Gerald E. Weston

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

Do You Really Know Jesus?

Professing Christians know that Jesus gave His life for mankind, but what else do they know about Jesus and why He came to earth as a human being? On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’ll expose five myths about the Jesus of the Bible. He is, as Bruce Barton wrote, The Man Nobody Knows.

How surprising that is, when the world’s largest collective religious body claims to worship Him.

John 3:16 is perhaps the most famous of all verses, yet one that says something very different from what people think. Stay tuned!

The Savior is No Myth!

As surprising as it may be, commonly held beliefs indicate much misunderstanding about the Savior of the world.

The first myth is a major doctrine found among some Christian denominations.

It’s amazing what people accept as truth simply because that is what their priest tells them, without ever investigating it for themselves from the only authoritative book about the life of Jesus. So,

Myth #1: Jesus’ mother was a perpetual virgin

This myth has far-reaching implications.

Scriptures mention Jesus having brothers and sisters, but some allege that these verses refer to either cousins or disciples. What are we to believe? Should we follow traditions handed down to us that conflict with easy-to-understand scripture? Or should we believe the Bible? You be the judge!

The false narrative of Jesus’ mother remaining a perpetual virgin and Jesus having no siblings is soundly contradicted in John 7, beginning in verse 3:

His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:3–5).

So much for “His brothers” referring to disciples! This does not mean that He never referred to His followers as being brothers, only that He had “brothers” who were not disciples.

Another scriptural example of His blood family is found in Matthew 12, verses 47–50, where there is a clear distinction between His physical family and His spiritual family:

Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:47–50).

These references to brothers cannot be shrugged off easily.

Let’s notice another passage on this subject where sisters (plural) are mentioned.

Matthew 13:54–56 relates how citizens in the area where He grew up, were perplexed by the wisdom and miracles He performed:

… when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54–56).

Any objective reader who is not influenced by unfounded traditions recognizes that Matthew 1:24–25 ought to lay the question to rest.

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Although “firstborn son” does not necessarily mean there were others, the inference is certainly there.

But more importantly, any student of the Bible knows that the expression “did not know her” is a euphemism for sexual relations, as we see in Genesis 4:

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain (Genesis 4:1).

And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch (Genesis 4:17).

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth (Genesis 4:25).

My friends, instead of blindly following Church traditions, read the Bible for what it says!

But you may wonder, “Is it important to know that Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin and that Jesus had half-brothers and sisters?”

Dogma Disproven by Scripture

The answer is found in

Myth #2: The narrative that Mary is our intercessor

Mary was the mother of Jesus and scripture indicates she was a righteous woman.

But the role of Mary has been grossly and blasphemously corrupted. Nowhere do we find in the Bible anything about her “immaculate conception.”

Non-Catholics often misunderstand that the immaculate conception refers to Christ’s conception, but this biblically unfounded doctrine refers instead to Mary. Here is what a Catholic source explains:

The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic dogma that states that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain. That’s what “immaculate” means: without stain (“Immaculate Conception and Assumption,” Catholic Answers, Catholic.com, Accessed MAy 11, 2022).

Yet, where is the proof of this? Certainly not from the Bible! Where does it come from?

What many do not realize is how deeply, and how early, Christianity was corrupted by pagan doctrines that long predate Christ.

Many historical sources show that the worship of Mary came about as traditions about pagan goddesses were transferred to the mother of Jesus. This truth is well established. Here is merely one example from the highly respected Church historian Jesse Lyman Hurlbut.

Writing about the origin of Mary worship, he says:

About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored, and worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana (Hurlbut’s Story of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 79).

Nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary being immaculately conceived. Nowhere do we read of her remaining a perpetual virgin.

We read just the opposite. And nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary as intercessor between God and man. That role is reserved for Jesus Himself—not Mary, not human priests. He is the One through whom we approach the Father. He revealed that to us on the night in which He was betrayed.

We find in John 14:6:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Then in John 14 verses 13 and 14 Jesus says if you ask in His name, HE will do it.

