Roadmap to peace

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Edification Articles"><U><B>Up Level</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A>   |   Roadmap to peace   |   <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <div>    |   <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A></div> <div> <B>Roadmap to peace</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Roadmap to peace</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "ROAD MAP FOR PEACE"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Several weeks ago we witnessed President Bush meeting with the Israelis and the Palestinians to negotiate building a "Road map for peace." Israel and the Palestinians have a choice to make, they can continue to kill one another or learn to practice some discipline, so they can get along together. A decision and commitment has to be made. Only one of these choices will place them on the road to peace and life. </div> <div> An eternal road map for peace and life has been offered us who have been called into God's truth. We are given a choice of two roadways to travel. Christ encourages us to, "Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). We can choose the narrow road – that is God's way - or the broad road - that is the way of this world. Christ is saying, that to follow Him will require an active roll in faith, discipline, and endurance. </div> <div> The scriptures give us an analogy by Christ of a "wise" man, and a "foolish" man. "Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:24-27). </div> <div> The psalmist writes, "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psa.1:6). Daily choices have an cumulative effect. One choice is added to another, and another and another until eventually an established way of life is formed and an eternal destiny is set. When reading the true history of man, we find the first man and woman on earth had a choice or decision to make regarding their destination. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Gen. 2:7-9). By choosing the tree of life, Adam and Eve would be given the opportunity to express their faith in God, who is the sustainer of life. Also, eating of the fruit from this tree of life, suggests man would have the opportunity to live forever. Continuing with Adam's story, "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:15-17). Adam and Eve were given a choice – God created in them and us, the freedom to be a free moral agent. God set the tree of the knowledge of good and evil apart as a testing ground to see where man's loyalty and obedience would lay. God warned Adam, that "in the day you eat of the forbidden tree you shall die." Why? God does not accept mixing righteousness with unrighteousness, good with evil, truth with error! That is called syncretism! </div> <div> The tree of life brings life - the opposite of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - which brings death. These same principles are still valid today. Punishment and death are certain if mankind continues to rebel against God and accept feeding on "The tree of knowledge of good and evil." </div> <div> The tree of life on the other hand, symbolically, represents the body of Jesus Christ. A few months ago, during Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, we imbibed of Christ's body by eating unleavened bread. Our instructions for that is found in John 6, where Christ declares Himself to be the bread of life to those who believe and obey Him. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me has everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Who so eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; And I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: So he that eats Me, even he shall live by Me" (John 6:47-48,54-57). </div> <div> The Apostle Paul, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual understanding of the meaning of unleavened bread. "Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? [a little sin corrupts the whole body] Purge out therefore the old leaven, [ sin ] that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, [all of God's feasts] not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice [at variance with one another] and wickedness; [committing evil, by breaking God's laws] but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth [meaning, no hidden contaminating influence of sin or unbelief]." </div> <div> Practicing sincerity and truth should be our every day goal. We can only build character by not compromising with evil. The qualities of sincerity and truth are expressed by the following: 1. To be pure; 2. Having pure motives; 3. Being genuine and without guile; 4. Without "Syncretism;" 5. Without mixing good and evil! 6. Without mixing truth with error. We are to walk the walk not just talk the talk!! Our actions must speak louder than our words. We must be a doer of God's word, not a hearer only! Righteous walking, acting and doing; describes a quality possessed by God. These qualities are also to characterize the conduct of His called out chosen people. </div> <div> Joshua, used the same words, sincerity and truth: "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve you the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:14- 15). Joshua is saying "we will walk the walk and talk the talk — we will accept the road map to peace as instructed by God, our Father." </div> <div> Today