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Horizons
Vol 10 No 2 March/April 2006
addressing the important issues for today and tomorrow
inside...
God Is One
But Is It Christianity?
Be Prepared!
Three Days and Three Nights
Antichrist...who is he?
God's Special Days
New Horizons is published by the
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1
ne w Horizons
Issue No 56 March/April 2006
Does 'monotheism' mean that End” (Revelation 22:12-13).
God is a solitary being? Divine Nature Clearly, Jesus shares these august
Let’s look first at God's nature, His at- titles with the Father.
Arguments about the 'unity' of God tributes.
rage even after almost two thousand As the apostle Paul states: '...God
years of theological jousting. For Paul tells us that God - the Father - was in Christ reconciling the world
most the controversy closed in the alone has immortality. to Himself (II Corinthians 5 18-19).
fourth century with the conclusion 'For at just the right time Christ God, the self-existing One. was 'in
that God is a 'Trinity' of immortal will be revealed from heaven by Christ'. But was that only since his
beings. But there have also been the blessed and only almighty resurrection from the dead? Well,
dissenting Unitarians for whom God, the King of all kings and no. The Father was working
God can be but a single being. Lord of all lords. He alone can through Jesus of Nazareth through-
never die, and he lives in light out his earthly lifetime to reconcile
God is 'one' so brilliant that no human can us to Himself. And before? Paul
There is no doubt that the Scrip- approach him. No human eye again, of Jesus:
tures teach the unity of God. It lies has ever seen him, nor ever will. Paul there says that Jesus was
at the heart of Jewish belief. Wrote All honour and power to him instrumental in creating angels ('the
Moses: 'Hear, O Israel: Jehovah forever!' I Timothy 6:15-16 "Christ is the visible image of the
our God is one Jeho- invisible God. He existed before
vah' (Deuteronomy 6:4). The The Father has sovereignty over all anything was created and is su-
proclamation by His creation - preme over all creation, for
GOD IS ONE
Moses emphasises over all politi- through him God created every-
there can be but cal and reli- thing in the heavenly realms and
gious endeav- on earth. He made the things we
one supreme Crea-
our. He is unapproachable by hu- can see and the things we can’t
tor God. And Jesus answered an see—such as thrones, kingdoms,
enquirer: 'The first mans. He has never been seen by any
rulers, and authorities in the un-
[commandment] is, Hear, O Israel; of us nor ever will be seen by the seen world. Everything was cre-
The Lord our God, the Lord is human eye. He created everything. ated through him and for him. He
one' (Mark 12:32). There can be He is 'Alpha and Omega, the First existed before anything else, and
only one God, though the apostle and the Last'. He is revealed to us by he holds all creation together"
Paul points out that in our world His Name 'Jehovah'. [There are vari- Colossians 1:15-19
ous spellings of this Name.] His su-
we all know that an idol is not really preme authority cannot be ques- heavenly realm'). All creation?
a god and that there is only one God. That would include all those galax-
tioned.
There may be so-called gods both in ies observed by the orbiting Hubble
heaven and on earth, and some peo-
What, then, of Jesus? He appears to telescope - and more. The universe
ple actually worship many gods and
many lords. But we know that there is have a subordinate role to the Father. 'works' because of the awesome
only one God, the Father, who cre- power He exerted, and continues to
ated everything, and we live for him. In a couple of texts Jesus uses the exert. And everything on planet
And there is only one Lord, Jesus title 'the Alpha and the Omega', yet Earth - including Earth. He also
Christ, through whom God made this is the title ascribed (Revelation oversees all human government.
everything and through whom we 1:8) to 'the Lord God...the Almighty'.
have been given life' Clearly, the Bible understanding is
Yet Jesus tells John: “Look, I am
I Corinthians 8:5-6 that Jesus existed from 'the begin-
coming soon, bringing my reward
'That is a puzzle: '...one God, the Fa- with me to repay all people accord- ning': "In the beginning the Word
ther' and '...only one Lord, Jesus ing to their deeds. I am the Alpha already existed. The Word was with
Christ'. Does that mean Jesus isn't di- and the Omega, the First and the God, and the Word was God. He
vine? Last, the Beginning and the existed in the beginning with God.
New Horizons
2
God created everything through him, us". As wrote the apostle John: "The Spirit that begat Jesus. We await
and nothing was created except Word became flesh". 'The Word' - our resurrection when our flesh will
through him. The Word gave life to the Logos - no philosophical con- be destroyed and all that remains
everything that was created, and his cept but the very means by which will be the image of the Father - our
life brought light to everyone" (John the Creator communicates with His character - mirrored in the holy
1: 1-4). creation. Endowed from birth with Spirit in us.
