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Yes. Psalm 50:5 (NKJV), “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” At Jesus’s first advent, He opened up a “new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,” Hebrews 10:20 (NKJV) This new way is the heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) to follow Jesus’s example of self-denial. “Then He (Jesus) said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’ ” Luke 9:23 (NKJV) Jesus always obeyed God’s will and not His own will. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 (NKJV) To become a Christian, we first recognize we are sinners, then accept Jesus as our Redeemer, and finally, make a covenant with God to lay down our lives in sacrifice to serve God. Day by day, we study and apply the scriptures to our lives, and day by day we are transformed into Christ’s likeness. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV), “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This is the covenant with God by sacrifice spoken of in Psalm 50:5. If we are faithful, we will be God’s saints and the Bride of Christ. Our reward will be “a crown of life (immortality),” Revelation 2:10. John wrote, “…now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him (Jesus), for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV).   What exactly are Christians and what is their calling? Is Christianity self-centered or Christ-centered? These questions are explored as the Christian’s future kingdom work is discussed.

No, neither of these scriptural references can infer the race of Jesus. Song of Solomon 1:5-6 (RSV), “I am very dark, but comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Do not gaze at me because I am swarthy, because the sun has scorched me…” The Song of Solomon is symbolic of the love between Jesus and His Bride, the Church. Some suggest the bride is very dark or black because she has been laboring to preach the Gospel (the sun symbolizes the Gospel). When we preach, we may be persecuted (scorched) similar to the way the Jewish leaders persecuted Jesus.   The “tents of Kedar,” refers to Bedouin tents. On the outside, they were black, but inside were hung beautiful tapestries and furnished with silken furniture. When Kings traveled, their tents were black.   In the Bible, sometimes “black” shows favor. Recall that the outside skins of the Tabernacle were black. The Queen of Sheba (picturing a dark-skinned woman) traveled hundreds of miles to see Solomon (Jesus). Finally, the hight priest wore a breastplate that was suspended on black onyx stones hung from his shoulders. The black stones may illustrate that the Church will always recognize their humble origin on Earth.   Revelation 1:15 (NASB20), “His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace,…” “Bronze” is Strong’s  word G5475 translated as “Brass, Brazen: primarily, “copper,” became used for metals in general, later was applied to bronze, a mixture of copper and tin…” The color varies according to the composition of metals. Jesus’s feet looked like bronze, which were heated in a furnace until glowing hot. This metal is a symbol of perfect humanity. Jesus as a perfect man on Earth endured great persecution. He humbly walked through fiery trials in a furnace of affliction. Jesus was “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV) Thus, our Savior can sympathize with His consecrated followers. He tenderly comforts us. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV),15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Respecting races, all mankind descended from Adam and Eve. Acts 17:26 (RSV), “And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation”. Jesus is the Redeemer of all peoples and races. 1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV), “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

Losing two babies is heart-breaking. Babies and children are exceedingly precious. More precious than diamonds. Grieving their death is painful. But you are not alone in grief. The psalmist Asaph wrote, 2 “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. … 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah 10 And I said, ‘This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand (a place of favor) of the Most High.’ ” Psalm 77:2-4, 9-10 (NKJV). Death is a terrible enemy. How can you believe in God again? As the psalmist wrote: remember the times in your life when God blessed you. Remember the Bible stories and verses which attest to God’s love. (1 John 4:16.) Be assured that God never created people to die. Death came upon mankind as a result of Adam’s sin. (“As in Adam all die…” 1 Corinthians 15:22) We are all born dying. However, God has solemnly promised to resurrect your babies. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth.” John 5:28. Believe Jesus’s words. When Jesus reigns on Earth, He will resurrect all mankind and our families will be reunited. It will be wonderful. Christ will teach all mankind love, justice, and knowledge so that peace will be universal. Then “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. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ ” Revelation 21:4-5. Believe the scriptures. Grieving is a process. Be gentle with yourself. Cry when you need to. Many communities have free grief support groups. People who are mourning attend the meetings and share their sorrows. It can be comforting to talk to other grieving parents. Yet, if you are having difficulty with your daily activities, it may be wise to talk to a counselor. He or she is a professional and can kindly guide you through your sorrows.

