A Beginning and An End

On some level, all of us are aware that everything has a beginning and an end - even us! Cosmologists tell us that our universe began with a Big Bang and will eventually come to an end (continuing to expand and die a cold death or collapse on itself in a fiery cataclysm). Interestingly, the Judeo-Christian Bible projects the same kind of narrative - that the universe had a beginning, and that it also will come to an end someday.

For humankind, the scientific/scriptural narrative of a beginning and an end makes sense. After all, our tombstones and obituaries mark the parameters of our time on this planet with a birth date and death date. In the United States, everyone has a birth certificate and a death certificate. In other words, we think of our own lives as having a beginning and an end. In other words, the concept is very familiar to us. In fact, if we really think about this, we come to the realization that this "beginning and end" narrative is foundational to the reality we inhabit!

Scientists speak of the birth and death of our Sun, and the formation and destruction of our solar system. They tell us that the earth was formed about four and a half billion years ago, and that our dying sun will one day expand into the orbits of the terrestrial planets and completely destroy the planet we currently inhabit. Moreover, many scientists speculate that humankind may very well face extinction long before the sun finally swallows the earth!

In the first chapter of the book of Genesis (which literally means the beginning), we read that God created the heaven(s) and the earth. The same chapter goes on to record the origins of plant and animal life on the planet's surface, and the origins of humankind itself (the creation of the first man and woman). The book goes on to explain the origins of the Israelites, beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and continuing through the stories of the patriarchs of the twelve (13) tribes.

Indeed, the Hebrew Scriptures tell the story of how the Israelites came to inhabit the "Promised Land" and recounts the story of how their kingdoms began and eventually ended - of how the Temple was built and eventually destroyed. In fact, much of the writings of the prophets are concerned with the predicted end of the kingdoms as Divine punishment for their sins. Likewise, these same writings recount the origins of God's covenant with the Israelites (Mount Sinai), and the Israelites refusal to abide by its terms, and God's eventual decision to end his covenant with them.

In the New Testament, the oldest Gospel account (Mark) of Christ's life and ministry speaks of "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." In the Gospel of John, we read: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." In the book of Revelation, the glorified Christ declared that he was "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," and "the first and the last."

Christ also spoke in terms of the "end of the world." In his first letter to the saints at Corinth, Paul wrote: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: 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. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

Likewise, in his second epistle, Peter spoke in these terms about the end: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

In the book of Revelation, we read of a Great White Throne judgment and a "Lake of Fire," and a new heaven and earth. Moreover, in the chapters which follow, a glorious paradise is described where death, sorrow, and evil will not exist - a new beginning for the faithful. Now, this brings us to the major difference between the scientific and the Scriptural narratives about beginnings and endings. The scientific narratives are generally devoid of both meaning or comfort. There is either an eternity of cold nothingness or an endless contraction and Big Bang cycle where the Universe begins and ends over and over again - in a meaningless and never-ending exercise in futility. Which scenario makes more sense to you? And what about a being which claims to exist outside of our reality of beginning and endings?

The Whole Bible? YES! The Hebrew Roots Movement? NO! Paul's Ethnic Gospel? Yes and No!

Herbert Armstrong and his followers often scolded traditional Christians for their focus on the New Testament and their apparent disregard for the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). He and his followers bragged that they used the WHOLE BIBLE - NOT just a small portion of it. Now, while we should all be willing to acknowledge that traditional Christianity's use and understanding of the "Old" Testament has often been woefully inadequate, other folks (like Armstrong and his followers) have swung to the opposite extreme and have over corrected for the insufficiency of their more traditional brothers and sisters in the faith!

