Category: Bible Truths

As Christianity began to take root in the Roman empire, the difference between Judaism and Christianity was clearly seen.  While Rome recognized the Jewish religion, the Christian religion was not granted permission to exist.  Therefore, a direct conflict began between Christianity and the most brutal and oppressive of all power, Rome.  Of Rome the Bible states, “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet”. (Daniel 7:19 [KJV])

A fundamental maxim of Roman legislation was, — “No man shall have for himself particular gods of his own; no man shall worship by himself any new or foreign gods, unless they are recognized by the public laws.” — Cicero.  [Page 348] Quoted in Neander’s “History of the Christian Religion and Church,” sec. i, div.iii, par. 2.  

It is very evident that in such a system there was no place for individuality. The State was everything, and the majority was in fact, the State. What the majority said should be, that was the voice of the State, that was the voice of “God”, that was the expression of the highest good, that was the expression of the highest conception of right; and everybody must assent to that or be considered a traitor to the State. The individual was but a part of the State. There was therefore no such thing as the rights of the people; the right of the State only was to be considered, and that was to be considered absolute. “The first principle of their law was the paramount right of the State over the citizen. Whether as head of a family, or as proprietor, he had no natural rights of his own; his privileges were created by the law as well as defined by it. The State in the plenitude of her power delegated a portion of her own irresponsibility to the citizen, who satisfied the conditions she required in order to become the parent of her children; but at the same time she demanded of him the sacrifice of his free agency to her own rude ideas of political expediency.” –– Merivale. [Page 349] “Romans under the Empire,” chap. xxii, par.21.

It is also evident that in such a system there was no such thing as the rights of conscience; because as the State was supreme also in the realm of religion, all things religious were to be subordinated to the will of the State, which was but the will of the majority. And where the majority presumes to decide in matters of religion, there is no such thing as rights of religion or conscience. Against this whole system Christianity was diametrically opposed. — {1898 ATJ, Great Empires of Prophecy (GEP) 349.2}

Christ had set himself before His disciples as the one possessing all power in heaven and in earth. He had told them to go into all the world and teach to every creature all things whatsoever He had commanded them. Christ had said that the first of all the commandments, that which inculcates the highest and first of all duties is, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:…” (Mark 12:30 [KJV]) This put Jesus Christ above the State, and put allegiance to Him above allegiance to the State; this denied the supremacy of Rome, and likewise denied either, that the Roman gods were gods at all, or that the genius of Rome itself was in any sense a god. {1898 ATJ, GEP 350.1}

Christ when asked by the Pharisees and the Herodians whether it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not, answered: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21 [KJV]) In this, Christ established a clear distinction between Caesar and God, and between religion and the State. He separated that which pertains to God from that which pertains to the State. Only that which was Caesar’s was to be rendered to Caesar, while that which is God’s was to be rendered solely to God.

Therefore when Christ made this distinction between God and Caesar, separated that which pertains to God from that which pertains to Caesar, and commanded men to render to God that which is God’s, and to Caesar only that which is Caesar’s, He at once stripped Caesar — the State — of every attribute of divinity. And in doing this, He declared the supremacy of the individual conscience; because it rests with the individual to decide what things they are which pertain to God. {1898 ATJ, GEP 350.4}

 Thus Christianity proclaimed the right of the individual to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience; Rome asserted the duty of every man to worship according to the dictates of the State. Christianity asserted the supremacy of God; Rome asserted the supremacy of the State. Christianity set forth God as manifested in Jesus Christ as the chief good; Rome held the State to be the highest good. Christianity set forth the law of God as the expression of the highest conception of right; Rome held the law of the State to be the expression of the highest idea of right. Christianity taught that the fear of God and the keeping of His commandments is the whole duty of man; Rome taught that to be the obedient servant of the State is the whole duty of man. Christianity preached Christ as the sole possessor of power in heaven and in earth; Rome declared the State to be the highest power. Christianity separated that which is God’s from that which is Caesar’s; Rome maintained that that which is God’s is Caesar’s.  {1898 ATJ, GEP 351.1}

With the distinction clearly made, to profess Christianity made you an enemy of the state, but such was the calling.  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death”. (Rev 12:11 [KJV])

Rome had a pantheon of gods, and every act of life was associated with the gods.  Every Christian, merely by the profession of Christianity, severed himself from all the gods of Rome and everything that was done in their honor. He could not attend a wedding or a funeral of his nearest relatives, because every ceremony was performed with reference to the gods. He could not attend the public festival, for the same reason. Nor could be escape by absenting himself on such occasions; because on days of public festivity, the doors of the houses, and the lamps about them, and the heads of the dwellers therein, must all be adorned with laurel and garlands of flowers in honor of the licentious gods and goddesses of Rome. If the Christian took part in these services, he paid honor to the gods as did the other heathen. If he refused to do so, which he must do if he would obey God and honor Christ, he made himself conspicuous before the eyes of the people, all of whom were intensely jealous of the respect they thought due to the gods. Also, in so refusing, the Christians disobeyed the Roman law, which commanded these things to be done. {1898 ATJ, GEP 358.1}

