Beyond Today Magazine - March/April 2020

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Help
A for Today,
Magazine Hope for Tomorrow
of Understanding March-April 2016
January-February 2020
The
Greatest
Sacrifice
“That Rock Was Christ” 9 • How Does Christ’s Suffering Help in Our Suffering? 13
Why Shouldn’t We Celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection? 21 • Plagues on the Horizon? 24
TABLE OF
CONTENTS March-April 2020
®
FEATURE ARTICLES
4 The Greatest Sacrifice
Many are moved by inspiring stories of great
courage, conviction and self-sacrifice, as we should
be. Yet one sacrifice stands far above all others as
the greatest of all time. And whether you realize it
or not, it directly impacts you!
9 “That Rock Was Christ”

The apostle Paul wrote of a “spiritual Rock” with
the ancient Israelites in their wilderness wander-
ing, stating, “And that Rock was Christ.” What did
Photos, from top Photo illustration by Shaun Venish/Lukas Bischoff/123RF; Mohammed Moussa; Scott Ashley Page 3 and cover: Pamela Maxwell/123RF
he mean by this puzzling statement?
13 How Does Christ’s Suffering

Help in Our Suffering?
4
Why does suffering happen? Why does God
allow it? How does the horrible suffering Jesus
Christ went through relate to us? And will there
be lasting relief?
18 Yeast, Unleavened Bread

and Pride
The Days of Unleavened Bread are not just about
avoiding bread and yeast. They teach us to receive
God’s nature and resist self-centeredness and
spreading sin.
21 Easter: Why Shouldn’t We

Celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection?
How can someone be Christian and not celebrate
9 21
Jesus’ resurrection? This is a common question fac-
ing followers of Jesus Christ who do not observe
Easter—one that certainly deserves an answer.
24 Plagues on the Horizon?

A new report warns of antibiotic resistance increas- DEPARTMENTS
ing to the point where antibiotics are no longer
effective. Scripture also warns of growing pestilence, 26 Current Events and Trends
but it further assures us of a hope-filled future time
An overview of events and conditions around the world
when the need for antibiotics is no more.
30 Letters From Our Readers
28 “I Go to Prepare a Place for You” Readers of Beyond Today magazine share their thoughts
As we focus on eternity before us, we need to
understand where we’re headed, what makes it
31 Beyond Today Television Log
possible, and the encounter that awaits us. A listing of stations and times for the Beyond Today TV program
2 Beyond Today • B Tm a g a z i n e . o r g
EDITORIAL
The Greatest Scott Ashley
Love Story
Managing editor
L
His glorious existence to become one of us and to give His
ove stories are very popular, as we can see by the fact life for us.
that they’re such big business. Countless books, mov- On the evening before His arrest and execution, Jesus
ies, articles and songs have been created about love Christ expressed to His disciples His motivation for what He
stories. People obviously enjoy those themes. was doing: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down
This time of year we should be reminded of the one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). And He did exactly that,
greatest love story of all: “For God so loved the world that He laying down His life not just for that handful of followers then,
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him but for everyone He wanted a close relationship with—all
should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). mankind throughout all time.
Millions of people have memorized this verse, the most What followed that evening and most of the next day was
popular one in the entire Bible. And rightfully so, because appallingly bloody and brutal. The Creator of man experi-
it’s a wonderful message. enced one of the most horrify-
How much do we understand ing deaths man could create.
and appreciate what it tells us? How did He endure that
Let’s consider a few thoughts. agony? Hebrews 12:2 tells us that
Who and what is God? He Jesus “ for the sake of the joy that
is the Almighty Maker of all was set before him endured the
things, including each and every cross, disregarding its shame,
one of us. He is eternal, immor- and has taken his seat at the
tal, without beginning or end. right hand of the throne of God”
His ways and thoughts are infi- (New Revised Standard Version).
nitely higher than our ways and What was “the joy that was
thoughts. But how does His set before Him”? No doubt part
Word, the Bible, reveal who and what He is? “God is love,” of it was returning to the divine glory He had shared with
it tells us (1 John 4:8, 16, emphasis added throughout). God the Father before He came to earth as a human being
Let that sink in. Of all that God is, the one word that (see John 17:5). But there was even more to look forward to—
summarizes it is this—love. the reason He descended from that glory in the first place.
And what is love? For all of mankind’s writing, thinking, The context of what precedes and follows Hebrews 12:2
singing and composing about love, we really don’t under- refers to the other faithful servants of God who, like Jesus,
stand it all that well. We think of love in emotional terms, experience severe trials in this life but will, also like Jesus,
how we feel toward someone else or how someone else makes be raised to immortality to share eternity with Him in the
us feel. Those often-confusing emotions and feelings lead to Kingdom of God.
confusion about what love really is, which is ultimately our As “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29),
actions that result from our mindset. He kept Himself focused on that glorious future when, as
Love, as the word is used in the Bible, is primarily about made possible by His sacrifice, many others can become part
action—how we treat others, motivated by a mindset that of the immortal, glorified, divine family of God!
considers others better than ourselves, that wants the best for God’s promise to us given in 2 Corinthians 6:18 is clear:
them, that puts their needs ahead of our own. It’s an outgoing, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and
outflowing concern for others that takes precedence over our daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18).
own wants and needs. The Bible’s “love chapter,” 1 Corinthi- God is creating a family—His own divine family. And as
ans 13, beautifully illustrates this and shows how this kind the great loving God that He is, He wants to see you and me
of love should be our primary motivation in life. and every human being be a part of that family and share in
John 3:16 tells us that this God of love loved all of human- that great future He plans for us.
ity so much that He gave—in an act of personal self-sacrifice You can learn more about God’s plan and our future in
—that which was most valuable to Him, His only begotten the articles in this issue. Discover how it’s part of the greatest
Son. The two had existed together for all eternity outside the love story of all time!
bounds of time and space. The character and nature of both
are summed up as love. This is what They are and what They
do. And in an act of supreme sacrifice for all of mankind for
all time, One gave His beloved Son and the other gave up
B Tm a g a z i n e . o r g • March-April 2020 3
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
The
Greatest
Sacrifice
Many are moved by inspiring stories of great courage, conviction and
self-sacrifice, as we should be. Yet one sacrifice stands far above all others as the
greatest of all time. And whether you realize it or not, it directly impacts you!
by Scott Ashley
H
ave you ever been inspired by a story of great The greatest sacrifice of all
courage and conviction? Or stirred by an exam- But of all the examples of great personal courage and sacri-
ple of great personal sacrifice for the benefit of fice found in the Bible—and indeed in all history—one stands
others? immeasurably far above all the rest. It stands alone because
We hear of such stories from time to time, and it was the greatest sacrifice ever, the greatest of all time.
often they are truly inspiring. They can and often do move us It stands alone because it involves One who gave up the most
to want to emulate such positive examples. They appeal to our that has ever been given, and it involves One who gave the most
better nature, as they should. to those who benefitted from that sacrifice.
The Bible, too, records many such positive examples. Consider It stands alone because it involves not just a great sacrifice
Bischoff/123RF
a few: that was remarkable enough in itself—but another, lesser-

• The young shepherd David, who defied the Philistine army understood aspect of that sacrifice so great as to be almost
Lukas Bischoff/123RF
and common sense to do battle with the giant warrior Goliath. beyond human comprehension.
• The young king Josiah who took on his nation’s religious I’m referring to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, astounding on
Shaun Venish/Lukas
and cultural establishment to rid the land of pagan idolatry more than one level.
and restore worship of the true God.
• John the Baptist, who stood up to a powerful ruling family Why was Christ’s sacrificial death necessary?
and paid for it with his head on a platter. Many people are likely already familiar with Jesus Christ’s
byVenish/
• The apostle Paul, who first appears in the Bible as a per- death by crucifixion, in which He was executed as a criminal.
secutor of the Church but then dedicated his life to it, endur- This is a major theme of the Christian religion, and right-
by Shaun
ing such hardships as hunger, thirst, shipwreck, beatings and fully so. It lies at the heart of biblical Christianity, although
Photo illustration
being stoned and left for dead. certainly not all who know of it understand it.
And there are many more we could mention, faithful men Many biblical passages tell us the importance of this sacrifice
Photo illustration
and women who sacrificed greatly for a purpose greater than and why it was necessary. Let’s notice a few:
themselves. • “If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we
have fellowship with each other, and the how you would die? Many have won- crucified. Crucifixion was meant to be
blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from dered about that over the years. For a public spectacle, a warning to poten-
all sin” (1 John 1:7, New Living Trans- some, the thought of knowing when tial wrongdoers. He knew exactly what
lation used unless otherwise noted, they might leave this life could be com- awaited Him. He knew He would suffer
emphasis added throughout). forting. For others it might bring great the same horrible fate.
• “[God] is so rich in kindness and anxiety.
grace that he purchased our freedom with Uniquely among human beings, Jesus The excruciating pain of scourging
the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” of Nazareth knew exactly when, where and crucifixion
(Ephesians 1:7). and how He would die. And His death Crucifixion may well be the most hor-
• “For you know that God paid a ran- would not come peacefully. It would rible form of execution ever devised. An
som to save you from the empty life you come through brutal, violent, premedi- early form of it was practiced among the
inherited from your ancestors. And it tated murder. ancient Assyrians, who impaled defeated
was not paid with mere gold or silver, Only a few months into His minis- enemies on wooden poles. From there
which lose their value. It was the pre- try Jesus told the Jewish religious leader it passed to other ancient cultures, and
cious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the eventually to the Greeks and finally the
Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19). bronze snake on a pole in the wilder- Romans, where it gained widespread use.
• “For everyone has sinned; we all ness, so the Son of Man must be lifted This form of execution was bloody,
fall short of God’s glorious standard. up, so that everyone who believes in ugly and humiliating—exactly as it was
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us him will have eternal life” (John 3:14- intended to be. Victims were often cru-
right in his sight. He did this through 15). Here Jesus was comparing Himself cified naked, the more to add to their
humiliation and shame. These public
How would it impact your life to know that executions were typically carried out
along the main roads or outside city
you would suffer a horrible and bloody gates to send a very public message: Defy
the might and power of Rome and this is
death, abandoned by your closest friends? what will happen to you.
Except Jesus had never defied Rome.
Christ Jesus when he freed us from the to the bronze serpent Moses erected on The Roman governor of Judea at the
penalty for our sins. For God presented a pole which, when people looked to it, time, Pontius Pilate, could find “no
Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are spared them from death (Numbers 21:8- fault” in Him, no crime deserving of
made right with God when they believe 9). Christ’s use of “lifted up” was a refer- death (Luke 23:4, 14; John 18:38; 19:4,
that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his ence to His coming crucifixion, when He 6). The Jewish religious establishment
blood” (Romans 3:23-25). would be “lifted up” above the ground in that demanded Jesus be crucified had
• “And [Jesus] took a cup of wine and this public execution. to change the charges. They initially
gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to Several days before His death, Jesus accused Him of blasphemy (Matthew
them and said, ‘Each of you drink from used the same expression when He told 26:65), but since that wasn’t a capital
it, for this is my blood, which confirms a group of people, “When I am lifted up offense under Roman law, they changed
the covenant between God and his people. from the earth, I will draw everyone to the charges to sedition, rebellion and
It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive myself.” The apostle John then adds par- treason (Luke 23:2), crimes for which
the sins of many’” (Matthew 26:27-28). enthetically, “He said this to indicate how the punishment was execution by
These and many other similar pas- he was going to die” (John 12:30-32, see crucifixion.
sages tell us that Jesus Christ had to die also John 8:28). They also weren’t above blackmailing
as a sacrifice in our place so that our sins Can you imagine what it would be Pilate into carrying out an underserved
could be forgiven. He willingly took on like to live with that knowledge? How death sentence against this innocent
Himself the death penalty that each of would it impact your life to know that, man (John 19:12). Pilate bowed to the
us deserved. As Hebrews 9:22 tells us, in a few short years, on a particular day pressure and approved punishment by
“without the shedding of blood, there of the year, you would suffer a horrible scourging, then a sentence of crucifixion.
is no forgiveness.” Had Jesus Christ not and bloody death? And to know that you Scourging involved lashing the victim
died for us, we would all die guilty of our would face that fate abandoned by your with a whip formed of multiple leather
sins, forever cut off from God and any closest friends? strips in which were imbedded pieces of
hope of life beyond this one. Yet in spite of this knowledge, Jesus metal or bone. These literally ripped the
This is of profound importance, unhesitatingly carried out His mission. victim’s flesh to shreds. Many scourg-
because God’s plan for mankind revolves Luke 9:51 tells us, “As the time drew ing victims died from this punishment
around giving every person the opportu- near . . . Jesus resolutely set out for Jeru- before they could be crucified.
nity for eternal life! (More on this later.) salem.” He was determined to finish A prophecy in Isaiah 52:14 described
the mission for which He had come what Jesus’ ravaged body would be like
Jesus knew how He would die to earth. after His bloody scourging: “His face was
Have you ever considered whether As He traveled the roads of Judea so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
you’d want to know when, where and and Galilee, He no doubt had seen men and from his appearance, one would
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
scarcely know he was a man.” Let that wrists and feet to breathe, or any combi- He hung painfully from about 9:00 a.m.
sink in. He was so badly maimed that nation of these. until His death at about 3:00 p.m. in the
He was barely recognizable as a human In the case of Jesus Christ, His death afternoon (Mark 15:25, 34-37). To under-
being. had been foreshadowed by the sacri- stand more about why He had to endure
After this, Jesus was taken away to be fice of literally millions of sheep, goats, all this, read “Why Was It Necessary for
crucified. Victims of crucifixion hung by lambs, birds and cattle that had been Jesus Christ to Suffer?” below.
nails or ropes for hours—and often for previously offered over the centuries in The final blow ensuring Christ’s death
several days—before succumbing to the Israel, including millions of Passover came from the spear of a Roman sol-
release of death. lambs. The apostle Paul, writing that dier (John 19:34). The prophecy from
The agony of crucifixion was so hor- “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been Zechariah 12:10 was fulfilled, that “they
rible that the Romans invented a new sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7), will look on the one they pierced” (John
Latin term to describe it, giving us the knew this is what those pointed to. 19:37). (For more details on all this,
word excruciating, the roots of which Hebrews 10:4 similarly tells us that download or request our free study
literally mean “from the cross.” The it was impossible for the blood of those guide Jesus Christ: The Real Story.)
word continues in our English language sacrificed animals to take away sins; that With His death, this part of His mis-
today to describe pain that brings near- can only be accomplished by what they sion was ended. In His dying breath He
unbearable torment. all ultimately represented—Christ’s sac- could rightly exclaim, “It is finished!”
rificial death in our place (verses 5-10; (John 19:30). The Greek here is tetelestai,
How did Jesus die? Hebrews 9:11-14). which was written on receipts of that
The process of scourging and cruci- How did those many sacrificial ani- time to indicate “paid in full.”
fixion could result in painful death from mals die? They all died by shedding of His sacrifice was complete. This part
several causes—blood loss from scourg- blood. Their throats were slit, meaning of His mission, which He had previously
ing, shock due to the overall massive they died quickly and relatively painlessly. described as “to give his life as a ransom
trauma to the body, suffocation from Jesus Christ also died by shedding His for many,” was over. His bloody, life-
the victim no longer having the strength blood, but His death was anything but less body was lowered to the ground and
to raise himself up on his nail-pierced quick and painless. After being scourged, taken to a nearby tomb, where it would
Why Was It Necessary for Jesus Christ to Suffer?

