Una influencia maligna pero invisible
¿Cuál es la principal fuente de la ceguera espiritual que impide que las personas puedan entender la verdad de Dios?
Hemos visto que se profetizó que el mundo sería un lugar extremadamente peligroso en el tiempo del fin. Las acciones humanas nos habrán llevado al borde de la extinción. Pero ¿por qué pensamos y actuamos de manera tan destructiva? ¿Será que existe alguna otra fuerza —una que pocos reconocen— que influye en la conducta humana?
¿Cuál es la principal fuente de la ceguera espiritual que impide que las personas puedan entender la verdad de Dios?
“Si nuestro evangelio está aún encubierto, entre los que se pierden está encubierto; en los cuales el dios de este siglo cegó el entendimiento de los incrédulos, para que no les resplandezca la luz del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo, el cual es la imagen de Dios” (2 Corintios 4:3-4).
La razón por la cual tan pocos entienden y aceptan la verdad de Dios, es la influencia de Satanás el diablo. Este poderoso e invisible ser espiritual es el supremo mentiroso, el archiengañador. Es la fuente del engaño religioso que envuelve al mundo entero; ha cegado a la humanidad para que no entienda la verdad de Dios. De una u otra manera, todos hemos sido engañados por él.
La Iglesia de Dios Unida le ofrece estas lecciones, la revista Las Buenas Noticias y otras publicaciones que pueden ayudarle a entender lo que verdaderamente dice la Biblia.
¿Cuán grande es la influencia de Satanás?
Y fue lanzado fuera el gran dragón, la serpiente antigua, que se llama diablo y Satanás, el cual engaña al mundo entero; fue arrojado a la tierra, y sus ángeles fueron arrojados con él” (Apocalipsis 12:9).
“Sabemos que somos de Dios, y el mundo entero está bajo el maligno” (1 Juan 5:19).
Estos versículos revelan que Satanás domina el mundo. Su influencia es tan poderosa que se le llama “el dios de este mundo” (2 Corintios 4:4, NVI). Apartados de Dios, los seres humanos están bajo su poder y su dominio (Hechos 26:18). Este no es el mundo de Dios; es el mundo de Satanás.
¿Desempeña Satanás un papel predominante en el pecado y sufrimiento humanos?
“Vosotros sois de vuestro padre el diablo, y los deseos de vuestro padre queréis hacer. Él ha sido homicida desde el principio, y no ha permanecido en la verdad, porque no hay verdad en él. Cuando habla mentira, de suyo habla; porque es mentiroso, y padre de mentira” (Juan 8:44).
Satanás ha ejercido una influencia muy efectiva en la gente desde los tiempos de nuestros primeros padres, Adán y Eva. Logró separarlos de Dios (Génesis 3), y desde entonces la humanidad ha elegido vivir apartada de su Creador.
¿Cuál es el resultado natural de esta ceguera espiritual y de la falta de conocimiento de Dios?
“Mi pueblo fue destruido, porque le faltó conocimiento . . .” (Oseas 4:6).
Estando apartado de Dios y cegado a la sabiduría divina, ¿puede el hombre tomar decisiones sabias?
“Hay camino que al hombre le parece derecho; pero su fin es camino de muerte” (Proverbios 14:12; 16:25).
“Conozco, oh Eterno, que el hombre no es señor de su camino, ni del hombre que camina es el ordenar sus pasos” (Jeremías 10:23).
Puesto que el hombre se ha alejado del conocimiento salvador de Dios y ha preferido seguir su propio camino, ¿cuáles son los resultados?
“He aquí que no se ha acortado la mano del Eterno para salvar, ni se ha agravado su oído para oír; pero vuestras iniquidades han hecho división entre vosotros y vuestro Dios, y vuestros pecados han hecho ocultar de vosotros su rostro para no oír. Porque vuestras manos están contaminadas de sangre, y vuestros dedos de iniquidad; vuestros labios pronuncian mentira, habla maldad vuestra lengua. No hay quien clame por la justicia, ni quien juzgue por la verdad; confían en vanidad, y hablan vanidades; conciben maldades, y dan a luz iniquidad” (Isaías 59:1-4).
