Standard Broadcast

Is Easter The Most Important Christian Holiday?

Easter… It’s the holiest day of the year for hundreds of millions of people. In the northern Hemisphere, traditions focus on the coming of Spring. Winter is over. Fields and farms are alive with color. Trees and flowers burst with new life. And Easter traditions are observed around the world. The “Woman’s Day” website brings out some of the more unusual examples, like young boys dousing young girls with water, in Poland and Hungary. According to the website, this playful tradition has roots in ancient fertility rites. Other Easter traditions are also linked to Spring-time fertility rituals, meant to ensure good crops. In Florence, Italy, for example, they blow up carts with explosives. And in the Greek island of Corfu, they drop clay pots out of second story windows.

If that sounds strange though, how about American traditions, like an Easter bunny that lays eggs?

And what does this all have to do with Jesus’ resurrection?

You see, many well-meaning people practice these rather odd traditions, but also view Easter as a time to honor Jesus Christ. After all, the Bible DOES say Jesus died in the Spring. And after dying and being laid in a grave, He miraculously revived. He was resurrected!

But did His disciples celebrate EASTER to honor His resurrection? That’s an important question to ask. And that’s what we’ll attempt to answer on today’s program.

So join me on Tomorrow's World, as we ask, and answer, the question: “Did Jesus’ disciples celebrate Easter?”

Easter Is A Religious Lie

Easter traditions are kept all over the world. In the Northern Hemisphere, most of them center around the new life of Spring. Winter’s over, and trees and flowers burst with blossoms. But even down-under, when March and April bring autumn, Easter is observed, but with a little twist. Instead of eating chocolate rabbits, Australian children eat chocolates formed in a shape of a mouse-like creature called a “bilby.” When it comes to Easter, it seems there’s something for everyone.

For many who attend church, Easter is the holiest day of the year. And what could be more important than celebrating Jesus’ resurrection?

Many sincere, well-meaning people seek to do just that. But is Easter biblical? Is the word “Easter” even found in the Bible? The answer is, the word “Easter” IS found in one place in the King James Bible. If you have a King James Bible, take a look at Acts 12:4. It tells the story of James being imprisoned and then executed by King Herod. Then, Herod arrested Peter as well. And notice what it says next:

“And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) (KJV)

But look under the surface. The word “Easter” isn’t intended there at all. Theologian Adam Clarke explains this in his commentary on the verse. He says:

“Perhaps there never was a more unhappy, not to say absurd, translation than that in our text [KJV]…. The term Easter, inserted here by our translators, they borrowed from the ancient Anglo-Saxon service-books….” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 774).

He then explains that the goddess Easter, or Ishtar:

“…was celebrated by our pagan forefathers on the month of April…. Every view we can take of this subject shows the gross impropriety of retaining a name every way exceptionable, and palpably absurd.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 775).

So, the one place where the word “Easter” is found in the Bible, is a mistranslation. Does that surprise you? The Greek word translated “Easter” in Acts 12:4 was actually the word “pascha,” or what we say in English, “Passover.” So, Acts 12:4 should have read: “...Intending after Passover to bring him out to the people….”

What was Passover? Passover was a festival being kept by the Jews. It involved eating a meal of a sacrificial lamb, slain just for that purpose. It was in the Springtime. Many Jews still keep Passover today, in one form or another.

So, the word Easter is not found in the Bible. And the one place it seems to be, is a mistranslation. If this is so, why do so many observe it?

As stated already, many people sincerely believe they honor the resurrection of Jesus by observing Easter. And yes, the resurrection IS found in the Bible. All four Gospel writers testified to it. And we in this Work have a profound feeling and AWE for what Jesus did in dying for our sins. We believe that through His shed blood, through faith IN Him, we can ALSO attain to the resurrection. That’s the wonderful hope of every Christian.

But back to the original question: Did the disciples of Jesus celebrate Easter? IF they did, we should follow their example. If they did not, we must ask the question, “Why not?”

And we’ll get to that in a moment. But first, let me offer you our free study guide, Easter: The Untold Story. In it, Mr. Gerald Weston examines the significance of the name, “Easter.” He looks at the ancient practice of worshipping the Queen of Heaven. And he asks the question, could we be worshipping Jesus Christ in vain? This issue strikes at the very heart of what it is to be a Christian. If you’ve not read this booklet, you need to order it today. Request your free copy of “Easter: The Untold Story.”

Just click the link in the description and order it now.

Three Reasons Why Passover And NOT Easter Is The True Christian Holy Day

In the first part of our program, we asked the question, “Is the word ‘Easter’ found in the Bible?” And the answer is, only in a mis-translation of the King James Bible. Now let’s look at the examples of Jesus and His disciples. Did THEY celebrate Easter? Let’s find out what they did, and what they taught. We’ll break it down into three points. The first point is:

#1: AS CHRISTIANS, WE MUST FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES OF JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES

This point may seem simple, but don’t overlook the obvious. Too often, people base their beliefs too much on tradition and not enough on Scripture. We think many of you DO read your Bible faithfully. You WANT to be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11, who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

During His ministry, Jesus called many disciples. He commanded them, “Follow Me,” as in Mark 2:14. This wasn’t just an invitation to walk with Him to the next village. It wasn’t just a sentimental feeling. In a very real sense, He was saying, “Look at what I’m doing and follow My example.”

He repeated this many times. In Matthew 10:38 Jesus said, “...he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” You see, following Christ’s example and teaching is what is expected to be a disciple.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the apostles followed the same pattern. They urged the brethren to follow their example in practice and doctrine. Notice what Paul told the Philippians:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Philippians 3:17).

Notice what Paul also told the young evangelist, Timothy:

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith…” (2 Timothy 3:10).

Did Paul mean that his brethren should just BLINDLY follow him? No. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, he said “Follow me, as I follow Christ.”

