Richard F. Ames (1936-2024)

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

Bible Prophecy Warns of End-Time Catastrophes

The word “Armageddon” is often used to describe earth-destroying dangers. This March 2024 edition of Astronomy magazine features this cover headline: “Cosmic Catastrophes: How the Universe Threatens Life on Earth.” On page 18:

“The Universe is a terrifying place, filled with existential threats. Earth may seem quite solid beneath our feet, but the continued existence of the thin layers of rock, water, and air that sustain us is in no way guaranteed. Errant asteroids, soaring superflares, and exploding supernovae are just a few of the calamities that might befall our fragile world. In the short term, we may be able to manage or mitigate some of these threats. Asteroids can be diverted and power grids hardened. But other apocalypses are inevitable as the solar system ages: a runaway moon, Earth’s collapsing magnetosphere, the sun’s flagging heart. Each one represents a countdown to a different apocalypse, with some more imminent than others” (“These are the ways our world will end,” Astronomy.com, March 1, 2024).

Your Bible confirms such cosmic dangers when the prophesied heavenly signs will terrify humans all over the earth. How will the great men and women react? Revelation 6:15,

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Revelation 6:15–17).

Yes, my friends, Bible prophecy reveals dramatic dangers just ahead of us, but also the good news of God’s coming Kingdom ruled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Surprisingly, when Jesus Christ returns, all the world’s armies and powerful worldly military might will fight against the coming conquering King in the battle of Armageddon.

On today’s program, we’ll be offering an amazing free study guide, Armageddon and Beyond, to help you understand what is ahead for planet Earth. Join us on today’s program and learn who will win the Battle of Armageddon.

Armageddon in the Bible

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world.

The end of the world has often been defined by popular media and entertainment as the Battle of Armageddon. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives this definition for Armageddon:

a. the site or time of a final and conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil.

b. the battle taking place at Armageddon” (Armageddon. Merriam-Webster.com, April 2, 2024).

This definition reflects the popular concept of Armageddon, but it is not technically accurate according to your Bible.

If you have your Bible, turn to Revelation the 16th chapter. Here we see that Armageddon, or Megiddo, is rather the gathering place of the world’s armies BEFORE the battle takes place in Jerusalem.

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16).

The Hebrew expression Har Maggedon means the hill or mountain of Megiddo.

The armies of the world will gather in northern Israel at Megiddo before marching south to Jerusalem.

Geographical Location of Armageddon [Megiddo]

Megiddo is located about 55 miles north of Jerusalem in Israel. In ancient times it guarded the main trade route between Egypt and Damascus. It also overlooks the largest plain in Israel, the Valley of Jezreel (as it’s called in the Bible) or the Plain of Esdraelon. The kings of the east cross westward across the Euphrates River. They meet up with other superpower armies at Megiddo.

These armies gather at Armageddon, then move southward to Jerusalem to fight Christ there. Notice Joel 3 and verse 1:

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there” (Joel 3:1–2).

Megiddo: A.K.A. The Valley of Jehoshaphat and Kidron Valley

The Valley of Jehoshaphat is between the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem. It’s also known as the Kidron Valley, which extends southward for some distance. Yes, the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty will take place at Jerusalem.

Jehoshaphat means “judgment of the Eternal.” God will judge the nations in this climatic battle.

Who will win that battle? We can gain some clues from the prophetic events that lead up to Armageddon. For your sake and the sake of your family, you need to know the sequence of prophetic events that may happen in your lifetime and in the near future.

Three major end-time prophetic events occur before Armageddon

Let’s first review three major events covering the prophesied three and one-half years leading up to Armageddon and the return of Christ to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. If you have your Bible, turn to the book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God opens the mysterious scroll sealed with seven seals.

The Seven Seals of Revelation Describe the End Times

The first four of the seven seals reveal four symbolic horsemen. Turn to Revelation the sixth chapter.

The Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation under God’s inspiration, sees in vision the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. They symbolize, in order:

1. False christs and false religion.
2. War and its devastating effects.
3. Famines that normally follow on the heels of war.
4. Pestilence and disease that follow after famine.

The Apostle John describes the fourth horse and its rider in Revelation 6:8.

“So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. 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.”

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Are the First Four Seals of Revelation

The combined power of the four horsemen will bring massive devastation all over the earth. My friends, we need to face reality! Billions of human beings on earth will die—as war, hunger, and disease expand over the planet. Yes, we will face the extreme danger of human annihilation.

The fourth seal of Revelation pictures the four horsemen combining their powers. The world will suffer massive deaths of men, women, and children.

The Fifth and Sixth Seals of Revelation Bring Martyring of Christians, the Great Tribulation, and Heavenly Signs

The fifth seal, as you read in Revelation 6:9, reveals a martyrdom of Christians during the tribulation period of about two and one-half years. Then we read about the sixth seal, which introduces the time of God’s wrath and judgment on the nations. The seal is referred to as the heavenly signs. Revelation 6:12,

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:12–14).

While massive upheavals take place during the heavenly signs, we know that the greater danger lies in World War III and Armageddon. What prophetic events follow what has been called “cosmic catastrophes?”

The cosmic disturbances or the heavenly signs, as they are called, introduce the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is the time of God’s wrath and judgment on an unthankful, rebellious world.

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, will be wrathful. He’ll execute God’s righteous judgments. The Day of the Lord here in Revelation 6:17 is called “the great Day of His wrath!”

3 Major End-Time Events Before Armageddon: The Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, and the Day of the Lord

The book of Revelation reveals the sequence of prophetic events leading up to the Battle of Armageddon. The one-year Day of the Lord sets the stage for the final battle between good and evil. The Day of the Lord will bring God’s judgments on the nations.

Let’s understand. There are three prophetic milestones leading up to Christ’s return. They are:

1. The Great Tribulation
2. The Heavenly Signs
3. The Day of the Lord

These three events cover a period of about three and one-half years. There are over thirty prophecies in your Bible referring to the Day of the Lord. Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4 show that the Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy, the time preceding the Second Coming, is a period of one year. You might want to write down those references: Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4.

