Dangers of visual immorality

Today in our society, we seem to be inundated with visual images of human sexuality. You see it everywhere: ads in the newspaper, scenes on television and in movies, magazines, the Internet, and on the street--people wearing tight or skimpy clothing that screams, "Look at me!" It all encourages roving eyes and roving minds. Is all this perfectly harmless, or does it have a potential impact that is harmful if left unchecked? Read more

Yeshua gave his life as a ransom

Luke 24:25-26
"O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"

God cannot be killed. Yeshua (Jesus) was the Son of MAN, huMAN, but born again by a resurrection from the dead, and restored to the divine glory He shared with God as the I AM before He divested Himself of His divinity to become a huMAN and live among His own flesh and blood people, the Jews (John 1:14, John 8:58, John 17:5).

Jesus GAVE His life and purposely chose not to call for divine deliverance, angelic help and spiritual reinforcements (Matthew 26:52-56), so He could die - as prophesied - for the Jew first, then the Gentile.

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

John 10:15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

John 10:17
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

Jesus GAVE His Life To Give Us LIFE!

Born Again

JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN ... BORN AGAIN?
By Herbert W. Armstrong



Why did not the Pharisee Nicodemus understand when Jesus said to him: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”? (John 3:3).

Why do people not understand those words today?

How many know, today, that Jesus’s gospel was a sensational, never-before proclaimed news announcement?

Jesus Was a Newscaster

Those in Judea knew—or should have known—Malachi’s prophecy concerning this. It was the gospel of God—and the word gospel means good news!

Jesus was a newscaster. His news was something absolutely new—never before proclaimed to mankind. It was the most wonderful news ever reported. Actually almost too wonderful for humans to believe. It was news of the utterly transcendent potential of man.

A humorous columnist wrote a bit on the news printed in daily newspapers. It is actually not news, he insisted, since it is a reporting of events that already have happened. Therefore it is no longer new, but old when printed. He insisted it really ought to be called olds!

The tremendous message that Jesus brought was news! It was not a report of past events. It was advance news!—news of an almost unbelievable utopian World Tomorrow!

And it is sure!

And it was news that we may be born again! Yet almost nobody understands it!

How many, even today, know that Jesus’s gospel was not in any sense a new or different religion—yet it was actually so breathtaking—so seemingly incredible, so startling, it should have left its hearers in a daze of awe! It didn’t. Why?

Why has it never been recognized by the world as the stupendous news that it actually was?

Simply because the leaders in Judea rejected it—hated it—hated Jesus for announcing the wonderful great news—turned most of the people against it. And it has been so misrepresented, so distorted and maligned, that the whole world has been deceived—and has totally misunderstood it! Your Bible says the whole world—all nations—have been deceived about that gospel!

The time was at hand, then, for this message to be announced! The time is at hand, today, for its true meaning to be made so plain that people may understand it!

It will be, in this booklet! And it is a crucial challenge to you who now read it!

And you have to understand what was that news announcement, or you can never understand what Jesus meant about being “born again.”

What Was the News?

Notice, briefly, first, what that astonishing new message was!

The pre-announcement, in Malachi’s prophecy, says: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek [the Messiah], shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant …” (Mal. 3:1).

Now notice the beginning of the Messenger’s proclamation of that message.

It is recorded in Mark’s Gospel, chapter 1: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets …” (vv. 1-2). Then follows the citation from Malachi, written above. That is followed by the account of John the Baptist, preparing the way before the Messenger.

Then, verses 14-15: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” That is, believe the good news!

What is the Kingdom of God?

What did He mean—the Kingdom of God?

Jesus’s whole message—His gospel—was about the Kingdom of God! Yet few know anything about it, today.

A kingdom is a) a nation composed of people, and b) the government of the nation.

In some cases, the people of a nation are the descendants—the children—of one man. The nation of Turkey is the descendants of the ancient Esau, twin brother of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, father of the nation Israel. Before the twins were born, God said to their mother, Rebekah, “Two nations are in thy womb …” (Gen. 25:23).

Now Jesus the Messiah was to come as “the Messenger of the covenant.” The “Old Covenant” had established the human children of Israel as a nation or kingdom of humans, called the kingdom of Israel. Jesus came as the Messenger—heralding the message of the New Covenant that shall set up the Spirit-composed children of God as the kingdom of God!

As the ancient kingdom of Israel was composed of the human family of the human man Israel, so the Kingdom of God will be composed of the divine family of the divine God!

And what does this have to do with “being born again”? It has everything to do with it!

Daniel foretold it

The Prophet Daniel wrote of this Kingdom of God. In his second chapter, after foretelling of the Chaldean Empire (Babylon), the Persian Empire, the Greco-Macedonian Empire with its four divisions, and the Roman Empire, stretching even into the now-forming resurrected “Holy Roman Empire” in Europe, we read the following: “And in the days of these kings [the forthcoming United Nations of Europe] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Dan. 2:44). To “stand for ever” it will, of necessity, be a Kingdom of immortals, not mortals.

It will be a world-ruling Kingdom!

Daniel’s 7th chapter portrays it again—and shows the connection with being “born again.” The four world empires—Babylon through Rome and its coming resurrection in Europe—are pictured as four beasts—wild animals.

Saints Become Immortal

Verses 17-18: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings [kingdoms], which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” To possess it for ever, the saints will have to be immortal!

Then the Babylonian religious power, now Roman, “made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days [Christ at Second Coming] came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (vv. 21-22). Read also verse 27.

The Second Coming of Christ is described thus: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).

Yet in spite of these and many more such scriptures, many deceived theologians today mislead the people saying that the church is the Kingdom of God! Or, that “the Kingdom” is some mysterious ethereal nothing “in men’s hearts.”

Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

What did He mean? Why had this message never been proclaimed before? The answer requires a pre-history background.

There Was Once Peace on Earth

It isn’t popular, today, to mention the existence of a devil. But the Bible, again and again, puts great emphasis on the presence of a real, literal devil.

Biblical revelation shows that originally, this Earth was a place of peace, happiness—a real utopia. It was then ruled by the government of God. That government will be once again restored (Acts 3:20-21) by Christ returning to Earth in the supreme power and glory of God!

But what happened? Why don’t we have that government, now? Why is there no peace on Earth?

When the Earth was originally created, the angels shouted for joy! (Job 38:7). It was beautiful. It was peaceful. It was populated by angels—not then by humans. It was governed by the government of God. There was a super arch-angel—a cherub named Lucifer (meaning bringer of light)—one of two cherubim whose wings stretched over the very throne of God in heaven. Lucifer was thoroughly trained in the administration of the government of God (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-17).

God governs by His spiritual law—a law based on the principle of love. Love, first, to God with submission and obedience, and secondly to His creatures—the way of outgoing concern for the good and welfare of others. But Lucifer’s heart was lifted up in vanity, because of his beauty and vast knowledge. He rebelled against God, mutinied, set out to organize his angels into an invading army and to conquer God—in order to rule the entire vast universe. This disqualified him as Earth’s ruler. However, the very principle of God’s government requires that the ruler retain office until a successor qualifies and is inducted into office.

Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan, the devil. His angels became demons. As a result of this universal rebellion on Earth, universal destruction and chaos struck the surface of the Earth. In six days God re-shaped the Earth’s surface (Gen. 1), creating fauna and flora—and man!

When Man Appeared

God formed man, not after any animal kind, but in God’s own likeness—not of spirit composition as is God, but of material flesh and blood. The first man, Adam, father of the human race, allowed Satan’s attitude of rebellion to enter his heart, failing to qualify as Satan’s successor.

When Jesus was baptized by John (Mark 1:9-11), immediately He underwent the most titanic struggle ever, in His temptation by the devil (vv. 12-13).

Jesus had come to qualify to replace Satan—to restore the government of God on Earth, and bring back world peace! But, as the first Adam had undergone and succumbed to Satan’s temptation, Jesus had to face and overcome this disqualified Satan.

Jesus underwent this test under the most trying and difficult conditions possible. He had been almost totally depleted of physical strength by fasting 40 days and nights—no food and no water! Yet even in this physical weakness, He was made the stronger spiritually.

Few have ever realized the stupendous struggle that took place in that crucial temptation. Jesus resisted Satan’s supreme temptations. He did it by quoting Scripture and obeying God. He proved under the maximum possible test that He would obey God’s laws and administer God’s government faithfully. Then, in utter physical weakness but supreme spiritual strength, He proved He was Satan’s Master, by giving Satan a crisp command to leave—and the defeated Satan slunk away!

Then (Mark 1:14), having qualified for the executive administration of the government of God on Earth, Jesus came into Galilee, saying, as quoted above, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand”! (v. 15).

Why the News Was New

How was the time fulfilled?

Why was the Kingdom of God then at hand—and not before?

Simply because the wonderful news of the coming Kingdom of God could not be announced until a successor had qualified to replace Satan as Earth’s ruler!

At last the Kingdom of God—God’s government over the Earth—was at hand! At last, it was assured, and the time was fulfilled! The one who had qualified to rule the Earth was now free to announce His coming government!

Why Kingdom Not Yet Set Up

Yet Jesus was not going to take over the reign immediately. There were a number of reasons:

1) God had set a definite plan, with a definite time-program, for working out His purpose here below! It is a 7,000-year plan of seven millennial “days,” of which the first seven literal days of re-creation were a type. The first six of these millennia were allotted for man, of his own free volition (though swayed by Satan) to go his own way. Also, in effect, they were allotted as the six millennial “days” for Satan’s “labor” of deception over humanity, to be followed by the millennial “Sabbath,” in which Satan will observe enforced rest from his work of deceiving the nations, and God will teach humanity His truth!

2) Jesus, in God’s plan, was first to choose and teach disciples to become apostles, to carry on the proclamation of the good news—and to become the foundation of His Church.

3) Christ is going to set up a world government over all Earth’s nations only with the administration of a thoroughly trained and experienced organization. The first 6,000 years of human experience has proved abundantly that man, under Satan’s sway, is utterly incapable of ruling himself. Human-devised governments always have failed to bring world peace. Yet man, even now, seems unwilling to admit that fact. Men are still trying, in vain, to work and fight for peace. And that is where being “born again” comes in.

And that, also, is where being “born again” has been tragically misunderstood and misrepresented! God’s government will be divine government, by the saints converted into divine spirit persons, born of God! As those born of humans are human beings, so those born of the divine God will be divine beings, having been given immortality! They shall be born into—enter into—inherit the Kingdom of God.

Kingdom Is a Family

A kingdom is a nation composed of people, as well as the government of that nation. The Kingdom of God is composed of the divine family of God. The one Being we habitually think of as God is the Father of that family.

Christ is a Son of God—a member of that divine family, even as we may be! That divine family is the Kingdom of God.

There are five kingdoms—the vegetable kingdom, the animal kingdom, the human kingdom (we are not of the animal kingdom, erroneous education to the contrary notwithstanding!), the angel kingdom—and the God Kingdom!

God (Heb. Elohim—a name, plural in form, meaning more than one person, forming the one God) said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” We were made of material flesh, but in the form and shape of God, and with minds on a totally different plane than animal brain. The human family was made so that we might be able to receive God’s Spirit, and become His children. Animals were not so made.

In God’s wonderful plan for working out His purpose here below, God has allotted the time period between Jesus’s first coming in human flesh, and His Second Coming in power and glory, for the calling of some to receive His Spirit and be spiritually educated and trained, through His Word, to become rulers with Christ when He sets up His Kingdom.

The Crux of Salvation

4) In order that man might be reconciled to God, Jesus also came for the express purpose of death, by His shed blood paying for us, in our stead, the death penalty we have incurred as the penalty of sin. In order that we might be given God’s gift of eternal life, Jesus’s resurrection from the dead was necessary before we could receive eternal life.

5) The plan called for Jesus’s ascension to God’s throne in heaven—the throne of the government of God over the universe—to become our High Priest, during these years of training and spiritual development of the heirs of God to be used in the executive administration of the government of God when Christ does set up that government over Earth’s nations.

6) Jesus could not induct Himself into the office while here on Earth in human form. It was necessary for Him, as explained in the parable of the pounds (Luke 19), to go to heaven to there receive the authority of the Kingdom from God (the Father)—and to be crowned! The coronation ceremony will take place in heaven at God’s throne, before Christ’s return in power and glory!

7) Then He must return in all that power and glory and supreme authority to rule!

Those are the reasons why Jesus did not then, immediately, set up, or establish the Kingdom of God!

But even Jesus’s own disciples could never seem to understand that He was not going to set up the Kingdom of God immediately. It is human to want things now!

Why Jewish Rulers Hated Message

The Jewish rulers of Jesus’ day, also, thought He was proclaiming a government to be set up immediately—to overthrow the Roman Empire, then ruling Judea as a vassal state.

One of these rulers of the Jews was a man named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees were hostile to Jesus, because of this new gospel. Nicodemus, however, wanted to meet this astonishing Messenger and discuss it with Him. To avoid criticism from his colleagues, he came to Jesus by night.

“We know,” he said, “that you are a teacher come from God.”

The “we” implies that the divine identity of the Messenger and the Source of His message was known to the Pharisees. But they were “now” people, concerned with protecting their status as rulers under the Roman government, not with receiving revelations from God.

Judea was a vassal state, under the rule of the Romans. The Romans were shrewd enough to force leaders among the Jews to administer most of the details of government, under higher Roman officials. Of course, the Roman rule was protected by occupying military forces. This system made life for the Jewish sub-rulers very desirable—a status worth maintaining.

At once Jesus perceived the import of Nicodemus’s first words. His message was the good news of the coming world government of God—that is, the Kingdom of God—the government of God.

These Jewish rulers feared that message. Jesus was of their race—a Jew. If they did not oppose Him, they feared being shorn of their power, and perhaps put to death as subversives threatening the overthrow of the Roman government. And the Pharisees thought Jesus proclaimed the immediate takeover of that rule!

Not of This Age

Therefore Jesus did not waste words. He struck straight through to the crux point—the Kingdom of God is not of this world—this time—this age—but of the World Tomorrow—a different and a following age. Not composed of humans, but of immortals—the God family!

So Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Notice carefully, please—being “born again” has a vital connection with the Kingdom of God—with the fact that it is not of this time—this age. And—I repeat—Jesus’s gospel—His message—was the Kingdom of God.

But Jesus’s abrupt opening statement left Nicodemus confused. The religious leaders, and the hundreds of denominations and sects professing Christianity today, are confused and deceived! Today’s religionists put a different twist on it than did Nicodemus, however.

Nicodemus did understand clearly what is meant by being born. He knew it meant being delivered from his mother’s womb. It meant being delivered into the world! Today’s religious leaders read into it a different meaning! What Nicodemus could not understand was how—in what manner—anyone could be born again! And of course, being carnal-minded, he could only conceive of a second physical birth. But he knew what being born meant!

Born Human a Second Time?

Puzzled, he asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (v.‑4). He was not confused about what is meant by being born. What Nicodemus could not understand was a second birth. He thought Jesus was talking about a second human birth.

He was unable to conceive of any but a second physical birth—his mind could not grasp spiritual things.

Now Jesus had made clear that the Kingdom of God is something that can be seen—but not until, or unless, one is “born again.” Not during this physical lifetime! Also, verse 5, the Kingdom of God is something a man may enter into—but not until after he is born again—another and entirely different birth.

Then Jesus came quickly to the point—that the Kingdom of God is not of this present human life in this present world—it is not of this time—this present life-time—or age. It is the succeeding age—and the life to come.

Here is the crux point that explains it all: Jesus said:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (v. 6).

Man is now flesh—human. He is material substance. “[D]ust thou art,” said God to Adam, “and unto dust shalt thou return.” Again, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 3:19 and 2:7).

Those Born Again to be Spirit

But, said Jesus plainly, when one is born of the Spirit he will be spirit! Look at it! Read it in your own Bible.

The Kingdom of God will be composed of spirit beings—not of humans!

At birth of human flesh, one is delivered from his mother’s womb into this world. When born of the Spirit, one will be delivered from the Church of God (physical) into the Kingdom of God (a Kingdom of spirit beings!).

Man is now composed of flesh—material substance—matter.

When born again he will be spirit—a spirit being, no longer human. He will be composed of spirit—of spirit composition—with life inherent—with self-containing life—not then existing by the breath of air and the circulation of blood.

Of the next age when the Kingdom of God will rule the world—the next life—Jesus said, “[T]hey neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God …” (Matt. 22:30). Marriage is a physical, fleshly union. In the age of God’s Kingdom—when “born again”—we shall be spirit, not flesh. Born of God as spirit beings, no longer human. Angels are spirits—composed of spirit (Heb. 1:7). Jesus did not say we shall then be angels—but as the angels—sexless and composed of spirit. Angels are spirit beings—created as such—but not begotten and born of God as God’s own born children. We therefore shall be much higher than angels!

Jesus explained this further to Nicodemus: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

You cannot see wind. Wind is compared to spirit. It is invisible. That’s why mortal flesh, as we now are, cannot see the Kingdom of God. Those who inherit it will be spirit—normally invisible to eyes still human.

Energy of an A-Bomb?

