While Matthew’s gospel portrays Jesus as the King, Mark reveals Him as God’s Servant. Jesus’s work was always for a larger purpose, a point clearly summarized in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark filled his gospel with the miracles of Jesus, illustrating again and again both the power and the compassion of the Son of God. In these passages, Mark revealed more than Jesus as the good teacher who offered people spiritual renewal; the book also portrays Jesus as the true God and the true man, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
But Jesus’s life as the agent of change wasn’t without an ultimate purpose. Amid His hands-on ministry, Jesus constantly pointed to the definitive way in which He would serve humanity: His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. It is only through faith in these works of Jesus Christ that human beings find eternal redemption for their whole selves. Moreover, Jesus becomes our model for how to live our lives—serving others as He did.
How do I apply this? Three times in three consecutive chapters—8, 9, and 10—Mark pictured Jesus informing His disciples of His great sacrifice and ultimate victory. His disciples either rejected the teaching altogether (Mark 8:31–32) or they showed themselves concerned with other matters (9:31–34; 10:32–37). As Jesus prepared to perform the greatest service in the history of the human race, His disciples could only think about themselves—their position or safety.
Do you find it a struggle to get yourself oriented toward sacrificial service, as Jesus’s disciples did? The temptations we all wrestle with when faced with an opportunity to serve another person are to pull back within ourselves, to seek our comfort, or to protect our own interests.
The challenge that Jesus presents to us in the book of Mark involves breaking out of those patterns of self-absorption and giving ourselves in service and love to others.
HOME RESOURCES INSIGHTS ON THE BIBLE THE GOSPELS Chuck Swindoll preaching Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s overview of Mark in his audio message from the Classic series God’s Masterwork. The Book of Mark Who wrote the book? The Bible records more information about Mark than any of the other gospel writers aside from the apostle John. Luke mentioned Mark’s name several times in Acts. A budding Jerusalem church met in his mother’s home. Mark also started the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas but went home early, though he later traveled with Barnabas to Cyprus for more mission work. He became significant in the life of Paul, being one of the last people the apostle mentioned in his final letter (2 Timothy 4:11).
However, Mark’s most significant personal connection was the one he had with Peter, who was likely Mark’s source for the material in the gospel. Mark’s mother’s house was a regular enough stop for Peter that the servants recognized him by voice alone (Acts 12:12–14). And it appears that Mark was present at Gethsemane, a young man watching the proceedings from a safe distance (Mark 14:51–52), leading some scholars to believe the Last Supper took place in Mark’s home.
Where are we? Because Mark offered no further comment on Jesus’s prophecy regarding the destruction of the temple—an event that occurred in AD 70—we can safely assume that Mark composed the gospel sometime before that tragic event. Also, the gospel has a distinctly Roman feel to it, particularly when compared with the Jewish emphasis of the book of Matthew. Mark chose to leave aside most comments on fulfilled prophecy (compare Matthew 21:1–6 and Mark 11:1–4), and when he felt compelled to use an Aramaic term, he interpreted it (Mark 3:17). This suggests that Mark was in Rome, writing from Peter’s recollections sometime before that apostle’s death (ca. AD 64–68), possibly composing the gospel between AD 57 and AD 59.
Why is Mark so important? Mark’s gospel portrays Jesus as constantly on the move. The forward motion in Mark’s writing keeps the knowledgeable reader’s mind continually looking ahead to the cross and the resurrection. Thirty-nine times Mark used the word immediately, giving a sense that Jesus’s time on earth was short and that there was much to accomplish in His few years of ministry.
Matthew wrote his account of Jesus’s ministry to show that Jesus was and is indeed the King, Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. He reflected this concern in his opening line, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). From there, Matthew consistently took his readers back to the Old Testament, providing Old Testament testimony regarding the birth of Jesus, Bethlehem as the location of Jesus’s birth, the flight to Egypt, Herod’s slaughter of the infants, and the beginning of Jesus’s ministry. In a world where many in the Jewish community had claimed the role of Messiah for themselves, Matthew’s commitment to grounding the life of Jesus in the Old Testament raised Jesus above the multitude of these false messiahs. The apostle painted a portrait of our Lord that highlights His uniqueness among all others to ever walk this earth. How do I apply this? After enduring four hundred years of prophetic silence, God’s people must have wondered whether or not He had deserted them. After centuries of regular communication from God, the people found themselves without a genuine prophet or spokesman for God. However, the ministries of John and Jesus reminded God’s people that He had not forgotten them. God’s silence during that period was merely a precursor to pulling the linchpin of His redemptive plan. God hadn’t forgotten—He remembered His people. Matthew made that clear.
It was true then, and it is certainly true today. Do you ever feel as though God has deserted you or that He sits in silence in the face of your requests? As we read through the pages of Matthew, not only do we see Jesus Christ revealed as Israel’s King and Messiah, but His coming to earth as God in the flesh reminds us of His deep love for us. Now resurrected and ascended, the Lord Jesus will always be with us, even to the end of time (Matthew 28:20).
Christ’s commission to His followers is still His mandate to us today: “Make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Christ’s work of building His church is the work He does through each of us.
Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s overview of Matthew in his audio message from the Classic series God’s Masterwork.
The Book of Mathew ...Who wrote the book? While Matthew did not sign his own name to “his” gospel, the early church uniformly attested to the apostle’s authorship of the book. As early as AD 140, a Christian named Papias wrote that Matthew had compiled the sayings of the Lord in Hebrew (presumably before Matthew translated them into Greek for a larger audience).
Matthew’s name appears in all the biblical lists of the twelve apostles, though Mark and Luke refer to him as Levi. His history as a tax collector distinguished him from the other apostles, and immediately after his call to follow Jesus—an event he recorded in Matthew 9:9—Matthew hosted a feast for Jesus in his home with an invitation list made up of Matthew’s sinful friends. Apparently Matthew did not think it odd that Jesus and he would associate with the sinful and downtrodden of society. Where are we? Matthew is the most Jewish-centric of the four gospels. The apostle regularly invoked the writings of the Old Testament prophets in an effort to illustrate Jesus’s identity as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.
However, the gospel of Matthew has been notoriously difficult to date. Several factors speak to a date ranging from AD 60–65. First of all, the book makes no mention of the destruction of the temple, an event which occurred in AD 70. Such a cataclysmic event likely would have received some comment, particularly in a book so clearly influenced by Judaism. The largely Jewish character of the book also suggests it was written at a time when much of the evangelism by Christians was directed more exclusively at Jews, something that became less and less common as the decades passed. Finally, many scholars believe Mark to have been the first gospel composed, making it most probable that Matthew was written soon after. Why is Matthew so important? The apostle Matthew, a Jew himself, offered a decidedly Jewish perspective on the ministry of Jesus. He included more than fifty direct citations—and even more indirect allusions—from the Old Testament. This exceeds any of the other gospels and indicates that Matthew had the Jewish population in mind when he sat down to write. Matthew’s extensive connections between Jesus and the Old Testament provide ample prophetic evidence for Jesus’s ministry but also give contemporary readers a glimpse into how first-century readers approached the Old Testament with a Christ-centered mind-set.
In addition, Matthew’s gospel answers the question on the mind of every Jewish reader: “If Jesus is the King of the Jews, then where is God’s promised kingdom?” Matthew reveals that Jesus did offer the kingdom to Israel, but the offer was rejected (Matthew 4:17; 16:13–28; 21:42–43). God’s primary work in the world is now accomplished through the building of Christ’s church, after which Jesus will come again to earth and establish His kingdom—ruling the world from Israel.
Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s overview of Matthew in his audio message from the Classic series God’s Masterwork.
The Book of Mathew; Who wrote the book? While Matthew did not sign his own name to “his” gospel, the early church uniformly attested to the apostle’s authorship of the book. As early as AD 140, a Christian named Papias wrote that Matthew had compiled the sayings of the Lord in Hebrew (presumably before Matthew translated them into Greek for a larger audience).
