With Boris Johnson’s recent landslide victory, many in Britain and in the parliament of the European Union expect Brexit to happen in January 2020. Many EU supporters have also expressed concerns that if Britain leaves, other nations will follow. Now, EU leaders fear that recent Polish court actions could lead to Poland’s exit from the EU, following Britain’s example.
A cousin of mine has been very successful in several business ventures. He has worked hard over many years and has accumulated wealth and property. He has the accouterments of wealth that one might expect in the form of homes, cars, boats, an airplane, and a farm in the country. This cousin has traveled extensively pursuing his interests and passions. Along the way, his family fell apart and he has experienced a lot of heartache and pain. His “success” has not really brought him the peace of mind and satisfaction that he thought it would.
Have you considered the prospect of ultimate doomsday for planet Earth? What does your Bible predict? Your Bible reveals specific events leading to the end of this age. Your Bible also predicts the awesome good news of a new world government, which will establish real world peace among all nations and to bring about prosperity for all peoples. There ARE prophetic signs helping us prepare for that great event!
[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]
If you are a frequent watcher of television movies, you may have often noticed how doomsday movies appear on your screen. Modern filmmaking produces dramatic, realistic disaster movies. The 2018 Jurassic Park sequel, Fallen Kingdom, featured a dangerous volcano. The 2017 movie Geostorm saw its heroes fighting worldwide climate disruption.
Such movies warn us of cosmocide and the end of the world: Perhaps you’ve seen those or others, such as: Pandemic, The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact, Asteroid, Andreas, or Armageddon.
Are any of these disaster films portraying a real future? We don’t need to look too far into the past to see the reality of devastating disasters. In the summer of 2018, record fires ravaged thousands of square miles in California, destroying the city of Paradise with a population of 27,000. Fires spread at the speed of 50 miles per hour, killing scores who had no chance of escape. And who can forget the record-destroying “Boxing Day tsunami” in South Asia that killed more than 225,000 in December 2004? The 9-11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the World Trade Center in New York City still, to this day, symbolize global terrorism.
Will the earth survive at all? Your Bible reveals specific events leading to the end of this age. We are living in the end of the age of man’s grand experiment of governing himself. Can the 193 member states of the United Nations ever find the way to world peace? My friends, world history should give you the answer! World War II, less than 80 years ago, first introduced us to the danger of nuclear cosmocide. Nuclear, biological, and chemical threats continue to this day!
Have you considered the prospect of ultimate doomsday for planet Earth? What does your Bible predict? Matthew 24:21–22, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [a]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
WHO will shorten those days to save us? Your Bible reveals that the Messiah, the Savior of the World, will return to this earth to prevent total cosmocide. Your Bible also predicts the awesome good news of a new world government under the King of kings, Jesus Christ. Yes, the greatest event in modern history may happen in YOUR LIFETIME, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, to establish real world peace among all nations and to bring about prosperity for all peoples.
There ARE prophetic signs helping us prepare for that great event. On today’s program, we’ll be offering you a VITAL, inspiring and revealing study guide, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. Be sure to order your free copy.
What signs should you be watching for? My friends, these signs are now rapidly coming to pass. You need to know the signs of the Second Coming!
Keep watching!
Warm greetings to all our friends around the world.
My friends, I’m sure you’ve heard of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, but He is also called the “Prince of peace.” That’s in Isaiah 9:6. Our world desperately needs the peace only Christ can bring. Will you be ready to meet Him when He comes? And how will you know WHEN He is coming? What are the prophetic signs you need to know? We’ll be answering those questions on today’s program, and we’ll be offering you an inspiring free study guide, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. Be sure to write down the contact information to request your free copy.
How will you know WHEN Christ will return? Let’s consider seven signs of the Second Coming. SIGN NUMBER ONE: Increasing danger of nuclear war. The combined power of mankind’s nuclear weapons could destroy all human life on earth several times over. On page 5 of the Armageddon booklet This chart shows the estimated number of nuclear warheads nine nations possess. They are Russia, the United States, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. According to the Arms Control Association, as of June 2018, the U.S. had 6,550 nuclear warheads and Russia had 6,850.
And now both countries are determined to increase, not decrease, their nuclear development! According to an NPR report dated February 2, 2019, “The Trump administration said Friday that the U.S. will formally begin the process of withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty the Cold War arms control accord with Russia — a move that prompted Russia to announce its own withdrawal on Saturday” (“U.S., And Now Russia, Announce Plans To Withdraw From Nuclear Arms Control Treaty.” Sasha Ingber, NPR, February 1, 2019).
Here’s how the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists described the present danger “The current situation—in which intersecting nuclear, climate, and information warfare threats all go insufficiently recognized and addressed, when they are not simply ignored or denied—is unsustainable. The longer world leaders and citizens carelessly inhabit this new and abnormal reality, the more likely the world is to experience catastrophe of historic proportions” (“A new abnormal: It is still 2 minutes to midnight.” John Mecklin ed., Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 24, 2019).
The Book of Revelation in your Bible ALSO warns of a coming global catastrophe of historic proportions. Revelation 9 describes a huge army moving west across the Euphrates River with great military power. Revelation 9:16, “Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.”
Yes, as shocking as it may seem, one-third of mankind will die in a future world war! My friends, watch for development of nuclear capabilities on the world scene. SIGN NUMBER ONE for the Second Coming: Increasing danger of nuclear war.
SIGN NUMBER TWO you need to watch for: Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters. In April of 2016, the nation of Ecuador suffered a 7.8 magnitude quake killing at least 400 people. The previous week, Japan was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. The Daily Express reported the following headline: “Fears of ‘THE BIG ONE’ as SEVEN major earthquakes strike Pacific region in just 96 hours.” The article reported “SCIENTISTS fear a monster earthquake could be about to strike after seven earthquakes in just 96 hours struck the Pacific region, killing hundreds of people” (“Fears of ‘THE BIG ONE’ as SEVEN major earthquakes strike Pacific region in just 96 hours.” Jon Austin, Daily Express, April 20, 2016).
