The Coming Golden Age

     Part 2 of 5

     Before we introduce the Prince, note the Kingdom he will serve - the King of kings, heir to the Prince's throne. So, the Prince was once a king, and some day he will serve the King of kings.

     Long ago, Daniel had a vision of this (7:13-14). 

     In chapter 1:5 of Revelation, an angel reveals to former disciple John that Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first born from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

     Two millenniums ago, when Jesus was choosing his disciples, Nathanel, no doubt hearing from above, said Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel. Still in our future, He will rule from Jerusalem, not only Israel, but every nation on earth. 

     And who will be his Prince governing all Israel? Not Jacob, but David, who is considered the founding father of the Jewish people. 

     David was the man. Prophet Jeremiah knew this ahead: In that day declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke of their necks and will tear off their binds. No longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king whom I will raise up for them.  

     The coming Prince was king in Hebron 7 years and Jerusalem 33 years. David lived three millenniums ago. His story is found in 62 chapters of the Old Testament, and 56 mentions in the New Testament. He wasn't perfect, but he related to his God. Leaders of all other nations in the Millennium will be humans. 

Wednesday: David from sheep herder to king

   

 

 Monday to Friday

Five-day series - Prince of Israel

     Who is this prince? We have several candidates for the man who will be second only to Christ himself when the Millenium begins. 

     Could it be Noah? He and his sons did a terrific job building an ark to save his family, animals and birds during the flood. Noah could build the new temple. 

     Maybe Abraham, who obeyed God to the moment of - but not sacrificing - his only son, when the Lord tested him. We're all to follow Abraham's example. He would obey the King of kings.

     How about Jacob, Abraham's grandson, the founding father of the Israelites? Father of 12 sons, 10 who had issues with a young brother they hated. Israelites served the Egyptians for centuries until...

     Moses. Just a shepherd, called by God to "deliver my people" from the Egyptians. Numerous miracles. What a prince. 

     Ahhhh...Daniel, taken to Babylon with most Israelites, where he served the king, and interpreted his famous dream. Daniel received many visions and dreams, annoying jealous Babylonians. They tricked the king into throwing him into a lion's den, but God kept the lions quiet. Daniel later received dreams about the antichrist and events yet to come. It's gotta be Daniel. 

     But, Solomon became the greatest king of the times, and God promised him much. Solomon got carried away with his insatiable quest for knowledge...and wives. So... 

     Hold on!!! Wait a minute. We forgot Solomon's father?

Tuesday: the Prince's calling

 

   age, and built the Temple.    time, 

          

 Journalism Matters   

A Biblical calling

     Once a journalist myself, I want to share part of an article by Les Sillars, a journalism teacher, now executive editor of WORLD magazine. 

     "For the USA to survive, journalists must be truthful. The journalist's task is to see the world clearly, and help other people see it clearly too. 

     "The Bible is the only authoritative source of key truths about God, humanity and reality. We need it to see the world clearly. A reporter can tell the whole truth about this world as Scripture shapes his or her reporting. 

     "Journalism is a noble and deeply Biblical calling. To do it faithfully requires the gifts of the storyteller, historian, philosopher, theologian, and even scientist or economist. We must understand the times, the culture that shapes us, and the people God calls us to serve and love - our neighbors. 

     "Like Israelites in Babylon, Christians are called to seek the good of the city to which we've been exiled. We have a life beyond this one. We're citizens of heaven first, but we've been called in many different ways to serve our neighbors now. We know that the political realm is often very important, but it's not ultimate. 

     "Christians are supposed to be salt and light. We want to preserve and defend the best parts of our culture. But we never paper over its weaknesses and failures. We must tell the truth."

Three blogs next week: the second most important man in history!

 

A Day is Coming  

     "Galileo, bored during a service in the cathedral, noticed the swinging of a lamp suspended from the ceiling. Using his own pulse to time the movements, he concluded that a pendulum could measure time and he went on to make scientific breakthroughs." 

     If only he had a cellphone to prevent boredom. 

Article by Andree Peterson

     "God said to Daniel that 'the last days...many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.' But what quality knowledge?" 

