Donald, Hillary, Bernie, Ted, or John

     Our omniscient God reveals the end from the beginning.

     “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…”  Isaiah 46:9b-10  

     Moses displayed God’s omniscience to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan to possess the Promised Land.

     “…for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck.  If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death?...For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you.  And evil will befall you in the latter days…”  Deuteronomy 31:27, 29

     And remember what Paul said about Israel’s purpose during their 40 year wilderness journey. 

     “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

     Moses told the Israelites that inasmuch as they had been rebellious while he was yet alive, how much more would they rebel after his death.

     Note particularly that Israel would experience God’s wrath in the ‘latter days.’  The latter days are defined as the future period at the end of this current age.  Hebrew synonyms for ‘latter’ include ‘end,’ ‘last,’ and ‘uttermost.’  Disobedience has profound, timeless consequences.

     Moses was given another prophecy about the Israelites.

     “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren…”  Deuteronomy 17:14-15

     Note the absolute sovereignty of God.  His plan is incomprehensible.  And sure enough Israel demanded a king four hundred years after God had announced it.

     At the same time He announced that Israel would demand a king, He stipulated the king’s relationship to God’s word.

     “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests…and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law, and these statutes…”  Deuteronomy 17:18-19

     This was the same law that was placed in the ark.  Also it was the same law for the priests.  There was no such thing as separation of church and state.  The king must read and study the law so that he could rule according to God’s laws.

    

     Approximately five centuries after Moses’ death, King Solomon summarized his life and the significance of keeping God’s word.   

     “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13

     Finally the last prophet in the Old Testament confirmed God’s immutability.

     “For I am the LORD, I do not change…”  Malachi 3:6

     Therefore, God’s word also does not change. 

     Jesus said to the Pharisees:

     “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition…making the word of God of no effect...” Mark 7:9, 13

     Remember, the final words in the Bible warn of adding or subtracting from God’s word.

    God, His word, His purpose, His plan, and His law are immutable.

    Just as God revealed that He had Chosen Saul to be Israel’s first king in ages past, so it is with our next president as well as the Supreme Court justices that our next president will nominate.

    And while God’s standard of righteousness revealed to Israel 3,500 years ago abides, our next president and the judges he/she will nominate will be held accountable to abide by it also.

     Therefore, a more relative question for today is ‘why’ a particular individual has been chosen by God to be president.

     Could it be for the same reason God chose Saul?

     “I gave you a king in my anger…”  Hosea 12:11

Check out Walt’s latest book: God’s Plan for His Chosen: the Cost and the Conflict

    

    

    

  

...who takes away the sin of the world!

Christ’s once for all sacrifice of Himself was the final redemption price paid for His people.

     The Apostle Peter confirmed the profound truth of the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.

     “…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot.”  1 Peter 1:18-19

     And then Peter confirmed that God’s plan for redemption through Christ was devised before Adam was created.

     “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times…”  1 Peter 1:20

     But the role of the Lamb of God is far from over.  He was alluded to in the early chapters of Genesis, was confirmed by the prophets, acknowledged in the Gospels, explained in the epistles, and will be totally celebrated in the final Book of the Bible, i.e. the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

     After the age of the Church, at the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th week, Christ will reclaim all that He paid for on the cross as the Passover Lamb of God.

     As revealed to John:

     “…in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…”  Revelation 5:6

     This verse confirms the deity of Christ and identifies the Lamb as having been slain, i.e. offered as the Passover Lamb of God.  Now the Lamb will be recognized by the whole world for who He really is and the world will not celebrate.

     “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’”  Revelation 6:15-16

     All who will be living on the earth during the 70^th week and have rejected the person and work of the Lamb of God will worship the anti-Christ.

     “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  Revelation 13:8

     John confirms Peter’s revelation that the Lamb of God was foreordained from before time began.  It is also revealed that the Book of Life belongs to the Lamb.  That profound fact is reiterated later in the Revelation as John describes those who are not saved and denied access to New Jerusalem.

     “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  Revelation 21:27

     The Lamb of God is referenced as such throughout eternity because He made it all possible for God’s highest creation to dwell in the presence of his Creator forever.

     The Lamb of God did that which man could not do.  He fulfilled God’s immutable law.

     And finally, the Lamb of God will remove the curse on the earth by destroying the works of the Devil.

     “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it (New Jerusalem)…”  Revelation 22:3

     It is always so interesting to see how the most profound doctrine in the Bible, i.e. redemption, will be fulfilled in terms of Jewish law.  He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.

     Knowing the infallibility and immutability of God’s word, it is frustrating to witness the nations, including America, discard Biblical truths.  However, such was revealed time and time again all through the Scriptures.

     And it should not be forgotten that the Lamb of God is simultaneously the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  The wisdom and sovereignty of God is beyond man’s ability to comprehend.  Praise God for the gift of faith to accept and believe His word!

     Before leaving the doctrine of redemption, let’s enjoy the words of a great hymn.

     “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

       Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb…”

      

    

    

    

Behold the Lamb of God...

     An extremely profound and revealing Bible verse is contained in the Book of Leviticus.  This verse has priceless and timeless implications.

     “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”  Leviticus 17:11

     The shedding of blood confirms the loss of life.  The loss of life is the required payment for sin.  This great truth was first revealed when God clothed Adam and Eve in animal skins as they were driven from the Garden of Eden.