My friends, are you prepared for disasters? Have you stored enough drinking water to last a week if your water source is cut off? Jesus Himself predicted end-time earthquakes: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7–8). Remember the rider of the BLACK HORSE REPRESENTS famines that normally follow on the heels of war.
The book of Revelation reveals an even greater earthquake yet to come: “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth” (Revelation 16:18). Be sure to watch world events in the light of SIGN NUMBER TWO, Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters.
We’ll continue with more prophetic trends in the next part of our program, but I’d like to offer you this inspiring free booklet titled FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. This booklet will give you the biblical signs and trends leading up to the Second Coming
You need to know your future. So, click the link in the description right now and order your free copy of FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. Also, remember to click the “like” button and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video…
We’ve briefly discussed two signs announcing the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to rule all nations on earth. What signs should you be watching for?
SIGN NUMBER ONE: Increasing danger of nuclear war. SIGN NUMBER TWO: Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters. PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER THREE is: An Ascendant European Union Seeks Global Primacy. Today, Europe is challenged by a massive refugee influx, religious violence, economic crises, and Great Britain’s uncertain status. To recapture the prophesied power and grandeur of the ancient Roman Empire, Europe will need a strong and charismatic leader.
This future power is described as a symbolic beast with seven heads and ten horns. God reveals its meaning in Revelation 17:12: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.” Ten kings or kingdoms will support this charismatic leader producing a powerful unified force.
But notice! There is also another world figure, also described as a beast, but THIS beast symbolically has two horns like a lamb. Let’s read that in Revelation 13:11, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [Listen to this] He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast.”
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. By contrast, this religious imposter will APPEAR Christian, yet speak like a dragon. He will deceive billions with false miracles and signs. My friends, you need to watch for a respected religious figure who will influence the political and military superpower. PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER FOUR is: A Powerful Religious Figure Leads a Religious Revival. My friends, WILL YOU be deceived by a miracle working religious figure? His miracle working deceptions will cause billions to follow him and his false religion. Notice 2 Thessalonians 2:9, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders….” Yes, the false prophet will even call down fire from heaven as we saw in Revelation 13:13.
The Apostle Paul explains that this false prophet is a servant NOT of God, but of Satan. But notice that God will judge his lawlessness. at the coming of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:8: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
My friends, you need to watch religious trends in Europe, where a great religious revival will persuade most people to practice a false and lawless religion. PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER FOUR: A Powerful Religious Figure Leads a Religious Revival. This in turn will lead to PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER FIVE: The Abomination of Desolation.
Jesus gave us this vital warning sign. In Matthew 24:15, He stated: “‘Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.’” If you’ve read the books of Daniel and Matthew in your Bible, you may have been puzzled by the mysterious “abomination of desolation.” What is it, and what will it mean in end-time prophecy?
Clearly, this is an important sign to understand. It signals the time when God’s people are to flee, to escape the final three-and-a-half-year sequence of devastating end-time prophetic calamities.
Historically, the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes issued a decree in 167BC that prohibited the Jews from making sacrifices in the Temple. Turn to DANIEL 11, verse 31: “And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” Historically, not only did Antiochus stop the daily sacrifices; he erected in the temple a statue of Jupiter Olympus, and directed everyone to worship it.
This event, also described in Daniel 8, PRE-figures a prophesied end-time milestone. DANIEL 12, verse 11: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
Yes, my friends, 1,290 days before Jesus Christ’s second coming, animal sacrifices will again be stopped! Jesus warns us as Christians to be alert to an end-time abomination of desolation! Just as Antiochus Epiphanes profaned the Temple in 167 BC and cut off the sacrifices, so will a profane authority cut off Jewish sacrifices in the future! My friends, watch for developments in Israel that will lead to the restoration of animal sacrifices by religious Jews. Watch for trends that will lead to an international treaty allowing these sacrifices. PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER FIVE is: The Abomination of Desolation.
We’ll discuss more significant signs in the next part of our program, but first be sure to request this most significant and vital free booklet we’re offering today: FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. This booklet is free of charge. There’s no cost or obligation. Just call the number on the screen or order on-line at our Web site TOMORROWSWORLD.ORG. Will you be taken by surprise? Or will you be able to identify the prophetic signs that are even now beginning to intensify? Listen to these prophetic signs you need to be watching: A Crisis Strikes Jerusalem; The Collapse of the English-Speaking Nations—The Great Tribulation; The Seven Last Plagues; and The Gospel of the Kingdom of God Preached to All Nations.
My friends, you NEED to watch and pray always. This free booklet, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN, will help in your Bible study and your vital preparation for the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! So, call the number below or click the link in the description right now and order your free copy…
The greatest event in modern history is coming soon, the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ to save the world from total destruction. You need to know the signs of His coming. So far, in this program, we’ve discussed five signs of the Second Coming. PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER SIX: THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS.
Jesus gave this sign signifying the end of the age, the end of mankind’s failed attempts to produce world peace. Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” You’ve been hearing that gospel on this program, proclaiming tomorrow’s world and the Kingdom of God on earth. My friends, I hope you’re praying for that kingdom to come, as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:10. Yes, the Messiah, Jesus Christ will be King over all nations. As it tells us in Zechariah 14:9, “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” Today’s world of conflicts, oppression, and wars, will be replaced by the Kingdom of God, the government of God. This very program is preaching that powerful message. Turn to Revelation 11, verse 15: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” God speed that day! PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER SIX is: THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS.
