The days of sorrow and tribulation, the Rapture, and the final DAYS OF GOD’S WRATH – Set Straight.

The Mystery

A mystery or secret doctrine of which initiation is necessary; in the New Testament. The counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.

The Revelation

An uncovering, an unveiling, revealing, revelation, disclosure. The book of the Revelation begins with John the Revelator addressing the seven churches in Asia.

What follows is an amazing prophetic insight of God’s plan and purpose for His creation from Genesis to the End of the Age.

Revelation 1:1, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, verse 2, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Verse 3. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Verse 4. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, verse 5, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— Verse 6, and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Verse 8. I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I have color-coded certain words and phrases in these verses to draw attention to the Mystery of the Apocalypse.  Others are color-coded in red to draw attention to their obvious and transcendent truth.

THE WORD OF GOD – THE ONLY WAY TO SAFETY AND SUCCESS

The cosmos and this world and everything in them, which God created from the beginning, were ‘Good’.  God called all of His creation ‘Good’, and all things were ‘good’ because the process and the outcome of creation was perfectly in accordance to God’s Will, His Plan and His Purpose.

It may sound odd to say, but the scriptures about creation, particularly the creation of Adam and Eve, found in the Book of Genesis, seem to contain several contradictions.

THE FIRST ‘CONTRADICTION’

Revelation 1:1, says, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…  These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’, why haven’t they? But that is the wrong question to ask.

The right question to ask is, “Is this is more rock-solid evidence that the breaking of the first tribulation seals began at the birth of Christ andthe things which must soon take place’ began to appear around the time John the Apostle wrote his Apocalypse?”

This prophetic statement, the things which must soon take plac” fits perfectly with the words of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, written around A.D. 30. They illustrate, by the use of the TENSE of the words, the timing of certain events (I.e., when they began). Please read and study this carefully. These statements are found in :

  • Hebrews 1:2,
      • but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
      • “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
  • Hebrews 9:26,
      • “for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
      • “End of the ages”: from Strong’s concordance #4930, syntéleia (from 4862 /sýn, “close together with” and 5055 /teléō, “complete, consummate”) – culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole (“consummation“) – “an end involving many parts” (B. F. Westcott). See 4931 (synteléō). that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20).
  • Acts 2:14-17,
      • But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

        “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
        that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

      • “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

  • 2 Timothy 3:1,
      • But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”
      • “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
      • “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.”
      • “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
  • 1 Peter 4:7,
      • “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
      • End (of all things): from Strong’s concordance #5056: télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results. [This root (tel-) means “reaching the end (aim).” It is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]

  • 2 Peter 3:3.
      • “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.”
      • “Last (days): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).
  • 1 John 2:18. 
      • Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”
      • “Last (hour): from Strong’s concordance #2078: ésxatos (from esxaton, “end, last”) – properly, last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). #2078/esxatos , (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”).

All of the cited verses were spoken and written sometime as early as A.D. 30 as late as A.D. 69. This illustrates and informs us that these are the times of the “beginning of sorrows”, a.k.a,  the early days of tribulation (small ‘t’) – Seals ONE through FIVE are distinct from the SIXTH and SEVENTH Tribulation Seals which are the beginning of the final 7 years of Great Tribulation, and include the 7 Trumpet Judgements and the 7 Bowl Judgements – also known as “Daniel’s 70th Week”, “The Great Tribulation”, “The Days of Wrath” or “The Day of The Lord”.

Here is the Tribulation Timeline, in summary:

The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between A.D. 30 and A.D. 69, and perhaps as early as 2 B.C.   Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day.

So, in this case there is no contradiction. It is a clear and positive explanation of the timing of ‘the beginning of the End of all Things’ – The tribulation had begun.  We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal – which is the beginning of the final 7 years!

THE SECOND ‘CONTRADICTION’ – BACK TO THE BEGINNING

So, what does Genesis and the creation of man and woman have to do with the tribulation, the Revelation and the End of all Things? It shows that God planned all things to occur just has they have occurred from the very beginning. He planned it all.

Man and woman were created ‘in His image’ but as crazy as it sounds, the Hebrew language reveals, they were created with a flaw. They were created with a ‘as a mere image or a shadowed reflection of the Perfect God; an illusion with a dubious character’; but they were created with the potential of perfection.

This is shown as Adam and Eve sinned and doomed all humankind to live under the curse of sin. But, this was God’s plan all along, so He provided a solution, a Savior, His Son, Jesus. And the plan of Perfecting began.

Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God, (Elohim), created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Verse 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Verse 4. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. Verse 5. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” And, God saw that it was good. (etcetera).

THE MAJOR EVENT

Then, in Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

This is a major event. The seminal event in all creation. God is making a creature He calls ‘mankind’ in His, (Their), own image and according to Their likeness.

AN ODD THING

In the midst of His creation work, an odd thing occurs.  This is an event, an occurrence in the creation of mankind, which is completely overlooked by the vast majority, if not all, Bible teachers. This is a bit technical, but please pay particular attention, as this is a game-changer.

Genesis 1, Verse 27. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

It may seem tedious to look at the wording of this verse, as it was written in the original Hebrew language, but it is vitally important for our understanding of God’s Design, plan and purpose:

Verse 27. “So created God, man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him, male and female, He created them.”

man =adam, from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy, i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.

 In Him own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

 In the image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

 Male = zakar = A male

 Female = naqab = female, from the sexual form.

 Genesis 1, Verse 27 , in other words, says, “So, God, signifying that this is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped through a formative process to make man, that is, mankind, ruddy, i.e., a human being, an individual of the species of mankind, in His own image, in the image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character, of God, yet having potential of being very great, mighty, and consisting as a plural in the ordinary sense, He created him, shaped, created, through a formative process; male and female He created them.”

RECAP:

  1. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped and formed mankind.
  2. God created mankind ‘in His Own image’, which initially was a mere faint image of Himself; a vain representation, a shadow of the Original; an icon, a phantom pattern, an illusion, a mere resemblance; a being of dubious nature.
  3. God has deliberately made man and woman with a flaw, and destined them to fail.
  4. God would, through a formative process which would take a millennium, provide a way for man and woman to be redeemed and recreated into His perfect image through a Savior, His Son, Jesus.

 Once again, there is no contradiction. God created man and woman with a flaw – He created you and me with a flaw – and destined us to fail WITH A PURPOSE. He also provided a Savior to redeem you from failure. Through all time, God is perfecting His creation, man and woman, into the very image of Jesus the Christ,

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”.  He is maturing and perfecting you into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.

Read it. Know it. Believe it. Live it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  This description of the Apocalypse comes from a careful and painstaking, decades-long study. I did not come to these conclusions easily; it was done through much prayer, study, labor and criticism.

Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into heavens?

It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.

It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.

It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.

Because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior
Are speaking louder than our words.

Now I am certain – no, make that ‘I am galvanized’ in my certainty, and I believe you may come to the same conclusions given the same dedication to uncovering the truth.

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “What are you seeking?”, Part 65

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 65

“What are you seeking?”

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them,

“What are you seeking?”

“And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them,

 “Come and you will see.”

