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The Bible and sex are two words that aren’t usually used in the same sentence. However, the Bible addresses sex very profoundly from the beginning to the end. This article explores the Bible and sex.

The Biblical History of Sex

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 NKJV reads:

9. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

10. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.

“and there is nothing new under the sun.”The first point to make in the area of sex is that what we are seeing today is not new. All of the sexual immorality that is going on today has happened before during Biblical times. It was actually worse in Biblical times than it is today. We are well on our way to reaching that point, but we aren’t there yet.

In this article, we will look at the history of sex—from the beginning.

Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV reads:

26. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; 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. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply;

Here, we see God as the creator defining gender—male and female. This principle carries through the balance of Scripture.

Genesis 2:24-25 NKJV

24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Here, we see a definition of sex and gender and a definition of marriage between a man and a woman. This definition is the Biblical perspective.

Let’s look at how the Bible acknowledges God as the creator found in The Three Angels Messages.

Rev 14:6-7 NKJV

6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people — 

7. saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

This first angel’s message is a call to fear God, to give glory to Him, and to worship Him. It also links God to the creation, as the creator of the earth, the seas, the fountains, and the waters. It also sheds light on the fact that God, as the creator, is the definer of reality—what is real and what is not, including sex, gender, and marriage. If we acknowledge God as the creator, we are not privileged to have Him conform to our reality, but to have Him relay His reality to us.

Today, God has been rejected and abandoned by a great many people. As a result, they have established their own reality. This reality goes against the sacred Scriptures.

However, this article explores God’s reality as He intended, which is reflected in the Scriptures, as shown in Genesis 1 and 2. As we continue, it will become clear how quickly this reality was broken down after the fall of man.

The Beginning of Polygamy

Genesis 4:19 NKJV

19. Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.

Remember that in Genesis 2:24- 25, marriage was to be between one man and one woman. But here we see that Lamech, a descendant of Cain, took two wives. He was the first polygamist. He was the first one to redefine God’s reality.

Today, in the media, we see depictions of men having more than one wife. There is a term known as thruples. Which is a man married to two women, and each of those women is married to the man and each other. These relationships are becoming more prevalent in society today.

Understand that these things are not new. While they may be new to us, they are not new in the history of time, nor in the history of Biblical sex, sexuality, gender, and marriage. For us to stay on track concerning the will of God concerning sex and gender, our focus must be on Genesis chapters one and two.

Genesis 29:28-30 NKJV:

28. Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

29. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

30. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

Genesis 30:3-4, 9 NKJV

3. So she [Rachel] said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”

4. Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

9. When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife.

Now at this point, Jacob has four wives. What we see here is that God’s people were also subjected to false ideas and a false understanding of marriage, gender, and sexuality. Society had reached a point where false ideas about marriage and relationships were ubiquitous in the land. These false ideas had turned out to be so prevalent that it was not regarded as sin.

As accepted as it was, this lifestyle caused much distress in family units. This deprivation of society regarding the family is part of what caused God to judge the earth and bring on the flood. 

Prostitution in the Bible

In Genesis 38:15-16, Judah, one of Jacob’s sons, a leader of one of the tribes of Israel, propositioned his daughter-in-law for sex because he mistakenly thought she was a prostitute. Hence, prostitution was prevalent in the land.

Sex in Worship

Let’s look at Numbers 25:1-3 NIV:

1. While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

2. who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods.

3. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

This apostasy occurred while Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land. What this passage brings out is that there was a connection between sexuality and worship during this time. Most sexual sins that were committed in the Promised Land were connected to the worship of the false gods.

This sinful worship is the same plot that Satan is laying for us today to keep us from the heavenly Promised Land. One of His mediums is sexual immorality to turn individuals away from God. God created sex to be enjoyed, but Satan has intervened and perverted as he does with everything that God has created. However, most are blinded to the fact that what is happening today is related to worship. It is worship that is the final conflict that we will be judged on.

Sexual Law Established

God gave the Israelites many profound warnings before they entered the Promised Land in Leviticus 18. In Leviticus 18:5-20 NKJV, it reads:

5. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

6. ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.

7. The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

8. The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.

9. The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.

10. The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.

11. The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father — she is your sister — you shall not uncover her nakedness.

12. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father.

13. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.

14. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

15. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law — she is your son’s wife — you shall not uncover her nakedness.

16. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.

17. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.

18. Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

19. ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.

20. Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her.

God warned and instructed against these behaviors because they existed in the Land (the Promised Land) they were about to occupy. In His wisdom, God understood that they would be subjected to this sinful culture. In verses 24 and 25 of Leviticus 18, God said, “Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.”

Israel would experience pressure from the surrounding nations. Just as societal pressure existed then, it exists presently. Today, we call it peer pressure, which has expanded to every facet of society—including the church. Young adults in the church have false perceptions concerning sexuality. Many young adults in the church do not see homosexuality or transgenderism as an issue. Delaying sex until marriage is considered old-fashioned by most. For decades, premarital sex has been virtually pervasive among Americans.

It is damning enough for worldly individuals to have these views. However, for Christians in the church, including some members of the Clergy, to have these views is absolutely preposterous! The Scriptures are unambiguous on the issues of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. We have no excuse for embracing and accepting these abominations. We see that these things occurred in the past and were wrong then. They are occurring today, and they are still wrong.

Transgender in the Bible

Transgender is not new. This behavior also occurred during Biblical times, and the Israelites were warned about it. Deuteronomy 22:5 NKJV reads, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an ABOMINATION to the Lord your God.”

This cross-dressing was passed down from Babylon and was part of ancient pagan worship to the goddess Ishtar of love, war, fertility, and sex. The apostate Israelites worshipped this goddess under Ashtoreth—The Queen of Heaven. In Deuteronomy 32:16-17, worshipping pagan deities is linked to worshipping demons.

Needless to say, this practice was not favorable worship with these pagan practices. God offered worship where people were respected and valued, and they had an idea of sexuality and gender that was in line with what is defined in Genesis chapters one and two.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak against these ungodly acts. Romans 1:18-32 addresses these behaviors and God’s wrath against them.

Conclusion

Again, remember what it says in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 NKJV, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. (10) Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.”

What is being done today, has been done before. It was wrong then, and it is wrong today.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

The Rapture – Is it fact or myth? Many Christians are taught and believe in the mysterious actions of the Rapture. What does the Bible teach about the Rapture? This article will answer that question as it covers the Bible and the Rapture.

What is the Rapture? 

Rapture is a word used by Christians to express the belief that before Christ returns and before the Great Tribulation, Christians worldwide will be raptured into the air and taken to heaven by some secret and mysterious event. Those who are not Christians will be left on earth and see individuals disappear without any explanation, leaving loved ones in despondency.

Those who are left behind will face the Great Tribulation. Three to seven years afterward, Jesus begins His reign on earth.

The Bible and the Rapture

This doctrine is based on the passage found in 1 Thess. 4:16-17 NKJV, which reads:

16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The word Rapture comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Scriptures that translates “shall be caught up” as rapiemur, which means “will be caught up” or “will be taken away.”

This passage is essential to those who believe in the Rapture. However, is Paul really talking about the Rapture or perhaps something else? There are three crucial questions to address.

When considering the doctrine of the Rapture:

1.      Will Christians disappear worldwide without explanation?

2.      Will Christians be caught up in the air years before Christ returns?

3.      Will Christians be in heaven during the tribulation?

To answer the first question, we again look at 1 Thessalonians 4, from verse 13. It reads:

13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul mentions that this is when those who died [sleep] in Christ will be resurrected. He additionally said, “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.” This does not appear to be a mysterious vanishing. It appears to be more of a triumph event announced to the world by Jesus Himself.

To address this issue accurately, it behooves one to look at other passages that address this event. Paul describes this same event in 1 Cor. 15:50-53 which reads:

50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Again, we see that this is not a secret event as a mighty “trumpet shall sound.” It also mentions the “last trump,” meaning that there will be a series of trumpets, and this event will occur at the “last trumpet.”

So, where are these trumpets? In the book of Revelation, we have a precise series of events leading up to the return of Jesus’ return and the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth. Chapter 6 of Revelation contains the seven prophetic seals John sees in his vision revealed by Jesus.

The first four seals represent the end-time events ahead. These first four seals represent the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, symbolizing global religious deception, warfare, famine, and disease. Verse 8 reads, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

The fifth seal continues by unfolding a martyrdom of Christians. Jesus describes this time in Matthew 24:21, where he said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This time will be so dreadful that no time before or after will ever equate.

After two and a half years of this tribulation, the sixth seal is opened, and the heavenly signs take place. Rev 6:12-14 reads:

12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

These events indicate that God and Jesus Christ will soon intervene in world affairs. This time is described by Isiah the prophet as, “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.” NKJV

This year-long day of the Lord begins when the seventh seal of Revelation is opened in Rev 8:1-2

1. When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. NKJV

Here, we see the sequence of trumpets involved in end-time events as Paul described.

After the rides of the four horsemen, the Great Tribulation, and the heavenly signs, we arrive at the time of the series of trumpets indicated by   Paul. The first six trumpets initiate devastation: one-third of the earth’s vegetation is burned up, one-third of the seas become blood, one-third of ships and marine life are destroyed, and one-third of the earth’s waters become bitter, and one-third of the Sun, Moon, and stars cease to shine.

To follow, the most destructive military exchange in history will take place, and one-third of mankind will be eliminated. This event is described in Joel 2:11 NKJV, “For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” This description represents God’s wrath unleashed on unrepentant humanity. However, these are only the first six of the seven trumpets addressed in the Revelation passage. The seventh trumpet is addressed in verse 15, which reads, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” This describes a significant change in world politics!

Going back to Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians, he says that at this trumpet, the seventh, is when the resurrection will occur. This time is when the authentic Christians, past and present, will be gathered together, glorified with immortality to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess. 4:17) and be with Him forever.

These passages prove that this event is not a secret disappearance. Additionally, Jesus describes this moment to the disciples, illustrating this event’s public nature. Matthew 24:29-31 reads:

29. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. NKJV

These passages, describing the end-time events, are consistent and in perfect sequence concerning the Great Tribulation, the heavenly signs, the seven trumpets, and the appearing of Christ at the last trumpet, as well as the gathering and glorifying of the faithful Christians, and the commencing of God’s glorious “reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10).

It is clear from Scripture that this event is not a vanquishing into thin air that will occur as the unsaved wonder where they went. All eyes will see, and all ears will hear. We also see that this event occurs after the tribulation. A day is coming when the faithful people of God will face persecution similar to that of the Dark Ages.

However, as God protected the faithful during that time, He will do the same during the Great Tribulation. He has promised to provide a way of escape for us from any temptation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV reads, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God is faithful and will protect His faithful servants (Matthew 24:21-22).

Another passage used for rapture advocates is Matt 24:36-41.

36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

While this passage focuses on the return of Jesus, it is not the Rapture but the return on earth when Christ will set up His kingdom on earth. The action of this passage focuses on judgment, illustrating the separation of the wicked from the righteous. The ones taken in this passage are taken for judgment.

