Program 253
Revelation & the Destruction of Jerusalem

Save for the last few chapters, the Book of Revelation is a detailed prophecy predicting the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: The Book of Revelation. It’s the last book of the Bible and has both fascinated and frustrated believers for centuries. A large part of the fascination stems from verses that convey a great deal of urgency. Verses such as “Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me,” and “the time is near.” For believers looking for the return of the Savior, these are precious promises. But the confusion and frustration comes in when we have to all admit that two thousand years isn’t all that quick.

Furthermore, the book is like some letter written by a spy in top secret code. There are so many symbols used in the Book of Revelation, you’d need an Enigma Machine or a Navajo code talker to decode it for you!

Hi, my name is Miles Robey and you’re listening to World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, Biblical beliefs, practical piety and constant readiness for Yahushua, either in death or at his unexpected return.

Today, Dave Wright is going to be looking at the evidence for when Revelation was written, because that can tell us a lot about how we’re to decode it. Later, during our daily mailbag, we’ll talk about the need to control our thoughts and just how we’re supposed to do that. Then, Jane Lamb has a special promise for those who make it a habit to be kind.

Dave? What have you got for us today? How does knowing when the Book of Revelation was written help us decode it?

Dave Wright: That’s a great question, Miles, and an important one. The dating of when the book was written is important because that’s what helps us know what event it’s foretelling.

Your reference to the Navajo Code talkers is an excellent illustration of the struggle believers have had to decipher this book.

For those who may not have heard of them before, the Navajo Code talkers were a top secret branch of the US military during World War II. In fact, it was so secret, that their mission and wartime activities remained highly classified for decades. Eventually, though, it came out that young men from the Navajo tribe of American Indians had been used to convey top secret messages for the American war effort. I don’t know whether they were ever used in Europe, but I do know they were used in the war in the Pacific against the Japanese.

Now, Navajo is a very obscure language. So obscure that, even if you heard it, it’s unlikely you’d know what you were hearing. Most of us don’t have to speak German to be able to recognize by the sound of it when it’s being spoken. You don’t have to speak French to recognize the sound of it.

Miles: Or Chinese.

Dave: Right. But if you heard someone speaking Navajo, how many of us could tell just by the sound which language it was? So, even if their transmissions were overheard, having them spoken in such an obscure language was an added layer of protection. It’s been estimated that at the start of World War II, less than 30 non-Navajo could understand the language. And it has an extremely complex grammar as well, so

Miles: Isn’t Navajo a tonal language, too?

Dave: I don’t know. Could be.

Miles: It seems I read somewhere that it’s a tonal language.

Dave: If it is, that would add still another layer of protection. Finally, using the Navajo language, the US military came up with a code. For example, different kinds of birds symbolized different types of military aircraft. Different kinds of fish symbolized the various classes of submarines.

Miles: So, basically a code within a code.

Dave: Exactly. And the Japanese never cracked the code. They never could. The closest they got was when they captured an American soldier who just happened to be Navajo and had him listen to the transmissions. He, of course, recognized the language but even then, it made no sense to him due to the way it was being used. He couldn’t tell them, for example, that a whale symbolized a battleship or a hummingbird—all in Navajo, of course—was a fighter plane. He didn’t know that, so they were never able to crack the code.

That’s the sort of thing we’ve got going with Revelation. It was always meant to be understood, but not knowing when it was written has added another layer of “protection,” if you will, to the code, and we’ve never been able to crack it.

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: Most of us have always put the writing of Revelation very late in John’s life. We know it was written while he was on the island of Patmos because he says so.

Miles: I was always taught he died on Patmos.

Dave: I think a lot of people assume that, but he didn’t. He was sentenced to exile there, but he served out his sentence and then could leave.

Now the reason it’s important to know when Revelation was written is that it shifts which event it’s talking about, depending on when it’s written. If it can be established that Revelation was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, than that’s the event being foretold. If, however, it was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, the only other event that it could be describing is the return of Yahushua.

I suggest that we’ve been wrong in our interpretations of Revelation because we’ve been assuming the event it was describing was the return of Christ when, in reality, John was sending a warning about the coming fall of Jerusalem.

Miles: That’s a huge difference.

