The original books of the Bible were written in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament). Parts of the books of Daniel and the Gospel of Matthew might have been originally written in Aramaic.

Many translations have been made over the years. In the early days of Christianity the Hebrew Old Testament was usually read in a Greek translation (the so-called Septuagint). As the church spread, the need for translations grew, taking the sacred text into widely accepted languages as well as local tongues. The Bible was soon translated into Latin (the language of the Roman Empire), Syriac (an Eastern Aramaic language), Coptic (Egyptian), and Arabic. By 500 AD, some estimate, scripture could already be found in more than 500 languages.

Unfortunately, translations were not always accurate and errors were made. For this reason – and also because they did not want “ordinary” people to be able to read the Bible – the (Roman) Catholic Church banned any further translations and used only a particular Latin text known as the Vulgate, which had been translated from the Greek around 600 AD. In the 1380s the first English translations were made by John Wycliffe. By 1455 the printing press was invented (Gutenberg), and mass-production capabilities made additional English versions and other language translations more readily available.

Hundreds of translations into English (estimated around 450) have been made over the years. Some of the best known are: the King James (KJV, 1611), the New International Version (NIV, 1978), the New King James (NKJV, 1982), the New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1971) and the English Standard Version (ESV, 2001). This large number of translations is usually grouped into three main categories:

Literal translations: These translate the original texts word for word into the best English equivalent words. These translations are sometimes also referred to as interlinear translations, placing the English rendering along side the original Hebrew and Greek. Although they are undoubtedly the most accurate translations, they can be difficult to read because the flow of language follows the original Hebrew and Greek, quite different from modern English. The NASB as well as the ESV are good examples of literal translations.

Dynamic equivalent translations: These translations attempt to be as literal as possible, but restructure sentences and grammar from the original language to English. They attempt to capture thought and intent of what writers wanted to say. As a result, these are more readable in English, but have a higher degree of subjective interpretation than the literal translations. These translations include the KJV, NKJV, and NIV.

Contemporary language translations: These translation paraphrase the thought and intent of the original text into contemporary English. The result is easy to read, but the text is largely a subjective interpretation of the translator. These versions, such as the well known The Message and The New Living Translation, should be approached with great care. Use them perhaps for supplementary readings, but be aware that these texts can (and often do) differ significantly from the original Bible texts.

Every translation requires interpretation. Why? Because languages do not translate one on one. That is, not every word has a unique word to match it in the other language. Also some tongues are richer in expression than English (such as Greek) or smaller in vocabulary (such as Hebrew). A translator must interpret the original meaning and find an equivalent wording, but this makes the result subject to the biases of the translator. Bottom line: interpretations differ and errors can occur. When translations differ significantly, research into the original language can help clarify the message.

To complicate things a bit, a small number of NT verses are not supported by all ancient manuscripts; this forces translators to decide which verses to incorporate. Most translators are cautious to err on the safe side and note for the reader any verse not supported by the majority of manuscripts.

As an illustration, let’s look at the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 in the New International Version and the King James Version:

The Lord’s prayer in the King James:

“After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’”

Now read the Lord’s prayer in the NIV:

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Apart from “old” English versus more modern English style, notice the two differences in the last verse:

“The evil one” versus “evil.” The KJV asks for deliverance from “evil” while the NIV asks to deliver us from “the evil one.” There is a significant difference between the two. The original Greek text actually uses an adjective with an article, making “the evil one” the only correct translation. When we pray we ask to be delivered from the evil one, not from any danger, disaster, or from the general evil of the world.

An extra sentence. Compared to the NIV, the KJV has an extra sentence at the end: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.” This is a good illustration of a later addition to the oldest preserved Greek manuscripts. As the NIV mentions in a footnote: “some late manuscripts: for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Other verses in the NT have similar additions. None of these are of vital theological consequence, but it is important to be aware of these variations. Therefore the differences between the various English translations are not the result of differences in the extant (still in existence) ancient manuscripts, but merely the result of choices (and sometimes errors) made by the translators during the translation to English.
About the Author:

Coal and Crude:

Some of the massive, colossal graveyards found all over the global did not suffer just a swift burial of plant debris and animal carcasses. Many, buried at a greater depth, were beneficiaries of humongous compression and great pressures and temperatures coupled with other “proper” conditions, including de-oxidation, which led to the vast coal, natural gas and oil fields of our day. Plants account for the coal beds; animals formed the oil fields (ordinarily). This again re-emphasizes the shear magnitude of the amount of vegetation on this planet before the flood, and the number of animals that roamed at the time. A rock hitting the earth could not and did not kill that much vegetation, or, all those creatures.

