Standard Broadcast

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

A Time of Troubles

The COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world. Think about how far reaching its effects have been, in a relatively short time. It’s destroyed businesses. It’s weakened whole economies. And stimulus packages have caused national debts to rise higher than ever. COVID’s effects have been seen in the political arena as well. COVID policies have caused controversy in local and national politics. Frustration has erupted into public protests and even riots. And of course, the disease has taken the lives of millions of people. It has caused the suffering of people in virtually every corner of the globe, being especially hard on the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

As time goes on, many are putting their hope in vaccines to turn the tide on this crisis. And vaccines are being rolled out and distributed, to the relief of many. Others are resigned to riding it out until populations reach herd immunity, when most people will have been exposed to the disease. In either case, many believe at some point things will get back to normal.

But will they?

What if the COVID pandemic goes on longer than we expect? What if new, more contagious strains develop that are resistant to vaccines? Or, what if this is only the beginning of far worse diseases we have never dreamed of?

This program isn’t going to forecast never-ending doom and gloom. That’s not our belief or our focus. There is a lot of good news to talk about. God has a plan for our world. But we also must be realistic and face the future honestly. Something that is all too rare today.

We tell you the truth at Tomorrow’s World. And that truth involves warnings about perilous times to come, and the hope that springs from the pages of your Bible.

Long Term Effects of COVID-19 on the World

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID pandemic hit with a vengeance. Within a matter of months, nations all over the world were scrambling to react to the crisis. The pandemic has been blamed for a multitude of problems, including a spike in mental illness. Notice what the New York Times magazine reported on January 21, 2021:

“Even before we entered this darkest of winters, when Covid-19 is relentlessly causing more and more sickness and death — not to mention additional stress, isolation and economic pain — there was evidence suggesting that significantly more people have thought about ending their lives during the pandemic than in recent years” (Will the Pandemic Result in More Suicides?” NYTimes.com, January 21, 2021).

Only time will tell how greatly this pandemic has affected the mental health of people all over the world. But early signs are not good.

The COVID pandemic also punched massive holes in economies around the world. How bad is it? Notice what was reported in The Economist magazine on January 9, 2021:

“The economic toll of the covid-19 pandemic is incalculable... The semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report released this week... calculates that the world economy probably shrank by 4.3% in 2020, a setback matched only by the Depression and the two world wars. But this dramatic figure still understates the cost. It measures the world economy’s fall from where it was before the pandemic, not from where it would have been had the virus not spread” (“What is the economic cost of covid-19?” Economist.com, January 7, 2021).

How bad will it get? The article goes on to say the crisis could ultimately be responsible for $10 trillion of lost revenue in economies around the world, in 2020 and 2021. These are not theoretical numbers. Most of us have friends or family who have lost businesses or wages. We’ve seen it first-hand. Or, we’ve experienced it ourselves. It’s a serious crisis.

And, of course, the disease itself has taken the lives of people all over the world. The “Our World in Data” website tracks this. According to their figures, 2.47 million people have died around the world because of COVID, as of February 21, 2021 (“Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19),” Statistics and Research, OurWorldinData.org). Most of us have been touched by this disease to one degree or another. Maybe you’ve watched a friend suffer or even die. Perhaps your own spouse, or a parent. You may have contracted it yourself. We can’t overstate the suffering some have experienced because of this disease.

We can all agree, this crisis has been a crushing blow to millions around the world. The hope is that the worst is behind us. But even if it is, even if new variants don’t arise, what about the future? Will it really be over?

As I said in the beginning, we need to look squarely at reality. Scientists expect more extreme diseases to come, from viruses we’ve never faced. Back in 2018, the Economist ran an article that talked about “disease X.” Disease X was a theoretical pathogen, named by the World Health Organization, to represent a yet unknown disease. The author states:

“By listing Disease X, an undetermined disease, the WHO is acknowledging that outbreaks do not always come from an identified source and that, as it admits, “a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease” (“What is Disease X?” Economist.com, May 23, 2018).

What a statement! Who would have known, back in 2018, what we’d be going through today. What the WHO was trying to do was prepare not just for diseases they knew about, but those that are as yet unknown. But what is that saying? What that means is they expected new diseases to arise. And the lesson recent history has taught us is a new virus can plow into the world like a tornado. What about the next one?

In more recent times, other virus hunters have echoed the same thing. Peter Piot (“Pea - Uht”), is a special advisor on the coronavirus to the European Commission President. He’s a well-known micro-biologist from Belgium who has spent much of his life studying viruses. His most notable work was playing a role in discovering the ebola virus. On September 23, 2020 an interview of him was posted by the Politico website. It was entitled, “Belgian virus hunter warns of looming ‘age of pandemics’.” Notice what Mr. Piot said in this interview:

“The frequency of epidemics is ‘really increasing,’ he noted, with many of these viruses — like SARS and Ebola — coming from animals. Viruses that might have remained local could be spreading more easily due to widespread travel, he suggested. ‘But now, something happens in a city that most people never heard of — Wuhan — and boom, goes to the whole world,’ he said... Piot said that he spent the last six years giving speeches titled: ‘Are we ready for the next pandemic?’” (“Belgian virus hunter warns of looming ‘age of pandemics,’” Politico.eu, September 23, 2020).

You may recall that our lead presenter Gerald Weston also explained the source of many of these viruses, on a previous telecast. It was entitled, “Why Does God Allow Pandemics?” In that telecast, he explained that many viruses come not just from animals, but from humans eating animals God never intended to be eaten. The Bible calls them “unclean.” If you’d like to review that telecast, you can find it on TomorrowsWorld.org.

Mr. Piot has been warning the world for years. Were we ready for COVID? Is he correct when he says we may be entering an age of pandemics?

This is not the first time we’ve been warned about diseases on the horizon. In the early 1990s, my wife had a microbiology college professor tell his class that he worried about the future. His concern was the overuse of antibiotics, and the growth of viruses resistant to antibiotics. He said, “We may come to a point where we are forced to go back to praying at the bedside of the sick.”

What a statement. Do you realize you don’t have to wait for a deadly illness to ask for God’s merciful healing?

Future Outbreaks Predicted

The experts tell us we should expect unknown diseases in the future. And frankly, they’ve been warning us for years. It’s not if, but when. And because of our modern transportation, it’s very difficult to limit an outbreak to one place. It quickly spreads all over the world.

I quoted from scientific experts in the last segment, but now let’s look at Bible prophecy. What do we learn from the Bible?

Way back at the time of Moses, God issued harsh warnings to the ancient nation of Israel if they would disobey Him. Notice what it says in Deuteronomy 28:58–59:

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses” (Deuteronomy 28:58–59).

Longtime viewers of Tomorrow’s World know the Bible shows many of our Western nations today are actually descendants of the ancient nation of Israel. And much of prophecy is dual. There is an end-time fulfillment, as well.

More and more Western cultures blatantly disregard biblical values of human life and sexuality and morality. Greed, pride, and violence are the norm. As our sins mount, God may allow more diseases to come on us to wake us up!

Now, does this mean every time someone gets sick and even dies, it’s divine judgment? No. We all age and will grow old if we live long enough! And all of us will suffer from SOME health issues at some point in our life. And we will even die—that’s part of life.

At the same time, we’ve got to realize, God in His word says He sometimes uses disease epidemics to get His people’s attention. Notice, going on, in Deuteronomy 28:60:

“Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:60–61).

Bible prophecy also shows judgments coming on the whole world, as a result of sin. Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, His disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His coming. After warning of deception and wars, notice what He said in Matthew 24:7–8:

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7–8).

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pestilence as:

“[A] contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating” (“Pestilence,” Merriam-Webster.com).

