Richard F. Ames

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

Prophecy You Can Trust

As we experience global pandemic, economic collapse, and increasing international conflict, many sense that we are living in the “time of the end” prophesied in your Bible. Yes, our world has had extreme natural disasters, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, worldwide pandemics, and even world wars.

But did you know that your Bible predicts a new world coming? Yes, a new world government we call “tomorrow’s world.” That world-ruling government will NOT be led by human presidents, dictators, kings, or prime ministers. The new, one-world government will be ruled by a great Spirit being, who even came to earth as the Savior of the world. Yes, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth will return as King of kings and Lord of lords. How do we know this for sure? We know for sure because you can prove Bible prophecy is powerful and accurate.

According to the Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, your Bible contains 1,817 predictions about the future. [p. 675] . We know the power and accuracy of those prophecies from the hundreds that have already been fulfilled. In this program we’ll explore amazing prophecies in your Bible that have come to pass in exact detail as prophesied. You can prove the power of prophecy from your own Bible. Stay tuned!

Reliable Predictions of the Coming Messiah

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world.

What an amazing time we are living as we near the end of this troubled age! The world experienced what many called the year to forget, the year 2020! Will there be more forgettable years in 2021, or 2022 and beyond? We’ve experienced a worldwide pandemic, global economic crises, fires, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes that devastated cities and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Not to mention riots, murders, wars, and terrorism around the globe. Nations and corporations are greedily gaining property and power. Cyber terrorism steals valuable technology and industrial secrets.

Where will it all end? Bible prophecy outlines the future of nations. The current chaos will ultimately climax in World War III. The good news is that this will be followed by a new world government called the Kingdom of God. In your Bible, it’s also called “the world to come” (Hebrews 2:5). How can we be so sure? We know the future by the powerful revelation of this book.

One of the most amazing examples of fulfilled prophecy is of the prophesied Messiah. The Old Testament contains more than three hundred references to His coming. Peter Stoner in his book, Science Speaks, examined the probability of one person fulfilling just 48 of those prophecies. For that to happen by chance would be one in ten followed by 157 zeros. As someone calculated, that would be like trying to find one specific electron out of all the electrons in all of the known universe on the first attempt.

And that considers only 48 of the hundreds of Messianic prophecies that were fulfilled. In other words, the prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming could never have been fulfilled by chance. They were powerfully predicted and fulfilled in hundreds of exacting details. Yes, you can trust Bible prophecy! In fact, your life depends on it!

Halley’s Bible Handbook lists several of the Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment in the New Testament. Here are a few.

• “That He would be born of a Virgin (Matthew 1:15; Isaiah 7:14).
• That He would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:6; John 7:42; Micah 5:2).
• That He would sojourn in Egypt (Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1).
• That He would live in Galilee (Matthew 4:15; Isaiah 9:1, 2).
  • At Nazareth (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 11:1).
• His Coming would be Announced by an Elijah-like Herald (Matthew 3:3; 11:10-14; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4-6; 7:27; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; 4:5).
• That His Ministry would be one of Healing (Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4).
• Betrayed by a Friend for 30 Pieces of Silver (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:26).
• [And] His Side would be Pierced (John 19:37; Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:16).”

(pp. 421-422).

These are just a few of more than 300 prophecies regarding the Messiah that were fulfilled.

Some of you may be familiar with the prophet Daniel’s 70-week prophecy. The Jews of the first-century and the times leading up to the first-century were aware of Daniel’s prophecy. Turn in your Bible to Daniel 9. Here is described the famous prophecy referring to the Messiah’s prophesied appearance. DANIEL 9:24, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy” or as other translations such as the NIV and the ESV have it, “the Most Holy place.”

Notice that the Messiah was to make reconciliation for iniquity! Many scriptures show that the Messiah would die for the sins of the world, so we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. John the Baptist testified, referring to Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). It tells us in Ephesians 1:7, “In Him [the Messiah, Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Yes, Daniel’s prophecy revealed that one of the major purposes of the Messiah, was to make reconciliation for iniquity. My friends, you can be forgiven for all your sins through the blood of Christ. But there are requirements as Jesus Himself made clear. He said, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” That’s in Mark 1:15. Then the Apostle Peter told the masses of people on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

My friends, some of you may have come to the point in your life where you are repentant, you want to be forgiven of your past sins and change your life. We have ministers in many parts of the world who will answer your questions and even give counsel concerning baptism. Just call the number on the screen or contact us at TomorrowsWorld.org.

