2023 May-Jun Zion's Fire Magazine

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You can always count on Zion’s Fire magazine to bring you a variety of informative, rock-solid biblical content in every issue.

Now, through digital media, we’re pleased to connect you to even more in-depth content that corresponds to the various reports, features, and full-length articles in this issue.

■ If your reading time is limited and you’d prefer to watch or listen to David Rosenthal’s video about Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 - simply scan the QR code to watch the video.

■ To learn more about how you can support the exciting projects in our Servant’s Heart 2023 Challenge – watch a short video from Jerusalem.

■ To go deeper in your understanding of what the early Church fathers believed about the timing of Christ’s Coming, you’ll want to watch the video from Dr. Michael Weis.

Simply use your smart phone (in camera mode) to scan the QR codes we’ve provided throughout the magazine. After scanning, click on the link that appears on your phone to watch and listen.

Zion’s Fire Magazine

Zion’s Fire is a publication of Zion’s Hope.

© Copyright 2023 by Zion’s Hope, Inc., P.O. Box 783369 Winter Garden, FL 34778-3369

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Editor-in-Chief: David Rosenthal

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MAY-JUNE 2023

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 – A Prelude to Peace or War?

David Rosenthal

Saudi Arabia is undergoing stunning economic, social, and religious changes. These shifts may well have direct endtimes implications. Could it be that these changes will make Saudi Arabia the Mystery Babylon of Revelation?

MISSIONS REPORT

Servant’s Heart Challenge

Our Servant’s Heart team will gather together in Jerusalem to bless the people of Israel and “Love them to life in Christ.” With our ministry partners, our team will provide food for the poor, care for the young and elderly, kindness to the lonely, and proclaim the Good News of salvation to the lost.

COVER FEATURE

Caught Off Guard

Marv Rosenthal

The Bible teaches that the Antichrist and Great Tribulation will precede the Lord’s coming. The Church will enter Daniel’s 70th Week and encounter the Antichrist before the Rapture.

The Worthiness of God

David Eittinger

Though Earth is filled with sin, there is plenty of evidence of God’s glory and worthiness to be found in it. Psalm 33 looks at our world, notes its ample evidence of God’s glory, and proclaims it – and does so beautifully.

INSIGHT FEATURE

A Word From the Word

Dr. Dan Hayden

Dr. Hayden takes a brief look at the words “Lose Heart” and “Perfect” to encourage believers to stand firm and not bail out when the going gets tough. Christians can stand firm in God’s Word because it is perfect and without error.

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Zion’s Fire (ISSN 1052-2301, USPS 005423) is published bimonthly by Zion’s Hope, Inc., 146 West Plant Street, Suite 300, Winter Garden, FL 34787-3136. Periodicals postage paid at Winter Garden, FL and additional mailing offices.

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Our Purpose and Passion

Zion’s Hope is a Bible-based ministry whose purpose is to proclaim to Jewish and Gentile people throughout the world their need for personal salvation through Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. We’re also committed to helping Christians grow in their understanding of biblical prophecy and the importance of Israel in God’s plan for the Last Days. To that end, we teach Scripture in its historical, geographical, and cultural context to prepare God’s people for end-time events and the return of Jesus Christ.

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VISION

20 30 SAUDI ARABIA’S

A PRELUDE TO PEACE OR WAR?

Saudi Arabia is a nation undergoing stunning economic, social, and religious changes. The seismic shifts taking place in the wealthy and influential kingdom are resulting in profound effects across the Middle East – and more should be expected. Most importantly, these dramatic changes may have direct end-time implications. I’ll touch on these things further on in this geoprophecy report, but for now, let’s take a brief look at some of the background and key facts related to the epic changes occurring within the Islamic kingdom.

In 2016, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) announced Vision 2030 – a transformative plan designed to wean Saudi Arabia from its long-standing dependence on oil revenue and reposition it as a leader in so-called clean, renewable energy. In tandem with this strategy, the plan also revealed the Crown Prince’s desire to remake Saudi Arabia’s image and rebrand it as a global business, trade, and tourism mecca by 2030.

Situated near the crossroads of three continents, the Arabian Peninsula borders five major bodies of water. One of the keys to Saudi Arabia’s long-term economic transition is to develop its 1,100 miles of coastline along the Red Sea – which is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. This strategic trade route links Asia and the Indian Ocean to Egypt’s Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea, and all of Europe.

The significance of this geographic reality is evidenced in two of the three

pillars of Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan. They are:

1. To reinforce the idea that Saudi Arabia is the heart of the Islamic and Arab world.

2. To become a global powerhouse for international investment.

3. To harness the Kingdom’s geographic advantage as a hub to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa.

In a country infamous for its adherence to strict Islamic tradition and fundamentalist Muslim ideology, MbS has rolled out his visionary plan with a strong hand and a great deal of political prowess.

Within the kingdom, many devout Wahhabist Muslim clerics and their radical followers despise the Crown Prince’s calls for religious moderation and cultural changes.

Outside the kingdom, the international community has varied opinions of MbS. Some see him as a modern reformer who seeks to improve the lives of his people, but others see him as an authoritarian ruler who will stop at nothing to achieve his personal aims. Despite the mixed reviews on MbS, it cannot be denied that the systematic unveiling of his largely secular economic agenda has been remarkably bold and imaginative – garnering the attention of governments and multi-national business entrepreneurs around the globe.