Side Bar

A thin section of coal, viewed under a microscope will reveal “…mass of plant debris, pieces of bark, wood, leaves, cells, spores and algae all floating in a black jelly.” (end of side bar)

“700 trillion tons of vegetation are buried in the world’s coal beds” found in every continent, Antarctica included, along with all of those massive graveyards of bones already mentioned. As with the bone yards, so likewise the evidence shows that graveyards of peat and the several grades of coal were begun as gargantuan depositories, with massive piles of trees, all stacked on top of each other-as if by some great catastrophe (the one to which you rightly appeal, Mr. Loy!)-then covered quickly by an unimaginable tonnage of sedimentary rock, which through enormous compression, squeezed out oxygen and moisture, thereby preventing decomposition, while prompting and promoting a chemical transformation; which in turn left coal in its wake. Similarly, the crude deposits around the world are the byproduct of giant graveyards of animal carcasses buried at a much greater depth, and thereby subjected to much greater pressure and heat than the bone yards. Whatever the depth of either end product, be it coal or crude, the initial pile of debris had to have been many times greater (a 10′ coal seam, may have begun with a pile of dead plants 3 or 4 times higher.). It was this stifling pressure, absent of oxygen and other life gases (hydrogen and carbon), along with heat that set in motion the cogwheels of a chemical transformation that has given us our present day coal (plant debris; almost pure carbon, only 6% hydrogen) and oil preserves (animal fat; 10% to 50% hydrogen). Natural gas and petroleum deposits are, like crude, 10% to 50% hydrogen but, formed almost exclusively from deposits of marine life.

Accounting for the presence of all this debris is absolutely critical. How did it ever come to be? How did all of these mounds of plants and animals ever form? Decomposition and decay factors quite preclude the slightest possibility that all of this animal and plant carnage simply walked to its point of death and/or fell into place over unfathomable periods of time. As shown already, there is no other way these huge, tangled wreckages of jumbled deposits could ever have been formed, world-wide-layers upon layers as they were-apart from a calamitous event such as the Bible’s flood, by means of which every tree and carcass was lifted into place, where they could settle and be buried in limestone, mud, and sand, as the water receded. The neat thin geological layers, free from any hint of trauma, as envisioned by evolutionary doubters and Bible flood-scoffers, simply do not and have not ever existed. They are nothing more than fabrications of over zealous, incredulous minds and, therefore lies.

The process needed to produce this coal and crude did not require vast periods of time (millions of years), as has been suggested by evolutionary geologists.

Conclusion

Thus, my friends, the ill-informed and poorly reasoned assumptions you proffer are soundly and roundly refuted, relative to geology and the practicality of a Bible-based flood. You say or you infer that man’s “fallibility” inherently makes anything he says or writes wrong, or, prone to error. In that the geologist/paleontologist by his own work (and, increasingly by his words) has indeed proven himself wrong, world without end, and the Bible right, explain then how the Bible, having been penned exactly as it states-by men under the inspiration of God-must therefore be wrong! To the degree that his knowledge and work confirms the Bible, shows up and settles your ignorance in the process, explain then as well how you-having spoken so eloquently, albeit, ex-cathedra!-are therefore less subject to the mantle of fallibility than either the Bible writers or the modern geologists and paleontologists!

The biblical flood did occur. The ancient animals, dinosaurs and plants were not destroyed by any supposed meteor strike, nor was there any supposed shortage of food for the super large among the animal kingdom. The earth was in fact teeming with life, as evinced by the presence in our day of bountiful evidences in the form of undeniable, irrefutable grave or bone yards, coal beds, crude/petroleum/natural gas deposits-all scattered all around the world, on all seven continents in staggering numbers, in the same basic strata. All of this ancient life was destroyed by a magnificent flood, per the Bible’s prescription, at the same time, otherwise rot and decay would have prevented the formation of those vast coal, crude, and natural gas preserves.

The Bible in light of modern Archaeology

Now let us consider the Bible from a purely historical point of view (in terms of people), in light of the physical science of modern archaeology. Some say, on highly questionable authority (if on any authority at all), that it is a book of fables, Jewish folk-lore, having no basis historically. If this be true then, would it not negate this assertion (and similar commentary) excerpted and quoted from an otherwise authoritative, highly respected, non-religious, knowledgeable, objective and unbiased news and history reporting-source like the periodical “U. S. News & World Report”? Consider:

· “A wave of archaeological discoveries is altering old ideas about the roots of Christianity and Judaism-and affirming that the Bible is more historically accurate than many scholars thought.”

