♪
Tens of millions of people go to the polls each year
to vote for the candidate of their choice.
Sometimes it's for a candidate.
Other times it's a vote against the other fellow.
We've all heard the slogans: Vote for so and so!
For a Brighter Future; He's A Candidate You Can Trust;
Just Believe!
Yes, We Can!
Build Back Better; It's a Time for Change; We Can Do Better
It's human nature to desire to make your voice
heard, and democracy in one form or another
is ingrained in us from an early age.
Some candidates are elected to keep the
country out of war, yet often end up in war.
Whether it's a country ruled by a king,
a dictator, or an elected official, events outside
of their control often define their rule.
The United States is a Democratic Republic, where
citizens cherish their voice in choosing their leaders.
On November 19, 1863, former United States
President Abraham Lincoln spoke these famous words
in the aftermath of the American Civil War Battle
at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before us, that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to
that cause for which they gave the last full measure
of devotion....that we here highly resolve that these
dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation
under God shall have a new birth of freedom....and that
government of the people, by the people, for the
people shall not perish from the earth."
Yes, government of the people, by the people,
for the people is taken for granted as the way
government should be, and although other nations may
not use the same words, government by the people
is in the hearts of many.
But is there a better way?
Not only is there a better way, that better way is
just around the corner.
Stay tuned.
♪
A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here
at Tomorrow's World, where today I'm going to show
you from the Bible that there is a better way than
government of the people and by the people.
I'll also be offering you a free resource that explains
the nature and the source of that government, so have
writing material available so you can order our easy
to read booklet--Do You Believe the True Gospel?
Have you realized, dear friends, that the gospel, that is the
good news, that Jesus Christ proclaimed for three and
a half years prior to His crucifixion is a
message about a new government to come?
Why isn't that biblical message being taught in
churches today?
To understand, we need the big picture.
Mankind's chaotic attempts to govern himself began
in the Garden of Eden.
God placed in that paradise two trees
with great symbolic meaning.
One tree symbolized man looking to God to define
the way to live, to determine right and wrong.
And if he chose that tree, it would lead to life.
The other tree symbolized man setting himself up as god,
to determine for himself right and wrong.
So, what do those trees have to do with this subject?
Everything.
When I graduated from Ambassador College in 1969,
our yearbook wrote of the results of man's
attempts to build a world apart from God.
It labeled education as-- "the Mother which spawned
the Scientists, Captains of Industry and Business,
Politicians and Rulers, leaders in Modern Society,
and the Theologians."
But what are the results of humanity's mother--its system
of education--it's a "sick, chaotic world of violence."
On the subject of government, the Envoy explains:
"The modern world has produced three more
or less new forms of government.
Each promises peace, happiness, and prosperity
for its people...
United States and British-type "Democracy";
Swedish and French-type Modern "Socialism"; and
atheistic Communism.
All three are predicated on the theory that every
individual has the right to share in the results
of Science, Industry, and the modern life.
All three are based on a system of Industry, and
diffusion of Education.
But what do we actually find?
We find some heads of state sincerely seeking
peace, and the betterment of their peoples.
But none is bringing peace because none knows the
way to peace.
But all too often we find also the opposite.
We find selfish, greedy men of excessive vanity,
ambitious in their lust for rule, scheming to
get their hands on the throttle of power for
personal aggrandizement and monetary gain.
We find graft, immorality, deception, dishonesty,
running rampant in high places.
Governments promise peace--but bring wars!"
There is no doubt that some leaders are better
than others, but none truly bring a
lasting solution to mankind's problems.
The solution to humanity's problems can never be found
in man's governments.
It must be found in the neglected word of God.
Adam chose the wrong tree, and mankind has followed
his example ever since.
But as we read in Genesis, Adam and his wife Eve
were influenced by a deceptive and persuasive
spirit being.
He is no mythical figure.
He's the god of this world.
Now, does that surprise you, dear friends?
Jesus referred to him as such three times on
the night in which He was betrayed.
For example, He said in John 12:31...
"Now is the judgment of this world; now the
ruler of this world will be cast out."
Then in John 14:30, Jesus said,
"I will no longer talk much with you, for the
ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."
While not mentioning Satan or the devil by name,
Jesus' reference is clear.
The Apostle Paul also refers to Satan as the
god of this age in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of
this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine on them."
And how can we neglect this powerful statement
on who it is that directs the course of this world?
Ephesians 2:1-2...
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses
and sins, in which you once walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit who now works
in the sons of disobedience."
Yes, it is Satan the devil who directs the course
of our world, and that means our approach toward
science, business, entertainment, government,
and yes, even religion and theologians.
And this includes professing Christianity,
for, as we read in 2 Corinthians 11:4...
"For if he who comes preaches another Jesus
whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different
spirit which you have not received, or a different
gospel which you have not accepted--you may well
put up with it!"
And in case this is not plain enough,
Paul continues in verses 14 and 15:
"And no wonder!
For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their works."
This understanding of who the god of this age is,
who directs the course of this world, explains what
we see around us.
