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

Three Warnings About the Harlot in Revelation 17: Where Is She Today?

The Bible is a fascinating book. It’s filled with inspiration and encouragement. It gives strength to the weary and hope to the hopeless. But many are surprised to find out just how blunt the Bible is. Maybe even shocking.

Take the book of Revelation. It’s amazingly candid in talking about some delicate subjects. Have you read the book of Revelation, lately? We’re going to dive into a portion of it today, and glean what we can about a subject which has surprising connection to our life today. In today’s world of political correctness, the Bible is refreshingly honest and genuine. It tells it like it is. It doesn’t pull any punches. When you want the truth, the Bible is where you should turn.

So, join me in this edition of Tomorrow’s World. And take a moment to get a pen and paper now, because you’ll have the opportunity a little later on to request a free publication. It’s called, Who or What is the Antichrist? It’s a fascinating glimpse into a mysterious but vital subject. And one that will take on more and more relevance, as we get closer to Christ’s return. So get ready, because in a moment we’re going to launch into our topic and discover, Who is the Great Harlot of Revelation?

 

Symbols of Revelation 17

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World. A lot of people know about the Bible, but few really read it. And fewer still understand it. One vital key to understanding the Bible, especially when it comes to prophecy, is to understand symbolism. Much prophecy is written in symbolism. Now, by symbolism, I don’t mean that all meaning is just wiped away. I just mean that certain symbols represent other things. And if we let the Bible itself define those symbols, the meaning is unlocked, like the turning of a key. Take, for example, the book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is full of symbols. Stars, we find, can represent angels. Floods are symbolic of people. Horns represent governments. And a woman—this is the key for our discussion today—a woman, represents a church.

One of the places where we find that occur is in Revelation 19. Jesus Christ gave this message to the Apostle John. John was inspired to see, in vision, a glimpse of the glorified saints entering the Kingdom of God, and marrying Jesus Christ, as His Bride. Let’s read it together: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). The Lamb is Christ—slain for the world. His wife is His Church. We find that in other places, as we’ll see a little bit later. And the woman who marries Christ is a virtuous, honorable, respectable, upstanding woman. What it means is that the saints who enter glory will be virtuous, clean, obedient, and forgiven of their sins, under the precious blood of Christ. Going on, it says, “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). That’s how Jesus sees His precious church. That’s how He sees people who are sincere and faithful and obedient to Him: As a woman of integrity and character preparing to marry her husband.

But then there’s a description of a totally different woman. A woman of dubious character. That’s found in Revelation 17:1. “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:1–2).

So, we see two different women. Two different churches. Polar opposites. Which one do you want to be a part of? It’s not a difficult choice, is it?

But John didn’t stop there. He continued, with more description of this adulterous woman. He said: “…And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Revelation 17:3–4).

This woman not only was causing spiritual fornication, drunkenness, and blasphemy, but she was pulling the strings in worldly politics. Quite an unusually blunt and even shocking description.

Now, why is this important that we even talk about it? What does it matter? Is it only an academic exercise? Not at all. It has everything to do with the last generation before Christ’s return. If we can see the writing on the wall, that’s  us. Notice what John said, further, in Revelation 18:1:

“After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven… saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and [it] has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”… (4) And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues… (8) Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her” (Revelation 18:1–2, 4, 8).

Why is this important? Because whatever this was—and the Bible itself reveals that this was to be a church, a religious system—it would be around at Christ’s return. And it would be judged for its corruption and abominations. And Christ warned us, don’t be a part of her, don’t get mixed up with her. Or you’ll be tarnished and influenced by her, and you’ll be punished, too.

So again, let’s stop and think. Who would voluntarily be part of an adulterous, political, blasphemous, demonic system of worship? Nobody in their right mind, right? And yet, there’s the warning. To be wary of something that’s coming. To not be deceived. Because being deceived by a coming wave of religious deception is possible, even among the very elect. Christ said that in Matthew 24:24. And that’s why John was given the warning.

Let’s pause just for a moment, so you can order today’s offer. It’s a helpful and straightforward explanation of this subject. It’s entitled, Who or What is the Antichrist? Is it a person? Is it a system? Are there more than one? There are so many confusing ideas about this subject. And we can’t possibly explain it all in this short program. So, contact us right now—go online, write to us, or pick up the phone and call us. You’ll be fascinated by this hard-hitting booklet. Order yours now.

 

Religious Harlotry and Political Domination

Welcome back. In the last segment, we learned that the book of Revelation speaks of a church as a woman, symbolically. It describes a virtuous woman—made up of cleansed, forgiven, and Spirit-filled saints—marrying Christ at His return. But it also speaks of an adulterous woman—filled with blasphemy, fornication, selfishness, and even demonic activity—being punished by plagues from God at the end. Clearly, we don’t want any part of that woman. So, what are some things that we should watch out for? What are some signs of this woman to be wary of? So we can avoid getting entangled in her web? In the remaining portions of this program let’s identify several things to watch out for, as we identify the Great Harlot of Revelation. 

Number one: Beware the woman engaged in religious harlotry

God commands us to be morally and spiritually pure. But if we go back, again, into church history, we find a time when the visible, dominant church was watering down the truth of the Bible and teaching men to do so. Author William Manchester describes what this church was like during the Middle Ages, in his book A World Lit Only By Fire. He says,  “As mass baptisms swelled its congregations, the Church further indulged the converts by condoning ancient rites, or attempting to transform them, in the hope—never realized—that they would die out” (A World Lit Only By Fire, William Manchester, p. 13).

