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Wallace G. Smith

What is the Great Tribulation?

Current Air Date 3rd October 2018
Wallace G. Smith

Jesus Christ will return! The Bible is absolutely clear on this glorious fact! But there are many events prophesied to occur before that return. And the one that is perhaps most speculated about is a period of time called “The Great Tribulation.” Christ tells us that this will be terrifying like no other—devastating for the world, and for the U.S. and Great Britain, in particular.

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

What Is The Geat Tribulation And How Can You Be Saved From It?

Jesus Christ IS RETURNING! The Bible is absolutely clear on this glorious fact! But there are many events prophesied to occur before that return. And the one that is perhaps most speculated about is a period of time called the GREAT TRIBULATION. Christ tells us that this time that’s coming will be terrifying like no other—devastating for the world, and for the U.S. and Great Britain, in particular. If you want to understand the prophesied days ahead AND how the Bible says to prepare for them, then this episode of Tomorrow’s World is for you, as we answer the question, “What Is the Great Tribulation?”

We Are Living In A World In Peril

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World! We’re glad you’re here.

If you are like many others who watch our program, then the news you see on television of the Internet leaves you wondering: What in the world is going on? In our politics and our personal lives, common decency and civility are becoming endangered species. Long held norms and moral standards of civilization are being turned upside down. The United States is increasingly seen as a nation that has lost its ability to lead the world. Even nuclear war, a concern that seemed to fade with the passing of the Cold War, has become a frightening possibility once again.

Is the world going crazy? Well, in short: Yes, it is! Mankind is reaching the end of 6,000 years of self-rule, during which God has given stubborn humanity the chance to learn that it cannot rule itself without His help! And the turbulent events we see around us represent a gathering storm of LITERALLY biblical proportions. That storm will ultimately mean not only the destruction of the United States, the United Kingdom and many other nations, but also the wholesale martyrdom of Christians and terrifying wars that will engulf all of civilization, itself. The world is rushing headlong into the time the Bible calls the “Great Tribulation.”

On today’s program, we will discuss the buildup to this time and what events mean for you and your family in the days just ahead of us. We will also offer you the chance to request our DVD “Escape the Great Tribulation.” More on that later, but to get your own free copy, be sure to note the phone number or other contact information we will be displaying on your screen during the program.

So, just what IS the Great Tribulation? Many preachers talk about it, novelists have written about it, but few know what it actually is. To understand the Great Tribulation, we will have to look into a book that too many Christians avoid and virtually everyone misunderstands: The biblical book of REVELATION. This book was given to us by Christ—in His own words—“to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” This is the place to start if we want to understand our future. And though the book of Revelation seems mysterious and intimidating to some, we will find that Jesus Christ gives us exactly what we need to understand it.

Let’s begin by examining a mysterious scene shown to John in heaven, described in Revelation chapter 6. As we will see, this scene is crucial to understanding the future that is rushing toward us and the Great Tribulation. Right before this chapter, John is told that Almighty God, sitting on His throne, holds out a scroll that is sealed with seven seals and the question is asked: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its [seven] seals?” In all of Creation, only Jesus Christ is found to be worthy. And as Christ opens the scroll—one seal at a time, one after the other in sequence—we see elements of our future revealed.

The first four seals are the infamous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The first seal reveals a rider, with a crown and a bow, on a white horse, riding out to conquer. The next horse is red, and its rider is given a great sword and has the power to take peace from the earth. Next, the third horseman—riding a black horse and carrying scales. Finally, the fourth seal is opened and the last horse is revealed—a pale, sickly horse, ridden by Death.

Speaking of these collective horsemen, Revelation 6:8 says,

“And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

One fourth of mankind will die at the hands of the forces represented by these four horsemen. And what are these horsemen? What do they symbolize? We do not have to guess, because the Bible tells us! We take our cue from Revelation 19:10, where we’re told

“…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Actually, in His incredibly detailed prophecy given on the Mount of Olives and recorded in Matthew 24, Jesus Christ Himself EXPLAINS what these end time terrors represent… He tells us that the first will be false teachers and religious deception. The rider on the white horse represents those who say they come in Christ’s name but who actually set out to deceive the whole word with a false Christianity. After that, Christ says there will be

“wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom…”

The rider on the red horse symbolizes the ravages of worldwide warfare, and global destruction by powerful armed forces. Now, these things have been with us since time immemorial, but in the end times God’s word indicates that these forces of religious deception and warfare will reach a climax of destruction and power such as the world has never seen. Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24 explains the next two horsemen as well, teaching us that the rider of the black horse represents famine and scarcity across the earth—a lack of the necessities of life on a horrible, unprecedented scale—and that the rider of the pale horse represents disease and pestilence that will sweep the earth in the wake of warfare and famine. Together, these forces will exterminate ONE-FOURTH of humanity—today that’s nearly TWO BILLION PEOPLE!

Do these horsemen represent the time known as the Great Tribulation? Or is worse yet to come after them?

We will discuss that in the next segment of our program. But first, let me give you a chance to call and request our incredible free booklet, “Escape the Great Tribulation.” This DVD contains three full Tomorrow’s World programs explaining prophecies that will impact YOUR life SOON!

These programs will explain these prophetic mysteries in a way you can clearly understand—and in the plain spoken, biblically powerful manner you have come to expect from Tomorrow’s World. This DVD, containing more than 70 minutes of material, is absolutely free. Pick up your phone and call or write today, and ask for the free DVD “Escape the Great Tribulation.

All Nations Will Turn Against True Christians In This Great Tribulation

Welcome back! In the first portion of our program, we discussed the famous four horsemen of the book of Revelation, revealed by the first four of seven seals in the scroll John saw in his vision. The forces they symbolize—religious deception, warfare, famine, and disease—will kill one-fourth of all of mankind in the days yet ahead of us! Certainly a time of tribulation.

But is that all there is to the Great Tribulation?

No, it isn’t. In fact, for all the death, sorrow, and devastation they cause, Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 24 and verse 8, “All these are the BEGINNING of sorrows….”

Indeed—they ARE only the beginning. For after the first four seals, Revelation 6 says that Jesus Christ opens a FIFTH prophetic seal! What will follow the ride of the four horsemen? Let’s continue reading in verse 9:

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

Now, for those who are less familiar with their Bibles, this can seem confusing. Is God saying that when we die, our supposedly immortal souls float up to heaven and stay under an altar until Christ’s return? Doesn’t sound like the best afterlife, does it?

The problem for us is that the sacrificial culture of ancient Israel is foreign to most of us today. The symbolic picture here matches what we read, for instance, in Leviticus 4 and verse 7, where the blood of a sacrifice was pooled at the bottom of the altar. And as the Bible tells us in Genesis when Cain murders his righteous brother Abel when the blood of the righteous is spilled, it CRIES OUT to God for His attention and action! In this passage, the book of Revelation depicts the blood of the righteous followers of Jesus Christ and servants of God, spilled as if in sacrifice, CRYING OUT to God for justice and vengeance! The passage continues:

“Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

THIS “SACRIFICIAL” MARTYRDOM is another element of the GREAT TRIBULATION.

