March 2023

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Politicians running for office have a propensity for lying. They lie about their qualifications, about their heritage, about what they will do if elected, and about their opponents. “Going negative” with half-truths, truths taken out of context, and outright fabrications seems to be perfectly acceptable when it comes to politics. The public seems not to care and, in fact, anticipates no better.

One of the more recent and egregious examples is that of Congressman George Santos, who appears to have fabricated everything from when and how his mother died, to his heritage, to where he went to school and where he worked. Democrats and the media jumped all over this, just as Republicans were all over Senator Elizabeth Warren when it was discovered that she fabricated her heritage as being Native American to gain advantageous minority status in law school and more. Politicians of all stripes tell whoppers to get elected and to promote their agendas once in office, so this is not about party affiliation but about character and the state of modern democracy.

One might wonder, What’s the big deal—hasn’t it always been this way? But what happens when the lies do not stop once the campaign is over? Allan Melzer, writing for the Hoover Institution, made this observation: “Most of us learn at some point that politicians tell lies. We expect them to stop once they hold office or to face the consequences. In the past, politicians that violated the public trust resigned, most notably President Richard Nixon. Other lesser officials have also been punished for abusing public trust. No longer. In campaigns, and in office, politicians and their aides or supporters deliberately lie about matters of importance” (“Lies Politicians Tell Us,” Hoover.org, July 27, 2016).

Lies and deceptions have now become endemic from the highest ranks of public service. When Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas proclaims the border secure, the public can be forgiven for being skeptical when all the evidence points to a deliberate open-border policy. When Dr. Anthony Fauci declares that masks are useless, but later admits that he lied to protect the supply of masks for healthcare

workers—and contradicts himself on numerous other occasions—is it any wonder that outrageous conspiracies have gained so much traction on social media?

Falsehoods are hardly confined to politics. The media has always had a difficult time getting the facts straight, even when they sincerely try. I learned this a long time ago when reading media reports about the beliefs and background of Tomorrow’s World, something I know intimately. Only on rare occasion did a reporter get the facts completely correct. Sometimes, a deliberately negative bias seemed to be skewing a report.

Lies are tearing apart the fabric of our nations. Deliberately distorting the truth is not new, but falsehoods are now so pervasively deliberate in governments and media that all credibility is lost.

What to Do

Lies and injustice go hand in glove. This point is made by the prophet Isaiah, who perfectly describes what we see daily from our leaders, mainstream media, and even less credible social media.

No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies…. Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity [fairness, impartiality] cannot enter. So truth

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fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice (Isaiah 59:4, 13–15).

It is evident in America, and not only in America, that there is patently a double standard for justice. Some people are prosecuted mercilessly, while others commit crimes with impunity. Isaiah reminds us that plots are hatched behind closed doors in such an atmosphere.

They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; he who eats of their eggs dies, and from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. Their webs will not become garments, nor will they cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths (Isaiah 59:5–7).

Whatever else can be said about Elon Musk, he has revealed the depth to which the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conspired with Twitter to suppress information contrary to their desired narrative. This goes beyond politics. Dirty tricks and plots to deceive cross all lines, and when the power of the state runs amok, trouble is on the horizon. Indeed, “truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey” (Isaiah 59:15).

What Is the Source of Lies?

Lies, injustice, evil plots—with each come the others. Jesus explained to the evil-minded Pharisees of His day that these sins bring us into bondage. The truth, by contrast, brings freedom (John 8:32). Jesus spared no words with those corrupt leaders as He revealed the source of their lies: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from

his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

Justice cannot survive in an atmosphere of falsehoods. That is one reason why God gave us the Ninth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Truth, justice, and impartiality are important to God. That is why we are told in this passage from Isaiah that “the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him…. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay…. He will fully repay” (Isaiah 59:15–16, 18).

One truth of Scripture that many—even most professing Christians—fail to recognize, though it is plainly stated in numerous passages, is that it is Satan the devil, the father of lies, who is “the god of this world” and therefore “the ruler of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). He is called “the prince of the power of the air,” the one who directs “the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2). In fact, Satan himself prevents this truth from being taught in mainstream churches.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He is coming back as King of kings to remove that evil spirit being and to set up a new government on earth (Revelation 20:1–4). The Gospel Jesus Christ proclaimed is that of “the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14–15). This is the message Jesus said that He was sent to announce (Luke 4:43).

Our lies, our plots and injustices, and our arrogance of thinking we know better than our Creator— all these are bringing us to the brink of destroying all life from this earth (Matthew 24:21–22). It will be at that moment that our Savior will return to stop our insanity, to put an end to mankind’s lying way of governing and living, and to set up His Kingdom with its capital in Jerusalem. “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain’” (Zechariah 8:3). What a different world that will be!

5 Evolution’s Dirty Little Secrets

Modern secular society promotes the false notion that the theory of evolution is settled science—but the truth is far different, and you need to know!

10 Britain’s Growing Identity Crisis

Great Britain is not the nation it used to be—but it is the modern nation’s values, not demographics, that explain what is going wrong.

12 Jerusalem: Future Capital of the World

Other cities may be bigger or more populous, but one small city with a rich history is the most important in the future of planet Earth!

20 A Quarry of Living Stones

True Christians are being fashioned for a glorious purpose, as we can see from King Solomon’s actions and the Apostle Paul’s words.

26 Lights Out: The Power of Sleep

We must not fall asleep in the spiritual sense, but God designed physical sleep as a remarkable tool for daily regeneration!

9 When Tomorrow Becomes Today

23 Ways to Be More Thankful

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Evolution’s Dirty Little Secrets

In December 2022, the well-known auction house Sotheby’s offered a handwritten 1865 manuscript by Charles Darwin, defending the theory of evolution he published in 1859 in his famous On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. The winning bid was for £719,000— about USD$882,000. One might wonder, Why such a high price for a single book?

There are numerous factors, but Darwin’s iconic role in human history is perhaps the greatest. Sotheby’s called Darwin’s Origin of Species “one of the greatest achievements of scientific discovery.” Referring to the same book, science historian Bern Dibner once wrote, “This, the most important single work in science, brought man to his true place in nature” (Heralds of Science, 1955, p. 92). High-sounding praise, to be sure.

Since Darwin first published his book more than 160 years ago, the theory of evolution by natural selection has been one of the most significant

scientific theories in history. The extent to which it has shaped modern life in virtually every realm of understanding would be hard to overestimate. With immeasurable impact on science, philosophy, education, politics, and—most certainly—religion, it has wielded a powerful influence on the shape and form of society and civilization.

Many influential voices assure us that this theory is unquestionably true—proven beyond a doubt—and that no one of any intelligence or education would even dare to question it. Plenty of intelligent individuals would assert that evolution has been proven true a thousand times over, and that all the evidence we have upholds evolution as a fact of nature. According to at least one of the theory’s most devoted acolytes, to doubt the truth of evolution shows you to be ignorant, stupid, insane, or wicked.

Perhaps we should make sure we all understand what we mean by the term evolution. Claiming that life began long, long ago in a vastly simpler form, perhaps one similar to a microscopic bacterium, the

theory of evolution asserts that over millions, even billions of years, the struggle for survival rewarded slight, random variations in the descendants of that first life form—variations that gave them an advantage, perhaps letting them find food faster or reproduce more successfully—while, similarly, punishing those descendants whose random adaptions were less favorable for survival.

Evolution says that through this simple, natural, unintelligent, and unguided process—natural selection acting on random variations—those microscopic, bacteria-like organisms have, over a few billion years, turned into the astonishing and breathtaking variety of life-forms we see around us today, including human beings, with no divine Designer or Creator necessary.

But is it accurate? Is the evidence really that solid? Is the theory of evolution really that indisputable?

If, indeed, all life as we know it today is the result of nothing but mindless processes, then, yes, Darwin’s book is a towering achievement in human history, a monumental discovery that does, truly, put man in his place as nothing special, nothing remarkable—just

and complexity of life without a Creator. As famous biologist Richard Dawkins once said, “Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist” (The Blind Watchmaker, 1996, p. 10).

Is he right? Again, only if evolution has been proven to be true.

But, in fact, it has not.

