CONTAGION Parenting During a Pandemic — P. 12 —
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May-June 2020 | TomorrowsWorld.org
A WORLD ON THE BRINK Will mankind finally listen to God?
A personal message from the Editor in Chief
A World on the Brink
E
very generation has experienced times of extreme stress. My parents lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Their parents lived through World War I and the Spanish Flu. More than 58,000 members of my American generation perished in Vietnam—and this does not include deaths among America’s allies, a million enemy combatants, and another two million poor souls caught in the middle. More than 50,000 American soldiers brought serious injuries back from their service in Iraq and Afghanistan—though the number killed was much smaller, due in part to amazing advances in battlefield medicine. Still, compared to what many previous generations have faced, post– World War II life has been pretty good for most of us in the developed world. Few generations have traveled through life without facing serious challenges. Death, of course, also comes in peaceful times and brings suffering to the dying and grief to their friends and loved ones. None of us can escape questions of life and death, and of whether there is life after death. At some point, this becomes the most important question of all. If you haven’t already, ask for our free booklet What Happens When You Die? You can read it online at TomorrowsWorld.org or request a printed copy from the Regional Office nearest you, listed on page 4 of this magazine. A Look at This Issue This issue of Tomorrow’s World understandably focuses on the coronavirus threatening our world. Earlier this year, before COVID-19 concerns had fully blossomed, I took a trip scheduled long before the crisis, bringing me closer to the epicenter of the soon-to-be pandemic than was sometimes comfortable. Once, when someone near my table of four began coughing violently in a nearly empty restaurant, we were definitely alarmed—especially when we learned that he worked in the kitchen! My article in this issue, “Traveling Amidst Masses of Masks,” recounts my personal observations journeying through the Philippines, Thailand, and South Africa as the coronavirus began spreading out of China. I also explain why COVID-19 was totally preventable.
2 Tomorrow’s World | May-June 2020
J. Davy Crockett III (yes, he is a descendant of the famous frontiersman who “killed him a bear when he was only three” and died at the Alamo) shares with us a short commentary on page 31, explaining how what we eat played into this current crisis. In his article on page 18, Editorial Director and longtime Tomorrow’s World telecast presenter Richard F. Ames shows us how leaning on God’s promises can strengthen our courage. Why do we often refuse to turn to God and His revealed word until there is no other hope? As one father said of his son, “He will always do the right thing… after he has tried everything else.” Is there a better time than now to look beyond human solutions and discover the many encouraging promises given to you by your Creator? (I should note that Richard Ames is also the author of the excellent booklet I mentioned earlier. We are including in this issue an excerpt from Dr. Douglas Winnail’s upcoming booklet on biblical health principles, exploring how infectious diseases wreak havoc around the world, especially in second- and third-world countries. Of course, as we are seeing, sometimes those diseases don’t stay where they begin! Please don’t write in to order this new booklet—we will be sending you a personal invitation very soon, once it is finished! We often fail to notice how children are deeply affected when the world around them seems to be imploding. I still remember how the Asian flu of 1957–58 impacted my eleven-year-old mind and emotions.
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Volume 22, Issue 3 | May-June 2020
Mark Sandor, a father of four, explains how to help our children learn vital lessons in times of crisis. Children value the familiar, and times like these stir questions: Why is school canceled? What’s happening? Are we safe? Our little ones need answers. Mark’s article on page 24 is a must-read for anyone with young children or grandchildren. The virus itself is not the only story. We are also suffering from one of its side-effects: the financial devastation wrought on our world. This is the subject of Dexter Wakefield’s article on page 26. It may be that COVID-19’s greatest legacy will be its effect on world economies, and how that damage will fuel even greater social contagions and political changes. Future plagues—predicted in prophecy—should be expected to have even more powerful effects. On page 32, Wyatt Ciesielka addresses what’s coming. On page 16 John Meakin explores the many challenges facing Britain and Europe now that Brexit is a reality—a reality, by the way, that Tomorrow’s World foretold decades in advance on the basis of Bible prophecy, even while many “experts” were skeptical that Britain would ever leave the European Union. Britain and the European Union nations were already straining to manage the complicated fallout of their political divorce, but what will be the end result of these powerful new challenges? Be sure to read the “London Calling” column each issue to keep up with important events in that part of the world. As the COVID-19 pandemic is reminding us, what happens in one part of the world, such as Europe, is of vital concern to people all across the globe. And how have people reacted to the crisis? One odd element that history will record concerning these days is how the pandemic spread of a disease that attacks the lungs somehow resulted in the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020. For sound reason and spiritual advice concerning the hoarding mindset that emptied our shelves, you will want to read Michael Heykoop’s “Oh Canada!” column beginning on page 10. A Warning and Wake-Up Call Increased travel at the time of the Chinese New Year helped COVID-19 spread outside of Wuhan to other parts of China and the world. At that same
time, Europe was struggling with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit’s economic and social impact. Australia was reeling from last year’s devastating cycle of drought, fires, and floods, which saw the deaths of a staggering one billion wild animals as well as 600,000 cattle. Waves of economic refugees seek a better life in Europe, and Turkey is not stopping the flow. What can we expect when COVID-19 ravages the economies of Mexico and the nations to its south in Central and South America? Where will their suffering masses go? When these desperate people bring disease to their destination countries, how will they be received? World events often come together to magnify troubles in times of stress. And those times of stress bring strong—not always good—leaders to the forefront: Vladimir Putin, Recep Erdogan, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and others like them. Every generation has experienced difficulties, but technological advances, the speed of travel, and the population explosion have magnified the size and scope of problems today. The Bible tells us that even more difficult times are ahead, such as we can hardly imagine. COVID-19 should be a wake-up call as to what lies ahead—a relatively small-scale warning to a complacent world of what is to come unless we amend our ways, turn from immoral behaviors, and stop rejecting our Creator. It is no coincidence that our world is being turned upside down at the very time we are turning morality on its head! Medical breakthroughs, economic stimulus programs, and social distancing may bring temporary relief to our troubled world, but these only treat the effects of our problems—not the causes. Troubles will continue to pile upon troubles until we turn to the only One who can give real solutions. In biblical language, it is time for us individually and collectively to humble ourselves and repent of sin. Any other solution is a mere band-aid being applied to a severed artery.
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 3
5 Traveling Amidst Masses of Masks
Writing while abroad at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Editor in Chief Gerald Weston explains why this is happening, and what we need to learn.
12 Contagion: Defeating Infectious Disease In this excerpt from our brand-new booklet, Dr. Douglas Winnail explains how the Bible holds precious information for battling disease.
16 A Day to Remember in a Year of Change Brexit is complete! Just as the United Kingdom has found freedom, its challenges have become greater than ever. Will this once-great nation find its way forward?
18 Claim God’s Promises! When the world seems out of control, we need peace of mind, hope, and security. And there is no source of security like the promises of God!
24 Parenting During a Pandemic Our children hear the same news stories that we do. How can parents guide them thorough difficult times like these?
10 26 31 32
Anxiety, Control, and Toilet Paper When the Economy Catches the Flu The Bible’s Health Laws vs. Coronavirus Understanding the Coming Plagues of Prophecy
34 Letters to the Editor 35 Television Log Circulation: 334,000
The pandemic is forcing the world to tilt in new directions Laura Lezza/Getty Images News via Getty Images
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TRAVELING AMIDST MASSES OF MASKS
Dear Tomorrow’s World Reader,
I began composing the article below in February while sitting in an airport in Thailand during a long-planned trip around the world to visit our churches and ministry—a trip taken at a time when COVID-19 was gradually spreading out from the Chinese town of Wuhan and when the impact and magnitude of the crisis was not yet understood. Even then, an eerie atmosphere prevailed, and in the large crowds of people massed closely together in airports, many wore protective masks. Looking back at what I wrote just a few months ago, I marvel at how much has changed in our world—and how quickly. While some of the comments below may seem dated, given how fresh the situation was at the time I wrote them down, I still want to share these firsthand observations with you, along with the meditations they inspired. An update follows at the end of the article.
M
By Gerald E. Weston
y trip was planned months ago, and little did I know then that I would be sitting in the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, as I am right now, writing about this subject. I came here to spend a few days meeting with Tomorrow’s World associates from eight Asian countries and to see firsthand the work of our foundation here. The first stop of my itinerary was a visit to our office in Canada for the better part of a week to record four Tomorrow’s World telecasts for our Canadian audience, then traveling to Manila in the Philippines to give a Tomorrow’s World presentation and meet with associates there.
