FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Where Would I Be?

Part 2

We want to continue from our last newsletter and consider a third class of people. The wealthy upper class – yes the lofty wise men who responded to another heavenly sign and came to worship Jesus.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matthew 2:1,2)

Nothing much is known about these wise men, or Magi, other than they were from the Orient. Historically the Magi were scholars, with a great knowledge of science, agriculture, mathematics, and history. These Magi saw a spectacular star appear in the sky, such as they had never seen before, and they took it to be an indication of an extraordinary person being born in the land of Judea.

If I had been a scholar, a wealthy wise man, and I saw a star suddenly appear before me, would I have followed it? It would have been very easy for them to say: “If an important King was born that warrants such a sign, I’m sure that we will hear of it soon in our own country and then we can go and pay homage to him.” But they did not wait, they set out to find this King, and to worship Him. It was not easy as they traveled the dusty, hot long trail on their camels. Yes it necessitated going through the desert and all of this simply because of a star giving the announcement of Christ’s birth.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they began asking: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” The original Greek here emphasizes a continual action, suggesting that they went up to every person they saw and asked this question. Because they as foreigners knew of this monumental birth, they assumed that everyone in Judea, and especially in Jerusalem would have been aware of this also. Can you imagine the shock they felt when no one seemed to know about that to which they were referring?

I believe that they must have begun to question all that they had seen and heard up to this point. Here they were after having traveled a long distance because of a star that they had seen while in their homeland. They must have been terribly confused as to where they should go. Despite what is traditionally taught, the Bible here indicates that the star did not appear to them and lead them during their travels. The passage here tells us that they did not see the star again until after they had met with Herod.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (Matthew 2:9,10)

The joy that they felt when they saw the star once again was almost indescribable. The original text piles up superlative upon superlative to emphasize the extent of exhilaration they felt. The star not only reappeared, but it led them directly to the home where Jesus was.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)

When they got to the house of Mary and Joseph, they did something that they longed to do, they bowed down and worshipped Jesus. Then they presented their gifts to Him, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. The Bible does not tell us what was done with these gifts, but it is very likely that Joseph used them to finance their trip they had made to Egypt and help to support the family while they were there. We know the reason for their journey to Egypt as found in Matthew 2:13-15.

Now, I must put myself in the Magi’s place. Where would I have been while in the atmosphere of my homeland? Could I be thinking “I don’t need the desert, I don’t need to get on that camel and go to who knows where and would I have tried to rationalize the signs away? After all there could be many meanings to that star, how do I know for certain that this is really something special. It could just be an unusual confluence of stars in the sky, and it doesn’t have any special meaning. Thank the Lord they said that this is significant, this is important, we have to go and find out about the true meaning of this special sign. They went, they asked the right questions until they got the true answer they needed to find Christ Jesus the Savior of the world. Would I have been that persistent?

As the innkeeper would I have stayed behind the counter and told Mary her she could go into the stable to have her child amongst the animals? Instead I trust that I would have been quickly on my feet to help her.

I pray that I would have been one of the shepherds quickly on my feet to say “let us go now” as the angels have instructed us.

And if I had been a wealthy Magi I trust that I would have used that wisdom to follow the star and keep asking the right question until I found the way to worship Jesus.

What would I have done if I lived back then? Whether I was wealthy, middle class, or poor, where would I be? I trust that I would have made the right choice. Today I have the joy of making the right choice! I have chosen to open my heart and life to Jesus the Lord and ask Him to dwell there. Truly one can only be complete if He is in the heart!

As we celebrate this glorious season we need to keep our eyes on what is truly important. This is so beautifully illustrated in the painting by Rembrandt The Adoration of the Shepherds where all of the light was made to fall on the baby in the manger. Every one and everything else was only in the shadows. Let us focus on Him, now and always.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

We will resume our study in the book of Revelation in January. We want to share some messages from Dr. Van Impe that tell of the miracle of God sending His Son to this earth.

The Birth of the Eternal God

I feel that there is a tremendous need to enlighten mankind as to the true identity of Christ. Multitudes think of the Saviour as just another member of the human race born nearly 2,000 years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this chapter, I clearly want to trace the preexistence of Christ to prove that He was “the Eternal God” who became man, in order that He might die for poor, helpless, hopeless sinners. I also want to show that His birth had to be through the channels of a virgin, inseminated by the power of the Holy Spirit, if His sacrifice for sinners was to be effective.

Christ’s preexistence

The altogether lovely One, born in Bethlehem’s manger, existed from all eternity. The verse that prophesies His exact birthplace also tells of His preexistence. Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Isaiah masterfully handles this truth in chapter 9, verse 6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Let’s analyze this verse for a moment. Notice that a child is born (this speaks of the Lord’s birth), but the next phrase mentions a son being given. This speaks about God sending the Son who was in His presence and coincides with Galatians 4:4, When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son. Then Isaiah goes on to proclaim this Son as God by the titles “The mighty God” and “The everlasting Father.” These terms are possible because of the relationship of the Trinity. Remember that Jesus said in John 10:30, I and my Father are one.