Many of you, who watch world news and study Bible prophecy, know that a future disturbance in the heavens will shock everyone on earth. This leads us to PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER SEVEN: Heavenly Signs and the Day of the Lord. Mankind loves to look to space, and some of what we see is astounding. Do you remember the “Super Blood Wolf Moon” of January 2019? Every few years, lunar eclipses project vivid color on the usually gray moon. After one of those eclipses NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration described the color as “sunset-red” or, as the eclipse progressed, “filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the Moon into a great red orb” (“A Tetrad of Lunar Eclipses.” Tony Phillips, NASA, March 27, 2014).
These lunar eclipses may remind us of a prophesied future cosmic disturbance, described in Revelation 6:12. Some Bibles label this section: “Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances.” Revelation 6:12, “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” Continue reading in Revelation 6:13, “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! [LISTEN TO THIS] For the GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH has come, and who is able to stand?”
Notice, my friends, that these cosmic disturbances introduce the Day of the Lord, the “great day of His [Christ’s] wrath.” God is warning us in advance of future judgments. The moon will be turned to blood in color and the sun will become black and dark. Additionally, thousands of meteors will light up the sky.
PROPHETIC SIGN NUMBER SEVEN: Heavenly Signs and the Day of the Lord. My friends, Judgment Day is coming on all nations of planet earth. How can you be prepared? Request this vital, free study guide, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN. This booklet is free of charge. There’s no cost or obligation. Just call the number on the screen or order online at our Website TOMORROWSWORLD.ORG. Will you be taken by surprise? Or will you be able to identify the prophetic signs that are even now beginning to intensify? Listen to these prophetic signs you need to be watching: A Crisis Strikes Jerusalem; The Collapse of the English-Speaking Nations—The Great Tribulation; The Seven Last Plagues; and The Gospel of the Kingdom of God Preached to All Nations.
My friends, you NEED to watch and pray. This free booklet, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN, will help you in your Bible study as you prepare for the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! So, click the link in the description right now and order your free copy. Also, remember to click the “like” button and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video…
On today’s program, we’ve discussed seven vital signs warning of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord leading up to the glorious Second Coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ. How can you escape the judgment of those days? Your Savior and mine, gives us this admonition in Luke 21:34, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
My friends, will you be counted worthy to escape? Are YOU watching and praying? Is that your highest priority in life? What is your greatest GOAL in life? Your Bible gives us the most important and vital goal you should ever set in your life, Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
We look forward to the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. My friends, you need to watch the trends and prophetic signs ahead. You need to read our inspiring free booklet, FOURTEEN SIGNS ANNOUNCING CHRIST’S RETURN There’s much more vital information from Bible prophecy than we’ve had time for on this program. You will want to watch as these fourteen signs increase in intensity. Be sure to request your copy of this vital free booklet.
We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World. In this world of growing chaos and confusion, you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video!
Doesn’t it seem like the world is on fire? The state of political discourse is more savage than it has been in decades. Nuclear treaties are dissolving, old alliances are unraveling, and the potential for violent international confrontation seems to grow. On the cultural front, Western civilization is rewriting elements of its norms and moral code that have been in place for generations—even centuries. Welcome to the year 2020! What does Bible prophecy say about what’s in store for YOUR future?
[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]
Welcome to the year 2020! What does Bible prophecy say about what’s in store? You’re about to find out—RIGHT NOW!
Welcome to Tomorrow’s World—and to the year 2020! I’m excited about today’s program, and excited about the free offer we that have for you today—a free DVD titled, “The Power of Prophecy,” one of our most popular items explaining biblical prophecy. Keep an eye out for information on how to get your copy.
And forgive me for being so blunt, but ask yourself: Doesn’t it seem like the world is on fire?
The state of political discourse is more virulent and savage than it has been in decades, and not just among our politicians and pundits, but among ordinary citizens, as well. Meanwhile, nuclear treaties are dissolving, old alliances are unraveling, and the potential for violent international confrontation seems to grow. And on the cultural front, we seem surrounded by more confusion than ever, as Western civilization is rewriting elements of its norms and moral code that have been in place for generations—even centuries. Truly, a world on fire.
Ironically, many preachers and pastors will tell you that prophecy is a distraction from the important parts of the Bible. But they are astonishingly and dangerously wrong. UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY is a VITAL part of living, breathing, BIBLICAL Christianity!
The Apostle Paul speaks to us through the centuries in his letter to those in Thessalonica, saying bluntly, “(“)Do not despise prophecies.”(”) [1 Thessalonians 5:20.] In fact, the testimony of Jesus Christ is called “(“)…the spirit of prophecy…”…”(”) in Revelation 19:10, and Revelation 1 and verse 1 plainly says that God gave Jesus prophecy to deliver to His followers so that they would UNDERSTAND THINGS THAT ARE SHORTLY TO TAKE PLACE.
Churches and ministries that ignore or minimize Bible prophecy relegate themselves to being mere shadows of what Jesus Christ intended for His Church and they ignore one-fourth to one-third of the Bible!
Now, of course, some avoid one ditch by jumping into another… Desperate to say something relevant about the times they are in, some take personal predictions and thread-bare theories and force them into the Bible, holding God’s word hostage as they try to press it into service to prop up their own, humanly derived ideas.
For instance, how many televangelists or pulpit preachers have you heard proclaim that Jesus might return this very night? I know I’ve heard many! Yet those ministers had no idea what they were talking about! Now, of course, you or I may die today, and, for us then, Jesus Christ’s return may as well BE tonight—none of us have any excuse to rest on our laurels. But will Jesus Christ return tonight, this week, or any time in 2020 to take over the world, resurrect the saints, and begin His millennial reign, or initiate the so-called “Rapture” in 2020? Absolutely not! And those preachers who say that He might, do more harm than good!
I encourage you to go online and look for the Tomorrow’s World program my colleague Gerald Weston produced last year titled “2019 in Bible Prophecy,” in which he boldly proclaimed three things the Bible foretold would NOT happen that year! And they didn’t!
