This is the second installment of a chronological Bible study inspired by A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. As part of my study, I personally transcribe scriptures, using mostly KJV with a little NKJV to replace the "thee's" and "thou's". Occasionally, when a word is a hard-to-understand Old English word, but the NKJV seems to change the meaning too much, I use Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries to determine the original meaning of the word, and then may use that word. My transcription is not meant to be a new translation, but merely my own restating of the scriptures in a way that I can fully understand. Last time we had the prequel; now on to the beginning:
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (4) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. (5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (6) Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." (7) And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. (8) And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. (9) And God said, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. (10) And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
The dictionary definition of "firmament" is "heaven", or "the vault of heaven, the expanse of the sky". The original word is "raqiya" meaning "expanse" or "visible arch of the sky". In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, but the earth was without form. That's really quite a thing to ponder. He created heaven and earth, but there was no shape or form! In the beginning it was apparently all like waters, all blended together, and God separated the "waters" and made the forms of heaven and earth.
(11) And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. (12) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind; and God saw that it was good. (13) And the evening and the morning were the third day. (14) And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; (15) And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth"; and it was so. (16) And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also. (17) And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (18) And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. (19) And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Here's another great thing to ponder. On the first day God created light, and yet He didn't make the sun and moon and stars until the fourth day! Now I've heard it speculated that God was the light, but He didn't create Himself and call Himself Day. I believe it's probably just too complicated for our human minds. It's like we think we can put God in our little human box and fully explain Him and His creations. Fully explain GOD? If we could, He wouldn't be very God-like, would He? Think about this. God is outside of time. He created time itself. When we see the stars tonight, we are only seeing the light of the stars that has taken so many light years to get here, that by the time we see it, the stars are no longer in existence. According to many scientists who believe the earth is billions of years old, we should be seeing the light of stars that had to have been around since way before the Bible tells us God created the heaven and the earth and the stars. Yet they weren't. God is God; He isn't confined to our human time tables. I believe He is perfectly capable of putting stars in the heavens and having us see the lights immediately. I always have to chuckle when I hear scientists speak of their dating methods and tools. Perhaps if given millions and billions of years, *maybe* their dating methods work, but when you have a Creator God in the mix Who does not have to adhere to time or those dating rules, then how can they possibly know the real ages of things? How can they really know anything other than what has existed since man has been keeping records? They can speculate, but they can't know for certain. And yet, that is what they often try to convince us, that they can really know prehistoric events.
Back to the question about how there was light before there were the sun and stars, if God can put stars in the sky and have them instantly visible, I'm sure He could just as easily have us see the light of the sun before we could see the sun itself. But then, man wasn't there to see it yet. If light is created, but there is no one to see it, is there really light? :-) But seriously, God made the earth and it had no shape, and He made the light and it had no "shape". Then He shaped them. Isn't it awesome?
(20) And God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." (21) And God created great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. (22) And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." (23) And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. (24) And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind, cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so. (25) And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. (26) And God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (27) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (29) And God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. (30) And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. (31) And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
God said to let man have dominion over all the earth and all the animals, contrary to what some pagan religious groups and animal rights activists will tell you. Amazingly, I have seen Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 used as proof that God says man and animals are equal. Sadly, I realized that if you read only the NIV or other modern versions like the NLT and others, you might actually be able to make a case for it. Yet another slaughter of the scriptures by the NIV translators I had missed! Please see my article entitled, Which Version of the Truth Will You Use? It details some of the subtle and some not-so-subtle changes in the NIV translation of the Bible that often greatly changes its original meaning. Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 in the NIV reads:
Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"
NLT states it this way:
For humans and animals both breathe the same air, and both die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! Both go to the same place—the dust from which they came and to which they must return. For who can prove that the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
What the scriptures actually say in the KJV:
(19) For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.
Translated: Men die just as animals die. We all have but one breath; man is not given more breaths (lives) than animals.
(20) All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
They all go to the grave when they die.
(21) Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Who knows the spirit of man? Who knows the spirit of the beast? Further clarifying, the scripture says who knows the spirit of man, that is, the spirit that goes upward? Who knows the spirit of the beast, that is, the spirit that goes downward to the earth?
It didn't say "Who knows?" or "Who can prove?" It said "Who knows the spirit?" and then spoke very matter-of-factly about where man's spirit goes and where animals' spirits go.
This is a great time to point out that you should never trust one scripture out of context. But there is another point I'd like to make about studying obscure, hard-to-understand scriptures. Even if you truly believed that the Ecclesiastes scriptures were insinuating that man and animals were the same (equal), that is the only place in the Bible where that is found. You will find that precepts in the scriptures are always stated at least twice. The Bible states that out of the mouths of two or three witnesses, a thing will be established:
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' - Matthew 18:16
This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." - 2 Corinthians 13:1
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. - Deuteronomy 19:15
Notice how that direction was given three times. When God created man to have dominion over the animals, it is first found in Genesis 1:26, and then repeated in Genesis 1:28. Then, lo and behold, found in Psalms:
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. - Psalms 8:6-8
If you find only one obscure passage about something and no other scripture to back it up, chances are pretty good that you are misinterpreting the meaning of the obscure passage.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
God Planned for Our Salvation Through Jesus Christ Before Creation
I begin my chronological Bible study using A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. I love how this schedule begins! I don't believe I have read these scriptures at the beginning of any chronological Bible I have ever read, but Mr. Andrews shows us that God had planned for salvation through Jesus Christ before the creation of the world!