I never imagined while the trip was being planned that I would be surrounded by throngs of concerned travelers who clearly have one thing on their minds: an invisible threat spreading around the world from Wuhan, China. Virtually all airport workers around me— custodians, ticket agents, restaurant staff—are wearing masks of all sorts. Manufacturers have capitalized on the crisis by offering a variety of masks such as most of us have never seen before. And, frankly, I donned one myself, along with many other Westerners, while standing in crowded airport lines—if for no other reason than to satisfy my wife waiting for me back home and all the others concerned about my health. Handwashing, alcohol wipes, and other forms of disinfectant are everywhere—but how can you
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fully avoid contamination from an invisible virus that may be lurking on any surface you touch? While I’m not overly concerned, the truth is that anyone sitting in a crowded plane, train, or bus anywhere in Asia has the coronavirus on his mind, knowing that there is at least a small chance of encountering this life-threatening bug. Of course, the challenge isn’t just in Asia. I notice you cannot board aircraft traveling to a variety of different countries if you were recently in China, Macau, Taiwan, or Hong Kong at any time in the last 14 days. Staff are handing us new declaration forms to help screen passengers. Hotels, malls, and other public places check your temperature before allowing you in. (Note: After leaving Thailand, where I wrote most of this article, we could not disembark from our aircraft in South Africa until every single passenger had undergone a temperature scan. Even Lesotho—a landlocked country bordered on all sides by South Africa—requires a temperature scan before allowing anyone to enter. All these are prudent measures that demonstrate the concern of authorities all around the world.) Sitting here in this airport, I wonder: What if COVID-19 turns into a pandemic such as the world experienced in 1918, when 25 to 50 million people perished from what has been called the Spanish flu? Is COVID-19 really that serious? Or are these steps an exercise in (pardon the pun) overkill? Is this fear justified? I have to say that seeing firsthand the global effects of the coronavirus has been enlightening. Whether this turns out to be a worldwide pandemic or an inconvenient false alarm will likely be known by the time you read this article. I hope it will be the latter. The Economic Impact and Our Tragic Ignorance In addition to fear spreading throughout Asia and elsewhere, it may be that COVID-19’s greatest legacy will be its impact on the world economy. Understandable fear is shutting down travel and tourism, affecting the personal lives of millions. You can see it in the numbers of cancelled flights, especially for those coming in and out of Shanghai, Wuhan, and Beijing. You can see it at tourist locations, where anticipated vacationers are not showing up. Tourists at the Grand Palace in
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The airline industry, like many others, has been devastated by the pandemic. Bangkok are few in number compared to those who flock there during a normal day. The Chinese New Year normally brings thousands of people to Phuket, but not this year, impacting private and corporate lodging and all that is associated with a tourist town. Similar situations are spread across the region. And it is clear that the effects of this virus will extend far beyond Asia. My wife and I were planning to take an Alaskan cruise in celebration of our 50 years of marriage, but who wants to chance being locked up in a germ factory for who knows how many weeks? In such a scenario, the odds right now are that you will escape the virus itself, but not the fallout from quarantine measures if even one passenger or crew member comes aboard the ship infected. This affects not only the giant corporate cruise lines themselves, but thousands of workers who depend on full ships for their livelihoods. Dear subscribers, the fear, the loss of life, and the personal and worldwide economic impact of COVID-19 that I see beginning to surround us could have been avoided, as I have explained in two past Tomorrow’s World telecasts. This did not have to happen. No, mankind has not learned the “Lessons from SARS,” nor come to understand that “Ebola Can Be Prevented.” Go to our website, search for those programs, and watch them for yourself. You will see—the truth is so obvious. These tragedies are unnecessary and completely preventable. This coronavirus reminds us of how vulnerable we are to disease and how temporary our lives are—and it should also remind us, once again, of what happens when man thinks he
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TRAVEL I N G AMI DST MASS ES O F MASKS
knows more than his Creator. These lessons are sadly lost on the majority. But will we ever come to the time when disease is a thing of the past—just a chapter in an ancient history book? The answer has been clear all along, and it may surprise you. Our bodies are wonderfully made, with marvelous defenses against most dangers. Our skin is a powerful barrier protecting us from a world of pathogens swimming about us as sharks around injured prey. Our bloodstream is filled with flexible and “intelligent” antibodies ready to pounce upon would-be invaders, signaling killer cells to destroy them. Space here does not allow me to do justice to all the defense mechanisms the human body possesses—suffice it to say that we have many natural defensive and offensive weapons available in our bodies to deter most normal biological dangers. Wallace Smith devoted two full pages to this wondrous aspect of God’s design in his article “The War Beneath Your Skin” that appeared in our March-April 2018 issue. Marvelous as that system is, we know only too well that pathogens do sometimes get through our defenses and we become sick—usually only temporarily, until our immune system gains the upper hand and we go about life normally once again. But occasionally, a virus like SARS or Ebola gains the upper hand and… well, we find ourselves on a fast track to learning the answer to the age-old questions: Is there life after death? And if there is, have I prepared for it?
Two greater horseshoe bats. This species occurs in Europe, Northern Africa, and Central and Eastern Asia.
If There Is a Loving God… We all want to understand why, if God is love, He allows mankind to suffer so much from disease. Could He not create another weapon among our defenses to prevent the occasional pandemic? And what about cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hundreds of other debilitating and deadly afflictions? What kind of God would bring such suffering upon mankind? The place to start answering these questions is with us. Consider the many afflictions that we know are human-induced and totally preventable. We knew for decades that cigarette smoking caused lung cancer and a host of other afflictions. People who are overweight, who get little exercise, and who have a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates are at greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to cirrhosis of the liver and makes us more vulnerable to injury and death. Despite this widespread knowledge, how many stop smoking, start exercising, and change their diets? Isn’t it time to stop blaming God for our sicknesses when it is clear that, for many of us, some of our own decisions are making us sick? But what about killers such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19? Surely, we are innocent victims—right? There is no doubt that the viruses causing these illnesses are non-discriminatory, striking people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of their own. However, surprising as it may be to many, the source of these contagions is known and preventable. Laying aside the question of whether this coronavirus escaped from a “wet market” or a “Biosafety Level-4” lab, we know that horseshoe bats are reservoirs for coronaviruses. If these bats were left in their native environment, they would neither be eaten nor studied to see how to prevent the diseases they carry. SARS and MERS would have been prevented and COVID-19 would be the disaster that never happened. Coronaviruses such as SARS and COVID-19 will continue among us if human beings—whether in China or anywhere else in the world—continue to eat horseshoe bats, civets, and other exotic creatures. Note this report from almost 15 years ago: In searching for a reservoir [of viruses], microbiologist Kwok-yung Yuen of the Uni-
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versity of Hong Kong (HKU) and colleagues sampled monkeys, rodents, and several species of bats in the hinterlands of Hong Kong. The SARS-like virus was found in 39% of the anal swabs collected from Chinese horseshoe bats, which are both eaten and used in traditional Chinese medicine (“SARS Found in Chinese Bats,” ScienceMag.org, September 12, 2005). Such findings are routinely corroborated, as in the case of SARS: U.S. researchers were not the first to suggest bats were the source of SARS, but said they had done the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the origin of coronavirus, which causes SARS. The researchers studied genetic data from hundreds of virus samples taken from humans, various bats, civets, raccoon badgers and pigs…. The researchers found that the SARS virus travelled from bats to humans to civets and pigs, and, late in the outbreak, back to humans (“Blame bats for SARS, U.S. researchers say,” CBC.ca, February 19, 2008). That article from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation suggests we should “blame bats.” But how many bats are forcing humans to eat them? It is also an absolute certainty that Ebola will continue to pop up in West Africa as long as people there eat primates and fruit bats. And bats are implicated in another killer coronavirus, as a 2017 Medical News Today article explains: “Where the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV, or MERS) comes from remains a mystery, but it probably started in
an animal. It has been found in camels and a bat” (“MERS-CoV: What you need to know,” December 19, 2017). Pigs, as well, are often associated with deadly flu outbreaks and are known to be genetic mixing bowls that allow viruses from one creature to mutate into forms that allow human-to-human transmission. As explained by the BBC, “Nipah virus, which emerged in Malaysia in 1998 and 99, we believe has fruit bats as the reservoir, but it had to go into pigs before it could infect humans” (“Bats a ‘likely source’ of Sars,” BBC News, September 29, 2005). Although bats, pigs, civets, rodents, and other creatures found in Asian and African meat markets are implicated in these outbreaks, how many people consider the true significance of these facts? How many admit the obvious conclusion that these devastating illnesses are completely preventable? And how many comprehend that obedience to the One who created all life on earth—and gave us loving instructions for our good—would prevent the fear, suffering, death, and huge economic impact on the world that we currently see? The truth is that bats, primates (such as monkeys), cats, snakes, and many other frequently eaten animals were never intended as food for mankind. Our Creator gave us very simple rules to follow regarding which animal flesh is—and is not—good for our food. If you are curious and courageous enough to do so, you can read these laws in the book known as the Bible. We learn from Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 that certain animals, birds, and sea life are good for food, but other creatures need to be avoided. It is no accident that creatures described by God as unfit for human consumption are the very ones that create pandemics when consumed.
PIGS, AS WELL, ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH DEADLY FLU OUTBREAKS AND ARE KNOWN TO BE GENETIC MIXING BOWLS THAT ALLOW VIRUSES FROM ONE CREATURE TO EVOLVE INTO FORMS THAT ALLOW HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION
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TRAVEL I N G AMI DST MASS ES O F MASKS
Blaming God When We Know Better It is true that we do not know the cause for every affliction that strikes us, but we know a lot more than we might want to admit. The causes of the most common afflictions are well known, and we have strong suspicions regarding many others. Pollution of our environment is linked to many kinds of cancer. Sex outside a monogamous marriage is a known cause of many painful, debilitating, and deadly diseases. Drug abuse carries with it a host of maladies. But it is much easier to blame God than to accept personal responsibility. Perhaps it is time to stop blaming God and to start looking in the mirror. But rather than change habits that cause our problems, it is far more tempting to take the easy way out and play the “victim” card. The Creator declared to the ancient nation of Israel, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). Note that the nation
was to “diligently” listen to God and follow “all His statutes.” Has any nation done this? What about your own nation? No, we reject God, blame Him, and choose to do that which is right in our own eyes—taking a chance on the unknown when the known is proven to work better! Then we blame Him for the results of our callous, self-willed decisions. The Bible shows that humanity is in for a very painful future of increasing disease, warfare, and natural disasters. But there is coming a time after that— after our Creator has our attention—when Satan, the great deceiver, will be removed, and truth will prevail (Revelation 12:9; 20:1–3). Jesus Christ will then usher in a time of peace and prosperity over the whole earth, because the knowledge of God’s laws, including all of His laws of health, will be understood and practiced everywhere (Isaiah 11:2, 9). That good news is what Tomorrow’s World is about. I hope that the crisis will be over by the time you read this—but even if it is, more crises will come until mankind finally learns its very painful lesson. TW
UPDATE: On March 11—twelve days after I finally returned home to Charlotte, North Carolina—public health authorities officially declared the COVID-19 crisis a pandemic. Spread at first by travelers departing from China, Hong Kong, and Macau, community transmission of the virus followed quickly. As I sit here writing this update in early April, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 has reached most countries, and governments are scrambling to “flatten the curve” and reduce the infection rate, hoping that effective therapies or a vaccine may soon come to the rescue. If first-world countries are struggling to stay afloat, how will third-world countries cope with the virus? What will happen in India with its high rate of tuberculosis—or across Africa with many millions weakened by HIV/AIDS? These people may seem far removed from most readers of this magazine, but they are human beings made in God’s image, with the same eternal potential as you and I. It will be some weeks before this magazine reaches your mailbox, and as I write this, it is anyone’s guess where our world will be by then. Even now as I write, Italy is in chaos, Europe is fracturing, and nations around the world are facing the imminent threat of bankruptcy. From huge corporations to individuals living paycheck to paycheck, millions are watching their incomes disappear, and governments are borrowing vast sums to provide relief and cover expenses for which none were prepared. It may be that the greatest legacy of COVID-19 is its devastation of livelihoods, economies, and the current world order. These larger questions should put into perspective such minor inconveniences as postponing a cruise or missing a concert. There is nothing like a world war, a depression, or a pandemic to put our lives into perspective. How quickly our world today can change! May tomorrow’s world swiftly replace it.
MAY WE SU G G EST?
