the statement made by Jesus tells me Nathanael had not only studied the scriptural accounts of Elijah and Elisha -- but had been anticipating the arrival of someone manifesting that spirit and those powers! When Jesus revealed what must have been a secret between Nathaniel and his God, Nathaniel readily accepted this as proof of something! Was that something the manifestation by Jesus of one of the many powers of Elijah -- a power which had been inherited from Elijah by Elisha?

This would be a good time to remind you that the object of this paper was to identify who it was that should come in the spirit and power of Elijah. So far we have only made reference to the times of Elijah and Elisha, and of Jesus and John; but it is important to remember that the message of Malachi 4:5-6 refers specifically to “the time of the end” -- the time immediately preceding the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Revelation 19:15-16 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’”

This is the one whose power will draw down fire from heaven to destroy the armies of the kings of this world -- just as Elijah did! He will destroy the false prophets and the false priests -- just as Elijah did! He will set up an organized system of education to teach the people understanding, wisdom and truth -- just as Elijah did! Can anyone still believe ANY of this is referring to John? It certainly wasn’t Herbert W. Armstrong!

Jesus was the one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah! When he returns it will be with powers far greater than most people could even imagine. The next question you ask might be, “When will He return?” I believe, in a general way, the answer to this question can be found in the seventy-week prophecy of Daniel Nine. It may also be answered in a more definitive way in the dream and the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar recorded in the fourth chapter of the Book of Daniel. But ultimately we must wait, and watch, and pray: “[For] of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Note: During the past few years I have read two separate articles, written by ministers of two separate Churches of God, supposedly “proving” that Herbert W. Armstrong was the end-time Elijah and that before his death in 1986 he had already “restored all things” in preparation for the return of Jesus. I can accept and excuse blindness when it comes to understanding scripture; but when I see my brethren torn apart and scattered by the same men who would teach such ignorance and foolishness then I tend to lose patience.

The following is a direct quotation from one of those articles; notice the adamant and dogmatic attitude which seems to pervade so many of those who would minister over us:

Quote: “To deny that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come before the end-time is either ignorance or willing denial of what is true concerning our history and what God did through him.”

Well I do deny it; and I do so with what I pray is a God-given confidence and humility! I remember Herbert Armstrong as a wonderful old man through whom God revealed many new truths. The ministry of Herbert Armstrong, as he proclaimed the good news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God, was truly inspired of God. However, the ministry of Mr. Armstrong was almost completely devoid of miracles -- it is certain that overt miracles in the spirit and power of Elijah, were not in any way a manifestation of his ministry.

Through the teachings of Herbert Armstrong, the Almighty and Everlasting God restored many truths to the “church” of God. Through his ministry he did indeed turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Through his ministry Mr. Armstrong did indeed turn many of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He did indeed prepare the way for the one who shall soon come in the spirit and power of Elijah -- but Herbert W. Armstrong was not that Elijah!

Because I have an abhorrence of confrontation I have tried (until recently) to keep most of my thoughts and beliefs to myself. Lately I have become more and more convinced that it may have been wrong for me to remain silent. Not long ago this blogsite was made available to me by my eldest son; through his gift I have found not only an outlet for many of my concerns, but an immense relief from what I had begun to perceive as a mounting responsibility over that which I have come to believe.

I thank God for His mercy, His compassion, His many blessings, and His seemingly infinite patience towards me and towards my brethren. Until the return of our Saviour and the setting up of Our Father’s Kingdom I shall continue to pray; “Thy will be done!”

Note: Next week I want to share with you a series of scriptures I put together when I believed I was to be asked to speak at a friend’s funeral. I have never enjoyed any form of public speaking, so I was relieved when my services were not required. Nevertheless, several times since then I have enjoyed going over my notes on “When We Die” and sincerely hope you will find them as interesting and comforting as I do.

The Spirit and Power of Elijah -- Part 1

The leaders of at least two of the major off-shoot Churches of God believe that Herbert W. Armstrong fulfilled the end-time prophecy of the one who would come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah. My immediate reaction is to condemn this as absolute nonsense. However, having made so very many mistakes of my own in this lifetime, I must try to show the compassion God has always shown me and consider their beliefs (and their teachings) in the light of Holy Scripture.

The problem as I understand it is that while Mr. Armstrong may be seen as having come in the spirit and power of John the Baptist, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” his ministry was not blessed with any of the overt powers of Elijah. But in our continuing search for a more perfect truth, what we in the “church” and the Churches of God need to realize is -- neither did the ministry of John!

The ministry of John the Baptist succeeded in making ready a people prepared for the Lord; but as it was with Herbert Armstrong, the ministry of John was not blessed with any of the openly displayed powers of Elijah! Therefore, rather than try to show why Herbert Armstrong was not, and could not have been the prophesied Elijah to come; I intend to show that neither did John the Baptist fulfill that prophecy!

Malachi 3:1 “‘Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”

Matthew 11:9-10 “[Jesus said:] ‘But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”

There seems no reason to doubt that John the Baptist was the messenger prophesied to prepare the way before the Lord. However, there tends to be a problem when we try to equate him with the prophesied Elijah. Most of professing Christianity accepts that John fulfilled this prophecy -- as do the ministers of the Churches of God -- but can such a belief stand up to a close, in-depth scrutiny of the Scriptures? There are several passages which on the surface do appear to point directly to John, but we need to take a very close look at each of these -- then consider all other passages which bear on this subject -- before accepting any of it as biblical truth.

Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

This passage is the focal point of the prophecy. While it should be important to each of us that we clearly understand who it was that came in the spirit and power of Elijah, it should also be of great importance that we discover whether or not God has allowed us to accept error in our understanding! If we as a Church have somehow misunderstood the message of this prophecy, then it is imperative that we not only discover the truth of the matter but that we also understand why we were allowed to accept error as truth in the first place! If this was done by the will of God, there must have been a reason!

All right then! I said there were several passages which apparently point to John as the fulfillment of the Elijah to come. In my opinion the first is the most crucial:

Luke 1:13-17 “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”

This seems to say quite clearly that John was to be the prophesied Elijah. The words themselves are apparently a statement made by the angel Gabriel, in private, to a clearly agitated Zacharias. Zacharias must therefore be the sole human source upon whom the accuracy of this quotation depends.

Note: If there is one grave danger for the individual who attempts to understand scripture it is when he or she tries to manipulate the inspired words of God in order to make them fit into a preconceived idea. This danger is especially true when we are found to be adding to, or taking away from, the words as they were inspired to be written: (see Revelation 22:18-19).

That having been said, the meaning of Luke 1:17 changes completely by adding a comma and the words, “whom is,” into the line “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah].” Watch this: “And he shall go before him, in whom is the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah].” According to the enhanced sentence it would be the person before whom John goes who will manifest the spirit and powers of Elijah.

The question that needs to be completely researched and answered in this and subsequent passages of the Bible is whether it was John the Baptist, or Jesus the Christ, who actually fulfilled the prophecy of the Elijah to come. But before considering any possible inaccuracy or misunderstanding in Luke 1:17 we need to look at another passage which seems to point directly to John. Please note that the following passage is quoted in both the Authorized and the New King James Versions:

Matthew 11:13-15 (NKJV) “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Matthew 11:13-15 (AKJV) “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive it, this is Elias [Elijah] which was for to come. He, that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus is the one being quoted in this statement. But whenever Jesus or the Scriptures say, “He, that has ears to hear, let him hear,” it is usually in reference to a mystery, or a parable, or a puzzle that has just been put forward; the implication being that only by the Spirit of God will the hearer be able to understand. In this case, I doubt there are more than a handful of people in the whole of professing Christendom who do not believe that John the Baptist was the promised Elijah!

I believe this verse does indeed contain a mystery and it lies in the words: “And if you will receive it, ‘this is Elias’ who was for to come.” By these words I believe Jesus was making a veiled reference to himself! Notice the similarity in the following passage from the writings of Matthew:

Matthew 16:18 “[Jesus said:] And I also say to you ‘That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...’” (Those of you who are of the “church” of God, and who understand to what I infer by using this passage, will also understand if I repeat the words of Jesus when he said: “He, who has ears to hear, let him hear!”)

Now consider this next passage:

Matthew 17:10-13 “And his disciples asked [Jesus], saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.”

There are many conflicting questions and answers in this passage; we need to look more closely at all of them in hope of finding a little more clarity. Why do the disciples even ask such a question? John was already dead, the ministry of Jesus was well under way, and yet it is apparent from these verses that the possibility of John being the prophesied Elijah had not even occurred to the disciples.

Does the answer made by Jesus clearly tell us John was in fact the prophesied Elijah; or was Jesus doing what he did continuously throughout his ministry, giving his disciples a confusing statement they would understand only if and when the Spirit of God gave them understanding? If there is anything in this exchange between Jesus and his disciples that may be taken as a specific point of truth, it should be the statement made in verse 13: “Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.”

Every time I have heard this verse quoted, or used in a sermon, the speaker has placed emphasis on the first word “then”: “Then the disciples understood...” The implication being that the disciples have finally come to realize what they should have known all along. But what does this verse actually say? It tells us that from the explanation given by Jesus, the disciples understood, or believed, or put together, or surmised that Jesus spoke unto them of John the Baptist. It does not specifically say that Jesus was speaking about John -- only that the disciples believed he was speaking about John!

In order to accept the possibility that the disciples may have misunderstood the answer of Jesus we need to find scriptural evidence to support such a possibility. Contrary to popular opinion, during his earthly ministry Jesus did not make much of an effort to teach his disciples or to help them understand the mysteries of God. Consider the following statement made by Jesus following his death and resurrection.

Luke 24:44-45 “Then [Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.’ And he opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

It may be inferred by this statement that while Jesus was yet with them he told them of many things concerning the mysteries of God, but that much of what he told them they were not able to understand. You need to search the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John by yourself to come to a more perfect personal understanding of this, but the following scriptures may be helpful examples for you to consider:

Matthew 13:10-51 Jesus had been speaking to the people in parables and his disciples came to him and said: “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Jesus explained that the mysteries of God were not given to the people in general; therefore he spoke to the people in parables so they would not be able to understand; however, to the disciples it was given that they should understand. Jesus did on many occasions explain the parables to his disciples; even then, they were not always able to understand. When that happened, Jesus was quite content to leave them in a state of ignorance. Notice verse 51 where Jesus still had to ask them: “Have you understood all these things? They say unto him, ‘Yes Lord.’” Did they in fact understand? Perhaps they did; perhaps not!

