Standard Broadcast

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

Divine Healing vs. Faith Healers

There’s great emotion in the air. The organist is playing a sentimental hymn, people are looking upward, waving their arms with tears streaming down their cheeks. A blind man is escorted onto the stage by an attendant.

The popular evangelist asks him how long he has been blind, and does he believe Jesus will heal him? He answers, “From birth and yes, I believe!”

The evangelist then hits the poor man on the forehead while loudly commanding, “Be Healed!” The man falls backward in some kind of trance into the arms of an attendant, and when he awakes, he blinks a few times and shouts “Thank you Jesus—I can see.” And the crowd erupts in cries of “Praise the Lord.”

Thinking people wonder: Was this real? Or was it a show contrived by well-rehearsed actors?

This is an important question as there is reason to believe these supposed healings are, more often than not, deceptions played out on ignorant people.

However, the Bible proclaims that God does supernaturally heal, and we read of Jesus healing all manner of sickness and infirmities. Were these real, or was Jesus the first to exploit gullible people seeking relief from desperate physical circumstances?

I’ll address the subject of divine healing.

• Is it for real? Can you experience it?
• Are there requirements to obtain it and if so, what are they?
• And what does it mean if I go to God and I’m NOT divinely healed?

There are good reasons for asking these questions. Frankly, dear friends, so-called faith healers, have a checkered reputation and many have been exposed as frauds.

I first heard of this subject at an early age from a Sunday School teacher who spoke of one of the most famous faith healers of the last century. He reportedly healed the blind, the deaf, the crippled. There were even reports of raising the dead.

And as a young teenager, this was comforting. If some terrible sickness came upon me, I would go to one of his tent meetings and all would be okay. But at some point, he forsook his charismatic past to go more mainstream, and he claimed that God spoke to him to build a research center to find a cure for cancer.

I remember wondering at the time, if he could heal by simply laying hands on people, why would he turn to painful radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery? But by that time, I was older, and wiser, and knew the answer.

The 20th century saw more than its share of traveling faith healers. They would come into town, set up a tent, hand out flyers and post on billboards. Desperate people would flock to hear the preacher and get in line to be made whole. But somehow, the truly needy locals never made it to the front of the line.

Now does this mean that there is no God and that He does not intervene for those who know Him and sincerely trust in Him?

Dear friends, God does exist and you can prove it for yourself. Scientists have learned over the last 75 years that laws govern the universe and also just how complex life truly is. Biologists know that it is mathematically impossible for life to spontaneously occur but many refuse to accept God as the cause for life. The Apostle Paul called out skeptics, such as these, who should know better.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:18–20).

Long before Paul, an ancient king proclaimed:

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).

That has never been truer than it is today for anyone who honestly looks into the marvels of life. Therefore, if God created life, does He not have the power to fix what is broken?

God’s Power and Authority Given to His True Servants

And if the Bible is the word of God, and Jesus is our Savior—as many of us believe—then we must accept that God does intervene in the lives of people and heals them supernaturally. For, as we read (in Matthew 4:23):

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

But did divine healing end with Jesus’ ministry? You may be thinking, “That was then and that was Jesus. What about today and what about me?”

Part of Jesus’ ministry was that of healing the sick—but it did not stop with our Savior. He sent out twelve disciples on their own with authority to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Notice it in Luke 9.

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases…. So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (Luke 9:1, 6).

Many are aware of this, but do you realize that Jesus gave this power and authority to seventy others? We read of that in Luke 10:1.

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go…. And [to] heal the sick there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:1, 9).

So what about now? What about you? Does Christ give that authority to His servants today? Can you therefore be healed?

Here’s the great commission given by Christ to all who genuinely believe in His name.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15, 17–18).

A clarification is needed on this passage as some think it means something entirely different from what was meant. Jesus was not promoting the misguided practice of snake handling or drinking poison. We read in 2 Kings 4:38–41:

[Now Elisha] said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were…. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

We also read of the Apostle Paul shipwrecked on the Island of Malta. The natives of the island started a large fire to warm their wet and weary visitors. Paul helped gather some fuel for the fire and was bitten by a poisonous snake. Notice Acts 28:3–5.

But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

Any objective reader realizes that in both cases, these were not examples of showing off one’s faith in a religious service, but accidents for which God intervened.

Jesus’ command in Mark 16, to heal the sick, was obviously for His servants down through the ages, so the question remains: “If God heals today, will He heal me?”

Bible Reference on Healing: What to Do When You’re Sick

Do you realize that the Bible gives clear instructions of what to do when you are sick? Write down this passage and look it up for yourself in your own Bible: James 5:14–15.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Follow the Instructions in James 5:14–15

So our first key to understand God’s healing is to:

1. Obey the instructions given in James 5:14–15.

Now this is not the whole story. It is important to know where God is working, as He is not working in everyone who claims to be one of His servants. This is a large subject in itself, but I encourage you to read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 11. There is much contained in the instructions given by James in the fifth chapter, and this is why we hope you will avail yourself of our free resource, Does God Heal Today? But for now, key number one is obey the instructions given in James 5:14–15.

Healing Requires Faith | Hebrews 11:6

Two blind men came to Jesus requesting to receive their sight and Jesus put this straightforward question before them (Matthew 9:28–30).

And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.

Therefore, key number 2 is:

2. The importance of faith.

It may come as a surprise, but even Jesus was limited in what He could do where there was no faith. We learn this when He visited His hometown of Nazareth.

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching (Mark 6:5-6).

The author of Hebrews, whom we believe based on the evidence, was Paul, had this to say about the importance of faith. You can read it in chapter 11, verse 6.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Healing and Obedience to God | Acts 5:32

And this brings me to our third key:

3. The importance of obedience.

It is difficult for us to imagine but not everyone was happy when people were healed. God worked remarkable miracles through the early apostles, as we read in Acts 5, beginning in verse 16.

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison (Acts 5:16–18).

This was not the end of the story. God sent an angel to supernaturally release them and commanded them to go right back to the temple complex in the morning and teach the words of life. This landed them once again in the hot seat before the council. And when the high priest strongly rebuked them for preaching in the name of Jesus, the apostles boldly responded.

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men…. And we are His witnesses to these things [the healing of a crippled man], and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:29, 32).

All of us experience injury and sickness, causing discomfort, pain, and suffering. A trip to a doctor often involves jabbing, cutting, and administering chemicals that add more pain. This Tomorrow’s World program is about divine healing, and the question on many minds is, “Does God heal today, and if so, can I be healed?”

Forgiveness of Sins and God’s Healing | Isaiah 53:5

Now nothing that I say on this program should be taken as advice NOT to go to a doctor. Most doctors are well-meaning and knowledgeable about the human body. And they can certainly be helpful, but they mostly deal with the effects rather than the causes of our afflictions.

And that brings me to another key regarding God’s healing:

4. Divine healing involves forgiveness of sin.

Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples on the night in which He was betrayed, and in doing so He instituted symbols of a New Covenant. Those symbols—unleavened bread and wine—were part of the traditional Passover, but He gave them new meaning.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26–28).

The wine symbolized His shed blood. We’ve all sinned and the penalty for breaking God’s law—which is the definition of sin—is death. The life is in the blood, and Jesus’ blood was shed to pay for our lives. But what is the purpose of the broken bread?