This focus is more evident in a parallel passage in Luke 17:34-37. In verse 37, the disciples asked where the ones taken up would go. In verse 37 NIV, His answer is clear, “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”  Jesus painted a dreadful picture of judgment that those taken up would meet death—vultures gather to devour the bodies of the dead.

The doctrine of the Rapture is a misinterpretation of Scripture. Still, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, truth will prevail. We must learn to lean on Him.

Amen!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Salvation is a fundamental tenet of Christianity. The ultimate goal for every Christian is salvation and eternal life. Man’s widespread need for salvation is one of the most explicit teachings of the Bible. So, what is salvation, and how is it achieved? The best answer is found in the Scriptures. This article looks at salvation and the Bible.

What is Salvation?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first definition is deliverance from the power and effects of sin.

Sin is any lack of conformity to the holy character of God (Rom. 3:23).  The sinful nature is expressed in selfish thoughts and actions and rebellion against the will and plan of God (Jn. 3:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21).  The creature expressing its will over the will of the Creator is sin because the Creator has the right of authority over His creation for His will to be done (Isa. 14:12-15; Romans 1:18-32, 8:5-8; 9:19-21).

Sin separates man from God.

The need for salvation goes back to the removal of man from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). After that event, man’s life was marred by strife and difficulty. Progressively, corruption and violence dominated the world (Genesis 6:11-13). When God wiped out the sin of the world with the Flood, He also executed the first act of salvation by saving Noah and his family. These eight people became the basis of another chance for humanity. The salvation of Noah and his family was viewed by the apostle Peter as a pattern of that complete salvation which we receive in Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22). Salvation is needed because humanity is depraved.

Salvation is God’s great gift and work in which He forgives sin and gives eternal life to a converted sinner as a free gift of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9).  Forgiveness is needed because all people are born sinners, showing their sinful nature soon after birth (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 14:1-3; 51:5; Rom. 3:10-18).  New life is needed because all people are born spiritually dead, separated from God (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3).  Having a sinful nature and being spiritually dead results in individuals being completely depraved, for they are unable to please God by the good deeds they may achieve (Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mk. 7:20-23; I Cor. 2:14; Gal. 5:19-21).  The sinner is under the just condemnation of God, who is perfect in holiness, purity, and righteousness (Ezra 9:15; Ps. 22:3; Ps. 48:10; Isa. 6:3; Jer. 9:24; Hab. 1:13) and must judge sin (Ezek. 18:4; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 6:23).

Sin is any lack of compliance with God’s holy character and will.  Our sinful nature is expressed in selfish thoughts and actions and rebellion against the will and plan of God. It is transgression against the law of God. 1 John 3:4 reads, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

God loves all people and desires them to be with Him, but He cannot tolerate sin and sinners in His presence because of His holiness and righteousness.  He loves the sinner, but hates sin. Therefore, He must and will condemn and judge sin.  The penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Gen. 2:16-17; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23).  Physical death is separation from life in this world; spiritual death is separation from God. Sinners are unable to die for their sins and live and are unable to make themselves acceptable to God by any works of righteousness (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 8:7-8; Tit. 3:5). Consequently, God’s righteous justice must be satisfied another way.  Because of His love, mercy, and grace (1 Jn. 4:8), God conceived a plan to pay the price Himself to save and make people right before Him and welcome them in His presence.

To accomplish this plan, God sent His Son to be joined to humankind (Jn. 1:1-2, 14).  This plan commenced with the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20-23).  The plan included Jesus dying on the cross as a replacement for all sinners (Ps. 22:1, 11-18; Isa. 53:3-12; Rom. 5:6-8).  Jesus, who had no sin of His own, permitted all sins to be placed upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).  He evidenced being separated from God in the words, spoken from the cross, “Why have you forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46).  His words, “It is finished,” declared the payment to be completed (Jn. 19:30).  His resurrection from the dead three days later proved that sin and death had been conquered, the price fully paid (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 20-23).  His separation from God in death and the shedding of His blood paid the redemption price (Eph. 1:7), fully satisfying God’s righteous justice (1 Jn. 2:1-2) and providing the basis for sinners to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-19).  His death rendered propitiation for the sins of humanity.

This is what salvation is all about. God’s plan of salvation is open to all to be saved from eternal death to eternal life.

To be Saved or Lost, which is easier?

This, indeed, is an interesting question. As usual, one only needs to consult the Scriptures. As mentioned earlier, sin entered the world through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. After that, all of humanity is stained with a sinful nature. Rom. 5:12 NKJV reads, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Therefore, from birth, we are lost. A child never has to be taught to do wrong. They do wrong automatically and must be trained and guided to do what is right. However, even with this guidance, children grow up with a propensity to sin because we have a spirit of disobedience (Eph. 2:2) until we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

This is why Jesus said in John 3:3-7

3. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Since we are born lost, it is easier to be lost because we are lost by default—automatically.

Understand that it is Satan’s objective to keep us lost. It is Satan’s influences that keep us in a lost state. Ephesians 2:2 refers to him as “the prince of the power of the air.” Jesus referred to him as the “prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). This perpetual influence makes it difficult for individuals to be saved.

Jesus makes this clear in the passage of Matt 7:13-14 NKJV:

13. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

14. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

At some point in our lives, we are faced with a choice of which path to continue. We are already on the broad road from birth. Therefore, it is easy to remain on that path, the broad road to destruction through the wide gate.

This gate leading to life is narrow, not because it is difficult to become a Christian but because accepting and trusting in Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Only one way exists, and only a few choose to walk that road.

It is also “difficult” to stay on the narrow road because “the prince of the power of the air” and “the prince of this world” are constantly warring against us so that we stray off the course. This circumstance is spiritual warfare that every human being is involved in. It is especially trying for Christians traveling the narrow road to life. It may be easy for an individual to become a Christian and follow Christ once they decide to do so. However, it can become increasingly difficult to remain one.

The road is hard to travel because genuine discipleship calls for surrender and servanthood. The fact is that following the crowd along life’s easy path results in destruction. Deciding to travel the narrow way of difficulty and sacrifice will finally lead to eternal life.

It is important to note that if we make no choice, we remain on the broad road to destruction. Jesus said in Matt 12:30 NKJV, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

It is impractical to be neutral about Christ. Any individual not vigorously following Him has automatically chosen to reject him. Any individual who attempts to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil chooses to be separated from God, who alone is good. “No man can serve two masters” Matthew 6:24. To refuse to follow Christ is to choose to be on Satan’s team.

It’s easier to be lost, but much better to be saved!

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Not many of us realize the effects of the French Revolution on present and future events. What is more impressive is that all of it is contained in Biblical prophecy. This article will attempt to dig into some of these prophecies to illustrate their significance in confirming past events and revealing future ones.

The text for review is Daniel 11:40-45, and it reads:

40. “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

41. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.

42. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.

44. But news from the east and the North shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

45. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him. NKJV

These verses represent a summary of end-time events. This passage is a condensed description of what is outlined in Revelation chapters 13, 17, and 18.

The King of the North vs. The King of the South

The King of the North

The king of the North and the King of the South represents a war for world domination. We first see this war’s materialization after Alexander the Great’s death. In Daniel chapter 8, Daniel used symbolism containing animal imagery to describe the sequence of three major kingdoms: Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. This is described in detail in the article What is 1844 About on this website.

When Alexander the Great died, His generals (four of them) started battling in the Diadochi wars, and the kingdom split into northern, southern, western, and eastern territories. In time, these territories were consolidated into two territories: the territory of the North and the territory of the South. The power that controlled the northern region became the King of the North, and the power that controlled the southern region became the King of the South. There were wars between these two kingdoms. After centuries of fighting, Rome took over the northern kingdom and Egypt the southern kingdom. But that’s not the end of the story.

These two kingdoms continued to war against one another. Rome, AKA Pagan Rome, defeated Egypt and became a world empire sometime during 168 BC.

After centuries as a world empire, Pagan Rome became known as Papal Rome, a physical/spiritual Kingdom known as the Holy Roman Empire. At that time, the church controlled the state. It was the mingling of spiritual and physical kingdoms and lasted for hundreds of years (1,290) in Western Europe. This period, known as the Dark Ages, was when they exalted themselves in place of God, changing His Laws and even persecuting those who rejected their authority.

The influence of Catholicism would give the Church power to control the secular governmental authorities during the Dark Ages, allowing them to maintain authority over the state. Consequently, the church ruled the state through a religious ideology. The Papacy, AKA Catholic Church, had won the War for World denomination and carried the title, The King of the North.

The King of the South

Now that the King of the North has been identified, who was the King of the South? In verse 40 of our passage, Daniel refers to “the time of the end.” This is a time of the future. Daniel states that when this period arrives, we will see the re-emergence of the king of the South, Egypt, who will push against the King of the North. Thus, the king of the South, Egypt, would attempt to take the crown from the King of the North, also known as the Papacy of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire.

It is important to note that things have changed considerably regarding the struggle for world domination. The most crucial of these changes was that the king of the North—Papal Rome was now a spiritual power ruling the secular governmental powers. After all, Papal Rome didn’t conquer and rule militarily as Pagan Rome did, but rather through religious influence.

Verse 40 establishes that “at the time of the end,” the “King of the South” (Egypt) “shall attack him” (the King of the North—Papal Rome). There will be a war between these two entities. However, this was not to be a physical war. Again, Rome became a spiritual kingdom known as the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by religious ideologies known as Romanism. Spiritual Egypt (the King of the South) had a different ideology: secularism and atheism, which was not God-given. Thus, this war was a war of ideologies.

Effects of the French Revolution

This different ideology, not God-given, was atheism. With the rise of atheism, the military might of France, and the rise of the ideologies of the French Revolution (i.e., liberty, equality, and fraternity), the citizens of France mocked the design that the Papacy had any power at all. One of the avenues to accomplish the goals of The French Revolution was the dechristianization of France.

The law La Constitution Civile du Clergé (The Civil Constitution of the Clergy) was passed on July 12, 1790, which resulted in the immediate subordination of the Catholic Church in France to the French government.  The practice of religion was outlawed and converted to the cult of the Supreme Being, a deist state religion.

These actions manifested the idea of the separation of church and state; that religion should no longer be involved in governmental matters.

Another primary manifestation occurred on February 10, 1798, when French troops under the command of Napoleon raided Rome, captured Pope Pius VI, and took him as a prisoner to France, where he died in 1799. This arrest was when the Catholic church lost its influence over the Holy Roman Empire. This action also fulfilled the first part of the prophecy of verse 40, “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him;…” NKJV

Undeniably, the French Revolution was pivotal in changing the grip of the King of the North (the Papacy) on world denomination.

This event also fulfilled the prophecy of John in Rev 13:3 NKJV, which reads, “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Beasts in prophecy represent political and religious powers. This beast symbolically describes the Papacy and the deadly wound represents losing its authority over secular issues. It’s also important to note that this wound will be healed. This symbolism is a harbinger that the Papacy will ultimately regain its authority over the world’s nations. For more information on this beast, please see the article, What is the Beast of Revelation on this website.