Dave: Yes, it is. Now, in the past, WLC has spent a lot of time focusing on the prophecies of Revelation because we believed they were providing us with signs to watch for to let us know when Yahushua’s return was near. We ignored Christ’s repeated warnings that his return would be like “a thief in the night” and at an hour we wouldn’t expect.

Miles: Oh, yeah. We assumed the lost would be taken by surprise, not the righteous. After all, Christ told us to be ready, and if we’re ready we wouldn’t be taken by surprise.

Dave: And we missed that the whole point of being ready was precisely because, according to Christ, we wouldn’t be able to know when he would return.

By assuming that Revelation foretells the return of Christ, we have buried the prophecies of this book in an unbreakable code. Unbreakable, because it’s an incorrect assumption. But if you realize that this is Yahushua’s loving warning about the destruction of Jerusalem, it all falls into place and makes perfect sense.

Miles: So, how does the timing of when it was written reveal that?

Dave: If we can show that Revelation was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, then, as we’ve always assumed, the only event it can be describing is the Second Coming. But if it can be established that it was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem and you use that event as your decipher code, then it becomes clear that the event being foretold really is the destruction of Jerusalem and not the return of Christ.

Miles: What are the reasons people believe it was written after the fall of Jerusalem? For myself, since I was taught that John died on Patmos, I guess I just assumed it was written that late in his life. Are there other reasons why people believe it was written after the fall of Jerusalem?

Dave: Well, we’ve got some conflicting claims about just who exiled him to Patmos and when. That’s just added to the confusion. Some people believe the emperor Domitian was responsible for John’s exile. Domitian was emperor after Nero. They believe John was on Patmos between 81 and 96 CE.

However, there are plenty of historical documents that contradict this claim, saying he was exile to Patmos during the reign of Nero, which was prior to 70 CE.

Probably the best evidence to support a later date comes from the writings of Irenaeus, and early church father who lived from 120 to 202 CE.

Miles: So his life didn’t overlap John’s at all.

Dave: No. Irenaeus claimed that John wrote Revelation during the reign of Domitian—again, the emperor after Nero and after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Miles: That’s a fairly early authority. Is there any reason to doubt his claim?

Dave: Well, Irenaeus was a bit careless with his historical accuracy. He claimed, for example, that Yahushua’s public ministry lasted for 20 years, rather than the three and half the Bible says. He also claimed that Yahushua was crucified at 50, rather than 33.

Miles laughs: Okay! So, not a very dependable authority.

Dave: Not really!

Miles: So what evidence do you believe supports an earlier date for Revelation?

Dave: Have you ever heard of the Peshitta?

Miles: No.

Dave: Or the Syriac?

Miles: Uhh … no?

Dave: The Peshitta is the Syriac version of the Bible, meaning it’s the version of the Bible used by Syrian Christians. In age, it’s second only to the Greek Septuagint.

The Peshitta is valuable for another reason and that is that it’s the only version still extent that was written in Aramaic, the language of Yahushua and the apostles. Luke very well may have written in Greek, but there is some evidence to suggest that the rest of the New Testament books were written in Aramaic.

Miles: That makes sense; that was the language they spoke.

Dave: If you turn to the title page of Revelation in this ancient version of the New Testament, it reads, quote: “Again, the revelation was upon the holy John the Evangelist from Yahuwah when he was on the island of Patmos, where he was thrown by the emperor Nero.

Miles: Isn’t that interesting? So if Nero was emperor from …?

Dave: 54 to 68 CE.

Miles: Then that would place the writing of Revelation much earlier! Wow.

Dave: This was much earlier than the emperor Domitian who ruled the Roman empire from 81 to 96 CE.

If you do a Google search asking when John was exiled to Patmos, you’ll find posting after posting that says he was exiled there during the reign of Domitian. But Domitian ruled the Roman empire from 81 to 96 CE. Nero was much earlier, dying either at his own hand or at the hand of his secretary, back in 68 CE.

Now. For anyone who wants to study into the Peshitta, Syriac scholars have referred to it as the “queen” of versions due to its “careful, faithful, and literal” rendering. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the earliest extant versions of the Peshitta don’t include the second letter of Peter, the second and third letters of John, Jude or Revelation. So do be aware of that.

