Reason of the Hope: Ten Issues a Christian Must Face Today

By Ronie F. Magcamit

"Reason of the Hope" aims to provide short answers to ten major faith-related topics or issues constantly asked by young Christians and secular folks. This book explores the validity and reliability of the scriptures, creation account of Genesis, end-time events, reformati

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Nov 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637675403

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Dedication

This book goes out to my Lord Jesus Christ. You have been my everything and have seen my triumphs and struggles throughout the years. Thank you for being faithful to me even if I have failed you many times.

This book also goes out to my dear daughter Beatrice. I hope that my experiences as a young child up to now will give you insights on how to grow your faith. I hope you will appreciate that genuine faith is nurtured through your own life experiences and purposeful study and will only grow if you cling to Jesus.

This book is also inspired and dedicated to my dear father, Aquilino, who passed away in 2019. I will see you in the blessed morning Papu. Sleep well.

Finally, I dedicate this book to the young men and women discovering Jesus in their lives and who find that witnessing to others can be a struggle. Faith is not based on your mood or emotions; it is based on a Spirit-filled mind. Never give up your faith. It will not be easy, but God is faithful. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can prove that promise in your own life.

Ronie F Magcamit

Table of Contents

Dedicationv

Overview1

All About Scriptures7

1.1 Inspired Words 8

1.2 Revealed Secrets 9

1.3 Real Prophecies 11

1.4 Search and Find…Eternity 12

1.5 Let Us Reason 14

1.6 Line Upon Line 15

1.7 Apologetics 17

1.8 Law and Testimony 19

1.9 Safe Hiding Place 21

1.10 Eternal words 23

1.11 Words in My Mouth 24

1.12 Bread of Life 26

1.13 Holy Prophets 27

1.14 Revelation of Christ 28

1.15 Jot or Tittle 30

1.16 Flowers Fade 32

1.17 Lord of Time 33

1.18 What is Truth? 35

1.19 The Truth 36

1.20 Peter and Paul 37

1.21 Sound doctrine 39

1.22 Truth quest 40

1.23 Trust God not Self 41

1.24 Spiritual Part of Life 43

1.25 The Road to Emmaus 45

1.26 Eureka Moment 46

1.27 Man’s Reasoning 48

1.28 Convincing Words 49

1.29 Never Mess with God’s Words 50

1.30 Word Among Us 52

1.31 Light Bearers 53

Majesty of Creation57

2.1 In the Beginning 58

2.2 Who was the Creator? 59

2.3 A Special Day 61

2.4 Wonderfully Made 63

2.5 Builder 64

2.6 No Excuse 66

2.7 Nothing Too Hard 68

2.8 Flat Earth 69

2.9 Fine Workmanship 70

2.10 Man and Woman 72

2.11 Mountains 74

2.12 Age of the Universe 76

2.13 Other Worlds 77

2.14 Countless Stars 79

2.15 Starlight 80

2.16 Great Lights 82

2.17 Multiply 83

2.18 From Dominion to Domination 85

2.19 A Vegetarian Lion 86

2.20 Bones in Rocks 88

2.21 Behemoth 90

2.22 Ice Age 92

2.23 One Big Family 94

2.24 Hidden in Time 95

2.25 The Ark 97

2.26 Who Married Cain? 99

2.27 Survival of the Fittest 101

2.28 Scientific World 103

2.29 Every Creature Will Testify 105

Time of the End109

3.1 Close of Probation 110

3.2 The Last Sign 111

3.3 The Greatest Famine 113

3.4 Wheat and Tares 114

3.5 Get Ready! 116

3.6 Current Events 117

3.7 Growing Up 119

3.8 Doing Your Best 121

3.9 Search the Scriptures 122

3.10 Study with Urgency 124

3.11 Avoid Distractions 125

3.12 Share the Gospel 127

3.13 Fast and Pray 128

3.14 Review Your Relationship with God 130

3.15 Prepare and Rehearse Your Testimony 132

3.16 Leave the City 133

3.17 Live Like Christ is Coming Any Moment 135

3.18 As the Days of Noah 136

3.19 Waking Out of Sleep 137

3.20 Godly and Unjust 139

3.21 Quite Obvious 140

3.22 Bad News 142

3.23 Beasts 143

3.24 Time of Trouble 145

3.25 Trust in the Lord 146

3.26 Right Way 148

3.27 Two Masters 149

3.28 New Every Morning 151

3.29 Just Pray 153

3.30 Pleasers of Men 154

3.31 By Faith 156

Truth and Reformation159

4.1 Resistance 160

4.2 Keep the Word 162

4.3 Study Well 164

4.4 Evidence 165

4.5 Beginning of Wisdom 166

4.6 The Other Side of Wealth 168

4.7 Stand Fast 170

4.8 Fearless Faith 171

4.9 Friend or Enemy 173

4.10 Refugees 175

4.11 Fountain of Life 176

4.12 Conquering Death 178

4.13 Deception 179

4.14 Trusting Self 181

4.15 Sola Scriptura 183

4.16 Wise Unto Salvation 184

4.17 Strange Gods 186

4.18 Idols Everywhere 187

4.19 Morning Star 189

4.20 Faith Alone 190

4.21 Hope in the Word 192

4.22 Prophets and Prophecies 194

4.23 Saved by Grace through Faith 195

4.24 All to the Glory of God 197

4.25 No Other Except Jesus 198

4.26 The Only Way 200

4.27 Lighter Burden 202

4.28 Priests of the Most High 203

4.29 Gift of Grace 205

4.30 Living by Faith 207

The Ten Commandments211

5.1 No Other Gods 212

5.2 Graven Image 213

5.3 Mercy and Obedience 215

5.4 Ambassadors 217

5.5 Holy Time 218

5.6 No Worries 220

5.7 Sabbath and Creation 221

5.8 Loving our Parents 223

5.9 Taking Lives 225

5.10 Destroying Homes 226

5.11 Finders Keepers 228

