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Christendom is a word that is tied to Christianity. But precisely what is Christendom? This article will shed light on the answer.

What is Christendom?

Christendom is the whole organization of Christians. Historically, Christendom pertains to the Christian empires, Christian states, Christian-majority countries, and the countries where Christianity dominates, succeeds, or is culturally or traditionally entwined.

The question becomes, out of Christendom, the body of Christians, how many are indeed Christians? How many are engaged in true Christianity?

True Christianity

What is true Christianity? How do the Scriptures define a Christian? Is there more to it than repeating the sinner’s prayer? Are you a true Christian, and how? Is it because of good works? If that is the case, so are atheists and humanists. The Scriptures in Ephesians 2:8-9 read,

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Therefore, it takes more than good works to be a Christian. However, does that mean that God is against good works? Not according to the next verse, 10, which reads, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Therefore, God expects good works from those who are saved through faith.

Are individuals Christian because of the observance of ritualistic or ceremonial laws, such as vain repetitions of memorized prayers? Galatians 2:16 reads, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Also, Acts 4:10 reads, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

Therefore, the first sign of a true Christian is recognizing Jesus as the savior.

1 John 3:4 reads, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

However, many believe that we no longer have to keep the Law because of the sacrifice of Christ and grace. Some passages of Scripture taken out of context are used to abrogate or nullify the Law. One of these is Galatians 2:16, which again reads, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Was Paul advocating the abolition of the Law because of grace? Not by a long shot as we observe the following verses 17-19

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God.

Being justified means the forgiveness of past sins. Therefore, as a result, a true Christian has faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sin and recognizes the obligation to cease sinning, which entails keeping the Law of God.

Not keeping the Law of God, twisting the Scriptures, and making excuses for not doing so is ludicrous. What is the point in returning to committing the same sins that Christ was crucified to pay the penalty for our sake? A point made clear in verse 18. Also, Hebrews 6:6 Says, “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” The context of this Scripture addresses the result for those who have known the truth and then turned away from it.

Therefore, the second sign of a true Christian is keeping the Law of God.

How many individuals that are professing Christianity genuinely believe the teachings of Christ and walk or live as He lived? Believing in Christ and obeying Him are two different entities.

Many disregard the obedience aspect of Christianity. However, they are wise to pay attention to the Words of Jesus in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Lord means boss or master. Nevertheless, there is a difference between what Jesus commands and what individuals do in reality. This is found in Matt 5:17-18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus went on to illustrate how the Ten Commandments are more obligatory than in the past by giving an example regarding adultery in Matt 5:27-28:

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

James made it clear that when one command is broken, it is the same as breaking them all in James 2:10-11

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

James is clearly addressing the Ten Commandments in their entirety. Christians cannot break one Command without being guilty of breaking them all. One of those Commands pertains to the Sabbath Day, the fourth Commandment to keep it holy.

We must follow Christ’s example when it involves keeping the Sabbath day. Will we walk in the footsteps of Jesus or the footsteps of apostate Christianity and the Roman Emperor Constantine in worshipping the sun?

The New Testament clarifies that Jesus kept the Seventh-day Sabbath as illustrated in many Scriptures. He declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath three times, Mark 2:28, Matthew 12:8, and Luke 6:5. No Scripture indicates Jesus as Lord of Sunday or the first day of the week.

While there are human justifications, reasonings, and twisted Scriptures taken out of context, there are examples of Jesus’ followers after His resurrection. For example, Paul kept the Sabbath with the Gentiles as found in Acts 13:42. There are others (1 Cor. 5:8, Acts 13:44, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2), but the point is the followers of Jesus walked in His footsteps and kept the same laws as He. That is why the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:6, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” NIV

In Rev 12:9, we are told that Satan has deceived the whole world, including the greater part of what is believed to be Christianity and Christendom]. This has been declared in the Scriptures by Jesus Himself, Paul, Peter, John, and Jude. Consequently, we must be careful to walk as Jesus walked.

Therefore, a third sign of a true Christian is that they walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

The next and final sign of a true Christian determines either eternal life or eternal death.

According to 1 John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Even though Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and we are forgiven of them, does that mean we do not have to overcome our sinful nature? Jesus made it clear what we must do to have eternal life. In Matthew 19:17, he told the rich young ruler, “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.“

We must not only acknowledge the Commandments but also keep them to inherit eternal life.

In 1 Cor. 6:9-11, it reads:

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NIV

Here Paul described what the brethren were in the past, but they were washed and sanctified in the name of Jesus. They were Justified, forgiven, and free from their past sins. They had overcome their sinful lifestyle of the past. 2 Cor. 5:17 reads, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This new state of being must be maintained to attain eternal life.

At the end of the Scriptures, God clarifies that unrepented sins will keep individuals out of His kingdom and will reap the second death. This clarification does not apply to occasional sins of weakness that one has sincerely repented. Still, we must overcome our sinful weaknesses with God’s help.

Notice what Revelation 21:7-8 warns.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We must overcome if we are going to be accepted into the Kingdom of God. True Christianity is a lifestyle of overcoming and following the footsteps of Jesus. We must put to death our old carnal selves.

Our old way of life, before we believed in Christ, is to be entirely in the past. We are not to be driven by desire and impulse. Eph 4:22-24 addresses this truth.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. NIV

This principle is what our baptisms represent. Paul explains this in Romans  6:3-4

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This is what we do in reaction to the sacrifice of Jesus. In baptism, we figuratively die, are buried in a watery grave, and arise as a new person. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We are crucified with Christ in baptism; nevertheless, we live. However, as we rise out of the water, we are not as our old selves, but Christ living in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the faith of the Son of God that we live by; Christ living in us makes us true Christians. This transformation is a spiritual rebirth—born again.

Therefore, the last sign of a true Christian is the overcoming of sin.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

For countless Christians, Easter is one of the most revered holidays of the year. For others, it is popular as a time to wear a new outfit or possibly a hat or bonnet. For the children, it can be an exhilarating occasion to seek out vividly colored eggs that have been hidden in the garden or around the house. They are told stories about the Easter Bunny. But, is this what Easter is about? What is Easter about?

Does this have anything to do with Jesus Christ and His resurrection? That question can be answered with an unequivocal no! Nevertheless, most people consider such customs harmless fun for children. But are they? In reality, they are far from harmless because they mask the truth concerning the most critical event in the history of humanity: the life of Christ, His message, crucifixion, and resurrection.

What is Easter About?

Children are told many lies about holidays: Santa Clause, the tooth fairy (not a holiday), etc., and of course, the Easter bunny. These lies are contrary to the Word of God. Eph 4:25 reads, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
These neighbors include our children. Also, Revelation 21:8
states that “…all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Should we set this example and lead our children to this demise? Not to mention the damage we are doing to our own souls. Perhaps these untruths are more severe than we might think. As God says in Hag 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

When considering Easter, perhaps an excellent place to start is with the origin of these untruths beginning with the name of Easter.

Easter is another spelling for the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. The origin of this goddess, as referenced in the New World Encyclopedia, proposes a connection between Eostre and Easter with the ancient goddess Ishtar. Similarly, scholars speculate that Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring whose name later led to the current English name ‘Easter,’ may be ancestrally connected to Ishtar.

It is further believed that the correct spelling of Ishtar is Istra, the Norse goddess of fertility, which was symbolized by a rabbit, thus the connection between Easter and rabbits. Rabbits are well known for their fast breeding capabilities. For many, Easter is recognized with fertility images, for example, the Easter Egg, the Easter Lily, and the Easter Rabbit.

A sufficient amount of historians chart the origin of the Easter egg to the Babylonian fable of a large egg drifting from the sky and landing in the Euphrates River, and the goddess Astarte was hatched. But who was Astarte? According to historians, Astarte is only another name for Ishtar.

In early times, it was believed that the rabbit was a hermaphrodite, which is an animal that could reproduce without losing its virginity. This fallacy led to a connection between the alleged virgin rabbit and the Virgin Mary, characterized by the painter Titian’s Madonna of the Rabbit.

When the goddess-worshipers of the past were exposed to Christianity, it was easy for them to take their old reverence to a goddess and transfer it to Mary, in opposition to Scripture and genuine Christianity. As a result, the various myths increased and triumphed.

Does it Matter to God?

Naturally, there are disparities between these myths in the different world cultures, just as there are concerning worship. But as long as we celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection, does it really matter? It absolutely does!

Through Moses, God made it clear that the Israelites weren’t even to mention other gods.

In Exodus 23:13 it reads:

13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Despite this, Christians all over the world celebrate a holiday named after other gods, namely Easter. There are many who will reason that this reproach applied only to the Jews at that time. However, we must remember through His prophet Malachi; God said in Mal 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…” and Heb 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” So then, why would it be permissible to celebrate or even mention the names of other gods today?

Understand that neither Christ nor the Apostles left us an example of observing such a festival. It is no wonder Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” He is undoubtedly asking the same question today.

One of the things for which Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day was that they discarded God’s Commandments and replaced them with their own traditions. Mark 7:6-8 quotes Jesus as saying:

6 “…Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…” NKJV

One of God’s commandments is that His people are not to borrow pagan ideas and blend them with His observances. We are explicitly told not to think about how to serve other gods (Deuteronomy 12:30–32). However, this is precisely what traditional Christianity does!

Israel was severely punished and taken into exile for idolatrous worship, as was Juda, and we are directly following in their footsteps.

In the days of the prophet Elijah, the major problem entailed combining paganism with worshipping the true God. After Elijah prayed that it would not rain for three-and-a-half years to make the people aware of their sins, Elijah and King Ahab gathered the people to settle the issue. Elijah’s question to the people was most practical: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him”
(1 Kings 18:21).

This central question denotes a combination of the worship of the true God with heathen Baal worship.

