"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,"
Says The Lord

The title of this article is also our opening Scripture today which is found in Isa. 43:10. "You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed. And there will be none after Me."

Although the word "Witness," is used many times in the Bible this is the first time it is used in this context because this is an end-time prophecy. But it was first spoken to ancient Israel in 712 BC. Notice that the Lord also calls these "Witnesses" "My servant whom I have chosen." So, He is not talking about just one person here which we notice in Isa. 41:8. "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend."

There are actually three applications of this verse which is a prophecy that begins in Isa. 40:1. As we just noticed in Isa 41:8, the first application is to Israel. The second application is found in Isa 42:1-4 as a prophecy of the work of Christ Himself, which I will quote from the KJV because it is more familiar.

Now, let's take another example from the OT, of a Messianic prophecy which was re-interpreted by Matthew, applying it to Jesus Christ. "When Israel was a child, then I loved Him, and called my son out of Egypt." Hosea 11:1. First, let us notice that all 12 tribes of Israel are spoken of or equated to one "child" or "son." This is an example of how the Hebrew prophets would use one person to symbolically represent many, even thousands or millions, as in the case with Israel. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'" Matt 2:15. Here we see how the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to apply this Old Testament statement by Hosea to the life of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

We can also see how this would apply to "Son" and "King" in Psalm 2. Notice how "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron," is applied in Revelation to the man child of Rev. 12:5. "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to His throne."

On my web site the Lord has helped me to write several articles on the character of God, revealing what attributes He desires His servants and workers to have. Those who develop a character like our wonderful example, Jesus, will be filled with the Spirit of God and thus enabled to become true witnesses for the King of the universe. They will be known as His ELECT. Matt. 24:24. They are also called His Chosen and Faithful. Rev. 17:14. There is a very special reason that I am bringing this to your attention, because "Many are called but few are chosen." We know this from the story of Gideon (Judges 7:4-6) that 32,000 Israelites initially responded to Gideon's call to join his army. But after a couple of announcements were made and a test was administered, all that were left were 300.

Notice I said that God will enable those who are filled with and led by His Spirit to be His true witnesses. What does this imply? Obviously it means that there are false witnesses. That is why Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice." John 10:22-28.

Throughout history God's people have always been faced with a choice between true and false messages. In the days of Jeremiah Satan raised up false prophets to contradict Jeremiah so as to lead the people astray. The worship of the "Queen of Heaven," was a major factor in causing confusion and leading them astray. They were praying to the Queen of heaven much like people pray to Mary today, the modern "Queen of Heaven."

Read Jeremiah 7 and 44 for more information.

Jeremiah confronted one of these false messengers directly "Then said the prophet Jeremiah (true prophet) unto Hananiah the prophet, (false prophet); "Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. (that they would not have to submit to the King of Babylon to serve him for 70 years). Therefore thus says the Lord, Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord. So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month." Jere. 28:15-17. NAS.

So, how can we tell the true from the false? Jesus said that we would know them by their fruits..i.e. the result or outcome of following their teachings. "Not every one who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? (wonderful works or works of power) And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (iniquity)." Matt. 7:21-23. NAS. Cf. I John 4:1.

As we study the life and teachings of Jesus we will know the truth. "All who heard the Saviour 'were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power.' "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Luke 4:32; Matt. 7:29. The teaching of the scribes and elders was cold and formal, like a lesson learned by rote. To them the word of God possessed no vital power. Their own ideas and traditions were substituted for its teaching. In the accustomed round of service they professed to explain the law, but no inspiration from God stirred their own hearts or the hearts of their hearers. Jesus had nothing to do with the various subjects of dissension among the Jews. It was His work to present the truth. His words shed a flood of light upon the teachings of patriarchs and prophets, and the Scriptures came to men as a new revelation. Never before had His hearers perceived such a depth of meaning in the Word of God. Jesus met the people on their own ground, as one who was acquainted with their perplexities. He made truth beautiful by presenting it in the most direct and simple way. His language was pure, refined, and clear as a running stream. His voice was as music to those who had listened to the monotonous tones of the rabbis. But while His teaching was simple, He spoke as one having authority. This characteristic set His teaching in contrast with that of all others. The rabbis spoke with doubt and hesitancy, as if the Scriptures might be interpreted to mean one thing or exactly the opposite. The hearers were daily involved in greater uncertainty. But Jesus taught the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority. Whatever His subject, it was presented with power, as if His words could not be controverted." DA. 253.