The Healing of the Deadly Wound

For the King of the North to regain their power and control of the world, they will have to defeat the world-dominating principles of secularism, which is the separation of church and state. Secularism is the underpinning of various political systems, including communism and socialism, as well as the majority of democratic governments in today’s world.

Secularism and atheism are the obstacles between the Papacy and the complete healing of the wound we saw in Revelation 13:3. Therefore, the King of the North must come against secularism with a “whirlwind” to regain power and influence.

Atheism and secularism will ultimately be conquered, and the Papacy, driven by the scheme of Romanism, will control the world once again. But how will this happen? How can such a drastic change take place? Especially when the majority of the nations of the world are firmly embedded in the principles of political atheism.

Transfer of Power

The conclusion of verse 40 addresses how the transfer of power from the King of the South to the King of the North will occur; it reads, “…and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. NKJV

The verse states that the Papacy (Romanism) will use chariots, horsemen, and ships. It is known that the Vatican does not have chariots, horsemen, ships, or any army. Therefore, the fact of the matter is that the Vatican would have to depend on the Italian military forces for protection. This is the exact situation during the Dark Ages, the dependence on the secular power of the state to provide defense and enforce their philosophies.

During the Dark Ages, the Papacy never conquered and maintained its power using a military force. In its place, they defeated the nations through the strength of religious manipulation, which gave them access to the minds and hearts of the kings, which gave them access to control the military strength of the nations of Europe. This mindset is what is prophesied in verse 40.

Through religious manipulation, described in Revelation 13, the Papacy will regain its control over the secular-atheist nations of the world. These nations will readily give their “chariots and horsemen” (armed might) to the Papacy, who will again use this influence to induce men’s consciences.

Another symbol in verse 40 relating to power and influence is ships. In the Scriptures, ships were used for diverse objectives, including travel in war. However, the vast use of ships in the Bible was for transporting goods and services to be bought and sold, much like cargo ships, freight trains, trucks, and vans presently do today.

The apparent takeaway of ships in this verse represents business and economic power. Therefore, the Chariots, horsemen, and ships through which the King of the North will conquer embody the secular nations’ military and financial power.

The King of the North is working to regain its power and soon will gain enough power and influence to enforce the mark of the Beast (Romanism).

Verse 41 NKJV reads, “He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.”Here, we have more details of how the King of the North will defeat the King of the South.

The Scripture mentions the glorious land. To Daniel and Ezekiel, this would refer to Jerusalem. Today, we call this area the Holy Land, which has endured many conflicts, just as it did thousands of years ago. (The King of the North (Romanism) will seek to overthrow the glorious land.

It is important to note that with the rise of Christianity in the 1st century AD, a change occurred from God’s people being recognized as literal Israel to being recognized as spiritual Israel. With this being the case, there would no longer be a focus on a literal Kingdom but on a spiritual Kingdom where Jews and Gentiles are recognized as God’s people. As Paul wrote in Gal. 3:27-29 NKJV

27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Therefore, the glorious land represents God’s people and will be the first to be attacked. The Scripture says that many will be overthrown when this attack occurs, meaning they will give up their faith.

This Scripture mentions Edom, Moab, and Ammon. There are no traces of these specific groups of people today. However, this symbolism represents a viable group of people. Edom was occupied by the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (Israel’s) twin brother (Gen. 36:9). As for Moab and Ammon, their history is delineated in Gen. 19:31-38. This passage yields the account of the incestuous acts committed by Lot’s daughters. It also sheds light on the fact that  Moab and Ammon were the offspring of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. These individuals walk in the light of God through a connection with Abraham. Unfortunately, they fell away from the virtue and totality of their faith.

They essentially deserted the God of Abraham and welcomed heathen deities, or in some cases, they adopted a religion that combined Judaism with the worship of other gods.

However, it is important to note that God protected them and their land, as confirmed in Deut. 2:4-5, 2:17-19). Even though these three nations were not completely following God, He still loved them. He also loves the present-day Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites the same. But who do these groups of people represent today?

To answer that question, we begin by looking at the various Christian denominations, the Catholic Church, and other faith-based religions that share various collective principles of Christianity. However, many faith groups have not entirely continued in God’s light through Christ and his word. The most apparent rebuff of this light is perhaps in rejecting the 7th day Sabbath since most churches and religions have embraced a false day of worship. Most foremost among these are the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches that have accepted the Sunday Sabbath as a “mark of their (the Papacy’s) authority.”

Although these faith groups exist as spiritual relatives to “those that keep the Commandments of God,” many of these organized bodies have lost the truths they once held so dearly. Consequently, there will be a call to abandon the false teachings that the Papacy promotes, and every man, woman, and child will have their faith tested. Rev. 18:4 says, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Although they will not be following God totally as they should, He still refers to them as “his people.” He makes one final call to abandon the teachings of the false church. In prophecy, a woman is the symbol of the church. Thus, the Scripture says come Out Of Her.…that ye be not partakers of HER SINS.”

Back to verse 41, which says Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape. This phase indicates that many from other denominations and faith groups will accept the Sabbath and enter into all-embracing conformity to the Commands of God. They will “escape” the false teachings of the papal authority and will not be overcome by Romanism.

When the king of the north attacks and the mark of the beast is commanded, the people of the glorious land, the Edomites, Moabites, and Amorites, will have to choose between submitting to the Commandments of God or the commandments of men. However, this test will not be limited to only the spiritual colleagues of the commandment keepers. We will see this in the next verse 42.

Verse 42 NKJV reads, “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” The King of the North will wage his attack on all countries of the world, including Egypt. Why does the Scripture mention Egypt? Spiritual Egypt (The King of the South) represents secularism and atheism. It represents those who don’t believe in the true God or any god at all. The history of the physical Egypt is represented in Exodus. The Pharoah rejected God and His Command to free His people. In Ex. 5:2 NKJV he said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

The Scripture says, “the land of Egypt will not escape.” The question becomes, how will Egypt, seeped in atheism that doesn’t believe in God, accept the mark of the beast and worship the beast? Returning to physical Egypt and the Pharaoh, he was forced to acknowledge God undeniably after the ten plagues devastated Egypt (Exodus chapters 5-11).

A similar situation will transpire surrounding the enforcement of the mark of the beast. This condition is defined in Revelation 13:13-14. This prophecy describes the undeniable miracles: “great wonders” that will be performed. In essence, we see that miracles will be used to deceive people on earth into accepting and establishing the mark of the beast. This formation will be a worldwide spiritual war that will take place, seeing miracles used to deceive all of humanity.

Just as miracles were used to change the heart of Pharaoh, these miracles will be used to deceive the people on earth and to accept a false religious system, including spiritual Egypt, The King of the South. Jesus prophesied this when He said in Matthew 24:24-25 NIV, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. (25) See, I have told you ahead of time.”

Once this deception transpires, the Papacy will have all-embracing control over humanity, including its financial resources and judicial strength. This control will be even more evident in the next verse, 43.

Verse 43 NKJV reads, “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.

To be clear, the “he” mentioned here is the King of the North. To understand the symbols contained in this verse, gold and silver represent monetary wealth. After the deceptions in Revelation 13 take place and the world is deceived by signs and wonders, the secular and religious nations of the world will give their financial power to the Papacy. This capitulation will pave the way for the reality in Revelation 13: 17, which states that no man can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast. Some worldwide economic control will be required to enforce such a widespread law. Therefore, the king of the North will have power over the treasures of gold, silver, and all the precious things of Egypt (the secular world). Rev 13:3 sums this up, “and all the world wondered after the beast.”

The Scripture mentions the Libyans and The Ethiopians. In the Old Testament, during Daniel’s days, the Libyans and the Ethiopians were mighty military powers. The scriptures refer to them as the mighty men (Jeremiah 46: 9, 2 Chron. 12:1-3, 16:7-8). These verses also mention “horsemen and chariots” in verse 40, representing crushing military strength. These verses magnify the perception that the Ethiopians and Libyans will ultimately be at the king of the north steps, meaning they will come to him and willingly offer their service. As the Scripture reads, “follow at his heels.”

Verse 44 reads, “But news from the east and the North shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. NKJV

This text underscores a development that will see the reports on declarations from the North and the East that will “trouble” the Papacy as an impending peril to its influence. Obviously, whatever these declarations will be, they will be in contrast by thwarting the principles, ideologies, and doctrines of Romanism. These declarations exemplify the proclamation of the gospel of salvation to humanity.

These are the declarations mentioned by Paul in Romans 10:13-15. More proclamations that encapsulate the gospel messages are found in The Three Angels Messages of Revelations 14:6-12 calling for the everlasting gospel to be given to the world and laying out the punishment for those who accept the mark of the beast—the false worship.

As for the East and the North, several biblical points must be considered.

–          God is represented as being worshipped in the “side of the north.” (Isaiah 14:13). Lucifer was cast out of heaven for his desire to be worshipped “there.”

–          On earth, Jerusalem was represented as the city of the great King, on the “sides of the north” (Psalms 48:2). This is where God had His temple placed so all would come and worship Him.

–          Concerning the location of this earth, Jesus will appear to be coming from the east. (Matthew 24:27).

–          Cyrus, a symbol of Jesus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1), was the king from the east who destroyed literal Babylon. The coming of Jesus from the east will end the reign of spiritual Babylon.

It is apparent that these declarations out on the North and East serve as a message from God, whose throne is in the North is the only being worthy of worship. This development infuriates the King of the North.

The king of the North, driven by his fury, will use all the resources at his disposal to attack God’s people in an attempt to prevent them from spreading declarations such as The Three Angel’s Messages.

Keep in mind that the king of the North, the Papacy, will take possession of the Chariots and horsemen, representing the military and judicial power of the world. In addition, the Ethiopians and the Libyans, also representing the power of enforcement, will be at the King of the North’s steps to do his bidding. He will have control over the silver, gold, and all the precious things of Egypt, representing the financial power of the once-secular nations of the world. It will be declared that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed (Revelation 13:15). It is because of this that he will be able to enforce that those who don’t receive the mark of the beast or the name of the beast or the number of his name will not be able to buy or sell.

The King of the North (the Papacy) will ultimately be defeated. However, before he is defeated, he will make one last attempt to win the spiritual war that will be directed upon the world. This final attempt is illuminated in our text’s next and final verse.

Verse 45 reads, “And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” When we looked at verse 41, we noted that the glorious holy mountain symbolizes God’s Commandment people. In this verse, we have another symbol, “the seas.” According to Revelation 17:15, seas represent “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Another passage that sheds light on this definition is Isaiah 17:12.

In summary, the seas symbolize the multitude of people or the populated areas of the earth. This symbolism indicates that the King of the North (the Papacy) will seek to counteract the warning message by somehow getting in between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. This indicates that he will try to keep the multitudes from hearing the declarations from the North and the East mentioned in verse 44. These declarations will come from God’s Commandment keeping people.

