THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 3

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 3

 

The New Birth, John the Baptist’s Last Testimony

Chapter 3 moves away from an introduction of Jesus and His first miracle to a serious introduction of Jesus’ mission, plan, purpose and method. This chapter contains some of the most amazing revelations of the foundational principles of Christianity, heaven, salvation, and judgement. Each and every one of us as Christians, should not attempt to move any farther in our faith nor stake our claim a Christians (‘Christianos’, a follower of Christ), until we have completed and mastered these fundamentals.

The New Birth

John 3:1, Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; verse 2, this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Verse 3. Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

(Commentary Break): Here is an irony. Nicodemus is a ‘ruler of the Jews’ a ‘teacher of Israel’ and his name, Nicodemus translates as ‘conqueror’, yet he skulks around in the dark as a coward or as a thief in order to talk with Jesus. To his credit, Nicodemus address Jesus as “Rabbi”, (‘my great one, my honorable sir’), humbling himself before Jesus.

Then, without further introduction, Jesus responds by pointing out Nicodemus’ one greatest need, “unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Without this, Nicodemus cannot see nor understand heavenly matters, true nature of God and at this point his life is fatally flawed and condemned to destruction.

But just knowing about this encounter or just knowing about these principles does no good unless they are acted upon. This is the lesson for us to learn, “can you see the kingdom of God?”  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 4. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Verse 5. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Verse 6. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Verse 7. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ Verse 8. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”

Verse 9. Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

(Commentary Break): Again, to his credit, Nicodemus humbles himself and admits he does not understand what Jesus has said. His answer sounds foolish, even mocking, but in reality this is the depth of the blindness and ignorance of a great teacher and ruler of Israel.

Jesus patiently explains this principal using a metaphor, comparing the movement of the Spirit of God to the wind.

Once again, let’s please be careful not to read this just as a narrative about Jesus and Nicodemus. This is meant for you and me to see and understand. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 10. Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Verse 11. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. Verse 12. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

(Commentary Break): These verses 10 through 15 may be some of the most insightful and important fundamental teachings of Jesus. Let’s break it down into its component parts, then reassemble them into a practical and powerful application.

(1). Jesus uses the first person personal pronoun (I) in verses 11 and 12 to contrast and compare what he teaches about heavenly things versus earthly things. Then He shifts to a collective pronoun (we), “we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen” then Jesus refers to “you people do not accept our testimony”, referring to the elite ruling religious class in Israel.

But who are the “We” Jesus identifies with? It is the Trinity? It cannot be the Holy Spirit because He has not yet been sent. Is it Jesus and the Father? This is a possibility. Or, is it Jesus and His disciples? This is possible because of their testimony.

This is important because “this phrase encapsulates the importance of speaking truth based on genuine, firsthand knowledge-especially knowledge of spiritual matters. In Scripture, “speaking what we know” is not limited to objective or intellectual information but encompasses personal experience (1 John 1:1), communal testimony (Acts 4:20), and divinely revealed truth (2 Timothy 3:16).

Across biblical narratives, believers are urged to boldly share truth they have come to know: God’s power, character, and redemptive works. The question can also be applied more broadly to any believer who is called to testify about spiritual realities. This entry will explore the concept through multiple lenses, highlighting why it is vital to speak from genuine knowledge, how that knowledge is shaped by Scripture and personal experience, and how archaeological, historical, and experiential evidence further affirms it.” (see Biblehub.com).

Although the disciples have only seen a small portion of what is yet to come their firsthand testimony based on their faith in Jesus is all that is required. The same is true for you and for me. We may not have seen it all or know it all, and seminary degree might indicate we have ‘book learning’ but do people identify you as having spent time with Jesus?

Jesus continues, asking “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” This too is important for us to remember because this truth of the Christ is only revealed to those whom the Holy Spirit draws. Ours is to testify, His is to do the Work of the Father. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 13. No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. Verse 14. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, verse 15. so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.

(Commentary Break): Jesus speaks a profound Truth. A reality. There is only One Who is, when He is lifted up, will draw all men unto Himself. What a lesson for Nicodemus around A.D. 30, and what a lesson in truth for us in the twenty-first century! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Verse 17. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. Verse 18. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Verse 19. And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. Verse 20. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. Verse 21. But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.”

(Commentary Break): Verses 16 through 21 encapsulate the truth of the Gospel message, the effects of the Gospel which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, the consequences for those who do not believe and the rewards of those who do believe. This is the prophetic truth of the great divide: light and darkness, truth and lies, salvation and destruction, heaven and hell, eternal life in the presence of God or eternal death in darkness and fire.

Only the Chosen will understand, but to everyone else, it is folly. Pray for wisdom and pray for the lost. (End Commentary Break).

John the Baptist’s Last Testimony

Verse 22. After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. Verse 23. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized, verse 24, for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Verse 25. Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. Verse 26. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” Verse 27. John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

(Commentary Break): A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” If there are things such as “predestination”, or “foreknowledge”, verse 27 would make that case. But personally, I gravitate to 1 Peter 1:1-5 when he says, “To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”.  

Corporately, as the Church, this gives us insights and discernment. If a pastor is unable or unwilling to teach and preach the Word of God according to the Word of God, instead of using personal illustrations and examples or contemporary examples including stories, books, movies and songs to make his points about the Word of God, you can then know, “That person cannot and has not received even one thing from heaven” and someone needs to be gone. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 28. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ Verse 29. He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. Verse 30. He must increase, but I must decrease.

