Laying Up Treasure

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Laying Up Treasure






article by Frank Dunkle





With no signs of the economy improving anytime soon, gold prices are soaring—and many are looking to precious metals to save them from ruin. How do we prepare for financial disaster?



You’ve no doubt heard the commercials. Gold may reach a price of $2,000 an ounce. Companies that deal in precious metals are urging anyone who will listen to buy now. Dollars are in danger of rapidly losing their value—and so are pounds, euros, yen and just about any other money you might think of.



Conservative politicians have a similar message: profligate government policies are damaging economies and seriously devaluing currencies. Their solution, ahead of your making financial investments, is that you give them your vote.



What should we do? Does the Bible give us any insight into how to prepare for financial disaster?



Out-of-control debt and currency manipulation

Before answering, let’s consider whether or not the situation is as dire as some say. As of August 3, 2011, the public debt of the United States stood at $14.34 trillion, far more than ever before (with $9.78 trillion held by the public and $4.56 trillion in accounts held by the government itself). Public debt in America is hardly new. The U.S. government was in debt from the start, having borrowed millions to finance its War of Independence. Since then, the federal budget often ran deficits, with occasional surpluses. During the presidency of Andrew Jackson the debt was completely eliminated for a time, but wars and disasters have always increased the size of the public debt.



During the Civil War the public debt passed $1 billion and topped $3 billion by the war’s end. World War I pushed that number past $25 billion, though it shrank significantly in the following decade. The Great Depression and World War II grew the debt from $16 billion in 1930 to $260 billion in 1950. Matching the rate of inflation, the public debt grew to more than $900 billion in 1980, and government spending dramatically increased thereafter. It passed $3.5 trillion in 1992, rose to nearly $6 trillion by 2000, jumped to nearly $11 trillion in 2008, and continued its dramatic climb to a current level above $14 trillion.



What do these numbers mean? Billions and trillions are numbers beyond the comprehension of most of us. One way to think of it is that the size of the U.S. debt is nearly that of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (the total value of goods and services produced in the nation in a year)—that is, 96 percent of a GDP of $15.003 trillion at the end of June 2011 (debt held by the public standing at 65 percent of GDP). And this doesn’t take into account government obligations to social programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Adding those commitments would bring U.S. public obligations to approximately $62 trillion.



This is hardly a problem for America alone. Within the eurozone, Greece, Ireland and Portugal have needed bailouts from partner countries to prevent national insolvency. Spain and Italy face similar problems, and efforts to relieve the crisis have had limited effect. But what does this have to do with buying gold?



To put it briefly, several governments owe more money than they can reasonably expect to repay. This has become painfully obvious in Greece, and some say the United States is quickly putting itself in the same situation. Tax increases are unpopular with voters, especially since they simply give government more money to spend. Spending cuts are unpopular with the masses of people who benefit from government programs—consider the protests and riots in Europe over proposed austerity measures.



Another way a national government can relieve its debt burden is to artificially increase the money supply. This inflates the currency, making each unit worth less in purchasing power. Yet while the value of the money falls, preexisting debts remain payable in the same number of currency units, as established by contract. Thus, the U.S. government can repay loans with dollars worth considerably less than when borrowed. This is why people holding home mortgages, student loans and other long term debt don’t mind a little inflation. However, homeowners and students do not have any control over inflation, as a national government does.



When a government deliberately inflates its currency, through programs like “quantitative easing,” it is really enacting a tax of sorts on everyone who holds money in that currency. That is why some investors have purchased large amounts of gold or other durable assets. It makes sense to store wealth in a form that cannot be arbitrarily manipulated. But is gold really as safe as some people say?



That depends on what level of safety we’re talking about—and the viability of the global economic system itself.



No financial protection against societal collapse

There is an old joke that says: If you owe your bank $500 and you can’t pay, you’re in trouble—but if you owe your bank $500 million and you can’t pay, your bank is in trouble! This may be funny as a joke, but how does it work when the one who can’t pay is a national government and when the creditor is not just a bank but a mixture of investors: companies, individuals and other countries? If you as an individual default on a major loan, you may be taken to court, have assets seized and conceivably be jailed. But what’s the outcome for sovereign nations?



When a nation defaults on its obligations, the result is often revolution or war. The entire social structure may disintegrate. Institutions crumble. In the 1920s the economy of the Weimar Republic of Germany failed, hyperinflation set in, and soon the Nazi regime took power. Given the current state of things, the protests and demonstrations occurring in Greece and Spain may end up being among the least harmful results of the sovereign debt crises. Could revolution or war overturn government and society in Europe and the United States? Could such a catastrophe lead to nuclear conflict and mass destruction? If so, will it be better to have gold and silver than dollars or euros?



Longtime readers of this publication know that Bible prophecy foretells cataclysm at the end of this age before God Himself intervenes to establish a new, better government. While many details of coming societal collapse are not explained, Scripture does provide some surprisingly specific ones. One of these can be found in Ezekiel:7:19They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity., which says, “They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.” Evidently there will be nothing to buy—or at least no functioning marketplace for the multitudes in this predicament.



This reminds me of a historical account of the conquest of the Incas by Francisco Pizzaro in the 1500s. When the Spaniards continued asking the natives about their gold and silver, the Incas asked why they wanted it so badly. “Do you eat it?” they asked. “Does it make you immortal?” One might ask similar questions of modern investors. If the economy and/or society collapses, can a person eat gold any more than he can eat bills of exchange?



Of course, the answer is no. But gold could be traded for food or other necessities when paper money loses value while society still functions. I do not seek to discourage anyone from investing in gold or similar assets, merely to put investing and money management into perspective.



The ultimate investment advice

There is much wisdom in finding investments that will serve as a hedge against inflation—along with other prudent planning for economic crises. “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs:22:3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.; 27:12, New Living Translation). Being prepared will also put you in a position to help others.



But there are times when even the most valuable and durable of commodities become worthless. Those times include the end of the world—whenever that may be—but also the end of your life. Although you hope the latter is still a long way off, it’s impossible to know for sure. The Bible provides the ultimate investment advice that is good for either event.



It is simply this. Jesus Christ said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth [including gold] where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew:6:19-20[19]Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[20]But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:). Of course, there is no stock market or exchange where you can buy treasure in heaven. Obviously, Jesus meant that we should build the treasure of righteous character and of a relationship with God. Such things cannot be purchased; they must be developed through a way of living.



The Bible teaches that way of living, and you can read and understand it. Download or request our free booklets How to Understand the Bible and Making Life Work for some guidance on how to lay up that treasure in heaven. And for some basic financial guidance, be sure to read our booklet Managing Your Finances.



In the meantime, what about your investments? Is the end of the world near? Some say it is—but it has seemed that way before, and things improved. It is certainly not a sin to buy gold or invest for the future. What you need to ask yourself is: What are you preparing for? Is it a downturn in the economy or the complete breakdown of society? Gold might be useful for the former but utterly useless for the latter. Treasure in heaven will always be a good investment.

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What can I expect from a Kingdom of God Bible Seminar?

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

What can I expect?


By attending the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars you will discover what the Kingdom means to your own personal salvation and why it’s message is actually critical to human survival.



