Dear Partners In Ministry,
Ever since the watershed events of September 11 there seems
to have been no end to the amount of ministry and personal
challenges to time. I have heard many remark that time seems
to have "speeded up." There are a number of areas
our prayer partners have inquired about and I will comment
on. I will then give a brief teaching on apostasy which is
an area of concern that is a major problem and seems to grow
perennially. It really affects our base of support in that
the more Christians give in to the world's views the more
they see no need to take seriously the things of the faith
much less defend them. Why support a ministry to the lost
if they aren't really lost?
Katie Update
We are so thankful to the Lord that our little Katie turned
3 this last September and the cancer has not returned. We
covet your prayers that it won't. Every 3 months she has a
test at the hospital. She has an amazingly large personality
for one so young and so little. She reminded me of the Shirley
Temple character in the movie "The Little Colonel"
when I made the mistake of "just giving it a look see"
late one night. I was getting ready to turn off the TV and
go to bed when I noticed it was on and decided to check it
out. Katie had been asking for the videos when she saw them
advertised on TV. I couldn't stop watching as Shirley was
so similar to my little girl including the curly locks, facial
expressions, gestures and strong personality! Katie has great
verve and love of life and she doesn't let her brothers get
away with much!
Ministry Updates:
Speaking/Teaching Ministry Continues Unabated
Since September 11th I have been kept very busy teaching
about Apologetics, the differences between Islam and Christianity
and recent events in light of Bible prophecy. I have done
this at a number of churches in Wisconsin and Illinois. I
have a ninety minute presentation on Islam that features over
twenty overheads which quote extensively from The Qur'an and
The Hadith, the Muslim's primary sacred documents. Lots of
people have had questions regarding what the Christian response
and mindset should be regarding Islam and the events of 9-11.
Senior Pastor Roland Boyce, of First Covenant Church in Rockford,
expressed his satisfaction with my teaching following the
second of two 90 minute sessions I gave there. I presented
on a Wednesday evening and then again on a Sunday Morning
to answer questions. I was also asked to write an article
about Islam that was featured in several of the local newspapers
in our area.
New Group To Begin
I have also covered these and other topics in our regular
interdenominational Monday Night discussion group at Rockford's
First Free Church that we have maintained since 1984. In January
we will be starting a similar group on Thursdays at Crossroads
Church which is the fastest growing Evangelical church in
Freeport. Their Pastor, Keith Boyer, and I visited Israel
together in 1998. Pray for this as we already have 14 couples
signed up to attend.
Website/E-Mail/Phone Ministry
We have had Liberty University Students make use of our website
www.contender.org. It is gratifying to hear from people involved
in an apologetics masters degree program write us to tell
us that they were encouraged by our site. We intend to put
even more material on it soon so keep watching. It is also
good to be able to give counsel to those who contact us with
questions that they need help with.
Please pray for the people who contact us by phone or E-mail.
Recently we have offered advice, counsel and/or encouragement
in the following areas: marital relations, apostate Church
leadership, witnessing to cultic relatives, defending the
Triune Nature of God in the face of relatives who hold to
The Way International and Jehovah's Witnesses, Replacement
Theology and witnessing to those who hate Israel and the Jews
as well as others who conversely hate the Arab Muslims.
Radio Ministry
We have had Dr. Robert Morey, David Limbaugh, Chuck Missler,
John Loeffler, Israeli author Avi Lipkin, and our own Dr.
H. Wayne House (to name a few of our recent guests) on Perspective
Underground. We have discussed the state of the world in light
of Biblical prophecy and the heresy of Neo-Theism that would
say that God does not know the future. We intend to continue
exposing the darkness of this world system on the airwaves.
We have been extended invitations to expand to satellite and
the internet where there is a large audience and 1,500 new
people daily. We need a little over 500 dollars a month to
do this. If you, or several others you know, are moved by
God to provide the finances to do this please let us know.
Otherwise, we will continue to wait on Him, and minister to
those He has graciously allowed us to reach.
Mission Property Improvements
It was late in August that Julie and I awoke to rain on our
faces! Coming on the heels of a very financially hard summer
I wasn't happy. We also have a policy to try to never embark
on a major repair unless we can do so without taking out a
loan if at all possible. Still, we decided it was time to
call and get estimates on the roof.