"Often He passed the entire night in prayer and meditation, returning at daybreak to his work among the people." DA 260. Throughout His 3 ? years of ministry Christ passed through Capernaum in the intervals of His journeys from place to place. It came to be known as "His own city," as Capernaum served as the center of His work. It was on a major highway from Damascus to Jerusalem and Egypt, and to the Mediterranean Sea, it was a great thoroughfare of travel. Here He met people from various nations, rich and poor, who heard His lessons and carried them to other lands into the homes of many people announcing His mission to the whole world in that day. In this way the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah would be broadcast to the world.

In spite of the unfortunate "action of the Sanhedrin against Jesus, the people eagerly awaited the development of His mission. All heaven was astir with interest. Angels were preparing the way for His ministry, moving upon men's hearts, and drawing them to the Saviour." DA 253.

"The period of Christ's personal ministry among men was the time of greatest activity for the forces of the kingdom of darkness. For ages Satan with his evil angels has been seeking to control the bodies and the souls of men, to bring upon them sin and suffering; then he had charged all this misery upon God. Jesus was revealing to men the character of God." DA 257.

By emphasizing God's true character to the people in this manner Jesus "was breaking Satan's power, and setting his captives free. New life and love and power from heaven were moving upon the hearts of men, and the prince of evil was aroused to contend for the supremacy of his kingdom. Satan summoned all his forces, and at every step contested the work of Christ." DA 257.

Now, beloved notice the parallel that the Servant of the Lord draws between the days of Christ and the days in which we are living right now before the coming of Jesus the second time.

But this is all in the Creator's plan, because not until God's professed people experience the truth of God's love are they able to become true, effective and powerful witnesses for God like the disciples on the day of Pentecost after they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The prophecy of Dan 12 predicts that in the final day "knowledge will be increased" in regard to the prophecies of the Bible, especially Daniel and Revelation. And John 17:3 also tells us that it is this vital "knowledge of God" (our Creator and Redeemer) which is the very means of our salvation. So, naturally Satan has been trying to keep the world in darkness about God's true character. But when he is no longer able to stop this information from going forth to the people then he is aroused, like the roaring lion he is, to go forth seeking whom he may devour. But the more he tries to stifle the message of God's love the more power it receives to break forth to the world because when you repress a truth that God wants people to know that very act of repression gives it power beyond endurance and it breaks forth like a giant geyser with greater force, power and vitality than ever.

Even when the church is persecuted this spreads the message farther and faster than ever just as it did in the first century after Jesus returned to heaven. One of the church fathers, named Tertulian stated that the "blood of the martyrs is seed of the church," because the more Christians Pagan Rome killed during the first three centuries of the Christian era, the faster they multiplied.

Even Paul was inspired to write that the powers of darkness are being informed and educated regarding the truth about God: "And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in Him." Eph. 2:9-12.

In the 5th chapter of John's gospel is a story which illustrates how persecution spreads the gospel farther and faster. "Jesus was again at Jerusalem. Walking alone, in apparent meditation and prayer, He came to the pool (Bethesda). He saw the wretched sufferers watching for that which they supposed to be their only chance of cure. He longed to exercise His healing power, and make every sufferer whole. but it was the Sabbath day. Multitudes were going to the temple for worship and He knew that such an act of healing (all of them) would so excite the prejudice of the Jews as to cut short His work." It would have caused a riot with all the sick who had been healed (on the Sabbath no less) going all over the temple area shouting and praising the Lord. So, Jesus controlled this Divine and compassionate impulse to heal them all, as he often did out in the villages, and just picked out the most hopeless case: "The Saviour saw one case of supreme wretchedness. It was that of a man who had been a helpless cripple for thirty-eight years. His disease was in a great degree the result of his own sin, and was looked upon as judgment from God. Alone and friendless, feeling that he was shut out from God's mercy, the sufferer had passed long years of misery." DA 202.

