Enter Here

Jesus taught many truths about the Kingdom of God during the last three and a half years of his life while He was here on earth 2,000 years ago.  One important truth He taught about the Kingdom of God was that it was still to come in the future, yet, it was already here because He—the King—was here.

What is “Born Again”?

Another important matter He taught was that a person cannot enter the Kingdom of God (then, now, or in the future) unless a person is born².  Have you been born again?  I didn’t ask if you are religious.  Or if you belong to a church.  Or, if you’ve been baptized.  Or confirmed.  Or read the Bible.  Or live a good life.  Or whether or not you’ve kept the ten commandments.   Those are not the correct questions to ask.  The correct questions are:  “Have you been born the second time?  Have you been born spiritually?   If you get those questions answered correctly, then many other questions you might have will often be answered automatically as a result of being born².

Here’s what happens when you are born again:  Inside you at your core is your human spirit—not your soul, not your body.  It’s that inner component of you that “connects” with God.  It’s where two worlds intersect.  When you ask Jesus to come into your life, in an atomic moment He comes into your life in his “unbodied form” of Holy Spirit, causes your spirit to come alive, and you two instantly become one spirit permanently and forever:  you are born again.  

It is where the incomprehensively vast and “large” God self-reduces Himself to become indescribably small so He can “fit” inside your spirit.  Infinity merges with the finite you.   He who is beyond the universe is self-reduced to a pinpoint of intense light within you . . . and the King of all creation becomes King of your inner universe.  You become an  entirely new person,  beginning a brand-new life with  God through Jesus.  Jesus comes into your spirit and sits down on the inner throne of your life . . . where your “self” had previously been enthroned. 

Recently, one person described to me what happened when she was born²:  “Something that had been ‘dead’ inside me wakened.  Like the early morning shadows of consciousness that reveal faint images, I instantly began to have a new inner awareness—an inner knowing—of things I had not known before.”

I ask again:  Have you been born again?  If not, why not?  What’s keeping you from inviting Jesus into your life?

Tiny Seeds

 Another important truth Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God is that it began as tiny as a small mustard seed, but will keep growing until it someday fills the entire earth and universe.  Jesus said:  “God’s Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed a farmer plants.  It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge mustard plant, . . .”   Beginning last February, each month I have shared with you thoughts about King Jesus and his coming Kingdom.  The expansion of that Kingdom is virtually infinite and unlimited . . . but we humans are finite and limited.  So, what I have shared with you since February has been only the smallest “tip of the iceberg,” so to speak.   

It is humanly impossible to know all there is to know—and write all that could be written—about the ever-growing Kingdom of God.  I’ve written this before; I’ll write it again:  If you’ve ever prayed the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” you have prayed for King Jesus to return to earth to establish his Kingdom.  In the meantime, ever since Jesus left here to return to Heaven 2,000 years ago, his Kingdom has been growing and expanding here on earth by means of Jesus’ Church—his living “Body”—of which you are automatically a member if you are a believer in Jesus and have been born².

You may ask:  “Bill, is that really true?  Has the Kingdom of God really been growing here on earth for 2,000 years?”  Let me answer such questions by simply sharing with you some often overlooked facts.  Overlooked especially by such notable television personalities as John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsey, Perry Stone, and others who propagate “gloom and doom,” pessimistic views of humanity’s future.  We need to develop Bible-based, positive, Kingdomviews instead of such limited, negative worldviews.  Let’s look at some facts instead of some fanciful fiction concocted to evoke fear in the minds of people.

For example, in the then known world, by the end of the first century 1 in 35 people claimed to be believers in Jesus.  2,000 years later—NOW!—1 in 7 people on planet earth claim to be believers in Jesus!  That’s growth, that’s expansion, that’s God’s victorious Kingdom spreading across our planet through Jesus’ living Body, the Church.  Each time someone becomes a believer in Jesus and is born², they become a new citizen of the Kingdom of God.  Some reliable researchers estimate that around the world 200,000+ people become new believers in Jesus each day!  

Jesus’ Kingdom is growing and expanding daily on planet earth.  There is no power in hell, on earth, or in heaven that can hold back the relentless, inexorable growth of Jesus’ Kingdom.  Are YOU part of Jesus’ victorious, growing Church . . . or are you a victim of fear and despair—hopeless about the future?  It really boils down to who and what you choose to believe—about Jesus, about God, about a victorious future full of hope and joy.  YOU can choose to be either a victim or a victor. 

I seldom recommend books in The Traveler, but to catch a brief glimpse of a victorious future, I recommend a small paperpack book entitled Victorious Eschatology by Harold E Eberle and Martin Trench.  The best place to purchase a copy is on amazon.com.

Inauguration of the King

In previous issues of The Traveler, I mentioned the Kingdom of God has “touched down” on our planet at various times throughout history, culminating at the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—and then his return to heaven.  When Jesus returned to heaven and “sat down” on the right side of Father God’s throne, that’s when the Kingdom of God was finally and fully inaugurated.  

Here’s an example of what I mean.  The Queen of England had all sorts of elaborate ceremonies on the day of her inauguration and coronation, but when she finally sat down on her throne that day, at that instant she legally became Queen.  Yes, when she sat down on her throne, at that exact moment in time, that’s when she officially became the Queen of England.  That’s what happened when Jesus sat down at the right side of God’s throne:  at that exact moment, He was crowned King of the Kingdom of God.  And He’s been reigning as High King of God’s Kingdom ever since that time 2,000 years ago.

Jesus’ First Official Act As King

 His first official act as King was to send Holy Spirit to live permanently within his expectant followers so He could empower them to begin to proclaim to the world Jesus’ full and finished salvation and God’s coming Kingdom by means of growing and spreading the Church, Jesus living Body on earth.  The Church was commissioned to do all that Jesus began to do and teach . . . and more.  And the Church has been doing that very successfully since that day 2,000 years ago when Jesus began to pour out his Holy Spirit upon all humankind.    

Where the Church goes, the Kingdom of God is established in the earth.  That very first day when Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ waiting followers, God added 3,000 born again people to the Church . . . and He’s been adding people every day since—for more than 2,000 years!  Of course, when I write “Church” and “Body of Jesus” I’m writing about all believers in Jesus around the world . . . not about churches and denominations.  The Church is a living organism, not an organization!

The great modern “theologian,” Willie Nelson, knows about the Kingdom of God.  One of his most famous songs goes something like this:  “Oh, they tell me of a King in his beauty there.  And they tell me that my eyes shall behold where He sits on his throne that is whiter than snow . . . in that lovely land of unclouded day!”

     “God raised Jesus from death and set Him on the throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule.  And not just for the time being, but for all the ages of time and in the eternal state.  He’s in charge of it all, has the final word about everything.  At the center of this all, Jesus rules the church.  The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.  The church is Jesus’ body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with his presence.” –Ephesians 1: 20-23, modified

 This concludes our present series about the Kingdom of God.  

To Think About This Month   

      “Don’t become too impressed with yourself.  One wrapped up in oneself makes a very small bundle.  When scientists finally discover the center of the universe, you may be very disappointed you are not it!”    

Important Announcement!

In the first decade of the 20^th century—100 years ago—God began a great, worldwide “outpouring” of Holy Spirit.  Such an outpouring had not been experienced since the early years of the Church 2,000 years ago.    That outpouring of God’s Spirit at the beginning of the 20^th century came to be known as “The Pentecostal Outpouring,” giving birth to all the modern-day Pentecostal churches.  100 years later, those churches are the fastest growing segment of the Church around the world.  

Approximately 50 years later—near the middle of the 20^th century, there was another great worldwide outpouring of Holy Spirit.  This came to be known as “The Charismatic Renewal,” affecting many hundreds of thousands of people in mainline denominational churches.  Now—approximately another 50 years later—many observers and writers are beginning to report that another great outpouring of Holy Spirit is starting to occur—beginning largely in Third World nations and then spreading quickly to “First World” nations such as USAmerica.

Because this present outpouring is just starting to happen, many people are not aware of it yet.  But if you read various reports very carefully, you’ll see it’s beginning to happen.  In a sense, just a few drops of “Holy Spirit rain” have begun to fall so far, but—Look Out!—a great flooding deluge is on the horizon.  It will be an outpouring of Holy Spirit greater than the world has ever seen.   

It will be accompanied by great signs, wonders and miracles:  “God-caused events beyond human logic and reason, defying comprehension, expectation, and experience, for the purpose of God drawing people to Himself through Jesus!”  I’m not a prophet, but I “predict” that the largest segment of the population affected by this present outpouring will be in the former Communist countries and among millions of the world’s Muslims. 

Friends Forever

Okay, I’ve told you all that to remind you that my latest book, published only a few months ago is about Holy Spirit.  It’s a non-theological book about Holy Spirit entitled Friends Forever.  I have already begun to receive reports about how the book is sparking a renewed interest in Holy Spirit among a number of people around our nation and around the world.  

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that God had me write and publish Friends Forever at this particular time in history.  All proceeds from the sale of my books are placed in the general fund of our ministry; I do not receive any income from my books.  You can order it from www.amazon.com.  God can use Friends Forever to help transform your own life!

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc.
leservices38@yahoo.com 
Revised and Updated December 2020

 Were you one of those high school or college students who hated history, feeling it was boring and useless to learn?  Not me!  I love history, but I understand many people don’t think history is important.  Would it help you to think of it a little differently if you thought of history as “His-story”?  That’s really what history is:  the way God works among all humans to cause all his good plans and purposes for us to come to pass.  Some of the ways God works in our lives are very clear; some are not so clear because He often works behind the scenes in our lives.  He is often standing in the shadows working out all things for our good.

 Yes, all of human history is His-story.  The Bible is His-story.  I’ve read hundreds of history books.  I love His-story as related in the Bible.  I’ve loved books all my life, but the Bible is the only book that loves me back!  This month, I will continue writing about the Kingdom of God . . . and it’s King:  Jesus.

Differing Views of History

I don’t know if you know this, but many other cultures and societies don’t view and perceive history as we do in the western world.  We view history as linear:  as having a beginning and moving through time to an ending.  Other cultures view history as cyclical—as history happening over and over and over.  Still other cultures view history in other ways.  Is there a “correct” way to view history?  I really don’t know.  But I do know the Bible relates history as linear—as having a beginning and an ending, with the passage of time in between.

In the beginning, God . . .
In between, God . . . 
In the end, God . . . 