 All this subjected the Christians to universal hatred, and as the laws positively forbade everything that the Christians taught, both with reference to the gods and to the State, the forms of law furnished a ready channel through which this hatred found vent. This was the open way for the fury of the populace to spend itself upon the “deniers of the gods, and enemies of the Caesars and of the Roman people.” And this was the source of the persecution of Christianity by pagan Rome. 
{1898 ATJ, GEP 358.2}  

One of the ruling principles of law in the Roman State was this: — {1898 ATJ, GEP 359.4}

“Whoever introduces new religions, the tendency and character of which are unknown, whereby the minds of men may be disturbed, shall, if belonging to the higher rank, be banished; if to the lower, punished with death.” {1898 ATJ, GEP 359.5}

Nothing could be more directly condemned by this law than was Christianity. {1898 ATJ, GEP 359.6}

In spite of all this, Christianity flourished till it was said;  “ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Col 1:23 [KJV])

True Christianity was not only willing to suffer reproach but die for the sake of the gospel. Are you a true Christian?

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ”. (Phil 3:7-8 [KJV])

Of Jesus it is said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) He was sent to reveal the Father’s character amongst the most despotic of all nations, as a sheep among wolves.

Christ came to make men free, ”The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18 [KJV])

The Roman Empire then filled the world,  “the sublimest incarnation of power, and a monument the mightiest of greatness built by human hands, which has upon this planet been suffered to appear.” That empire, proud of its conquests, and exceedingly jealous of its claims, asserted its right to rule in all things, human and divine. In the Roman view, the State took precedence of everything. It was entirely out of respect to the State and wholly to preserve the State, that either the emperors or the laws ever forbade the exercise of the Christian religion. According to Roman principles, the State was the highest idea of good. “The idea of the State was the highest idea of ethics, and within that was included all actual realization of the highest good; hence the development of all other goods pertaining to humanity, was made dependent on this.” — Neander. 5  {1898 ATJ, Great Empires of Prophecy (GEP) 346.4}

 Man with all that he had, was subordinate to the State; he must have no higher aim than to be a servant of the State; he must seek no higher good than that which the State could bestow. Thus every Roman citizen was a subject, and every Roman subject was a slave. “The more distinguished a Roman became, the less was he a free man. The omnipotence of the law, the despotism of the rule, drove him into a narrow circle of thought and action, and his credit and influence depended on the sad austerity of his life. The whole duty of man, with the humblest and greatest of the Romans, was to keep his house in order, and be the obedient servant of the State.” — Mommsen. 6   {1898 ATJ, GEP 347.1}

Jesus Christ came into the world to set men free, and to plant in their souls the genuine principle of liberty, — liberty actuated by love, liberty too honorable to allow itself to be used as an occasion to the flesh or for a cloak of maliciousness. Liberty led by a conscience enlightened by the Spirit of God, liberty in which man may be free from all men, yet made so gentle by love that he would willingly become the servant of all, in order to bring them to the enjoyment of this same liberty. This is freedom indeed. This is the freedom which Christ gave to man; for “whom the Son makes free is free indeed.” {1898 ATJ, GEP 346.1}

Rome in conquering the nations, did not interfere with their religious services.  To the Romans, all religion was simple superstition. See Acts 25:19.

The conquered is allowed to worship, as long as they acknowledge that Caesar is God above all others, in another word, Caesar was the supreme “God”. 

The controversy that arose between the Christians and the Romans was not a dispute between individuals, or a contention between sects or parties. It was a contest between antagonistic principles.  Christianity demanded absolute freedom of conscience, the right of the individual to worship God as he or she saw fit.  On the part of Rome, it was the assertion that Caesar was the highest and every other god is subservient to Caesar. Caesar was the State and the State rules in all things, divine as well as human, religious as well as civil.

It became clear that for any man to profess the principles and the name of Christ was virtually to set himself against the Roman Empire.  For him to recognize God as revealed in Jesus Christ as the highest good, was but treason against the Roman State. It was not looked upon by Rome as anything else than high treason; because, as the Roman State represented to the Roman the highest idea of good, for any man to assert that there was a higher good, was to make Rome itself subordinate. And this would be a direct blow at the dignity of Rome, and subversive of the Roman State. Consequently the Christians were not only called “atheists,” because they denied the gods, but the accusation against them before the tribunals was of the crime of “high treason,” because they denied the right of the State to interfere with men’s relations to God. The common accusation against them was that they were “irreverent to the Caesars, and enemies of the State and Caesar.

