Category Archives: Prophecy

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

For Such A Time As This: Why Study the Book of Esther

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them — Esther 8:16-17
It has all the ingredients of a block-buster movie, but this is no Hollywood creation. The Book of Esther tells the very real story in the 5th Century BC of an insidious plot to destroy the Jewish people. Ironically, this scheme was not hatched by the overbearing Egyptians, war-like Assyrians, or despotic Babylonians – it happened under the enlightened, cultured, tolerant Persian empire. Of all Israel’s occupiers, the Persians should have been the least likely empire to hatch such a plot – but, as the book tells us, not only was this plot of Jewish destruction conceived, but it almost succeeded. The reason it ultimately failed is because of the ‘God-factor.’ The Lord promised to preserve the Jewish people as long as there are stars, the sun, and moon (Jeremiah 31:35-37?). The Book of Esther is the gripping story of how He did precisely that.
HEBREW NAME
The Hebrew name of Esther is ‘Hadassah,’ which means ‘myrtle’ (2:7). Her Persian name is ‘Ester,’ meaning a star and ‘Esther’ is the Greek version.
AUTHOR
We do not know who the author of Esther is. While Mordechai, Nehemiah, and Ezra have been nominated, it seems unlikely that they wrote the book. The author was a Jew who had much knowledge about the royal history and customs of Persia. He tells us things like nature of the Persian banquet (1:6-8; 5:5); royal protocol (4:11; 8:11-18); details of the royal palace at Shushan (1:5; 2:11, 21; 7:8), and court intrigue (2:21-23; 7:9).
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Christ is represented in Esther in some profound ways. He is an advocate for the people, just as Esther did for her people. Both figures are royalty and both risked their lives for the sake of their people.
THEME OF ESTHER
The providence of God in the affairs of His people. God is not explicitly mentioned in this book, which some find problematic, though His name appears as an acrostic in the Hebrew text. During the great crisis, this book does not mention prayer, either, but it does speak of a total fast for 3 days and 3 nights, known also as the ‘Esther fast.’
Yet the fingerprints of God is found everywhere in this book. Through a series of ‘coincidences,’ it becomes obvious that God, and God alone, foils the satanic plot to destroy the Jewish people, abrogate the Abrahamic covenant, and destroy the Messianic lineage.
KEY VERSES IN ESTEHR
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? — Esther 4:13-14 (KJV)
CANONICITY OF ESTHER
While many of the books of the Bible are considered canonical, without question, the same does not apply to the Book of Esther. At first, it appears to be a fiction thriller yet it is loaded with factual details. Not only is God and devotional life not mentioned, but the name of a heathen king is frequently mentioned. There even appears to be a ‘spirit of revenge’ when Esther asks for a second day be given so that the Jews can destroy their enemies. Of all the Old Testament books, only Esther is not part of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Despite all this, the Book of Esther has a worthy place in the canon of Scripture. First, it tells us about a holiday called ‘Purim’ which the Jewish people celebrate to this day. Second, it highlights the problem of anti-Semitism, the world’s oldest and most irrational hatred. Ultimately, it shows how God providentially kept His promise to preserve the Jewish people (Jeremiah 31:35-37) despite numerous attempts to destroy them. Satan and Haman almost succeeded in their plan to annihilate the Jews, but God’s providence wins the day.
SUMMARY OF ESTHER
The scene of the Book of Esther is the winter palace at Susa or Shushan. Ahasuerus the king (also known as Xerxes) holds a banquet to display his royal glory, though it could have been a drunken orgy. Vashti the queen refuses to appear and so is deposed. A beauty contest is held to find a new queen. Esther, an orphaned Jewish girl, is chosen to be the Queen of Persia.
An assassination plot is uncovered and foiled by Mordechai and the king’s life is saved.
Meanwhile, Haman is the captain of the princes and desires honour; Mordechai refuses to bow to him. When Haman discovers that he is a Jew, he doesn’t just seek to destroy him – he wants to destroy all Jews. He casts lots (purim) to determine when that day will be and, through deception and bribery tricks Ahasuerus into signing a decree to the Jews destruction 11 months later. The decree is irreversible.
Urged by Mordechai, Queen Esther takes the risk to reveal her Jewishness and plead for the king to save her people. Approaching the king without an invitation can be fatal, but thanks to the ‘Esther fast,’ the Queen makes the approach anyone and the ‘golden sceptre’ is extended to her.
The Queen cleverly invites the king and Haman to 2 banquets. The latter is delighted to be invited, but becomes sullen when he sees Mordechai. So he cannot wait for 11 months and builds 20 meter high gallows to hand him on immediately.
At the same time, the king suffers from insomnia, asks to read the palace records, and discovers Mordechai had not been rewarded for thwarting the earlier assassination plot. He wants Mordechai honoured and gets Haman to fulfil his demand – the the latter’s chagrin.
At the 2nd banquet, Esther reveals Haman’s wicked plot and the king orders him to be hung on the very gallows reserved for Mordechai. The enemy of the Jews is dead.
But what about the irreversible decree to destroy the Jews? The king issues another decree saying that the Jews can defend themselves on the very day given for their destruction. On the appointed day, the Jews defeat their enemies throughout the Persian empire. The next day is a celebration, resulting in the annual Feast of Purim. Esther remains as Queen and Mordechai is promoted to a position second only to the king.
Esther and Mordechai were people of destiny. They came on the scene by divine design so that the Jewish people would be saved. This is the power of divine providence: for such a time as this.
OUTLINE OF ESTHER
Chapter 01: Vashti Deposed
Chapter 02: Esther Becomes Queen
Chapter 03: Haman’s Rise and Evil Decree to Destroy the Jews
Chapter 04: Mourning Over Haman’s Plot
Chapter 05: Esther Intercedes
Chapter 06: Mordechai Belatedly Honoured
Chapter 07: Banquet of Esther and Hanging of Haman
Chapter 08: Ahasuerus’ decree for Jewish self-defense; Vengeance
Chapter 09: Feast of Purim Instituted

Chapter 10: Mordechai Promoted; Epilogue

(Photo of Esther approaching the king, courtesy of blueletterbible.org)
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Signs of the Times: How Should We Respond?

