Audio - 2023-05-27
The quest for a World Federation, a World Parliament, a World Court, and a…
World Government
Both the WEF and the Bilderberg Group are very much in the news. The World Economic Forum (WEF) hosts more than 3,000 participants, of which 1,200 are chief executives or company chairs and more than 50 are world leaders.
The Bilderberg group is way more exclusive with around 130 members. It’s all highly secretive - there is no detailed agenda, no resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken, and no policy statements are issued. Based on comments made in previous years, they seem to discuss similar topics to the WEF.
Both of these organisations are unelected by the so called democracies, yet wield enormous power! What are they trying to achieve?
World Economic Forum
“The World Economic Forum (WEF) has grown from a small huddle in the 1970s, when it was started by the academic Klaus Schwab, to hosting more than 3,000 participants, of which 1,200 are chief executives or company chairs and more than 50 are world leaders.
As you can imagine, there are lots of meetings, surrounded by varying degrees of secrecy. The public ones - which anyone can attend. The closed ones - which only those participants with a white badge can attend and then the private ones that you don’t even know have happened. Those are where the big deals are discussed, behind closed doors.” (bbc.co.uk)
World Economic Forum Pushes Digital ID System
One of the main objectives of the WEF is a far-reaching digital ID system and complete control of the money supply. This would seem to point to a totalitarian form of government.
“The World Economic Forum (WEF), an international organization that works to ‘shape global, regional and industry agendas,’ recently published its latest dystopian proposal – a far-reaching digital ID system that will collect as much data as possible on individuals and then use this data to determine their level of access to various services.
The WEF suggests that this data collection dragnet would allow a digital ID to scoop up data on people’s online behavior, purchase history, network usage, credit history, biometrics, names, national identity numbers, medical history, travel history, social accounts, e-government accounts, bank accounts, energy usage, health stats, education, and more.
Once the digital ID has access to this huge, highly personal data set, the WEF proposes using it to decide whether users are allowed to ‘own and use devices,’ ‘open bank accounts,’ ‘carry out online financial transactions,’ ‘conduct business transactions,’ ‘access insurance, treatment,’ ‘book trips,’ ‘go through border control between countries or regions,’ ‘access third-party services that rely on social media logins,’ ‘file taxes, vote, collect benefits,’ and more.” (reclaimthenet.org)
The Mark Of The Beast
As the previous article points out, with the new digital ID system the scripture in Revelation 13:7 is very real and up to date! It can happen right now. A system already is up and working in China – absolute State control over “buying and selling”!
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:17)
Mr Armstrong writes:
“Everyone wants to be able to ‘buy or sell.’ In this scriptural usage the expression ‘buy or sell’ more literally indicates being able to buy – not that stores or those from whom one might make purchases of the necessities of life would refuse to accept the money, but that the one refusing the ‘mark’ would not be able to buy, would not be able to earn a living, to earn a wage or salary, or to engage himself in business. The ‘mark of the beast,’ then, has direct bearing on ability to engage in business, or to hold a job and earn a living.” (Who or What Is the PROPHETIC BEAST? Part 2)
Control By Stealth
“Young Global Leaders” Revealed
“Through its Young Global Leaders program, the World Economic Forum has been instrumental in shaping a world order that undermines all democratic principles. For several decades, this program has nurtured compliant leaders acting as WEF agents in governments around the world. The consequences are far-reaching and may turn out to be devastating for humanity.
Klaus Schwab: ‘I have to say then I mention names like Mrs Merkel, even Vladimir Putin and so on they all have been Young Global Leaders of The World Economic Forum. But what we are really proud of now with the young generation like Prime Minister Trudeau, President of Argentina and so on, is that we penetrate the cabinets… It is true in Argentina and it is true in France now…’
In 1992, Klaus Schwab and World Economic Forum launched a program initially called Global Leaders of Tomorrow. In 2004, this program was turned into the Forum for Young Global Leaders – a 5-year program of indoctrination into WEFs principles and goals. The aim was – and is – to find suitable future leaders for the emerging global society.
The program since its inception has included politicians, business leaders, royalty, journalists, performers and other cultural influencers who have excelled in their fields but have not yet turned 40 years of age (originally 43 in order to include Angela Merkel).