The Christian church took many worship forms from pagan ideas and images. For example, celebrating the birth of Christ on the twenty-fifth of December in actuality came from a celebration of the sun god Saturn, the agriculture god. This celebration was known as Saturnalia, which ran from December 17-23 near the winter solstice, comprised of merriment, gift giving, and candles typically of our Christmas holidays. At the time when the Roman Empire supposedly converted to Christianity, Saturnalia became a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus. In addition, greetings of “io Saturnalia!” were replaced with “Merry Christmas.” Christmas has pagan roots. For more information on Christmas, please read the article, Christmas Holidays Pagan on this website.

The pagan roots of Easter are a central problem for professing Christians. What’s more, by combining pagan customs and traditions into the worship of the true God, contrary to His command, the part of Easter that purportedly comes from the Scriptures is dreadfully flawed.

This fact is made clear in the next segment.

When was Jesus Resurrected?

Most believe that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, hence good Friday. However, more biblically knowledgeable individuals understand from Scripture that He was crucified on a Preparation Day leading up to a Sabbath. In Luke 23:52-54, it reads:

52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. NKJV

As most know, the weekly Sabbath commences at sunset on Friday and concludes at sunset on Saturday. Therefore, on the surface, it might appear that Jesus was crucified Friday morning and put in the grave very late Friday afternoon; however, this is not how it happened.

Without question, Jesus was crucified on the Preparation day for a Sabbath; however, which Sabbath? Was it the weekly Sabbath which began Friday evening at sunset and ended Saturday evening at sunset? Or is it possible it was a High Day, an annual Sabbath?

A good place to start would be how long did Jesus lay in the tomb. A more excellent place to start is how long did Jesus say He would be in the tomb? In Matt 12:39-40 Jesus responded to the Scribes and Pharisees asking Him for a sign.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [cf. Matthew 16:21]

Jesus said that the only sign that would be given was the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man for “three days and three nights.“ It is not possible to count three days and three nights from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning.

According to Scripture, Jesus was placed in the tomb right at sunset. However, some count a few minutes before sunset as day one. Friday night would be night one; the daylight segment of Saturday would be the second day, and Saturday night would make the second night. If Jesus had risen on Sunday morning after sunrise, that might be considered day three, but what about the third night? It’s not there! That is being liberal by counting a few minutes of daylight at the beginning and end as two of the three days. Christ was resurrected Saturday after sunset!

In summary, He was crucified on Wednesday and resurrected on Saturday. This summarization is how the three days and three nights are fulfilled that Jesus prophesized.

These facts can be unclear since the way we begin and end days today are different, changed by man, but perhaps the chart below helps.

What is commonly known as the Lord’s Supper, or the Last Supper, was actually the Passover. However, some scholars deny plain scriptures and assert otherwise. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all call Jesus’ final supper with His disciples the Passover.

Here is Luke’s account in Luke 22:7-16

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Further evidence is found in Matthew 26:17–20, where the Passover is mentioned three times in connection to His final meal. Additionally, Mark 14:12–17 mentions the Passover four times. The three (3) synoptic gospels combined (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) refer to the Passover at least twelve (12) times in relation to what is commonly called the Last Supper! There should not be any doubt that the last supper was undeniably the Passover.

Now that it has been established that the Lord’s Supper was the Passover, what is the significance? God counts each day from sunset to sunset (Genesis 1:3–5). Therefore, on the day of His crucifixion, Jesus observed the Passover with the disciples in the evening. Then, He was taken into custody that night and was crucified during the daylight portion of the Passover day. While the Passover is exceedingly special, it is not a Sabbath day.

The Passover

For a bit of history of the Passover, according to Exodus 12:6-11, on the tenth day of the month, the Israelites were to set aside a male lamb or goat and keep it until the fourteenth day and follow the Lord’s instruction.

Again, the Bible counts time from sunset to sunset; the fourteenth day began that year on a Tuesday evening after sunset (actually Wednesday). The firstborn in every household had death pass over them if they were in a house marked by the blood of a sacrificed lamb or goat—this evening became known as the Passover.

In the daylight hours of Nisan 14, the fourteenth day of the month, the children of Israel “plundered” the Egyptians and traveled to the city of Rameses. This location is where the Exodus began after sunset at the beginning of Nisan 15. It took the Israelites seven days to go from Rameses to the other side of the Red Sea, and this period was commemorated as the Days of Unleavened Bread since the Israelites were journeying and did not have time for their bread to rise.

The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread were strongly associated, such that “Passover” is sometimes used to indicate both festivals together. The distinction between the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is unmistakably defined in Leviticus 23:5–7
and Numbers 28:16–18. In both accounts, we learn that Nisan 15, the first day subsequent to the Passover, is a day to assemble and rest from our day-to-day work. It is an annual Sabbath—a High Day—a little-understood fact with considerable significance.

John 19:31 reads:

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

It proves challenging to comprehend the New Testament account without knowing that the Sabbath following Christ’s crucifixion was an annual Sabbath. However, with this knowledge, the picture becomes clear. The day subsequent to the Passover was a high day, an annual Sabbath where work was not to be done.

Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples at the day’s commencement soon after sunset. He was tried and crucified, then was placed in the grave late in the afternoon at the end of the Passover day. When the sunset arrived that evening, the first day of Unleavened Bread, an annual Sabbath day, had begun. These facts are addressed by the Apostle John in John 19:31 above: “…therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

Of course, the Scripture in verse 33 (John 19:33) clarifies that the legs of Jesus were not broken. This fact also fulfills the Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 34:20.

The Scripture confirms that it was not the preparation for a weekly Sabbath. Furthermore, Passover is also the Preparation day for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for a high day Sabbath—an annual Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath! Therefore, the day on

Two Sabbaths

What is commonly overlooked is that the Scriptures record two Sabbaths involving the time Jesus was in the tomb! Scripture indicates that the women rested on the Sabbath and then bought spices. Mark 16:1 reads:

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. KJV

Notice that this took place after a Sabbath!

However, Luke 23:54-56 reads:

54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. NKJV

It is important to note that Mark states that they did not purchase the spices until after the   Sabbath. However, Luke states that they prepared them and rested on the Sabbath. Therefore, these passages indicate that these women rested on the High day (the annual Sabbath), bought and prepared the spices the next day, and rested on the weekly Sabbath.

Since the Scriptures never contradict themselves, there obviously were two Sabbaths with an ordinary day in between. It is the only way to harmonize these two passages of Scripture.

Sunday Morning?

So what happened on Sunday? Why is it commonly believed that Jesus was resurrected Sunday morning? It is universally from tradition. However, we must remember that Scripture must take priority over tradition. Therefore, a thorough reading discloses that the women arrived at the tomb around dawn on the first day of the week.

Dawn on the first day of the week is when most people erroneously think resurrection occurred. However, observe what it states (even more significantly, what it does not state) in Luke 24:1–6. Notice that it does not read that He rose that morning; it merely states that He was not there when they arrived—already resurrected! Christ was resurrected Saturday after sunset!

However, some will question, “Doesn’t the Bible say that Jesus rose on Sunday morning?” The answer is not really. Notice this in Mark 16:9, “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” 

On the surface, this appears with certainty that Jesus rose Sunday morning. However, this contradicts the other evidence we have seen that contradicts this observation. However, remember, the Bible never contradicts itself. So, which is correct? John tells us: “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Therefore, we must look at this verse more closely.

First, we must understand that the New Testament Greek texts did not have any punctuation as we know it today. All the letters were written in all capital letters. Texts were later written in small cursive letters. All of the words were run together with no space between them. For example, Mark 16:9 would like the example below, except instead of English letters, they were Greek letters:

Thankfully, translators and publishers made Bible reading more manageable by adding capitalization and punctuation. While this has been a blessed work, we must realize that, unfortunately, their partialities have crept into our translations, and this verse is a prime example.

The verse Mark 16:9 can be punctuated in at least two different ways. The New King James Version and many other modern translations have punctuated it according to traditional beliefs, focusing on Jesus rising early on the first day of the week. It is an apparent mistranslation. There would be a significant discrepancy regarding when the women bought and prepared the spices, and the whole course of actions as specified in the Bible would be erroneous.

Although the Bible was inspired by God and without errors in its original writings, no translation is without errors. Many of these variations do not introduce significant misunderstandings, but King James, as well as the NKJV, and other modern translations of Mark 16:9, does. It is only a matter of punctuation that makes the difference.

If we change the punctuation, it would be in harmony with the rest of Scripture; it would read this way: “Now, when He rose, early on the first day of the week He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.”

As opposed to “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” NKJV   Notice the change in the comas. By repositioning the commas, we see that the emphasis is not on when He rose but on when He first appeared to Mary Magdalene.

The only way to know how it should be punctuated is to read it in both its immediate context and the context of Scripture overall. Given the proper order of events as shown above, It is clear now that the emphasis in this verse is not
on when Jesus rose but on when He appeared to Mary. Punctuating it this way is legitimate and is the only way to synchronize this verse with the rest of Scripture.

So, we celebrate a holiday with pagan roots, contrary to God’s Word and based on a doctrine that is dreadfully flawed scripturally. How do you suppose God sees this? Through His prophet, Hosea, He said in Hos. 4:6:

6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “ Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” NIV

Therefore, let us seek and hold on to the truth; Ignorance is no excuse!

Conclusion

For us to counter the sign Jesus gave (Matt 3:20) is to deny Jesus as our Savior. Hoards of heartfelt individuals have done so without recognizing that they have been misled by traditions passed from generation to generation and propagated in mainstream Christian churches.

We must follow what Paul commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test all things; hold fast what is good,” instead of going along with quaint sentimental customs involving rabbits, eggs, lilies, and pagan deities and days.

Some will say that it is the thought that counts. Since we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, it is okay. But notice what Jesus said regarding worship in John 4:23: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.“

To worship the Lord sincerely is essential, but we must also worship Him truthfully, “in truth!”

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be addressed below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

Jesus was an excellent teacher. Actually, He was far more than a teacher. Nevertheless, He was the most awesome teacher the world has ever encountered. His earthly ministry was a teaching ministry from beginning to end. One of the tools He used most effectively was the parable. There are over 30 Parables in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This article focuses on one such parable, the parable of the sower. In this article, you will find the parable of the sower explained.

