How Will the World Be Different When Christ Returns? (Part 1)

For approximately the past 6000 years, since mankind rebelled in the Garden of Eden, the earth has been under the curse of Satan’s rule. Satan has not ruled without restraint. God has remained supreme over the universe, including the earth, but to a large extent he has allowed Satan to influence mankind. And Satan, within certain parameters, has remained, as referred to in 2 Corinthians 4:4, and other Scriptures, as the “god of this age,” or of this world.

The result of Satan’s influence has been a history of oppression, warfare, famines, widespread poverty, deception, ignorance, disease, crime, and other evils that have plagued mankind. What the world needs is a new kind of government, a government not of Satan, nor of men, but of God, the benevolent Creator, and author of every blessing, including life itself (James 1:17-25; Acts 17:24-25). The time when that new government appears may not be far off, although no one on earth knows for certain the exact time when it will happen (Matthew 24:30-36).

How that future world will be different is the exciting and greatly encouraging subject of a planned series of articles, of which this is the first.

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Feast of Trumpets: Christ as Judge

Jesus Christ will return

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Published September 7, 2018
There are many facets to what is pictured by the Feast of Trumpets. Very prominent in what is pictured by that day is that God is a judge – that Jesus Christ, when He returns to the earth is returning in judgement. In this sermon, Pastor Rod Reynolds discusses some of the prophecies concerning Christ’s judgement on the earth, and the principles relating to the manner in which Christ judges.

“Feast of Trumpets: Christ as Judge” by Messenger Church of God released under a Creative Commons [CC BY-ND 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/)]License:
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Smoke Ascends Forever?

Smoke Ascends

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Published August 7, 2018
Will the wicked really be tormented forever in hell? In this sermon, pastor Rod Reynolds examines in detail passages in the book of Revelation that have traditionally been used to establish the common belief in a never-ending hellfire reserved for punishment of the wicked. To understand what the Bible says about hell, we must carefully study the context of the scriptures in question.

“Smoke Ascends Forever?” by Messenger Church of God released under a cc-by-nc-nd Creative Commons License:
This image released under a CC cc-by-nc-nd license. Click here for details.

Why the Enigma of the Bible?

Published August 1, 2018
In this sermon, Rod Reynolds explores why it is that so many people do not understand the Bible. This sermon also explains some vital keys in unlocking God’s Word so you can understand it better. The Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world. Well over 2 billion copies of the Bible have been printed and distributed worldwide. Almost every household in much of the western world has at least one Bible, and yet it is a book that is little understood.

“Why the Enigma of the Bible?” by Messenger Church of God released under a cc-by-nc-nd Creative Commons License:
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Does God Lie?

Does God lie? Did Jesus Christ speak in parables to deceive people?

A reader asked for my comment, writing to me, “I know of someone who said that Christ deceived. He was referring to the… parable of the sower and the seed. [He inferred] that Christ used the parables to deceive people so they wouldn’t understand.” The reader went on to say that some who think of themselves as Christians justify lying if one’s motive is to achieve a “good end,” for example, “to get the abortion law altered” so there would be fewer abortions.”

Should we lie? Should we do evil that good may come?

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