children of God

we are not all children of God

He is Creator of us all

We can become one of His children...

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12)

When we receive Jesus, we are adopted into His Family, grafted in, recreated as a new creature, and born again into the family of God, and we can then call Him Abba Father.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Cor 5:17)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)

entertaining angels

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Heb 13:2

No provision of salvation for those who take the mark

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 14:9-11


There are only two categories discussed in the Bible, those who take the mark of the beast and those who don't.  Of those who don't take the beast's mark, some are sealed with God's seal and are protected from God's wrath as it is poured out on whosoever receives the beast's mark.

The Bible is silent as to if there are any who take the mark and later reject it.

Folks can theorize that it may be possible, but they have to base their theory on their own human reasoning and contrivances as there is not anything Biblical to base it on.

It is a dangerous theory, however.  It may cause some to think they can take the mark to take advantage of its conveniences and to avoid the penalties of not having it, then repent of it later...

ye shall have tribulation

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world..” John 16:32-33

Persecution is real, persecution of the faithful has never stopped, persecution is happening, and persecution is coming...

Throughout the world, Christians are imprisoned, their property is stolen, their families are taken and given to others, they are being tortured, hanged, beheaded, and their meeting places are burned to the ground.

We have had it soft in the "west", but the tides are turning.  The western governments are redefining who and what is "tolerable" and what is a "hate crime".  The popular so-called "christian church" is liberalizing and redefining "christianity" then ridiculing anyone who upholds the Bible as the true authority.

Popular churchianity already compromises in every form and fashion in the name of being trendy and cool.  They already compromise for the love of money to keep the "tithes" rolling in.  They already compromise, capitulate, and apologize at the least bit of resistance from popular culture.

If they cannot stand when times are good and easy, how can they stand in the day of true persecution?

Jesus comforted His disciples by telling them in advance that persecution was coming, so that they would be prepared for it when it did happen.  So that when they were undergoing tribulation, they would remember He had already overcome the world, take comfort from that fact and endure through to their reward.

What is the "church" doing to prepare members for the persecution to come?

Are we prepared to truly trust the Lord to be our provider when we can no longer buy from the grocery store and feed our family without the mark?

Are we prepared to stand and not compromise our beliefs when they are unpopular?

Are we prepared to stand and not compromise our beliefs when we are threatened with imprisonment?

Are we prepared to stand and not compromise our beliefs when we are threatened with torture?

Are we prepared to stand and not compromise our beliefs when they put a gun to our heads?

Are we prepared to stand and not compromise our beliefs when they put a gun to our spouse's or child's head?

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. Luke 17:33

false doctrine

text out of context in isolation from co-text is a pretext to false doctrine

be like the most high

God is almighty, omnipresent, and omniscient.  

Satan is not, and needs technology in order to emulate The Most High.  (Isa 14:12-14)

Is that why there is a push to micro chip everyone?  To have surveillance everywhere, to track every one's movements, transactions, and behaviors?  Ultimately to control everyone's movements, transactions, and behaviors?

Ordinances -vs- Sacraments

There are many who twist the meanings of the terms ordinance and sacrament.  When I use the terms I differentiate between them as follows:

a) A sacrament is a work that contributes to or necessary for salvation.  If an institution portrays a religious activity as a requirement for salvation, then it is a sacrament regardless of what they call it otherwise.

b) An ordinance is merely an outward expression of something that has already taken place internally and spiritually.  The two ordinances identified in scripture include immersion (baptizo) and the "Lord's supper".

Jesus was immersed to fulfill all righteousness and believers throughout the gospels, the book of Acts and the first century church were immersed as an outward testimony of their belief.  They weren't saved by immersion, but immersion was an expression and testimony to others of their salvation.

The same with perceiving the body and blood of Messiah represented by the unleavened bread and wine used in the Passover Sedar meal.  Jesus instructed "As often as you do this, this do in remembrance of me" and Paul goes on to say that we should not partake of it unless we understand this representation (1 Cor 11:23-27)

visits to heaven and hell

Recently there has been a renewed interest in testimonies of people who have been to heaven or hell and come back.

There is a precedent in scripture for spiritual or heavenly visits and/or visions.  John, Paul, and several prophets to name a few.  But even these only got a limited peek of only what God chose to show them and there were things that they saw that they were told to seal up and not speak about because they were reserved for a particular time when they should be revealed.