you and I, as those of old, have a choice to make. Are we going to follow Satan's evil ways – or follow God's righteous word and ways to peace and life? We can read what the decision was of those second generation Israelites in this same chapter: "And Joshua said unto the people, you are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the Lord, to serve Him. And they said, we are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, the Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey" (Josh. 24:22- 24). Didn't we say the same thing in our heart at baptism? </div> <div> History has proven Israel did not stick to their promises. However, we need to be on guard so we don't make the same mistake by saying one thing, and doing another. We all need to reflect back on what we promised in our prayers to God when we were first called. </div> <div> Christ, while living on earth, saw this kind of attitude in the religious sounding scribes and Pharisees. He called them hypocrites. Matthew records Christ's seventh "woe" to these hypocrites: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness [uncleanness is the third fruit of the works of the flesh]. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt. 23: 27-28). In other words, in their hearts, they are hypocrites and a law breakers. A hypocrite is defined as: 1. Play acting on a stage; 2. Faking to be what one is not; 3. A false assumption or appearance of virtue or religion. In other words "Living a lie." Hypocrite in Strong's is #5271 and #5272, means to: 1. Speak or act under a false part; 2. Pretend; 3. Be one that deceives. </div> <div> We find more evidence of what Christ means by this, when He addresses His disciples. He starts by showing three forms of anger, "But, I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: And whosoever shall say to his brother, raca, [this is an Aramaic term meaning "empty one"] shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matt. 23: 27-28). The expression "you fool" means more than just a simple dunce. It signifies a moral fool who ought to be dead - even expressing the wish he were dead. </div> <div> God condemns these three kinds of anger, because they all contain the seeds to murder. "But I say unto you, that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt 5:28). Jesus is reminding his disciples that mere abstinence from the physical act is not enough, there must be inward purity. Sin begins in the mind – and if nourished long enough, the man or woman will eventually commit the act! "But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery" (Matt 5:32). Divorce was never God's intention for man. God's ideal is that one man and one woman remain married until their union is broken by death. Paul adds some clarity to this, "Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband" (Rom. 7:1-2). </div> <div> I recently read about a man who died in the Los Angles area at the age of 88. "No one came to claim his body. The city paid to have him buried in an unmarked grave. This is sad, but not unusual. It happens all too often in large cities where there are many homeless people living on the streets. The story reads: "Glynn Wolfe's situation was unique, though, because he held a record in the Guinness book of world records. The Guinness Book listed him as the most married man, with 29 marriages to his credit. This means that 29 times he said "I do" when he was asked, "do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife" and so forth, and at the end, "Until death do you part" or "So long as you both shall live?" Mr. Wolfe died leaving behind children, grand-children, great grand-children, and a number of living ex-wives, and innumerable ex-in-laws, and still, he died alone with no one to bury his body. Mr. Wolfe is an example of how people spend their lives drifting in and out of marriages, in and out of relationships, only to find themselves isolated and alone. Apparently, he spent his entire life looking for something he never found, and he died alone" ("Choosing The Right Way" by David Riggs). </div> <div> Reminding ourselves again what Jesus Christ said, "Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock" [that solid rock foundation is Jesus Christ] (Matt 7:24). The only wise choices are those which are in accord with God's will. </div> <div> "But I say unto you, that you resist not evil: [that is, do not seek revenge for wrongs suffered] but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). We are to submit to injury, rather to seek opportunity to inflict it. "But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). All these "But, I say unto you," are given to us by the mouth of Christ. We can choose to obey His words or we can ignore them. This choice is ours to make! Even some who call themselves "Christians" are saying, "You are not going to tell ME what to do." </div> <div> What is being entirely overlooked by the world at large today is God's supreme design in allowing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to be eaten. He has allowed the evil dross </div> <div> of unrighteousness and lawlessness to rise to the surface in today's society. The impurities, in today's civilization, such as widespread dishonesty, deceitfulness, immorality and the lack of reverence for God and His laws are rising to the surface for all to see. The meaning of dross, is defined as: the waste matter that forms as a layer of dirt on the surface