The prophet Isaiah reveals this significant truth.

Surely He has borne our griefs (Isaiah 53:4).

Now the original in Hebrew is literally “sicknesses.”

And carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4).

And again, the literal is “pains.”

Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4–5).

The pain and suffering Jesus went through was for our healing, both spiritually and physically. He paid the consequences of our sins—not only the death penalty, but sin’s physical penalty, which is pain and suffering.

The Connection Between Sin and Sickness

There is a direct connection between sin and disease. Why is this not understood? Sexual promiscuity brings many afflictions: HPV, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and AIDS, just to name a few. Gluttony and overindulgence in food and drink take a toll on our bodies. Smoking, vaping, and the use of recreational drugs lead to many known afflictions. Envy, uncontrolled anger, and other harmful thought patterns negatively affect the mind and the body. This is why James added this comment when calling for an elder to pray for our healing.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:15-16).

Jesus upset the scribes of His day when He connected healing of a paralyzed man with His authority to forgive sin. Let’s notice Matthew 9, beginning in verse 2 and what it says there.

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?” (Matthew 9:2–5).

The connection between sin and sickness was so strong that the Pharisees assumed that any sick person or his parents must have sinned, but Jesus showed that this was not the case. Notice John 9:3.

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

However, most afflictions are caused by our sins or that of others. The drunk driver that plows into you is guilty, not you.

Repentance and Healing

But more often than not, we are the cause of our afflictions. And this brings me to my fifth key:

5. The need for repentance.

Why would God heal you if you continue to do the things that brought painful penalties upon you in the first place?

Forgiveness doesn’t require perfection, but it does require an attitude of repentance—a sincere desire to change.

We may not always know specifically what we have done, or what has been done to us to cause sickness, but we need to repent of our sins, and true repentance begins with understanding what sin really is.

The world has many opinions, but the key is knowing what the Bible says, believing what Jesus Christ taught, and being willing to follow those instructions.

To understand the real meaning of sin—and why it matters so much to your life and to your future—we need to go to the true source of authority on sin and repentance, and that’s the word of God.

So watch this next video defining sin straight from the pages of the Bible.

For blessed are those who hear the word of God—and keep it (Luke 11:28).

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

Finding God’s Protection as the World Prepares for War

We live in times of startling upheaval. The Middle East continues to be a source of global chaos and instability. Alliances are breaking and reshaping at blinding speed. The systems and institutions on which our modern civilization depends—economic, governmental, medical, scientific, educational—all continue to prove themselves unworthy of our trust, yet with no alternatives to replace them. News programs seem to carry a litany of tales of suffering—not only on a global scale, but also the intimate and personal.

There has never been a time in human history when the entire world needed to pay more attention to Bible prophecy, yet many don’t.

God has given us Bible prophecy for a reason, and the times in which you and I are living, right now, make understanding those reasons more important than ever.

Today, we want to make those reasons plain, and to equip you to do more than wonder about prophecy—we want you to understand it.

Now, if you have watched Tomorrow’s World for any length of time at all, you already know that we don’t shy away from prophecy. In fact, we spend quite a bit of time with it, because it helps to make sense of the world around us, even as that world appears to be descending into chaos.

With the previous power structures of the Middle East detonating before our eyes, with national economies continuing to teeter on the brink of crumbling, with ethnic and racial tensions on the rise in multiple states and nations, world leaders are growing ever more worried about what lies ahead.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told his colleagues in June 2025:

“To preserve peace, we must prepare for war. Wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy” (“NATO Secretary General invokes spirit of Churchill to spur on NATO defence spending.” Euro-sd.com, June 10, 2025).

And preparing for war is exactly what nations across the globe are doing, as munitions factories fire into production, engineers pour their passions into new forms of warfare, and governments scramble to find the billions they need to survive the conflicts they see on the horizon.

But unless they understand Bible prophecy, today’s leaders won’t be able to understand how events are being moved into place into their final end-game positions.

Anyone not paying attention to Bible prophecy is simply not getting it. And they are failing to truly understand the news at the very time when understanding it is increasingly becoming a matter of life and death.

In fact, in early 2026, a popular online “prediction market”—essentially a gambling site focused on different events—was taking bets on the just when a nuclear Armageddon would finally begin (“Betting on nuclear war: what are prediction markets and could they come to the UK?” TheGuardian.com, March 6, 2026).

If ever there were a time when Bible prophecy could help us understand what’s going on in the world, now is that time. And yet, so many professing Christians—and so many professing Christian churches—don’t spend any time on prophecy at all.

When they do, it’s often seen as a mere curiosity or distraction—something that’s not really part of the “important stuff” in the Bible—not related to your salvation in any way. Or it might be considered somewhat important, but it seems too confusing to spend time on, with all of its symbols and imagery—seven-headed beasts, and strange creatures and statues. Some worry that they just can’t make sense of it, and that there just isn’t any spiritual profit to them personally if they spend any time in it.

“Man shall not live by bread alone” | Matthew 4:4

Yet, when you go through the Bible verse by verse, you find that, by some counts, at least one-fourth of the entire Bible is prophecy. How big is that?

Well, from the beginning of the Bible, ignoring a fourth of the Bible would be like ignoring Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel—maybe parts of 2 Samuel, too. Or from the other end, cutting out the last fourth of the Bible would be like removing most of the New Testament. Could God possibly want us to ignore that much of His word?

We don’t have to guess at the answer to that question. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who inspired the word of God, is the same one who admonishes us very directly in Matthew 4:4.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

And my friends, every word means every word—including the words of prophecy.

Today, all of us here at Tomorrow’s World want to encourage you to understand Bible prophecy—not to hold it out at arm’s length, but to begin studying it, to learn from it, to gain from it all the things God intends for you in His prophetic word. And He intends a lot.

In particular, we want to explain to you what the purpose of prophecy is. When you begin to see its purpose, you begin to appreciate why God gives prophecy, what He is trying to accomplish with it, and what its impact in your own life can be. Plus, prophecy provides context for events we see in the world today.

The Middle East has been shaken by Iranian leaders who look to their Muslim faith as justification for war and atrocity. On the other side of that conflict, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke of the American military, saying:

“The providence of our almighty God is there protecting those troops” (“Pete Hegseth wanted an ‘American Crusade.’ Now he’s leading a war in the Middle East.” CNN.com, March 13, 2026).

Of course, leaders have claimed God to be on their side throughout history, even when the conflict was between so-called Christian nations.

What has been missing has been an understanding of His mind, His desires, and His plan for coming world events. And prophecy is vital in gaining that understanding.

So, in our next segment, we’ll begin to focus on four vital purposes of prophecy. In doing so, we hope to encourage you to begin making a growing understanding of prophecy part of your own, personal Bible study. And we want to help you do it right.

Four Purposes of Bible Prophecy

Though the symbols of prophecy can seem strange and unfamiliar, there is a proper way to understand them. God does not allow us to simply interpret them however we want, and He makes that clear in 2 Peter 1:20.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation [or origin], for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy reveals God’s thoughts, and we want to handle them rightly.

