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THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS DISPLACED IN ETHIOPIA AFTER MUSLIM EXTREMISTS TORCH CHURCHES, HOMES

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By Diane Macedo Published March 24, 2011 | FoxNews.com International Christian Concern. Remains of burned down Kale Hiwot church in Asendabo, Ethiopia.

Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in Western Ethiopia after Muslim extremists set fire to roughly 50 churches and dozens of Christian homes.
At least one Christian has been killed, many more have been injured and anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 have been displaced in the attacks that began March 2 after a Christian in the community of Asendabo was accused of desecrating the Koran.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the Islamist group Kawarja is believed to have incited the violence.
“We believe there are elements of the Kawarja sect and other extremists who have been preaching religious intolerance in the area,” he said at a Saturday press conference. “In previous times, we have cracked down on Kawarja because they were involved in violence. Since then they have changed their tactics and they have been able to camouflage their activities through legal channels.”
One of those areas is Besheno where, on November 9, all the Christians in the city woke up to find notes on their doors warning them to convert to Islam, leave the city or face death, a Christian from Besheno told FoxNews.com on condition of anonymity.
“Under the Egyptian constitution we are supposed to have freedom of religion, but Muslim leaders in our town don’t allow us that right,” the source said.
“We were told by some Muslims that live in the city that there was already a plan to kill us and that the people who were assigned to kill us had already come from another city to do it.”
A witness to the three attacks was then assaulted in January after testifying about them in court, International Christian Concern (ICC), an organization that aims to fight Christian persecution, reported.
In the southern town of Moyale, a Christian was sentenced to three years in prison in November for allegedly writing “Jesus is the Lord” in a copy of the Koran, Compass Direct News reported. Christians from the area told the website he had actually written the phrase on a piece of cloth.
Sources also told Compass authorities had offered to release the man, Tamirat Woldegorgis, if he would convert to Islam, but he refused. Additionally, two of his friends were fined for visiting him in prison and taking him food, Compass Direct reported.
And in Oma Village on February 26 a Muslim mob with rocks and rods assaulted and wounded 17 Christian college students who were distributing Bibles during a mission trip, ICC reported. The mob overwhelmed government security forces that attempted to protect the students, but the students eventually fled, the ICC website said.
“The violence against Christians in Ethiopia is alarming because Ethiopian Muslims and Christians used to live together peacefully. Besides, it’s extremely disconcerting that in Ethiopia, where Christians are the majority, they are also the victims of persecution,” Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager of Africa and South Asia, told FoxNews.com.
“We knew that they were peddling this ideology of intolerance, but it was not possible for us to stop them administratively because they are within their rights,” he said. “If we can find some association between what they are doing by way of preaching and what happened by way of violence, then of course we can take them to court.”
“The Ethiopian government has arrested around 130 of the perpetrators, and we hope they will be prosecuted according to the law.”

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INTERPRETING THE SCRIPTURES

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By Ken Blue

The first rule is that of right division. If we fail to discover the proper divisions of the Bible, we will always be using the Bible instead of correct interpretation. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

The second rule is that of the normal rules of grammar. The context will usually reveal if something is literal or figurative. It is also important to know who is speaking and to whom. Although the entire Bible was written and preserved for us, very little is written to us.

Finally, understand that a word has meaning by how it is used in context. It can mean one thing in one place and the opposite in another. A good example is Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” See Leviticus 1:17. “And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder…” Leviticus 1:17. Anyone can see that the two words have a totally opposite meanings.

We will point out some of the divisions not to be overlooked when reading Scripture. The first is called the Pentateuch, consisting of the first five books. These are called the Law. Within these are several divisions, but they must be considered in context of the five.

The next section covers Israel’s history in the land, and in captivity. These are from the book of Joshua to the book of Ester. There are several transitions in this section, but the reader should keep in mind the location and situation facing Israel.

The poetic books are five, covering Job through Song of Solomon. These deal primarily with the experiences, feelings, and expressions of the writers. One must be careful in founding a doctrine from these books. However, they may illustrate other doctrines in Scripture.

The prophetic books consist of seventeen books. Five are Major Prophets and the remaining twelve are minor. Some of these prophets were in the Land and were sent to Israel and Judah. Others prophesied during the captivity, and after the captivity.