Note this carefully. This is not us claiming to know what the future holds; it’s a direct prophecy coming from the words of your Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. These are HIS words, and if we are a believer in Jesus Christ, we need to take note. Disease epidemics will come.

Now, He didn’t say we should be anxious and worried about it. In fact, in verse 6 He said, “See that you are not troubled.” Through Christ, we can have peace—even in difficult times to come. But we also must take His warning seriously.

Toward the end of the first century, the Apostle John saw a vision of the future. He recorded it in the Book of Revelation. After the prophesied seven seals, and the seven trumpet plagues, we read of the “seven last plagues.” Notice how the fifth plague is described, in Revelation 16:10–11:

“Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 16:10–11).

We humans can be extremely hard headed. Even when the last plagues come, to wake up a sinning mankind, some will stubbornly refuse to repent of their sins.

Turning to God for Healing—How Strong is Your Faith?

So, what should we do?

Let’s face it, we are all physical. We all are subject to the ravages of time, age and at some point, disease.At some point we will die. It’s the normal cycle of life and death. But because we are physical, and our God is loving, He has also given us the blessing of divine healing.

When Jesus began His ministry, He immediately began preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. But He also cast out demons and healed the sick. People came from all over to be healed. He saw their suffering and had compassion on them.

Let’s look at one particular case. A ruler came and asked Him to help his young daughter. She was sick and close to death. Jesus agreed to go with him, but on the way, something else happened. This is found in Mark 5:25–26:

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:25–26).

There are always those who are ready to prey on the vulnerable. That hasn’t changed, has it? At the same time, we know of outstanding examples in the medical field today who use their expertise and training to really serve their fellow man. Many of them have put their lives on the line in this time, fighting infectious diseases; for that, we’re grateful.

But think about it. No matter how dedicated physicians may be, they are still limited. There are times when they have done all they can do, and can do no more. They cannot heal in the ultimate sense. Only God can heal. And Jesus did heal this woman. Mark 5:27:

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”” (Mark 5:27–28).

And He did make her well. That’s the power Jesus had. That’s the power of your and my Savior. And He still does heal—I’ve personally witnessed that in my life. And maybe you have, too. That needs to be real to us. Because He is real.

Jesus proceeded to the house of the ruler who had requested His help. When He got there, He heard the sad news: the little girl had already died. In fact, there were already mourners in the house. We pick up the story in Mark 5:36:

“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’… Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.… But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying” (Mark 5:36, 38, 40).

Notice, when Jesus healed, He didn’t make a big show of it. There was no fanfare, no spotlight, no sleight-of-hand. In fact, as we see here, He made all those who were wailing and carrying on leave the house. Then, those remaining were just a few, with the parents. It was a quiet, private matter. And this is what He did, as told in Mark 5:41:

“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:41–43).

He healed her. Actually, He raised her from the dead! Not with a lot of noise and production. In fact, He told them, don’t make a big deal of this to others! He wasn’t seeking a crowd. Healing was a part of His MINISTRY, as a sign of Who He was. And, He did it simply out of compassion for these desperate people.

Does God heal today? Absolutely. Notice what James 5:14–15 says:

“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” (James 5:14–15).

The Living Church of God has dedicated ministers around the globe. One of their duties is to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil. It’s not a strange or unusual ritual. It’s just a simple, quiet prayer with the one who is sick and the anointing of the person with a tiny bit of olive oil. It’s done just as it says here in James 5:14. God does heal. I’ve seen it myself, with my own eyes.

Now, are there times when we ask for God’s healing and we don’t get better immediately? Absolutely. We must understand, God has a plan for us. And His ultimate priority is to get us into His kingdom. And that means He sometimes allows us to suffer, to learn about trusting Him and having faith in Him. Paul learned that when He asked God for deliverance from a trial and was not delivered. Notice the answer from God to Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We sometimes learn the most by learning to wait and be patient. Even so, God does want us to ask when we need help.

And notice something else. As it describes in Acts 19:11, there were times when Paul could not pray over someone in person, and in those cases he would pray over and anoint a cloth that would then be sent to that person, who would then apply the cloth to themselves in prayer. Let’s read it together:

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11–12).

The Living Church of God follows that practice as well, sending out anointed cloths to those who ask, in genuine faith, to be healed.

Jesus Christ Cares About Your Health and Future

Earlier in today’s program, I mentioned the micro-biology professor saying there would come a time when we would again have to pray at the bedside of the sick. But think about it; Are we only going to do that when we are absolutely forced to? Or, can we begin to seek God now, every day, to guide us and teach us—and heal us—when we’re sick? The answer is obvious; God wants us to seek Him now.

In John 10:10, notice what Jesus Christ said, as recorded by the apostle John:

“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” (John 10:10).

God wants to give us eternal life, through the resurrection. But He also wants us to enjoy the blessings of life now—and that includes divine healing.

Look to God. Realize that COVID may just be a blip on the radar. But we can be prepared for whatever comes next, if we have faith and trust in God.

Hey, it’s me again! Thank you for watching and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you’d like a copy of our free booklet Does God Heal Today? go to TWtv.org/heal or click the link in the description. See you next time.

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

The Spirit RealM: What Do You Know About It?

There is more to the world than what we can see. Beyond the physical realm we can see, touch, feel, and hear, there is an invisible realm—the spirit world, inhabited by both angels and demons. This world impacts us in many ways, but truth about it is sparse. Most people’s beliefs about angels and demons are built upon rumors, speculations, and bad religion. However, Almighty God—the Creator of the spirit world—reveals the truth we need in His word.

Join us right now on Tomorrow’s World as we look at six myths about angels and demons and expose them to the light of Scripture.

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible. And when it comes to making sense of your world, that includes the INVISIBLE part of your world—the SPIRIT world. Today we will look at six myths that many people believe about angels and demons and replace them with the truth of God’s word.

When it comes to angels and demons, regrettably, myths and misunderstandings abound! So many people believe so many different things about these denizens of the spirit realm. But we don’t need to guess, nor do we need to shrug our shoulders and say we simply don’t know. Because if anyone knows the TRUTH about the spirit realm, and about angels and demons, it’s God. And He reveals that truth in his word. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Myth #1: Our first myth is that there is no such thing as the Devil or demons. [That] Satan is just a symbol for evil in the world.

This sort of statement is commonly made by individuals who see themselves as too “enlightened” to believe in tales of a “pointy-tailed” devil with a pitchfork and horns, and by those who have innocently believed them.

But it is false. There IS a very real devil. He is alive. He is intelligent. He is evil. And He is a spirit being who influences people, governments, and events in this world. On this fact, the Bible is extremely plain.

Jesus speaks very plainly of this malevolent entity in many passages, such as in Matthew 12. There, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting demons out by the power of the devil, and Jesus responds,

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (vv. 25–26).

So, not only is Satan referred to as a very real individual here, but Jesus also notes that he has a kingdom of demons under him.

And in Luke 22:31, we read of a warning Jesus gave to Simon Peter about how the devil had set his sights on the disciple:

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

We will speak more about the personhood and personality of Satan later in the program. But, clearly, the Bible and the Son of God, Himself, speak of the devil and his demons as real, personal entities, not some vague, impersonal “force” or “evil influence.” Such beliefs are simply myths.

Myth #2: So here is our next myth: Angels are the spirits of dead human beings.

This is a common belief among more people than you might think. Pop culture reinforces the idea, going back, for instance, to the old 1959 song “Teen Angel” and the 1969 movie “The Littlest Angel.” But the idea persists, and some think that, when good people die, they BECOME angels in heaven. Sometimes at a funeral or speaking with a loved one of a recently deceased person, you will hear words of comfort, for instance, in which someone says that, quote, “Heaven has gained another angel.”