Please note that in my transcription of the scriptures that follow, I have used a combination of the King James Version and the New King James Version. As I have written before in Which Version of the Truth Will You Use?, I believe the KJV is the most authentic. However, for better understanding I have replaced the "thee's" and "thou's" of the Old English of the KJV with the newer easier to understand language of the NKJV. Occasionally, when the KJV word made no sense, but the NKJV seemed to have changed the meaning, I went back to the original meaning of the word and used that. Please understand this is not intended to be my own new translation, but my own personal study notes, restating the scriptures in a way that I more fully understand. I hope you will find this study interesting in this particular order, in this particular version, and with these particular commentaries and notes, although it's just one Bible study among thousands. I would welcome and enjoy any comments. On with the study!
God planned for our salvation through Jesus Christ before creation:
(1 Peter 1:18) For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain conduct received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(Ephesians 3:10) To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Psalm 40:6) Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. (7) Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me. (8) I delight to do Your will, O my God; yea, Your law is within my heart."
(Hebrews 10:5) Therefore, when He came into the world, He said, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. (6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. (7) Then I said, 'Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God.'" (8) Above when He said, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), (9) Then He said, "Behold, I come to do Your will, O God". He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (10) By that will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The following scriptures show that Jesus Christ was in existence before Genesis 1:
(John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
The Word mentioned above is clearly Jesus Christ as a few scriptures later in John 1:14, it is written: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
(1 Corinthians 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.
(Colossians 1:16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
(Acts 17:24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. (25) Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (26) And He has made from one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, (27) That they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from every one of us; (28) For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' (29) Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's device.
I love these scriptures! They are some of my memory scriptures. Imagine that each and every one of us was planned for this particular time and for this particular place! It brings to mind Esther and the words that Mordecai said to her that she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Have we all been born at this time and in this place "for such a time as this"? It was a question that hit me like a ton of bricks when I first wondered it about me, especially when it really seems we are nearing the end times.
The following scriptures offer a preview of the Genesis account:
(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead still speaks. (5) By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (8) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (10) For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (11) Through faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they had come out, they might have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country, where God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (17) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) Of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," (19) Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (20) By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (21) By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. (22) By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
That's it for the prequel! Next time I'll start at the beginning, Genesis 1:1.
Please note that in my transcription of the scriptures that follow, I have used a combination of the King James Version and the New King James Version. As I have written before in Which Version of the Truth Will You Use?, I believe the KJV is the most authentic. However, for better understanding I have replaced the "thee's" and "thou's" of the Old English of the KJV with the newer easier to understand language of the NKJV. Occasionally, when the KJV word made no sense, but the NKJV seemed to have changed the meaning, I went back to the original meaning of the word and used that. Please understand this is not intended to be my own new translation, but my own personal study notes, restating the scriptures in a way that I more fully understand. I hope you will find this study interesting in this particular order, in this particular version, and with these particular commentaries and notes, although it's just one Bible study among thousands. I would welcome and enjoy any comments. On with the study!
God planned for our salvation through Jesus Christ before creation:
(1 Peter 1:18) For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain conduct received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(Ephesians 3:10) To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Psalm 40:6) Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. (7) Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me. (8) I delight to do Your will, O my God; yea, Your law is within my heart."
(Hebrews 10:5) Therefore, when He came into the world, He said, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. (6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. (7) Then I said, 'Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God.'" (8) Above when He said, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), (9) Then He said, "Behold, I come to do Your will, O God". He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (10) By that will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The following scriptures show that Jesus Christ was in existence before Genesis 1:
(John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
The Word mentioned above is clearly Jesus Christ as a few scriptures later in John 1:14, it is written: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
(1 Corinthians 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.
(Colossians 1:16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
(Acts 17:24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. (25) Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (26) And He has made from one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, (27) That they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from every one of us; (28) For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' (29) Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's device.
I love these scriptures! They are some of my memory scriptures. Imagine that each and every one of us was planned for this particular time and for this particular place! It brings to mind Esther and the words that Mordecai said to her that she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Have we all been born at this time and in this place "for such a time as this"? It was a question that hit me like a ton of bricks when I first wondered it about me, especially when it really seems we are nearing the end times.
The following scriptures offer a preview of the Genesis account:
(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead still speaks. (5) By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (8) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (10) For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (11) Through faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they had come out, they might have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country, where God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (17) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) Of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," (19) Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (20) By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (21) By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. (22) By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
That's it for the prequel! Next time I'll start at the beginning, Genesis 1:1.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The One Source for Truth
In this time when our leaders cannot be trusted and the "news" media cannot be trusted, there is only one place we can go for truth, to our heavenly Father and His written Word. Jesus told us that we must watch what is going on; we are to watch and pray.