The seminars will also help you understand the key signs Jesus gave His disciples about His return and how the Kingdom of God will soon be established on earth.



By attending the seminars you will discover not only how you can enter the Kingdom of God but vital ways you can develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with your Creator.



Finally, you will learn important ways to living a positive, happy life even in the midst of the problems and challenges you face.

http://www.ucg.org/kingdom-god-bible-seminar/

U.S. Debt Dilemma - How Will It End?

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U.S. Debt Dilemma - How Will It End?


A commentary by Larry Walker

Posted August 4, 2011





As a worried world watches, an all-out partisan political battle rages regarding the debt dilemma that threatens financial disaster for this nation and could send shock waves throughout the world. Because financial markets are all affected by the economic situations of other nations in the current global marketplace, other nations face major repercussions if the federal debt crisis is not successfully resolved.





Source: Photos.comAlthough economics in this complex world may seem very complicated and beyond the average citizen's ability to understand, the causes of the current financial problems faced by the United States are actually quite simple. In fact the same basic financial principles that apply in the lives of average citizens also apply to federal and state governments. In order to remain financially solvent, it is necessary to take in more money than is spent. As the catchy one-liner suggests, "Unless your income exceeds your outgo, your upkeep will be your downfall."



This fundamental economic principle is true for any and all institutions, large and small. Of course the federal government can get by longer than individuals by borrowing more money, printing more currency or issuing treasury bonds. But eventually the imbalance will take its toll.



Hard choices facing congress

The choices faced by Congress are limited and problematic. In order to pay its bills, the federal government needs congressional approval to increase the national debt limit. However, that is like blowing up a balloon that is already dangerously close to bursting.



The alternative would result in default—inability to pay some of its bills—that would lower the nation's credit rating. So the partisan battle rages over the debt limit increase and which benefits to cut, as well as whether or how much to increase taxes in order to move toward a balanced budget. The increased debt limit, while temporarily forestalling disaster, is only like putting a small bandage on a gaping wound.



Since elected officials are at the mercy of voters, their political survival depends on pleasing their constituents. So politicians typically dangle lofty promises of reduced taxes and increased benefits in their quest to win voter support during election campaigns. In simple terms that means reducing government income and increasing expenditures—the very opposite of what is needed to balance the budget and reduce the federal debt.



Human nature—the root of the problem

But raising taxes and cutting benefits collides head-on with the innate desire of citizens to get more and give less. Some may voice support for the concept of balancing the budget and reducing the federal debt, but only so long as the cuts are made in budget areas that don't affect their lifestyle.



I have never forgotten a folksy nugget of truth that I learned from a college economics professor many years ago: "God helps those who help themselves, so take plenty." The simple play on words lends a touch of humor to an otherwise serious and sobering reality that forms the basis of most of mankind's problems—what might be simply expressed as "the way of get" that characterizes human nature.



So the actions that President Obama and Congress have decided on are at best stop-gap measures, and the nation's economic woes will continue so long as human nature remains unabated.



God's plan for economic success and prosperity

Thankfully, God has a plan for international economic recovery that is outlined in the pages of your Bible. The gospel of the Kingdom of God speaks of the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to usher in 1,000 years of peace and prosperity. That plan includes a provision to change human nature from the way of get to the way of giving and sharing.



More information available to you

To learn more about that plan and what it can mean for you, be sure to request or download our free booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom. I also encourage you to register now for our free Kingdom of God Bible Seminar on this vital topic, coming soon to a city near you.



We also offer practical information and help for your personal finances at no cost in our booklet, Managing Your Finances.

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Risk of Nuclear Attack Still Growing

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Risk of Nuclear Attack Still Growing
The United States and Russia have agreed to reduce their deployed strategic nuclear warheads by nearly a third. Efforts are underway to rein in the spread of nuclear materials, but the threat of nuclear weapons is still growing.
by Rod Hall
With the recent signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) the two nuclear giants continue to reduce the world's stockpile of nuclear warheads deployed on hair-trigger alert. The new 10-year agreement calls for each nation to reduce deployed warheads from the current ceiling of 2,200 to 1,550 within seven years after ratification by Russia's legislature (Duma) and the U.S. Senate. It replaces the 1991 START I agreement. Delivery vehicles such as missiles, bombers and submarines are to be cut from 1,600 to 800. The treaty does not appear to cut the stored stockpiles not deployed that are more than three times larger.

Reducing stockpiles
According to the Federation of American Scientists over the past 25 years the world's stockpiles of nuclear warheads have been reduced from a cold war high of over 65,000 in 1986 to 22,300 ("Status of World Nuclear Forces," www.fas.org, April 6, 2010). Nuclear expert Michael Krepon, former adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, writes in The Washington Post of both decreasing and increasing threats. "While the threat of short- and medium-range missile attacks on our allies and forward-deployed troops is growing, the danger of transoceanic missile attacks on U.S. soil has decreased markedly...Overall, the long-range missile threat to the United States has decreased by two-thirds over the past two decades...Still, there are far too many missiles in U.S. and Russian arsenals on hair-trigger alert." ("5 Myths About All Those Nukes Out There," March 1, 2009).

Analyzing current threats
The threat of nuclear annihilation is still very much with us. In their book Global Catastrophic Risk, Nick Bostrom and Milan Cirkovic analyze the risks and picture the devastation nuclear weapons can bring. "In an all-out war involving most of the weapons in the current US and Russian arsenals, 35-77 percent of the US population (105-230 million people) and 20-40 percent of the Russian population (28-56 million people) would be killed. Delayed and indirect effects—such as economic collapse and a possible nuclear winter—could make the final death toll far greater" (2008, p. 21).

What are the chances your life will be cut short due to nuclear war? "At least 10 percent..." says Stanford University Professor Martin Hellman. The odds are "thousands of times greater than the risk you would bear if a nuclear power plant were built right next to your home" ("Chance of Nuclear War Is Greater Than You Think: Stanford Engineer Makes Risk Analysis," www.physorg.com , July 20, 2009).

Efforts to rein in nuclear materials
Recognizing the growing danger, U.S. President Barak Obama called for a world free of nuclear weapons in a speech in Prague last year. He also stated "the threat of global nuclear war has gone down, but the risk of nuclear attack has gone up" (The Washington Post, April 11, 2010).

The United States hosted a 47-nation Nuclear Security Summit, the largest such gathering in the United States since 1945. It was convened to stop terrorists from getting nuclear material. It called for the safeguarding of all "vulnerable nuclear material" within four years and steps to stamp out nuclear smuggling.

The United Nations also sponsored the five-year review of the 42-year-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the world's bedrock agreement designed to limit the spread of nuclear weapons.

Most of the world community (187 countries) has signed the NPT agreement. It recognizes the first five nuclear powers (the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain) and commits them to work toward nuclear disarmament. It allows all other countries, in compliance with treaty obligations, to pursue civilian nuclear power but not nuclear weapons.

The UN's month-long May NPT conference pushed a highly ambitious plan that "reaffirms the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon states to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals" (Associated Press, "At UN, Deadline Aired for Abolishing Nuke Weapons," May 14, 2010).