· “Even on the critics’ own terms-historical fact-the Scriptures seem more acceptable now than they did when the rationalists began the attack.”

Time Magazine, 12/30/74

That said, we could here and now wrap up this segment of discussion and, go home. After all, who among minor league scoffers is even remotely prepared to be at loggerheads with even the least of the researchers, reporters and contributors to the likes of these two magazines (versed as they are in theses geological and archaeological genres as well as the Bible-in which they yet don’t believe either)? Nevertheless, we press on.

It is said that Napolean’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 provided the basis for the official launch of archaeology as we know it. Actual digging did not begin, however, until fifty years later with Botta in 1842 and Layard in 1845, in Mesopotamia. Ira M. Price, in his Monuments and the Old Testament (1899), has written that 100 years prior, there was no other source by which might be known the certainty of the ages past. There was no other representation of the millennial years leading up to the advent of the Greeks and the Romans, apart from the Bible.

On the other hand, archaeology, per R. K. Harrison, paints “…a reasonably precise picture” of all the Bible’s claims. According to one Nelson Gleuck, one of the greatest authorities in Biblical archaeology, “As a matter of fact, however, it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference.” Entire periods of Old Testament history, previously unknown otherwise to generations of scholars, can now be reconstructed, thanks to this scientific study of ancient cultures (all of which then begs the question, in what sense is your feeble “analysis” scientific? Why would any geologist or historian be obliged to take notice of thereof, to say noting of ordering his life and/or work around it?). Hence, far from disproving the Book of books, archaeology (basis and chief cornerstone to all informed and reasoned criticism) has established itself, therefore, as “…the Bible’s best supporting witness”.

Writing and Accuracy

Relative to writing and accuracy-ignoring the criticisms of those of you who wax eloquent against the Bible utterly without basis and with less imagination-we cannot but observe that “…the most dramatic archaeological discoveries are those that completely upset ideas or theories previously thought to be true”; (that is these “ideas or theories” were never greater than commonly held assumptions for which there was no scientific or historical basis and backup to begin with!). Furthermore, archaeology has totally discomfited the imagination of those who were once the pillars of the enlightened, among the Bible’s best informed critics and scoffers. If their fables have been proven to be lies, what then must we conclude with respect to your ill-grounded assertions and foolish assumptions? Some of them readily admit their wrongs, having begun with pick and shovel in one hand, the Bible as their roadmap in the other. They were initially dedicated agnostics and scoffers driven by an unquenchable, passionate determination to bring about and see a reasoned end to the Bible the right way, the sensible way. In the final analysis, when the swinging and shoveling ceased, the dusts of excavation having cleared, they became themselves Christians, their own hands and their work proving and affirming what was once the object of their sore disaffection, at every turn, before their very own eyes, more than it could ever discredit it. What particulars could possibly foment such a change of heart, you ask? Consider:

There are 99 kings mentioned throughout the Bible-even those once controversial, such as certain rulers of the Assyrians. All have been confirmed. There are 1172 places mentioned in the Bible, all confirmed. Of all the people groups mentioned, even the most contentious of them, like the Hittites, have now been established as non-fiction, thanks to the work and contributions of the German archaeologist Winckler. It was he who confirmed the Hittite capital and that people’s entire history, written on something called cuneiform tablets. The Bible and its stories were hereby validated in part, as well as confirmed by a historical narration that conformed to that of Holy Writ. Several universities then went on to expand their curriculum by offering a major in Hititology.

The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the antiquity of the Old Testament writings and their accuracy. For years, so-called “higher criticism” assured the world in no uncertain terms that the Pentateuch could never have been penned by Moses, given that no one could write during that era. That higher critical and error prone thinking was reversed and completely shattered with the discovery of the “Black Stele”, in 1901. Being a stone that contained a detailing of the legal codes of Hammurabi, the Black Stele pre-dated Moses by about 300 years. In the 1960s in northern Syria, the tablets of Ebla of the Ebla Kingdom (which existed about 1000 years before Moses) also proved that writing was commonplace long before Moses’ and the Ten Commandments, the cuneiform tablets of the Sumerians being the earliest known writing. The Tablets of Mari along with the Nuzi Tablets (there is about 4000 of them, dating to 1500-1400 BC) “give corroborating accounts as to the life and customs recorded in the Bible.” In upper Egypt, there is recorded upon the walls of the great temple Karnak, an account of an Egyptian assault in Palestine that corresponds to that of I Kings 14:25 and 26.