This is in total contrast to the Bible and what God intended. God instructed His people to not learn the ways of the heathen—that’s in  Jeremiah 10:2. He said, don’t compromise His laws, to the right hand or to the left (Joshua 1:7). He exhorted them, Don’t do like the nations around you, or be ensnared by their practices (Deuteronomy 12:30). Was this policy back in the Middle Ages pleasing to God? The mixing of blasphemous practices with the name of Christ? Of course not.

Going on, Manchester continues his description of the church in the Middle Ages. He said on page 13: “Statues of Horus, the Egyptian sky god, and Isis, the goddess of royalty, were rechristened Jesus and Mary. Craftsmen turned out other images and pictures to meet the demands of Christians who kissed them, prostrated themselves before them, and adorned them with flowers” (A World Lit Only By Fire, William Manchester, pp. 13–14).

God forbade idolatry—it’s that simple. And yet it was allowed and even encouraged in this large and influential church. Remember, we’re talking about two women in Revelation, two churches. One that was pleasing to God, and pure and virtuous. And another that was both spiritually compromising and politically active.

So number two: Beware the woman bent on political domination.

Let’s go back about 1,500 years, to the end of the Roman Empire. The western leg of the Roman empire fell in 476AD. In the 6th century, the Eastern emperor, named Justinian, dreamed of reuniting East and West. And he did it. But how did he do it? British author and speaker, Adrian Hilton, explains it in his book, Principality and Power of Europe: “He [that is, Justinian,] saw himself as God’s agent, destroying barbarian heretics, winning back the lost provinces of the West, and healing the divisions inflicted on Rome by barbarian invaders in 476. He acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope in the West, and effectively restored both ‘legs’ of the Empire—East and West. This became known as the ‘Imperial Restoration’” (The Principality and Power of Europe, Adrian Hilton, p. 27).

Justinian very cleverly gained the loyalty of the bishops and the pope, in order to reconquer Rome. And with that alliance, a new sort of political reality began in Europe. The union of temporal kings and religious leaders. And that became the story of Europe for a thousand years, and more.

Remember that at the beginning of this program, we read that the woman of Revelation 17 sits on a beast that has seven heads. Those seven heads represent successive governments. Justinian was the first. The second was Charlemagne—crowned by the Pope, in the year 800AD. Others followed. Otto the Great was crowned in 962AD. Charles the V in 1530AD. The French ruler, Napoleon, was about to be crowned by the pope in 1804, when, as the story goes, he grabbed the crown himself and laid it on his own head. We also can identify the Axis alliance of Italy and Germany of the late 1800s and early 1900s as the sixth head.

So, what does that mean? There are seven heads, and only six have occurred already. That means there’s one more coming, a seventh head. One more coming resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire—the unification between a military dictator and a religious leader.

What about the 10 crowns on the scarlet beast? Where do they come in? Revelation 17 shows that during the time of the last revival, the final head, there will be 10 kings in league with the Beast. “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” (Revelation 17:12–13).

We are in for some interesting times. Europe will rise again, as a world superpower. And crucial to her ascent will be the support of a religious entity that is centuries old. We need to be ready, so we’re not taken by surprise.

In this light, listen to what the Apostle Paul said, even in his time. Even back then, in the 1st century, he was greatly concerned that the little flock he’d been entrusted with could fall into licentiousness and the errors of the world! Notice in verse 1: “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Corinthians 11:1–4).

Paul said, “Don’t ever let anyone influence you to compromise on the truth!” Even if they say nice things and profess to know Jesus. Do they uphold God’s word and keep God’s law? That’s what matters.

We want you to understand. We don’t want you to be misled and deceived and confused. God will allow these events to unfold, for His purpose. We all just need to make sure we’re not caught on the wrong side. Be sure to order your free copy of “Who or What is the Antichrist?” It’s a powerful booklet, and will open your eyes to this vital truth. You can order it online, by mail, or on the phone. Be sure to order yours right now…

 

Mother of Harlot Daughters

In this program so far, we’ve learned some pretty shocking things. That a church, which has outwardly carried the name of Christ, has not lived by the word of Christ at all. It’s been a church involved in politics at the highest level, and engaged in the deepest depths of spiritual harlotry. But there’s one more vital truth we have to uncover. And perhaps this is the most surprising truth of all. Let’s read again in Revelation 17 about this woman: “And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5).

That brings us to our final point on today’s program:

Number three: Beware the mother of harlot daughters

What does this mean? Simply put, this church is not only a woman, she is a mother. There are other churches—harlot daughters—that have sprung from her. They may not look exactly like the mother, but they have the same basic DNA. What exactly does that mean, and why is it important to us?

To answer that question, we really need to go to another part of Revelation, this time in chapter 13. It’s another passage that describes this woman, from a different perspective. Verse 11 speaks of a beast coming up out of the earth, with two horns like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon. Meaning, it has the name of Christ, but is talking like Satan the Devil. Then John describes a great miracle-working false prophet that even causes fire to come down from heaven to deceive men. That’s Revelation 13:12–14.

