Some additional warnings regarding the future of America and the world

Warnings About America's Future: a

Supplemental to Last Week's Message

by Web pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

I have decided to write this week's commentary as a kind of addendum to my message from last week after getting an even stronger than usual response from my readers, and I humbly thank you all for that. For anyone who missed the posting, you can see it on Wordpress.com here or Google Blogger here. Hundreds of views, not counting hits of course, plus dozens of comments have compelled me to do a follow-up piece for this week in that same vein. One of the comments came from an acquaintance of mine who is also a Web pastor and street preacher. This gentleman referred me to a certain book in the Old Testament, but when I read it a while ago and contemplated it as I prayed about its suitability for God's purposes, I found myself turning just two pages further to the quote I'm going to use this week to give ample warning that the USA is in far more serious trouble than it collectively realizes, regardless of who is currently president.

There is one other thing that bears mentioning here before I get into the meat and potatoes of this week's commentary. Although the reaction to last week's post was positive by far, the negative responses fell into two categories – religious and patriotic. Some “Christian” responses were deeply critical of my alleged quoting of the Book of Revelation, calling it “out of context”, among other things. It never ceases to amaze me how well-meaning yet misguided religious people can be. Unfortunately, many of them are also mean and ill-tempered, which makes me wonder why they bother going to church to begin with. They sure as hell don't practice what they preach! A few other responses accused me of being unpatriotic at best and treasonous at worst, along with other things I can't print here. If you don't love America with no questions asked like they do, then they maintain there is something morally lacking about that individual. I, on the other hand, maintain it's the other way around.

So for this week, having put on my Armor of God (see Ephesians 6, verses 10-18) to shield me from the flaming arrows and words of those who are hostile to the authentic cause of Christ, allow me to present a few verses from the prophet Zephaniah. In Zephaniah 1:1, the author introduces himself as “Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.” Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to Zephaniah’s great-great grandfather, Hezekiah. So why stop with Hezekiah? Most likely, the prophet wanted to highlight his royal lineage as a descendant of one of Judah’s good kings. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when Zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. First, in 2:13 the prophet predicted the fall of Nineveh, an event which occurred in 612 BC. Further, Zephaniah made frequent quotations from the Law (for example, compare 1:13 to Deuteronomy 28:30, 39), a document that remained lost in Judah for much of Josiah’s reign. Therefore, Zephaniah more than likely prophesied in the latter part of Josiah’s rule, after the king discovered the scrolls of the Law in 622 BC (2 Chronicles 34:3–7). The first part of chapter 1 deals with the apostasy of and impending destruction of Judah, which is part of the nation of Israel today. But the following section of this small Old Testament book – it's just 3 chapters, about a 5 or 6 minute read – is the one that prophesy's about what it calls, “The Great Day of the Lord”. We can take this to mean something far off into the distant future, which would be our modern times since this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled.

The text I'm going to use for this week's commentary begins in chapter 1 and verse 14, and I quote: “The great day of the Lord is near – near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth. Gather together, gather together, oh shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of our Lord's wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.” (Zephaniah 1, verses 14-18; chapter 2, verses 1-3)

The first thing that needs to be pointed out here is that this passage is not directed only at individuals. God is not up in anybody's face accusing them because that's not how God works, although there are multitudes of 'religious' people who would love to have an opportunity to sway your opinions about that. One of the names that Satan goes by in the Bible is “the accuser of the brethren”, so it is for that reason that I do not believe this is directed at individual people, nor necessarily at groups of people. This is not directed at nationalities or ethnic groups either. This is directed at countries, or more accurately one particular country, the United States. Why do I think this? Hey, there are clues all over the place as to why this is so, so let me address these one at a time. But first comes a dire warning starting in verse 14. “The great day of the Lord is near – near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.” 'The shouting of the warrior' tells us that this “Great Day of the Lord” in the above passage has to do with a great military conquest, causing a bitter cry to come up out of the land that is conquered. This also tells us that only a portion of the populace will be wiped out by this calamity to make sure there are enough people for that bitter cry that is prophesied in this passage.