I called seven places that gave free estimates and only one
showed up. It was a Christian from 60 miles away! He asked
Julie if this was where the "famous Kevin Johnson"
lived? She said that her husband was Kevin Johnson and he
then asked "Is he with Mount Carmel Outreach and Perspective
Undergound?" When she replied in the affirmative, he
informed her that he had heard me speak to his youth group
at a large Assembly of God Church 15 years ago! He also said
he loved our radio show and listened to it often. This gave
me confidence that his estimate would be honest.
Even so, I knew I would have to be led by Jesus in order
for this to not be a financial debacle! My normal response
would be to sound the alarm far and wideand hope God's people
could help. However, like Gideon, I felt impressed to contact
only a very few people -at first only one to be exact. Then
I contacted four more, then just those who it came up with
in conversation. The owner of the roofing firm (a godly man
whose son operates the largest weekly AG youth meeting on
the east coast) sent two hundred dollars himself! By the time
the roof was finished all of the funds were pledged and within
a week of it being done they were all here. Praise God!
The 3,000 Square Foot Auditorium
Over this last year we have; replaced all rotting wood along
the entire length of the rear roof, grated the back alley
of the auditorium using a laser and a bobcat to give a 2 1/2
foot drop (or fall) taking all water away relieving the periodic
small flooding, repaired the entire ceiling that was sagging,
removed the two wood stoves and repaired the roof where their
pipes had been, painted the entire ceiling (20 gallons), jacked
up the building and dug a foundation for the entryway/bathroom
addition and then had the cement poured; installed two doors,
installed two track lights in the hallway and the "Green
Room," painted all the windows and interior columns and
trim, received almost everything we need for a kitchen area
from cupboards to a stainless steel three bin sink and a ten
foot long stainless steel counter and storage area. A new
furnace has been installed in the bathroom area and the bathrooms
have been completely renovated with new paneling and paint
as well as new hot water and all new plumbing.
We still need to enclose the kitchen and install the electric
furnace that used to be in the parsonage and is now in the
auditorium. We also need to replace the wooden porch with
cement. One estimate has that at $1,800.00 dollars. We have
since then thought that a faux red brick look would go well
out here so it may be extra for that. We already have all
the elements for a decent (not extravagant) sound system.
Down the road we would like to have a full video ability here
as well. Any help toward these goals would be greatly appreciated!
This building may hold the key to outreach to the Chicago-ites
who have been flocking to this county, and the indigenous
population which does have some Evangelicals in their number.
Local outreach to the Tri-state area is our goal. This building
represents a large facet of our future plans for the expansion
of our ministry locally. Our area is predominately very Catholic,
Lutheran, Methodist and has a very old Unitarian congregation.
We hope to hold regular discussion group/seminar meetings,
Christian song fests, musical drama presentations and seminars
featuring speakers that regularly appear on our radio program.
Please pray we are patient in waiting on the Lord and are
sensitive to His leading in taking the right steps at the
right time. If you would like to be a part of the unfolding
of His plan we welcome you to help in whatever capacity you
can.
There Is Just One Lord -Which One Is Yours?
Lyrics and Music by Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
You can make a god of money,
You can make a god of hate,
You can make a god of pleasure,
And he'll never make you wait.
You can make a god of power,
But you'll have to pay your dues!
'Cause there's just One Jesus...
Better let Him help you choose!
'Cause there's just One Lord,
-Which one is yours??
There's a Jesus of the Muslims,
There's a Jesus of the Jews,
There's a Jesus of the Mormons,
Who would love to share their views.
There's a Jesus of the Opera.,
And a Jesus of the Blues.
But there's just One Jesus,
Better let Him help you choose!
'Cause there's just One Lord,
-Which one is yours??
You can follow old Osama,
You can follow Ellen White,
You can follow New Age Shirley,
As she's dancin' in the night.
You can make up your own gospel,
But it's your soul you're gonna lose!
'Cause there's just One Jesus,
Better let Him help you choose!
'Cause there's just One Lord,
-Which one is yours??
In His word we call the Bible,
You can read about His truth.
You can come to know this Person,
Who gives prophecy as proof!