Can you imagine the fervor and excitement this would create? A man calling fire down from heaven? We’re talking about prophesied events that are going to happen in our lifetimes. God is going to allow our generation to be tested like we’ve never been tested before. To know if we really love God, and will really submit to Him, above all else. Or if we’ll be swayed by lying wonders and deceitful signs.

What will this false prophet do next? Notice carefully: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16–17).

What is that mark? A lot of different ideas abound. But most likely it is referring to people swearing allegiance to doctrines that are in direct contradiction to God’s laws. By their hand and by their head—what they do and what they believe and profess. Most likely what we’re talking about is something that’s causing people to disobey the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, and instead keeping Sunday as a worship day.

Which makes us stop and think. It’s not only the rich and powerful church in that great city of Rome that keeps Sunday as a day of worship. Others who don’t identify themselves as Catholic at all, keep Sunday as well. All over the world. But why? Sunday was never observed by Jesus Christ. We challenge you to find a place where He did. And aren’t we supposed to walk in His footsteps? Sunday was never observed by His apostles. Even the Apostle Paul, who supposedly did away with the law, never kept Sunday, or taught his brethren to keep Sunday as a day of worship. In fact, Acts 13:42–44 shows definitively that He taught even the Gentiles to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.

So, who changed the Sabbath? Do your own research. Find out for yourself. Read about the “little horn” of Daniel 7 that “shall intend to change times and law” (Daniel 7:25). Who is the mother church? Who are the daughters? Millions of professing Christians are essentially following counterfeit doctrines—like Sunday worship—without really knowing it. Most of them are good people, sincere people, doing the best they can. But your Bible shows that a mark is coming, which will test hundreds of millions of people on this earth.

And believe it or not, when we really understand it, God’s Bible shows that one of the marks of His people is none other than the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath. That’s found in Ezekiel 20, verses 12 and 20.

Again, we are in for some serious times just ahead of us. We need to be ready. The mother church will influence the beast to enforce this mark of disobedience against God. And she will have true saints of God persecuted. Back in Revelation 17:6, John says, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement” (Revelation 17:6).

In the coming days, we will need God’s protection, like never before, when this woman begins her last ride. We will need to know where we stand. Frankly, we need to take that stand now. To be wholly and firmly obedient to the God Who made the heavens and the earth, and who gives us every breath we take. And who teaches us how He wants and doesn’t want us to worship Him. He decides—not us. Not tradition. Not what our friends do. Not what we’ve always done.

We in this Work are dedicated to conveying this wonderful truth to you with all of our might. We want to get this booklet in your hands today that we’re offering. It’s entitled, Who or What is the Antichrist? It’s free, we’re not going to ask you for money. We just don’t do that at Tomorrow’s World. You can’t pay enough for this truth—and that’s why we’re giving it away. Call or write today, don’t forget!

 

The Harlot Church Will Be Destroyed 

So what will happen to this harlot woman of Revelation 17? Well, we read the conclusion of the story at the end of the chapter. In verse 14, it reads: “[The ten kings] 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. Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire” (Revelation 17:14–16).

This religious system will end. It will be destroyed, forever. And the resurrected saints will even have a part in bringing it to an end, forever. They will be with the returning Christ, to restore order and peace to this earth. And restore the true worship of God. For all humanity. What a fantastic future and a wonderful hope. What an opportunity to be with Him, a part of His Church, that virtuous woman, if we align our lives and thoughts and will with His. That’s our challenge. That’s our opportunity. Don’t let it slip through your fingers!

And once again, thank you for joining us on Tomorrow’s World. It’s our absolute privilege to bring God’s Truth to you out of His inspired word, each and every week. Be sure to come back next time. Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, Wallace Smith and I will continue to share with you the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and make the prophecies of the Bible come alive. We’ll see you next time!

The Bible is the greatest book of prophecy ever written.  This amazing book has a flawless track record of predictions spanning thousands of years.  It predicted events that are taking place right now, for anyone to see.  Admittedly, there are some prophecies that are difficult to discern, but many others are so straightforward that a child can understand them. Many have already come to pass.  Others are yet to be fulfilled.

Some prophecies are found where you might never suspect... such as hidden within the seven biblical Festivals and Holy Days.  These are the same Days and Festivals observed by Jesus, His Apostles, and the Church of God from the first century until now.

This is the third in a series on the biblical Holy Days.  On today’s program, I’ll be offering you a brand new DVD of all three programs, plus an introductory program by Mr. Richard Ames that asks why professing Christians observe days steeped in heathen practices. This initial airing marks the first time this DVD is being offered and it's free of charge. Be sure to have writing material available to jot down contact information to receive your copy of Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important.

You may be shocked to learn what the biblical Holy Days predict for your future and that of your loved ones. They prophesy shocking events soon to be fulfilled and you may very well live to see them.  If you want to know the future, don’t go away!

[short intro music]

Welcome again to Tomorrow’s World where on today’s program we will explore the last four biblical Festivals and Holy Days and see what they tell us about our future, for they portend dramatic events that will change our world forever!

The first three festivals (Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost) were prophetic in nature, but for the most part have already been fulfilled.  The last four have yet to be fulfilled, and when they are, they will literally ROCK the world!  Everyone will be affected.  Most people will not understand what is happening, but you can understand!