Despite claims that all the evidence supports it completely, the truth is that evolution has a whole host of dirty little secrets that our classrooms and popular science programs don’t talk about too loudly. This article will pull back the curtain to examine just a few of those dirty little secrets.

Every Cell a Smoking Gun

The first dirty little secret we’ll uncover is that even the simplest living cell is devastating to the theory of evolution.

a random life-form on a random planet, with no ultimate purpose. And therefore life has no real meaning at all—if that theory is true.

Of course, many claim very loudly that evolutionary theory is true. Evolution apologist Jerry Coyne writes in his popular and plainly titled book Why Evolution Is True, “Evolution is a fact. And far from casting doubt on Darwinism, the evidence gathered by scientists over the past century and a half supports it completely, showing that evolution happened, and that it happened largely as Darwin proposed, through the workings of natural selection” (2009, pp. xiii–xiv). Coyne’s certainty is not rare in science circles. It is, rather, quite common.

And to be sure, many want evolution to be true. Darwin’s theory has become a bit of an escape hatch for those who hope to explain the beautiful diversity

In Charles Darwin’s day, little was known about cells. Single-celled organisms like amoebas were described by Darwin’s contemporary George Henry Lewes as merely “a microscopic lump of jelly-like substance, or protoplasm… entirely destitute of texture, and consequently destitute of organs” (Problems of Life and Mind, 1877, p. 38). In other cells, like those in our body, a nucleus could be observed, but its purpose was a mystery, and the cell otherwise seemed generally featureless, with few details to be seen.

In those days, when the smallest, simplest unit of life seemed that simple—just a bit of jelly with a few boring features—it was easy to imagine that somehow, within that mysterious “life-giving” jelly, anything could happen. But as microscopes improved and techniques were developed to tease out the secrets of the inner world of the cell, we discovered that this supposedly simple “jelly-like substance” is filled with machinery of astonishing functional complexity, engineering ingenuity, and masterful design. For instance, approximately a billion chemical reactions take place every second in a human cell. And these are not random chemical reactions. Each human cell is filled with thousands upon thousands of proteins of ten thousand different varieties—molec-

THE DISCOVERY OF DNA SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS FOR EVOLUTION—INSTEAD, DNA HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR EVOLUTION.

ular machines designed to work together and achieve specific purposes, manipulating their surroundings to create new structures and dismantle old ones in a dynamic dance of complexity that makes the Space Shuttle seem primitive by comparison.

If you order a free copy of our detailed resource, Evolution and Creation: What Both Sides Miss—or read it online at TomorrowsWorld.org—you will see a diagram of a motor protein that some bacteria use to help them move. Built out of 78,216 different atoms, it is just one example of the vast world of complex cellular machinery that Darwin and his contemporaries could never have imagined. Life is impossible without these complex machines, and even the smallest hypothesized evolutionary changes would require alterations to these machines— or even require the design of new machines.

That is as unlikely as it sounds. Biochemist Douglas Axe has examined the probability of even one protein of any significant functionality at all forming by chance, and estimated it to be 1 in 1064—that is, 1 out of a number that is made up of a 1 followed by 64 zeros (“Estimating the Prevalence of Protein Sequences Adopting Functional Enzyme Folds,” Journal of Molecular Biology, 2004, volume 341, issue 5).

Along with colleague Ann Gauger, Axe explored the possibility that one protein could evolve from another similar protein, relying on just a handful of necessary changes to DNA. They found that, at currently understood rates of mutation, it would take 1027 years for such a change to take place—1027 being a 1 followed by 27 zeros, or one octillion. For some perspective, consider that the consensus of the scientific community places our universe at only 13.7 billion years old, and one billion has only nine zeros. In other words, one protein evolving into another is just not going to happen without intelligent intervention.

Again, even the simplest living cell is devastating to the theory of evolution.

Design Is in Our DNA

The nature of DNA, the molecule we just mentioned, is another one of evolution’s dirty little secrets—because DNA represents an abstract coding system that points to intelligence. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short, was unknown in Darwin’s day, and is responsible for carrying the information needed to build each of the proteins to make life possible. Each

nucleus in each individual, normal cell in the human body contains about two meters of DNA packed into a microscopic dot—all of it containing the information needed to build me and to build you.

DNA uses base pairs combining four different compounds that act like the ones and zeros in computer code, giving our cellular machinery the detailed information needed to build the complex proteins life requires. Proteins read our DNA code and, based on that information, assemble new proteins from precisely sequenced amino acids—making every cell a complex chemical factory, creating purposefully arranged nanoscopic machinery and some of the most complicated chemical compounds found anywhere in the universe.

But where did this information, this abstract programming code, originate? Evolution can’t take credit— it is, after all, a mindless, purposeless process. In fact, where did DNA come from? You can’t build proteins without DNA, yet DNA itself is assembled by proteins.

The discovery of DNA should have been a great success for evolution—the secret of how the characteristics of life are passed on to our descendants was finally unveiled. But instead, DNA has been a disaster for evolution. The idea of a massive, information-rich molecule containing an abstract programming code able to hold and organize the information needed to build the complex machinery of life is incompatible with evolutionists’ idea that life has grown in complexity through mindless, information-poor, natural processes.

Evolutionists cannot deny that DNA represents an abstract coding system that points to intelligence.

Darwin of the Gaps

Our next dirty secret of evolution lets us turn the tables on those who would jeer at supposedly “blind” faith in a Creator. The secret is that, since Darwin’s day, the gaps in the fossil record have grown larger, not smaller.

The theory of evolution depends on the slow and steady accumulation of small variations, as large “jumps” would imply an active designer or planner. The result, according to evolution, should be smooth transitions in the fossil record—animals gradually, almost imperceptibly “turning into” new animals through small, smooth changes.

But that isn’t what the fossil record shows. Rather than a smooth, continuous transition of

creatures, the record shows gaps between different kinds of creatures. Charles Darwin was aware of this problem, and even wrote about it in his iconic book: “Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory. The explanation lies, as I believe, in the extreme imperfection of the geological record” (On the Origin of Species, 1883 edition, p. 265). That is, Darwin hoped that further fossil discoveries would fill in all those gaps as paleontologists continued their work.

Well, they have, indeed, discovered a vast world of fossils, and the record is extensive. But our friend Darwin would be dismayed. The gaps have persisted, as Michael Denton observed in his seminal work, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis:

The overall picture of life on Earth today is so discontinuous, the gaps between the different types so obvious, that, as Steven Stanley reminds us in his recent book Macroevolution, if our knowledge of biology was restricted to those species presently existing on earth, “we might wonder whether the doctrine of evolution would qualify as anything more than an outrageous hypothesis.” Without intermediates or transitional forms to bridge the enormous gaps which separate existing species and groups of organisms, the concept of evolution could never be taken seriously as a scientific hypothesis (1985, pp. 157–158).

Of course, seemingly “continuous” lines of evolutionary progression are often trotted out for display to pretend the gaps are not nearly as damaging as they are. In textbooks and articles defending evolutionary theory, you will see theoretical sequences for whale, horse, and even human evolution. Yet not only are these sequences deceptive and not proven lines of descent at all—as we discussed in our 2020 telecast “Evolution: A Whale of a Tale,” which you can freely access online at TomorrowsWorld.org—the fact remains that if evolution were true, such sequences should be the norm, not the rare exception. This was a thorn in Darwin’s side that remains just as thorny today, more than 160 years later.

Ironically, evolutionists often accuse believers of having faith in a “God of the gaps” who magically does all the things that they cannot explain. Yet the unexplainable gaps in the fossil record turn the tables and put evolutionists in the place of wielding blind faith and believing in their own “god of the gaps”—or, more accurately, a “Darwin of the gaps.”

The Eyes Have It

To uncover our next dirty little secret of evolution, you don’t need to be an expert on cellular biochemistry, a geneticist, or a fossil-hunting paleontologist. All you need to do is look in the mirror at your remarkable, evolution-defying eyes—because evolution continues to offer no credible explanation for how new organs can form.

After all, organs such as your eyes represent not just specialized tissues, but interconnected systems—often systems upon systems—finely tuned and exquisitely structured to work together. If one part is missing, the whole can fail. And improving the organ would often involve each piece or part evolving in conjunction with all the other pieces. This is a level of coordination that evolution simply cannot achieve.