You can trust Him with your future,
Or you can stubbornly refuse!
'Cause there's just One Jesus.
Better let Him help you choose!
'Cause there's just One Lord,
-Which one is yours??
The above lyrics I wrote over a period of time. I wrote the
melody years ago. This represents one of the songs we would
like to have on an apologetics oriented contemporary Christian
CD. We already have five songs recorded towards this end.
If you would like to help with studio time it would be wonderful.
The Dangers of Apostasy and False Religion
by Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom
we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which
ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not
accept, ye do well to bear with him."
-The Apostle Paul in 2Corinthians 11:4
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach
a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be
eternally condemned!"
-The Apostle Paul In Galatians 1:8
Confusion About Islam
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes
from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good
tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good
tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good
fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise
them. -Jesus (Matthew 7:15-20)
The events of 9-11 have caused many Americans to think of
Islam in a better light. One opinion poll had public opinion
go from 45 to 58 percent after September. Isn't this strange?
After all it was Muslim terrorists that destroyed the WTC.
One lady wrote to a paper that she was the head of a Christian
women's group that had hosted a Muslim lady to share about
Islam. After being "taught" by the Muslim this Christian
was convinced that Islam was closer to Christianity than Judaism
because they at least had "Jesus" mentioned in their
holy books! She came away wishing that all Christians could
learn about Islam directly from the "gentle Muslims."
Her ignorance of history is only matched by her Biblical illiteracy!
No person with a working knowledge of the Old Testament Hebrew
roots of our New Testament faith could possibly think we are
closer to the adherents of Mohammed than to the Jews.
Although there hasn't been a large hue and cry of denunciation
of Bin-Laden from the "Muslim street" there has
been some. It is only fair to express the fact that there
are many Muslim's who don't view terrorism as legitimate.
Still, there is an historical record of the way Muslim's have
interpreted their faith in the past and what it has motivated
them to do.
Modern Islamists may distance themselves from their ancestors,
and they have the right to do so. Like any religion or body
of writings you can pick and choose what you want to focus
on and act on. There are many things that are morally good
that can be drawn from the Qur'an as there are in the Book
of Mormon and the Talmud. There are also objectionable things
that can serve as the basis for bad actions or thinking. The
Talmud, for instance, makes mention of Jesus in a very bad
light as one coming from an illegitimate birth.
Even so, the writings of the Qur'an and the Hadith have remained
substantially the same since their first inception. It is
important to see if the current Islamic terrorists are interpreting
these writings in the same was as their forebears did and
to see what is in them that could motivate one to terror.
Within one century of Mohammed's death in 632 the Muslims,
taking their marching orders from their understanding of the
Quo'ran, had conquered virtually all of the Middle East, much
of North Africa and almost all of Spain and had extended their
military reign to roughly half of France. In 732 at the battle
of Poitiers (or Tours) Charles Martel (aka Charles the Hammer)
and his Christian army stopped the advance of the Muslim horde.
It is important to realize that these Muslim's knowledge of
the Quor'an and Mohammed's original intent was informed by
a very close historical proximity to the primary sources of
their faith!
The Qur'an On Violence And Terror
"When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters
wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie
in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to
prayer and render the alms levy, allow them to go their way.
God is forgiving and merciful." -Surah 9:5 at-Taubah
9:5
"Let not the unbelievers think they will ever get away.
They have not the power to do so. Muster against them all
the men and calvary at your command, so that you may strike
terror into the enemy of God and your enemy... Prophet (Muhammed)
rouse the faithful to arms! If they (the non-muslims) incline
to peace (accept Islam) make peace with them." Al Anfal
(The Spoils) Sura 8:59,60
"Fight (kill) them (non-Muslims), and God will punish,
(torment) them by your hands, cover them with shame."
-Surah 9:14 at-Taubah 9:14
"I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers,
smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips
off them. It is not ye who slew them; it was God." -Surah
8:12-17 al-Anfal 8:12-17
"Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites
and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an
evil fate." -Surah 9:73 at-Taubah 9:73
"Fight against such of those to whom the Scriptures
were given as believe neither in Allah nor the Last Day, who
do not forbid what Allah and His apostle have forbidden and
do not embrace the true faith until they pay tribute out of
hand and are utterly subdued." -Surah 9:29 at-Taubah
9:29
"Mohammed is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are
ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another."