In the New Testament, to the dismay of fervent scoffers, that a regular enrollment of taxpayers by Rome was initiated a few years before the birth of the Christ is affirmed by an old inscription known as the Titulus Venetus. An AD 104 Egyptian papyrus confirms the requirement that all were to return to their homelands to partake in the census. The existence of Pontius Pilate and the story surrounding him is affirmed by the 1961 excavation of the city of Caesarea, the Roman capital of Palestine. The Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus lends much weight and credibility in his “Annals” to the gospel accounts, specifically to the reality and torture of Christ leading up to His crucifixion (in addition to expressing his general disdain for all things Christian)-and thus His “historicity”-as well as support for the believability of Pontius Pilate: “Hence, to suppress the rumor, he (Emperor Nero) falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus… suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition thus checked for the moment, again broke out…”. A Latin inscription dug up in Caesarea in 1962 by Italian archaeologists reads, “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea, has presented the Tiberium to the Caesareans.” As an arch-skeptic and scoffer of the Bible (originally), Sir William Ramsey was one of those archaeologists who had little regard for the historicity of the Book of Acts. He later, based upon thorough research dedicated to its destruction, came to regard the book as “…an authority for the topography, antiquities and society of Asia Minor…in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth”, he concluded, “…accurate in its minutest detail”.

Civilization(s) before the Flood

Who ever said that Judaism was the oldest of civilizations? The Bible nowhere makes that claim, for sure. On the other hand, since the archaeological record to which you make appeal establishes the Sumerian culture, of which you also make mention as the root of ancient civilization, how is it that you figure the Egyptians and the Babylonians also existed before the flood, when clearly the oldest of known writing cultures do not even have records, much less reliable ones, beyond 2700 years before Christ(!)?

Furthermore, regarding Mr. Loy’s appeal to the ancient Sumerian culture to bolster his denunciation of the practicality of a biblical flood-on grounds that these ancient peoples existed before, during and after the flood period-the historical record purports that they appear to have arisen out of nowhere, approximately 3760 BC; the flood occurred in around 4000 BC. That is, there is no reliable written records of who they are, or, where they came from prior to 3,760 years before Christ. Their writing system, however, by means of which they were able to compile and leave not only important, but, the first historical records, was not developed until around 2700 BC-over one thousand years after their emergence as a people. Thus, the so-called science of Mr. Loy’s affection, amounts to nothing more than the rubbish of pure conjecture, having no real value, void of even the slightest substance.

In summation then, relative to Mr. Loy’s arguments and objections, whatever the modern sciences have done, the Bible has only benefited and in the end, proved many times over. Everything science-whether the natural sciences, or, the physical sciences of geology (with its witness in thousands of bone yards, and fossil fuel depositions, worldwide-95% of the contents of which are marine) and archaeology-all fingers thereof point unswervingly to the accuracy and historicity of the Book of all books. All of its stories and claims are therefore true and believable.
About the Author:

The recent calamities have caused many to wonder if they are signs of the world’s end. Mother nature has been on a rampage lately. The 2004 tsunami in the Indian ocean was estimated to kill 170 to 275 thousand. Hurricanes destroyed New Orleans and other cities on the gulf coast and there was record number of hurricanes in 2005. Tornadoes and heavy snow storms seem to be getting worse.

Are all of these things signs the world is coming to an end? Many think they are. Prophecy buffs point to verses in the Bible that speak of signs of the end of days. It should be pointed out, however, that people have been predicting the end of the world for years. Days are picked that they claim will be the end. None have proved true so far.

The Bible does state the end is coming, and we have been living in what is called the last days since the times of the New Testament. Jesus said that only his Father knows the time he will return to take believers to heaven (MT 24:36). Most of the signs given in this chapter are about the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. The Christians remembered them and fled to the mountains when they saw the armies coming. As far as we know, none were lost.

In the verse’s following in chapter 24, Jesus says that when he comes it will be like it was in the days of Noah. People will be eating and drinking and getting married. In Noah’s days they didn’t know what was happening until the flood came. They didn’t believe Noah when he warned them, because they had never seen it rain. Up to this time streams came up from the ground to water the earth(GE 2:6). HE WILL COME WHEN HE IS NOT EXPECTED (MT 24:44).