The beast power and nations of the world fight against Jesus Christ at Armageddon

At the end of this year-long day of the Lord, a revived superpower called the Beast in the book of Revelation will join the military might of other nations to fight against this “invader from outer space,” the returning Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. They will fight against Christ at His Second Coming at the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation 17:12,

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb…” (Revelation 17:12–14).

All the military might of the world will try to conquer Christ. But does the world really have that much power to even attempt such a battle? Nine nations around the world are known to have nuclear weapons. The combined power from these weapons could destroy all human life on earth several times over.

On page 5 of the Armageddon booklet, this chart shows the estimated number of nuclear warheads each possesses. They are Russia, the United States, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea.

President Putin of Russia has threatened to use nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine. This headline is from Associated Press: “Putin warns again that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened.”

“The Russian leader has repeatedly talked about his readiness to use nuclear weapons since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The most recent such threat came in his state-of-the-nation address last month, when he warned the West that deepening its involvement in the fighting in Ukraine would risk a nuclear war” (APNews.com, March 13, 2024).

Not only must the world face danger from the nations with nuclear weapons, but other nations and terrorists are seeking weapons of mass destruction as well. A time of great danger, a coming World War III, is coming soon. Regular viewers of Tomorrow’s World know that Bible prophecy reveals the future and the sequence of events leading up to Armageddon. The Apostle John, writing in the first century AD, describes what he saw in vision. Revelation 9:17,

“And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm” (Revelation 9:17–19).

The Book of Revelation Describes Modern Warfare

The Apostle John was seeing in vision 21st Century modern warfare. He was describing weapons of mass destruction in first-century language.

My friends, the threat of nuclear war is still very real. As we just read in Revelation 9, this phase of World War III will kill a third of mankind.

Yes, about two billion people in addition to the two billion previously killed by the four horsemen we read about in Revelation 6:8.

The world is certainly headed for “nuclear annihilation” if God does not intervene to save us. That end-time battle will feature the world’s military might against the returning heavenly army led by the King of kings, Jesus Christ. It is called “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” in Revelation 16:14.

A Revived Roman Empire and 10 Kings Will Fight Against Christ

Who will fight against Christ at His coming? Revelation 17 gives us more details. The revived Roman Empire with its ten kings or kingdoms will use all their military strength to resist the coming conquering King. Revelation 17:12,

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb…” (Revelation 17:12–14).

Who will win that war?

The World’s Armies Gather to Fight Jesus Christ at Armageddon

We’ve seen that all the armies of the world will combine their forces to fight against this “invader from outer space.” They gather at Megiddo, on the largest plain in Israel, the Valley of Jezreel (as it’s called in the Bible) or the Plain of Esdraelon. They then travel the 55 miles down to Jerusalem in the Valley of Jehoshaphat as we saw earlier in Joel 3:1 to fight Christ at His coming. All the combined nuclear power in the world’s armies will be no match against the coming conquering King.

And who will be with the conquering King? Revelation 19 gives the setting just before the battle begins. Genuine Christians will become the wife of Christ. After the resurrection of faithful Christians at the seventh trumpet, the glorified saints proceed to the sea of glass mentioned in Revelation 15:2 for their marriage to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:6,

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:6–8).

The glorified saints will dwell with Christ and God the Father for the nine-day period between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement and return to earth with the King of Kings to conquer the nations and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Verse 11,

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war” (Revelation 19:11).

Now remember Revelation 17:14.

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

The victory belongs to Jesus Christ and His saints

Yes, the Lamb, Jesus Christ will overcome them. He will conquer them. The power of God Almighty will vanquish rebellious nations and armies. At last, the prophesied process of world peace can begin with the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. God speed that day!

The conquering King will vanquish the combined military power of all the nations that have turned from fighting themselves, to fighting this “invader from outer space.”

Christ’s Armies in Heaven Will Be the “Called, Chosen, and Faithful” Saints

And who will be with our Savior? “The armies in heaven,” mentioned in Revelation 19:14, will be with Him. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful! That may include you, my friends, if you become a faithful and genuine Christian.

Revelation the 19th chapter gives us more details of this final battle. Revelation 19:19,

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:19–21).

Now remember we read earlier that the year-long Day of the Lord is the time of God’s judgment on our rebellious nations. As it states in Revelation 6:17,

“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Continuing in Revelation 19, we see confirmed the glorious ruling authority of the coming ruler of planet earth:

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

He is the conquering King. Yes, “Who is able to stand?”

Armageddon: The final battle of good vs. evil

Armageddon has been described as the final battle between good and evil. The Commander of heaven’s armies will win this war. And with this great victory, He will usher in the Millennium, a thousand years of peace and prosperity for all nations.

But how will you prepare for these awesome events just ahead of us?

How to Prepare for These End-Time Events: Watch and Pray

Notice the admonition by the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 21:36:

“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.”

Perhaps you have not been praying. Now is the time to get down on your knees and cry out to God for a change in your life. Isaiah 55:6-7 tells you how to draw close to God.

“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” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Warning: We are in danger of annihilation

Scientists, astronomers, and statesmen are warning us that planet earth is in danger of total destruction. But the greatest warning comes to us from Bible prophecy and the Messiah Himself. He reveals the sequence of end-time events, including the Great Tribulation, the heavenly signs, and the Day of the Lord.

The climactic event is the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” stated in Revelation 16:14, also commonly referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. The kings of the earth and their armies (Revelation 19:19) will gather in northern Israel to fight against the Messiah—Jesus Christ—at His second coming.

The King of kings will conquer these rebellious, oppressive nations. But how can we have world peace when human nature continually rebels against the way of peace?

True Peace Must Come from God

General Douglas MacArthur realized the futility of war and pointed out the need for a spiritual solution. He stated:

“We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, our Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.”