Matthew 15:12-16 Jesus had made a statement he apparently expected his disciples to understand: “Then Peter answered and said to [Jesus], ‘Explain this parable to us.’ So Jesus said, ‘Are you also still without understanding?’”

Matthew 26:51-54 Even on the night when Jesus was arrested, the Apostle Peter did not understand that these events had to take place: “One of those who were with Jesus ... drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear ... [Jesus said] ‘But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled...?’”

Acts 1:1-6 Following the death and resurrection of Jesus his disciples still did not realize that he would not be setting up the kingdom of God at that time. Notice Acts 1:6 “Therefore, when [the disciples] had come together, they asked [Jesus], saying, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”

Matthew 27:62-63 The chief priests and the Pharisees said to Pontius Pilate: “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’” Apparently the chief priests and Pharisees had a better understanding of what Jesus had prophesied than did his own disciples.

Mark 9:31-32 “For [Jesus] taught his disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after he is killed, he will rise the third day.’ But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him!”

The purpose of these examples is to show that simply because the disciples believed Jesus was saying John was the prophesied Elijah does not necessarily make it so! What we must do now is expand our search of the Scriptures looking for evidence pointing to a more perfect understanding of who it was that actually fulfilled the prophecy of the Elijah to come!

Matthew 11:2-5 “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.’”

Q...Why did John send his disciples to ask this question of Jesus; what was it that John wanted to know?

Q...Why did Jesus answer the way he did; what was he trying to convey to John?

Surely the answer to John’s question must be found in the reply given by Jesus. He told John’s disciples to return to John and tell him about the works and the miracles that were being carried out!

Jesus was proving by actual deed that he was in fulfillment of something; it is my belief that he was confirming to his cousin John that he, Jesus, was the one prophesied to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. But in order to more perfectly understand, we need to research the powers and abilities of the original Old Testament Elijah. Whoever was destined to fulfill the prophecy in the time of Jesus and John would have the scriptural example of those powers to guide him.

Q...Have you ever taken the time and the trouble to search for yourself the scriptural account of Elijah -- and of Elisha who not only took up the mantle of Elijah but also inherited his powers?

Those who believe that John was the one who came in the spirit and the power of Elijah must ask themselves why it is that throughout the writings of the Apostles there is absolutely no mention of John ever exhibiting even one of Elijah’s powers!

Note: Next week I hope to complete this search into the identity of the Elijah to come with the posting of “Part 2” of “The Spirit and Power of Elijah.”

Clear Proofs of Mohammad

Many proponents of both Islam and nominal Christianity seem to believe that God is engaged in a titanic struggle against the forces of evil. They seem to believe that God will lose this struggle unless His followers do everything in their power to fight on His behalf; such ignorance and arrogance is almost beyond belief. In these latter-days of man’s futility the scourge of radical Islam is threatening to bring about the holocaust so feared by many; and to their eternal shame and damnation, they carry out their atrocities in the name of God. But what has any of this to do with God, or with the teachings of Mohammad?

From the recorded dissertations of the Prophet Mohammad (i.e. the Koran), he is quoted as saying: “Whoever will see, will see; whoever will be blind, will be blind; and he is not a keeper over you!” Nevertheless, many of the leaders and clerics of modern-day Islam teach a form of religious ruthlessness which in no way emulates the wisdom and mercy of Almighty God -- or the teachings of Mohammad. I readily admit that much of that which is recorded in the Koran can be very difficult to understand; but why should there be such confusion over the many plainly spoken words and teachings of Mohammad?

Sura 6.104 “Indeed there have come to you clear proofs from your Lord; whoever will therefore see, it is for his own soul and whoever will be blind, it shall be against himself and I am not a keeper over you.”

If the followers of Islam accept the truth of these words, why do they continue to show such virulent hatred towards those who do not (or cannot) believe? Has God not blinded the unbeliever because it His will that (at this time) they should not understand? If there are followers of Islam (or Christianity) who take it upon themselves to force their beliefs upon others, have they not placed their own will against the will of God?

Sura 6.25 “And of them is he who hearkens to you, and We have cast veils over their hearts lest they understand it and a heaviness into their ears; and even if they see every sign they will not believe in it; so much so that when they come to you they only dispute with you; those who disbelieve say: This is naught but the stories of the ancients.”

Now notice the parallel teaching from the Bible:

Isaiah 6:9-10 “And [the Lord] said, ‘Go, and tell this people, ‘Hear indeed, but understand not; and see indeed, but perceive not.’ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and be healed.’”

Mohammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam, came to his people as an apostle of God to teach them in their own Arabic language the truths and mysteries of God as he (Mohammad) understood those truths. Nevertheless, he tells us time and time again in the writings of the Koran that at this time God is not trying to convert all of the people. God decides who shall understand; and God blinds the minds and hearts of those He does not want to understand -- may God forgive those who would force their own beliefs upon others.

Sura 14.4 “And We did not send any apostle but with the language of his people, so that he might explain to them clearly; then Allah makes whom He pleases err and He guides whom He pleases and He is the Mighty, the Wise.”

Sura 29.18 “And if you reject (the truth), nations before you did indeed reject (the truth); and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering (of the message).”