“No conocieron camino de paz, ni hay justicia en sus caminos; sus veredas son torcidas; cualquiera que por ellas fuere, no conocerá paz. Por esto se alejó de nosotros la justicia, y no nos alcanzó la rectitud; esperamos luz, y he aquí tinieblas; resplandores, y andamos en oscuridad” (Isaías 59:8-9).
Desde su comienzo la humanidad ha adoptado voluntariamente los caminos de Satanás y ha cosechado lo frutos de esa decisión. Satanás es quien ha propiciado un sinnúmero de pecados e indescriptible sufrimiento.
Para poder comprender las razones de tanta angustia y pesadumbre en el mundo no tenemos que buscar más allá de Satanás, de nuestros propios actos y decisiones, y del resultado de nuestros pecados. Este mundo violento y sangriento —un planeta que se acerca al desastre— es el resultado de una humanidad que, colectivamente, ha rechazado la guía de Dios y ha seguido al “dios de este mundo”.
¿Estará Satanás especialmente activo justo antes del retorno de Jesucristo?
“. . . ¡Ay de los moradores de la tierra y del mar! porque el diablo ha descendido a vosotros con gran ira . . .” (Apocalipsis 12:12).
¿Por qué estará Satanás especialmente furioso en ese tiempo?
“. . . El diablo [tiene] . . . gran ira, sabiendo que tiene poco tiempo” (mismo versículo).
Al saber que su tiempo es corto, y que Jesucristo pronto tomará su lugar como gobernante de la tierra, Satanás desatará toda su furia en contra de los habitantes del mundo. Su ira causará aún más sufrimiento y dolor.
¿Estará airado Satanás contra algún grupo en particular?
“Y cuando vio el dragón que había sido arrojado a la tierra, persiguió a la mujer que había dado a luz al hijo varón . . . Entonces el dragón se llenó de ira contra la mujer; y se fue a hacer guerra contra el resto de la descendencia de ella, los que guardan los mandamientos de Dios y tienen el testimonio de Jesucristo” (Apocalipsis 12:13, 17).
Así como Satanás odiaba a Jesús tan intensamente que intentó varias veces eliminarlo (Lucas 22:2-6; Juan 13:27), también odia especialmente a los miembros de la iglesia que Jesús fundó. Es la fuerza que impulsa la persecución de aquellos que son fieles a Jesucristo y guardan los mandamientos de Dios.
¿Confirmó Jesús que sus seguidores padecerían persecución?
“Pero antes de todas estas cosas os echarán mano, y os perseguirán, y os entregarán a las sinagogas y a las cárceles, y seréis llevados ante reyes y ante gobernadores por causa de mi nombre . . . Mas seréis entregados aun por vuestros padres, y hermanos, y parientes, y amigos; y matarán a algunos de vosotros; y seréis aborrecidos de todos por causa de mi nombre” (Lucas 21:12, 16-17).
Jesús profetizó que, a medida que los acontecimientos progresen hasta llegar al clímax antes de su regreso, algunos procurarán acabar con los que son fieles a Dios. Muchos sufrirán encarcelamiento o serán muertos. En una sociedad cada vez más hostil a Dios y sus leyes, serán odiados quienes crean en el camino de Dios y traten de vivir de acuerdo con él. El apóstol Pablo nos advierte que “todos los que quieren vivir piadosamente en Cristo Jesús padecerán persecución” (2 Timoteo 3:12).
With this spiritual blindness removed, humanity at last will learn God’s ways, which will lead to a transformed world of peace and plenty.
Was Jesus the Promised Messiah?
What was Jesus Christ’s purpose? Why did He come to the earth? Why will He come again? The answers to these questions are evident when one examines the concept of the Messiah.
Messiah is the English form of the Hebrew word Mashiach, meaning “Anointed One.” Anointing, applying oil, was used to set someone or something apart for a specific purpose. It was used, among other things, to signify that kings had been chosen by God to rule as His agents (1 Samuel 15:1; 16:12-13; 1 Kings 1:34). Christ is the English form of Christos, which means “Anointed One” in Greek, the language in which the New Testament has been preserved for us. The Greek word was used to translate the Hebrew word. Thus, the two terms mean the same thing (John 1:41; 4:25).