Bible prophecy is a wonderful, God-given blessing to the church and the world. Its benefits are incalculable, including bringing edification, comfort, enlargement to the church. Of course, it is a ‘heads up’ regarding the future.
Yet prophecy is in danger of falling into disrepute through foe and friend alike. Foes seek to ignore, marginalise, or discredit the prophetic word. Prophecy’s ‘friends’ are capable of doing some very unwise things, too. For example, they set the date for Christ’s return. I remember as a 21 year old sitting in church and hearing that a certain high-profile man ‘staked his reputation’ that Jesus would return the very next month! Another man wrote a book called about why Jesus would return that very year. Though the book was from America, it travelled very quickly to Australia (and, no doubt, other parts of the world). Normal ‘Aussie skepticism’ was thrown to the wind as people were stirred up that Jesus might, just might, return that year. One man seemed distressed at the prospect of the Lord’s soon return. ‘I can’t have Jesus return this year … I’m too busy!’
First things first. Friend, when you are ‘too busy’ for Jesus to return to this planet, then you are too busy. Besides, the Lord does not need our permission in order to return.
In recent years, there has been speculation about certain events, implying an apocalyptic outcome. Remember Y2K (1 January 2000)? This was when the calendars on computers would revert to ’00.’ The concern was that the computer would think it was ‘1900’ rather than ‘2000’ and it could potentially result in some catastrophic results, electronically and otherwise. Some prophecy buffs were predicting the worse. The date came and went and was much ado about nothing (of course, there is the possibility that governments and industry fixed the problem just in time and averted disaster).
Then there was the Mayan Calendar of 2012, the blood red moons of 2015, and a total eclipse in 2017. In everyone of these cases, people were saying that there were profound prophetic implications, even the second coming of Christ or the end of the world. These pronouncements caused a great stir and even anxiety among many.
Yet when the appointed time came, nothing happened. Was there a retraction? An apology? To my knowledge, the answer was ‘No.’
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
In an age where deception and delusion are increasing in record levels, we desperately need the gift of discernment. It will help you separate wheat from the chaff and keep you from being led astray. Time, money, resource, and emotions are unwisely spent. Discernment is something you cultivate. It comes by cleaving to God’s truth, knowing His Word, and being filled by the Holy Spirit. Some other pointers to keep in mind.
1.    Be open-minded but not gullible: In Proverbs 14:15 it says The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. While we should listen respectfully, discernment decrees that we prove all things and hold fast to what is good (I Thessalonians 5:21).
2.    Scriptural literacy: Know God’s word. Like good Berean Christians, search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11). Take the whole context of Scripture. For example, blood red moons (often orange) are not a sign by themselves. They are a package deal, along with darkened sun (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12) and falling stars. Don’t settle for ala carte – take the whole menu.
3.    Pray: Nothing empowers a person more than prayer, particularly prayer in the Spirit (Jude 20). Prayer will also help give you direction and discernment when you need it most.
4.    Credible sources: Don’t just believe anything you see on the internet, secular or even from Christian sources. Not all information is created equal and it is important to weigh all the evidence. In my formal education, I learned to rely on primary sources first and then secondary. Likewise, consider the quality of the source of information before adopting a course of action. Remember, no one is infallible except God. Even experts can get it wrong on occasion. So be discerning.

5.    Don’t be manipulated: Often times, star-gazers and prognosticators want to manipulate people to be fearful or to buy something to make things better. Whenever a source tells you to take a course of action based on fear, gullibility, or incentive to buy – don’t fall for it. God does not give us a Spirit of fear but of power, love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). Say ‘No’ to manipulation and ‘Yes’ to the control and infilling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Paul’s Secret to Changing the World Part 04

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus — Philippians 3:12 (KJV)