But this is a myth, and wrong on many accounts. First, upon death, humans do not live again until their resurrection. This fact of a future resurrection is made plain in many places in your Bible, such as Paul’s comment to Felix in Caesarea:

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15).

Even so, it is also incorrect because human beings and angels are completely DIFFERENT categories of living beings. Humans are created in God’s own image with a startling potential NOT to be angels, but to be a part of God’s own family, inheriting all things under Jesus Christ.

As for angels, they were created—among other possible reasons—to SERVE mankind. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 1, we read,

And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire”… Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (vv. 7, 14).

Angels are to SERVE, at God’s direction, human beings who will inherit salvation. That inheritance highlights the difference between humans and angels, when we understand it. Actually, the difference between angels and humans is far bigger than this, but we’ll discuss that later in our program.

So, are angels the spirits of dead human beings? Not at all. Mankind and “angelkind” are completely different kinds of beings. While they may have some similarities—such as intelligence, moral accountability, and free will—one does NOT come from the other.

Dangerous to Humans, Subservient to God

Myth #3: Satan is God’s opposite, balancing God’s good with the devil’s evil.

Some myths have a seed of truth to them, and this one does. Satan’s CHARACTER is certainly the opposite of God’s in many ways. While God cannot lie and Christ, the Son of God, is called a “life-giving spirit,” the devil is called the father of lies and “a murderer from the beginning.”

But the idea that, somehow, God and the devil “balance our universe” with good and evil, as if Satan is sort of an eternal “anti-God”—like the eastern idea of Yin and Yang—gives the devil far too much credit.

Satan the Devil is a CREATED being, far less powerful than the All-Powerful God, though he was not created AS the devil. No, God created an angel called, in most English Bibles, “Lucifer,” who eventually rebelled against his Creator. We see one of the descriptions of this given in Ezekiel 28. There, in the midst of a passage containing prophecies about the ruler of the ancient city of Tyre, God inspires the prophet Ezekiel to address the demonic power BEHIND the throne, as well, Satan the Devil. Through the prophet, the Lord says to him,

You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you (vv. 14–15).

Pride, vanity, and selfish ambition corrupted the wisdom of this being (vv. 16–17) until he rose in rebellion against his Creator. Isaiah 14 records his rebellious thoughts, as God says through the prophet in verses 13 and 14,

For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”

The result is a thunderous and disastrous defeat for the corrupted angel—just as rebellion against God ALWAYS brings. For now, suffice it to say that there is no equality between God and the Devil in any sense. While God has existed forever and is all powerful, Satan has a beginning and is NOT all powerful. In fact, a time is coming when he will be restrained forever, able to influence others no more for the rest of time. We pray that day comes soon!

In the meantime, let’s look at:

Myth #4: Cherubs look like sweet little children with wings.

It is hard to get farther off the mark than this myth does. Most of us have seen paintings, statues, or other depictions of so-called “cherubs.” They look like sweet, innocent infants or children, often wearing little clothing and usually flying about with little wings.

However, “cherubs”—or /ker’əb/ as it would be more properly pronounced—are nothing like these depictions AT ALL. Cherubs are very real spirit beings—angels who attend to God at His very throne in heaven and serve at His command. Genesis 3:24 tells us that after God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He placed cherubs on the east side of the garden with a flaming sword, preventing mankind from reentering. That doesn’t exactly sound like the job for a bunch of winged infants, does it? It isn’t. Because cherubs are NOT winged infants. We read a description of them in the book of Ezekiel. There, the curtain between us and the spirit world is parted for Ezekiel, and he is allowed to see these beings who are normally hidden from our sight. Here is his description of angelic beings who serve at God’s throne:

And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.… As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle… Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies… [T]heir appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning (Ezekiel 1:5–8, 10–11, 13).

Now, THAT sounds like something that could wield a flaming sword and keep someone out of the Garden of Eden! And Ezekiel makes plain in chapter 10 and verse 20 that these creatures are cherubs—or, as the plural is in Hebrew, cherubim.

Regrettably, popular depictions of angelic creatures are rarely meant to serve biblical accuracy. What we see in paintings, statues, and movies are generally based more on human fantasy than God’s word and meant to serve human purposes, not God’s.

In fact, in our next segment, we’ll address whether we should be representing angels at all, and what dangers may lie in doing so.

Angels Serve, While Demons Rebel

Myth #5 Is that angels and humans had offspring in the ancient past.

This myth is based on a misunderstanding of a statement in Genesis 6. Let’s take a look here in Genesis 6, beginning in verse 1:

Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

In verse 4 it adds,

There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Some have taken the words “sons of God” to mean angels, and they take this passage to imply that sinning angels selected human women to breed with and create a race of half-human, half-angel “hybrids.”

One reason that some believe this is a description of angels having children with human women is the use of the phrase “sons of God,” which is used in the book of Job to refer to angels.

However, the description “sons of God” is not limited to angels in the Old Testament. For instance, through Hosea God promises to Israel that, if they repent, they shall become His people again and shall be called “sons of the living God” (Hosea 1:10).

In fact, in Deuteronomy 14 and verse 1, we read that God declares to Israel, “You are the children of the LORD your God….” The English translation of the New King James Version inadvertently hides the fact that the word translated “children” is exactly the same Hebrew word that is translated “sons” in Genesis 6. So, the idea that this phrasing is used exclusively for the angels is simply false. It is also used to describe human beings.

Add to this the fact that Genesis 1 speaks of creatures reproducing only after their own kind and Jesus Christ’s statement in Luke 20 [vv. 34–36] plainly says that angels do not marry.

Even the mention of “giants” in Genesis 6 doesn’t support this myth, as nowhere does Genesis 6:4 say that the “giants” were the offspring of this union—in fact, it says that such giant humans were already in the world before these marriages. Note, it says, “There were giants on the earth in those days, AND ALSO AFTERWARD….”

There are a number of ways that Genesis 6 can be understood, but the answer must always be consistent with the REST of the Bible. As Jesus Himself warns us in John 10:35,

“…the Scripture cannot be broken….”

The biblical evidence weighs heavily against this myth, which, frankly, belongs more in the realm of science fiction and perverse fantasy. In fact, to say that an angel can produce a child in the world is potentially blasphemous, given that the Bible describes only God as producing a son through the miraculous pregnancy of Mary—and a future family of sons through the Work He and His Son are doing in the Church of God that Christ founded.

Myth #6: This brings us to our sixth and final myth of today’s program: Angels can be worshiped, revered, or even prayed to.

To be sure, angels are very real spirit beings, and, as we noticed earlier, God tells us that He made them to serve and care for humanity as we progress on our path toward salvation. But we can’t allow knowing this to cause us to fixate on them or begin to give them the sort of honor that should be reserved for God alone—or to give them the kind of attention that the Bible forbids.

For instance, in the book of Revelation, when the Apostle John was overwhelmed during the vision Christ had given him, he fell down at the feet of one of the angels who was guiding him. But notice how this angel responds:

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (Revelation 22:9).

That’s how righteous angels respond. They do not want attention and they recognize that only God should be worshiped. Meanwhile, how do demonic, fallen angels respond? We see that in the devil’s example at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Read the account in Matthew 4. There, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, noting that he had the power to give Jesus those kingdoms. He only asked one thing: “All these things I will give You [Satan said] if You will fall down and worship me” (v. 9).

Unlike righteous angels, who understand that only God the Father and the Son of God deserve our worship, adoration, and reverence, the fallen angels SEEK that attention and worship for themselves.