Paul wasn’t perfect. Nor were the other apostles. The New Testament is very honest about their mistakes. And yet, Christ worked THROUGH them, so they could TEACH by word and example. Paul said, “don’t just blindly do everything I do or say… look at my example, and if it measures up to Christ, then follow it.”

This is a consistent theme in the entire New Testament. This is what should guide our life: Following the example of Jesus and the apostles. That’s WHY the New Testament has been preserved, so we can know what they did. Luke wrote in Acts 16:4:

“And as they [Paul and Silas, that is] went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” (cts 16:4–5).

The brethren in the first century followed the teachings of Christ and the apostles. As Christians today, we must live by the same rule.

Peter echoed a similar theme in his second letter to the brethren. He said this:

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior….” (2 Peter 3:1–2)

Did Peter just make up commandments for them to follow? No--he taught them what He had learned from Jesus. And he lived it in his personal example.

John also taught this. In 1 John 1:2 he wrote:

“...the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us….” (1 John 1:2–3)

John and the other apostles were passing along what they saw Jesus do, and what they heard Jesus teach.

Why is this important? Because many traditions of modern Christianity simply go AGAINST the example of Jesus and His disciples. Mr. Gerald Weston brings this out in the free booklet Easter: The Untold Story. We are offering this publication today. This booklet will help you see that some of the basic teachings of mainstream Christianity are NOT found in the Bible. Take for example, chapter four. It’s entitled: “Three Days and Three Nights.” Was Jesus in the grave a full three days and three nights? Or just parts of three days and three nights? Can you really know? And does it matter?

In a simple and straightforward way, this booklet will lay it out for you. Use it side by side with your own Bible. Don’t take our word for it. Prove it for yourself. Again, this is a free publication… it’s already paid for. The generous co-workers of this Work have “paid-it-forward”, for you. They want you to have this booklet. So, give us a call or go online and order yours now.

The Disciples Kept the Passover… Not Easter

Welcome back. In the last segment, we saw that Christians must follow the example of Jesus and His disciples. That should be our guide. With that foundation, let’s go on to the next point. Number 2...

#2 THERE IS NO RECORD OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES CELEBRATING EASTER

Dr. Samuele Bachiocchi is a noted church-history expert who wrote the book From Sabbath to Sunday. On page 84, he said this:

“…[T]hough the resurrection is frequently mentioned both in the New Testament and in the early patristic literature, no suggestion is given that primitive Christians commemorated the event by a weekly or yearly Sunday service” (From Sabbath to Sunday, Samuele Bachiocchi, p. 84).

You can search the New Testament from one end to the other, and you won’t find the disciples celebrating Easter. In 1986, a book called The Apostasy of the Lost Century was written by a man named S. Gusten Olsen. Notice what he said:

“When Polycarp was writing his Epistle, Sunday was still a working day…. Not even the association of the resurrection with the symbolism of the sun seems very prominent until the middle of the second century” (The Apostasy of the Lost Century, S. Gusten Olsen, p. 100).

Did you catch that? Mr. Olsen said the idea of the rising sun being symbolic of Jesus’ resurrection--think, sunrise service--was not part of the thinking of the early disciples. The tradition of the rising sun representing Christ’s resurrection didn’t take shape until the 2nd century. Is this because Jesus’ disciples didn’t CARE about the resurrection? Nothing could be further from the truth! When Jesus appeared to His disciples from the grave “...they still did not believe for joy, and marveled...” (Luke 24:41). They were amazed--and grateful! When Thomas, who saw Him later, realized what had happened, how did HE respond? John 20:28 records, “...Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

The disciples had a DEEP respect and sense of awe for the miracle of the resurrection. But NOWHERE do we have a record of their keeping a service to commemorate it. Even if they HAD celebrated it, it would NOT have been Sunday morning. We find this passage in John 20:1.

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

Verse 2 says: “Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him’” (John 20:2).

Did you catch that? Mary was at the tomb before sunrise. It was STILL dark and Jesus was already gone. Jesus did NOT rise from the grave at sunrise, as so many assume.

Did the early disciples talk about the resurrection? Yes--many times! Paul, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, said, “Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged…” (Acts 23:6) He wrote a whole chapter ABOUT the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. And in 1 Peter 1:3, notice what the Apostle Peter said:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…. In this you greatly rejoice.” (1 Peter 1:3, 6).

The apostles were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. And they were to tell the whole WORLD about it. But nowhere in the New Testament is there a record of an Easter service. It’s just not there.

On the contrary, the disciples WERE keeping a different feast day to honor Jesus Christ. What was that different feast day? That brings us to our final point in this program. Number 3:

#3: JESUS’ DISCIPLES KEPT THE CHRISTIAN PASSOVER TO COMMEMORATE HIS DEATH.

As we saw earlier, Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples. But during His last Passover just before His death, He assigned new symbolic meaning to the bread and wine. Notice how Mark describes it:

“And as they were eating [the Passover], Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many’” (Mark 14:22–24).

Jesus used this ancient feast day to institute new symbols about His own coming sacrifice. He explained, “By taking these symbols, you are entering the new covenant.” He was explaining how they could come under His shed blood, and be forgiven of their sins!

The Apostle John also noted that same last Passover, but with other details. He recorded that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Notice what Jesus said, in John 13:15.

“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you…. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:15, 17).

That is a direct command to follow in His steps. Jesus commanded His people to take bread and wine, as symbols of His broken body and shed blood. And He commanded them to wash each others’ feet as an outward expression of humility and Christian brotherhood. He instituted the Christian Passover.

This is very different from what most modern Christians observe today. But there it is, right in the Bible. And He said we would be blessed if we followed His example.

What about the apostles? Do they tell us to observe the Christian Passover? Yes. Paul wrote about it in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 23:

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23–24).

