Gerald E. Weston

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Marijuana: Wonder Drug, or Big Deception?

Everyone it seems is jumping on the marijuana bandwagon. Not since the last wild west snake oil salesman passed through town, have we seen a greater miracle product that will heal whatever ails you. On top of that, it’s natural, unlike that which “Big Pharma” produces. And because it’s now legal in places such as Canada, California, Canberra, and Colorado, marijuana must be safe and harmless. Or is it? Shouldn’t we ask who’s driving this bandwagon?

Are you hearing the whole story? Or are there facts about marijuana (also better known as cannabis in some countries) that you’re not being told? And if you think, “I don’t do marijuana,” so it doesn’t affect me, think again—it does! I’ll be back in a moment with four things you need to know about the hallucinogenic cannabis plant, known as marijuana, so stay tuned.

The Marijuana Agenda Is Not About Health Benefits

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World where I’m covering one of the most controversial topics I’ve ever given, and I can see the hate mail already. You may wonder why I’m covering this topic here on Tomorrow’s World. The answer is simple—in the end, we’re dealing with an issue with moral implications and much of what you are hearing about marijuana and cannabis is nothing more than lies. Sadly, many sincere people are buying the activists’ propaganda. Here at Tomorrow’s World we choose truth over mindless political correctness and group think. On today’s program I’ll give you four facts you probably aren’t hearing anywhere else about marijuana. I’ll also be offering a back-up resource titled: Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You.

Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand are plunging headlong into a marijuana Mecca. Yet, there are a growing number of studies that show a link between cannabis and mental health problems. And this leads me to:

Fact #1: There is an agenda behind medical marijuana

There has been a concerted effort on the part of activists to sell marijuana to an unsuspecting citizenry, and they’ve been very successful. So how did they do it?

These activists learned from past mistakes that they could never get cannabis, or marijuana, legalized by promoting the idea that it’s good to “get high.” They’ve used different tactics at different times, such as “The war against marijuana is racially biased.” But their most recent and most successful campaign is to convince ordinary people, such as you and me, people who have no interest in “toking up,” that cannabis is medicine. After all, who wants to be against medicine, especially when it is marketed as natural and safe, unlike chemical pharmaceuticals.

But this message has always been a ruse for legalizing recreational use. Former New York Times writer and author, Alex Berenson explains in Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Health, and Violence that:

“Linking legalization to medical use has proven the crucial step. It encourages voters to think of marijuana as something other than an intoxicant. In reality, except for a few narrow conditions such as cancer-related wasting, neither cannabis nor THC [the intoxicating ingredient] has ever been shown to work in randomized clinical trials.” (Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Health, and Violence, Berenson; pp. xvii–xviii).

Berenson explains a little later:

“The difference between cannabis and every other drug is that an entire industry now trumpets marijuana’s benefits, promising a high with no low, a reward without risks.” (Berenson, p. xxxv).

It’s easy to get caught up in the war of words and contradicting studies, so let’s stand back and look at the big picture. Here’s what we see:

1. Activists convince the public that marijuana is medical
2. They next convince people that it is harmless
3. It’s then decriminalized
4. And finally it is legalized recreationally

With some variation, this is what happened in Canada, California, and Colorado. The Australian capitol of Canberra became the first city in that country to legalize recreational cannabis on September 26, 2019. There’s a clear progression from medicine to recreation. This will continue to happen as a naive public is manipulated by a well-funded campaign by activists, intent on fully legalizing the drug.

So, who are these activists? Most people have no idea. All we hear is that marijuana is medicine, that it’s natural, that it will free up police to work on more serious problems, and that it’s a mild and safe substance with no downside. That’s the drum beat we hear everywhere. Time limitations do not allow me to give the biography of each one, but here is a name familiar to many, a name that we hear on the wrong side of many issues—George Soros. Breaking into a thought from Berenson as he traces the drug’s history:

“Meanwhile, advocates continued their slow work—writing opinion pieces, highlighting the cost and racial disparities of the drug war, and offering grants to local pro-cannabis organizations. In July 2000 Nadelmann merged the Lindesmith Center with the Drug Policy Foundation—a Washington-based reform organization. The new group was called the Drug Policy Alliance. [George] Soros would be its most important backer. Ultimately, he gave more than $100 million to the DPA and a related group that funded medical marijuana and legalization ballot initiatives. By 2010, he supported full legalization, and he wrote an opinion piece saying so in the Wall Street Journal.” (Berenson, p. 67).

Think about that! $100 million is a lot of money, and what for? Was the end game medicine or full legalization? Considering the source of the money, thinking people should be suspicious.

But what about all those medical benefits of this wonder plant? The truth is that a lot more research ought to be done before buying the salesman’s pitch and I’ll address the reason why in a minute, but first, I must tell you about today’s vital resource: Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You. Canadian author and educator Stuart Wachowicz addresses such questions as, “If It’s Legal, Isn’t It Safe?” and “Is There Any Good Reason to Get High?”

This well-documented resource contains source notes that allow you to do your own research. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this can’t affect you. Even if you personally don’t use marijuana, what others do CAN impact your life. So, click the link in the description or call the number on your screen, to order your FREE copy of Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You. And I’ll be right back with facts you need to know before jumping on the marijuana bandwagon.

