A prophet of God prophesied over twenty-five hundred years ago that Babylon would experience a rebirth and that it would be a very painful experience. The prophet made it plain that this rebirth would be dramatic and sorrowful, even like a "carcass trodden under foot." The people of this rebirth would be troubled by evildoers. These evildoers were destined to create great trauma for the population of this reborn nation. Its entire period of a short-lived renewal would be plagued with trouble. The prophet Isaiah did not miss one point.
Here are his perfect predictions as given to him by the Holy Spirit, "But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD. I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 14:19-23) (This is the kind of prophecy that makes the Word of God breathtaking.)
It has been as if Babylon and Iraq did not exist in the mind of the church world for nearly two thousand years. Any talk of Babylon being rebuilt has been met with mostly sarcasm or cries of ignorance. I received an e-mail just this week calling me insane for speaking of literal Babylon in Bible prophecy. This man, along with a multitude, has declared with vigor that the United States is modern Babylon. Actually, there are not many cities in the world that could not be called Babylon if you speak of the tragic presence of utter moral filth. Because, prophetically, Babylon has been in the grave; I can understand why this vigorous denunciation of the few unwavering souls that dare to believe God meant what He said to Isaiah. This is always the case with Bible prophecy. It is why Israel did not know that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. They did not take Scripture literally.
I have dared to prophesy of Babylon’s rebirth for over forty years. The response has been mixed, but, finally, it is changing toward the positive. Everything Isaiah said is happening. The danger in Iraq, at the present, is of itself prophetic. This reborn nation will never know the peace we enjoy in America. Bloodshed will dot their existence until the fateful hour of God’s judgment. My heart hurts for the innocent people of this struggling nation. They are there by birth and have never known anything but living with sorrow. Those among them that know Jesus Christ as Savior can take heart because God never judges the righteous with the wicked. As the fateful hour of judgment draws near, God will speak to His own. His words are already recorded, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4b)
Those who talk of evangelizing Iraq and making it a Christian nation are extremely foolish and have no sense of Bible prophecy. Of course, individuals can and will be converted and for that cause we should be committed. There is already an incredible movement of the One World Religion and Babylon will be a key focus. It will not be Bible-believing Christianity. Paul Crouch of TBN was there at the same time as I was during my recent trip, but he was there spreading his false religion of replacement theology. I personally heard him bragging about his commitment to ecumenicalism of the One World church. He did not use that term, but his language was plain. He made fun of the word Protestant and personally said, "I am not protesting anything." In fact he was working toward starting a TV station covering Iraq. He, or someone that represents him, will be there to announce the Antichrist to the world.
This great prophecy in Isaiah is being fulfilled as I write. This nation will become the center of a one-world government. The United Nations is already discussing moving their headquarters to Babylon. Let me quote the most recent discussion concerning this fact. "Triggered by the Iraq War, informed sources say that the international Quartet of world powers (the US, UN, European Union and Russia) has drafted a proposal to transfer the seat of the United Nations to Baghdad (ancient Babel or Babylon)! The move would relieve the space constraints of the New York headquarters while also freeing it from the physical jurisdiction of the US. Though it’s only a draft of the Quartet, plans appear to be in the works to establish a third and perhaps final worldwide organization." (Israel Today, December 2003) (Pre-Trib Perspectives, March 2004) The United Nations is pagan to the heart. They hate America and Israel; and our nation will be blessed to be free of their influence.
Babylon is being reborn by Divine decree so it can be judged by Divine perfection. Notice the last verse of Isaiah’s prophecy. He said, "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 14:23) John stated near the close of Holy Scripture, "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." (Revelation 18:20-21) The presence of the Shiite Muslims in Southern Iraq is prophetic. The leaders of this sect could not hate Christianity with a greater hatred. They are the final product of the very heart and soul of Babylon, and they will be judged with the city where false religion was born.
Northern Iraq is destined to become a great nation and will be called Assyria during the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. Again, Isaiah prophesied of this future fact, "And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians." (Isaiah 19:22-23) The Cradle of Civilization has become an incredible center of End Times fulfillment. Watch for a future Prophecy News Alert dealing with Northern Iraq and the rise of a reborn Assyria. The Word of God has never been more alive with perfect fulfillment.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It’s Getting Late; Do You Know Where Your Soul Is?
I can recall dozens of times when I was a kid playing out at dusk with my friends and anticipating that any second I’d hear my name being yelled across the neighborhood from a lighted doorway. I always hoped it would be one of my friends’ names that would be called before mine, to save me the embarrassment of having to be the first to leave the fun-filled activities. Ironically, now that I’m married, I’ve learned that that kind of anticipation never seems to end.
Widespread changes have taken place that are not for the better. As the sun sets on this generation, people should be listening for their names to be called from the lighted doorway. The problem is, our fun activities and desire to play have distracted us so much that we fail to notice how late it is, despite the darkness. We need to see both how dark it is and where we are playing, in order to understand the serious nature of the problem.
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness,” (John 12:46).
Do You Live in Darkness?
It’s been well stated that the best way to judge a man is by what he does when no one is looking and when no one else knows. Human nature more often than not directs us to do things that we know are wrong out of the sight of people. That in itself is a testament of man: We know right from wrong, and have no excuse before God.
Does your life include a sin that you’re holding onto, without any intention of trying to remove it from your life? Many professing Christians have ceased struggling with sin, and have taken the position that they are just “backsliders” who live in sin while God is still in their hearts. However, Scripture speaks to the contrary regarding the lifestyle and practice of sin:
· “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22-23).
· “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
For the record, we acknowledge the obvious: Sin is fun for a time. We enjoy sin, as it has a strong pull on the flesh because we are, by nature, self-centered. We very seldom take sin seriously, and almost never see the consequences for our actions. However, in reality, people often pay twice for sin—once in this world and once again after death.
A trail of pain and broken families follows those who fail to see that sin produces much more than temporal fun for the flesh. Tragedies, to one degree or the other, almost always result. While you think you might be immune to the consequences of sin, just check your conscience to see if you’re free from sin.
Who’s Calling Whose Name?
Some people have an image of Jesus knocking at the hearts of men, begging them to “open the door.” Biblically speaking, it’s a poor analogy to depict Jesus as a beggar who wants us to allow Him to come in, as though it’s cold and raining outside.
People who that say they have accepted Jesus often fail to understand that Jesus isn’t made “acceptable” to us. It’s we who need to be made acceptable to Him, because we are the true beggars. Listen to the words of Paul, who knew his personal state, despite all his works: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
How do you view God? Do you see Him as happy with mankind and wanting to give people gifts and keep them happy, or is He angry with sin and the way people live?
The nature of good is to punish evil and see justice done. The world seems to generally blame God for causing or allowing plagues, earthquakes, floods, and all kinds of destruction. But the world will not admit the reasons God takes actions. The collective attitude is that it is His fault that all such catastrophes happen. People call these things “acts of God.” The lost refuse to see that the way they live has anything to do with God trying to get their attention.
God has gone all out to try to get mankind to understand that fallen man is living in sin, and that each person who lives without repenting of that sin has a day of judgment coming.
Responding to the Call
Most people reading this believe themselves to be saved, I’m almost certain. I do hope they are, indeed, saved. However, being a false convert for years myself, I now see clearly that a “response” to the call requires inward change. So how do you know if you’re saved? Here’s a simple list.
1. Do you struggle with sin or just live in it?
If the Bible says something is wrong, you should fight against the desire to do it. People who confess to be “followers of Christ” but don’t follow His words need to examine their salvation. No Christian will be perfect this side of heaven, but every Christian will—because of God the Holy Spirit within him or her—fight against the sinful nature as a result of the life-changing properties of salvation: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:19).
2. Are you getting better or worse?
Each year, you should be a better Christian than you were the last. That doesn’t mean your life itself will be better in every aspect, in terms of the trials of daily life, but it does mean that your obedience to God will be improved. We often think that those who’ve taken a few years off from their faith are just backsliding a little and will return once they “sin themselves out.” Scripture warns that this should not happen. Our goal is to move forward: “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
3. Do you value your God enough to talk about Him?
Do people around you know “WHY” you’re a Christian? Most of the people in the U.S. today think they are “Christian” by default, despite common rejection of Bible teachings and denial of the very words of Christ. Do you tell people around you the reason you’re a believer and that you hold the words of Christ in higher regard than does public opinion? According to researcher George Barna, fewer than 2 percent of Christians truly witness. If the Living God has altered your life, pulling you out of sure judgment, the supernaturally influenced reaction is to tell someone the reason they need to submit to Him as well. ““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven? But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
Widespread changes have taken place that are not for the better. As the sun sets on this generation, people should be listening for their names to be called from the lighted doorway. The problem is, our fun activities and desire to play have distracted us so much that we fail to notice how late it is, despite the darkness. We need to see both how dark it is and where we are playing, in order to understand the serious nature of the problem.
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness,” (John 12:46).
Do You Live in Darkness?
It’s been well stated that the best way to judge a man is by what he does when no one is looking and when no one else knows. Human nature more often than not directs us to do things that we know are wrong out of the sight of people. That in itself is a testament of man: We know right from wrong, and have no excuse before God.
Does your life include a sin that you’re holding onto, without any intention of trying to remove it from your life? Many professing Christians have ceased struggling with sin, and have taken the position that they are just “backsliders” who live in sin while God is still in their hearts. However, Scripture speaks to the contrary regarding the lifestyle and practice of sin:
· “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22-23).
· “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
For the record, we acknowledge the obvious: Sin is fun for a time. We enjoy sin, as it has a strong pull on the flesh because we are, by nature, self-centered. We very seldom take sin seriously, and almost never see the consequences for our actions. However, in reality, people often pay twice for sin—once in this world and once again after death.
A trail of pain and broken families follows those who fail to see that sin produces much more than temporal fun for the flesh. Tragedies, to one degree or the other, almost always result. While you think you might be immune to the consequences of sin, just check your conscience to see if you’re free from sin.
Who’s Calling Whose Name?
Some people have an image of Jesus knocking at the hearts of men, begging them to “open the door.” Biblically speaking, it’s a poor analogy to depict Jesus as a beggar who wants us to allow Him to come in, as though it’s cold and raining outside.
People who that say they have accepted Jesus often fail to understand that Jesus isn’t made “acceptable” to us. It’s we who need to be made acceptable to Him, because we are the true beggars. Listen to the words of Paul, who knew his personal state, despite all his works: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
How do you view God? Do you see Him as happy with mankind and wanting to give people gifts and keep them happy, or is He angry with sin and the way people live?
The nature of good is to punish evil and see justice done. The world seems to generally blame God for causing or allowing plagues, earthquakes, floods, and all kinds of destruction. But the world will not admit the reasons God takes actions. The collective attitude is that it is His fault that all such catastrophes happen. People call these things “acts of God.” The lost refuse to see that the way they live has anything to do with God trying to get their attention.
God has gone all out to try to get mankind to understand that fallen man is living in sin, and that each person who lives without repenting of that sin has a day of judgment coming.
Responding to the Call
Most people reading this believe themselves to be saved, I’m almost certain. I do hope they are, indeed, saved. However, being a false convert for years myself, I now see clearly that a “response” to the call requires inward change. So how do you know if you’re saved? Here’s a simple list.
1. Do you struggle with sin or just live in it?
If the Bible says something is wrong, you should fight against the desire to do it. People who confess to be “followers of Christ” but don’t follow His words need to examine their salvation. No Christian will be perfect this side of heaven, but every Christian will—because of God the Holy Spirit within him or her—fight against the sinful nature as a result of the life-changing properties of salvation: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:19).
2. Are you getting better or worse?
Each year, you should be a better Christian than you were the last. That doesn’t mean your life itself will be better in every aspect, in terms of the trials of daily life, but it does mean that your obedience to God will be improved. We often think that those who’ve taken a few years off from their faith are just backsliding a little and will return once they “sin themselves out.” Scripture warns that this should not happen. Our goal is to move forward: “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
3. Do you value your God enough to talk about Him?
Do people around you know “WHY” you’re a Christian? Most of the people in the U.S. today think they are “Christian” by default, despite common rejection of Bible teachings and denial of the very words of Christ. Do you tell people around you the reason you’re a believer and that you hold the words of Christ in higher regard than does public opinion? According to researcher George Barna, fewer than 2 percent of Christians truly witness. If the Living God has altered your life, pulling you out of sure judgment, the supernaturally influenced reaction is to tell someone the reason they need to submit to Him as well. ““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven? But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Two Kinds of People
“There are only two kinds of people in the end. Those who say to God ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done” C S Lewis.
Being given the ability to choose between God and His adversary is the greatest of choices God could have bestowed upon mankind. And it all comes down to where we wish to spend eternity. Is there anything that is more important than our eternal destiny? I say no but many will say yes there are things more important than thinking about what comes after this life. The reason for this attitude among the perishing is one of unbelief. Many just won’t believe there’s life after planet earth, hence, two kinds of people.
C S Lewis had it right. More recently I, too, have written of the magnitude of a sincere and informed eternal decision. But more importantly Jesus speaks of this subject quite forcefully in His word “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14. “Hodos” is the Greek word for way and can also be translated path, road, or highway. Highways are, for the most part, broad and can accommodate a huge throng of people. Jesus says many will travel that broad highway and be destroyed. Many will seek after destruction because they just find it too difficult to accept or believe that any other path exists. Many will seek after the lusts and desires of this life, never coming to the realization that these things are all temporary.
This lost generation looks at believers and says “We don’t want to be like them, we don’t want to miss out on all the thrilling and fantastic adventures that these Christians can’t even appreciate because of their religion”. “We want what’s coming to us”, many will say, “I deserve it”, (sadly, if they stay in that frame of mind they will soon realize they got exactly what they’ve asked for). God says, “Thy will be done”.
As believers in Christ we can enjoy this life God has blessed us with. We can have relationships with folks who, for the most part, think as we do and this places us in a position of fellowship that is never understood by those who are perishing. Everyone has a need for fulfillment and as such Christians turn to Christ, we say to God “Thy will be done.”
The lost, on the other hand, have a big empty void inside them. There’s a place for God in us all but those who refuse to allow God His place in them are at a loss to understand why they can not be filled. They struggle continually, in vain, to fill that emptiness by giving in to the lust of their hearts. Every decision is pretty much a moral decision these days, and yet the ones who are perishing can’t or won’t see it that way. It’s all about how much pleasure they can derive out of any and all situations. All the sinful pleasures that unbelievers strive to be engulfed in are only going to turn out to be a fleeting pleasure at best. Adhering to the carnal lusts of the heart will always result in pursing more and new pleasures but never actually achieving fulfillment.
What those who are perishing can’t seem to grasp is that all Christians sin. Oops, here come the emails. Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ don’t suddenly become perfect people, but the lost think that’s exactly what happens. Then when they witness a believer stumble, as we all do, all they can see is a hypocrite. We’re not perfect, not by, any stretch of the imagination, but we are forgiven.
At some point, many who are perishing because of their unbelief begin to seek after a more fulfilling “spiritual” life. Satan loves to lead these unguided seekers to something that sounds like it might have come from God but actually comes from Satan himself. Many will be lead to their own demise by listening to others with an agenda that is in direct opposition to God. Many will fall in step with leaders, supposedly Bible teachers, who through their own deceitful interest teach lies. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.