The problem was summarized not long ago in the UK newspaper The Guardian. First, the article presents the traditional explanation for the supposed evolution of the eye—the explanation given to countless students over the decades by thousands of teachers and professors. Their story is that animals that for some reason have light-sensitive cells experience a series of slight mutations that increasingly confer survival advantages. Perhaps a slight cupping of the flesh around the cells helps to focus the light, and eventually a clear covering of some sort seals the space, which slowly becomes a lens. Then, muscles arrive to shape and focus the lens better. The Guardian continues:

This is the basic story of evolution, as recounted in countless textbooks and pop-science bestsellers. The problem, according to a growing number of scientists, is that it is absurdly crude and misleading.

For one thing, it starts midway through the story, taking for granted the existence of light-sensitive cells, lenses and irises, withEVOLUTION’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS CONTINUES ON PAGE 24

WHEN TOMORROW BECOMES TODAY

Which should we live for?

Not one of us can avoid the relentless passage of time—second by second, the future turns into the past and plans become memories. Every human being experiences time’s unrelenting “forward march,” with seconds, minutes, and hours marking the transition of tomorrows into todays and todays into yesterdays.

This magazine is called Tomorrow’s World because it preaches the Gospel (or Good News) of what the world will be like when Jesus Christ returns and establishes the Kingdom of God. The late Herbert W. Armstrong, our predecessor in this Work, called that future time “the world tomorrow.” Maybe we could call it the “tomorrow of tomorrows.”

So much of the Bible points to that tomorrow, the major turning point in history that will begin on the day Jesus Christ returns in power and glory. One verse that succinctly describes this awe-inspiring turning point is Revelation 11:15: “Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

The prophet Zechariah also wrote about that special day: “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east…. And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem…. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—‘The Lord is one,’ and His name one” (Zechariah 14:4, 8–9).

Living for Tomorrow

Jesus Christ’s return, as well as His imprisoning of Satan the devil, will occur on a very real day in the future. The Bible also says Christians must work to be ready for that day, because although God’s people will have a general idea of the timing of Jesus’ return, watching as He commanded for some very specific end-time events, they won’t know the exact timing until those events take place. Jesus explained, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the

rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping” (Mark 13:32, 35–36).

On some yet-unknown day in the future, when Jesus returns from the clouds just as He ascended to them, He will change today’s world into tomorrow’s world. That future world will see the flourishing of the Good News that so many of God’s prophets and apostles wrote and preached about, and will be the time of “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19–21).

There are hundreds of scriptures that contrast the difference between the world of today and the world after Christ’s return. Consider just a few examples. Today, some deserts, such as the Sahara Desert, are getting bigger. Tomorrow, they will blossom like roses (Isaiah 35:1). Today, men metaphorically beat their plowshares and pruning hooks into swords and spears, a process that will be reversed tomorrow (Isaiah 2:4). Today, mankind suffers from famine and disease. Tomorrow, the sick will be healed, and the harvests of food will be so great that the man plowing will catch up to the man still harvesting the previous crop (Isaiah 35:5–6; Amos 9:13).

Today, Satan reigns over this world as the ruler of darkness, the father of lies, and the original murderer (John 8:44; Ephesians 6:12). Tomorrow, Christ will reign as the “Prince of Peace,” the bringer of light, the restorer of truth and life, and the King with a heart to serve and the strength to administer justice (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 20:28; John 8:12; 14:6). Today’s world is full of sorrow, tears, pain, and death, but one day the last tear of sorrow will fall, the last wince of pain will leave someone’s face, and death itself will die (Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 15:26).

All of these and more are part of Jesus Christ’s message—the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God that will change the world. We look forward to that tomorrow with a hope that almost seems too good to be true. But thanks be to Almighty God that it is true—all of it. We yearn for the tomorrow when Jesus Christ literally descends from the clouds and changes our world completely. We rejoice in that future time when we will finally call that longed-for tomorrow “today.”

CALLING

Britain’s Growing Identity Crisis

The United Kingdom has all the trappings of having once been a great Protestant realm. Its Church of England, also known as the Anglican Communion, dates back to Reformation times. Established in 1534, its position as the official state church gives it powerful and exclusive privileges in British society. It has church buildings galore, 42 cathedrals, and thousands of schools across the UK.

When Britain was an empire, it spread Anglican belief and practice around the world, built upon the venerable Bible translation commissioned by King James I in 1611. Today, the Mother of Parliaments in London begins each day with Anglican prayers, and there are 26 seats in the House of Lords reserved for Anglican bishops who play a legislative role in Parliament.

The monarch has enormous influence as head of the Anglican Communion, head of state, and head of the Commonwealth. Things were very different back in 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned; Britain has changed immeasurably since then and a constitutional crisis is brewing, which Charles III, who will be crowned on the sixth of May, will have to deal with.

Britain Sheds its “Christian” Identity

And that’s the point of this article: Britain is going through a profound identity crisis as to its Christian status. Pressure is building to separate church from state. King Charles has been forced to promise that he will protect the status of the Anglican Communion over his country (only 15 percent Anglican), while toying with the idea of presenting himself as “defender of all faiths.”

The latest results from the 2021 National Census for England and Wales add fuel to the sense of developing crisis. Let’s look at the data and ask what it shows about British attitudes towards religion. It boils down to a simple question: Is Britain a Christian nation or not? This most basic of questions is climbing its way up the national agenda.

The census takes place every ten years, so 2011 was the previous yardstick for comparison. Among the various questions that the census addressed was one concerning religious affiliation. The question asked which religion a person most identified with. People were not asked about their beliefs or active religious practice, and while they could choose to be identified as “Christian,” space was provided under “any other religion” to write in a more specific response. Failing all else, a person could choose “no religion.”

The question was voluntary, and 94 percent (56 million) of people living in England and Wales responded to it. In first place and for the first time, less than half the population (46.2 percent, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian.” The second most common response was “no religion,” increasing by 12 percent to 37.2 percent (22.2 million). Every major religion advanced except for Christianity.

A Watershed Moment

In plain English, these figures reveal a watershed moment when those who self-identify as “Christian” are now a minority of the population. When the 2001 census results are factored in, they show that over a 20year period, those considering themselves “Christian”

declined from 37.3 million (71.7 percent) to 27.5 million (46.2 percent). Those who said they have “no religion” tripled from 7.7 million (14.8 percent) to 22.2 million (37.2 percent). If the current rate of change is maintained, it is likely that by the time of the next census in 2031, those with “no religion” will rank as the new majority of the country.

The British media were quick to comment on this trend when the figures were released. Trevor Phillips, a British broadcaster, writer, and former politician, writing in the London Times, analysed the data and declared that those abandoning the faith were “the godless natives, especially the white and highly educated” who were “shedding the beliefs of their parents as so much superstitious gobbledygook” (“Godless liberals don’t have all the answers,” December 6, 2022).

Phillips noted that “the British enthusiasm for religious worship is tepid,” as “fewer than one in 30 of those who claim to be Christians turn up on Sunday.” He quoted the Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees, who describes himself as “a practising Christian but not a believing one.” There would appear to be many like him, contributing to the mischievous description of the Anglican Communion in England as “the Tory Party at prayer.”

The secular magazine Prospect had harsh words for the Church of England, which it sees as dying, in denial, and “already drowning in its own irrelevance” (“With the Church of England dying, how much longer

can we justify having bishops in the House of Lords?,” ProspectMagazine.co.uk, October 6, 2022).

The conclusion is very clear: The Anglican Communion, mainstay of Britain’s national identity for more than 500 years, is dying as the nation continues to turn increasingly away from all religion towards a secular future. And Britain is not alone. These trends are being duplicated around the globe.

Transforming Human Nature

So, is Britain a Christian nation? Well, the very least that can be said is that only a minority of the nation now sees itself as “Christian.” But one should also ask how many of the 27.5 million people who self-identify as “Christian” come anywhere near to what the Bible calls “Christianity.”

Inescapably, being a Christian means believing in God, in Jesus Christ, and in the entire Bible as the word of God (Matthew 4:4). In that Bible, God inspired a helpful definition of true religion: “to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27)—in other words, to care for others and not to let worldly ideas and values corrupt you.