Yes, it must be of the SPIRIT, if we are to save the flesh.

Why We Must Pray for the Kingdom of God to Come

Beyond Armageddon, the new world government, comprised of Christ and the saints, will teach the way to peace. Yes, during the Millennium, there will be a spiritual recrudescence, or renewal, an improvement of human character and the human spirit. The Kingdom of God will rule over all nations. Pray for that Kingdom to come.

We look forward to the time beyond Armageddon when the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 will be fulfilled:

“And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.”

Only the Prince of peace can govern the world’s nations with love and justice, guaranteeing a world of prosperity and abundant living for all peoples.

Thank you for watching. We here at Tomorrow’s World make these videos to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible.

So if you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another video.

And if you want to learn more you can request our free Bible study guide—Armageddon and Beyond—just click TWTV.ORG/Armageddon.

See you next time.

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

The Greatest World Leader

The History television channel and the National Geographic channel offer programs with theories about aliens from outer space.

Information regarding the secret Area 51 military base in southern Nevada focuses on numerous reports of UFOs or unidentified flying objects. Many have been explained by sightings of weather balloons or other natural phenomena.

But there is one undeniable invader from outer space who will powerfully transform planet Earth. False prophecies claim this will be the Antichrist. But, in reality, this coming King will conquer all nations and institute the awesome Kingdom of God on earth. This will be the greatest event in all history! On today’s program we will outline the prophesied events leading up to this historic event.

The book of Revelation or the Apocalypse in your Bible announces this future historic event. 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!”

Yes, the powerful King of kings and Lord of lords will institute world peace. But the nations and their military powers will fight against this “invader from outer space.” It tells us in Revelation 11:18, “The nations were angry” when this dramatic announcement is made! They will set in motion what is often called “the Battle of Armageddon.” Who will win that war? My friends, you need to know the amazing prophecies coming in your lifetime. And you can be thankful that the conquering King is coming soon!

Stay tuned!

Who Will Save the World from Destruction?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world. Regular viewers of Tomorrow’s World know that we look forward to the prophesied time of world peace for all nations. But they also know the reality of world history and world wars.

Popular movies reflect the expectation that we will soon experience the end of the world, by nuclear war, natural disasters, and other means.

You have probably seen movies such as “Armageddon,” “Deep Impact,” and “The Day After Tomorrow.” The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has set the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds before midnight. They stated on January 23, 2024,

Ominous trends continue to point the world toward global catastrophe. The war in Ukraine and the widespread and growing reliance on nuclear weapons increase the risk of nuclear escalation. China, Russia, and the United States are all spending huge sums to expand or modernize their nuclear arsenals, adding to the ever-present danger of nuclear war through mistake or miscalculation (“A moment of historic danger: It is still 90 seconds to midnight,” 2024 Doomsday Clock Statement, TheBulletin.org, January 23, 2024).

The Sentinel Newspapers gave this chilling summary:

The “Doomsday Clock” of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was kept at 90 seconds to midnight this week—the closest to midnight that the clock has been set since it was created in 1947. Midnight is defined by The Bulletin as “nuclear annihilation” (Karl Grossman, “‘Doomsday Clock’ Kept at 90 Seconds to Midnight for 2024,” TheSentinel.com, January 25, 2024).

Bible prophecy also affirms the prospect of “global catastrophe.” Matthew 24:21–22:

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

Do you understand and accept the reality of potential cosmocide, including the prospect of “nuclear annihilation”? Who will save us from total extinction? Just look down the page to verse 29 in Matthew the 24^th chapter. Your Bible may have the heading titled “The Coming of the Son of Man.” Yes, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will come to save the world. Matthew 24:29,

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:29–31).

Yes, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return to this earth with “power and great glory” as we just read! His return is signaled by “a great sound of a trumpet.” That will be the “last trumpet” also signaling the resurrection of the saints, genuine Christians, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52!

So, what sequence of prophetic events do you need to watch for? Let’s understand.

There are three prophetic milestones leading up to Christ’s return. They are:

1. The Great Tribulation
2. The Heavenly Signs
3. The Day of the Lord

These three events cover a period of about three and one-half years. There are over thirty prophecies in your Bible referring to the Day of the Lord. Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4 show that the Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy, the time preceding the Second Coming, is a period of one year! You might want to write down those references: Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4!

The book of Revelation describes these events symbolically in the form of seals and trumpets. The first five seals of Revelation, outlined in chapter six, include the Great Tribulation Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24. The SIXTH seal is the heavenly signs. The whole world will be put on notice when this event occurs.

Let’s read that in REVELATION 6:12:

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, [listen to this] and every mountain and island was moved out of its place (Revelation 6:12–14).

The March 2024 Astronomy magazine features this cover headline: “COSMIC CATASTROPHES: How the Universe threatens life on earth.” Page 18:

The Universe is a terrifying place, filled with existential threats… Earth may seem quite solid beneath our feet, but the continued existence of the thin layers of rock, water, and air that sustain us is in no way guaranteed. Errant asteroids, soaring superflares, and exploding supernovae are just a few of the calamities that might befall our fragile world. In the short term, we may be able to manage or mitigate some of these threats. Asteroids can be diverted and power grids hardened. But other apocalypses are inevitable as the solar system ages: a runaway Moon, Earth’s collapsing magnetosphere, the Sun’s flagging heart. Each one represents a countdown to a different apocalypse, with some more imminent than others.

Such heavenly signs, or COSMIC DISTURBANCES as they are called, will introduce the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is the coming time of God’s wrath and judgment on an unthankful, rebellious world. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, will be WRATHFUL. He’ll execute God’s righteous judgments. The Day of the Lord, here in Revelation 6:17, is called “the great Day of His wrath!”

The Day of the Lord will bring God’s judgments on the nations. The Day of the Lord climaxes with the Seventh Trumpet announcement in 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!”

That announcement, my friends, introduces the greatest event in all history. What follows that announcement? What prophetic signs should you be watching for?