You don’t have to go to His mother to appeal to Him.

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:13–14).

It is through the name of Jesus Christ, not Mary, that we come to God. There is not one shred of evidence in the Bible for the worship of Jesus’ mother. Not a single verse indicates we should use the name of Mary to approach Jesus or His Father. The simple truth is, as many historical sources prove, the cultus of Diana, Ishtar, and other goddesses have been transferred to Mary. When she awakes in the resurrection, she’ll be astounded [at] how the worship of pagan goddesses has been transferred to her.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the Resurrected Saints

So let us look at:

Myth #3: Jesus’ gospel is only about His death, burial, and resurrection

Now don’t misunderstand; that certainly is good news, and good news is what the word gospel means, but what gospel did Jesus proclaim for three-and-a-half years prior to His crucifixion?

Why is it that so few know and understand what that message is, when it’s spelled out so clearly in scripture after scripture?

Isn’t it strange that church-goers cannot tell you what the Bible reveals about Jesus’ message to mankind? No, it wasn’t about His death, burial, and resurrection—though that is part of the good news. And no, it wasn’t about going to heaven. It was about a world-ruling Kingdom of God to be set up on the earth.

Here is the beginning of His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:14–15.

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14–15).

Do you realize that most of Jesus’ many parables were about this kingdom?

For example, Mark 4:30:

Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?” (Mark 4:30).

The expression “kingdom of God” is found 69 times in the New Testament of the New King James Version. Obviously, I don’t have time to cover them all, but proclaiming this message was one reason Jesus said He was sent to earth.

See Luke 4:43:

… but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43).

And Luke 8, verse 1 shows that He took this commission very seriously.

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God (Luke 8:1).

But what exactly is this Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed?

And what does that have to do with you?

Contrary to the widely held doctrine of going to heaven, His message was about a divine family ruling on earth—a family that you can be born into. Why, when there is so much said about this in the Bible, do so few comprehend Jesus’ message?

And this brings us to:

Myth #4: The reward of the saved is retirement in heaven

We have pointed this out many times on this Tomorrow’s World program and in our other resources, but let me quickly review this with you from the pages of the Bible.

In a prophecy of the future, Zechariah 14:9 tells us:

And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—“The LORD is one,” And His name one (Zechariah 14:9).

But Jesus will not be alone in ruling. Revelation 19:16 tells us that Jesus will be King of kings and Lord of lords:

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).

Now, who are these kings and lords that Jesus will be King and Lord over? Scripture reveals the answer.

Speaking of the twelve tribes of Israel, the prophet Ezekiel, tells us:

I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken (Ezekiel 34:23–24).

When Jesus’ disciples asked, what was in it for them for following Him, He gave them this direct response in Matthew 19, verse 28:

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28).

So we have Christ as King over all the earth, David as king over all Israel, and the twelve apostles—each ruling over one of the twelve tribes of Israel under David.

That is what the Bible reveals, but what about you and me?

What’s in it for us?

Was Jesus’ message to live a good life, jam as much fun into it as you can before you die, and then go to retirement in heaven?

Not at all!

The reward He offers is right here on earth to rule with Him and help solve the problems that exist here below—to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all men everywhere.

In Jesus’ parable of the minas, He describes Himself as a nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom. His servants are told to do His work while He is gone, and He demands an accounting upon His return, and gives rewards according to how each does. Here are the rewards, as found in Luke 19, beginning verse 16:

Then came the first, saying, “Master, your mina has earned ten minas.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” And the second came, saying, “Master, your mina has earned five minas.” Likewise he said to him, “You also be over five cities” (Luke 19:16–19).

Now that doesn’t sound like a boring retirement sitting on clouds with little to do, or staring into the face of God in a celestial trance forever—the so-called beatific vision!

Who Was the God of the Old Testament?

The narrative about our Savior is that the One we know of as God the Father, was harsh and demanding, but Jesus came with a message of love. Now it is true that Jesus’ message was a message of love, but so was the message of scripture prior to His coming.