Matthew’s name appears in all the biblical lists of the twelve apostles, though Mark and Luke refer to him as Levi. His history as a tax collector distinguished him from the other apostles, and immediately after his call to follow Jesus—an event he recorded in Matthew 9:9—Matthew hosted a feast for Jesus in his home with an invitation list made up of Matthew’s sinful friends. Apparently Matthew did not think it odd that Jesus and he would associate with the sinful and downtrodden of society.
Where are we? Matthew is the most Jewish-centric of the four gospels. The apostle regularly invoked the writings of the Old Testament prophets in an effort to illustrate Jesus’s identity as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.
However, the gospel of Matthew has been notoriously difficult to date. Several factors speak to a date ranging from AD 60–65. First of all, the book makes no mention of the destruction of the temple, an event which occurred in AD 70. Such a cataclysmic event likely would have received some comment, particularly in a book so clearly influenced by Judaism. The largely Jewish character of the book also suggests it was written at a time when much of the evangelism by Christians was directed more exclusively at Jews, something that became less and less common as the decades passed. Finally, many scholars believe Mark to have been the first gospel composed, making it most probable that Matthew was written soon after. Why is Matthew so important?
The Democrat’s vicious hatred of Donald Trump is really a vicious hatred of you, me, and all the other Americans who put him into office and want to keep him there. The subterfuge, constitutional violations, and bitter hostility that has been levelled at President Trump is levelled at you and me. Democrats exhibit the moral restraints of a runaway train. They will show more civility to MS-13 butchers than they will to God-fearing Americans.
Donald Trump is only a man, and he needs our prayers. America needs our prayers. I don’t think it was a good idea for the president to pull American troops out of Syria and betray the Kurds who bravely helped to remove the scourge of ISIS. I am willing to admit, however, that maybe President Trump was juggling some other considerations of which I am not aware. Let’s all humble ourselves and pray for America’s future. A Call to Intercessory Prayer The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to pray for all men, “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1–2). If a Democrat is elected to the office of president in 2020 we will not lead “a quiet and peaceable life.” America will be forever changed and will never recover from the devastating effects of Democratic leadership.
There are many calls for intercessory prayer in the Bible (Rom. 15:30–31; Phil. 1:19; 2 Thess. 3:1–2). Jesus makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25), and so does the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26–27). The apostle says we are to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority.” God has created government for the purpose of restraining evil and for punishing those who do evil. Without government, there would be anarchy. Some have said a bad government is better than no government at all. That may be true, but bad governments have taken the lives of 100 million people in the 20th century.
One of the things a Democratic president will do for sure is take away religious liberty. All of the Democratic candidates have given expression to ideas that will outlaw Christian standards. Chuck Colson said, “Our founding fathers believed that without freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, all of our other freedoms aren’t worth the paper they are written on. If government can dictate what we may or may not believe, or how we may or may not live out our beliefs, then we are no longer a free people.” That means, if America elects a Democratic president, we will no longer be a free people (breakpoint). Please pray for our great not-so-perfect president, and for the country that has given us so much!
In his speech, President Trump went on to point out that these oppressive regimes now have the added benefit of modern technology. They “have the power to exercise new and disturbing forms of suppression and domination.” Just look at China’s social credit system and the struggle of the Hong Kong protesters. They know too well what “suppression and domination” means. President Xi Jin-ping is furious that dissenters picture him in a cartoon walking arm-in-arm with Winnie the Pooh! God bless the dissenters!
The president is right when he says that we live in a world where others see “conquest and domination” as their destiny. Because of this, the president said that since his election “the United States has spent over $2.5 trillion to completely rebuild our great military.”
Democratic presidents would rather spend money on social programs than on the military. It was true in the Clinton and Obama administrations. Obviously, there are others who seem to think war is never an option. As I drive down the highways in central Oklahoma, I see billboards that state in bold letters: “Tell Congress—No War With Iran.”
These billboards are in the Oklahoma City metro area. They are sponsored by Americans Against The Next War. May I make a suggestion? They need to put up signs in Iran stating: “Tell President Hassan Rouhani—No War With Israel.”
Are these people living on a moonbeam? Iran is the world’s number one sponsor of state terrorism. Iran’s bellicose leaders are fueling the tragic wars in both Syria and Yemen, and are supplying Hezbollah and Hamas with rockets to lob at Israel. Iran’s venomous leaders vomit hatred against Israel and America. Last year, Iran’s leaders issued a joint statement that Israel is a “malignant cancerous tumor that has to be removed and eradicated.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said “Peace is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of justice.”
“I’m Not a Democrat or a Republican” I have a pet peeve. I’ve often heard well-meaning Christians say, “I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am just standing for what’s right.” I understand why they say that. It takes the focus off of political squabbles and puts the focus on the issues. However, the Democratic Party has a long history of standing against all that is good. Carol Swain, professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, asks, “Did you know that the Democratic Party defended slavery, started the Civil War, founded the KKK, and fought against every major civil rights act in U.S. history?”
She points out that in contrast, the Republican Party (founded in 1854) was the anti-slavery party. Their attempt to stop slavery was dealt a major blow by the Supreme Court in the 1857 Dred v. Sandford decision. The court ruled that slaves aren’t citizens, just property. The seven justices who voted in favor of slavery were Democrats. The two justices who dissented? Both Republicans. Today, the Democratic Party favors everything that is bizarre, freakish, anti-God, and anti-family. The Democrats falsely claim that the Republican Party, and in particular, Donald Trump, is the villain when, in reality, it is the failed policies of the Democratic Party that are destroying the cities of America with an unchecked homeless population, filth, and contagion. America, get ready for an outbreak of bubonic plague! Democratic mayors and governors are failing to comply with federal law and deliberately hindering the work of law enforcement in protecting their populations from illegal aliens and criminals.
Intercession for a Great Not-So-Perfect President Larry Spargimino...November 1, 2019
One of my mentors of long ago, Pastor Ernest C. Reisinger, liked to say, “Call no man master.” He also said, “The best of men are but men at best.” “Ernie,” as we all called him, was reminding us that final authority rests with God. He alone is not attracted to fads, new and exciting ideas without merit, and the flamboyant personality of some leaders.
I write with Ernie’s sound admonition in mind, fully aware of the fact that my deepest admiration for President Trump might lead someone to charge me with violating Ernie’s wise words. But remember the title.
I consider the presidency of Donald Trump to be God’s blessing upon us. Has not God used imperfect individuals to bring blessings to all? Mr. Trump has done a good job in keeping his promises. I am pro-life, and pro-Israel. I consider the Second Amendment a fundamental right. The police are not supposed to be our personal bodyguards. American citizens need to be able to protect themselves and their families.
In his 2019 speech before the U.N., the president said: “That is why this year I announce that we will never ratify the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, which would threaten the liberties of law abiding American citizens. The United States will always uphold our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. We will always uphold our second amendment.”
President Trump’s U.N. Speech—September 2019 At the opening of the speech, the president spoke about “the essential divide that runs all around the world and throughout history. … It is the divide between those whose thirst for control deludes them into thinking they are destined to rule over others—and the people and nations who want only to rule themselves.”
This, I believe, is the driving factor in all that President Trump does. Some of Mr. Trump’s supporters don’t understand it, and all of his fierce detractors don’t want to understand it. The president’s perceptive insight into the controlling nature of evil goes against their globalist/totalitarian expectations.
That belief that there are those who are destined to rule the world is seen in radical, jihadist Islam. They want a worldwide Islamic caliphate ruled under the authority of sharia law.
The delusion that their group is destined to rule the world is also true of communism. Millions of people who would not submit to an iron-fisted Stalinist rule were imprisoned or executed. Multiplied thousands of dissenters were placed in gulags—forced labor camps—that were hellholes of human misery and suffering.
