ISRAEL UPDATEApril 4, 2004 – “Give us Barabas,” the angry mob cried… so Pontius Pilate released the notorious thief and murderer, causing Jesus Christ to become the crucified one.
Many people today try with much difficulty to resolve this issue, but it really matters not. Neither the ethnicity of the people, nor what nation they came from comes into play.
This event transpired because it had been prophesied centuries earlier in Psalm 22. Thus, we see G-d's stamp of approval - history ratifying the prophecy.
Nevertheless, today as we head into the Easter season, let us point out what so many nations of the world have done. They have tried to blame the Jews for the death of Jesus. They themselves are guilty of not releasing, but promoting the worst thief and murderer in recent years. Today, the European Union, United Nations, even the “Quartet” cry out… “Give us Arafat and crucify the nation of Israel.”
In the four decades of his administration', as a thief Arafat has no equal. He has been unrestrained in his “appropriations” of more than a billion dollars for his personal use. He has let his people go without basic needs and continues to usurp a land… all the while complaining about Israel's need to help.
As a murderer, he has literally hundreds of thousands of deaths to his credit, from U.S. Ambassadors, Israeli citizens, and scores of Christian believers on several continents.
Slobodan Milosevich, brought before the World Court, Carlos the jackal in prison, Saddam Hussein captured, Osama bin Laden hunted, but Yasser Arafat, the modern-day Barabas has been released. . . Plundering, raping, murdering, and extorting untold times, while the world looks on. Barabas was a “choirboy” by comparison…
April 4, 2004 - One of the great accusations against the belief in the Rapture of the Church is that the actual word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible.
This principle was clearly outlined throughout both the Old and New Testaments - to the extent that careful study reveals the elemental truth.
Mathematically we find in the Scriptures for every mention of Jesus’ First Coming, we find eight references to His Second Coming. The exhortation for this event is to be ready for it when it takes place.
Phraseology is a second clue as to the event of the Rapture - as Jesus told his followers that he had to go away, prepare a place, and then take them to where he was. John 14:1-3
This is a key - to see the words of Jesus as they clearly explain the process of returning and taking them to be where He lives.
This does tell us the Return of Christ will occur in two stages. First, the Rapture... then returning with all His saints to institute the Millennial Kingdom.
The wording of this particular passage, as well as any other, is important to the believer – to help understand it in its context.
At this juncture, Jesus was unable to go into real depth with His disciples at this time, because they were unable to receive. However, as time progressed, they were able to learn.
The truth is, the church’s hope is in the Rapture. This is but one of several passages that not only speak of a hope, but also should cause the hope to grow.
To be continued…