Prophecy is clearly important to God. But why? Why is it so important to Him? Why does Almighty God put such a priority on prophecy in His word—so much that at least one-fourth of the Bible is prophecy?

Understanding the answer to that question is at the very foundation of understanding prophecy. So let’s dive in and answer it together.

Bible Prophecy: Warning from God to Repent

When you look at the big picture, you find there are four fundamental reasons God inspires prophecy. The first purpose of prophecy is this:

1. Bible prophecy warns people and nations to repent so they can avoid punishment.

Like a good parent, God does not desire to punish people—He desires to bless. And He provides a warning to us as individuals and to entire nations when punishment is on its way, so that we can repent and change our course before it is too late.

Punishment is coming on the world for sin. Eventually, it will culminate in the greatest time of trial and suffering that the world has ever known—a time called the Great Tribulation.

Picture the footage we’ve all seen from the horrors of wars past, such as the Holocaust of World War II, the killing fields of Pol Pot, or the genocide in Rwanda. Today, our social media feeds bring us images of dead and mutilated Russian and Ukrainian soldiers at war, newly ravaged regions of the Middle East, and the devastation of civil wars around the globe, from Myanmar to Mali, from Afghanistan to Yemen, and elsewhere.

Jesus Christ prophesies in Matthew 24 that the time to come will be far worse than any of those times ever were. Read His thoughts for yourself, beginning in verse 21.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21–22).

A time of suffering never experienced before by mankind that will threaten to extinguish all life on earth if God were not to cut it short.

The Bible makes plain the fact that these days are coming, but they’re coming for a reason—because of this world’s sins. In particular, those days will begin with the punishment on the United States and the British-descended nations before engulfing the entire world, as we have explained from Scripture many times on this program.

But God takes no pleasure in any of this, and He tells us ahead of time so that we will change, so that we can avoid punishment. That is His desire.

Consider His loving warning in the prophetic book of Ezekiel, in chapter 18 and beginning in verse 30.

“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live” (Ezekiel 18:30–32).

And for you, viewing today’s program. Your nation may not turn to God, and it may continue in national sin. But you do not have to. You personally can turn to God—cease from breaking His laws, cease from ignoring His commands, and seek to follow the true Jesus Christ of the Bible, in love and obedience. As the Apostle Peter warned his listeners (in Acts 2:40):

“Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them (Acts 2:40–41).

Though Jerusalem and its people paid a terrible price in 70AD, some heeded Peter’s words and were saved from the slaughter that followed in their day.

Jesus Christ died for you, so that you, too, can escape the snare of sin, turn, and be free. But you must choose to repent. May God give you the strength to follow Him and to commit your life to Him.

Part of the purpose of Bible prophecy is to warn people and nations to turn, so that they can avoid punishment.

Even Under God’s Punishment, You Can Repent

But not everyone will repent. Not everyone responds. We know that many of you, our viewers today, will choose not to respond to God’s desire that you repent and avoid what is to come. But prophecy has a purpose even then.

Purpose number two today is:

2. Bible prophecy encourages those in captivity to repent.

God had this purpose in mind when He made this proclamation to ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 4:27–31.

And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

God intended that those who have been punished for their sins and in captivity would remember the words and the warning they had heard, and they will begin to seek God in a way they did not before their punishment.

My friends, the Bible highlights in Malachi 3:6 that God does not change, just as Paul says in Hebrews [13:8] that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” For the reasons discussed in today’s free resource, these same, ancient promises apply to modern nations, today.

Concerning the coming Great Tribulation, the book of Revelation prophecies that many will learn from their suffering and will turn to God during that time—Revelation 7:9 calls them a “great multitude” or an “innumerable multitude.” In the despair of that time, they will begin to seek God as they never have before, and they will find Him and the comfort only He can provide.

For those of our viewers today who watch our program or receive our materials, but who never act on what they read and who, perhaps, will find themselves under the punishment of the Great Tribulation, it is our prayer that you will remember these things and remember to seek God with all your heart, with all your mind, and all your strength. He WILL hear you.

Bible Prophecy Points to the Kingdom of God

A third purpose for Bible prophecy is to:

3. Announce the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.

If you’re a regular viewer of the Tomorrow’s World program, you know that this is our primary focus—just as it was the primary focus of Jesus Christ and His disciples. In fact, vast amounts of Bible prophecy—in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament—are devoted to describing the coming of God’s Kingdom, what that Kingdom will be like, and the role of Jesus Christ as the King of that Kingdom.

Time would fail us to read them all, but look for yourself.

• Read of the miraculous change in the animal kingdom in a newly peaceful world in Isaiah 11.
• Read of people of all nations and languages coming to Jerusalem to worship God at the Feast of Tabernacles in Zechariah 14.
• Read of the removal of Satan the Devil and of resurrected Christians ruling beside Jesus Christ as kings and priests in Revelation 20.
• Read in Zechariah 8 of a world where children and elderly—the weak of society—are safe and able to congregate and play in the streets.
• Read of a world physically transformed, with deserts blossoming into life, and the lame and sick healedand whole in passages such as Isaiah 35.
• And of the world being spiritually transformed, described in Isaiah 11:9, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

In Acts 3:21, the Apostle Peter calls these prophesied times “the restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Regardless of how mainstream Christian churches ignore it, the prophetic message of the coming Kingdom of God is the main message of the Bible and the primary thrust of Jesus Christ’s message to the world. The message of that Kingdom was the Gospel—the good news that He brought to humanity. And His true ministers will continue to preach that prophetic witness to the world until its arrival with the returning King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Bible Prophecy Shows God Is in Control

So far, we’ve reviewed three of four purposes of Bible prophecy. It warns people and nations so they can repent before being punished, it encourages those in captivity to repent, and it announces the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.

The fourth purpose is simple, but inspiring:

4. Bible prophecy demonstrates God’s total sovereignty and power.

In the book of Isaiah, God comments on this aspect of prophecy’s purpose—in chapter 46 beginning in verse 9.

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,” calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it (Isaiah 46:9–11).

Our predecessor in this work, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, said many decades ago that there is one most important fact in all the universe, and it can be stated in three simple words:

God reigns supreme.

My friend and colleague on this program, the late Richard Ames—who is the author of today’s free booklet offer—frequently reminded others of this inspiring truth, and I have benefitted from the passion, clarity, and focus it gave him in his life.

Prophecy teaches us that God reigns supreme. It is meant to remind us that all of history—both history past and the rest of human history that is yet to unfold—is all under the care and providential guidance of a loving and All-Powerful Creator.

What does this mean?

It means that His purposes will be fulfilled.

• His plan of salvation, climaxing in the Kingdom of God and the transformation of His people into glorious children in that Kingdom will come to pass.
• The removal of Satan the Devil for all eternity will come to pass.
• The complete purification and utter transformation of this world will come to pass. God has declared it.

And He is not only the God who announces prophecy, but He is the God who has the power to make His prophecies come to pass.

A God of prophecy who has the power to declare the end from the beginning is also a God in whom we can place our trust. He’s a God with whom we can share our hopes, our dreams, and our concerns. He’s a God who knows our purpose and has it in sight, even when we don’t. He’s a God we can obey and place ourselves 100% in His hands, even under threat of persecution or harm, because we know that in His hands is the best possible place we can be.

