Connecting people to bible studies in the Hudson Valley
NY NJ and PA
Who we are:
Our goal at Friends From Zion is to increase fellowship and to facilitate the cultivation of divinely inspired friendships that help others fulfill the unique vocations the Lord has called them to. We do our best to get people connected to religious social groups in the Hudson Valley depending on age range, location, and particular beliefs. We facilitate growth in spiritual formation, holiness, and knowledge by acting as an intermediate link for others and their perspective denominations. This includes Christian, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic groups in the Hudson Valley. We do not encourage conversions between these groups, although we have a Muslim ministry that focuses on bringing Mohammedans back to their original religion as the blessed children of Ishmael. We want to help people learn about the instructions and guidelines of our wonderful amazing Creator. Events and activities include game nights, camping, kayaking, bonfires, sports, street preaching and discussing scripture over dinner at a restaurant or while hiking in the woods. Just send us a message and we will connect you with a group:)
Our goal at Friends From Zion is to increase fellowship and to facilitate the cultivation of divinely inspired friendships that help others fulfill the unique vocations the Lord has called them to. We do our best to get people connected to religious social groups in the Hudson Valley depending on age range, location, and particular beliefs. We facilitate growth in spiritual formation, holiness, and knowledge by acting as an intermediate link for others and their perspective denominations. This includes Christian, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic groups in the Hudson Valley. We do not encourage conversions between these groups, although we have a Muslim ministry that focuses on bringing Mohammedans back to their original religion as the blessed children of Ishmael. We want to help people learn about the instructions and guidelines of our wonderful amazing Creator. Events and activities include game nights, camping, kayaking, bonfires, sports, street preaching and discussing scripture over dinner at a restaurant or while hiking in the woods. Just send us a message and we will connect you with a group:)
Additional Information
What we believe:
FriendsFromZion is here to hasten the reign of the Messiah. Scriptures say that when we worship the one God as shown by praying and following His commandments, we lift up creation along with ourselves and hasten His return.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out… and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20). “…I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” (Isaiah 60:22). “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in live of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” (Peter 3:11-12)
We are essentially creating a “Einstein-Rosen bridge,” a “traversable Schwarzschild wormhole” whenever we follow God’s commandments. that is, a contraction in space that pulls two location-points together, so that the predetermined time, can arrive even quicker. It is our duty, our greatest responsibility to ourselves, those we love, and all the animals in the world, that we hasten God's return by following His commandments.
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19-25)
We cannot let creation down. This world as it is now is full of pain and sorrows. This is not how the world was meant to be. When the Messiah returns all our ailments will be healed and the earth will finally be released from the catastrophic effects of sin and the satan’s rule over us.
Our actions have a true purpose to play in the grand plan of the Holy One's redemption. “Walking meritoriously” means that we “purchase the contracting” that brings the set time of God’s return closer to us. It arrives to us; we do not arrive upon it and this is all because of the mercy and favor of the Almighty. God desires to be reunited with us, and that desire has brought many mercies into this world.
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.” (Psalm 102:13).
May your journey to our Lord be blessed with His transforming presence and paved with grace, obedience, discernment, an allegiance to the truths that never fade, and a love for the things that He loves.
Rashida Al Asfur and Farah Quraishi
Directors of Discipleship and Youth Ministry
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝:
In the Garden of Eden, the Earth was a paradise. Man, nor animal, ate flesh but existed in peace with each other.
“…𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑, ‘𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑… 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 [only] 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑.’ 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜.” (Genesis 1:28-30).
It has been said that all animals could communicate with mankind in the garden of Eden.
“𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑦 [after the fall of man in Eden] “𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠… 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘: 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒.” (Jubilees 3:28).
This ability will be restored in the New Earth & New Heavens.
“𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢; 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠, 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠.” (Psalm 66:4, Numbers 22:28, Genesis 3:1).
It has become a tradition among Christians that one reason satan fell was because God told him to serve Adam. The satan refused, for he argued that the greater should not be made to serve the lesser. Although this event is not found in scriptures, it appears in many extra-canonical books and partially explains the satan’s hatred towards us.
To regain his power, the satan tricked mankind. Like a boa constrictor, the satan, God’s once-favorite angel, solidified his grip upon the earth by dethroning Adam. This was the desire of the evil one, to exalt himself as king.
“𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑: 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡.” (Wisdom of Solomon 2:24).
The world is currently in a great and terrible war between good and evil. At this time, the satan is the god of this world, and all nations lie in his power.
“𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐻𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒, 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒, 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑔𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒” (John 12:31-33; 14:30, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 1 John 5:19, Luke 4:5-6, James 4:4).
The satan pretends to be mankind’s friend. Still, he will betray everyone, betrayal is a common theme among the fallen, just as Judas betrayed Jesus, and the Antichrist beast will betray the harlot of Revelations (Revelation 17:16).
Because Adam & Eve desired to become their own God’s, choosing good and evil for themselves, they were separated from the presence of God.
Because mankind was given dominium over the animals and plants, the vitality of animal and plant life is intrinsically linked to man's actions. Therefore, all earthly creation followed Adam & Eve when they fell from grace, having been bound to mankind like serfs to their king.
“… 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢.” (Genesis 3:17-18, Genesis 4:11). “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑠, 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑎 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡…” (Isaiah 24:5-6, Jeremiah 51:25, Hosea 4:2-3, Psalm 115:16, Revelation 11:18, Psalm 115:16).
When Adam sinned and went into death, so too did the earth.
The satan has been given partial dominium over the seas, as he is often described as a great Leviathan. This may be one reason the seas no longer exist in the world to come (Revelation 21:1).
The satan refused to serve Adam and Eve because the satan was a higher created being than them. He was a creature made from fire (Ezekiel 28:14), while man was made from lowly clay. But God’s intention and desire is for the strong to serve the weak (Gen 25:23, Heb 1:14, Mat 20:16, Mark 9:35).
The satan believes the strong serving the vulnerable is an unbalanced constitution. In like fashion, after mankind fell, all of creation began to devour each other. The strong eating the weak. This only grew worse after the flood.
While mankind lived in Eden under God’s presence, they were sustained, partially, by God’s supernatural energy. Even after they were kicked out of Eden, Eden’s waters still permeated the earth and sustained life. After the flood, however, the earth no longer was nourished by Eden’s water, and so mankind and animal grew weak and had no choice but to devour each other (Genesis 9:3, Ramban on Genesis 1:29).
God foresaw this, which is why it is said that while the animals were put in an unnatural sleep on the ark, the Lord changed them to better survive in the new post-flood world.
The more we sin, the more decrepit and violent life on earth becomes. After we sinned, God was forced to abandon the earth, putting up a veil of separation lest his glory destroy what he created. Because of His great mercy and love for creation he went into a self-imposed exile rather than let everything become a lake of fire (Exodus 33:5).
Today, our world is a violent, institutionalized slaughterhouse filled with rage, exploitation, and cruelty. Animal consumption was never supposed to be such a heartless institution. In the Holy Temple, we learn about the sanctity of life. The humbling experience of sacrificing an animal to act as our spiritual substitution, accompanied by sincere repentance and closeness with God, is a divine plan to help humanity develop a deep reverence for life.
The present world's sorrows are not to be blamed on God. God did not create the thorns on the bushes or the poison in the snake’s teeth; we did.
“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑” (Genesis 2:8-9).
We see in this world the outplay of a world that is in rebellion against God. Suffering is the corporate result of sin. We are supposed to know that it is wrong and need God.
𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞:
There is hope. God still has sovereign control over everything. This world is just a preparatory ground.
The events of this sinful life will become inconsequential to those who are resurrected to live in the next (Isaiah 65:17, James 4:14, Psalm 39:5, Ecclesiastes 6:10-12).
There is no abused child, ailment, or suffering, in this world that will go unvindicated by God. Even every abuse against animals is counted.
"The Angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight." (Numbers 22:32).
Every action of man will come under judgment, and rewards will be distributed accordingly.
According to Jesus on his sermon on the mount, those who will inherit most in heaven are those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted for righteousness sake, and those who are reviled on account of the Gospel (Matthew 5:3–12 ). Following these, those who performed the most good works will be rewarded, followed by those who maintained faith in God (2 Corinthians 5:10).
After Christ's resurrection, he masqueraded as a Gardner to further signify how he will return the world to its Eden-like paradisical glory (John 20:15).
Contrary to popular belief, very few people will go to heaven. Only those who are chosen to rule with Christ as kings and as priests will have this honor (Revelation 1:6, Revelation 14:3). The vast majority will be resurrected to live on the New Earth that will be ruled by those in the New Heaven.
After the 1000 year Messianic Reign of Christ, everything will be made right in the New Earth & New Heaven, and there will no longer be death (Revelation 21:1;4). We and the other creatures there will live forever.
“𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
The consolidation of all this is that the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:9).