These last four Biblical festivals are observed in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, equivalent to our September/October.  The Feast of Trumpets is the first of them.  The remarkable earthshaking events prophesied by the Feast of Trumpets will most likely begin within the lifetime of many of you watching this program.  This Feast is first introduced to the children of Israel in Leviticus 23, verses 23 & 24:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’” [Leviticus 23:23-24]

As we saw in the previous two programs, these biblical festivals foreshadowed future events, but what could blowing trumpets possibly tell us about the future?  We need not speculate, because the Bible interprets its own symbols.  In the New Testament of the Bible, the sounding of trumpets point us to a one- year period of time called the Day of the Lord.  This is a time when great cataclysmic disruptions take place leading up to and including the return of Jesus Christ to rule and bring harmony to this troubled planet.  This is also the time when Christ’s servants will be resurrected from the dead.  Notice the connection between a trumpet blast, Christ’s return, and the resurrection as found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

This same event is also referred to in Matthew 24:31:

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

No discussion of Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead would be complete without turning to 1 Corinthians 15, and here we learn that this trumpet blown at Christ’s second coming, is only the last of several trumpets.  Verses 51 & 52:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [1 Corinthians 15:51-52]

The Feast is named, the Feast of TRUMPETS, plural.  The above scriptures emphatically show us what happens at this last trumpet:  Christ returns and those who are Christ’s are resurrected to eternal life.  But how many trumpets are there and what significance can they possibly have for you and me?  The book of Revelation reveals that there are SEVEN trumpets.

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. [Revelation 8:2]

Each trumpet introduces dramatic events that will take place.  We’ve already seen what happens when the seventh trumpet is blown—Christ returns and His followers are resurrected to eternal life, but what about the others?  Time does not permit me to explain all of them, but let’s notice two.  We read in Revelation 8, verses 8 and 9:

Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.  And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. [Revelation 8:8-9]

Bill Bryson’s book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, is a book about science.  In it he reveals some important facts that can help us understand this second trumpet.  Yellowstone National Park in the United States sits on a large dome of molten lava a short distance under the earth’s crust.  There are numerous hot springs, geysers, and mud pots found throughout.  Every scientist familiar with the park is well-aware that it has a volcanic origin, but for many years no one seemed to know, or for that matter even care, where the caldera was located.

A caldera is the crater left behind after a volcanic eruption.  It is most often associated with the top of a cone-shaped volcanic mountain, such as Mt. Fuji in Japan; but in the case of Yellowstone, there isn’t a cone, and no one knew where the crater was located.  This all changed when Bob Christiansen of the United States Geological Survey saw a photograph of the park from space.  He immediately realized why no one recognized the caldera.  It turns out that Yellowstone is a supervolcano and the entirety of the Park, stretching 40 miles across (approximately 65 kilometers) IS the caldera.  It is so large that standing on the ground you don’t recognize it!

What scientists now know is that there have been volcanic explosions in the distant past infinitely greater than anything known in recent history.  The second trumpet in the book of Revelation is likely describing such a supervolcano located near busy shipping lanes.  Note it again:

...And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.  And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships destroyed. [Revelation 8:8-9]

As a point of interest, one-third of all ships pass through the highly concentrated shipping lanes of the South China Sea.  And, this same region hosts some of the world’s largest and most explosive volcanoes.

The explosion of such a supervolcano will shake the earth, but the third trumpet is equally dramatic.  We’ll read about that in a moment, but first, today’s offer. Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important, is a brand new DVD we’ve put together covering all three programs on the Biblical Festivals and Holy Days.  It also contains an introduction to this series by Mr. Richard Ames, contrasting professing Christianity’s holidays.  It will be sent to you free of charge.  All you have to do is pick up the phone and ask for today’s DVD on the Holy Days.  Do it today!  And I’ll be right back to show you the catastrophic event to occur when the third trumpet sounds.

As we have seen, the Feast of Trumpets pictures seven trumpets to be blown at the end of the age.  Each one introducing some dramatic event, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of His faithful followers.  Let’s now look at Revelation 8:10-11 to see what happens when the third trumpet is blown.

Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood.  A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

The word asteroid is Latin meaning star-like, and we often refer to meteors entering earth’s atmosphere as shooting stars.  They appear like stars falling to the earth.  In recent years, scientists have learned that there are a lot of objects floating in space crossing earth’s orbit.  Some of these asteroids are large enough to do massive damage if they were to impact our planet.  According to Bill Bryson:

Altogether it is thought—though it is really only a guess, based on extrapolating from cratering rates on the Moon—that some two thousand asteroids big enough to imperil civilized existence regularly cross our orbit.  But even a small asteroid – the size of a house, say—could destroy a city.  The number of these relative tiddlers in Earth-crossing orbits is almost certainly in the hundreds of thousands and possibly in the millions, and they are nearly impossible to track. [Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, page 194]

This third trumpet seems to indicate that a large object will strike the earth and affect about 1/3 of the world’s freshwater supply.  Could that be in the Himalayas, the headwaters for Asia’s greatest rivers?  The Great Lakes and Canada also contain massive amounts of freshwater.

The 5th and 6th Trumpets introduce a war of unimaginable proportions involving hundreds of millions and killing one-third of mankind.  It was impossible when this was written to understand the kind of futuristic weapons that are described in Revelation, but these prophecies describe such mass destruction that all life could be destroyed.  This is what Jesus predicted could happen except for His return.  Here it is in Matthew 24:22.