But don’t just take my word for it: Just as Jesus Christ did with the first four seals and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, He explains THIS seal as well, in the very same prophecy recorded in Matthew 24. After describing the ride of the Four Horsemen—religious deception, war, famine, and pestilence, He continues where we left off, in verse 9:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.”

Note: ALL NATIONS will turn against true Christians in this tribulation, supported by those who fall for a deceptive, global COUNTERFEIT Christianity! This martyrdom of so many who keep the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Commandments of God is mentioned in other Scriptures, as well, such as Revelation 12 and Daniel 7. But there is still more, because this time of horrific persecution is not against Christians, alone. Turn again to Christ’s prophecy of Matthew 24.

“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.”

Notice the descriptions there! Jesus says that the Great Tribulation is so great that unless God intervenes all flesh—ALL LIFE ON EARTH—would die! And notice Christ’s description of the uniqueness of that time. He says that there has never been a time like it, nor will there ever be again. Keep that in mind as we turn to Jeremiah 30 and verse 4 to see a related prophecy

“Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah.”

Notice: “Israel and Judah.” As long-time viewers of the Tomorrow’s World program have proven for themselves, the ancient nation of Israel split after the reign of King Solomon into TWO separate kingdoms. The southern tribes of Israel became the nation of JUDAH, which is the modern-day Jewish people. That’s where the word “Jew” comes from: JUDAH. The modern state of Israel is actually descended from the biblical nation of Judah. But the northern 10 tribes became a separate nation, called “Israel.” And these tribes have descended through time to become the peoples of the United States, the British-descended peoples, and some of the nations of northwestern Europe.

My friends, it is NO COINCIDENCE that until more recent years Britain, America, and Israel have had such strong, brotherly ties! As we’ve shown time and again on this program, the names “Israel” and “Jacob” in prophecy refer to these modern nations.

With this truth in mind, we can unlock the next portion of Jeremiah 30 and learn a vital truth about the coming Great Tribulation and WHO will suffer most during that period.

But before we discuss that, let me give you one more opportunity to request today’s free DVD, “Escape the Great Tribulation.” It is COMPLETELY FREE to all who ask. Take a few moments to request your free copy, and in just 15 seconds I’ll be right back to explain which nations will face the brunt of the Great Tribulation.

Nations Hardest Hit

Welcome back! In our previous segment, we pointed out that Jesus warned of a time to come, the Great Tribulation, that would be so terrible that it would be unlike any time in the history of man—like no time that had ever occurred before or will ever occur afterward.

We also pointed out that when the Bible speaks of Israel or Jacob in prophecy, it is especially referring to the United States and the British-descended nations of the world.

With these things in mind, let’s continue where we left off in Jeremiah 30:

“For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob'strouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

Yes, it is a time of JACOB’S trouble—a time of trouble for the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the British-descended peoples of South Africa! And notice the CRUCIAL description that puts all of these things together, God says “that day is great, so that none is like it…”

Note that! Earlier in Matthew 24 Jesus Christ said that the Great Tribulation would be a time worse than any other in history… THIS passage in Jeremiah, speaking of a time of trouble for America and the Great Britain, is ALSO described as a time worse than any other in history.

My friends, there CANNOT BE TWO SUCH TIMES! These are speaking of the VERY SAME TIME, and it is a time of HORRIFIC DESTRUCTION for what were once the LEADING NATIONS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD: the United States, the United Kingdom, and the British-descended peoples… a time so destructive and catastrophic that it will stand as a UNIQUE POINT IN HISTORY in its brutality and cruelty.

And that is saying a LOT! Consider the many periods of horror mankind has inflicted upon itself throughout history… the cruelty of the Killing Fields, and the bloody and torturous regimes of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia… The countless executions under the Communist reign of Joseph Stalin… The wholesale slaughter of Jews under the nightmare regime of Adolph Hitler—when millions of human beings MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE were slaughtered with a cold and mechanical efficiency.

Yet, we have the very word of JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF that those days of the past will be NOTHING LIKE THE DAYS AHEAD! They will PALE in comparison to the HORRORS that man will unleash on man in the Great Tribulation! Many in the United States and the United Kingdom who believe that those sorts of things can only happen in the far-away places they see on the news will discover that they are wrong—it will come up on their nations, as well! And God’s word says it IS coming, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow!

But WHY? WHY must all of this come? The Bible makes THAT just as plain, as well: BECAUSE OF OUR SINS. Abortion on demand! Pornography and sexual perversion! Television, computer, and movie screens that display the vilest images and concepts ever to enter the mind of man! All while the Bible is increasingly mocked as irrelevant in our times! If our nations are going to PERSIST in ordering God to keep His nose out of their business, then He is going to allow them to discover what happens when He DOES!

Many of you watching this program right now see the calamity building around us. I know because you write us about it. You knowsomething is happening. What is going on? God tells us in Amos 3:6,

“If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?”

Almighty God is behind these things, my friends, and the day of reckoning is coming more quickly than many of us could possibly have imagined.

But what can you DO about it? Is there ANYTHING you can do about it, for your sake, for your family’s sake? YES, THERE IS! In the last part of our program, we will tell you exactly what, but first let me remind you of the free DVD we are sending out today “Escape the Great Tribulation.”

This DVD will give you the plain TRUTH about these prophetic topics, and it will help you understand what you need to do to face the times ahead and to seek God’s protection. Get your free copy of “Escape the Great Tribulation” right now, and then come right back. We’ll see that the Bible explains how a small group of people will be spared from the Great Tribulation and who those people are and whether you can be among them. You need to know!

How Can You Escape The Great Tribulation

Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 24 and verse 32:

“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!”

My friends, we see the signs. That is why we here on Tomorrow’s World warn of these things: Not because they are pleasant to talk about, but because they are coming soon, and we are responsible to God if we don’t speak out.

So, all of this brings us to one vital question before we conclude: Is there ANYTHING you can do about the times to come? Is there anything you can do to protect yourself, or your family? Ezekiel chapter 7 tells us that during those days ahead, people will be throwing their gold and silver into the street as useless trash, because it can do nothing to save them. Hoarding “gold and guns” won’t do the trick. But what will?

Jesus Christ, Himself, answers in the parallel account to Matthew 24 in Luke 21. There, he says at the end of His prophecy,

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Christ says we should be watching, praying, and striving to be worthy—REPENTING! Revelation 12 not only speaks of a portion of Christians who must face horrific persecution, but it also speaks of a group of Christians who are protected on earth in a place of safety during the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of God. Revelation 3 describes both groups of Christians, explaining that those who must go through the fiery trial are those who are lukewarm—who compromise godliness with the customs of this world, and who lack true zeal for the things of God that will motivate them to change and to act! Meanwhile, those who will be protected from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world are described as those who hold fast to the truths of God that they learn, obeying them, and acting on them—CHANGING THEIR LIVES to bring them into harmony with the commands of God and getting behind His work on earth to spread His gospel of the Kingdom of God to all corners of the globe!

And that Kingdom IS COMING! Believe it or not, as dark as the days of the coming Great Tribulation are, for those who are devoting their very being to God, the things we see happening around us are actually signs of hope. As Jesus Christ encourages us in Luke 21 and verse 28:

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The old saying really is true: sometimes it is darkest before the dawn.