There are many folks with "there and back again" testimonies that are sincere and true according to what they remember seeing... However, spiritual experiences, by their very nature, tend to be beyond our comprehension, experience, ability to understand and explain.

It is our responsibility to test everything and prove all things to see if they are true.  If it contradicts scripture, do not receive it.  Satan can appear as an "angel of light" (2 Cor 11:14) and even if an angel from heaven brings another gospel, we are not to receive it (Gal 1:8).

Many of these folks are sincere and I do not question they are relaying, to the best of their ability, what they have seen to the best of their memory and understanding of what they believe to be true.  

Keep in mind, however, that anyone can be sincerely wrong...

God does not change nor contradict Himself.  

Some of the things people have seen may go beyond their capacity for explanation, so they will try to recall and explain things in a way that they can understand and relate to based on their background, upbringing, and training.  So while God is consistent, an individual person's understanding of something spiritual can be incomplete or mis-interpreted.

This may account for why so many of even the most legitimate testimonies seem to contradict each other as well as scripture in some aspect or another.

Additionally, no single individual has seen everything there is to see, nor have they been "enlightened" and become conduits for "all truth".  These individuals are authoritative only in the testimony of what they remember seeing and hearing, and should not be trying to answer any and all deep theological questions.

The best thing to do is to take encouragement in the things that support and reinforce scripture, but do not base your theology on any human feelings or experiences.

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2014/05/visits-to-heaven-and-hell.html

WWJD?

Who Will Jesus Damn? 

Here is a partial list from just a few scripture verses:

Hypocrites (Matthew 24:51)
The Unforgiving (Mark 11:26)
Homosexuals (Romans 1:26, 27)
Fornicators (Romans 1:29)
The Wicked (Romans 1:29)
The Covetous (Romans 1:29)
The Malicious (Romans 1:29)
The Envious (Romans 1:29)
Murderers (Romans 1:29)
The Deceitful (Romans 1:29)
Backbiters (Romans 1:30)
Haters of God (Romans 1:30)
The Despiteful (Romans 1:30)
The Proud (Romans 1:30)
Boasters (Romans 1:30)
Inventors of evil (Romans 1:30)
Disobedient to parents (Romans 1:30)
Covenant breakers (Romans 1:31)
The Unmerciful (Romans 1:31)
The Implacable (Romans 1:31)
The Unrighteous (1Corinthians 6:9)
Idolaters (1Corinthians 6:9)
Adulterers (1Corinthians 6:9)
The Effeminate (1Corinthians 6:9)
Thieves (1Corinthians 6:10)
Drunkards (1Corinthians 6:10)
Reviler (1Corinthians 6:10)
Extortioners (1Corinthians 6:10)
Cowards (Revelation 21:8)
The Unbelieving (Revelation 21:8)
The Abominable (Revelation 21:8)
Whoremongers (Revelation 21:8)
Sorcerers (Revelation 21:8)
All Liars (Revelation 21:8)

Comparisons

comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise 2Cor 10:12

It is not wise to compare yourself with others or compare one person with another...

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. Gal 6:4

The only person you should be in competition with is yourself, every time you do something, you should work to do it better than you have ever done it before...

The only person you should measure yourself against is Jesus, because we are to be like Him.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1John 3:2

Greatest of these is love

Love is the greatest of these, it is the hardest to do but has the greatest impact and greatest reward

Confidence

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper;I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?" Hebrews-13-6

Another logo?

Take a look at this logo...   Doesn't it look like something Cobra Commander would use?  It seems to imply something serpentine, reptilian, snakey, dark and poisonous...  two half moon arcs symbolizing as above so below...  perhaps a third strand of DNA or a parasitic serpentine invasion of human DNA?  Perhaps a genetic hybrid breaking out of a circle that binds it?

As we talked about before, in gematria, hebrew letters also represent numbers.  The hebrew letter vav ("v" or "w" in latin characters) represents the number 6.

This symbol has appeared in esoteric symbolism

Note that this symbol is conspicuously presented in the Monster energy drink logo.

And now this logo:

And it is appearing on several cars now...