So, since Jesus 'was God' - and God 'the fullness of God' Jesus devel-
alone has immortality - then He, too, oped the divine gifts in the service Because of that indwelling Spirit
was 'self-existing' and shared all the of humanity. we will be joint heirs with Jesus:
divine qualities and nature. "For his Spirit joins with our spirit
Jesus says he 'came down from to affirm that we are God’s chil-
Human Birth heaven'. He was 'sent by the Fa- dren. And since we are his children,
Jesus, of course, also shared our ther'. He would 'ascend where he we are his heirs. In fact, together
humanity, being born like all of us was before'. In his prayer just prior
from a woman. He fought the same to his arrest Jesus said: 'Now, Fa- "God, for whom and through
battles of human nature but without ther, bring me into the glory we whom everything was made,
chose to bring many children
ever giving in to wrong desires, shared before the world began'. into glory. And it was only right
wrong thoughts: "So then, since we that he should make Jesus,
have a great High Priest who has "Though he was God, he did not
think of equality with God through his suffering, a perfect
entered heaven, Jesus the Son of leader, fit to bring them into
as something to cling to. Instead,
God, let us hold firmly to what we he gave up his divine privileges; their salvation. So now Jesus
believe. This High Priest of ours un- he took the humble position of a and the ones he makes holy have
derstands our weaknesses, for he slave and was born as a human the same Father. That is why
faced all of the same testings we do, being. When he appeared in hu- Jesus is not ashamed to call
yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15). man form, he humbled himself in them his brothers and sis-
obedience to God and died a ters. For he said to God, I will
Quite a transformation - from God to proclaim your name to my
man. criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to brothers and sisters. I will
the place of highest honour and praise you among your assem-
He had no ordinary birth. Just as the bled people.” He also said, “I
gave him the name above all
universe was created from nothing by other names, that at the name of will put my trust in him,” that is,
divine power, by the Spirit of God, Jesus every knee should bow, in “I and the children God has
heaven and on earth and under given me.” Hebrews 2:10-12
"This is how Jesus the Messiah was the earth, and every tongue con-
born. His mother, Mary, was en- fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to with Christ we are heirs of God’s
gaged to be married to Joseph. But the glory of God the Father" glory" (Romans 8:16-17).
before the marriage took place, Philippians 2:6-11 Through His Spirit dwelling in us,
while she was still a virgin, she Christians have in a sense co-
became pregnant through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, That glory Jesus willingly gave up - existed with God from eternity past.
her fiancé, was a good man and did for us: Should we remain faithful till death
not want to disgrace her publicly, Divine Family we will co-exist with our Father and
so he decided to break the engage- All Christians understand that Jesus our 'elder brother' Jesus throughout
ment quietly. As he considered this, is 'the Son of God'. We are 'children eternity to come. Jesus, the Word of
an angel of the Lord appeared to of God'. We are 'sons and daughters God, has consciously existed co-
him in a dream. “Joseph, son of of the Almighty'. We pray to God as eternally with the One who became
David,” the angel said, “do not be 'Father'. We belong to 'the house- his - and our - Father. We will all,
afraid to take Mary as your wife. at our resurrection, be 'one'. One
hold of God'. And we are brothers
For the child within her was con-
ceived by the Holy Spirit. And she and sisters of Jesus. A family rela- divine everlasting Family. That has
will have a son, and you are to tionship. God, in other words, has a been God's intention, His plan, from
name him Jesus, for he will save his family. That family now consists of the beginning.
people from their sins”. Himself and a born Son who is the
Father's image. Then there are his as Since no man has seen the Father at
Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb yet unborn children - men and any time we must live with the fact
by the same Spirit (Matthew 1: 18ff) women conceived by that same that the 'divine appearances' re-
The angel adds: "She will give birth corded in the Scriptures were a
to a son, and they will call him Im- Take a look at www.cgom.org manifestation of the Word - the one
manuel which means, God is with who became Jesus. Ω
New Horizons
3
There are some two billion that with the Chris-
Christians and two thousand
varieties of Christianity. Is your
tian God 'anything
goes'. Take for But Is it Christianity?
belief authentic? example the speci-
fied worship days. The foundations Do they not have that essential in-
Since man was created he has had of the Christian faith are in the Old dwelling holy Spirit?
