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

Do You Really Know Jesus?

Professing Christians know that Jesus gave His life for mankind, but what else do they know about Jesus and why He came to earth as a human being? On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’ll expose five myths about the Jesus of the Bible. He is, as Bruce Barton wrote, The Man Nobody Knows.

How surprising that is, when the world’s largest collective religious body claims to worship Him.

John 3:16 is perhaps the most famous of all verses, yet one that says something very different from what people think. Stay tuned!

The Savior is No Myth!

As surprising as it may be, commonly held beliefs indicate much misunderstanding about the Savior of the world.

The first myth is a major doctrine found among some Christian denominations.

It’s amazing what people accept as truth simply because that is what their priest tells them, without ever investigating it for themselves from the only authoritative book about the life of Jesus. So,

Myth #1: Jesus’ mother was a perpetual virgin

This myth has far-reaching implications.

Scriptures mention Jesus having brothers and sisters, but some allege that these verses refer to either cousins or disciples. What are we to believe? Should we follow traditions handed down to us that conflict with easy-to-understand scripture? Or should we believe the Bible? You be the judge!

The false narrative of Jesus’ mother remaining a perpetual virgin and Jesus having no siblings is soundly contradicted in John 7, beginning in verse 3:

His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:3–5).

So much for “His brothers” referring to disciples! This does not mean that He never referred to His followers as being brothers, only that He had “brothers” who were not disciples.

Another scriptural example of His blood family is found in Matthew 12, verses 47–50, where there is a clear distinction between His physical family and His spiritual family:

Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:47–50).

These references to brothers cannot be shrugged off easily.

Let’s notice another passage on this subject where sisters (plural) are mentioned.

Matthew 13:54–56 relates how citizens in the area where He grew up, were perplexed by the wisdom and miracles He performed:

… when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54–56).

Any objective reader who is not influenced by unfounded traditions recognizes that Matthew 1:24–25 ought to lay the question to rest.

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Although “firstborn son” does not necessarily mean there were others, the inference is certainly there.

But more importantly, any student of the Bible knows that the expression “did not know her” is a euphemism for sexual relations, as we see in Genesis 4:

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain (Genesis 4:1).

And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch (Genesis 4:17).

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth (Genesis 4:25).

My friends, instead of blindly following Church traditions, read the Bible for what it says!

But you may wonder, “Is it important to know that Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin and that Jesus had half-brothers and sisters?”

Dogma Disproven by Scripture

The answer is found in

Myth #2: The narrative that Mary is our intercessor

Mary was the mother of Jesus and scripture indicates she was a righteous woman.

But the role of Mary has been grossly and blasphemously corrupted. Nowhere do we find in the Bible anything about her “immaculate conception.”

Non-Catholics often misunderstand that the immaculate conception refers to Christ’s conception, but this biblically unfounded doctrine refers instead to Mary. Here is what a Catholic source explains:

The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic dogma that states that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain. That’s what “immaculate” means: without stain (“Immaculate Conception and Assumption,” Catholic Answers, Catholic.com, Accessed MAy 11, 2022).

Yet, where is the proof of this? Certainly not from the Bible! Where does it come from?

What many do not realize is how deeply, and how early, Christianity was corrupted by pagan doctrines that long predate Christ.

Many historical sources show that the worship of Mary came about as traditions about pagan goddesses were transferred to the mother of Jesus. This truth is well established. Here is merely one example from the highly respected Church historian Jesse Lyman Hurlbut.

Writing about the origin of Mary worship, he says:

About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored, and worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana (Hurlbut’s Story of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 79).

Nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary being immaculately conceived. Nowhere do we read of her remaining a perpetual virgin.

We read just the opposite. And nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary as intercessor between God and man. That role is reserved for Jesus Himself—not Mary, not human priests. He is the One through whom we approach the Father. He revealed that to us on the night in which He was betrayed.

We find in John 14:6:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Then in John 14 verses 13 and 14 Jesus says if you ask in His name, HE will do it.

You don’t have to go to His mother to appeal to Him.

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:13–14).

It is through the name of Jesus Christ, not Mary, that we come to God. There is not one shred of evidence in the Bible for the worship of Jesus’ mother. Not a single verse indicates we should use the name of Mary to approach Jesus or His Father. The simple truth is, as many historical sources prove, the cultus of Diana, Ishtar, and other goddesses have been transferred to Mary. When she awakes in the resurrection, she’ll be astounded [at] how the worship of pagan goddesses has been transferred to her.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the Resurrected Saints

So let us look at:

Myth #3: Jesus’ gospel is only about His death, burial, and resurrection

Now don’t misunderstand; that certainly is good news, and good news is what the word gospel means, but what gospel did Jesus proclaim for three-and-a-half years prior to His crucifixion?

Why is it that so few know and understand what that message is, when it’s spelled out so clearly in scripture after scripture?

Isn’t it strange that church-goers cannot tell you what the Bible reveals about Jesus’ message to mankind? No, it wasn’t about His death, burial, and resurrection—though that is part of the good news. And no, it wasn’t about going to heaven. It was about a world-ruling Kingdom of God to be set up on the earth.

Here is the beginning of His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:14–15.

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

Do you realize that most of Jesus’ many parables were about this kingdom?

For example, Mark 4:30:

Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?” (Mark 4:30).

The expression “kingdom of God” is found 69 times in the New Testament of the New King James Version. Obviously, I don’t have time to cover them all, but proclaiming this message was one reason Jesus said He was sent to earth.

See Luke 4:43:

… but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43).

And Luke 8, verse 1 shows that He took this commission very seriously.

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God (Luke 8:1).