The Words of Jesus, John 1:35-39

The most provocative and probing question to be considered, and the greatest of invitations. Follow this narrative between Jesus and these disciples, and you may better find your way, as well as learning how to witness the Living Christ more effectively.

Jesus sees two men following Him and asks, “What are you seeking?” He does not launch into an explanation of who He is or ‘hand out a witness track’ (tongues-in-cheek here). Asking what they are seeking does two things: (1). It informs the person asking. (2). It commits the one answering the question.

Remembering that the words of Jesus are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional, (and yes, they are all of these things, all at the same time), Jesus’ question is creating and causing a prophetic sequence which becomes instructional in the lives of these two men.

When you do the same, in the name and according to the will of God, the same thing will occur!

Oddly enough, these men do not answer with question about the mission or nature of Jesus. They just want to know where He is staying. Could it be that they want to observe and learn from Him by staying in His presence?  Jesus replies, simply, Come and you will see”.

“What are you seeking (in life)” is the most asked and the greatest of all questions. It is the premier question to ask someone before leading them to Jesus. And, the concluding remarks, “Come and you will see“ are all that need be said. Come and you will see”.

And, shouldn’t it be the same, even for us as disciples of Jesus? Shouldn’t we still consider that Jesus is asking us what we are seeking?”.  In other words, why exactly are you following Him?

And, shouldn’t we be asking, “where are you staying, Jesus?”, with the intention of staying on with Him?

In reality, He is still saying, to us who would follow Him,Come and you will see”.

Selah – think on this.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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IS THIS ODD TO YOU?

Sometimes, I like to do odd things. How about you?

I like to browse houses for sale. I just like houses. I have no intention of moving, but house browsing stirs my imagination.

I also like nature. Some may think it odd that I especially like the little ones in nature. I live in Florida, so we have lizards known as Anoles.

I love these little creatures. They live in our flower beds, under our patio furniture and on our walls. They will scurry about, darting from their hiding places to grab a gnat or a small flying bug and then run back to the sanctuary under an umbrella stand, or they lounge about in the hot sunshine.

Maybe not as weird, I like to watch the little rabbits that inhabit our shrubs, and birds of all kinds, from bald eagles to egrets to mocking birds and the smallest of sparrows. I love watching them play and discover their food. It entertains me and gives me a certain peace.

Moving away from nature, I like to read want ads. Now that is odd, because I am retired. Still, it is an interest to me. Odder yet, I especially like to read “pastor employment ads”. It fascinates me to read an ad placed by a small rural or semi-rural church detailing a lengthy ‘job’  responsibility list and their educational and previous experience requirements, typically a seminary degree and five or more years of experience, then offering a poverty-level pay range. I like the irony and sometimes a good laugh.

In addition to what I have already listed, many church ads will give a long list of ‘responsibilities’ which should, in effect, tell any potential applicant “we don’t really care about your education or experience or calling by God unless you can give us the rest of what we want in a preacher-pastor, and precisely the way we want it”.

You see, I love to be surprised, amazed, astounded and entertained. It reminds me of a verse from 1 Timothy 4:3, “ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.”

Interestingly, the very Bible these churches preach, says “But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12).

The church, according to several polling and statistical surveys from reputable organizations, tell us that the post-modern Church is in serious decline (see “Is Church membership really in a serious decline?”)

Could it be because most people are not living on ‘blind faith’ alone, and are smart enough to see through the hype, entertainment and words of appeal to “Come join us”, and realize that something isn’t squaring up?

The Bible warns against this type of hypocrisy and disobedience. It also warns that this day was coming.

Take heart, though. There are many good and faithful Churches with good and faithful servants of God, also known as pastors. “You will know them by their fruits”.

One last odd thing I like. I really like going to Church. I say odd, because it is something that most people don’t do anymore, but I love it. You see, I have found a Church, a fellowship of believers, that really strives to live out the life of Jesus and to do His bidding (follow His commandments).

It’s pure joy. And, I love being happy.

How about you?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

ALWAYS LEARNING – NEVER ARRIVING

ALWAYS LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO ARRIVE AT A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

The U.S. Education System is rife with Pagan teachings, ideologies and practices and has been effectively indoctrinating our children – your children – over the last seventy-five years. So effective has been the indoctrination that, according to the Arizona Christian University (and George Barna research), the percentage of Americans holding a Biblical worldview has dropped to an abysmal four percent. Correspondingly, we have seen a rise in wars and rumors of war, new diseases, plagues, famines and earthquakes, persecutions of Christians and a love lost for one another.

In proportion to the decline in people possessing a Biblical worldview, there is a sharp rise to 82% of American who hold a worldview other than a Biblical worldview. (Refer to the Christian Research Center).

(A Biblical worldview is defined as a means of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality in light of biblical perspectives. This view provides… (click this link for a full description of this term.  Additionally, there are seven principles that form the cornerstones of a Biblical worldview: Please click here for those principles and cornerstones.)

“When you put the data in perspective, the Biblical worldview is shuffling toward the edge of the cliff”, says George Barna. “As things stand today, Biblical theism is much closer to extinction in America than it is influencing the soul of the nation. The current incidence of adults with a Biblical worldview is the lowest since I began measuring it in the early 1990s.”

So, what does the mean?

  1. For today? It would be easy to conjecture that, according to the idea of a coming Great Apostasy, that is foretold in apocalyptic scriptures, that the day of Apostasy has already arrived.

(Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity. Also see GotQuestions.Org.)

The Apostasy is referenced in Matthew 24:9-12, Revelation 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.  It is important to note that these verses, these warnings, were written to the people in approximately A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and were meant for all Christians leading up to the ‘End of This Age’, beginning with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal (a future event). In other words, like the other first four tribulation seals,

The 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue,
The 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War,
The 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine,
The 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death,

The 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away, had been broken sometime between the birth of Jesus and A.D. 90. These seals have overlapped and have been increasing in intensity.

  1. For the future? The 6th tribulation seal is the next seal to be broken, which marks the beginning of the final 7 years of a great tribulation which has not been since the beginning of time and never will again. This is also known as the beginning of The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the End of the Age.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

  1. For now? “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

4. The conclusion? We are standing at the precipice of the End of this Age and the beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, when God will pour out His finals judgments on this world.

For those who fall into the 96% of those who do not believe that the Bible is accurate to the point of being totally without any error, please reconsider what you have been taught. Ask God to show you the Truth. Your time is short, and your fate need not be seals. Please don’t be that person who ‘wails in an outer darkness and gnashes his or her teeth‘ and laments, ‘I wish I had listened’.

For the remaining FOUR PERCENT, take heart, “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel: “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

“But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

“In the same way, then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”  Romans 11:1-6

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: The Bible is written to every man, woman and child. It is written for you to understand. But, you cannot “hear” the Word of God if you are not His disciple. “It is foolishness (only) to those who are perishing”.

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “But, Some Doubted”, Part 64

 THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 64

“But Some Doubted.”

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 28:16-20

“They worshiped Him, but some doubted”. These words should both confound and amaze. It is confounding to think that any of these men, Peter, James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew or Nathanael, James, the Lesser or Younger, Jude or Thaddeus, Matthew or Levi, Philip, Simon the Zealot and Thomas, after spending so much time with Jesus and after seeing the miracles, including seeing Him resurrected, doubt?