M ost believers understand, at least on an intellectual level if
not a personal one, the reasons for Jesus Christ’s death. But
do we, and do you, understand the bigger picture of His death?
be healed . . . The Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
“He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a
word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is
Jesus did not merely die for our sins. Had dying been all that silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly
was necessary, He could’ve died much more quickly and less condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without
painfully. He could’ve been stoned to death, a common method descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was
of execution in that day that brought quick unconsciousness struck down for the rebellion of my people . . .
before the victim died. He could’ve been stabbed or speared by “When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will
a Roman soldier, and it would’ve been over in a few minutes at be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous ser-
most. Or He could’ve been beheaded and death would have been vant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for
instantaneous. he will bear all their sins” (Isaiah 53:3-11, New Living Translation
But His sacrifice required much more than simply dying. It throughout).
required a great deal of suffering. Why? The simple answer is Jesus knew such suffering would be part of the heavy price
that sin brings suffering. Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15), so as He would pay for humanity’s sins. Well before His final journey
a human being He never should’ve suffered. But He came into to Jerusalem, “Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was
the human condition—into a world of suffering caused by sin. necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer
He had to suffer so that He might be our High Priest who “under- many terrible things . . . [and] He would be killed” (Matthew 16:21;
stands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22).
do” (same verse). Not long after, He repeated to His disciples that He “must suffer
He also had to suffer because His suffering was and is part of greatly and be treated with utter contempt” (Mark 9:12). Then on His
the high price that must be paid for sin. Notice that His suffering final journey to Jerusalem, He told His disciples that He “must suffer
was foretold by the prophet Isaiah in considerable detail: terribly and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:25).
“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted The suffering that Jesus endured was an integral part of His
with deepest grief . . . He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it sacrifice on our behalf. Suffering is the bitter fruit of our sins, and
was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him “He bore the sins of many” (Isaiah 53:12). For a more detailed per-
down . . . But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. spective on this subject, read “How Does Christ’s Suffering Help
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could Our Suffering?” beginning on page 13.)
lay for the next three days and three with God in the beginning as God, and Daniel 7:9-10 records a similar
nights until His resurrection (Matthew who “became human and dwelt among description of God the Father that Dan-
20:28; 12:40). us,” and who was seen by John and the iel saw in vision: “His clothing was as
other disciples, was the One we know as white as snow, his hair like purest wool.
Jesus Christ’s preexistence Jesus Christ. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of
There is a missing dimension to this In verse 10 we’re also told that “He blazing fire, and a river of fire was pour-
story that many don’t understand. And came into the very world he created, but ing out, flowing from his presence. Mil-
that is the little-understood previous sac- the world didn’t recognize him.” Both lions of angels ministered to him; many
rifice that set the stage for the one just here and in verse 3, we’re told that He millions stood to attend him.”
described. was the One who created the world and The same apostle John who told us
Understanding the depth of this sac- the entire universe! about Jesus Christ’s preexistence with
rifice requires grasping who and what Hebrews 1:2 confirms this when it God the Father also saw a vision of Jesus
Jesus Christ was before His human birth. states that “through the Son he [God the in His resurrected, glorified state. He
Most people assume the biblical story Father] created the universe.” describes this glorified appearance as
begins in Genesis 1:1, which tells us, Paul give us additional details about best he can put it into words in Revelation
“In the beginning God created the heav- this amazing truth in Colossians 1:15-16: 1:14-18:
ens and the earth.” But the biblical story “Christ is the visible image of the invis- “His head and his hair were . . . as
actually begins before that with the ible God. He existed before anything was white as snow. And his eyes were like
opening verses of John’s Gospel: “In the created and is supreme over all creation, flames of fire. His feet were like polished
beginning the Word already existed. The for through him God created everything bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice
thundered like mighty ocean waves . . .
And his face was like the sun in all its
He sacrificed greatly when He gave His life for brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his
our sins. But He also sacrificed greatly when feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right
hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I
He gave up His immortal existence as God! am the First and the Last. I am the living
one. I died, but look—I am alive forever
Word was with God, and the Word was in the heavenly realms and on earth. He and ever!’”
God. He existed in the beginning with made the things we can see and the things This is what the One who became
God. God created everything through we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, Jesus Christ existed like before coming
him, and nothing was created except rulers, and authorities in the unseen in human flesh. This was His glorified
through him” (John 1:1-3). world. Everything was created through divine existence. This is the existence He
Here we see several remarkable truths him and for him.” asked to be restored to when He prayed
revealed: Paul adds here that the Being who on the last night of His human life, “And
• “In the beginning” there were two came in the flesh as Jesus Christ created now, O Father, glorify Me together with
divine Beings—one here called “the not just the physical universe we know Yourself, with the glory which I had with
Word” and the other referred to as “God.” and see around us, but also “the heavenly You before the world was” (John 17:5,
• Along with the Being referred to as realms”—a spiritual universe of angelic NKJV).
God, “the Word” also was God. spirit beings “in the unseen world” that And He was restored. Hebrews 12:2
• Both Beings existed in the beginning exists beyond the natural perception of tells us: “Because of the joy awaiting
—neither was created; neither created the human beings. (To learn more about this him, he endured the cross, disregarding
other. Since “in the beginning God cre- spirit world, download or request our its shame. Now he is seated in the place
ated the heavens and the earth” (Genesis free study guide Angels: God’s Messengers of honor beside God’s throne.”
1:1), both of these Beings existed before and Spirit Army.)
the creation of the physical universe. What Jesus Christ gave up for us
• The Being referred to as God “cre- What are God the Father and Jesus Now we are gaining much more
ated everything through” the One called like in Their divine state? insight into the magnitude of Jesus
“the Word.” As physical human beings limited to Christ’s sacrifice. Yes, He sacrificed
(To learn more about this, read “That our physical senses, such as sight, sound, greatly when He gave His life as an offer-
Rock Was Christ,” beginning on page 9 smell, taste and touch, it’s hard for us ing for our sins in our place. But He also
and download or request our free study to imagine a spiritual existence beyond sacrificed greatly when He gave up His
guide Who Is God?) what we can perceive through them. glorified immortal spirit existence as
How can we grasp a God who describes God to become a lowly flesh-and-blood
The Word became a human being Himself in Isaiah 57:15 as “the High and human being so He could die for our
In John 1:14 we see another remark- Lofty One who inhabits eternity”? (New sins. As God in divine power and glory,
able truth: “The Word became human King James Version). God the Father He could never die because He was spirit
and dwelt among us . . . and we have seen and Jesus Christ His Son live beyond the and immortal. But by becoming flesh,
his glory, the glory of the Father’s one physical universe of time and space, with He could die for us. And this is exactly
and only Son.” The Word who existed no beginning and no end! what He did.
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
Paul holds out the humility and and self-sacrifice in what death for us, he is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ Yes,
Christ did as an example to all of us in Philippians 2:5-8: “You by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom
must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many
was God, he did not think of equality with God as something children into glory. And it was only right that he should make
to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them
humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. into their salvation.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same
obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his broth-
What we are told here is profound. When this Being who ers and sisters. For he said to God, ‘I will proclaim your name
had been God with God the Father came to earth—the same to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assem-
earth He had created—how did He come? He didn’t come in bled people’” (Hebrews 2:9-12).
glory in a blaze of light so all people would recognize Him There is a reason Paul calls Jesus “the firstborn among many
as divine and worship Him. He didn’t appear as a celebrated brethren” (Romans 8:29, NKJV). In 2 Corinthians 6:18 Paul
philosopher of worldly renown such as Plato and Aristotle. similarly writes of God the Father telling His people, “I will be
He didn’t appear as a great general like Caesar at the head of a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says
armies marching to take over Rome and its mighty empire. the Lord Almighty” (NKJV).
He could have done any of these, but He chose to do none Astonishing as it may sound, this is the goal of God’s plan.
of them. Instead He laid aside His glory, splendor, majesty This is why Jesus Christ emptied Himself of His glory, splendor
and power and came to earth as a mortal human being subject and majesty that He shared with the Father as God in heaven.
to death and dying. And He did that to carry out the plan that This is why He came to earth to live as a human being—and
had been worked out between Him and the
Father from before the world and the
universe were created (see 1 Peter 1:20;
In eternal glory He could never die. But
Revelation 13:8).
No one forced Him to make this decision.
because of our sin, we needed a Savior,
In John 10:15-18 He repeatedly emphasized a sacrifice to pay the death penalty for sin.
that this was His own voluntary choice: “I sac-
rifice my life for the sheep . . . I sacrifice my life so I may take to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. And this is why
it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice the Father resurrected Him to return Him to His previous
it voluntarily.” glorious state as “the firstborn among many brethren.”
Those “many brethren” are destined to be the very sons and
Why did He have to die? daughters of God!
Now we have a much more complete picture of the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ. As God with the Father He was eternal and What will you do?
could never die. But because of mankind’s sin—the sin of each Jesus Christ exchanged His life for the lives of many. As
and every one of us—we needed a Savior, a sacrifice to pay the God, He became man so that man—all who are willing to
full penalty for all of it. unreservedly give their lives to Him as He gave His life for us—
And this is why no other sacrifice would be sufficient. Only could become God, as part of the divine family. That is the
the life of Jesus Christ, as the One who created all things includ- astounding truth of the Scriptures!
ing the human race, could pay that penalty. It took the life of God’s plan is to “bring many children to glory” through
the Creator of all human life, of all who have lived or would Jesus Christ, “the firstborn of many brethren.” That plan and
ever live, to pay the death penalty for all the sins of all who purpose includes you! You weren’t created for an empty and
have lived or would ever live. meaningless life, but for the greatest purpose imaginable—to
Had Jesus been only a mere man, His sacrifice could only become part of the family of God, one of God’s own children!
pay the death penalty for Himself—and if somehow sinless As we have seen, Jesus Christ offered the greatest sacrifice of
then perhaps for another if that could even be acceptable all time. And He did it for you! Why don’t you commit today to
before God. But Jesus was no mere man. He was God the Cre- making God’s purpose for you a reality by acknowledging the
ator in the flesh, the only life that was more valuable than all purpose for Jesus Christ’s suffering and death in your place, and
other lives of all humanity throughout all time. committing your life to Him as He gave His life for you?
The great goal of God’s plan LEARN MORE
Behind all of this is a plan few understand. It’s not just a
The Bible reveals much more about our
matter of Jesus Christ dying so we can be forgiven. There is a purpose for being here on earth. God cre-
great purpose behind our need for forgiveness. And that pur- ated us for a reason—part of a magnificent
pose is for God to “bring many children to glory” as part of plan that few understand! Learn more about
His family! that plan by downloading or requesting our
Notice how this is beautifully spelled out in Hebrews 2:9-12: free study guide Why Were You Born?
“What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a BTmagazine.org/booklets
position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because he suffered
“That Rock
Was Christ”
The apostle Paul wrote of a “spiritual Rock” with the ancient Israelites in their wilderness
wandering, stating, “And that Rock was Christ.” What did he mean by this puzzling statement?
by Scott Ashley
I
n the Bible, the writings of the apostle Paul are well known which ancient Israel left Egypt in the Exodus some 15 centu-
for sometimes being hard to understand. Even the apostle ries earlier. This timing is evident from Paul’s comment that
Peter acknowledged this (2 Peter 3:16). “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” in 1 Corinthians
Often some things Paul wrote are a challenge for us to 5:7-8 and his accompanying instructions about how to keep
grasp for the simple reason that he lived and wrote in a the Feast of Unleavened Bread with a right attitude and per-
very different culture 2,000 years ago in a very different spective. In chapter 11, verses 20-29, he also gives instructions
part of the world. Our modern culture is unlike Paul’s world for how Christians should properly observe the biblical
in many ways, and we often fail to appreciate or understand Passover ceremony.
these differences when we read the Bible. Clearly the story of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt and lessons
Other things Paul wrote are puzzling to us because he Christians should learn from that are very much on Paul’s
wrote from an intellectual background and knowledge base mind in this letter. That’s why in this passage in chapter 10 he
that was poles apart from our world today. Paul was a trained refers in verses 1 and 2 to the pillar of cloud (see Exodus 13:21-
rabbi under the tutelage of the great Gamaliel, known and 22; 14:19-20, 24) and to Israel’s miraculous passage through
respected as “a teacher of the law held in respect by all the the sea (Exodus 14:24-30), and in verse 3 to the divinely pro-
people” (Acts 5:34; 22:3). vided manna that fed the Israelites for 40 years (see Exodus
As a result, Paul was highly knowledgeable of the Hebrew 16:11-35).
Scriptures (today commonly called the Old Testament) and
often makes reference to somewhat obscure passages or topics Layered metaphors of “the Rock”
that he and his audience of that day well understood, but that In verse 4 Paul transitions from another element of the
today are foreign or largely unknown to most Bible readers. Exodus story to make a broader point.
He mentions that the Israelites “drank of that spiritual
A puzzling passage from 1 Corinthians Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” We can
We find such an example of a partially or mostly misun- read accounts of God providing water to the Israelites in the
derstood passage in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, where Paul writes: desert out of a rock Moses struck in Exodus 17:1-6 and Num-
“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all bers 20:1-11. God had said He would stand on the rock, so the
our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, water really flowed to the people from Him by a miracle.
all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all But notice that Paul was not focusing primarily on the
ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual physical rock that Moses struck and from which water poured
drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, out, but the “spiritual Rock that followed them”—that Rock
and that Rock was Christ” (emphasis added throughout). being Jesus Christ.
Some parts of this passage are easy to understand—other What is this talking about? What is Paul telling us here?
parts, not so much. We should first note that “followed” isn’t the best transla-
In trying to understand the Bible, it’s always helpful to read tion here. The Greek verb used is a form of akoloutheo, which
the context. When we understand the overall picture the bib- means to “go in the same way” or to “travel together.” Forms
Mohammed Moussa
lical writer is conveying, it’s much easier to understand the of the word appear 92 times in the New Testament, the over-
details. whelming majority of which are referring to the disciples or
In this case, Paul is writing this letter to the church in crowds accompanying Jesus Christ on His travels along the
Corinth around the time of the biblical Passover and Feast roads of Galilee and Judea during His ministry.
of Unleavened Bread, which was the time of the year during While the word akoloutheo can and usually does mean
BBTm
Tmaaggaazzi ni nee. o. or rgg •• March-April
March-April2020
2020 99
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
“follow,” a better translation in the Hebrew name is commonly thought to