He is one of the most impactful individuals who ever walked this planet. Two millennia after he lived, his legacy continues to grow exponentially. It would be hard to over-estimate the impact he has had on humanity.
The man in focus is none other than the Apostle Paul. Tireless church planter, apostolic father figure, and (human) author of half the New Testament, he leaves an example worthy of emulation. The secret of his world-changing success is found in the third chapter of Philippians.
So far, we have learned:
Principle One: Grace brings world-change;
Principle Two: Righteousness brings world-change – when you change into the righteous image of Christ, you are then empowered to be an agent of change to the world.
Principle Three: Knowing Christ. Christ is such a powerful, singular figure that knowing Him brings empowerment in return.
In this article, we will focus on Principle Four, which is found in the above-verse.
Katalambano –
It was enough to take your breath away.
During a trip to the USA my family and I chose to ride on the appropriately named roller coaster called ‘California Screaming,’ which is part of the California Adventure, right next to the Disneyland complex in Anaheim, California USA. Some parts of the ride go several stories upwards and, within meters, several stories downward. There is a least one part of the track that is a ‘corkscrew.’
While the car on the roller coaster was stationary, we sat calmly and peacefully. But when it began to move, it shot forth like a bolt out of the blue. Not only did it speed at 300 kph but it quickly ascended  the ramp. Then, like lightning, it started to roll around bends and curves at frightful speeds. Not only did the women scream with gusto, but so did the men. With our stomachs in our throats, it seemed like the experience was everlasting. Truth is, the whole thing lasted less than two minutes.
Question: When you go through such an experience, what do you do with you hands?
Answer: Take hold of the safety bar until your knuckles turn white! This ‘taking hold’ or ‘apprehending’ is exactly what you do when you want to change the world!
Paul was a gifted man with impeccable credentials. He was born of the stock of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a student of the respected rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee, and blameless in keeping the law. He spoke several languages, had a good profession, and carried Roman citizenship.
Question: Which of these traits helped him to change the world?
Answer: None of the above
He says, Philippians 3:7-8
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss ….
Amazingly, in order to gain success in Christ, Paul had to lose everything. Not just the bad, derelict, sinful, unregenerate things, but also the good, valuable, and profitable things. Paul had to lose everything … the good, bad, and ugly … in order to gain Christ and change the world.
Like the terrified rider on the California Screaming roller coaster, Paul’s secret of changing the world is disarmingly the same: learn to let go of everything so that you can take hold of the most important thing. For the rider, it is the safety bar. For the believer, it is Jesus Christ Himself and His plan for your life..
In Philippians 3:12, the word for ‘apprehend’ is also called katalambano(Greek), which means ‘to lay hold, to possess, to seize, overtake, attain, come upon, comprehend, perceive, find, to appropriate, to obtain the prize.’ It is what a policeman does when captures a criminal.
Everybody is holding on to something: it can be a relationship, material possession, money, thought-patterns, attitudes (good, bad, and ugly) and so on. Our grip can often be tighter than a crab’s claw.
World-change comes when we learn to let go of everything so we are ‘hands-free’ to take hold of Christ and His purpose for our lives. That’s exactly what Paul did – he counted all things, including the ‘good things,’ as dung, that he may lay hold of Christ and win the prize.
TO BE CONTINUED
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

A Burdensome Stone: Jerusalem and the Last Days Part 04

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it — Zechariah 12:2-3
In the first two parts, we covered the history of Jerusalem from its earliest days 4,000 years ago until the year 2000 AD. David 3000 years ago captured Jerusalem and made it his royal city and God’s holy city. The ark of the covenant and eventually Solomon’s temple resided here. A 1,000 years later Jesus of Nazareth, son of David, was enthusiastically received by the city on His triumphal entry. Yet within a week He had been betrayed, rejected, and crucified. Victoriously, Jerusalem was the site of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. It was here that the Christian Church was born and from its walls the gospel of Christ spread throughout the world.
Since the destruction of the city by Rome in AD 70, Jerusalem had a series of foreign rulers (Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Arab, Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, British and Jordanian). Then in June 1967, with Israel’s conquest of the Old City, Jerusalem returned to Jewish sovereignty for the first time in 1,900 years. Yet Israel annexation of the city did nothing to stop of dispute over Jerusalem’s ownership. This is called ‘The Jerusalem Question’ and we looked at it in Part 03. Once Jerusalem was put on the negotiating table in the year 2000 Camp David negotiations, it could not be taken off.
Cup of Trembling & Burdensome Stone
Zechariah prophesied that in the last days Jerusalem would become a ‘cup of trembling’ for the neighbouring nations (Zechariah 12:2). Anyone who drinks from this cup becomes senseless. There’s more: Verse 3 says Jerusalem will be a ‘burdensome stone’ for all people. Anyone who burdens themselves with it will be cut into pieces, despite the fact that all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. The implication is that those who meddle with Jerusalem are inviting injury and defeat.
Why does Jerusalem attract an inordinate amount of international attention? The reasons are not political but theological and spiritual. Jerusalem is not merely ‘David’s city;’ Jerusalem is the city where Almighty God Himself has placed His name (I Kings 11:36; II Kings 21:4, 7; 23:27; II Chronicles 6:6; 33:4, 7). Furthermore, the promise of the Davidic Covenant, that David would have a son and heir to sit on his throne forever, is also stirring up the nations (Psalm 2:1). David’s throne is in Jerusalem. This link to the Son of David and throne of David is why Jerusalem is called ‘City of the Great King’ (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35). Revelation 21-22 describe the New Jerusalem as our eternal home. No wonder the forces of darkness are working overtime to thwart Jerusalem’s divine destiny. They will fail, of course, but that doesn’t stop them trying.
Will the issue of Jerusalem and its ownership morph from mere international concern to international conflict? Will the nations of the world actually go to war against Jerusalem?

The Scorecard
Consider the following:
1.      UN Resolutions: Jerusalem has been the subject of 57 resolutions from 1947 to 2006;
2.      Foreign Embassies in Tel Aviv: All countries who have diplomatic relations with Israel refuse to accord de jure recognition of Jerusalem as capital to the Jewish state. Foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv, 64 kilometres (40 miles) away;
3.      ‘Jerusalem is Not Negotiable:’ After Israel captured and annexed the Old City in June 1967, it declared ‘Jerusalem Is Not Negotiable,’ meaning it would remain a united city under Israeli sovereignty and this would not be up for discussion in peace negotiations. This position lasted until 2000 when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Palestine Authority President Yasser Arafat most of the West Bank and part of Jerusalem for a future Palestinian state. Though Arafat rejected Barak’s offer, the ‘genie’ of a negotiable, divisible Jerusalem never returned to the bottle – it has remained on the table ever since;
4.      The Prime Minister of Israel: The PM, who is based in Jerusalem, is the most visited political in the world after the President of the United States;
5.      UNESCO Resolution October 2016: It refused to recognise the importance of the Western Wall and Temple Mount, known to the Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, to the Jewish people. It is as if the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque were the only shrines to ever exist there. Note: UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres did make conciliatory remarks to Israel; the latter affirming there was a Jewish temple on the mount. Both the United States and Israel have withdrawn from UNESCO because of this perceived bias;
6.      UN Resolution 2334 December 23, 2016:Led by New Zealand, Senegal, and Malaysia, the Security Council passed this resolution saying all territory not in Israel’s hands on 4 June 1967 (the day before the outbreak of the Six Day War), including the Old City, is ‘occupied Palestinian territory.’ That includes the Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, and Mount of Olives Jewish cemetery. The Obama Administration abstained.
7.      Famous funerals: When former Israeli President Shimon Peres died in 2016, 70 nations were represented at his funeral. The same with the funeral of slain PM Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.
8.      Paris Peace Conference January 2017:70 countries came to discuss the fate of Israel, Palestine, and Jerusalem – 70 countries!
Yes, the world cares about Jerusalem and one day it will turn to conflict.
What’s All the Fuss?
Despite the furious opposition of the nations, the status of the holy city will be determined from heaven. According to Zechariah 14:3-4, the nations will fail and the Messiah’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. When that happens, it means ‘game over.’ The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of His Lord and Christ (Revelation 11:15). Jerusalem will be His capital.
This is a day worth looking forward to.