Therefore, the king of the North will attempt to find a way to interrupt the declarations and prevent others from hearing the truth. As it has been noted, part of this process would be to impose persecution on those who will be unwilling to accept the mark of the beast. Those who reject the mark will not be allowed to buy or sell or be threatened with death. By implementing these restrictive measures, the Papacy will prevent many from joining God’s people for fear of persecution or death. In this sense, in addition to restricting the buying and selling of liberal goods and services, the Papacy will also seek to restrict the preaching and receiving of the gospel, the true worship. It is the preaching and receiving of the gospel that enables sinners to receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

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Satan, while operating through the Papacy, will try to inhibit humanity from receiving the truth—the pure, unadulterated gospel. Through intimidating tactics, he will make one last attempt to inhibit the spreading of the plan of salvation. This final battle will come in the form of a worldwide concerted effort to prevent God’s remnant people from sharing the gospel.

As we have already seen, the Papacy will have the entire world united on its side, seeming to have the upper hand in the battle between good and evil. Nonetheless, with all this power and influence, a change in the circumstances occurs in this darkest moment when it seems like the king of the North, the Papacy, will be victorious after regaining power and influence over the entire world. Verse 45 says that the king of the North (the Papacy) “will come to his end and none shall help him.”

This consequence will be connected to the outpouring of the seven last plagues that will fall on the earth to punish the Papacy and those that have made a union with this apostate power contained in Revelation 15 and 16, which will lead to the destruction of the King of the North.

Daniel 12:1 NKJV reads:

 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.”

The king of the North (the Papacy) and the nations that have made a league with him will ultimately be defeated. God will establish his kingdom, which is founded on righteousness and truth. We do not need to fear the threats of the King of the North and those who choose to join in with him. Daniel describes this time as a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time (the seven last plagues).

However, even though the times will be distressing, the promise is given that God’s people shall be delivered, everyone that should be found written in the book. This promise should bring hope to us all. If we remain faithful and stand for God, we will be delivered, along with the other Saints throughout human history, and together, we will inherit the earth and establish it as God’s everlasting kingdom.

The Mediterranean Sea

We see this prophecy at work today in the Middle East.

Two World Powers are fighting for the Mediterranean Sea. Whoever gains control of the Mediterranean Sea will rule the Middle East. Iran [The King of the South?] now has control of the Red Sea and is presently fighting off the Mediterranean Sea.

Germany has a geostrategic vision. It is very central to their thinking that the Mediterranean must be a top priority, and they must control it.

There is a war between Iran and Germany [the Holy Roman Empire] to control the Mediterranean Sea. This conflict will lead to the Ten Kings of the Holy Roman Empire that will control the Middle East because they will get control of the Mediterranean Sea. Germany is allying itself with what is called the “moderate” Arabs, who give them all help to each other against Iran, which really has control of the Middle East at this time.

One of Iran’s proxies—Yemen’s Houthi terror group announced on May 3, 2024, that they will begin targeting Israel-bound ships in the eastern Mediterranean in what they call their “fourth phase of escalation.” This action is preparation for serious war. Presently, they essentially control the Red Sea. Iran will soon have nuclear weapons.

Twenty-one years ago, the President of the EU, Romano Prodi, said an EU policy for the Mediterranean area was in the making. They have been making plans to gain control of the Mediterranean Sea. Germany wanted the Balkans because it is bordered by the Adriatic Sea which leads into the Mediterranean Sea! This yearning is Germany’s great world vision. [This is going to be the seventh head of the Holy Roman Empire]

Malta is now an EU member, which yields a lot of control over the Mediterranean Sea.

Cyprus will contribute very prominently to the power of Germany taking over the Mediterranean Sea because they control the economy of Cyprus, which is just a relatively short distance from Iran and Jerusalem. This is just another critical strategic interest that Germany has.

Germany and the Holy Roman Empire are regaining control of the Mediterranean Sea they have ruled throughout history, losing it after World War 2.

Die Welt, the German newspaper, reads in its April 14, 2024 edition, “The German navy is already securing commercial shipping as part of an EU mission in the sea area that could soon become a hot battlefield.”

It appears that the prophecy in verse 40, “the time of the end.” is on the horizon. Therefore, as Jesus said in Luke 21:36 NKJV, “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.”

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Deception is all around us. Conspiracy theories have increasingly been on the rise. In this climate of deception, how do we know what to believe? The Bible addresses deception, and this article investigates Biblical Deception.

The Imminent Deception 

Deception is the mixing of truth with error, unlike a lie, which is absent of all truth—all error.

Matthew 24:3-5

3. 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?”

4. And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. NKJV

In this passage we have a warning from Jesus, we have the nucleus of the dilemma. “Many” will fail to “take heed” (discern, examine, perceive) Biblical truths. As a result, they will stumble into deception. Truth protects, and error harms; therefore, the more of God’s Word we know, the more error we can discern.

Gen. 3:1-4

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2. And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;

3. but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'”

4. Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. NKJV

The serpent deceived Eve. She admitted that she was deceived in verse 13, which reads:

“‘And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” NKJV

There was some truth (Gen. 3:7, 22). After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened.

In the text, Satan predicted that something would happen and then tells a lie by stating, “you will surely not die.”

When their eyes were opened, they did not experience a wondrous enlightenment as Satan had implied. Instead, they experienced shame, fear, and guilt (vss. 7, 8, 10). Neither were they elevated to the same status as God.

The Seeds of Deception

Eve was deceived by the serpent. As a result, she and Adam rebelled against God’s Command by eating the forbidden fruit.

King Saul was deceived” by his fear and jealousy, which led him to rebel against God’s instructions and acted in disobedience.

Judas Iscariot was deceived by his greed and betrayal, ultimately leading him to rebel against Jesus and betray Him.

The Israelites in the wilderness were deceived by their doubts and fears despite God’s miracles and deliverance and rebelled against Him multiple times.

There is a trend throughout the Scriptures. Deception, whether through fear, jealousy, greed, or doubt, appears to be a common thread in these instances of rebellion. This highlights the fact that deception often ignites the flames of rebellion. Deception serves as the initial step that leads to rebellion. Deception leads to rebellion.

The Imminent Apostasy

Matthew 24:11-13

11. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

13. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. NKJV

Acts 20:29-31

29. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. NKJV

1 Tim. 4:1

4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, NKJV

2 Peter 2:1-3

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

3. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. NKJV

Jude 3-4

3. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

4. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV

These passages collectively depict the imminent threat of apostasy. They are a series of warnings of the impending apostasy. Again, deception proceeds apostasy. The book of Jude serves as a solemn warning against the dangers of apostasy in the church. Just as it was prevalent in his time, it is prevalent in ours.

We must be vigilant in our faith and firmly rooted in the truth to avoid deception and apostasy. We must as the Scripture reads, “contend earnestly for the faith.”

We must be aware of the falsehoods among us (Matthew 7:15-19). Men are deceptive with their words. We must note what they teach: God’s Word or man’s doctrines. We must test the spirits. [1 John 4:1-3] Otherwise, we cannot earnestly contend for the faith if we do not bring our teachers into subjection.

Jude’s audience was unaware and not on guard of the deception that had crept into the church. Today, we are very unaware. We must confirm the Word for ourselves to discern truth from error. We must be on guard so that we will not be deceived. When we are deceived, we will rebel—knowingly and unknowingly. We are prone to deception and prone to rebellion.

Contending for the Faith

Why must we contend for the faith?

o   The false teachers are ungodly people. They pervert the divine ideal of holiness. I Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 2:9, Lev. 20:26, 1^st Peter 1:14-16, Rev. 21:27

o   They teach that grace allows us to live ungodly—immoral lives. They pervert the doctrine of grace.

Titus 2:11-14—The grace of God teaches us that we are to live godly, sober, and righteous lives because Christ arrived to redeem us from every lawless deed and free us from the power of sin. He came to set the captives free.

o   They deny Jesus Christ—His authority and power.

§  Matthew 28:18, Eph. 1:21-23—Christ has all authority, all power; to deny this is to deny Christ. With all power and authority, Christ came to free us from the shackles of sin. Through His Word, He intended to reveal Himself while equipping us for salvation.

o   They deny the all-sufficiency of all Scripture

§  2 Timothy 3:16-17—To deny all the sufficiency of Scripture is to deny Christ. To say that the Old Testament doesn’t matter is to assume that the New Testament alone will qualify us for every good work. ALL Scripture has been given by God.

We cannot cherry-pick what Scripture should be or should not be applicable. All—all Scripture should be counted as applicable.

2 Peter 1:3—God has given us all things of life, all things pertaining to godliness. His Word is to be heeded from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. Nothing is to be neglected.

John 1:1-4, 14, Rev. 19:12-13—To deny the all-sufficiency of Scripture is to deny Christ.

How do we contend for the faith?

We must use the weapons that are at our disposal. Eph. 6:10-18 reads:

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;

18. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — NKJV

This is what we ought to do. Our ability to stand is contingent upon our being willing to put on “the whole armor of God. “ Because we can’t stand against “the wiles of the devil” on our own.

We must be girded with truth, being honest and truthful in all aspects of life.

The breastplate of righteousness—Put on Christ’s righteousness in faith, live a moral and upright life, and do what is right and just according to God’s will.

The feet shod with the gospel of peace—Be ready to share the everlasting gospel proclamation with others.

The shield of faith—Trust in God, His protection, and His provision.

The helmet of salvation—Stand in the assurance of salvation found in Christ.

The Sword of the Spirit- The Word of God—Use the power of God’s Word to guide our thoughts and actions. 

The great deception, the mother of all deceptions, is coming. The beast of Revelation 13, when he performs deceitful miracles and wonders, is coming. This will lead to the conclusion of Spiritual Warfare and the Great Controversy.

Therefore, every weapon matters—the whole armor. With all prayer, be vigilant and seek God’s guidance and strength. We must use our weapons at our disposal. Put on Christ; stand for Christ!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

We are familiar with the twelve disciples of Christ. His Great Commission to them was to make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). The question becomes, what is a disciple of Christ? This article will supply a complete answer to that question.

What is a Disciple?

A disciple accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. In the case of Christianity, a disciple accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, assists in spreading the gospel and teachings of Jesus, and creates more disciples.

What is a Disciple of Christ?

What distinguishes a disciple of Christ from others? It boils down to who is teaching us, Christ or the world—our culture. What has the most influence on our lives? Many of us presume that we are disciples of Christ. But are we really?

We must be cognizant of the spirit of presumption. Rev 3:15-17 reads:

15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

This passage is regarding the Laodicean church. The church had become lukewarm and, therefore, distasteful and obnoxious. The professing followers didn’t stand for anything; indifference led to idleness. The church had become hardened and self-satisfied by neglecting to do anything for Christ, destroying itself. The church of today is suffering from this condition.

There is nothing more repulsive than a halfhearted, nominal Christian who is self-sufficient.

