Disclaimer: This letter is a call to Christians to come out of their slumber. I remind the reader that I had correctly and succinctly explained the coming Islamic-Marxist invasion 10 years ago. I explained the roots of the attempted takeover of America, including the Globalist’s Agenda 21 and Agenda 2030, before the media began to lament the matter. The same is true about the democrat party, particularly the Biden era. NOW I am, in a manner of speaking, ‘sounding the ‘shofar’ once again.

WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR

Nations will rise against nations, and there will be famines and earthquakes. Then they will hand you over to tribulation and they will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away from the faith, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will mislead many people. And because lawlessness in increased , most people’s love will grow cold.

When will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age?

1. When will these things happen? Look around yourself and around the world. Are you blind? Are you asleep? Why are you waiting for something that is upon you?
2. What will be the ‘sign’ of Jesus’ coming? Learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Right at the door? Jesus spoke these words in or around A.D. 32. ‘This generation’ He spoke about was in or around A.D. 32.

Thus, “they will hand you over to tribulation” began in or around A.D. 32 or more factually, these events were set in motion at or around the time of Jesus’ birth. (Also see the testimonies of the Apostles and the Disciples).

The malaise of the false teachings within the church today is the fatal wound from which many will not recover.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus established His Church first to create a community of believers who would preach the gospel, prepare a people for the Lord, and serve as a light in the world. This community was meant to continue His teachings and fulfill God’s plan for salvation. Additionally, Jesus knew and warned of what was coming and His Church would be the instrument to confront and counter the coming antichrist (also known as the ‘beast from the sea’), the false prophet (also known as the ‘beast from the earth) and preparation for the Church to be ‘snatched away’ or ‘raptured’ from the earth just prior to the events of the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of The Lamb.

It has been my observation that most of the Church (most Christians) are woefully unprepared for what is at hand. Most Christians will say that they made a ‘profession of faith’ so they are ready for Jesus’ return, and are in fact looking forward to His return.

I don’t take issue with that, however, the Bible does not stop there. It says:

1. That if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved; for if the person believes resulting in righteousness, and (therefore) confesses with the mouth, it will result in their salvation. (See Romans 10:9-10).
2. Jesus also says that those who belong to Him have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (See Galatians 5:24).
3. Jesus also says Matthew 4:19, And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
4. Matthew 8:22, But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
5. Matthew 16:24, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
6. Matthew 19:21, Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
7. Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
8. John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
9. And it is to these who are following Him He said:

 Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

Matthew 16:13, Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

It is important to understand the nuance of the language Jesus uses here.  He calls Peter by name, Pétros in the Greek language, which is an isolated rock or a stone as one would throw.  But, the ROCK upon which Jesus will build His Church is the word “pétra”, which is a huge mass of interconnected rock, a “solid or native rock, rising up through the earth”.

This is important because Jesus is telling you, and all of His followers, about your position, your ability, your responsibility and your authority in His Church:

• I will build My Church, (upon you and others like you); and
• the gates of Hades will not overpower you and others like you.
• I will give you and others like you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
  • and whatever you and others like you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven,
  • and whatever you and others like you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Finally, Jesus says He will give you and others like you, that is, His Church, the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  We can pursue this as a metaphor, but, there are specific references to these KEYS in the scriptures.

1. The most significant is The Key of David is a term found in Revelation 3:7 and Isaiah 22:22.
   • A key indicates control or authority; therefore, having the Key of David would give one control of David’s domain, i.e., Jerusalem, the City of David, and the kingdom of Israel.
   • The fact that, in Revelation 3:7Jesus holds this key shows that He is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, the ruler of the New Jerusalem, and the Lord of the kingdom of heaven.
2. And (you)coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone,
And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe;   (1 Peter 2:4-7)

You and I must take up our appointed positions.  We must shake of the lethargy of the 21st century postmodern religion we call ‘church’ and take the Gospel of Jesus to the streets, the byways, the hedges and towns, into our neighborhoods, and as scriptures tell us, BECOME THE LIVING STONES, A LIVING SACRIFICE.

3. It is to these that He said:

GO, MAKE DISCIPLES

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^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:16-20)

It is sad and shocking that the Church and the Christian today has settled in to a very different model and rhythm than that what Jesus taught, commanded and demonstrated.

It should be at least concerning that despite Jesus’ and the Bible’s warnings that we, the Church, have bought into some romantic story about an ultimate conquest of good over evil where we will rest comfortably while the earth and its inhabitants undergo indescribable horrors of judgments and punishment. The Bible actually has a much different narrative:

Meaning of Following Jesus

Following Jesus involves more than just physical proximity; it signifies a transformation in one’s life. Key aspects include:

• Self-Denial: Embracing a lifestyle that prioritizes Jesus’ teachings over personal desires.
• Commitment: A willingness to leave behind old ways and fully engage in a life aligned with His values.
• Learning and Imitation: Actively learning from Jesus’ teachings and imitating His example in daily life.

Jesus’ commands to “follow Me” encapsulate the essence of Christian discipleship, calling individuals to a deeper relationship with Him through self-denial, commitment, and transformation.

Historical interpretations of Jesus’ command to follow Him emphasize that it involves transformation and commitment, requiring disciples to align their lives with His teachings and example. This call signifies a willingness to leave behind old ways and embrace a new identity centered on serving others and living out His values.

