Author: Michael Young, Sr.

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.

HEY, PASTOR! MAKE DISCIPLES!

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“HEY, SENATOR. HEY, CONGRESSMAN. IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!”

“Campaign strategist James Carville, in 1992, coined a slight variation of the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid.” At that time, Carville was attempting to emphasize the importance of the struggling economy in then-candidate Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. Although originally intended for an internal audience of campaign workers, the phrase became a de facto slogan for the entire campaign.

“Today, Carville’s phrase is more applicable than ever. As the United States still faces enormous deficits, a $16 trillion dollar debt, sluggish improvements in unemployment, and some of the slowest economic growth in recent memory, the aftermath of the Great Recession is and should be the centerpiece of this election.” – Harvard Political Review

“HEY, PREACHER, IT’S ABOUT MAKING DISCIPLES!”

At the risk of being impolite or seeming to be downright rude, could a similar thing be said in an attempt to emphasize the importance of the ‘struggling Church’ in 2022?

The Church has gone through a transitional period over the last thirty years in an apparent effort to remain or to become ‘more socio-politically relevant’. Social norms have changed  dramatically over the last fifty years, and instead of leading this change, the church has adopted the ‘new social normal’.

I’d like to present two examples that demonstrate that the model of the church, as taught and presented by Jesus Christ, are no longer being followed by most mainline Christian denominations. #1. Teaching Beliefs and Practices; #2. Making Disciples of the kind and in the likeness of Jesus.

Example #1.  TEACHING BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. A survey by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research, reveals some not so-surprising results about the state of churches in the United States:

64% of Americans agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.”

Only 52% agree that “the Bible alone is the written word of God.”

Only 58% agree that “God is the author of Scripture.”

65% agree that “everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”

44% agree that “the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.”

51% agree that “the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.”

Only 47% agree that “the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches.”

59% of Americans agree that “worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.”

Only 45% agree that “churches that do not preach from the Bible should not be considered a Christian church.”

Only 49% in churches agree that “sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.”

Only 49% agree that “abortion is a sin.”

42% agree that “the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.”

38% agree that “gender identity is a matter of choice.”

45% agree that “modern science discredits the claims of Christianity.”

52% agree that “by the good deeds that I do, I partly contribute to earning my place in heaven”

Only 60% agree that “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”

Only 52% agree that “it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

Only 54% in churches agree that “only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

From the Pew Research Center

Survey among Christians, when asked, “Do you believe in God”. (Pew Research Center on belief in God)

Survey year Believe in God; absolutely certain Believe in God; fairly certain Believe in God; not too/not at all certain Believe in God; don’t know Do not believe in God Other/don’t know if they believe in God Sample size
2014      76%     18%       3%      1%     1%         1% 25,048

Pew Research on casual sex among professing Christians

Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes or always acceptable.

  • Six-in-ten Catholics (62%) take this view, as do 56% of Protestants in the historically Black tradition, 54% of mainline Protestants and 36% of evangelical Protestants.
  • Among those who are religiously unaffiliated, meanwhile, the vast majority (84%) say casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable,
  • including roughly nine-in-ten atheists (94%) and
  • agnostics (95%) who say this.
  • The religiously unaffiliated, also known as “nones,” are those who describe themselves, religiously, as atheist, agnostic or as “nothing in particular.”

From CNS News

A study released by the Rasmussen Reports polling firm on Good Friday found that only 64% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

From the Cultural Research Center – George Barna Research

Today, 176 million Americans claim to be Christians—69% of the population. Yet, only 6% of U.S. adults—which is 9% of those identifying as Christians—possess a biblical worldview, believing the Bible to be accurate and reliable, among other convictions.

That’s according to a new study by researcher George Barna and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona.

Large majorities of self-identified Christians also report many beliefs “not in harmony with biblical teaching,” according to the survey. These include:

  • 72% argue that people are basically good
  • 66% say that ‘having faith’ matters more than which faith you pursue
  • 64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
  • 58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven
  • 57% believe in karma

 Are Christian pastors and preachers getting a failing grade in the teaching of the Gospel.

By contrast, the survey cohort termed as Integrated Disciples—a small subset of those claiming to be Christians—are noted as being consistent in their beliefs and integrating those convictions into their behaviors.

  • 99+% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today
  • 99+% believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God
  • 96% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God

However, Barna’s survey finds that even some believers classified as part of this highly discipled cohort hold to some views that “challenge biblical principles.” Those “shocking” beliefs of Integrated Disciples include:

  • 52% argue that people are basically good
  • 39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity
  • 33% believe in karma

“There is a remarkable level of self-deception (even among) born-again Christians,” said Barna, commenting on his recent worldview research. “It represents a huge educational challenge for those responsible for biblical worldview development.”

Many postmodern churches are teaching a type of gospel that does not conform to the Bible and, in fact, reveals many of the traits and teachings of Paganism. Likewise, a majority of people claiming the name of Christian may not be Christians at all. Many postmodern Christians don’t fully believe the Bible and practice aspects of Paganism.

THE OUTCOME?

AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.

Matthew 16:18, says,“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. verse 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” verse 20. Then He gave the disciples strict orders that they were to tell no one that He was the Christ. 

Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.

Although the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death. The Church grew exponentially.

AD 49. The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

AD 313.  The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

AD 380.  The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

AD 1607.  The Church reaches America.

AD 1681.  The Church became corporate. It had became a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

AD 1777.  The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

AD 1894.  The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

AD 1954.  The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

AD 1968.  The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972.  The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010.  The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012.  The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.

Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

Millions of people (approximately 52 million) “attend church” in one of the 300,000+ churches in America, at least once a week each month. However, when people were asked the topic of the “sermon” they heard after 24 hours, only about 10 percent could tell you. When asked to cite the most important lesson they received, most just shrugged.

An estimated 1.2 million hours each week (1) are spent in sermon preparations; it takes about another 300,000 hours in delivery of these sermons (2) at a staggering potential cost of over $750 millions dollars nationally, each week (3). Yet, only 5% of those hearing these sermons, remember anything about them after 72 hours.

BUILDING MORE

AD 2021.  The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2021 is losing members and adherents. (George Barna research; Pew Research)

AD 2022.  Much of the church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

 

Example #2.  MAKING DISCIPLES.  The Church is failing to making disciples of the kind and in the likeness of Jesus.

Go into just about any Christian church, (or any Christian church website), and look for any evidence of discipleship training and you will either find no mention of disciple making or you will likely find a heavy emphasis on learning about various subjects or things such as ‘music ministry’,  learning-luncheons, senior citizen outings, soup kitchens, but you will find little-to-no actual practical ‘disciple making’. These may be ‘good things’ but, it is not what Jesus taught and commanded His disciples to do.

According to Jesus and the Bible, what is Disciple Making?  Here is an abbreviated but concise example of the steps Jesus uses to make disciples:

JESUS SAYS THE WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES.

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

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

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

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

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

JESUS SUMMONS HIS DISCIPLES.

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

JESUS SHOWS THE WONDERS TO HIS DISCIPLES.

“Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

And the news about Him spread throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES.

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

Jesus sent them out, instructing them, as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.”

Jesus’ ‘discipleship training’ is a necessary evidence that a person has become a practicing Christian, an actual devoted follower of Jesus. It was not optional then and it is not optional now.

Upon calling one man to follow Him, the man replied, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, come and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  

Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

These sound like, and in fact are, harsh words which reflect the seriousness, the urgency and the importance of the role of being a disciple of Jesus and of making disciples. But they are no harsher than whipping men and turning over tables in the temple, calling Peter, ‘Satan’ or allowing Oneself to be crucified for the sake of all who would believe!

There is only ONE WAY to get this done. In fact, the Word Of God tells us this very thing in many ways.

“I am the way, the truth and the life”, (John 14:6).

“Be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.”, (Joshua 1:7-8).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”, (Ephesians 2:10).

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”, (John 14:15).

Jesus is the perfect balance between justice and judgement, peace and travail, love and enmity, acceptance and rejection. Submit yourself to Him now, before the coming judgment. Accept His perfect love while He is the Lamb of God, for soon He will return as the Lion of Judah!

