2021 Mar-Apr Zion's Fire Magazine

Is There Something More to the Abraham Accord?

Are Israel and the United Arab Emirates planning for a Third Jewish Temple?

Flashpoint Report

Are We Filled With Truth and Grace?

Beyond “Intelligent Design”

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MARCH-APRIL 2021

FLASHPOINT

Is There Something More to the Abraham Accord? Are Israel and the United Arab Emirates planning for a Third Jewish Temple?

David Rosenthal

Often overlooked in the discussion of biblical prophecy, the UAE could prove to be a key nation in end-times events.

COVER FEATURE

Galatians: Justification by Grace Through Faith

Marv Rosenthal

Because its focus is the doctrine of justification by grace through faith, Galatians is the Emancipation Proclamation of the Church, and the Magna Carta of Christianity.

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INSIGHT FEATURE

Are We Filled With Truth & Grace?

Dan Hayden

As Christians dealing with a counter-culture, we need to know how to be strong in the Lord while remaining true to Christ.

MISSION REPORT

A Serving of Ice Cream and the Gospel

Josh in Jerusalem

A trip to a café with his daughters turned into a remarkable opportunity to share the Gospel with a Jewish couple.

INSIGHT FEATURE

The Year God’s End-Times Clock Began Ticking

David Ettinger

Are we in the end times? Indeed we are. But when exactly did we get there? When did the end times begin?

INSIGHT FEATURE

Beyond “Intelligent Design”

Gary Cohen

The vast complexity of our universe demands more than just “intelligent design”; it demands a “super-genius” design!

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Zion’s Fire (ISSN 1052-2301, USPS 005423) is published bimonthly by Zion’s Hope, Inc., 146 West Plant Street, Suite 300, Winter Garden, FL 34787-3136. Periodicals postage paid at Winter Garden, FL and additional mailing offices.

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Zion’s Hope is a Bible-based ministry whose purpose is to proclaim to Jewish and Gentile people throughout the world their need for personal salvation through Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. We’re also committed to helping Christians grow in their understanding of biblical prophecy and the importance of Israel in God’s plan for the Last Days. To that end, we teach Scripture in its historical, geographical, and cultural context to prepare God’s people for end-time events and the return of Jesus Christ.

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Is There Something More to the Abraham Accord?

Are Israel and the United Arab Emirates planning for a Third Jewish Temple?

One nation often overlooked in the discussion of biblical prophecy is the United Arab Emirates. The U.A.E. is a small but exceedingly wealthy nation on the Arabian Peninsula, strategically positioned along the Persian Gulf. I believe it bears watching, particularly in light of two recent events.

The first was a visit by Pope Francis to the U.A.E. in 2019. His arrival there marked the first papal visit in history to the Arabian Peninsula. Even more significant was the announcement by the U.A.E. of their intent to construct the Abrahamic Family House–a massive complex of three large religious structures commemorating the Pope’s visit and “fostering interfaith reconciliation” between the three Abrahamic faiths.

Designed to be of equal size and height, the three buildings, set to open in 2022, will include an Islamic mosque (to be oriented toward Mecca), a Jewish synagogue (to face toward Jerusalem), and a Christian church (with an altar pointing east).

The second, more recent event took place in 2020 during the Trump administration. It shocked the world as the U.A.E., Israel, and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accord peace agreement which “fully normalized” relations between the countries. Since that time, additional countries have also signed the Accord.

One of the major components of the agreement is to encourage secular and religious tourism between Israel and the U.A.E. Terms of the agreement include the following language:

“Muslims who come in peace may visit and pray at the Al Aqsa mosque, and Jerusalem’s other holy sites should remain open for peaceful worshipers of all faiths.”

However, this wording has caused consternation among some Muslim observers as they say it intentionally leaves the door open for Jews to ascend the Temple Mount to worship and pray.

The entire 35-acre rectangular plateau is referred to by Muslims as the Haram al Sharif (the noble sanctuary) and has been considered by them to be “off-limits” to Jewish worshipers. Some observers believe this specific wording in the Accord may be intended to restrict Islamic worship to only the Al Aqsa mosque itself, which would allow both Jews and Christians to ascend the Temple Mount for prayer and worship in the near future.

Many Muslims are keenly aware that Orthodox Jews are eager to construct the Third Jewish Temple atop the Temple Mount in preparation for the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Some within Islam are convinced the U.A.E. knew this when it agreed to this specific wording, and they accuse the wealthy Arab nation of selling out the interests of the Islamic world.

For its part, Israel has grown weary of Jordan’s role in running the Temple Mount. And Israel’s government is increasingly concerned over the growing influence of Turkey, which seeks to control the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem under the banner of its re-emerging Neo-Ottoman Empire.

In light of these things, some questions must be asked: Apart from the economic and military benefits the Accord affords to Israel and the U.A.E., is it possible that Israel negotiated this peace agreement, in part, to fend off the advances of Turkey at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem? If so, is there a plan in place to divide the Temple Mount between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity for the purpose of “fostering interfaith reconciliation” as the U.A.E. is attempting in their own country? Is it possible that, with its wealth and growing influence in Israel, the U.A.E. may partner with the Jewish state to facilitate, or even fund the construction of a Third Jewish Temple in fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Time will tell as ramifications of the Abrahamic Family House and Abraham Accord continue to unfold. u

Al

Southeast corner of the 35-acre plateau known as the Temple Mount

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If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed!

Ihave said for decades that the Book of Romans is my favorite book of the Bible. If I were stranded on an island by myself with no chance of rescue, and I could only have one book with me, I would have it be Romans. I believe the Book of Romans is the most important document ever penned. Likewise, whenever I teach the Book of Revelation, I believe, for this moment of human history, it is the most important book one could read.

But whenever I read Galatians, I frequently think to myself, Where would the Church be without the Book of Galatians? The Books of Romans and Galatians have brought about true revival throughout history, particularly during the Protestant Reformation. Romans and Galatians are the two books that have grabbed hold of the souls of men and women more than any other.