The Ten Commandments The world desperately needs to learn how to obey God. This resource tells you where to start! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org. PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 9
Oh
Canada! Anxiety, Control, and Toilet Paper Like any coronavirus-based illness, COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system. It often announces itself with symptoms similar to those of a common cold, such as a cough. So, how did toilet paper become the hot-ticket item at every grocery store? The crisis we find ourselves in today did not emerge overnight. By the end of December 2019, Chinese officials had alerted the World Health Organization about dozens of pneumonia-like cases in the city of Wuhan. From that time on, the coronavirus crept in and out of the news until it rapidly pushed its way to the forefront when experts determined that it would not pass quietly. Now, much of the world has ground to a halt, and many have descended upon their local grocery stores to horde every last roll of toilet paper they can find. News programs have shown photo after photo of shelves, previously stocked to capacity, now standing empty. The more the run on toilet paper has been discussed, the more intense it has become—in some cases even turning violent. A similar buying spree on disinfectant wipes, medical gloves, and face masks seems somewhat understandable, as these items, unlike toilet paper, may help prevent the spread of the virus. Producers and vendors of these products have assured customers that their supply chains have not been disrupted. They insist that plenty is available—but it takes time to restock as roll after roll of toilet paper flies off the shelf like never before. Toilet Paper for Me, Not for Thee Just why is all of this happening? Steven Taylor, professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia,
10 Tomorrow’s World | May-June 2020
describes the psychology behind the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020: We pick up cues by looking to other people— it’s how stampedes happen in stadiums—so if you’re in a shopping centre and you see some people around you acting in a frightened way and stocking up, that’s going to have a fear contagion effect that causes other people to start over-purchasing (“The economics of the toilet paper panic—and why more stockpiling is inevitable,” Macleans.ca, March 10, 2020). Sadly, when faced with fear and anxiety—of which there is no shortage—many people just copy what others are doing. They feel a sense of unease and unpreparedness, then act out of anxiety and panic when they see others hoarding. Unable to control the spread of the virus despite taking so many precautions, people long for a sense that they can control something. Consumer psychologist Paul Marsden explains the phenomenon of toilet paper hoarding this way: “It’s about ‘taking back control’ in a world where you feel out of control” (“Here’s why people are panic buying and stockpiling toilet paper to cope with coronavirus fears,” CNBC.com, March 11, 2020). At the time of this writing, Canadians, like so many others around the world, are waiting to find out exactly how the COVID-19 crisis—the virus and the economic downturn it is bringing—will affect them. They feel their world rapidly spiralling out of control and express their panic in extreme “Me first!” actions—like buying all of a store’s supplies, leaving nothing for other shoppers. In what other ways do people
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AN XI ETY, CO N TR O L , AN D TO I L ET PA PER
grasp for control when overwhelmed by fear? Gorging on news reports is another common coping mechanism, as is overanalyzing the details, which turns into fearful speculation without knowing all the facts. We should certainly do what we can to provide for ourselves and our families in times of hardship. But we need perspective. Jesus Christ described a man who, were he around today, would have a pantry to envy and emergency provisions aplenty. Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry”’” (Luke 12:16–19). This man seems prepared for whatever may come his way. He has put in his work. He has stocked up his provisions. But what does Christ tell us of this man? “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vv. 20–21). In a real sense, the man had the “Me first!” mentality of a hoarder. As long as he had enough provisions, he didn’t have a care in the world. He did not face the fact that there was still much beyond his control, where his riches would be useless. He neglected the important factor of faith. Yes, we should keep our pantry
stocked, but the most important supply we should have is trust in our Savior. Dr. Taylor reminds us that fear is contagious. These days, the evidence of that fills our news feeds. But the antidote to fear is not hoarding—it is hope. The psalmist was moved to tell us that “in His word I do hope” (Psalm 130:5). That “word”—the inspired text of the Bible—is full of passages that provide great hope for this and any other time. Hope can be found in passages describing God as our ultimate Protector (Psalm 91) and as our Healer (Exodus 15:26). Hope can also be found in God’s promise to intervene for mankind at a future time, when He will send His son, Jesus Christ, to prevent us from completely destroying ourselves (Matthew 24:22). Read this issue’s article by Richard F. Ames, “Claim God’s Promises!,” for a fuller perspective on the hope God offers us when fear threatens to take hold. Advice for the Ages Paul’s admonition to Christians at Philippi is especially fitting in times like ours: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6–7). Anxiety, unease, and a sense of losing control have led many to hoard toilet paper as preparation for a respiratory disease. At a time that calls for rational thought, level-headedness, and concern for our neighbors, many around us are falling victim to panic and fear. It is not that we should fail to take wise precautions with the excuse that “God will protect us.” Rather, Scripture teaches us to heed wise directions to protect ourselves in times of crisis (Proverbs 22:3; Ezekiel 33:2–5). Indeed, when disaster strikes, we need to set our focus on controlling those aspects of the situation where we can have the greatest impact. Many facets of the current COVID-19 crisis are far beyond the control of anyone reading this. But there are no aspects beyond the control of our Creator. In fact, the greatest means of control available to us lies in the instruction of James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” —Michael Heykoop
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CONTAGION: DEFEATING INFECTIOUS DISEASE Does the Bible hold important keys for overcoming the global challenge of infectious disease? Can religion play a role in promoting health and preventing illness? You’ll find the answers in this excerpt from Chapter 4 of our newest booklet, Biblical Principles of Health.
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By Douglas S. Winnail
erceptive world leaders in government and medicine are beginning to realize that more money, medicines, research, and legislation will not win the battle against disease. Health systems in many nations are deteriorating under the strain of burgeoning populations and limited financial resources. New outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, severely test health care systems as nations struggle to respond. Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former Director-General of the World Health Organization, acknowledged years ago that the goal of “health for all… remains elusive”—an illusion that keeps slipping over the horizon.1 Perhaps it is time to ask: Why, in the twenty-first century, are we still struggling to win the battle against disease? Have effective solutions been ignored? Are we overlooking powerful tools—provided by God—that could make tremendous inroads against the plague of infectious diseases that afflict and kill millions of people around the world? 1 2 3 4 5
A Global Curse In the early 1900s, infectious diseases were the leading cause of suffering and death in America and Europe. Improved sanitation, along with other medical developments, significantly reduced these plagues on those continents. Outside the developed world, however, we still see a staggering and sobering picture, as infectious diseases abetted by poverty ravage astonishing numbers of people. Preventable and curable illnesses like malaria, diarrhea, tuberculosis, and respiratory disease kill more than ten million people in less-developed nations every year—with children disproportionately affected.2, 3 The number of people who live with and suffer from these diseases is mind-boggling. More than 200 million people contract malaria each year, resulting in more than 400,000 fatalities—including the deaths of 300,000 children under the age of five—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.4 It is estimated that 3.2 billion people—about 40 percent of the world’s population—are at risk of contracting and dying of malaria.5 In developing countries, diar-
Katherine Yester, “The Global War for Public Health,” Foreign Policy, November 16, 2009. “Global Report for Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty,” World Health Organization, 2012, 9, https://www.who.int/tdr/publications/global_report/en/. Phillip Stevens, “Diseases of poverty and the 10/90 Gap,” International Policy Network, November 2004, 7. “Malaria in children under five,” World Health Organization, April 26, 2017, https://www.who.int/malaria/areas/high_risk_groups/children/en/. “Malaria,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 16, 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/newsroom/topics/malaria/index.html.
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rheal disease—which is as preventable and treatable as malaria—is another leading cause of death and disability in children.6 Tuberculosis (TB) is “one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide,” with more than 10 million people contracting the disease and nearly 2 million fatalities each year.7 Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death among those whose immune systems are compromised by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and “about one-third of the world’s population has latent TB”—meaning they are infected with the bacteria, but not ill.8 In tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world, some 2.5 billion people are at risk from mosquito-borne dengue fever. More than 50 million cases and 25,000 dengue-related fatalities occur each year—and these outbreaks are spreading beyond the tropics.9 HIV/AIDS is rapidly becoming the greatest threat to health, economic development, and national stability in many African and Asian countries. Since its emergence, it has claimed more than 35 million lives. Today, nearly 37 million people are HIV-positive and about two million new cases are reported each year.10 In developing countries, snail fever (schistosomiasis) affects some 207 million people and claims more than 200,000 lives each year,11 while intestinal worm infections plague nearly 2 billion people.12 More than 190 million in poor rural areas are at risk for bacterial trachoma, the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness that affects 2 million people.13 More than 120 million people are at risk for onchocerciasis (river blindness) and 18 million are infected annually.14 Leprosy still disables between one and two million people, with about 200,000 new infections every year.15 These are truly astronomical numbers of human beings who suffer from the curse of infectious disease. To make matters worse, in recent years this heavy disease burden in developing countries has been compounded by another sobering development. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
As the citizens of these nations increasingly adopt the behaviors and dietary practices of more developed nations, they are seeing increases in heart disease, cancer, and other pathologies that are prevalent in much of the developed world.16 Tragically, the heaviest burden of infectious and chronic disease falls on “the bottom billion” who “essentially live on no money,” trapped in an endless cycle of poverty.17 Many countries in these poorest and least-developed regions are burdened with crushing debt, crumbling infrastructures, and rampant corruption, and are simply unable to deal with such horrendous problems—so their people continue to suffer disproportionately under the global curse of disease. A British colonial physician once wrote that “the great mass of Africa… has carried a more grievous burden of disease than any other region of the world… the present inhabitants of tropical Africa host a wider variety of human parasites than any other people.”18 In some regions of tropical Africa, 60–90 percent of the population is infected with multiple parasites. To reduce and eliminate this agonizing burden of disease, we must understand and address the true causes of the problem. Breaking a Vicious Cycle For many health professionals, the only solution to the problem of infectious disease is to pour more money into developing medications and establishing clinics to deliver treatments. This is an attempt to alleviate suffering by treating symptoms but does not address underlying causes. Most infectious diseases that afflict developing countries are associated with poverty—crowded, unsanitary living conditions, lack of clean water, failure to properly dispose of human waste and garbage, and lack of protection against disease-bearing insects (window screens, mosquito nets, repellants, and insecticides). People living in poverty simply do not have access to these health-promoting
“Diarrhoeal Disease,” World Health Organization, May 2, 2017, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease. “Tuberculosis,” World Health Organization, October 17, 2019, https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis. “What is TB? How is it treated?,” World Health Organization, January 2018, http://www9.who.int/features/qa/08/en/. “Dengue and severe dengue,” World Health Organization, March 2, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue. “HIV/AIDS,” World Health Organization, November 15, 2019, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids. “Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia),” Medscape, September 20, 2018, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/228392-overview. Peter J. Hotez, Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases (Second Edition, 2013), 5. “Trachoma,” World Health Organization, January 2, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/trachoma. “Onchocerciasis (River Blindness),” Medscape, June 22, 2018, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/224309-overview. “Leprosy,” World Health Organization, September 10, 2019, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/leprosy. “The maladies of affluence,” The Economist, August 9, 2007. Peter J. Hotez et al., “Rescuing the bottom billion through control of neglected tropical diseases,” Lancet, World Health Organization 373 (2009): 1570–1575. Oliver Ransford, Bid the Sickness Cease: Disease in the History of Black Africa (1984), 7, 13.