Several of his new, jaw-dropping initiatives are being developed along the Red Sea coast (which is a point of significance that should not be overlooked by students of Bible prophecy):

One of the keys to Saudi Arabia’s long-term economic transition is to develop its 1,100 miles of coastline along the Red Sea – which is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. This strategic trade route links Asia and the Indian Ocean to Egypt’s Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea, and all of Europe.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

NEOM

Billed as the world’s most ambitious project, this master-planned $500+ billion dollar futuristic mega-city is currently under construction in the coastal, desert region of northwestern Saudi Arabia. More akin to a small country than a single city, the land area designated for NEOM is said to be 33 times the size of New York City, and is projected to have 16 boroughs and a population of nine million at completion. The first phase of the metropolis is to open in 2030 and will be home to one million people.

The listed projects currently under development within NEOM are among the most ambitious the world has ever seen:

When NEOM was first announced in 2017, the Crown Prince indicated NEOM would implement its own laws, essentially operating outside the judicial framework of Saudi Arabia, which is based on Islamic law. Today, the question remains as to whether MbS will be able to walk this tightrope or will instead try to enact sweeping changes to Saudi law in order to entice global companies to invest in NEOM and move their headquarters to the kingdom. Based on recent reports, it seems MbS is pursuing the latter.

NEOM will operate entirely on renewable energy and will implement the latest in technological advances. Curiously, in the past year Saudi Arabia

PROJECTS WITHIN NEOM

THE LINE

This linear smart city will be comprised of two mirrored-glass towers that rise to a height of 1,600 feet and extend more than 110 miles in length. Between the two parallel towers will be outdoor

has formed a closer alliance with China, stoking fears that Chinese surveillance technology may be used to monitor and control the residents of NEOM.

The Potential for Peace and War

If the ambitious plans of the Crown Prince come to fruition, they will not only have a dramatic impact on his kingdom, but on all the nations of the Middle East and beyond.

Saudi Arabia and, more specifically, the city of Mecca (more than 500 miles to the south of NEOM), is the heart and soul of Sunni Islam in the world today. In large measure, the one who holds power over Mecca holds power over the Muslim world. As the Crown Prince opens his kingdom to tourism and investment, promotes social and economic reforms, and continues to advocate for a more moderate, non-violent form of Islam, there is the potential for greater cooperation between nations in the Middle East.

It’s no secret that Saudi Arabia and Israel are closer to reaching a peace agreement than at any time since the modern rebirth of Israel 75 years ago. Unthinkable only a few years ago, it would not be at all surprising to see, in the near future, a flood of Israeli high-tech corporations investing heavily in NEOM, and multitudes of Israeli citizens

space for parks and recreation. The massive linear city will be built in three layers: one above ground for pedestrians living in the tower structures, and two underground – to accommodate infrastructure and transportation. The city will be monitored using artificial intelligence and is expected to utilize predictive modeling to anticipate daily needs of residents.

OXAGON

Straddling land and sea on the Red Sea coast within NEOM will be the world’s largest floating structure–a massive industrial city named Oxagon. According to press reports, the city will be powered solely by renewable energy, and will be home to the world’s first automated port and integrated logistics hub, using artificial and predictive intelligence along with robotics to facilitate faster, seamless trade across the globe.

TROJENA

Perched atop NEOM’s towering mountains nearly 30 miles from the Red Sea coast (and adjacent to

enjoying the pleasures of NEOM’s Red Sea Riviera.

However, as Saudi Arabia moves toward religious moderation, societal reforms, and potential peace with Israel, it may be these very changes that make the Islamic kingdom ripe for an attack by a more politically radicalized Islamic nation such as Iran (which adheres to Shiism – a different form of Islam). Isaiah chapters 13 and 21, along with Jeremiah 50 and 51 seem to indicate that in the Last Days Arabia will be attacked by nations from the north including Iran (Elam and Media) Isa. 13:17-22. (See also, Isa. 21:1,2,9,13,16,17; Jer. 50:3,9).

The Connection to Mystery Babylon

Though I am not dogmatic on this issue, I believe the Bible depicts a sobering and catastrophic end for the wealthy Arabian kingdom. Revelation 17 and 18 reveal a divine, end-times judgment will befall a city referred to in Scripture as “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.”

In context, this city (which is likely intended to be understood as a nation or kingdom) is singled out for divine judgment due to its abhorrent behavior – the seducing of humanity into committing spiritual fornication with a false religious system. This is the reason this city (or kingdom) referred to as “Mystery, Babylon the Great” is

Jabal al-Lawz mountain – the possible location of Mt. Sinai in Arabia) a futuristic, year-round ski resort is being constructed around a massive, man-made lake that will cantilever above NEOM’s snow-capped peaks. The new destination is slated to house six distinct development districts that focus on blending real experiences with virtual and engineered innovations. Trojena is poised to become the premiere global destination for luxury mountain tourism.