-Surah 48:29 Al-Fath 48:29
Islam And Jesus
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach
a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be
eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say
again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than
what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
Galatians 1:8,9
"The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than an Apostle:
other apostles passed away before him. His mother was a saintly
woman. They both ate earthly food." From The Koran section
"The Table" page 365 Penguin Classics Koran
"Then Allah will say: "Jesus, son of Mary, did
you ever say to mankind: "Worship me and my mother as
gods beside Allah?" Glory to you, he will answer, how
could I say that to which I have no right? You would have
surely known it. You know what is in my mind, but I cannot
tell what is in Yours." From The Koran section "The
Table" page 389 Penguin Classics Koran
Franklin Graham received much criticism for stating unequivocally
that Islam was an "evil religion." My question to
the Christians is this; Can any religion be called good that
denies the deity of Jesus? If it goes out of its way to deny
the deity of Christ and the gospel of grace is it evil? Was
Franklin Graham wrong?
It might be well to ask an evaluation of Islam from an informed
Christian teacher from another era that was well aware of
Mohammed's disciples and their aggression during his day.
Here is someone's opinion who was well known for being able
to decypher religious assertions:
Luther On Islam:
"He (Mohammed), greatly praises Christ and Mary as being
the only ones without sin, and yet he believes nothing more
of Christ than that He is a holy prophet, like Jeremiah or
Jonah, and denies that He is God's Son and true God...On the
other hand , Mohammed highly exalts and praises himself and
boasts that he has talked with God and angels....From this
anyone can easily see that Mohammed is a destroyer of our
Lord Christ and His kingdom...Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
baptism, the sacrament, gospel faith and all Christian doctrine
are gone, and instead of Christ only Mohammed and his doctrine
of works and especially the sword are left." -Martin
Luther
Our country has been in the throes of political correctness
and a feminized culture that frowns on any assertiveness that
will not equivocate on moral issues. This has been brought
about by the slide into the relativistic abyss of post-modern
thought that won't allow for any absolute and universally
binding truth to be posited. It is bolstered by the pervasive
New Age occult metaphysics so dear to those who love Harry
Potter. The popularity of the Harry Potter books and movie
only serve to illustrate this point. We need a return to sane
thinking that speaks in terms of right and wrong and good
and evil and goes to the Bible for the definitions of those
words. It is good that the word evil is being used to describe
that which is so obviously violent evil by President Bush,
but it also needs to be applied to spiritual evil as well!
"Natural" Theology
Dr. John MacArthur is not known for mincing words. In his
latest tapes on Deliverance he quotes my friend Dr. Robert
Morey, in regards to something called "Natural Theology"
or the "Wider Mercy of God" movement agreeing with
Bob that it is an insidous evil. We've had Dr. Morey on our
program discussing this very thing, and I've also spoken to
him privately about it, and he concurs it is a major problem
that shows up in the very heart of Evangelicalism in the most
unexpected places. The idea behind this heresy is that if
a person lives "above his fellows" in a pagan land
then he will be saved because God knows he's the type of individual
that would accept the Gospel if it were presented to him.
This sounds so reasonable and appeals to man's fallen sense
of justice and his PRIDE! The Roman Catholics have had a doctrine
similar to this for centuries called "Baptism by Intent".
MacArthur quotes Robert Schuller and Billy Graham as having
a public conversation on his "Hour of Power" TV
show about whether people who have never heard the Gospel
could go to Heaven and be considered part of the Body of Christ.
Graham answered in the affirmative and Schuller was delighted!
This, of course, is a denial of the following Scriptural logic
given by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul:
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they
have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
and how shall they preach, except they be sent? " Romans
10:13-15
"You are saved by grace through faith, and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest
any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the
message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:17
"For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world
through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure
through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that
believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21
"Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein
also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast
the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in
vain." 1Corinthians 15:1,2
And in the Book of Acts we read:
"And in none other is there salvation: for neither
is there any other name under heaven, that is given among
men, wherein we must be saved" Acts 4:12
It is obvious to anyone, at least those whose eyes are opened
by God to trust in His word the Bible, that the only way to
be saved (i.e. go to Heaven, be made right with God, be considered
part of the Body of Christ, a member of God's forever family
or be a truly regenerated "Born Again" Christian)
is by hearing the good news or gospel and then, by the gracious
work of the Holy Spirit, believing or trusting in that gospel
you have heard!