And this is not achieved by just outwardly conforming to external guidelines. It requires an internal transformation of human nature, which comes when God’s nature becomes rooted within each of us (Romans 12:1–2). A true Christian is certainly a follower of Jesus Christ, but at a deeper level, each one is a Christlike person who is being transformed by God’s Spirit to have a new godly “heart.” God’s purpose for humankind is that we be infused with His divine nature to become part of His eternal Family of Spirit Beings (John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:3–9; 2 Peter 1:3–4).

God is actively looking for those who will “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24). This means knowing what constitutes truth, and it means receiving and using God’s Holy Spirit—which will bring about the growth of God’s nature in the Christian and lead to God’s gift of eternal life beyond the grave. If you would like to learn more about this amazing way of life and incredible future, order a free copy of What Is a True Christian? from the Regional Office nearest you (listed on page 4) or read it online at TomorrowsWorld.org.

Jerusalem Future Capital of the World

A troubled city with an ancient past has a remarkable future ahead!

When the Palestinian nationalist organization Hamas announced in December 2022 its plans to “liberate Jerusalem and its holy sites” from Israeli rule, few outside of Israel took notice. Widely denounced as a terrorist group, Hamas celebrated its 35th anniversary by circulating maps showing a “Palestine” stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—implying the end of Israel and the establishment of Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital city. Though few expect Hamas’ threats to succeed, they remain a source of tension and bloodshed.

Though it is at the center of Middle East conflict, relatively few today think of Jerusalem as a true “world city.” The American journal Foreign Policy publishes a ranking of “Global Cities” highlighting

the metropolitan areas that are at the heart of economic, political, media, and cultural importance on our planet. As of January 2023, London in the United Kingdom and New York City in the United States are the top-rated cities at an “Alpha++” designation. “Alpha+” cities include Beijing and Shanghai in China, Tokyo in Japan, and the island nation of Singapore. Falling below “Beta” and “Gamma” rankings, Jerusalem in Israel is rated as a city of “Sufficiency,” behind more than 200 other cities on the planet deemed more important.

Financiers often point to New York City in the United States or London in the UK as the capital of the world. Los Angeles, California, is sometimes considered the world’s entertainment capital. More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world look to Mecca as the most important city of their faith, and more than

a billion Roman Catholics look to Vatican City. For sheer size, the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan is the world’s largest urban area, home to more than 35 million residents.

By today’s most popular measures, the ancient city of Jerusalem may not seem to be very important. Yet your Bible reveals a little-known truth: Jerusalem will be at the center of prophesied end-time events and will soon become the capital of planet Earth!

Magnificent Babylon Rose and Fell

King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens in Babylon, long considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote of Babylon that, in addition to its size, “in magnificence there is no other city that approaches to it” (Histories, book 1, section 178).

Babylon was once the world’s largest city. Historians and archaeologists today say it was the first city to surpass a population of 200,000. In 2019, it was declared a World Heritage City by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, joining Jerusalem, which was given that designation in 1981.

The Bible documents King Nebuchadnezzar’s great pride and boasting over his accomplishments. The prophet Daniel had warned the king to humble himself. “At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’” (Daniel 4:29–30). God punished King Nebuchadnezzar, who finally learned his lesson: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (v. 37).

Nebuchadnezzar’s mighty empire eventually fell, and the great city of Babylon fell with it.

Revived Empires Rise and Fall

The kingdom of Babylon gave way to the great Medo-Persian Empire, and when that empire fell to the Greeks, the world saw the rise of the GrecoMacedonian Empire. The powerful warrior Alexander the Great led military campaigns across Europe and Asia, through which he established more than a dozen cities named “Alexandria” in his honor. The Alexandria

in Egypt served as capital of the Egyptian kingdom for nearly a thousand years before the Muslim conquest in 641 AD. Upon the rise of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome rose to world prominence, with Caesars and Popes reigning from its famous seven hills.

Why do these empires matter? Your Bible reveals a succession of great empires. The prophet Daniel foretold this, describing a mysterious figure with head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay (Daniel 2:32–43). We read also of a ten-horned beast that represents world empires (Daniel 7). The Apostle John prophesied of an end-time “beast” figure who will rule the world from a powerful capital. How powerful will this beast power become? We read that “authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Revelation 13:7).

The good news is that Jesus Christ, the coming King of kings, will conquer and destroy this coming beast power (Revelation 17:14). But where will Christ the King set up His government? What city on earth will be the capital of the world?

The answer is, Jerusalem! Many different scriptures confirm this wonderful fact. Notice a specific prophecy concerning the future of this city: “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2:1–2).

As regular Tomorrow’s World magazine readers may know, mountains are a biblical symbol for a kingdom or government. Isaiah stated plainly that the Lord’s Kingdom would be established in Jerusalem. Yes, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world! Notice that “all nations shall flow to it,” submitting to the new world government.

We must understand that this will not be government in the hands of selfish human beings. The new government will be the world-ruling Kingdom of God. This world-ruling Kingdom will be ruled by the Savior and King of kings, Jesus Christ! That’s the good news we all look forward to. I hope that you’re looking forward to that time of world peace, yearning for the Kingdom to come, and praying, “Your Kingdom come,” as we’re taught to pray in Matthew 6:10!

Modern Conflict over Jerusalem

When the Prince of Peace returns, Jerusalem will become His capital—the center of world government, religion, and education. Jerusalem’s very name means “city of peace,” but that name does not seem to reflect today’s reality in the troubled capital. In fact, most modern nations do not even recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital because of that nation’s ongoing disputes with the Palestinians, who also claim the city as their capital. There was worldwide controversy when in December 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. Australia followed suit for a while, but in October 2022 reversed its decision and returned to its prior position that considers Tel Aviv the Israeli capital.

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel has fought wars and negotiated peace treaties with several Arab states. But Israel has never been able to negotiate a permanent peace agreement with the Palestinians. Before his death in 2001, Faisal Husseini, a representative of the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem, stated that Israel “must withdraw from all of east Jerusalem to the pre-’67 borders… all settlements and Israeli neighborhoods in east Jerusalem must be dismantled… Israel must compensate the Palestinians for the damages it has inflicted including the changes in the character of the city and the lives of its citizens”

(The Jerusalem Post, November 19, 1999).

Of course, Israel has not withdrawn from East Jerusalem and does not intend to. But in July 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak did what no Israeli negotiator had done before—he proposed that Israel would grant administrative self-governance to Palestinians in East Jerusalem. But Barak wanted Israel to retain security control over East Jerusalem, and the Palestinians rejected his proposal. Negotiations broke down, leading to the current conflict. What caused the impasse in negotiations? The one issue that appears unsolvable is this: “Who will control Jerusalem?”

If both sides consider their positions non-negotiable, there’s an impasse. The Israeli position remains unchanged—that is, they insist that Jerusalem will remain united under sole Israeli sovereignty.

Yes, the gap between views over the sovereignty of Jerusalem is wide and deep! What does the inter-

national community think about this conflict? What is the solution? In 1980, when Israel declared Jerusalem to be Israel’s “united and eternal capital,” the Vatican strongly objected to that declaration. Later, in 1984, Pope John Paul II called for Jerusalem to have a “special internationally guaranteed status.” As recently as his Easter address in April of 2022, Pope Francis urged that Israelis and Palestinians “enjoy free access to the Holy Places in mutual respect for the rights of each.”

We can be sure that the status of Jerusalem will continue to be a major issue in geopolitics. You need to be watching the Middle East—and the trends that will mean major changes in political and religious control over the city of Jerusalem.

Trodden Down by Gentiles

Jesus spoke of a time when enemy armies will invade the Holy Land and surround the city of Jerusalem. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20). So, we see that there are at least two signs Jesus tells us to watch for: the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14), and Jerusalem surrounded by armies. These will not just be any armies

of the Middle East, but the Gentile armies that will control Jerusalem for three-and-a-half years, as we read in Revelation 11:2. Continuing in Luke 21, we read the following:

For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:22–24).

The Apostle John wrote, “I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months’” (Revelation 11:1–2).