But what exactly is this Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed?

And what does that have to do with you?

Contrary to the widely held doctrine of going to heaven, His message was about a divine family ruling on earth—a family that you can be born into. Why, when there is so much said about this in the Bible, do so few comprehend Jesus’ message?

And this brings us to:

Myth #4: The reward of the saved is retirement in heaven

We have pointed this out many times on this Tomorrow’s World program and in our other resources, but let me quickly review this with you from the pages of the Bible.

In a prophecy of the future, Zechariah 14:9 tells us:

And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—“The LORD is one,” And His name one (Zechariah 14:9).

But Jesus will not be alone in ruling. Revelation 19:16 tells us that Jesus will be King of kings and Lord of lords:

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).

Now, who are these kings and lords that Jesus will be King and Lord over? Scripture reveals the answer.

Speaking of the twelve tribes of Israel, the prophet Ezekiel, tells us:

I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken (Ezekiel 34:23–24).

When Jesus’ disciples asked, what was in it for them for following Him, He gave them this direct response in Matthew 19, verse 28:

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28).

So we have Christ as King over all the earth, David as king over all Israel, and the twelve apostles—each ruling over one of the twelve tribes of Israel under David.

That is what the Bible reveals, but what about you and me?

What’s in it for us?

Was Jesus’ message to live a good life, jam as much fun into it as you can before you die, and then go to retirement in heaven?

Not at all!

The reward He offers is right here on earth to rule with Him and help solve the problems that exist here below—to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all men everywhere.

In Jesus’ parable of the minas, He describes Himself as a nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom. His servants are told to do His work while He is gone, and He demands an accounting upon His return, and gives rewards according to how each does. Here are the rewards, as found in Luke 19, beginning verse 16:

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

Now that doesn’t sound like a boring retirement sitting on clouds with little to do, or staring into the face of God in a celestial trance forever—the so-called beatific vision!

Who Was the God of the Old Testament?

The narrative about our Savior is that the One we know of as God the Father, was harsh and demanding, but Jesus came with a message of love. Now it is true that Jesus’ message was a message of love, but so was the message of scripture prior to His coming.

Remember how Jesus answered the lawyer who asked, “What is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.” [this comes from Deuteronomy 6:5] This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” [that comes from Leviticus 19:18] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37–40).

With this understanding, why is it that people believe this fifth commonly held myth about the Jesus Christ of the Bible, that

Myth #5: Jesus did not agree with the Old Testament message

As shocking as this may sound, scripture reveals that Jesus was, get this, the God of the Old Testament! Now don’t take my word for it. Prove it from your own Bible! Note what the Apostle John revealed about the relationship between the Father and the One referred to as the Word. John 1, verses 1–3:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1–3).

So who was the Word? The answer is found in verse 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 (John 1:14).

The member of the God family that is referred to as the Word, who made all things and without Him nothing was made that was made, is none other than Jesus Christ.

Look it up in your own Bible and read John 1:1–14.

But that is far from the only proof that Jesus was the God of the Old Testament.

Another powerful scripture is Ephesians 3, verses 8 and 9.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God [note this] who created all things through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:8–9).

Need more proof? Consider Hebrews 1, verses 1 and 2:

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, [and get this] through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1–2).

Still not convinced?

Who was it that created the angels? Who was it that created Adam and Eve, our first parents? Paul answers this in Colossians 1:15–18:

He [that is, Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:15–18).

But there’s more.

There is no stronger statement than is found in 1 Corinthians 10, verses 1–4:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1–4).

No wonder Jesus claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath! He was the one who created the Sabbath for mankind!

Today we have exposed five commonly held myths about the Jesus of the Bible.

Why are these myths promoted in our modern churches, when they are so easily debunked from the pages of the Bible?

Thank you for watching! If you found this video helpful, and want to cast off commonly held myths about Jesus and understand more about one of Jesus’ most memorable statements of truth, be sure to order your free copy of John 3:16—Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Just click the link in the description.

You will be surprised how different His message was from what you’ve heard. And remember to subscribe to our channel to continue learning the plain truth from the pages of the Bible. See you next time!

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

Escape the World and Its Problems?

Many around the world felt that 2021 was a year to forget. Will 2022 or 2023 be any better? A new kind of reality, a technological virtual reality, is becoming popular to those who want to experience a better life, or in some way experience their dreams of a more exciting life. One of the most popular platforms for the metaverse virtual reality is Roblox. Emerging Tech states this amazing trend: “Roblox’s metaverse is already here, and it’s wildly popular. The platform says that over half of American children use the platform, and counts nearly 50 million daily users” (“Roblox’s metaverse is already here, and it’s wildly popular,” MorningBrew.com, December 10, 2021).

We understand the desire to escape this troubled world and live vicariously in a dream world. But what is the reality? A greater vision and a greater reality IS coming to this world soon. Your Bible describes the glorious transformation the world will experience. That new world to come is REAL! It’s called the Kingdom of God, ruled by the King of kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. You need to know about this new “world to come” as it’s described in Hebrews 2:5.

Unknown even to many professing Christians, your Bible describes a time of world peace among all nations. It outlines the governmental structure, the educational system, the family and cultural values enjoyed by all peoples of all nations on planet earth. Does that sound impossible? You need to know about the amazing real world to come and your place in it.

Stay tuned!

We Need a New World

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

When we review today’s world, we wonder whether it will survive or not. We are threatened with global pandemic, with wars and rumors of wars, record weather disasters, and political and criminal oppression.

When the bad news stresses us, many millions seek escapism through illicit drugs, alcohol, and entertainment. Many seek a better life through virtual reality. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines virtual reality as “an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (such as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one’s actions partially determine what happens in the environment.”