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:36
We are not to be ignorant of the times, but we must not place our faith in people, our government, or in a secure future here on earth. These are definitely perilous times, but our God did not leave us defenseless. He gave us Jesus Christ to save us from death, real eternal death:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
To those who accept His gift of salvation, He gives His Holy Spirit:
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:13
In addition, there is the Bible, God's written Word, available to anyone who will pick it up and read it. That Word was left for our instruction and for our wisdom. There is no wisdom outside of God.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. - Proverbs 21:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— - 1 Corinthians 1:30
All are necessary for real wisdom and truth: salvation in Jesus Christ with Him as the Lord of our lives, fellowship and prayer with the Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth, and the Bible as God's written Word and our guide for living. We must have the covering of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for our sins first and foremost. That is what allows us to be able to approach the Holy God of the universe. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth when we are saved by Him. But we must not stop there. I believe immersion in the written Word of God is necessary, too. After all, there are many spirits out there competing for our souls.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. - 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Many false religions have been started by people who had a vision. There is one sure way to know if the spirit that is leading you is the Holy Spirit or a demonic spirit masquerading as the Holy Spirit:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1
How can we test the spirits? We see if they line up with the Word of God:
These (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. - Acts 17:11
The Bereans did not take the word of Paul and Silas; they searched the scriptures DAILY to see if what they told them was true. If only we all did the same! There would not be so many false religions and so many deceived people falling for false doctrines and "wise" worldly ideas. We would all have the true wisdom of God, which is the ONLY wisdom. Man's wisdom is foolishness.
While we should be watching what is going on in the world today, we need the daily study of God's Word as the standard by which to measure the fruit of men's actions. Jesus said:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. - Matthew 7:15-20
By their fruits you will know them! I'm sorry, but even though our president may throw around a few Bible references and talk about hope and change and a greater good, he is to be judged by his fruits. Consider that he has the most pro-abortion record in history, to the point of voting THREE TIMES for the murder of babies BORN ALIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB because of a failed abortion attempt. Consider his actions on the world stage by immediately repealing the Mexico City policy and spreading and increasing abortions worldwide. Consider his repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and his other promotions of homosexuality. Consider his complete lawlessness when he seeks to ignore laws and rulings he doesn't like, as with immigration laws and rulings against his Obamacare. A good tree CANNOT bear bad fruit; only a bad tree bears bad fruit. It's just that matter of fact.
I just read something I had not previously heard about Corrie ten Boom. She believed, more than just reading the Word, we should start trying to memorize the Bible! She believed the antichrist would destroy Bibles and the only Bible some of us may have in the end times is what we have memorized and hidden away in our hearts. I also heard tell of the testimony of a man who spent a long time in solitary confinement. He survived by singing hymns and reciting scripture. He commented he wished he had paid more attention in church so that he might have remembered more scriptures!
I found a wonderful free tool for Bible study in e-Sword. It has a scripture memory tool which allows the user to enter scriptures of his choosing, and be tested on them for as long as needed until they are truly embedded in his heart.
In the past, I have enjoyed reading chronologically ordered Bibles. It is very interesting to read multiple accounts of the same event at the same time as it gives a complete description of the event. In addition, I enjoy reading the psalm that was sung at the same time as the event which inspired it. In the past, I have read through the Bible, and when starting over, have chosen a different version or method of study when I began again. So every time I began a new Bible study, I was reading a different version. I have come to realize that only the King James Version is to be trusted. In my current study, I am using an online Bible from Blue Letter Bible, but there are many to choose from. I am reading both the King James Version and the New King James versions. I believe the KJV is the most reliable and I have discussed this before. But there are times when the NKJV just makes it a little easier to understand without the "thee's" and "thou's", etc. I found a chronological study online that is not its own Bible, but allows you to use your own Bible and gives you the chronological order in which to read it. It is entitled A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. In addition, I am making my Bible reading more comprehensive this time by using Strong's Concordance to give me the original meaning of any word that may be a little difficult to understand, especially if I notice a difference in the KJV and the NKJV of the text. If I need further understanding, I use the many commentaries found on my downloaded e-Sword program. As I gain a complete understanding of each scripture, I rewrite it in my own journal, in the language I understand best. It is almost always the KJV, with some of the NKJV's newer American words instead of the old English. Occasionally, when I don't understand the Old English word, but the NKJV seems to have altered the meaning, then I use the Strong's and find the best translation that I can personally understand. While I am doing this exhaustive study and journaling this time, when I come across scriptures that really speak to my heart or ones I just want to remember, I enter them into the scripture memory tool in my e-Sword program. It's taking a lot longer to read my Bible this time around, but I believe I will have a much more thorough understanding when I am finished.
Since I am transcribing the Bible verses in a computer journal anyway, I want to start posting it here on this blog with any study notes and with any comments on correlations to current events. After all, the Bible is the ONE source for truth! Watching today's news (and lack thereof!) and current events through the lens of the Bible can take on a whole new meaning. I hope this blog will find readers and fellow students of the Bible who would like to join in a discussion. I welcome any comments or even debate, as the Word of God always stands true. It's true that we may not always see it 100% accurately:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. - 1 Corinthians 13:12
However, I am confident that with Jesus Christ as Lord, communion with God in prayer and thanksgiving, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can receive much knowledge and wisdom from the scriptures!
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:36
We are not to be ignorant of the times, but we must not place our faith in people, our government, or in a secure future here on earth. These are definitely perilous times, but our God did not leave us defenseless. He gave us Jesus Christ to save us from death, real eternal death:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
To those who accept His gift of salvation, He gives His Holy Spirit:
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:13
In addition, there is the Bible, God's written Word, available to anyone who will pick it up and read it. That Word was left for our instruction and for our wisdom. There is no wisdom outside of God.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. - Proverbs 21:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— - 1 Corinthians 1:30
All are necessary for real wisdom and truth: salvation in Jesus Christ with Him as the Lord of our lives, fellowship and prayer with the Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth, and the Bible as God's written Word and our guide for living. We must have the covering of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for our sins first and foremost. That is what allows us to be able to approach the Holy God of the universe. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth when we are saved by Him. But we must not stop there. I believe immersion in the written Word of God is necessary, too. After all, there are many spirits out there competing for our souls.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. - 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Many false religions have been started by people who had a vision. There is one sure way to know if the spirit that is leading you is the Holy Spirit or a demonic spirit masquerading as the Holy Spirit:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1
How can we test the spirits? We see if they line up with the Word of God:
These (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. - Acts 17:11
The Bereans did not take the word of Paul and Silas; they searched the scriptures DAILY to see if what they told them was true. If only we all did the same! There would not be so many false religions and so many deceived people falling for false doctrines and "wise" worldly ideas. We would all have the true wisdom of God, which is the ONLY wisdom. Man's wisdom is foolishness.