Many Christians presume that they are disciples, being self-sufficient in the process. Therefore, we must be on guard against presumptuousness.

We are a people who believe that we are clothed, but we are naked (Revelation 3:17).

Because of sin, we have been separated from our Creator. We have a sinful nature and thus a propensity to engage in actions contrary to God (Gal. 5:18?). As a result, we are born on death row. Until we receive Christ, we are on death row.

Because of our sinful nature, we are battling with a false security in ourselves. Therefore, we must examine ourselves and be in a constant state of self-examination and introspection to get to a point of spiritual awareness. Lamentations 3:40 reads, “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.” [cf. 2 Cor. 13:5]

A Radical Imitator of Christ

Matthew 10:34-39—Discipleship is the pursuit of accepting and embracing division. We are not inclined to practice self-denial. However, discipleship calls us to a life of self-denial. Two words for radical are central and extreme. We are to be central and extreme imitators of Christ.

Luke 6:40 reads, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” NKJV  We are to be similar or like Christ. Our sole purpose is to be like our teacher in a radical way. Not scarcely wear Him, but be like Him.

1 John 2:6 reads: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” NKJV—Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did—not wear him but live…be like Him. If we don’t plan to live as Christ, we should not call ourselves Christian. We should strive to live as Jesus lived. This walk, this way of life, is a daily walk.

True worship is not a destination but a lifestyle that hinges upon living like Christ in spirit and truth.

1 John 3:2 reads, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” NKJV—When Christ appears, we will be like Him.

Christ’s call to discipleship has always been radical. He called us to:

o   Repent of our sins [Matthew 4:17]

o   Deny ourselves [Matthew 16:24]

o   Take up our cross [Matthew 16:24]

o   Love our enemies [Matthew 5:44]

o   Pray for those who persecute us [Luke 16:27]

o   To be willing to forsake all family ties and earthly relationships, hating our fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers, even our own lives, eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus was a radical rabbi. [Luke 14:26, John 6:53]

The five fundamental and extreme calls to discipleship that upset the natural order within ourselves and the lives of others around us and turn the whole world upside down are:

o   A relentless commitment to learning—A radical way of learning.

o   A readiness to live in a way that is foreign from the norm—A radical way of living.

o   A stubborn devotion to love God and others—A radical way of loving and serving.

o   A persistent determination to follow instructions obediently even if it means going against one’s desires or interests—A radical way of submitting.

Is Informed by His Word

John 8:31 reads. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” NKJV—If we don’t abide by His Word, we are not considered disciples. We can supplement to the Word of God but never substitute it. It is through the Word that we become acquainted with Christ. If the Word is not a priority in our lives, then Jesus is not a priority. It requires commitment and devotion. We are to live our lives based on the Scriptures—not trusting only but obeying.

Matthew 22:29 quotes Jesus as saying, “…You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” NIV A disciple who isn’t informed by the Word of God isn’t a disciple at all.

Is Empowered by His Spirit

The Spirit first appears in Gen. 1:2: “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.“ NKJV

o   When God creates, He fills. He creates Galaxies and fills them with planets and stars. He fills the earth with fish, vegetation, livestock, and humans—God is a filler.

–          After Genesis 3, the fall of humanity due to disobedience, a filling is still required. It merely looks different. We still need fillers. We are individuals who look to have something fill us up. As new creations in Jesus Christ, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

–          Luke 24:44-49 reads:

44. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48. And ye are witnesses of these things.

49. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

To fulfill the work of Christ, we need to be filled with the Holy Spir

Acts 1:4-8 reads:

4. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5. for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7. And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” NKJV—For the apostles to be empowered, they needed to be filled with the Spirit.

Matthew 28:18-20 contains the great commission. It reads:

18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in *heaven and on earth.

19. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20. teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV

Jesus was filled with the Spirit—When Jesus was born (Matthew 1:18-20), Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

§  Luke 4:1—After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him. It led Him into the desert, where He resisted the enemy’s temptations for 40 days.

§  It is evident from the Scriptures that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.

§  Ephesians 5:15-18—Draws a contrast between being filled with wine and being filled with the Spirit. When influenced by alcohol, one’s behavior changes (walking, talking, and acting).

§  We need to be filled with the Spirit every day. 

Counterfeit Discipleship

–          A counterfeit is an imitation of something, but it is ultimately fake and can be very deceptive. It differs from a lie since it mixes truth with error, whereas a lie lacks all truth.

–          Counterfeiting extends beyond physical objects to the spiritual. It extends and manifests among those who appear to be followers of Christ but lack the true essence of what it means to be a disciple.

–          Counterfeit disciples are good for nothing. They possess no flavor or power and are useless and utterly worthless.

–          True religion is the devotion and worship of God that is first received in the heart through love and then expressed from love through obedience based on the triune nature of God as revealed in Scripture.

–          Religion is not a group. It is a way in which one enacts his faith. It strengthens and structures our relationship with God. It is how we serve, and His will is revealed in Scripture after we come to Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

–          False religion, on the other hand, is a form of system religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices expressed by one’s sinful nature and strong inclination. It is somehow packaged precisely the same but can be corrupted and descend into an empty form of religion. If it is not rooted in love and expressed based on God’s character, it is a false religion. False religion is deployed by the counterfeit disciple that deceives those around him and the individual themselves, believing and falling into the deception that they are authentic in their discipleship. [Matthew 7:21-23, 25:31-46] Judgment falls upon those presumptuous in thinking they are practicing true religion. They are self-proclaimed and self-assured disciples and are ultimately cast away from Christ.

        The Three characteristics of a counterfeit disciple are:

o   Profession—The issue with God is that these characteristics are not religion but the absence of Christ. Engaging in a religious practice without the person you are devoted to or faithful to is empty and worthless. This type of religion God hates because He is not included in it. Therefore, it is an empty and faithless religion. The epicenter of a counterfeit disciple is a false religion. True religion highlights its source and origin of it. Where they spring from is important because the source and origin of these things determine their worth in the sight of God.

Being recognized by Christ as His own is what truly matters. Rather than individuals designating themselves as His disciples, calling themselves Christians, Methodists, or otherwise, Christ’s recognition is supreme. It is not based on external factors such as religious affiliation but on the purity of one’s heart and acceptance to follow Him.

Merely using the title of Lord does not make one a true follower of Christ. [Luke 6:46] The obedience to His teachings grounded in love determines the authenticity of one’s discipleship (Matthew 7:21).

If we rely on our religious affiliation to form the basis and authenticity of our relationship with Christ and not His presence, in that case, we may find that we will be utterly cast out.

The mere sound of religion does not work because it is missing the critical factor of Christ. The sound of religion doesn’t work because it doesn’t sound like Jesus. What is the actual worth if we have a loud profession but no genuine connection and relationship followed by obedience to Jesus?

A counterfeit disciple is an individual who bears the most robust and most convincing profession. Still, at the heart of such a profession lies knowing about Christ but not knowing Him intimately. It’s academic knowledge, but not relational. It isn’t one built upon relational equity. Ultimately, it isn’t about what we say or how we package it that demands Christ’s acceptance. Rather, Him being received into the heart, which transforms our lives and therefore enables us to become faithful followers of Him. This transformation involves one whose profession springs from a genuine relationship that follows His teachings and His Commands.

o   Christian Service—Isaiah 1:11-15—In this passage, God condemns Israel for their empty religious practices because they are not sincere. God hates religious practices and Christian services when He is not a part of them. We often place religious rituals above God’s presence, and therefore, our religion is considered flawed and meaningless. This passage exposes the presumptuousness of hypocrisy of those who claim to follow God but do not have a sincere heart. 

A counterfeit disciple goes through the motions of religion, idolizing passion above presence. A true disciple strives for Christ’s presence, not going through the motions for the fun or the perception of it, but out of the desire to be in Christ’s presence because it is where Christ dwells.

A true disciple strives for Christ’s presence, never seeking to do it for the fun or the perception of it, but they do it out of a desire to be in Christ’s because this is where Christ dwells. Without Christ accompanying us in our service, our religion would be meaningless, and our discipleship would be phony.

Amos 5:21-24—Here again, God condemns Israel for their feast days, sacred assemblies, burnt offerings, peace offerings, and their songs. He considers them detestable and resents them because their hearts are disconnected from the religious rituals. Therefore, they were meaningless in light of the injustice that they practiced.

A counterfeit disciple may participate in religious activities and services as a facade to hide their true motives or gain the approval of others. In verse 24, God calls the Israelites to seek justice and righteousness rather than simply engaging in rituals.

In the same way, a true disciple will seek to live a pleasing life to God by following His Commandments and seeking justice and righteousness. But it isn’t significant if it is not birthed out of love but human esteem.

Over time, many have believed that prophesying and doing good works are enough to prove one’s discipleship. However, this perspective falls short when viewed from God’s viewpoint.

Romans 8:8—It is a fallacy to believe we can do Christian service without God because we have all been born in sin and shapen in iniquity. We are controlled either by the flesh or the Spirit; if our doing is not submitted to the Spirit, it is fleshly. That condition results in our service being carnal and intolerable in God’s eyes.

In service, it is essential to remember that the ultimate aim is to serve Christ. While serving others may seem noble and selfless, our sinful condition prevents us from serving others in a way that pleases God. If a relationship with God does not accompany our actions, the value of our service is worthless and intolerable to God. It is worth considering whether our service is driven by a genuine desire to help others or is simply a means to earn religious merit or social approval.

By prioritizing our relationship with Christ and the religious practices accompanying it, we can ensure that our service is grounded in a more profound sense of purpose and that our efforts are genuinely benefiting those around us. When our service is done with the accompanying presence of Christ, it is no longer a blessing for those we are helping but also a blessing for us.

A counterfeit disciple gets caught up in doing for God and often leaves God out. Discipleship isn’t about doing things for God but doing things with God. If we do Christian service without inviting God, we are merely boasting before the Lord. We boast that we can carry on without Him.

A true disciple exercises discipleship in the pursuit of the dependent. It involves seeking God’s will and guidance in all things. They recognize that they can no longer do anything apart from God and are pleasing to God. A true disciple does not consider themselves independent. A day without prayer is boasting—assuming one can go their own way without God. Humility is required with a willingness to submit to God’s authority in every aspect of life.

o   Outward Appearance—Matthew 23:23-28. In this passage, Jesus rebukes the religious elites of His day for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. They are accused of having an empty religion as they focus more on external things. [expound on dirty cup] True righteousness comes from the heart, not only external appearances (Luke 11:39). Externalism leads to legalism. Jesus urges all to seek Him and allow Him to change our inner selves, cultivating a spirit of service and compassion rather than seeking validation and praise from our appearances. This hypocrisy is idolatry in principle since this position worships at the altar of someone else’s approval of others. 

Jesus is more concerned about the heart because the heart is everything. If He has our hearts, He has everything.

Luke 11:42—the Pharisees were only doing half of their duties. They were performing the half without Him.