In trying to trap Jesus the Pharisees asked; “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  “ Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matt 22:21 [KJV])

With this declaration, Jesus made it clear that Caesar’s role was civil only, and everything dealing with conscience is to God.  He made it clear that Caesar was not God.  To the Christians were given the commands, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus  20:1). “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”.  
(Matt 4:10 [KJV]).  “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else”. (Isa 45:22 [KJV]) These texts were clear and there could be no compromise. 

Therefore to acknowledge Christianity and profess that you are a follower was literally a death sentence.  That has always and will always be the path to true Christianity.  “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16:24 [KJV])

In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one is to control another’s mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God”. No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind”. (Romans 14:12, 5). In Christ’s kingdom there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. Desire of Ages (DA) 551

True Christianity  is founded and built on  liberty of conscience.  See (Acts chapter 4 and  5:17-33).  He who follows the multitude to force one to violate his conscience is not Christian.    

“For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it”. (Matt 10:35-39 [KJV])

**True Christianity: The Conclusion. Part 3 to follow**

Just before Christ was born into this world, the religions of the world had degenerated to such an extent that they no longer had any light. The way to heaven was lost and truth had fallen into the street. The birth of Christ began the restoration of all that was lost. Of himself, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. (John 14:6 [KJV])

Inspiration had foretold that in the fullness of time Christ would come, and at the darkest hour of human life.

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”. (Galatians 4:4-5 [KJV])

As a nation, the gospel was commissioned to the Jews to keep the way, the truth and the life before the world but they gradually lost it.

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.” Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer. The nations were united under one government. One language was widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized as the language of literature. From all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. As these returned to the places of their sojourn, they could spread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah’s coming. 
{Desire of Ages (DA) 32.2}

“As the Jews had departed from God, faith had grown dim, and hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. The words of the prophets were uncomprehended. To the masses of the people, death was a dread mystery; beyond was uncertainty and gloom. It was not alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem, but the cry from the great heart of humanity, that was borne to the prophet across the centuries,–the voice heard in Ramah, “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18. In “the region and shadow of death,” men sat unsolaced. With longing eyes they looked for the coming of the Deliverer, when the darkness should be dispelled, and the mystery of the future should be made plain”. 
{DA 32.4}    

Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned men away from God; but he won his great triumph in perverting the faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshiping their own conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge of God, and had become more and more corrupt. So it was with Israel. The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.  {DA 35.2} 

The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away.  {DA 36.2}

Sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.  {DA 37.1} 

 It is into this darkness that Christ was born. 

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn”. (Luke 2:1-7 [KJV])

Rome ruled the world. In fact it is said Rome was the world.  Having adopted the Grecian culture and philosophy, all the iniquity of Greece was now Roman.

Into that world of iniquity, Jesus Christ was sent, as a sheep among wolves, a little band of disciples carrying hope to the despairing, joy to the sorrowing, comfort to the afflicted, relief to the distressed, peace to the perplexed, and to all a message of merciful forgiveness of sins, of the gift of the righteousness of God, and of a purity and power which would cleanse the soul from all unrighteousness of heart and life, and plant there instead the perfect purity of the life of the Son of God and the courage of an everlasting joy. This gospel of peace and of the power of God unto salvation they were commanded to go into all the world and preach to every creature.
{1898 ATJ, Great Empires of Prophecy (GEP) 343.2}

Next, True Christianity: It’s Purpose – Part 2

And he said, “Woe unto you also, [ye] lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.  Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres”. (Luke 11:46-48 [KJV])

A One-Man Power

…is not Christian, not Constitutional.

The Dismantling of the Republic

Can true freedom be found under the dictates of one man or the “combine”?

We pause to define “spirit of combine, or combine”.  In every boardroom in America and universally, there is always one individual who has a dominant spirit and the other members learn early not to cross that person.  Most decisions are made to benefit that one mind. The majority of people in position of trust whether it be a local office or the presidency are followers and lack the conviction to directly confront and stand on principles of truth.  Therefore, many decisions that are made are the result of a few or the most dominant of the lot. That one person and their paid sycophants will bend and twist facts until they have their way.  That is “the spirit of combine”. COMBINE: To unite, agree or coalesce.

The quote made by Lord Acton, truly stands out, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely…”  This fact cannot be controverted.  God’s words in Jeremiah 10: 23 are very clear. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”. Dependence upon God and God alone is the only true freedom and safety, not with any other human person or the “combine”.

One of the worse mistakes that is made by nations is to entrust its democracy and freedom to lawyers.  By nature the law profession code is the end justifies the means. Regardless of how egregious an act is, lawyers find reason to justify it.  Consequently, laws are interpreted to benefit the few, mainly the wealthy.

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered”. (Luke 11:52 [KJV])

I came across a book entitled “One Man Power” by A. T. Jones and it held my attention, especially the first few pages. In reading this small book, of only six pages, some interesting connections were made in my mind about the world as it is today in light of Covid-19. How many things have changed within the last 18 months and despite what some may hope for, will never really resort to the “normal” that once was. We now have the phrase, “new normal”.

