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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 2 / Issue 3 / February 24 2000
Contents of this issue
Editorial
Are we the last and final generation? (I)
Why Jesus Came?
Web Site Updates
News Items (Common to all issues) :
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
Your Spam Folder
Your Feedback
Editorial
Bible describes about both hell and heaven. Hell is described as a land of utter darkness and a place where there is terrible heat. We read in Job 10:21-22, "Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death, A land as dark as darkness itself, As the shadow of death, without any order, Where even the light is like darkness.'" And also it says in Job 24:19-20, "As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So the grave consumes those who have sinned. The womb should forget him, The worm should feed sweetly on him; He should be remembered no more, And wickedness should be broken like a tree.
And Bible says in Mark 9:46, Jesus Christ says about hell: "Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched."
The earth’s crust on land is normally 50 miles thick. You’d have to go down 50 miles before the edge of the fire. But in parts of the ocean floor, the earth’s crust is less than a mile thick.
Scientists recently discovered cracks on the ocean floor where fire was leaking out. Do you know what they found around these fire-breathing vents in the crust? Eight-foot long worms, found at no other place in the world! The book, The Deep Sea, by Joseph Wallace (p.39), reads, "Perhaps the strangest of ocean creatures recently discovered are Riftia, the giant tube worms. Measuring up to 8 feet in length, the worms are only found near deep sea vents."
Yes, Bible describes about this horrible land where people will be tormented for an everlasting time and where there is only tears and sorrow. But on the contrary the Bible describes about a land which is fairer than day. There shall be joy forever and God will wipe away all our tears from our eyes. There will be no more death, no more sorrow and no more tears. That land is called heaven as the Bible says in Revelation 21:23 –24, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it."
Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Yes, there is a hell and there is a heaven. Where would you like to go after your death, to the land of darkness and sorrow or to the land of light and joy? You have to decide in this world itself. Some days back I was talking to some Muslim friends and they said, "No one can have the assurance of going to heaven but it is up to Allah, whom he wishes, he sends to heaven and whom he wishes sends to hell…" And I said no, "you can have this assurance in this world itself because of Jesus. Because Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross to save us from hell fire. He took all our sins on the cross to save us and He assured in John 5:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
Yes, you can have this assurance by inviting Jesus in your life. You may be a humble and sincere Church member in a good Church. You may be a good pastor in a good Church. You may be living a good life. You may be having good name in society. You may be giving tithe every month regularly. You may be participating in Lord’s supper every week, but all these things can not give you assurance of heaven. Only the blood of Jesus. If you are not yet washed by the blood of Jesus, if you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, my friend, hell is waiting for you. But you can have this assurance in this world but accepting Jesus in your life.
Are we the last and final generation? (I)
By Sheela Isaac
All over, this talk is going on. Many have this question in mind "Are we the final generation?, are we going to see the return of Christ Jesus? Are we going to be caught up in the air to be with the Lord for ever? Are we going to witness the ‘Rapture?’
Well, let us see what the Bible, the word of God says about it.
1.Knowledge shall increase:
Dan 12:4 "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."
This verse says clearly that at the end time, knowledge shall increase. It is one of the signs for the end time. Within the last 50 years we are seeing the same thing, which never happened before in human history. God created this universe nearly 6000 years ago and since then nobody could see such things which our generation is seeing now. Fifty years back nobody could have ever imagined that they can sit before one small box (Computer) and send emails all over the world, they might have never imagined that email can reach from one corner of the world to another corner in such a short time.
100 years back no body might have dreamed that they can sit before another little box (TV) and watch the things which is happening in some other part of the world. Few days back we all saw in the TV the world event of clock turning from 1999 to 2000. It was indeed a spectacular event. I could see celebration of Times Square of New York, Eiffel Tower of France and London’s spectacular fire works that are miles away. It was so thrilling, I felt that I am sitting right there and watching the whole thing.
Another prophecy of Revelation says about the two prophets who will come at the time of antichrist who will be killed and to whole world will be able to see their dead bodies lying there for 3-1/2 days. It also seems to indicate the medium TV-Internet through which the whole world will be able to watch them. Revelation 11:3, "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth". Revelation 11:7-9, "When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves".
