Split Sermons

On December 9, 2006, Eric Rank and Robb Harris will be giving split sermons.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Special Anouncement:

On
December 7, 2006, at 5:15 A.M. Pacific Time, Edwin Pope died. We are
deeply saddened by this loss of a faithful servant of God who has been
such a bright and shining example of gentleness and loving concern for
the brethren. In this moment of grieving, the words of another of God’s
servants remind us of the boundless hope that is given to those who
live this life as Christians:

“I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid
up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all
who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). For more information, please read the Prayer section.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program was recorded, titled, “Why School Shootings?” Set forth below is a brief summary of the program:

Germany
is in shock. This week, an 18-year old man went on a rampage and shot
over 30 people at his former high school in Germany, before killing
himself. Subsequently, two other high school students were arrested who
had threatened to repeat such atrocities. Why are we hearing about
those terrible incidents? Some German politicians and experts claim
that violent videogames and the fascination with weapons are the main
causes for such incidents. But could it be that other causes are being
overlooked or ignored?

Our new booklet, “Human Suffering–Why…
And How Much Longer,” has been finalized and will be sent shortly to
our printer in England.

The video-recorded version of Norbert Link’s latest sermon, “The Book of Ezra, Part 1,” was placed on Google Video (The audio version was placed, as usual, on our Web site).

The Silver Lining

by Cali Harris

We’re probably all familiar with the saying,
“Every cloud has a silver lining,” meaning that every gloomy or
unpleasant situation has a positive side to it.  Recently someone
mentioned this phrase in conversation, and I couldn’t help but think of
it in the context of my life as a Christian.  Certainly, I
thought, every “cloud”–a test or trial–has the “silver lining” of
growing our love and building our character as true Christians.

This
past August, I was faced with the dismal prospect that I would have to
postpone my graduation from college because I was financially unable to
enroll into my final year of school.  The amount I needed was a
seemingly impossible amount–the dark cloud in my sky.

I was on
campus two days before classes began, talking to various administrators
in hopes of getting enrolled, with no luck.  Driving home, I
decided to go to my bank on the unlikely chance they would give me a
loan.  So I said a prayer, walked into my bank, sat down with a
loan officer, and told him my situation.  Within a few minutes of
getting my information, he said that he could consolidate my bank
account and credit cards and give me a new credit card with a more
affordable interest rate–something I didn’t even ask for, but was a
blessing nonetheless.  Then, astonishingly, he told me that I was
also eligible for a loan–one that would cover the cost of tuition, and
even my textbooks!

In this test, God blessed me
tremendously.  The “silver lining” of this dark cloud was not only
getting into school, but also building patience and humility–as well
as a deeper faith.  Now, I attempt to find the positive side of
every seemingly sad or disheartening situation. 

As God’s
people, we are facing tests, trials, and sufferings more than
ever.  We must strive to be positive and see the silver lining in
our lives, knowing that in our ultimate future, there will be no dark
clouds!

Would you please explain Mark 11:24. We are told in this passage that we will receive from God all things, if we only believe. Is this promise conditional, and if it is, what are those conditions?

As we point out in our booklet, “Teach Us To Pray!”, Christ’s
promise in Mark 11:24 is indeed subject to several conditions. In this
passage, Christ is emphasizing the absolute necessity of manifesting
living, unwavering and obedient faith in our lives (compare verses
22-23). Without faith that God will do what we ask Him for, we cannot
expect to receive anything from Him (compare James 1:6-8). But godly
faith alone is not sufficient, either. As explained in our booklet,
additional necessary aspects of successful prayer include the need to
ask; to ask in faith; to pray boldly; to keep God’s Commandments; to
bear the right kind of Christian fruit in our lives; to pray in
Christ’s name; and to pray always.

Another additional extremely
important and all-encompassing condition for successful prayer is the
necessity to pray in accordance with God’s Will (1 John 5:14). This
requires that we learn to understand and agree with God’s Will for us
(Ephesians 5:17; Romans 12:2). In other words, God must reveal His Will
to us (Ephesians 1:9).

Generally, God has shown us His Will for
us. God wills that we live godly lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7) and
inherit His Kingdom (compare Luke 12:32). We also understand that it is
not God’s Will that we ask for and receive things to spend them “on our
pleasures” (James 4:3). When we ask for those wrong things, we ask
“amiss,” and God will not give them to us, even though Christ said in
Mark 11:24 that we would receive “all things” from God, if we pray in
faith. Rather than viewing this as a contradiction or inconsistency, we
must read all the biblical passages in context. For instance, we are
told that “all Israel” will be saved (compare Romans 11:26), but we
know from other Scriptures that not every single individual will be
saved–some WILL commit the unpardonable sin and be burnt up and
destroyed in the lake of fire (compare Revelation 20:13-15; Matthew
3:7-12).

