A magnificent temple built by King Herod
71The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
War in its final stage
God knows accurately and fully about our future. We know the things that will be as they are completely in His control. He knows the things of small and larger, important events of history. He has been and He is always perpetual contemporary. He is immortal; God, with unbounded love. So, His sovereignty wanted to rule all of us end of time. The revelation is the precious vehicle called the Bible. Now our present duty is to discern rightly the word of God, for our spiritual food, then pray to God genuinely. So that God will be our means with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Zechariah 12 to 14 chapters revealed most important matter which we cannot find anywhere in the word of God. The word of God is concerned about the later days of human history unfortunately this most important topic was neglected, compared to the topics of prophecy. What we have to do is to throw light on the important topic which is concerned to our future life. The important prophecy before us reveals end of the times and God will be the undisputed victor of human history. As a matter of fact, the future is certainly troublesome. A true believer will be saddened by all kinds of troubles and terrible events by the wickedness of Satan and due to political problems people become restless. In this context political leaders are becoming responsible. So in the society, people who are in greater positions must set aside their status and do something to the society because the prophecy contains vital truth. The God who created the universe kept the stars hanging in space. He created man from the dust of the ground. At the same time most of the nations were tragically healed. Yet all those nations are going to attack Israel, and that day is not far off. The battle is more concerned to God because, the fact is that Israel is an apple of Gods eye. (Deuteronomy 32:10). And that eye has become as sensitive as part of the body. If men can understand the choice of God of 72The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Israel, they will certainly agree with this choice God is a sovereign authority in the universe. He need not call for a committee meeting, and ask their approval of his choice. Our opinion should be only to comply with His purpose otherwise we are at the wrong side of His redemption and conflict with Satan. The Re-gathering of Israel – The belief of the people concerning the end of the age must always come from the word of God, but never from the unfolding world events. The present events that are happening now and then are not at all reliable to indicate the future conditions of humanity. We come across now and then some sensational happenings from the Bible teachers and take them for granted that they are the fulfillment of the prophecies. Yet those events should not divert us from Biblical belief because they might throw some light upon future life. The book entitled “are you ready for end of time” written by C. Ryle. As a servant of God, he had great insight into the plan of God for human history; particularly regarding the end of the age. In that book there are two points worth to look into. One is the Second Advent (coming) of Jesus Christ before the millennium. Second is the gathering of the Jewish people from different parts of the world into their nation. Ryle was a Zionist before there was a modern Zion. Then at the time of the re-gathering of the Jews in their home land, no significant voices were heard. It is estimated about 20,000 Jews were at Palestine alone. There was nothing on the horizen to even him that the dry bones spoken of by prophet Ezekiel would begin to come together. The Jews who were returning were persecuted in Russia, and Eastern Europe, and it is called “Aliah” which means “to ascend” or “to go up”. It is a Hebrew word. Normally it is a reference to going up to Jerusalem, because Jerusalem is the home of God on earth. In the year 1697 Theodor Herzl was considered the modern father of Israel and a moving force at that time the first Zionist congress meeting was held by Martin Basil at Switzerland, and in that meeting Herzl raised the topic for the formation of a new Jewish home land. Then in 1914 to 1917 the First World War took place dramatically changed it. 73The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Geopolitical land scape of the Middle East and much of Palestine, it so happened that the whole surrounding areas were put into the hands of the British and French for about 400 years of rule by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Then in 1917 the British Government approved the Melbourne declaration which is named after its chief architect Lord Balbour. The outcome of the declaration is for the establishment of a home land for the Jews in Palestine. Finally during the “League of Nations” was formed in the year 1922. This League of Nations gave to the British a “mandate” which was an authorization for the purpose of establishing a Jewish nation. This League of Nations was also called the “International Legal body”. Then between 1933 and 1945 six million Jews in the world wide population of fifteen million were murdered in the death camp of satanically controlled Adolph Hitler. The situation was really terrific and incomprehensible. In the mean time the Second World War started, but the Jews acquired worldwide sympathy and it was generated a support for a Jewish home land. In 1947 the president of the U.S.A Harry Truman under his leadership declared the separation of Palestine as Jewish Nation