I read some where that, around 1930 there were no air conditioners and automobiles were very rare in US. Well, this is quite amazing that the things which our forefathers could not see, we are seeing today, and the technology which no one could have imagined 100 years back is here now. Daniel 12:4, says the same thing. These prophesies are coming true and so it confirms that we are in the end time. Jesus can come at any time. Rapture of the Church (only believers-people washed by the blood of Jesus and saved) looks very near.
To be continue..............
Why Jesus Came?
By Vinod Isaac
If we read Luke 19:10 we find that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Most of the time people misunderstand the purpose of Jesus coming into this world. Some say He came to make peace, some say He came to help the poor and so on.
But when we read Bible we find it, time and again that Jesus did not make peace, Jesus did not help poor. Even Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." And He goes on describing that whoever loves anybody more than Him is not worthy of Him.
Matthew 10:37, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
Matthew 10:38, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
But He did come to seek that which was lost. Matthew 10:6, He asks His disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 10:6, "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Now let's get back to Luke 19 and find out how Jesus did seek the lost.
Jesus Entered and passed through Jerico. And there was a certain man called Zacchaeus who was known to be a sinner before men and before God. He was a tax collector and wanted to see Jesus. But, because He was short in stature He climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus knew his condition that he was a sinner and passing by Jesus looked up and said "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." What a great surprise for Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus and for that, he climbed up the tree and now Jesus was saying to Him, "that I am coming to your house."
Yes my friend, Jesus knows everything about you. He knows the situation through which you are going and He knows very well where you stand and He is knocking at the door of your heart and saying:
Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
Revelation 3:21, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Rev 3:22, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Zacchaeus responded positively that he is ready to receive Jesus in his house. Luke 19:6, "So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully." Are you willing to be like Zacchaeus who received Jesus joyfully?
Luke 19:8, "Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
And Jesus went to his house. And Zacchaeus makes a pledge to undo his acts of unrighteousness. An act of repentance from his sins and turn to righteousness. Yes if you invite Jesus into your heart, and into your house, He will make a difference in your life, in your attitude and will make you a righteous person. That is what Jesus declared, "Today salvation has come to this house".
Are you thinking that you need a change in your life? Are you thinking that you are living in sin? Come to Jesus and He will gladly wash you with His blood that He shed on the Cross.
1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
1 John 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Tell Jesus that you need Him in your life, ask Him to cleanse your all unrighteousness and ask Him to come into your heart and He will gladly do that.
John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"
John 1:13, "who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
May God Bless you.
Web Site Updates
We have updated our CSI Web site so now it is having new look. Please try to visit and give us suggestion if any. Now you and your friends can subscribe to the News Letter from any page you are visiting. Also we have added a prayer request form where you can submit your prayer reqests.
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
As many of you know that in the year 2005, our dad was very sick even unto death. God miraculously healed him. We have compiled it in a book form. I sure believe that it will inspire you and encourage you greatly.
This book is available for purchase at JasmineCorp Store
Also read these two books by Sherly Isaac "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" Available at JasmineCorp Store, and "Is Jesus God?" Available at JasmineCorp Store,
Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this.
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
You can now download articles in Palm Doc format for your palm handheld computer. It will work with any devise that has Palm OS and Palm Doc Reader installed. To download click on the link named "Palm Doc Format" i.e. at the top of this page by the side of each articles.
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Now you can learn Graphics and web designing online at Kid's page. These tutorials are free for kids who subscribe for CSI Kids Newsletter. Currently tutorials for Paint Shop Pro, HTML and Dreamweaver are available.
So please enroll your kids by going to http://kids.csinewsletter.org/member/join.asp
And visit CSI Kid's page at http://kids.csinewsletter.org
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
Now you can read Bible in Hindi online at http://www.hindibible.org
in Malayalam online at http://www.malayalambible.org
in Tamil online at http://www.hindibible.org?ver=tamil
Your Spam Folder
If you are getting this newsletter in your bulk/junk/Spam folder please hit the "not junk" or "not spam" button so that you could receive it in your mailbox. Also adding news@csinewsletter.com email address into your contact list can avoid this email from ending up in your bulk folder.
Your Feedback
Your feedback and comments are Welcome. Please send your Parish news & articles to Editor (Sherly N. Isaac) at this address News@csinewsletter.comThe messages submitted will be checked whether they are correct according to the word of God. Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit the messages. The writers are responsible for the contents of their writings.
 
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