But none of the five nuclear powers recognized under the treaty have ever endorsed a specific timetable for this to be accomplished. And Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea are not signatories of the NPT and would be unaffected by any final plan.

Is it too late to rein in nuclear proliferation? The more nations that get the bomb, the harder it will be to prevent further proliferation. As technology and know-how become more widespread, technical barriers are lowered. And once neighboring nations start down the nuclear path, surrounding nations may feel obligated to join them.

The recently issued U.S. "Nuclear Posture Review" includes significant changes hoped to encourage NPT compliance. It pledges that if attacked with biological or chemical weapons by a state in compliance with NPT, the United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.

The United States also pledges to not develop new nuclear warheads or replace any aging nuclear components, emphasizing refurbishing instead. Exceptions must be authorized by the president.

But critics worry that the changes may encourage use of other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and weaken deterrents offered by the nuclear umbrella that has kept America and its allies secure for the past half-century.

Nuclear terrorism
President Obama identifies nuclear terrorism as "the most immediate and extreme threat to global security." His deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, explained: "We know that terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, are pursuing the materials to build a nuclear weapon and we know that they have the intent to use one" ("US: al-Qaida Exemplifies New-Age Nuclear Threat," Associated Press, April 9, 2010).

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described in stark terms the impact that even a small bomb would have. "A 10-kiloton nuclear bomb detonated in Times Square in New York City would kill a million people.

"Many more would suffer from the hemorrhaging and weakness that comes from radiation sickness," she added. "Beyond the human cost, a nuclear terrorist attack would also touch off a tsunami of social and economic consequences across our country" (ibid.).

Her illustration uses a bomb about half the size of the one dropped by the United States on Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Terrorists are likely to use a similar bomb. They could also use less-developed radioactive materials in a variety of ways.

Terrorists could attack a nuclear reactor, steal nuclear fuel or waste; acquire fissile material and build a crude nuclear bomb (improvised nuclear device), disperse radioactive material with conventional explosives (dirty bomb), fabricate a nuclear bomb, trick a nuclear state into launching a nuclear weapon or acquire a ready-made nuclear weapon, small enough to fit inside a suitcase.

In spite of these growing concerns, a commission created by the U.S. Congress recently issued a "report card" on America's preparedness and gave it an "F" in some areas.

The report concludes the "U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism… There is direct evidence that terrorists are trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction...and the opportunity to acquire and use such weapons is growing exponentially because of the global proliferation of nuclear material and biological technologies" (World at Risk, www.preventwmd.gov, 2008).

The report warns unless nations act "decisively and urgently," it is more likely than not a WMD will be used in a terrorist attack by the end of 2013.

Growing nuclear stockpiles
In addition to nuclear materials used in bombs, there is a growing nuclear stockpile scattered about the globe in nuclear reactors, research facilities and military installations that may be vulnerable to attack or theft. This makes securing nuclear material more urgent and more difficult.

For example, according to the European Nuclear Society, 30 countries have 437 nuclear power plants, and 15 countries have 55 plants under construction ("Nuclear Power Plants, World-wide," April 2010). Another 40 countries, some in unstable regions, have also recently expressed interest in acquiring nuclear power.

And the amount of nuclear material needed for a devastating bomb is relatively small. The Washington Post reports, "Just 55 pounds of highly enriched uranium—about the size of a grapefruit—is needed to make a small nuclear device. There are an estimated 3.5 million pounds of the material in 40 countries and 1.1 million pounds of plutonium."

There is enough "'weapons-usable nuclear material' in the world to build more than 120,000 nuclear bombs" ("Obama Leads Summit Effort to Secure Nuclear Materials," April 11, 2010). The nuclear threat is also growing in specific regions like India, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran and Israel.

India and Pakistan
The escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan for more than a decade has spawned a nuclear rivalry. Pakistan is building two additional plutonium production reactors. At least one Pakistani scientist has confessed to smuggling nuclear weapons technology to other nations.

India has a superior conventional force, and there is growing concern that if pressed by an overwhelming conventional attack, Pakistan might use its nuclear weapons. According to the Federation of American Scientists both countries are estimated to have 60 to 90 nuclear weapons, and they continue to develop more (ibid.). Neither country has signed the NPT agreement.

North Korea
North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and has since successfully tested two nuclear weapons.

Times Online reports that North Korea is a "fully fledged nuclear power," an opinion shared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). North Korea is capable of striking cities in neighboring countries and has threatened the United States and its allies ("North Korea Is Fully Fledged Nuclear Power, Experts Agree," April 24, 2009).

And North Korea is believed to have sold nuclear and missile technology to Iran, Pakistan and other nations.

Iran and Israel
The IAEA recently concluded that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons capability in defiance of IAEA and Western powers. The United States is leading a diplomatic push for a fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran. But past sanctions have not deterred Iranian efforts.

Iran was known to have five primary nuclear facilities until last September when a sixth facility was uncovered. It was being constructed secretly in defiance of the UN and IAEA inside a mountain near Qum. Iran has since announced plans to build 10 more.

Iran continues its efforts to enrich uranium to higher levels. The Iranians recently achieved the 20 percent level needed to produce nuclear fuel rods for research reactors.

According to the Long War Journal, Iran's stockpile of low enriched uranium (LEU) is "just over two tons, enough for two nuclear bombs if the uranium is enriched to 90%" ("Iran Actively Pursuing Nuclear Weapons Capability: IAEA," Feb. 19, 2010). Other experts indicate the additional enriching necessary to reach 90 percent is relatively small.

Many Arab countries worry about the unprecedented leverage a nuclear-armed Iran would have. With the dramatic altering of the balance of power in the Middle East, some may feel forced to respond with a program of their own.

Concern is nowhere more pointed than in Israel, which sees Iran's program as a direct threat to its existence. Israel has repeatedly threatened use of force if necessary to stop the Iranian efforts. Disrupting Iran's nuclear program will require more of a sustained campaign than the overnight air strike Israel launched on the Syrian nuclear site in September 2007. But even a successful campaign would likely only set the Iranian program back a few years.

If a strike occurs, the Iranians may retaliate either by striking Israel directly or through their proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And they may even order terror attacks on Western targets.

The Federation of American Scientists believes Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear arsenal and calculates it has 80 weapons (ibid.).

"A nuclear exchange between Iran and Israel would be devastating," says Anthony Cordesman, former director of intelligence assessment for the U.S. secretary of defense. Israel "could conceivably survive a nuclear exchange while losing 200,000 to 800,000 citizens within 21 days, but Iran would face 16 to 28 million dead in the same time frame and no longer survive as an organized society" (United Press International, Nov. 22, 2007).

Prophecy and WMDs
Despite the global reduction of nuclear warheads, a growing dangerous nuclear threat explodes around the globe. We cannot know for sure when nuclear devices may be used. But they have been used in the past, and the figurative language of Bible prophecy in Revelation 9:13-19 appears to indicate a future global conflagration with staggering casualties (one third of the world's population) made possible only by today's arsenals of WMDs.

Jesus Christ personally warned that a time of trouble like no other is destined to push our world to the edge of human extinction (Matthew 24:22). Have you thought about what Christ said in Luke 21:36 and considered exploring its implications?