and Arab nation. It was done with the effort of Harry Truman and it would not have been possible without the interference of the president Harry Truman and the existence of Jewish nation today. Here the prophet Zechariah says once again “All this shall be the plague where with the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of His neighbor and His hand shall raise up against the hand of His neighbor. (Zechariah 14:12-13). For all the gentile nations there shall be great suffering before there is salvation and participation in Christ’s millennial reign. This is the tragic news and the burden, for both Israel and the gentile nations, will have indescribable peace, joy and blessing are foretold. But before the blessing, 74The Mysteries of the Mysterious God they are going to face terrible judgment. There is law that men cannot escape and this is the law God should not be mocked at and men cannot turn up their dirtiness at God. God is long suffering, but He has perfect memory. A day of reaping will come for everybody. So, whatever men or nations saw that is if they reap flesh they will reap flesh. If men sow the spirit, they will reap the spirit. A question of Timing – With regard to the time of the prophetic message, we are not left in doubt. The expression “that day” is found seventeen times in chapters 12 to 14. Again it accrued seven times alone in the 12th chapter which has only fourteen verses. “In that day will I make Jerusalem” (12:3) “In that day saith the Lord” (12:4) “In that day will I make the governors” (12:6) “In that day shall the Lord defend” (12:8) “That is feeble among them at that day shall be as David” (12:8) “In that day that I will seek” (12:9) “In that day shall there be a great mourning” (12:11) Here, the expression “that day” or “in that day” both are the references to the Day of the Lord. This Day of the Lord should not be confused for a period of twenty four hours time. The Day of the Lord is an indefinite time period beginning near the end of the age, lasting perhaps a year or two when God is going to intervene directly into the affairs of man. Some commentators tried to find fulfillment in the prophecy of Zechariah in the centuries that followed the utterances. And some other scholars tried to associate the prophecy with the expedition of Alexander the great along the west coast of Palestine and down to Egypt in the third century B.C and others with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D by the Romans. The fact is that all these conflicts do not even remotely resemble the events described by Prophet Zechariah. These commentators were of the opinion that God is finished with Israel because she rejected Christ. So Israelites cannot have the devine protection at the time of their re-gathering and redemption of 75The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Israel at the end of the age (days). It is no doubt foreign to their theology and more than that it will deside their theology. So the final result is that all those commentators have vainly attempted to explain away the obvious teaching of this prophecy and other prophecies as well. Debate concerning Location – The geographical location of events is also quite clear according to the prophetic message of Zechariah. Eleven times in the fourteen verses of 12th chapter of Zechariah. Jerusalem is mentioned by name six times the tribal region of Judah is located. South and East of Jerusalem are mentioned and there is five times reference to the house of David. So, Jerusalem Judah and all other places of Israel are clearly pointed out. This message gives us the idea that the words of the Bible are the words of God. Jerusalem the capital city of Israel is situated with the Mediterranean Sea to her west, and Arab Muslim countries to her North, South and East. So, Jerusalem is surrounded by Muslim countries three sides and one side Mediterranean Sea. The Battle – The message of the Lord given to Prophet Zechariah was almost autobiographical. The message was not concerned to the conflict between Israel and the gentle nations at the end of the age, but it is the direct involvement of the Lord Himself in the conflict. He is going to do and it will impact His character. His coming and consummation of this age is in preparation for the golden age to come, “and wise men will pay very close attention”. The Lord tells men seven times in the 12th chapter of Zechariah, what He is going to do, when God begins His message with two words “I will” the Prophet Zechariah starts writing His message. God has given us a list of things He is going to do through His prophet.
1.I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round
about (V-2)
2.I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people (V-3)
3.I will smite every house with astonishment and his rider with madness
(V-4) 76The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
4.I will make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among wood (V-
6)
5.I will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem (V-8)
6.I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (V-9)
7.I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the spirit of grace and supplications (V-10) These seven ‘I will’ statements given by God Himself communicate vital concrete and prophetic truth. The truth here is that many gentile nations are going to attack and seize Jerusalem at the end of the age. This is not one day battle but it would continue for some time at a place called Armageddon and this battle is associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ. And the following nations are going to attack the holy land.