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resources and tools—and cash-strapped governments cannot provide them. Often corrupt leaders only add to the problem, skimming international aid money to enrich themselves. Ignorance also plays a crucial role. People living in poor rural areas around the globe often do not understand how infectious diseases are transmitted and how easily they can be prevented. Instead of recognizing the true causes of infectious disease (e.g. bacteria, viruses, protozoa, flies, and mosquitoes), sometimes “evil spirits” are blamed. Countless millions do not realize or want to acknowledge that sexual activity and injecting street drugs can transmit HIV/ AIDS. Many swim, bathe, wash clothes, and drink water from streams, lakes, and waterholes contaminated by human and animal waste—which may be the only water available! Unknowing consumption of animals and other organisms that transmit disease is also a factor in the spread of serious illnesses. Traveling to and from disease-ridden areas and coming into close contact with sick people and their personal items also facilitate the spread of infectious diseases. Motivation is a vital factor in promoting health and preventing disease. Many know that hands should be washed carefully after urinating or defecating and before preparing or eating food, but they do not act on that knowledge. Changing individual behavior is a major challenge in the battle against disease. These fundamental issues must be addressed before the burden of sickness will be lifted and the battle against disease will be won.
government ministers, or economists—yet finding answers in these areas is essential to lifting the burden of disease. Accomplishing these tasks without simply throwing money at the problems will require us to rethink our approach. Education obviously must play a major role in banishing ignorance, but how can large numbers of people be helped without building more schools, hiring more teachers, or putting more people on government payrolls? What a person believes is another major factor in motivating behavioral change. We might ask: Is there anyone already in place who is capable of doing this kind of job? Believe it or not, religious leaders occupy an ideal position for eliminating ignorance and promoting behaviors that can defeat disease. In many countries, religious leaders have weekly contact with large numbers of people— and usually all age groups. They promote values that influence personal behavior. Many are already paid by a private organization, and many have selflessly provided of their own effort and resources to supply aid, such as mosquito nets and funding for water wells. The major problem is that most religious leaders do not fully recognize the powerful potential of their position and have not been fully prepared to function in this vital role of preventing disease and promoting health. Most clergy, like many in government and medicine, think the primary role of religion is to comfort the sick and console the bereaved. While these are helpful, they overlook another God-intended role for religious leaders—one clearly outlined in the Bible.
A New Perspective But how can you eliminate disease and the consequences of poverty without money? How do you overcome ignorance? How do you motivate people to think and act differently? These are generally not areas of expertise for medical doctors, health planners,
Teachable Principles from the Bible In an earlier chapter, we reviewed the positive impact on human health we would see if everyone obeyed God’s commands concerning clean and unclean animals. Choosing not to eat animals that were not designed for human consumption would, all by itself,
IGNORANCE ALSO PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE. PEOPLE LIVING IN POOR RURAL AREAS AROUND THE GLOBE OFTEN DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW INFECTIOUS DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED AND HOW EASILY THEY CAN BE PREVENTED
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Many scientists believe that the COVID-19 virus was first transmitted to human beings who ate the meat of the pangolin, an animal not designed for human consumption. go a long way toward reducing the damage done by infectious diseases! But the Bible’s guidance does not stop there. Biblical admonitions also tell us to avoid contact with animals that have died or with whatever has touched them (see Leviticus 11:32–40). Porous earthen vessels that had potentially become contaminated were to be destroyed to avoid spreading disease. These biblical regulations are consistent with sound microbiological techniques and are important procedures in fighting infectious disease. It was the priests’ job to teach and explain these principles. Priests were to designate as unclean those who had contagious diseases characterized by skin rashes— such as leprosy, measles, smallpox, and scarlet fever. Such individuals were isolated from others to prevent the spread of disease (see Leviticus 13). These biblical guidelines are the basis of medically sound quarantine procedures that have been used for centuries. There is a good reason why “social distancing” and quarantine were early, powerful tools in addressing the coronavirus pandemic of 2020—because the biblical health principle of separating oneself from disease is effective. The Bible’s guidelines include avoiding contact with the personal items of sick people, which can transmit germs (Leviticus 13:47–59). Contaminated items were washed or burned (which destroys microorganisms). Biblical health instructions even applied
to dwellings: A house with mold or fungal growth was quarantined until the affected materials were scraped off, replaced, and covered in new plaster—and if a house could not be cleaned, it would be demolished (Leviticus 14:33–48). This instruction would go a long way to improving the lives of 25 million people in Latin America who are at risk for Chagas disease, which infects 8 million and kills 10,000 people a year. The disease is caused by the bite of a kissing bug that lives in cracks and crevices of impoverished dwellings.19 One duty of the Levitical priest was to promote health and prevent disease by functioning as both a building inspector and a public health educator. The Bible acknowledges that body fluids can transmit disease (Leviticus 15). Contact with human waste materials, nasal discharges, tears, saliva, or soiled towels can spread infectious disease. Trachoma—the result of a bacterial infection and the leading cause of preventable blindness—is spread by contact with soiled hand towels and eye-seeking flies that lay their eggs on human and animal waste.20, 21 People coming into contact with fluids from a sick person were to wash their hands and clothes in water, bathe, and remain isolated from other people until evening as a precaution against spreading disease (Leviticus 15:11). These were not mere ceremonial laws. The purpose of these sanitary laws was to promote health and prevent disease. One of the most practical and powerful biblical admonitions states that human waste should be buried away from habitations (Deuteronomy 23:12–14). This prevents waste materials from coming in contact with people, flies, and other organisms that transmit disease, and it preserves the purity of water supplies. Wearing shoes and not using human waste as fertilizer are also important preventive measures. Many diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, hookworm, roundworm, cholera, hepatitis, trachoma, and typhoid, result from contact with human waste. Sanitary disposal of human waste and access to clean water are two of the most important ways to preINFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTINUES ON PAGE 28
19 “ Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis),” World Health Organization, March 10, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chagas-disease-(american-trypanosomiasis). 20 “Trachoma,” Medscape, July 24, 2019, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1202088-overview. 21 S.I. McMillen, None of These Diseases (Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell, 1974), 20–21.
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THIS IS
London
CALLING A Day to Remember in a Year of Change
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he last day of January 2020 will long be remembered as the day when the United Kingdom finally left the European Union. For 47 years, the UK has been of two minds about membership in the dynamically changing EU. It was happy to share in the economic benefits with the other sovereign nations of Europe—that’s why it joined. But it never wanted to surrender its sovereignty to a political organization on its way to becoming a pan-European, federal superstate effectively under German control. So, what is next for the UK? What does the future hold? And what can we learn when we place these events in a biblical, prophetic context? Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes his nation is entering an exciting time of national renewal. But will this historic date be seen as a launchpad to greater prosperity—writing another chapter in the ongoing success story of these Isles? Or might 31 January 2020 one day be recognized as the turning point when decline and marginalization set in and the UK’s fortunes went into reverse—the story of a nation set free only to be buffeted alone on the stormy seas of international events that worked powerfully against its interests? Great Expectations… The big Brexit gamble was that by breaking free from the EU, the UK would regain its sovereignty and control over its own destiny, with political power returned to a revivified Mother of Parliaments in London. It could regain control over immigration at its borders. Economic output would continue unabated. The UK could make trade deals with any nation, with every prospect of be-
16 Tomorrow’s World | May-June 2020
coming a turbocharged, economic hub of world trade— unhampered by the EU’s lumbering bureaucratic strictures. Fishing in UK coastal waters would once again be under national control. London would remain the preeminent international financial center serving Europe and the world. What could possibly go wrong? Europe is expected to fight “tooth and claw” for every advantage during the challenging year of negotiations that began after Brexit to secure a new trade deal between the two entities. For its part, the United Kingdom has made it clear that if no agreement is forthcoming by 31 December 2020, it will walk away and instead abide by World Trade Organization rules— which may not be in the best interests of either party. But with the formidable skills of a determined Prime Minister and his negotiating team, backed up by a solid parliamentary majority, many observers perceive that the UK has a strong negotiating hand. During this transitional period, the UK will remain part of the EU Customs Union and under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. It will still make payments into the EU budget, though it will no longer have a voice in the development of EU policy. Gibraltar will once again come under the spotlight, and France will demand continuing access to UK fishing grounds. In the world of finance, London may need to brace for an economic assault as the EU will likely attempt to move large slices of European trading from London to Frankfurt. …And Extreme Challenges But neither Britain nor the EU could have imagined that world conditions would so rapidly deteriorate. Sud-
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A DAY TO R EMEMB ER I N A Y EAR O F C HA NGE
denly, a grand global crisis has been unleashed—a “Black Swan” event of such devastating magnitude and consequence that all the above-mentioned issues important to the UK look decidedly minor by comparison. The viral pandemic that began in China has rapidly spread around the world. Efforts to contain the spread of the virus delivered a powerful blow to national economies, slowing them to a near halt. And instead of navigating the UK’s ship of state through post-Brexit waters, Boris Johnson found himself hospitalized in April, a victim of the coronavirus. The answer to our question above—what could possibly go wrong?—has been made clear: Everything. Nations around the globe are now fighting for their very survival. Whole countries are in “lockdown”—including Britain—and governments are scrambling to protect their industries, businesses, and populations threatened with widespread infection and death. Suddenly, 2020 is shaping up to be an epochal year for far more reasons than Brexit. Can the COVID-19 pandemic be halted quickly and effective antiviral medicines be developed fast enough to prevent widespread loss of life? Can the world economy be quickly resuscitated? How will the current emergency affect the November elections of the U.S., the UK’s most important partner? Some expect President Trump to win, but this depends on Americans’ satisfaction with their economy and on his administration’s success in dealing with a pandemic. If Trump loses to his Democratic Party opponent, the U.S. could lurch from a free-market economy favorable to flourishing business to a highly regulated state-planned economy more UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reminiscent of comhimself was hospitalized in April due to coronavirus complications. munist nations. The destinies of the U.S.
and the UK are irrevocably tied, and major changes for America could signal disaster for Britain’s own fortunes. No one yet truly knows the full extent of the economic damage the pandemic will wreak across the UK, Europe, and the world. Vast amounts of money have been committed toward “saving the day,” and the vast national debts being generated only push the bills to an unknown time in the future. Globalism cannot continue as it has before. This worldwide crisis is driving all before it, creating a very different world in its wake. With the German-led EU already in recession, a €75 billion (£66 billion) hole in its budget to fill after Brexit, and now a world economic collapse on top of everything else, the future of the European Union looks decidedly precarious. In these new circumstances, how well will the UK get on in a world where trade and economies have largely collapsed? Can the UK hold together with Irish and Scottish politics threatening to blow it apart? Jacob’s Trouble Is Coming From the perspective of biblical prophecy, we at Tomorrow’s World often remind readers that our world is living in the “last days” before Christ returns to establish a new age on earth under His rule. These are tenuous, volatile times of economic upheaval, increasingly adverse climate and weather patterns, shifting political alliances, and—in Western democratic nations—a new wave of more conservative, populist politics fighting to replace the previous liberal, globalist agenda. Religious deception, wars, famines, and disease epidemics typified by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are foretold to reach levels never before seen (Revelation 6:1–8), and the existing world order will soon disintegrate. This will lead us into the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:4–7), when the modern descendants of the ancient patriarch Jacob, especially Britain and the U.S, will be drawn into their greatest time of trouble and testing. We live in most serious times. Now is the time to do as Christ admonished and take heed to ourselves, lest our hearts be weighed down with the cares of this life (Luke 21:34). Indeed, He has warned us all, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape” (v. 36). —John Meakin
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Claim God’s Promises! In a time of widespread fear, people are searching for peace, health, and security. But are they searching in the right place, and are they seeking the ultimate source of true prosperity?