The network creates a force for worldwide influence through the combination of the individual skills and resources of its members. As Klaus Schwab says in the introductory quote, it has become very successful. Already in the first year, 1992, a number of highly influential candidates were elected. Among 200 selected were global profiles such as Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, Nicolas Sarkozy, Bill Gates, Bono, Richard Branson (Virgin), Jorma Ollila (Shell Oil), and José Manuel Barroso (President of the European Commission 2004–2014).
The vision is that a peaceful and harmonious world in balance
is created through the establishment of
a World Federation
with a World Parliament,
World Government and
a World Court.
US President Biden Approves
The ‘New World Order’ is always just a conspiracy theory until someone comes out and discusses it. Whether that’s George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, or Barack Obama, all of our previous five presidents other than Donald Trump has invoked the ‘New World Order’ during a speech or public discussion.
Today, Joe Biden joined his fellow globalist presidents in demonstrating his fealty to the globalist elites.
‘You know we are in an inflection point, I believe, in the world economy’ the Commander-in-Chief said, ‘Not just the economy, the world. It occurs every three or four generations. As one of the top military people said to me in a secure meeting the other day, 60 million people died between 1900 and 1946 and since then we established a liberal world order and that hadn’t happened in a long while. Lot of people dying [now], but nowhere near the chaos. And now’s the time when things are shifting. There’s gonna be a new world order out there, and we’ve gotta lead it. And we’ve gotta unite the rest of the world in doing it.’” (thelibertydaily.com)
Is A World Government Possible?
Mr Armstrong explains:
“World government is needed, but through human leaders it is simply impossible! What man lives today who has the qualifications – who could safely be entrusted with that much POWER!”
What Is Bilderberg?
“The three-day event, which this year runs from Thursday to Sunday, is shrouded in mystery, with clandestine talks held behind closed doors… That has sparked conspiracy theories, similar to those leveled against high-level meetings like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by those who claim attendees are seeking to establish a ‘new world order.’ However, the event’s organizers say that the discrete nature of it is to allow for greater freedom of discussion.
Now in its 69th year, the Bilderberg Meeting was established in 1954 to ‘foster dialogue’ between Europe and North America.
Today, around two-thirds of participants come from Europe and the rest from North America, with approximately a quarter from politics and government and the remainder from other fields, according to a statement on its website. Around one-fifth are women.
And, as ever, discretion is key. Attendees take part as individuals, rather than in any official capacity, and no official detailed agenda is disclosed nor are the discussions reportable.
‘The Bilderberg Meeting is a forum for informal discussions about major issues. The meetings are held under the Chatham House Rule, which states that participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s) nor any other participant may be revealed,’ the organizers said in a press release Thursday.” (cnbc.com)
“As such, they can take time to listen, reflect and gather insights.
There is no detailed agenda,
no resolutions are proposed,
no votes are taken,
and no policy statements are issued.”
(bilderbergmeetings.org)
Bilderberg: “Davos On Steroids”
“The Bilderberg Group, a notoriously shadowy organization with a membership roster that includes some of the world’s most powerful and influential people, are convening their annual meetings this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal.
Oddly enough, there is a complete media blackout in the corporate press surrounding the upcoming conference, despite the significant geopolitical ramifications attached to its members and the agenda items being discussed. If you’re familiar with the World Economic Forum’s annual closed-door, invite-only Davos confab, then you can get a sense of what Bilderberg entails.
Yet Bilderberg is a level up of exclusivity, given that FEWER THAN 150 PEOPLE usually end up with invites to the conference, as opposed to the thousands who go to Davos. Bilderberg consists only of the very top business tycoons, royals, media influencers, and government power brokers.
The Bilderberg meetings have been a regular occurrence since the mid 1950s, with the inaugural meeting in 1954 at the Bilderberg Hotel in the Netherlands.
Although it is significantly staffed by publicly elected officials, the discussions that happen during Bilderberg conferences remain a closely guarded secret. Unsurprisingly, this has led many to suspect that the powerful globalist ideologues who attend these closed-door wargaming discussions are up to no good. Organizers defend the secretive nature of the conference by claiming that it allows attendees to speak informally among peers.