     Peterson noticed a long line of people in the subway, each person in his or her own space, head bowed, staring at their cell phones. I've seen that same unsociable thing, and so have you. 

     "Who benefits from our infatuation with the screen?" Peterson asks. She answers herself: "labs, app companies, social media titans" and such. 

     She offers "the first battle against any bondage is to admit the problem. AA's first step. The next step, be aware that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." 

     "A day is coming when no one will be able to buy or sell" without the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:17).  

    '

Marriage: Yes or No 

     One of the goals of Marxist Democrats is to end the institution of marriage in America. Of all their weapons - disguised under pretend devotion to our constitution - marriage doesn't get much press. 

     At one time, 81 percent of Americans ages 23-38 were married. The number dropped to 53 percent for Generation X, and in 2020 the rate was 44 percent.  Brad Wilcox wrote a book, Get Married, Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization.

     Wilcox sees a "decline in well-being for adults, children and society itself." 

     He shows that "married folks are happier, less lonely, and wealthier than the unmarried. Children from intact families have fewer problems in school, are less likely to be abused, or go to prison as adults. The happiest Americans are those married with children." 

     "Asians from India set a good example for others of us." 

     Surprisingly, Wilcox didn't get much pushback. There may be more recognition that something is wrong with family tradition. There are problems: "The young American dating culture...a lack of maturity among young men...and a radically progressive view of marriage among young women." 

     The Left he says has "encouraged women not to marry. And now their message is for men. In a weakened culture, it will be difficult to convince young Americans that the responsibilities of marriage and family leads to more happiness for most." 

       Jimmy 

Worked for me, on the second try

PS. America will be great again when families are great again

     

Is God Good?

     "There is scriptural evidence that God created animals to amuse himself," writes Lynn Vincent in WORLD magazine. "All the creatures show us his delight, his imagination, his limitlessness." 

     "He is the master engineer, the One who made the octopus which can disguise itself, deep-sea creatures that make their own light, and the caterpillar that reorganizes itself as a butterfly." 

     For his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived - Romans 1:20. 

     God first revealed himself to us with the sevenfold, And God saw that it was good. God made children for his glory (Isaiah 43:7) and the heavens declare his glory (Psalm 19:1). 

     Lynn is ''thrilled'' to think God is so overflowing with goodness that He chose to create the planet. That He is so full of love, joy, compassion, grace, creativity and beauty that He had to share it. 

     She writes, "We know His grand plan will end in ultimate good, even if He allows savagery, betrayal, disease and death because of our corruption. The road to glory is paved with the blood of the Savior who reconciles us." 

    For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth...as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies - Romans 8:22-23.

Revelation 19 reveals God's anger with those who refuse to trust and obey: With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 

            Jimmy

     

Joy to the World 

     Every Christmas, growing up, we sang this hymn. Decades later I learned this hymn is all about Christ's return to earth - not His birthday - to rule a thousand years. Believers then in heaven will come with Him. 

     No more sins and sorrows...nor thorns...He comes to make His blessings flow...far as the curse is found... 

     In a bookstore, looking for a book they didn't have, I settled for Dr. David Jeremiah's latest book, The Coming Golden Age. How fortunate I was. Thirty-one short chapters, hundreds of Bible verses.

     Scattered over the Bible, God promises blessings. In the wonderful 8th chapter of Romans, verse 19, Paul wrote: For the creation waits in eager expectation... 

     The coming tribulation will be followed by Jesus' return to Jerusalem for a thousand years...the "golden age"...sandwiched between history and eternity (Revelation 21 and 22. 

      It will be the most blessed time since Eden, which was a glorious beginning erased by our sins, starting with Adam. Meanwhile, the Son of God came to earth, born to a virgin. Beyond his teachings and miracles his primary purpose was to take upon himself the penalty for our sins. Itself a curse to reverse the age-old curse on mankind. 

     When this good news reaches the ends of the earth, He will return to Jerusalem and the Millenium will begin. A golden age the world over. 

     Believe in Him, trust and obey Him, and sing, Joy to the World. We joyfully recommend Dr. Jeremiah's book.

         Jimmy