Jesus instituted new Passover symbols, and Paul was teaching exactly the same thing. He goes on to say:

“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me’” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

Paul was following the example of Christ. And Paul taught his brethren to follow Jesus’ example, as well. In this light, it’s interesting to note what Philip Schaff, the 19th-century early-church historian, said about the Christian Passover. He said this:

“The Christians of Asia Minor, following the Jewish chronology, and appealing to the authority of the apostles John and Philip, celebrated the Christian Passover… [This observance] was probably the oldest and in accordance with the Synoptic tradition of the last Passover of our Lord, which it commemorated.” (History of the Christian Church, Vol. II, Philip Schaff, p. 201–202).

In other words, this was the earliest observance of the Church. Jesus and His disciples kept the Christian Passover, in commemoration of Jesus’ suffering and death. Even after His resurrection, there was no hint of a sunrise service kept by the apostles. Notice what else Mr. Schaff wrote:

“The Christian Passover naturally grew out of the Jewish Passover… It is certainly the oldest and most important annual festival of the church, and can be traced back to the first century, or at all events to the middle of the second, when it was universally observed, though with a difference as to the day….” (History of the Christian Church, Vol. II, Philip Schaff, p. 198).

Did you notice that? The “Christian Passover is the oldest and most important annual festival of the church.” That’s quite a statement. And yet, how many modern Christians keep the Christian Passover?

On today’s program, we’ve seen that faithful Christians must follow the example of Jesus and His disciples. We saw there is NO RECORD of Jesus’ disciples ever celebrating Easter. Instead, we saw that they observed the Christian Passover. If you are a disciple of Christ, shouldn’t you be observing the Christian Passover today?

There’s so much more to this story. We’ve only scratched the surface. But you can study it in depth, yourself. To do that, you need our free study guide, Easter: The Untold Story. In this booklet you’ll find a wealth of information. Chapter 5 discusses the significance of Passover. Chapter 6 explains the timing of the events of the days right after Christ’s death. And chapter 7 asks the question: “What happened on Sunday?”

This booklet is absolutely free. The truth is too precious to put a price tag on it. And that’s why we don’t ask for money. Jesus said, “Freely you have received--freely give.” So call the number on the screen or, order on our website. Either way, check up on what I’m saying. You won’t regret it.

Keeping The Passover In Word And Deed

In today’s program we saw the Bible requires Christians to follow the example of Jesus and His disciples. We also discovered neither Jesus nor His disciples kept Easter. On the other hand, they taught and practiced the Christian Passover, with new covenant symbols.

When Christians observe the Christian Passover, they partake of bread and wine, in commemoration of Jesus’ death. They are expressing faith in His sacrifice to cover their sins. If you’d like to learn more about the Christian Passover and its significance in your life, just let us know. We have representatives who can get in touch with you, if you ask. The Living Church of God has ministers all over the globe, committed and dedicated to teaching God’s truth and working with those who respond to God’s call.

And don’t forget to order your free literature. It’s entitled Easter: The Untold Story. Learn how mainstream Christianity transformed the original Christian Passover to a day honoring a pagan fertility goddess. You may be shocked.

And thank you for watching. Join us each week as Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, Wallace Smith and I bring you the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the prophecies of Tomorrow’s World. Jesus Christ is coming soon, to set up His Kingdom, and stop the misery of this troubled and confused world. May God speed that day.

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

Five Prophetic Signs You Should be Watching for in The Middle East

My friends, will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Military conflicts and terrorism never seem to cease. Today, nearly 30 years after U.S. President George H.W. Bush sent military forces to stop Saddam Hussein’s attack on the nation of Kuwait, American lives continue to be lost in the Middle East wars. Controversy surrounds Iran’s ongoing attempts to develop the nuclear fission capabilities that could lead to nuclear weapons. Violent Islamist militants from ISIS and Al Qaeda struggle to revive their forces. The tiny nation of Israel struggles for peace, while neighboring Palestinians demand better conditions and more control in their West Bank and Gaza Strip strongholds. Will wars and conflicts continue in the Middle East? Your Bible reveals that a great world war, focused on the Middle East, will precede the most amazing event yet to come in Bible prophecy—the return of Jesus Christ! How will you know when this event is about to occur? What prophetic signs should you be watching for? Will there be peace in the Middle East?

Stay tuned!

Prophetic Sign Number 1: Watch For Military Alliances Forming East of the Euphrates River

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Many of us worry, express concern, and even become frightened when we read in our daily news about the wars, conflicts, and terrorism in many parts of the world. Troubles in the Middle East, in particular, affect not just the Jewish people, but also billions of Christians and Muslims. Controversy flared in May 2018 when the United States moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. American members of Congress remain divided over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. While many nations around the world call Israel an “apartheid” state and make demands on behalf of the region’s Arabs and Palestinians, the United States has remained firm as one of Israel’s few staunch allies around the globe. Will this change? Will Israel thrive, or even survive as a Jewish nation? Will it survive at all?

My friends, there IS good news for the future! Bible prophecy reveals the sequence of events leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to establish the glorious Kingdom of God. Scripture reveals, and in fact guarantees, that world peace will ultimately reign in the Middle East—and on all of planet Earth! But first, there will be war and bloodshed on a scale never before seen. You need to be ready, and you need to know what to watch for so you and your loved ones can escape the troubles ahead!

On today’s program, we’ll briefly discuss five prophetic signs to watch for in the Middle East. And we’ll be offering you an exciting free booklet that will give you inspiring insight and understanding. It’s titled The Middle East in Prophecy. This booklet will help you understand what the Bible teaches about the amazing end-time events surrounding Jerusalem and the entire Middle East. You can order the booklet by calling the phone number on your screen, or by visiting our Website, TomorrowsWorld.org.

Some of you older viewers may remember the Iran-Iraq war, which lasted from 1980 to 1988. More than a million people were killed in that war between Muslim nations. The Euphrates River was a focal point of that conflict. Your Bible reveals that the Euphrates River will be a key strategic position at the end of this present age.

Prophetic Sign number one is: WATCH FOR MILITARY ALLIANCES FORMING EAST OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER.