After the difficulty of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord that follows it, as explained in our booklet, the world will finally know peace and prosperity, as Jesus Christ, Himself, comes to rule the world with the assistance of His saints for 1,000 years.

You and I have the opportunity to experience the blessings that come from living life for GOD instead of for ourselves, TODAY—and after Christ’s coming, for all eternity. But we must do what the world is unwilling to do: repent, change, and actually obey the God who made us.

There is so much more that you need to know about this subject. I do hope you won’t forget to get your own copy of our free DVD “Escape the Great Tribulation.”

And I hope you will come back next week! Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will be right here, ready to teach you more of the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of His coming Kingdom, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. Until next week, take care.

Are Angels and Demons Real?

Current Air Date 24th October 2018
Wallace G. Smith

Many scientists claim that the only world that exists is the one we can physically see around us—the world detectable by our physical senses or scientific instruments. Others claim that there is another world beyond that—the spirit realm—inhabited by beings called angels and demons. Are angels and demons real? Do they exist? If they do exist, what are they like? If God made the angels, did he make the demons, too? And if so, why?

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

Are Angels And Demons Real?

Many scientists claim that the only world that exists is the one we can physically see around us—the world detectable by our physical senses or scientific instruments. Others claim that there is another world beyond that—the spirit realm—inhabited by beings called angels and demons.

Are such beings real? What are they like? If God created them, did He create the demons, too? Should we reach out to such beings for help and guidance?

We will address those questions on this episode of Tomorrow’s World. We will also offer you the opportunity to request an exciting DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” completely free of charge.

Are angels and demons real? You need the TRUTH! Stay tuned!

A World Beyond Ours

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World! I’m glad you’re here. Today’s topic--the reality of angels and demons--is a vital subject to understand. At the same time, the truth about the spirit realm and the activity in that realm is a far larger topic than we can cover on today’s program. That’s why today we’re offering all of our viewers a free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” that covers this subject far more thoroughly than we will on today’s program. Be sure to note the contact information you will need to get your copy, as it appears on screen during our program today.

Are angels and demons real? Do they exist? If they exist, what are they like? If God made the angels, did he make the demons, too? And if so, why?

These questions fascinate many, and there are answers!

On one side of these questions, there are those who say that there is nothing that exists beyond the physical world of the senses--what you can see, hear, touch, and taste. To such people, angels and demons are harmless fantasies, like unicorns or fairies. On the other side, there are those obsessed with the spirit realm, seeking out suppose spirit guides and striving to personally communicate with their supposed angelic guardians. They often decorate their homes with images meant to depict angels or other spiritual entities.

Between the two sides, there is the TRUTH, which is the Bible. God doesn’t leave us to wonder about such things in ignorance, but, instead, reveals the spirit realm to our understanding. Those who are consumed with the philosophy of “scientism”--who believe that the only reality that exists is that which they can physically touch or handle--are ignorant of what their Creator reveals about the world! Yet, too, those who are obsessed with the spirit realm and the beings who inhabit it also frequently violate God’s own commands about that realm!

Today, we will explore the reality of angels and demons in the world, and we will do so with the BIBLE--God’s own word. And I challenge those of you watching today: Be open minded to what GOD has to say about the subject. It may surprise you! Don’t take our word for what we say--look up what we say in your own Bible. Because God reveals that the spirit realm is VERY real! And its reality does impact us on a daily basis, though not in the ways that many assume. 

Do angels and demons exist? What are they like? Where do they come from?

If we are going to answer these questions about a realm we cannot normally see or hear or touch, we MUST rely on God’s word.

We are very much in the same position as Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings chapter 6. The ancient prophet Elisha was surrounded by an army sent by the king of Syria to arrest him, and his servant was terrified--yet Elisha was unfazed: calm, cool, and collected. He sought to comfort his servant, and starting in verse 16, we read that he says,

“‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 

Yes, the spirit realm is very real!

God says in His word that He created the angels as spirit beings to serve as His “ministers”--or His messengers and servants, serving those whom He is calling to inherit salvation in His Family. When were they created? God’s word tells us that He created them even before He created the Earth. We see a reflection of this when God questions the patriarch Job. Let’s read that passage in Job chapter 38, beginning in verse 4. He asks Job,

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

We see here that the “morning stars” or “sons of God”--the angels of heaven--were already in existence and shouted for joy as they saw the foundation of this physical world being laid! 

As we look deeper into God’s word, we will see how angels have interacted with humans in the past. We will also see the origin of wicked angels or demons, and we will come to understand the dangers of the spirit realm, and how God instructs us to conduct ourselves in light of the reality of that realm.

Before we continue in our exploration of these things, let me take a few moments to inform you of today’s free offer. 

This free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World” will open God’s own teachings and instructions concerning the spirit world in a way you have likely never seen before. The DVD contains three powerful Tomorrow’s World programs to help you understand the invisible realm, its dangers and influence, and how to defeat that influence. Topics covered include…

  • the modern dangers of the occult,
  • the hidden world of angels and demons,
  • and how you can overcome Satan the devil.

This DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” really is free, with no strings or obligations. Just call, write, or visit us online and request your free copy. We never give away your information to others, and we never will. Order your free copy right now, and I’ll be right back to talk about some of the fascinating appearances of angels revealed in the Bible. They don’t look like you might think! You won’t want to miss it.

Peeks Into The Spirit World

Welcome back! We noted in our previous segment that God created the angels as servants to those he is calling to salvation. And the Bible depicts them serving in many ways--for instance, comforting Christ after His 40 days of fasting, and delivering God’s servants from prison. We also see them communicating God’s wrath, such as visiting destruction on the ancient, wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah… But it also says that often their service usually goes unknown and unrecognized, as the Apostle Paul mentions in Hebrews 13:2. The righteous angels do not generally call attention to this work on our behalf, remaining hidden or working behind the scenes, fulfilling God’s will. This is a fact that will be important for us to consider later on.

In addition to their service, the Bible also discusses the appearance of some of these beings.

Of course, many of you are probably familiar with popular depictions of angels in statues or paintings. Are such depictions accurate? 

Allow God Himself to tell us how these beings appear in His own word. 

The descriptions vary from example to example, but all of them are fascinating--and generally not at all what people expect!

Consider Ezekiel chapter 1, the prophet is given a vision of a whirlwind and the very throne of God, being escorted by four amazing angelic beings! Elsewhere in the book, these beings are called “cherubim,” which is the plural of “cherub.” Now, often when you hear the word “cherub,” images of cute, chubby little infants with wings are called to mind, depicted on literally thousands of paintings, statues, and Christmas ornaments. Does this match Ezekiel’s description? Let’s read and see:

“And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings… As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle… Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies… [T]heir appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.”

Clearly these Cherubs are FAR from naked little children with wings! 

In addition to the cherubim, Scripture describes another angelic variety--the seraphim--as similarly exotic. The prophet Isaiah records those beings as having, not two or four, but six wings, with one pair covering their face, one pair covering their feet, and one pair used for movement.

We see another description of a different sort of angelic messenger in the book of Daniel… The Jewish prophet Daniel, living as a captive servant under the King of Persia, had been seeking God through fasting and prayer for a number of weeks when he was visited by an angelic being and given a vision. We can pick up the story in Daniel 10, beginning in verse 5…

“I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.” 