5.12 Truth Matters 229

5.13 Wishing Too Far 230

5.14 Shiny Gods 232

5.15 Idols 233

5.16 More Than Words 235

5.17 Sabbath Observance 236

5.18 Lay Your Burdens 238

5.19 Promise 239

5.20 How to Murder 241

5.21 The Fallen King 242

5.22 Sanctity of Marriage 244

5.23 Why Should There be Laws? 246

5.24 Fulfilling the Law 247

5.25 Law and the Prophets 249

5.26 Ark of the Covenant 251

5.27 Law in the Hearts 252

5.28 New Covenant 254

5.29 Only If 255

5.30 Faith and Works 257

5.31 Duty of Man 258

Defending My Faith – Part 1261

6.1 Wars Caused by Religion 262

6.2 Minds Can’t be Trusted 263

6.3 Don’t Judge 265

6.4 Meaningless 267

6.5 Doubt Everything 269

6.6 Only Science Brings Truth 271

6.7 To See is to Believe 273

6.8 Cosmological Argument 274

6.9 Teleological Argument 276

6.10 Multiverse 279

6.11 Moral Argument 280

6.12 Atheists can be Moral 283

6.13 Atheists Know Morality 285

6.14 Atheists Just Lack Belief 286

6.15 Miracles are Impossible 288

6.16 No Miracles Today 291

6.17 Too Many Bible Translations 292

6.18 Bible Authors Have Agendas 294

6.19 The Other Gospels 295

6.20 Evolution Disproves God 297

6.21 Intelligent Design is Not Science 299

6.22 God of the Gaps 301

6.23 Those Who Never Heard 303

6.24 Hell as Punishment 305

6.25 Second Chance 307

6.26 Christians and Politics 309

6.27 Homosexuality 311

6.28 Abortion 314

6.29 Free Will 315

6.30 Truth or Happiness Quest 317

Defending My Faith – Part 2321

7.1 Tactics 321

7.2 There are No Objective Truths! 323

7.3 Truth is Unknowable 325

7.4 No Objective Morality 327

7.5 Moral Truths and Culture 328

7.6 Morality Based on Personal Opinion 330

7.7 Who Created God? 332

7.8 Suffering Disproves God 334

7.9 Why is God Hidden? 336

7.10 Atheists Just Believe in One Less God 337

7.11 The Flying Spaghetti Monster 339

7.12 No Evidence for God’s Existence 341

7.13 Earth is an Isolated Planet 343

7.14 Christians are Hypocrites 344

7.15 Is Jesus the Only Way? 346

7.16 Christianity is Anti-Science 348

7.17 Christian Upbringing 350

7.18 No Such Thing as Sin 351

7.19 Too Many Denominations 353

7.20 The Bible is Full of Contradictions 355

7.21 Genocide in the Bible 357

7.22 Slavery in the Bible 359

7.23 Status of Women 361

7.24 Bible was Just Written by Men 363

7.25 Jesus is One of Many Claiming to be a Saviour 365

7.26 Jesus was Just a Man 367

7.27 Jesus Did not Think He was God 369

7.28 All Religions Lead to Heaven 371

7.29 Sincerity is Just What Matters 373

7.30 Being a Good Person is All that Matters 374

7.31 Stealing from God 376

Life and Miracles of Jesus – Part 1381

8.1 Birth of Jesus 382

8.2 News to the Shepherds 384

8.3 Wise Men 385

8.4 Woe of Bethlehem 387

8.5 Increase in Wisdom 388

8.6 Voice in the Wilderness 390

8.7 Baptism 392

8.8 First Temptation 394

8.9 Second Temptation 395

8.10 Third Temptation 396

8.11 Jesus Began Preaching 398

8.12 The First Disciples 399

8.13 Wedding Feast 401

8.14 Nicodemus 402

8.15 Samaritan Woman 404

8.16 Pool at Bethesda 405

8.17 Rejection 407

8.18 Hold thy Peace 409

8.19 Power of Forgiveness 410

8.20 Stretch Your Hands 412

8.21 Great Faith 414

8.22 The Widow’s Son 415

8.23 Nepotism 417

8.24 Storm at the Lake 418

8.25 The Demoniac and the Swine 420

8.26 Who Touched Me? 422

8.27 Jairus’s Daughter 424

8.28 Do We Look for Another? 425

8.29 Feeding the 5,000 427

8.30 Walking on Water 429

8.31 Feeding the 4,000 430

Life and Miracles of Jesus – Part 2433

9.1 Demanding for a Sign 434

9.2 Whom Say I Am? 435

9.3 Out of this World 437

9.4 Coin Out of a Fish 439

9.5 No Man Knows 440

9.6 Casting the First Stone 442

9.7 Go and Sin No More 444

9.8 Born Blind 445

9.9 Who are you Lord? 446

9.10 70 Disciples 448

9.11 Mary and Martha 449

9.12 Blessed are They… 451

9.13 Dining with a Pharisee 453

9.14 Healing on a Sabbath 454

9.15 Tears of Jesus 456

9.16 Raising of Lazarus 458

9.17 Little Children 459

9.18 A Good Life 461

9.19 Follow Me 462

9.20 Eye of a Needle 464

9.21 Impossible for God 465

9.22 Finish the Race 467

9.23 Personal Ambitions 468

9.24 Servant Leaders 470

9.25 Open Our Eyes 471

9.26 Zacchaeus 473

9.27 Seek and Save the Lost 474

9.28 Crying at Jesus’s Feet 476

9.29 Anointing 477

9.30 Forgiven 479

Parables of Life483

10.1 Lost Pearl 483

10.2 Lost Sheep 485

10.3 Lost Coin 486

10.4 Prodigal Son 488

10.5 Fig Tree 489

10.6 Mustard Seed 491

10.7 The Wicked Husbandmen 493

10.8 Sower, Seeds, and Soils 494

10.9 Great Banquet 496

10.10 Hidden Treasure 498

10.11 The Two Debtors 499

10.12 Unclean Spirits 501

10.13 The Two Sons 502

10.14 Building on Rock 504

10.15 The Rich Fool 505

10.16 The Growing Seed 507

10.17 The Leaven 508

10.18 Wedding Garment 510

10.19 Midnight Caller 512

10.20 The Unjust Judge 513

10.21 Places of Honour 515

10.22 Pharisee and Publican 516

10.23 The Talents 518

10.24 The Unjust Steward 519

10.25 Rich Man and Lazarus 521

10.26 Good Samaritan 522

10.27 The Unforgiving Servant 524

10.28 Ten Virgins 525

10.29 Unworthy Servant 527

10.30 Sheep and Goats 529

10.31 The Dragnet 530