This madness spread from Moscow to Beijing, where Chairman Mao picked it up and used it to spread death and destruction to his own country. This rascal killed more Chinese than anyone else! And Russia supplied China with weapons, so that Chinese soldiers could back the Kim family in Korea, which finally led to the division of the Korean peninsula. Those poor people are still languishing under this madness to this day. “Rocket Man” is a megalomaniac who has come up with a number of gruesome (and creative) ways to execute his opponents. He starves his own people while growing rotund like the fatted calf. He detonates nuclear weaponsnear the Chinese border and alarms the Chinese government because of the radiation leaks. And the madness has moved into Southeast Asia—Cambodia, Vietnam and environs.
In his U.N. speech, the president said: “Today I repeat a message for the world that I have delivered at home. America will never be a socialist country. In the last century, socialism and communism killed 100 million people.”
The DNC resolution was unanimously passed at the DNC’s August 24 meeting.
Predictably this drew the approval of the Secular Coalition of America (SCA), an organization that lobbies for public policy benefitting agnostics, atheists, and humanists. The SCA’s director of governmental affairs, Sarah Levin, was delighted over the resolution and was glad that secular Americans are being brought into the Democratic fold. As Eric Utter, writing for American Thinker, commented, “It’s not hard to bring secular Americans into the fold. All you have to do is eliminate all standards and promise them free stuff.”
In 2012, DNC attendees actually booed the mention of the word “God.” At their 2016 convention, a preacher was heckled while giving the opening prayer. And early in 2019 Democrats introduced the “Equality Act.” Thank God President Trump did not sign on. This anti-God bit of legislation seeks to destroy the First Amendment of the Constitution, destroy the concept of religious liberty, and seeks to force believers to trample their own consciences. In its war on God, it would appear that the DNC is getting its marching orders from the Chinese Communist Party.
At a recent campaign rally in Miami, Florida, President Trump announced that he will take action to restore prayer in public schools. Christian educators who worked in public schools faced incredible oppression and hate during the Obama administration. One school had come under attack after students prayed for a football coach’s ailing daughter. In another, a school teacher had been censured because she had a private conversation about prayer with a colleague. The president said those days are soon going to be over. “In America,” President Trump said at the rally, “we don’t worship government, we worship God.”
The culture of death flourishes in a godless environment. Laws concerning euthanasia have not yet caught up with widespread left-wing, death-dealing abortion laws. However, there are some countries that have legalized euthanasia. Some have even legalized euthanasia for children.
The uninitiated like to talk about the “constitutional separation of church and state.” The Constitution, however, never even hints at such a thing. It is a convenient ploy for those who want to extend the reach of the icy fingers of the culture of death.
Larry Spargimino Dr. Larry Spargimino is co-host of the SWRC broadcast and joined the ministry in 1998. Larry researches and writes books and articles for the ministry, assists on tours, and helps answer listeners' theological questions when they call the ministry. Larry holds a doctorate from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and pastors a local church.
Human thinking bestows a functional value on a person. If a person can function as a ballerina, or a mechanic, or a doctor, or serve in hundreds of other capacities, that person has functional value. In the world’s view, human value is inseparable from the person’s function. Hence, if a person can no longer function, that person has no value. But as we read Scripture we see that human worth is not simply functional, it is also intrinsic. It is not what we do, but who we are that establishes worth and value.
For the Christian, value is determined not simply by who we are, but by whose we are. In John 10:11, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” First Corinthians 6:19–20 reveals what this means for every Christian: “… ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.” Joseph Fletcher, Peter Singer and the Modern Culture of Death Joseph Fletcher (1905–1991)—philosopher and ethicist who was a lapsed Episcopal priest and also the man who gave the “Culture of Death a degree of “intellectual legitimacy”—insisted that “man is not a worshipper.” The father of “situational ethics” also fathered “the new bioethics,” a godless belief system ruthlessly redirecting the medical profession. We have left the age of “do-no-harm medicine” and have entered the age of “do-harm medicine.” Fletcher said that morality and human worth is best determined through a “rational analysis” based on secular philosophical precepts rather than revelation and church dogma.
Fletcher was like the proverbial camel with its nose in the tent. Fletcher opened the door for a bigger camel that moved into the tent. That camel is Peter Singer, Princeton University professor of ethics who talks about “post-birth abortion.” Singer teaches that species membership is irrelevant in determining value. Personhood is what’s really important. In this new and radical paradigm, a person is “a creature capable of valuing its own existence.” This would include some people, animals, extraterrestrials, and machines. Notice, it does not include all people. Hence, according to Singer it is not ethically wrong to kill “human nonpersons,” nor is it wrong to fail to save their lives. This kind of thinking goes back to Charles Darwin, Francis Galton, and the eugenics movement, and occurred along with the school of German Higher Criticism which concluded that the Old Testament and all Scripture, was a collection of several late documents recording Hebrew myths. The lesson: Devaluing the Bible leads to trivializing human life.
What Does This Lesson Mean for the Next Presidential Election? It simply means that if we get a president who doesn’t respect the Bible and who devalues the Bible, you can be sure our beloved country will become more deeply caught up in the culture of death. Both voluntary and involuntary euthanasia will be applied by the federal government. Healthcare will also involve “death squads” for those who are not “fit” to live. No kidding! Those who are vulnerable—either because of psychological pain and depression, or because of serious physical infirmities—will find that they are being pressured to choose death “for the good of the country.” Their so-called right to die will become their duty to die. And the slaughter of untold numbers of infants will increase in number. Personhood, rather than species membership, will determine who lives and who dies.
At the Democratic National Committee meeting in August of 2019, Democrats passed a resolution praising secular humanists and the religiously unaffiliated. The Democratic contenders for the office of president are essentially God-deniers. Though “Mayor Pete” refers to the Bible and claims he is following Christ while President Trump and Vice President Pence are not, Mayor Pete’s Christianity is not of the kind found in Scripture. The “god” of the Democrats is big government and their own imagined infalliblity.
Culture of Death—Part I...Larry Spargimino...February 15, 2020
Death is an enemy, the kind of enemy that only the Lord Jesus Christ can, and will, destroy (1 Cor. 15:26). Yet sadly, our world seems to be viewing this enemy as a “savior,” “a deliverer” who is to be invited into our lives in a variety of ways for our comfort and our deliverance.
Such twisted thinking has led to a number of strange scenarios. A few years ago a physician in the Netherlands euthanized a 26-year-old ballerina because she had developed a bad case of arthritis in her toes. She could no longer pursue her career and requested to be put to death. The doctor complied and said, “One doesn’t enjoy such things, but it was her choice.” A person who is “pro-choice” is not only someone who wants to be free to terminate a pregnancy. It also means someone who wants to be free to terminate their own life.
How far down the foul-smelling back alleyway of the culture of death have we come? Abortion is now seen as rescuing the unborn from a future life of misery, just as euthanasia is seen as rescuing the living from a life of physical and psychological pain. I have a video show titled “From The Front Lines” that can be accessed on our website (www.swrc.com). I remember a response to a show that I did on the sanctity of human life. The viewer was unhappy with what I said. The writer’s basic response was that abortion rescues a lot of people from a life of misery. I had, supposedly, ignored the facts that prove that. What facts? The writer alleged that out of the 60 million aborted babies at least 59 million of them would have been sexually abused, molested, hungry, impoverished, physically abused, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically abused, and 50 percent of them would have come into adulthood with mental disorders and personality disorders. The writer forgot to mention, however, that under her plan to rescue the unborn by abortion from an alleged life of misery her plan would have also killed hundreds of future scientists, school teachers, pastors, and many others whose service and expertise have made life better for multitudes. In our culture of death, the most noble and beneficial thing you can do is either kill yourself, or kill your baby. Farewell: The Traditional Medical Ethic In 1970, an editorial in California Medicine stated: “The traditional Western ethic has always placed great emphasis on the intrinsic worth and equal value of every human life. The sanctity of life ethic has been the basis for most of our laws and much of our social policy, and it has been the keystone of Western medicine. This traditional ethic is being eroded at its core and may eventually be abandoned.” Fifty years later, in 2020, this erosion is producing a barren landscape of grief and misery.