The Greatest Victory in History

The year-long Day of the Lord consists of seven prophetic events that will lead to Armageddon and World War III. What will happen when the seventh trumpet sounds?

The Apostle Paul calls the seventh trumpet the “last trumpet.” Turn in your Bible to 1 Corinthians 15. Not only does God tell the world that it is finally under His direct jurisdiction, but the great resurrection of genuine Christians takes place at the seventh trumpet. If you want to call it a “rapture,” this is the true resurrection event we will all look forward to after the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:50,

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, [WHEN?] at the LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50–54).

Genuine Christians who are alive at that time will have been protected through three and one-half years here on earth in the “wilderness” as it tells us in Revelation 12:14. Those faithful Christians who are alive will join the faithful saints who died, starting with faithful Abel mentioned in Hebrews 11:4, as well as the patriarchs, apostles, and prophets. The resurrected saints will join Christ on the sea of glass in heaven for the marriage of the Lamb. The Apostle John sees them in vision as you read in Revelation 15:2. Christians are admonished to prepare for that awesome wedding in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. We read the inspiring announcement in Revelation 19:6,

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:6–8).

The glorified saints will dwell with Christ and God the Father for the nine-day period between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, then return to earth with the King of Kings to conquer the nations and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Revelation the 19^th chapter describes Christ’s powerful return to the earth with the saints. The Apostle John writes in Revelation 19:11,

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Yes, the conquering King will vanquish the combined military power of all the nations that have turned from fighting themselves, to fighting this invader from outer space. Verse 14,

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Revelation 19:14–15).

Remember, we read earlier that the year-long Day of the Lord will be the time of God’s judgment on our rebellious nations. As it states in Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Continuing in Revelation 19, we see confirmed the glorious ruling authority of the coming ruler of planet earth: “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (v. 16).

He is the conquering King. Yes, “Who is able to stand?”

Who will fight against Christ at His coming? Revelation 17 gives us more details. The revived Roman Empire with its ten kings or kingdoms will use all its military strength to resist the conquering King. Revelation 17:12,

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:12–14).

Yes, the Lamb, Jesus Christ will overcome them, He will conquer them. And who will be with our Savior? “The armies in heaven” we just read about in Revelation 19:14 will be with Him. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful! That may include you, my friends, if you become a faithful and genuine Christian.

Who Are the True Saints of God?

The saints, resurrected to immortality, will join Christ in the heavenly wedding. And we’ve seen that they will come back to earth with Him to defeat His enemies at the battle of Armageddon. The resurrected saints will rule in the Kingdom as kings and priests here on the earth, as we read in “The song of the saints”: Revelation 5:10, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Will you be one of those resurrected Christians? My friends, we need to urgently prepare for the coming Kingdom. How should we prepare? First, we need to fervently pray for the Kingdom to come. Jesus gave us the model prayer in Matthew 6. He taught us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come (Matthew 6:9–10).

My friends, if God’s Kingdom does not come, there will be no life left on earth! As Jesus said in Matthew 24:22, “[And] unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

And we also sigh and cry for the abominations flooding our cities and the world. The prophet Ezekiel reveals just who will be spared from the Great Tribulation. God will spare those who will not join our wicked world.

God will protect those who cry and sigh for the evils and wickedness in our countries. He tells an angelic being to put a mark on them for protection. Ezekiel 9:4,

“Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

All the wicked and their families are destroyed, but God tells His servant: “[D]o not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary” (v. 6).

Do you cry and sigh for all the abominations in your country? Tomorrow’s World is striving to fulfill God’s instructions of Isaiah 58:1, “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

I hope you have seen Mr. Wallace Smith’s program “The War Against Normal” and Mr. Gerald Weston’s program “Political Correctness: A Sinister Deception.” You can access these programs on our website, TOMORROWSWORLD.ORG.

We all need to seek God’s Kingdom and God’s way of life and do what is good and righteous. Jesus told us to “[S]eek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

What else must you do to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God and the coming of the conquering King? What did Jesus tell His servants to do, several times? He concluded the parable of the ten virgins with this admonition: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Luke 21:34 also emphasizes “The Importance of Watching”:

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34–36).

What specific signs should you be watching for? In AD 70, the Jerusalem church escaped the Roman capture and desolation of the city. They followed Christ’s instructions in Matthew 24:15:

Therefore when you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15–16).

We need to watch for an end-time Abomination of Desolation. The Apostle Paul warns of a great false prophet who will stand in the holy place. Let’s read that in 2 Thessalonians 2. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Apostle Paul writes,

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).

This end-time false prophet will cause the future animal sacrifices to cease! Let’s realize that the Jews have not offered animal sacrifices since AD 70 when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem. And for the end-time sacrifices to be STOPPED eventually, they need to BEGIN!

The Prophetic Signs of Christ’s Return

We’ve seen the awesome power that Jesus Christ will pour out upon the rebellious nations that will fight Him at His coming. As we read in Matthew 24:30, Jesus Christ will return to this earth with “power and great glory.”

You need to prepare for that great event. We cited one major sign to watch for: the end-time Abomination of Desolation Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24:15. The prophet Daniel also tells us that this sign will occur just 1,290 days before Christ’s Second Coming. Daniel 12:11,

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

Watch for animal sacrifices offered once again in Jerusalem. When that happens, you will know we are entering the last phase leading up to the return of Christ!

To summarize: Watch for Sign Number One: Watch for the offering of animal sacrifices once again in Jerusalem. And Number Two: The Abomination of Desolation to be set up in the holy place.

The greatest event in world history is prophesied to come soon. Jesus Christ will come to save our world from cosmocide and total oblivion. He’s called us to prepare for the Kingdom, to pray for the Kingdom, and watch the prophetic signs of the times. You need to know those prophetic signs your Bible plainly reveals. Be sure to order our free study guide Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.

My friends, you need to study your Bible and confirm the truth and the good news of God’s coming Kingdom. Thank God that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Conquering King is coming soon. Be sure to follow Christ’s admonition in Luke 21:36,

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.