The dangers of apostasy and false religion cannot be underestimated!
Hell is the price that mankind must pay if they don't come
to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Hell is very real, as real
as Heaven itself! Jesus warned about judgment more than any
other figure in the Bible. All deserve hell because all have
offended divine justice by sinning.
The Holy Spirit's estimation of mankind's condition apart
from His redemption is bleak indeed. Read Romans 3:10-18 "....as
it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS,
NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE
WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE
BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT
EVEN ONE." "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH
THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON
OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL
OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT
TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.""THERE
IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
If anyone is decieved into thinking that he is exempt from
this condition and will escape God's judgment, apart from
trusting in the gospel, he needs to think again. Paul also
tells us in Romans 3:23 that "...all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God."
There is only one remedy for sin and one way to avoid hell.
It is by simply putting your trust in the good news or gospel
that tells us about the finished work of Christ on the cross.
He took your hell and mine and thus satisfied God's just requirement
of punishing rebellion. He is then free to lavish his goodness
on us who believe. Any other way is an insult to Jesus. The
Apostle Paul explained it this way in Romans 3:3-8:
"Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited
as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not
work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith
is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of
the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness
apart from works: "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS
HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED."BLESSED
IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
Hell Is Real!
"But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who
after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;
yea, I say unto you, Fear him." Jesus in Luke
12:5
"And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it
out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into
life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast
into the hell of fire" Jesus in Matthew
18:9
". . .and the smoke of their torment goeth up
for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and
night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso
receiveth the mark of his name. -Revelation 14:11
The Bible does indeed show hell to be a very real place and
it should motivate any sane person to want to avoid it. Satan,
the great imitator, has hellfire warnings placed all throughout
false religions as well. Islam is a prime example of this
in its Qur'an and Hadith and the Mormon writings are similar.
The difference is the track record and reliability of the
Bible. The hundreds of prophecies that have all come to pass
and the way it has affected the whole world for the good through
changed individual lives bears testimony to the supernatural
nature of the word of God.
Bad Teaching In Church Circles
"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later
times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of demons" 1Timothy 4:1
Annihilationism
There is still another heresy abroad in the land that would
tell us that unbelievers either escape hell altogether or
are destroyed after a certain time of punishment. It is hard
to understand how so-called "Christians" can demean
the cross and sufferings of Christ by suggesting we "tone
down" His warnings of punishment just to please themselves
or other fallen men who are His enemies. Sure, He loves His
enemies, but enemies they are! The lure of annihilationism
(the idea that punishment is not eternal because God is too
loving to do that) is very appealing to a generation that
concentrates on man's rights pleasures and prerogatives and
not God's.
God is the twice wounded party and not mankind! We attacked
Him first in the garden by impugning His character. In Adam
and Eve we agreed with Satan that He was a stingy liar "holding
out on us." Now God asks that we turn that around and
call Satan a liar and worship Yahweh's generosity and Character
through faith in His gospel. We attacked Him again in Jesus.
God was, and is, Jesus and His sufferings were greater than
all of mankind's put together past, present and future, whether
in hell or on earth! He is of infinite value and He suffered
as a totally loving, righteous and innocent one.
That is why thankfulness is key to the Christian life. It
communicates that one believes any pain and suffering we experience
here (and we do!) does not measure up to what we deserve and
that all the good things we experience are a product of God's
undeserved mercy and graciousness to us.
I told one apostate man (who was cussing at God every night
because his wife left him) that he deserved far more pain
than what he was experiencing. He who didn't deserve a cross
word, much less a cross, died for him and, therefore, didn't
deserve the venom of his foul mouth every night. I eventually
said to him "If you haven't spent any time on a cross
or in hell today it has been a pretty good day!" That
is not to make light of the very real suffering a divorce
or any other heartache imposes. We are to "weep with
those who weep" because God is love and compassionate,
but this does not give us the right to coddle blasphemy. Some
would have us do just that!