Jesus was comparing also the power of one born of the Spirit to that of wind. A scientist of the U.S. Weather Bureau, Dr. J. Murray Mitchell, Jr., research climatologist, said that the energy of one average hurricane is much greater than an A-bomb such as destroyed Hiroshima. I am quite certain that no human claiming to have been “born again” in this human life is capable of exerting a tiny fraction of that kind of energy. But—as I shall show in this booklet, one when he becomes spirit will have that kind of power!

Not While Flesh and Blood

The Apostle Paul made clear that the Kingdom of God is something a human may inherit, but not in this age—not while he is composed of material flesh. He may, now, become only an heir, not yet an inheritor!

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Cor. 15:50).

Leading up to this verse, Paul had made it very clear. “The first man is of the earth, earthy [human]: the second man is the Lord from heaven [a divine God Being]” (v. 47).

This is what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus. He was of the earth, earthy—human—he was flesh, not spirit. He was born of the flesh, so that’s what he was—flesh. When one is born of the Spirit, he will be spirit. Paul is here explaining the same truth.

But we cannot be spirit in this present age.

There is a time element concerned with being born again!

Continue, now, in i Corinthians 15: “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy …” (v. 48). That is precisely what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus. He was born of the flesh—he was flesh. He was born of the earth—he was earthy. And so are we all! And, same verse, “… as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” But for us humans, when? Not in this life!

Next verse: “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall [future—resurrection] also bear the image of the heavenly” (v.‑49). As we are now flesh, we shall be spirit—at the resurrection. That is when we shall be “born again”—when we shall see, enter into, the Kingdom of God—when we are spirit—at the resurrection!

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [be dead], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [the then living] shall be changed” (vv. 50-52). There is the time when we may be born again—when we may see, enter into, inherit the Kingdom—when “born again”—and not before!

How Changed When Born Again

How shall we be changed? The next words answer!

“For this corruptible”—flesh, as we now are—“must put on incorruption”—spirit—that which is born of God is spirit—“and this mortal must put on immortality”—be changed from material flesh to spirit!

Until born again, we cannot see the Kingdom of God (Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3:3).

Until born again, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3:5).

Until no longer flesh, but changed into spirit, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3:6-8).

While still flesh and blood (as Nicodemus was and we are) we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (Paul to the Corinthians, i‑Cor. 15:50).

Until the resurrection, at Christ’s coming, we shall not be changed from corruptible flesh into incorruptible spirit (Paul—i Cor. 15:50-53 and verses 22-23).

Until the resurrection, therefore, we cannot see, enter into, or inherit the Kingdom of God. We cannot be born again until the resurrection!

Now Heirs—Not Yet Inheritors

While in our present status, born of the flesh and composed of flesh, we cannot see, enter into, or inherit the Kingdom of God. Notice, now, the status of the truly converted Christian, in this life—this world:

“… Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9). Unless one has received the Holy Spirit, and this Spirit is dwelling in him, he is not a Christian. Joining a church does not make one a Christian. Receiving and following God’s Spirit does!

Holy Spirit Entering Compares to Sperm Entering Ovum

But now see how God’s Spirit entering and dwelling in one compares to the physical sperm impregnating the ovum—the imparting of eternal spirit life, later to produce—to bring forth—a spirit person! A fertilized ovum—an embryo—is not a born human person. Life from the father has been imparted to it—he has begotten it—but neither embryo nor fetus is yet a born person. In the same manner, the Spirit-begotten human is not, yet, a spirit person or being, as Jesus said he shall be when born again!

Continue: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (v. 11).

Understand this! There is a direct comparison between having been born of the flesh, and being born again of God. Jesus said, that which is born of the flesh is flesh—a born human. That which is born of the Spirit (God) is spirit—a born spirit person!

A mortal human life starts when a sperm cell from the body of the father impregnates—imparts physical life to—an ovum (egg cell) in the mother. At this point the father begets, sires. He does not “bring forth”: the mother does that, later. His part in the process leading to final birth is then done. But there is a time element. At the time of begettal, birth (parturition) has not yet occurred.

It is necessary to make this explanation, at this point, because the popular deception of a deceived traditional “Christianity” is to claim that when one “receives Christ”—“accepts Christ”—“professes Christ”—or first receives God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in him, that he is already “born again.”

First, then, notice the physical type and comparison.

The Time Element

In human physical reproduction, there is a time element. From impregnation—begettal on the part of the father—having conceived on the part of the mother—to birth, or parturition, or being delivered from the mother’s womb, is a time element of nine months.

That nine-month period is called gestation. Upon conception, the now fertilized ovum is called an embryo. A few months later, it is called a fetus. But during this nine-month period of gestation, we do not speak of the embryo-fetus as having been born. It is in the process toward birth. It is the child of its parents. But it is then the unborn child of its parents. The father has already begotten it—sired it. But the mother has not yet given birth to it. Yet it is, during the gestation period, the unborn child of its parents.

Now in being “born again,” the process of this birth begins when God’s divine spirit-life is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit, from His very person, entering to dwell within us.

Repeat, from Romans 8: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [change to immortal spirit] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (v. 11). This is describing the same thing explained in i Corinthians 15:50-53, the resurrection.

I want to make this crystal clear. Millions of sincere professing Christians believe that when they profess Christ (or receive His Holy Spirit) they are “born again.” What actually happens is this:

The Church Our Mother

When one, after repentance, faith and baptism, receives the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God puts him into—baptizes him into—God’s Church. The Church is called the body of Christ. So we read: “[B]y one Spirit are we all baptized into one body …” (i‑Cor. 12:13).

Again, the Church is called “Jerusalem above,” or “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22-23). Now notice, in Galatians 4:26: “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

The analogy is this: When begotten by God the Father by receiving His Holy Spirit, we are put into the Church, which during this gestation period is our mother.

The human mother of the fetus within her womb serves the function of feeding her unborn child with physical food, so that it may develop and grow physically. And also she carries it where she may best protect it from physical injury or harm, until parturition—delivery from her womb.

The spiritual mother—the Church—is commissioned to “feed the flock” (i Pet. 5:2) through the ministry which God has set in the Church “[f]or the perfecting of the saints … for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man …” (Eph. 4:11-13). Just as the human fetus develops and grows physically during the pre-birth gestation period, so we, after begettal by God’s Spirit, develop and grow spiritually in pre-birth state.

But not only is the Church to feed the members on the Word of God—spiritual food—but also to protect these conceived but yet unborn children of God from spiritual harm, as the very next verse shows: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (v. 14).

Then, at the time of the resurrection, we in the Church—the spiritual mother—shall be delivered from her, and born into—brought forth into—the Kingdom—the spirit-composed family of God.

Sons of God Now

Now, further: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). The unborn child in his mother’s womb is the child of his father and mother, though not yet born—delivered from the womb. So are we, if God’s Spirit dwells in us—if we are being led by God’s Spirit—children of God. Yet, at this time, we are in the gestation state, not yet that parturition. And only heirs. Not inheritors!

Continue: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be [future—at resurrection] also glorified together” (v.‑17).

Now see how this passage designates the resurrection into glory—when we shall be spirit—as a birth!

“For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God”—that is the time of Christ’s coming to reign, and of the resurrection to (being born of) spirit composition—“… because the creation [rsv] itself also shall be delivered [a birth] from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (vv. 19-22).

What could be more clear?

Here is another comparison: We shall be delivered from this world (the Church is in, though not of, this world) into the glorious World Tomorrow and the Kingdom which shall rule it.

The creation is waiting for this time of Christ’s coming, the resurrection, and the Kingdom of God. Because the creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Not now delivered—shall be—at the resurrection time! Although this is not referring directly to our being born again, it is a direct comparison to the birth of a child being delivered from its mother’s womb.

The resurrection—the time when we are changed to be spirit and to inherit the Kingdom will be a time of delivery from the bondage of corruptible flesh and from this world of sin—a real birth!

Christ Born a Second Time By the Resurrection

Continue in Romans 8: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren” (v. 29).

Now compare with Romans 1:3-4: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God … by the resurrection from the dead.”

Jesus was, in the human flesh—His first birth—a descendant of David, and, by the resurrection from the dead (born again)—the Son of God, now no longer human, but composed of spirit—a spirit being. He thus became the first so born of many brethren who shall be born again at the time of the resurrection of those who are Christ’s.

Of course we understand, and so did Paul in writing the above, that Jesus was also the Son of God while in the human flesh. Though born of a human woman, He was sired by God. But this is comparing the two births—the one from the human Mary, as descended from the human David—the other, by His resurrection to glory, as Son of God by His resurrection, in the same manner we may be.

Emphatically this does not imply that Jesus was a sinner needing salvation. He was the pioneer, setting us the example, that we, too, may be born of God.

When Born Again What Shall We Be Like?

When we are born again, what shall we be like?

Here is the answer: “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body [flesh], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body …” (Phil. 3:20-21). And what is Christ’s glorious body like? His eyes are as flames of fire—His face bright as the sun at full strength (Rev. 1:14-16).

A Time When Begotten but Not Yet Born

Thus, scripture after scripture—analogy after analogy—comparison after comparison—shows that being born of God is a process, in which there is a time element. Just as being born of the human flesh is a process.

At the time when the father begets and the mother conceives—of the union of sperm cell and ovum—the fertilized ovum becomes an embryo. But it is not yet delivered from the womb—not yet born! And will not be for nine months. A pregnancy is in progress. Yet during this period of physical development and growth, it is the unborn child of its parents.

In like manner, at the time when the Spirit Father, God, begets a human with the Spirit (the spiritual counterpart of the physical sperm)—the Holy Spirit—he becomes a son of God! He is then already a son of God.

But he is still human—he is still material flesh and blood. He must now undergo a period (until death, the resurrection) of spiritual development and growth. He is in the gestation state in the process toward being born. He is in the Church of God, but the Church is not the Kingdom of God.

The Church is composed of human, flesh-and-blood children of God. And, flesh and blood cannot see, cannot enter into, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is made up of spirit-composed children of God. The Spirit-begotten human in the Church is in the process of being born of God, but he has not yet entered the Kingdom of God. He has not yet been born of God.

He is in the gestation state toward spirit birth, but not yet born of the Spirit. He yet has a lot of spiritual developing and growing to do—acquiring the spiritual character-image of God.

Power Greater Than Energy of Wind

There is another passage, understood by almost none, that reveals our astonishing, transcendent potential!

It begins in Hebrews 2, verse 6. But first, notice about Christ, in chapter 1: “God … Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things [Moffatt and others, the universe], by whom also he made the worlds; Who, being the brightness of his glory, [Moffatt] stamped with God’s own character and upholding [sustaining] the universe by the word of his power …” (Heb. 1:1-3). All power, in heaven and Earth (Matt. 28:18), has been given to Christ. He is now Chief Executive of God’s government of the universe.

Now begin with Hebrews 2:6; a citation from Psalm 8:4-6: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

Yes, why should the great God be concerned about us mortals? Why did He put us here on Earth? What is the purpose of life—what is our transcendent potential? It is so far above and beyond anything you have thought or imagined, it seems shockingly incredible!

Can you believe it? Are you willing to believe what is now plainly stated? Here comes the astonishing answer, beginning verse 7: “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels ….” Some translations have it, “for a little while lower than the angels.” Continue: “[T]hou crownedst him [kingship] with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands”—that is, God’s creation. Continue:

Not Yet the Universe!

“Thou hast put all things [Moffatt: the universe] in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. …” Can you grasp that? The entire vast, endless universe! But that is for born sons of God. Man is not yet born—except Christ only! Continue: Here comes the answer:

“… But now [in this present gestation state] we see not yet all things [the universe] put under him” (v. 8).

But what do we see, now?

“But we see Jesus … crowned with glory and honour …” (v.‑9). Yes, as revealed in chapter 1, Jesus has already been given the executive administration of God’s government—the Kingdom of God—over the entire universe! Only, until our time to inherit and possess the government of Earth, at Christ’s return, He is allowing Satan to continue on this Earth his work of deception. Now continue:

“For it became him [Jesus], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain [margin: leader—or, forerunner, pioneer—the One who has gone on before us, as we are to follow] of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren” (vv. 10-11).

Christ FirstBorn of Many

We are, as quoted before, heirs of God, and joint-heirs—as brethren—with Christ. He has gone on ahead, through a resurrection, to glory as the pioneer!

He is the firstborn of many brethren! He has inherited “all things”—the universe! We are still heirs—still in the gestation stage of the process of being born of God. Jesus is now our High Priest, supervising our spiritual development—preparing us to be kings and priests, reigning with Him!

The first thousand years we shall reign on the Earth. For He shall have “made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10).

The First Thousand Years

For that first thousand years, Jesus is to reign on the throne of His earthly ancestor David in Jerusalem (Isa. 9:6-7). And, “he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron …” (Rev. 2:26-27). But how and from where shall we rule?

Jesus said, again, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne [at Jerusalem], even as I also overcame, and am [now] set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21).

When born of God, we shall be spirit, no longer human flesh and blood. We shall be given power! As Daniel revealed, the saints then shall take the kingdoms of Earth’s nations and rule them—for the first thousand years.

And … after that? The passage in Hebrews 2 shows that then, under Christ, we shall be given power to rule over the entire vast universe—literally all things. For that is the power that has been given to Christ, and we are joint-heirs, to become joint-inheritors with Him.

All Power—The Universe

Most people have passed right over many vital statements in the Bible, not recognizing their tremendous import!

Let me give you a few. Ask yourself if you have ever recognized the true import of these statements in God’s Word?

Matthew 28:18: “And Jesus came and spake unto them [after His resurrection], saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Matthew 11:27: Jesus said: “All things [the whole universe] are delivered unto me of my Father .…”

John 3:35: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”

John 13:3: During the last Passover: “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.”

John 16:15: “All things that the Father hath are mine .…”

I Corinthians 15:27-28: “For he [the Father] hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

And—incredible, yet true!—we, in Christ, are made co-heirs with Christ in this ultimate supreme rule.

Incidentally, 1 Corinthians 15:27-28, along with verses 22-26, indicate that our reign over the universe shall follow the thousand years’ reign on the Earth.

Must Grow During Gestation

Human life starts with what the Bible terms “corruptible seed”—physical male sperm. Divine life starts with that which is incorruptible—the Holy Spirit of God entering the human person. But as the human embryo must grow till it becomes a fetus, which must grow to the point of being born into the human family, so the Christian in whom divine life has been started by the gift of God’s incorruptible Spirit must grow toward perfection to be born into the God family. He will then be perfect, unable to sin.

Peter gives an analogy of this: “Being born again …” (i Pet. 1:23). Being—in process of—not having been—not yet an immortal person—but being “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible .…” (Other translations use the term “begotten.”) Greek: annagennao—to beget anew (Young). Peter is here referring to the process having started within us by the incorruptible Spirit of God—not as our human life was begotten by human physical sperm. Peter here shows that the Spirit of God is the incorruptible “seed” that imparted the presence of eternal life within us. Continue: “by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Peter continues, chapter 2: “Wherefore … As newborn babes‑…” (vv. 1-2). Not that we are already-born perfect divine spirit persons having entered into and inherited God’s Kingdom. He is comparing the Christian’s spiritual “gestation” period to the growth of a newborn human physical baby simply because it would be awkward indeed to compare it to a physical embryo or fetus. He is not saying we are already born babes in God’s Kingdom—but as—or like newborn human babes. It is an analogy, which Webster says is a comparison or “likeness between two things … consisting in the resemblance not of the things themselves, but of two or more attributes, circumstances or effects.”

Peter is simply showing that, as a newborn human babe must be nourished and grow physically (even, for that matter, as must the unborn fetus), so Christians must grow spiritually. Continue: “… desire the sincere milk of the word” [rsv has, “long for the pure spiritual milk”], that ye may grow thereby” (v. 2). Paul styled it “unto a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13)—unable to sin. When born again, we shall not be helpless spirit babes, but spirit beings of perfection unable to sin. This Christian spiritual growth is in spiritual character and knowledge in this present human life. As a physical babe must grow physically, so we in the Christian life must grow in spiritual knowledge and character (see ii Pet. 3:18) to become perfect, which we shall never attain until born as spirit beings.

The Comparison

During our converted human Christian life, we are already children of God, as yet unborn. We have within us through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the presence of eternal life—Spirit life—divine life—but, only from and through God. We do not, yet, have any eternal life inherent—of ourselves, independent of God! And, we could lose it—be aborted!

This compares to the unborn physical fetus, in the gestation period. It has human life—but only through the umbilical cord and from the mother—not independently of itself. And it can be aborted!

This is so clearly brought out in the Bible, in i John 5:11-12: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” It is not inherent in us. We do not now in this life have born life of our own, independent of Him. Our contact with Him through His Spirit is the umbilical cord through which we are partaking of eternal life from Him. Continue, verse 12: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life.” If one is cut off from Christ, he has no eternal life.

A born human baby has human life on its own—independent of its mother. That defines the difference between the state of begettal and a born state! The only difference is, in the Christian life we are fed and protected by and through the spiritual mother—the Church, while our actual eternal life comes into us through and from God. But when born again, of God, we shall have eternal life inherent—of our own! We are not now in that state!