Our blessed Redeemer came close to the man who kept looking at the pool from time to time waiting for the stirring of the waters. Suddenly, "a tender, compassionate face bent over him, and the words, 'Wilt thou be made whole?' arrested His attention. Hope came to his heart. He felt that in some way he was to have help." But then he remembered how many times he had tried to get into the pool but had failed to enter in time. Someone always got there before him. Jesus does not rebuke the man for his lack of faith or for complaining. Instead He tells him to "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." John 5:8. Immediately the man's faith takes hold upon Jesus' word. "Every nerve and muscle thrills with new life, and healthful action comes to his crippled limbs. Without question he sets his will to obey the command of Christ, and all his muscles respond to his will. Springing to his feet, he finds himself an active man." DA 202, 203.

Now, why did Jesus command the man to "take up his bed" along with telling him to rise and walk? He could have just said, Get up and walk. I know you can do it and leave your bed behind because you don't need it anymore. But no, Jesus told him to carry his bed with him so when he met the legalistic Pharisees they would learn that Jesus had not only healed the man but told him to break their Sabbath law. Notice I said, "their Sabbath law," for this was a man made restriction, not from the Lord of the Sabbath.

"The Jews had so perverted the law that they made it a yoke of bondage. Their meaningless requirements had become a byword among other nations (which gave the Sabbath a bad reputation). Especially was the Sabbath hedged in by all manner of senseless restrictions. It was not to them a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honorable. The scribes and Pharisees had made its observance an intolerable burden. A Jew was not allowed to kindle a fire nor even to light a candle on the Sabbath." DA 205. So they depended upon the Gentiles to do many of these jobs for them, not realizing that this was hypocrisy. "They thought that salvation was restricted to the Jews, and that condition of all others, being already hopeless, could be made no worse. But god has given no commandments which cannot be obeyed by all. HIS LAWS SANCTION NO UNREASONABLE OR SELFISH RESTRICTIONS." DA 204.

Later that same day Jesus met this man in the temple, whom He had just healed, and told him "sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee." Why did Jesus do that? He knew this man would joyfully tell the Pharisees that He had been healed by that "wonderful teacher" Jesus of Nazareth, not realizing the hatred of the Jewish leaders toward Christ. But by doing this our Lord was brought before the Sanhedrin for questioning which gave Him an opportunity to witness to them that He had the power to renew someone who had been in the wilderness of sin, in a hopeless condition for 38 years, just as Israel had wondered in the desert for 38 years, Deut. 2:14. And the Israel of Christ's day, were under an even worse bondage and servitude of Rome, yet they did not realize Jesus had the power to set them free. But they must first be set free from their own sinful carnal nature to which they were held bondage. This fact they would not admit, which made it impossible for Jesus to heal them and set them free from the bondage of Roman occupation. Their repentance and true conversion to the Son of God and His salvation would lead to freedom from Roman oppression.

Without actually explaining that Christ was brought before the Sanhedrin, John states that because the Lord had healed this man on the Sabbath day and also instructed him to carry his bed on the Sabbath that the Jews began "persecuting" Jesus. John 5:16. Notice how the next verse begins. "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." Jn 5:17, 18.

Jesus probably said this to a few of the elders who questioned Him about what had happened. Then this delegation went back to the Sanhedrin and reported that they now had three things they could charge Him with. 1. He healed a man on the Sabbath day. 2. He instructed the man to break the Sabbath by telling him to carry his bed. 3. He claimed to be the Son of God.

So, now they were sure that they would be able to nail him on at least one of these charges. But when He appears before the council or Sanhedrin we read, "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what He sees the Father do: for what things soever He does these also do the Son likewise." John 5:19-47.

Christ's testimony to these leaders is recorded in John 5:17 to 47. It is amazing that they did not interrupt Him even once, as they did Stephen later, in Acts 7, and then dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death. It was not time yet for Jesus to die on the cross. This happened at the time of the Passover. Again the book "Desire of Ages," gives us deeper insights as to why the Father led His only Son to heal this man on the Sabbath day.