Marijuana Benefits Lack Research And Evidence

We’re discussing four facts about marijuana (also known as cannabis) on today’s Tomorrow’s World program that you may not be hearing elsewhere. And, before the break I said I would give you some facts you need to know before jumping on the marijuana bandwagon. Having sold the public on the medical benefits of cannabis, as with any good snake oil salesman, the non-hallucinogenic ingredient CBD has become a cure all for whatever ails you. Have cancer—CBD will cure it. Parkinson’s, no problem. Works there just as well. Back pain, depression, nausea caused by any condition—CBD is your answer. Or is it? The Ohio State Medical marijuana program limits participation in their program to these diverse conditions:

“AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable, Parkinson’s disease, positive status for HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.”.

Is this a wonder drug or not!

The distinguished Dr. Gary Wenk was asked to sit on Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee by Governor John Kasich in 2016. And in all fairness to Dr. Wenk, I want to emphasize that he is open-minded and clearly not against trying marijuana for a range of ailments, as seen in an article he wrote for Psychology Today. Despite not being against it, he says:

“If you suffer with one of these disorders [as listed above], the most important question to ask your recommender is whether you can to (sic) benefit from using marijuana. If your recommender says “yes” then you can be certain that he or she is ignorant of the current state of medical research on marijuana. Simply stated, there is no reliable clinical evidence to support the use of marijuana for any of these conditions—none at all.”

Dr. Wenk is not alone. A more recent British study investigated the effectiveness of cannabis as medicine for these six mental health conditions:

Depression

Anxiety

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Tourette’s syndrome

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychosis

The results were published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal. Here is what these scientists found, as reported in London’s Independent on October 28, 2019:

“Research which combined 83 studies involving 3,000 people suggested their use for [these] six mental health conditions cannot be justified based on the current evidence.

Scientists said this is due to a lack of evidence for their effectiveness and because of the known risks of cannabinoids.”

Marijuana advocates have promoted a cure, looking for a disease. Does this mean there will never be any medical uses for the plant? Not at all. Many medicines do come from plants. The problem is that there has been an agenda here all along and activists have dishonestly sold people, through anecdotal testimonies, that it’s a cure- all when proper testing is lacking.

I quoted earlier from Alex Berenson’s book Tell Your Children where he outlines the history of cannabis and what he has learned about it. So, who is Berenson? Here’s how this former New York Times reporter, who confesses that he tried marijuana a few times, describes himself:

“I never took to the stuff, but I had no moral problem with it. If anything, I tended to be a libertarian on drugs, figuring people ought to be allowed to make their own mistakes.” (Berenson, p. xv).

But, he changed his mind in the wake of a conversation one evening with his wife. Jacqueline is a New York State psychiatrist who specializes in evaluating the criminally insane. One evening they were discussing a particularly brutal crime when she casually remarked:

“Of course he was high, been smoking pot his whole life” (p. xiv).

Berenson questioned what she meant by “of course.” To which she replied, “Yeah, they all smoke.” And that led to an interesting husband and wife discussion in which Berenson explains:

“I’m not sure if I said to my wife that night, ‘Oh, please,’ but I thought it. Jacqueline would have been within her rights to say, I trained at Harvard and Columbia. Unlike you. I know what I’m talking about. Unlike you. Maybe quit mansplaining. Instead she offered something neutral like, ‘I think that’s what the big studies say. You should read them.’” (Berenson, p. xv).

And he did. What this marijuana libertarian learned was not what he expected, and it turned him into an outspoken critic of the weed. He set out to inform the public about the history and consequences of cannabis use, in his 2019 book:

Tell your Children: The Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence

Here’s what Berenson learned.

Fact #1: [which you’ve already seen] There is an agenda behind medical marijuana

He also learned that:

Fact #2: Marijuana is linked to mental health problems

There has always been a known link between cannabis use and mental health issues, such as psychoses and schizophrenia, but the problem is greater today than ever. Today’s marijuana is a totally different marijuana from that of the 1960’s and 70’s when THC levels were closer to 1 to 2 %. But beginning in the 1990’s, growers began working to increase the THC content to as much as 25%, and with that, has come an increase in mental health problems. Researchers know that there is a time lag between when one starts using cannabis and when mental illness may begin. Therefore, it’s not unexpected that increasing problems would begin showing up sometime after 2000.

“Researchers in Denmark recently examined that country’s mental illness registry to see if the incidence of schizophrenia had changed between 2000 and 2012. They found a striking increase. Schizophrenia diagnoses rose about 30 percent.” (Berenson, p. 145).

But it gets worse. These higher THC levels seem to be contributing to another trend.

“An even bigger surprise came when they looked at adults from age 30 to 59. Psychiatrists expect schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to become obvious by the late twenties. But the researchers found that 46 out of 100,000 people in the over-30 group received a new psychosis diagnosis every year. ‘The high proportion of true cases in this sample presenting after age 30 contrasts with conventional wisdom...’” (Berenson, p. 147).

“After more than a year of working on this book, sometimes I felt like the only people who understood the link between marijuana and psychosis were the scientists who’d studied it, the psychiatrists who’d treated it—and the people who’d seen it for themselves or their family members.” (Berenson, p. 127).

Stuart Wachowicz’s booklet, Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You, addresses problems with cannabis, such as:

Loss of Motivation

Brain Impairment and Mental Health

Lung and Heart Damage

And,

Cancer Risk

In addition, he addresses head-on the activists’ flawed arguments:

What About Medical Marijuana?

Will Legalization Reduce Crime and Overall Drug Use?

Also, these controversial questions:

If Marijuana Is a Problem, Why Do We Not Also Ban Alcohol?

And, in the end,

Isn’t It a Matter of Personal Choice?

Click the link in the description now to order your free copy of Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You, and coming up I’ll give you a powerful reason to leave cannabis alone.

