In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all things. A vibrant new world was born. Everything created by God was perfect and beautiful displaying His wisdom, His goodness,
and His almightiness. God created Adam and Eve
in His own image with His own hands, and breathed His very life into them. Jehovah God placed them in the Garden of Eden and told them: But Adam and Eve did not heed God's instruction. They gave in to Satan's temptation and ate from the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. After that, mankind became more and more
corrupt, evil and decadent. They reached the highest levels of sin. They made an enemy of God
and did not allow for His existence. This was why God resolved to
wipe out mankind with a flood. One day, Jehovah God came to Noah. Oh, my Lord! After the flood, all living,
breathing things on earth had died, except for eight people in Noah's family and every animal placed upon the ark. The rain has stopped! The rain has stopped at last! Look, the sun is coming out! The sky is clearing! O my Lord! My God! They have continued to proliferate
on earth to this very day. God made a covenant with them that He would never destroy
the earth with a flood again. And the rainbow seen today is proof of God's covenant with man. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were full of evil, licentiousness, rampant with murder, and indulgence in extravagant pleasures. They reached the point of clamoring against God, of fighting against Him, enraging His disposition. After the angels took Lot
and his family out of the city, burning sulfur rained down from the sky, the raging fire lit up the heavens. Hurry, hurry up! Oh, my house! Our lives are on the line! Who cares about the house? I'm not afraid! Just one look! Just one look! Mom … Sodom, Gomorrah, and all their residents were reduced to ashes, disappearing into the wrath of God. The Israelites, descendants of Abraham, fled to live in exile in Egypt due to famine. The Egyptians were terrified
of the Israelites' expansion, so they enslaved them. The Israelites could not bear the torture, and prayed to God. God heard their prayers and decided to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He then called on Moses, Moses went to see the Egyptian Pharaoh
with God's command. But the Pharaoh would not agree
to release the Israelites. The stubborn Pharaoh did not give in until God unleashed ten plagues. The Israelites finally departed
from Egypt under God's guidance. Charge! Kill them! May all glory and praise be to my Lord,
Jehovah God, forever and ever … After escaping from the pursuing Egyptian soldiers, Moses continued to lead the Israelites southward
until they came to Mount Sinai. In His almighty glory, Jehovah God descended to Mount Sinai and issued His commandments
to the Israelites through Moses. God spoke all these words, saying, After leading the Israelites out of Egypt, God issued laws comprised of commandments,
teachings, prohibitions, and decrees (a total of 613 laws
after collation by later generations). These laws from God were issued
to explicitly instruct people on how to worship God and live on this earth. These laws were the earliest detailed conditions
to guide mankind on how to live, to regulate human behavior
and measure moral standards. They were also the first basis and guideline
toward determining sinfulness. They provided standards and guidelines for future generations on the
establishment of the constitution. They also laid a foundation for the perfection of legal systems
for subsequent generations. Many modern legal provisions and judicial concepts have been profoundly influenced by these laws. For example, murder, rape, robbery,
libel, and embezzlement were established as crimes
based on the Ten Commandments. God's laws issued to the Israelites have not only had a profound impact on human law, but have also played a critical role in the establishment and formation
of moral civilization and democratic institutions in human societies. In the end, after hundreds of years of living
under the restrictions of the law, the Israelites were unable to uphold the law. They constantly violated the teachings of the law, and everyone faced the danger of being condemned
or put to death through the law. They were also repeatedly preyed upon by other peoples and were subjected to the torment
of war and oppression. So they urgently prayed and called out to God. And they received a promise, a promise that the Israelites
could gain an eternal sin offering and they would no longer be condemned
or put to death according to the law, a promise that would revolutionize
the Israelites' very existence and fate. Thus, Jehovah God told the Israelites
by means of a prophet. In the year of our Lord, a male child was born in a manger
in a Jewish inn in Bethlehem. Three wise men from the East, guided by a star that had never before been seen, came to the place of the child's birth. They bowed down to Him in worship. This child was the One promised by God, who would lead and redeem
the Israelites from God's law. Oh! Whose child is this? So wise! The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ put an end to the Israelites' lives of slavery to sin. They no longer had to face the peril of being condemned or executed