Doubted: Distázō, “two, double” and Stásis, “stance, standing” – properly, going two ways, shifting between positions; choosing “a double-stance” and hence vacillate (waver); (figuratively) uncertain at a crossroad because refusing to choose one way over the other – “wanting to have our cake and eat it too”; to halt between two opinions (views, beliefs).

And, it is amazing, that despite some of the disciples doubting, Jesus still gives them (and us) the great commission and sends them ALL!

If the Jewish high priest, the Pharisees and the Sadducees had been present to hear this greatest of Jesus’ proclamations, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”, they may have shredded their clothing and pulled out every last strand of hair from their heads (as they were in the habit of doing when hearing the words of Jesus).

Jesus has not only been given (and assumed) all authority in heaven and on earth, He informs us that He will be exercising that complete authority over the heavens and the earth through his disciples until the end of the age with these words: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (The word Jesus uses, “always’, is the Greek word, ‘pas’, which signifies ‘the highest degree, the maximum’ and means ‘before all things, above all things, in respect to all things, in all things and in all ways.’)

Note: It is always Jesus doing His Works through his disciples – which includes you and me!

When Jesus tells us that “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father”, we can now understand that it is Jesus who is doing His works through a yielded, obedient and submitted disciple, and not us, of and by ourselves.

These are the final words in the book of Matthew. But nothing has changed regarding God’s Word. These words are breathed by God and written by a man through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They continue to be creative, causative, prophetic and instructional. IT SHALL COME TO PASS.

There may be times when you or I have doubt. But it is in the obedient ‘going and doing’ that we overcome our doubts and build and strengthen our faith.

Read it. Meditate on it. Pray about it. Receive it. Embrace it. Allow Him To Do it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “What Are You Seeking?”, Part 65

PREVIOUS:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “But Some Doubted”, Part 63

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU THINKING?

(Or are you – really thinking?)

There are strains of thought in science, philosophy and in pseudo-science (science fiction) being taught to our younger generations, which advances the idea that human beings “are not just external observers of (the world and) the universe around us, but are part of something spectacular that can teach us a kind of humility and gratefulness that can inform us how to live today”.  This ideology purports to teach us ‘how to live’ in contradiction to the Bible. It says that we are but one more part of the universe. This worldview is that we are no better and no worse than any living organism; and every living thing (bacteria, single cells, plants, animals, etc., even inert matter).

One of these ‘ideologies’ is named ‘biocentrism’ which encompasses all environmental ethics that “extend the status of moral object from human beings to all living things in nature”. Biocentric ethics calls for a rethinking of the relationship between humans and nature. It states that nature does not exist simply to be used or consumed by humans, but that humans are simply one species amongst many, and that because we are part of an ecosystem, any actions which negatively affect the living systems of which we are a part adversely affect us as well, whether or not we maintain a biocentric worldview. ‘Biocentrists’ observe that all species have inherent value, and that humans are not “superior” to other species in a moral or ethical sense.

Advocates of ‘biocentrism’ often promote the preservation of biodiversity, animal rights, and environmental protection. The term has also been employed by advocates of “left biocentrism”, which combines deep ecology with an “anti-industrial and anti-capitalist” position (according to David Orton et al.).

The four main pillars of a biocentric outlook are:

  1. Humans and all other species are members of Earth’s community.
  2. All species are part of a system of interdependence.
  3. All living organisms pursue their own “good” in their own ways.
  4. Human beings are not inherently superior to other living things.[8]

This is nothing basically new, it just has a new ‘scientific’ twist. Alleging that ‘there is no God’ and that all living things ‘evolved into us’ or just magically appeared is as old as time itself.

However, the ‘militant scientific atheist left’ is teaching this in our schools and colleges as ‘scientific and philosophical fact’, successfully convincing our young men and women that God is either dead, irrelevant or has no place beyond the mystical realms of fantasy.

This kind of thinking reduces the idea that “we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and in the very image of God, our creator”, to the idea that we are no better and no worse than a flesh eating bacteria, a deadly virus lurking about in a cesspool or the carbon elements being scattered across the cosmos by an asteroid drifting in space.

Contrary to a mindless philosophical approach to life, we have evidence that “God said, “Let us make man[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So, God created man in his own image,
in the image of God, he created him;
male and female he created them.

 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

So, the war rages on. Good versus evil, lies and deception versus The Truth, God over Satan and his desire to steal, kill and destroy.

It is our job to engage this war and to do our part by teaching and preaching and living the Truth of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus to the best of our abilities every chance we get, especially in our own homes.

(When our sons would come home from college for the summers, I would ask them what they had learned in class that year. I would then begin the process of ‘deprogramming’ them and realigning their thought with God’s Word. And ironically, our sons attended a “Christian” college).

Dear friends, let’s not be deceived. Let’s be Berean, indeed.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “You Will See The Son of Man”, Part 63

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 63

“You will see the Son of Man.”

“But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:63-68.

The challenge by the high-minded high priest, made blindly and carelessly in the name of ‘the living God, is for Jesus to tell him if Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!

Jesus, as only He can do, cuts straight to the point and says “you have said so”, entrapping the high priest by his own words. Although he may have said the right words, it is only by chance, and he is completely ignorant of the truth in what he has just said.

Jesus, next make this prophetic statement and literally sets His Royal Seal on these remarks by announcing the coming 6th Seal of the Great Tribulation period, ”But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus is warning this high priest and all people of the coming judgment. He is repeating to the high priest what He has already revealed to His disciples, “The powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Read Matthew 24:29-31 for the entire answer.)

These Jews did not believe Him, although they had the prophecies in their Torah. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, said He deserved death for His words. They spit in his face and struck him. Some slapped him, mocking His Prophecy, and mocking Him as the Christ.

There are those in our day who deny a literal tribulation period and a literal 7 years of a Great Tribulation Judgment (also known as Daniel’s 70th Week, or The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord). They also deny a literal rapture of the Church, in spite of Jesus plain warnings.

A recent survey shows the majority of evangelical Christian leaders worldwide, believe in the Rapture, the teaching that as the end of the world draws near, Christians will be instantly taken up to heaven, leaving non-believers behind to suffer on earth. Six in 10 evangelical leaders, or 61 percent, say they believe in the Rapture of the Church.

However, only around 40 percent of the people calling themselves Christians believe they will be raptured or ‘snatch away’ from the earth which will then be thrown into a fiery chaos and then taken to the safety of heaven.

Yet here we read the literal words of Jesus, which have revealed this truth, first to His disciples and as a warning to the Jews and their high priest – judgment is coming; but they did not believe. Many others in our day do not believe, and they will be caught unprepared and will suffer greatly.

Do not be lulled into complacency. Do not listen to the naysayers. If you are to err, err on the side of caution. Take Jesus at His Word – and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Further reading on the beginning of the end, The Sixth Tribulation Seal, and The Sixth Tribulation Seal, part 2.

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THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Friend, Do What You Came To Do”, Part 62

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 62

“Do what you came to do.”