the ability to express heart-felt joy Testament Scriptures - the same as
and gratitude. It is part of our in- for Judaism. Yet for Christians God Jesus quite clearly required of his
born nature, shared with all man- has apparently permitted radical disciples not only commitment to
kind of all faiths and none. change. himself personally but also to his
Christians recognize this in the The seventh-day Sabbath has been, "Well did Isaiah prophesy concern-
Psalms and in those passages of in Christianity, replaced by Sunday. ing you, hypocrites; as it has been
written: 'This people honors Me
Scripture in which the Israelites The divinely revealed 'Sabbaths of
with the lips, but their heart is far
approached JHVH in His Temple. the LORD' - see Leviticus 23 - have away from Me; and in vain they
There was expression of true joy, been replaced by Christmas, Easter, worship Me, teaching for doctrines
thanksgiving, prayer and worship as All Souls' Day, Advent etc. Failure to the commandments of men.' For
they bowed before the great Creator observe the holy days for Israel forsaking the commandment of
of the Universe. brought divine censure. For presump- God, you hold the tradition of
tuous Sabbath-breaking God even men…" Mark 7:7-8
This may, perhaps, be a puzzle to prescribed a capital penalty. And yet
some. Think about it. For how does He tells us 'I don't change'. teachings. He said to the Pharisees:
this differ from Christianity? We We should apply this to our own
may worship the same Creator. We Through the prophet Jeremiah God faith!
pray to Him. We use the same indicted Israel: 'Has a nation changed
Scriptures and claim the same its gods, and they were not gods? But My What you believe, he says, is very
'fathers'. We draw on the same people have changed their Glory without important and adds:
prophecies of a Messiah, and of profiting' (Jeremiah 2:11). The people
Not everyone who says to Me,
future events. And there is like of Israel had embraced religious Lord, Lord, will enter into the
joyful praise and thanksgiving. practices from the nations around kingdom of Heaven, but those who
them. Does He, I wonder, also indict do the will of My Father in
There is no reason to assume that modern Christianity? Have we not Heaven. Many will say to Me in
believers of other faiths - Islam, imported practices foreign to those that day, Lord, Lord, did we not
Hinduism, Judaism etc - are any revealed in Scripture? prophesy in Your name, and in
Your name cast out demons, and in
less sincere in their worship. There
Faith Once Delivered Your name do many works of
are varied styles of worship but power? And then I will declare to
each bows before their own under- We must, therefore ask the question,
them, I never knew you; 'depart
standing of 'God'. Festivals, espe- 'Are these fundamental changes from Me, those working lawless-
cially, are times of joyful celebra- driven by the Spirit of God?' Has He ness! \ Matthew 7:22-23
tion. recorded them for our instruction in
Scripture? To be logical, consistent, Wrote the apostle Paul:
Each 'God' impresses its own form we need to assume so. For the apos-
of worship. There are, for example, tles 'closed the book': '...the faith If I speak with the tongues of men
the 'five pillars of Islam' which in- once for all delivered to the saints', and of angels, but I do not have
cludes universal prostration in wrote Jude. Yet none of the above love, I have become as sounding
changes may be gleaned from the brass or a clanging cymbal. And if
every mosque, shoes off, a turning I have prophecies, and know all
towards Mecca at specified times New Testament writings. If God the
mysteries and all knowledge, and if
daily and Friday worship. Each Father has not authorised these I have all faith so as to move
faith, too, has its annual round of changes - along with many others mountains, but do not have love, I
festivals - for Muslims there is that feature in modern Christianity - am nothing. And if I give out all my
Ramadan, Eid etc. we must surely question its validity. goods, and if I deliver my body that
I be burned, but I do not have love,
Changed Belief Yet - do not Christians experience I am not profited anything
Perhaps more than any faith other commitment, joy in their faith? Do I Corinthians 13:1-3
than Hinduism, forms of worship in they not profess to worship the God
Christianity vary widely. It appears revealed through the Old Testament? Mighty deeds, knowledge, pro-
New Horizons
4
phetic skill - 'giving your goods' to belief. Sadly, it is an influence that his' (Romans 8:9).
the needy, or even martyrdom - it is is waning sharply in all these
not these which mark out Christian- spheres of secular and religious Yet 'the Spirit was not yet
ity, but 'love' - total commitment, human activity. given' (John 7:39) to the people of
submission, to the will and Word of Israel. Not until the resurrection of
God and not some sentimental at- Misunderstanding of the Bible has Jesus. Until then the holy Spirit
tachment to a notional concept of given us the Crusades, the Inquisi- influenced the faithful only exter-
what it means to be 'Christian'. tion, book-burning and 'human nally.
sacrifice' (remember Cranmer and
Simply because we mouth Christian- others), Rwanda. Association with 'Christianity', as experienced to-
sounding words - 'salvation, love, the Bible and its benign culture and day, is no more than a hodge-podge
justified, holy, Lord's Supper, good teachings is what influences many of non-Biblical beliefs and prac-
works etc' - does not mean that we to a godly life. But that's not all tices tacked on to the Name of the
are 'Christian' and converted, that the there is to Christianity. Creator. Not only are the divine
Spirit dwells in us - no more than that times for worship changed, de-
the children of Israel were converted More Than... spised and replaced by overtly pa-
under Moses. To be Christian requires submis- gan practices (Sunday, Christmas,
sion to every word of God, to His Easter etc) - but so, too, have fun-
Recall that they - as with Christians - commandments, to His prescribed damental Bible teachings been re-
were to '...love the LORD your God form and times of worship. The placed.