A Question of Location

Despite this, I have a problem. It isn’t a critical problem, but a problem nonetheless. The problem is this: Paul wrote this letter to the church at Galatia, but I don’t know exactly where Galatia is. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, and I do know where Ephesus is; I’ve been there. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, and I know where Corinth is. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, and I know where Thessalonica is. Paul wrote to the Philippians, and I know where Philippi is. But I can’t “pinpoint” Galatia on a map.

We know Galatia is in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). In the immediate centuries before Christ there were tribal peoples – most prominently the Gauls –who migrated to north central Asia and settled in Anatolia, modern-day Turkey. Then, in the first century B.C., the Romans conquered that entire region. The Romans took a large area stretching 300 miles from

Whenever I read Galatians, I frequently think to myself, Where would the Church be without the Book of Galatians?

Written by Marvin J. Rosenthal

north to south in Asia Minor and called it “Galatia,” named after the Gauls. Paul wrote to a particular church in this vast geographic area, but theologians still debate whether the church in view was in northern Galatia or southern Galatia. There are no ruins which have been uncovered that help shed light on the issue.

For centuries, theologians believed Paul wrote his epistle to the northern Galatians. Then, in around the 18th century, some scholars began championing the belief that Paul wrote to a group of believers located in the southern part of the region of Galatia. This “southern” view has grown in popularity, and most biblical scholars today believe

it was to this region that Paul wrote the Galatians epistle.

If the region to which he wrote is southern Galatia, then, based on what we know of his travels during his first missionary journey (A.D. 46-48), there is no way he reached the northern part of Asia Minor. If he founded the church of Galatia during his first missionary journey, then the location had to be in southern Galatia.

has no impact on the message of the Book of Galatians. However, you should be aware this is a point of contention among scholars whereas such an issue doesn’t exist regarding Paul’s other letters.

The Heart of Galatians

At the heart of the Book of Galatians is the doctrine of justification by grace through faith apart from the Mosaic Law. The Book of Galatians is the Emancipation Proclamation of the Church, and the Magna Carta of Christianity. If the Book of Galatians had a motto, it would be, “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.”

Think of the opening stanza from the great hymn, “Free From the Law, O Happy Condition”:

Free from the law, Oh happy condition, Jesus has bled

And there is remission, Curs’d by the law

And bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us Once for all.

Salvation by grace through faith is one of the most important issues of Christianity. This doctrine is at the heart of the conflict between Law and grace, and liberty and legal bondage. Where should Christians stand on these matters? If we are not in bondage to the Law, does this mean the grace of God gives us license to go out and do what we please knowing Christ has forgiven us of our sins? The Book of Galatians deals with these issues.

The first two chapters of Galatians are autobiographical. The third and fourth chapters are theological. The fifth and sixth chapters are exhortational.

Salvation by grace through faith is one of the most important issues of Christianity.

However, if Paul founded the church of Galatia during his second missionary journey (A.D. 49-52), then the location had to be in northern Galatia. Whether Paul founded the church at Galatia during his first or second missionary journey, or if the church was in southern or northern Galatia,

In the autobiographical chapters, obviously, Paul tells us about himself. However, he is not doing it to build himself up, rather because it is critical in his teaching on the defense of grace. When we speak about Law and grace, we are talking about two concepts which are 180 degrees apart from each other. Keep in mind, whenever I use the word “Law,” I am referring to the Mosaic Law – a legal system

Galatia was located in Anatolia in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey.

the Lord gave to Israel; and a legal system which was good and designed to help the Israelites live holy and righteous lives before a holy God. However, the Law had limitations and – as many Christians lose sight of today – the Law was for a particular time.

Whereas the Law was given, grace was provided. Grace stands in opposition to Law. Law is made operable by works; wherever there is Law, certain things have to be done. Where there is Law, one must refrain from certain activities and actions. Law always requires works. The “fruit” (the “result”) of works under Law is bondage because works cannot bring about salvation. In other words, no one can keep or adhere to the Law perfectly. We can never get it right, and we can never complete it; it must be done again and again and again.

In the early days of the Church, certain Jewish believers taught that Gentile believers must be circumcised according to the Mosaic Law, and, in fact, they must adhere to just about all of the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:2, 5). After passionately discussing the issue, the apostle Peter settled the matter when he said: “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10). Peter recognized that Law requires works, which lead to bondage.

One of the reasons God gave the Law to the Israelites was to show they could not, through the Law, satisfy an infinitely holy God. For this reason the Law was designed to bring the Israelites to Christ and His grace. Grace has often been interpreted as “unmerited favor.” We sometimes refer to grace as “G.R.A.C.E.: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is God giving to us what we don’t deserve. As Law requires works, grace requires faith.

To the question, “How do I appropriate God’s grace?” the answer is, “through faith.” In other words, we acquire grace through believing. Biblical faith can be phrased this way: “Every promise in the Bible is mine. Every chapter, every verse, every line.” Faith requires an object. When people say, “I have faith,” it is appropriate to reply, “In what?” Ephesians 2:8 tells us: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [faith] not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

Faith is what allows an individual to experience grace. Romans 4:3 says, “Abraham believed God, and it [belief, that is, faith] was counted unto him for righteousness.” Grace is based on faith, and the object of biblical faith is God’s Word: God said it, and we – by faith – believe it. Furthermore, we live in the light of that faith. God promised us Jesus is coming again; because we believe this promise, we order our lives accordingly.

Where there is grace, there is no merit. Grace is the reality that Jesus did it all. If there is even an iota of merit on our part, there is no grace. No one can say, “I have a good heart, therefore God saved me.” This is utterly untrue. The truth is you and I had vile hearts. Romans 3:23 makes this clear when it says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (italic added). We don’t like to hear this, but humanity is totally depraved. Depravity does not mean we all do terrible things. Rather, it means in the heart of every man and woman is the potential to commit the most grievous acts in opportune situations.

Grace is God giving to us what we don’t deserve. As Law requires works, grace requires faith.

Where there is grace, there is no debt. If God extended grace to you, you don’t owe anything. If you owed God, it would not be grace.