How Jesus Was the Only Begotten Son

King David of Israel had God’s Holy Spirit. Praying for forgiveness following his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, he implored: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:10-11).

The prophets had received God’s Holy Spirit. Peter wrote: “…‑[H]oly men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (ii Pet. 1:21). They could not be called “holy men” unless God’s Spirit was within them.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are to be seen in the Kingdom of God. Jesus said so. Therefore God’s Spirit was “dwelling in them”—they were begotten of God—but they were not Born of God—for Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren.

But if they were begotten of God by the Holy Spirit—and hundreds of years before Christ was born, how could Jesus be called “the only begotten Son of God”?

Answer: The scriptures calling Jesus the only begotten Son of God all apply to His begettal as the human Son, His first birth—born of the human mother, Mary. Jesus was the only human ever begotten by God prior to human birth. In Revelation 1:5, the Authorized Version speaks of Christ as the first begotten—but other translations render it, properly, firstBORN—referring to His resurrection, not His human birth from His mother Mary.

Jesus was not the first begotten in the sense that Abraham, David and Old Testament prophets were begotten.

Before Jesus was conceived by Mary, He was not the Son of God. God is the divine family. He was one of that family. In John 1:1 He is called the “Logos”—the Word. He, like the Father, had existed eternally. But He is nowhere in God’s Word referred to as a son of God prior to conception by Mary. His human birth was His first birth. He gave up the glory He had with the Father in order to be born into the world to save the world.

Abraham and many others—prophets and writers of the Bible—were begotten of God—they were in the same identical state as human Christians who have God’s Spirit within them today. But they have not, even yet, inherited—entered into—the Kingdom of God. They have not yet been born of God.

Jesus had to be the first to be born of God—the firstborn of many brethren. That was His second birth, as the resurrection will be ours! “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise [were not born into the kingdom]: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Heb. 11:39-40).

This, again, proves that the conversion in this life—receiving the Holy Spirit—is only a begettal—not a birth! For Old Testament fathers and prophets received God’s Spirit—but they were not “born again” because Jesus was the first so born!

How does this process of being born again take place?

What Is the Way?

Peter gave the way, and the conditions. Repent, he said, and be baptized, as an act of faith in Christ, His shed blood in payment of the penalty of our sins, and His resurrection making possible our eternal life and being born again. Then, he said, we shall receive the Holy Spirit.

Those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells are Christ’s (Rom. 8:9); all others are not. But if God’s Spirit dwells in them, God will, by a resurrection as He raised Christ from the dead, bring forth all such in immortal spirit life—composed of spirit as Christ is.

All these scriptures make clearly plain that we are to be born again by, and only by, a resurrection to spirit composition.

We are now heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ—not yet inheritors, or possessors of the Kingdom.

The Human Birth

What is a birth—what is meant by being born?

The actual final birth is called parturition—a baby being delivered out of its mother’s womb.

But this birth requires a father, as well as a mother! If it were not for the part the father contributes in the process, there would be no fetus to be born. But there is a time element. The father’s part in what shall, later, be the birth is to beget—to gender—to sire. From his body emanates the sperm cell that unites with and starts life in an ovum within the mother. This occurs nine months prior to parturition—or birth.

We never say, in the English language, that immediately when an embryo is conceived in the mother—sired or begotten by the father—that the embryo has already been born! Birth has not occurred! To say it would sound idiotic, ridiculous!

From conception must follow the process called gestation for nine months. The embryo takes on human form and is called a fetus. It must develop and grow physically to be born.

So with being born again, in a spiritual birth.

What comes from the divine Father is the Holy Spirit. Just as the unborn child in the mother’s womb is, even in the fetal state, the child (yet unborn) of its parents, so those in whom God’s Spirit dwells are, already, children of God. But they are still of this first birth—still human—still composed of physical flesh. They are still in their spiritual mother—the Church—which is still in this corruptible present world, though not of it. When born of the Spirit, said Jesus, they shall be spirit.

But if God’s Spirit dwells in them, God then will resurrect them (if they are dead), or change them (if still living) from physical to spirit composition at Christ’s coming. They will then be brought forth—delivered from their mother, the Church, into the Kingdom of God.

Of the first birth we are, and remain, flesh! Human beings!

Of the second birth, which is spiritual, we shall be spirit, no longer flesh—but spirit beings!—divine beings!

The Greek Words

The New Testament of the Holy Bible was originally written in the Greek language. It is inevitable that some difficulties confront translators in the rendering from one language to another.

For example, there are some idiomatic expressions common to one language that have no equivalent in another.

One word may have more than one meaning in a language where the equivalent word in another language would not have the same different meanings. For example, the English word saw may mean did see, or it might mean—as a noun—a carpenter’s instrument to cut through wood, or, as a verb it may mean to cut with a saw.

However, by checking different translations, and by understanding of the context and all other passages of the Bible in relation to the same subject, we may come to the correct meaning as expressed in English.

One such example is the original Greek word for the English born—a word Jesus used in speaking to Nicodemus.

The Greek word used in John 3:3-8 for born is gennao (pronounced ghen-ah-o). Here are the English definitions of the Greek gennao from leading lexicons—Greek-English dictionaries:

Thayer: “gennao: 1. properly: of men begetting children. Matt. 1:1-16; Acts 7:8, 29; foll. by ek with gen. of the mother, Matt. 1:3, 5, 6; more rarely of women giving birth to children. Lk 1:13, 57; 23:29; Jn. 16:21, etc. 2. a. univ. to engender, cause to arise, excite. … d. peculiarly in the Gosp. and 1st Ep. of John, of God conferring upon men the nature and disposition of His sons, imparting to them spiritual life i.e. by His own holy power, prompting and persuading souls to put faith in Christ and live a new life consecrated to Himself.”

Liddell and Scott: “gennao: to beget, of the father; to bear, bring forth, of the mother; ii, to generate, produce.” (Webster defines “generate” “to beget; procreate.”)

Strong: “gennao: to procreate (prop. of the father, but by extens. of the mother); fig. to regenerate:—bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.”

Young: “gennao: to beget, bring forth.”

George Ricker Berry: “gennao: to beget, give birth to, produce, effect; pass., to be begotten, born (often in John of spiritual renewal)” (That is, receiving or having received the Holy Spirit, being begotten.)

One man, a native Greek from Cyprus, in a private communication, stated it this way: “the verb gennao denotes the production through birth.” And further, “denotes a production through a process that always includes a birth.” He put major emphasis on birth, rather than begetting or conception—but when asked if it does not include an impregnation by male sperm, and conception, as well as gestation period, he agreed that it does.

However, it is to be noted that the scholarly authorities whose definitions are quoted above, all put first and primary emphasis on the begetting by the father. It is, as I have always said, a process, with the time element at different stages of the process.

It might be made more clear, in nontechnical language, to explain that in some languages words may be all-inclusive as to time, without distinction as to past, present or future state of a process. For example, in German there are not the two words designating the two states of being an heir or an inheritor. The one German word would be used in describing a young man who is his father’s heir, having not yet inherited anything, or a man who, after the death of his father, has become an inheritor of his father’s estate.

A Frenchman said, “If I were an author, I would much prefer to write in English, because there are so many more words, expressing various shades of meaning.”

There is a time period between fertilization by a male sperm and parturition—delivery from the womb—which state as to time, in English, is medically termed gestation. We never refer, in English, to that gestation state as a born state. Likewise, in English, we cannot properly refer to the Christian in whom God’s Spirit dwells as having been “born” of God. My commission is to make the truth plain in English.

Definition: “Supernatural Begettal by the Holy Spirit”

“To beget means begetting, the action or process of generating or producing; generation”—from New English Dictionary of Historical Principles, 1888. It is interesting also, in this dictionary to find the following: “Begettal (f. beget v. + al, cf. Commital) Begetting, 1873, C. M. Davies: They believe in his preternatural begettal by the Holy Spirit.”

Thus, the one Greek word, gennao, means production through a process that includes and is generated by the imparting of the fertilizing or lifegiving element by the father. There is a time when the culmination in birth has not yet occurred.

In the Greek, gennao, the word is all-inclusive as a production process. But in English, the word birth is not all-inclusive, and refers only to the final stage of the process—the time of parturition—delivery of child from the womb. One’s birthday in English always means the day—or anniversary of the day—of his delivery from his mother’s womb.

Status of Christian, Now

Now let us notice one of the problems to be expected in rendering the verb gennao into our being born again of God.

When Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, He was referring to the time when we may see, enter into, the Kingdom of God. And that is the time of the final birth. For the Kingdom is literally the family of God. Therefore the translators correctly rendered the Greek gennao in John 3:3-8 in the English word born.

Combining this with i Corinthians 15:45-53, the resurrection chapter, it is made absolutely plain that we do not enter into and inherit the Kingdom of God while still flesh and blood, but only after the resurrection to spirit composition.

Being born again refers to the time—the future state—when we shall be spirit, no longer flesh and blood—born actually by the resurrection.

But in certain passages, the Greek gennao is used, in referring to the present state of those who have received the spiritual life-begetting, impregnating Holy Spirit. They are, upon receiving His Holy Spirit, children of God, in the same sense that the embryo-fetus is the unborn child of its human parents.

We are in the state—the time element—after generation-conception, but prior to birth. In the human instance, the medical term for this state is gestation.

We are now begotten children of God—but still flesh-and-blood humans—still heirs—not yet spirit-composed divine beings—not yet inheritors—not yet having been “brought forth” into, or seen or inherited the Kingdom of God—therefore, not yet born of God.

In other words—shocking though His truth may sound to some to whom this truth is new, that which is born of humans is born into the human family—the human kingdom—and that which is born of God is born into the God family—the God Kingdom—the Kingdom, or family, of God! But while still flesh and blood, we are merely begotten of God—we have not yet been “brought forth” into His family—His Kingdom!

The English Verb “Beget”

Now a word of explanation about this English verb beget—or the adjective form, begotten.

The simple dictionary definition (Webster) is: “1: to procreate, as the father: sire. 2: Cause,” Above, I quoted the definition from the New English Dictionary of Historical Principles: “begetting, the action or process of generating or producing‑.…”

Also this same dictionary in giving an example of the use of begettal in a sentence, quotes, from author C. M. Davies, 1873: “They believe in his preternatural [supernatural] begettal by the Holy Spirit.”

Beget refers to the father. And the father’s action is to cause the start of the process toward birth.

Various Translations

Since the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language, our English language Bibles have been translated from the Greek.

And since the Greek gennao is an all-inclusive term—referring to begetting by the father, but also, secondarily according to the lexicons, including the process culminating in birth, the translators had to decide which English term to use in each case.

It had been the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that its church is the Kingdom of God. When one embraces the Catholic faith, he is regarded by Catholicism as having already entered into the Kingdom of God. Protestants have largely followed this assumption as applying to Protestantism, though some regard the Kingdom of God as some ethereal something “set up in men’s hearts.” Many translators assumed this error. This led to translating gennao into the English term born in many instances where it rightly should be translated begotten. They simply chose the English term that conformed to their erroneous belief. And since the Greek gennao is a term including the whole process of birth even from conception, they in some cases translated gennao by the English word born—where I have proved by many passages flesh and blood humans have not been yet born again, of God.

In every instance where the Greek gennao refers to Spirit-begotten Christians, it should be rendered “begotten.”

Notice a few outstanding examples!

In John 1:13, the Authorized, or King James, Version of the Bible renders it: “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” In the American Revised Version a marginal rendering says: “or, begotten,” as it should be. Other examples appear in John’s first epistle. Notice:

In the American Revised Version, i John 2:29 is correctly translated: “is begotten of Him”; but in the Authorized Version it is, incorrectly, “… every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”

i John 4:7, the Authorized Version incorrectly has it: “… and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” But the Revised Version corrected this error, rendering it: “…‑is begotten of God.”

i John 5:1, in the Authorized Version, incorrectly has it: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”

Here, this same Greek word, gennao, was inspired by the Holy Spirit three times in the same verse. The first time, the King James translators erroneously rendered it into the English word “born.” The second time gennao is used in the Greek they could not render it “him that was born” or “him that ‘borned’”—for it refers to God, and not the human believer. Here they were forced to choose the correct translation of gennao, in the past tense, as “begat.” Then, since they already had to use the past tense “begat” in that instance, they also correctly rendered it, in the third place the word occurred, “is begotten.”

The Revised Version also corrected this error, rightly rendering it: “whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God, and whosoever loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him.”

One final example: i John 5:4—the Authorized Version erroneously renders it: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world …” but the Revised Version corrected it to read: “For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world .…”

Correctly Translated

Now quickly notice a few instances where the same Greek word was correctly translated “begotten.”

i Corinthians 4:15, the Apostle Paul is talking to those converted under his ministry. “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” There it is correctly translated, showing that Paul’s converts at Corinth, as his “spiritual children,” had been begotten of God, but not yet born.

The experience of conversion, in this life, is a begettal—a “conception”—an “impregnation”—but not yet a birth! This we have made very plain!

One more—Hebrews 1:5—speaking of Christ’s begettal in the virgin Mary. This verse shows that Christ, later born of God by a resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4), was an actual begotten Son of God, in a manner that no angel is, or can be. Angels are merely created beings. They are not actually begotten of God, so in this sense they are not His born sons, as Christ now is—and as we may also be. Notice the verse: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? …”

Now that ought to be plain. A converted person—one who has repented, accepted Christ as Savior, received God’s Holy Spirit, does have a changed attitude and outlook and purpose—his whole character begins to change, and travel in an opposite direction. But he is not invisible to the human eyes of other people! He is not composed of spirit. He is still composed of material flesh, even though God’s Holy Spirit has entered, and now dwells in, and leads his human mind.

When We Cannot Sin

There is a particular verse that has puzzled millions, discouraged thousands who didn’t understand, and caused some to accuse the Bible of contradicting itself.

Look at this verse! It says: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (i John 3:9).

Now is that a contradiction of verse 8 of the first chapter of the same book, which says we deceive ourselves if we think we have no sin? The answer is easy to understand.

Remember that in New Testament language the pronoun “we” or “us” refers to converted Christians. (The unconverted are referred to as “they” or “them.” An example is i Thessalonians 5:3-4: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them … and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”)

i John 1:8-10 reads: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we [Christians]”—this verse is referring to sins committed, though of course not deliberately and willfully, after being converted—“confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we [we Christians] say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Then, the next verse, i John 2:1: “… And if any man sin, we [Christians] have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” It is here speaking of Christ in His present office as our High Priest.

Christians Should Not Sin

Of course the Bible teaches that Christians should not sin. The first part of 1 John 2:1 (not quoted above) teaches that. The emphasis all through the New Testament is on rooting out sin—overcoming sin—growing in God’s righteousness, always toward perfection.

But these and numerous other verses (especially the Apostle Paul’s experience, Romans 7:14-25) say plainly that converted Christians do sin—though not habitually practicing sin deliberately and willfully. Certainly it is not impossible!

Look at Jesus Christ Himself! The Scriptures say He did not sin—yet they teach plainly that at all times it was entirely possible for Him to sin. Jesus, in the human flesh, “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). No scripture says that He could not sin.

So here we have many scriptures showing that it is not impossible for converted Christians to sin—it was not impossible even for Jesus! Yet, in 1 John 3:9, in the Authorized Version, we have the flat statement that, if and when we are actually born of God, we shall not be able to sin—it will then be impossible!

Two Translations

Here, again, the translators had to decide how to render the verb gennao. And it must be decided by the meaning in the context as a whole.

Some more modern translations render it “begotten” supposing the passage is talking about Christians now not continuing in indifferent practicing of sin, as they did before conversion. They know well that it is not impossible for a human Christian, now, to sin. So they render it in the sense of continuing in the habitual practicing of sin, once begotten of God.

On the other hand, it also can be rendered “born” as in the Authorized Version, without any contradiction.

Notice this, in i John 3: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God …. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he [Christ at His Second Coming] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (vv. 1-2).

This is speaking of the time when we shall be spirit—born of God.

What We Shall Be

Now notice that! Understand what we shall be, when we are born of God! Then, next we shall see—still further—when we shall be born of God.

This scripture, in this marvelous third chapter of i John, plainly says that “we”—meaning begotten, converted Christians—are, now, already, the sons of God. Yes, of course, and the tiny embryo, no larger than a pinpoint in its mother’s womb is, already, the son (or daughter) of its human father, even though not yet born.

Next, this scripture reveals that “it doth not yet appear what we shall be.”

Grasp that! Isn’t it plain? We are, later, to be something different. Of course! Although we already are begotten sons of God, we are still flesh—still matter—still visible. But what we shall be has not, yet, appeared. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, we shall be immortal spirit. That is what we shall later be!

But, this scripture continues—read it!—understand this wonderful, Wonderful Truth!—we know that, when He, Christ, shall appear at His Second Coming to Earth, we shall be like Him!

Now what shall He be like? If you can know that, you can know what born-again Christians shall then be like—for they shall be like Him!