with all your heart and soul and Spirit may 'dwell with us' - perhaps
strength' (Deuteronomy 6:5). They, striving to evoke personal change. For example:
too, were urged to 'good works' and But will reside in us only if we: • the mortal nature of humanity is
to 'Love your neighbour as your- turned into the Satanic notion of
...repent and be baptized, each of
self' (Leviticus 19:18). This is Old you in the name of Jesus Christ to 'an immortal soul' (Genesis 3:4)
Testament, remember. remission of sins. And [then] you • human destiny is wrongly seen
will receive the gift of as either heaven or hell or pur-
Such behaviour clearly I wonder that you are so the Holy Spirit. For the gatory
quickly turning back from
did not require 'conversion'. the one having called you promise is to you and • heartfelt 'repentance' has been
Just simple obedience to by the grace of Christ to to your children, and to replaced by external confor-
God's revealed Word. another gospel, which is not all those afar off, as mity
another; only there are many as the Lord our
some troubling you, even God shall call • tradition replaces the Scriptures
Word of Power determined to pervert the • the notion of a 'trinity' has re-
Acts 2:38-39
As with the people of God gospel of Christ. But even if placed the Bible view of 'God'
throughout the ages prior to we, or an angel out of
• half of professing Christians are
Christianity, association Heaven, should preach a The Indwelling Spirit
gospel to you beside the sunk in superstition
with the revealed word of gospel we preached to you,
The apostle adds that
God in the Scriptures can let him be accursed. As we God gives His Spirit to
If such variation from Scripture
'rub off' as worship, as ethi- have said before, and now I those who submit to
say again, If anyone were seen in any other faith it
cal behaviour, as joy, as His authority (Acts
preaches a gospel beside would be classed as a different re-
'good works', as thanksgiv- 5:32). Only then will
what you received, let him ligion!
ing. But such are common be accursed the Spirit of God take
to those of other faiths and (Paul: Galatians 1:6-9) up residence in us:
"...the Spirit of truth,
Test of Faith
of none - not unique to The eighth century BC House of
Christianity. whom the world cannot receive be-
cause it does not see Him nor know Israel were evicted from their
Him. But you know Him, for He abides homeland for their failure to follow
The divine revelation through the God's revealed way of life. The
with you and shall be in you" (John
Christian Bible has been a powerful people who replaced them - non-
14:17).
influence throughout the world, and Israelites - became known as Sa-
has brought enlightenment into the maritans and were abhorred by the
But for Christians, worship and
darkness of a world sunk in supersti- Jews. The Samaritans '... feared Je-
belief is considered to be inspired
tion. Especially in the Anglo-Saxon hovah, and served their own gods, after
by God's holy Spirit indwelling the
world it has in the past five centuries the manner of the nations from among
individual. Indeed the Scriptures
overthrown mediaeval religious dark- whom they had been carried away'. (2
boldly claim that 'without the Spirit
ness and shaped the form of reli- Kings 17:34). Their faith was a mixture
of Christ you are none of of truth and error. cont'd p.8
gious, economic, social and political
New Horizons
5
Could you cope with a crisis that emphasis, of course, on our spiritual • if you have a garden put some of it
affects your infrastructure? We readiness. Especially in times of to vegetables
should be prepared! stress we must ever look up to our • start saving, now, a small amount of
heavenly Father, and not be anxious. cash. Be frugal until you have a
How would you cope without elec- But the whole tenor of God's Word contingency fund - especially if you
tric power, without fresh drinkable is that we do what we can for our- are on a fixed income. Cash will be
water, without sewerage or social selves. God makes up the shortfall king
security, no deliveries to shops, no for those who trust Him. • try to acquire a heating unit that
doesn't depend on piped gas or elec-
pumped petrol, no transport, no
tric; and be sure you have warm
wages, no ATMs, perhaps no job? Prepare Now clothing to hand. Get a burner at
Before any crisis develops, it would least sufficient to heat water, pref-
For it isn't beyond imagination to be prudent for us to make some erably a small cooker (kerosene or
envisage such a situation. Terror- preparations to ensure we can cope bottled gas)
ism, even nuclear or chemical ter- for a time without basic services. • and some batteries for your radio
rorism, is a present threat. And we Outside the • acquire a
are being warned, because of dis-
turbed weather patterns and fuel
home we need
also to con- Be Prepared! light source,
preferably other
shortages, about a climatic change sider which than candles for
with nationwide power disruption. services will affect us if they are safety reasons . Camping shops
absent. Water and sewerage, cer- have a range of types
Wouldn't it be prudent for us to tainly. Shops, petrol stations, finan- • have available a supply of water-
figure ways of surviving "just in cial transactions of all kinds, Social purifying tablets. Dry white wine is
also useful for this purpose - about
case"? Solomon gave good advice Security, telephone, postal services,
one part in ten of water, left 24
(Proverbs 22:3): "A prudent man street lighting, traffic lights, hospital hours. Or a few drops of thin
foresees danger and hides himself; equipment and health services. All bleach (eg hydrogen peroxide,
but the simple go on - and suffer for sorts of consequences follow from Milton) per pint suffices
it". Jesus exhorted us to be "wise as such breakdown! • if you use medication be sure to
serpents, harmless as doves". Be- have a supply, along with a basic
cause of the then ongoing 'present It might never happen in our life- first-aid kit
distress' the apostle Paul urged the time, of course, and we need not • it is recommended that we each
brethren to take avoidance meas- panic! But it's prudent to be pre- have secure copies of important
ures. pared! Here are a few suggestions. documents - eg birth/marriage cer-
Clearly, not all are of use to all of us tificates, house deeds, financial
It does not negate trust in God to given our varied circumstances. But arrangements
do what we physically can to pre- don't put off your preparations to the
serve our basic life last minute! When Debt
support systems. "A prudent man foresees folk awake to the A further important part of our
danger and hides himself; problem panic may set preparation is debt reduction.