While we should be watching what is going on in the world today, we need the daily study of God's Word as the standard by which to measure the fruit of men's actions. Jesus said:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. - Matthew 7:15-20
By their fruits you will know them! I'm sorry, but even though our president may throw around a few Bible references and talk about hope and change and a greater good, he is to be judged by his fruits. Consider that he has the most pro-abortion record in history, to the point of voting THREE TIMES for the murder of babies BORN ALIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB because of a failed abortion attempt. Consider his actions on the world stage by immediately repealing the Mexico City policy and spreading and increasing abortions worldwide. Consider his repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and his other promotions of homosexuality. Consider his complete lawlessness when he seeks to ignore laws and rulings he doesn't like, as with immigration laws and rulings against his Obamacare. A good tree CANNOT bear bad fruit; only a bad tree bears bad fruit. It's just that matter of fact.
I just read something I had not previously heard about Corrie ten Boom. She believed, more than just reading the Word, we should start trying to memorize the Bible! She believed the antichrist would destroy Bibles and the only Bible some of us may have in the end times is what we have memorized and hidden away in our hearts. I also heard tell of the testimony of a man who spent a long time in solitary confinement. He survived by singing hymns and reciting scripture. He commented he wished he had paid more attention in church so that he might have remembered more scriptures!
I found a wonderful free tool for Bible study in e-Sword. It has a scripture memory tool which allows the user to enter scriptures of his choosing, and be tested on them for as long as needed until they are truly embedded in his heart.
In the past, I have enjoyed reading chronologically ordered Bibles. It is very interesting to read multiple accounts of the same event at the same time as it gives a complete description of the event. In addition, I enjoy reading the psalm that was sung at the same time as the event which inspired it. In the past, I have read through the Bible, and when starting over, have chosen a different version or method of study when I began again. So every time I began a new Bible study, I was reading a different version. I have come to realize that only the King James Version is to be trusted. In my current study, I am using an online Bible from Blue Letter Bible, but there are many to choose from. I am reading both the King James Version and the New King James versions. I believe the KJV is the most reliable and I have discussed this before. But there are times when the NKJV just makes it a little easier to understand without the "thee's" and "thou's", etc. I found a chronological study online that is not its own Bible, but allows you to use your own Bible and gives you the chronological order in which to read it. It is entitled A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. In addition, I am making my Bible reading more comprehensive this time by using Strong's Concordance to give me the original meaning of any word that may be a little difficult to understand, especially if I notice a difference in the KJV and the NKJV of the text. If I need further understanding, I use the many commentaries found on my downloaded e-Sword program. As I gain a complete understanding of each scripture, I rewrite it in my own journal, in the language I understand best. It is almost always the KJV, with some of the NKJV's newer American words instead of the old English. Occasionally, when I don't understand the Old English word, but the NKJV seems to have altered the meaning, then I use the Strong's and find the best translation that I can personally understand. While I am doing this exhaustive study and journaling this time, when I come across scriptures that really speak to my heart or ones I just want to remember, I enter them into the scripture memory tool in my e-Sword program. It's taking a lot longer to read my Bible this time around, but I believe I will have a much more thorough understanding when I am finished.
Since I am transcribing the Bible verses in a computer journal anyway, I want to start posting it here on this blog with any study notes and with any comments on correlations to current events. After all, the Bible is the ONE source for truth! Watching today's news (and lack thereof!) and current events through the lens of the Bible can take on a whole new meaning. I hope this blog will find readers and fellow students of the Bible who would like to join in a discussion. I welcome any comments or even debate, as the Word of God always stands true. It's true that we may not always see it 100% accurately:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. - 1 Corinthians 13:12
However, I am confident that with Jesus Christ as Lord, communion with God in prayer and thanksgiving, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can receive much knowledge and wisdom from the scriptures!
Friday, March 18, 2011
What Will Be the Sign of Jesus's Coming and of the End of the Age?
It was the exact question of the disciples to Jesus:
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" - Matthew 24:3
The following were some of Jesus's answers:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. - Matthew 24:6a
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. - Matthew 24:7
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. - Matthew 24:10
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. - Matthew 24:11
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. - Matthew 24:12
These do appear to be perilous times that could quite well be the end times of which Jesus spoke. The news this entire week reported things that could very well fulfill the prophetic words of Jesus. The horrific earthquake, the tsunami, Libya, the nuclear fears, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, all the Middle East for that matter, and all the protests and strife and violence in our own USA; has there ever been a time when things seemed so close to the end times? I know there have been times in our history when it must have seemed horrific and close to the end. The 60's must have seemed horrible; also I can't imagine living through Nazi Germany and the WWII era. It must have seemed near the end then. But I believe we have now come much closer to fulfilling other prophecies of the end.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:14
The same answer to the same question of when the sign of the end will be, reads this way in Mark:
And the gospel must first be published among all nations. - Mark 13:10
Also consider the scripture in Daniel where the words of the prophetic vision are to be shut up until the end time:
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. - Daniel 12:4
There was undoubtedly a time when the Bible had been printed in all languages and then as missionaries were taking the Word all over the world, even into the most remote tribes, that this scripture seemed to have been fulfilled. But now with the addition of the internet and i-phones, you don't even need the missionary! Knowledge has certainly increased when we have an instant and currently updated encyclopedia at our fingertips in even some of the most remote areas of the world! We have instantaneous news! We can teach, share the gospel, and engage in Bible study in real-time all over the world in a way not seen in eras before now.
