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Islam is the most growing religion on earth, There is more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims.

Islam Based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic “Allah” The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control.

Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being. all The Prophets & Messengers of God “Allah” to humankind on Earth were Muslims! including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Jesus and Mohammad. they have the same basic Message to Mankind:

“La Ilaha Illa Allah”
which means no God worth of worshiping Except Allah and anything else is his servant and creation.

Although those prophets came with different books, practices and methods of worshiping, Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him and all other prophets) was the last Messenger of Allah On earth Before the Day of Judgment.

The Basic Message of Islam is the absolute Unity of Allah ‘God’ and he is not independent on anything or anyone else or even alike, he is not three on one nor father and son, Muslims beliefs on Jesus as Allah’s Prophet and Messenger and his servant just like all other prophets Including Mohammad and Moses.

Islam believes that God and his creations are completely different entities, Allah is not his creation nor he is a part of it, Islam believes that his essence and his great knowledge are everywhere on his creation.

Islam calls the human away from the worshiping of the creation of Allah and invites him to the worshiping of the creator – Allah himself, because the greatest sin of humanity is the worshiping of the creation.

Among the basics of Islamic Religion, the most important part is the belief in one God ‘Allah’ and He is the only Creator, Ruler, Lord, Administrator and Master of all that exists, And this Universe exists and functions because the will of Allah alone.

Allah responds to man’s prayer and He is the only one who has the power to accept or reject it. He is the Master of man’s destiny, no one ever else can interfere with the fate of others or even with his own fate!

All the human’s hopes and fears should be only directed to Allah. he is the object of fear & source of favour.

That’s the bedrock and most fundamental aspect of Islam religion, May Allah guide all of us to the truth and thank you for your time.

Author Bio
For more information about Islam please visit our website ‘Islam Voice’ at the following URL: http://islamvoice.mychost.com

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Usually, whenever people get sick their overall attitude about the world turns from rosy to gloomy. When feeling ill most people are not excited about anything and look at most tasks as a chore. They do not talk much. They feel pessimistic. They dwell on their misery, pity themselves and feel there is no escape. This is exactly how Satan wants us to feel. He wants us to be miserable, just like he is. By adding a positive perspective and focusing on our eternal destiny, we can rise above this despair, knowing that such privations are minuscule and benefit us by strengthening and refining us.

Strong faith is the foundation on which a strong will to endure must be built. By developing unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, we will be better able to endure adversity well. Coupled with faith we must also have determination. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary defines determination as “the mental habit of settling upon some line of action with a fixed purpose to adhere to it; adherence to aims or purposes; resoluteness.” The phrase the dictionary uses to put the word in context is “a man of determination.” Let us be men and women of determination, strictly obeying the commandments of our loving God; determined to succeed no matter what obstacle is placed in our paths.

In order to endure trials well, we must have discipline. We must not let ourselves become enslaved to TV, the Internet, video games and other frivolous pursuits. By engaging excessively in such distractions, we are idling away our precious time. With discipline, we can refrain from such amusements and engage in more worthwhile activities. By instituting stricter discipline in our lives, we will be better able to withstand the vices we could fall into in attempts to escape our trials.

Prayer is also essential in endurance. We must humble ourselves, get on our knees and thank Heavenly Father for all of our blessings, even our trials. Furthermore, in the midst of our trials we should pray for the strength to endure. If we have the necessary faith, determination and discipline, our prayers will be answered and we will receive the strength we seek.

At the end of the movie Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker demonstrates many characteristics essential for endurance. First, he obeys the command of both Yoda and the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi by facing his father, Darth Vader, so that he can complete his Jedi training. While on the forest moon of Endor, Luke surrenders himself to The Empire’s guards, who take him to Darth Vader and The Emperor. He shows the courage of faith in the encounter, not knowing beforehand how the meeting will end or even if he will make it out alive. He has a determination to succeed, faith in The Force and faith that there is still good in his father. As the meeting begins, the Emperor tries to incite anger in young Luke by showing him the beating the Rebel force is taking outside the Death Star. The Emperor’s tactics work for a little while as Luke engages his father in a duel with their light sabers. After cutting off his father’s hand, Luke allows discipline to take over, throws his light saber to the ground and announces to The Emperor that he will never turn to the Dark Side. Seeing this, The Emperor tells Luke that since he will not turn to the Dark Side he will die. The Emperor then starts shocking Luke with what looks like lightning coming from his fingertips. Luke exhibits longsuffering in enduring The Emperor’s wrath. Unable to watch The Emperor kill his only son, Darth Vader feels compassion and with his last ounce of strength picks up The Emperor and throws him down a seemingly bottomless shaft of the Death Star. Luke’s faith, determination, discipline, obedience and longsuffering help him endure and succeed.