However, there are plenty of other reasons to support an earlier writing of Revelation.

Miles: Okay, we’re going to take a quick break, but when we come back, I’d like to get into those other reasons.

We’ll be right back.

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Job is frequently, and rightly, held up as an example of someone who endured extreme suffering and yet remained faithful to Yah. The prophet Ezekiel is someone else who endured extreme suffering and yet remained faithful to Yahuwah. Many people think of him with amusement as the prophet that had a vision of dry bones connecting with other bones, inspiring an old Gospel song.

But there is much more to Ezekiel than his vision of a valley of dry bones. Ezekiel was a contemporary of Daniel. Unlike many of the prophets, Ezekiel was married. Sadly, his wife died, and she died on the very day that Nebuchadnezzar returned to Jerusalem and laid siege to the city a second time. Eventually, Ezekiel was taken captive to Babylon along with many other Israelites. And yet, through it all, Ezekiel stayed faithful to Yahuwah.

Ezekiel’s life has many powerful lessons for believers today. To learn what they are, go to WorldsLastChance.com and look for the article entitled “Your Ezekiel Moment.” If you’ve ever faced devastating circumstances—a sorrow too deep for words, a loss too profound for tears—you’ll want to read this article. Look for “Your Ezekiel Moment” on WorldsLastChance.com.

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Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: The next reason I believe a case can be made for the early authorship of Revelation is that I believe John identifies Nero as the “king” then in power.

Miles: Really? Where does he do that?

Dave: Turn to Revelation 17. Here John is shown a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast that has seven heads and 10 horns. We’re not left in doubt as to what this symbolizes. Remember how we’ve always said that Scripture needs to interpret itself? Well, it does. Right here in verses 9 and 10. Read those for us, please. This is the angel speaking and he’s telling John how to interpret it.

Go ahead.

Miles: “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.”

Dave: Since ancient times, Rome has been referred to as the city of seven hills.

Miles: Let me see if I can remember them. Let’s see … they’re the Capotiline Hill, the Aventine Hill, the … the … Palatine, the … Esquiline and … um.

No, don’t tell me. The …Caelian. The Caelian Hill.

Dave: Wow, I’m impressed, Miles! I don’t think I could have done that.

The woman sitting on the seven hills shows that it’s the seat of power. The angel tells John that the seven heads on the beast are seven hills, but they also stand for seven kings. Five, he says, have fallen. One “is.” In other words, counting seven kings, it’s the sixth that is currently in power. When the seventh comes, he’ll reign only for a short while.

Now if you count Roman emperors starting with Julius Caesar—

Miles: Why him?

Dave: Because there was a huge political shift under him. The Roman Republic came to an end, the empire began. So if you count Julius Caesar as the first “king,” the next was Caesar Augustus, then Tiberius Caesar, Caligula, Claudius and … number six was: Nero. He was the “king” that “now is” at the time of John’s writing.

Miles: Wow. You can’t get clearer than that. And to push it off to the future as we’ve done in the past, contradicts the clear words of the angel anchoring it to a “king” in the first century.

Dave: That’s right.

Turn now to chapter 11 of Revelation. This is more evidence of an earlier date for the book. Revelation 11 verse 1. What does that say?

Miles: Ummm … “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of [Yah], the altar, and those who worship there.”

Dave: This is so obvious; I have no idea how we missed it before. I have just one question for you: How could John “measure the temple of Yah” if it had already been destroyed?

Miles: Huh!

Dave: Remember: the temple was destroyed under Titus in 70 CE. It wouldn’t make sense to use the temple as a symbol if it had just been destroyed a few years previous.

Miles: Couldn’t this represent the temple in heaven? You know, that Moses was shown in vision and told to use as a template for the earthly sanctuary.

Dave: No, because he’s also told to measure those that worship there. This is judgment. No judgment takes place in Heaven because, we’re told, nothing unholy is ever allowed in. This verse only makes sense if it’s referring to a temple on earth in which fallen humans are still worshipping.

Miles: Okay, I can see that.

Dave: Moving on: Scripture refers to intense persecution of Christians … by the Jews. This is a significant point. Later on, there was increasing persecution from the pagan Romans, but in the early and mid-first century, the persecution came from the Jews.