Rather than pray to angels or risk giving them a place in our lives that only God should occupy, we should do as as Jesus Christ did and resist temptation saying with Him,

Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him ONLY you shall serve” (v. 10).

This is one of many reasons why we should not decorate our home, clothing, or jewelry with images or statues of angels. Not only do such images often differ from the Bible’s descriptions of angels, but God plainly forbids crafting images of beings in heaven for religious purposes. And righteous angels have no INTEREST in being depicted, unlike Satan and the demons, who crave such attention. God’s angels redirect attention to HIM, not to themselves. In fact, the Apostle Paul notes that sometimes Christians interact with angels and aren’t even aware (Hebrews 13:2). Because righteous angels want your attention directed to their Creator, not to themselves.

Those are our six myths, but more important than all of them is one, very important TRUTH. One of the most important truths about the spirit world that few human beings on earth understand, yet every angel and demon surely does.

Mankind’s True Destiny as Part of God’s Family

As we close today, we need to discuss one more vital difference between humanity and angels—a difference we alluded to earlier in our program.

We pointed out that human beings do not become angels. But what do they become, then? The destiny of humanity is very much related to the angels and the spirit realm, but it is very different than many understand.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul to those in ancient Corinth who were dragging their fellow Christians to worldly, pagan courts, instead of seeking wise individuals in the Church to help them settle their problems:

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2–3).

Indeed, those who yield to Jesus Christ and God the Father in this life will actually one day JUDGE ANGELS. Human beings are destined for something so much greater and more glorious than any angel will ever experience. God’s plan is not to help each of us one day “join the angels.” His plan is to help each of us join HIM—as members of the Family of God, ruling, reigning, and inheriting all things.

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

Putting Faith in the Bible

Is the Bible the word of God? Or is it merely the writings of delusional men? According to one of today’s most outspoken anti-god crusaders, it’s the latter. One can hear the disdain coming from Richard Dawkins when he declared in The God Delusion:

To be fair, much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents, composed, revised, translated, distorted and “improved” by hundreds of anonymous authors, editors and copyists, unknown to us and mostly unknown to each other, spanning nine centuries (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, 2006, p. 90).

On the surface, Dawkins may sound good to those who have an anti-biblical bias, or are simply ignorant of the Bible, but his facts are not quite correct, and he fails to see the overall picture and the unity of thought found in this remarkable book. So what is the answer to the question? Is the book we know of as the Bible the word of God or the work of men?

I’ll answer this question today on Tomorrow’s World, and give you three reasons you can have confidence in the Bible. And I’ll also be offering a resource to further strengthen your understanding, so be sure to have writing material available on how to receive a free copy of The Bible: Fact or Fiction? And stay tuned, as I’ll be right back!

Evolution or God?

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World. I’m happy you’re joining us today, because you need to know the answer to the question, “Is the book that we call the Bible the word of God, or the work of mere men?” You may believe that it is or that it isn’t, but have you, not just believed, but have you proved the answer to this question for yourself? You need to know for sure, because how you answer this question has a great impact on how you live your life. Is this book reliable? Can you count on its teachings and its promises, such as the promise of life after death?

You need to prove this one way or the other, and I’m asserting today that you can prove the Bible is more than the work of mere men. It’s the work of the Creator of life—the One who knows best how we ought to live our lives, and the One who has a plan for you and for me. To accompany today’s program, we are offering a resource that gives even more information on this subject, so be sure to take down the contact information that will be shown at different times during this program to receive a free copy of The Bible: Fact or Fiction?

Where do we start in proving the Bible? The answer is that we start with whether there is a God who inspired it. To prove the Bible we have to prove God. So:

Reason #1: The Author of the Bible is real, and you can prove His existence

The theory of evolution has become a great destroyer of faith and from a very young age we are bombarded in nature programs and in school with the idea that life wasn’t created, but is the result of evolutionary processes. And individuals such as Dawkins ridicule those who believe in God.

Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is the belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence (“Editorial: A scientist’s case against God,” The Independent, April 20, 1992).

In the mind of Dawkins, belief in God is based on blind faith, but evolution, on the other hand, is founded on factual evidence. However, not all evolutionists share his disdain, but recognize that evolution also requires faith. In a February 13, 1993 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in which the topic under discussion was how to deal with “The New Antievolutionism,” Michael Ruse, a giant in the field of evolution and philosophy, made the following revealing statement:

And certainly, there’s no doubt about it, that in the past, and I think also in the present, for many evolutionists, evolution has functioned as something with elements which are, let us say, akin to being a secular religion (“Speech by Professor Michael Ruse,” ARN.org, February 13, 1993).

Now lest any misunderstand, Ruse is a hardline evolutionist, and he made that abundantly clear in his symposium speech and in his answers to questions presented to him. Yet, he continued with his admissions that evolution is a secular religion:

But I am coming here and saying, I think that philosophically that one should be sensitive to what I think history shows, namely, that evolution…akin to religion, involves making certain a priori or metaphysical assumptions, which at some level cannot be proven empirically (ibid.).

While Dawkins and many others ridicule faith in God as lacking evidence, it would serve them well, as Ruse was trying to explain to those in attendance at the symposium, to look in the mirror and admit their own faith in their Darwinian god.

Now, we cannot prove that God exists by disproving evolution, but frankly, what are the alternatives? If evolution is shown to be a false religion, maybe one needs to look more closely at that alternative.

This brings me to a crucial point of scientific fact. Before evolution you first must have life, and life rising spontaneously is simply impossible.

The Miracle of Life in a Cell

Life evolving from some primordial soup sounds so inviting, a sure thing. Give the right conditions and it has to happen, but does it? How easy is it to put together a living organism, no matter how “simple”?

Michael Denton highlights what all knowledgeable biologists must admit—life is complex beyond belief:

Although the tiniest bacterial cells are incredibly small… each is in effect a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery… far more complicated than any machine built by man and absolutely without parallel in the non-living world (Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Denton, 1986, p. 250).

Now think about that. “The tiniest bacterial cells” are “far more complicated than any machine built by man.” And that, my friends, is no exaggeration. He states further:

The complexity of the simplest known type of cell is so great that it is impossible to accept that such an object could have been thrown together suddenly by some kind of freakish, vastly improbable, event. Such an occurrence would be indistinguishable from a miracle (Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Denton, p. 264).

The next time a news report comes out about finding water on some distant rock, as though that’s all that’s needed for life, consider this statement from evolutionist Bill Bryson in his new book The Body:

You could call together all the brainiest people who are alive now or have ever lived and endow them with the complete sum of human knowledge, and they could not between them make a single living cell… (The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Bill Bryson, 2019, p. 4).

Congratulations to all evolutionists on your unmatched faith. In the next paragraph he refers to life as a “miracle.” Bryson understands that DNA is needed to make our cells, but what is DNA? He says:

Your DNA is simply an instruction manual for making you. (ibid, p. 6).

But how did this instruction manual come to be? Who wrote the code? And get this: It takes protein machines to carry out the instructions to make the proteins. How did the first proteins come into being?

Now if life did not arise by chance, then the best inference is that there is a God of intelligence beyond our imagination and our very existence calls for the question, why? Why do we exist—for what purpose? And would that Creator not give us understanding to that purpose? So where might we look for His revelation? Could it be that the marvelous book known as the Bible is the answer?

Bible Prophecy Fulfilled

[Our first point was] Reason #1: The Author of the Bible is real, and you can prove His existence, and #2: Fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible is the word of God.

It may surprise you to learn that one-fourth to one-third of the Bible is prophecy. And through the words of this amazing book, One claims to be God Almighty, the One who can foretell history in advance. Notice this challenge found in Isaiah 46, and verses 9 and 10:

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” (Isaiah 46:9–10).