Marijuana Affects Human Behavior, Even Giving Rise To Unexpected Violence

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, I’m discussing Four Facts About Marijuana (also referred to as cannabis) that you need to know. Before the short break, I told you I would give you a powerful reason to leave cannabis alone. It’s something that Jacqueline Berenson sees first-hand in her work as a criminal psychiatrist.

Fact #3: Cannabis is linked to violence

Most people think of marijuana as strictly a calming drug, but is this the whole story? Not according to this 2016 Psychology Today article:

“New research published online in advance of print in the journal Psychological Medicine concludes that persistent use of cannabis may cause violent behavior as a result of changes in brain function due to smoking weed over many years.

Researchers have long debated a possible link between use of marijuana and violent crime. In contrast to alcohol, meth, and many other illegal drugs, the mellowing effects of cannabis seem unsuited to promoting violent behavior. However, ample previous research has linked marijuana use to increased violent behavior”

It’s important to note that most people do not exhibit violent behavior, but a small percentage do, and the problem may arise suddenly with no previous warning signs.

Stuart Wachowicz relates a letter he received from an Arkansas State prisoner who described his real-life story with marijuana and violence. Kenneth Williams tells in his own words his sobering story of what the end result of using marijuana was for him. This compelling account, and so much more valuable information, can be yours free of charge. All you have to do is pick up the phone and order your copy of, Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You. This is a must read. This resource not only explains the problems with cannabis, but also offers a deeper purpose to life than toking up and staying stoned. Mr. Wachowicz writes:

“Why is it that, even though Western nations live in a time of extravagant wealth compared to any other period in the historical record, so many in our population today—especially the young—seek what is, essentially, an escape from reality in mind-altering drugs?…”

“Obviously, all is not right. Something is missing. When our day-to-day lives are not fulfilling, and we are not finding pleasure in our work and our relationships with family and friends, and we seek temporary pleasure through intoxication via substances that bring all kinds of potential harm, perhaps it is time to examine our lives more closely….. There is a cause for sadness and loneliness and depression, and there is a cause for satisfaction and contentment. In most cases, our situation is a result of choices we have made. We have the ability to choose a way of life that provides happier lives for us and for our families, and thus we can avoid choices that create trouble and unpleasant realities—from which people then wish to escape.” (p. 30).

To get your free copy of this insightful and easy to understand publication, just click the link in the description. Also, don’t forget to click the “like” button and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. And next, I’ll give you a fourth important fact about cannabis that you need to hear.

A Moral Issue, For Which The Bible Gives Hope

Today I’m discussing four facts that you’ve likely not heard, but need to hear, about marijuana, also known as cannabis. So far, we’ve seen that:

Fact #1: There is an agenda behind medical marijuana

Fact #2: Marijuana is linked to mental health problems

And,

Fact #3: Cannabis is linked to violence

Regarding our fourth fact, this truth has become evident:

Fact #4: Cannabis is BIG MONEY!

Yes, marijuana is suddenly “big business.” It’s the rage in financial newsletters. Shockingly, even former U.S. congressional Speaker of the House, John Boehner was heard advertising seminars on how to cash in and get rich on the cannabis boom.

One financial investment advisor recently wrote:

“By 2020, cannabis is going to be bigger than chocolate … bigger than organic food … bigger than wine!”

It appears everyone is hopping aboard the bandwagon.

In addition to being a cure all for what ails you, cannabis is making people rich. Growers and dealers, legal and illegal, are cashing in on the action. Tobacco companies are anxious to replace lost revenues from their prior deadly product by buying into cannabis companies. My friends, these are the LAST people we ought to listen to when it comes to our health! And what government doesn’t love a new source of tax revenue? Hey, this might single-handedly solve the government debt crisis!

However, black marketers continue to undercut legally taxed products, and there’s already [a] significant drop in price in some markets.

Since legalization, Canada is becoming a major supplier both internally and externally, exporting cannabis products to Australia, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, New Zealand, and South Africa.

One of the largest exporters is Tilray, which produces CBD oils (the non-hallucinogenic extract from the cannabis plant), which MAY prove to have some limited medical benefit, but it’s certainly not the cure-all that advocates are claiming it to be. Another product is Tilray 1:1 which contains an equal ratio of the hallucinogen THC and the non-hallucinogen CBD. As of January 2019, twenty-one companies were publicly traded in Canada. Nine companies are hauling in billions of dollars, with two boasting more than $10 billion.

But wait a minute. I thought this was all about health! Aren’t we looking at the greatest miracle drug ever discovered? Or are we looking at modern snake oil? Whichever, millions are buying into the salesman’s pitch.

While we do not deny that there may be some limited medical benefits from cannabis, specifically CBD from the non-hallucinogenic hemp plant, (we will know after proper testing is done), nevertheless, the end game for activists is to use medical marijuana to legalize it recreationally. And recreational marijuana is a moral rather than medical issue. There already are, and will be, serious consequences as a result.

We’re warned from the pages of the Bible:

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7–8).

The prophet Hosea warned the people of his day that the direction they were going would bring disaster, but Hosea’s predictions were dual and apply to the end-time. Note this sober warning in chapter 8 and verse 7:

“They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind…” (Hosea 8:7).

We’re sowing marijuana. Get ready for the whirlwind, for it is surely coming upon hedonistic pleasure-seeking nations!

Be sure to order a free copy of: Marijuana—What They Aren’t Telling You. Do it before you forget. It gives vital information I haven’t had time to cover on this program.