Now ask yourself: How does this fit in with my efforts to follow Jesus? My Sunday morning visit to church? What do I do in response to the sermons and Sunday school lessons?

Making Disciples is not sitting in a church classroom taking notes on ‘relational witnessing’ or some such thing. It is being led by and following the pastor and elders of the Church into the harvest fields and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand. Teaching in their churches, laying hands on the diseased and the sick so they will recover and casting out demons. (Whether in actuality or as a metaphor for Spiritual healing).

The malaise of the false teachings within the church today is the fatal wound from which many will not recover.

“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” (See Jeremiah 6:14).

(Continued at Following Jesus – Resist & Gird Up For War)

PRAYER – POWERFUL OR PATHETIC?

I was watching the movie “Ordinary Angels” with Hillary Swank (Sharon in the movie) and Alan Ritchson (Ed Schmitt) which is based on a true story. Ed is a hard-working middle-class guy, with a wife and two daughters. His wife dies of cancer leaving him with two adolescents and $432,000 in medical bills. He is clearly drowning in debt and sorrow. Then his youngest daughter, Michelle, is diagnosed with an untreatable and fatal liver disease. Her only hope is a liver transplant. Ed’s mother comes to help with the household and encourages Ed to not lose his faith in God. Ed responds saying, “Michelle is on the same 17 prayer lists as Sharon, and look at what good that did”.

How many people-how many of you reading this-may have felt, or are now feeling the same way? How many people, through despair, have sadly decided that prayer is nothing more than ‘an opiate for the masses’ of suffering people?

It may be helpful and maybe even ‘lifesaving’ to know these important biblical facts about prayer.

1. Effective biblical prayer is for the Righteous.

James 5:13-16 informs, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

2. Effective biblical prayer is for the confident.

Mark 11:22-24 tells us that, “Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

1 John 5:14-15, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 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.”

3. Effective biblical prayer is for those who endure.

Matthew 24:13, “The one who endures to the end will be saved (sozo – to be healed, preserved, made safe, to do well, be made whole, to bring safely).

When all is said and done, it is God Who does the work of hearing, answering and executing the prayers of a Righteous person.

You can know ‘all the steps’, requirements and commandments regarding effective prayer, but it is in God’s Eternal Plan to hear and answer your prayers. But He will answer according to His Will, Purpose and Plan, for all things work together for the good of those who are (the) called according to his purpose. And sometimes the best prayer is just “God please help me!”

His answers to your prayers, at times may seem bewildering, difficult, painful and not what you thought you wanted or needed. But, stand fast. Do not faint or turn aways. God is answering and has answered your prayers. (And, by the way, He never says ‘no’ to one of His children. He just does it His Way and not your way.)

4. Effective biblical prayer is a process and a blessing. (This following section is for the brave-in-heart who want to know about this entire matter).

Matthew 5:1-11, Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1. This “Sermon on the Mount” starts by telling us that we are Blessed, when we are poor in spirit. We all have heard that this means we are “spiritually bankrupt”.Yes, I suppose this can be one very basic and rudimentary meaning.Being “Poor in Spirit” however, means so much more:

V3:  “Poor in spirit” (Greek:  ptochos) literally means reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor;  lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches; helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; poor, needy, lacking in anything as respects their spirit; destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford (men of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure.

This comes from a root and alternate meaning “to be terrified”, “as a decaying corpse”.

It should cause us to wonder how could we possibly be considered “Blessed” if we are “poor in spirit”.

“Poor in spirit” is, more literally, to be crushed in your spirit; to be pinched by toil, hopelessness and extreme poverty; A beggar with no hope of rescue on the verge of death and perishing.

It is when life deals you crushing blows, which seem to be your end with no way of escape that this marvelous work of salvation, redemption and sanctification can begin; and not before.

We hear it said “you must come to the end of yourself to enter the Kingdom of God” which is true enough, but none of us have the will power to bring ourselves to such a desperate state.  It is God, alone, who will allow or bring crushing circumstances to bear on our lives which will cause us to turn to God for help.  And only God can save us from such desperate circumstances, redeem us to a state of wholeness, health and safety which is His Sanctification (holiness) of our lives.

Please read the following verses and take note of the process.  Here, the Bible explain to us, ahead of time, what we must endure (yes, endure) in order to “inherit the Kingdom of God”.Verse 4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Mourning”.  An understandable response upon finding yourself severely pinched by poverty, reduced to begging; destitute with no influence, no position; lowly, afflicted and helpless; powerless to change your circumstances for the better; lacking in anything and terrified.

Think with me.  Have you ever endured an especially difficult time?  Perhaps, as a child, you were punished for bad behavior?  Besides receiving a scolding you may have been spanked or had privileges taken from you?  Or perhaps you endured a time of suffering and loss?  “Mourning” was the natural response.  What did you experience next?

Verse 5: “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Do you remember after enduring a time of suffering or loss and “mourning” your loss, having a good cry, you how your emotions or spirit was quieted for a time?  You may have now had time to reflect on what has happened and you lapse into a time of quiet, gentle appearing reflection.