If we are believers in the Bible, we understand that God created all things “in the beginning.”  If we are believers in the Bible, we  understand  all  of  the  “between”  times are about God and his ways and works among humans.  If we are believers in the Bible we understand God will be there at the end of mortal human history . . . and beyond that in the state of being called Eternity.  This issue of The Traveler will be about the end of mortal human history as we know it.  Or, let’s say it will be about the end of the beginning.

Let’s Wrap It Up!

As I’ve written and taught numerous times since I began teaching the Bible and related subjects many years ago, every topic or subject in the Bible has at least one place where it is summarized or encapsulated.  If I were to ask you to get your Bible right now and turn to the end of it, you would most likely turn to the last chapter of the Book of the Revelation.  If you did, you’d be wrong!  Revelation chapter 22 is the end of the format of the Bible, but the actual end of events among mortal humans  is recorded in chapter 15 of one of the letters (books) Paul wrote to Jesus believers of his day in the city of Corinth in Greece:  1 Corinthians 15: 24 – 28.  That’s the real “end” of the Bible.

Preview of “Coming Attractions”

 Now I’m going to amplify and paraphrase that reference along with some related biblical references and see if we can make some clearer sense about Jesus’ return to establish his long-awaited Kingdom.

                   “First, people will hear a great shout accompanied by the loud blast of a trumpet heard around the world . . . loud enough to wake the dead.  Then Jesus will return in the clouds over Jerusalem, from where He left earth 2,000+ years ago and ascended to heaven.  As He returns in the clouds, the bodies of all believers in Jesus who have died will erupt from their burial (or cremation) places and swiftly rise to meet Jesus in the air. 

Right behind them will rise those Jesus believers who are living at the time He returns.  After they rendezvous with Jesus in the air, they will be instantly transformed from mortal humans to immortal humans and return with him to earth to assist Him in establishing his Kingdom.  They will finally be whole and complete, their bodies, minds, and spirits fully integrated, blending and working together in perfect harmony and balance.  

Jesus will then spend 1,000 years establishing his Kingdom until it has spread throughout the entire earth, with his headquarters in Jerusalem, Israel.  During those 1,000 years, Jesus will take over control of all the human systems on earth:  political, economic, educational, military, social, etc. . . . until He finally has complete authority over all the earth.  

Then will come the end (the final consummation) when Jesus will turn over to the Father his fully established worldwide Kingdom.  When Jesus turns over his Kingdom to the Father, He will have finally conquered the last enemy of all humans:  Death.  When that occurs, time shall end and be subsumed into a state of being called Eternity where God has always existed and always will.  Then God will be All in all, Everything to everyone!”

Present Truth

You might ask:  “Bill, is that the whole story?  Have you got it right?”  Good questions.  I really don’t know.  I’m a finite human being with very limited understanding writing about infinite, unlimited matters.  Do I have all the answers?  No!  Do I know precisely how it’s all going to come together when Jesus returns? 

No!  Being human, we can only understand matters based on our current level of understanding and state of awareness.  I’m merely sharing with you what I presently understand what the Bible teaches about Jesus’ return to establish his Kingdom.  I always try to stay open to anything new and different God wants to teach me from the Bible.  I never try to put God in a little religious “box” of my own understanding.  He’s much “bigger” than that . . . or He wouldn’t be God!

 Don’t believe anyone who tries to tell you he or she has all God’s plans and purposes for humankind’s future all figured out and wrapped up in a neat little box . . . especially if they start giving future dates when things will happen!  That’s especially true of various religious television personalities who cause you to feel they have it all figured out . . . and if you’ll send a donation, they’ll reveal to you precisely where you fit into God’s scheme of things.  Don’t be so foolish!  Don’t be so naïve!

Our Role in Jesus’ Kingdom

What, if anything, should we be doing in the meantime before we die or before Jesus returns?  Is his return just going to happen automatically without us doing anything about it?  Yes . . . and No!  Each time someone hears the Good News about what God has done for them through Jesus and then invites Jesus into his or her life, Jesus comes into their life in his “unbodied form” of Holy Spirit and permanently occupies the “inner throne” of their life.  In an instant of time—an atomic moment!—they are born².  That’s how the future Kingdom of God is established in our lives NOW in the real, day-to-day world in which we each live.  That’s how we become bi-locational.  As I’ve previously stated, Jesus is not only preparing a place for each of us in his coming Kingdom, He is also preparing us for that place!

 Jesus said when the Good News about his coming Kingdom is proclaimed to all 7,000 people groups on this planet, then He will return to establish his Kingdom.  Meanwhile, we are the ones who should be proclaiming that Good News to others . . . at home, in our towns, cities, regions, in our states or provinces, in our nations, and around the world.  That’s our principal job; everything else is secondary, no matter who we are or where we are.  When we tell that Good News to others, God empowers us from within to be bold and courageous in being his witnesses about all the good things He has done for all humanity through Jesus.  Yes, our principal task is to be God’s witnesses about all the great and good things God has done for us in and through Jesus.

Let’s ‘Do the Stuff’

 A few years ago, a man invited Jesus into his life, was born again, and began attending a church.  As he sat in the pews of the church each Sunday morning for a few weeks, he became very perplexed.  You see, he had begun reading his Bible and learning all about God’s signs, wonders, and miracles in the life of the early church 2,000 years ago.  A few weeks after he had invited Jesus into his life and began reading the Bible, he made an appointment with his new Pastor.  

As they talked during the appointment, that new believer in Jesus asked the Pastor:  “When do we do the stuff?” The Pastor asked what he meant by that question.  The young man replied, “I’ve been reading my Bible.  In the Bible all sorts of signs, wonders, and miracles happened in the lives of the early believers in Jesus.  Why do we just come to church, sit in neat little rows, sing a few songs, and listen to you talk?  When do we do what Jesus told us to do about telling others the Good News?  When do we have signs, wonders and miracles in our lives instead of just coming to church once a week?  When do we do the stuff?”

How would you answer that young man’s question about doing the stuff?  Are you seeing signs, wonders and miracles occur in your life and in the life of your church?  If not, why not?  When are you and your church going to begin doing the stuff?  Signs, wonders, and miracles should be occurring regularly and consistently in your life and in the life of your church . . . if you are faithfully telling others the Good News about Jesus and his Kingdom.

Incidentally, that young man eventually traveled around the world and planted thousands of churches in various nations, including throughout the United States; his churches are known for seeing God work many signs, wonders, and miracles in them.

As I wrote last month, this is what signs, wonders, and miracles are:  They are God-caused events beyond all bounds of human reason and logic, defying comprehension, experience, and expectations . . . for the purpose of God drawing people to Himself through Jesus!  Why are we even here if those are not occurring regularly and consistently in our lives and in our churches?  What good are we doing ourselves or anyone else if we’re just “doing religious church stuff” and not “doing the real stuff?”  As for me, I don’t want to make buttprints in the sands of time; I want to make footprints in the sands of time!  And the sands of time are sinking all too quickly.

Being Instead of Doing

In the Bible, the word “witness” is never a verb; it is always a noun.  The Bible never tells us to go out and witness (verb) to other people about Jesus’ Kingdom.  Instead, we simply are witnesses (noun).  God simply wants other people to see Jesus in us . . . wrapped in our skin.  If Jesus can be seen clearly wrapped in our skin, then people will be drawn to God through Jesus in a natural, free-flowing and spontaneous manner, without a lot of grunting, groaning, and scheming by us to go out and witness to other people . . . using the latest “witnessing techniques.”  Relax!  Quit working so hard at witnessing . . . and just be a witness.  When that happens, God’s Kingdom realities are displayed in your life and God will draw people to Himself through Jesus . . . with signs, wonders, and miracles occurring!

“When He returns to earth, Jesus will ‘touch down’ on the Mount of Olive in Jerusalem.  He’ll take over running the world, ruling from the ancient throne of his forefather, King David. He’ll put his Kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going with fair dealing and right living.  His ruling authority will never cease to grow and expand until He finally turns it over to God who will then be All in all, Everything to everyone!”    –paraphrased from various biblical references

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

No, this issue isn’t about a new 3D  science fiction movie in which horrible, giant alien fungi attack planet earth.  But it is about fungi.  Did you know that common household yeast (a form of fungi) is referred to many times in the Bible?  It’s called “leaven,” an older word for yeast.  Jesus referred to leaven in some of his teachings.  For example, on one occasion He warned his followers, “Beware of the contaminating yeast of the religious leaders.”

What did Jesus mean?  He was cautioning his disciples—and us!—to beware of the thinking patterns of some of those people.  Don’t develop their negative mindsets.  Don’t adopt their destructive worldviews. Don’t have “stinkin’ thinkin’” as some religious leaders did.  But Jesus did not mention yeast only in a negative context.  On another occasion He said to his followers, “God’s Kingdom is like yeast that a baker works into the dough so the bread can rise and be tasty and nourishing.”

Kingdom Yeast

What did Jesus mean by that statement?  He meant that the Kingdom of God will spread and permeate our lives just like yeast spreads and permeates bread so it becomes tasty and nourishing.  Okay, by now our regular readers will have caught on that this issue of The Traveler is about the Kingdom of God . . . just as the previous two issues were. 

I’m deliberately emphasizing the Kingdom of God in a number of issues this year.  Why?  Because whenever you’ve prayed the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” each time you’ve prayed that prayer you have prayed “Thy Kingdom come . . .” I want to be sure you know what you’re asking God when you pray “Thy Kingdom come.”  The Kingdom of God is a major theme throughout the entire Bible.  God wants to “grow” and spread his Kingdom in our lives just as yeast grows and spreads in bread.

 How does God’s Kingdom grow and spread in our lives?  Here’s how:  We must renew and change our minds, thinking patterns, and attitudes—empowered by Holy Spirit who lives inside us!

Changes In Our Thinking

1 Corinthians 15: 51 and 52 teach about the Great Change coming when King Jesus will return to earth to usher in his Kingdom:

         “Pay attention!  I am telling you a previously hidden truth.  We will not all sleep in death, but we shall all be changed—in an atomic second, in less time than it takes to blink.  A trumpet will blast and we will be raised from the dead, free from decay.  Yes, we shall be changed and transformed.”

That will be our final change as mortals (when we will be changed from mortals to immortals), but it will not be our final change because we will continue to change for many years to come after that event . . . and then beyond those years when we enter into our eternal state of being.  In the meantime, God wants us to continue to change, grow, and develop in this mortal life before we die or before Jesus returns—whichever occurs first.  

