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"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:13-14
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Adapted by Charles J. Voss and Sandra K. Zawada
Based on an article by Herbert W. Armstrong
You look at today’s newspapers, and what do you see? Terrorism, crime, heartbreak, and war news. Crime is on the increase. Murder is commonplace. We read about terrible accidents every single day. Bombings and terrorism break out in many nations with many being killed. We are bombarded with terror, and crime; it seems that they want us to be terrorized. However, this is prophesied to happen to us in the latter days.
Leviticus 26:15-16. ...and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My Covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
However, our SOVEREIGN gives us a way out and that is by obeying HIM.
Isaiah 54:14. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and [far] from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Now let’s look into the near future at the newspaper headlines of the SOVEREIGN’s World of Tomorrow that is going to come in our time. Now know that it will not become utopia all at once. (That will be explained later.)
When the Mashiach (Messiah) is raised from the dead to take his rightful place on earth as King of kings in all his power and splendor, the Gentile nations actually will resist him at first. Know that he is coming to rule under the SOVEREIGN’s Almighty power! His purpose at that time will be to gather the remnant of the thirteen tribes of Israel from the nations where they had been taken captive and bring them to the wilderness outside the Valley of Jezreel. That is his job and that is what he is going to accomplish.
When the righteous remnant gets to the Land of Israel, these might be the headlines you will read in Israel’s and the world’s newspapers of the future:
“Crime Rate Drops to Zero.” “No Wars During This Year. Former Soldiers Being Rapidly Assimilated into Food Production and New Industries.” “Disease Epidemics Disappear. Millions Have Been Supernaturally Healed of Sickness and Disease. All Vaccines and ‘Shots’ Banned. Causes of Cancer, Heart Attacks, and other Fatal Diseases Revealed. Authorities Predict All Such Diseases to Disappear, by Avoiding Causes, Within Coming Year.”
“Thousands of Hospital Properties Up for Sale. Sensational Decline in Sickness and Disease Releases Increasing Hundreds of Thousands of Doctors, Nurses, Attendants and Staff Personnel for Happier and More Useful Occupations. Knowledge of Causes Reduces Sickness and Disease. Thousands of Afflicted Now Being Healed.”
“Rapid Increase in Food Production. All Records Broken for Increased Food Production. Agricultural Authorities Reveal Abolition of Artificial and Synthetic Fertilizers, and Return to Nature’s Laws of Soil Enrichment Resulting Not Only in Bumper Crops, but Vastly Improved Quality and Flavor.”
Well, how are those, for starters? We repeat: there’s a cause for every effect. If crime is to be greatly reduced then wiped out, there will be a reason. People may have many guesses, opinions, theories about what causes crime, but the answer is--human nature.
What is the cause of wars? The answer is--human nature. Why do people steal, murder, commit adultery or fornication, covet what is not theirs? Human nature!
We shall never have utopia on earth until human nature is changed. But, you may say-- “Man can not change human nature.” Oh, but The CREATOR can! And that is precisely what He is going to do.
We customarily think that human nature is something with which humans are born. But wait a moment. Stop and think. If there is a CREATOR SOVEREIGN did He design and create within humanity the thing we call human nature? Alternatively, if one accepts the theory of evolution, did man inherit it from a lower species of vertebrates from which he is supposed to have evolved? There are both tame and wild animals. Now consider for example, a cow, a dog, or an ape. They have instincts not reasoning powers as man does. But not human nature! Just what is human nature?
I state that human nature is vanity, lust, and greed toward self--and is jealousy, envy, hostility, and resentment of authority against others. Scripture defines it thus:
Jeremiah 17:9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.
You cannot ascribe that attitude or nature to the dumb animals. Does it make sense to suppose a Father of love, mercy and great outgoing concern for His human family, deliberately created us to be naturally hostile toward our Maker--not subject to His law, deceitful and desperately wicked?
Look at the Scriptural account of human creation. Before the serpent (Satan) got to Adam, the CREATOR brought to Adam “every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air” (Genesis 2:19) asking Adam to give them names. Did Adam rebel? Did he say, “Go do it yourself?” Did Adam refuse to obey his Father’s command? The answer: “And Adam gave names to all cattle, to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field...” (verse 20). No Adam immediately did as the CREATOR instructed.