Thank you for watching!

We, here at Tomorrow’s World, make these videos to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible. So if you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another video.

And if you want to learn more, you can request our free Bible study guide—Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return. Just order online at TWTV.ORG/Signs.

See you next time!

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

Lord, Teach Us to Pray!

Billions of people around the world pray memorized prayers. But do they get answers to their prayers? Do you get answers to YOUR prayers? Are prayers just talking to ourselves? Or is there a real God who answers prayer? Are there practical keys and strategies for answered prayer?

Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” That’s in Luke 11:1. Jesus then gave them the model prayer or the outline prayer. Perhaps you have memorized it and repeat it often. But do you pray with meaning? You need to know the five keys for answered prayer. You can have an amazing and abundant life by following these keys from your Bible!

Stay tuned!

Seeking God’s Perfect Will

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Millions of people feel helpless and do not know how to get the help they need. There is one source that can give you powerful help and encouragement. That’s the power of prayer. The Bible reveals simple and straightforward keys to answered prayer.

My friends, you can have your prayers answered, IF you follow the biblical keys and strategies. It tells us in Ephesians 3:15 that God is the Father “from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Jesus taught us to begin our prayers by addressing our Father in heaven. Our Father in heaven loves you, and He will listen to your prayers and act upon them, IF you follow the instructions in your Bible.

My friends, your Bible gives promising and guaranteed keys to answered prayer. Let’s consider just five important ones! Our first key strategy for answered prayer is: SEEK GOD’S WILL, and not your own! If you have your Bible, turn to Acts 13. King David was called a man after God’s own heart. That is a very high honor. King David was one who God said would do His will.

The Apostle Paul is writing about the history of Israel. Acts 13:22:

“And when He [God] had removed him [King Saul], He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, [Listen!] who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus…” (Acts 13:22–23).

What was the key characteristic that God saw in David? David was wholehearted in doing God’s will! So the first strategy for answered prayer is to Seek God’s will. Remember the outline prayer. We should all pray every day, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

My friends, we all make many choices every day. Sometimes our human nature gets in the way of doing what we KNOW IS RIGHT! So, we have to pray for God’s strength to do His will. Of course, when it comes to making important decisions, we need to get all the facts, get wise counsel, and pray about it. Perhaps you’re deciding on a career, or a professional training program. Which should you choose? Perhaps you are involved in a romantic relationship, but there are some questions that make you hesitate in considering marriage with this individual; perhaps you are being persuaded by friends to do illegal drugs, engage in illicit sex, or pursue other sinful practices; perhaps you need to decide on buying a home or a condo. Ask God that His will be done! Why? Because He knows what is best for you!

Notice the Apostle John’s assurance concerning answered prayer and doing God’s will:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14–15).

Yes, you can have the confidence that God is hearing Your prayers if you are dedicated to doing His will.

My friends, when you SEEK GOD’S WILL, and not your own, God will give you great peace of mind and joy.

King David expressed his joy [for] doing God’s will. Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Yes, it was a DELIGHT for David to SEEK God’s will. In fact, THAT IS key number six in our inspiring free booklet, TWELVE KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER. Here is what Roderick Meredith writes on pages 10–11:

“Another key to successful prayer is to be absolutely sure that—as far as possible—you align your will and your requests with GOD’s will…. As you zealously study the Bible and yield to let Christ live within you, His will increasingly replaces your own. It affects how you pray. You come to realize that God has made all men and women in His image—that He will ‘call’ ALL mankind to understanding and repentance in His time. With this in mind, you will not be praying just for your own good, but for the good of others as well. Then you can sincerely say to God, as Jesus did: ‘not My will, but Yours, be done’” (Luke 22:42).

Diligent Study, Prayer, and Supplication

My friends, seeking God’s will is one of the most important keys to answered prayer;

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

Another major strategy for answered prayer is STUDY YOUR BIBLE DAILY. The Bible reveals the mind of God and the Way of God. The more you’re in harmony with God’s way of life, the more you will be in harmony with God’s will. The Bible gives numerous examples of God’s intervention for nations and individuals. When you read about the lives of Christ, the apostles, and the heroes and heroines of the Bible, your faith will grow. Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

God will increase your faith if you are reading your Bible. Yes, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Think of the times when God rescued the prophet Daniel from the lion’s den; God delivered the three Hebrew men from the fiery furnace; God rescued the whole nation of Israel from the bondage in Egypt and brought them through the Red Sea; an angel led the Apostle Peter from a Jerusalem prison (Acts 12:5–11); In Philippi, God delivered Paul and Silas from an inner prison (Acts 16:24–40). Many were miraculously healed when the shadow of the Apostle Peter passed over them (Acts 5:14–16).

Yes, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. My friends, many of you have experienced answered prayer, and perhaps some of you have even experienced miraculous healing based on the promises of your Bible. You need to read your Bible daily! You need spiritual food every day of your life. In our inspiring free booklet, TWELVE KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER, Dr. Meredith emphasizes this key to answered prayer: “Study the Bible”:

“To know God, to understand His will and to BELIEVE in His promises, you need to regularly STUDY His inspired Word in an orderly way—just as you might study a science textbook or a volume on history. A good place to start is the book of Matthew—the first book in the New Testament. Read this through slowly and carefully—noting what Jesus actually said, paying particular attention to the many examples of answered prayer” (p. 4).

My friends, apply this strategy for answered prayer: STUDY YOUR BIBLE DAILY.

We’ve briefly discussed two strategies for answered prayer: SEEK GOD’S WILL and STUDY YOUR BIBLE DAILY. A third, and extremely important strategy is: CLAIM GOD’S PROMISES. Some scholars have estimated that there are more than 3,000 promises in the Bible. The words “promise,” “promises,” and “promised” occur more than 120 times in the New King James Version of the New Testament. One of the most inspiring references concerning God’s promises is in 2 Peter the first chapter.

