The Case For The Resurrection*

Often the day to celebrate the resurrection of Christ is referred to as "Easter". However, knowing the origins of the term "Easter" in paganism, I have long preferred to call this day "Resurrection Sunday". It's not that much harder to say these words, which reflect the truth and power of the day, than it is to say "Easter". Many people reject the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, although the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, make reference to it. Not only does scripture bear witness, but there are confirming sources, like the Shroud of Turin, that bear witness in every way to the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the essential foundation for the Christian faith, as we will see. So why do so many people do all that they can to reject and despise this precious gift given to us in love by God? This is nothing new. Jesus gave an account of a king who invites people to a banquet. Those invited came up with all sorts of weak excuses for not attending. We will see this attitude spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who wrote prophetically of the Servant of God who would be abused and marred beyond recognition (Isa. 52:14) and killed, not for His own sins, but for the sins of His people. Isaiah also prophesied what the prevailing attitude would be towards this Servant who went to His death like a lamb for many: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted>" (Isa. 53:3-4). The religious people would think that this Servant must have done something to displease God, and God was punishing Him. However, His suffering and death were for our sins, because He was blameless (v. 8-9). The prophet continues: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (v. 5). Not only was His suffering to pay the price that we deserved, but the stripes of His suffering results in our healing. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (v. 6). This sacrifice made for our sins will be so great, and the evidence for it will be so convincing, that Isaiah wrote that even kings and nations will consider it: "The LORD hath made bare his holy (aleph-tav) arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation (Yeshua - Salvation by God, and the Hebrew name of Jesus) of our God...So shall he sprinkle (naza - spurt, spatter, startle, sprinkle in expiation) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." (Isa. 52:10, 15). Even the individual Hebrew letters that form the word for "sprinkle", which is nazah, spell out the meaning of His purpose: "Behold, the Heir to the throne pierced". As Isaiah brought forth this powerful revelation of the Servant who would suffer and die for the sins of others, he also wrote in the face of these things: "Dapart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isa. 52:11). This knowledge and evidence of so great a sacrifice is to lead us into repentance and cleansing (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). We are also "vessels of the LORD", and this atoning purpose of our Savior should not leave us as we were, but changed. Isaiah mentioned that this precious Servant of Salvation would be despised (baza - despise, regard with contempt, condemned, scorn, worthless). This is not the first time that men would look upon the things of the LORD, and despise them (see Lev. 26:40-43, Num. 15:30-31). As Isaiah prophesied, the awareness of this sacrifice of expiation would go beyond Israel to the nations of the world. Kings and nations would desire to consider it, not because someone told them, but because they saw something to convince them of the matter. The Shroud of Turin is an example of something the eyes could look upon and be moved to consider. The apostle Paul appeared before kings and acknowledged that they were already familiar with Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The Shroud continues to bring the reality of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus to the eyes of many who may not have seriously considered this before. Part of the Biblical evidence for the resurrection of Christ as our Savior, was declared before, and at His birth! Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, decided to put her aside when he found out that she was expecting a child that he had not fathered, but something happened that convinced him otherwise. An angel appeared to him in a dream and said: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS (Yeshua in Hebrew, meaning salvation): for he shall save his people from their sins." (Mt. 1 :18-21). The Gospel then states that this event was a fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah regarding a virgin bringing forth a son, Immanuel, meaning God with us (Isa. 7:14, Mt. 1:22-23). Joseph did not despise the Word of the LORD when it was brought to him, nor did he despise the One who was about to be born who would fulfill that Word. The shepherds, who witnessed a remarkable event full of the glory of the LORD in the heavens when Jesus was born, heard an angel proclaim: "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger'...the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." (Lk. 2:8-16). The shepherds did not despise the Word brought to them by the angel in heaven, nor the infant that they subsequently sought out with haste and found. The angel had identified this infant as "the Saviour" for all people, and revealed the specific sign by which the shepherds would be able to identify Him - an infant wrapped and placed in a manger. Shortly after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph fulfilled the law of Moses by bringing Him to the temple on the eighth day for circumcision, where His name was also confirmed to be JESUS, following the Word of the angel to Joseph before His birth (v. 21-24). There in the twmple, the parents met two special people. The first was named Simeon, who was devout, and was waiting for "the consolation of Israel", which is the Messiah, or "Christ" in Greek. The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. The same Holy Spirit led him to enter the temple that particular day, where he encountered Mary, Joseph, nd the child. (v. 25-27). Simeon took the baby Jesus and held Him up in his arms, blessing God, and said: "...mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Yeshua/Jesus), which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel..." (v. 28-32). To Mary, Simeon prophesied: "Behold, this child is set for the fall (ptosis/pipto - includes the meanings "descend to a lower place, perish, decay of a corpse") and rising again (anastasis - includes the meanings "a rising from the dead, resurrection, restored to life") of many in Israel.; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (v. 33-35). Immediately after this encounter, an aged prophetess named Anna (a form of the name, Hannah, which means "grace"), whose father had been Phanuel (meaning "the face of God"), came upon the family with the child, and gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of the child to all of those "that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." (v. 36-38). The apostle Paul wrote of the foundational importance of the death and resurrection of Christ to all believers. He wrote: "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (referring to the Torah, or Old Testament); And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures..." (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Many people were witnesses to the resurrection, and saw Jesus, not just the disciples, but also five hundred others, Paul wrote. Finally, Paul saw Him, himself, when he had his own conversion experience on the Road to Damascus (v. 5-9). There is no question as to the truth of the resurrection from these eyewitnesses. Paul wrote that, because of this, there was no excuse to believe that Christ was not raised, as even some believers were saying at the time (v. 11-12). Paul wrote emphatically regarding resurrection of the dead: "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain...And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins...But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power." (v. 13-24). There is no completion of the atonement for sin without the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We, as Christians, have no hope and no faith, without the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The final victory of the Kingdom of God over all spiritual and natural powers in the end times would not be accomplished without the authority established in Christ's overpowering resurrection from death, Hell, and the grave. Christ's resurrection is the power behind all of these things. Finally, His resurrection is the power behind our transformation from corruption and mortality to incorruption and immortality. Paul wrote: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin...But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 50-57). Because Christ was raised from the dead, we shall be also, but not only that, those alive who belong to Christ when that trump sounds will be changed in a moment to the same resurrection life. For this reason, Paul wrote, we must remain steadfast and unmoveable in this powerful truth, and therefore, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your faith is not vain, but contains resurrection life (v. 58). The Lord's return is soon, as all of the signs point to it. The truth of Christ's resurrection is a necessary, unchangeable, incontrovertible basis of our faith. To view a remarkable presentation by Dr. Stevenson on the Shroud of Turin, please visit this link: https://youtu.be/BBXgmbHWG64 . *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/9/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