There has always been Christian persecution, that is persecution of those followers of Jesus Christ, as a sign of the end times:
And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. - Mark 13:13
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. - Luke 21:12-13
I believe as the gospel is spread farther and wider all over the world and Christianity grows, persecution increases, because it is being spread in areas hostile to Christianity. Take for instance, the Christian church in China, which is mostly underground, but reported to be now larger than the Communist Party in China. What about the spread of Christianity in Middle Eastern countries where many Muslims believe they must "kill the infidel"? Surely the spread of the gospel would necessarily increase persecution, but there is more.
As immorality rises, Christianity must be squashed. How can you have same-sex marriage and adoptions by homosexuals if homosexuality is wrong? How can you tolerate abortions if you believe it is the murder of the most innocent? You could ask many such questions. That is why there has been a deliberate push for a long time to remove God and prayer from the schools and the public square. This adds another level of persecution we are seeing now. Christians must be demonized and even criminalized in order for some formerly unlawful acts to be accepted. Christian parents are being jailed right now in Europe because they don't want their children exposed to pro-homosexual teachings. It's at our doorstep in this country. Mother Earth must replace Father God in order for environmental madness to rule. Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection must replace creation by the Creator God whose plan was for man to have dominion over the earth and the animals. Only this way can "death panels" and population control techniques be implemented to "save the planet" and for the "greater good".
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
The apostle Paul talks about a "falling away" that will come before the antichrist appears on the scene. First there was the spreading of the gospel all over the world. There is no excuse for anyone not accepting the Truth. We have proof of God and His plan of salvation, but people choose to turn away, to fall away. Paul describes the process:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. - Romans 1:18-19
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Romans 1:20-21
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. - Romans 1:22-23
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:24-25
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. - Romans 1:26
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. - Romans 1:27
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. - Romans 1:28-32
How can anyone read those scriptures and not see our present culture? A culture that does not revere God, with people who become futile in their "wise" thoughts. Think of all the foolish new age doctrines promoted by the likes of Oprah, Hollywood, and many mega-churches. Think of the Mother Earth, oneness with the earth, and all living things are equal to man teachings. There are pagan religions where people pray to animals. Are these things not the very illustration of what the above scriptures describe? People who worship the created things rather than their Creator? People who change the truth of God for a lie? God gives them over to their vile passions. And next is that not the very description of homosexuality, a practice that is definitely growing by leaps and bounds in our culture? And then follows all sorts of godlessness. And note that not only are the people who practice such things deserving of death, but also those WHO APPROVE OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM! No matter how much we are told we just need to accept it and live and let live, that is not what scripture says!
It's quite remarkable and incredible, really. People know God, they know what they are doing is deserving of eternal death, yet they choose to do it anyway. It's as if this culture is shaking its fist at God and saying, "We don't care! We don't care what You said; we are going to do what we want to do! We are doing what WE think is best!"
What I continually wish and pray is simply that people would read their Bibles and let God show them His truth. My simplistic advice has always (or at least for a long time) been, "Just read your Bible!" I know if people will do that, God will take it from there. But sadly, these verses show that people ALREADY KNOW GOD, KNOW THE TRUTH, and just turn away.
BUT there is good news in Jesus's prophecies of the end times!
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. - Luke 21:12-13
In the midst of the persecution, there will be occasion for testimony and some people will, no doubt, come to salvation in the midst of persecution. In the midst of earthquakes and disasters, there will opportunities for testimony. Shortly after Katrina, I met a displaced victim of Katrina who wound up in our small town in East Texas. She was giving thanks to God for getting her out of New Orleans and her life there! Imagine, what many people thought was a cruel act by God, was actually His saving grace in action!! Praise God!
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" - Matthew 24:3
The following were some of Jesus's answers:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. - Matthew 24:6a
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. - Matthew 24:7
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. - Matthew 24:10
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. - Matthew 24:11
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. - Matthew 24:12
These do appear to be perilous times that could quite well be the end times of which Jesus spoke. The news this entire week reported things that could very well fulfill the prophetic words of Jesus. The horrific earthquake, the tsunami, Libya, the nuclear fears, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, all the Middle East for that matter, and all the protests and strife and violence in our own USA; has there ever been a time when things seemed so close to the end times? I know there have been times in our history when it must have seemed horrific and close to the end. The 60's must have seemed horrible; also I can't imagine living through Nazi Germany and the WWII era. It must have seemed near the end then. But I believe we have now come much closer to fulfilling other prophecies of the end.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:14
The same answer to the same question of when the sign of the end will be, reads this way in Mark:
And the gospel must first be published among all nations. - Mark 13:10
Also consider the scripture in Daniel where the words of the prophetic vision are to be shut up until the end time:
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. - Daniel 12:4
There was undoubtedly a time when the Bible had been printed in all languages and then as missionaries were taking the Word all over the world, even into the most remote tribes, that this scripture seemed to have been fulfilled. But now with the addition of the internet and i-phones, you don't even need the missionary! Knowledge has certainly increased when we have an instant and currently updated encyclopedia at our fingertips in even some of the most remote areas of the world! We have instantaneous news! We can teach, share the gospel, and engage in Bible study in real-time all over the world in a way not seen in eras before now.