1. Mogog is associated with the Scythians the rugged caucusing mountains served as these satheren borders. Some commentators suggest that Mogog includes all Russia.
2. Meshach: this is closely associated with Mogog and it is located in Cappadocia in North Eastern Turkey
3. Tubal: Like Meshach Tubal was also closely associated with Mogog. Tubal is connected with South Eastern Turkey in the area of Cilicia.
4. Persia: It is located East of Jerusalem. This Persian Empire was one of the most powerful kingdoms, in history. Today there is no such great nation as Persian nation. In the year 1935 she had changed her name from Persia to Iran.
5. Cush: It was the name of the region, in North Africa, South of Egypt. Today it compresses part of Sudan and Ethiopia.
6. Put: Much is said about this in the news today. It is also in Northern Africa, west of Egypt and today it is known Libia.
7. Gomer: This is located in the area of the ancient Simmerians in central Northern Turkey.
8. Togarmah: This place is located near the important ancient Biblical cities of Carchemish, where the Babylonians under the command of Nebuchadnezzar 77The Mysteries of the Mysterious God defeated the Egyptian army and Haran where Abraham stopped for some time on his way to the Promised Land Canaan. So this Togarmah is located at Eastern Turkey.
9. Sheba: This is probably found in the region of South Western Arabian Peninsula.
10. Dedan: This is also located in the Arabian Peninsula with the identification of these ten nations; a good number of facts are going to emerge. These ten nations are going to surround Israel from three sides, North, South and East and on west there is already Mediterranean Sea. So, Israel is trapped totally. The second point is that all there nations join together and form a coalition or caliphate under one leader. Third point is all these ten nations are Islamic. And their attack was against Israel, against Christianity and finally against Jesus Christ himself. The forth point is Meshach, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah are in Turkey only because it is a very large country and with very large population and with most powerful army in the world. The army has the complete control of both the rivers Euphrates and Tigress and through a good number of dams the water is I controlled totally. And finally because of Muslim president, Turkey became a Muslim country religiously. As a result, hostility between Turkey and Israel increased from time to time. The attacking nations will destroy the people of God, through the prophecy of Jeremiah. The following words are assurance of God to the Jews: “Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is His name. If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. (Jeremiah 31:35-36) God says that the gentile nations must first destroy the Sun, Moon and Stars then only they can destroy the Jewish people. To destroy Jewish people means to defeat Jesus Christ who returns as legitimate heir to the legitimate throne over a legitimate people. Christ is not a usurper of the throne. He is a lion of 78The Mysteries of the Mysterious God the tribe of Judah and King of Israel. He will not be defeated at any cost. We have to think about the nations that are going to attack Israel. There are ten nations against one small nation Israel. The battle is incomparable so to say it is one sided battle. The enemies do not know who is hitting them. The ten plagues God used in Egypt were nothing and insignificant to what he is going to do to those attacking nations. God is going to use seven things against the attackers of His people the Israelites. Six of them were against the nations and one against his own people. First – the Lord said, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about. When they shall be in the seize both against Judah and against Jerusalem. (V.2) The enemy nations in their ignorance to destroy Israel will be psychologically intoxicated. They will become irrational and mentally not sound. We have seen enough the bitter experience of the Middle East against the Holy Land in their policies. Second – The Lord said, I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people that burden themselves with it (the stone). Shall be cut in pieces; all the people of the earth gather together against it (v.3) What is the purpose of the heavy stone for the people? Let us examine if they are going to leave the stone. Again we have to see whether the nations are going to cut into pieces. The very heavy stone will cut into pieces, when they try to leave it away; the heavy stone here is Christ Himself. In the Bible Christ is repeatedly represented as heavy stone by various writers. In the book of Daniel chapter 2 Christ is represented as “smiting stone” who would smash the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue. The statue represented the important heathen world. In Ephesians chapter – 2 Christ is seen as the “chief Corner stone”. Apostle Paul tells about the true church, which is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets and Jesus Christ is deputed as the “Corner Stone” of that church. (Ephesians 2:20). Peter says in the 2nd chapter about Christ that the Jews stumbled at the stumbling stone (Peter 2:6-