Zechariah’s scenario is quickly coming into focus. That is why people of faith are called to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ (Psalm 122:6).
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Culture War Part 01: Introduction

No sooner had the votes been counted and the winner announced than all hell broke loose. The date was November 8, 2016, and Donald Trump won an upset victory for the Presidency of the United States over front-runner Hillary Clinton. Violent protests broke out in Portland, Oregon and elsewhere; Trump supporters were viciously attacked; calls for ‘impeachment’ and ‘resistance’ were heard across the country, and ‘sanctuary cities’ pledged defiance against the new administration’s immigration policies. Stephen Scalise, House Republican Whip, was shot and nearly killed by a disgruntled Bernie Sander’s supporter.
What’s going on?
The best explanation is that we are experiencing an intensification of what is called the great cultural civil war, the most strident and divisive social conflict since the American civil war of the 1860s. Donald Trump’s election did not cause the conflict – it was more like poking a stick into an already agitated hornet’s nest – but it accentuated a trend that has been happening for decades.
The term ‘culture war’ was coined in the 1991 book Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America by James Davison Hunter, the year before the election of Bill Clinton as US President. On one side are the left-wing ‘progressives’ (sometimes referred to as ‘liberals,’ but best to stick with ‘progressive’) versus conservatives or traditional values conservatives (don’t confuse them with professed conservatives who support smaller government and capitalism but are libertarian in their moral views).
‘Progressives’ include the American Democratic party, Australia’s ALP, the Greens, yes, even some from the Liberal Party like Malcolm Turnbull, mainstream media (including Time Magazine, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and Australia’s ABC & SBS), academia, Hollywood, and, to some extent, the judiciary. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Nancy Pelosi, are some notable progressives. Millennials who want ‘safe-space,’ ‘triggered,’ ‘social justice warriors’ and are easily ‘triggered’ are the vanguard of progressivism.
Traditional-values ‘Conservatives’ include some in the American Republican party, some in the Australian Liberal party, some of the minor political parties in Australia (definitely not the Sex Party), some in Fox News. America’s Ronald Reagan, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, and commentators like Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity are considered prominent conservatives. In Australia John Howard, Tony Abbott, Barnaby Joyce, Andrew Hastie are conservatives, and also Cory Bernardi who started the Australian Conservative Party. Andrew Bolt is a conservative culture warrior journalist – the most ‘Christian-friendly’ non-Christian journalist in the nation. Let’s not forget a Australian-based Christian culture warrior named Bill Muehlenberg who heads up a blog called ‘Culture Watch’ (https://billmuehlenberg.com).
Key Issues
Some of the key issues at stake in the culture war include:
•    Abortion,
•    Climate change-global warming,
•    Privacy,
•    Homosexuality,
•    Same-sex marriage,
•    Transgenderism,
•    Separation of church and state,
•    Gun laws (a big issue in the United States),
•    An Australian republic,
•    Recreational drug use,
•    Censorship, and
•    Immigration.
Ultimately, what is at stake is nothing less than the survival of western civilisation as we know it. Extreme progressives want to put the west out of business and replace it with a big government, egalitarian, multicultural, globalist utopia (note: the other group that has declared war on the west are the jihadists).
In Australia, the biggest issue in the 1990s was the call for an Australian republic, which led to a failed constitutional referendum in 1999. The so-called ‘debate’ during this time leading up to the referendum, had all the trademarks of the culture war: elitist support, including big business, the Australian media, academia, sports and entertainment industry versus the average Australian. It was a top-down rather than grass roots endeavour. Instead of civil discourse, insults and charges of being ‘un-Australian’ were levelled at those who wanted to retain the status quo. In light of the vitriol we are seeing today, the republic campaign of the 1990s seems tame in comparison.
Earlier manifestations of the culture war began around the time of World War I. There was the rise of Marxism, cultural-marxism, later on the Frankfurt School, the globalist internationalist agenda (one-world government). Political correctness and an overriding narrative also became a factor. Truth and facts were not, under no circumstance, to get in the way of a good story.
The culture war got another big nudge during the 1960s with the advent of the birth control pill, the Port Huron Declaration, sexual revolution, the US Supreme Court banning prayer in public schools, the University of California – Berkley ‘free speech movement,’ the anti-Vietnam war protests that became violent, and the US Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling (1973) which gave American women a constitutional right to an abortion. All these things, and more, laid the groundwork to what we now see today.

