We are told in Genesis 4, that after Cain and Abel became young men, they brought offerings to the Lord. “Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.” His younger brother “Abel was a keeper of flocks, … Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions” Gen. 4:3,4 NASB).

In response to these offerings, “the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering he had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell” (vs. 4,5 NASB). God regarded Abel’s offering because it pictured the eventual offering of Jesus, his only begotten Son, who as “the lamb of God … taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

While we are not told explicitly if Cain and Abel understood this symbolism, the Apostle Paul writes, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4 NASB). One noted Bible scholar wrote,  “It was not by custom nor by accident that Abel chose his sacrifice. Evidently, he had been seeking the mind of the Lord, and had found it.” This event teaches us the lesson that to be pleasing and acceptable to God, we must approach him on his terms and not our own.

The symbolism of a sacrificed lamb continued with Israel’s Passover. It was the blood of an unblemished lamb splashed on the doorposts and lintels that protected Israel’s firstborn and led to the nation’s deliverance from Egypt. The lamb pictured the perfect man, Jesus.

Revelation 5:6 (NASB) describes the resurrected Jesus as a “Lamb standing, as if slain.” In heaven, myriads of heavenly beings say “with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’” (vs. 12 NASB). Jesus’ willingness to humble himself, give up his spiritual glory as the Logos and be made flesh, and then humble himself again unto the death of the cross earned the glory and honor spoken. Like a meek and obedient lamb, he followed the Heavenly Father’s will offering his life as ransom for father Adam. Because of this, “all who dwell on the earth will worship him, … the Lamb who has been slain” (Rev. 13:8 NASB). 

The first book of the Bible is called Genesis, which is a Greek word meaning origin, source, generation, or beginning. In long eons past, God brought the universe into existence, creating heavenly bodies and our earth (Gen. 1:1). The verses that follow describe the ordering of this earth for human habitation. Six periods called days in the Bible were appointed by God for bringing the earth to readiness to sustain the first human pair. At the close of ‘day 6’ God created a man, from whom he created a woman, and called their names Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26, 27). God then ceased his creative work on the 7th day. Everything that God had made was very good (Gen. 1:31).

We are told in Genesis 1:27 that God created them in his own image. This image was a reflection of the Creator’s moral attributes with free moral choice and intelligence, but no experience with sin. The new couple was given dominion over all of earth’s creation as its caretaker and benefactor. Adam and Eve were also to populate the earth with offspring. Lucifer, a mighty angel, saw the potential of having intelligent beings give him homage, and so, became an adversary [Satan] to God. By deception he got Eve to sin against God’s commandment (Genesis 2 & 3).

Adam knew he would surely die if he disobeyed God’s command, but he could not face a life without his companion Eve, and so he knowingly disobeyed (1 Tim. 2:13,14). The penalty for sin was, and still is, eternal death—the absence of life. God, however, did not instantly put Adam and Eve to death, but he set in motion the dying process. Through Adam the whole race, including you and me, are under the same death sentence. None escape it! However, God provided a ransom, the anti-type of Israel’s Passover lamb, and through our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, we can receive eternal life (Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:22). Now is the time for reconciliation with God if you can receive it. Otherwise, reconciliation will take place during the enlightenment in Christ’s coming kingdom on the earth. Then, at the end of the 7th day, all creation will be fully in obedience to God, and again pronounced very good. 

Mortal words cannot describe the majesty of the Heavenly realm. Attempts to define the glory of infinity are futile. How can finite flesh and blood commune with the spiritual and divine realities with any degree of comprehension or appreciation?

What are the means God has employed to help fallen man understand who He is and what His character is like? The way he chose was to devise a plan for man’s future which would be in accord with his nature and character. This is evidenced in our ability to discern the invisible by the visible (Ps. 2,19; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16). The very creation, and nature itself, give silent testimony to the magnitude and glory of such a God. This physical, inanimate evidence, even without the spiritual, results in our worship of his greatness and power.

