You may be referring to the phrase that was used in a sermon that “you have to be sold on the Way of Life” to be a true Christian.

When someone is called into the true Church of God, it is a unique calling from God, as we read in John 6:44 where Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” In fact, Jesus repeated this in verse 65 of the same chapter, prefacing His comments with: “I have said to you…,” and then reiterating that a calling from the Father was necessary.

Unfortunately, today there are those who say that they have been seeking God and join a church of their choice, but that is not a calling from God. It is a priceless privilege to be called by God at this time, and He places in His church those whom He chooses.

The Free Dictionary online describes the phrase “to be sold on something” as an idiom, and idioms are classified as figurative language which is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner. It describes the phrase as follows:

“…to be confident in or convinced about something’s viability, veracity etc., often to the point of being enthusiastically supportive of it.”

When applying this phrase to our calling, it is surely much deeper and stronger than this dictionary definition. Our calling is not something to be taken lightly, and in the context we are discussing, it must also mean to be convicted or convinced of something, not just on a temporary whim but on a long term and permanent basis. Why? It is really very simple, as Matthew 24:13 reveals the answer: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved,” showing that our calling from God is one from which we must never shirk or on which we must never turn our back.

The famous parable of the sower in Matthew 13 is a perfect example of having to be sold on God’s Way of Life. Let us briefly review this parable, starting in verses 3-4: “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.’”  This is explained in verse 19: “‘When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.’” A clear case of not being sold on God’s Way of Life.

Continuing in verses 5-6: “‘Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.’” This is explained in verses 20-21: ‘‘But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.’” Another clear case of not being sold on God’s Way of Life.

We read a further example in verse 7: “‘And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.’” This is explained in verse 22: “‘Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.’” A third case of not being sold on God’s way of life.

After three negative examples, we move on to verse 8 where we see positive outcomes: “‘But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’” This is explained in verse 23: “‘But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’” That must be our standard.

One of the most important things that anyone must consider when being called is to count the cost and to think through all of the implications of a complete change of lifestyle.

On the website gotquestions, under the heading of counting the cost, these observations are made:

“Jesus said a lot in those simple illustrations. He quickly put an end to the idea that He offered some kind of welfare program. Although the gift of eternal life is free… [it] requires a transfer of ownership… ‘Counting the cost’ means recognizing and agreeing to some terms first. In following Christ, we cannot simply follow our own inclinations. We cannot follow Him and the world’s way at the same time (Matthew 7:13-14). Following Him may mean we lose relationships, dreams, material things, or even our lives.

“Those who are following Jesus simply for what they can get won’t stick around when the going gets tough. When God’s way conflicts with our way, we will feel betrayed by the shallow, me-first faith we have bought into. If we have not counted the cost of being His child, we will turn away at the threat of sacrifice and find something else to gratify our selfish desires (cf. Mark 4:5, 16-17).  In Jesus’ earthly ministry, there came a time when… public opinion turned ugly. The cheering crowds became jeering crowds. And Jesus knew ahead of time that would happen.

“Jesus ended His description of the cost of discipleship with a breathtaking statement: ‘Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple’ (Luke 14:33; the New King James Bible says: “forsake”). ‘Renouncing’ may mean we give up something physically, but more often it means we let go emotionally so that what we possess no longer possesses us. When we become one of His, we cannot continue to belong to this world (1 John 2:15-17).”

We read in 2 Peter 2:20-22 what happens when someone who has been called by God turns his back on his calling: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

That is hardly a compliment to those who leave the true Church of God and go back into the world, as many have done over the years. We would certainly recoil or shrink from the comparison of returning to the mire but it applies clearly to those who have done so. If the sow was washed, she would revert to type and go straight back into the mire, and that is precisely what those who leave the true Church of God have done! Having come out of the world into the knowledge of the Truth, they then returned back into their former sinful worldly ways.

It certainly shows how deceived some can be, and we read in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

Being sold on God’s Way of Life means accepting, fully and completely, that it is the only way, and this will ensure that we will remain steadfast and loyal to Him, whatever life may throw at us. It is a full-time commitment that we buy into, and being sold on God’s Way of Life is the inevitable outcome which will ensure that we live forever in the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

It is a lifetime’s activity that has tremendous rewards in our life now for all eternity!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

There are many Scriptures that focus on the importance of prophecy. In fact, depending on different estimates, prophecy in the Bible takes up between 25% to 33% of all that is written. It is there for a reason – and if we ignore Bible prophecy, we are ignoring a large portion of God’s Word!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, we read: “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” We are admonished to prove what is written in the Word of God where there are hundreds of prophecies in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. There are those who may try and forecast future events with varying degrees of success and plenty of failures, but only God tells of many events in His Word without any mistakes or errors. When prophecies come to pass, the accuracy of the Bible is proved.

Prophecy is, simply stated, history written in advance.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we read: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Many today look at many sources to try and forecast the future. The writings of Nostradamus, the Koran, Buddha, Confucius, the Book of Mormon and other sources are often consulted, but the Bible could be the last place that many would look – if they looked at all.

God knows all the stars by name (Psalm 147:4), the hairs on everyone’s head are numbered (Luke 12:7), He knows when a sparrow falls (Matthew 10:29) and declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). Our God is the one true God, and what He says in His Word is true (John 17:17).

2 Peter 1:19-21 shows how prophecy is not from men but from God: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;  knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Biblical prophecy is inspired by God, and so is the proper understanding of prophecy (Revelation 19:10; John 16:13).

The Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates, the Global Church of God in the UK and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada, as well as the Kirche des Ewigen Gottes in Germany, have produced many booklets on prophecy – Europe in Prophecy, The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, The Fall and Rise of Britain and America, The Book of Zechariah – Prophecies for Today, Germany in Prophecy, Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy, Biblical Prophecy – From Now Until Forever and the Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire, plus other booklets that contain prophetic details. In addition, many prophetic issues have also been addressed in sermons, monthly member letters and our weekly Q&As. Prophecy has been well covered by the Church of God and this will continue to be the case.

The importance of “watching” is emphasised in Luke 21:34-36: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” We have to be watchful in seeing how world events play out in a prophetic way and also watching our own spiritual condition.

Events are now taking place that are fulfilling prophecy, and Romans 13:11 should give us the necessary prod to take note of the times we are living in: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” We have to be patient for the return of Christ, as it states in James 5:7-8: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Of course, we know that scoffers and mockers will come at the end time (see 2 Peter 3:3), and this is not helped by a succession of failed date-setters for Christ’s return in spite of Jesus saying that “… of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (see also Mark 13:32). However, we can discern the signs of the times (see Matthew 16:3), and the fact that we are in the end-times can be seen by all that is going on around the world – Europe heading for military and political union, debt crises in most countries, earthquakes and devastating and destructive weather patterns causing terrible wildfires and flooding, the coronavirus pandemic, wars, famines, religious deception, the downfall of the USA and the UK, and much more.