If you have your Bible, turn to the book of Revelation, chapter 9. REVELATION 9:13:

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

My friends, this is describing another world war! And this phase of World War III will kill not just millions, but even BILLIONS of human beings! Jesus Christ said that unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved—all life on earth would be destroyed. That’s in Matthew 24:21–22. Look on any map and you’ll see that those nations east of the Euphrates include Iran, India, China, and Russia. And an army of 200 million will form in this area and march to the Euphrates. Even now, China is taking steps to strengthen its military force. Consider this report: “China’s economy is the second-largest in the world, and it’s on the path to overtake the US’s in absolute GDP by 2030 — giving China the ability to spend far more resources on its military than in previous decades. From 1996 to 2015, China increased its military spending by 620 percent” (“China's military power may surpass the US’s faster than you think,” Business Insider, August 26, 2019). The European Union, which as we will see is prophesied to intervene on Israel’s behalf, is facing growing economic crises even as China expands. Prophetic Sign number one is: WATCH FOR MILITARY ALLIANCES FORMING EAST OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER.

Prophetic Sign Number 2: Watch For Growing Unity Among Israel’s Traditional Enemies

Some of you older viewers may remember the “Six-Day War” of June 1967. Israel fought the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Now Israel had access to the holy places, including the Western Wall or Wailing Wall at the Temple Mount. Six years later, in the Yom Kippur War, Israel repelled invasions by Egypt and Syria. Israel, Egypt, and Jordan later agreed on a UN cease-fire. In 1978, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, returning to Egypt most of the captured Sinai Peninsula, except for the Gaza Strip. In 1980, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and declared the unified city part of Israel, against the protests of Arab forces and their allies. After ongoing violence known as the first intifada, Israel put large portions of the West Bank under Palestinian Authority control in December 1994.

Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and West Bank face tight restrictions on movement in and out of Israel. Even in the United States, perhaps Israel’s strongest and most generous ally, voices are increasingly calling on Israel to remove restrictions on Palestinians and to give greater autonomy to the Palestinian Authority. The BDS—“Boycott, Divest, and Sanction”—movement against Israel is a growing source of controversy among those critical of [Israeli] policies.

Will world opinion turn further against Israel? Will Arab nations mount another major military attack against the Jewish nation? Will world leaders seek to put Jerusalem under international control? We’ll discuss these questions in the next part of our program. But first I’d like to offer you this exciting free booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy. My friends, you need to be watching the Middle East—and the trends that will mean major changes in political and religious control over the city of Jerusalem. What events will mark these changes? Who will eventually control Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy say about the future of Israel, and the nations surrounding it? Will there be peace in Jerusalem, and the Middle East? This exciting booklet will help you in your study of Bible prophecy, and give you advance information on end-time events. Listen to these subheads: “Will Russia Control the Middle East? … Who Will Control Jerusalem? … Temple Sacrifices Restored? … Watch for the Abomination of Desolation. … Who Rides the Beast?”

You need this booklet, and you need to know the future according to Bible prophecy. So, call now and request your free copy of The Middle East in Prophecy. You can also order this free booklet by clicking the link in the description or the info button in the top right of your screen.

Prophetic Sign Number 3: Watch For International Attempts To Control Jerusalem

In the first part of our program, we saw that Bible prophecy foretells a massive military invasion of the Middle East. We saw that Arab nations have united against Israel, and have marshalled world opinion to support them. Prophetic Sign number one was: WATCH FOR MILITARY ALLIANCES FORMING EAST OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER. Prophetic Sign number two: WATCH FOR GROWING UNITY AMONG ISRAEL’S TRADITIONAL ENEMIES. Prophetic Sign number three is: WATCH FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL JERUSALEM.

Bible prophecy reveals that Jerusalem will be a focus of major international conflicts. Jerusalem is considered holy to three of the world’s major religions. To Jews, Jerusalem was the city of the great prophets, and the capital of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah under King David and his son King Solomon. The first and second temples were the center of worship until the destruction of the city by the Romans in 70 AD. Jerusalem is also the third most holy city of Islam, after the cities of Mecca and Medina. Today the Islamic Mosque of Omar, or the Dome of the Rock, dominates the Temple Mount. It is believed that the prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven from that site. Christians revere the city as the place where their Savior was crucified. And where He taught in the Temple. Christians believe Jesus will return to establish His Kingdom with Jerusalem as world capital.

Many in the international community are very concerned about the status of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Roman Catholic Pope Francis, in July of 2018, stated: “We look to Jerusalem, a city for all peoples, a unique and sacred city for Christians, Jews and Muslims from all over the world, whose identity and vocation must be preserved beyond the various disputes and tensions, and whose status quo demands to be respected as decided by the international community and repeatedly requested by the Christian communities of the Holy Land. Only a negotiated solution between Israelis and Palestinians, firmly desired and favored by the Community of Nations, can lead to a stable and lasting peace, and ensure the coexistence of two states for two peoples” (“Jerusalem: A City for All,” Vatican News, March 30, 2019).

The “Community of Nations”? You may be shocked to learn that the Bible prophesies that indeed, in the future, Jerusalem will be controlled NOT by Israel, but by other governmental powers. Turn in your Bible to the book of REVELATION or Apocalypse. REVELATION, chapter 11. The Apostle John wrote in REVELATION 11:1, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for FORTY-TWO MONTHS.’” (Revelation 11:1–2).

As you read through the book of Revelation, you’ll see that this period of three and one-half years precedes the return of Christ. As we’ve pointed out on previous programs, two prophets of God will witness with great power during that same period of three and one-half years. You can read about that in verses 3 through 14 of Revelation 11. God Almighty states in verse 3, “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3). For three and one-half years, these two witnesses will contend with the Gentile force which will dominate the Middle East at that time. This will be a time of great tribulation for the whole world, especially for those who are true Christians. Billions will be killed. Many who accept Christ during that time will be persecuted terribly, even martyred. But you can escape that time, if you respond to God’s calling. If you feel that God is calling you NOW to commit your life to Christ and the teachings of the Bible, call the number on your screen, and one of our representatives will be happy to meet with you or talk with you at your convenience. Prophetic Sign number three is: WATCH FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL JERUSALEM.