What is a Parable?

A parable is a short allegorical (symbolic) story intended to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

Why did Jesus use Parables?

When the disciples asked Jesus why He used parables, He said in Matthew 13:11, 13, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Jesus revealed that understanding the truth of the gospel came as a gift of God to those He had chosen. The “you” to whom Jesus referred was the group of his true and faithful followers, including the twelve disciples and others who believed in him. God had gifted them a special gift. The fact that this knowledge was given discloses that both grace and judgment are God’s choices. God gave this knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to these disciples as a permanent possession, a distinguishing mark of discipleship. They understood, though only in part, the “secrets” that God’s kingdom had arrived among them in the person of Jesus. Those who have not been given this knowledge where the Scripture reads “not to them” include those who willfully rejected the gospel message.

When speaking in parables, Jesus was not hiding the truth from sincere seekers because those receptive to spiritual truth understood the illustrations. To others, they were only stories without meaning. This circumstance allowed Jesus to give spiritual food to those who hungered for it while preventing his enemies from trapping him sooner than they might otherwise have done.

Therefore, When Jesus spoke in parables, He was not concealing the truth from genuine inquirers because those searching for spiritual truth understood the illustrations. To others, not so much.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

This parable, the parable of the sower, is contained in three of the gospels. However, we only need to look at one. Luke 8:5-8

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In verse 5, we see that a sower went out to sow his seed. This sower, in this instance, represents God, and the seed represents the Word of God (the gospel). The farmer sows the seed on all kinds of soil, apparently randomly. After all, no sensible farmer would sow seed in thorns or on a path. So what’s the story? Is it that he is simply careless, wasteful, or perhaps unskilled? Hardly, the farmer is fully aware that some of the soil is unproductive; however, he willingly scatters the seed on it anyway. God is like this farmer, allowing his words and love to fall on many who will not welcome them. And yet he is still willing to pour out his mercies upon them. Romans 2:4 tells us that God’s goodness is to lead us to repentance.

God knows the high potential of this seed. Sometimes we Christians tend to pull back from those who are uninterested or different, but God does not. Therefore, we must seek to replicate His generous love for the seemingly resistant.

Notice that as He sows, some immediately “fell” by the wayside. In verses 11 & 12, Jesus explains:

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Now, they hear the Word, and immediately before it can take root, the devil comes and takes it away, preventing the seed from germinating and growing. Some individuals will sit in the church and hear the Word, and as soon as they walk out the church doors, it is gone. If they are asked what the message was about, they cannot say.

Additionally, Satan is a master at distraction, and the media is one of his most potent tools. Television, movies, sports, sports heroes, and superheroes are all part of his arsenal. He is truly “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Satan will use anything he can to take the Word out of the hearts of those who, as Jesus said, “should believe and be saved.”

Verse 6 shows that some seed fell “upon a rock.” Jesus explains in verse 13.

13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

The stony soil is deceptive because it has some soil. It represents the superficial hearer who appears interested but soon fades away. Those on the rock are the ones that receive the Word with enthusiasm when they hear it initially. Something in the gospel message hits a central part of their being, and they joyfully accept what it offers. However, Jesus said they “have no root.”

A seed needs soil to root and grow; without a root, there is no growth. Likewise, Christians need soil to root. For a Christian, the soil is the Word of God. Christians must be “rooted and grounded” in the Word. The Word provides the soil and the fertilizer by which we grow. We are required to grow (2 Peter 1:5-10); however, without a root, the Word, there is no growth for a Christian, and they will lose interest as fast and as enthusiastically as they gained it. This type of individual will return to the world as soon as trials and temptations arrive.

Now, these are the ones who will say—I don’t have time to read the Bible; I believe, but the Bible is old-fashioned; I try to read it, but I fall asleep, or I try, but I don’t understand it, and a host of other excuses.

Without the Word, Jesus said they, “which for a while believe.” In other words, they are not in it for the long haul; they are not ready to be a disciple in the time of testing when their believing leads to persecution. They fail to count the cost, to consider the obligation, the self-denial, the sacrifice, the study, the learning, the hours, and the effort required. They do not apply themselves to learn Christ; therefore, they do not become rooted and grounded in the Word. They are only superficial believers.

These individuals believe for a while, but as Jesus explained, they have no root, and when trials and temptations come, they fall away.

In verse 7, we see that some seed fell on thorns. Jesus explains in verse 14.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

These are individuals who hear and accept the Word allowing it to take root in their hearts. However, as time goes on, something happens — thorns grow up and choke out the growing seed. Thorns deprive newly sprouting seeds of nourishment, moisture, daylight, and area to grow. Jesus described such people as being choked by life’s “cares, riches, and pleasures.”

This statement of Jesus describes a worldly individual who cannot shake the world. These individuals are too preoccupied with the world to focus on spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). As a result, their spiritual growth and life are choked and terminated. If we don’t feed our souls with the Word of God, they will be starved and will not grow.

They live double lives, attempting to live for Christ yet still living out in the world. They keep growing amid the thorns, giving their minds and attention to the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world.

They are in a word: carnal—carnal minded The Scriptures state the status of the carnal-minded without any ambiguity.

Rom 8:6-8 reads:

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

For more on carnality, please see the article The Dangers of Carnality on this website.

The thorns of life: worldly cares (no matter how important or how minor), the false sense of security brought on (or merely promised) by riches, and the desire for pleasure and material possessions (including anything that serves to distract a person), choke out the Spirit of a new believer or even a matured believer. We never outrun the threat of being overcome by our circumstances. This reality is why Scripture warns in 1 Cor. 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” NIV

This threat is why growth is so crucial. A plant must either grow or die. We cannot be stagnant. In the Christian walk, we are either moving forward or falling backward. Stagnation is deadly to the spirit! Stagnation leads to damnation.

This condition plagued first-century disciples as they do believers today (e.g., Luke 10:41; 12:15, 19; 14:26; 16:19; 21:34). These diversions and conflicts rob new Christians of growth because they do not spend adequate time in God’s Word or with God’s people. Although the seed may have grown somewhat, it does not mature. Daily routines overcrowd, and materialistic quests sidetrack believers, choking out the Word of God so that it yields nothing.

Jesus said they “bring no fruit to perfection.” They bear fruit. Fruit does appear but never ripens; it can never be harvested because the thorns choke the life out of it. It never lives to be used.

In verse 8, we see that some seed fell on “good ground.” Jesus explains in verse 15

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

So we see that good ground can be found. This conclusion is what makes the sowing worthwhile. The good ground represents the hearts open to the gospel message wherever the seed of God’s Word is sown. Those with hearts like “good soil” hear the word, retain it, and by persevering, produce a crop. These individuals have truly believed and are eager to let Jesus make a difference in their lives. Because of this, they also, as Jesus said, “bring forth fruit” because they are willing to share what Jesus has done for them.

Because they have an honest and good heart, when they hear the Word, they keep it. That means they do not permit the devil to snatch it, neither the trials and temptations of life singe it, nor the cares or riches or pleasures of this life stifle it. Jesus said they “bring forth fruit with patience.”
That means they tolerate and study—learn, grow, and serve more and more. They constantly water and pluck the weeds and thorns and continue to do so until the fruit is fully developed and plucked so that it can be taken home to the Master of the house.

Conclusion

Now there are two things to note about the sower.

First, although we have seen four different results of his sowing, he never changed seeds. He always sowed the same seed. What made the difference was the ground upon which it landed. The seed’s success depends on one thing and one thing alone; the condition of the soil (the heart) to receive the seed (the Word). If the ground (the heart) is soft and rich, full of the right minerals (spiritual qualities), and cleared of all junk and brush, plowed and turned over, then it is ready to receive the seed.

Second, he never stopped sowing—no matter what ground it landed on, he kept sowing. The Lord never stops sewing. Look at what Jesus is quoted as saying in Rev 3:20-21

21 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

We are rewarded if we allow the seed of the sower to grow in our hearts. No matter where the seed lands, the wind can blow it onto the “good ground”. We must allow the wind of the Holy Spirit to lead us in being and remaining the good seed that “brings forth fruit with patience.”

The question we all must ask ourselves is—which seed are we? Are we the seed that fell by the wayside, the seed that fell on the rocky soil, the seed that fell among thorns, or the seed that fell on good ground and bringing forth fruit? Are we continuing to sow seed as the sower?

Which seed are we?

Any questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Despite all the denials, all signals point to America on the decline. What is the root and reason for this decline? What can Americans do to check it? This article will shed light on the answers to these questions.

The Importance of Family

America and Britain rose to be superpowers, and the family was the fundamental block of their strength. Family is the concrete base on which a country’s superpower strength is built. However, the family in America as a priority is waning drastically.

The family is the foundation of society. It provides the building blocks of society and plays a crucial role in social development. It is the principal responsibility for the education and socialization of children, in addition to inspiring the values of citizenship and fitting into society.

Therefore, strong families are crucial for developing and preserving strong, quality societies.

How does this compare to the attitude of indifference toward the family today in America? We have become self-indulgent and narcissistic to the point that the family has been pushed to the wayside in place of self-interest and convenience.

This wave of self-indulgence has manifested itself in several ways in America’s culture and is leading to America’s decline.

The Attack on Marriage

The attack on the family began in the 1960s with the women’s liberation and sexual revolution movements. While the women’s liberation movement began with good intentions, Satan turned it into a weapon against the family by causing colossal division within marital relationships.

Over time, these divisions have eroded the value and respect for marriage and family, and a new morality has emerged. Today, divorces are astoundingly easy to obtain. According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40-50% of first unions of marriages terminate in divorce. The divorce rate for second marriages is yet higher, with roughly 60-67% of second marriages terminating in divorce.

Marriage and family were the priority at one time based on biblical principles. However, the Bible has become part of the cancel culture of today’s society in America. Marriage is no longer favored; many avoid entering marriages and having families because it infringes on their freedom. For more information on the Bible and cancel culture, please see the article The Bible and Cancel Culture on this website.