What a startling image!

In the message that the angel brings to Daniel, we have revealed a remarkable insight about the angelic realm. Daniel writes:

“Then he said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.’”

We see here a small picture painted of a world BEHIND our own! On his journey to give Daniel God’s message, the angel was hindered by another angelic being, called here the “king of Persia,” until he was assisted by the powerful archangel Michael. The indication here is that the angelic realm is not unified--that there is powerful division, in which those who represent God are resisted in their efforts by others. To be sure, God’s will is always accomplished WHEN He wants it accomplished, but we must note here that not every angelic creation of God is working for His will. Some are in opposition to His will.

How did the angelic realm come to be so divided? Did God purposefully create both righteous angels and wicked ones? How did the angelic realm come to be in such a state? That fascinating tale will be the focus of our next segment!

But first, let me give you another brief opportunity to request our free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World.” The spirit realm IS real. Angels and demons ARE real. In movies and television sets, the world of these beings is treated in a lighthearted manner, and thousands of people dabble in occult practices and games as if there is no danger, but the danger is ALSO very real. This absolutely free DVD teaches you plainly about the spirit realm and gives you the godly tools you need to resist the power and influence of the devil in YOUR life. It really is free, with no obligation whatsoever. Just contact us during this break and request the DVD on the occult. And then come right back, as we explain what God reveals about the origin of wicked angels and demons.

The Origin Of Demons

Welcome back! We’ve just seen that the Bible tells us the angelic realm is divided. Some angels are devoted to fulfilling God’s will, obeying His commands and serving mankind. Others are evil and resist His plans, in opposition to mankind. Satan the devil is the ruler of this kingdom of these wicked angels.

How did the devil come to be as he is? Did God create him to be evil? 

No, He didn’t. The Bible tells us the story of how a powerful angel became Satan the devil, if we have eyes to see. Let’s look first at Isaiah, in chapter 14, where the prophet is used by God to speak of an angelic being named Lucifer who corrupts himself through pride and envy:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”

The angel Lucifer actually decided to rebel against his Creator and take the very throne of God Himself! This angelic rebellion is mentioned, also, in Ezekiel chapter 28. After announcing a prophecy against the human prince of the kingdom of Tyre, the prophet is then used by God to speak directly against the spiritual being BEHIND the human ruler, called in the prophecy the “KING of Tyre”… God says to this fallen angel in verse 12:

“Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you’” 

God then says He cast this angelic being, corrupted by pride and selfish ambition, out from the mountain of God as something profane. Here we see the powerful being who was Lucifer described in detail. A being of amazing wisdom, intelligence, talent and beauty, who, full of pride and consumed with his politicking among the angels, becomes filled with a mindset of violence and a spirit of rebellion, until he is stirred to move against the very throne of God Himself. In doing so, he was no longer Lucifer, which may be translated “Light Bringer,” but became the being we now know as Satan the Devil, or the Adversary. As we are told by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:6, becoming puffed up with pride became the devil’s condemnation.

The book of Revelation may indicate that he gathered a third of the angels with him in his rebellion against heaven, but they were cast back to the earth in restraint until the events prophesied to be just ahead of us. The Bible refers to these rebellious angels as “his angels,” or the devil’s angels, and calls them by the term “demons.”

Jesus Christ calls Satan the “ruler of this world” multiple times in Scripture, and he will retain the position of authority he was originally given by God here on earth until Jesus replaces him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As the devil tells Jesus Christ during the Lord’s temptation in the wilderness, the kingdoms of this world have been given to the devil during this age, and he gives them to whomever he wishes. Here on earth, Satan and his demons continue in their positions of spiritual authority among the kingdoms of the world, influencing the world, tempting mankind and resisting the Plan of God--however futile such an effort will eventually be.

How does the rebellion in the spirit realm impact those of us who live in this physical realm? One thing is sure: Many people make a dangerous mistake when it comes to the spirit realm--a mistake you must avoid! We’ll explain that mistake in the next part of our program.

But first let me pause just one more brief time to give you the brief opportunity to order your free DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World.” This DVD will open God’s own teachings and instructions concerning the spirit world to you in a way you have likely never seen before. The DVD contains three powerful Tomorrow’s World programs to help you understand the invisible realm, its dangers and influence, and how to defeat that influence. Topics covered include…

  • the modern dangers of the occult,
  • the hidden world of angels and demons,
  • and how you can overcome Satan the devil.

This DVD, “The Occult and the Spirit World,” really is free, with no strings or obligations. Just call or write, or visit us online at TomorrowsWorld.org and request your free copy. We never give away your information to others, and we never will. Order your free copy right now, and I’ll be right back to talk about the dangerous mistakes many make concerning the spirit world and how you can avoid them. You’ll want to know.

 A Dangerous Mistake

Welcome back! The fact that angels and demons are, indeed, very real has an impact on our lives. Many choose to surround themselves with statues and tokens depicting angels and even call on angels directly for their help and guidance.

However, only DEMONS seek such fawning and attention, not righteous angels! Consider that the Devil earnestly strove to convince Jesus to bow down and worship him, while twice in the book of Revelation when John is overwhelmed by the vision and falls at the angel’s feet, the righteous angel responds that he should not do that. In chapter 19 and verse 10, for instance, the angel tells John,

“See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!”

The angels of God are not interested in worship, or even attention. It is only the demonic world of FALLEN angels that craves our attention and our focus. God condemns in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS using the occult, spiritism, and New Age practices to attempt to experience the spirit realm. Should you seek to reach out and communicate with angels, ONLY DEMONS AND THE DEVIL’S ANGELS await you in such efforts!

The trend in popular “Christian” culture to glorify images of angels in statues and paintings, to decorate homes with such statuettes, and to adorn ourselves with such jewelry bearing angelic images is NOT God’s desire! Not only are these images a far cry from many of the descriptions we’ve read today, they violate the second of God’s Ten Commandments, which tells us we are not to create images of heavenly beings for worship. The New Testament, as well, clearly and unequivocally condemns the worship of angels. The only angels pleased by such activity are Satan and his demons

Only God the Father and Jesus Christ deserve such attention, devotion, and affection!

In fact, as we have explained many times here on Tomorrow’s World, the plan of God is that one day mankind will RULE the world of angels, as well as ALL OF CREATION! It is no wonder that Satan and the demons hate humanity: God intends that mankind--eventually glorified in the Kingdom of God as His very Children--will become their judge, sitting in rulership of the entire universe as inheritors of all things! Everything that Satan the devil wanted to seize for himself--though violence, deception, competition, and rebellion against his Creator--mankind has the opportunity to freely inherit--through love, submission, faith, and obedience to that same loving Creator.

There is so much more to this topic than we were able to cover on this program. I hope you will not forget to request your free DVD that discusses not only what we’ve covered today, but also the dangers of the occult and how you can overcome Satan and his demonic influence. 

And I hope that you will come back next week! Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, and I, along with our best presenter Rod McNair, will be here waiting to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of His coming Kingdom, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning.

Until next week, take care.

Black Holes: Leviathans of the Cosmic Deep

2018 May-June
Wallace G. Smith


The Apostle Paul wrote to his audiences in the first century describing their destiny to inherit “all things”—the universe—pointing out that, at this time, we do not yet see the fullness of that inheritance brought under man’s control (Hebrews 2:8).