And be sure to come back next week at this same time when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. See you next time.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Don’t Be Too Sure You Haven’t

Virtually everyone in our Western world and much of the rest of the world has heard of Jesus Christ, but have they heard His message? What is the good news He proclaimed for three and a half years before His crucifixion? You think you know? Don’t be too sure! It’s not what most people think. On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, I’ll show you that the true Gospel of Jesus Christ has been neglected. So, stay tuned because you may be surprised!

The Good News You’ve Never Heard Before

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World. On today’s program we are going to look into the Bible, and see what the message was that Jesus of Nazareth brought to this world. You may very well be surprised, even shocked, to learn the truth of this GOOD NEWS. After all, good news is what the term gospel means. So, what exactly is that good news?

Whatever that message was that Jesus preached, it was controversial, because the religious leaders of His day were so upset with Him that they stirred up His own countrymen and put Him to death! Why such hatred?

People everywhere refer to Jesus’ message as the gospel. We hear of:

Gospel music

The message of the gospel

Gospel preaching

The old fashion gospel

And the four gospels

But what exactly is the gospel? Many believe they know, but do they? Do you?

Perhaps the most common belief is that the gospel is about the person of Jesus, about His death, burial and resurrection. Or, it may simply be put, “Jesus died for our sins.” Now this truly IS good news, because we have all sinned and the penalty of sin, according to the Bible is death! As it tells us in Romans 6:23:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Yes, that truly is good news. Indeed, we have no hope without that sacrifice! That IS part of the gospel, part of the good news. But here are a few questions to consider: What was the message Jesus preached PRIOR to his death, burial, and resurrection? Was He merely marking time until His crucifixion? Did what He preach during that time cease to be important?

If so, why was that message called the gospel? The answer is nearly totally neglected, but it’s easily found in the pages of your Bible. All you have to do is open the book and believe what it says. Sadly, almost no one understands or pays attention to that message. On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, I’ll show you what the message was that turned the world upside down. I’ll also be offering a free study resource (Do You Believe the True Gospel?) that asks and answers the questions:

What does it mean to be born again?

What is the Kingdom of God?

And,

When will it appear?

Be sure to take down the contact information shown on your screen to order your free copy.

This message that Jesus brought was so powerful that the religious leaders of His day couldn’t stand it. And today’s religious leaders are apparently no different!

The first chapter of the book of Mark starts at the beginning of Jesus’ three-and-a-half year ministry, and tells us exactly what that message was:

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14–15).

Do you realize that the Kingdom of God is the message Jesus said He was sent to proclaim? Notice this clear statement in Luke 4 and verses 42 and 43:

“…And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’”

Now if that is the message Jesus said He was to deliver, why is it that we hear so little about this Kingdom of God? And what IS that Kingdom? It’s not what most people think!

And Jesus was not who many people think He was. Let me give you an example. When I was eleven or twelve years of age, someone asked my Sunday school teacher: “Why did Jesus speak in parables?” The answer? “Jesus’ audience was made up of farmers, fishermen, and shepherds. He spoke in language that they could understand.”

That certainly made sense at the time, but there’s a problem. It’s totally wrong! How can we know? Jesus’ own disciples asked Him the exact same question, and He gives us HIS reason for speaking in parables. We read in the book of Matthew, the 13th chapter and beginning in verse 10:

“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: “Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive…”’” (Matthew 13:10–14).

Instead of making the meaning understandable, Jesus tells us He spoke in parables to hide the meaning from the majority—so says your Bible! And we read in Mark’s account of this same incident,

“But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples” (Mark 4:34).

Let’s look at those parables and see what they tell us about this Kingdom of God, but first I want to offer you an important resource: Do You Believe the True Gospel? Today we’re exploring the message Jesus proclaimed for three and a half years prior to His crucifixion. This is vital knowledge that any professing Christian needs to know. How can anyone claim to be a follower of Christ and not know His message? Do You Believe the True Gospel? gives the REAL GOOD NEWS! It explains the Kingdom of God and the opportunity for you to be part of it, and we are talking about something far more than floating around on clouds, or staring into the face of God forever. So, order your free copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel? And I’ll be right back to show you how Jesus used parables to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

A Kingdom Over the Entire World

What WAS that message Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed for three and a half years? Why is it neglected today? And how did Jesus use parables to proclaim that message? In one after another of His parables, the subject is the Kingdom of God. Notice Mark 4, beginning in verse 26:

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26–29).

Here we learn that the Kingdom of God is not something that would come immediately. It will come about through a process of planting, growing, and maturing. Mark 4:30 begins another Kingdom of God parable:

“Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade’” (Mark 4:30–32).

This parable tells us that the Kingdom would have the smallest of beginnings, but will eventually grow great. After a three-and-a-half year ministry, marked by mighty miracles and culminating in His resurrection from the dead, there were only about 120 true believers, as Acts 1:15 attests. Yet, before the first century was complete, this powerful message expanded from the tiny Jewish state to all parts of the Roman empire. As we read in Acts 17 verse 6.

“But when they did not find [Paul and Silas], they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.’”

However, this does not explain the complete fulfillment of the parable. Many scriptures tell us that Jesus must come back to this earth to set up His Kingdom and only then is when the mustard seed will branch out to cover the whole world.

People of His day understood His message was about a literal kingdom to be set up on earth, but they didn’t understand the time when it would come, nor did they understand how it would come about. Notice Luke 19, beginning in verse 11:

“Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: ‘A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return’” (Luke 19:11–12).