Verse 6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Do you remember coming through a difficult time, having a good cry, either mentally or actually shedding tears and then the ‘calm the followed the storm’ in your soul?  Do you also remember that, for some reason, with the storm of your life behind you, you were actually hungry?

It is the same in our spirit.  It is usually at this point that we begin to make life-decisions.  We either getting angry and defiant or we decide to do better and to “be better”.

For those being redeemed by the mercies of God, the process is to ‘hunger and thirst for right thinking and right living’:  which is the very definition of Righteousness.

It is through this process that we gain new insights and understanding.  How apt are scriptures to remind us in the next verse that

Verse 7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The word ‘mercy’ in this verse literally means “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one’s self merciful

We are indeed being “Sanctified”:  Being made holy and set apart for God’s use.

Verse 8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Our attitudes are changing.  Showing mercy is a sign that our hearts are changing and become pure in the sight of God.  We are being transformed in what we see and in how we see.  We are beginning to see matters as God sees them.

Verse 9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

A peace will begin to settle over the heart and mind of the redeemed and sanctified Believer.  We, not only begin to experience ‘a peace that passes understanding’ from our deepening relationship with God, but we begin to demonstrate and practice that peace of God which earns us the title “sons (and daughters) of God”.  We are being made into His image.

Verse 10: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The bible tells us that it is now that we possess the Kingdom of Heaven.  This statement is too rich and too profound for the “casual Christian” or “casual Believer” to understand.

The phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” means this:

Kingdom:  932 βασιλεία basileia bas-il-i’-ah. Probably from Strong’s #939 through the notion of a foundation of power; 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom

1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah

1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom

(Note:  This comes from a root word baino,  “to walk”, AV-foot (sole of) a stepping, walking; that with which one steps, the foot; This reminds us of the tremendous proclamation in Joshua 1:3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.”

Heaven:  3772 οὐρανός ouranos oo-ran-os’; perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it; the universe, the world; the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings.

We are becoming and, in a real sense, we have already become, heirs of the Kingdom of God, the place of the foundation of all power.

(Ephesians 1:4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,)

A place of royal power, kingship, dominion and rule, not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom, God’s Kingdom.  It is of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah.  It is the Place of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom.  (From Strong’s concordance, definitions and translations of the Greek and Hebrew languages)

Through this process called Sanctification, Matthew 5:14 says,  “You are (now) the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (Therefore) “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Verse 11. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Verse 12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

If this seems or sounds counter intuitive, you are right. But just look at the life and ministry of Jesus. Read Matthew 4:1-11 and realize that Jesus led by example. You will endure this same testing, the process of being sanctified – or you will not receive.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: There may be some of you asking, “If God is such a good God, why does He allow suffering–especially of children and the most vulnerable?”

First, let me be blunt. I say to that person what God said to Job, who suffered enormously: “Who are you to questions God’s authority and wisdom by your words? Words that have no knowledge or wisdom? Hike up your pants like a big boy or girl and act like a man or a woman, and I will ask you about His matters. You would question or instruct God?! Where were you when God laid the foundation of the earth? Will you, who has no real knowledge of God, be His critic and faultfinder? You know nothing about His Eternal Plan and why people suffer.”  You are asking is the wrong question. The right question is “What is the purpose of suffering and how should I respond?”

TWO VIEWS

There are only two views of creation, existence, and eternity. (1). Either it was a fortunate cosmic coincidental accident. This can be called naturalism. Or (2). It was an intentional creative instance that continues to be created by a Creator. This is called creationism. There may be other variations of one of these two views-nuances-but is no defensible middle ground.

I am not presenting an argument here. I am not comparing or contrasting these two views. I am presenting something much more urgent: How your chosen view is determining your current existence, that is, your life, lifestyle, and your current state of affairs, and how it will determine your future even into eternity.

If you have adopted, concurred with, or even ever-so-slightly accepted the naturalist’s view, you have adopted the theories of abiogenesis or biogenesis, evolution, and dissolution.

Abiogenesis is the concept suggesting how life originated. Unlike biogenesis, which states that life only comes from existing life through reproduction, abiogenesis lacks definitive proof as it has never been directly observed. Both theories attempt to explain the origin of life on Earth. Biogenesis asserts that new living organisms arise solely from other living beings, directly opposing the notion of spontaneous generation.

Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as genetic drift and natural selection act on genetic variation, resulting in certain characteristics becoming more or less common within a population over successive generations. The process of evolution has given rise to biodiversity at every level of biological organization.

Dissolution theory explains how a solid substance (solute) dissolves in a liquid (solvent) to form a solution, which is a homogeneous mixture at the molecular level. Ultimately, all substances will dissolve or break down into their constituent parts, depending on their solubility and the conditions of the environment. This theory can be applied to all human and animal life. This leads to the long-Term Evolution of Matter. In the distant future, as the universe approaches thermal equilibrium. First, the decay of matter. Matter may decay into its subatomic particles, losing its current form. Then comes the spread of matter. Matter will be so dispersed that it may no longer exist in a recognizable state. Matter will decay and dissolve and change states but will never cease to exist.

“AS A MAN (OR WOMAN) THINKS, SO IS HE (OR SHE).”

There is much debated and unproven minority theory in quantum mechanics that suggests we create our own reality is closely linked to the role of consciousness in influencing outcomes. This idea posits that our perceptions and intentions can affect the nature of reality itself.