Where there is grace there is no guilt. Have you committed a sin some time ago of which you are not proud but only you know about it? Has this sin stuck with you over the years and causes you to experience feelings of grief and shame? Have you said to yourself, “Because of what I have done in the past, God can never use me”?

Let me assure you of something: I don’t know of anyone who has not had these thoughts at least once in their life. We are all sinners and have thought things we shouldn’t have thought, and done things

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [faith] not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

– Ephesians 2:8

We are all sinners and have thought things we shouldn’t have thought, and done things we shouldn’t have done.

For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of God.

– Romans 3:23

we shouldn’t have done. However, if you have by faith appropriated the grace of God, there need be no guilt. There need be no guilt because Jesus paid it all. A believer should not have feelings of guilt; it is not congruent with the grace of God through Christ. God’s grace has delivered us from all guilt.

Paul’s Dilemma

In championing God’s grace, Paul faced a dilemma. When Paul went from city to city, he went first to the Jewish synagogue to proclaim the Gospel. He would speak of the Messiah the Jewish people had long been expecting. He would tell them the Messiah had come, and had died for their sins. He would tell them the Messiah had been resurrected, ascended into Heaven, and would come again. Some of the Jewish people accepted that message and became believers. With that, Paul proclaimed these new believers were no longer under the Mosaic Law, but were now under grace.

Furthermore, Paul taught that Jewish and Gentile believers were now one. Upon the death of Christ, the middle wall of partition had been torn down; there was no longer a dividing line between Jew and Gentile. They were equal in Christ. However, there

believed to be the half-brother of Jesus. James was among the leaders of the early Church in Jerusalem. These legalistic teachers – who did not necessarily reflect James’ theology – were adamant that Gentile believers must observe the Mosaic Law, or at least part of it.

In essence, these legalists taught a combination of Law plus grace. Furthermore, these legalists were always hounding Paul’s travels. Whenever he went to Corinth, or Philippi, or just about anywhere else, they were there. Wherever Paul went, the legalists would go after him. Paul preached grace, and the legalists countered him. Yes, they would in essence say, “Jesus died for our sins and He is the Messiah. However, this was done under the auspices of Judaism, and we must continue to observe the Mosaic Law.”

But Paul could not be discouraged from his message. Despite all of his trials and persecutions, he forged on, preaching in city after city, synagogue after synagogue. What he preached was the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is no wonder Paul said in Galatians 1:9: “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

... Paul taught that Jewish and Gentile believers were now one. Upon the death of Christ, the middle wall of partition had been torn down; there was no longer a dividing line between Jew and Gentile.

If you have by faith appropriated the grace of God, there need be no guilt. There need be no guilt because Jesus paid it all. A believer should not have feelings of guilt; it is not congruent with the grace of God through Christ. God’s grace has delivered us from all guilt.

were certain Jews who resented the Gentiles being declared equal. After all, their logic went, these Gentiles do not have Abraham as their father as we do. Additionally, there were legalistic Jewish teachers – sometimes referred to as Judaizers – who believed Jesus was the Messiah but belief in Him should all fall under the auspices of Judaism. They believed the Gentiles must worship as Jews –under the Mosaic Law. Paul, however, said “absolutely not!” The wall has been broken down, and Jew and Gentile are now one new creation in Christ.

Some of these legalistic teachers were companions of the apostle James, who was

Yet the legalists continued to try to undercut him. How did they do it? They did it by attacking Paul’s position as an apostle. They claimed, We have come from Jerusalem and were sent by the leaders of the faith. We have credibility. But what about Paul? What credibility does he have? He is a lesser authority than we are. In fact, he is a lesser authority than the Apostles. They were trained by Jesus; who was Paul trained by? With all this in mind, who are you going to listen to, us or him?

By undercutting Paul’s authority, the legalists were hoping to diminish his teaching on grace. And yet, Paul would not

be dissuaded. He knew that if you had 500 tons of grace and added just one ounce of Law, grace would no longer be grace. The two are mutually exclusive. You can’t have “some” grace and “some” Law. If grace is unmerited, then it must stand alone. Law destroys grace.

This, then, was Paul’s dilemma: trying to convince new believers in “grace alone” as opposed to “some” grace and “some” Law.

He Comes Out Fighting

It is for all these reasons when Paul begins his letter to the Galatians, he uses a lot of ammunition, much like a doublebarreled shotgun: Boom! In light of the legalistic teachers who are trying to discredit his message by undercutting his authority, Paul comes out fighting. I’m sure Paul desired to be tactful and gracious, but when it came to issues of heresy, he simply could not hold back. He had to tell it like it was and not be concerned whether or not he was hurting someone’s feelings. There are times when we all need the guts to stand up and be counted; Paul certainly had the guts!

His first words are: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) …” (Galatians 1:1). In writing, “Paul, an apostle,” it is as if Paul is saying: I certainly AM an Apostle. My authority is no less than the Apostles who were with Jesus for three years, or that of the leaders of the faith in Jerusalem. What I am saying to you has come to me directly from the Lord.

He states, “not of men.” He is making clear he was not appointed to his position by men because he was popular with them.

No, Paul’s apostleship was not bestowed upon him by men at all. This would diminish his message and authority. He then adds, “neither by man,” as if an individual, such as James or Peter, had appointed him to the office. If Paul was not appointed an Apostle by men, then by whom was he appointed? Paul’s reply is bold, unflinching, and confident: “but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ... .” Paul was commissioned by no less an authority than the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, his credentials are rock-solid and above reproach.

Please understand that in the Book of Galatians, Paul is fighting for the doctrine of grace and liberty in Christ. Liberty in Christ does not give the Christian license to go out and do anything they want, a theme Paul will develop later in the book. What liberty in Christ does mean is believers are no longer under the system of the Mosaic Law. Believers are free from the Law. Paul comprehended this and it thrilled his soul.

Paul understood the grace of God, and you should as well. No merit is required to receive it. There is no debt to pay and no guilt to have weighing on your shoulders. If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! u

As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

– Galatians 1:9

In the next issue of Zion’s Fire, Galatians Part 2, Paul continues the autobiographical section of Galatians expanding upon the defense of his apostleship.