By no means do we but the simple go on - and in! Ever been in a su-
imply that "the end suffer for it" permarket on Xmas However likely or unlikely future
of the world is nigh"! But it would Eve? problems may be, it is prudent to
be sensible to assess our situation dispose as far as possible of any
and make whatever preparations are Even if you have a small dwelling it indebtedness we may have - credit/
within our circumstances to tide us is prudent to have a small store of debit cards, loans etc (though mort-
over any situation that may last two non-perishables. gages would be an exception).
or three days, weeks - or even a few
months. If disruption extends be- To Do List Paul's principle "Owe no one any-
yond this we can expect real trouble • make your home as secure as you thing" is valid as a general rule of
as folk abandon the thin veneer of can life! But especially in uncertain
civilisation and begin to scavenge • lay in a supply of non-perishable times. It's all too easy to be trapped
for necessities, money, drugs etc. foods: dried vegetables, dried milk, into the consumer mentality, in
Hurricane Katrina shows us it does- oats, flour, potatoes etc. Remember - which we "must have". It would be
n't take long! your freezer may not be working! wise to build rather than deplete our
Enough to last your needs for per- personal reserves, no matter how
Whatever happens, Jesus warned
haps a month or so. After that it will small. Ω
probably be looted!
us to always "be ready", with the
New Horizons
6
Paul said therefore because of the Jews’ prepa-
Three Days and Three in Acts 2:
31, “He
ration day; for the sepulchre was
nigh at hand.”
Nights In The Grave, Why? [David]
seeing this John 19:31, “The Jews therefore,
Steven J. Kieler before spake of the resurrection of because it was the preparation, that
Why was Jesus in the grave three Christ, that His soul was not left in the bodies should not remain upon
days and three nights? Why did he hell [sheol, the grave], neither His the cross on the Sabbath day, (for
make such an issue out of it, saying flesh did see corruption.” (Read that Sabbath day was an high day,)
to the Scribes and Pharisees: “… verses 26-31 for the complete con- besought Pilate that their legs might
An evil and adulterous generation text.) be broken, and that they might be
seeketh after a sign; and there shall taken away.”
no sign be given to it, but the sign Even the two witnesses of Revela-
of the prophet Jonas” Matthew 12: tion will, being human, see corrup- There seemed to be some urgency to
40? tion as their dead bodies will lie in get Jesus into the tomb and it had to
the streets for three and one half do with the “preparation day.” That
Jesus made very specific state- days. (Revelation 11:9,11) Note the is the day before a weekly or annual
ments that lend understanding to words “and one half.” Sabbath. John notes that this was not
this situation. First, let’s consider a seventh day Sabbath; it was a High
the “Three days and three nights” The number three in scripture de- (Holy) day. Indeed it was; it was the
factor as it relates to Jonah. notes complete or entire. It is clear first day of Unleavened Bread
that Jesus was in the grave not more (Leviticus 23:6-8). And that could
Jonah than three days. But we also know fall on any day of the week.
Jonah 1:17, “Now the LORD had that He was three days and three
prepared a great fish to swallow up nights in the grave. It does not say “a We now know:
Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly part of the day or night.” Look at • that the crucifixion was on the
of the fish three days and three your calendar and see if you can get day before a “High Day”
nights.” That is very time-specific three days and nights from Friday • He was in the tomb three days
and Jesus used it to illustrate a cer- afternoon till Sunday morning. and nights
tain point. • He was resurrected sometime
Perhaps a more important lesson before Sunday morning
Matthew 12:40, "For as Jonas here is that Jesus was uncorrupted, • He was in the grave just before
[Jonah] was three days and three without sin; He saw no physical cor- sunset on the “preparation day”
nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the ruption but neither was he like sinful ·
Son of man be three days and three corruptible man.
nights in the heart of the earth.”
