January 9, 2009

The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are round about Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.  His lightnings light the world; the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.  Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, who boast of idols; Worship Him, all you gods" (Hebrew: Elohim – new family members, Psalm 97:1-7 ).

“The LORD Reigns”

Dear Brethren,

As we observe the ongoing and accelerating evils in this society, and the world at large today, along with its un-resolvable problems through human effort aside from God, it becomes easy to see the sun is setting on the close of this age. And its end is almost here!

It is an age whose cup has run over with all the evils Satan has influenced mankind into his world of evil that began almost a full 6,000 years ago and has now almost reached its apex (Luke 4:5-6; Galatians 1:4; Genesis 15:16).

An end-time world that is described by the apostle Paul as filled with unrighteousness: “For men (mankind) will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power . . .” (II Timothy 3:1-5).

It is also a world that is filled with violence, murderers, criminals preying on the weak, wars and rumors of wars; and it will end at the close of the 3^rd woe—the final war of this age, Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-3).

This is the same world that began with Adam and Eve, the original parents of all mankind; who chose to disobey the LORD and follow Satan’s lead into this yet present age that was and is based on human reason (Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 2:2-3). Tragically it is yet a world that continues to be influenced by this serpent of old whose objective is its destruction (Revelation 12:7-9, 12; Ephesians 6:12).

And its destruction would be complete – except for the divine intervention of Jesus Christ upon His return to this earth (Mathew 24:22; Revelation 19:11-16).

It should be realized by all of mankind that CIVILIZATION IS INDEED AT THE CROSSROADS! For many years mankind has had the capacity to wipe all life off the face of the earth – and would – if God would fail to intervene! But thanks to our wonderful God and His beloved Son Jesus Christ He will intervene at the precise time before the fullness of their nuclear capability is used and stop it from taking place.

Christ will then stand on the Mount of Olives with His new Spirit Family in triumph having conquered those vast armies who will have gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat to fight against Him and each other (Zechariah 14:1-15).

A New Age Soon To Dawn

As the sun sets on this present age; the sun will rise again while revealing a new millennial age – one that will be far different from the one into which we were born and have had our human existence.

It will be a world governed by the newly coronated KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:13-14). It will come to be the Wonderful World of Tomorrow which will be based on righteousness, mercy, and love.

A New Educational System

Ambassador Bible Correspondence, Lesson 5: Jesus Christ is soon to return to earth in supreme POWER and GLORY, to put down all rebellion, to RULE all nations with divine power and force, to institute a totally new and different system of education [having] . . . started in God's Ambassador Colleges [during the life-time ministry of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong]!

Right now God is giving this world, on all inhabited continents, His final warning! Right now, through THE WORLD TOMORROW broadcast, THE PLAIN TRUTH magazine, the AMBASSADOR COLLEGE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE [having been recorded at the time and are now accessible on our websites], and other means, He is showing the contemptuous, cynical world what is to come -- and calling a precious FEW of all who hear and read His Message to true salvation, and preparation to be priests and kings WITH Christ in His Kingdom.

WHAT WILL THE MILLENNIUM BE LIKE?

EVERY king is CROWNED in a coronation ceremony. Jesus is no exception! He, too, will be crowned as Supreme Ruler -- as "KING of kings." And He will rule over this whole world for 1000 years! Yet almost no one understands HOW or WHY!

Christ Born to be King

Consider, for a moment, what the angelic messenger said to Mary, the mother of Jesus: "Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great ... and THE LORD GOD shall give unto Him the THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID: and he shall REIGN over the house of Jacob forever; and of His KINGDOM there shall be no end" (Luke 1:31-33).

Jesus was BORN TO RULE. He was born to REIGN over the nations of earth. Remember what He said to Pontius Pilate? "Pilate therefore said unto Him, 'Art thou a KING then?' Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a KING. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, and for this CAUSE came I into the world ...'" (John 18:37).

Not Yet Crowned

We learned in Lesson 3 that Jesus QUALIFIED to become ruler of this earth by conquering Satan. But Jesus Christ did NOT, at His FIRST coming over 19 centuries ago, replace Satan. He was NOT crowned King. Instead, He was crucified!

Jesus was born to be a king, though He did NOT then assume the responsibility of that office (John 18:36). But He is COMING AGAIN – this time as "KING OF KINGS" to bring the world PEACE and PROSPERITY! . . .

What tremendous event occurs after Jesus is crowned? Will there be a march of triumph climaxing His victory over the nations which opposed His return to establish the Kingdom of God?

Since Jesus will become "King of kings," who will be the "kings" ruling under Him? And when will they be given their power and responsibility?

But notice now WHY Jesus Christ must come to RULE this world as "King of kings."