Turn in your Bible to 2 Peter 1:2:

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power [Listen to this!] has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2–4).

My friends, read that carefully again! God has given you and me “exceedingly great and precious promises”! And he promises to supply all our needs!

Philippians 4:19. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

My friends, I’ve claimed that promise of Philippians 4:19 many times, and God has answered wonderfully. You can claim God’s promises as well. There are so many promises in the Bible, but let me share a few of them with you. We’ve presented them in previous programs, but these are supremely encouraging:

• God has promised to answer our prayers (Matthew 7:7–8);
• He has promised to fulfill all our needs (Philippians 4:19);
• He has promised to guide our lives (Proverbs 3:5–6);
• He has promised us long life, if we honor our father and mother (Ephesians 6:2–3);
• He has promised us to give us the desires of our heart, IF we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4–5);
• He has promised us peace of mind (Philippians 4:6–7);
• He has promised us the ability to endure trials (1 Corinthians 10:13);
• He has promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Luke 11:13);
• He has promised us the gift of His love (Romans 5:5);
• He has promised us eternal life (1 John 2:25).

My friends, study these PROMISES in your Bible. Remind God that He has given YOU these promises. Ask God in faith to fulfill these promises in YOUR LIFE, and you’ll begin to have a greater peace of mind! Seek God’s will in YOUR LIFE, and you’ll be fulfilling one of the keys to answered prayer.

There are many, many more promises in the Bible for you and your family, and for all human beings on earth. You may want to make your own list.

What Did Christ Instruct?

A fourth strategy for answered prayer is to FOLLOW CHRIST’S INSTRUCTIONS.

We’ve already seen Christ’s outline for the model prayer. But He also gave us important topics to pray about. He has given His Church the responsibility to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations. God is calling people from all nations to respond to that message. Jesus had compassion on the people of His day. Even now, He still has compassion on those who respond to the gospel.

Notice this instruction in Matthew the 9^th chapter. Matthew 9:35,

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:35–38).

My friends, Jesus told His disciples to pray for more laborers to work in the spiritual harvest. Even today, there’s a large spiritual harvest. God wants more laborers, more members in the body of Christ, the Church of God, to serve new people whom He is calling all over this world. Are you praying for more laborers to serve in the spiritual harvest? One important key to answered prayer is to follow Christ’s instructions.

Christ gave us another major instruction to follow in Matthew the 19^th chapter. A young rich man wanted to know what he needed to do to gain eternal life. What was Jesus’ answer? Matthew 19:17,

“No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Jesus then stated several of the Ten Commandments.

The Apostle John assures us that this is a key to answered prayer. 1 John 3:22,

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

Yes, my friends, we need to follow Christ’s instruction to keep His commandments! Turn in your Bible to Matthew 24.

What else does Christ instruct us to pray for? Bible prophecy foretells the Great Tribulation to come. One of the key signs will be the Abomination of Desolation, as Jesus points out in Matthew 24:15.

In verse 20, He tells us to pray about our escape from the Great Tribulation:

“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:20–22).

Historically, true Christians fled Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD. Now in the end-time, Jesus warns us about this unique time in all history called the Great Tribulation. He promises His faithful servants protection in Luke 21:36:

“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.”

Those who are watching world news, and prophetic events, will know when it is time to flee to a place of protection. But Jesus tells us to prepare! How? By praying that our flight will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. Those who have experienced severe winter storms know just how difficult it is to travel. And Christ who is Lord of the Sabbath, as it tells us in Mark 2:28, instructs us to PRAY that our flight not be on the Sabbath. Yes, Christ expects His servants to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Be sure to pray that your flight will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath day! The fourth strategy for answered prayer is FOLLOW CHRIST’S INSTRUCTIONS.

The Prayers of the Righteous: Outgoing Concern for Others

Human beings are very selfish and carnal. We know of many who have the “gimme” or “get” attitude in their prayers rather than the “give” attitude.

The Apostle Paul quoted Jesus with one of the most important principles for Christians in Acts 20:35:

“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

I remember as a little boy, my parents taught me to pray for others, particularly our family. And I remember as a teenager praying for an aunt afflicted with cancer. Do you pray mainly for yourself, or do you pray for others?

The Apostle Paul exhorts us in James 5:16,

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Notice that as we pray for others, God expects us to pray fervently, to put our hearts into our prayers!

Jesus even tells us to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44,

“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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44–45).

In this end-time, we see worsening leadership in various national governments. But at the same time, God expects us to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1,

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

Yes, a fifth strategy for answered prayer is: PRAY FOR OTHERS!

Effective prayer can change your life! Our Father in heaven wants to hear from you in prayer.

Jesus made this clear in Matthew 7:7,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:7–12).

My friends, our Father in heaven loves you. He has given you authority through the name of Jesus Christ to make your requests known to Him. As a loving Father, God promises to give “good things” to those who ask Him.

Continue to pray for the true gospel to be preached in all the world. Apply these strategies of prayer and draw closer to your Savior and your Father in heaven.

Thank you for watching!

We, here at Tomorrow’s World, make these videos to help you understand your world through the pages of the Bible.

So if you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another video.

And if you want to learn more you can request our free Bible Study Guide—Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer—just click the link in the description or order online at TWTV.ORG/Prayer.

See you next time!

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

What Is the Fourth Commandment?

Billions of people in the world are missing out on the New Testament message of abundant living. Human reason, including non-biblical ideas of “human love,” continues to lead the world toward suffering, confusion, and disaster. What is the true way to love and peace in the world? Most professing Christians know the answer, Matthew 22:37. Jesus Christ gave these two principles to be obeyed by every human being:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).

My friends, this is the way to true life, meaning, and fulfillment. But why do so few enjoy this true life? Because human beings do not like to be told what to do. These are “commandments” and humans resist commandments, including the Ten Commandments.