If you take time to search the teachings of the Koran you will find many such statements. Time and time again Mohammad tells us he is only an apostle of God/Allah, sent out to preach and teach God’s truths to his own people in their own Arabic language; and nothing is incumbent on the apostle but a plain delivering of the message.

What I also want to share with you is my belief that Mohammad tried to teach that which he had come to understand of the writings of the prophets and the Patriarchs; writings preserved for us in the Holy Scriptures of God and referred to in these latter days as the Bible.

Sura 29.16 to 29.27 “And We sent Ibrahim [Abraham], when he said to his people: Serve Allah and be careful of (your duty to) Him; this is best for you, if you did but know: and Lut [Lot] believed in Him, and he said: I am fleeing to my Lord, surely He is the Mighty, the Wise. And We granted [to] him [i.e. to Abraham] Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel], and caused the prophethood and the book to remain in his seed, and We gave him his reward in this world, and in the hereafter he will most surely be among the good.”

These words of Mohammad make the book of the Koran one of the major sources of confirmation for the legitimacy of Isaac! The Koran tells us many times that the inheritance passed from Abraham, through Isaac, then through Jacob/Israel to the children of Israel -- at no time do the promises of inheritance pass from Abraham through the line of Ishmael to the Arab peoples.

Perhaps it is time the teachers of Islam began to more perfectly heed the words of their own Prophet: “We granted him Ishaq [Isaac] and Yaqoub [Jacob/Israel], and caused the prophethood and the book to remain in his seed!” ---- Mohammed was not of the seed of Isaac or of Jacob/Israel. It may be argued that whereas “the book” was passed down through the seed of Abraham through Isaac, then Jacob/Israel, then Judah (hence the Jewish people); the prophethood need not have exclusively followed that same path. It is possible that the prophethood may also have passed from Abraham through Ishmael (Abraham’s first-born son and father of the Arab peoples) as well as through Isaac and Jacob/Israel; nevertheless:

Sura 32.23 to 32.25 “And certainly We gave the Book to Musa [Moses] so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel. And We made of them Imams to guide by Our command when they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications. Surely your Lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they differ.”

Mohammed was speaking to his own people, in their own Arabic language, when he said; “We gave the Book to [Moses] ... and We made it a guide for the children of Israel.” Note this carefully: “…and We made it a guide for the children of Israel!” The proponents of modern-day Islam teach that God/Allah has assured the providence of the Koran; does He not offer that same assurance of providence to the words recorded in “the Book” (i.e. the Bible) as clear proofs from your Lord? Does Mohammad not speak in God’s name when he says: “...so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it”?

Sura 33.7 “And when We made a covenant with the prophets and with you, and with Nuh [Noah] and Ibrahim [Abraham] and Musa [Moses] and Isa, son of Marium [Jesus, son of Mary], and We made with them a strong covenant.”

Throughout the Koran there is great importance placed on the Patriarchs of the Bible. Do the modern day followers of Islam ever reference the Bible in order to more fully understand who and what these Patriarchs were? To this point in time I have been unable to find anyone with whom I can openly and intelligently discuss the many questions I have about the Koran and the teachings of modern-day Islam. This is not surprising; to this point in time I have been unable to find even one Christian minister with whom I may openly and intelligently discuss the many questions I have about the Bible and the teachings of modern-day Christianity -- and in this I include the ministers of the many different and differing end-time Churches of God!

Preaching Jonah and the Whale

Sura 34.34 “And We never sent a warner to a town but those who led lives in ease in it said: We are surely disbelievers in what you are sent with.”

In sura 37.139 to 37.148 you will find the story of Jonah who was sent to the city of Ninevah with a warning. The Koran tells us that the people of Ninevah did indeed heed his warning; and they repented with sack-cloth and ashes. Therefore, contrary to the statement made in Sura 34.34 there was at least one town where the people repented of their sins, heeding the words of a warner. This is just one of several examples where a story recorded in the Koran seems to contradict other stories recorded in the Koran; even those relating to the same event. However, the possibility exists that only when Jonah first arrived did “those who led lives in ease” in the city of Nineveh tell Jonah “We are surely disbelievers in what you are sent with.”

Sura 37.139 to 37.148 “And Yunus [Jonah] was most surely of the apostles. When he ran away to a ship completely laden, so he shared (with them), but was of those who are cast off. So the fish swallowed him while he did that for which he blamed himself but had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he would certainly have tarried in its belly to the day when they are raised. Then We cast him on to the vacant surface of the earth while he was sick. And We caused to grow up for him a gourd plant. And We sent him to a hundred thousand, rather they exceeded. And they believed, so We gave them provision till a time.”

I raise this account of Jonah and the great fish for a very specific purpose: Those who have a more perfect understanding of the biblical story of Jonah may see this Qur’anic rendition as overly simplistic. And yet, I challenge you to deny the truth that the story of Jonah as told by the Prophet Mohammad is no less perfect than that which may be heard each and every Sunday morning from the pulpits and/or Sunday Schools of thousands of nominal Christian Churches throughout the world.

In what way does Mohammad portray this story any differently than the stories told by ministers and teachers of the so-called “Christian” Churches? Perhaps the difference lies in the fact that Mohammad has a more perfect understanding of the coming resurrection than do most so-called “Christian” ministers. Notice: “...but had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he [Jonah] would certainly have tarried in [the belly of the great fish] to the day when they are raised.”