This parable goes on to explain a truth almost universally neglected and it has relevance for you. It shows that YOU can help solve the big problems our world faces, such as war, poverty, hunger, and disease. That’s why I want to remind you of today’s important offer: Do You Believe the True Gospel? You may understand the significance of Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf, but you need to know in far greater detail than I have time to give you on this program, exactly what was the message that turned the Roman world upside down. You need to know WHY they killed Jesus. And you need to know why His message had everything to do with YOUR future. Do You Believe the True Gospel? gives insight straight from the pages of the Bible. That message, though neglected in most churches, is specific and easily understood by anyone who truly seeks to know. Jesus proclaimed that message. So did Paul and others.

You need this free resource, so click the link in the description and order it today.

Also, be sure to click the “like” button and subscribe to our channel so you that don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.

Jesus Christ Will Reward His Saints With the Power to Make a Difference

We’re asking today: What is the message Jesus of Nazareth preached for three and a half years? That message is found in the Parable of the Nobleman and has great significance for your future. I’ll explain this parable in detail, but I must first explain what your future is NOT! The Sermon on the Mount is considered the heart and core of Jesus’ teachings. It begins with what are known as the beatitudes, or beautiful attitudes. The first one is found in Matthew 5, verse 3, where it says:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Many assume from this that the reward of the saved is going to heaven. We hear of meeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, of “getting our wings,” and of floating around on clouds playing harps for all eternity. But notice that this is not the reward offered in verse 5:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Now that’s a downer! The “poor in spirit” go to heaven, but the “meek” stay on earth! Is that the way it is? I bring out this seeming contradiction, which in truth is NOT a contradiction, to make an important distinction. Let’s look at these two verses more carefully.

When it says “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” it’s referring to possession or ownership. For example, when we say “Kingdom of God” we do not think of the Kingdom being in God. Instead, we understand that it is God’s Kingdom. But when it says, “inherit the earth,” that is speaking of the location of our inheritance.

Matthew, unlike the other three gospel writers, most often uses the expression “kingdom of heaven,” meaning heaven’s kingdom. But, it’s evident that this expression is interchangeable with “Kingdom of God.” Notice it in Matthew 19:23 & 24:

“Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Now back to the Parable of the Nobleman. As we read earlier, this parable was given.

“…because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately” (Luke 19:11).

Note that people understood Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of God and they were looking for a very real kingdom to be set up at that time. Jesus then went on to explain that it would NOT appear immediately, but that,

“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return” (Luke 19:12).

Note that He would go away, but return. After His resurrection, He went to heaven to be with His Father, but as we see in this scripture, He will come back. In the meantime,

“He called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come’” (v. 13).

Upon His return, the Nobleman, a reference to Christ, gives out rewards to His servants. How many who read this parable comprehend the significance? It’s easy to read it and miss what Jesus was saying. Here is what their rewards are:

“Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities’” (Luke 19:16–17).

In like manner, the one who gained five minas was given authority over five cities.

Do you comprehend that rulership is what Christ is offering to His faithful servants? Both the Old Testament and the New Testament speak of the future rule of the Messiah here on earth. Scripture after scripture tells us our reward is to be kings and priests ruling on earth for 1,000 years. The latter part of Revelation 20, verse 4 describes those who put it all on the line during this life:

“…And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

But where will they live and where will they reign? Revelation 5, verses 9 & 10 give the answer:

“…You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

Life after death is something that most of us wonder about. CAN we live again? The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the answer and that good news goes beyond His death and resurrection. Do You Believe the True Gospel? points out scriptures from your Bible that explain the future that you can have, and it’s far greater than floating on clouds or looking into the face of God for all eternity. You need this vital resource and it can be yours free of charge.

Just call the number on your screen, or click the link in the description to get your free copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel?

Next, I’ll show you from the pages of the Bible what your reward can be, but before I do, remember to click the “like” button and subscribe to our channel.

Conclusion: The Family of God Ruling With Justice

Jesus’ gospel, that which He proclaimed for three and a half years prior to His death and resurrection, has been largely ignored. Why? Why cast aside the hope He came to bring? It’s one thing to know that your sins can be forgiven—we should never ignore that message—but we must ask, “For what eternal purpose?” What is it all about in the end? If there is life after death, what will it be like? What might be our reward? Jesus came with a clear message that He was coming back to rule on this earth and about a kingdom into which you may be born. Why is that message neglected?

A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked:

“Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16).

Christ’s response was for him to keep the commandments. Now that should surprise those who say the commandments are done away, but laying that issue aside for now, Jesus gave him one single act that would slay his false god (his money), and at the same time bring him in line with the command against coveting. He told him to go and sell all that he had and give to the poor. By doing so, he would be laying up treasure in heaven—that treasure that Christ would bring with Him when He returns. This man went away sorrowful, unable to bring himself to do so.

After that, Jesus pointed out how difficult it is for those who trust in their riches to enter the Kingdom of God; and this brought His disciples to ask, in effect, “What’s in it for us?” Note Jesus’ response, here in Matthew 19, verse 28:

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging [or ruling] the twelve tribes of Israel.’”

Now that is very specific! And is there a connection with the Parable of the Nobleman going into a far country? When we look at the big picture found in the scriptures, we find that there is a continuity of thought. There is a kingdom coming and God reveals to us the structure. Let’s begin with a well-known statement by the Apostle Paul about this kingdom. You often hear it read during funerals, but do people understand it? 1 Corinthians 15:50:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

This scripture alone destroys many false teachings about the Kingdom of God. No, it is not set up in our hearts. No, it is not here and now. The Kingdom of God is a very real kingdom, just as Jesus taught His disciples regarding their reward, and just as He taught in the Parable of the Nobleman. And, as we have just read, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom. Pilate asked Jesus,

“Are You the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33).

