Table of Contents

Beyond Today: A World Embracing Evil

A World Embracing Evil

Have the Ancient Gods Returned?

How Evil Will Be Ended

Are We Underestimating Our Need to Resist Satan?

Seven Counterfeit Values Ensnaring Society

Hope When All Seems Hopeless

Pentecost and the Promise of the Father

America’s Military in Crisis

Current Events and Trends: May/June 2023

More Proof of the Bible: Mount Ebal Discoveries

Follow Me: “Deliver Us From the Evil One”

Follow Me: “Deliver Us From the Evil One”

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Beyond Today: A World Embracing Evil

The Unseen “God of This Age”

God gives us the knowledge and help we need to resist Satan in every way.

by Scott Ashley

As shown in the articles in this issue—and as is evident from the news headlines every day—great evil is at work in our world. But few understand the source of that evil, and how great and how dangerous it really is.

As I write these words my heart is broken over yet another mass murder in a school. A mentally deranged 28-year-old woman—who recently started identifying as a man—shot her way through locked doors at a private Christian elementary school and then gunned down three nine-year-old schoolchildren and three adult staff before being herself killed by responding police.

It’s another sad footnote in the story of a culture and society that has tragically and horrifyingly lost its way.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this happened on the same day results of a national poll were released showing the percentage of Americans who said religion was “very important” to them had plunged to only 39 percent over the last 25 years—a shocking drop of 23 points. This kind and rate of change is unprecedented.

The reality is that we’re seeing things that defy physical understanding. The only way to begin to truly understand is to realize we’re dealing with a different reality—a spiritual reality. And the only truly accurate source of information about that spiritual reality is from the true God—His Word, the Holy Bible. Here we find information we could learn of in no other way.

God’s Word reveals the source of the evil so prevalent in our world. That source is a powerful spirit being—a kind of super-angel—who once served God but rebelled and now hates God and everything He stands for. The Bible refers to this being as Satan the devil, words that mean “enemy” or “adversary” and “slanderer.” The apostle Peter calls him “your enemy the devil” (1 Peter 5:8, New International Version, emphasis added throughout). The Bible reveals that these words describe him well. That’s what he is, and that’s what he does.

Jesus Christ referred to this being as “a murderer from the beginning” and “the father of [lies]” (John 8:44). If you believe Jesus is real, you must believe Satan is also real because Jesus repeatedly affirms his existence!

The Bible clearly shows that our cultures and societies are powerfully influenced by Satan. The apostle John writes that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). Every human civilization has been seduced by this evil being’s insidious lies and deception. The tragic result has been thousands of years of misery and suffering.

Satan’s deception is so pervasive that the Bible calls him “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). In the original Greek wording here, the apostle Paul identifies him as the theos—the god, the one who is worshiped—of this aeon, this age, this era in mankind’s history. Jesus himself calls Satan “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).

Consider what this reveals about Satan’s influence—that most of humanity unwittingly follows and worships the devil as its god. Most assume much of humanity worships the God of the Bible. But God Himself clearly tells us that’s not true, that mankind as a whole follows in the footsteps of a different god—a lying and deceptive god!

That is the astounding truth revealed in God’s Word, a fact we ignore at our peril! Some of that worship is increasingly out in the open, as shown in this issue’s first article. Some is much more subtle, as shown in the next article.

Understanding these sobering truths explains so much of what is so terribly wrong with our world. Paul explained that, because of Satan’s unseen grip on mankind, most people fail to understand or accept the truth of the Bible. They do not understand or believe the gospel—the wonderful good news—of God’s incredible plan for mankind. As Paul put it, “. . . The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 4:4, New Revised Standard Version).

But the true followers of God are never without hope, “because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God gives us the knowledge and help we need to resist Satan in every way. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” He tells us. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7).

Arm yourself with the knowledge of your enemy revealed in this issue and stand against him with God’s help. Nothing could be more important!

A World Embracing Evil

Our world is changing before our eyes in frightening ways. What’s behind the bizarre things we are seeing, and what can we do about them?

by Scott Ashley

The scene looked like some nightmarish vision straight out of the book of Revelation. A fiery structure appeared, clearly modeled after common depictions of the Tower of Babel. This was followed by a giant, hellish, smoke-shrouded beast in the form of a bull. With its red eyes glowing, the mechanical monster was first pulled with chains by what appeared to be dozens of enslaved women led by a man clad in what appeared to be Roman military armor.

Several young women then submissively approached the glowing beast, followed soon after by the formerly “enslaved” women and dozens more young men and women, who then bowed and prostrated themselves in a form of “worship” toward this beast. Flags of dozens of nations were then brought before the beast and set up before it. A spotlit woman emerged and symbolically “rode” the beast; then most of those who had bowed before the beast approached the Tower of Babel structure and entered it as it grew in height.

Other apocalyptic imagery was worked into the bizarre scene, along with seemingly supernatural “signs and wonders” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9).

The setting, strangely enough, was last summer’s opening ceremony of the international Commonwealth Games (for nations in the Commonwealth of Nations) in Birmingham, England. Many millions of people, represented by the 72 nations and territories participating, were watching.

The Beast, Babylon and Bible prophecy

Readers of the book of Revelation may instantly recognize some key symbolism: “So [the angel] carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy . . . And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement” (Revelation 17:3-6).

And: “. . . They worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies . . . Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God . . . It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:4-8).

Babylon is also repeatedly mentioned in the book of Revelation. Notice: “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’” (Revelation 14:8).

“And [the angel] cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.’

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities’” (Revelation 18:2-5; see also 16:19; 18:1-2, 10, 21; 19:1).

What in the world is this all about? There’s much more.

The Grammys—entertainment from hell

Most people are aware that the music industry is a cesspool of perversion. But this year’s widely televised annual Grammy awards, supposedly celebrating the best in the year’s music, managed to plunge to new depths. Depths of exactly what is hard to describe.

One couldn’t ask for a stranger pairing than the winners of the award for best pop duo/group performance than Sam Smith and Kim Petras. Smith is a former avowed homosexual who now claims to be “genderqueer”—neither male nor female. Petras was born male but has undergone surgical and chemical treatment to appear female.

Together they performed their Grammy-winning song titled, appropriately enough, “Unholy.” Smith was dressed in an all-red outfit, appearing like common depictions of the devil. Petras wore a red miniskirt while dancing and singing inside a cage. Smith was surrounded by crimson-clad dancers of indeterminate sex who at times bowed and appeared to worship him.

Both were bathed in red spotlights during the performance. Red lights flashed around the auditorium. At the back of the stage flames burned, sometimes erupting many feet into the air. The imagery was clearly designed to convey some kind of demonic hell.

The evening also featured a blasphemous depiction of performers, all dressed in black, parodying Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Last Supper” painting.

This, too, is only scratching the surface. In New York City, a statue was recently erected to honor the late U.S. Supreme Court associate justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her longstanding crusade for abortion rights. (Normally statues are erected for individuals who have done great things for others, but apparently now statues are in order for those who paved the way for the murder of millions of innocent unborn children.) But rather than depicting Ginsburg realistically, the seemingly demonic statue had gigantic curled horns emerging from her head and multiple tentacles growing where her arms should be.

And around the time this issue will be mailed, Boston will be hosting what’s billed as “the largest Satanic gathering in history,” where participants can attend a number of Satan-themed presentations, discussions and social events. Meanwhile, after school “Satan clubs” are springing up in schools across the United States.

Again, what in the world is going on?

A world becoming unrecognizable

Our world is rapidly becoming unrecognizable. It seems to be growing insane. Think back to just a few years ago and compare everyday life then to our world today. The differences are staggering. It seems the world has taken a U-turn into dark days and will never be the same again.

In the United States, the Covid epidemic saw churches and synagogues closed by government edict while strip clubs, liquor stores and marijuana shops were allowed to stay open. We now know that various government branches and health agencies conspired with mainstream media, major social media companies and big tech to censor news unfavorable to the government-approved narrative about Covid.

Millions of people were forced to be vaccinated or lose their jobs and livelihood. Citizens were encouraged to inform on neighbors who didn’t follow lockdown orders. In some cases protestors against such actions had their bank accounts frozen. Some banks blacklisted or dropped companies whose political views didn’t align with theirs. Jails and prisons were emptied, supposedly to prevent the spread of Covid. “Defund the police” movements grew, as did the number of prosecutors who refuse to prosecute criminals but will prosecute citizens who defend themselves and their loved ones.

And the transgender madness continued to explode. Men and teenage boys who claimed to be women began to dominate a number of women’s sports, while those who protested were denounced as bigoted and hateful. Hospitals, drug companies and doctors discovered big money can be made in mutilating the genitals of children and dosing them with harmful, life-altering chemicals.

In a supreme irony, on International Women’s Day the Biden administration honored a biological man with an International Woman of Courage Award at the White House in a clear promotion of the transgender agenda, which denies the biological reality of male and female genders.

What does all this have in common?

What does all this mean? What does it have in common? What pattern or plan is at work before our eyes?

The answer is evident only when we have a perspective and worldview rooted and grounded in God’s Word. And the answer is simple: The world is embracing evil.

We see it all around us, as in the examples above. And powerful forces are behind it—governments at all levels, judicial systems, educational institutions, popular entertainment of every kind, a dominant and purposefully deceitful mass media, and yes, even religion.

In 1962 the U.S. Supreme Court banned prayer in public schools. It then banned Bible reading in public schools the following year. In 1973 it struck down restrictions on abortion, legalizing the murder of the unborn throughout the nation. In 2005 it banned display of the Ten Commandments in courthouses. In 2015 it essentially abolished biblical marriage by legalizing marriage between homosexuals.

With God and His Word systematically driven from public life, what should we expect to happen?

The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome, described what happens in a society that willfully rejects the knowledge of God:

“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.

“They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too” (Romans 1:28-32, New Living Translation).

Sadly, this is increasingly a perfect description of Western society. It describes a culture that rejects God and willingly embraces evil.

In his 1796 farewell address, George Washington prophetically said of American society and culture, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” We are now seeing the breakdown of society when its foundations—religion and morality—are removed. The nation faces doom.

Another dimension at work

But that’s not the whole story. Another dimension is at work—a very real but unseen spiritual dimension.

The biblical book of Revelation contains many sobering prophecies, some noted above. But one of the most sobering reveals that in the time of the end, shortly before Jesus Christ’s return, Satan the devil will be “cast down” to earth. The results will be horrifying.

God warns: “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12). In the ensuing devastation described in the surrounding chapters, literally billions of people will perish in earth-shattering catastrophes.

Are we seeing a foretaste of this time of Satan’s wrath in our headlines today? Are Satan and his demons no longer hiding their presence, as shown in the examples mentioned above, and coming out in the open?

God’s servants are not to be fearful or overly anxious about such demonic influence directly affecting them (though it powerfully affects the world around us). Evil spirits are fewer in number and inferior in power to God’s faithful angels, who are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Christians can and should be confident because “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

A strong mind spiritually attuned to God’s way of life is the best way to resist demonic influence and the growing evil of the world around us. Faithful servants of God are to be filled with God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), enabling them to resist such influence, causing evil spirits to flee (James 4:7). After all, God is the ultimate source of power.