The Apostle Paul tells us plainly that we are to make sure we are “(“) …rightly dividing the word of truth.”(”) [2 Timothy 2:15.] And God’s word has POWERFUL warnings for those who would use His word to proclaim things HE HAS NOT SAID. Proverbs 30:6; Ezekiel 22:28; Revelation 22:18.
So, we ARE to care about prophecy—in fact, it would be foolish to ignore it, given the earth-shattering events that God plainly says lie ahead. Yet, we must not use the Bible to proclaim our OWN ideas. Rather, we must rightly divide it and give GOD’S OWN MESSAGE concerning the days ahead.
And that, dear viewers, is our goal here on Tomorrow’s World! In our next few segments, we are going to let God’s word tell us what you and I need to be watching for in 2020—but before I get started, I want to explain the free DVD we are sending to our viewers today: “The Power of Prophecy.” This DVD will NOT ONLY lay out for you multiple Bible prophecies about what is happening in the world RIGHT NOW, it will also take the time to give you the KEYS YOU NEED so that YOU CAN PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND BIBLE PROPHECY for YOURSELF.
And if you’ve never requested something from Tomorrow’s World before, you’re in for a treat. We aren’t like other ministries on television or the Internet who are constantly asking for money or looking to sell what they have for a suggested “donation”—nor will anyone call you later without your permission. Those guys irritate US as much as they irritate YOU. EVERYTHING we offer on Tomorrow’s World truly is ABSOLUTELY FREE. We take Jesus’ admonition seriously when he commands all of us, “Freely you have received, freely give.” [Matthew 10:8.]
Put us to the test and take a brief moment to request your own copy of this free DVD, “The Power of Prophecy.” And when we come back, we’ll begin a whirlwind look at six specific areas of world news and current events that you need to watch in 2020 as prophecy marches forward!
Welcome back! As we begin, please keep in mind that we aren’t setting dates for when all of these things will ultimately be fulfilled. Those details are revealed in God’s own good time, and it will come upon many as a thief in the night! Yet if we are familiar with the overall arc of Bible prophecy, we CAN see the Almighty setting the stage for the day of Jesus Christ’s return. As Paul tells us:
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us WATCH and be sober.” [1 Thessalonians 5:4–6]
Let us not sleep! But what should you and I be WATCHING in 2020? Let’s jump in!
First: Keep an eye on EUROPE’S ACCELERATING IDENTITY CRISIS.
Of course, many in the United States are so used to having no need to focus on anything but their own politics and affairs, they often fail to pay attention to events across the oceans. However, the identity crisis growing in Europe is prophesied to impact the entire world and every single human being living in the end times.
The book of Daniel records a marvelous prophecy given by God Almighty to ancient King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In it, he saw a statue made of various materials—gold at the top, silver just below, descending in quality until the feet, which were composed of a mixture of iron and clay. The prophet Daniel interpreted that dream, explaining that it represented a succession of world-ruling kingdoms, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon and continuing down through time, each inferior in some ways to the previous one, until the final kingdom—symbolized by the feet of iron and clay. Concerning this last worldly kingdom, Daniel explains:
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. [Daniel 2:41–43]
This last Kingdom is a collection of peoples or nations hard to keep together—not naturally adhering to one another, just as iron and clay do not mix.
As the vision and Daniel’s interpretation make plain, this is the last global kingdom of men to exist before the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of HIS kingdom, which will SMASH the worldly kingdom before growing to fill the whole world. [vv. 44–45]
My friends, the beginning of this kingdom—the feet and toes of iron and clay—exists today in the form of the European Union.
Just as the iron and clay of the vision do not naturally adhere to one another, Europe continues to struggle with its identity, attempting to keep together its collection of various nation-states and peoples, each with their own national identities, plans, and desires. The departure of the United Kingdom and Brexit has rocked that Union in ways that are still being understood.
As historian Ian Kershaw noted in the pages of the New York Times,
If there is a common thread in all of these problems, it is the interplay of national interests and identities with the demands of an increasingly integrated continent, and an increasingly global world (“Europe’s Crisis of Integration,” Ian Kershaw, The New York Times, April 29, 2019).
These difficulties will eventually be resolved in the most DRAMATIC of ways, and the result will impact the lives of every human being on the planet! Watch developments in Europe in 2020!
And not only Europe! Watch the CHANGING POWER DYNAMIC AMONG ARABIC NATIONS.
The Bible prophesies dramatic changes in the Arab world, eventually resulting in a coalition or confederacy of nations actively plotting the destruction of Israel and, when you understand prophecy, the United States and nations descended from Great Britain. We see this coalition described in Psalm 83:
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a CONFEDERACY against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre…. [Psalm 83:3–7]
Eventually a world power will arise, called in the book of Daniel the King of the South. And while common enemies often bind rivals together temporarily, the Bible makes it clear that in the years ahead of us these Arabic nations, the European superpower, and additional military titans of the east will clash against each other with such ferocity that the survival of mankind itself will be in doubt. Those times lie yet ahead, but the savvy student of Bible prophecy can see the groundwork being laid TODAY in 2020. Watch for it!
Now, you might ask where are the United States and the United Kingdom in all of this? You’ll find out in the NEXT area to watch in 2020! But first, let me pause very briefly and give you an opportunity to request our free DVD, “The Power of Prophecy.
This DVD contains four Tomorrow’s World programs designed to unlock the power of Bible prophecy for you to unleash in your own life. These programs are designed to answer some of the most important questions concerning Bible prophecy, such as
Order this completely free DVD right now—no strings attached. And I’ll be right back to discuss what the Bible says about the United States and the U.K., as well as three additional areas you need to watch in 2020!
Welcome back!
So, where in all of this is the United States and the United Kingdom? What should we watch for concerning these nations in 2020? Regrettably, the news is not good.
In 2020, watch for the continuing DECLINE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE BRITISH-DESCENDED NATIONS of the world.