Is Damascus Another Sign?

 

The current events of Damascus and Syria are a sign to us in these end times. The prophets had important prophetic words and warnings regarding Damascus. Damascus is a sign from which we not only learn the lateness of the hour pertaining to the return of Christ, but it is also a sign to us for our own spiritual self-examination, correction, and growth.

Some of the importance of the meaning of Damascus to us, can be found in a warning that Jesus gave to His disciples.
The Pharisees and Sadducees had come to Jesus and demanded that He show them a sign from heaven (Mt. 16:1). He scolded them for their demand. He told them that they knew how to look at the sky and tell the coming weather, but they did not perceive the spiritual signs in their very midst:

"O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas..."  Mt. 16:3-4

Later, as His disciples came after Him, they realized that they had no bread with them. Jesus began to warn them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."  They thought Jesus was talking about them not having bread with them to eat. However, Jesus was not concerned that they had no physical bread. He had, after all, just fed thousands miraculously from seven loaves and a few fishes (Mt. 15:33-34). Didn't His disciples remember the miracle Jesus had shown them? This was the problem and the warning that Jesus was bringing to them: do not just look at things in the natural, and refuse to discern the true meaning in the spiritual realm. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted to see a physical sign, while missing the greatest spiritual sign of all time-the visitation in their midst of their Messiah, their Salvation, the Son of God, who raised the dead, made blind eyes see, and made the lame walk. In the same way, the disciples were concerned about how little bread they had with them, when Jesus was speaking about spiritual "leaven", including seeking meaningless natural occurrences and understandings that obscured the spiritual signs happening all around them.

We often look at events the same way. We see the headlines regarding the political and military turmoil of the nations and leaders, including Syria and its ancient capital, Damascus, while failing to see the "signs of the times", that they represent. Damascus and Syria are not just geo-political problems in the headlines, but a prophetic trumpet blast warning that the time grows short.

Also included in the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees about which Jesus warned His disciples, is something we see today, even in the Church. There is a mixing of pop psychology, new age philosophies, social trends and worldly attitudes and understandings that are infiltrating the Church, and are being used to fill the current emptiness of the soul. Paul warned believers that our minds should not be corrupted from "the simplicity that is Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). It is Christ and His gospel that fills the empty soul, and nothing else will suffice.