As the world around us increasingly embraces evil, we must resist all forms of evil and embrace our loving God. This is the way to avoid the worst of the horrifying times coming on the world for its rebellion against God—catastrophic events foretold to happen in the end times leading up to Christ’s return!

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Where and How Did Satan and Evil Originate?

To understand the spiritual dimension that increasingly affects what’s going on in society today and the reason for the evils growing around us, we must go far back in time—to before humankind existed. Genesis 1:1 tells us that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Job 38:7 further tells us that at this time “all the angels shouted for joy” (New International Version).

The angels—spirit beings God had created—already existed when God made the earth. Sometime after this, however, the situation dramatically changed. Genesis 1:2 tells us that “the earth was without form, and void.” This English translation doesn’t adequately convey the meaning of the original Hebrew. The words tohu and bohu, translated “without form” and “void,” are better translated “waste and void” (Young’s Literal Translation).

The Hebrew word hayah, translated here as “was,” can also be translated “became,”as it is appears in Genesis 2:7 and 19:26. The earth was not created waste and void but became that way at some point after its creation.

God created the earth in such beauty that the angels were overjoyed. But something brought it to a condition of devastation and waste. God then reshaped it, forming it into a beautiful home for the first man and woman as recorded in the remainder of Genesis 1. But the Genesis account does not tell us the entire story.

God elsewhere gives us additional details of what brought on this condition of destruction and waste. In 2 Peter 2:4 we read that “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but thrust them down into Tartarus [a place or condition of restraint], and delivered them into chains of darkness, being reserved for judgment” (Modern King James Version). When did these particular angels sin, and what was their sin?

The short answer is that they rebelled against their Maker!

The first war

In Isaiah 14 we find more information. This chapter describes this angelic rebellion and its ringleader. It gives us many important details we could learn of in no other way.

In verse 4 God addresses the “king of Babylon.” In Isaiah’s time the city-state of Babylon was emerging as the major power in that region. Its warmongering king plundered and enslaved the nations around him, acquiring wealth and power through violence. This king of Babylon exemplified Satan and his characteristics.

In verse 12 the subject shifts from this physical king to another powerful being, here translated “Lucifer.“  The original Hebrew word for this being—used only this one time in the Bible—is Heylel, which apparently means “brightness” or “shining one.”

God then addresses this being, saying: “You have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God . . . I will be like the Most High’“ (verses 12-14, emphasis added throughout).

Who is this being who dared to challenge God Himself?

In Ezekiel 28 God gives us the answer. This chapter is written much like Isaiah 14. God begins by discussing a human ruler, then shifts to the spiritual power behind the earthly throne (compare Luke 4:5-7).

In Ezekiel 28:2 God addresses the “prince of Tyre,” a famous port trading center whose rulers had grown haughty because of their power. In verses 6-10 God tells this ruler that his might would fail and he would be overthrown. But in verse 12 God begins to address “the king of Tyre” rather than the prince. This being is the true ruler, the real power behind the throne.

God’s description of this “king of Tyre” makes it clear that He is speaking to no physical human being. “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God . . .” (verses 12-13).

No mortal human being could accurately be described this way. This being was created(verse 13)—unlike human beings who are born. This being had also been “in Eden, the garden of God.” Other than Adam and Eve, no people had been in Eden.

In the next verse God mentions some of the history of this being. “You were the anointed cherub who covers” (Ezekiel 28:14).

Fall of a superangel

What does this statement mean? What is a “cherub who covers”?

Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the tabernacle Israel constructed in the wilderness was “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (NIV). In Exodus 25:18-20 God instructed the Israelites to make a representation—a physical model—of His heavenly throne for the tabernacle. At either side of the “mercy seat,” which represented God’s throne, was a golden cherub with wings extended to cover the mercy seat. These two cherubim represented real angelic beings—great superangels whose wings cover God’s throne.

The being God addressed through Ezekiel is called the “cherub who covers,” indicating that he had once been one of the great angels depicted in the model of God’s throne. Many other scriptures say God “dwells between the cherubim,” showing that these wondrous creatures accompany and serve Him (1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Psalm 80:1; Isaiah 37:16). This magnificent being apparently held a position of great honor and distinction in God’s angelic realm.

God also says to this cherub: “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you . . . you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub” (Ezekiel 28:15-16, NIV). This once-marvelous being sinned and was expelled from God’s throne, cast away in disgrace.

What had been an amazingly beautiful, immensely talented spirit being became, through his rebellion, a reprehensible, despicable creature. He became Satan—the adversary, slanderer, accuser and destroyer. He became the devil—the enemy of God and humanity!

The immense powers he had used in God’s service were turned to thwart God’s purposes. Now his powers are used for wicked, destructive ends!

And he was not alone in this rebellion. Millions of other angels joined him in rejecting God’s authority and leadership. We find this symbolically described in Revelation 12:3-4: “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon . . . His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth . . .” Verse 9 identifies this dragon as Satan. The Bible uses stars as a symbol for angels (Revelation 1:20). This indicates that a third of the angels followed Satan in this rebellion.

The Bible refers to these rebellious angels as demons or evil spirits. They are fallen angels—who had plummeted from their purpose of serving God and humanity (Hebrews 1:13-14), reduced to hatred and bitterness toward God and His holy purpose for mankind.

Have the Ancient Gods Returned?

A recent book puts forth an intriguing idea that the ancient gods of the pagan world have returned to haunt our modern societies. Have the pagan deities returned? Or could it be something else, something most do not understand?

by Darris McNeely

I have just returned from my third trip to Turkey, ancient Asia Minor, in two years. Teaching the books of Acts and Revelation at the college level sharpens the interest in the events that took place there.

The more I visit, the more I learn and the more I want to dig deeper to understand what God is saying to His Church for today. I believe the book of Revelation holds the key for today’s Church to survive the open spiritual warfare from the demonic world. The evidence of demonic influence on existing culture is clear and unmistakable. You do not have to look further than the writings of prominent social observers to see the alarm some feel.

The absence of God’s protection

Writer Naomi Wolf recently discussed this topic, prompted by several overt displays of pagan occultism. Among them was the recent Grammy Awards ceremony in the United States where entertainer Sam Smith performed a musical piece titled “Unholy,” with its satanic imagery bathed in lurid red light. In 2022 a terrifying animated bull figure with glowing red eyes was bowed down to by scantily dressed male and female dancers at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham, England. And then there’s “Satan Con,” billed as “A weekend of blasphemy” and “the largest satanic gathering in history,” in Boston.

In a lengthy but perceptive article about the emergence and acceptance of pure evil dressed in progressive clothing, Dr. Wolf rightly states: “. . . that this—the absence of the protection of our God—the ascendancy of a realm on Earth of us doing it all ourselves; regarding ourselves; worshiping ourselves, whoring after only human works; releasing ourselves from all lawful constraints, embracing all lusts and all obedience to non-divine authorities; rejecting mercy; celebrating all narcissisms; treating children like animals whom we own, treating the family like a battlefield; treating the Churches and Synagogues as marketing platforms—this is, indeed what the realms of pagan darkness; or of Principalities and Powers—look like” (“Have the Ancient Gods Returned?” Brownstone Institute, Feb. 23, 2023).

The gods return?

Dr. Wolf’s article was in part motivated by a recent book by Jonathan Cahn, whose writing usually stirs interest as he connects current events to Bible prophecies. His latest book, The Return of the Gods, puts forth the idea that the ancient gods like Baal, Molech and Artemis, among others, have returned in recent years and are behind current evils becoming public policy in many states.

The hard-core abortion activists who want to permit the taking of a baby’s life up to the point of or even after it exits the womb of its mother is one. Another is the policy in the state of Minnesota announcing it’s a “safe haven” for young people wanting to undergo gender transition, even if opposed by a parent.

Legislation supporting such acts goes against every norm of a sane society desiring to preserve its children and future. Yet this is a growing trend. Cahn attributes these changes in society to the unleashing of the ancient pagan gods who have “returned” to popularity within these evil manifestations.

I think Cahn makes a compelling case, which appeals to Dr. Wolf and other observers. But while compelling, it’s not the whole story. I will explain why in a moment.

Why the message in Revelation is important

Visiting the sites of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 has led me to look deeply into the message Christ gave to them. Members of the Church of God living in these cities were surrounded by a thoroughly pagan world where false gods like Zeus, Apollo and Artemis were worshiped in temples and all areas of public life.

It’s hard for our modern minds to grasp how deeply ingrained into the life of each man and woman was worship of gods “which are not gods” (Jeremiah 2:11). A person’s job depended on allegiance to whatever deity was the god of your craft. You were expected to honor that god by attending banquets in that god’s temple, dining on food offered in sacrifice to the god. To not do this could deprive you of your livelihood and social standing. A Christian could not do this without violating God’s commandments.

Two of these congregations listed in Revelation 2 and 3 existed in cities where these gods held particularly high status. When Christ addressed the members in the city of Pergamos, He told them their city was “where Satan dwells” and that the city held “Satan’s throne” (Revelation 2:13).

Pergamos sat at the base of a high hill overlooking a broad plain. Several temples atop the hill might be identified as “Satan’s throne,” but one in particular stands out. The Altar of Zeus was a large altar/temple, the largest in the ancient world. Now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, its appearance makes it easy to imagine Satan sitting enthroned and worshiped by the people bringing offerings to the chief god, Zeus. Being told you live “where Satan dwells” would have been shocking to the Church members there.

Satan does have a realm. Scripture calls him “the ruler of this world” and “the god of this age” (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan offered to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would only bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-9).

Another of the seven churches of Revelation was in Ephesus, home to one of the wonders of the ancient world, the great temple of Artemis (also known as Diana). The site of the temple is today a pile of stones and a reconstructed pillar. In the first century world, though, it held the attention of the city and region.

Artemis was a goddess of nature and the hunt. She acquired a fertility role from the older Asian goddess Cybele. Cybele had as priests and attendants to her worship men known as galli, men who emasculated themselves and dressed and acted as females—an early transgender practice—as part of the rituals honoring the goddess.

This practice continued into the time of the first century. When you consider the ministry of the apostle Paul in Ephesus over a three-year period, you get a clearer picture of what he worked against and the culture Christians had to deal with. Today’s transgender culture is a mirror of many aspects of that world where the gospel of Christ first prevailed against lifeless paganism.

The message of Revelation is meant to give us encouragement today in the face of an increasingly idolatrous world engrossed with the culture of self—and now with an added spiritual dimension of outright satanic adoration and twisted demonic ideas and behavior intended to distort every norm of human behavior. The structure of the family is being attacked at every level. The idea of gender and the very nature of humanity is being mutilated as part of deliberate public policy.

What we are seeing is not the return of the ancient pagan gods. Those gods have been here all along. What is new is that they are emerging from behind the facade of false religion, which has carried them from the ancient to the modern world.

Demons behind the idols

The Bible clearly tells us that behind every idol and false god is a demon seeking to be worshiped. Notice these scriptures. Speaking of Israel, God said: “They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear” (Deuteronomy 32:16-17; see also Leviticus 17:7; Psalm 106:37).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, living in a city full of temples and idolatry, describing the vain worship there: “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons” (1 Corinthians 10:20).

