Our Modern Education Is Prophesied

The modern system of education is a deadly mix of good and bad. It simply cannot provide the answers to the serious problems facing our world!

Did you know that our modern education is prophesied in your Bible? Throughout the Bible, God tells us how to solve our problems.

Here on the campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond, Oklahoma, and on its sister campus in England, our students recognize the significant relationship between education and world conditions—that education is largely responsible for the state of the world. Our leaders come from worldly educational institutions that help to shape their views.

We can’t hide from reality. Prominent statesmen and experts are frightened by developments in the world! Our number one problem is human survival.

Anciently, when Israel faced a military disaster, God reminded the people of true education! “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:13). This is an end-time message directed specifically at three modern-day descendants of ancient Israel: America, Britain and its peoples around the world, and the Jewish nation in the Middle East. (Study our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy to unlock these biblical identities and understand prophecy.)

During the Prophet Isaiah’s day, the shadow of the war-making Assyrians (modern-day Germany) was lurking over Israel. God showed the Israelites how they needed to be properly educated to avoid suffering.

War hangs over our nations today, but we won’t find any solutions in higher education. The only solution is right here: “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate” (Isaiah 28:5-6). Only God can turn away our enemies.

“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean” (verses 7-8). How can we ever save ourselves from such severe problems? Our people lack vision! Instead of vision, we are plagued by filth. Without vision, we will die! (Proverbs 29:18).

Saving Knowledge

After this dark context, Isaiah introduces the subject of true education—saving knowledge. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10). God is pleading with us to listen to Him! He is our great teacher. We are flawed and need His help. He says we must be weaned away from looking first to man! We will be cursed if we trust in ourselves! (Jeremiah 17:5). Rely on God instead.

The Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle. You have to work to find connecting passages “here a little, and there a little.” Once you complete this puzzle, you will see the most beautiful picture imaginable. Studying the Bible will give you vision and sound judgment. You will conduct your life in a way that produces true peace and joy. That’s an absolute promise from God!

“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12). Are you weary from the hopeless way of the world? God will give you rest! He protects His loyal people through anything and everything.

We must dig to find the root cause of war. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Every individual has a choice between life and death. We can choose to form our own systems of government, education and religion, but these systems only lead to death (Proverbs 14:12). God gives us saving knowledge so we will instead choose life!

Foolish Education

“Colossians was written about a.d. 59-61. The book of Revelation was written around a.d. 90, only 30 years after Paul warned the Colossians and the Laodiceans,” I wrote in my booklet Colossians: First-Century Parallels. “John revealed what happened to the Laodiceans! The Colossians heeded the warning—the Laodiceans did not. … Because the book of Colossians is tied directly into Revelation 3, that means Colossians is a prophetic book!”

There were Laodiceans in the first century, and there are Laodiceans today. Their problem in the first century is also their problem today. Most of God’s own people have fallen away from Him. But why? “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). This is worldly education—some good mixed in, of course, but largely vain.

Rudiments of the world should read “ruling spirits of the universe.” Thayer’s Lexicon puts it this way: “to invade of evils coming into existence among men and beginning to exert their power.” Modern education is influenced by evil spirit forces!

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:20-21). There’s that word “vain” again. Creation is proof of the Creator, but intellectuals reject this proof. Modern education is a concoction of pagan philosophy, German rationalism and atheism. (Study my son’s booklet Education With Vision to learn more about the origins of modern education.)

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. … Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (verses 22-23, 25). Foolishness, idolatry, materialism—this is modern education.

Most people today intentionally ignore God’s truth, closing their eyes and ears to it (Matthew 13:15). Modern education removes God from the picture (Romans 1:28). There is no instruction about God and His revealed knowledge. Even those who once knew God, His own chosen people, have rebelled.

The results of godless education are horrifying: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (verses 28-32). Every kind of sin and perversion—actions worthy of death!

Invisible Laws

God’s invisible spiritual laws govern all of our relationships and life decisions. All the trouble in the world is a result of broken laws. Don’t have a happy marriage or family? Laws are being broken. God wants us to be happy! He shows us how to really live! He gives us an astounding purpose: to be born into His Family and to rule the universe under Him and Christ! Is that a crown of glory, a diadem of beauty? (Isaiah 28:5). Absolutely.

Blessings and curses are tied to whether we get the education right. We have minds like God and an instruction manual, the Holy Bible, that tells us how we should operate. Any car, refrigerator or other device comes with an instruction manual. So do we! The Bible is Jesus Christ in print!

Soon, all who have ever lived will understand God’s truth. They will receive vision! God will teach them and open their minds. But you can let Him teach you today. Choose life!