(Commentary Break): John has set the example for all who follow after him when he says, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ (Additionally, Jesus warns that in the Last Days, many will come IN HIS NAME saying, “I am the Christ”, and they would mislead many people. Whether they are foolish enough to use His Name, or they are using the authority of His Name, do not believe them! (see Matthew 24:4-6). Jesus goes on to inform us that “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them (also), and they follow Me.” (see John 10:27). This is our example to follow. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 31. “He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. Verse 32. What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony. Verse 33. The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true. Verse 34. For He whom God sent speaks the words of God; for He does not give the Spirit sparingly. Verse 35. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand. Verse 36. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (End chapter 3).

Here for us are the foundations, taught through simple contrasts and distinctions:

Earthly things versus Heavenly things.

Born of water versus Born of the Spirit.

 He who descended from heaven is the One who ascended to heaven.

Jesus came to save, not to judge.

If you believe you are not judged; if you do not believe you are already judged.

Light versus Darkness.

Eternal Life versus The Wrath of God.

Being a religious person, an educated church leader, a pastor, teacher, or a theologian does not make you able to see the kingdom of God. You must be born again to bear that fruit.

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? (see Matthew 7:16).

“And, if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.” (see Hebrews 6:8).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 4, Jesus goes to Galilee, The Woman of Samaria, Samaritans, Healing of an official’s son.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 2, The Miracle at Cana, The First Passover – Cleansing the Temple.

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SEEK FIRST HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS KINGDOM – AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU (Matthew 6:33)

 

SEEK FIRST HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS KINGDOM – AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU

– Matthew 6:33 –

If you were to go to an encyclopedia or to Wikipedia and search for the word “Syncretism”, it would be helpful if you would find photos of Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Myer, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Benny Hinn, Brian Houston, Kenneth Hagin.

Syncretism is defined as:

  1. Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous.
  2. The merging of two or more originally different inflectional forms.
  3. Attempted union of principles or parties irreconcilably at variance with each other.
  4. The union or fusion into one of two or more originally different inflectional forms, as of two cases.
  5. The reconciliation or fusion of differentsystems or beliefs (or the attempt at such fusion).
  6. The fusion of different inflexional
  7. The fusion of originally different inflected forms (resulting in a reduction in the use of inflections).
  8. The union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy).

These people, and others like them (who hold a similar or the same view of the Bible) preach and teach a motivational style of prosperity and how to attain it or at least how to “be the best you, now”. Jesus refers to these types of teachers a “false teachers and wolves”.

 

They drape their “sales pitch” and the ensuing “sales training pitch” with religious language found in the Bible. Of course they reconstruct the language to fit their worldly and secular language so they can sell their merchandise, subscription membership to their websites, fake religious artifacts and memorabilia and to solicit their millions of dollars in donations in order to keep them in business and to “gain God’s favor”. I have to admit, however, that I have founds some of their messages entertaining and even motivational for personal gain.

One the other hand, there are more direct and transparent motivational speakers. On such man who is a motivational speaker and a personal life coach is Tony Robbins (and I am not rcommending or pitching for him). He says it for what it is. As he puts it:  “Extraordinary lives answering to a higher calling – a life on your terms, both of deep meaning and incredible impact. Driven by the pursuit of excellence and guided by a profound sense of purpose”. I.e., work hard, be good, reach for excellence in the personal pursuit of success and wealth while enriching the lives of those around you.

Although many of the principles Tony espouses can be found in the Bible, it not religious and it is not Bible-based and never claims to be.

Does the Bible ever talk about wealth and gaining wealth, success and fame? The honest answer to the question is ”yes”. The Bible does not shy away from this subject and in the Bible refers to the subject of prosperity around 125 times. The broader subject of prosperity, to prosper, wealth or to be wealthy, to be rich or riches is mentioned in various context about 290 times. Furthermore, Deuteronomy chapter 28 has a lot to say about prosperity and frames it within the idea of blessings from God:

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  All these blessings will come on  you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

And Joshua chapter 1, verses 7. And 8 plainly state, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

The Bible talks frequently about both the advantages and the disadvantages of obtaining wealth and success. There are instructions about gaining wealth and how to handle it. But there are also stern warning about the pitfalls of wealth and its consequences.

The Bible refers to King Solomon, Abraham, King David, Job, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, Lydia, Joseph of Arimathea, Hezekiah and a few others as being wealthy. Some as the richest men in the world at that time. (Some estimate King Solomon’s wealth in today’s currency at between 2 billion dollars to as much as 2 trillion dollars).

But the Bible is clear that we are not to first seek riches, wealth and fame:

Matthew 6:19,Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Verse 20. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; Verse 21, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Verse 22. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is [n]clear, your whole body will be full of light. Verse 23. But if your eye is bad (or evil), your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Verse 24. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Verse 25. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Verse 26. Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? Verse 27. And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? Verse 28. And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, verse 29, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Verse 30. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Verse 31. Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ Verse 32. For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Verse 33. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”

If this is so, and if I am to seek first His Righteousness and His Kingdom, what are these things, what am I looking for, and how to I find them?

Righteousness carries the meaning of “just” or “righteous.” (tsedeq) and is found in Strong’s Concorance, Hebrew language referebce #6664, is often translated as “righteousness” or “justice,” referring to the moral and ethical standards expected by God.

It refers to righteousness in terms of right actions and justice, often used in the context of God’s covenant faithfulness and the ethical obligations of His people.

These Hebrew terms provide the Old Testament background for the New Testament understanding, highlighting the continuity of God’s righteous standards and His provision for humanity’s right standing with Him through faith.