Written by Marvin J. Rosenthal

THE WORLD IS WATCHING US.

REACHING LOST SOCIETY

With recent changes in our government, we are entering a new era with increased uncertainty. As Christians dealing with a counter-culture, we need more than ever to know how to be strong in the Lord while remaining true to the cause of Christ. It is not a time to simply criticize what is happening, but an opportunity to be positive about how the Lord can use us to reach a society desperately in need of the Lord.

Now, it is true that Christianity is unique, and because of that uniqueness, Christians are to be different than those who do not know Christ. Obviously we will not line up with those pursuing moral degradation, who seek to throw off the cords of God’s righteousness. This does not give us license, though, to be ugly or repulsive. What it means is that we are to exhibit a difference that is attractive and engaging.

The Gospel is an offense to those who do not believe in Christ – we understand this and live as Christians in the light of it. But nowhere does the Bible say Christians are to be offensive.

Jesus Himself engaged in radical identification with the people of His day in contrast to the religious elite who were aloof and condescending. It must also be understood, however, that He maintained a radical difference of spiritual integrity that made

Him unique when compared to either the sinful populace or the self-righteous Pharisee. He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Not either or, but both. It was the balance of His commitment to the truth in conjunction with graciousness toward people that made Him both attractive and effective.

DANIEL LIVING IN BABYLON

This balance can be seen in the story of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends in the Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, tried to force these godly men to conform to the culture of Babylon. They were given new names and put through a training program for three years to teach them the Babylonian language and customs. They submitted themselves to this process and what they learned became an important part of their relevant witness for God in the Chaldean culture.

Yet there were other aspects of that culture that violated their uniqueness as men deeply concerned about their spiritual integrity to God. In Daniel 1, the issue was food. God had prescribed certain dietary regulations for Israel that prohibited them from eating various kinds of meat. Therefore, Daniel and his friends determined they would not defile themselves with the king’s food. It was important for them to retain their uniqueness as godly men by maintaining a difference in matters

ARE WE FILLED WITH …

of moral integrity between themselves and others around them.

Learning the Aramaic language was one thing. It was important as a means of effective interaction with the Babylonian people and demonstrated a willingness on their part to identify with the surrounding culture. And besides, language learning did not violate their separated walk of holiness with the Lord.

Eating food prohibited by the Mosaic Law was quite another matter, however. There were moral consequences in accommodating themselves to that part of the culture. As godly men, they were different from pagan Babylonian society, and it was important for them to maintain that difference. Relevance with the culture was no longer the issue. Spiritual integrity was at stake. In this matter it was more important for them to keep their uniqueness as godly men than to accommodate themselves to Babylonian dietary preferences for the purpose of acceptance.

Also, they were not dogmatic and abrasive in communicating their spiritual convictions, but rather, gentle and sensitive. Secondly, God brought honor to those men in the eyes of the Babylonians even though the men insisted on their uniqueness as godly men.

The p oint is that a holy life which insists on a radical commitment to the truth of God should not be thought of as mutually exclusive from a gracious and compassionate spirit that reaches out in love to a pagan world. Balance is the key.

… a gracious and compassionate spirit … reaches out in love to a pagan world. Balance is the key.

IT’S A PERSONAL MATTER

Written by Dan Hayden

There are two aspects of this story that warrant special attention. The first is the attempt to balance truth and grace. Daniel and his friends insisted on maintaining their integrity with the truth of God’s Word and they accepted their uniqueness as godly men in a pagan culture. Secondly, they approached the matter with tact and grace.

This understanding of the need for both truth and grace has important ramifications for us as Christians. First, it should influence us regarding our walk with the Lord. Everything in the Bible argues for the fact that the word “Christian” should be more than a religious label. It ought to be consistent with a lifestyle of godliness and sacrificial love. The message of the Gospel of Christ is intended to have an impact upon life. It is not just a theology to be believed, it is a relationship with God that revolutionizes a person’s life.

… a survey done by the Park Street Church in Boston of the 50,000 neighborhood people as to what attracted them to a church’s ministry …

… their response “had nothing to do with program, entertainment, excitement, music, or the like … their big word was ‘authentic’”

The Christian is uniquely different from every other person in the unregenerate world. According to the Bible, that difference has radical implications, not just cosmetic ones. The Christian no longer loves the world (1 John 2:15-17), which means there ought to be an observable difference in the way Christians live – how they think and what they do.

Is it possible for others to see you are a Christian by the way you work, spend your leisure, your preference in music and entertainment, and the way you spend your money? Are you truly committed to the cause of Christ? Answer honestly. Are you a significant creation of God or just another pastel color blending in with the dull shades of a secular world view? It is meaningless to tell people Christ will make a difference in their lives when there is no difference to be seen in one’s own life.

It is meaningless to tell people Christ will make a difference in their lives when there is no difference to be seen in one’s own life.

contemporary church’s accommodation to the secular spirit in music, drama, devotional messages, and a general philosophy of entertainment as the framework for worship. He quotes from a survey done by the Park Street Church in Boston of the 50,000 neighborhood people as to what attracted them to a church’s ministry.

It was interesting to discover, he said, that their response “had nothing to do with program, entertainment, excitement, music, or the like … their big word was ‘authentic’” (p. 494). In other words, people were really not interested in churches that put secular bait on a religious hook for the purpose of catching them. What they were looking for was something real. They were not interested in a religious experience clothed in the garments of their paganism. What they wanted was an authentic relationship with God.

When a woman dresses seductively to catch a man, we question her moral integrity. Why is it that when the church dresses seductively to “catch” a convert, we applaud its clever use of deceit? People may get saved in such a ministry, but what is lost may be more than what is gained.

Christianity is not just different – it is UNIQUE.

It is not just another religion among the religions of the world –it is the only way to God (John 14:6).

Christ is UNIQUE

The Gospel is UNIQUE.

The Body of Christ (the Church) is UNIQUE.