context of the Exodus story would be have been pronounced), as “the Rock.”
“accompany” or “travel together with”— This is from the New Living Translation,
since the “spiritual Rock” with the Israel- which makes some of the wording clearer.
ites didn’t follow them, but accompanied Moses begins this chapter with praise
them as they traveled together on their to God, Israel’s “Rock,” in verse 3-4: “I will
journey from Egypt to the Promised proclaim the name of the Lord; how glo-
Land. Accordingly, other versions trans- rious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds
late this as “traveled with them” (New are perfect. Everything he does is just and
Living Translation), “went with them” fair. He is a faithful God who does no
(God’s Word version) and “accompanied wrong; how just and upright he is!”
them” (New International Version). In verse 15 Moses calls the Israelites’
Paul is presenting the physi-
cal rock Moses struck to
bring forth water as a type or “For by Him all things were created that are in
symbol of a higher “spiritual
Rock” giving spiritual drink,
heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible. . .
and Paul identifies this spiri- All things were created through Him and for Him.”
tual Rock as Jesus Christ.
God their “Rock,” this time in the con- us that in fact the Being who did so, at
The “spiritual Rock” that was Israel’s text of the nation rejecting Him: “But the direction of the Father, was the One
God Israel soon became fat and unruly; the who would later be born in the flesh as
Where in the Exodus story do we find people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Jesus Christ (see “The Greatest Sacrifice,”
mention of another “Rock”? It’s found Then they abandoned the God who had beginning on page 4).
not in the books of Exodus and Num- made them; they made light of the Rock Paul confirms this a few verses later
bers, as are the examples above, but of their salvation.” in 1 Corinthians 10:9, where he writes of
another biblical book that recounts the In verse 18 Moses again calls God their another significant event that took place
Exodus story—Deuteronomy. The book “Rock,” condemning the fact that they had during the Israelites’ journey from Egypt
of Deuteronomy is the last of the five rebelled against Him even though He had to the Promised Land: “We must not put
books of Moses, written shortly before made a nation of them: “You neglected the Christ to the test, as some of them did
Moses’ death as Israel prepared to enter Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the and were destroyed by serpents,” wrote
the Promised Land. God who had given you birth.” Paul (NLT). The incident he is refer-
The book of Deuteronomy in many In verses 30-31 Moses compares the ring to can be found in Numbers 21:5-9,
ways recaps the story of the Exodus and Israelites’ “Rock,” their God, to the false where the people rebelled against God
Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wil- and unfaithful gods worshipped by the and, as a result, “the Lord sent poison-
derness. Near the end of that book, in surrounding nations: “How could one ous snakes among the people, and many
chapter 32, Moses offers an extended person chase a thousand of them, and were bitten and died” (verse 6, NLT).
praise to God, “the Lord,” who had two people put ten thousand to flight, Who was the Lord or God whom the
delivered and led the Israelites and unless their Rock had sold them, unless Israelites tested there? Paul plainly tells
protected them even when they were the Lord had given them up? But the us it was Jesus Christ!
unfaithful to Him. rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, How would Paul know that this God
This part of the book of Deuteronomy as even they recognize.” who interacted with Moses and the Isra-
is a direct tie-in to the Exodus story, where In this chapter alone Moses refers to elites was the same Being who would
Moses repeatedly talks about God being the Israelites’ God five times as their later be born in the flesh as Jesus Christ?
Israel’s “Rock”—today we might call it “Rock.” Obviously Paul, highly knowl- Keep in mind that Paul, after his miracu-
their spiritual foundation—who has been edgeable biblical scholar that he was, had lous conversion, was apparently directly
with them right up to their entering into this in mind in referring to the events of taught by Christ for three years in Arabia
the Promised Land. And when Paul dis- the Exodus and wilderness journey and before meeting any of the other apostles
cusses this “spiritual Rock” that accompa- telling us “that Rock was Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-18).
nied the Israelites on their journey, he no And writing under God’s inspiration,
doubt has this divine “Rock” of Deuteron- The surprising truth about the God he tells us in Colossians 1:16 regarding
omy 32 in mind. (Illustrating the book’s of Israel and Creator of all things Jesus: “For by Him all things were created
popularity and their familiarity with it, In Paul’s phrase—“and that Rock that are in heaven and that are on earth,
the New Testament writers allude to Deu- was Christ”—we see an amazing truth visible and invisible, whether thrones or
Denys Bilytskyi/123RF
teronomy more than any Old Testament of the Bible made plain. Most people dominions or principalities or powers.
books other than Psalms and Isaiah.) assume that God the Father was the God All things were created through Him and
Let’s notice how Moses in Deuteron- who directly interacted with individu- for Him.”
omy 32 repeatedly refers to Israel’s God, als, groups and nations during the Old Here Paul clearly tells us that Jesus
again “the Lord” or Yahweh (as this Testament period. But Paul here tells Christ was the One who created not only
the physical universe we see around us, ness of “the Word” who became flesh as century. At the time it seems that he was
but also the invisible spirit universe or Jesus Christ. So “God” in verse 18 cannot the last of the apostles still alive. He’d
dimension of angels. These were, Paul tellsrefer to Jesus even though Jesus was also had more than half a century to reflect
us, “created through Him and for Him.” God (verses 1-3). The “God” whom no on his personal time with Jesus Christ
In all this we see that Paul, under one has ever seen at any time thus has to and to allow Jesus’ teachings—including
God’s inspiration, tells us that Jesus be referring to God the Father. Jesus’ own statements that no one had
Christ is the Creator, the One through Notice also that John says Jesus Christ ever seen God—to deeply sink in. Surely
whom God the Father created the physi- “declared” the Father. Other versions John knew exactly what he was saying.
cal universe and the angelic realm, and translate this as “made him known” We also see two such explicit state-
also that Jesus was the God and Lord (New International Version, English ments from Jesus Christ Himself. Notice
who interacted with Moses and the Isra- Standard Version, New Revised Standard John 5:37: “And the Father Himself, who
elites during their journey from Egypt to Version) or “reveal[ed] Him” (Green’s sent Me, has testified of Me. You have nei-
the Promised Land. Literal Translation). ther heard His voice at any time, nor seen
If God the Father was known to the His form.”
“No one has seen God at any time” Israelites as God during the Old Testa- And just to be clear, Jesus again says
The apostle John made several remark- ment period, why would Jesus need to that no one has ever seen the Father
able statements that help us understand make Him known? That doesn’t make in John 6:46: “No one has seen the Father
Jesus Christ’s role during the Old Testa- sense. There’s no need to reveal the except the one who is from God; only he
ment period. In John 1:18 he tells us: “No Father if the Father was already known has seen the Father” (New International
one has seen God at any time. The only when Jesus came. Version). Here Jesus plainly says that no
begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the John repeats this exact same state- one has seen the Father except the One
Father, He has declared Him.” ment in one of his epistles: “No one has who is from God—referring to Him-
Earlier in this chapter (verse 14) John seen God at any time” (1 John 4:12). John self. He alone has seen the Father. No
explained that he was a personal eyewit- apparently wrote near the end of the first human being has ever seen the Father.
Many Scriptures Point to God as Israel’s “Rock”

