Brexit – To Be or Not To Be …

Winston Churchill observed in 1947: ” No-one pretends that democracy is perfect, or all wise, Indeed it has been said that it is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

Do you watch the News? Just lately our news has been dominated and almost taken over by Brexit and by the passion shown by our democratic Parliamentarians for and against the proposed exit from the European Union. Such events are almost unheard of in Westminster.

Many people are perplexed, frustrated and worried as they try to follow the complicated and seemingly endless turns of events. How will it be resolved? Will it never end?

Do those who have faith in God and in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, need to worry? The Bible, God’s handbook for the faithful believers, explains clearly what the Almighty and All Powerful God has in store for the world He created. It tells us that He is in control and that, however changeful, difficult and stressful our lives may become the present rulers of our world will be swept aside.

The Bible tells us plainly that God’s Government is coming to this planet, God centred, guided and ruled over by Jesus Christ and his saints.

The prophet Daniel writes: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

If we go on we are told: “He [Jesus] shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:8) “… and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10)

Jesus told his followers: “The one who conquers, and who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations”. (Revelation 2:26)

This world will be ruled by Jesus Christ, the Saviour and his faithful followers who have, in spite of all the difficulties of life, really done their best to serve God. This Kingdom of God will have a righteous ruler whose concern is for all people.(Psalm 72:12-14)For he (Jesus) delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life and precious is their blood in his sight.

There will be fertile lands, once desert and food for all. Please read Isaiah 35 a wonderful prophecy of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The nations will want to serve God (Micah4:1-2) It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains and it shall be lifted above the hills and peoples shall flow to it and many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD….that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.

War will be abolished (Isaiah 2:4).He (Jesus)shall judge between the nations and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more

Jesus said: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

This wonderful Kingdom will come soon! God and Jesus will rule the World.

Even so come Lord Jesus!

*Quotes ESV & NIV

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Jerusalem!

In 1995 the United States Congress passed a law concerning the removal of the U.S Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The President has control of this law. It contains a waive provision “safety valve” that allows any President to delay the removal of the Embassy every six months because of security factors.

So from 1995 every US President has exercised this waiver, and thus delaying the re-siting of the US embassy to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. Most world powers do not recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. During the seventy years of Israel’s history, the status of Jerusalem has been the central issue of contention!

However, very recently, President Trump did not sign the waver provision. The U.S. now regards Jerusalem as the legitimate Capital of Israel. Why is this important to those who trust God’s Word, the Bible?

Jerusalem is to be the Capital of the nation of Israel, an Israel that acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as their King Messiah and King of the World when He returns.

Jesus said that Jerusalem is “… The city of the great King.” (Matt 5:35)

Peace and harmony amongst the nations will be experienced when Jesus reigns from that city. (Isaiah 2:1 to 5) Verse 3 “… For out of Zion shall go the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem 4.He shall judge between the nations … and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Godly worship, joy and a strong desire to serve God will be revealed in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 8)

Israel will be the joy of all nations! (Isaiah 60 – please read the whole chapter.)

However, before this wonderful time comes the Bible prophesies that Jerusalem would be a great source of trouble to the nations. The prophet Zechariah wrote: “Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burden-some stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12: 2-3, see also Joel 3.)

We are seeing today the anger expressed by many nations about Israel and Jerusalem. The invasion of Israel by many nations is clearly prophesied in the Bible. (See Ezekiel 38.)

However, Jesus will return in power to remove this invading force, and establish a glorious time of harmony and peace on this planet. We must watch events unfolding in Jerusalem and pray for the return of the Lord Jesus from heaven.

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Another election!

This democracy business gets a bit tiring!

Yes, it does! But the election talked about in this blog post concerns really changing the world for ever by those who are true followers of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter when encouraging the believers wrote: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practise these qualities [the Christian virtues of 2 Peter verses 5 -7] you will never fall. For in this way there will  be richly provided for you  an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10 -11).

The election that the followers of Jesus look forward to is to be with Jesus in his Kingdom, the Kingdom of God that will be established when He returns (2 Timothy 4:1). The Bible clearly teaches that true believers of God and Jesus will become rulers the Kingdom!

The prophet Daniel said “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High …” (Daniel 7:27, see also verse 22).

Jesus promises that the believers will be part of his rulership team (Revelation 3:21, see also 2: 26 and 27). The Apostle Paul wrote: “… if we endure, we shall also reign with him [Jesus]” (2 Timothy 2:12). Jesus even promised that the 12 faithful disciples would assist him in ruling over Israel when he is their King (Matthew 19:27 to 30).

The manifesto of that Kingdom?

The principles are set out in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew chapters 5-7) and other Scriptures. These rulers will have, during their lifetime, tried to follow the teaching of Jesus and so, when Jesus sets up His Kingdom, will be given an incorruptible body (I Corinthians 15:50 – 54, Philippians 3:20 – 21) and with perfect wisdom and judgement they will help to put this wrong world right for God.

Wow! What a hope! Remember the Bible predicted both the mess we are in now (Luke 21:25 to 26) and the wonderful time when Jesus will again be in the earth (Psalm72), so that there will be “glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace and goodwill amongst man”.

Will you strive to make your election sure?

*Quotes taken from the ESV. To find out more about our hope and how you can become a part of it, visit our website: www.ammanfordchristadelphians.co.uk.

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The Elections – Who Deserves Your Vote?

Senedd

We are being inundated with manifestos for the Welsh Assembly elections, and every newspaper and television channel seems to be trying to help us make a decision on whom we should vote for.

As soon as this is over, it will all start again over the ‘in/out’ referendum over membership of the European Union.

At the last Welsh assembly election only just over 40% of the eligible electorate voted. In all of the elections for the Assembly the turnout has never reached 50%.

I am one of the people who have lived in Wales during the whole time that there has been a Welsh Assembly and have never once voted. In fact I have never voted in any type of election.

This is not because I am apathetic by nature, or have a radical political point to make. It is because I have religious conviction.

I do recognise that this Country, indeed this World urgently needs a solution to it’s problems, such as war, famine, disease and poverty to name but a few you know all too well. But I do not believe that, no matter how well meaning, men and women have a solution, no matter who may be elected.

The clear message of the Bible is that the God of the Bible, who created the heavens and the earth and all things therein does have a plan and purpose with our world. That purpose centres on the return of the return of His son, Jesus Christ, to rule over the world as it’s King.

The Bible presents us with Jesus’ ‘manifesto’ including:

  • Justice and fairness (Isaiah 11:4)
  • Help for the poor and needy (Psalm 72:13,14)
  • World peace (Micah 4:3)
  • An abundance of food (Psalm 72:16)
  • The cure of all disease, suffering and death (Revelation 21:4)
  • A kingdom that will last forever (Daniel 2:44)

The Old Testament prophet Daniel demonstrates that ‘God works in the kingdom of men’ in bringing about His purpose. A true follower of Jesus Christ recognises that they are ‘strangers and pilgrims in the earth’ waiting for His return. (See Daniel 2:44)

By accepting that God is in control, whoever is voted into power is the person God wants and therefore if I vote for the person or party that does not get elected I am voting against God’s will. Not something the true follower of Christ should do!

However, I do live in this world and the Bible teaches that I should ‘render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s’. That is to say that I must obey the law of the State and live a life without the ‘reproach of men’, provided that the State does not ask me to compromise God’s commands.

I am not voting in the forthcoming elections because my chosen candidate isn’t standing –yet!

‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever’. (Revelation 11:15)

*Join us at 6pm on 24th April in our hall, Foundry Road, Ammanford to hear a special talk entitled ‘Elections – Who deserves your vote?’. All are welcome to attend!

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