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, Friend, do what you came to do.”

Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled.

 The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:47-56.

This is event reveals several things about Jesus, His disciples and His detractors; things we must know, understand and follow.

#1. Although Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, publicly betrays Him, Jesus still calls him ‘Friend”.

(In relation to retaliation, Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:38, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Verse 39. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Verse 40. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Verse 41. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Verse 42. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

Verse 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ Verse 44. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Verse 45, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Verse 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Verse 47. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Verse 48. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.)

#2. Jesus rebukes Peter for violently attacking the enemy of Jesus, reminding Peter that violence or murder is not the way of the faithful, and that His mission must be completed, and the scriptures must be fulfilled.

#3. Jesus has willingly submitted to the authorities, even though the charges are contrived, false, unjust, and without merit, so that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

These are powerful examples of Jesus teachings of “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. This is how the enemy is ultimately subdued, defeated and some are converted. These are the methods we are to follow as His disciples.

There is only one way to God the Father and only one way to be saved and to live eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven – only One way.

We can say everything ‘just right’ by memorizing and quoting scriptures. But our actions, our behavior, reveals what we truly believe.

It is one thing to believe IN Jesus – and quite another to BELIEVE Him.

This is ‘the rub’, so to speak. The litmus test. One day He will declare to you, either, “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master”, or He will say to you, “Why do you call me Lord and do not what I command? Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!”

(Please don’t misunderstand. We, the called of Christ, are not ‘doormats’, but we are His ‘doormen’ – leading others to The Door. There are times when we must forcefully speak the truth, speak out against evil and evildoers. Times when we are called upon to resist the enemy and to pull down strongholds of darkness. And it is incumbent upon us to know the difference.)

The day is drawing near. Remain vigilant, active and faithful. Pray for one another until that day arrives.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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CHRISTIANITY – THE LAST BATTLE FRONT

Christianity – The Last Battlefront – audio link

What has occurred – What is occurring – What is to come

What your response is to be

(Please note: The links on this page are used in lieu of footnotes, citations and references; they contain vital detailed information regarding the teachings and the commentaries. Please read each linked page and video as you are able.)

Is the war on Christianity coming to a close? Her enemies are dancing in the streets over their latest apparent victories: The invasion, neutering and perversion of the Church. And, please believe me when I say, “as goes the Church, so goes the nation”.

This should not a surprise. The Bible foretells the corruption of the Church which is to occur in the Last Days. To wit:

2 Thessalonians2:1- 4, Now we request you, brethren,

(#1) with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you,

(#2) not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.,

(#3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for,

(#4) it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and,

(#5) the man of lawlessness is revealed,

(#6) the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that,

(#7) he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

WHAT IS THE APOSTASY?: In Christianity, Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia  means defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul, in, 2 Timothy 3:1, warns, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. Verse 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, verse 3, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, verse 4, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, verse 5, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” This was written Around AD 60.

The Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 3:3, warns, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, verse 4, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?This was written Around AD 60.

The Apostle John, in 1 John 2:18, tells us, “Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.” This was written around AD 90.

(Confirmation of the onset of The Last Days, according to specific and numerous testimonies by Jesus and His disciples.)

The pagan, hostile and unbelieving world has been warring against the Church and working on her steady decline, moving her toward apostasy since her earliest days.

Restating what the media and government is already telling us about the moral, civil, mental and spiritual decay in America seems redundant. But here are a few glaring issues: Parents are discouraged from disciplining their children and spanking is practically forbidden as ‘corporal punishment’; Children are allowed to sue parents for disciplining; there is an assertion by the ‘liberal pagan left’ that men can have babies; many believe it is permissible to kill a baby at birth for the convenience of the parents; homosexual marriage is legal; ‘transgenderism’ is practiced and enforced – the belief that a person is ‘born into the wrong biological body’.

The behavioral outcomes are they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these.

All the aforementioned perversions and evil deeds are in direct contravention to what is taught in the Bible and have affected, influenced and in misleading millions who call themselves Christians.

Depending on who you are hearing, the Church seems to be growing and gaining strength. But on close inspection, you will discover that the Actual Church, the Bride of Christ, is but a remnant of her early days:

“I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? “

“May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

“God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel: “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

“But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

“In the same way, then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”  Romans 11:1-6

 

The Bride of Christ is being prepared for the coming Groom – Jesus. This too is foretold.

Now, hear the word of God: You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.v9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (Peter 2:5).

Listen carefully and you will hear the trumpet-call.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

A Holy Remnant Is Born

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Watch and Pray that you do not enter into temptation”, Part 61

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 61

“Watch and pray that you many not enter into temptation”

And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again, he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:40-46.

Watch and Pray With Him So You and I May Not Enter Into Temptation.

A face-value reading of these verses in the proper context to include the previous three verses, is self-explanatory.

Jesus is entering what some might call a ‘crisis moment’ and is praying to God His Father. He asks Peter, James and John to watch and pray with Him, so they may not enter into temptation. They are tired and keep falling asleep. But there is much more at work here.

It is urgent for our understanding, our safety and the completion of our mission as Jesus’ disciples to see the motivations driving His command to watch and pray with Him so you (and I) may not enter into temptation.

The ‘long picture’ is that beyond His prayer to the Father, Jesus in entering into an act, into a period, that will change everything humanity has known. He will change how we have understood the Torah and Judaism, He will change the purpose and our understanding of our existence; He will clarify our understanding of God’s intention and purpose for creation, where all the world and cosmos are headed and how we can be redeemed from our sick and fallen nature, made safe, whole and healed from our sins and depravity, ultimately being made into the very image of Jesus, given the right and privilege, as joint-heirs with Christ to exist eternally with God in His new heaven and new earth.

IMPORTANT:  We must remember that every word from Jesus is THE WORD OF GOD. Jesus never uttered a misspoken word or haphazard words. Each and every word and intention express the very will of God.

Therefore, when Jesus instructs His disciples to watch and pray, He is speaking eternal, prophetic, causative and creative words. I do not believe this can be overstated.

His words, His instructions to watch and pray, initially, are in the present tense; watch and pray, now.

After finding His disciples asleep, He repeats His words, but this time in the Greek aorist tense, which without regard for past, present or future time – it is continuous. Again, remember that these are prophetic, causative and creative words for all His disciples for all times to hear and act upon.

(I am aware that there are those Bible teachers who would argue that some things in the Bible were exclusively written to and solely for the audience at hand at that moment. This type of thinking and teaching is short-sighted, simple-minded and harmful. The Bible is NOT a religious story book or an historical document intended to recount events that were not eternally relevant – it is the Word of God, breathed into the hearts and minds of God’s chosen authors, written down for us and for all the ages.)

We are to continue to watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation as God’s plan of redemption works Itself out, throughout the rest of time until He returns and completes His Work.

Repeating Jesus’ words of instruction: We can sleep and take our rest later on. We must see that the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is continuing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. We must rise, and be going; His betrayer is still coming and is now at hand.”