Miles: That’s true. Even Paul—formerly Saul—was known to have been responsible for the arrest and murder of a number of early believers.

Dave: But the Jewish nation came to an end with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The temple was destroyed; the Jewish nation itself was dismantled, and the people themselves were scattered. This could not have happened after the destruction of Jerusalem!

Miles: Wow, that’s true.

Dave: The Jews had absolutely no power after the destruction of the temple and the dismantling of their nation. No power whatsoever. They themselves became the objects of persecution from the Romans. They had no power to persecute the Christians after 70 CE.

And yet, John is clear in the Revelation that the believers were still suffering under Jewish persecution.

Miles: That’s true.

Dave: This can mean only one thing: the temple was still standing. In other words, Revelation was written prior to 70 CE.

Miles: That’s a powerful argument.

Dave: Here’s another: the believers were still struggling against the “Judaizers.” We see this in the messages to the churches. What does Revelation 2 verse 9 say? This is the message to the church of Smyrna.

Miles: “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

Dave: And Revelation 3:9?

Miles: “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”

What does this mean: those who say they are Jews but are not?

Dave: Judaizers were ostensibly Christians who agitated and argued for a return to the Jewish traditions. Paul’s letters to the believers in Galatian, Ephesus and Rome were full of warnings against these Judaizers.

There are two take-aways from this. The first is that, again, this would not have been an issue after the destruction of the temple which was the center of all Jewish religious life. While the apostles certainly continued certain sacrifices—such as thank offerings and ritual sacrifices for cleansing after ending a vow as explained in Acts 21—all these came to an end with the destruction of the temple.

Secondly, after Paul’s extensive warnings to the various believers to shun these Judaizers, it’s unlikely it would have continued to be the problem it was when John wrote Revelation. So, again: this argues for an authorship before the destruction of the temple.

Miles: That’s interesting. I never considered that.

What I’m hearing from you is that the correct interpretation of Revelation is really quite straightforward. It’s not the mystery we’ve always struggled with.

Dave: That’s correct. This is why the topic of when the book was written is so important. If it was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, then its fulfillment is obviously some misty point in the future. However, if it was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, then the warnings contained in the book of Revelation perfectly dovetail with Christ’s warnings in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We don’t have to look for a future fulfillment. It’s already been fulfilled.

And this brings me to my next point: over and over and over again, John keeps reminding his readers that the events he’s prophesying will occur “soon” or that they must “shortly” come to pass. He even uses the word quickly.

Now I know the apologetics that have us twist ourselves into knots trying to explain how two thousand years is soon and quick, but always remember that the clearest biblical interpretation is always the one that takes Scripture as it reads. That’s also the most accurate.

Miles: That’s true. Now that you mention it, John could have indicated that the events were for a time “yet future.” But he didn’t. He had the vocabulary to say that, but instead he emphasized that it was “soon.”

Dave: That’s right. Let’s look at a few of these places. Would you please read Revelation 1, verses 1 to 3? This is significant because these verses comprise the opening salutation of the entire book. And notice that emphasis is that the contents of the book are to occur … soon.

Miles:

The revelation from Yahushua Christ, which [Yahuwah] gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of [Yah] and the testimony of Yahushua Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Dave: Now let’s contrast this with what the angel to Daniel. What does Daniel 12 verse 4 say?

Miles: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Dave: There’s another verse in Daniel where he’s told to seal up the prophecy because it’s not for his day. Would you read that for us, please? It’s Daniel 8 verse 26.

Miles: “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

Dave: When you go back and you look at the prophecy being referred to, you find that it’s referring to events that were almost 500 years in the future. Specifically, 483 years away. And the angel tells Daniel, “seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

The “distant future” was 483 years away! And yet we’re supposed to believe that when John repeatedly said that his prophecies were “near,” they were actually pointing to events over 2,000 years into the future?? That doesn’t make sense at all.

Miles: Put like that, it really doesn’t.

Dave: Turn to Revelation 22 and read verse 10 for us.

Remember: Daniel was told to seal up the vision because it was for “many days in the future” or the “distant future.” We know that this “distant future” was precisely 483 years.

So what does the angel tell John? Revelation 22 verse 10.

Miles: “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.’”

Wow. That’s the exact opposite, isn’t it?