Remember how Jesus answered the lawyer who asked, “What is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.” [this comes from Deuteronomy 6:5] This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” [that comes from Leviticus 19:18] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37–40).

With this understanding, why is it that people believe this fifth commonly held myth about the Jesus Christ of the Bible, that

Myth #5: Jesus did not agree with the Old Testament message

As shocking as this may sound, scripture reveals that Jesus was, get this, the God of the Old Testament! Now don’t take my word for it. Prove it from your own Bible! Note what the Apostle John revealed about the relationship between the Father and the One referred to as the Word. John 1, verses 1–3:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1–3).

So who was the Word? The answer is found in verse 14:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

The member of the God family that is referred to as the Word, who made all things and without Him nothing was made that was made, is none other than Jesus Christ.

Look it up in your own Bible and read John 1:1–14.

But that is far from the only proof that Jesus was the God of the Old Testament.

Another powerful scripture is Ephesians 3, verses 8 and 9.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God [note this] who created all things through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:8–9).

Need more proof? Consider Hebrews 1, verses 1 and 2:

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, [and get this] through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1–2).

Still not convinced?

Who was it that created the angels? Who was it that created Adam and Eve, our first parents? Paul answers this in Colossians 1:15–18:

He [that is, Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:15–18).

But there’s more.

There is no stronger statement than is found in 1 Corinthians 10, verses 1–4:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1–4).

No wonder Jesus claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath! He was the one who created the Sabbath for mankind!

Today we have exposed five commonly held myths about the Jesus of the Bible.

Why are these myths promoted in our modern churches, when they are so easily debunked from the pages of the Bible?

Thank you for watching! If you found this video helpful, and want to cast off commonly held myths about Jesus and understand more about one of Jesus’ most memorable statements of truth, be sure to order your free copy of John 3:16—Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Just click the link in the description.

You will be surprised how different His message was from what you’ve heard. And remember to subscribe to our channel to continue learning the plain truth from the pages of the Bible. See you next time!

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

A Conspiracy Almost No One Knows

Conspiracy theories abound and exactly how many there are is up for grabs. Some conspiracies are recent, others are decades or centuries old.

Lists of popular theories abound on the Internet, though new ones seem to be born every year, especially in recent days. Leaders in government, science, medicine, and the media have discredited themselves through inept and dishonest policies affecting peoples and nations—thus giving rise to skepticism, distrust, and some of the most wildly speculative theories ever conceived. And with social media come speculations on steroids.

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’ll look at some of the most popular conspiracy theories that have ever been told. I’ll also reveal the greatest conspiracy of all—one that is not theory, but fact.

Shadowboxing With Coverups Real and Imagined

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we give you the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, explain prophecies of the Bible, and bring new insights from the word of God. On today’s program, we’ll look at some of the most popular conspiracy theories along with the greatest conspiracy of all time—one that affects your life.

Some conspiracies involve famous people faking their own death. Other narratives are about how prominent people died, or didn’t die, contrary to the official story. Some are rather laughable, such as:

Elvis is still alive and was seen at…

A gas station, grocery store, or, according to a supermarket tabloid, he was spotted at Graceland, his legendary home, on his 85^th birthday, along with a grainy picture.

Other famous death conspiracies involve:

JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald
Martin Luther King
Princess Diana

And, would you believe, even:

Jesus

Where a false story was circulated to explain away the resurrection. We read of it in Matthew 28, beginning in verse 11:

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day (Matthew 28:11–15).

As with that example, some conspiracies are more than theories. Some have proven to be true beyond Internet blogs and questionable sources. One came to light from a Top Secret document that was made public November 18, 1997:

Operation Northwoods was a plan circulated in the U.S. government in 1962 to stage false flag terrorist attacks inside the U.S. and abroad to provoke “military intervention in Cuba”. The plan called for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other operatives to commit genuine acts of terrorism in U.S. cities and elsewhere. These acts of terrorism were to be blamed on Cuba in order to create public support for a war against that nation, which had recently become communist under Fidel Castro. One part of the Operation Northwoods plan was to “develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities and even in Washington.” The document was signed by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lyman Lemnitzer and reportedly presented to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962 (“Operation Northwoods,” PublicIntelligence.net, March 9, 2010).