While pluralistic, democratic societies can have healthy differences of political philosophy, what makes the ‘culture war’ different is the ‘winner take all,’ ‘leave no prisoners,’ ‘scorched earth’ approach, particularly from the far left. Rational, civil debate has been replaced by screeching, insulting, and intimidating talk – a veritable ‘call of the jackals.’ Social justice warriors don’t want to hear the other side and have resorted to all kinds of tactics, including ‘shout-down, shut-downs’ and violence, to keep people of a different persuasion from speaking on campus or in public. Even legendary feminist icon Germaine Greer has her speeches targeted because she does not embrace the current transgender agenda. Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and parental rights are under threat. Extreme political correctness, and actual violence, are becoming more normal. It looks, smells, and tastes just like a war and is as strident and divisiveness as the American civil war. TO BE CONTINUED.
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: Why Study the Book of Nehemiah

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work — Nehemiah 4:6
The challenges could not be greater. In fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, a minority of the people of Judah chose to leave captivity in Babylon and return to home. The walls of Jerusalem and the temple of God were rebuilt. Yet, they faced much opposition from the neighbours and over time the walls of Jerusalem came into disrepair. The people were greatly discouraged.
Then comes Nehemiah. A Judean who served in the Persian court as the king’s cupbearer, Nehemiah’s rise to leadership was birthed in crisis. When he asked about the welfare of his people back home, he heard most distressing news: The people of Judah are in great affliction and reproach. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates burned with fire.
Crisis can be the womb of opportunity.
Nehemiah rose up to be one of the greatest Hebrew leaders and indeed one of the great leaders of history. Yet he did not come into this position out of personal ambition or some sense of entitlement. Nehemiah’s leadership was birthed out of a burden for his city and people. From this burden, he devised a plan to motivate the people and rebuild the walls.
Sure enough, like the tares popping up with the stocks of wheat, opposition to Nehemiah came from the locals. While this can be annoying and grievous, it can be very strengthening – especially when you partner with God. Nehemiah, in the face of opponents, redoubled his efforts and the walls of the city were completed in a record 52 days.
Nehemiah is a wonderful account how through determination, a purpose, plan, prayer, and perseverance, stunning results of renewal, revival and restoration happen. The role of prayer in Nehemiah is indisputable: 1:4-11; also 2:4; 4:4-5,9; 5:19; 6:9,14;13:14,22,29,31.
HEBREW NAME
The Hebrew name of Nehemiah is ne-hem-yah, meaning ‘the comfort of Yahweh.’
AUTHOR
The book begins with the phrase ‘the words of Nehemiah’ (1:1). This means that Nehemiah is the author and this book is his memoir.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Just as Nehemiah repaired the broken down walls of Jerusalem, so Jesus Christ is the one who repairs the breach in our lives caused by sin and shame.
THEME OF NEHEMIAH
Sound, God-ordained leadership helped to bring the physical and spiritual restoration of the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.
KEY VERSES IN NEHEMIAH
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God (6:15-16).
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understanding the reading (8:8).
SUMMARY OF NEHEMIAH
Ezra was the priest, Nehemiah the governor. Ezra was the cleric and Nehemiah the secular leader. Ezra brought reformation and Nehemiah reconstruction. Ezra came in the second return out of Babylon and Nehemiah the third.
The events of the story happen in the reign of Persian King Artaxerxesx I (464-423 BC). After hearing of the deplorable state of the people and the city of Judah, Nehemiah appeals to the king to grant him leave to rebuild the walls. After exploring the city in his famous ‘night journey,’ Nehemiah utters the command ‘Rise and build’ (2:18).
The opposition to Nehemiah was not slow in coming: first in the form of mockery and then a conspiracy to hinder. He outwits and outworks them all. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in record time due to the help of God (6:16).
There is more. Nehemiah wants to rebuild the people of Judah, which will prove to be more challenging that the stone-heavy walls of Jerusalem. Through Ezra the priest, a marathon Bible reading commences. People respond with tears, rejoicing, confession and commitment to obey. There is nothing like the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to build people up. The priests and Levites led people in prayer: a person of prayer is a person of power.
After a departure of several years, Nehemiah came back to Judah to clean house. He restored sabbath observance, cleansed the temple, and made the Judeans divorce their foreign wives
And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.— Nehemiah 13:25
These may have seemed like extreme measures but it worked – reformation and restoration came to Judah, preparing the holy city for the coming of the Messiah 500 years later.
OUTLINE OF NEHEMIAH
I.         Walls of Jerusalem Rebuilt(1:1-7:73)
a.        Preparation to Reconstruct the Wall (1:1-2:20)
1.       Burden & Intercession of Nehemiah (1)
2. Nehemiah’s Night Journey in Jerusalem (2)
b.  The Reconstruction of the Wall (3:1-7:73)
1.        Record of Builders (3)
2. Opposition to Reconstruction (4:1-6:14)
a. Mocking, threats, discouragement (4)
b. Extortion Neh Ex. (5)
c. Compromise, treachery, slander (6)
Completion of Reconstruction
3. Registration  of Jerusalem (7)
II. People of Judah Revived (8:1-13:31)
a.       Covenant Renewed (8:1-10:39)
1.       Reading of the Law (8)
2. Renewal of the Covenant (9,10)
b.  Obedience to the Covenant 11:1-13:31
1. People resettled (11)
2.  Wall rededicated (12:27-47)

3.  People of Judah restored(13:1-31)

(Photo courtesy of blueletterbible.org)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Paul’s Secret to Changing the World Part 03