There has always been Christian persecution, that is persecution of those followers of Jesus Christ, as a sign of the end times:
And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. - Mark 13:13
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. - Luke 21:12-13
I believe as the gospel is spread farther and wider all over the world and Christianity grows, persecution increases, because it is being spread in areas hostile to Christianity. Take for instance, the Christian church in China, which is mostly underground, but reported to be now larger than the Communist Party in China. What about the spread of Christianity in Middle Eastern countries where many Muslims believe they must "kill the infidel"? Surely the spread of the gospel would necessarily increase persecution, but there is more.
As immorality rises, Christianity must be squashed. How can you have same-sex marriage and adoptions by homosexuals if homosexuality is wrong? How can you tolerate abortions if you believe it is the murder of the most innocent? You could ask many such questions. That is why there has been a deliberate push for a long time to remove God and prayer from the schools and the public square. This adds another level of persecution we are seeing now. Christians must be demonized and even criminalized in order for some formerly unlawful acts to be accepted. Christian parents are being jailed right now in Europe because they don't want their children exposed to pro-homosexual teachings. It's at our doorstep in this country. Mother Earth must replace Father God in order for environmental madness to rule. Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection must replace creation by the Creator God whose plan was for man to have dominion over the earth and the animals. Only this way can "death panels" and population control techniques be implemented to "save the planet" and for the "greater good".
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
The apostle Paul talks about a "falling away" that will come before the antichrist appears on the scene. First there was the spreading of the gospel all over the world. There is no excuse for anyone not accepting the Truth. We have proof of God and His plan of salvation, but people choose to turn away, to fall away. Paul describes the process:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. - Romans 1:18-19
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Romans 1:20-21
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. - Romans 1:22-23
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:24-25
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. - Romans 1:26
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. - Romans 1:27
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. - Romans 1:28-32
How can anyone read those scriptures and not see our present culture? A culture that does not revere God, with people who become futile in their "wise" thoughts. Think of all the foolish new age doctrines promoted by the likes of Oprah, Hollywood, and many mega-churches. Think of the Mother Earth, oneness with the earth, and all living things are equal to man teachings. There are pagan religions where people pray to animals. Are these things not the very illustration of what the above scriptures describe? People who worship the created things rather than their Creator? People who change the truth of God for a lie? God gives them over to their vile passions. And next is that not the very description of homosexuality, a practice that is definitely growing by leaps and bounds in our culture? And then follows all sorts of godlessness. And note that not only are the people who practice such things deserving of death, but also those WHO APPROVE OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM! No matter how much we are told we just need to accept it and live and let live, that is not what scripture says!
It's quite remarkable and incredible, really. People know God, they know what they are doing is deserving of eternal death, yet they choose to do it anyway. It's as if this culture is shaking its fist at God and saying, "We don't care! We don't care what You said; we are going to do what we want to do! We are doing what WE think is best!"
What I continually wish and pray is simply that people would read their Bibles and let God show them His truth. My simplistic advice has always (or at least for a long time) been, "Just read your Bible!" I know if people will do that, God will take it from there. But sadly, these verses show that people ALREADY KNOW GOD, KNOW THE TRUTH, and just turn away.
BUT there is good news in Jesus's prophecies of the end times!
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. - Luke 21:12-13
In the midst of the persecution, there will be occasion for testimony and some people will, no doubt, come to salvation in the midst of persecution. In the midst of earthquakes and disasters, there will opportunities for testimony. Shortly after Katrina, I met a displaced victim of Katrina who wound up in our small town in East Texas. She was giving thanks to God for getting her out of New Orleans and her life there! Imagine, what many people thought was a cruel act by God, was actually His saving grace in action!! Praise God!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Why Are Our Country's Leaders Trying to Destroy Us?
There appears to be a deliberate attempt to destroy us while lulling us with lies to the contrary. Ever since this president took office, but even before then, with the election of the Democrat Congress in 2006, there has been a very deliberate swing to far-left Socialism. Share the wealth, take from the rich and the large corporations and give to the poor. It gives them money and power to control the purse-strings and it creates a class of people completely dependent on their government and therefore secures future Democrat votes. There has been an enormous government take-over that we have never witnessed before in our history. We have had a form of government health care and retirement with Social Security benefits and Medicare and Medicaid, but it has been expanded to ridiculous lengths. The government take-over of health care is a huge debacle! It isn't even possible for it to work which is so evident by the hundreds of waivers being given to entities that won't have to adhere to it. That law so needs to be overturned. But they are working as fast as they can to offer waivers and give allowances to hush the opposition. The most important thing is that the foot is in the door; the camel's nose is in the tent! If they can just keep the law, the future is theirs!
What about the other government take-overs we have witnessed with banks and automobile companies? When have we ever seen such blatant power grabs of individual companies?