The plan was given to President Kennedy, who had the good sense to turn it down, but the fact that a false flag of this magnitude was considered by high government officials, involving sacrificing the lives of American citizens, is it any wonder that such schemes have contributed to wild speculations? Less than four years after Operation Northwoods came to light, Muslim extremists flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

Some allege that the CIA was complicit, and that the attack was a ruse to create fear so that Americans would give up greater control over their lives. Others believe it was an excuse for President Bush to invade Iraq and depose Saddam Hussain—finishing the job his father left undone.

Sadly, some conspiracy theories have ruined the lives of those caught up in them. One example is QAnon.

Or as others refer to it: QAnonsense.

Following the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., BBC news explained this phenomenon:

At its heart, QAnon is a wide-ranging, completely unfounded theory that says that President Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business and the media.

QAnon believers have speculated that this fight will lead to a day of reckoning where prominent people such as former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be arrested and executed (“QAnon: What is it and where did it come from?” BBC.com, January 6, 2021).

This elaborately evolving theory began in October 2017 when an anonymous person, supposedly in the Trump administration, with Department of Energy high level Q security clearance, made a post on the 4chan message board and signed off as “Q.”

The very nature of Q is that it becomes an obsessive game where clues are dropped like breadcrumbs, creating an addiction to find and unravel the next cryptic post. Some estimate that there are millions following Q, and if you meet one of them, you understand how obsessed someone can become to an unproven theory from an anonymous source. Stories abound of ruined relationships as believers become consumed in a fantasy world where anyone who disagrees is shut out and considered the enemy.

Conspiracy Theories are Nothing New

Few of them have anything to do with how you live your life and even if true, which most are not, what can you do about it? But, before the break I said we’ll explore the greatest conspiracy of all time—right from the pages of the Bible. But let me first remind you of how skeptical we have become. Many are convinced the U.S. government is not being truthful about a number of current and historical events. For example:

It is alleged that the Moon Landing was faked, an alien spacecraft crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, and contrails are really chemtrails. And, then there is The HAARP project.

HAARP, an acronym for High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, is a real U.S. government program. The only question is the alleged interpretation of its purpose.

Its official website states:

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, is a scientific endeavor aimed at studying the properties and behavior of the ionosphere (“About HAARP,” University of Alaska, Fairbanks, HAARP.gi.alaska.edu).

Researchers say they hope to learn about the ionosphere to enhance our communication and navigation technology. But a committed group of conspiracy theorists have long claimed HAARP is used to cause natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and even tsunamis. And others believe HAARP is used for mind control purposes.

Wise king Solomon wrote,

That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10).

No, conspiracy theories are not new, but the Internet, social media, and photo doctoring techniques put them on steroids.

But do you realize that there are commonly believed theories about Christ that have no basis in biblical fact? For example, many claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that the Church has hidden the evidence for centuries.

Made popular by the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code, this conspiracy theory has been around a long time. Some claim that this supposed marriage produced a lineage of children that were eventually brought to France. In 2012, Harvard historian Karen King claimed to have found an ancient, second-century writing in which Jesus supposedly calls Mary “My wife.” But four years later, she conceded that she had been duped by a forgery.

Still, the theory persists, as conspiracy theorists claim Mary Magdalene’s role in the early Church has been hidden and suppressed to maintain the power structure of the male “patriarchy.”

Of course the Bible says no such thing, but this is an example of how little understanding, and how little faith individuals have in the one and only authoritative source of the life of Jesus. Books can be exciting. Movies can be thrilling. But neither secular books nor movies should guide us on this important subject. As blasphemous as this theory is, and the conspiracy about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus, there is an even more important one—the greatest conspiracy of all.