Seldom will we know the reason we undergo specific trials while they are happening. Later on, when the tribulation has passed, looking back we realize why we needed to go through it. In this life we will constantly be tried. We will be given line up on line the experiences necessary to prove ourselves faithful and strengthen us while on our eternal course. Whenever discouraged, we need only to remember the supreme example of endurance, Jesus Christ, who suffered more than anyone of us will ever will without a single complaint.

Author Bio
Christine Bettridge has had a love for writing since early childhood. She has written plays, poetry and many articles on various subjects. Her book recently released by Cypress Street Publishing End Time Secrets, can be purchased at endtimesecrets.com

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“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword”…

Hebrews 4:12

How sharp are you at what you do for a living? Are you someone who “gets it” and is looked up to, or are you still trying to figure Success out?

Are you quick on your feet and quick to act? Do you have strong instincts when it comes to High Achievement?

How powerful are you in front of people, and when you communicate? Does it impact people and excite them? Does it move them and create an emotiopnal stirring or do your words fall flat on the floor with not much response?

Do you communicate in a powerful fashion?

No?

There is a Holy Success Secret that lies within every Christian’s hands. It is the Secret to Success that everyone seeks, but few find. It is a Power SOAKED with God’s Power and Touch, and is a Supernatural Success Magnet on Steroids. It is simply the most Success focused environment on earth.

It’s called The Word of God.

And that alone will sharpen your skill set for Success like a razor. It will take your raw Success iron, and change it to steel, and then sharpen it to the point of where even the evil one knows not to distrub your efforts and Success pursuit.

It will make you a powerful force in anything you do. it will accelerate anything you do. It will enlarge anything you touch. It will multiply everything you task. And it will increase all aspects of your Success walk.

And It will make you a quick thinker, quick on your feet, and a quick study.

How?

By the incredible Power of Change that lies within It. The Power to change every aspect of you, and to create a new you that people will be amazed at. And it all happens from the Unseen Realm, where God lives.

It will change your thinking.

It will change your confidence.

It will change your communication.

It will change your belief.

It will change your possibilities.

It will change your perspective.

It will change your expectations.

The Bible will change radically your potential for Success. From an Unseen Power from an Unseen Realm, with an Unseen Touch that will Transform you overnight.

BUT- You MUST read it daily!

Start with the Book of Proverbs and then move to the Book of John. Take 1 chapter a day, and ask, “How can this apply to my Success efforts? What can I learn from this? What is the Success Message that can be found here?”

This time in the Word will empower you and your Success in ways that you cannot fathom, and enlarge your potential to Succeed in ways that are unimaginable.

Then get a Success journal, and make daily notes of your thoughts and what you can do with what you have read with your Success.

But it’s like an air conditioner when it’s 112 degrees outside.(typical summer here in Dallas.)

If it’s not plugged in, it won’t work. Are you plugged into God’s Word? Do you read a part of it daily?

Here is a tip:

Don’t just plug into IT….

Let It PLUG INTO YOU! And CONNECT you to the Supernatural SOURCE for all Christian Success!

It will change your Success and High Achievement forever!

Blessings…Doug Firebaugh

Author Bio
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top Christian Success Trainers/Authors/Speakers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezines. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his Christian Success training ezine- The SuccessLight Devotional – at: www.successchurch.com
www.passionfire.com

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A Review & Critique of Dr. David Tyler’s book, “Jesus Christ: Self-Denial or Self-Esteem.

If one didn’t look at the title of Dr. Tyler’s book, “Jesus Christ: Self-Denial or Self-Esteem,” they might think they were reading a book about the life of Christ instead of a refutation of the self-esteem movement. Dr. Tyler takes a different approach that’s characteristic of some of the other books on critiquing self-esteem. He doesn’t exclusively argue that the self-esteem position is defective from a humanistic psychological approach as Paul Vitz does. Nor does he attempt to contrast each heretical thought and compare it to an exhaustive look at scripture references. Instead, he compares the notion of selfism to the life and practices of Jesus Christ. By so doing, he demonstrates that self-esteem flies directly in the face of what Christ was teaching others, especially His very own disciples.