Patience, sometimes translated in the Bible as “perseverance” or “long suffering,” is the ability to accept delay, suffering or trouble without getting angry or upset. A person with patience can wait for something they want – like dessert or birthday presents, for example – without complaining. Patient people push down the emotion of wanting something RIGHT NOW. They show a sense of “cheerful endurance,” trusting that God has perfect timing in all things. Today we live in a world of “instant gratification,” which means getting what we want right away. We can go online and read messages, watch videos, or purchase items instantly. When we get used to quickly receiving what we want, it can be a shock when we don’t, leading to anger and frustration…otherwise known as impatience! Patience can be a difficult quality to improve, but we should still keep trying to do our best to make progress. One reason is because it’s included in a list of important qualities God wants Christians to develop. This list, found in Galatians, is called “the fruit of the spirit.” (5:22,23, NASB): “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” Why is patience important? Well… Do you want to make good decisions? Proverbs (14:29, Christian Standard Bible) says, “A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.” Is something making you scared or nervous?  We know that God has a plan for the entire world and are confident He has everything under control. Romans says, (12:12, NLT) “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Do you want to be more loving? Being patient is a part of that. 1 Corinthians (13:4, English Standard Version) says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant,…” In Ephesians, (4:2, Common English Bible) Paul advises Christians to: “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love,…” So, what is patience? It’s the ability to accept delay, suffering or trouble without being angry or upset. It’s a quality that God wants every Christian to develop, so let’s try hard to be patient the next time we find ourselves in a difficult situation or having to wait for something we want!

We really do not have a specific scripture about demonic healings. Yet we do know that “…Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NASB20)  Acting as an angel of light could include healings. In another instance, a man named Simon saw that the apostles could bestow gifts of the spirit upon believers. Acts 8:17-20 (NASB20), 17 “Then they (?Peter and John?) began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit (?specifically the miraculous gifts?). 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20 But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!’” Obviously, Simon wanted to give gifts of the Holy Spirit which included the ability to heal others. The begetting of the Holy Spirit in the early Church was indicated by certain miraculous gifts, but this was for a special purpose in connection with the establishment of the Church. As Paul pointed out, those gifts were intended to pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:8.) They were given by the “laying on of the hands of the Apostles.” (Acts 8:18.) Hence after the death of the Apostles these gifts were not bestowed upon any. And when those who had received the gifts died, the gifts themselves ceased – thus passed away. A different approach to your question may be found in the Gospel of Mark. There Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan. Jesus responded with a very interesting argument. Mark 3:23-26 (NKJV), 23 “So He (Jesus) called them to Himself and said to them in parables: ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.’” We know that we are living in the end times and that Satan’s kingdom is coming to an end. Therefore, Satan’s house of demons is divided. The demons may indeed be working against each other. Jesus prophesied, “…there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 (ASV)  Demonic healings may certainly be part of the deceptions. Let us watch and pray.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NASB20) Presently, demons are influencing and manipulating earthly governments. Remember when Daniel prayed to God, and an angel with God’s answer was delayed because he had to fight against the “Prince of Persia”? Daniel 10:13 (NASB20), “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” This prince was certainly not a human being because angels are much more powerful than people. No human could stop an angel for 21 days. Demons promote evil, sin, war, and suffering. They can instigate wars. Only the powerful, reigning Christ can establish true peace. Revelation 19:11, 14-15 (NASB20), 11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. … 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” What does the iron rod symbolize? The power of the Christ will be needed halt warfare and teach mankind righteousness. Isaiah 9:7 (NASB20), “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of armies will accomplish this.” Does this mean Christians are not to be peacemakers? No. Romans 12:18 (NASB20), “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.” Romans 12:18 (NASB20) However, this scripture does not teach us to participate with governmental peace initiatives. We follow Jesus’s example of not becoming involved with politics. We remember Isaiah 48:22 (NASB20), “‘There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the LORD.” Six thousand years have proved that mankind cannot rule themselves. Christians are eagerly watching as end time prophecies are being fulfilled. We know that Christ’s mediatorial reign is imminent. Let us focus our energies on publishing the Gospel. Christ will establish peace. (See Micah 4:3; Isaiah 2:4.)