It explains the confusion, the hatred, the degeneracy,
the selfishness and greed, and the endless wars.
But the Bible gives us hope.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is far more than about
His death, burial, and resurrection.
Yes, that is important, but He came with a message
of hope for this troubled world that goes far
beyond what you hear in Sunday morning sermons.
He brought a message about a soon-coming government
to replace the current god of this age.
To learn more about the exciting message Jesus was
sent to give--a message extensively explained in
scripture after scripture-- order our free resource:
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
Frankly, dear friends, you will be shocked to learn
how deceived you may have been about the message
Jesus proclaimed.
The true gospel of Jesus Christ is the most exciting
message ever given to humanity and the good thing is that you
can open your Bible and prove these things for yourself
It's all there in your Bible and this resource
will point out many of the plain, easy to understand,
passages of Scripture that spell it out.
So, order your free copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel?
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to
Tomorrow's World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture, will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
Let's be honest with ourselves.
Our world is in a mess; it's in trouble.
We have regional wars in Europe and the Middle East--
either of which can explode into World War III.
I could go on about the truly existential threats
in our world, but we hear plenty of that, and we
see it all around us.
However, the message Jesus proclaimed was that of
good news.
Yes, He did speak of some very bad news just prior
to His return.
He said it will get so bad that unless He returns
to stop our madness, all flesh would be destroyed.
Here it is in His famous Olivet prophecy--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."
The good news is that He will intervene to
save us from ourselves.
And the overwhelming focus of Jesus' message was one
of hope--the good news of His coming Kingdom.
Most of His ministry focused on the Kingdom of God.
It was only toward the end of His ministry that He
spoke of His death and resurrection.
This fact is shown in our free resource, Do You
Believe the True Gospel?
Now, don't believe me just because I say it.
Prove it for yourself out of the pages of your own Bible.
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
will help you do so.
Do you realize the expression "kingdom of God"
is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament?
And Matthew uses the expression "kingdom of heaven"
33 additional times.
There are other references to the gospel of the Kingdom,
or simply the Kingdom.
Should we not take notice of something referred
to over 100 times by Jesus and the Apostles?
We'll look at what Jesus meant by the Kingdom message,
but first let's show what He didn't mean.
As explained in a previous program about the gospel
that Jesus Christ proclaimed, I stated the following:
[Gerald Weston] In the sermon on the mount--considered to be
at the heart of Jesus' message to mankind--
we find what are called the beatitudes, or
beautiful attitudes.
We read in Matthew 5 and verse 3:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
Now, many assume this means that we go to heaven,
but two verses later, in verse 5, we read the following:
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Now, this presents a problem.
Do the poor in spirit [verse 3] go to heaven,
while the meek [verse 5] inherit the earth?
Which is it?
Heaven or earth?
The answer lies with the question of what does the
expression "kingdom of heaven" mean?
Matthew uses this expression most of the time, but he also
uses, as we see in chapter 6 and verse 33, the expression,
kingdom of God.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you."
We also find Matthew uses the two [the kingdom of God
and the kingdom of heaven] interchangeably.
Here it is in chapter 19, and verses 23 and 24:
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Assuredly I say
to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter
the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Now, interestingly, the other gospel writers--Mark, Luke,
and John--never, not even once--use the expression
kingdom of heaven.
They consistently use, only--kingdom of God.
And in the original Greek, from which the New Testament
is translated, the words heaven and God are very
different--they cannot be confused.
So, when Jesus said,
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
And followed two verses later with,
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth..."
we must take a closer look at the meaning of the
expressions "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God."
What is the difference, if any, between the two and what
relationship does this have with where the saved go
after death?
Let me answer that with these simple questions:
Does the expression kingdom of God mean that
the kingdom is in God?
Or does the expression show ownership of the
kingdom--God's kingdom?
Yes, it is God’s kingdom, not a kingdom in God.
Kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God are
interchangeable and they denote ownership, not location.
The Kingdom of God is the most exciting message ever given.
It is about a world-ruling government to come.
People become most excited about voting into office
a new knight in shining armor who will save us
from all our problems, but they fail to see the one
and only solution to humanity's difficulties.
Professing Christians talk about Jesus, they celebrate His
birth, and throw about the term 'gospel', but precious
few have any understanding of the message Jesus
proclaimed for three and one half years prior
to His crucifixion and resurrection.
Do you, dear friends?
Don't be too sure.
Our resource--Do You Believe the True Gospel?
takes you through the Bible and demonstrates
what the gospel of Jesus Christ is.
If you consider yourself a Christian, would you not
want to be certain of what that gospel is?
After all, Paul pronounced a curse on anyone preaching
a different gospel.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who
called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
which is not another...
But even if we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel to you than what we have
preached to you, let him be accursed."
That's from Galatians 1, verses 6 thru 8, and
they're strong words.
I personally fear to teach any other gospel than the
one that Jesus Christ proclaimed.
And I hope that you feel the same way.
That's why we are offering this free resource--
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
You don't need to guess.
And you should not follow anyone blindly, so order
your free copy of Do You Believe the True Gospel?
and do it today.