Then the prophecy gets very specific about what will happen on this 'day of the Lord': “That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.” It is conceivable that this could be a prophecy for some type of terrorist activity, but from the wording of Zephaniah's narrative the 'day of the Lord' appears to be a widespread event. Although the prophecy doesn't specify anything, it is evident when we read in between the words. A 'day of wrath' would be a day when Mother Nature, and God by extension, goes completely haywire. A mega-storm or typhoon, an exceptional tornado outbreak, an enormous earthquake or some other kind of natural disaster all come to mind. A killer impact from a comet or asteroid is another distinct possibility, and such things are predicted to occur in the second and fifth Trumpets in Revelation chapter 8. Moving along in Zephaniah verse 16, the “battle cry against the fortified cities” signifies an attack on a major military power. Since this prediction occurs in our time frame (I will finish proving this as I go along, so please stay with me), the “corner towers”, which once signified the outer fortifications of a city, could be roughly translated as 'tall towers', or today's skyscrapers.

“Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath.” Blood turning into dust is a reference to the book of Genesis. To find out more about the mention of human blood being “poured out like dust” please click here. For now, let's move on to the next phrase, “entrails...poured out like filth”. On the surface, this seems to be a metaphor for people being turned inside out, but it could also mean people being cooked from the inside out. In that event, their insides would be liquefied; not a pleasant thought, to say the least. There are only two things in existence that will do such a horrible thing – a thermonuclear explosion or microwave weapons. Nothing else I'm aware of would fill the bill, not in this case. The silver and gold hoarded by all these people will be worthless, since it will be melted in the nuclear blast or microwave attack along with everything and everybody else. So you can all forget about investing in gold or silver, and don't believe the sales pitches of the ubiquitous precious metals dealers either! They're all trying to milk you for a fast buck, which in itself is shortsighted since the US dollar is going to be devalued soon as well!

“In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.” The “fire of his jealousy” will consume the whole world! The “fire of his jealousy” will make manifest a “sudden end of all who live on the earth.” One of the names the Bible has for God is “a consuming fire”, something that dates back to the Book of Exodus, when the Israelite's followed a pillar of fire out of Egypt. But we're not wandering in the desert anymore, nor are we on our way out of Egypt. Moreover, of all the descendants of those ancient Israelis, over half of them live in the United States. So, although the “fire of His jealousy” will consume Israel, it will consume America as well since Israel's #1 ally is the USA. “....gather together, oh shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you....” “Shameful nation” is another major clue, since it alludes to a world power or super-power that wages war continuously and oppresses its people. Any American who does not think Americans are not oppressed by their government – constant surveillance, systemic corruption, economic inequality, abuse of authority at all levels, the abuse of our own children by brainwashing them with materialism – where have you all been? Wake up! Is it any wonder that God has such “fierce anger”?

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.” Seek the Lord, and him personally! This means we are charged with the responsibility of forming and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can't have a personal relationship with God, I don't think, but we can approach him through his Son. Do what Jesus commands; seek righteousness and humility. Wear them on your shirt sleeves right next to your heart. If we do all these things, loving the Lord our God “with all our mind and all our heart and all our strength” and “loving our neighbors as ourselves”, we just might stand a decent chance to escape the calamity to come. Will this calamity be a series of natural disasters and devastating wars? Yes, it will be both. Do I know when these things will occur? Absolutely not! But I'm certain that it will, and that's why I'm getting ready. Are you?

WARNING: THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS UPON US

This week's ongoing Biblical study will be part 2 of Luke chapter 24

All the Pieces Start Falling Into Place

[Luke chapter 24, verses 17-35]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Last week when we concluded our study, the apostle Luke was walking down the road with another of the Eleven, but Luke doesn't tell us who the second person was until further down in this week's lesson. This week as we take up where we left off, Jesus has caught up with the other men, but without being noticed at first. Since the two apostles were heavily involved in conversation, it must have been fairly easy for the Risen Savior to catch up with them. So this week as we begin our study, let's get started at verse 17.

“He asked them, 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?' They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?' 'What things?', he asked. 'About Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death,and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women have amazed us. They went to the tomb this morning, but did not find his body. They came and told us that they have seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.'” (Luke 24, verses 17-24)

So the first thing we notice is the apostles are oblivious to who Jesus is after having spent the previous 3 ½ years living and working with him. To paraphrase Cleopas in verse 18, “You must be the only person around here who doesn't know who Jesus was! They arrested our leader on some trumped-up charges and had him executed!” These people were far more than just disappointed; they were devastated at the loss of their Leader and Teacher, whom they were apparently misidentifying as being one of the major prophets in the footsteps of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah and the other major prophets of the Old Testament. They were despondent at the loss of Jesus. They had stood at a distance and watched him slowly die, and had gone home in despair (see part 4 of chapter 23 from 3 weeks ago), with the women sobbing uncontrollably. So it's clear that everyone involved with Jesus' life and ministry were still in a deep state of mourning as this conversation is taking place. Luke and the others were all just trudging along, speculating among themselves as to the fate of their Lord and Christ.