The idols and temples in ancient times may have represented an Artemis, Zeus or Athena. But the real objects of worship were fallen demons of the spirit realm—the powers of darkness, the unseen rulers and influencers of civilization and culture.

To truly understand the course of world history, we need to recognize that a being described as “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) governs and shapes the way of life of human society in resisting the ways of God. Paul told the Ephesians that they “once walked” along Satan’s path in their pre-Christian life (Ephesians 2:2). Paul made great strides against this satanic culture. Over his three years in Ephesus his preaching and teaching resulted in the word of the Lord growing mightily and prevailing (Acts 19:20).

But church history clearly shows the gods never went away. They got themselves baptized! They transformed the teaching of truth amid the early Church. Worship of God on the Sabbath was changed to Sunday, the day of the sun god. The pagan holidays at the roots of Easter and Christmas in time replaced the biblical festivals God had revealed. One by one the foundational truths taught by Christ and the apostles were replaced by “destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1) and “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

The picture of the church that emerges after the first century period looks nothing like the Church originally founded by Jesus Christ. Idols, icons and saints were worshiped instead of the true God. The Christianity of later history along with other false religious systems became the hiding place for the ancient pagan gods. We are seeing them more overtly emerging now as our world is forgetting God.

We have forgotten God

Recent decades have seen a steady diminishing of a Bible-based morality, ethic and way of life among the Western nations. Many secular prophets have warned through the years that people were turning from God and that His Word, the Bible, was no longer a vital part of the foundation.

Among these was Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer who said, when speaking of the travails of his own Russia languishing in the death camp called communism, “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.” Indeed, this is what has happened in America and the English-speaking world as well. The current explosion of satanic, pagan worship is the result.

When a beastlike power rose out of Europe in 1914 spewing war across the continent, leading to the collapse of empires, followed a generation later by another world war and the death of millions by bloodshed, famine, pestilence and holocaust, it was because men had forgotten God.

When the subsequent prosperous world removed God from the public square by judicial fiat, it was because men were not thankful to God. When legalized abortion led to the murder of millions of unborn children and a generation desensitized to rejecting the sanctity of life, it was because, in the words of Romans 1, their foolish hearts were darkened. When the nature of marriage between a man and a woman was legally changed to approve same-sex marriage, it was because men were full of lust and uncleanness. When the sexual gender of man and woman was trampled and thrown aside, it was because the truth of God has been exchanged for a lie.

Forgetting God has resulted in a debased culture He describes as full of “all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness . . . envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful” (Romans 1:29-31). The resulting culture of death awaits the judgment of God.

We have come to a stage in this progression of evil where it seems the gods who have always been there, hiding in the Western world behind a veil of false religion claiming to come in the name of Jesus Christ with its doctrine of demons and plain idolatry, have now emerged. We are watching demonic influence in the popular culture.

The ancient gods have not “returned”—they have always been here, but held at bay through the purpose and power of God. As we have turned our back on God, their influence has grown bolder. We have crossed a threshold into a new period of experience. It appears there is no going back to the world we knew. We are in a spiritual war, and Jesus Christ calls each of us to face the battle of the ages, standing firm with the armor of God!

How Evil Will Be Ended

Though evil permeates our world, we look forward in hope—to a future day when evil will be gone at last!

by James Ginn

Today’s world is totally entrenched in evil! A suffocating shroud of evils—some known and others unknown—surrounds us. Some we’ve experienced personally. Others we take in through the kaleidoscope of screens—smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs—enveloping our increasingly chaotic lives.

But imagine if these evils did not exist. What would the world look like? It may be a difficult concept to grasp against the murk of this present age, yet a time is coming when evil will no longer permeate our planet. But how will that happen?

Understanding good and evil

To understand how evil will ultimately be removed, we need to understand what evil is. People often think it’s subjective, based on one’s own desires and experiences. But evil can never be ended with that as the framework. Rather, an abundant life free from evil requires allowing the Creator God to define good and evil.

Evil is a concept introduced to humankind when first created in the Garden of Eden—the roots going back even further to a rebellious angel who became known as Satan.

The first human beings Adam and Eve had the opportunity to live eternally without the consequences of evil, but they had to make a choice. They could accept the ways God taught them and partake of the tree of life, or they could take from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, effectively defining good and evil for themselves. With the deceitful and cunning enticement of Satan as the serpent in the garden, our first human parents took from the latter, placing their own judgment ahead of their Creator’s (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:4-7).

Despite this disastrous early attempt at man-made morality, God’s Word is clear about good and evil. In 1 Timothy 1:8 and Romans 7:12, God inspired the apostle Paul to state that the law of God is good. At the heart of this law is love—outgoing concern toward others (Romans 13:10; 1 John 5:3). On the other hand, lawlessness, or acting contrary to God’s law—exalting self above God and others—is synonymous with evil.

Furthermore, “lawlessness” is the definition of “sin” (1 John 3:4). Thus, evil is synonymous with sin. And Paul explains that the penalty for sin is death, the opposite of God’s gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

We can see the choice between these two ways and their outcomes in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, where God encourages us to choose life. The blessings of this result come through obeying God’s commandments. Conversely, disobeying God is defined as choosing evil and death, the penalty for sin or lawlessness.

Evil, then, is the choice of following our own version of morality contrary to God’s law, with the consequences of curses and death (see Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).

The instigator of evil ruling this world

If evil is to be ended, it is also necessary to identify and eliminate its promotion. Of course, we know that it was the serpent who originally persuaded humankind to take an evil path. Satan became “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He’s called the evil one, and the whole world lies within his power (1 John 5:18-19, Moffatt Translation).

He’s further called “the tempter” (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). He promotes and broadcasts his version of selfish morality or evil to hearts and minds, being known as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). So it’s no wonder we are now surrounded by evil on every side.

For evil to be ended, its promoter and instigator must be stopped—so that his impact on people and society can be turned around.

Something is obviously wrong with our society. In a recent survey on the “problem of evil,” 69 percent of adults surveyed indicated they believed that “suffering is mostly a result of the way society is structured” (Pew Research Center, Nov. 23, 2021). Society is certainly distorted, but why?

Many see people as inherently good with societal factors leading to problems. But the rot in human society begins in the human heart, which is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), all having been corrupted by Satan—with the problems magnified through his misleading of society as the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

The dawning of a new age

Ultimately, to remove evil, the evil ruler of this world must be cast out, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ tells us will happen (John 12:31). We are assured of a future in which “the great dragon . . . that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” will be cast out along with his angels, the demons (Revelation 12:9).

We are further informed that we can overcome the penalty for following him and his ways now by the “blood of the Lamb,” a reference to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who gave His life to reconcile us to God, and then living by the truth and total commitment (verse 11). As the story continues, we see Satan at last locked away for 1,000 years so he can “deceive the nations no more” (Revelation 20:1-3). This will come at the return of Jesus Christ to rule the world.

Those from throughout time who have rejected Satan’s customs, opting instead to accept the sacrifice of Jesus while striving to follow God’s law with the aid of God’s Spirit, will be resurrected to join the returning Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 11:15). These will take part in the wedding supper mentioned in Revelation 19 and will be at Christ’s side as a new world is constructed to replace the evil society built by Satan (Revelation 20:4-6).

The new era will flourish with blessings and life. This will happen because God “will teach us His ways” and His “law shall go forth” from Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-2). Suffering from evil will cease, and an almost unimaginable utopian world absent the familiar ferocity of wickedness will emerge as the earth becomes “full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Christ and His resurrected followers will work with humanity for 1,000 years, fashioning the society broken by Satan into a paradise free from the clutches of evil. Those obedient to God’s law will have access to the power of His Holy Spirit to help overcome evil and will gain the potential to become members of God’s very family (John 14:26; Acts 5:32; Romans 8:9-19). This internal change of heart and mind is needed to bring peace and happiness to society. Humanity will finally have an opportunity to see God’s way of life at work.

Yet, as did Adam and Eve, we all must choose whether to follow God or turn to evil. At the end of the 1,000-year period or Millennium, Satan will be released for a final time (Revelation 20:7). Sadly, even though people will have witnessed a glorious, evil-free age, the devil will once again goad some to fallacy and rebellion.

Some of those who will have never experienced the dreadful and unforeseen consequences of evil will be tempted by the intoxicating delusion that they can choose what is right and wrong better than their Creator (verses 8-9). Fire will consume these enemies. And all who ultimately persist in rejecting God, choosing evil, will be removed at the final judgment, cast into a burning lake of fire (verses 9-15; and see our free study guide Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?).

Evil will finally be ended! Satan and his troublemaking demons will be gone for good. The incorrigibly wicked who follow in their ways and will not cease from evil will be incinerated, becoming ashes under the feet of those who choose good (Malachi 4:1-3). At last, there will be no more evil, no more evildoers and no more promotion of evil.

The world will be so different from its present corrupted state that it’s hard to envision. But it will be wonderful, filled with joy and everlasting peace. Finally, all those who sought to do God’s commandments, living in resistance to evil, will have access to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14). Evil will be no more, and God will look over His liberated and renewed creation and see that it is good!

Are We Underestimating Our Need to Resist Satan?

All of us need reminding of a vicious enemy who wants to tear our lives into pieces. But we can take heart in being able to resist him. God’s Word shows us how.

by Robert Curry

Recently my family visited the Denver Zoo for the first time in several years. From several exhibits away we could hear the throaty, piercing roars dominating all other sounds and commanding us to an audience with the king of beasts. Two lions looked regal even lounging and basking in the midday sun. Another, a big male with an impressive mane, strutted about his kingdom “majestic in pace . . . stately in walk . . . mighty among beasts and . . . not turn[ing] away from any” (Proverbs 30:29-30).

All three were far back from the heavy-duty fences, and they were so used to visitors staring in awe at them that they didn’t seem to notice. I remember feeling no fear. Of course, if there had been no fence separating us it would’ve been a different story! It’s not yet the age of God’s rule over the nations, when the nature of wild animals will change so that a little child holding a lamb can play safely with such a big, cuddly creature and tug at its mane (see Isaiah 11:6-9).

God speed that day, but for now lions remain dangerous, and their predatory behavior reminds us of a fierce enemy who constantly stalks us. As 1 Peter 5:8 warns: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” In the safe environs of the zoo, it didn’t cross my mind to be too worried about the lions. But on later reflection it occurred to me that I should give more regular thought to Satan as the roaring lion seeking to devour me spiritually.

I needed to step up my game—to avoid becoming his game! Satan and his demons seek to stop us from achieving our destiny as members of God’s family for all eternity. The stakes couldn’t be higher!

Instructions on the right approach

Thankfully, the Bible reveals that we can resist Satan. Here are some instructions that tell us how.

“Be sober, be vigilant,” as we just saw in 1 Peter 5:8. We must avoid becoming drunk out of our minds in a spiritual stupor. Be ever alert.

“Watch . . . and pray always.” Luke 21:36 here shows that a key part of watching involves regular effective prayer “that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Submit to God . . . Draw near to God.” Do this and God will draw near to you, James 4:7-8 urges, along with telling you to resist the devil so that he will flee from you. Sadly, a respected Barna study (“The American Worldview Inventory 2020”) found that only 51 percent of Americans believe God is an “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator of the universe who still rules the world today.”