Had not those days been cut short, not a soul would be saved alive; however, for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

That's from the Moffatt translation.

The Feast of Trumpets reveals that God WILL intervene to stop man’s madness. Revelation 11:15:

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!"

The Biblical festivals and Holy Days were instituted to foreshadow future events.  Passover predicted the coming of the Lamb of God to shed His blood for you and for me.  Pentecost foreshadowed the coming of the Holy Spirit to write God’s law in our minds and on our hearts.  The Feast of Trumpets pictures a time in the near future when catastrophes will strike the earth, and culminate in the return of Jesus Christ.  You can have your own copy of these programs explaining these biblical festivals and how they show God’s plan of salvation for mankind.  All you have to do is pick up the phone and ask for the free DVD, Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important. Or you can order it online at www.TomorrowsWorld.org.  There are three Biblical Festivals that follow Trumpets and they give us the really good news.  You’ll want to know what that good news is.  I’ll be back in about 15 seconds to give it to you.

The next Holy Day is called the Day of Atonement, and it answers a lot of questions.  How is it my friends, that we can send men to the moon, but can’t live harmoniously here on earth?  Why can’t nations put down their swords and live with each other in peace?  Why can’t husbands and wives get along?  WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM?

The Day of Atonement gives us the answer.  What happens on that day will literally change the way men think!

This special day, known by Jews as Yom Kippur, will follow closely on the heels of Christ’s return.  Even with Christ ruling as King of kings and Lord of lords, the world could never live in peace unless a powerful spirit being is removed.  As we have shown on other Tomorrow’s World programs, the god of this present world is none other than Satan the Devil.  Ephesians 2:1-3 explain how he influences our world.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Atonement is a contracted English word that means at-one-ment.  In other words, it pictures how we can become one with God.  Revelation 20 describes the removal of that spirit being who creates disharmony between man and God, and between man and fellow man.  Notice verses 1-3.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. [Revelation 20:1-3]

That deceptive manipulator who influences us to live in disharmony will be taken out of the way and wars among individuals and nations will end for a thousand years.

Now we come to the sixth Biblical Festival.  The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows this thousand-year period of peace and harmony.  It’s difficult for us to believe that the world can be at peace.  History shows us that the world has never known peace, and conflicts between nations, neighbors, husbands and wives, and family members are commonplace.

Yet, the Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows a peaceful, harmonious world.  It's the result of the return of Jesus Christ (pictured by the Feast of Trumpets) and the removal of Satan (pictured by the Day of Atonement).  The Feast of Tabernacles assures us of a peaceful future for all.  Note this portrait of that time as predicted in Isaiah 2:2-4.

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.

Isaiah 11, verse 9 shows that the whole world will come to understand God’s righteous ways that bring about this condition:

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. [Isaiah 11:9]

When Christ returns He is not going to bring about harmony all by Himself.  He'll give rewards of rulership to His servants who have, during this lifetime, learned to love God and love their neighbors.  Jesus is even now training His followers to exercise a very different kind of leadership, as shown in Matthew 20:25-28:

...You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Those who truly learn that it is better to give than to receive are the ones spoken of in Revelation 20, verse 4:

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them... And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [Revelation 20:4]

But what happens AFTER the thousand years?  There is one final Biblical festival and it predicts one of the most amazing truths you could ever hope for.  It answers so many questions.  It gives wonderful encouraging news!  And I’ll give that to you in a moment, but I want to remind you one more time of this specially prepared DVD, Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important.  It contains Mr. Richard Ames’ message showing what is wrong with the holidays commonly thought of as Christian.  And it has my three programs on these biblical Holy Days that Jesus and His Apostles kept.  Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important can be yours free for the asking.  So order your copy today, and I’ll be right back with wonderful news that, seriously, you don’t want to miss.

There is one last prophetic festival in God’s master plan, and it's called The Last Great Day.  And what a great day it is!  It looks forward to a time in the future when God will resurrect to life all those who never heard the true gospel message, or if they did, they were so deceived by Satan that they couldn’t understand it.  This Feast foreshadows the time when billions of people will have their first real opportunity to choose God’s way.

Those who are Christ’s will be resurrected upon His return, but what about everyone else?  Revelation 20, verse 5 gives the answer:

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection. [Revelation 20:5]

So what happens to these people?  They are not Christ’s at His coming, but they come up in a resurrection at the end of the thousand years.  Let’s continue in Revelation 20:11 and 12:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away... And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. [Revelation 20:11-12]

The books that are opened are the books of the Bible that have been closed to their understanding.  Note also that the book of life is open, not closed.  Jesus referred to this time of judgment on several occasions and one is found in Matthew 11:23-24:

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.

God is fair!  He's going to give all human beings a legitimate chance to choose His way!  This resurrection is described in Ezekiel the 37th chapter and the valley of Dry Bones, where we read of a physical resurrection.  Notice it in verses 7 and 8:

...and the bones came together, bone to bone.  Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them [Ezekiel 37:7-8]

Are these people who went to their graves thinking they were saved?  Did they have God’s Spirit during this lifetime?  Not at all! Notice beginning in verse 11:

They indeed say, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!"  Therefore prophesy and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.  Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people and brought you up from your graves.  I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live... Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD. [Ezekiel 37:11-14]

The Bible reveals that God first works with Israel, but He cares for everyone everywhere, both the small and the great.