Now what can this be a logo for possibly?  Maybe I'm just reading too much into things...

its a new Christian Church of all things... they held their first services on April 13th (um... interesting choice of 13?)  and according to their website  they appear to espouse typical vanilla "evangelical" beliefs.  This is not intended to be a "ding" against the pastor or folks who attend here.  Just raising the question.  

Also, why name a church "Solace" (soul-less?).   The English world solace is from the French word "solacier" meaning to "comfort, console" often with a sexual connotation.   The word "solace" occurs only once in the KJV in Proverbs 7:8, and it is quoting the "strange woman" who is seducing a foolish man into her bed while her husband is away: "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves". 

I want to believe they are legitimate sincere Christians and this is nothing else but an example of how woefully ignorant Christians are concerning esoteric symbols and they are just wanting to look "trendy" and "cool".  

We often use symbols, logos, seals, tags, trademarks as a way of denoting "ownership".  

We see in scripture several times when a seal or mark is used to identify someone who is "sealed" or "marked" unto the Lord and under His protection. 

Evil spirits can only operate in the physical world if they are invited in and attached to something physical.  They can be attached to a location, a living thing (ie: person or animal), or an object.  Occult practitioners create a talisman by putting a symbol on an object and binding an evil spirit to it to "charge" it with power.  How many of these occult symbols do you carry around every day in your wallet?

We also know that the father of lies will use a mark to "seal" those who choose to worship and belong to him.

Being that marks can have such significance, maybe we should be more careful about what marks we choose to associate with.

Quick response on dual-covenant theology

I recently responded to a question about a ministry that promoted dual-covenant theology.

Dual-covenant theology is the belief that there are two ways to salvation.  One is by virtue of being a Jew, the other is by being a Christian.  This is my quick response concerning that...

It is always important not to get caught up in personalities, but to rely on personally examining the scriptures to prove all things and to determine what is true.  

I personally am very pro-Israel and do believe that we should support Israel and the Jewish people everywhere.  Of course the best way we can do that is to share the Gospel with them.  

There are many scriptures where Jesus Himself tells the Jews they cannot rely on their ability to trace Abraham as their forefather as their means of salvation (ie: John 8:37-40).

Also scripture says that we are all sinners convicted by the law, and the law cannot save us...

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  Their feet are swift to shed blood:  Destruction and misery are in their ways:  And the way of peace have they not known:  There is no fear of God before their eyes.  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:9-19

The opposite side of the spectrum from dual-covenant theology is replacement theology, where some believe that the "Church" has replaced Israel and that all promises to Israel now apply to the "Church".  This of course is the primary view of the Catholic church and most of the reformed catholic/protestant churches and is just as wrong (if not more).

In any case, what is the background we should understand?

Scripture depicts two different "views" of the messiah.  There is the Meschiach ben Yosef (Messiah son of Joseph) who is the suffering servant and sacrificial lamb after the model of Joseph who was betrayed and sold in to slavery by his brothers.  We know that this is when Jesus came the first time to be the Lamb of God and pay the price for our sins.

There is also Meschiach ben David (Messiah son of David), the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and reigning King who will come to reestablish the line of David, deliver Israel from her oppressors, establish the Kingdom of Israel, and rule over all the nations from Jerusalem.  We know that this is when Jesus returns and establishes His Millennial (1,000 year) kingdom (Rev 20:1-6)

The Jews of Jesus' time (as well as modern day Jews) were looking forward to Messiah.  But, since deliverance from Roman oppression was what they believed was their immediate and most pressing problem, they were looking for the Messiah to come deliver them from Roman rule and set up the Kingdom of the Messiah.

When Jesus came the first time, he did not meet their expectation as the Reigning King that was to deliver them from Roman rule and establish His Kingdom as promised in scripture.  They neglected the prophecies about Messiah being the suffering servant.  They were looking for the Lion, but Jesus came first as the Lamb.

While there were many Jews that did believe, the political and religious establishment was more interested in preserving their power and influence as well as keeping their Roman authorities satisfied with their handling of the people so they could maintain their position.

As to the question of whether it was the Jews or the Romans who put Jesus on the cross, it was neither...

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.  John 10:18.