Dave: The exact opposite. And yet we’re supposed to believe that 483 years is the “distant future” but over 2,000 years is “soon” and “must shortly come to pass”?

Miles laughs: Yeaaaah … no!

Dave: There’s more. Jerome was an early church father. There’s a fascinating comment in his writings about a public appearance the apostle John made in 96 CE. It says, quote, “he was with difficulty carried to the church and could speak only a few words to the people.” Unquote.

Obviously, by this point, John was very elderly, very frail. He was so weak he needed to be carried in and could only speak a few words. But what does the angel tell John in Revelation 10 verse 11?

Miles: “And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’”

Dave: We’ve interpreted this as words spoken to believers. I don’t know why, but that’s what we’ve done. And yet, John is clear that the angel is speaking to him, personally. Now, if he were that frail in 96 CE—and you can see how he would be because he’d be very old—then how could he be expected to prophesy … again … when, at that late stage of life, he couldn’t walk and could barely speak?

But you subtract 30+ years and it all becomes doable.

Miles: Hmmm. How come we never thought of this before?

I do have one question, though. Maybe you could clear that up for us.

In Revelation 22 … [turns pages quickly] … here it is: Revelation 22 verse 12. Yahushua says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work.”

Wouldn’t this suggest that the prophecies of Revelation are dealing with the Second Coming? Because right here, Christ says he’s “coming quickly.” How can that be true and this book still be about the destruction of Jerusalem?

Dave: That’s a very insightful question. The first thing we have to realize is that there are a number of references to the “coming of Yahuwah” that are not linked to the end of the world but that are, instead, referring to coming judgment. We know that Yahushua’s words in Revelation 22 are to be interpreted in that sense because he explicitly states that his reward is with him to give to every one according to his work. That’s judgment.

Not the judgment of whether or not you’ll inherit eternal life, but the temporal judgment of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Miles: Where do you get this from?

Dave: Let’s start with Isaiah 19. Would you please read verse 1 for us?

Miles:

A prophecy against Egypt:

See, Yahuwah rides on a swift cloud
and is coming to Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him,
and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.

Dave: Did Yahuwah literally ride on a cloud to Egypt and attack them? No. However, what He did do was stir up the Assyrian army to attack them in punishment for their crimes. This was around the 7^th century BCE.

Yahushua uses this same imagery when, at his trial, he told the high priest that he would “see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” You can read that in Matthew 26 verse 64.

We’ve always interpreted this as the language of the Second Coming, but what it really is, is the language of … judgment.

We find this in Matthew 24 where Yahushua is describing the destruction of Jerusalem. What does verse 30 of Matthew 24 say?

Miles: “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

Dave: We know from the writings of Josephus that there were multiple eye-witness accounts of signs in the clouds when the Roman armies approached Jerusalem before its destruction. There were even voices heard calling, “Let us depart hence!”

So with that understanding, what does Revelation 1 verse 7 say?

Miles: “Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even they who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him.”

Dave: Again, the language of coming to judge. We know that John was a young teenager at the time of Yahushua’s public ministry. If John wrote Revelation in 96 CE as some suppose, no one who pierced him would still be alive. But they could very well have still been alive in 70 CE.

Miles: Wow. I’ve been so busy placing Revelation in the future, I never realized the weight of evidence for it pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Coming up: Our daily mailbag.

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You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s question is coming from Amelie in Dornbirn, Austria. Did you know that Austria boasts Europe’s oldest documented inn?

Dave: Are you sure? I thought England held that distinction.

Miles: Nope! England’s oldest authenticated inn is Porch House which dates back to the 10^th century: 947, to be exact. But the oldest inn in Europe is … let’s see if I can pronounce this … St. Peter Stiftskulinarium. Stiftskulinarium? Whatever.

Dave: Sounds more like a monastery than a restaurant.

Miles: You’d be correct! The restaurant is in the walls of an abbey, so St. Peter … whatever … is, I’m assuming, the name of the abbey as well as the name of the restaurant. It was first documented by Alciun of York who worked for the emperor, Charlemagne in, get this, the year 803. That’s just the first year it was documented. It could have been in operation long before that, so it’s Europe’s oldest documented inn and restaurant. It’s speculated that it’s also the oldest restaurant in the entire world.