These folks point out that the early Church was entirely Jewish in nature, and that the only Scriptures available to Christ and his apostles were those of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). Once again, while I would not characterize this observation as inaccurate, I would point out that it doesn't represent the WHOLE story of First Century Christianity! Unfortunately, in their attempt to correct how more traditional Christians have used and understood Scripture, they have often ignored the work and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples in the New Testament!  To put it more bluntly, they have effectively placed themselves under the terms of God's Covenant with Israel! (Armstrong adopted Torah Sabbath and festival observance, clean and unclean meats, tithing, etc.)

In this connection, notice these statements taken from a website of the Hebrew Roots Movement:

The Hebrew Roots Movement is a general term used for an emerging grassroots spiritual awakening taking place worldwide with Christians returning to the original first century faith, beliefs, and understanding of the Scriptures as taught by the Messiah, Early Church and Apostles.  Hebrew Roots is not a denomination or church, but rather a mindset seeking to emulate Jesus (Y'shua) as much as possible.

Hebrew Roots Christians are often called "Whole Bible Believers" due to our teaching of and obedience to the Word of God (All of It). We follow the first-century foundation of the faith: that every disciple of Jesus (Y'shua) is to walk (live) just as he did, in obedience to the Old Testament laws and commandments of God.

The 1st Century Church and apostles, in following the example of the Jesus (Y'shua), also obeyed and taught the Torah as the foundation to the walk of every disciple. This included the Apostle Paul as seen in Acts 24:14, Romans 2:13, Romans 2:20, Romans 3:31, and Titus 2:13-14. Hebrew Roots Christians do not obey God's laws to be saved, they obey God's laws because they are saved. They have a deep love and passion for God (1 John 5:3) which produces a deep desire to live their daily lives in a way that is pleasing to God - that is, in a way that attempts to live without sin (without offending God).

See - Hebrew Roots of Christianity (above quotations)

See - The Hebrew Roots Movement: What It Is and What It Isn't

In defense of these teachings, like Armstrong, they employ a number of "proof-texts" (some of the same ones used by Mr. Armstrong and his followers):

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. - I John 3:4, KJV

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. - I John 3:4, ESV

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. - I John 5:3, KJV

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. - I John 5:3, ESV

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets...Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19, KJV

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19, ESV

The problems with both the Hebrew Roots Movement and Armstrongism originate in a bunch of false assumptions which are NOT rooted in Scripture or the history of early Christianity:

1. They assume that the provisions of Torah represented the eternal and universal manifestation of God's Law - instead of the terms of God's Covenant with the ancient Israelites.

2. They assume that because Jesus, his apostles, and the Jerusalem Church observed the Sabbath and Holy Days that all Christians are obligated to follow that example.

3. They assume that the New Covenant is really only a slightly modified/enhanced/updated version of the Old Covenant.

4. They assume that their devotion to Torah identifies them as the obedient of God and is proof that they revere ALL of the Bible, not just some Proverbs, Psalms, and the New Testament (like those poor misguided Traditional Christians).

5. They assume that the original teachings of Christ and the Apostles were corrupted over time, and that most of the visible Church adopted pagan customs and celebrations and strayed from obedience to God's Law.

Now, as this blog has pointed out in many different posts over the years, ALL of these assumptions are FALSE! The TRUTH is that they are guilty of the very thing which they accuse Traditional Christianity of doing! They cherry-pick the Scriptures and history to support their teachings about Torah observance - instead of reaching conclusions based on an objective evaluation of ALL of the evidence. Consider the following (think of this as an abbreviated summary of a number of the past posts on this blog):

1. Over and over again, the commandments and rituals of Torah were addressed to the Children of Israel! (Exodus 12:3, 47, 50, 19:3-5, 20:1-2, 25:2, Leviticus 4:2, 12:2, 23:2, Numbers 5:6, 6:2, 27:8, Deuteronomy 1:1, 4:1, 5:1, etc.)

2. Jesus, his apostles, and the Jerusalem Church were all practicing Jews (including Paul). Hence, we would EXPECT to find them observing the provisions of Torah! Moreover, as Christ came to this earth to fulfill the Hebrew Scriptures (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), we would EXPECT to find him doing just that!

