jesus

Operation Rising Lion: Modern Nations–Ancient Alliances

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Early in the morning on Friday, June 13th the state of Israel launched a dramatic attack on one of the primary nuclear reactors in Iran. In addition, a number of key Iranian military leaders and nuclear officials were targeted and killed after it was confirmed that Iran had likely reached the capacity to produce nuclear warheads.

Based on repeated public threats from the Iranian leadership, it is well established that they planned to destroy Israel and, potentially, other key nations and cities in the Arab world and the west with these weapons.

Israel titled its mission (which is ongoing) “Operation Rising Lion.” The lion of Judah is a biblical symbol drawn from Genesis 49:9. And is used in a number of places in scripture to refer both to the tribe of Judah, as well as to the ultimate descendant of that tribe, Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:5).

Indeed, while the state of Israel, which actually consists primarily of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, may leap like a lion in the days leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ, it is Christ Himself who will give the final roar to world events.

It is interesting to note the relationship that the Jews have historically had with the Persian Empire (what we, today, call “Iran”), and specifically with the Persian Emperor Cyrus (reign: 559-530 B.C.), who granted the freedom to return home to the Jews who had been taken captive by the Babylonians 70 years before (Ezra 1, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Jeremiah 25 and 29). It was through his edict, an event that was prophesied nearly two hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 44 and 45), that a small remnant of Judah and some of the Levitical priestly families were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of God.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel issued a statement late on Friday, June 13th acknowledging this debt to the Iranian people and encouraging to them to throw off their oppressive leaders: “The nation of Iran and the nation of Israel have been friends since the days of Cyrus the Great. The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.”

In due time we will see what the ultimate outcome of this recent action by Israel against Iran’s nuclear weapons program will be, but we can know with certainty that it is all part of the staging of events that will ultimately lead to the return of Jesus Christ. The empires and nations of the past have by no means disappeared into the fog of history, they are the same players now, but with different names.

Be watchful, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8)—it is an exciting and sobering time to be alive and watch these events unfold, but it is more exciting to anticipate the complete transformation and reclamation of humanity that will occur as the government of Jesus Christ ushers in a new era of history!

-Amanda Stiver, with Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

Video Recommendation: Egypt and the Conquest of Canaan

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Where is outside evidence for Biblical events surrounding the Exodus?

Recently the Associates for Biblical Research released a two-part program (condensed into one episode) interviewing Dr. Gary Byers, an expert in archeology who has specialized in understanding how the Amarna Letters (1350 to 1334 B.C.), written just under a century after the Exodus (approx. 1446 B.C.), connect to the Israelite conquest of Canaan during the same time period (video link below).

For a little background: the Amarna Letters are a trove of clay tablet cuneiform communications between Egypt and its subordinate city-states in what we know as the Land of Canaan, which was part of the eastern empire of Egypt at that time. They repeatedly call for help from Egypt against various raiders called “habiru”. Some of whom were very likely Israelites fulfilling the conquest of the land God had given them, as well as other groups that were harassing Egypt’s client states during a time when the Egyptian government was unable to project power effectively.

These letters were found in a place called Akhetaten (modern Amarna, Egypt), founded by the rebel king of Egypt, Akhenaten, who ruled in the mid 1300’s B.C. Akhenaten moved the centers of Egyptian power to this new city and attempted to pursue a semi-monotheistic religion. He ultimately failed, and Egypt returned to its previous systems, but it never regained the prominence that it had had under Akhenaten’s family dynastic line, the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. The same dynastic line with whom Moses interacted in previous generations, during the Exodus.

This video is a helpful to watch because it places the events of the Conquest of Canaan (approx. 1406 to the 1320’s B.C., found in the books of Numbers, Joshua and Judges) into the context of regional events at that time. Though it is no surprise that archeological evidence consistently supports the biblical record, it is valuable to see where God’s hand in history has worked, and thus will continue to work through His people.

Below is the link to the video produced by “Associates for Biblical Research – Digging for Truth”:

Title: “The Ancient Egyptian Amarna Letters and the Exodus: Digging for Truth Episodes 251/252”

Link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YTUxc2XF9Po?si=P5ZQ2lo3o6n-aBZd

God has invested much in us, His truth and salvation. And He is consistent:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them,” Hebrews 13:8-9.