Has God through the Bible accurately predicted the future? Yes, He has. Many easy to understand prophecies have already come to pass, such as some found in the book of Daniel.

Shortly after taking the throne of the Chaldean (or Babylonian) empire, King Nebuchadnezzar had an unusually realistic dream. In it he saw an image of a man and Daniel was called to interpret its meaning. Here is how Daniel described Nebuchadnezzar’s image—Daniel 2, beginning in verse 32:

This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces (Daniel 2:32–34).

Daniel then explained that the head of gold represented Nebuchadnezzar and his Chaldean kingdom and that there would be three kingdoms to follow. Notice it in verses 39 and 40:

But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others (Daniel 2:39–40).

History confirms the following four kingdoms:

Babylon

Medo-Persian Empire

Greco-Macedonian Empire

Roman Empire

The descriptions of these four world powers are given greater detail in Daniel 7 and Revelation chapters 13 and 17, but we won’t take time on this program to go into those details. However, in the eighth chapter of Daniel, very specific details are given regarding the relationship between the two middle kingdoms where they are described as a ram and a goat...

The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king (Daniel 8:20–22).

True to this prophecy, Alexander the Great of Macedonia rose up on the Grecian peninsula and overthrew the Medes and the Persians. His empire stretched from Greece to India and south into Egypt. We read further in this prophecy that, upon his death in 323 BC, his kingdom would be divided among four of his generals into four separate kingdoms. Daniel 8:22,

As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power (Daniel 8:22).

While we have past prophecies that we can look to, and there are far more than most people can imagine, there are other prophecies that are happening right now before our eyes. As we have shown on this program numerous times, Daniel accurately describes the time of the end as being a time of great knowledge and transportation explosions. Notice it in 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 (Daniel 12:4).

And there are many, and I mean many, prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. After all, the Bible contains one-fourth to one-third prophecy and that is a lot of prophecy.

There is yet another proof of the Bible that I want to give you today.

God’s Ways Work

The first reason we covered on today’s program is:

Reason #1: The Author of the Bible is real, and you can prove His existence

Reason #2: Fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible is the word of God

Now for our third reason:

Reason #3: The proof of the pudding is in the eating

To put it another way, God knows best how we ought to live our lives. Consider this challenge given in the book of Deuteronomy in 30:19:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

That is the challenge set before each and every one of us. But the Bible also reveals something important about our nature—we would rather trust our own judgment than that of our Creator. This point is made in numerous scriptures as well as the recorded history of man, but notice how it is put succinctly in Proverbs 14:12. Where it says,

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).

God reveals that there are two ways of life. One leads to all kinds of blessings and life. The other leads to trouble ending in death. Man’s proclivity is to choose the latter. So let’s see how the Bible gives us the right way to live.

One of the Ten Commandments says very simply,

You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).

Now I’ve chosen this one because we might all agree that murder and stealing are not good—at least not good for the other person—but rejecting the temptation to commit adultery not only benefits others, but obedience to this command protects the self. Sadly, many in our world violate this command. Most rational people recognize that adultery is a scourge on society that hurts marriages, children, and individuals who commit this sin. As we are advised in 1 Corinthians 6:18,

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Does anyone disagree that sexually transmitted diseases are only one negative result of sexual immorality? These diseases could be wiped out in a single generation if these intimate acts were confined to faithful, monogamous marriage relations. Yet, human reason allows for people to argue otherwise against all observable wisdom and facts. One could cite many examples of how God knows best, but I want to focus on another example of God’s law as revealed in the Bible, and it’s one that the whole world is currently paying a heavy price for rejecting.

God, out of loving concern, gave mankind laws of clean and unclean meats. He told us what is good for man to eat and what is not. The distinction is first mentioned in the flood account where Noah was told to take animals aboard the Ark, but not all animals were the same. Notice it in Genesis 7:2:

You shall take with you SEVEN each of every clean animal, a male and his female; TWO each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female (Genesis 7:2).

This was centuries before Moses. However, the Bible waits until Moses to delineate the differences between clean and unclean. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 spell out those differences. The majority of mankind rejects these instructions and the result in one word? Coronavirus.

The year 2020 will go down in history as the year COVID-19 devastated the lives and economies of individuals and nations. Whether the coronavirus came from a “wet market” or from a biohazard lab, the origin is the horseshoe bat. Since the 2003–2004 SARS outbreak, this bat, and the coronavirus it carries, has been studied extensively, as it is believed to be the source of that outbreak. However, even though bats are used in Chinese medicine and at the dinner table in China, these viruses normally have to first infect another animal before they can spread human to human.

Popular Science published an article during the SARS crisis in which it stated the following:

In theory, SARS leapt from a wild beast to a human when it acquired the molecular “keys” to gain entry to our cells, explains [Michael] Lai. To do that, it may have first mingled with a human virus brewing inside another species. A pig, for example, can serve as a genetic mixing bowl when co-infected with two viruses, allowing them to swap genes (“SARS: Where Did It Come From?” PopSci.com, July 2, 2003).

The article goes on to make this remarkable statement:

“The fact that both SARS and most flu viruses originated in southern China is no surprise,” says virologist Michael Lai, who believes that the region’s social customs of catching and eating wild game expose people to animal viruses (ibid.).

Now consider the profound implications of this. The cause of most flu viruses is known and if you stop the cause, you stop the flu. Wild game is not the problem, but the KIND of wild game is. Note that the bat and pig are both listed as unclean according to the Bible. So are camels, primates (such as monkeys), and other exotic foods eaten in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere in the world. Ebola, MERS, the Nipah Virus, the 1918 flu pandemic, COVID-19, and many other diseases are the result of handling biblically unclean meats. While scientists have figured this out, humanity in general has not. We’ve failed to discover God’s revealed truth as shown in the Bible. We think we can reject His revelation and get away with it. So who’s smarter? We will do well to respect God’s instruction book for mankind.

You can prove the Bible to be the word of God. And as we have seen on today’s program:

Reason #1: The Author of the Bible is real, and you can prove His existence

Reason #2: Fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible is the word of God

Reason #3: The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Thank you for watching. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. And if you’d like to get our free booklet The Bible: Fact or Fiction, just click here. See you next time.

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

Who Can Save Us from Ourselves?

Human beings have failed to establish lasting world peace. The 20^th century experienced two world wars. The Second World War climaxed with two atomic bombs killing more than an estimated 200,000 people in Japan in 1945. Since then, nine nations have produced even more powerful weapons of mass destruction.

How can human beings prevent total cosmocide, the death of every living thing on the face of the earth? At the end of World War I, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proposed a league of nations that would work together for world peace. After World War II, in 1945, the United Nations was formed for the same purpose. And yet, the 193 member-states of the U.N. have not established the way to lasting world peace. Many millions have followed History Channel programs on ancient aliens and modern UFOs. But did you know that the Creator of heaven and earth originally assigned a great spirit being, an Archangel, and his millions of angelic followers to govern planet earth? The same spirit being was even called “the ruler of this world” by Jesus Christ Himself!

Since human beings have failed to establish lasting world peace, could more powerful beings than humans bring us peace? Your Bible reveals the good news of a coming world ruling government, a government consisting of powerful, loving spirit beings who will rule the world. Unbelievable? Your Bible guarantees it!

My friends, your Bible reveals the world ahead. You can read about this coming world-ruling government in our inspiring free resource we’re offering today, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy.

Will powerful spirit beings rule the world? Or will mankind by itself finally succeed in establishing world peace?

Stay tuned!