Indeed, Bible prophecy does declare God’s sovereignty and power. And it reminds us that the one who lovingly demands our loyalty and obedience is truly worthy of that loyalty and obedience, for He is GOD, and He reigns supreme.

I pray that God blesses you abundantly as you grow in your understanding of Bible prophecy.

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

US and Israeli Strikes on Iran: Leading to WW3?

On Friday, February 28, 2026, the world was shocked to learn that the United States, Israel and Iran were at war. In a complex, coordinated attack that included cyber and missile attacks and airstrikes, America and Israel struck at the very heart of Iran.

In the opening salvos, over 40 key military leaders were killed. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack as well.

Iran’s response was immediate. Hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones were launched in retaliation. The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, causing a shipping bottleneck that sent shockwaves around the world.

What’s behind the current conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel? Where does Iran fit in Bible prophecy? And how will it affect you and me?

As of this recording, negotiations and peace talks haven’t ended the conflict, although a tenuous ceasefire is in effect.

Iran-US Showdown Brewing for Decades (Iran Nuclear Program)

It’s easy to lose perspective when nations go to war. We can forget all that went before to bring us to this point.

Back in 2025, following two years of war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities. American B-2s dropped “bunker buster” bombs on nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Those limited strikes were aimed at ending Iran’s not-so-secret nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

For years, Iran was suspected of working secretly to build nuclear weapons. Consider this report from CBS news, back in 2013.

Suspicion persists that the real aim [of Iran] is nuclear weapons, because it hid much of its program until it was revealed from the outside more than a decade ago and because of what the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] says are indications that it worked secretly on weapons development. Defying U.N. Security Council demands that it halt enrichment, Iran has instead expanded it (“Iran to upgrade nuclear program with faster IR-2M centrifuges to speed uranium enrichment, diplomats say,” January 31, 2013, CBS News).

But when did these uranium enrichment programs begin? The answer was relayed by a former high-ranking Israeli military intelligence officer, Major General Yaakov Amidror. His comments were recorded in a roundtable discussion in 2008. He said this:

In 1995, I was the head of the Research and Assessment Division of IDF Military Intelligence and we found the first signs that the Iranians were going nuclear… It took American experts another two years, until 1997, for the American intelligence community to understand that the Iranians were going nuclear (“The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran and Its Aftermath: A Roundtable of Israeli Experts,” Yaakov Amidror, March 2008).

Islamic Revolution in 1979 Changed Iran’s Allegiance

You see, this is not a new issue. This conflict has been building up for a whole generation.

But it actually goes back even further, to the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Many older Americans will remember the events of November 4, 1979, when radical Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran. They took more than 50 American citizens hostage, who were staff members at the embassy. They held them for 444 days.

1979 was also a year of dramatic change for Iran in its relationship with the state of Israel.

You see, Israel had for years enjoyed a friendly relationship with Iran. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the Shah of Iran, the ruling monarch of Iran, sought to build and strengthen ties with Israel and the United States. As the Encyclopaedia Iranica online website notes:

While seeking close ties with the West and striving for modernization, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1941-79) viewed Israel as a natural ally. Israel’s strength and progress fascinated him, and its conflict with the Arab world and opposition to Communist influence in the region further promoted the strengthening of ties. The shah also believed that through relations with Israel, Persia [what Iran was formerly called] would benefit in the United States, gaining the support of American Jewry, the congress, media, business community, and the administration (“The Pahlavi Period (1948-78),” ISRAEL i. RELATIONS WITH IRAN, Encyclopaedia Iranica).

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also explained the close relationship between Iran and Israel, and how it dramatically changed after the 1979 revolution.

In 1979 a radical regime in Tehran tried to stamp out that friendship [between Israel and Iran]. As it was busy crushing the Iranian people’s hope for democracy, it always led wild chants of “death of the Jews”(Netanyahu’s 2013 speech to the UN General Assembly; October 1, 2013; The Times of Israel).

So the close relationship between Iran and Israel evaporated. And we know the rest of the story. We can see what’s happened ever since.

Iran Was Once Persia: Forgotten Alliance with Israel

But perhaps it’s worth our time to investigate a little bit into that history of friendship between Iran—formerly known as Persia—and the Jews.

We’ve got to go back even further—about 2,500 years further. As mentioned before, Iran’s former name was Persia. The government of this country only changed its name to Iran in 1935. Before that, it was known as Persia for millennia. And the Jews and the Persians have generally had good relations through the years.

Again, speaking in 2013 at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Netanyahu said this:

We are an ancient people. We date back nearly 4,000 years to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have journeyed through time. We’ve overcome the greatest of adversities… Today our hope for the future is challenged by a nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But I want you to know, that wasn’t always the case. Some 2,500 years ago the great Persian king Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. He issued a famous edict in which he proclaimed the right of the Jews to return to the land of Israel and rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. That’s a Persian decree. And thus began an historic friendship between the Jews and the Persians that lasted until modern times (Netanyahu’s 2013 speech to the UN General Assembly; October 1, 2013; The Times of Israel).

In spite of the religious toleration of the Persians, the Jews were not without their enemies.

Queen Esther, Haman, and an Ancient Plot to Kill the Jews

During the reign of Ahasuerus—most likely Xerxes—one of his high-ranking ministers tricked the king into signing a decree authorizing the destruction of the Jewish people. That high-ranking minister’s name was Haman.

But God saved the Jews from annihilation. And He worked through a courageous young Jewish woman, Queen Esther, to accomplish that. The yearly celebration of Purim by the Jews commemorates their victory over their enemies.

There are some fascinating parallels with the story of Haman and the 2026 war in Iran. More than a few Jews have noted the timing of the attacks and the similarity of circumstances.

Among them is Prime Minister Netanyahu himself. Note this article from the Jewish Standard/Times of Israelwebsite.

In his first statement after the beginning of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the connection to Purim explicit. ‘Twenty-five hundred years ago, in ancient Persia, a tyrant rose against us with the very same goal, to utterly destroy our people,’ Netanyahu said. ‘Today as well, on Purim, the lot has fallen, and in the end this evil regime will fall too’” (“Death of Iranian leader just before Purim revives Book of Esther parallels;” March 5, 2026; Times of Israel).

Haman exercised great influence on the king in setting policy. He almost succeeded in having the Jews annihilated.

Today, modern Persia (Iran) is ruled by leaders who also have the aim of the destruction of Israel as well.

Iran in Bible Prophecy (Persian Empire)

But what about Bible prophecy? What does it say about Persia in the end-time? Will modern-day Persia invade Israel?

Some students of the Bible have noted that Ezekiel 38 prophesies of an attack on Israel by a group of nations, including Persia. They assume that Persia, Russia, and other Asian nations will invade the Holy Land during the Great Tribulation, leading up to Christ’s return. But that’s simply not what the Bible says.

Iran in Ezekiel 38 Prophecy: Timing Explained

Ezekiel 38 does speak of a massive army swooping down into the land of Israel. But it’s during the Millennium after Jesus Christ has returned to earth. Let’s notice it in Ezekiel 38:1.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–6).