Let’s reflect that same commitment to God every day in our faithfulness to the way of life that has been committed to us!

-Randy Stiver & Amanda Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

Savor the Psalms…

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Does poetry really have a relevant purpose in our daily prayers? What can we learn from the greatest poet of ancient Israel?

Much of the Bible – especially in the Old Testament was written in a poetic style. God inspired it that way. Our Creator likes good poetry – especially poetry that causes us to stop and think—the essence of digesting and applying God’s ways in our lives!

Divine poetry speaks powerfully to all ages and eras – including our own 21st century time frame. Imagine placing yourself as a “right there” listener to the lyrical and musical skills of King David!

An excellent writer, a marvelous poet, and the premier musician of his time—not only did King David compose music, he also invented musical instruments (see Nehemiah 12:36)! One instrument is mentioned here in Psalm 144:9:

“I will sing a new song to you, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,…”

Furthermore, he was an inspired and faithful prophet of God—as well as being the great King of Israel. King David gave pen to many of the psalms, and likely some of the proverbs recorded in the Bible.  

King David beautifully expressed the spiritual and emotional depth of how one perceives and responds to God and His way. When we read these poems they help us to shape our thoughts and emotions in a godly way.

Faithful expression

Note how Psalm 143, penned by King David, expresses his faithfulness, dedication and closeness to God as his Creator (and likewise ours). A classic example of how David responded to God in heartfelt, poetic prayer (this is merely an excerpt): 

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for you like a thirsty land. Selah” (v. 5-6).

How essential is it for us to meditate on God’s works? To long for God and His perfect righteous way? In a world that is suffering a drought of godly thinking and obedience to the Ten Commandments, do we thirst for and prioritize obeying God in our lives?

Abundant imagery

Each psalm is a poetic (and oftentimes prophetic) message or prayer, often a plea to God. We also note that David wasn’t the only psalmist in Israel. However, from a human perspective he set the standard in his day and historically.

For example in Psalm 144 King David pleads with God for protection and asks for God’s blessings, described with beautiful imagery of agricultural abundance:

“Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,
Whose mouth speaks lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;
That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;
That our barns may be full, Supplying all kinds of produce;
That our sheep may bring forth thousands And ten thousands in our fields;
That our oxen may be well laden; That there be no breaking in or going out; That there be no outcry in our streets.
Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” (Psalm 144:11-15)

In verse 14 is a plea that God will not send Israel into captivity, “…no breaking in or going out; …no outcry in our streets.”

As we know, after they split, both the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah were eventually taken captive by Assyria and Babylon, respectively. Therefore, this psalm also serves as a prophecy.

All of these complex themes are sewn together through very beautiful poetic verse.

Putting poetry to work

When you are at a loss for a Bible study subject or struggling to put your prayers into words, take one of the psalms and read it as though you are praying it personally. See where you can incorporate the words and phrases that do honor to God, magnify His greatness, and give voice to our hard-to-define thoughts and emotions.

Learn to savor the Psalms and they will enrich your prayers and communication with God!

-Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

The Twelve -Wrongs- of Christmas

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You’ve heard of the twelve days of Christmas, but you need to know about its twelve -wrongs-!

There’s an old saying, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” So how can twelve wrongs make the holiday of Christmas right? This is a question that all who profess to follow Jesus Christ urgently need to answer! 

Most people blindly assume that everything about Christmas comes from the Bible. But never assume anything—always prove what is the truth. 

1st – Wrong Day:  Jesus Christ was not born on December 25. His human birth was in the autumn when the local shepherds were often in the field at night with their flocks (see Luke 2:8). It often snows in the winter in and around Jerusalem—and Bethlehem is a less than ten miles from the city. Wintertime is too cold for outdoor shepherding at night.  

John the Baptist conducted a widely noted ministry which served as a six month introduction to the beginning of Christ’s ministry. Through their mothers John was a distant cousin of Jesus (Luke 1:39-45). In fact, he was six months older than Christ. Based on the time of year that his father, a Levitical priest of the order of Abijah (Luke 1:5), was scheduled to serve at the Temple, we know that John was born in the spring. Therefore, Jesus was born in the autumn. 