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By Richard F. Ames
arlier this year, when people across the United States were first told to practice “social distancing” and avoid large groups, many reacted by “panic buying”—emptying store shelves of all sorts of items they thought they might need while in isolation. Social media was filled with photos of empty aisles that just moments earlier had been stocked with thousands of rolls of toilet paper or hand sanitizer. Your neighborhood supermarket may have run out of vegetables, while another across town may have run out of meat. And if you were looking for bleach or disinfectant wipes, your chances of finding any were slim to none. Out of fear, people rushed to grab what they could, while they could. Meanwhile, the few who had planned ahead—who already had a few weeks of emergency supplies stored for just such a time as this—were able to react more calmly. But how many of these people remembered to claim the most valuable supplies of all? The supplies I’m talking about are the promises found throughout your Bible. They are God’s gift to you, and they can give you what all the material things in our world cannot. Unlike a store’s shelf, God’s supplies are inexhaustible—and their value is beyond measure! His Promise of Abundance How many people know that Jesus Christ made a wonderful promise about the reason for His coming?
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). That promise is right there in your Bible—and if you are like most English-speaking people, you probably already own at least one Bible. An April 2019 survey commissioned by the American Bible Society found that 84 percent of American households own at least one Bible. About 39 percent of those surveyed said that they read the Bible at least once per week (“State of the Bible 2019,” AmericanBible.org). Of course, many—including many Tomorrow’s World subscribers—read the Bible daily. Just as Jesus encouraged us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), we should feed on God’s word every day. But which translation should you use? If you are looking for a Bible or trying to decide which of your Bibles to use, we at Tomorrow’s World generally recommend the New King James Version as the most accurate English-language translation overall, though other translations may also be helpful as you go deeper into your study of the Bible. Of course, merely owning a Bible is not enough. Even though most Americans own one or more Bibles, their knowledge of Scripture is sadly lacking. A February 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 49 percent did not know that Jesus Christ was the Man who delivered the “Sermon on the Mount.” An April 2017 Pew report noted that just 45 percent of Americans surveyed knew the names of the four gospels. Of course, even knowledge is not enough if we do not believe and act on
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our beliefs. A Gallup poll in May 2017 found that just 24 percent of Americans believe the Bible to be the “actual word of God”—fewer than the 26 percent who consider it “a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man” (“Re-
His Commandment with Promise Here, Jesus showed that the Ten Commandments are vital not only in our physical lives, but in our receiving eternal life from God. We should notice that the Ten Commandments are not just prohibitions; the Fifth Commandment, telling us to honor our parents, is even called “the first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2). God tells us that those who obey the Fifth Commandment will receive blessings! Are you honoring your parents? Do they have needs that you could help them meet? Have you thanked them for their care? Perhaps we were reared in difficult circumstances. Sometimes we honor wayward parents by refusing to follow their sinful behavior—but can we also honor whatever good they may have done, even if they weren’t the “best parents” they might have been? Sometimes it may be hard to honor our parents, but God has promised us blessings when we do so! Sadly, the rich young man could not keep the Tenth Commandment. So, what did he give up as a result? He had confidence in his wealth, but what was he missing? As you read your Bible, you will discover God’s promises, which include the blessings of physical security—but also of so much more. His promises to those who strive to keep His commandments include:
THE YOUNG MAN WAS TOO ATTACHED TO HIS “GREAT POSSESSIONS” AND COULD NOT REALIZE THAT HE HAD NEITHER FULLY OBEYED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS NOR OBEYED JESUS CHRIST cord Few Americans Believe Bible Is Literal Word of God,” Gallup.com, May 15, 2017). If you read and believe your Bible, you will act on what you read. You won’t be like the rich young ruler who asked Jesus Christ what he should do to gain eternal life. Jesus responded, saying that “‘if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He [the young ruler] said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘“You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”’” (Matthew 19:17–19). The young man was proud, stating that he had long kept the commandments Jesus mentioned. But then Jesus gave him a test regarding the Tenth Commandment. Would he give up his worldly treasures in exchange for the true treasure from heaven (v. 21)? Sadly, the young man in Matthew 19 “went away sorrowful” (v. 22), choosing not to obey Christ’s words. He was too attached to his “great possessions” and could not realize that he had neither fully obeyed the Ten Commandments nor obeyed Jesus Christ, who had given him those commandments. Yes, Jesus told the young man to obey the Ten Commandments! He listed five of the Ten Commandments—and in case anyone might think that He was giving permission to break other laws not mentioned, He finished by quoting from the book of Leviticus: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
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• To answer our prayers (Matthew 7:7–8) • To fulfill all our needs (Philippians 4:19) • To guide our lives (Proverbs 3:5–6) • T o give us our heart’s desires, if we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4–5) • T he ability to endure trials (1 Corinthians 10:13) • T he gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Luke 11:13) • The gift of His love (Romans 5:5) • F orgiveness of our sins upon repentance (Acts 2:38) • Eternal life (1 John 2:25)
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C LAI M G O D ’ S PR O MISES!
One of the most precious promises, yet one of the most overlooked, is found in the book of Philippians. If you want peace of mind in our troubled times, you will want to act on this promise: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7). Yes, God wants you to pray about your wants and your needs, as well as to thank Him for your many blessings. Is there something very special to you—very personal—that you desire? Consider these ancient words of King David: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3–4). I have experienced this for myself. I had a deep desire to visit the land of Israel, and I prayed about it for many years. I trusted God that He would answer my prayer, but it was up to Him exactly when He would do so. Sure enough, after literally years of prayer, an opportunity arrived that took me to Israel! When I heard about it, I literally jumped for joy! Since that first visit, I have been back several times, and I have always remained grateful to God for fulfilling this desire of my heart. Because I have trusted in Him and have delighted in doing His will (with the essential help of the Holy Spirit), I know He will respond to me. Our God keeps His promises! As you read the Bible, you will find countless promises that God has made to you. On your knees, in prayer, tell God how much you want—how much you need—what He has promised. Pray boldly. Remember this scripture: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Do not be shy. Like Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24–32), or like the persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8), use your prayers to remind God that He has given you these promises. Boldly, but humbly, ask God in faith to fulfill these promises in your life! His Promised Kingdom A closet filled with toilet paper may give some people a sense of security. For others, security may come from their stock portfolio or bank balance. Many feel
insecure, but even those who achieve some physical security face a vital question: What have they gained? Will they become like the rich young man of Matthew 19, who valued his wealth more than his God? Jesus’ followers seek an eternal treasure—the Kingdom of God. Jesus promised, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Those who seek physical, material treasures often fail in their search. But if we seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, we will find the greatest treasure of all—and God also promises to provide us with what we need. When you are truly seeking God’s will, He will answer your prayers. “Ask, and it will be given to you;
EVEN THOSE WHO ACHIEVE SOME PHYSICAL SECURITY FACE A VITAL QUESTION: WHAT HAVE THEY GAINED? seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7–11). Of course, we must do our part. We need to “seek” and “knock.” Are you searching for a job? Then, yes, pray for a job. But God may expect you to research potential employers and make some phone calls. Seek God’s righteousness—and through God’s Spirit, do what is righteous. The Bible compares God’s Kingdom to a valuable pearl. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46). The pearl of great price represents spiritual riches and eternal life. Human beings are still learning the hard lesson that no amount of material wealth will provide lasting happiness. We
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see this in the lessons King Solomon learned. He had it all, but throughout the book of Ecclesiastes we find this theme repeated: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Solomon was the wealthiest man on earth, but his wealth did not bring him contentment. After searching for happiness in so many ways, what did he conclude? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). His Promised Treasure As Christ taught, and as Solomon learned, the true riches are available even to those who may be financially poor. Do you give honor and attention to those with healthy bank balances while neglecting those in financial difficulty? Are you neglecting those whom God is honoring? The Apostle James reminds us, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5). God has promised His Kingdom, not to those who have great financial resources, but rather to those who love Him. Though they may be poor in the eyes of this world, those who are rich in faith have the true wealth—the true treasure. They are seeking God’s way in their lives, and God’s way is the true treasure, as we
wrote, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2–4). Yes, His divine power has given us great and precious promises. Our God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). But we must be diligent in using the “power that works in us”—the Holy Spirit—and, by doing so, we will gain more of it. If we disobey God, and if we reject His guidance and His mercy, we may even “quench” the Holy Spirit in us (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Rather, we should be grateful for God’s gift of the Holy Spirit and stir it constantly by its use. His Promised Spirit Do you want the divine nature in your life? True Christians, having received God’s Holy Spirit, have been given a measure of that divine nature. This is one of the Bible’s most precious promises. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter stood before thousands to preach. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’” (Acts 2:38–39). If you feel that God is calling you, you need to respond to His calling! Repent, count the cost of commitment (Luke 14:28), and go to God in prayer, asking for His guidance. Perhaps you feel you should seek baptism. If you would like counsel about baptism, please contact the Regional Office nearest you, listed on page 4 of this magazine, and a true minister of Jesus Christ will get in touch with you at a time and place convenient to you, to counsel with you and help you prepare for that commitment.