of hot liquid ore or metal. At this point in the process, the dross has to be purged. Purge means to: clean or purify by separating and carrying off whatever is impure. This process is called – metal-urging. The ore or metal must be reduced to a liquid state and that is done by application of tremendous heat so that the impurities will have an opportunity to rise to the surface as slag, or dross. Removing this slag or dross will leave the metal itself free from its impurities. God who created all things, uses this procedure in removing impurities from metal, just as He will use this procedure to remove evil or sin and prevent them from being in His kingdom. </div> <div> In the Old Testament, we read what Isaiah had to say about this process of purging the dross. </div> <div> We need to keep in mind the rebellious people of Isaiah's time were no different than what we see today. They refused to heed the call to righteousness and follow God's road map to peace, so God declared what He would do. "And I will turn my hand upon you, and purely purge away the dross, and take away all your tin" (Isa.1:25). This opening statement, "I will turn my hand against you" </div> <div> indicates God's judgment will be through "FIRE." God tells the prophet Jeremiah, "I have set you [Jeremiah] for a tower and a fortress among My people, that you may know and try their way. They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: They are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. </div> <div> The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melts in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. Inferior silver shall men call them, because the Lord has rejected them" (Jer. 6:27-30). </div> <div> Purging brings to the surface the slag and dross of evil from among God's creation. Look again at the reference to the removal of their "tin" in Isaiah 1:25. It has an interesting significance. "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin" (Isa.1:25). Tin is added to copper to produce hardness, making it more suited for casting, but at the same time, the tin makes it less malleable. What this verse tells us, is the Lord will not only purge the dross from His people, but that He will also remove all their tin. Tin is symbolic of taking away their hardness of heart! This hardness of heart today causes men to refuse to heed God's peace and life giving words, His commanded righteous laws, statutes and ordinances. People today ignore God's Leviticus 23 statutes and judgments. </div> <div> God tells us through Ezekiel, He is going to purge the house of Israel from the dross and tin of unrighteousness, and cleanse people from all sin and evil. It is going to be essential that they be put through a crucible, subjected to the heat of tribulation, so the evils and impurities will rise to the surface. "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; because you are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall you be melted in the midst thereof; and you shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you" (Ezek. 22:17-22). Those are fire stinging words for both spiritual Israel and physical Israel today! </div> <div> We are shown how God is going to hold back the cooling, life giving effects of seasonal rain from the nations that don't come up to keep God's commanded Feast of Tabernacles. "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain [no blessings]. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles" (Zech 14:16-19). Egypt represents sin and is singled out for mention because of it's long history of rebellion against God and His commanded life giving ways. </div> <div> Now is not a good time to go to Jerusalem to keep God's Feast of Tabernacle. Why? Luke gives us the answer in a warning. "When you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea [Israel] flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter there into" (Luke 21:20-21). </div> <div> At this time, God's has not placed His name in the city of Jerusalem, in the land called Israel today, for keeping His feasts. When God's kingdom is set up we will all keep the Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem, but until that time we are to keep the Feast where God places His name for us and His name is where His truth is taught! </div> <div> How do we afford to go where His truth is taught? God gives us clear instructions on that. "You shalt truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks; that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set His name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you: then shalt you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose" (Deut.14:22-25). It is at God's feasts, His called, are given the words of encouragement. "The words of God are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Ps 12:6). "Seven times," the same amount of days as the Days of Unleavened Bread and God's Feast of Tabernacles! God is going to use many methods to purge Israel and His called out ones. </div> <div> It seems clear when reading Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, that all the prophecies are happening today. Drought, strange weather, plagues, wars and coming conflicts are all a part of God's purging process of judgment that is going to escalate at this end time. Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Israel, Liberia are all headline news today! </div> <div> Men have always been disturbed because of their inability to make lasting peace. They don't realize that Isaiah has already given expression to the reasons why they cannot make lasting peace: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isa. 57:20-21). </div> <div> God's desire is that man will turn from his rebellious, stubborn, evil, law breaking ways and live in peace. Peace is the fruit of righteousness. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever" (Isa. 32:17). Lasting peace can prevail only where there is a rock solid foundation built on the obedience of righteousness. The greatest need of our troubled world is an understanding of this important fundamental principle. God instructs us through the words of Ezekiel. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked [law breakers;] but that the wicked [law breakers ]turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil [rebellious] ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33:11). </div> <div> Many think of purging and judgment as destructive punishment, but the scriptures show us a twofold nature of the purging and judgment process. Jeremiah brings this process to our threshold, "For I am with you, saith the Lord, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered you, yet will I not make a full end of you: but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished" (Jer. 30:11). This is speaking to all of us. The chief end of purging and judgment then is to reveal and remove the incorrigible dross from Israel and God's called out ones - just as the human workers removes the slag, or dross that has risen to the surface of the molten metal. The same rings true with God's chosen people. We are given the responsibility to set our own house in order and so be an influence for good and an example to those around us. After the dross and slag of evil has been purged from our midst we then will be ready to function as the nucleus for rulership in God's kingdom. </div> <div> Meantime, God's purging judgments continues and His hand will rest upon us until we are compelled to turn to Him, after which He will write His laws in our hearts and put them into our inward parts. We will then have a covenant of peace says God. "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezek. 37: 26-28). </div> <div> God's major purpose is to school men and women during their life, [which is a testing period], in which they are allowed to make their choice, as to whether they will serve God or themselves. We can't have it both ways. We can't mix God's way and man's way (syncretism) as did Adam and Eve. Those who find themselves in possession of the greatest inheritance of all "The Kingdom of God," will be glad they were "tried" and "purified," though at the time, the way seemed difficult and the testing almost approached the limits of human endurance. </div> <div> We are reminded by Daniel, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried" (Dan. 12:10). Man cannot of his own power purify himself, but he can show by his actions - by the fruits of his life - that God is working at purifying him; by keeping God's statutes and all His laws. That verse continues to say, "But the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." </div> <div> Those who are wise and alert will be studying, applying, and acting out the righteous commanded laws of God, while waiting patiently, with out slumbering or sleeping. Matthew Chapter 25 contains a parable we are all familiar with. It speaks of five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. The wise virgins denote the purity of God's doctrines and character. There is distinction between purity and dross. "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: [the righteous will be at Jesus Christ's marriage] but the way of the ungodly shall perish [the ungodly will be absent from the marriage]." (Psm. 1:6) "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go you out to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.' But the wise answered, saying, ‘not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the Door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.' But He answered and said, ‘verily I say unto you, I know you not.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:1-13). </div> <div> We can read more about these five foolish Laodicean remnant virgins in Revelation 3. The message to the Laodicean church indicates that this is a church in its final state of apostasy. God tells it to repent through purging. "I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Rev 3:18-19). </div> <div> Will the five foolish virgins, whose lamps were about to go out - who had to go and buy the oil of truth, wisdom, and understanding for their lamps - miss being at Jesus Christ's wedding? I am not saying they will not be in God's kingdom, but I am asking, "Will they be at Christ's wedding?" </div> <div> In the book of Luke we find God is encouraging these foolish, uninvolved "Laodiceans" to, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and you yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, When He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocks, you may open unto Him immediately" (Luke 12: 35-36). </div> <div> We cannot afford to be Laodicean and miss God's invitation to His wedding feast! We need to follow God's road map to the Kingdom of God. </div> <div> James Russell </div> <div> **************************************** </div> <div> KILL