But many would rather remain ignorant, because it suits their selfish desires. Aldous Huxley, the famous English author, expressed this perspective well: “Most ignorance is vincible ignorance. We don’t know because we don’t want to know. It is our will that decides how and upon what subjects we shall use our intelligence” (Ends and Means, p. 312). But there IS a God, and He commands us to love Him!

The First Great Commandment to love God is defined by the first four of the Ten Commandments, and the Fourth Commandment of the Ten emphasizes a weekly action in loving God.

Exodus 20:8–10,

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.”

My friends, will you love God? Will you obey the Fourth Commandment? You need to know the true Christian way of life and the true Sabbath of Jesus Christ!

Stay tuned!

Christians and the Sabbath

Billions of people all over the world enjoy holidays. They celebrate secular holidays and religious holy days.

Muslims worship on Friday and follow the call to prayer five times a day. Jews around the world have worshiped for thousands of years on the Sabbath, the day that begins at sunset every Friday evening, and continues through sunset on Saturday. Professing Christians meet for Sunday church services, proclaiming theirs is the true day for worship.

The Sabbath controversy has continued for centuries. Did the New Testament change the Sabbath observance to Sunday worship? Should religious people set aside ANY special day as HOLY? Does your Bible COMMAND us to observe SUNDAY, the first day of the week, as a day of worship? Or should Christians observe the seventh-day Sabbath? On today’s program, we’ll answer that question from the Bible.

The most important questions of life are answered in your Bible. And yet, we see religious conflicts and differences even among professing Christian denominations. Why do so many professing Christians keep Sunday, while others keep Saturday as the Sabbath?

To answer the question, let’s look at the beginning of Christianity as recorded in your Bible. If you have your Bible, turn to Acts 13:42. In the first century AD, the Apostle Paul had preached on the Sabbath in the ANTIOCH synagogue. His audience consisted of both Jews and Gentiles. Notice that after the Jews left the meeting, the Gentiles made a request. Now, this was YEARS after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Surely, if Christians were to keep Sunday, the Gentiles would have met with the Apostle Paul the very next day, Sunday, after they had met in the synagogue on Saturday. 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!].” “The Gentiles 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.”

My friends, the New Testament Church of the first century observed the seventh-day Sabbath. Let’s continue reading in Acts 13:43: “Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [Now, listen to this!] On the NEXT SABBATH almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God” (Acts 13:43–44).

Yes, it was the Apostle Paul’s custom to preach on the Sabbath as it tells us in Acts 17:2. Many were converted to Christianity and continued observing the Fourth Commandment. Paul was very effective in his preaching to both Jews and Gentiles, as we read in Acts 18:4. He was in Corinth on this occasion:

“And he [the Apostle Paul] reasoned in the synagogue EVERY SABBATH, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.”

The Christians of the first century AD observed the seventh-day Sabbath. But when was it changed to Sunday? And WHO popularized Sunday observance?

The Catholic Encyclopedia, on the topic of “Sunday,” states this: “Tertullian (202 [AD]) is the first writer who expressly mentions the Sunday rest: ‘We, however (just as tradition has taught us), on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude, deferring even our businesses lest we give any place to the devil’” (“Sunday,” The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 14, 1912). That was not until 202 AD, more than 170 years AFTER the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ!

And it was not until the fourth century AD that 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: “On the venerable day of the SUN let all magistrates and people … REST” (“Sunday Legislation,” Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. 11, p. 147, 1911).

The sun-worshiping emperor Constantine, declared Sunday to be a day of rest. But what was the justification for that? Even Tertullian, whom we mentioned earlier, cited “TRADITION” as his authority. Listen, what is your foundation of truth? What is the source of your religion? Is it tradition apart from the Bible? Is it church authority apart from the Bible? Or is it the Bible itself?

Jesus gave a very strong warning when human traditions contradict the commandments of God. Turn to Mark 7. Many churches have followed that wrong pathway, just as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Mark 7:7.

Jesus said, “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…. All too well you REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, that you may keep YOUR TRADITION” (Mark 7:7–9).

That is a warning I hope all of us will heed. Jesus stated He is Lord of the Sabbath. He observed the Sabbath regularly and He did NOT break the Sabbath commandment as some theologians assert. As He said in John 15:10, “I have kept My Father’s commandments.”

And we as Christians must strive to follow our Savior’s example. He warned us, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven’” (Matthew 7:21).

My friends, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and the instructions of your Bible? Or will you follow the tradition of men?

The Sabbath Rest—A Day of Worship

Turn in your Bible to Mark 2:27. Jesus stated,

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

And notice what Jesus DID NOT SAY. He did NOT SAY, “The Sabbath was made for the Jews.” No, the Sabbath was made for ALL HUMANITY—for every man, woman, and child on planet earth! That is what Christ proclaimed!

We’ve seen that Jesus instructed His followers to keep the Ten Commandments. He Himself observed the seventh-day Sabbath, as did the Apostles. But is there OTHER New Testament evidence that Christians should observe the Sabbath? Yes, there is!

Turn in your Bible to Hebrews 4. In this chapter, the Sabbath is pictured as a type of the millennial rest, as well as a memorial of God’s rest at creation. Hebrews 4:8. Speaking of the disobedience of the ancient Israelites on their way to the promised land, Hebrews 4:8 states, “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. [Now, listen! Verse 9] There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:8–9). The original Greek word for the word “rest” in verse 9 is “sabbatismos” which means “a Sabbath-keeping” (according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (“Rest,” Vine’s Complete Expository of Old and New Testament Words, p. 529, 1985).

Both the Revised Version and the New International Version translate verse 9 as “a Sabbath rest.” Yes, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, even to this day!

Now, does this mean a symbolic rest—or a literal Sabbath rest? The Anchor Bible Dictionary cites several secular Greek writings, where “sabbatismos” LITERALLY means “Sabbath observance” or “Sabbath celebration” (“Sabbath,” The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 5, pp. 855–856, 1992).