THOUGH THEY MAY BE POOR IN THE EYES OF THIS WORLD, THOSE WHO ARE RICH IN FAITH HAVE THE TRUE WEALTH—THE TRUE TREASURE read in the book of Proverbs: “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1–6). Those who receive the treasure of godly wisdom are receiving a wonderful promise that can change their lives—and their eternity. As the Apostle Peter
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C LAI M G O D ’ S PR O MISES!
Without God’s Spirit, we cannot inherit His Kingdom. As the Apostle Paul wrote, that Spirit is the spirit “of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Through God’s Spirit, your human nature can be changed and you can truly begin to follow God and obey Him. As Paul wrote, “And hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us” (Romans 5:5, American Standard Version). Through God’s Holy Spirit, you can replace your selfish human nature with God’s loving nature. True Christians receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, according to His promise, after repentance and acceptance of Christ’s shed blood for the remission of sins. This gift includes God’s wonderful promise of salvation through the living Jesus Christ. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by
MAY WE SU G G EST?
His life” (Romans 5:6–10). Yes, God’s awesome promise is that He will save us through the living Jesus Christ—our great High Priest who intercedes on our behalf. God is love, and He is the greatest giver (James 1:17). He even wants to give us the earth as an inheritance (Matthew 5:5). Eventually, God plans to give us an even greater gift: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7). The “faith chapter” of your Bible, Hebrews 11, tells us of God’s faithful servants who persevered in their faith despite dangers and obstacles all around them. What did they have in common? They were “strangers and pilgrims” in a society that mostly neglects or rejects the true God (Hebrews 11:13). They lived as “ambassadors” of the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Though they had not yet received God’s ultimate promise—resurrection into the Kingdom of God as a very member of His Family—they received the promises that came by their faith. As Christians today, we too can and should—and must—claim God’s promises. Those promises are not just for the heroes of faith you read about in your Bible—they are also for you! Search your Bible daily, and as you draw closer to God, thank Him for the many great and priceless treasures He wants you to claim! TW
Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer Do you feel that your prayers stop at the ceiling? Your prayers can be heard! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org. PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 23
Tomorrow’s
FAMILIES TODAY
Parenting During a Pandemic
T
hough I was already a young man when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, I still remember my first thought upon hearing of the tragedy: I wanted to talk to my dad! Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am a father of four, and my own children are seeking advice from me. I am now very well aware that I have a responsibility to help guide my children through life’s predictable traumas—such as the deaths of loved ones, troubled relationships, and the disappointments that come with the failure to achieve goals and hopes. But not all traumas are expected. When unpredictable distress arrives, it is all the more important that my wife and I are there to take our children by the hand and help them navigate their way through frightening experiences they have never faced before. Even in circumstances where my wife and I are working hard to maintain our own peace of mind, we recognize that we still have a special responsibility toward the children God has placed in our care. And we can be grateful that God has given us the strength and the tools we need as parents to help our children cope—and thrive! When my children learned that because of COVID-19 their school had been closed, their extracurricular activities canceled, and their church activities moved online, they naturally wondered what this meant for them and for the people they loved. What could I tell them? Thankfully, I could tell them that God is in control. He has told us in advance that the end of this age will include pestilences, among other sorrows
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(Matthew 24:7). In fact, these pestilences are listed among the “beginning of sorrows” (v. 8), so we know there are many prophecies yet to be fulfilled before Christ returns. But we also know that we should not fear, because God promises protection for His followers who are devoted to His way of life at the end of this age (Revelation 3:10). If God is our refuge, parents and children alike can seek His protection during troubled times. We need not be dominated by fear of “the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:6). Wise, Not Reckless! Of course, even with His involvement in our lives, God expects us to be wise and not reckless. It would be extremely foolish to use faith as an excuse to purposefully take actions that put our health at risk. To think “God is my Healer, so it doesn’t matter what I do” is to tempt Him to correct our arrogance! Just because God has the power to save us from all diseases—and other problems—does not mean we should be irresponsible. In fact, that is the very distortion of truth with which Satan tried to tempt our Savior. Psalm 91, referenced above, promises that God will protect His faithful people, and Satan tried to use that promise to provoke Jesus Christ to leap from the pinnacle of the Temple to demonstrate God’s power of protection. Doubting God’s power to protect would be a mistake, but if we willfully act recklessly and then presume to demand God’s protection, we are daring to tempt Him—and we should not take His response for granted!
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PAR EN TI N G D UR I N G A PAN DEMIC
Instead of demanding that God protect us from the consequences of our willful rebellion, we should teach our children that we must do our part and that there are things we can do to protect our health! Many of the statutes and judgments in the Scriptures were given to help the ancient Israelites maintain their physical health. In fact, were those statutes and judgments kept today—especially those concerning unclean meats and quarantine—there’s a good chance the COVID-19 pandemic would never have begun! Times like these provide valuable opportunities to teach our children the wisdom of God’s laws. What can we do? As Christians observing God’s health laws, we aren’t eating the bats, pigs, and other unclean animals from which this virus and others like it have come. Eating properly helps our immune systems be at their best to resist not just COVID-19 but other illnesses, as well. And we follow the Bible’s teaching about quarantine when we cooperate with our governments (Romans 13:1–7) when our civil authorities institute similar measures to keep sickness from spreading beyond those already infected. Personal and community health guidelines such as “social distancing” and hygienic practices such as hand washing are anchored in biblical principles. This should be highlighted to our children, both to teach them responsibility and to assure them that they are not powerless—that there are actions they can take to make a difference. Give Them a Larger Perspective In helping our children to see God as our ultimate Protector, Healer, and Savior, two more lessons should be considered. While we should do all we can, it is still important for our children to understand that there are many
factors we cannot control. Since the coronavirus incubation period can be as long as 14 days, many of us have no idea if we have been around someone who is infected. Our actions do greatly reduce the likelihood both of catching the virus and of passing it on to others. But it is important to teach our children that, even when we are not acting recklessly, we have to rely on God for protection concerning the many things that are beyond our control. Much may truly be beyond our control, but nothing is ever beyond His. Finally, we must work to help our children embrace a larger perspective. After all, God does not promise that His faithful servants will never face troubles or illnesses. The Apostle Paul prayed fervently that God would remove a persistent “thorn in the flesh” from him, yet God let it remain because it served His larger purpose for Paul (2 We must work to Corinthians 12:7–9). Certainly, Paul will be free of that “thorn” help our children in the resurrection. Even if embrace a larger God chooses to allow some of His faithful people to die of perspective. a tragic illness, the ultimate After all, God outcome will be glorious. does not God’s power of protection is so promise that His great that it extends beyond faithful servants the grave! Our children need to know that. And they need will never face to know that, no matter their circumstances, God has His troubles or eye on them. They need to illnesses. know that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His seeing it, and that they are worth much, much more than sparrows to Him—so much that He even knows how many hairs they have on their head (Matthew 10:29–31). The COVID-19 virus provided me the opportunity to remind my children about these fundamental aspects of our Christian lives. We must have complete trust that God can protect us, that He is actively involved in our lives, and that He will bring His plan to completion. Nevertheless, we must also do our part and choose well. As we approach the end of this age— coming closer each day to the return of Christ—these lessons will help our children, and their parents, to develop the faith and courage we need to thrive! —Mark Sandor
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 25
When the World’s Economy Gets the Flu
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istory will note that the world changed dramatically in the year 2020—and did so at a breathtaking pace. The respiratory pathogen now known as COVID-19 spread with alarming speed from its first detection in Wuhan, China, to communities all around the world. Called a “novel” coronavirus because no human being had previously had it—and as a result no one had developed immunity—its catastrophic effect on the world economy appears likely to follow a course not experienced in modern history. Hotels have lost much of their business, sports events are cancelled, airlines cut their flight schedules, and gatherings of more than a few people have been discouraged or even forbidden. Entire cities have been put on lockdown and substantial penalties have been imposed on those who do not cooperate with authorities. Businesses are forced to lay off workers to stay afloat, so consumer spending drops. What happens when entire segments of an economy shut down or greatly reduce their activities? The economies of China, Europe, and North America may contract by 10 percent or more in the months ahead, and governments are struggling to compensate for declines in available liquid assets. Without massive government spending, citizens may be unable to cope with the spreading economic pestilence, yet tax receipts to pay for such spending are down because of decreased economic activity. National deficits are ballooning, causing record national debts. Flattening the Curve… One of the most dangerous effects of the COVID-19 virus is acute respiratory distress syndrome
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(“ARDS”), in which fluid builds up in the air sacs of the lungs. Those suffering from ARDS often require a ventilator and a tube inserted into their airway—a procedure that usually takes place in an intensive care unit. ARDS often results in death. Where treatment resources are limited, doctors must make very difficult decisions. Early in the crisis, doctors in Italy found they did not have enough ventilators to handle the spiraling rate of infection. They were forced to decide who would live and who would die. Manufacturers have raced to build more ventilators to meet world demands, but Italy is not likely to be alone in facing this terrible dilemma. As infections multiply, the numbers of people who need hospitalization and intensive care can easily overwhelm existing medical facilities. Slowing the infection rate from a sharp upward spike to a manageable pace—or “flattening the curve”—is vital to ensure that when people become infected there will be health care available to treat them. By now, many are familiar with some techniques used to flatten the curve. One is the practice of social distancing—avoiding contact with others so that transmission of the disease from one person to another becomes more difficult. Diligently practicing good hygiene—such as washing hands frequently and sufficiently—and avoiding touching our face with our hands also help. Such measures do not end a pandemic, but can slow it down, reducing strain on limited hospital resources and giving medical facilities time to gear up for increased numbers of patients. They also buy time for researchers to search for treatments or
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WHEN THE WO R L D ’ S ECO N O MY G ETS THE FLU
