Thu, Dec 5th - 3:30PM
JOSEPH EMMANUEL MAHABIR HIS CALL TO MINISTRY
Joseph was born in Trinidad and grew up there. After graduating from College and Teachers' College, he taught school for twelve years. He immigrated to Canada in 1965 and continued teaching school in Toronto.
After teaching school here for twenty years, at age 52, the LORD called him into the ministry in a night vision. The LORD said: "I want you to be a missionary." He responded: "Where?" The voice said: "In Canada." After this vision, Joseph enrolled in a Bible College in Toronto and did courses on a weekend basis. One night he had another surprise. The LORD said to him: "I want you to stop going to school here and go to CBNU (Christian Broadcasting Network University), later renamed Regent University. Joseph applied to CBNU and was accepted in a two-year Biblical Studies program. A short time later, the LORD impressed on him that he was going to Virginia Beach for nine months. Consequently, he applied to his School Board for a year's study leave. Interestingly, the School Board did not ask him what and where he was going to study. Leave was granted. The middle of August 1984 came. His wife Muriel and himself packed the trunk and back seat of their car, locked the doors in their house and started out for Virginia Beach, overnighting in motels on the way. A few days after arriving at their destination, they were able to rent an apartment. A week before the commencement of classes, students met with their program adviser. As Joseph met with Dr. Peter Prosser, he shared with him what the LORD had impressed on him. Dr. Prosser said: "No one is able to graduate in nine months." He went on to give several reasons why it was not possible. Classes began and Joseph followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He divided the courses for his program into three semesters. God did miracle after miracle from semester to semester. At the start of the third semester, Joseph was able to have all the courses needed for graduating if he completed them satisfactorily, except one. It was elementary Greek. A week went by. The Holy Spirit reminded him of what the LORD had impressed on him prior to leaving Toronto. He was motivated to speak with the professor who taught that course. He shared with Dr. Lyle Story how the LORD called him to the ministry and what he had impressed on him. Dr. Story informed him that he too was a teacher and had a similar call. He told Joseph that it was not possible to start the course with one person but if he was able to get at least four more students he would start the course the next week. After his next class that day, Joseph went to the elevator to get down to the main floor. A group of students were waiting to get down as well. He said to them: "Would anyone like to do elementary Greek if the course starts next week?" More than five people indicated that they would. Joseph noted their names and took them to Dr. Story. The rest is history. Later in the semester, Joseph became ill. He was not able to attend classes nor work on assignments. It was necessary for him to stay in bed from Monday to Friday except for washroom activities and something to eat. On Saturday morning he felt better and the LORD kept on energizing him. Monday morning came and Joseph was able to attend classes. The LORD enabled him to do everything that he did previously, starting at six in the morning and working until twelve midnight. In retrospect, Joseph believes that the LORD allowed him to get sick so that he could get a rest and also to show that God will enable us to accomplish whatever he has called us to do. May 26, 1985 came - graduation day. The Lord graciously enabled him to graduate in exactly nine months from the date of his first class. Before graduating, the President of the university offered employment to Joseph but he declined in faithfulness to God's call. We serve a great and awesome God. Joseph and his wife Muriel wish to thank God for all that He did for them during those nine months. Muriel played a significant role. She looked after everything in the apartment and provided all that he needed. Joseph thanks her greatly. On their homeward journey, they had a flat tire on a lonely stretch of roadway. No buildings or people were to be seen. They pulled over on the shoulder and got out of the car. They prayed for help and God answered. A police cruiser came and pulled up at the back of them. The officer asked if they needed help. Joseph said: "It is necessary to unpack the trunk to get the jack." The officer went to her car and came back with a jack. She took off the flat and installed the spare. They thanked her for her kindness and continued their journey. Joseph took a rest for a few months and commenced supply teaching at The Peoples Christian Academy (1986 - 1987) while waiting on the LORD for a ministry placement. He was later hired by Christian Broadcasting Associates, the 700 Club in Canada, as the Supervisor of Counselling. While serving there, Joseph was invited by The Peoples Church administration to join their pastoral staff. He served there from 1990 - 1997. During his ministry, the LORD motivated and enabled him to author two tracts "GOD AND HIS LOVE FOR US" and "GOD LOVES YOU - JESUS DIED FOR YOU" as well as two books "NO FUTURE MILLENNIUM - ANOTHER LOOK AT THE RAPTURE AND THE MILLENNIUM" and "THE GLORIOUS APPEARING." After retiring from The Peoples Church, Joseph continued serving the LORD in a tract distribution ministry in foreign countries when on mission trips and here in Metro Toronto. Later the LORD motivated him to commence a teaching ministry on the internet, posting videos and Bible Studies. He is still involved with the internet ministry and in tract distribution. Joseph has vowed to be faithful to God and his inspired word, the Bible, and to serve him diligently until his last breath in his mortal body and throughout all eternity. Praise to God the Father, praise to God the Son, praise to God the Holy Spirit, bless Jehovah, three in one.