We do need to keep abreast of what is happening, but we do have to keep this in perspective, realising that the depth and breadth of our knowledge about prophecy, all by itself, will be insufficient for us to make it into God’s Kingdom. Mere knowledge of anything, including the Law and the Word of God, without being accompanied by action, is never enough. At the return of Christ, we will not have to sit an examination about how much we knew and understood prophecy or God’s Law or anything contained in His Word. Understanding, in depth, the seals, trumpets, woes and plagues that will take place at the time of the end will not be enough. Nor will all of the other prophecies that are written about in quite a number of books in the Bible. What will really matter is how we have applied what we knew and how we lived our lives, how we have grown and overcome, how obedient we have been to God and His Law and His Commandments, and how we have treated and dealt with other people.

It is unfortunate that some do get rather confused on such issues. Prophecy can become all-consuming to some who are unbalanced in their Christian lives. The same is true for extensive and never-ending Bible study if it does not lead to applying to ourselves  what we have read, followed by action and change of what is wrong. In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked a question by a lawyer: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (verses 35-40).

Further instruction is given on where our focus for living should be. James 1:26:27 states: “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.  Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

The golden rule in Matthew 7:12 is something that should be very close to our heart: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” We should do unto others as we would want them to do unto us; it is simple but very effective.

In Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus is talking about the time when the Son of Man will judge the nations: “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” This is behaviour and approach that must be an integral and imbedded part of our way of life.

If this is not the way that we live our lives, then there is a stern warning in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness [or: who are transgressors of the law]!’”

One more reference should show where our priorities should be. In 1 Corinthians 13:8 we read: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”

There will come a time when prophecies will all be fulfilled and finished. We must keep in touch with what is happening in the world today and how such events are in line with biblical prophecy, leading to the return of Jesus Christ. It is helpful to know where we are in the timeline of prophetic events, as it is important to know what the Bible says on any given topic, but much more important is how we live our lives which is the basis on which we will be judged. Some, unfortunately, put far too much emphasis on trying to second guess God and predict Christ’s second coming with specific dates. Prophecy can become the be-all and end-all of some people’s interests. That is not balanced.

Rather, understanding biblical prophecy and viewing world events in light of biblical prophecy ought to help us to become better Christians and motivate us to lead more righteous lives, realizing that the time is near and that only so much time is left. The recent shameful developments in Afghanistan show us how quickly events can happen.

We need to be balanced individuals, ensuring that our behaviour and attitude to God and fellow man is dealt with as a matter of top priority. By doing so, we will be afforded the same reward that those in the parable of the talents were given in Matthew 25:20-23: “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

Prophecy is vital in helping us to warn the nations of what is to happen in the near future (see Ezekiel 33), and is also vital in helping us to prepare for the second coming of Christ. While waiting for that wonderful event to happen, we have to get on with the job of being a watchman and, at the same time, live a life pleasing in the sight of God which will ensure our eternal future. That is the balance that we need!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Let us review the biblical references to what Jesus said in respect to the mustard seed.

We read in Matthew 13:31-32: “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,  which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’” (Also compare Mark 4:31 and Luke 13:18-19.)

The only two other references to the mustard seed in the Bible are in Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6 when they are used in the context of faith.

We read on the website personpaper.com about which is the smallest seed in the world:

“There are 300,000 species of seed-bearing plants in the world that we know of. Among these, the smallest seed belongs to an orchid known as Aerides odorata. This flowering plant lives in areas across China, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines, preferring a rainforest-type habitat. The seed of the Aerides odorata is only 0.2 millimeters in length. That may be a little hard to picture, so here is more of a visual: It takes over three million Aerides odorata seeds to make up one gram–3,300,000, to be exact! The seed is truly miniscule–almost microscopic!”

From this information, we note that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, and so how do we understand what Jesus was saying? There are those who might reason that if Jesus was wrong about this, what else might He have been wrong about?

In the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Commentary, we read:

“‘Small as a grain of mustard seed’ was a proverbial expression among the Jews for something exceedingly minute. The mustard-seed is not the least of all seeds in the world, but of all which the husbandman was accustomed to sow, and the ‘tree,’ when full grown, was larger than the other herbs in his garden.”

On the Wikipedia website, we read about the mustard seed and its religious significance: “Jewish texts compare the knowable universe to the size of a mustard seed to demonstrate the world’s insignificance and to teach humility. The Jewish philosopher Nachmanides mentions the universe expanded from the time of its creation, in which it was the size of a mustard seed.”

Of course, it seems that the comments by Wikipedia are incorporating the false concept of the Evolution Theory. God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning in a beautiful state; the universe did not “evolve” and expand due to the “Big Bang” idea.

From the comments, quoted above, it would follow that Jesus used a proverbial expression among the Jews, rather than making a statement of biological fact.

The Benson Commentary agrees and observes: “[It] is like to a grain of mustard-seed — Small and contemptible in its beginning. Which is indeed the least of all seeds — That is, of all those seeds with which the people of Judea were then acquainted. Our Lord’s words are to be interpreted by popular use. And we learn from this gospel, Matthew 17:20, that like a grain of mustard-seed was become proverbial for expressing a small quantity.”

The Christian Post addressed this question in 2003 as follows:

“Please note that Jesus was not comparing the mustard seed to all other seeds in the world, but to seeds that a local, Palestinian farmer might have ‘sowed in his field,’ i.e., a key qualifying phrase in verse 31. And it’s absolutely true that the black mustard seed (Brassica nigra = Sinapis nigra) was the smallest seed ever sown by a first-century farmer in that part of the world.

“It’s also true, as many modern-day encyclopedias will tell you, that the black mustard seed in Israel will typically grow to heights of 3.7 meters, or twelve (12) feet) — plenty large enough to hold a bird nest.

“It’s important to remember that the Bible often uses everyday terminology in order to communicate simple truth. Even today, we might refer to a ‘sunset’ when, technically, scientifically, we know that the sun never actually ‘sets,’ i.e., it’s the earth that revolves.

“The context of Matthew 13 makes it quite clear that Jesus was addressing a local lay audience, not an international conference of botanists. It seems that no reasonable person would therefore insist for very long that this text provides a viable basis for questioning either Jesus or the Bible, when it comes to getting the facts straight — scientifically, historically, or technically.”