In the introduction, Dr. Tyler makes the case that the new pop culture words, self-image, self-esteem and self-worth have one central focus: self. This being a recent phenomena (within the past 25 years), it has had a significant influence on the church and its teachings. He quotes Robert Schuller who says that a new reformation is needed and that being one centering on self-esteem. (It’s ironic that Schuller uses the word reformation. “The Reformation,” nearly 500 years ago, affirmed the utter ruin and insufficiency of man’s condition and reinforced the complete sufficiency of scripture, grace, faith and Christ-a complete and utter opposition of what Schuller wants.) Dr. Tyler seeks to declare that the Bible’s emphasis is on self-denial, a concept that is apparently anathema to modern day authors. And where are, Dr. Tyler asks, the words of Jesus when he supposedly tells his followers to “love themselves, esteem themselves, accept themselves, believe in themselves, develop a healthy self-image, or nurture feelings of significance and worth?” Dr. Tyler looks for them in the next three chapters of his book as he explores the words, works, and parables of Christ.

Dr. Tyler explores Christ’s encounter with various people. Jesus was always other-oriented in that He was continually about His father’s business. His baptism, the cleansing of the temple and the meeting with the Samaritan women are just a few examples that Dr. Tyler cites as proof. The most striking evidence appears in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells the crowd how to obtain blessedness (happiness). One would expect to find here Christ giving exhortation on seeking self-affirmation if the self-esteem zealots were true. However, Dr. Tyler cites five Beatitudes that Christ preached which further disappoints the selfism crowd. Christ proclaimed blessedness would occur to those who are poor in spirit, mourn, practice meekness, are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, and are merciful.

Leaving Christ’s words, Dr. Tyler explores the miracles of Jesus Christ. Jesus used miracles as proof of His divine authority, to give substance to His words, and also to demonstrate his other-oriented attitude by offering love and sympathy for mankind. Dr. Tyler gives several examples, healing of the leper and the Roman centurion’s servant, the calming for the Sea of Galilee, the demon-possessed man, to name a few. This shows Christ was focused on meeting the needs of others. Dr. Tyler also leaves the self-love advocates with a question as to where was the person who cried “I hate myself, I feel inferior and inadequate; heal me Son of David;” (not in Galilee apparently).

Dr. Tyler uses the parables to further prove that Christ was other-oriented. He gives a brief explanation on the purpose of parables. He explains the dilemma that many find as to why Christ spoke in parables, i.e., Christ intentionally hid from the disobedient and rebellious His mysteries. Dr. Tyler’s quotation from G. Campbell Morgan seems out of step however as Campbell’s quote muddies the water. It appears inconsistent with Matthew 13:15b. “lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Dr. Tyler closes his book by acknowledging that undeniably self-esteemism is found in the scriptures. It’s origin is in Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” This was the beginning of mankind becoming self-oriented. It’s clear to the reader that support for current selfism philosophy cannot be gleaned from the teachings or the life of Christ. Christ was certainly focused on doing His Father’s business as well as relieving the suffering of others.

Author Bio
Johnny is a counselor at Gateway Biblical Counseling & Training Center. The counseling center is a ministry of Edgemont Bible Church, www.ebiblechurch.net

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Our church has an organized basketball program managed and coached by Doug White (not to be confused by our pastor who also has the same name). Recently, I asked Doug why he was so passionate about the sport of basketball, and what does basketball have to do with Christianity. I thought his philosophy may be helpful to others who desire to build a church sports program. He expounded that organized basketball can be a great Christian training ground. Doug believed it starts with the right goal in mind: building up believers for their Christian walk. Coach White adheres to the following eight principles:

1. The program leader and coaches must remember the program goal in every activity they undertake. The core to a successful basketball program is conditioning and fundamentals. Those are two things most kids will like the least because they’re infected by television sports; where the focus is on the individual player to look as good as possible. By focusing on conditioning and fundamentals, coaches can begin to wean their kids off of the glory-seeking mentality inherent in today’s professional sports and develop a TEAM.

2. Every practice must begin and end with a prayer and those prayers should be led by players as soon as possible. The last 15 minutes of every practice should be a Bible study lesson where the players MUST bring a lesson or verse and be prepared to give its meaning and an application to basketball or their daily lives. Every player is required to have their Bible in hand and a lesson written down inside.