Death and Resurrection of Jesus533

11.1 Last Trip to Jerusalem 534

11.2 Faith that Fail Not 536

11.3 Loving Life 537

11.4 The Last Supper 539

11.5 Scattered Flock 541

11.6 Denial 542

11.7 Watch and Pray 544

11.8 Conscientious Objection 546

11.9 Are you the Christ? 548

11.10 Thirty Pieces of Silver 549

11.11 Out of this World 551

11.12 Sentenced to Death 553

11.13 No Other King 555

11.14 Bearing the Cross 556

11.15 Weep Not 558

11.16 Casting Lots 560

11.17 That We May See and Believe 561

11.18 Forgive Them 563

11.19 Paradise 565

11.20 Behold Thy Son 566

11.21 Forsaken 568

11.22 I thirst 569

11.23 It is finished 571

11.24 I Commend My Spirit 573

11.25 Burial Preparations 575

11.26 Borrowed Tomb 577

11.27 Conspiracy 578

11.28 The Resurrection 580

11.29 He is Not Here 582

11.30 Creed 583

Return of the King587

12.1 Slackness 588

12.2 A Little While 589

12.3 Grand Entrance 591

12.4 Our Redeemer Lives 592

12.5 A Better Country 594

12.6 Re-building Zion 595

12.7 We Have Waited 597

12.8 Troubled Hearts 598

12.9 Sin-bearer 600

12.10 How Jesus Comes 602

12.11 In His Name 604

12.12 Waiting for the Fruits 605

12.13 Signs in Heaven 607

12.14 Wars 609

12.15 Birth Pains 611

12.16 Lost Wealth 612

12.17 Loud 614

12.18 Mockers 615

12.19 Current State 617

12.20 Divine Justice 619

12.21 Frozen 621

12.22 Gospel to All 622

12.23 Deception 624

12.24 Global Wickedness 626

12.25 Only the Father 627

12.26 Unsound Doctrine 629

12.27 Re-start 631

12.28 No More Pain 633

12.29 Final Siege 634

12.30 Brand New! 636

12.31 Come Quickly 637

Acknowledgments641

Endnotes643

Overview

In early 2019, I made a personal pledge to God. At this point in my life, I felt that I had to share my faith with others as a testament to God’s grace throughout my journey. I prayed for guidance before I decided to write a document that will serve as a constant reminder of the reasons for my faith and also provide a simple reference for someone starting their journey with God and for those who are just knowing God for the first time. This manuscript is not a historical, biographical, scientific or philosophical book, but a bit of everything. There may be some technical and unfamiliar terms, but definitions are also presented as a guide. Also, there were several references to other writings, articles and blogs, while I also used my personal stories to stress out some points. I do endorse the church of which I am a member today as true and Bible-based, however, note that this book does not represent the official doctrine of a particular church but on a reasonable examination of biblical Christianity. I always encourage people to follow where the evidence and the Holy Spirit lead them on their faith journey.

The secular world has treated the word faith as nonsense with no real proof. People of faith are considered irrational and out of touch with reality. Sadly, some Christians rely on blind faith alone with little or no evidence at all when sharing with non-believers. So, the book focused on ten major faith-related topics or issues that both young Christians and secular people often ask. In my experience, the subjects that every Christian must confront are as follows:

All about the Scriptures

The first chapter deals with the Bible and why it is still relevant for us today. Many treat the Bible as a collection of myths or tales, in contrast to its historical reliability. The Bible stands out among other ancient literature, making it essential to study its purpose.

Majesty of Creation

Atheists and even many Christians today embrace Darwin’s theory of evolution. This chapter lists arguments why the Genesis creation account is still the best explanation of the origin of life and why Catastrophism associated with Noah’s flood is the best argument for the world’s natural order today.

Time of the End

Many believe we are living in end-time, but it is crucial to know what kind of end are we looking forward to or expecting. There are many doomsday scenarios. Only the Bible provides hope. If humanity will indeed end, how does it look like, and how do we prepare for it?

Truth and Reformation

The 15th century and onwards saw the dawn of the Reformation Age across Europe when Protestantism was born in the last stages of the Dark Ages. However, there are only a few flickering lights that still maintain the biblical truths today. Let us review how this movement started and what are the threats to Protestant Christians.

The Ten Commandments

Many consider the original commandments in the Bible as obsolete and irrelevant in today’s world because they confuse moral laws with ceremonial laws. Atheists reject any commandment, while other Christians only accept the revised version. We will explore what the holy scriptures tell us about the laws of God.

Defending My Faith

It covers a range of issues asked by non-Christians. Questions like Does truth exist? and Where did God come from? are often used against God’s existence. Two chapters present selected topics and corresponding answers on a wide range of issues from atheism and secular point of view.