SINDALAH

This ultra-luxury island resort is scheduled to open in 2024, and is only the first of many more islands to be developed along NEOM’s Red Sea coast. Catering to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, Sindalah Island will include luxury hotels, restaurants, a wellness center, and a state-of-the-art marina designed to accommodate the world’s largest private sea vessels. This exclusive anchorage will become NEOM’s premiere golf and mega-yacht destination on the Red Sea, with navigable access through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea

described as “the Mother of Harlots” – for she is the greatest source of religious deception the world has ever known.

These chapters in Revelation personify this Last-Days “Babylon,” describing her as a harlot queen (Rev. 17:1; 18:7). She is clothed in the royal colors of purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones (17:4). In her hand she holds a golden cup filled with her abominations and filthiness (17:4). She is consumed with pride and arrogance, and lives in decadence (18:7). She seduces the kings of the earth, and they become drunk with the wine of her fornication (17:2; 18:3,9) because they have lusted after the intoxicating pleasures and immense wealth she offers to them (18:12-14). She herself is intoxicated with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus (17:6).

The Bible describes the destruction of this harlot (city) that reigns (both religiously and economically) over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:16). She will face plagues, death, mourning, and famine – and be utterly burned by fire (18:8). The kings of the earth will wail and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning (18:9), and the merchants of the earth (who became rich through her) shall weep and mourn for her because no one can buy their merchandise anymore (18:11,15).

Space will not allow for direct comparisons here, but I believe the parallels between these biblical texts and the Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia – particularly in connection to its Vision 2030 plan and the dramatic developments taking place there– are astounding.

The destruction of “Mystery Babylon” will occur during the Day of the Lord’s wrath, near the end of Daniel’s 70th Week (after the Rapture of the Church has taken place). Therefore, the words of the apostle John in Revelation 18:4-5 may be intended to be a warning to Jewish people living and working in NEOM and the Arabian kingdom in that future day. John wrote: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (See also, Jeremiah 50:8). u

Listed below are some additional observations from Revelation 17 and 18 that may provide further evidence of the harlot’s identity.

■ When John was “carried away in the spirit,” the harlot queen he saw was located in a wilderness (Rev. 17:3). The Red Sea coast of the Islamic kingdom is a mountainous Middle Eastern desert.

■ The harlot queen is said to sit on many waters, which are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (17:15). Arabia has a strong religious influence over hundreds of millions of Muslims throughout the Middle East.

■ As the harlot queen is burning, every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning (18:17-18). Arabia is situated along the Red Sea, which is a major shipping route for global trade.

■ When the shipmasters and sea traders see the smoke of the harlot queen’s burning, they cast dust on their heads (18:19). This is a sign of mourning, and is a uniquely Middle Eastern cultural behavior.

Jerusalem, Israel Challenge

2023

Love them to Life IN CHRIST

THIS MONTH OUR SERVANT’S HEART TEAM will gather together in Jerusalem to bless the people of Israel and “Love them to life in Christ.” With our ministry partners, our team will provide food for the poor, care for the young and elderly, kindness to the lonely, and proclaim the Good News of salvation to the lost. But we need your help! Your participation through prayer and giving is vital to the success of these 11 important projects.

Over the past several years, digital media has proven to be a very effective means of communicating the Gospel to Israelis. Through the production and promotion of online Gospel videos, and by engaging in meaningful conversations on the street, our ministry team will share the Good News of the Messiah with Jewish people throughout the Holy Land.

PROJECT NEED: $13,500

Hundreds of large care packages containing quality staple food items will be assembled and distributed to the poor and elderly in Jerusalem and various locations in Israel. Meeting the basic food needs of these dear people not only serves to meet their physical needs, but opens the door to provide them with spiritual food for their soul.

PROJECT NEED: $14,000

BE’AD CHAIM PRO-LIFE CENTER

This pro-life center in Jerusalem ministers to pregnant women through education, godly guidance, and by lovingly encouraging them to give birth to their babies. Through Servant’s Heart support, precious little lives will be saved and new mothers helped with expenses.

PROJECT NEED: $18,500

FEASTS OF ISRAEL BOOK – TRANSLATION, PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION

A few years ago, we funded a new Hebrew/English booklet that explains the biblical feasts. Since that time, it has been used to touch many lives. Jewish people celebrate the feast holidays, but don’t understand they reveal God’s plan of salvation. This year, in partnership with the Bible Society, Servant’s Heart will fund the translation of this booklet into Russian and Amharic to reach the many Russian and Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in Israel.

PROJECT NEED: $32,000

MEDALLION SHABBAT SCHOOL BIBLE LESSONS

The growing Messianic community in Israel desperately needs biblical teaching materials in Hebrew for kids. Godly Shabbat School (Children’s Church) teachers are developing solid, Bible-based curriculum through the Medallion ministry. This season, Servant’s Heart will fund the production and printing of Hebrew-language Bible lessons on Creationism for Israeli children.

PROJECT NEED: $12,000

ORPHAN CARE IN JERUSALEM

In the heart of Jerusalem, more than 175 young boys are being cared for in remarkable ways. Each child is paired with a young couple that oversees 12 youngsters (resembling a large family unit). Servant’s Heart volunteers will meet and spend time with the children, and Zion’s Hope staff will continue to minister to them throughout the year.