Surprisingly, 56 percent said, “Satan is not merely a symbol of evil but is a real spiritual being and influences human lives.” He is, and he does! But the shock is Barna’s conclusion that “Americans are now more confident about the existence of Satan than they are of God!” What are the odds they will get the submitting and resisting backwards?

Praying for deliverance

This brings me to the second time it dawned on me recently that I was not paying enough attention to resisting Satan. One popular technique for praying more effectively is to follow the outline of what’s called the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), with each line as a topic header to expand on.

I realized that for many days I had spent so much time on the earlier parts—hallowing God’s name, seeking His Kingdom and will, asking for daily needs (including help and healing for others) and for forgiveness and deliverance from sore trial—that I didn’t give time to an element that follows, another key to resisting:

Pray, “Deliver us from the evil one,” going into specifics. Why would I neglect this when I know evil stirred up by Satan is increasing everywhere? For one, we don’t see or consider all the problems. God has graciously blessed me and my loved ones with a peaceful, protected life. And maybe I just didn’t want to constantly be thinking about all the evil in the world to “sigh and cry” over (see Ezekiel 9:4).

As a parent I know we need to pray for protection for our children daily. And of course I want to pray for my wife and loved ones. So now I’m making sure to include this vital part. But let’s always keep it straight in our minds: We need God to deliver us from Satan and help us to resist. We can’t deliver ourselves or do it on our own. We need God the Father and Jesus Christ to live in us through the Holy Spirit and empower us “to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, New Living Translation).

Trust and connectedness

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” Just after warning about theroaring lion, 1 Peter 5:9 said we need to do this “knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” This faith is way beyond just believing in Jesus Christ—believing that He exists. James notes that “even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19).

We need the faith of Jesus Christ. A good description of this faith we need from God as an unmerited gift is relaxed trust like a little child has for his daddy. “Jump, and I’ll catch you!” We should giggle and jump! We need God to fill us with this faith along with the other qualities listed as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Hebrews 10:22-25 echoes these thoughts: “Let us draw near [there’s drawing near to God again] with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works . . .”

And then we’re given another key: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (verse 25). This part of the passage in Hebrews 10 shows that a key part of resisting Satan is to meet on God’s holy Sabbaths with our “brotherhood” to encourage each other. A lion attacks stragglers and loners away from the herd. We must be active in the Body of Christ. It’s not “just You and me, Lord”—or we could end up being the lion’s lunch!

Protected and advancing

In a recent Sabbath service I again came to see, a third time, that I was not paying proper attention to resisting Satan. A speaker was discussing Ephesians 6:11-17, which gives us this key with its various components: “Put on the whole armor of God.”

The speaker confessed that before studying for his message, he had always just thought of these words as being only a nice intellectual metaphor. But now he was convicted that every day he needed to actually put on the spiritual items of this armor. His message inspired my wife and me to realize we need to do this too.

This passage specifically says we need to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (verses 11-12).

We often think we’re grappling against people or politicians! But we’re really going to the spiritual mat, resisting Satan, and we need God’s help to break every hold Satan’s evil world has on us! In verse 16, Paul specifies that we must take “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

It would make an excellent personal study to go into the six pieces of God’s armor: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit.

Notice that God’s armor is all forward- facing, not covering the backside, because we must never retreat! It will help us “to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13; remember also Luke 21:36).

None of us is immune to underestimating our need to resist Satan. As I’ve shared, my own alertness and resistance are down at times. How have you fallen prey? Through God’s power working in us, we draw close to Him and are assured of victory over Satan!

Seven Counterfeit Values Ensnaring Society

The world around us prizes qualities that are ultimately worthless and harmful. Your awareness of them will help protect you and your children.

by Becky Sweat

The Christian calling involves learning to value what God values—His truths, character, standards and way of life as outlined in the Bible. If you have children, you have the added responsibility of teaching them about godly values. That can be a challenge, since so many of the ideas that dominate society are in direct opposition to biblical teachings.

Think about some of the “values” your children are exposed to. Media outlets idolize entertainers, even those leading very immoral lives. Sports figures and corporate leaders lie and cheat. Schools indoctrinate students with secular belief systems. Movies and television feature gay and transgender characters to promote and “normalize” these lifestyles. Your kids’ friends might flaunt expensive digital “toys,” promoting acquisition as the key to happiness.

Ultimately, the one behind these counterfeit values is Satan the devil, who rules over society (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). He’s very active, doing whatever he can to harm humanity (1 Peter 5:8). He knows how to sway people and make his false values look appealing or even good (John 8:44), when they are in fact very destructive.

What all of Satan’s counterfeit values have in common is focus on what has worth only in this present physical existence or is advantageous to selfish interest. In contrast, God’s true values, relayed in biblical standards, emphasize what holds value even beyond this present age.

As parents, it’s vital to recognize Satan’s counterfeit values and explain to your children how these clash with biblical standards. What your kids learn to prioritize when they’re young will largely determine their adult behavior. Here are seven insidious counterfeit values permeating today’s society you should address head-on with them:

1. Tolerance

So-called “tolerance” is widely promoted today everywhere we turn. It stems from the assertion that all belief systems and lifestyles have equal merit—except for a biblical worldview, which is increasingly not tolerated. Those professing tolerance generally hold to a secular worldview, rejecting belief in God. They deny biblical “sin,” declaring people are free to decide for themselves acceptable behavior.

The tolerance movement pushes public acceptance of all behavior without judgment—particularly LGBTQ lifestyles. “If you’re a loving person,” it’s argued, “you’ll accept these other lifestyle choices.” This can sound very reasonable to children, who might not understand that this kind of tolerance allows ungodly behavior to proliferate, with few standing up to confront the spin presented and with those sinning seeing no reason to repent.

Your kids need to understand that tolerance is a biblical virtue, but not what the secularists advocate. The Bible exhorts us to “make allowance for each other’s faults” (Colossians 3:13, NLT) and to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). To be tolerant is to be longsuffering with others. It entails a genuine concern for others even if they rub us the wrong way, letting go of anger or resentment.

With biblical tolerance, God wants us to address our personal shortcomings and change. It’s not about accepting everything as right so people can feel free to do whatever they want. The aim is proper harmony, keeping potentially tense situations calm and helping maintain relationships so we can be in a position to help each other as we go through our Christian journey.

2. Social justice

We also hear the rallying cry for social justice. Many mistakenly think this is about righting the wrongs in society, defending helpless people or accomplishing lofty goals like ending racism or poverty. But the “social justice” we hear about constantly in the media is really not about these things.

In his book Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice, Scott Allen explains that social justice is a political movement bent on dismantling or reordering societies with the goal of transferring power from those labeled “oppressors” to the “oppressed” or “victim classes.” Allen explains that advocates of social justice “don’t demand power for victims so that justice might be addressed and other people served. They seek it so that the tables can be turned on the oppressors” (2020, p. 93).

Writes Allen: “We should be concerned about the emergence of ‘victimhood culture.’ Ideological social justice drives a growing tendency to look for every opportunity to take offense and cling to every grievance, no matter how small or how long ago. This is terribly destructive. It leads to bitterness, unhappiness, and conflict” (p. 94).

Moreover, like the tolerance movement, social justice proponents generally have a secular worldview and espouse moral relativism, paving the way for them to support unbiblical causes like abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

True justice is based on the law of God and has a completely different end goal—for people to live in genuine harmony together. This is accomplished by living justly and rejecting what the Bible defines as evil. Rather than harbor grievances in order to claim victim status, we are to keep “no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5) and to love and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

3. Human wisdom

God wants us to engage our minds, even telling us, “Come now, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Regrettably, people have often not done so as well as they should. So many of the ideas contemporary society accepts as truth and even venerates are not based on the proper fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 111:10).

Instead, what proliferates in our society is human wisdom or human reasoning apart from God—popularized by secularist leaders insisting humanity must solve its own problems without the God of the Bible. Human reasoning seeks to understand our world, discover the meaning of existence and figure out how we should live—yet often using only information we can detect with our physical senses and without acknowledging God and biblical truth.

Human reasoning takes us down the wrong path, leading to confusion, delusion and hopelessness—where Satan wants us. The tolerance and social justice movements are two examples of the negative consequences of human reasoning. Your children are going to encounter godless reasoning at school or anywhere they obtain information. Obviously, not everything will be problematic, but they’ll likely encounter a lot of this kind of reasoning in various classes, such as science or philosophy. They need to know how to detect and refute it.

4. Self-assertiveness

We live in a society that encourages people to “speak your mind.” People pride themselves on being bold, forthright and outspoken. Many who overhear others discussing the latest political controversy have no qualms about jumping in and stating a very strong dissenting view. If someone says something on social media we don’t like, some believe it’s our prerogative to blast the person online. The basic motivation is to prove we’re right. The term for this is self-assertiveness.

Children, regardless of age, can be susceptible to this as much as adults. Teacher friends have told me how in recent years they’ve seen a lot more pushiness in their students, to the point of them being rude or aggressive.

“During class discussions, a lot of my students have a hard time listening respectfully, carrying on a polite dialogue, and showing understanding to those with different perspectives,” related one middle school teacher. “Psychologists and self-help gurus talk about assertiveness training—how people need to stand up for themselves. But I don’t think that’s really helpful. What I see is a classroom full of kids all wanting to dominate each other.” Indeed, self-assertiveness can lead to misunderstanding, strife, hurt feelings and even fear and intimidation for those on the receiving end—exactly what Satan wants.

This doesn’t mean we should grovel and keep silent before falsehoods promoted in society. There is a right kind of assertiveness to strive for, which is endorsed in the Bible. But with this kind of assertiveness—without the “self” up front—rather than seeking to exalt oneself by putting others down, it’s a matter of having the courage to speak up to correct a lie or remedy a wrong or when confronted about deeply held biblical convictions, and to do so in a respectful manner. It includes knowing when it’s appropriate to speak up and when it isn’t (compare Proverbs 26:4-5).

5. Ambition

There are also different types of ambition. The kind we most often see in contemporary culture is called selfish ambition in the Bible. This is the desire for and pursuit of power and prestige for oneself at any cost—even by dishonesty, cheating, manipulation, backstabbing or ruthless competition. Children pick up on this thinking early on—that the goal is to be the smartest, best or most dominant.

Many Bible passages warn against selfish ambition. It’s grouped with other works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-20 and 2 Corinthians 12:20. In Philippians 2:3 we’re told to “let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.”

Selfish ambition can cause us to sabotage our relationships and physical health to achieve our goals. We can become discontent, believing everything good is way off in the future, unable to see what we have to be thankful for right now. We might also become threatened by the success of others, believing we appear as failures in comparison.

The exact opposite mindset is godly ambition. This kind of ambition still involves a strong desire to achieve something, but the aim is what God wants for us—for us to grow in character and biblical understanding and use the talents we’ve developed and any position we may have to serve Him and others. The intent is never to show that we are better than someone else or just to gratify ourselves.

Godly ambition recognizes that character development, overcoming and functioning by godly principles are all more important than winning or being the best—unlike selfish ambition, where all that matters is being on top.