3. Once the Church finally began to carry Christ's Gospel to the Gentile world, the great Jerusalem Council decided that Gentile Christians would NOT have to become Jews and observe the provisions of Torah! (Acts 15:1-35 and Galatians 2, 3)

4. The Old Testament makes very clear that the Children of Israel repeatedly violated the terms of God's Covenant with them, and that he eventually divorced and disowned them! (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:8, 11:10, 31:32, Hosea 8:1, Zechariah 11:10) Likewise, both testaments make plain that God intended to make a NEW Covenant with the people of Israel and the other nations of the earth. (Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:1-13, 12:24)

5. If we truly accept Jesus as the Messiah/Christ, we must believe that he represented the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures. We must believe that he came to this earth to fulfill them, and that he accomplished that mission. Indeed, this is the basis of the Christian faith: that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the symbolism AND requirements of Torah perfectly, and that he offered himself as an innocent - an entirely righteous individual - to pay the penalty for OUR SINS! (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 1:21, 5:17, Mark 15:28, Luke 4:16-21, 24:44, John 1:29, 45, 13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 28, 36, Acts 5:31, 13:38, 28:23, Romans 3:21, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 2:17) I have also written a number of posts demonstrating that the Hebrew Scriptures pointed to Christ (especially Torah).

6. Christ identified two of the commandments of Torah as encompassing the whole of the Law: Love for God, and each other. Christ identified these commandments as the ones to be written on the hearts of his followers, and the things that would identify them as his disciples to the world. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 7:12, 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, John 13:31-35, 15:9-17, Romans 13:9-10, I Corinthians 13, James 2:8-13, I John 2:7-11, 3:1-24, 4:7-21) Please note that the Two Great Commandments summarize the Ten Commandments given to Israel, and the Ten summarize all of the 613 individual commandments of Torah which reflected the terms of God's covenant with Israel. In other words, ALL of the other commandments of Torah are elaborations of the TWO! Why did Israel need such a detailed list of commandments? Because they were mostly a carnal people who did NOT have access to the Holy Spirit!

7. ALL of the practices of the early Christian community reflected an emphasis on Jesus of Nazareth and his work (including the celebration of the Eucharist, Resurrection, repentance, baptism, fellowshipping, gift of the Holy Spirit, birth of Christ, his mother, works and writings of his apostles, prayers, songs, healings, exorcisms, etc.). Indeed, history reflects the fact that Christianity was very effective in almost completely eradicating paganism and supplanting it with faith in Jesus as Messiah! In other words, the narrative that paganism eventually swallowed up and supplanted Christianity is the exact OPPOSITE of what history reveals on this subject!

Now, having said all of that, more traditional Christianity has tended to neglect the Hebrew Scriptures. Indeed, many of them seem to have forgotten that those writings ALL pointed to Jesus Christ, and that the apostles and early Church employed them to teach about him! Nevertheless, they have generally understood that Christ has fulfilled the requirements and meaning of Torah for them. Likewise, they have generally understood that they will NOT be justified or rewarded by/for obeying the commandments of Torah! (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:11, 24)

Now we come to the question of Paul's Ethnic Gospel (a post by James Wood about a book by Jason Staples for First Things. Wood writes:

According to Staples, Paul’s gospel represents not an abandonment of Israel’s ethnic identity but its restoration—accomplished paradoxically through the incorporation of Gentiles. The inclusion of Gentiles is not a detour from Israel’s story but a key to its fulfillment. Paul proclaims not salvation from ethnicity, but rather an ethnic salvation. His gospel is steeped in the “restorationist” hopes of Second Temple Judaism. In this historical-theological framework, a distinction emerges: “Jews” designates the descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah, whereas “Israel” refers to the full twelve tribes, especially the lost northern tribes who were exiled and assimilated by Assyria. The northern tribes’ exile constituted an “ethnic death,” as these Israelites were scattered among and absorbed by the Gentiles—a process Staples calls “gentilization.” Their recovery required not merely return but resurrection. And this resurrection, Paul proclaims, occurs through the in- gathering of Gentiles—its partial accomplishment during Paul’s lifeand its future complete fulfillment. Since Israel has been scattered among and assimilated by the nations, her salvation depends on salvation’s coming to Gentiles (Rom. 11:11–26). God, in his providence, uses this dilemma to accomplish his original promise for his chosen people: that the blessing of Abraham should come to all nations (Gal. 3:14; cf. Rom. 11:12). As Staples provocatively puts it, “Where Israel had become gentilized, now Gentiles were effectively being Israelitized, transformed from one ethnicity to another and integrated into the ethnic people of Israel.”

Yes, Paul certainly did teach that Gentiles had been transformed into Abraham's descendants and coheirs of the promises made to him (Romans 2:28-29 and Galatians 3:5-9). He also taught that There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:28-29, ESV) And, in that same epistle to the saints at Rome, he wrote: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17, ESV) In other words, whether we are Israelites or Gentiles, our faith in Christ (and what he has done for us) makes us God's children and co-heirs with Christ of the promises made to Abraham.

We must never forget that both Abraham and his physical descendant(s) were chosen to bring the blessings of God to all of humankind, NOT because they were special, or the sole object of his attention and affection! In a sense, Paul's teaching is that God has used the Israelites to bless humankind, and humankind will be employed to bless the Israelites - and BOTH are SAVED through Jesus Christ! What do you think?

The Way of Life and The Way of Death

One of the major themes that runs through the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament is the contrast between the way of life (goodness/righteousness) and the way of death (evil/sinfulness). Indeed, this theme begins in Genesis and is present in the final chapters of the book of Revelation! As a consequence, religious leaders have mused about the meanings of Biblical representations of these concepts and have offered various interpretations of exactly what constitutes the way of life and the way of death.

As Scout recently reminded those of us who were familiar with the teachings of Herbert Armstrong (see Exegeting the Tree of Life), sometimes our thinking strays from what Scripture has to say about the two ways! At times, we are too literal. On other occasions, we ignore what is clearly symbolic/metaphorical/allegorical. Moreover, as this post will demonstrate, sometimes we get into trouble when we don't follow the thread of an idea throughout the totality of Scripture!

In the second chapter of the book of Genesis, we read: The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (2:9, NLT) A little later, in the same chapter, we read: The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (2:15-17, NLT) Notice, that one tree represented life, and the other tree represented death; and that the humans were free to eat/ingest the former but were warned of the deadly consequences involved in eating/ingesting the fruit of the other. Of course, we all are familiar with the role that the Serpent (Satan) played in enticing the woman to eat the forbidden fruit, and the curses which resulted from the humans partaking of this fruit (body shaming, pain, hard work, expulsion from the Garden, and no longer being able to eat the fruit of the tree that represented life! (Genesis 3:1-24)

As we have already noted, we see this choice being offered to humans again and again throughout the Scriptures: Trust in and obey God and live OR go your own way and die! We see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob presented with this choice. Moreover, at the conclusion of the Law, we see Moses presenting this same choice to their descendants. In the book of Deuteronomy, we read: Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (30:15-19, NLT)

Likewise, Joshua chose the way of obedience. Saul chose to disobey God and lost a kingdom and his life. David chose obedience and was rewarded with a promise of eternal life for his dynasty! In the book of Proverbs, we read: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (14:12, ESV) In the book of Daniel, we read: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (12:2, ESV)

In the New Testament, we see the theme continued. Jesus is reported to have said: Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV) He is also reported to have said: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV) The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints at Rome: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, ESV) Christ's righteousness and goodness make eternal life possible for those who accept what he has done for them! Likewise, Paul wrote to the Christians of Galatia: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8, ESV)

Then, in the last book of the Christian canon, we read: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:7, ESV) A little later, in the same book, we read: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15, ESV)

And, finally, this promise for the future: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5, ESV)

This them was also reiterated in the earliest Christian Catechism available to us, The Didache. In that book, we read: There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. (Chapter 1) And a little later, in the same book:  And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these. (Chapter 5)

This all brings us back to the question: What did the two trees in the Garden of Eden symbolize? Based on this theme that runs throughout the text of the Bible, I would answer: A choice between obedience to God and going your own way - A choice between life and death! What do you think?