To Establish God's World Government

. . . What DIFFERENT means will Christ use to prevent human dictators from enslaving the world?

WE MUST HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT -- A WORLD GOVERNMENT with CHRIST as SUPREME RULER -- if there is to be peace and human life is to be PRESERVED!

It must be a government which has the WISDOM to plan for the good of all. And it must have the POWER TO ENFORCE its wise plan on all those who do not choose to abide by it!

God, the Father, will supply HIS WISDOM in administering the NEW FORM of government. And Christ is coming with POWER to enforce it! "The Kingdom of God [WILL] COME with POWER" (Mark 9:1).

People will at first be induced by FORCE, and then RE-EDUCATED to live by a BETTER CODE OF LAWS than they live by today. A code which will bring peace, HAPPINESS, and ETERNAL LIFE!

This code of laws has ALWAYS been here, but the world has NEVER LIVED BY IT! For this purpose Christ will set up GOD'S form of government. Christ's government will administer these laws and rule the earth with righteousness and true justice for all.

That's why He is to be made King of the earth. He will have COMPLETE personal charge of guiding all people to repentance and reeducating them in GOD'S way. . . .

COMMENT: The WORLD HEADQUARTERS of God's government will be established in God's model city -- Jerusalem, Palestine. And to it the REPRESENTATIVES of the world's nations will journey to learn more of God's NEW way of living (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3).

Resurrected Saints Rule With Christ

1. What duties will the saints, who will be raised IMMORTAL at Christ's second coming, have after they aid Him in subduing the armies of the nations? Will they REIGN with Christ? Rev. 20:4. Sit on Christ's throne? Rev. 3:21.

2. Will the saints have the WHOLE EARTH TO RULE? Dan. 7:27. 

3. Will some be KINGS and have power over NATIONS? Rev. 2:26; 5:10.

4. How will the CITIES of the world be governed? Notice Jesus' answer in the parable recorded in Luke the 19th (Luke 19) chapter. What did He say would be the REWARD of those who manage WISELY the abilities God has given them NOW? Verses 16-19. Will the deserving be given RULE over these cities at Christ's return? Verse 12.

5. Will the resurrected saints be PRIESTS? Rev. 5:10; 20:6. Will they also be JUDGES? Rev. 20:4.

COMMENT: ALL saints will be priests and will, IN ADDITION, have other offices, such as RULERSHIP and JUDGESHIP.

6. Does Jude speak of this time? Jude 14,15.

7. Will the resurrected saints be able to appear in a MATERIAL body when necessary? Isa. 30:20-21. What will they do? Verse 21.

COMMENT: This has been done before. For Christ, who has existed in the SPIRIT form since His resurrection, appeared in a MATERIAL form afterward in order to become VISIBLE to His disciples (John 20:17, 19, 25-27). . . .

Perfect Government Will Reign

When God REALLY sets His hand to save mankind, it will be done under the very STRONGEST POSSIBLE KIND of government. For man, influenced by his own carnal mind, must be held under RIGID RULE until he becomes conscious of a BETTER way of living. And so the great CENTRAL GOVERNMENT of the earth in the Millennium will be composed of POWERFUL, DIVINE SPIRIT BEINGS!

God the Father, the Supreme Ruler of the universe, HAVING ALL POWER AND WISDOM, will be at the head of this government. Never again will people have to depend on HUMAN BEINGS, with all their frailties, to guide them. They will have PERFECT GOVERNMENT by PERFECT RULERS! THE WORLD WILL BE RULED WITH ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!

Christ, the very Spirit-born Son of God, will be in DIRECT CONTROL of the earth. Having once been human, He knows man's frailties perfectly (Heb. 2:9-10; 4:15). He knows what can be expected of the WEAK, mortal humans He will rule with a "ROD OF IRON" (Rev. 19:15). Therefore, He will rule with PERFECT JUSTICE AND MERCY! . . .

The saints -- those being CALLED and TRAINED at this time -- are NOW receiving their instruction in the work they will do then as kings, rulers, priests and judges.

In those days, "The earth shall be FULL of the KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9). SIN of any kind will NOT BE TOLERATED! ALL nations will live by God's SPIRITUAL law -- the TEN COMMANDMENTS! . . .

Basis of Modern Education

Down through the ages man has exercised this CHOICE. He has chosen the ways which SEEMED right to him (see Prov. 14:12). Man has also ESTABLISHED HIS OWN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS for TEACHING and perpetuating these ways, whether right or wrong, to succeeding generations.

Man is the highest mortal being God created. His MIND elevates him far above dumb animals. God intended that our minds be developed, trained and USED to HIS honor and glory! But what has man DONE with his mind?