It is true that the Bible sometimes uses “hyperbole” to stress a spiritual point. As we saw in our three-part series about hyperbole in January 2021, E W Bullinger, a 19th Century English clergyman, biblical scholar, and theologian wrote a book entitled “Figures of Speech Used in the Bible.” He claimed that there were over 200 different types of figures of speech, and hyperbole was one of them.  Hyperbole is, put simply, an exaggeration to make the point and not to be taken literally.

Likewise, a proverbial expression amongst the Jews would be another figure of speech. Also, this could be considered colloquial. The website of literarydevices.net states: “Colloquial language is language that is informal and conversational. A colloquialism is a word or expression that is commonplace within a specific language, geographic region, or historical era. Colloquialisms are useful in many ways as literary devices.”

We should also note that, according to Scripture, it was God the Father who created all things through Jesus Christ (compare Ephesians 3:9), and Jesus, as Creator, would know His creation. We read in John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word [Logos in Greek, meaning Spokesman], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” We know that the Word became Jesus Christ as we read in verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In Colossians 1:16-17 we read: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” And Hebrews 1:2 states: “[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…” and it adds in verse 10, referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God: “‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”

It is important to re-emphasize the point that the One who was the Creator would have known all about the earth He created and all that was in it. What would His hearers have thought if He had said something along the following lines?:

“The kingdom of heaven is like an aerides odorata seed which is only 0.2 millimeters in length and it takes over three million aerides odorata seeds to make up one gram–3,300,000, to be exact! The seed is truly miniscule–almost microscopic, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

His audience wouldn’t have known what He was talking about. So, based on what has been stated so far in this Q&A, Christ would have chosen an example, using the current Jewish vernacular so that all who heard Him could understand that He was expressing a spiritual message. In any event, Christ wanted to show with His message how from small beginnings great things would be achieved, and by extension to the future, as we read in Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”

Rather than pointing the finger and criticising what at first reading could be seen as a basic scientific or biological mistake, we have to view the parable in context, and it is clear that a message was given to the local people at that time by the One who had created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, to make a spiritual point and to convey spiritual truth.

However, having said all of this, we need to refer to a Q&A about the mustard seed, in which we explained that Christ was “ALSO very accurate from a ‘biological’ and ‘scientific’ standpoint.” We said the following:

“As the translation of the New King James Bible [of Matthew 13:31-32] shows, He spoke of the ‘least’ of the seeds and the ‘greatest’ of the herbs–not necessarily of the ‘smallest’ and the ‘largest.’ When Christ said that the mustard seed was the ‘least’ of all seeds, the Greek word for ‘least’ is ‘mikros.’ When using the phrase that it would become the ‘greatest’ of all herbs, the Greek word for ‘greatest’ is ‘meizon.’

“Thayer defines ‘mikros’ as follows: ‘small, little: … of size… length… space… age… time… quantity [and] of rank or INFLUENCE.’ Strong’s defines the Greek word ‘mikros’ as ‘small (in size, quantity, number or (figuratively) dignity): – least, less, little, small.’

“Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states that the word ‘mikros’ literally means, ‘small’ or ‘little,’ (in regard to age, quantity, size or space), but that it is sometimes translated as ‘the least’ (for example, in Acts 8:10 and in Hebrews 8:11), with reference to rank and INFLUENCE. We see, then, that the word ‘mikros’ can be translated as ‘little’–it does not even HAVE to be translated as “the least.” In addition, the Greek word ‘mikros’ does not HAVE to address size at all, but it can refer to ‘influence’ or ‘dignity.’

“Likewise, the Greek word for ‘greatest’–‘meizon’–can be translated as ‘greater’–by comparison. It does not have to address size; it can also refer to IMPORTANCE or INFLUENCE. Young’s defines the word ‘meizon’ as ‘greater’ or ‘larger.’ The meaning is primarily one of COMPARATIVE IMPORTANCE, and not necessarily of size. In Matthew 18:1, the same Greek word ‘meizon’ is used to describe IMPORTANCE, STATUS or RANK (‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven…’); the same is true in Matthew 23:11 (‘But he who is greatest among you…’). Paul uses the word likewise to address IMPORTANCE, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, when he says: ‘the greatest of these [faith, hope and love] is love.’

“We might also note that there is by no means unanimity as to how to translate Matthew 13:31-32.

“Here are some alternative renderings: ‘… which indeed is LESSER among all the seeds; but when it is grown is GREATER than the herbs, and becometh a tree…’ (The New Testament from the Greek Text, edited by Ivan Panin, Toronto, 1935). ‘Though it is the smallest of all YOUR seed [Christ was addressing His audience in Judah], yet when it grows, it is the largest of GARDEN PLANTS and becomes a tree…’ (NIV; similar Rotherham and Zuercher)…

“All that Christ was doing was to compare the growth of the Kingdom of God–-and its increasing importance and influence for man—with the growth and increasing usefulness and importance of the mustard seed… Christ knew very well what He was saying, and even though He used a PARABLE to convey a SPIRITUAL LESSON, He did in no way state something which was biologically or scientifically incorrect.”

We also said this in the above-mentioned Q&A:

“The spiritual application of this parable is very clear. Christ compared the Kingdom of God with a very small seed, as it begins in a very small way. It is like a little bit of leaven, which will ultimately leaven the whole world (Matthew 13:33). Today, the gospel of the Kingdom of God is not accepted by very many, and very few—the firstfruits—respond to its message and become converted. Once they receive the Holy Spirit, they are begotten children of God and of His Kingdom—which is the Family of God that will rule on this earth, when Christ returns. Ultimately, the knowledge of God will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. The government of Christ will increase and will have no end (compare Isaiah 9:7). The Nelson Study Bible explains: ‘… the number of people who will inherit the kingdom of God will be very small at first. But though it begins like the smallest of seeds, the nucleus will enjoy growth completely out of proportion to its initial size.’”

The Church of God has to continue to fulfil its commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness, and then Christ will return to establish the Kingdom and Government of God on this earth. Then, the Kingdom of God will grow in that more and more members will be added to the God Family.

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

In the previous Q&A, we looked at the many changes that will occur at the return of Jesus Christ and finished up by showing that for Satan and his demons, their time of influencing and misleading mankind is almost up. Let us continue in this final Q&A of our series to see the incredible changes that will take place.

With the evil demonic world removed, it will be time for re-educating the world in true values. Will there be schools or colleges? In Mr Armstrong’s book, “The Wonderful World Tomorrow,” referenced previously, we read on page 53 the following:

“Actually, the Gospel and religious development is merely spiritual education. And it is significant that Elijah had organized and headed three schools or colleges (II Kings 2:3, 5; 4:38 — at Bethel, Jericho, and Gilgal) teaching God’s Truth in a world corrupted by false pagan education.”