Ambition: It is a bane and it is a blessing. When it is ambition for personal advancement, especially where the ‘means justifies the end,’ then it can be harmful to the ambitious one and others. Yet, when ambition is directed towards a greater good, everyone benefits. As the adage says:
When you see someone reaching for authority, avoid him. He will hurt you.
When you see someone reaching for responsibility, embrace him. He will bless you.
The latter clearly applies to the apostle Paul. He was so single-minded in his devotion for God, sold out to fulfilling his call with joy (Acts 20), fighting the good fight of faith and winning the prize, that the entire world has been blessed for centuries because of him.
He is one of the most influential people who ever lived; a man who changed the world. How did he do it?
In our first part, we learned Principle One – Grace: Don’t let your natural gifts get in the way of God’s grace. Be willing to surrender them all to God in order to live by grace and truth (John 1:14,17).
Principle Two – Righteousness: Be found in Christ having His righteousness, not your own, in your life. Matthew 5:20is a warning from Jesus you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Considering they were very righteous by human standards, this could have disheartening for Jesus’ hearers. Yet, as we learn in Philippians 3:9, when you have Christ’s righteousness dwelling in your heart by faith, you can know ‘kingdom living.’
With these two things in mind, let’s look at the third principle of have to change the world:
Principle Three – Knowing Christ
The basis of this is found in Philippians 3:10-11, where Paul writes: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Frankly, this comes across as a two-edged sword. The notion of ‘knowing Christ’ is indeed wonderful, yet this same the Son of David, Son of God, Messiah, Saviour and King, also is One who suffered and did so unspeakably for our sins. To know the One Who conquered sin, destroyed the works of the devil, triumphed over principalities and powers, and lives forevermore, is essential for being an agent of change in the world.
To know Him includes, among other things:
1.     Understanding that His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matthew 11:30);
2.     He has overcome the world (John 16:33);
3.     He is meek and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29);
4.     The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13);
5.     He is high above all principality, power, might, dominion and every name that is named (Ephesians 1:21);
6.     He is the king of glory (Psalm 24:8,10);
7.     Ever gentle: a bruised reed he will not break and a smoking flax he will not quench (Matthew 12:20);
8.     All authority is given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
There is even more than what is described here. It takes a lifetime, even an eternity, to get to know the One who saves the soul (John 17:3). Yet within all this is the fellowship of His sufferings; definitely not a topic you can expect to hear from most pulpits.
‘Fellowship of His Suffering’
In considering this Biblical phrase, remember that we are in a fallen world and until Christ returns, suffering happens to the unrighteous and the righteous. Yet, there is a silver lining. Suffering brings purity – the psalmist said that before he was afflicted, he went astray, but now – thanks to affliction – he takes heed to God’s Word (Psalm 119:67). Suffering helps us identify with Christ and others; we can be empathetic because we have stood in that place (II Corinthians 1:4-6).
During one of our holy land trips my luggage and that of half of the pilgrims was held up and we did not see them again for 5 days. People were amazingly distraught at being separated from their possessions, even for a day. It was good that I, too, awaited my luggage, otherwise I would have been told ‘You don’t understand!’That fact is I did understand because my bags were held up like the others.
Suffering is also like growing pains; it shows that we are headed for enlargement. The psalmist says that God enlarged Him when he was in distress (Psalm 4:1). This suffering that Paul writes about speaks of being made conformable to Christ’s death. Again, this is a topic that is avoided, but remember it is fundamental to victorious Christian living. As Christ died for us, we die in Him (Romans 6). As Christ rose, we rise in Him. No death, no resurrection power – it is a simple as that.
Power of His Resurrection
This is also a key to victory and world change. Death represents the ultimate of weakness. I often say that the weakest living person is mightier than the strongest dead person. Death means weakness. Resurrection represents the ultimate of power over the ultimate weakness. It takes power to raise the dead and that power comes from God. The same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will quicken your mortal body and eventually trade it in for a glorified body that can never ever die. That’s power in action.
If Philippians 3:9-10 still seems to be a bit much, always remember that you are not walking this pathway alone – you are walking with God. His grace and truth will enable, equip, and edify you. You are also walking in the fellowship of the saints, who are going through the same situation.
So if we are going to be an agent of world-change, remember that knowing Christ in all His fulness is an indispensable key. TO BE CONTINUED.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

NORTH KOREA: What Is At Stake?