In a world seemingly out of control, it is time to understand why you are alive in the first place and what God has planned for you and the whole world. Learn about end-time events and God's plan to intervene to save us from self-destruction in Are We Living in the Time of the End?

Explore what the Bible says about your personal future in our booklets What Is Your Destiny? and Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion. WNP

Will You Celebrate Jesus Christ's Return?

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

Will You Celebrate Jesus Christ's Return?
A commentary by Peter Eddington
UCG Media and Communications Services operation manager

A very significant month on the calendar lies just ahead of us. Thousands of Christians around the world are preparing to observe a very important biblical Holy Day in just a couple of weeks. Maybe you've heard of it? It's called the Day, or Feast, of Trumpets.

A prophetic picture
Jesus Christ observed this festival, as did the New Testament Church of God. It pictures the time of Jesus' return to this earth to establish His Father's Kingdom here. His return will be announced by a heavenly trumpet blast, and it will occur on the seventh of seven blasts—the seventh trump. We read about this event, as prophesied by Jesus Himself, in Matthew chapter 24:

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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" (Matthew 24:30-31, emphasis added).

We are approaching the observance of this great event on Sept. 9, the Feast of Trumpets. It makes us stop and consider the time when the actual prophesied fulfillment of the Day of Trumpets will occur—when our Lord descends from heaven to the Mount of Olives and establishes the Kingdom of God on earth, beginning at Jerusalem.

The second coming of Jesus Christ
Throughout history there has been much controversy, doubt and misinformation about the return of Jesus Christ. Many thought He would already have returned—some doubt that He will return at all! Many people today scoff at the idea of Jesus ruling from Jerusalem in the not too distant future.

However, the Bible is clear on this. His return will be as unmistakable and as universally visible as a flash of lightning (Matthew 24:27). It will be sudden and quite unexpected to the world (Matthew 24:37-39). It demands constant readiness on our part (Matthew 24:42-44), since none of us knows the exact time of His coming (Matthew 24:36). But we do know the end will come after the gospel of the Kingdom is preached to the world (Matthew 24:14)!

As Jesus commanded us, let us continue to pray, "Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). As thousands of Christians around the world observe the Feast of Trumpets, keep in mind the great significance of what it pictures in God's Holy Day plan for mankind—the return of our Savior. If you're unfamiliar with this important day, you can read all about it in our booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. Perhaps you will feel compelled to observe it, too, as you pray for God's Kingdom to come.

Confusion About the Kingdom of God

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

Confusion About the Kingdom of God
Eerdman's New Bible Dictionary, in discussing the Kingdom of God, traces views and interpretations of the concept of the Kingdom through history. The early Roman Catholic Church developed the belief that the Kingdom had already come in the form of the church. Its leaders were seen as leaders of the Kingdom; where the church spread its power and authority was viewed as synonymous with the boundaries of the Kingdom (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1962, p. 696).

"In their resistance to the Roman Catholic hierarchy, the Reformers laid chief emphasis on the spiritual and invisible significance of the kingdom and readily (and wrongly) invoked Luke xvii. 20f. in support of this." Protestant churches continued this drift in a reaction to abuses of power and developed an emphasis upon social and community programs. "The coming of the kingdom consists in the forward march of social righteousness and communal development" (ibid.).

The article concludes with the summation that returns to the duality of salvation and a kingdom. "In contrast to these spiritualizing, moralistic, and evolutionary interpretations of the kingdom, New Testament scholarship is rightly laying stress again on the original significance of the kingdom in Jesus' preaching-a significance bound up in the history of salvation and eschatology [study of events surrounding Christ's return]" (ibid.).

Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia concludes that neither the idea of a Kingdom of God without a Savior nor the idea of a Savior without a Kingdom of God "can stand on its own" and "each can be defended only at the cost of explaining away, often by dubious methods, the evidence for the other" (Vol. III, p. 804)

There is a kingdom yet to come from God. When Jesus instructed believers to pray for the Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10), "the verb ...preclud[es] the notion of gradual progress and development, and impl[ies] a sudden catastrophe ..." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1985, p. 345).

Zondervan's Bible Encyclopedia concludes its article on the Kingdom: "Although the Kingdom was truly present in the ministry of Jesus, He also spoke of it as a future entity and told His disciples to pray for its coming (Matthew 6:10; cf. Luke 11:12) ... By this manner of speaking, Jesus was referring to the age to come (Mark 10:30; cf. Luke 18:30) which was associated with the coming of the Son of man, the resurrection of the dead and the setting up of the eternal realm of bliss ..." (Vol. III, p. 806, emphasis added). GN

-- Cecil Maranville

Israel's Amazing Story: Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy

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Click here to get this free book.