But then comes the second part of this conversation. “....some of our women have amazed us. They went to the tomb this morning, but did not find his body. They came and told us that they have seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.” Once again, to paraphrase Cleopas, “As if what we've experienced hasn't been bad enough, we just found out this morning that his body is missing. We're afraid the Romans or the chief priests had his body moved to an unmarked grave so no one can go and pay their respects or visit him there.” I can visualize poor brother Cleopas brushing a teardrop out of the corner of his eye as he related these things to an as-yet-unrecognized Christ. All they knew was that they didn't know what to think. It's at this point that Jesus begins to explain everything from the beginning, starting at verse 25.

“He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?' They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” (Luke 24, verses 25-35)

To paraphrase Jesus, “Don't you remember what you learned in school and from the man you call 'Jesus'”? What our Risen Lord and Savior did then was to give a long and highly detailed Bible lesson, which back then comprised what we now call the Old Testament. Contrary to popular belief, the Old Testament is not a primarily Jewish document as some have asserted, it is for everyone. It is impossible to have a good grasp of the teachings of Jesus without having read the Old Testament beforehand, since Jesus was Jewish by birth. Moreover, the Books of Revelation and Hebrews in the New Testament become unintelligible without at least a basic knowledge of the old one. I would give anything to have been able to walk along with Jesus, the two apostles and Cleophas and listen in on that conversation. Keep in mind that Emmaus, the village where they were going, was about 7 miles, or 12 kilometers, from Jerusalem. Assuming they are ambling along at a conversational walking speed of 3 MPH, that would add up to approximately 2 ½ hours of walking. More than two hours of teaching from the most qualified Bible teacher on the planet – Jesus Christ! What a lesson that must have been!

To paraphrase the apostle Luke and the others, “You've walked all this way with us, sir, so why spend the night alone and defenseless? Come and say with us!” Back in those days, it was common for travelers of little means to find a secluded place to spend the night out in the elements, or in a barn or similar structure in inclement weather. So we can see why the apostles insisted that Jesus spend the night on their 'couch', so to speak. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” Does anyone know why it was only at this point that everyone finally recognized Jesus? Although I can't say with 100% certainty, I think I know why. All these things took place in the Middle East, so people dressed in Middle Eastern flowing robes somewhat similar to what native Arabs wear today. Now hold that thought for a minute while I point out something about the crucifixion of our Lord and Kinsman Redeemer. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, the Roman soldiers did not drive the two upper nails into his hands – such as has been erroneously portrayed by mainstream Christianity – because those bones by themselves would not support the weight of an adult male. Those nails were driven into Jesus' outer arms just behind the wrist, right in between the two bones in his outer arms, so his body – and that of all the countless others that Rome crucified – would stay up on the cross until they died. (nice people!!)

So all this time that Luke, the other still-unnamed apostle and Cleophas had been with the Lord – several hours by now – the robes and other clothing that they wore covered up their arms all the way down to the wrist. But when Jesus took the bread and broke it, his hands were raised, the sleeves of his robe slid back, and those ugly holes in his wrists were seen by everyone. It was at that exact electrifying moment that the identity of our risen Lord was revealed, there was no more room for error. The fact that Jesus vanished into thin air immediately afterward was visual verification that he was surely the Son of God! “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” This single sentence right here could be an entire Sunday morning sermon, if only there were more pastors who had the internal fortitude to speak the truth! But what are we stuck with instead in way too many “Christian” churches? We have 'politically correct' pastors who are careful not to offend their congregations out of their out-of-proportion consideration for the church's bottom line. In other words, these reprobate 'pastors' are running their churches like businesses. Does anyone seriously believe that God will honor these reprobate pastors for their lives of service to Christ? On the contrary, every one of them is in danger of the eternal fires of hell!!