The problem is, many people as they seek after some form of spirituality, remain ignorant of God’s word. Therefore it’s impossible for them to heed Jesus’ words to “beware of false prophets.” This in turn gives these cunningly false prophets a license to deceive the masses. These ravening wolves have an agenda, and it isn’t to teach from God’s word. A huge deception I see currently affecting many people’s spirituality is the onslaught of self help books. Many of these books can actually take on a Christian look and feel yet be quite contradictory to God’s word.
I’ve seen and heard of some extremely heretical practices occurring in Churches across this county. As Christians we are to be focused on Jesus Christ, we aren’t to take our eyes off Him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “... No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. If we take our eyes off Jesus Christ we will turn away from Him and get caught up in things that will lead us astray.
Yet we see many pastors and others who once taught from the Bible turning to alternative sources for teaching and using these alternatives to lead people away from the word of God. Using these alternative sources they corrupt the lives of others, and there are some pastors who actually use these very heretical alternatives for preaching from the pulpit. Rick Warren’s now famous book, “The Purpose Driven Life” as well as Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Church” and the study materials that accompany these teachings are all distractions to move people away from the word of God.
In my home town of 4800 people and about 100 churches there’s at least one church that has gone bonkers over the “The Shack” written by William P. Young. They’ve gone as far as to erect a small structure in front of their regular assembly building depicting “The Shack”. They’re promoting a book of fiction that depicts God as a character that is completely contrary to the God of the Bible. When we begin to incorporate props such as this for teaching in our Christian Churches we begin to move away from God and closer to where Satan would have us. There are many other distractions being presented with a Christian look and feel but they are all deceptions. Tell me, if you can, what’s wrong with teaching exclusively from God’s inerrant word?
More and more we see these erroneous teachings invading our once revered sanctuaries and we know this is going to continue and become even more pervasive. Every single denomination and non-denomination is being attacked by some sort of false teaching and false doctrines and as such they will continue to move further and further away from a foundation built on Jesus Christ.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first...” 2 Thessalonians 2:3a In Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonians he makes it clear that before Christ’s return there must first come a falling away, and scholars are divided on whether Paul is referring to the falling away by believers or a world wide rebellion to God. All we need to do is look at what’s happening in many of our Christian Churches today to see what Paul meant.
Unfortunately, one of my favorite Christian organizations which began back in the late 60’s and early 70’s and which God used mightily to create a huge movement, leading many to Jesus, is Calvary Chapel. It, too, is being attacked from every angle and now heading full steam towards the emergent/contemplative purpose driven agenda and kingdom now affiliation. Believe it or not there is only one purpose behind all these distractions and disruptions, and that is to eliminate the true Church and replace it with the apostate Church of the last days.
“Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction as [the Calvary Chapel organization] to one degree or another.” Lighthouse Trails
Two separate paths and two different types of people. Different only by the choice they make. That choice will either lead them to an eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven, or an eternity in a burning Lake of Fire. As different as the two people groups seem they are all equally known by God. God knows which path each person will ultimately take and He’s known it from before the creation of the world.
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8. In this verse Peter is giving us a lesson in how God views eternity, and the fact that God is eternal. God is not restrained by time or space but He can see the beginning and the end of all things at the same exact moment. He already knows what decision you and I will make in regards to our eternal destiny. That’s how Jesus can say “broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. Matthew 7:13b. If you’re reading this commentary and you’ve not made that most important decision of your life to follow Jesus Christ, there’s still time, albeit precious little, so choose wisely.
It’s appropriate that Jesus refers to His followers as sheep. Sheep have the propensity to follow rather than lead and sadly many will follow doctrines which consist of what man has derived from his own mind, most of which are at odds with the scriptures. In these “last days” there will be great multitudes that follow erroneous teachings and they are completely unaware of the fact that they are being led down the most destructive of highways. This truth isn’t something we will need to be looking for as occurring in the distant future, oh, no my friends it’s happening right now. This world of ours is heavily into following extremely deceitful and blatant liars.
Jesus said “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. Jesus is that straight gate and narrow way referred to in the scripture verse above. There is no other Way in which one may enter Heaven. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
First and foremost, we must believe Jesus is who He said He is or there is no hope for salvation and no foundation for our Christian faith “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58. In the very next verse the Pharisees provide us with their understanding of Jesus’ words. “Then took they up stones to cast at him:” John 8:59a. You see, in the minds of the Jews who had just heard Jesus’ proclamation, He had blasphemed God by making Himself out to be God. Jesus had just committed the offence (in the eyes of the Pharisees) that would lead to His death. If you don’t understand what Jesus meant by saying “I Am”, He was referring to the voice that spoke to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus chapter 14. Jesus was that voice. Jesus is God and the Pharisees recognized Jesus was making that claim. They didn’t believe it of course, but they do now.
Again, two very distinct paths are available to the people of planet earth. All earth’s peoples have a choice to make. We are all God’s creation and we were all created in His image, more importantly God has no favorites when it comes to our salvation. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. God would love for all men to seek Him and come to repentance before it’s too late. Unfortunately, according to God’s own words, that’s not going to happen. Many will follow the wrong path.
None of us are pushed on to that broad highway that leads to destruction, but many people will be led there. Jesus says many will follow it because they choose to follow it. Few will make the alternative choice. How disturbing is that revelation? We can choose to believe what Jesus says or we can ignore Him and continue down the wrong path, but we can’t have it both ways. If we never consciously make the choice to follow Jesus, then we have made our choice.
Following a liar just because he or she gives persuasive and articulate speeches using words that sound like something God might say will not suffice as an excuse as to why you were lead astray as you stand before the White Throne Judgment Seat of God. If you’re following a man or woman who claims to have the answers and know the correct path to God, yet they deny the deity of Jesus Christ, you’re going to be in for a huge surprise as you stand before the King of Kings weeping as you realize that during your life on earth you had continually followed the father of all lies instead of learning the truth. God’s truth is obvious and those who don’t accept it are without excuse.
Here’s the answer to this problem of being deceived or misled. Grab your Bible and open it to the book of Genesis and begin to read and study like you’ve never done before (and many haven’t). When you get to the last page of the Book of Revelation begin again. Since our eternal destiny is a life or death situation, continue this new study practice for the rest of your life. If you are familiar with God’s word it will be very difficult, probably even impossible, to be led astray by those who want to teach doctrines of men and those who have their own agendas apart from God.
This concept of getting people to read everything that comes along, all the while neglecting the one book they should have practically memorized by now, is satanic. This evil is inspired by Satan and it’s working quite well. I’ve read that there are currently about 3,000 new books being published every day. That statistic, if true, is extraordinary to say the least, yet there has never been another book so popular in its sales that it holds the record for books sold to date, or as neglected once purchased, I’m speaking of the Holy Bible, God’s inerrant word.
You say you want to hear from God? Read your Bibles. God will speak to you from every page. You may wish to ignore the admonition I’ve written on this page, which, of course will be to your own detriment. As we get close to the time of Jesus’ Second Advent, Satan is working exponentially to lead as many as possible down that destructive highway.
Being given the ability to choose between God and His adversary is the greatest of choices God could have bestowed upon mankind. And it all comes down to where we wish to spend eternity. Is there anything that is more important than our eternal destiny? I say no but many will say yes there are things more important than thinking about what comes after this life. The reason for this attitude among the perishing is one of unbelief. Many just won’t believe there’s life after planet earth, hence, two kinds of people.
C S Lewis had it right. More recently I, too, have written of the magnitude of a sincere and informed eternal decision. But more importantly Jesus speaks of this subject quite forcefully in His word “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14. “Hodos” is the Greek word for way and can also be translated path, road, or highway. Highways are, for the most part, broad and can accommodate a huge throng of people. Jesus says many will travel that broad highway and be destroyed. Many will seek after destruction because they just find it too difficult to accept or believe that any other path exists. Many will seek after the lusts and desires of this life, never coming to the realization that these things are all temporary.
This lost generation looks at believers and says “We don’t want to be like them, we don’t want to miss out on all the thrilling and fantastic adventures that these Christians can’t even appreciate because of their religion”. “We want what’s coming to us”, many will say, “I deserve it”, (sadly, if they stay in that frame of mind they will soon realize they got exactly what they’ve asked for). God says, “Thy will be done”.
As believers in Christ we can enjoy this life God has blessed us with. We can have relationships with folks who, for the most part, think as we do and this places us in a position of fellowship that is never understood by those who are perishing. Everyone has a need for fulfillment and as such Christians turn to Christ, we say to God “Thy will be done.”
The lost, on the other hand, have a big empty void inside them. There’s a place for God in us all but those who refuse to allow God His place in them are at a loss to understand why they can not be filled. They struggle continually, in vain, to fill that emptiness by giving in to the lust of their hearts. Every decision is pretty much a moral decision these days, and yet the ones who are perishing can’t or won’t see it that way. It’s all about how much pleasure they can derive out of any and all situations. All the sinful pleasures that unbelievers strive to be engulfed in are only going to turn out to be a fleeting pleasure at best. Adhering to the carnal lusts of the heart will always result in pursing more and new pleasures but never actually achieving fulfillment.
What those who are perishing can’t seem to grasp is that all Christians sin. Oops, here come the emails. Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ don’t suddenly become perfect people, but the lost think that’s exactly what happens. Then when they witness a believer stumble, as we all do, all they can see is a hypocrite. We’re not perfect, not by, any stretch of the imagination, but we are forgiven.
At some point, many who are perishing because of their unbelief begin to seek after a more fulfilling “spiritual” life. Satan loves to lead these unguided seekers to something that sounds like it might have come from God but actually comes from Satan himself. Many will be lead to their own demise by listening to others with an agenda that is in direct opposition to God. Many will fall in step with leaders, supposedly Bible teachers, who through their own deceitful interest teach lies. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.
The problem is, many people as they seek after some form of spirituality, remain ignorant of God’s word. Therefore it’s impossible for them to heed Jesus’ words to “beware of false prophets.” This in turn gives these cunningly false prophets a license to deceive the masses. These ravening wolves have an agenda, and it isn’t to teach from God’s word. A huge deception I see currently affecting many people’s spirituality is the onslaught of self help books. Many of these books can actually take on a Christian look and feel yet be quite contradictory to God’s word.
I’ve seen and heard of some extremely heretical practices occurring in Churches across this county. As Christians we are to be focused on Jesus Christ, we aren’t to take our eyes off Him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “... No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. If we take our eyes off Jesus Christ we will turn away from Him and get caught up in things that will lead us astray.
Yet we see many pastors and others who once taught from the Bible turning to alternative sources for teaching and using these alternatives to lead people away from the word of God. Using these alternative sources they corrupt the lives of others, and there are some pastors who actually use these very heretical alternatives for preaching from the pulpit. Rick Warren’s now famous book, “The Purpose Driven Life” as well as Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Church” and the study materials that accompany these teachings are all distractions to move people away from the word of God.
In my home town of 4800 people and about 100 churches there’s at least one church that has gone bonkers over the “The Shack” written by William P. Young. They’ve gone as far as to erect a small structure in front of their regular assembly building depicting “The Shack”. They’re promoting a book of fiction that depicts God as a character that is completely contrary to the God of the Bible. When we begin to incorporate props such as this for teaching in our Christian Churches we begin to move away from God and closer to where Satan would have us. There are many other distractions being presented with a Christian look and feel but they are all deceptions. Tell me, if you can, what’s wrong with teaching exclusively from God’s inerrant word?
More and more we see these erroneous teachings invading our once revered sanctuaries and we know this is going to continue and become even more pervasive. Every single denomination and non-denomination is being attacked by some sort of false teaching and false doctrines and as such they will continue to move further and further away from a foundation built on Jesus Christ.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first...” 2 Thessalonians 2:3a In Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonians he makes it clear that before Christ’s return there must first come a falling away, and scholars are divided on whether Paul is referring to the falling away by believers or a world wide rebellion to God. All we need to do is look at what’s happening in many of our Christian Churches today to see what Paul meant.
Unfortunately, one of my favorite Christian organizations which began back in the late 60’s and early 70’s and which God used mightily to create a huge movement, leading many to Jesus, is Calvary Chapel. It, too, is being attacked from every angle and now heading full steam towards the emergent/contemplative purpose driven agenda and kingdom now affiliation. Believe it or not there is only one purpose behind all these distractions and disruptions, and that is to eliminate the true Church and replace it with the apostate Church of the last days.
“Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction as [the Calvary Chapel organization] to one degree or another.” Lighthouse Trails
Two separate paths and two different types of people. Different only by the choice they make. That choice will either lead them to an eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven, or an eternity in a burning Lake of Fire. As different as the two people groups seem they are all equally known by God. God knows which path each person will ultimately take and He’s known it from before the creation of the world.
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8. In this verse Peter is giving us a lesson in how God views eternity, and the fact that God is eternal. God is not restrained by time or space but He can see the beginning and the end of all things at the same exact moment. He already knows what decision you and I will make in regards to our eternal destiny. That’s how Jesus can say “broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. Matthew 7:13b. If you’re reading this commentary and you’ve not made that most important decision of your life to follow Jesus Christ, there’s still time, albeit precious little, so choose wisely.
It’s appropriate that Jesus refers to His followers as sheep. Sheep have the propensity to follow rather than lead and sadly many will follow doctrines which consist of what man has derived from his own mind, most of which are at odds with the scriptures. In these “last days” there will be great multitudes that follow erroneous teachings and they are completely unaware of the fact that they are being led down the most destructive of highways. This truth isn’t something we will need to be looking for as occurring in the distant future, oh, no my friends it’s happening right now. This world of ours is heavily into following extremely deceitful and blatant liars.
Jesus said “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. Jesus is that straight gate and narrow way referred to in the scripture verse above. There is no other Way in which one may enter Heaven. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
First and foremost, we must believe Jesus is who He said He is or there is no hope for salvation and no foundation for our Christian faith “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58. In the very next verse the Pharisees provide us with their understanding of Jesus’ words. “Then took they up stones to cast at him:” John 8:59a. You see, in the minds of the Jews who had just heard Jesus’ proclamation, He had blasphemed God by making Himself out to be God. Jesus had just committed the offence (in the eyes of the Pharisees) that would lead to His death. If you don’t understand what Jesus meant by saying “I Am”, He was referring to the voice that spoke to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus chapter 14. Jesus was that voice. Jesus is God and the Pharisees recognized Jesus was making that claim. They didn’t believe it of course, but they do now.
Again, two very distinct paths are available to the people of planet earth. All earth’s peoples have a choice to make. We are all God’s creation and we were all created in His image, more importantly God has no favorites when it comes to our salvation. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. God would love for all men to seek Him and come to repentance before it’s too late. Unfortunately, according to God’s own words, that’s not going to happen. Many will follow the wrong path.
None of us are pushed on to that broad highway that leads to destruction, but many people will be led there. Jesus says many will follow it because they choose to follow it. Few will make the alternative choice. How disturbing is that revelation? We can choose to believe what Jesus says or we can ignore Him and continue down the wrong path, but we can’t have it both ways. If we never consciously make the choice to follow Jesus, then we have made our choice.