The thirst for freedom and the canceling of the Bible has led to a turning away from God and to the reliance on man—namely, the government. The government is now leading the way in contempt of God’s institution of marriage by passing the so-called Respect for Marriage Act. The law requires the federal government to fully recognize same-sex unions. Further, it repeals and replaces provisions that define, for the purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and a spouse as a person of the opposite sex. This law enables the government to engage in legal action against any individual who objects to this marriage perversion. This bill is more of a disrespect for marriage than anything else.

God has a strong position concerning marriage. He authored it and married the first man and woman. Gen 2:24 reads, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” NIV However, this law is a flagrant rejection of traditional and biblical morality. The government has presumptuously redefined marriage to appease an amoral public. A September 2022 Grinnell College National Poll found that 74 percent of Americans believe same-sex “marriage” should be a right.

Even more audacious is that the Episcopal Church and over forty other faith organizations supported this anti-God bill. A bill that treads on religious freedom and promotes homosexuality, a sin God called “an abomination” (Lev. 18:22), an abhorrence. Homosexuality is a sin that is a stench in God’s nostrils. Imagine the church partaking in ruining the sanctity of marriage and a direct disregard for God’s Word.

God gave humans the ability to reproduce so that every child has a father
and a mother. Both responsibilities are vital, and they are different. The two-parent household, children growing up in a home with their own two biological parents, who are married—has been the way to raise children since the beginning.

However, in the post-modern thinking of today, this truth is not accepted. This thinking insists that divorce does not affect children or that having two mothers or two fathers is perfectly normal. The transgender movement talks about “pregnant people” instead of mothers because the thinking is women who think they are men are men! Some birth certificates now read “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” rather than father and mother! This thinking is irrefutable nonsense!

Single parenthood is an accepted way of life today, but it is not what God intended.

According to Pew Research Center, four in ten children are born out of wedlock in post-modern America. Today about half of all nonmarital births are to a cohabiting couple; 15 years ago, only about a third were. This trend is heading in the wrong direction. Additionally, cohabiters are unsure about marriage, with just under half (44%) saying they want to marry; a nearly equal portion (41%) say they are unsure.

Society has moved so far from God’s will that it is no wonder that the nations, America in particular, are experiencing its decline.

Anti-Life

Another way the attack on the family has manifested itself is through the pro-choice movement. Women demand the right to legally terminate human life other than to save the mother’s life. How humane is this? To terminate—sacrifice life for convenience?

What does God think about the sacrificing of children? Lev 18:21 quotes God as saying, “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. “ NIV  But does that matter? After the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, numerous states passed laws assuring legal abortions. Citizens in Montana even rejected a bill that, in the words of the state representative who introduced it, was intended “to protect infants who have survived abortions from being denied medical care and being left to die.” Another editor wrote, “Montana has voted to let babies die on operating tables if they survive an abortion attempt.” This is infanticide!

In some states, a woman who kills a dog faces fines and imprisonment. However, it is perfectly legal to terminate a human life! Is the life of a dog more valuable than a human life? Why do we have such a disregard, an indifference for life?

Rome in America

True is the saying; history repeats itself, and America is making it more truthful than ever before.
The Roman Empire was a superpower, just as America is one. It was affluent and had the most powerful military on earth—impenetrable. However, it did fall, and the actions that led to its demise are the same ones in action in America today.

A famous Roman philosopher named Seneca predicted that Rome would fall, but he was ignored. He even told them why. He stated that the family breakdown would destroy Rome. Still, it fell on deaf ears.

Like the United States, Rome’s development was based on strong, stable families in which the father was accepted as the chief authority in the home.

The father was the core of the early Roman family. He directed his sons and daughters and was an example of the qualities they were to cultivate. The man was the head of the home.

Children who grow up in strong, solid families learn to respect authority and obedience, which generates law-abiding, valuable citizens and cultivates leadership qualities in the future generation. It further teaches children to exercise authority with wisdom, moderation, and justice—how to command and also how to obey.

What a difference it makes in the life of a youth to have a father who is involved and provides a solid personal example of uprightness! Children growing up in a home with a man who exemplifies manliness, valor, and courage is far likelier to take on these qualities themselves.

This etiquette was the way of life for the Roman family. Although Rome never had a biblical family model nearly as strong as early America’s biblical family model, the family was the independent unit that sustained society. The republic grew in power when fathers fed and educated their children.

Unfortunately, the Romans, like Americans today, embarked on a turn to a different morality that did not value marriage and the family. This turn triggered them to neglect and disrespect the institution that had undergirded the Republic at its peak in the second century B.C.

This change occurred after winning the long, 17-year war with Carthage. This major victory yielded Rome’s control over the western Mediterranean. However, it came with a cost. Will Durant, the historian, wrote about the enduring consequences of that conquest. He wrote: “It began the transformation of Roman life and morals by hurting agriculture and helping trade; by taking men from the countryside and teaching them the violence of battle and the promiscuity of the camp. … It was a pivotal event for almost every phase of Roman history.” This breakdown of the family continued tenaciously after the Republic was transformed into an Empire.

Divorce became progressively more common. E.B. Castle, the well- known author, wrote how the rapidly increasing trade, wealth, and prosperity took husbands away from their homes on business trips for long extended periods of time. He wrote, “Added to this initial cause of family disruption, was the consequent easy attitude to the marriage tie, the increasing frequency of divorce, and growing freedom and laxity in women’s morals, all of which ended in a loosening of the old family unit in which the best in Roman character had its roots.”

History clearly indicates that this was the initial reason for the end of the Republic and the later fall of the mighty Roman Empire.

As marriages fell out of favor in Rome, prostitution and homosexuality became more widely accepted and practiced. Affluence and materialism made individuals scarcely interested in the thought of having children. Starting initially with the educated classes, who saw children as a burden, increasing numbers of individuals could not be concerned with family life. Motherhood became less desirable, and women wanted independence.

There were attempts to stem the drift. Caesar Augustus approved laws supporting marriage and reproving celibacy and adultery. In a.d. 9, he inquired, “How can the commonwealth be preserved if we neither marry nor produce children?” It is hard to argue his point; it isn’t rocket science. However, the citizens were too attached to their self-indulgent standard of living to desire children to get in their way. Thus, Tacitus, the Roman historian, wrote in his Archives, “Childlessness prevailed.”

The fact of the matter is throughout the history of humanity, waning fertility has been a clear indicator of cultural collapse. When citizens lack purpose in life, they have little to no incentive to perpetuate it by generating more life.

Rome also became well known for how cheaply it valued the life of its offspring. It developed into a civilization roughed by violence, widely practiced abortion, and even infanticide.

The families in Rome that did have children stopped nurturing them. In the book Daily Life in Ancient Rome, Jérôme Carcopino wrote that by the beginning of the second-century a.d., Roman fathers had “yielded to the impulse to become far too complaisant. Having given up the habit of controlling their children, they let the children govern them, and took pleasure in bleeding themselves white [financially] to gratify the expensive whims of their offspring. The result was that they were succeeded by a generation of idlers and wastrels.”
Therefore, it is no wonder that the Roman Empire peaked in power and might in the second century a.d.

This result is the consequence of not following God’s rules on raising children. Scripture says in Prov. 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” We are to train our children the right way for their sake and the sake of the nation. The children are not to rule the parents nor the wives to rule the husbands.

As this segment on Rome closes, does this sound like America today? It is a rare commodity for the man to be the real head of the household today. We live in a society that continuously weakens the role of the father. Children today, especially teenagers, as well as wives, are ruling the home. Our society has become so materialized that the mother has removed herself from the home and the children to help the father earn a living. This action has caused much confusion in the home and led to a lack of direction for children.

This sad picture is so much against the will of God. The postmodern thinking of today regarding the family is completely out of divine order.

In Isaiah 3, the prophet Isaiah warned Israel of the impending judgment upon them for their apostasy. He also described how this would come to pass:

Isa 3:1-5, 12 reads:

1 See now, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,

2 the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder,

3 the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

4 I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them.

5 People will oppress each other —  man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable.  

12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. NIV

If we take a good look around, we will notice that, without any doubt, children and teenagers rule over adults and dominate society and culture. Children can now choose their own gender identity without their parent’s knowledge or permission, and in some states, teachers are legally forbidden to inform the parents!

This prophecy reveals a sobering lesson of history: This prophecy was originally for Israel. However, as mentioned in the article Biblical Prophecy and Current Events on this website, prophecies can have more than one fulfillment because they contain a universal principle. This prophecy is no exception, for it contains the principle that a nation’s success or failure centers on the strength or weakness of its families.

This truth is what God is telling us in Isaiah 3, and that is what ancient Rome also teaches us. Therefore, the breakdown of the family will be a significant issue in America and Britain before Christ returns. After all, America and Britain are extended birthright nations of Israel. This blessing is explained in the article The Rise and Fall of America on this website.

In Isaiah’s prophecy, the family is so dysfunctional, and the father is so feeble that he isn’t even mentioned.
In this prophecy, the women rule, even though the children dominate them. Actually, the children were leading, as they were in ancient Rome before its gruesome fall.

Rome’s history confirms what the Bible teaches about marriage and family!

If we continue to disregard this history, we do so at our own risk.

Conclusion

Any nation or kingdom that separates from the principles of Scripture will face sheer devastation.

France is another example. The French Revolution consummated combat against the Bible and God for Three and a half years. Although the supposed ideology of the revolution was liberty, equality, and fraternity, the result was total repression to terror and ruin.

The Ancient Roman Empire was a superpower, and as it goes with superpowers, it crumbled from within rather than without—from the outside (i.e., war). The U.S. is also a superpower, and it is crumbling from within as it falls into apostasy because of our stubborn hubris.

What happens in the natural first occurs in the spiritual. The United States of America is spiritually in disfavor with God because it is so drastically turning from God, and the consequences are becoming more apparent.

The answer, the country needs to repent. 2 Chron. 7:14 quotes God as saying: “if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. NIV

We as a nation and as individuals have an open invitation to turn from wicked ways and back to God—for now. But we can wait too late, which is why we are encouraged in Isa 55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” NIV

What a blessing it would be if we had a true Christian leader leading the nation to repentance.