For 42 months, the Holy City, Jerusalem, will be controlled not by the Jews, but by the Gentiles. As you read through the book of Revelation, you’ll see that this period of three-and-a-half years precedes the return of Christ.

Daily Sacrifice Begins and Ends

After Daniel was given a revelatory vision by an angel, he asked the meaning of the message. The angel told him, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9). More than 2,500 years later, we can now understand these prophecies—this is the time of the end!

These prophecies contain one vital end-time detail that many fail to notice: “And from the time that

the end, shortly before the return of Christ, God reveals that the daily sacrifice will be stopped, or “taken away.” This obviously implies that the sacrifices must first be started! The Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple in 70 AD. The Jews have not offered temple sacrifices since that time.

But consider that in ancient times, when they returned to Jerusalem from exile, the Jews actually began sacrificing before they laid the foundation to rebuild their temple. The Jews also observed the Feast of Tabernacles with daily sacrifices (Ezra 3:4), and “from the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid” (v. 6).

Notice another important point: The exiles returned where? Ezra refers to the location of the holy place as the “House of God” although the temple had not yet been rebuilt (Ezra 3:8). This was around 536 BC. But there was no building as yet—the rest of Ezra 3 describes the laying of the temple’s foundation.

The point is that sacrifices must be presented in a holy place—but this example in Ezra shows us that sacrifices were made daily without a physical building called a temple. The returning Jewish exiles referred to the Holy Place as “the House of God,” even though no temple existed. In recent years, Jews have been pressuring for a religious presence on the Temple Mount, where only Muslims are currently allowed to worship. The holiest place currently under the control of the Jewish religious authorities is the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall—the western retaining wall to the Temple Mount.

the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days” (v. 11). At the time of

But sacrifices are not yet possible for another reason. One long-missing element for the Jews to begin sacrifices has been the ritually pure calves to kill. The carcasses of these calves are to be burned for the ashes used in ancient purification rituals. Known as “red heifers,” these special calves must be at least two years old and never used for work. They must have no brands or punctured ears, no blemishes, and no more than two non-red hairs. The Jewish Temple Institute has for decades been

FOR 42 MONTHS, THE HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM, WILL BE CONTROLLED NOT BY THE JEWS, BUT BY THE GENTILES.

preparing for future animal sacrifices, and in 2022 the Institute received from a Texas ranch five potentially acceptable year-old calves that will be inspected for ritual purity as they age (“Red Heifers Arrive in Israel,” Israel365News.com, September 16, 2022). Will one of these be used in preparation for a restored daily sacrifice—with or without a restored temple building?

A Thousand Years of Peace

Jesus Christ will come from Heaven with all the resurrected saints to rule the earth for a thousand years of peace and prosperity. Jerusalem will be His capital, the capital of the world. Jerusalem will be not only the world’s governmental capital, but also its educational capital.

The great Educator and Teacher, Jesus Christ, will teach true knowledge based on the word of God. “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets’” (Zechariah 8:3–5).

During the Millennium, the first thousand years of Christ’s reign on the earth as King of kings, all nations on earth will look to Jerusalem as the capital of the world and will send representatives to worship Him. “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).

All nations will finally learn the way to peace, not war. And they will learn the true way of love toward God and love toward neighbor. Nations will no longer desire military power and go to war to solve problems. They will want the truth taught to them from the world’s capital city, Jerusalem.

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to

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the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:3–4).

The city of Jerusalem will finally live up to its name, “City of Peace,” because the Lord, the Eternal, the glorified Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, will personally dwell there. As He said, “I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.” That’s when we’ll begin to experience genuine world peace. As we’ve read, Jerusalem will be called the “City of Truth” (Zechariah 8:3). All nations will learn the eternal principles, laws, and values that guarantee peace and prosperity to all. As Isaiah foretold, the people will come to the Holy Land and say, “‘He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

The New Jerusalem—and You

The future of Jerusalem is also the good news of your future—and the future of the world. Eventually, the New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven to this earth as the capital of the universe, more glorious than any humanly designed capital. You can read about that magnificent time in Revelation 21–22. In the meantime, we look forward to the soon-coming establishment of earthly Jerusalem as the world’s capital.

The “city of peace” has experienced vicious wars and bloodshed over the centuries. But it will soon achieve peace. Until then, if you live by the laws of the coming King, Jesus Christ, and you receive the Holy Spirit as your indwelling source of power and peace, you can have a foretaste in your own life now of what the world will soon experience. God speed that day! TW

The Middle East in Prophecy This troubled region of the world has a glorious future—one that might include you! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

“Good Friday” ignores God’s High Day.

Question: I have looked in my Bible for evidence of the “Good Friday” my church will observe next month, but I cannot find it. What am I overlooking?

Answer: Jesus gave us a very specific amount of time He would spend in the grave: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39–40).

Some claim that Jesus was using a Jewish idiom by which He didn’t mean three literal days and nights—that any part of a day would apply, whether day or night. However, Jesus said He would be in the heart of the earth as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish. In the Old Testament book of Jonah, the Hebrew does not allow for partial days when both days and nights are mentioned. It plainly means three literal days and three literal nights: a full 72 hours.

This fact alone proves that the widely assumed “Good Friday to Easter Sunday” chronology of only one full day and two full nights cannot be correct.

“That Sabbath Was a High Day”

When was Christ resurrected? “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him’” (John 20:1–2). So, the tomb was already empty “while it was still dark” on “the first day of the week.” Counting back 72 hours, there is no way at all that Jesus could have been crucified on Friday! Scripture reveals that Jesus died at about 3:00 p.m. (Matthew 27:46–50) and that He was put in the tomb right before sunset on a Sabbath preparation day (Mark 15:42–47). Most assume this means late Friday afternoon as the Sabbath began at sunset that day. However, John gives us a vital detail about what happened immediately after His death: “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies

should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away” (John 19:31).

Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples the prior evening. He was crucified on the daylight portion of the Passover day, and when the sun set that day, it was the start of the annual High Day Sabbath known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:4-7).

Understanding John’s statement that it was a High Day Sabbath is crucial to understanding the chronology given in the New Testament. We see that Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples on Tuesday evening that year. He was crucified on the daylight portion of the Passover and put in the tomb right before sunset on that High Day Sabbath, which lasted from sunset Wednesday evening to sunset Thursday evening. The women observed that annual Sabbath, and when it was over they went out on Friday to buy spices (Mark 16:1). We then learn that they prepared the spices on that day and then rested on the weekly Sabbath (Luke 23:15). It should be evident that you cannot prepare spices before you buy them!

When we put all the relevant scriptures together, we see that Jesus was put in the tomb shortly before sunset on Wednesday right before the First Day of Unleavened Bread began. We know that 72 hours later, before the first day of the week had begun, He had risen.

Churches that hold to the Good Friday and Easter Sunday traditions are denying the plain words of Scripture and the very sign Jesus gave of His Messiahship.

For a more complete explanation and to learn more about false teachings that have been attached to Jesus’ resurrection, request free copies of Easter: The Untold Story and Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity, or read them online at TomorrowsWorld.org TW

Understanding John’s statement that it was a High Day Sabbath is crucial to understanding the chronology given in the New Testament.

A Quarry of Living Stones

Aquarry is a place where stone is mined for construction purposes. In the United States, for example, the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia are known for their high-quality granite quarries. Many other locations around the globe have high-quality stone as well. A fine home may have a granite countertop from Brazil or travertine floors from Italy or Turkey. Stone is quarried for construction purposes all over the world. But only a few today understand that God Himself is engaged in a kind of quarry work. What does this mean for those striving to progress on their Christian journey?

Quiet Construction

The temple King Solomon built was constructed in a remarkable way.

Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, besides three thousand three hundred from

the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple. So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple…. And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built (1 Kings 5:13–18; 6:7).

When you visit a typical construction job—a house being built, for instance—there is plenty of noise. Hammers or nailing tools slap repeatedly on boards, and there is a general cacophony of sounds coming from the activities of the workmen. In ancient times, it was no different. Stonemasons had to cut the building blocks to fit, and in Solomon’s day, the early Iron Age, skilled workmen used iron hammers and chisels to cut and shape the building material, much of which was stone. Stone would be rough-cut at the quarry and then trimmed and finished on the site.