The New Testament describes the righteousness that comes from God and is imputed to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. It encompasses both the legal standing of being declared righteous before God and the ethical conduct that flows from this status.

The concept is central to the New Testament’s message of salvation and ethical living. It is frequently associated with the righteousness of God, which is revealed in the gospel and is accessible to humanity through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not based on human merit or works but is a gift from God, as seen in Romans 3:22: “And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

In the teachings of Jesus, it is often linked to the kingdom of God and the ethical demands of living as a disciple. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes the importance of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33 BSB): “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

The Apostle Paul elaborates on the doctrine of righteousness in his epistles, particularly in Romans and Galatians. He explains that righteousness is credited to believers apart from works, as exemplified by Abraham’s faith (Romans 4:3 BSB): “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This imputed righteousness results in a transformed life, leading to ethical behavior that reflects God’s character.

Furthermore, this is not only a legal standing but also involves the process of sanctification, where believers grow in holiness and conformity to Christ’s image. This dual aspect of righteousness—positional and practical—is a recurring theme in the New Testament, encouraging believers to live out their faith in tangible ways.

So, to recap and simplify, “God’s Righteousness and His Kingdom” is:

  1. The moral and ethical standards expected by God.
  2. God’s righteous standards and His provision for humanity’s right standing with Him through faith.
  3. Salvation and ethical living.
  4. The ethical demands of living as a disciple.
  5. This involves the process of sanctification.
  6. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

I.e., it’s all about obedience to God and the building of your character in conformity to His Righteousness and according the standards of His Kingdom – THEN ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE PROVIDED.

There can be much more said in this pursuit. But, believe it when the Bible simply says that you must first have the attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. (see Philippians 2).

If you want any degree of success, God says you are to walk by the Spirit, so you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not enter nor will you inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Seek His Righteousness. Seek His Kingdom. Enjoy the ensuing success!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Oh. And by the way, you may find success in fame, wealth, property or power in this world, but God’s definition of success is not measured in those terms. It is measured in terms of the soul. “May you prosper even as your soul prospers”; it is measured in healthy family relationships, in friendships and acquaintances, in how you treat others, in good physical, emotional and mental health, in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and the like. Obtain these things and all the other things will be provided!

IS THIS THE END OF THE AGE?

Is This The

… You won’t see this in the Mainstream Media

(Please Note: I have been student of Biblical eschatology for over 20 years and a serious student of Biblical eschatology for the last ten years.

There was a time that I simply accepted the traditional dispensational teaching on the tribulation, and the rapture. But honestly, after each conference or sermon series I attened on this matter, I came away more confused than before, although the teacher or pastor would usually offer the disclaimer that it was normal to not understand all of it.

But I became absolutely certain that John Nelson Darby (the  originator of the idea of a rapture) did not have it all right. It was his mistake and it is anyone’s mistake to start at the end of a matter and try to study it by working to its conclusion. You have to start “at the beginning” or “in the beginning” and draw the conclusions given by scriptures “at the end” and it this case, “at the of time”.

The evolution of the tradtional teachings on the tribulation and the rapture has solved nothing, and has, at best, just created division. The traditional views,

The rapture is associated with the tribulation period. The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation is one of the most controversial issues in the church today. Some of the primary views are

A more recent view, the “Pre-Wrath Tribulation and Rapture” was a presented by a man named Robert Van Kampen, an American businessman, who served as a member of various organizational boards in the business world and Christian ministry. (1938-1999). Then in 1990 Marvin Rosenthal, a pastor, writer, and Biblical lecturer  developed  this viewpoint in his book, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. Rosenthal was not the originator of this new viewpoint. Rather, he was the one who popularized it with his book.

  • Pre-wrath rapture (Sixth Tribulation Seal Rapture).

The previous viewpoints just do not and cannot make sense because they do not square with the plain and simple words of Jesus, His disciple’s and the Apostle’s tesimonies regarding the End of Days or the Last Days which are plainly found in the scriptures. They are a patchwork of partially realted or unrelated scriptures and events – an unsolvable ‘religious eschatological rubic’s cube’ or sorts.

It is my prayer and hope to dispel the mystery surrounding these matters and bring you the simple truth. It will require, however, careful reading, study and a thorough comparison with scriptures, on your part. (If you say “I have always heard differently” or “have been taught otherwise” so I will. not listen, then please stop here.

But please know that this is important.

It is important because most people are simply standing by staring skyward, waiting for an event that has already begun, but having done little-to-nothing in preparation, and scriptures admonish us to get ready, to be ready and to stay ready for what is upon us.

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

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

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

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

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

It matters because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behaviors are speaking louder than our words

If there is any chance that you might sense that all is not as they have been saying or that you want to know “the rest of the story”, then please pray and read on.)

Matthew 24:3 says,  “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Verse 4, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Verse 5, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Verse 6, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Verse 8, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

So, when will these things happen?

I. Many will come IN MY NAME:

This can be someone literally saying ‘I am the Christ’, but it is proving to be those who consider themselves as an emissary of Christ – such as ‘ordained pastors’ – who speak for Christ, but are blindly following ‘new age’ or errant doctrines; or, as we are clearly seeing, now, in our day, ‘institutional deception’, where entire denominations fall away from the clear teachings of Jesus and lead millions astray. (Also see “Shipwrecked”).

So, how can we know ‘which of the false Christs‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

II. WARS and rumors of war:

There have been thousands upon thousands of wars and conflicts since the time of Christ. Most notable for their scope and breadth are the

  • Religious Crusades (1095 – 1291, Muslims vs Latin Church, almost 2 million dead),
  • WWI (1914 – 1918, 17 million dead), and
  • WW2 (1939 – 1945, over 70 million dead).