T
he apostle Paul is not the only biblical writer who referred to “Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense . . .” (Psalm 31:2).
Israel’s “Rock.” Several Old Testament writers also referred to “For You are my rock and my fortress . . .” (Psalm 31:3).
God—or Yahweh, as many believe the Hebrew form of His “I will say to God my Rock . . .” (Psalm 42:9).
name was pronounced—as their or Israel’s “Rock.” In addition to the “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).
five mentions in the book of Deuteronomy, at least 24 other verses, “He only is my rock and my salvation . . .” (Psalm 62:2).
mostly in the Psalms, refer to God being Israel’s “Rock.” “He only is my rock and my salvation . . .” (Psalm 62:6).
As explained in the main article here, the apostle Paul likely “In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength . . .”
had the five references to God as Israel’s “Rock” in Deuteronomy (Psalm 62:7).
32 in mind when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:4, “and that Rock “You are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3).
was Christ.” But being an expert in all the writings of the Hebrew “Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most
Scriptures, commonly called the Old Testament, he likely also had High God their Redeemer” (Psalm 78:35).
in mind a number of these other references. “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation” (Psalm
Notice these 24 other verses where God is called Israel’s Rock. 89:26).
And included in the divine identity, as Paul made clear, is the One “The Lord is upright; He is my rock . . .” (Psalm 92:15).
who became Jesus Christ! “The Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (2 Samuel refuge” (Psalm 94:22).
22:2). “Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our “Blessed be the Lord my Rock . . .” (Psalm 144:1).
God?” (2 Samuel 22:32). “Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know
“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock not one” (Isaiah 44:8).
of my salvation!” (2 Samuel 22:47). “Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? . . .
“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me . . .” O Rock, You have marked them for correction” (Habakkuk 1:12).
(2 Samuel 23:3). When Paul wrote “that Rock was Christ,” he wasn’t pulling the
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer . . .” (Psalm word “Rock” out of thin air. He knew that Moses, David, Isaiah and
18:2). Habakkuk all referred to God—Yahweh—as their or Israel’s “Rock.”
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our Paul was intimately familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures and their
God?” (Psalm 18:31). repeated references to “Rock” as a term applying to Israel’s God.
“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! . . .” (Psalm 18:46). And Paul clearly tells us who the Rock who directly interacted with
“To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock . . .” (Psalm 28:1). the Israelites was—“that Rock was Christ.”
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
The biblical record of people who saw God to Moses at the burning bush promising to deliver the Israelites
Yet in the books of the Old Testament period we see that a out of their Egyptian slavery.
number of people did see God. They include: “Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the chil-
• Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 15:1; 18:1). dren of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent
• Isaac (Genesis 26:2, 24). me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall
• Jacob (Genesis 28:13; 32:30; 35:9-10). I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And
• Moses (Exodus 3:6; 33:11, 21-23). He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has
• Moses, Aaron and the 70 elders of Israel (Exodus 24:9-11). sent me to you.”’”
• Joshua (Joshua 6:2). Jump 15 centuries forward, and who did Jesus say He was?
• Gideon (Judges 6:14). Returning to what we just read in John 8:58, “Jesus said to them,
• Solomon (1 Kings 11:9). ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”
Nearly all of these are described as face-to-face encoun- And notice what happened immediately after Jesus said
ters. Two are specifically described as visions, including one these words: “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but
of these encounters with Abraham and one with Jacob. But in Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through
addition to those visions, Abraham and Jacob had face-to-face the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:59).
encounters with God also—during which Abraham ate a meal The Jews who heard Jesus say these words realized what He
with God and Jacob wrestled with God. meant—that He was claiming to be the “I AM” who had inter-
In these various encounters, the “God” who appeared and acted with Moses. And how did they react? They immediately
spoke with these individuals is identified as “God” (Hebrew took up stones to stone Him to death for claiming to be God!
Elohim), “the Lord” (Hebrew YHWH or Yahweh), “the God of The amazing truth of Jesus’ identity
Israel,” “the God of your fathers,” “the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” “God Almighty” (Hebrew Putting all of these scriptures together, we see a remarkable
El Shaddai), “the word of the Lord,” “the Angel of the Lord,” picture emerge: The One who came to earth as a flesh-and-blood
“I AM WHO I AM” and “I AM.” human being, Jesus Christ, was in fact the One who interacted
How, then, do we reconcile “No one has seen God at any with people as God throughout the Old Testament period.
time” with the many individuals who saw God? These are not all the scriptures pertinent to this subject, but
Earlier we saw multiple statements from the apostle John they are enough to abundantly demonstrate that the One who
and from Jesus Christ Himself that no one has seen the Father spoke to and interacted with human beings in the Old Testa-
at any time. So who did these individuals see when they saw ment period as God on behalf of the Father was the One we
God? The only way we can make sense of this is to understand know today as Jesus Christ.
that no man had seen God the Father at any time, yet people This is not just opinion or conjecture, but from the direct
had nevertheless seen One who was also God. statements of the apostle Paul, Jesus’ beloved disciple John
What they saw as recorded in these many passages, and at and Jesus Christ Himself. Likewise the apostle and Gospel
other times when God appeared to individuals, was the Word writer Matthew affirmed Jesus to be Immanuel, meaning “God
who was also God (John 1:1), the One who was born in the flesh with us” (Matthew 1:23), and the apostle Thomas proclaimed
as Jesus. With this understanding, there is no contradiction. We Him “my Lord and my God” (John 20:27-29). (To learn more
know that “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). about this, download or request our free study guide Who
What we see revealed in Scripture from these verses is that Is God?)
Jesus was the One who interacted with the patriarchs and To be sure, Jesus always directed worship toward God the
prophets and the people of Israel as the Lord or God on behalf Father and was totally subservient to Him (John 4:23; 5:19, 30;
of the Father. The One who became the Father was not gener- 8:28; 10:18, 29, 37; 12:49-50; 14:10, 24; 15:10). In the same way
ally known to the Israelites when Christ came. They had never we must always put God the Father first and honor Him above
seen the Father, but only the Word or Spokesman of God, Jesus all. But Jesus accepted worship also without dissuading people
Christ, who came to reveal the Father. (Matthew 8:2-3; 9:18-19; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9-10, 17; Luke 24:51-
52), and He said it’s God’s will “that all should honor the Son
Jesus was the “I AM” who spoke to Moses just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23).
Jesus Himself clearly said this, and the people who heard Let us never lose sight of the astounding role of Jesus Christ
Him got the point of what He was telling them. Notice the throughout the Bible, knowing that He can also be our Rock
exchange in John 8:57-58, where Jesus was in a heated debate accompanying us on our spiritual journey!
with some of the Jews who opposed Him, and He said that
Abraham rejoiced to see His day. LEARN MORE
“Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years Most Christians think they understand who
old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most and what Jesus Christ was. But do they really?
assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” The Scriptures reveal many little-understood
Here Jesus specifically told them of His divine identity—that truths about His real purpose and identity.
He existed before Abraham and, more amazing still, that He Request our free study guide Jesus Christ:
was the God who had interacted with people during the Old The Real Story to get the amazing full picture!
Testament period. Who did He specifically claim to be? BTmagazine.org/booklets
We find the answer in Exodus 3:13-14, where God appeared
How Does Christ’s Suffering
Help in Our Suffering?
Why does suffering happen? Why does God allow it? How does the horrible
suffering Jesus Christ went through relate to us? And will there be lasting relief?
G
by Victor Kubik
“
od, are You sad at the state or empathy? To become stronger—no
of the world?” “Why is pain, no gain? Just God’s random will
there so much evil in the for whatever or unknown reasons—with
world, and why don’t You some severely suffering, and others not
stop it?” “Why do good, so much? To induce repentance?
kind people suffer, and why do evil peo- Let’s go beyond these common rea-
ple seem to prosper?” “Why have You sons for suffering and ask: Where is God
allowed evil to exist and persist from the in all the pain? This question is a pri-
beginning of humanity?” “Where are mary one for all religions and philoso-
You in our trials and tribulations?” phers. Where can we turn for the best
These questions and many similar ones answers to why suffering and evil exist?
come to us from hurting and puzzled Who has the truth? What is the truth?
people who wonder why God appears to While we seek an all-encompassing
be silent to never-ending human pain. answer for all mankind, we also want a
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered too. personal answer for our pain, suffering,
He, as God in the flesh, underwent hor-
rific beating and pain before breathing
His last. What was the purpose in that?
What was the purpose in Jesus’ suffering? We
We hear how Jesus suffered for us. What hear how He suffered for us. What then does
then does His suffering have to do with
our suffering? His suffering have to do with our suffering?
Could God have made a world with-
out evil by just taking away our ability with the glory that is to be revealed to [or injustice, hurt, anger, disappointments,
to commit wickedness? Wouldn’t it have into] us. For the creation waits with eager tragedies and catastrophes.
been easy for Him to have simply said, longing for the revealing of the sons of
“I’m going to make you all marionettes God. For the creation was subjected to Back to the beginning
—I’ll pull the strings, and everybody futility, not willingly, but because of him We’ve seen the end of the story, but
will do only what is right and good”? who subjected it, in hope that the cre- now let’s go back to the beginning of the
Wouldn’t that be better for everyone ation itself will be set free from its bond- human experience.
than what we have now? age to decay and obtain the freedom of The clues and answers about why evil
Suffering and evil affect every one of us the glory of the children of God. and suffering exist emerge in the Garden
at different intensities. Some of you have “For we know that the whole creation of Eden shortly after the creation of man.
gone through torturous physical and men- has been groaning together in the pains But actually the story starts long before.
tal trials over the past year. Does a loving of childbirth until now. And not only the And God clearly shows that He has not
God use evil and suffering to accomplish creation, but we ourselves, who have the walked away from us but has actually
a greater good? And if so, how? We need firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as been very much with us, as He was to
an explanation. We need a sensible we wait eagerly for adoption as sons [or lose His own Son in this saga. He has not
explanation with a comforting hug. full status of sonship], the redemption been silent. He has spoken loudly and fre-
To give fuller context to the human of our bodies. For in this hope we were quently to us through His Word and still
Gino Santa Maria/123RF
experience, let’s start with the end of saved” (emphasis added throughout). does, remaining very much with us.
man’s journey, the future culmination Various reasons are given about suf- From the first verses of the Bible
described by the apostle Paul in Romans fering’s place in the human experience. describing God’s creation we see that
8:18-24 (English Standard Version): Is it to build character? The result of everything God created was good and
“For I consider that the sufferings of cause and effect? Punishment? Testing? very good (see Genesis 1:3-4, 10, 17-18,
this present time are not worth comparing Time and chance? To learn compassion 31). God gave Adam and Eve access to
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
everything in the Garden of Eden, includ- gregation on the farthest sides of the ing us out of worldly ways in these terms:
ing the tree of life. Man was encouraged north; I will ascend above the heights of “And you He made alive, who were dead
to eat from this tree—its name suggesting the clouds, I will be like the Most High’” in trespasses and sins, in which you
that life would be perpetuated through (verses 12-14). once walked according to the course
eating its fruit. This being, here called Lucifer, was an of this world, according to the prince
But there was another tree in the gar- embittered angel who envied and desired of the power of the air, the spirit who
den with dire warnings attached to it. God’s position and in his rebellion caused now works in the sons of disobedience,
God declared to Adam and Eve: “But of as much collateral damage as he could. among whom also we all once conducted
the tree of the knowledge of good and He became Satan, a Hebrew term that ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, ful-
evil you shall not eat, for in the day that means “Adversary,” and was cast down filling the desires of the flesh and of the
you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis to the earth—along with a third of the mind” (Ephesians 2:1-3).
2:17). This is the first mention of death in angels who had joined his rebellion (Luke In 1 John 2:15 we’re told, “Do not love
the Bible. 10:18; Revelation 12:4). Satan’s way, the the world or the things in the world,”
God said that if they ate from this tree way of evil, was that of self-exaltation, in referring to its selfish desires and ways
they wouldn’t be the same. They’d have opposition to God’s way of outflowing (verse 16; compare James 4:4). The world
an altered perspective. They’d suffer and love and concern. certainly does not love those who follow
finally die. Don’t do it! the Lord instructed God (John 15:18-19). Indeed, “the whole
them. Choose life! But God was not going The world led astray world lies under the sway of the wicked
to force them. That would not even have It was Satan who appeared in the one” (1 John 5:19).
been a choice. Instead, He warned them
of consequences the wrong choice would
bring.
It was Satan who appeared in the garden
But here another figure entered the
scene—the serpent tempting Eve into
to lead humankind astray. And mankind
eating of the forbidden fruit, with her chose to follow him and his errant ways.
husband then following along. And so
evil was introduced into man’s world. garden to now lead humankind astray. This sad condition goes back to the
Yet this was not the actual beginning And mankind chose to follow him and sin of Adam and Eve. But God was not
of evil. So where did evil come from? Did his errant ways. caught unaware by their big mistake in
God create it? No, evil is whatever is con- God had presented a choice to Adam following Satan. His plan had not been
trary to God and His way. It originated and Eve and clearly outlined the outcome thwarted. Rather, God determined well
not with God, but with the wrong choice of each option. But man made the wrong before the creation of man to redeem
of a spirit being God made—a powerful choice. Eve was duped by Satan (as the man from sin and its consequences—
archangel. serpent) into desiring and eating of the “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a
God recounts what happened in Eze- tree of the knowledge of good and evil. lamb . . . foreordained before the founda-
kiel 28, declaring to this spirit being: Adam and Eve both disobeyed, decid- tion of the world” (1 Peter 1:18-20). This
“You were the seal of perfection, full of ing with free will to eat of this forbidden was part of the plan all along.
wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were tree. As a consequence of rejecting God’s But why would God allow all this?
in Eden, the garden of God . . . You were reign over their lives, they were expelled
the anointed cherub who covers [an from the Garden of Eden and thrust into The need for free will
angel stationed right at God’s throne] . . . an opposing kingdom, the kingdom of One of the foremost objections to the
“You were perfect in your ways from Satan. This was not a “neutral” position. Christian faith is: How could there be a
the day you were created, till iniquity And Satan has remained as “the ruler loving God who permits so much pain,
was found in you . . . You became filled of this world” and “god of this age” suffering and evil in the world?
with violence within, and you sinned . . . (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians Many people think God being all-
Your heart was lifted up because of your 4:4). This is his world, his environment, powerful means He could do anything
beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for reflecting his violence and instability. He wants to do. But the Bible is very clear
the sake of your splendor” (verses 12-17). In terms of human society this is not that there are some things God can’t and
“Therefore,” God says, “I cast you as a God’s world. won’t do.
profane thing out of the mountain of Satan the devil is the author of destruc- For instance, it’s impossible for God
God” (verse 16). tion, deception and genocide. He hates to lie or break a promise (Titus 1:2;
More is told in Isaiah 14: “How you mankind. He hates you and me. It galls Hebrews 6:18; Psalm 89:34). This is
are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son him that we are alive! Our prayers daily intrinsic to His nature. In fact, God is
of the morning! How you are cut down are to include a plea to “deliver us from love (1 John 4:8, 16). This quality of out-
to the ground, you who weakened the the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). And it is our flowing care defines His identity. God
nations! For you have said in your heart: duty as Christians to resist the devil and cannot be evil or hateful.
‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my his attitudes permeating the world around But human beings can think and act
throne above the stars [angels] of God; us (see James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). for good or bad. With the moral freedom
I will also sit on the mount of the con- The apostle Paul speaks of God lead- we’ve been given, there’s a possibility for
even conquering death by artificial immortality. But the societies
in these stories prove to be colossal frauds—apparently happy but
experiencing deep failure, seemingly humane but really heart-
less. The elimination of suffering turns out to be the elimination
of humanness. These utopian societies become dystopian, denot-
ing an imagined state or society where there is great suffering
or injustice.
(Don’t get me wrong—there will yet be a truly perfect soci-
ety, but not one brought about by man. Instead, God will ulti-
mately establish His Kingdom over all nations, at last bringing
true peace and joy to the world. This will be unlike any sci-fi
vision.)
One of the most famous science fiction utopias is that of the
1931 book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, ranked fifth
on a list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th
century.
The story’s setting is London in the year 2540. The publisher
describes it as “a streamlined, soulless Eden” where there is no
suffering. On the surface everyone is happy through endless
combinations of mindless games, the wonder drug soma and
free sex. Fundamental human relationships such as families
and motherhood are relics of the past. All sources of suffering
have been eliminated.
The characters in the book are happy because they’re not
really human. The only truly human character in the story
maintains his humanity only by suffering—and since suffering
abundant good, but there’s also the possibility for abundant is no longer possible in this new society in which he unexpect-
evil—particularly under the influence of a powerful evil spirit, edly finds himself, he ultimately takes his own life.
as has been the case since the Garden of Eden. What’s missing in these imaginary societies is not just suf-
Having created human beings with the power of free choice, fering but the freedom of choice for everyone that could lead to
God can discern what they’re going to do, but He can’t make suffering—or, on the other hand, to truly positive results. Free
people do what they’re going to do in an ultimate sense. Oth- will is both the source of and the solution to human suffering.
erwise they’re not really free. Evil entered the world when peo-
ple freely chose to not do the right thing and to instead do the God became man—to suffer and die and lead many
wrong thing. to glory
God wanted those made in His image to freely choose to We should further realize that all the suffering God has
love Him and love others. You cannot love someone unless you allowed will, in His plan, work toward a good outcome for
have the choice to not love him. Love is a choice, a function of those who ultimately choose to follow God (compare Romans
free will. 8:28).
The sort of love people can give to God and one another And the supreme demonstration of God’s use of suffering
depends on them being able to do it willingly from the bottom and evil for good is revealed in the life, death and resurrection
of their hearts without being forced. As soon as it’s coerced, it’s of Jesus Christ.
not love. The most inconceivable event in all of history is when the
So we see in this something else God cannot do. He can- timeless, eternal Word of life left the spirit realm to become a
not instantly create loving beings—beings of free will with the human being. He came into the world to which Adam and Eve
choice to love and do right and stay that way. Genuine love and were exiled, the kingdom of Satan, to perform His mission.
righteous character can only be developed over time—and only We read of this in John 1, some of the most eloquent words
through allowing ongoing choice. in Scripture: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
Of course, that of necessity also allows for consequential was with God, and the Word was God . . . All things were made
bad choices and all the evil we see. But what God desired was through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was
worth it. It was a good thing for God to create human beings made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men . . . And
with free will, allowing others to express sincere love not the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
only to God but also to each other in the closest of human glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
Oleksandr Boiko/123RF
relationships. and truth” (verses 1-14).

This One who had been God with the Father, the “I AM”
Sci-fi utopias in contrast who spoke in the Old Testament (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14),
Science fiction offers stories of futuristic utopian societies came to earth as a man to die (Philippians 2:5-8).
that have eradicated suffering through technology, curing dis- It was hard for the Jews of His day and even His own dis-
ease, ending war and poverty, controlling accidents, sometimes ciples to understand this. Even the devil must have pondered
EXPLORING
GOD’S WORD
why Jesus would make Himself vulner- a man to pass the breaking point and not plan from before the creation of man.
able as flesh and enter the world of his break. It exhorts us to noble deeds and In God becoming human, He descends
dominion, the world of death. high thoughts. into the whole of the human condition.
Christ faced the greatest ignominy of Help in understanding our suffer- Does He descend into the depths of our
a Roman execution. Invented a few cen- ing and bearing through it indeed lies hells? Yes. Corrie ten Boom of the Neth-
turies before Jesus, crucifixion was so in the once-for-all catastrophic event of erlands recalled the words of her sister
horrific that Roman citizens were not per- the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Betsie in the depths of a Nazi death camp:
mitted to be crucified (see “The Greatest God reached into our space, time and “There is no pit so deep that the love of
Sacrifice” beginning on page 4). wounds. We needed more than a pep
The worst thing that ever happened talk. The Father sent His companion
in history was the suffering and death of from eternity as His only begotten Son.
God. Could God the Father have stopped This divine Word gave Himself. He came
it? Of course. But He allowed the devil to in love seeking a relationship with us.
influence Judas Iscariot, Caiaphas, Herod God did not gloss over our sins and
Antipas, Pontius Pilate and others to our suffering. He came into it, like a sur-
bring about the worst event in the history geon, to cut it all out. Like a garbage man,
of the world. In fact, this was God’s plan He takes away our trash, which is sin. He
all along. indeed could feel our pain, whether it be
Jesus Christ endured great emotional sickness, abandonment or injury.
and spiritual agony as He experienced Jesus encouraged His disciples on
the consequences of the actual sin of the eve of His sacrifice: “I have told you
the world, feeling betrayal, injustice, these things, so that in me you may have
isolation and unimaginable torment. peace. In this world you will have trou-
But the horrific misery inflicted on ble. But take heart! I have overcome the
Him was redeemed by an all-wise, all- world” (John 16:33, New International
knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God. It Version). He beat it!
was used for the greatest goodness imag- Jesus acknowledges that because of
inable—reconciliation
and justification lead-
ing to the salvation of God “totally gets it” regarding our pain. He entered into
mankind!
Jesus’ suffering and
the experience of mankind and knows how we feel. He
death was not the end. truly understands. And He shows us the way forward.
He would rise from
the grave, victorious over death to return what mankind has done in opening the God is not deeper still” (The Hiding Place,
to the Father and then live in us to make door to evil in this world, we have pain 1974, p. 118).
of us a new creation—to ultimately lead and suffering. It’s become an inevita- There’s a kinship in knowing that God
us into resurrection to eternal life as well. ble part of life, and yet He tells us that “totally gets it” regarding our pain. He’s
Jesus went through all this “in bringing He has overcome and beaten the world. been there. He doesn’t just have it fig-
many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). This And consider that God’s answer to the ured out logically and clinically. He has
is why we have hope! problem of suffering not only happened personally entered into the experience of
Jesus has thus led the way for us. And at Christ’s crucifixion, but the answer is mankind and really knows how we feel.
here we get closer to answering the ques- still occurring in our lives now. He truly understands. And He shows us
tions at the outset as to why we must suf- Christ has empathy for us because He the way forward.
fer and where we find peace and relief. went through it and has suffered. We,
too, can have empathy for others. Solving the problem of suffering
God totally gets it Do we cry with emotional and physi- In summary, Jesus came into the
But again, we want more than a cere- cal pain? Christ was a man of sorrows human condition. He suffered with us.
bral, mechanical, clinical explanation. and acquainted with grief. Are we cast He showed the gravity of mankind’s sins
picture alliance/Robert Geiss/Newscom
We want comfort. And “the God of all aside? Christ was despised and rejected in what He went through—for sin brings
comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) gives us of men. Have we been misunderstood, not just death but misery. Thus His suf-
that, and even more. betrayed, broken? Christ experienced fering and death paid the price for sin.
In John 14, 15 and 16 Jesus referred to all these. (See “Why Was It Necessary for Jesus
the Holy Spirit sent from God with a term In the kingdom of Satan, Christ has Christ to Suffer?” on page 6.) And in this
John recorded in Greek as parakletos. The been to Rwanda, Auschwitz, Syria, Stal- He also showed the awesome love of God
same word is used of Jesus Himself in ingrad, abortion clinics and countless in what God was willing to go through
1 John 2:1. It means an advocate, one who other places of crisis and tragedy over the to save us—encouraging us to trust Him
pleads our cause, a comforter, a helper, an entire history of man on this planet. But and cast all our cares on Him.
encourager. It’s the comfort that enables He will turn it to victory! That was God’s Further, after suffering and dying,
Jesus rose again. In this way He opened eternal life for us,
transforming death from an end into a beginning—turning
death pangs to birth pangs.
In becoming flesh as one of us, Jesus made our suffering Check us out
part of His work of our redemption and salvation. Again, our
trials and death pangs become birth pangs for eternity. We are
being prepared for a new nature.
online!
This amazing sacrificial death is summarized in one of the
most quoted of all scriptures: “For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You’ll find much more helpful
We must keep this future fixed firmly in our minds, just as
Jesus did, to endure (Hebrews 12:2).
biblical material on our
The Christian response to the problem of evil and suffering
was perhaps best summarized by the apostle Paul in 2 Corin-
website, including
thians 4:8-17:
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
Beyond Today Television
struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may
be manifested in our body.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward
man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by
day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment [in com-
parison to what follows], is working for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.”
The Word of God helps us understand this problem of evil
and suffering as followers of Christ—that God can cause all
these things to work for good in our lives. Bible Study Guides
As we look back on our own trials and resultant sufferings,
even severe crises with our families, work and health, we
can say that there were lessons that have given us a valuable
perspective about ourselves and our relationship to those
around. We become different people from what we would have
been if we had not gone through these things. These momen-
tary, light afflictions are producing for us the eternal weight
of glory.
The story that started in the Garden of Eden makes full
circle to a return to Eden and the tree of life with the com-
ing down of the New Jerusalem in the last two chapters of the
Video Bible Study Series
Bible, Revelation 21-22.
And here in Revelation 21:3-4 we at last see an end to all
suffering, as a loud voice out of heaven announces: “Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them
and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed
away.”
LEARN MORE
plus video sermons, our
Suffering is a big subject, and the Bible has 12-part Beyond Today Bible
much more to say than can be covered in
just this one article. To better understand, Study Course and lots more!
you need to read our free study guide Why
Does God Allow Suffering? Download or
request your free copy today!
BTmagazine.org/booklets
ucg.org/learnmore
THE BIBLE
AND YOU
Yeast, Unleavened Bread and Pride