There truly IS hope for your friends and relatives who are not saved at this time, but I need to emphasize this is not a second chance.  It's a first chance for those who never heard of Christ, or who were so confused or deceived by false religion, even false Christianity, that they never understood God’s plan for them.

Be sure to request your free DVD Why Biblical Holy Days Are Important.  And if you want to speak with a minister who can give you more understanding on this subject, or if you want to meet with others on these Holy Days, let us know and a minister in your area can contact you, but he will only do so if you clearly indicate this is something that you desire.

Be sure to come back every week when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, guest presenter Rod McNair, and I will bring you more good news of Tomorrow’s World.  Until then, may the peace and truth of Almighty God and Jesus Christ be with you.

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

Not All Holidays Are Christian

Everyone loves a holiday. Holidays sometimes give us a break from the routine of a full-time job. And perhaps they give us an opportunity to spend time with relatives and friends we have not seen for a while. Some holidays are associated with historic national events. And other holidays feature sporting events such as football, soccer, baseball, tennis, and cricket.

Many religions celebrate holy days. And that’s how we came to use the term HOLI-days. But are many of those religious days really “holy”? Easter celebrations feature customs from pagan traditions. Easter eggs are a pagan symbol of fertility. Do rabbits really lay eggs? What is the meaning of all this?

Many of the traditions we’ve learned from our parents and the culture of our nation or region, have roots in paganism. Often, they hide the real truth of first century Christianity. Is the popular holiday of Easter really in the Bible? This amazing free booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story, will help you sort out the truth from error and give you the biblical facts and sequence of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Be sure to order your free copy!

When we were children, we generally accepted religious appearing customs without question. But as adults and mature professing Christians, do we really want to mix pagan customs with biblical Christianity? Which should we observe? Holidays or Holy Days? Or both? What should we do about Easter?

Stay tuned!

Many Holidays, Like Thanksgiving, Are Perfectly Acceptable

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Many national holidays remind us of our historical roots. Other holidays are more entertaining in purpose. Some religious Holy Days help us to know our meaning in life, especially if those days are mandated in the Holy Bible. But even some professing Christian holidays or proclaimed Holy Days are saturated with pagan customs.

Should we observe those days, or avoid them? On today’s program we’ll be answering that question and we’ll be offering you an eye-opening free study guide, Easter: The Untold Story. This booklet will inspire you with the untold story of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and will also reveal the incredible insertion of pagan customs into the day called Easter. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy of this inspiring and eye-opening booklet, Easter: The Untold Story.

We all appreciate a holiday that gives us an opportunity to visit family, travel to a distant mountain resort, or a coastal beach. Some national holidays are rooted in significant historic events such as the July 4th Independence Day in the United States; the Guy Fawkes Night in England, Scotland, and Wales; November 11 signifies the end of World War I and is called Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and Canada. Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand honors the military who served in World War I. The American Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May, honoring those who sacrificed their lives in the armed forces.

These national holidays should give us perspective and help us understand our national purpose. They should also help to learn the lessons of history to avoid the monumental mistakes of the past!

How many nations in our modern world honor the God of creation? Who gave them their greatest blessings? On October 3, 1789, President George Washington made a Thanksgiving Proclamation. He stated in that proclamation: “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” [from Founder’s Quote Daily]

The time IS coming when the Kingdom of God will rule all nations in peace and prosperity. As it tells us in Zechariah 14:9, “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” My friends, your Bible reveals significant annual festivals and holy days that outline the future of the world. You will want to watch upcoming Tomorrow’s World programs on that inspiring subject, the true biblical festivals and holy days.

President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln each proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God. Thanksgiving weekend is a time when Americans are supposed to count their blessings! Millions of Americans thank God for the blessing of living in a prosperous nation. We in the Western world have been abundantly blessed with prosperity and freedom! At the Thanksgiving holiday, we celebrate the prosperity and freedom our God Almighty has given us.

On the fourth Thursday of November, the United States celebrates its annual Thanksgiving Day. The tradition stems from the Pilgrims’ three-day festival, organized by Plymouth governor William Bradford in 1621. Other nations also celebrate Thanksgiving. Canada instituted its Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday in 1879—and, since 1957, Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October.

Originally, Thanksgiving was established as a time to express our deep gratitude to God, but do we truly recognize GOD as our provider? Or do we look to our personal possessions and power for security? Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect on our blessings, our purpose, and our future, both individually and nationally. Yes, there are some national holidays that intend to honor the God of the Bible. But does the Bible itself outline godly festivals and holy days? We’ll answer that question in the next part of our program, but first I’d like to offer you this inspiring free booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story. Was Jesus really crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday morning? Then how do you explain Jesus’ statement that he would be in the “heart of the earth” or the tomb for three days and three nights? The answer from your own Bible will astound you. You need this inspiring information. This booklet is free of charge. Just call the number on your screen, or order it online at TomorrowsWorld.org. Request this amazing free booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story. Call now!

Historical Proof That Some Popular Holidays Are NOT Christian

In the first part of our program, we saw that some national holidays honor those who have served their country. And we saw that some national holidays strive to acknowledge Almighty God and express thanks for His benefits and blessings on their country. But does specifically God want us to observe certain holy days and biblical festivals?