Most changes that need to occur in our lives during this mortal journey are changes in our minds, attitudes, and thought patterns so we see life more and more from the point of view of citizens of Jesus’ Kingdom.  Our “stinkin’ thinkin’” needs to be radically changed.  We need to think more and more like Jesus thinks.  We need to develop “the mind of Jesus” as the Bible puts it.  We need to see our lives as God sees them through Jesus.  The one area of our thoughts that really needs to change is our thinking about religion.  As mentioned earlier, we need to beware of the contaminating yeast of religious thinking and begin to think the way a citizen of God’s Kingdom thinks.

How Do We Change?

How do we learn to think as God thinks?  How do we learn to view life as God views it?  How do we learn to think like Jesus thinks, “putting on the mind of Jesus” as the Bible states?  The first change people need to make in their lives is to be born spiritually (born²), to become entirely new people because they invite Jesus to take up permanent residence in their lives.  That change into a new person—into a newly created immortal being—automatically sets in motion a lifelong process of change, growth, and development.

You became a brand-new creation—a “changeling” when you were born again—and will spend the remainder of y0ur mortal journey here on earth being changed and transformed back into God’s clear image as seen in Jesus.  When we invite Jesus into our lives, He enters in his “unbodied form” of Holy Spirit, takes up permanent residence within our spirits, and then begins the lifelong process of helping us change our thinking, attitudes, and behavior.  

How does all that happen?  It’s so simple millions of people overlook it . . . believing it’s just too simple.  We learn God’s thoughts in the Bible. The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to humankind.  It contains enough of God’s thoughts, attitudes, and behavior so we can learn from Him and change.

The Bible is not a religious book.  It is not a textbook.  It’s simply what God wants us to know in order to change our thoughts and attitudes to be more and more like his thoughts and attitudes.  By reading, studying, and applying the Bible to our lives, we change more and more from contaminated religious thinking to life-changing God thinking.  That’s how the good “yeast” of the Kingdom of God grows and expands in our lives.  That’s how God’s good, LIFEgiving, nourishing, wholesome yeast spreads in our lives, replacing the contaminating yeast of religious thinking.

          Dear reader, being a believer in Jesus is not a religion; it’s a relationship with the one, true and living God through Jesus!  Many people have just enough of a dosage of religion to inoculate them against having a relationship with God!

That’s why Bible reading and study is so vitally important for our lives . . . for our entire lives.  God didn’t give us the Bible merely to inform us, but so the Holy Spirit living inside us can use it to help us transform our lives from the inside out.  The Bible is not merely printed words on paper, but it’s a “living book” God uses day by day in your life to transform you and restore you back into his clear image.  “Living words” leap off the printed pages of the Bible, enter you, and then become real and life-transforming inside you.  Yes, the Bible is LIFEgiving and full of power; it leaps off the printed pages and steps into your day-to-day world right where you live, work, or go to school.

The Kingdom of God is . . .

Here’s what another reference in the Bible states the Kingdom of God is like:

                   “The important things about the Kingdom of God are living right with God, having God’s overwhelming peace, and abundant joy in your day-to-day lives.”

The Kingdom of God is not about external things.  It consists of inner, spiritual realities such as right living in thought and action, peace that seeks harmony among people, and a deep, deep joy that can come only from Holy Spirit within us.  If we understand the spiritual realities of Jesus’ Kingdom, we won’t choose external things that briefly satisfy our self-centeredness.  The essence of sin is to live a self-centered, self-absorbed life instead of a Jesus-filled life.

From Darkness to Light

There’s another aspect of Kingdom thinking and Kingdom living that is not addressed very often by those who teach the Bible.  Essentially, we live in a “kingdom of darkness,” ruled over by a dark being with various names and titles:  Satan, the destroyer, the devil, Beelzebub, the adversary, the Prince of the power of the air, the tempter, etc.  Satan’s dark powers were completely defeated by Jesus when He died on the cross, but Satan still has some residual powers that we “allow” him to have by default.  He’s a defeated foe, but he is still allowed to work in our lives to the extent we relinquish power and authority to him.  

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that when we invite Jesus into our lives, at that instant we are transferred by the power of God from the kingdom of darkness into God’s Kingdom of Light.  We instantly go from being spiritually blind to “seeing the Light.”  We go from stumbling around in the dark to seeing clearly how God is working out his plans and purposes for our lives.

My question is this:  Have you invited Jesus to come and take up permanent residence in your life?  Have you been born again?  If not, why not?  What’s keeping you from inviting Jesus into your life?  If you have invited Him into your life, what is He doing now . . . today . . . this very moment to transform you more and more into God’s clear image?  Each dark place in our lives has God in it, working behind the scenes, orchestrating events that ultimately result in our good.  God promised He will never leave nor forsake his “children of light,” no matter how deep we sink into darkness or how heavy the burdens we are asked to bear . . . nor how dark the darkness.  And there is purpose in that darkness, some plan God is working out for our good.  We recognize the light better for having been in the dark.

God-Caused Events

 Do you remember from last month’s issue of The Traveler the definition of miracles, signs, and wonders?:  They are God-caused events beyond all bounds of human logic and reason, defying our comprehension, experience, and expectation . . . for the purpose of God drawing people to Himself  through Jesus.  Those sorts of events should be occurring regularly and consistently in your day-to-day life and in the life of your church.  If they are not, you may still be living in the kingdom of darkness instead of in God’s Kingdom of Light. 

I’m not judging you or your relationship with God; that’s between you and God.  But you might need a spiritual “checkup” if such events are not happening in your life regularly and consistently.  As I stated last month, historically whenever and wherever the Kingdom of God has “touched down” on earth among humans, such miracles, signs, and wonders have consistently occurred.

 Has the Kingdom of God touched down in your life?  Are you and your church experiencing signs, wonders, and miracles regularly and consistently?  There’s a little “throne” on the inside of each of our lives.  Who is seated on that throne . . . you or Jesus?  Who is in control of your life . . . you or Jesus?  We must each make a quality decision to have God rule and reign on that inner throne . . . instead of our sin-full, self-centered, self-absorbed “self.”

 Each of us must learn to live in a continual state of changing mental awareness where we see life and reality more and more as God sees them, and think more and more like God thinks by continually changing our minds and attitudes, thus keeping God in control, keeping Him seated on the inner throne of our lives.

                   “God rescued us from the dead-end alleys and dark dungeons of life.  He’s set us up in the Kingdom of the Son He loves so much, the Son who lifted us up out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.  After God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, He seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavens, far above all other beings throughout the universe.  And we are seated with Jesus, right there next to Father God!” 
— paraphrased from various biblical references

To Think About This Month

“Daily, I  want to live and experience a sure and certain KingdomDream rather than a far lesser, transitory, and elusive worlddream.”

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

I’ve just returned home from a funeral of a friend with whom I served in the Army National Guard.

The funeral blended Roman Catholic tradition with that of Native American Lakota Sioux tradition.  It was a beautiful and meaningful funeral, a great way of honoring my friend’s life.  At the funeral, I was reminded once again about how often many Bible-based funerals mention the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven.   That Kingdom is a major theme of the entire Bible.  In last month’s issue of The Traveler I introduced the subject of the Kingdom of God . . . and it’s King:  Jesus.  This issue will also be about that Kingdom and King Jesus.

Bi-Locational

Do you recall I introduced last month’s issue of The Traveler by writing that we can be in two places at once.  Here’s how.  Common sense tells us that if we are alive—having been born here on planet earth—we can only be in one place at one time.  And most of us are citizens of only one nation.  But we have another “sense”—the inner faith-sense given to us by God—that informs us we are also citizens of another “place.”  What place might that be?  It’s the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom God.  If we have been born again spiritually and are believers in Jesus, the Bible teaches our “citizenship is in Heaven.”  In Jesus, we have dual citizenship.

Now we’re going to get into what some of you might consider sort of hyper-spiritual fantasy, or even science fiction.  In various places, the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is “seated” in heaven at the right hand of Father God.  We know that’s not literal because God is an unbodied spiritual Being and cannot be confined to one place; He is allwhere and allwhen.  He cannot literally be “seated” anywhere in any one place.  

When the infinite God communicates with us finite humans by means of the   Bible, He is compelled to put some enigmatic spiritual matters into human languages and concepts we can understand to some extent.  Jesus being seated at God’s right hand is one of those concepts which is spiritually enigmatic or “mysterious.”  It is not mysterious in the sense of a detective mystery, merely something difficult to understand except by our faith-sense.

 But . . . keep in mind because something is spiritual does not mean it isn’t real!  Actually, spiritual realities are more real than this material, tangible world we live in.  So . . . Jesus is seated at God’s right hand.  Here’s the seemingly science fiction part:  “In” or “through” our relationship with Jesus, we, too, are seated with Him in heaven.  The Bible teaches that as an eternal fact.  However, it’s not a fact we can clearly understand with our five senses and with our human thought processes—only with our “faith-sense.”

That’s why we are bi-locational.  We are here on earth . . . and we are simultaneously seated with Jesus in heaven.  I don’t understand that, but the Bible teaches it and I believe it to be true—with my inner faith-sense, not with my five senses.  How about you:  are there some things you believe but don’t necessarily understand?

So What?

There is a heaven.  There is a Kingdom of God.  They are very real.  If we die before Jesus returns to establish his long-awaited Kingdom on earth, we will literally go there to be with Him until we come back to earth with Him when He returns to earth.  Meanwhile, because we are citizens of heaven, we are God’s ambassadors here on earth to tell people Good News (the Gospel) about Jesus and his coming Kingdom.  Ambassadors represent their home nation to the other nation where they are sent.  We are spiritual beings sent here to represent the Kingdom of Heaven and it’s King, Jesus.  How well are you representing Jesus and his Kingdom?  Are you a good ambassador?

          We are not human beings sent here to have a temporary spiritual experience.  We are spirit beings sent here to have a temporary human experience as ambassadors and witnesses to all the good things God has done for humanity through Jesus.

From time to time throughout human history, God’s Kingdom has “touched down” on planet earth.  God has offered his kingship and his Kingdom to humans many times.  So far, each time He has offered his Kingship to humans as a whole, we have rejected Him because we are self-centered and self-absorbed and we don’t want anyone—especially God—telling us what to do with our lives.  So many of us think that if we allowed God to be King of our lives, He would somehow mess up our own plans and purposes for our lives.  You do see how foolish that kind of thinking is, don’t you—that God who created us would mess up our lives?