Prophetic Timing of Jesus’ Life and Ministry

In the first part of our program, we saw marvelous fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah, the first coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. But WHEN was the Messiah predicted to begin His ministry? Daniel’s 70-weeks prophecy reveals the answer. A day in prophecy is equal to a year in fulfillment. Since there are 69 weeks from Daniel’s prophecy leading up to the Messiah, there are 69 weeks times 7 days per week or 483 prophetic years. But when did the prophecy begin? Many scholars refer to the decree of Artaxerxes in Ezra 7:11-28, which was given historically in 457 BC. Moving forward 483 years from BC to AD, we subtract 457 from 483 and come to what appears to be 26 AD. However, since there is no year zero, going from BC to AD mathematically requires adding one year. Thus, the Messiah was to begin His ministry in 27 AD.

How old was Jesus when He began His ministry? Just after John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the gospel writer Luke writes in chapter three, verse 23, that “Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.” So, when was Jesus born? If we subtract 30 years of age from 27 AD, we come to 4 BC, since there is no year zero.

Yes, Christ fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy, to the exact year, to make reconciliation for iniquity! As we’ve seen, the Messiah fulfilled major aspects of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy. But there remain other aspects for Him to complete. For example, Daniel 9:24 predicts three more missions yet future. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, when He returns, will continue fulfilling the following prophecies: “To bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy” or as some translations have it, the Most Holy Place, referring to the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem described in Ezekiel chapters forty through forty-three. The late evangelist, Dr. Roderick Meredith describes the Millennial mission of Christ in his inspiring booklet that we are offering today, Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs. Be sure to order your free copy.

Now, let’s consider another of God’s great interventions and the fulfillment of major biblical prophecy. Almighty God declares through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

That’s why we can have confidence in the ultimate future, the future we call tomorrow’s world. That’s the time when Christ will rule all nations and bring worldwide peace and prosperity. Great empires rise and fall. Did God predict the fall of Babylon the Great? The greatest empire of its time was Babylon. Yet, Bible prophecy foretold that this great power would punish other nations as a judgment from God. And then Babylon itself would be judged for its sinfulness.

More than 100 years before the overthrow of the great Babylonian empire, the prophet Isaiah named the very man who would be responsible for Babylon’s fall. Let’s read it here in ISAIAH 44:28. God “says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’” Cyrus was king over the Persians from about 558 BC to 529 BC. So, Isaiah is prophesying in the eighth century BC about a king who wasn’t even born until the sixth century BC!

But not only did Isaiah foretell Cyrus by name; he also foretold just HOW Cyrus would enter Babylon to conquer it. This is an amazing story. Turn to ISAIAH 45:1. Cyrus was instrumental in allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Here, God proclaims that He will use Cyrus in a special way. ISAIAH 45:1, “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, [Listen to this!] to open before him the double doors [or two leaved gates—KJV], so that the gates will not be shut: ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you BY YOUR NAME, am the God of Israel.’”

The reference to the “double doors” shows how God opened the way for Cyrus’s army to capture the city. The city of Babylon seemed impregnable with massive walls and defenses. And the city had supplies that could out-last a 20-year siege. So the Babylonians just laughed at Cyrus’s army when they came to attack the city.

The river Euphrates passed through the middle of Babylon under the massive gates in its wall. Cyrus used an ingenious method to circumvent this obstacle. Some of his men dug channels upstream to divert the flow of the river.

Prophecy and the Historical Record

The secular Greek historian Herodotus also wrote of the event. Cyrus and his non-combatant troops “so greatly reduced the depth of water in the actual bed of the river that it became fordable, and the Persian army, which had been left at Babylon for the purpose, entered the river, now only deep enough to reach about the middle of a man’s thigh, and, making their way along it, got into the town.… The Babylonians themselves say that owing to the great size of the city the outskirts were captured without the people in the centre knowing anything about it; there was a festival going on, and they continued to dance and enjoy themselves, UNTIL they learned the news the hard way. That, then, is the story of the first capture of Babylon” (Herodotus, Histories, Book One, sections 191-192).

Yes, the secular historian Herodotus confirms, as do other sources such as Xenophon’s Cyropaedia—Bible prophecy was dramatically and accurately fulfilled!

The prophet Daniel was in the city of Babylon the night the Persian army of Cyrus conquered the city. And, through the prophet Daniel, God also let King Belshazzar know what would happen to him and the empire. That’s the famous story of the “handwriting on the wall.” You can read about it in the book of DANIEL, chapter FIVE. King Belshazzar prepared a feast, a great party, for thousands of his nobles. They drank wine out of the plundered golden vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem. DANIEL 5:5, “In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.”