Forced Conversion of the Infidel

Whoever submits himself wholly to Allah fulfills the definition of the word “Muslim” i.e. a follower of “Islam.” Unfortunately, in many ways the modern teaching of Islam is in contradiction to the teachings of God as those teachings are recorded in the Koran. Anyone who would deny this need only read and consider the following passage:

Sura 31.22 to 31.23 “And whoever submits himself wholly to Allah and he is the doer of good (to others), he indeed has taken hold of the firmest thing upon which one can lay hold; and Allah’s is the end of affairs. And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you; to Us is their return, then will We inform them of what they did; surely Allah is the Knower of what is in the breasts.

It is God/Allah who will teach disbelievers the error of their ways in the day of His own choosing. It is not the business of any man to take upon himself that which Allah has taken for himself: “And whoever disbelieves let not his disbelief grieve you.” Many modern day followers of Islam, in their own self-righteous indignation, have taken it upon themselves to condemn others for the way they do or do not follow God’s teachings -- this is a right which belongs to no one but God!

Sura 35.23 to 35.25 “You are naught but a warner. Surely We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and a warner; and there is not a people but a warner has gone among them. And if they call you a liar, so did those before them indeed call (their apostles) liars; their apostles had come to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating book.”

How many times did Mohammed try to convince his people without them being able to understand? How many times does Mohammed try to teach his followers today, through the words of the Koran, without them being able to understand? Listen carefully to the words of Mohammed: “…their apostles had come to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating book.”

The clear arguments of the apostles were being offered long before the preaching of Mohammed! The scriptures being used to produce those clear arguments were being used long before the preaching of Mohammed! The illuminating book used to produce those clear arguments was being used long before the preaching of Mohammed. And all that Mohammad refers to in this passage took place long before the Qur’anic record of his preaching!

Sura 39.18 “Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding. Allah has revealed the best announcement, a book conformable in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder the skins of those who fear their Lord, then their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah; this is Allah’s guidance, He guides with it whom He pleases; and (as for) him whom Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.

The apostles of the early “church” of God were taught directly by the man we know as Jesus. They warned against men who would claim divine authority and said, as did the Apostle Paul to the people of Corinth, that even the apostles themselves did not have “dominion” over the people’s faith but were instead to be helpers of their joy. Look it up at Second Corinthians 1:23-24 and read it for yourself.

Sura 2.62 Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.

Mohammed and the Koran certainly make allowance for those who are followers of Christ, those who are Jews, those who believe in the Last Day, and those who try to do good [works] in their lives. Is Mohammad not telling his people there are Jews and/or Christians who’s devotion and obedience to God is such that their forced conversion to Islam is unnecessary? In fact, is he not suggesting that there are Jews and/or Christians who conform to the very definition of the word “Islam” in that they have chosen to submit themselves and their very lives to God?

Note: Over the next two weeks I hope to discuss the question of the Elijah to come; did the spirit and power of John’s ministry fulfill this prophecy? Some present-day ministers of God actually believe and teach that Herbert Armstrong fulfilled the prophecy of the end-time Elijah; but can this be true? It is my belief that we still await the return of the prophesied Elijah -- but will we be able to recognize him when he does appear? I truly believe in the possibility that nothing I have thus far published to this blogsite is as important to our collective understanding than the true identification of the one who came (and shall yet come) in the “Spirit and Power of Elijah.”

Bits and Pieces -- 2

This is a continuation of the “Bits and Pieces” offered in a previous blog. As I have previously mentioned, each week I try to place before you what I have to say in not less than four and not more than six “Microsoft Word” pages. Some subjects require more explanation than this; in these cases I have found that splitting them over two or more weeks works quite well. This leaves me with those subjects which are little more than snippets of information -- I have decided that these occasional little bits and pieces should be dealt with in this way!

The Questions of a Child

As a boy I often asked myself the question: “If God made us, who made God?” As difficult as it is for the mind of man to comprehend, the Bible tells us that God has always existed and shall always exist.

There have been times in my life when I have tried to understand how such a thing was possible; in the end I have been forced to accept that just as man’s powers of sight and hearing have their limitations, so do his powers of reason and understanding. And for those who would deny the existence of God; it is not enough to deny His existence by simply saying that since He cannot have lived forever, He therefore cannot exist now.

By using the logic of man we believe that whatever we can see, hear, smell, taste and touch does in fact exist; and that in its existence it must have had a beginning and shall surely have an end. But how then can something exist without there being a first-cause for its existence?

The logical progression of such reasoning must lead us to an attempt to understand what originally caused the first causative factor to exist. Eventually we must reach the point where we agree there must have been a beginning; and yet in order to have that beginning there must have been yet another causative factor. To pursue such reasoning with the human mind is to pursue madness!

There is much that we can and should search for in our attempt to understand the truths and the mysteries of God; but that which is at this time beyond the understanding of man we must accept as such and leave the questioning to another day. As far as the existence of God is concerned, I believe it is ably and correctly described by the Apostle Paul:

Romans 1:19-20 “Because that which may be known of God is [made clear] to them; for God has shown it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

Executed for Sedition

The night Jesus was arrested he had a good idea as to the events that would follow. He knew that according to the higher morality of God’s laws he was in no way guilty of any crime; but he also knew what the Scriptures have to say in Isaiah 53:12 “…and he was numbered with the transgressors.”