We must also realize that it may not be altogether clear
to us from the outset what God’s Will may be in a particular,
individual situation. When we ask God for His help, we must do so in
faith, and we must persistently and continuously pray for God’s
intervention, as long as God has NOT made it abundantly clear to us
that it is NOT His Will to act in accordance with our specific request.
If it SEEMS to us that God’s answer is “No,” we still need to continue
praying to God that He intervenes on our behalf–even if this would
require that God changes His mind–until His answer has been made known
to us as being irrevocable and final, with no possibility of change.

For
instance, just prior to His illegal arrest, Christ prayed three times,
for about three hours, in the garden of Gethsemane that the cup of
suffering and crucifixion would pass from Him (Matthew 26:36-44). Even
though He knew that one of the purposes for His coming in the flesh was
to suffer and die for us, He prayed to the Father that, if at all
possible, another way could be found to accomplish the same purpose.
But God showed Him that there was no other way, and so He submitted to
God’s Will, after an angel from heaven gave Him the strength and
comfort to face His terrible trial (Luke 22:43). And so, Christ told
the Father, “… not My will, but Yours, be done” (verse 42).

Paul
testified that he was sick–that he had been given “a thorn in the
flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Apparently, this sickness, perhaps
malaria, a serious eye trouble, or another physical affliction or
intense body pain, was caused by a “messenger of Satan” (same verse).
Paul asked God three times to remove this sickness from him (verse 8),
but when God made His Will finally abundantly clear to Paul–telling
him that He would not heal him in this life (verse 9)–Paul submitted
to and accepted God’s Will for him (verse 10). But before God made His
Will clear, Paul did pray THREE TIMES for God’s
intervention–undoubtedly with unwavering faith that God would heal him.

We
find another example in Scripture where Christ healed a leper who
approached Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me
clean.” And Christ responded, “I am willing,” and He did heal the man
(compare Matthew 8:2-3). In that particular incident, it was Christ’s
Will to heal–and it is God’s Will to heal us many times (compare Psalm
103:3). But not necessarily always! Sometimes, God may decide not to
heal us immediately, or not even in this life. God let Elisha die of
sickness (compare 2 Kings 13:14, 20). But when God decides not to heal,
He will make His Will abundantly clear. Unless He has done that, we
MUST continue to pray persistently in faith, without wavering and
doubting, that He WILL heal us–without being shaken by circumstances
or “human wisdom” which seem to indicate that God will not heal us.
Remember, godly faith is the evidence of things NOT yet seen (compare
Hebrews 11:1), and we are to walk by faith, not by sight (compare 2
Corinthians 5:7).

Even when God has announced His Will to His
servants that He will do a certain thing, we still can ask God to
change His mind, if it is at all possible in accordance with His Will.
God told Moses that He would destroy the Israelites, but due to Moses’
intervention, God did not do so (compare Exodus 32:9-14; Psalm 106:23).
On the other hand, when God announced to David that his son would die,
subsequent circumstances proved that that decision was irrevocable.
Even though David fasted and prayed for seven days, his son died. But
while his son was still alive, David prayed in faith that God would
relent from letting his child die. Only when it had become absolutely
clear that no change in God’s Will would occur–only when the child had
died–David recognized the finality and ceased from fasting and praying
for the child (compare 2 Samuel 12:13-23).

In conclusion, until
we know–and we know that we know–that God’s answer to a particular
request is, “No!,” we are called upon to ask in unwavering faith for
God’s intervention and help. God WILL make it abundantly clear to us if
in a given situation, He has irrevocably decided not to intervene for
us in the way that we ask Him to. But until that final outcome has been
clearly revealed to us, we must not give up imploring God, in faith, to
give us the petitions of our heart.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Complaints Unlimited

by

One day in my late teens my mother complained that I didn’t smile
enough. She said I looked too serious. During the last 60 years since
that motherly complaint I’ve managed to improve in that department if
only by resorting to a bit of humor now and then, smiling at my own
jokes.

David tells us that he was restless in his complaint to
God because of the enemy (compare Psalm 55:2-3), and who wouldn’t
complain if we were in his position with the terror of death constantly
facing us?