If anyone wants to belabor the point, one can say that by extension, it was ALL WHO HAVE SINNED that put Jesus on the cross

Everyone is saved by the same faith and same covenant, both before the first coming of Messiah and afterwards.  We are all saved by looking to Messiah.  Before Jesus, from the very first sin, they were looking forward based in the promise of Messiah (Genesis 3:15).  After the cross, we are all saved by looking back to Messiah.

God has never totally abandoned the Jews.  For the first 100 years the vast majority of believers were Jews.  He has preserved them as a people for thousands of years in spite of being taken captive, diaspora, antisemitism, pograms, holocosts, and many attempts at genocide.  There is currently a growing number of Jews (Messianic Jews) who have realized Jesus is the Messiah.  In Revelation we see that God will send 144,000 witnesses, two witnesses with the power of Elijah that will die and come back to life, and even angels declaring the Gospel.

Additionally, some confusion comes from a need to determine the context of scripture and specifically who the scripture is being directed to...  When reading scritpure, one must determine is God speaking about an individual, a family/familial bloodline, a nation, or mankind as a whole?

Promises of God preserving Israel as a Nation do not have anything to do with individual salvation.  God's restoration and preservation of Israel as a nation are for His purposes and in keeping with His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc...  

The current nation of Israel is a secular nation gathered together in unbelief as a fulfillment of prophecy and to set the stage for the events leading up to and during the tribulation period.  After the tribulation, Messiah Himself will gather together the faithful children of Israel and establish His Kingdom and Millennial reign.

In any case, it is natural for a Christian to have a love for Israel and the Jews and seek to bless them, because (far from replacing them) we gentiles have died to our old lineage, been reborn into a new family, we have been grafted in, adopted, and given a new name.  We are now one family under the Father in Heaven and we have the same inheritance in Israel and Jerusalem.  So come Lord Jesus! 

I have some additional information from my previous blog posts here:

God's People

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2014/02/gods-people.html

To the Jew first

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2013/04/to-jew-first.html

A cup of trembling

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-cup-of-trembling.html

And how God deals with the nation of Israel is a pattern of how God deals with nations:

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2012/11/consequences.html

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2013/02/woe-to-them-that-are-at-ease.html

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2012/06/slaves-in-our-own-land.html

http://shapedbytruth.blogspot.com/2012/06/harbinger.html

Pursuit

Don't waste your time pursuing me if you're not pursuing God. You're going to have to sprint after God to catch up with me
Eph 2:1-10

yin yang

A lot of folks are talking about how there's "truth" in every religion and philosophy.  I reckon in a way that is so, because why would someone follow a belief system if nothing about it was true.

Keep in mind though, would you drink water from a bottle that was 99% pure and 1% sewage?

In the same way, it doesn't take much lie to poison the truth.  Lies and sin are often characterized as "leaven" or yeast in the Bible; and, it doesn't take much leaven to spoil the whole lump. (Gal 5:9, Col 2:8)

Many vain philosophies, traditions of men, and doctrines of demons have crept their way into the  "christian" church.

These concepts go by many names, variations, and schools of thought.  Here, I'll address a simplified example of the school of eastern thought, the concept of there being some cosmic balance between "good" and "evil" or Yin and Yang.

The thing is, God didn't create a universe in a balance between good and evil.  He created everything good.  Evil is basically the corruption of something good.

In any case, the Bible does not teach dualism, in fact it teaches quite the opposite:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20



Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

it is not our place to judge

i often hear that "it's not our place to judge"

absolutely right

only God is in a place to judge

He has given us His standards for judgement in scripture

we should not come up with our own standards

neither should we ignore God's standards.

none doeth good

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:12

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 14:3

Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm 53:3

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Psalm 14:1-7

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.  Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Psalm 53:1-6

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  Their feet are swift to shed blood:  Destruction and misery are in their ways:  And the way of peace have they not known:  There is no fear of God before their eyes.  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:9-19

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  Isa 64:6

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Proverbs 28:9

Even the "good" (by our standards) works we do are unclean before the Lord if we are not in right standing with Him.

We can do no good apart from Him

you do well to be offended

Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good Romans 12:9 

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Psalm 8:13

Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. Deuteronomy 7:26

what is tragically lost in today's world is a sense of moral outrage...

we have been desensitized to a point that nothing is offensive and anything goes...