We can deduce that, if He was three
days and nights in the grave, He was
But how could Jesus be buried on resurrected the same time of day He
Scripture is exacting again about “Good Friday” and resurrected on
time in I Samuel 30:12-13 and was entombed. Therefore, the latest
Sunday morning? He could have left the tomb was Sab-
Esther 4:16. Phrases like “three
days” are used when it is less im- bath (Saturday) evening as Mary was
From Burial to Resurrection there at dawn on Sunday and it could
portant. But why was Jesus en- The fact is, He was not.
tombed for that length of time? not have been earlier or the guards
would have reported it on Saturday.
John 20:1, “The first day of the week (Matthew 27:62-64)
The Corruption Connection cometh Mary Magdalene early, when
It is clear that after three days the
it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre,
body begins to decay. “Jesus said, Counting back three full days from
and seeth the stone taken away from Saturday eve brings us to Wednes-
‘Take ye away the stone.’ Martha, the sepulchre.” It is not disputed that
the sister of him that was dead, day, the preparation day when Christ
the first day is Sunday. But notice was killed. The following day would
saith unto Him, ‘Lord, by this timeMary, while it was yet dark, came to
he stinketh: for he hath been dead be Thursday, the “High Day,” then
the tomb, and Jesus had already risen Friday, day two. And, finally, there is
four days,’ ” John 11:39. (past tense) sometime earlier. But Sabbath, day three.
when? Let us return to the crucifixion
Quoting David from Proverbs day.
16:10, who had prophesied that The Interestingly, this Passover week
Saviour would not see corruption. John 19:42. “There laid they Jesus correlates to the same days of the
New Horizons
7
week as the Passover during the Exo- and shall condemn it: because they
dus. You could calculate this by CGOM...Who We Are repented at the preaching of Jonas;
counting back from the incident of and, behold, a greater than Jonas
the gathering of the manna on the The Churches of God Outreach is here. {42} The queen of the south
Sabbath and the chronology in the Ministries is an international asso- shall rise up in the judgment with
book of Numbers. ciation of independent local assem- this generation, and shall condemn
blies - Christians who meet together it: for she came from the uttermost
for worship, instruction in the faith
There's another point yet to consider. parts of the earth to hear the wis-
and fellowship. Each assembly is
self-governing according to Bible
dom of Solomon; and, behold, a
Signs and Wisdom. principles, but co-operates through greater than Solomon is
Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees and our Conference with other like- here” (Matthew 12:41-42).
the Scribes, gave them a sign. Mat- minded assemblies to work towards
thew 12:39, “But He answered and agreed evangelistic goals. See how Corinthians and Matthew
said unto them, An evil and adulter- are complementary. They both
ous generation seeketh after a sign; These goals are within the frame- speak of 'signs and wisdom'.
and there shall no sign be given to it, work of the commission set for his
but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” church by Jesus: "going, therefore, The sign is there for all to see and
disciple all nations, baptising
That sign was the three days and them...and teaching them to observe
neither the sign to the Jews nor the
three nights. It was exact so they all that I have commanded wisdom of the Greeks would suf-
wouldn’t miss or misinterpret it. you" (Matthew 28:19-20). He fur- fice to deliver them. But then the
ther commanded that we sign was only to show them they
They had a peculiar habit described "Shepherd...[and] feed my sheep". were an evil and adulterous genera-
in I Corinthians 1:22, “For the Jews tion.
require a sign, and the Greeks seek To these ends we publish Bible-
after wisdom” . based literature (eg our quarterly Paul sums it up nicely: “But we
Newsletter, Fountain of Life, a bi- preach Christ crucified, unto the
monthly outreach magazine New
Returning to Matthew, the theme Horizons, the Bible Basics home
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
continues: “The men of Nineveh shall study course). The Outreach Minis- the Greeks foolishness;” (I Corin-
rise in judgment with this generation, tries also supports a network of thians 1: 23). Ω
independent fellowships and scat-
tered brethren.