ESCHATOLOGY
What is eschatology?
Eschatology is the study of theology dealing with the four last things – death, judgment, heaven and hell. Eschatology is derived from the Greek word, eschatos, meaning last or final. Eschatological theories are named using Latin and English words. There are four theories. 1) HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM
2) DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM
3) POSTMILLENNIALISM
4) AMILLENNIALISM Millennium, meaning a thousand years, is made up of two Latin words mille (a thousand) and annus (year). Millennium is used for the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20:1-7. Historic Premillennialism teaches that the Second Coming of Jesus will occur at the end of the Tribulation before the commencement of the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20:1-7. The thousand years are literal.
Dispensational Premillennialism teaches two future comings of Jesus, one at the time of the rapture and one at the end of the Tribulation. The Tribulation will be followed by a thousand years as recorded in Revelation 20: 1-7. The thousand years are literal. There are three groups of dispensational premillennialists. The pretribulation rapture group, the midtribulation rapture group and the prewrath rapture group.
Postmillennialism teaches that the Second Coming of Jesus will take place after the thousand years. The thousand years are literal. Postmillennialism teaches that the world will be Christianized. Amillennialism teaches that the Second Coming of Jesus will take place at the close of the Tribulation. The thousand years of Revelation 20: 1-7 are not literal and future. They are symbolic and cover an extended period of time. They are in progress now.
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Thu, Aug 8th - 5:06PM
CORRECTLY EXPLAINING THE WORD OF TRUTH ( 2 Tim. 2: 15; NLT)
THE THOUSAND YEARS (Rev. 20: 1 - 7)
INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE
We do not use our own understanding to interpret Scripture. We use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything. He writes: "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets" (Acts 3: 21). The apostle Peter informs us that God will restore everything on the day of judgment by creating a new heaven and a new earth ( 2 Pet. 3: 13). “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” ( 2 Pet. 3: 13).
The conclusion is that Jesus will remain in heaven until the day of judgment; proving that the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture are the same event ( Matt. 25: 31 - 46; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; Heb. 9: 28).
Since eternity will commence on the day of judgment at the coming of Jesus ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46). therefore the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20 : 1 - 7 cannot follow the second coming as some teach. The thousand years must precede the second coming since time and eternity cannot coexist.
The events of the end times are presented in the following diagram. The calculation shows that our LORD ministered for three and a half years.
Are the thousand years literal?
The thousand years are not literal. They are symbolic and cover an extended period of time.
Are both thousand years of the same duration (Rev. 20:2; Rev 20:4)?
Both thousand years are of the same duration, since our calculation of the length of our LORD's ministry was shown to be three and a half years long and the tribulation period will be three and a half years long (Dan 7: 25; Rev. 13:5-8).
When did the thousand years begin?
In the case of Satan, the thousand years began at the commencement of our Lord’s ministry ( Rev. 20: 2; Matt. 12: 29), and they will end when he is set free for a short time ( Rev. 12: 12; Rev. 20: 3).
Regarding our LORD, the thousand years began at his ascension ( Rev. 20: 4; Acts 1: 9 - 11), and they will end when he comes again (Matt. 25: 31; 1 Cor. 15: 22 - 23; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 2 Thess. 1: 6 - 10; Heb. 9: 27 - 28; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 7 - 10). 14)
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN
Since our Lord is reigning now ( 1 Cor. 15: 25 - 26), and since he will commence his eternal reign after he judges all nations ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46; Rev. 11: 15 - 18), therefore his present reign must be his millennial. The millennial reign is now in progress. It is in heaven. Our Lord is reigning with his saints, those in heaven ( Rev. 6: 9 - 11) and those on earth (John 14: 20; Col. 3: 1 - 3).
THE FIRST RESURRECTION
Many authors, pastors, Bible College professors and ministries teach that the first resurrection (Revelation 20: 5) is a physical (bodily) resurrection. Absolutely not!
The prophet Daniel, our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul and the apostle John all taught that there will be one bodily resurrection of all the dead and it will take place at the last day, at the last trumpet which is the seventh trumpet ( Dan. 12: 2; John 5: 28 - 29; John 6: 39; Acts 24: 15; 1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52; Rev. 11: 18).
The prophet Daniel foretold: All the dead will awake. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment (Dan. 12: 2). The apostle John recalls the words of Jesus: Do not be surprised at this, some time in the future all the dead will hear my voice and come out of their graves. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment (John 5: 28 - 29).
The apostle Paul in his defense before Felix stated: I believe in God as these men. There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts 24: 15).