Life and Miracles of Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth was no ordinary man. Two chapters include perspectives on the birth of Jesus, his life and ministry, and miracles that changed the world. It covers many of Jesus’s interactions with humankind which we analyse from a 21st-century lens.

Parables of Life

Jesus portrayed how God’s kingdom worked through simple stories and illustrations. He clothed divine wisdom as modest and easy to comprehend parables. Explore the substance of the gospel from a modern-day perspective.

Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Jesus died of a horrible death for humanity’s sin. He could have chosen a quick death but instead carried the brunt of sin in its full weight. The good news is that even though he perished on a Friday afternoon and stayed on the grave for a whole Sabbath day, he was resurrected on an early Sunday morning. Let us analyse what happened around the resurrection.

Return of the King

Jesus said he would return in glory, unlike his first advent where he chose to come as an infant in a manger born in poverty and died as a common criminal. How will Jesus return, and why is it relevant to how we live today? Who will be ready when that day comes?

It is my prayer that you explore this book and learn more reasons for your faith. There are 366 sub-topics under the ten issues presented. You can read it per issue or approach one item each day as a devotional for a year. This book can be treated as a supplementary material to build up a rational faith in God; however, it does not claim to present an in-depth theological or technical explanation for each topic.

Many good people within the church are often satisfied with the preacher-says-so attitude. But growing in faith is a lifetime search and study. I hope that this simple book will encourage you to build your faith in Christ and help others develop their faith as well. It is time for Christians to stop hiding behind church leaders or preachers for the reason of their spirituality. It is time for all true believers of Jesus Christ to stand for themselves, share the gospel, and offer answers to objections.

Remember Peter’s advice to those who are followers of Christ.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a REASON OF THE HOPE that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)

May God richly bless those who will start this journey of faith with Christ.

All About Scriptures

For faithful Christians throughout the centuries, the Bible is the authoritative Word of God and the foundation of faith. No wonder this book has been under attack from external anti-Christian forces and even within the corrupt segment of the church itself. Those who upheld the Bible (and the Bible alone) found themselves fleeing persecution. From powerful pagan Romans to medieval lords and papacy in the Dark Ages to modern-day dictators, there had been continuous efforts to destroy, hide and distort the Bible. But, every attempt to extinguish it only strengthens its influence. History has shown us that truth-seeking people still want to know this book despite the severe consequences. Even with forces determined to wipe it off the face of the earth, the Bible is still irrefutably the most read and number one best-selling book of all time. If this is the case, there must be a high divine power beyond its pages. It has stood the test of time because no human power could overthrow it.

As you go through this chapter, you will realise that we are so fortunate to have a Bible copy today. But it is one thing to read the Bible and another to believe or experience its transforming power. May you take time to have a more purposeful study as you dig deep into its pages.

1.1 Inspired Words

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Look for the definition of the English word inspiration. It either means the drawing in of breath or inhalation, or it is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. From the late Latin word inspirare to the modern English meaning of divine guidance, inspiration carries a deep personal meaning. Imagine the Holy Spirit guiding and breathing the words to at least thirty-six different authors ranging from kings to shepherds, tax collectors to fishermen, priests to doctors, rulers to the commoner, some rich and some poor with a timeline of almost 1,600 years. The Bible is not just one book. It is a library composed of sixty-six books of history, poetry, hymns, and letters.

In 1604, King James I of England commissioned a new translation of the Bible into English. It was finished in 1611, just eighty-five years after the first translation of the New Testament into English appeared (Tyndale, 1526). The Authorised Version, also known as the King James Version (KJV), quickly became the standard for English-speaking Protestants and remains popular today. This version is composed of 783,137 words and divided into 1,189 chapters. If you can type sixty words per minute, it would only take around 217 hours to re-type the whole Bible or about nine days of non-stop typing.

The holy scriptures were banned from ordinary people in the Middle Ages. But with the invention of the printing press by Guttenberg in 1440, the Bible became the most widely distributed book of all time. From houses of worship, it spread into numerous homes, libraries, hotels, hospitals, and even to mobile phones and tablets.

The Bible Society estimated that almost five billion copies had been printed since 1812 alone. Even communist China became a leading printer of the Bible, with nearly 100 million printed copies up to 2012. As of 2019, millions of more Bibles were published around the world. The Bible is still the all-time bestselling book in the world! But these precious words will be taken away from us again as prophesied in Amos 8:11. So, while we still have them in our hands, treat them as your most prized possession! God himself inspired each word so we can use them as our Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE) guide. God sustained this book throughout history to show us that his words will stand the test of time. If GOD went to great lengths to preserve his words like that, there must be a life-and-death reason why we need to read and study it more.

1.2 Revealed Secrets

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

The Bible is a fantastic collection of literature, history, poetry, and prophecies. It is not comparable to other ancient writings like the Iliad by Homer or Vedas by the Hindus. Nonetheless, atheists and non-Christians ridicule this book, even brushing it aside as a myth or fable. Sadly, others see this book as a record of genocide, murder, and other heinous crimes against humanity. There are lots of distorted views of the Bible out there. Most of these views come from antagonism and ignorance.

The power yielded by the Bible to change lives is undeniable. Its healing words have transformed countless people who used to be corrupt, alcoholics, thieves, murderers, drug addicts, adulterers, sexual perverts, prostitutes and all other problematic people in society. These life conversions defy logic and go into the realm of faith or miracle that the staunchest atheist will never accept.

Aside from its life-changing influence, the Bible has recorded history with high accuracy. Even various atheist-leaning media organisations admitted that many reliable historical accounts could be found in the Bible. Many of its stories are supported by other non-biblical literature. Archaeological finds have authenticated Old Testament books like Genesis, I & II Kings, and Daniel to New Testament books like the Gospel accounts and Acts. In particular, the identity of Jesus and the people who interacted with him were validated by non-Christian historians such as Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny, Mara bar Serapion and Lucian de Samosata.