Israel's Amazing Story: Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy
As American writer Saul Bellow asked, "What is it that led the Jews to place themselves, after the greatest disaster in their history [the Holocaust], in a danger zone?" The surprising truth is that Jewish rule over Jerusalem is an essential element of end-time biblical prophecy!
by John Ross Schroeder
Ever since the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the ultimate loss of the city for nearly two millennia beginning in A.D. 135, many generations of the Jewish people have held a deep desire to return to the Holy Land. Their almost universal cry has been, "Next year in Jerusalem!"
In the earliest books of the Bible, God had decreed that the 12 tribes of Israel should inherit the Promised Land, also called the Holy Land. The book of Joshua and the first chapter of Judges record how Israel, with God's help, conquered the area of ancient Canaan, which is primarily the land known as Israel today.
A golden age—then trouble
Then, some 3,000 years ago, the monarchy of the Jewish king David and his son Solomon led Israel to the fullest expansion of the Promised Land. During that golden age, the people's condition was aptly summed up in utopian terms: "And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba [cities representing the northern and southern extent of ancient Israel], all the days of Solomon" (1 Kings 4:25).
Primarily because of blatant idolatry, these favorable conditions did not continue long. After Solomon's death, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two separate countries followed by national captivity of the northern 10 tribes some 200 years later. (The resulting fate of the northern 10 tribes has intrigued historians for centuries. To learn more about them, and their own amazing fulfillment of biblical prophecy, request our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.)
The two southern tribes (making up the kingdom of Judah, its people known as the Jews) followed their northern cousins in rejecting God and turning to idolatry. They soon met the same fate. The kingdom of Judah was invaded and its citizens deported 136 years after the demise of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Eventually a small percentage of Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem about 500 years before the time of Christ. A second temple was built—only to be destroyed by Titus' Roman legions in A.D. 70, helping precipitate another diaspora or dispersion of the Jewish people to other nations.
Nonetheless, massive depopulation was not immediate and the Jews remaining in Jerusalem again revolted against the Romans in A.D. 132-135, unsuccessfully, leading to another scattering. Nevertheless, a small number of Jews remained in parts of the Holy Land throughout the intervening centuries.
Jewry in Palestine before statehood
By the mid-19th century the Jewish population had reached 10,000, including 8,000 in Jerusalem alone. Many were immigrants from Poland and Lithuania. Russian emigration became more pronounced between 1882 and 1903 with 25,000 Jews entering Palestine. In fact, the Jewish population of Jerusalem alone had reached 25,000 by 1889, compared with 14,000 Arabs.
Still, the Jews remained a minority in the Holy Land by the turn of the century. Their population, however, continued to rise as time went by. For instance, between 1933 and 1936 the Jewish presence in the Holy Land increased from about 235,000 to nearly 385,000.
Determined Arab resistance began to slow this increase in 1937, but all future setbacks proved temporary. In the aftermath of World War II, between late summer of 1945 and late spring of 1948, perhaps 40,000 Jews entered Palestine secretly. The first half of 1946 also saw a further 10,000 Jewish immigrants enter the Holy Land by boat.
By the time statehood finally arrived on May 14, 1948, the Jewish population of the Holy Land had reached about 700,000. (We mention a smattering of these statistics because of a general false impression that there were very few Jews in Palestine before statehood.)
In spite of periodic Arab and later British efforts to limit Jewish immigration, the flow of people to the Holy Land continued off and on—especially during the first half of the 20th century.
David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, understood the importance of having a considerable Jewish presence in the Holy Land when statehood might finally be achieved.
In early 1935, shortly before World War II broke out, Ben-Gurion observed with exceptional prophetic insight: "The disaster which has befallen German Jews is not limited to Germany alone. Hitler's regime places the entire Jewish people in danger . . . [It] cannot long survive without a war of revenge against France, Poland, Czechoslovakia . . . and against Soviet Russia . . . Who knows; perhaps only four or five years, if not less, stand between us and that awful day . . .
"In this period we must double our numbers [in the Holy Land], for the size of the Jewish population on that day may determine our fate at the post-war settlement" (quoted by Noah Lucas, Modern History of Israel, 1975, p. 148, emphasis added throughout article). The necessary groundwork had been laid years in advance of statehood for a more massive immigration in decades to follow.
Theodor Herzl, Zionist pioneer
Theodor Herzl, Paris correspondent for a prominent Viennese newspaper in the late 1800s, originally believed that Jews should solve their dilemmas by gradual assimilation into the gentile world.
Despite his Jewish roots, in 1892 Herzl had even denied the presence of French anti-Semitism, stating that "the French people remain strangers to, and without understanding of, anti-Semitism" (quoted by Conor Cruise O'Brien, The Siege, 1986, p. 65).
Covering the Paris trial of the French military officer Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew, in 1894 radically altered Herzl's perspective. Dreyfus' trumped-up conviction and subsequent harsh imprisonment based on false evidence was a farce. But what shocked Herzl most was the ugly anti-Semitism displayed by the attendant crowds.
He quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation and immediately began thinking in terms of getting the Jews out of Europe, the sooner the better. (Incidentally, French anti-Semitism is back in the news with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon alleging "the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism in France," attributing it to France's growing Muslim population.)
Commented O'Brien: "The Zionists had been right about the thing that mattered most. They had sensed that the Jews of Europe were in deadly danger . . . Herzl, when Hitler was only six, had already sensed the need for a mass exodus of European Jews" (p. 315).
Theodor Herzl formed the World Zionist Organization with a view to establishing a Jewish state in Palestine. Noted British historian Martin Gilbert has written of Herzl: "On 3 September 1897 he wrote in his diary, 'Were I to sum up the Basle Congress [in Switzerland] in a word . . . it would be this: At Basle I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. Perhaps in five years, and certainly in fifty, everyone will know it" (Israel: A History, 1998, p. 15).
In fact, it took just over 50. Zionist Jews like Herzl and Chaim Weizmann, a chemist from Russia residing in Manchester, were also instrumental in saving a remnant of European Jews from the future Holocaust. Partially due to their efforts, "there were more than 700,000 Jews in Israel when the New State was declared" (The Siege, p. 315).
The crucial Balfour Declaration
Herzl died at only 44 and it was left for Weizmann to carry the baton forward. This he did effectively for several decades right up to statehood in 1948. Chaim Weizmann was instrumental in Zionist negotiations with the British government in the process of formulating the Balfour Declaration of 1917.
In brief this benchmark document stated: "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine . . ." (Nov. 2, 1917).
In early December of 1917, the British army in Palestine expelled Turkish forces from Jerusalem, just over a month after Balfour. Theoretically, the way was now open for the British declaration to be implemented in constructing a Jewish national home, paving the way for the Jews to leave continental Europe. Some little progress was made towards these two major goals, although accompanied by many frustrating and supremely costly setbacks as well.
Although 250,000 German Jews managed to find refuge in other nations, those who emigrated to other places in continental Europe before World War II (1939-1945) soon found themselves back in Nazi hands, as David Ben-Gurion had foreseen in early 1935. Hitler's armies had overrun Europe. Many Jews were deported to Auschwitz and other death camps.
Even though the British record is far from perfect during this troubled era, prior to the war the nation did receive 40,000 German and Austrian Jews. It also made provision for 10,000 Jewish children to escape to Britain from Hitler's clutches.
A milestone in world history
After World War II, events moved much faster on the path to Jewish statehood. World outrage over the Holocaust sped things up considerably. Although Britain's Labour government was fudging on the Balfour Declaration, U.S. President Harry Truman courageously stood in the gap and made possible the decisive final steps in the founding of the state of Israel.
Chaim Weizmann played a major role in convincing the American president. Truman later said of Weizmann in his autobiography: "He had known many disappointments and grown patient and wise in them" (Years of Trial and Hope, 1965).
Once truly convinced, President Truman outsmarted the opposition and, behind the scenes, was largely responsible for a positive United Nations vote on behalf of Israel.
Much has been written about the near-miraculous nature of the founding, against all odds, of the modern state of Israel.
For instance, Sir Martin Gilbert observed: "Herzl's call for Jewish statehood seemed too grandiose, too fraught with the complications of local Turkish and Arab opposition, too ambitious with regard to the accepted place of the Jew in the world, to be more than an extraordinary dream, an eccentricity" (Israel: A History, p. 13).
In truth, the Jews achieved a modern nation-state in the Holy Land (against a fierce and determined opposition—including at times some very influential Jews) simply because God had foretold that it would occur. A Jewish state in the Holy Land had to exist so that certain biblical prophecies could be fulfilled.
The unrealized biblical dimension
Let's understand that the survival of the religion and culture of this ancient biblical people defies the odds. The fact that the Jews were not assimilated into the nations to any significant degree is unprecedented.
Now, since the 1967 Six-Day War, the Jewish people are again in possession of Jerusalem. On the western side of the Temple Mount, at the retaining wall for the vast platform Herod the Great constructed to support the temple of God in Jesus' day (now known as the Western or Wailing Wall), many Jews still cry and bemoan the ancient loss of the temple and pray earnestly for its restoration.
In His final major prophecy before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ described conditions wherein the Jews would again control Jerusalem. He said that the "holy place" would be desecrated, stating: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place . . . then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Matthew 24:15-16).
What did the prophet Daniel say about this "abomination of desolation"? He writes that "the daily sacrifice [will be] taken away, and the abomination of desolation [will be] set up" (Daniel 12:11).
A preliminary fulfillment of this prophecy took place in 167 B.C. when the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanes) invaded Judah, erected an idolatrous statue at the temple and sacrificed pigs on the temple altar.
Yet Jesus Christ's prophecy makes it clear that someone or something else will defile the holy place in Jerusalem shortly before His return.
For these prophecies to be fulfilled, it appears that sacrifices will be reinstituted in some form. Daniel 12:9-13 describes the abomination of desolation as occurring at "the time of the end" in conjunction with the cutting off of sacrifices. Apparently the Jews will again initiate sacrifices at or near Jerusalem; armies again will surround Jerusalem, and the sacrifices will be halted.
Israel needs a third Jewish temple or some designated "holy place" for this to happen. Before its establishment as a state in 1948, this seemed impossible. Many observers have noted the overwhelming odds against Israeli statehood. Yet it happened!
Furthermore, even after the fledgling nation of Israel was established, it appeared that its inhabitants would never control Jerusalem because the Arab nations had pledged to prevent it. Yet during the Six-Day War of 1967 Israel took full possession of its ancient capital. Still the Temple Mount or holy place was left under Arab supervision, making any building of a temple or setting up of a "holy place" yet future. Christians should look to God to work out events so that His will may be fulfilled.
The state of Israel has a substantial role to play in the realization of key biblical prophecies. Watch Jerusalem! GN
Recommended Reading
How has God's plan unfolded in the tumultuous Middle East? What prophecies are yet to be fulfilled there, and how is the stage being set for them to come to pass? You need to understand the incredible story spelled out in our free booklets The Middle East in Bible Prophecy and You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. Request or download your free copies today!

