The Kingdom of God – Part 2

On May 7, 2016 By AdminIn The KingdomLeave a comment

Continued from Part 1: Brother Roberts vision of the Kingdom:

This is only the profane portion of the land – a scene of peace and righteousness and plenty, truly, but not comparable to “the holy portion of the land.” Come to the holy portion of the land – the land given as an oblation to the Lord.

We approach Jerusalem, or rather Yah Shammah (the new name of the new city) from the south.

It stands in the southernmost section of the holy portion.

It is an immense city, built upon a plan of perfect symmetry and proportion.

It is very unlike the huddled clusters of human dwellings called towns with which we have been familiar.

The general plan is an exact square, marked by an outer wall.

The square is of enormous extent, measuring nine miles through at any point.

The wall is of bright stone, and adorned with towers at regular distances.

We only see the south wall.

It stretches away right and left further than the eye can follow.

It is over nine miles long on the south side, and on all the other sides the same.

There are lofty ornamental gates at regular distances.

We descend from the overlooking hill and enter by one of these gates.

It would be pleasant to stay and inspect the city; but we want to hurry on to the temple, and, therefore we must be content with a rapid passage through the central thoroughfare, which we have chosen, to the northern exit by one of the gates in the north wall.

Just before passing on, we notice at a glance the stately character of the city.

The streets are straight and wide, and shaded with trees, and, at regular distances, open out into squares and crescents.

The houses are not high, and stand apart in gardens except where here and there palatial blocks of buildings spring from the midst of the squares.

We ask what these are and are informed that they are reception-houses, for the accommodation of the visitors who daily come from all parts.

There is an immense number of the people in the city, but the city is so vast that they do not appear numerous, except at certain points, as we pass along.

Their aspect is such as never saw in any city crowd before – so quiet, yet so cheerful; so brightly interested in everything, yet so orderly and respectful; so apparently cultured and well-to-do, yet having none of the fussiness and arrogance usually associated with prosperity.

All are well-clad, clean, intelligent, good, righteous, and happy,- no boisterous merrymaking- no foolish banter – no unsuitable speaking.

They are a few of the happy subjects of the kingdom of God.

They have come from all parts of the earth to do homage to the king – wives and families with them, leaving behind them prosperous homesteads and occupations, to which they will return in a little season.

We hasten in a straight line along our nine-mile avenue of picturesque and happy human habitation – (we could take the help of an electric car, if we liked; for such has been provided in all the thoroughfares, for the use of the people; but, in our new state, we prefer to walk); we can quicken our pace, when we want to do so, as we dreamt of in our mortal days.

We get out at the gate of Judah; opposite which, after crossing an ornamental common of about half a mile in breadth that runs round the entire city, there opens a magnificent highway running in a straight line in a northern direction towards the temple which is distant about thirty miles.

Along this highway we proceed.

It is very broad, and of noble aspect.

A line of tall trees in a broad band of turf divides it in the center, and again in the middle of each side, giving four spacious roadways running side by side, lined with trees and bordered with turf and flowers.

The country on each side is laid out in field and estates, which are in the occupation of the Levites and of second order who serve the temple, whose lands, however, are accessible to visitors at all times.

The country becomes more magnificent at every step.

At certain points, side roads strike off and return in many turnings and windings to the main road again.

These side roads lead through woodsy solitudes of paradisaic beauty.

Let us go down one of these roads and behold the fulfillment of the promise that the Lord would make the place of his feet glorious.

All is quiet, comforting, and beautiful.

There is no dankness, but only a sense of bracing relief in the shade they give: no wetness on the ground, but only a pleasant soft hardness.

There are no walls or fences at the side of the road.

You may walk straight off the road on to velvet turf under the trees and among the shrubs.

Here you find all kinds of fruit growing – all kinds of flowers in bloom.

You are at liberty to put forth your hand and do as you will.

How delicious the odor everywhere! We stroll and stroll.

Bro. Robert Roberts describes his vision of the Kingdom in ‘The Final Consolation’.

Stay posted to read the remainder of the series.

Russian forces fire at Israeli Aircraft

On April 23, 2016 By AdminIn Israel, Russia1 Comment

Reuters Reports:

Russian forces in Syria have fired at least twice on Israeli military aircraft, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek improved operational coordination with Moscow, Israel’s top-selling newspaper said on Friday.

The unsourced report in Yedioth Ahronoth gave no dates or locations for the incidents nor any indication Israeli planes were hit. Russia mounted its military intervention in Syria in September to shore Damascus up amid a now 5-year-old rebellion.

Separately, Israel’s Channel 10 TV said a Russian warplane approached an Israeli warplane off the Mediterranean coast of Syria last week but that there was no contact between them.

An Israeli military spokesman declined comment. Netanyahu’s office and the Russian embassy in Israel did not immediately respond.

srael, which has repeatedly bombed Syria to foil suspected arms handovers to Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, was quick to set up an operational hotline with Moscow designed to avoid accidentally trading fire with Russian interventionary forces.