Antichrist - Who is he? We cordially invite all independent
• still powerful at Christ's return
It is often assumed that 'the Antichrist' is fellowships of whatever size - or • and only destroyed by the returning
a single entity, focused by many Protes- individuals - to associate with us in Christ
tants on the Church of Rome - specifi- this worldwide ministry. Our State-
cally the Pope and his church. The apos- ment of Beliefs and a Publications History shows us that some who occu-
tle John, however, cites 'many antichrists' Catalogue is available from any of pied the Papal throne fulfilled some of
in his day. It may be worth considering our addresses. We are pleased to these criteria. But certainly not all -
that the end-time may produce more than offer you, without charge, any of witness the late John Paul II. Such,
one such anti-Christian person. our publications. however, will in contrast be the marks
of the end-time 'man of sin', the Anti-
Take a look at some of the 'marks' of christ.
Antichrist, gleaned from the Scriptures:
• defiles the Temple holy place Man of Sin
• denies the Father and the Son • desolates the land of Palestine In other words, the 'man of sin' (the
• denies the incarnation • sets up a kingdom, small to begin but lawless one - II Thessalonians 2:8)
heads an assembly of nations which is
• exalts himself above the one true spreading widely - ultimately world-
wide opposed to the Father God and denies
God revealed in the Christian Bible
• uses force to propagate his belief that Jesus is God's Son and His Mes-
• claims personal divinity siah - the Anointed One. His dominion
• a man of sin, lawless - inherently system
arises to prominence sometime after the
worthy of destruction • hates Christianity and Judaism by any restraining influence of the Roman
• a false prophet producing lying won- name Empire is taken away (in the mid-sixth
ders and false miracles • arises after demise of Roman Empire century AD}, when the Empire shat-
• author of a great apostasy from the tered into ten divisions - and continues
'faith once for all delivered to the until destroyed by the returning King of
Unsigned articles are by the Editor
saints' kings.
New Horizons
8
Antichrist…cont'd wrath are Christianity by any name and (Psalm 83), aided by Iran. (There may
The seeds of his belief system were Judaism - though his religion is based be ten allied nations sharing his aims.)
sown in the first century. The apostle on a perversion of both, on spurious
John points to him as the Antichrist, revelations' and on false miracles. Second 'Beast'
'against [and instead of] Christ'. The Down the centuries his successors have However, a power wielding universal
Antichrist, a false Messiah, claims supe- had the same violent tendency. In the religious authority - also arising from
riority over Jesus, as do his followers - he end-time he acts '... according to the Roman territory - is predicted to influ-
'blasphemes the God of Heaven'. He is, working of Satan with all power and ence the world to support this 'Beast',
personally, a debauched 'man of sin' and signs and lying wonders'. the 'King of the North'. It will, briefly,
fit only for destruction. He acts through gain support from believers of many
the energy, false miracles and deceptive This evil end-time despot - who ech- religions, including Christianity.
methods of Satan - who now has a stran- oes Antiochus the Illustrious of ancient
glehold on our world. Syria - arises from the same eastern The 'Man of Sin' and the 'False
portion of the old Grecian Empire - Prophet' are the two leaders of the great
The Antichrist considers himself supe- which included greater Syria and Iran apostasy - from eastern and from the
rior to all other faiths - even his own - (Daniel 8:21-25), and later was also western areas of the old Roman Em-
and takes to himself divine authority. part of the Roman Empire pire. They will in the end join forces to
conquer the world. Both claim roots in
The 'man of sin' and his system is not In the end-time he will be supported the Bible but 'blaspheme' - distorting
peaceful but violent. He is a warrior and by an alliance of Middle Eastern na- the clear words of Scripture and adding
gains followers by the sword or the threat tions: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tur- contrary teachings snatched from hu-
of the sword. The especial objects of his key, Lebanon and the Palestinians man reasoning. Ω
Christianity…? cont'd from p.5 Biblical holy days. They observed is far removed from the 'faith once
In the time of Jesus the Samari- the Bible dietary instructions. They delivered to the saints'. Indeed the
tans were deceived by Simon the carefully applied the revealed faith of Jesus survived, except for a
Magician. He later 'believed and moral teachings as summed up in few faithful, barely fifty years be-
was baptized' but utterly misunder- the Ten Commandments and yond the resurrection of Jesus. The
stood the true faith and was power- sought to resist the pulls of the su- history and characters in the Bible
fully condemned by the apostle perstitions that surrounded them. are unchanged. The terminology of
Peter (Acts 8). Later reports place the Bible is unchanged - though
him in Rome where he is reported But they were different, too. meanings are distorted. Jesus is
to have introduced 'Samaritan' - ie exalted - though his message is
Babylonian - practices to the Some Jews - and later the non- garbled. The Kingdom of God is
church of God at Rome. These Jews - responded to the divine call preached - but largely misunder-
have gripped mainstream Christian- to follow Jesus Christ - to death, if stood. There is 'a different Gospel'.
ity ever since. that were necessary to remain faith-
ful to him and his What passes as Christianity is cer-
Twenty-first century For if he that comes preaches ways. tainly a powerful influence in the
another Jesus, whom we did
Christianity closely par- not preach, or if you receive world because of its widespread
allels the Samaritans in a different spirit, which you God's Law was no propagation of the Scriptures, the
their acceptance of prac- did not receive, or a different longer an external very Word of God. But it must take
tices God has utterly gospel, which you did not imposition but its place alongside Hinduism, Is-
condemned. accept, you do well to bear 'written in the lam, Buddhism as just another faith
with him II Corinthians heart'. Animal to be superseded by the true Word
Difference sacrifice was re- of God in His due time.