(To be clear, Jesus died only once, for all. But this act is being repeated through the lives of people throughout the rest of the allotted time of existence, until His final return. We, too, must ‘deny ourselves’ and ‘crucify our flesh with its passions and desires’ and follow Jesus in this example)

Let’s be encouraged and be emboldened, remembering, We will overcome “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony; and we love not our lives unto the death”. (see Revelation 12:11.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Remain Here, and Watch With Me”, Part 60

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 60

“Remain here, and watch with Me”

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:36-39

Troubled – adémoneó: to be distressed; Usage: feel fear, lack courage, am distressed, troubled; to be distressed, troubled. From a derivative of adeo (to be sated to loathing); to be in distress (of mind) — be full of heaviness, be very heavy.

Sorrowful – Strong’s #3076 lypéō (from #3077 /lýpē, “deep grief”) – to experience deep, emotional pain (sadness), i.e. severe sorrow (grief). 3076 (lypéō) is very intense and hence even used of the pain of childbirth (see Genesis 3:16, LXX). See 3077 (lypē).

Additional Insights:

Mark 14:34 reports that Jesus was grieved all around, i.e. Intensely sad — exceeding (very) sorry(-owful).

Luke 25:44 reports that Jesus was in a struggle (properly, the state), i.e. (figuratively) anguish – agony; the brand of struggle that emphasizes felt pressure, i.e. experienced in an intensely personal way (used only in Luke 22:44).

(Dear Friends: Please be warned – this is not for the faint of heart.)

If you read commentaries on this passage, generally you will find that although most writers correctly interpret and frame this event, they will dramatize and  speculate on Jesus’ mental, emotional and spiritual states beyond what scriptures actually tell us about Jesus praying and awaiting His appointment with crucifixion and death. (For just two examples, see The Enduring Word by David Guzik; and/or Biblehub.com Ellicot and Pulpit Commentary).

As entertaining (and horrifying) as this type of speculation is, it misses three vitally important points:

(1) We should be humbled as we are allowed to see the naked humanity of God the Son (Jesus); and by this we are put on notice that our time is also coming;

 

(2) Jesus teaches us (see Matthew 5:3) that only by being made ‘poor in spirit’, (that is by being crushed spiritually, and being violated in our mind, will and emotions, to the point of death), are we fit and prepared to ‘inherit the Kingdom of Heaven;

(3) This is the example being set before us for our coming test. The test that we also must endure as His disciples. (Seen first in Matthew 4:1-11, as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil – we see the example of the testing we too must endure). In these passages we see that as Jesus is preparing to endure the cross – we, too, must ‘deny ourselves’ and ‘crucify our flesh with its passions and desires’ and follow Jesus in this example.

(Please note, that although we are required to follow in His example, we are never ‘make godlike’. He alone is God the Son, and He alone is the Son of God; He alone is the ‘great miracle worker; and, He is the only Savior of the world.)

The greatest point made here is that Jesus endures the strain, the suffering and the humiliation of death of a criminal’s cross, so you and I can be made whole, made safe and healed in mind, body, soul and spirit. But do not doubt that you and I must endure a similar fate if we are to follow Jesus and enter the kingdom of heaven.

The postmodern church is telling us that if we will but bow our head and pray some simple little prayer, we can be saved. But this is woefully short of what Jesus teaches. (Please watch this short video by Pastor David Platt.

Also read “How Can I Get Into Heaven” and/or “Going to Hell Is Easier Than You Think”.

It is our task to do as Jesus has done, and to go a little farther, fall on our face and pray, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

Please come along with me as we work our way through these events and see the glorious outcome of our Journey with Christ Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “And He Found Them Sleeping”, Part 61

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THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “You Will Fall Away”, Part 59

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 59

“You will fall away”

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:30-35

These verses, as typically taught, focus on Peter’s denial of Jesus. However, Jesus, by these Words, has set a series of prophetic events into motion that will forever change the world and ultimately completes the plan of the Father for all of humanity, the heavens and the earth, for all eternity.

The words of Jesus in these verses seem to put the responsibility (or blame) on the disciples for falling away from Jesus and the faith. But a closer look at the text and an inspection of the Greek language tells a different story. Clearly, Jesus says, “You will all fall away because of me”.

Jesus says that He is the cause of the disciples ‘falling away’ (Skandalízō – to set a snare, (a “stumbling-block“); (figuratively) “to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble” – literally, “to fall into a trap”; To trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) — (make to) offend), and the falling away is not a permanent abandonment of Jesus by the disciples, but is a ‘trap’ set ahead of time in order to initiate a test to sift the disciples (see Luke 22:31) in preparation for Jesus’ return to Galilee after His Resurrection. (see John chapter 21. Also see Matthew 28:16-20.)

This event led to the Jesus giving of the Great Commission, (and your command, as a disciple of Jesus, to go and make disciples), His ascension, the imparting and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, the first of many salvations by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, leading to the breaking of the 5th Tribulation Seal of the great apostasy and the great latter-day persecution of the saints. God is using this event, the results of this ‘falling away’, to purge, refine and cleanse Believers, current and future, perfecting them and us through these trials and tribulations into the image of Jesus.

His judgment of the earth and all people is coming, and when it is completed, He will make a new heaven and a new earth for His perfected creation. A perfect home in His perfect presence, for all eternity.

Fall Away: Skandalízō – to set a snare, (a “stumbling-block“); (figuratively) “to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble” – literally, “to fall into a trap”; To trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) — (make to) offend.

Further insights on this prophetic event from:

Mark 14:26 “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Verse 27And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ Verse 28. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, verse 32, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Verse 33. Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Verse 34. Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Peter, in response to Jesus, said, “I will never fall away”.  But Jesus corrects Peter, saying, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” This time, perhaps to help Peter understand what He means, Jesus says Peter will DENY Him, (instead of ‘fall away’), or perhaps Jesus means Peter will both fall away (fall into a trap or be tripped up by these events) and will disown or repudiate Jesus. And, it is important to notice that all the disciples said the same.”

This is relevant as a reminder that we, too, are subject to a ‘falling away’ in the sense of being ‘tripped up’ in order that Satan may sift us in preparation for God to purge us, refine us and cleanse up in preparation for His return – this time instead of Galilee, His return to ‘earth on the clouds at the sound of the Trumpet to gather His elect from the four winds of the earth’.

God has given you a free will and the power of choice. You must choose whether to accept and engage this prophetic unfolding, or to reject it and rebel against what God has prepared for you. One way leads to eternal life and the other to a spiritual death, an outer darkness with wailing and gnashing of teeth. Either way, this is taking place, even as I write the words. Please choose, wisely.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Remain Here and Watch With Me”, Part 60

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IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP REALLY IN A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE?

Depending on who you are listening to, church membership and attendance is either in decline or is on the rise. It seems that those with no apparent immediate ‘stake in the game’ are reporting a decline while many denominations are saying they are spreading and growing, just not necessarily in America and not from ‘new converts’; it seems that theirs isn’t real growth. It is people leaving other churches and coming to their church – for a while.

A Gallup poll reports, “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time” (March 29, 2021). Gallup reported thatAmericans’ membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.”

They report that the change primarily due to rise in Americans with no religious preference. But that does not tell the whole story. Most of these studies are about the results but fail to delve into the reasons for the decline except to say things like, ‘There are fascinating explanations, theories and hypotheses for these trends — why we continue to see predictable variations in religiosity across the age spectrum, decade after decade”.