IT IS A CORPORATE CONCERN

This spirit of accommodation has also affected the way we “do church.” In our desire to please people, the vertical dimension of worship has been smothered by horizontal concerns. Seeker services have become the popular trend, where the objective has been to represent Christ as being as much as possible like what people are accustomed to in the world. In fact, the clamor for relevance in such churches has masked any sense of the true difference that exists between Christ and the world.

In his book, The Gagging of God, D. A. Carson questions the rationale behind the

Like Daniel and his friends, don’t hesitate to be unique. The world is watching to see if we are authentic. And to be authentic is to be filled with truth and grace.

Christianity is not just different – it is unique. It is not just another religion among the religions of the world – it is the only way to God (John 14:6). Christ is unique. The Gospel is unique. The Body of Christ (the Church) is unique.

Therefore, our worship and music honors Christ. Our commitment to the study of the Word of God defines us. And quite frankly, it is not something for which we need to apologize. It is the essence of authenticity –and according to the Boston survey, this is evidently more attractive to seekers of truth than our paltry attempts at entertainment.

Like Daniel and his friends, don’t hesitate to be unique. The world is watching to see if we are authentic. And to be authentic is to be filled with truth and grace. u

A Serving of and the Gospel

having a very open and sincere conversation

e I am also of British heritage.

As we talked, I realized they knew many believers in the Lord Jesus, but they themselves were not believers. I could tell when hey asked me, “Are you one of those Jesus people,” though they didn’t say it in a way that was intentionally confrontational.

I told them a little about my dad (who was raised in England), how he had accepted Jesus as his Savior, and how he died on a missions trip to Iraq. The woman asked me if I could make any sense of this tragedy, and if there was a reason for this. I told them how difficult life could be and sometimes we have questions we want God to answer for us; but God doesn’t always answer, and we just don’t know why things happen the way they do.

However, I explained to her that whether we ever get answers or not, the most important thing is to believe God is sovereign, and that, yes, there are reasons for the hings He either does or allows, and with the Lord there are no accidents. I explained to them that when my dad was living, he gave his life to God; and when he died, he gave his life to God. Ultimately, I explained to them that what had happened to my dad was for good.

Jesus-Related Old Testament Scripture

From there I turned the conversation to the Gospel, as I was certain no one had ever explained it to them. Since we were already talking about my father, I told them the story of how he came to faith, which was primarily through Psalm 22.

I told them if they read Psalm 22 and didn’t know it was from the Old Testament, they would think it was about Jesus. The same thing goes for Isaiah 53. If you didn’t know it was in the Old Testament, you would think it was about Jesus (which of course both of these Scriptures are, though His name is not mentioned).

We next discussed Jeremiah 31:31, which says: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” I explained that if you read this verse alone, you would think it is talking about the New Testament times, and that it was written in the New Testament.

Most Jews do not think these Old Testament passages are talking about the Jewish Messiah who has already come into the world. Yet, these passages are crucial because one of the biggest problems Jews have with Christianity is anti-Semitism. Throughout their history, the Jewish people have been brutally persecuted by so-called Christians under the label of “Christianity.”

I told the couple a story my Jewish grandfather shared with me about when he was in school. Other students called him a “Christ Killer.” Such an experience contributed to his negative feelings toward Christians and Christianity.

Believers need to keep in mind that many Jewish people equate Christianity with the Inquisition, the pogroms of Russia, the Holocaust and Hitler, and other forms of Jewish persecution over the centuries. This perception of Christianity being antiSemitic is deep-seated and a stumbling block for the Jewish people.

Christianity and Anti-Semitism

I can’t understand how Christians can be anti-Semitic. This is a total contradiction. If you claim to be a Christian and are anti-Semitic, you do not understand the

core message of the Gospel. The Gospel teaches all people are the same in that we are sinners, and fall short of God’s standards. We cannot meet the standard of His righteousness. Therefore, God sent Jesus, God the Son, to pay the penalty for our sins through His death on the cross. God had to send Jesus – God the Son – to redeem humanity through suffering on the cross for our sins.

If I’m a Christian who hates Jews, I don’t understand the Gospel message because Jesus was a Jew who died for the world’s sins. All of us (humanity) are the ones who put Jesus on the cross – not the Jews. It was something ordained by God, not by the Jewish people. It was all the plan of God.

Therefore, Christians should love the Jewish people because God used them as His instrument for salvation – through whom Jesus came into the world. And it was Jesus – a Jew – who reconciled the world to the Father.

So, I ask you, where is there cause for anti-Semitism among professing Christians?

A Blessed Meeting

This was generally how the discussion went with this dear Jewish couple. They were happy about the conversation, and it was very productive.

They were open and wanted to hear what I had to say. They also wanted to meet again, which thrilled me. I love to talk with people who want to ask questions. I talk with many who are polite, listen to what I tell them, but then just say, “Thank you. Shalom.”

But this couple was not like that. In fact, they even told me when the C Ov I d restrictions are scaled back, they would like to visit my congregation!

What a blessed meeting it was, and what a wonderful time the Lord gave us. Please pray for this British couple who showed so much interest in the Gospel, and pray the Lord will open their hearts to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Also, please pray for the Lord to continue giving all of us who minister for the Lord through Zion’s Hope even more opportunities to share the Gospel with the people of Israel during these challenging days! u

Written by Joshua in Jerusalem

They were open and wanted to hear what I had to say. They also wanted to meet again, which thrilled me. I love to talk with people who want to ask questions. I talk with many who are polite, listen to what I tell them, but then just say, “Thank you. shalom.”

The Year God’s end–

how close are we to the end of this era of human history? From a Christian perspective, “this era of human history” refers to the period of time from Creation until the Millennial (1,000year) Kingdom is established (Revelation 20:1-6). Questions regarding end-times prophecy abound, particularly concerning the starting point of the end times. Has God’s end-times clock begun to tick? If so, when did it start? I believe the answer to the first question is, “Yes, God’s endtimes clock has begun to tick.” Regarding the second question – “If so, when did it start?” – I will give the answer in a moment.