Visiting Moscow on Thursday, Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in televised remarks: “I came here with one main goal – to strengthen the security coordination between us so as to avoid mishaps, misunderstandings and unnecessary confrontations.”

In an apparent allusion to Syria, Putin said: “I think there are understandable reasons for these intensive contacts (with Israel), given the complicated situation in the region.”

According to Yedioth, the reported Russian fire on Israeli planes was first raised with Putin by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited Moscow on March 15. At the time, Putin responded that he was unaware of the incidents, Yedioth said.

“Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.

⁸After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them.

⁹You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.”

Ezekiel 38

Imagine, that your time has come.

On April 18, 2016May 1, 2016 By AdminIn Christadelphians, Revelation8 Comments

That moment has finally arrived.

Christ has returned, and you stand before him, about receive the final judgement.

Your mind flashes over the events of your life, the choices you made, the people you befriended, the priorities you chose, the habits you established… and you feel a sense of unease.

Christ turns to you and says;

I know your works, that you were neither cold or hot: I wished you were either hot or cold.

Because you were lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue you out of my mouth.

For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing’, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Christ spoke these words to the ecclesia of Laodicea.

Out of context, one could be forgiven for thinking that this ecclesia had become subject to some dark and insidious form of Baal worship.

Infact the reality was far from it. Their problem was not immorality, or wrong doctrine, child sacrifice, or some other form of blatantly perverted evil.

The influence that repulsed Christ so much, was materialism.

You see, the Laodiceans lived amongst general prosperity and comfort, and they weren’t in any hurry to oppose it.

Where the Smyrnan’s were thankful to have a loaf of bread on the table, the Laodiceans were complaining about the brand of the coffee they were just served.

Where they suffered persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities, the Laodiceans were each tweaking and squeaking their shiny sports edition cars.

Transplant the Laodiceans to our age, and they would’ve had a rort!

The deafening roar of the crowd as they cheer on the chariots at the Colosseum would be old-school entertainment when compared to the pounding roar of the V8 supercar. Better still, the vision of the elite cars projected onto the living room wall, complete with some ground shaking surround-sound, and popcorn.

The age in which we live has mastered the art of stimulating every sensory. Its offering is far more advanced than the classic Laodicean experience.

An array of indulgences are available; sports, TV, movies, social media, personal devices, food, cars, fashion, careers, houses, not to mention the offerings on the internet.

The indulgence is customised to your unique desire, easily justifiable, and innocent enough.

Such was the experience of the Laodicean. But what of the state of their faith?

Oh don’t worry, they read their Bibles occasionally.

But sadly they could tell you more about the Cricket, than they could tell you about the Prophets.

They had no time to study and meditate on their Bible. Perhaps they were too busy?

They rarely made a personal effort to preach the gospel.

The regular feed of TV and Social Media left the welfare of others untouched.

Indulgence was permissible, and the concept of COMPLETE self sacrifice remained just that – a concept.

There is no question of whether or not we live in a Laodicean age.

The question is whether or not we choose to enjoy the same indulgences, or a life of COMPLETE self sacrifice.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”

Putin agrees to take the Golan from Israel, and give it to Syria

On April 17, 2016 By AdminIn Israel, Russia4 Comments

Last year we wrote a post explaining what could cause Russia to invade Israel.

At the time, Israel’s Prime Minister had flown to Washington, and was making a desperate bid to get Obama’s support for Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Only a few weeks earlier a discovery had been made that would serve to increase tensions on the question of sovereignty over the Golan – huge oil deposits were found on the Golan Heights, and verified by an Israeli company.

Yet, weeks later, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel having failed to secure Obamas support.

It wasnt long before the United Nations – including Russia – condemned Israels “occupation” of the Golan Heights, and around the same time, Syria asked Russia to develop their oil resources.

Then, over the course of the next 6 months, the Israeli leadership became very concerned about Russian activity near the Golan.

Click here for the context of the story thus far.

Now, Debkafile reports the following:

“Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu will visit Moscow on Thursday, April 21 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to launch the most important battle of his political career, and one of Israel’s most decisive contests of the last 10 years: the battle over the future of the Golan Heights.

DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources and its sources in Moscow report exclusively that Israel’s top political leaders and military commanders were stunned and shocked last weekend when they found out that US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to support the return of the Golan to Syria. The two presidents gave their top diplomats, Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the green light to include such a clause in a proposal being drafted at the Geneva conference on ending the Syrian civil war.

Israel captured the Golan from the Syrian army 49 years ago, during the Six-Day War in 1967 after the Syrian army invaded Israel.

In 1981, during the tenure of then Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Israel passed a law defining the Golan as a territory under Israeli sovereignty. However, it did not state that the area belongs to Israel.

While Israel was preparing for a diplomatic battle over the future of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, Obama and Putin decided to deal a diplomatic blow to Israel and Netanyahu’s government on an unexpected issue, the Golan.