Today we live in a confused, misguided, deceived, chaotic world. This world is not happy. It is filled with strife, fear, ignorance, deception, injustice, crime, suffering, anguish, woe and DEATH!

WHY? Because THIS WORLD'S WHOLE CIVILIZATION IS BASED ON A SYSTEM OF FALSE EDUCATION -- A SYSTEM OF MIS-EDUCATION!!

Modern education is almost wholly materialistic. It REJECTS the basic revelation of God. Even reading the Bible in U.S. public school classrooms is now FORBIDDEN! Instead of teaching the BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE -- what life IS, WHY we are here, WHERE we are going, and HOW to live successfully, usefully, happily, joyfully -- ONLY MATERIAL KNOWLEDGE is taught!

Yes, something is RADICALLY WRONG with this world's education, as well as with its religions, its politics, its economics and its society! And WRONG EDUCATION is a basic cause of ALL the world's ills today!

Basis of TRUE Knowledge

To our first parents, Adam and Eve, God revealed certain definite facts, principles and laws. But this knowledge they REJECTED!

Immediately they broke four of the Ten Commandments in the "original" sin. They DEPARTED from God's REVEALED WAY OF LIFE. Down through the centuries man has continued to reject God's revealed KNOWLEDGE!

Jesus said, "Ye shall KNOW the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you FREE" (John 8:32). Notice: "Ye shall KNOW." Knowing is KNOWLEDGE -- EDUCATION! Ignorance and a false education in error have ENSLAVED the human race in wretched poverty, fear, inequality, discontent, unhappiness, sickness, suffering and DEATH!

And what is TRUTH? "THY WORD," Jesus said, "is TRUTH" (John 17:17). The BIBLE is God's INSPIRED Word! IT reveals the WAY TO WORLD PEACE. It leads man out of sickness into HEALTH; out of suffering and death into LIFE! It reveals the LAWS OF LIFE which alone can lead to peace, prosperity, happiness, joy and finally ETERNAL LIFE!

Ignorance of God's way and false education have reduced much of the world's population to abject poverty.

But this precious fund of KNOWLEDGE the wise of this world REJECT! God's laws and ways they flout and disobey! Instead, the learned of this world have become SO STEEPED in the fables of a God-rejecting materialism masquerading falsely under the attractive names of "rationalism," "modern science," "higher education," etc., that it has become IMPOSSIBLE to UNlearn these deceptions and come to a knowledge of the TRUTH!

What does GOD say of the WISDOM of this world? "The wisdom of this world is FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD!" (I Cor. 3:19.)

We have been born into a world steeped with traditional ideas -- and we usually accept them WITHOUT QUESTION. We seldom, if ever, investigate to see where they came from and if they are true. Almost everyone takes FOR GRANTED what is spoken or written! "The MAJORITY CAN'T BE WRONG!" -- so it is mistakenly thought.

Our educational system HAS NOT DARED to examine the FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS UNDERLYING HUMAN SOCIETY -- the false traditions that have led us into political and religious strife, worldwide confusion, impending chaos and DEATH. God says, "MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF [TRUE] KNOWLEDGE! (Hosea 4:6.)

What this world needs is a complete CHANGE IN THINKING -- RE-EDUCATION -- ENFORCED by the AUTHORITY of an infallible world government -- the Kingdom of God!

Mis-Education Today

1. This present generation is witnessing a tremendous upsurge in MATERIALISTIC knowledge! But is it possible to learn new scientific and technological facts, and yet NEVER arrive at the recognition of the TRUTH? II Tim. 3:7. Isn't this EXACTLY what has happened in this age of scientific advancements and mass education? Has scientific education secured world peace, or has it brought us the threat of HUMAN ANNIHILATION?

Fantastic strides by modern science and technology have led mankind to brink of disaster. . . .

COMMENT: God COMMANDS us to "PROVE ALL THINGS"! This includes our religious beliefs and political concepts, as well as scientific facts. Modern education does NOT really teach us to prove everything. If it did, world chaos and confusion would not exist!

What is True Education?

A common, but FALSE, concept in the world today is that education has NOTHING to do with a WAY of life. In most of the western world, the Bible is either politely passed over or TOTALLY REJECTED from academic educational systems. Witness the U.S. Supreme Court decision to BAN religious education from public schools in America!

The world today does NOT REALLY believe that God, through Christ and the Bible, has given us the best precepts by which to GOVERN EACH EVENT IN OUR DAILY LIVES!

10. Does the CORONATION CEREMONY occur IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the time when the RIGHTEOUS dead shall be resurrected and judged? Rev. 11:15, 18. Is this the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet? Rev. 11:15. According to Paul, do the RIGHTEOUS dead rise at the sounding of the seventh or LAST trumpet? I Cor. 15:52 and I Thes. 4:16.