These countries are identified as Asian nations, led by Russia. But notice that Persia is included among them. And Ezekiel prophesies of a massive military operation by these nations. Read on in Ezekiel 38:8.

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you (Ezekiel 38:8–9).

It speaks of Israel being a land where people dwell safely, and a little later in the chapter, it says Israel is “a land of unwalled villages.” Could this possibly be speaking of the modern state of Israel today? Absolutely not.

The state of Israel is one of the most heavily defended countries on earth—and by necessity. It’s surrounded by enemies dedicated to its destruction.

So the only possible answer is this prophecy in Ezekiel 38 is speaking of the future, during the Millennium, after Christ has returned. And that’s an important distinction.

And Ezekiel finishes by explaining how the reigning Jesus Christ will supernaturally defend the nation of Israel at that time.

In the end, this rebellion by Gog—including the nation of Persia—will fail. And those countries will learn a valuable lesson, and that is that God rules supreme.

Ultimately, all nations of the earth will learn, and submit, and obey His voice—and reap the benefits of living God’s way of life in peace and prosperity. And those nations—including Persia—will enjoy the fruits of Christ’s rule on earth for 1,000 years.

But what about in our time now? Will Persia have any role in the Holy Land before Christ’s return? Yes, it will.

When the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026, Iran didn’t just fire back at the nation of Israel and at American ships. Over the next few weeks they also aimed missiles and drones at Arab nations all over the Middle East. Through the first 41 days of the conflict, at least 6,413 missiles and drones were launched against Iran’s neighbors.

The UAE [United Arab Emirates] recorded the highest number of attacks on its territory, followed by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, while Oman recorded the lowest (“Iran targeted 7 Arab countries with 6,413 missiles, drones over past 41 days,” April 10, 2026, Anadolu Agency news service).

Interestingly, most of these nations have majority populations subscribing to a different branch of Islam than Iran. Iran is predominantly Shiite, whereas the Gulf States and most other Arab nations are predominantly Sunni Muslims. The Shia-Sunni split occurred back in 632 AD after the death of Muhammed. And that deep rift has separated Shias and Sunnis for centuries.

Why Iran’s Missing from Arab Confederacy in Psalm 83

The other thing to recognize is Iran is a Muslim nation, but not an Arab nation. It’s Persian, and that makes it very different from the Arab nations of the Middle East ethnically.

Interestingly, Psalm 83 identifies many Arab nations and their conflict with Israel, during the time of the end. Notice Psalm 83:1.

Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:1–4).

And there are nations that will attempt to destroy Israel before the end of the age. They’re even named. Notice who they are. Going on in Psalm 83:5.

For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot (Psalm 83:5–8).

So who are these people?

Notice what Evangelist Richard Ames says about this verse.

As Psalm 83 indicates, Assyria (identified as modern-day Germany) will be joined by an end-time ‘confederacy’ of Arab nations. Look on a Bible map for the ancient location of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, nations mentioned in Psalm 83 that are also prominently mentioned in Daniel’s end-time prophecy. These are the Muslim peoples of the Middle East (“Bitter Family Rivalry,” section 5, The Middle East in Prophecy, p. 13, Richard Ames).

So watch the Arab nations—not Persia—to turn on Israel as the end of the age draws near. And as he mentioned, watch for Germany, the modern descendants of Assyria, to get involved as well.

Let’s turn to Daniel 11 to get a clear picture of what happens (Daniel 11:40).

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him.

The “him” is the king of the north. The king of the north originally was identified as the Seleucid Empire, in Syria, north of Israel. But Rome inherited that role when it conquered Syria in 64 BC. So the king of the north in the end-time is the revived Roman Empire. It’s a European power that rises to prominence with breath-taking speed in the last days.

The king of the South is a confederation of Arab nations.

So the king of the north will be attacked by the king of the South. Watch for world events to cause Arab nations to join together. Perhaps even the conflict with Iran could cause predominantly Sunni Arab nations to coalesce, taking one step closer to a confederated union.

And watch ultimately for a conflict between the Muslim Arab world and the European Beast power (reading on in Daniel 11:40).

And the king of the North shall come against him [that is, the king of the south] like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, [meaning, the land of Israel] and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels (Daniel 11:40–42).

Watch for Europe to take a strong hand in the Middle East, centering in Jerusalem. Watch for a conflict between a German-led Beast power and an Arab confederation.

Iran and the 200-Million Man Army in Revelation 9

Let’s read on in Daniel 11:44.

But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

What nations are located east and north of Jerusalem?

Here is where Persia and other nations east and north enter the picture. Look at a map of the Middle East and Asia. East and north of Jerusalem is the same group of nations we read about in Ezekiel 38. But in this case, not attacking Israel, but rather confronting the European Beast power. This is also known as the Sixth Trumpet plague. Notice (in Revelation 9:13):

Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million (Revelation 9:13–16).

This corresponds to Daniel 11:44 which we just read. This massive 200-hundred-million-man army will be representing the lands north and east of Jerusalem.

And this powerful army will converge on the Beast power and cross the Euphrates River, which will by then be dried up. This will lead to the sixth bowl of the seven last plagues (notice in Revelation 16:12).

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty… And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12–16).

This leads to the so-called battle of Armageddon or, in Hebrew, “Har Megiddo,” or the Hill of Megiddo. This is located north of Jerusalem. These armies of the east—most likely including Persia—will converge on the Beast. And unless Christ would return, this battle would lead to all life being wiped off the face of the earth.

But what’s been left out of our discussion? Who’s not been mentioned?

Well, we’ve seen where Persia—modern Iran—will play a part in the final battle between the kings of the east and the Beast power.

But notice, by then, there is no mention of end-time Israel. And if you are a regular viewer of Tomorrow’s World, you know that the modern tribes of Israel today include the United States, the British-descended nations, and other countries of northwest Europe.

The sobering truth is, by the time these confrontations take place that we’ve discussed the Israel-descended nations will have already been vanquished. Defeated. And even taken into slavery.

If you live in one of these modern nations of Israel, don’t think these conflicts won’t ever come to your shores. Jesus warned His listeners to watch world events and be ready for His return. These were not just nice-sounding words. He was giving a warning.

The missile attacks and aircraft strikes we watch today on television or on our smart phones will someday be turned on our nations. And that will usher in the Great Tribulation—a time of global crisis unlike anything humanity has ever experienced. But how will you know it’s coming?

To understand what lies ahead—and what it means for you—watch this next video, explaining what the Tribulation is, who it affects most, which Scriptures you can study about it, and how it fits with end-time Bible prophecy.

Don’t wait until it begins. Recognize the events leading up to it—and understand what God wants you to do before it begins.

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

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled | John 14:1

We live in a world of uncertainty and stress.

• Wars rage.
• Violence persists in our cities.
• The threat of terrorism looms.
• Jobs are uncertain.
• Money is tight.
• Health problems make daily living a challenge.

The future sometimes looks bleak, with the prospect of one crisis after another. We can only wonder what the world will look like for our children or grandchildren.

In this chaotic and confusing world, we all need more peace and tranquility. Even Christians are not immune from worrying about the future. Christ told His disciples:

“Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1).

But frankly, Jesus also recognized the challenges His followers would face. He even said, referring to the last days:

“When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

What did He mean? And maybe more importantly for each of us individually, will He find faith in us?