When properly organised, with a Godly curriculum and teachers who understand the Law of God, schools or colleges for young adults could be wonderful places of true learning and it is possible that these could be the vehicles for true education during the Millennium. Of course, parents will be expected to fulfil the instructions in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, as applied to their children, which was originally given to the ancient nation of Israel but will be even more applicable during Christ’s millennial reign:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

This will be a parent’s responsibility and, unlike today, young and growing children will be open to correct teaching. They will certainly be brought up in the knowledge of the LORD.

There will be right knowledge and education about health. Mr Armstrong, in his book previously referenced, makes these encouraging statements on pages 82-83:

“In God’s new world tomorrow, there will, indeed, probably be a place for doctors. But it will be teaching people to keep well, by avoiding the causes of disease. That will require an entirely new type of ‘medical’ education — only we shall then drop the term ‘medical.’ A very good doctor friend once said to me: ‘We physicians have been kept so busy treating sicknesses and diseases, that we haven’t had much time to do extensive study and research into the causes of these troubles.’

“In the world tomorrow there actually will be Utopia. There will be universal good health. How can such Utopian dreams come true? It’s simple! Remove the cause of disease!

“But how do that? Two ways:

“First, by right education. Cause people to know that God did not design the human physical body so that it must be getting sick all the time, catching continual diseases. Sickness and disease occur only when nature’s laws are broken [either by the sick person him- or herself or by conditions caused by men leading to a person getting sick]. It is not natural to be diseased — it is UNnatural. Educate people in the laws of good health. In proper diet. God designed certain foods for good health. Some things that grow are not designed for food. Some are poison. Educate people in sanitation, hygiene, required amounts of sleep, pure water, fresh air, sunshine, exercise.

“And when people, in spite of this education, do get sick or catch a disease, it can be healed — God’s way! Actually, Christ’s healing [includes] forgiveness of sin.

“The combined force of right education about true health, and… healing of all sickness [our addition: and insofar as it was caused by false individual conduct and] when it is repented of, will mean perfect, Utopian health!

“Notice how God describes it!

“But there the glorious Eternal will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Eternal is our Judge, the Eternal is our LAWgiver, the Eternal is our King; He will save us.

“… And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity”! (Isaiah 33:21-24.)

“Listen to this wonderful promise: ‘Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing…’ (Isaiah 35:3-6).

“God describes the rewards for obedience to His laws of mercy and love. Notice Isaiah 58:8, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily….”

Those who have become members of the God Family will be very active in bringing about understanding the Way of God. We read this in Isaiah 30:20-21: “And though the LORD gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”

There will be education about so many things.

Ultimately, there will be no more war – see Isaiah 2:4: “He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.”

There will be no more tyranny from ungodly rulers – see Psalm 72:1-4 which has the heading in the New King James Bible, “Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign,” and which continues to state: “Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness.  He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.”

People will be educated in all aspects of the right Way to live. Set forth below are just some of these areas:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

“The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). People will organise their finances properly.

“…whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7) to ensure that outcomes are favourable by doing the right things.

The dietary laws are still and will continue to be in full force and effect (Leviticus 11). By avoiding the consumption of inappropriate “food” and by eating proper foods, health will be considerably improved.

Man will be taught not to cheat or short change others: Leviticus 19:36 says: “Have true scales, true weights and measures for all things,” and Proverbs 16:11 adds: “Honest weights and scales are the LORD’S; All the weights in the bag are His work.”

In becoming converted and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, people will experience the fruit of the Spirit which brings great rewards: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The golden rule in Luke 6:31 will be implemented: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Also see Matthew 7:12.)

Man will also learn to consider others as a matter of routine: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).

All of the above references have been readily available to mankind during the 6,000 years of man’s misrule on earth, but have rarely been used, and that will be rectified in God’s Kingdom. Using such Godly wisdom and instruction is true education and of the highest value.

Let us review a few verses that show how widespread true education will be:

Habakkuk 2:14 states: “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 11:9: reads: “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.”

It is interesting to note that the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain 97 percent of the Earth’s water. Less than 1 percent of the Earth’s water is fresh water, and 2/3 percent is contained in glaciers and ice caps. The vast waters of the ocean cover all of its depths, find their way into all the caverns, flow into all the recesses on the shore – and thus shall the knowledge of the true God spread like deep, flowing waters, until the earth shall be covered with it. This has not happened before and it is obviously a prophecy for the future – a time to look forward to with eager anticipation.

Jeremiah 31:34 reveals: “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Isaiah 29:18 adds: “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.”

Proverbs 29:2 says: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

There is so much on this subject in the Bible, but what has been included in this series will, we hope, give you a desire to study more about what God has in store for His people in the Kingdom of God.

All of the changes we have reviewed in education over the last 50 years or more will be celebrated by those who have a view that we must “move on” and eradicate all of the “norms” of previous years and that a new, freer society embracing such change is to be welcomed.

However, positive changes in education, and the Way of Life in general that will really last, will be introduced in the Kingdom of God when Jesus returns to this earth. There will be no more toleration of all the evil that has been a feature of man’s way of life, particularly of that in more recent times that is in obvious opposition to the Way of Life as set out in the Bible.

To recall, there will only be just two genders, male and female; proper families of husband and wife and any children they may have. There will be no more teaching of evolution; no more left-leaning godless members of the teaching profession. Liberal views on any aspect of teaching young people will be substituted by the correct way of bringing up the next generation with politeness and courtesy and with appropriate punishment if it is found necessary.

The teaching of the Ten Commandments will then be the order of the day. Right prayer to the true God will be required, and the world will be so much better when right values are reinstated as the norm.

In Matthew 7:24-27, we read about the importance of building on firm and sure foundations:

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

“Like building a house, the right foundations must be in place. And the foundation of education then will be spiritual with the Ten Commandments being the direction for mankind to move forward with, and prosper, and for eternity!

In this regard, and to properly understand what God’s Law entails, please read our free booklet, “The Ten Commandments.” 

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom).

In the first three Q&As of this series, we have seen how the decline in societal standards has plummeted over many decades, particularly in the area of education, and where we have arrived at the juncture where this madness cannot go on for much longer.

Let us now move on to education in the future which is awesome to look forward to, when the standards that God will expect in the Kingdom of God will be instigated at the return of Jesus Christ.