3. The Bible study lesson will be one of the most emotionally challenging tasks the players will face. Not only do they have to read and understand, but they also have to speak in front of their peers. To demonstrate how simple the task really is, Coach White will lead the first 2 or 3 by turning to a chapter in Proverbs. Proverbs is an easy book to use because it’s built around life lessons. The challenges faced on the court boil down to challenges in life: anger management, cooperation, physical effort, pain, disappointment, and joy. The requirement to have a lesson on a piece of paper can be answered simply by writing a Proverb on a piece of paper with the point the player is trying to make. Those without a Bible or lesson earn a martyr (what the secular world calls a “suicide”) for each infraction. The penalized player will run while we prepare the lesson.

4. Coaches need to remind their players that all the heavy conditioning will be lifelong examples the players can use when basketball becomes just a fond memory. Working hard and hammering their bodies into fit vessels will make their brains more alert and able to accomplish seemingly impossible physical tasks for years into the future. And if some of the players actually choose to become missionaries, their physical training will form a great basis to endure the hardships in third world countries.

5. To successfully reach the primary goal of improving our Christian walk, basketball games become framed in the context of physical contests and opportunities to demonstrate a Christ-like attitude. Christian players do NOT challenge or complain about a referee’s call. The Christian player appreciates the referee’s difficult position of managing chaos and understands the thankless job they’ve undertaken. Complaining about a call, rolling their eyes, or hot-dogging earns them an immediate spot on the bench where they can see the cost to their teammates of their absence.

6. The other team is not “the enemy” but are brothers that challenge us. If the other team is secular, then we become a team of witnesses of how Jesus would behave and how He makes us different. The goal as a Christian team is put out an effort level Jesus would be pleased with, and an attitude that makes fans and players both wonder how it can be in today’s world. As Christians playing basketball, we should be victorious whether we’re winning or losing the game.

7. When the game is over, win or lose, the players must understand that God is in control. God is a “details kind of guy” who has numbered the cattle on a thousand hills, so he knows exactly what went on during the game. And He watches what happens AFTER the game. Win or lose, the Christian team is the envy of every fan and every coach because of how they behave AND how they play. As the coach for a Christian team, you model that same attitude. No team is ever “blown out” by your team, no matter how poor their skills. Every team gets the same level of respect you want for your team — even if that means you put a lid on your best players, denying them the opportunity to score at will. We still play hard and give our best effort, but we can always stop short of running up the score.

8. The real measure of success for the coach isn’t the won-loss record, but the activities his players become involved in once basketball is over. A successful coach will have successful PEOPLE graduating from his program, and they, in turn, can positively affect the people they come in contact with as they go through life.

Author Bio
Coach White’s basketball link can be found at www.ebiblechurch.net.
Johnny Kicklilghter is a member of (www.ebiblechurch.net) Edgemont Bible Church located in Fairview Hts, Illinois.

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My views of counseling when I became a Christian back in the late 1960’s was the same as everyone else, i.e., if you need help, you get out the yellow pages of the telephone book, look up a counselor and make an appointment. Little or no regard was given to the type of counseling or the counselor’s credentials. It wasn’t until the early 1970’s when I was introduced to Jay Adams that I begin to see that there was a great distinction between counseling and honest to goodness biblical counseling.

In 1986 I enrolled in Liberty University’s School of Lifelong Learning to complete my degree program via a genuine Christian school. I remember how excited I was when I opened my first set of materials and tapes and sat down to take Psychology 101. Soon thereafter I remember my heart sank as the instructor began to teach Freud, Skinner, & Rogers under the guise, “All truth is God’s truth.” I felt betrayed as all Liberty could offer me was baptized humanism. Liberty University was operating from a faulty presupposition, i.e., all truth is God’s truth. They failed to understand “truth” that doesn’t pass examination by scripture isn’t truth. Liberty doomed themselves when their leaders attempted to accommodate the secular world’s theories thereby producing a “theistic psychology.”

The success or failure of biblical counseling begins with its presuppositions. Cornelius Van Til defined presuppositionalism as “an insistence on an ultimate category of thought or a conceptual framework which one must assume in order to make a sensible interpretation of reality.” In other words, it accepts on faith that God exists and the Bible is true, and understands the implications of adhering to it.