The Hippocratic Oath, usually attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 b.c.), is an oath of ethics historically taken by physicians. It is known primarily by the words, “First, do no harm.” These exact words were probably not in the original form, though the sentiment is. It is significant that during the Third Reich the words “First, do no harm” were omitted. Under that devilish regime “doing harm” was the first order of the day.
Today medical organizations have modified and/or departed from the Hippocratic Oath, which is not surprising. However, whatever happens in academia and in the developing psyche of the world, the Christian must abide by the Word of God. Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” A ballerina is more than toes—arthritic or otherwise—and her life more valuable than her career as a dancer.
Another reason is that it is predicted in Malachi 3:1–3; 4:5–6, that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah. Some believe that John the Baptist is the one promised in Malachi, therefore he would be Elijah. Jesus even gave that indication in Matthew 11:10: “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” But if John the Baptist was Elijah, then he couldn’t be the witness in Revelation 11. However, we then read in Matthew 11:13–14: “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” But they did not receive John’s message, therefore, according to Jesus, he was not Elijah, only his representative.
Then Elijah was at the Transfiguration with Jesus and Moses. This was after John’s death, so I suppose Elijah is still a good candidate for Revelation 11. If Moses is one of the witnesses, then Elijah most certainly should be.
In conclusion, since John in Revelation 11 does not name these witnesses, we must rely on the scriptural evidences, if possible, to identify these two. The main reason many believe that Enoch cannot be a witness is because he represents the church and its Rapture. Very plausible. Some say he cannot return and die because Hebrews 9:27 stated that: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” This cannot be used because Jesus Himself set a precedent in raising Lazarus from the dead. It is further believed that Enoch was a prophet of judgment as were the two witnesses. He may still qualify.
Moses is an excellent nominee because he fits the description of the powers of the witnesses and has in fact already experienced them. He was present at the Transfiguration, and his body was preserved for a possible reappearing. He also is mentioned as the giver of the law in connection with the Day of the Lord.
Elijah is the most likely to be one of the two witnesses. He was a prophet of judgment and was taken without seeing death—which may not be necessary. He too has experienced similar miracles, even the three and a half-year drought corresponds. He was present at the Transfiguration and was prophesied to be a vital part of the Day of the Lord (Mal. 4). We have already discussed that John the Baptist was not Elias (Elijah), therefore, he still has a mission.
This is in no way an adequate discussion of the mystery. Identity may be attained by elimination. Remember, similarity is not identity. Just think—there are those who don’t believe any of the three are meant. They believe the two witnesses are simply two who are yet to be named.
The next reason to consider Moses is his appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1–5 says: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
These verses, as well as Mark 9 and Luke 9, are a description of Christ, Elijah, and Moses in a discussion about Christ’s future kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, which was being offered to Israel. Here Christ is imbued with all His godly attributes which is witnessed by the Apostles. Israel ultimately refused this Messiah, which was Christ, and therefore delayed the Kingdom until after the Church Age and the Tribulation.
The Kingdom of Heaven, or the Millennium, is now yet future. Therefore, with the Kingdom of Heaven being rejected by Israel, Christ turned to the Gentiles and inaugurated the Kingdom of God—a spiritual kingdom with Jesus Christ as King of those who accept Him as their Savior. Moses’ attendance at this time shows that he will be involved in the Kingdom of Heaven. He would have been involved immediately; however, the Kingdom was rejected. Will he be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11? He certainly has all the earmarks of one of the two. He was at the Mount of Transfiguration for a purpose. If the purpose was not fulfilled at that time, must he fulfill it at some future time? Moses is a good candidate for one of the two witnesses.
The last possibility we must examine is Elijah. Most agree that he will be one of the two witnesses for several reasons. Elijah first appears in 1 Kings 17. He immediately fits the type of Revelation 13 by announcing that it will not rain for the next three and a half years, the exact length of the first half of the Great Tribulation. This seems to be a fulfillment of a warning given by Moses in Deuteronomy 11:17. Moses tells the Hebrews that if they are not careful to turn away from other gods, “then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.” Elijah has the same power in 1 Kings as the witnesses will have in Revelation 13.
Some believe that Elijah will be one of the witnesses because he never experienced physical death. As he was talking to Elisha, his protegé in 2 Kings 2:9–11, “there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” He was taken alive in the flesh for a reason. Many believe the reason being that God would bring him back at a future date to take part in a future event. There is nothing in Scripture that is there by accident or as filler. God had a purpose for every word. He had a purpose for taking Elijah alive.
Moses was also a man sanctified and prepared by God for a particular task. God’s plan within a plan not only preserved His people within a pagan culture, but preserved His man within the chief pagan’s house of protection. God’s use of Egypt proves that He is in charge and places kings where He will. Moses grew in strength and knowledge as the son of a pharaoh’s daughter. Then, at an appointed time, God revealed to Moses his Hebrew heritage. He allowed Moses to see an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and Moses killed the Egyptian. He became afraid and fled to Midian. He had received his education at the head of Egypt; now he would receive his wisdom at the feet of God.
In Midian, Moses completed his second forty years of preparation and was now commissioned to return for His people. He returned to Egypt with God-given powers and skills to convince Pharaoh to allow God’s people to leave Egypt and return to Mt. Sinai. He was given his brother Aaron to be his voice—but he was only used as a staff bearer. It seemed Moses could speak after all. The miracles Moses performed in Egypt are comparable to those the witnesses will perform during the Tribulation, and may lend credence to the possibility of his being one of the witnesses.
Verse 6 of our text says: “… and have power over waters to tum them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Although God could give the two witnesses miracle-working powers, especially for the Tribulation, these are similar to Moses’ power in Egypt. In Exodus 7:19, we see that Moses instructed Aaron to smite the waters of the river and they turned to blood. The Egyptians dug wells all around the river for drinking water. How successful they were, we don’t know. He then brought about a series of plagues and diseases upon Egypt that were unprecedented. These awful things came and went at Moses’ command (Exod. 8: 13). God honored Moses’ word because he was speaking for Him. Although the Bible does not record Moses ever withholding the rain—he did command the skies to drop hail with fire, and it was honored. I suppose whether you command it to hail, or not to rain, it would be about the same.
In Deuteronomy 18:15 we read about Moses and a future event: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” Does Moses here mean that it is he, or someone like him that will reappear in some future event? Some believe that the term “like unto me” would preclude Moses.
Another reason for Moses possibly being one of the witnesses is in the mysterious way he was buried. Deuteronomy 34:6 says: “And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” Was God preserving Moses’ body in a special way to resurrect him for some future prophetic event? Or is the reason found in Jude 9: “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” Why would the devil be interested in the body of Moses? Could it be that the devil wanted to use Moses’ body to somehow frighten or discourage Israel as they crossed the Jordan? Perhaps the devil thought he could prevent Moses from future appearances by destroying his body. Maybe he just wanted to abuse Moses’ body to get some form of satisfaction and victory over the one who caused him so much humiliation. After an animal has killed its prey, it will often play with it and mutilate the body as if to celebrate its victory. Whatever the reason, the devil was evidently unsuccessful. He was not successful over Moses in life, and he was not victorious over him in death. We know of one instance for certain that he will reappear.
Enoch knew every man in his Genesis family through his grandson, Lamech, who lived to be 777 years old. Although he never met Noah, the only other person in his lineage prior to the Flood, he and God must have discussed him many times. We know this because of the name he and God picked for his son—Methuselah. His name means, “When he is dead it shall be sent.” That name was a message to those who had ears to hear. The message could have only one meaning—“When he died the Flood would come.”
Those who believe that Enoch will be one of the two witnesses arrived at their conclusion because of several clues. However, we must be reminded that similarity is not identity in any of the possibilities.
First, Enoch was translated alive and did not die (Gen. 5:24). While walking with God one day, he simply disappeared. He vanished without a clue. Had his family been warned about the possibility of this? Did they gather a search party to look for him? I believe we can find the answer to those questions in his name, Enoch.
