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A post Christmas special from Broken Wall: Coming up --The angels promised the shepherds “Peace on earth”. PEACE? Did the mission fail?
Proven accurate ancient scriptures predicted a messiah. But can Christians be sure it was Jesus?
Understanding the relationship between Christians and Jews.
Unwrap your best gift
As we reflect on Christmas will you let me walk you through the whole story, chronologically, of what Christmas actually means? Then you can experience the full joy, the peace, the power, the completeness of what Christmas was-is- intended to bring to each of us.
We will cover in these 15 minutes Creation through to the “End Times” you have heard talked about: The Apocalypse and the battle of Armageddon. I believe the content is well worth your time and thought investment.
Most importantly, I will show you how you fit into it all. Yes. You have a role.
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Christmas- specifically the birth of Jesus, was a major event predicted by numerous writers of scripture hundreds of years earlier. Predictions are important. Why?
When I read a promotional letter inviting me to subscribe to an investment research service, authored by one or another financial experts,
the featured expert is invariably introduced as having predicted (prophesied) one or two very significant events in the financial world:
Maybe the “dot com” collapse, maybe the earlier “black Friday”, maybe the 2008 mortgage debacle, maybe telling folks to buy Google for $2 per share etc. So accurate predictions/ prophesy imbues intelligence and special knowledge on a person.
In the Tanakh (The Hebrew bible which the Christians call the Old testament)
the birth of Jesus and what he would do was prophesied 324 times.
Mathematician Peter Stoner counted the probability of one person fulfilling even a small number of them. And he concluded, the chance of a single man fulfilling “just” 48 of the prophecies found in the Tanakh (Old Testament) would be one in (10 followed by 157 zeros)! “…we take 10^17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly. Blindfold a man and tell him that he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one?” 48
So the long prophesied messiah had to be Jesus of Nazareth. No other person, yet to be born, could fulfil the details of the prophesies. The early Jewish and non-Jewish people who accepted that Jesus was the messiah became known by the Greek name Christ(ians) (Greek was the Roman language/culture of the day
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But why did Jesus need to come earth?
Why was he born without his human father’s intervention? (The virgin birth) Why was Mary chosen? Why did the majestic angelic announcement come to shepherds watching their flocks at night? https://biblehub.com/luke/2-8.htm
I will only handle the 4th question as that is all the room I have for this special post. (Bible scholars spend their entire lives unpacking the many details that give color and depth to Bible truths.)
I just learned that the shepherds in the field would understand the significance of the strips of cloth that Mary wrapped the newborn Jesus in. https://biblehub.com/luke/2-12.htm
Apparently their flocks would be used in part for the sacrifice of lambs in the Temple to atone for the sins of the people.
(“Sin” being a faith based word referring to our personal behavior that is selfish and unloving. We all act that way sometimes no matter now hard we try not to.)
When a perfect lamb was born it was wrapped in strips of cloth to keep it clean for the ritual sacrifice. Who was Jesus to this narrative? He was the only perfect sacrifice- he never sinned- who could take our place to satisfy the law God had created that mandated that blood has to be shed to atone for sin. Sounds extreme? That is how much God hates my selfishness. My deceit. My laziness. I like to shrug it off. He can’t.
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(As a somewhat humorous aside, Artificial Intelligence, knew enough to create a naked Adam and Eve but wasn’t smart enough to locate them behind a tree etc. as our Sunday school artists knew to do. Instead it gave me a violation notice.
But sin didn’t start with you or me. It started with Adam and Eve.
God made them so that He could have human companionship. He wants to share His loving nature with everyone. He gave them (Adam specifically) one simple rule: Eat anything in the garden except from one tree. https://biblehub.com/genesis/2-16.htm
But even one rule was too much to bear. Being prohibited only increases our desire for something. But this act of prideful defiance broke the relationship God had with Adam and Eve and wants with us. At that point death entered the previously perfect world. An animal had to be killed to clothe them.
A Physician named Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke which lists the ancestors of Jesus. There are 77 back to Adam. (If I counted correctly- see it here: https://biblehub.com/luke/3-23.htm.) Knowing from elsewhere in scripture how long some of the ancient people lived (the Bible records some of their ages at death) allows Creation to be dated about about 6000 years ago.
Interestingly, the Jewish calendar puts the exact year at 5785. That is well within the margin of error as we estimate how long the 77 generations lived. Jewish year
Now I know we have all been taught the proven “truth” of evolution and that it happened millions of years ago. But the truth is that its not even nearly proven- its not worthy of being called a “theory” as it has basically no evidence.