Current wars and conflicts 2018: Interactive global conflict tracker.

historical_activity_200years.jpg

So, how can we know ‘which wars and rumors of wars‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

III. EARTHQUAKES & VOLCANOES:

Earthquakes are nothing new. In fact, they are so numerous that I can only give you a web link by period of time and let you view what has been recorded. But, Jesus did warn they would come.

Lists of earthquakes by period. (use the links below).

HISTORY_of_earthquakes_1900-.svg.png

Seismic Event List Index

Volcanoes are nothing new, either, but it would seem that seismic events (volcanoes) are on the rise.

historical_activity_600years.jpg

Figure 1. Graph lines showing the number of volcanoes reported to have been active each year since 1400 and 1800 C.E.

At first glance the nearly exponential increase through recent centuries suggests that the planet may soon be overwhelmed by volcanic activity, but this increase tracks the striking growth of global population that has spread potential observers of eruptions over much of the Earth and the technological advances that have facilitated reporting of those eruptions. Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Volcanoes of the World, Smithsonian Institution. January 2020.

So, how can we know ‘which EARTHQUAKES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

IV. FAMINES:

Famines have taken hundreds of millions of lives since the time of Christ, so this is nothing new, either.

Famine-victims-and-world-population-sinc

So, how can we know ‘which FAMINES‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

V. PERSECUTION:

Jesus tells us there will be a worldwide persecution of Christians. A look at history shows us that In the first few centuries, Christianity grew quickly. By A.D. 325, an estimated 7 million people were Christians, with as many as 2 million killed for their faith in Jesus.

However, according to a Christian think-tank. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) says 900,000 Christians have been ‘martyred’ in the last decade, equating to 90,000 a year and one every six minutes.

This may be the most dangerous time in history to be Christian

At least 327 million Christians face persecution, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which released its biannual report on Religious Freedom in the World in November 2018. That is 7 percent of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, estimated by Pew Research Center in 2015.

245 million Christians in the top 50 countries on Open Doors USA’s 2019World Watch List experience high levels of persecution (i.e.: torture, rape, sex-slavery, for conversion to Christianity, murder and genocide), an increase of 14 percent from 2018. Sixty percent of those enduring persecution are children; women and girls are most violated. Release International, a UK-based human rights watchdog in operation for the past 50 years who partner with U.S.-based “Voice of the Martyrs” said they expect global anti-Christian persecution is set to rise ‘sharply’ in 2019. – (Read the report here)

So, how can we know ‘whichperiod of Christian Persecution‘ Jesus is referring to, WHICH WILL MARK THE ‘END OF THE AGE’?

So, where does all of this lead?

1. You will know when ‘The End of the Age’ is near, not when one or two of these events occur, but when ALL of ‘these things’ occur and converge concurrently, as Jesus said they would; then these things are the harbinger of ‘those things’ which have come to pass. (Also, see “The Tribulation of Those Days’).

2. The phrase “the beginning of birth pangs” is a statement made by Jesus in or around the year AD 30 and is a translation of the Greek archē _ ōdin . The meaning of the phrase, translated in the KJV as “the beginning of sorrows” is a direct reference to preliminary birth pangs that ultimately lead to the full scale contractions and travail, which leads to the actual birth.

Recognizing the Old Testament reference that Jesus was hearkening to is an essential, but often overlooked key to determining the timing of the prophecy. Jesus was pointing his disciples to two key passages from the prophet Isaiah.

The first passage is Isaiah 26, a portion of Scripture found in the middle of what is sometimes referred to as “Isaiah’s little apocalypse”. There, the Lord speaks through Isaiah, specifically contrasting the expectations of the Jewish people regarding deliverance, redemption and physical resurrection with the reality of the pain, suffering and travail that they had corporately experienced. In verses 16-18, the complaint of Israel is raised that despite having endured the great suffering of labor, the expected “birth” of deliverance, redemption and resurrection had not arrived.

This makes clear that the Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30.  Other references which confirm this date are

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1).In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5).

(2). In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the 4th Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8).

(3). In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the 2nd Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:9 and the 5th tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation, are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Now, what would you think?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:And in the last days it shall be… (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

 2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

 1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

as spoken by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter, John and Timothy the disicple of Jesus.

(You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times. But, one of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)

3. You must ask yourself, “why would Jesus warn His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Words in the Bible) about these coming events if they would not experience these events? Said another way, if we would have been Raptured before the tribulation, why warn us?  Why warn His disciples and followers about something they would not experience?” The anwer is, “HE WOULD NOT HAVE WARNED US UNLESS WE WOULD ENDURE THE FIRST 5 TRIBULATION SEALS, AND WOULD  NEED TO BE PREPARED!”

NOTE: The first five tribulation seals have been opened progressively since around the time of the birth of Jesus through around A.D. 95. These seals overlap (occur concurrently and converge), and are increasing in intensity, which will lead to the future 6th Tribulation Seal, which is the begining of the Day of God’s Wrath, cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun, the Rapture, the multitude of people out of the tribulation before the throne of God, the Sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.

4. How can we tell WHICH ‘wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ were the result of the breaking of the first Seal of the tribulation, because there have been thousands of them since Jesus said these words.

5. I say again, Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy, plus direct, clear and obvious scriptural references in  Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:26, Acts 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3 confirm that these events began in or around the year A.D. 30.

6. Was Jesus wanting to ‘scare’ listeners into believing by warning them ahead of time? (I think not. Trickery just doesn’t fit Jesus Character, and He tells us “do not be frightened” by these things.)