THE BIG BANG

Therefore, if you believe ‘everything that exists’ has been a fortunate cosmic accident, then, following the theories associated with naturalism, you will dissolve into nothingness and into a different state but will never cease to exists-in an eternal darkness, in an unusable form-forever.

GOD

If, however, you believe that all things have been created by an ‘intelligent design’ (an understated view of ‘In the beginning God created’ and ‘All things came into being by Him (Jesus) and apart from Him not even one thing came into being except by Him’.) the ‘Intelligent Designer’ (i.e., God). Then, as the Bible posits, you will never really die. You will change states (into a Spiritual form-you will be changed in an instant) and your mind, soul, and essence will continue in the brilliant light and presence of The Creator, where there will be peace, joy, love, health, kindness, and fellowship forever.

There is no escape from one of these two destinations: Nothingness or Everlasting Perfection. Think about it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Additional Resources:

Christian Ethos in Action

What Happens After We Die?

The Great Escape

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID “I GIVE YOU AUTHORITY”

The Bible repeatedly teaches that God and Christ delegate authority to His people. While the exact phrase “I give you my authority” does not appear, Jesus clearly says “I give you authority” and describes believers acting under His authority.

Here are the clearest examples.

1. Luke 10:19 – Jesus explicitly gives authority:

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” (NASB)

This is the most direct statement.

Jesus says, “I have given you authority.”

The authority is over the enemy’s power.

It is delegated authority—not independent power.

2. Matthew 10:1 – Authority over demons and disease

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”

Jesus delegates His authority to the Twelve.

3. Mark 3:14-15:

And He appointed twelve… so that He might send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.“

Again, Jesus grants authority.

4. Mark 6:7

“He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”

Notice the pattern:

• Jesus possesses authority.
• Jesus delegates authority.

The disciples minister under His authority.

5. Matthew 28:18-20 – The Great Commission:

Jesus begins with His own authority.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore…”

Notice the sequence:

1. Christ possesses all authority.
2. Therefore He sends His disciples.
3. Their mission operates under His authority.

He does not say, “I give you all authority,” but He commissions them on the basis of His authority.

6. John 20:21

“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

The Father sent Jesus with divine authority.

Jesus now sends His followers in the same representative capacity.

7. John 14:12-14:

“The one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also…”

This is another example of delegated ministry under Christ’s authority.

8. Acts 1:8:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

Here Jesus promises power (dynamis), which is different from authority (exousia).

Authority is the right to act.

Power is the ability to act.

Believers receive both:

Authority from Christ.

Power through the Holy Spirit.

9. Ephesians 2:6:

Paul says believers are “seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

This speaks of believers sharing Christ’s exalted position, though not His unique sovereign authority.

10. Ephesians 6:10-18:

The armor of God assumes believers stand against Satan under God’s authority.

Paul never tells Christians to rely on their own authority.

11. James 4:7:

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

The devil flees because the believer is submitted to God’s authority.

12. Luke 9:1:

“He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.”

Notice both are given:

Authority (the legal right)

Power (the ability)

Authority Jesus Gives vs. Authority Jesus Keeps:

Jesus delegates significant authority, but He retains unique divine authority.

Jesus gives believers authority to:

• Preach the gospel (Matthew 28),
• Cast out demons (Luke 9; Luke 10),
• Heal the sick (Matthew 10),
• Forgive sins in the sense of proclaiming God’s forgiveness through the gospel (John 20:23),
• Make disciples,
• Resist Satan,
• Serve as Christ’s ambassadors, (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Jesus alone retains authority over:

• Forgiving sins by His own divine right (Mark 2:5–12),
• Final judgment (John 5:22),
• Raising the dead at the last day (John 5:28–29),
• Salvation itself (John 10:27–29),
• Heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18),
• Opening and closing the Kingdom (Revelation 3:7).

A helpful principle:

One of the clearest summaries is found in Matthew 28:18–20:

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

The disciples are never portrayed as possessing authority independently. Rather, they act as Christ’s representatives. Their authority is derived, delegated, and exercised in submission to Him, just as an ambassador speaks with the authority of the king who sent him, not with authority of his own.

This is why the New Testament consistently emphasizes doing ministry “in the name of Jesus” (in other words, Acts 3:6, Acts 4:10, Colossians 3:17): believers act under His authority, not as autonomous authorities.

Let’s not overlook that although the Christian’s authority is derived, delegated, and exercised in submission to Jesus, it is by His command, and our responsibility to obey Him and exercise that authority moment-by-moment. That is how the first disciples saw the world “turned upside down,” and likewise for you and me as His disciples today.

Now, let’s get it done!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

What do you have to say about this????

What happens after we die?

Questions about the afterlife are common. Many religious beliefs hold that there is life after death, with concepts of heaven, hell, or reincarnation. The specifics vary widely among different faiths.

Importantly, however, there is only one religion that possesses living empirical evidence about what happens after death, and His Name is Jesus Christ. (Christ-from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “anointed one,” and is equivalent to the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It refers specifically to Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the promised savior and king foretold in the Hebrew Bible).