What does the glorified Christ look like? His eyes blaze forth like flames of fire! His feet glow like finely burnished brass. His face shines like the sun, in full strength—so bright, it would blind your eyes if He were visible to you now! (Rev. 1:14-16; 19:12-13; Matt. 17:2).

And that is the way you and I shall look, if and when we are finally born of God! These deceived people who talk about having has a “born-again experience” certainly don’t look like that!

When Born Again?

That tremendous, glorious event of being born of God is to take place at the resurrection of the just—at the time of Christ’s Second Coming to Earth!

We are now flesh—vile corruptible flesh subject to rotting and decay. But at Christ’s coming, when we shall be born of God, this vile body shall be changed, and made exactly like Jesus in His glorified body!

Yes, I know this is probably too wonderful for you to grasp!

But scripture after scripture piles up on us, confirming this tremendous truth!

Look at the very resurrection chapter, i Corinthians 15.

The Bible, which is God’s message and instruction to mankind, nowhere teaches any such thing as the pagan doctrine of an “immortal soul” going to heaven at death. It teaches that the soul is mortal and shall die (Ezek. 18:4, 20).

But it does teach the resurrection of the dead.

Now, when? At Christ’s Second Coming! “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits [that was more than 1,900 years ago]; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (i Cor. 15:22-23).

That is when—at Christ’s coming! And notice, Christ is the “firstfruits”—the first of those who have been human to be born of God by a resurrection from the dead! The true resurrection from the dead!

What Kind of Body?

Now how? What kind of body? That question is asked in verse 35. Notice God’s answer: “[T]hat which thou sowest”—bury in the ground—“thou sowest not that body that shall be …” (v. 37). The immortal body that comes up in the resurrection will not be this vile, rotting body of material flesh—but a different body. Continue: “But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him. … So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. … It is sown a natural body”—that is, of nature—material flesh—“it is raised a spiritual body”—composed of spirit! “And as we have borne the image of the earthy”—material flesh—of the earth—earthy—“we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (v. 49)—like God—like Christ in His glorified body!

The remainder of this passage we have covered earlier.

Christ Only The First

I have been the father of two sons. I am human. They, begotten of me, were born human, as I am! When we are born of God, we shall be of His very family. We shall be spirit as He is Spirit—immortal as He is immortal—divine as He is divine!

Why does not organized professed “Christianity” know that? Why should that seem incredible, impossible, or even to some like blasphemy?

Why?

The New Testament of your Bible teaches that truth all the way through! Jesus taught it! Paul taught it! Peter taught it! John taught it! The Holy Spirit inspired it, repeatedly!

You have seen, in Philippians 3:20-21, how, as stated just above in i Corinthians 15, at Christ’s coming our vile bodies shall be changed into spirit, made immortal, fashioned like Christ’s glorified body. That is when we shall be born of God. And that change does not take place in this life! All these sincere people who think they have been “born again” have never experienced that change!

Now we saw in i Corinthians 15:23, that Christ, who was born of God by His resurrection, was the firstfruits of those to be resurrected—those to be born again!

Now believe other scriptures that say the same thing!

Believe Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son [Christ], that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Christ was born a Son of God by a resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). He was only the first to be so born of God, of many brethren. We are to be in His same image—as He is, now! We are to be put on His same plane—as His brethren—to be also born of God—to become God’s sons!

We are already begotten sons—if really converted—but what we shall be, in the resurrected glorified body—does not yet appear—cannot yet be seen (i John 3:1-2).

God is to have many sons born of Him. Of all these, Jesus was the first to be so born. He is the only human so far born of God, though many have already been begotten!

Believe Colossians 1:15, 18: Speaking of Jesus, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature … the firstborn from the dead ….” Yes, just the first of many brethren, in the very image of bright, shining glory of the invisible God. And we are to be conformed to the same image (Rom. 8:29).

Will You Believe?

Now will you believe what God says in the book of Hebrews?

Why should God be concerned about human beings? From a small airplane we look like little ants down here. From a jet 5 to 6 miles high, people on the ground have shrunken so small they can’t be seen. How tiny must we look to God? Why should He have concern for us?

The question is answered in Hebrews 2, beginning verse 6. God made man a little lower than angels, but, in God’s purpose and plan, He has crowned man, as He first has Christ, with glory and honor.

What is the glory with which Christ is now crowned? A crown denotes kingship—rule—authority—power. Jesus Christ said, just before ascending to heaven, that all power in the universe—in heaven and in Earth—had been given to Him.

In Hebrews 1:1-3, it is revealed that Christ now is the brightness of God’s glory!

Yes, His eyes like flashing flames of fire—His face shining bright as the full-strength sun.

Christ’s glory is such that now He sustains, upholds, controls, every force, energy and power that exists everywhere—supreme power over the universe!

Now believe what God says about us!—Hebrews 2:10: “For it became him … in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain [margin: leader, or predecessor, or pioneer] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” And in verse 11, Jesus calls us His brothers.

Oh, what matchless, transcendent glory God purposes for us—when we are born again! Revelation 1:13-17 gives a graphic description of that future glory.

Why Not Now?

But, as we read in Hebrews 2:8, we do not see yet all this glory having been inherited by any but Christ. Why, then, are we not yet born?

Because, when we are, we are to be given such powers to guide, direct and control, that we must first be trained and have the perfect spiritual Character developed in us so that we may safely be entrusted with such vast powers!

God created this universe. He is the real Supreme Ruler! He is not going to turn over that power to rule to any except those who will rule His way, who will obey Him, obey His government, and carry out His government, under Him!

So, it is only those who are led by God’s Holy Spirit in His ways who are the sons of God (Rom. 8:14). And we have to begin overcoming our own self-natures, the wrong ways of this world that have become fixed habit, and the devil. We must “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (ii Pet. 3:18).

Yes, even as the unborn, but begotten, human baby must grow from its beginning size no larger than a pinpoint, fed on physical food, so once we are impregnated by God’s Holy Spirit—His Life—we must Grow spiritually, fed on the spiritual food of God’s Word the Bible, and by prayer, and what fellowship is possible with truly begotten brethren in God’s truth.

And unless we do continue to grow in spiritual character development, more and more like God, we become like the unborn babe that miscarries—or like an abortion! And such shall never be born of God!

Glorious World Tomorrow

What wonderful, almost incomprehensible, Glorious Good News!

And the best news is, that the coming of Christ is now drawing very near! Just a very few more years! And then—the peaceful, happy, glorious World Tomorrow!

All who now are begotten sons of God shall then be born—elevated from mortal to immortal, from decaying flesh to spirit—from human to divine!

And that true born-again experience will be incomparably more glorious than the false, vague, meaningless, so-called “born-again experience” that deceived thousands think they have had now.

Can your mind grasp what an incredible, transcendent glory is the true potential of those who do believe, repent and obey?

But, the scriptures that break before our eyes this glorious good news, also warn us to take heed, and to make our calling and election sure!

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God!

How Adam and Eve Reflect the Kingdom of God
"For we are members of his Body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they TWO shall be ONE FLESH. This is a GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Ephes. 5:30-32).

Overcome in Christ Daily
GOOD NEWS: Yeshua is able to break the bonds of sin and set free those who are slaves, saving us from both sin's eternal death penalty and delivering us from the sin. Some deny this POWER and only want the pardon but the Throne of Grace offers both.

Man Questions Whether We'll Be Angelic Or Divine
Even as we have been fully mortal and human like Adam, we shall be fully divine and holy Spirit like Christ the Second Adam, being born again into the literal Kingdom-Family of God. How Satan is insanely jealous of this fact!

Born Again and Heaven and Hell
Yeshua said that which is born of the flesh is flesh (like we are now in this life), but that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT. He also said you can't even see or enter into that Kingdom of God unless you're born again...

Sneak Preview of the Kingdom of God
If I may, as God is my Witness and Judge, when I was only 17 years young, God UNEXPECTEDLY gave me a VISION while I was in prayer. I was within that vision as a glorified Spirit-Being, whiter than glistening snow and like a brilliant white cloud with the sun shining on it, appearing smooth, dressed in a white robe - even my hair was that brilliant white - holding a Book in my hands and teaching two flesh and blood mortals who were sitting on the ground, in an outdoor setting like a park or meadow.)

Born Again: The Kingdom of God!
GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).

A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God
Jesus clearly said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent me draw him..."(John 6:44). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Christian calling includes recognizing Jesus is the only way to the Father, learning all about Him as the Incarnate Word of God and walking in that light as a way of life, following Jesus by the lead of the Holy Spirit, the power and influence of God (Romans 8:14, 1 John 2:6).

Kingdom of God-Beings to Rule Earth from Jerusalem!
Yeshua has gone to Heaven and is preparing for the coming Kingdom of God, making room for us (converted Christians then transformed) in His Administration, preparing our positions and government seats in the Kingdom-Family of God, and will then return and receive us to Himself, sharing His glory and power and honor with us from Jerusalem, the seat of God's government, the Throne of David, the Throne of the LORD.

The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah
So there is a physical preparing, as well as a spiritual, in preparing the way for Messiah's Coming! Further, God says we are to SHOUT, with amplified power, to the CITIES OF JUDAH the glad message that the Messiah is soon coming" - Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Volume II, pages 469-470

2012

2012: The Hype and the Truth
By Wallace G. Smith Sabbath, July 18, 2009
As my wife and I walked into the local cinema, before us stood one of the largest movie advertisement displays I’ve ever seen. It depicted a coastal city being completely ripped apart by unprecedented seismic activity—tossing vast swaths of the city into the sky and dumping entire neighborhoods into a hungry ocean. It was a scene of utter devastation that clearly would have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. And it was a fitting advertisement for the movie 2012, the new End-Of-The-World epic written and directed by Roland Emmerich, coming out this November.

No stranger to such movies, with 2012 Mr. Emmerich is capitalizing on a growing public fascination: the idea that the world will end on December 21, 2012.

And a fascination it is. The end of the movie’s preview trailer asks viewers to go to the Internet and to search “2012.” I did that just a moment ago on Google, and got 194 million hits.

Why 2012?

It seems the Mayans—the well-known and much-studied ancient Mesoamerican empire—kept many calendars, including one known as the “Long Count Calendar.” This calendar will reach the end of a 5,100-year-long epoch on—you guessed it—December 21, 2012.

Is there anything to the hype? Should we expect doomsday to come on 12/21/2012—or, perhaps, a New Age paradise?

The Mayans, themselves, said very little about this date, though records show they certainly did not believe the world would end at that time. Many of their descendants today have complained that the current (and growing) 2012-related hysteria is simply a “gringo invention.”

But this has not prevented New Age fanatic proselytizers, astrologers and other occultists from latching on to the date with a passion. Some say it will be the end of the world, while others claim it will be the dawn of a new spiritual era. They point to (disputed) astronomical conjunctions claimed to occur on that day and to visions and theories “received” by some while under the influence of psychedelic drugs and hallucinogens.

Yet the Bible powerfully warns against astrology and other occult practices for divination of future events (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Jeremiah 10:2)—warnings that today’s 2012-obsessed individuals ignore, or perhaps have never heard.

Given the state of things, today—with economic distress, terrorism, global instability, natural disasters of powerful intensity, and more—interest in what the future holds and concern for the direction in which the world is going is understandable. But the answer doesn’t lie in a date on an ancient calendar, the conjunctions of astrologers, or the hallucinations of drug-using “psychonauts.”

Rather, there is a proven source of knowledge about the future, and that source does speak of natural disasters—and supernatural disasters—of unimaginable scale and intensity. And it speaks, as well, of a soon-coming new age of peace and prosperity across the globe—a time without war or needless suffering, in which the nations have learned to live with each other in harmony. That source is your Bible, and not only does it have a proven track-record of accuracy, it does something that a mere date on a calendar or a “Galactic Alignment” could never do: the Bible tells you not only the amazing details about what is ahead, but it also tells you what to do about it!

If you would like to begin experiencing the prophetic power of Scripture, please consider requesting one of our free booklets, such as Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled! or Who or What is the Antichrist? Our television broadcasts—such as A New World Is Coming and Prepare for Armageddon—are also available online, for viewing anytime.

2012 may make for an exciting movie, but the incredible real truth about the future is very likely sitting on your bookshelf, waiting for you to discover it!

A Sabbath stroll

Today is the seventh day Sabbath, so I figured I'd take our dog for a walk in Swan Creek Park instead of just going around the neighborhood as I normally do. Something special for both of us among God's good creation. :-)

Immediately on the trail I saw this young fellow about 19 years old who looked Jewish and we said hi and he went the one way and we went the other (it circles around). When we met up again I asked him if he saw any lions, tigers or bears. He joked, "Plenty, so be careful." I noticed he was wearing an upside down hand around his neck and asked him in Hebrew, "Ata Yehudi?" (Are you Jewish?). He said yes and smiled, "How could you tell?" I asked if it was Fatima - meaning the Hand of Fatima (among Muslim culture) and he said the hand is to ward off the evil eye. Jews have their versions of it, as well as Muslims and others. I didn't bother saying it's a pagan superstition although I thought it. (I refer to such Babylonian relics in my article Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives).

I introduced myself, "Kareem lee David Ben-Ariel." (My name is David Ben-Ariel). His name is Aharon (Aaron).

I asked Aharon if he'd been to Israel and he said no, and I said, "od lo" (not yet). Aharon asked if I had been and I said yes, including living on 8 kibbutzim throughout the Land fulfilling my goals (mentioned in God-given love for the Jews), with the intention of finally living in Jerusalem, b'ezrat HaShem (with the help of God).

Aharon asked, "What are you doing here?" I said, "To meet you...and to tell you to follow Judaism to the Jewish Homeland. Do you hate me now?" He laughed and said, no. I told him I'm a Christian but not a missionary, otherwise I wouldn't have so many Jewish friends in Israel.

I mentioned my Beyond Babylon blog with its political and religious articles, with a focus on Israel, and encouraged him to check it out and we went our ways. Conveniently, we met up again near where I had parked and I was then able to give him one of my Beyond Babylon cards that pictures my book and on the back offers my David Ben-Ariel website address and personal email. God is good.

Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath peace),
David Ben-Ariel

God's Appointment With You

God's Appointment With You

Did you know that God set aside a special day so you can have meaningful, lasting contact with Him? Nearly 6,000 years ago our Creator declared the seventh-day Sabbath a day of rest and fellowship with Him.

by John Ross Schroeder

On any given week our fast-paced, modern lives may embrace several appointments, some of which we don't relish keeping. Few look forward to a tooth-extraction date with the dentist or even a periodic medical checkup. There's no telling what our physician may discover.

Of course most health-care professionals seek to lengthen our lives and make them more pleasant. Yet no matter how capable and competent, they cannot deal effectively with the wide-ranging scope of our human anxieties and uncertainties, along with our financial, work and marital problems.

Only God has the inherent ability to deliver us from all our problems. Only His Word can tell us what our priorities ought to be.

Driving us far from God

Yet our modern societies are not designed to begin, build and enhance a proper relationship with our Creator. Instead, our society mostly widens the gap between God and ourselves—driving us far away from the divine help we all need to cope with life in an increasingly complex, fast-paced world.

Many today are in a state of perpetual confusion, being weighed down with various problems and anxieties. "Hurry sickness" is one symptom and has become the malaise of our Western world. Life in the fast lane is taking a tragic toll.

One journalist frankly confessed: "I am pathologically impatient and incapable of waiting for anything. I'm always stomping out of shops, bars or restaurants because the [line is] too long and I can't be bothered to wait." Today we hear of road rage—and even supermarket-cart rage! As a result of our chronic impatience and always being in a hurry, some become miserable, lonely, stressed-out and sick.

Too many of us don't sleep all that well. Many continually gorge on fast foods, not taking the time to prepare healthy meals. We've allowed time to become an enemy rather than a friend. We are badly misusing one of our most valuable resources. Most of us have lost the knack for properly budgeting our time. We don't realize how important the biblical admonition to "redeem the time" is to our whole well-being (see Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5).

We always seem to have so much to do that we find virtually no time left for regular contact with our Creator. The world has largely cast aside the biblical keys that would unlock the door to God's presence and help in our lives.

A God-like view of time

A psalm attributed to Moses gives us some much-needed perspective. "Lord," it begins, "You have been our dwelling place in all generations...Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Psalm 90:1-2). When God takes center stage in our minds, we start to think differently—to mirror His thoughts rather than our own.

But all of us grow older every day, and the clock is ticking. Our physical lives are composed of just so much time. Many today are already past the 70 years the psalm mentions and are wondering just how much time is left to them.

As the psalm states: "We finish our lives like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (verses 9-10).

Our Creator wants us to grasp the implications of the fact that we won't live forever in the flesh. We all need to learn to use our time properly: "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (verse 12, emphasis added throughout).

Our visionary thoughts should extend to a future time beyond our physical lives. God offers the gift of eternal life to those who meet His conditions and surrender their wills to His. But we have to take sufficient time now to think about our real future in the age to come.

Enter God's seventh-day Sabbath!

A day devoted to God

Leviticus 23 is one of the great chapters of the Bible. When we truly understand its implications, it becomes a divinely revealed map of God's plan and purpose for humankind.