What has been presented as evidence has either been found to be actually fraudulent or is an example of adaptation, not evolution.
All in all there is ample and convincing empirical evidence to support the accuracy of scripture. (Some try to twist scripture to allow for the timelines necessary for evolution but they have a problem with Jesus being a descendent of Adam. They suggest Adam was an Ethiopian farmer who lived about 200,000 years ago. But that doesn’t match the stated ancestry of Jesus and his purpose in coming to earth relative to Adam and Eve’s fall from the Garden and its perfection.)
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But what about that phrase we hear repeated this time of year but it seems to be a message as elusive as ever:
“Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men”. But what did the Angels actually say? https://biblehub.com/luke/2-14.htm
14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Is the way the New Living bible translates it. https://biblehub.com/luke/2-14.htm And that is literally correct. https://biblehub.com/text/luke/2-14.htm
The Jewish people were expecting a messiah / king to free them from the Roman so they were very disappointed to get “peace and love” Jesus. They were expecting the messiah to lead a rebellion and use his supernatural power to overthrow the Roman government. That had happened before with Moses. (Recall the plagues against the king of Egypt where they were slaves leading to their release and journey to a new territory God had given them. I have given you a link that shows the various translations of the original scripture https://biblehub.com/exodus/7-5.htm )
Jesus spoke of his purpose in coming. It was recorded by Physician Luke in the book The Gospel of Luke.
16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (I added the emphasis) 22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” https://biblehub.com/nlt/luke/4.htm To see the Hebrew scripture in the scroll Jesus was given: https://biblehub.com/isaiah/61-1.htm
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What the Jewish scholars of Jesus day-even his disciples who he taught for about 3 years, didn’t
initially understand was that Jesus would come to earth a 2nd time
The first time to call people to him, to heal the sick and free those in personal bondage to sin as per what he read from Isaiah.
The Apostle Paul was one of those scholars who initially refused to acknowledge Jesus as the messiah. Paul preferred to imprison and even kill Jesus’ followers. So that is what he did until Jesus knocked him off his horse to get his attention. https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/9.htm
But the 2nd time, still in the future, is when he comes back as the judge and warrior who overthrows corrupt government.
That’s when he comes as the messiah the repressed Jewish people wanted.
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. / At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27
15 Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?” (Note. I encourage you to start reading at the beginning of the chapter: https://biblehub.com/nlt/revelation/6.htm )
(Some Christians believe the talked about 2nd coming- Jesus return to earth as judge and conqueror is only symbolic. To them I ask, if the promised first coming was literal, why would the 2nd be symbolic? And the scriptural “yet to do” list for his 2nd coming remains.)
His listeners, familiar with the Hebrew scriptures didn’t know of the above references as they had not yet occurred. But they did know of these ones from their scriptures referencing the coming messiah’s vengeance on their enemies:
Zephaniah 1:14-18
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. ...Isaiah 13:6-9
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. / Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear. ...
Isaiah 2:12-21
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— / against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, / against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills, ...To seeing more of what the Jewish scriptures say:Isaiah 34:8, Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 2:11, Malachi 3:2, Nahum 1:6, Jeremiah 30:7, Amos 5:18-20
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Readers who have studied this subject- “the end times” are aware that I have left out the important next part of history- of world events that precedes Jesus 2nd return with his judgement. Its called the “Rapture”. The scriptures say, in a way that seems crystal clear that Christians will be removed from the earth prior to Jesus 2nd return and the Armageddon- the apocalypse- that will be unleashed. You may be familiar with the “Left Behind” books and movies: Suddenly people are missing from the airliner, but their clothes remain. Etc. Scripture says,
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. https://biblehub.com/matthew/24-40.htm
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The End Times. Peace on earth but a false one.
Tens of thousands, if not millions of people, are now talking about what few outside the church, troubled themselves with. One world government and specifically the world wide control by a yet to be identified person will have the power to dictate who is able to “buy and sell”- to participate in society as we know it.
Many, like Naomi Wolf have already concluded what is going on is supernaturally evil- the careful co-ordination of “The Narrative” that enabled power over virtually the entire “civilized” world- a fear so great people did what they normally would never do:
Cave in to pressure to receive a barely tested and completely new kind of vaccine from pharmaceutical companies with a long list of convictions for fraud and exemptions from future liability convictions for their covid vaccines. (Would you fly in an airplane or buy an automobile from a company exempted from liability for damages to your body?)
You have noticed an increase in dissension within society, not just nations at war with other nations but fighting internally.