Dave: That’s amazing! You think of the history that’s transpired in the centuries that restaurant has been open.

Miles: Oh, yeah! Johann Faust is said to have eaten there as well as the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and even Christopher Columbus.

Dave: Amazing.

So. What’s Amelie’s question for us today?

Miles: It’s one I think we’ve all struggled with at times. I know I certainly have. She writes: “I have a real problem controlling my thoughts. Whether it’s obsessing over regret for sin, or focusing on stressful situations, I can’t ever seem to refocus on positive thoughts and uplifting situations. Help!”

Dave: We’ve all been there. When we’re stressed about something, it’s easy for that to dominate our thoughts but, as Amelie clearly understands, it can reach the point of taking over your mind and then that’s not very fun. It can actually make things worse.

And controlling our thoughts is a Biblical principle. Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”

It is a Biblical principle to exert control over our thoughts. Would you please read Colossians 3 verse 2 for us?

Miles: All right. It says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Unquote. Okay, that’s all well and good, but how are we supposed to do that? How do we “set our minds on things above”?

Dave: There are a number of ways. For one thing, analyze the beliefs that are driving the thoughts.

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: Well, for example, say you’re obsessing over a presentation you know you’ll have to make at work. You’ve prepared for it, but you can’t stop thinking about it and worrying over it. Maybe what you’re actually worried about isn’t the presentation itself so much as the reaction of your boss to the presentation.

Are you afraid of your boss? Are you worried about how he or she will react to what you’ve prepared? That may be the underlying belief that is driving the obsessing about the presentation. If that’s the case, knowing the beliefs that are driving the obsessive thoughts can help you focus on the real problem and, hopefully, fix the problem.

Miles: Yeah, sometimes we just react and don’t see what the real problem is. It reminds me of something you said in a recent program, how sometimes people get overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, or what they think is guilt. But when you actually analyze it, what they’re often struggling with is grief.

Dave: Exactly. So when you’re feeling overwhelmed with thoughts you don’t want—or emotions you don’t want—take the time to analyze what the real issue is. Then, once you know what that is, you can focus on finding a solution.

Another thing you can do is talk it out. Bottling up our emotions isn’t healthy. Women sometimes have an easier time with this than men. As men, we’re often expected to be stoic and keep silent if something is bothering us, but that’s not a healthy response. If you have someone safe to talk to, having the chance to talk out a situation can make it easier to then set it aside and move on.

Miles: That’s true. I’ve noticed that if I’m worried about something and I don’t talk about it, I become something like a dog with a bone, worrying over it, and mulling it over. Being able to talk it out with, say, my wife or even my father or … you, maybe—

Talking it out helps you process it and then, yeah. It’s easier to set aside and move on.

Another thing I’ve found works for me is to keep my brain busy with other things. There is a place for healthy forms of escape when stress gets to be too much.

Dave: Sure. Having thoughts we can’t escape is a sign of being stressed or worried about something. Not to deny the reality of that, but to give our brains a break, escape can be a healthy coping mechanism.

Miles: Obviously some forms of escape aren’t healthy. But many people find exercise to be helpful. Others like to turn on some loud music and focus on a craft project or read a good book. This can give your brain a break.

Dave: It’s okay to do that. If your thoughts keep going to topics you don’t want them to, fill your mind with something else. This applies to temptation as well. If you’re being tempted to do something you know you shouldn’t do, get your brain occupied with something else. That could be reading a book, it could be talking with someone. Our brains have a hard time focusing on two things at once, so make a deliberate choice to focus on something else. Memorizing Yah’s promises is a great way to give the mind something to keep it busy.

Miles: Okay, let’s take it from the other extreme. What if you’re avoiding thinking about things that are making you stressed or giving you anxiety? How do you know what’s a healthy level of escape versus just avoidance for the sake of not feeling negative emotions?

Dave: That’s a good point. If escape provides your mind and your emotions with a break that leaves you feeling stronger and more capable of dealing with the situation, that’s a good escape. That’s why memorizing Yah’s promises is one of my preferred methods of occupying my mind when I’m feeling stressed.

However, if our preferred method of escape is simply hiding our head in the sand and denying reality, that isn’t helpful.

Miles: So what can you do if you find yourself reacting that way?