But first, I must identify two crucial terms:

1. The first term is “end times,” which refers to God’s prophetic timetable.

2. The second term is “the 70th Week,” which refers specifically to the final 7 years of this era of human history.

We learn of this final 7 years from Daniel 9:24-27. Verse 24 speaks of “seventy weeks” – a “week” being 7 years. In other words, Daniel tells of a period of 490 years beginning when “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” is issued. This 490-year period began in 444 B.C. when Persian King Artaxerxes issued a decree to Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

The 490 years will end at the return of Christ and the completion of this era of humanity. However, there was a break in Daniel’s prophetic timeline. At the end of the 69th week (or 483rd year), Daniel revealed the Messiah would be “cut off” (Daniel 9:26). This speaks of Christ’s crucifixion. Therefore, 69 sevens – 483 years – have been fulfilled. The 70th week –the final 7 years – is on hold, awaiting its fulfillment.

This final 7 years will include the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and the Church, the Rapture of the Church, the physical return of Christ to Earth, and the destruction of Christ’s foes. The event which initiates the 70th Week will be the confirming of a peace covenant between Israel and the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27).

–Times CloCk BeGan TiCkinG

The Lead-Up

Because a world leader – the Antichrist–has not yet arisen and Israel has yet to confirm a 7-year peace covenant, we know the 70th Week has not yet begun. However, this does not mean the end-times clock – the lead-up to the 70th Week – has not already started. Many Bible scholars are thoroughly convinced God’s end-times clock is ticking, and has been doing so for quite some time.

The question is, when did it start?

If the 70th Week – the final 7 years of this era of human history – begins when Israel signs a peace agreement with the Antichrist, we can assume two things: First, there must be “an Antichrist” and, second, there must be “an Israel.” Though the Antichrist has not yet arisen, the other participant, Israel, is here.

Due to the fact that Israel had been out of her land from A.D. 70 until the middle of the 20th century, many historians and theologians over the centuries stumbled over the great prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, and other similar passages. One such passage is Jeremiah 30:10-11:

Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

They wondered, “How can this passage of Israel’s restoration be literally fulfilled when Israel no longer exists?”

It was an appropriate question at the time, but unfortunately it led to an allegorical interpretation of the Bible and the rise of

“Replacement Theology.” This errant belief that the Church has “replaced” Israel – that the wonderful promises made to Israel were transferred to the Church – sadly is held by many today.

But then came May 14, 1948, when David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, declared “the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz [the land of] Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.” Suddenly, there was a startling answer given to the question asked 2,700 years ago by the Prophet Isaiah:

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? (Isaiah 66:8).

Israel miraculously, unexpectedly, and amazingly was a nation again! Her dried bones were revived (Ezekiel Chapter 37), and Israel became an entity once more.

And with her “rebirth” on May 14, 1948, the first piece of the end-times puzzle was put in place, and God’s end-times clock began to tick! The lead-up to the 70th Week had begun, is now ticking, and is moving the world ever closer to the consummation of the age.

How Much Longer?

How much longer will God’s end-times clock tick until the alarm sounds, signaling the beginning of the 70th Week – the climactic final 7 years of this era of human history? No one knows, but one thing is certain: Though we have not yet entered the 70th Week, we are most certainly living in the end-times. What we don’t know is how far along we are in the end times, and how near we are to the start of the 70th Week. Until then, we live in the expectation of Jesus’ glorious return, knowing His coming is near. May we be found faithful in sharing the saving truth of forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Christ’s shed blood on the cross of Calvary! u

Written by David Ettinger

“

BEYOND INTELLIGENT DESIGN:

“

Super-Genius Design and Omnipotent Bio-Engineering

An Introduction to the Problem

The theory of organic evolution is taught as absolute truth in schools at all levels from grade school to university. Public school teachers and college professors have been forced out of their teaching positions for even questioning evolution or for suggesting to their classes that a divine Creator might be the answer to the origin of living things.

In recent years, stalwart Christians have advocated for “intelligent design” at least being presented in public schools as an alternative view, but this has been denied by school boards and state legislatures. It is often denied simply because school boards do not want to get involved in a local Scopes Trial-type hassle and possible costly litigation.

Many people do not realize that even “Intelligent Design” is a minimalist expression. It does suggest, however, that Earth’s plants and animals – as well as its geology, atomic structure, and place in the astronomical universe – show purposeful design, rather than chance results. With this in mind, I want to present a case that goes far beyond “intelligent design” and demands “Super-Genius design.”

The Church vs. the Telescope

Pro-evolution advocates regularly remind us the medieval church condemned the 1543 writings of the monk Copernicus who advocated a Sun-centered solar system. It also condemned Galileo in 1610, when, with the newly invented telescope, he announced he observed four large moons circled Jupiter. This gave support to Copernicus’ works, and showed the church erred when it taught all astronomical bodies – including the Sun – circled Earth daily. Thus we see both non-believers and believers may err in their promulgated interpretations of science and the Bible.

Evolutionary theory is based on observations that animals seem to have appeared on

Earth over a period of time from simple to complex, from trilobites to humans, and that the fittest usually survive; for example, white bears over brown bears in the arctic and brown bears over white bears in the forests. Then from an atheistic position, biblical possibilities are not even permitted to be voiced. Yet Jesus affirmed in John 14:6, “I am … the truth”; that He was the embodiment of truth, and thus, in the end, true science and true Bible teachings will not conflict. As I was told years ago, “All truth is God’s truth.”

Arguments Favoring a Divine-Genius Creator and Against Evolution

1. Our Very Existence Argues for a Supernatural Realm

The basic law of science is that all things must have an adequate prior cause. If this is true, then nothing should exist! If indeed the astronomical universe – with its myriad galaxies and stars – suddenly popped into existence (often labeled as the “Big Bang”; which many Bible believers see as the creation event of Genesis 1:1), we must ask what prior thing, being, or situation caused this? In reality, nothing should exist as each situation demands a prior existing cause ad infinitum. Answer: Not the pantheist’s suggestion that matter itself is eternal. Better answer: There must exist a realm prior to our physical universe which has eternality – a “supernatural realm” revealed in the Bible as God and His realm.

Written by Dr. Gary Cohen

Many people do not realize that even “Intelligent Design” is a minimalist expression. It does suggest, however, that Earth’s plants and animals – as well as its geology, atomic structure, and place in the astronomical universe –show purposeful design, rather than chance results.