This is the model and method of Jesus’ command, let’s get out of our ‘comfort zones; let’s leave our self-imposed postmodern pastoral roles and “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.” THIS IS OUR METHOD AND WAY.

Don’t lead. Follow Jesus. It removes all the 501(c) (3) and organizational stresses and puts you on the adventure you have been looking for! Time is short.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(In the Bonds Together)

 

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Great Tribulation

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 6:

Matthew 24:16, “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17, Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19, And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22, And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23, Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24, For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25, See, I have told you beforehand. 26, So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27, For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28, Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

These verses are reminiscent of the horrors surrounding the destruction of the first temple in 587 B.C. and are a warning of a coming devastation similar in many ways to the destruction of the first temple, which occurred in A.D. 70 and proved to be as Jesus said.

However, neither the destruction of the first temple nor the of destruction of the second temple fulfilled the prophetic words of Jesus. As it is with many prophecies, the fulfillment may come about over a period of a day or of many days, months, years or even over millennia. This prophecy is unique in that it is unfolding in stages. This is not a partial fulfillment of prophecy but is a foreshadowing and a progressive revelation just as the Bible states, and as time and circumstances within history conform to God’s timing.

The coming Great and Terrible Day of The Lord was foreshadowed in 587 B.C. with the destruction of the first temple and a foreshadowed again with the destruction of the second temple in A.D. 70. Jesus words clearly tell us that the fulfillment of this prophecy is a future event.

We can find evidence throughout prophetic scriptures and in the New Testament that this event will find its fulfillment in the future.

​​Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 13        Matthew 24,         Zechariah 8       2 Peter 3:3.

Micah 4                       Hebrews 1:2,         Ezekiel 30          Revelation 6:1 – 16:21

Jeremiah 30, 33, 50  Hebrews 9:26,      Amos 5

Hosea 3                       Acts 2:14-17,          1 Peter 1:20,

Joel 2, 3,                      2 Timothy 3:1,       1 Peter 4:7,

Here is what I hope can be a helpful example from natural events to understand a ‘Foreshadowing and a Progressive Revelation of Prophecy’ as seen by the human perspective and contrasted to God’s, or a heavenly perspective.

When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S., it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally, as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

IMPORTANT:  And so, it is with events and the significant symbolism of the destruction of the first and second temples as these events are the harbinger to the final event the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord also known as the Great Tribulation as seen beginning with the breaking of the ‘Sixth Tribulation Seal’ (Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12). Although, the breaking of each Seal may seem like different events, if viewed “from above” it is ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT (eschatological STORM), progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 7: THE 6TH TRIBULATION SEAL.

PREVIOUS: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 5: THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 5:

Matthew 24:15, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

These few words of Jesus in Matthew 24:15 are rich both in their complexity and in their prophetic mystery. They reach back into Israel’s past, (Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11), they are instructive of Israel’s current circumstances between A.D. 1 through A.D. 29, and they are deeply prophetic for Israel’s immediate future, (A.D. 69-70), as well as being prophetic not only for Israel but serve as a warning for the entire world about the horrific Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (1), (2), (3), which is yet to come.

 THE PRESENT – IMMEDIATE FUTURE  – FUTURE

Jesus, speaking directly to His own disciples in the present tense, says, “So when you see the “abomination of desolation“, which suggests that either those who are present or those who may presently hear these words may have the opportunity to actually see the abomination of desolation with their own eyes. However, other verses surrounding verse 15 demonstrate that Jesus is also speaking of a distant future event.

Considering the historical circumstances of the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 there are a few reasons why Titus and his army may have been especially eager to make this unholy sacrifice.  According to Professor Watts, professor of New Testament at Regent College, “No Roman tomb was legally protected without a pig being sacrificed.”2  Obviously, the Temple in Jerusalem was littered with the bodies of dead Roman soldiers in A.D. 70.  Also citing K.M.T. Atkinson, Brain Incigneri points out “that the Romans would sacrifice a pig before the standards  [ensigns] at the taking of a military oath, sacramentum militare, shown in coins of the first century BCE.”3  The sacramentum militare was the oath taken by soldiers to pledge their loyalty to the emperor.4  Recall that during these sacrifices to the ensigns, Titus was declared imperator by his army:

And now the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the temple and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator. [Emphasis mine.] (Wars 6.6.1.)

Suetonius suggests that there were rumors that Titus’ soldiers may have even wanted to make him emperor.5  If Titus’ soldiers wished to crown Titus emperor during these chants, perhaps these soldiers would have taken the sacramentum militare additionally motivating them to sacrifice a pig to the ensigns at that time? (Revelation.org)

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 6:  THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

PREVIOUS: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 4:  AND THE END WILL COME.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

AND THE END WILL COME…

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 4:

Verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

We can tell when the gospel has finally been proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations because then the end will come; as told in Matthew 13:40, “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41, The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Verse 42, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

And, in Matthew 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, Verse 50, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

IMPORTANT: This event is specifically found in Revelation 20:11 through Revelation 21:8, which is The End of this Age.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 5:  THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 3:  THE APOSTASY.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE GREAT FALLING AWAY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 3:

Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Verse 10, And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Verse 12, And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

The events Jesus describes in verses nine through 12 had already begun in His day and His disciples suffered this ‘tribulation’ (internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is “no way of escape”) of persecution, alienation because of Jesus’ name, the rise of false prophets, lawlessness and death.

Jesus goes into greater detail in the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation, verses nine through 12, regarding this time of tribulation, death, hatred and the falling away of Christians from one another and from faith in God. This is a description of the breaking of the fifth seal of the tribulation scroll, which is the great apostasy, the great falling away from the faith and the great persecution of the Church.

Judged by the conditions around the world today, it seems that the effects of this fifth scroll seal are intensifying, and we are moving and inexorably toward the Great Tribulation period also known as the great and terrible day of the Lord with a breaking of the Sixth Tribulation seal.

A CAUTION AND A WARNING:  When you see a great persecution of Christians, many falling away from faith in Jesus, hating and betraying one another; in conjunction with wars and rumors of wars, an increase in earthquakes, famines, disease, a   dangerous and dramatic increase in lawlessness; a rise of many false prophets and many being led astray from the Gospel of Christ,  you will know the fifth seal of the tribulation is intensifying, and we are nearing the end of the period of ‘the birth pangs’, only to enter the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.

Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 4:  AND THEN THE END WILL COME.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 2:  WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 2:

Verse 6. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Verse 8. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

Jesus’ disciples heard of wars and rumors of wars in their day, and His disciples, since that day, have been hearing of wars and rumors of wars. These conflicts have increased in frequency and intensity, but Jesus is clear that wars and rumors of wars are not yet the end. He also said nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and we have had a myriad of global conflicts including two world wars, but once again he is clear that this is not yet the end for these things must first take place.

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples, both then and now, that we will experience famines and earthquakes, and we have seen an increase in the frequency and the severity of famines and earthquakes over the ensuing decades, in various places. Again, Jesus says these are just the beginning of birth pangs, which is an apt metaphor to describe the coming birth of something new and terrible.

IMPORTANT:  Jesus’ words, as recorded in Matthew 24:6-8, regarding ‘wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ are a summary of His remarks recorded in the book of The Revelation, chapter 6, which goes into greater detail about the breaking of the first 4 seals of the scroll of the tribulation, also known as ‘birth pangs’ or the ‘days of distress’ which had begun sometime around A.D. 1 to A.D. 25.

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 3:  THE GREAT FALLING AWAY.

PREVIOUS:: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 1. THE SIGNS, THE COMING, THE END.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE SIGNS, THE COMING, THE END

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

MATTHEW 24

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:1 “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

In order to fully understand the mood and temperament of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, you should first read Matthew chapter 23, wherein Jesus issues eight woes against the scribes and the Pharisees and completes his remarks with the prophetic proclamation, “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

All four of the gospels record a similar version of Jesus words to his disciples regarding the temple. What seems to be an innocent question about the temple buildings and their beauty is met with a prophetic rebuke from Jesus, perhaps provoked because of Jesus recent encounter with the scribes and Pharisees.