The first Christians were in their placed by the once-for-all sacrifice
general practice indistinguishable of Jesus for our sin. The Spirit of Perhaps you should ask yourself:
from the Jews. They worshipped on God resided in each Christian and are you a Christian - or a mere
the seventh-day Sabbath and on the did not, as with the Israelites, 'Christianist'? It's vital that we each
merely influence them from with- 'test our faith' . Ω
out. The indwelling Spirit moti-
The article vated and empowered the Christian Request:
6000 Years of Christianity to obey the revealed will of God. What Do You Mean - 'Repent'?
develops this theme.
Should You Be Baptized?
Ask for a free copy In sum, Christianity as seen today
New Horizons
9
MiniStudy
Does God Have Special Days?
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say
unto them: The appointed seasons of the LORD, which you shall proclaim
to be holy convocations, even these are My appointed seasons (Leviticus 23:1-2)
take heed to yourself that you not be snared to follow [other nations] after they have been
destroyed before you; and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did
these nations serve their gods? And I shall do so, even I'. You shall not do so
to Jehovah your God (Deuteronomy 12:30-31)
Every major faith encourages its adherents to assemble for worship at specific seasons. Hindus,
Moslems, Christians, Jews - all have their special days, both weekly and annually. Christians for
example will this year (2006) celebrate 'Easter' in mid-April. Around the world, it commemo-
rates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. These annual days are special for
Christians, as are the days of Ramadan for Muslims, Passover for Jews, Divali for Hindus. And
each faith ascribes the festival's origin and significance to their God.
We ought to ask, though: If all these faiths represent the same divinity - how come such varia-
tion? Does God himself not care? Is it human responsibility to devise our own forms of wor-
ship? According to the Christian Scriptures (see above), clearly not!
• recall that God says 'I change not'. He is 'the same yesterday, today and forever'.
• the convocations listed in Leviticus 23 are His convocations - holy, ie separate, special - and
do not, as often stated, derive from Moses. They are not 'just Jewish'
• the weekly seventh-day Sabbath - also a convocation, an assembly - was so precious to Him
that He protected it by a capital penalty
• indeed the nation of Judah was evicted from the land of promise because of their disregard
for the Sabbath and 'days of Baal'
• Jeroboam - king of the ten northern Israelite tribes - changed the divinely-appointed festivals
and was thereafter castigated as an example of rebellion against God. They 'rejected his stat-
utes' (II Kings 17:13-16)
• these divine festivals or assemblies (Hebrew: mo'ed - 'seasons') were inbuilt by the Creator in
the physical creation (Genesis 1:14)
• neglect of God's 'holy convocations' - the annual festivals - blinds us to the divine plan of the
ages. Each represents a significant aspect of how and when God is working, and what His
plans are for us
• the apostolic church of God continued to observe these same divinely-appointed days - the
weekly seventh-day Sabbath and the Festivals. There is no indication in the New Testament
that the days were exchanged by God for the observances and festivals of their pagan
neighbours. Paul urged Timothy to pass on to others the teachings he had been taught. And
Jude wrote that in his day - the first century of the Christian era - there was a 'faith once for
all delivered to the saints'. Christians have the same God as did Moses and the prophets
For more information request:
God's Holy Days, God's Grand Design
The Passover - Is It for Christians?
New Horizons
New Horizons may be viewed
on our web-site
www.cgom.org
e-mail: coguk@aol.com
information@cgom.org
. coming...
in New Horizons
Trust Me—I’m God
Why Suffering?
Bible Basics
The Churches of God Outreach
Ministries publish an internet
Bible home study course
If you would like to study with
request—no charge us check it out at
www.cgom.org
The Kingdom of God The introductory lesson gives
some hints about how to
study the Bible
God’s Grand Design We are pleased to reply to any ques-
tions arising from any of our publica-
tions. However, we are not yet in a
God’s Holy Days position to 'grade' your responses
you are invited to look at our website
numerous articles free to read or download
www.cgom.org
all are also available from any of the addresses listed inside
Don’t miss out on a single issue of the New Horizons magazine!
When you move don’t forget to send us your new mailing address.
Please send your change of address to: or e-mail your change to:
Churches of God Outreach Ministries information@cgom.org
P.O. Box 54621
Tulsa, OK 74155-0621