"Jesus had come to 'magnify the law, and make it honorable.' He was not to lessen its dignity, but to exalt it. The scripture says, 'He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth.' Isa. 42:21, 4. He had come to free the Sabbath from those burdensome requirements that had made it a curse instead of a blessing.

"For this reason He had chosen the Sabbath upon which to perform the act of healing at Bethesda. He could have healed the sick as well on any other day of the week; or He might simply have cured him, without bidding him bear away his bed. But this would not have given Him the opportunity He desired. A wise purpose underlay every act of Christ's life on earth. Everything he did was important in itself and in its teaching. Among the afflicted ones at the pool He selected the worst case upon whom to exercise his healing power, and bade the man carry his bed through the city in order to publish the great work that had been wrought upon him. This would raise the question of what it was lawful to do on the Sabbath, and would open the way for Him to denounce the restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day (7th day Sabbath), and to declare their traditions void." DA 206.

Because so many of the common people believed in Jesus, due to being healed and comforted by His kind words and wonderful teachings, the leaders of the nation were not able to carry out their plan to put Him to death. Yet they tried to pin the charge of Blasphemy upon Him because He had told them that His authority is that: I am the Son of God and do all that my heavenly Father tells me to do. As Jesus addressed this assembly "He rises above humanity, throws off the guise of sin and shame, and stands revealed, the honored of the angels, the Son of God, One with the Creator of the universe. His hearers are spellbound. No man has ever spoken words like His, or borne Himself with such a kingly majesty. His utterances are clear and plain, fully declaring His mission, and the duty of the world."

In John 5 Jesus revealed to the leaders of the nation that someday all the dead would be raised to life again, and at His voice. How and why? Because He was the Son of the living God and His Father had "Committed all judgment unto the son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the son honors not the Father which has sent Him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself.... Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:22-29. Jesus continued on until verse 47 with no interruption or comment from this assembly of Jewish leaders. But the author of "Desire of Ages," makes many comments such as the following:

"This assurance of the future life was that for which Israel had so long waited, and which they had hoped to receive at the Messiah's advent." DA 211. So, here is Jesus standing before them now giving them this long speech. They all know this man who has been lying over there at the pool of Bethsada, because he has been there for 38 years! The also know now that Jesus has just healed him because the man has just given them a personal testimony that Jesus is the One who healed them.

Now, the Jews could have invited Christ at that point to go ahead and heal all the sick in the entire city of Jerusalem. But did they ask Him to do this? No. Why not? First of all, they believe that God is the one who makes people sick to punish them for their sins and even sometimes kills them. So, they were held in bondage by those two lies to begin with. Secondly, because they were possessed by the evil spirit of Satan who was speaking to their hearts and minds telling them Jesus was an impostor and did His works through some kind of magic, etc. That He healed people through the power of Satan. You can read about this in Matt. 12.

But here is the Son of God standing before His creatures who have been lied to and deceived by Satan regarding who the Father God of Israel really is and who He, the Son is. They had to have been very impressed by Him or they would not have allowed Him to keep on talking so long. They had already tried to stop Him by officially condemning Him but this had no effect. The people loved Jesus because He had shown them that He was their only hope. The evil priests and rulers see that if Jesus is accepted by the majority of the people and enough of the priests and rulers, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, then everything will be changed. He has already cleansed the temple once at the beginning of His ministry, so they know that will have to be changed and some of them realize that it is a corrupt system and needs to be changed. But if they agree to that then they will lose all that money and power and glory with the people. And this is what they are not willing to give up. This has always been the case. The film, "The Dark Crystal" is a good illustration of what I am talking about.

So, in order to stay in control, the "Priests and rulers had set themselves up as judges to condemn Christ's work, but He declared Himself their judge, and the judge of all the earth. The world has been committed to Christ, and through Him has come every blessing from God to the fallen race. He was the Redeemer before as after the incarnation. As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. He has given light and life to all, and according to the measure of light given, each is to be judged. And He who has given the light, He who has followed the soul with tenderest entreaty, seeking to win it from sin to holiness, is in one its advocate and judge.