even cures. And governments large and small have responded by imposing “stay at home” measures on their citizens in an effort to meet the health care crisis that has been thrust upon them. …May Squash the Economy Yet, as governments have closed their borders, trade and other business activities have declined precipitously around the world, and a global recession has become a real possibility. Nations rise and fall over such circumstances, and shaky governments have been known to precipitate military conflicts to divert their citizens’ attention from difficult internal conditions. Perhaps the most onerous and lasting result of these measures will be the increase in sovereign debt—the debt that countries owe inside and outside their nations. National debts are soaring in the most affected countries, and the ability to service the debts in many of the countries is limited. Serious economists are discussing means of cancelling or forgiving large amounts of sovereign debt. Investors are fleeing to safe havens such as U.S. Treasury securities and many are simply holding cash. The United States and other nations are trying to stave off a liquidity problem that could crash world economies, as in the Great Depression. The U.S. has initiated a multi-trillion-dollar financial program, and the U.S. Federal Reserve and other nations’ banking systems are acting to shore up financial systems. It is important to note not only that such actions impact America’s national debt and the value of its currency, but also that much of world trade is transacted in U.S. dollars. “Uncle Sam” does nothing that does not have global consequences. China instituted severe measures to slow the initial transmission of the COVID-19 virus. But the Chinese economy provides a significant portion of the world’s supply chain, and the nation’s internal production disruption has rippled around global economies, producing secondary disruptions. China operates under a statist planned economy that assumes vigorous economic growth—an assumption that will be challenged in a world now questioning its dependence on Chinese production. COVID-19 is producing a huge, unplanned economic contraction. In the past, economists have been reassured by China’s hefty dollar reserves, but China’s massive inter-
nal and external debt is now a major concern. China’s banking system is especially vulnerable. Some nations are also seeing a grassroots desire to repatriate national supply chains, making them less dependent on low-cost Chinese labor and goods. While such moves could certainly have a massive impact on China itself, the fact that the nation has long played a central role in much of the world’s production makes the final global effects—both economic and political—of repatriation efforts hard to predict. In a sense, the world economy has a virus of its own, and the question is no longer whether it is sick. The question is how sick it will become and how long it will take to recover. For the time being, national economies will be in the financial equivalent of intensive care. History is clear: Times such as these are ripe for charismatic leadership to step in and take control of whole nations. A powerful leader promising relief from the effects of this event could step in and amass great power very quickly, especially if the economy does not bounce back rapidly and moves, instead, into a long and difficult convalescence, as it did after the crash of 2008. A Difficult Choice National leaders face difficult choices, as the most vigorous measures against the virus will inevitably depress their nations’ economies. Once the infection curve is flattened enough for medical facilities to handle the numbers of sick people, politicians will no doubt turn their attention to restoring their economies. This will mean ending or cutting back on many aspects of social distancing as many or all are allowed to return to work. But remember, the flattened infection curve doesn’t necessarily mean fewer people are infected—just that the infections are spread out over time. This will mean that new infections continue to occur for longer periods and that millions of additional infections could follow. The times ahead will be very challenging, indeed. Every nation is playing the hand this pandemic has dealt—but the deck is full of wild cards. How the various national economies will handle further shocks is unknown, but you can count on this magazine to keep you informed of what it all means. —Dexter B. Wakefield
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C ON TAG I ON CO NT I N UED F R O M PAGE 1 5
vent disease.22 Some have claimed that if these two goals could be achieved, nearly 75 percent of Africa’s diseases would disappear! God told Israel’s religious leaders to promote these instructions that would protect the health of the populace. Sadly, modern religious leaders have failed to grasp the importance of their opportunity to provide biblical instruction that would promote behaviors that defeat disease. Confusion About Circumcision Anciently, God instructed Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, to circumcise their male infants on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:12–14; Leviticus 12:3). Interestingly, this instruction harmonizes with scientific studies showing that a baby’s blood-clotting mechanism may not be fully developed until the eighth day, making it unwise to do a surgical procedure earlier because of the threat of hemorrhage.23, 24 While some well-meaning people consider male circumcision barbaric, medical science shows that the benefits outweigh the risks. Circumcised boys have a reduced risk of urinary infections, circumcised men have lower rates of prostate cancer and cancer of the penis, and women married to circumcised men have lower rates of cervical cancer.25, 26 Studies have concluded that circumcised males are less likely to contract or spread HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases because removing the foreskin eliminates an environment where the virus may reside.27, 28 While Acts 15 makes it clear that circumcision is no longer a spiritual requirement, medical evidence certainly supports the idea that circumcision, as described in the Bible, can prevent disease and promote health. The custom of female “circumcision” is a totally different matter. This terrible practice is not biblical and should not be confused with the biblical circumcision of males, where only the foreskin is removed.
Female “circumcision,” by contrast, is no act of circumcision at all, but is a horrific act of butchery in which part of a woman’s genitalia—not just excess skin tissue—is gruesomely removed. Female “circumcision” is truly a barbaric mutilation and has nothing to do with biblical circumcision. Body Piercings and Tattoos, Too? Although various pagan cultures throughout history have “decorated” the human body with tattoos, cutting, scarring, and inserting ornaments that expand lips and earlobes, these body-altering and deforming practices have in recent decades become a craze in Western nations. While many call these practices “body art,” the serious risks and health consequences of tattooing and exotic piercing are seldom mentioned or considered. God designed our skin as a barrier against disease-causing organisms. When we pierce that barrier, we create opportunities for bacteria and viruses to gain entrance to the tissues below the skin. Numerous reports warn that tattoos and piercings increase the risk of bacterial skin infections, granulomas and blood-borne diseases like tetanus, staph, hepatitis, and HIV, as well as allergic reactions to the substances and tools themselves.29, 30 Many have warned especially against getting tattoos or piercings during pregnancy, due to risks of infection and the migration of toxic elements in tattoo pigments to the fetus.31, 32, 33 While tattoos and piercings are relatively inexpensive to acquire, they can be painful and expensive to remove—if they can be removed. Even the “temporary tattoos” done with henna can cause problems, and do not carry the approval of the U.S Food and Drug Administration.34, 35 God inspired Moses to instruct the children of Israel—a nation that God intended to be a light and
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Albertha A. Nyaku and Stanley K. Diamenu, “Water and Dirt—matters of life and death,” World Health Forum (Vol. 18, 1997), 266–268. S.I. McMillen, None of These Diseases (Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell, 1974) 20–21. Bert Thompson, “Biblical Accuracy and Circumcision on the 8th Day,” 1993, https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=1118. “Circumcision Basics,” WebMD, November 13, 2018, https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision. “Circumcision (male)” Mayo Clinic, February 10, 2018, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/circumcision/about/pac-20393550. Aaron A.R. Tobian and Ronald H. Gray, “The Medical Benefits of Male Circumcision,” Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA Network 306, iss. 13 (October 2011). Nancie George, “4 Health Benefits of Circumcision,” Everyday Health, May 29, 2014, https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/health-benefits-of-circumcision/. Mayo Clinic Staff, “Tattoos: Understand risks and precautions,” Mayo Clinic, February 28, 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/ tattoos-and-piercings/art-20045067. 30 “Think Before You Ink: Are Tattoos Safe?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 2, 2017, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/think-you-ink-are-tattoos-safe. 31 “Tattoos When Pregnant,” American Pregnancy Organization, March 18, 2020, https://americanpregnancy.org/is-it-safe/tattoos/. 32 “Tattoos and Piercings During Pregnancy,” Health and Parenting, March 18, 2020, https://philips.team-hp.com/tattoos-piercings-pregnancy/. 33 “Toxic nanoparticles in tattoo ink may harm your immune system,” The Times of India, September 13, 2017, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/toxicnanoparticles-in-tattoo-inks-may-harm-your-immune-system/articleshow/60496311.cms. 34 “Tattoo Problems,” University of Michigan, September 23, 2018, https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tatpb. 35 “Temporary Tattoos May Put You at Risk,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, March 25, 2013, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/temporary-tattoosmay-put-you-risk.
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CO N TAGION
example to the world—with the words, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you” (Leviticus 19:28). Tattoos and cuttings on the flesh are unhealthful and carry the risk of infectious disease because they break the protective barrier that the skin provides. God made the human body “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27) and condemned these pagan religious customs, which deformed the body. There is a reason why health professionals warn patients away from tattoos and exotic body piercings: they can be dangerous to your health! Moral Laws Prevent Infectious Disease The Bible defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman for life (Matthew 19:4–6) and takes a strong stand against sexual activity outside the confines of biblical marriage, such as adultery, fornication, and homosexuality (Leviticus 18). In sharp contrast to the modern notion that unrestricted sexual activity is liberating, the Bible pointedly states that “whoever commits adultery… lacks understanding” (Proverbs 6:32), and that sexually promiscuous people sin against their own bodies (1 Corinthians 6:9, 16–18; Romans 1:22–27). Past public policies against such behaviors may have had morality in mind, but their effect was to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases—including HIV/AIDS, which has been called the
“plague of the twenty-first century.”36 Modern efforts to remove any moral consideration from public policy and to normalize promiscuity are simply helping to foster epidemic diseases. The old advice that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has been largely forgotten, but it is still good advice—and is much less expensive in dollars and lives. Restricting sexual activity to husband and wife within a faithful monogamous marriage is by far the most effective way to avoid spreading sexually transmitted diseases. This was the biblical message God would have religious leaders convey—but it is a message often ignored today. Medical studies reveal reasons for the strong biblical warnings against the sexually promiscuous lifestyles that are prevalent today. Numerous reports show that “gay and bisexual men are more severely affected by HIV than any other group,” and that they “are also at increased risk for other STDs, like syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.”37 When the HIV virus gains entrance to the body, it weakens and eventually destroys the body’s immune system, leading to AIDS and making the person subject to other conditions and deadly opportunistic infections: pneumonia, tuberculosis, lymphomas, Kaposi’s sarcoma (cancer of blood vessel walls), shingles, encephalitis, and dementia. Studies also show that the more sexual partners you have, the higher the odds that you will contract HIV, which greatly increases the risks of contracting other infectious diseases and dying at a younger age.38, 39 Since there are no cures for HIV/ AIDS, medical sources acknowledge the importance of eliminating dangerous and risky behaviors: Don’t have multiple sexual partners, don’t share needles and syringes (such as used for injecting drugs), don’t have sex with prostitutes, and be aware that tattoo needles might not be sterile.40 This medical advice bears witness to the wisdom of ancient biblical instructions prohibiting high risk behaviors that bring serious consequences—fornication and adultery, homosexuality, and other dangerous activities. The clear intent of many biblical principles is to prevent problems before they arise. Proverbs 22:3
36 S ebnem Kalemli-Ozcan, “AIDS, ‘reversal’ of the demographic transition and economic development: evidence from Africa,” Journal of Population Economics, JSTOR 25, iss. 3 (July 2012): 871–897. 37 “HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 13, 2017, https://www.thebodypro.com/article/hiv-among-gay-and-bisexual-men. 38 “What Puts You at Risk for HIV,” WebMD, January 15, 2020, https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-risk-factors-are-you-risking-your-life. 39 John R. Diggs, Jr., “The Health Risks of Gay Sex,” Corporate Resource Council, 2002, https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/the-healthrisks-of-gay-sex.html. 40 “What You Need to Know About HIV and AIDS,” WebMD, June 23, 2019, https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/guide/sexual-health-aids#1.