Research and polling organization are not predicting the demise of religion in America anytime soon. But it is evident there is a restructuring taking place and a major shift, a reformulating of belief systems is occurring, particularly away from fundamental beliefs in traditional Biblical doctrines to a more ‘user-friendly’ version. These changes are now being played out in the lives of these individual Christians and Christian religious organizations – and it overlooks the mandates and practices of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I.e., it ‘ain’t your Momma’s Gospel no more’.

One of the cornerstones of Christian thought and belief is based on the doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy, and Biblical inerrancy is under attack, both inside and outside the Church. Liberal ideologies and Marxist thought has invaded the Church and is rewriting The Book. (E. J. Young, in his classic work on the inspiration of the Bible, gives us a good definition of inerrancy: “By this word we mean that the Scriptures possess the quality of freedom from error. They are exempt from the liability to mistake, incapable of error. In all their teachings, they are in perfect accord with the truth.”)

The doctrine of biblical inerrancy is extremely important because the truth matters. This issue reflects on the character of God and is foundational to our understanding of everything the Bible teaches and influences how people conduct their lives.

One outspoken defender of traditional Biblical conservatism and proponent of Biblical Inerrancy, Pastor Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church and president of the Founders Ministries, Cape Coral, Florida contends that “we have been blessed with ready access to the Bible for so long and have seen reaffirmation of its full authority so boldly declared by many of our pastors, churches, and institutions that we have made the affirmation of its inerrancy almost meaningless.

When a Church’s practices veer away from its proclamations (what it says it believes), the people attending that Church take notice. Some will blindly follow a church teaching no matter the circumstance, but many more will question contradictions in faith and practice. When those differences become harmful, untenable or blatantly hypocritical, people will either leave the church for good or will start searching for a new church. And it seems that if that or a similar experience is repeated at another church or not, it seems many of the ‘rightly offended’ leave church membership and church attendance for good – or at least find an alternative to a ‘brick and mortar church’.

According to Pew Research, here are some of the main things people say they are looking for and why they would attend church:

– To become closer to God

– To find forgiveness

– To grow spiritually

– To give my children a good moral foundation

– To make me a better person

– To comfort me in times of sorrow

– Find the sermons valuable

– To be part of a community of faith

– To continue a family’s religious traditions

– Feeling a religious obligation to go

– To meet new people

– To please my family, spouse or partner

However, when these offerings are not found in a church or the expectations are not met, people usually leave that church – and many decide to just stay away from the traditional Church setting.

On the flip side of this coin are reasons why people leave church. But there are as many reasons people leave the church as there are people who actually leave church, so I won’t attempt to list all the reasons. But here are a few from credible sources:

According to ChurchLeaders.com:

  1. You (the members) aren’t the problem – it’s the church.
  2. Your Sunday ‘production’ is wearing thin.
  3. You speak a religious language I don’t understand.
  4. Church buildings, your programs and staff are your higher priorities than the members, and are the only apparent vision for the future.
  5. You are fighting the wrong battles; the externals ones. We, the people, need help, first.
  6. Your love doesn’t feel like love.
  7. You seem to be blaming me and the other members for your failures.

Lifeway Research adds this:

  1. I was hurt at church and nobody is helping us to reconcile.
  2. I had a need and the church did not come to my aid.
  3. I tried, but couldn’t connect.
  4. You are trying to control every aspect of my life and faith for your own objectives, and without good reason.

So, where is the church headed, and what should I do about it?

Review your own attitude and efforts within your church, and if you still suspect that your church or church experience is leading you away from God and the Gospel of Jesus, then perhaps it’s time for a change.

  1. If you have been trying to ‘fit in’ for several years and are still feeling left out, talk to your pastor and ask him for advice. (If he fails to help you, then maybe it’s time to change churches.)
  2. Does your preacher, church staff and leadership teach and practice what is clearly taught in the Bible? (If you need help here, at the very least compare the teaching, attitudes and behavior of your church leadership to Galatians 5:22-24. If theirs is different, it may be time for a change.)
  3. The teaching is Biblically sound but the pastor and staff operative under a shroud of secrecy. (I.e., you don’t know exact salaries of staff, where the church money goes, why the pastor and staff avoid socializing with the membership.) Then maybe it’s time for a change.
  4. If your church is too political, too polarized, has too many cliques or it is obvious the pastors has his favorites, then it is time for a change. (This is becoming cult-like).
  5. If most of your long-held and respected friends keep leaving, there must be a reason. Ask them.

You don’t have to be a sociologist or a psychologist to figure this out. If your church is ‘above you’ they may simply be ruling over you and that is not right.

The pastor and staff are to be servants of the Lord and are to care for those in their charge. Their vision for the church, their ambitions, goals and personal agenda should never rise to the level of ‘caring for the flock’.

Your church leadership may say they are spreading the Gospel and reaching the lost, but their primary responsibility while performing the Great Commission is the Great Commandment: “To Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Finally, once you find your place, remember, you are not to be a ward or a dependent of the Church – you are a member of God’s Church; and members of God’s Church are ‘A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Set your sights and your efforts on becoming a disciple of Jesus. Join with others to support your church to reach the lost with the Good News of Jesus; to help gather the straying sheep of God; become what God has called you to become, such as a pastor, a teacher, an evangelist. Recognize and employ the Spiritual Gift God has given you.

Refuse to be a victim of Church drift, apostasy, scandal or abuse. Become the Victor in Christ! Find your place and thrive in Jesus name!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

More on this subject: FRACTURED CHURCH?

I GOOGLED THE WORD, “PRAYER”, and got…

I ‘Googled’ the word ‘prayer’ and got 1,280,000,000 results (0.59 seconds). That might suggest that prayer is a popular subject.

The subjects, or the sub-topics of these search results, range from definitions of prayer to ‘how to pray’ and more – 1.28 billion more.

Since I am a Christian and I hold to more of a reformed view of scriptures (leaving plenty of room for the Sovereignty of God to be and to do beyond what my puny mind can imagine or think). Which brings me to prayer.

I have read, studied and prayed at length about prayer. I believe every word the Bible presents about prayer and praying – and perhaps ‘a little bit more’, if that is permissible, (or does make me a bit Pentecostal or Charismatic with a slant toward an Armenian view of scriptures? If so, oh woe is me.)

The reason I say ‘a little bit more’ is that I have a nagging feeling that I am missing something. A big something, at that. This feeling comes from that fact that I have seen and experienced some absolutely amazing results from prayer. I should call them miracles because these are things of which the occurrence should have been absolutely impossible, at least in this natural world. These are things that have neither a scientific, natural or coincidental explanation (i.e., luck). They have been 100% inexplicable.

I will give you just two examples and a link where you can read more, then I will pose my ‘nagging question’ about prayer:

EXAMPLE #1.

Our family was travelling from a vacation in Orlando, Florida. My sons were about five and eight years old. We stopped at a ‘pull off area’, sort-of-a rest stop, on highway A-1-A somewhere near Saint Augustine, Florida.