Within a marriage. Within the family, the community. And its increasingly violent confrontation. Because people value peace above their own freedom, evil forces are stirring this pot of dissension and divisiveness as part of the plan. They are doing everything in their power to create such chaos that the public will readily submit to emergency powers to restore peace. And they will succeed.
The Bible describes what this evil world wide dictator will do
: 16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, https://biblehub.com/revelation/13-16.htm
This of course is ready now to roll out via central bank digital currency (CBDC) https://www.federalreserve.gov/cbdc-faqs.htm Almost all money is already digital only- aka, only in a computer balance sheet. It’s not in cash form. However, unlike cash but like a credit card, what someone is spending on and the amount being spent can be controlled centrally.
50 years ago writers like John Wesley White, Billy Graham’s Canadian associate were seeing a greater than ever number of major signs of “The end times ” but they could not figure out, 1- The mechanism by which someone would be able to control everyone’s spending or 2, what kind of event would allow the entire world to unite under one cause.
We already saw how easily this was accomplished during covid 19. Next time it might be another disease or too many especially destructive hurricanes and violent thunderstorms. We are seeing that power now given over to the UN. Health and climate (climate as an extension of health) is under the World Health Organization says. (See discussions about the Canadian Parliamentary Bill 293 which gives an extension of the UN power over elected officials to declare an emergency such as climate and take control accordingly https://childrenshealthdefense.ca/news/bill-c-293-quietly-legislated-to-prepare-canada-for-the-next-pandemic/ )
This peace will last about 3 and ½ years. Then this false peace will end.
Scripture suggests that the peace will be broken by Russia and allies. Israel, tricked into accepting it, will have abandoned its defenses. So God must intervene directly. Jesus returns for his 2nd time as defender of Israel. The proverbial battle of Armageddon is then underway. Will it be a literal battle? There is a literal area perfect for a massive battle.
This topic- the end times- is enormously popular and there are a number of excellent Bible scholars I recommend. One such person is David Jeremiah. This is his free play list for the end times. It covers how scripture predicted globalism, socialism, the rapture etc. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt1JOUZq2nWu46OdJzggJNgNH1PKtlYuY
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The gift that still remains under the Christmas tree
Does all of this have any specific meaning for you and me? Yes!
We accept how our DNA and our childhood, along with our own decisions sculpt who we become. God, in addition to the gift of His son Jesus so that we can become part of His family, also gives us an extra gift scripture calls our Spiritual Gift.
“7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-7.htm
Help each other do what? Carry out God’s purposes for the world: Peace. Love. Truth. Within those three categories there is something for each of us to do. But to avoid burn out and to have the supernatural power needed to fight the supernatural evil we need our own supernatural spiritual gift. There are many different spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s plan. This link is one place to help you discern your gift. If doing the exercise at that link seems too complicated, just ask yourself what you are motivated and able to do. (Ideally do both. Your inner self assessment and the exercise should align.) https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/LifeWayChristianResources/Spiritual%5FGifts%5FAssessmentpdf.pdf’
Here is an example from scripture of the supernatural- an angel- helping us
: 18 Then the one (angel) who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” https://biblehub.com/nlt/daniel/10.htm
If you read the entire book of Daniel you discover my favorite Bible character. You may have heard about one part of his life, Daniel and the Lion’s Den?
So unwrap your best and remaining gift, the spiritual gift, after accepting the gift of the Christ child and being adopted into God’s family.
To summarize:
God created humans for companionship- to be part of his community, his family.
Our, my, own arrogance and selfishness broke that relationship
The Christmas story is about God sending His son to pay the price of our selfishness and reunite us with him, if we are willing to accept this free gift.
The loving, kind and patient Jesus will soon return again to destroy evil in a forceful way. Does this seem too radical for your image of sweet old white bearded Grampa Jesus blessing children on his lap? His anger at the religious thieves in the temple who were charging an unfair price for the sacrifices the Hebrew people had to pay is a little taste of the full range of Jesus. https://biblehub.com/mark/11-15.htm The temple had become so congested people couldn’t worship. This time he used a whip as well: When the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. / In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. / So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ... John 2:13-17
The same supernaturally evil forces that brought about the Covid destruction and are fanning the flames of dissension and chaos around the world, have successfully prevented most of the world from knowing and understanding the benefits of becoming part of the family of Christ- both while on earth and for eternity. https://biblehub.com/john/6-35.htm
Accept the spiritual gift after accepting the gift in the manger and have supernatural help to fight the supernatural.
Thanks for reading. I have probably covered far too much ground but feel free to ask me to clarify.