Most Bible scholars agree that Enoch means “initiated or dedicated.” Initiated or dedicated to what? Certainly his name was prophetic. In order for him to receive this name, his father must have known that God had a purpose for his son. So we must assume that God also talked with Jared. The term “dedicated” has the same meaning as the word “sanctified,” which we use today. It means to set apart for a particular purpose or task. It does not mean to be perfect or flawless, but simply reserved for something special.
The church building is sanctified, or set apart for a particular purpose—that being reserved for the use of the meeting place of the body of Christ. So, Enoch was dedicated from birth to represent something, or someone. From Enoch’s birth God began to prepare him for what his mission in life was to be. God walked with him on a continuous basis, instructed him, and prepared him for his destiny. If he were to represent others, he must be special. The other word used to describe his name was “initiated.” Webster’s Dictionary gives this as one definition of initiation: “The rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society.” It also carries the idea of setting a precedent. Enoch was therefore chosen to set a precedent of becoming the first of many in a future society. Therefore, many believe that Enoch, who was “translated that he should not see death” (Heb. 11:5), is a picture of that society of believers in the Church Age who will also be translated or raptured when the Lord returns for His Church. In 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Paul says: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath.” God always removes His godly remnant prior to judgment. The judgment to come was the judgment of the Flood. Noah and his family are believed to represent Israel being brought through the Tribulation in the Ark of Jesus.
If we accept Enoch as one of the two witnesses, then are we violating his precedent of representing the Church Age saints at the Rapture? The saints removed at the Rapture certainly do not return for a physical death, but they accompany Christ at His triumph at the Battle of Armageddon, then continue on to “rule and reign” with Him during the Millennium.
The next possibility we have to deal with is Moses as one of the witnesses. Does he fit the description of either of the two witnesses, or do we have only circumstantial evidence? As God prepared a man, Joseph, to guide Israel to safety into Egypt, He also prepared a man, Moses, to guide them out of harm’s way and deliver them to safety in the Promised Land.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:3–12)
It is not unlike John to leave us with a great mystery. Certainly, he is only quoting what the angel—most certainly Christ—said, but he surely could have relieved many a Bible student the challenge of identifying these two witnesses. Is it necessary to identify them, or is there some message in their identity? Most Bible students tend to agree that there is a possibility of three Bible characters from which to choose. Each of the three has his own peculiarities, and with good reason. The three personalities most often identified are Enoch, Moses, and Elijah. We will briefly examine each as to their possible place in this prophecy.
First we must examine the testimony of Enoch. In Genesis 5:24, we read these words: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Excluding Cain and Abel, Enoch was the seventh generation from creation. He walked the earth for a relatively short time compared to his lineage, only 365 years. Yet in his short life he was contemporary with Adam for 322 years, and was translated only sixty-nine years before Noah’s birth. What stories must he have heard from the first man on Earth; the man who witnessed the Garden of Eden in its perfect sinless state. He listened as Adam told him how he named every living thing—even the dinosaur. He shared in Adam’s joy of how God walked and fellowshipped with him and the mother of all mankind, Eve. How they must have shared with tears of sorrow as he related how he and Eve failed the Creator and allowed sin to enter into the world. How they lost their first two sons—one to murder, and the other to banishment—after their own banishment from the Garden. Perhaps even joining Adam in a trip to see the Garden Gate that was guarded by cherubims and a flaming sword. Perhaps he could even see the “tree of life.”
Then the joy of a new son, Seth—a new beginning. He listened as Adam related how the plan of redemption, through the death of God’s Son, was promised. These things must have endeared Enoch to his Maker. How he must have loved the walk with God as Adam once had.
Enoch’s father, Jared, lived a total of 962 years—435 years after Enoch’s translation. Enoch’s son, Methuselah, lived for 969 years, the oldest recorded living being in the Bible. Enoch walked with his son for 300 years before he was translated.
"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)
Midway through the week, during the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, the 'friendly' Antichrist, whom Israel thought was their Messiah, becomes a terrible person. He stops the sacrificial system in Israel and places a horrifying abomination in the temple of God. He sits in the temple and demands that the Jews worship him as their God.
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4-5)
During these 3.5 years, he seeks to destroy the Jews and wage war against God.
"He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time." (Daniel 7:25)
The 'saints of the Most High' refers to Israel. Israel Under Fire Today, Israel is a small country in the Middle East with an area of 22,145 square kilometers. For comparison, the Netherlands is nearly twice as large at 41,543 square kilometers, and Suriname is over seven times larger at 163,820 square kilometers. Yet, Israel is frequently in the news, continually criticized, and has experienced several wars since its rebirth in 1948. According to the Bible, during the Great Tribulation, there will be two or more terrible wars. We read about the Gog and Magog war, the ten kings (are they at war, or do they seize power through an alliance?), and the Battle of Armageddon.
In the Gog and Magog war, the Antichrist is not mentioned. This war might occur before the Antichrist comes to power, or it may happen before the Great Tribulation begins. The Bible speaks twice of Gog and Magog attacking Israel. The first war is described in the book of Ezekiel, and the second in the book of Revelation. The first one occurs during or just before the Great Tribulation, and the second takes place after the thousand-year reign. A detailed account of this war is found in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Many nations will wage war against Israel, including, according to some Bible scholars, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and North African countries. It's a massive military force against which Israel would typically lose. However, God decides that Israel will achieve victory through supernatural intervention.
"For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,' says the Lord GOD. 'Every man's sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 38:19-23)
The Bible calls here one week is 7 years ...............jenny
The people did not want to listen, and the Jews decided to have Him crucified. The King of Israel came, and they refused to acknowledge Him. Because the Jews rejected the Lord Jesus, the Gentile nations had the opportunity to serve Him as God and hear the good news of God. Through the Jews' rejection, salvation came to the Gentiles.
"For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world (...)" (Romans 11:15)
The Jews rejected their Messiah, and as a result, the Gentiles gained access to God. God knew this from the beginning, yet He sent His Son to Israel. What grace from God. Today (and in the past), we see that some Jews believe in Jesus and thus become part of the body of Christ. They will be caught up with the other believers during the Rapture. However, a significant part of Israel has experienced hardening, and God has closed their eyes.
"God has given them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day." (Romans 11:8)
God made great promises to the people of Israel: Israel would become the mightiest nation on earth, and all nations would be blessed through them. The King came to the people, but they rejected Him. Now, God has closed their eyes and put them into a deep sleep. Is this the end of the story? No! Because the Jews will awaken, and their ears will hear. God has put Israel on hold so that He could work with the Gentiles and the Church of Christ for two thousand years. At the end of these two thousand years, we see that God is restoring Israel. Presently, Israel is once again a nation in the Middle East, but spiritually, Israel is still asleep. The body is there, but it is waiting for God's Spirit to breathe life into it (Ezekiel 37). This will happen at the end of the Great Tribulation. Israel and the Antichrist Let's look at Israel during the time of the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist strengthens his covenant with the land, ushering in a period of peace and safety. The Jews will believe that the Antichrist is their long-awaited Messiah, not realizing that they are making a pact with evil. The following text refers to the Antichrist.
"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)
After Abraham knew that God Himself (the Lord Jesus) would come to Earth as the Lamb to provide reconciliation for humanity (Genesis 22), he was told that this would come through his descendants, and this Descendant would be a blessing to all nations.
"And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (Genesis 22:8).
"So the two of them went together. In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My voice."" (Genesis 22:18)
The blessing of Abraham was passed down only to his son, Isaac. Abraham's other sons received beautiful and unique blessings from God but were not counted as Abraham's descendants. They even had to leave the territory of Isaac.
"But God said to Abraham: (...) Only the son of the bondwoman will I establish as your heir." (Genesis 21:12)
"Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son." (Genesis 25:5-6)
After Abraham had passed, Isaac received Abraham's inheritance and, in addition, God blessed Isaac.