The Days of Unleavened Bread are not just about avoiding bread and yeast.
H
They teach us to receive God’s nature and resist self-centeredness and spreading sin.
by Peter Eddington
ow much do you think about yourself? Are you cerevisiae is helpful and good in baking, it works by spread-
always on your mind? Do you ever find your- ing through dough like harmful yeasts such as Candida do in
self getting a little “puffed up”? Or do you think an infected body. In that light we can think of leavening pic-
more about the needs of other people? turing sin as a parallel with disease cells that must be killed or
We’re of course talking about pride and self- removed. Getting to the infection quickly can prevent further
centeredness. But in delving further, let’s talk about something damage. But unchecked, it grows out of control and can lead
that might seem unrelated—yeast! Yeast is used in the Bible in to spiritual sickness.
a spiritual analogy—particularly during the seven-day Festival Notice what the apostle Paul wrote during the Days of
of Unleavened Bread (also called the Days or Feast of Unleav- Unleavened Bread to the Christians in Corinth who were
ened Bread) following Passover in early spring in the northern tolerating a terrible sin in their midst:
hemisphere. These biblical days, kept by the apostles and early “You are puffed up . . . Your glorying is not good. Do you
Church, continue to be observed by the Church of God today. not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore
Commonly associated with making bread, yeast consists of purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since
single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fun- you truly are unleavened [indicating that they were literally
gus kingdom. Around 1,500 species are currently identified. observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread]. For indeed Christ,
Through fermentation, the yeast species Saccharomyces cere- our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the
visiae converts carbohydrates to carbon dioxide and alcohols. feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
The heat of baking causes the resultant carbon dioxide bubbles wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
to expand in bread dough and the alcohol to evaporate. So in truth” (1 Corinthians 5:2, 6-8, emphasis added throughout).
bread baking, the yeast acts as a leavening or rising agent. The Corinthians had been exposed to infection, to spread-
Yeast microbes are probably one of the earliest domesticated ing sin, and were not dealing with it properly. Rather, they
organisms. Archaeologists digging in Egyptian ruins found were prideful over their wrong kind of tolerance, sin giving
grinding stones and baking chambers for yeast-leavened bread, rise to further sin.
as well as illustrations of 4,000-year-old bakeries and breweries. So Paul admonished them to behave spiritually in accor-
Yeasts have recently been used to generate electricity in micro- dance with what the festival they were observing represented.
bial fuel cells and to produce ethanol for the biofuel industry. He said Christians are to be unleavened, not embracing sin
But other species of yeasts, such as Candida albicans, are and being puffed up with pride.
opportunistic pathogens and can cause infections in people.
What, then, are we to understand about the symbolism Biological and chemical warfare
of yeast in the Bible and how this relates to pride? And what Again, leavening is in itself beneficial, and leavened bread is
lessons can we learn from the Days of Unleavened Bread? a blessing from God. Jesus even used the imagery of leaven to
picture the expansion of God’s righteous reign (Luke 13:20-21).
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” But for one week each year during the Days of Unleavened
During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as laid out in Exo- Bread, we are to focus on the analogy of leavening as a wea-
dus 12 and Leviticus 23, leavening is to be removed and pon of Satan. The leavening we avoid comes in two types—
avoided for one week, as it is used at this time to picture sin biological (yeast) and chemical (baking powder and baking
and its effects. (The symbolism also existed year-round in soda). Biological and chemical weapons are among the most
Israel’s grain offerings—see Leviticus 2:11.) feared types of warfare today. And so their spiritual counter-
Pride puffs us up, like yeast. We talk about people having a parts should be to the Christian—to us.
big head, thinking they are big stuff. Vanity and arrogance truly Some of the gases that have been used in chemical warfare
are dangerous to our spiritual health. They can lead us to cutting can incapacitate a man in concentrations of as little as one
ourselves off from God, suffering spiritual decay and disease! part in 10 million. In parallel, how much sin can we embrace
But the puffed-up stage of leavening is not immediate. It takes and say, “That won’t hurt me”? The only true protection is to
time for tiny yeast microorganisms to multiply and spread—for get away from the cause.
the carbon dioxide to bubble up. And then, by the time swelling Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of
comes, the process is well along—as a spreading infection. chemical substances as weapons. Along with nuclear bombs,
Consider that while the yeast species Saccharomyces both chemical and biological agents of war are considered
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
And so, by analogy, Satan the devil has Take a Pride Test put himself under the spiritual men-
torship of a godly advisor named Zech-
H
immense stockpiles of WMDs, including ave you ever taken a quiz to gauge how ariah. And as long as he continued to
biological and chemical leavening agents much pride you have? You can find a num- follow God, he was blessed. As a result,
ready to be unleashed upon us! ber of such quizzes with an online search. One he and his kingdom acquired great
Yet God gives us the power, through is titled “Am I Prideful?” at beliefnet.com. Fol- wealth and became politically and mili-
His Holy Spirit, to address the cause of the lowing are the 12 questions it asks. (Online, tarily powerful (2 Chronicles 26:1-15).
infection, the sin, the leaven, the pride. there are three multiple-choice answers to But then things changed. What hap-
Here is how the apostle Paul described choose from for each question.) pened? There are hints in the text that at
it, once again to the congregation at 1. When talking to others, how often do you some point he stopped seeking God and
Corinth: “For the weapons of our war- talk about yourself? the spiritual mentoring of Zechariah.
fare are not carnal but mighty in God for This suggests a lessening dependence
2. Why do you do good things?
pulling down strongholds, casting down on God and a growing reliance on him-
arguments and every high thing that 3. How often do you think about yourself? self and his own strength and wisdom
exalts itself [in pride] against the knowl- 4. Do you do your work to further your own (2 Chronicles 26:16-22).
edge of God, bringing every thought into situation or to help others? It’s easy for pride to increase as we
captivity to the obedience of Christ” 5. When you go to the store, the first thing become stronger, more successful, more
(2 Corinthians 10:4-5). you look for is . . . prosperous and more recognized in our
The old leaven (our prideful and self- 6. How often do you find yourself discussing endeavors. In fact, anything, real or
ish ways) must be put out and replaced— others’ faults? imagined, that elevates us above others
displaced—by the Holy Spirit. You can’t can be a platform for pride. Ironically,
get rid of poisoned air in your lungs 7. When bad things happen your first this is true even when these things come
response is to . . .
without good air replacing it. Even so, to as a result of God’s blessings.
get rid of the spiritual toxin of sin, you 8. When someone criticizes you your first So it was with Uzziah. Rather than
have to take in of God’s Holy Spirit. If reaction is to . . . humbling himself in thanksgiving to
a new person is not formed when “the 9. How often do you talk about what you are God, he began to think more highly of
old man,” one’s former self, is figura- doing on social media? himself than he should have and devel-
tively buried at baptism (see Romans 6:1- 10. How often are you wrong? oped an exaggerated sense of his own
4; Ephesians 4:22-24), the old self will be 11. Do you hold grudges? importance and privileges.
the one who rises to live again. In the end Uzziah gravely overstepped,
Sin is a dangerous infection to be 12. How do you react when someone entering the temple of God to carry
avoided at all costs. In setting aside the disagrees with you? out a ceremony only priests were to per-
leavened bread—the rolls, the croutons, So, I took the test and received my results. form. God then struck him with leprosy,
the crackers, etc.—during the Days of Maybe you should ask yourself these same and he was banished from society—all
Unleavened Bread this year, the people questions. Pride—being full of ourselves, because of his pride. Remember, “pride
of God are to be thinking about putting “puffed up” with hot air like a yeast-filled loaf goes before destruction, and a haughty
out the infection of sin—the biological of bread—can ruin us. spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
and chemical weapons of Satan in this And: “When pride comes, then comes
analogy. And as unleavened bread is important than they are or who are, as shame [disgrace]; but with the humble
eaten instead, we can be reminded that we say today, full of themselves. is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
we are not just putting sin out, but God is This is what led Satan himself astray,
putting His nature in us as we submit to God telling him in Ezekiel 28:17, “Your Self-absorption and corruption
Him with His help. heart was lifted up [or proud] because of Pride turns everything into a means
your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom to an end, to get respect and approval.
“Pride goes before destruction” for the sake of your splendor.” As famed We want people to respect us. We are
We must continually battle against author C.S. Lewis correctly observed in always adding things up, comparing.
the overarching sin of pride. In the sense “The Great Sin,” chapter 8 of his book We’re always asking: Am I getting the
we’re talking about here, pride is an Mere Christianity, “It was through Pride thanks I deserve? Am I getting appre-
inwardly directed, foolish and irrational that the devil became the devil: Pride ciated here? How am I being regarded?
sense of one’s personal value, status or leads to every other vice: it is the complete Pride concentrates on self.
accomplishments—a vice also known as anti-God state of mind.” This comes in overt and subtle vari-
vanity or vainglory. There are many other biblical examples ants. On the one hand is the superiority
Recall Paul’s description of those in of pride and its consequences. One of the form of pride, which is easily recognized as
Corinth as “puffed up,” having no con- more notable from the Old Testament is pride by most people because people with
trition over their misplaced tolerance that of Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26. It’s worth a superior air are constantly comparing
of evil (1 Corinthians 5:2). “Puffed up” opening your Bible to read it. It’s a caution- themselves. They’re always thinking: How
is a vivid description of people who are ary tale against arrogance and pride. do I look? Am I being appreciated?
proud and vain—who want to make When he became king of Judah at age But another form of pride fixates on
themselves seem bigger, better or more 16, Uzziah set his heart to seek God and one’s inferiority. This is when you’re
THE BIBLE
AND YOU
down on yourself and you don’t like yourself. You don’t like humility and service. Partaking of unleavened bread represents
how you look. You’re very self-conscious and always beating our receiving Jesus Christ and Him living through us.
yourself up. Think about flattening your pride before God and others.
This is certainly not true humility and selflessly esteem- Ask yourself: Do I look down on those who are less educated,
ing others well. For you’re just as self-absorbed, perhaps even less affluent, less refined or less successful than me? Do I
fishing for affirmation. Everything still revolves around you. think of myself as more spiritual than people in my church
You’re doing all the same comparisons as in the superiority or at work? Am I driven to receive approval from others? Am
form. And you’re effectively putting yourself in the place of I guilty of trying to leave a better impression of myself than is
God as the one who determines your worth. This all amounts honestly true? Do I overly worry about what others think of
to self-exaltation—pride. me—about my reputation?
We must not entertain such thoughts. They will expand Or maybe you’re thinking: I’m not proud. I don’t have any-
and permeate a person’s mind—and can also spread to other thing to be proud about! I don’t have any special gifts. I’m not
people. (For a self-check, see “Take a Pride Test” on page 19.) beautiful. I don’t have any achievements to be proud of. Well
Returning to the imagery of baking bread, think again of that, as mentioned, can be a subtle form of pride.
how a batch of dough gets puffed up when a small amount of Are you now thinking how many of these questions apply
leaven is added. Before long the leaven (such as yeast) spreads to someone else you know—with you feeling pretty good that
everywhere, fermenting and leaving hundreds of little bubbles most of these things don’t really apply to you? Careful—that
of carbon dioxide in the dough, causing it to be “puffed up.” could be evidence of pride!
In the same way, pride, vanity and other evils grow and
spread when even a small amount is initially present. Pride is Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector
an evil attitude that often leads to other more specific sins. A In Luke 18:9-14 we read the parable of the Pharisee and the
proud person is full of spiritual bubbles—lots of visible surface tax collector. The Pharisee was thankful to be distinguished
area, yet with nothing inside but gas! above others such as the tax collector for his righteous acts—
It’s a great word picture that would have been immediately while the tax collector beat on his breast and pleaded with God
understandable to most people as recently as the last century. to have mercy on him as a sinner. There’s clearly a lesson here—
Today most of us get our bread from the supermarket and don’t along with a warning. Be very careful about exalting yourself
have as much experience with the leavening process. That’s like the Pharisee. “For everyone who exalts himself will be hum-
probably why modern translations tend to translate “puffed up” bled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (verse 14).
in 1 Corinthians 5:2 as simply “proud.” While that’s a reason- We learn a lot from this parable about our heart toward God.
able translation of the underlying Greek expression here for the By acknowledging our sinfulness and crying out for God’s
people’s attitude, it doesn’t capture the imagination in the same help, just as the tax collector did, we can be exalted before God.
way “puffed up” does. Humility involves assessing ourselves honestly before Him.
It’s harder for people today to catch the contrast Paul is During the Days of Unleavened Bread when the people of
making between the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth God are to have no leaven in their diet or in their homes, we
(verse 8) and people who are puffed up with pride like a loaf must realize our utter sinfulness in comparison to Jesus Christ,
of leavened bread. and accept the help He has provided through His sacrifice.
Also, many today sadly reject or don’t even know about the
yearly observance of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Yet Avoid a dangerous infection
Paul was here teaching the non-Jewish converts of Corinth to, Sin is a dangerous infection to be avoided at all costs. As
with the right mindset, “keep the feast.” It remains relevant for God’s people set aside leavening and leavened bread products,
everyone who follows the way of God! we must think about removing the infection of sin. But remem-
ber that we are not just putting sin out, but God is putting His
Leaving Egypt and flattening your pride nature in. That’s what unleavened bread at this time is all about.
God introduced this festival season to the Israelites when He Leavening is a symbol of sin—for this one week a year—that
led them out of Egypt (Exodus 12:14-20). Here’s another interest- helps us to understand something very important in God’s plan.
ing analogy, with Egypt being used to represent sin, as leavening If you are interested in following Jesus’ example and keep-
here does. We, in parallel to the ancient Israelites, are to come ing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, request our free booklet
out of the Egypt of this world and its sinful ways and ideologies. below to learn more or get in touch with one of our ministers
In Matthew 16:5-12 Jesus talked about the “leaven” of the who can explain it in more detail.
Pharisees and the Sadducees, the leading Jewish religious sects
of the time, referring to their false doctrine with its corrupting LEARN MORE
effects. Their teachings caused them to become puffed up with The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the second
pride, with vanity, and to veer from the intent of Scripture. of seven annual festivals of God in the Bible.
For the seven days of the spring festival we are to eat unleav- To learn more about these observances and
ened bread, symbolizing a stark break from this world. A flat what they picture, download or request a
piece of bread—not puffed up with yeast or any other leaven- free copy of our study guide God’s Holy Day
ing agent that causes it to rise—is the type of bread God uses to Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.
teach us to remove sin from our life while taking on His ways. BTmagazine.org/booklets
He wants us to flatten ourselves in relation to Him and learn
EASTER: Why Shouldn’t We
Celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection?
How can someone be Christian and not celebrate Jesus’ resurrection? This is a common question
facing followers of Jesus Christ who do not observe Easter—one that certainly deserves an answer.
E
by Tom Robinson
aster is one of the world’s most popular religious Italian and Spanish—the holiday is not called by the pagan
holidays, with hundreds of millions celebrating it name Easter but by the name of a biblical festival, Passover.
every year. For most the celebration is meant to Yet this holiday is not the authentic biblical Passover. That day
commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet on which the Israelites had offered lambs since the Exodus of
there are a number of Christians who see problems Egypt prefigured the offering of Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of
with that and refuse to participate in the tradition. God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). And it
But what’s so wrong with Easter? How can it be that Christians was on the true Passover day that Jesus was crucified.
would not celebrate Christ’s resurrection? Let’s consider some A close look at the Gospel accounts shows that in that time
problems with the Easter tradition. the Jewish people had come to call the Passover and the entire
seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread that immediately follows
Easter’s origins long predated Christianity (Leviticus 23:4-8) by the name “Passover” also—referring to
To begin with, Easter is not rooted in biblical Christianity the whole early spring festival period.
but in ancient pagan religious practices that existed far earlier. And as Jesus was in the grave for three days and three
Customs involving rabbits, colored eggs, hot-cross buns and nights (Matthew 12:40), He was resurrected during the Feast
sunrise services come from ancient fertility rites of spring in of Unleavened Bread or “Passover week.” This enabled a later-
honor of ancient gods and goddesses. invented resurrection festival during that week to be called
The name Easter, associated with dawn in the east, refers “Passover.” But it was not really the Passover of the Bible. In
to an ancient goddess of the dawn—Eostre in Old English or fact the name of Easter in Latin languages is sometimes given
Ostara in German. And this apparently ultimately derives as “Passover of the Resurrection” to distinguish it from the
from the Babylonian Ishtar, elsewhere known as Astarte and actual Passover day on which Christ died.
Ashtaroth, the queen of heaven, whose worship is directly Yet, again, this is all a complete misnomer—especially
condemned in the Bible (see “The Resurrection Connection” since the date of the Easter holiday does not depend on the
on page 23). biblical dates of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
In fact, the worship of any false god is condemned in the on the Hebrew calendar. Rather, Easter was set to fall on the
Bible—as is using practices derived from pagan religion to first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after
worship the true God. God does not accept such worship the spring equinox (with some divergence in interpreting
even if meant to honor Him. Notice His clear instruction in this between eastern and western Christendom). This only
Deuteronomy 12:29-32: sometimes aligns with the biblical dates for the Passover and
“When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the the Days of Unleavened Bread. These are just not the same
nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them observance—not by theme nor by the actual day celebrated.
and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not Another problem with the timing here is that Jesus was not
ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before even resurrected on Sunday—the supposed basis for weekly
you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How Sunday worship and annual Easter Sunday observance. The
did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ Good Friday–Easter Sunday time frame is wrong. It can be
You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every conclusively proven from the Bible that Jesus died and was
abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to buried on Wednesday and left His tomb three days and three
their gods . . . Whatever I command you, be careful to observe nights later (see Matthew 12:40 and look up “three days and
it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (emphasis three nights” on our website at BTmagazine.org).
added throughout). His resurrection was actually on Saturday, on the weekly
Sabbath. So if we were to celebrate the day on which Jesus
The timing is all wrong rose from death, that day would be the seventh-day Sabbath
Well, it might then be argued, why not strip the day of the (observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset each week).
pagan stuff and use it only to honor Christ’s resurrection? Yet Of course we should be doing that anyway, since observing
we must understand that the very timing of the observance the Sabbath is commanded in the Ten Commandments,
comes from false religion. It is not biblical. regardless of what day Jesus was resurrected on. (Weekly
In Romance languages—those that derive from Latin like Sunday worship also originated in pagan religion—“Sun day”
THE BIBLE
AND YOU
What Do You Think About Beyond Today? We’d Like to Know!