PROJECT NEED: $5,500

GALILEE GOSPEL MINISTRY OUTREACH

A small, dynamic congregation of Israeli believers located north of the Sea of Galilee near the border with Lebanon are working diligently to reach the lost in their town and in other communities in the Galilee region. In partnership, our Servant’s Heart team will join them in an evangelistic outreach and provide financial support to their growing congregation.

PROJECT NEED: $10,000

MAKOR HATIKVAH MESSIANIC SCHOOL

This Christian school in Jerusalem begins each day with prayer and Bible study – and provides a quality education. But, many parents can’t afford a Christian education for their children. In honor of Zion’s Hope Field Director John Theodor, who entered glory in 2021, Servant’s Heart will provide Theodor Scholarships to struggling families.

PROJECT NEED: $15,000

CARE FOR THE ELDERLY & JEWISH IMMIGRANTS

Many of these dear elderly Jewish people immigrated to Israel after World War II. Others came from Russia and France to escape growing anti-Semitism. Recently, Ukrainian refugees have flooded into Israel. Through Servant’s Heart support, they receive ongoing assistance that includes medical care, provision of food, help with expenses, prayer, and spiritual guidance.

PROJECT NEED: $20,000

Gifts designated “Servant’s Heart” will be used to meet these special projects. If you would like to designate your gift toward specific projects, please indicate your selection on the enclosed donation card and in the memo blank of your check. Funds received beyond the needs of the Servant’s Heart program will be used for the ongoing ministry of Zion’s Hope.

Donations may be made by phone, mail, or online. Please mail your check in the enclosed envelope.

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MEVASERET BIBLE STUDY CLASSROOMS

A church has been planted in the growing Jerusalem suburb of Mevaseret Zion. The congregation has been meeting outside, but their new building is almost ready. Through Servant’s Heart support, Kehila Meshichit Mevaseret will be able to finish their Bible study classrooms and move into their new church facility.

PROJECT NEED: $10,000

JERUSALEM MESSIANIC YOUTH CAMPS

The Jerusalem Assembly church will host several weeks of dynamic Bible training for kids and teens this summer. However, many parents can’t afford it due to the high cost of living in Israel. At a time when children’s hearts are most open to the Gospel, these camps are an invaluable investment in their lives.

PROJECT NEED: $9,500

The danger for the Church is not in being left behind, but in being

Is the Church prepared to encounter the Antichrist before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

Years ago, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins wrote a book titled, Left Behind. It was a very popular prophetic novel on the second coming of Christ, which became the first in a series of novels and movies under the “Left Behind” banner. The book sounded a legitimate evangelistic warning that those who do not accept Christ will be “left behind” at His coming. At the same time, with its pretribulational emphasis of imminence – Jesus can come at any moment –it set the Church up to be caught off-guard and spiritually ambushed by the Antichrist.

Unfortunately, this “any-moment” rapture idea (though unbiblical) remains a deeply engrained dogma within many of our evangelical churches today.

At the Lord’s coming, the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the one generation of believers living at that time – both the resurrected and the raptured – will be caught up in the air to be forever with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Either resurrection from the grave or rapture is the believer’s “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). It is that hope which can keep God’s elect on an even keel no matter how severe the raging storms of life may become.

The prospect of encountering the Anti-

christ does not in any way infringe on the blessed hope. The sometimesheard pretribulational battle-cry, “I’m looking for the upper-taker [Jesus Christ], not the undertaker [the Antichrist],” is like a broken cistern which holds no water, or a cloud which produces no rain. They hold out false promise which will never come to fruition.

The Scriptures clearly teach that the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation will precede the Lord’s coming. The Church should be constantly watching for her Lord’s coming, but fully cognizant of the fact that it is the emergence of the Antichrist which will indicate the Lord’s emergence is near. Believers still living at that time will be removed from the earth by rapture before the outpouring of God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord (the trumpets and bowls of the Book of Revelation), but they will not be exempted from the difficulties associated with the Antichrist.

The Church is not going to be whisked to Heaven on beds of ease as historic pretribulationism teaches. Because of unfolding world events and rightly perceived looming dangers on the horizon, some pretribulationists have begun suggesting that difficult days may come to the Church before she is raptured. This alarm, though welcome, will not suffice to prepare the Church for the specific danger which lies ahead as the Antichrist, empowered by Satan, persecutes true believers who will not give him their allegiance as he seeks world domination.

If the Church believes she will be out of here before the Antichrist emerges, she will be caught off-guard and unprepared when he appears to deceive the world.

It is the manifestation of the Antichrist in connection with the abomination of

RECOMMENDED MINISTRY RESOURCE

As a Thief in the Night

desolation at the rebuilt Temple on Mount Moriah which will indicate the Lord’s soon return. And far from infringing on the blessed hope, the manifestation of the Antichrist will attest to its soon realization.

The Rapture is not a signless, anymoment event. Contrary to popular pretribulational teaching, the coming of Christ will not be as “a thief in the night” for the believer. There will be very specific and prophesied events which precede His coming.

For the Church, the danger is not in being left behind, but in being caught off guard.

The Early Church Fathers

CONNECT

In the year A.D. 325, the Council of Nicea convened. It was an important council of Church leaders. The Church fathers who lived and taught before the council were called the Ante-Nicene Fathers. They lived and ministered during the approximately 300-year period following our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Some of them were taught by the Apostles themselves.