We see, in Matthew 24:3, Jesus departs for the Mount of Olives which a place Jesus goes to pray, meditate and teach. Jesus’s disciples then come to him privately, apparently having understood His earlier remarks, asking for clarification.

THE QUESTION:  “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 1:

Matthew 24:4, “And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

It is important, when trying to understand Jesus’ explanation, to first realize that He is speaking directly to His disciples, at that very moment, about  current circumstances. The year is around A.D. 25.

Jesus is saying “I SAY TO YOU, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, “see that no one leads you men astray.”

This is instruction for them in that day and is meant for us in our day, as well.

IMPORTANT: Jesus is saying that the beginning of the End of the Age had begun. It is also important to know that prophecy often times takes time, decades or centuries to reach fulfillment.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 2:  WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS.

PREVIOUS: THE END OF THE AGE.

END OF THE AGE?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(Really?)

A Google search of the exact phrase, “when is the end of the age”, (when put in quotations so those exact words, in that order will be found), produced 5,390,000 results! This question has invoked intense interest since the time of Christ.

There have been scores of books written on this subject ranging from science-fiction to serious eschatological studies; and there have been, undoubtedly, millions of sermons offered by mostly well-intentioned preachers on this subject, most of which are so convoluted by denominational strictures they are hardly intelligible.

I may fare no better than others, but it is my intention to clear away the denominational clutter by taking the Bible at its face value, and when required, recognizing the appropriate parts of speech, the metaphors, similes and parables, then to read and study, allowing the Bible to interpret itself keeping all scriptures in context of the entire Bible.

A final note before we answer the question, “What will be the sign of Jesus’ coming and of the end of the age?”

Daniels 70 weeks

If you ever find yourself asking “can these matters, found in the Bible about ‘The End of All Things’ really be true”, then consider the incredible accuracy and timing of the unfolding events of the prophecies contained in ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’.

Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

 Verse 25. So, you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.

Verse 26. Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

 Verse 27. And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

 QUESTION & ANSWERS ABOUT “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK”

  1. When did Daniel have his vision about the End of Days?                  

660 BC

  1. What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks?                     

The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these prophetic events to pass. Daniel 9:24 tells us this purpose is,

(1) “to finish transgression,”

(2) “to put an end to sin,”

(3) “to atone for wickedness,”

(4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,”

(5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and,

(6) “to anoint the most holy.”

Notice that these results concern the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before the End of the Age, and when Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

  1. When did the 70 Weeks (490 years) begin?

Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree, 445 BC, to the time of the Messiah (30 AD) would be 483 years.

(a). We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).

(b). The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (see Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

(c). Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

(d). Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

  1. When does the final week, the 70th Week of Daniel, begin?

Read again, in Daniel 9:26, the prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem and the 2nd Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, with uncanny accuracy. This entire prophecy was fulfilled in exactly 483 years, just as foretold.

Since that date we have been in a period of time of an undetermined length known variously as The Age of Grace, The Dispensation Gap Theory or The Eschatological Gap, wherein God, by His mercy, is allowing time for many to come to Christ in faith and to be saved from the destruction that is to follow.

This issue of ‘The End of The Age’ has been hotly debated for centuries.  Scriptures have been clear, and a simple face-value reading of scriptures leads to the conclusion that the final 7 Weeks, the ‘times of distress’ also known as a period of tribulation (not to be confused with the Great Tribulation Period or the “Wrath of the Lamb”), will begin with the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of Tribulation.

Now, let’s move on to Matthew chapter 24 and hear what Jesus says about when these things will occur, what the sign of His coming will be, and what He says will be the end of the age.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 1:  MATTHEW 24 – “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

PERFECTION – Chapter 16 – Tower of Babel

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links for important details on these teachings; then resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links for important details and in lieu of footnotes and references.)

Chapter 16

THE 21ST CENTURY

TOWER OF BABEL REBUILT

Agenda 21

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (U.N.C.E.D. 1992)

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment. (A cover for population control and a One World autocratic governance).

Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests were adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (U.N.C.E.D.) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992.

The Commission on Sustainable Development (C.S.D.) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of U.N.C.E.D., to monitor and report on implementation of the agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Where did it originate?

Produced by the United Nations World Commission on Environmental and Development, authored by Gro Harlem Brundtland, VP of the World Socialist Party, the term Sustainable Development was first introduced to the world in the pages of a 1987 report (Our Common Future).

The term was first offered as official U.N. policy in 1992, in a document called UN Sustainable Development Agenda 21, issued at the U.N.’s Earth Summit, today referred to simply as Agenda 21.

The full implementation of Agenda 21, the Program for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Commitments to the Rio principles, were strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (W.S.S.D.) held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26 August to 4 September 2002.  The actual and basic goals of the United Nation’s Agenda-21 and the W.S.S.D are hidden behind the stated goals of, which will be reaffirmed at a world summit in 2022.

What is Sustainable Development?

According to its authors, the objective of sustainable development is to integrate economic, social and environmental policies in order to achieve reduced consumption, social equity, and the preservation and restoration of biodiversity. “Sustainablists” insist that every societal decision be based on environmental impact, focusing on three components; global land use, global education, and global population control and reduction.

 Social Equity, Economic Diversity.

Staying true to form, Agenda 21 describes “Social Justice” as the right and opportunity of all people to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment.”  They go on to say that “Redistribution of wealth. Private property is a social injustice, since not everyone can build wealth from it. National sovereignty is a social injustice.” Universal health care is a social justice. All part of Agenda 21 policy.

If you ever wondered where the American Democrat Party got its party platforms, now you know.  They and their platform are Marxist and Communist.  The enemy of America, in the White House and in control of Congress.

WHY THE BIG PUSH TO USE ALL THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS?

Public Private Partnerships (P.P.P.) are special dealings between government and certain chosen corporations which get tax breaks, grants and the government’s power of Eminent Domain to implement sustainable policy. Government-sanctioned monopolies.

Some ‘private sector initiatives’ benefiting from Public Private Partnerships (P.P.P.) are Smart Growth, Wild Lands Project, Resilient Cities, Regional Visioning Projects, STAR Sustainable Communities, Green jobs, Green Building Codes, “Going Green,” Alternative Energy, Local Visioning, facilitators, regional planning, historic preservation, conservation easements, development rights, sustainable farming, comprehensive planning, growth management, and others, which are liberal progressive programs initiated to implement the United Nation’s Agenda-21 programs of ultimately creating a One World Government..

Shaping Minds around Sustainable Development

As a global ideology, young minds must be indoctrinated. A U.N. initiated curricula has been launched worldwide. In the US, it is based on principles found in the Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit.

Most importantly, this curriculum is centered on removing analytics, reason , and, cause and effect. Higher levels of education are not sustainable. From the Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit:

“Generally, more highly educated people, who have higher incomes, consume more resources than poorly educated people, who tend to have lower incomes. In this case, more education increases the threat to sustainability

In the case of the United States, more education has not led to sustainability. Clearly, simply educating the citizenry to higher levels is not sufficient for creating sustainable societies. The challenge is to raise the education levels without creating an ever-growing demand for resources and consumer goods and the accompanying production of pollutants.”

This is the 21st Century version of the communist’s ‘re-education camps’ promoting the ‘dumbing down’ of America.

WHO IS BEHIND IT ALL?

I.C.L.E.I. – Local Governments for Sustainability (formally, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives). Communities like Cary pay I.C.L.E.I. dues to provide “local” community plans, software, training, etc. Addition groups include American Planning Council, The Renaissance Planning Group, International City/ County Management Group, aided by U.S. Mayors Conference, National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Association of County Administrators and many more private organizations and official government agencies. Foundation and government grants drive the process.

What provides authority?

More than 178 nations, including the United States, adopted the United Nations Agenda 21 as official policy during a signing ceremony at the Earth Summit. US president George H.W. Bush signed the document for the US. In signing, each nation pledge to adopt the goals of Agenda 21. In 1995, President Bill Clinton, in compliance with Agenda 21, signed Executive Order #12852, effectively bypassing Congress, to create the President’s Council on Sustainable Development in order to “harmonize” U.S. environmental policy with U.N. directives as outlined in Agenda 21. The executive order directed all agencies of the Federal Government to work with state and local community governments in a joint effort “reinvent” government using the guidelines outlined in Agenda 21.  We are under an illegal (international) law, ruling and dictating our future.