God however has not changed His position on anything, His judgement and justice remains true an changes not...

we should not mistake as permissiveness God's grace of allowing time for us to come to our senses and repent

God admonishes us in scripture to regard unclean things as an abomination, to abhor evil, and to keep it far from us

the surest way to keep from sin is for sin to be as much of an abomination, as offensive, as detestable, as much of an outrage to you as it is to God

if we truly are reborn as a child of God and have His nature within us, then the things that are an abomination to the Lord should be an abomination to us as well.

if we have the Holy Spirit indwelling within us, then the things that grieve Him should grieve us...

Love that is sincere, by nature hates evil...

if the sin that pervades the world does not bother you, then you would do well to examine yourself...

[The wicked] deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Psalm 36:4

Birds with Teeth and Claws

Hoatzin young and Emu even have claws on wings, similar to Archeopteryx

Rewards

You get more of what you reward

Children should have consequences for bad behavior

And should have rewards for good behavior

It is better to learn about consequences in a safe environment at home where parents can measure out the consequences in a safe but instructive way...

later, as adults, they will not have the covering and protection of parents to "soften the blow" of consequences

better they learn as many lessons as possible while young...

Fear

The only one worth fearing in this universe is God

If you put your trust in Yashua then you truly have nothing to fear

Fear not them who can destroy the body, but fear Him that can destroy both body and soul in hell.

If you are not in right standing with God (still stained with sin) you do right to fear

Fear is the beginning of wisdom

If you are in right standing with God (repented of your sin and received Yashua's free gift) you have nothing to be afraid of...

Honesty

Honesty is preferred to a friendly lie

think positive?

where is the concept of positive and negative in the Bible?

the terms positive and negative are products of new age and eastern mysticism, and they reduce God to a 'god of forces', an impersonal energy that can be manipulated by our will...  a ying yang dualism where everything has a good side and bad side...

positive and negative are subjective and we tend to identify things as positive if it is something that we like and negative if something uncomfortable... we like it because it places us in the judgement seat to determine what is good and what is bad...

The Bible on the other hand endorses the Truth as defined by God and speaking the Truth motivated by Love.

Truth is not positive or negative.  Truth just is...

God determines what is good and bad, and He created everything good, but many things have been corrupted by sin and rebellion...

persecution from within

As we move further into the 'end times', we will continue to see increased persecution of true Biblical Christianity.

Before Christianity in general is persecuted, the popular 'christian church' will continue to elbow out and eventually come to openly persecute Bible believing Christians.

We see that one of the signs that a people have rejected God is that God gives them over to be slaves of their own lusts (Rom 1:24).  The most evident sign of this is their acceptance and even promotion of homosexuality (Rom 1:32).  The abomination of homosexuality (or to use the Biblical term: sodomy) will become the "litmus test" the popular 'church' will use to identify all those 'evil' fundamentalists.

The pagan roman catholic church is now considering changing its public stance on homosexuality and launched a study into 'civil unions'.  This of course is no big leap for an organization whose clergy is already made up of homosexuals and pedophiles.

We see this happening with so many of the protestant (reformed catholic) denominations normalizing the abomination of sodomy and even endorsing it by appointing sodomites to clergy positions and performing so-called 'marriage' ceremonies.

We see this happening within the non-denominational and 'Charismatic' circles as their new age practices "go to seed" and their "new revelations" seek to embrace everyone with their gospel of  happiness and prosperity without a need for sin, repentance, and changing lifestyle preferences.

Also we see the current pope reaching out to the reformed catholic denominations, the non-denominational, as well as all other religions to join together in one big "it-doesn't-matter-what-you-believe-as-long-as-you-kiss-the-ring-of-the-pontiff" tent.

Eventually, what few churches that do not advocate for homosexuality will loose their tax-exempt status for promoting hate speech and then eventually forbidden to operate publicly.

Anyone who stands on scripture and does not go along with the predominant view of the 'church' is already seen as a closed minded fundamentalist 'hater', and this viewpoint will only grow more polarized.  Those who hold true to scripture will be further marginalized and vilified by those who call themselves 'christian' and think they do God a service...