IT WILL NOT BE ANNOUNCED THAT THE LORD IS COMING! First Thessalonians 5:2 and Second Peter 3:10 both plainly state that JESUS WILL COME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. A thief does not give signs that he is coming and neither will our Lord!

The recent calamities do not necessarily mean the world’s end is near. We can’t rule it out either. We don’t have any way of knowing when it will be. We have to keep watch as Jesus told us. It is not any thing to worry about if you are living according to Biblical instructions. It is a time to help others to know and obey the gospel so they will be ready.

The Bible wasn’t written to tell the future but to instruct how to live holy lives. We are to live by faith and not by sight. Second Peter 1:20 explains that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. The prophets didn’t understand what they were speaking and neither can we. When New Testament verses point out they are fulfilling something predicated in the Old Testament, we know what they mean. This is the only way we can know for sure what they are about. We are told about death, and the judgement, but the times are not given.

Weather comes in cycles. We have mild winters and summers and we have severe ones. Global warming may be true and it may be imagination. Our God has always taken care of this world and he will continue until he is ready to put a stop to it. Global warming will not end the world unless the Creator chooses this method to destroy it. The end will not come one minute sooner than he intends. We can be sure of that! The Lord designed and built it, and is capable of maintaining it.

Permission is granted to publish this article if the resource box is left intact.
follow wedding_favors

As we talk about the huge problems concerning nuclear proliferation in places like North Korea and Iran, we often fail to realize these are not the only challenges when it comes to nuclear weapons. It seems that Libya is also a huge issue, along with Syria. And we have Pakistan and India pointing nuclear weapons at each other across their borders. That wouldn’t be a very fun exchange for anyone in the world. Worse, the Taliban and Al Qaeda are hanging out just over the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, in an area where the nuclear power stations for Pakistan exist.

India has already been hit with terrorist acts, originating from Islamic radical terrorist groups within Pakistan. If the Pakistani government falls to terrorism and all those nuclear weapons are pointed at India, who is to say what could happen. If the Pakistani government falls, and is replaced by radicalism, the new government leaders may take a much harder line towards the temporary peace between the two nations. This could lead to thermonuclear war. It seems no one is talking about that, although it is a potential eventuality.

Meanwhile, China has invested heavily in Pakistan to build a railway, Port, and pipelines from that port all the way through Pakistan into the mountain pass between their countries. If China is heavily invested in Pakistan, and there is a war between India and Pakistan, one has to ask if China will take sides. If China takes the side of Pakistan, and we know India to be a free society, a democracy, in a capitalist nation, then we are obligated to support it. As well we should they are a trading partner.

This could cause huge tensions between the United States and China and with the United States in Afghanistan already, things could get quite ugly. The game of geopolitics in that region is getting quite complicated considering all the interactivity between the terrorists and the various nations that have been infiltrated by Islamic radical jihadists. So stay tuned, things could get pretty crazy pretty quick and it could happen next year, the year after, the year after that, and who knows when civilizations in that region could come tumbling down. Please consider all this.
About the Author:

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (II Corinthians 6:2)

We have been taught this scripture means one must accept or reject Jesus Christ before one dies to either be saved and go to Heaven or unsaved and spend eternity in the agony of hell. Does that sound fair to you? Let’s consider some of these lost souls which are consigned to the alleged eternal punishment in hellfire. There are the billions or trillions who never even heard the name Jesus. What about everyone who lived before Jesus was even born? Absolutely none of these people were ever given a choice to accept or reject Jesus as their Savior before their death! The good news of the gospel was never explained to them. Ask yourself once again, “Is this a fair and just system?” In fact, God is fair and just, and none of these will be unjustly cast into hell:

Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:3)

So God is indeed just and true. But the only path to salvation is through Jesus Christ:

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Will the multitudes who have died never having even heard the name of Jesus unjustly suffer? Heaven, we have a problem! Of course, the problem did not originate in heaven. The problem is man’s inability to understand the scriptures which are sealed up from his understanding. Consider the following verse:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19)