Is Everything Awaiting Our Manifestation?

Relative to the whole question of our place in the grand scheme of things, and central to both Herbert Armstrong's and Scout's musings on the topic, the eighth chapter of Paul's epistle to the believers in Rome is almost universally recognized as relevant or essential for Christians who contemplate the answer to it. In his magnum opus, The Incredible Human Potential, Armstrong had this to say about what Paul had written: Now understand please. Why should the whole universe -the creation - be waiting with eager longing for the actual birth and appearing of all these Sons of God, to be born into the Family of God? The following verses portray a universe filled with planets in decay and futility - yet as if subjected now to this dead state in hope! "Because the creation itself [the universe not now capable of sustaining life] will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God."

Likewise, in his post, Riders on the Earth, Scout offered his own assessment of Paul's statement: This is one of my favorite scriptures and I admit that in the past I viewed it through the lens of HWA’s Unfinished Furniture model. HWA’s model has Trekkie value. The final frontier. Now I believe that this may mean something quite different from that view. What is implied by this statement is that the Creation that we know now, is in bondage to corruption. And this bondage is going to be abrogated by a time of liberty in the future. But what is that bondage to corruption? Is it the natural entropic tendency of the universe? If the organization of the universe breaks down, it becomes just stuff. Is our destiny to become cosmic custodians who wage war everyday against the insinuating randomness that is growing in the physical universe?

First, in the previous post, we have already established that Paul was most assuredly NOT talking about decaying/lifeless planets in his remarks to the saints of Rome (that notion would have been alien to both the apostle and his audience). So, what does the passage of Scripture mean? Let's take a closer look at this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans.

Paul had been discussing how Christ has freed us from the written commandments of Torah, and the sins which had resulted from the human failure to fulfill it and replaced it with the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:1-6). He then proceeded to explain to the Christians at Rome that their failure was rooted in their own natures, and that Christ had made it possible for them to have a new nature (Romans 7:7-25). Continuing, in the next chapter, Paul explained how the Spirit helped them to live in harmony with what God wanted for them - righteousness with eternal life (Romans 8:1-11). He went on to say that the presence of that Spirit within them made them God's children and fellow heirs of God's promises with the glorified Christ (Romans 8:12-17)! This is the context of what preceded the passage in which Herbert was so interested.

Continuing, we read: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25, ESV).

The Greek word here translated into English as "revealed" is apokalypto, which means to uncover what was previously hidden, to disclose, to make known, to manifest that which had previously not been apparent. Likewise, the Greek word here translated into English as "revealing" (and in the King James Version as "manifestation") is apokalypsis - a different form of the same root word! Also, we should note that instead of "revealed to us," the King James translates this passage as "revealed in us." Hence, according to Paul, whatever this manifestation or revealing was, it was intimately related to something that was going to happen to all of them (Christians) in the future.

The other word that stands out in this passage as critical is the word "creation." Interestingly, the original Greek word is ktisis. In terms of the Greek New Testament, this word is translated into English eleven times as "creature" and six times as "creation." Obviously then, the word refers to that which was created by God. In this sense, the word could refer to the Roman Christians, humanity as a whole, or everything that God had created (the world, the spiritual realm, the universe). Moreover, in the King James Version, the word is translated into English as "creature." Indeed, the same passage in that version reads: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." By the way, the original Greek word translated into English as "futility" and "vanity" suggests that which is devoid of truth, depravity, perverseness, and frailty (see mataiotes).