"And it came to pass after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac his son." (Genesis 25:11)
Isaac received the same promises as Abraham. His descendants would be numerous, and they would dwell in the promised land (Genesis 26:3-4). The blessing of Isaac was passed on (through a trick) to Jacob, who later became known as Israel.
'Then he said: "Surely, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed. Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!"' (Genesis 27:27-29)
Many years later, the kingdom of Israel was established. The second king was King David, and God made a significant promise to him.
"Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16)
The throne of David would be established forever. Initially, God spoke about David's son Solomon and his further descendants. However, this is also a prophetic reference to the Millennial Reign (and beyond) and pertains to the Lord Jesus, as the angel told Mary. The Lord Jesus is a descendant of King David, and He will soon take His place on the throne of David forever.
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33)
Some blessings for Israel include: Those who bless Israel will be blessed. Those who curse Israel will be cursed. Israel will become a great nation with innumerable descendants. Israel will receive the land between the Euphrates and the Nile. The Lamb of God comes from the lineage of Israel. Nations will serve Israel, and Israel will rule over their brethren. The kingdom of David will stand forever. The Lord Jesus will be the eternal king over Israel. Israel in the New Testament and Today In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus was born. It is noteworthy that initially, He was sent only for the people of Israel and not for the Gentile nations. We do not see Bible stories where the Lord Jesus went to Europe, America, Africa, or East Asia. The Lord Jesus was a Jew and was there for the Jews. He spoke to them and performed miracles and signs in Israel. The Lord Jesus said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Israel is not just any land or people on Earth; it is God's chosen people. God Himself (Jesus) lived among them for 33 years, and Jesus preached about the kingdom of God for three years.
While the followers of the Lord Jesus are caught up, several groups are left behind on Earth. In this chapter, we will examine which groups these are and what happens to them. Many Bible verses discuss this topic, and for the purposes of this book, we will focus on a small selection of these verses.
Group 1: The People of Israel In Chapter 4, we read that the people of Israel will be disciplined during the Great Tribulation and will undergo a difficult time. Many will be killed, but a small remnant will find favor with God and be saved. In this section, we will briefly discuss the key moments in the history of the people of Israel. It's important to first go back to the Old Testament because without this foundation, we won't fully understand the New Testament and the Great Tribulation.
Israel in the Old Testament The Old Testament speaks of the people of Israel and God's covenant with various individuals from this people. In the Book of Genesis, we read that God made a covenant with Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, and blessed him. God chose one people to live as holy before Him, and through this people, God intended to bless all other nations.
"Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3)
This is how the people of God were born. It began with one man who lived in separation. He had to leave his land, family, and house and go to a place where he knew no one. The people of God consisted of one person initially, but not just any person – a person with faith in God.
"Now Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. (...) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants, I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him." (Genesis 12:5-7)
Abraham left his home and went to the land of Canaan, which is modern-day Israel. While he lived there as a stranger, he received the promise that the entire land would be given to his descendants.
"And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."" (Genesis 13:14-17)
The descendants of Abraham would inherit the land forever, and the descendants would be innumerable (Genesis 15:5). God promised it, and not only that, but God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:7-21). It was going to happen.
"On the same day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants, I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates."" (Genesis 15:18)
This land is vast, stretching from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Syria and Iraq. The Promised Land includes (parts of) Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and modern-day Israel. This has never happened in history and will occur during the Millennial Reign. Afterward, Abraham received a great promise.
"The last, which is either yet to come, or is extant right at this very moment, is a diverse kingdom. Daniel is advised that there are ten kings of this diversity, as is John. And one of these devours three more out of the ten. We see the same ten-ness in the Drakon; seven heads, ten horns, crowns on the heads. Again with the first beast : seven heads, ten horns, crowns this time on the horns. The Drakon has diverse intelligence and that is the substance of his rule, a diversity of intelligence. Whereas the beast that arises out of the sea (that is to say, the swirling, turbulent sea of the nations, an entity rising up, formed of the very nations themselves) is crowned on his horns - he is the power of the Drakon who is the intelligence behind the power. So we have agreement again about the ten-ness between Daniel and John. Diversity, intelligence and power."
This is an example of how Daniel's visions could not be understood until seen as integral to the visions given to John. Yet the truth of what Daniel was told remains to this day, about many seeking to understand but failing: "None of the wicked shall understand : but the wise shall understand." (Daniel 12:10) There have been incessant attempts to give the meaning of such end-time prophecies; I have a massive tome published at the start of the 20th century, going on about the Napoleonic wars as proof of the writer's interpretations that 'the end' was imminent. I have another book published by a religious group in 1963, going on about World War I and events thereafter as proof that they were used by God to pour out the 7 last plagues of Revelation via public proclamations they made, with a literal millennium on earth about to start. Both those books have been proven to be ridiculously wrong, yet the authors seemed to feel that they had to give interpretations, to show that they were not "the wicked", but "the wise". Well, they did not understand.
It is God's seal that is upon the visions he gives to his prophets. None can open what he has sealed, until (as Revelation chapter 5 onwards shows) the Lamb in heaven takes the 7-sealed book in God's hand and begins to open the seals. John's vision shows that when the 7 plagues are poured out on a wicked world, the ungodly curse God all the more. They do not understand, for they are wicked.
Jesus, when on earth, spoke in parables to fulfill the saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35). Christ opens up the mysteries of God and reveals them to so whoever he will.
When John was told "the time is near", he knew what Daniel had written, and that Christ had started his reign in heaven after his ascension; from then on, the Revelation prophecies began to unfold and continue to do so until Christ returns in glory to usher in the Day of Resurrection and Judgment. The understanding is not for those rushing around all over the world, with the explosive, vast knowledge of earthly things since world transport became a common-place. The unsealing is under God's control, and happens in the hands of the Christ who is in the midst of heaven's throne.
Why is the prophecy of the end times given to Daniel instructed to be sealed, while the one given to John is not?
But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4 NIV)
Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. (Revelation 22:10 NIV)
Although the instructions given by the angel to Daniel and John were separated by about 500 years, more than 2000 years have passed since then and the end times have yet to happen. What could be the reason for the change in the instructions regarding the sealing of the prophecies?
Several times in Daniel's record it is stated that he was deeply troubled by the end-time visions, becoming pale, and keeping those things to himself - Dan. 7:28. Then, Gabriel gave him the vision of the ram, the goat, and the small horn, adding that none of those things would happen for a very long time, so he was to keep the vision secret - Dan. 8:26. The next verse adds that Daniel was overcome with sickness for several days, thereafter remaining greatly troubled by that vision, which he could not understand.
Later comes the verse you ask about, which refers to things not seen by Daniel in vision, but of a future resurrection of the dead, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and disgrace. That resurrection hinted at a time beyond the scope of the visions Daniel received. His job was to faithfully record then seal the record, and live out an earthly life in faith, knowing he would rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for him (Dan. 12:13) as Gabriel assured him.
The visions that were to be sealed dealt with events that would not be properly understood by anyone until the last book of the Bible was written, which book was not to be sealed. John's record enables the full meaning of Daniel's record to be grasped. Apparently, despite Daniel being obedient to the command to seal his writings up, after his death others opened it up and it became part of the written scriptures of the people of God. Since then, many have tried to give an interpretation of the visions; mere guesses based on what was known at their time. But when John received later visions (e.g. the one beast arising out of the sea, with similar characteristics of Daniel's 4 beasts in Dan. ch. 7) then it can be seen that Daniel's visions dealt with world powers up to and including the empire of Rome, but John's revelation shows an amalgamation of those and with more features applicable to the end times. The following explanation is taken from a p.d.f. sent to me:
"John is told that there are seven kings, five fallen, one extant and one yet to come. These are the same kings as the four that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of (then forgot and Daniel reminded him). He, of Babylon, was one of them, then came three more, Persia (including Media), then Greece, then Rome. In the days of Belshazzar, his son, the vision was also of four kings, but they were four in the future - Persia, Greece, Rome, and one more, a diverse kingdom. So this agrees also with John's vision - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and one to come...