To get a sense of why Bilderberg conferences are often associated with conspiratorial inquiry, look no further than the roster of last year’s meeting in Washington, DC.
The meetings included several heads of state and the world’s most powerful spy chiefs. On the American side, it included multiple Biden Administration cabinet level officials, and the likes of the CIA Director, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Eric Schmidt of Google, Sam Altman of ChatGPT, and Peter Thiel, to name a few. On the European side, attendees included the British and French spy chiefs and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, among others. The topics of discussion included:
- Geopolitical Realignments
- NATO Challenges
- China
- Indo-Pacific Realignment
- Sino-US Tech Competition
- Russia
- Continuity of Government and the Economy
- Disruption of the Global Financial System
- Disinformation
- Energy Security and Sustainability
- Post Pandemic Health
- Fragmentation of Democratic Societies
- Trade and Deglobalisation
- Ukraine
This year’s attendees have not yet been revealed.” (dossier.today)
Bilderberg 2023 Locked Down With BOMB SNIFFING DOGS & Police Surrounding The Perimeter!
May 17, 2023
“With just one day left until the annual Bilderberg conference kicks off, a massive security operation is beginning to be set up with bomb sniffing dogs and police barricades closing off the only street that would allow access to film the participants
Their agenda is loaded with standard globalist priorities, but the difference between what was discussed at Davos and what’s currently being discussed in Washington DC is that Davos was public. The Bilderberg Meeting is completely private with very strict security measures in place to make sure nothing leaks.
WEF is for the purpose of announcing the public-facing plan and seeing reactions. They throw everything against the wall and monitor what is said about their evil proposals. Bilderberg is about receiving the message and addressing the data collected. They look at public and media sentiment and then determine how to act. It’s yearly for a reason: they need to see what’s changed in the way the public feels from one year to the next.” (pressfortruth.ca)
Bilderberg: A Key To Understanding The Global Power Elite
“Most countries in the western world operate under a practically unquestionable assumption that they are democratic, in the sense that there is a plurality of different interests in society at any given time and each of them has an equal opportunity of gaining significant political power.
To think of institutions like the Bilderberg Group as inconsequential is to underestimate the role they play in constructing a global ideological consensus among elites that is then brought home and applied to the ‘nation.’
Bilderberg allows elites to interact and acquire a shared education in how to think about the world in globalised terms. While it is an unofficial institution, in the sense that is it not legally constituted, the decisions it makes are subsequently endorsed by official agencies like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and national governments.
The Bilderberg Group’s powerful members come from across the world and represent the political, economic, military, technological, and ideological spheres of globalisation. There is absolutely no representation of alternative interests and ideological positions, such as small business, populists, socialists, or nationalists.
Representatives from both major ideological parties in the US and UK, the Republicans and Democrats along with Labour and the Conservatives, are usually in attendance alongside these transnational interests. For instance, at Bilderberg in early June 2022, British Conservative Party heavyweight Michael Gove attended alongside David Lammy of the Labour Party, his supposed political opponent.
Ultimately, this calls into question the existence of difference between these parties and whether they are more concerned with the problems of their voters or those of transnational corporations.
Apparently, Bilderberg’s secretive nature is to ensure its participants can ‘speak freely in an environment of trust,’ but precisely what would these people, who themselves claim a proclivity for transparency and democracy, want to speak about free from public discussion, criticism, and alternative points of view? The public, rationally, can only surmise that it is nothing good.” (thewire.in)
Bilderberg 2023: A Council Of War
“The Portuguese sun was doing its cheery best to make this year’s Bilderberg meeting seem warm and welcoming, but nothing could take the deathly chill out of the official agenda of the secretive shindig for some of the world’s most powerful people.
Ukraine, Russia and Nato weighed heavy on the schedule, with ‘Fiscal Challenges’ and ‘Transnational Threats’ seeming like light relief. ‘Today,’ said the head of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, arriving in Lisbon to attend the talks, ‘our security environment is more dangerous than it has been since the cold war.’