Society today is chock full of complaints. One waits
for a bus for 40 minutes, and then 3 come along at the same time;
police seem inept to stop cyclists from riding on the pavements and
threatening to knock down some fragile 80-year old lady; crime
statistics are atrociously off the scale; courtesy is “out the window”;
politics becomes a by-word for sleaze and corruption; we suffer a
barrage of profanity at the street level and on our TV and movie
screens; we are confronted with “political correctness” in its mad
interpretation of what might offend someone else or some other group.
Thus we are witness, and sometimes righteously so, to a kaleidoscope of
human complaints which make life just that bit more difficult to cope
with.

The Israelites who left Egypt were good at grumbling. And
they paid the penalty for their unholy, incessant complaints–an
obvious lesson for us in the cause for restraint during our Christian
endeavor to meet God’s criteria for righteous behavior.

We might
have heard of those in the Church who grumble and even scoff about the
sermons; about Church publications; about the minister; and about
Church doctrine and whatever else comes to mind, all of which reflects
a kind of ungodly religion. Their mind is not set on resolving
complaints amicably but rather on their opinionated idea that they
serve the cause by showing how clever their arguments are. Solomon said
“…if you scoff, you will bear it alone” (Proverb 9:12).

We may
think of the teenaged Eskimo who complained to his parents he didn’t
get enough blubber to chew on last week; or the South American Indian
perched on the frigid heights of the Andes complaining about
his lost blanket; or the Saudi Arab grumbling about how hot it is when
it’s 110° in the shade…. And all this complaining to what
end? As someone said, “There is nothing but ill fortune in a
habit of grumbling, which requires no talent, no self-denial, no
brains, no character.”

If my mother were alive today, I
think I could conjure up a smile that would melt away any complaint she
might yet have. Oh yes, I complain! I complain that this world is going
“potty,” and I grieve for those who are suffering, and I wait eagerly
for that great day of Christ’s return and ultimately the cessation of
grumbling, of scoffing, of scorn, of complaining.

Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Part 2

On December 2, 2006, Norbert Link is scheduled to give the sermon, continuing his series on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program was recorded, titled, “Nuclear Terrorism.” Set forth below is a brief summary of the program:

During
a Senate hearing on November 16, 2006, it was pointed out that the
threat of nuclear terrorism is real. It is not a question of “if,” but
only of “when.” Are you prepared to face devastating destruction in
this country and around the world? And why would God let it happen?

The
video-recorded version of Norbert Link’s latest sermon, “Christian
Suffering,” was placed on Google Video (The audio version was placed,
as usual, on our Web site).

Would you please explain the meaning of the terms, "latter days," "last days," "time of the end," "end of the world," "day of the LORD," "in that day," and the "time of Jacob’s trouble."

When trying to understand Biblical prophecy, it is critical that we are familiar with the meaning of certain key prophetic phrases. For instance, all these terms listed in the Question have a FUTURE prophetic application. This means that when we read a passage in the Old or New Testament, which uses one of these phrases, we should recognize that the passage refers to the future!

Here is an overview of the meaning of these phrases:

The LATTER DAYS

When we come across the term “the latter days” (in Hebrew, “acharith” for “latter”), we are being introduced to events which will happen at the end of this age or present civilization, including the first resurrection or the “resurrection of the just,” and the beginning of the Millennium.

After a powerful Spirit being had given Daniel an important vision, he told him, in Daniel 10:14: “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the LATTER DAYS, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” Ancient King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream once, and Daniel told him, in Daniel 2:28: “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the LATTER DAYS.” The events pictured in his dream would culminate in the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth (Daniel 2:44-45).

We read in Jeremiah 23:20: “The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the LATTER DAYS you will understand it perfectly.”

The LAST DAYS

When we find the term “the last days,” as used in several translations, including the Authorized Version and the New King James Bible, we should realize that this term–and its meaning–is closely related to the term, “the latter days.” In the Hebrew, the words for “last” are either “acharith” (same as for “the latter days”) or “acharon,” and in Greek, the word is, “eschatos.” This phrase describes basically the same time period as the term, “the latter days.”

We read in Isaiah 2:2-4 about the time of the Millennium, when God HAS established the Kingdom of God on this earth. It says: “Now it shall come to pass in the LATTER DAYS [Authorized Version: “LAST DAYS”; in Hebrew, “acharith” for “last”], 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.”