The Apostle John records the words of Jesus: It is God's will that all those he gave to me, I will raise them up at the last day (John 6: 39).
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52).
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Thu, Aug 8th - 5:05PM
Scripture shows unequivocally that there will be one resurrection of all the dead (Dan. 12: 2; John 5: 28 - 29; Acts 24: 15). It will take place at the last day, at the last trumpet, at the end of the age (John 6: 39; 1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52; Rev. 11: 18). Since the resurrection of all the dead will take place after the seventh trumpet is sounded, therefore the first resurrection must be a spiritual one (Rev. 20: 5).
We observe that there are souls in heaven when the fifth seal is broken.
“I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood’ “ (Rev. 6: 9 - 10)?
We see that the souls are alive and capable of communicating. Who are those souls? They are the souls of departed ones. They are the souls of those people who believed in a Creator from what they observed in their environment and in the starry sky. They are the souls of those people who walked with God - Enoch, Noah and others. They are the souls of those people who believed God when he spoke to them - Abram, Moses and others. They are the souls of those people who were faithful to the requirements of the first covenant. They are the souls of born again believers who have gone to be with the Lord.
The apostle Paul wrote: “ … I desire to depart and be with Christ … (Phil. 1: 23).
As born again believers die, their souls/spirits go to be with the Lord. “ … They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 4).
We read in the Book of Ephesians. "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men' " (Eph. 4: 7 - 8).
THE RAPTURE - THE JUDGMENT - ETERNITY
When Jesus returns on the day of judgment, he will gather all nations unto himself. He will place the righteous on his right and the unrighteous on his left (Matt. 25: 31 - 33). He will say to those on his right : “ … Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matt. 25: 34).
To those on his left, he will say: “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25: 41).
THE ETERNAL REIGN
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11: 15).
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22: 20).
CONCLUSION The Scriptures prove unequivocally that Historic Premillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism (pretribulation, midtribulation and prewrath) and Postmillennialism are not only false theories but also Satanic since they reject the teaching of our Lord, his apostles and that of Dr. Luke.
NOTE - (italic mine) blue - scriptural quotation red - scriptural quotation (emphasis) purple - scriptural paraphrase
"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers." CopyrightⒸ 2000 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons. (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A. (magna cum laude), (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).
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Thu, Aug 8th - 4:50PM
WHO ARE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT? LEMA 'AN ZION Gabriel A. Goldberg, one of three authors of the newsletter from the above named ministry in Israel writes: “If God’s covenant with Israel would end and the Jewish people would no longer be His Chosen People, human existence would end. The universe as we know it would end” ( "Hashivah" The Return Vol. XLVI, Number 4, 2023-5784, p. 4). His assertion is not supported by Scripture. God promised Israel that she would remain a nation until the end of the age (Jer. 31: 36). He did not promise her that she would remain his chosen people until the end of the age. In fact, God promised Israel that he would make a new covenant with her. "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jer. 31: 31). THE NEW COVENANT The new covenant was put into effect through the precious blood of our Savior/ Messiah and LORD, Jesus Christ. Although God through the prophet Jeremiah, announced the new covenant to the people of Israel and the people of Judah (Jer. 31: 31), Scripture asserts that the new covenant is for the world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3: 16). Under the first covenant, the Israelites were God's chosen people (Exod. 19: 5-6; Psalm 33: 12), but under the new covenant, believers, both Jews and Gentiles are God's chosen people. The apostle Paul stated concerning believers under the new covenant. Through faith in Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles become children of God. They are one in Christ Jesus. Anyone who belongs to Christ becomes a seed of Abraham and an heir according to the promise (Gal. 3: 26-29). WHEN JESUS DIED When Jesus breathed his last, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom," exposing the Holy of Holies (Matt. 27: 51; Mark 15: 38), signifying the establishment of the new covenant and making the first covenant obsolete (Heb. 9: 13). When the first covenant became obsolete, all that pertained to it also became obsolete. Judaism had run its course. A believer in Jesus could now communicate with God the Father through Jesus. Nobody can come to the Father except through me (John 14: 6). Under the new covenant, believers, both Jews and Gentiles are God's chosen people. The apostle Paul wrote: As believers in Christ, there is no Gentile or Jew, "but Christ is all, and is in all". So as God’s chosen people who are truly loved show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Col. 3: 11 - 12). The apostle Peter penned the following to believers who were scattered over the Roman world, the majority of whom were Jews. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. You belong to God. So praise him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light ( 1 Pet. 2: 9). WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL? The prophet Isaiah penned the following: “The Redeemer will come to Zion to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD (Isa. 59: 20). The prophet Zechariah paints a bleak picture for the Israelites. The Lord declares: Two-thirds of Israel will be struck down and perish. The remaining third will pass through the fire and will call on my name. … They will call on me and I will answer them. The Lord will say: “They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God”(Zech. 13: 9). THE DAY OF JUDGMENT On the day of judgment, our Lord Jesus Christ will gather all people before him, people from the creation of the world to the last person to be born before his coming. He will place the righteous on his right (those who have received him into their hearts) and the unrighteous on his left ( those who have rejected him) ( Matt 25: 33). He will say to those on his right: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matt. 25: 34). To those on his left, he will say: “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” ( Matt. 25: 41). A PRAYER TO BE SAVED / BORN AGAIN Almighty God, I thank you that you sent your one and only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Lord Jesus, I thank you that you died on the cross for my sins. Almighty God, I believe that you raised him from the dead as the Bible declares. Jesus, I confess my sins to you. I am sorry for them and I turn away from them. Please forgive me I pray. Jesus, I now receive you into my heart as my Savior/Messiah and LORD. Please fulfill your plan for my life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. NOTE: (italic - mine) scriptural quotation scriptural paraphrase scriptural quotation (emphasis) Author’s assertion CopyrightⒸ 2023 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons. (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A, (magna cum laude), (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).
" Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
ARE YOU A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER? Jesus said to Nicodemus, a member of the SANHEDRIN - the Jewish Ruling Council, you must be born again to get into heaven. Please read John 3: 3 - 18. As a born again believer, God lives in you and you live in God. We read in Scripture: " If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God" (1 John 4: 15). "Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
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Thu, Aug 8th - 4:37PM
JEHOVAH WITNESSES "Jehovah's Witnesses believe God, Jehovah, is the supreme God and Jesus Christ is his agent for reconciling sinners to God. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit but the active force of God on earth. Witnesses also believe they are living in the final days before Christ's presence will establish the kingdom of God on earth." Jehovah's witnesses please read the following and learn from the Scriptures, the inspired word of God. Each person will have to account for rejecting the truth of Scripture.
ONE GOD REVEALED IN THREE PERSONS
Scripture declares that there is one God. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6: 4). But He is revealed in three persons - God the Father (Matt. 3: 17; John 17: 24), God the Son (Jesus Christ) (John 1: 18; John 3: 16) and God the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1: 2; John 14: 26; Acts 16: 6 - 7; 2 Cor. 1: 22; Eph. 4: 30).
GOD THE FATHER
God spoke from heaven, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matt. 3: 17). God has not been seen by anyone. But Jesus has made him known. Jesus is seated at his right hand (John 1: 18). When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out to his Father. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" (Matt. 27: 46)? Jesus said to the Jewish people, you are desirous of killing me, but I have told you the truth that I heard from my Father (John 8: 40). God the Father is supreme, he is the only one in the universe who knows when this age will end. Jesus said: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13: 32).
GOD THE SON
Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 1: 31 - 35), is identified with God the only Son (John 1: 17 - 18). The "son" is called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9: 6). The "Word" is God and Jesus is the "Word". "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1: 1). Jesus said: I always do what my Father commands me to do (John 14: 31). He tells us plainly: " ... for the Father is greater than I" (John 14: 28).
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been shown to be the Spirit of God the Father (2 Cor. 1: 21 - 22) and the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16: 6 - 7; Eph. 1: 13). Peter said to Ananias: " ... how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ... (Acts 5: 3). "You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5: 4). The Holy Spirit is the third person of the "trinity". The Holy Spirit is God.
"THE TRINITY" The word trinity is not found in the Scriptures but the concept is. At the baptism of Jesus, we observe the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) and God the Father (Matt. 3: 16 - 17). All three persons of the Godhead were mentioned. Other contexts are (Gen. 1: 1 - 2; Luke 1: 26 - 36; Matt. 28 - 19; John 14: 26; John 16: 7 - 11; Gal. 4: 4 - 6; Titus 3: 4 - 6). God is not only a trinity, He is a unity. In each of the three persons dwell the other two (Deut. 6: 4; John 14: 7, 10). The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1: 21 - 22). The Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit (Acts 16: 6 - 7). God is also a plurality - "Let us make man in our image" (Gen. 1: 26). (see Gen. 3: 22; Gen. 11: 7; Isa. 6: 8). When Jesus returns on the day of judgment, he will gather all nations before him. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment (Matt. 25: 31 - 46). And God will establish his eternal kingdom in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem (Rev. 11: 15 - 18; Rev. 21: 1 - 7).
NOTE: (italic - mine) scriptural quotation scriptural paraphrase concepts held by Jehovah's witnesses
CopyrightⒸ 2000 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons. (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A, ( magna cum laude), (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).
" Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers." PLEASE VISIT MY BLOG AND VIDEOS
youtube.com/user/777JEM333
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Name: Joseph Mahabir