The prophet Daniel was called upon to interpret this inscription in Babylon. A mysterious hand had written a message on the wall. DANIEL 5:25, “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” Daniel then told King Belshazzar, verse 26, “This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Then verse 30, “That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.” Yes, the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians replaced the kingdom of Babylon, just as God predicted.

Dr. Roderick Meredith summarizes this amazing fulfillment of prophecy in the free resource we’re offering today: “Look at what historians know about the events that took place around 539 BC, when Cyrus conquered Babylon, an ‘impregnable’ city-fortress renowned throughout the earth for its power. Unable to surmount the massive fortified walls around Babylon, which had repelled so many other invaders, Cyrus’ men diverted the Euphrates River, which normally flowed under the heavy city water gates as it passed through the city. By lowering the river level and by having a spy unlock the inner gates along the river, Cyrus’ army invaded the city in a totally unexpected manner and took the Babylonians by complete surprise. Was God surprised? No. He had described nearly 200 years earlier how a leader specifically named ‘Cyrus’ would conquer great kings by going through ‘the double doors’! Soon after this, Cyrus issued the order to allow the Jews to voluntarily return to their homeland and Jerusalem, and—in another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy—instructed them to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:2–4; 6:2–5).” (Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs, p. 20).

Even now, God is intervening to guide nations and peoples. Dr. Meredith describes how God saved English naval forces by using the power of weather: “In 1586–87, Catholic domination of the English throne was made impossible by the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. The following year, Spain’s King Philip II unleashed his ‘invincible’ 124-ship Armada against England in an effort to reassert Catholic control. Though the English naval forces tenaciously fought, eventually they exhausted their gunpowder! At that critical point, an unprecedented gale-force wind arose and drove many of the heavily armed, lumbering Spanish galleons to their doom. The weather-beaten ships that limped home to Spain were so damaged that many could never again be used” (ibid., p. 16).

Yes, God intervenes in weather to fulfill His plans: “He uses this power on occasion to intervene in human affairs: ‘As when You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind’ (Psalm 48:7)…. Queen Elizabeth, commemorating the Spanish defeat, issued a silver medal, bearing the inscription: ‘God blew and they were scattered.’ She knew who took charge of those winds at that critical hour in the history of her people!” (ibid.).

A Prophetic Kingdom Sure to Come

More than 300 prophecies detailed the future birth, life, and ministry of Jesus Christ. And God has revealed through His prophecies the Good News of His coming Kingdom. In one of the most familiar prophecies of the Messiah, the prophet Isaiah describes both the first coming of Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom at His Second Coming. Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, 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.”

Yes, of the “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” My friends, the time is growing short! We are in the prophetic time of the end, waiting for Jesus Christ to return soon and establish His everlasting government. He will save our world from total extinction and cosmocide. He will bring lasting peace to the earth and all nations. My friends, you need to prepare for His coming Kingdom. You need to follow His instructions in Matthew 6:10 and pray, “Your kingdom come.” You can also prepare by studying our free prophecy resource: Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in world Affairs. Just ask for the booklet on PROPHECY FULFILLED.

May God bless you as you apply the greatest goal in life given by our Savior to all mankind in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World. In this world of growing chaos and confusion, you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I will keep sharing with you the truth of your Bible, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning.

Thank you for watching! Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you would like a copy of our booklet Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in world Affairs for free, click the link in the description. See you next time.

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

There Is A Real God

In recent years, atheists and materialists have mounted attacks on various religions. They have attacked the very idea of a God who created the universe and life itself. Such individuals view human reason as the pinnacle of importance. Some even hold the view that only science is the ultimate truth and reality. But how do they explain the origin of the universe? How do you explain scientifically the impossibility of creating life from non-life?

We live in an awesome universe. The Hubble Telescope has given us amazing views of galaxies and supernovas. The shapes and sizes and dimensions are astounding, and at the same time display incredible beauty. The Hubble Telescope has revealed so many galaxies previously unknown that astronomers now estimate the universe to consist of more than two TRILLION galaxies.

When you consider the vastness of the universe and its almost limitless expanse, can you deny that the creation demands a Creator? But what vast powers does God control? What is His purpose? Can you PROVE He even exists? There is overwhelming evidence you need to consider. My friends, there is a powerful purpose and inspiring future for all nations, the earth, and the universe! There is a real God who created the universe, life, and your very potential for eternal life. Do you believe in a Creator God? Can you prove that God exists, and that He knows you and your every thought? You need to know and prove the God of Creation and the amazing reality of His purpose and plan for you personally. You need to know and prove the Real God! Who is the Real God?

Stay tuned!