It was witnessed by scores of people and is recorded in biblical historical accounts that Jesus was killed (crucified), died, buried, and rose again from the dead. The Bible says that by this act Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave, as stated in Revelation 1:18, where He declares, “I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

This is central to the Christian faith, affirming that through His resurrection, believers have hope and assurance of eternal life.

Jesus demonstrated for all who would believe in Him what happens after death. But He did not stop there.  He has explained what will happen to each repentant believer after death.

From Jesus’ own words, we learn that believers:

One notable feature of Jesus’ teaching is that He places the emphasis less on the place believers go after death than on the Person they will be with. His promises repeatedly center on Himself:

• “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
• “I will receive you to Myself.” (John 14:3)
• “Whoever believes in Me will live.” (John 11:25)
• “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

For Jesus, the greatest hope of the believer after death is not simply entering heaven, but entering unbroken fellowship with Him. This aligns with His high-priestly prayer in John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am,” where Jesus expresses His desire that His followers share His presence and behold His glory.

The Intermediate State (between death and resurrection)

• The body remains in the grave.
• The soul is consciously with Christ.
• The believer experiences peace, joy, and fellowship with the Lord while awaiting the resurrection.

The Final State (after Christ returns)

When Jesus returns:

• The dead in Christ are raised.
• Their bodies are transformed into glorified, imperishable bodies.
• Body and soul are reunited.
• Believers live forever in the new heavens and new earth.

Paul summarizes this hope:

“And so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)

A Simple Timeline

This is only true for those who have given themselves to Jesus through faith. For it is by God’s grace through faith that we are saved. It is a gift of God-not earned by works (our deeds). Call on Him now, in faith, and you will not be disappointed. Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:11-13). Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Those who do not believe on the Name of Jesus are condemned to an eternity of darkness and fire by their unbelief. John 3:16-18.)

ON THE “LAST DAY”, HOW and WHERE  WILL GOD DESTROY HIS ENEMIES

(Please folks – Let’s get this right)

There is the understanding that Jesus, at the battle of Armageddon in the “Last Day”, will come back to earth and stand on the Mount of Olives. This is found in Zechariah 14:3: “Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. ⁴ On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.” Therefore, some Christians, theologians, and Bible teachers think and will say that this is the Second Advent and Jesus will physically lead His armies into the battle of Armageddon. First of all, citing just verse 13 does not give the entire picture and leads many to an incorrect conclusion.

(That is prooftexting—using a single Bible verse taken without proper context to support a doctrine. This can happen when a verse is treated as though it alone answers what it actually means in its surrounding passage and setting. It may not matter a great deal to Christian’s salvation, walk with God, or their ultimate destination. But it is important to exegete scriptures correctly.)

Let’s begin with 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10:

This is one of the clearest descriptions of Christ’s return in judgment.

“The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel.”

Key points

• Jesus is revealed from heaven.
• He comes with mighty angels.
• He judges unbelievers.
•  The destruction occurs as He is revealed from heaven.

2. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

“Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.”

This verse describes Christ destroying the Antichrist merely by His appearance and His word.

3. Revelation 19:11–21

The Book of the Revelation records Christ descending from heaven on a white horse.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns, and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies, which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.“

And:

“The rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.”

This is the most detailed account of Christ’s defeat of His enemies.

4. Matthew 24:30–31

“They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Although the emphasis is on gathering His elect, the broader context includes judgment on the nations.

5. Revelation 1:7

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him…”

His visible return precedes the judgments described later in Revelation.

6. Zechariah 14:3–5

Book of Zechariah prophesies:

“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations…”

Verse 4 says:

“His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.”

This indicates Christ first arrives from heaven and then stands upon the earth, but this verse must be kept in context of the rest of scriptures. He will stand on the Mount of Olives, but their destruction comes from His breath and from His mouth. In fact, here is Zechariah 14 in full:

“Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoils taken from you will be divided among you. ² For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city

³ Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. ⁴ On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, (Jesus will undoubtedly descend to the earth at this point.) which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split ^[b]in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south. ⁵ And you will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with ^[c]Him!

⁶ On that day there will be no light; the luminaries will die out. ⁷ For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at the time of evening there will be light. (A reference also found in Matthew 24:29-31).

⁸ And on that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. (A reference to the cataclysmic astronomical, atmospheric, and geological conditions described in Matthew 24:29-31).

God Will Be King over All

⁹ And the Lord will be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.

¹⁰ All the land will change into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. ¹¹ People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will live in security.

¹² Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. ¹³ And it will come about on that day that a great panic from the Lord will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be raised against the hand of another. (This is decidedly not a war of physical weaponry). ¹⁴ Judah also will fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. ¹⁵ And just like this plague, there will be a plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey, and all the cattle that will be in those camps.

¹⁶ Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of armies, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. ¹⁷ And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of armies, there will be no rain on them. ¹⁸ And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. ¹⁹ This will be the ^[h]punishment of Egypt, and the ^[i]punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

²⁰ On that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the Lord.” And the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the bowls before the altar. ²¹ Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of armies, and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a ^[j]Canaanite in the house of the Lord of armies on that day.

7. Isaiah 66:15–16

“For behold, the LORD will come in  fire…

For the LORD will execute judgment by fire and by His  sword on all flesh.”

This Old Testament prophecy points to the Lord’s coming in judgment. Staying in context with the rest of the scriptures, FIRE and SWORD are metaphors.