Muslims worship of Friday and follow the call to prayer five times a day. Jews around the world have worshipped for thousands of years on the Sabbath, or the day we call Saturday. Professing Christians meet for Sunday church services, proclaiming this is the true day for worship.

Should religious people set aside any special day as HOLY? Does your Bible COMMAND us to observe Sunday as a day of worship? Or should we just follow non-biblical traditions?

Until recent years, public buildings posted copies of the Ten Commandments. Perhaps you even learned them as a child. The fourth Commandment states the following:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8–11).

God set apart the seventh-day Sabbath at creation. That’s why He states, “REMEMBER the Sabbath day.” But should New Testament Christians observe the seventh day, Saturday, as a holy day? We’ve answered that question on previous programs. But it also raises the question: What is the source of your belief and religious practice? Is it church tradition that may include questionable pagan customs? What does the Bible teach concerning the seventh day Sabbath?

The historic records can also give us understanding as to the origin of Sunday observance by professing Christians. The Christians of the first century AD, observed the seventh-day Sabbath. But when was it changed to Sunday? And WHO popularized Sunday observance?

The Catholic Encyclopedia, on the topic of “Sunday,” states this, quote: “Tertullian (202 [AD]) is the first writer who expressly mentions the Sunday rest: ‘We, however (just as tradition has taught us), on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude, deferring even our businesses lest we give any place to the devil’” (Volume XIV, p. 335). Sunday observance was not even mentioned until 202 AD, more than 170 years AFTER the beginning of the New Testament church!

My friends, you need to consider the source of your beliefs. The first and second century Christian churches observed the seventh day Sabbath! Then we find a tiny hint that some churches began to observe Sunday as a day of worship. Even much later, in the fourth century AD, the Emperor Constantine ENFORCED Sunday worship throughout the Roman Empire. Constantine had been a pagan sun-worshipper. He gave the following edict in 321 AD, “On the venerable day of the SUN let all magistrates and people ... REST” [Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, article “Sunday Legislation,” Volume XI, p. 147].

Just a couple years later, the Roman church also passed a startling decree in the Council of Laodicea. They declared: “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ” (A History of the Councils of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 316). In other words, Christian Sabbath-keepers were declared to be heretics.

But on what authority did the Roman Church make this change? The noted Catholic theologian, James Cardinal Gibbons, wrote this bold statement: “But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. [Listen to this!] The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify” (Faith of Our Fathers, 1876).

In other words, Gibbons is saying, if the Bible is your authority, you have NO basis for observing Sunday. The Scriptures, as he states, “enforce the religious observance of Saturday.” We agree with his statement. Do you? What Gibbons and other Catholic authorities state is that, it is the authority of the Catholic Church that changed observance in the Christian world from Saturday to Sunday, NOT the New Testament scriptures! And that occurred in the Council of Laodicea in the middle of the fourth century!

My friends, when you review the facts of history and you also study the teaching of your Bible, you will see a major difference in what days we should observe as religious festivals and Holy days. What days should we observe, and what days should we NOT observe?

My friends, are you willing to be guided and corrected by the Bible? Or will you be turned aside to fables? One of the major errors of professing Christianity is the practice, by some, of pagan traditions. We’ve documented them on previous programs. Easter eggs are a pagan symbol of fertility; decorated trees, holly wreaths, and mistletoe were pagan traditions; December 25 was celebrated as the birth of Mithras, the sun god. It was never the date of Jesus’ birth. Should Christians observe Valentine’s Day? In 496AD, Pope Gelasius I established the Feast of St. Valentine on February 14. Previously, since the days of ancient Rome, young lovers had often observed the Lupercalia—the feast of Lupercus, a fertility god—on February 15.

What other pagan traditions have crept into some forms of professing Christianity? The historian Will Durant gave this analysis in his book, The Story of Civilization: “Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the church; the Greek language, having reigned for centuries over philosophy, became the vehicle of Christian literature and ritual; the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other PAGAN CULTURES contributed to the syncretist result…. Christianity was the last creation of the ancient pagan world” (pp. 595, 5990.

My friends, are you practicing pagan traditions in the name of Christianity? Remember Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees and scribes concerning certain religious customs. He warned them in Mark 7:7, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Where did the Easter tradition come from? We’ll learn more in the next part of our program, but first I’d like to give you another opportunity to order this amazing free study guide, EASTER: The Untold Story. The Resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is a fact of history and the hope of our future. But are millions supposedly honoring God with questionable customs and traditions? Evangelist Gerald Weston, the author of this inspiring booklet states this: “Every year, professing Christians celebrate the holiday known as Easter, but few understand its true origins. How is it that a day supposedly picturing the resurrection of Jesus Christ came to be known by the name of the pagan goddess, Eostre? What are the origins of celebrating the day with rabbits and colored eggs and how did they come to be associated with it? What do these have to do with the resurrection of Christ?”

You need to know the untold story of one of the most dramatic and historic events of all time. Just call the number on your screen, or order it on-line at TomorrowsWorld.org. Request this amazing free booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story. Call now!

Pagan Holidays, Like Easter, Deny Jesus Christ and the Resurrection

We rejoice in the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But does the holiday of Easter accurately celebrate the untold stories relating to these awesome historic events? Celebrations of Easter Sunday vary around the world. Easter customs include the coloring of eggs and the popular Easter egg hunt. Surprisingly, many celebrate the myth that rabbits laid those eggs. We all know that rabbits do not lay eggs, but parents teach their children these fables anyway. Some regions celebrate the day with a new set of clothes and display the fashion of an Easter bonnet or creative hat.