Many Gods, or One All Powerful Creator? Can You Know?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

On today’s program, we’re asking and answering the question: Who is the Real God? The world is full of false gods. It seems as if there is no end of images and ideas to worship. Ancient Greeks worshiped twelve Olympian gods including Apollo and Zeus. In 50 AD, the Apostle Paul confronted the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens. He addressed the Athenians at the Areopagus and told them, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23).

The Greeks at the Areopagus worshiped several gods. But who and what is your god? If you are an atheist, is your personal philosophy or human reasoning the real god in your life? Or do you look to physical things? In our modern age, some cultures and societies dedicate their lives to pride, power, position, and possessions. The advertising world promotes success as having material possessions: such as expensive autos, fine jewelry, large mansions, and yachts. But electronic toys, buildings, and cars do not produce lasting happiness. In essence these vain pursuits are false gods.

Can even religion become a false god? The late evangelist and producer of Tomorrow’s World, Dr. Roderick Meredith, stated this: “One of the most common forms of modern idolatry is making an idol out of one’s church or society. For many people, this world’s society—its dictates, customs and traditions—becomes a literal god. Many people are desperately afraid of doing anything that might be regarded as different or ‘odd.’ They feel they must conform to this world and its ways. But God commands: ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2)” (The Ten Commandments, p. 17).

With so many false gods in this world, how can you discover the Real God? On today’s program we’ll discuss two major proofs of the Real God.

My friends, let’s be honest. I know it takes courage, but ask yourself if you have any false gods. Could it be your intellect? Your career? Your family? Your investments? Your possessions? Your philosophy of life? Or even your false religion?

If any of you are dedicated to those false gods, you need to repent of them. That means you need to reject them and embrace the real God of Creation. Where do you start and how do you prove the reality of God? One of the promises in your Bible will help. It’s a promise I have claimed and received. On Tomorrow’s World, we encourage you to prove from your own Bible what is true and what is false. The prophet Isaiah gave this real promise and exhortation. Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Yes, there is a way to turn your life around and to experience abundant living. In fact, that’s one of the promises the Messiah gave in your Bible. John 10:10. Jesus of Nazareth stated, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they [might] have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

We all need the assurance of God’s plan for humanity.

Creation Was No Accident!

My friends, I hope you stand in awe at the expanse, design, and glory of the universe. When we contrast the awesome creation around us, compared to the mundane false gods of human nature, we should humble ourselves and seek the God of Creation. Human nature exalts the self and vanity. So much so, that ancient King David stated under inspiration in Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” That’s repeated in Psalm 53:1.

In the remainder of this program, let’s consider two major proofs of God.

Proof Number One: Creation Demands a Creator. In many modern societies, we live in concrete and steel skyscrapers. In some of the most densely populated cities in the world, it seems as if we live in a jungle of towering file cabinets. Many cannot even see the stars at night because of light pollution. But consider the universe. There are an estimated two TRILLION galaxies, with more than an estimated 100 million stars in the average galaxy. Consider also, that galaxies are moving millions of miles per hour out into space in our expanding universe. Consider also the beauty of the heavens. As ancient King David wrote in Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”

The predictable motions of the planets and astral bodies did not come about by random chance! Consider just this one example: In recent years, we’ve seen PERFECT solar eclipses. Consider a cosmic phenomenon that requires absolute precision. Is this kind of precision by chance or design? On August 26, 2017, the United States experienced its first total eclipse in 99 years. Consider this question: How is it that a total eclipse occurs with such precision that the moon perfectly blots out the sun but allows a corona, light emanating from the rim of the sun in a total eclipse? This is called a perfect eclipse. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) explains it this way: “Solar eclipses occur when the moon blocks any part of the sun. Total solar eclipses, however, are ONLY possible on EARTH because of a cosmic quirk of geometry: The sun’s diameter is 400 times wider than the moon’s, but it is also 400 times farther away. The result is that the sun and the moon appear to be the same size from our perspective. When they line up just right, the moon can obscure the sun’s entire surface, creating a total solar eclipse.” (“Preparing for the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse,” NASA.gov, December 4, 2016).

Are we to attribute the absolute precision of a perfect total eclipse to “a cosmic quirk of geometry”? One astronomy organization commented: “The sun is 400 times bigger than the moon and 400 times further away making a perfect solar eclipse. A chance so small it could be UNIQUE in the Universe”.

Yes, the precision of the creation is not by random chance. It is unique in the universe and it is not just a “cosmic quirk of geometry.” The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (1:20).