The Kingdom of God: Not by Human Might or Power

From http://www.el-paso.ucg.org/
Click here to get this free book.

The Kingdom of God: Not by Human Might or Power
The ideal of a "peaceable kingdom" has held men's imaginations for centuries. Many efforts have been made to create a perfect utopia. How will it come—by human effort or by the power of God?
by Beyond Today host Darris McNeely
In the 1880s an English author and social reformer named Thomas Hughes came to the woods of eastern Tennessee in America and founded an experimental colony called Rugby.
It was to be a place where Hughes' ideas of a just and equitable society could be realized. There would be no class distinctions as in England. In Rugby, through agricultural endeavors and support of various crafts, men and women could realize their potential in a planned community.
Buildings went up. An inn was built. Hundreds of believers from England and America were attracted to the growing site. A small bit of England, without the class distinctions, was carved out of the Tennessee wilderness. For a time a thriving community attracted worldwide attention to the idea that a planned community could produce a small utopian world. Rugby was even called a "New Jerusalem."
Sadly, Rugby did not endure. Typhoid struck one year, taking the lives of several inhabitants. In time the financial backers pulled out, the economy changed and severe winters took their toll on the enthusiasm of the people. The inn burned and was not rebuilt. Gradually the money, the zeal and the people disappeared, leaving behind only a few to hold to the dream.
You can visit Rugby today, as I did a few years ago, and see a historic remnant of another noble attempt to found a community on social ideals. It is one of many such communities founded with the goal of making social changes that would produce utopia, a place where justice and peace would reign.
The problem with all of these efforts is they did not succeed. Eventually they had to conform to the reality of the world to survive. The real world is cruel and unbending in its treatment of such efforts.
Noble as they are, they have never worked. This is not to disparage any effort to bring about peace or justice, but the stark reality of history shows man's inability to create "the peaceable kingdom."
The promise of the prophets
Throughout the Old Testament books of the Bible we read prophecies of a time when peace will saturate the streets of Jerusalem under a restored Israelite kingdom led by a descendant of King David. These passages fueled an ages-long hope among the Jews that they would see their kingdom restored.
From Jerusalem that peace is prophesied to flow out to the whole world. Notice the essence of the promise from Isaiah: "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 2:2-4).
In another passage the prophet paints an enduring scene of peace and harmony. Not only were the Jews given hope from its imagery, but also countless others through the ages have yearned for the life it pictures:
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
"His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den.
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:1-9).
These prophecies never came to pass in Isaiah's day; they were meant for the latter days after Christ's return. Jerusalem fell captive to the Babylonians around 587 B.C. The last king was taken to Babylon in exile along with the majority of his subjects. Seventy years later, in fulfillment of a prophecy of Jeremiah, a group of Jews were allowed to return to the city and begin a rebuilding project.
To that generation, and others to follow, the prophecies of Isaiah, Ezekiel and other prophets took on new meaning. They hoped that God would fulfill His promise—that one day the kingdom of Israel would be renewed. Through the generations this expectation of a Messiah grew. With each generation the vision of this Kingdom changed until it became unrecognizable in comparison to the message of the prophets.
At times men would take up arms to overthrow the yoke of foreign rule, and the people would hope in vain that their "Messiah" had appeared. In the second century B.C. the Jews revolted against Greek Syrian rule, leading to a period of independence. But hopes of national restoration were extinguished not long afterward with the country's incorporation into the Roman Empire. No leader, no matter how capable or brilliant, could bring to fruition the promises of the prophets.
Jesus Christ's mission
When Jesus Christ came announcing the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14), His teachings and miracles soon gathered a following. Some of the Jews wanted to make Him their king (John 6:15). But His first coming was not the time when God's Kingdom would be restored to Israel. The Jews could not easily grasp this idea, in spite of the fact that Jesus told them that the long-sought Kingdom, the time of restoration, would not come then (Luke 19:11).
His death shattered the hope of many. Only a few beyond His immediate disciples remained in the days following His death. A man suffering the ignominious death of crucifixion, it was thought, could not be the Messiah. Again the promise and the dream of the Kingdom was not realized.
However, Christ's first coming merely set the stage for the events leading to the fulfillment of the promised Kingdom. The fulfillment of the ancient prophecies was for a time yet future.
This dimension was hard for believers and unbelievers alike to grasp at Christ's first coming. His parables of the Kingdom of God were such that people were not able to understand the full meaning (Matthew 13:11)—a situation that remains true today. This led to the inevitable confusion when, after the founding of the Church of God, time marched on and no Kingdom appeared.
The apostle Peter wrote about this near the end of his life. He told members of the Church that he and they would die without seeing the Kingdom (2 Peter 1:14-15). Yet Peter's hope didn't diminish, for he had personally seen the majesty of its King (verse 16; Matthew 17:1-2). Peter's words point us to the future, looking for the day of the Lord and a time of a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13).
Jesus Christ's millennial rule on earth
The apostle John's visions of the end time added to the visions of the prophets. The living Christ revealed to this last surviving apostle that His rule on earth would include a period of 1,000 years following His second coming (Revelation 20:4). From this verse we get the term Millennium, Latin for 1,000.
This term, and the adjective millennial, are used to refer to the coming time of peace and justice under the reign of Christ. The book of Revelation makes clear that this reign of Christ will replace all other forms of human government (Revelation 11:15).
The idea of the Millennium, the Kingdom of God on earth, is revealed in stages throughout the Scriptures to give us the broad picture of God's intent to restore our planet—of a time when His government and rule over all is total and complete. Many related scriptures enhance the picture of what is to come.
They reveal that man will no longer learn or practice the customs of war. Nations will be taught a culture based on the eternal law of God—the way of love for others. The result will be one generation after another of equality and justice. Economic policies will build sustainable markets that will not be prey to the cyclical ups and downs we see today.
The Bible reveals a festival season that keeps this vision alive in the minds of Christ's followers. It is called the Feast of Tabernacles. You can learn more about this and other festivals in our booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. God's festivals are Christ-centered and point to the time when He will reign on the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Not by might . . .
God's Kingdom will not come by the might or power of any human being. That is the inescapable conclusion of both Scripture and history. The best efforts of human society have failed and will always fail to create anything close to the prophesied Kingdom.
Human nature is incapable of producing any lasting equitable system. Nothing short of divine intervention can bring to pass the vision the Bible gives of the Kingdom of God. God Himself confirms this in plain but powerful language: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
Author Norman Podhoretz, editor-at-large of Commentary magazine, wrote a book called The Prophets: Who They Were and What They Are. One of his conclusions regarding the prophets' visions was profound. He speculated that Isaiah's visions of swords beaten into plowshares are among the most influential in all of Western literature, generating "tumultuous moral and political ambitions."
"But concerning the vision of a perfect world," he continued, "I would say this: if one believes in God, one can—indeed must—accept that it is in His power to bring about so miraculous a transformation at the End of Days. But if one believes in God, one must by the same token also accept that it is only in His power to perform these miracles, and not in the power of mere mortals like ourselves" (2002, p. 324).
Look no more to the efforts of man to create the "peaceable Kingdom." Look to God and His direct intervention into the course of history to bring His Kingdom to earth. Pray for that Kingdom to come! GN
Related Resource
The Kingdom of God: The Heart of Christ's MessageThe central theme of Jesus Christ's message was the Kingdom of God. What did He teach about this Kingdom, and why is there so much confusion about it?
What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?Is the work of organized religion the Kingdom of God on earth today? This is the central idea that shapes the view of the religious world. But is this the same Kingdom of God the Bible describes? In this lesson you'll discover the biblical answers to these important questions.
Are We in the Kingdom of God Now?Some verses about God's kingdom, like Colossians 1:13, seem to imply that Christians are now in the Kingdom of God. Is this true?
What Will the Kingdom of God Mean for You? In this magazine we often write about what the Bible refers to as the Kingdom of God—the divine government Jesus will establish after He returns to earth. But what will the Kingdom of God do for you? Why should you look forward to that period of time? You need to know the answer!
Confusion About the Kingdom of GodThere is a kingdom yet to come from God. Jesus instructed believers to pray for the Kingdom to come.
The Real Gospel of Jesus Christ When Jesus Christ came to live on earth as a human, He brought with Him a message called "the gospel." What was this message Jesus preached?
Are There Other Gospels?The Bible calls the gospel "the gospel of the Kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14) or simply "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14). But the biblical writers used other names for it as well. For instance, the Bible speaks of the "gospel of Christ" and the "gospel of God." Do these names refer to various messages or different gospels?
The Gospel of the KingdomWould you like to learn more about the glorious future Jesus Christ will usher in at His return? Dozens of prophecies tell us how the world will be entirely transformed and all humanity taught a way of life that will bring peace, prosperity and productive, fulfilling lives. For a glimpse into this exciting new world, be sure to read this featured booklet.