This annual three-day conference is many things:
an elite networking event,
a diplomatic summit,
a lobbying opportunity for transnational financial interests,
an intense focus of conspiracy theory gossip…
but above all, the 69th Bilderberg conference, at the glorious
Pestana Palace, appeared like a council of war.”
It’s All About Control!
The WEF is quite open about their goal. Taken to the ultimate extreme, they would end up with a socialist totalitarian form of world government. So with the push for a digital currency, and masses of stored information an individuals, the government would have total control.
This system already exists! Your passport, your driving licence, your bank account details, your credit card spending, your health record and much more – are already on a database.
The Bilderberg group are more secretive, and select – with a little over 130 top leaders in attendance. As an earlier article pointed out:
“Bilderberg’s website claims that ‘participants take part in the meeting as individuals in their own right,’ in other words they do not represent their organisations in any real sense, and that ‘there is no desired outcome, there is no closing statement, there are no resolutions proposed or votes taken, and the organisation does not support any political party or viewpoint.’
Apparently, Bilderberg’s secretive nature is to ensure its participants can ‘speak freely in an environment of trust,’ but precisely what would these people, who themselves claim a proclivity for transparency and democracy, want to speak about free from public discussion, criticism, and alternative points of view? The public, rationally, can only surmise that it is nothing good.” (thewire.in)
What Do They Really Want?
The ultimate goal is a World Government. But with man’s government – peace is not possible! God makes this very clear through the prophet Isaiah:
“THE WAY OF PEACE THEY KNOW NOT; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” (Isaiah 59:8)
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul repeats:
“Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: AND THE WAY OF PEACE HAVE THEY NOT KNOWN: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:15-18)
Man cannot govern himself.
Man was not designed to govern himself.
That job belongs to Jesus Christ!
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.
THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL PERFORM THIS.”
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
The Spiritual Message in Ruth:
"And Ruth said ... whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God..." (Ruth 1:16)
A Festival Book
It is very clear from Luke 24:44-45, that Jesus Christ accepted the way the Old Testament Scriptures had been traditionally grouped by the Jews. That grouping was into three major divisions: the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms. It's often called the "tripartite division" of the Old Testament and something very different from the current English organisation and one that places the book of Ruth in what is known as "the megillot" or festival books. In that position it was the scroll that was read each year on the day of Pentecost, the festival also meaningfully known as the Feast of Firstfruits which God's church will celebrate this year on Sunday 28th May.
The story of Ruth revolves around the weeks of harvest that begin following the wave-sheaf ceremony within the days of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:15,16) and culminates with Pentecost. As one Bible commentary puts it: "... a lovely woman following like calm after a storm – the turbulent scenes of Judges – is a delightful and charming picture of domestic life in a time of anarchy and trouble". And just out of interest in the agricultural practices of that time it might naturally make sense to read the story of Ruth, but is that all that we can learn from this book? Taking into account that we are also talking about the day on which the New Testament church began in 31AD and that the holy days graphically illustrate the very plan of God, the association between the book of Ruth and the day of Firstfruits is made much more profound! In addition to the first harvest, this short book of just four chapters describes the character of Boaz and his bride-to-be, both of whom became the ancestors of King David. And within that handful of chapters, those God has called can discern the much more profound – and multifaceted – spiritual messages concerning Jesus Christ and His bride: the one true Church.
Our Former Society
Following the death of not only her husband, but tragically her two sons as well, Naomi decided to return from the land of Moab, to which they had originally fled during a time of famine, back to the land of Israel. Even though she was intent on returning, she urged her two Moabitish daughters-in-law to remain in their own country – with their own gods (Ruth 1:14-15). The primary god of the Moabites appears to have been Chemosh (II Kings 23:13) but this was a god associated with the Semitic mother goddess Ashtar and often given the title "Baal" – meaning Lord – such as when the women of Moab corrupted Israel at Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3, Psalms 106:28). Although her sister-in-law remained, Ruth left this entire society behind – with all its foreign gods, ways and customs. And each of us in God's true Church – as the collective bride of Christ, and God's Firstfruit harvest – are clearly depicted as having to do the same:
- And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
- If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
- And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple ...