The Bible records that there were tens of thousands of workmen involved, but the construction management was different from the standard practice of their day; the stone was not only cut out at the quarry, but finished there as well. This would have

required that the workmen finishing the large stone blocks have precise measurements to work from. Then the finished stone could be transported to the temple site and put into place without further work by a hammer, a chisel, or another tool. The construction site for Solomon’s temple was quiet compared to that of most projects in his day and ours.

A Third Temple?

The glorious temple that Solomon built was destroyed by the Babylonians around 586 BC. “And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions” (2 Chronicles 36:18–19).

When Judah returned to Jerusalem in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, they built a second temple that was far from being as glorious as the first one. “But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy” (Ezra 3:12). The second temple was greatly expanded by Herod in Jesus’ day, but was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The western retaining wall of the temple mount still exists in the form of huge stones put there by Herod the Great, and the “Wailing Wall,” as it is often called, is known as a spiritually significant location for the Jews.

Some have asked whether there will be a third temple built on the Temple Mount before Christ comes. The Bible gives hints that it will be—although it does not have to be built for the sacrifices to begin. In Ezra’s day, the sacrifices were resumed as soon as the priesthood was sanctified, which occurred before the foundation of the second temple was laid. “From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid” (Ezra 3:6).

But it took years to build the first and second temples. Is it possible that the third temple could exist already, in pieces? Some think that it does and could be assembled very quickly from already-completed

components. Organizations such as the “Temple Mount Faithful” have cut large cornerstones and have prepared bowls, robes, and other items necessary for the service of the temple to begin. They have even attempted to take a cornerstone to the Temple Mount. But whether the entire third temple already exists in pieces across Israel is unknown to the world.

To begin the sacrifices, it would be necessary for the priesthood to be reestablished and sanctified. The process of sanctification is described in Numbers 19.

The Temple of God Exists Now

But God is most interested in a temple of a different kind. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19–22). The greatest of all temples is that which is spiritual, formed by the people of God’s true Church.

The Apostle Peter sheds more light on our Creator’s ultimate construction project:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” and “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of

darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:4–10).

God has His building plans. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, and the apostles and prophets are the foundation. And God’s begotten children are “living stones,” each having a place in the structure, “fitted together.”

But we must take care as to what kind of stones we are. Notice the Apostle Paul’s caution to the Church in Corinth:

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:9–15).

We are all being shaped and polished for our place in that ultimate temple as living stones—away from the final site in Jerusalem. What about us is being shaped? Every trial we have, every difficult choice, every act of love or mercy matters to us and to God. That is because what we do changes us. The choices we make affect our character. We need to have the will and character of our Father and Jesus Christ. Your will is your power to choose. Children will comply willingly if asked to do something they want to do, like have a bowl of ice cream. But when they are

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told to do something they don’t want to do—say, clean a bedroom or pick up toys—they learn to subordinate their will to their parents’ will. But as they mature, children who’ve been trained well will naturally desire to do the right things that they once resisted.

Similarly, when Christians must obey God, we subordinate our will to His. But if we allow God to convert our will, we begin to choose as He does. Over time, our wills become more and more like His. Truly, God is building His holy, righteous character in each of us. Every time we exercise our wills as He would have us to—obeying His law of love—we are being changed, and His Holy Spirit works in us daily to transform us. Even our trials can benefit us: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Think of a master builder working on a block of stone with his chisel and hammer—chipping away at one side and polishing the other. Sometimes this process may be uncomfortable for a “living stone,” but it is nevertheless productive!

Where Is God’s Temple Today?

In “quarries” all over the world, these living stones are being finished and readied for final transportation and assembly in Jerusalem. The stones of the first temple were shaped in quarries all around Judea, but the living stones for the ultimate temple of God are being shaped all around the world; the temple of God exists wherever God has called out His people. Christ will come and gather His elect—His resurrected and immortal brethren—from all the places He has been working with them, even to the utmost parts of the earth.

Christ is working with each of us—chipping a piece here, polishing a little there. He does this with every biblical truth we hear and every trial we endure. Think about what kind of stone you were last year, what kind of stone you are this year, and what kind of stone you will be next year. Will you be a precious stone and a pillar in that temple? Are you submitting to the will and skill of the Master Builder, Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Chief Cornerstone? TW

What Is a True Christian? Think you know what kind of living stone Christ is shaping you to be? Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.

WAYS TO BE MORE THANKFUL

How can we bring greater joy and peace to our lives?

One of the most beneficial attributes a person can exercise is thankfulness—and having a thankful attitude is contagious. Most often, when I give a sincere “thank you” to someone, they will respond with gratitude in turn. It’s also true that when people display a thankful attitude, others around them become thankful as well. How can we develop a more thankful and positive perspective?

Let’s consider a few simple yet profound ways to bring more joy and peace of mind to our lives, which each of us can use to remind ourselves to be more thankful.

Keep a Daily Thankfulness Journal

Keeping a simple, daily log of things for which we are thankful helps us in many ways. Our society is so fastpaced that we can easily overlook the simple things, but a journal can help us sort through the mental clutter and recognize the good in our lives, particularly on rough days or when we are going through difficult trials.

This doesn’t have to be a time-consuming writing project! Jot down just three things each day that you are thankful for. After a while, you may want to increase the number to five or more. Try to choose fresh items each day. Over time, you may even enjoy going back to review your thoughts, and the review may reveal some character growth.

Find Ways to Help and Serve Others

Jesus Christ encourages us to be willing to serve (Matthew 20:25–28) and to live lives showing love toward our neighbors (Luke 10:27; see also Leviticus 19:18). How can we better serve others? At the family level, husbands and wives can serve each other daily through various tasks and needs within the family unit. Sometimes, a most valuable service is just being there for someone struggling through physical or emotional trials.

Natural disasters are also opportunities for people to use their talents and abilities to ease the burden of others who may be suffering. Some examples of this involve volunteering in the community, such as at local food banks, Habitat for Humanity projects, and schools. If we have extra material possessions, we can donate them to those in need.

Sincerely Communicate Thankfulness

Verbally expressing gratitude to others will often have a positive effect in their lives as well as our own. God purposely made thankfulness a key component of outflowing love. Honoring and being thankful to and for our parents is a commandment with a promise of long life and benefits throughout multiple generations (Exodus 20:12). We encourage people who have made a difference in our lives when we show sincere gratitude for their love. Telling our spouses and our children “I am thankful for you” can make their days and strengthen our relationships.

We can also express our thankfulness to people who serve us at stores, restaurants, and other places and situations where we may be served. Often, these people bear the brunt of others’ bad attitudes and frustrations—so a simple and sincere “thank you” truly goes a long way.

One of my favorite scriptures about this is Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Our Father desires to give us good things, and He desires to hear that we appreciate all His blessings and His dedication to us.

Parents love to hear their children share their gratitude and their happiness. Similarly, our Father in Heaven wants us to actively include thankfulness to Him in our thoughts, our prayers, our words, and our deeds. Even Jesus Christ gave the Father thanks for His blessings: “And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude” (Matthew 15:36). “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them” (Matthew 26:27).

Thankfulness can be a conscious habit—and one of the most beneficial character traits that an individual can possess. Thankful people are positive lights in a troubled world—often encouraging others to be more thankful, too, by their example. God blesses the nation and the people who are thankful and express gratitude for His many gifts. “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).

out explaining where they came from in the first place. Nor does it adequately explain how such delicate and easily disrupted components meshed together to form a single organ. And it isn’t just eyes that the traditional theory struggles with. “The first eye, the first wing, the first placenta. How they emerge. Explaining these is the foundational motivation of evolutionary biology,” says Armin Moczek, a biologist at Indiana University. “And yet, we still do not have a good answer. This classic idea of gradual change, one happy accident at a time, has so far fallen flat” (“Do we need a new theory of evolution?,” June 28, 2022).

In short, evolution promises that it can explain how our bodies’ exquisitely arranged and remarkably functional organs supposedly formed gradually over millennia—but, in reality, it hasn’t a clue. This dirty little secret, that evolution continues to offer no good explanation for how new organs can form, is devastating to a theory developed more than 160 years ago to answer that very question.