Following a liar just because he or she gives persuasive and articulate speeches using words that sound like something God might say will not suffice as an excuse as to why you were lead astray as you stand before the White Throne Judgment Seat of God. If you’re following a man or woman who claims to have the answers and know the correct path to God, yet they deny the deity of Jesus Christ, you’re going to be in for a huge surprise as you stand before the King of Kings weeping as you realize that during your life on earth you had continually followed the father of all lies instead of learning the truth. God’s truth is obvious and those who don’t accept it are without excuse.
Here’s the answer to this problem of being deceived or misled. Grab your Bible and open it to the book of Genesis and begin to read and study like you’ve never done before (and many haven’t). When you get to the last page of the Book of Revelation begin again. Since our eternal destiny is a life or death situation, continue this new study practice for the rest of your life. If you are familiar with God’s word it will be very difficult, probably even impossible, to be led astray by those who want to teach doctrines of men and those who have their own agendas apart from God.
This concept of getting people to read everything that comes along, all the while neglecting the one book they should have practically memorized by now, is satanic. This evil is inspired by Satan and it’s working quite well. I’ve read that there are currently about 3,000 new books being published every day. That statistic, if true, is extraordinary to say the least, yet there has never been another book so popular in its sales that it holds the record for books sold to date, or as neglected once purchased, I’m speaking of the Holy Bible, God’s inerrant word.
You say you want to hear from God? Read your Bibles. God will speak to you from every page. You may wish to ignore the admonition I’ve written on this page, which, of course will be to your own detriment. As we get close to the time of Jesus’ Second Advent, Satan is working exponentially to lead as many as possible down that destructive highway.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Israel’s Importance, Salvation’s Preeminence
Stage setting for fulfillment of Bible prophecy is in fast forward. It is easy for the Christian who views daily headlines through the prism of God’s prophetic Word to become all but totally immersed in the shock and awe of the prolific signals bursting hourly around us. As a matter of fact, because of the overwhelming signs of the times, one can become desensitized to some aspects of the end-times stage setting. For example, we’ve for so long been watching peace overtures in the Middle East–overtures with Israel smack in the center of the process—that even the most attentive watchman can forget just how profound is the matter.
Many of us watched Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his “shuttle diplomacy,” then secretaries of state under Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and Bush 2 work for peace between Israel and her blood-vowed enemies. We have, in some cases, become numb to the astonishing fact that here we are, just where God’s prophetic Word says the end-times generation will be. Israel is at the center of fears that thermonuclear war might be triggered at any moment. The world of diplomacy is crying “peace and safety,” the very thing that will bring Antichrist to the forefront and destruction that will surely follow.
To reiterate, we’ve become so used to talk of war and peace stemming from the hatreds surrounding Israel that even we who “watch” can have a sometimes ho-hum attitude about these truly prophetic developments. This commentary, then, is meant for the edification of and exhortation to the Christian who is doing what Jesus told us to do: “What I say unto one, I say unto all. Watch” (Mark 13:37).
As important as that order to be watchful given by our Lord is, another is even more important. We all–including yours truly—have on occasion been guilty of being so immersed in “watching” that we have taken our spiritual eyes, even if briefly, off of the supreme purpose of being here on this planet at this most exciting time in human history.
What is that purpose of preeminence? Jesus gave the marching orders in the following: “And Jesus came and space unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Amen” (Matthew 28:18-19).
Jesus' words just before His ascension are recorded in the gospel of Mark as: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Jesus’ words of instruction to His disciples were further recorded in the Gospel of Luke: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).
What is the gospel that Jesus ordered all who name His name down through the centuries to proclaim? Many of us have known from our childhood that gospel message in its most straightforward form, although the words we memorized might not have sunken in until later in life. It is found in the fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
We who are royal ambassadors in this foreign land called planet earth must never take our concentration off of the preeminent mission God has assigned each of us. We are to witness to the whole world of hell-bound people the message that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth, and Eternal Life, and that not one person ever goes to be with God the Father except through His Son, Jesus.
Eschatology, the study of end things, is most important, and, tragically, woefully ignored by most seminaries, pastors, and people in the pews of America. But, things to come, given us through God’s prophetic Word, must always surround the nucleus of the primary mission–getting the gospel to the whole world. Prophecy cannot be consummated, we are told by the Lord himself until the gospel has been preached into the whole world: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
There will be those who will want to argue that Jesus was talking about a different gospel. He wasn’t, and I’ll just leave it at that, without debate. Sowing the seed that Jesus alone saves the soul is our preeminent duty as we sojourn upon this fallen sphere.
John was told about the link of Bible prophecy to the all-important personage at the heart of the gospel message. The angel of God came to the old prophet, who went prostrate on his face before the angel: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Let us who call Jesus our Savior and Lord never stop watching Israel, the humanistic peace overtures that portend destruction, and all other signals of His any-moment coming for us in the Rapture. But, let us never stop witnessing to the redemption and reconciliation found only through the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. We want as many souls as possible to meet the Lord in the air at that rapturous event.
Many of us watched Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his “shuttle diplomacy,” then secretaries of state under Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and Bush 2 work for peace between Israel and her blood-vowed enemies. We have, in some cases, become numb to the astonishing fact that here we are, just where God’s prophetic Word says the end-times generation will be. Israel is at the center of fears that thermonuclear war might be triggered at any moment. The world of diplomacy is crying “peace and safety,” the very thing that will bring Antichrist to the forefront and destruction that will surely follow.
To reiterate, we’ve become so used to talk of war and peace stemming from the hatreds surrounding Israel that even we who “watch” can have a sometimes ho-hum attitude about these truly prophetic developments. This commentary, then, is meant for the edification of and exhortation to the Christian who is doing what Jesus told us to do: “What I say unto one, I say unto all. Watch” (Mark 13:37).
As important as that order to be watchful given by our Lord is, another is even more important. We all–including yours truly—have on occasion been guilty of being so immersed in “watching” that we have taken our spiritual eyes, even if briefly, off of the supreme purpose of being here on this planet at this most exciting time in human history.
What is that purpose of preeminence? Jesus gave the marching orders in the following: “And Jesus came and space unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Amen” (Matthew 28:18-19).
Jesus' words just before His ascension are recorded in the gospel of Mark as: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Jesus’ words of instruction to His disciples were further recorded in the Gospel of Luke: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).
What is the gospel that Jesus ordered all who name His name down through the centuries to proclaim? Many of us have known from our childhood that gospel message in its most straightforward form, although the words we memorized might not have sunken in until later in life. It is found in the fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
We who are royal ambassadors in this foreign land called planet earth must never take our concentration off of the preeminent mission God has assigned each of us. We are to witness to the whole world of hell-bound people the message that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth, and Eternal Life, and that not one person ever goes to be with God the Father except through His Son, Jesus.
Eschatology, the study of end things, is most important, and, tragically, woefully ignored by most seminaries, pastors, and people in the pews of America. But, things to come, given us through God’s prophetic Word, must always surround the nucleus of the primary mission–getting the gospel to the whole world. Prophecy cannot be consummated, we are told by the Lord himself until the gospel has been preached into the whole world: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
There will be those who will want to argue that Jesus was talking about a different gospel. He wasn’t, and I’ll just leave it at that, without debate. Sowing the seed that Jesus alone saves the soul is our preeminent duty as we sojourn upon this fallen sphere.
John was told about the link of Bible prophecy to the all-important personage at the heart of the gospel message. The angel of God came to the old prophet, who went prostrate on his face before the angel: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Let us who call Jesus our Savior and Lord never stop watching Israel, the humanistic peace overtures that portend destruction, and all other signals of His any-moment coming for us in the Rapture. But, let us never stop witnessing to the redemption and reconciliation found only through the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. We want as many souls as possible to meet the Lord in the air at that rapturous event.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Why The Rebirth Of Israel Is An End Times Sign
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Matt. 24:32-33)
Many students of prophecy identify the Lesson of the Fig Tree in Matt. 24 as a reference to Israel. While the fig tree is often used to symbolize Israel, this is not one of those times.
The fig tree is one of the last trees to bud in the spring, so when it begins to get leaves people know that summer is right around the corner. There’ll be no more false starts, no more cold snaps. Summer is now certain and soon. Jesus used this analogy to tell people who’ll be on Earth at the time that when they see the things he described beginning in Matt. 24:15, they’ll know that His coming is really near.
Earlier in Matt. 24 He had told them that wars and rumors of war will be characteristic of the age (Matt. 24:6), and that the earthquakes and famines they’ll notice will be like the beginning of birth pangs, mild and infrequent at first but more intense and more frequent as the end approaches (Matt. 24:7-8). Then there’ll be increased anti-semitism, apostasy, false prophets and deception, in the midst of which the Gospel will be preached in all nations (Matt. 24:9-14).
But when they see the Abomination of Desolation, a man standing in the Temple telling people he’s God, things will begin to get serious fast and the countdown will begin on the most terrifying period of time in the history of man. This is what He compared to the fig tree getting leaves. When they see that, they know that His return is certain and soon. That’s the lesson of the Fig Tree.
Now Where Do We Go?
So then, if the fig tree isn’t symbolic of Israel why are we convinced that the events of 1948 marked the beginning of the end?
First of all, you don’t need the Lesson of the Fig Tree to place Israel in Matt. 24. If you read the passage carefully, you’ll see that Jesus gave three crystal clear signs that there would be a generation of Old Covenant following Jews in Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, and that’s the generation He’s speaking to.
The first clue is the Abomination of Desolation, something that hasn’t happened since Jesus gave the warning. It will be seen standing in the Holy Place. (Matt.24:15) That’s the Jewish Temple, and it means there will be a Temple standing in Israel again before the Great Tribulation begins.
The second clue is that the people he’s telling to flee are in Judea, the name by which the Biblical land of Israel was known during the time of the Lord’s visitation. (Matt. 24:16)
And the third clue is for them to pray it won’t happen on a Sabbath. Matt. 24:20) Only observant Jews would be worried about this because they can only walk 1000 paces on the Sabbath, not nearly far enough to even get out of town, let alone into the mountains.
There are lots of other places where the Bible promises that the nation Israel will exist in its Biblical lands at the End of the Age as well, but the primary one is in Ezekiel 36-37.
Beginning in chapter 36 Ezekiel shifted from his message of judgment to one of future hope. He began writing these chapters after he learned that Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians and its desolation had begun. Having earlier prophesied against the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 6) he now began speaking promises to them. Reminding the mountains that he had pronounced judgment against the surrounding nations for trying to possess them, and for plundering and ridiculing the towns that had dwelt upon them, the Lord had Ezekiel say,
” But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.” (Ezekiel 36:8-13)
While this was partially fulfilled after the Babylonian captivity, the people were driven off the land again in the first century AD, so the complete fulfillment had to begin sometime after that. Earlier, Isaiah had prophesied that there would be a second return, and his contemporary Amos said that after that one they would never be uprooted again. So that’s the one we’re looking for.
In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 11:11)
I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)
According to history the second fulfillment officially began in 1948. Why did the Lord finally do this? What had they done to deserve it?
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23)
As far back as the wilderness wanderings, the Lord had foretold of Israel’s diaspora (Deut 28:64-68) and subsequent regathering. (Deut. 30:1-4) Because of their disobedience they would be driven from the land. After an extended period of time He would bring them back, not because they deserved it, but because He had given His word. Their return would be a sign to all the world. A sign that the End of the Age is upon us.
Frequently the Lord had His prophets first give a sweeping overview statement to describe a promise and then fill in the details afterward. Such is the case with Ezekiel’s next declaration.
“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!” (Ezekiel 36:24-32)
Clearly the complete fulfillment of this promise to Israel is yet future to us. But its magnitude is striking. God promised that Israel would be brought back into its Biblical lands, something we see is already in process. Then the people will be cleansed from all their sins, given a new heart, and the Holy Spirit will come to dwell within them. (Obviously, this hasn’t happened yet, because it can only happen when one is born again.) Then the Kingdom promises will begin coming true and the people will remember their former sinful ways and detest themselves. This is another indication of the indwelling Holy Spirit’s work, convicting them of their sins. This is the same way things happened for you and me. In a general sense, we knew were sinners in need of a Savior when we first went to the altar, but we didn’t understand the full extent of our depravity until after we were saved and the Holy Spirit began to reveal it to us in depth.
The Valley Of Dry Bones
Now, let’s look at Ezekiel 37 where the dramatic rebirth of the nation is foretold in the vision of the valley of dry bones.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:1-6)
Picture yourself standing in a large valley whose floor is strewn with bones. They’re scattered around randomly, none of them connected to another, bleached and dry. It looks like they’ve been dumped there some time ago and left, as if who ever did it had no further use for them.
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37:7-8)
In what looks like an animator’s dream, the bones slowly begin to rise and join themselves together from the feet up to form skeletons, each bone in its proper place. Tendons appear and begin to snake along the bones attaching themselves to make the bones move. As each one connects you can hear the clicking sounds of the tendons conducting tests, making the bones move on command. Muscle and flesh begin to cover them and finally skin spreads out along limbs and around torsos, enclosing the muscle and flesh and giving the bodies a finished, though lifeless, form.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)
The breath that gives them life comes from the four winds, used symbolically to represent a sovereign act of God. This tells us that though they are now living beings, they are not yet possessed of the Spirit of God. That will come later, as we’ll see. The people would first be gathered together in unbelief, a secular nation. This is seen in their status today, brought back after a 2000 year absence by a sovereign act of God, but not yet a covenant people again. This is what God meant when He said it wouldn’t be because they deserved it, but because He promised it.
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’ “ (Ezekiel 37:11-14)
The complete fulfillment of the Dry Bones prophecy requires two more things only God can do. He must put His Spirit in them and He must bring the faithful of their past out of the grave to join them. His Spirit will come when they’re ready to recognize Him as the Messiah they put to death so long ago. Zechariah said this would happen during their final time of trial at the end of the age.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10)
(In the Hebrew language, this verse reveals an astonishing secret. After the phrase They will look on me … it contains two untranslated letters, an aleph and a tau. They are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. So the verse literally reads, “They will look on me, the Aleph and the Tau …” In Genesis 1:1 the same two Hebrew letters show up after the phrase In the beginning, God … So it reads In the beginning God, the Aleph and the Tau … In Genesis 1 the Father is in view, but in Zechariah 12 it’s the Son. Was God planting little clues that He and the Messiah are one? Well, look at Revelation 1:8;
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The original language of the Revelation is Greek where the first and last letters of the alphabet are Alpha and Omega. Now let’s read the words of Jesus in Revelation 22:13;
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Aleph and Tau, first and last in Hebrew. Alpha and Omega, first and last in Greek. Both languages referring to both the Father and the Son. Someone’s trying to tell us something.)
Daniel 12:1-2 says that following the Great Tribulation Daniel’s people will come out of their tombs, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. This is the Bible’s first mention of two resurrections, one for the faithful and one for the damned. Those who are resurrected to life will dwell in Israel during the Millennium, the final fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:13. From Rev. 20:11-15 we learn that the resurrection of the damned will happen 1000 years later at the Great White Throne judgment.
One Nation Under One King
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Ephraim’s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
“When your countrymen ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ (Ezekiel 37:15-19)
Then God had Ezekiel tell us of the reunion of the two kingdoms into one. The word translated stick of wood means scepter. It is a symbol of a king’s authority. By joining them together Ezekiel was symbolizing the two kingdoms, Israel in the North and Judah in the South becoming one again as they had been in the beginning.