It is not unusual for North Korea to be in the news. This highly-armed Stalinist state rattles the sabres from time to time. There are warnings, sanctions, negotiations, and then things go quiet.
Yet the current crisis is different – and more dangerous – than anything we have seen before. It has been said, with reason, that the stand-off with North Korea is the biggest confrontation since US President John F. Kennedy faced off Nikita Krushchev of the Soviet Union in the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis. This was probably the largest and most dangerous incident in the entire Cold War.
As a refresher, the Soviet Union placed nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba, which is only 140 kilometres off the US coast. This was simply too close for comfort. President Kennedy solemnly warned that if the missiles were not removed, America would invade Cuba. For 13 days the world held its breath. It was the closest thing we have seen of Armageddon in living memory. Being a rational player, the Soviets negotiated a face-saving solution: America promised not to invade Cuba, the Soviets would take its missiles and America removed its missiles from Turkey, a Soviet neighbour. The crisis came to a peaceful end.
So why is this crisis different than the others?
Long-ranged missiles: First, North Korea is more advanced in her nuclear weapons program. She has bombs and is working tirelessly to make more. In addition, North Korea is developing long-range missiles which can deliver a nuclear bomb. It is one thing to have short-ranged missiles that can target South Korea or Japan. Yet it is another to have missiles that can reach Guam, Alaska, possibly the US mainland and even Darwin, Australia. The risk of a rogue state having that kind of capability is simply too much to bear.
The Trump factor: Second, the United States under President Donald Trump is taking a whole new approach. Instead of practicing ‘strategic patience,’ as earlier administrations have done, Trump says the time of patience is over. He has spoken of the possibility of military action, even pre-emptively, if necessary, to stop North Korea from advancing its nuclear and missile program.
ANZUS: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has invoked the ANZUS Treaty, with the support of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Formed in the 1950s, ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, and the US) means that if one ally is attacked, the others will come to its defence. The only other time ANZUS was triggered was in 2001 by former Prime Minister John Howard just after the September 11th terrorist attacks. This means that if America goes to war, Australia goes with it.
China: To add to the mix, China has weighed into the fray. As a neighbour to North Korea, they have a great stake in stability. Yet they have given this warning: if North Korea attacks the United States, they will remain neutral. If America attacks first, they will stop them. Let’s not forget that during the Korean War of 1950, that Mao Zedong sent Chinese troops to North Korea. They like having a buffer state and do not want North Korean refugees flooding its border.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has said he will retaliate with fire and fury if he is attacked. There is no reason to doubt his threats. He is also armed to the teeth and can cause much damage to countries, near and far.
So what can be done? Negotiations are always the best option. Yet this is not easy, considering that the US does not have diplomatic relations with the North and South Korea is not even on speaking terms with its neighbour. A second option are sanctions, which are already in place. These methods may work and no blood will be spilled in the process. The military option needs to be available but as a very, very, very last resort – when no other way will work. The threat of a massive military response sometimes is the only language a dictator will understand, especially since the goal of North Korea is ‘regime-survival.’
Prayer power: Yet, as has been pointed out in an earlier article, believers have a powerful weapon the world knows little about: faith and prayer. South Korea has become up to one-third Christian in just a couple of generations. The Korean church is growing; indeed, some of the largest churches in the world are found there. It is also a praying church. Dozens of ‘prayer mountains’ dot the landscape. People take their 2 week annual leave to pray and fast at a prayer mountain. Consider this: Despite the highly-armed, bellicose, and belligerent nature of the North Korean regime, there has not been armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula since 1953. How is this possible? It should be obvious. The prayer of the saints makes a massive difference.
What is at stake in the North Korean crisis? Either a peaceful resolution or chaos. Never underestimate the power of prayer. As The Weekend Australian said in a editorial: for those Australians who believe in the power a prayer, now is the time to get busy.

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Seven Pillars to Understanding the Future: Final Pillar Number Seven

In this important series we have been learning the pillars that help us to make sense of the future. When you understand the future, we are better prepared to face it. So far, the pillars we learned include:
Pillar 01: Bible Prophecy is the key;
Pillar 02: We live in a spiritual world and the challenges, problems and solutions are equally spiritual;
Pillar 03: We have power and victory over the enemy;
Pillar 04: We are called to fearlessness;
Pillar 05: We are simultaneously ‘dead’ and ‘alive;’
Pillar 06: God provides a way of escape.
To these we add the seventh and final pillar. It is well described in Proverbs 4:18-19:
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
In short, Pillar 07 can be summarised as this: Your God-given future is bright. This is very true, however, the converse is also correct: A future without the living God is wicked, dark, and full of offences that will make one stumble.
Ever notice how our mood is affected by weather. When the day is overcast, cold, and dark, it projects a sullen effect. When the day is bright and sunny, we respond with a open heart and uplifted countenance. In the United States, during the short, cold winter days, some people spend the season in the ‘sun belt’ like Arizona and Florida. Yet in the summer, these states become hot spots so the same people stay in the north. We cannot change the weather but we can change our location.
Regarding the seventh and final pillar, there are some important things to to understand:
DECISION
What is notable is that we actually have a choice of which future we want to embrace. Stay in default mode and you automatically gravitate towards way of the wicked, which is darkness. Make a decision to embrace wisdom, understanding, knowledge and prudence – qualities advocated by the Book of Proverbs – and you will be steered to the well-lit path of the just.
A NARROW PATHWAY.
The path of the just is a bright, lit pathway. It is also very narrow. We are told in Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV):
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
You will not necessarily be walking with the multitudes when you choose the path of the just. Yet you will have some choice company.
LIGHT ON THE PATHWAY COMES FROM GOD HIMSELF
The source of all light, life, and love, comes from Almighty God Himself. All His ways are just, holy, gracious, and true. A decision to walk on the ‘path of the just’ is essentially a decision to walk with God and God alone. Endeavouring to walk with God while trying to remain in the world brings all kinds of undesirable consequences. The Lord will not share His glory with anyone else and demands our complete attention, submission and cooperation.
OBEDIENCE
It is impossible to come and remain in God’s light while living in disobedience. God’s simple and just commands are to be obeyed, not merely acknowledged, and with that obedience comes light. In Isaiah 60:1-2, we are told to ‘rise and shine,’ The reason is the light has come and God’s glory is rising. Obedience brings us into every increasing light; disobedience leads us into gross darkness.
This theme of obedience is also enunciated in II Peter 1:19. Since we through Christ have been given a more sure word of prophecy, we would be well advised to heed this prophetic word. Why? It is a light that shines in a dark place. Indeed, the prophetic word is the brightest light we have in this planet until Jesus, the light of the world, comes.
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Obedience requires us to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light (Romans 13:12). God commands us to awake from sleep and rise from the dead so that Christ can give us life (Ephesians 5:14).
I John 1:5 tells us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. Like the sun gives light to the earth and moon, God gives His light to those who follow him. So we can and should reflect His light and that becomes possible by being on the path of the just.