Here are the opening paragraphs:

“TO-DAY many remarkable things are occurring, and so openly before the eyes of all that every thoughtful person is compelled to query, what do these things mean? One, among the most remarkable of these remarkable things of to-day, may be best defined as the universal spirit of combine. Everywhere, among all classes, and in all lines of effort, there prevails this spirit of combine. OMP 1.1

This spirit of combine is not merely an extension of the sound principle of cooperation or unity of action of individuals acting collectively toward a common purpose. It is not, in any sense, the principle of cooperation of unity of action of individuals acting as such, collectively toward a common purpose. It is instead the principle of one mind, of one individual, dominating all others possible, and using all these to the one purpose of that one mind or individual. OMP 1.2

This truth and this distinction are demonstrated in the universally-known fact that the first effect of this spirit is to deny, to override, and to crush out, all right and all freedom of the individual; as instanced in the trust, whether it be the Standard Oil Trust, the Steel Trust, or a fruit trust. Whatever business is may be that is comprehended in the trust, no individual is allowed to do anything in that line of trade except as the servant of the trust, and absolutely subject to the dictation of the trust. If the “combine” takes the form, not of the trust as such, but of the labor union, then no individual is allowed to work, except as the servant of the union and under the absolute dictation of the union.” OMP 1.3

How does our Heavenly Father view freedom? The issue for us as professing Christians is, will we give God the rightful place in our lives or will we serve the combine? Read on…

“Another effect, and the direct logic of the combine, is a one-man power. This is to-day manifest on every hand; the head of the trust can dictate daily what the whole people shall pay for their sugar, their kerosene, their nails, etc; the head of the union can dictate just what the employer shall do, and how he shall conduct his business, or whether he shall conduct it at all. In the railroad strike of 1894, that reached from Buffalo to San Francisco. It occurred that two

governors of sovereign states could not travel on official business within their own respective states without permission of the one-man head of the strike combine, who dominated from Chicago the greater part of the whole country of the United States. OMP 3.1

The logic of a one-man power is always a despotism. This is certain, because of the nature of man himself. And it has proved so universally true that it is universally understood. Indeed, it was the character of the rule of the man who held the innocent office of despot that gave to that word its terrible meaning. OMP 3.2

The logic of a one-man power is a despotism, and it is a despotism in all relations, religious as well as other. This, too, is inevitable, because, as we have already seen, the spirit of the combine is the spirit that leads one mind to usurp the place and power of God over the minds, the rights, the persons, and the property of others, and by force compel them to his one purpose. And as it is certain that a man in the place of God will always act unlike God, it is also certain that his power will always be exerted in compelling them to do things contrary to the righteousness of God. This has been the unvarying history of it from the mighty despotism of Nimrod, the first that arose since the Flood, to be partly but growing ones of to-day. For Nimrod was not only a mighty hunter of beasts, but of men, also. He pursued and compelled men to recognize his authority in all things; they must worship as he dictated, and his example has been invariably followed. It was followed by Pharaoh, by Nebuchadnezzar, by Darius, by the Caesars, and by the Popes. OMP 4.1

It never has failed, and it never will fail, that a one-man power develops a despotism, and a despotism in religion as well as other affairs of life. And those who disregarded the spirit of the combine and maintained their individual integrity, have always been in the right, and are the true heroes of the ages. OMP 4.2

Abraham disregarded the spirit and power of the combine established by Nimrod, and maintained his individual integrity with God; and God vindicated him, called him out of it unto an eternal reward, and made him an example unto all men, “the father of all them that be of faith,” and “the friend of God.” OMP 5.1

In my bible study group, we constantly enforce that the stories in the bible are for us. For our admonition. (1 Corinthians 10:11) Not only Abraham, but as A. T. Jones, so eloquently put it…

“Moses did it in Egypt. God maintained his cause, delivered him and his whole people from it, made him the greatest legislator of all times, and took him to an eternal reward. OMP 5.2

In the face of a blazing furnace of sevenfold heat the three Hebrews did it in the presence of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. God vindicated their course, preserved them in the midst of the fire, brought them forth unscathed, changed the king’s word, and made the circumstance a lesson to all kings and all combines forever. OMP 5.3

Daniel did it individually alone in the presence of the Medo-Persian combine and the den of hungry lions. God vindicated him, because of his “innocency” in the matter, and again made the individual an example to all men, and the circumstance a lesson to all one-man powers and combines, forever. OMP 5.4

John the Baptist did it, Jesus Christ did it, Stephen did it, all the apostles and early Christians did it, not in a “combine,” but wholly as individuals, each for himself alone, in disregard of the greatest one-man power, and so the greatest despotism, of all ancient times. OMP 5.5

John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Martin Luther did it against the greatest one-man power, and so the greatest despotism, of all time, ancient or modern. OMP 5.6