Be sure to read it and look up the scriptures.
Prove it for yourself.
♪
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
Hope springs eternal for those who are looking for
the next politician who can bring peace
and prosperity to all his citizens.
For sure, some men or women do a better job
than others in positions of rulership, but the overall
track record of government of the people and by
the people, leaves many disappointed.
Now don't misunderstand.
Sir Winston Churchill was not far from the truth
when he said:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and
will be tried in this world of sin and woe.
No one pretends that democracy is perfect
or all-wise.
Indeed it has been said that democracy is the
worst form of Government except for all those other
forms that have been tried from time to time...."
But is there a better way?
Are we left to our own devices in selecting
the next great hope?
And we must ask, is it the majority who really
selects our leaders?
As we have seen in an earlier portion of
this program, there is a powerful spirit being
who directs the course of this world.
Note it again in Ephesians the second chapter, and verses
one and two...
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses
and sins, in which you once walked according
to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who
now works in the sons of disobedience."
However, we must also recognize that God raises up
and removes rulers in order to carry out His purposes.
Do we really think that we can out-vote God?
Daniel 2:20-21...
"Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of
God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His....
He removes kings and raises up kings...."
Jesus Christ offers us a better way than
government of the people and by the people.
The Kingdom of God is the government of God,
as we see from Daniel the seventh chapter.
This chapter begins by describing four world
ruling kingdoms as wild beasts.
Notice the explanation given to Daniel regarding
these four beasts in verses 17 and 18:
"Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings
which arise out of the earth.
But the saints of the Most High shall receive
the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever,
even forever and ever."
These same four kingdoms (king and kingdom are used
interchangeably in the Bible by the way) are referred to
in Daniel 2 where Nebuchadnezzar saw
a giant image of a man in a most vivid dream.
Daniel was called to explain the dream.
Notice his interpretation:
"You, O king, are a king of kings.
For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom....you
are this head of gold.
But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior
to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze,
which shall rule over all the earth.
And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as
iron...that kingdom will break in pieces and crush
all the others."
These four kingdoms are the same as the four beasts
described in Daniel 7.
And in both cases, the fourth kingdom continues
in one form or another until the coming of the
Messiah who will crush that kingdom and give
rulership over to a very different kind of people.
Notice the explanation of the conclusion of
Nebuchadnezzar's dream, beginning in verse 41:
"Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's
clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided;
yet the strength of the iron shall be in it....
As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will
mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to
one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed;
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people;
it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever."
What does all this have to do with you?
And what does it have to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
I'll answer these questions in the conclusion of today's
program, but I want to remind you of our resource,
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
which explains all of this in greater detail.
And the good thing is that you can open your Bible
and prove these things for yourself.
No, the gospel is not about "Just believe in Jesus and
after a life of cramming all the fun you can into it,
you die and go off to a celestial retirement."
The true gospel of Jesus Christ is the most exciting
message ever given to humanity, but the god of this world
has blinded the eyes of professing Christians.
As it says in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4,
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this
age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine on them."
So, pick up the phone and order your free copy of
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
And, do it today, and when I come back I'll explain
why this should be important to you.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important
proclamation in the history of the world,
but the minds of professing Christians have been
blinded by the god of this age.
Yet, the Bible is full of this message.
Note what Jesus said in Luke 4:43...
"I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities
also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
So, what does this have to do with you?
Everything.
In Jesus' parable of the minas, He describes
a nobleman [representing himself] going into a far
country [that is to heaven] to receive for Himself a kingdom.
We read of that coronation ceremony in Daniel 7:13-14.
Now, write that down and look it up--Daniel 7:13-14.
Or you can order our free resource--Do You Believe
the True Gospel?
where this and many other scriptures can be found.
Prove it for yourself.
Daniel 7:27 goes on to make this profound statement:
"Then the kingdom and dominion, And the
greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints
[servants] of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And
all dominions shall serve and obey Him."
When Jesus returns to earth, He will appoint
those who will rule on earth, as we read in
Christ's parable of the minas.
Notice it in Luke 19 chapter:
"Then came the first, saying, "Master, your mina
has earned ten minas." And he said to him,
"Well done, good servant; because you were faithful
in a very little, have authority over ten cities.""
No more politicking.
No more government of the people and by the people.
However, it will be government for the people--all people--
and it will be fair, compassionate, and bring
prosperity to all.
This is the gospel Jesus brought--a message about
a future government, a government that you
can be part of.
Just imagine.
Develop the character of Jesus Christ now and help
bring peace and prosperity to all when He sets up
His kingdom at His return.
Don't be deceived by a false gospel.
Prove and believe in the true gospel.
It's mankind's last hope.
Humanity's only hope.
There is far more to this subject than I've covered in
this short program, so be sure to order your free copy of
Do You Believe the True Gospel?
And be sure to come back next week, when Richard Ames,
Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I explain the prophecies
of the Bible, proclaim the good news of Christ's coming
kingdom, and help you understand the world
in which you live today.
See you next time.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
The preceding program is produced by the
Living Church of God.
♪