The metaverse platforms are very popular. One can vicariously choose to travel to exotic places or strive to experience unachievable goals and dreams through the metaverse. The New York Times reported this example; “Getting Married in the Metaverse. One couple’s recent nuptials in the virtual world known as the metaverse showcase the possibilities of having a wedding unfettered by the bounds of reality” (“Getting Married in the Metaverse,” NYTimes.com, December 10, 2021).

My friends, do you want a life “unfettered by the bounds of reality”? We cannot escape our financial obligations, or employment and family responsibilities. Nor can we escape the real world in which we live day after day. But we can seek the amazing real world to come! That world will be a glorious world of peace, guaranteed by the ruler of that coming Kingdom, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. On today’s program, we’ll describe from the Bible the amazing realities among peoples and nations as they submit to the Prince of Peace, as He is called in Isaiah 9:6. What will that kingdom be like? What form of world-ruling government will prevail? What religion will be practiced by all nations on earth? How will world peace come about?

But just what is the Kingdom of God? We’ve explained this on previous programs, but first of all, the Kingdom has a ruler. And who is that? Describing the Second Coming of Christ to this earth in Revelation 19, we read, “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). And again in Revelation 17, revealing the time when Christ will conquer rebellious nations.

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

My friends, you need to be on God’s side and rejoice in the coming Kingdom of God. As Jesus said, you also need to “believe in the gospel”—that’s Mark 1:15.

Yearning for Freedom from Suffering

Virtual reality and its many platforms, including various metaverses, avoid the awesome reality of the coming King of kings and a new world of peace and prosperity. Wired magazine featured “The Future of Reality” and presented an argument that “We’re Already Living in the Metaverse” (December 2021/January 2022). The author, Cecelia D’Anastasio, states: “Virtual reality companies say you’ll get there [to an “empyrean, transcendent, immersive, 3D”] through VR headsets, while augmented reality companies say you’ll wear AR smart goggles. And with boyish enthusiasm for science fiction fueling their piety, these preachers are calling this vision the metaverse, after Neal Stephenson’s 1992 dystopian novel Snow Crash” (Wired, November, 10, p. 105).

Will AR, augmented reality, smart goggles, and VR headsets help you experience true reality? The Wall Street Journal featured an article on “The Metaverse’s Mental Toll.” Expressing concern that the virtual realm will affect our emotional health, Rachel Kowart, research director at Take This, a nonprofit focused on mental health in the videogaming community, emphasized this: “If we start to shift into preferring a virtual life, that may then negatively impact our ability to engage in a non-virtual life…” (p. R7, January 13, 2022).

My friends, the REAL abundant life you can live, comes not through videogaming, virtual reality, or augmented reality. It comes from the reality of truth. Your Bible makes this positive claim. The coming King of the kingdom stated this in John 8:32,

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Lord prayed the night before His crucifixion, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Yes, the word of God, written in your Bible, is truth. Jesus Christ also stated, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” That’s in John 10:10.

The coming Kingdom of God will give that opportunity to all peoples and all nations. Thank God for His loving government that will ensure world peace for all nations. The amazing REAL world to come will have a universal system of laws to ensure godly liberty and freedom. Notice that in Micah 4:2,

“Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

Jesus Christ will rebuke war-like people and nations. Weapons of war will be turned into instruments of peace and productivity. Some of you may have seen the sculpture outside the United Nations in New York, depicting a man beating a sword into a plowshare. Imagine how the world will be transformed from destructive ways to productive ways. Micah 4:3,

“He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Who will assist Christ in ruling the nations? The Apostle Peter asked Jesus what their responsibilities would be. Matthew 19:28,

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

Who else will assist Christ in governing the world? In the inspiring free booklet we’re offering today, Dr. Roderick Meredith writes this concerning “Organization of God’s Kingdom”:

“Who will rule under Christ? God certainly trained Abraham for a top position of high responsibility in the world ahead. Scripture calls Abraham ‘the heir of the world’ (Romans 4:13). Yes, God will reward Abraham for his faith by giving him a position of service over the whole earth!” (p. 4).

Yes, Abraham is the “heir of the world.” And we will participate in this future IF we are truly Christian. As it tells us in Galatians the third chapter:

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26–29).

Not only will Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be rulers in the coming Kingdom, but so will ancient King David. God will unite the house of Judah and the house of Israel into one nation. And who will rule over them in God’s coming Kingdom? Ezekiel 37:24,

“David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.”

Ancient King David was a man after God’s own heart, as it tells us in Acts 13:22. King David ruled over the combined kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and he will have that responsibility in God’s coming Kingdom.

The Way of Peace: A Coming Reality?

We’ve seen that millions seek to escape reality and truth. We’ve seen that there are engineers and businessmen who are using their knowledge to provide that escape. New technologies are making it possible to create metaverses, virtual worlds, that offer participants a false reality. The prophet Daniel was told that knowledge would increase in the latter days. We see incredible advances in many forms of technology. Daniel 12:4,

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

We can now understand amazing details in the micro-atomic world on the one hand and the expanding universe with its two trillion galaxies on the other. But we also know that scientific knowledge has produced nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and now powerful laser weapons. We have knowledge to destroy all human life on earth.