These are the ones who have kept alive liberty and the rights of mankind through the ages, and have saved the world from being engulfed long ago in the vortex of unmitigated despotisms.” OMP 6.1

“When from Nimrod onward the despotism, the combine, of a one-man power, had afflicted the world for a long series of ages, there arose a people who renounced all that as akin to it, and established a government of the people. They threw off all kingship, and declared that they needed no such figment to govern them, but that they were capable of governing themselves, and so established a government of the people, by the people, and for the people—individual self-government, the republic of Rome. They were right. The principle was sound, and the government was a grand success—while the people really governed themselves. But the grandeur of their success brought results which caused the Roman people to lose the faculty of governing themselves; and the government fell to cliques, coteries, and combines.” OMP 6.2

“…Again there was a long series of kingships expanding into empire, with their consequent tyranny, though these tyrannies were so far overtopped by the one greatest of all tyrannies—the Papacy—that they were but slightly felt in comparison. Then after that series of ages of kingships and imperialism there arose another people who cast off all kingship and established a government of the people. They declared that men are capable of governing themselves, and that, therefore, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Accordingly, they established a government of the people, by the people, for the people—individual self-government, the republic of the United States. These men were right. These principles are sound. The government was a grand success so long as the people governed themselves.” OMP 7.1

“But how many of the people of the United States to-day are self-governing? And it must not be forgotten that the majority is, in effect, the government. In a government of the people, when a majority fail to govern themselves, the government is gone. In the world of business and traffic in the United States to-day, how many of the people are governing themselves in their own business?—The vast majority are governed by the trusts. In the world of labor to-day, how many of the people govern themselves?—The vast majority are governed by the unions. In the realm of government itself in the United States, in politics, how many of the people govern themselves?—Almost the whole body of them are governed by “the party,” by “the machine,” by “the boss,” and according to “the state.” OMP 8.1

It is interesting to me that what was written by Elder Jones, was written in the 1900s. We are told in the Word of God, that history repeats, Ecclesiastes 1:9. This will surely take place as we see the current climate, we are rushing headlong to meet our destiny.

“Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” Great Controversy (GC) 593.2

We will have to make a choice. No middle ground. With the precious time that we do have, let us purpose in our hearts and like Joshua who said, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;..but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Webster’s Dictionary defines migration as: “The act of removing from one Kingdom or State to another for the purpose of permanent residence or residence of some continuance.”

God knows all things, the past, the present and the future.  Genesis 1: 28 says, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it”.  In order for this command to be fulfilled, migration from time to time was necessary. 

Therefore, migration is a fundamental aspect of the gospel commission.  He who migrates is a stranger in a new place or country and as such, is an immigrant.   I am often amazed how Christian people can demonized the stranger/immigrant among us when the scriptures admonish us many times that; “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:21 [KJV]

Immigration and the Bible

We could begin in heaven with Christ; how he took on himself our sins knowing it would make him an immigrant. See Revelation 12:8.  Or Lucifer, who abandoned heaven to roam up and down the whole world.  Then there was Adam in Eden and Cain after he murdered his brother, Abel. 

However, we start our study with the tower builders. (Genesis chapter 11).  “For a time the descendants of Noah continued to dwell among the mountains where the ark had rested. As their numbers increased, apostasy soon led to division. Those who desired to forget their Creator and to cast off the restraint of His law felt a constant annoyance from the teaching and example of their God-fearing associates, and after a time, they decided to separate from the worshipers of God. Accordingly they journeyed to the plain of Shinar, on the banks of the river Euphrates. They were attracted by the beauty of the situation and the fertility of the soil, and upon this plain they determined to make their home”.  {Patriarchs and Prophets (PP) 118.4} 

Here they decided to build a city, and in it a tower of such stupendous height, as should render it the wonder of the world.  

These tower builders migrated and began to build a city.  Usually the first two generations considered themselves immigrants, but their children joining the culture of the day soon forgot their parent’s history. Having lost their uniqueness,    these grand- and great-grandchildren now see ‘others’ as strangers.  This led to bigotry, prejudice and oppression against strangers. This history is repeated always, because parents rarely keep before their children their own history and the greater need for respect and tolerance. It is from one of such cities that God called Abraham.  

No one who professes the name of Christ, or claims the name of Christianity should have any problem understanding the blessings of migration.  Abraham is the father of the faithful, and through him and his status as an immigrant the whole world is blessed.  See God’s promise to Abraham. Genesis 12.

 We read,   “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance”. Genesis 15:12-14 [KJV]

Interestingly, according to the Apostle Paul, Abraham remained an immigrant the rest of his life.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God”. Hebrews 11:8-10 [KJV]

 God revealed to Abraham what would transpire even before he had a child, and how his descendants would be treated.  The history of how all this came about is a fascinating journey starting with Isaac and Rebekah, their son Jacob, and his time as an immigrant in  Padanaram, with Laban. Scripture shows God’s blessings upon the house of Laban because of Jacob and his children. 