Some day a couple of clean cut young people might come to your door to tell you about the Mormon church. In the course of your discussion they may offer to show you proof that Joseph Smith, the Mormon church’s founder, is named in the Bible. Turning to Ezekiel 37 they’ll show you this passage and tell you that the word translated stick means scroll, or book (it doesn’t). They’ll say that Ephraim stands for the Mormon people and the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, written by Joseph Smith. They’ll say the passage means that one day the Book of Mormon will be merged with the Bible (Judah’s stick) so that all the world will know that both are correct. But you’ll know different, and will be able to prove it from the verses below. That will probably end the discussion.
Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:20-23)
This is the Lord’s interpretation of the passage in question and makes it clear that He’ll reunite the divided Kingdom and never again will there be two kingdoms on the mountains of Israel. But look at what he says next.
” ‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’ “ (Ezekiel 37:24-28)
A descendant of King David’s will be their King. He’s called a prince to distinguish him from the Messiah who will be King of the whole Earth, and to demonstrate that he’s a son (descendant) of King David’s, not David himself. We know this because in the Kingdom Age he’ll have to give a sin offering for himself as well as the people (Ezek. 45:22) David will be in his resurrection body, no longer be contaminated by a sin nature.
The Lord will bring His ancient people into the everlasting covenant and He’ll dwell among them in His Temple forever. He had Ezekiel devote 9 chapters to explaining in detail how this would come about (Ezekiel 40-48). This demonstrates the most obvious difference between Israel and the Church. Israel is promised that God will one day dwell among them on Earth forever. The Church is promised that we will dwell with Jesus in Heaven forever. While both promises come true, the people and the locations involved are clearly very different.
There are prophecies through out the Bible that demonstrate the need for the nation Israel to exist again as the time of the end approaches. The one’s I’ve emphasized contain the clearest pictures of modern Israel’s development from a tiny remnant of an ancient people into a covenant nation that will once again be the center of God’s attention and the pre-eminent kingdom on Earth. It’s something only God could do, and it’s no wonder that the enemy has dedicated all of his resources in an effort to prevent it. The battle of the ages is looming and Israel is right in the middle of it. You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah
Many students of prophecy identify the Lesson of the Fig Tree in Matt. 24 as a reference to Israel. While the fig tree is often used to symbolize Israel, this is not one of those times.
The fig tree is one of the last trees to bud in the spring, so when it begins to get leaves people know that summer is right around the corner. There’ll be no more false starts, no more cold snaps. Summer is now certain and soon. Jesus used this analogy to tell people who’ll be on Earth at the time that when they see the things he described beginning in Matt. 24:15, they’ll know that His coming is really near.
Earlier in Matt. 24 He had told them that wars and rumors of war will be characteristic of the age (Matt. 24:6), and that the earthquakes and famines they’ll notice will be like the beginning of birth pangs, mild and infrequent at first but more intense and more frequent as the end approaches (Matt. 24:7-8). Then there’ll be increased anti-semitism, apostasy, false prophets and deception, in the midst of which the Gospel will be preached in all nations (Matt. 24:9-14).
But when they see the Abomination of Desolation, a man standing in the Temple telling people he’s God, things will begin to get serious fast and the countdown will begin on the most terrifying period of time in the history of man. This is what He compared to the fig tree getting leaves. When they see that, they know that His return is certain and soon. That’s the lesson of the Fig Tree.
Now Where Do We Go?
So then, if the fig tree isn’t symbolic of Israel why are we convinced that the events of 1948 marked the beginning of the end?
First of all, you don’t need the Lesson of the Fig Tree to place Israel in Matt. 24. If you read the passage carefully, you’ll see that Jesus gave three crystal clear signs that there would be a generation of Old Covenant following Jews in Israel at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, and that’s the generation He’s speaking to.
The first clue is the Abomination of Desolation, something that hasn’t happened since Jesus gave the warning. It will be seen standing in the Holy Place. (Matt.24:15) That’s the Jewish Temple, and it means there will be a Temple standing in Israel again before the Great Tribulation begins.
The second clue is that the people he’s telling to flee are in Judea, the name by which the Biblical land of Israel was known during the time of the Lord’s visitation. (Matt. 24:16)
And the third clue is for them to pray it won’t happen on a Sabbath. Matt. 24:20) Only observant Jews would be worried about this because they can only walk 1000 paces on the Sabbath, not nearly far enough to even get out of town, let alone into the mountains.
There are lots of other places where the Bible promises that the nation Israel will exist in its Biblical lands at the End of the Age as well, but the primary one is in Ezekiel 36-37.
Beginning in chapter 36 Ezekiel shifted from his message of judgment to one of future hope. He began writing these chapters after he learned that Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians and its desolation had begun. Having earlier prophesied against the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 6) he now began speaking promises to them. Reminding the mountains that he had pronounced judgment against the surrounding nations for trying to possess them, and for plundering and ridiculing the towns that had dwelt upon them, the Lord had Ezekiel say,
” But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.” (Ezekiel 36:8-13)
While this was partially fulfilled after the Babylonian captivity, the people were driven off the land again in the first century AD, so the complete fulfillment had to begin sometime after that. Earlier, Isaiah had prophesied that there would be a second return, and his contemporary Amos said that after that one they would never be uprooted again. So that’s the one we’re looking for.
In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 11:11)
I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)
According to history the second fulfillment officially began in 1948. Why did the Lord finally do this? What had they done to deserve it?
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23)
As far back as the wilderness wanderings, the Lord had foretold of Israel’s diaspora (Deut 28:64-68) and subsequent regathering. (Deut. 30:1-4) Because of their disobedience they would be driven from the land. After an extended period of time He would bring them back, not because they deserved it, but because He had given His word. Their return would be a sign to all the world. A sign that the End of the Age is upon us.
Frequently the Lord had His prophets first give a sweeping overview statement to describe a promise and then fill in the details afterward. Such is the case with Ezekiel’s next declaration.
“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!” (Ezekiel 36:24-32)
Clearly the complete fulfillment of this promise to Israel is yet future to us. But its magnitude is striking. God promised that Israel would be brought back into its Biblical lands, something we see is already in process. Then the people will be cleansed from all their sins, given a new heart, and the Holy Spirit will come to dwell within them. (Obviously, this hasn’t happened yet, because it can only happen when one is born again.) Then the Kingdom promises will begin coming true and the people will remember their former sinful ways and detest themselves. This is another indication of the indwelling Holy Spirit’s work, convicting them of their sins. This is the same way things happened for you and me. In a general sense, we knew were sinners in need of a Savior when we first went to the altar, but we didn’t understand the full extent of our depravity until after we were saved and the Holy Spirit began to reveal it to us in depth.
The Valley Of Dry Bones
Now, let’s look at Ezekiel 37 where the dramatic rebirth of the nation is foretold in the vision of the valley of dry bones.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:1-6)
Picture yourself standing in a large valley whose floor is strewn with bones. They’re scattered around randomly, none of them connected to another, bleached and dry. It looks like they’ve been dumped there some time ago and left, as if who ever did it had no further use for them.
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37:7-8)
In what looks like an animator’s dream, the bones slowly begin to rise and join themselves together from the feet up to form skeletons, each bone in its proper place. Tendons appear and begin to snake along the bones attaching themselves to make the bones move. As each one connects you can hear the clicking sounds of the tendons conducting tests, making the bones move on command. Muscle and flesh begin to cover them and finally skin spreads out along limbs and around torsos, enclosing the muscle and flesh and giving the bodies a finished, though lifeless, form.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)
The breath that gives them life comes from the four winds, used symbolically to represent a sovereign act of God. This tells us that though they are now living beings, they are not yet possessed of the Spirit of God. That will come later, as we’ll see. The people would first be gathered together in unbelief, a secular nation. This is seen in their status today, brought back after a 2000 year absence by a sovereign act of God, but not yet a covenant people again. This is what God meant when He said it wouldn’t be because they deserved it, but because He promised it.
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’ “ (Ezekiel 37:11-14)
The complete fulfillment of the Dry Bones prophecy requires two more things only God can do. He must put His Spirit in them and He must bring the faithful of their past out of the grave to join them. His Spirit will come when they’re ready to recognize Him as the Messiah they put to death so long ago. Zechariah said this would happen during their final time of trial at the end of the age.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10)
(In the Hebrew language, this verse reveals an astonishing secret. After the phrase They will look on me … it contains two untranslated letters, an aleph and a tau. They are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. So the verse literally reads, “They will look on me, the Aleph and the Tau …” In Genesis 1:1 the same two Hebrew letters show up after the phrase In the beginning, God … So it reads In the beginning God, the Aleph and the Tau … In Genesis 1 the Father is in view, but in Zechariah 12 it’s the Son. Was God planting little clues that He and the Messiah are one? Well, look at Revelation 1:8;
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The original language of the Revelation is Greek where the first and last letters of the alphabet are Alpha and Omega. Now let’s read the words of Jesus in Revelation 22:13;
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Aleph and Tau, first and last in Hebrew. Alpha and Omega, first and last in Greek. Both languages referring to both the Father and the Son. Someone’s trying to tell us something.)
Daniel 12:1-2 says that following the Great Tribulation Daniel’s people will come out of their tombs, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. This is the Bible’s first mention of two resurrections, one for the faithful and one for the damned. Those who are resurrected to life will dwell in Israel during the Millennium, the final fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:13. From Rev. 20:11-15 we learn that the resurrection of the damned will happen 1000 years later at the Great White Throne judgment.
One Nation Under One King
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Ephraim’s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
“When your countrymen ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ (Ezekiel 37:15-19)
Then God had Ezekiel tell us of the reunion of the two kingdoms into one. The word translated stick of wood means scepter. It is a symbol of a king’s authority. By joining them together Ezekiel was symbolizing the two kingdoms, Israel in the North and Judah in the South becoming one again as they had been in the beginning.
Some day a couple of clean cut young people might come to your door to tell you about the Mormon church. In the course of your discussion they may offer to show you proof that Joseph Smith, the Mormon church’s founder, is named in the Bible. Turning to Ezekiel 37 they’ll show you this passage and tell you that the word translated stick means scroll, or book (it doesn’t). They’ll say that Ephraim stands for the Mormon people and the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, written by Joseph Smith. They’ll say the passage means that one day the Book of Mormon will be merged with the Bible (Judah’s stick) so that all the world will know that both are correct. But you’ll know different, and will be able to prove it from the verses below. That will probably end the discussion.
Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:20-23)
This is the Lord’s interpretation of the passage in question and makes it clear that He’ll reunite the divided Kingdom and never again will there be two kingdoms on the mountains of Israel. But look at what he says next.
” ‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’ “ (Ezekiel 37:24-28)
A descendant of King David’s will be their King. He’s called a prince to distinguish him from the Messiah who will be King of the whole Earth, and to demonstrate that he’s a son (descendant) of King David’s, not David himself. We know this because in the Kingdom Age he’ll have to give a sin offering for himself as well as the people (Ezek. 45:22) David will be in his resurrection body, no longer be contaminated by a sin nature.
The Lord will bring His ancient people into the everlasting covenant and He’ll dwell among them in His Temple forever. He had Ezekiel devote 9 chapters to explaining in detail how this would come about (Ezekiel 40-48). This demonstrates the most obvious difference between Israel and the Church. Israel is promised that God will one day dwell among them on Earth forever. The Church is promised that we will dwell with Jesus in Heaven forever. While both promises come true, the people and the locations involved are clearly very different.
There are prophecies through out the Bible that demonstrate the need for the nation Israel to exist again as the time of the end approaches. The one’s I’ve emphasized contain the clearest pictures of modern Israel’s development from a tiny remnant of an ancient people into a covenant nation that will once again be the center of God’s attention and the pre-eminent kingdom on Earth. It’s something only God could do, and it’s no wonder that the enemy has dedicated all of his resources in an effort to prevent it. The battle of the ages is looming and Israel is right in the middle of it. You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah
Friday, May 22, 2009
Free speech under attack!
I remember many years ago telling the readers of my Daily Devotional that it would soon be legal in this nation for men to marry men and women to marry women. I still remember the onslaught of emails telling me that I was crazy, that it would never happen. Well, it has happened in 10% of our states and more to come. I have also been trying to warn you that our most basic freedom to proclaim the Gospel would soon be in jeopardy. Sadly, most people are so apathetic or simply out of touch that they don't even realize that day is now upon us.
We all assume that based on our Constitutional right to freedom of speech, we will never have to worry about having the ability to proclaim God's Truth and the Gospel message. My friend, the very first group who will be targeted in an attempt to stifle free speech will be Christians because we are the weakest! I realize that most people may think I am being paranoid and have lost my mind, but you haven't lived, breathed, and operated 24/7/365 the last 10 years preaching Biblical Truth and the hope of Christ in the marketplace like I have. I've not only experienced the attacks each day, but see clearly how the world wants to desperately silence our message.
Sadly, while Rick Warren was on his knees apologizing to the sodomite community for stating marriage was between a man and a woman, while Joel Osteen was delivering another motivational speech and hiding from the issues of our day that are literally ripping out the soul of this nation, a mere beauty pageant contestant was delivering a message that if you closed your eyes, you would have thought she was reading from an article such as this…
Carrie Perjean spoke eloquently yesterday on our need to stand for our faith in the marketplace regardless of the personal consequences, and that we have every right to exercise our free speech to state our beliefs as those who oppose God have to express their beliefs.
WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE VOID OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP WHEN IT TAKES A 21-YEAR-OLD MODEL AND BEAUTY PAGEANT CONTESTANT TO SHOW MORE GUTS AND COURAGE FOR OUR FAITH THAN does 90% OF THE PASTORS AND SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR DAY.
The fact is those who oppose God DO want to silence us. Now please understand me. As long as we stay inside our churches, as long as we stay in our own little Christian media world that NOBODY outside of a small minority of Christians pays attention to, we are fine. However, once we venture into the marketplace, into the mainstream media, we have problems.
The new hate crime legislation is designed for one purpose, and that is to silence anyone from speaking out on the sin of homosexuality, even when the words of condemnation are directly from the Bible. The case will be made that anyone who calls this act a sin is spewing hate speech designed to incite people to violence against homosexuals, even though there will be no proof of such hatred whatever. The tactic is the same that other groups like the Muslims, the baby killers, and others who oppose God use to silence those who take a stand for God's Truth in the marketplace. Calling hate speech the basic truths of the Bible is exactly how those who oppose God will seek to silence anyone who goes into the public arena to take a stand for Biblical Truth.
The reality is, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We extracted ourselves from the marketplace a long time ago. Those who do venture into the public arena, are more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct. We have a generation of gutless pastors who have been weaned on these seeker/purpose driven/emerging church marketing strategies that are designed to put warm bodies in their pews at the expense of the Truth of the Bible and the Gospel.
It is no longer about sin, sacrifice, and service, but tickling ears, entertaining, and making people feel good. Church is no longer about preaching and teaching the Bible to equip the saints and save souls, but is little more than a social setting that is a big business fraught with politics and lots of flesh. The irrelevance of the modern church in the real daily lives of people is why you have the better percentage of two full generations who have never even been to a church in their life.