If one sought to observe the day of birth of the most important human being in all of history, then why keep it on the completely wrong season and wrong day? In fact, Christ never commanded or intimated that His birthday was to be observed. He did, however, command a vital series of annual holydays listed in Scripture (Leviticus 23) to be faithfully kept by His true followers. 

2nd – Wrong Roots:  By “roots” we mean origins.  The day that millions of traditional Christians call Christmas is actually a lecherous, pagan holiday called Saturnalia by the Romans, and various other names by virtually every pagan religion in history. It was of importance to those pagans (worshippers of many god and goddesses) because they worshipped the sun. The world’s version of Christianity (and definitely not Christ’s) simply appropriated a day near the winter solstice and repackaged it as a so-called Christian holiday.  

Through history since, various denominations, knowing the pagan origin of Christmas, have claimed it as a “trophy for Christ.” There is no biblical sanction for doing that. For more details on its wrong origins just read the Christmas article in virtually any encyclopedia, but especially an older edition.  

The key point: God commands His own annual holydays—and in no way sanctions re-packaged paganism! 

3rd – Wrong Tree:  Millions, maybe billions of today’s Christians are infatuated at the sight of a decorated Christmas tree. How could it be wrong if it seems so right? Well, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25). 

Making an idol of a tree cut from the forest, decorated with silver and gold, fastened with hammers so it won’t topple over in the living room is flatly condemned by God through His prophet Jeremiah (chapter 10:1-8). The winter solstice tree or yule log, now Christmas tree, has long been an intrinsic part of pagan worship. 

The ancestral wrong tree was in the Garden of Eden and named by God “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” That’s the one He commanded our first parents Adam and Eve to avoid. There was a right tree of course, “the tree of life” of which God commanded Adam and Eve to eat its fruit (Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17).  Because they listened to the serpent (Satan) they ate the fruit of the wrong tree, and humanity has been, in essense, eating of it ever since. 

4th – Wrong Spirit:  How many times have you heard people speak of the “Christmas spirit”? Unfortunately, those with alcohol problems tend to speak of Christmas “spirits”—and the holiday is often used as an excuse for drunkenness.  

When you add up all these wrongs of Christmas, there is a wrong (as in evil) spirit closely associated with this and similar holidays of “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:6). That wrong spirit is the “serpent” of the Garden of Eden. It wasn’t an actual snake, but was the fallen angel, Satan the devil masquerading as a serpent. Read Revelation 12:9, noting, “so the dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…”   

The plain truth is that Satan as that fallen angelic spirit-being is the wrong “spirit” of Christmas. The evil archangel who rebelled against God, has misled mankind to adopt festivals that were never part of God’s true religion before Christ’s life on earth or after! 

5th – Wrong Ethic:  An ethic is a moral principle like, “do not take God’s name in vain,” “honor your father and mother,” “do not steal”… and “tell the truth.” The last is an appropriate example of an ethic. Since Christ did not teach the keeping of Christmas, and did not sanction all the other religious falsehoods that it embodies, then why should modern families perpetuate the falsehoods it portrays?  

By keeping a supposedly “religious” holiday wrapped in layers and layers of lies (Santa and flying reindeer among them), parents condition their children to perpetuate the deceitfulness and prevaricating to the next generation.  

This is a great challenge like the one with which God confronted Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve. Cain hated his righteous brother Abel. God called him out about his ethics: “…Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door…” (Genesis 4:7).

Unfortunately, Cain had learned bad ethics from his parents’ example in the Garden of Eden. In perpetuating the Christmas myth, God’s true, biblical ethics and teachings are hidden from the children of future generations. 

6th – Wrong Gospel:  The early Church of God that Jesus built did not keep Christmas because the true God of the Bible did not sanction the holiday as a “commanded assembly” or “holy convocation” (terms used in Scripture for the Sabbath and annual holydays as in Leviticus 23).  

Christmas was not a point of discussion among the twelve Apostles. It didn’t become a “Christian” holiday until many years later. However, the apostle Paul confronted the early corruption of the biblical gospel of the Kingdom of God which Jesus taught, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel…” (Galatians 1:6).  