It begins: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: "The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations [sacred assemblies, NIV], these are My feasts"'" (verses 1-2). God is the Revealer of truth, and Moses is the agent speaking directly with the people on His behalf. These are God's festivals, and He has exclusive rights to them. They belong to Him and not to any person or group of people.

The Hebrew word translated "feasts" here is mo'edim, which means "appointed times" (verse 4) or "appointments" as we would say today.

The first one mentioned is the weekly Sabbath—to be observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. "Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings" (verse 3).

The rest of the chapter is devoted exclusively to seven yearly festivals containing seven Holy Days (annual Sabbaths). As verse 4 states, "These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times." The intriguing explanation of their significance is beyond the scope of this article. To help you better understand them, we recommend that you read our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.

Here we concentrate on your divine appointment with God set for every seventh day.

Observing the Sabbath day

We all need rest from our general labor and occupational work. So the Creator commands us to rest every seventh day (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The Sabbath commandment actually dates from creation since God Himself rested on that first seventh day and sanctified it—set it apart—as an example for all mankind, beginning with Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:1-3).

Spiritual fellowship with others of like mind is one of the most beneficial tonics to the human psyche. We all need it! Of course, this can only succeed in and through our fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Successful relationships, whether with God or man, all require quality time.

A weekly day of rest enables us to use the other six days much more profitably. People who work seven days a week generally burn out sooner rather than later. As well as physical and mental rest, we need sufficient time to meditate, thinking about those matters that bring us special meaning and divine purpose.

The Sabbath provides time and space for families, couples and friends to draw closer together. This seventh-day rest provides precious time for prayer and to read and study the Bible, the book that tells us how to live in ways that are infinitely rewarding, purposeful and fulfilling. It is also a time for assembling with others for collective worship, as the term "convocation" in Leviticus 23:3 denotes a commanded assembly (compare Hebrews 10:24-25).

Observing the Sabbath is an integral part of the Ten Commandments. It is no less valid a commandment than those six specifically designed to cover our relationships with other human beings—do not murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, etc. It is one of the vital first four that help us to express love to our Creator, worshipping Him in a proper and respectful manner.

All too many in mainstream Christendom are either dismissive or ignorant of this weekly get-together with their Creator and are missing out on the spiritual edification that observing the seventh-day Sabbath provides. Why not start keeping your weekly appointment with God? GN

Related Resources
Sunset to Sunset: God's Sabbath Rest
Everyone, it seems, is constantly rushing here and there to get everything done. Is there a way to take a break? The weekly Sabbath can offer that much needed rest.

When Do I Get a Break?
Are you working more and relaxing less? Doing more but never getting everything done? Running here and there but only running yourself down? Maybe it's time you took a break!

Why We Need a Weekly Rest Day
Why the seven-day week and the continual cycle of day and night? Is there a message for modern men and women in the way our planet was designed to operate?

God's Test Commandment
God described one of His commandments as a "test" command. Which command is that? What was he testing? How has mankind fared with that test —and what about you?

The Fourth Commandment: Key to a Relationship With Our Creator
The Fourth Commandment, to remember the Sabbath, concludes the section of the Ten Commandments that specifically helps define a proper relationship with God—how we are to love, worship and relate to Him. It explains why and when we need to take special time to draw closer to our Creator.

************
Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from
the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?"
Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or
does it go beyond that?

United Church of God Booklets

FREE Booklets
Explore our large library of booklets covering a wide variety of biblical, family, and social issues and themes. All of our booklets offered here are FREE with no obligations.
Booklets available in MP3 audio format:
What Is Your Destiny?
Marriage & Family: The Missing Dimension
You Can Have Living Faith
The Road to Eternal Life
What Happens After Death
God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
The New Covenant: Does It Abolish God's Law?

Booklets
HTML
PDF

Marriage & Family: The Missing Dimension
1.3mb

The Middle East in Bible Prophecy
1.4mb

The Book of Revelation Unveiled
1.1mb

What Happens After Death?
384k

You Can Understand Bible Prophecy
1.1mb

Are We Living in the Time of the End?
1.5mb

This Is the United Church of God
1.0mb

Why Does God Allow Suffering?
516k

Bible and Archaeology - Sections 1-12 (available in PDF only)
1.9mb

Bible and Archaeology Sections 13-24 (available in PDF only)
1.6mb

Is the Bible True?
499k

The Church Jesus Built
448k

What Does the Bible Teach About Clean and Unclean Meats?
368k

Creation or Evolution - Does It Really Matter What You Believe?
896k

Fundamental Beliefs
170k

Life's Ultimate Question: Does God Exist?
1.5mb

The Gospel of the Kingdom
192k

God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
200k

Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
736k

Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?
256k

Jesus Christ: The Real Story
354k

You Can Have Living Faith
160k

Making Life Work
890k

Managing Your Finances
288k

Is There Really a Devil?
208k

The Road to Eternal Life
148k

Sunset to Sunset - God's Sabbath Rest
300k

The Ten Commandments
312k

Transforming Your Life - The Process of Conversion
312k

How to Understand the Bible
320k

The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy
2.0mb

What Is Your Destiny?
96k

Who Is God?
268k

What Does the Bible Teach About Tithing?
544k

The New Covenant: Does It Abolish God's Law?
1.1mb

Frequently Asked Bible Questions

Frequently Asked Bible Questions
Does the Bible forbid women from wearing pants?
Does the Bible teach it is wrong for women to wear makeup?
View by Topic
What do Bible prophecies of the future mean?
What is the good news of the Kingdom of God?
What happens after I die?
How can I improve my marriage and family life?
What should I do to live a Christian life?
What's involved with becoming a new Christian?
What does God want us to do?
What is sin and how can I overcome it?
What does the Bible say about jobs, money, debt and finances?
What Holy Days and holidays does God want (or not want) us to celebrate?
Who is God?
How can we know that God created everything and that it didn't all evolve?
Does God care how I look? How does He want us to look?
What is the Bible and how can I gain the most from it?
How can you explain Bible scriptures that are difficult to understand?

Herbert W. Armstrong

Miscellaneous Literature
The Bible Advocate
World Tomorrow Transcripts
Booklets
Books

Books in PDF:
Click title to view, right click to download.

Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong - Volume 1
1.3 mb

Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong - Volume 2
1.3 mb

Mystery of the Ages
2.3 mb

The Incredible Human Potential
2.4 mb

The Missing Dimension in Sex
1.8 mb

Tomorrow...What It Will Be Like
1.5 mb

United States and Britain in Prophecy
2.1 mb

Tribes of Israel

REUBEN
SIMEON
LEVI
JUDAH
DAN
NAPHTALI
GAD
ASHER
ISSACHAR
ZEBULON
JOSEPH(Ephraim and Manasseh)
BENJAMIN

Not again!

Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?

When Herbert W. Armstrong died, Dr. Herman Hoeh declared that the seventh candlestick had been lit. That means Laodicea officially began immediately.

Nearly four years later, Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today by Gerald Flurry began to sound the alarm: something wasn’t kosher in the Church of God! It exposed a corrupt ministry intent on destroying the foundational doctrines of the Worldwide Church of God, and urged the brethren to hang on for dear life to what God had given us through His end-time Elijah. We were encouraged to get a grip, while others were losing it (Revelation 3:11).

Those who were of God heard what the Spirit said to the Churches through Malachi’s Message. Those who weren’t of God quickly lost it (God’s truth) and slipped further and further into darkness. That darkness was disguised as a "new light of understanding" (2 Corinthians 11:14). The true members of the Church of God responded to His call and came out of that decadent organization. Those who remained behind became the SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN - just like the original apostate Christianity (Catholics and Protestants) that has deceived the whole world.

They were no longer God’s Church! You can’t reject God’s truth for demonic doctrines without becoming a part of "Mystery Babylon" (1 Corinthians 10:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). All this has been quite revealing (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Knowing the Truth

God knows the end from the beginning (Acts 15:18). He prophesied a great falling away that would leave few standing. The BIG ONE has hit and shaken the Church of God to its core! But isn’t it possible to know the truth without knowing the Truth? (2 Timothy 3:7).

God’s calling us to a deeper love and conversion (1 John 3:18). Isn’t God’s truth a means to an end? Didn’t Herbert W. Armstrong fear some just "DON’T GET IT?” That too many were only converted to our doctrines? The doctrines are meant to help bring us closer to God by having a better understanding of His Will, but only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will save us! We need Christ’s teachings, but we need God the Father and Jesus Christ even more. Only they can establish us and secure our salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17). You can have all the understanding in the world and still fall short (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Remember Solomon? Just because you know God’s truth, doesn’t mean you know Him (Job 42:5; 1 John 2:4). You’re not going to be judged by how much you know, but by HOW MUCH YOU GROW! By how much you apply what you know, becoming more Christ-like, more Godly, more representative of the Kingdom of God, here and now (James 1:22; John 13:35). A system can’t save you and ritual is no substitute for a relationship (2 Timothy 3:5).

Malachi’s Message Still Applies!

Whereas the Worldwide Church of God was physically rich, aren’t we in danger of feeling spiritually rich and self-complacent (Amos 6:1)? Ancient Israel had God’s holy days; didn’t eat pork, etc. But it didn’t keep them from going into captivity! (Amos 5:21). It wasn’t enough. Worldwide doesn’t feel sufficient, they feel so impoverished they go to Babylon for help! We’re the ones who feel safe and secure. Who said we can let our guard down? We’re commanded to REMAIN ON HIGH ALERT until Christ comes (Luke 21:34). Yet some are failing to continue to apply Malachi’s Message (Romans 2:17-21). God’s refining process isn’t over (Daniel 12:10; Isaiah 48:10).

Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study. And God help us to look past Petra (though it’s important), to focus on His Kingdom (Luke 21:36; Isaiah 33:17). To survive the coming Holocaust is one thing, to enter the Kingdom of God is everything (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Beware of Emperor Worship!

What’s the greatest false doctrine to come out of Babylon? The nefarious idea of a DIVINE EMPEROR! Nimrod had put himself in God’s place. He had people depending on him for all their answers and protection. Today, we have such MEN "playing God" in the Church! (Nahum 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). There’s nothing new under the sun. Unlike Moses, who wished that all God’s people were prophets (Numbers 11:29), Nimrod felt threatened by any "competition." He dealt cruelly, in a jealous rage, with those who opposed his haughty position. God used Shem to put him back in his place! Leaders are ordained of God; they do have a definite place, but it’s NOT in the Holy of Holies (2 Chronicles 26:18). They’re intruding in God’s business, and trespassing on His sacred ground, when they get out of line and overstep their bounds (Zephaniah1:9; Exodus 19:12; Colossians 2:18).

Away with emperor worship! It’s soon to sweep Europe, but we don’t need it in the Church of God. Not if we want to remain the Church of God!

Didn’t Gerald Flurry warn that we were slipping into a Laodicean attitude when he had his unfortunate incident with alcohol? Didn’t he say, after prayerfully wracking his brains to understand why God had allowed that to happen, that we have to be careful not to get proud due to our abundance of revelation (2 Corinthians 12:6-7)? Have we learned that lesson? Has he? With his preoccupation with all his religious titles and self-promotion, we really have to wonder and be most concerned!

Holy, righteous CHARACTER is more important to God than all the revelation in the world! We definitely need the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but God says we should want the FRUITS of his Holy Spirit even more. GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT (1 Corinthians 14:1). I’m convinced God’s about to empower His people like never before, but wants us to be spiritually ready (having learned from the Corinthians’ mistakes), and our ministers mature enough not to get in the way (Joel 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

As far as revelations go, God can inspire unconverted men like Caiphas and speak through donkeys! All truth is from and belongs to God, so why should some become puffed up with pride that they're something special rather than just an instrument serving God's purpose? And why get bloated with self-importance when God can quickly pop that balloon (1 Corinthians 4:6-7)?

Warnings from History

If what happened in the Church during the 70’s was a warning of what could happen in the 80’s what about now? Having survived our Worldwide Church of God ordeal, are we now home safe (Jude 5)? Let us pray and examine ourselves this new century: Do we love God or fear men (Acts 5:29)?

God has an ordained government for His Church, but it can gradually fall to Satan - made over in some man’s image - if we blindly follow it and forget that it’s also a means to an end, and not and end in itself! Isn’t that how the Church of God got off track? The Mother spoon fed the brain-dead! We need the Father! When Church government stops directing us to God and substitutes doctrines or a personality cult instead (3 John 9), and refuses correction, God’s glory has left such a bankrupt administration! Will God destroy the very government He’s installed because we’ve failed to use it properly? Some are actually worshipping the government rather than the Governor!

Didn’t God level His Temple, stop the sacrifices, and disband the priesthood? Didn’t he empty the House of Israel and scatter Judah? Wasn’t Jerusalem-headquarters forcibly shut down? Even Hezekiah had to destroy the brass serpent God told Moses to make, because they had perverted its purpose (2 Kings 18:4).

Too often, that which God had intended to become a blessing, became a curse! Such historical warnings don’t curry favor with "the top brass, " but it’s evident God would rather work through a very faithful few than let many misrepresent Him (Jeremiah 26:18; Ezekiel 5:3-4).

What have we learned from our WCG experience? Haven’t some since scrambled for positions of power, while others claim we’re all equal? (Numbers 16:3; 1 Timothy 1:7; James 3:1) God isn’t an anarchist, and neither should we be. We mustn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, just because of abuses of power. Proper leadership encourages us to "be all we can be," within God’s law; it encourages us to think and become like our leaders, and able to teach what we’ve been taught—after all we’re PRIEST-KINGS IN TRAINING (Matthew 10:25; Hebrews 5:12; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15).

The proper use of God’s government never plays politics or acts jealous, but truly has everyones' best interests at heart (1 Cor. 14:26). We’re all members of God’s Royal Family, therefore we ought to respect each others’ part in God’s plan and place in God’s Church (1 Corinthians 12:18).

I truly believe in GOVERNMENT FROM THE TOP DOWN —- and it starts with GOD THE FATHER! That’s why we must always OBEY GOD, even if it means we must disobey men. Wasn’t it ministers who told you to throw Malachi’s Message away? Wasn’t it Church leaders who threw out the faithful? Didn’t we just take their word for it, rather than check out what GOD had to say?

Don’t be fooled again! Do you now CONSULT CHRIST, or are you still playing "follow the leader?" Which is truly learning how to follow God’s government? Have you finally learned this lesson? Or did you ask your minister for permission to read Beyond Babylon? Worldwide all over again? Not if you continue to read and apply Malachi’s Message to yourself. That’s the only way to prevent a "repeat performance." Hopefully, once was enough.

Spiritual purpose for physical Temple

I understand the temple of God to be within, when the Father & Christ make their abode inside each adopted member of the family of God, through their Holy Spirit. - Bernard

Didn't Moses have the Holy Spirit when he oversaw the construction of the holy Tabernacle? How about David when he prepared for the Temple? Or Ezra and Nehemiah? Did that stop them from their holy physical work for the Tabernacle and Temple? Did they feel they were better than that and didn't need to do as God led them to do because they had the Holy Spirit? No.

Clearly the physical building of the holy Temple of God serves as a physical place to physically gather to worship God, as commanded, on the NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL level. The spiritual Temple, that has always been composed of those filled with God's Holy Spirit (and the Prophets had God's Holy Spirit before Shavuot/Pentecost, long before the Church of God was established in Jerusalem), doesn't compete or rule out the physical/national purposes God has ordained for the literal, physical Temple He commands Israel to build. Furthermore, this ought to be evident since the spiritual Temple (the early Jewish Church of God) continued to gladly meet, worship and fellowship at the physical Temple of God until they were warned to flee (to Pella - not stay in their homes) before the destruction, and as Paul proves, even offer sacrifices (with a deeper understanding of their meaning).

The Temple of God in Holy Jerusalem

Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!

A House of Prayer For All Peoples?

Where's the Temple On the Temple Mount?

What does the Bible say about women ministers (pastors or preachers)?

Frequently Asked Bible Questions
What does the Bible say about women ministers (pastors or preachers)?

There has been much controversy in modern times about women's roles in the church. What does the Bible say about elders, pastors, preachers and ministry?

"Ministry" is used to mean different things by different groups. Let's first address the type of ministry that includes serving as pastors or elders.

The Gospels show that Jesus selected only men to serve as His first apostles. Early Church history (the book of Acts) shows that the Church continued selecting only men to serve as elders and pastors. Therefore, we conclude that a woman's role in the Church, although unique and valuable, does not include ordination to this type of ministry or preaching during church services (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

However, women served as teachers, with the older women training the younger ones (Titus 2:3-5). Some organizations today call this type of service "women's ministry." The United Church of God does not, lest anyone misconstrue that we are ordaining women as elders or pastors.

Women members of the Church of God have long served in many responsibilities, from providing musical accompaniment at church services, special music and directing children's choirs to teaching Sabbath schools, welcoming guests, organizing potlucks and church socials—and much more.

Also, the United Church of God ordains qualified women to the office of deaconess, as the early New Testament Church of God did. These women assist pastors in caring for the local congregations, often in meeting the unique needs of the women members.

Related Online Resources
Proverbs 31: A Model for Today's Woman
You might be surprised at just how up-to-date the advice of an ancient king can be.