Only after the true gospel message has been set before each person can that person truly choose between eternal life and the second death as described above. So the untold numbers of people who have died without ever hearing the name Jesus could not make their choice! Let’s now consider the phrase “now is the day of salvation” in greater detail. What day do we actually live in? In a broader sense, what age do we live in? We are living in the age of man. Man was created and given dominion over the earth in the Genesis creation. We are under the sway of Satan and God intervenes as required to keep His master plan on track. With those exceptions, mankind rules today’s earth! Man’s will is being done on earth, not God’s. In fact, the first request we are instructed to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer is for God’s will to be done on earth:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

So today we are in the age of man or the day of man. This entire day or age of man is the accepted time in which men may seek salvation. But isn’t this making the same claim that humans must accept Jesus before dying? After all, isn’t that the only time they will be alive to make their choice? No, that is not the case! The majority of humans will have two periods of life with physical bodies on the earth. Every human who ever lived will be resurrected. However, only those with their names written in the book of life will be resurrected as immortal spiritual bodies:

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life… (Daniel 12:2)

Two body types are defined in the Bible, physical and spiritual:

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:44)

The many that sleep in the dust of the earth are all humans who have died and been buried. The some that awake to everlasting life are Christians who are born again as spirits and thus awake to eternal life. Those not awakened to everlasting life as spiritual bodies must be awakened as the only remaining body type which is natural or physical. These are resurrected as the same human body type in which they lived and died their first physical death on the earth. Since men are still alive after the resurrections, that time is still within the day of man, and salvation can be attained then! As long as any one human is alive, that human can accept Jesus Christ and be saved. The New Testament requirement for salvation, John 3:16, does not mention any time limitations. While it is true that men must accept or reject Jesus before they die, men truly die at their second death, not their first! Man’s first death is spoken of as sleep or rest in the Bible. We rest in peace. Therefore, men can accept Jesus and be born again as immortal spiritual beings into the Kingdom of God up to their second death! Those suffering the second death never live again. It is eternal! When did this age or day of man begin? It began when man was created and given dominion over the earth as described in Genesis:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)

When will the age of man end? It will end when there are no more men. This occurs after the great white throne judgment. After completion of this judgment every human being will have either been born again as a spiritual body or cast into the lake of fire and suffered the second death. There will be no more humans and there never will be again. Therefore, the age of man is over:

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

This marks the end of our age. Man can no longer be saved because there are no more men. The age of Jesus Christ’s rule on earth now begins. This new age will last for eternity. The scriptures state that humans will learn the truth of the gospel from children:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 3:15)

Nonbelievers resurrected as mortals at the second resurrection will have their first true choice between accepting or rejecting Jesus as their personal Savior at that time. Who will teach them the scriptures so that they can make an informed decision? Children! Who are these children? They are those Christians who were born again as spiritual children of God at the first mass resurrection:

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36)

Having lived through the millennium period of rest and training, these children of the resurrection are now one thousand years of age. In fact, they are only one day old children! They are now immortal spiritual beings and to them one thousand years are as one of mortal man’s days:

But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (II Peter 3:8)

So these born again Christians from the first resurrection are still children, being one day old. The pastors and priests which we are familiar with today did not accomplish the job. These born again Christians who are now children of the resurrection have become the immortal spiritual priests of God and Christ:

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

These child priests will teach the true gospel message of the scriptures to untold numbers of nonbelievers resurrected as physical beings at the second resurrection. The bulk of humanity will not hear the gospel message from piously robed “men of God” with honorary prefixes attached to their names and multi million dollar book deals. They will hear it from children, these one day old spiritual children of God! As these mortals accept Jesus as their Savior they will be born again or converted to spiritual children of God:

Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

Those who still reject Jesus even after hearing the true good news of the scriptures will suffer the second death when cast into the fires of hell. Since they are still mortal beings, they will quickly perish in the fire:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

There are always reasons for God’s actions. The reasons are never hatred or revenge, because God is love. He is not raising nonbelievers from the dead simply to humiliate them before they suffer their second death! Why resurrect them at all if that was the case? They are being resurrected for a reason. It is their chance to choose, their day of salvation. It is the first opportunity for most of them!
ontario travel

The resurrection story in Matthew 28:1-20 gives some insight into the strategic nature of Christian leadership in the early church and consequently the spread of Christianity. Commentaries as well as an exploration of the text using social and cultural analysis from socio-rhetorical criticism by Robbins showed numerous strategic designs and plans that were exploited even as Jesus commissioned His disciples in the 19th verse, to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

This paper provides readers with deeper insights into the strategic nature of Christian Leadership. Using a cultural texture analysis of the Farewell Discourse in Matthew 28, the strategies that were utilized in order for Jesus to fulfill His purpose on earth are highlighted. Finally this essay provides readers with insights that can be gleaned from the early church in the first century, one that they can use in contemporary organizations in order to remain viable for the future!