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being the day used to honor the sun god in ancient times.) Why would we do this and not observe the occasions God has
specifically commanded?
Resurrected on the Feast of Firstfruits?
Some believe that the Sunday during the Festival of Symbolism in God’s commanded spring feasts
Unleavened Bread is the proper day for celebrating Jesus’ God has commanded two connected annual festivals in
resurrection, calling it the Feast of Firstfruits. Is that valid? early spring (in the northern hemisphere) that we definitely are
It is true that the Sunday during the Days of Unleavened to observe as Christians, even as Jesus and the apostles did.
Bread marked a special occasion. On this day God commanded These are Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread (see our
the Israelites to bring a firstfruits offering of a sheaf of barley to free study guide God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for
be waved before Him for acceptance (see Leviticus 23:4-14). All Mankind at BTmagazine.org/booklets to learn more).
Jesus Himself is the firstfruits of God’s spiritual harvest of Jesus died on the Passover day. For centuries this day had
mankind (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23). And He evidently ascended foreshadowed His dying for our sins as the sacrificed Lamb of
briefly to heaven on the day following His resurrection—since He God, and He commands His followers to keep the Passover as
first told Mary Magdalene not to hold on to Him because He had a remembrance or memorial of His sacrifice for us (Matthew
not yet ascended to the Father, but He later allowed people to hold 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
on to Him and worship Him (compare John 20:16-17; Matthew Three days later Jesus was resurrected during the Feast of
28:9-10; Luke 24:39). So Jesus must have ascended in between—on Unleavened Bread. Does this mean that the seven-day festival
the day the wave-sheaf offering was presented. Thus Jesus would is meant to be a weeklong resurrection celebration—sort of an
have fulfilled what was pictured by this offering. extended Easter minus the paganism? No, because the Feast of
It should be clarified that this occasion was not the Feast of Unleavened Bread is much more than that. Jesus’ resurrection is a
Firstfruits as a distinct feast. Rather, it was an offering of the vital theme in the festival’s meaning—yet as part of a bigger picture.
firstfruits of the barley harvest during the Feast of Unleavened (See “Yeast, Unleavened Bread and Pride,” beginning on page 18).
Bread. The name Feast of Firstfruits more accurately applies Consider what literally happened. Jesus was dead and buried
to Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, 50 days later, with its for the first three days of this festival, was raised to life in the
leavened loaves of wheat representing God’s people of this midst of it and was then accepted as the firstfruits of God’s spiri-
age as spiritual firstfruits, Jesus Himself being the first of the tual harvest, remaining alive to teach His disciples thereafter. All
firstfruits (see Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Numbers 28:26; James 1:18.) of this is part of the meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Regarding the wave-sheaf offering, we should realize that it The Feast of Unleavened Bread, like the Passover, was revealed
did not specifically commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. Note that to the Israelites at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 12-13). Over
the sheaf was not waved before God at the end of the Sabbath the course of these days, the Israelites left the slavery of Egypt.
when Jesus was raised but the next morning—after the time And the removal and avoidance of leavening (an agent such as
He was already risen. Again, the wave-sheaf showed Jesus’ yeast that causes bread dough to rise in baking) was to symbolize
acceptance by His Heavenly Father as the first of the firstfruits— our coming out of sin (see 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
anticipating all those Christians who would later find acceptance At the same time, eating unleavened bread as commanded
with God through Him. Consider, too, that while the wave-sheaf during this same time symbolized partaking of the true
offering was listed among the appointed times of the Lord in
Leviticus 23, there is no command for a worship assembly LEARN MORE
on this occasion as on the various Holy Days listed here. This article is only a brief summary of what
The fact is, the Bible gives no directive to celebrate Jesus’ resur- God’s Word reveals about the biblical festi-
rection of itself. There is no commemoration of the time or date vals God commands us to keep. You need to
of the resurrection (although, as noted above, we are to observe get the whole picture! Download or request
the seventh day of the week anyway as the weekly Sabbath). our free study guide Holidays or Holy Days:
Some might contend that even though God has not Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
commanded a resurrection day observance, what would be BTmagazine.org/booklets
wrong with having one? But a far better question would be:
“Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ (John 6:32-35, 48-51, 53-58). case of Jesus Christ, that is awesome and wonderful, to be sure.
Only through Jesus Christ living in us can we develop godly But by itself it lacks the context of His death and resurrection
character and live a life of righteousness. as the basis for our own forgiveness for a lifetime of sin, and
We are to figuratively be crucified and die with Christ—our then our renewed lives with Jesus Christ living again within us,
old, sinful self being put to death and buried with Him so that ultimately leading to our own future resurrection.
we can be figuratively raised with Him to walk in newness of In keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread, we do commem-
life, as pictured in baptism (read Galatians 2:20, Romans 6, orate the fact that Jesus was resurrected to live in us to enable us to
Colossians 3:1-10 and Philippians 3:10-11). overcome—yet not as a celebration specifically of the resurrection
The Feast of Unleavened Bread represents our coming out in the way that Easter is for many, which misses the big picture
of sin. But we must realize that our coming out of sin relies on of God’s great plan of salvation. It leaves out a proper balanced
the person we formerly were being figuratively put to death and focus on the need for our old selves to remain buried and on now
buried with Christ and then, in effect, rising with Him into a living a new life through Christ, looking forward to ultimate trans-
new way of living—His way. formation in the future at His return (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
As the true Bread of Life represented by the unleavened bread For those who recognize the problems with Easter, we should
Christians are to partake of during the Feast of Unleavened not let pagan corruption take away from having a proper per-
Bread, Jesus Christ lives His resurrected life in us through the spective on Jesus’ resurrection—and a recognition of His role
Holy Spirit. This enables us to live a lifetime of sanctification and in the meaning of the biblical Feast of Unleavened Bread as the
transformation until the culmination in our literal resurrection Bread of Life through whom we also may receive eternal life by
at Christ’s return. Thus what these days symbolize, our coming our own resurrection from the dead (John 6:50-58).
out of sin to ultimately find new life and acceptance with God, Lastly, then, in response to the opening question, we could
was enabled by Jesus being literally buried, raised and accepted in turn ask: How can someone be a Christian and not observe
by God during these very days. This was clearly no coincidence! the days God commanded us to—the days that picture His
We need to grasp that Jesus’ resurrection is vital to the process great plan of saving mankind through Jesus Christ? Before
of coming out of sins. As Paul wrote: “If Christ is not risen, your knowing about them, one might plead ignorance. But having
faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Corinthians 15:17). And learned about them, now you know. And we encourage you to
this is where the resurrection focus of Easter fails. come to know more—and to honor God the Father and Jesus
It merely gazes at a hero who has conquered death. In the Christ as They have directed!
The Resurrection Connection Astarte figurines such as this are commonly

found in the Middle East and testify to the
popularity of the worship of this ancient fertil-
H ow did worship of an ancient god and goddess come to be associated

with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? A closer look at the
ancient mythology surrounding the worship of these gods and goddesses
ity goddess and Tammuz, her consort. Tam-
muz was believed to be resurrected each
spring, and rites associated with his worship
will help us understand how pagan practices have survived in popular were incorporated into Easter celebrations.
Easter customs practiced to this day.
Two of the earliest recorded deities were the Babylonian fertility god Easter we shall see how many of its customs and cer-
Tammuz and the goddess Ishtar. Every year Tammuz “was believed to die, emonies resemble these former rites” (Easter: Its Story
passing away from the cheerful earth to the gloomy subterranean world . . .” and Meaning, 1950, p. 58).
(Sir James Frazer, The Golden Bough, 1993, p. 326). In its various forms, worship of Tammuz-Adonis-Attis
The seasonal cycle came to be connected with Tammuz’s supposed spread around the Roman Empire, including to Rome itself.
annual death and resurrection. “Under the names of Osiris, Tammuz, As a corrupted form of Christianity spread through the
Adonis, and Attis, the peoples of Egypt and Western Asia represented the empire, religious leaders merged customs and practices
yearly decay and revival of life . . . which they personified as a god who associated with various pagan deities, including this earlier
annually died and rose again from the dead. In name and detail the rites supposed “resurrected” god, and applied them to the real
varied from place to place: in substance they were the same” (p. 325). and true resurrected Son of God.
As worship of Tammuz and Ishtar spread to the Mediterranean region, In this respect Easter followed the pattern of Christmas in being officially
including the territory of biblical Israel, the pair came to be worshipped under sanctioned and welcomed into the Roman church: “Motives of the same sort
other names—Baal and Astarte (Ashtoreth), Attis and Cybele, and Adonis may have led the ecclesiastical authorities to assimilate the Easter festival
and Aphrodite. God heatedly condemned the sensual, perverted worship of of the death and resurrection of their Lord to the festival of the death and
Baal and Astarte (Judges 2:11-15; 3:7-8; 10:6-7; 1 Kings 11:4-66, 31, 33; resurrection of another Asiatic god which fell at the same season.
16:30-33; 22:51-53). “Now the Easter rites still observed in Greece, Sicily and southern Italy
In ancient worship we find the mythology that would ultimately link these bear in some respects a striking resemblance to the rites of Adonis . . .
ancient customs to Christ’s death and resurrection. Writer and historian The Church may have consciously adapted the new festival to its heathen
Alan Watts states: “It would be tedious to describe in detail all that has predecessor for the sake of winning souls to Christ” (Frazer, p. 359).
been handed down to us about the various rites of Tammuz, Adonis . . . and (This information is excerpted from our free study guide Holidays or Holy
many others . . . But their universal theme—the drama of death and resur- Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? Request or download your
Scott Ashley
rection—makes them the forerunners of the Christian Easter, and thus the free copy at BTmagazine.org/booklets.)
first ‘Easter services.’ As we go on to describe the Christian observance of —Scott Ashley
WORLD NEWS
& PROPHECY
Plagues on the Horizon?