8). They did not really stumble over Jesus Christ but the Jews believed in the second coming of Christ or Messiah. What are the events that made them 79The Mysteries of the Mysterious God stumble, because He was crucified? So, for Jews Jesus was a stumbling stone. In the Bible the son of man is presented as a “smiting stone” to the nations. He was presented to the churches as a “Chief Corner Stone”. He was presented to Israel as a “Stumbling Stone” And Prophet Zechariah presented him as a “very heavy stone” at the end of the age; the Islamic nations cannot do anything to Israelites. The enemy Islamic nations wanted to replace Jesus in the battle. They do not understand that humanity will be cut into pieces. The book of psalms in the second chapter the writer says “Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the lord and against His anointed saying. Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. (Psalms 2:1-3). All enemy nations at the end of the age will seek the bands and cast away all the divine restraint. But they will not succeed in their attempt. In spite of their entire plan they cannot be successful in them and they cannot cast away Jesus Christ, because God has decreed. Let us see the lines quoted from the book of Psalms. “Yet In spite of man’s rebellion have I set my King upon my Holy hill Zion. I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou are my son this day have I begotten thee; ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen nations for part of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break thin nations with a rod of iron thou shalt thy nations in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:6-9) The heathen nations while trying to leave the stone away of severing all divine restrain; they will be cut into pieces. Third – The Lord said “I will smite every house with astonishment and its rider with madness (V-4). To the ancient people, the house is a symbol of power and might but this attacking army is no way equal to the son of God. He will smite the houses with astonishment or more correctly with confusion. So to say the riders themselves will experience the madness. Fourth – The Lord said, I will make the governors of Judah hearth of fires among the wood and like a torch of fire in a seath and they shall devour all 80The Mysteries of the Mysterious God people that are around them that are on their left and right. But Jerusalem shall be inhabited in her own place. (V-6). The Lord is going to strengthen the governors (teachers) of Israel to make them more powerful in two ways. The leaders will be “like pan” which is used to carry coals for the purpose of starting the wood fire. And the leaders will be like torches used to set dry winds on fire. Here, two similes are used to illustrate the power of God. Those two similies are ‘fire pan’ and ‘torch’. God will devour the heathen armies like fire in the last days. Fifth – The Lord said, I will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is week at that time shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the angel of the Lord before them (V-8). King David was called the greatest warrior among Israelites. King David had most powerful army. As far as military strength was concerned “the house of David” shall be as God as the angel before them” that is to say, Jesus Himself was the house of David, the one “angel of the Lord will fight the battle on behalf of Israel (V-8) Sixth – The Lord said, I will seek to destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem (V-9). In this context repeatedly said how many ways and how many times he will destroy those nations that attack Israel. We must think deeply and then get the correct answer. God used that I will only for emphasis sake. The reason is that, the nations will be without excuse, when they find themselves to be sinners in the hands of a very angry Lord. Apart from Prophet Zechariah, Prophet Haggai the contemporary of Zechariah also speaks about that day in the following way. “I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will over throw the thrones of the kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms and I will overthrow the chariots and those that ride in them and the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword, of his brother” (Haggai 2:21-23). Seventh – The Lord said, I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplications, and they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him. One 81The Mysteries of the Mysterious God mourenth for his only son, and shall be bitterness for him, as one is in bitterness for his first born” (V-10). Here, the scene changes suddenly from severe judgment upon the armies that will be attacking Israelites and now the Lord poured the spirit of grace upon Israelites. The blindness of the Jews was sovereignly bestowed that the gospel would go to the gentle nations. The result is their blindness shall be lifted. When that blindness is lifted then God has decreed. They (Israel) shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first born. (Zechariah 12:10). So, to say in brief, the emotion of that particular day, or hour or movement, cannot be overestimated or totally comprehended. The Jewish people were not at all blind because the only reason is they rejected Christ. Blindness is not a punishment for rejecting Christ. As a matter of fact Israelites had been blind and disobedient throughout the Old Testament. That blindness was sovereignly bestowed so that the gospel would go to gentiles in fulfillment of Abrahamic covenant. What is the covenant? “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). That blindness of the Jewish people would continue until the fullness of the gentiles become in” (Romans 12:25). It is only at the end of age, the blindness of Jews will be taken away from them, and will see the face of Jesus Christ. So, in terms of time the Jewish people have rejected Jesus for 2000 years. It is the Jewish woman who gave birth to Jesus. It is the Jewish Prophets that called Him Messiah. He was called the son of David and the king. Jesus said, salvation is of Jews (John 4:22). It is Jewish people who gave birth to the hope of mankind and His name is Jesus. When He returns as the King of the Jews, He will become King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. Then, out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isa 2:3)
1.When Jesus returns, He will consummate the redemption of all believers,
through resurrection or rapture. 82The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
2.When Jesus returns, He will recapture, man’s last destiny as the King of
the earth.