The Rise Of "Neo-Theism" And Political Correctness
Another heresy that is weakening the Church through error
is "Neo-Theism" or the "Openness of God"
theory about divine foreknowledge and omniscience. There are
so-called "Christians" who would have us believe
that God doesn't know the future in order to protect man's
prerogatives of choice and freedom as they define it! They
are willing to mutilate the clear teaching of Scripture that
God foreknows all and dwells outside of time which, by the
way, has been affirmed by both Arminian and Calvinist teachers
throughout history. Recently, The Evangelical Theological
Society decided by a 71% majority vote to declare these individuals
as being outside of the faith heretics. I only wish that the
percentage would have been higher! Our board member Dr. H.
Wayne House, along with Dr. Norman Geisler has written an
excellent book on this topic called "The Battle For God"
and it is published through the Kregel Publishing House.
Others today are willing to censor the word of God and only
speak of the truly beautiful things it says about relational
love so as not to offend anyone. It must offend God that they
refuse to share His full revelation and counsel but they don't
evidently care if they do that. This is just disobedience
and rebellion! Some churches have even given up speaking about
sin and judgment at all and do not put any Scripture in their
printing lest it "turn somebody off." This ought
not to be! The fact is that Jesus doesn't bring peace to all
relationships and we shouldn't expect Him to!
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I
came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set
a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against
her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law. And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is
not worthy of me" -Jesus in Matthew 10:34-36
Prophecy Embargo!
It is ironic that some Christians are afraid of speaking
the truth about Bible prophecy while it is being fulfilled
under their very noses (see Ezekiel 36 and 37). This is usually
because it is deemed too controversial and divisive. If the
Bible's promises to the Jews are taken seriously leaders may
have to take an unpopular stand affirming and defending Israel's
God given right to the promised land. It is unpopular in the
light of international coalition building and the liberal
press' predilection to Israel bashing. This is not to mention
old fashioned anti-semitism that still exists even in America.
Bible prophecy can be very uniting and motivating toward
godliness. The Apostle John writes, "Beloved, now are
we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we
shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every
one that hath this hope set on him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1John 3:2. Prophecy
need not be divisive if there is a humble acknowledgment and
teaching that we see "through a glass darkly" now
and that the finer points should be left open for debate among
honest people who hold to a consistent hermeneutic.
The problem is that certain people's hermeneutics jump track
when dealing with the prophecies of the Messiah's first coming
as opposed to His second coming. Zechariah 14:4 says the Mount
of Olives will one day cleave in two when the Messiah comes.
Micah 5:2 predicts that Beth-lehem Ephrathah will be the small
town from which the Messiah would come. Both prophecies were
made prior to Jesus being born. Why do some choose to interpret
the one literally and the other symbolically or allegorically?
I have stood on the ground of both places and I assure you
they are equally real!
Allegorizing literal texts about the future Messianic era
centered in Israel and Jerusalem is a subtle attack on the
character of God because it negates and denies the Messianic
promises made by God through His prophets to Israel (see Isaiah
65 for example or Joel 3). If Jesus doesn't return to Olivet
outside of Jerusalem then will it be Chicago, New York or
London? Maybe His return is just when He comes into our individual
hearts when we first believe? Some have foolishly asserted
this by allegorizing the Zechariah text. The angels present
at his ascension in Acts 1:11 certainly maintained a different
position!
Well, there you have it. There is a great deal of good being
done by the Christians of our time but there is also a great
need of apologetics reasoning and a revival of interest in
doctrinal truth as being paramount in our thinking. Of course,
all of this needs to be done with good hearted loving motivations
-but it must be done! This must also not be an exercise in
proud self-righteousness as we are all continuously in need
of God's grace. Thankfully, He has provided it through Christ.
Please review this newsletter and see if the Lord would prompt
you to help support our various efforts at serving Him. All
help is greatly needed and equally appreciated!
In His Service Gladly,
Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
President The Institute For Christian Apologetics
Mount Carmel Outreach
All donations to The Institute For Christian
Apologetics are
tax-deductible, greatly needed and equally appreciated!
Make your checks out to:
The Institute For Christian Apologetics
Send them to P.O. Box 5761 Rockford, IL 61125
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