Now consider that from Genesis 3 all through Scripture, much is said repeatedly about Satan. Isaiah 14 identifies Lucifer as the former angel that covered. And Ezekiel 28 affirms that she was created as a super being perfect in all her ways until by her own free choice iniquity was found in her. 13
The former righteous angel Lucifer turned to rebellion against her CREATOR. She turned to deceit, hostility, becoming cunning, subtle, and desperately wicked. She came to be filled with vanity, lust, and greed. She turned from the CREATOR’s Way of love--which is out-flowing concern and desire to help and share and the way of giving--to the way of hateful manipulation and getting.
There are only two ways or attitudes of life broadly speaking: give, the way of love; and get, the way of vanity, selfishness, hostility, and resentment.
The first man Adam, after Satan got to him through his wife, had turned to the way of get, greed, and envy. The “get” way of life is not inherited, but it is acquired.
We did not inherit the “get” way of life from Adam. Adam was not created with it--he acquired it from Satan. In addition, acquired characteristics are not passed on by heredity. 14 Those who are called by the CREATOR and come to real repentance and obedience become partakers of His Way. Likewise, the children of one who has acquired righteousness will not receive the SOVEREIGN’s nature by heredity.
Adam and Eve, by making the wrong decision, acquired the “get attitude” from Satan. All their children--the entire human family--have acquired it after birth from Satan.
When the CREATOR put it into the mind of King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation to send a contingent of people of the House of Judah 15 back to Jerusalem to build the second Temple, He “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia” to do this (Ezra 1:1).
Every human has from conception--not “human nature”--but a spirit in man (in the form of essence--not a “soul” or ghost), which imparts the power of intellect to the human brain. The spirit in man is injected into the new human being formed at conception by the union of the male sperm and the female egg. It resides in the frontal lobe of the human brain and gives the human brain its intellect.
This spirit in man cannot see. The physical brain sees through the eyes. Knowledge enters the brain through the senses of hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling. We know that by itself the brain cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or feel spirit. It is confined to physical, material knowledge.
Yet the knowledge that enters the physical brain through these five senses is automatically programmed and recorded in memory into this spirit in man. This spirit in man, therefore, acts as a computer and it gives instant recall of knowledge stored in it to the brain. The brain uses this instant recall in the process of thinking, reasoning, and decision-making by its “intellect” which is provided by the spirit in man.
The spirit in man does not think--it empowers the physical brain to think. This spirit in man does not supply human life. The human life is supplied by the physical breath of air, and by physical blood as directed by the “empowered” conscious and subconscious layers of the human brain.
When our SOVEREIGN calls someone, He slightly tunes the spirit in man to His wavelength. If the person responds in a positive manner then ETERNAL tunes the spirit in man more to His wavelength. If the person continues to respond positively ETERNAL continues to tune the spirit in man until the person’s stony heart is replaced with a new spirit and a new heart (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
The ‘spirit in man’ of ancient King Cyrus was utilized by the CREATOR as a mechanism through which to transmit the thought into Cyrus’ mind to issue the decree to free the people. Likewise, Satan transmits through the air--broadcasts attitudes, impulses, desires of vanity, lust and greed, jealousy and envy, competition, and rebellion against authority.
Satan is a spirit being so how does she then work in humans?
The spirit in man of each human is automatically tuned in on Satan’s wavelength. Satan has no power of control and she cannot force any human mind to submit to the attitude she broadcasts and attempts to instill. Every human is a free moral agent responsible for his/her own attitudes, decisions, and actions. Satan does not broadcast in words--merely in attitudes. If the human mind is willing, it will accept and yield to Satan’s attitudes--attitudes that we have mistakenly called “human nature.”
The human mind is not born with Satan’s hostile, self-centered attitudes. Neither is a human born with the SOVEREIGN’s Nature. Yet, as soon as an infant or little child begins to exercise his brain in the thinking process, Satan’s broadcasts of the self-centered attitude begin reaching his brain through his spirit in man.
Since the normal child’s mind begins receiving these impulses to accept Satan’s attitudes very early in childhood, unless counteracted by parental teaching and influence, he will automatically begin accepting these carnal attitudes. They become habitual--by habit they are acquired as a nature. Nevertheless, a person can reject the natural human tendencies and become obedient unto the CREATOR. Each individual can choose life and not be subjected to Satan’s evil nature. Unlike religious thinking, obedience is a choice not a feeling. Religious people are swayed by their emotions. Those who love the CREATOR choose to obey His Word His Way!