John opens his gospel with the statement, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3). In verse 14, he identifies this member of the Trinity who is called the “Word.” And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. Think of it. This One who was in the beginning with God and was God became flesh and lived among insignificant human beings because of His love for sinners.

Yes, Christ always existed and came from heaven to earth. Listen to His numerous statements verifying this truth: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:33). I am the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51). Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world (John 8:23). I proceeded forth and came from God (John 8:42). I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world (John 16:28).

In His high priestly prayer, Jesus said, I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was (John 17:4,5). Jesus said in John 5:46, Moses…wrote of me. Here Christ delves back hundreds of years to the first five books of the Bible, called “The Pentateuch,” and states that Moses mentioned Him. This is important because Moses recorded these words centuries before the birth of Christ. Jesus also said in John 8:56, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. How could Abraham see His day centuries before His birth if there were no preexistent One?

Oh, friend, Jesus always existed as a coequal member of the Trinity. Don’t listen to a group of blinded cultists who would rob Christ of His deity, but hear the Word of the Lord. His preexistence is also proven through the Bible statements indicating that He created the world. John 1:3: All things were made by him. John 1:10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Hebrews 1:2 states, By whom also he [Christ] made the worlds.

The part Christ had in creating the world and mankind agrees with the Old Testament account of creation. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). The Hebrew for God is Elohim, a plural noun, meaning “more than one.” This is a glorious declaration of the Trinity. You don’t believe it? What will you do with Genesis 1:26? And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

We have but skimmed the surface of evidence that proves that Christ preexisted His earthly birth. Now let’s move on to the glorious truth of His coming to earth via the channel of a virgin’s womb. At this point let’s consider Philippians 2:5-8 because it is such a glorious transitional passage. It brings the eternal God from heaven to a bodily appearance upon earth so that He might die for sinners. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God [His spirit form in eternity], thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men [His birth]. Why? Verse 8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Christ’s virgin birth

Lost religionists mock the virgin birth. In an issue of the magazine Challenge, a number of sickening articles and poems appeared. I quote one of them to show the world how far liberal modernistic religionists will go in their attempt to rob Christ of His deity. It is a poem about Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the poem she says:

First, I’ve got nothing to say-about anything that happened before Joseph and I got married. Jesus was our child. Joseph’s and mine. You can believe it or not. Suit yourself. He was my first born so naturally I thought he was something special. So, he’s the Messiah they say. I’d rather he had stayed a carpenter, married a nice Jewish girl and given me a lot of fat little grandchildren.

What blasphemy! This is the prophecy of the Apostle Peter fulfilled before our eyes. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privity shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (2 Peter 2:1,2).

Yes, the way of truth is often evil spoken of because of ordained wolves in sheep’s clothing who call themselves members of the “Christian faith” and yet would tear Christ to shreds if the opportunity presented itself. The crucifixion would be mild in comparison to what some of our lost seminary professors would do to Jesus if they had the chance in this twentieth century. However, let’s not waste our time on man’s drivel but instead invest it wisely as we listen to the Word of God concerning the truth about the virgin birth.

A virgin birth was necessary because Adam sinned. Since Adam was the head of the human race, every person born into it through natural generation or through the process of birth inherits the old sinful Adamic nature. Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Yes, all sinned or became guilty of sin simply by inheriting the fallen nature of Adam at birth. Quirks and diseases are passed on from generation to generation. Sugar diabetes is a prime example. Likewise, the sin nature is passed on to every generation. Romans 5:18 is another verse that clearly teaches the necessity of a virgin birth. Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Notice that judgment came upon all men unto condemnation because of Adam’s sin, but through the righteousness of Christ one may be liberated from this judgment. It is only logical to conclude that if Christ had come through the normal channels of reproduction, He would have also been born with this judgment of condemnation upon Him because He also would have inherited Adam’s sinful nature. Therefore, in order that He might set men free from this condemnation, He had to be born in another manner so as not to be tainted with the old wicked nature of Adam.

There was only one way this possibility existed and that was through a virgin birth-bypassing man through insemination of the virgin’s ova by the Holy Spirit. This ova lies dormant in every woman until it is activated by a male sperm. Gasoline is also dormant until activated by a spark. Is it an impossibility for the God, who formed man out of the dust of the ground and took a rib out of man to form woman, to place the activating seed within this holy virgin and bring forth His Son through the miracle-working power of His Holy Spirit? Of course not. This is exactly what the Father did. Hear the Word of God.