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states that “a prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.” From a public health perspective, most diseases can be prevented—saving lives and money—by taking wise precautions ahead of time. The Coming Restoration Scripture explains that Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9) and that leaders are often blind to obvious solutions (Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 15:14). Today’s theologians and pastors are mostly oblivious to the role they could play in preventing disease and promoting health by teaching people to differentiate between the clean and the unclean, in both food and behavior (Ezekiel 22:26). However, the time is coming when the whole world will learn to live by the laws of God—and will benefit from them. The Bible reveals that, while the “whole creation groans” for now (Romans 8:18–23), a “restoration of all things” lies just ahead (Acts
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3:19–21). Jesus Christ will return to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God, and God’s law will be proclaimed to the whole world from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2–4; 9:6–7). In this coming Kingdom, church and state will be united (Revelation 5:10). Jesus Christ and the saints will teach people to obey the laws and statutes of God (Isaiah 30:20–21), and mankind will experience the wonderful results of changed behavior. The battle against sickness will be won, and disease will begin to disappear (Isaiah 35:5–6; Jeremiah 30:17). While this sounds incredible, it is part of the Gospel—the good news of what the future holds! TW Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoyed this excerpt from our newest booklet, Biblical Principles of Health, by Dr. Douglas Winnail. Don’t request your own copy, yet! Every Tomorrow’s World subscriber will soon receive an invitation to be sent a free copy. Keep an eye on your mailbox!
Does God Heal Today? The Bible tells of miraculous healings in the past. But does God still heal today? You need to know! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org. PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.
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THE BIBLE’S HEALTH LAWS VS. CORONAVIRUS The COVID-19 crisis exposes the role of the bowl in our global illnesses
H
ealth officials have traced the emergence of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China—Hubei province’s largest vendor of what the Chinese call yě wèi, or “wild flavors.” These include scaly anteaters, badgers, salamanders, scorpions, hedgehogs, snakes, bats, and even wolf puppies. While it is technically illegal for markets to sell these exotic animals for food, the prohibition of their sale has not been strictly enforced, and these items often end up in the bowls of millions. Health authorities suspect that the virus jumped from bats to pangolins, then to human beings. You may remember that “Swine Flu” was traced to pigs in China. Other cultures promote similar diets, leading to “zoonotic” diseases moving from animals to human beings. In parts of Africa, many consume “wild meat”—including monkeys and bats—and the Ebola epidemic stubbornly lingers in those countries, causing suffering and death. What’s more, spread across almost all cultures is the consumption of shellfish such as oysters, shrimp, lobster, crab, mussels, and clams. Health officials often warn against eating these crustaceans in certain seasons. Should the animals described here be considered food for human beings? Anciently, the Creator God gave instructions for distinguishing between “clean” and “unclean” animals, explaining in detail which kinds of mammals, fish, birds, and insects He created for people to eat. It is worth reviewing in detail what most of the world continues to ignore: You shall not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals. Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the
cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. Also, the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses. These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales. And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. All clean birds you may eat. But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds; every raven after its kind; the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after their kinds; the little owl, the screech owl, the white owl, the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the fisher owl, the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat. Also, every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. You may eat all clean birds. You shall not eat anything that dies of itself (Deuteronomy 14:3–21). Notice that, along with pigs and shellfish, bats are among the prohibited meats! Our loving God allows His people a wide variety of foods, such as the flesh of animals that chew the cud and have split hooves. Why not the others? The “unclean” creatures essentially form the “clean-up crew” in our planet’s ecosystem. Animals that eat carrion contain in their bodies much of the harmful matter they consume. Their existence is necessary to balance nature and to clean the environment, but they were not created for human consumption. Feasting on these “wild flavors” can cause serious health problems and illnesses, including the deadly diseases mentioned above. Countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are now working hard to minimize its spread and seriousness. It is sobering to realize that all of this could have been prevented, like many other infectious diseases, by simple obedience to the Bible’s food laws. So, what is in your bowl? —J. Davy Crockett III
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 31
Understanding the Coming Plagues of Prophecy
W
hy did God allow the COVID-19 pandemic? Prophecy says plagues are coming—is this one of them? And why does God allow such suffering as war, famine, and disease—even purposefully bringing them about in some instances? Is there any meaning in all of this? These questions do have answers. But, to understand them, we first must comprehend two vital truths. Two Vital Truths The first is that God loves us profoundly. As John 3:16 explains, God the Father loves every human being so much that He gave His Son to die for us, so those who believe in Him may have everlasting life! Yet, we should understand that His gift of everlasting life is conditional. Read our booklet John 3:16—Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse for a thorough explanation of this great promise and the response God seeks from us. As Editor in Chief Gerald Weston writes on page 55, “Perishing is the natural outcome of a sinful life, but this verse gives us hope beyond the grave.” God’s love is so great that we need not perish forever. Though we do not have an inherently immortal soul— as counterfeit Christianity and many pagan religions mistakenly teach—God wants to give us the gift of immortality. The second vital truth is that God does not change. His purpose is constant. This is important, because some believe the “God of the Old Testament” is harsh and vengeful—sending plagues, pestilence, and the like—while the “God of the New Testament” is nice, loving, and forgiving.
32 Tomorrow’s World | May-June 2020
Not only are these characterizations false, they demonstrate ignorance of a very important fact. John 1:1 reveals to us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The One who became Jesus Christ, the Word or Spokesman, coexisted from eternity alongside the One who would become the Father. In fact, the Bible reveals that it was the Word—again, the One who became Jesus—who created the universe (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). He was the One who interacted with Abraham (John 8:56–58). During all the plagues of Egypt, the exodus through the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments, He was the God of the Old Testament who dealt with Israel (1 Corinthians 10:1–4). We are told that, at one point during the exodus, Moses and the elders “saw the God of Israel” (Exodus 24:9– 11)—yet it was not God the Father they saw (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). The “God of Israel” was the One who would become Jesus Christ. Rather than a vengeful God in the Old Testament and a forgiving God in the New Testament, we see that Jesus has been representing His Father from the beginning. This is why what was said of God earlier is just as true of Christ—He does not change. As Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” With these truths in place, we can put the plagues of prophecy into the right context. What Does God Want? Consider: Why did the One who would become Jesus Christ bring Israel out of Egypt? What was He trying to achieve?
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UN D ER STAN D I N G THE CO MI N G PLAG UES O F PR O PHECY
He delivered Israel from slavery because of His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Genesis 12:2; 48:11–22)—but also so His people might serve and righteously worship Him (Exodus 7:16; 8:1; 34:14). God even promised that if they would obey Him, He would “put none of the diseases” on them that He had brought on the Egyptians: “For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). Centuries later, He told King Solomon that if the Israelites would repent and “turn from their wicked ways,” He would “forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:13–14). Years later, with Judah facing an overwhelming enemy army and fearing the prospect of war, disease, and famine, King Jehoshaphat called for a fast of repentance and went into the court of the Temple to pray to God for deliverance (2 Chronicles 20:1–12). All the nation stood in obedience to the Lord, and God heard and saved them (vv. 13–15). So, what does God want from us? He wants repentance from sin and wickedness. He wants us to keep His commandments so we can be healthy and happy and receive His blessings (Psalm 112:1; Revelation 22:14), and so we can learn to think like Jesus Christ does (Philippians 2:5). Then, we will abide in His love (John 15:10). “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). We should not make the mistake of thinking that Jesus Christ, who does not change, did away with His own standards of morality or the day of worship He commanded, the seventh-day Sabbath (Exodus 20:8). True Christians thank God for His grace and mercy, because they understand that “all have sinned and fall short of the REQUEST YOUR glory of God” (Romans FREE BOOKLET 3:23). They pray earRevelation: The nestly that God would Mystery Unveiled! spare the world from harm and suffering, and they try to help others in their time of need (Deuteronomy 15:11; Luke 14:12–14; James 1:27). But true Christians also understand why God allows and even sometimes sends war, famine, and disease. God does not change. He loves us profoundly. And because He loves us, He wants to see us choose righteousness and obedience and embrace our potential as children in His family.
Protection from the Final Plagues That theme—the desire of a loving God to see humanity choose righteousness and turn from wickedness—continues even today and into our prophesied future. The book of Revelation describes Christ, the Lamb, releasing the famous “Four Horsemen” representing false religion, war, famine, and disease So, what does at the end of this present God want from age (Revelation 6:1–8). us? He wants The end-time ride of these horsemen will reach a terrepentance rifying climax in the days from sin and leading up to the return of wickedness. Christ. He wants us There have been plagues and other disasters to keep His commandments, throughout history, but far worse are prophesied to so we can be come. The fourth horsehealthy and man—riding a sickly, pale happy and horse—is called “Death” in Revelation 6:8, and he receive His represents, in sequence, the blessings. coming of powerful disease and plague upon the earth (cf. Matthew 24:4–7). The ride of these horsemen will continue into the Great Tribulation and will climax in the deaths of onefourth of the earth’s population! Sadly, even after such plagues are released on earth—and other signs, as well, including great disasters in the heavens and on the earth—many survivors will still not repent of their wickedness (e.g., Revelation 9:20–21; 16:9, 11). Faithful and obedient Christians, however, are promised a place of safety (Revelation 12:12–14). Thankfully, before humanity destroys itself, Jesus Christ will return “with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2). Sincere Christians pray fervently for Christ’s return (Matthew 6:10), when He will establish righteousness and peace throughout the world (Isaiah 9:7; Micah 4:2–3). Until then, we should diligently turn to God so we may abide in His love and be counted worthy to escape the coming plagues of prophecy (John 15:10; Luke 21:36)! —Wyatt Ciesielka
May-June 2020 | Tomorrow’s World 33
L E T T E R S T O TW TE LL U S WH AT YO U T H INK
Dear Tomorrow’s World—I wish to thank you so much for helping me and my family on our spiritual journey seeking the true living God. Your literature has really helped us a lot. Our family has suffered so much over the years that our faith has truly been knocked, but your literature has helped us regain some of our faith. —Subscriber in the United Kingdom Thank you for providing your literature free of charge. I am currently out of work due to a train accident resulting in a leg amputation and am not exactly financially stable. Without your literature, I would not be able to so easily study and explain what l believe. I have wished many times I could get all of your items at once plus be placed on a mailing list for future items. I will continue to pray for all those working in His service and will always look forward to everything I order and am blessed to receive from you. Again, thank you for everything you do in His name. —Subscriber in South Carolina I would just like to say, regarding the story of Abigail, Nabal, and David, it was an amazing read! It came at a perfect time for me. The Lord led me to your website and to this story to address a situation in my own life. I just want to thank you for the walk you are taking with our Lord in bringing literature and written stories with key Bible verses to take people into their Bibles! God bless you! —Subscriber in Washington Editor’s Note: The article read by this subscriber was “A Quiet and Gentle Heroine” and was found on our website, TomorrowsWorld.org. We publish a number of items on our website that do not appear in our print
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