Gary Varvel: Resurrection Day special

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Was the tragic crash of a cargo ship into the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday morning a providential event?

As I wrote on January 12, “God punishes the nations that try to get Israel to give up (divide) land for peace.” Here’s the link to that essay.

In Bill Koenig’s book Eye To Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel, he documents a connection between national calamities and efforts to divide the land of Israel.

Now consider this: Biden’s relationship with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have become strained since the pro-Hamas Democrats have been protesting Biden’s support of Israel. For instance, after Biden’s State of the Union rant, a hot mic caught the president telling some Congressional Democrats that he told Bibi Netanyahu that they were going to have a “Come to Jesus” meeting. Biden later explained what he meant here.

The New York Post wrote about Netanyahu’s response to Biden during an interview on Fox News. Israel is determined to destroy Hamas. But while they continue the war in the south, Hezbollah has escalated the fighting in northern Israel.

In my Tuesday newsletter, I included a story about the US abstaining from the UN Security Council’s anti-Israel ceasefire resolution vote on Monday. The US could have vetoed that order. But by abstaining, America abandoned Israel.

The following day a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key bridge killing several people and is now leaking hazardous material into the river. Question: Was the timing of this calamity just a coincidence? I don’t know but consider this:

In 1787, George Mason said, “As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes & effects providence punishes national sins, by national calamities.”

My View: America’s political leaders and the media will not notice the timing of these two events and connect the dots because they are Biblically illiterate and spiritually blind. They don’t know that the Bible says in Genesis 12:3, God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel.

If Biden wins another term as president, I predict that the rift between America and Israel will get worse and greater calamities will follow. Consider also that Biden has imported 10 million unvetted foreigners (aka: Newcomers according to the administration) and if just a handful of those people are terrorists we may face another 9/11. 

As I read the Bible, I can’t find America. And I’ve wondered what will happen to us? Well, it occurs to me that if you were trying to destroy a nation, you would do exactly what Biden is doing.

RISING FROM THE DEAD

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25.

Over the course of my career, I have drawn several cartoons about the most important event in history — The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (see above).

This miracle is what separates Christianity from all other religions. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Then he proved it by not only raising the dead but by rising from the dead himself.

Sound far fetched? Dr. Simon Greenleaf was a Professor of Law at Harvard University, and author of the famous legal volume entitled, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence. He believed the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a hoax and he determined to expose the "myth.” After thoroughly examining the evidence for the resurrection — Dr. Greenleaf came to the exact opposite conclusion! He wrote a book entitled, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice. In which he emphatically stated: "It was IMPOSSIBLE that the apostles could have persisted in affirming the truths they had narrated, had not JESUS CHRIST ACTUALLY RISEN FROM THE DEAD…"

Atheists Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel also tried to prove the Bible was fake. Both became outspoken followers of Jesus. McDowell wrote a book called, Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Strobel wrote A Case For Christ. The evidence for the resurrection was what convinced both of them. I encourage you to study their research.

Christians have celebrated Resurrection Day (Easter) for 2000 years. There seems to be an added excitement this year. I recently wrote about the ‘Red Heifers’ in Israel and that there is a group in Israel who have talked about sacrificing one of the red cows according to Numbers 19.

CBS Fake News recently ran a story about the Red Heifers in Israel. And they showed an altar that supposedly was built for the Red Heifer sacrifice but the pictures were 25 years old. According to Mondo Gonzales who has written a book called THE RED HEIFER RITUAL, the altar in CBS News’ report is not on the Mount of Olives. Watch this interview for the latest information from Israel. 

Is Bible prophecy about to be fulfilled?

1. The Bible says that there will be a Third Temple built before Jesus’ Second Coming. 

2. In order for the Temple to be suitable for worship, there must be a Red Heifer sacrifice in order to cleanse the Temple. There are currently 4 Red Heifers in Israel. 

3. Therefore, some Christians are hoping that the Rapture of the church may be very soon. 

My view: Jesus didn’t tell His followers to seek after Red Heifers or a Third Temple because the “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” - Colossians 2:17

For instance:

• Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by replacing the sacrificial lamb system. - John 1:29

• Jesus is the Bread of Life who was broken for us which was symbolized in the leavened bread at the Passover meal. - John 6:35

• Jesus’ blood cleanses us from our sin instead of a Red Heifer cleansing us from death. - 1 John 1:7

• Jesus is the Light of the World - John 8:12

• Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” He was talking about His body. - John 2:18-22

Jesus told His followers to make disciples. If you have never prayed and repented of your sins and asked Jesus to save your soul, I encourage you to do it now. Today is the day of salvation. 

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RIGHT VIEWS

ARCHIVE: I was reminded of my 2020 cartoon when I read Townhall’s Derek Hunter: President Joe ‘Forrest Gump’ Biden.

All Israel News - As war rages, why are Israelis searching for God, and even considering Jesus?

Todd Starnes: Trump under fire for endorsing Bible, urging Americans to pray. “The president also urged Americans to return to the faith of our Founding Fathers. ‘Let’s make America pray again,’ Trump declared.”