That different and false gospel didn’t come from Christ or God the Father. “But even if our gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded …” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), clearly, the great deceiver, Satan the Devil, “the god of this age” is the source of the false values, false doctrines, false festivals like Christmas and the false gospel. 

7th – Wrong Songs:  “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…” is a proverb spoken by Christ (Matthew 12:34). Also true is the logical next step:  out of the abundance of the heart the mouth sings. Music is powerfully influential in both teaching and reinforcing the meaning and values of the lyrics (for good or bad). 

Most people’s Christmas memories are tied to the holiday’s music. Millions can sing parts of numerous songs of the season by heart. Sadly, Christmas hymns extol a wrong holiday with wrong, non-biblical lyrics. There is no Santa Claus and he is not coming to anyone’s house on a flying sleigh pulled by a reindeer with a red nose! 

God loves good songs of truth. Every psalm in the Bible’s book of Psalms is a song. There are also many other sacred songs in Scripture. The vital value of biblical songs is that they all express God’s truth—not pagan myths, benevolent fabrications or outright lies! 

8th – Wrong Gifts:  Did you ever notice the discrepancy of Christmas gift-giving? Today people give each other gifts, and billions of dollars or other currencies are spent on Christmas gifts. It is the most commercialized time of the year! 

However, shortly after His human birth in the autumn the wise men called magi from the East (the Parthian Empire) arrived to pay homage to the One who was the infant Messiah (Matthew 2:1-11). They brought a variety of gifts that were fitting tribute for a king because Jesus Christ was and is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). 

Please note: the wise men did not give their gifts to each other! They gave their gifts of honor and worship to Jesus Himself (Matthew 2:11). Thus, Christmas gift-giving falsely represents the true events surrounding Christ’s birth. 

9th – Wrong Lesson:  Despite the moniker of “the season for giving,” the basic lesson of Christmas is about what you can “get” – gifts, intoxication, and in some cases promiscuity, promotions, bonuses, etc.   

In many ways Christmas is a version of the health and wealth gospel. It’s the getting rather than giving or serving others…and especially loving and serving the true God of the Bible. God does promise blessings for obedience to His laws and ways of living, but the Christmas holiday is not one of God’s festivals, in fact it’s in opposition to God’s holy days.  

The whole lesson of Christmas is wrong. It glorifies the way of “get” and getting while flagrantly disregarding God’s own holy festivals of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. In essence, the wrong lesson of Christmas says, “ignore what God actually commanded, perpetuate an ancient pagan celebration, and get what you want.”  

10th – Wrong Mission:  What is the mission of Christmas, what is its purpose – and where in the Bible did Jesus Christ commission His apostles and church members to keep His erroneously supposed birthday?  

People can search in vain because it’s not there! Christmas is a re-packaged pagan holiday and no matter how much feeling is put into it, keeping Christmas actually opposes the mission that the true Jesus Christ of Scripture gave His disciples. 

Christ was and expects His followers to be completely and truthfully mission-focused. His mission was, and ours should be, to proclaim the true gospel—the gospel of the Kingdom of God. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).  

11th – Wrong Form:  Human beings were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), that is, in His bodily shape and form. This truth was verified when as an infant Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary. Most people intuitively comprehend the fact that man was created in the image (form, shape and potential) of God fact despite educational conditioning through the erroneous theory of evolution. 

Form is also the established system, custom or practice—as in the true form of worshipping God as clearly revealed in the Bible. From the Garden of Eden forward God revealed to his servants, the patriarchs and prophets of old, then later Christ thoroughly instructed His twelve apostles in the true way of life and righteous form of worship. 

Neither in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament was Christmas revealed to be in any way a part of the system, custom or practice of God’s people. If it is not a part of the true form of worship, then it is a part of an entirely wrong and sinful form of worshipping God. That fact should weigh heavily on the mind of any person of good will who desires to know and follow the truth. 

12th – Wrong Truth:  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). 

Those are the words of Jesus Christ, the very One who neither commanded nor intimated that His human birth should be celebrated. Thus, Christmas, in effect, is not part of God’s truth. 