The prominent trait of the counterfeit disciple is an individual who claims to follow Christ and profess to follow Christ. However, their actions and behavior do not reflect the true essence of being a disciple. They may participate in Christian service, attend church regularly, and pay tithes, but their motives and intentions are not pure. Therefore, they do not have a genuine relationship with Christ.

They may seem righteous, but their hearts are far from God. They imitate a true disciple but do not hold the qualities that define a true disciple. It is a false religion.

Our prayers should be what it reads in Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a steadfast Spirit within me.”

We must move away from our presumptuousness and our self-righteousness. No matter what the outside appears to be, work on the inside. We must constantly monitor our hearts and ask the Lord to circumcise our hearts.

Satan is the chief counterfeiter and influences fake Christianity.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20. teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV

What gives the Great Commission its potency is what lies at its epicenter: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The central focus of the Great Commission is not Christ only, but His imperative statement to make disciples.

The Great Commission is a cooperative. It is a joint mission, and we, as the church, exist to spread the proclamation of the gospel message and multiply disciples.

The prerequisite to being a disciple of Jesus Christ is to submit and engage in a transfer of authority. We are giving up our independence and giving it to Christ. Discipleship is the pursuit of the dependent.

We need to have a centralized focus on following Christ. A Christless Christian is a worthless Christian. In actuality, a Christless Christian isn’t a Christian at all. Christ is the chief cornerstone on which to build our lives. If the cornerstone is removed, all fail. The relationship is built on trust in His administration over our lives, which involves surrendering control. As a disciple of Jesus, you follow Jesus with a supreme fixation and emphasis on Him alone. Not an organization, not a denomination, not a philosophy.

Luke 14:25-33—There is a cost to be a disciple of Christ. If Christ is not the Lord of all, He’s not the Lord at all.

John 8:31 reads: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

Don’t settle for following God halfway. Continue in His Word and let Christ fire up your faith and get you into the action.

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

June 1^st commenced Gay Pride Month, which is often shortened to Pride Month for the LGBT community. However, is this really something to celebrate? What does the Bible say about pride? This article will explore pride and the Bible, and more specifically, Gay Pride.

Pride and the Bible

The title of this article alone spells trouble. It spells trouble because it contains a foul word—pride. Pride may not be a dirty four-letter word as we commonly know, but it is still a foul word, especially in the eyes of God.

So, for starters, what is pride? Very simply, exaggerated self-esteem and conceit; excessive appreciation of one’s worth or virtue.

Pride is idolatry. When our minds are filled with pride, we focus on ourselves, leaving no room for God. Anything that takes our focus off God is idolatry. A heart that has pride is at enmity with God.

In the King James translation, pride appears 49 times, all negative. There is nothing good about pride. Prov 13:10 NKJV says, “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.” In Mark 7:21, Jesus said that pride is one of the evil things that come from the hearts of men and defile them.

Sometimes, God provides a loophole, allowing us to do what we want and remain in His will. For example, David desired to build God a house, but God said no because he had too much blood on his hands. But God said his son Solomon could build the house. So David was still able to build the house vicariously through his son (1 Chronicles 22:6-8).

One of the ways pride manifests itself is through boasting. The Scriptures speak against boasting. 1 Cor. 1:26-29 NIV reads:

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are,

29. so that no one may boast before him. NIV

It is important to note that God called ordinary people to carry out His work in the Old Testament. Such individuals as Moses (Exod. 3), Deborah (Judg. 4-5), Gideon (Judg. 6-8), and many other people of humble origin confirm that success came through His power, not theirs. The foolish and weak can never say that God chose them because of their talent or intelligence. Instead, God chooses those counted as nothing by the world and turns them into great people for Him. People’s abilities, social standing, or knowledge have nothing to do with God’s choice. Skill and wisdom do not get a person into God’s kingdom — faith in Christ does — so no one can boast that their achievements helped them secure eternal life.

Nevertheless, God makes a way for us to boast. In Jer. 9:23-24 NIV, God speaks through His prophet, saying:

23. This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,

24. but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,”  declares the Lord. NIV

Many must realize that although God is loving and merciful. He is also holy and just.
In this passage, God pointed out to Jeremiah that there are three widely accepted human sources of boastfulness — intelligence, strength, and wealth. Each turns out to be unworthy of our ultimate trust. So, if we must boast, it is God, and God alone, that is worth boasting about and that we know and understand Him. All other boasting is futile.

Gay Pride

So, June is Gay Pride Month, and there will be a lot of celebration and boasting.

Prov 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” It is righteousness, godliness—that makes a nation great. But sin is a disgrace to any people. Nationwide sin denigrates a nation.

But our nation is exalting sin. Now, for sure, sin is sin, but Gay pride—exalts, promotes, and praises homosexuality—a particularly egregious sin. God’s Word in the Old and New Testaments shams homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 declares it as an abomination. It carries a particular stench in the nostrils of God.

Romans 1:22 addresses it as “vile affections,” and 1 Tim. 1:10 describes it as “those that defile themselves with mankind.”

Look at what the Scripture says in 1 Cor. 6:9-10 NKJV

9. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10. nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV

God does not sugarcoat immorality, paper over lies, or fail to punish unrepented sins.

There is no place in God’s kingdom for homosexuals—period—full stop!

And yet, our nation is dedicating a whole month to gay pride. This month, gay pride will be on display in living color, celebrating homosexuality. Gay…pride, that’s a double indictment—homosexuality and pride all wrapped up into one. That’s double jeopardy. Gay pride is a consequential dynamic.

Gay Pride is not new! As the wise and discerning King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9 in part, “…and there is no new thing under the sun.”

The Consequences of Gay Pride

The account of Sodom and Gomorrah is well known, and look at what the Scripture confirms about that situation in Jude 7

7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

This verse will be addressed further a little later.

But for now, this “strange flesh” mentioned refers to homosexuality; that was only half of Sodom and Gomorrha’s problem. The other half is addressed in Ezekiel 16:49-50

49. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

This passage brings out the other half of the cause of Sodom’s demise—pride. Notice that pride—listed at the forefront—took Sodom down. This passage reads like the ingredients of a food label; the ingredients are listed in the order of their dominance of the product’s makeup. The first ingredient is the most prevalent.

Likewise, in this Scriptural list, pride is first and foremost. Pride and going after strange flesh became the two main forces that destroyed Sodom.

Here, in these two passages regarding the case of Sodom, we have gay pride, and we see the result. God, as the Scripture reads, “took them away.”

Pride alone is a consequential dynamic. We don’t have to be homosexual to be affected by pride, and it takes nations down. Notice that the Scripture mentions daughters. These were the cities dependent on Sodom and Samaria, respectively.

There is a dear price for a nation to pay that commits abominations before God.

This gay pride is a continuation of the saga of Satan’s assault on the family. He knows that the family is the foundational unit of society, and if he can tear that down, so goes the nation. This assault began with the women’s Liberation and sexual revolution movements and onto the gay rights movements. They are the offspring of the postmodern movement, which has injected a spirit of subjection into society. As a result, everything has been bought into subjection—including truth. It has brought every established tradition and metanarrative into subjection. It has cast doubt on everything believed as solid foundational truth and every institutional belief, including the church. All of these movements equal one word—rebellion.

This nation is shaking its fists in rebellion against God. Satan is undoubtedly strutting his stuff. Just as the Lord uses earthen vessels to spread the gospel, Satan is using earthen vessels to carry out his rebellion, and he is playing them like a fiddle—especially in Hollywood.

A famous Television celebrity said, “I believe that if Jesus were here, He would attend the gay pride parade.” Considering all things, that is probably accurate. Jesus could attend a gay parade, considering what He said when He was questioned about eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” [Luke 5:31-32] Therefore, while He may attend a gay parade if He were here, it wouldn’t be for the reason that that individual alluded to. He would not have celebrated homosexuality but condemned it with a statement beginning with “it is written,” as He often did so many times.

Another very famous celebrity said, “The god that I serve doesn’t care whether you’re tall, or short, whether you’re born black, or Asian, or gay.”

Amen to that. It must be a blessing for an individual to have their very own god to serve! 

Statements are made by individuals that say: God is a God of love, and they believe that as long as two people of the same sex truly loved each other, it was okay with God for them to get married.

These are lies from the very pit of hell—both of them. God loves the sinner, which is true, but he hates sin. God loves the homosexuals, but He hates homosexuality. Therefore, we should encourage removing it, the repentance of it instead of celebrating it.

It raises the question, what Bible are these individuals reading? Prov 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Homosexuality may seem right to some, but it is still a sin, regardless of how society perceives it, and in the end it will be death. Unrepented sin demands God’s wrath!

We are back to the days when “there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25). When morality is all but thrown to the ground and stomped.

Now, society is one ball of confusion. Households are turned upside down, women have challenged men’s roles, men want to be women, women want to be men—men have husbands, and women have wives. Boys want to be girls, and girls want to be boys, and some don’t know what they are or what they want to be.

The Federal Government has added fuel to the fire. Not to make this political, but I would be amiss not to mention this. Fifteen states are suing the government. In 1972, a civil rights law called Title IX was passed. Its original purpose was to protect females from discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs and provide them equal opportunities.

However, on April 19^th of this year, a change was published by the Department of Education, redefining the meaning of sex to include gender identity. This change gives males identifying as female the right to use female restrooms and locker rooms and join female-only organizations. Under the revised rule, “harassment” can include using biologically… accurate… pronouns.

Schools and colleges that fail to comply stand to lose federal dollars.

This ruling falls under the category of foolishness!

We are living out the Scripture in Rom. 1:22, which says, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

Nowhere is there a more sinister attempt to change thinking than in the matter of the way God created us—male and female.

This article is not politically correct. This political correctness, known as PC, is another tool of Satan and is an existential detriment to society. We must be greatly concerned about what we say, write, or think. We have to be concerned about using the wrong word, a word that may be considered offensive, insensitive, racist, sexist, or homophobic.

It is an insidious, sinister deception aimed to bring about social transformation through dialectical means. It’s an attack on free speech. There are increasing attacks against those who hold views that are not in line with the progressive liberal dogma of today. These views offend the progressives, and they want to stamp out any such speech or information. They seek to tear down and destroy it.

Ironically, freedoms of speech and religion are rapidly being suppressed by intolerance and intimidation by the very ones who protest the most about intolerance.

The PC movement is a tool that involves denigrating authority, destroying the family unit, and controlling speech, behavior, and, ultimately, thought. It is totalitarian in nature and is highly prevalent on college campuses, creating an overly sensitive generation that is offended by practically everything. Yet we wonder why depression and mental illness are so prevalent these days in our young adults. The colossal amount of negative energy is overwhelming the youthful minds of our population.   However, the overall intent is ultimately for the nation as a whole and all of Western civilization.

Political correctness is part of a larger agenda at work today. There is nothing innocuous about it. The forces behind political correctness seek a godless world whose goal is to remove the moral underpinnings of an orderly world based on the Scriptures.