Our next prophetic sign involves restored sacrifices by the Jews. But first, I’d like to offer you our free booklet, THE MIDDLE EAST IN PROPHECY. What trends and events should you be watching? Let me share with you a few of the sub-heads in the booklet: Who Will Control Jerusalem? … Watch for the Abomination of Desolation … The King of the North Invades the Middle East … The Final Phases of World War III.

This exciting booklet will help you in your study of Bible prophecy, and give you advance information on end-time events. You need this booklet. So, call the number on your screen and request your free copy of The Middle East in Prophecy. You can also order this free booklet by clicking the link in the description.

Prophetic Sign Number 4: Watch For Animal Sacrifices By The Jews In Jerusalem

In this program, we have so far seen three prophetic signs for the Middle East. Prophetic Sign number one: WATCH FOR MILITARY ALLIANCES FORMING EAST OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER. Prophetic Sign number two: WATCH FOR GROWING UNITY AMONG ISRAEL’S TRADITIONAL ENEMIES. Prophetic Sign number three: WATCH FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL JERUSALEM.

Prophetic Sign number four is: WATCH FOR ANIMAL SACRIFICES BY THE JEWS IN JERUSALEM. Remember, the key sign that introduces these prophetic milestones is the Abomination of Desolation. What is this abomination? Jesus told us to be alert to this key prophetic sign, which will take place in the Middle East. He said in MATTHEW 24:15,

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15–16).

Turn in your Bible to DANIEL the 11th chapter. Historically, the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes issued a decree in 167 BC that prohibited further sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple. DANIEL 11:31,

“And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall TAKE AWAY the daily sacrifices, and place there the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.”

In addition to stopping the daily sacrifices, Antiochus erected a statue of Jupiter Olympus in the temple and directed everyone to worship it. This abomination, also referred to in chapter 8 of Daniel, is a type of a similar END-TIME event. Notice also, that the END-TIME sacrifices are cut off 1,290 days before the return of Christ. DANIEL 12:11,

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

Jesus warns us Christians to be alert to an END-TIME abomination of desolation. Just as Antiochus Epiphanes profaned the Temple in 167 BC and cut off the sacrifices, so will a profane authority cut off Jewish sacrifices in the FUTURE. In fact, the Apostle Paul warns of a great false prophet who will stand in the holy place. Let’s read that in 2 THESSALONIANS. In 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3, the Apostle Paul writes,

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).

Yes, a great false prophet will work great miracles and deceive millions of people. He will cultivate worship toward himself and claim he’s divine. Revelation 13:13–14 shows that this great false prophet will even call down fire from heaven, and will deceive millions of people around the world! Again, my friends, don’t YOU be deceived by these signs and wonders! As it tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21,

“Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

As we’ve seen, this end-time false prophet will cause the sacrifices to cease! Let’s realize that the Jews have not offered animal sacrifices since 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem. In order for the end-time sacrifices to be STOPPED eventually, they need to BEGIN! Listen, when animal sacrifices begin once again in Jerusalem, YOU WILL KNOW that the prophecies Jesus spoke about are heading for a grand-smash climax!

Some believe that the Temple must first be rebuilt in order to conduct animal sacrifices. Many Jews believe that only the Messiah will be able to rebuild the Temple. However, some Jewish groups are hoping to see today's Jewish people take the initiative themselves. They believe that there can be no peace in the Middle East until the Temple is rebuilt. Rabbi Chaim Richman, international director of the Temple Institute, has said,

“It’s time to vote with our feet and send a clear message to the world that we truly believe that the Temple Mount is ours and we truly hope and pray for a time of unparalleled world peace and harmony with the rebuilding of the Third Temple” (“Temple Institute Encourages Jews To Hope for Third Temple In New Video,” Jerusalem Post,August 7, 2019).

Yes, my friends, we need to understand one important point. An altar is needed for sacrifices, not necessarily a full temple building. Just read the third chapter of Ezra. The returning exiles from Babylon had only a holy place, not a temple. Ezra refers to the location of the holy place, as the HOUSE OF GOD, when the temple had NOT YET been built. EZRA 3:8,

“Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the HOUSE OF GOD at Jerusalem….”

This was around 536 BC. But there was no building as yet. The returning Jewish exiles referred to the Holy Place as “the House of God,” even though no temple existed. The holiest place under the control of the Jewish religious authorities today, is the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall. It is the western retaining wall to the Temple Mount. Jews are not allowed to publicly worship on the Temple Mount, only Muslims. So, it remains to be seen where and when the Jews will begin sacrificing. It will probably take an unprecedented national crisis to precipitate that event. Prophetic Sign number four is: WATCH FOR ANIMAL SACRIFICES BY THE JEWS IN JERUSALEM.

Our fifth prophetic sign comes from the prophet Daniel, who foretold that a King of the South will push against a king of the north shortly before Jesus Christ returns. We’ll talk about that in the final portion of our program. But first, I’d like to offer you our free booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy. Let me share with you a few of the sub-heads in the booklet: Who Will Control Jerusalem … Watch for the Abomination of Desolation … The King of the North Invades the Middle East … The Final Phases of World War III. You need this booklet. So, call the number right now and request your free copy of The Middle East in Prophecy. You can also order this free booklet by clicking the link in the description. Also, be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.

Prophetic Sign Number 5: Watch For A European Superpower Turning Against Israel

We have so far examined four prophetic signs for the Middle East. Prophetic Sign number one was: WATCH FOR MILITARY ALLIANCES FORMING EAST OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER. Prophetic Sign number two: WATCH FOR GROWING UNITY AMONG ISRAEL’S TRADITIONAL ENEMIES. Prophetic Sign number three: WATCH FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL JERUSALEM. Prophetic Sign number four was: Watch for animal sacrifices by the Jews in Jerusalem. Prophetic Sign number five is: WATCH FOR A EUROPEAN SUPERPOWER TURNING AGAINST ISRAEL.