At no time did Jesus ever promote insurrection either among his disciples or among the people who listened to his preaching; and yet the passage recorded at Luke 22:36-38 makes it clear that he made a conscious decision to make it look as if he could be guilty:

Luke 22:36-38 “Then said [Jesus] unto them, ‘But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, ‘And he was reckoned among the transgressors’: for the things concerning me have an end.’ And they said, ‘Lord, behold, here are two swords.’ And he said unto them, ‘It is enough.’”

What did Jesus mean when he said “It is enough” -- enough for what? Two swords were not enough to carry out an insurrection against the armies of Rome, but they were more than enough to indicate guilt in the eyes of the chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin.

“Let this cup pass from me...”

The evening before the arrest, trial, torture, and execution of Jesus, he pleaded with God in prayer: “Please Father, I understand what you have planned for me but I’d rather not go through with it; if it is at all possible would you please get me out of this?”

Jesus had a clear expectation of the horrors awaiting him so is it any wonder that given a choice he would rather not suffer in such a horrible way? With his exceptional and vivid understanding of scripture, we may wonder what would make him think it was even possible to avoid such suffering and death.

Of the many examples of prophetic duality scattered throughout the Bible there is the exceptional story of Abraham (the Father of the Faithful); and God (the Father of us all). Abraham had a son by the name of Isaac; it was Isaac who was chosen to inherit all of the promises God gave to Abraham. And yet, in the Old Testament book of Genesis we find:

Genesis 22:2 “And [God] said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.’”

If you place this passage in its proper context you will see a distinct parallel between Abraham and Isaac, God and Jesus. As you read through the passage you will see that at the last minute the God of the Old Testament removed the burden from Abraham and substituted a ram as an offering of sacrifice in place of Isaac. Did his understanding of this passage give Jesus some hope of relief from his torment; is that what prompted him to say in fervent prayer: ‘O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me’?

All I know for sure is summed up in the final comment Jesus made to the dilemma he was facing; he said: “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

What Does This Mean

There is a short passage in the Old Testament book of Job which I have been unable to find referenced in any of the Bible Commentaries; neither have I seen it explained in any Church of God literature or heard it mentioned in any ministerial sermon. It may be of so little importance it is unworthy of even a scrap of our valuable study time; but that is often what attracts me to a question raised by scripture; much to the annoyance of some!

In defence of myself and what some ministers consider a monumental waste of time and effort, I believe that if for any reason doubt causes even one of my brethren to stumble it is worthy of all my attention and all of my effort to bring about a more perfect clarity. I shall therefore make no apology for that which some may call foolishness!

Job 14:12 “So man lies down, and rises not: till the heavens [are] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” (Authorized King James Version)

Job 14:12 “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.” (New King James Version)

When is this time Job refers to as: “Till the heavens are no more”? Is it possible he was referring to the time of the new heavens and the new Earth? But surely the new heavens and the new Earth will not come about until long after the Millennium? Surely Job does not expect to be left in his grave until the 1,000 year Sabbath of God is complete?

Through trials that would have destroyed most normal men, Job proved himself to be righteous before God. There should be no doubt that he will stand with his brethren on the day the Messiah returns to gather His brethren from the four corners of the Earth -- in preparation for the beginning of the Millennium -- long before the time of the new heavens and the new Earth!

It may be that Job was referring to the time of “the rest of the dead,” those who will not be included in the first resurrection; but how does this fit in with our understanding of events to come? Do we not believe that the White Throne Judgment must take place long before the creation of the new heavens and the new Earth?

Perhaps Job was referring to the time described in Revelation 6:14 when “The sky [will recede] as a scroll when it is rolled up...” But this event leads into the time referred to as “The Wrath of God” and if I understand this time correctly, it can only take place after Satan has been locked away in the bottomless-pit and the resurrection of the “Saints” has already taken place. Note: For those who would question any of this I suggest that you first go to the Archives of this blogsite and read “Opening the Sixth Seal.”

It is my belief that the passage we are discussing was in fact a continuation of the questions Job was asking of God and of himself. In this passage I believe Job made a statement, then asked a question, then answered his own question! See what happens with Job 14:12 if instead of the words “they will” we use the words “will they.” Notice:

Job 14:12 “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, [will they] not awake nor be roused from their sleep?”

Then Job proceeds to answer his own question:

Job 14:13-15 “Oh that you would hide me in the grave; that you would conceal me until your wrath is past that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer you; you shall desire the work of your hands.”

Swine in the Holy Land
In preface to the following story, I should explain that it comes from a comment I made concerning the New Testament account of the man living in the land of the Gadarenes -- the one who was possessed by many demons. When Jesus cast the offending spirits out of the man they entered into a herd of about 2,000 pigs and I remarked on there being so many pigs in a single herd in that one place and at that time.

While I don’t want to get too involved with any of this, I really would like to explain why the story was important to me personally, and why my attitude towards Bible study was effectively altered because of it. From the example of the herd of 2,000 swine I began to look at the messages of the Bible not only from a spiritual point of view, but also from the practical.