The Rise of a Counterfeit Christian Church

True first century followers of Christ took the truth seriously. For them, it was no game, no social club, but a way of life. The questions must be asked: Is the Christianity of today the same as that of the first century? Is it “Original Christianity,” or a shallow counterfeit? Here’s the answer from mainline Protestant scholar, Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, in his book The Story of the Christian Church. In the chapter that he titled, “The Age of Shadows” he wrote:

For fifty years after St. Paul’s life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we strive vainly to look; and when at last it rises, about 120 A.D. with the writings of the earliest church fathers, we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Peter and St. Paul” (Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, 1970, p. 33).

Now what were those changes that he refers to? How significant were they? Were they minor cosmetic changes or changes in frontline doctrines? Hurlbut lists a few of the many that took place during the shadowy time and the centuries that followed.

The services of worship increased in splendor, but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times. The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and of worship. About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored, and worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana; the Lord’s Supper became a sacrifice in place of a memorial; and the elder evolved from a preacher into a priest. (Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 79).

Hurlbut is one of many mainline scholars and historians who admit that the Christian church of today is not the same as that of Jesus, His apostles, and His first-century followers. Original Christianity was corrupted by one, grand conspiracy. One common narrative is that Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made Christianity the religion of Europe and much of the world. But how converted was Constantine, and what kind of Christianity did he bring to the world? Historian Paul Johnson observes the following in this regard:

[T]here is some doubt about the magnitude of Constantine’s change of ideas.… He himself appears to have been a sun-worshipper, one of a number of late-pagan cults which had observances in common with the Christians. Thus the followers of Isis adored a madonna nursing her holy child; the cult of Attis and Cybele celebrated a day of blood and fasting, followed by the Hilaria resurrection-feast, a day of joy, on 25 March; the elitist Mithraics, many of whom were senior army officers, ate a sacred meal. Constantine was almost certainly a Mithraic, and his triumphal arch, built after his ‘conversion’, testifies to the Sun-god, or ‘unconquered sun.’ Many Christians did not make a clear distinction between this sun-cult and their own. They referred to Christ ‘driving his chariot across the sky’; they held their services on Sunday, knelt towards the East and had their nativity-feast on 25 December, the birthday of the sun at the winter solstice. During the later pagan revival under the Emperor Julian many Christians found it easy to apostatize because of this confusion; the Bishop of Troy told Julian he had always prayed secretly to the sun. Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins. He made Sunday into a day of rest (A History of Christianity, 1976, pp. 67–68).

The record of history shows original Christianity of the first century was very different from that of today, but does this matter as long as we worship Jesus? How does the Bible answer this question? And how does it describe first century Christianity?

Who Really Perpetrated False Christianity? And How Can You Escape?

That modern professing Christianity has been supplanted is not in dispute. The real questions are: Who did it? And, what should you do about it? The answers to both are found in the Bible. Let’s answer the first question: Who is behind this conspiracy? Speaking of the time yet ahead, we read in Revelation 12 and verse 9 that there is a great deceiver:

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9).

In Ephesians 2, verse 2, we learn how he deceives the world—by broadcasting attitudes and moods through the air.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1–2).

Satan does not direct the course of this world alone. He uses human beings who themselves are most often deceived. And that deception is not in moral values alone, but in Christianity itself. There are many warnings in the New Testament against a Satanic false Christianity—more than I have time to fully cover in this program. One passage shows the Apostle Paul soundly correcting the church at Corinth over their careless acceptance of doctrines contrary to the truth—2 Corinthians 11, verse 4:

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Paul then went on to explain the source of the problem and he minced no words in doing so. He would not be viewed as politically correct today. Notice it in verses 13–15:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

Yes, there was a conspiracy to transform Christianity into something very different from that of Jesus and his early followers. Jesus’ half-brother Jude, writing in the first century, admonished those of his day that they needed to strive to preserve the truth which was already delivered to them. And by doing so, he put a nail in the coffin of the idea that true Christianity should evolve over time. Notice in Jude verse 3:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

Jude went on to show one of the major tenets of this conspiracy—that grace does away with the law of God. Here it is in verse 4:

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4).