The prophecy in Daniel 12 is not only about a future “time of trouble” that will occur at the end of this “present evil age” (Daniel 12:1; Galatians 1:4). It is also about people being “delivered”—which is the greatest news in the Bible!
Jesus Christ is going to return and establish the Kingdom of God. As Daniel had explained to King Nebuchadnezzar, this Kingdom will eventually “break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).
Are the events in Revelation going to happen in the future? How can we know? About the Author
Larry Murray Larry Murray, a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association in South Africa, is an electronic engineer who has worked for several multinational computer organizations, including Hewlett-Packard. Upon leaving HP, he was called into the Church of God after reading a book by Herbert W. Armstrong. He now lives in Pretoria with his artist wife and his son and daughter.
Jesus spoke of another event that will occur at the same time: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20).
As these prophesied events begin to unfold, God’s people need to remember that Daniel was also told: “And at that time [this time of the end] your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).Now Daniel 12:12 offers a blessing: “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” God places great emphasis on patient endurance at the end of this age of man. This is similar to Jesus’ instruction: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
Although it remains to be seen exactly when the 1,290 days and the 1,335 days will begin and end, these end-time events all seem to culminate at the time of the return of Jesus Christ. The point is: God’s people will need to endure until these times are fulfilled.
Daniel prophesied the deliverance of God’s people in the end times As these prophesied events begin to unfold, God’s people need to remember that Daniel was also told: “And at that time [this time of the end] your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).
In the broadest sense, the return of Jesus Christ will bring deliverance not only to the Jewish people, but also to the people of God (who are now of all nationalities and backgrounds) and the whole world. Yet when we specifically consider what will happen to the people of God, the Bible has some important explanations and advice.
Regarding people who have their names “written in the book,” this phrase seems to be referring to the “Book of Life”—a document containing the names of God’s faithful people (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19). A careful study of the passages speaking of the “Book of Life” reveals that those whose names will be included in this book will be obedient to the instructions found in the Bible (especially note Revelation 3:5 and 20:12).
Protection for God’s people during the end times God said to Church members in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). Although we are not given every detail as to how God will protect His people during the end time, we do find two components of this protection.
First, Christ spoke of a time when Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies, which would be a sign for the people of God to flee that area. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her” (Luke 21:20-21).
In type this occurred when the Roman army marched into Judea and surrounded the city of Jerusalem beginning around A.D. 66. (Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70.) The final fulfillment of this sign will take place again at the time of the end.
Why is fleeing Jerusalem necessary? Because “these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” and because “there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people” (verses 22-23).
During this time, the Church, which comprises God’s people, will be gathered “to her place,” where she will be nourished for 3½ years “from the presence of the serpent” (Revelation 12:14). For additional study, see “Place of Safety.”
Verse 4 of Daniel 12 then reads: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end.” What this means is that Daniel’s prophecies would not be fully understandable until the end times prior to Christ’s return.
Previously, Daniel had told King Nebuchadnezzar that “there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (Daniel 2:28). In spite of Satan’s attacks, Daniel was able to record these key concepts for people living in the tumultuous time before Christ’s return.
The end time of Daniel 12:4 is described as a time when “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Certainly over the last 100 years methods of travel have been developed that make it possible for men to journey across the world in a short time, and the number of people visiting other countries has mushroomed.
Also over the last 100 years, the rate of accumulation of new knowledge has exponentially increased. World-changing inventions like penicillin, the atomic bomb, heart transplants, travel to the moon, and the Internet have seemingly arrived almost together. So now the meaning of the book of Daniel is becoming clearer to us!
How long will the Great Tribulation last? Daniel 12:5-6 continues: “Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others. … And one said to the man clothed in linen, … ‘How long shall the fulfilment of these wonders be?’” Here, one angel asks another how long these final wonders (including the “time of trouble” spoken of in verse 1) will last.
The answer follows in verse 7: “It shall be for a time, times, and half a time [“three and one-half years,” Nelson Study Bible]; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” For further explanation of this 3½-year period, see the article “Great Tribulation.”
The wise shall understand Although Daniel apparently understood part of what he was inspired to write (Daniel 10:14), he was curious to know the final outcome. “Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end’” (Daniel 12:8-9).
Then the angel continued: “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (verse 10). The “wicked” are those who break and ignore God’s law. The “wise” are those living at the end of the age, who humbly obey God’s commands. These people are promised understanding by God.
Beware the abomination of desolation! Daniel 12:11 describes two simultaneous events that apparently begin just before the start of the 3½ years of tribulation. The passage states that “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.”
The first part of this verse is clear: In order for animal sacrifices to be stopped, sacrifices must have resumed by this time. But what is this “abomination of desolation”?
Jesus Christ spoke of this sign of the end of this age and His imminent return saying, “‘Therefore when you see the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand)” (Matthew 24:15).
This passage indicates that the sign is something that we will be able to literally see and that it can be understood by those who read this prophecy. For additional study, see “What Is the Abomination of Desolation?”
Jesus spoke of another event that will occur at the same time: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20).
Jesus tells us that the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the end times. It is the good news that Jesus is going to return to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. This is the message Jesus preached when He lived on earth as a human.
Mark documents this, writing: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15).
New Call-to-actionAfter the first century, those who taught and believed the gospel of the Kingdom were severely persecuted. Many gave their lives for their adherence to Christ’s teaching. Today this gospel is again being taught by a small group of faithful people. To understand what this gospel is and how it differs from what is commonly taught, see “Messiah’s Message: Gospel of the Kingdom” and “This Gospel Will Be Preached.”
Other key components of the end time include the “great tribulation” (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14; Matthew 24:21-22) and the Day of the Lord, which includes the return of Jesus Christ to rule the earth.
Resurrections: some to everlasting life The angel then told Daniel: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth [those already dead] shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt [those who have rejected God and turned their backs on Him]” (Daniel 12:2). These awakenings refer to resurrections—God’s process of bringing people who are dead back to life.
Then the angel revealed: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (verse 3). These people are ones who will be part of the first resurrection.
Those in the first resurrection will be changed into spirit as they rise from their graves to meet Christ in the air when He returns to earth (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52). God’s people who are alive at this momentous time will also be changed into spirit and likewise rise to meet Christ at His return.
As Paul explained, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Saints who are changed into immortal beings in the first resurrection will then rule the earth with Christ for 1,000 years. “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
Daniel the prophet warns us of terrible end-time events that will affect the entire world! But he also provides wonderful hope for those who submit to God. Daniel 12 end-time events Prophecy of end-time events This final chapter of the book of Daniel focuses on end-time prophecy—events that will occur just before and after Jesus Christ returns to earth.
Satan had tried to keep Daniel from understanding the visions he had received and thus prevent God’s truth from being revealed!
Earlier, an angel had told Daniel: “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia [a powerful evil spirit] withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, [the archangel] Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (Daniel 10:13-14, emphasis added throughout).
Daniel 11 provides a very long and detailed prophecy of events that would occur from the time of the Medo-Persian Empire through the end time. Verse 40 speaks of this “time of the end” when “the king of the South” will attack “the king of the North.” The latter will enter the “Glorious Land” (the Holy Land) and overthrow many of the surrounding countries (verse 41).
A time of trouble is coming Daniel 12 is a continuation of the angel’s words to Daniel. It begins: “At that time [the time of the end and the incursion of the king of the North into the Middle East] Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (verse 1).
This “time of trouble” corresponds with the one spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah: “Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:6-7).
This yet-to-be-fulfilled end-time prophecy will first be directed toward the modern descendants of the ancient Israelites, many of whom today reside in the United States, Britain and related countries. (For additional study, see the article “Jacob’s Trouble” and the section “12 Tribes of Israel.”)
Jesus Himself also referred to this time in His Olivet Prophecy saying, “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 elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
Signs of Christ’s return As for exactly when Jesus Christ will return, the Bible tells us that no man may know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). However, we are also told that when certain signs appear, we will know that it is imminent, that it is “at the doors” (verse 33).