6. Materialism

A related desire is for material possessions. Many believe materialism has reached epidemic proportions in Western society. That’s in big part due to advertising sending the message 24/7 that having “more” or “what’s new” is the key to happiness. It’s had a huge influence on young people in particular. Numerous studies have shown that for the majority of adolescents, getting rich is a major life goal.

Materialism has been particularly hard on families. Parents can get so busy making money to try to maintain their lifestyles that they sacrifice meaningful time with their children. Kids can start to glean the distorted lesson that attaining wealth and material possessions is more important than relationships. Some parents try to compensate for not spending time with their children by buying them lots of gifts, which can instill in them attitudes of selfishness, self-absorption and entitlement.

Your children need to understand that while it’s nice to be able to enjoy the physical possessions they have, these things could never be more important than what we store up as “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). They need to know what has eternal value—our relationship with God, learning about His way of life, building godly character, etc.—and what doesn’t, so they don’t put all their hope and energy into what has only temporary value.

7. Externalism

The apostle Peter tells us, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4). God is far more concerned with what’s in our hearts than our physical appearance. It’s the character on the “inside” that makes someone truly attractive.

But in our modern society, just the opposite is emphasized. Websites, TV, magazines, movies and television programs bombard us with images of models and entertainers with seemingly perfect faces and physiques. Even in kids’ social circles, the more attractive ones tend to be the most popular. The word for this is externalism—an excessive focus on or even worship of outward attractiveness.

Sometimes parents can inadvertently reinforce externalism. Admitted one mother: “I was always complimenting my daughter for how pretty she looked, and then one day it dawned on me that I was hardly ever complimenting her for her good attitudes or behavior. I was actually teaching her that physical beauty, which she has no control over, was more important than moral choices, which she does have control over.”

We all know, too, that outward beauty diminishes over time, whereas inner beauty can actually improve with age. Putting too much emphasis on your kids’ physical appearance can cause them to put less priority on developing their inner qualities. That’s not to say you shouldn’t acknowledge physical attractiveness, but your children need to know it’s their character that has lasting value.

The job for parents

Parents, the ball is in your court. Satan’s counterfeit values permeate your children’s world. You need to know what they’re being exposed to—at school, in the media and in the books and magazines they read—so you can regularly talk with them about what they’re “learning.” They won’t figure out what’s wrong with what they’re hearing on their own. They need you to guide their thinking.

On a positive note, regardless of how powerful outside influences are, parents are still the biggest influences on their children. As long as you remain vigilant about what’s going on in the world and keep the communication channels with your children open, you can help them see why a lot of what society values shouldn’t be valued—and help steer them to the true values of God.

Hope When All Seems Hopeless

Amid ongoing trials and adversities pushing you to bitterness and defeat, discover real, lasting hope—so powerful that, when you embrace it, despair is overcome.

by John LaBissoniere

If you asked people what essential qualities contribute to a good life, what might they say? Perhaps peace of mind, excellent health, contentment and happiness, fulfillment, financial and physical security, and close relationships with family and friends would top the list.

Yet actually experiencing these can prove difficult amid troubling conditions. Even so, as English poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast”—meaning that in spite of impediments and complications, people often remain hopeful that they will ultimately realize their wants and desires.

While this aspiration is beneficial, the obstacles people face can be overwhelming at times—resulting in genuine needs going unfulfilled. Perhaps you are among the many today experiencing such dilemmas in your personal life. These may include: marital, family or financial distresses; lengthy periods of instability; living with illness or pain; losing employment or housing; suffering isolation, loneliness or rejection; trouble connecting emotionally with others; a medical diagnosis of serious illness; the breakup of a relationship.

When disconcerting issues like these go unresolved, especially after long periods of waiting and hoping, deep discouragement may set in, leading people into a hopeless feeling that there’s no point in trying any longer. Some may even follow with acts of self-harm or suicide.

And on top of the personal challenges, society is spiraling downward. Many well-established values and standards have been severely weakened or abandoned. And various government and corporate institutions formerly looked on as dependable are no longer seen as worthy of confidence. The growing disarray can further discourage people and rob them of the confidence needed to achieve a stable and reliable future.

Where then, as troubles pile up and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and desperation sets in to crush people, can they find real, lasting hope?

The hope that conquers hopelessness

Is there a genuine cure for the frustration and emptiness that threatens to leave people depressed, bitter and defeated?

There is, in fact, a marvelous remedy for this condition. It involves a hope that goes far beyond the kind of hope most people are familiar with. It’s the divine hope of salvation and eternal life, which can only come from the Eternal Creator. This hope from God is one of three great Christian virtues listed by the apostle Paul, the others being love and faith (1 Corinthians 13:13). The hope God offers protects our minds (1 Thessalonians 5:8) so powerfully that, when a person employs it, hopelessness is repelled—even when facing major adversities.

God’s hope can overpower and conquer hopelessness by completely breaking the heavy chains of doubt and discouragement Satan the devil uses to keep us trapped in a life of gloom, selfishness and sin. God’s great hope lifts heavy burdens so we no longer have to carry them all alone (Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalms 55:22; Psalms 68:19).

The hope God supplies can supplement a person’s mere human strength with His mighty divine energy—so we can contend with life’s disturbing situations capably and confidently. It is far and away superior to any human-generated positive thinking.

The hope of God brings real joy and love into people’s lives (Romans 12:12; 15:13). Being sure, firm and absolute, it can help us look confidently past the hardships of this physical life and, yes, even beyond the grave by means of the resurrection from the dead (2 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Peter 1:3).

While human hope is a wish for something without the certainty of fulfillment, the hope God furnishes will never leave people disheartened if they remain faithful (Hebrews 3:6; 6:11–12). As Romans 5:5 declares: “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (New Living Translation).

Following Jesus Christ’s perfect example

But how can you come to experience this? How can you have full assurance that, during the toughest and darkest periods you encounter in life, God will be with you every step of the way?

You must come to understand what Jesus Christ did for you and the path of life He laid out for you to follow Him on. He experienced the crushing blows of human brutality and came out triumphant by freeing you and all people from the threat of eternal death resulting from sin (John 3:16). When He went through horrible scourging and a torturous death, did Jesus give up hope? He would have if His reliance had been on human hope alone.

But He had perfect spiritual hope that absolutely rejected hopelessness and defeat. This was because He placed His life entirely in His Heavenly Father’s hands—knowing that He would always empower and fortify Him (Deuteronomy 31:6).

So if Jesus never lost hope, should you? Absolutely not if you turn to God in humble repentance and faith, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ living in you through the Spirit as your “hope of glory” (see Acts 2:38; Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27).

When you are impacted by life’s adversities, Christ offers you His example of hope over despair (Hebrews 12:2-4). Plus, He will help you bravely confront those trials and aid you in finding a satisfactory way through them (Psalm 46:1). Because Jesus prevailed, He can strengthen you with the hope that is always victorious (John 14:27; 1 Peter 1:3, 13).

Having His same hope can lift your thoughts beyond your immediate troubles to focus on the glorious future in God’s family (Romans 5:2), just as Christ did when He faced the worst time in His life.

When you are threatened by clouds of discouragement, Jesus’ example and the awesome hope He displayed in freeing humanity from the curse of sin can be your motivation to strive for the divine reward God wants to give you (Titus 1:2). The great “hope of salvation” (Lamentations 3:26) is assured if you cling tightly to Jesus Christ and God’s promise to never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Ushering you safely into His everlasting Kingdom

It is God’s desire that you be filled with hope and courage—knowing the outcome of your spiritual journey is secure (Psalms 33:18; 146:5). When you rely on His support and remain faithful to Him and His way of life, you can be confident that He will usher you safely into His everlasting Kingdom (Psalms 38:15; 39:7; 2 Peter 1:10-11). With God’s divine hope, you can jettison the hopelessness so many in this world experience and can instead revel in profound joy that you will have a place in God’s spiritual family forever.

Finally, unlike human hope, the exhilarating hope God offers will keep you moving forward confidently when facing trials throughout your life and even beyond the grave (1 Peter 1:3). God’s hope is bold and joyful and radiates total confidence (Isaiah 40:31). Jesus Christ left you the perfect example of hope under pressure

(1 Timothy 4:10). Having risen from the dead, He sits with the Father on the throne of God in heaven and is fully willing to be the Lord of your life to guide, strengthen and sustain you.

Therefore, don’t settle for mere human hope, which can lead to disappointment, discouragement and bitterness. Instead, receive and experience the awesome divine hope that God offers—the hope that can lead you to salvation and eternal life in God’s coming Kingdom. Indeed, He wants you to have and hold onto His wonderful hope—and to remember that when all seems hopeless, hope remains!

Pentecost and the Promise of the Father

Having been with Jesus Christ throughout His ministry, His original 12 apostles became deeply saddened when He told them He would be going away. But what awesome event turned their sorrow into joy? And what should that singular occurrence mean for us today?

by John LaBissoniere

When I was a child, a special family lived next door whom my family could truly depend upon. If my mother needed to borrow a cup of flour, she would always ask Mrs. Swartz. If my father needed a little assistance with a home project, he could call upon Mr. Swartz. The Swartzes assisted us, and we did the same when they needed help. Our warm, neighborly relationship was mutually beneficial and greatly appreciated.

Perhaps you have such fine neighbors now as we did then. But let’s take it a step further. Imagine for a moment that Jesus Christ was still on earth and lived next door to you! If you had a problem, you could ring His doorbell and He would listen and miraculously help. If you were ill, He would come to your house and heal you instantly. If you needed advice, He would counsel you perfectly. Of course, this is merely a fanciful notion because Jesus left the earth long ago. Near the end of His ministry He announced to His disciples, “I leave the world and go to the Father” (John 16:28).

He has gone away to heaven for now. Today we worship and pray to our great Creator we cannot physically see. Even though we may have a close relationship with Him, we may at times have to wait for the fulfillment of our prayerful needs and requests (Psalm 27:14). Then, on some occasions, we may begin to wonder if He really hears our prayers or even cares about us. Of course, this tests our faith and patience, especially when we are undergoing pain, distress and sorrow (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6).

Jesus declared, “I go to My Father and you see Me no more” (John 16:10). When Jesus’ apostles heard these words they felt terribly distraught (verse 6). But Christ also told them that they would benefit enormously by His leaving. He said, “I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (verse 7, emphasis added throughout). But how could it be helpful to them or us today if He went away to be with His Father? He went on to explain that if He did not go away the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would not come, but that if He departed He would send it to them (same verse).

The promise of the Father

Immediately before Jesus ascended to heaven He told His disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” to endue them with “power from on high” (Acts 1:4, 11; Luke 24:49). This is the most marvelous blessing of comfort and support that Christ’s followers could have ever heard! It far outpaces any human-made promise. It encompasses the unparalleled gift of God’s very own Spirit, which Jesus would go to heaven to receive from His Father to send to His steadfast disciples (Acts 2:33).

This priceless promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost 10 days later, when 120 disciples were infused with the Holy Spirit (verse 4). For the first time in world history, the very essence of God’s divine nature was made available to more than a tiny number of people. Accompanied by extraordinary, miraculous signs, including a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire, the bestowing of the Holy Spirit to those disciples marked the very beginning of the New Testament Church (verses 1-4).