Here is a comprehensive list of the U.S. Cities operating as surrogates for the American Democrat implemented, Socialist takeover of America: Local U.S. State and City Governments for Sustainability. For additional detail and further reading, go to the website: Downtown Cary.

 

And now, perhaps you can better understand what is meant by, ‘How and why The Tower of Babel is being rebuilt.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 17 – The Natural Order – Charles Darwin.

Previous Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 15 – The New World Order

(Go here for the complete Online Digital Book: THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

(IMPORTANT NOTE:  Agenda-21 has been the early-to-midpoint development of the United Nation’s Globalist-Marxist Agenda-2030, “Sustainable Development” program. The 21 stands for the 21st century and the 2030 stands for the year 2030 which is the completion date of the implementation of their completed Marxist global domination. This has been a silent global coup d’état promising one thing but delivering something quite the opposite.

The cover story for the 17 sustainable development goals of agenda 2030 is are: (1) No Poverty, (2) Zero Hunger, (3) Good Health and Well-being, (4) Quality Education, (5) Gender Equality, (6) Clean Water and Sanitation, (7) Affordable and Clean Energy, (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (10) Reduced Inequality, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, (13) Climate Action, (14) Life Below Water, (15) Life On Land, (16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, (17) Partnerships for the Goals. However, the implementation and management of these ambitious plans require a convergence of governments nations and states into one global entity under the jurisdiction of a board of select officials from various nations. It also requires cooperation and submission by government and the populous of each nation to the dictates of the United Nations agenda 2030 and the World Economic Forum. Contemporary examples of this plan can be witnessed in country such as Argentina, Cuba, China and Brazil. Participation is not optional, and resistance will is costly and futile.

EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

A panda walks into a roadside café. He orders a bun, eats it, draws out a pistol and fires into the air and heads for the door.

What just happened?” the confused waitress asks, as the panda is halfway out of the door.

 The panda produces a wildlife dictionary. “I’m a PANDA. Look it up!” he shouts.

The waitress looks up ‘panda’ in the wildlife dictionary, and finds this:

“PANDA: Large black and white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats shoots and leaves.”

It’s a corny joke with a double meaning, but it makes the point that ‘sometimes we hear one thing and think another thing’. It can be funny as a joke, (sort of), but it isn’t funny when reading important instructions that may affect your health, welfare and life.

For example, some people are prone to making mistakes, even when common sense should dictate otherwise. Maybe that is why, on occasion, we read silly-sounding instructions as found on one hair dryer, “do not use while bathing”.

The problem of hearing one thing and believing another is nowhere more common than when reading the Bible.

Jesus, when speaking to a crowd of Jews, once said, ”I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.”

The Jewish crowd was understandably aghast.  They responded with, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

Jesus explained these words, later, “So then many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This statement is very hard; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.”

You see, Jesus was using ‘eating His flesh and drinking His blood’ as a metaphor for hearing and absorbing His teaching and becoming one with Him in agreement and in relationship.

He is speaking of having faith in Him. Jesus presses the symbolism even further: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.  Anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.”

Still, the Bible tells us that “From that time many of His disciples went away and walked with Him no more.” A misunderstanding of Jesus’ words can have tragic consequences.

See Where I Am Coming From?

(Should I take it quite literally when someone asks, ‘do you know where am I coming from‘? How on Earth am I supposed to know where they’re coming from?!” I just got here, myself!

(Like the Panda in the café, what they actually mean may not be what I am thinking, like, “Do you understand the reasons why I’m saying this?”)

With all of this in mind, I heard sermon Sunday, from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which I would like to title, “The Notorious Nine”:

“Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither (#1), the sexually immoral nor (#2), idolaters nor (#3), adulterers nor (#4), men who have sex with men (#5), nor thieves nor the (#6), greedy nor (#7), drunkards nor (#8), slanderers nor (#9), swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Is God threatening us? Or, once again, does this mean something else?

Is God saying, “do these nine things and I will lock you out of heaven and send you to hell”?  Or is this God crying out for us to beware of a lurking danger? Much like a mother crying out to her child, “Watch out! Danger ahead”?  Could this be a helpful warning that some habits of behavior will create an unseen barrier, perhaps within your soul, mind or spirit, obstructing your way to heaven?

Many of the things in the list of “The Notorious Nine” are things we all find ourselves doing at sometime. It seems that, at times, we just cannot help ourselves!

He can’t help himself

Is this phrase saying that a person must be physically handicapped and that they can’t help themselves?  I mean – the word “to help” is quite simple and straightforward, so when someone can’t help themselves, they quite literally can’t assist themselves with performing certain tasks, isn’t that right?

That’s not the case, at all!  When someone says I can’t help myself, it means the person in question can’t RESIST doing something; they are too weak to say NO to themselves.

Psychology Today tells us that, “It is frequently said that addiction occurs when drugs “hijack” the brain. It’s hard to nail down what that means, but it does rightly suggest that there is an involuntary takeover of the brain that compromises decision-making and diminishes freedom of choice, making quitting difficult even in the face of desire to do so. What happens in addiction is that, through completely natural processes involved in all learning, the brain prunes nerve pathways of attention and motivation to preferentially notice, focus on, desire, and seek the substance. What starts out as a choice becomes, in a sense, a prison.”

But drugs are not the only kinds of addiction.  Addiction is a compulsive behavior towards a substance or an activity that induces pleasure and enjoyment. It’s easy to confine addiction to just drugs and alcohol, but people also compulsively engage in activities such alcohol, tobacco, gambling, shopping, sex, food, video games, internet and work as the 10 most common forms of addiction.

Oddly enough, the Bible tells of this danger in Romans 8:5-6, “For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Here is the “secret”.

The phrase ‘mind set on’ is from the Greek word, “phronema” which comes from a variety of roots words meaning “what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes, which emanates from the core of our thinking and tend to ‘fence in, block up, stop up our thinking and our lives and will put to silence any and all other ways of thinking, in essence, creating a prison and holding us in solitary confinement within our own mind.”

So, when God, through the Apostle Paul, said, that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God and listed “The Notorious Nine” in 1 Corinthians 6 and again, what I will call “The Felonious Fifteen” in Galatians 5:19: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: (#1), sexual immorality, (#2), impurity, (#3), indecent behavior, (#4), idolatry, (#5), witchcraft, (#6), hostilities, (#7), strife, (#8), jealousy, (#9), outbursts of anger, (#10), selfish ambition, (#11), dissensions, (#12), factions, (#13), envy, (#14), drunkenness, (#15), carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Perhaps this was never a threat from God at all. What if, He is calling out, crying out to you, warning you, a plea to save yourself from certain death and destruction, from an eternity of torment. What if God’s message has been one to help you and to save you, all along?  Has He been saying one thing, and you have been hearing another?

He is calling out to you, now.

If you have taken this seriously or have paused to think, “that could be me”, then rest assured there is a way out!

The Bible goes on to tell us, “And that is what some of you were (of “The Notorious Nine” or of ” The Felonious Fifteen”).  But you can be washed clean, you can be sanctified, you can be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Romans 10:9-12 says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Please. Don’t be confused about what the Bible actually says. It is a love letter from God, written specifically to you. He is offering you safety and sanctuary from all that plagues you. You can find safety and peace in Him; and even when trouble comes, He will show you the way of escape!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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Thank you for your response. ✨

 

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 15

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links for important details on these teachings; then resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links for important details and in lieu of footnotes and references.)

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN– Part 15

John 1:43-51, “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”

I want to be reminded that John’s book tells the story of the Eternal Word, who became flesh and dwelt with humanity. It is true that people often turn to the Gospel of John because it spells out so clearly the basics of the Christian faith, and it does. But this Book is far more than the ‘basics of the Christian faith’. Jesus proves who he is, diagnoses humanity’s problems, and bluntly describes what is necessary to live a full and meaningful life now for a salvation that leads to everlasting life.