The stories in Daniel 2 and 7 and their depiction of human history may perhaps be the most significant prophecy revealed by God to humanity. Daniel accurately predicted the rise and fall of major empires from the Neo-Babylon (605-539 BC), Medo-Persia (539–331 BC), Greece (331–168 BC) and Rome (168 BC-AD 476).

There were more than 300 Old Testament prophecies on the birth, life, and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Out of those predictions, sixty-five of them were considered direct and detailed. Mathematicians calculated that if one person fulfilled only eight of these prophecies, the probability would be one in one hundred quadrillion chances (100,000,000,000,000,000). That’s seventeen zeros! And Jesus fulfilled not just eight but all the prophecies which will give us the probability of 10 to the power of 157! That number is so mind-blowing huge that it exceeds the number of atoms in the known universe, which is 10 to the power of 82. That is the highest number conceivable to us. There is no doubt Jesus fulfilled the first coming of Christ and has shown how accurate Bible prophecies were. The Bible has proven time and time again that it is reliable and it can defend itself. Will you trust it with your life today?

1.3 Real Prophecies

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21

When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, I came across a man named Nostradamus in an apocalyptic-themed television program. I could still remember that owning a coloured television was still a bit of luxury in those days. Back then, most of the television sets were bulky boxes with a black and white TV monitor and speakers located at either the bottom or the sides. There were no remote controls, and we needed to turn a knob to change the channel. You need two people to lift this 30-kg furniture, but after only thirty-odd years, we can watch live streaming of any news or program at a gadget that fits the palm of our hands. Talk about the explosion of knowledge in a few ticks of time within one generation! The changes in the last few decades remind me of Daniel 12:4, where the prophet said that knowledge shall increase indeed.

I found out that Nostradamus was a French astrologer who lived between 1503 and 1566, a doomsday prophet with a collection of 942 poetic writings, all indicating future events. It’s still vivid in my memory when he predicted the rise of a certain mighty man who would start the destruction of human civilisation. It was even suggested that Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president from 1979 – 2003, would be the one to usher the end of the world. As a young lad, I was startled, amazed and at the same time frightened of how my future would be. Will everyone die of a nuclear holocaust? Everything seemed doom and gloom if Nostradamus was right. His predictions about the assassination of US president JFK or the rise of Hitler appeared to be precise.

However, after closer scrutiny, his writings were so generalised that anyone could easily fit in any modern-day event to its narrative. Upon studying the Bible in the 1990s, I learned that predictions outside this book are nothing but mainly lies coated with some bits and pieces of evidence. Human agencies use false or near-truth prophecies to corrupt, scare or even make a profit. But God chooses and inspires individuals to carry out specific messages. Let us examine carefully the predictions or prophecies that come along our way. Always check if it conforms with the Bible. A 99% truth is still false. The real cry that stands out today is the calling of people back to God - back to the Bible.

1.4 Search and Find…Eternity

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

The year was 2019 when I decided to write my first manuscript. I chose to write a devotional book because I believed it would be the best platform to convey my thoughts on simple everyday items and relate them to other people. I may not have earthly riches that I can pass on to my child and the younger generations, but I hope that the nuggets of wisdom I earned from my battles in life would be worth more than any material possession.

As a boy who grew up in the 1980s, the year 2020 and beyond seemed so futuristic, yet here we are. Can you imagine we are living in a decade that sounds so space-age? Especially for someone who lived at the dawn of coloured televisions and computers. It is like living in the Back to the Future scene, a popular movie in the late ’80s. But whether it’s the 1970’s or 2020’s, there is still one universal search among people – the quest for a fountain of youth or eternal life. We now have medical victories against different forms of cancer, the Ebola virus and other epidemics. There was even a successful treatment on a couple of AIDS patients. Just knowing you have AIDS is like a sure death sentence to anyone in my time.

So, are we getting there? Does our human ability to add a few more years to our life span make us closer to eternal life? Jesus said that for you and me to have that coveted long life, we need to start looking at the life source itself – the holy scriptures or the Words of God. Google your way into heaven! Search, compare, spend time with this fantastic book and just like a three-dimensional picture, the pleasant face of Christ will slowly appear. Of course, you will need a pair of spectacles in the form of the Holy Spirit to see and understand the meaning of the words themselves. Many interpretations may arise just from one verse, so we all need the Spirit’s guidance to appreciate its intended message.

The Bible and the Bible alone! Sola Scriptura. The focus is not the eternal life itself, but you must search for Jesus first, with all your mind, heart and soul, and eternal life is just a bonus. Jesus is all worth it!

1.5 Let Us Reason

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Many of the secular, humanist and atheistic people are flourishing in free Western societies. People in communist countries don’t have much choice but to throw away religion from their system and culture. In particular, the French had championed democracy when they threw away their monarchy and decided to form a people-run government in the late 18th century. But as France and the rest of western Europe embraced a more humanistic view, they threw away Christian principles that gave them the moral fibres of their freedoms. The French philosopher Voltaire even claimed that the Bible was written, commanded and taught by fools. Both free western culture and communism hate the Bible with a passion! And we are not even including the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist countries which make up a significant portion of the global population. So everywhere you go, the Bible is seen as a threat to some societies. People could not stand its powerful words because it convicts our sinful nature.

The foolishness of God is wiser than men, as Paul reminded the early Corinthians. Yet, what Christians are facing now is not new. Since the 1800s, there has been a resurgence of anti-Bible and anti-God sentiment. Bible-believing Christians should not be surprised as these events fit perfectly in the prophecies of the last days. Instead, let us use reasonable faith in dealing with people who hate the Bible. If a person sincerely seeks the truth, God will lead them to His words one way or another.