Jesus warned against following men who claim to represent Him, men who say Jesus is the Christ, but deceive the people in the process. The first sign Jesus gave when asked by His disciples about the sign of His coming, was false Christianity.

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name [That is, representing Him], saying, “I [That is, Jesus] am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4–5).

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17,

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).

So what do people do? They think exactly what He said not to think—that the law of God is done away. No wonder Jesus asks,

But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and do not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46).

The highly respected philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard, sums it up with brutal clarity:

The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist…. what has to be done is to throw light upon a criminal offense against Christianity, prolonged through centuries, perpetrated by millions (more or less guiltily), whereby they have cunningly, under the guise of perfecting Christianity, sought little by little to cheat God out of Christianity, and have succeeded in making Christianity exactly the opposite of what it is in the New Testament (Kierkegaard, Walter Lowrie trans. Attack Upon “Christendom”, 1946, pp. 32–33).

So what are you, dear friends, going to do? Will you follow the traditions of men, as they have been handed down to you? That’s the easy course. Or are you courageous enough to turn back to original Christianity?

Thank you for watching! If you found this video helpful, and want to learn more about how Paul, Peter, and other first century leaders of the Church worshiped God differently than Christians today, order your free copy of “Restoring Original Christianity.” All you need to do is click the link in the description, as it is completely free. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you can continue to learn the plain truth from the pages of the Bible. See you next time.

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

Is the Rapture a Myth?

There’s a popular myth that the second coming of Jesus Christ can happen at any time—maybe even tonight. Do you realize, dear friends, that is a false doctrine? He will not come tonight—not according to the Word of God. But wait, you may think. Doesn’t He return in a secret rapture that can happen at any moment to protect His true servants from the great tribulation? Again, not according to the Bible.

On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, instead of looking to popular Left Behind novels, we’ll open up the Bible and see what it actually says about this subject. We’ll see that Jesus Himself listed specific signs that must precede His return. What are they? And more importantly, what is the warning He gave along with that first sign? It’s an important one.

No, Jesus will not come tonight, tomorrow, this year, next year, or the year after. You or I may die tonight, and we’ll meet Him in our next conscious moment, but He will not return to earth tonight, not even in a secret rapture. Stay with me as I’ll be back to answer these important questions from the pages of the Bible. And I’ll also reveal what Jesus gave as the first sign of the end of the age, and just as importantly, the warning He gave that accompanies that sign.

Stay tuned.

Prophetic Signs from the Book of Daniel and the Gospel of Matthew

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World, where we ask serious questions and give solid answers—straight from the pages of the Bible. We’re pleased that you have joined us on today’s program, and we give a special welcome to those of you tuning in for the first time. Today, I’m asking and answering the questions:

“Can Jesus come at just anytime? Is there a secret rapture? And what was Jesus’ first sign of the end of the age and the warning that accompanies it?”

You’ve likely heard someone, perhaps a professing Christian minister, say that Jesus can come at any time—maybe even tonight. Setting aside the subject of the rapture for a moment, some have concluded this based on a misunderstanding of Matthew 24, where it tells us in verse 36,

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only (Matthew 24:36).

Then, in verses 42 to 44, we read what appears to many as confirmation:

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

It’s true that no one knows the day or the hour, but that is not the same as saying He can come at any time. These verses must be taken in the context in which they are written—in other words, what goes before and what follows. If we start at the beginning of Matthew 24, we find Jesus’ disciples asking about the destruction of the temple and the time of His return. Notice beginning in verse 3:

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be?

[That is the destruction of the temple]

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

His disciples understood that a series of events must take place before the climax at the end, and He confirmed this with a list of signs to watch for that would precede His return. A number of these signs are ongoing, taking place throughout human history. That’s why He tells us in verse 6,

See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6).