We must seek the Lord while we can, for it will soon be too late. May we not allow history to repeat itself.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Approximately 27 percent of the Bible is prophecy, which is more than one-quarter of its content. As a minimum, one-half of all biblical prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as God had affirmed. So, what about biblical prophecy and current events?

Fulfilled prophecy proves the authenticity of the Scriptures. Anyone who pays attention to the Scriptures and events in our society today can observe prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes.

When Nations Forget God

The Western culture is changing drastically and with haste. Shared faith in the God of the Bible is declining, as revealed in several studies.

For example, Don Federer, a freelance writer and media consultant, in a March 29, 2022, Washington Times opinion piece wrote, “the study by the Prestigious American Enterprise Institute Titled, Generation Z and the Future of  Faith in America realized on March 24 shows a steady erosion of religious affiliation and the corresponding rise of atheism and agnosticism.”

Some may have reservations as to whether this trend is harmful to our modern nations, but what Mr. Federer warned is that this just-published survey of the decline of religion in America should cause warning bells to go off in our souls.

This survey should cause alarm because this is a progressive trend in the US and the West. To illustrate, Generation X, born between the 1960s and the late 1970s, 25% reported that they were not affiliated with a church, synagogue, or any religious domination. Of the millennials represented by those born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s, 29% reported that they were not affiliated with a church, synagogue, or any religious affiliation. Generation Z represents those born between 1997 to 2012 and is the least religious in our history, with 34% reporting that they aren’t affiliated with a church, synagogue, or any religious affiliation. That is nine percent higher than Generation X and five percent higher than millennials.

There is no current reason to deem that this trend will not continue. The moral fiber based in our churches has become progressively more silenced. Unfortunately, not only are religious connections waning but atheism and agnosticism are increasing. Generation Z takes the lead again with the highest percentage of 18%, the highest in our history.

There is no doubt that the nation is forgetting God. This trend sadly is the current trend with reaches from the government to our schools to Hollywood; religion is taking a back seat. This situation is not limited to the United States but is a worldwide trend, including Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Consequences

So does it really matter if a nation turns away from God? Indeed, it does matter. On the secular level, when a nation turns away from God, there is an all-encompassing awareness of aloneness and lack of community that sweeps through society. Social media puts this isolation on steroids. This isolation increases, and society becomes increasingly narcissistic. It is all about self, to the point that marriage, children, and family become words of disdain, and morality takes a back seat.

These same issues plagued the society of the ancient Roman Empire, and we know what happened to that superpower.

What Does the Bible Say?

This condition is addressed in the Scriptures. Eccl 3:11 reads: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” NIV

God has “set eternity in the hearts of men.” What this means is that we can in no way be wholly fulfilled with earthly pleasures and quests. Because we are created in the image of God, we have a spiritual thirst and eternal value, and nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. God has built in us a restless yearning for the type of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule. Therefore, in our limited wisdom, we turn from God and attempt to fill this void on our own. We also turn to the government as the master deliverer of our concerns.

However, we ourselves can only fill the void with earthly, temporal things that yield only limited satisfaction and even more consequences. 2 Cor. 4:18 advises, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Oh, how we lust after the temporal things!

When we turn from God, we shut off the eternal flow and leave ourselves only with the temporal. Nothing in this life lasts forever.

God, in His Word, has clearly defined what happens when a nation forgets God. In the US, we are witnessing some of these consequences presently.

The situation intensifies when all we seek has been fulfilled, and we forget about God. Deut. 8:10-14, 17-20 says:

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, laws, and decrees that I am giving you this day.

12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,

13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,

14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

God warned His nation Israel that when He blessed them that they should not forget from where their blessings came, namely from Him. They should not be filled with pride as though they had done it on their own.

He also told them unambiguously what the consequences would be for such actions; they would be destroyed.

Lev 26:19-22 contains some of the details of this destruction.

19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.

20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.

21 “‘If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. NIV

There are other consequences contained in the chapter. Natural disasters such as severe and exceptional droughts would be the result. God prophesied that these things would occur, and the prophecy was fulfilled.

Biblical Prophecy and Current Events

Many will say, well, that’s Old Testament, but we are living under grace in the New Testament, while others will ask, what does this have to do with us today? It is essential to know that prophecy has more than one fulfillment.

These prophecies contain a principle that applies perpetually; if a nation turns away from God, it will suffer dire consequences. Scripture is clear; Prov. 14:34 reads, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
The Canaanites were driven out of their land by Israel because of their terrible sins. Remember Deut. 18:20, “Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.”

As time passed, Israel committed the same sins and was driven out also (Leviticus 18:24-30). Each time a nation turns from God, the consequences are the same. This principle applies to the nations of today.

Have we turned away from God? The statistics prove that to be true. Are we suffering consequences? —unequivocally.

God said in Deuteronomy 8:19, “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”
Can it be any clearer?

Now, we may not bow down before statues these days, but we certainly have our idols. The West is immersed in secularism, which rejects God and manifests itself in the abovementioned areas. Anything that takes us out of the will of God, and away from God is an idol and yields consequences that we are witnessing today. Eph 5:5 states:

5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. NIV

Now, this applies individually, but if widespread throughout a nation, it becomes a national issue.

The prophet Amos made it clear how God dealt with His people at an earlier time; rainfall would not be evenly balanced. Amos 4:7 reads, “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.” NIV

Today, some areas suffer massive flooding while others have no rain.

According to an article in the Washington Post, “The last three water years — which run from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 — have been the driest in California’s history. Several other Western states — Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, and Utah — are entirely in drought.”

The map below illustrates the drought areas in the U.S.

We are suffering other natural disasters as Jesus prophesied in Matt 24:6-8

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

These are only the beginning of the sorrows that we are bringing upon ourselves.

Conclusion

Whenever a society collectively grows to be thoroughly corrupt, God uses these natural forces to wake us—to get our attention. Occasionally it is simply a painful loss, but on the other hand, the loss of life is to teach others the calamitous consequences of a world without God.

On a secular level, experiencing natural disasters are the result of living on the planet earth. However, on a spiritual level, we encounter them because the human race en masse has said to God, Don’t bother us. We can decide for ourselves how to live.” God says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” society says, “It’s all right as long as you don’t get caught. It can even be healthy for your marriage.” When God says, “Thou shall not murder,” society says, “War is just another means of diplomacy.” God says, “’Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord in Lev 18:21NIV. Yet, tens of millions of the most innocent among us, the unborn, are murdered-sacrificed because we believe “it is a woman’s right to choose.” The Bible says, “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). Yet, Sex prior to marriage (fornication) is so widespread in the Western nations that we, by design, presume two people dating each other regularly are sleeping together. In addition, when a child comes into the world, we are now so bewildered that we cannot tell if the child should be deemed male or female.

Gal 5:17 reads, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” NKJV The flesh represents the worldly desires to please the self—our base nature. The Spirit represents what God desires and leads us to please Him. These two forces battle for our souls, and this is known as Spiritual Warfare. For more on Spiritual Warfare, please see the article “All about Spiritual Warfare” on this website.

As a result of this spiritual battle, if we are led by the flesh, no matter what God says, we do to the contrary. He says the Sabbath, the seventh day, is a day of rest. We say it doesn’t make any difference. We like the first day of the week, Sunday, the day sun-worshiping Roman Emperor Constantine chose. The catalog of our differences with God is endless, and the catalog of “God’s acts” is also endless. Each year, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and famines ravage parts of the earth. [For more detail, see the article “Saturday vs. Sunday Worship” on this website]

A segment of Amos’ prophesy was referenced earlier, but we must reflect on all it has to say. God gave that warning through Amos to ancient Israel, and—as we have witnessed—much of Bible prophecy is dual; it has more than one fulfillment. This prophecy will be our future except and until we repent:

If we think it won’t happen? If we believe it can’t happen? It behooves us to think again and realize that God is not playing games. As our loving Father, He will get our attention!

Amen

Please feel free to leave any comment, question, or experience with prophecy below.

Blessings!

Enter through the narrow gate. This phase is from one of Jesus’ well-known discourses. But what does it mean? This article will examine this wisdom from the Lord.

What is the Narrow Gate?

A gate is a means of entrance or exit to a dwelling or city. Jesus used the gate symbolically in His discourse known as the Sermon on the Mount. Let’s look at this passage in Matt 7:13-14:

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. NIV

In this passage, Jesus used the gate to describe the entrances to two paths of life. There is the narrow gate that leads to a narrow road and to life—eternal life, and there is the wide gate that leads to a broad road that leads to destruction—eternal damnation, and He made the point that only a few enter the narrow gate and follow the road to life.

In verse 13, Jesus encouraged his listeners to “enter through the narrow gate.”

What is the Wide Gate?

The wide gate is the gate that leads to destruction. The gate and the road are wide in order to accompany the large number of individuals that travel through it and upon it. The wide gate and road and the narrow gate and road are complete opposites because they represent different paths of life for those who saunter upon them—more on this to follow.

Broad Gate vs. Narrow Gate

Narrow Gate

The narrow gate is narrow for a good reason: only a few are willing to walk through it, and only a few perpetually walk the narrow way once they arrive on it. Walking the narrow path of life requires total sacrifice. Jesus makes this clear in Matt 10:37-38.

37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

38 and Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. NIV

Jesus draws a line in the sand with this passage.

In verse 37, we see that our relationship with Jesus must take precedence over all of our other relationships. Relationships can interfere with our relationships with our Lord. This fact holds especially true for the worldly ones who do not follow Christ.

Sometimes we have to let go of other relationships as well, such as friends, coworkers, etc. It is dangerous to be in close relationships with unbelievers. Scripture says in 2 Cor. 6:14-16, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (15) What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” NIV

This wisdom includes all unbelievers.

Passing through the narrow gate and walking the narrow road requires transformation. Rom 12:2 reads, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” NIV

We cannot be transformed by doing the same things, living the same as we have always before. The only way to know and live in the will of God is to be transformed from the, as the Scripture reads, “pattern of this world.”