What are some of the key presuppositions in biblical counseling? To start, counseling issues are theological issues because our life is lived before God. That is the antithesis of psychology’s main presupposition of there is no God. If there is one single difference that makes the two models stand out it’s the fact that one acknowledges God and the other does not. Also, the heart drives behavior and all counseling issues are heart issues. This establishes that all behavior is righteous or unrighteous, not healthy or unhealthy; and certainly not the psychological heresy “feelings are neither good nor bad, they just exist.” Furthermore, one’s view on the nature of man is critical in understanding behavior and offering biblical solutions. If man is depraved and his behavior is the result of sin, the biblical counselor can offer solutions, hope, and a cure. If there is no sin, reductionism becomes the presupposition and all behavior is reduced to chemical imbalances, diseases or other ambiguous impulses.

Biblical counseling teaches man’s heart is at the center of his feelings and behavior. Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” The heart affects the body because of the union between the heart and the body. This is referred to as duplexity, a union of material and immaterial; hence the origin of psychosomatic illnesses. The body may also affect the heart by imposing restrictions on the heart (Matthew 26:41). Sin, of course, has affected us all with some degree of abnormality.

Fundamental to understand man’s behavior is the construct of habit. Habit is simply a pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition. God has blessed us all with the capability for habit. Habits can be both learned and unlearned behavior. Consequently, sinful habit patterns are easily developed because man is a habitual sinner. Breaking sinful habits can only be accomplished by using the put-off/put-on dynamic. The counselee must replace sinful habits with Godly behavior. Some sinful habits can become a consuming lifestyle for people. Some of the following sinful habit patterns are common in counselees:

1. Grief:
Grief can sometimes immobilize a counselee to where they are unable to function normally. I Samuel 15:35-16:1 gives a good example of a godly man being overcome with grief: “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. And the Lord said unto Samuel, how long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go… .” Teaching the counselee to not live by feelings is important to someone suffering from prolong grief. A simple put-on of go and do is often required.

2. Depression:
People who frequently experience trials in life will encounter depression. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed,” II Corinthians 4:8-9. It’s important to distinguish between presentation, performance, and preconditioning problems when dealing with depression. You need to pay close attention to what the person has been doing instead of how they are feeling. Everyone will occasionally feel “down,” so it’s imperative for the counselor not to be led astray.

3. ADD/ADHD:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a widely diagnosed illness that has no basis in science. It’s simply a subjective diagnosis using empirical observations of bad behavior. Obedience is the core issue regarding ADD/ADHD and it’s important to label the counselee’s behavior using biblical terminology. Making a list of sinful practices, replacing them with godly ones coupled with accountability is helpful with this kind of person.

4. Fear:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a repetitive thought pattern that has its roots in fear. Fear is an emotion given to us by God for us to experience in anticipation of some specific pain or danger. Godly fear keeps us safe from danger. However, becoming afraid or feeling anxious about a situation where there is no danger is sin. Ungodly fear may take many forms in a counselee’s life and is always self-oriented and suspicious. Replacing fear with love, having the counselee focus on doing the loving thing, plus breaking the victim mentality, helps the person overcome the practice of irrational fear.

Using the biblical doctrine and practice of forgiveness is instrumental to effective counseling in many cases. Frequently counselees harbor deep-seated bitterness and refuse to follow the scriptural process to obtain or grant forgiveness. Romans 12:18-19, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” Jay Adams in “A Theology of Christian Counseling” said man’s greatest need is forgiveness, and he could not think of a more important subject for counselors to understand. Indeed, he spent nearly 50 pages discussing the subject; far more than any other topic. Cultivating a forgiving attitude in counselees is vitally important in freeing them from guilt and bitterness.

Adams speaks of the heart forgiveness Paul has in II Timothy 4:16, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” Jesus spoke of it in Mark 11:15, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Stephen demonstrated it in Acts 7:60, “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” This was an excellent example of the words of Jesus in Luke 6:28, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Teaching counselees the concept of heart forgiveness helps the offended party turn the matter over to God according to Romans 12:19. This is especially important when reconciliation between the offended parties is not possible.

It’s important for the biblical counselor to understand that truth and godliness are hand-in-hand and it’s not possible to divorce the two. Consequently, biblical counselors must become theologians if their goal is to have counselees please God.

Author Bio
Johnny Kicklighter is a counselor at Gateway Biblical Counseling & Training Center, a ministry of www.ebiblechurch.net, Edgemont Bible Church.