Better Than Heaven!

Current Air Date 25th April 2018
Wallace G. Smith

While beliefs about the afterlife vary from culture to culture and faith to faith, many believe that, when we die, our immortal soul will go to heaven to be with God for eternity. Do you have an immortal soul? What happens after you die? This program gives the answer to a question that almost everyone wrestles with: What really does await you after you die?

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

Many people passionately believe that when we die our souls will go to heaven for eternity. There, they expect to see departed loved ones and other long-lost friends—even lost pets, perhaps. The other details are a bit “fuzzy,” but this eternity in heaven is often imagined as some sort of never-ending “resort” of comfort and delights.

Now you might believe many of these things about heaven, yourself. If so, I have incredibly GOOD NEWS to share with you: You are wonderfully wrong. The truth is that God has something planned for you, for me, and for all who have gone before us that is far, far *BETTER* THAN HEAVEN! You need to know the details of what He has planned—stay tuned!

What is the State of the Dead

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World! I’m delighted you’re here.

Today we are going to plunge into a question that many people long to answer: What comes next after we die? We’ll also be offering you a free booklet about God’s purpose for you after death, Your Ultimate Destiny. It really is completely free. Be sure to keep an eye on your screen for information on how to get your copy.

In 2015, the Pew Research Center reported that 72% of Americans believe in some sort of rewarding afterlife. Even for those who consider themselves unaffiliated with a particular religious faith, 37% said they believe in an afterlife in heaven—including some agnostics and atheists who responded to the poll.

While beliefs about that afterlife vary from culture to culture and faith to faith, many believe that they have an immortal soul will go to heaven after their deaths, to be with God for eternity.

But what does that really mean?

Ideas vary wildly. Most imagine they will meet friends and family who have long been dead. Others believe it will be like a life of eternal luxury and comfort—but, frankly, details are hard to come by.

Peter Stanford, author of the book Heaven: A Traveller’s Guide to the Undiscovered Country, made this observation in the Daily Mail:

“In the marketing-speak that creeps ever more into our daily exchanges, the best bit of the ‘religious offer’ is the promise of an afterlife. That is why so many people who have severed all other ties with formal religion (i.e., churchgoing) continue to cling vaguely to the notion of Heaven. It lends itself perfectly to vagueness.

Still, the important questions remain: Is the idea that after death we will spend eternity in heaven true?

Does it come from the Bible? What about the billions who have died before us? What will you and I do for eternity if we live forever? What is the TRUTH about what happens when we die?

The answers to those questions may not be what you think they are. For instance, the Bible makes it plain that you do NOT immediately go to heaven when you die. But I’m here to tell you that is GOOD NEWS. Because what God has planned for you is FAR BETTER THAN HEAVEN! In fact, the idea of an eternity relaxing in heaven does not even come CLOSE to the joyous future that is REALLY in store for us after death. And today on this program, we’re going to show you, out of your Bible, the details of that future.

Before I can do that, I need to clear up a fundamental misunderstanding that many people have—and that is the idea that we all have an immortal, continually conscious soul that goes ANYWHERE when we die. God’s word plainly says that we do not.

While some verses here and there are sometimes wrenched out of context to make it seem otherwise, the plain teaching of the Bible is that the dead are just that: DEAD—unconscious and without life, awaiting a FUTURE resurrection.

Consider Ecclesiastes 9 and verse five. There, King Solomon explains it very simply:

For the living know that they will die; but THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING…

Later, he adds more detail:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

His father, King David, understood this. In Psalm 6 and verse 5, he wrote:

For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks? 

The Bible is clear: The dead are simply that: Dead.

But that does NOT mean the end! For the Bible makes JUST as plain the fact that there is a coming RESURRECTION of the dead! The Apostle Paul made it clear that this resurrection was his hope, not an eternity in heaven, declaring,

I have hope in God… that there will be a RESURRECTION of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Well, what’s so special about a resurrection? Why is that so much better than the idea of going to heaven? We will explain the inspiring answer in our next segment.

But first, let me give you an opportunity to request this week’s free booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny.

This easy-to-read but thoroughly documented work will take you scripture-by-scripture in outlining for you the purpose of human existence and the meaning of your life

Lives have been transformed by the information in this booklet, and it is free for the asking. Here’s how to get your copy. And afterwards, we’ll discuss the startling purpose for your life, which truly is better than heaven! So, don’t go away.

Becoming God's Child

So, the Bible says that the dead await a resurrection. Actually, as we’ll see on our program, the Bible speaks of different resurrections for different people. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before we examine that, we need to understand the PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE TO BEGIN WITH.

That’s where our book, Your Ultimate Destiny, will be so helpful to you. Our booklet will lay out, in detail—verse by verse—the biblical proof of the truth that God’s purpose for mankind is to REPRODUCE HIMSELF—to expand His family!

Notice the original account of the creation of man and woman, in the book of Genesis. While the plants and animals are described as being made after their own kind—the fruit trees after their kind, the sea creatures after their kind, etc.—MAN is described as being made after the GOD kind. See for yourself, in Genesis 1 and verse 26:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

While he made all beasts after their kind, God ensured that humans, though physical, were made like Him. God makes it clear that mankind has a greater purpose than the animals do: He intends to make us His children. It is a purpose that involves FAR more than spending an eternity in heaven, as if we were “pets” to be cared for and kept happy, forever. We are to be children.

In Romans 8:16, we read this truth plainly. In the King James Version, it says,

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…

We will explain the fullness of that statement later in our program, but it includes inheriting the life and existence that the glorified Jesus Christ now experiences as a FULL son of God, eternal and brilliant, shining like the sun! Again, you don’t have to believe me. Look for yourself in 1 John and chapter 3:

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Read that and believe it: “[W]hen He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”!

And what is He like? Read the description of the glorified Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation! He is described there as having a face that shines like the sun, eyes like fire, and a voice like many waters. THAT is the divine existence as a FULL CHILD OF GOD in GLORY that God plans to share with us!

Read how the Apostle Paul describes the resurrection body in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in GLORY. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in POWER. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL BODY. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Raised incorruptible in GLORY and POWER. Just as Jesus Christ was raised a life-giving spirit, we, too, will be transformed to such a state, as Paul explains: 

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

As Paul says plainly in the next few verses, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” and “we shall all be CHANGED.”

Why? If we are simply to live a life of luxury in an eternal retirement home in heaven, why this emphasis on GLORY and POWER, becoming SPIRIT and inheriting a KINGDOM?

Because, my friends, it gets even better! We will dive even deeper in the next part of our program.

But first, let us briefly take a moment to remind you how to receive your free copy of this encouraging booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny. It really is free: We here at Tomorrow’s World believe that Jesus Christ commands us to give our materials away for free. That’s why you never hear us asking you for money or donations on our program like so many video preachers do today, nor do we have any sort of “suggested price.” This life-changing book, Your Ultimate Destiny, has been completely paid for! 

For once, believe it or not, something really is free.

Here’s how to get your copy, and then come right back, as we look at just what God expects you to do with the glorious body He plans to give you.