It is the weak, apathetic, and in many cases, apostate church that is largely to blame for the lack of courage most people have in sharing their faith with the world. The world is a bully. Like a classic bully, they smell fear and weakness. The world has intimidated most Christians into silence, and in so doing, has made it that much easier to now make a real move on taking away one of our most foundational rights, the freedom of speech.
This is a wake-up call today to all of those who love the Lord. You no longer have the luxury of being silent.
The reality is, it will soon cost you to speak out for Christ. However, regardless of the personal consequences, you have no choice. Sadly, we are at a stage in this nation's history where people of faith will pay a price for speaking out for their faith. It is a reality many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world face daily. Regardless of the price, we can't be silent and must speak out or the very rocks will cry out!
I pay a price daily to do what God has called me to do. I could have taken the same road most do, stay in the Christian trough, preach to the choir, build buildings and fly around in private jets. But that is the mindset that has put us in a position where in the very near future we won't even be able to preach from the Bible without repercussions. Our ability to freely share the Gospel will be gone one day very soon. We MUST make the most of what little time we have left. The window to turn this nation back to God and to His Truth, to freely bring the lost to Christ, is almost closed. Now is the time, this is the moment, while we still have it, we must exercise our right to free speech!
Thank you for taking your stand with me as we bring HIS Truth to this lost world and the hope and love of Christ to the lost and hurting.
We all assume that based on our Constitutional right to freedom of speech, we will never have to worry about having the ability to proclaim God's Truth and the Gospel message. My friend, the very first group who will be targeted in an attempt to stifle free speech will be Christians because we are the weakest! I realize that most people may think I am being paranoid and have lost my mind, but you haven't lived, breathed, and operated 24/7/365 the last 10 years preaching Biblical Truth and the hope of Christ in the marketplace like I have. I've not only experienced the attacks each day, but see clearly how the world wants to desperately silence our message.
Sadly, while Rick Warren was on his knees apologizing to the sodomite community for stating marriage was between a man and a woman, while Joel Osteen was delivering another motivational speech and hiding from the issues of our day that are literally ripping out the soul of this nation, a mere beauty pageant contestant was delivering a message that if you closed your eyes, you would have thought she was reading from an article such as this…
Carrie Perjean spoke eloquently yesterday on our need to stand for our faith in the marketplace regardless of the personal consequences, and that we have every right to exercise our free speech to state our beliefs as those who oppose God have to express their beliefs.
WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE VOID OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP WHEN IT TAKES A 21-YEAR-OLD MODEL AND BEAUTY PAGEANT CONTESTANT TO SHOW MORE GUTS AND COURAGE FOR OUR FAITH THAN does 90% OF THE PASTORS AND SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR DAY.
The fact is those who oppose God DO want to silence us. Now please understand me. As long as we stay inside our churches, as long as we stay in our own little Christian media world that NOBODY outside of a small minority of Christians pays attention to, we are fine. However, once we venture into the marketplace, into the mainstream media, we have problems.
The new hate crime legislation is designed for one purpose, and that is to silence anyone from speaking out on the sin of homosexuality, even when the words of condemnation are directly from the Bible. The case will be made that anyone who calls this act a sin is spewing hate speech designed to incite people to violence against homosexuals, even though there will be no proof of such hatred whatever. The tactic is the same that other groups like the Muslims, the baby killers, and others who oppose God use to silence those who take a stand for God's Truth in the marketplace. Calling hate speech the basic truths of the Bible is exactly how those who oppose God will seek to silence anyone who goes into the public arena to take a stand for Biblical Truth.
The reality is, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We extracted ourselves from the marketplace a long time ago. Those who do venture into the public arena, are more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct. We have a generation of gutless pastors who have been weaned on these seeker/purpose driven/emerging church marketing strategies that are designed to put warm bodies in their pews at the expense of the Truth of the Bible and the Gospel.
It is no longer about sin, sacrifice, and service, but tickling ears, entertaining, and making people feel good. Church is no longer about preaching and teaching the Bible to equip the saints and save souls, but is little more than a social setting that is a big business fraught with politics and lots of flesh. The irrelevance of the modern church in the real daily lives of people is why you have the better percentage of two full generations who have never even been to a church in their life.
It is the weak, apathetic, and in many cases, apostate church that is largely to blame for the lack of courage most people have in sharing their faith with the world. The world is a bully. Like a classic bully, they smell fear and weakness. The world has intimidated most Christians into silence, and in so doing, has made it that much easier to now make a real move on taking away one of our most foundational rights, the freedom of speech.
This is a wake-up call today to all of those who love the Lord. You no longer have the luxury of being silent.
The reality is, it will soon cost you to speak out for Christ. However, regardless of the personal consequences, you have no choice. Sadly, we are at a stage in this nation's history where people of faith will pay a price for speaking out for their faith. It is a reality many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world face daily. Regardless of the price, we can't be silent and must speak out or the very rocks will cry out!
I pay a price daily to do what God has called me to do. I could have taken the same road most do, stay in the Christian trough, preach to the choir, build buildings and fly around in private jets. But that is the mindset that has put us in a position where in the very near future we won't even be able to preach from the Bible without repercussions. Our ability to freely share the Gospel will be gone one day very soon. We MUST make the most of what little time we have left. The window to turn this nation back to God and to His Truth, to freely bring the lost to Christ, is almost closed. Now is the time, this is the moment, while we still have it, we must exercise our right to free speech!
Thank you for taking your stand with me as we bring HIS Truth to this lost world and the hope and love of Christ to the lost and hurting.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Secular Hostility? Well not Exactly
There is a hostility growing which is aimed at Bible believing Christians. I’m speaking of those of us born again believers who actually take the word of God seriously and literally. We are being singled out and maligned by some of the most surprising sources. We would expect this hostility to come from our adversary, Satan, and all those who gleefully follow him. Satanic hostility is certainly occurring at an alarming rate of speed. But what Bible believing Christians should not be enduring in any form is the astonishingly clear hostility coming from folks who also profess to be Christian.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 15:18-21.
Jesus Himself tells us to expect hostility (persecution) from the world and indeed we shall. But from those who actually profess to be our brothers and sisters in Christ? Doesn’t this fact alone prove that every person who professes to follow Jesus isn’t necessarily born again but may actually be following His nemesis? It seems there are some who say they are Christian yet do everything they can to persecute those of us who study and believe Bible prophecy. Why? “because they know not him that sent me”. John 15:21b.
Rick Warren wrote a book a few years back that I’m sure most readers of my commentaries have either read or are at least familiar with. It’s entitled “The Purpose Driven Life”. In it Warren proceeds to tell us that those who study Bible prophecy are not fit for the kingdom of God. The Bible contains so much prophecy that one could say it’s basically a book of prophecy; and that fact is what distinguishes it from other religious books and from other religions for that matter. God, through His word, is giving us a history lesson in advance which is percisely how He authenticates His word. When we read and study our Bibles there is no possible way to avoid studying Bible prophecy, unless of course one were to completely allegorize the Bible, which would also be completely erronious.
The following is an excerpt from a Lighthouse Trails memo I recently received.
By quoting Jesus out of context, Warren says, "Anyone who lets himself be distracted [by studying Bible prophecy] from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God" (Living Bible). But Jesus was not referring to His return when He made that statement, which in the King James Version says: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). The Purpose Driven kingdom of God leaves no room for Bible prophecy, and in fact, condemns those who study it. The apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, had a different view. He writes: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." (II Peter 1:19)
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. Anyone who studies their Bible regularly knows what Jesus meant by the above statement. We aren’t to take our eyes off Jesus once we are saved because we will invariably waver and slide off the path He’s set for us. He isn’t saying that studying His prophetic word would disqualify us from our usefulness as witnesses for His Kingdom, or that we would be unfit for entering His Kingdom.
Those who agree with Warren and his statements above are just as flawed as those who follow Warren’s friend Brian McLaren. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1John 4:6. There most certainly abounds a spirit of error in the Church today and those who’ve been given a spirit of discernment recognize it as such.
Another excerpt from Lighthouse Trails Publishing:
In an April 2009 article in Sojourner's magazine by emerging church leader, Brian McLaren, McLaren clearly has targeted Christians. But not just any Christians. McLaren is talking about Christians who believe Jesus Christ is coming back again, suggesting that these types of Christians are the reason there is no peace in the Middle East. He says what these end-time believing Christians are doing is "terrible," "deadly," and "distorted."
McLaren says that he grew up with a dispensational view (the belief that Jesus Christ will return and establish his kingdom on earth) but has come to realize this view is "morally and ethically harmful." He likens this belief system to racism in the 50s and 60s and says:
These doctrinal formulations often use a bogus end-of-the-world scenario to create a kind of death-wish for World War III, which--unless it is confronted more robustly by the rest of us--could too easily create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“Beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” II Peter 3:1-4. Can there be any doubt of the above prophetic scriptures being fulfilled by the very statements made by these leading Christian men, Warren and McLaren?
McLaren makes it clear that those of us who believe Jesus is to return to establish His Kingdom on earth, like Jesus says He will, need to be confronted robustly by, in his words “the rest of us”. Just who are those who need to confront true Bible believing Christians? And what does he mean by robustly? McLaren’s statement “The rest of us” is speaking of those who profess a Christian faith but who don’t actually believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Without a doubt they’re going to have a problem with those of us who believe Jesus Christ is God Almighty. According to McLaren, those who believe in Bible prophecy will be confronted, and he emphasizes this with the adverb “robustly”.
If we look up the synonyms for robustly we get the words strongly, vigorously, forcefully. So McLaren perceives Bible believing Christians as needing an adjustment to their thinking, at the minimum that adjustment must come forcefully to confront our bogus, terrible, distorted, and deadly beliefs. Somewhere in all of his ranting I’ve missed the part about loving God with all our heart, soul and mind, and of course loving our neighbor as our self is missing as well.
Imagine, if you will, our current government’s leaders with their behavior towards us (Bible believing Christians) already at a position of diminished favorability, and now believing that a growing number of those who profess to be Christian (but aren’t) feel we need to be forcefully confronted. What will be the outcome of a fully socialistic government’s attitude towards a large segment of its citizenry who refuse to toe that socialist government’s secular line? Christians who actually follow the Bible and live their lives according to God’s word are already referred to by our current administrations leaders as rightwing extremists/terrorists. Now, by and through the statements made by McLaren and Warren, these same officials have been given a green light as to how to deal with all this rightwing dissention.
My brethren, as we traverse this most destructive course established by the policies of our current leaders in government, the prophecy of the Church of Philadelphia in the third chapter of the book of Revelation is seen on the horizon. “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Revelation 3:8. Little strength, that’s the clue to the future position of the true believing Church, just before Jesus takes us home.
As truly born again believers who follow the word of God unabashedly, it’s my opinion that if you’re reading this commentary and you’re one of those under the government’s new designation as rightwing extremist/terrorists, you better have your prayer life well in hand. Jesus is our comfort and our refuge, we know that. No one can take that fact away from us. Prayer is our direct line to God and we must be in constant prayer. Our relationship to God is of utmost importance in these very trying times.
Remember this, those who are perishing cannot say or do anything that will destroy a Christian who believes God’s word. We belong to Jesus Christ, God Almighty, there’s nothing for us to fear from His creation.
Yet I see fear has set in on many of my brethren. Be careful my brothers and sisters, doubt comes after fear. Circumstances surround us which at times seem impossible to overcome. Our power to “overcome” comes from God and there is no circumstance and no entity that will overcome God. “There are many Christians today who seem to think the boat is going down! I am tired of the wailing of some of my friends who take that view. The boat cannot go down. Jesus is on board.” G. Campbell Morgan
“See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. When Jesus says “..all these things must come to pass…”, He is referring to events which we see happen right before our eyes. Many Christians are spiritually blind and refuse to acknowledge what obviously points to the signs of the last days before Christ’s return. A blind person could recognize the signs, but for many of those who have perfect vision the signs seem to be invisible. As Jesus states in Matthew 24:6 “The end is not yet”, but with what we currently see happening all around us the end could be very close.
Something very interesting and completely relatable to our current times is what Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 9, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” John 9:4. The Greek word Oudeis translated into English can be rendered as no man, nothing, any man. In other words Jesus is telling us there is coming a time when we won’t be able to do the work God has given us to do. I believe we are getting extremely close to the time Jesus is speaking about, especially living in a country run by a secular socialistic government bent on eliminating Christianity from its midst.
The night is coming, darkness is falling all around us. Many of our own professing brethren seem bent on our demise. Will we stand firm on our belief in Bible prophecy? Will we stand up for the true Jesus of the Bible in the face of all adversity? Will we declare His message with boldness ‘til the end? Standing up for Jesus, in my estimation, might well become a painful experience. In totalitarian countries around the world, standing up for Jesus is already a life threatening occurrence. I know there are many who will say that standing up for Jesus will never become life threatening here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We shall see.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast...Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” II Thessalonians 2:15, 17.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 15:18-21.
Jesus Himself tells us to expect hostility (persecution) from the world and indeed we shall. But from those who actually profess to be our brothers and sisters in Christ? Doesn’t this fact alone prove that every person who professes to follow Jesus isn’t necessarily born again but may actually be following His nemesis? It seems there are some who say they are Christian yet do everything they can to persecute those of us who study and believe Bible prophecy. Why? “because they know not him that sent me”. John 15:21b.
Rick Warren wrote a book a few years back that I’m sure most readers of my commentaries have either read or are at least familiar with. It’s entitled “The Purpose Driven Life”. In it Warren proceeds to tell us that those who study Bible prophecy are not fit for the kingdom of God. The Bible contains so much prophecy that one could say it’s basically a book of prophecy; and that fact is what distinguishes it from other religious books and from other religions for that matter. God, through His word, is giving us a history lesson in advance which is percisely how He authenticates His word. When we read and study our Bibles there is no possible way to avoid studying Bible prophecy, unless of course one were to completely allegorize the Bible, which would also be completely erronious.
The following is an excerpt from a Lighthouse Trails memo I recently received.
By quoting Jesus out of context, Warren says, "Anyone who lets himself be distracted [by studying Bible prophecy] from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God" (Living Bible). But Jesus was not referring to His return when He made that statement, which in the King James Version says: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). The Purpose Driven kingdom of God leaves no room for Bible prophecy, and in fact, condemns those who study it. The apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, had a different view. He writes: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." (II Peter 1:19)
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. Anyone who studies their Bible regularly knows what Jesus meant by the above statement. We aren’t to take our eyes off Jesus once we are saved because we will invariably waver and slide off the path He’s set for us. He isn’t saying that studying His prophetic word would disqualify us from our usefulness as witnesses for His Kingdom, or that we would be unfit for entering His Kingdom.
Those who agree with Warren and his statements above are just as flawed as those who follow Warren’s friend Brian McLaren. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1John 4:6. There most certainly abounds a spirit of error in the Church today and those who’ve been given a spirit of discernment recognize it as such.
Another excerpt from Lighthouse Trails Publishing:
In an April 2009 article in Sojourner's magazine by emerging church leader, Brian McLaren, McLaren clearly has targeted Christians. But not just any Christians. McLaren is talking about Christians who believe Jesus Christ is coming back again, suggesting that these types of Christians are the reason there is no peace in the Middle East. He says what these end-time believing Christians are doing is "terrible," "deadly," and "distorted."
