I suppose no one, as they journeyed to Bethlehem that day over 2000 years ago ever expected the events that would be happening in that City in the next few days. A decree had gone out in to the Roman Empire that a census would be taken, for taxation purposes, to find out how many people there were in the various provinces. They all had to return to their home towns and as Joseph had come from Bethlehem, so Mary and Joseph, as had been decreed, had to travel down from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This was about 120km by road and would under good conditions would have taken about 4 days. With Mary highly pregnant it probably took about a week, a great trial to someone in Mary’s condition. Upon arrival in Bethlehem, they found that all the accommodation was full. Joseph was now desperate as Mary had begun to give birth, however one of the landlords offered them an area in his stables, where at least they could have Mary’s baby. The shepherds in a nearby field were quietly settling down for the night when they were surrounded by angels, the angels told them the Messiah had come as a baby, and was as prophesied was being born in Bethlehem.[Luke 2:8-20]. Probably no one else in the town that night even knew a baby had been born, there may have been other babies born, who knows. However it appears that most of the population in Bethlehem that night knew nothing of their Messiah’s birth or arrival. They were so busy meeting other family members, refreshing themselves after the long journeys, and probably no such thought would have crossed their minds. This Christmas as we meet once again our families, and celebrate the season, let us not forget the real reason for Christmas, the birthday of the one who saved us, forgave our sins, and gave us eternal life. Who suffered and died for us, the Lamb of God, and rose again conquering sin and death. In all the hubbub of family life, let us not forget. Many this Christmas will be celebrating the holiday and giving no such thought as to what it’s about. Those who were in Bethlehem missed the arrival of the Saviour of the world, they were so tied up with their activities that they missed the greatest event in history. Jesus calls you to be saved to turn to Him and be born again. Do not miss His call because you are so involved in other things. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
As Jesus has promised, one day He will call us to meet Him in the clouds, to leave this world of sin and trouble and be with Him for ever in Paradise. [1 Thess 4:13-18]. Then will come a period where Satan has his wish fulfilled and reigns with the Anti-Christ or Beast and the False Prophet as ruler of this world, for a period of seven years, during which time, he will have success at first followed by total disaster, until the time God has decreed. Satan’s, servants and armies will be destroyed on the hills of Israel. Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords from Jerusalem and finally the Shekinah glory of God will return to the Holy of Holy’s in the Third Temple. A wonderful event for the Jewish people and in truth for the whole world. The Bible says: “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shone with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. When I came to prophesy that the city should be destroyed, and the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.” [Ezek 43:1-7 NKJV].
It has been estimated that about only 20% of the world’s population will have survived the holocaust of the tribulation time and the world will be in chaos. It will take many years for the world to be cleared up, but peace will then, under the reign of Christ be universal, a wonderful time when Satan will be bound and the world will be as God originally created it; “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.” [Mic 4:3-7KJV]. When we think of the little baby in a manger in Bethlehem it seems wonderful for this one to return as King of Kings to rule from His throne in the Temple at Jerusalem. Somehow I feel that this time is not far off. World events are moving towards fulfilment of the Scriptures quoted by both Christ and many of the Old Testament prophets. The world has totally lost its way and a place is open for someone like Hitler with persuasive powers and bright ideas, and might I add the same master, the Devil. To offer many solutions to many of the problems this world is experiencing for a time before his time runs out. Gog [Russia] has his fleets in a Mediterranean port in Syria, the world is racked by violence and war, and the IMF’s finances are in chaos. Jesus told us the signs to warn us, of His coming. Let us take note, and be ready for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour.
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for Prophetic Witness Movement International in the South Pacific.