Fire symbolizes God’s righteous judgment.

The immediate context defines the meaning.

Notice the progression:

• The LORD comes.
• He comes in fire.
• He brings anger.
• He rebukes with flames.
• He executes judgment.
• Many are slain.

The fire is not described as cleansing or refining; it is an instrument of divine justice against those who persist in rebellion.

This same imagery appears throughout Scripture:

• Deuteronomy 4:24 – “The LORD your God is a consuming fire.”
• Psalm 97:3 – “Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries.”
• 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8—Christ is revealed “from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution…”
• Hebrews 12:29 – “Our God is a consuming fire.”

The consistent theme is that God’s holiness consumes evil.

2. Fire reveals God’s holiness

Fire often accompanies God’s visible presence.

Examples include:

• The burning bush (Exodus 3)
• Mount Sinai (Exodus 19)
• The pillar of fire in the wilderness
• Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory
• Daniel’s vision of God’s throne
• Pentecost (Acts 2), where tongues “as of fire” symbolize the Holy Spirit’s presence

Because God is perfectly holy, His presence brings different outcomes depending on the person’s relationship to Him:

• To believers, His presence refines and purifies.
• To the unrepentant, His holiness brings judgment.

The same holy God is experienced differently.

3. Fire is paired with the sword

Isaiah 66:16 says,

“The LORD will execute judgment by fire and by His sword.”

The sword represents God’s authority and His decisive word of judgment.

This parallels Revelation 19, where Christ returns:

• in glory,
• accompanied by heaven’s armies,
• and a sharp sword proceeds from His mouth with which He strikes the nations.

Both Isaiah 66 and Revelation 19 portray the Messiah returning in judgment.

4. Fire in prophetic literature is often symbolic

Prophets frequently used vivid imagery to communicate theological realities.

The point is not necessarily that God is limited to literal flames, but that His judgment is:

• irresistible,
• consuming,
• holy,
• and complete.

Some interpreters understand aspects of the imagery literally, while others see it as symbolic language describing the overwhelming power of God’s judgment. Either way, the theological meaning is the same.

5. The context of Isaiah 66

The final chapter of Isaiah contrasts two groups:

The faithful

• humble
• trembling at God’s word (66:2)
• ultimately comforted and vindicated

The rebellious

• hypocritical worshipers
• idolaters
• those rejecting God’s ways

Verses 15–16 announce God’s judgment on the second group before the chapter concludes with the establishment of God’s universal kingdom.

Biblical pattern of fire

Throughout Scripture, fire carries several related meanings:

The context determines which meaning is intended.

Conclusion

In Isaiah 66:15–16, fire most clearly represents God’s holy and righteous judgment. The Lord comes in power to judge those who reject Him, and the fire vividly portrays the irresistible, consuming nature of His justice. This passage also anticipates New Testament descriptions of Christ’s return in judgment, particularly 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8 and Revelation 19, where the Messiah comes from heaven to defeat His enemies. Isaiah 66 is one of the strongest Old Testament passages connecting the Lord’s final coming with His judgment of the nations.

8. Jude 14–15

“Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all…”

9. Psalm 110:5–6

A Messianic psalm quoted frequently in the New Testament.

“The Lord (God the Father) is at Your (God the Son) right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.

He will judge among the nations.”

But, let’s not expect that Jesus will return to earth and join an earthly (human) army and go into battle.  Please see Revelation 19:12-19, and get the context for the above referenced scenarios and scriptures.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True,  and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of  fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies, which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵   From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that  with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God, ¹⁸ so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great.”

¹⁹ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army (in the heavens).

Either way…

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The practice of focusing on a scripture verse without considering its context and using it to support a doctrine is known as prooftexting.

Characteristics of Prooftexting

• Isolation of Verses: A single verse is taken out of its surrounding passage, ignoring the broader narrative or message.
• Misinterpretation Risk: This approach can lead to misinterpretations, as the verse may not convey the intended meaning when separated from its context.
• Doctrinal Support: Prooftexting is often used to justify specific beliefs or doctrines, regardless of whether the verse aligns with the overall teachings of the Bible.

Consequences of Prooftexting

• Loss of Meaning: The original intent of the scripture can be lost, leading to a distorted understanding of biblical teachings.
• Divisiveness: This method can create divisions within Christian communities, as differing interpretations arise from the same isolated verses.
• Ignoring Context: Important factors such as historical, cultural, and theological contexts are overlooked, which are crucial for accurate interpretation.

Understanding prooftexting is essential for responsible biblical interpretation and ensuring that scripture is applied correctly in faith and practice.

QUESTION: WILL GOD REALLY FORGIVE ALL MY SINS?

As I said in our previous question, A typical answer from a theologian, a trained pastor or Bible teacher might sound like,

”Yes. According to the Bible, God truly will forgive your sins if you come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. This is one of the central promises of the Christian gospel”.

Here are some of the clearest passages:

• 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Isaiah 1:18 – “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
• Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
• Micah 7:18–19 – God “delights in steadfast love. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
• Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s begin by asking “what is sin”? Is it cussing, being “mean”, drinking too much alcohol, murder, stealing, committing adultery? All of these things mentioned are the result of sin – an indication that you have sinned or that you are living in sin.