So when Jesus ascended to be with His Father, He certainly didn’t desert His disciples. It was completely the opposite! He would actually be with them in a dramatically more powerful and vibrant manner. To be sure, this fulfilled Jesus’ earlier statement that their sorrow would be “turned into joy” (John 16:20). He exclaimed, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Furthermore, He said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me” (John 14:18-19). How would He come to them so they could effectively see Him? Not only in the resurrection at His second coming but in their daily lives through the essence of God’s boundless power, guidance and wisdom dwelling in them—just as it did in Christ Himself (Romans 8:11; John 14:10).

Confirmation of this awesome miracle was seen on that Pentecost morning in the lives of Peter and the other apostles. In fact, Peter exclaimed to an assembled crowd in Jerusalem that Jesus “. . . being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Indeed, by means of Peter’s passionate, God-inspired preaching, 3,000 people repented, were baptized and received God’s Spirit on that very day (verses 40-41).

So, the magnificent fulfillment of “the promise of the Father” occurred at that time, but it didn’t stop there! That was only the beginning. It has continued down through the centuries in all people who answer God’s call, are baptized, receive the amazing gift of His perfect Spirit and are diligently producing spiritual fruit throughout their lives (John 15:4-5).

Greater works will be accomplished

As we remember the giving of the Holy Spirit each year on God’s Holy Day of Pentecost, we can be more than confident that the words of support and well-being Jesus expressed to His original disciples apply to us today. He declared, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12).

Those “greater works” could only have been demonstrated by converted men and women after Christ joined His Father on His throne. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that He works mightily in and through converted people (Romans 8:11). As His dedicated disciples today, we have access to all the spiritual energy and faith we need to fully pursue His way of life (Matthew 4:4; Romans 12:1-2). We are incredibly blessed to have the very mind of Christ so we can love God, overcome sin, build holy, righteous character and serve others (Philippians 2:5; Romans 8:28; James 1:21-22; 1 Peter 4:10).

While having a warm and mutually beneficial relationship with a wonderful human next-door neighbor is certainly excellent, isn’t what we have with Jesus Christ far beyond any comparison? He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Also, Jesus understands our needs and requests as we prayerfully and patiently wait for His ideal timing in response (Isaiah 65:24; Psalm 27:14).

With the tremendous power of God’s Holy Spirit working in us, we have the perfect assurance of help today and a wonderful and exciting future in God’s coming Kingdom (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Therefore, let us appreciate more than ever the wonderful fulfillment of the promise of the Father commencing on that amazing New Testament Pentecost.

America’s Military in Crisis

As the world grows increasingly unstable, America’s military appears dangerously misguided.

by Mike Kelley

The year 2023 sees the United States proverbially “backed into a corner,” facing a growing list of international rivals and hostile powers. Though Russia, America’s historic adversary since the end of World War II, finds itself bogged down in its power grab in Ukraine, other international foes such as China, Iran and North Korea grow more powerful every day.

Despite alliances, America as a nation must largely fend for itself in a hostile world. At no time in its history has the nation been more dependent on a strong military, yet the evidence is mounting that the state of America’s armed forces is weakening, and the trend is worsening.

While still in absolute terms the most powerful military on earth, America’s armed forces face almost unprecedented challenges. From growing difficulty in recruiting to uncertainty and a blurred vision of main defense priorities, and apparent inability to face the reality of the growing strength of adversaries, U.S. military planners seem to be losing their way.

What is America’s greatest national threat?

Through the centuries, nations have recognized that national security is the primary responsibility of any government. Few have been the times in history when even powerful nations have been able to rest and relax inside secure borders. Even the mighty Roman Empire faced constant threats from hostile tribes on its frontiers. The same can be said of the United States, which from the time of its emergence as a world power early in the 20th century has always faced threats from hostile foreign powers.

Yet in spite of these obvious threats, the current Defense Department establishment seems to have lost its focus. Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shocked many with his 2021 pronouncement that “global warming,” not global adversaries, was America’s greatest security challenge.

Speaking to hundreds at the 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate, Austin said: “Today, no nation can find lasting security without addressing the climate crisis. We face all kinds of threats in our line of work, but few of them deserve to be called existential. The climate crisis does. Climate change is making the world more unsafe and we need to act” (“Defense Secretary Calls Climate Change Existential Threat,” DoD News, April 22, 2021).

Austin went on to discuss melting Arctic ice, allegedly rising sea levels, and competition among nations for resources in terms formerly used to describe growing nuclear stockpiles among our adversaries and saber-rattling of rogue nations. One wonders if he was paying attention to China’s rapidly growing military power or the fact that North Korea has grown increasing aggressive in its missile tests or that Iran continues its determined pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Recruiting: lowered standards are still not enough

America adopted an all-volunteer army policy 50 years ago, toward the end of the Vietnam War. Until recently military recruiters found large numbers of healthy, able, mostly working-class young men and women to fill the ranks. Large numbers of young Americans believed in national service and took pride in wearing the uniform of the United States.

Little reported is that Army recruiting plummeted in 2022. The respected military journal Army Times reported in October 2022 that the Army missed its 2022 fiscal year recruiting goal by almost 15,000 soldiers, roughly 25 percent short of its aim. While the Army’s situation was the worst, the other military services only barely managed to meet their goals, with the Marine Corps going into the new fiscal year at only 30 percent of its recruiting target versus the 50 percent they normally enjoy. The Air Force normally starts the year at 25 percent but stood at only 10 percent as the new fiscal year began.

Military recruiters placed the blame mostly on the tight labor market, citing rising wages, salaries and benefits in the private sector for even entry-level jobs. No doubt these play a role in limiting the appeal of a military career. But there are other, more worrisome recruitment problems.

One is the deteriorating physical condition of America’s young men. Recruiters report that obesity, drug use and other physical shortcomings render most applicants unable to meet fitness standards. Too many potential recruits also lack the education, even the basic intelligence, to become soldiers in today’s more technologically advanced armed forces.

This has forced the military branches to lower fitness and education standards in a desperate attempt to meet recruiting goals. For example, the Army has done away with running requirements during the first two weeks of basic training. Revised Navy recruitment guidelines will allow up to 20 percent of new recruits, some 7,500 new sailors, from the lowest acceptable aptitude level (“How the Military Dropped Its Standards in 2022 to Meet a Recruiting Crisis,” Daily Caller, Dec. 29, 2022).

A recent Washington Post survey found that today only 9 percent of young Americans are willing to serve in the armed forces. One must wonder if normally patriotic young Americans balk at serving in a military where the focus on defending the nation has been replaced with one on social experimentation and leftist ideology.

U.S military: laboratory for social experimentation

Further contributing to the hollowing out of U.S. armed forces is a growing focus on “woke” social matters totally unrelated to national defense. Not long after the current Washington administration took office, the Defense Department’s education office appointed Kelisa Wing to the newly created office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Almost immediately she began railing against what she termed racial discrimination in professional development training of military officers and high-level staff.

Our sense of decorum prevents exact reporting of her remarks, but suffice it to say that she took offense at what she described as too great an emphasis on traditional military values and advancement procedures. Her incessant tweets about pushback on DEI priorities prompted a strong backlash from those in Congress already worried about the decline in recruitment, readiness and morale.

“Americans are exhausted with this administration’s continued use of the Department of Defense for its woke garbage,” Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, said in a recent statement. “That includes using our tax dollars to hire people who hate millions of Americans they’re supposed to serve and empowering them to indoctrinate our children with their racist message of division.”

Valuable time and resources that should be used to make our troops better in combat strategy and tactics are now being wasted on discussions of such topics as gender studies, racial issues and critical race theory.

Growing strength of America’s adversaries

Most Americans are concerned about the growing power and nuclear threat posed by North Korea and Iran. Not as widely reported is China’s steady advance in building its armed forces. China’s defense spending has risen to second in the world, behind the United States. The number of active-duty troops in the People’s Liberation Army now far exceeds that of the United States. China is working to close a technological gap with the U.S military by 2027.

What’s more, China is working to develop an army of “supermen,” soldiers able to endure hunger, pain and deprivation far better than troops of any other nation. “China is developing an army of genetically engineered ‘super soldiers’ of the type we have only seen in science fiction,” former Director of National Intelligence John Ratliff told Congress more than two years ago. He told lawmakers how China is using gene-editing tools to breed soldiers capable of fighting harder, longer and more efficiently.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration’s commitment to supply arms and equipment to Ukraine in its war with Russia is rapidly depleting America’s own military supplies at an unsustainable pace. According to a report published last fall by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, U.S. supplies of high-tech munitions are already so low due to shipments to Ukraine that at current production rates it could take literally years to rebuild critical inventories.

“I will break the pride of your power”

It was not that long ago that America took pride in being the world’s dominant national power. Americans were willing to shoulder the burdens of helping police the world, contributing billions of dollars to relief from natural disasters, and generally making the world a better place.

But those days have passed. The idea of restoring American greatness is met with mostly scorn and contempt. Americans today have grown tired of the concept of national greatness and the responsibilities that come with it.

This is not by accident. It was foretold to happen to the ancient nation of Israel and its descendants, the major part of whom became today’s English-speaking peoples. “I will break the pride of your power,” God warned a rebellious people should they refuse to humble themselves before Him (Leviticus 26:19). With America’s military in rapid decline, could the same thing be happening to the nation today?

Current Events & Trends: May/June 2023

An overview of events and conditions around the world featured in the May/June 2023 issue of Beyond Today.

by Beyond Today Editor

China, Russia, Iran join against America

Chinese dictator Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin in March to discuss a “new era” in bilateral ties, having a “friendship without limits,” and increased cooperation on global issues. Following their meeting, Xi said to Putin: “Change is coming that hasn’t happened in 100 years. And we are driving this change together.” This seemed to harken back to before America was a leading player on the world stage. Poland’s president said that “this China-Moscow axis is dangerous.”

The meeting came on the heels of a February state visit to China by Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, who stressed that a new world order of real multilateralism “is forming and taking the place of the older one.” Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni and the president of Russia’s ally, Belarus, met together, Khameni calling for counties under U.S. sanctions to “cooperate with each other and form a united front to destroy the weapon of sanctions.” That came two days after enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations according to a deal brokered by China.

U.S. foreign policy under the current administration appears to have driven the Eurasian powers into closer ties with one another and against America—the opposite of past objectives. Back in 1997, the late well-respected U.S. geopolitical strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski issued a warning in his renowned book The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives. He wrote: “In the past, international affairs were largely dominated by contests among individual states for regional domination. Henceforth, the United States may have to determine how to cope with regional coalitions that seek to push America out of Eurasia, thereby threatening America’s status as a global power . . .

“Potentially, the most dangerous scenario would be a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran, an ‘antihegemonic’ coalition united not by ideology but by complementary grievances. It would be reminiscent in scale and scope of the challenge once posed by the Sino-Soviet bloc, though this time China would likely be the leader and Russia the follower. Averting this contingency, however remote it may be, will require a display of U.S. geostrategic skill on the western, eastern, and southern perimeters of Eurasia simultaneously” (emphasis added).