It is certainly true that the Church fathers did not always agree and not all of their views were to be embraced. However, as a general principle, the closer one lived to the time of the Lord, the more important his testimony. When there is great unity among the Church fathers, their testimony – like a cord consisting of many strands woven together – is all the more unbreakable.

Those premillenarians who believe the Son of God will return to Earth to establish a literal 1,000-year kingdom (and I am among them) rightly cite the Church fathers as a source of important evidence to support their position. In dramatic

contrast, however, they cannot appeal to the same Church fathers for support of a signless, any-moment Rapture because the Church fathers did not teach it. This is a glaring inconsistency.

Not a single Ante-Nicene Church father supports a signless, any-moment Rapture. Quite the opposite, they uniformly teach the Antichrist must appear before Christ’s coming for the Church and that the Church should be watching lest she be caught off guard. Listen carefully to what the Church fathers taught.

Justin Martyr wrote: “The man of apostasy [Antichrist] … shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians …” (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, 110).

The Pastor of Hermas wrote: “Happy are ye who endure the great tribulation that is coming …” (Vision Second).

And again he wrote: “Those, therefore, who continue steadfast, and are put through the fire, will be purified by means of it. … Wherefore cease not speaking these things into the ears of the saints. This then is the type of the great tribulation that is yet to come” (Vision Fourth).

The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles states: “Watch for your life’s sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh … for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time … then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders. … Then shall the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself” (Chapter xvi).

Irenaeus wrote: “And they [the ten kings] shall … give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight” (Against Heresies, V, 26, 1).

And again he wrote: “But he [John] indicates the number of the name [the Antichrist, 666] now, that when this man comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is” (Against Heresies, V, 30, 4).

He also places the resurrection of the

Church and the Old Testament saints after the revelation (appearance) of the Antichrist (Against Heresies, V, 34, 3; V, 35, 1).

Hippolytus wrote: “Now concerning the tribulation of the persecution which is to fall upon the Church from the adversary [he has been speaking of the Antichrist and the Antichrist’s persecution of the saints] ... That refers to the one thousand two hundred and threescore days [the last half of Daniel’s 70th Week] during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church” (Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 60, 61).

preparing, and strengthening the people of His Church for the endurance of things to come ...” (Treatise VII).

Commodianus placed the resurrection of the Church after the appearance of the Antichrist and his tribulation, but before the Millennium (Instructions xliv, lxxx).

The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles states: “And then shall appear the deceiver of the world [the Antichrist], the enemy of the truth, the prince of lies, whom the Lord Jesus ‘shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth, who takes away the wicked with His lips; and many shall be offended at Him. But they that endure

And then shall appear the deceiver of the world . . . whom the Lord Jesus shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth . . .

Melito of Sardis wrote: “For with all his strength did the adversary assail us, even then giving a foretaste of his activity among us which is to be without restraint [in context, referring to the removal of the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8] …”

Tertullian wrote: “Now the privilege of this favor [to go without dying at the Rapture] awaits those who shall at the coming of the Lord be found in the flesh [those who are still alive], and who shall, owing to the oppressions of the time of Antichrist, deserve by an instantaneous death [Tertullian’s way of describing the Rapture], which is accomplished by sudden change, to become qualified to join the rising saints [those who had already died in Christ]; as he writes to the Thessalonians” (On the Resurrection of the Flesh, xli).

And again he wrote: “That the beast Antichrist with his false prophet [Revelation 13] may wage war on the Church of God … Since, then, the Scriptures both indicate the stages of the last times, and concentrate the harvest of the Christian hope in the very end of the world …” (On the Resurrection of the Flesh, cf. Scorpiace xii).

Cyprian, commenting on the tribulation in the Olivet Discourse, wrote: “With the exhortation of His foreseeing word, instructing, and teaching, and

to the end, the same shall be saved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven;’ and afterwards shall be the voice of a trumpet by the archangel; and in that interval shall be the revival of those that were asleep. And then shall the Lord come, and all His saints with Him” (Constitutions VII, ii, xxxi, xxxii).

Victorinus speaks of Elijah the prophet, who ministers during the times of the Antichrist [and gives a lengthy discussion of the persecution of the Church by the Antichrist] (Commentary on the Apocalypse VII, 351 ff.).

Lactantius clearly believed that the coming of the Lord to resurrect the righteous was to take place after the Great Tribulation (Institutes VII, xv-xxvii; cf. Institutes IV; and Epitome lxxi, lxxii).

The early Church fathers not only consistently warned that believers would encounter the Antichrist before the Rapture, but called for watchfulness, purity, and steadfastness.

It is not Prewrath Rapturism which has strayed from the orthodox position of the early Church, but Pretribulation Rapturism.

For the Church fathers, the danger to the Church was not in being left behind, but in being CAUGHT OFF GUARD. u

But they that endure to the end, THE SAME SHALL BE SAVED.

In Part 2, we’ll look at what the apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus himself taught about the timing of His second coming.

Psalm 33:

THE

INTRODUCTION: GOD IS WORTHY

When the composer wrote the song, “Thou Art Worthy,” she was echoing what the apostle John expressed in the Book of Revelation. According to John, who was taken in the Spirit to the throne room of God, the scene is one of majesty, glory, and reverence:

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (4:10-11).