As leaders of contemporary organizations continue to search the most current books to find workable strategies to help define their roles; and as they continue to grapple with the ramifications of change; and continue to seek strategies that can assist them in their quest to keep their organizations afloat; what can they learn from the early church communities in the First century?

Christianity starts with Jesus, a Jew, during the Roman era in the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Matthew’s narratives chart the course of Jesus’ journey during the 1st century. He commences with the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:1) and culminates not with his death (Matthew 27:50) but with His resurrection and consequently a command to His disciples (Matthew 28:19). Throughout his narratives Matthew illuminates the patron-client relationship which existed between Jesus and His father (Mark 15-16); He highlights the benefits that Jesus derived through interaction with the Father (Mt. 26:64). He relates numerous challenge and response episodes with Jesus and the people at the lower and upper rung of the social ladder (Mt. 21:12-17, 9:9-10, 8:2-4).

Matthew’s account of the nature of Jesus leadership is interwoven with vivid parables that Jesus used to teach and recruit people for His Fathers kingdom (Mt.16:11, 18:12-14). He describes a compassionate, loving and ever caring Jesus who would not allow the religious laws of that era to prevent Him from healing people; He did not subscribe to the social order status of the day, but was willing to mix with the “outcast” in order to gain people for God’s kingdom (Mt 9:20-29). In a period marked by rigid Jewish traditions, Matthew shows Jesus going against the grain of what was deemed as acceptable in order to fulfill God’s will, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Mt 18:11).

To better understand the intricacies of the strategies Jesus employed, a look at the existing culture proves beneficial. 1st century Rome represented a growing dynasty, which according to Ramstad, combined superiority with cruelty and could abruptly lurch from civilization, strength and power to fear, totalitarianism and self-indulgence. Koester in his article, “From Jesus to Christ” paints a picture of a beautiful nation with a great deal of inequality at its core. On one hand a few people were extremely rich while others lived in severe poverty. It encouraged a very rigid hierarchical system in which the emperor is at the summit of the social economical pyramid, and the further one falls to the base of the pyramid the more difficult life becomes. Rome was by no means religiously selfish, while they encouraged their own religion; they were not intolerant to other religions. According to White, Rome “had accepted into its pantheon deities from the Italian tribes and from Asia Minor. In the provinces, the great territorial gods-such as Saturn in North Africa and Jehovah among the Jews-were accepted as “legal religion” on the grounds that their rites, even if barbarous, were sanctified by ancient tradition.”

Josephus’ account of that era describes a number of prophets and their followers, who in some cases were wiped out or dispersed by the Romans. That era saw the birth of a leader who was able to reform the traditions of that era in order to create a better world.

First Century Mediterranean societies may be analyzed from different social and cultural perspectives. Robbins provides an array of perspectives through which we can glean an understanding of that era. Matthew 28 includes substantive gnostic-manipulatiounist, thaumaturgical, and reformist discourse. Gnostic-manipulatiounist response can better aid readers in understanding the culture within that period. Public displays were used to set the standards for purity and honor codes. Under Jewish traditions defilement was an external issue and was treated with great disdain. An authoritative Jesus redefined the traditions of that era and gave birth to the genesis of Christianity. His authority is established in verse 18 “all power is given to me in heaven and in earth” and His consequent call to His disciples in verse 19 “go and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Strategic design:
Jesus’ final mission prior to His death was the gathering of his strategic team at the top of a mountain (Mt 26) to present His final counter-cultural message. By gathering His family Jesus identified with one of the tenets of the counter culture (Malina and Rohrbaugh). The obligations within the family included both patron-client relations with Jesus and obligations with brothers and sisters in dyadic contracts (Robbins, 1996, p79). Within this gathering Jesus reestablishes His identity as the ultimate authority which is later substantiated in His final proclamation in Matthew 19. Matthew 28 begins with the visit of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the sepulcher (Mt 28:1). This pattern is reminiscent of the strategic principles that Jesus and His father employ throughout the discourse. Even in death, Jesus ignores the Jewish traditions that exhibited little regards to the testimony of women (Jos. Ant. 4.219; m. Yebamot 15:1, 8-10; 16:7; Ketubot 1:6-9;); which was a reflection of the broader Mediterranean culture under the Roman law (Gardner 1986:165; Kee 1980:89). In the second verse, “and behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled away the stone and sat upon it” (Mt 28: 2). The rolling away of the stone could be seen as the ultimate dishonor to the authorities of that day. It is the authoritative Jesus defying their work “no stone can keep in the body of Jesus.” God’s ultimate power is unleashed (Mt 28:2-3).