Born to Rule and Serve

As we saw in the last portion of our program, far from having “immortal souls” that simply float to heaven after death for a life of luxury, like some sort of divine, ethereal penthouse, those who are working with Christ in this life today to fulfill their purpose will be raised from the grave in POWER and GLORY—with spirit bodies like that of the glorified Jesus Christ, shining like the sun, as full Children of God! Again, this truth is proven in minute detail in today’s free resource, Your Ultimate Destiny.

But what will those who are Christ’s be doing in their glorified state once He returns? And what of the many billions who have lived and died never knowing Jesus Christ, let alone their purpose?

After their resurrection and their marriage to the Lamb on the fabulous Sea of Glass before their Father’s throne, God’s word is clear about what happens next for followers of Christ: The glorified saints of God—transformed Christians—will RETURN to earth to RULE it for 1,000 years alongside Jesus Christ!

Notice the description in Revelation 20, beginning in verse 4. After the devil is bound for 1,000 years, unable to influence mankind, the Apostle John records what he saw in vision:

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

The 1,000-year reign of Christ and the saints while the Devil is bound is not a reign up in heaven. Revelation 5:10 and other passages say plainly that the saints shall reign on the earth.

It may surprise you that ruling and reigning over the earth is at the heart of God’s plan, but that’s only because so few are willing to preach what the Bible actually says. When you allow God to open your eyes, it appears everywhere in the Bible! Jesus told the Apostles that, at His return, they would rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. He gave His followers parables about ruling cities. The Apostle Paul talks to the Corinthians about reigning as kings, and he tells Timothy that those who endure will reign right next to Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9 says of Christ that “the government will be upon His shoulder” and will increase without end, and Daniel chapter 7 says that faithful followers of God will receive that Kingdom alongside Jesus Christ, possessing it forever and ever. In fact, Paul explicitly tells Christians in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 2 & 3,

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Judging the world—judging angels! Time would fail us to mention all of the scriptures in God’s word that speak of the glorified saints reigning in power under Jesus Christ! Have you ever had this “afterlife” explained to you? It is the plain teaching of your Bible!

Resurrected and glorified Christians will work directly with Jesus Christ in ruling, healing, and beautifying this world for 1,000 years. They will help heal the crippled, the blind, the deaf, and the mute. They will bring waters to the deserts and make them beautiful and fertile! They will personally teach the people of earth God’s laws and ways, turning the earth into the paradise it was meant to be.

If your heart has ever been broken because of the evil and suffering that you have seen in the world and you have longed to CHANGE the world—that is EXACTLY what the resurrected followers will do under Jesus Christ for 1,000 years!

My friends—the “afterlife” God has planned is so much more than a glorified “retirement home in the sky.”

And even THEN, there is still so much more! After all, many of those scriptures we mentioned refer to the saints ruling forever, not just 1,000 years. What happens AFTER the 1,000 years?

My friends, not only is it better than the “heaven” that is taught by most churches and preachers—it is more amazing than many have dared even to hope.

Before we get to the most jaw-dropping part of the Bible’s details concerning God’s plan for you, let me pause just one more time to give you a moment to request the companion study guide to today’s program, Your Ultimate Destiny. This booklet proves beyond doubt, from the pages of your own Bible, how commonly taught ideas about going to heaven forever are a pale, deceptive shadow of the true purpose God has planned for you.

One of the booklet’s readers wrote to us about it and had this to say: 

“My eyes have been truly opened just within the time I have been studying with Tomorrow’s World. After reading the booklet Your Ultimate Destiny I had a feeling that I never felt before concerning spirituality… I have learned more concerning God’s words in the last three months than I had learned all my life.”

In a moment, we’ll show you how to get your copy, and then I’ll be right back with the biggest surprise of all. You won’t want to miss it.

Heirs of all Things

Welcome back.

We have precious little time, but I have saved the best for last.

After the 1,000 years are ended, Revelation 20 tells us that the Devil is finally, utterly, removed from contact with us forevermore. You’ll also remember that verse 5 of Revelation 20 spoke of the resurrection of the saints of God as the “first resurrection.” As John wrote there,

…the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.

Later verses in chapter 20 explain that ALL of the dead, small and great, are raised to physical life to have the books of the Bible opened to them, and to have their opportunity to be listed in the Book of Life. With God, NO ONE will have been lost to Him on “accident,” or because they did not have an opportunity. Only those who truly refuse God’s offer of salvation, with an understanding of what they are doing, will be ultimately destroyed, and thrown into the Lake of Fire to be annihilated, never to live again.

So, with all who would refuse God destroyed forever, and those who remain given everlasting life in the Family of God, what next? What will all of us do as we take our first steps into eternity?

You absolutely MUST get our booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny, to read and study these things in detail, but let me try to give you as much in as I can in these final moments. It really does come back to the purpose of man: Why did God create mankind? What is it He has longed to give us all this time?

Quoting the Psalms in Hebrews chapter 2, the Apostle Paul points out in verse 8 that God has put “all things” under mankind’s ultimate dominion. Now those words “all things” in Hebrews are translated from the Greek words ta panta, which literally mean “the all”—all of Creation! The Universe! In fact, our inheritance stretches farther than our eyes can see! As Paul explains in the same verse,

For in that He put all in subjection under him [that is, under man], He left NOTHING that is not put under him. But now we DO NOT YET SEE all things put under him.

What the glorified Children of God will do for the earth, God wants us to do throughout ALL of Creation! In Romans 8, Paul describes a universe that is LONGING for the restoring hand of God’s own children! Read it there, in verse 18:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Why?

…because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Do we have the courage to grasp what our eyes see in our Bibles?

The Bible says that the VAST CREATION around us—stars and planets and galaxies, world without end—long for OUR REVELATION as the eternal, glorified Children of God!

God’s plan and purpose for man is so much larger than it seems ANYONE will give it credit for! God has created an entire UNIVERSE for us to cultivate and beautify—joining our Heavenly Father in His work!

Consider the images we’ve seen broadcast from the surface of Mars: a desolate, dry, dead place. Can you imagine such worlds made green and alive? When we see images, we need to remember: that wasteland is waiting for you and me to fulfill our purpose and to bring it liberty! The liberty of the Children of God!

What will you do with your portion of the cosmos as a glorified Child of God? Are you willing to embrace the promises of an Almighty Creator, who longs to share His own existence with you and to give you all things?

And—perhaps, more importantly—are you willing to seek His Kingdom now, in this life, knowing that such an inheritance awaits you?

Our time today is at an end, but we have barely scratched the surface of this topic. I do hope you will request today’s free booklet and prove this life-changing truth for yourself.

And I hope you’ll come back next time. Richard Ames, Gerald Weston, and I, as well as Guest Presenter Rod McNair, will be right here to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of His coming Kingdom, and the prophecies of your Bible. Until then, take care.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3511808/Why-atheists-believe-life-death-irreligious-age-number-believe-heaven-going-asked-distinguished-thinkers-curious-contradiction.html#ixzz4qznxTbNV

Three Days, Three Nights, One Messiah

Current Air Date 25th September 2019
Wallace G. Smith

Easter is a time when many choose to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ – the Messiah.  But, one Easter tradition actually denies that Jesus is the Messiah!  Let’s examine some of the customs associated with Easter and let’s examine one very important element of Easter that many claim to believe in, but which actually denies that Jesus is the Messiah!