LOCAL </div> <div> THINK GLOBAL </div> <div> By David Parsons </div> <div> THE SCOURGE of jihad terrorism has left a widening trail of carnage of late. In one particular week in May, Islamic suicide bombers murdered and maimed from Saudi Arabia to Morocco to Israel. </div> <div> In Riyadh, 15 local Muslims launched three simultaneous suicide raids on housing compounds for foreigners, killing 34 people, including seven fellow Saudis. In Casablanca, 13 suicide bombers killed 29 people in coordinated strikes at five sites frequented - by Westerners. And in Israel, a wave of Palestinian terror attacks - four suicide bombings and a shooting ambush killed-12 people in a span of 48 hours. </div> <div> But the world's reaction to this recent spate of Islamic terror is perplexing, as a series of troubling distinctions are still being drawn -between the violence plaguing Israel and the 'global terror' spearheaded by al-Qaida. </div> <div> Arab rulers and media voiced unprecedented disgust for the attacks on innocent civilians on Saudi and Moroccan soil, insisting that no cause attacks insisting no cause justified such horrific deeds. Saudi royals expressed revulsion at the blind cruelty against helpless women and children, while even the hardened Syrian regime labelled it "a sinful terrorist act." </div> <div> And yet the Arab world showed little sympathy for the innocent Jewish women and children snuffed out by Palestinian attacks, insisting they were "legitimate acts of resistance against occupation" and thus outside their definition of "terrorism." </div> <div> As Israel sought to protect its citizens from more attacks, the US then demanded that Israel not target senior leaders of Palestinian terror militias in the same way Washington has struck at top alQaida figures or Saddam Hussein. Such tactics, the Bush Administration said, hinder progress towards ending a conflict that is resolvable through negotiations, whereas America is waging an all-out war against ruthless terrorists with whom there can be no compromise. </div> <div> And finally, the Europeans weighed in by distinguishing between "political" leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, who should be engaged in dialogue, and their "military wings," which are finally being blacklisted. </div> <div> It all amounts to a universally shameful approach towards the value of Jewish lives, and the Palestinians who kill them. </div> <div> LET US START with the Arabs. There is simply no right under international law, to bomb buses, cafes and discos, even Jewish ones. To be considered genuine 'freedom fighters', the laws governing conflicts require that both the ends and means be justified. The Palestinian resistance' fails on both accounts. The unswerving goal of Hamas is to eradicate the Jewish presence from all "Palestine," a form of ethnic cleansing. Fatah still seeks a similar end in stages. Meanwhile, both terror factions deliberately target civilians, a means that is totally barred under international law no matter the cause. Even Amnesty International endorses this view, saying that the Palestinian terror attacks directed against Israeli civilians constitute "crimes against humanity." </div> <div> The Bush Administration, meantime, engages in a cruel double standard when carving out an exception for the Palestinians in the war on global terror. The Palestinians preach and practise the same anti- Western Islamic agenda as al-Qaida. Listen to the imams of Gaza and you will hear it. They rage against the same enemies of Allah, urging the faithful to 'kill locally, but think globally". Their terror funding comes from sources far and wide, as increasingly do the bombs and suicide bombers. That adds up to global terror that must be crushed, not compromised. </div> <div> The Europeans are no less in error. There is no daylight between the political and military "wings" of the Palestinian militias - merely a division of labour. Both take credit for terror attacks and work for the same detestable goals. Hamas offers extensive charity and social services to build popular support for their primary raison d'etre - to eliminate Israel. As returning PA security chief Mohammed Dahlan said last year: "These days the only way to get the legitimisation [of the people] is by revenge operations." That is, Palestinian political careers are built on killing Jews. Just ask Yasser Arafat. </div> <div> THE WORLD IS desperate to identify and eradicate the roots of global terror. Yet it refuses to see that the selective treatment accorded the Palestinian cause over recent decades fuelled the proliferation of terrorism worldwide, as the wide berth given to the PLO's vast terror network encouraged others to adopt their deadly means. The perception that they could kill and mangle on an international scale and still get away with it, nurtured the present-day epidemic of terrorism. </div> <div> Today, that Palestinian cause is now driven by the same Muslim concepts of jihad and martyrdom that, inspire alQaida. And yet it still enjoys a perverse preferential treatment. </div> <div> It is time to cut off that root, and to declare the very concept of jehad a war crime. </div> <div> "This article is re-printed with permission from "The Word from Jerusalem" magazine, July/August issue, published by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, www.icej.org" </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>