The European Union is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It is developing as a political, economic, and military entity, just like the King of the North prophesied in your Bible. Will it become that prophesied superpower? Already an economic peer of the United States, the EU is beginning to assert itself as a military force independent of the U.S, The administration of American President Donald Trump has expressed the hope that the EU will take on more of its own military spending that since World War II has been subsidized heavily by the U.S. Reuters news agency reported the comments of Richard Grenell, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, who said, quote,

“It is offensive to assume that the U.S. taxpayers continue to pay for more than 50,000 Americans in Germany but the Germans get to spend their [budget] surplus on domestic programs” (“Germany must up defense spending, relying on U.S. ‘offensive’ - U.S. envoy,” August 9, 2019).

My friends, we need to watch the military resurgence of Germany, along with the other prophetic signs. As we near the Great Tribulation, your Bible instructs us to watch key developments surrounding Jerusalem. LUKE 21:19:

“By your patience possess your souls. But when you see JERUSALEM SURROUNDED BY ARMIES, then know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:19–20).

Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles for forty-two months, about 3 and one-half years. At the end of that time, during the Day of the Lord, the armies of Europe and Asia will combine to bring about the great climax of World War III, referred to as “Armageddon.”

Yes, we need to watch for developments leading to an invasion of the Middle East from the powerful military King of the North. You can read that prophecy in Daniel 11:40–41. There are many more signs than we have had time to cover on this program. Our free booklet The Middle East in Prophecy will give you more details on this subject. My friends, we are in the prophetic time period known as the end-time. We need to be spiritually awake and watchful. We need to be prepared for the Second Coming. Christ will be King over all the earth, ruling from the new world capital, Jerusalem. Notice that in ZECHARIAH 14:8:

“And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.” (Zechariah 14:8–9).

Thank God, His Kingdom is coming soon. May we all pray with our hearts, YOUR KINGDOM COME.

Be sure to request our exciting free booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy. Just call the number on your screen. You can also request this booklet on our Web site at TomorrowsWorld.org. We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World. In this world of growing chaos and confusion, you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week, right here, at this same time!

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

What Is The Meaning Of Life?

It is one of the most profound questions of human existence, and virtually no one knows the answer—or if an answer even exists at all: “What is the meaning of life?”

On this episode of Tomorrow’s World, you will learn the answer to that question—and that answer will transform your life forever! Get ready, because it all starts right now!

Can Mankind Find The Truth On Its Own?

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World!

In his popular book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, humorist Douglas Adams described a race of hyper-intelligent beings who felt burdened to finally answer the question of life, the universe, and everything.

After building a massive computer that spent 7 and a half million years calculating, the computer concluded that the answer was simply, “42.” As you can imagine, that answer brought little comfort.

But the meaning of life isn’t just a question for fictional philosophers.

Even King David, the poet-warrior of ancient Israel, famously asked in the Psalms,

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, WHAT IS MAN that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3–4).

What is the meaning of life? Do our lives have purpose?

Philosophers have sought the answer, only to come up empty.

For instance, Albert Camus, the famed French philosopher and Nobel Prize laureate, examined this question. In his book The Myth of Sisyphus, he notes that life clearly seems to have no purpose at all and wrestles with how then to justify living day by day.

“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” (The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, p. 3).

Philosopher Loyal Rue decided that we must somehow “invent” a meaning (what he called a “noble lie”) to DECEIVE OURSELVES into thinking that life is worth living.

“That which we have most deeply feared (that is, being deceived) is now presented as the ultimate source of our salvation from psychological and social chaos. The paradox of the human condition is that we are both damned and saved by deception…. The universe just is. [That is, it has no meaning.] The challenge of a noble lie is to reenchant the universe by getting us to perceive, in spite of ourselves, that its significance is objective.” (By the Grace of Guile: The Role of Deception in Natural History and Human Affairs, p. 279).

But if we leave the ivory towers of the philosophers and head into the world of hard science, we find little comfort there, either.

The late William Provine, popular evolutionist and biology professor, stated the conclusion of many of his fellow scientists very plainly:

“There are no gods, no purposes, and no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death. When I die, I am absolutely certain that I am going to be dead. That’s the end of me. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans, either.” (“Darwinism: Science or Naturalistic Philosophy?—A debate between William B. Provine and Phillip E. Johnson at Stanford University, April 30, 1994,” Access Research Network, accessed November 1, 2018).

His views match those of Nobel Laureate in physics Steven Weinberg, who famously stated,

“The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.” (The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origins of the Universe).

Such scientists often argue that one can simply make his or her OWN “meaning in life,” but what makes that “meaning” any different than the “Noble Lie” recommended by Loyal Rue? We aren’t just talking about what makes us temporarily happy or feel good about ourselves. We want to know the REAL MEANING of LIFE! We need to know that we’re fulfilling our purpose for being alive—that our place in the world has significance that lasts, that is rooted in those things that are real, eternal, and true. We need to know the meaning of life!

Philosophy and science give us nothing but cause to think that there is none. But they are wrong. In our next segment, we’ll begin to reveal and examine life’s very real meaning—a meaning that will change your life!

But first, let me give you an opportunity to get a copy of today’s free resource, Your Ultimate Destiny. This free guide allows you to explore the meaning of your life and to prove that meaning beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Your life is NOT meaningless! You DO have a purpose—a purpose that transcends life as you know it and is grounded in those things that are eternal and true. YOU WERE CREATED BY GOD TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON ETERNITY FAR GREATER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! Don’t let this opportunity pass by when you have the chance to learn so much. Just reach out to us by phone, email, or our website and get your own copy of Your Ultimate Destiny. There is no cost, no strings attached, and your information will not be given or sold to anyone. There’s nothing to lose and literally everything to gain.