Most of God’s people don’t have a clue as to these divisions and the proper application of God’s Word. It is the pastor’s job to study, rightly divide, and then make proper application. People need not be puzzled on how to understand the Scriptures. Start with the big picture then move to the smaller details later. If you will consider these things, it will aid in understanding God’s Word.

WHY GOD WILL ALLOW ALL NATIONS TO GO AGAINST ISRAEL

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By Ken Blue

“And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” Revelation 9:16

1. Israel will be seen as the world’s problem-v. 2-3 “I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people:

2. To destroy the nations- v.3 “…all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.” “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” V.9. “1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Zechariah 14:1-3.

3. To bring Israel to repentance- v.10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem…” 12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.”

4. To demonstrate to the world the God of the whole earth-“10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:10-13. “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 38:23.

5. To cleans the earth of the wicked- “44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Daniel 2:44-45.

CAN THE SAVED WORSHIP WITH THE UNSAVED?

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By Ken Blue

Those who criticize programs designed to get the unsaved to attend church services, base their arguments on the idea that the unsaved cannot worship God, therefore the saved and the unsaved cannot worship together.

Now, it may, or may not be true that an unsaved man cannot worship God. (Acts 10:1-4). I am confident God will clarify that question at the judgment. However, there are two or three questions that we must answer before we come to a hasty conclusion. For example, how does the critic define worship? Is singing, giving, and praising worshiping the Lord? If it is, can’t we do that while sinners are in the service?

Secondly, what is meant by “with the unsaved?” Do we mean with the unsaved in the building? I do not see that as an obstacle to our personal worship. If their presence is a problem, perhaps we should dismiss all non-members and then have our own special worship service.

When I pastored, I took two months each year and preached a series of messages on how to worship God. It mattered not that unsaved were present. In fact, many were saved during those services and their attendance was never a problem to the members.

If you have worship in your church services, do you ensure that no lost people are present, or do you make some allowance and conclude that the saved can worship with the lost in their company? This argument about the saved and the lost in the same service is just one more tactic of the Devil to discourage those churches trying to reach the lost.

Get as many lost people as you can to attend your church. Then preach the gospel and get them saved. Their presence will not dampen the spirit of those who truly want to worship God in spirit and truth, and the angels in heaven will rejoice! Let the heathen rage and you keep worshiping God and winning the Lost.

IS JOHN A TYPE OF THE CHURCH?

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By Ken Blue

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Although typology is an interesting study, there are rules that must be observed. It is possible to make everything in Scripture a type of something. I have heard some sermons on types that were ridiculous and embarrassing. The safe method is to make sure we have clear Scriptural support for a type.

One such abuse of typology is the teaching that the Apostle John is a type of the church, the body of Christ. Sad to say, it is usually those who are strong advocates of a literal interpretation of Scripture who take these liberties. They warn against spiritualization, unless it supports a personal interpretation of their own.

I do not find any Scriptural support for making John a type of anything. I think those who use him, do so to support the idea that the church age is in the first three chapter of Revelation. The next step is to spiritualize John in order to find the rapture of the church in chapter four where John is caught up to heaven. Remember, there is a clear difference between an intended type and an application or illustration.

Hartill’s “Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics” p. 48 says, “The Typical Principle”
Definition: A type is a divinely appointed illustration of some scriptural truth.
Classification of types:
1. A Person: One whose life illustrates some great principle or truth of redemption.
2. An event— Such as experiences of Israel (1 Cor. 10:11)
3. A thing such as the brazen serpent (Num. 21) or the veil of the Temple (Heb. 10:20).
4. Ritual types— This includes the offerings, priesthood, tabernacle, Passover Feast etc.
Interpretation of types: A true type must be…
1. A true picture of the person or thing it represents or prefigures (Col. 2:17).
2. Of divine appointment
3. A picture which prefigures something future.
A type must never be used to teach a doctrine, but only to illustrate a doctrine elsewhere explicitly taught (cf. John 3:14; 1 Cor. 5:7).

So, the “catching up” of John into heaven might illustrate the rapture of the church, however, it is a stretch to teach that he represents the church. As we said before, those who make John a type, do so to protect the idea that the body of Christ is in the first three chapters of Revelation and then raptured at chapter four. It is not. The church has long been raptured before Revelation 1:1. The body of Christ is nowhere to be found in the book of Revelation.