It seems that America and the Western world are hard pressed against this “most dangerous scenario.” Yet despite the calls for friendship, China and Russia remain rivals. Geopolitical analyst Peter Zeihan notes that immediately after the summit with Russia, Xi met with Central Asian leaders to promote China’s dominance along Russia’s south, to Putin’s chagrin. The fact is, Russia needs China’s economic and geopolitical help—and China is using this for leverage over Russia and perhaps to demand some favors and concessions. And for now, China still needs the United States to buy its products.

Paganism on the rise, marking dramatic return

It’s no surprise that more people are turning away from mainstream Christianity to other religious ideas.  It is a downward drift which will dramatically change the Judeo-Christian demographics of America. The Pew Research Center reported that in 1972, 92 percent of Americans claimed to be Christian but that by 2070 the number will drop to below 50 percent. And, shockingly, the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans, or “nones,” will likely outnumber those adhering to Christianity.

In March the National Geographic website featured an article about the modern rise of paganism. It states: “‘There is, in general, a move away from organized religions and toward spirituality,’ says Helen Berger, an author and sociologist of contemporary Paganism and witchcraft. Female empowerment and gay rights movements, the climate crisis, and a desire for a more life-affirming religion have fueled interest in the growing spiritual community, she adds” (“Paganism Is on the Rise—Here‘s Where to Discover Its Traditions,” March 22).

The heathen gods are making a comeback, and new temples are cropping up all over the world. Manheim is a heathen hof in Korinth in Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, Denmark. The building opened in 2016 and is dedicated to the Norse gods. Iceland likewise opened its first pagan temple in a millennium dedicated to the Norse deities Odin and Thor. Greece is reviving the old gods of Mount Olympus—Zeus, Poseidon, Cronos, Apollo and a host of others. Sedona, Arizona, is a destination city for the occult and mysticism. Why should any of this matter to us?

With the establishment of the Church of God as recorded in the book of Acts, and the subsequent spreading of the true gospel to the known world by the apostles who were trained by Jesus Christ, polytheism or the belief in many gods greatly diminished in the world. They penetrated a thoroughly pagan Greco-Roman world in which the very idea of one caring God was alien to them.

The Greeks and Romans worshiped a wide variety of gods and goddesses. Some were pantheists who worshiped Gaia, believing “god” was everywhere in nature. (Incidentally, both blockbuster Avatar movies are based on Gaia worship). These pagans were ignorant of the true God of the Bible.

When the apostle Paul walked among the Greeks on Mars Hill, which was dedicated to the god of war, he noticed all the different gods they worshiped and said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23).

Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel was carved through the solid rock of the Swiss Alps. It is the world’s longest railway tunnel at 35 miles long. When it was dedicated, the hour-long ceremony was entirely based on the occult and paganism. Videos can be viewed on the web, and show how paganism is on the rise.

The apostle Paul wrote nearly 2,000 years ago in Romans 1:28-32: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

It‘s important for each of us to guard against the direction the world is going and to hold fast to the only true God. Why is it so critical? We want to be witnesses of the truth and God’s way of life to this world and escape the judgment to come! God commands us in Revelation 18:4: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”

President calls banning child mutilation “close to sinful”

President Joe Biden has doubled down on opposition to states imposing restrictions on minors receiving sex-transition procedures, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies and sex-change surgeries—euphemistically called “gender-affirming care.”

When he received a transgender social media influencer at the White House for an interview on Oct. 24, 2022, aired by a progressive news outlet, Biden declared: “I don’t think any state or anybody should have the right to do that [impose restrictions] as a moral question. As a legal question, I just think it’s wrong.” He further called it “immoral.”

Later, in a Daily Show interview March 13, 2023, Biden commented on Florida legislation to stop chemical and surgical treatment for gender-dysphoric children, stating: “What’s going on in Florida, as my mother would say, is close to sinful. It’s just terrible what they are doing.”

So protecting children from sexual mutilation is sinful?! This is blasphemous. God warns through the prophet Isaiah: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). The apostle Paul lamented a debased culture where people who have known better give approval to evil practices (Romans 1:28-32).

In February, the administration’s transgender Assistant Secretary for Health, speaking before pediatric care providers, said America would move to embrace the administration’s position on such so-called “care” for minors—and that “wheels will turn on this.”

As American society sinks deeper into depraved evil, keep praying and looking for the deliverance that God will yet bring.

Israel at 75: facing threats from without and within

The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the modern Jewish state of Israel. The nation declared its independence May 14, 1948. The Arab Muslim world, none too pleased with the formation of the Jewish Israeli state, referred to it as the ‘Nakba,’ meaning “catastrophe.” And every year, the Arabs mark the day after the day of Israeli independence by this name.

This past December, with this significant anniversary approaching, the United Nations, in promoting the Palestinian cause against Israel, passed a resolution to declare May 15 a commemoration of the Nakba, as a day of lament and effectively calling for vengeance against the Jews.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 90-30, with 47 countries abstaining. Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, commented in disgust: “What would you say if the international community celebrated the establishment of your country as a disaster? What a disgrace.”

The existence of the Israeli state was a remarkable fulfillment of Scripture, as a Jewish-controlled political state in the Holy Land is necessary to a number of prophecies. Yet the Jewish people face rising antisemitism, and the Jewish state faces a constant barrage of blind hatred and enemies set on destroying it, with leftists now promoting internal upheaval.

Sadly, both the political left and Jewish religious zealots stand against Christian preaching in the nation, and a law was recently proposed to send believers to prison for sharing the message of Christ. Thankfully, it was not passed. Pray that the eyes of secular and religious Jews and Muslims will have their eyes opened to God’s truth concerning Israel and the Messiah.

More Proof of the Bible: Mount Ebal Discoveries

Recent archaeological findings regarding an altar and curse tablet corroborate the Bible’s record of the Israelites’ entry into the Holy Land as a people in covenant with God

by Peter Eddington

The Bible is not, as some believe, a collection of myths that we need not take seriously. It claims to be the inspired Word of God—presenting the story of God and His relationship with those He’s created. But should we accept this claim?

The veracity of Scripture can be shown through many avenues. One is the discoveries of archaeology. Time and time again, they confirm the accuracy of the biblical record. Not so many years ago scholars doubted the story of the Israelite journey out of Egypt or the life of King David of Israel. However, archaeological discoveries have greatly substantiated these biblical accounts—plus hundreds more.

Ongoing findings continue to strengthen belief in the Bible. And now, just in the past two years, a significant discovery has been made at the site of Mount Ebal in the land of Israel—the recognition of an altar dating to the time of Joshua and an associated curse tablet.

Blessings and cursings

Mount Ebal and neighboring Mount Gerizim are situated on opposite sides of a valley in which once sat the ancient town of Shechem (now the city of Nablus). The two mountains are known in Scripture as the mountains of “cursing” and “blessing,” respectively.

Significantly, Shechem was the place where God first repeated his promises to the patriarch Abraham when he moved to the Promised Land. And Abram built an altar in Shechem (Genesis 12:6–7).

Centuries later, as God instructed the Israelites through Moses in Deuteronomy 11 and 27-28, after crossing the Jordan River and starting to take possession of the Promised Land, they were to go to the same area and build an altar on Ebal of whole stones not shaped with iron tools, set up memorial stones with the Book of the Law written on them, and perform a ceremony involving all the tribes.

Half the tribes were to gather on the slopes of Mount Gerizim for the proclamation of blessings for obedience to God’s laws, while the other half would gather on Mount Ebal for the announcement of curses for particular disobedience. The Levites would loudly declare these and the people would responsively shout “Amen,” with all the people hearing back and forth across the valley.

Joshua 8 records that the Israelites did just that when they started taking over the Holy Land under Joshua. Offerings were given at the Mount Ebal altar and the Book of the Law was read, including the blessings and cursings.

Did this really happen, or is this a biblical fable?

Identifying Joshua’s altar

Remarkably, the altar at Mount Ebal has been excavated, with evidence pointing to it being the one described in Scripture. A larger altar was eventually built on top of it, apparently as a memorial altar enclosing the earlier one.

Archaeologist Scott Stripling has done major study at this altar site, following on the work of earlier Israeli archaeologists. The larger rectangular altar from a later period garnered the most attention from previous archaeologists, as that fits the later time frame in which many put the Israelites’ arrival.

However, the smaller, circular structure underneath most interested Dr. Stripling. Six feet in diameter, it sits under the exact center of the rectangular altar, and its stones are whole and not shaped by iron tools, in accordance with the biblical passages cited. It’s dated back to the earlier time frame conservative biblical scholars recognize for the Exodus and conquest—around 1400 B.C.

The larger altar above it is dated. And Stripling believes this more recent altar belonged to the middle of the Judges period.

Stripling explains: “I think the round altar is actually Joshua’s altar. The rectangular one, which everybody is in love with, is a memorial altar that is protecting the real valuable one that is beneath it . . . Which makes sense because the Bible doesn’t suggest that there was ongoing ceremony on Mount Ebal, just that the altar was built for that ceremony. I have determined that the earlier pottery is from what we would call Late Bronze 1B–Late Bronze 2A horizon, so around 1400 BC, which of course fits very nicely with the biblical date” (quoted by Steve Law, “Ancient Hebrew Writing on Tablet Discovered at Joshua’s Altar,” Patterns of Evidence, Feb. 4, 2022).

Curse tablet amulet found at the site

Not only does it appear that Joshua’s altar has been found, but now a tiny lead tablet has been uncovered along with it to strengthen the identification. It matches a category of finds known to archaeology as curse tablets. Why might such an artifact be located at the Mount Ebal altar? Could it have something to do with Mount Ebal as the mountain of cursing?

When Dr. Stripling tried to open the folded, one-inch-square lead tablet, it started to break. So it was submitted to x-ray scanning. The scans revealed that inside is early Hebrew writing inscribed with a tiny stylus.

Such etching with a stylus is mentioned in Job 19:23-24: “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!” (New International Version, emphasis added throughout).

YHW, a shorter form of the divine name YHWH or Yahweh, appears on the scan (reading Hebrew from right to left). In the 23-word English translation of the inscription, the word “curse” appears 10 times, and “YHW” appears twice. The full text reads:

“Cursed, cursed, cursed—cursed by the God YWH.

“You will die cursed.

“Cursed you will surely die.

“Cursed by YWH—cursed, cursed, cursed.”

(Some faint writing on the outside of the amulet has yet to be scanned and deciphered.)

This wording may well echo the cursings we find for disobedience that were proclaimed at Mount Ebal.

Dr. Stripling surmises that this tablet was an official component of the blessings and cursings ceremony and the offerings presented here, though that’s not specified in Scripture.

Another possibility may be that this was an attempted magical curse performed here in the early Judges period —with the location chosen because of the cursing association with Mount Ebal. The outside writing, if or when it's deciphered, might provide more clues.

Either way, the find connects Mount Ebal and the threat of cursing from Yahweh at the time of the Israelite conquest, helping to substantiate the biblical account.

The Bible: fact, not fable

Again and again, the Bible is vindicated in its recording of not myth, but fact and history! Here we have corroborating evidence for what’s stated in Deuteronomy and Joshua about the altar and cursing pronouncement at Mount Ebal at the time of the Israelite conquest.

It substantiates the reality of Israel’s covenant relationship with God and the need to continue in obedience to Him. We would do well to consider the importance of keeping covenant with God in our own lives today.