This transformation is not an easy exercise. To distance ourselves from our families as well as our friends and associates whom we may have known for quite some time can be complex and disturbing. However, we must not allow that to interfere with our relationship with Christ.

In verse 38 of Matthew 10, we see the narrow way involves suffering. Jesus says to be worthy of Him; one must “take up his cross and follow me.” The cross represents much suffering, heartache, and pain. The narrow way—the walk with Christ is not an easy one to travel. In order to remain on it, one must take up the cross—daily (Luke 9:23). It is a constant effort to stay on the course.

The main reason it takes such an effort is that Satan makes walking the narrow way unattractive. Deception is his game; he shows all the alluring aspects but never the consequences. He never presents the complete picture. Only enough to cause us to doubt God and choose to serve him instead.

Broad Gate

The broad gate is the gate that leads to the broad way. This gate is one that is very easy to walk through and opens to a road that is very easy to travel but is not in the will of God. It is a road that represents a worldly lifestyle, a sinful, carnal lifestyle. When one walks this road, they are walking as an enemy of God. James 4:4 reads, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

This reality is because Satan is the ruler of the world until Jesus returns (John 12:31). Satan is referred to as “… the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
[Eph 2:2] and is in control of the world unless we choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Doing so can save us from the destruction that this path can lead us to suffer ultimately.

To walk the broad road, the carnal road, one must have a carnal mind, and the Scripture reflects how God views a carnal mind. Rom 8:6-8 reads,

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

There is no way God is pleased with a carnal individual because they cannot submit to God’s Law. They are “in the flesh,” meaning that their fleshly—sinful ways are leading them.

The broad way is a much easier way because it requires no sacrifice. The worldly influences are so strong that all we have to do is go with the flow of the current on the broad road. It is the path of least resistance

The broad way is a much easier way because it is most often the most pleasurable way. There is plenty of pleasure when traveling on the broad path. The sex, drugs, revelry, the clubs, and all of the pleasurable material rewards await the traveler of the broad road. The further the travel, the greater the chance of obtaining these rewards. The force pulls one along the way.

One pungent identifying feature of the broad road is that it goes against God’s laws and the teachings of Scripture. The broad road is, in a word—Sin.

This road is so easy to walk on. In fact, all of us walk through this narrow gate when we are born. We are born with a sinful nature. The writer of Ps 51:5, David, reads, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” NIV

We are all born in sin, which is why Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[John 3:3]

We must be born again and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in order to see the kingdom of God. For more information on born again, please see the article, “What Does it Mean to be a Born Again Christian,” on this website

The next most pungent feature of all concerning the broad way is that it requires us to reject Christ. There is no middle path. We are on either the broad way or the narrow way. Jesus said in Matt 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” We cannot serve both God and the world.

The Scriptures describe how the sinful nature manifests itself in Gal 5:19-21

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. NIV

Again, we see that those who walk the broad way, those who are led by their sinful nature, “will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

The Scriptures also describe how the Spirit manifests itself in Gal 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV

If we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and belong to Christ, we are to live by the Spirit, and as the Scripture reads, “keep in step with the spirit.”

Walking the narrow road is to walk in the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and to walk the broad road is to walk in the flesh—the world—the sinful nature. These two paths are in direct conflict with each other. Gal 5:17 reads: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want.” NIV

Many may attempt to walk both paths, known as “on the fence.” However, we can only walk in one way: the broad way or the narrow way, the flesh or the Spirit.

Again— “no man can serve two masters.”

Conclusion

Eccl 12:13-14 reads:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The fact of the matter is that the only way to walk through the narrow gate and walk the narrow way is to revere God, obey His Laws and the teaching of the Scriptures in the Holy Bible. It requires us to submit to the Laws of Christ.

Every work we perform will be judged—the good and the evil.

It behooves us to consider our ways, choose the right path that leads to life, and stay off the broad way that will lead us to eternal destruction.

In 1 Kings 13:1-27, there is an example of one who chose the broad way and experienced the consequence. I pray that we receive wisdom from this passage.

Amen

Any questions, comments, concerns, or experiences of walking either path can be left below.

Blessings

The sanctuary of the Old Testament, along with its services, has a profound application for us today. This article will shed light on this reality as we explore the sanctuary truth.

What is the Sanctuary

A sanctuary is a holy place set apart for the worship of God. It can also be a protection from danger. For example, in the US, certain cities are known as sanctuary cities where illegal immigrants can safely exist. Of course, in the Bible, the former meaning applies.

At the Lord’s request, the earliest sanctuary for Israel was the portable tent known as the tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments was housed. It was also where the presence of the Lord existed (Ex 25:8). After the occupation of the land of Canaan by Joshua, the tabernacle with its sanctuary was placed at Shiloh, a town in central Palestine (Josh 18:1).

The word sanctuary is applied to the most holy place, and the Holy of Hollies, in the tabernacle and the temple where animal sacrifices were offered to the Lord. Their blood was offered for the remission, the forgiveness of sins. God instructs in His Law in Scripture, Lev 17:11, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” NIV

Therefore, blood must be shed for the remission of sins.

Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Hollies once a year to atone for the sins of the nation as well as his own (Lev 16:29-34).

The Levitical priests mentioned earlier carried the portable tent sanctuary as the Israelites traveled from sight to sight on their pilgrimage to the Promised Land.

When David became king, he planned the temple in Jerusalem, which was eventually built by his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:6). This became a more permanent place of worship as the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy vessels of the Lord were placed in the temple.

For several millennia, the Sanctuary and its services were the center of the Israelites’ devotion experience that commenced after they escaped from Egyptian slavery. It was their church in the desert during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (the Promised Land).

What Happened to the Sanctuary?

So, what happened to the sanctuary? It was replaced. The Old Testament Sanctuary was a replica of the heavenly sanctuary. It was replaced with a much better sacrifice. Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and His shedded blood was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

 

He was the perfect sacrifice because He was sinless (Heb. 4:15). When Jesus ascended into heaven, He became our High Priest, interceding for the sins of sinners who accept Him as Lord and Savior, Christians. When He ascended into heaven, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest. He began His intercessory ministry, previously symbolized by the High Priest’s work in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary.

Heb 9:11-12 reads:

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

As a high priest, Christ also serves in the tabernacle, “the holy place,” however; His ministry is not limited to the earthly tabernacle. Instead, He operates through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made . . . “not of this building” or creation. Christ serves in the real, heavenly tabernacle because the earthly tabernacle had simply been an illustration, a foreshadowing of what was to come.

Some early Christians saw the phrase “more perfect tabernacle” as a reference to Christ’s incarnation. However, that could not be what the author of Hebrews had in mind. The writer clearly says that this tabernacle is “not a part of this building” or creation, so that could not refer to the human body of Christ. Christ’s ministry on our behalf is in God’s presence, a place where “the blood of goats and calves” would have no effect. Again, this point addresses Christ’s superiority. Verse 24 explains this further: “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself” (NIV).

Jesus in the Sanctuary

Just as with the earthly sanctuary, there are three compartments: the outer court (courtyard), and within the covered tent are the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Hollies). When Jesus was slaughtered on earth as the sacrifice for humanity, He was in the outer court of heaven just as it was in the earthly tabernacle where the sacrifices were slaughtered in the outer court. When He was resurrected and ascended into heaven, He entered into the Holy Place, interceding for the sins of humanity as the High Priest. This intercessory action of Jesus Christ, our Lord, is what makes our salvation possible. Next, He entered into the Most Holy Place.

In 1844, Jesus moved from the Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary into the Most Holy Place or Holy of Hollies to begin the final reparation for humanity and cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. This transition is understood as a change in the two phases of Jesus’ ministry. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy contained in Daniel 8, specifically in verse 14, which reads, “He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” [Cleansed] NIV Details of this prophecy are too lengthy for this article. Perhaps another article will be produced in the future to explain it in detail.

This fulfillment is symbolized in the earthly temple by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. This action is explained in Leviticus 16:15-19.

In that typical or symbolic service, the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices. However, in the heavenly sanctuary, things are cleansed with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. As the Scripture reads in Heb 9:23, “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” NIV

In the earthly sanctuary, after the slaying of the lamb, the blood was sprinkled on the sanctuary wall. Symbolically, this transferred the sin from the sinner to the sanctuary. Consequently, the sinner was forgiven and free, but their sin remained in the sanctuary. As a result, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was required to purify the sanctuary. The heavenly Sanctuary also needed to be cleansed.

Therefore, as the earthly service had a yearly Day of Atonement to clean sin out of the sanctuary, the heavenly Sanctuary also had a time of purification.

What is the Significance of the Sanctuary?

Upon the arrival of Christ, He put an end to the requirement for animal sacrifices. They symbolically represented the death of Jesus by taking on the consequences of sin for us and allowing us to be redeemed—if we so choose.

If we chose Jesus as Lord and Savior, He is interceding for our sins in the heavenly
sanctuary today in the most holy place or the holy of holies. Rom 8:34 reads, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Christ Jesus is at God’s right-hand, interceding and advocating for us in heaven.

1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” NIV

We are encouraged not to sin. However, when we do, if we confess them and repent from them (Prov. 28:13), we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus, to plead our case, seek forgiveness and cleanse us from unrighteousness.

As a result, Jesus is able, once and forever more, able to save all who approach God through Him. He lives forever to plead with God on our behalf.

Jesus is at work in the heavenly sanctuary for the salvation of mankind, and will continue to do so until the close of probation. Therefore, if we have not done so already, it behooves us to accept Him as our Savior and lay aside the sin that “so easily besets us” (Hebrews 12:1).

All questions, comments, and concerns can be left below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

Have you noticed the turmoil in governments today? The division and chaos are worldwide. However, there is something to look forward to; the Millennial Kingdom, a time of peace spread upon the whole world with a new leader.

The Issue

Our government in the U.S. is in a very vulnerable state. The most evident of this state is the January 6th insurrection, with an attack on the Capitol to interrupt the peaceful transition of power.

