Informed Vigilance, the Price of True Freedom

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Informed Vigilance, the Price of True Freedom

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was established to counter the threat of terrorism and safeguard the freedoms enjoyed by America's citizens. Different levels of danger are posted periodically to inform U.S. citizens and urge them to remain vigilant and alert to potential dangers of terrorist attacks.

The Bible also warns all peoples of the need for vigilance to remain free from the influence and control of the world's master terrorist, Satan the devil.

The apostle Peter warns, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8, New Living Translation). The Greek word translated "stay alert" literally means to stay awake. The figurative meaning is to be alert or vigilant.

The Bible from Genesis to Revelation documents the ongoing attempts of this evil being to disrupt the plan of God, and the tragic results that he has wrought on mankind. So Paul warns us to be vigilant to interact with others in a caring way so that "… Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes " (2 Corinthians 2:11, New International Version).

These schemes include deception, doctrinal error, distraction, and division. Paul refers to Satan's weapons as "fiery darts" or "flaming arrows" (Ephesians 6:16) that inflict painful spiritual injuries including discouragement, despair, and doubt.

The good news is that the most important battle against Satan has already been won—by Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10-18). But since the devil is still the largely undetected "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), we should always remain vigilant until he is deposed at the return of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-20:3).

Christians of every generation have anxiously awaited Christ's triumphant return as the King of kings. Countless speculations have been made regarding the time of that momentous event. However, the Bible clearly admonishes us to remain vigilant and alert, because we cannot know the exact time of His return (Mark 13:33-35).

Vigilance is a major theme of the biblical Holy Days—particularly the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) observed this month by Jews and Christians around the world. These days were given to remind us to be watchful for the really important events in God's salvation plan.

Jewish worshipers consider the ten day period that is framed by and includes these two Holy Days as a time for self-examination and spiritual reflection.

Christians who observe these days do so as a reminder of two important future events in the plan of God (Colossians 2:16-17) that promise permanent freedom from Satan's deceptions to everyone. They understand that the prophetic focus of these two biblical Holy Days is on specific actions by Jesus Christ that will change the course of all human history.

The Feast of Trumpets is an annual reminder of the return of Jesus Christ and related events to occur at the prophesied seventh or "last" trumpet. It represents the time when "the dead in Christ" will be resurrected "to always be with the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This Holy Day also anticipates the occasion when " The kingdoms of this world [will] have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15).

The Day of Atonement, at the other end of this ten day period of spiritual reflection, symbolizes the putting away of Satan the devil and the ultimate atoning of all mankind. It also is the beginning of making all of the spiritually blinded people of the world fully aware of the forgiveness of sin that is available through Jesus Christ.

In English the word "atonement" is made up of three distinct parts joined together (at-one-ment) to convey the meaning of being reconciled. This day pictures the beginning of Jesus Christ's work, after He returns, to truly reconcile all of the peoples of the world both to God and to each other.

These two Holy Days, along with others mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, were observed by Jesus Christ, His apostles and the early Church. They truly are Christian Holy Days that richly enlighten God's faithful servants about the many important details in His salvation plan.