  “And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report”. Genesis 37:1-2 [KJV]

The outworking of Joseph’s life experiences provided us with the compacted gospel.  Sold into slavery, God raised up Joseph, the immigrant, to demonstrate His (God’s) wisdom, mercy and forgiveness.  

“And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house”. Acts 7:9-10 [KJV]

Joseph could later say, “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now [it was] not you [that] sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt”. Genesis 45:7-8 [KJV]

  “And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we [be] thy servants.  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them”. Genesis 50:15-21 [KJV]

The migration of Joseph though forced, illustrated the many, who were forced into slavery. Like Joseph many accepted their lot and the major nations such as Britain, The United States, and France  benefited greatly from their services and the services of their children and grandchildren.

As cruel as the bondage was, the gospel was spread through it and it can be truly said, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose”. Romans 8:28 [KJV]

   The scriptures are clear that history repeats itself. See Ecclesiastes1:9, and 3:15.  The whole world is populated by migrants, having settled as immigrants and started families.  As they built, generation after generation no longer retained their identity until they began to look on “others” as strangers and foreigners who should not share in anything they consider theirs.  Remember, “For the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof”. 1 Corinthians 10:26 [KJV]

The phenomena to forget is staggering and in some cases willful.  Many often join the chorus that is fomenting hostility and hatred against their neighbor. This is not new.  Here again Joseph’s experience speaks.

  “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we:” Exodus 1:6-9 [KJV]

In commenting on that passage , EG White wrote, “But as time rolled on, the great man to whom Egypt owed so much, and the generation blessed by his labors, passed to the grave. And “there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” Not that he was ignorant of Joseph’s services to the nation, but he wished to make no recognition of them, and, so far as possible, to bury them in oblivion. “And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.”  {PP 241.3} 

Sad to say this history was repeated in Babylon, the Persian Empire (see Esther 3:8), Rome, and many of the modern nations, especially Germany.  Even in this great United States, the anti-immigrant eco- chamber is becoming louder and louder.

Like Egypt, someone will come along who will willfully forget the tremendous contribution immigrants have made and the awesome blessings received as a result of their labor and talent.  That person along with their advisor will formulate plans to oppress and belittle immigrants.  All true missionaries are immigrants.   “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars”. 2 Chronicles 16:9 [KJV]

 Therefore, God is watching, and a nation’s cup of iniquity often is filled by their treatment of the stranger/immigrant.   Through all these things, God’s purpose will be accomplished in the earth.      

The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf, to sustain and to heal him. Through the agencies of nature, God is working, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, to keep us alive, to build up and restore us. When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun; nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God. All life-giving power is from Him. When one recovers from disease, it is God who restores him. – {Ministry of Healing (MH) 112.1}

In his book, “The Place of the Bible in Education” author AT Jones captures with such clarity the thought of God as is seen in the preceding paragraphs.

Here it may be queried: As God made man, and of course all intelligent creatures, free to choose, and therefore free to choose the way of sin if they should so choose, did He not then have to provide against this possible choice, before man was made? — The answer is, Certainly He did. And since He made and must make all creatures of moral sense also thus free to choose, He had to make provision for the possibility of the entrance of sin, even before ever there was a single intelligent creature created. And He did so. This provision is but a part of that eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord.   {1903 ATJ, PBE 130.1}

Let us, in thought, go back to when there was no created person or thing: back to the eternal counsels of the Godhead. The existence of God is not a self-satisfied existence. His love is not self-love. His joy is not fulfilled in wrapping Himself within Himself, and so sitting solitary and self-centered. His love is satisfied only in flowing out to those who will receive and enjoy it to the full. His joy is fulfilled only in carrying to an infinite universe, full of blessed intelligences, the very fullness of joy.
{1903 ATJ, PBE 130.2}

Standing, then, in thought, with God before there was a single intelligent creature, He desires that the universe shall be full of joyful intelligences enjoying His love to the full. In order that this shall be, they must all choose to enjoy His love and His joy. In order to choose this, they must be free to choose it. And in order to be free to choose it, they must be free not to choose it: free to choose not to serve Him, to choose not to enjoy His love and joy. They must be free to choose Him or themselves, life or death. This involves the possibility that some will choose not His way, but their own way apart from Him; and so involves the possibility of the entrance of selfishness, the entrance of sin, which is directly the opposite of all that is Himself. Shall He then refuse to create intelligences at all because if He creates, it must be with the possibility that sin may enter? If this shall be the decision, the result could only be that He must eternally remain self-centered and solitary. But that itself is also the opposite of all that is Himself. Therefore to decide thus would be to decide that He would cease to be God. But He cannot cease to be God; “He cannot deny Himself;” therefore He must create even to the infinite limit.   {1903 ATJ, PBE 131.1}