The Bible Holds The Secret To Life’s Purpose

Welcome back! In the first part of our program we saw that philosophy and science, alone, cannot reveal the real meaning of life. While many great thinkers recognized that we need to believe life has meaning, the best most of them offer is that we should lie to ourselves about what that meaning is!

But hope built on lies is a lie, itself. Is there a real meaning to life?

YES! There IS a purpose for human life—yours and mine! That meaning is revealed to us by the CREATOR of life. Philosophers and scientists who will not recognize that they have a CREATOR are blind to the PURPOSE of their creation, and that meaning of life eludes them!

Yet the meaning of life ALSO eludes many who believe in a Creator! Most religious teachers can sometimes provide helpful insights into some aspects of life, but, frankly, the MEANING of life escapes the vast majority of them, too! Those who believe in God will often speak of going to heaven, or simply existing in God’s glorious presence forever.

Yet the true meaning of life, as revealed in their Bibles and yours, they fail to see. And those who do see it often reject it and declare it heresy—proclaiming it too great and glorious for God to allow!

In doing so, they reject the very purpose for which they, too, were created, and rob themselves and their followers of the greatest source of hope they could ever know!

Although the meaning of life is only truly understood by putting together Scriptures throughout God’s word, we get a glimpse of it in particular passages. The free resource that we’re offering today, Your Ultimate Destiny, will walk you through all the relevant passages, step-by-step, in a way that will make the meaning of your life undeniable! But today, let’s begin with baby steps.

Consider statements such as that of Ecclesiastes 12:13. King Solomon declared,

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”

The Bible contains many similar statements. For instance, Deuteronomy proclaims,

“…what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (10:12–13).

Jesus Christ mirrored these statements when He identified God’s greatest command to mankind:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37–38).

Those who believe that Jesus came to ABOLISH God’s commandments TOTALLY MISUNDERSTAND the purpose of God!

Rather, Jesus’ teachings were consistent with the Ten Commandments, and He emphasized passionate devotion to them.

But how do they tie into the meaning of life? Is our purpose simply to obey God’s commands so that this life goes well for us? It can’t be. The Bible and human history are filled with faithful men and women, utterly devoted to God and His way, who were tortured and martyred for that devotion. How did God’s commands bring meaning and purpose to their suffering? When you or your loved ones are going through times of anguish, how is keeping God’s commands supposed to add purpose to your heartache or meaning to your suffering?

We must dig deeper. Jesus commands us not simply to keep God’s laws with our bodies, but with our minds and hearts.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…. You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28).

Jesus elevated the Ten Commandments such that we must strive to keep them with our minds and hearts! But why?

Because God’s goal is not to simply control our bodies, but to TRANSFORM OUR MINDS! Paul makes this PLAIN when he admonishes all of us in Philippians 2:5,

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”

God longs to RADICALLY and FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE WHO WE ARE over the course of our lives!

But why? What is His purpose in doing so?

THAT is the question few ask! And yet that is the key to unlocking life’s purpose and meaning! Understanding why God seeks to make us more like Him in our hearts and minds lies at the very heart of life’s meaning! In our next segment, we will explain why that is and how that knowledge can provide us hope in even the most devastating trials.

First, I want to give you another opportunity to request your own copy of today’s free resource, Your Ultimate Destiny. This free guide will show you IN DETAIL, exactly what the purpose of life is. Order your own free copy of Your Ultimate Destiny today, and I will be right back to show how obeying God ties into the very meaning of life itself!

Your Destiny Is To Be Born Into The Family Of God

Welcome back! In the last segment, we discussed how we are to develop the very mind of Christ in our lives and how obeying God’s commands transforms us from the inside. Indeed, King David once wrote:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul….” (Psalm 19:7).

But what is God seeking to accomplish in this transformation?

Even most Christians have no clue! Yet it is the very word of God.

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE AND MINE IS TO REPRODUCE HIMSELF—to ADD us to His glorious and eternal family! The Father and the Son are working now to create new Sons and Daughters of God, and THAT is the meaning of life! God made you and me to one day be GLORIFIED, living life on the same plane of existence that the Father and Son now inhabit, being granted power, glory, and honor forever, and inheriting the universe as His children!

Don’t let that idea fly by you. Regrettably, a lot of religious pablum gets shouted aloud today, and, as a result, some of the Bible’s most amazing things, these truths, are written off as religious mumbo-jumbo. Many speak of being a “child of God,” but those who throw those words around so easily almost NEVER FULLY GRASP what the Bible ACTUALLY SAYS!

If you have children, aren’t they growing up to be human beings, just like you are? Not something lesser, like chickens or dogs. But human beings! You know sometimes people tell my sons that they look like me—which mortifies them, since I think they hoped to be better looking!

REAL LIFE tells us that our children grow up to be LIKE US.

Then WHY would we think that when the Bible says we are to become CHILDREN OF GOD it means anything LESS than we are to become LIKE GOD HIMSELF! Existing in glory—possessing power and might—experiencing life at a completely different level, as a FULL CHILD OF GOD!

THAT is the plain teaching of your Bible, the meaning and purpose of life! Yet it is resisted by many who claim to believe the Bible.

How could they miss it? Often because they will not read the Scriptures AND accept what they plainly say, in the manner a child would. Consider these passages.

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul says we were chosen for salvation, quote, “to which He called you by our gospel, for the OBTAINING of the GLORY of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2:14).

Paul follows what it means to be children of God to its logical conclusion—noting in Romans 8, verses 16 and 17, that God’s Holy Spirit “…bears witness with our spirit that we are CHILDREN OF GOD, and if children, then HEIRS—HEIRS of God and JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be GLORIFIED TOGETHER.”

Notice: What Jesus Christ inherited, WE will inherit—and notice, too, that God wants to GLORIFY us together with Jesus Christ.

Allow yourself to accept what that means. Jesus Christ is now glorified, sitting at the right hand of His Father. The book of Revelation says that His eyes now burn like fire and His voice sounds like the sound of many waters. Yet as Jesus Christ now is, the Bible says the faithful are destined to become! Paul explained this in 1 Corinthians 15, noting that “…as we have borne the image of the man of dust [that is, Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [that is, Christ]” (v. 49). This is why he says in the very next verse that “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (v. 50).