And Jesus explained,

“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).

So when does the Kingdom of God come? The 30th chapter of Jeremiah proclaims a time of trouble for the whole house of Jacob. That means the Jews, but it also means the other tribes of Israel. As we already saw, Jesus promised the twelve Apostles rulership, each one over one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but the Jews are only one tribe. Now let’s read Jeremiah 30 and verse 9:

“But they [all twelve tribes] shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.”

When was the last time you heard that preached from the pulpit? Yes, the LORD—that is the returning Messiah, Jesus Christ—will be Ruler over them, but notice also that King David will be resurrected to rule all Israel.

The 14th chapter of Zechariah describes that same time when all nations will gather together against Jerusalem and the Jews. It will be a terrible time, but the prophecy shows that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return to save them, and here is the result of His intervention, verse 9:

“And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.”

Do you see a pattern my friends? Jesus Christ is to rule over all the earth. King David will be resurrected to rule over all the tribes of Israel. And the Apostles will also be resurrected at that time, and each will rule over one of the twelve tribes. Then the Parable of the Nobleman shows that those who are Christ’s at His coming will be given rulership over cities. Some will be given greater responsibility based on what they do in this life. The pattern is clear.

Now I know that some say, “But I don’t want to be a ruler!” Do you want to straighten out the problems here below; problems of poverty, gross income equality, disease, corruption, violence, and abuse? Then why don’t you want to rule under Jesus Christ to solve these problems?

God is not trying to save the whole world now. Instead He is calling a few at this time to be born into His family and to rule with Him and bring peace to this troubled planet. Imagine what it will be like when:

“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

The Kingdom of God is none other than the spirit born family of God. It will rule on this earth for 1000 years, but that’s only the beginning. To learn more about your potential future, be sure to order your free copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel?

We also invite you to subscribe to our channel and click the notification bell. In this world of growing chaos and confusion, you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

The Problem With Christmas!

Christmas goes to the heart of our emotions and it appeals to all of our senses. We love the smell of freshly cut trees and other greenery. Our taste buds look forward to eggnog and other holiday favorites. Our eyes delight at displays of colored lights. Traditional songs blare over department store speakers, and who doesn’t want to get his or her hands on a decorated box with a surprise inside?

However, there are problems with Christmas, and the problems go beyond “putting Christ back in it,” and every professing Christian ought to sit up and take notice. As difficult as it is to admit, and as hard as it is to believe, the problem with Christmas is that it conflicts with the Biblical record and therefore undermines the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. That may shock you, but on today’s Tomorrow’s World program I’ll give indisputable proofs that demonstrate how the popular story of Christmas, with all its customs and traditions distort the true story. I’ll also be offering a free booklet on the subject, titled, “Is Christmas Christian?”

Do you, my friends, want to know the problems with Christmas? Stay tuned!

Christmas: NOT A Bible Story!

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, and I especially want to welcome any first-time viewers. I’ll be discussing on today’s program four serious problems with Christmas, problems every sincere Christian should be concerned with. And I’ll be offering a free resource titled Is Christmas Christian? There’s no cost to it. All you have to do is call our toll-free number that will be shown on the screen at various times during this program.

So, what are these problems with Christmas?

Problem #1: The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible

That’s right. The story you hear each December is not the same as found in the Bible. Now don’t misunderstand; Jesus is the Son of God and His birth is recorded in the Bible, but not as most people assume.

For example, do you realize that the wise men did not come on the night in which Jesus was born? He was not in a stable when they came. They did not come to bring birthday gifts. And contrary to the song, the Bible nowhere tells us that there were three kings. The story of the wise men didn’t happen as it is commonly told today. Not according to your Bible! It’s a myth that distorts and perverts the truth of scripture. Notice what the Bible actually reveals.

The timing of the wise men’s visit was weeks or even months after the birth of Jesus, and when they did visit Him, He was not in a stable, but in a house with His mother. No mention of shepherds and sheep, not even of Joseph.

But let’s not get ahead of the story. When the wise men came to Jerusalem, reporting that they had seen an unusual star in the sky and were inquiring about a child who was born to be king of the Jews, no small stir was created among the inhabitants of the city, including the king. Matthew 2, verses 3 & 4.

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.”  

The answer from these religious leaders was that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. 

Herod then dispatched these visitors to Bethlehem, to find the child and to report on where he was found so that he could worship Him. Of course, this was a ruse. Herod had no intention of worshiping another king, but wanted to know where He was so that he could kill Him. 

While Bethlehem is only a little over 6 miles away, not a great distance, it should be obvious from what we’ve already read that all this did not happen in one night, but notice this clear statement found in verse 11: 

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.”  

Note that it refers to Christ as a young child, not as an infant or babe, but we don’t have to rely on the nuances of Greek words to know that the wise men did not show up on the night in which Jesus was born. And here’s why.

After what was no doubt a few days, Herod realized the wise men were not going to report back to him. We pick up the story in verse 16:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under….” 

Why up to the age of two? After all, there’s a huge difference between a newborn infant and a two-year-old. The remainder of verse 16 explains.

“...from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”  

Certainly, Jesus was younger than two, but He was more than a newborn. At a bare minimum, He was several weeks old. As we read in Luke, He was circumcised on the 8th day and after 40 days from His birth, He was brought to the temple. 

“Now when the days of her [that is, Mary’s] purification according to the law of Moses were completed [that is, 40 days], they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord…” (Luke 2:22).