Let us again quote from Mr Armstrong’s book, “The Wonderful World Tomorrow,” where he shows on page 63 WHY modern education is wrong:

“Modern education has been based on a false, erroneous, untrue foundation. The supposedly educated of this world — even the great minds — have absorbed false knowledge. They have been trained in a false approach to knowledge. Almost always, error is based on a false assumed premise or hypothesis, taken for granted, never questioned — and, of course, unproved. The ‘educated’ minds have been filled with such false hypotheses. They have allowed a false sense of values to flood their minds.

“Truth appears to them to be fable. What is right may be to them foolishness. That which may be utterly wrong appears to be right. They come to view things through the false concept of evolution.

“This miseducation holds their minds captive.

“It has been explained how the natural carnal mind, devoid of revealed knowledge from God, is limited to knowledge of the physical and material. The approach to all knowledge in the Western world has been through the evolutionary hypothesis — never through God’s revealed knowledge.

“In God’s millennial civilization, the basis of all knowledge dissemination will be revelation. Light will replace darkness — truth will replace error. Understanding will replace crass materialism. True knowledge will replace intellectual ignorance.

“The educating and re-educating of this world will be one of the most important tasks the Kingdom of God will face. Young people today follow too often false and deceptive values. Their entire thinking will require reorientation — a change of direction.”

“The educating and re-educating of this world” is a great place to start to review the massive difference between education today and God’s way of doing things.

We have briefly looked at education today at school, college and university levels, but when Christ returns, the whole world will need to be re-educated, and not just those young people in their scholastic and formative years. The world will have gone through the most horrendous time in all of human history, as we read in Daniel 12:1: “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.”

The world will literally be “shell-shocked,” as defined by the Free Dictionary as “stunned, distressed, or exhausted from a prolonged trauma or an unexpected difficulty,” and that is putting it mildly. Worldwide education of the young and old will be necessary to show them the right way to live after 6,000 years of human misrule, mismanagement and ungodly education.

First of all, we will have a new language, as we read in Zephaniah 3:9: “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.”

The background to this whole scenario can be found in Genesis 11. In the first verse we read, “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.^” Because of man’s attitude and behavior, God confused their language, as is stated in verse 9: “Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Man has been living ever since with the consequences of these actions.

According to Ethnologue, which is widely considered to be the most extensive catalogue of the languages of the world, there are currently 7,117 known languages spoken by people around the world. Of these languages, 90% are spoken by less than 100,000 people. There are around 46 languages that only have a single speaker! In Asia, there are 2,294 spoken languages, in Africa 2,144, in Americas 1,061, in the Pacific 1,313, and in Europe 287 languages.

It is amazing that there are so many languages in the world today; and what about all of the various accents within each language? Language is a means of communication – the thought in your mind is then translated into speech and uttered via the vocal cords, and the hearer hears the words that are uttered and the mind digests and, hopefully, understands what is being communicated. Unfortunately, all too often, because of double meanings, intonation and different levels of understanding, what is said may be misconstrued, and problems ensue. And that is just at the basic level of one language, but when translations are involved, the problems can multiply.

The problems that all of these languages currently can cause are immense but God is going to give all the nations a pure language so that they may all call upon His name and serve Him with unity of purpose. He will reverse the process by eliminating confusion and by restoring harmony and unity. Of the thousands of languages in the world today, not one of them is a pure language. All that will change with the return of Jesus Christ when He sets up the Kingdom of God on earth, and because it will be a pure language, there will be no double meanings which can often be confusing and even vulgar, and there will be no pagan names for most days of the week as we have them today in English and other languages. Through the vehicle of a pure, universal language, God will unite all nations under His perfect rule. And everyone can have understanding through this pure, universal language. There will be no loss of understanding through translation problems that we experience today. It will be a time of joy, happiness and abundance, with complete comprehension that only a one-world-language can give. And with one pure language, illiteracy will be eliminated.

This new language will be necessary for proper education, so that full understanding will be available to all in the same language in the future coming Kingdom of God.

(For further important information of the pure language to come, please read our Q&A, titled, “Is there a contradiction between Zephaniah 3:9 and Zechariah 8:23?”).

True education requires true educators, which in turn requires the establishment of God’s government. Sir Winston Churchill wryly observed that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” There is probably a good deal of truth in that statement because even democracy has monumental failings. The only government that can work correctly at all times is the government of God which will be instituted at the beginning of the 1,000-year reign of Christ. We find how this will happen in the book of Daniel, chapter 7:

Verse 14 states: “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

This is about the responsibility given to Jesus Christ at His return.  And then we see, in verse 27, that the saints of God, those who will have been resurrected at His return, will be part of that spiritual government: “Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Christ will rule over and with the saints who will assist Him in ruling on earth. We read in Luke 19:17-19, in the parable of the minas, how this will be achieved: “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’  And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’  Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’”

In Luke 22:29-30, we read: “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The disciples were told directly by Jesus that they would have judging responsibilities in the Kingdom of God.

Another encouraging verse is Revelation 5:10: “And [You] have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” In Revelation 2:26, we see the reward for those called by God who remain faithful and loyal to Him to the very end: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…”

These verses show that government will be hierarchical—from the top down—and that authority will be given to those who remain faithful to God until Christ’s return. Unlike human government, it will be perfect and well organised. There will not be any elections or spending of huge amounts on electoral campaigning.

Revelation 1:6 shows us what positions the saints will occupy: “… [Christ] has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 6:2 states: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”

We have seen that the saints will be kings, priests and judges. God’s Law, not the law of man, will be paramount, and He has laid out the principles for living, as clearly shown in His Word. The God Family will enforce the laws, and the office of priest includes, and will continue to include, a teaching responsibility. Education for everyone will be spiritually based, and there will not be allowed any man-made rules and regulations that conflict with God’s perfect Way.

So far, we have taken some time to outline the basis of living in the Kingdom of God where there will be one universal language understood by all, and just one righteous government.

Right education is vital and re-educating the world will be no easy task. The world today has absorbed so many wrong values, many even sincerely, but that will have to be addressed as a matter of urgency. We see this false approach reflected today in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” However, there will be one huge advantage at that future time compared to today. We read in Revelation 20:1-3 about the removal of the influence of Satan and his demons during the Millennium:

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

“Satan’s Broadcasting System” (“SBS”) will be closed down for about 1,000 years during the Millennium.  We state in our booklet: “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”, on page 54:

“In Romans 10, the ‘abyss’ is used as an analogy in association with the dead who are buried. It is also used as an analogy in Luke 8 and in Revelation 20.  When Satan and his demons will be placed in the ‘abyss’ at the beginning of the Millennium, they will be as good as dead—unable to influence and deceive the nations any longer during that time period (compare Revelation 20:3). The fact that they won’t be able to destroy others will give them spiritual torment—that is why they asked Christ whether He had come to torment them before ‘the time.’