Yes, engineers and businessmen are, more than ever before, able to offer their customers an escape into a false version of reality. As part of that escape, our Western nations are increasingly rejecting God and the Bible. And so, the prophecy of Hosea is coming to pass before our very eyes. Hosea 4:6,

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

But a time is coming when millions and billions in the Kingdom of God will learn NOT the way to destruction, but the way of God. If you have a Bible, turn to the awesome prophecy for knowledge of true education. Isaiah 2:3,

“Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, [and] let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Under the coming Kingdom of God, technology will be used for peaceful purposes. Can you imagine if today’s massive military expenditures were used for peaceful production rather than the production of hypersonic missiles and powerful armies, navies, air forces, and space warfare? But how can humans transform from their natural way of lust, greed, and war, to the way of peace, service, and love?

The answer is in the change of heart and mind. The Messiah, the Prince of Peace, will judge among the nations. They will learn to repent of their evil and carnal nature. The prophet Ezekiel gives an example of the future survivors from the Great Tribulation. Ezekiel 36:24,

“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”

Yes, God will give them a humble and teachable heart. A heart that will learn the very love of God. As it tells us in 1 John 5:3,

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

In the coming Kingdom, families will take responsibility for teaching their children. Dr. Meredith comments on “True Education Begins at Home.” He states, “Nearly all authorities acknowledge that education should ultimately begin in the home. Yet far too few parents, today, realize this responsibility or take the time to perform it. As the God of the Bible told His people in ancient Israel, ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes’ (Deuteronomy 6:6–8)” (p. 23).

Yes, a time is coming when parents and teachers will be united in teaching their children the ways of God. Parents will no longer worry that their children are learning wrong values in their schools. And, my friends, if you will become a faithful member of God’s Kingdom and family, you also may serve to bring truth to the world. The prophet Isaiah gives us a vision of this wonderful time of true education:

“For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:19–21).

The whole world will learn the way to peace and true values. You need to seek that coming Kingdom. Jesus stated our very purpose and goal in life:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

My friends, God has called faithful Christians to inherit the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God and a New World—Filled With Purpose

Will we be floating on clouds all day? Listen to this powerful promise in Revelation 5:9, called the song of the saints:

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’”

Yes, my friends, true Christians will be serving all nations as kings and priests, assisting the King of kings in re-educating the world to the way of true love, peace, and prosperity. Revelation 20 also describes the role of faithful Christians during the Millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth. Revelation 20:4,

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. [That is, genuine Christians] Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. [Speaking of the White Throne Judgment] This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

My friends, you can have [a] part in God’s Kingdom. God is calling people to Christ from all nations to be in His Kingdom. That one world government is coming soon. You need to prepare for it. Study your Bible. Visualize the transformed world under the King of kings.

This amazing world ahead, the glorious Kingdom of God on earth, will produce beauty and productivity the world has never known. God has blessed the earth with awesome, majestic mountains, fertile valleys, and productive plains. We marvel at pristine lakes and churning oceans. We appreciate the variety of flowers, plant life, birds, animals, and sea life. Even the very nature of ANIMALS will change. Isaiah gives us this Millennial vision:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 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” (Isaiah 11:6).

Thank you for watching!

My friends, an incredible new world is coming soon. Our booklet The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? reveals what will really happen at Christ’s return and the very real future for which you should be preparing. You can receive your own copy for free by clicking the link in the description. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. See you next time!

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

A Holy Book With a Crucial Warning

Could an ancient manuscript have prophecies for today?

It’s easy to think in these modern times that history is irrelevant—especially ancient history.

After all, we’re living in a mind-blowing time of technological wonder. From space-bound telescopes that give us a glimpse into the Universe, to the powerful machines we carry in our hands unlocking a window to people and places all over the world.

Our time is truly unique. So, do old books still matter today?

The answer is yes.

Frankly, the past becomes more relevant to our day, because some of those dusty old books tell us about our day and the future.

The book of Malachi is one such book. It’s found in the Old Testament of the Bible. This portion of the Bible is also known as the Hebrew Scriptures. It was written over 400 years before Jesus Christ, and yet has a message for us today. What could that message be?

On this program, we’ll explore the answer. So, get ready, as we go deep into the past, and unlock “Malachi’s Prophetic Message for Today.”

Malachi’s Warning—God Expects Better

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we bring an understanding of today’s world, through the prophecies of the Bible.

The prophet Malachi lived and prophesied sometime in the latter part of the 5th century BC. His message was to the Jewish people, who had been resettled in the land of Judah after the Babylonian captivity.

Malachi gave strong medicine to his generation. They had become lax in keeping God’s law, their priests were corrupt and unfair in their judgments, and divorce was ripping that society apart. Some were even wondering whether it mattered if they served God or not.

As we consider the challenges in the modern Western world, it’s fascinating and perhaps a little sobering to look at the warnings that Malachi gave his generation.

The warnings are written in the style of a dialogue between God and His people. Let’s read a few of the passages, to catch a glimpse of what God was saying to that generation.

We might just find there’s a message for ours.

We’ll start in Malachi 2:7:

“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law.”

The priest at that time was the one who taught them God’s laws and led in public worship—and yet the priests had become so corrupt that people could not trust what they were teaching anymore. Instead of making God’s ways clear and plain, they had caused the Law to become confused and muddled in the minds of the people.

“You have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the law” (v. 9).

The law was being applied unfairly, unjustly. Do we think our age is the first to grapple with issues of injustice and unequal treatment under the law? Malachi showed that God was not pleased when judges showed favoritism instead of fairly and consistently applying God’s law.

“And this is the second thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously…. ‘For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2:13–14, 16).

That generation was noted for its lax attitudes toward marital commitment and faithfulness. And God was not pleased.

How do you think He looks at our generation? Is He pleased that so many marriages end in divorce? What about the conditions that lead to divorce? Some people wrongly accuse the Bible of encouraging hate and disrespect toward women, but nothing could be further from the truth.