Preaching the Gospel, Preparing a People: This Is the United Church of God
If you'd like to know more about the United Church of God, see this booklet.

Contact Us
Don't see your Bible FAQ here? Ask our team of caring, dedicated ministers for a personal answer. (Please allow a week or so for an e-mail response.)

************
God Doesn't Ordain Women Preachers!
I just read an abominable article written by a proud and stubborn woman attempting to justify rebellious women doing what only God has ordained men to do: preach from the pulpit as ordained ministers.

Is There A Future King of the South?

Is There A Future King of the South?
By COGwriter
Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? This article will answer those questions.

In the July-August 2004 edition of the Living Church News, R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God (LCG) wrote:

The final fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming King of the South are certainly yet to come. But, even now, it is obvious that many events now indicate that the stage is being set for the powerful Muslim leader indicated in Daniel 11:40–43. Our recent attack on Iraq, our constant backing of the state of Israel, and many other acts by the U.S. and Europe, have infuriated the Muslim world. The current situations in Israel and Iraq are causing the Arab world to unite in a manner unprecedented in recent times. This will certainly carry over into their backing for a truly powerful pan-Arab leader when God’s time comes.

What surprised me was not that statement (which is consistent with both the Bible and historical teachings), but critical statements that I received from some once part of the Global Church of God (GCG), but who are not part of LCG, that disagreed with it.

Specifically, they stated that Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) did not teach that there would be a future King of the South and that the Bible does not require a future King of the South.

Are they correct?

Church of the Eternal God and other GCG Splits

The Church of the Eternal God (CEG), which once had two of the board members involved in the GCG takeover, wrote this in its July 30, 2004 News Update:

...the prophecy in Daniel 11:40 has ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED. And verse 40 is the LAST TIME where the king of the South is mentioned! Beginning with the second half of verse 40, we read exclusively about the king of the North and his activities, and, in verse 44, about rumors from the east and the west. This means, then, that there DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ANOTHER end-time king of the South. If there were to rise one, following the historical and Biblical records, as set forth in the 11th chapter of the book of Daniel, it would have to be -- mainly -- modern Ethiopia. But, as we said, ALL WHICH STILL NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED (and which the previous king of the North -- under Mussolini -- did NOT fulfill), is the invasion of the Glorious Land by the future and final king of the North (verse 41), including Jerusalem (verse 45), as well as the overthrow of "many countries" (verse 41), including Egypt, and the "Libyans and Ethiopians" following at his heels (verse 43).

Although CEG had referred to a 1972 article by HWA prior to reaching this conclusion, this is NOT what HWA actually concluded.It should also be pointed out that GCG-UK (a group with ties to CEG) posted about the same thing in August 2004. These statements are similar to those made by Harold Smith of Church of God Fellowship, Northwest (Harold Smith went along with the GCG takeover and is a former GCG member). Thus at least three groups that split off from the GCG takeover now have taken the position that the old WCG and the Bible do not require that there be a future King of the South.

Furthermore, David Pack, another who went along with the GCG takeover (now the head of his Restored Church of God, RCG), and who claims to stand for "precision of doctrine", essentially re-wrote HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet. But there is at least one editorial change that stands out. HWA's version states

Verse 43 says the Libyans and Ethiopians (observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south) shall be at his steps" (Armstrong, HW. Middle East in Prophecy (1972 version).

RCG's David Pack seems to have eliminated that insert from his version,
"Then, verse 43 says, “the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.” shall be at his steps.” (Pack, David. The Mid-East in Prophecy. Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2004 by David C. Pack).

Furthermore, RCG's position is clearly that Ethiopia is the King of the South, as David Pack specifically wrote:

The King of the South is Ethiopia

Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.” Remember, verse 40 explains that the setting is the time of the end. Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.”

David Pack also wrote:

The King of the South is Ethiopia

Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.” Remember, verse 40 explains that the setting is the time of the end (Pack, David. The MID-EAST in Bible Prophecy. RCG Booklet, online 12/17/06).

And although HWA once felt that Ethiopia was a king of the South, HWA changed his position on the future king of the South by 1963, but RCG has not.

Therefore, while many once part of the GCG takeover no longer believe that there will be a future King of the South, those that do seem to feel that if there is, it would seem to be Ethiopia.
For those unfamiliar with Ethiopia, perhaps it should be pointed out that Ethiopia is not Arabic, is only about 40% Moslem, does not have a powerful military (its recent fighting in Somalia suggested it only has a small amount of force), and does not have economic might (it is one of the poorer countries of the world), thus it is not likely to lead an Arab-Moslem dominated king of the South. It is not the type of country that would seem to be able to push at the King of the North and cause it to respond with a military whirlwind. And while this does not mean that it is not possible that one may rise from Ethiopia to lead the king of the South, it does not seem that Ethiopia itself is the likely leader.

It is dangerous to be wrong about the king of the South, for those that are clearly wrong will not understand when certain end-time prophecies are being fulfilled.

Perhaps I should add here that CG21's Raymond McNair holds a position like LCG does on this matter as he wrote:

Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

Notice that Raymond McNair realizes that Egypt or some other Muslim country is where the king of the South will come from and that the term translated as Ethiopians really means the Cushite peoples who live in southern Egypt as well as elsewhere.

LCG has also reported:
The northern Sudan, anciently referred to as Cush, was once part of the Egyptian empire—a region where the future King of the South may headquarter (News and Prophecy. World Ahead Weekly Update, May 24, 2007).

It may be of interest to note that Isaiah 30:6-7 seems to tie the "beasts of the South" with "the Egyptians", which is further support that the Egyptians will most likely have significant involvement with the king of the South.

Additionally, Isaiah 31 lists the destruction of "the Egyptians" (1-3) ahead of "Assyria" (vss. 8-9), just like the Book of Daniel places the destruction of the king of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) ahead of the king of the North (11:45).

Iran and the Philadelphia Church of God, Intercontinental Church of God, and the United Church of God

Other COG-like groups seem to hold different position.

For example, who is the king of the South according to Gerald Flurry of the PCG?

Well, Iran.

A non-Arabic (though Muslim) country that is north, north-east of Jerusalem.

As Gerald Flurry wrote:
Daniel 11:42 implies that Egypt will be allied with the king of the south, or Iran...The king of the south, or Iran, is going to “push at him”—that is, the king of the north (the European Union)... The king of the south is about state-sponsored terrorism. That is how Iran became king! Daniel 11:40-43 is an end-time prophecy. It is about a nation that is always pushy in its foreign policy. It pushes until it starts a war. Having such power means that it must be a large oil-producing country. This king is close to Jerusalem, Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya. Who else could it be in this end time but Iran? Iran is extremely radical and the king over radical Islam" (Flurry, G. The King of the South. PCG Booklet).

Notice this prophecy in Daniel 11:40: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” Iran leads this “king of the south” (Flurry G. From the Editor: Why You Must Watch Europe. Philadelphia Trumpet. Nov-Dec 2006).

Hence, PCG clearly and repeatedly teaches that Iran will be the King of the South.

ICG's Mark Armstrong taught:

Even the UN’s IAEA worries in public that Iran is concealing the military ambitions of their nuclear program. There are further reports that Iranian bases involved in training and supplying insurgents in Iraq may soon come under U.S. attack. What should we make of all the talk of war? Is Iran the “King of the South” of Bible prophecy? Would military conflict with Iran by either the United States or Israel signal the beginning of “tribulation”? As many advances as we’ve seen in the overall scenario, it seems that there are major portions of the equation that are simply not yet in place (Weekly update. 6/06/08).

So, ICG believes that Iran may be the future King of the South, but it is not sure.

Like ICG, the United Church of God takes a more guarded position. In a UCG World News & Prophecy article titled Could Ahmadinejad Be Daniel's "King of the South"?:

Because Iran is, to this point, intractable in its demand to develop nuclear power, and because it produces the second highest amount of oil in OPEC, neither it nor its new president can be ignored.

Back to Daniel's enigmatic prediction. He spoke of two geopolitical configurations, kings of the south and north. It's too soon to tell whether Ahmadinejad will become the first "king," but it is possible that the group backing that king of the south could well be some form of the Islamic ummah (community) (Maranville C.E. Could Ahmadinejad Be Daniel's "King of the South"? World News & Prophecy, December 2005).

Hence, UCG's position once seemed to be that Iran may be the King of the South.

And although UCG confirmed that in something else I recall reading, two later UCG World News & Prophecy articles stated:

Eventually Israel will become subject to a European-centered superpower (the "king of the North") who will invade the Holy Land as a result of a "push" by the "king of the South" (possibly an Islamic group of peoples) as explained in Daniel 11:40-45. Schroeder JR. New Middle Eastern Conflicts: A Wake-up Call for Mankind. World News & Prophecy, August 2006).

...Daniel 11:40-45. These verses tell of a "king of the South" doing something so provocative to a "king of the North" that he reacts by taking over the region of Palestine. On the basis of what we can observe today, we anticipate that the king of the South will be an alliance of Muslim nations from northern Africa through the Middle East and that the king of the North will be a core of European nations, smaller than the present EU configuration (Maranville C.E. China Looks to Africa. World News & Prophecy, June 2007).

UCG tends to be a bit guarded and seems to change its position more easily than LCG does, but currently has a position similar to LCG's.

Though, LCG's R.C. Meredith has repeatedly and publicly stated that Iran will not be the King of the South (Meredith R.C. Last Great Day Sermon. Clearwater, Florida. October 25, 2005). But LCG does teach that Iran may support that king.

He has also specifically stated,

The King of the South is not Iran...The King of the South cannot be Iran. Iran is north of Jerusalem (Meredith RC. Endure with Faith. Sermon, Charlotte (NC), September 10, 2005).
I should probably add here that the Iranians are Persian, and not Arabic. They primarily speak Farsi, which is not an Arabic language. While the Iranians tend to be strict Moslems, they are NOT Arabs ethnically, but could provide some support to the King of the South.

The Old WCG Taught About the King of the South

Who is the 'king of the South' according to history and the old WCG?

Most worldly scholars and HWA felt that there were different ones at different times.
From HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet:

Here is verse 5: "And the king of the south [Egypt] shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion"...Syria's ruler, the king of the north, at this time was Antiochus II, called Theos. His wife was named Laodice. And, says Rawlinson's Ancient History, page 251, "Her influence ... engaged him in a war with Ptolemy Philadelphus [king of the south], B.C. 260, which is terminated, B.C. 252, by a marriage between Antiochus and Bernice, Ptolemy's daughter"...Verse 25 — Rawlinson, pages 255-256, says, "Threatened with war by the ministers of Ptolemy Philometor [now king of the south], who claim Coele-Syria and Palestine as the dowry of Cleopatra, the late queen-mother, Antiochus marches against Egypt ... B.C. 171" (pp. 277-278)...Who is today the "king of the south"? It cannot be the king of Egypt, for in 31 B.C. Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, swallowed up by the king of the north. Today Egypt is a republic ruled by native Arabs. It has no king of its own...Since that time, the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica says (article "Ethiopia") Egypt and Ethiopia were two or three times under the same government. Thus, the two were as one land. And the only portion of that land of the "king of the south" that remained independent until the 20th century is Ethiopia!...(observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south).

Thus, HWA and others taught that Egypt was the king of the South, that Egypt and Ethiopia had been under the same government at times, and that after Mussolini's conquest that Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the South.

Now, it is easy to demonstrate that HWA's WCG did teach that there would be a future King of the South and who WCG believed it would be.

One is a quote from the July 1963 Plain Truth article by Garner Ted Armstrong titled "And when you see the Abomination...":

Notice! And at the TIME OF THE END (this prophecy, then, is absolutely DATED as pertaining to OUR DAY, NOW) shall the king of the south push at him (the "king of the north") and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over" (verse 40). Bible scholars have recognized the FIRST, TYPICAL fulfillment of this surprising prophecy, but have failed to see its LITERAL application to OUR TIMES!...

The king of the South? EGYPT, of course. But not Egypt of today. Egypt of a few more years from now--Egypt as she continues to expand the U.A.R., bringing more and more of the North Africa Mohammedan nations into the same Afro-Arabian power block!. (p. 22).

Another is a quote from the August 1974 Good News article by Raymond McNair titled Watch the Middle East where he stated:

The longest prophecy of the Bible, the eleventh chapter of Daniel, specifically concerns the Middle East...verses 40-45 are yet to be fulfilled. They reveal that startling events are yet to take place in the Middle East... (p.12).

Thus, WCG was teaching, under HWA for at least the last 22 1/2 years of his life, that at least from verses 40 and on, that portions of Daniel 11 were yet to be fulfilled.

Daniel 11:40 states:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through" (NKJV, except when noted or citing other writings).

It is clear that even in 1963 & 1974 HWA's WCG taught that there would be a future king of the South.

Garner Ted Armstrong in a May 3, 1975 Plain Truth article titled Watch the Middle East wrote
Prophecy says some sort of a 'shoving match' precipitated by the 'King of the South' will unleash whirlwind lightening-like MILITARY response by a 'King of the North'.

So the first two quotes from the literature show that WCG did believe in a future 'King of the South', but did not clearly identify who.

In a December 1979 Plain Truth article by Keith Stump titled The Arab World in Prophecy it states
But who is the "king of the south"?...in verse 40 we skip to "the time of the end"...The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896...But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy...Just as there is yet to be a final "king of the north"...there may very well emerge in the same manner a final "king of the south"--an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi......a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations...But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived...And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]...The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.

(Note: There is actually a Shiite prophecy that some believe points to Barack Obama as one who will help the final "Mahdi" (Arabic for "the guided one"), please see Obama in Islamic Prophecy?,Prophecies of Barack Obama?, and The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.)

In the Plain Truth of December 1980--the year that HWA often claimed he now had the Church back on track--another article states:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as the 'king of the south' (Daniel 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events (Stump, K. Plain Truth. December 1980, p.26).

A related Plain Truth article states:
Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as "the king of the south" (Dan. 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events. (Stump K. Seeing the World Through Islamic Eyes. Plain Truth, June 1983, p.44).

These quotes make it clear that WCG's written position was that there would be a future King of the South--an Arabic-Islamic confederation.

Some Islamic Prophecy

Some in Islam have taught several things about the Mahdi that suggest that he is the King of the South of the Bible. Notice the following:

Rasaullah [Muhammed] said: "There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans [Christians]. The fourth agreement will be mediated through a person who will be the progeny of Hadrat Haroon [Honorable Aaron -- Moses' brother] and will be upheld for seven years (Richardson J. Antichrist: Islam's Awaited Messiah. Pleasant Word, 2006, p. 48)

The above sounds similar to the seven year (one week in biblical language) agreement discussed in Daniel 9:27 that involves a "prince" who appears to be the one the Bible warns will become the King of the North and apparently the nation of Israel. It certainly would make sense that there would be Muslim representation in a peace deal.

However, the Bible shows that this deal will be broken (Daniel 9:27) and the King of the North will invade Jerusalem (Daniel 11:31) and ultimately the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). Notice that this too, however, seems to be consistent with some Islamic prophecy:

...a life of peace as a result of a peace agreement between you and the Banil Asfaar (Romans) which they will break and attack you (Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah. http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 06/21/09).

More on the Madhi can be found in the article The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.

What Did Herbert W. Armstrong Teach About the King of the South?

While Herbert W. Armstrong apparently felt that there was a partial fulfillment of this when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia before the USA entered World War II and that Ethiopia was the "king of the South" then, HWA did not feel that Ethiopia was the final king of the South, but that another would arise.

In addition to being the editor in chief of those official WCG publications previously quoted, HWA himself taught that there would be a future King of the South.

Specifically, RC Meredith told me (in August 2004) that HWA had him teach that there would be a future King of the South at HWA's Ambassador College. Additionally, former LCG evangelist Charles Bryce told me (also in August of 2004) that he heard HWA personally state that there would be a future King of the South.

The printed quotes and statements cited in this article clearly prove that HWA's WCG did teach that there would be a future King of the South, that it was probably not Ethiopia, that it may EMERGE in the same manner as the King of the North, and that it would apparently involve an Arab-Moslem confederation (Ethiopians are neither predominantly Moslem nor are they predominantly Arabic).

I should also add that in other literature, HWA's himself personally taught that even though there were historical fulfillments, that there would be a future fulfillment of many verses in Daniel 11 beginning with vs. 31 as well as events at least 45 days earlier:

And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ's coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days." Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later "the beasts armies" will surround Jerusalem PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT - VOL.1, NO.15 NOVEMBER 20, 1979 The Time We Are In, Now by Herbert W. Armstrong. Page 2; see also Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).

As the above shows, HWA himself admitted that he had questions about some of his earlier writings about the fulfilling of the sequence of Daniel 11. And he also told this to others including Raymond McNair who related that to me through his late brother, Carl McNair a few years ago. Furthermore, the Plain Truth magazine itself publicly admitted some ambiguity on some Middle East-related prophecies (see The Arab World in Prophecy in the Plain Truth, December 1979, p.12)--yet it (and earlier and later editions) clearly did teach that there would be a future king of the South and that it would appear to be an Arab-Moslem confederation of some sort.