My friends, Creation demands a Creator. The universe and all life forms display the awesome power, intricacy, beauty, design and purpose of the Creator. God is not only the Creator of the physical creation we see around us, but He is actively creating in another dimension. In the Bible study guide we’re offering today, Dr. Winnail gives us the inspiring perspective: “Scripture repeatedly refers to God as the Creator of the physical earth and universe (Genesis 1; Isaiah 40:28; Mark 13:19; Revelation 4:11). However, the real God is concerned with far more than just the physical creation. The Bible also reveals there is also an ongoing spiritual dimension to God’s creation” (p. 10).

We’ve documented these spiritual dimensions on several tomorrow’s World telecasts. I encourage you to access them on our Tomorrow’s World website.

The Power and Proof of Prophecy

We’ve discussed one major proof of the Real God. We’ve taken a glimpse of the awesome creation. Scientists have determined that there are about two trillion galaxies. Perhaps you have viewed photos of galaxies and other astral bodies on the NASA website. There is the Sparkling Whirlpool Galaxy; M81 Galaxy is Pretty in Pink; The M77 Spiral Galaxy; unusual ring galaxy that NASA cannot explain; the Messier 104 (The Sombrero Galaxy); and many other fascinating astral bodies. Planet Earth is a part of the Milky Way Galaxy, and is a place UNIQUE in the universe to support human life. Edgar Mitchell, Apollo astronaut, saw the earth as a JEWEL in space: “Suddenly, from behind the rim of the Moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth…home”

We thank God for His great creation and the purpose He’s given us for life. As we saw earlier, God is also creating a spiritual dimension. Ancient King David pondered his place in the cosmos and asked the question: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit [or care for] him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

The answer to David’s question is revealed in our amazing Bible study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. Be sure to order your free copy. It will show you seven proofs of the Real God. In the remainder of this program, we’ll briefly discuss one more of those proofs: Fulfilled Prophetic Promises.

The Creator of the universe has a master plan for all human beings. That plan is revealed through the prophecies in your Bible. The gospel prophecy reveals a future new world government. It’s called the Kingdom of God. It is also called the gospel of the Kingdom of God. That message was preached almost two thousand years ago by the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. That prophecy will transform every human being and every nation on planet earth. Notice what message Jesus preached. Mark 1:14, “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.’”

That prophecy was later confirmed in the book of Revelation, or Apocalypse in your Bible. Referring to the prophetic Day of the Lord, the heavenly announcement confirms a new world government in the future. Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

My friends, you need to study the prophecies in your Bible. Dr. Winnail writes on page 20, “Another series of remarkable prophecies concerns specific promises about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These prophecies were recorded many centuries before Christ was born. The first two chapters of Matthew quote prophecies that Jesus was to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He would have to flee to Egypt (Hosea 11:1). Before His death, he would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). In death, His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16), and lots would be cast for His garments (Psalm 22:18). David prophesied that the Christ would be resurrected (see Psalm 16:10). Here again, the real God of the Bible predicted specific future events and brought them to pass—to the letter!”

You’ve probably heard of Daniel’s famous image. The prophet Daniel was called before king Nebuchadnezzar, and proceeded to describe the great image in the king’s dream. DANIEL 2:31. “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.”

What empires or kingdoms did this image symbolize? Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the head of gold represented him and his empire, the Babylonian empire. This empire was replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire represented by the chest and arms of silver. The belly and thighs of bronze represented the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great. And the two legs of iron represent the Roman Empire from 31 BC to 476 AD. Finally, the ten toes on two feet of iron mixed with ceramic clay represent a future revival of the Roman Empire.

The stone in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represented the prophesied Kingdom of God. Daniel explained to the king: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44).

My friends, Bible prophecy outlines in advance the major kingdoms in world history. History has proven the accuracy of those fulfilled prophecies. And there are five more proofs in this inspiring Bible study guide: The Real God: Proofs and Promises. The world has followed false gods, and God calls those who reject the reality of a loving, personal god, “fools.” Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” My friends, even many religious people take God for granted and become susceptible to accepting a false god. But when you take God’s challenge to prove Him by the evidence, you can come to know Him personally, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 states: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.’ Or, as in the KJV: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

All Human Beings Have Potential To Be Part Of God’s Family!