McLaren says that he grew up with a dispensational view (the belief that Jesus Christ will return and establish his kingdom on earth) but has come to realize this view is "morally and ethically harmful." He likens this belief system to racism in the 50s and 60s and says:
These doctrinal formulations often use a bogus end-of-the-world scenario to create a kind of death-wish for World War III, which--unless it is confronted more robustly by the rest of us--could too easily create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“Beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” II Peter 3:1-4. Can there be any doubt of the above prophetic scriptures being fulfilled by the very statements made by these leading Christian men, Warren and McLaren?
McLaren makes it clear that those of us who believe Jesus is to return to establish His Kingdom on earth, like Jesus says He will, need to be confronted robustly by, in his words “the rest of us”. Just who are those who need to confront true Bible believing Christians? And what does he mean by robustly? McLaren’s statement “The rest of us” is speaking of those who profess a Christian faith but who don’t actually believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Without a doubt they’re going to have a problem with those of us who believe Jesus Christ is God Almighty. According to McLaren, those who believe in Bible prophecy will be confronted, and he emphasizes this with the adverb “robustly”.
If we look up the synonyms for robustly we get the words strongly, vigorously, forcefully. So McLaren perceives Bible believing Christians as needing an adjustment to their thinking, at the minimum that adjustment must come forcefully to confront our bogus, terrible, distorted, and deadly beliefs. Somewhere in all of his ranting I’ve missed the part about loving God with all our heart, soul and mind, and of course loving our neighbor as our self is missing as well.
Imagine, if you will, our current government’s leaders with their behavior towards us (Bible believing Christians) already at a position of diminished favorability, and now believing that a growing number of those who profess to be Christian (but aren’t) feel we need to be forcefully confronted. What will be the outcome of a fully socialistic government’s attitude towards a large segment of its citizenry who refuse to toe that socialist government’s secular line? Christians who actually follow the Bible and live their lives according to God’s word are already referred to by our current administrations leaders as rightwing extremists/terrorists. Now, by and through the statements made by McLaren and Warren, these same officials have been given a green light as to how to deal with all this rightwing dissention.
My brethren, as we traverse this most destructive course established by the policies of our current leaders in government, the prophecy of the Church of Philadelphia in the third chapter of the book of Revelation is seen on the horizon. “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Revelation 3:8. Little strength, that’s the clue to the future position of the true believing Church, just before Jesus takes us home.
As truly born again believers who follow the word of God unabashedly, it’s my opinion that if you’re reading this commentary and you’re one of those under the government’s new designation as rightwing extremist/terrorists, you better have your prayer life well in hand. Jesus is our comfort and our refuge, we know that. No one can take that fact away from us. Prayer is our direct line to God and we must be in constant prayer. Our relationship to God is of utmost importance in these very trying times.
Remember this, those who are perishing cannot say or do anything that will destroy a Christian who believes God’s word. We belong to Jesus Christ, God Almighty, there’s nothing for us to fear from His creation.
Yet I see fear has set in on many of my brethren. Be careful my brothers and sisters, doubt comes after fear. Circumstances surround us which at times seem impossible to overcome. Our power to “overcome” comes from God and there is no circumstance and no entity that will overcome God. “There are many Christians today who seem to think the boat is going down! I am tired of the wailing of some of my friends who take that view. The boat cannot go down. Jesus is on board.” G. Campbell Morgan
“See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. When Jesus says “..all these things must come to pass…”, He is referring to events which we see happen right before our eyes. Many Christians are spiritually blind and refuse to acknowledge what obviously points to the signs of the last days before Christ’s return. A blind person could recognize the signs, but for many of those who have perfect vision the signs seem to be invisible. As Jesus states in Matthew 24:6 “The end is not yet”, but with what we currently see happening all around us the end could be very close.
Something very interesting and completely relatable to our current times is what Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 9, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” John 9:4. The Greek word Oudeis translated into English can be rendered as no man, nothing, any man. In other words Jesus is telling us there is coming a time when we won’t be able to do the work God has given us to do. I believe we are getting extremely close to the time Jesus is speaking about, especially living in a country run by a secular socialistic government bent on eliminating Christianity from its midst.
The night is coming, darkness is falling all around us. Many of our own professing brethren seem bent on our demise. Will we stand firm on our belief in Bible prophecy? Will we stand up for the true Jesus of the Bible in the face of all adversity? Will we declare His message with boldness ‘til the end? Standing up for Jesus, in my estimation, might well become a painful experience. In totalitarian countries around the world, standing up for Jesus is already a life threatening occurrence. I know there are many who will say that standing up for Jesus will never become life threatening here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We shall see.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast...Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” II Thessalonians 2:15, 17.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Free speech under attack!
I remember many years ago telling the readers of my Daily Devotional that it would soon be legal in this nation for men to marry men and women to marry women. I still remember the onslaught of emails telling me that I was crazy, that it would never happen. Well, it has happened in 10% of our states and more to come. I have also been trying to warn you that our most basic freedom to proclaim the Gospel would soon be in jeopardy. Sadly, most people are so apathetic or simply out of touch that they don't even realize that day is now upon us.
We all assume that based on our Constitutional right to freedom of speech, we will never have to worry about having the ability to proclaim God's Truth and the Gospel message. My friend, the very first group who will be targeted in an attempt to stifle free speech will be Christians because we are the weakest! I realize that most people may think I am being paranoid and have lost my mind, but you haven't lived, breathed, and operated 24/7/365 the last 10 years preaching Biblical Truth and the hope of Christ in the marketplace like I have. I've not only experienced the attacks each day, but see clearly how the world wants to desperately silence our message.
Sadly, while Rick Warren was on his knees apologizing to the sodomite community for stating marriage was between a man and a woman, while Joel Osteen was delivering another motivational speech and hiding from the issues of our day that are literally ripping out the soul of this nation, a mere beauty pageant contestant was delivering a message that if you closed your eyes, you would have thought she was reading from an article such as this…
Carrie Perjean spoke eloquently yesterday on our need to stand for our faith in the marketplace regardless of the personal consequences, and that we have every right to exercise our free speech to state our beliefs as those who oppose God have to express their beliefs.
WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE VOID OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP WHEN IT TAKES A 21-YEAR-OLD MODEL AND BEAUTY PAGEANT CONTESTANT TO SHOW MORE GUTS AND COURAGE FOR OUR FAITH THAN does 90% OF THE PASTORS AND SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR DAY.
The fact is those who oppose God DO want to silence us. Now please understand me. As long as we stay inside our churches, as long as we stay in our own little Christian media world that NOBODY outside of a small minority of Christians pays attention to, we are fine. However, once we venture into the marketplace, into the mainstream media, we have problems.
The new hate crime legislation is designed for one purpose, and that is to silence anyone from speaking out on the sin of homosexuality, even when the words of condemnation are directly from the Bible. The case will be made that anyone who calls this act a sin is spewing hate speech designed to incite people to violence against homosexuals, even though there will be no proof of such hatred whatever. The tactic is the same that other groups like the Muslims, the baby killers, and others who oppose God use to silence those who take a stand for God's Truth in the marketplace. Calling hate speech the basic truths of the Bible is exactly how those who oppose God will seek to silence anyone who goes into the public arena to take a stand for Biblical Truth.
The reality is, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We extracted ourselves from the marketplace a long time ago. Those who do venture into the public arena, are more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct. We have a generation of gutless pastors who have been weaned on these seeker/purpose driven/emerging church marketing strategies that are designed to put warm bodies in their pews at the expense of the Truth of the Bible and the Gospel.
It is no longer about sin, sacrifice, and service, but tickling ears, entertaining, and making people feel good. Church is no longer about preaching and teaching the Bible to equip the saints and save souls, but is little more than a social setting that is a big business fraught with politics and lots of flesh. The irrelevance of the modern church in the real daily lives of people is why you have the better percentage of two full generations who have never even been to a church in their life.
It is the weak, apathetic, and in many cases, apostate church that is largely to blame for the lack of courage most people have in sharing their faith with the world. The world is a bully. Like a classic bully, they smell fear and weakness. The world has intimidated most Christians into silence, and in so doing, has made it that much easier to now make a real move on taking away one of our most foundational rights, the freedom of speech.
This is a wake-up call today to all of those who love the Lord. You no longer have the luxury of being silent.
The reality is, it will soon cost you to speak out for Christ. However, regardless of the personal consequences, you have no choice. Sadly, we are at a stage in this nation's history where people of faith will pay a price for speaking out for their faith. It is a reality many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world face daily. Regardless of the price, we can't be silent and must speak out or the very rocks will cry out!
I pay a price daily to do what God has called me to do. I could have taken the same road most do, stay in the Christian trough, preach to the choir, build buildings and fly around in private jets. But that is the mindset that has put us in a position where in the very near future we won't even be able to preach from the Bible without repercussions. Our ability to freely share the Gospel will be gone one day very soon. We MUST make the most of what little time we have left. The window to turn this nation back to God and to His Truth, to freely bring the lost to Christ, is almost closed. Now is the time, this is the moment, while we still have it, we must exercise our right to free speech!
Thank you for taking your stand with me as we bring HIS Truth to this lost world and the hope and love of Christ to the lost and hurting.
We all assume that based on our Constitutional right to freedom of speech, we will never have to worry about having the ability to proclaim God's Truth and the Gospel message. My friend, the very first group who will be targeted in an attempt to stifle free speech will be Christians because we are the weakest! I realize that most people may think I am being paranoid and have lost my mind, but you haven't lived, breathed, and operated 24/7/365 the last 10 years preaching Biblical Truth and the hope of Christ in the marketplace like I have. I've not only experienced the attacks each day, but see clearly how the world wants to desperately silence our message.
Sadly, while Rick Warren was on his knees apologizing to the sodomite community for stating marriage was between a man and a woman, while Joel Osteen was delivering another motivational speech and hiding from the issues of our day that are literally ripping out the soul of this nation, a mere beauty pageant contestant was delivering a message that if you closed your eyes, you would have thought she was reading from an article such as this…
Carrie Perjean spoke eloquently yesterday on our need to stand for our faith in the marketplace regardless of the personal consequences, and that we have every right to exercise our free speech to state our beliefs as those who oppose God have to express their beliefs.
WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE VOID OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP WHEN IT TAKES A 21-YEAR-OLD MODEL AND BEAUTY PAGEANT CONTESTANT TO SHOW MORE GUTS AND COURAGE FOR OUR FAITH THAN does 90% OF THE PASTORS AND SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR DAY.
The fact is those who oppose God DO want to silence us. Now please understand me. As long as we stay inside our churches, as long as we stay in our own little Christian media world that NOBODY outside of a small minority of Christians pays attention to, we are fine. However, once we venture into the marketplace, into the mainstream media, we have problems.
The new hate crime legislation is designed for one purpose, and that is to silence anyone from speaking out on the sin of homosexuality, even when the words of condemnation are directly from the Bible. The case will be made that anyone who calls this act a sin is spewing hate speech designed to incite people to violence against homosexuals, even though there will be no proof of such hatred whatever. The tactic is the same that other groups like the Muslims, the baby killers, and others who oppose God use to silence those who take a stand for God's Truth in the marketplace. Calling hate speech the basic truths of the Bible is exactly how those who oppose God will seek to silence anyone who goes into the public arena to take a stand for Biblical Truth.
The reality is, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We extracted ourselves from the marketplace a long time ago. Those who do venture into the public arena, are more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct. We have a generation of gutless pastors who have been weaned on these seeker/purpose driven/emerging church marketing strategies that are designed to put warm bodies in their pews at the expense of the Truth of the Bible and the Gospel.
It is no longer about sin, sacrifice, and service, but tickling ears, entertaining, and making people feel good. Church is no longer about preaching and teaching the Bible to equip the saints and save souls, but is little more than a social setting that is a big business fraught with politics and lots of flesh. The irrelevance of the modern church in the real daily lives of people is why you have the better percentage of two full generations who have never even been to a church in their life.
It is the weak, apathetic, and in many cases, apostate church that is largely to blame for the lack of courage most people have in sharing their faith with the world. The world is a bully. Like a classic bully, they smell fear and weakness. The world has intimidated most Christians into silence, and in so doing, has made it that much easier to now make a real move on taking away one of our most foundational rights, the freedom of speech.
This is a wake-up call today to all of those who love the Lord. You no longer have the luxury of being silent.
The reality is, it will soon cost you to speak out for Christ. However, regardless of the personal consequences, you have no choice. Sadly, we are at a stage in this nation's history where people of faith will pay a price for speaking out for their faith. It is a reality many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world face daily. Regardless of the price, we can't be silent and must speak out or the very rocks will cry out!
I pay a price daily to do what God has called me to do. I could have taken the same road most do, stay in the Christian trough, preach to the choir, build buildings and fly around in private jets. But that is the mindset that has put us in a position where in the very near future we won't even be able to preach from the Bible without repercussions. Our ability to freely share the Gospel will be gone one day very soon. We MUST make the most of what little time we have left. The window to turn this nation back to God and to His Truth, to freely bring the lost to Christ, is almost closed. Now is the time, this is the moment, while we still have it, we must exercise our right to free speech!
Thank you for taking your stand with me as we bring HIS Truth to this lost world and the hope and love of Christ to the lost and hurting.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Chilling Sounds After the Rapture
A chilling mood has suddenly gripped the entire world. Even the multitudes, which know nothing of the Holy Bible or Jesus Christ, are tantalized with the feeling that they have missed a Divine event. Reporters are searching to understand what has happened. Phones are ringing off their hooks with hectic callers looking for disappeared friends or loved ones. College students, still gripped with their hangover from parties the night before, are jostled with the startling news. Grandfathers, grandmothers, parents, and some friends that were very different are missing and they have left no trace of their whereabouts.
Within a short time, the reports are coming fast and furious. Cars are simply sitting at stoplights or beside the road -- still running -- but containing no trace of their drivers. Some have occupants that are stunned into a stupor because their drivers or passengers have disappeared into seemingly thin air. Many cars are involved in massive wrecks but drivers are not found in those vehicles that caused the wrecks. Several planes have crashed. Their pilots did not answer the airport towers as they veered off course and finally went down in fiery crashes. Hospitals are shorthanded because of missing nurses and doctors, while the emergency rooms are stampeded with the injured and the terrified.
There is a sudden sense in the very atmosphere that any resistance to wickedness and evil is gone. Evil spirits, still invisible but giddy with freedom, are manifesting their dark moods on human faces. Persons that are already possessed with spirits have become brave in their hatred for everyone. Mobs of hoodlums have begun to break into homes and businesses. They are destroying everything in their paths. The police have lost all control because they are outnumbered and utterly helpless. They have realized that they are dealing with sub-humans that would rather kill than live.
People that know the truth of what has happened are quickly aware that the worse is yet to come. The political leaders and law enforcement agencies begin to establish a total police state. Curfews are put in place to clear all streets as police resort to shooting without warning. Total state control is the only possible means of restoring order. Grocery stores are already empty from vandals and shoplifters grabbing everything in sight and loading their cars. Clerks that resist are simply trampled by the melee. It will take days to restore order.