How about you? Do your hearts burn inside of you when you read these Bible studies I write? Not because anyone thinks I'm a good writer, although it's nice when people tell me that and I really appreciate it. But does the Word of God beckon your hearts toward Him? Does the love of Christ cause you to love him in return? Because for anyone for whom it does not yet beckon and call, or makes them feel called but not motivated to serve, those individuals know who they are, and that they have their work cut out for them, to see what is holding them back or dampening the fire in their hearts. Never forget that our eternal destinies are utterly dependent on whether of not we put our faith into action while we still – collectively and individually – have the chance to do so.

“There they found the Eleven and those with them assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and appeared to Simon.'” At last we know the identity of the second apostle that was walking down the road to Emmaus! It was Simon (see Luke 6, verses 13-16) It was not Simon who was known as Peter (roughly translated into English as “Rocky” or “Rocker”), who had visited the empty tomb alone earlier that morning (see last week's study), but Simon the Zealot! Simon was a devout Jew known for his enforcement of any and all non-kosher activity by the blade of a sword! Or, as we would say today, by the barrel of a gun. If you can imagine a gun-toting vigilante pastor or priest that always sided with the poor and oppressed, that is pretty close to what Simon the Zealot was like. So now you know how he got his nickname! I would also like to point out that the world needs a whole lot more Simon the Zealots out there, since we seem to be inundated with predators of all types these days. This is especially true for the ones who think they want to mess around with our children. Personally, I think it would make the police department's job a little easier.

“...the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” Here it is again, people. They recognized Jesus when he raised his hands to break bread. When he did so and his sleeves slid partway down his arms, the scars on his wrists became quite evident indeed. At this point there was no mistaking that the man seated at the dinner table with them was the risen Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus the Son of God! And then Jesus simply vanishes! To find out what happens next, come on back next week when we will conclude chapter 24.

Reasoned Musings: Why Is Jesus Delaying HIS Second Coming?

Reasoned Musings: Why Is Jesus Delaying HIS Second Coming?:             Would you agree with me that mentioning the word “delay” while discussing Christ’s second coming is tricky? “Delay” comes int...

A Reality Check For the Coming New Year, Just in Case You Haven't Been Paying Attention

A Warning From the Lord Regarding America's Future

If She Doesn't Change Her Ways

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

For my final posting for 2017, I'm going to pass along another warning from the Lord regarding the future of our country, or the future of the USA if the reader lives elsewhere. First, let me point out that prophecy doesn't mean being able to foretell the future. That's called divination, which is of the occult, which is essentially a form of Satanic worship. Prophecy, in the scriptural sense, simply means affirmatively declaring the Word of God, or of conveying the will of God and letting it be known with precision. For example, if I say, “Jesus will return next Christmas Eve”, that's a prediction of the future, and in this case a pretty bad one. But if I say, “Everyone act, think and live as if Jesus will return by next Christmas, for He will return at an hour when many do not expect him”, then I have prophesied the Word of God by allowing myself to be used as a vessel for God's Word to humankind, or as a conduit for God's awesome power (which is beyond all human imagination). And so allow me a few paragraphs and yourself several minutes to relate what I believe is this important Word from the Lord God Almighty through his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain and yet lives!

As it was in the times of the prophets of old, so it is today – “my people perish due to a lack of knowledge”. Everyone today seems filled with book knowledge, and yet can't perform basic life skills like preparing a budget, reading a local bus schedule or changing a flat tire. America's days as a superpower, both militarily and economically, are just about over. Do you not see what is happening all around you? Your government is printing money at maximum speed to keep your rigged capitalist economic system, a system based on indebtedness and greed that is a laughingstock both up in heaven and down in hell, from imploding. It is as plain and bright as the daytime sunshine God created that America's pyramid-schemed economic system has run its course. It will soon be exactly as it was written by my beloved son and apostle John, “In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen, I am not a widow, and I will never mourn'. Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning, and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry, 'Woe! Woe, oh great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!'” (Revelation chapter 18, verses 7-10)

A controversy has been raised for centuries regarding the identity of “Babylon, city of power” mentioned above. In times of old, most people of faith concluded that it was the Vatican. More recently, Islam has been declared the culprit, but I'm not sure that's the case either. Granted, the Islamic nations are mentioned in Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 as being in alliance with “the king of the north”, which likely includes Russia. So we can rule out the Catholic and Muslim faiths. Guess what modern country is left? Is there anyone who still doubts that this passage of Scripture was written about our country, the United States? Go back and read that again, or better yet, read Revelation chapter eighteen in its entirety, it's all right there in black and white. “In one hour her doom (will) come”....