Touch Down!

When has God’s Kingdom touched down on planet earth and humans have rejected Him?  Long ago in a garden named Eden.  Once during the time of Moses.  Again during the time of Samuel in the Bible.  When Jesus was here on earth the first time.  Many other times, too.  We humans have rejected God’s Kingship every time He has offered it to us.  Of course, the one time He offered his Kingdom to us in person, we crucified Him, feeling that would get Him out of our lives once and for all.  Surprise!  Surprise!  Three days after He was killed, God’s Spirit brought Jesus back to life, he later returned to Heaven, and He is now in the process of getting ready to return to permanently establish his Kingdom here on earth, headquartered in the New Jerusalem in the ancient land of Israel.

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles!

My thesis for one of my Masters degrees was about God’s Kingdom touching down on earth at various times in the past.  Each time it has done so, it has always been accompanied by signs, wonders, and miracles . . . as evidence that his Kingdom was “near.”  When God’s ambassadors and witnesses clearly proclaim King Jesus and his coming Kingdom, signs, wonders, and miracles follow their proclamation as evidence of the reality of that Kingdom.  If no signs, wonders, and miracles are occurring in the lives of individual believers in Jesus and in Jesus’ churches, then they are not faithfully proclaiming the presence of the King and his Kingdom!

What are signs, wonders, and miracles? They are God-caused events beyond all bounds of logic and reason, defying comprehension, explanation, and experience—for the main purpose of drawing people to God through Jesus.  Are you a believer in Jesus?  Are you being a witness about God’s salvation and healing through Jesus?  Is your church proclaiming the Good News about the coming Kingdom of God?  If so, you should be regularly and consistently experiencing signs, wonders, and miracles in your own life, and in the life of your church!  If not, check out who or what you and your church are really representing as ambassadors.

Are you proclaiming a mere religion or churchianity?  Or are you being a witness to others in your day-to-day life about the reality of God in your life by the presence of his Spirit living in you?  Are you sharing a religion or a relationship?  Religious stuff really saddens and grieves God.  Religious stuff renders his power-full Presence null and void.  Religious stuff “turns off” people who are watching you to see if you have something real in your life.  Religious stuff renders God’s Word—the Bible—powerless and ineffective.

         Jesus stated to the religious leaders of his day:  “your dead, manmade traditions make the Word of God null and void, ineffective, and powerless—resulting in theobabble, pointless philosophical and metaphysical confusion, and aimless wanderings of the mind.”  God wants to have a vital, thriving, growing relationship with you, not for you to have mere “dead” religion.  If we who claim to be believers in Jesus and followers of Him are not green and growing, then we are ripe and rotting! 

The evidence of a green and growing relationship with God through Jesus is that signs, wonders, and miracles occur regularly and consistently in your day-to-day life.  The proof we are bi-locational—representing Heaven on earth—is that signs, wonders, and miracles occur regularly and consistently in our individual lives and in our churches.

What Is the Kingdom of God?

If you’re a discerning reader of The Traveler, you will have noticed in both last month’s issue and so far in this one I haven’t yet defined the Kingdom of God.  It’s now time for me to do that.  In the Old Testament portion of the Bible (before the time of Jesus), the word “kingdom” is translated into English from a number of Hebrew words.  The Old Testament was written mostly in the Hebrew language.  The Hebrew words are mostly abstract nouns carrying the ideas of God’s reign, sovereignty, dominion, the sphere of His rule, and royal power.

In the New Testament portion of the Bible about Jesus’ life and ministry and for about 35 years after his death, resurrection, and return to heaven, the word “kingdom” is translated from only one Greek word (Greek being the language in which most of the New Testament was written).  The Greek word has the exact meaning of the Hebrew words . . . with some additional meanings:  the King’s loving presence among humans, God’s rule of love, God’s active reign in the world, the realm of God’s salvation of all humankind.

Okay, what do the five paragraphs above really mean . . .  “in a nutshell”?  They mean God is King over all the earth.  They mean God has established a relationship with us through Jesus.  They mean God’s Kingdom is real both in Heaven and in our lives.  God’s Kingdom is both a present reality and yet it will fully come to earth in the future.  God’s Kingdom now prevails in Heaven and will someday prevail on earth when Jesus returns.  God’s Kingdom is here, but it’s not fully here yet.  It’s now.  It’s future.  It’s a real Kingdom with a real King of whom we are his subjects.

How Big Is God?

There’s an old gospel song that goes something like this:  “God is ‘big’ enough to rule the mighty universe, yet small enough to live within our hearts.” Does the King of the universe—Jesus—live in you right now, today, in his unbodied form of Holy Spirit?  If not, why not?  Why are you waiting to invite Him into your life as your Savior and King?  Jesus is knocking loudly and clearly at the “door” of your inner life.  All you need to do is open the door and invite Him into your life.  When He comes in, He fuses and welds together with your human spirit and you two become one spirit for all the ages of time and in eternity.

What legitimate reason could you possibly have for not inviting Him to take up permanent residence in your life?!  When He comes into your life, He then sits down on the “throne” of your life and begins to work out his all-good plans and purposes for you.  He’ll then help you transform your life day by day until the very day you die and fully enter his Kingdom.  The Bible states:  “When you invite Jesus into your life, you become an entirely new creation.  You will never be the same again.  Your old life will go.  You will begin an entirely new life!”

Bible Reference for the Month

                   “Now it’s time to change your mind!  Turn to face God so He can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send Jesus back to earth [to establish his Kingdom].  For the time being He must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of the ancient prophets, said it would be.”   –Acts 3:  19-21, paraphrased

To think about this month

                   “I am one of God’s kings in ‘training for reigning’ and in ‘schooling for ruling’!”

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc.
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

Can we be in two places at once.  Yes!  How?  I’ll tell you later on in this issue or in next month’s.

But first I want you to ponder a few questions:  What’s your vision for your life?  What’s your purpose in life?  What’s your mission?  Why are you here on planet earth? Why are you alive?  Mark Twain said:  “There are two important days in each of our lives:  the day we were born, and the day we found out why.”

Have YOU found out why you were born?  Did you know that the majority of all adults in the entire world don’t have a clue about why they’re here or where they’re going . . . in terms of goals and plans for their lives and their futures here on earth?  Sadly, that includes people who say they are believers in Jesus and the Bible.  Of all people, those who believe in the Bible and in Jesus should have clear plans and purposes for their futures on earth, but far too many don’t have such plans.

Here’s something God says about your life and future: 

                   “I know what I’m doing [in your life].  I have it all thought out—to take care of you, not to abandon you, to give you the future you hope for.  When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I’m listening.  When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me.”

For the next few months, I’ll be sharing with you some of God’s overall purposes for your life; He really does have a purpose for your life—to give your life meaning, purpose, and hope. Those plans are clearly revealed in the Bible . . . if you’re interested in learning about them.  Contrary to the opinions of many, the Bible is not an old outmoded, antiquated book that has no relevance to our lives in the 21^st century.   Yes,  it’s  an  old book, but God has been using it to change and transform lives for thousands of years . . . if people will accept it at face value, read it, and ask God to transform them.

What on Earth is God Doing?

Here’s a brief reference in the Old Testament part of the Bible—the Book of Proverbs; one version puts it this way: “If people don’t know what God is doing, they perish.” Another reads like this: “When people don’t have a revelation from God about their lives, they revert to anarchy and become totally self-centered and self-absorbed.”  Still another version of the Bible states:  “If you can’t see what God is doing, you’ll stumble all over; but when you pay attention to what He reveals, you will be greatly blessed.”  

I hope you’re one of those who believe in God, have invited Jesus into your life, who  reads and studies your Bible . . . and know why you’re here and where you’re going.  I hope you’re one of those who know God’s Spirit permanently lives inside you in your human spirit and empowers you to transform your life from within.  I hope you ask the Holy Spirit regularly and consistently to assist you to make positive changes in your life.

The Humanist Prayer

Have you ever seen the following prayer?  Probably not, because I wrote it a number of years ago for a friend who was a humanist.  Who is a humanist?   Someone   who   believes there is no God, we are mere products of evolution, and humans are their own gods.  I won’t bother you with the curious circumstances that caused me to write “The Humanist Prayer.”  That would take far too much space, but I understand it has been prayed by thousands of humanists over the years since I wrote it; every now and then I even see it written in a humanist publication:

Our fathers on earth—Darwin,  Hawking, and Dawkins— 
We hallow your names.
Wise and wonderful are you.
There is no God, no kingdom of heaven.
We humans are evolving to usher in 
The “Age of Humanity” on earth.
We don’t need forgiveness for sin,
Nor are we tempted, 
For sin is a figment of the imagination.
Deliver us from religion
And a relationship with God,
For we humans are gods, believing only in evolution and ourselves.
We build our own earthly “kingdoms,”
And have all power.  We are glorious gods!
Forever and ever.        Amen

Millions Pray, “Thy Kingdom Come.”

Contrast and compare that prayer with “The Lord’s Prayer” millions of believers in Jesus pray regularly:

Our heavenly Father,
We hallow your Name.
Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done 
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us what we need each day.
Forgive us our sins 
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not lead us into temptation,
And deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom is yours . . . 
And all power and all glory!
Forever and ever.            Amen

Which of those two prayers do you pray? Oh, I don’t necessarily mean the words, but which of those two prayers is best exemplified in your daily life? Which of them best “fits” how you live and how you behave in your day-to-day life?  In one way or another, you are living one of those prayers.  One says God is King; the other says humanity is king.  The two prayers are mutually exclusive.  In order to “fit in” to the culture and society they live in, many believers in Jesus and the Bible attempt to reconcile humanism with being a believer in Jesus.  It  doesn’t work.  Never has.  Never will.  In fact, if you’re a follower of Jesus attempting to blend in and be a humanist, too, you’ll mess up your life in a major way.  You’ll be double-minded and unstable in all you do.

Unfortunately, that’s often the case with some Jesus believers who have careers in all levels of public education and those in the “helping” professions.   I was a teacher in public school systems for a number of years; believe me, I know what I’m writing about attempting to blend and reconcile belief in the Bible with belief in humanism.  They’re oil and water; they don’t mix . . . .  Notice both those prayers mention desiring a “kingdom” to come.  Which kingdom are you praying and hoping will come to earth?  God’s Kingdom . . . or a kingdom created by humans?  Which of the two types of kingdoms are you hoping will be in your future?  For the next few months, I’m going to be writing about the return of Jesus to earth to usher in God’s coming Kingdom.