And then in verse 8,

All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8).

However, when we compare these signs that Jesus gave in Matthew 24 with the famed “Four Horsemen” of Revelation chapter 6, we must conclude that such catastrophes as war, famine, and disease will take on greater significance in the near future as they are precursors of the Day of the Lord when Christ returns. And among the signs given, it would do us well to note a very specific one found in verse 15:

Therefore when you see the “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand) (Matthew 24:15).

Notice that Jesus refers to the prophet Daniel regarding this sign. We read of it in Daniel chapter 12, where it clearly shows the time setting to be “the time of the end.” Notice it in verse 4:

But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end.

[Then in verse 9, we read…]

And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4, 9).

In verse 11, Daniel records this message that gives a specific time between when this abomination is set up and the end when the Messiah, Jesus Christ, returns:

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).

That is 3 years and 7 months. There are three settings involving the abomination of desolation. Two are past tense and the third is yet to come.

#1 In 168 B.C., it took place under Antiochus Epiphanes.

#2 The destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

And the third one is yet to come: 1,290 Days before Christ returns.

Since that destructive abomination has not yet occurred, and that takes place 1,290 days prior to the end, when the Messiah Jesus Christ returns, we know that He will not come tonight, or, at the very least, another 3 years and 7 months. But that is merely one sign. Others precede the Abomination of Desolation, as shown in Matthew 24 and elsewhere.

How ironic it is that people conclude that Jesus can come at any time when a chapter they use as proof is devoted to describing what must first happen. It’s in the context of these signs, that Jesus admonishes us, in verses 32 and 33:

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! (Matthew 24:32–33).

It’s only after He gave this parable of the fig tree that He mentions that no one would know the exact day or hour.

But what about a secret rapture that we are told can come at any time? Does the Bible teach it? And what is the first sign that Jesus gave signaling the end of the age and the warning that accompanies that sign?

The Last Great Trumpet—A Resurrection, NOT a Rapture!

The passage most often used regarding a secret rapture is found in 1 Thessalonians 4, beginning in verse 13:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thess 4:13–14).

This is the context: those who have died in the faith and why those who know the truth need not sorrow as others who have no hope. That hope is, of course, the resurrection from the dead. Paul then gives this further encouragement and explanation in verses 15 and 16:

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:15–16).

Notice the order of the resurrection—those already dead will be resurrected first. Yet, the man-made rapture doctrine purports that the rapture protects believers from the Great Tribulation by taking them to heaven. Why take the dead? Do they need protection?

And let us not forget when this occurs:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

It is only after the trumpet sounds and the dead are raised that those living at the time will be changed. Read it for yourself in verse 17:

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Then Paul brings the subject full circle to the purpose of this passage:

Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Yes, the subject is not some kind of rapture, which is never spoken of in these verses, but how to comfort one another over the death of loved ones. Furthermore, the New Testament is absolutely consistent regarding the coming of Christ—He returns at the sounding of a trumpet, whether literal or figurative, but it is not just any trumpet. Let’s notice this detail provided in 1 Corinthians 15 and verses 51 and 52:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep

[That is, we shall not all die.]

but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51—52).

Did you notice that:

“…at the last trumpet….”

And that leads us to the book of Revelation where we read of seven trumpets that portend natural disasters and warfare, with a spectacular event occurring at the sounding of the last, that is the seventh trumpet. Let’s read it in Revelation the 11th chapter and verse 15:

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).

So far we’ve seen that Jesus will not return at just any time and that the passage most often referred to by rapturists has nothing to do with a secret rapture. So let’s now turn to the next question: What is the first sign Jesus gave leading up to His second coming?

The End Times—The Worst Period in Human History!

Perhaps you already know the answer, but more importantly do you also know the warning Jesus gave along with that sign? And what relationship does that have to you?

