From everlasting hope to an eternal resting place with God!

When Jesus came on the scene there was no one who expected the results of his appearance until he rose from the dead. Even his disciples had a difficult time relating to who he was, until they saw him calming the storm, or walking on the water during another storm. (Mk 4: 35 ff). It is understandable that when something unexpected occurs at any time in our lives most people will take the event as hyper-bole and may shun the words or actions of it.

There are some instances where Jesus indicated by example that he was someone to behold and want to learn more about this new man in town. (Lk 5: 1 - 11). It didn’t take long for people to realize that Jesus was a prophet but accepting him as the awaited Messiah was another question. (Lk 4: 16 - 30).

From the earliest Old Testament prophets the Hebrews learned how God would send a savior; “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up from among your own kinsmen; to him shall you listen. This is exactly what you requested of the Lord , your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not again hear the voice of the Lord, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.” “This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him.” (Dt 18: 15 - 18).

Reading the Book of Signs (John’s Gospel) we can clearly see and begin to understand through events, not miracles per say, but that this truly was the Son of God, the answer to what the Incarnation is about. Throughout my writings the term of the Incarnation is not a textbook explanation to be memorized for future questions, it is the absolute truth that Jesus spoke of when being interrogated by Pilate (Jn 18: 37 - 38).

To any doubters, whether from 2,000 years ago or today, regarding the truth of Jesus Christ fulfilling his Father’s prediction to Moses, believe through the many prophecies of Isaiah and others regarding the birth through a virgin, and the four suffering servant songs of Isaiah himself. All of the prophecies of the past have occurred except the final return of Christ.

This will be the cataclysmic event none of us will want to be around to see. We believe the rapture spoken of by many ministers is the words found in (! Cor 15: 50 ff). “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant , in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.”

Here is where the everlasting hope of Christ redeeming everyone who believes to the eternal destination with God that will never end. No more doubting or refusal to accept the Crucifixion and the Ascension of Christ to his Father’s side to judge each soul for their accomplishments of mercy and forgiveness towards all people. Here is the answer to Pilate; This is Truth!

Ralph B. Hathaway