OUR HISTORY IS OUR FUTURE

AND TODAY’S ABUSES WILL NEVER REFORM

     How do we know this? “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.” Eccl.1:9-11

     The greater our knowledge of history the more we can see what is coming and not be taken by surprise or taken advantage of. Next to the promise of salvation for those who believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for man's Sacrifice for sin, and repent of their sins against the Ten Commandments (Rom.2:13), understanding the Bible prophecies assigned to the closing scenes of this world's present history are key to understand our future and prepare for those events. To study the history of Jerusalem as a microcosm to the coming global events ushering the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ is an invaluable lesson in every detail.

     FIRST, THE HISTORY: GOD raised up the family of Abraham to not only be the bloodline through which the Savior would come, but to be the holders of the Sacred Oracles of GOD that they were to recognize as righteousness beyond both their natural moral strength and their incapability to live up to the standard without humble prayer and GOD’S Attending Spirit. And through that spiritual humility the Jews were to embrace the Savior Jesus Christ when He would come to demonstrate its perfection as it was prophesied of Him, "he will magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isa.42:21.

     But that which GOD intended to bring tears of humility and thanksgiving to the Jewish people (that GOD chose the family of Abraham to herald the coming of the Creator as a man) was used instead to foster ambition, pride and arrogance. And because of their bond with these sinful lusts, the Jews refused to recognize the One who did not meet their selfish expectations. Said Christ to the Jews who determined to refuse the evidence proving His legitimacy, “Your house is left unto you desolate;” “the kingdom of GOD shall be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits thereof.” Said the Jews in retaliation: “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish;” “His blood be on us and on our children;” “We have no king but Caesar.”

     So man murdered his own Creator—our GOD who lives to serve—in the most humiliating and torturous form of capital punishment of human history called crucifixion. Said David, in “the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev.19:10) a thousand years before Christ, “they pierced my hands and my feet. I many tell all my bones. They look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22.

     Israel's continued hardheartedness against GOD and their fellow man eventually led Titus of Rome in 70 A.D. to obliterate Jerusalem and its temple. The historian Josephus recorded that at the time of the siege the most devout orthodox Jews were gathered at Jerusalem for the feast. Josephus recorded the desperate measures to which people would go to preserve their lives. Mothers ate the flesh of their babies. Children ate the flesh of their parents. The wealthy would torture the poor to gain the little food and water they had stored, just to add to their already abundant reserves. There were warring factions within the walls of Jerusalem struggling against each other for the supremacy of authority, each sabotaging one another’s provisions. Attacked from within and without! This lesson has been repeated on more than one occasion. The book of Lamentations describing Jerusalem’s first destruction is identical in character to its second destruction in 70 A.D. And the events unfolding there are a microcosm of what is to be carried out at the end of earth’s present history as the Apostle Paul said in no uncertain terms: “All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” I Cor.10:11.

     SECOND, BRINGING HISTORY’S LESSONS TO OUR DAY: The history of man is the history of his character. And the extremes of indecency men have gone to gain and to hold power demonstrates the true mettle of the human condition. In essence, man is of a quality of metal that bends under the slightest load; brittle to the sudden strike; melts under the slightest heat; and is even unpleasant to work with. This is why it is important to understand GOD’S purpose of allowing the deplorable aspects of sin’s dominion to continue, that man’s self-aggrandizement may be seen for what it is and not for what has been fictionalized through man’s continual flattery of himself in every field of study. Nothing proves this more than the lessons of history. Industry and technology change but man’s base passions haven’t, as the Apostle John summed it up: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I Jn.2:16. Truly, “there is nothing new under the sun.”

     When it is realized that the little decency we have within our inherent nature is a gift from GOD: that the compassion that wells up in our hearts is drawn from us in spite of ourselves: that these expressions of goodness are as the autonomic reflexes of the human body: the beating heart and the breathing lungs: the glory for anything that serves the security and purpose of life must be deferred from us and given to the One Who alone is responsible for all righteousness—“Abba”—“Our Father which art in heaven.” He is the One to Whom Jesus Christ directs all of us to turn and obey—for He lives to serve no less than His Son. Said Christ, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Jn.14:9. It is easy to love and serve a GOD Whose sole purpose is to see the everlasting joy of His children. This is why Jesus said, “for I do always those things that please him.” Jn.8:29.