It is interesting that the CREATOR wants to change our nature. He says that He will give us a new spirit. When our SOVEREIGN calls someone, He slightly tunes the spirit in man to His wavelength. As long as the person responds in a positive manner, ETERNAL continues to tune the person’s spirit in man into His wavelength. This continues until the person’s stony heart is replaced with a new spirit and a new heart.
Ezekiel 11:19,20. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. And take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My Statutes and keep My Judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their SOVEREIGN.
This will take place in the Wonderful World of Tomorrow on a much larger scale than today as ETERNAL is only calling those to be shepherds in the WWT.
World famous scientists now say frankly that the only hope for survival on earth is a supreme world-ruling government that controls all military power. Yet, they also admit that is impossible for man to accomplish. However, we have seen the results of man ruling man so how will a utopian world be established?
Now let us be very specific on how tomorrow’s utopia is to be ushered in. Remember that this wonderful world-state will not be achieved instantaneously. Every major step of these soon-coming events is laid bare before our eyes in prophecy. We know from Scripture that the SOVEREIGN is coming back to earth.
Zechariah 14:4. And in that day His [ETERNAL’s] feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives will split in two…
Think of it. The glorified SOVEREIGN--coming in all splendor with the supernatural power to save the remnant of Israel and set up the Davidic Kingdom on earth. First, ETERNAL will raise the Mashiach and the Prophet from the grave. Then the SOVEREIGN will send them with His mighty power to save the remnant of Israel which will then be in captivity.
Then eventually during the 1000 years the Mashiach and the Prophet will usher in peace, abundant well being, happiness, and joy for all those who love and obey the CREATOR. However, a question is, “Will the Mashiach be welcomed by the nations”?
A leading American news weekly gave the following surprising appraisal of man’s only hope: The article said once optimistic hope of Americans, the article said, for a well-ordered and stable world, is fading. Expenditures close to a trillion dollars have failed to provide stability. Rather conditions have worsened. This appraisal indicated that among officials, the prevailing view is gaining acceptance that tensions and world problems are becoming too deep-seated to be solved “except by a strong hand from someplace” as Winston Churchill once opined.
“A strong hand from someplace.” The Almighty SOVEREIGN is going to send a very strong hand from “someplace” to save humanity! So do you think that humanity will shout with joy, and welcome the Mashiach in frenzied ecstasy and enthusiasm?
No they will not! Most will not even know who the Mashiach is. They will believe because the false ministers of Satan have deceived them, that He is the anti-Christ. The nations will be angry at His coming and the military forces will actually attempt to fight Him to destroy Him.
The nations will be engaged and will gather their military to Jerusalem in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2,12) to fight in the climatic battle of the coming World War III (Zechariah 14:1-2). ETERNAL Himself will fight against nations that come up against His people. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is between the Temple Mount, Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1) and the Mount of Olives where the Mighty One of Israel is.
In supernatural power our SOVEREIGN will “fight against those nations” that fight against Him (Zechariah 14:3). He will totally defeat those nations. But how will He defeat His enemies?
When the all Powerful SOVEREIGN first returns to earth, the nations will be angry. The military forces gathered at Jerusalem will try to fight Him. I said, “try.” However, ETERNAL has armies that are far more powerful. Remember the Mashiach? King David will be raised to rule the Kingdom but ETERNAL will fight for His people Israel and establish the Kingdom.
How will ETERNAL overcome them? We find that answer in Zechariah.
Zechariah 14:12 (RSV). And this shall be the plague with which ETERNAL will smite all the people that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh shall rot while they are still on their feet, their eyes shall rot in their sockets, and their tongues shall rot in their mouths.
This rotting of their flesh off their bones will happen almost instantaneously--while they are still on their feet. What a sovereign retribution against armies that will fight against THE SOVEREIGN and His people. What a demonstration of His Majestic Power! Rebellion against the SOVEREIGN’s Law and Rule must speedily be put down.
Can you realize that every unhappiness; every evil that has come to humanity has been the result of transgressing the SOVEREIGN’s Law?