Yet, long after the twelve apostles were in the grave, in the 200s A.D. the budding Roman church began attempts to determine the date of Jesus’ birth. As it developed, the trappings of the Christmas festival copied various Roman and northern European pagan sun-worship celebrations that had long been observed around the winter solstice. The result was a traditional Christian holiday comprised of completely fabricated “truth.” No matter how accepted it became over the centuries in the greater Christian world, it remains the wrong truth—which of course is not truth at all! 

You can know what is true! 

The really good news is that God’s truth is right before our eyes! If we study God’s Word in the Bible with an open mind and genuine humility His truth will come crystal clear to those God is calling at this time.

Learning the twelve wrongs of Christmas is only a beginning. God would have us know much more of what is right. In fact, Jesus Christ personally promised, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Freedom from wrong is the right thing to seek!

-Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

The Uphill Battle for the True Faith

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Do you sometimes feel like you are fighting an uphill battle for God’s way of life – and for the true faith of Jesus Christ? If you do,…then don’t feel surprised, but do take courage!

As true Christians striving to faithfully live God’s way of life – we should be fully engaged in living the same faith and way of life that Jesus Himself lived when He walked on earth during His human lifetime over 2,000 years ago.   

By contrast, and in conflict against us, are the sinful spirit powers of Satan the Devil and his genuinely evil, cohort of fallen angels. These demonic spirit enemies are real, and they harbor no love for mankind!

The nature of spiritual war

Note this…these fallen (meaning “sinful”) angels, in particular, fight against the faithful brethren right down from the few called-out-ones in the Old Testament, through the time of Christ and the beginning of God’s true church in the New Testament, and all the way to today! The apostle Paul warned Timothy, who was just beginning his ministry, about this danger.

What form of deception do Satan and his demons use?

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,…” 1 Timothy 4:1. These false doctrines may vary a little over time, but if it doesn’t track with God’s word and with the careful, consistent teachings of God’s true Church, then it originates, ultimately, with Satan. Be alert!

Consistency triumphs over hypocrisy

Hopefully every day you are personally striving wholeheartedly against the deceptions of Satan! However, remember…our battle is primarily spiritual, not physical—and always has been since even before Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

As baptized members of the historic, true Church of God (also known as the “Body of Christ”), we have a vital calling and duty to perform in the spreading of the true gospel yet today. How faithfully we live our lives—our personal example—is critical. Hypocritical conduct does not do God’s Work, nor exemplify Christ to others! Be consistent and faithful in the truth!

No doubt you have “been there and done that” as you have lived God’s way of life for many years. Or, maybe you’re just arriving “there” now in the process of your spiritual conversion?

Either way, when we are faithful in obeying God, we share a genuine kinship with the spiritual brethren of all eras of history.

God’s Word recharges us

The great patriarchs… Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and King David plus the prophets of old in ancient Israel, and the apostles and brethren in the New Testament era experienced the same feelings that we often do today.

And precisely for our benefit God inspired King David (and others) to write beautiful and powerful accounts of those battles (both the physical and spiritual) in the Psalms and the historic books of Scripture. 

Although God does not call us today to fight in physical wars, He does call and expect us to engage in those spiritual conflicts against Satan, false teachings, and personal sin.

In fact, if we’re not fighting the good fight spiritually, then we’re not truly resisting the spirit forces of evil. If you find yourself sidelined from the path and progress of overcoming, consider that a wake-up call! Activate a personal re-dedication to studying, deeply, of God’s word, and of the truth preserved through His true Church. Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)!

We are committed to victory! Stand firm in the true faith of Jesus Christ!   

–Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

See Things as God Sees Them

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Whose opinion is most important and influential in this present, evil world of today?

Is it the opinion of the liberals or the conservatives of today’s politics? What about the talking-heads of social media and internet video websites? Is it the clearly prejudiced opinion of one of these self-proclaimed experts on all things – biased in their assessment of religion, the weather, medical concerns, world politics or anything else, for that matter?

Should it be any of these?

As a part of the historic, prophesied true Church of God today in the 21st Century… we genuinely need to see things as God, the Father and Jesus Christ see them!

During His ministry on earth some 2,000-plus years ago Jesus Christ personally instructed His twelve disciples to always strive to see things as God sees them (Acts 4:18-20, Matthew 6:33).