Let’s read verse 43 again. Jesus decides to go to Galilee, and He finds Philip. The Greek translation tells us that Jesus not only ‘decides’ to go to Galilee, it pleased Him to go. He was happy about it. This word, ‘decides’ is in the aorist tense which has no regard for the past, present or future – it is continuous – which tells us that this is always what Jesus does. This is our model.

He was looking forward to going to Galilee, and we find out why when He finds Philip. That was no accident or happenstance. This language tells us Jesus was hunting for, searching for Philip, and He found him! This, again, is our model.

That is just ‘so like Jesus’, isn’t it? Matthew 18:11 tells us that Jesus says, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost”.  He always purposes to seek people out. And when Jesus found him, He called Philip to follow Him. Now, granted, Jesus ‘knew Phillip’ ahead of time – He knows all of us by name. (Let that sink in.) But the first words out of Jesus’ mouth to Philip is, “Follow Me”.

The phrase, “follow me” is not a simple request, and it is a complex phrase in the Greek language. It is an imperative, a command. Jesus is saying, ‘Follow me, now!” It means “to join one who precedes you; to join him as his attendant; to accompany him as a disciple or to become his disciple”. Philip understood this and does it! No excuses, no arguments, he just goes with Jesus.

Jesus is always seeking for His own. Jesus always finds His own – this is what Jesus does continuously. He has said, “I have come to seek and to save”.

Just as Jesus knew Philip, Jesus knows you, intimately. Jesus continues to seek you, even after you have been saved.

There is another example in Luke 9:59-62, “And Jesus said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.”  But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

What is your response? Are you like Philip who made no excuses, offered no arguments, no delays, he just went wherever and whenever Jesus called? Anything less than immediate obedience, brings our sincerity and commitment to Jesus into question.

Verse 44. “Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

 Bethsaida was a small fishing village on the northern shore of the sea of Galilee. Its inhabitants were largely uneducated working people, but the one thing most Jewish boys knew was the Torah. (There is a passage in the Mishnah, see Aboth v.21, which quaintly maps out and, as it were, labels the different periods of life according to their characteristics. It is worth reproducing, if only to serve as an introduction to what we shall have to say on the upbringing of children. Rabbi Jehudah, the son of Tema, says: “At five years of age, reading of the Bible; at ten years, learning the Mishnah; at thirteen years, bound to the commandments; at fifteen years, the study of the Talmud; at eighteen years, marriage; at twenty, the pursuit of trade or business (active life)).

So, it should be no surprise that Philip and Nathanael had knowledge of “Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote”. Philip goes on to ascribe this person as ‘Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth’.

I have read several commentaries, and although Philip may have known about the prophesied Messiah, it seems that no Bible scholar is able to say how or why Philip may have known that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, “Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote”, except by way of the Spirit of God.

Nathanael replies with skepticism, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” And rather than argue to try to convince Nathanael, Philip simply tells him to come and see for yourself!

The application of these verses to our own lives should be plain. Rather than arguing and trying to convince someone about Jesus, perhaps we should consider Philip’s advice and tell the skeptics to “come, and see for yourself”. What happens next confirms Philip’s advice as correct.

Verse 47. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

I am left without many words after reading verse 47 except to repeat, Jesus knows His own. Nathanael also seems amazed and confused by what Jesus tells him. How could Jesus know these things from a casual encounter?

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!”

Once again, although Nathanael may have known about the prophesied Messiah, it seems that no Bible scholar is able to say how or why he may have known that Jesus was actually this long-awaited Messiah, “Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote”, except by way of the Spirit of God.

Verse 50. “Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus seems pleased with if not amazed at Nathanael’s simple faith, and then encourages him by telling of the amazing things yet to come.

  • It is our obedience to His words that pleases Jesus.
  • It is ‘knowing about Him’ that can help us move past the impersonal to the personal.
  • It is our simple faith that will help us see greater things!

I pray that God will give us the strength and courage to obey.  I pray, that we not just know about Jesus, but we actually come to know Him in a real and personal way.  I pray that our faith will give us ‘sight to see greater things’, and that it will be profound by its simplicity.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

SUCH GREAT FAITH

“And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, begging Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, terribly tormented.” Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” Matthew 8:5-10

Please bookmark this page and continue with me on this exciting journey in God’s Word.

Next Chapter coming soon.

Previous chapter: The Gospel of John, Episode 14

PERFECTION – Chapter 15 – The New World Order

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links for important details on these teachings; then resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links for important details and in lieu of footnotes and references.)

     (Before reading any further, please click this link and watch this 3-minute video:  One World Government Forms – End Times Ministries)

The Bible tells us of a time when world events will collide in a world-wide cataclysm. We are seeing, what appears to be, the final acts of that event in our day.

The Bible warns of wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes, famines, drought, disease and death. We are warned of false Messiahs, a horrific persecution of Christians world-wide and a great falling away from the faith. (Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapters 6 & 7).

All the things listed, have already occurred and are occurring, and in fact, have been ongoing, intensifying and overlapping, since the death and resurrection of Jesus, this is, except for the Great Apostasy, a.k.a., the great falling away, but we now have signs that the Apostasy has begun.

We are told that “AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS”, that is, after  the first FIVE SCROLL SEALS are broken, as described above (also, see  Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapters 6 and 7), the world will witness  great cosmic disturbances, as have never been seen by mankind.

During these times, the Bible (Daniel and Revelation) foretells of a coming World Government, headed by a highly intelligent and charismatic individual who is able to lead a great and fierce army, conquering many. He will be able to deceive many and to do miraculous deeds, and will take control of a worldwide empire and the lives of every person on earth.

THE GREAT GLOBAL RESET

‘THE GREAT RESET’

A slick and powerful, multifaceted global government propaganda cabal, is pushing THE SOCIALIST AGENDA ACROSS THE GLOBE. (The Capitalist, Published June 26, 2020 (Excerpt).

“Quietly, while the coronavirus pandemic distracted the world, a group of liberal “key global governmental and business leaders” met in Switzerland and planned the next coup d’état to take over the global economy. Many call it The Great Reset. It also means “dangerous times for those who support individual liberties and free markets.”

The World Economic Forum will hold a summit next year to further their initiative. According to them, “The Great Reset is a commitment to jointly and urgently build the foundations of our economic and social system for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future. It requires a new social contract centered on human dignity, social justice and where societal progress does not fall behind economic development.”

“What it’s really trying to accomplish is using the coronavirus pandemic as a cover. They’re aiming for a renewed push for socialism and climate change initiatives.”

The New American – Europe  »  UN-Backed “Great Reset” to Usher in New World Order, July 15, 2020, Alex Newman, (Excerpt)

“Get ready for a lot less freedom and prosperity, and a lot more government — at least if the elites get their way.  After peddling coronavirus lockdowns that crushed the economy and funding riots that terrorized the public under the guise of fighting “systemic racism,” Deep State globalists are stepping in to offer their proposed “solution” to the crises they themselves unleashed: A “Great Reset” to transform the world and everything in it, supposedly for the benefit of the masses, but really for the benefit of the ruling classes.

“Top leaders of Big Business, Big Globalism, and Big Government worldwide — including royalty and mass-murdering communist tyrants — are jumping on the bandwagon. But even before the scheme is fully outlined and understood, resistance is growing quickly.

“Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed,” added Schwab, calling for even “stronger and more effective” government. “We must build entirely new foundations for our economic and social systems.” And there is no other choice but to submit, he and others declared.”

“In short, what remains of the tattered free-market system is set to be tossed out — along with the vibrant middle class it sustained. In its place will rise technocratic governance based on nebulous “social” and “environmental” goals set by the technocrats.”

INTRODUCING

THE GREAT RESET

World Leaders’ radical plan to transform the economy, by Justin Haskins – Beating Back the Great Reset.

“For decades, progressives have attempted to use climate change to justify liberal policy changes. But their latest attempt – a new proposal called the “Great Reset” – is the most ambitious and radical plan the world has seen in more than a generation.

“At a virtual meeting earlier in June hosted by the World Economic Forum, some of the planet’s most powerful business leaders, government officials and activists announced a proposal to “reset” the global economy. Instead of traditional capitalism, the high-profile group said the world should adopt more socialistic policies, such as wealth taxes, additional regulations and massive Green New Deal-like government programs.

“Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed,” wrote Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, in an article published on the World Economic Forum’s website. “In short, we need a ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism.

“Although many details about the Great Reset won’t be rolled out until the World Economic Forum meets in Davos in January 2021, the general principles of the plan are clear: The world needs massive new government programs and far-reaching policies comparable to those offered by American socialists such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in their Green New Deal plan.

“Or, put another way, we need a form of socialism – a word the World Economic Forum has deliberately avoided using, all while calling for countless socialist and progressive plans.”

Now you have an idea how the U.S. National Institute of Health help fund Chinese research on the Coronavirus, which was ‘accidentally leaked’ from a lab in communist Wu Han, China,   gave the Democrat party in America and Globalist-Marxists around the world, a gift of sorts. An opportunity and an avenue to promote and accelerate their efforts to create, politicized, weaponized and manipulate a ‘pandemic’ for Globalist-Marxists goals. Now you know more about what this so-called Coronavirus pandemic is really all about.

 

And now, perhaps you can better understand what is meant by, ‘How and why The Tower of Babel is being rebuilt.

 

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 16 – THE 21ST CENTURY TOWER OF BABEL REBUILT – Agenda 21

Previous Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 14 – The New Social Order

(Go here for the complete Online Digital Book: THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

Additional Resources about the NOW-IN-PLACE Great Reset and New World Order:  The Hill – The Great Reset

The Hill – John Kerry, Joe Biden – Advancing The Great Reset

 

RAPTURE REVEALED + 2022

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There is a lot of interest and conversation and controversy about an event called “The Rapture”, both inside and outside Christian Circles.  Scores of books, articles and movies have been written and produced on the subject, so many in fact, that one internet search returned over 1,500,000 hits on the subject.

The “Rapture”, as it is called, is an eschatological (study on matters of end times) theological position held by some Christians, of an end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurrected believers, will rise “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”[1] The idea of a rapture as it is currently defined is not found in historic Christianity, and the term “rapture” is not found in the Bible.

The doctrine of a rapture is a relatively recent idea of Evangelical Protestantism, introduce by John Nelson Darby, a British pastor, writer and educator in the mid 1800s.  Darby formulated the idea of the rapture from the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4:13-17, specifically from verse 17, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 

The words “caught up” translate from the Greek verb “harpazō”.  The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek as “rapiemur” meaning “we are caught up” or “we are taken away” from the Latin verb rapio, where we get the English word, rapture.

For the sake of brevity on this posting, I will leave you with this PDF presentation comparing the Words of Jesus in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 and the book of the Revelation, taken from chapters six and seven. (click on the image above or the text below here. You can also listen to the  audio version – see audio player above – while you read the PDF version).

THE RAPTURE REVEALED 

This ministry’s position is a definitive “Pre-Wrath Rapture“.  There are four Zions’ Hope videos which follow, and one video by The Fuel Project on this matter.

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT?”

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT?  PART 2 B – A SCROLL”

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT? PART 2 A – THE 7 SEALS”

“THE FUEL PROJECT GUIDE TO THE 6TH TRIBULATION SEAL”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

More material on the Tribulation and The Rapture by The Whitestone Fellowship:

When does the 7-Year Tribulation Begin?

The 5th Tribulation Seal.

The 6th Tribulation Seal.

AMERICAN UNDER SIEGE

PERFECTION – Chapter 14 – The New Social Order

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links for important details on these teachings; then resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links for important details and in lieu of footnotes and references.)

Chapter 14

THE NEW

WHERE IS IT GOING?

“Just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.” 

A study in sociology is not necessary to know that here have been thousands, if not millions, of social constructs since mankind was placed on this earth. The variations are mind boggling. Some have been successful and others have been abject failures when measured by the standard of human benefit.

The various outcomes of the myriad of social systems have been affected by many conditions ranging from the natural phenomenon to self-indulgence. But no condition has had a greater impact on our world than what the Bible calls ‘sin’.

A careful reading and study on the creation of man, ‘the fall of mankind’ and his descent into chaos must lead the reader to recognize that most, if not all of our social ills, ensuing dilemmas and human tragedies emanate from this condition called ‘sin’.

The origins, the etymology, of the word ‘sin’, is as instructive as it is interesting.  Old Testament Hebrew, defines the word ‘sin’ as ‘chata’, pronounced, ‘khaw-taw’, and means “to miss or to go wrong, to sin”.

The New Testament Greek word for ‘sin’ is ‘hamartia’, pronounced, ‘ham-ar-tee’-ah’, and means, to sin, a forfeiture because of missing the mark; it is the brand of sin that emphasizes its self-originated, self-empowered nature.

Both definitions and usages of the word, include the phrase, ‘to miss the mark’.  In other words, sin is to miss the mark of God’s planned perfection.

The Christian Apostle Saint Paul, as recorded in Romans chapter 7, realized that sin, or evil, is present within all of us and causes all of us to ‘miss the mark’ of God’s Perfection, or to fail.  Most, if not all of our social ills and ensuing dilemma emanate from this condition.

Man was made with a ‘dubious character’ with an inclination to sin. This was part of God’s grand design in the creation of mankind. Paul realized that this sin was ‘holding him prisoner’ and that he was in desperate need of help and to be set free. (See Romans 7:21-24)

So, we have seen that, according to the Biblical record, God created mankind with the proclivity to fail, that is, to sin.  On the other hand, the Bible tells us that God’s plan is for perfection.

I said at the beginning of this book, I am not a philosopher, I am not superstitious and I know little-to-nothing about existentialism.  So, I cannot even imagine why God’s Grand Design reflects any concept of Dualism, a theory that considers reality to consist of two irreducible elements or modes or the quality or state of being dual or of having a dual nature. A view of that human beings, are constituted of two irreducible elements such as matter and spirit, good and evil.

The concept of Dualism is that that there are two separate entities, good and evil, which are equally powerful, “Christian” dualism, God represents the good entity and Satan represents the evil entity.

However, in Christianity, the truth is that even though Satan has some power, he is no equal to God Almighty, for he was created by God as an angel before he rebelled. Good, represented by God Almighty, is the most powerful force in the universe without exception. Evil, represented by Satan, is a lesser force that is no match for good. Evil will be defeated every time in any head-to-head match with good, for God Almighty, the essence of good, is all-powerful, whereas evil, represented by Satan, is not.

Whenever any doctrine portrays good and evil as two equal opposing forces, that doctrine contradicts the Biblical scriptural position that good, represented by God Almighty, is the dominant power in the universe. Since Satan was not, and never will be, equal to God, any doctrine that says he is can be marked as a false doctrine. (The fact that Satan was thrown out of heaven for trying to rise above God does not mean Satan has given up trying to be equal or superior to God, as evidenced by the basic tenets of “dualism” that have come down largely through the philosophical stem of human wisdom.)

There can be no true ‘dualism’ existing in any corner of our universe. There is only one power that is overriding, and that power is God Almighty as revealed to us in the Bible. According to the scriptural evidence, there is only one power that is omnipotent, not two. Thus, any doctrine of dualism which contends that there are two equal powers opposing each other (good and evil) is  false.

 THE CONFLICT

Absent “true dualism in nature”, there is, however, a self-evident conflict.  A tension and a struggle between good and evil, life and death and a conflict between God and Satan.

(Again, I say, I will not debate the philosophers about the meaning of ‘good and evil’ or ‘life and death’. Those things are self-evident and any further discussion about them are nothing but a tangled web of confusion and personal opinions by the high-minded. Lies and deceit.)

This on-going conflict can be seen from the time of creation, in the Garden of Eden, through the casting down of Lucifer and his rebellious angels from heaven, to the conflicts between the sons of Abraham,  Isaac and Ishmael. We read about Angelic and demonic conflicts in the spiritual realms manifesting in earthly terms and we read about the great Crusades, a conflict between Christianity and Islamic forces. These types of conflicts continue and exist today.

Chapter 6 of the book of Ephesians tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” These struggles then manifest in our natural bodies.

The Bible tells us that the complexity, the frequency and the intensity of this conflict and struggle will increase as we approach the climax of “The Last Days” and the “End of This Age”.