3.When Jesus return, the spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him. His wisdom
will be perfect. His power infinite and His reign benevolent.
4.When Christ returns, the world will lie down with the lamb.
5.When Christ returns, He will bring with Him the everlasting
righteousness and peace. The Jewish nation has a particular date with destiny. She will come across the son of David her king and Lord of Jerusalem. The main reason is that Jews must reconcile with their God through faith in Christ. Then there will be abundant blessings like life giving water, with continuous flow to all believers and believing humanity. In this connection Apostle Peter called this restitution (regeneration or rebirth) of all things” (Acts 3:21). When the whole world will be purged, of all defiled things, and when the glory of God fills the earth, then only the believers take to heart and rejoice. But that time is not too far. 83The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
Glorious Birth of Jesus Christ
It is a fact that every believer must have felt happy at the birth of Jesus Christ in Glorious way. It was also called the birth of Messiah. It was the story of a baffled prophet, a humble carpenter, a lovely shepherd, a faithful widow and teenaged mother. And all these people have several things in common. Then who were they?
1.They were Israelites.
2.They were of little consequence in the light of the society.
3.They were the chosen people of God.
4.They were among the first to know.
5.They were touched by the glorious birth of the child, Jesus Christ.
6.Their stories have touched the hearts of millions of the Bible readers of
Millennia. It is really wonderful that the birth of the heir to the throne of king David. That event must have touched or praised traditionally with pomp and glory. Here is an important reference in connection with the birth of Jesus. It was the birth of Edward VI was a heir to the throne of England. He was the son of Henry VIII, when he was born (Edward VI) the bells of the churches were pealed throughout London. In addition to that Hymns were sung, bonfires lit procession took place miles together in the streets. The merchants in the streets gave fruits and wine to the gathering people. Finally the festival came to an end, with the celebration of stunning conclusion from the gala hundreds of courties were dispatched throughout the land to report the splendid matter. But at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, there was no such merriment and the appearance of festivity. But the most precious and memorable thing was the heavenly chosen songs by the angels, and it was witnessed by a small number of shepherds that came from the hills of Jericho. 84The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Then there were only fires for keeping the hands warm. There was no missionary to carry that happy news and also no proclamation for the spreading of the news anywhere. It was shepherds who saw the baby Christ began to tell the people whosoever they came across them. The widow Anna aged 84 was living only to see Him before her death, and spread the happy news as far as possible particularly to whose hearts were pained to Israelites redemption. Joseph, a carpenter and father of Jesus Christ spent some time comely pondering. What it must have been? To understand clearly Jesus was the “son of God” and son of man. Another elderly man Simeon, a devoted worshipper of ‘Yahweh’, saw Jesus when he was brought to the church at the age of fourteen years. Simon saw him in the church and said he was still only to see him and die. These were the ingredients of the gladness birth of Christ which was simple loveliness. The Gentiles proclamation, the humble meditation of life cleaning contentment, these were also the ingredients that would make the greater part of your life and my life. The following points would reflect the glorious birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born to save humanity from its sin. He came to the world to save the:
1.To save the wealthy and destitute
2.The humans and the obscure
3.The young and the old
4.The lowly and the modest
5.The high and the low