This is one of the great keys of spiritual understanding. Thus, the disciples became apostles and the brethren in that era were more spiritually focused on God’s truth and way of life and work. They felt an urgency in their calling and desired to see a world ruled by God’s vision, but the fulfillment of that vision would take longer than they understood at that time (1 Peter 4:7).

Modern brethren

As modern, historic brethren to the faithful ministers of Jesus Christ – we also need urgently to be watching for and anticipating the prophesied world events that will occur (and have occurred) in our time, in preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

We have witnessed a political pendulum swing in the recent U.S. election, and it can be tempting to assume that this will precipitate widespread repentance and moral reform, but America’s moral sins have become too deep set. God will still call America to account for those sins.

Instead, remember, we – as members of God’s true Church today – are being called to repentance now. This is our day of salvation! Keep your eyes on preparing for God’s Kingdom!

Watch, hear and heed

Jesus repeatedly admonished His disciples – to personally repent and preach the true gospel as a witness to the world (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2:38-39). At times the preaching of the true gospel was powerful, but we have always had an adversary: the Devil. Therefore, some historic eras of God’s true Church were more faithfully effective than others in preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Whatever the case, proclamation through the efforts of God’s historically small flock was delivered to the world as a witness. Many who are alive today observed, first-hand, the powerful message that was delivered by Mr. Herbert Armstrong in the 20th century, augmented by doors that were clearly opened through God’s divine intervention.

The True gospel and false gospels

However, even the apostles had to carefully watch world events (in the light of Bible prophecy) as Jesus had taught them. They had to listen carefully to any who claimed to teach God’s truth — and then compare it to Jesus’ in-person instruction (Matthew 7:21, 24:23-25). Even then, they had to evaluate the conduct, honesty and personal faithfulness of any who claimed to teach the truth (see 1-3 John, Jude). We need to be just as watchful in our modern era!

The historical record of God’s work being done by His true Church is easily trackable at times and somewhat less so at other times—often due to persecution by pagan and other false-Christian denominations who sought to eradicate even the historical records of the true brethren.

Yet God has always continued to do His work, to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God, through the agency of God’s Church. He promises that there will always be a remnant of that true Church (Romans 11:5, Matthew 16:18, Luke 12:32)

Don’t be thrown by the swinging pendulum of politics in America or abroad. Our focus is on God’s Kingdom, not, ultimately, on the kingdoms of men. A false sense of security is a spiritual danger zone. Times may get a little better, but they will most assuredly, finally, get worse.

Our personal responsibility is clear: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).      

–Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

Seek Peace – Pursue It Earnestly!

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Who today genuinely, vigorously seeks peace with all other people? The pathetically sad answer: precious few!

This is all too sadly true among the modern descendants of the historic, biblical 10 Tribes of Israel plus, of course, the tribe of Judah. These peoples include the bulk of the northwest European nations, Canada, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, parts of South Africa, and, of course, the nation-state of Israel.

Sad to say, the rest of the world is in no better condition peace-wise.

Representatives of many nations talk about peace—even about actual world peace. But when push comes to shove, few are willing to turn their words into action. The net result is that life goes on tenuously, with conflicts escalating in Europe and the Middle East. And various governments, growing increasingly bloodthirsty, keep sharpening their swords—figuratively speaking—and preparing for war on all sides.

One can’t help but wonder what sadness God the Father and Jesus Christ the Savior must feel when they behold the lack of true brotherly peace on the planet. If we think about it, perhaps we can better understand the disappointment the God Family (the Father and the Son) felt in the days of Noah when mankind was “only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5-8)

Word pictures of peace

“For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 8:11)

It can be depressing – this quest for true, world peace. We know it’s a godly peace we seek and apart from that, no human orchestrated solution will deliver sustained peace. The best humanity can achieve is to temporarily cease fighting. But resounding, stabilizing, enduring peace for all the nations will be established only in the soon-coming Kingdom of God on earth.

Prophecies like these and many others will then come true:

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.’” (Luke 2:13-14)

Goodwill between men is decidedly lacking these days. Indeed, it will take Divine ‘goodwill’ toward men to sort out the conflicts and establish peace as the reign of Christ as King of kings begins.

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1-2)

Dwelling in peace is a frequent biblical theme, and it continues infinitely well beyond Christ’s second coming.