From the opening of the great controversy in heaven, Satan has maintained his cause through deception; And Christ has been working to unveil his schemes and to break his power. It is He who has encountered the deceiver, and who through all the ages has been seeking to wrest the captives from his grasp, who will pass judgment upon every soul." DA 210.

We need to realize that the word "judgment" as used above simply means "decision." It does not mean condemnation for Jesus clearly said that He had not come to "condemn" the world but to save it. John 3:17. "Christ's mission was not for judgment (condemnation) but for salvation." DA 210. And this is what Jesus was trying to help them to see...that He had come to help them...to save them. But they were not willing to admit they needed help. He is trying to tell them, You do not have to keep on living like this. You deserve better. You do not have to keep on getting sick and dying. I have come to give you the abundant life. John 10:10. But their response was: We already have a good life. And yes people who sin must be punished. Everyone who breaks the law (like carrying your bed on the Sabbath) must be punished. Jesus had intentionally told the man to break that law in order to gain an audience with these leaders and now He is there before them trying His level best to show them that He has come to give eternal life to all. The healing of that one man was but a small example of what He could do for the whole nation if they would accept Him. If you read through John 8 in the Living Bible you will get a clearer picture of what He was trying to tell them.

Later, in one of His talks, Jesus said to the people, I am the Light of the world. So if you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path. The Pharisees replied, You are boasting--and lying! Jesus told them, These claims are true even though I make them concerning myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. You pass judgment on Me without knowing the facts. I am not judging you now; but if I were, it would be an absolutely correct judgment in every respect, for I have with me the Father who sent me.

Then they asked Him who His Father was. He told them that since they did not know or recognize Him they would not know His Father either. You will also see a lot of sarcasm and ridicule in their words, revealing their angry and bitter spirit toward Him and the malevolent and threatening tone they must have had in their voices. Finally He told them, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am the Messiah, the son of God, you will die in your sins.

This got their attention enough for them to ask Him, Tell us who you are, they demanded. So, he calmly and kindly told them that He was the same One that He had always claimed to be, the only begotten of the Father, John 3:16. He told them that he could condemn them for a lot of things and teach them a lot but He would not do that because He only said and did what the One who sent Him told Him to do, even His Father. Then in vs. 28 He tells them that when they have finally "killed the Messiah" (Lifted up the Son of Man, KJV) then you will realize that I am he and that I have not been telling you my own ideas, but have spoken what the Father taught Me. And He who sent me is with Me...He has not deserted Me-for I always do those things that are pleasing to Him.

After He said that, some of them began to believe on Him and accept Him. "Then many of the Jewish leaders who heard Him say these things began believing Him to be the Messiah. Jesus said to them, 'You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" John 8:23-32.

When He told them that the "Truth" would "set them free," some of them (No doubt the ones who did not believe on Him) reacted to that by saying they were not slaves because they were descendants of Abraham, ancient father and ancestor. From this point on until verse 44 Jesus tried to help them see that if they were truly the sons of Abraham they would not be plotting His death. Our father is Abraham, they declared. No! Jesus replied, for if he were, you would follow his good example. But instead you are trying to kill Me--and all because I told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that! No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way.

So, who is their "real" father? Finally, in vs. 44 Christ goes to the heart of the problem. For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth--there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell you the truth, you just naturally don't believe it!

From that point on the dialogue was all down hill as the crudest and meanest element of the unbelieving Jewish leadership began to call Him names such as "Samaritan! Foreigner! Devil!" adding that they had always believed He was possessed of a demon. Of course, this effectively silenced those who "believed" on him. How "many" there were we are not told. But it was probably not a majority. But it was enough to convert Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, two prominent and wealthy Jewish rulers who early on believed Jesus was the Messiah, as the third chapter of John reveals.

Jesus told them that he had no demon in Him. John 8:20 tells us that this exchange took place in the section of the temple known as the treasury. But no one laid a hand on Him because it was not yet time for Him to be arrested, beaten, tried, condemned and crucified. Now, let's go back to his appearance before the Sanhedrin in John 5.