Will It Be Extraterrestrials?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Most human beings are yearning for lasting world peace. And yet, the history of the world testifies to our failure to produce lasting peace among all nations. Who can save us? Some researchers and television viewers have been intrigued by government UFO investigations or unidentified flying objects. Others claim aliens from outer space have historically established colonies on planet earth and that they are even now infiltrating planet earth.

My friends, will human civilization survive? Or will beings from outer space take over the earth? Your Bible reveals an awesome future that answers these questions. On today’s program, we’ll examine the amazing future revealed in your Bible that guarantees a world of peace, ruled by spirit beings, called the Kingdom of God.

Are alien beings visiting the earth? Are there aliens who want to help us? On July 8, 1947, a headline in the Roswell Daily Record announced: “Roswell Army Air Field Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region.” A few days later, authorities retracted the report and said the “saucer” was just a crashed weather balloon. But the public imagination had been stirred, and has remained ever since. New York Times op-ed writer Luke Sharrett made this observation about the Roswell phenomenon: “In Roswell, some of humanity’s foundational yearnings hide in plain sight. Look no farther than the tourist-trap T-shirt rack: ‘The truth is out there.’ ‘I want to believe.’ ‘Aliens please abduct me.’ Absolute truth exists. Our souls long for something to believe in. Things here on earth are not as they should be. The T-shirts know. We are desperate to find meaning in our lives. We search for answers to the tough questions. Who are we? Why are we here? Who will heal our messed-up world?” (“Roswell’s Mysteries are Life’s Mysteries,” July 8, 2017).

My friends, the answers to these questions will not be answered by aliens from outer space. But there will be loving spirit beings who will answer those questions in the coming glorious kingdom revealed in your Bible. In fact, the Tomorrow’s World television program, magazine, and free study resources have answered these three questions numerous times. Who are we? Why are we here? Who will heal our messed-up world? Let me refer you to our inspiring telecast “What Is the Meaning of Life?” by fellow presenter Mr. Wallace Smith. Just search on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org. Yes, your Bible gives the astounding and amazing answers to these questions.

Let’s take a glimpse of the coming Kingdom of God under the great spirit ruler called in your Bible the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yes, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will come to earth with His spirit army to bring the world peace. He is called “the prince of peace” in Isaiah 9:6. He is also called the Lamb of God in John 1:29. John the Baptist proclaimed: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Revelation 6:16–17 tells us that the Lamb will be filled with wrath when He judges rebellious nations. How will the world accept the new one-world government of the King of kings? Human armies represented by ten national kings will actually fight against Christ at His coming! Revelation 17:12, “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 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.”

HUMAN armies will fight a great and powerful spirit army coming from God’s throne in heaven. Hard to believe? Consider these comments by USA Today opinion columnist Glenn Harlan Reynolds: “… the U.S. government is taking the possibility of aliens visiting Earth a lot more seriously than has been the case in the past…. We can hope, of course, that a sufficiently advanced alien civilization might have evolved past violence, though the evidence that our civilization is doing so is not entirely compelling…. Given the number of alien contact movies in the past few decades, it is more likely that angels visiting Earth would be greeted as aliens than that aliens visiting Earth would be greeted as angels (“In 2020, anything’s possible,” July 29, 2020).

But human armies will fail in their attempt to overcome the great spirit army of Jesus Christ. And your Bible affirms that angelic spirit beings will accompany His coming to earth from heaven. Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory….”

We’ll see later that not only will the holy angels accompany Christ at His coming, but the saints of God, genuine Christians, will be resurrected as Spirit-born children of God. They will be Spirit kings and priests, as it tells us in Revelation 5:10, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

My friends, a new world is coming, a new age called in Hebrews 2:5 the world to come. What will that world be like? But what spirit beings NOW control much of the earth’s destructive ways of life? And why must our current world systems be replaced?

Can Mankind Become Like God?

Since HUMAN beings have failed to establish lasting world peace, could more powerful SPIRIT beings from outer space establish and enforce lasting world peace? Our world has experienced many forms of government. The ancient city-state of Babylon, ruled by the tyrant Nimrod, was one of those experiments, described in Genesis chapter 11. Down through time, some of those governments became powerful empires, and others turned to powerful dictatorships that have written a world history of conflict, blood, and wars. Ariel and Will Durant analyzed that record in their book, The Lessons of History: “In the last 3,421 years of recorded history only 268 have seen no war.”

What human history has demonstrated and should be teaching us to this day is that government in the hands of selfish human beings does not produce lasting world peace. But your Bible reveals the awesome solution to the problem of human nature. God is calling sinners to become converted Christians. They are called to overcome human nature and grow in godly spiritual nature. They are called to conform to the loving example of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as it tells us in Romans 8:29. They grow in the nature of Christ as the Apostle Peter exhorted all Christians in 2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Christians overcome carnal human nature as God creates in His begotten children His divine nature. God has given true Christians “… exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (1 Peter 1:4).

Your Bible gives numerous examples of righteous servants of God whose selfish nature was changed to a loving, godly nature. The book of Acts in your Bible records the hostile acts of a Pharisee named Saul who attacked Christians and was even consenting to their deaths (Acts 26:10). Saul was later converted and became a zealous Apostle. He admitted his former destructive character in Galatians 1:14, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” But God had mercy on him: “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:14–16).

My friends, God will extend mercy on you also, IF you humble yourself before God, repent and are baptized as it tells us in Acts 2:38. Yes, in all the world’s nearly eight billion human beings, God is changing the nature of many thousands, demonstrating the loving power of God in heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have been convicted of your sins from the word of God, the Bible, and you have repented of your sins, you may want to counsel for baptism. We have dedicated ministers in many regions around the world who will answer your questions. Just call the number on the screen or contact the regional office nearest you listed on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org.

Today’s Christians are called to become spirit beings in the coming Kingdom of God. That transformation will take place at the return of Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians the 15^th chapter, also referred to as the resurrection chapter, describes that transformation. 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [that is the sleep of death], but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet….”

Regular viewers of Tomorrow’s World know that this refers to the last of seven trumpets described in your Bible in Revelation chapters eight and nine. Revelation 11:15 proclaims the good news of the coming Kingdom of God. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

It’s at the “last trumpet” or the seventh trumpet that the great resurrection of genuine Christians takes place. Continuing in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “… for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” I hope, my friends, that you are praying every day for the Kingdom of God to come to this earth as Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:10.

What will that world-ruling Kingdom be like? How will the world finally enjoy lasting peace and prosperity? Will the earth be ruled by spirit beings?

The Devil and His Fallen Angels Replaced?

My friends, your Bible reveals an amazing history of spirit beings ruling the world. If you have your Bible available, turn to Luke the tenth chapter. Jesus had sent out 70 disciples on a mission. When they came back, they reported the miracles that had taken place through the authority of Jesus’ name. Luke 10:17, “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”

As you read through the gospels in your Bible, you will find several instances where Jesus healed those who were demon possessed. Even today, some individuals who delve deeply into the occult become deceived and demon possessed. But these seventy disciples experienced the spiritual power Christ gave to them to overcome evil spirits. Jesus revealed the history of Satan. Luke 10:18, “And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.’”

God gave Lucifer and his angels responsibility to rule the earth. But they were not satisfied with their God-given responsibilities and foolishly tried to attack God’s throne. The Apostle Jude states they left their original assignment and their sin brought the ultimate judgment on them. Jude, verse 6, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day… .” The King James Version states, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation….”

My friends, you need to pray for God’s Kingdom to come. Jesus Christ and the saints will replace Satan and his demons. As we’ve seen earlier in the program, true Christians will assist the King of kings in ruling planet Earth. True Christians who are faithful will be transformed from mortal to immortal, from human to divine spirit beings at the resurrection when Christ returns as it states in 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. Faithful Christians are now being trained as future kings and priests. Revelation 5:9–10, “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.”