The Hebrews understood that their Scriptures contained many prophecies of a divinely appointed ruler who would restore the glory and grandeur of the kingdom of Israel. For example, Isaiah 9:6-7 says: “The government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”
Jeremiah 23:5-6 adds: “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”
After the people of the northern kingdom of Israel and those of the southern kingdom of Judah were taken into captivity by Assyria and Babylon, respectively, the Israelite people looked to these promises of a deliverer. In Christ’s day the Jews who had returned to their homeland from Babylon several centuries earlier were dominated by the Roman Empire. In their oppression they prayed and hoped for the appearance of the promised Messiah, a conquering king who would deliver them from their Roman overlords and restore Israel to national greatness.
From many prophecies they deduced, correctly, that the Messiah was soon to appear. Hopes ran high. When John the Baptist came on the scene, some thought he might be the Messiah. Scripture tells us that “the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ [the Messiah] or not” (Luke 3:15).
John said he was not the Messiah, but he did point people to Jesus of Nazareth. One of John’s followers, a fisherman named Andrew, immediately believed in Jesus. “He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ)’” (John 1:40-41). Both Andrew and Simon (Peter) became followers of Jesus.
Jesus acknowledged that He was the long-awaited Messiah in a conversation with a Samaritan woman. “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (John 4:25-26, emphasis added throughout).
Jesus also acknowledged that He was the Messiah at His trial. “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?’ Jesus said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:60-62).
Jesus knew that He was born to reign as a king. When the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, questioned Him before His crucifixion, Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate then asked Jesus if He were indeed a king. And Jesus responded: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:36-37).
That Jesus’ Kingdom was not for that time was misunderstood by most of His followers. They had hoped and assumed that Jesus would lead a popular uprising that would throw off the hated Romans and establish a new political entity. Some of the disciples even argued among themselves as to who among them would hold the primary positions in the new government (Matthew 20:20-21; Luke 9:46; 22:24).
Their understanding was limited. They didn’t realize that Christ had to first come to suffer and die for the sins of mankind and only later come as a conquering King.
When Jesus was tried and executed, they were bewildered and dismayed. Their hopes and dreams of power and grandeur were dashed. Even after Jesus appeared to them again, they still didn’t understand. They still thought Christ would establish the Kingdom of God immediately. Notice Acts 1:6-8: “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”
Jesus explained that the timing of that Kingdom should not be their primary concern; indeed they would not know when it would be established. Their focus, Christ said, should be on the work He had assigned them. The Kingdom of God would be established in due time.
Finally they understood. Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the promised Messiah, but first He had to suffer and die for their sins. Later He would come as conquering King to establish the Kingdom of God.
Peter boldly proclaimed the wonderful truth that Jesus was the Messiah: “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:18-21).
The dozens of prophecies recorded by the prophets about a coming Messiah—prophecies fulfilled by Jesus—are among the strongest proofs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Many nonbiblical writings are revered by the many religions claiming to be holy and divinely inspired. But none of those writings have accurately foretold the future and then, hundreds of years later, provided a record of exactly how those prophecies were fulfilled.
This is what the four Gospels actually do. They recall the Old Testament prophecies and show how Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled them as the Messiah who was born of a virgin, who taught on God’s authority, and who was put to death to make it possible for us to receive forgiveness for our sins.
The Gospels also tell us about Jesus’ resurrection and ultimate return to the earth as conquering King to reign. The message of the Gospels is that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, who was foretold throughout the Old Testament.
Notes accompanying the Jewish New Testament translation list 52 prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s first coming (1989, pp. xxv-xxix). Estimates of the total number of prophecies about the Messiah range into the hundreds. The Old and New Testament together reveal that Jesus was and is the true Messiah, the Son of God, the One who was sent from God and will come again to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. (See our free study guide Jesus Christ: The Real Story to learn more.)
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