If no one ever had any other “g-d” before the true SOVEREIGN; if all children were reared to honor, respect, and obey their parents, and all parents reared their children in ETERNAL’s Way; if no one ever allowed the spirit of murder to enter his heart; if there were no wars, no killing of humans by humans; if all marriages were kept happy and there were no transgressions of chastity before or after marriage; if all had so much concern for the good and welfare of others that no one would steal--we could throw away all locks, keys, and safes; if everyone told the truth--everyone’s word were good--everyone were honest; if no one ever coveted what was not rightfully his, but had so much outgoing concern for the welfare of others that he really believed it is more blessed to give than to receive--what a happy world we would have!
In such a world, with all loving and worshipping ETERNAL with all their minds, hearts, and strength--with all having concern for the welfare of all others equal to concern for self--there would be no divorce--no broken homes or families, no abused children, no juvenile delinquency, no crime, no jails or prisons, no police except for peaceful direction and supervision as a public service for all, no wars, no military establishments.
In addition, ETERNAL has set in motion physical laws that operate in our bodies and minds, as well as the spiritual Law. There would be no sickness, ill health, pain, or suffering. There would be, on the contrary, vigorous, vibrant good health, filled with dynamic interest in life, enthusiastic interest in constructive activities bringing happiness and joy. There would be cleanliness, vigorous activity, real progress, and no slums; no degenerate backward races or areas on earth.
The day of man, swayed, deceived, misled by Satan for 6,000 years will be end like most believe. Satan will still be around during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble and even the 1000 years. Only at the end of the 1000 years will all evil including Satan and its fallen angels be removed from the earth. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Please see our article “When a Man Dies Will He Rise Again?” at www.uhcg.org.
Then Satan will not be able to broadcast through the air into the spirit of man. No longer shall she be able to inject into unsuspecting humans her satanic nature--which we have been misled into calling “human nature.” That will be a wonderful day--the Wonderful World of Tomorrow.
This earth began with mankind in a utopian Garden of Eden. It has taken mankind about 6,000 years to turn the earth and its populations into the condition it is in now. There is nothing that humans have not polluted. No magic wand got us here and no magic will get us out. As we worked to get here, we will have to work to get out. The only possible exception would be the pollutants and radiation that humans cannot remove and for these, it will take the Living Waters that flow from the Throne of the SOVEREIGN to clean them up. For example, it will take special crews seven months just to bury the remains of the dead after W.W.III (Ezekiel 39:14).
Just because ETERNAL, His prince David, and His Prophet Elijah will be ruling the earth does not mean that the acquired satanic attitude will disappear from human minds immediately. Multiplied millions shall have acquired it and will have to work to overcome it. Even though there will be David and the Prophet broadcasting ETERNAL’s Law and Way, Satan will continue to broadcast her evil attitudes. What has been acquired by habit will not be automatically removed. There will be tens of thousands of people who will refuse to follow ETERNAL’s Way although they will be able to see for themselves His power and His majesty.
ETERNAL has made us humans free moral agents with control over our own minds. We must choose and refuse to be blinded by Satan’s pull of evil by deception.
Even during the 1000 years, there will be earth’s mortal humans who will still be deceived. The beautiful thing is that the righteous will speak saying “this is the way, walk ye in it.” At that time, those who desire to be righteous will know right from wrong and it will be their own choice who they will follow. Then the Prophet, the Mashiach, and the immortal saints ruling under ETERNAL will begin removing the scales that have blinded human minds.
That is why I say complete utopia cannot be ushered in all at once. Multiple millions will still hold to the attitude of rebellion--of vanity, lust, and greed. But David and Elijah’s advent shall begin the process of re-education--of opening deceived minds--of undeceiving minds, and bringing them to a voluntary repentance.
From the time of the Mashiach’s supernatural take over, ETERNAL’s Law and the Word of ETERNAL shall go forth from Zion spreading over the whole earth (Isaiah 2:3). David and Elijah will begin calling all mortals on earth to repentance and spiritual salvation! ETERNAL’s Spirit shall flow out from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8).
What splendor! A new day shall have dawned. Peace shall soon come to those who choose righteousness. Righteous men shall turn from the way of “get” to the way of “give”--the SOVEREIGN’s Way of love. A new civilization shall now grow and grip the earth!
Read the Chapter 4 - The New World Government
13. See our article “In the Beginning” and our up coming article “She.”
14. Jewish and Hebrew baby males have been circumcised for at least four thousand years and it has not become an inherited trait. It must be repeated with every new male birthed.
15. The House of Judah is comprised of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and part of Levi (1 Kings 12:21).