Many ministers and preachers will tell you that the U.S. and the U.K. can’t be found in the Bible. Well, I will tell you that they are FLAT OUT WRONG. If you don’t believe me, you really need our free DVD! We have more material explaining how to find them in prophecy both in our DVD and on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org, but for now, let me simply explain that prophecy portends abject POLITICAL, CULTURAL, and MORAL decline for these once-great nations.
On the political front, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to the relationships between the U.S. and the U.K. and the nations of the world that they have allied with in the past:
There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. ALL YOUR LOVERS HAVE FORGOTTEN YOU; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. [Jeremiah 30:13–14.]
The international relations and support that the U.S. and the U.K. have built up since the end of World War II will unravel in the years ahead of us—but note why… God doesn’t say the cause is anything truly political or economic. Fundamentally it is because of the SINS of these nations! Because their decline is not simply political or financial, but MORAL.
If you are paying attention today, you see it, don’t you?
In our halls of government, on our movie screens, and in our classrooms, the growing moral rot of the United States, and the United Kingdom, and other nations of the Anglosphere is on depressing display for all the world to see—all while the Ten Commandments can hardly be found.
That decline will continue in 2020—watch for it.
Watch, too,DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WORLD OF ORGANIZED RELIGION.
With the rise of the so-called “nones”—that is, those who answer “none of the above” when asked what religious affiliation they possess—the world of organized religion is doing a lot of soul searching.
The Roman Catholic Church continues to be rocked by the scandals of child abuse among its priests, and the Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis, once the darling of media and those looking for signs of a changing Catholic Church, has faced criticism from multiple quarters—both from Catholic conservatives who see him as watering down doctrine and from Catholic and worldly liberals who see him as reacting too slowly to claims of abuse, perpetuating a culture of protection for abusers.
Yet, while it seems old fashioned in an era of loose, modern “spiritualism” to talk about global roles for the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant denominations that have descended from that organization, the Bible says that their relevancy will increase in the days ahead.
In fact, prophecy speaks of a “mother church” wielding a false, deceptive counterfeit of Christianity in the end times, described as “Babylon” and possessing daughter churches that are just as deceptive. Symbolized by a woman, drinking the blood of TRUE saints of God, who are true to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the commandments of God, Revelation describes this religious system:
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [Revelation 17:4–5.]
Watch in 2020 for changes to continue in the Catholic Church and its daughter churches in the Protestant world as organized religion progresses, step-by-step, toward a dangerous condition to come.
And watch in 2020 for GROWING VULNERABILITY TO NATURAL DISASTER.
And we mean natural disasters of all sorts—such as weather, earthquakes, famine, flood, and disease.
Now of course, it is easy to feel with every disaster in the news that we are living in the worst times mankind has ever seen. Frankly, most of this is an exaggeration, as anyone who has studied the American Dust Bowl of the 1930s or the Spanish Flu of 1918 can tell you.
However, it is dangerous to say too quickly “all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4.
And we do see changes taking place. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics and antivirals and the resulting mutations in dangerous strains of bacteria have resulted, for instance, in the risk of “superbugs”—diseases against which mankind has no defenses.
The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, explained the situation in a speech in New York City. After praising all of the progress that has been made in modern medicine, he noted,
“The emergence and rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance threatens to undo this progress, at enormous human and economic cost. No one is immune from this threat…. Indeed, part of the promise of modern medicine itself is at stake” (“Remarks at AMR Challenge Lunch,” Alex M. Azar II, HHS.gov, September 25, 2018).
Perhaps mankind will find new ways to stop these devastating infections—we should certainly hope so. But prophecy is clear that—eventually—diseases, natural disasters, and famines will begin to get the better of us, and they will devastate life on earth in the last days—including a special level of devastation in the United States and British-descended nations. [On-screen list: Revelation 6:5–8; Luke 21:11; Deuteronomy 28:21–22.
How these things will develop remains to be seen, but this area is definitely one to watch in 2020.
We have one more area to pay attention to this year, but before we explain that, let me pause briefly one more time to give you the opportunity to request today’s free DVD “The Power of Prophecy.” If you have ever felt that Bible prophecy was somehow “beyond” you or inaccessible, this free DVD will show you that you CAN understand it—both what it says about the days in which we’re living, AND what it says about the days just ahead of us. This DVD includes the vital message, “Five Keys to Understanding Prophecy.” Don’t regret allowing this free DVD to pass you by.
It’s already paid for—Just click the link in the description and order your own copy right now. Also, be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and I’ll be right back to give you one more area to watch in 2020!
Today, we’ve looked at five areas of world news and current events that you need to watch develop in 2020 as prophecy continues to unfold.
The sixth area to watch is the EXPANDING EFFORT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM TO THE WORLD.
Note: Not a false, shallow “gospel” that discusses nothing but the life of Jesus Christ and some of His teachings, but a full-throated preaching of the FULL, TRUE Gospel message that Jesus brought to the world, including the coming Kingdom of God!
The preaching of THAT Gospel, the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ, is a sign of the prophesied end times, as we see in Matthew 24 and verse 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Again, not just ANY “gospel”… Jesus says SPECIFICALLY, “this gospel of the KINGDOM”—the GOSPEL OF THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD!
The coming of Jesus Christ will not take place until AFTER the gospel you hear being preached on the Tomorrow’s World program and in our free magazine and materials goes out to all the world as a witness to all the nations! So, what does that imply for 2020? All I can say is “Watch this space!” We live in a world where preaching the Bible truth is getting harder and harder, as restrictions on speech, enforced by governments and societies who don’t want to hear what God has to say about their lifestyles and choices, seek to silence God’s counsel and His warnings of the times ahead.
Yet His word is sure, and one way or another, this Gospel WILL grow and go out in power! So, again, watch this space!