We all want faith. We all need faith. But it seems that our world does everything it can to dismantle and erode it. We need to know how we can have the faith Christ was talking about, especially leading up to His return.

Faith is important. It’s vital. But frankly, most people today don’t really know how to have stronger faith.

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” | Mark 9:24

When Jesus was alive and on this earth, He not only taught about the Kingdom of God to those who came to Him, He also healed them of their diseases. He was moved with compassion when He saw their suffering.

In one instance, a man came to Him with a son who was demon possessed, and as a result had seizures. After Jesus’ disciples could not cast the demon out, the man begged Christ to do so.

And then the man said something I think we can all relate to. This is found in Mark 9:24.

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

There are times when we believe. We know God is there. We believe in Him. We know He has power, but we need help with our unbelief. We want to be MORE at peace, have stronger conviction, and feel a tighter connection with God as we navigate through life.

Jesus didn’t chide or correct this man for his request. He had compassion for him! And He will have compassion for us, if we also are wanting stronger belief and stronger faith.

So how can we have that? Before discussing our three keys to stronger faith, we need to define what faith is.

What Is Faith? Go Beyond Positive Thinking

Faith is often misunderstood. Some think of it as just the power of positive thinking. They may not say it exactly in those terms, but in effect that’s the result. “As long as you stay positive, think good thoughts, God will bless you.”

Should we be hopeful and positive and try to avoid thinking negatively? Absolutely. But having faith in God is not like having a wishlist we just pull out of our pocket. Just thinking positive thoughts isn’t what faith is all about.

Faith is not just belief in Jesus. There are too many people for whom that is the sum total of their religion. Don’t get me wrong—belief in God and belief in His Son are vitally important. But those are both only the beginning.

Even the Demons Believe—But That’s Not Enough

There’s so much more that God wants us to see and understand.

As James wrote (in James 2:19):

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Even Satan and his demons believe in God. And yet clearly they are not pleasing God and don’t have any intention of trying to do what He says. So, faith must go beyond just believing in God.

We don’t have blind faith. Our faith is based on concrete evidence. Our belief in the existence of God, for example, is bolstered by the proofs that we find in creation all around us. Our belief in God is based on evidence, from the tiniest DNA molecule to the largest swirling galaxy. David wrote in Psalm 19:1,

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For | Hebrews 11:1 Explained

Even so, Hebrews 11:1 shows another aspect of faith. As many students of the Bible know, that is where the definition of faith can be found. Let’s turn there, in Hebrews 11:1.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You see, we can have faith and trust in God even while we wait for our prayers to be answered, even while we wait for God to intervene in our lives. In those times, Hebrews 11:1 is saying our faith is the evidence we have now, before that prayer is answered. It’s the substance of things hoped for, while we patiently wait for God to intervene. And that’s true no matter how dark the day is or discouraging the circumstances.

The evidence—or substance—which is our faith—that is what we hold on to, to give us hope and confidence. It’s not just a vague, impersonal, theoretical hope that things will work out. Rather, it’s the conviction that there is a living Creator who gives us every heartbeat and every breath. It’s the rock-solid confidence that our God has our best interests at heart.

Without Faith It Is Impossible to Please God | Hebrews 11:6 Explained

Notice a few verses later, we read this, in Hebrews 11:6:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

And we saw that when a man brought his son to Christ to be healed, he asked for help to even have the right kind of faith and belief. That’s the right attitude we should have when we come to God. And He will help us if we really want it.

How to Build Stronger Faith in God

But are there specific things we can do, as we are asking God for stronger faith? Absolutely. And in the remainder of today’s program we’ll discuss those things.

We’ll break it down into three keys.

1. Know Jesus Christ (Creator, Savior, Son of God)

Key number 1: Get to know the real Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is not real to most people. That may sound shocking, but let me explain. Many people will say they believe in Jesus. They may even pray and go to church. But when it gets right down to it, most do not really know the true Jesus.

How can I say that? Well, let’s look at Scripture. Let’s start at the beginning. And when I say the beginning, I mean John 1:1. This verse is describing the earliest moment recorded in the entire Bible, the earliest moment in history. Let’s turn there to John 1:1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1–2).

John 1:1 tells us that before the Universe was created, or even the angels were created, there were just two Beings. These two Beings were God the Father and the Word. The Word was the One who became Jesus Christ. He was born as a man and died for our sins.

But back to the Scripture. How are we to understand the statement, “the Word was with God and the Word was God?” It’s describing the God family, God the Father and the Word.

This is not so strange when we think of it in terms of the human family. I am McNair. My wife is also McNair—she carries my family name. But my wife is also with McNair, because she’s with me. She’s with McNair and she is McNair. It’s really not complicated when you think of it that way.

The Word—who became Jesus Christ—was at the very beginning with God the Father. But He was God as well. He was God and He was with God. The Word and the Father comprised the God Family.

Not only that, but the Word was the God who created all things, including the vast universe (notice in John 1:3).

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:3–4).

Did you know that? The One who became Jesus Christ was the One who created the stars and the planets. He was the One who said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” He created the mountains, the seas, and the rivers. He took dust from the ground and made the first man. He took a rib from Adam and made Eve. He created everything, and that includes you and me.

In other words, Jesus is not only our Savior, He is our Creator.

Going on, we read (in John 1:10):

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:10–12).

We read earlier about the family relationship between the Father and the Word. But here we read that Jesus came into the world to give us the right to become children in His family. What a profound truth! We have a chance to be in God’s very family. Going on (John 1:14):

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

So there’s no question this is talking about Jesus Christ. Going on (in John 1:18):

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Now why is this significant? Well, a lot of people sort of assume the Father was the God of the Old Testament. But this says that no one has seen God at any time. That’s significant. During the Old Testament era, people saw God numerous times.

And let’s just look at just one example in Exodus 24:9.

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel… But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank (Exodus 24:9–11).

They did not see the Father. Jesus said no one has seen God at any time. Therefore, the One they saw was the Word, who became Jesus Christ.

Think about that for a moment. So the Word created the Universe, He fashioned Adam out of the ground, and He also thundered the Ten Commandments down from Mt. Sinai. That is not the common conception most people have about Jesus Christ.

So what’s the point? We need to know Christ. And frankly, many simply have a wrong concept of who He is.

He’s not a rebellious son who overturned His Father’s laws. No, in fact He was the all-powerful God who thundered those laws down from the mountain, engulfed in fire and smoke. Our elder Brother is powerful and mighty and the Ever-Living One. And as we approach Him and ask Him to help us in our unbelief, we need to correctly understand just who we are coming before.

Jesus warned His followers to not be deceived into accepting a false Christ, especially those living into the end-times. Notice what He said in Matthew 24:4.

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5).

Get to know the real Jesus. That’s the first step to having stronger faith. But we can’t stop there.

2. Faith Comes by Hearing (Bible Study Daily) | Romans 10:17 Explained

We need to know what He wants us to do. And that brings us to the next key to stronger faith.

The second key is regularly study God’s word.

If we believe in God our Father and in Jesus Christ, we need to know what they say. We need to know what they want us to do. We do that by reading the book that God inspired to be written. That is, of course, the Bible.