The very first messianic prophecy is found in Genesis 3:15. There we hear the Lord God uttering a prophecy against the serpent, saying, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it [the woman’s seed] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. The statement, “her seed,” is the first reference to the virgin birth in God’s Word. All humans are from the seed of man, but the seed of a woman implies a stupendous miracle. Jeremiah 31:22 again speaks of a miraculous event that would occur upon this earth. For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

A woman conceiving and bearing a man-child would not be a new thing in the earth-this is the rule of life. After conception, one bears a male or female child. Therefore this entirely new thing that would transpire had to be a miracle. What was it? A woman, without any human intervention or penetration, would conceive, carry, and deliver a man-child. This happened tobe the Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world. Isaiah 7:14 again sheds light on this event of the ages. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah is not merely referring to a young woman giving birth to a son. That would not be a sign. Millions of young women have been able to bear sons. The sign is that a virgin shall bear a son without an act of intercourse.

Forget the arguments of the religious contortionists who argue that the Hebrew word almah is “young woman” instead of “virgin.” All one need do is study Matthew 1:23 where the Greek word parthenos can only be translated “virgin” to arrive at a final answer. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Verse 22 states that this is a quotation from the prophet. What prophet? Isaiah. And where did Isaiah make the statement? Chapter 7, verse 14. So, the Greek text handles the Old Testament Hebrew text proving that God meant a “virgin” and not a “young woman.”

I repeat what was stated earlier: A young woman bearing a child would be no sign. Any of you young expectant mothers reading this would be the first to realize this truth. However, had you become impregnated miraculously by the power of God without knowing a man, it would very obviously be a sign. That happened to Mary and only to Mary.

The reason that God the Son, originally in spirit form (see Philippians 2:5), had to have an earthly birth is found in Hebrews 10:4,5. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not [animal blood could not take away sin], but a body hast thou prepared me. Since animal blood only covered sin and was presented as a down payment for sin’s debt until God’s Lamb should come, Christ had a body with divine blood prepared in the womb of a virgin so that He could shed that blood and die for the sins of the world. Because it had to be pure blood, free from the taint of Adam’s sin, the body and blood were prepared by the Father and placed in the womb of the virgin Mary.

Luke 1:26-28,30,31,34 depicts this thrilling story: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS…. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

This is a precious truth. Though she was espoused or engaged to Joseph, she had not known a man or experienced premarital sex. Remember that God wrote the Bible, and He declares that Mary was a pure virgin. Away with the mentally warped, religious hypocrites who are so defiled that they imagine all sorts of depraved things about this sweet virgin. Not everyone thinks and acts as they do. Mary declares, “I have never known a man-how shall this baby be conceived?” The blessed answer is found in verse 35: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Anyone who believes that God created this gigantic, fantastic, and astronomical universe certainly believes that God can bring His only begotten Son into the world by a separate act of creation. With God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

There is the entire story. The preexistent God, second member of the Trinity, came to take upon himself a body with blood so as to shed His blood for sinners. The sin-tainted blood inherited from Adam would not qualify Him as the sinless Saviour, so a body was prepared with blood produced by the Father, and placed into the womb of a virgin by the blessed Holy Spirit. Christ eventually went to the cross and shed His blood. Because He was the God-man shedding untainted holy blood, mankind may have eternal life by receiving this sacrifice. Believe the Word of God-see Christ crucified and risen again. Receive this Christ today.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Dear Rexella, Your latest weekly email was very helpful to me! Just wanted to let you know that you helped me today. You are a treasure! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Your friend and sister in Christ,

Donna

Dear Rexella,

I just want you to know I was saved in 1989, and right away found you and Jack on TBN. I could not put my bible down, and hungered to learn more and more. Your ministry had a huge part in that. I want to thank you.

I can imagine how much you miss your wonderful husband, as a lot of this world misses him as well. I am praying for you so you can feel Jesus near every day.

We will all be together very very soon,

God Bless you, and thank you again,

Nancy B.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

Christmas: Holiday or Holy Day?

Jack Van Impe Ministries presents the perfect holiday video classic Christmas Holiday or Holy Day?

You will want to show this fast moving and entertaining documentary teaching to your friends, family, pastor, and church, to anyone who has beheld the commercialization of Christmas in our lifetime and needs to be made aware of the Gospel truth about this special season of the year.

Especially as the holidays approach, hearts will soften toward things of the Spirit. People will be open to the Gospel like no other time of the year.

Plus it will be a blessing to you and your family as you approach the holidays, reminding you of the true meaning of Christmas and all the reasons you have to rejoice.

You’ll discover how close to the return of the Lord we really are, and how today’s current events make it even clearer that we should be filled with joy as we watch for His blessed appearing!

Israel’s Ultimate Redemption

All eyes on Israel…

On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel. A surprise attack that no one saw coming led to slaughter, rape, and the kidnapping of innocent Israeli citizens. And to war.

Our current headlines are just the latest chapter in the story of a people beleaguered by war and persecution.

Now, more than ever, it is important that we recall the entire story of the Jewish people and the miraculous fulfillment of this nation in biblical prophecy, for the future of the world will be affected by the future of Israel.

In the pages of this booklet, you’ll discover God’s undying love for Israel, His constant attention to their plight — and His plan to bring about the redemption of the world through His chosen people in His chosen land

The Blessed hope of Israel is your hope as well!