However, there are additional attributes that can only be discerned by the outworking of God’s divine plan for humankind as shown in his word, the Bible. There, these attributes are graphically portrayed so that all will recognize the nature and character of man’s destiny.

As we understand and develop increasing faith in that word, God’s character is revealed, and can be summarized by his four attributes of JUSTICE, WISDOM, LOVE AND POWER (Ps. 89:13,14; Isa. 46:10; John 3:16; Eph. 3:9,10; 1 John 4:8,16). Each attribute is infinite but is governed by the other attributes. Accordingly, God’s power is limited by the other attributes acting in unison. Adam was created perfect and by sinning, he plunged all his progeny into death. God’s justice required a ransom as a means of reconciliation (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6). It was supplied by God’s love in sending his Son to die as the corresponding price.

The harmony of all God’s attributes is planned by divine WISDOM, and in unison they demonstrate his nature and character. Thus, the Divine Plan that God has arranged for man reveals the invisible spiritual reality to mortal finite humanity.

We are blessed as we pattern our living in accord with these principles of Godliness. Thereby, we are able to reflect the glory and majesty of our Heavenly Father.  

When Adam and Eve were created, they were free moral agents. They possessed a free will to make their own decisions or choices. However, they disobeyed God and brought sin and death to ALL their progeny (Rom. 5:12). If not for a loving, merciful, and all powerful Heavenly Father, mankind would be doomed to forever suffer and die, but, in God’s GREAT and INFINITE wisdom and justice, even before the foundation of the world, he developed a plan to recover his creation from such a terrible condition! We see just how his Divine plan of salvation is to come about with the great promise of a wonderful deliverer, stated in Genesis 3:15. “I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman, and between thy seed [offspring] and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Satan was then, and still is today, determined to do all he can to stop this promised seed, but this promised seed will bruise his head, a symbolic description of a vital and fatal blow that will crush Satan and bring an end to his long, dark reign over mankind. Only the heel of the deliverer is bruised, which we know is not a fatal blow.

Later in Genesis, this promised seed was described to Abraham as he tried to fulfill God’s request to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham was stopped by an angel, and God said, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast  obeyed my voice” (Gen. 22:18). Isaac was a picture of Jesus, the true seed of promise, who sacrificed himself to redeem mankind and provide the way for man’s salvation (John 1:29).

In Galatians 3:16, Paul writes, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Paul adds in verses 27 and 29, “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ [a perfect pattern to follow], . . . And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” These verses described the seed of promise as our Lord Jesus Christ and those who make a full consecration to do God’s will faithfully unto death and are baptized into Jesus Christ. If faithful, they will become members of his bride, the church, which is pictured as the body of Christ with Jesus as their head. They become part of the promised seed through which in God’s perfect Divine plan, ALL the families of the earth will be blessed (John 3:16, Gal 4:28, Rom 9:8). 

Despite numerous conferences, negotiations and efforts to establish peace, no true and lasting peace exists between nations, between ethnic groups, between religions, or between the various socio-economic groups in today’s world.

Man has fought two world wars and innumerable smaller conflicts to bring peace. Instead, they have brought nothing but more conflict.

What does the Bible say about peace? The Apostle Paul writes about the last days of this present evil world in these terms: “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3, New American Standard Bible).

Paul’s words aptly describe our day of conflict and strife. There can be no peace until the reasons for conflict—selfishness, unrighteousness, inequality, and oppression—are taken away. Man has rebelled against God and his righteous laws, and this has brought conflict—between God and man, between man and his neighbor, and between man and his environment. The only way conflict can be ended is if man is brought back into harmony with God and his principles of truth and righteousness.

God gave his only begotten son Jesus—to bring man back into harmony with himself, and bring man back to peace. At his First Advent, Jesus gave his perfect human life as a ransom for Father Adam. This sacrifice was critical to releasing the human family from divine condemnation and giving them an opportunity to come back into harmony with God. At his Second Advent, Jesus will establish his earthly kingdom, and apply the value of his sacrifice to seal the New Covenant, and bring Israel and Judah back into relationship with God (Jer. 31:31-34). He will apply the value of his sacrifice to release the human family from Adamic condemnation and the associated penalty of death (Isa. 42:6,7). Then, he will raise the dead, heal the sick, and teach the human family righteousness.