It is a unique privilege for John to capture the awesomeness of the moment as he witnesses a heavenly scene, one rarely revealed to the human eye (see Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1). To behold glory in Heaven is natural in view of the fact that all of Heaven is filled with God’s glory (Habakkuk 3:3). This is good for Heaven and its inhabitants, but what about Earth and those living on it?

In contrast to Heaven, to behold God’s glory and worthiness on Earth can be a challenge. After all,

our planet is stamped with the mark of sin as all of creation “groaneth and travaileth in pain” (Romans 8:22). Today’s Earth is a sphere plagued by disease, war, famine, bitterness, hatred, fear, and is a waiting place – along with the celestial bodies – for God’s judgment. As the apostle Peter puts it:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7).

And yet, it is from this same Earth that another man, one of the unidentified authors of the Psalms, is able to find plenty of evidence of God’s glory and worthiness. Unlike Paul (the author of Romans) and Peter, this author is not looking down the long corridors of time, but simply at the world around him. And as he looks at the world and sees ample evidence of God’s glory, the psalmist is compelled to proclaim it. And he does so beautifully in Psalm 33.

GOD’S WORTHINESS IN PRAISE

(vv. 1-3)

Passage

“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”

What God Has Done

Interestingly, the psalmist begins his joyous ode with the effect and follows with the cause. Generally, the Bible spends several chapters establishing and defending a premise, then instructs the reader as to the proper response to that premise. Paul employs such a pattern in his letters. In the psalmist’s case, the tried and true order is reversed. Being given no reason, argument, or motivation to praise the Lord for His worthiness, the reader is immediately ordered to “rejoice in the LORD” (v. 1). The psalmist then spends the remainder of the Psalm explaining why we should, indeed, praise the Lord.

It is important to understand that, unlike Paul, who carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ to often distant, hostile, and heathen lands, the psalmist is not addressing himself to a foreign nation.

Rather, he is simply attempting to motivate God’s people to rejoice in and celebrate what the King of Heaven and Earth has done for them and to give honor to a God of might, justice, and righteousness.

The Response

The psalmist identifies his audience at the outset: the “righteous” (v. 1). The righteous are not merely good citizens who uphold the law of the land but, biblically, are those who love the Lord. Elsewhere, a psalmist writes: “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory” (Psalm 64:10). Clearly, biblical righteousness not only refers to right behavior, but includes those who love God with their whole hearts. The writer of Psalm 33 admonishes these righteous ones to “Sing unto him a new song” (v. 3) or, simply put, to worship God with all that is within them

WORTHINESS IN

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Passage

“For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”

What God Has Done

The first defense of God’s worthiness the psalmist presents is that of His Word. The Hebrew for “word” is dabar, meaning “the matter” or “thing.” This general definition of “word” is not restricted to the written word alone, but also indicates the scope of God’s promises, commands, admonishments, and declarations, be they written or spoken. The psalmist tells us the Word of the Lord is “right” (v. 4). The word “right” comes from the Hebrew yesar, meaning “upright.” Therefore, the psalmist tells us God is worthy of praise because that which He speaks and has committed to writing – His entire revelation to humanity – is true and upright; He will do what He says. The psalmist further tells us “all His works are done in truth” (v. 4). Not only is God’s revelation the epitome of truth, so is everything He does and the works of His hands. He is a God we can trust to

the utmost; One who will never deceive or betray us.

Furthermore, the psalmist tells us that not only is the Lord upright and truthful, but He also “loveth righteousness and judgment” (v. 5). The word “righteous” in the Hebrew is tsdedqah, meaning “justice.” Not only is the Lord Himself a God of justice, but He loves to see righteousness and justice performed on Earth. In today’s corrupt and evil world, the Lord not only searches out justice, but loves those who uphold it (Psalm 11:7).

And if God’s truthfulness and righteousness are not worthy of praise, then consider this: “the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” (v. 5). The Hebrew word for “goodness” is chesed, meaning “kindness.” Not only is the Lord truthful, upright, and seeks out justice, but He is also a kind God, filling the earth with His unfailing love.

The Response

The psalmist makes it easy for us. If we know God is truthful, righteous, and kind, and also know that not only is He these things but also loves these things from the works of His creation, how much more should we seek to be such people as this? Indeed. God is worthy because of His righteousness.

WORTHINESS IN CREATION

Passage

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

What God Has Done

From the worthiness of God’s character, the psalmist now extols the worthiness of God’s power as exhibited in His creation of the universe. The psalmist sets out to demonstrate the omnipotence (all-powerfulness) of the Lord by showing the sheer ease with which the Almighty has created all things. First, the heavens were made “By the word of the LORD” (v. 6). The same Hebrew for “word” (dabar), as is used in verse 4, is used here. Considering that dabar is a general definition of “word,” there is a question as to whether the Lord actually “spoke” – that is, actually uttered words – the world into existence as some believe, or rather willed it into existence. Either way,

the omnipotent God simply desired, therefore He effortlessly created “the heavens” (v. 6).

In addition to this, the “host” of Heaven, in this case, the stars and planets, were given life by His breath (Hebrew, ruach, or “spirit”). From the heights of Heaven to the depths of the earth, God controls it all. He also has supremacy over the waters, gathering them in “storehouses.” In other words, God not only created the waters, but He also restrains them lest they overrun the earth and cause worldwide destruction.