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED

the heaven and the earth

– Genesis 1:1

2. Our Amazing Temperature Arrangement

First, note that we on Earth have our sun – the right size and type of star, at the correct temperature, and at the necessary precise distance from us. As an example of the potential problems here, let us take the star Rigel, which most Americans can see at night as the lower right-foot star in the winter constellation Orion.

Rigel is a super-giant, hot, blue-white star with a diameter about 78 times that of our sun. Such immense size would by gravity suck us into it for a swift end to our planet. As a multiple star, with two smaller ones encircling it, the system would quickly tear our world apart. As a hot blue-white star (our sun is a mid-temperature yellowwhite), Rigel is thought by astronomers to be 40,000 times brighter than our sun.

Such high light-giving stars would put us in a perpetual flashbulb effect, and our eyes would not work, not to mention that Rigel, and similar stars, would roast and melt us. You see, the vast majority of stars would make human, animal, and even plant life impossible. Did we wind up on Earth with such a correct star, right size, right temperature, and right distance all by a stroke of good luck, or is it rather to the glory of an omniscient benevolent Creator that we are here?

These arbitrary numbers, however, can lead us astray. We now know in outer empty space where there is no heat, the temperature is “Absolute Zero,” that is, minus 273.15 degrees C (or -459.67 degrees F). When we more accurately define zero-heat in outer space as “0 Degrees Absolute” our earthly requirement for life to exist comes to 273 to 313 degrees Absolute (or 0 to 40 degrees C)! This exact band of heat is what we need for life on Earth, and it is amazingly what we have! Could this precise amount of heat be a stroke of evolutionary luck, or was it arranged by an omniscient super-genius benevolent divine Creator? Psalm 19:1 tells us: “The heavens declare ….”

3. Our Animals Have All Peaked at the Same Time

Evolutionary doctrine places in order of appearance: invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals, and humans. There are about 1.5 million known species of animals. If evolutionary theory is true, how can it be when we survey these species they all have reached their evolutionary perfection at this same time?

Add to this the element of beauty. Lions, giraffes, polar bears, eagles, fish, and even extinct animals all arrived with an element of beauty and functionality which cannot be improved. Elephants have their trunks and

Did we wind up on our Earth with such a correct star, right size, right temperature, and right distance all by a stroke of good luck, or is it rather to the glory of an omniscient benevolent Creator that we are here?

Let’s now consider that the amount of heat necessary for human life to exist on our planet is a precise band of 40 degrees Celsius, from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius (32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). This must be considered by those warning against a climate change of even 2 degrees. We need to understand that when the temperature is 0 degrees (32 Fahrenheit), we are talking about the freezing temperature of water, and not, “Oh, there is no heat!”

legs at the right size, bears have all four legs the same size and eyes working and teeth installed, and so on. If evolution has produced today’s animals, should there not be thousands of animals with halfdeveloped parts?

And what of Murphy’s Law – an absolute law – that wrong things happen regularly unless there is careful attention to controlling details? How could millions of correct arrangements be made in so many

animals, and they all peaked (reached full and ideal development) at approximately the same time by blind chance? Could it be an omnipotent God completed His creation work and rested as the Bible declares?

4. The Human Body’s Infinite Benevolent Complexity

Skeletal

There are 206 bones in the adult human body. Each grows from small in infancy to adult size and shape, perfectly designed in length, diameter, and curves for joint movement, and connected to muscles and other bones by tough ligaments.

Add to this some 1,320 tendons to connect muscles to the bones. These bones are strong enough to anchor the muscles and filled with blood cell-producing marrow. Strong cartilage in the rib cage, larynx, and other places allow flexibility where needed. This cartilage is composed of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, collagens, and elastin – extremely complex biochemical substances. Could chemicals such as these form and fall into place by unguided chance? Could our complex skeletal system form so perfectly by luck?

Spinal Column

The spinal column is a semi-flexible column of bones that holds up the head, gives a degree of ridged framework to the body, and contains and protects the spinal cord. Each vertebra is a marvel of complexity, structured for its unique position in the cord. The neck begins with the top cervical vertebra C-1, known as the Atlas, which has a unique shape, that is, a rounded grooved upper surface, allowing a rocking motion of the head forward and backward.

Between C-1 and C-2 we have a rod out of C-2 inserted into C-1 to give us the left-right rotation. Each vertebra has precise openings for blood vessels and nerves to pass through to the organs and limbs. Add to this a disc pad with gel between the vertebras to cushion movement. Did these complex marvels form themselves by blind chance, or from an omniscient and omnipotent gracious God?

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well (Psalm 139:14)!

Our Muscles

There are 640 (320 pairs) of skeletal muscles in the human body. Add to this many smaller muscles controlled by the autonomic [Greek: auto=self; nomic=law] nervous system, plus those that squeeze liquids into tubes. Muscle cells are long and thin and act in bundles. Each individual muscle is a precise size and shape, and attached exactly in its place. When signaled by a nerve, they expand or contract by their proteins supplying energy. They then pull their masses and connected bones the desired amount.

When we watch athletes compete, we see how strong and swift-responding the muscles are and how strong the tendons are, which super-glue the muscles to the bones. This arrangement is beyond “intelligent”; it is optimal and cannot be improved! Can you improve the human hand by adding or taking away a finger or a thumb? No! It is perfectly optimized for our life on Earth! Could these thousands of optimal arrangements have formed themselves by an unguided chance evolution?

Our Eyes

The retina in the rear half-sphere of each human eye amazingly has some 6 million cones and 120 million rods, which are the photo-receptors by which we see. The cones are divided into short, middle, and long wavelength types and give us our color vision, while the rods give us black and white dim-light vision. These receptors then transmit detailed pictures we see into our brain via the optic nerves. The movements of each of our eyes are controlled by six amazing pulley-like string-type muscles which pull our eyes instantly in various directions. The iris expands and contracts the pupil eye-gate opening to adjust for brightness or dimness.