A new report warns of antibiotic resistance increasing to the point where antibiotics
are no longer effective. Scripture also warns of growing pestilence, but it further
assures us of a hope-filled future time when the need for antibiotics is no more.
T
by Steven Britt
he world is facing a deadly development of which far courses in medical school could be abolished” (“The Newest
too many are unaware. The latest coronavirus is just Wonder Drug,” Jan. 29, 1945, p. 66).
one part of the bigger picture. And there’s no easy way Alexander Fleming knew penicillin was not a cure-all that
out, no “magic pill” we can look to for a solution. would thrust mankind into a disease-free era. He speculated
On Nov. 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that “the greatest possibility of evil in self-medication [with
(CDC) released a troubling new report about antibiotic-resistant penicillin] is the use of too-small doses, so that, instead of
bacteria titled “Antibiotic Resistant Threats in the United States, clearing up the infection, the microbes are educated to resist
2019.” The foreword, by CDC Director Robert Redfield, is espe- penicillin” (“Penicillin’s Finder Assays Its Future: Sir Alex-
cially urgent about not only the future danger of antibiotic- ander Fleming Says Improved Dosage Method Is Needed to
resistant infections, but the present reality. Extend Use,” The New York Times, June 26, 1945).
“Stop referring to a coming post-antibiotic era—it’s already It’s now common knowledge that Fleming’s fears came
here,” writes Dr. Redfield, an expert in viruses and the dis- true—and also that penicillin and other antibiotics are not
eases caused by them. He points out that “antibiotic resistance consequence-free “wonder drugs” as once thought. Postwar
has been found in every U.S. state and in every country across optimism and the dazzle power that science held in popular
the globe. There is no safe place from antibiotic resistance.” opinion allowed life-threatening allergic reactions to penicil-
When I was 11 years old, I had a four-wheeler accident that lin to go unreported for years.
left an enormous gash on my leg. After being rushed to the In a 1980 symposium titled The History of Antibiotics,
hospital and undergoing surgery, I was told the medical staff James Whorton reported unfortunate “cases of several phy-
had stopped counting the interior stitches at 600, and on the sicians who knew themselves to have allergic tendencies, yet
exterior there were 22 staples—I still have quite a scar! treated their own colds with penicillin—and died from the
After being released and going home, one evening my cat reactions” (“‘Antibiotic Abandon’: the Resurgence of Thera-
jumped in my lap, setting off searing pain from the incision. peutic Rationalism,” J. Parascandola, editor, 1980).
I’ve always counted it a miracle that the initial gash narrowly Colds, and many deadly illnesses, are caused by viruses,
missed a major artery in my leg (despite its size, it barely against which antibiotics are totally ineffective. But reckless
bled!), but the truth is that the infection discovered after the antibiotic over-prescription and use for viral infections is still
cat jumped in my lap that night was every bit as dangerous! common. The “miracle drugs” never truly performed miracles.
I spent more than two weeks in the hospital with a serious Antibiotics were believed to usher in the end of disease, but
staph infection, not at all grasping the danger I was in while in reality were only an imperfect stopgap.
I happily watched television to pass the time.
The growing fear of MRSA
From “wonder drug” to stopgap Staph infections, like the one I had as a child, are caused by
The first modern antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in 1928 the bacterium known as staphylococcus aureus, an organism
by Sir Alexander Fleming. Put into medical use beginning in so common it’s even found on human skin. This is not usu-
1942, it was hailed as a modern miracle. Its effectiveness against ally a problem since God designed our skin as a natural barrier
bacterial infections was seen as an unprecedented triumph of and first line of defense against harmful microorganisms, and
science. But as Dr. Redfield laments, “You and I are living in a it works amazingly well! Surgeries of all types carry the risk of
time when some miracle drugs no longer perform miracles and infection because the skin must be breached, and the presence
families are being ripped apart by a microscopic enemy.” of staphylococcus bacteria in hospitals is inevitable.
Today several types of resistant bacteria are not affected by The first documented case of an antibiotic-resistant bacterial
even the most cutting-edge antibiotics the medical commu- infection in a human being occurred in 1968, marking the dis-
nity can muster. The report estimated that there are more than covery of the first known methicillin-resistant strain of staph-
2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States ylococcus aureus—giving rise to the all-too-familiar acronym
each year, killing more than 35,000 people. MRSA (pronounced “mersa”) that has haunted headlines since.
The media is, and always has been, an exercise in sensa- The recent CDC report includes a plan for more stringent con-
tionalism. As new antibiotics were discovered, Time magazine trols of antibiotic use to hold out against the growing problem.
envisioned the future of antibiotic combinations as limitless: Dr. Redfield states, “These actions are protecting us today and
“They could give it for all infectious diseases, and many of the will continue to protect us, our families, and our nation from a
threat that will never stop” (emphasis added). There is little hope
ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them
from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O grave, I will
in this vision of the future. At best he sees a never-ending fight
for survival against devastating, merciless and unseen enemies. be your destruction!” Jesus Christ died in order to overcome
death in all its forms and from all its causes.
Inevitable epidemics In Isaiah 53:5, we read that “the chastisement for our peace
Disease epidemics are nothing new. A 2006 article from was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Christ suf-
the journal Influenza titled “1918 Influenza: The Mother of fered to bring about the end of suffering, including disease.
All Pandemics” recalls the flu virus (known as the Spanish The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates the previous
Flu) that infected and caused symptoms in 500 million people verse, Isaiah 53:4, to say that “He Himself bore our sicknesses,
worldwide over a span of just two years, sickening a full one- and He carried our pains.”
third of the earth’s population. Total deaths from the Spanish Followers of Jesus Christ therefore have tremendous hope!
Flu are estimated at a staggering 50-100 million—rivaling the James 5:14 instructs the sick to seek healing through anoint-
total death toll of World War II. ing with oil by church elders, and verse 15 then states that “the
Viral outbreaks are of even greater concern than antibiotic- prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up”!
resistant bacteria—they can potentially spread faster, making While God does not now heal every sickness among His Church
them very difficult to contain, and they are not affected by in this life, by faith in Jesus Christ and through the promise of
antibiotics at all. the new covenant we have the hope of the resurrection—the
Experts argue that world conditions are now ripe for an even ultimate healing!
worse outbreak than the Spanish Flu. The unprecedented world Furthermore, God has a plan for all mankind that is con-
population, approaching 8 billion, has led to overcrowding in trary to the CDC director’s bleak prediction of “a threat that
will never stop.”
Jesus Christ warned that, prior to His return, “there will be The hope of all
mankind
famines, pestilences [disease epidemics], and earthquakes Thankfully, the
in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Bible describes a
future when our
urban areas throughout the world. Combining the poor sanita- all-powerful God will take control and put an end to human
tion conditions in many countries with the ease and prevalence suffering. That does not mean simply stepping in to instantly
of air travel, today’s world could allow a highly contagious dis- heal every disease. Rather, it starts by establishing a never-
ease to spread faster than ever before in human history. ending Kingdom under which mankind will learn the right
Recently, we have seen this playing out with the outbreak of way to live and be blessed abundantly.
coronavirus from the city of Wuhan, China. At the time of this As humanity finally learns to obey our Creator, God will
writing, tens of thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths eradicate disease, fulfilling in even greater measure the words
have been reported, though many believe the Chinese govern- spoken to ancient Israel: “If you diligently heed the voice of the
ment is purposefully underreporting to prevent people from Lord your God and do what is right in His sight . . . I will put
panicking. Additional cases are appearing all over the world. none of the diseases on you [that defiance of God had brought
(For more on this, read "Spreading Chinese coronavirus has the on others] . . . For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
world on edge" on page 27.) Ultimately, God’s plan is to transform the world—all who
Meanwhile, even the common flu virus carries a tremendous will obey and submit to Him—into a new creation, where
burden of sickness and death throughout the world year after “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying”
year. The 2019-2020 flu season, according to the CDC, has already (Revelation 21:4).
resulted in 22 million infections and 12,000 deaths in the United The “microscopic enemy” Dr. Redfield refers to—antibiotic-
States alone! Every year carries with it the fear that a particularly resistant bacterial infection—is just one of the many agents
virulent and deadly strain of influenza will again crop up. of our great enemy death, which Paul described as the “last
Jesus Christ warned that, prior to His return, “there will be enemy that will be destroyed” (1 Corinthians 15:26).
famines, pestilences [disease epidemics], and earthquakes in That wonderful future with no need for antibiotics will be
various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Mat- the true “post-antibiotic era”! It is not a time to fear, but a time
thew 24:7-8). Similarly, the fourth of the four horsemen in the to hope and pray for—it is coming!
book of Revelation is described as “a pale horse. And the name
of him who sat on it was Death” (Revelation 6:8). The Expos- LEARN MORE
itor’s Bible Commentary states: “‘Pale’ (chloros) denotes a yel-
The Bible reveals that disease epidemics will
lowish green, the light green of a plant, or the paleness of a sick be one of the signs indicating the end of this
Suttipon Yakham/123RF
person in contrast to a healthy appearance.” age of man’s misrule before the return of Jesus
In other words, Bible prophecy confirms mounting epidemic Christ. What else does it reveal? Download
fears—but also reveals a source of healing and hope. or request our free study guide Are We Living
in the Time of the End? to learn more!
God will turn the tables
BTmagazine.org/booklets
In Hosea 13:14, God promised to turn the tables: “I will
WORLD NEWS
& PROPHECY Current Events & Trends
Brexit official; Britain and EU enter uncharted waters

O
n Jan. 31, 2020, Britain officially left the European try to make London’s economic life harder than it needs It’s anti-democratic and . . . it gives people power
Union, becoming the first nation to leave the to be. But no one really knows how the exit will impact without accountability. People who cannot be held to
superstate. Britain was the EU’s second-biggest Europe and the global markets. account by the electorate. And that is an unacceptable
member nation, its large economy contributing much Nigel Farage, one of the chief architects of Brexit structure.”
to the union. Some Britons had longed for this day for and a member of the European Parliament, declared During his final comments he and his British com-
decades, while others feared it for economic or politi- June 23, the date of the British referendum, Britain’s patriots pulled out Britain’s Union Jack flag and waved
cal reasons. Still others believed the actual exit would “Independence Day.” In his final speech to the EU Par- it with a final goodbye. Mr. Farage’s microphone was
liament on Jan. 29, Mr. Farage summed up the reasons then cut off for “disobeying the rules,” and he was told
Britain left: “So this is it, the final chapter, the end of by the Parliament’s chairperson to remove the flags.
the road . . . My view has changed of Europe since I She said: “Put your flags away, you’re leaving and take
joined. In 2005 I saw the Constitution that had been them with you if you are leaving now. Goodbye.”
drafted . . . I saw it rejected by the French in a referen- A bright spot for Britain is that Brexit appears to
dum. I saw it rejected by the Dutch in a referendum, be bringing about the renewing of a special bond
and I saw you in these institutions ignore them, bring between Britain and the United States. Mike Pompeo,
it back as the Lisbon Treaty and boast you could ram U.S. Secretary of State, said Jan. 30 regarding the two
it through without there being referendums. Well the nations’ “historic relationship”: “The previous admin-
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage cheers Irish did have a vote and did say no and were forced istration took the view that if the United Kingdom
Britain’s exit at the European Parliament.
to vote again. You’re very good at making people vote made this decision it would be at the back of the line
never happen. And some leaders believe Britain will again, but what we’ve proved is the British are too big [for a bilateral trade agreement]. We intend to put the
return to the European Union before long. to bully . . . So I became an outright opponent of the United Kingdom at the front of the line.”
Brexit began after a June 2016 referendum, which entire European project.” The comments about a special relationship
only passed by a 51 percent majority. This kicked off Mr. Farage next hoped that Britain’s exit would between these great nations hold an important key
a process that lasted longer than anyone imagined. start a “debate” across Europe about the nature of to understanding what is really happening with Brexit.
It was a four-year circus of political fighting, nego- the EU: “I want Brexit to start a debate across the There’s more here than shared language and culture
tiations, renegotiations, poll-taking, media frenzies, rest of Europe. What do we want from Europe? If we and pursuit of liberty. The roots of the relationship lie
government collapses, bitter elections and, finally, the want trade, friendship, cooperation, reciprocity, we in the biblical identity of Britain and the United States,
Photos/illustrations, from left: Thierry Monasse/Polaris/Newscom; Viacheslav Besputin/iStock/Getty Images Plus