Exposing the Wizard

Let me confess something: I know it’s considered a cinematic classic, but I’ve never been a big fan of The Wizard of Oz. When I first saw it, I was a little kid, and frankly I found the flying monkeys pretty spooky! But, as I have grown older, one scene from the film has remained in my memory and become a real favorite.

It’s close to the end of the movie, as Dorothy and her band are confronting the terrifying Wizard of Oz for failing to keep his promises. As they do so, flames shoot out, thunder crashes, and the Wizard speaks to them as a giant, green, monstrous head hovering in the air in front of them, shouting, “Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Oz!” Meanwhile, Dorothy’s dog Toto makes his way to a green curtain off to the left and pulls it aside to reveal a small, white-haired old man using a machine to create the illusion they are all looking at, and speaking into a microphone to amplify his voice and make it sound terrifying.

MAY WE SUGGEST?

My favorite part of that scene is when the old man turns around, notices that they can see him, and turns back to the microphone to demand, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

The forces arrayed to convince people not to question the theory of evolution are very similar. There is a lot of thunder and flame—impressive proclamations about “proof” and “evidence” and a lot of theater designed to make you think there is nothing to doubt, as well as pressure brought to bear on those who question. But, like the Wizard of Oz, evolution has not kept its promises. The theory promises an explanation of your origins, an explanation that needs no God and no intelligence at all—just an initial microbe; blind, careless, natural processes; and a few billion years. The giant, intimidating floating head proclaims a smooth transition across these years: from goo to you, by way of the zoo, as author Harold Hill once put it.

We need to be willing to pull back the curtain—to remain unimpressed by the theater, question what we’re shown, and be bold enough to call evolution out for not keeping its promises. Or, to borrow from another fiction, it might have been a hard day when you first learned that Santa Claus wasn’t real—but that realization brought you that much more fully into the real world and that much further away from a world of make-believe. Recognizing the dirty little secrets of evolution can help you step away from that world of make-believe, as well.

Yet the questions evolutionists seek to answer remain: Where do we come from? How did life come to be? Is there any purpose to it all? And if so, what might that purpose be?

Unclouded by the smoke, flames, and thunder of evolutionary theater, you can seek the real answer to those questions. And, as you do, if you really seek with an open mind and an open heart, with God’s help you will find your way to the only possible starting place in the search for those answers—the very first sentence of the Bible, which reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

All of us at Tomorrow’s World hope that you will find the courage to look behind the curtain more often. TW

Evolution and Creation: What Both Sides Miss Discover how the Bible and modern science work together to reveal our amazing origins! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.

The Untold Story of Easter and Its Origins

• Your Bible proves that Jesus was resurrected on the weekly Sabbath and was not crucified on “Good Friday.”

• Easter is a mishmash of pagan rites and misunderstandings of Scripture.

• Bunnies don’t lay eggs, but they do reveal Easter’s past as a pagan fertility festival.

Scan the QR code to request your free booklet! You can also order by calling or writing one of our Regional Offices (listed on page 4), or by visiting us online at TomorrowsWorld.org.

THE Works OF HIS HANDS

Lights Out: The Power of Sleep

The contrast between darkness and light holds a fascination for many, even the youngest among us. Turn a toddler loose on a light switch and you’ll see this clearly—or perhaps you won’t! And every day, we witness on a much grander scale the works of God’s hands found in the separation of light from dark.

If you were to look at planet Earth from space, you would see the shadows of its darkness slowly sliding east to west, caused by its rotation away from the Sun’s light. And as sunset advances, another wave of diurnal animals curls up and conks out to rest under the darkness of night. Natural light/dark cycles perceived through eyes (and possibly somewhat through skin) stimulate areas of the brain that control the sleep hormone melatonin and our brain’s natural sleep cycles. Your Creator moves heaven and earth, in part, to give His creation sleep (Genesis 1:18; Psalm 127:2).

Before electricity, that wave of sleep would also include human beings. Today, we might just as likely witness a wave of glowing smartphone screens illuminating human faces as a flurry of thumbs set the next morning’s alarms, open sleep-tracking apps, or search the Web with the keyword insomnia. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one in three adults in the United States reports not getting enough rest or sleep, and consequences are alarming in their breadth. Sleep deficiency has been linked with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression, vehicular accidents, and even deterioration in relationships and job performance. From textile innovator Richard Arkwright’s nonstop industrial production to Thomas Edison’s lighting up our nights, and

from television to smartphones, a long war has been waged on our sleep.

Healthy Sleep, Healthy Mind

Our masterful Creator designed sleep to fulfill important functions. Much like recharging your cellphone battery, sleep “recharges” several systems. The brain is one organ particularly responsive to the quality and duration of sleep. Nearly everyone has experienced the rejuvenating effect of a good night’s sleep—the whole world takes on a rosier appearance when we awaken from one. Toddlers and even adults are less cranky when better rested.

A 2020 study published in the Journal of Sleep Research demonstrated sleep’s effect on emotions. Subjects experienced five nights of deficient sleep followed by five nights of full sleep. Lead researcher Daniela Tempesta noted that subjects rated various images as more troubling when sleep-deprived than when fully rested. Further, when sleep deficiency is sustained over a period of several nights, connections between the “siren” portion of the brain, called the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex—the willful, decision-making center of the brain—are weakened. This may reduce “top-down” regulation of our emotions by our will. Researchers using brain imaging find that sleeping reduces activity of the amygdala. When the lights go out, the alarm portion of our brain gets reset. Emotions are recalibrated and placed back under control of the logical, decision-making areas of our brain.

Most of us have had an electronic device bog down until we “clear the cache.” Likewise, the brain has been designed by our Creator with the capacity to flush it-

self of waste, and this process is enhanced by sleep. In 2013, researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center used imaging to look at the difference between sleeping and wakeful mice. In particular, they focused on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a specialized fluid that cushions the brain and spine within the bony skull and vertebral column. Neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard and her colleagues were surprised to find a dramatic surge in the amount of CSF in the brain of sleeping mice. The floodgates regulating flow of CSF were thrown wide open during sleep and closed when awake. Neuroscientists tell us that this flow of CSF into the brain and subsequent flush of CSF out of the brain, ultimately into the circulatory system, clears brain-eroding toxins such as the protein amyloid-beta. Mice cleared much more amyloid-beta from their brains when sleeping than when awake. Rhythms of optimal sleep and wake cycles are critical to flushing the brain of toxins and metabolic waste products.

Rest for the Weary—More Than Just a Physical Need

As various support groups teach those struggling with addiction, we should try not to get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.). And this is not just for the benefit of our physical health and life. Our spiritual walk and life choices can also be jeopardized if we fail to give attention to our basic human needs in a disciplined, accountable way. Without adequate sleep, our emotions are intensified, and critical thinking becomes diminished.

With all the hurdles that modern life can throw at our sleep, statistics indicate that many of us will have sleep challenges. There are many ways in which we can and should work to resolve or compensate for those challenges—but even as we do, many of us continue to struggle, perhaps with the common, age-related decline in sleep quality.

God knows that we need rest. Jesus Christ, the Rock of Israel, fashioned and designed not just our sleep/wake cycles and our circadian rhythms; in His wisdom, He designed every cycle and rhythm woven into the fabric of the human body, mind, and heart. Each of us is the unhurried work of our Creator’s steady hands. By His deliberate voice, long ago He fashioned human lungs to draw in air and push it out. He spoke and designed your heart to autonomously pound out

beats even while you are asleep and indifferent. Your Creator spoke every aspect of reality into existence, even the brain that dreams your dreams.

True Rest and Restoration for All

Few if any human beings today will see more than 40,000 rotations of the Earth before they fall into the sleep of death—and some far less than that (Psalm 90:10; Hebrews 9:27). Death is a state where there is no heartbeat, no breath, no dreams, and no consciousness (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Psalm 6:5; 88:11–12). All the streaming social media posts, social justice and equality warriors’ protests, and feeble attempts at lasting meaning vainly pass (Psalm 115:17). Despite myths of zombies or immortal souls, when you are laid to rest in the grave or cremation urn, you are not “undead.” When you die, you are simply dead (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The “lights are out.”