The psalmist sums up God’s worthiness by saying the Lord “spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (v. 9). When human beings produce something, they do so with great effort. Even then, the work does not last. However, when the Lord creates, it “is done” and stands “fast,” or firm, perishing only at His command should He so will it.

The Response

Again, the psalmist tells us exactly what we should do in light of the truth of God’s power in creation. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (v. 8). God is worthy because of His awesome work in creation.

GOD’S WORTHINESS IN SOVEREIGNTY (vv. 10-11)

Passage

“The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

What God Has Done

Another reason why God is worthy is His total authority over the activities of all people, not just those who believe in Him. When the psalmist speaks of the Lord foiling “the counsel of the heathen” and bringing to ruin the “devices of the people,” he takes us back to the earliest days of humanity, to the Garden of Eden. For just as Adam and Eve sought to “be as gods” (Genesis 3:5), so has unregenerate humanity always sought to unseat God as the ultimate Ruler of the universe and put itself in God’s place. This futile attempt to usurp the Lord’s authority was manifested at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11) and will reach its fulfillment with the coming of the Antichrist, who will “exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36). However, it is the Lord who is

sovereign, and every attempt to usurp Him and His authority will result in futility and destruction.

In contrast to the worthless “counsel of the heathen” (v. 10), is the “counsel of the LORD” which “standeth for ever” (v. 11). People and their vain devices come and go, but the Lord is eternal. New waves of humanity’s thoughts and philosophies proudly rise and pathetically fall, “but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). Furthermore, the death and birth of new generations does not change or hinder God’s ways, for “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (v. 11, emphasis added).

The Response

Because God is eternal and His Word will never perish, His people know they can always rely on Him. To depend on people is to put hope in decaying flesh and blood. God, however, does not decay: “even to your old age I am he; and … I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4). Indeed, God is sovereign over all men and women–believing and unbelieving; He is truly worthy of our praise, prayers, and petitions.

GOD’S WORTHINESS IN JUDGMENT

Passage

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”

What God Has Done

That the Lord is the supreme Judge of the universe is indicated by the phrase, “The LORD looketh from heaven . . .” (v. 13). God is worthy of the praise of His people for His blessing upon the righteous and His judgment upon the wicked. The psalmist makes this clear when he writes, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (v. 12). Israel was created as a nation of great promise, one that was to be “unto me [God] a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). During the rare times when Israel obeyed God, the nation was blessed with peace (Leviticus 26:6); however, when she disobeyed, she was harshly judged (2 Kings 17).

Not only is the nation as a whole blessed, but so are those “whom he hath chosen for his own inheri-

tance” (v. 12). God’s blessings are not random acts; they emanate from the eternal Judge of the universe who specifically chooses those who will worship Him (Ephesians 1:4).

The Lord is also a righteous Judge, “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). As such, “The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men” (v. 13). The Judge gives men and women the opportunity to show themselves righteous by displaying their allegiance to Him. He tests both the heart and the soul. Further, the Lord looks down from His great judgment seat, “the place of his habitation” (v. 14), to consider the ways of men and women. Because the great Judge “fashioneth their hearts alike [individually]” (v. 15), He already knows what is in each of their hearts and can, therefore, render perfect judgment

The Response

Because our great Judge and King both created and knows all that is in our hearts, we know blessing awaits us for our faithfulness to Him. Because God is on His throne dispensing perfect judgment, He is worthy of our complete adoration.

GOD’S WORTHINESS IN FAITHFULNESS

Passage

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”

What God Has Done

To those who are loyal and faithful to God, the Lord, in return, is loyal and faithful to them. God does not ask much of His people, but two things He does require are that they “fear [revere] him” (v. 18), and “hope in his mercy” (v. 18). By contrast, unbelievers trust solely in their own wiles. For as was ancient Israel, so is modern-day humanity: “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). Instead, unsaved humanity turns to “the multitude of an host” and “much [great] strength” (v. 16). Yet, the Lord clearly tells us: “This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might,

FAITHFULNESS

nor by power, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). Still, unregenerate humanity relies upon its “horse” (v. 17), or weaponry, to deliver it. However, the truth is that none of humanity’s weapons of war will “deliver any by his great strength” (v. 17).

By contrast, the strongest weapon humanity can possess is faith in the God who is called “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11). When people rely on weapons, they are safe only until someone develops a more deadly weapon. An army is invincible only until a more powerful army comes along. But to those who place their hope and faith in God, they will watch God “deliver their soul from death” and “keep them alive in famine” (v. 19).

The Response

Despite all its repeated feeble attempts, humanity has failed to bring peace and safety upon the earth. The messengers of the New Age persistently proclaim a near-future day of peace and tranquility. However, such a day will never come through the endeavors of men and women, but only through the God who will deliver His faithful followers. Therefore, God is worthy because of His unfailing, undying, and unyielding faithfulness.