Kings and Kingdoms

Throughout most of human history, most kings (and queens, too) have held absolute power over their subjects, many times believing they ruled by “divine right” (or by the right of some “higher power”).  Kings were in total, complete control of everything in their kingdoms . . . much like some dictators are today.  Some historical kings were “good” and benevolent, some were “bad” and evil, doing whatever they pleased.  With a nod of their head, they could take lives or save lives.  

If a king’s subjects ever had to enter the king’s throne room, they often had to bow or lay face down on the floor in abject humility before the king.  In some instances, to look directly at the king was punishable by death.  That was what ancient kings and kingdoms were like. That being the case, why would any reasonable person ever want to pray for King Jesus to return and usher in God’s long-awaited Kingdom of peace?

Modern kings (and queens) are generally mere figureheads, with real political power vested in prime ministers, parliaments, and the like.  Most of us living today have very little understanding of what it was like in the past to live under kings, queens, and other types of monarchs.  Okay, let’s back up for a few minutes.  If God really is the one true and living God (He is!) with all the attributes and characteristics we generally ascribe to God, one of those attributes is God is King—or Ruler, or Monarch—over all He has created.

But God is not at all like many of those ancient, human kings.  There is one basic character trait that defines God:  God is altogether good and absolutely everything He does is good.  (Psalm 119: 68)  That understanding of what God is like, motivates everything I do and teach.  Moreover, the Bible clearly teaches God is love. He loves every human equally and simultaneously from where He is “headquartered” in eternity.  Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, God is your King!  He’s ultimately in charge.  He’s the “Boss.”  He can do anything He wants to do with our lives.  We don’t vote for Him, we don’t get to choose whether or not we want Him to be King of our lives.

But . . . God is not like most of those human kings of the past.  He is good.  He is love.  He is full of grace. He is a benevolent King.  He is always working behind the scenes of our lives for our ultimate good . . . as only God can do!  God’s kingship began before the creation of all things, and has “touched down” upon earth from time to time throughout human history; unfortunately, most of the times God has offered his Kingdom to humans, they have rejected his kingship.  Why? We humans want our own way.  We want to be in charge of our own lives.  We are self-centered and self-absorbed and don’t want anyone—especially God!—“interfering” with our lives.

Jesus and the Kingdom of God

Jesus spoke and taught much about the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven). He was born as King over all, and He remains King over all. When Jesus returned to heaven after having been raised from the dead, He sat down at the right hand of Father God’s throne. From there, He now reigns as King over the spreading Kingdom of God on earth.  Jesus’ Kingdom reign over us will fully begin when Jesus returns to earth to rule and reign for all the ages of time and in eternity—with his royal throne headquartered in the New Jerusalem on a freshly restored earth.  

If we don’t accept his Kingship in our lives now, we will!  He will exercise his royal dominion throughout the entire universe by means of redeemed, resurrected humans (that’s you and me!) who are presently in “training for reigning” and in “schooling for ruling.”  Yes, you will someday reign as a lesser king under the King of kings and Lord of lords!

By the way, when the Bible teaches what I have just written, the word “king” as it applies to humans is not gender-specific.  In Jesus, there is no male nor female; both genders will be kings.  I know this is beginning to read like some far-fetched, fanciful science fiction.  I understand that . . . but it’s true.  Jesus will return to earth as King to usher in the long-awaited Kingdom of God on earth.  Please understand clearly:  I am not predicting when Jesus will return. There’s been enough of that foolishness the past 150 years or so.  I am merely writing that the Bible clearly teaches Jesus will return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, headquartered in the New Jerusalem in the land of Israel.  When Jesus will return is known only by God!

Biblical Reference for the Month:

                    “Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is coming . . . from Jesus, the faithful witness.  He is first among all who will be raised from death.  He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.  Jesus is the one who loves us and has made us free from our sins with his blood sacrifice.  He made us his kingdom and priests who serve God his Father.  To Jesus be glory and power forever and ever!  Look, Jesus is coming with the clouds!  Everyone will see him . . . .”   –From Revelation 1, paraphrased

To Think About This Month

“I really can—and do—know the future.  God Himself is my future, and it is full of his boundless love and amazing grace!”

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc.
E-Mail:  leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

 You’ve seen it on television . . . people on South Pacific islands celebrating the new year  first, then Australia, then New Zealand, and finally the big ball dropping in Times Square in New York City with thousands of people shouting the countdown from the number 10.  What really changes for YOU at that pivotal moment in time—at 12:01 a.m., January 1st? 

Are you magically a brand-new person with all sorts of new dreams and plans for your future?  Do you suddenly change overnight?  Do some instant changes really happen inside you that make you a completely new person?  Do you go to bed after midnight hoping that you’ll dramatically awaken in a brand-new year full of hope and bright promises?  In some cases, that really happens . . . to a relatively few people.  But for most of us such changes in our lives occur very slowly over our lifetimes.

Choices and Decisions

Yes, throughout each of our lifetimes changes usually come when we make small and large choices and decisions moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year.  Most meaningful and lasting changes occur first in our spirits, then in our core beliefs and thoughts, then in our attitudes, and then in our behavior.  Meaningful and lasting changes begin on the inside of each of us and then work their way out into our outward actions and behavior.  

Beware of anyone who tells you to change your behavior first and then change will work its way inside you.  Nope!  It doesn’t work that way.  Never has.  Never will.  And, of course, the best way to make such inner changes is by the power of God’s Holy Spirit Who lives inside us.  He is Jesus in his unbodied other form.  It’s a rare person who can make genuine, lasting changes in himself or herself without the inner power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Consequences

I don’t want to insult your intelligence, but you do know, don’t you, that every decision and choice you make in life has consequences? The consequences may be good or bad, negative or positive, but there are consequences.  What types of choices and decisions have you already made at the very gateway of 2013?  They always . . . always . . . always . . . always have consequences.  Guaranteed.  

A famous leader and army General named Joshua who lived about 3,500 years ago was faced with some tough decisions and choices at one point in his life.  Almost all the people he led and commanded seemed to be making wrong  choices to worship and serve dead gods and idols; Joshua knew what the dire consequences of such decisions would be.  He talked things over with his family and then proclaimed:  “As for me and my family, today we choose to serve only the one true and living God!”

He was saying he and his family would not choose to serve dead gods and idols, they would not choose to follow what seemed to be the “popular” religious trends of that era.  They chose to love and serve God.  They chose to have an intimate relationship with the true and living God.  How about you—here at the beginning of 2013? Are you choosing to serve only yourself?  Are you choosing yourself, your family, your friends, your money, your “toys”?   Or are you making quality decisions to serve and love God foremost during 2013?

Are you serving a “dead” religion or church?  Are you trying to impress God with how good you are?  Are you choosing to be one of those “holier-than-thou” religious hypocrites people around you talk about?  If so, you’re not fooling anyone but yourself; everyone around you knows what you’re really like.  It’s a matter of your choices and decisions . . . and their consequences.  You decide.  You choose. Realize every choice and decision you make throughout 2013 will have good or bad, positive or negative, consequences!

Who Is My Neighbor?

Here we are in early 2013. Christmas is over and you don’t have even a dime left to give yourself even one gift. But you won’t need money for the gifts I’m writing about.  Jesus instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Who are our neighbors?  Are they simply the people who live next door to us?  Or across the street?  The Bible defines “neighbor” as “someone who is close to me.” 

So . . . my neighbor is anyone who is close to me:  geographically, physically, spiritually, or relationally.  No, a neighbor is not necessarily the person who lives next door—but it can be.  A neighbor can even be someone who lives far away geographically, but close relationally.  For example, we have some close “neighbors” who live half a world and continent away in China and New York City.  A neighbor can be a family member, a friend far away, someone next door, a brother or sister anywhere in God’s worldwide family:  anyone who fits the Bible’s definition of “someone close to me.”

Actually my point here is not so much who my neighbor is.  My point is we’re not to love our neighbors in place of ourselves, or instead of ourselves.  We’re to love them as we love ourselves—in the same manner and to the same degree we love ourselves.  Stop trying to avoid facing your self and not loving your self by attempting to love others in place of your self.  Until you honestly love and accept your self, any love you devote to others is diminished and even wasted sometimes.  Of course, you can love yourself only when you understand that God loves you with all his love, all his favor, all his grace just as you are—the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Your greatest gift you can give yourself in 2013 is to love and accept yourself in the same manner and to the same degree God loves you.  Love yourself “as is,” knowing you are a work in progress by God to fully restore you into his image over time.

The Image of God

God’s image means you are a visible representation of the invisible God. Sin has marred and blurred and smudged God’s image in you, but He is in the lifelong process of restoring you into his clear image.  So . . . accept yourself just as God does.  Be easy on yourself.  Accept the mistakes you will make in 2013 as merely being stepping stones to future successes.  You’re not a failure.  Sure, you’ll fail many times in 2013, but you’re not a failure.

You Will Not Be A Failure in 2013

People are not failures; failures are events which occur in our lives. No, we are not failures! Lighten up in 2013. Live a little. Laugh a little. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Give yourself the gift of loving yourself.  Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying: “Most people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  Also, why not try to learn once and for all in 2013 that God doesn’t depend on you alone to“defend” Him or defend the truth.  You are not his sole spokesperson on planet earth.  You’re not his only “defender of the faith.”  You’re not his only witness running around frantically trying to convince people to receive Jesus into their lives.

Believe it or not, there are almost 8 billion people on planet earth who don’t even know you exist.  Yuh can’t win ‘em all!  God and Jesus are perfectly capable of drawing people into a vital relationship with themselves without you.  True, in Jesus, God has selected you to accomplish certain portions of his plans and purposes for all humankind, but you, personally, are not the savior of humankind, nor of your friends, nor of your family, nor of your neighbors.  God is the sole Savior of humankind through Jesus!  

Take some walks this year.  Spend time with your family.  Skip a rock across a lake.  Hold a cat on your lap and pet it for a few moments.  Join hands and skip through a park with someone.  Another tip:  if you’re too busy as you enter 2013, unbusy yourself.  You cannot say “Yes” to God, to life, to your church, to your family, to your work, until you learn to say “No” to the unessentials. Always be careful not to be significantly engaged in that which is not significant!