Dave: First, I’d find a Bible promise that specifically addresses the situation I’m facing. This will give you the strength and the courage for the next step, which is to brainstorm possible outcomes.

For example, say you’re worried about … I don’t know. Maybe you’re worried about how your kid is doing at school, or your parents’ relationship or their health. Maybe you’re concerned about some aspect of your job. Okay. You’ve claimed a promise. Now think about all possible outcomes. When we’re dealing with the so-called “negative” emotions, it’s easy to just try to get away from feeling that way, but if we take the time to look at the situation head-on, we can often find ways to solve the problems that are causing us so much stress.

You can even write down everything that’s got you scared about a particular situation. Okay. So if worse comes to worst, what would happen? Considering possible outcomes let’s you also see possible solutions.

Miles: That’s good. When we’re worried or stressed, our emotions get all involved, but actively looking for possible solutions to various problems gives you closure. It lets you move on.

What about the other end of the emotional spectrum? What if you’re all excited about something and can’t focus on things you need to because you’re so excited about this positive … thing. It may not be negative, but it can still be distracting.

Dave: Sure. Well, again, troubleshoot some other possible outcomes. Maybe you’re all excited about a trip you have planned. But it’s just as possible something may come up and it will get canceled. So, if it does, what’s your backup plan?

I’m not saying be intentionally negative. Just don’t over-hype the good things. Purposely reminding yourself to be flexible helps you stay grounded in reality and then frees your mind to focus on other things.

Miles: What about, say, daydreaming? All great endeavors start out with a dream. But that can actually become an all-consuming distraction. How do you tone down your imagination so that you don’t get too carried away with the dream?

Dave: Instead of fixating on one possible outcome, branch out. Consider a range of options. Keeping your options open—even if it’s just in your own mind—helps you not become too emotionally attached to just one outcome. This makes it easier to think about other things.

Another thing that’s very important to focus on is self-care. As Christians, we focus on service to others, on what we give to the point that we can start to feel self-care is selfish. But it’s not.

Miles: As my nan used to say: “An empty pitcher can’t fill any glasses.”

Dave: Exactly! Are you getting enough rest? Are you eating healthfully and getting exercise in the fresh air? Are you giving yourself enough time to decompress? Especially if the obsessive thoughts are stressful ones, it’s extremely important to make sure we’re getting enough rest and taking care of our health. That’s just being a good steward of the body Yah gave you.

Anything you can do to help your body relax will also help your mind relax and you can start thinking about other things. This is where, in my experience, claiming a promise is so helpful. Read James 1 verse 5 for us. This is one of my favorite promises.

Miles: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask [Yahuwah], who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Dave: And, if you don’t know which promise to claim, there’s always John 14 verses 13 to 14. This is an all-encompassing promise.

Miles: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Dave: When we feel safe, we can relax. If you’re preoccupied about stressful situations or troubling thoughts, it’s difficult to focus on anything else; but when you claim a promise, it helps you feel safe enough to relax, let the invasive thoughts go, and focus on something else.

Miles: All right. One more quick question. Curtis from the USA wants to know if Christians should adopt.

Dave: “Should” as in, is it allowable? Or “should” as in, is it a duty?

Miles: Don’t know; doesn’t say.

Dave: I’d say that’s a very personal decision and it’s also one that’s somewhat cultural, as well. You say he’s from the US. A lot of people in the US and Canada adopt, but not all countries do. I wouldn’t say that it’s a duty because every situation is different. People considering adoption should definitely pray about it. Some people are in a better position to adopt a child, while others aren’t. There’s no sin either way, so I wouldn’t consider it a Christian duty.

As to whether or not it’s permissible, certainly. What did Christ say? “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren –?”

Miles: “You have done it unto me.”

Dave: So if a person is in the position to provide for a child and wants to adopt, go for it!

The thing to remember is that what is right for one person isn’t necessarily right for someone else, but that doesn’t make it wrong, either. Too many people surround themselves with people who think like they do and agree with everything they say and believe. But we have to remember that Yahuwah is the God of the individual. He’s leading us all individually. Just because a decision might be right for someone else’s life, doesn’t automatically make it the right choice for our own lives. And that’s all right.

What did James tell us? If any of us lack wisdom …?