 Satan wants to have his way. One of his most effective deceptions is to lead us to believe that human reasoning without the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is sufficient. He desires to turn upside down all biblical and traditional values and bring about an amoral, anything-goes world. A relentless attack on normality and morality.

I mentioned earlier that we will see gay pride in living color. The parades with the floats and costumes, the parties and speeches of how far the movement has reached. Indeed, there will be plenty of color! Perhaps too much color as the symbol for the LGBT+ community is the rainbow, which is the symbol of God’s covenant to the world after the flood. It was chosen by the LGBT+ community to display diversity and was considered ideal because it is found in nature.

What apostasy—what fragrant rebellion against God!

Now, how long is God going to allow this to go on? Certainly not forever.

It was mentioned earlier that there would be more on Jude 7. For fuller context, we start at verse 5.

5. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

In this passage, Jude states three examples of rebellion: (1^st) the nation of Israel—who, although they were delivered from Egypt by God, refused to trust Him and enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:26-39); (2^nd) the angels—although they were once pure, holy, and living in God’s presence, some gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel against Him (2 Peter 2:4); (3rd) the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—the people were so full of sin that God wiped them off the face of the earth (Gen. 19:1-29).

Now, the question. If God’s chosen people, the apostate angels, and prior sinful cities were punished, how much more will the rebellious nations of today be severely punished? Israel has been severely punished more so because it knew better; it witnessed God’s presence and power and was the force God used to wipe out ungodly nations. God desired Israel and Juda to be a righteous example to a pagan world. Yet, they turned away from Him and persisted in doing evil until they reached the point of no return. Therefore, God allowed them to be taken captive (Jer. 25:10-11).

 Read God’s condemnation adjudication upon Israel in Isa 3:9-10 NIV, “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.”

We are no better…we are parading gay pride. Today’s our nation has all the examples in the Word of God, and we witness God’s creation and goodness daily. Yet, we are promoting pride and sin.

These are serious times. It behooves all of us to observe the signs of the last days because we are a nation primed for a fall.

Now, to be clear, this article is not against homosexuals but against homosexuality—the promotion and embracing of it. God is a God of love, and He loves us all, including homosexuals. As the Scripture says, “God so loved the world.”

But we must understand—He also hates sin. Scripture also says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore, I say this to all of us, including homosexuals. Whatever sin is in our lives, we’d better move away from it because He won’t allow sin to go unpunished forever.

The clock is ticking, and we must be mindful of the Scripture in 2 Peter 3:9,

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV

We have seen what has happened to nations that celebrated gay pride in the past.

When a nation allows this level of cultural rot to exist and celebrates it, how long can it stand?

Our nation needs to follow Jeremiah’s cry of despair where it is written in Lamentations 3:40,

“Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord;” NKJV

Gay pride is a serious offense, and if this nation doesn’t repent and change, it’s going down just as the other gay pride nations have gone. Prov 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So we’d better be prepared because it could happen during our lifetime. It was approximately 359 years from the time Israel was led into idolatry to the time of their captivity. God is patient, but He is faithful to His Word. This nation is 247 years old and counting—the clock is ticking.

Let us not celebrate pride and sin of any kind but let us spread and live The Three Angels Messages.

Understand that God will not hold back the four winds of strife forever (Rev. 7:1).

We must remember the Words of our Lord and Savior in Luke 21:36:

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Amen

 Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

As Christians, we are “strangers and pilgrims” in this world because our true home is with God. Heaven is where God resides, and so will we eventually. The world is not the Christian’s true home; our true home is with Christ. We are here briefly, awaiting the return of Christ when He will take us to our true home in heaven. This article will highlight our authentic citizenship, our citizenship: heaven.

The Problem 

We are living in a very chaotic world. There are wars with Ukraine and Russia, with Israel and Palestine, and Various terrorist groups attacking cargo ships in the Middle East. The whole Middle East is full of tension. Europe is concerned about war being at its threshold thanks to President Putin, gangs are overtaking Hatti, and Russia experienced a terror attack recently.

The moral Fiber of our nations is deteriorating at a rapid rate. The threat of civil war is everywhere. So, when are things going to turn around? When is it going to get better? Probably the most sensible question to ask is if it will get better. Chances are, it won’t. According to biblical prophecy, things will only get worse.

The Solution

 So what are we to do? Is this all we have to look forward to? Things will get worse, but they will also get better. Why? Because we have a promise that they will. But before we go into this promise, let’s look at our present state and obligations according to Scripture.

1 Peter 2:11 reads:

11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

We are passing through this world on the way to our home in heaven’s glory; therefore, we must remain as untouched as conceivable by this world’s ubiquitous sin. Peter explained that the best way to do that is to abstain from sinful desires.

Here’s the issue: because we will not escape our sinful surroundings until Christ returns, and because we still have a sinful nature that wants us to act on its desires, we will not be able to remain completely free of sin and its effects. But we can “abstain”; that is, we can put away our sinful desires by controlling them right from the start. The verb tense means to “continually keep away from.” It takes alertness and self-control to continually abstain from sinful desires.    1 Peter 5:8 reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” [More on the lion]

Why must we abstain? Why does it matter that we keep away from sinful desires? Because, as the Scripture expresses, those desires “war against our souls.” Once we become Christians, a battle has begun, for Satan is the enemy of Christ and His followers. The verb tense means “continually waging war.” Therefore, Christians must “continually abstain” because the evil desires are continually… waging war.

This battle will continue for the duration of our lives on this earth. The word “soul” represents an individual’s inner, spiritual quality. Our desires initiate deep within us (James 1:14); often, our sinful desires never actually become sinful actions.

Some Christians may take honor in their righteous lives yet have hearts filled with all kinds of evil thoughts and desires. Peter acknowledged that while Christians appreciate that Christ must change their lives and actions, they must also transform their inner lives.

While sinful desires may appear much less evil than sinful actions, Scripture clarifies that they can also hurt us as they war against our souls.

My friends, as you know, the Christian life is not easy. Living in this constant battle makes us weary. So what do we do? How do we survive? How do we maintain a positive attitude in light of the circumstances?

We must keep looking ahead.

We must recognize that we have more to look forward to than the world does—we have the promises of God.

The promise to focus on is God’s promise to King David. This promise is at the core of God’s plan for man.

Let’s look at this promise in 2 Samuel 7:1-17 

Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

2. that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

3. Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4. But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

5. “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?

6. For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'”‘

8. Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

9. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

10. Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

11. since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.

Pay close attention to the balance of the passage.

12. “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom FOR-EVER.

14. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

15. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16. And your house and your kingdom shall be established FOR-EVER before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”‘”

17. According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

We see in verse 2 that David desired to build a house for the Lord. But it is written in 1st Chronicles 28:3 that God did not want His temple built by a warrior. However, this does not mean that God rejected David. But to the contrary, God was preparing to do something even grander in David’s life than granting him the status of building the Temple.

David was so blessed! This Passage contains an astounding promise from God to David known as the Davidic Covenant. Not only did he bless David by taking him from herding sheep to ruling His people and overcoming his enemies, but he also promised him a kingdom. A Kingdom that will last—forever.

Here, we see that when we make a request to the Lord, and He says no, fret not because He has something more extraordinary in store. Accepting God’s no requires just as much faith as carrying out his yes.

David’s earthly dynasty ended four centuries later. Yet, Jesus Christ, a direct descendant of David, ultimately fulfilled this promise. Matthew 1:1 reads: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Matthew was writing to the Jews, and he began by revealing that Jesus was a successor of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and a direct descendant of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s line.

Let’s look at one of these Old Testament prophecies found in the prophetic Psalms 89. This Psalm repeats God’s covenant promise to David: It reads in verses 1-4: 

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

What we are observing is God’s building program. God is building his Kingdom here on earth, starting with David’s throne. Those who join this Kingdom today in Spirit and truth will be on the ground floor of the most significant building platform ever imagined!

The throne was passed from David to his son, Solomon, to Jesus Christ. To repeat 2^nd Samuel 17 & verse 13, it says, “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Many believed that when Israel was defeated and carried away by her enemies, that was the end of God’s promise. But the same Psalm 89:29-37 repeats God’s covenant to David; it says: 

29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

36. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

God keeps His promises no matter what—He kept His promise right through to Jesus Christ—even when He was transgressed.

Let’s look at the announcement of Jesus Christ to Mary in Luke 1:30-33: 

30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his Kingdom there shall be no end.

Our True Home

Remember the promise of 2 Samuel 7:16. This promise was fulfilled with the arrival of Jesus, a direct descendant of David. When it mentions “His father David,” it refers to David, his ancestor. Jesus was born in the line of David and thus to be a king to reign over the house of Jacob, which refers to God’s people. This house was initially understood to be the twelve tribes, but later, it was revealed to be much more. His Kingdom will be eternal, a kingdom with no end.

Now, this is our home; this is where our citizenship lies and this Kingdom is what we must strive for—our heavenly Kingdom.

We must keep looking ahead!

The road to heaven is always under construction, full of potholes and detours. But we must endure. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24:12-13 regarding the last days:

12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Sin will be even more ubiquitous, raging everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

False teaching and loose morals bring a specifically destructive spiritual ailment — the loss of true love for God and others. Love grows cold when sin directs our attention to ourselves and our desires.

This is why Peter says: “abstain from fleshly lusts.”

So let us remember that whatever we go through on this earth will be worth the reward we will receive in the end. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”

The troubles in this world are an extremely light load compared to the “eternal weight of glory.” No finite number of years can even compare to the length of infinite time.

In the meantime, here we are as “strangers and pilgrims. Time passes quickly, and we are running a race that the witnesses before us ran. The writer of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 12:1-2

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What really matters — what is eternal and permanent — cannot be seen, touched, or measured. Only with the eyes of faith can we look . . . at what cannot be seen. Only with eyes of faith can we begin to understand, with God’s help, the eternal significance of our actions.

A Christian’s hope is not in this world. A Christian’s hope is not in the power and wealth that can be accumulated on earth. Instead, a Christian’s hope is in Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20

19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Christ will reign for eternity—now in his spiritual Kingdom and later on earth, in the new Jerusalem (Rev 21).

Let’s look at what it says in Rev. 11:15:

 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign FOR EVER AND EVER.

This verse reflects the sounding of the seventh trumpet announcing the arrival of Jesus, the King. At this point, there is no turning back. The impending judgments will be complete in their destruction. God will unleash His full wrath on the evil world that refuses to turn to Him (Revelation 9:20-21). Then His Kingdom will be established, and He will rule For Ever!

[Zechariah 14:8-9]

 Paul described the change that will occur with those who love the Lord. He said in 1 Cor. 15:51-52

51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

Let us not be sorrowful for the loss of our loved ones, especially those who loved the Lord. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

13. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. NKJV

So, my brothers and sisters, we must look ahead and keep our eyes on the prize. We must not allow the weight of the world and our fleshly desires and concerns to weigh us down to dysfunction. I pray that we do not allow our fleshly desires to cause us—to miss out—on our destination, our heavenly home. We must continue to run the race set before us—carrying on the will of God.