Then there are the gas prices and the energy prices, which in turn necessarily must increase our grocery prices and every other price of every other good made or transported by something using gas or energy! Have you noticed that we are being propagandized nightly about why our gas prices are going up? You know you are being propagandized when you hear it in almost unison by every one of the nightly networks and you hear the same thing daily. Every night we are told that gas prices are going up because of the unrest in Libya. Every night we must be told that. The masses must believe that unrest in Libya is the reason for our troubles. Never mind the fact that this president has said that he wants gas prices to sky-rocket, just not too fast! Pair that with the stories of Obama's links to Gadhafi, or at least his close associates' ties to Gadhafi, and stories following the money trail for the funding of the protests in Egypt back to our own AFL-CIO! Why was Obama so quick to denounce Mubarak, although a dictator, a friend of the US, and encourage the "Democratic uprising" in Egypt? Why was Obama so slow to denounce Gadhafi who was so obviously murdering his own people who protested? For that matter, why does Obama always seem to slam our allies and kowtow to our enemies?
I know the answers to some of these questions. Middle East unrest gives Obama an out; he can tell us our high prices are due to the unrest and take our attention off what he is doing. When the gas prices sky-rocket, he gets to implement his screwy environmental and cap-and-trade schemes. Does it not make the most sense in this country at this stage, to develop our own sources for oil and energy and drill here, creating tens of thousands of new jobs, bringing work and income to THIS country while making us less dependent on countries that hate us? It is insane that some form of this idea is not implemented. It is because it is not wanted. It has never been about the welfare of this country and its people with this administration. Oh, it has probably not been the interest of many an administration, but it has never been so blatant as with this president and his thugs. The more things are in chaos, the more people will believe that they need the government to fix it. The more they believe they need government, the more freedom they relinquish and freely hand over to the government.
Part of the share-the-wealth plan is bringing us as an equal onto the world stage. An equal, not a super-power, not a leader of the free world. We must be brought down to the level of all the third world countries. Remember back to Obama's apology tour around the world where he apologized for and bad-mouthed his own country? It's not enough that we share the wealth in this country, but we must now send it all over the world. Has that not been happening for awhile? Our jobs go overseas, the money for our goods and oil goes overseas. It's part of the plan.
I suppose as I write this, I am answering my own question of late. When I read the dreadful story of how our own border agents are armed with beanbag guns against gangs of bandits armed with AK47's that were supplied by our own government, I just couldn't understand WHY our leaders were doing this. I can read through the lies on so many things, but it wasn't clear why we would supply such evil thugs with guns to kill our own people who are only allowed to use beanbag guns. You couldn't write something so ludicrous and have it believable, and yet it is really happening. I suppose it is all part of the same plan - open borders, no sovereignty, bring us down, make us pay, make us needy and dependent. But this administration has brought it to a new diabolical level! My heart aches for our young men and women in the military and law enforcement being gunned down because this president has so emboldened our enemies with his wishy-washy wimpy apologetic attitude. Some time after Obama was elected, my son was asked to do a survey about whether he was more or less likely to join the military than he might have been a year before (before Obama was elected). He answered that he was much less likely to join the military because he did not trust this president not to ask him to fight Israel or his own countrymen. As a mother, I would have to have added that Obama personally makes the world much more dangerous for our soldiers now!
Our country is a much more dangerous and insecure place, but they keep telling us otherwise. Once again we were propagandized with the constant news that we are coming out of the recession! Obama's plans are working! Unemployment is down to 8.9%! We're in the money!! It's time for celebration! I knew the numbers were tweaked when I heard them. It's a sad state of affairs when I never believe anything this president or his administration says, and I am always right! The news came out that FEDERAL documents themselves showed the number to be 9.5%, but they just "seasonally adjusted" the number! They tweaked their own cherry-picked number! I say it is cherry-picked because the actual unemployment number, including all those who aren't filing for unemployment benefits and those who have given up on finding employment altogether, is 22.1%! That's almost one in four people out of work while they tell us that unemployment is at its lowest level in over a year and praise the work of this president!
The world is going to hell in a handbasket with chaos in the Middle East, earthquakes, storms, brutal murders, rising prices (while we are told there has been no inflation for the past two years!), and a deliberate deceitful destruction from within, but what has been the biggest news of late? Charlie Sheen! Charlie Sheen on every single channel daily! Charlie Sheen with millions of Twitter fans following his every move! It's an unbelievable sad state for our country. It is no wonder we got the president we did. This guy told us up-front what he intended to do! When he lied to us, it was easy to see he was lying if you looked at his record. There were no surprises as far as I was concerned. I was just saddened and angry about how shallow and superficial the average voter was, who didn't bother to look below the surface. But what can you expect from people who make Charlie Sheen their hero? All of this has been by design, too. Long ago, in the early years of our country, only land-owners could vote. It was because they had an investment in their country; they were the property tax-payers and they truly cared what happened to their country. When you have a voting class of transients, illegals, drug abusers, those on welfare and food stamps who only take and don't have an investment, their votes can be bought, and let's face it, they are not the most intelligent of voters. It's also a place fraught with the most fraud. Why do you think Democrats don't want voters to have to show proof of their identification? Another very common-sense idea that is not allowed to be implemented.
There is no security in man, especially the ones running our country at present! There can be no certainty about our country and our way of life. Our monetary system, our goods and food supply, our freedom - none of it is certain and secure. It is time that we put our faith in our heavenly Father and look to Jesus Christ for our salvation, because He is the only One who can save us now!
What about the other government take-overs we have witnessed with banks and automobile companies? When have we ever seen such blatant power grabs of individual companies?