It was more than thirty years ago when I first asked myself the question: “Why were there so many pigs being kept in one herd, in an area where so many of the inhabitants had as an important part of their religion an absolute abhorrence of pig meat?” Not long after asking this question I was reading a book on organic gardening and noticed that pig manure was perhaps the most perfectly balanced of all the domesticated animals in the basic nutrients NPK.

The letters NPK are of course symbols for the three main nutrients found in fertilizer: N = nitrogen: P = phosphorus: and K = potassium. Bit by bit I asked myself the questions which led to what I considered to be a most interesting theory. Try to imagine what the farmers’ fields must have looked like in Jesus’ day. The Bible speaks of ploughs, ploughshares, and ploughmen, so we know they had that most excellent implement used for millennia to break up the sod and prepare the fields for cultivation. However, when the fields were ready to be planted, all of the seeding, thinning, weeding, pruning, and the eventual harvesting of the crop had to be done by hand.

If the product grown was one of the many grains, the harvesters would have left behind a field full of stubble. If the crop was one of the many vegetables, the harvesters would have left in the field any and all vines, bushes, leaves, and stalks; as well as those vegetables deemed unfit for human consumption. No matter what the crop, the field would have been littered to some extent with unwanted vegetable matter; and the soil would have been depleted of those nutrients needed to grow that particular crop.

From personal experience, I know the scene of devastation even a small garden may become at the end of the growing season when everything of value has been harvested. The gardener of today, with a few bags of well balanced fertilizer from the local hardware store and a few hours of walking behind a power-driven roto-tiller, can have his or her garden ready for next year’s planting with little or no difficulty. Unfortunately, the farmers in Jesus day did not have access to such conveniences -- or perhaps they did?

You should know that the swine, or hogs, or pigs we see today are a product of decades, if not centuries, of selective breeding; the objective of this selection was to produce a more desirable meat for human consumption. I do not intend to get into a discussion of the merits (or not) of pig-meat as food, but suffice to say that the pigs of today must be quite different from the pigs being herded in the time of Jesus. It should also be safe to say that those swine were closer to their cousins of the wild and that they were more able than today’s animals to root and scavenge for themselves.

With very little difficulty, I can picture in my mind’s eye a large herd of swine moving over a recently harvested field, consuming everything in sight. With their snouts they would have been able to plough the earth to the depth of a foot or more, digging up and consuming roots, vines, potatoes, carrots, or anything else which may be edible. What with many pigs rooting, eating, urinating, and defecating, I must believe that when the herd moved on the field would be well cleared, tilled, and fertilized. After a few months the organisms in the soil would have made the field ready for the next year’s planting.

Since very few farmers could afford to keep such a herd for his own fields, there must have been swine-herders whose lot in life was to travel from field to field throughout the land offering their services to any farmer willing to pay. The loss of a herd of about two thousand swine must have been devastating to their owners. It is my belief that those who owned this particular herd blamed Jesus for their loss; and this was, at least in part, one of the reasons why the people asked Jesus and his followers to leave their country.

Note: Those of us who hope to receive a position of responsibility in God’s Kingdom will have to deal with many problems which mankind has thus far been unable to correct. One of the more pressing needs will be to minister to those who in this lifetime have devoted their lives to the One True God of Islam. As much as there are Christians who have embraced with sincerity a wrong understanding of Holy Scripture; so there are Muslims who have embraced with sincerity a wrong understanding of the writings of Mohammad. Next week I hope to discuss many of the “Clear Proofs of Mohammad” and how those proofs may have been misunderstood by today’s teachers of Islam.

The Lord’s Anointed

The following essay was written more than three years ago; nevertheless, I believe the message (and the lesson) it contains still has relevance for us today:

On Wednesday March 3rd 2004 a news commentator on CNN was heard to say: “Senator John Kerry is now the newly anointed leader of the Democratic Party.” I wonder how many Americans are even vaguely aware of how important those words are and what they represent. More importantly; what does the concept of having an anointed leader mean to the people and the nation known to the world as the United States of America?

If John Kerry is the anointed leader of the Democratic Party, was George Bush at one time anointed as leader of the Republican Party? What about when George Bush became President of the United States; was he anointed to that position?

The Americans of today are a deeply divided people. There is seldom a subject of national importance where any unity of mind or purpose exists. The governing authorities, from the lowest to the highest powers in the land, have apparently agreed to disagree simply as a matter of course. Their leaders appear to follow their own personal and political desires rather than that which their conscience should direct them.

Common sense alone should tell us that a nation divided against itself cannot survive; and yet this truth has also been recorded for us in the instruction book God gave to mankind:

Mark 3:24-25 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

Nevertheless; as problematic as this division has been for the United States of America, I believe an even greater threat can be traced to a far more specific sickness; a sickness that has afflicted almost all of the American people:

Exodus 22:28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse the ruler of your people.”

The time has come when no matter what the President of the United States does or does not do he will be seen as having done wrong! Everyone in America, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, has taken to themselves the right to revile and condemn their duly appointed leader.

George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America. He is arguably the most important and the most powerful man in the world today. If the Holy Scriptures can be believed, he is also the leader of the country and the people God promised as a national inheritance to the patriarch Abraham. If this is not enough; then if the Holy Scriptures can be believed, George W. Bush was raised to the position he now holds by the Almighty and Everlasting God -- and he was anointed to that position!