We look forward to the coming Kingdom of God prophesied in your Bible. By now, you know WHO the real God is. But you and I must continually seek Him, as we read in Isaiah 55:6. He has revealed the master plan of creation and His purpose for us as human beings. He’s revealed a new world to come, tomorrow’s world, which will be ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords as it tells us in Revelation 19:16. God is called the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:14-15). God wants you to be a part of His family. Notice 2 Corinthians 6:18, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Earlier in the program, we saw that the Apostle Paul confronted the Greek Athenians who had an altar to the Unknown God. Paul declared to them the real God in Acts 17:23, “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”

All human beings on earth have an AWESOME potential to be a part of God’s family for all eternity. Those who are faithful shall inherit eternal life, as it tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

My friends, read your Bible and claim its wonderful promises. Those promises include inheriting the earth, as it tells us in Matthew 6:10. Under the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, the earth will be renewed and the deserts blossom like the rose as it tells us in Isaiah 35:1. God also promises that we will inherit “all things.” Revelation 21:7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” The “all things” includes the universe, all that is seen and unseen.

My friends, draw near to God and He promises He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Take the challenge to prove the Real God and He will bless you abundantly.

Thank you again for watching! Remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another one of our videos. Also, to get our booklet, “The Real God: Proofs and Promises” for free, click here.

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

Confusion in Christ?

Have you ever wondered WHY there are so many Christian denominations? Why isn’t there just one Church on which everyone can agree? An April 2017 Pew Research report found that there are about 2.3 billion professing Christians around the world. That’s 31 percent of planet Earth’s population at the time (“The Changing Global Religious Landscape,” PewForum.org, April 5, 2017). Listen to this amazing fact: The World Christian Encyclopedia identifies at least 33,000 Christian denominations, with 9,000 of those classified as “Protestant” and 22,000 as “Independents” (Vol. 1, Oxford: University Press, 2001, p. 10).

WHY are there so many Christian denominations? The answer is found in the Olivet prophecy in your Bible, and in many other prophecies as well. When Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the end times, He gave them several key signs. But what was the FIRST sign He gave them? Matthew 24:3, “‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ 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.’”

Yes, many DO come in His name, calling their religion Christianity and saying that Jesus is the Christ, but at the same time deceiving many. There are a few imposters around the world claiming to be Christ Himself, but what Jesus REALLY said was that many would proclaim Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, the Christ or the anointed one of God, yet preach against His true teachings.

Did you know that Jesus and the New Testament Church He established did not keep Sunday as the day of worship? Did you know that the original first-century Church of God did not keep Christmas or Easter? How can there be such a vast difference between original Christianity and the so-called Christian traditions we see today? My friends, what happened to original Christianity? Wouldn’t you want to be a part of the Christianity revealed in your Bible? What happened to the Christianity of Christ?

Stay tuned!

The First Century Church, Gone?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

If you were living in Jerusalem when Christ’s apostles were preaching, would you be observing Christmas and Easter? Would you be meeting on Sunday morning for church services? As shocking as it may seem, the answer to both questions is NO! So, how did today’s popular Christianity add so many strange customs and doctrines that Jesus Himself never knew or taught? We’ll answer that question on today’s program, and we’ll be offering you our inspiring free study guide Restoring Original Christianity. This booklet reveals the little-known history of the early Christian Church and how compromisers and conspirators brought into it pagan and licentious practices that Jesus condemned! Be sure to write down the contact information to request your free copy. Be sure to request Restoring Original Christianity.

My friends, do you know where God’s true Church is today? Can you find it among the thousands of denominations claiming to be Christian? The World Christian Encyclopedia identifies at least 33,000 Christian denominations, with 9,000 of those classified as “Protestant” and 22,000 as “Independents” (Vol. 1, Oxford: University Press, 2001, p. 10).

Today, we’ll consider the practice, doctrine, and traditions of the early New Testament Church. For example, did the Apostles observe Easter? Celebrations of Easter Sunday vary around the world. Easter customs include the coloring of eggs and the popular Easter egg hunt. We all know that rabbits do not lay eggs, but parents share these fables with their children anyway.

Some traditionally celebrate the day with a new set of clothes and display the fashion of an Easter bonnet or a creative hat. Obviously there were no bunnies or eggs at the resurrection. But was it even a Sunday resurrection, as so many claim? NO! How do we know that? Remember that Mary Magdalene went to Christ’s tomb Sunday morning. Did she see a sunrise resurrection? If you have your Bible, turn to John 20:1. What did Mary see? John 20:1, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’”

Our Lord was not resurrected Easter Sunday morning, according to your Bible. He had fulfilled the sign He gave to the scribes and Pharisees to prove His Messiahship. Do you realize, my friends, that a traditional Friday crucifixion and an Easter Sunday morning resurrection deny the very sign Jesus gave in Matthew 12:39, the “sign of Jonah”? My friends, Jesus was resurrected Saturday evening just before sunset, exactly 72 hours, three days and three nights, after He was placed in the tomb before sunset on Wednesday evening, just before the beginning of an annual Sabbath. As the Apostle John recorded, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” That’s John 19:31).