And HWA himself clearly wrote that there would be a future fulfillment of Daniel 11:31 and other verses in Daniel. And as the above shows, he taught that something would stop the work forty-five days prior to Daniel 11:31 (more information on that is included in the article Who is the King of the North?.

The Bible Teaches About the King of the South

Of course, the main issue is whether or not the Bible teaches that there must be a future King of the South, and the 11th chapter of the book of Daniel (the only place where the term 'king of the South' is mentioned) does make this clear.

Daniel wrote:

He [the king of the North] shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South...Both these kings' hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:25,27).
Notice that these two kings make a deal together, but both sides are lying to each other. Thus, whatever agreement they make is not destined to be permanent.

Now when is the "end"? Verse 29 states:

At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

The 'he' in verse 29 is the king of the North. This verse says that the 'appointed time' is not only different than before, but, combined with vs. 27, that it is the appointed time that leads to the final end of both the king of the North and the king of the South (cf. vs. 27).

I state this because there is an ‘appointed time’ (Strong’s word #7150) in both vs. 27 which suggest it is in the future and vss. 29 and 35 which appear to be the specific time. The specific word translated as ‘the end’ is the same word (Strong’s 4150) in vs. 27 and vs. 45 where the king of the North comes to his final end it is also in vs. 40 when the king of the North invades the king of the South (which is the last time the term 'king of the South' is mentioned as this leads to his end).

Daniel 11:35 states:

And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

Daniel 11:40 states:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.
Since the king of the South is prophesied in vs. 27 to come to his end at the appointed time, and I believe the Bible is clear that this particular appointed time of coming to his end has not come yet (especially since the king of the North is also supposed to come to his end during that appointed time), the Bible thus demonstrates the need of a future king of the South.

Notice that the King of the North is going to come into the Arabic portions of the world. And when the final contest between the King of the South vs. the King of the North occurs, the King of the South will lose:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40-42).

It may be of interest to note that currently, many of the states of the European Union and the states of Northern Africa have gotten together in something that they call the "Union for the Mediterranean". An interesting part of this is that while they do not call them kings, at this time their is a president of the North (the president of France) and a president of the South (the president of Egypt) (for details, please see the article The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy).

Does Daniel 11 Refer to Ethiopians or Nubians?

Although Daniel 11:40-42 is only mentioning peoples in predominantly Arabs lands, some may point to verse 43 as proof that Ethiopia is involved. Here is what the NKJV, perhaps incorrectly, shows:

He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.

The problem with the above translation is that the word "Ethiopians" is not in the Hebrew in the Old Testament. The word translated as "Ethiopians" is the plural of the word Kuwshiy, which according to Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary means descendants of Cush. Or in other words, people of dark color--and it is commonly translated as Cush or Cushite in many Old Testament passages.

It is not necessarily those from Ethiopia. There is one famous person that the Old Testament translated into English refers to as from Ethiopia, the famous Queen of Sheba. Yet, even term Sheba' does not usually refer to Ethiopia in the Bible, as it most of the time refers to specific, non-Ethiopian, people. Furthermore, notice the following from two different commentaries (bolding/italics theirs):

Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).

The queen of Sheba has been identified as the ruler of the Sabeans (Job 1:15), who inhabited Arabia Felix (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).

Thus the fact that Jesus referred to her as "the queen of the South" (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31), indicates that she was not necessarily from Ethiopia. And if she was from Ethiopia, Jesus could have clearly stated that, but He did not. Thus Jesus did not declared Ethiopia to be the kingdom of the South.

The New International Version translation of the Bible seems to get Daniel 11:43 translated correctly as follows:

He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.

And while Ethiopians might possibly be indicated here, the reality is that Nubians makes a lot more sense.

Why?

Because the Nubians are Moslems and historically lived amongst the Egyptians and the other Arabs. The Nubians have been in so much contact with Arabs that Nubians speak that some of their peoples have been "Arabized" (http://www.thenubian.net/nubtoday.php 8/05/06).
Interestingly, although it uses the term "Ethiopians" while discussing Daniel 11:43, Matthew Henry's Commentary says that these are people who anciently lived next to Egypt.

Well, Nubians currently live in Egypt as well as in neighboring Sudan. The Sudanese, like the Nubians, are also Cushites, and are also mainly Moslem (especially since they recently killed many of the non-Moslems in the southern portion of their country)--plus Sudan is between Egypt and Ethiopia. Thus, even Daniel 11:43 is not teaching that those now called Ethiopians must be even be involved when the king of the North retaliates against the king of the South--and this is apparently one of the reasons that HWA changed his position on the identity of the future king of the South.

(It is also interesting to note that gold, silver, and other riches will be taken from Egypt--Egypt recently reopened an ancient gold mine which may become its largest source of wealth--see the news item Gold of Egypt; Egypt also has some oil resources that are now being developed. Thus even today we are seeing the prophetic scenario being fulfilled before our eyes--Egypt had to have significant amounts of gold, silver, and other wealth for the King of the North to invade it and take its gold, silver, and other treasures for Daniel 11:43 to come to pass. This did not happen in the 20th century. It also interesting to note that gold will be valuable at this time, it also apparently will be until sometime after the sixth trumpet, cf. Revelation 9:20)

The Final Fulfillment of Daniel 11 Has Not Come to Pass

Anyway, those who teach that the king of the South's 'end' occurred in the 1930s (which is what certain details from CEG, etc., suggest) are simply not being biblically logical.

The king of the North and the king of the South are supposed to come to their end reasonably close to one another (vs. 27). A seventy-eighty year gap between the end of the king of the South and the king of the North (as even they acknowledge that the king of the North has not yet come to his end--which occurs in vs. 45) does not seem to square with the intent of Daniel's writings in the Bible.

HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet also taught:

Verse 45 — the coming Roman Empire shall establish its palace, as capital of the revived Roman Empire, and eventually its religious headquarters, at Jerusalem! Zechariah 14:2 says the city shall be taken! "Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him"! This language signifies the end of the "beast" and the "false prophet" at the hand of God! You will find this end described in Revelation 19:19-20 and Zechariah 14:12. And now what is the time of this end, at the close of this marvelous prophecy? The next verse, Daniel 12:1, says at the time of the resurrection of the just — at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! This prophecy begins with the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt, soon after the death of Alexander the Great — 2,300 years ago. But it ends at the time of the resurrection and the Second Coming of Christ to bring peace at last to the region — and to the entire world! It is so plain, there can be no doubt of its right application!

Thus, the end is not yet. Yet, some now doubt its right application.

Jesus told His followers to "watch" (Mark 13:33-37).

This watching of events would certainly seem to include watching who logically could be a King of the South. World events seem to be showing that some type of Arab-Moslem confederation is coming to pass. And that is what HWA's WCG taught as well. Watching for Ethiopia to develop into a military power that others will rally around seems to be a longer, and probably fruitless, watch.

However, watching the Islamic world increase its military capacities and attempt to obtain nuclear weapons of various types (which they will undoubtedly use) seems to be a more biblically appropriate area to watch.

Furthermore, look at what Psalm 83:4-8 states:

They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.

Note that this passage of scripture is suggesting that the descendants of Israel (which not only includes the modern state of Israel, but also much of the English-speaking world) will be bothered by a confederation of basically Arabic/Islamic peoples from the Middle East (not Ethiopians), and Assyria (most likely the German led EU, which will also become the king of the North) will assist them--this apparently why the Plain Truth article of December 1979 stated:

Just as there is yet to be a final 'king of the north'...there may very well emerge in the same manner a final 'king of the south'--an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation...Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations...But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived...the 'king of the north' will ultimately turn against the Arab 'king of the south'...The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion...

Since Daniel 11:27 suggests some type of deal between the king of the North and the king of the South and Psalm 83 shows an Arabic/Turkish confederation that will make a deal with a northern representative, it appears that the idea of an Arab-Moslem confederacy representing the king of the South also has a biblical basis. The nations in Psalm 83 all tend to be Arabic or Turkish, hence the position that the king of the South is likely to be Arabic has biblical support.
It is of interest to note that Iran is not part of Psalm 83 (and this is something that PCG admits, though it will not change its view because of this).

Also notice that the Bible shows that a time is coming when the confederation with Egypt will be destroyed:

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"'Wail and say, "Alas for that day!" 3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 "'This is what the LORD says:
"'The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her,declares the Sovereign LORD.
7 "'They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 "'On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt's doom, for it is sure to come (Ezekiel 30:1-9, NIV).

And this seems to be the destruction of the King of the South by the King of the North in Daniel 11:40-43.

Concluding Comments of the King of the South

It is clear that LCG's position that there will be a future King of the South, and that the King of the South will lead an Arab-Moslem confederation is totally consistent with the Bible the teachings of HWA's WCG, and HWA himself. The view that the King of the South will most likely be an Arab-Moslem confederation is also consistent with world events.

It is also clear that the Bible shows, that since the end has not yet come, that there needs to be a future King of the South. Although the Bible does not make it absolutely clear who the King of the South must actually be (contrary to RCG's and PCG's positions), the old WCG's and current LCG's view is certainly not in contradiction of the Bible, and is the position that those who believe the Bible should hold--it is sad that many who once believed these things no longer wish to.

Those that do not have a correct understanding of who the King of the South will be simply will not understand the fulfillment of vital biblical prophecies.

There is a future king of the South who will eventually be destroyed by the future king of the North (a European confederation). Those who do not understand will probably not know who to listen to, nor when to flee, to the wilderness for protection as the Bible teaches (please see the articles Laodicean Warning for God's People, There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? and There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
Thus, the subject of the king of the South is a matter that should be of vital interest to true Christians.

Two articles of related interest may include The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy and Who is the King of the North?

Back to home page
Thiel B. Is There A Future King of the South? http://www.cogwriter.com/
2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 0626

Obama is a hypocrite!

The Miami Herald:

President Obama should do what he says about secrecy

OUR OPINION: President Obama promised transparency but often sides with secrecy

************"

WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"

Why did Obama originally say on his website that he was "governed" by the British Nationality Act? Why does he pay lawyers to work hard to keep America in the dark? Why does he refuse to open up? What's he hiding?Demand your representatives get long overdue, honest answers to these serious questions. America can't afford to wait!

www.davidbenariel.org

The Covenant: God's relationship with Jews, Israelites and Gentiles

Art Braidic (a minister of the Sabbath keeping Church of God) and I have enjoyed a biblical discussion about whether or not God's covenant with Judah is still active. I trust others may glean something profitable from our fellowship. I start with his intial response and add my comments:

My conclusion is that God brought the Jews back to fulfill prophecy, not to re-establish them as a nation permanently.

Thank you, Art, for prayerfully considering all this about Judah's return under Ezra and Nehemiah and taking the time to respond. May God bless our fellowship and inspire us all to a better understanding of this holy subject. Such discussions prove true that "iron sharpens iron."

God did indeed bring Judah back (but not all were willing to return just like today) to fulfill prophecy, but I must question if that was the only reason why did God not only send a scion of David (Zerubbabel), and a governor (Nehemiah), but a PRIEST to instruct the People in the Torah? Ezra had his Work cut out for him and did a marvelous job (Ezra 7:10).

His NATIONAL CONGREGATION repented of their Sabbath breaking (Nehemiah 13:17-22) and mixed marriages and entered into a COVENANT WITH GOD. We have no record of the Gentilized Israelites ever repenting, even in part, or returning and submitting to any biblical instruction (Ezra 10:1-3).

Judah had sinned worse than Israel originally, but THEY REPENTED and were brought back. Israel never repented and was never brought back. Some of Judah remained repentant from THE RETURN to the time of Yeshua, the New Testament bearing them record:

The priestly parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:6), Simon and Anna - two holy and elderly witnesses and the Torah-observant Yosef and Miriam (Luke 2:25, 36-39).

And Yeshua said of the Gentiles and testified about the Jews:

John 4:22
22 You [Gentiles] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

He couldn't say that about the Gentilized Israelites who had lost it all!

The Old Testament was to have seven eras.

I know the Church of God teaches this and I have shared it with others, but the Church of God isn't consistent when they reject the God-given authority of the scribes and the Pharisees that Christ acknowledged on the matters of the sacred calendar and responsibility to properly proclaim the holy days.

Christ was to come from Judah. All this was fulfilled and then, God destroyed the nation and scattered them exactly like He did their sister Israel.

God had already destroyed the former Judah and Jerusalem and scattered the Jews, but many of them repented and returned (part of true national repentance is to return to the Land, not just the Law). Those faithful Jews, the parents of John, the parents of Yeshua, Simon, Anna, and others like them remained faithful and accepted the Light that God had sent Judah and when the others rejected Him they were rejected.

But the physical and spiritual foundation of converted Jews continued without fail! The early Church of God was entirely Jewish, as you know. That Jewish/biblical foundation was most instrumental in the construction of the spiritual Temple that includes Gentile converts into that holy Branch. Most of Judah were temporarily cut off, just like the Gentilized Israelites, but SOME of them never were and continued right on as pioneers of faith towards the "New Jerusalem!"

Antiocus went through the land devastating it it and putting the abomination in the temple. I submit that if these people were God's people, in a covenant with them, then they would have not suffered so.

Isn't that a gospel of peace and prosperity? Don't true believers suffer persecution? If God wasn't in covenant with Judah, why did Yeshua call the defiled and CLEANSED Temple "My Father's House?" God sent Judah - still His covenant people at that point - the Macabbees as in the days of the Judges, just as the Church also teaches that Daniel prophesied of them as the "people who know their God and do (military) exploits," and they formed part of the seven eras of the Old Testament. Another traditional inconsistency!

To me, after Christ's death, any relationship was completely over.

Yes, I agree that after the unwarranted hatred Yeshua experienced at the hands of His brethren, like our father Joseph did earlier as a type, the Anointed One who came to purify Judah's religion and correct their misunderstandings and rebuke idolatrous traditions (which is why He spent so much time with the God-ordained Pharisees). He warned Judah of the Temple's imminent destruction and their dispersion and they rejected Him and His warning message and many of them paid for it with their lives, God was through - for the most part - with collective Judah. However, as stated above, God kept His Word to be the God of our fathers and our God to a remnant, folks like the righteous I've mentioned whose kind made up the early Church.

As Paul writes... Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I do know your point, but to be technical, it's speaking of US being dead to sin (and its penalty) and resurrected in Christ, able to now marry Righteousness - it doesn't state that about Christ.

So, in the marriage to Israel, God was married to Judah. Once He died, He was able to remarry. He now is espoused to those He has called, and He will marry them at His return.

I know and have also shared this Church of God teaching, but the Scriptures reveal God saying to physical Israelites in these last days, God pleading with us to return to Him as our Husband, that He never divorced us! Judah and Israel are still married to God even if we've broken our part of the covenant relationship and God has "SEPARATED" us from Him due to our unrepentant sins. But He wants us back! (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:14).

The Church of God, like the Prophets, ought to call our people back to the Law and the Covenant that God made with our Fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and confirmed with our fathers at Mount Sinai) and wants to RENEW with us and improve upon it by writing His Torah upon the tablets of our converted hearts and minds, so help us God!

I actually do not know what replacement theology is.

It is denying the spiritual importance of physical Israel to God forever, regardless of our present sins that will soon be history.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

All this is saying is that race alone isn't sufficient. That a physical Israelite must also have a spiritual Israelite identity or they're nothing more than physically circumcised spiritual Gentiles! And that physical Gentiles can be spiritual Israelites and join the Body of converted Israelite believers: the remnant of physical Israel who isn't blinded!

Rom 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.

Replacement theology would say it doesn't matter because spiritual Israel has replaced any need for physical Israelites to be in a covenant relationship with God and such a damnable heresy is dead wrong! Paul then stresses his PHYSICAL TRIBAL IDENTITY - he didn't dismiss it as unimportant. God must always have at least a chosen few physical Israelites to keep His Promise to our Fathers to be their God and the God of their literal descendants.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

So, there is a remnant according to grace, not race. Who is that remnant comprised of?

Not so! The very example Paul used were ALL ISRAELITE. Why speak of a remnant except to refer to the relatively chosen few ISRAELITES who have not gone astray or been blinded? The remnant pertains to physical Israelites who are converted Israelites!

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

The election or remnant of physical ISRAELITES! Just like the vast majority of Jews rejected Jesus but a remnant of physical Jews remained faithful and formed the foundational Church of God in Jerusalem!

Rom 11:16
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree

While not the firstfruits, they are still holy because they are God's people.

It is converted physical Israelites who are the firstfruits, converted physical Israelites who are the roots, a converted physical Israelite olive tree that converted Gentiles can be grafted into! We are the Israelite Church of God, as Herbert W. Armstrong taught, and it is counterfeit Christianity that is a Gentile Church that seeks to replace physical Israelites in every way, physically and spiritually.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Blindness IN PART, a partial blindness among Jews and Israelites. I really don't understand why God had to blind any of our people, maybe you know? Why couldn't He just work with Gentiles and Israelites at the same time like He does in the Church? Ancient Israel always accepted Gentile converts and they weren't at the expense of any Israelites. I really don't understand this part of the mystery and pray to grasp it better!