We read in Job 19:25 (Authorized Version): “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the LATTER DAY upon the earth.” In the Hebrew, the word for “latter” is “acharon,” so that the entire phrase can also be translated as “He shall stand at the LAST DAY upon the earth.”

We read in 2 Timothy 3:1: “But know this, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times will come…” The Greek word for “last” is “eschatos.” It is also used in John 11:24: “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection at the LAST DAY.”

The TIME OF THE END

When the term, “the time of the end,” is used (in Hebrew, “eth” for “time” and “qets” for “end”), it describes the end of this age, culminating in the return of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

We read in Daniel 12:4, 9, 13: “‘But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the TIME OF THE END; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase…’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the TIME OF THE END… But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.'”

The END OF THE WORLD or AGE

Some translate the phrase “end of the age” in the New Testament as “end of the world.” In Greek, the word for “end” is “sunteleia,” meaning “full end.” The phrase actually refers to the end of this present age (in Greek, the word for age is “aion”), and the beginning of a better world or age to come, under the rulership of God.

We read in Matthew 24:3, that the disciples asked Christ: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the END OF THE AGE [Authorized Version: END OF THE WORLD]?”

In Matthew 28:19-20, Christ promised His disciples to be with them “always, even to the END OF THE AGE.” And we read in Matthew 13:49-50: “So will it be at the END OF THE AGE. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

The DAY OF THE LORD

The term “day of the Lord” refers to God’s end-time intervention in the affairs of this world, just prior to the establishment of His Kingdom here on earth, and it also describes events at and after Christ’s return. A full explanation can be found in our free booklet, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the LORD.” Please also note our Q&A in Update #139 on the “difference” between the great tribulation and the day of the Lord.

Concerning the beginning of the day of the Lord, we read in Zephaniah 1:14-17: “The great DAY OF THE LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the DAY OF THE LORD is bitter… that day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD.”

We also read in Zephaniah 2:3: “Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the DAY OF THE LORD’s anger.”

The day of the Lord describes the time when God begins to intervene in human affairs, but it also includes God’s rule from that time forward. We read in 2 Peter 3:10: “But the DAY OF THE LORD will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise [this will happen more than 1,100 years after Christ’s return, compare Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15; 21:1], and the elements will melt away with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

IN THAT DAY

When the terms “in that day” or “that day” are used, they refer to the time just prior to and at Christ’s return, and they also may include the time after Christ has returned. They are virtually synonymous with the term, “the day of the Lord.”

We read in Isaiah 2:10-12, 20-21: “Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted IN THAT DAY. For the DAY OF THE LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty… IN THAT DAY a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, To go into the clefts of the rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.”

TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE

The term, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” refers to the time of the beginning of the great tribulation, which is followed by heavenly signs and the beginning of the day of the Lord. While the day of the Lord is described, in its beginning stages, as the wrath of God, the great tribulation is described as Satan’s wrath against God’s people (compare Revelation 12:12-17). However, the great tribulation and the day of the Lord “overlap” for approximately one year; that is, the great tribulation begins about 2 1/2 years before the day of the Lord, but it
will be ongoing for approximately another year, together with the day of the Lord, until the return of Christ who will cut short the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22).

We read in Jeremiah 30:7-9: “‘Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE, But he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘That I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.'”

This is a prophetic passage regarding the modern descendants of the house of Israel or Jacob. To learn about their identity, please read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”

Regarding the time sequence, let us notice Joel 2:30-31: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome DAY OF THE LORD.”

All these terms describe still future events. It is important that we understand them correctly, so that we can know what is prophesied to happen in our times.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah

On November 25, 2006, Norbert Link is scheduled to give the sermon,
beginning a two-part series on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

We are wishing all of you a meaningful Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

The text for our new booklet on suffering was sent to our Graphics Designer, Shelly Bruno, for finalization.

A new StandingWatch program was recorded, titled, “What’s in Store for America?” Set forth below is a brief summary of the program:

“Saddam
Hussein was convicted and sentenced to death by an Iraqi court. While
the U.S. welcomed and supported the sentence, the Europeans were united
in their opposition to it. The Iraqi court rendered the judgment at the
eve of the U.S. Midterm Elections, but it did not help President Bush
and the Republicans. Democrats have gained a convincing majority in
both the House and the Senate. In the wake of the election, Secretary
of Defense Don Rumsfeld resigned. However, most observers feel that
this power shift and Rumsfeld’s resignation will not substantially
change American politics in Iraq. Does the Bible have anything to say
about the future of America?”

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