The Apostle John makes this understanding plain. In 1 John, chapter 3, beginning in verse 1, he writes,

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (vv. 1–2).

The picture is absolutely plain! A child in the womb IS YOUR CHILD, but it’s not until BIRTH that your child finally sees you! The child is finally free to begin the life he was meant to live and he sees you for the first time: the parents the child was created to resemble.

So, too, according to John, do Christians not see what THEY are destined to be until the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints. Then, like children emerging from the womb, we will FINALLY see our destiny! As John says, “…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

The biblical passages that paint this picture are far too many for today’s program! You need to get a copy of today’s free booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny, and take the opportunity to go through all the verses yourself! Seeing is believing!

But let’s summarize, my friends, noting that—if the purpose of our lives is to SHARE CHRIST’S GLORY, HIS INHERITANCE, HIS RULERSHIP UNDER HIM, HIS IMAGE, HIS APPEARANCE, HIS FORM, AND HIS FATHER—isn’t the Bible making our purpose plain?

The meaning of your life, your purpose for drawing breath, is to one day become a LITERAL, FULL CHILD OF ALMIGHTY GOD. Not a “metaphorical” child of God, not an “in name only” child of God, not some watered-down “religious talk” child of God. A FULL-FLEDGED CHILD OF GOD, sharing the same divine, dynamic, powerful life and plane of existence as your Father and Jesus Christ!

THIS is life’s meaning, and when we understand the full implications of it, it transforms EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. We’ll discuss that next.

But first, let me give you one last opportunity to request your own free copy of this life-altering free resource, Your Ultimate Destiny. This free guide will show you in detail exactly what the purpose of life is. You need to know YOUR meaning. Don’t let this opportunity pass. So call the number and get your copy right now, and I’ll be right back to explain how this understanding revolutionizes life.

Our Greatest Hope: Joint Heirs With Jesus Christ

When you understand that the meaning of life is to become a LITERAL child of God for all eternity, experiencing life like He does, the answer to King David’s question about why God cares for man begins to be clear. That question and its implications, are discussed in the book of Hebrews, in chapter 2:

“For [God] has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is MAN that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put ALL in subjection under him, He left NOTHING that is not put under him. BUT NOW WE DO NOT YET SEE ALL THINGS PUT UNDER HIM.” (Hebrews 2:5–8).

Many scholars recognize that this is speaking of the entire UNIVERSE—that God will give the entire universe to us. But they do not understand the REASON WHY.

God DOES intend for humanity, for YOU, to take dominion of all things, the entire universe, under Him and under Jesus Christ, who is King OF KINGS.

Let’s read further:

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him… BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them BRETHREN…” (Hebrews 2:9–11).

Though many will not see it, the Bible makes the meaning of life very plain to those who will trust its words like a child.

Understanding the meaning of life provides hope, purpose, and perspective. The Apostle Paul commented on this perspective in Romans, chapter 8:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which shall be revealed in us.” (v. 18).

In fact, he says that the glory God intends to reveal in YOU is actually the hope of the entire universe:

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the REVEALING of the SONS of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the GLORIOUS LIBERTY of the CHILDREN of God.” (vv. 19–21).

Understanding this destiny gives meaning to our struggles in life. When your burdens feel as though they may crush the life right out of you, when temptations grow so strong that they begin to feel as though they cannot be resisted, when sickness, despair, or heartache seems to be all you will ever know…

Understanding that God has destined you for so much more—that there is MEANING in your life, and that seeking the mind of Jesus Christ in those troubles, seeking to face them as He would and to grow through them to reflect Him ever more perfectly in your patience, your character, and your love for others… That will stir your determination, solidify your devotion, and strengthen you to stand up again and FACE your challenges, knowing that Your Father is working WITHIN those very circumstances, lovingly creating something remarkable within you…something that is destined to change the entirety of Creation, itself.

There IS a meaning to life. YOU HAVE MEANING AND PURPOSE. And I pray that you will come to see it, believe it, and embrace it. Because once you do, you will never be the same again.

We’ve barely scratched the surface. Please don’t forget to request today’s free offer, Your Ultimate Destiny.

And please don’t forget to come back next week. Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, and I, as well as our guest presenter Rod McNair, will be here waiting for you, ready to share the end-time prophecies of the Bible, the true teachings of Jesus Christ, and the good news of Tomorrow’s World. Take care.

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

Marijuana: Wonder Drug, or Big Deception?

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

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

The Marijuana Agenda Is Not About Health Benefits

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

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

Fact #1: There is an agenda behind medical marijuana

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

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

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

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

Berenson explains a little later:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marijuana Benefits Lack Research And Evidence

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

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

Is this a wonder drug or not!

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

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

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

Depression

Anxiety

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Tourette’s syndrome

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychosis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s what Berenson learned.

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

He also learned that:

Fact #2: Marijuana is linked to mental health problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

Loss of Motivation

Brain Impairment and Mental Health

Lung and Heart Damage

And,

Cancer Risk

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

What About Medical Marijuana?

Will Legalization Reduce Crime and Overall Drug Use?

Also, these controversial questions:

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

And, in the end,

Isn’t It a Matter of Personal Choice?

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

Marijuana Affects Human Behavior, Even Giving Rise To Unexpected Violence

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

Fact #3: Cannabis is linked to violence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Moral Issue, For Which The Bible Gives Hope

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

Fact #1: There is an agenda behind medical marijuana

Fact #2: Marijuana is linked to mental health problems

And,

Fact #3: Cannabis is linked to violence

Regarding our fourth fact, this truth has become evident:

Fact #4: Cannabis is BIG MONEY!

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

One financial investment advisor recently wrote:

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

It appears everyone is hopping aboard the bandwagon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re warned from the pages of the Bible:

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

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

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

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

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

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