6.The assertive and the passive In other words the glorious birth of Jesus is for you me and for everybody of the humanity, whether it is now or in future, we should fall down at the feet of the lord Jesus, who was born king and who will certainly rule the earth at the end of the age. 85The Mysteries of the Mysterious God A great satisfaction: Regarding the birth of Jesus a minor prophet Micah gave his testimony. He obruptly started his story. He was sitting on a hill, and looked at Bethlehem. He felt the place of God Ephrapth, he was visited by the touch of dissatisfaction. He again wondered and said Ephrapth is really a beautiful place but it has no importance. And got lord you say our Messiah who is from everlasting the eternal one God. Himself will be born here? In Bethlehem Epharath but not in Jerusalem which was first six miles. He proclaimed the orcle of God for four decades, Micah then closed his eyes and said O Lord I do not question you, but I question that I do not understand our anointed Messiah to be born in this tiny Bethlehem. My curiousity remains unsatisfactory. Micah questioned about Bethlehem as it was a small and insignificant at that time. But he was confident; it would become a big city one day. Micah wanted to go to a high place, and lock around Bethlehem. He wanted to ask God to satisfy him. Then these words one day Lord I shall go there and look out upon this fair town perhaps at that time Lord you will satisfy my desire. But became old among for any adventure, still in that old age he made a journey on his trust worthy muld and with some difficulty mounted a hill. He reached the top of the hill to survey the hamlet Bethlehem the house of Bread. This phrase was quite appropriate to that town because it was famous for the production of all kinds of food stuff like grains vineyards and olive orchards. “I am grateful Lord Micah said, that you specified which Bethlehem, I was the visitor. Micah closed his eyes and said Lord I do not question you but I confess I do not understand the long awaited Messiah to be born in tiny Bethlehem. My curiosity remains unsatisfied. He expressed with God what all he had in his mind. He face became brightened and said again “Is this your message Lord?” “Will our king come humbly?” “Is this your will Lord?” Our king will come in humbleness before He attains His glory. At last he descended from the hill downward his mule and smiled. 86The Mysteries of the Mysterious God It was the smile of one whose soul had been satisfied. The point here is that he received maximum satisfaction. And a splendid satisfaction awaits every one of us, who looks for the savior in humble submission. Unfamiliar News of Joseph: Joseph was unfamiliar with what was going on regarding the birth of Jesus. As a carpenter he knew only the instruments like saw, and axe, hammer chisel etc. These were the popular tools used by the carpenters. Joseph was about 20 years old at that time living in the Galilean town of Nazareth. What he did not know anything about the role he played in the human history. It was the role of the father to Israelites messiah Joseph was only an ordinary carpenter, received that shocking news from God of the universe. Joseph did not understand what God told him through the angel nor the story explained to him with all details by his betrothed wife Mary or Miryam, it was a Hebrew name for Mary. If we look into the Bible we find how God choose Melchizedec for His personal matters, in the same way God choose Mary among many women for the character of mother to Godly son and Messiah of Israelites, she had wonderful story behind her becoming pregnant and how God has chosen her to be the mother of the son of God. As she became mother to the coming Messiah, she was divinely impregnated and after hearing this news from both the angel and his betrothed wife Mary, Joseph was much surprised and could not have faith in such unbelievable stories. So, he was shattered at the information and when he went to bed he could not sleep. He was tossed this side and that side on the bed. At last, he cried and prayed to God. As he could not condemn me nor could he accept it, then said, “Oh why God, why this girl? Why did you bring her to me?” When the sky was calm, with full of twinkling stars, and when the heart of Joseph was much disturbed and he was restless with tattered soul, Joseph the carpenter heard a voice. It was the voice of an angel of the Lord. The angel said to Joseph “Joseph the son of David fear not to take Mary into thee as thy 87The Mysteries of the Mysterious God wife for that which is conceived in her is of the “Holy ghost”. And she shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name “Jesus” for he shall save his people from their sin. There is something certainly impossible and incomprehensible movement in the life of the carpenter. The gift of God was indeed most beautiful and beyond comprehension. It was the gift of a beloved woman even God liked her most. The name of that woman was Miriam (Hebrew) in English Mary. When Joseph was asked to Mary as if there was no other woman in the world, but it was his destiny. There