Evil is not of God; it is unreality, an error of thought, a product of the fallen human conscience and the chaotic, negative waters. Evil is a parasite. It has no life of itself; its whole existence depends on the life it borrows from its parent. Apparent evil is the result of ignorance, and when the truth is presented, the error disappears. Hence “𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑦𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑦, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡” (Matthew 6:22).
When the satan and mankind mutinied against God, most might have expected the Lord to dispose of them, but this isn’t what happened. Instead, God decided to tell a love story. The Lord choose a bride from every nation on earth, and that bride was Israel, through them the Lord wished to bless the entire world.
Through Israel, the Lord produced one Son. The Lord told him to choose a bride from all the nations, just as He had (Matthew 22:2).
The child’s name was Salvation, but the bride of Jesus was not to be taken from one nation, but from all the earth. Until Christ returns, we are His betrothed. When all the nations gather to destroy Israel, Jesus will return to save the estranged wife of the Father. It is at the marriage supper of the Lamb that we will all be made one people to live in peace with our Lord forever.
FriendsFromZion is here to hasten the reign of the Messiah. Scriptures say that when we worship the one God as shown by praying and following His commandments, we lift up creation along with ourselves and hasten His return.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out… and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20). “…I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” (Isaiah 60:22). “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in live of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” (Peter 3:11-12)
We are essentially creating a “Einstein-Rosen bridge,” a “traversable Schwarzschild wormhole” whenever we follow God’s commandments. that is, a contraction in space that pulls two location-points together, so that the predetermined time, can arrive even quicker. It is our duty, our greatest responsibility to ourselves, those we love, and all the animals in the world, that we hasten God's return by following His commandments.
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19-25)
We cannot let creation down. This world as it is now is full of pain and sorrows. This is not how the world was meant to be. When the Messiah returns all our ailments will be healed and the earth will finally be released from the catastrophic effects of sin and the satan’s rule over us.
Our actions have a true purpose to play in the grand plan of the Holy One's redemption. “Walking meritoriously” means that we “purchase the contracting” that brings the set time of God’s return closer to us. It arrives to us; we do not arrive upon it and this is all because of the mercy and favor of the Almighty. God desires to be reunited with us, and that desire has brought many mercies into this world.
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.” (Psalm 102:13).
May your journey to our Lord be blessed with His transforming presence and paved with grace, obedience, discernment, an allegiance to the truths that never fade, and a love for the things that He loves.
Rashida Al Asfur and Farah Quraishi
Directors of Discipleship and Youth Ministry
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝:
In the Garden of Eden, the Earth was a paradise. Man, nor animal, ate flesh but existed in peace with each other.
“…𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑, ‘𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑… 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 [only] 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑.’ 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜.” (Genesis 1:28-30).
It has been said that all animals could communicate with mankind in the garden of Eden.
“𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑦 [after the fall of man in Eden] “𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠… 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘: 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑒.” (Jubilees 3:28).
This ability will be restored in the New Earth & New Heavens.
“𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢; 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠, 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠.” (Psalm 66:4, Numbers 22:28, Genesis 3:1).
It has become a tradition among Christians that one reason satan fell was because God told him to serve Adam. The satan refused, for he argued that the greater should not be made to serve the lesser. Although this event is not found in scriptures, it appears in many extra-canonical books and partially explains the satan’s hatred towards us.
To regain his power, the satan tricked mankind. Like a boa constrictor, the satan, God’s once-favorite angel, solidified his grip upon the earth by dethroning Adam. This was the desire of the evil one, to exalt himself as king.
“𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑: 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡.” (Wisdom of Solomon 2:24).
The world is currently in a great and terrible war between good and evil. At this time, the satan is the god of this world, and all nations lie in his power.
“𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐻𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒, 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒, 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑔𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒” (John 12:31-33; 14:30, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 1 John 5:19, Luke 4:5-6, James 4:4).
The satan pretends to be mankind’s friend. Still, he will betray everyone, betrayal is a common theme among the fallen, just as Judas betrayed Jesus, and the Antichrist beast will betray the harlot of Revelations (Revelation 17:16).
Because Adam & Eve desired to become their own God’s, choosing good and evil for themselves, they were separated from the presence of God.
Because mankind was given dominium over the animals and plants, the vitality of animal and plant life is intrinsically linked to man's actions. Therefore, all earthly creation followed Adam & Eve when they fell from grace, having been bound to mankind like serfs to their king.
“… 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢.” (Genesis 3:17-18, Genesis 4:11). “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑠, 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑎 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡…” (Isaiah 24:5-6, Jeremiah 51:25, Hosea 4:2-3, Psalm 115:16, Revelation 11:18, Psalm 115:16).