What we just read shows that God is very upset when women are not treated fairly and respectfully in marriage. He tells men, don’t abuse, neglect, or hurt your wives in any way. God cares about women, and the Bible upholds the marriage relationship, which was made for the benefit and happiness of men and women.

Notice, there’s more;

“You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them’…” (v. 17).

There were some in that day who were turning God’s law upside down. They were trying to make it look like what God calls good is actually bad. And what God calls bad, well, that’s actually good for you. And they were then trying to say that is somehow behind this upside down approach. Do we see any glimpse of that today, in our society?

In our day today, some push immoral behavior and actually say that God supports it. This is really nothing new.

The prophet Malachi warned against this approach in his generation about 2,400 years ago. And he was telling his people they were in danger of unraveling as a society if they didn’t take a different course.

What about us today? Is our world getting better, or worse? Is real love and care for others growing and spreading, or becoming more rare? Malachi witnessed to a corrupt generation with strong warnings to repent. Frankly, there are strong parallels for our day.

But some will say, “This is Old Testament, what does it have to do with me?” Well, let’s read on and we’ll find out.

Jesus Christ Himself Was Speaking Through His Prophet

In the last segment we read about some of the spiritual conditions of the people in Malachi’s day. That was in chapter 2. Notice what Malachi records in chapter 3:

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.”

What is this talking about? Who is the messenger who is preparing the way? Well, let’s go to Mark 1 to find out.

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You’” (Mark 1:1–2).

This is the beginning of the book of Mark, in your New Testament. Mark is describing how John the Baptist was the messenger preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus Christ. But in explaining that, he was directly quoting from Malachi. In other words, Malachi prophesied about the Gospel. Specifically, Malachi prophesied about John the Baptist being the one who would prepare the way for Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

So, was this book of Malachi only for the Jews living back in the 400s BC? I think we’re seeing it had a scope far beyond his time and his generation. His preaching and his writings reached way into the future, hundreds of years, and they pointed to the very work of John the Baptist and the Messiah.

Let’s continue in Malachi:

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1).

O.K., stop again, one more time, and note something else. Who is speaking? It’s Jesus Himself. He uses the pronoun “Me.” The pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was speaking in this prophecy. He was the One Who was speaking through Malachi, and inspiring Him in what to tell His generation. Think about that for a second, and ask yourself again, does this book have anything to do with New Testament Christians?

Absolutely, because the One who was inspiring its words was Jesus Christ Himself. That alone should cause us to want to open our eyes and see what it says.

What did He say next?

“And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1).

Who is the Lord whom we seek? Well, of course, it’s Jesus Christ. Malachi prophesied that He’d come suddenly. And He did burst onto the scene in 1^st century Judea, when He suddenly came to His temple, overturned the tables and threw out the money changers.

John the Baptist would announce His coming and he would prepare the way, and then Jesus Christ would come and preach the message.

But let’s notice something else here. What message did Jesus come to preach? Again, we might say, “well, the gospel message, of course.” That’s right. But there’s another detail we don’t want to miss. Let’s read it again.

“And the LORD, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant…” (Malachi 3:1).

So, not only is Jesus Lord, not only is He the Messiah, our Savior, He also was the Messenger of the covenant. But what does that mean?

Let’s think about this for a moment.

What is a messenger? A messenger is someone who’s been given the task of relaying a communication. We might think of in olden times when hand-written messages would be relayed by a trusted official or king to another. A messenger was one who carried that important communication on behalf of someone else.

But in this passage, Who is Jesus the messenger for?

Well, let’s look at an excerpt from Dr. Meredith, in the booklet Do You Believe the True Gospel? He explains on page 5:

“A messenger bears a message from someone else—and so Jesus did, as He made plain by stating that ‘the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me’” (John 14:24)” (p. 5).

This is an important point to remember: The message of the Gospel is from the Father.

You see, some seem to have the mistaken idea that God the Father is that stern old God of the Old Testament, and Jesus Christ is the loving, kind God of the New Testament who came to do away with the Old. Have you had that impression? Is that your opinion now? And can you see, nothing could be further from the truth?

In fact, reading this book of Malachi is showing us that the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ was speaking through this Old Testament prophet, and speaking of bringing a message from the Father. He and the Father are of one mind, in perfect harmony. They are in total agreement. So, what was the message from the Father?

Going on, from Dr. Meredith in Do You Believe the True Gospel:

“God the Father sent Christ to announce a message from Him. What kind of message was it? The word ‘gospel’ originates from the Old English word godspell, meaning ‘good news’ or ‘announcement of glad tidings.’ The New Testament translators used ‘gospel’ for the Greek noun [“eu-on-GELI-on”] euaggelion.

The English word “evangelism”—preaching the Gospel—is derived from it. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have come to be known as “the four gospels” because they relate four separate accounts of Christ delivering His announcement of Good News!

What was this Good News all about? Let Scripture answer!” (p. 5).

You see, too many people have come to the mistaken conclusion that the gospel is just about believing in Jesus. Yes, believing in Jesus is the starting point. We must believe that He is God, and that He is our Savior. we must accept His love and sacrifice for our sins, to be saved. But was the gospel message only about the Person of Christ and His sacrifice? Or is there more?

When Jesus began to preach the gospel, what did He talk about?

We can read about it again in Mark chapter 1:

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

The gospel message is from the Father, and is the good news about His coming Kingdom. It’s about Jesus Christ coming to earth to end the misery and the heartache and the suffering this world is going through.

Jesus Christ Will Come AGAIN!

Thus far in today’s program, we’ve opened the book of Malachi, to see that he preached to a generation that was corrupt and in need of a spiritual renewal. We can see parallels in our day.