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The chapter of Matthew 24 is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible. Most believe that this chapter has to do with our wars, day and age however this is not the case. In fact Billy Graham use to say, “Matthew 24 is knocking at your door.” When trying to understand scripture you must be careful how you apply the message. Trying to make everything in the Bible to fit to these days and times will surely get you into trouble. In this article we will be discussing the first part of the chapter which deals with the destruction of Jerusalem that happened around 70 AD; several years before the United States was a country. It was written by Matthew about the events that would happen in the apostles’ future. It would be helpful for you to read the first part of the chapter in Matthew 24 to understand the article.

The ministry of Christ was in full force. Some Jews believed and began following Jesus however most didn’t. Even the ones that thought it might be possible that Christ was their expected Messiah still went against him. Christ forewarned the apostles and all those present, when you see the abomination of desolation as spoken by the prophet Daniel, meant it was time for them to get out. See Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. The abomination that causes desolation. (cf. Lk 21:20.). The abomination would be the order that came from the Emperor to place statues in the temples of themselves to be worshipped. The temple would be desolate, as there will be no more worship in it. It would be the end of the Jewish state.

Fleeing to the mountains would be a great place to hide but if it’s a nuclear attack in the United States it wouldn’t matter if you hid in the mountains. The rooftops were flat in those days and often traveled on by foot making escaping easier. There was not time to come down from the roof top to get your things. Some also slept on the rooftops in those days and if they did it would be easier to get up and flee. Do not go back and get your clothes. Get out of dodge. Mothers with children would make it even harder to leave. It would be better for the war not to take place in the winter as the rivers would be frozen and impassible. With modern day transportation we can get anywhere in the winter so what would it matter if the attack happened in the winter? So then it doesn’t make any sense when you apply it to the 21st century. Hopefully the Romans didn’t make their attack on a Sabbath because the city gates of Jerusalem would be closed as always on a Sabbath. Neh. 13:19. The darkened moon and falling stars are signs that a nation has fallen or great political change. This figurative language is used in the same way with the fall of other nations. Is. 13:10; 34:4-6; 51:5-6 Jer. 4:1-6; 23-28; Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 3:15-16; Nin. 1:1-5; Amos 8:1-2, 9. The destruction of Jerusalem was predicted by the Old Testament prophets. Micah 3:12; Zech. 14:4. There was about to be a great change in the law that would change their lives and the lives of the Jews forever. Why the war?

First off we cannot forget the mighty hand of God. The Jews for years had been going against God. They wouldn’t listen to God anymore and many Jews were committing murders, persecutions and idolatry. Any nation that forgets about God will be its demise. Prov. 14:34; Ps 9:17. Because of the Jews defiance and rejection of their own Messiah, the war happened just as the prophets predicted it would. Is. 53:3.

The Jews hated the Roman Empire and this is the reason they started the war. As far as they knew they weren’t thinking about the hand of God. The Jews wanted political and religious liberty. Rome wanted to have control over everything. Rome wanted to oversee the day to day life of the Jews. The Romans would come in and steal from the temple as well as the procurators who would collect all the taxes for the entire empire. In collecting the tax whatever they collected over the amount due and would line their pockets with the rest. The political tension and religious expectations grew. Finally in 70 AD Titus led the revolt to siege Jerusalem and later became emperor. Some were killing themselves in a suicide battle as it would be better to be dead then to be taken and sold into slavery. What happened to the Christians?

Eusebius and his book Ecclesiastical History, wrote that the Christians fled to Pella. Pella is located in the modern day Jordan, which is about two and a half miles east of the Jordan River. He also said they fled because of divine revelation in which they received. This would mean the warning that is recorded by Matthew in chapter twenty-four as well as the other gospels. Jesus did say that some would be put to death, (Lk 21:16) but this he says would happen before the siege of Jerusalem. It is possible that not many perished because they remembered and heeded the warnings given by the Lord.

Author Bio
The is an excerpt from the book titled End Time Secrets written by Christine Bettridge and she also is the editor of the article directory, aboveallcontent.com, Above All Content. Visit her blog at: biblesound.blogspot.com, The Bible Sound Blog.

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The Bible is a Book that has two main divisions in – the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even though there are these distinct parts of the Bible – it still has only one theme – redemption. This is necessary to understand because the whole Bible revolves around this theme, and some have said that there is a scarlet thread (of blood) that runs form cover to cover.