Regarding this end-time prophecy, Jesus told His disciples (and us today) that in the time leading up to His second coming (verses 3-7) there would be:
Religious deception. Wars. Famines. Pestilences. Earthquakes. Since these events have been ongoing problems of mankind, Jesus referred to them as the “beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). In the time leading up to Christ’s return, these events will increase in intensity.
Then Jesus listed these signs:
False prophets will arise to deceive many (verse 5). Many of God’s people will be hated, hunted and killed (verse 9). Lawlessness shall abound (verse 12). And even as these tragic sorrows intensify, “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14). The gospel of the Kingdom must be preached
Over the course of his life, Daniel had seen multiple changes in governments and world-ruling empires. He had experienced the fall of his beloved nation of Judah, been taken captive to Babylon and served in high government positions in both the Babylonian and Medo-Persian Empires.
Additionally, God had revealed to Daniel much prophecy about mankind’s history that would occur after he (Daniel) passed from the scene. This history included a brief understanding of the coming of the Messiah, as noted in Daniel 9, and it included some very detailed prophecies in Daniel 11 about the human governments that would arise and continue until the second coming of Jesus to earth.
Of particular interest to students of prophecy is Daniel’s reference to “the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31; 12:11). In Daniel 11 this referred to events that occurred in Jerusalem around 168/167 B.C.
In chapter 12 the abomination is in the context of the “time of the end” (Daniel 12:4). Jesus later spoke of this same end-time event (Matthew 24:3, 15). For a thorough explanation of its historical and future fulfillments, see “What Is the Abomination of Desolation?”
Writing from his location in the Middle East, Daniel wrote of other powers coming into the region from the north and south. Daniel referred to these leaders as “the king of the South” and “the king of the North” (Daniel 11:5-6). Of special interest to us, verses 40-45 speak of these same powers waging war at “the time of the end.”
For additional insight into the prophecies of Daniel 11 relating to these end-time powers, see the articles “Daniel 11: The Most Detailed Prophecy in the Bible,” “The King of the North” and “The King of the South.”
Daniel 12: End-time events While previous prophecies in the book of Daniel have touched upon end-time events, the final chapter gives special emphasis to this time period. Even though this will be “a time of trouble” unlike any other, the encouragement for God’s people is that after Christ returns they will receive eternal life and be glorified (verses 1-3).
A brief reference to the resurrections is found in verse 2. Verse 4 shows that indications of the end time will be mankind’s ability to travel and an explosion of knowledge.
For further explanation of these prophecies, how long this time of trouble will last, and the correlation of these prophecies with Christ’s teaching, see the article “Daniel 12: End-Time Events.”
Angels Angels are spoken of in at least 34 books of the Bible, including the book of Daniel. While there are a vast number of angels, we know very few of their names. The Bible provides the names of only three of these spirit beings, and the book of Daniel provides two of these.
In Daniel 7 we find three references to a being called the “Ancient of Days” (verses 9, 13, 22). This is the only chapter in the Bible where we find this name.
For analysis of these passages to determine who this being is, see the article “Ancient of Days.”
The vision of a ram and a goat In the eighth chapter of the book of Daniel there is further revelation of the details regarding the world-ruling empires first identified in Daniel 2. In this chapter, Daniel sees in vision a ram with two horns and then a male goat with a single notable horn between his eyes conquering the ram. This chapter provides insight into the third world-ruling empire spoken of in Daniel 2 conquering the second world-ruling empire.
The historical fulfillment of this is Greece under Alexander the Great conquering the Medo-Persian Empire. For a careful study of the prophecy and additional explanation of what happened to Alexander’s kingdom following his untimely death, see “Daniel 8: The Vision of a Ram and a Goat.”
The 70-year prophecy of Jeremiah The ninth chapter of the book of Daniel contains two well-known prophecies, both involving the number 70. The first prophecy is one of 70 years. This prophecy is known as the 70-year prophecy of Jeremiah because God gave it through Jeremiah.
A reference to this prophecy is found in the book of Daniel because Daniel happened to be studying this prophecy and came to understand its meaning. In general, the Jews were prophesied to experience 70 years of punishment for their sins via the Babylonian Empire.
There are two components to this prophecy with overlapping 70-year periods of time. For a full explanation, see “Daniel 9: The 70-Year Prophecy of Jeremiah.”
70 weeks of Daniel The 70-weeks prophecy, also found in Daniel 9, is more complex and extensive in its duration than the 70-year prophecy of Jeremiah. While the latter has long been fulfilled, the 70-weeks prophecy dated the coming of Jesus Christ to earth and also identifies significant aspects of Jesus’ ministry.
Some of these aspects of Christ’s ministry were partially fulfilled, and other aspects of this prophecy are still awaiting fulfillment. For an insightful analysis of this prophecy, see “70 Weeks of Daniel: What Does the Prophecy Mean?”
Daniel 11: one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible
The account of Daniel’s being thrown into a den of lions is found in Daniel chapter 6. Most people know the outcome of the story—that God miraculously protected Daniel and that the men who accused Daniel of being disloyal to the king suffered the very fate they had tried to bring on Daniel.
But there is more to the story.
This story is also about how Daniel prayed to God, and it is about Daniel’s faith to continue to honor God through prayer even though a government edict forbade him to do so. In this story we are also reminded that even though God allowed the nation of Judah to fall to the Babylonians and permitted many of the Jewish people, including Daniel, to be taken captive, God was still the all-powerful God. He was superior to the Babylonian gods, and He could still protect those who honored Him.
This narrative reminds us that God has a history of intervening in the lives of those who love Him. To see a fuller explanation of this timeless story, see the article “Daniel 6: Daniel in the Lions’ Den.”
Four beasts, 10 horns and a little horn Sometimes the Bible repeats a story, a historical record or a prophecy for emphasis. The prophecy that was revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, that there would be four world-ruling empires, was repeated about 50 years later in Daniel 7. This time, however, the message came directly to Daniel, and there were added details.
In this vision Daniel saw four beasts—representing the same four world-ruling empires that were described in Daniel 2—come up out of the sea. But in this vision Daniel noted that there was also a little horn that spoke pompous words against God and made war against the saints.
Daniel 7 also gives greater explanation of the fourth beast, which had 10 horns, representing 10 kings that would arise from this fourth kingdom. This prophecy concludes with more about the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
A detailed explanation of this vision is available in the article “Daniel 7: Four Beasts and the Little Horn.”
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While Matthew’s gospel portrays Jesus as the King, Mark reveals Him as God’s Servant. Jesus’s work was always for a larger purpose, a point clearly summarized in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark filled his gospel with the miracles of Jesus, illustrating again and again both the power and the compassion of the Son of God. In these passages, Mark revealed more than Jesus as the good teacher who offered people spiritual renewal; the book also portrays Jesus as the true God and the true man, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.But Jesus’s life as the agent of change wasn’t without an ultimate purpose. Amid His hands-on ministry, Jesus constantly pointed to the definitive way in which He would serve humanity: His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. It is only through faith in these works of Jesus Christ that human beings find eternal redemption for their whole selves. Moreover, Jesus becomes our model for how to live our lives—serving others as He did.
How do I apply this?
Three times in three consecutive chapters—8, 9, and 10—Mark pictured Jesus informing His disciples of His great sacrifice and ultimate victory. His disciples either rejected the teaching altogether (Mark 8:31–32) or they showed themselves concerned with other matters (9:31–34; 10:32–37). As Jesus prepared to perform the greatest service in the history of the human race, His disciples could only think about themselves—their position or safety.
Do you find it a struggle to get yourself oriented toward sacrificial service, as Jesus’s disciples did? The temptations we all wrestle with when faced with an opportunity to serve another person are to pull back within ourselves, to seek our comfort, or to protect our own interests.
The challenge that Jesus presents to us in the book of Mark involves breaking out of those patterns of self-absorption and giving ourselves in service and love to others.
Copyright ©? 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.