“Satan’s spiritual torment, and that of his angels, will continue. After a time period called the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan and his demons will be cast into the lake of fire, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41). Their torment will be spiritual, as they will see all of their evil works destroyed by fire (compare 2 Peter 3:10–13), and their influence on others will be gone forever. Their final fate might be revealed in Jude 13, referring to ‘wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.’ Compare, too, 2 Peter 2:17).

“God knows what is in store for them, and so do they.”

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

In the previous two Q&As of this series, we reviewed some of the many changes that have occurred during the lifetime of many of us in the education of our children.  The fruits are there to be seen today in the way that many of the younger generation behave.

As a final look at contemporary education, let us review some recent news items. The following was printed in “Israel 365 News” on 29^th March 2021, with the headline, “A plan to root out Christianity in California.”

The article stated: “The Department of Education in California… has approved a 900-page ‘Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum’ designed to ‘decolonize’ America. The program aims to right the supposed wrongs of the imperial Christianity that swept the Americas clean of their indigenous religions. The curriculum’s core promise is that it will help root out Christianity, and the capitalism and racism that apparently came with it.

“To empower children as forces for ending such white colonialist hangovers, pupils are being instructed to pray in chants each day to Aztec gods that formerly sacrificed (and sometimes ate parts of) children and their parents. The curriculum instructs the pupils to invoke these gods to empower themselves as ‘social warriors’…

“Huitzilopochtli, the former Aztec god of war and sun, is expected to be particularly helpful in the new curriculum’s mission to right these wrongs. Students are encouraged to entreat Huitzilopochtli (a deity who inspired hundreds of thousands of human sacrifices during Aztec rule) to endow themselves with ‘a revolutionary spirit’ in order to bring ‘transformation’ in combatting ‘white supremacy, racism and other forms of power and oppression.’

“It is not enough, apparently, in today’s ethnic studies to learn about other religions. Children must be made to practice those religions… the new curriculum ‘recommends that teachers lead their students in a series of indigenous songs, chants, and affirmations, including the “In Lak Ech Affirmation,” which appeals directly to the Aztec gods.”

 In October 2020, The Mathematical Association of America released a statement… claiming that mathematicians should engage in “uncomfortable conversations” about race.

The statement went on to disparage the “biases” that mathematics supposedly “inherently carries,” pointing out:

“‘It is time for all members of our profession to acknowledge that mathematics is created by humans and therefore inherently carries human biases. Until this occurs, our community and our students cannot reach full potential,’ wrote the group. ‘Reaching this potential in mathematics relies upon the academy and higher education engaging in critical, challenging, sometimes uncomfortable conversations about the detrimental effects of race and racism on our community. The time is now to move mathematics and education forward in pursuit of justice.’”

On the website of farleftfacts, we read:

“Math education prof: 2+2 = 4 ‘trope’ ‘reeks of white supremacy patriarchy.’

“Math professors and educators at leading American universities have taken to Twitter and to debate whether math is racist.

“Some asserted that objective mathematics is rooted in ‘white supremacist patriarchy’ and white social constructs. ‘People say it’s subjectivism to ask if math is Western. I don’t get that.’

“The debate itself was rooted in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, in which citizens of a fictional totalitarian state believe that 2 plus 2 equals 5 as a result of government propaganda.

“Laurie Rubel, who teaches math education at Brooklyn College, says that the idea of math being cultural neutral is a ‘myth,’ and that asking whether 2 plus 2 equals 4 ‘reeks of white supremacist patriarchy.’ ‘Y’all must know that the idea that math is objective or neutral IS A MYTH,’ she tweeted.”

And then, the piano was considered to be racist! We can read on the website of greatamericanpolitics:

“The music department at the prestigious and ancient university has seen calls to remove music notation from the curriculum as professors seek to focus less on white European heritage and culture, according to documents seen by The Telegraph.

“The woke educators went on to claim that musical notation itself is a ‘colonialist representational system’ that has ‘complicity to white supremacy’.

“The claim is similar to leftist pronouncements in America that mathematics is inherently racist.

“The Oxford academics went on to pronounce that teaching the piano or conducting orchestras could cause ‘students of colour great distress’ as the skills involved are closely tied to ‘white European music.’

These are the sort of educators that mould young minds, and it is an inescapable fact that to influence young people to imbibe such leftist nonsense doesn’t bode well for the future.

And, finally, The Daily Mail published this report on 8^th May 2021:

“A school secretly reported its chaplain to the anti-terrorism Prevent programme after he delivered a sermon defending the right of pupils to question its introduction of new LGBT policies.

“The Reverend Dr Bernard Randall told pupils at independent Trent College near Nottingham that they were allowed to disagree with the measures, particularly if they felt they ran contrary to Church of England principles.

“Among them was a plan to ‘develop a whole school LGBT+ inclusive curriculum’.

“Having decided that Dr Randall’s sermon was ‘harmful to LGBT’ students, the school flagged him to Prevent, which normally identifies those at risk of radicalisation.

“Police investigated the tip-off but advised the school by email that Dr Randall, 48, posed ‘no counter terrorism risk, or risk of radicalisation’. Derbyshire Police confirmed that the case ‘did not meet the threshold for a Prevent referral’.

“But in a disturbing development, Dr Randall, a former Cambridge University chaplain and Oxford graduate, claims that the school later told him that any future sermons would be censored in advance.

“He also claims that he was warned his chapel services would be monitored ‘to ensure that… requirements are met’.   Dr Randall was later dismissed.  He is suing for discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair dismissal and his case is due to be heard next month. ‘My career and life are in tatters,’ he said.”

In our weekly Update #965, dated 19^th March 2021, there was an editorial entitled “Free Speech or No Free Speech, That Is the Question!,” in which we said:

“More recent struggles for freedom and equality in Western societies were just as intimately bound up with freedom of speech. The demand for free speech, the right for their voices to be heard, has proved central to the struggles for women’s emancipation, gay liberation and racial equality in the UK and US. There is a grim irony in the fashion… for feminist, trans or anti-racist activists today to demand restrictions on free speech as a means of protecting the rights of the identity groups they claim to represent. Without the efforts of those who fought for more free speech in the past, these illiberal activists would not be free to stand up and call for less of it in the present.

“Put another way, those who have used the right to free speech in the first place are happy to have done so in pursuit of their agenda, and when that has been achieved, they then try and close down any comment, discussion or debate on that very same subject. Freedom of speech or no free speech, we all know which! It can also be called the cancel culture.”