Christ’s kingdom will establish a way of holiness in which a man may walk. This way will be designed to bring the willing and obedient back to perfection of heart and mind and harmony with God. Those who finish the journey, will recover everything Adam  lost through sin—mental, moral, and physical perfection, sonship with God, and everlasting life. They will once again become children of God in a perfect earth (Isa. 35:5-10).

Christ’s work of bringing mankind back to peace with God and with one another is described in our Lord’s title “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6, NASB). In Christ’s kingdom there will be peace, as Isaiah writes in Isaiah 11:9 (NASB): “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Concerning this kingdom, Isaiah writes, God will bring peace to Israel “like a river” (Isa. 66:12, NASB).

How we long for the soon establishment of Christ’s earthly kingdom which will bring true and lasting peace to all mankind.         

Godliness, or God-likeness, is something that a Christian wishes to attain to if they are truly walking in the footsteps of Jesus—”Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). Godly contentment is something that cannot be reached in a moment. It is a result of growth in grace, and in the knowledge and love of the Heavenly Father. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6).

The thought of living a life of Godliness is in contrast to living a life of worldly contentment which is based upon the love of ease and selfishness. What does this show to us? It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age” (Tit 2:12, New International Version). Another important consideration is that in God’s sight sin is exceedingly sinful and must become so in our sight (Rom. 7:13).

Since these two ways of thinking and conduct are in direct opposition to each other, a person who desires to lead a godly life can expect trials and difficult experiences in this present life. This should not, however, deter them from desiring to lead a life pleasing to the Lord (Prov. 15:16). Our Lord realized that this would be so, and he gave us these words of encouragement, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Having this peace of God, which comes to us through his Son, helps us to live godly lives (2 Thess. 3:3).”

Having God-likeness will be required of all when Christ’s wonderful Millennial Kingdom is established on this earth (2 Pet. 3:13). In that kingdom, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Mic. 6:8).   

Our Lord Jesus has many names and titles, each related to the work he has or will perform. In Hebrews 3:1, the Apostle Paul calls him the “High Priest of our profession.” Why is he given this title, and what does “of our profession” mean?

To understand this, we will need to look at the time when the nation of Israel was in the wilderness and God had instructed them to build a Tabernacle. For the Tabernacle service, Aaron was selected by God as high priest, and his sons as underpriests (Exod. 28:1; 30:30). The high priest was ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin, and was to bring the people to perfection (Heb. 5:1; 7:11). Aaron was a picture of Jesus who offered himself as a ransom for Adam during his First Advent and, thus, atoned for man’s sin (1 Tim. 2:5,6; 1 John 2:1,2).

During his First Advent, our Lord also learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and “being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek [a royal or kingly priest] (Heb. 5:8-10). Melchizedek, the priest and king who blessed Abraham, was a picture of the resurrected Jesus who, as a spiritual high priest, brings life first to his followers during the Gospel Age and then at his Second Advent to the rest of mankind through his earthly kingdom (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-3,11,12,15-17,20-28).

Hebrews 10:20 tells us that our Lord Jesus, as our high priest, opened up a new and living way for us to follow, giving us the opportunity to become his footstep followers, which is what “our profession” means. Our Lord devoted his entire being to fulfill his Heavenly Father’s will. He presented his earthly life in sacrifice at Jordan, represented by the slain bullock in the Tabernacle picture (Lev. 16:3,6). This is what we must do, as we are admonished in Romans 6:11: “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive [as New Creatures] unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

During the Gospel Age, Jesus serves as both our High Priest and Advocate, so that through him we may be accepted by God. He cleanses us from all sin with his blood and justifies our sacrifice that it might be acceptable to God (1 John 1:7,9). He covers our imperfections with a robe of righteousness (Isa. 61:10). If we are faithful in following Jesus, then we become part of Jesus’ Melchizedek priesthood. We will become spiritual underpriests who will reign with him for a thousand years and help bless all mankind in his earthly kingdom—”Ye are a . . . royal priesthood, . . . that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (Rev. 20:6; 1 Peter 2:9,10).  