We also saw that in the book of Malachi, the Word who became Christ prophesied of the coming of John the Baptist. And we also saw that the pre-incarnate Jesus prophesied of His own coming. We also saw that Jesus brought a message. That message would be a message from His Father, about the good news of a coming Kingdom.

But there’s more.

Let’s pick it up where we left off. After reading of John the Baptist being the messenger of the Messiah, and Jesus Himself being the messenger of the Father, we read of something else. We’re introduced to the idea that Jesus will not just have a first coming, but a Second Coming.

“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver…” (Malachi 3:2–3).

A refiner’s fire? A purifier of silver? This could not be referring to His first coming.

When Jesus Christ first came to this earth, He allowed Himself to be arrested and beaten and finally crucified. But this passage tells us of a very different time. It speaks of Jesus’ Second Coming, which will come in a time of great distress on earth. It speaks of a time when people will be purified and tested through great suffering. We read of that same time, referred to as the Great Tribulation, in Matthew 24 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” (Matthew 24:21).

Why would Malachi be writing a warning about something that happens many centuries after his generation was dead and gone? Why would he write a warning to the end-time generation, living just before Christ’s return? Does the prophet Malachi have a message for our generation today?

Absolutely. He’s speaking of our day today.

Are we in the last days? Are we living in a time of great corruption, and injustice, and inequity? We see moral values plummeting, and the state of marriage and family at an all-time low in Western societies. We see people trying to convince us that bad behavior is actually righteous and good. We’re living in the days prophesied by Malachi.

Let’s go back to Malachi chapter 3 verse 5:

“‘… I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear Me,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:5).

This is the returning Jesus Christ speaking. He’s saying our sins will bring judgment on ourselves. What sins is He talking about?

Adultery. Lying. Stealing from and exploiting the poor. Mistreating foreigners. This is a message to the end-time generation. When you think about it, it’s a message for a godless generation that has thrown off all restraint.

Are you beginning to see that in your world today? If so, think about how applicable this message is for today. Let’s go one step further. Malachi 3 verse 13:

“‘Your words have been harsh against Me,’ Says the LORD, ‘Yet you say, “What have we spoken against You?” You have said, “It is useless to serve God…”’” (Malachi 3:13–14).

Would you say we are living in a time when this is the attitude of many people in our Western societies? That the moral fabric upon which our civilization was built—an understanding of a real God and His inspired word—is crumbling beneath us? More and more people are saying, “Biblical Christianity? Why would we need that?” “A God who is revealed in the Bible? Oh, that’s just old, dusty writings of men.” Think about it. These words of Malachi are spot on for our generation today.

Let me show you one more thing. The prophet Malachi closed His book with a powerful, resounding message. And again, remember, this passage was the last warning and challenge of the entire Old Testament. We read in MAlachi again:

“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:4–5).

This is another message for the generation of the last days, who are living in the time just before the great and dreadful day of the LORD. Isn’t it striking that the prophet gives a warning to the generation alive in the end times, but refers to the law of Moses? He says, “Remember the Law of Moses.” But isn’t the Law of Moses—the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath day—aren’t those all done away?

Not at all. God’s law still stands, and it has deep significance and meaning for New Testament Christians today. And that’s why God inspired Malachi to tell our generation, “Remember the Law of Moses.” It’s not done away. Malachi warns our generation not to forget about it.

God Will Judge the World—To SAVE Us

In today’s program, we’ve explored the world of Malachi, a prophet of God who lived and preached in the 5^th century before Christ. We’ve seen that he warned his generation of the sins of corruption, mistreatment of others, unfaithfulness in marriage, and immorality. We’ve seen that this same prophet had a message about a messenger, John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus Christ.

But we also saw that Jesus Himself was a messenger of a covenant from the Father, of forgiveness of sins, of life and peace. We saw that the true gospel is about a Kingdom that’s going to be set up. But before that Kingdom is set up on this earth, we read that there will be great distress on the earth as God judges the world. Ultimately, God’s will is that this will lead all mankind to having an opportunity to enter a covenant relationship with Him.

Let’s read the end of the prophecy, in Malachi 4, verse 5:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5–6).

The question for us is, will there be a change of heart in us? Will OUR hearts to be turned to serving and loving others as ourselves. And especially, will our hearts be turned to our Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ? Will we show ourselves faithful to them? Going back to Malachi chapter 3:

“For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob… Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:6–7).

The “sons of Jacob” are just the modern descendants of the patriarch Israel. If we understand who modern Israel is today—and frankly many of us are living in the end-time nations of Israel—we should be grateful for God’s patience and longsuffering, and we should cry out for His help and mercy as we see these things coming. Will God help those who fear Him?

Will He be a refuge to those who serve and obey Him sincerely and faithfully? Let’s read Malachi 3, verse 16:

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him’” (Malachi 3:16–17).

The book of Malachi prophesies deliverance, comfort, and safety for those who don’t succumb to the godless attitudes of these last days. It’s our hope and prayer that you will seek Him, and obey Him and love Him, with all your heart.

Thanks for watching. Remember to subscribe and click the notification bell so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. And, if you’d like a copy of our free booklet Do You Believe the True Gospel?, go to TWTV.org/gospel, or click the link in the description. See you next time!

Thank you for watching! Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you would like a copy of our free study guide, Do You Believe the True Gospel?, go to TWTV.org/Gospel or click the link in the description. See you next time.

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

A Conspiracy Almost No One Knows

Conspiracy theories abound and exactly how many there are is up for grabs. Some conspiracies are recent, others are decades or centuries old.