So we must remember what the Scripture says in Galatians 6:9

 And let us not be weary in WELL doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Keep…looking… Ahead!

Amen

You are welcome to leave questions, comments, and concerns below.

 Blessings!

Since Israel was declared a state in 1948, it has known nothing but violence and suffering. This nation has made numerous failed attempts at peace that only led to bloodshed. Why is this? Is Israel cursed? What would it take for this nation to achieve peace finally?

A Faith Failure

Faith is the driving engine of Christianity. Faith is what Christianity is all about. Faith is so important that the Scriptures tell us in Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore, a faith failure is a severe offense. It’s a sin.

So, what is a faith failure? A faith failure is when we fail to believe something we haven’t experienced or seen will occur even when God has promised it. As the Scriptures state in Hebrews 11:1 in part, “…the evidence of things not seen.” We haven’t seen God, but we are expected to have faith in Him and His promises.

Now, let’s look at this: some of the greatest miracles in the Scriptures resulted from faith. Likewise, some of the greatest disasters have occurred due to the lack of faith. Regarding the former, a woman was healed because of her faith: if she just touched the hem of the garment of Jesus, she would be healed, and when she did, Jesus turned to her and said, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” AND THE WOMAN WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT HOUR (Matt 9:22-23)!

But addressing the latter, the Israelites were camped in the Desert of Paran, just south of the Promised Land, and on the brink of entering, rebelled and refused to enter in because of their lack of faith in God’s promise. As a result, they had to wander in the desert for forty years. That whole generation died in the desert, except for Kaleb & Joshua, who maintained their faith.

A faith failure is a severe offense. It’s a sin—period—full stop! The larger the promise, the greater the consequence if there is a failure to seek that promise—in faith. Faith failures affect more than the offender. They can affect loved ones, co-workers, and friends. When a nation commits a faith failure, it affects millions of people. Prov 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” It is godliness that makes a nation great, but sin is a degradation to any people.

The examples mentioned were in the past; they’re history. However, this article looks at one occurring today.

Israel’s Dilemma

In 1948, when Israel was declared a state or nation, it was attacked immediately by the Arabs. After winning this war, the Jews recognized it as a miracle. Simply because Israel didn’t have an organized army at that time, and the fighting was done mainly by civilians with guns. A prophecy foretold that they would have a nation, which was miraculously fulfilled. It was the first time Israel was an independent nation in two-thousand years.

Other miracles would follow as problems continued between the Arabs and the Jews. In 1967, as tensions grew, it became apparent that the Arabs would soon attack the Jews as Egyptian troops poured into the Sinai.

However, the Jews decided to strike first. They decided to fly into Egypt and, in just three hours, demolished 300 grounded Egyptian combat jet fighters. They never left the ground.

Consequently, in just six days, the Jews captured East Jerusalem, the Suez Canal, all of the Sinai, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. This victory again was acknowledged as a miracle by God. The Jews had unabated faith.

Afterward, Israel prospered and became complacent with a false sense of security. In the latter part of 1973, the Jewish Israel’s military ignored intelligence reports that the Arabs were again planning to attack [Is this familiar?]. This attack ensued on October 6, on the somber Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Israel won the war in three weeks, with considerable aid from the U.S. Again, Israel had been miraculously saved by God.

However, after this miraculous event, a dramatic event occurred. In 1977, after Menachem Begin was elected prime minister, Jimmy Carter, the U.S. President, convinced him to return the Sinai to Egypt.

Israel gave up the land that God had given them back to the Arabs. This action was the beginning of the Israeli-Arab peace process and the end of MIRACULOUS SUPPORT FROM GOD.

This action was a slap in God’s face. When the Jews returned the Sinai to Egypt, it most likely included Mount Sinai. The very location where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and where God gave birth to the nation of Israel.

The biblical name for the Jews is Judah. However, the modern descendants of the ancient Israelites include many nations, primarily the U.S. (biblical Manasseh) and Britain (biblical Ephraim). To be clear, biblical Judah is only a small part of Israel today. America and the British populaces are also Israel. The prophecies concerning end-time Israel are primarily focused on these three nations. But this morning’s focus is on Israel. (For more information, please see the article “The Rise and Fall of America” on this website.

Britain and the United States were influential in coercing Judah (Israel) to give the Sinai back to Egypt. This action was conducted despite their ancestry, as a part of ancient Israel when God’s law was given on Mount Sinai. The land was theirs also.

A prophecy says that these three nations, Israel, the U.S., and Britain—will be conquered together just before Christ returns. Hosea 5:5 states:

5. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Therefore, Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them. NKJV

Therefore, the Jewish nation had to be established by God for this prophecy to be fulfilled. This caused a miracle by God to be accomplished.

The root of the problem, the reason these nations are in such turmoil today, stems from giving the Sinai back to Egypt. Why would you give back to the enemy what God has given you? This action has caused an injury or wound to be placed upon Israel. Their relationship with God was wounded.

Because of weakness and a lack of faith in God—a faith failure, the Jews created this wound! Because of the land they gave to the Palestinians, their territorial and strategic position was abated. This result only encouraged the Arabs in their relentless hatred for the Jews. Despite the Jews giving the land of Sinai back to Egypt, Egypt has become one of Israel’s most antagonistic neighbors. If peace was indeed the goal, it was an exercise in futility. The Jewish nation was established and maintained by godly miracles. But it still declined to trust God!

In 1993, there was a handshake between the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the lawn of the White House. At that time, Israel surrendered this God-given land in the hope that the Arabs could be negotiated into giving up their desire to annihilate Israel.

Additionally, The Jews have given back many other biblical sites to the Arabs. America and Britain have strongly admonished them to do so. They have given Bethlehem, Jericho, Gaza, and other West Bank areas back to the Palestinians. Even though those areas were won in a war in which the Arabs were trying to obliterate them. This land-for-peace process is unprecedented in history. This process was done at the urging of Britain and the U.S.

Ironically, these developments are titled the peace process when no considerable drop in aggression has occurred. So, where is the Peace? While the Palestinians have continually stated that they desire a peaceful collaboration with Israel publicly, at the same time, they are vowing to their citizens Israel’s destruction—a gross paradox. Hence their chant, “From the river to the sea.” The goal is to Annihilate the Israelites from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The destruction of Israel remains on the Arabs ‘to-do’ list.”

After yielding their God-given land to their enemy in search of peace, Israel finds itself perpetually fighting the same enemy. They were deceived by a peace pact—a piece of paper. They trusted in man instead of God.

The Scriptures clearly warn us against the trusting of man instead of God. Psalm 118:8-10 reads:

8. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

9. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.

10. All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

This should have been Israel’s action plan: to trust the Lord. But instead, they trusted—in a peace pact.

So today, we witness, once again, Israel at war with the Arabs. Again, as Israel ignored intelligence indicating an attack that has led to the loss of life and hostages taken, they find themselves negotiating a cease-fire for the hostage’s return and a solution for peace.

Perhaps, and hopefully, the hostages will be returned to their loved ones. But peace in the Middle East will never happen. Peace for Israel will never happen until it repents and puts its trust in God again. Make no mistake: we are witnessing the evidence of a faith failure.

If only Israel would learn from their history. In Hosea 5:13-15 God speaks through his prophet. It reads:

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

14. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

15. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Obviously, Israel had a wound before. Judah and Israel were spiritually sick because they transgressed against God. This transgression was the wound. As a result, God sent enemies against them. When they realized how sick, distressed, and wounded they were, instead of turning to God in repentance, they turned to the King of Assyria for help. It was an exercise in futility because God was like a lion against them, and he would wait until they sought Him and repented of their sinful affliction. As it turned out, Assyria was the destruction of Israel and the weakening of Judah.

Apparently, the problem was that neither Israel nor Juda realized their situation wasn’t natural but spiritual, and neither was the solution. They needed to repair their relationship with God—not man.

This prophecy is headed for a second fulfillment. But that’s a discussion for another time. But it’s important to understand that Israel may still have not learned the lesson. We may see a repeat of this action. Because the United States and Britain are pressuring Israel for a two-state solution for peace, and they may listen to man again. But as mentioned earlier, peace will never happen until Israel repents and puts their trust in God again.

As the saying goes, history repeats itself, especially if lessons aren’t learned. Israel, in 1993, sought relief from its enemies by getting in bed with them. A place that makes one most vulnerable. They Had access to the Scriptures as we do, but this is what happens when the Word of God isn’t heeded.

Understand that our nation, the U.S., along with Britain, is Israel’s extension. We have our share of repenting to do. Our nation isn’t exactly in God’s favor either. After all, the U.S. and Britain have done and are still doing all they can to push this so-called peace process. But notice the chaos happening in these nations with more to come.

So, if you want to see the evidence of a faith failure, you need to go no further than your television, radio, or just pick up a newspaper.

However, Israel is God’s chosen nation and will prevail; the Lord says through His prophet Zechariah regarding Israel in Zechariah 14:11, “It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.” NIV Ultimately, Jerusalem will be occupied with God’s people and safe at last, never again to be cursed and destroyed. [cf. Jeremiah. 24:5]

But it must learn a hard lesson first. Israel has a history of making bad choices, from the time when it coveted a king to today, as they seek peace on their own.

According to the Palestinian Authority, at the time of this writing, over 15,000 people in Gaza have been killed. In Israel, 1500 were killed—raped and burned alive, with almost 200 hostages taken. This is in addition to the previous wars with the Arabs. All because of a faith failure.

So, Israel will have to repent and seek God. We know what 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

So, in closing, what are we to get from this? What does this have to do with us? What lessons can we glean from this evidence?

For starters, we must take the Word of God very seriously. Remember what 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The point is that the things in Scripture were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. So, let us not make the mistake Israel has made over the ages and is still making. Take heed of the Word of God.

Unfortunately, our nations won’t repent until they are in captivity. Still, God promises mercy and safety to any individual who truly repents.

Look at what Isaiah 9:16 reads: “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

Notice it says, “they that are led of them.” We do not have to continue to follow our leaders when they go against God’s will. We can repent and be saved.

Prov 28:13 says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

In other words, Individuals who conceal their sins won’t prosper, but if they confess and turn from them—repent, they will receive mercy. This thought carries on to the very end.

Rev 3:10, 19 NIV reads:

10. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

19. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Reliance on man will by no means give us security. Repenting our sins will give us security forever. Repenting and obeying God’s Commands will reserve us a place in the New Jerusalem. Therefore, if we need repentance, we’d better get to it.

We must also pray for our nation; for it to repent for its sins for choosing to follow the ways of man instead of seeking God an His will.

Lastly, when trouble arises, when enemies come against us, let us not seek man to solve them but seek our God the Father, and believe His promises. To not do so—is a faith failure.

There’s comfort in the Psalms regarding our enemies.

Psalm 143:7-8 reads:

7. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Psalm 25:2 reads:

O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. NKJV

These Scriptures encourage us and remind us to trust God to guide us and defeat our enemies, preventing us from committing—a faith failure.

Amen

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