Seek and pray for true world peace

Every year we rehearse the events that precede and establish true international peace when we keep the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day. Obeying God is part of the solution that leads to ultimate world peace.

Christ also reminds us to stand fast, even in an unpeaceful world: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The peace that passes understanding…is coming (see Philippians 4:7)! Soon! In the meantime, in all your interactions, in God’s church and outside it…seek peace and pursue it earnestly (Psalm 34:14)!

And pray daily: God’s Kingdom come!

~ Randy Stiver

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Fishers of Men

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Sea of Galilee, from Nof Ginosar Hotel, Israel.

People love to fish. That certainly includes America as well as many other countries.

Fishing has also been a high value activity for many faithful brethren in the true, historic Church of God. Many of Jesus Christ’s disciples then, as well as some today, actually exceled at fishing, giving the rest of Christ’s brethren something to stive for.

The apostles Peter, Andrew, James, and John, as well as their fathers, were professional fisherman at the Sea of Galilee. A region located in the interior of what had been the nation of Israel but was by this time, a few hundred years later, simply known as Galilee, the northern section of the Roman province of Judaea.

In fact, Jesus challenged His original disciples to excel in a special type of fishing, recorded in Mark 1:16-20 (see also, Matthew 4:18-20). Christ called these four to leave their fishing boats and follow Him to become “fishers of men.” Along with the rest of the twelve apostles—they became the leaders of a new kind of fishing industry, one that drew thousands to the knowledge of the true God and proclaimed the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

Sea of Galilee boats, from Ginosar, Israel.

Organizationally and personally, how can we be “fishers of men” in this end-time age?

The answer: See things as God sees them.

Study God’s Word well, and methodically, so that it comes out naturally and confidently in conversation. Strive to be a faithful, living example of God’s true way of life.

Watch world events and be aware of the signs leading up to Christ’s coming. Be alert for deception as it affects the culture we live in, and also, the greater Church of God. Learn to give an answer regarding the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the hope that lies within you. Explain the truth simply and clearly, so that a child could understand it (but don’t engage in angry or fruitless arguments).

Make the gospel of the Kingdom come alive in your mind and, by extension, in the minds of others. Christ, through His church casts a wide net, but we each, as we have opportunity, can plant a seed that may later lead to a greater catch.

-Randy Stiver

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

D-Day to Today: Why Are -You- Here?

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Chief Photographer’s Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, American armed forces and their allies stormed the beaches of Normandy on the west coast of France.

These sunny and beautiful beaches had become the western frontier of the Nazi army. Land which had been forcibly snatched from the hands of France by Germany in the early stages of World War Two.

Much like World War One before it, this second world war marked Germany’s second attempt in the 20th Century to conquer and carve a vast German empire out of Europe and wherever else it could reach. The fanatic Fuhrer’s end game was no less than world dominance… that is, until he died at his own fanatic hand.

40 years later

In June of 1984 American President Ronald Reagan spoke to an august gathering of U.S. and other World War 2 veterans at Pointe du Hoc along the Normandy coast where the American Rangers established their first European continental foothold. It was 40 years from the day of that famous Allied landing—leading to the freeing of Europe. The battle is often simply called “D-Day.”

D-Day today, 80 years on…

America, England, France and Germany, the rest of Europe and all other nations on earth are facing a dramatic potential for far flung war once again… potentially world war… fought with widespread use of nuclear weapons—and whatever other high-tech armaments that yet another team of scientists here or there can “cook-up.” A time of great trouble is brewing.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Laing A (Sgt), No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The upheaval described by Jesus in this prophecy which He delivered to his disciples from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is referred to as the “Olivet Prophecy.” But with its parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21 it is the premiere prophecy of Christ’s second coming. Further, the prophetic details describe the conditions of our world and time today!

When President Reagan spoke on D-Day’s 40th anniversary he expressed the ideal of a lasting peace achieved by the sacrifice of WW2. However, those dynamics have changed. We are now forty years closer to the second coming – the frictions that portend world war have crystallized considerably. The immorality level of society approaches that of Sodom and Gomorrah of old.

The final war of all the nations is also forty years nearer. It brings the words of a great hymn into dramatic focus:

“How long Eternal hide Thou away? When will Thy wrath not burn like a fire? Wherefore hast Thou made all men in vain? Thou, God, remember, fleeting is life.”