Future-friendly living is to live in obedience to God’s commands. Enter the path of the just: you will never lack God’s light, you will be future-ready, and you will never look back at past darkness. Guaranteed.
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

JERUSALEM: A Burdensome Stone – Part 03

Zechariah calls Jerusalem ‘a burdensome stone for all people.’ Whoever messes with it will be cut in pieces, even though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it (Zechariah 12:3). Could the whole world be obsessed with the holy city to the point of global conflict? Judging by the amount of international attention this city already receives – plus the uptake in violence – and you have a plausible scenario.
In Part 01 of this series, we learned that Jerusalem is the Number One foreign policy issue and will get increasingly more global attention in the days ahead. We also reviewed Jerusalem’s history from the time of its founding 4,000 years ago until the time of Christ. In Part 02, we reviewed Jerusalem’s history from the end of the Biblical period until today.
In this article, we will look at what is called ‘The Jerusalem Question.’
2017 ANNIVERSARY YEAR
Among other things, the year 2017 will be remembered as the ‘anniversary year.’ It is the year of the 500th Anniversary (1517) of the Protestant Reformation, where the ‘just shall live by his faith’ and the Bible was recognised as the sole and highest authority regarding faith and practice. It is the 120th Anniversary (1897) of the 1st Zionist Congress of Basle, Switzerland, convened by Theodor Herzl. 2017 is the 70th Anniversary (1947) of the UN Partition resolution, dividing British Mandatory Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. June 2017 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War and Israel’s capture of the Old City, the first time it has been under Jewish sovereignty for nearly 1,900 years.
In 2017 are 3 centenaries (1917) worth noting:
1.       Allied victory in Beersheba (October 31st)  : With the help of the Australian Light-Horsemen, the town of Beersheba fell the Allies. This was be beginning of the end of 400 year of Ottoman Turkish rule, leading to the British Mandate of Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel.
2.       Balfour Declaration (November 2nd): Lord Arthur Balfour, British Foreign Minister, issued a letter to Lord Rothschild stating that His Majesty’s Government viewed with favour the creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine. Now the fledgling Zionist movement had the backing of the British Empire. Eventually, this declaration was incorporated into the League of Nations authorised British Mandate in Palestine.
3.       Fall of Jerusalem: British General Edmund Allenby captured Turkish Jerusalem in December 1917.
(NOTE: 2017 is also the centenary of the February and October 1917 Russian Revolution and the birth of US President John F. Kennedy in May).
It is from this point that we begin to explore the Jerusalem question. For exactly 400 years, from 1517-1917, Jerusalem was under Ottoman Turkish rule. Turkey was the last internationally recognised legal owner of the holy city. From the time of the British conquest of December 1917 until now, however, the ownership of Jerusalem has been in dispute. Hence, we have the ‘Jerusalem Question.’
Remember, this question is not merely limited to Israelis and the Palestinians Arabs. Due to its location, history, and heritage, some major countries and organisations also claim a stake in Jerusalem. It was during the 19th Century that great powers established a presence in the holy city, usually by consulates, colonies and compounds. There was the German Colony, the American Colony, the Russian Compound (complete with hospice, hospital, and cathedral), French and British quarters as well.
Today, the following parties are involved in the Jerusalem Question, including: Israel, Palestinian Authority, the Arab League, the Vatican, the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, the United States, the Orthodox Church, the Muslim world through the Arab League and OIC. All these have their ‘fingers in the Jerusalem pie’ and all hold a veto. No wonder that over the last century, the 60 plus proposals of what to do with Jerusalem have failed to materialise because of the objections of one or more of these parties.
Jerusalem Tug-O-War
In the last century, apart from the Jerusalem Question, comes the actual situation on the ground. Here’s the history:
British Rule (1917-1948): During most of this period, Britain had a mandate in Palestine. This means they were internationally authorised to occupy the country and prepare the inhabitants for eventual independence. Initially, independence was to be given to the Jewish state but consistent Arab protests caused second thoughts. The British White Paper of 1939 was considered a repudiation of the mandate. Eventually, after the Second World War, Britain handed the problem of Palestine to the newly-formed United Nations in February 1947, who was authorised to determine its fate. The results was the UN Partition Resolution 181 of November 1947, dividing Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state and consigning Jerusalem to an international regime to be administered by the UN
Divided City (1948-1967): While the Jews accepted the partition resolution, the Arabs rejected it out of hand. Jerusalem and Palestine’s fate was determined on the battle field. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War resulted in Israel gaining additional territory, including West Jerusalem; Egypt captured Gaza; Jordan the West Bank and East Jerusalem. When the UN asked Israel and Jordan to hand over their respective sectors to UN custody, they refused. Their argument: when Jerusalem was under siege, the UN was no where to be found. We defended it with our blood and now we will keep it!
Israeli Rule (1967-Present): In June 1967, Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem and the eastern sector, which it annexed 3 weeks later. Though Israel has repeatedly affirmed that Jerusalem is its ‘eternal, indivisible capital’ and not subject to negotiations, Jerusalem still remains ‘on the table.’
Crux of the Matter
While the municipal boundaries of modern Jerusalem are large, the ‘real, original’ Jerusalem is the Old City. The 16th Century Turkish walls of Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent defined the city. Only in the 19th century did anyone live outside the walls. Thus the status of the Old City is the heart of the matter.
But it goes even further. There is 14 hectares of sacred space, known in Arabic as al haram al sharif and in English as the Temple Mount. No piece of real estate on earth commands so much attention. If the Old City is the body, the Temple Mount is the heart. Today, as it has been for much of the last 1,400 years, it has been under Muslim control, where the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque are housed. Yet the mount is considered the traditional site of the Jewish temples of Solomon and Herod. If ever there was a flashpoint, it would be the Temple Mount. Many times in its history, it has been the epicentre of unrest and riots; even the apostle Paul caused a riot by his very presence there (Acts 21).

The Jerusalem question dominates the world diplomatic agenda and the Old City and Temple Mount are the core. If you can solve these, we will have peace. But as one person aptly put it: ‘Jerusalem is a stick of dynamite and the Temple Mount is the fuse’ —TO BE CONTINUED