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Back to physical Israel, showing their physical descent from Jacob-Israel remains important to God despite "spiritual Israel." Again, it's because of the covenant that God made with our Fathers. That's why the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" will be cut short - mainly for the ethnic election, the physical Israelites' sakes! not the spiritual Church of God alone.

Matthew 24:22
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

Isaiah 1:9
9 Unless the LORD of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Leviticus 26:44-45
44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.'"

This GOOD NEWS is why the first chapter of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is gladly called "Survival Guaranteed!"

Rom 11:28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

Just like Elijah was opposed by most of his nation of Gentilized Israelites, and the 7,000 were the chosen few (COG - Cave of God), all physical Israelites, so most of the nation of Judah rejected My God Yah in the flesh except for the chosen few physical Israelites who became converted and were the Church of God in Judea! The election, the ethnic elect, the Chosen People, will finally respond to our calling to become a Kingdom of Priests, a Light to all Nations, so help us God! Hosanna in the Highest!

Rom 11: 30
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This is the mystery I wrote of above that I would like to understand better.

As you stated, their time will come again, but I believe it is not now.

I agree that the vast majority of Joes and Jews are presently blinded, but I believe there are individuals with whom God is working, His Holy Spirit is WITH THEM (not yet in them, like with His disciples originally), as part of the process of national redemption, laying the groundwork, preparing the way, for when God chooses to call us all again into a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with Him, like Gershon Salomon of the Temple Mount Faithful and other faithful Jews, exceptions, just like Simon and Anna.

Even as Herbert W. Armstrong taught the children of Worldwide Church of God members are SANCTIFIED (I Corinthians 7:14), so too are the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ezra 9:2). I believe this revelation needs to be better understood and taught in the congregations.

I love the Jewish people. I find them among the most bright, professional, and talented people in the world.

I know you do. I never doubted it. I also know that Judah offers the best and the worst in this world! We can either become "stars" (as the descendants of Abraham) or so much "dirt" (grains of sand).

May God bless klal Yisrael (all Israel/12 Tribes) to fulfill our incredible NATIONAL potential! (Isaiah 62:1-2, 6-7).

************

The English-Speaking Nations of White Israelites

The Plain Truth about the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives

Performance Report for David Ben-Ariel

June 2009 EzineArticles.com Performance Reports for David Ben-Ariel

Article Views:
June 2009
43,311

Lifetime
451,893


Top 3 Performing Articles (Lifetime):

Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
Lifetime Views: 26,644

Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
Lifetime Views: 17,416

The Plain Truth About The "Lost Ten Tribes" And Why You Need To Know
Lifetime Views: 16,210


Top 3 Performing Articles (June 2009):

Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
June 2009 Views: 5,234

Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
June 2009 Views: 3,725

The Covenant: God's Relationship to Jews, Israelites, and Gentiles
June 2009 Views: 3,436

The New South Africa is a warning to America!

Hierdie blog poog om 'n kroniek te wees van die ekstreme geweld en geheime volksmoord wat gepleeg word teen die blanke minderheidsgroep van Suid-Afrika. Tien duisende blankes is alreeds vermoor sedert 1994. Brutale marteling en verkragting is volop en nie eers jonk of oud word gespaar nie.

The New South Africa blog attempts to chronicle the extreme violence and secret genocide being committed against the white minority of South Africa. Tens of thousands of whites have been murdered since 1994. Brutal torture and rape is common and not even the young or elderly are spared.

http://www.dienuwesuidafrika.com

http://www.farmmurders.com

http://www.plaasmoorde.com

WHO Has The Correct Holy Day Count?

WHO Has The Correct Holy Day Count?
- The Jews, or the Original WCG?

If you belong to one of the WCG splits don't answer this too quickly... Douay-Rheims Bible - Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

The original Worldwide Church of God and most of the modern day splits from the WCG differ from the Jews in calculating two of the main Holy Day Calendar dates. They should NOT differ!
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE understanding God's Holy Days means understanding GOD'S SIGN of WHO are GOD'S PEOPLE.

Exodus 13:6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread … Continuing in verse 9 And it shall be for a SIGN unto thee upon thine hand (people work with their hands, so this involves working), and for a memorial between thine eyes (ie. in their forehead, where the mind is, so this also involves thinking).

By contrast, the Revelation 13:17 'Mark of the Beast' is Satan's SIGN of WHO are Satan's People.

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; Rev 13:17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

HOW to Avoid the 666 Mark of the Beast...

A certain person may yet more directly fulfil the number 666 in prophecy, but that's not the only reason for the use of the number 666.

666 falls short of 777.

SEVEN is God's special number. God expects true Christians to focus on three 7's, not three 6's.

The first 7 to focus on is the Sabbath, to be kept on the seventh day.

The second 7 is found in God's SEVEN ANNUAL Holy Days (Levit. 23) which are commanded.

A third 7 is found in the symbolism and ultimate fulfilment of the Sabbath and Holy Days, which show the plan of God, ...looking forward to the establishment of God's rule over this earth, which is timed to occur on the 7th. one thousand year 'day' since Adam was created.

Therefore keeping ALL God's correct Holy Days on the correct dates is the opposite SIGN to the Mark [or SIGN] of the Beast in people's hand and forehead in Revelation 13:16-18.

All those who fall short in these THREE SEVENS, --all those who do not love them, are AUTOMATICALLY branded with THREE SIXES instead!

Anyone who scoffs at these sevens, who is MORE concerned about pleasing MAN, rather than GOD, will take on the number of a man. Although it could happen,*** a microchip will NOT be needed --they will take on the 666 Mark of the Beast by default.

This will condemn a LOT of people ...which is why Zephaniah 1:2,3 (NIV) says:

"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord."I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off MAN from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.
In verse 6 God says this will happen to "those who neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him."

*** Read more about why having a microchip implant breaks God's law here.

Determining the correct holy day count is easy when you simply look at which days are marked on a Jewish calendar, but to PROVE they are correct to people who will not accept this is a very complicated subject. I believe all the URL links on this page give enough proof to prove that the majority of the WCG church splits have it wrong.

1. PASSOVER

Traditional WCG understanding of the timing of Passover is incorrect. It is the time period around the end of the 14th. of Nisan, not the sunset beginning the 14th. Here's proof.

Exodus 12, verse 6 and Exodus 12 verse 18 in both cases must remain consistent with each other.... Verse 6 ...and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. (talking about the lamb)
Verse 18 says: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. (talking about the first day of ULB)19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found... Compare these two verses together. The 21st day should have the same rules applied to it, as to which evening. The fourteenth at evening MUST mean near the start of the sunset beginning the FIFTEENTH in order to make it 7 days.

From the start of the 14th to the end of the 21st is 8 days... traditional WCG reasoning keeps the 21st as the last day, and yet tries to tell us that includes an extra day for Passover, but the Bible says this period is 7 days, not 8.

The expression at evening is more accurately translated between the evenings... but we'll come to that later.

It's a shame that the Book of Jubilees ( Wikapedia entry ) is not part of the Bible, as Chapter 49 makes it VERY plain:

Remember the commandment which the Lord commanded thee concerning the Passover, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season on the fourteenth of the first month, that thou shouldst kill it before it is evening, and that they should eat it by night on the evening of the fifteenth from the time of the setting of the sun.

For on this night -the beginning of the festival and the beginning of the joy- ye were eating the Passover in Egypt, when all the powers of Mastêmâ had been let loose to slay all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh to the first-born of the captive maid-servant in the mill, and to the cattle.

And this is the sign which the Lord gave them: Into every house on the lintels of which they saw the blood of a lamb of the first year, into (that) house they should not enter to slay, but should pass by (it), that all those should be saved that were in the house because the sign of the blood was on its lintels.

And the powers of the Lord did everything according as the Lord commanded them, and they passed by all the children of Israel, and the plague came not upon them to destroy from amongst them any soul either of cattle, or man, or dog.

And the plague was very grievous in Egypt, and there was no house in Egypt where there was not one dead, and weeping and lamentation.

And all Israel was eating the flesh of the paschal lamb, and drinking the wine, and was lauding, and blessing, and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers, and was ready to go forth from under the yoke of Egypt, and from the evil bondage.

And remember thou this day all the days of thy life, and observe it from year to year all the days of thy life, once a year, on its day, according to all the law thereof, and do not adjourn (it) from day to day, or from month to month.

For it is an eternal ordinance, and engraven on the heavenly tablets regarding all the children of Israel that they should observe it every year on its day (not the day before) once a year, throughout all their generations; and there is no limit of days, for this is ordained for ever.
And the man who is free from unclearness, and does not come to observe it on occasion of its day, so as to bring an acceptable offering before the Lord, and to eat and to drink before the Lord on the day of its festival, that man who is clean and close at hand shall be cut off: because he offered not the oblation of the Lord in its appointed season, he shall take the guilt upon himself.

Let the children of Israel come and observe the passover on the day of its fixed time, on the fourteenth day of the first month, between the evenings, from the third part of the day to the third part of the night, for two portions of the day are given to the light, and a third part to the evening.

This is that which the Lord commanded thee that thou shouldst observe it between the evenings.

And it is not permissible to slay it during any period of the light, but during the period bordering on the evening, and let them eat it at the time of the evening, until the third part of the night, and whatever is left over of all its flesh from the third part of the night and onwards, let them burn it with fire.

And they shall not cook it with water, nor shall they eat it raw, but roast on the fire: they shall eat it with diligence, its head with the inwards thereof and its feet they shall roast with fire, and not break any bone thereof; for of the children of Israel no bone shall be crushed.

For this reason the Lord commanded the children of Israel to observe the passover on the day of its fixed time, and they shall not break a bone thereof; for it is a festival day, and a day commanded, and there may be no passing over from day to day, and month to month, but on the day of its festival let it be observed.

And do thou command the children of Israel to observe the passover throughout their days, every year, once a year on the day of its fixed time, and it shall come for a memorial well pleasing before the Lord, and no plague shall come upon them to slay or to smite in that year in which they celebrate the passover in its season in every respect according to His command.
And they shall not eat it outside the sanctuary of the Lord, but before the sanctuary of the Lord, and all the people of the congregation of Israel shall celebrate it in its appointed season.

And every man who has come upon its day shall eat it in the sanctuary of your God before the Lord from twenty years old and upward; for thus is it written and ordained that they should eat it in the sanctuary of the Lord.

And when the children of Israel come into the land which they are to possess, into the land of Canaan, and set up the tabernacle of the Lord in the midst of the land in one of their tribes until the sanctuary of the Lord has been built in the land, let them come and celebrate the passover in the midst of the tabernacle of the Lord, and let them slay it before the Lord from year to year.
And in the days when the house has been built in the name of the Lord in the land of their inheritance, they shall go there and slay the passover in the evening, at sunset, at the third part of the day.

And they shall offer its blood on the threshold of the altar, and shall place its fat on the fire which is upon the altar, and they shall eat its flesh roasted with fire in the court of the house which has been sanctified in the name of the Lord.

And they may not celebrate the passover in their cities, nor in any place save before the tabernacle of the Lord, or before His house where His name hath dwelt; and they shall not go astray from the Lord.

And do thou, Moses, command the children of Israel to observe the ordinances of the passover, as it was commanded unto thee; declare thou unto them every year and the day of its days, and the festival of unleavened bread, that they should eat unleavened bread seven days, (and) that they should observe its festival, and that they bring an oblation every day during those seven days of joy before the Lord on the altar of your God.

For ye celebrated this festival with haste when ye went forth from Egypt till ye entered into the wilderness of Shur; for on the shore of the sea ye completed it.

However, the Book of Jubilees is NOT part of the Bible, but there IS much additional BIBLE PROOF, including NEW TESTAMENT events.

Download
http://www.nicetiming.com/passover1.pdf
and
http://www.nicetiming.com/passover2.pdf.

Also read http://darwinlauralee.com/thecogmessenger0048/a2008-048-07.htm.

The wording of Leviticus 23, vs. 5 and 6 in many translations is confusing.

Here is how the King James version reads:Verse 5 - In the 14th day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.Verse 6 - And on the 15th day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

To many, this is saying the beginning of Passover starts on the evening of the 14th day of the first month and from the 15th to the 21st is Unleavened Bread.

But here is the Young's Literal Translation of these verses:

Lev 23:5 in the first month, on the fourteenth of the month, between the evenings, is the passover to Jehovah;

Lev 23:6 and on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast of unleavened things to Jehovah; seven days unleavened things ye do eat;

This link PROVES that between the evenings means about 3 p.m.

http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Between-the-Evenings

I believe it must mean that at about 3 p.m. on the 14th the lamb was slain, which Christ fulfilled exactly at this time as shown in the New Testament. The actual death angel then passed over at midnight afterwards when the 15th begins as we count dates today, but again referring to the above link I don't think Lev 23:5 can mean midnight exclusively here when it refers to the Passover, but rather the reference to the Passover here is referring to the beginning of the whole sequence of events, which starts with the slaying of the lamb. Quoting from this link http://bibleresearch.org/observancebook5/b5w30.html (please read the whole page) the original Passover was a ceremonial process that contained the following events:

Passover lambs were killed from approximately 3 p.m. until just before sunset.
Each lamb was roasted whole—this roasting took approximately 3 to 4 hours.
The lamb was eaten after sunset—perhaps another hour or two.

The whole ceremonial process could take approximately 12 hours, depending on when the lamb was killed, how long it took to roast the lamb, and how long it took to eat it.

This makes it clear that the Passover began on the Preparation day of the 14th. and then just a few hours later the first day of Unleavened Bread began, which includes the eating of the lamb and the pass over time when the death angel passed over. So the first day and the Passover overlap on the sunset to sunset way of calculating the 15th, but technically Passover begins a few hours before the evening leading into the 15th. In no way does it begin a whole 24 hours before on the evening that began the preparation day.

God gave the Jews the authority to keep track of the correct dates and said in Mat. 23:1-3. "Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples saying, ‘The Scribes and Pharisees (not the Sadducees which the Church has followed) sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do. . ."

You would think the Jews would know the correct days of their own Holy days. It is crazy to think God would allow them to get it wrong when Christ said to observe the days they keep.
Christ instituted the bread and wine symbols to replace the Passover symbols, therefore I believe the New Testament Passover ceremony itself, taking unleavened bread and wine, should be taken after sunset on the beginning of the 15th after Christ actually died, as he died towards the END of the 14th of Nisan... For a final URL link on this subject read http://www.davidbenariel.org/cog/passover-memorial.htm
When Christ changed the symbols in the NT it was because he had to fulfil them the next day and could not very well do it at the same time he was enduring the fulfilment, so the new symbols should be kept on the same day they picture and were fulfilled, not the day before.

2. PENTECOST

The Jewish Pentecost (Shavuot) in 2009 is Friday May 29th. For anyone with a Church of God /Herbert W. Armstrong - former WCG background, who doubts the Jews (and my) understanding of which day is actually the correct day to count to, and then observe Pentecost, they can prove this for themselves. Here are some very important research links:

http://darwinlauralee.com/a2002-010-02.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2004-024-01.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2005-029-01.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2004-020-01.htm
http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Sivan6
Young's LITERAL Translation of Luke 24:1 reads as follows: And on the first of the Sabbaths, at early dawn (which would have been Nisan 17), they came to the tomb, bearing the spices they made ready, and certain {others} with them. In modern day terminology this is saying Saturday, near sunrise. The following link http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Jesus-Resurrection explains in full exactly when Christ was resurrected, which also explains the above verse.

The wave sheaf (representing true Christian firstfruits) was waved on (Friday) Nisan 16. It does NOT refer to Christ, but was offered with a lamb because it is made possible BY the Sacrifice of Jesus, which precedes it in time sequence as the following link explains:

http://www.elderwalterprestonjr.com/custom4.html
http://yourarmstoisrael.org/Articles_new/notes/bringing_back.php
http://www.triumphpro.com/wave-sheaf-secret.htm
http://cogpt.org/pentecostacountdowntofreedom.htm (This is a whole book about the correct count to Pentecost. Note especially chapter 5.)

To verify the Septuagint translation of Leviticus 23:11 go to http://www.ecmarsh.com/lxx/
http://beyondbabylon.blogspot.com/2007/06/did-herbert-armstrong-ever-observe.html

God's true church lost much vital information over the last 2000 years, but it began to be restored in the 1900's and new truth is continuing to surface for those who can humble themselves enough to accept it.

Obama disrespects Jerusalem

Top Obama advisors say time for Israel to surrender Jerusalem
Think tank that feeds foreign policy to Obama admin wants international forces to administer Jerusalem more»

Let Jews and Israelis demand Obama/Soetoro/Obama (if and when did he legally change his name?), "Surrender your birth certificate, Obama!"

Furthermore,

UN Resolution 181: Blueprint of the Beast?
As Hitler clearly outlined his plans in Mein Kampf (and furiously put them into practice his first opportunity), so the United Nations passed an ominous resolution in 1947 concerning the fate of Jerusalem: UN Resolution 181 demands the Holy City submit to the status of an "international city." That's a glorified term for ENEMY OCCUPATION!