Why Are You Here?

The world (that is, the Devil’s world) is sucking the power of God’s Holy Spirit out of the minds and hearts of the true brethren. It is destroying those who don’t resist. What can we do?

President Reagan asked the rhetorical question of the veterans on that D-Day anniversary in 1984: “Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs?”

We, too, must ask ourselves, why am I here? To what have I committed my life?

You are here because you have been personally called by Jesus Christ to know and understand the plan that God is working out here below.

What next? Read the Bible!

Find those passages in Scripture that explain God’s process of calling and salvation for those He is calling now—which means you and me. Rediscover why you are here in the true Church of God now—today! Remember that “why”! Go back and do the first works!

The Kingdom of God is our goal forever and always! 

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.

The Lesson of the ‘Kamikaze’ Mama Robin!

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As I walked out the front door there came a loud screeching as something airborne hit the top of my head, knocking my cap to the ground! Small bird sounds accompanied the airborne attack. What bird would actively engage against a human-height invader of her nest and babies?

It turns out it was a female robin defending her tiny home against all comers – and you can’t help but admire her put-your-life-on-the-line moxie!  Over and over, she screeched and dived at any-and-all comers, particularly us, as we entered and exited through the front door. The only time she sat quietly in their nest of twigs atop the joint of a downspout was when her mate took over the defense of their babies.

However, Mrs. Robin had well and truly earned her nickname: “Kamikaze Mama.”

The actual Kamikaze

The original kamikaze were Japanese fighter pilots in World War Two. After the tide had turned and America and her allies had fought the Japanese armed forces in many countries and islands, the allies were ready to attack the Japanese mainland to finish the war.

In their effort to thwart the inevitable invasion of their island nation the Japanese air forces trained a host of young pilots to sacrifice themselves and their aircraft as flying bombs. This last-ditch force was called “Kamikaze” which means “divine wind.” They flew into battle not to possibly die, but to specifically die—and kill as many of their enemies as possible by crashing their planes into the Allied naval ships beneath them.

One can’t help but admire the tragic bravery and determination to preserve their national “nest” on the Japanese islands—as well as note their fearlessness in the face of the Allied counterparts they would meet in battle. War is a sad contradiction; sometimes the highest human ideals are employed for the worst possible outcomes, the destruction of one’s enemy.

Time perfects all weapons

Since then, many generations of nuclear-based and other advanced weaponry have been built and “perfected” for this awful purpose. If we were to figure the cost of World War Two fought today with our modern “death to all” weaponry – the toll would be even more appalling and staggering!

But all aspects of human warfare are profoundly sad. And this chapter was especially so. The Pacific land, sea, and air battles of World War Two ended by the deployment of atomic bombs on Japan.

Jeremiah, another of God’s spiritual battle-hardened prophets was inspired to precisely summarize humanity’s core failure:  “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

In the near future, Jesus Christ at his second coming will intervene to block mankind’s self-destruction. He will initiate a new government called the Kingdom of God. He is inviting us to help oversee the making of new and wonderful history in the world tomorrow!  

What lesson for us today?

What can our little, self-sacrificing Robin family teach us in relationship with the calamity of war?

God called us out of this present, evil world with its wars and tragedies, and into the knowledge of His great, soon-coming Kingdom and true way of life. We “signed up” through repentance and baptism into the true faith and service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We fight against the evil of war by faithfully following God’s Law and becoming a living example of God’s way that is the precise opposite of war, destruction, and hate.

Even as our faithful birdy friends, Mr. and Mrs. Robin, are dedicated to giving their avian lives to the future of their babies… so, too, have we committed our lives to our Savior—who is also now our Lord and Master, high priest in heaven and soon-coming King—and to our eternal, spiritual Father in heaven! Treat that calling with the same intensity and protective self-sacrifice exemplified by this small aspect of God’s creation!

–Randy Stiver-

*If you wish to reprint this commentary or learn more about how to do so, please contact me in the comments below. I reserve my rights to this content, it is not in the public domain for use or reprint without my permission.

**All images are property of Amanda Stiver, unless otherwise noted. Please do not re-use without permission.