The next sign of this vulnerability is the recent election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. For the first time in approximately one hundred years, it occurred with much controversy. It took fifteen rounds of voting and lasted four days. This process, which is usually a characteristically run-of-the-mill government process, was turned into a theatrical spectacle exposing a significant susceptibility in Congress. In order for the nominated Speaker to obtain the votes required to be elected to the position, he yielded substantial concessions to a small group of ultra-conservatives that included making it easier to remove him from office and giving them more significant contributions in writing and passing laws, and in lawmakers’ positions with committees, where Congress is most effective.

This scenario is only the beginning of the potentially crippling confusion that will threaten our government’s effectiveness. These right-winged, ultra-conservatives literally high-jacked Congress until they got their way. Although they were a minority unit, they used their unity for leverage to fulfill their goal. Therefore, one can conclude with the assurance that this leverage will be used in their future endeavors, ultimately high-jacking the government to get their way.

This set of circumstances places crucial legislation, such as the government’s funding, to keep it open and avoid defaulting on its obligations, along with other ominous spending bills on a battlefield. Should the government ever reach the spending limit, which could occur this summer, it will no longer be able to borrow money to pay off its debts, possibly forcing a default. That could cause severe damage to the world’s financial system. Among other consequences, U.S. Treasuries would no longer be considered a safe investment.

Imagine the government on such shaky ground. To make things worse, looking at the big picture, the U.S. is not the only country with governmental problems. There are governmental protests and upheaval in governments around the world. This condition is a worldwide political pandemic affecting all forms of government with continued escalation.

In the U.S., this defeats the purpose of government, which is to help the citizens.

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible says in 1 Cor. 1:10:

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In this Scripture, Paul addressed the church at Corinth, saying there should be unity and no divisions among them. Unity is one of the most potent forces available to man on earth. Unity gets God’s attention (Gen. 11:4-8). Division only leads to confusion and chaos.

Does this apply to government? Absolutely! Even though we have a two-party government, there must be the ultimate goal of agreement on some level…for the sake of the people.
However, this is becoming more of a pipe dream rather than a reality.

What is the Answer?

How long can this go on? What is the solution? Unfortunately, this worldwide upheaval will not get any better until the return of Christ. Jesus stated that before He returns, there will be “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
[Matt 24:21-22]

According to this prophecy of Jesus, what we are witnessing today in our governments is only the beginning of what is to come.

Jesus Said in Matt 24:6-8

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Notice in verse 8 that these things are only “the beginning of sorrows.” These will be a prelude to sufferings. Jesus’ words indicate that there will be a period prior to the end of the age and the future kingdom — it was not to come that week, nor immediately upon Jesus’ resurrection, or promptly after the devastation of Jerusalem.

First, much suffering must occur as a part of life on earth as history moves toward a single, final, God-planned goal — the creation of a new earth and a new kingdom (Rev 21:1-3). The description of sufferings as “sorrows”
is a common biblical metaphor for the commencement of pre-kingdom travail and suffering (see Isa 13:6-8; 26:16-18; Jer. 4:31; 22:20-23; Hos. 13:9-13).

Therefore, we Christians must not be alarmed. Jesus has warned us about them, and we know they must pave the way for the arrival of God’s magnificent kingdom. Everything will happen as per God’s divine plan. Our responsibility is to endure, be prepared, and continue preaching the Good News to all nations (Matthew 24:14).

Ultimately, Jesus is the answer to the resulting troubled condition of the world. Isa 9:6-7 reads:

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

These two verses contain one of the most significant prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament. In verse 6, it states that “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” Jesus will be the One who will eventually rule the world and bring peace to the earth as the eventual governor and ruler. He is called “the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” His rulership will be eternal, as the Scripture reads, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (vs. 7).

The Millennial Kingdom – Jesus to the Rescue!

The ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom by Christ will be the answer to all of the forthcoming upheaval that will come upon the world.

The Scriptures inform us that when Christ returns to the earth, He will install Himself as king in Jerusalem, sitting on the throne of David (Luke 1:32–33). The Davidic Covenant promised Israel a king from David’s line who would rule forever—giving the nation rest from all their enemies (2 Samuel 7:10–13).

At the second coming, this and other covenants will be fulfilled as God’s people are gathered again from the nations (Matthew 24:31), converted (Zechariah 12:10–14), and restored to the land under the rule of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Scriptures address the conditions during the millennium as a perfect environment physically and spiritually. It will be a time of peace (Micah 4:2–4; Isaiah 32:17–18), joy (Isaiah 61:7, 10), and comfort (Isaiah 40:1–2). The Scriptures also tell us that only Christian believers will enter the millennial kingdom. Because of this, it will be a time of obedience (Jeremiah 31:33), holiness (Isaiah 35:8), truth (Isaiah 65:16), and the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). Christ will rule as king (11:1–10). Nobles and governors will also rule (Isaiah 32:1; Matthew 19:28), and Jerusalem will be the world’s political center (Zechariah 8:3).

There are some who believe that the millennium kingdom is symbolic and not an actual one thousand years but is a way of expressing an extended period of time. However, Revelation 20:2-7 gives the specific time period of the millennial kingdom. Actually, six times in that passage, the millennial kingdom is expressly said to be 1,000 years in length.

Additionally, numerous other passages of Scripture point to a literal reign of the Messiah on the earth. The fulfillment of many of God’s covenants and promises rests on a literal, physical, future kingdom. Therefore, there is no solid basis for refuting the literal interpretation of the millennial kingdom and its duration of 1,000 years.

Conclusion

The time is coming when Christ will return to earth again. In Rev 22:12, He said, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

However, we do not know when for He also said in Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Therefore, we simply do not know. Even though more events are to occur before Christ returns, they can transpire quickly enough during our lifetime to witness His grand return.

As a result, it behooves us to take the advice of Jesus, who said, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matt 24:42).

Therefore, we must stay ready for when He comes, He will already have His reward with Him, and all judgment will have been completed (Rev 22:12).

Amen

Your questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed below.

Blessings!

The legalization of recreational marijuana is considered to be a revolutionary step in the progression of society. But is it? Is it really a good thing to legalize another mind-altering vice into society? Do we know everything about this drug? What does the Bible say about such things? This article will shed light on marijuana and the Bible.

The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are thrusting hastily into a marijuana nirvana. But at what cost?

What is Marijuana?

 

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. An original inhabitant of Central or South Asia, the plant has been used as a drug for recreational and entheogenic purposes and in many traditional medicines for hundreds of years. Other names include Ganja, Grass, Hash, Pot, and Weed.

The Cannabis plant contains chemicals that affect the brain and can change one’s mood or consciousness.

Medical Use?

Not all Cannabis plants contain the chemical (THC) that has a hallucinogenic effect on the brain and makes individuals high. It is widely believed that this form of Cannabis has medicinal qualities and is known as CBD. CBD has become known as a natural and safe healing miracle substance that can cure many ailments, and it is a mild and safe substance with no downside. These ailments include Cancer, Parkinson’s’, back pain, depression, and nausea. However, the advocates for marijuana’s ultimate goal have been to legalize recreational Marijuana using medical uses as an entranceway to recreational use. However, is Marijuana the cure-all is the cure-all it’s claimed to be?

The Ohio Medical Control Program dispenses Marijuana for medical use according to the Ohio bill signed into law in 2016, making it legal for medicinal purposes. The following medical conditions qualify under the program

• Ulcerative colitis
• Traumatic brain injury
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Sickle cell anemia
• PTSD
• Parkinson’s disease
• Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
• Multiple sclerosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatitis C
• Glaucoma
• Fibromyalgia
• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
• Crohn’s disease
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Cancer
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s disease

This list is quite extensive and makes Marijuana quite a wonder drug, or is it?

Dr. Gary Wank, who sat on the Medical Marijuana Medical Committee in 2016, is open-minded and was not against trials on a number of ailments. He stated in an article in Psychology Today, “If you suffer from one of these disorders, the most important question to ask your recommender is whether you can benefit from using marijuana. If your recommender says “yes” then you can be certain that he or she is ignorant of the current state of medical research on marijuana. In other words, there is no reliable medical clinical evidence to support the use of marijuana for any of these conditions—none at all.”

A more recent British study examined the effectiveness of Cannabis for these six (6) mental health conditions: Depression, Anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Psychosis. The results were printed in the Lancet Pscharity Journal. London’s independent reported the scientists findings on October 28, 2019, that combined 83 studies that involved three thousand participants recommended their use for the six mental health conditions could not be justified based on the current evidence.

They further stated that this is due to a lack of evidence for their effectiveness and because of the known risks of Cannabinoids.

It appears that the advocates have promoted a cure looking for a disease. However, this does not mean there will be no medical uses for Cannabis, as many medicines are derived from plants. The issue is that there has been an agenda all along, and activists have dishonestly sold through anecdotal testimonies that it is a cure-all when proper testing is lacking.

Marijuana libertarian Alex Berenson, author of the book, Tell Your Children The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence, published in 2019, did research and reviewed some studies. What he learned surprised him and turned him into an outspoken critic of marijuana, setting him on a path to inform the public of its history and consequences. His findings are:

• There is an agenda behind medical marijuana. To legalize medical marijuana
•  Marijuana is linked to mental health problems. There has always been a known link between cannabis use and mental health issues such as psychosis and schizophrenia. However, the problem is more significant today.

Today’s marijuana is very different from the 1960 and ’70s when THC levels were 1 to 2%. However, with the onset of the 1990s, producers initiatedworking towards increasing the THC content to in access of 25%, ushering in an increase in mental health problems.

Researchers are aware that there is a time-lapse in the time mental illness begins and when an individual first engages in using cannabis. Therefore, it was no surprise when increased problems increased after 2000.

Researchers in Denmark recently observed that their mental illness registry had a significant increase in schizophrenia cases of about 30% from 2000 to 2012. Additionally, the higher levels of THC appear to contribute to another more significant trend. When they observed 30 to 59 aged adults, psychiatrists expected schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to become evident by the late twenties. However, the researchers found that 46 out of 100,000 individuals in the over-30 group received a new Psychosis diagnosis every year. This high rate of actual cases after age 30 contrasts with conventional wisdom.