But what do those customs have to do with the resurrection of Christ? Absolutely nothing! But the Easter fertility symbols are associated with the pagan goddess Eostre! Listen to this; “Easter is nothing more than another spelling for the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, but where did this goddess originate? The New World Encyclopedia suggests a connection between Eostre and Easter with the very popular and ancient goddess Ishtar: ‘Scholars likewise speculate that Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring whose name later gave rise to the modern English “Easter,” may be etymologically connected to Ishtar’ (article “Ishtar”). Interestingly, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church admits this about the origin of the name Easter, but gives a slightly different spelling from that of Ishtar. Our modern English word ‘Easter’ comes from Old English, and referred originally to the Norse goddess of fertility, Istra—who was symbolized by a rabbit” (Easter: The Untold Story, p. 2).

If you are a professing Christian, why would you celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the name of a pagan goddess? Several Protestant churches have noted the profane connection to the resurrection of Christ and no longer celebrate Easter Sunday; they now call it “Resurrection Sunday.”

Some consider the rising sun symbolic of the Son of God. Many professing Christians observe an Easter sunrise worship service.

But was Jesus resurrected on Sunday morning? If you are a Bible student, you may be familiar with the history of what is called Passion Week. Remember that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb Sunday morning. Did she witness a sunrise resurrection? If you have your Bible, turn to John 20:1. What did Mary see? 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. 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.’”

Notice that it was still dark Sunday morning, and Jesus was not there! He was not resurrected Easter Sunday morning according to your Bible!! Did Jesus accurately predict the time of his interment in the tomb? Remember the Pharisees and Scribes demanded a sign from Jesus to prove that He was the promised Messiah. And what did Jesus say? Do you personally recognize the sign He gave? Turn in your Bible to Matthew 12:38, “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’”

Do you realize, my friends, that a traditional Friday crucifixion and an Easter Sunday morning resurrection deny the very sign Jesus gave? Are you personally denying that sign? My friends, Jesus did fulfill that sign just as He said. And we’ll show you How He fulfilled that sign in the conclusion of our program. But first I’d like to offer you this absolutely vital and inspiring free booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story. You need to read the untold true story of Christ’s resurrection. The center of the booklet features a chart clearly demonstrating the three days and three nights Jesus was in “the heart of the earth.” He was resurrected from the tomb or the grave exactly 72 hours after He was laid to rest, just as He said. He kept His word. Jesus Christ is “the resurrection and the life” as He stated in John 11:25. You need to study this vital biblical truth for yourself. So, pick up the telephone right now and order your free inspiring booklet, EASTER: The Untold Story. You can also order this booklet on our Web site at TomorrowsWorld.org. Order your free copy now.

Which Holidays Should You And I Observe To Honor God?

On today’s program we’ve examined various holidays, national and religious. We’ve seen the problem that various pagan celebrations were adopted by the church during the Roman Empire. The most popular of professing Christian holidays, Easter, features several pagan customs including the very name “Easter.” When was Jesus crucified and buried? Was it on a Friday? Notice John 19:31, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

The high day, John referred to was NOT the weekly Saturday Sabbath, which many wrongly assume. The high day was an annual Sabbath on Thursday of that week. Was Jesus in the tomb three days and three nights?

We’ve explained this on previous programs. Let’s count:

• Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples Tuesday night after sundown. Then, Wednesday afternoon, He is crucified and entombed shortly before sundown, late Wednesday afternoon.
• During the Annual High Day Sabbath of Wednesday night and the day part of Thursday, Jesus is in the tomb. That’s one day and one night.
• After sundown Thursday, the Annual Sabbath is over, and the women are free to begin buying spices and preparing them for applying to Jesus’ body according to Jewish tradition. That workday—the evening part of Thursday and the daylight portion of Friday—brings the total to two days and two nights with Jesus in the tomb.
• At sundown on Friday, the women must rest again due to the start of the weekly Sabbath. Friday night and the daylight part of Saturday bring the time Jesus has been entombed in the heart of the earth to three days and three nights!
• With 72 hours completed—all three days and all three nights—Jesus was then resurrected right before sundown, late Saturday afternoon! This is why the tomb is ALREADY EMPTY when Mary Magdalene finally arrives early Sunday morning while it is still dark (John 20:1).

Jesus indeed fulfilled the only sign proving that He is the true Messiah! The truth of the Bible is absolutely inspiring. Jesus and the apostles observed the BIBLICAL festivals and holy days, not pagan holidays. But you need to study into it for yourself. Be sure to request our thoroughly documented free booklet Easter: The Untold Story. You need the complete story, the UNTOLD story of Jesus’ resurrection. This is biblical inspiration that will encourage your life with faith and hope. And be sure to watch our program, the first in a series by Evangelist Gerald Weston, explaining the meanings of the seven biblical festivals and the seven biblical holy days that New Testament Christians observe to this day. You won’t want to miss the Tomorrow’s World programs on that inspiring subject, the true biblical festivals and holy days.
We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World, or online any time. In the challenging and stressful times in which we live, you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I, along with our 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!