The two choices are becoming clear:  God’s way or man’s ways.

One of man’s ways of organizing a society goes by the name of Socialism. It is a system in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than by individual people and companies. It is a system of society or group living in which there is no private property and is a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.  Finally, and in brief, it is a stage of society in Marxist theory, that is, the principles of class division of society and class struggle where society has ‘oppressors’ and ‘the oppressed’. The oppressed are eventually bound to revolt and build a new society and economy.

Socialism is the transitional point between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

According to Marx, socialism is a stage on the way to communism, which is the more advanced stage of human organization not yet achieved in China or the Soviet Union, even according to Lenin, Stalin and Mao.  Many calling themselves socialist would like to stop with the nationalization of the means of production and not move on to communism. They also often oppose the “dictatorship of the proletariat” in the name of democracy.

SOCIALISM and Communism

The quick ‘n’ easy way to remember the difference between Socialism and Communism is: Socialism is “from each according to their ability, to each according to their DEEDS,” whereas Communism is “from each according to their ability to each according to their NEEDS.”

Socialism is the stage between Capitalism and Communism. It builds upon the previous system (Capitalism) by nationalizing the “means of production” (i.e., corporations, resources, banks, etc.), but not by making everyone equal.

The Social Gospel:  The 21st Century

In the United States, the Social Gospel is still influential in mainline Protestant denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church; it seems to be growing in the Episcopal Church as well, especially with that church’s effort to support the ONE Campaign. In Canada, it is widely present in the United Church and in the Anglican Church. Social Gospel elements can also be found in many service and relief agencies associated with Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church in the United States. It also remains influential among Christian socialist circles in Britain in the Church of England, Methodist and Calvinist movements.  In Catholicism, liberation theology has similarities to the Social Gospel. In the Anglican Church, the social gospel has found expression in pacifism.

Christian Socialism – (From Wikipedia)

 Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel. The term “Christian Socialism” is used in this sense by organizations such as the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), a specifically Christian grouping affiliated with the British Labor Party.

Christian socialists draw parallels between what some have characterized as the egalitarian and anti-establishment message of Jesus, who — according to Christian Gospel — spoke against the religious authorities of his time, and the egalitarian, anti-establishment, and sometimes anti-clerical message of most contemporary socialisms. Some Christian Socialists have gone as far as to become active Communists (see Christian communism).

Let us now examine the question of the relationship of Christianity with Communism more precisely, to that particular form of communism which has now appeared as an attempt to realize the ideas of socialism. This form of communism emerged in history as a sworn and bitter enemy of Christianity. For its part, Christianity recognizes it as completely alien and inimical with itself. (from Orthodoxphotos.com)

The history of the Church in apostolic times reveals that, in those times, it had its own Christian form of ‘communism’, which was actually ‘communalism’. The faithful held everything common, as the Acts of the Apostles says. Even now, this Christian communalism exists in the form of Koenobitic monasticism. Both the concept and reality of communal property is a bright, idealistically elevated type of Christian inter-relationship, examples of which have always existed in the Orthodox Church.

How great is the difference between such Christian communalism and Soviet communism! One is as far from the other as the heavens are from the earth. Christian communalism is not an independent self-motivated goal to which Christianity might strive. Rather, it is an inheritance bred of that spirit of love by which the Church has breathed from the first. Moreover, Christian communalism is totally voluntary. No one says, “Give us what is yours, it belongs to us,” rather, Christians themselves sacrificed so that “none of them considered any of their possessions to be their own.”

The communalism of property in Soviet communism is a self-motivated goal which must be attained no matter what the consequences and regardless of any considerations. The builders of this type of communism are attaining it by purely violent means, not balking at any measure, even the slaughter of all those who do not agree… The bases of this communism are not freedom, as in Christian communism, but force; not sacrificial love, but envy and hatred.

In its struggle against religion, Soviet communism goes to such excesses that it excludes even that most elementary justice which is recognized by everyone. In its class ideology, Soviet communism tramples on all justice. The object of its work is not the common weal of all the citizens of the state, but only the interests of a single class. All the remaining state and social groupings of citizens are “thrown overboard,” outside the care and protection of the communist government. The ruling class has no concern for them.

Socialism and Communism are the anathema of Christianity.  The two cannot coexist with the third.  They are incompatible.  One must survive and the other must cease to exist.

The Christian doctrine of eschatology teaches the complete eradication of Socialism, Communism and their adherents.

Quotes on Communism by influential people:

“Communism has never come to power in a country that was not disrupted by war or corruption, or both.” – John F. Kennedy

“Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by the weak.” – Pierre Joseph Proudhon

“A common danger tends to concord. Communism is the exploitation of the strong by the weak. In Communism, inequality comes from placing mediocrity on a level with excellence.” – Pierre Joseph Proudhon

For us in Russia communism is a dead dog. For many people in the West, it is still a living lion.” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn

“When we hang the capitalists, they will sell us the rope we use.” – Joseph Stalin

“Let’s not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the sky.” – Boris Yeltsin

“Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.” – Mao Zedong

“I am a communist because I believe that the Communist idea is a state form of Christianity.” – Alexander Zhuravlyov

During his 1945 election campaign Winston Churchill stated that:

…a socialist policy is abhorrent to the British ideas of freedom. Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the object worship of the state. It will prescribe for every one where they are to work, what they are to work at, where they may go and what they may say. Socialism is an attack on the right to breathe freely. No socialist system can be established without a political police. They would have to fall back on some form of Gestapo, no doubt very humanely directed in the first instance.

…a socialist policy is abhorrent to the British ideas of freedom.

Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and

the object worship of the state.  It will prescribe for every one where they are to work, what they are to work at, where they may go and

what they may say. Socialism is an attack on the right to breathe freely.

No socialist system can be established without a political police. They would have to fall back on some form of Gestapo, no doubt very humanely directed in the first instance

“Communism emerged in history as a sworn and bitter enemy of Christianity. For its part, Christianity recognizes it as completely alien and inimical with itself.”

A FINAL NOTE:  When addressing the outcomes of the two sides of perceived dualism, I prefer to use the standard as outlined in the Bible and reflected in the American Declaration of Independence to describe the ‘Good’.  To Wit:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. (for the full text and the entire document, click this link: The Declaration of Independence.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 15 – A NEW WORLD ORDER

Previous Chapter:  PERFECTION – Chapter 13 – Come Reason With Me

(Go here for the complete Online Digital Book: THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE, CONSTRUCT AND PROGESSION OF THE SOCIAL ORDER, OF  AS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE AND CONSTRATED WITH HUMANISM, SOCIALISM AND ALL ITS VARIANTS, YOU WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

PAGANISM and CHRISTIANITY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen by audio; pause the audio to follow page links, then, when you are ready, resume the audio. Please note: I use page links for important details in lieu of footnotes and references.)

ARE YOU PRACTICING PAGANISM, ‘UNAWARE’?

Tell me it is not so.  Where do you fit in?

From Answers in Genesis

64% of Americans agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.”

Only 52% agree that “the Bible alone is the written word of God.”

Only 58% agree that “God is the author of Scripture.”

65% agree that “everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”

44% agree that “the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.”

51% agree that “the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.”

Only 47% agree that “the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches.”

59% of Americans agree that “worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.”

Only 45% agree that “churches that do not preach from the Bible should not be considered a Christian church.”

Only 49% in churches agree that “sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.”

Only 49% agree that “abortion is a sin.”

42% agree that “the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.”

38% agree that “gender identity is a matter of choice.”

45% agree that “modern science discredits the claims of Christianity.”

52% agree that “by the good deeds that I do, I partly contribute to earning my place in heaven”

Only 60% agree that “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”

Only 52% agree that “it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

Only 54% in churches agree that “only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

From the Pew Research Center

Survey among Christians, when asked, “Do you believe in God”. (Pew Research Center on belief in God)

Survey year Believe in God; absolutely certain Believe in God; fairly certain Believe in God; not too/not at all certain Believe in God; don’t know Do not believe in God Other/don’t know if they believe in God Sample size
2014      76%     18%       3%      1%     1%         1% 25,048

Pew Research on casual sex among professing Christians

Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes or always acceptable.