Learn to live in 2013 on a “choose to” or “want to” basic rather than on a “have to” basis.  You may engage in many good things, but remember the good is always the enemy of the best!  Turn your life around in 2013.  You have the inner power of the Holy Spirit to change key areas of your life.  Become a victor instead of a victim in 2013.  Be a power-full self-changer in 2013.

Change and Transformation in 2013

Don’t make the mistake of expecting 2013 to have all the qualities of God in it, though. Learn to recognize the differences between God and life on this planet. Life is life. God is God. Don’t confuse the two. Life will not always be fair. Life will not always be good. Life will always be changing.Life will always be full of a certain amount of dis-stress.  But God is fair.  God is good.  God never changes.  God is serene and free of stress. 

Learn to tap into God in 2013.  Learn to see that God filters all the events of your life through His love and grace for you.  Speaking of some of God’s qualities, try to learn once and for all during 2013 that, although God is always and ever good, not all the people He has created are good.  Yes, He has created us humans in his image, but some humans grossly distort that image.

During 2013 learn that God’s goodness is often overshadowed by our own self-centered badness.  You can’t change the badness in others, but you can change it in you with the inner power of Holy Spirit.  Sometimes it’s just our own mental and spiritual laziness that holds us back.  If you are created in God’s image (and you are!), and if you are “in Jesus” (and you are!), then you have tremendous inner power to change for the good in 2013.  Frankly, I grow weary of people who tell me they keep praying and praying for God to change them.  You’re wasting your time.  You need to change yourself with the inner power of Holy Spirit.

That’s why God has forgiven all your sin.  That’s why God has forgotten your old pre-Jesus life.  That’s why He has given you a new life in Jesus.  That’s why He lives inside you in the power of Holy Spirit.  That’s why He has given you power to change yourself—the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is inside you right this moment as you enter 2013!  Yes, for 2013 give yourself a gift of a changed and transformed you.  You can’t change and transform yourself without the inner power of Holy Spirit.  You’ll be doomed to disappointment without relying on his inner power.  Remember, that inner power comes from Holy Spirit—the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead!

If you will learn to rely upon the inner power of Holy Spirit as you attempt to make changes in your life, I predict that 2013 will be the most successful and prosperous year of your life thus far.  Remember, the Bible defines “success” as “steadily and consistently moving toward accomplishing God’s plans and purposes for my life.  It is a journey, not a destination.”  “Prosperity” is “for me to have enough for my journey.” Everything in all creation is always absolutely simultaneous to God.  Therefore, He has already “been” in all of 2013.  And He is there “now.”  Stay focused on God and build your relationship with Him as you make your journey through 2013.

          “I know what I’m doing.  I have 2013 all thought out—to take care of you, not abandon you, to give you the future you hope for.  When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.  When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.  I’ll turn things around for you in 2013.”     –God, Jeremiah 19: 11 – 14, paraphrased

To think about this month

“I pray that the best I’ve experienced in my life during 2012 will be the worst I will experience throughout 2013!”

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

You do know, don’t you, that Jesus was not born on December 25^th? Most likely He was born either in the late spring or early fall.  The date of December 25^th was arbitrarily borrowed from a winter festival celebrated by the ancient Romans.  But I’m not on a one-man crusade to do away with celebrating Jesus’ birth on December 25^th.  The important thing is that a real person named Jesus was born in the land of Israel 2,000 years ago.

His birth mother was named Mary; his stepfather was named Joseph of Nazareth, a woodworker and carpenter.  Jesus had real half brothers and sisters.  In brief, Jesus was a real person who was born, lived, and died by execution as a criminal at age 33.  Those are all facts which can be proved historically and archaeologically.  But the facts don’t stop there.  An additional fact is that after He was killed and buried, 72 hours later he was brought back to life by the power of God the Holy Spirit.  After that, He returned to heaven and will come to earth the second time to inaugurate and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

Christmas, then, is about not only Jesus’ birth, but it’s also about his life, death, resurrection from the dead, his ascension to heaven, and his future return to earth.  Christmas is a “package deal”; it’s not about only one part of the story—his birth—but about all the other events about Jesus that together comprise the Gospel, the “Good News.”

Merry Christmas!

I know!  I know!  To be “politically correct” here in USAmerica, we’re not supposed to greet people with “Merry Christmas” these days.   The word “Christ” seems to offend a lot of people.  But . . . I’m writing it anyhow:  “Merry Christmas!” So there . . .  Let the political correctness police come and arrest me!  Slowly but surely Christmas is fading from our culture, being replaced by such counterfeits as “Winter Holiday” and “Celebration of the Winter Solstice.”

GOD OF NOW

God transcends the four known dimensions of time and space, “residing” in a hyperdimensional, transdimensional, or polydimensional “place” called eternity.  In fact, current science tells us there are many more dimensions than only the four we live in.  Some physicists say there are at least 10 dimensions . . . or many more.  God transcends all of them, no matter how many there are.  And . . . because of those polydimensions beyond time and space, time can actually turn in on itself and go “backwards.”  Scientists have proved mathematically that can happen, although they haven’t seen it happen in real life . . . yet.  God dwells “outside” of and “above” time and space so that past, present, and future are all simultaneous to Him.  For God, everything is always “now.”

That being the case, from God’s eternal perspective his coming to earth as a human baby    is   forever occurring    “now”—as    well     as 2,000 years ago.  For God, time really can go backwards:  not actually, but I hope you’re getting a feeling for what I’m trying to say about time.  From God’s perspective in eternity, the entire life span of Jesus—his conception by the Holy Spirit, his birth from a virgin mother, his sinless life, his cruel death, his resurrection from the dead, and his return to heaven—are always “now.”

So God gets to celebrate Christmas all the time—allwhere and allwhen!  And we can celebrate it all year . . . if we choose to.  God is continually—always and ever—pouring out his love to all humanity—from a manger in Bethlehem, from a cross on a hill outside Jerusalem, from an empty tomb, and from his throne of grace in eternity.  Remember:  God’s throne is a throne of grace, not of judgment, the foundations of which are righteousness and justice.

Here’s a paraphrased version of some words from a Celtic song:

Love and grace, like mighty rivers
Flow unceasing from above.
And heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kiss a guilty world with love!

Let’s not limit God to some events that happened in our four-dimensional time and space 2,000 years ago.  Let’s not limit Jesus to a baby in a manger in a hillside stable 2,000 years ago.  Yes, we celebrate our Saviour’s birth each December 25th, but we can also celebrate it daily throughout the year.

Immanuel

 You’ve heard Jesus called—or named—Immanuel, haven’t you?  By the way, the word is sometimes spelled with an “E” as the first letter.  Immanuel is found in Matthew 1: 23, quoting from Isaiah 7: 14.  Immanuel is a Bible word meaning “God is fully present with us.” But it doesn’t refer only to when Jesus was born that God became “with us” as God in human form.  No, it means that since the time of Jesus God is with us in the sense that He is now always fully present with us . . . and in us.  

Yes, God is always with us, living inside us  in his “unbodied form” of Holy Spirit.  He is fully present with us now during this mortal stage of our journey.  He will be fully present with us when we die.  And He will always be with us in the eons of time to come and in the eternal state after the universe and the earth are freshly renovated and restored by God.  So . . . because God is always fully present with us and in us, we, too, can join God in celebrating Christmas all year long.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Gift Giving

What gifts do you hope to receive for Christmas this year?  What presents do you plan to give for Christmas this year?  How much will you be spending?  How much can you honestly afford to spend?  Why do we practice Christmas gift-giving in the first place?  Oh, I know all about Saint Nicholas . . . and how the wise men brought gifts to Jesus when He was a toddler . . . and how gift-giving at Christmas has just “always been done.”  But has it?  Really?

 Wanna know when gift-giving by God’s people actually began?  I’m glad you asked. Gift-giving as we know it today—from a biblical perspective—actually began about 2,500 years ago during the time of Queen Esther in the Old Testament.  After God delivered Queen Esther and the Israelites of that day from an evil plot to kill all of them, they celebrated “with days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9: 22). 

500 years before Jesus was born, God’s people began giving gifts to one another and presents to the poor!  But if our custom of giving gifts to others at Christmas began with the wise men giving gifts to Jesus, why do we give gifts to one another?  After all, whose birthday is it?  Aren’t we supposed to give birthday gifts to the one whose birthday we are celebrating?

A Shift in our Thinking

Maybe we need a radical shift in our thinking about who we should be giving birthday gifts to this time of year.  Maybe we need to give gifts to Jesus instead of to other people.  Maybe we’re missing something by what we’re doing.  Maybe we need to change something—beginning this year.  Jesus said on one occasion that there will always be poor people.  I take that at face value.  I believe there will always be poor people, both in this life and in the age to come after Jesus returns to establish his Kingdom here on earth with his universal headquarters in Jerusalem.  

Some folks teach that after Jesus returns to earth, He will instantly make all things new by Divine fiat.  I don’t hold that view.  Instead, I firmly believe the Bible teaches that it will take a minimum of 1,000 years for Him to lay the groundwork for ushering in a fully restored universe and earth before we enter into a state of being called eternity.

Jesus Begins to Change Everything!

 For example, I believe it will take at least a few centuries after He returns for Him to firmly take control of all earth’s governmental entities.  It will be the same with earth’s educational systems.  And dismantling earth’s military-industrial establishments, turning all of that vast industry into peaceful purposes.    And restructuring all earth’s economic systems, finally beginning to truly eradicate poverty once and for all.  Having said that, the poor will continue to exist on this planet for a long time to come.  Jesus expects those who “have” to help those who “have not.”  

So . . . during this Christmas season, why not give gifts to the poor around you?  No one is so poor that they cannot locate someone nearby who is just a little poorer.  Jesus said in Matthew 25 if we aid and assist those who are less well off than we are, that is the same as serving Him.  How much money are you planning to spend on gifts to others this Christmas?  Even putting some of it on your credit card that you won’t be able to pay off for months?

Joy In Giving

I guarantee you will find much more joy in giving if you will give to the poor rather than spend money you don’t even have for gifts no one uses.  Or for gifts that are used for only a short while and then just tossed aside on a pile in the attic, garage, or basement with last year’s Christmas gifts.  You and I cannot eradicate poor-dom from planet earth—at least not until after Jesus returns.  Only King Jesus can—and will—eradicate poor-dom after He returns to fully establish his Kingdom on earth.  But . . . we can help one poor person or one poor family in our locale during this Christmas season. 