And He did create. He created intelligences. He created them free to choose: free to choose His way, or to choose the opposite: and therefore free to sin if they choose. And at the same time, in His infinite love and eternal righteousness, He purposed to give Himself in sacrifice to redeem all who would sin; and give to them a second freedom to choose Him or themselves, life or death. And those who, against all this, would the second time choose death, let them have what they have persistently chosen. And those who would choose life — the universe full of them — let them enjoy to the full that which they have chosen: even eternal life, the fullness of perfect love and of bliss forevermore.  {1903 ATJ, PBE 131.2}

This is God, the living God, the God of love, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is fully able to do whatsoever He will in heaven and earth, and yet leave all His creatures free. This is He who from the days of eternity “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” And this is “the mystery of His will . . . . which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.” This is “the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” in whom God reconciles the world unto Himself. {1903 ATJ, PBE 132.1}

Yet even in this supreme and divine act of reconciliation, God does not seek to bind man to Himself in an absolute and irresponsible bondage, as Satan bound him when his way was chosen. God ever respects the freedom of choice of which He is the Author. He will not even now compel man to take the way of righteousness, nor compel him to keep that way after he has chosen it. When that creative word was spoken, “I will put enmity” between mankind and the enemy, He made man free again, to choose for himself whom he will serve. By that word man’s will is freed, and forever abides free, to choose to serve whom he will, to choose deliverance from the bondage of sin or to remain in it.  {1903 ATJ, PBE 132.2}

The fact that God knew the evil that men would do, before the foundation of the world, does not make him responsible for it in any way shape or form. We would never hold a man responsible for an act  that he sees by means of a telescope what another man is doing ten miles in the distant. God has from the beginning set before people warnings against sin, and has provided them with all the necessary means for avoiding it; but he cannot interfere with man’s right and freedom of choice without depriving him of his manhood and making him the same as a stick.

To make man free and turn around and punish him for exercising the very right you gave him would not be just. That idea is contrary to every principle of God’s character.  In Christ, ample provision is made to recover from all our bad choices for His compassion fail not.  Great is His faithfulness.

“The gospel is a wonderful simplifier of life’s problems. Its instruction, heeded, would make plain many a perplexity and save us from many an error. It teaches us to estimate things at their true value and to give the most effort to the things of greatest worth–the things that will endure. This lesson is needed by those upon whom rests the responsibility of selecting a home. They should not allow themselves to be diverted from the highest aim. Let them remember that the home on earth is to be a symbol of and a preparation for the home in heaven. Life is a training school, from which parents and children are to be graduated to the higher school in the mansions of God. As the location for a home is sought, let this purpose direct the choice. Be not controlled by the desire for wealth, the dictates of fashion, or the customs of society. Consider what will tend most to simplicity, purity, health, and real worth” {Ministry of Healing (MH) 363.1} 

Our last post  guided our thoughts as to the reasons why there is a breakdown  in the family unit as a pillar of strength, unity and virtue in our world today.  It was not a picture of hope or happiness for the future, but as we look to our Heavenly Father, whose love is unconditional, we see solutions.  His promises of forgiveness and restoration awaits us if we will only turn away from ourselves and seek him who is infinite in love and mercy.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7 [KJV])

The restoration and uplifting of humanity begin in the home. The work of parents underlies every other. Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are “the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23); and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.  {MH 349.1}

The breaking of the family structure is not new. 

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. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 [KJV])

Therefore, the Bible gives and shows us how to recover from this calamity.  Parenting is the problem, consequently,  the remedy is with parents.  
History, nature and inspiration clearly teaches that this world revolves, we live in a circuit and things always go back from whence they came. 
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 [KJV])

Looking at the state of things, it seems hopeless, but God has promised that He will have a remnant, and through that remnant, the restoration of all that is lost.
“The spiritual restoration of which the work carried forward in Nehemiah’s day was a symbol, is outlined in the words of Isaiah: “They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities.” “They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Isaiah 61:4;  58:12.  {Prophets and Kings (PK) 677.2}   “In the time of the end every divine institution is to be restored”. {PK 677.4}  The Family is the first of these divine institutions. 

His promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”. (Malachi 4:5-6 [KJV])

“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (Isaiah 49:24-25 [KJV])

With the clock ticking in our favor,(the time of refreshing/restoration) and armed with these mighty promises, let us rise up as parents, acknowledging our failure and confess our own-wayness that causes us to put our careers before our duty.  Acknowledge to our children that by our words and action we have led them to believe that “things”- houses, cars, status and money mean success, and that was wrong.  Surely if these things meant success, then those who possess these things should not have broken homes and wretched lives.
Let us as fathers and mothers purpose to be a part of the solution.  Study the Prayer of Nehemiah. Nehemiah 1:5-11 and Titus chapter two and ask God for help.
Since this is a repeated history, let us look at the solution.  After seventy years of Babylonish captivity the situation was so dire that scripture record this, “And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people”. (Nehemiah 13:24 [KJV])