What we have seen in this Q&A is the stupidity that those educationalists who indulge themselves with such absurd theories that defy simple logic, can be very quick to try and suppress or quash any opposition to their outbursts. However, there is good news just over the horizon which we will address in the final two parts of this series.

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale

In the previous Q&A of this series, we noted that the teaching of evolution has long been a false basis for indoctrinating the young, and with a preponderance of teachers with left-leaning views, we have a completely different picture to that experienced by students in decades past. We also started to look at the influences now at work in education.

One conservative student wrote that “To survive college you keep [your mouth] shut when it comes to left versus right. That is the way it goes in USA colleges.”

There is no doubt that if anyone wants to influence the young of today, start the process as early as possible at school, and continue this through college and university.

Going back some years, we can see how perversion infiltrated the teaching profession and society.In 1970, in the UK, Margaret Thatcher was appointed education secretary and was elected as Prime Minister in 1979. In 1988, under her leadership, there was a classic case that can be seen from its inception to where we are today in terms of bringing and promoting perversion into schools. This would never have been countenanced in previous decades. Wikipedia reports as follows:

“Section 28 or Clause 28 was a British law that prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities. Introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, it was in effect from 1988 to 2000 (in Scotland) and 2003 (in England and Wales). It caused many organizations such as lesbian, gay and bisexual student support groups to close or limit their activities or self-censor.

“The law is named after Section 28 of the Local Government Acts 1988, which added Section 2A to the Local Government Acts 1986. Enacted on 24 May 1988, the amendment stated that a local authority ‘shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality’ or ‘promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship’. It was repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament, and on 18 November 2003 in England and Wales by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.

“In December 2005, homosexuals were allowed to marry when new same sex civil unions became law and this was the inevitable outcome of years of pressure.

“In 2009, David Cameron, then leader of the Conservative Party, apologised for his party supporting the law.  In 2013, after he became Prime Minister, his government passed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, legalising gay marriage in England and Wales. In 2013, the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher prompted critical comment from many LGBT organisations and individuals such as Peter Tatchell about her legacy on gay rights, including Section 28.”

We can see from just this one issue how a 180 degree-change can be achieved over a sustained period of time.

The BBC reported in April 2019 that the UK Education Secretary had said that it was up to primary schools in England to choose what they teach about same-sex relationships. They reported that the UK Education Secretary had written to head teachers saying they are encouraged to teach children about LGBT issues if they ‘consider it age appropriate’. He said head teachers should consult parents but reassured them parents had no right to veto what was taught. Some parents said they believed the lessons “undermined parental rights and authority.”

It is interesting that the “Stonewall” organisation boasts on its website that “Over the past 30 years we’ve made a big difference to the lives of LGBT people here and around the world. In the UK, the LGBT movement has won employment rights. Parenting rights. Partnership rights. An equal age of consent.”

They, and many others, have been very clever at manipulating public opinion over the last half century, and through the continuous promotion of the need to accept homosexuality as normal, their constant, energetic, resolute, tireless and indefatigable work has paid handsome dividends for their cause. Of course, they have lobbied and persuaded media, politicians and others in influential positions at the highest level of the “rightness of their cause,” as they would see it, and this has resulted in a gradual acceptance of this as “mainstream,” as we clearly observe in society today. Having created the current climate, we have now arrived at the sorry state where saying that homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God may be a punishable offence in certain countries, as it may be considered hate speech.

The “Stonewall” organization then asks the question: “What is LGBT-inclusive education and why does it matter?” They answer it as follows: “For every young person to be prepared for life in modern Britain, it’s vital that their curriculum reflects the full diversity of the world they live in. This includes teaching about LGBT people and themes.”

Those who have used the right to free speech in the first place are happy to have done so in pursuit of their agenda, and when that has been achieved, they then try and close down any comment, discussion or debate on that very same subject. What is worse, as we will see, they who claim to have been persecuted are now becoming the persecutors. What a sorry state of affairs we now have in the UK and elsewhere.

This now leads us to review the role of government in schooling. In April 2019, the government in the UK announced new regulations for teaching relationships and sex education in England. [In other countries in our Western societies, it is not much better; in certain cases, such as in Germany, it is even much worse.] For secondary schools the guidance states that (amongst other matters):

“RSE (Relationship and Sexual Education) must be taught in all schools in England: Sexual orientation and gender identity must be explored at a timely point; Same-sex relationships should be included within lessons discussing healthy and stable relationships.”

For primary schools (ages 5-11), the guidance says that: “All schools should teach about different families (which can include LGBT parents), along with families headed by grandparents, single parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents/carers, among other family structures.”

For more information about what a family really is, please see our Q&A on this subject.

On the website of brighthorizons,  it is stated:

“Literature is a wonderful way to expose children to the world. By sharing books such as the ones listed below, you are communicating that diverse families and people are all acceptable. There may be different values and structures, but in the end… it’s about family.”  The sort of literature that they present are:

“The Great Big Book of Families,” by Mary Hoffman. This book features a diverse variety of so-called family structures, what family members do, and where they live.

“The White Swan Express,” by Jean Davies Okimoto and Elaine Aoki. This story is about a quartet of parents adopting a quartet of Chinese orphans. It just so happens that the four families consist of a single mom, a heterosexual couple, a lesbian family, and an interracial family.

“The Family Book,” by Todd Parr. In this book, the author celebrates all types of “families” in a funny, reassuring manner. He includes diverse “family” structures like adoptive families, step-families, single-parent families, two-mom and two-dad families, and families with both a mom and a dad.

They go on to say:

“Find out how to teach acceptance to pre-schoolers. Read why it’s important for one of our bloggers to teach her children about all kinds of families…”

It is interesting that they talk about “teaching acceptance,” which means a form of brainwashing, and that is what modern education is doing to our young people. It is important to understand the state of play with the educational system in 2021.

We must realize the situation we find ourselves in today. Modern “educators” give us this solution – indoctrinate the very young to their perversion as early as possible.  It has all the hallmarks of Satan’s handiwork indelibly stamped on it. And, it has created so much confusion with over 70 so-called different gender definitions (and growing) that many young people have had normality snatched from them with all the problems that we now see. The fruits of all this activity are evil.

At the same time, they are eagerly determined to censor and prohibit books or movies which do not agree with their desired agenda. Well-loved classic children books have been erased from the school curriculum or warning labels have been attached to them, and many Disney movies for children have been included in the rubric of undesired categories, as they allegedly teach racial discrimination or make fun of gender neutrality.