These events had to happen prior to the visit by the wise men. Joseph was warned in a dream shortly after their visit to flee with the child to Egypt, as Herod would kill all children up to the age of two in the region.

 I’m showing today that the traditional Christmas story is not the story you’ve been led to believe. So far, we’ve seen that the wise men, or Magi, did not show up on the night Jesus was born. This is not the only example of tradition trumping truth. It’s a symptom of a much greater problem, a problem that we’ll explore in the remainder of this program, but first I want to tell you about a resource that covers this subject in greater detail. Is Christmas Christian? gives details that I don’t have time to cover in this short program. And it answers a question that few professing Christians are willing to ask—Is Christmas really ChristianAnd this booklet can be yours free for the asking, just click the link in the description to get your free copy. It’s that simple. And I’ll be right back to show you another problem with Christmas.

Not The Right Time OR Season!

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’re discussing the problem with Christmas and seeing how truth is subverted by tradition. But you may be thinking, does any of this matter? Yes, it does! If you as a parent lie to your children, you undermine your own integrity. What credibility do you have instructing them to always tell the truth, if you are less than honest? And what about the fact that in the name of religion you violate the tenants of your religion? Note this sobering warning found in Revelation 21:8:

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  

Yes, liars are lumped in with murderers and the sexually immoral. Note too that the cowardly are listed here. How many professing Christians have the courage to step out and do what they know is right? Most often, the fear of family, friends, and co-workers keeps them from acting on truth. 

In the previous portion of this program I introduced Problem #1: 

The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible

In addition to the fact that the Bible clearly shows that the wise men did not visit Christ on the night He was born, we also saw that Jesus was in a house with His mother when they arrived. Further, nowhere in scripture do we read of three kings or wise men. They presented three kinds of presents (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), but these are categories of gifts, not an indication of how many Magi there were. And if they didn’t show up on His birthday, why did they bring gifts? I was told that we give gifts at Christmas because that is what the wise men did. But wait a minute! Didn’t they give their gifts to Jesus, not each other? 

Truth is important. They were not celebrating his birthday, but were presenting gifts to a king, something that is lost in modern traditions and customs. Jesus was born to be a very real King. Notice how Jesus answered Pilate’s question: 

“‘Are you a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born…’” (John 18:37).

While the term king is used in the traditional Christmas story, somehow the reality of what this means is lost. For example, Zechariah 14 gives a prophecy of the Messiah’s future role. Verse 9 declares:

         “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.” 

Read Zechariah 14 for yourself and you will see that this is speaking of a real kingdom to be set up on the earth at Jesus’ second coming.

This brings up our second problem with Christmas:

Problem #2: Jesus was not born on December 25th

That this is a fabrication is attested to by a multitude of sources. You will often see this fact in books about Christmas, as well as newspaper articles coming out each December. No one knows for sure the exact date of His birth, but one thing we know for sure is that He was not born on December 25th. Luke 2, verse 8 tells us: 

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” 

The relevance of this statement is explained in The Interpreter’s Bible:

“The implication of Luke’s story is that Jesus was born at a time when sheep could still be kept in the field—sometime between April and November” 

But December is the cold rainy season. Ezra 10:9 confirms this. 

“It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.” 

The twentieth day of the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar falls between late November and late-December, depending on the year. Then in verse 13 it says, 

“But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside.”  

The Interpreter’s Bible comments on these verses as follows: 

“The month usually marks the beginning of the great rain of Palestine, when the heavy rain... saturates the earth and fills the cisterns. It was... ‘the onset of winter storms,’ for the rains, often icy cold, reached the peak of intensity during December and January...” 

Some authorities vainly try to hang onto the 25thof December as the date of Christ’s birth, but the facts are not on their side, and this leads to our third problem with Christmas and I’ll give that to you shortly, but I want to remind you of today’s free offer. Our resource Is Christmas Christian? answers a very important question. As we’re seeing, the Christmas story is filled with one falsehood after another, and so far, we’ve only scratched the surface, as the true facts of the Bible prove. What really happened? What are the facts concerning the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ? Chapter two of Is Christmas Christian? is titled, “When Was Jesus Born?” Think about it. Why would anyone claiming to be a Christian, perpetuate a lie when he or she knows it’s a lie? With so many falsehoods, one must ask the question: Is Christmas Christian? You need this resource, so click the link in the description or the information button in the top right of your screen and next, I’ll show you the real source of Christian traditions.

Whose Birthday Is It, Really?

Today, we’re looking at the problem with Christmas. People bemoan the commercialization, the incessant music, and trying to figure out what to give Aunt Suzie, but none of this gets to the heart and core of the problem with Christmas. So far we’ve looked at two problems. The first one?

Problem #1 The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible

Actually, this problem is an accumulation of a series of falsehoods that contradict the Biblical account, and there is much more than I’ve covered on this program. Our second problem is widely recognized.

Problem #2: Jesus was not born on December 25th 

Now if the traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible, and Jesus was not born on the 25thof December, why do people celebrate the birth of Jesus on that day? The answer is found in our third problem: 

Problem #3: Christmas did not originate with the birth of Christ

We often hear the call to “Put Christ back in Christmas.” The problem is that He never was in Christmas. Professing Christianity simply took over pagan customs and traditions, and placed Christ’s name on them. To learn more about these traditions and where they came from, you need our resource Is Christmas Christian?Chapter 4 is titled, “Santa Claus, or ‘Ho, Ho, Hoax’?” And chapter 5 covers the subject of, “Evergreens and other Christmas traditions.”