It would be foolish to say that all of these things will come to a climax IN 2020. In fact, we are guaranteed that they will not. Christ will not return in 2020, and there are still prophetic pieces being moved into place by God on the great chessboard of history. However, it would be JUST as foolish to ignore these developments and assume that prophecy is NOT moving forward!
Quite the contrary. For those of us who labor for you on this program—as well as the members of the hundreds of Living Church of God congregations around the world who have already paid for the all of the free materials that we offer so that you can have them at no cost whatsoever—every year that passes, we see a growing number of signs that the end-times are near.
And though the times between now and the return of Jesus Christ will be troubling, for those who submit themselves to Him now, in this life, the signs of the times ahead are also beacons of hope!
As our Savior Himself tells us, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” [Luke 21:28.]
Our prayer here at Tomorrow’s World is that you, too, will seek God and embrace the way of life He commands so that these signs may encourage you the same way they encourage us.
Don’t miss out on today’s free DVD, “The Power of Prophecy,” and don’t forget to join us again next week. Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will be here waiting for you—eager to share truths about Bible prophecy, the Kingdom of God, and the teachings of Jesus Christ that you will hear nowhere else. Please take care, and we’ll see you next time.
Modern research supports an activity God has long commanded and reveals benefits He no doubt designed: Singing in a group benefits those involved by helping people bond and feel part of the group and by improving physical and mental health (The Conversation, October 28, 2015).
Reuters reports that a recent poll in Italy is causing some concern: “Almost half of Italians are in favor of having a ‘strongman’ in power who does not care about parliament and elections… casting doubts on the strength of democracy in a major European nation” (December 6, 2019). Italians are fed up with the lack of economic recovery following the 2008 global recession, as well as with ongoing governmental failures.
Last week, Britain held yet another election—one that had been promised by Boris Johnson in the wake of Britain’s last Brexit attempt. Pollsters predicted a very close race between the conservative, pro-Brexit incumbent, Boris Johnson, and his liberal, Labor rival, Jeremy Corbyn. However, the outcome of the election was anything but close. Johnson secured what many are calling a “landmark victory” over Corbyn, granting him a clear majority government.
The Economist reported on December 10 that two of the three remaining members retired from the appellate body of the World Trade Organization (WTO), “which hears appeals in trade disputes and authorises sanctions against rule-breakers” (November 28, 2019). This means that any decisions made by the WTO that are appealed will have only one of the required three judges to hear the appeal.
Christmas goes to the heart of our emotions and appeals to all our senses. We love the smell of freshly cut trees and other greenery. Our taste buds look forward to eggnog and other holiday favorites. However, there are problems with Christmas, and the problems go beyond “putting Christ back in it,” and every professing Christian ought to sit up and take notice. As difficult as it is to admit, and as hard as it is to believe, the problem with Christmas is that it conflicts with the Bible.
[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]
Christmas goes to the heart of our emotions and it appeals to all of our senses. We love the smell of freshly cut trees and other greenery. Our taste buds look forward to eggnog and other holiday favorites. Our eyes delight at displays of colored lights. Traditional songs blare over department store speakers, and who doesn’t want to get his or her hands on a decorated box with a surprise inside?
However, there are problems with Christmas, and the problems go beyond “putting Christ back in it,” and every professing Christian ought to sit up and take notice. As difficult as it is to admit, and as hard as it is to believe, the problem with Christmas is that it conflicts with the Biblical record and therefore undermines the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. That may shock you, but on today’s Tomorrow’s World program I’ll give indisputable proofs that demonstrate how the popular story of Christmas, with all its customs and traditions distort the true story. I’ll also be offering a free booklet on the subject, titled, “Is Christmas Christian?”
Do you, my friends, want to know the problems with Christmas? Stay tuned!
Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, and I especially want to welcome any first-time viewers. I’ll be discussing on today’s program four serious problems with Christmas, problems every sincere Christian should be concerned with. And I’ll be offering a free resource titled Is Christmas Christian? There’s no cost to it. All you have to do is call our toll-free number that will be shown on the screen at various times during this program.
So, what are these problems with Christmas?
Problem #1: The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible
That’s right. The story you hear each December is not the same as found in the Bible. Now don’t misunderstand; Jesus is the Son of God and His birth is recorded in the Bible, but not as most people assume.
For example, do you realize that the wise men did not come on the night in which Jesus was born? He was not in a stable when they came. They did not come to bring birthday gifts. And contrary to the song, the Bible nowhere tells us that there were three kings. The story of the wise men didn’t happen as it is commonly told today. Not according to your Bible! It’s a myth that distorts and perverts the truth of scripture. Notice what the Bible actually reveals.
The timing of the wise men’s visit was weeks or even months after the birth of Jesus, and when they did visit Him, He was not in a stable, but in a house with His mother. No mention of shepherds and sheep, not even of Joseph.
But let’s not get ahead of the story. When the wise men came to Jerusalem, reporting that they had seen an unusual star in the sky and were inquiring about a child who was born to be king of the Jews, no small stir was created among the inhabitants of the city, including the king. Matthew 2, verses 3 & 4.
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.”
The answer from these religious leaders was that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
Herod then dispatched these visitors to Bethlehem, to find the child and to report on where he was found so that he could worship Him. Of course, this was a ruse. Herod had no intention of worshiping another king, but wanted to know where He was so that he could kill Him.
While Bethlehem is only a little over 6 miles away, not a great distance, it should be obvious from what we’ve already read that all this did not happen in one night, but notice this clear statement found in verse 11:
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.”
Note that it refers to Christ as a young child, not as an infant or babe, but we don’t have to rely on the nuances of Greek words to know that the wise men did not show up on the night in which Jesus was born. And here’s why.
After what was no doubt a few days, Herod realized the wise men were not going to report back to him. We pick up the story in verse 16:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under….”
Why up to the age of two? After all, there’s a huge difference between a newborn infant and a two-year-old. The remainder of verse 16 explains.