7. Jesus tells His disciples (and subsequent disciples or anyone who would eventually read His Word in the bible), in Matthew 24:6 that

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Verse 7. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

And a few verses later, Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

If we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

Why is Jesus telling us that we should not be frightened by the WARS, Rumors OF WARS, NATIONS RISING AGAINST NATIONS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, and that we must ENDURE TO THE END TO BE SAVED if we would not be affected?

Again I ask if we will have been “Raptured” and out of harms way when these things begin, then why would He be telling us these things?

5. When you compare Jesus’ Words in the book of Matthew with John the Revelator’s account of the ‘End of Days’ in Revelation, why do you get the very real sense that something about pre-tribulation evangelical or reformed doctrines of the end times don’t line up with or doesn’t fit with what you read IN THE BIBLE.

Look at it this way:   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

Next: “How We Should Prepare and Respond in These Last Days”.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

Go to these links. Study. Learn.

WHEN WILL THE TRIBULATION BEGIN – OR HAS IT ALREADY BEGUN?

THE END OF THE AGE – a short, and to-the-point, series about the Last Days.

CONCURRENCE OF EVENTS POINTING TO THE END OF THE AGE – a short and to-the-point-series of concurrent and converging events in these days.

THE RAPTURE REVEALED

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED, “What Is The Bible Really All About – What Is The Main Point, and What Is God Saying to Us, and Why?”

 

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED,

“What Is The Main Point of The Bible”

“Where are we headed”, and

What Is God Saying to Us,

And Why?

If you ask this question online (search engines) you will get answers like

  1. The Bible tells the story of God’s relationship with the masterpiece of his creation – people. (General Search on Google AI).
  2. The Bible is a remarkable collection of ancient writings Christians believe to be God’s revelation to people. Some people say it’s actually like a library of books and letters all bound up in one. The Bible tells the story of God’s relationship with the masterpiece of his creation – people. The Bible says that its words are ‘God-breathed’. Although exactly how God ‘breathed’ the words remains a mystery, most Christians agree that God inspired the writers as they recorded his words. (org).
  3. The Bible is great literature and the all-time number-one bestseller. It contains history, entertaining stories, poetry, philosophy, and personal letters. But, more than that, the Bible is God’s Word. If we have to speak of a single purpose of the Bible, it would be to reveal God to us. There are many things that we could never know about God unless He told them to us. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to humanity. The Bible also tells us who we are. It tells us of our sin and of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus (GotQuestions.Org.).
  4. The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. The texts include instructions, stories, poetry, prophecies, and other genres. The collection of materials accepted as part of the Bible by a particular religious tradition or community is called a biblical canon. Believers generally consider it to be a product of divine inspiration, but the way they understand what that means and interpret the text (Wikipedia.Org)
  5. Etcetera.

These listed online searches are fairly representative of what you will find if you ask “What is the Bible about?” However, if you tweak your question to ask, “What is the point of the Bible” or “Who is the Bible about” you might get very different answers.

But, what I really want to ask is, “What is the MAIN POINT of the Bible”? What is the MAIN THING God is saying to us, and to His creation? What is He trying to tell us and Why? (And I would appreciate an answer that is less than forty cups of coffee and a Ph.D. needed to read the answer!)

 

Like any well written book, the first chapter or two should tell you the main topic(s); it should tell about the beginnings or the origins of its subject or topic, and it should tell about the theme and the central characters.

Then, the final chapters, the end of the book, should recapitulate the revealed the purpose of the Bible, the purpose of life, where humanity is headed and what God is saying to us.

Everything between these two points, the beginning and the end, should give supporting evidence and provide transition points leading to the conclusion.

The Bible is that well written book. Of course, the Bible was not initially meant to be a book. It was a recording of world-shaping events, guiding principles and warnings of pitfalls. And if the Bible were just a Book, it is unlike any other. It is supremely well written. From the Alpha to the Omega – The First to the Last – The Beginning to the End.

But what sets the Bible apart from being just a book, is how it came into existence: It is God Breathed.

God breathed His Creative, Causative, Instructional, Prophetic Word, The Breath of the Holy Spirit into the hearts and minds of men and women, and they wrote what they heard from God and saw of God. They were under the influence and the unction of the Holy Spirit. And know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of someone’s own interpretation, or no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (see 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Bible, as I have said, is supremely written, however it is not always well-read, taught or understood, primarily because it is rarely read from the Alpha to the Omega, that is from the beginning to the chronological end. And, to be fair, that is a common mistake because it is not arranged in such a fashion.

So, what most folks do is read ‘in order’ of the books of the Bible as they have been pre-arranged for the sake of convenience and according to a logical historical development. Besides, there is no sacred order, and because the order of the books is human-made, it is not necessary to read the Bible in this sequence.

But to find the MAIN POINT of the Bible and to discover the main thing God is telling us, you will have to fix your attention on these topics as priorities. You must fixate your mind, heart and soul on God’s Plan and Purpose as you search for answers.