These folks need to read Revelation 17:16 and keep in mind that once the harlot church has outlived its usefulness, the beast will turn on it and rend it to pieces.

the truth

If I be in trouble for anything

let it be for speaking the truth...

won over without words

1 Peter 3:1 they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives

inventing evil

"For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to honor God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper inventors of evil and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. –Romans 1:26-28,30,32

Having such a hardened heart that they are driven to invent evil...

watchman

Ezekiel 3:16-4:17 ESV

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.


notice that everyone is responsible for and will answer for their own actions, but the watchman will also be held responsible if he does not sound the warning...

patience of the saints

If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity;

he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Rev 13:9-10

hugs

While hugs can be good as part of a reconciliation process...

Hugs don't make it "OK" to do something you are not supposed to do

God's people

Concerning Israel and the Jews.  On one hand they are supposed to be God's chosen people, yet of all people groups throughout history, they seem to be the ones singled out for suffering and hatred from all nations.

There are promises of God to Israel that are unconditional. For example God's covenant with Abraham was "one-sided" meaning that God contracted with Abraham such that God would maintain the covenant and there was nothing Abraham had to do to keep it and nothing Abraham could do to break it. (Genesis 15)

God has preserved Israel through the ages so that He can keep His covenants, regardless of the faithfulness of the people of Israel.

On the other hand, there are also promises of God to Israel that are conditional.  For example: 

Blessings and protection from the enemy for obedience:

If you follow My statutes and faithfully observe My commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit... Leviticus 26:3-13

Cursing and loss of God's protection for disobedience:

But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it... Leviticus 26:14-39

Restoration for repentance:

If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land... Leviticus 26:40-46

In all cases, God does exactly what He says He will do.



Additionally, the 'father of lies' has sought throughout history to wipe out the children of Israel. 

Some reasons why include:

1) They are the bloodline of the Messiah  

2) If they are wiped out, then the as yet unfulfilled promises of God to Abraham, David and the nation of Israel would never be fulfilled making God a liar and give the enemy a 'win' over Him.

3) They were also the preservers of God's Word and the preservation of the Jews and existence of Israel is proof of the validity of Scripture.

4) God still has plans for Israel, both for the current 'secular' state of Israel that has gathered together in unbelief, as well as for the future nation of Israel that He will gather together and establish when He returns (Rev 19-20).  God has not forgotten them, in Revelation we see that He sends two witnesses who are able to perform miracles similar to Elijah and Moses (Rev 11:3-12), and also 144,000 sealed servants who share the Gospel (Rev 7:3–8 ), and an angel to proclaim the Gospel (Rev 14:6-7). 

Ever since the first promise of the Messiah to crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15) the enemy has sought to corrupt and/or destroy the bloodline of the Messiah.  Examples include:

The slaying of Abel (Genesis 4:5-10), the incursion of fallen angels corrupting all flesh (except Noah, his wife and his sons) before the flood (Genesis 6:9-12). 

Tempting Abraham and Sarah to continue the bloodline through their own fleshly solution of the Egyptian hand-maid and Ishmael instead of waiting on God's plan of Isaac.

Pharaoh slaying of all Hebrew male children and Herod slaying of all children in the vicinity of Bethlehem 2 or younger.  Not to mention all the times that various tribes and empires have attempted to stamp out or starve out the children of Israel.

Even in more recent history we have examples of the pogroms in Russia and the Holocaust during WWII.  Antisemitism continues to this day in every country.  Also, the Arabs and Islamists maintain their hatred for Israel, Jews, and Christians.

So we see that God has a covenant to PRESERVE Israel through the ages to fulfill His plan but at the same time they are subject to the consequences of having rejected Messiah until such time that they repent and receive Him.

monster

This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1John 4:3

he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads; And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.  Revelation 13:14-18 

In gematria, hebrew letters also represent numbers.  The hebrew letter vav ("v" or "w" in latin characters) represents the number 6.

This symbol has appeared in esoteric symbolism

Note that this symbol is conspicuously presented in the Monster energy drink logo.

Note that the word translated "beast" in Revelation is from the Greek word Therion meaning "wild animal" and often associated with a rending, tearing creature and can also be translated as "monster". 

Monster's motto is even "Unleash the Beast!"

You can even wear this logo on your hand and forehead.

And if that isn't explicit enough you can even get 666 "Lucifer's Lemonade" and "Virgin Sacrifice"

This all serves to communicate idea that you can gain "energy" from taking on and internalizing the beast and his mark.  It also mocks scripture and popularizes the mark, making it something to be desired to make one "cool".