Hence, when we consider the context of these remarks, we are forced to conclude that Paul was writing about the fallen state of man and how that state had impacted the world which God had created for us. That Paul was thinking in terms of humankind and earth - all things which are subject to being corrupted, destroyed, or perishing becomes very clear within the context of the remarks which surround the targeted passage. In other words, what Christ had done for them (and all Christians) had made the renewal of all things possible!

In this connection, we should also consider what follows. Paul wrote: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:26-30, NET) Notice, that Paul returned to his theme about the Spirit working on our behalf - to remake us in Christ's image.

This, of course, was followed by one of the most inspirational and hopeful passages in all of Scripture: We read: "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39, NLT)

Thus, we must conclude that Paul was speaking of Christ's redemption of his people. He was explaining to the saints at Rome that Christ's work would result in the healing of humanity and the world which they inhabited - that their salvation would accrue to the benefit of all! In short, Paul was certainly NOT thinking or talking about lifeless planets, solar systems, or galaxies. And, while we can all imagine how our salvation might also impact the Cosmos someday, Paul was clearly NOT addressing that in his remarks to the Romans. Instead, Paul was focused on what Christ's salvation meant to his audience - both then and in the future. God's Spirit would make life better for them in the present and in the future and would eventually heal everything which they had perverted and twisted. Unfortunately, for some folks this simply isn't glorious enough - they want more. Not content with what Christ has done for them; they turn greedy eyes to the night sky and imagine themselves terraforming planets!

Our Place in the Cosmos

A recent post by Scout over at the Banned by HWA blog (Riders on the Earth) which addressed Herbert Armstrong's teaching that humans would one day colonize an "unfinished" Cosmos. Scout wrote: "We are all riding on this bright cerulean planet as it moves through the grand expanse of the Cosmos.  And the grand expanse is thickly populated by celestial objects.  These shining celestials pose a constant question to us as we look up at the vault of heaven about human destiny that is not answered." Of course, this brought up a whole host of memories and subjects which I haven't addressed in a while.

In considering these big questions like those related to our place in the Cosmos, I'm afraid that too many of us tend to forget that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments were NEVER intended by the Almighty to be used as a science textbook! Does the Creator know all about the Cosmos? YES, of course, God knows all there is to know about "his" creation. Humans, however, do NOT know very much about the Cosmos. Granted, we know a great deal more about it than the ancients did, but we are still in the infancy of exploring and understanding the Cosmos. Indeed, consider this, scientist only discovered the first planet outside of our own solar system in 1995!

With this context in mind, we are better prepared to tackle the subject of references to the Cosmos in Scripture. Hence, when we read in the book of Genesis that "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day" (Genesis 1:3-5, ESV), we understand that the primitive people for whom this was written had no understanding of a planet spinning on its axis and rotating around a star! Clearly, the intent of the passage is to identify God as the Source of light, and the time period that constituted an earth day. This is made even clearer in what follows.

Continuing, we read: "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day." (Genesis 1:14-19, ESV) Once again, it is self-evident that the inspired author of this passage intended to identify God as THE Source - THE Creator. For me, it is also abundantly clear that this person believed that God had created all of those lights out there in the great dome which humans of his age believed surrounded them (as in, there purpose being "to give light upon the earth." In other words, no awareness that those lights were other stars with planets spinning around them!

Thus, when we read things like the eighth Psalm, we must remember the context of what must have been David's understanding of the Cosmos. He wrote: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him. Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:3-8, ESV) Once again, those remarks were made by an individual who did NOT have our understanding of what the moon and stars actually are. Clearly, David was contemplating what he saw in the night sky as reflecting God's greatness compared to the seeming insignificance of humankind.