- ... So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27, 33)
- And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
- And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
- And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
- Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
- And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
- And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:57-62)
A New Civilisation
It was not just that Ruth was intent on leaving her former society, but that she was totally focused on then following the God of Israel and integrating completely into the entirely new civilisation she was about to enter – founded originally on the Law of that one true God. This is conveyed to us in some of the most moving and well known words found in Scripture:
- And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
- And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
- Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
- When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. (Ruth 1:15-18)
We too, in God's church, must become similarly focused. Our entire perspective must be forwarded facing – looking earnestly toward the coming Kingdom of God, preparing now to leave this present world totally behind, as a mere relic, a defunct age. To embrace and be part of a totally new and Godly civilisation.
- These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
- And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
- But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
As Mr Armstrong puts it below:
With the Holy Spirit shut off, a human civilization has been built blinded by Satan. Into such a world came Jesus; and He came to start ANOTHER WORLD, which Adam could have started. To START A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD, brethren! Now the world doesn't understand this. Now get this. Everything I said up to now is only just background material. Here's the real message. Now get it.
Jesus came to start another civilization, to start another world. He didn't call everybody volunteers and just hocus-pocus "Just accept My name, and I'll send you up to heaven:" Nothing of the kind. He didn't come saying, "Please believe in Me. Won't you accept Me? Won't you let Me into your heart?" You can't find that in the Bible. He didn't say anything of the kind ...
... Brethren, if you come into the Church, you are a student; and you are to learn and to study the Word of God -- to study a new kind of civilization that is in the Book of Life. If you think just accepting Christ and warming the seat of a church service is going to get you into the Kingdom of God, you are of all people most deceived. (Another Civilisation – 2 October 1982)
Gleaning God's Word
In Leviticus 23 – immediately following the verse that commands us to observe the Feast of Firstfruits as one of God's holy days – is one short verse that can seem quite out of place on an initial reading. It's a command regarding gleaning:
- And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:22)
Such laws of God provided for the poor in ancient Israel, yet did so in such a way that did not stifle initiative and hard work. This law Ruth used to advantage to enable her to glean throughout the seven weeks of both the barley and wheat harvests – providing bread as the sustenance for both herself and Naomi throughout the rest of the year from her consistent hard work and diligence during harvest time.
The parallels spiritually are quite profound: just as a gleaner has no part in sowing or tending the crop, so it is God – as the farmer – who "worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13) – and even though it is "God who gives the increase " (I Corinthians 3:5-7), it still requires diligence on our part to regularly gather the words of life through daily Bible study: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
The scriptures define those "good works", and by ingesting these words, they then become part of us and we develop the Mind of Christ. In so many respects, gleaning is what Israel did when collecting manna each morning in the wilderness as they gathered their daily physical bread. Jesus however, gathers the various strands together in His comments at the end of John chapter six – showing the spiritual dimension of the entire subject and its links to the Living Word of God by which God's Church – the potential bride of Christ and antitype of Ruth – must live:
- Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
- For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world ...
- I am that bread of life.
- Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
- This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die ...
- As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
- This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever ...
- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life ...
- Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:32-33,48-50,57,58,63,68)
Christ's Protection
As soon as Boaz found out that Ruth was part of his extended family, he took it upon himself to both help and provide for her, for he could see not only her vulnerability but also her allegiance and trust in the God of Israel:
- And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
- The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." (Ruth 2:11-12 NKJV)
In a similar way, once in the church we come under the protection of Christ and the Father. Christ specifically instructed us to, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
And as the Eternal of ancient times, He consistently encourages all who tremble at the words they've gleaned from God to keep looking forward to the World Tomorrow and our place within the New Jerusalem:
- Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
- A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
- Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
- Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
- Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
- Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
- That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
- For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
- As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 66:5-13)
- Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
- And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:3,4)
Seek First The Kingdom
With Naomi's guidance as to the accepted customs of the land, Ruth then boldly makes known the fact that she wanted to marry Boaz. Her boldness was similar to the trusting confidence held by Caleb and Joshua when they returned from assessing the land with the rest of the spies:
- And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
- And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
- If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
- Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. (Numbers 14:6-9)
Humanly speaking, Ruth was an alien Moabitess and had no justification to consider marriage with Boaz who was monetarily and culturally so much her superior. How much more ourselves in God's church compared with Christ? As King David asked in Psalm 8 ... "what is man that you are mindful of him?" In I Corinthians we are aptly described as being the weak and foolish of this world, and yet our future husband is the One who created all things, and before whom every knee shall bow! For some years, Mr. Armstrong felt it was almost blasphemous to talk of us becoming part of the God family ... but it is true, as we can read in many places – such the first chapter of gospel of John: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
By reading the parables of the talents (Matthew 25:20-29) and the pounds (Luke 19:13-26) it's very clear that God wants the same positive, bold, trusting and "can do" attitude of both Ruth and Caleb within us, His children, who are destined to marry His Son. It's the "fearful and unbelieving" as brought out in Revelation 21, that will not inherit the fantastic future ahead.