The Christian faith is so rational that if a sceptic or Bible-hater opens the mind, they will find the God of the universe. For too long, our universities have taught our youth that there is no intelligent design in nature. If they look closer, God can easily explain the question of origin, identity, purpose, and destiny to us through His words. When someone claims that there is no God and cries out that the Bible is just myths from certain people who want the masses to follow, please stop, analyse and never be drawn into popular thinking. Step back and ask, What do you mean by that? Follow it up with How did you come up with that conclusion? – an approach I learned from Greg Koukl in his book Tactics. Anyone can make a life philosophy or worldview by reading a slogan or digesting a famous quote from well-known atheistic personalities like Dawkins, Hitchens or Hawking. The liberal media has made them rock stars. I believe that Christians should be able to stand their ground and ask questions until we can reason together" to the truth. A genuine truth seeker will always find GOD at the end of his or her quest. And if you have doubts yourself, never end your search until you are satisfied. God is just a prayer away if you need more help to build a reasonable faith.

1.6 Line Upon Line

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:9-10

The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books with a common theme – Jesus. The Old and New Testaments all points to Christ in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Large chunks of the Old Testament predict the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, which occurred between 4 BC and AD 30/31, while the New Testament points to the second coming of Christ. This generation may even witness this great event. How do we know these things? We have to do a meticulous study of the Scriptures, as what the prophet Isaiah told us. We cannot take just one verse and proclaim it is the only truth! We have to read the Bible in its entirety to fully understand that some parts like Daniel and Revelation’s books are prophetic books that cannot be read the same way as historical books like Genesis, 1 and 2 Kings, Esther or Acts. Prophecy is not literal, and God made it that way to build faith among his people and teach them to rely on the Holy Spirit. Without divine guidance, we may fall into confusion and even into dangerous teachings. Just google in one prophecy mentioned in Daniel or Revelation, and you will get hundreds of interpretations, most of which are false and absurd.

One of my key learnings to understand prophecy is to use prophetic tools. As a plumber needs his wrench to open pipes, we need the right verses and context to help us know. And these tools are provided by the Bible itself. For example, we need to understand the year-day principle in Revelation 12:6 about a 1,260-day prophecy. Now many will jump in and say that it’s literal 1,260 days and will interject it in many historical and even futuristic events. But when we go to Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, we learn that one prophetic day equals one actual year. The principle of typology also helps us understand many puzzling stories. For example, the crossing of the Israelites through the Red Sea is the type for the baptism of Christians. As the Israelites left their bondage in Egypt, Christians should leave their former lives when they decide to go with God. This is what makes the Bible so exciting to study. There is a treasure trove of typologies to be encountered.

This scriptural tool is just one of many uses of what precept-upon-precept and line-upon-line approach the prophets instructed us to do. Our generation is privileged to have witnessed most of the prophecies already fulfilled. A few remain, and I challenge those who read this book to search out the rest. My faith as a Christian solidifies every time I see current events and prophecies unfolding right before our eyes.

1.7 Apologetics

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15

Based on a live seminar by one Christian apologist, it was mentioned that a recent survey conducted in the US indicated that three out of four teenagers from Christian homes leave the church after studying in a liberal university. They eventually become atheists who don’t believe in God or an agnostic who is unsure if God exists. The exodus of the youth raised in church is alarming and too high! This statistic is accurate for Australia and most developed countries as well. If only the founders of Western society, who are primarily Christians by the way, would see what several generations after them have become.

I came across the Apologetics ministry just a few years ago. I must admit that even though it doesn’t touch on the present truths and prophecies that are essential knowledge in the last days before Christ returns, understanding even just a bit of Apologetics is a critical aspect to Christian growth, particularly in the 2020s and beyond. What is Apologetics, by the way? It doesn’t mean we always apologise on behalf of or for Christianity. Not at all! It came from the word "Apologia", which means the defence of the faith against objections. In support of the Bible, Apologetics uses philosophy, history and science as primary tools to defend the Word of God.

Perhaps Paul was the first of the Apologists as he is a gifted scholar himself. After the apostolic era, Christian intellectuals like Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Augustine, Tertullian, Anselm of Canterbury, William Paley, Martin Luther, C. Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, John Lennox and many more came to defend the fundamental Christian faith from its attackers. The works of these people helped me in so many ways to build a rational faith. But we must also be vigilant that one cannot win the soul for Christ by presenting the best arguments and reason alone. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that convicts a soul to repentance and acceptance of a Saviour. The heart of apologetics is Christ and nothing else.

I pray for the modern-day Apologists as they defend Christianity from atheism and other non-Christian groups. Most of the brilliant apologists reject the biblical truths about literal Creation, the Flood, the Ten Commandments, the state of the dead, and the Sabbath, to name a few. God knows their hearts, and if they are searching for the truth, which they are actively defending, I believe they will come to the point of understanding themselves. I just hope that they don’t shun the truth when it reaches them. Perhaps, God’s omniscience still allows them to be where they are so that they can reach out to more people for Christ. Upon writing this book, I consider myself as a young Christian apologist. And if summoned to defend and witness for my faith, I would gladly heed the call with humility and respect.