The parable of the sheep and the goats is recognized for both its promise to the obedient, and judgment of the disobedient (Matt. 25:31-46). In it the glorified Lord sits on his throne dividing the nations “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25:32, NASB). The Lord is both on his throne and glorified. This reveals that the parable applies to the 1000-year reign of Christ and his church (Rev. 20:4). Colossians 3:4 affirms that the completed church will be present during this judgment. This is the time of Christ’s promised earthly kingdom, which will bless all the families of the earth. 1 Corinthians 6:2 confirms that the church will participate in this judgment of the world of mankind.

According to the parable, the world will be judged by their works of love toward one another. Each individual will show their love toward Christ through their love to one another. “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40, NASB).

How beautiful a picture—the Prince of Peace reigning on his throne of perfect justice with his bride (the church), judging mankind according to the law of love that he gave and lived during his human life. People will be grouped according to their acts of love toward each other! Those who are sheep-like in character—humble, accepting, and obedient to the kingdom arrangement of love for all—will receive the blessings of God’s kingdom. Those who are goat-like—stubborn and self-willed, not submitting themselves to the guidance of the good shepherd and not lovingly uplifting their fellow man—will be separated from the flock.

Failing to attain this character of active love will result in becoming part of the goat class which the Lord condemns with the same judgment pronounced against the devil and his angels. This sentence of eternal fire is not one of torment, but of complete destruction. The Prince of Peace will then pour out the never-ending blessings of God on all those who developed the character of the sheep. They will live forever filled with love for one another.  

The world of mankind is sick, and each day it is becoming sicker. Everywhere we look, we see disease, mental illness, and death. Bird-flu is raising its ugly head and a pandemic may be on the horizon. Mental illness seems to be on the rise with more and more horrific crimes being committed. Selfishness of the heart and mind led to a Bangladesh factory building collapsing and killing more than 1,000 garment workers.

The world needs a good physician, one who can heal not only man’s physical illnesses, but also his illness of the mind and of the heart. Jesus and his bride, the church, will be that great physician.

Jesus came at his First Advent to demonstrate his ability to heal through God’s power. All of those healings pointed forward to the healing Jesus will perform for the entire human family in his kingdom.

He healed the man with an unclean spirit, showing how Jesus will eliminate the influence Satan and the fallen angels have over mankind (Mark 1:21-28). Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother of a fever, showing how man’s infection of sin will be cured (Mark 1:29-31). Our Lord  healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, showing that Jesus will help mankind to walk righteously and pleasing to God (John 5:1-9).

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, showing he will teach mankind how to work righteously and be pleasing to God (Luke 6:6-11). Our Lord healed the man born blind, showing how he will heal mankind’s physical and spiritual eyesight in his kingdom (John 9:1-11).

He healed the woman crippled with an infirmity, demonstrating how he will help the human family stand up righteously before God (Luke 13:10-17). Our Lord healed a man with dropsy, a heart ailment, showing how he will heal man’s heart of sinfulness and selfishness, so then he can write God’s law there (Luke 14:1-6). Finally, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating that he will raise everyone  who has ever lived from the tomb to receive this healing and thereby have the opportunity to gain everlasting life in his kingdom (John 11:1-45).

In Ezekiel 11:19,20, the prophet describes this healing: “I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God” (NASB). Isaiah writes about this healing, “The eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy” (Isa. 35:4,5 NASB).

Jesus will be able to heal mankind because he died as a ransom for Adam, and thus provided the price needed to pay for man’s sin. In that day, “No resident will say, ‘I am sick’; The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity” (Isa. 33:24 NASB).

Jesus returns to establish his earthly kingdom and  heal man’s body, heart, and mind so that mankind can become perfect and  come back into harmony with God. With this healing, man will be able to obey God’s law perfectly and gain everlasting life.