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

Three Days and Three Nights Explained

Easter is a time when many choose to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be Easter Egg hunts and sunrise services, though few understand the origin of these popular and well-loved traditions. However, as many who consider themselves Christian gather to observe the various parts of what is often called Passion Week, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday, little do they know that they will be engaging in one specific tradition that actually CONTRADICTS the one sign Jesus said would prove He was the Messiah!

Was Jesus the Messiah, or wasn’t He? One Easter tradition denies that He is! What do you say? Join us now on Tomorrow’s World, as we examine Three Days, Three Nights, and One Messiah. Stay tuned!

The Pagan Origin and Celebration of Easter

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World!

When it comes to the calendar of sacred days that is observed by most professing Christians in the world, Christmas tends to get most of the attention, but Easter is often considered by many to be the holiest day of the year and the day when they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On today’s program, we’re going to examine one aspect of Easter more closely than you’ve probably ever done before—an element of the Easter celebration that everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ MUST understand… though, in fact, it’s understood by very few.

We’ll also give you an opportunity to request this free, informative booklet, Easter: The Untold Story. Be ready to take down the information that will appear periodically on your screen so that can request your own free copy.

But here at the beginning of our program, let me absolutely clear about two facts:

First, Jesus Christ DID rise from the dead. While proving that would be a great topic for another program, for any neutral-minded observer willing to look at the testimony of history, the lives of the Apostles, and what was recorded of the events of Jesus’ life and ministry, the conclusion is clear: Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead exactly as He foretold He would be. He IS the Son of God—our Savior, and our soon-to-return King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We proclaim that truth routinely here on Tomorrow’s World.

But let me just as clear about the second fact: the observance of Easter is not what many suppose it to be.

We need to be willing to ask ourselves where many of the traditions and customs associated with Easter come from. There’s no harm in asking, is there?

For instance, where does the association with an Easter Bunny that lays Easter Eggs come from? It certainly isn’t the Bible. But if not the Bible, where? In many languages around the world, the name of Easter celebrations is taken from the biblical Passover, even though they are completely different observances. In English, though, the word “Easter” is used—a word not seen anywhere in the Bible, save for a single verse in the King James Version that is almost universally recognized as a mistranslation of the Greek word for “Passover.” So, if the English word “Easter” did not come from the Bible, where did it come from?

What of other customs associated with Easter—hot cross buns, for instance? Or the fertility customs of some European countries?

For anyone willing to research the topic, the facts on these customs are clear. Most of these customs do not originate in Christianity, but from paganism.

As Evangelist Gerald Weston says so plainly in today’s free booklet [p. 17],

“The pagan origin and celebration of Easter is a major problem for professing Christianity, but it is only part of the problem. In addition to blending pagan customs and traditions into the worship of the true God, contrary to His command, we find that even the part of Easter that supposedly comes from the Bible is terribly flawed…”

Today we want to focus on that part of Easter that many claim IS found in the pages of the Bible: Good Friday and Easter Sunday. And we will find that if Jesus truly is the Messiah who was resurrected almost 2,000 years ago, He could not have died on a Friday and been resurrected on a Sunday! We will examine this in detail later, but first…

…let me give you a brief opportunity to request this, free booklet, Easter: The Untold Story. Consider the chapter headings of this eye-opening book.

What’s in a Name? The Queen of Heaven Worshiping Christ in Vain Three Days and Three Nights The Significance of the Passover “For that Sabbath was a High Day” What Happened on Sunday?

Just contact us using the information on your screen and get your free copy of Easter: The Untold Story.

If the resurrection of Jesus means anything to you at all, then this is information you need to have. Request your copy right now—just ask for the booklet on Easter.

The Sign That Jesus Gave Regarding His Death - Matthew 12:40

Welcome back!

Before the break, I mentioned one specific Easter custom that actually denies the very sign Jesus Christ agreed to give to prove He was who He claimed to be: the Messiah of the world.

We read of that sign in the book of Matthew, chapter 12, beginning in verse 38:

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Notice, Jesus is being very specific. He said He would only give them one sign, the sign of the prophet Jonah. In the same way that Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, Jesus would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, or the grave.

Three nights, three days. Very clear, specific words!

But they present an insurmountable problem for those who observe Good Friday and Easter Sunday as a celebration of the resurrection.

Tradition says that Jesus was crucified on Friday—called “Good Friday”—was buried right before the weekly Sabbath rest that began at sundown. Then He was in the tomb that night and all day Saturday, Saturday night, and then rose on Sunday morning, or “Easter Sunday.”

But is that three days and three nights? Let’s count: Jesus is buried right before sundown on Friday, so there is all of Friday night, and then Saturday day, and then Saturday night. The Bible says the tomb was empty before the daylight hours of Sunday (according to John 20:1), so that’s all we have—one day and two nights.

If you choose to ignore scriptures like John chapter 20 and verse 1 and other passages and then generously throw in part of Friday and part of Sunday as two more days, you STLL only have three days and TWO NIGHTS. There is simply NOW WAY to include all three of the three days and three nights into the Good Friday / Easter Sunday tradition.

And yet Jesus said that being in the grave three days and three nights was the only sign He would give to prove He was the Messiah!

Either the tradition is wrong and Jesus is right, or Jesus was wrong and the tradition is right! We can’t have it both ways.

Some go further and claim that Jesus was speaking using a Jewish idiom and that when He said “three days and three nights,” He didn’t mean three literal days and nights and that any part of a day would do, whether day or night. However, there is no support for this excuse. As the time-honored Companion Bible states in Appendix 156,

“Now, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of ‘three days’ or ‘three years’, while they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where ‘three nights’ are mentioned in addition to ‘three days’. It will be noted that the Lord not only definitely states this, but repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it.”

This is all the more brought home with the fact that Jesus did not simply say that He would be in the tomb three days and three nights, but He said that He would be there like JONAH WAS IN THE BELLY OF THE GREAT FISH three days and three nights. That is a reference to the Old Testament book of Jonah, where the Hebrew construction does not allow for an idiom, but means three literal days and three literal nights: a full 72 hours.

Again, The Companion Bible helpfully summarizes in Appendix 144:

“But, when the number of ‘nights’ is stated as well as the number of ‘days’, then the expression ceases to be an idiom, and becomes a literal statement of fact.

“Hence, when it says that ‘Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights’ (Jonah 1:17) it means exactly what it says…”

But you don’t have to be an expert in ancient languages to know what Jesus means. We can simply look at what other verses say and put them all together. There is a reason God inspired four different gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and the details are important! Let’s take a look:

In John 2:19, Jesus says that when He is killed, He will be resurrected

           “in three days”

In Mark 8:31, Jesus says that He will be rejected and killed, and

           “after three days”

He will rise again.

Finally, in Luke 24, verse 46, Jesus explains that He had to suffer and rise from the dead

           “the third day”

The only way all three of these can be satisfied is if Jesus is in the tomb EXACTLY 72 hours: not a moment more and not a moment less! God is a God of precise timing! And the resurrection of Jesus Christ is no exception.

If Good Friday and Easter Sunday are impossible, then when what is the solution?