for their inability to uphold God's law. Their sins were pardoned
because of the Lord Jesus' sin offering. Their living conditions underwent a complete change. From then on, the Israelites no longer lived under the law. Instead, they lived under the protection of the sin offering brought to them by the Lord Jesus. It means that the Israelites had completely
cast off the binds of the law and entered an entirely new age. In this age, they were atoned of their sins through repentance and the Lord's abundant grace, and they also enjoyed the promise
bestowed upon them by the Lord Jesus. It was an age replete with the Lord's mercy, love, tolerance, blessings, forgiveness, and patience. This is why we called this new age the Age of Grace. People's sins could be forgiven as long as they accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and they could enjoy the rich grace
and blessings bestowed upon them by God. This grace not only narrowed the gap between God and man, but also rescued humanity from their slavery to sin. This allowed people to no longer
stray from God because of their sins, to be absolved because of God's sin offering, and because of God's rich grace be able to come in front of Him at any time, any place. The coming of the Lord Jesus brought an end to the old age of constraints by the law, and ushered mankind into a new age. Meanwhile, it improved the relationship between God and man, and opened up a new beginning, a new start to God's work of management among mankind. In 70 AD, thirty-seven years after the Lord Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven,
the Roman army captured Jerusalem. The diasporas of Jewish people wandered the earth after being driven out of the land of Israel. Although they had lost their homeland, they carried with them the Lord Jesus'
gospel of the heavenly kingdom which had been confined to Judea and spread it to every corner of the world. Amen! Thank the Lord! She's come back to life! She's alive! She's come back to life! Hallelujah! Thanks to the Lord! Hallelujah! May the Lord have mercy on me. My legs have been healed! I can stand up! Thanks be to God! That's great! Oh Lord! May You have mercy on Your child. It's a miracle! Here we must proclaim that
God's wisdom surpasses the heavens and His deeds are wondrous beyond belief! 27 BC was the advent of the age of the Roman Empire. It gradually grew in power and became a vast empire spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and dominating the Mediterranean. It ruled over about one fifth of
the global population at the time. After the Roman Empire captured Jerusalem and drove the Jews out of Israel, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire. In 313 AD, the Roman emperor
Constantine I legalized Christianity. Years later, it was classified as
the official state religion. The development of these events advanced the spread and expansion of Christianity throughout all of Europe, Asia,
Africa, and all of mankind. It laid the foundation for Christianity
among the ruling class and the common people across those continents. Of course it influenced the lives of these people, by way of their faith, thoughts,
morals, and social trends. It also influenced the ideologies and
political careers of generations of rulers. The expansion of Christianity in the
Roman Empire and its influence led to panic among the rulers in Rome. They were afraid of and hated Christianity. To prevent Christianity from taking over their rule, they madly persecuted Christianity and murdered huge numbers of Christians. These measures brought natural disasters, internal strife, and outside incursions
upon the Roman Empire, as well as a number of epidemics. There were repeated outbreaks, the shorter ones lasting a few decades, the longer lasting over a century. This brought about a sharp drop
in the population of the empire. The once-mighty ancient Roman Empire was in decline. In 1453, ancient Rome descended into chaos. Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire, thus the book was closed on the glorious history of the Roman Empire. After 1,500 glorious years, this is how the final days
of the empire were ushered in. Its demise came under the wrath of God. The ancient Roman Empire rose up and was founded for the spread of Christianity. Its golden age was ushered in by establishing Christianity as its national religion. And the Roman Empire was destroyed due to its persecution of Christians. Although the Roman Empire faded from view and exited the stage of history, its mission as well as its development and existence in human history have had a profound influence on future generations. It was a strong force for the spread of Christianity, and it fueled the spread of Christian thought and its deepening in people's minds. Although ancient Rome's prosperity is a thing of the past, Christianity's influence on mankind has not ended. It has nurtured and guided generation after generation of people. It is like a seed rooted deeply in people's hearts, full of vitality. It not only liberated people's thoughts and drove the Renaissance, but it also provided an entirely
new direction and inspiration for mankind's development in all walks of life. This led to Europe's art, culture, and science flourishing in unprecedented ways. In the 17th century, the victory of