The “high day” was an annual Sabbath or Holy Day observed that year from Wednesday at sunset until Thursday at sunset. Jesus did fulfill the sign of Jonah. And there was no Sunday resurrection to celebrate as Easter! So, what Holy Day did Christians observe? Some are confused because the King James Version of the Bible uses the term Easter in Acts 12:4. But LISTEN to this. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains: “EASTER (AV Acts 2:4). An anachronistic mistranslation of the Gk. pascha (RSV, NEB, “Passover”), in which the AV followed such earlier versions as Tyndale and Coverdale. The Acts passage refers to the seven-day Passover festival (including the Feast of Unleavened Bread). It is reasonably certain that the NT contains no reference to a yearly celebration of the resurrection of Christ” (Vol. 2, p. 6).

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to Corinthian brethren who were abusing the sacred observance. “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” That’s in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

My friends, the original New Testament church founded by Jesus Christ and led by His trained and ordained apostles never observed Easter Sunday, but they did observe the annual memorial of our Lord’s death, the New Testament CHRISTIAN Passover following the example of Jesus Christ Himself.

The Sign of Jonah

Jesus was in the heart of the earth, the tomb, for exactly three days and three nights, 72 hours, just as He said. You can read about the sign of Jonah in Matthew 12:39-40.

Did the Christianity of Christ observe Sunday as its weekly day of worship? We already saw that Jesus was resurrected on a Saturday evening, not on Sunday morning. Then how did the masses of professing Christianity start observing Sunday? Did the Apostle Paul teach the Gentiles to avoid the so-called Jewish Sabbath and encourage them to observe Sunday as the Christian day of worship? Let’s look at what day the Gentiles actually observed as they followed Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

If you have your Bible, turn to Acts 13:42. In the first century AD, Paul preached on the Sabbath in the Antioch synagogue. Notice that his audience included BOTH Jews and Gentiles. After the Jews left, the Gentiles made a request. Now, this was YEARS after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Surely, if Christians were to keep Sunday, these Gentiles would have met with Paul the very next day, Sunday. But did they? Acts 13:42, “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them….” WHEN? The next day, Sunday? No! Verse 42: “The Gentiles [not the Jews] begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” Read that again in your own Bible. “The Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath,” NOT SUNDAY!

Read it in your own Bible! Acts 13:44: “On the NEXT SABBATH almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” Paul met with Gentiles, not on Sunday, but on the Sabbath. New Testament Christians observed the seventh-day Sabbath. The first and second century Christian churches consistently observed the seventh day Sabbath! It was not until the second and third centuries AD that we find a tiny hint that some churches began to observe Sunday as a day of worship. Yet it was much later, in the fourth century AD, when the Emperor Constantine ENFORCED Sunday worship throughout the Roman Empire. Constantine had been a pagan sun-worshipper. He gave the following edict in 321 AD, “Let all magistrates and people… REST on the venerable day of the sun” (“Roman Legislation for Sunday,” Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Volume XI, p. 147).

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

But on what authority did the Roman church make this change? The noted Catholic theologian, James Cardinal Gibbons, wrote this bold statement: “But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. [Listen to this!] The Scriptures enforce [the] religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify” (The Faith of Our Fathers, 1917, pp. 72-73). That’s a quote from Gibbons’ The Faith of Our Fathers, first published in 1876.

In other words, Gibbons is saying, if the Bible is your authority, you have NO basis for observing Sunday. The Scriptures, as he states, “enforce the religious observance of Saturday.” We agree with his statement. Do you? But his church rejected the divine authority of the Bible!

My friends, the original Christianity of Christ emphasized obedience to the Holy Scriptures, not the later traditions, many of them pagan, that were contrary to the Scriptures. The noted historian Will Durant comments on the transition from original Biblical Christianity to the professing traditional Christianity we see about us today: “Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it” (Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Vol. 3, p. 595).

But what about the so-called “Reformation”? If you really want to know how the Protestant Reformation failed to reform traditional Christianity, I urge you to read [the late] Dr. Meredith’s series on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org. Just go to the search bar and type in the title of that series, “The Plain Truth About the Protestant Reformation.” You will be amazed at the depth of research and the shocking historic developments that rejected the Christianity revealed in your Bible. You will find many answers to the question posed by this program: What Happened to the Christianity of Christ?

A Kingdom Here on Earth!