How plain that the CORONATION of Jesus Christ occurs IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HE RETURNS the second time to rule the nations! In fact, JESUS RETURNS TO FULFILL HIS OFFICE AS "KING OF KINGS." Once given that office, He must -- and WILL -- carry it out!

Crowned "KING of Kings"

1. How many GREAT crowns will Jesus have -- only ONE? Rev. 14:14. But what about the "many crowns" mentioned in Rev. 19:12?

COMMENT: Jesus will have only one GREAT golden crown. That crown will designate Him as SUPREME KING over all nations.

The proper translation of Rev. 19:12 is: "And on his head are many DIADEMS." A diadem is a SMALL crown or headband signifying royal office. The smaller crowns or diadems symbolize the LESSER royal offices that Jesus will hold.

2. Why will Jesus be called "King of kings"? Who are these OTHER LESSER "kings"? Daniel 7:18, 27 and Rev. 5:10. Whom will Jesus associate with Himself on His throne? Rev. 3:21. Will those who rule with Christ have to QUALIFY for their offices, as Jesus qualified for His high office? Rev. 2:26. Do we have to overcome ourselves -- to exercise self-control, temperance? I Cor. 9:25-27.

3. Are we also to receive crowns -- symbols of authority -- if we OVERCOME? I Cor. 9:25. Are the crowns of the saints perishable or corruptible -- or are they EVERLASTING crowns? Same verse. Since they are everlasting, wouldn't we have to be IMMORTAL in order to possess them for all eternity?

4. What does God expect of us here and now? Titus 2:12-13.

5. Are we warned not to let anyone DISQUALIFY us from receiving CROWNS of rulership? Rev. 3:11. Are crowns of "life" -- betokening our EVERLASTING kingly offices under Christ -- to be given to us? Rev. 2:10 and James 1:12.

6. Has Jesus been given authority over us, to REWARD US? Mat. 28:18 and Luke 19:15. Jesus COMMANDS us -- His servants -- to appear before Him for our REWARDS!

7. WHEN DO WE RECEIVE OUR REWARD -- our crowns and offices of rulership? II Timothy 4:8. Is this AT THE SECOND COMING of Jesus Christ? I Peter 5:4.

8. Whereas Jesus went to heaven to be crowned there by the Father, do we find that Jesus returns to the EARTH to BRING our reward to us and to crown us? Compare Rev. 11:18 with Isaiah 40:10 and 62:11. Isn't it plain that Jesus COMES TO US TO GIVE US OUR REWARD?

Since Jesus will bring our reward WITH HIM when He COMES, and since He will place us in authority under Himself, would there be any reason for us to go to the Father in HEAVEN to be crowned?

9. How will the TRIUMPHANT PARADE of Jesus and His saints to Jerusalem be welcomed? Zechariah 9:9. Will it be a MARCH of TRIUMPH AND VICTORY? Same verse. Will this victory parade CULMINATE CHRIST'S VICTORY over the enemies of His people? Zech. 9: 11-17.

COMMENT: Zech. 9:9 has a DUAL fulfillment. IT WAS ONCE FULFILLED ONLY AS A TYPE DURING JESUS' FIRST COMING. Read Matthew 21:5. But Jesus was NOT THEN "KING OF KINGS"! Jesus had NOT then gained victory over the nations. He did NOT then speak peace to all the nations.

But in the final fulfillment, yet in the future, Jesus WILL BE KING and the people will joyously accept Him! (The first time they immediately CRUCIFIED Him!)

10. What will the earth be like when Jesus is acknowledged as "King of kings"? Will the ways of PEACE be proclaimed by Jesus to the nations? Zech. 9:10. How FAR will Christ's dominion extend at that time? Same verse. . . .”

Jeremiah 16:19 “To You all the nations come from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our Fathers have inherited nothing but lies (the foundation originating with Nimrod and Semaramis, his mother-wife, and embellished and added to over the millennia), worthless things in which there is no profit.”

A Series of Millennial Articles

As we see this age winding down Jesus Christ expects us to be enthusiastic and motivated to be doing all we can to prepare for His return to this earth.

In view of the sermons and Bible studies given to enable God’s people to prepare for the rough times in between the ending of this age and the new one on the horizon, it is my purpose to write a series of Pastor’s Comments on this subject to help us to focus on the new age and our promised part in it (Proverbs 29:18).......................... To be continued

Your caring friend and servant in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Don Billingsley

http://bodyofchristonline.us/     http://cog-ff.com     http://www.ezekielwatchman.org/

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