Other Similarities

Before the differences are looked at, let’s consider some other similarities that exist between the two halves. The books were all written by men – even the two books that bear the names of women – Ruth and Esther. The theme of both Books is redemption, and in both Books redemption occurs through faith. The Redeemer is the same in the Old Testament and the New – though it was not as clear in the Old. God always had the plan of sending His Son to become the Redeemer by dying for the human race (see Isaiah 53, and Psalm 22). Also, in both the Old Testaments and the New, the blood of sacrifice is necessary for redemption (Leviticus 17:10 and Hebrews 9:22)

Another similarity is that the Bible begins with a tree, the Tree of Life – from which mankind is forbidden to partake after they sinned, and the Bible ends with the Tree of Life – offered freely to the redeemed to partake of its fruits. It also begins with man and God walking together in fellowship in the beginning, and once again, after God’s working to redeem man, in the end, forever.

The Main Difference Between The Two

All of the differences can be summed up by saying that the Old Testament begins the teaching, or revelation, while the New Testament finishes (or completes) that same revelation. In other words, the story is incomplete without the New Testament. The completion that is accomplished here is not just referring to a completed Book, but something more. The complete revelation of God to man, and of God’s finished work of man’s redemption, is completed in Christ – Who is God in the flesh. The New Testament is God’s infallible record of what Christ has done – and will yet do.

Other Differences Between the Two

1. The Old Testament deals largely in pictures and types.

Much of the truth about Christ that is in the Old Testament was hidden or unknown until Christ came. While they did know that everything relating to the Tabernacle and the Temple was to be made “according to the pattern,” most of them probably did not understand that the Pattern referred to was Christ Himself. The New Testament, however, reveals what many of the things in the Old Testament meant.

A couple of the events of the Old Testament were prophetic through their illustrated truth, and of which the New Testament tells us that they were types (pictures) of Christ:

Abraham’s offering of Isaac – pictured the Father Who willingly offered His only begotten Son; and of the Son Who refused not to die – both believing that God would raise him up – which is exactly what happened in Christ’s case

Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness – pictured Christ being lifted up for us, and putting Satan and his power to death.

Moses striking the Rock – he was to do it once because it pictured that Christ would be smitten once, and from Him would flow living waters.

2. In the Old Testament, once the Temple was built, God dwelt in the Temple – distant (the place of His revealed presence), but in the New Testament, God lives in the heart of each believer – close and personal, showing that the fellowship with God has been restored.

3. The Old Testament begins with God calling out a people-nation to Himself (Genesis 12), while the New Testament shows Him beginning with that nation, through 12 Jewish apostles, and calling unto Himself the whole world.

4. The Old Testament largely deals with the Law of God, but in the New Testament, the focus is on the grace of God. This is not because God had changed in any way, but it was because the complete Sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins had been accomplished – Christ died for our sins.

5. The Old Testament shows God remaining largely hidden, and access to Him could only be gained through the Temple, and with an animal sacrifice. The New Testament shows that Christ has given every believer free access to the Throne of God.

The difference between the two is further illustrated in the Bible by an incident that occurred just after Christ died on the Cross. In the Temple, there was a thick curtain, behind which only the High Priest could enter once a year. When Christ died, this curtain was ripped from the top to the bottom without human hands. This miracle showed to all who saw it that God would no longer remain hidden away behind these pictures, but now every man could have full access to God through Christ by faith.

Author Bio
Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles. Her latest e-book End Time Secrets recently released by Cypress Street Publishing has caused an order craze in the religious world. It can be ordered and downloaded right now through the publishers website at End Time Secrets and she also is the editor of the article directory, aboveallcontent.com, Above All Content. Visit her blog at: biblesound.blogspot.com, The Bible Sound Blog.

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The existence of a Buddhist organization in an Eastern European country may seem surprising. But Buddhism has come of age in the secularized West. Its reach is expanding beyond its original Eastern context and Hungary’s East-West Research Institute is bringing this worldview to the rest of the globe.

Although Hungarian culture is largely influenced and informed by Christian values and perspectives, many Hungarians “have a traditional interest in Eastern cultures, because they are thought to have come from Inner Asia,” said Tamas Agocs, director of the institute.

This may be why the only state-accredited Buddhist institute of higher education in Europe, the “Gate of the Dharma” Buddhist University, was founded in Budapest in 1991.

The university subsequently established the East-West Research Institute “to provide framework and conditions for scientific research into the possibilities of Buddhist education and the dissemination and application of Buddhist principles in the country,” said Agocs.

As globalization continues to make the world smaller, participants strive to increase the dialogue between the “East” – the Asian cultures that have been shaped by Buddhist thought – and the “West” – the modern, scientific cultures that originated in Western Europe. With this goal in mind, they also work towards making the values of Buddhism known in the West.