Lists of popular theories abound on the Internet, though new ones seem to be born every year, especially in recent days. Leaders in government, science, medicine, and the media have discredited themselves through inept and dishonest policies affecting peoples and nations—thus giving rise to skepticism, distrust, and some of the most wildly speculative theories ever conceived. And with social media come speculations on steroids.

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’ll look at some of the most popular conspiracy theories that have ever been told. I’ll also reveal the greatest conspiracy of all—one that is not theory, but fact.

Shadowboxing With Coverups Real and Imagined

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we give you the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, explain prophecies of the Bible, and bring new insights from the word of God. On today’s program, we’ll look at some of the most popular conspiracy theories along with the greatest conspiracy of all time—one that affects your life.

Some conspiracies involve famous people faking their own death. Other narratives are about how prominent people died, or didn’t die, contrary to the official story. Some are rather laughable, such as:

Elvis is still alive and was seen at…

A gas station, grocery store, or, according to a supermarket tabloid, he was spotted at Graceland, his legendary home, on his 85^th birthday, along with a grainy picture.

Other famous death conspiracies involve:

JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald
Martin Luther King
Princess Diana

And, would you believe, even:

Jesus

Where a false story was circulated to explain away the resurrection. We read of it in Matthew 28, beginning in verse 11:

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day (Matthew 28:11–15).

As with that example, some conspiracies are more than theories. Some have proven to be true beyond Internet blogs and questionable sources. One came to light from a Top Secret document that was made public November 18, 1997:

Operation Northwoods was a plan circulated in the U.S. government in 1962 to stage false flag terrorist attacks inside the U.S. and abroad to provoke “military intervention in Cuba”. The plan called for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other operatives to commit genuine acts of terrorism in U.S. cities and elsewhere. These acts of terrorism were to be blamed on Cuba in order to create public support for a war against that nation, which had recently become communist under Fidel Castro. One part of the Operation Northwoods plan was to “develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities and even in Washington.” The document was signed by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lyman Lemnitzer and reportedly presented to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962 (“Operation Northwoods,” PublicIntelligence.net, March 9, 2010).

The plan was given to President Kennedy, who had the good sense to turn it down, but the fact that a false flag of this magnitude was considered by high government officials, involving sacrificing the lives of American citizens, is it any wonder that such schemes have contributed to wild speculations? Less than four years after Operation Northwoods came to light, Muslim extremists flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

Some allege that the CIA was complicit, and that the attack was a ruse to create fear so that Americans would give up greater control over their lives. Others believe it was an excuse for President Bush to invade Iraq and depose Saddam Hussain—finishing the job his father left undone.

Sadly, some conspiracy theories have ruined the lives of those caught up in them. One example is QAnon.

Or as others refer to it: QAnonsense.

Following the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., BBC news explained this phenomenon:

At its heart, QAnon is a wide-ranging, completely unfounded theory that says that President Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business and the media.

QAnon believers have speculated that this fight will lead to a day of reckoning where prominent people such as former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be arrested and executed (“QAnon: What is it and where did it come from?” BBC.com, January 6, 2021).

This elaborately evolving theory began in October 2017 when an anonymous person, supposedly in the Trump administration, with Department of Energy high level Q security clearance, made a post on the 4chan message board and signed off as “Q.”

The very nature of Q is that it becomes an obsessive game where clues are dropped like breadcrumbs, creating an addiction to find and unravel the next cryptic post. Some estimate that there are millions following Q, and if you meet one of them, you understand how obsessed someone can become to an unproven theory from an anonymous source. Stories abound of ruined relationships as believers become consumed in a fantasy world where anyone who disagrees is shut out and considered the enemy.

Conspiracy Theories are Nothing New

Few of them have anything to do with how you live your life and even if true, which most are not, what can you do about it? But, before the break I said we’ll explore the greatest conspiracy of all time—right from the pages of the Bible. But let me first remind you of how skeptical we have become. Many are convinced the U.S. government is not being truthful about a number of current and historical events. For example:

It is alleged that the Moon Landing was faked, an alien spacecraft crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, and contrails are really chemtrails. And, then there is The HAARP project.

HAARP, an acronym for High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, is a real U.S. government program. The only question is the alleged interpretation of its purpose.

Its official website states:

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, is a scientific endeavor aimed at studying the properties and behavior of the ionosphere (“About HAARP,” University of Alaska, Fairbanks, HAARP.gi.alaska.edu).

Researchers say they hope to learn about the ionosphere to enhance our communication and navigation technology. But a committed group of conspiracy theorists have long claimed HAARP is used to cause natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and even tsunamis. And others believe HAARP is used for mind control purposes.

Wise king Solomon wrote,

That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10).

No, conspiracy theories are not new, but the Internet, social media, and photo doctoring techniques put them on steroids.

But do you realize that there are commonly believed theories about Christ that have no basis in biblical fact? For example, many claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that the Church has hidden the evidence for centuries.

Made popular by the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code, this conspiracy theory has been around a long time. Some claim that this supposed marriage produced a lineage of children that were eventually brought to France. In 2012, Harvard historian Karen King claimed to have found an ancient, second-century writing in which Jesus supposedly calls Mary “My wife.” But four years later, she conceded that she had been duped by a forgery.

Still, the theory persists, as conspiracy theorists claim Mary Magdalene’s role in the early Church has been hidden and suppressed to maintain the power structure of the male “patriarchy.”

Of course the Bible says no such thing, but this is an example of how little understanding, and how little faith individuals have in the one and only authoritative source of the life of Jesus. Books can be exciting. Movies can be thrilling. But neither secular books nor movies should guide us on this important subject. As blasphemous as this theory is, and the conspiracy about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus, there is an even more important one—the greatest conspiracy of all.