Sin, is like ‘evil’ (from our previous Question) in the sense that sin is the definition we give to the “bad things” that we do.

Sin, however, from the Greek word “hamartia”, literally means “to miss the mark”. (An image of “missing the mark” was reflected in old England when archers would compete. If they completely missed the target the judge would shout “sin”, indicating that the archer had completely missed the mark or the target.)

Sin is literally missing the mark or the target of all that God has intended for you had you called upon His Name and  would have become one of His children – His son or daughter. Sin means you would miss out on an eternal life with God in the kingdom of heaven, and you would have missed out becoming a joint-heir with Christ Jesus.

Sin will cause you to miss out on God’s grace, His forgiveness and His greatest gift of salvation. You would miss out being made safe and whole, mentally, physically, psychologically and spiritually healthy. You would miss out on receiving an eternal purpose, both now and forever. This affects every aspect of your life. Receiving God’s gift of forgiveness of sin will provide you the strength to endure and overcome; He will sustain you, hold you up, care and provide for you, and you will overcome difficulties.

On the other hand, missing the Mark is missing out on His gift of God’s grace, forgiveness, salvation, and being made safe and whole, mentally, psychologically and spiritually healthy and given an eternal purpose, both now and forever.

Put simply, sin is missing the mark of God and the result of sin is anything that is outside, contrary to and against (in rebellion to) the Word and Will of God, and the Bible says the penalty of sin is death. The effects of sin on an unsaved and unrepentant person’s life is Spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

So let’s ask, Will God forgive all my sins?

The Bible consistently answers yes.

Jesus said in Mark 3:28:

“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter.”

This is an astonishing statement. Murderers, adulterers, thieves, liars, persecutors of Christians—all are represented in Scripture as people whom God forgave.

Some examples include:

King David, after adultery and arranging the death of Uriah.

The Apostle Paul, who persecuted Christians before becoming Christ’s apostle.

Peter, who denied Jesus three times but was restored.

Why can God forgive you and still be a just God?

The Bible teaches that forgiveness is possible because Jesus bore the penalty for sin on the cross.

• Isaiah 53:5–6 foretells that the Messiah would bear our iniquities.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”

God does not ignore sin; He deals with it through Christ’s sacrifice.

What if I keep struggling with sin?

The Apostle Paul struggled with ongoing sin. He discovered that the effects or results of sin (missing the mark of God) are behaviors that are anything that is outside, contrary to and against (in rebellion to) the Word and Will of God, Paul lamented “I do the things I do not want to do, and I do not the things I want to do. Wretched man that I am.” Paul discovered that there are residual results of sin (missing the mark of God) in the human “flesh”, that is lingering in the mind and psyche. This is the struggle that God allows for our transformation from being a sinner to being made righteous and holy in practice. He also discovered that once becoming a repentant and saved Christian “that there is now no (longer any) condemnation (at all, from God for sinful behaviors) for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh (deliberately desiring to do sinful acts) but according to the Spirit (desiring to please God by doing what is right in God’s Eyes). For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (sinful behaviors), but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh (and willful sinful behaviors) is death, but the mind set on the Spirit (desiring to please God and to do right) is life and peace

Christians continue to battle sin. The difference is not that believers become perfect overnight, but that they belong to Christ and are being transformed by Him.

Repentance means turning toward God—not claiming to have achieved sinless perfection. When believers fail, they are called to confess their sins and continue walking with Him.

If you’re asking or wondering whether God could forgive you, the Bible’s answer is that no sin is too great for God’s mercy if you come to Him through Christ.

Jesus said:

“The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)

And Paul wrote:

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Notice that Paul said this after recalling his own past as a persecutor of Christians. His life became an example that God’s grace is greater than even the darkest past.

Now, with all of that said, how does this affect me now and after death, and what can I do about it? If you have confessed your sins to God, trusted in Christ, and turned to Him, your confidence should rest not in the strength of your repentance, but in the faithfulness of God’s promise. Forgiveness depends on His character, not on whether you feel forgiven.

You don’t need to miss out on anything that God has for you and for your life. Just turn to Him.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Previous Question: DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL AND SUFFERING?

(Additional Reading: REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NOW AT HAND.)

QUESTION:

If God is good why does He allow evil in this world and allow bad things to happen to good people?

A typical answer from a theologian, a trained pastor or Bible teacher might sound like,

“God did not create evil, but He created beings capable of choosing.” For example, they might say, “When God finished creation, He declared it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Evil was not part of His original design”. Furthermore, they might say, “God created angels and humans with genuine moral freedom. Love, obedience, and worship have meaning only if they can be freely given. The possibility of choosing good also meant the possibility of choosing evil. Humanity chose rebellion in Genesis 3, and sin entered the world”. “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin.” (Romans 5:12). “The suffering we experience today is the result of living in a fallen creation”.

This kind of reasoning is prevalent in the highest levels of Christian academia and pervasive in the church. It seems to me like trying to hammer a dozen square pegs in incredibly small round holes. You see, this kind of answer seems to be rooted in scriptures, (since scripture verses are cited), but the context is all wrong. This is a form of eisegesis, which is the process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one’s own presuppositions, agendas or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is often done to justify or confirm a position already held.

Let’s start with the foundation using reason, context, plain language of the Bible, interpret from the original language where necessary, and build our case.

