How Will the World be Different When Christ Returns? (Part 3)

Today’s world is in turmoil. The descendants of the ancient peoples of Israel, not just the Jewish people, but all of the so-called “lost ten tribes,” who migrated westward and eventually settled in the British Isles, parts of western and northwestern Europe, and kindred peoples in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other scattered places, were warned that if they rejected him and his commandments they would have their blessings replaced by curses. But after a period of punishment, they would be delivered, and not only they, but the entire world would be blessed by God as never before, under the reign of the risen Jesus Christ, returned to the earth to assume rulership over the entire world, sitting on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

In this message we discuss some additional ways in which the world will be different — and far better — after the return of Jesus Christ, than it is today, in the concluding message of this series.

“How Will the World be Different When Christ Returns (Part 3),” by Rod Reynolds, COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Work of Elijah

Elijah was a leading prophet of the Old Testament. Through Elijah God worked some powerful and astounding miracles. His was a mission aimed at revealing who is the true God, and turning the hearts of the people to his worship, to the extent they were willing.

Malachi prophesied that Elijah would be sent before “the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). Some thought John the Baptist might be Elijah having reappeared on the earth, but he denied that he was Elijah. Yet it had been prophesied that John the Baptist would go “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).

Many since have come proclaiming themselves, or identifying some other contemporary person, as Elijah, and in some cases have insisted that their proclamations must be believed as a condition for baptism.

In this message, “The Work of Elijah,” we focus on Elijah’s ministry, or his work, and how it relates to other statements in the Bible concerning Elijah, and the fulfillment of prophecies leading to the end of this age.

“The Work of Elijah,” by Rod Reynolds, COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Rise of the Beast

People the world over will be amazed and marvel as a powerful empire centered in Europe emerges suddenly to dominate the world for a brief period. It’s called the “Beast” in the Bible. It will in turn do the bidding of a powerful system of religion rooted in idolatrous worship, deceiving mankind, and called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” In this message is discussed some of the background of this system as revealed in the Bible and in the pages of history.

“Rise of the Beast” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Image from Martin Luther’s 1534 translation of the Bible. This work (the image) is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 100 years or fewer. In public domain in the U.S.; published before 1927.

Why Did God Choose Israel — Part 1?

God chose Israel to become a model nation because of the faithfulness of their forefathers. But he warned them that if they chose the path of rebellion and disobedience they would be dispossessed. What lessons can we learn from Israel’s example?

Why Did God Choose Israel — Part 1?” COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Follow God

Since the year 1789, when the government of the United States began to operate under the newly adopted Constitution, there have been periodic elections to select a President as head of the executive branch of the Federal government, and representatives to serve in the Legislative branch.

Political parties emerged, led by influential politicians. Implied in this system of government is an appeal by the various office holders or would-be office holders to “follow me.”

Those chosen write the laws, set the policies, and administer the government in line with their ideas of how the nation should be governed. Fortunately, the framers of the Constitution had the wisdom to limit the powers of government, ostensibly guaranteeing certain rights to the citizens that the government could not impinge on, such as freedom of speech, freedom of worship, etc.

At times those rights have been respected, but on other occasions they have been violated. Under slavery those enslaved had no rights to speak of. Since slavery was outlawed, theoretically everyone is to have equal rights under the law, including individual freedoms recognized by the Constitution.

Today, in the year 2021 as this is being written, we live in a time when those who wield power over the country seek more and more aggressively to impose their views on its citizens with or against their will. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and other individual rights have rarely been less secure on a national scale in the United States than they are today, because of the leaders the people, at least many of them, have chosen to follow.

Government oppression in the United States and some other western nations has not yet reached the level prevailing in many other nations, but it is headed in that direction. Oppression has been the rule among the governments of mankind throughout history.

Human beings are by nature social creatures. In any organized society there have to be leaders, and there have to be those who follow. Most of us function in some way as leaders in certain situations, and as followers in other respects.

We all make choices in whom to follow, and what to follow. The leader or leaders you choose to follow can have far reaching consequences on your own welfare. So, whom should you follow?

The Bible has a lot to say about leading and following. And the Bible is very specific in telling us whom to follow. We are to follow God. Any other choices about this question are subordinate to that choice. Either we are following God, or we are not. And the choices we make determine the answer to that question.

The title of this article is “Follow God.” And we will explore briefly what the Bible has to say about this subject.

Continue reading