A newscaster finally decides to try and report the events. He begins, “This is a News Alert. Reports are coming to us by the hundreds. Thousands, maybe millions, of people are missing. It’s like they have vanished. Their clothes and shoes, actually everything on their person, were left behind. There are husbands and wives searching for their families. Young people are searching for mothers and fathers. Some teenagers and children are missing. Their parents are utterly insane with fear.
Some parents with missing teens and older juniors are reporting that they were very serious and beautifully religious. In every case it was the best of the lot that are gone. One family called to say that they rushed to find their mother and father, but they were gone. Nothing was changed in the home. Their clothes were in the chairs where they were eating a meal. Their Bible was open to Matthew 24. The verse they saw underlined said, “Two shall be in the field, one shall be taken and the other left.”
Here’s another report, “All of these people were deeply religious, they were not just religious they were kind, loving, Godly, and deeply faithful to their churches. They dressed in old-fashion and modest apparel. Every one of them had often told their families and friends about an event which they called the Rapture, where Jesus Christ would come in the mid-air and they would be caught up to meet him. Could this be true or is this a religious hoax? A Dr. Young just came in from the first church downtown. “Dr. Young, what has happened?” “Mr. Smith, this is all a bizarre story but there is an answer. I’ve been studying the new Eastern religions and making people disappear is an old trick the great pagan priests have done often. They call it astral traveling.
“Some of these people will show back up and others will be locked in paranormal suspension. Tell everybody to just settle down. There is no fear to those that are not overly religious. Be calm, you will be okay. Just thank God you were not one of these crazies.”
Listen, friends, here is another report on the world channel. This report is from the Church of Rome. The Pope has sent a message to every priest to go to the news station and warn everyone against religious hysteria. This great pope, our father of the faith, is the vicar of Jesus Christ. He has the best advice. The pope said that the teaching of Rapture was wrong and that these poor mentally deficient people were too literal in interpreting the Bible. They may be hiding. If they are missing, it will be great for our new day of evangelism. Remember, Mary, the mother of God, could magically appear and disappear. She has been appearing all over the world. If these people are gone, she is responsible. They would not listen to her messages, so she has eliminated them. Now, we can really take the world for the great lord that is about to reveal himself.
But here is another minister. Rev. David Jones, you look white as a ghost. What’s wrong? “My dear friends, I knew better. All my denomination quit preaching the Rapture, so I did. In fact, I studied and came up with an attack on the Rapture. My heart knew better. This was the real thing. Jesus has come and I’ve missed the greatest event in church prophecy. I’m telling everybody that will listen, if you will repent, you will have to be a martyr. I’m lost! I’m lost! It is because I denied the truth that I heard from a young child in my family’s home.”
Suddenly, the reporter stops and reads a note that is passed to him. He turns ashen as he reads, “My teenage son just called to say that his mother, my wife, is missing!”
He has not come, but He is coming! Listen to the angels that appeared when He ascended in the air, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts1:11).
Within a short time, the reports are coming fast and furious. Cars are simply sitting at stoplights or beside the road -- still running -- but containing no trace of their drivers. Some have occupants that are stunned into a stupor because their drivers or passengers have disappeared into seemingly thin air. Many cars are involved in massive wrecks but drivers are not found in those vehicles that caused the wrecks. Several planes have crashed. Their pilots did not answer the airport towers as they veered off course and finally went down in fiery crashes. Hospitals are shorthanded because of missing nurses and doctors, while the emergency rooms are stampeded with the injured and the terrified.
There is a sudden sense in the very atmosphere that any resistance to wickedness and evil is gone. Evil spirits, still invisible but giddy with freedom, are manifesting their dark moods on human faces. Persons that are already possessed with spirits have become brave in their hatred for everyone. Mobs of hoodlums have begun to break into homes and businesses. They are destroying everything in their paths. The police have lost all control because they are outnumbered and utterly helpless. They have realized that they are dealing with sub-humans that would rather kill than live.
People that know the truth of what has happened are quickly aware that the worse is yet to come. The political leaders and law enforcement agencies begin to establish a total police state. Curfews are put in place to clear all streets as police resort to shooting without warning. Total state control is the only possible means of restoring order. Grocery stores are already empty from vandals and shoplifters grabbing everything in sight and loading their cars. Clerks that resist are simply trampled by the melee. It will take days to restore order.
A newscaster finally decides to try and report the events. He begins, “This is a News Alert. Reports are coming to us by the hundreds. Thousands, maybe millions, of people are missing. It’s like they have vanished. Their clothes and shoes, actually everything on their person, were left behind. There are husbands and wives searching for their families. Young people are searching for mothers and fathers. Some teenagers and children are missing. Their parents are utterly insane with fear.
Some parents with missing teens and older juniors are reporting that they were very serious and beautifully religious. In every case it was the best of the lot that are gone. One family called to say that they rushed to find their mother and father, but they were gone. Nothing was changed in the home. Their clothes were in the chairs where they were eating a meal. Their Bible was open to Matthew 24. The verse they saw underlined said, “Two shall be in the field, one shall be taken and the other left.”
Here’s another report, “All of these people were deeply religious, they were not just religious they were kind, loving, Godly, and deeply faithful to their churches. They dressed in old-fashion and modest apparel. Every one of them had often told their families and friends about an event which they called the Rapture, where Jesus Christ would come in the mid-air and they would be caught up to meet him. Could this be true or is this a religious hoax? A Dr. Young just came in from the first church downtown. “Dr. Young, what has happened?” “Mr. Smith, this is all a bizarre story but there is an answer. I’ve been studying the new Eastern religions and making people disappear is an old trick the great pagan priests have done often. They call it astral traveling.
“Some of these people will show back up and others will be locked in paranormal suspension. Tell everybody to just settle down. There is no fear to those that are not overly religious. Be calm, you will be okay. Just thank God you were not one of these crazies.”
Listen, friends, here is another report on the world channel. This report is from the Church of Rome. The Pope has sent a message to every priest to go to the news station and warn everyone against religious hysteria. This great pope, our father of the faith, is the vicar of Jesus Christ. He has the best advice. The pope said that the teaching of Rapture was wrong and that these poor mentally deficient people were too literal in interpreting the Bible. They may be hiding. If they are missing, it will be great for our new day of evangelism. Remember, Mary, the mother of God, could magically appear and disappear. She has been appearing all over the world. If these people are gone, she is responsible. They would not listen to her messages, so she has eliminated them. Now, we can really take the world for the great lord that is about to reveal himself.
But here is another minister. Rev. David Jones, you look white as a ghost. What’s wrong? “My dear friends, I knew better. All my denomination quit preaching the Rapture, so I did. In fact, I studied and came up with an attack on the Rapture. My heart knew better. This was the real thing. Jesus has come and I’ve missed the greatest event in church prophecy. I’m telling everybody that will listen, if you will repent, you will have to be a martyr. I’m lost! I’m lost! It is because I denied the truth that I heard from a young child in my family’s home.”
Suddenly, the reporter stops and reads a note that is passed to him. He turns ashen as he reads, “My teenage son just called to say that his mother, my wife, is missing!”
He has not come, but He is coming! Listen to the angels that appeared when He ascended in the air, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts1:11).
Monday, May 18, 2009
To Be Successful You MUST be Narrow Minded
To look away from the task at hand will give you a ‘broader view’ of the world, but will it help you reach your goal?\
Conservatives are now ‘Narrow Minded’ according to the dictionary.
There is an article on Worldnetdaily.com that goes into detail on this matter. Conservatives are called all sorts of bigoted and prejudiced names, and insulted as unreasonable. However, the truth is that conservatives who stand on Jesus Christ are the ones who are on the Narrow Way that leads to life everlasting. I say that the most successful people are those who are narrow minded in their faith in the God of creation, and narrow minded in their goals for the future and their business as well.
Those who build a financial empire, or amass a great deal of wealth, whether conservative Christian or not, are narrow minded. Take for instance someone like Donald Trump. He is certainly not a man to be admired from any viewpoint except that of adoring money and worldly success. However, does anyone doubt that by the rules of the world, he is a success? And, how does anyone think he gained such success without being narrow minded? He has kept his eyes on the prize that means most to him. His goal is making money. He looks neither to the right nor the left. Everything in his life is considered first from the question, ‘Will this make me money?’. Or, ‘What is required of me that I make money out of this situation?’. That is the way it works with anything important. If you have an idea of what you want to achieve, whether it be good or bad, you must keep your eye on that particular goal, and turn neither to the right or the left.
People of the liberal mindset really accomplish nothing lasting or worthwhile. Everything they seem to have accomplished is entirely temporary and sits on shifting sand. One of the funniest things that liberals do, or most pathetic, depending on how you look at it, is to seek to ‘save the planet’ from mankind. What a crock. They are walking around in circles, and actually accomplish nothing except keeping bazillions of people in a constant state of fear. Then, their followers do ridiculously useless things like spend a ton of money to make bio-fuel. This makes them feel good, but it actually accomplishes nothing and even makes for a greater problem as bio fuels use much more energy to produce than they save in energy costs. Still that allows people to feel better about themselves because they have ‘done their part’ in saving the planet. Have you noticed that ‘global warming’ is now called ‘climate change’? That is because the outrageous claims of ‘global warming’ have proven to be nonexistent, so these broad minded liberal people have become even more broad minded, and decided that the climate must be changing; they just don’t know if it is getting warmer or colder. Either way, earth is headed for disaster, and mankind must do something to stop it.
It turns out that being broad minded or liberal actually just leads in circles. No one reaches a goal of anything lasting or good through liberality or broadmindedness. They just go in silly little circles, are distracted by everything, cause problems to all of mankind, and ‘feel’ quite good about themselves as they progressively grow more delusional.
On the days that they actually notice they are NOT changing the world for the better or gaining personal wealth and fame, they look for someone to blame instead of examining their own shortcomings and false values on which they have built their lives. Now, who do you think gets the blame for their failures? If you said ‘conservative Christians’ then you are correct.
For the narrow minded conservative Christian, the goal or prize is a ‘Well done!’ from Jesus Christ when we reach our heavenly home. We cannot turn from the absolute truth of Jesus Christ in any way if we expect such a prize. As with any successful endeavor, the goal must continually kept in the line of vision if the goal is to be reached. That means you are looking at your goal and continually striving to go forward in the completion of a specific task. To look away from the task at hand will give you a liberal or ‘broader view’ of the world, but will it help you reach your goal? I think not!
Today, the architects or manipulators of the government, society, and the economy are quite narrow minded in their goals. They want to control everything, and they will not turn from their goal. They have no thought for what is actually right according to the absolute truths of the Bible. Their eyes are fully on their goals, and God have mercy on those who get in their way.
And, who is more narrow minded and bigoted than a liberal who demands that everyone change into their image, OR be subject to ridicule, bias, and even hate from liberals.
Liberals see conservatives as what is standing in the way of them reaching their goals. However, the conservative Christian is only a front. The REAL enemy of the liberal is God Almighty. God instructs His children to walk the ‘narrow way that leads to life everlasting’. He instructs His children to stay off the ‘broad way’ that leads to destruction.
God also says 'Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil'. (Isaiah 5:20)
This is what liberals do.
They call followers of Jesus Christ 'narrow minded' and 'bigoted'.
They call surrender of individual rights the right thing to do.
They call the murder of unborn children right.
They call taxing the rich to give to the poor right.
They seek to build a society like that built at Babel, which clearly did not please God.
They seek to build a society that relies entirely on government to supply all their needs instead looking to God for help. In fact, liberals want worship of the government in place of God.
Liberals want to control money, religion, and government with an iron fist.
Liberals see individual rights as having no value, and actually causing the worlds problems.
Liberals would like to outlaw and ban worship of the God of the Bible.
The liberal mindset definitely calls evil good and good evil.
Liberals call those who cling to the Rock of Jesus Christ and His absolute truths bigots. In rejecting the followers of Jesus Christ, liberals are expressing their rejection of Christ Himself. They have gone the way of Cain, attempting to go to God on their own terms instead of following the instructions for approaching God.
To try to fit into the liberal world and still keep your focus on the Christ is impossible. It is like trying to walk north and south at the same time. It cannot be done. If you have chosen God, then follow Him! If you have not chosen God, then are following the devil to hell. Do not continue is such folly. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!
This sort of wishy-washy faith was a problem in the days of Joshua of old. In Joshua 24:15 Joshua says, ‘And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Don’t mess up your own life, confuse your family, and aid and abet the devil by trying to fit into both the world and the family of God. It cannot be done. Say as Joshua said, ‘Me and My house will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)
Conservatives are now ‘Narrow Minded’ according to the dictionary.
There is an article on Worldnetdaily.com that goes into detail on this matter. Conservatives are called all sorts of bigoted and prejudiced names, and insulted as unreasonable. However, the truth is that conservatives who stand on Jesus Christ are the ones who are on the Narrow Way that leads to life everlasting. I say that the most successful people are those who are narrow minded in their faith in the God of creation, and narrow minded in their goals for the future and their business as well.
Those who build a financial empire, or amass a great deal of wealth, whether conservative Christian or not, are narrow minded. Take for instance someone like Donald Trump. He is certainly not a man to be admired from any viewpoint except that of adoring money and worldly success. However, does anyone doubt that by the rules of the world, he is a success? And, how does anyone think he gained such success without being narrow minded? He has kept his eyes on the prize that means most to him. His goal is making money. He looks neither to the right nor the left. Everything in his life is considered first from the question, ‘Will this make me money?’. Or, ‘What is required of me that I make money out of this situation?’. That is the way it works with anything important. If you have an idea of what you want to achieve, whether it be good or bad, you must keep your eye on that particular goal, and turn neither to the right or the left.
People of the liberal mindset really accomplish nothing lasting or worthwhile. Everything they seem to have accomplished is entirely temporary and sits on shifting sand. One of the funniest things that liberals do, or most pathetic, depending on how you look at it, is to seek to ‘save the planet’ from mankind. What a crock. They are walking around in circles, and actually accomplish nothing except keeping bazillions of people in a constant state of fear. Then, their followers do ridiculously useless things like spend a ton of money to make bio-fuel. This makes them feel good, but it actually accomplishes nothing and even makes for a greater problem as bio fuels use much more energy to produce than they save in energy costs. Still that allows people to feel better about themselves because they have ‘done their part’ in saving the planet. Have you noticed that ‘global warming’ is now called ‘climate change’? That is because the outrageous claims of ‘global warming’ have proven to be nonexistent, so these broad minded liberal people have become even more broad minded, and decided that the climate must be changing; they just don’t know if it is getting warmer or colder. Either way, earth is headed for disaster, and mankind must do something to stop it.
It turns out that being broad minded or liberal actually just leads in circles. No one reaches a goal of anything lasting or good through liberality or broadmindedness. They just go in silly little circles, are distracted by everything, cause problems to all of mankind, and ‘feel’ quite good about themselves as they progressively grow more delusional.
On the days that they actually notice they are NOT changing the world for the better or gaining personal wealth and fame, they look for someone to blame instead of examining their own shortcomings and false values on which they have built their lives. Now, who do you think gets the blame for their failures? If you said ‘conservative Christians’ then you are correct.
For the narrow minded conservative Christian, the goal or prize is a ‘Well done!’ from Jesus Christ when we reach our heavenly home. We cannot turn from the absolute truth of Jesus Christ in any way if we expect such a prize. As with any successful endeavor, the goal must continually kept in the line of vision if the goal is to be reached. That means you are looking at your goal and continually striving to go forward in the completion of a specific task. To look away from the task at hand will give you a liberal or ‘broader view’ of the world, but will it help you reach your goal? I think not!
