Biblical Ignorance: A Real Problem!

Millions of people throughout the western world have read The Da Vinci Code. This last summer, millions saw a film based on the novel. It is challenging the faith of many churchgoers! And it is confusing millions about what the Bible really says.

As the Charlotte Observer wrote: "The debates over 'The Da Vinci Code' book and movie have shown many curious Americans how ignorant they are about biblical history. And many churches, rather than lamenting this ignorance and lambasting the book's distortions, are recognizing this as a teachable moment. Publishers are seizing the opportunity, too. At least 45 books challenge or explain the many points in Dan Brown's religious murder mystery…. For a church struggling with scriptural ignorance and public complacency, the opportunity seems almost—well, heaven-sent" (June 5, 2006).

This world and its "mainstream Christianity" is obviously in great confusion—and hundreds of pastors and religious writers freely acknowledge this. They know that most churchgoers do not remotely understand the Bible and are therefore "susceptible" to all kinds of religious ideas. Even the "church" is not one unified body, but is instead a confusing hodgepodge of hundreds of different denominations all calling themselves "Christian"—all competing with each other, and each having somewhat different teachings and practices. The world is confused. But what about you?

Most people almost never actually study the Bible as they would a textbook on science, mathematics or history. They usually read only a select few "inspirational" passages with which they are familiar, leaving the rest of the Bible as a sort of black hole about which they are totally ignorant.

As U.S. News & World Report pointed out a few years ago: "More than three-fourths of Americans call the nation's religious diversity a source of strength; fewer than a third think it makes it harder to keep the country united…. Meanwhile, more than 3 in 4 Americans believe all religions have at least some elements of truth—even though few say they know much about religions other than their own. And nearly 70 percent think spiritual experiences are the most important part of religion. 'If one's religion is more about individual identity than doctrine or creed, it's a lot easier to be tolerant,' says Egon Mayer, a sociologist at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Gallup says that the high degree of religious tolerance reflects, in part, 'not only a lack of knowledge of other religions but an ignorance of one's own faith.' In some polls, he says, 'you have Christians saying, 'Yes, Jesus is the only way' and also, 'Yes, there are many paths to God.' It's not that Americans don't believe anything; they believe everything" (May 6, 2002).

No wonder people are confused! No wonder people are uncertain about what the Bible says. For they do not actually study the very revelation from their Creator! Therefore, they can easily decide to "believe" almost anything. They can wrongly assume that "all religions are pretty much the same." Meanwhile, millions have heard famous evangelists proclaim, "The Bible says," when, in fact, the Bible clearly proclaims the exact opposite!

So we at Tomorrow's World want to challenge you to learn to actually study the Bible! Please carefully read, and meditate, as you study the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Mark important passages that you read. Then, in like manner, study carefully through the book of Acts—noting that the original Christians believed and practiced the same things Jesus taught and practiced.

Note that, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and continued to teach "the Kingdom of God"—the full message about His second coming and the world government He will establish when He returns as "King of kings." When Jesus' disciples pointedly asked Him, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?", He replied: "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority" (Acts 1:6–7). Christ clearly indicated that the disciples' expectations of a literal government would be fulfilled, but at a later time not yet revealed to them. Soon, two angels appeared and proclaimed, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (v. 11).

The apostles' powerful preaching of this message—that Christ would return to establish His Kingdom—brought forth the accusation that they had "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6), and that they had proclaimed that "there is another king—Jesus" (v. 7).

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). The Apostle John also wrote about the last trumpet: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15).

As you study your Bible—Old Testament and New—God's purpose will become more real to you. Going through the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles and the book of Revelation, you will find—in passage after passage—mention of Christ's second coming and God's intervention in human affairs. You will also see that the original Christians—long after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection—continued to follow Christ's own practice of teaching and observing the weekly Sabbath that God had commanded (Acts 16:13; 17:2). They always observed God's commanded annual festivals such as Passover and Pentecost (Acts 2:1; 12:2–3; 20:16; 1 Corinthians 5:7–8; 16:8). Significantly, the early Christians never observed the pagan festivals such as Easter or Christmas, which were introduced into the professing church much later on as it gradually abandoned true Christianity in favor of man-made customs.

We have explained in these pages that the biblical religious festivals such as Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and the Festival of Trumpets picture the great Plan God is working out among mankind. The Passover pictures Christ's death for our sins. The Days of Unleavened Bread picture the need to put sin out of our lives and to "grow in grace and knowledge." Pentecost pictures our need for the Holy Spirit for salvation. The Festival of Trumpets pictures the second coming of Christ "at the last trumpet." These and the other biblical religious festivals picture God's great Plan. Also, the biblical account of Christ's birth, death and resurrection clearly shows that Jesus Christ is alive, that He will come again to set up His Kingdom on this earth and that genuine Christians are now in training to become kings and priests in that soon-coming world-ruling Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:2–3; Revelation 2:26–27; 5:9–10; 20:6).

How powerful and meaningful the Bible's real message is! How very relevant it is to our lives now, living as we do in the prophesied "last days" (2 Peter 3:3) just before Christ's return as King of kings. Yet most churchgoers are totally deceived about the Bible's real meaning (Revelation 12:9).

Why?

Because most people do not truly cry out to God for understanding, and because they do not really study His inspired word! If you, personally, want to overcome this ignorance of the Bible—which affects even most professing Christians—then please begin to study your Bible earnestly, as never before. If God is leading you to appreciate the Truth available through us at Tomorrow's World, I heartily suggest that you call or write us and request a free copy of a key booklet, Restoring Apostolic Christianity. This eye-opening booklet reveals, in detail, what actually happened to the original Christianity of Christ and the apostles—and how you can find and practice true Christianity today. This booklet explains our purpose—and what the entire Work of Tomorrow's World is all about—perhaps more clearly than anything else we publish.

The phone numbers of our regional offices are listed below, at the bottom of this page. Right now, phone the office nearest to you, or write to us, or go to our Web site www.tomorrowsworld.org, to request this foundational booklet. It will be sent absolutely free upon your request, and there will be no obligation of any sort. This booklet will help you in your study of the Bible and of God's Truth. With biblical prophecies being fulfilled at an increasing pace—and with Christ's return impending—you must not remain ignorant of what the Bible actually says! Your very life truly depends upon it.