Again I quote from Desire of Ages (DA) where the author is commenting on Jesus' speech before the Sanhedrin.

"The time, the place, the occasion, the intensity of feeling that pervaded the assembly, all combined to make the words of Jesus before the Sanhedrin the more impressive. The highest religious authorities of the nation were seeking the life of Him who declared himself the restorer of Israel. The Lord of the Sabbath was arraigned before an earthly tribunal to answer the charge of breaking the Sabbath law. (This is what God's people will also have to do in our day...witness before assemblies for our faith) When He so fearlessly declared His mission, His judges looked upon Him with astonishment and rage; but His words were unanswerable. They could not condemn Him. (Now notice this statement) He denied the right of the priests and rabbis to question Him, or to interfere with His work. (Did you catch that? There is a reason they did not interrupt Him) They were invested with no such authority. Their claims were based upon their own pride and arrogance. He refused to plead guilty of their charges, or to be catechized by them.

"Instead of apologizing for the act of which they complained, or explaining His purpose in doing it, Jesus turned upon the rulers, and the accused became the accuser. He rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts, and their ignorance of the Scriptures. He declared that they had rejected the word of God, inasmuch as they had rejected Him whom God had sent. 'Ye search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me.'" John 5:39. R.V.

These leaders knew they had no excuse for doing what they were trying to do. But the murder and envy in their heart controlled them as it has controlled all those who yield themselves to Satan's influence. "The rulers themselves had felt deep condemnation as He had pressed their guilt home upon their consciences ; yet this only made them the more bitter against Him." DA 213. Over and over again Jesus gave them supernatural signs of various kinds that He was truly the Son of God from heaven. The healing of the man who had been sick for 38 years was just one of thousands He healed. He also raised two people from the dead and later Lazarus in John 11 but this also just made them more angry and determined to kill Him. He confronted them with their murderous plans. "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why go you about to kill me?" John 7:20. But He also showed them that He could read their mind which truly blew them away.

"Jesus gave the rabbis an evidence of His divinity by showing that He read their minds. Ever since the healing at Bethesda they had been plotting His death....Like a swift flash of light these words revealed to the rabbis the pit of ruin into which they were about to plunge. For an instant they were filled with terror. They saw that they were in conflict with Infinite Power. But they would not be warned. In order to maintain their influence with the people, their murderous designs must be concealed. Evading the question of Jesus, they exclaimed, 'Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill you?" They insinuated that the wonderful works of Jesus were instigated by an evil spirit." (So, what was Jesus' response to this accusation and lie?) Notice: "To this insinuation Christ gave no heed. He went on to show that His work of healing at Bethesda was in harmony with the Sabbath law, and that it was justified by the interpretation which the Jews themselves put upon the law." DA 456.

And so it was that Jesus faithfully fulfilled His witness to His own people who ended up crucifying Him anyway, instead of accepting Him, who was their only hope. Yet, this very act of murdering the Son of God on the cross has become the greatest witness of all time and will remain so throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Because of their rejection of their Messiah the Jew's temple, and much of the city, at that time was destroyed in AD 70 by the Roman armies under Titus. This is the temple they are hoping to rebuild someday soon in Jerusalem today so they can re-institute the animal sacrifice system. Satan himself will appear, claiming to be the Messiah. He will pronounce his blessing on all they are doing because Jerusalem will become the center for the New World Order and the New One World Church.

Rev. 11 predicts that the "Two Witnesses" will prophesy against this system for 3 ? years. These Two Witnesses are the same as the Elect of Matt. 24:24. There are at least 21 designations for this same group, including "Christos," Rev. 11:15, 12:10, "Manchild" Rev. 12:5. "Son," "King," (Ps. 2), "Manifestation of the sons of God," "Stone cut out of the mountain without hands," "Those who know the joyful sound."

Your prayers and donations of love are appreciated and are all that keep us going.

Truly your friend in Christ, our Lord, Pastor Mike Clute.