Instead of drinking in the vain spirit of the antichrist, we need to take in and internalize the true Living Water and Bread of Life.  

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

law of the land

Many people quote "law of the land" as if it was in the Bible...

I have yet to find it...

It seems to come from the Latin lex terrae (or legem terrae in the accusative case). It refers to all of the laws in force within a country or region, including both statute law and common law.

The usage that appears to be the foundation of our modern understanding in English speaking countries likely comes from the "law of the land clause" in the 1297 Magna Carta:

No Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land.[1]

Some "Christians" will cite the "law of the land" as if it was a Biblical concept that establishes the "divine right of kings", that every form of Government and every leader is hand picked by God, that everything they do, they do as God's servant, and that everything Government does, it does as the Hand of God and we should comply and go along with it no matter what.  They then pull Romans 13 out of context to support their presupposition and promote an erroneous belief that civil government must be submitted to regardless of how evil or immoral its laws might be making them de facto slaves and worshippers of the state.

Blind support of government is a hazardous thing.

Note that the atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany were all perfectly and even meticulously "legal" and supported by laws put into effect by democratically elected representatives.

The laws were of course immoral, but the government sponsored church of the time said that since God instituted government, then we should follow whatever the "law of the land" was without question.

This left even "christians" without the moral grounding to say "no" to things that were clearly against God's law because they were "legal" according to man's law.

As did Germany’s pastors and Christians in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, America’s pastors and Christians suffer from a  fallacy leads them to believe that by serving the state, they are serving God. In their minds, one cannot be “right with God” if they are not totally submissive to the state.

Here are several scriptural examples of nations and kingdoms that are out of God's will.  If the nation was sovereignly controlled by God, then why would the nation be acting outside of God's will?  Scripture demonstrates that the level of corruption in government and its leaders actually reflects the level of corruption in the nation.

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,"if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,"if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” Jeremiah 18:7-10

[[TODO: add more examples here]]

Scripture reveals the role and place of government in God's plan.  Due to sin in the world and the hardness of people's hearts God has established the concept of governments in order to protect life, liberty, and property of earth dwellers.  While authority of governments ultimately comes from God, and certainly God steers even the most corrupt and evil governments to accomplish His plan, the balance of scripture shows that governments can create and enforce laws that are contrary to God's Law and that not everything a government or leader does is an expression of God's will.

While the phrase "law of the land" does not appear in the Bible, there are scriptural examples supporting the concept of "civil disobedience" in instances of believers -vs- the laws of men in cases where the laws of men are contrary to the Law of God.

In Exodus 1, the Egyptian Pharaoh gave the clear command to two Hebrew midwives that they were to kill all male Jewish babies. The midwives disobeyed Pharaoh and “feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17). The Bible goes on to say the midwives lied to Pharaoh about why they were letting the children live; yet even though they lied and disobeyed their government, “God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them” (Exodus 1:20–21).  I would suggest that God's favor to the midwives was not necessarily due to their lying but in spite of it and more for their fearing God and preserving the lives of the children.

In Joshua 2, Rahab directly disobeyed a command from the king of Jericho to produce the Israelite spies who had entered the city to gain intelligence for battle. Instead, she let them down via a rope so they could escape. Even though Rahab had received a clear order from the top government official, she resisted the command and was redeemed from the city’s destruction when Joshua and the Israeli army destroyed it.

Another example of civil disobedience in keeping with biblical submission is found in 1 Kings 18. That chapter briefly introduces a man named Obadiah who “feared the Lord greatly.” When the queen Jezebel was killing God’s prophets, Obadiah took a hundred of them and hid them from her so they could live. Such an act was in clear defiance of the ruling authority’s wishes.

In 2 Kings, the only apparently approved revolt against a reigning government official is recorded. Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, began to destroy the royal offspring of the house of Judah. However, Joash the son of Ahaziah was taken by the king’s daughter and hidden from Athaliah so that the bloodline would be preserved. Six years later, Jehoiada gathered men around him, declared Joash to be king, and put Athaliah to death.