     Shortly thereafter their righteous son Abel offered the firstborn of his flock to God.  Abel’s offering was respected and accepted.

     Approximately 3,500 years after the time of Abel, at the end of Israel’s bondage in Egypt, God reaffirmed the great truth that the shedding of innocent blood was the price of atonement and redemption.

     Just prior to the Exodus God announced the final plague to Pharaoh that if the children of Israel were not released from bondage, his firstborn and the firstborn of all Egyptian families would be killed.

     “…and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill…”  Exodus 11:5

     Moses and Aaron, however, were provided a detailed remedy by which to escape this plague.

     “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb…Your lamb shall be without blemish…Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.  Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.  And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses…’”  Exodus 12:3, 5-7

     Then Moses explained that the lamb to be slain would henceforth be called the Passover lamb because the LORD would pass through the land to strike the Egyptians, but wherever He saw the blood on the lintel and doorposts, He would pass over and not allow the destroyer to enter the house to kill the firstborn of the family.

     Moses was then told the Passover ordinance was to be observed forever, and when the children of succeeding generation inquired of the significance of the observance, they would be told:

     “It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households...”  Exodus 12:27

     Approximately seven centuries later the Prophet Isaiah revealed that Israel’s future Messiah would fulfill the purpose of the Passover Lamb once for all.

     “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7

     The coming Passover Lamb of God would humbly and obediently be offered so as to protect God’s people from the destroyer.

     The Hebrew word for ‘Passover’ is Pesach which has several synonyms including ‘spare,’ ‘exempt,’ and ‘immunity from penalty.’

     As mentioned, the Lamb of God has timeless implications.

     Recall John the Baptist’s proclamation when he first saw Jesus.

     “Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  John 1:29

     And the Apostle Paul expounded on John’s proclamation.

     “…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”  1 Corinthians 5:7

     Therefore, in the Old Testament the Passover lamb was sacrificed to spare the children of Israel who obediently sprinkled the blood of the slain lamb on the doorposts and lintel of the door of their houses.

     The annual Old Testament sacrifice of a Passover lamb was but a foreshadow of the true Passover Lamb who would ultimately pay for the sins of God’s people.  Atonement was for a season, but all sin must ultimately be paid for according to the Holiness attribute of God. 

    

     See next week’s conclusion entitled:  ‘…who takes away the sin of the world.’

Check out Thrun’s new book entitled: God’s Plan for His Chosen: the Cost and the Conflict

Why America should miss Justice Scalia

     Justice Scalia had many admirable attributes as a constitutionalist.  He was perhaps best known for his originalist perspective.  That means basically he believed the constitution should be interpreted as originally intended by its framers. 

     Justice Scalia’s stand has been attacked by the contemporary philosophy of progressivism.  Ironically one of his personal friends on the high court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg who subscribes to the concept of a ‘living constitution.’  A general perception of a living, or dynamic, constitution is that it should be updated periodically to reflect the changing cultural and moral values of America.

     A constitutional originalist would logically be closely associated with conservatism.  Conservatism is not a term found in the Bible, but according to Webster it means to preserve, or keep, what is established based on tradition.  Other synonyms would include ‘maintain,’ ‘guard,’ and ‘protect.’

     Now then, let’s direct this discussion to Biblical precepts.

     The Bible states unequivocally that God establishes the laws for mankind, and we already know His laws are immutable and non-negotiable, i.e. compromise is not an option.  So it’s clear that disobedience to God’s laws have severe consequences.

     It all began in the second chapter of Genesis with God’s initial commandment given to Adam.

     “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”  Genesis 2:16-17

     Now the fruit of the tree wouldn’t cause death, but disobedience to God’s command would cause Adam’s death.  And we know the rest of that story.

     A couple millennia later, shortly after God made His timeless covenant with Abraham, God proclaimed that Abraham was trustworthy to keep and pass on His commands, both within his family as well as in following generations.

     “For I have known him (Abraham), in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”  Genesis 18:19

     The Hebrew word for ‘keep’ is very similar to Webster’s definition of ‘conservatism.’  Synonyms include ‘observe,’ ‘hold,’ ‘retain,’ and ‘obey.’

     After Israel’s bondage in Egypt, while in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land, God revealed His standard of righteousness and justice to them.

     God also gave a strict warning relative to altering the law in any way.

     “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe…You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”  Deuteronomy 4:1-2

     Remember, ‘observe’ is synonymous with ‘keep.’  There were to be absolutely no additions to, nor subtractions from, God’s law.  Man was not to impose his own standard of what was considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’

     Thereafter, God established His judicial and court system to monitor Israel’s obedience to His laws and commandments.

     “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates (towns), which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.  You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe…You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live…”  Deuteronomy 16:19-20

     God had given Israel all they possessed; therefore, He had full right to determine and impose His definition of justice and its administration. 

     The Hebrew word ‘pervert’ means to ‘subvert’ or ‘overthrow.’

     And significantly, all judgment was to be done without partiality.  There was to be no leaning to the right or to the left.

     The contemporary concept of ‘balancing the Supreme Court’ defies all reason as well as scorning God’s immutable instructions.

     And thus it was, Justice Scalia was despised by those with a bent towards progressivism for the same reasons constitutional conservatives held him in high esteem.  Everyone can decide for themselves if he will be missed or mocked.

     As would be expected, his replacement will be closely scrutinized and vetted.

    

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com