The weather was cloudy and blustery. The waves were splashing onto the sidewalk along the shore line, which was lined with large stones to stop erosion, I guessed.

My youngest son, I and walked to the end of a sidewalk cul-de-sac to look at the splashing water. I felt safe enough, then suddenly a huge wave crashed over the rock abutment and onto the two of us. When the water receded, my son was gone! The wave had sucked him into the turbulent water and I could see no trace of him. Prayers began to race in my mind and out of my mouth.

Psalm 116:8-9

For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

Panic seized me and my first thought was, “GO GET HIM!”. So, I kicked off my tennis shoes and turned to dive into the water, which was probably a very bad idea, when another huge wave crashed onshore and as suddenly there was my son Jody, standing upright on the sidewalk, soaking wet, sputtering water and crying! I grabbed him and ran back toward the car, thinking, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Nobody is going to believe this.”

EXAMPLE #2.

I had started a mailing business that depended on a mail program to work properly each week. Even a one day delay of getting the mail prepared and sent would be financially disastrous for my business and for our family’s financial needs.

One particular week, this computer program stopped working. The data input from, what was then called ‘floppy disks’, would not work. I feverously tried again and again. I even reformatted the entire hard drive, reinstalled the operating system on the computer, reinstalled the mailing programs and when I tried to download the homeowner’s data FROM THE 26 FLOPPY DISKS, the program would fail at disk number 18, and disks 18 through 26 were the critical disks. I prayed continuously. I prayed fervently. I prayed desperately.

I worked on this for TWELVE hours (through the entire night and into the next morning), reformatting the hard drive and repeating the process, knowing that if this failed, we would become bankrupt and could not even buy groceries the next month.

I stopped in exhaustion, cried out to God, “I give up. I quit! I have prayed and prayed to you! Now, I give up.”

I started putting things away in resignation. I was defeated. My mind darted back and forth between what to do next and resentment. It was then I decided to do this ONE MORE TIME.

I restarted the computer and put disk number one into the computer. The computer whirred and gave me a screen message that confused me, “INSERT DISK #18”. I was completely confounded. It made absolutely no sense that the computer would skip disks 1 through 17 and ask for disk 18.

I followed the instruction and inserted disk #18. The program accepted disk #18 and another message came on the screen asking for disk #19. This continued until disk #26, the final disk, and after installing the data from disk #26, the machine turned itself off! It did it own its own!

My heart was beating what seemed like a hundred beats a minute. I restarted the computer and told it to start printing the mailing list, AND IT WORKED!

God had answered in a humanly impossible situation, in a physically impossible way. As far as I could tell, every logical law of math and programming had been violated and transcended. Yet, here we were. Saved again. Safe and sound. BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

Now, my nagging question(s) about prayer.

  1. Why does it seem that God answers some prayers and is silent at other times?
  2. Do we have some control over getting our prayers answered?
  3. Is there a particular method or system that works best?
  4. Is prayer just to mystical to question or to understand, or
  5. Are we just naturally wired to God for prayer?

The Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (see Psalm 139:14) and it seems that scientists are slowly discovering the science behind the Bible’s claims. Could it be (dear God, forgive me) that God has created our being, our brain, to actually communicate our prayers in ways we could not have imagined?

Scientists have recently identified a unique form of cell messaging occurring in the human brain that’s not been seen before.

Excitingly, the discovery hints that our brains might be even more powerful units of computation than we realized. By measuring the electrical activity in sections of tissue removed during surgery on epileptic patients and analyzing their structure using fluorescent microscopy, the neurologists found individual cells in the cortex used not just the usual sodium ions to ‘fire’, but calcium as well.

This combination of positively charged ions kicked off waves of voltage that had never been seen before, referred to as a calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials, or dCaAPs. A first of its kind signal has been detected in the human brain!

The electromagnetic theories of consciousness propose that consciousness can be understood as an electromagnetic phenomenon. Theorists, however, differ in how they relate consciousness to electromagnetism. Electromagnetic field theories (or “EM field theories”) of consciousness propose that consciousness results when a brain produces an electromagnetic field with specific characteristics. Susan Pockett and Johnjoe McFadden have proposed EM field theories.

The starting point for McFadden and Pockett’s CEMI theory is the fact that every time a neuron fires to generate an action potential, and a postsynaptic potential in the next neuron down the line, it also generates a disturbance in the surrounding electromagnetic field. McFadden has proposed that the brain’s electromagnetic field creates a representation of the information in the neurons. Studies undertaken towards the end of the 20th century are argued to have shown that conscious experience correlates not with the number of neurons firing, but with the synchrony of that firing. McFadden views the brain’s electromagnetic field as arising from the induced EM field of neurons. The synchronous firing of neurons is, in this theory, argued to amplify the influence of the brain’s EM field fluctuations to a much greater extent than would be possible with the unsynchronized firing of neurons.

Susan Pockett has advanced a theory, which has a similar physical basis to McFadden’s, with consciousness seen as identical to certain spatiotemporal patterns of the EM field.

Electromagnetic theories of consciousness

 Spatiotemporal patterns are patterns that occur in a wide range of natural phenomana and are characterized by a spatial and temporal patterning. The general rules of pattern formation hold. In contrast to “static”, pure spatial patterns, the full complexity of spatiotemporal patterns can only be recognized over time. Any kind of traveling wave is a good example of a spatiotemporal pattern.

Energy, a measure of the ability to do work, comes in many forms and can transform from one type to another. Examples of stored or potential energy include batteries and water behind a dam. Objects in motion are examples of kinetic energy. Charged particles—such as electrons and protons—create electromagnetic fields when they move, and these fields transport the type of energy we call electromagnetic radiation, or light.

What are Electromagnetic and Mechanical waves?

Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves are two important ways that energy is transported in the world around us. Waves in water and sound waves in air are two examples of mechanical waves. Mechanical waves are caused by a disturbance or vibration in matter, whether solid, gas, liquid, or plasma. Matter that waves are traveling through is called a medium. Water waves are formed by vibrations in a liquid and sound waves are formed by vibrations in a gas (air). These mechanical waves travel through a medium by causing the molecules to bump into each other, like falling dominoes transferring energy from one to the next. Sound waves cannot travel in the vacuum of space because there is no medium to transmit these mechanical waves.

Classical waves transfer energy without transporting matter through the medium. Waves in a pond do not carry the water molecules from place to place; rather the wave’s energy travels through the water, leaving the water molecules in place, much like a bug bobbing on top of ripples in water.

When a balloon is rubbed against a head of hair, astatic electric charge is created causing their individual hairs to repel one another. Credit: Ginger Butcher

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Electricity can be static, like the energy that can make your hair stand on end. Magnetism can also be static, as it is in a refrigerator magnet. A changing magnetic field will induce a changing electric field and vice-versa—the two are linked. These changing fields form electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.

The brain produces electromagnetic radiation. Radio waves and brain waves are both forms of electromagnetic radiation — waves of energy that travel at the speed of light. Furthermore, the brain sends electromagnetic signals. Brain Waves deal with particular states of neurological activity in a physical brain. Electromagnetic waves deal with the propagation of energy from sources of atomic matter (atoms). Brain waves may consist of Electromagnetic waves (radiation) although electromagnetic Waves do not consist of Brain Waves.