Start at the beginning; look for the MAIN POINT; search for transition points; follow the transitions to the conclusion. For example:

1. IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED… (Created What and Why?)

    1. First, The heavens and the earth
    2. Then, Light
    3. Then, The Expanse separating the heavens and the waters
    4. Then, Vegetation, plants and trees
    5. Then, Living creatures in the seas and birds of the sky
    6. Then, Living things on the land
    7. Then, God Created Mankind
  1. Then, God Rested. (What, Where and Why?)
  2. Then Mankind Rebelled. (What, How and Why?)
  3. Then God sent His Son to Redeem His Elect from The Rebellion. (Who, What, How, When Where and Why?)
  4. Next, God is coming to get His Own and to take them to His Throne Room. (Who, How, What and Why?)
  5. Then, God will Judge the Earth and everyone on it – the Righteous and the Unrighteous. (When, How, Why?)
  6. Then, God will destroy the heavens and the earth. (When, How, Where, Why?)
  7. And Finally, God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth – our eternal home – and He will populate it with those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (When, How, Where, Why?)
  8. Now, get ready and stay ready. (Because you do not know which day He will come to complete His Plan).
  9. An Abbreviated and Illustrated Timeline – God’s Creation to the Re-Creation of All Things. God’s Plan of Perfection through Tribulation – An Illustrated Timeline

GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE

I heard an evangelist once say and ask, “Jesus is coming back soon. Are you excited?”, to which the congregation exploded in cheers and applause. Then this evangelist became quiet and in a low and serious voice he said, “Too many Christians are doing little more than staring skyward waiting for the Lord to return, but He has told us we are to be busy with His works. So, it is time we stopped looking at the sky and get busy with the Father’s business!”

It is true, in my observations, that far too many Christians are doing little more than waiting around for certain events to occur, which have already begun. The Lord Jesus warned against this in no uncertain terms: “Why do you call me Lord, when you have not done the things I commanded you?”

Let’s clear the confusion and bring God’s bigger picture into sharp focus.

God’s PLAN began in the beginning of time. It came into sharper focus with the birth of Jesus. It has continued to unfold since that day, and we are included in His Plan, and It will conclude exactly as He has PURPOSED.

God’s PLAN is a Plan for and of Perfection. Throughout all of earth’s history, God has been at work perfecting His creation. There is no event in the history of this world that has not been under God’s control and within His Perfect Plan. He is preparing His Church, those who have surrender themselves to follow and obey Jesus, to spend eternity with Him and with one another in perfect harmony in a new and perfect heaven and earth.

The PURPOSE and the WHY of God’s plan is found in Daniel 9:24, is to

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God),

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin),

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness),

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable),

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions),

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.).

We are included in God’s PURPOSE. His METHOD is found in Daniel 12 is that

1) Many will be cleansed,

2) Many will be purified,

3) They will be made spotless and,

4) They will be refined.

Here are just a few of the major Biblical events through which God has been working to accomplish His Plan and His Purpose in and through our lives. (I have selected the major events only, in order to simplify this matter.

I believe this is important to know, or at the very least, to be familiar with because,

(#1), it shows that what has been prophesied (foretold) has come to pass with exacting accuracy, so,

(#2), you can know that the Bible, God’s Breathed Word, is dependable – you can count on it. And,

(#3), you can know to prepare for what is coming without fear or dread. In fact, you can prepare with confidence that you are loved, needed and called by God to join Him in what He is doing in these last days in preparation for His return and the gathering of His saints, His Church, for an eternity in our heavenly home with Him. And, finally,

(#4), you can boldly, lovingly and confidently confess to your friends and family that God loves them, is calling to them. You can lead them to the safety of His presence, today.

Next is an abbreviated timeline, from the beginning, through selected transition points, to the end and beyond. Please click on the text or image below for

God’s Plan of Perfection through Tribulation – An Illustrated Timeline

GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE

 

GOD’S PLAN OF PERFECTION – An Illustrated Timeline from The Beginning to beyond the End

 

God’s Plan of Perfection through Tribulation – An Illustrated Timeline

GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE

Here are just a few of the major Biblical events through which God has been working to accomplish His Plan and His Purpose in and through our lives. (I have selected the only the most poignant events that begin “in the beginning” and point to God’s method and arrive at His predeterminconclusion of these matters in order to simplify.

I believe this is important to know, or at the very least, to be familiar with because,

(#1), it shows that what has been prophesied (foretold) has come to pass with exacting accuracy, so,

(#2), you can know that the Bible, God’s Breathed Word, is dependable – you can count on it. And,

(#3), you can know to prepare for what is coming without fear or dread. In fact, you can prepare with confidence that you are loved, needed and called by God to join Him in what He is doing in these last days in preparation for His return and the gathering of His saints, His Church, for an eternity in our heavenly home with Him. And, finally,

(#4), you can boldly, lovingly and confidently confess to your friends and family that God loves them, is calling to them. You can lead them to the safety of His presence, today.

Next is an abbreviated timeline, from the beginning, through selected transition points, to the end and beyond:

Here, you can see God’s Hand moving in the affairs of humankind, leading to the End of the Age):

BEFORE TIME HAD BEGUN

1st. The creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1–31) – Before time had begun.

God created all things with a plan, which includes me and you! (He never needs a re-do).

(Click here for complete detail, “In the Beginning, God – The Journey to Perfectrion).

2nd.  The first humans (Genesis 1:26–31; 2:8–25)Before 4,000 B.C.

God created them, male and female, with a plan, in Their image with a ‘flaw’, i.e., from Strong’s Bible Hebrew language Concordance – ‘a phantom, an illusion, a vain image, of dubious character’, but with potential; which includes me and you!

(Click here for details, “Then Came Mankind”).

3rd.  The fall of man (Genesis 3:1–24)Before 4,000 B.C.

 

Adam and Eve disobeyed. The ‘flaw in their character and image from creation’, which is ‘sin’, had its effect, which continues to this day, but it will have an end.

 

 

 

4th. The Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 12:1 and Genesis 15 – Around 3400 B.C.