Change Is Coming: Five Ways Jesus Christ Will Change Government Forever

From http://www.el-paso.ucg.org/

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Change Is Coming: Five Ways Jesus Christ Will Change Government Forever
Politicians try to win votes with promises of change. Yet all too often nothing really changes or we end up with even bigger problems. However, that doesn't mean great change isn't coming. Your Bible reveals how monumental government change will come about!
by Howard Davis

As in so many elections, the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain campaigned under the mantra "Change is coming!" They said, like candidates the world over, "The people want change!"
That is usually true. But after making claims that only God could keep, politicians everywhere usually find it difficult to keep their promises when elected. Few succeed in turning those promises into changes that endure the test of time.
Most people don't realize that Jesus Christ was—and remains—the greatest advocate for change. His plan includes changing all human governments, from the richest and most advanced countries to the world's poorest. He proclaimed that total change is coming to human civilization— through a perfect government that He will establish at His second coming.
Did you know that Jesus' message was about government? He called His teaching the gospel, or good news, of the Kingdom of God.
People today often think that the kingdom Jesus proclaimed is one set up in men's hearts—confined to human thoughts and emotions. But that's not what He taught. Rather, He spoke of an actual government to be set up over all nations.
The contrast between Jesus Christ's promises for good government and what human politicians fail to deliver couldn't be greater.
All humanly created political systems fail to meet the truly high standards of Jesus' teachings on government. This includes American democracy, which has remained enmeshed in cross-purposes, political and economic corruption, short-sighted policies that don't work and wars that Americans love to hate.
Human beings pledge to make positive changes they can't deliver—and make promises they cannot keep. Promising peace and prosperity, their leaders give them change through wars, prosperity for some, economic policies that don't work and social changes that in the end often do more harm than good.
In His teaching and prophecies, Jesus Christ announced sweeping changes that will create the perfect government when He returns to rule the world—when "the kingdoms of this world [will] have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15).
Here are five foundations that will create the perfect civilization—five ways Christ will change government forever!
1. Government will promote one universal faith.
One of His first acts in establishing a universal government will be to abolish the separation of church and state. It's not hard to understand why, since religious deception and division have always plagued humankind.
The promotion of one universal faith (the true faith) and accompanying religious practice will be the cornerstone of a new and transformed society and government centered in Jerusalem. Christ will impose divine laws for religious observance that will benefit the whole world. Only the true God will be worshipped throughout earth (Zechariah 14:9).
One universal religious faith will create a unified culture, making it possible for all peoples to cooperate with Christ's administration. All nations will interact with one another from the standpoint of common religious ideals and values.
Everyone will learn and comprehend the policies, laws and teachings of Christ, whose impact will be far greater than that of any president or political figure in all history. As people experience the blessings His laws and teachings bring, they will hunger to learn more about how to apply them in their personal lives, communities and nations (Micah 4:2). They will at last have the world leader they can believe in, One who means it when He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
The resulting unity of faith will eliminate religious arguments, conflicts and wars, which have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions throughout history. The world will at last know peace, coming to learn the very way to peace.
Christ's religious principles will not be based on human reasoning, human nature or human efforts but will flow from God Himself.
Today's world's system, like ancient Babylon, is a mixture of faiths. Even Christianity as practiced today is largely a humanly devised system of man-made beliefs built on human views of Christ with a few sprinklings of biblical principles thrown in for added flavor.
But the bulk of these faith systems don't come directly from Jesus Christ. They either distort or replace what Christ actually taught. All humanly devised faiths must be replaced with the true religion He will establish.
The introduction of this new universal faith will result in global repentance as one nation after another sees the error of its former religious traditions. All peoples will gain an understanding of their personal sins and evils, recognizing their own responsibility for the anguish and pain they have experienced.
King David foretold the coming of Christ's Kingdom, saying, "All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name" (Psalm 86:9). David also prophesied that "all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him" (Psalm 72:11).
This universal religion will include required observance of the religious festivals that God revealed to the ancient Israelites and that were later kept by Jesus and His disciples. For example, "it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16).
The biblical Sabbath, the seventh day of the week (from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown in biblical reckoning of time), will also be a required religious observance of all people. "'. . . And from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 66:23).
2. Government will be directed toward the perfecting of man.
All governments need a singular guiding purpose to endure. For example, a goal of the U.S. government, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, is to enable its citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
This is a lofty, wonderful and inspiring purpose of government. However, such purposes are all too often thwarted because of the limitations of human nature expressed through human politicians with personal character flaws. And sadly, the pursuit of happiness now is often taken to mean merely the pursuit of materialistic pleasures, which the Bible labels as covetousness and lust.
Human governments tend to become corrupt simply because both the rulers and the ruled citizens are inherently flawed. For that reason, the framers of the U.S. Constitution designed a government of checks and balances between three distinct power-sharing institutions—the presidency, the Congress and the court system. A government headed by a singular despotic ruler, it was believed, would inherently tend to abuse power.
The same appraisal of human nature led to the Constitution establishing the country as a republic, with representative government, rather than as a straight majority-rule democracy. The idea was to blunt the negative tendencies of "mob" rule. Similar thinking was involved in the creation of two legislative bodies in the Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The framers of the Constitution understood from the Bible and the wisdom of experience that human nature was corruptible. They also knew that human government could not change human nature.
The prophet Isaiah describes the corruption that bad leadership can bring to all levels of social structure: "For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed . . . For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly" (Isaiah 9:16-17).
But the Kingdom of God, in contrast, will be ruled by perfect, righteous rulers. The goal of government will not be "the pursuit of happiness" as it has typically been interpreted—the pursuit of pleasure. Rather, it will have a much higher purpose, which involves bringing people true happiness and joy.
Under Christ's administration of the Kingdom of God, all government activity will be designed for one universal purpose—the development of righteous character in every person through conversion toward God's divine nature.