Then there are the gas prices and the energy prices, which in turn necessarily must increase our grocery prices and every other price of every other good made or transported by something using gas or energy! Have you noticed that we are being propagandized nightly about why our gas prices are going up? You know you are being propagandized when you hear it in almost unison by every one of the nightly networks and you hear the same thing daily. Every night we are told that gas prices are going up because of the unrest in Libya. Every night we must be told that. The masses must believe that unrest in Libya is the reason for our troubles. Never mind the fact that this president has said that he wants gas prices to sky-rocket, just not too fast! Pair that with the stories of Obama's links to Gadhafi, or at least his close associates' ties to Gadhafi, and stories following the money trail for the funding of the protests in Egypt back to our own AFL-CIO! Why was Obama so quick to denounce Mubarak, although a dictator, a friend of the US, and encourage the "Democratic uprising" in Egypt? Why was Obama so slow to denounce Gadhafi who was so obviously murdering his own people who protested? For that matter, why does Obama always seem to slam our allies and kowtow to our enemies?
I know the answers to some of these questions. Middle East unrest gives Obama an out; he can tell us our high prices are due to the unrest and take our attention off what he is doing. When the gas prices sky-rocket, he gets to implement his screwy environmental and cap-and-trade schemes. Does it not make the most sense in this country at this stage, to develop our own sources for oil and energy and drill here, creating tens of thousands of new jobs, bringing work and income to THIS country while making us less dependent on countries that hate us? It is insane that some form of this idea is not implemented. It is because it is not wanted. It has never been about the welfare of this country and its people with this administration. Oh, it has probably not been the interest of many an administration, but it has never been so blatant as with this president and his thugs. The more things are in chaos, the more people will believe that they need the government to fix it. The more they believe they need government, the more freedom they relinquish and freely hand over to the government.
Part of the share-the-wealth plan is bringing us as an equal onto the world stage. An equal, not a super-power, not a leader of the free world. We must be brought down to the level of all the third world countries. Remember back to Obama's apology tour around the world where he apologized for and bad-mouthed his own country? It's not enough that we share the wealth in this country, but we must now send it all over the world. Has that not been happening for awhile? Our jobs go overseas, the money for our goods and oil goes overseas. It's part of the plan.
I suppose as I write this, I am answering my own question of late. When I read the dreadful story of how our own border agents are armed with beanbag guns against gangs of bandits armed with AK47's that were supplied by our own government, I just couldn't understand WHY our leaders were doing this. I can read through the lies on so many things, but it wasn't clear why we would supply such evil thugs with guns to kill our own people who are only allowed to use beanbag guns. You couldn't write something so ludicrous and have it believable, and yet it is really happening. I suppose it is all part of the same plan - open borders, no sovereignty, bring us down, make us pay, make us needy and dependent. But this administration has brought it to a new diabolical level! My heart aches for our young men and women in the military and law enforcement being gunned down because this president has so emboldened our enemies with his wishy-washy wimpy apologetic attitude. Some time after Obama was elected, my son was asked to do a survey about whether he was more or less likely to join the military than he might have been a year before (before Obama was elected). He answered that he was much less likely to join the military because he did not trust this president not to ask him to fight Israel or his own countrymen. As a mother, I would have to have added that Obama personally makes the world much more dangerous for our soldiers now!
Our country is a much more dangerous and insecure place, but they keep telling us otherwise. Once again we were propagandized with the constant news that we are coming out of the recession! Obama's plans are working! Unemployment is down to 8.9%! We're in the money!! It's time for celebration! I knew the numbers were tweaked when I heard them. It's a sad state of affairs when I never believe anything this president or his administration says, and I am always right! The news came out that FEDERAL documents themselves showed the number to be 9.5%, but they just "seasonally adjusted" the number! They tweaked their own cherry-picked number! I say it is cherry-picked because the actual unemployment number, including all those who aren't filing for unemployment benefits and those who have given up on finding employment altogether, is 22.1%! That's almost one in four people out of work while they tell us that unemployment is at its lowest level in over a year and praise the work of this president!
The world is going to hell in a handbasket with chaos in the Middle East, earthquakes, storms, brutal murders, rising prices (while we are told there has been no inflation for the past two years!), and a deliberate deceitful destruction from within, but what has been the biggest news of late? Charlie Sheen! Charlie Sheen on every single channel daily! Charlie Sheen with millions of Twitter fans following his every move! It's an unbelievable sad state for our country. It is no wonder we got the president we did. This guy told us up-front what he intended to do! When he lied to us, it was easy to see he was lying if you looked at his record. There were no surprises as far as I was concerned. I was just saddened and angry about how shallow and superficial the average voter was, who didn't bother to look below the surface. But what can you expect from people who make Charlie Sheen their hero? All of this has been by design, too. Long ago, in the early years of our country, only land-owners could vote. It was because they had an investment in their country; they were the property tax-payers and they truly cared what happened to their country. When you have a voting class of transients, illegals, drug abusers, those on welfare and food stamps who only take and don't have an investment, their votes can be bought, and let's face it, they are not the most intelligent of voters. It's also a place fraught with the most fraud. Why do you think Democrats don't want voters to have to show proof of their identification? Another very common-sense idea that is not allowed to be implemented.
There is no security in man, especially the ones running our country at present! There can be no certainty about our country and our way of life. Our monetary system, our goods and food supply, our freedom - none of it is certain and secure. It is time that we put our faith in our heavenly Father and look to Jesus Christ for our salvation, because He is the only One who can save us now!
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