was some specialty in both of them. The name of Joseph remained forever and even in the history of the world because it made him earthly father to Jesus. That is both Mary and Joseph were called the earthly parents to the son of God, who was also called Messiah of Israelites. Finally, we see the humble answer to God from the carpenter. He said, “you know Lord I am but a poor carpenter, Joseph. He said you do Lord. I am but a poor carpenter of little account, of course you do Lord there is nothing at all about this, but I know you had chosen me for this task for your sovereign purpose. I will trust in you”. Despaired Shepherds – The life of shepherds was very pathetic during the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. As shepherds they were frayed edge in the social life of Israelites. They were treated as lower than even carpenters. They were lower than the millers. They were more neglected stuff and lower than the blacksmiths. Finally they were considered below even the door keepers. They were more loathed than the unscrupulous merchants. That was the social status of the shepherd at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us keep all this and look into the Bible. Then we can find only shepherds as the only prominent persons. The first example was Melchizedec, king of Salem. He was an ordinary shepherd. God called him one day for his personal work anointed him as the first high priest God and asked him to build a town on his name. After the completion of 88The Mysteries of the Mysterious God it Melchizedec called the town Salem, which later became Jerusalem. He was called in the Bible as Melchizedec, king of Salem (Genesis 14:18). Moses became a shepherd for his father in law after he was dethroned as prince in Egypt; God used him to liberate Israelites from bondage after 430years. David was also from the family of shepherds, who later became king of Israel. He was the most prominent person in the Bible. Then ‘Amos’, a minor prophet, was a shepherd before God called him for his purpose, that is to preach to stiff necked Israelites. But the treatment of shepherds during the time of Abraham was different. It was considered noble profession. As time went on this occupation became the domain of thieves. Yet the aristocratic Israelites despised them to a large extent even the rabbinic law forebode the Hebrews from purchasing the byproducts of the sheep and there might be many more things against the shepherds. But all those things were not counted at this auspicious day. And it was the time of the birth of the son of God and Messiah of Israelites. The most exiting reference here is that it was those disposed shepherds that visited and worshipped the son of God. At the time of the birth of King of Kings the skies were lit up with astonishing with Devine illumination that indicated the birth of the son of God. But, it was shocking news to the innocent shepherds. They thought they would become blind due to that light. That light was called “Shakinah glory” of God and the shepherds were wrong in their thinking that they would become blind. In the midst of heavenly glory a mighty angel appeared in fears flaming and brightening to the shivering shepherds. They fill to the ground immediately as they were afraid that something would happen to them and to their lives. But their fear had gone, when the angel said “fear not”. The shepherds were freed their breathing and looked at the angelic titan. The angel wanted to tell them something after they came to their sense. They told their fear had gone completely. The angel was going to tell them an important 89The Mysteries of the Mysterious God message which was beyond their comprehension. He said, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be as sign unto you, you shall find a babie wrapped in swaddling (clothes lying in a manger)”. The birth of Christ made the heavens explode in a show of unnatural splendor. Added to that a multitude of angelic being cried out in triumphant adoration “glory to the God in the highest and on earth; peace and good will toward men” The poor shepherds heard the words of the angel, became spell bound and then came to normal condition. Then one of the shepherds reminded that they would go with the words of the angel and then they walked to Bethlehem to the place where the manger was, where the swaddling clothes were, where the Baby Christ was wrapped with in as the angel told them. They saw the baby fell to the ground and worshipped Him. They said farewell to everyone and came out. They were the first people who spread the news about the birth of Jesus. 90The Mysteries of the Mysterious God