“…from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”
Certainly, Jesus was younger than two, but He was more than a newborn. At a bare minimum, He was several weeks old. As we read in Luke, He was circumcised on the 8th day and after 40 days from His birth, He was brought to the temple.
“Now when the days of her [that is, Mary’s] purification according to the law of Moses were completed [that is, 40 days], they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord…” (Luke 2:22).
These events had to happen prior to the visit by the wise men. Joseph was warned in a dream shortly after their visit to flee with the child to Egypt, as Herod would kill all children up to the age of two in the region.
I’m showing today that the traditional Christmas story is not the story you’ve been led to believe. So far, we’ve seen that the wise men, or Magi, did not show up on the night Jesus was born. This is not the only example of tradition trumping truth. It’s a symptom of a much greater problem, a problem that we’ll explore in the remainder of this program, but first I want to tell you about a resource that covers this subject in greater detail. Is Christmas Christian? gives details that I don’t have time to cover in this short program. And it answers a question that few professing Christians are willing to ask—Is Christmas really ChristianAnd this booklet can be yours free for the asking, just click the link in the description to get your free copy. It’s that simple. And I’ll be right back to show you another problem with Christmas.
On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we’re discussing the problem with Christmas and seeing how truth is subverted by tradition. But you may be thinking, does any of this matter? Yes, it does! If you as a parent lie to your children, you undermine your own integrity. What credibility do you have instructing them to always tell the truth, if you are less than honest? And what about the fact that in the name of religion you violate the tenants of your religion? Note this sobering warning found in Revelation 21:8:
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Yes, liars are lumped in with murderers and the sexually immoral. Note too that the cowardly are listed here. How many professing Christians have the courage to step out and do what they know is right? Most often, the fear of family, friends, and co-workers keeps them from acting on truth.
In the previous portion of this program I introduced Problem #1:
The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible
In addition to the fact that the Bible clearly shows that the wise men did not visit Christ on the night He was born, we also saw that Jesus was in a house with His mother when they arrived. Further, nowhere in scripture do we read of three kings or wise men. They presented three kinds of presents (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), but these are categories of gifts, not an indication of how many Magi there were. And if they didn’t show up on His birthday, why did they bring gifts? I was told that we give gifts at Christmas because that is what the wise men did. But wait a minute! Didn’t they give their gifts to Jesus, not each other?
Truth is important. They were not celebrating his birthday, but were presenting gifts to a king, something that is lost in modern traditions and customs. Jesus was born to be a very real King. Notice how Jesus answered Pilate’s question:
“‘Are you a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born…’” (John 18:37).
While the term king is used in the traditional Christmas story, somehow the reality of what this means is lost. For example, Zechariah 14 gives a prophecy of the Messiah’s future role. Verse 9 declares:
“And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.”
Read Zechariah 14 for yourself and you will see that this is speaking of a real kingdom to be set up on the earth at Jesus’ second coming.
This brings up our second problem with Christmas:
Problem #2: Jesus was not born on December 25th
That this is a fabrication is attested to by a multitude of sources. You will often see this fact in books about Christmas, as well as newspaper articles coming out each December. No one knows for sure the exact date of His birth, but one thing we know for sure is that He was not born on December 25th. Luke 2, verse 8 tells us:
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
The relevance of this statement is explained in The Interpreter’s Bible:
“The implication of Luke’s story is that Jesus was born at a time when sheep could still be kept in the field—sometime between April and November”
But December is the cold rainy season. Ezra 10:9 confirms this.
“It was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of heavy rain.”
The twentieth day of the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar falls between late November and late-December, depending on the year. Then in verse 13 it says,
“But there are many people; it is the season for heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside.”
The Interpreter’s Bible comments on these verses as follows:
“The month usually marks the beginning of the great rain of Palestine, when the heavy rain… saturates the earth and fills the cisterns. It was… ‘the onset of winter storms,’ for the rains, often icy cold, reached the peak of intensity during December and January…”
Some authorities vainly try to hang onto the 25thof December as the date of Christ’s birth, but the facts are not on their side, and this leads to our third problem with Christmas and I’ll give that to you shortly, but I want to remind you of today’s free offer. Our resource Is Christmas Christian? answers a very important question. As we’re seeing, the Christmas story is filled with one falsehood after another, and so far, we’ve only scratched the surface, as the true facts of the Bible prove. What really happened? What are the facts concerning the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ? Chapter two of Is Christmas Christian? is titled, “When Was Jesus Born?” Think about it. Why would anyone claiming to be a Christian, perpetuate a lie when he or she knows it’s a lie? With so many falsehoods, one must ask the question: Is Christmas Christian? You need this resource, so click the link in the description or the information button in the top right of your screen and next, I’ll show you the real source of Christian traditions.
Today, we’re looking at the problem with Christmas. People bemoan the commercialization, the incessant music, and trying to figure out what to give Aunt Suzie, but none of this gets to the heart and core of the problem with Christmas. So far we’ve looked at two problems. The first one?
Problem #1 The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible
Actually, this problem is an accumulation of a series of falsehoods that contradict the Biblical account, and there is much more than I’ve covered on this program. Our second problem is widely recognized.
Problem #2: Jesus was not born on December 25th
Now if the traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible, and Jesus was not born on the 25thof December, why do people celebrate the birth of Jesus on that day? The answer is found in our third problem:
Problem #3: Christmas did not originate with the birth of Christ
We often hear the call to “Put Christ back in Christmas.” The problem is that He never was in Christmas. Professing Christianity simply took over pagan customs and traditions, and placed Christ’s name on them. To learn more about these traditions and where they came from, you need our resource Is Christmas Christian?Chapter 4 is titled, “Santa Claus, or ‘Ho, Ho, Hoax’?” And chapter 5 covers the subject of, “Evergreens and other Christmas traditions.”