The Rise of a Counterfeit Christian Church

True first century followers of Christ took the truth seriously. For them, it was no game, no social club, but a way of life. The questions must be asked: Is the Christianity of today the same as that of the first century? Is it “Original Christianity,” or a shallow counterfeit? Here’s the answer from mainline Protestant scholar, Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, in his book The Story of the Christian Church. In the chapter that he titled, “The Age of Shadows” he wrote:

For fifty years after St. Paul’s life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we strive vainly to look; and when at last it rises, about 120 A.D. with the writings of the earliest church fathers, we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Peter and St. Paul” (Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, 1970, p. 33).

Now what were those changes that he refers to? How significant were they? Were they minor cosmetic changes or changes in frontline doctrines? Hurlbut lists a few of the many that took place during the shadowy time and the centuries that followed.

The services of worship increased in splendor, but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times. The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and of worship. About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored, and worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana; the Lord’s Supper became a sacrifice in place of a memorial; and the elder evolved from a preacher into a priest. (Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 79).

Hurlbut is one of many mainline scholars and historians who admit that the Christian church of today is not the same as that of Jesus, His apostles, and His first-century followers. Original Christianity was corrupted by one, grand conspiracy. One common narrative is that Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made Christianity the religion of Europe and much of the world. But how converted was Constantine, and what kind of Christianity did he bring to the world? Historian Paul Johnson observes the following in this regard:

[T]here is some doubt about the magnitude of Constantine’s change of ideas.… He himself appears to have been a sun-worshipper, one of a number of late-pagan cults which had observances in common with the Christians. Thus the followers of Isis adored a madonna nursing her holy child; the cult of Attis and Cybele celebrated a day of blood and fasting, followed by the Hilaria resurrection-feast, a day of joy, on 25 March; the elitist Mithraics, many of whom were senior army officers, ate a sacred meal. Constantine was almost certainly a Mithraic, and his triumphal arch, built after his ‘conversion’, testifies to the Sun-god, or ‘unconquered sun.’ Many Christians did not make a clear distinction between this sun-cult and their own. They referred to Christ ‘driving his chariot across the sky’; they held their services on Sunday, knelt towards the East and had their nativity-feast on 25 December, the birthday of the sun at the winter solstice. During the later pagan revival under the Emperor Julian many Christians found it easy to apostatize because of this confusion; the Bishop of Troy told Julian he had always prayed secretly to the sun. Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins. He made Sunday into a day of rest (A History of Christianity, 1976, pp. 67–68).

The record of history shows original Christianity of the first century was very different from that of today, but does this matter as long as we worship Jesus? How does the Bible answer this question? And how does it describe first century Christianity?

Who Really Perpetrated False Christianity? And How Can You Escape?

That modern professing Christianity has been supplanted is not in dispute. The real questions are: Who did it? And, what should you do about it? The answers to both are found in the Bible. Let’s answer the first question: Who is behind this conspiracy? Speaking of the time yet ahead, we read in Revelation 12 and verse 9 that there is a great deceiver:

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).

In Ephesians 2, verse 2, we learn how he deceives the world—by broadcasting attitudes and moods through the air.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1–2).

Satan does not direct the course of this world alone. He uses human beings who themselves are most often deceived. And that deception is not in moral values alone, but in Christianity itself. There are many warnings in the New Testament against a Satanic false Christianity—more than I have time to fully cover in this program. One passage shows the Apostle Paul soundly correcting the church at Corinth over their careless acceptance of doctrines contrary to the truth—2 Corinthians 11, verse 4:

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Paul then went on to explain the source of the problem and he minced no words in doing so. He would not be viewed as politically correct today. Notice it in verses 13–15:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

Yes, there was a conspiracy to transform Christianity into something very different from that of Jesus and his early followers. Jesus’ half-brother Jude, writing in the first century, admonished those of his day that they needed to strive to preserve the truth which was already delivered to them. And by doing so, he put a nail in the coffin of the idea that true Christianity should evolve over time. Notice in Jude verse 3:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

Jude went on to show one of the major tenets of this conspiracy—that grace does away with the law of God. Here it is in verse 4:

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4).

Jesus warned against following men who claim to represent Him, men who say Jesus is the Christ, but deceive the people in the process. The first sign Jesus gave when asked by His disciples about the sign of His coming, was false Christianity.

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name [That is, representing Him], saying, “I [That is, Jesus] am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4–5).

Jesus said 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 (Matthew 5:17).

So what do people do? They think exactly what He said not to think—that the law of God is done away. No wonder Jesus asks,

But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and do not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46).

The highly respected philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard, sums it up with brutal clarity:

The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist…. what has to be done is to throw light upon a criminal offense against Christianity, prolonged through centuries, perpetrated by millions (more or less guiltily), whereby they have cunningly, under the guise of perfecting Christianity, sought little by little to cheat God out of Christianity, and have succeeded in making Christianity exactly the opposite of what it is in the New Testament (Kierkegaard, Walter Lowrie trans. Attack Upon “Christendom”, 1946, pp. 32–33).

So what are you, dear friends, going to do? Will you follow the traditions of men, as they have been handed down to you? That’s the easy course. Or are you courageous enough to turn back to original Christianity?

Thank you for watching! If you found this video helpful, and want to learn more about how Paul, Peter, and other first century leaders of the Church worshiped God differently than Christians today, order your free copy of “Restoring Original Christianity.” All you need to do is click the link in the description, as it is completely free. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you can continue to learn the plain truth from the pages of the Bible. See you next time.