What will be their responsibilities? Jesus stated in the parable of the Minas, that faithful servants would be ruling over cities. Luke 19:17, “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’” Some faithful spirit beings in God’s kingdom will be ruling over nations. Revelation 2:26, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations….”

My friends, your Bible reveals an awesome future, the coming Kingdom of God to this earth. It reveals the government and rulers that will bring peace to all nations. And as it tells us in Zechariah 14:9, “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” You need to learn more about the glorious future of planet earth under the coming Kingdom of God. Our free study guide will give you inspiration, vision, and encourage hope for the future: The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? 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 Judah and Israel and he will have that responsibility in the coming one world government (Ezekiel 37:24).

Will today’s Christians also inherit the Kingdom?

You Can Become Part of the Heavenly Kingdom!

Today’s world is experiencing dramatic challenges. We all should realize the need for a one-world government to solve the conflicts, wars, disease, poverty, and natural disasters. Your Bible reveals the new world to come, tomorrow’s world, governed by loving spirit beings, members of the coming Kingdom of God. The King of kings, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will rule the world from Jerusalem. Read the prophecy in Isaiah the second chapter the response of human beings to the new divine government. Isaiah 2:2, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 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.”

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. Yes, spirit beings will rule the world under the coming Kingdom of God. You can be one of those spirit beings IF you seek that Kingdom as it tells us in Matthew 6:33, and IF you surrender your life to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

 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: [ISAIAH 11:6] “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.”

A new world is coming soon! You need to pray, “Your Kingdom come!” You need to be watching the prophetic trends and signs heralding Christ’s return!

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 booklet, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? for free, click the link in the description. See you next time.

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

A Special Calling From God

Sometimes, it seems the world is coming apart at the seams. It’s easy to wonder where God is in all of this. Does He care? Is He DOING anything?

In fact, yes, He does care, and yes, He is doing something AMAZING—not just in the world, but in the hearts and minds of individual people all over the world.

But what many do not realize is that God is not working with everyone in the same way today. The Bible says He is calling a select few for a special relationship with Him today, and a special role in the years ahead.

You might be one of those people.

Join us today here on Tomorrow’s World as we open up our Bibles and help you answer one of the most important questions you could ever ask yourself: “Is God Calling Me?”

God’s Purpose for Calling You

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of your Bible. Today’s program might seem a little more personal than most of those you’ve seen on our channel. We want to encourage you to ask yourself one of the most important questions you will ever consider: Whether or not God is personally calling you.

You might think, “God is calling EVERYONE, isn’t He?” As we’ll see, the Bible makes it plain that He is not. But then, if He’s not, what is He DOING? Is He only trying to save some and sending the rest off to their doom with no chance for salvation? What does being “called” even mean? On today’s program, we’ll answer these questions and more, and the answers may be the most encouraging news you’ve ever heard.

We’ll also be offering you a free copy of our surprising booklet, What Is a True Christian? So many people sincerely call themselves “Christian,” yet the Bible shows that they don’t fully understand what being a Christian even means. Be sure to watch for the information you need to get your free copy.

Now, before we explain what it means to be “called” by God, I have to warn you. Some of what we’re going to explain—from the pages of your own Bible—will be new to you. In fact, it may contradict things you’ve grown up hearing in church your entire life. But it is the clear witness of the word of God. And to understand what it means to be called by God, and to perceive whether God is calling YOU, we have to begin by clearing away some important MIS-understandings.

For instance, many people seem to view the world around us as an ongoing battle between God and Jesus Christ on one hand and Satan the Devil on the other—where God is trying to save as many as He can before they die and are lost forever, and the Devil is trying to condemn as many as he can.

But, my friends, that idea is utterly FALSE. If it were true—if the world really were a contest between God and the Devil—then be honest with yourself: Wouldn’t you have to conclude that the Devil is winning? Two-thirds of humanity today does not claim to be any part of any of the many flavors of the religion that calls itself “Christianity”—not to mention the vast number who have lived and died throughout history. In fact, most people who have lived and died have never even heard of Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus Christ is the ONLY source of salvation. Speaking of Jesus, the Apostle Peter explains in Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

So, if there is a “great contest” between God and the Devil, then God is losing HORRIBLY. However, I GUARANTEE you, God DOES NOT LOSE! Between God and Jesus Christ and Satan the Devil, there is no contest! God NEVER LOSES!

So, what’s going on, then?

If most of the world seems lost and ignorant of the God of the Bible—and it certainly does—should we just assume that God DOESN’T CARE about the world? Does He just NOT CARE about the fact that the vast majority of the BILLIONS of men, women, and children who have lived and died would be lost to damnation in their sins—most of whom never even had the opportunity to hear the name of their Savior spoken aloud in their hearing?

Not on your life! In fact, your Bible says exactly the opposite.

After all, 1 Timothy 2:6 says that Christ gave Himself as a ransom for ALL people. Chapter 4 and verse 10 of the same book proclaims God as the Savior of ALL people. John 3:16—one of the most widely quotes verses of the Bible—states very plainly that “God so loved the WORLD”—the WHOLE world. No matter our race, ethnicity, or nationality, God longs to bring everyone who has ever lived into a beautiful and loving relationship with Him—a relationship in which He will work to fulfill His purpose for us. As Peter says in his second letter, chapter 3 and verse 9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance.”

If so few are finding salvation today, in our time—and so few have even had the OPPORTUNITY to be saved throughout human history—and yet God expresses His passionate desire that, not the few, but the MANY would find Him and be saved—then the conclusion we can draw is clear: God is simply NOT trying to save the WHOLE WORLD right NOW, at this time!

Preparing a Divine Family to Rule

Rather, God says that in this life NOW He is only BEGINNING His harvest of mankind—saving those He calls His “FIRSTfruits.” As James writes in chapter 1 and verse 18 of his book, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

Those firstfruits will be resurrected and glorified when Jesus Christ returns to set up His Kingdom on earth—ruling with Him and restoring the world over the course of 1,000 years. [On screen: Revelation 20:4–6.]

Then, AFTER that thousand-year period, all who have ever lived but who have never had an opportunity to understand the true gospel of God will be [On screen: Revelation 20:11–13] resurrected to physical life once again and will THEN HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY to choose God’s way of life and have their names written in the Book of Life. Those who utterly refuse to repent and live God’s way will be [On screen: Revelation 20:14–15] destroyed forever in the Lake of Fire, but the rest will enjoy eternity in the Family of God, forever, to inherit the entire universe!

It is a large topic, and I encourage you to visit the Tomorrow’s World website, where you will find MANY, MANY free materials proving and explaining the beautiful plan of God in detail. We don’t want you to merely take our word for these things—we want you to take GOD’S word for it.

But for now, let’s focus on the specific topic we’re examining TODAY. If God is planning a FUTURE time when salvation will be extended in a way it is not today, then what IS He doing today?

God is calling specific individuals in the world to a special relationship with Him, preparing them for their future place in the Family of God and for their future role, directly ruling the world for 1,000 years under Jesus Christ, reigning over the nations of the world as a king and priest by His side.

Now that truth may shock you, but if you open your Bible, you will see that it has been under your nose the entire time.

For instance, notice the plain words of Jesus Christ in John 6:44: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Now my Bible isn’t any different from yours! And Jesus’ words are plain: NO ONE *CAN* come to Jesus Christ UNLESS GOD THE FATHER *CHOOSES* to call him or her at this time! In fact, Jesus reiterates the same point just a few verses later: “And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that NO ONE CAN COME to Me UNLESS it has been GRANTED TO HIM by My Father’” (v. 65).