The US is the world's biggest (by far) military power. We're also #1 globally in homicides, the production of pornography, first in the number of people in prison, and the only developed industrialized nation that withholds medical care and higher education from its population unless we pay exorbitant prices to obtain them. Never mind that medical care, together with higher education and internet access, are fundamental, basic human rights. When the government – any government – sins against its own people, it sins collectively against God! So how else is the US government sinning against God? Our dollar, or more accurately the rate they are being printed, makes a major currency devaluation likely, possibly even in the near future. This is particularly true if the abuses on Wall Street, as well as Washington, DC, continue unabated. This huge cover-up of the abuse of power will result in America's destruction unless it is all forcibly stopped immediately! If the US does not repent of these egregious sins and get its house in order, God will punish our country with more economic hardship, natural disasters and plagues than it has ever seen in her lifetime. I know there are those who will not take my warning seriously, but I remind you that the future of our country is at stake. I do not speak for myself, but I speak on the Lord's behalf through Christ Jesus his Son. He is the composer of this message; I'm just a courier of his.

We have taken the earth that God created and ruined it. Everything is polluted, even our own bodies. Oil residue still exists on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and western Florida more than 7 years after that oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico; the seafood (not OUR seafood, since it all belongs to God) is contaminated with mercury and hundreds of tons of scrap plastic; our livestock are catching deadly new strains of the flu, and our IQ's become ever more diminished due to ingesting fluoridated water for decades. Autism, once thought to have originated from childhood vaccines, is now being more correctly understood as having environmental rather than medical causes and origins. We're doing all this to ourselves. Humanity has collectively become suicidal, and we're taking the whole stinkin' planet with us on the way out. We have collectively become insane, and it's all because of a group of psychopaths that have hijacked the US for their own enrichment. Since it is ourselves, the bottom 99%, who are on the receiving end of all this abuse, we will have to band together to get out of this untenable situation. For some ideas on how you can peacefully fight back, get a copy of my book “Occupying America: We Shall Overcome” from this link.

Hard times are coming, of that we can all be sure. Wars threaten to break out everywhere we look. God has shown me that gas rationing and food rationing are both in America's future. Poverty will increase by leaps and bounds, creating a permanent underclass of Americans who will become the spearhead of a Second American Revolution. Civil unrest is definitely coming, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1960's. Rioting may occur in (hopefully) isolated areas, and people may have to stay barricaded in their homes and apartments for days and weeks at a time. With 70% of America's economy dependent on consumer spending, this is ominous to say the least. If and when the dollar collapses – a very real possibility – all these things will be much worse (God forbid). The Bible warns us that “a day is coming when no one will be able to work”. We have been taking our privileged lives for granted for too long. God is a patient and loving God who is slow to anger but swift and sure regarding his punishment for those who willfully disobey. When we take a look around us, we see our neighborhoods, subdivisions, schools, churches, businesses, and industries, and all the infrastructure associated with them. Yet God is warning you all that even the tallest tower – which here in Atlanta is just over 52 stories – will not be left standing upon the arrival of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. It is only then, when the arrival of Christ Jesus splits the Mount of Olives in two, that “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”. You children of his are all just about out of time.

A major 'thank-you' to all my friends, followers, contacts and book customers

I wish to take the time to stop and extend a huge 'thank-you' to everyone this year who had a part in the success of this ministry, which is partly on-line and partly out in the streets as an ambassador and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. As some of you know, this website and ministry are administered on a 100% voluntary basis. Aside from the sale of a few books here and there, I derive no salary from this Web based missionary work.

But some serious progress has been made this year, most of it recently. Progressive Christian Ministries of Greater Atlanta Inc. is now a 501c3 nonprofit, after spending most of this past year setting aside enough money for the filing fee, which is substantial. Also, we put out a call earlier this year for donations for a replacement computer. I am writing this message on that computer now, and a photo is just below. There is also a photo of all five of my published titles. These are reduced to $9.95, and they're tax deductible since we're a 501c3 nonprofit. All digital versions reduced to $3.99, they're also available in audio format!


This is the computer. It's an HP Pavilion G7, AMD A8 processor, 4GB ram, 750GB hard disk drive, 17" screen, Windows 7 SP1. Not bad for a $230.00 investment.

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 1 of Luke chapter 24

Where Did Jesus Go?