From a revolutionist perspective the earthquake is representative of God’s plan to destroy the world to create a new order. From the reformist response this signifies the supernatural conquering of evil (Robbins, 1996). The appearance of an angel signifies the birth of a new order. “That the angel sat on the stone is also a dramatic statement of supernatural triumph, since the stone probably disk-shaped, would not naturally accommodate one sitting on it” (Kostner, p5). Triumph over death. The appearance of the angel reveals similarities with biblical theophanies, (Exodus 3:2-6, Genesis 32:24-32). God strategically revealed Himself to the guards, permitting them to witness His power but in the same vein allowed the angels to speak only to the women. The women exhibit a thaumaturgical response to the news from the angels (Mt 28:7-8). The testimony of the women to the others is a reflection of the gospel to transcend gender restrictions (Thompson 1985:p233). A new order is created where the borders of inequality of the sexes according to the traditions of that era are now erased. The purity code is rewritten. From a Gnostic-manpulatiounist perspective it suggests that salvation is possible in the world, and evil may be overcome if people learn the right means, improved techniques, to deal with their problems.” (Robbins, 1999, p73). The dyadic contract is once more enforced; Jesus meets with His disciples to deliver the great commission (Verse16-17). Jesus re-establishes His position of authority “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (verse 19) and then charged His disciples “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit; By baptizing in the name of the trinity.” Jesus is now elevated to the same level as that of the Father and the Spirit (28:19) “All nations may signify all groups of “peoples,” rather than the modern concept of “nation-states” (McGavran and Arn 1977:38); in many nations a variety of different peoples coexist,” the command therefore signifies different nations/races. Strategically He establishes His purpose; He then explains how the purpose is to be executed “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” and He finally leaves them with a promise “and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

The understanding of Matthew 28 and the cultural issues within that period provides a point of reference for contemporary organizations. The text answers critical questions that can assist organizations not only to grow but to remain viable… What? Who? How? When?

A clearly established goal is essential for strategic organizations. Jesus’ purpose was to recruit people for the Kingdom of God. For Him, it meant redefining the rules operating in the culture at that time. It meant putting changes in place that were not easily accomplished. It also meant defying satanic powers (Matthew 4:8-9) in order to remain true to the established relationship He had with God. Jesus recognizes the need to establish a relationship with God the Father, as well as to have a team to assist Him in carrying out His purposes. As He sojourned through earth he formed a band of faithful followers, these dyadic contracts enabled Him to successfully execute God’s divine purpose. Jesus had a plan to accomplish His purpose. By challenging the laws of inequality that existed, He was able to successfully strategically gain a foothold amongst the religious leaders of that period. After His final show of authority in defeating death, Jesus commanded His disciples to make more disciples, by teaching and baptizing them, with a promise that He will always be with them. The significance of the “end age” in the text is indicative of the promise that the Son of Man would return in His kingdom after the good news has reached all nations. (24:14).

The strategic design of Jesus is one of acceptance, forgiveness and repentance. His role while on earth showed the level of humility that is required then and now. Although He could have called “ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free” He chooses instead to work with His Father and a strategic team to gain souls for the kingdom of heaven. The dyadic relationship between Jesus and his disciples was part of Christ plan in His strategic design. Such relationship was set up as a prelude of what was to come; Robbins stated that it was based on reciprocity, “the honorable man selects another for a series of ongoing unspecified act…” (Robbins, 1996, p79). The act of Jesus has an enormous implication for contemporary organization; His actions are the blueprint for modern day organizations to function. He showed the example that an honorable dyadic relationship needs to be in place for organizations to move forward. As seen in the first century where Jesus ensures that a sociological formula was developed, this formula defines the Christian community in that all men are created equal. It is on this basis that contemporary Christian organizations are able to continue to cosset itself in such success. The Christian movement though has encountered persecution over the years it continues to grow because of the foundation Christ put in place. The design has been laid, the plan was set forth by Jesus, the requirement is simple, contemporary organizations have a strong foundation on which they can build; build with Jesus as the center of your designs.
unique wedding favors