Some people sort of think of the Old Testament as harsh and the New Testament as good. But that’s wrong. It’s all God’s word. It’s all good. And by studying it, we learn what God thinks and what He expects of us.

And by doing so, we grow in faith. Notice what Paul said about this in Romans 10:17:

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Bible is the mind of God in print. It’s intended so we can learn how to live. And as we follow God’s instructions, we grow in faith. When Jesus was on this earth, He made this statement, recorded in Matthew 5:17:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Christ didn’t do away with the Law. He came to fulfill it—to fill it to the full. In fact, as we saw in the last segment, Christ was the One who actually gave it at Mt. Sinai. So it makes no sense that He would do away with that same law.

The Greek word translated “law” here, is “nomos.” It has the connotation of feeding and caring for animals.

So think about it. We know that in the physical realm, food gives us nutrients and minerals to make our bodies work. So God’s laws—His words and instructions—are like food for us, spiritually. Jesus explained this in John 6:63.

It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life (New Revised Standard Version).

Even the best physical food only feeds us for a short time. It’s temporary. But through spiritual food we gain eternal life. And along the way, it teaches us how to live, and how to relate to our fellow man, and how to honor our Father and our Elder Brother.

It gives us spiritual strength and energy and faith. Jesus explained this further, back in John 6:57.

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

Feeding on Christ means listening to and doing what He says. It means going the right way and rejecting the wrong. It means being willing to be corrected. And frankly, God’s loving correction helps us grow in faith—as we become more confident we’re aligned with God and on the right path.

Notice what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12–13).

We can’t be afraid of God’s gentle correction. It teaches us to make better choices and overcome our sins. It gives us spiritual strength as we grow in faith and confidence toward God.

So let’s not fill our minds with spiritual junk food, flooding our thoughts with nonstop trivia and entertainment. Let’s not let our life revolve around mindless and meaningless television programs, YouTube clips, and Instagram reels.

A little diversion is good, if it’s clean and wholesome. But to have a stronger sense of trust and connection with God, we need to make regular Bible study a part of our life. We need to feed on Christ. But that’s not all.

3. Christ in You Builds True Biblical Faith | Galatians 2:20 Explained

There is another key that we need. What is that third key?

Number 3: Let Christ live in you.

Let’s go to one of the writings of the Apostle Paul (Galatians 2:20).

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, we are not just saying we’re sorry for what we’ve done wrong. We are allowing our old self to be crucified with Christ. Our old ways, our past style of life, our sins—it all dies on the stake with Him.

And then we carry on, living a new life, but not through our own power.

Let’s go back to what Paul said, in the last half of Galatians 2:20.

And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In the New King James Version, when it says “faith in the Son of God,” that word “in” is translated incorrectly. Look it up in a Bible resource. It should be “of.” It should be, “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God.”

In other words, our faith isn’t sufficient. We need CHRIST’S faith in us. That’s a much more powerful and dynamic faith than we could ever have. It’s the very faith and mindset Christ had from eternity past. It’s the faith and courage He had while alive on this earth. And it’s the faith and focus He has to this day, as He sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

Christ wants us to see things from His perspective. He wants us to look beyond our trials by having His very mind and spiritual focus, as hard as our trials sometimes are.

In short, He wants to put His faith in us. Think about that. And think about how that can change your life.

You may think you don’t have what it takes to have the faith God wants you to have. Well, guess what? You don’t. But that’s OK, because Christ does.

And if you let Christ teach you, if you let Him gently correct you, if you let Him live His obedient life in you—He will help you to grow in faith and strength you need in your life. And it will lead right into living with Him and the Father forever in the very Family of God.

What could be more awesome than that?

The Bible is full of encouragement from cover to cover, that can help us overcome the difficulties we face in everyday life—especially as we find ourselves in these perilous end-times facing times of distress.

The Apostle Paul faced plenty of obstacles in his own life. He understood discouragement. But he also knew how to face trials and troubles squarely and positively. He made this encouraging observation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6.

Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:6–7).

Summary of Steps You Can Take to Build Biblical Faith

Having stronger faith is not just the power of positive thinking. Having stronger faith is not just believing in Jesus. It takes actively responding to God’s Spirit as our Father in Heaven and our Elder Brother Jesus Christ work in us, and even live in us.

As we’ve seen today, if we want stronger faith, there are concrete steps we can take. There are things we can do. Let’s review what we’ve covered today.

1. Get to know the real Jesus Christ.
2. Regularly study God’s word.
3. Let Christ live in you.

When we are frightened and worried, in trouble and distressed, we don’t have to despair. We can go to God for help. We can cry out to our Elder Brother, “I believe! Help me in my unbelief.”

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

Why Did God Create Us?

We live on an amazing planet.

Consider its diversity of terrain—mountains, valleys, plains and deserts, mighty rivers and babbling brooks. We have rain, fog, mist, snow and ice falling on our homes and on our heads. Mornings and evenings paint beautiful mosaics as the sun shines through the clouds.

Consider the diversity of life, from earthworms to elephants. The waters hold an amazing variety of strange and beautiful creatures—each fulfilling a unique purpose. Some filter and clean the waters, others dazzle us with their beauty and strangeness, and some are simply food for other creatures.

Then there is the flora—magnificent trees, eye-pleasing flowering shrubs. There is the spectrum of greens—from dark to light. Flowers come in all colors of the rainbow and in mixed shades.

We live on a planet suited for man. Yes, there are challenges we face that strengthen us, but there are the joys of eating with family and friends from the limitless variety of foods of every texture and taste.

When was the last time you put down your smart phone or turned off the television and asked: Is there a purpose for life? And if so, what is it? Am I merely the product of blind evolutionary forces? If so, how can there be meaning? And how can there be life beyond the grave? Simply put, why are you here?

We take life on this planet for granted. After all, we’ve never known a time when we were not surrounded with life. But stop for a minute to consider. Scientists tell us that our universe had a beginning. The dirt beneath our feet, our moon, the sun, all the stars and all the planets did not always exist. They all had a beginning.

Now consider the size of the universe.

Our star that we refer to as the Sun is only one of at least 100 billion other stars that make up our Milky Way Galaxy.

The nearest star to Earth is 25 trillion miles away. And to put it another way, the light from Proxima Centauri takes 4.24 years to reach our planet. Think about that.

Now consider that our galaxy is only one star cluster, the number of which is impossible to know. LiveScience.com explains how difficult it is to give an exact number, but gives this range in numbers.

So somewhere between 2 trillion galaxies at the top edge and 100 billion at the lower edge is the number of galaxies in our observable universe (“How many galaxies are in the universe?”, August 3, 2024; LiveScience.com)

Now you might be asking why is he talking about our planet, our galaxy, and the universe in relation to the meaning of my life?

Dear friends, we need to know what it is that God has done and is doing. For if the universe had a beginning, as both science and the Bible declare, there had to be a cause for that beginning. Many scientists diligently search for an explanation other than God, but they fail in their attempts. Theories come and go.