Miles: Let him ask of Yah.

Dave: That’s right. Let’s give each other the freedom as brothers and sisters in Christ to do what’s right in our individual circumstances and not try to force others to conform to our narrow ideas of what’s right.

Miles: Good advice. And that’s true liberty of conscience.

Keep sending us your questions, comments, or prayer requests. Just go to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We always enjoy receiving your messages.

Up next is Jane Lamb with a special promise for those who are generous with their time and talents.

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Daily Promise

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your daily promise from Yah’s Word.

In remembering a friend of his who had died, British rocker Rod Stewart described him as, quote, “The kindest guy I ever knew.” To me, kindness is the most beautiful personality trait there is. I love Bible verses that describe Yahuwah’s kindness. Kindness draws the heart like nothing else.

When Lesa Shirley-Sheffield was only 19, she was working as a hairdresser. One day, a woman came into the salon. She was obviously exhausted and under immense pressure. When Lesa asked if she could help her, the woman explained that her sister was very sick and needed a haircut but they’d been turned away from salon after salon because the woman was in a wheelchair. She was almost in tears as she explained that she’d already washed her sister’s hair; they just needed help getting it cut.

“I’ll be happy to help you,” Lesa assured the woman. The woman was so grateful, she thanked Lesa repeatedly as she went out to the car to get her sister. While she did that, Lesa went to her station and moved her hydraulic chair to one side so there would be plenty of room for the wheelchair. The woman could just stay sitting there and not have to get out.

When the women returned, Lesa struggled to hide her shock. Never in her young life had she encountered anyone who was as clearly near death as the sister. Composing herself, she stepped forward with a smile. Remembering it later, she recalled, quote, “You would have thought I had given them a million bucks simply because I moved the chair to make things easier on them.” As Lesa styled the sister’s hair, the three women chatted and laughed. It was an encounter Lesa has never forgotten. But it wasn’t over yet. As the women were leaving, the woman who had first come in asked for Lesa’s contact information. Lesa gave the woman her salon card, which had all her contact information on it.

Two weeks later, Lesa got a call from a local funeral home asking if she would come and style the hair of a woman who had passed away. Lesa was puzzled. She had never received such a request before and she didn’t recognize the name of the person who had passed away.

“Are you sure you have the right person?” She asked. The funeral home assured her that they did, saying they had her business card and an envelope for her. Still puzzled, Lesa arranged a time to come over. When she arrived, she recognized the face of the deathly ill woman whose hair she had cut just two weeks before after everyone else had turned her away. A bouquet of flowers was sitting beside an envelope on which was Lesa’s name.

After carefully styling the woman’s hair, Lesa opened the envelope. Inside were two $100-dollar bills and a letter. The letter read:

Dear Lesa,

We will probably never cross paths again here in this life, but I wanted you to know what your kindness meant to my sister and me. You see, we had been turned away that day and actually treated rudely by several salons. Watching someone die is hard enough but feeling like no one cares when you are at your lowest is terrible. My sister had been a hairdresser for years, and one of her final wishes was that her hair be cut before she died. Not important to some, but she had begged to have it cut. Your kindness to us that day was something that touched my sister, and she said when we left, ‘It’s my request that this Lesa do my hair when I’m gone, and I know she will because she’s what kindness is.’

Lesa couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. That something so simple had meant so much to someone else broke her heart. She tried to give the money back but the funeral home refused to accept it, saying the woman had been adamant that Lesa receive it.

What the woman couldn’t have known, but Yahuwah did, is that Lesa’s car was in desperate need of repair. The total cost of the repair? Two hundred dollars.

Ecclesiastes 11 verse 1 tells us, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

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Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: I want to thank you for tuning in today. If you enjoyed today’s program and would like to share it with friends or family, you can find it on our website at WorldsLastChance.com. We also post previously aired programs on YouTube, so just look for the program called “Revelation & the Destruction of Jerusalem,” Program number 253. Once again, that’s “Revelation & the Destruction of Jerusalem,” Program number 253.

If you’re listening to our program on YouTube, let us know what you think in the comments. If you enjoy our programming, consider giving us a thumbs up to help others find our channel. You can click on the alert button to receive notifications when new episodes are uploaded.

We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.