[Luke chapter 24, verses 1-16]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Last week as we left off at the conclusion of Luke chapter 23, Jesus had just died and been buried in a borrowed grave belonging to Joseph of Arimethia. Although no one saw the significance of this at the time, Jesus being laid in a borrowed grave for 3 days – since that was all he needed it for – confirms what Jesus said earlier in Luke's gospel. In Luke 14, verse 14 it reads, “Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous”. Jesus spoke of this as part of his 'parable of the great banquet'. For the full context, check out Luke chapter 14, verses 12-24. This week as we begin the 24^th and final chapter of Luke's gospel, we have a mystery on our hands. The grave that Jesus' body was entombed in has been found empty. Of course, we all know the story of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, but have you ever examined the details involved in this occurrence? Starting this week, and for the next 3 weeks afterward, we'll be doing exactly that as we delve into this week's lesson. So let's plunge right in to the refreshing waters of the Gospel of Luke chapter 24, beginning at verse one.

“On the first morning of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, when he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' And they remembered his words.” (Luke 24, verses 1-8)

So these women – Luke did not specify how many, but I would say roughly 5 or 10 – have gone to Jesus' borrowed tomb in the predawn hours of the morning to dress his body with spices to alleviate the stench of a decaying human body, as was the custom back in those days. It was the equivalent to modern-day embalming procedures. When they arrived, the large stone that blocked the tomb's entrance had been rolled off to one side. (This rock must have weighed at least 3-5 tons) The size of the tomb's entrance was roughly that of the interior of a minivan – just enough for two men in a crouched position to drag the body that Joseph had wrapped in the cloths (see Luke 23:53) into the cave. “....when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.” So these women are standing there speechless at the entrance to the tomb peering into an empty grave. They knew they didn't have the wrong grave site because they had followed Joseph and his helpers there after Jesus had been taken down from the cross on which he died.

“ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground....” As these ladies are standing there, presumably with their facial expressions ranging from puzzled to bewildered, the 2 men in shining clothes abruptly appear. Who were these men? Some say the archangels Michael and Gabriel, others teach it was Moses and Elijah. The truth of the matter is that nobody knows, and anyone who insists that they do should be avoided. One thing is for certain – the 2 men were not demonic in nature. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen!” Now I ask you, would demons be overjoyed at our risen Savior and for the fulfillment of Scripture and of the prophets? No way! Demons know Jesus rose from the dead, and the very thought puts terror in their hearts.

“Remember how he told you, when he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' And they remembered his words.” All the times Jesus had told his followers and taught his apostles that he must be handed over to be killed, and then rise from the dead, they must have thought Jesus was talking to them in parables like all the other parables he had spoken. They could not have understood he meant what he said literally. But they definitely understood clearly now. With that in mind, let's move on to the 2^nd half of Luke 24 starting at verse 9.

“When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of cloth lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24, verses 9-16)

So the women, who the apostle Luke already stated had accompanied Jesus and the Eleven from Galilee to Jerusalem, and to the crucifixion, are making their way back to tell the others as quickly as they can run. I can almost hear them saying, “This is so unreal”, or, “I can't believe what we just saw”, or, “If Jesus isn't there, then where is he?”, and so on. But when the apostles first heard the news, they didn't believe the women, and even ridiculed them. All except for Peter, who had denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed back in chapter 22. Although I cannot say for sure, Peter's motivation to go and see the opened tomb was – in his mind – his own second chance at redemption before Christ.

“Bending over, he saw the strips of cloth lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus....” So now it's Peter's turn to go back to Jerusalem muttering to himself, since he had no one to accompany him like the ladies did. In the following verse, the “two of them” walking together were most likely Luke and either James or John. Since the apostle Luke is the writer, we can presume he was one of the individuals in his narrative since it it written in the 'first person'. It is at this point that Jesus catches up to them as they are walking along the road. The Bible reads, “Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” It doesn't say how this happened, whether this inability to recognize our Risen Savior was Spiritual in nature, or whether Jesus was wearing some sort of hooded garb like Obi-wan Kenobi in the movie “Star Wars”. At any rate, at this point is the best place to leave off for this week's study. It is just after this point that the conversation between the two apostles and the as-yet-unrecognized risen Lord Jesus Christ begins. So until then, I hope everybody had a tremendous Christmas this year, and mine was just fine. I spent the day with the Lord!