agreement between Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s don’t need a European Commission. We don’t need a which most do not understand. This identity stands in
freshly formed government and the European Union. European Court, we don’t need these institutions and contrast to the power bloc centered in Europe, which
Instead of taking effect at midnight in London, it all of this power. And I can promise you, both in UKIP is on a different trajectory.
happened at 11 p.m. there, midnight in Brussels. [United Kingdom Independence Party] and indeed To learn the amazing missing details that explain
As difficult as Brexit was, this next stage will prob- in the Brexit party, we love Europe, we just hate the what ultimately underlies Brexit, request or download
ably be harder, as Britain must negotiate new relation- European Union. It’s as simple as that. our free study guides The United States and Britain in
ships and trade agreements with other countries. EU “So I’m hoping this begins the end of this proj- Bible Prophecy and The Final Superpower at UCG.org/
countries wanting to make an example of Britain may ect. It’s a bad project! It isn’t just undemocratic. booklets. (Sources: Raw footage, news agencies.)
Call 988: the next step to combat the U.S. suicide epidemic
I
n December 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously number would have the same function while improving accessibility.
approved the creation and implementation of a three-digit suicide prevention A Washington Post article noted: “The decision comes as the United States
hotline, similar in purpose to 911. The phone number 911 is the general emer- grapples with a spike in suicides, even as rates are on the decline in other parts of
gency number used across North America, with children often taught from an early the world. The suicide rate hasn’t been this high since World War II” (Taylor Telford,
age how to dial it, and the simple three-digit number (similar to those used in other “FCC Advances Plans for 988, a National Suicide-Prevention Hotline,” Dec. 13, 2019).
countries) has saved countless lives. The reasoning behind the suicide prevention According to the same article, commissioners at the FCC meeting that approved
hotline’s three-digit number, 988, is the same. 988 commented that “more than 20 veterans commit suicide each day, and more
The decision comes in response to an overwhelming surge in deaths by suicide than 500,000 LGBTQ youth attempt to kill themselves annually. In 2018, more first
over the last decade. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention responders died by suicide than in the line of duty.” The proposal gives nationwide
(AFSP), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with more communications systems 18 months to implement 988.
than 47,000 suicides in 2017 and an estimated 1.4 million attempts that same Within the varying circumstances those who attempt or die by suicide find
year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017 themselves in, the common denominator is often a lack of hope. Beyond Today
suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Americans aged 10-34 and the strives to share the good news of the coming Kingdom of God to offer hope to all
fourth-leading cause for Americans in the 35-54 age group. Americans aged 10-34 who hear it.
are more likely to die by suicide than heart disease or homicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the U.S. hotline,
The current national suicide prevention hotline, 1-800-273-TALK, already routes 1-800-273-TALK, or one in your region. Also request our free study guide Suicide:
callers to a network of 163 call centers nationwide. When implemented, the 988 Understanding and Preventing It at ucg.org/booklets. (Source: The Washington Post.)
Spreading Chinese coronavirus has the world on edge
N
ews headlines have been changing by the day treatment of one’s livestock is also a biblical principle caused about 12,500 deaths, a relatively low death rate
with the rapid spread of a new strain of coro- (Proverbs 12:10) routinely violated in modern times— of around 0.002%.
navirus from China. On Jan. 30, 2020, the World also contributing to diseases now plaguing the world. There is a deadly balance between the human-to-
Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emer- Some say the virus entered the Wuhan market from human transmission rate and the lethality of a virus
gency in response to the international spread of the that has many concerned about the latest coronavi-
virus, hoping to prevent outbreaks in countries that rus. Viruses with very high death rates, such as Ebola
do not have the resources and standards to contain it. (around 50 percent), tend to be self-limiting, like a
Despite the extreme quarantine measures being taken flame that burns very brightly for a short time. The
in China, cases have already been confirmed in dozens reason for this is that viral infections require a living
of other countries, including the United States. host in order to spread.
Coronavirus causes a respiratory infection. Previous Viruses that act most quickly are often the most
strains include the SARS (severe acute respiratory syn- deadly by percentage since the disease can easily
drome) epidemic of 2002-2003, which also originated be too far advanced by the time a person realizes he
from China and took almost 800 lives, and the MERS needs treatment. However, if a slower-acting virus
(Middle East respiratory syndrome) outbreak that with a moderate death rate is able to sustain a high
began in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and killed even more. transmission rate, the overall impact on the world
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they originate population can be devastating by comparison.
in and usually only infect animals. However, history outside, arguing it was engineered in a bioweapons As this issue was going to press, this new coronavi-
has shown that viruses jumping from animals to lab and slipped out. Either way, it poses a major threat. rus has spread to dozens of countries and totaled tens
human beings is both possible and very dangerous. Viruses with severe, easy-to-recognize symptoms, of thousands of infections. The infection is estimated
For example, the infamous Spanish Flu of 1918 began even if deadlier, are usually easier to contain–precisely to be lethal for about 2 percent of those who become
when influenza strains in wild and domesticated birds because of their severity. Since the new coronavirus ill. This is already a much lower estimated lethality
began to interact with human influenza virus strains appears to often result in only mild illness in many than either SARS (10 percent) or MERS (35 percent)—
to produce a particularly infectious and deadly mix. individuals, it’s easier for people to transmit it however, it also opens the potential for the virus to
The new strain of coronavirus is said to have origi- unknowingly, making it very difficult to determine spread to far more people throughout the world.
nated in a so-called “wet market” in the city of Wuhan, appropriate quarantine boundaries. Currently entire As the World Health Organization has pointed out,
China. These markets are known for trading in a wide Chinese cities with populations numbering in the overpopulated countries with poor sanitation stan-
variety of exotic meats and for unsanitary conditions. millions are under quarantine. dards are at the highest risk, as was the case with the
Since the SARS outbreak, public health officials In addition to Chinese quarantine measures, other 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak. Unlike the flu, there are no
around the world have warned of the danger such governments have tightly restricted travel to and current vaccines against coronavirus because it has
markets pose in allowing zoonotic viruses to cross spe- from China. It’s very possible the outbreak is already not been widespread among people. Furthermore,
cies, as they put live and recently slaughtered animals far more widespread than has been realized, as those because the virus is new to human beings, there has
in close proximity to one another amid large and dense with only mild symptoms may not seek medical treat- not been time for natural immunity to develop either.
masses of people. This is made worse by the diversity ment at all and would thus go unreported—even as Many of these outbreaks could have been pre-
of species offered in markets such as the one in Wuhan, they unknowingly spread the virus further. vented by obedience to God’s food laws, the sanita-
which trade in cats, dogs, bats, snakes, turtles, seafood Another major factor in the development of new tion and quarantine standards revealed in the Bible
and many other forms of wildlife that are not typically viruses is how easily it spreads through human- and humane treatment of one’s animals, as God has
consumed in the Western diet and would not normally to-human contact. Coronaviruses typically infect instructed. All human misery is the result of sin and
have the opportunity to share viruses. animals, like many strains of influenza, but become the process of decay that encompasses the world, but
The new virus has been reported as originating in dangerous when they mutate and gain the ability to God promises that the entire creation “will be deliv-
bats or snakes, both of which are designated as unfit infect humans. ered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
for human consumption by God’s food laws found in The Swine Flu (a strain of influenza known as H1N1) liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21).
Leviticus 11. God’s laws also prohibit the consumption outbreak in 2009-2010 is an example of a virus that To learn more, read “Plagues on the Horizon?”
of blood (Genesis 9:4), which despite being a known mutated to become very efficient at human-to-human beginning on page 24, as well as our free Bible study
source of infectious disease, is still consumed in many transmission. In the 2009-2010 flu season, Swine Flu guide The Horsemen of Revelation at ucg.org/booklets.
cultures. Maintaining sanitary conditions and humane infected 60 million people in the United States and (Sources: CDC.gov, The Washington Post.)
How can you make sense of the news?

So much is happening in the world, and so quickly. Where are today’s dramatic and dangerous
trends taking us? What does Bible prophecy reveal about our future? You’re probably very con-
cerned with the direction the world is heading. So are we. That’s one reason we produce the
Beyond Today daily TV commentaries—to help you understand the news in the light of Bible
prophecy. These eye-opening presentations offer you a perspective so badly needed in our
confused world—the perspective of God’s Word. Visit us at ucg.org/beyond-today/daily!
Gary Petty Darris McNeely Steve Myers
THE BIBLE
AND YOU Follow Me...
“I Go to Prepare a Place for You”

As we focus on eternity before us, we need to understand where we’re
I
headed, what makes it possible, and the encounter that awaits us.
by Robin Webber
n concluding the last “Follow Me” column titled “Fixing have searched for eternity in all the wrong places by imperfect
Our Eyes on Eternity,” I stated that next time we would means. Put simply, there are no shortcuts to eternity!
explore eternity together. So here we are. Are you ready? Nearly 2,000 years ago on the last night of His mortal life,
Jesus said on the last night of His human existence, “I Christ earnestly and specifically prayed: “Father, the hour has
go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The wording come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as
“I go” gives a sense that He was confidently in motion to pre- you have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give
pare something special yet ahead. What was He talking about? eternal life to as many as you have given Him” (John 17:1-2).
Where should our focus and vision be when it comes to Jesus implores the Father to be with Him at this time for Him
eternity? This is an important question. to be offered up as the ultimate atoning sacrifice to reconcile and
It’s been said that the adventurer Christopher Columbus restore humanity to God so that eternal life might be ours.
“didn’t know where he was going, didn’t know where he was He then defines what eternity is ultimately about: “And this is
when he got there, didn’t know where he had been when He eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus
got back—and did it all on borrowed capital.” Christ whom you have sent” (verse 3, emphasis added). Here we
Columbus was searching for a passage to a new realm beyond discover that eternal life is predicated first and foremost on a
the familiar, and likewise so are we. But unlike Columbus’ jour- relationship that is personal and intimately connected!
ney, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ guide us toward The word “know” here is translated from the Greek term
understanding of where we are headed, for whom and why. ginosko, indicating a close, warm, even passionate intimacy. The
Having this understanding living within us is vital to maintain- term is applied to Mary not having “known” a man in physical
ing our spiritual pilgrimage in responding to the upward call of marital terms (Luke 1:34)—as its Old Testament Hebrew equiv-
God through Christ’s invitation of “Follow Me” (see Philippians alent yada was also used of fleshly union (see Genesis 4:1).
3:14; Matthew 4:19). Of course, God’s desire is to intimately bond not in flesh,
This understanding comes from God today through the but in spirit and holiness with those made in His image (see
Bible. So let’s open up eternity one scripture at a time. 1 Corinthians 6:16-17). The echo of God’s voice through Scrip-
ture declares His intent that He would be our God and we His
The intimate fellowship of eternity people (Leviticus 26:12; Hebrews 8:12).
Our first step forward in discovering the “prepared place”
is to grasp the manner in which God the Father and His Son Eternity comes at a cost!
exist in their supernatural, uncreated state. God offers this Once we understand that eternity is first and foremost
self-disclosure in Isaiah 57:15: “For thus says the High and defined by an intimate and personal relationship with God
Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell who inhabits eternity and that Jesus Christ is “the door” and
in the high and holy place . . .” “the way” to enter such existence (see John 10:7; 14:6), we can
Here we are introduced to a different realm beyond our begin to understand the truly rich future being prepared for
world of time and space. The Hebrew word for eternity in this us. Unlike Columbus, our spiritual journey toward eternity
verse is ‘ad, which speaks to continuity, carrying the sense of is not based on “borrowed capital,” but is paid for by a perfect
everlasting and always, having no beginning or end. This does freely given gift of love.
not define a mere location. No tangible man-made “X” could The prophetic book of Revelation, which ends with a
mark a spot called eternity. Rather, eternity designates the description of eternity, begins with this reality: “All glory to
limitless existence of God. And to focus on eternity is to focus him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding
on God, who alone has inherent life eternal. his blood for us” (1:5, New Living Translation).
Having said this, there’s an amazing verse in the book of Let’s fully absorb this reality. Eternal life with God the Father
Ecclesiastes concerning human beings that tells us God “has put and Jesus Christ comes with a cost—but it’s already been paid for
eternity in [our] hearts” (3:11). In creating people in His image, us. That’s why the apostle Paul was inspired to write that “the gift
God has purposefully planted a seed of longing for what only an of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
intimate relationship with Him, the Eternal, can satisfy. Yes, salvation is a gift! We have nothing by human endeavor
Even with man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, there to earn or deserve entrance into eternity. It comes by God’s grace
remains a thirst and deep-down hunger for meaning in life through the gift of Christ’s blood—though, as other scriptures
beyond “the now” of this goldfish bowl of time and space. tell us, repentance, submission to God, obedience and change
Human history and our personal story demonstrate how we through God’s Holy Spirit are required to receive that gift.
So where does this leave us today? Jesus Christ, who experience his or her smile and embrace. Sometimes you want
existed from eternity, entered our realm of time and space to hold on and just not let go. Isn’t that what really matters?
and, after living and dying in the flesh, reentered eternity for- Remember the connection Jesus made in John 17:3 between
eternal life and our knowing God the Father and Himself.
At the end of the day—or, should I say, of time and space—
framing eternity is not about applying a tape measure or
watching a clock that has stopped forever, but about you and
God. It’s about experiencing His love and in turn you answer-
ing Jesus’ probing question, “Do you love Me?” (as He asked of
the apostle Peter in John 21:15-17). He wants your answer as to
whether He is enough for you. Only you alone, like Peter, can
provide the answer as to your motivation toward eternity.
Life’s longing to be fulfilled
Before I close for now, Scripture describes that ultimate
moment of encounter when the door of eternity swings wide
open and God the Father steps out to embrace all of perfected
humanity—not on an airport runway, but as the apostle John
describes in Revela-
Jesus Christ, who existed from eternity, entered our realm tion 21:1-3:
“Now I saw a new
of time and space and, after living and dying in the flesh, heaven and a new
earth, for the first
reentered eternity where He is now preparing a place for us. heaven and the first
earth had passed away
ever, where He is now preparing a place for us! Absorbing this . . . Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming
and in turn freely surrendering our lives in faith in recogni- down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for
tion of this supreme act of love signal our ongoing apprecia- her husband. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold,
tion as we strive with God’s help to be holy, as He is holy (see the tabernacle [or dwelling] of God is with men, and He will
Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16). This means we seek to obey God dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself be
and become like Him in every way, to “be perfect, just as your with them and be their God.”
Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Revelation 22:3-4 further describes the incredible up close
and personal encounter God’s faithful servants will have with
What are we waiting for? Him, stating of the coming city: “The throne of God and of
Yet some might object to the very idea of eternal life, thinking, the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They
“I don’t want to keep living, because what I’m already experienc- shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”
ing seems like an eternity—and you are talking about forever?” Moses was not allowed to see God’s face and live (Exodus
Understood! But I’m speaking of a worthwhile and purposeful 33:20). Yet he will see it then, as will all God’s faithful. For
eternity in intimate oneness with our Heavenly Father and His then will be the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are the
Son, our Elder Brother Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:9-12). They prom- pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
ise us a wonderful future, one far different from the common mis- We have only begun to peek into eternity, but the faithful
conception of lazily laying around in heaven for billions of years! of God know where we are headed, who will welcome us and
The same Elder Brother will greet us at the threshold between what it cost to enter. We have come to understand through
time and space and eternity and welcome us into His level of exis- Scripture that the hallmark defining eternity is relationship.
tence—thus keeping His promise to go and prepare a place for us. Now we can step further into this realm as we heed Jesus’ invi-
Unlike Columbus, we will know we have arrived at our ultimate tation of “Follow Me,” seeing more of what Christ has gone
destination—of eternal life in the family and Kingdom of God. ahead to prepare.
Which leads me to one last question for now: Why do we In the next column we will delve into “Eternity on Display”
desire to experience eternity? Is it merely for the headaches and as we continue our examination of this subject.
heartaches of this realm of time and space to be left behind?
(That seems more than humanly reasonable!) Or is it to expe- LEARN MORE
rience our ultimate encounter of oneness with our Heavenly
Nikolay Pandev/Gettyimages
The future God has planned for us is far

Father and Jesus Christ? greater than the common idea that we’ll go
Consider that early Christian believers were not just look- to heaven to sit on clouds playing harps for
ing for something to happen. They were waiting for Someone to all eternity. Download or request our free
arrive—to return! Think of making an airport pickup. Are you study guide Why Were You Born? to learn the
waiting at the airport just for a jet to arrive, or are you wait- astounding truth!
ing for someone to step off that jet? Imagine if it’s someone you BTmagazine.org/booklets
love and who loves you! You are there to see that person’s face,
LETTERS FROM
OUR READERS
Thanks for literature and publications Timothy, where we read: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplica-
tions, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
A big, big thank you for your amazing booklets and video teach-
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
ings. To be brief, our Father in heaven has been leading me for a few
peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
years now, responding to my prayers about being led to the narrow
Therefore, no matter who is the leader of any particular country, we
path. Your literature has helped me greatly to “put meat on the
teach that prayers are to be made to the Father in heaven for peace and
bones,” if you would excuse the phrase. I’m feeling so much more
for the opportunity to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. It's that
confident in my right relationship with Him, and also in sharing the
Kingdom we ultimately support. Of course, we share more common
gospel of truth. I’m so thankful.
ground with those who promote living in accordance with biblical laws
From the Internet
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I feel so blessed whenever Beyond Today magazine arrives, and “You may very well have saved our marriage”
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Beyond Today magazine has changed my way of thinking and my
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2018 issue on the topic of “A Lasting Marriage.” My wife and I have
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Subscriber in Hillcrest, South Africa not ready to give up! When I shared this article with my wife and we
Questions about the Trinity discussed our marriage further, we decided to stay together and put
in that work that you talk about. You may very well have saved our
Thank you for your excellent booklet Is God a Trinity? Do you have
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What do the
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9 “That Rock Was Christ”

13 How Does Christ’s Suffering

18 Yeast, Unleavened Bread

21 Easter: Why Shouldn’t We

24 Plagues on the Horizon?

The Greatest Scott Ashley

a few: that was remarkable enough in itself—but another, lesser-

Why Was It Necessary for Jesus Christ to Suffer?

“follow,” a better translation in the Hebrew name is commonly thought to

Many Scriptures Point to God as Israel’s “Rock”

relationships. and truth” (verses 1-14).

Yeast, Unleavened Bread and Pride

What Do You Think About Beyond Today? We’d Like to Know!

The Resurrection Connection Astarte figurines such as this are commonly

H ow did worship of an ancient god and goddess come to be associated

Plagues on the Horizon?

Brexit official; Britain and EU enter uncharted waters

Photos/illustrations, from left: Thierry Monasse/Polaris/Newscom; Viacheslav Besputin/iStock/Getty Images Plus

How can you make sense of the news?

“I Go to Prepare a Place for You”

The future God has planned for us is far

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