While the true history of Jesus Christ’s birth is given in the Bible, there’s absolutely no record of an annual celebration of His birth—zero, nada! It was centuries later before His birth became attached to already extant pagan celebrations. No less an authority than the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states:
“As late as [A.D.] 245 Origen, in his eighth homily on Leviticus, repudiates as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ ‘as if he were a king Pharaoh.’ The first certain mention of Dec. 25 is in a Latin chronographer of A.D. 354…”
It is evident from Origen’s statement that the celebration of Jesus’ birthday was beginning to creep into the Church at that time, and this is supported by a note in The Interpreter’s Bible:
“Early in the third century A.D. some parts of the church celebrated January 6 as the birthday of Jesus. In the fourth century that date was displaced by December 25—a day that had long been the occasion of a pagan festival associated with the rebirth of various solar deities. It was the date of the winter solstice according to the Julian calendar”
In Tom Flynn’s, The Trouble with Christmas, he quotes conservative religion writer George W. Cornell as acknowledging,
“For more than 300 years after Jesus’ time, Christians didn’t celebrate his birth. The observance began in fourth century Rome, timed to coincide with a mid-winter pagan festival honoring the pagan gods Mithra and Saturn. The December date was simply taken over to commemorate Jesus’ birth, since its exact date isn’t known. Consequently, the fusion of the sacred and the profane characterized the celebration from the start”.
Many understand that the 25th of December is not the day of Jesus’ birth. And many understand the so-called Christmas tree, kissing under mistletoe, the Yule log, Santa Claus, and many other customs all originate in pagan tradition. So it all comes down to the question, “Does any of this matter as long as we celebrate Jesus?” I’ll answer that question from the pages of the Bible, that book that so many claim to be the source of their beliefs and behaviors. But I want to remind you of today’s resource: Is Christmas Christian? I think by now you probably know the answer to that question, but this resource gives more information than I have time to give in this short program, and it can be yours free for the asking. All you have to do is call the number on your screen or click the link in the description. Is Christmas Christian? is a must-read for those who put God first in their lives. Next I’m going to explain from the Bible why all of this matters, but before I do, be sure to click the like button and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.
Today we’re looking at the problem with Christmas. To put it kindly, the real problem of Christmas is that it is built upon a foundation of lies. But does any of this matter? As I’ve shown:
Problem #1 is: The traditional Christmas story is not found in the Bible
Problem #2 is: Jesus was not born on December 25th
Problem #3 is: Christmas did not originate with the birth of Christ
For some of you, this may be a revelation. For others, you’ve known these things for a long time. So, the crux of the matter is this: “Does any of this matter as long as we observe the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth?” It’s now time to look at:
Problem #4 God is not pleased with us celebrating His Son’s birth.
Tom Flynn’s book The Trouble with Christmas is admittedly written from an atheistic viewpoint, and this is not where we’re coming from here at Tomorrow’s World. Nevertheless, what he writes in the chapter entitled “The Babe and the Bathwater” is true.
“Even devout Christians must admit—as mainstream and liberal Christian clergy do—that much of what we know as the ‘story of Christmas’ is simply the result of a process of literary accretion [that’s the process of growth or enlargement]. Its elements are inspired by, or just appropriated from, the legends of earlier holy ‘personages.’ Even if Christianity is true, the story of Christmas is unworthy of it.”
Let’s go straight to the Bible to learn what IT tells us. After all, isn’t that the source that really matters?
In Luke 6:46, Jesus chided the people of His day who called Him their Lord, meaning Master, but they didn’t obey His teachings.
“But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?”
Furthermore, He rebuked the Pharisees for putting their hand washing tradition above the law of God. The issue may have been different, but the principle is the same—putting tradition over God’s commands. Mark 7:9:
“All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”
So is God pleased with Christmas traditions? Is He pleased with those who celebrate the birthday of His Son, as long as they “do it for Him?” Isn’t it time to put human reason aside and let the Bible answer this question? What does GOD think about mixing heathen practices with the worship of Jesus? Deuteronomy 12:29–32 states:
“When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess… take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them… and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.” You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”
There was a time in ancient Israel where people mixed the worship of the true God with the worship of the heathen deity Baal. The prophet Elijah challenged them in 1 Kings 18:21 with this simple question:
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said,“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, [then] follow him.”
Notice their reaction to his question:
“But the people answered him not a word.”
As with so many people today, they wanted to have it both ways. They wanted to worship God and a pagan deity at the same time. The New Bible Commentary Revised makes this astute observation regarding this verse:
“The sin of the people had been not in rejecting the worship of Yahweh, but in trying to combine it with the worship of Baal. Such syncretism [that is, combining religious ideas] is always considered to be broad-minded, whereas the other is narrow-minded. But Yahweh of Israel left no room for other gods.”
This has been the challenge down through history, and our day is no different. People want to worship God their own way. When Stephen, the newly ordained deacon, confronted the Jews in the first century, he pointed out how time and again they turned back to heathenism. Then he cried out:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51).
Yes, my friends, there IS a problem with Christmas, and God is NOT pleased with mixing heathen and pagan practices in the worship of His Son. As He spoke through the prophet Isaiah,
“Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 66:3–4).
On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, we have briefly explored the problem with Christmas. This is more than an academic exercise. It cuts to the heart of our relationship with our Creator, but few have the courage to change in the face of the facts. I urge you to call or go to our website to receive your free copy of Is Christmas Christian?
I also invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World. You need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible. Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, and I, along with guest presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the teachings of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week, right here, at this same time!
Florida produces 70 percent of the United States’ supply of citrus—it is the world’s largest producer of grapefruit and, behind Brazil, the second-largest producer of orange juice. Florida produces 90 percent of the United States’ orange juice in most seasons. Citrus and its related industries produce roughly $9 billion in revenue for the state of Florida annually.