Does God have a plan for a rest that is not corrupted by man and his contrived modern life? When will we get that rest? And who will awaken you after all goes dark?

Jesus Christ and God the Father have plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11). They plan to awaken you to a lasting rest (Matthew 11:28–29)—a rest to come that no human being has yet experienced (Hebrews 4:9). There is a time spoken of glowingly as a rest under the rule of God—a rule that will not end (Daniel 2:44).

You likely give some thought to waking up for work tomorrow. Why not give some thought to the possibility of awakening to eternity (James 4:14)? You owe it to yourself to study and understand the Bible without delay (2 Timothy 3:16–17); tomorrow may come more quickly than you planned (Romans 13:11).

Bryan Fall

Natural light/ dark cycles perceived through eyes (and possibly somewhat through skin) stimulate areas of the brain that control the sleep hormone melatonin and our brain’s natural sleep cycles. Your Creator moves heaven and earth, in part, to give His creation sleep.

Historic Military Buildup in Japan

Japan has had a pacifist stance since World War II. Yet with China’s massive military buildup and territorial expansion in the South China Sea and North Korea’s overt missile testing, Japan is being moved

siles—in the last year. Several of these missiles have been launched directly over Japan!

The military buildup and saber-rattling in the Asian region should grab the world’s attention, as nations increasingly seek not only to drastically improve their military

more scientists find out more about these consumers of the dead, the clearer it becomes that we should be valuing and protecting scavengers far more than we do today.… By devouring carcasses, they prevent pathogens from spreading to humans and wildlife and contaminants from leaching into the environment” (BBC, December 8, 2022).

earth clean and pure. As more research is conducted, scientists are gaining a greater appreciation for creatures often thought to be unimportant or just another food source.

Brain-Computer Interfaces Advance

to expand its military. In an unprecedented move, the island nation will double its military budget from 1 to 2 percent of its GDP, in line with the higher level expected of NATO members, by 2027. Japan will focus in part on “counter-strike” capabilities and buy hundreds of U.S.-made missiles to help reach this goal.

China has criticized this move, though it has engaged in its own massive military buildup for years. North Korea has also condemned the move with an official warning: “Japan is bringing a serious security crisis on the Korean Peninsula and in the East Asia region by adopting a new security strategy that effectively acknowledges its pre-emptive strike capabilities against other countries” (Reuters, December 19, 2022). These comments are ironic given that North Korea has test-launched dozens of missiles—including two intercontinental ballistic mis-

capabilities, but also, in some cases, to bolster their nuclear armaments. The history of military confrontations among these nations, as well as the fact that it has been less than 80 years since many of these nations were engaged in a world war against each other, highlight the potential for this situation to escalate quickly and dangerously.

Bible prophecy warns that the warlike nature of many nations will surface again as the end of the age approaches, and that unless Jesus Christ returns to stop this madness, no flesh will be left alive (Matthew 24:22). The positive message of the Scriptures is that He will indeed return and save mankind from self-destruction.

A Vital Clean-Up Crew

Scavenging animals are often looked down upon as dirty creatures. Yet they play a vital role in balancing and protecting the ecosystem, and “the

Vultures, for example, are highly efficient at cleaning up dead animals. They can eat up to 40 percent of their body weight, compared to just 5 percent for most other scavenging animals. Vultures clean down to the bone, preventing the spread of pathogens— when vulture populations decline, diseases spread more easily. The efficiency of vultures also keeps feral dog populations in check, thus keeping rabies at bay. These scavengers even reduce the greenhouse gases emitted by decomposing carrion. Sadly, vulture populations are now in great decline in parts of the world such as the Indian subcontinent, due to poisons spread on animal carcasses and the drugs used to treat sick cattle, which, when they die, are consumed by the vultures.

God created our entire ecosystem to work together to keep our planet clean and keep diseases at a minimum. Yet mankind has not managed that ecosystem well and thus suffers the consequences. Additionally, human beings often consume many species that God created to keep the

As technology continues to advance, one cutting-edge area focuses on brain-computer interfaces, or BCI (The Conversation, December 2, 2022). This new technology has many applications, from the biomedical field to defense arenas. However, ethicists fear that the technology is rushing forward while crucial ethical questions remain unanswered.

Medical science is seeking to develop BCI that will help people with brain injuries to lead fuller lives. Others seek to extend human abilities into new areas. Elon Musk’s Neuralink company is developing a brain implant that will allow people to communicate silently with anyone possessing a similar implant. DARPA—the U.S. military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—is similarly developing the technology to enable soldiers to communicate with each other without speaking. Other applications could include operating military equipment and weaponry just by thinking about them. Some researchers hypothesize that some type of device could be embedded in a person’s brain to suppress fear and worry, with the potential to alter how soldiers process and evaluate

the morality of a decision or command.

While the advances made possible through this cutting-edge technology are exciting to some, ethicists fear that they could also be used for evil purposes. God anciently confused the languages of humanity to slow our ability to develop anything we could imagine, unrestrained by godly morality. But science is now a global enterprise, and language is rarely a barrier. Increasingly, it seems that “nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (Genesis 11:6), as God warned would be the case. It remains to be seen how much longer He will allow mankind to “progress” before Jesus Christ returns to set up a new God-centered society.

Saudi Arabia and China Build Bonds

For decades, America and Saudi Arabia have had a marriage of convenience. Saudi Arabia provided the United States with access to oil and

the U.S. provided Saudi Arabia with security—until recently. Some say the relationship began faltering after the September 11 attacks in 2001, when it was discovered that the majority of the terrorists involved were Saudi nationals. More recent events have fed the decline in relations between the nations.

Now China is reaching out to Saudi Arabia in a significant way, signing a major communications agreement and cooperating with missile technology. As China comes out of lockdown, one of Xi Jinping’s first state visits has been to Saudi Arabia. As Foreign Policy titled its analysis of the situation, “Xi’s Saudi Visit Shows Riyadh’s Monogamous Marriage to Washington Is Over” (December 7, 2022). Saudi Arabia is the largest oil exporter to China and provides a large market for Chinese products. President Xi is currently on much more friendly terms with Riyadh than Washington D.C. Although the U.S.-Saudi relationship will

likely continue for a while, as the Foreign Policy article makes plain, Saudi Arabia is no longer content with only one wife, and it is actively courting new ones.

Bible prophecy uses a similar analogy about the end of the age and the coming punishment on Israelite-descended nations. “All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you,” God says. Why? He explains that it is “for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased” (Jeremiah 30:14). Nations long allied with the American and British peoples are prophesied to turn on them as the Israelite peoples reject God and lose His favor. As we look around the globe today, it is important to watch for more of these oncefriendly relationships to end or turn sour.

Conflict Draws Brothers Together

External threats have a way of driving people together. This is the case with Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With increasing tensions in the South China Sea and belligerent talk from North Korea, Australia and America recently held talks to plan future joint military efforts (South China Morning Post, December 7, 2022). At the meetings, the U.S. Secretary of Defense warned that China’s dangerous actions in the region and its stated intentions concerning Taiwan are prompting defensive actions in other nations. As a result of the joint talks, the “United States

will expand the number of bomber task force and fighter aircraft forces in Australia, add a U.S. army and navy presence, better integrate U.S.-Australian weapons manufacturing capabilities and invite Japan to join ‘force posture’ initiatives.”

In a broader move, Australia, the UK, and the U.S. signed an agreement in 2021 known as AUKUS, creating a strategic partnership between the three nations. As part of this relationship, the U.S. will share its nuclear propulsion technology with Australia and assist in the development of an Australian nuclear submarine fleet. The UK is the only other nation with which the U.S. has shared this nuclear technology.

But why are Australia, the UK, and the U.S. working so closely together and sharing powerful state secrets? The Bible reveals a little-understood reason! The ancestors of these nations are the ancient Israelite tribes that descended from two brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were prophesied to become, respectively, a company or commonwealth of nations and a single great nation (Genesis 48:13–20). Although thousands of years have passed since those two boys were born, their descendants still feel a close kinship—especially in times of trouble. While Scripture reveals the origin of their strong bonds, Bible prophecies also reveal that these same nations will face serious consequences for turning away from the God who has blessed them. TW

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