GOD’S WORTHINESS IN MERCY (vv. 20-22)

Passage

“Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

What God Has Done

The Lord is the great Protector of those who love Him. When the psalmist speaks of God as being “our help” (v. 20), he has in mind every area of life. Not only does the Lord help us in times of physical trouble, but also in times of anguish: “Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20). The Lord is also “our shield” (v. 20). Though this can and often does pertain to God’s protection of believers from harm, the greater extent of God’s provision for us regards our souls: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). The “Holy One” referred to here is the Lord Jesus Christ, and just as He conquered death, so will believers through Christ’s sacrifice do the same (John 5:24; 1 John 5:13).

God also promises His people they “shall rejoice in him” (v. 21). Though believers in the Lord Jesus have plenty of cause to rejoice here on Earth, the passage indicates a time when our hearts will rejoice forever, when we go to live with Him for eternity (John 14:1-4). When that day comes, God promises to “swallow up death [forever]; and … wipe away tears from off all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). Indeed, the “mercy” of the Lord will be “upon” all who “hope in thee” (v. 22). Our longsuffering and waiting upon the Lord to deliver us from this world will one day end as God will pour out His mercy upon us. The day of God’s deliverance will be glorious: “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted” (Isaiah 49:13).

The Response

God’s mercy upon those who love Him is limitless. When we were so deserving of death, God, in His bountiful mercy, sent the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver us from our sins (Romans 5:8). Therefore, because of God’s great mercy, He is worthy of our adoration.

CONCLUSION:

Scripture is clear regarding the fate of humanity’s “creation”

“I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.” Zephaniah 1:2-3

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WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Sinful humanity esteems that which its own hands have made and its heart desires – wealth, technology, skyscrapers, cars, fame, and, ultimately, its own glorification. Yet, Scripture is clear regarding the fate of humanity’s “creation” – those things it considers worthy of its time and effort: “I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD” (Zephaniah 1:2-3).

In contrast, it is God and His Son Jesus Christ who alone are worthy of humanity’s praise and adoration. And just as the multitudes in Heaven sing to the Lord Jesus Christ, so one day will all who love Him sing the awesome words of Revelation 5:12: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” u

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“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

(2 Corinthians 4:16)

WLOSE HEART

– 2 Corinthians 4:16

e live in a bail-out generation. “I give up!” “I quit!” People are bailing out of relationships, bailing out of responsibilities, and running from their problems instead of dealing with them. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I make an appeal to you: Why don’t you resolve right now that you’re not going to do that anymore?

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 Paul begins a section on values by saying: “Therefore, we do not lose heart.” Earlier in verses 8-9 he said, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Paul and his associates endured many hardships while ministering for Christ. But Paul says in verse 16 that there’s no reason to “lose heart.”

The English phrase “lose heart” comes from a Greek word that means “to fail in heart; to faint; to give up.” The idea is of someone coming to the end of his patience and endurance and deciding he can’t go on anymore.

In the next three verses of the 2 Corinthians passage, Paul goes on to give us three reasons why Christians can hang in there and not give up:

■ First (verse 16), Paul says we need to value the inner man – not just the outer man.

■ Second (verse 17), Paul tells us we need to have an eternal perspective – not just a temporal one.

■ Third (verse 18), Paul says we need to see the invisible reality of God’s presence – not just the visible world of our sensory experience. Paul encourages us to “not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

So, remember: There are three good reasons why you don’t have to “lose heart.” Don’t give up! Hang in there by keeping your eyes on Christ! u

PERFECT

– 2 Timothy 3:16-17

As a major league baseball pitcher, Orel Hershiser wasn’t perfect. But he was good! In fact, he came about as close to perfection as a baseball player could come. He did lose a game now and then, though, so he wasn’t actually perfect.

Perfect doesn’t always mean without fault or error. It can sometimes mean “complete” – having come to a point of maturity.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we learn there is a benefit to allowing the Word of God to have an effect on our lives. We read:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Notice that the Word of God in its teaching, reproving, correcting, and training ministry can make a person “perfect.” “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

The word “perfect” is a word that actually means “complete,” and in some contexts, it can simply mean “fresh” – at the peak of its development (like a well-formed peach, ripened on the tree to the point of being perfectly complete – fresh fruit).

That’s what happens to a person who turns his or her life over to the Lord and lets the Word of God perform its transforming work day after day. That person becomes complete as a man or woman of God. He or she becomes spiritually mature.

James 1:2-4 illustrates this:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

That’s it – the Word of God coupled with the trials of life will make you a person of excellent character, a mature person, a perfect person.

Remember, “perfect” doesn’t mean you’re really perfect. It just means you don’t act like a kid anymore. u

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

All cited verses are from the NKJV.

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Why Zion’s Hope?

For nearly 35 years, our ministry has remained faithful to God’s calling –to touch the hearts of Jewish and Gentile people throughout the world with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and to edify believers through the solid, in-depth teaching of biblical truth. Until our Lord’s return, we remain committed to this calling.

Will You Prayerfully Consider Including Zion’s Hope in Your End-of-Life Planning?

Please prayerfully consider including Zion’s Hope in your will or trust. We encourage you to contact your tax advisor or lawyer for their assistance in this regard. We are eternally grateful to you for your prayers and financial support as we continue to labor for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Email: BobHunt@ZionsHope.org

Important Note:

Zion’s Hope gladly accepts gifts of stock as well as gifts made in-kind such as real estate, precious metals, or other donated items of value. We suggest you consult with your financial advisor concerning these matters.