Y2K or C2C? Much continues to be said about potential problems with computers when the year 2000 arrives. ("Y" stands for "Year," "2K" stands for "2000," hence "Year 2000.") Some believe that since so many businesses, banks, and government offices are run by computers, and since many computers were not programmed to recognize the new century, there will be glitches resulting in food shortages, interruption of utilities, bank failures, mass hysteria and panic. To alleviate concern many businesses have advertised that their computer systems are "Y2K Ready!" The stroke of midnight December 31, 1999 will not affect them. They are prepared. Customers need not fear interruption of services, collapse, etc. Business will continue as usual, they say. This brings some feeling of security. Perhaps the concern over Y2K by so many has come because of utmost confidence in the people who understand computers. They must know what they are talking about since many program and repair them, and understand their capabilities. If they are concerned about societal problems of mass proportions, so should we. However, there should be a greater concern than Y2K. The Bible assures us of C2C, Christ’s second coming. "So Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation."(Heb. 9:28) Furthermore, "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."(II Pet. 3:10) In fact the Bible assures us that the one thing we can "know perfectly" is "that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."(I Thess. 5:2) Therefore the Lord might and could come before you finish reading this article! To alleviate the fear we should have in meeting the Lord in judgment unforgiven of our sins, God sent Christ to live, teach, provide a perfect example, die for our sins, and be raised from the dead in order to provide forgiveness of sins. Competent eyewitnesses saw Him after His resurrection from the dead, verifying this was no ordinary man, but the Christ, the Son of the Living God!(Rom. 1:4; Acts 2:32; 10:36-41) Therefore, everything He said about eternity, sins, our need of forgivenss, etc. must be true! These witnesses said they heard, saw, beheld, and their hands even touched this man!(I John 1:1) In other words, they knew what they were talking about! They were there, and they were experts on what they saw and heard. Therefore there is every reason to have utmost confidence in all they said! These men not only were eyewitnesses, but they also were guided in what they wrote by the Holy Spirit.(II Pet. 1:18-21) This means their words were inerrant and from God Himself! How much more confidence then should we have in what they said! These men stated that just as surely as God raised Jesus from the dead, He has "appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained."(Acts 17:31) In fact Paul said Jesus’ resurrection is proof that He will return to judge the world. Are you as confident in these words as you are that computers may have glitches January 1, 2000? You should be even more confident! Businesses, governments, banks, and other public institutions have spent much money and time to ensure a smooth transition when the new year arrives. If what is advertised relative to "Y2K Ready" is accurate, those whose interests lie in such institutions should not fear. The question is are you "C2C Ready"? Will there be a smooth transition for you? If the Lord returned today (which He very well could and might), would you be fearful and panic stricken? Or would you be able to say with Paul and Peter that you love "his appearing" and are actually desirous of it?(II Tim. 4:8; II Pet. 3:12) By believing the gospel, repenting of sins, confessing your faith, being baptized in water, and living a faithful life, you can be "C2C Ready." (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:10; Matt. 24:13) Are you ready? -- p.a.o. * * * * * * * * * * * Dispelling Mythical Interpretation Of Scriptures Some say, "The Description of Lucifer's Fall is an Account of Satan's Fall from Heaven." The word "Lucifer" occurs in Isaiah 14:12 in the King James Version. The Douay version and a version called An American Translation also use the term "Lucifer" in this passage. Other versions translate the passage more clearly by using such phrases as "star of the morning" or "day-star." The word "Lucifer" comes to us from the Latin word for light, and according to Webster's New International Dictionary (2nd edition) refers in astronomy to Venus, when it appears as the morning star. It may very well be that Isaiah had reference to Venus, which may be seen as a bright star still shining in the eastern sky as the sun rises. Isaiah's mention of the star is metaphorical, but Isaiah did not mean for the star to represent Satan. The passage under consideration is found in the midst of several prophecies against various nations. "The oracle concerning Babylon" begins in Isaiah 13:1. Prophecies against Assyria and Philistia are found in Isaiah 14:24-32. "The oracle concerning Moab" begins at Isaiah 15:1, and chapters 17, 18, and 19 are the oracles concerning Syria, Ethiopia, and Egypt respectively. In particular, it is in the oracle concerning Babylon that we find "Lucifer" mentioned. A Day of the Lord in which judgment will be rendered against Babylon is foretold (Isaiah 13:6ff). Specifically, God promised to bring the Medes against Babylon (Isaiah 13:17), "And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." When Babylon did fall, the Jews, who had been captives, were allowed to go back to their land, and so began the process of restoration which culminated in the spiritual restoration under the reign of the King, Jesus. All of this is only briefly alluded to in Isaiah 14:1-2 before the prophet describes the taunt that would be taken up against Babylon when that great empire fell: "And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved, that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon."(Isaiah 14:3-4) Notice that what follows is a taunt against the king of Babylon, not Satan! In the following verses, the king of Babylon is described as a once powerful oppressor who has now been brought down, just as he himself had brought down so many other kings. The joy of his previous victims is described. Kings he had defeated are pictured as welcoming him into Sheol (the realm of the dead), gloating over the fact that he, who was once so much more powerful than they, is now no better than they: "Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us.’"(Isaiah 14:9-10) Whether verse 12 represents a further taunt by these kings, or by the Lord, it is again directed to the king of Babylon: "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn? You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations." People become confused when they forget the context, and take too literally the phrases, "fallen from heaven"(verse 12), "ascend to heaven"(verse 13), and "ascend above the heights of the clouds."(verse 14). These phrases represent the power over the earth that the king of Babylon achieved, and especially, how he himself viewed his power. Similar language is used of the arrogance of a human ruler in Daniel 8:10-11. Then what of Satan's fall? Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:7-9 describe Satan's fall. But in these passages, his fall is his defeat on account of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, by which Jesus brought to nought Satan, who had the power of death.(Hebrews 2:14) There is no account of Satan falling from heaven before the beginning of the world anywhere in scripture. -- Jeff Smelser
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