In the book of Acts, beginning in the 21st chapter, the apostle Paul was being questioned by the authorities of the temple in Jerusalem. Paul was being wrongly accused and beaten concerning matters related to what the authorities referred to as “that way.” Even so, when Paul came to realize who was in charge of his accusers, he understood it was demanded of him by God, through His written word, that he show the proper deference and respect:

Acts 23:1-5 “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said: ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

The Old Testament of the Bible speaks of a time when God ruled over the children of Israel. But the people of Israel wanted a human king; they wanted to be like the other nations round about them:

1st Samuel 8:6-7 “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.’”

A man named Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, was chosen to be their king; and Saul was anointed to rule over the children of Israel:

1st Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on [Saul’s] head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over his inheritance?’”

Saul was a very poor king; so God chose instead a young shepherd boy named David to take his place. While Saul remained king, David grew in power and in stature as a man and as a warrior. David knew he would one day take Saul’s place as king over Israel; and yet, when David had the power and the opportunity to remove Saul from his throne he did not:

1st Samuel 24:1-6 “Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, ‘Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.’ Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’”

David had already been anointed by the prophet Samuel to take the place of Saul as king over Israel. Nevertheless, when the opportunity was presented to him to make this happen, David chose instead to show respect to the one who at that time occupied the position of God’s anointed!

Because of the sickness that afflicts the nation and the peoples of the United States of America, they are and shall continue to be a nation divided against itself. Unless they can learn to show the appropriate respect and forbearance towards those who have authority over them, their nation and their people are headed for a sure and certain destruction:

Romans 13:1-3 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For [those who have rule over us] are not terrors to good works, but to evil…”

Whether you like him or not; whether you respect him or not; George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America. If there is a God, and if the Bible is the written word of God, then George W. Bush is the anointed leader of the peoples of the United States of America.

Take heed! David once ruled as king over Israel -- and he shall do so again! The Scriptures tell us that David shall one day assume a position of authority directly under Christ in the soon-coming Kingdom of God here upon the earth! The very words of King David are recorded in scripture as a warning for us today: “Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” Take heed -- be warned!

Finally: Someone witnessing before the committee conducting the 9/11 inquiry condemned George Bush for not attacking Afghanistan before the Trade Centre attack on September 11th 2001. My reaction to such nonsense is a profound belief that:

NOTHING CAN SAVE US NOW

(...written on March 24th 2004)

There seems to be no end to the condemnation of President Bush for his “so-called” unilateral attack on Iraq. It doesn’t seem to matter that for years the United Nations continued to warn, and to warn -- and do nothing!

He is now being condemned for not attacking Afghanistan before September 11, 2001.

If he had attacked Afghanistan before 9/11 and the attack had averted the destruction of the World Trade Centre so that the Centre would still stand today, he would have been condemned as a warmonger for attacking and killing innocent Afghanis for no good reason!

If he had attacked Afghanistan, and destruction of the Trade Centre had still taken place, the destruction of the Trade Centre would have been blamed on President Bush because of his attack on Afghanistan!

The condemnation of President Bush at the 9/11 inquiry for not attacking Afghanistan before 9/11 is apparently based on his failure to respond to what is perceived (in 20/20 hindsight) as a known threat!

If he had not attacked Iraq and Iraq had developed their resources to the point where they carried out another armed incursion on a neighbouring country, or a terrorist attack anywhere in the world, the world would have (in 20/20 hindsight) condemned President Bush, (not Saddam Hussein) for not responding to a known threat!

No matter what the President of the United States does or does not do from this point on, he will be seen as having done wrong! No matter what the country of the United States of America does or does not do from this point on it will be seen as having done wrong -- no matter who is President!

George W. Bush is reviled for his perceived divisiveness -- has everyone chosen to forget that he initially came to power by virtue of “the hanging chads of an obscure Florida constituency”? The nation was already divided long before the days of President Bush. The peoples of America will remain divided long after President Bush has washed his hands of their bickering, their back-biting, and their own self-destructive foolishness.

America is a country divided against itself; and a country divided against itself cannot stand. I have finally come to the realization (and to the acceptance) that nothing can be done to avert that which must now come to pass.

For my part, I shall no longer accept blame for not warning my people, my brethren, or my family. As far as I’m concerned, the times we now live in are an indelible repetition of the year 1936 and we are a family of Jews living in the heart of Germany. I have done everything one person can do to protect my friends and my loved ones, yet they have consistently ignored my warnings. I must now look to myself and leave them to face the coming devastation as best they can.

It can only be hoped that a few will make it past the horrors of the end-time; and if they do, I pray I’ll be given the opportunity to finally share with them the wonders of the life to come. How I wish I could have done more in this lifetime to save them from the unspeakable horrors of that which now must come.

Six million Jews died in what the world continues to refer to as “The Holocaust.” How can anyone even envision more than two hundred million of our own people being slaughtered within the next few years? By the end of this age, more than four billion will have been wiped from the face of the earth! Such horror could have been averted; but now must surely come to pass. And when it does: God help us all!

Note: Several weeks ago I published a selection of “Bits and Pieces” to this blogsite. I truly enjoyed working with what I had previously considered nothing more than snippets of information and suggested that I would publish more of these “snippets” some day soon. Next week I intend to do just that as I offer you “Bits and Pieces -- 2.”