Without forsaking the integrity of Buddhist views, values and practices, Agocs said their goal is “to enter the East-West dialogue not just in order to find interesting parallels and differences between Eastern and Western discourses, but with a view towards the constructive and creative application of Buddhist principles in all walks of life.”

According to Agocs, the open attitude of Buddhist thought is the ideal starting point for furthering the science-and-religion discussion.

“Buddhism shares many methods with Western science. They both emphasize the unbiased examination, thoughtful analysis and critical testing of experience,” said Agocs.

However, the direction of the approach is different, he said. “The basic difference is that Buddhist inquiry is directed mainly inwards, towards the consciousness, while scientific research is mostly targeted outside.”

In addition to participating in the science-and-religion dialogue and organizing conferences on the intersection between the East and the West, the institute promotes research on the study of the Buddhist tradition and explores Buddhism as an applied science that can provide answers to challenges faced in the world today.

Current programs include the Milky Way project, which is establishing a Buddhist school. The institute is also sponsoring research on the mind and the application of Buddhist mind training methods to psychology and community building. Eventually, Agocs said he would like to build cooperative relationships between the center and other international organizations for interdisciplinary research projects.

Author Bio
Anne Reilly is an editorial intern at Science & Theology News.

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The atmosphere within the evangelical community has been heating up since the Climate Initiative (www.christiansandclimate.org/Evangelical) was introduced in early February.

The statement, which is endorsed by more than 80 prominent evangelical leaders, asserts that climate change is an urgent problem and that the Christian faith mandates a strong response to global warming. Evangelicals have been reluctant to embrace environmental activism because of its connections with liberal agendas. The group as a whole has had a general tendency to prioritize spiritual rather than social and physical concerns. As scientific data increasingly supports observations of human-induced climate change, however, many are now taking action.

“It is a very appropriate move in terms of a biblical basis and, in fact, long overdue,” said Fred Van Dyke, who teaches environmental ethics at Wheaton College. “The evangelical community has long associated the environmental agenda with a liberal agenda, but they are getting over it.”

Roy Spencer, principal research scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and former senior climate scientist with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, said he is concerned that the initiative focuses too strongly on activism and not enough on science. He helped the Stewardship Alliance (www.interfaithstewardship.org/Interfaith) draft a 19-page monograph on global warming called “An Examination of the Scientific, Ethical and Theological Implications of Climate Change Policy.”

The alliance is a coalition of religious leaders, scientists, academics and policy experts committed to applying a biblical view of stewardship to environmental issues. In the monograph, the alliance said that climate change science remains inconclusive.

“We cannot say for certain how much the planet may be warming, how much is due to human activities versus natural cycles, or whether these changes in global temperature would be mostly good or mostly bad for the majority of people,” Spencer wrote in the monograph.

Other prominent evangelical figures – such as Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson, and Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries – have also said they are concerned about the Evangelical Climate Initiative’s stance on environmental policy.

The media, in particular, has misrepresented the effort as the majority opinion among evangelicals, said Cal Beisner, an associate professor of historical theology and social ethics at Knox Theological Seminary and an adviser for the initiative. Because of this, he worked hard to discourage the 30-million member National Association of Evangelicals – which has refrained from establishing an official statement on climate change – from endorsing the initiative.

“What I would caution against is equating fidelity to the gospel of Jesus Christ with endorsement of a particular environmental scenario or policy response to it,” said Beisner. “I am concerned that the ECI’s call to action hazards crossing the line in that regard.”

Despite their differences, ECI and the alliance both state that global warming is a problem that must be addressed, and both are motivated by a concern for those living in poverty. The tension is over the appropriate policy response. ECI urges preventative action and argues mandatory emissions reduction policy is necessary to combat the progress of global warming, which will have the most impact on the poor living in low-lying coastal regions.

The alliance argues it is more prudent to invest in technology that will allow humanity to cope with a changed global climate. It also says mandatory emissions reduction policy will force a general increase in the prices of all goods and services that depend on energy as a production factor – therefore, having the largest negative impact on the world’s poor.

“Right now we have a government that has done nothing effective about global warming and doesn’t listen to people like me – scientists,” said Mark Cane, professor of earth and climate science, and academic board member of the Institute at Columbia University (www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/Earth). “They do listen to evangelicals, however, so [the Evangelical Climate Initiative] plays an important saving role.”

Author Bio
Matthew Trumbull is Web editor at Science & Theology News.

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