the bourgeois revolution in England led to the passing of the Bill of Rights, establishing the principle of parliament's supremacy over the monarchy. As a result, England became the
first constitutional monarchy, opening up the age of mankind
abolishing feudal monarchies and establishing constitutional monarchies. As the British constitutional monarchy was established, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria all followed suit. The bourgeois revolutions erupted, and one after another feudal autocratic rule in these countries was overthrown. They set up their own constitutions and established their own constitutional monarchies. British industry and commerce flourished after a new shipping route was opened, driving the development of
capitalism in the United Kingdom and creating a huge demand for resources. So while the UK was expanding its foreign trade it also gradually broadened the scope
of its colonial plundering and its expansion. Some countries and areas in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and Antarctica, as well as in the Pacific,
the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean became British colonies, one after another. By the early 20th century, England had conquered one quarter
of the earth's territory and its people. During England's colonial expansion, advanced knowledge and thinking in areas such as Western political systems, culture, religions, education, and medicine were
introduced into the colonies. The old ruling orders of the
colonized countries were overturned, and the pre-existing feudal ideologies were destroyed. This laid the foundation for the colonies unknowingly embarking upon the path of constitutional democracy. This brought about a turning point
in the state of the rigid, stagnant, closed societies within the colonies, infusing them with new life. This was an enduring contribution to the development of every aspect of life in the colonies. In the 1870s, through industrialization and the repeal of feudal autocratic systems in countries all over the world, England gradually lost its dominant
position in global industry. After two world wars, its colonies
gained independence one by one. England headed into decline,
completing its mission in history. In the mid to late 16th century, a group of people rose up from churches in England. They opposed the oppressiveness of the clergy as well as the formalism in the church. They sought a pure religious creed, a pious life, a holy church and a free nation. They were called the "Puritans." In 1604, the British royal family ordered all Puritans to return to the state church and obey the bishop, otherwise they would face expulsion or even execution. So the Puritans were forced to leave Europe behind and head for North America. They were followed by larger numbers of Puritans. Some of them came from
Oxford or Cambridge Universities. They were generally more educated than most Europeans. They advocated for the concepts of autonomy, equality, and democracy as well as God's teachings. They infused the United States
Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution with these values. Without the Puritans, the United States of America would not have come into existence, and the separation of the three powers would never have been set up. So not only were the Puritans the cornerstone
of the establishment of the USA, they were the pioneers who made America strong. On July 4, 1776, when the United States Declaration
of Independence was passed, an independent, rising, multi-ethnic country
was formed in North America. That is the United States of America we know today. George Washington, the first president
of the United States, said, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge
the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor." After the Civil War, the American economy developed rapidly. In 1894, the US became the country with the greatest gross industrial output worldwide. Economic prosperity in the US
followed the outbreak of World War I. After the war, the US turned from a country
in debt owing $6 billion USD, into a creditor country that was
owed more than $10 billion USD. It was the most prosperous nation on the planet. After World War II, America's military strength continued to grow, and it established more than 5,000
military bases all over the world. From an economic or a military perspective, the US had become an undisputed world superpower. This established its political position in the world. On the basis of adhering to its founding principles
of freedom, democracy, and equality, the US took up its duty to play
the role of the "global police." So, the US has continued to intervene
and interfere with world trends, to effectively curb the expansion
of authoritarian forces, and to protect large numbers
of people from all walks of life who have been persecuted for
religious or political reasons. It has also greatly contained the
spread of various evil forces and weakened the damage done to mankind by evil forces. In a sense, the US has played an important role
in stabilizing the global situation and providing a balance for world order. It plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding and stabilizing our global situation.
Eastern Lighting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Lightning