This purpose is superlatively greater than the purpose of human government. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Christ's purpose will be the perfecting of human character through the remaking of the human heart—changing its motives, intents, thinking, desires, decisions and actions.
As a result, humanity will become governable for the first time in a way that can permanently sustain progress, peace and prosperity—and real happiness. This progress will be sustained continuously for 1,000 years.
This change of the human heart and character can come only by receiving God's own divine nature through the gift of His Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God is not generally accessible to mankind now. But God will change all that: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" (Joel 2:28).
The Spirit of God, available only from Him, is the essential nature of God Himself, somewhat as DNA is the code that contains the essence of the human being.
The Spirit's role in a person's life is to perfect the person's character, to make him like God. Its fruits, being shown in human behavior, are the divine attributes of God: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:22-24).
In due time, the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit will be extended to everyone on earth so that all will be able to have God's laws written in their hearts and minds. One nation after another will be converted to God's way of thinking. God's laws of loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27) will be written into the human character through the Spirit of God. As God says, "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Hebrews 8:10).
3. Government will be based on God's Word.
A principal role of government is to create a framework of knowledge for smooth and harmonious social development and material progress. Peace and prosperity depend in large part on a common foundation of knowledge.
The modern world has brought man unbelievable progress, but because of incomplete and flawed knowledge of the purpose and nature of man, human-generated knowledge has brought mankind to the brink of instant global destruction. This strange paradox flows from the human obsession with material knowledge while rejecting the true foundation of all knowledge—which is spiritual knowledge.
The essence of all true spiritual knowledge lies in God's divinely ordained laws. It is God's desire that we be "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding . . . in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:9-10).
While our materialistic world lacks understanding of this truth, the foundation for logical thinking in such diverse disciplines as science, history, physical and mental health sciences, accounting, business practices, economics, sociology, psychology, strategic planning, environmental conservation, urban design and much more can all be found within the Word of God—the Bible.
Under the reign of Jesus Christ, the opening up of biblical understanding will lead to answering mysteries yet to be solved in science and all other forms of knowledge. Immersing the world in an explosion of spiritual knowledge from Scripture will open progress to levels of achievement never before seen by the human race. "The government will be upon His [Christ's] shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Isaiah continues describing a world of knowledge with no harm or destruction allowed anywhere: "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).
4. Government will focus on the family.
All of Christ's policies will make the family the centerpiece of social, economic and educational organization. The family is the primary organizational structure God works through. Starting with Adam and Eve, God designed social relationships to flow from marriage and parents (who have authority over and responsibility for their children) into the extended family, community and nations.
Jesus Christ explained that over all human beings is a great God the Father—whom He revealed, as the Father had not been known before Christ's coming (Matthew 11:27). Besides being the Father of humanity by physically creating us, God also intends to be our Father in a greater, spiritual sense.
Christ and His apostles made it clear that marriage and family are the focus of social development within the Church, as they were in ancient Israel. Mankind can be connected directly to God the Father and Christ in a family relationship.
The administration of religion as well as the system of civil and criminal laws will all enhance the family unit, "so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life" (Deuteronomy 6:2, New International Version).
The allocation of land and resources will strengthen the family's well-being with property permanently held within families. "Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid" (Micah 4:4, NIV).
Education in the way of God and the approach toward knowledge will similarly revolve around the family. Deuteronomy 6:7 says of God's words, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up"—that is, at every opportunity.
5. Government will show breathtaking progress and achievement.
Christ will structure government to empower our human potential for astonishing personal achievement and progress in every aspect of society. The outcome will be a utopian civilization beyond the imagination of modern man or ancient philosophers.
Regions that are currently inhospitable will be transformed: "The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose" (Isaiah 35:1).
Food production will explode as one huge crop cannot be fully harvested before planting time of the next: "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it'" (Amos 9:13).
Even the natures of dangerous animals will be changed so they will never harm human beings: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and the little child will lead them . . . They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain" (Isaiah 11:6-9, NIV). This is also figurative of the peace that will exist among nations.
All nations will travel to Jerusalem, which will be the international center of religion, education and government: "All nations shall flow to it . . . and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord . . . and we shall walk in His paths" (Isaiah 2:2-3).
The earth will burgeon with beautiful new gleaming cities in a Garden-of-Eden environment. "He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord" (Isaiah 51:3). "And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:4; see also Ezekiel 36:35).
Christ focused on changing government
Government has always been a central focus of the entire struggle of man. It is also a central focus within the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. While Christ stressed at His crucifixion, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), that does not mean He condoned the evils of human government in what the Bible calls "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4).
Jesus Christ condemned the manipulation of government by selfish, greedy and arrogant men who often dominate the world's system. He explained that the rulers of His day, like so many in our own time, loved to lord it over the peoples, making themselves appear to be benefactors when, in fact, they were unjust exploiters of the common man (Matthew 20:25).
Jesus taught that true leadership resides in serving others and loving your neighbor as yourself. In one of His first recorded messages He said this: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19, NIV).
Jesus Christ is the greatest advocate for government change who ever walked the earth. After all, He created the earth for His government under the coming Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God taught by Christ remains the greatest unrecognized truth in the meaning of human life. But that truth is being revealed here in this publication proclaiming Christ's original gospel.
Christ's entire message rests on the foundation of the promise of a new world system based on His government that will be established at His second coming.
Make no mistake—change is coming, and it's no empty political promise! As recorded in Mark 1:15, throughout His ministry Jesus said: "The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel." GN
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