Daniel records a number of civil disobedience examples. The first is found in chapter 3 where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden idol in disobedience to King Nebuchadnezzar’s command. The second is in chapter 6 where Daniel defies King Darius’ decree to not pray to anyone other than the king. In both cases, God rescued His people from the death penalty that was imposed, signaling His approval of their actions.

In the New Testament, the book of Acts records the civil disobedience of Peter and John towards the authorities that were in power at the time. After Peter healed a man born lame, Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and put in jail. The religious authorities were determined to stop them from teaching about Jesus; however, Peter said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20). Later, the rulers confronted the apostles again and reminded them of their command to not teach about Jesus, but Peter responded, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

One last example of civil disobedience is found in the book of Revelation where the Antichrist commands all those who are alive during the end times to worship an image of himself. But the apostle John, who wrote Revelation, states that those who become Christians at the time will disobey the Antichrist and his government and refuse to worship the image (Revelation 13:15) just as Daniel’s companions violated Nebuchadnezzar’s decree to worship his idol.

Some summary points can be drawn from scripture as follows:

• Christians should resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work nonviolently within the laws to change a government that permits evil by prayer, by sharing the Gospel, by spreading truth, by appealing to lawmakers, by campaigning, by voting, by training up the next generation to think Biblically and critically, etc...

• Civil disobedience is permitted when the man's laws or commands are in conflict with God’s laws and commands

• Civil disobedience is permitted to protect the lives of the innocent and God fearing

• If a Christian disobeys an evil government, unless he can flee from the government, he should be prepared to accept that government’s punishment for his actions.

• Christians are commanded to pray for their leaders and for God to intervene and have government fulfill its role of protecting life, liberty, and property so that we can carry out our commission to share the Gospel of salvation: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

To sum up in one statement:

We must obey God rather than men - Acts 5:29

consequences of taking a stand

there are times to take a stand

there are times for "civil disobedience"

when man's laws conflict with God's laws

we should obey God rather than men

however, do not be surprised or dismayed when taking a stand comes at a price

there are consequences for disobeying the laws of the enemy's "kingdom"

for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago it was being thrown into a fiery furnace, but the Lord was in the furnace with them

for Daniel it was being thrown into a Lion's den, but the Lord was in the furnace with them

for the Apostles, first century Christians as well as the majority of the remnant of true Christians throughout history it has been betrayal, imprisonment, torture, and execution.

that ye may put difference between holy and unholy

And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Leviticus 10:8-11

The LORD made a rule for the priesthood not to drink strong drink before attending or leading public meetings and ceremonies.  This was because it could impact their ability to differentiate between holy and unholy and clean and unclean.

Occult is a lucrative business

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” –Acts 19:19

Judgments in the earth

"For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Proverbs 26:9b)

God's judgments in the earth are a mercy, they are to wake up the hard hearted so that they turn to Him.  Even the seemingly 'harshest' judgements are preferable in comparison to an eternity burning in Hell.  

He loved us enough to put us ahead of Himself.  He suffered the penalty in our place so that we don't have to bear the wages of our sins in death.  Because of Him we can have life and life eternal.

Duty to expose deeds of darkness

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

Snared

If I be snared by the enemy
Let me be snared doing what is right in God's sight

Lucifer music leader

Musical instruments were incorporated into Lucifer when he was created...

Ezekiel 28:11-19

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets (tambourines) and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

in the face of evil

How can you look at yourself in the mirror, or your wife and kids in the eyes and do nothing in the face of evil?

like a flood

Isaiah 15:19

...When the enemy comes in like a flood

Job 1:14-19

A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

brother against brother

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death

Matthew 10:21



Will the private statements we make on the phone, facebook, email, texts, etc be used against us to pit our own family and friends against us?

Nations get the leaders they deserve

The choice is between Jeraboam or Rehaboam, which boam (bum) do you want?

how can they hear without a preacher?

Some pastors are afraid if they preach about the return of Messiah that they may loose some of their flocks...

If they had been preaching the entirety of scripture in the first place, then their flocks would have been made up of people anticipating Messiah's return...

If you don't protect the sheep from the wolves, you are going to loose them anyway...

warn or indoctrinate?

Does distopian fiction such as George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Suzane Collins Hunger Games serve to warn us about a totalitarian future, or does it romanticize it, implant concepts of inevitability in our minds, and serve as a roadmap to those who believe we would actually be better off in such a society?