We’ve seen major changes from first-century Christianity to its modern corruption that includes traditions and doctrines that were even condemned by Christ. Let’s summarize a few of these changes.

The original Christians, Jews AND Gentiles, observed the New Testament Passover. Today, mainstream Christianity observes a pagan-inspired Sunday Easter. Original Christianity embraced the only sign of Jesus’ Messiahship, His statement that He would be in the heart of the earth (or the tomb) for three days and three nights. Mainstream Christianity today denies Jesus’ sign with the false idea of His spending Good Friday to Sunday in the grave. The original Christians observed the original seventh-day Sabbath before the Roman church enforced Sunday worship in the fourth century AD.

My friends, you need to study your Bible and history. Do you want to follow the Jesus Christ of the Bible and His original teachings and Way of life? He stated in Luke 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Jesus said this when the New Testament was not yet written. He was talking about what we call the Old Testament. Yes, if you are going to live by every word of God, you need to read and obey the WHOLE Bible, Old and New Testaments!

What other changes were deceptively made to the practice of original Christianity? Jesus and His apostles observed the annual Sabbaths, biblical festivals and holy days. They did NOT observe the day of Jesus’ birth--they did NOT observe Christmas. Most any reputable encyclopedia documents the original pagan celebrations surrounding December 25. One of the major festivals celebrated throughout the Roman Empire was the Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture. The Encyclopedia Britannica states that “… the Saturnalia… became the most popular of Roman festivals, and its influence is still felt throughout the Western world. Originally on December 17, it was later extended to seven days. It was the merriest festival of the year: all work and business were suspended; slaves were given temporary freedom to say and do what they liked; [Notice!] certain moral restrictions were eased; and presents were freely exchanged. The influence of the Saturnalia upon the celebrations of Christmas and New Year have been direct” (“Saturn,” The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Micropaedia, Volume VIII, p. 916).

Most scholars will admit that Jesus was not born in the winter, but in the fall, in September or October. And just WHY was He born? The commercial, pagan customs surrounding the winter holiday obscure the very purpose for the Messiah.

What purpose was revealed to Mary, Jesus’ mother? LUKE 1:30, “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; [and the] Lord God will give Him the THRONE of His father David. And He will REIGN over the house of Jacob forever, and of HIS KINGDOM there will be no end.’”

The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be a KING! He was born to be King of a Kingdom that would never end! About 30 years later, Jesus began His public ministry. He began preaching a specific gospel! Turn in your Bible to the book of MARK. MARK 1:14, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching [and what did He preach?] 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.’”

There is another major difference between original Christianity and the modern counterfeit: The original Church preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom that will rule on earth for a thousand years under the King of kings and Lord of lords before the White Throne Judgment (Revelation 19:16; Revelation 20:4). Yet at least one major denomination believes IT is NOW the Kingdom of God on earth. My friends, if you’ve been following our regular Tomorrow’s World programs, you know the King’s earthly rule over all nations will NOT be proclaimed until the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

My friends, most people have overlooked the true gospel Jesus preached. He will return to this earth as King over all nations on earth! The angel Gabriel proclaimed in Luke 1:33, “Of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Real Original Christianity: Straight from the Bible

On today’s program, we’ve seen how pagan changes from Jesus Christ’s original Christianity led to the popular modern faith we see around the world today. During the first century after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, the Church He established grew rapidly under the apostles. But deceivers and infiltrators later influenced Christians to compromise and follow false doctrines. The Apostle Paul warned the church at Thessalonica; “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). That same lawlessness is taught in many of today’s churches; that supposedly Christ did away with the Ten Commandments and since we are under grace, we can practice lawlessness! My friends, grace does not permit you to murder, lie, commit adultery, or steal! Jesus told the young rich man who was seeking eternal life: “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). Jesus then mentioned several of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments reflect the two great commandments: to love God and to love your neighbor.

Here’s a short excerpt from today’s free literature offer: “In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus certainly did not ‘do away’ with God’s spiritual law (Matthew 5:17). Rather, He ‘magnified’ the Ten Commandments. He explained that we must not only refrain from killing other human beings, we must not even look on them with contempt or hatred (vv. 20–23), as that is the ‘spirit’ of murder. We are not to ‘hate’ even our enemies. As Jesus said clearly: ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’ (v. 5:44).” That’s on pages 17 and 18. Be sure to order your free copy today!

Original Christianity is a way of love and a Way of life. Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

My friends, which will you choose, the Christianity of your Bible? Or a false religion promoting pagan holidays and lawlessness? You need to seek the truth. Check up on the references we give you on this program. Prove for yourself, from your own Bible, what is the truth!