Well, where traditions fail, God’s word has the answers. We’ll lay out for you the biblical PROOF that Jesus’ prophecy of three days and three nights is exactly true in the next segment of our program.

But first, let’s take a very brief break to give you an opportunity to request our free resource, Easter: The Untold Story.

The origins of Easter customs and traditions is understood by few, but they have a definite impact on your walk with God and your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Just request the material on Easter, and I’ll be right back in a few seconds to solve the mystery of Jesus’ 3 days and 3 nights that prove He is the one and only Messiah.

Timing of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

Welcome back!

If Good Friday and Easter Sunday do not fit Jesus’ prophecy, then why do so many claim that Jesus died on a Friday? The answer lies in a lack of careful study of the Bible. Let’s read in Luke chapter 23, beginning in verse 52. Speaking of Joseph of Arimathea, Luke writes,

This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

Now many understand that the weekly seventh-day Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday. When they read this passage, they then assume that Jesus was buried in a tomb right before sundown on Friday. However, the Bible speaks of multiple kinds of Sabbaths, not just the weekly Sabbath on the seventh day! Yes, the day Jesus died was a preparation day for a Sabbath—but for the weekly Sabbath or another one?

When you examine the biblical Festivals and Holy Days, which are also explained in our booklet, Easter: The Untold Story, you see that Jesus died on a Preparation Day for an ANNUAL SABBATH, not a weekly one.

Consider: What did Jesus do the night before He was crucified? While it is commonly called the “Last Supper,” the Bible records that what Jesus observed with His disciples was the biblical Passover. We see this in all of the gospels, but let’s just look at Jesus’ own statement in Luke 22 and verse 15:

Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…”

You don’t need to trust me—you can look it up in your own Bible. And in your Bible, you will find that the Passover was a preparation day for an Annual High Day Sabbath that followed the very next day—a day like the weekly Sabbath, when no work was allowed. We read about these days in Leviticus 23 [vv. 5–7]:

On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD… On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.

So, remembering that Sabbaths begin and end at sundown, we see that Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples that evening, was crucified during the daylight portion of the Passover, and was placed in a tomb in the late afternoon, right before sundown. Then, at sundown, began the first evening of an Annual High Day Sabbath, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when no one was allowed to work.

The Apostle John confirms that this Sabbath was an Annual High Day in his own gospel account, in chapter 19 and verse 31:

“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.” (John 19:31)

So how many Sabbaths were there the week Christ died and was resurrected? The Bible says that there were two: the Annual High Day Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath. Look for yourself in your own Bible. Read Mark chapter 16 and verse 1:

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.”

Nothing unusual here. The women could not buy or work on a Sabbath, so after the Sabbath they bought spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body in the tomb. But compare this to Luke 23 and verses 54 through 56. Speaking of the same women, verse 56 says,

“Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

So, Mark 16 says that the women bought the spices AFTER the Sabbath, but Luke 23 says the women then prepared the spices BEFORE the Sabbath. You can’t prepare spices you haven’t bought yet! The only possible solution is that the women bought the spices after the ANNUAL HIGH DAY Sabbath and then, once it was over, prepared the spices until they had to rest again before the WEEKLY Sabbath!

This really is the only solution, and yet it is a solution that makes everything fit perfectly, including Jesus’ prophecy of three days and three nights!

Let’s count:

  • Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples Tuesday night after sundown. Then, Wednesday afternoon, He is crucified and entombed shortly before sundown, late Wednesday afternoon.
  • During the Annual High Day Sabbath of Wednesday night and the day part of Thursday, Jesus is in the tomb. That’s one night and one day.
  • After sundown Thursday, the Annual Sabbath is over and the women are free to begin buying spices and preparing them for applying to Jesus’ body according to Jewish tradition. That work day—the evening part of Thursday and the daylight portion of Friday—brings the total to two nights and two days with Jesus in the tomb.
  • At sundown on Friday, the women must rest again due to the start of the weekly Sabbath. Friday night and the daylight part of Saturday bring the time Jesus has been entombed in the heart of the earth to three nights and three days!
  • With 72 hours completed—all three days and all three nights—Jesus was then resurrected right before sundown, late Saturday afternoon! This is why the tomb is ALREADY EMPTY when the women finally arrive early Sunday morning while it is still dark (John 20:1).

This explanation works perfectly and matches the Bible and Jesus’ own prophecy about the sign of Jonah in every detail! And it is the only explanation that does.

Jesus died on a Wednesday afternoon and was buried right before sundown that day. He was resurrected exactly three days and three nights later, to the very hour, at sundown on Saturday. And the women, coming to the tomb in the dark on Sunday morning find it already empty.

This is not the Good Friday / Easter Sunday of tradition, but it is the truth! And it is the testimony of the Word of God. He truly was in the grave three days and three nights, just as He said. And He truly is the Messiah!

If all of this is new to you, you need our eye-opening booklet, Easter: The Untold Story.

It includes a diagram, explaining the timing of Jesus’ death and resurrection, as well as a chart explaining the meaning of the biblical Holy Days, such as Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Consider the chapter headings of this eye-opening book:

What’s in a Name?

The Queen of Heaven

Worshiping Christ in Vain

For that Sabbath was a High Day

What Happened on Sunday?

Just contact us using the information on your screen and get your free copy of Easter the Untold Story. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, then this is information you need to know. Easter the Untold Story: just ask for the booklet on Easter.

Worship God in Spirit and Truth

What you’ve seen today presents us with a stark choice.

Not only are Easter traditions full of pagan influences and elements, as we detail in our free booklet, but even the very days themselves—Good Friday and Easter Sunday—could not have been the days on which Jesus died and was resurrected.

Jesus Christ was absolutely plain when He told His accusers, and us reading His words today:

[…He answered and said to them,] “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39–40).

The excuses made by academics and apologists who try to cram three days and three nights into Good Friday and Easter Sunday fail every test of language, culture, comparison against other scriptures, and the biblical chronology. Yet ignoring the Friday-Sunday tradition and using the biblical Holy Days as a guide while simply believing the Bible for what it says, everything fits perfectly. In fact, that is the only way they fit.

Jesus was plain, and your eyes aren’t fooling you. Those who tell you to ignore what you read should be ashamed of themselves, repent, and simply accept the Bible’s testimony—the testimony of Jesus Christ, Himself:

Three days and three nights prove one Messiah.

Jesus Christ IS that Messiah—the Christ, who paid the penalty of our sins with His own life, was resurrected three days and three nights later, and ascended to His Father’s right hand, from where He will one day return in the days just ahead of us to rule the world as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But to see the truth of these things, we have to begin looking past the comfortable but wrong traditions of Easter and begin trusting the words of Jesus, Himself.

Christ tells us in John 4 [vv. 23–24],

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

God is looking for people who will do more than worship Him in spirit—He wants those who will also worship Him in truth.

If you want to begin exploring how to do just that, then today’s free booklet is one of the best first steps you could take. Don’t forget to request your own free copy of Easter: The Untold Story today.

And don’t forget to come back next week. Gerald Weston, Richard Ames and I, and our guest presenter Rod McNair, will be right here waiting to share more of the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of His coming Kingdom, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. Until then, take care, and we’ll see you next time.

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