And then we have the ridiculous, superfluous or even outright dangerous courses offered in the UK and USA universities. On the website of goconqr, we read about some of the weirdest university courses that are available:

“The Simpsons and Philosophy” – This peculiar course offered at the University of California in Berkeley;

“David Beckham” – The Staffordshire University in England offers this unique course and will, study, amongst other things, his different haircuts;

“The Sociology of Fame and Lady Gaga” is available at the University of South Carolina;

“Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion” is offered by the University of Durham in the UK;

“Feel the Force: How to Train in the Jedi Way” is taught by the Queen’s University in Belfast;

“Maple Syrup” – The Alfred University in New York teaches a course focused exclusively on the process of producing maple syrup;

“Zombie Studies” – This University of Baltimore course analyses zombie movies and shows.

And there are many more, including courses on Transcendental Meditation and other Far Eastern “methods” to achieve personal “enlightenment.”

If anyone had predicted this state of affairs 50 years ago, it would have been seen as an impossibility, but the impossible is now a reality and is now the mainstream of today.

Let us consider further erosion of sound principles in the area of education.

In the UK, prayers and assembly at schools were a staple of daily school life, but that has now been badly eroded. We hasten to state that we do not propagate public prayers in school either, but for very different reasons. While modern “educators” want to eradicate God and the Bible from their schools, or are concerned about not offending non-Christians, we in God’s Church realize that school prayers are addressed to the wrong Entity—either the false concept of the Trinity or the “Virgin Mary” or certain dead saints in heaven.  We would not want our children to participate in such prayers or worship services. But that is not the reason why “Christian” societies prohibit prayers in school.

In February 1998, the BBC reported: “Daily worship for schoolchildren could soon be a thing of the past if the government acts on a report.  A review panel set up a year ago suggests scrapping the daily ritual of hymns and prayers because they alienate some children from non-Christian faiths.”

In December 2005 the BBC reported that: “Prayers and assembly at schools which were a staple of daily school life but that is now a thing of the past.”

The Independent newspaper reported in December 2015: “Schools should no longer be forced by law to hold daily acts of Christian worship, as part of major reforms reportedly outlined by an influential commission.  A report by the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, which includes the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, said the arguments for mandatory Christian prayers in secular schools was ‘no longer convincing.’”

We can see how, over just a few years, things have changed drastically.

Wikipedia writes that in the UK: “Despite this statutory requirement for schools to hold a daily act of collective worship, most do not. Ofsted’s 2002-03 annual report, for example, stated that 80% of secondary schools were not providing daily worship for all pupils.”

Again, we hasten to add that laws of mandatory collective school worship are wrong and even destructive, for the reasons stated above, but these are not the reasons as to why these laws are now either not followed or repealed.

While this is still allowed legally in the UK, it is nothing like it was in former times. Wikipedia states that “Countries that prohibit school-sponsored prayer include the USA, Canada, France, Turkey and Singapore.”

Corporal punishment in British state schools, and also in private schools receiving any element of public funding, was banned by parliament in 1987. In the remaining private schools it was banned in 1999 in England and Wales, 2000 in Scotland, and 2003 in Northern Ireland. Most had anticipated the legislation and abandoned CP voluntarily several years earlier. A few Christian private schools held out, and fought the ban through the courts, ultimately without success.

One teacher remarked that “when the change came, they took something away without anything to replace it with that was a real threat. You would threaten detentions, but some of the most disruptive just didn’t turn up to them.  And if you excluded them from school, they took it as an extra holiday.” In fact, we have seen particularly in the USA, that many schools have become a battleground with many shootings in the last few years. That sort of frightening environment is not the sort of place where students will be happy and do their best work.

We don’t deny that in certain cases, corporal punishment, including in schools, has been horribly abused, and it is still abused in a most gruesome way in certain countries right now. But to eliminate it totally is not the right course of action either, nor is it biblical.

Our booklet “The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families!” covers discipline in the home on pages 23-26.   We read on page 24:

“There is never a justification for physical abuse. On the other hand, to totally ban spanking and define it as physical abuse only shows how liberal and anti-biblical our Western society has become. This is of course the fruit of the anti-authoritarian education that has brought about a curse on our Western world. Note what the Bible clearly teaches in regard to corporal punishment in Proverbs 13:24, ‘He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who LOVES him disciplines him promptly [or early].’ Since using the rod is compared with prompt or early discipline, it is clear that this passage includes the concept of spanking, where and when appropriate. Of course, we don’t spank a teenager or an adult, so the spanking needs to be done early in the life of the child. But note, again, we discipline our children, because we LOVE them.”

“Proverbs 23:13–14 reads, ‘Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.’ The Ryrie Study Bible comments, ‘A wise teacher warns of neglecting child discipline… Discipline may deliver a child from an untimely death.’”

Because of all the changes in schooling today, is it any wonder that home-schooling is now the choice of many more parents than in the past? Of course, in certain countries, such as Germany, home-schooling is totally forbidden.

Further, when Church of God parents want to take their children to the godly annual Feast of Tabernacles, they have to request time off and, in certain countries such as Germany, which have government-imposed mandatory school attendance requirements, this request may be refused with fines or other punishment doled out to those who defy the system and keep God’s Holy days anyway, while refusing to lie by pretending that their children got sick. In contrast, the world’s pagan holidays, Christmas, Easter and others are state holidays!

In summary, so far, we have seen the following in modern education:

It is underlined by the false teaching of evolution. In addition, there is ample proof that the overwhelming number of those teachers, lecturers and professors who have the responsibility to educate young minds are liberal and left wing purveyors of information.

There is the sexual revolution where anything goes, and wrong examples are now the norm for very young minds from a very young age with the unacceptable use of books highlighting different “lifestyles.” Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 in the UK which restricted the promotion of homosexuality in UK schools was overturned, and we now have the indoctrination of the very young in schools. Literature showing different “lifestyles” and “family make-up” in schools are now commonplace.

There is the “dumbing down” of some university/college courses.

Prayer in schools is not allowed in some countries; in others, while it may be allowed, there seems to be little take-up of that activity.

Corporal punishment of any kind is now not allowed, with the inevitable increase in disruptive students.

There seems to be more home-schooling taking place in some countries to remove children from a climate of wrong teaching and, in many cases, because of bullying that can happen when children don’t conform to the world’s and their teachers’ and co-students’ norms.

What are the fruits of all of this “so-called” progress? The stress on children, their parents and teachers themselves, can lead to physical, mental and psychological problems that may last way beyond the time spent in the educational system. It is not a happy scenario but has been the result of many bad decisions made over a sustained period of time and there is no end in sight in its current form.

For those who are interested, there is a timeline of all the events that have transformed the educational landscape in the UK from 1910-2015.   See https://www.tes.com/news/timeline-history-education .

(To be Continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)