Hence, when the anonymous author of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote about Christ as the current and most perfect representation of the Divine ever made available to humankind and asserts his superiority to the angels (Hebrews 1), we understand that what he/she wrote in the second chapter of that epistle really had NOTHING to do with the Cosmos! We read there: "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:1-4, ESV) So, we see that the author is focused on salvation through Jesus of Nazareth - NOT on the Cosmos!

Continuing, we read: "For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, 'What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.' Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source." (Hebrews 2:5-11, ESV) Clearly, God intended for humankind to have an eternal relationship with him and to rule with Christ in his Kingdom (as supported by other passages of Scripture).

Now, there may be a role for humans to play in the Cosmos someday, but the ancients didn't really have any comprehension of what they were seeing in their night sky. They had no concept of the universe as we understand it, and our own understanding is very incomplete. In short, the people whom God chose to write the Bible did not understand what stars or solar systems actually are. They simply had no comprehension of an atmosphere surrounding a round globe. They knew nothing of the Big Bang or had any awareness that some of those lights which they saw in the night sky are entire galaxies - a vast collection of stars. Concepts like black holes, and the multiverse were completely unknown to them. Moreover, they wouldn't have understood any of those things if God had shared those concepts with them! So, it's great to speculate about our role in the Cosmos, but we have much to be thankful for in the fact that Christ has made it possible for us to someday understand our place in the Cosmos in a much more comprehensive way than we do now.   

A Warning from the Apostle Paul

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. - (Romans 12:3, NLT)

Bill Watson Declares His Independence!

CGI Pastor Bill Watson chose the Sabbath following Independence Day to declare his semi-separation from the Church of God International (headquartered in Tyler, Texas). Bill announced a new website for the Medina Church (Church of God International, Medina). He went on to say that their former website (CGI Medina) would no longer be updated by them (because it's owned by headquarters).

Watson also announced a new program produced by the Medina Church called Wall Watchers (which corresponds to Medina's new mission statement, which reads in part: "The Church of God International, Medina is committed to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ on behalf of our Father. Our teachings are underscored by the adherence to the original Apostolic Teachings of the early church. Our “Work,” in Christ’s name is to witness, warn, and make disciples for Him––building His Church by the blessing He provides (Matt. 28:19-20). Utilizing a variety of technologies, we are dedicated to “crying aloud” about the impending calamities coming upon mankind that precede the glorious return of our Lord and Savior; who is destined to establish His world-ruling Kingdom on Earth..." appears prominently on the new homepage.

Although Mr. Watson protested that he was still a minister in good standing of CGI, those of us who have been following developments within that organization have noted a cooling of the relationship between Tyler and Medina over the last several years (which began back in the days of the Covid Pandemic, before my own father's death). Many of my readers may be unaware of the fact that Medina has been keeping its tithe income for itself for many years now (only a small portion is sent to Tyler). In fact, Mr. Watson's announcement is just the latest chapter in the story of that congregation's drift from headquarters. 

Tyler had previously taken Bill off of their payroll and reprimanded him for some of the things that he had been saying from the pulpit. They also effectively demoted him from being the voice of their longstanding "Armor of God" program (and introduced new programs led by folks like Mike James). While many of the ministry of CGI have abandoned British-Israelism, Bill continues to fully embrace the teaching and prominently features it in his sermons.

In other words, from this observer's perspective, I only see the gulf widening between Medina and the parent organization and would not be surprised if an official separation was declared in the near future. Mr. Watson has a big ego, and a very high opinion of his own talents and abilities. Moreover, like his favorite president (DJT), Bill enjoys being in control - in the driver's seat, so to speak! He has been uncomfortable in a subordinate role and acting as a servant of Tyler's for many years now. Finally, I will be expecting a number of declarations from both sides that nothing has changed, and all is well. Nevertheless, the evidence is what is happening right before our very eyes (and I choose to believe what I'm seeing over what someone else is trying to sell me)! What do you think?