Therefore, humans give off electromagnetic waves. In fact, all objects, including human bodies, emit electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of radiation emitted depends on the temperature of the objects. Such radiation is sometimes called thermal radiation. Most of the radiation emitted by human body is in the infrared region, mainly at the wavelength of 12 micron.

By testing the response of the human body on a vibrating platform, many researchers found the human whole-body fundamental resonant frequency to be around 5 Hz. However, in recent years, an indirect method has been prosed which appears to increase the resonant frequency to approximately 10 Hz. These changes in power were mostly detected in one versus all three coils simultaneously. These results suggest that it is possible for human beings to alter the electromagnetic environment around their hands at will.

Humans give off mostly infrared radiation, which is electromagnetic radiation with a frequency lower than visible light.

Additionally, The mind acts like a powerful magnet. It can attract things, people and situations, and it can also repel them. This depends on your attitude, and how positive or negative you are. You can attract into your life what you think about most often.

Our bodies naturally conduct electricity. In fact, every organ and cell in the human body has its own field. The magnetic field produces electrical currents that are weaker than you may first think. The brain experiences its own activity through its magnetism, and subjective experiences are actually the brain’s magnetic field, resonating with the brain’s electrical activity. Consciousness is how magnetic each pole of a magnetic field experiences the other.  (That would suggest that the phenomenon cannot be explained by magnetism and uses a different kind of physical effect.)

Oh, well. Who knows how all of this can affect our prayers? At this point, only God knows. So, just pray in faith. God hears and answers prayer!

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. Read full chapter

John 15:16  You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. Read full chapter

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Read full chapter.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Other interesting links:

“It ain’t always easy to believe”

“Was this a miracle?”

 

Additional Questions and answers:

Reimagining education.org – Does the brain produce electromagnetic radiation?

Does the brain produce electromagnetic radiation? Radio waves and brain waves are both forms of electromagnetic radiation — waves of energy that travel at the speed of light.

Does the brain send electromagnetic signals? Brain Waves deal with particular states of neurological activity in a physical brain. Electromagnetic waves deal with the propagation of energy from sources of atomic matter (atoms). Brain waves may consist of Electromagnetic waves (radiation) but Electromagnetic Waves do not consist of Brain Waves.

Do Humans give off electromagnetic waves? Yes, all objects, including human bodies, emit electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of radiation emitted depends on the temperature of the objects. Such radiation is sometimes called thermal radiation. Most of the radiation emitted by human body is in the infrared region, mainly at the wavelength of 12 micron.

What frequencies do humans emit? By testing the response of the human body on a vibrating platform, many researchers found the human whole-body fundamental resonant frequency to be around 5 Hz. However, in recent years, an indirect method has been prosed which appears to increase the resonant frequency to approximately 10 Hz.

Does the brain produce electromagnetic radiation? – Additional Questions

Can humans manipulate electricity?

That is, these changes in power were mostly detected in one versus all three coils simultaneously. These results suggest that it is possible for human beings to alter the electromagnetic environment around their hands at will.

Which type of electromagnetic waves does your body emit?

Humans give off mostly infrared radiation, which is electromagnetic radiation with a frequency lower than visible light.

Are humans electromagnetic beings?

For your question “is human an electromagnetic field?”, the answer is no because electromagnetic fields are produced by the electromagnetic energy from radio frequency (low frequency and low energy) to gamma rays (high frequency and high energy) in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Do radio waves go through your body?

For example, microwave frequencies below 3,000 megahertz can penetrate the outer layers of the skin, be absorbed in the underlying tissues, and result in all of the known biological effects of heating, including burns, cataracts, and possibly death.

Are humans naturally magnetic?

Today, two hundred years later, we know that the human body is indeed magnetic in the sense that the body is a source of magnetic fields, but this body magnetism is very different from that imagined by Mesmer.

Can humans manipulate electromagnetic?

That is, these changes in power were mostly detected in one versus all three coils simultaneously. These results suggest that it is possible for human beings to alter the electromagnetic environment around their hands at will.

Is our mind a magnet?

The mind acts like a powerful magnet. It can attract things, people and situations, and it can also repel them. This depends on your attitude, and how positive or negative you are. You can attract into your life what you think about most often.

Does the brain have a magnetic field?

The comparison revealed that the human brain had a detectable magnetism after a magnetic field had been applied to the samples. The results showed that magnetite was in “almost every piece” of the specimens, said Gilder.

Are humans magnetically charged?

Do Humans Have A Magnetic Field? Our bodies naturally conduct electricity. In fact, every organ and cell in the human body has its own field. The magnetic field produces electrical currents that are weaker than you may first think.

Is consciousness a magnetic field?

The brain experiences its own activity through its magnetism, and subjective experiences are actually the brain’s magnetic field, resonating with the brain’s electrical activity. Consciousness is how magnetic each pole of a magnetic field experiences the other.

Can a human be magnetic?

That would suggest that the phenomenon cannot be explained by magnetism and uses a different kind of physical effect. Skeptic Benjamin Radford has used a compass to check the magnetic field of a person that claimed to be a human magnet. He concluded that person did not produce magnetic fields.

THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Why Do You Trouble This Woman?”, Part 56

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 56

“Why do you trouble the woman?”

But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

The Words of Jesus – Matthew 26:10-13

This event begins in Matthew 26:6: “Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, Verse 7, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. Verse 8. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? Verse 9. For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”

Jesus is entering the last few days of His ministry on earth. He is preparing Himself and His disciples for His crucifixion. What follows in this and coming episodes are the richest and most profound insights. Many in the Church today fail to recognize or accept the power and strength Jesus is teaching and demonstrating for us to follow in our day of testing. You and I would be wise to see, hear and remember, because our day is coming, also.

We are given much greater detail of Matthew 26:6-13 in the book of John, chapter 12, verses 1-7.

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.  Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Staying true to His nature, the preparation for His death has taken place without any religious pomp or circumstance. The Suffering Servant, Christ Jesus,

A face-value reading of these verses is sufficient for our understanding of what occurred. Mary has poured a pound of expensive perfumed ointment on His feet, as Jesus has said, “to prepare Me for burial”. But Jesus adds significance to her act of worship, saying, “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

This is an example for all future Christians. Mary has signified worship, and surrender of her valuable worldly possessions, the washing away of sins by her identifying with Christ in His (coming) death and burial.

When anyone is saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, this is the model of our act of worship, surrender of our worldly possessions, (material possessions, pride of life, ego, status, achievements and the like), the washing away of our sins by our identifying with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

It is the example that memorialized Mary’s love and dedication to Jesus. It is the act that will memorialize you in your devotion and love of Jesus and set an example for those who come after you.

Baptism as a ritual or as a sacrament alone, is not enough as our sole act of identifying with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. We must truly die to our former self, relinquish our rights to our former possessions and ways of life as an act of both true submission to and worship of Jesus. Then we are truly made new and given a new life worth living.

We follow Him in life, death, burial and resurrection.

Your Brother

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “You Will Fall Away”, Part 59

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