I guarantee that not very far from you wherever you live on this planet, there is at least one poor person or family you can help with gifts in Jesus’ Name!  Do you remember that Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”? (that’s in Acts 20: 35)  Do you believe what He said?  I do.  It really is more blessed to give than to receive.  I don’t believe that’s simply an empty statement Jesus made.  I believe it’s a promise and principle as well.

          It’s Jesus birthday; let’s give our gifts to Him instead of to one another!

You may be protesting, “What will people think!  What will my children say?  What will my family think? We’ve already bought most of our presents?  I’ve already charged everything to my credit card.  I’ve placed lots of things on layaway at K-Mart.”  Here’s  my  response  to  all  those   excuses:  

“S-o-o-o-o!  Who are you trying  to please?” Return those things.  Get your money back.  Remove things from layaway.  Talk things over with your family.  Find a poor person or family in your locale.  Bless them richly this Christmas day!  Spread your joy.  Bless someone poor in the Name of Jesus.  Make God happy.  He will take great delight in your new approach to Christmas gift-giving.  Give gifts to Jesus this year and all your years to come!  Remember, He is always fully present with us and in us!

                   “For a child has been born – for us!  The gift of a son – for us! [When he returns] He’ll take over running the world.  His name will be: Amazing Counselor, Mighty God, Fatherof all time and eternity, Prince of Peace. His rule over earth will spread, and the peace He establishes will be limitless. He’ll rule from the historic throne of David over that coming kingdom, which He’ll place an a firm footing and keep it going with fair dealings and right living…lasting always.” —Isaiah 9: 6 and 7

To think about this month

“Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and LIFE to us He brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise the children of earth,
Born to give us second birth.
Hark!  The herald angels sing:
‘Glory to our newborn King!’”

–adapted from Charles Wesley, 1739

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc.
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

Stop The Madness!

NOTE:  This is the conclusion of a two-part series I began last month. 

 I love watching some episodes of the old “Friends” TV sitcom.  In one episode, five of the six friends were arguing and yelling at one another.  Finally, the sixth friend, Phoebe, screamed at the other five: “Stop the madness!” It was a comical scene.  Sometimes I want to scream:  “Stop the madness,” too.  What madness?  Madness about the way so many of us misunderstand Jesus’ return to earth and the so-called end of the world.

When Was The Book Of Revelation Written?

 Much of what I wrote last month—and will write this month—depends upon when the Book of Revelation was written.  Many Bible scholars who study and date the books of the Bible mistakenly believe Revelation was written toward the end of the first century, around 90 – 95 A.D.  It’s interesting how scholars came up with those incorrect dates, but I won’t bore you with those reasons.  However, that view is slowly changing.  Many reliable and reputable scholars and historians now believe the Book of Revelation was written about 65 or 66 A.D.  Why is that important?  Why does that make a difference in “end time” beliefs?

 Here’s why.  Those who believe it was written about 65 or 66 A.D. believe that the events in chapters 1 through 18 of Revelation already occurred from 66 to 72 A.D., a 7-year period of “great tribulation” and persecution never before experienced by Jews and Jesus believers both in the land of Israel and throughout the Roman Empire.  I, too, have come to hold the view that the Book of Revelation was  written  about 65 or 66 A.D.  I am convinced that that all the events in Revelation 1 – 18 already happened between 66 and 72 A.D.,  throughout the Roman Empire and in the land of Israel.  Only the events written about in Revelation chapters 19 – 22 are still future events—events which are yet to happen as this age comes to a close before Jesus returns.

 Events in Revelation 1 – 18 can be  factually supported by actual historical events that happened in the Roman Empire and Israel from 66 to 72 A.D.  In fact, you studied many of those events in high school or college when you studied about the Roman Empire.  For example, do you remember studying about Nero and the burning of the city of Rome?  About the total destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.?  Those are the kinds of events I mean.  Yes, the events of Revelation 1 – 18 already occurred 2,000 years ago.

Globalization

Let’s continue now with some of the factual, true matters I began to write about last month—matters to show all things may not necessarily be getting worse; some matters are getting better.  For example, globalization is not the totally evil matter many people have come to believe it is.  There is no “Antichrist” hiding out somewhere waiting behind the scenes to establish an evil one-world government; the next one-world government will be established when Jesus returns to earth to inaugurate his universal, “one world” Kingdom.  

As a matter of fact, globalization has enhanced the lives of billions of people on the planet through international trade and specialization.  It has helped far more people than it has harmed.  Globalization has the potential to substantially increase the world’s quality of life in almost every area of life without doing away with national borders and national integrity.  Increasing globalization is simply preparing the way for Jesus’ return to establish his own “Kingdom globalization” over planet earth.   Globalization is not a horrible, evil thing preparing the world for the coming of a fictional Antichrist!  When Jesus returns, He will simply take what globalization has already occurred by that time and transform it into continuing growth and development undergirded by true righteousness and justice.

Overpopulation and World Hunger 

How about the fear of overpopulation in our futures . . . when there won’t be enough food for everyone, enough fuel, enough of anything?  Certainly that must be setting us up for the coming of the Antichrist and a wholly evil one-world government.  Don’t be misinformed by well-intended, but wrong, fear-mongers, even if they’re Bible-believing believers in Jesus!  I find all too often that believers in Jesus are sometimes far more gullible about a gloom-and-doom, fear-filled future than are pre-believers.  Often, those who believe the Bible are far more likely to believe without question so-called end-time teachings that simply aren’t found in the Bible.

One Glaring Example of False Teaching!

Let me give you just one glaring example.  Ask most any Jesus believer who reads and studies the Bible to look up “Antichrist” in the Book of Revelation.  Most people will grab their Bible concordance (a book to help locate all the words in the Bible) and start searching for “Antichrist” in the book of Revelation.  Surprise.  Surprise!  The word Antichrist never appears—not even once—in the Book of Revelation.  And yet there is an entire plethora of end-time teaching about the subject of the “Antichrist” in the Book of Revelation.  Look it up for yourself.  It just ain’t there, friends.  That’s just one example among many about fears people have which are completely unfounded and nonbiblical.

Facts Replace Fears

Here are some facts to replace such fears.  One fear is that the world is becoming overpopulated.  Yes, the world population is growing, but the rate of increase is declining; for example, in the less developed parts of the world the birth rate is half what it was just fifty years ago.  Some statisticians tell us that the world population will reach its peak in just a few years and then begin declining.  We’re pretty well feeding most everyone on the planet right now, and, overall, people are eating better every passing decade.  There is enough food for everyone!  It’s a matter of distribution, not quantity.

How about the hue and cry that we’re running out of so-called fossil fuels?  One example in response to those fears:  tar sands and oil shale worldwide contain about 20 times the proven oil and natural gas reserves of the Middle East.  Again, it’s a matter of distribution, not quantity.  Likely, researchers will find alternatives to fossil fuels long before they run out.

Overall—and again I’m generalizing—today, people worldwide have enjoyed more peace, greater freedom, more leisure time, more widespread education, better health, and more opportunities to travel than any other people in history.  What about all the natural disasters that seem to be happening more and more frequently and seem to be stronger and bigger than in the past?  I’ll “cut to the chase”:  there aren’t any more than in the past.  They’re not worse than in the past.  

We simply have better means of observing and reporting natural disasters and seeing them occur in real time and in living color right in our own living rooms on big screen television.  For example, let’s say that 200 years ago there was a major tsunami somewhere in the far eastern portion of the Pacific Rim.  It’s possible that people living in North America at the time may have never heard of it because the worldwide, real-time media we have today simply wasn’t available then.

Catastrophe

“If you say the world will go on getting better, you are considered mad.  If you say catastrophe is imminent, you may expect the Nobel Peace Prize,” says optimist Matt Ridley.  He’s right.  My own reading audience would grow larger if I predicted doom, gloom, the rise of Antichrist, something called the “mark of the beast,” and an army of 200 million invading Israel.  How about the great final Battle of Armageddon?  But if I write things will keep getting better and better—overall—before Jesus returns to establish his worldwide Kingdom, I get all sorts of nasty responses from people demanding I remove their e-mail addresses from our database.

All I ask is please don’t use any strong, scathing, nasty language that might cause my computer to crash!  Be polite.  Be nice.  Some people almost seem to prefer the negative, pessimistic, gloom-and-doom view instead of more fact-based reality about the future.  For approximately 200 years the gloom and doom pessimists have enjoyed most of the headlines—even though optimists have far more often been right.  For some strange reasons, many of we humans prefer to be pessimistic; for one thing, pessimism brings in a lot of money.

Very few religious radio and TV programs have ever raised money by saying things are getting better.  Hal Lindsay, Jack Van Impe, Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, and many others like them would not be able to continue  their radio and TV programs if they begin to preach and teach that things are getting better.  They might even (Gulp!) lose their incomes and have to get real jobs.  If they write the end of the world is not likely to occur soon, they would have nothing to say to their vast audiences.  Few people would purchase their books or DVD’s.  Dare to be an optimist!  Dare to believe God is in total control of world events.  Dare to believe the next major event on God’s agenda is for King Jesus to return to earth to establish his Kingdom.

Again, please, please, PLEASE understand I am generalizing about many such matters.  Yes, there are people who live in abject poverty.  Yes, there are natural disasters.  Yes, there are some fuel shortages.  Yes, there are some overpopulated areas.  Yes, there are wars.  Yes, many believers in Jesus are being imprisoned, tortured, and even killed because of their belief in Jesus.  But, overall, things are not getting worse.  The world is not going to hell in a handbasket.  The so-called Antichrist is not going to appear soon.  There is not going to be a fanciful Rapture to snatch Jesus’ followers away from earth so they won’t have to endure the “Great Tribulation.”  You’re not going to be tattooed with the “mark of the beast.”  China is not going to invade the Middle East.  The earth is not going to be destroyed in nuclear conflagrations.  You’re not going to have to hide out from the Antichrist for seven years.

Hope Is A Person!