My friends, there is no question that this verse is a New Testament statement on literal Christian observance of the Sabbath.

The context of Hebrews the fourth chapter does speak both of symbolic and literal rest. The Greek word “katapausis” is also translated “rest” in this section. But notice what God says of those who have now entered into God’s rest, that is—those who are converted, those who will now follow Christ. Notice this important statement in verse 10 of Hebrews 4. “For he [the individual Christian] who has entered His rest [God’s rest] has himself also ceased from his works [notice] AS GOD DID FROM HIS.”

If we, as converted Christians, are to cease from our works just as God did from his, we simply need to ask one question: HOW did God cease from His works? Verse 4 of Hebrews 4) gives us the answer: “For He has spoken in a certain place of THE SEVENTH DAY in this way: ‘And God rested on THE SEVENTH DAY from all His works.’”

There is no guessing here. New Testament Christians are supposed to rest just as God rested—on the Seventh Day! The Bible is very clear. Both the Old Testament AND the New Testament give Christians the clear example and instruction to keep the Sabbath Day Holy!

The scholarly Anchor Bible Dictionary affirms the responsibility of New Testament Christians to observe the Sabbath. It states: “PHYSICAL sabbath-keeping on the part of the NEW COVENANT believer as affirmed by ‘sabbath rest’ epitomizes cessation from ‘works’ (4:10) in commemoration of God’s rest at creation (4:4 = Gen 2:2) and manifests faith in the salvation provided by Christ” (vol. 5, p. 856). That’s quite a plain statement!

Do you realize, my friends, that the fourth commandment was not instituted at Mt. Sinai during the time of Moses? It already existed at the recreation as we read in Genesis 2:2. The fourth commandment states: “REMEMBER the Sabbath Day” (Exodus 20:8). God established the weekly Sabbath, not during Moses’ time! God established the Sabbath more than 2,500 years before Moses! Your Bible proves that fact.

The bottom-line question is: WHO or WHAT is your authority? Is it the Bible? Or some church and religion APART FROM the Bible?

The Sabbath has Never Been Changed

As we’ve seen, some religious leaders, including Roman Catholic and Protestant, claim TRADITION or church administration, APART FROM THE BIBLE, as their reason for keeping SUNDAY, rather than the Sabbath.

My friends, we can be very thankful that original Christianity, the Christianity of the first century, which observed the fourth commandment, has continued to this day. Biblical Christianity has continued in spite of persecutions through the centuries. For example, in the seventeenth century, Sabbatarian Christians were persecuted in England and searched for religious freedom in the new lands, the colonies of North America.

The royal charter of 1663 granted by Charles II of England, guaranteed religious freedom to the colony of Rhode Island. That charter can be seen today in the Providence, Rhode Island statehouse.

Stephen Mumford and his wife came to Newport, Rhode Island in 1665 in search of religious freedom. They were the first Christian Sabbath keepers in America. As their group expanded and grew, they needed a larger meeting hall. The Sabbatarians built a large meeting hall in 1729. It is now preserved by the Newport Historical Society. If you’re ever in Newport, Rhode Island you will want to visit this historic building. In fact, the oldest Jewish synagogue in America is located right next door to the Christian Sabbath meeting hall.

In the Newport Sabbatarian meeting hall is a raised pulpit. Behind the pulpit are two large plaques inscribed with the Ten Commandments. At the bottom of the second plaque is the Apostle Paul’s bold statement of Romans 3:31 in the King James Version, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Yes, these New Testament Christians affirmed their allegiance to Christ’s statement, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).

Sabbatarian church records, preserved in the Newport Historical Museum, contain members’ names and contributions. Most significantly, the church describes itself in those records as “keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and in particular the Lord’s 7^th Day Sabbath.” And in eighteenth century Rhode Island, there were other prominent Sabbatarians, including two governors of the Rhode Island colony, Richard Ward and his son Samuel—and even the first president of Brown University, James Manning, was a Sabbatarian.

Sadly, many over the centuries have chosen human tradition over God’s plain teachings. 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. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify” (The Faith of Our Fathers, pp. 72–73, 1917). That is 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. What Gibbons and other Catholic authorities state, is that, it is the authority of the Catholic Church that changed observance in the Christian world from Saturday to Sunday, NOT the New Testament scriptures! And that occurred in the Council of Laodicea in the middle of the fourth century!

Furthermore, here is an admission by Harold Lindsell, editor of Christianity Today magazine and Southern Baptist minister (November 5, 1976): “There is nothing in Scripture that requires us to keep Sunday rather than Saturday as a holy day” (“Consider the Case for Quiet Saturdays,” Christianity Today, November 5, 1976, p. 42).

So, will you keep the seventh-day Sabbath? It is a memorial of the Creation—and points to the true God and true Creator of the Universe. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament also emphasizes the Sabbath as a foreshadowing of the millennial Sabbath, the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. The seventh-day Sabbath has deep meaning for Christians.

The Blessing of the Seventh Day Sabbath

“The Sabbath was MADE for MAN, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

My friends, Christ and the Apostles observed the seventh-day Sabbath, and the biblical holy days. The Scriptures admonish us to follow their example. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). The Apostle Peter exhorted us to follow the example of Christ. 1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” In observing the New Testament Passover, Jesus instructed His disciples to follow His example, even by practicing the foot-washing service. Jesus said in John 13:15, “For I have GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:15–17).

We look forward to the day when all peoples and all nations will do as Christ says. The Messiah will establish world peace, world government, true education, and the biblical way of truth, love, and life. All nations will OBSERVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. They will observe the weekly Sabbath and the biblical holy days! What a wonderful, peaceful, and prosperous world it will be for all peoples! Will you obey the fourth commandment? Will you follow our Lord’s instruction in Matthew 19:17? Jesus told the young rich man and us: “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

God’s commandments are a joy for true Christians! As the Apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3)—or “not grievous,” as the KJV has it. The seventh-day Sabbath brings joy to those who observe it as God commands!

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