A dove is a favorite figure with the Jews as an emblem of peace and salvation. Indeed, Noah’s dove, with its olive branch, seems to have become such a symbol to all nations. A dove, by its nature, is a symbol of the spirit of meekness, patience, long suffering, kindness, love, and faithfulness which is the spirit of the Father – the holy spirit. When Jesus was immersed in the Jordan, some figure needed to be used as an outward evidence of divine blessing. The dove was that figure. It fitly represented the fullness of Jehovah’s spirit of love in Jesus. Yet, we are not to suppose that the holy spirit is a dove, nor that it has bodily shape like a dove, but as instructed in all the Scriptures, the holy spirit is a divine power or influence. Christian believers also manifest the fruit of the spirit which is the meek and quiet spirit. This spirit is one of the striking ornaments of all those who possess the spirit of holiness unto the Lord.

Israel was torn in two because Solomon was unfaithful to God. 1 Kings 11:29-35, 37-40 (NLT), (The prophet Ahijah met Jeroboam) “‘this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you! 32 But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. 33 For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites….He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did…35 ‘But I will take the kingdom away from his (Solomon’s) son and give ten of the tribes to you.’ … 40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died.” The worship of these idols included human sacrifice. That is exceedingly evil in God’s eyes. Jeremiah records God’s thoughts about any human sacrifice in Jeremiah 7:31 (NKJV), “And they (in this case Judah) have built the high places of Tophet (another idol),…to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart.” God’s character is always just and loving. It is neither just nor loving to sacrifice your children. Such a though never entered Jehovah’s heart. (This is another scripture which shows that God could never create a place called hell where He would have people tortured forever.) Human sacrifice is demonic, an abomination. It denies God’s character. The division of Israel is recorded in 1 Kings 12:1-24. The following are excerpts from 1 Kings 12 (NKJV). 1 “And Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. … 4 (Israel said) ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.’ … 10 Then the young men (Rehoboam’s advisors)…spoke to him, saying, … ‘speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, … “whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” … 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD,… 16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What share have we in David?’ …So Israel (the ten tribes) departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.”

Matthew 22:25-30 (ESV), 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her. 29 But Jesus answered them, You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. When people are resurrected on earth, babies who passed away will also be resurrected. God has designed that babies and children are to be raised in a family arrangement. Thus, it seems reasonable to think that in the beginning of Christ’s reign, families will have the joy and privilege of raising their children into adulthood. Yet, once people have reached perfect human maturity, the marriage relationship may or may not cease. The Scriptures do not give us any information on this topic. In Matthew 22:25-30, Jesus may simply have been explaining the future, spiritual resurrection of His followers. Spirit-begotten, faithful Christians are promised a heavenly resurrection. There is no marriage in heaven. Some may wonder about the heavenly marriage of the Lamb and his Bride (his faithful followers, also referred to as his church). Revelation 19:7 (ESV), “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.” This marriage would not be like the human marriage relationship. This marriage would picture the oneness of character and purpose between Jesus and his church.

Exodus 34:33-35 (ESV), 33 “And when Moses had finished speaking with them (the Israelites), he put a veil over his face. 34 Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” The Apostle Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (NIV), 7 “Now if the ministry (the Law Covenant) that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry (the New Covenant in Christ’s reign) that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away (the end of the Law Covenant as pictured by Moses’ face glowing). 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”