We see this "leaven" impact all Israel as we read the history that involved a king of Israel, a priest, and Damascus in 2 Kings 16, and 2 Chron. 28. King Ahaz of Judah formed a bond with the king of Assyria, even sending him silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD. Ahaz encouraged the Assyrian king to take Damascus, and that was successful. Ahaz then visited the Assyrian king in Damascus, and saw the king making offerings to his gods on an altar there. Ahaz decided that since the Assyrian king had found favor in his conquests, Ahaz wanted an exact copy of this Damascan altar built and installed in the LORD's temple in Jerusalem, and instructed the priest, Urijah, to build it. Azah had the other worship furnishings of the temple dismantled or displaced for this false altar. Sacrifices were offered to the gods of Assyria upon this altar by the king of Judah, and the priests. Second Chronicles concludes the historic account with this comment:
"For he (Ahaz) sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and all of Israel."   2 Chron. 28:23
All Judah, and Israel paid the price for the actions of this king and priest. The scripture says that this king's actions "made Judah naked".
Beware the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees. While looking at, and depending upon the natural understandings that seem good to our eyes, we fail to discern the spiritual signs. A Bible commentary by F. B. Meyer said, in part, that this incident, involving King Ahaz, was a remarkable showing of the folly of the human heart. He also noted that there was too much of the same in the present church.
King Ahaz lived during the life of Isaiah the prophet, and Isaiah had the prophetic word regarding Damascus. He prophesied:
"The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."  Isa. 17:1
This sign of Damascus would take place, according to Isaiah, during the time of harvest. The desolation of this event would cause a man "to look to his maker, and his eyes shall have respect for the Holy One of Israel". The events surrounding Syria and Damascus today are not just the headlines in the news, but they are a prophetic sign for us to discern. God demands of all nations that they should discern the prophetic sign of Damascus in the next chapter (18) of Isaiah, including a nation that might well be a prophetic picture of America. As the spiritual harvest time approaches, and this prophetic sign of Damascus is being seen by all the earth, His Word to us says:
"All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye."  Isa. 18:3

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:

Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.



Is Harvey a Sign?

 

After the terrible events of the past week, a question is being asked, "Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? Did we miss something with Hurricane Katrina, so worse came in the form of Harvey? It is appropriate to be thinking about this, especially at this time of year. This time of year is a period known as "teshuva". It is associated with the Fall Feasts of the LORD, with the return of Israel to the land, and with the return of hearts to God. We should be contemplating world events, and the signs of the times:

"It is the glory (kabode-splendor, heavy with honor) of God to conceal a thing (dabar-word, command, promise): but the honor (kabode-same as previous) of kings is to search out a matter (dabar-same as previous)."  Prov. 25:2

It is God's will and our purpose as His kings and priests, to search out these matters. Jesus scolded God's people because He wanted them to properly discern the signs of the times, but they failed to do so (Mt. 16:3).

One significant sign of the latter days, or end times, is the wickedness that prevails in men's hearts-even, unfortunately, in the Church:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep,  all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  2 Pet. 3:3-4

An attitude of scoffing at the return of Christ exists today, as it did then, and men are determined to walk in the lust of the flesh like never before. We see the connection between sinful character and the end times repeatedly in scripture, and we are strongly warned not to allow ourselves to be partakers in this evil character:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasia- defection from truth, the state, writing of divorcement) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he that now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."  2 Thess. 2:3, 7

The revealing of the evil in our own hearts that causes us to turn from God, from Christ, is directly related to the revealing of the embodiment of evil character, the Anti-Christ. The spirit of antichrist is already at work in the world (1 Jn. 4:3).

Paul connects the evil in men's hearts and perilous times:

"This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good."   2 Tim. 3:1-3

Believers in Christ should not be partaking of this same evil character that feeds the growth of evil in the end times...quite the opposite:

"...that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."  Phil. 2:15

In addition, we have been given the spiritual armor of God, for the purpose of standing in His righteousness in these evil times (Eph. 6:13).

Again, Paul exhorts:

"Be ye not therefore, partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, rather reprove them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time for the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

                                                                                                 Eph. 5:7-11, 15-17

Walking in light, and wisdom is not for our benefit only, but we can actually redeem the time that has been overtaken by evil and wickedness. We are to lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking, abstaining from fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:1, 11). We have been called to something very different in this chosen generation, because we have been called out of that darkness, and into His marvelous light. God has made us His spiritual house, His royal priesthood, a holy nation, from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue, of peculiar (of place, time, and purpose) people (v. 9).

We are called to be builders in these evil days, not destroyers, repairers and restorers of the ways of righteousness (Isa. 58:12).

As with the time of teshuva, this is the time to draw near and honor the LORD. Our ways, pleasures, and words, are to be His ways, pleasures, and words (v. 13). We are not called to add to division and strife, which is carnal, but we, the Church especially, must be laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:4, 9).

Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? In the days of tribulation upon the earth, Jesus said that there would be "distress of nations with perplexity (be in doubt, not knowing what to do, or which way to turn); the sea and the waves roaring" (Lk. 21:25). As a nation, we have turned our own way. We have trusted in ourselves, and we have turned our backs on God. There are great trials coming upon the earth, and are now here, that carnal ways and understanding cannot solve. If we, as a nation, continue to choose to rely upon those things that cannot deliver us, we will reap distress and perplexity as a result.
However, we, the Church, also are a sign in these days of wickedness. The LORD put it this way:

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."   2 Chron.. 7:14

Today, Sunday, has been declared a national day of prayer. On this day, in this teshuva season, it is good for us to remember this promise from God, and turn back to Him.

 

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