“NO ONE CAN COME to Me UNLESS it has been GRANTED TO HIM by My Father.”

Can Jesus be any PLAINER than that?

Christ is clearly placing the burden of action on God the Father—telling us that it is GOD who must first CHOOSE to actively draw us to Him. In fact, Jesus reflects this same sentiment to His apostles in John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I CHOSE YOU….” 

Are you willing to listen to the PLAIN TEACHING of the Bible, even when it disagrees with what others say about it, or disagrees with your own preconceived ideas? If so, then, without getting too far ahead of myself, let me say here that THAT is a major indicator that God may be calling you.

These aren’t the only passages that plainly speak of God calling only SOME now and NOT EVERYONE. For instance, consider the famous statement of Acts 2:38, where the Apostle Peter says boldly to the assembled crowd, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL.”

Notice Peter’s plain acknowledgement that the response to his message and the message of the Gospel is dependent on HOW MANY GOD WOULD CHOOSE TO CALL!

Consider Paul’s words to the Church of God in Corinth. He writes to them in 1 Corinthians 1:26, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” He points out to them—and us—that God simply ISN’T calling everyone right now! In particular, He is NOT calling many of the wise and mighty of this world. Their time will come later.

Don’t just believe me on this—believe your own eyes and what you see in your Bible!

So, if God is only calling SOME now—calling a special few before Christ’s return—what is His purpose for their lives now? And how can you know if God is calling YOU?

Having Your Mind Opened

So, what does it actually mean to be called by the living God?

There really are a number of things involved, but among them is God’s OPENING A PERSON’S MIND to allow him or her to understand the truth—and not just any truth, but the truth of the Bible and Jesus Christ’s Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Revelation 12:9 tells us something important about the world. Speaking there of a soon-coming time of divine action against the Devil, it says, “… the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world….” God does not lie in His word. When He says the “whole world” is deceived, He means the WHOLE WORLD.

And those who are deceived DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE DECEIVED! Individuals can hold on to their beliefs very sincerely and still be DEAD WRONG, DECEIVED BY THE DEVIL, and that includes preachers and teachers! Paul speaks in 2 Timothy 3:13 of those who not only deceive others, but who are also deceived THEMSELVES as they do so.

Yet, the Bible describes the 1,000-year reign of the saints under Jesus Christ as a time when the deception will be removed, and His truth will cover the entire world. As God inspired Habakkuk to write of that future time, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (2:14). We speak of that glorious time frequently here on Tomorrow’s World.

But before that Millennium of peace, God is calling a few individuals NOW, by opening their minds and allowing them to see the truth about the REAL Jesus Christ, the REAL Gospel of the Kingdom, and the REAL way of life God desires for all people.

In the Bible, we see examples of this OPENING OF THE MIND to UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH. For instance, look at Luke 24, where the resurrected Jesus Christ is explaining to His disciples about how His death and resurrection fulfilled God’s word—something they were not able to grasp before: “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING, that they might COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES” (vv. 44–45).

Note, He said that He had EXPLAINED THESE THINGS BEFORE, but NOW their UNDERSTANDING WAS OPENED, and it made SENSE like it had not before! Jesus explains in John 14 that God’s Spirit was not yet in them, but it WAS working with them, as it does with all who are being CALLED BY GOD.

And that Spirit is a necessary ingredient for understanding. The Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 2: “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man DOES NOT receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor CAN he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned” (vv. 13–14).

Spiritual things MUST BE spiritually discerned and understood. The purely natural, human mind simply cannot receive them! GOD MUST INTERVENE to help us overcome deception and understand. And this is what He does when He calls us!

So, ask yourself: Do the things you’ve heard us discuss on the Tomorrow’s World program make sense to you? When you read our materials or the Tomorrow’s World magazine and study these things in your Bible, do you find that the Scriptures bear those teachings out and back them up? If so, it may be that God is opening your mind and calling YOU to understand His truth.

But a calling from God is about more than “understanding” things. Our Creator expects us to ACT on what He shows us, and this is part of one’s calling, as well.

Notice, again, the example of God’s calling in Acts 2, when God moved the crowd to respond to Peter’s message: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we DO?’” (v. 37).

Their response is the response God is looking for when He draws someone: A desire to CHANGE AND ACT! Romans 2:4 tells us that God’s goodness does not just enlighten our minds or make us feel good about ourselves—it leads us to REPENTANCE—to CHANGE OUR WAYS and BEGIN OBEYING GOD’S COMMANDS!

Are YOU being called? Have you ever felt CONVICTED by the things you have learned on this program? That may be God working with you through His spirit to draw you into a new and deeper relationship with Him.

In fact, let me add that there are THOUSANDS all over the world whom God has reached through this Work, whose minds have been opened to the true teachings of Scripture—enjoying each other’s fellowship and meeting together every week to learn from God’s word and from the ministry of Jesus Christ as they prepare to be Kings and Priests in the Kingdom of God.

If you are interested in finding out more about acting on what you’re learning, you’re not alone. And we have representatives in many regions all around the world who would be happy to talk with you.

Those individuals assembling together every week have learned the joy that comes from living life as a TRUE CHRISTIAN.

What Should You Do Now?

God’s plan is big. REALLY big. It encompasses all of mankind—all who have ever lived and breathed, from the beginning of creation to this very moment. It involves a Kingdom He will install at Jesus Christ’s return, that will transform the world over 1,000 years. Even the dead will be raised to life again to have the opportunity they never had in this life.

But that plan involves calling some people NOW, in this life, and opening their minds so that they can escape the deception of the Devil that has been cast over the eyes of the entire world. It involves calling those people to be a part of Jesus’ mission NOW to warn the world of the end times to come and to announce the good news of that coming Kingdom.

That plan involves calling individuals to struggle against sin in THIS life, to allow Jesus Christ to live His life within them and to build His own character in them—so that they can serve beside Him as glorified members of His Family and teach others during those 1,000 years and beyond, helping them to embrace the way of life they have learned to make a part of their OWN hearts and minds.

The question facing you is this: Is God calling YOU?

We’ve explained what that question means, and we’ve shown you how you might know. But in the end, we can’t answer the question for you. That part is up to YOU.

And as you address that question, understand that you are not alone. I’ve been there, myself. I remember wondering about so many things while I was growing up. If Christ is alive and running His Church, then why does Christianity seem to be in such confusion? If Jesus was the only way to salvation, and yet most people have lived and died without even hearing His NAME, let alone His teachings, then how could God be fair or just?

I wanted answers to those questions, and I heard many answers. But, none of them perfectly fit what God had to say in the Bible or how God describes Himself in that same Bible.

That is, none of them made sense until I saw a video, much like this one, presented by Herbert W. Armstrong, a predecessor of ours in this ministry.

And the Bible began to make sense to me in a way it never had before. There WERE answers to my questions—SOLID, BIBLE answers, even though none of the loving and sincere-but-mistaken preachers I knew were teaching those answers.

I came to see that God was calling me to a real relationship with Him and with His Son—not the Devil’s caricature of Jesus Christ, but the REAL Jesus Christ. And I came to see that His calling was not because I was smarter or wiser than everyone else. Quite the opposite. I saw the words of the Apostle Paul we spoke of earlier—that He is not calling many wise or powerful now. Rather, He is calling the base and lowly now so that the wise and powerful may know in the FUTURE that salvation is not a matter of trusting in themselves but trusting in God.

And while I THOUGHT I was a Christian before that calling, I came to learn that being a TRUE Christian was SO VERY DIFFERENT from what I had believed.

My life, ever since, has never been the same. And I would not trade it for the world.

Is God calling you?

I don’t know…What do YOU think?