Moreover, we are reminded of what Jesus Christ prayed to His Father the night before His crucifixion: “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). A few months earlier He declared that “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

Yes, the biblical accounts are completely reliable. Archaeologists regularly find artifacts and other evidence that verify the accuracy of the Bible, and even shed additional light on what life was like in biblical times.

In the words of Scott Stripling: “After 150 years of archaeology in Israel, hundreds of synchronisms [aligning connections] between the material culture and the biblical text have been established. At this point, it takes more faith to believe that the Bible is not true than to believe that it is true” (biblearchaeologyreport.com/about).

The archaeological record verifies time and time again how the biblical stories are accurate and truly happened. But we are not to look on with mere superficial interest. The Bible is God’s book for us to come to know and trust Him and to teach us His ways and lead us to our destiny. Learn what He has here to reveal to you—and let it change your life!

Follow Me: “Deliver Us From the Evil One”

As the menacing ruler of this world drags society into deepening darkness, we must turn to the light for ongoing help and victory.

by Robin Webber

We live in a time when the fastest-growing religion is no religion at all. Its primary doctrine can be summarized in one succinct phrase: “This is my truth!” Secular humanism and “me-ism” are the steady downbeats of its signature chorus line. It has all the overtones of a religious movement with a fervent zeal of unwavering allegiance. Though “pushing the envelope” faster and farther than ever it seems, its “gospel of self” is as old as the Garden of Eden.

Meanwhile, those who trust in the intervening God of the Bible are steadily declining. We see it in America, though “In God We Trust” is minted on our coins. In startling contrast to “God Bless America” as a past resounding hymn of national praise, we now have this year’s music industry’s Grammy Awards featuring a major stage production of a song titled “Unholy” with full satanic regalia and wardrobe.

Make no mistake, the gauntlet has been thrown down before God Almighty and the disciples of Jesus Christ. Not only by this singular event, but also in pervasive mass indoctrination by innumerable knocks on the door by social media targeting young and moldable minds and, yes, you. What is a person of faith and one who takes God at His Word to do?

For such a time as now!

It’s wakeup time in America and around this world as to the accelerated takeover of the steering wheel of civilization by the anti-God shock troops. And don’t think that you or your loved ones are immune to this ever-encroaching onslaught of dark forces. This is not simply a passing phase! It is “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:13-14)—as now!—that personal spiritual awareness, resolve, and protection of mind and heart are essential at every turn. It is time to be counted as one who continuously responds to Jesus’ invitation of “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19; John 21:22).

Let’s consider a specific “Follow Me” action item given by our Master in what’s commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13). He instructs us to include these elements in our prayers: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts [of sin], as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (emphasis added throughout).

Notice that between this model prayer’s bookends of praise is a longing plea for deliverance from the evil one. Jesus was plainly stating that evil exists, and He elsewhere identifies its founding father as Satan the devil (John 8:44). The same One who proclaimed, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18) is imploring us, His disciples, to clearly focus on Satan’s present reality and take appropriate daily spiritual safeguards. Simply put: Jesus’ prayer outline reminds us we are at war! We will come to see at the end of this column that He would practice what He preached.

Know God’s foe and yours

Why are Jesus’ words so vital and instructive? With scriptural revelation we are not left to play a blindfolded game of “pin the tail on the serpent” (see Genesis 3:4; Revelation 12:9). He is revealed to be “the god of this age” who has blinded humanity from the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). He’s “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). In chameleonlike manner he seems an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) but is revealed as an “adversary . . . a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

This adversary and his accomplices work to keep us unaware of their spiritual assaults, but Scripture reveals our constant struggle: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Satan usually avoids exposure as part of his efforts to lead people to dismiss the spirit realm, including God, contributing to a moral vacuum. We see the results in Romans 1:21-23: “. . . Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man . . .”

Does this not describe the people of our world today, which over the past decade has shredded any semblance of God-ordained society? And in this age of “selfies” have made themselves their own little gods? Make no mistake, the spirit behind this is one of domination, intimidation and control—the ultimate cancel culture dedicated to destroying God’s special creation made in His image and destined to ultimately be made in the spiritual image of His Son, the “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Please know my concern for each of you who has read my columns over the past 25 years. If this column is heavy and appears “dark” in nature, that’s because the times demand it. God’s servants are to blow a sound of alarm and wake people up. This alert is not just for the world at large, but for those disciples of Christ who naively think they can just glide forward on autopilot or cruise control through the ungodliness that is metastasizing all around us. God’s Word exhorts each of us, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Why is this so important? Because ultimately we are responsible for our actions. We can be “led into temptation,” but we alone fill in the blank of yes or no in succumbing to or rejecting Satan’s influence. We cannot use the old catchphrase of comedian Flip Wilson, “The devil made me do it!”

The light of hope conquers darkness

In drawing to a close for now, allow me to share some specific rays of light and hope to anchor us until next we meet.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sent from above, is “life, and the life was the light of men . . . the light shines in the darkness . . .” (John 1:4-5). So we may truly see.

Let us gain and hold onto the ultimate perspective: This Light and our Heavenly Father are uncreated, having existed forever (Isaiah 57:15; 1 Timothy 6:16), whereas Satan originated as a created spiritual being and became a traitor to the Kingdom of God (see Ezekiel 28:14-15). Guess who ultimately triumphs? This is not rocket science. We are dealing with two different spheres of existence, and God and Christ are omnipotent in this regard.

One of the specific reasons Jesus was sent to the earth was to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus was not simply a teacher going around uttering clever and witty parables. He was sent to put Satan out of business. On the altar of Golgotha the victory was won, and now only the details need to be worked out. And one matter that’s clear is that at Jesus’ second coming Satan will be crushed (Romans 16:20).

But that glorious triumph is then. What about now for those striving to heed Jesus’ invitation of “Follow Me” in an increasingly darkening society? On the last night of His human life, Jesus in personally praying to His Father for us (John 17:20) said this: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (verse 15).

He was practicing in His prayer what He had initially preached to the disciples about seeking our deliverance from the evil one. His loving consistency towards us is overwhelming. His committal prayer for our spiritual protection was not fear-based, but offered in faith-filled confidence that His Father, also our Father, would open our eyes regarding the foe of His Kingdom, guard our hearts and strengthen our resolve to put nothing before Him.

Here, then, is one simple “Follow Me” action item for us to embrace and express to the only One who can empower us for the journey yet ahead. Seek the light, praying to God for help and deliverance. Start today; start now. And as you do, please pray as well, “Your kingdom come!”

Letters From Our Readers: May/June 2023

Readers of Beyond Today magazine share their thoughts in the May/June 2023 issue.

by Beyond Today editor

Responses to “The Biblical Identity of Britain’s Royal Family”

I have read your magazines for years. Although I take exception with some of your positions, I have more often been enlightened. For that I thank you. I read the January-February edition with skepticism. I have as much respect for Britain’s “royal” family as I do Catholicism. Both are nothing more than pomp and circumstance. No dissection and explanation will ever change that.

Subscriber in North Carolina

I would like to thank you for the very informative magazines that you print. Your latest on “The Biblical Identity of Britain’s Royal Family” I certainly enjoyed reading and learned from it. So much so, that I sent your link to a friend of mine, and was shocked by her reply. She sent me links arguing that the royal family were reptilians. I was at a loss for words. I would also like to say thank you for your study guides. I have the majority of them which I have read and re-read. They have helped me understand God’s Word so much better. In fact you have opened my eyes to so much.

Subscriber in Western Australia

Descent from King David has not ensured righteous heritage. Recall that most of Judah's kings were evil. We await the true righteous king Jesus Christ. It is further true that demons rule behind the governments of this world, but the reptilian conspiracy theory is utter nonsense.

Response to “Britain’s Coronation Symbols: The Astounding Story”

I seek clarifications concerning the parallels between the coronations of kings of Israel and the U.K. Coronations of kings of Israel were performed by high priests appointed to the office by virtue of being Aaronic lineage. The coronations of kings/queens of England are performed by the archbishop of the Church of England. So does this church, which doesn’t teach observance of the Sabbath (and other Holy Days), represent God’s Church? Is the spiritual head of this church appointed by God?

From the Internet

Thank you for your question. The focus of our article was on the biblical symbolism and ancient precedence of the modern coronation of kings and queens. And, as noted in the issue, previous members of the royal family believed they were indeed descended from and could trace their lineage back to King David.

However, in answer to your question, the Anglican Church does not represent the Church Jesus Christ founded. Its teachings are too divergent from Scripture, including, as you mentioned, Sabbath observance and many other doctrines. To learn more, interested readers can download or request the study guide The Church Jesus Built.

Response to “The ‘Respect for Marriage Act’: Is it Truly Respectful?”

I have a daughter who didn’t come out as gay until she was in her early 20s. Before that, she dated boys, and even became pregnant at 16. She tells me that she’s always felt this way, but I have a hard time believing that. She is now married to another woman [who has undergone operations to change her gender]. She knows my feelings on that, and it caused division between me and my daughter. She’s already been shunned by the rest of our family, and I was the only one who still treated her with love.

All I can do is love and pray for her and her spouse. I still let her know that my feelings on what the Bible teaches have not changed. I believe in everything the Bible teaches. And if it came down to my religious belief and choosing her, then I would have to go along with my faith because I will not deny my God or His Son who died for our sin. So I love, and I pray, and I don’t judge—she knows how I feel, and I don’t push her. I just pray that at some point she will open her heart to truth.

Blessings to John LaBissoniere who wrote the article, and I totally agree with everything he pointed out. Great job on what’s become a difficult subject to comment on without being labeled a bigot.

Reader in Michigan

Viewer wants to donate

Enclosed herewith is a donation for the church. As the good Lord has blessed us and guides us daily, we would like very much to donate regularly each month. Each week, I have watched your program on TV. Please will you kindly send me the booklet How to Understand the Bible?

Viewers in Australia

Thank you for your support. We offer everything we do free of charge to whomever asks, and donations like yours help sustain that work.

Are We Living in the Time of the End?

I’m writing to thank you for the booklet Are We Living in the Time of the End? I have read a lot of booklets from a couple of different sources, but I want to let you know that this is one of the best I have read, other than my Bible. You have really done a super job on it. It really makes the point and is very clear and well-researched. I know I will read it again and pass it on. May our Creator bless you for helping us to understand His Word.

Reader in Canada

Cancellation request

Please don’t send any more literature from your church. I am a believer in the Trinity as written in the Word of God. I rebuke your teachings, as they are not of God but Satan.

From the Internet

Interested readers may wish to download or request our free study guide Is God a Trinity? to compare what the Bible says with this common teaching.

If You Would Like to Know More...

Who we are: This publication is provided free of charge by the United Church of God, an International Association, which has ministers and congregations throughout much of the world.

We trace our origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century. We follow the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then. Our commission is to proclaim the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to all the world as a witness and to teach all nations to observe what Christ commanded (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20).

Free of charge: Jesus Christ said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). The United Church of God offers this and other publications free of charge as an educational service in the public interest. We invite you to request your free subscription to the Beyond Today magazine and to enroll in our 12-lesson Bible Study Course, also free of charge.

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