Today, the architects or manipulators of the government, society, and the economy are quite narrow minded in their goals. They want to control everything, and they will not turn from their goal. They have no thought for what is actually right according to the absolute truths of the Bible. Their eyes are fully on their goals, and God have mercy on those who get in their way.
And, who is more narrow minded and bigoted than a liberal who demands that everyone change into their image, OR be subject to ridicule, bias, and even hate from liberals.
Liberals see conservatives as what is standing in the way of them reaching their goals. However, the conservative Christian is only a front. The REAL enemy of the liberal is God Almighty. God instructs His children to walk the ‘narrow way that leads to life everlasting’. He instructs His children to stay off the ‘broad way’ that leads to destruction.
God also says 'Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil'. (Isaiah 5:20)
This is what liberals do.
They call followers of Jesus Christ 'narrow minded' and 'bigoted'.
They call surrender of individual rights the right thing to do.
They call the murder of unborn children right.
They call taxing the rich to give to the poor right.
They seek to build a society like that built at Babel, which clearly did not please God.
They seek to build a society that relies entirely on government to supply all their needs instead looking to God for help. In fact, liberals want worship of the government in place of God.
Liberals want to control money, religion, and government with an iron fist.
Liberals see individual rights as having no value, and actually causing the worlds problems.
Liberals would like to outlaw and ban worship of the God of the Bible.
The liberal mindset definitely calls evil good and good evil.
Liberals call those who cling to the Rock of Jesus Christ and His absolute truths bigots. In rejecting the followers of Jesus Christ, liberals are expressing their rejection of Christ Himself. They have gone the way of Cain, attempting to go to God on their own terms instead of following the instructions for approaching God.
To try to fit into the liberal world and still keep your focus on the Christ is impossible. It is like trying to walk north and south at the same time. It cannot be done. If you have chosen God, then follow Him! If you have not chosen God, then are following the devil to hell. Do not continue is such folly. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!
This sort of wishy-washy faith was a problem in the days of Joshua of old. In Joshua 24:15 Joshua says, ‘And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Don’t mess up your own life, confuse your family, and aid and abet the devil by trying to fit into both the world and the family of God. It cannot be done. Say as Joshua said, ‘Me and My house will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Rebels without a Cause
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” Psalm 2:1-5. What has changed since this Psalm was penned? The Heathen continually rage and rebel against the one and only true God.
This is a very important Psalm and quite relevant for our current generation. People have no reason to rage against God yet we see this interesting concept currently embracing the entire world in one form or another. This rage is pointedly focused on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ know there is no other God. How often do we hear of the heathen raging against the god of Islam? Who rages against the Buddhists god, or the Hindus god, or the god of the New Age folks? Only the one true God, the God of the Holy Bible, God Almighty draws the rage of the heathen.
What possible benefit can be derived from raging against God? It’s sheer vanity this rage against God. It’s useless, it won’t achieve a thing. Furthermore the heathen it seems must always become a horde to stand against God. Apparently they assume that if they become a big enough mob they can withstand God’s Holy judgment. They can put God away by the sheer size and force behind them. How can people be so foolish as to believe such a thing?
The heathen kings and rulers stand in opposition to the Lord and His Anointed. In other words they’re raging against God the Father and God the Son. We know that there is a huge movement afoot to eliminate Christianity from the public sphere and seemingly from the whole world. They may soon get their wish, but it won’t be through their vile raging. The elimination of Christ’s Church from planet earth is on the horizon although the heathen are clueless to God’s plan for His Church (the Rapture). It’s God’s power that will prevail. This vain raging against the Lord by those who are perishing is beyond insanity.
Anyone who thinks they will be better off without God is living their life as a fool. If God were to walk away from mankind, mankind would cease to exist, instantaneously. How foolish can men be? The heathen feel they are under some sort of bondage because they know God exists, and they believe His laws to be a burdensome stone, too many restrictions, the heathen don’t like it. Yet without God and His laws and precepts they wouldn’t be able to stand the bondage that would be placed on them by their fellow man. For further confirmation of this just keep watching what’s happening to the US as Obama and company converts this country into a socialistic, possibly even, a communistic state. The burden will be too great for the average American to bear.
“To a graceless neck the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light . . . We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yoke, or do we wish to cast it from us?” Charles Spurgeon
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh...” Psalm 2:4a. The heathen plot against God and what is God’s reaction to this foolish opposition? He laughs from His throne in Heaven. He sits on His throne in perfect peace. I can just hear God’s reaction to all this foolishness now, “You have chosen unwisely, Oh foolish man, who rages against his Creator?”
“God does not tremble. He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not he has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to his kingdom. He does not even rise from where he is sitting. He simply 'laughs' at these great imbeciles.”
James Montgomery Boice
What do the heathen think God does as they hurl their rage against Him? Do they suppose He trembles at their railings? Do they suppose they will foil God’s plan for mankind? How absurd, how completely preposterous for man to rage or even attempt to stand against the one true God. God, knowing the fate of these rebellious heathen, takes no pleasure as He watches them rage against Him to their ultimate demise.
The Atheist’s are currently grouping together around the world in an attempt to force God out of the minds of the youth in all of academia. If God were actually a falsehood in their minds, if they hate God so much that they rage against Him, then the question must be asked, “Why stage such a rebellion against something that doesn’t exist?” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the Atheist’s mind set is flawed. So they rage on.
“...the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:4b. God’s opponents will be frustrated and trodden down. He will mock, ridicule, and laugh to scorn the heathen who continually rage and rebel against Him. What can the heathen possibly expect to accomplish through all this foolish raging? How can anyone believe they can foil God’s plans?
“He speaks to them in His wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” Psalm 2:5. God has every right to distress the heathen and to show them His great displeasure. But God will always allow man ample opportunity to change his mind and repent. God is full of grace and He is longsuffering and is not willing that any should perish. But many will perish because of their hardened hearts. The heathen, in their opposition against God, are actually growing more and more distant from Him through all their raging. We mustn’t think for a moment that God, through His wrath, won’t ultimately act on their stubbiness. He’ll pull no punches at the end. Oh how the Heathen will regret the choice they’ve made for their eternal existence.
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6. God has set (established) a King for all people. He wants these foolish, raging kings and rulers of nations to completely understand that He has established His King once and for all. He wants these kings and rulers to know that His King is far greater than they. Kings and rulers of nations oppose the one true God but have no problem at all accepting all the false gods created out of man’s minuscule brains.
“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” Psalm 2:7-9. Here we see the Son of God (Jesus the Christ) being recognized by God the Father as His anointed. God has begotten, this day, His Son. Jesus was not created, but begotten. And what does God the Father give His only begotten Son? His inheritance. The heathen and all nations are committed to the Son as an inheritance and the Lord Jesus Christ will rule over and be judge over all people of all nations. “...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15.
It is simply astonishing to me that so many people can have such a hardened heart, that they are so thoroughly banded together with a most stubborn rage against their creator, that they will end their lives actually hating God. They not only refuse to see the truth but take great pleasure denying it. The heathen are continually kicking against the goad. What kind of a sick created being would continually work at molding minds in direct opposition to God Almighty? There’s one who fell from grace before the creation of this world and is currently doing everything he can to convince a stubborn and stiff necked people they can all become as gods. Satan uses the same lie today to lead people astray as he did in the Garden of Eden to deceive Eve. Many still fall for it.
Every nation on the face of this planet has their fair share of heathens who continually rage and rebel against God. Why? What is there to gain from such rebellious actions? Our gain is in Christ, our hope is in Christ, and our very lives are upheld by Jesus Christ. Nations rage against God’s anointed and for the most part they never come to a realization that Jesus is for all intents and purposes their blanket of security. How utterly foolish can people be? Jesus will break them apart and destroy their lives like smashing clay pots, simply by His appearing. The first time Jesus came into this world He came as a suffering servant, the next time He sets foot on planet earth He will come as a conquering hero. His Second coming will not be pretty but it will be awesome.
What does God want from these heathen? Simply put, He wants a relationship with them, each of them, individually. He wants them to acknowledge Him for who He is. There is a horrible consequence in rebelling against God. God does not wish for anyone to experience the awful end that awaits the foolish Christ rejecting world of raging heathens. As the heathen rage and rebel, God does everything He can to convince them of the futility of their actions; sooner or later there will be finality to those actions. The finality is they’ve either repented of their rebellion or they’ve completely given themselves over to the enemy and they are perishing.
Forgiveness is available from God to everyone who asks; there is no hesitation or shortage of grace on His part as hearts are softened and people repent of their evil ways. Our part is to come to Jesus with humility and loving submission, and to receive the forgiveness He offers by faith. Those who place their trust in God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, for their salvation are blessed for all eternity; those who continue to the end in their rebellious rage are without excuse. Where do you stand?
This is a very important Psalm and quite relevant for our current generation. People have no reason to rage against God yet we see this interesting concept currently embracing the entire world in one form or another. This rage is pointedly focused on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ know there is no other God. How often do we hear of the heathen raging against the god of Islam? Who rages against the Buddhists god, or the Hindus god, or the god of the New Age folks? Only the one true God, the God of the Holy Bible, God Almighty draws the rage of the heathen.
What possible benefit can be derived from raging against God? It’s sheer vanity this rage against God. It’s useless, it won’t achieve a thing. Furthermore the heathen it seems must always become a horde to stand against God. Apparently they assume that if they become a big enough mob they can withstand God’s Holy judgment. They can put God away by the sheer size and force behind them. How can people be so foolish as to believe such a thing?
The heathen kings and rulers stand in opposition to the Lord and His Anointed. In other words they’re raging against God the Father and God the Son. We know that there is a huge movement afoot to eliminate Christianity from the public sphere and seemingly from the whole world. They may soon get their wish, but it won’t be through their vile raging. The elimination of Christ’s Church from planet earth is on the horizon although the heathen are clueless to God’s plan for His Church (the Rapture). It’s God’s power that will prevail. This vain raging against the Lord by those who are perishing is beyond insanity.
Anyone who thinks they will be better off without God is living their life as a fool. If God were to walk away from mankind, mankind would cease to exist, instantaneously. How foolish can men be? The heathen feel they are under some sort of bondage because they know God exists, and they believe His laws to be a burdensome stone, too many restrictions, the heathen don’t like it. Yet without God and His laws and precepts they wouldn’t be able to stand the bondage that would be placed on them by their fellow man. For further confirmation of this just keep watching what’s happening to the US as Obama and company converts this country into a socialistic, possibly even, a communistic state. The burden will be too great for the average American to bear.
“To a graceless neck the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light . . . We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yoke, or do we wish to cast it from us?” Charles Spurgeon
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh...” Psalm 2:4a. The heathen plot against God and what is God’s reaction to this foolish opposition? He laughs from His throne in Heaven. He sits on His throne in perfect peace. I can just hear God’s reaction to all this foolishness now, “You have chosen unwisely, Oh foolish man, who rages against his Creator?”
“God does not tremble. He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not he has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to his kingdom. He does not even rise from where he is sitting. He simply 'laughs' at these great imbeciles.”
James Montgomery Boice
What do the heathen think God does as they hurl their rage against Him? Do they suppose He trembles at their railings? Do they suppose they will foil God’s plan for mankind? How absurd, how completely preposterous for man to rage or even attempt to stand against the one true God. God, knowing the fate of these rebellious heathen, takes no pleasure as He watches them rage against Him to their ultimate demise.
The Atheist’s are currently grouping together around the world in an attempt to force God out of the minds of the youth in all of academia. If God were actually a falsehood in their minds, if they hate God so much that they rage against Him, then the question must be asked, “Why stage such a rebellion against something that doesn’t exist?” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the Atheist’s mind set is flawed. So they rage on.
“...the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:4b. God’s opponents will be frustrated and trodden down. He will mock, ridicule, and laugh to scorn the heathen who continually rage and rebel against Him. What can the heathen possibly expect to accomplish through all this foolish raging? How can anyone believe they can foil God’s plans?
“He speaks to them in His wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” Psalm 2:5. God has every right to distress the heathen and to show them His great displeasure. But God will always allow man ample opportunity to change his mind and repent. God is full of grace and He is longsuffering and is not willing that any should perish. But many will perish because of their hardened hearts. The heathen, in their opposition against God, are actually growing more and more distant from Him through all their raging. We mustn’t think for a moment that God, through His wrath, won’t ultimately act on their stubbiness. He’ll pull no punches at the end. Oh how the Heathen will regret the choice they’ve made for their eternal existence.
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6. God has set (established) a King for all people. He wants these foolish, raging kings and rulers of nations to completely understand that He has established His King once and for all. He wants these kings and rulers to know that His King is far greater than they. Kings and rulers of nations oppose the one true God but have no problem at all accepting all the false gods created out of man’s minuscule brains.
“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” Psalm 2:7-9. Here we see the Son of God (Jesus the Christ) being recognized by God the Father as His anointed. God has begotten, this day, His Son. Jesus was not created, but begotten. And what does God the Father give His only begotten Son? His inheritance. The heathen and all nations are committed to the Son as an inheritance and the Lord Jesus Christ will rule over and be judge over all people of all nations. “...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15.
It is simply astonishing to me that so many people can have such a hardened heart, that they are so thoroughly banded together with a most stubborn rage against their creator, that they will end their lives actually hating God. They not only refuse to see the truth but take great pleasure denying it. The heathen are continually kicking against the goad. What kind of a sick created being would continually work at molding minds in direct opposition to God Almighty? There’s one who fell from grace before the creation of this world and is currently doing everything he can to convince a stubborn and stiff necked people they can all become as gods. Satan uses the same lie today to lead people astray as he did in the Garden of Eden to deceive Eve. Many still fall for it.
Every nation on the face of this planet has their fair share of heathens who continually rage and rebel against God. Why? What is there to gain from such rebellious actions? Our gain is in Christ, our hope is in Christ, and our very lives are upheld by Jesus Christ. Nations rage against God’s anointed and for the most part they never come to a realization that Jesus is for all intents and purposes their blanket of security. How utterly foolish can people be? Jesus will break them apart and destroy their lives like smashing clay pots, simply by His appearing. The first time Jesus came into this world He came as a suffering servant, the next time He sets foot on planet earth He will come as a conquering hero. His Second coming will not be pretty but it will be awesome.
What does God want from these heathen? Simply put, He wants a relationship with them, each of them, individually. He wants them to acknowledge Him for who He is. There is a horrible consequence in rebelling against God. God does not wish for anyone to experience the awful end that awaits the foolish Christ rejecting world of raging heathens. As the heathen rage and rebel, God does everything He can to convince them of the futility of their actions; sooner or later there will be finality to those actions. The finality is they’ve either repented of their rebellion or they’ve completely given themselves over to the enemy and they are perishing.
Forgiveness is available from God to everyone who asks; there is no hesitation or shortage of grace on His part as hearts are softened and people repent of their evil ways. Our part is to come to Jesus with humility and loving submission, and to receive the forgiveness He offers by faith. Those who place their trust in God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, for their salvation are blessed for all eternity; those who continue to the end in their rebellious rage are without excuse. Where do you stand?
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