When you consider the amount of space needed to store photos and videos in your computer, you must marvel that the images of the eye – both stills and

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

– Genesis 1:31

motion – can be transmitted instantly to the brain and stored for immediate retrieval. Did these marvels happen by blind chance or were they made by the divine Bio-Engineer? Could unguided blind chance produce some 126 million working receptors? Of course not. What will unbelieving doctors and professors have to say to God at the Great White Throne judgment?

Our Ears

Human ears are built for our planet! The voice system of teeth, tongue, vocal cords, and breath causes the air molecules to vibrate and nearby eardrums pick this up in amplitude, tone, timbre, and speed of vibration. This in turn is transmitted from the eardrum to the three tiny middle ear bones, called the ossicles. These send the vibrations into the inner ear’s cochlea, which decodes the sounds for us. This decoding allows us to hear sounds of wind, motors, whispers, as well as concert music. With this mechanism the average human can recognize thousands of different individual voices.

flows into the left ventricle from where it is pumped out into the aorta, arteries, and capillaries to bring oxygen and nutriments throughout the body.

This super pump rests between beats, as it pulses about 70 times a minute, 37 million times a year. And all this is wonderfully governed by the autonomic nervous system so we need not think about doing the pumping! Yet a young lady can sit quietly by a pool, reading a book relaxing, giving the appearance all is still and nothing is going on – all the while the heart is busy doing its work. Unguided evolution or God?

Our Kidneys

Did these marvels happen by blind chance or were they made by the divine Bio-Engineer?

The cochlea is a marvel that interprets and transmits its impulses to the brain for comprehension and storage. We are warned by sounds of danger and comforted by the sweet sound of a mother’s voice. Add to this adjacent semicircular canals, which are three tubes at right angles to each other that control balance necessary for bipedal humans. Could this marvelous infinitely complex system have evolved by itself, or was it designed and bio-engineered by a benevolent super-genius omnipotent Creator?

Our Heart

Who would have dreamed of putting a life-long liquid pump into vertebrates, and especially humans? The heart is a marvel, with its four chambers and in-flow vena cava tubes bringing deoxygenated blood into the right atrium, and then to the right ventricle which pulses it out to the lungs to receive a new supply of oxygen. From the lungs, the blood returns via the pulmonary arteries to the left atrium. From there it

These two organs, shaped like “kidney beans,” filter blood before it goes back to the heart, and removes waste from the blood which is transported out via urine. They maintain the body’s fluid balance, as well as the blood’s mineral balance. The kidneys play a vital part in controlling blood pressure, forming and maintaining hormones, and they contribute to bone health. They do this via the approximately 0.8 to 1.5 million nephrons in each human kidney!

Each nephron is made up of a renal corpuscle and tubule. Remarkably, our kidneys are retro-peritoneal, that is, located outside the peritoneum sheath that surrounds the abdominal wall containing most of our organs. Their placement in the rear portion of our body affords protection from frontal blows. They are a marvel of complexity and efficiency. Did they self-develop or were they formed by the work of a divine bio-genius Chemical Engineer?

Our Digestive System

The digestive system consists of a series of tissues and organs lined up to work in succession and harmony, each depending on that which goes before and after. Their proper lineup is a bio-engineering marvel. The major items consist of: lips, tongue, taste buds, teeth, swallowing mechanism, stomach, liver, small intestine, large intestine, and anal opening. The human teeth involve a complex system wherein a first

set grows (baby teeth), which have small roots in order to fall out easily. When the front baby teeth fall out, the new upper incisors come in. As the child ages and the head and mouth enlarge, the permanent teeth come in. These 64 adult teeth – incisors, canines, and molars – are each a marvel of shape, formation, placement, anchoring, and hardness in an otherwise soft-tissue body.

The swallowing mechanism is a bioengineering marvel, in that the food is moved down the esophagus and does not clog the wind pipe. The entire taste and smell mechanism encourages us to eat proper food, and to shun items that would sicken us. The stomach’s function enables us to take in a quantity of food and continue

as having lobes which control specific functions:

1. The cerebrum is about 85 percent of the brain and controls both thought processing and actions.

2. The cerebellum – the “little brain” –controls our balance and much of our movements.

3. The limbic system is inside the cerebrum and is thought to be the center of our emotions.

4. The brain stem is located at the base of the brain and is the message center to and from the body nerves and the brain. It has a part in controlling breathing, speech, rate of heartbeat, and general awareness.

What will unbelieving doctors and professors have to say to God at the Great White Throne of judgment? That all of this was self-created by chance?

the digestive process with its acids, and yet does not burn through the lining. The small intestine is a semipermeable membrane with selective absorption of liquefied food into the blood while also letting undigested solids pass through. It absorbs proteins and amino acids, fats and similar items, as well as carbohydrates and sugars, while receiving bile from the liver and fluid from the pancreas.

The pancreas in turn, releases digestive enzymes and insulin. The liver takes this food and forms vital amino acids, digests fats, and neutralizes alcohols and poisons. The large intestine then stores the waste for exiting from the body, giving the human bowel control. Wow! All this demands a Creator God!

Our Brain

The human brain is the core processor for our nervous system. It receives impulses from our sensory systems, as well processes all available forms of input resulting in our thinking, and outputs them into action by our muscles. It has four basic parts, as well

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

The human brain is estimated to contain about 86 billion neuron nerve cells, known as “grey matter.” With these are billions of nerve fibers – the axons and dendrites –which compose the “white matter.” Then these nerve cells are coupled together by trillions of synapse connections. The brain’s autonomic function runs the basic functions of our body behind the scenes. Of course, while this is going on, the brain with the spinal cord and nerve fibers sends instant signals from our mind to cause the six pulley-like string muscles to move and focus our eyes instantly and causes our fingers, hands, arms, and legs to respond to our every wish.

Dare we add to this the beauty of the human form? It is perfection and cannot be improved! What will scientists who reject God have to say at the judgment? That all of this was self-created by chance?

It is all too obvious that our Lord and Creator – the God of Heaven and Earth –is the super-genius Designer and omnipotent Bio-Engineer who created all these marvelous wonders! u

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