• Cannabis is linked to violence. The majority think of marijuana as a wholly calming drug. But is it? According to a 2016 Psychology Today article, new research in the journal Psychological Medicine concludes that perpetual use of cannabis may cause violent behavior due to changes in brain function. This link between the use of recreational marijuana and violent behavior resulting in crimes in contrast to alcohol, meth, and other illegal drugs has been long debated by researchers. The mellowing effects of Cannabis seem unacceptable for promoting violent behavior. However, ample research has linked marijuana to violent behavior.

It is important to note that most individuals do not exhibit violent behavior, but a small percentage do, and the problem can arise suddenly without any warning.

Other adverse effects of significant marijuana use found in various studies include:

• Loss of motivation
• Addiction
• Brain impairment and mental health
• Lung and heart damage
• Cancer risk—Although studies are inconclusive; some have made a strong link.

Yet, despite what has been mentioned above, efforts to legalize the use of marijuana for both “medicinal” and recreational purposes continue to grow. These efforts are succeeding in the halls of state and national governments. Unfortunately, the drug is not as harmless as advocates claim.

For several years, the Partnership for a Drug-Free Canada has presented reputable, peer-reviewed scientific studies showing the dangers and social and economic costs of marijuana use. However, despite the endorsement of health experts, social pressure and the lure of increased tax revenue are driving the political mechanism.

Could society benefit from legalizing pot? Is there a larger picture to consider?

So what is the Benefit?

It is interesting that even though Western nations live in a time of excessive prosperity compared to any other period, so many in our population today, the youth, in particular, search for what is basically an escape from reality in mind-altering drugs. Lavishness flourishes in our lives, yet many run after hallucinogenic drugs. With the problems that already exist with alcohol (e.g., alcoholism, drunken driving, loss of work, violent behavior, even loss of life), why do we need to add another destructive player to this negative playbook by legalizing Marijuana? Make no mistake; unfortunately, people will die due to legalizing marijuana.

Some will say, well, people will do it anyway.
Okay—why?

It is evident that not all is right. Something is indeed missing. Our day-to-day lives are not satisfying, and we are not finding pleasure in our work and relationships with family and friends. We seek transitory pleasure through intoxication with drugs that bring all sorts of potential harm. Perhaps it is time to inspect our lives a little more closely.

Eccl 3:11 says, “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” NIV

God has “planted eternity in the hearts of men.” What this means is that we can never be totally content with earthly pleasures and pursuits. In view of the fact that we are created in God’s image, we have a spiritual thirst and eternal value. Therefore, nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. He has built in us a restless yearning for the perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule.

However, we fail to recognize this either out of ignorance or rebellion and attempt to fill this yearning with earthly things, such as excessive shopping for things, relationships, excessive work, and drugs and alcohol. However, these things only create a futile downward spiral. Therefore, there is no more of a benefit than any of the other vices the world engages.

We do not have to live this way because we can elect a way of life that provides happier lives for our families and ourselves. Therefore, we can avoid choices that create trouble and gruesome realities from which we wish to escape. We must fill this void with God and His Word.

What Does the Bible Say?

Although the Bible does not mention anything specific regarding the recreational use of marijuana, it clearly warns about the dangers of drunkenness and cautions that it leads to overindulging. For example, Eph. 5:18 reads, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” and Proverbs 23:20 counsels against surrounding ourselves with those who are drunk, and reads, “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:”

Recreational marijuana can trigger a mind-altering high that is comparable to drunkenness. Both can cause impaired judgment, cognitive dysfunction, restlessness, coordination and reflex issues. Based on that, it is viable that the Bible’s warnings against drunkenness can also be applied to marijuana intoxication.

Paul’s instruction to Titus, a young colleague in Crete, included an exhortation on soberness. Titus 2:6 reads, “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.” NIV

Self-control is the opposite of being high, stoned, drunk, or in any other condition in which we are not in control of our minds. One of the elements that are essential for happiness and success is self-control. The Bible also stresses the need to be in control of our minds at all times. Gal 5:22-23 reads:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The fact of the matter is self-control cannot be exercised when one is drunk or high on a mind-altering substance. When in that state of mind, one is at risk of actions and words that can be regretted for life. The possible addictions that result can devastate families, careers, reputations, and potential. A sober mind is an invaluable defense against such tragedies.

We are entering a difficult and dangerous period in our lives. Nations have outright rejected teachings on proper behavior, ethics, and morality that were formerly revered. The concept that humankind is the creation of a God who gave instructions preserved through His sacred text is no longer widely accepted in the Western world, and the moral guidelines that directed behavior are no longer considered valid. At the same time, social order has started to unravel without such a set of moral directives.

The sad truth is that the Bible is slowly being canceled.

Comments, questions, concerns, or experiences with marijuana can be left below.

The Last Days

Those of us who know the truth know that the end is coming, that we are living in the last days. The signs are all around us according to the prophecy spoken by Jesus in Matthew 24:3-51. In the meantime, according to what Jesus said in verse 42, we must be ready for His return because we do not know what day His return will occur. When Jesus ascended into heaven, humanity headed toward the beginning of the end. One of the ways to be ready for His return is to be aware of what is going on in heaven concerning us.

Jesus’ Heavenly Sanctuary

When Jesus entered heaven, He did so as the high priest of humanity and began His heavenly ministry. The two-compartment design of the earthly sanctuary built by Moses was, in fact, a replica of the Heavenly Sanctuary set up by God. Heb 8:1-2 reads:

1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. NIV

The two compartments of the sanctuary are the holy place and the most holy place. Worshipers were only allowed in the outer courtyard and could not enter the tabernacle tent containing these compartments. Only priests were allowed; only the high priest was allowed in the Most Holy Place and only on the Day of Atonement.

Christ entered the first phase of his Heavenly ministry, which is in the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary as the High Priest of humanity after his resurrection and ascension into heaven to intercede for the sins of mankind.

However, there was a second phase of Jesus’ Heavenly ministry when He moved to the Most Holy Place of Heavenly Sanctuary. The prophecy of the 2300 days (years) contained in Daniel 8:13-14 points to when Christ’s Most Holy Place ministry in Heaven would start. Verse 14 reads, “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” This is the passage that William Miller mistakenly interpreted to be the return of Christ to earth to cleanse the earthly sanctuary when it was actually the heavenly sanctuary that was to be cleansed.

This event is symbolized by the Day of Atonement described in Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23:26–32. The Investigative Judgment doctrine states that in 1844 (456 BC – 2300 years = 1844 AD), Christ moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in Heaven as described in Daniel 8:13-14, and this initiated the judgment described in Dan 7:9-10, which read,

9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. NIV

 

This passage describes the investigative judgment. During the investigative judgment, the works of all men and women are written down in books, kept in heaven. Throughout the investigative judgment, also known as the Pre-Advent Judgment, these books are opened (as also described in Revelation 20:12), and the lives of all individuals, both living and dead (2 Cor. 5:10), are examined to establish who has responded to Christ’s offer of salvation.

The record books of heaven, in which the names and deeds of humanity are listed, establish the judge’s decisions. As the books are opened in the judgment, the lives of all, who believe in Jesus, come into review before God. Commencing with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate (Jesus) puts forward the cases of each successive generation and concludes with the living. Every name is presented, and every case is closely investigated.

The Judgment will confirm those who are genuine believers in God from those who are not. Individuals who have truly repented of sin and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice have pardon entered by their names in the books of heaven. They have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God. Their sins will be blotted out. They will be accounted worthy of eternal life.

On the other hand, when any individual has sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. Sins that have remained unrepented and not forsaken will not be pardoned nor blotted out of the books. They will stand to witness against the sinner on the day of the Lord.

During this judgment, Satan will bring charges of transgression and unbelief against believers, while Jesus acts as defense. The good news of the judgment is that Jesus is not only the Attorney but also the Judge (John 5:22). With Jesus as Attorney and Judge, there is nothing to fear.

The Final Chapter

Although the time of the commencement of the Investigative Judgment is precise, which is the year 1844, no one knows when it will end. All that is known is that the work of the investigative judgment and the purging of sins are to be completed before the second coming of the Lord. Rev. 22:12 reads, quoting Jesus, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

When Jesus arrives, He will have His reward (s) with Him according to the judgment of the works of individuals. The investigative judgment will have closed and the critical hour that marks the determination of every man’s destiny, and the final offer of mercy is withdrawn from guilty men. Jesus is also quoted as saying in Rev 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

The conclusion of the Investigative Judgment is expressed as “the close of probation” At this point, the destiny for all will have been decided, whether for life or death. There will be no further opportunity for unbelievers to repent and be saved. Revelation 22:11 is considered to describe the close of probation: “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” NIV

Following the close of probation will be a time of great distress. Matt 24:21-22 reads:

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

This tribulation will be a time of severe conflict and persecution for God’s people (Revelation 13:15-17; 7:14). Shortly after that, Christ will return in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10), and raise the dead in Christ, the righteous ones (the “first resurrection,” Revelation 20:4-5), whom He will take to heaven together with the righteous ones that are living to share his millennial reign (Revelation 20:6). Just who these “righteous” ones are, will, of course, have been revealed during the time of the Investigative Judgment.

It is essential to recognize that we are under probation during this current period of grace. It is not the time to be flippant about our salvation. It is a time of reflection and recognition that life is serious and it matters how we live our lives and check our attitudes towards sin. It matters how we obey all of the Commandments of God.

Conclusion

Many of us will not make it to the close of probation but will die prior. It will then be too late to repent of our sins and too late for unbelievers to know Christ. Eccl 9:10 reads, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). However, Ecclesiastes 9:10 says there is no wisdom in the grave.

So let us not be deceived, but be wise, and let others know that time is at hand and we must make things right with our creator—before it is too late. This appeal is what the Three Angels Message is all about.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!