  • Six-in-ten Catholics (62%) take this view, as do 56% of Protestants in the historically Black tradition, 54% of mainline Protestants and 36% of evangelical Protestants.
  • Among those who are religiously unaffiliated, meanwhile, the vast majority (84%) say casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable,
  • including roughly nine-in-ten atheists (94%) and
  • agnostics (95%) who say this.
  • The religiously unaffiliated, also known as “nones,” are those who describe themselves, religiously, as atheist, agnostic or as “nothing in particular.”

From CNS News

A study released by the Rasmussen Reports polling firm on Good Friday found that only 64% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

From the Cultural Research Center – George Barna Research

Today, 176 million Americans claim to be Christians—69% of the population. Yet, only 6% of U.S. adults—which is 9% of those identifying as Christians—possess a biblical worldview, believing the Bible to be accurate and reliable, among other convictions.

That’s according to a new study by researcher George Barna and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona.

Large majorities of self-identified Christians also report many beliefs “not in harmony with biblical teaching,” according to the survey. These include:

  • 72% argue that people are basically good
  • 66% say that ‘having faith’ matters more than which faith you pursue
  • 64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
  • 58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven
  • 57% believe in karma

By contrast, the survey cohort termed as Integrated Disciples—a small subset of those claiming to be Christians—are noted as being consistent in their beliefs and integrating those convictions into their behaviors.

  • 99+% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today
  • 99+% believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God
  • 96% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God

However, Barna’s survey finds that even some believers classified as part of this highly discipled cohort hold to some views that “challenge biblical principles.” Those “shocking” beliefs of Integrated Disciples include:

  • 52% argue that people are basically good
  • 39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity
  • 33% believe in karma

“There is a remarkable level of self-deception (even among) born-again Christians,” said Barna, commenting on his recent worldview research. “It represents a huge educational challenge for those responsible for biblical worldview development.”

Many postmodern churches are teaching a type of gospel that does not conform to the Bible and, in fact, reveals many of the traits and teachings of Paganism. Likewise, a majority of people claiming the name of Christian may not be Christians at all. Many postmodern Christians don’t fully believe the Bible and practice aspects of Paganism.

Pagan comes from the Latin word paganus, which means “country dweller”; paganism can refer to polytheism, (the belief in many gods), or the worship of more than one god, such as in ancient Rome. A pagan is also considered to be one who, for the most part, has no religion and indulges in worldly delights and material possessions; someone who revels in sensual pleasures; a hedonistic or self-indulgent individual. Another, more modern term is neo-paganism, which refers to some of the contemporary forms of paganism such as Wicca, Druidry, and Gwyddon.

Modern “pagan” practices are actually similar to their ancient counterparts in that they rely heavily on hedonism—sensual gratification and self-indulgence and the pursuit of happiness and pleasure to the exclusion of everything else. In ancient times, sexual ceremonies were a major part of pagan religions. The Old Testament references these perverted religions in such passages as Deuteronomy 23:17, Amos 2:7–8, and Isaiah 57:7–8.

Though they are numerous and varied in their practices and beliefs, pagans do hold to some similar beliefs. For example:

• The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
• Everyone is considered to be part of this Mother Earth.
• Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
• Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
• Most pagan religions do not have gurus or messiahs.
• Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
• Solar and lunar cycles are significant in pagan worship.

From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term pagans to describe those outside their religion. Others define the term paganism as any religion outside of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity; whereas some argue that a pagan is anyone with no religion at all.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Furthermore, since they, (pagans), did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28).

In spite of common assumptions, most pagan worshipers claim they don’t believe in Satan. However, there’s no question that Satan is their chief source of influence and control. Though they will deny it, they deify him in their worldly and sensual practices. Paul tells us plainly how Satan works in the lives of people without God, through his power, his signs, his deceit, and his lies:

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).

That Satan is alive and well is powerfully evidenced in these pagan practices. This was not only clear in the times of the first-century church, but also in today’s postmodern world. To the faithful believers who know the Lord, pagan worship is what it appears to be—the power and deceit of the prince of this world, Satan (1 John 5:19), who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). As such, paganism should be avoided.

CHRISTIANITY

According to Wikipedia, Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world’s largest religion, with about 2.5 billion followers. Its adherents, known as Christians, make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament in Christianity) and chronicled in the New Testament.

According to CARM (Christian Apologetics And Research Ministry), Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. The word “Christ” means anointed one. Christ is not Jesus’ last name.  Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically.  He performed many miracles that were recorded in the Gospels by the eyewitnesses. He is divine in nature as well as human. Thus, He has two natures and is worthy of worship and prayer.

According to GotQuestions.Org,, the term Christianity seems to imply a religious system in the same way that Islam and Buddhism are religious systems. Within religious systems are core beliefs, along with codes, rules, and standards that must be mastered in order to achieve a desired end. Christianity does not fit that definition and therefore the term can be slightly misleading.

Jesus did not come into the world to start another religion. There were already plenty of religions (see Acts 17:22–23), including Judaism, which had begun as a relationship with Almighty God (Leviticus 20:12) but had deteriorated into another religious system on par with idol worship (Matthew 15:8). Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), to seek and to save the lost—those separated from God by their sin (Luke 19:10)—and to “give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:32). With that said, those who follow Christ do share some core beliefs.

Biblically speaking, Christians are those who are forgiven of their sins and who have entered a personal relationship with Almighty God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:9–10). In order to become a Christian, a person must fully accept as part of his or her own personal worldview the following core beliefs:

• Jesus is the Son of God and is equal with God (John 1:1, 49; Luke 22:70; Mark 3:11; Philippians 2:5–11)
• Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; John 8:29)
• Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for our sins (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 15:2–4)
• Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:46; Mark 16:6)
• We are saved by the grace of God; that is, we cannot add to or take away from Christ’s finished work on the cross as full payment for our sin (Ephesians 2:8–9)

PAGANISM contrasted to CHRISTIANITY

  • The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
  • The physical world is fallen and, for now, is ruled by Satan. (1 John 5:19)
  • There is pleasure to be found in the world, but as Christians we are strangers to this world, scattered about, being distressed by various trials for the proving of our faith until Jesus returns. (1 Peter 1:1-9, Matthew 24:29-31)
  • Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
  • The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun. (Psalms 19:1-4), but the Bible says we are to worship only God, and not to worship His creation (Romans 1:25).
  • Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
  • We are made in the image of God but with a flaw and afflicted by the curse of sin and condemned to eternal damnation. It is only by being born again by the Spirit of God by His grace and great mercy and through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are we to be saved from destruction.
  • Some false religions and cults teach that we are ‘made in his image’ and that we become like gods. This is a twisting, a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the Bible which says ‘we will become like Him’.
  • Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
  • There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death. (Proverbs 14:12)
  • Our good deeds are no better than filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
  • God will judge us by our deeds. (Romans 2:6)

Again, scriptures say, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12).

The Apostle Paul emphasizes “the whole counsel of God” as a way to affirm the completion of his duties toward the Ephesians and to remind them of the Truth, WHICH IS ALSO OURS TO AFFIRM TO THE WORLD AROUND US. Paul warns, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:29–31).

The whole counsel of God includes some things that are difficult to hear—the fact that we are dead in sin and deserving of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3) and the fact that we cannot save ourselves through works (Ephesians 2:8–9). The gospel is a call to repentance and faith. Believers will face persecution (John 16:33) and likely be considered foolish. But none of these things can dissuade us.

We should follow Paul’s example and also preach and live the whole counsel of God. All Scripture is inspired, and all of it is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). We must preach it and live it in its entirety and allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword as He sees fit (Ephesians 6:17). Paul did not share half-truths or only parts of the gospel; rather, he shared all of what God has revealed. We must do the same. (see GotQuestions.Org)

The Bible warns us of this ‘Deluding Influence’,“the mystery of lawlessness which is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He, (The Holy Spirit), is removed. 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; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thesslonians 2:7-12)

In these Last Days, as the Bible says, the spirit of antichrist is present. False christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. We must hold fast to the example of sound words which we have heard and in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 

Let’s not forget to pray for one another as the Day of our Lord draws near.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young