Three chapters in the Bible, written by three different authors, record what is known as the “Olivet Prophecy”:

Matthew 24

Mark 13

[and] Luke 21

We find that Jesus and His disciples had left the Temple and were going out to the Mount of Olives just across a narrow valley. As they went, the disciples were in awe of the beauty of the Temple. It was then that they asked Jesus, and He informed them:

Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Matthew 24:2).

That’s found in Matthew 24 and verse 2. Not surprisingly, the disciples wanted to know when this would happen and as they sat on the Mount, they asked this twofold question:

Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3)

The answer had a former fulfillment and a latter-day fulfillment. The former fulfillment had to do with the destruction of the temple that we know from history took place in 70 A.D. Incredibly, some scholars believe the whole prophecy only applied to the events in 70 A.D., but even a child can understand that this prophecy also has an end-time fulfillment. Let’s read the latter part of verse 3 once again:

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?

We know that the second coming did not take place in 70 A.D., nor was that the end of the age. We also know that some of the specifics of this prophecy can only apply to the time of Christ’s return. As an example, we read verses 21 and 22:

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).

There can only be one such time as this, for as it says, “nor ever shall be.” And a simple reading of the book of Revelation, written around 90 A.D. after Jerusalem fell describes a time of worldwide trouble far greater than anything mankind has ever known. Daniel 12 also refers to this worst of all possible times and connects it with the time of the resurrection from the dead at Christ’s return:

And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:1–2).

Clearly, there can be no two times worse than anything before or after. So what is the first sign Jesus gave? Right after the disciples asked about the signs of His coming, we read in Matthew 24 and in verses 4 and 5:

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5).

So the first sign Jesus gave was religious deception, but not just any religious deception. It’s speaking about Christian deception. And regarding that deception, Jesus gave this warning:

Take heed that no one deceives you (Matthew 24:4).

Worldwide Religious Deception—NOT the Christianity Christ Taught!

If you’re driving down a dark road at night and see a sign—“Bridge out” —would you not take the warning seriously and take another road? So why do so few take Jesus’ warning seriously? Let’s read it again in Matthew the 24th chapter:

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4–5).

Let’s analyze this. Jesus said,

“many will come in My name.”

It’s not a few, but many who will come using His name. But what does that mean? If someone knocks on your door and shouts, “Open up in the name of the law,” he’s claiming he represents the law and its authority. And when ministers “come in Jesus’ name,” they’re claiming to represent Him and having His authority. In addition, these deceivers say,

“I am the Christ”!

And by doing so,

“Will deceive many.”

There are a few deranged individuals who claim that they are the Christ, but few follow them. But false ministers do deceive many when they claim that they represent Christ, even saying that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. The statement “I am the Christ” is understood from the context. Taken alone it could mean that these deceivers are claiming to be Christ, but the context shows that they claim to be representatives of Christ and proclaim that Jesus—remember He is the Speaker here—is the Christ. With such tactics, they deceive, not the few, but the many. That is why Jesus began this first sign by saying,

Take heed that no one deceives you.

Few claiming to be Jesus will deceive very many, but if someone in the pulpit claims to represent Him, saying that Jesus is the Christ, that’s another matter, and that’s what we see. False Christianity began almost immediately following Jesus’ death and resurrection but wholly took over the Roman Empire in the fourth century and continues to the present. The Apostle Paul describes the problem on more than one occasion. But let’s look at what Paul wrote to those at Corinth—2 Corinthians the 11th chapter:

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:3–4).

These were believers, but they were putting up with ministers deceiving them with a false Christ and a different gospel—a Christianity of a very different spirit. He continues his warning about these deceivers in verses 13–15:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

Consider for a moment. Is it possible that you have been deceived?

Consider whether the popular belief in the Rapture is one of the many deceptions pawned off on professing Christians. Don’t you be deceived, no matter how popular an idea may be.

Thank you for watching! To understand more about the popular false doctrine of the rapture, order your free copy of “Is the Rapture Your Incredible Future?” by clicking the link in the description. Remember to subscribe to our channel, so you can continue to learn the truth as given in the Bible. See you next time!