1.8 Law and Testimony

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

There is a great debate among Bible scholars on what is the best translation of the Bible. As of 2019, the Bible has been translated into almost 700 languages around the world. There are around 450 translations of the Bible in the English language alone. The earliest copies were the Geneva Bible (GEN) in 1560 and the King James Version (KJV) completed in 1611. The KJV was the Bible used by most of the reformers and Protestants. Other translations later came in like the American Standard Version (ASV) in 1901, New American Standard Bible (NASB) in 1971, the New International Version (NIV) in 1978, the New King James Version (NKJV) in 1982, and the New Living Translation (NLT) to name just a few.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church has preserved its own copy called the Douay version; the Jesuit Bible completed in 1582. The Douay Bible was used to counter the growing Reformation movement. The Catholic Bibles have seven more books in addition to the sixty-six books recognised by the Protestant version. In addition to the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, the Catholic Old Testament includes the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch (includes the Letters of Jeremiah), I and II Maccabees, and additions to Daniel and Esther. The Reformers rejected the additional books as they were not originally part of the Hebrew Bible. These other books also supported many Catholic doctrines that Protestants exclude.

We should understand that all original manuscripts of the apostles and the gospels were all destroyed or lost, most likely during the intense persecution between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD (or CE, Common Era). We have the surviving manuscript copies from the church fathers as early as the first and second centuries after Christ. It goes down to who has the best-preserved copy. The Old Testament of the Bible was derived from the Masoretic Texts in the 7th to the 10th-century after Christ (AD). These texts mainly were accurate if tested against the Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947. Multiple Jewish scribes secured the Old Testament copies in Hebrew and Aramaic throughout the centuries. Most of us can be sure that we have a good version of the Old Testament.

Most of the varying versions of the Bible is due to the scattered sources of the New Testament. The choice is between the KJV’s New Testament based on over 5,500 copies called the Received Text (Textus Receptus) or the Douay version based on ancient copies but primarily outside Textus Receptus. If you sum it up, the KJV’ New Testament is based on almost 95% of the total 5,800+ surviving copies, while the rest of the early translation is only based on the other 5%. Would you trust very old but few limited copies (Douay) or relatively old but with thousands of copies (KJV)?

All other modern translations after the KJV have used a combination of the Received Texts (copies were from all over the known world), Codex Sinaiticus or Alexandrian texts (from Egypt) and Codex Vaticanus or Latin Vulgate (from Rome) sources. Some say that Sinai, Alexandria and Vatican, where some ancient New Testament copies were discovered, used to be bastions of anti-Christian ideas in the first centuries. It is therefore important to practice extra caution when reading a specific verse to get the whole context. After the apostles, Antioch became a leading Christian base and became the source of most of the Syriac texts from which Textus Receptus was derived.

I truly believe that God has preserved his words as it has the power to save people. Many people, including myself, came to know Christ by reading modern, easy-to-read translations. But as I grow in my Christian journey, I go to the KJV for a more confident and in-depth study and compare it with other versions. Have a look at your Bible translation and compare it with the original Bible of the Reformation, and you will be surprised by some changes. Some dismiss that translations don’t matter or it’s not an issue of salvation. But if I take the Word of God by itself, I would rather rely on his original words and not the hosed-down or improved version. If the Bible is like a map (or a light, Psalms 119:105), so I can find my way to heaven, I prefer the original version as well. Wouldn’t you? Ask God for guidance to lead you.

1.9 Safe Hiding Place

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

Hide and seek was my favourite outdoor game with other kids in my neighbourhood in the 1980s. We live in a province just south of Manila, Philippines. Usually, at dusk after school, we would gather around and assign the seeker or the it while those who hide would scamper for the best spots in the quiet neighbourhood. Some of us would end up behind or up the trees, or underneath tables, or behind doors, and all imaginable crevices in the area where you can put a small child’s body in without suffocating. The excitement filled the air as the search went on, and you could hear screams and laughter when someone was found. Those times are now part of the treasured memories locked and hidden in my thoughts. We were truly blessed to play outdoor games with lots of other kids.

My childhood may have been deprived of hi-tech gadgets, but it was full of beautiful experiences. We never had a lot of battery-operated toys or gadgets, yet we enjoyed the younger years by merely playing with each other. I share these stories with my child so she understands the roots of her father. Being in Melbourne for more than a decade, I realised that hide-and-seek with neighbourhood kids is not the norm. There is no sense of community compared to where I came from. It is a fact that we live in a different society from where I grew up. We adapt to the culture we are in. Oh, how I wish my dear Beatrice could also experience the exhilarating innocent fun we had in those days!

Over the years, I learned that when it comes to studying the Bible, I also need to adopt a hide-and-seek strategy. It does not exactly work out like the children game I used to play with my friends, but there are some similarities. Whenever I study scriptures, I need to hide them within my mind and heart or, in other words, memorise or write down as many as I can, so that when the time comes that I need those words, I can quickly seek it and it will be available. These nuggets of wisdom and promise from the Bible may help a friend in times of sorrow, trial or disappointment. Also, if we are personally struggling, these words would help us get through. I would get those precious words from my memory vault, and it would give me strength. Start building your mind with the precious words of God, and you will find them as treasures during times of trouble.

1.10 Eternal words

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35

My wife Rose and I were married in December of 2006, and we both uttered a solemn vow to love each other ’til death do us part. Those vows were sacred words to be tested by time. We celebrated our tenth anniversary in 2016, and we are still together not because of our strength but because God has sustained us both through the joys and struggles of marriage. I just realised that if you want something to last for eternity, hand it over to God. He is kind of an expert when it comes to forever! Just trust everything – your job, your family, your house, your money, your health, everything. We need to understand that we don’t own anything anyway. Everything belongs to God. You may think that you have worked hard and achieved things because of your own set of skills or persistence. But really, you still don’t own anything. And once you die, your memory is forgotten (see Ecclesiastes 9:5). As Jesus said, everything fades but God’s words will stand the test of time.

History tells us that there were many attempts to destroy the Scriptures. For instance, there was a Greek emperor by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes who was also called the madman. The Jewish historian Josephus recorded in Antiquities of the Jews 12.5.4: And if there were any sacred book of the law found, it was destroyed, and those [Jews] with whom they were found miserably perished also.