While the true history of Jesus Christ’s birth is given in the Bible, there’s absolutely no record of an annual celebration of His birth—zero, nada! It was centuries later before His birth became attached to already extant pagan celebrations. No less an authority than the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states:

“As late as [A.D.] 245 Origen, in his eighth homily on Leviticus, repudiates as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ ‘as if he were a king Pharaoh.’ The first certain mention of Dec. 25 is in a Latin chronographer of A.D. 354...”  

It is evident from Origen’s statement that the celebration of Jesus’ birthday was beginning to creep into the Church at that time, and this is supported by a note in The Interpreter’s Bible:

“Early in the third century A.D. some parts of the church celebrated January 6 as the birthday of Jesus. In the fourth century that date was displaced by December 25—a day that had long been the occasion of a pagan festival associated with the rebirth of various solar deities. It was the date of the winter solstice according to the Julian calendar” 

In Tom Flynn’s, The Trouble with Christmas, he quotes conservative religion writer George W. Cornell as acknowledging,

“For more than 300 years after Jesus’ time, Christians didn’t celebrate his birth. The observance began in fourth century Rome, timed to coincide with a mid-winter pagan festival honoring the pagan gods Mithra and Saturn. The December date was simply taken over to commemorate Jesus' birth, since its exact date isn't known. Consequently, the fusion of the sacred and the profane characterized the celebration from the start”. 

Many understand that the 25th of December is not the day of Jesus’ birth. And many understand the so-called Christmas tree, kissing under mistletoe, the Yule log, Santa Claus, and many other customs all originate in pagan tradition. So it all comes down to the question, “Does any of this matter as long as we celebrate Jesus?” I’ll answer that question from the pages of the Bible, that book that so many claim to be the source of their beliefs and behaviors. But I want to remind you of today’s resource: Is Christmas Christian? I think by now you probably know the answer to that question, but this resource gives more information than I have time to give in this short program, and it can be yours free for the asking. All you have to do is call the number on your screen or click the link in the description. Is Christmas Christian? is a must-read for those who put God first in their lives. Next I’m going to explain from the Bible why all of this matters, but before I do, be sure to click the like button and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.

Holiday, Or Holy Day? Which Celebration Matters To God?

Today we’re looking at the problem with Christmas. To put it kindly, the real problem of Christmas is that it is built upon a foundation of lies. But does any of this matter? As I’ve shown: 

Problem #1 is: The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible

Problem #2 is: Jesus was not born on December 25th

Problem #3 is: Christmas did not originate with the birth of Christ 

For some of you, this may be a revelation. For others, you’ve known these things for a long time. So, the crux of the matter is this: “Does any of this matter as long as we observe the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth?” It’s now time to look at:

Problem #4 God is not pleased with us celebrating His Son’s birth.

Tom Flynn’s book The Trouble with Christmas is admittedly written from an atheistic viewpoint, and this is not where we’re coming from here at Tomorrow’s World. Nevertheless, what he writes in the chapter entitled “The Babe and the Bathwater” is true. 

“Even devout Christians must admit—as mainstream and liberal Christian clergy do—that much of what we know as the ‘story of Christmas’ is simply the result of a process of literary accretion [that’s the process of growth or enlargement]. Its elements are inspired by, or just appropriated from, the legends of earlier holy ‘personages.’ Even if Christianity is true, the story of Christmas is unworthy of it.”

 Let’s go straight to the Bible to learn what IT tells us. After all, isn’t that the source that really matters?

In Luke 6:46, Jesus chided the people of His day who called Him their Lord, meaning Master, but they didn’t obey His teachings. 

“But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?” 

Furthermore, He rebuked the Pharisees for putting their hand washing tradition above the law of God. The issue may have been different, but the principle is the same—putting tradition over God’s commands. Mark 7:9:

“All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

So is God pleased with Christmas traditions? Is He pleased with those who celebrate the birthday of His Son, as long as they “do it for Him?” Isn’t it time to put human reason aside and let the Bible answer this question? What does GOD think about mixing heathen practices with the worship of Jesus? Deuteronomy 12:29–32 states: 

“When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess… take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them... and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.” You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” 

There was a time in ancient Israel where people mixed the worship of the true God with the worship of the heathen deity Baal. The prophet Elijah challenged them in 1 Kings 18:21 with this simple question:

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said,“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, [then] follow him.” 

Notice their reaction to his question:

“But the people answered him not a word.”

As with so many people today, they wanted to have it both ways. They wanted to worship God and a pagan deity at the same time. The New Bible Commentary Revised makes this astute observation regarding this verse:

“The sin of the people had been not in rejecting the worship of Yahweh, but in trying to combine it with the worship of Baal. Such syncretism [that is, combining religious ideas] is always considered to be broad-minded, whereas the other is narrow-minded. But Yahweh of Israel left no room for other gods.” 

This has been the challenge down through history, and our day is no different. People want to worship God their own way. When Stephen, the newly ordained deacon, confronted the Jews in the first century, he pointed out how time and again they turned back to heathenism. Then he cried out: 

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). 

Yes, my friends, there IS a problem with Christmas, and God is NOT pleased with mixing heathen and pagan practices in the worship of His Son. As He spoke through the prophet Isaiah, 

“Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 66:3–4).

 On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we have briefly explored the problem with Christmas. This is more than an academic exercise. It cuts to the heart of our relationship with our Creator, but few have the courage to change in the face of the facts. I urge you to call or go to our website to receive your free copy of Is Christmas Christian?

I also invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World. You need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week, right here, at this same time!