Christ Our Redeemer
The reaction of Boaz to this bold approach by Ruth was one of love and respect because, as he expressed it: "all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." (Ruth 3:11) He clearly wanted to marry Ruth and was determined to redeem her to himself if at all possible. On hearing this from Ruth, Naomi simply advised, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." (Ruth 3:18) Boaz redeeming Ruth was but the first stage of a lifelong relationship. So too with Christ and the Church. Being redeemed by His blood is merely the first stage of our conversion – and reflects the very start of the "engagement period" of the Church to Christ.
- ...knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
- but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
- For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you,
- who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (I Peter 1:18-21 NASV)
As Romans 5 brings out, the redemption process involves being first reconciled to the Father, who then gives us to His Son for training and development. "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me". (John 6:45). It is this training and development that is largely the meaning of being saved by His life – washed by the waters of the Word.
- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
- That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish ...
- For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
- This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:25-27, 31,32)
A New Dynasty
Unlike the amoral, pseudo-romantic emphasis in today's degenerate society, the society in which Ruth found herself was very much both family and land-based. The inheritance of the land was of supreme importance and was even the reason for the redemption process that Boaz had to go through. This was because stewardship of the land of Israel was placed into the various family groups – within their tribe – when Israel first settled the area under Joshua. These things will have been in the mind of both Boaz and Ruth, when contemplating marriage ... it was not just pure romance, but the establishment of a dynasty. Little did they realise at the time, but the two of them would be part of an ancestry, a bloodline would eventually lead to the Davidic monarchy - a rulership that would ultimately be held for eternity by Jesus Christ Himself.
So too with us. Those young folk contemplating marriage often do not see far past the wedding and the honeymoon in the first flush of excitement and romance. But for us in the Church, it is not just the marriage to Jesus Christ and the wedding Feast that is involved, but the establishment of a dynasty - an eternal Kingdom – the very Family of God Himself. As Mr Armstrong brings out in Why Marriage – Soon Obsolete?
Why this divine marriage – this marriage within the very family or Kingdom of God? First, this gives us additional positive evidence that the Kingdom of God is a family – with Father, Son, and His wife. Those in the true Church of God, now begotten as heirs, are already now children of God, not yet born, who call Him Father. But, then these begotten children of God will be born of God – still His children just as Christ is still His Son – then divine – but also then we (collectively) shall be Christ’s wife.
And why? What then? Then many children will be Spirit-born of that divine union – it will greatly enlarge the divine family which is the Kingdom of God. How? During the thousand years beginning from the time of that marriage, God, through Christ and His divine wife, will set Himself to save the world! (Why Marriage – Soon Obsolete?)
An End Time Book
The very short book of Ruth has much to teach us about what Jesus Christ expects of us now – as a bride waiting for her future husband. We stand poised before a time of great trouble – the greatest this world will ever see – and even now we witness evil growing and expanding around the globe. But we have an everlasting position laid out before us, first within this earth, and eventually throughout the vast reaches of the cosmos. The words of this inspired psalm should therefore give us great hope, as we struggle – with God's full involvement – to build the godly character necessary to be part of that new universe-ruling union of the King of kings and His Queen:
- ... upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
- Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
- So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
- And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
- The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
- She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
- With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
- Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
- I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever. (Psalm 45:9-17)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
Read online or contact email to request a copy