At the time of the Roman empire, Emperor Diocletian tried to destroy the Scriptures once again. One historian recounted that: All assemblies of Christians were forbidden, and churches were ordered to be torn down. Four different edicts were issued, each excelling the preceding in intensity. One edict ordered the burning of every copy of the Bible—the first instance in [Christian] history when the Scriptures were made an object of attack (1897, 175). ¹

The dark middle ages saw repeated attacks on the Bible. Copies were only limited to the rich clergies and others who could afford them. Until one day, Guttenberg invented the printing press in 1440. After another five years, the first printed copies of the English Bible arrived, and an overwhelming supply of copies was made available since then. His words shall never pass away. Demonic powers will try to hide and destroy it, but God’s words will stay. Make sure you have your copy of his everlasting words. Marriage vows were made to last as long as we live, but it’s God’s words that will last for eternity.

1.11 Words in My Mouth

Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. Jeremiah 1:9

Have you ever played Chinese whispers? There are at least two competing teams with the same number of team members. The one at the front will be given a message or code, and they will pass on this message by whispering in the ear of the next team member until it reaches the last team member. The last team member who can recite the exact word, or closest to it, in the shortest time wins the game. Chinese whisper is a drill usually played by our youth members on Sabbath afternoon programs, and it never failed to excite and challenge. We typically get a verse from the game leader, and the last one would find the verse in the Bible and read it aloud. This game has taught me that information can easily be obscured even by just a few people.

Imagine the Bible surviving thousands of years handed down from multiple generations since AD 100. Remember that the Old Testament was completed between 1400 and 400 BC, while the New Testament was written sometime between AD 45 and 100. If the Bible is not inspired, it is possible to assume a Chinese whispers overload! One of the attacks against the Bible was its supposed unreliability and the inaccuracy of copies. That was a fair critique until the discovery of the first set of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 at the Qumran caves. These ancient writings were likely copied and preserved by a Jewish sect called the Essenes, who wrote in parchments and papyrus scrolls and hid them in the caves during the Greek to the Roman rule of Palestine. Many centuries later, a young Bedouin shepherd threw a rock in one of the caves and heard a breaking pot. He called other shepherds to the scene and found more clay jars with scrolls inside. There were about 900 scrolls composed of Old Testament copies, except for Esther and Nehemiah, that were found. Upon translation to modern English, the Dead Sea scrolls precisely match the current Old Testament copies we have now in our hands. Please note that the ancient documents dated back to at least the 4th century BC.

God put the words into the mouths and pens of prophets that speak to us today in the form of the Bible. No one can deny the power of God’s words. It reached our bookshelves in the past, and now it is available on our tablets and smartphones too. It stood the test of time. This book must be an important one that we must pay close attention to.

1.12 Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Jesus declared he is the bread of life in John 6:35. He also said in Matthew 4:4 that It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.. It just means we cannot sustain ourselves in the long haul without God and his words.

If you ask someone from Vietnam, Thailand or the Philippines, Matthew 4:4 should be revised as Man shall not live by rice alone.... Or perhaps an Italian will suggest pasta; an African will say corn or maise; the Chinese and Japanese will add noodles; while Americans and Aussies will include potatoes. Broadly speaking, all of these staple foods are represented in the scriptures as bread. Bread or meat are terms used by prophets of old to refer to the main diet consumed during those times.

It is interesting to note that Jesus mentioned that it’s not just physical food that sustains life. He added that dwelling on the words of God should be a permanent staple diet of every man, woman, and child. Jesus reminded us that to grow physically, we need real, solid food that will provide nutrition to our body cells and fuel us so we can move. However, to grow spiritually, we need to feed on his immortal words to fill us up with faith, love, peace and joy, and drive us to spread the gospel.

As a 13-year old newly baptised member of the Adventist church many years ago, I was on fire for the Lord. One morning during the flag ceremony before classes started, I shared this exact verse with some of my friends. One of them was so perplexed that he challenged me by saying, how could someone live without food at all! Obviously, he didn’t understand the whole verse I shared, and I didn’t explain it well too. He must have thought that I was telling them that we should live by reading the Bible alone. It was a conversation that I still remember after almost three decades. Here I am, trying to share Jesus with others and explaining the same profound and meaningful verse.

I must say now that I have more appreciation of John 6:35 and Matthew 4:4 than ever before. I hope that you also digest the meaning of this verse. As we need nourishment for our physical bodies, we need to nourish our spiritual being with the holy scriptures every day. Food may satisfy our bellies, but the word of God fills the hungering soul.

1.13 Holy Prophets

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: Luke 1:70

Jesus referred to John the Baptist as the greatest of all prophets (Matthew 11:11). It was a very high honour given by the Son of God to a mere mortal. John was not just from a simple religious family. His father, Zacharias, was a priest. But John was also a cousin of Jesus, and they were born just several months apart.

I have always thought the greatest prophet would either be Moses or Elijah or even Enoch because these three men are in heaven now (Luke 9:28-36). Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and was referred to as one of the humblest men before God. Elijah remained a powerful messenger despite the apostasy of his time and even summoned fire from heaven. Perhaps Enoch, who walked with God for 300 years, is a record no other man we know of has ever achieved. But why John the Baptist? He was just a lowly man who spent most of his time in the wilderness and ate honey and locusts. Why was he the greatest? I believe his greatness was not because of his skill or power because Moses, Elijah or Enoch could easily be greater if compared one on one. His fame was not because he baptised hundreds or thousands of people; instead, he paved the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus. John acted as the best man of the groom. Among all the prophets, he had a front-row seat at the arrival of the Messiah. In other words, Jesus called him great, not because John yielded extraordinary achievements. But simply because God chose him to be with Jesus in the most remarkable story of redemption.

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