First, if you understand that God is:

Omniscient – from long before anything existed until long after all things are done away with.

• Psalm 139:2-4: “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”

Omnipresent – from eternity before time itself began until eternity after time ceases to exist.

• Psalm 139:7-10: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”

Omnipotent – God is all powerful on a scale that is perfectly unimaginable. Nothing is impossible for God.

• Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power; nothing is too hard for you.”

I.e., if you understand that God is omnipotent (all powerful), and omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere all the time), then you would never ask why He allows evil in this world and allow bad things to happen to good people. But you might ask “what is the purpose for allowing evil and suffering in this world”?

The Hebrew noun and adjective for the word “evil” (from Strong’s concordance #7451), embraces moral evil, wicked conduct, hurtful speech, harmful intent, malignant character, and the concrete outworking of such evil in disaster, calamity, or misery. Whether describing an inner disposition, an outward act, or the painful consequences of sin, the term consistently stands in antithesis to “good”). Both words, “evil” and “good” are words that describe a concept, a behavior and results. One can be pleasant and productive, the other unpleasant, painful and destructive.

From a strictly Biblical perspective, evil is anything that departs from God’s perfect character and will by corrupting what is good, producing sin, suffering, injustice, and death. Whereas good is that which possesses true value because it accords with the purpose for which something exists, promotes flourishing, upholds truth and justice, and—according to the biblical worldview—reflects the perfect character and will of God.

However, because all things from eternity to eternity have always been in the Mind of God. Nothing comes into being that was has not already existed in the Mind of God. Remembering that good and evil are not things per se. They are the definition of behaviors, acts and results. All things have been made manifest, that is created into existence – including “good” and “evil” – by God, for His purpose and pleasure. Although it may seem otherwise to the human mind, the Bible is clear that nothing escapes God’s attention, nothing sneaks up on Him, nothing surprises Him. He does not make mistakes, He never needs a ‘mulligan’. He always has existed, He has always known everything and He has always had the power to do as He wills – otherwise He is not God. This is our foundation.

Secondly, let’s build our framework or the framework of our house of reason, if you will. Yes, God did indeed say about His creation, “It is very good” (Genesis 1:31). And why would He say that? Was it, as it has been suggested, because evil was not an intended part of His creation? What??? Did God forget something? Did He make a mistake that He, the Almighty God could not correct? That, friend is to deny God’s attributes – and forgive me, but that is an insanely stupid idea. Good and evil have been part of God’s plan, and from the beginning of time, God made it clear that His plan, purpose and intention is to create and to transform all people into the His Image – The Image and Likeness of Jesus. And not just in appearance, but in mind, soul, spirit and body.

In the image, (which is the Hebrew word, tselem, which translates as a mere, empty, image, a resemblance, but not identical ; a vain showing; the word tselem comes from an unused root Hebrew word meaning to shade; as a phantom, i.e., an illusion; hence, simply a representative figure, of dubious character.) (see Adam’s Rib – The Alpha for more detail).

The process of perfecting humankind into the perfect image of God and Jesus Christ is known as the process of sanctification – the setting apart of persons or things unto God’s exclusive possession and purpose. While rooted in the Old Testament cultus, the New Testament expands the theme to encompass the whole sweep of salvation history, from divine election to final glorification. It means to purify, to make perfect. This process of sanctification takes a lifetime and can be both bewildering, terrifying, painful and may seem that evil has beset the person being sanctified; and it can be pleasant, amazing in its experience, a blessing and exhilarating. The best definition of its outcome can be found in Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified”, (E.S.V.). Or as the King James version puts it, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

I don’t intend to sound mean when I say to stop being so self-centered and ignorant asking “why does God allow things I don’t’ like” and ask “what is the purpose of these things that obviously exist”

And for the Christian, no matter your position in God’s church, it’s time you grow up in your thinking and study of His Word and admit that God allows both good and evil in this world. But it is not “why” but “for what purpose”.  Do you not know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Additional reading: The Journey Toward Perfection.)

This will be a continuing series of “THE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD”. (And if you have a question, please ask).

Nest Question: WILL GOD REALLY FORGIVE ALL MY SINS?

THE ARRIVAL OF THE “LAWLESS ONE” and THE GREAT DELUSION – BE AWARE

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

First, please listen to this excerpt from a Glenn Beck show. (It is about AI, (artificial intelligence and where it is headed and has already arrived).

https://www.facebook.com/reel/9478003358984032

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1274491657604404

Now, the question: What does this mean for us, and how should the Christian be forewarned in order to be forearmed?

It is almost impossible for the average person, no matter how smart or bright they are, to anticipate the breadth and depth of what is upon us through this new technology. “For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24). So knowing the “counterfeit” is no solution. But knowing what is real and genuine is the only and best way to avoid and counter the “counterfeit”, i.e., the great delusion. You and I must know the word of God in these matters, and we must know it well.

(I will do my best to inform and forewarn through a thorough study of scriptures on this website. So I encourage you to follow these articles and pages and interact as you see necessary.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Here is an informative couple of articles about just one of the effects of AI Data Centers on us, practically and financially:

Also: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/06/26/floridas-new-data-center-law-takes-effect-next-week-heres-what-it-changes/