When Adam sinned and went into death, so too did the earth.
The satan has been given partial dominium over the seas, as he is often described as a great Leviathan. This may be one reason the seas no longer exist in the world to come (Revelation 21:1).
The satan refused to serve Adam and Eve because the satan was a higher created being than them. He was a creature made from fire (Ezekiel 28:14), while man was made from lowly clay. But God’s intention and desire is for the strong to serve the weak (Gen 25:23, Heb 1:14, Mat 20:16, Mark 9:35).
The satan believes the strong serving the vulnerable is an unbalanced constitution. In like fashion, after mankind fell, all of creation began to devour each other. The strong eating the weak. This only grew worse after the flood.
While mankind lived in Eden under God’s presence, they were sustained, partially, by God’s supernatural energy. Even after they were kicked out of Eden, Eden’s waters still permeated the earth and sustained life. After the flood, however, the earth no longer was nourished by Eden’s water, and so mankind and animal grew weak and had no choice but to devour each other (Genesis 9:3, Ramban on Genesis 1:29).
God foresaw this, which is why it is said that while the animals were put in an unnatural sleep on the ark, the Lord changed them to better survive in the new post-flood world.
The more we sin, the more decrepit and violent life on earth becomes. After we sinned, God was forced to abandon the earth, putting up a veil of separation lest his glory destroy what he created. Because of His great mercy and love for creation he went into a self-imposed exile rather than let everything become a lake of fire (Exodus 33:5).
Today, our world is a violent, institutionalized slaughterhouse filled with rage, exploitation, and cruelty. Animal consumption was never supposed to be such a heartless institution. In the Holy Temple, we learn about the sanctity of life. The humbling experience of sacrificing an animal to act as our spiritual substitution, accompanied by sincere repentance and closeness with God, is a divine plan to help humanity develop a deep reverence for life.
The present world's sorrows are not to be blamed on God. God did not create the thorns on the bushes or the poison in the snake’s teeth; we did.
“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑” (Genesis 2:8-9).
We see in this world the outplay of a world that is in rebellion against God. Suffering is the corporate result of sin. We are supposed to know that it is wrong and need God.
𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞:
There is hope. God still has sovereign control over everything. This world is just a preparatory ground.
The events of this sinful life will become inconsequential to those who are resurrected to live in the next (Isaiah 65:17, James 4:14, Psalm 39:5, Ecclesiastes 6:10-12).
There is no abused child, ailment, or suffering, in this world that will go unvindicated by God. Even every abuse against animals is counted.
"The Angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight." (Numbers 22:32).
Every action of man will come under judgment, and rewards will be distributed accordingly.
According to Jesus on his sermon on the mount, those who will inherit most in heaven are those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted for righteousness sake, and those who are reviled on account of the Gospel (Matthew 5:3–12 ). Following these, those who performed the most good works will be rewarded, followed by those who maintained faith in God (2 Corinthians 5:10).
After Christ's resurrection, he masqueraded as a Gardner to further signify how he will return the world to its Eden-like paradisical glory (John 20:15).
Contrary to popular belief, very few people will go to heaven. Only those who are chosen to rule with Christ as kings and as priests will have this honor (Revelation 1:6, Revelation 14:3). The vast majority will be resurrected to live on the New Earth that will be ruled by those in the New Heaven.
After the 1000 year Messianic Reign of Christ, everything will be made right in the New Earth & New Heaven, and there will no longer be death (Revelation 21:1;4). We and the other creatures there will live forever.
“𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
The consolidation of all this is that the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:9).
Evil is not of God; it is unreality, an error of thought, a product of the fallen human conscience and the chaotic, negative waters. Evil is a parasite. It has no life of itself; its whole existence depends on the life it borrows from its parent. Apparent evil is the result of ignorance, and when the truth is presented, the error disappears. Hence “𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑦𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑦, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡” (Matthew 6:22).
When the satan and mankind mutinied against God, most might have expected the Lord to dispose of them, but this isn’t what happened. Instead, God decided to tell a love story. The Lord choose a bride from every nation on earth, and that bride was Israel, through them the Lord wished to bless the entire world.
Through Israel, the Lord produced one Son. The Lord told him to choose a bride from all the nations, just as He had (Matthew 22:2).
The child’s name was Salvation, but the bride of Jesus was not to be taken from one nation, but from all the earth. Until Christ returns, we are His betrothed. When all the nations gather to destroy Israel, Jesus will return to save the estranged wife of the Father. It is at the marriage supper of the Lamb that we will all be made one people to live in peace with our Lord forever.