If you’re a believer in Jesus, He—living in you—is your sole hope of glory . . . and the future! (Colossians 1: 27)  Yes, Jesus could return soon to establish his long-awaited Kingdom.  Or . . . it may be a thousand years before He will return.  No human knows for certain in spite of many slick, well-designed “prophetic timelines,” charts, and “proofs.”  Meanwhile, take hope.  God is in control.  Get on with the ordinary events of your life.   Trust God.  Surrender your life to His mastery.  Live an ordinary life by loving and serving the  EXTRAordinary God.

                   “Then I saw a freshly restored universe and earth; and there was no more sea.  Then I, John, saw the holy city, the freshly restored Jerusalem, coming down to earth out of heaven, as a bride prepared and adorned for her husband.  Now God will live with and in humanity for all time and eternity.  All tears will be wiped away.  There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain . . . all of that over and done with and behind us once and for all.  Then God says from his throne:  ‘Pay attention!  I have freshly restored all creation.’”                                                –From Revelation 21, paraphrased

To think about this month

“The path of God-believers glows with light, but the road of pre-believers gets darker and darker.”                   —Proverbs 4: 18 

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020

Apocalypse Now?            Apocalypse No!

NOTE:  This is part one of a two-part teaching this month and next.

apocalypse – noun:  a cataclysmic event, especially the end of the world

You’ll probably find this hard to believe, but I’ve made mistakes in the past, I’ll probably make a few today, and I’m quite sure I’ll make some in the future.  Some of the mistakes I’ve made have been about what the Bible teaches.  One prevailing theme found in the Bible is called biblical eschatology or the study of “end-times.”  I’ve made some mistakes in that subject through the years.  But all I can do is share what the Bible teaches, based on my present level of understanding and current state of awareness.

 In The Traveler this month and next month I’m going to share with you my present, current understanding about “end time,” apocalyptic events.  My present views are controversial.  I already know what you read will anger some of you.  Others will be puzzled.  A few of you will send me nasty e-mails.  Some of you will angrily ask us to remove your e-mail address from our database.  But . . . possibly some of you will be encouraged and perhaps even breathe a sigh of relief that I’m writing what you may have secretly been believing but were afraid to tell other people.

Here we go . . . .

The world is not going to end soon.  Or ever.  There is no coming antichrist who will be a tool of the devil to attempt to rule the world.  Russia is not going to invade Israel.  An army of 200,000,000 is not going to march into the Middle East.  There isn’t going to be a “Great Tribulation.”  Believers in Jesus aren’t going to  be   “raptured”  away  from   the  earth  to a “safe” location in the universe so they won’t suffer during a “Great Tribulation.”  There will not be a revived Roman Empire in Europe.  People won’t have “the mark of the beast” tattooed on their foreheads or inserted under their skin as a microchip.

 Are those enough controversial statements?  I could write more, but I won’t.  Instead of those controversial statements (and similar ones) what do I feel is going to happen in the future?

God’s “Timetable”

And . . . the only “signs of the times” yet to occur are those found in Matthew 24: 14 in the Bible.  I’ll let you look that up and ponder Jesus’ words for yourself.  If I attempted to explain what Jesus said, that would be even more controversial.  Why in the world am I writing like this?  Why be controversial?  What am I trying to prove?

First, for many thousands of people there’s a certain obsessive, perverse attraction to end-of-the-world events.  Look at the tabloids in our supermarkets, for example.  Next, I often grow weary—even fed up!—with   various Bible-believing followers of Jesus who continually see nothing but gloom and doom in their futures.  In short, they feel the world is “going to hell in a handbasket”—and they spread that negative, stinkin’ thinkin’ to others.

Also, some obsessive “end-timers” almost take a perverse delight in believing they’ll be saved, whereas pre-believers will be doomed to the lake of fire.  The believing end-timers are almost gleeful that pre-believers will be “getting what they deserve” for rejecting Jesus in this life.  There’s another side to that same end-time “coin,” too.  Some who believe in cataclysmic end-time events suffer undue stress and anxiety wondering whether or not they’ll be one of those who “make it” through the Great Tribulation or wondering whether or not they’ll be “left behind” at the rapture.  Some often wonder:  “What if there’s unconfessed sin in my life at the moment the rapture occurs; does that mean I’ll be left behind?”

So . . . there are two sides to the coin for those who wonder about and fear cataclysmic end-time events.  I try to think “outside the box,” especially about the Bible and related matters.  I will be doing that in this issue of The Traveler.  And next month.  I am convinced such gloom and doom, apocalyptic thinking is untrue.  I am convinced the best is yet to be.  I do not see the world going to hell in a handbasket.

 Unfortunately, many conservative, evangelical, Jesus believers have a finely honed sense of impending disaster they “feed” on.  I hope you’re not one of them!   Some mistakenly feel there has been a great cosmic battle between God and Satan from time immemorial, with the outcome still not certain.  They feel even if God wins, He will end up with only a small fraction of humanity on the winning side, whereas Satan will end up with the vast majority of people burning in hell forever.  How utterly naïve to believe God is that weak and Satan that strong . . . or that human “free will” can thwart God’s will!

I Am A Futurist

I feel every Jesus believer on planet earth should be a futurist.  What is a futurist?    A futurist is someone who sees the “upside,” not the “downside,” of the future.  God is a futurist.  He sees nothing but ultimate good for the future of all humankind.  Why does God see our future as good?  Because He is altogether good and absolutely everything He does is good (Psalm 119: 68).   That is a basic, bedrock belief of mine that underlies all I think and write.  I choose to be optimistic rather than pessimistic.   I choose to believe that the next event on God’s timetable for earth and humanity is for King Jesus to return to earth to inaugurate his wonder-full Kingdom!

Have you heard of the International World Future Society (IWFS)?  It is not a Bible-based Society by any stretch of the imagination.  Interestingly, however, many Bible believers belong to the Society.  The Society’s members are people from around the world who choose to be optimistic about the future, rather than pessimistic.  They try to seek out and find factual information about the future of the world from a positive viewpoint, rather than from a negative viewpoint.

Why Be Optimistic?

 Why do I choose to be optimistic rather than pessimistic about the future?  First, optimism is a belief that the future will turn out well.  I honestly believe that’s what the Bible (taken together as a whole!) teaches about the future of earth and humanity.  I’m well aware that anyone can take certain biblical references as “proof texts” to “prove” various events might occur in the future.  But—again—we must determine what the Bible teaches—as a whole!—about future events.  Second, optimism is something one does, not something one feels.  Optimism is simply to choose having a more positive way of looking at life in general.

Among other things, optimism actually promotes better cardiovascular health, and serves to enhance one’s immune system.  In short, optimism is simply better for us in terms of our overall health and wellbeing.  For example, a recent study showed that optimists are 9 percent less likely to develop heart disease than pessimists.  They are only 77 percent as likely to be rehospitalized after some types of major surgery.  Optimists on average have blood pressure 5 points lower than pessimists.  Finally, fact-based optimists live an average of 9.5 years longer than negative, fear-based pessimists.  An authentic, fact-based optimist is far more a realist than is a pessimist.  

And a Bible-based optimist is even more of a true realist, seeing reality through God’s eyes—having an unlimited KingdomView rather than a mere limited human worldview, no matter how expansive.  I try to encourage people to adopt a secure, safe Kingdom Dream, rather than a mere elusive, transitory American Dream (or any other national dream).  Is the world really going to hell in a handbasket?  Are things really getting worse and worse—to end in some sort of worldwide “great tribulation” and fiery conflagration? 

God is not going to destroy the earth and everything and everyone on it.  There will not be a brand-new “replacement” earth inhabited by only a relatively few Jesus believers, dancing on golden streets, strumming on harps in some sort of boring, eternal church service.  No.  No.  No!  God is going to freshly restore earth and everything and everyone on it to a far greater condition than it ever was.

For a fuller teaching on the subject of restoration in the Bible, I invite you to read our teaching entitled “Restoration” on thisweb site:  www.leservices.org

Let’s look at some factual, alternative views in contrast to the gloom and doom views that everything is just going to get worse and worse.

Some Alternative Views

For example, there are some people who feel the Church of Jesus worldwide is barely surviving the relentless onslaughts of Satan and various “false” religions.  Here’s an interesting thought in response to that mistaken view.  At the end of the first century, 1 in 35 people on earth claimed to believe in Jesus as their Savior.  In 2012, 1 in 7 people on earth claim to believe in Jesus as their Savior.  Does that look like the Church is losing ground, overall?  It doesn’t to me.

I’m in no position to decide who is and who isn’t an authentic believer in Jesus.

100 years ago, in 1912, 15% of the world’s population lived under some measure of freedom or some form of democracy.  Now, in 2012, 65% of the people on this planet live under some sort of freedom or democracy.  Don’t misunderstand me:  many, many people still live under some sort of authoritarian government or even in slavery.  But—overall!—those figures are true.

We must always—always!—look at the overall figures . . . at the “big picture,” not at specific, isolated situations and scenarios to prove how “bad” things are getting.  Just as we must always study as a whole what the Bible teaches—not take isolated references as “proof texts.”  In general, are we better off now than we were, say, 60 years ago?  The average human now earns nearly 3 times as much as then (corrected for inflation), and can expect to live one third longer.  Actually, it’s hard to find any place on the planet that’s worse off now than it was then, even though earth’s population has doubled in that amount of time.

You understand, don’t you, that I’m generalizing about such matters?  If you choose to, you can find fault with any of these alternative views I’m presenting.  While it is true that the rich are getting richer, the percentage of the world’s people living in abject poverty was reduced more in the past 60 years than in the previous 500 years!  In 2012, the essential things most people need (not want) for daily living is markedly cheaper than it was 50 years ago or a century ago.  Food, clothing, and shelter have grown markedly cheaper, overall.  Another example: in just USAmerica today, rivers, lakes, and air are getting cleaner every year.  Here’s an interesting fact:  a car today emits less pollution traveling than a parked car did from leaks in the 1960’s.

Continued next month

                    “Then I saw a freshly restored universe and earth, different than the present universe and earth as we now know them; and there was no more sea.  Then I, John, the writer of this revelation, saw the holy city, the freshly restored Jerusalem, coming down to earth out of heaven, as a bride prepared and adorned for her husband.  Now God who sits on his throne will say:   ‘Pay attention!  I have freshly restored my entire creation.’”                                                                                                –From Revelation 21, paraphrased

To think about this month: 

“The world can’t end today because it’s already tomorrow on the other side of the world.”      —Adapted from Charles Schulz

Bill Boylan
Life Enrichment Services, Inc
leservices38@yahoo.com
Revised and Updated December 2020