It is part of an endeavor by the two powers to use their diplomatic and military cooperation regarding Syria to impose agreements on neighboring countries, such as Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

For example, Washington and Moscow are trying to impose an agreement regarding the granting of independence to Syrian Kurds, despite Ankara’s adamant opposition. The two presidents are also pressuring Riyadh and Amman to accept the continuation of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s rule, at least for the immediate future.

DEBKAfile’s sources report that just like the other diplomatic or military steps initiated by Obama and Putin in Syria, such as those for Assad’s eventual removal from power, the two powers see a resolution of the Golan issue as a gradual process that may take a long time, perhaps even years. But as far as they are concerned, Israel will have to withdraw from the Golan at the end of that process.

It should be noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not traveling to Washington to discuss the Golan issue with Obama. The frequent trips by the prime minister, senior officials and top IDF brass to Moscow in recent months show where the winds are blowing in the Middle East.

However, Moscow is not Washington, and Israel has no lobby in the Russian capital defending its interests.

It should be made very clear that the frequent trips by senior Israeli officials to Moscow have not created an Israeli policy that can influence Putin or other senior members of the Russian leadership. Putin has made occasional concessions to Israel on matters of minimal strategic importance, but on diplomatic and military steps regarding Syria and Iran he has shown little consideration of Jerusalem’s stance.

It should also be noted that there has been no basis for the enthusiasm over the Russian intervention in Syria shown by Netanyahu, Israeli ministers and senior IDF officers.

All of the calls by a number of Russia experts, mainly those of DEBKAfile, for extreme caution in ties with Putin have fallen on deaf ears among the political leadership in Jerusalem and the IDF command in Tel Aviv.

Amid these developments, three regional actors are very pleased by Washington and Moscow’s agreement to demand Israeli withdrawal from the Golan: Syrian President Assad, the Iranian leadership in Tehran and Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Now, they do not need to risk a military confrontation with Israel over the Golan because Obama and Putin have essentially agreed to do the dirty work for them.

The Kingdom of God

On April 5, 2016 By AdminIn The Kingdom1 Comment

It is a picture, but not a fancy.

It is beautiful, but not a fable.

It is ravishing to the imagination, and yet the presentment of truth as practical and actual and tangible as any sight to be seen at any time in the humdrum streets of a modern city.

It comes direct to us on the guarantee of Him who holds heaven and earth in His hand – who, having cursed, can bless; who, having smitten, can heal; who, having caused us to know the misery of His withdrawn countenance from the earth, and the consequent prevalence of disorder and death, can gladden our eyes by the spectacle of the tabernacle of God with men, and human life a beautiful and holy and joyful thing for ever.

Come to the land of promise in the day of its glory – not as you are now – burdened with infirmity, with a nature easily fatigued, eye soon dimmed, power soon spent, and having but scant capacity to rise to the surrounding sublimities of the universe, or to apprehend sympathetically the subtle glories of the Spirit.

Come, when it has been said to you as to Joshua, “Take away the filthy garments from him…

I will clothe thee with a change of raiment.” Come when mortality no longer weighs you to the earth, and when you know the new experience of having “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Come when you can step lightly and joyously abroad upon the earth in the freedom and power of spirit nature; strong, penetrating eye looks out of a glad heart to behold in all things the unfolded love, and wisdom, and glory of God: when every thought is a joy, every movement a pleasure; every breath the inspiration of an ecstacy that can only find fit expression in praise to Him that sits upon the throne.

In such a state, any land, any configuration of country, would furnish suitable sphere.

But God puts his jewels in fit settings.

He hath called and glorified His children, and “He hath prepared for them a city” – a city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham sojourned in the geographical area of this city – in the land of promise – as in a strange country; but that is now long past.

Forsaken and hated for ages, the land is now “an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” God has fulfilled His promise, and has made “her wilderness like Eden – her desert like the garden of the Lord.” Come and see as we go; we stand on the hills of Judea, now no longer stern and wild.

They are clad with glorious vegetation, of every form and fragrance.

The hills are clothed with pleasant woods, and the valleys rejoice in the smiling beauties of a rich cultivation – field and vineyard, fruits and flowers, corn and wine.

The air is clear and warm, and laden with pleasant odours.

The view on all sides is magnificent and far-reaching.

No smoke obscures the landscape, no fog on the valleys, no mist on the hills.

The sky is cloudless, and the sun pours his healing flood of light on rejoicing land and ocean.

The whirr of pleasant insect; the musical song of bird helps the sense of gladness that fills the air.

Nearby are pleasant homesteads, standing each in its own plot or portion, neatly trimmed and well-kept.

Below in the valley, towns and hamlets, peopled by righteous Israelites, are visible in the far receding distance, clearly visible in this transparent atmosphere, in which everything appears nearer than it is.

Jerusalem is faintly visible on our northern horizon.

Let us hasten in that direction.