At the end of the years of humiliating exile, God graciously gave to His people Israel, through Zechariah, the assurance: “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” And of His people He said, “Behold, . . . I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.” Zechariah 8:3, 7, 8.
Rich were the rewards, both temporal and spiritual, promised those who should put into practice these principles of righteousness. “The seed shall be prosperous,” the Lord declared; “the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so I will save you, and ye shall be a blessing.” Zechariah 8:12, 13.  {PK 704.2} 

By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship of graven images. After their return, they gave much attention to religious instruction and to the study of that which had been written in the book of the law and in the prophets concerning the worship of the true God. The restoration of the temple enabled them to carry out fully the ritual services of the sanctuary. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, of Ezra, and of Nehemiah they repeatedly covenanted to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah. The seasons of prosperity that followed gave ample evidence of God’s willingness to accept and forgive, and yet with fatal shortsightedness they turned again and again from their glorious destiny and selfishly appropriated to themselves that which would have brought healing and spiritual life to countless multitudes.  {PK 705.1} 

Parents, do not asked your children to do that which you are not willing to do.  Lead by consistent example.  First put away the great evil of today, “social media” and by diligent example devote time to the word of God especially those portions that cover revival and reformation.  Ask God for help to stem the tide of evil seen in this generation, for God is consistent, and His dealing with men is ever the same. Show your children what constitutes true success, and point out clearly that living outside of God’s will is a sure way to failure.

 The scripture begs us to ask. 
“Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession”. (Psalms 2:8 [KJV])

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind”. (Job 12:7-10 [KJV])

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. (Matthew 7:7 [KJV])

 All the mighty resources of heaven await our response.  

In an attempt to refill a service card for my phone, I drove to a Walmart store nearby. On entering the store I was pleasantly surprised, why? the shelves were bare. For two days we had snow, but the roads were opened and travel was not restricted. What caused the panicked buying?  Insecurity.  This is a repeat of earlier times in the pandemic when toilet paper and other commodities were gobbled up by an insecure multitude.  Insecurity brings fear, and fear, real or imagined causes torment.

What then is fear?
Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, which causes physiological changes and ultimately behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a certain stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to oneself. Wikipedia

We therefore can conclude that fear reveals that inner nature of mankind that often goes unnoticed for long periods of time. Fear can cause one to lie, steal and kill based on the perceived treat.  Fear is anti- God, for it causes those that are gripped by it to break the commandment of God. This need not be, “for love perfected drives out all fear” (1 John 4:8).  This love not only set you free, it makes you free. (See John 8:32).  It makes you a commandment keeper, standing for principles even in the face of death.  The Bible addresses the issue of fear numerous times.

(Isaiah 41:10 [KJV])
“Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”.

Skin for Skin …all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Fear is a masterful tool in the hand of the enemy.  In a conversation with the Lord, the devil displayed his most effective tool.  “3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.¹  4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life”.
(Job 2:4 [KJV])

According to Satan when life is threatened a man will  put aside God’s law and do things contrary to all that he knows is right.  Unfortunately, his accusation has proven true too many times.
It was fear of death that caused Abraham to give away his wife twice. (See Genesis chapters 12 and 20) Naked fear came upon Jacob on his way home as he saw Esau coming. (Genesis 32) Fear caused Elijah to run forty days for his life to escape Jezebel. (See 1 Kings 19:1-8) It was fear of Saul that caused David to flee to the land of the Philistines.
(See 1 Samuel 27) It was fear that caused Peter to deny Christ (Matthew 26:69-75). We also saw a fearful set of disciples hiding in the upper room. (John 20:19)

We see then that fear causes the words and wonderful promises of God to be forgotten.
It is evident that fear is opposite of God, therefore, it is anti-God.  Yet in those biblical examples given above, God had already spoken and His words cannot be made void.  His blessings were on them, and nothing could alter it.  For God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself”. (Hebrews 6:13 [KJV])  “That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18 [KJV])

In the second chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, the apostle Paul clearly showed that he understood the power of fear.   “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”. (Hebrews 2:14-15 [KJV])

Christ came to break that bondage, for it is clear from the Exodus experience that slaves cannot serve God. The mind must be free so it can make intelligent decisions.  Love perfected is victorious over fear, the Devil’s tool, because it purges it out of the heart. 

The people of God must get this victory over fear, for the greatest threat we face is yet before us. 
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”. (Revelation 13:15-17 [KJV])

Are you preparing to stand against the Beast and his Image?  Will you be like the three Hebrew boys who stood upright when everyone else was kneeling, with the full understanding of the consequence of their actions?  (Daniel 3:12-30)  Where will you stand? Will fear cause you to deny God, or will you be one of those?
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death”.
(Revelation 12:11 [KJV])

 The great apostle to the Gentiles again made it clear in Romans 8; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39 [KJV])