 

The Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. God binding Himself to Abraham and his descendants.

 

 

 

 

5th. The great flood (Genesis 6:9–9:17)Before 2,500 B.C.

 

God was sorry He made them. He was grieved. But it was His plan all along. (God is omniscient and omnipresent).

(Click here for details, “The Flood”).

 

6th. The tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)Before 2,100 B.C.

 

The ‘flaw of sin’ reemerges as pride and rebellion toward God. Instead of destroying them, this time God scattered them.

(Click here for details, “The Tower of Babel”).

7th. The call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–5)2,091 B.C.

 

God prepares the world for Jesus with Isaac through Abraham.

 

8th. The exodus (Exodus 12:31–42; 14:1–31)1,446 B.C.

God foreshadows the work of Jesus through the Exodus from captivity and as The Sacrifice for all time.

 

 

 

9th. The building of the first Temple (1 Kings 6)966 B.C.

10th. The destructin of the First Temple. (2 Kings 24:13).

 

The Temple was plundered by King Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonian Empire when the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem during the brief reign of Jehoiachin c. 598 BCE (2 Kings 24:13

11th. The building of the Second Temple. (Haggai 1)

 

As the central Jewish place of sacrificial worship from about 515 B.C.E. until its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E., the second temple in Jerusalem played a major role in the religious and national life of the Jewish people.

12th. The birth of Jesus (Matt 1:18–2:23; Luke 2:1–10)5 B.C.

 

The arrival of Perfection on earth. Jesus, God in the Flesh, is born and the New Covenant – for you and me – is established. Now the ‘called’ can see and be made into the very image of God. The tribulation begins, and The Eternal Plan enters its final stages.

 

13th. The “Birth Pains” of the tribulation

The “Birth Pains” of the tribulation which began at or around the birth of Jesus which includes the coming of false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, famines and earthquakes, which Jesus calls the beginning of Birth Pains, which describe tribulation Seals one through five as found in Matthew 24:1-31 and Revelation chapters 6 and 7. Testimonies and comments by Jesus and His disciples (the Apostles) clearly show the tribulation period, (the opening of tribulation Seals 1 through 5, began as early as Jesus’ birth through A.D. 95 and continue (see “Did Jesus and the Apostles Really Say This?”)

13 a. The Last Days Are Proclaimed and Explained.

 

The significance of the coming Messiah and the Last Days Are Proclaimed:

 

 

Section 13.a.1.

Matthew 24:4-31, (Jesus), describing a panorama of the tribulation and the Last Days. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, (see Matthew 24:3-4),

(1). “In the Last Days, there will be a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (This was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5).

(2). In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the 4th Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8).

(3). In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:6 and the 2nd Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:9 and the 5th tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation, are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals have been broken, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the 1st phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the 2nd phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the 6th Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

Section 13.a.2.

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:And in the last days it shall be… (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Section 13.a.3.

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Section 13.a.4. 

2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Section 13.a.5.

1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

 Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

If these verses say that John was a fellow participant IN THE TRIBULATION in the year A.D. 95.

These testimonies clearly tell us that the Last Days, also known as The End of All Things, The End of the Ages, The Last Hour, The Last Times and the tribulation, began at the birth of Christ and these first 5 tribulation Seals have been overlapping and intensifying since those days. (We are still awaiting the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, the Wrath of the Lamb and the Great Tribulation.

14th. The temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13)27 A.D.

 

Jesus is tested and shows those who will follow Him – which includes you and me – how to resist the devil and overcome trial, temptations and tribulation.

 

15th. The calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)27 A.D.

God is building His invasion force of earth, and the preparation for eternity has begun – which includes you and me!

 

 

16th. The Sermon on the Mount/Plain (Matthew 5:1–7:29; Luke 6:29–40)27 A.D.

Jesus gives the picture of salvation and teaches about the process of sanctification and how we – that is, you and me – are to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven through many tests, trials, temptations and much tribulation.

17th. Jesus’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–49; John 19:16–37)30 A.D.

The sacrifice is made. The eradication of sin and the imperfect because the perfect has come.

 

 

18th. Jesus’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–20; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1–31)30 A.D. – 30 .A.D.

Jesus conquers sin and death. He lives, and we – you and I – can now live! The way is cleared to follow Jesus.

 

 

 

19th. The giving of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20)30 A.D.

The invasion of earth has begun. Jesus sends His army of saints – which includes you and me – to set the prisoners free. He sends us with His authority, and He is with us until the end!

20th. The day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–41)30 A.D.

 

The power of the Holy Spirit is released into the lives of the saints of God – and yes, that includes you and me, and, nothing will ever be the same.

 

21st. The Destruction of the 2nd Temple. (Matthew 24:1-2).

 

Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

FUTURE – END TIMES TIMELINE:

22nd. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8)

 

A satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20).

From our perspective today, the next event in the eschatological timeline is the rapture can be considered as imminent, WITH THE EXCEPTION of the revealing of the antichrist, WHICH MOST COME FIRST, which is the man of lawlessness. (2 Thessalonians 1:2-4).

23rd. The Second Coming of Jesus. – (Matthew 24:29-31) – The Future.

The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other – and if you are alive at that time, we are included. (The rapture will have already occurred at this point in time. For greater detail, click here for “The Great Tribulation”).

24th. The Rapture Of The Church – (1 Corinthians 15:52)

 

The rapture of the Church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too.

25th. The Breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal – The Beginning of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, The Wrath of The Lamb and the Final 7 Years of Tribulation – (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 6 – 21).