Scientists and many sincere people believe that with all the stars, galaxies, and planets that must exist, life is inevitable in many corners of the universe. That is what Nobel Prize winner Harold C. Urey once believed. He declared in the December 18, 1950 Time magazine:

[My study of the universe] leaves little doubt that life has occurred on other planets. I doubt if the human race is the most intelligent form of life (“People: Notions In Motion,” December 18, 1950, Time magazine).

Two years later, he also declared:

Life is not a miracle. It is a natural phenomenon, and can be expected to appear whenever there is a planet whose conditions duplicate those of the earth (“Science: Life Begins,” November 24, 1952, Time magazine.

But less than a decade later, he had changed his mind with this startling admission.

All of us who study the origin of life find that the more we look into it, the more we feel it is too complex to have evolved anywhere. We all believe as an article of faith that life evolved from dead matter on this planet. It is just that life’s complexity is so great, it is hard for us to imagine that it did (January 4, 1962, Harold Urey Christian Science Monitor, p. 4).

The fact is that life is mathematically impossible, as even evolutionary scientists admit. So how do they get around this mathematical impossibility? Their standard explanation is that we are here, so the impossible happened. As Urey put it:

[They] believe as an article of faith that life evolved from dead matter on this planet (https://www.azquotes.com/author/20795-Harold_Urey).

This of course begs the question. Our existence is not in question. The real question is what is the cause of life? And for many of us, the cause is a supreme being of infinite intelligence and power. Famous astronomer and mathematician Fred Hoyle put it this way in 1981:

A commonsense interpretation of the facts suggest that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question (https://todayinsci.com/QuotationsCategories/B_Cat/Biology-Quotations.htm#google_vignette).

So with this background, we must wonder: Why? If there is a God, and for a multitude of reasons many of us believe there is: Why are we here? What is His purpose for us? And what does that mean for you?

God’s Plan at Creation (Genesis 1 Explained)

The starting place in scripture is found in the first chapter of Genesis. How many read right over these words and never consider their profound significance?

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:26–27).

Man was not made after any other kind of creature.

Created in the Image of God (Genesis 1 26-27)

God’s intent was to make man in His image and likeness and to have rule over all other creatures on earth.

Now consider what that means. Why in God’s image and likeness? Why given rule over all else?

These are the kinds of questions asked by a shepherd boy who later became king over Israel. One night, as he looked up at the Milky Way and all the wonders of the night, he asked himself this question from Psalm 8:3.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet… sheep and oxen… beasts of the field… birds of the air, and the fish of the sea… (Psalm 8:3–8).

Sadly, too few today see the greatness of God as we once did when there was less light pollution. I often wonder how many children grow up never seeing the Milky Way.

But back to David’s question. What are we that God should be mindful of us? Consider God’s investment in our planet. He once placed a powerful spirit being—Lucifer by name—on Earth with a throne to administer His government, but we read in Isaiah 14:13 that this cherub rebelled against his Creator. Further, he stirred up a third of the angels to follow him. You can read that in Revelation 12:4, 9.

Now this indicates that Earth is special. It is not just any planet anywhere in the universe. God has something special in mind that He is working out here below.

The author of Hebrews found David’s question of interest and quotes him beginning in Hebrews 2:6.

But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet” (Hebrews 2:6–8).

But he does not stop there. He goes on to say:

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him (Hebrews 2:8).

The New Testament in Modern Speech translates the second half of verse 8:

For this subjecting of the universe to man implies the leaving nothing not subject to him.

The universe? This is the sense of the passage—He left absolutely nothing not in control of man, but the verse continues:

But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

Joint Heirs with Christ Explained (Sons of God)

Mankind has been given rule over all things on earth, but not the universe at this time. To give us that power and control would be to guarantee star wars. Now notice what comes next in verses 9–10.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than [or for a little while lower than] the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:9–10).

But he then goes on to give us an answer to it—we are to be brethren (or brothers and sisters) with Christ. Furthermore, we are to rule all things—nothing is to be left out of our control—but not yet. For that we need to be resurrected to eternal life as children of God.

Children should be understood in a very real sense, as shown in Roman 8:14–17.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:14–17).

God’s Purpose Is to Create His Family (Children of God)

Dear friends, do you believe what the Bible says? Children of God. Heirs of God. Joint heirs with Christ. Dust off your Bible and read it for yourself—Romans 8:14–17. When we put this together with Hebrews 2, which we read in the last portion of this program, and with Genesis 1, where God made us in His image and likeness, we begin to see a clear picture of a family relationship. Paul speaks of sons and daughters in 2 Corinthians 6.

As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the LORD. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” [And note it here:] “I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD ALMIGHTY” (2 Corinthians 6:16–18).

Friends, these passages are not speaking of this life only. They refer to the time when we will inherit all things. Notice Romans 8.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:18–21).

People speak about “when we get our wings,” about “meeting St. Peter at the pearly gates,” and “rolling around heaven all day,” but none of this is found in the Bible.

For Catholics the purpose of life is described as the Beatific Vision. From Catholic Bible Online we read:

The Beatific Vision is the Catholic Church’s teaching about the ultimate goal of human existence—the direct, immediate, and perfect vision of God in heaven.… This is not a physical seeing with our eyes, but a spiritual seeing that involves the complete knowledge and love of God. The Beatific Vision is the fulfillment of every human heart’s deepest desire and the source of perfect happiness and joy that will never end ( “What Is the Beatific Vision? A Complete Guide to Seeing God Face to Face,” catholicbibleonline.com).

So in other words, live your life the best you can and when you die—for many Catholics, only after spending an undetermined time in purgatory to expunge unrepented sins—you go to heaven so that God can make you happy through some ecstatic vision.

Is that really what the Bible says? Is that what John means when he speaks of the children of God in 1 John 3 beginning in verse 1?

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:1–3).

Was Jesus referring to some kind of ecstatic vision for His sons and daughters when He said in Matthew 5:8–9:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Is that what being the offspring of God means—seeing God in vision with nothing else to do?

Meaning of Life Revealed: What Evolution Lacks

King David looked up at a star-filled night sky and wondered, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”

Scientists look into the vast universe for answers to meaning, but evolution gives none. Philosophers likewise search for the meaning of life through human reason. They rarely, if ever, consider the critical question: Does God exist?

If He does—and scientists admit that life on Earth or anywhere in the universe is mathematically impossible—then why not look into the Bible, the only source that truly explains why our Creator is mindful of us.

Today, we saw at the very beginning that God’s purpose was to create us in His image and likeness. We’ve also seen scriptures that speak of our being sons and daughters, of being co-heirs with Christ, and inheriting all things at the resurrection. Is this not spelled out clear enough for even a child to understand? We read earlier in Romans 8:16 that:

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

We read here of two spirits—”the Spirit Himself” clearly refers to God’s Spirit. “Our spirit” refers to a spirit in man—not an immortal soul, but a spirit essence that makes us different from the animals. So what does it mean when it says:

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

The Apostle John explains something that few understand, that is lost in translation (1 John 3:9).

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed [Greek: sperma] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Yes, it is the seed [sperma] of God, God’s Spirit, that unites with the human spirit that allows us to truly be born again into the Family of God at the resurrection.

Jesus explained to the hostile Sadducees:

But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (Luke 20:35–36).

Notice that it did not say we are angels, but “equal to the angels” for we will never die. We will have eternal life. We are “sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”