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, will have begun. (Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have escaped these days.)

Section 25.a.

The Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb; a period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven (Revelation 7:9-11). It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).

Section 25.b.

The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (This can also be found in Revelation 9:1-21, Revelation 16:1-19:1-21, and in Daniel 7:24-27.)

The Sixth Trumpet & The Army from the East

Revelation 9:13. Then the sixth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I heard a solitary voice from the four horns of the golden altar which stands before God, verse 14, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” Verse 15. So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Verse 16. The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (two hundred million); I heard the number of them. Verse 17. And this is how I saw the horses and their riders in my vision: the riders had breastplates [the color] of fire and of hyacinth (sapphire blue) and of brimstone (yellow); and the heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions; and from out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone (burning sulfur). Verse 18. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came from the mouths of the horses. Verse 19. For the power of the horses [to do harm] is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and it is with them that they do harm.

The sounding of the 6th Trumpet signals the release of the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates, which represents an army. The number of the troops of cavalry is “twice ten thousand times ten thousand”, or two hundred million. Most commentators suggest this is an army of China based on the size of the army.

However, the Euphrates river is in southwestern Asia, and winds through regions of the Middle East, through northern Syria and Iraq to the head of the Persian Gulf.

It is also useful to note that the 10 Nation Confederation named in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:

1. Gog, also known as Rosh, (Russia) and,

2. Rosh, (Russia),

 

3. Magog, also known as (Russia),

4. Gomer, also known as (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),

5.  Put, also known as (Libya),

6.  Cush, also known as (Ethiopia),

7.  Persia, also known as (Iran),

8.  Meshech, also known as (Modern Day Turkey),

9.  Tubal, also known as (an area in central Turkey),

10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey -Armenia)

The combined armies described in the Book of Ezekiel, from the East. They are Russia, with an army of one million one-hundred thousand; Turkey, with an army of three hundred fifty-five thousand; Iran, with an army of five hundred twenty-three thousand, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of one hundred thirty-eight thousand; Chechnya’s army is approximately ten thousand; the army of Georgia is approximately twenty-one thousand; Even with this abbreviated list we can count only two million, one hundred forty-two thousand fighting troops, far short of the prophesied “two hundred million troop” end-times military invasion of Israel. 

(Interestingly, however, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has since transformed geopolitics, uniting the West against Russia and reigniting talk of a new Cold War or even World War 3. But Russia, it is now clear, is not as isolated as the initial global outcry suggested. It benefits from a robust network of partners, allies, and fellow travelers that includes countries such as Belarus, China, India, Iran, and North Korea.

Since the invasion, China and India have dramatically increased imports of discounted Russian oil, providing Moscow with a record current account surplus in 2022. Iran has provided Russia with vital arms, including Shahed kamikaze drones to swarm Ukraine’s air defenses. Last year, North Korea began shipments of artillery and missiles to Russia. And many countries in the Global South, including South Africa, continue to maintain military and strategic ties with Russia.

When considering Russia’s allies in addition to the 10 Nation Confederation previous referenced in this article from Ezekiel 38, Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon, the numbers begin to increase dramatically.
Finally, when considering the cumulative population of these countries (three billion seven hundred million) and their conscription capabilities, it is easy to see how a military force of 200,000,000 could be assembled at any momentAnd, they will be released to kill one-third of mankind.

Section 25.c.

The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).

Section 25.d.

 The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation.  Having returned in the clouds after the breaking of the fifth tribulation Seal and before the breaking of the Sixth tribulation seal (Matthew 24:29-31), Jesus now re-appears with the armies of heaven And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (see Revelation 19:16), to save Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

Section 25.e.

The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell.

Section 25.f.

The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).

 

 

Section 25.g.

The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).

Section 25.h.

The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.

Section 25.i.

The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.

26th. The new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–5) –  In the Future

Those who have overcome, are with God eternally – which includes you and me – and, God’s Plan for Perfection has been completed.

Yes, we will experience difficulties, trials and tribulations in this life, but as The Apostle Peter says,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold which perishes, and though you are tested by fire, it may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

For a more detailed narrative, please see the series:  Journey to Perfection.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 12, Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance, The Death of Herod

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 12

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance, The Death of Herod

It could be said that much of what is recorded in the Book of Acts is bizarre in natural terms, and this chapter is no different and is in fact a prime example. So, I ask again, has God gone silent in our days? Has He fallen asleep? Has He forgotten us? For we do not see these great acts of God that these disciples were seeing. Why is that? (Read to the end of this chapter for an answer).

Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance.

Acts 12:1, Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm. Verse 2. And he had James the brother of John executed with a sword. Verse 3. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were the days of Unleavened Bread.) Verse 4. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after the Passover to bring him before the people.

(Commentary Break): King Herod was distrustful, jealous, and brutal, ruthlessly crushing any potential opposition. The Jews never accepted him as their legitimate king, and this infuriated him.

(He constantly feared conspiracy. He executed his wife when he suspected she was plotting against him. Three of his sons, another wife, and his mother-in-law met the same fate when they too were suspected of conspiracy.) Herod, feigning to be a legitimate Jew, would not eat pork, but he freely murdered his sons! Matthew’s account of Herod’s slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem fits well with what we know of the king’s ambition, paranoia, and cruelty (Matt. 2:1–18).

So, true to form, when Herod found it expedient to jail or murder Jews who belonged to the church, he went after the leadership, Peter being central. But, being aware of His timing, rather than execute Peter during the days of Unleavened Bread, he jailed him until after these feast days. And it was under the crafty deceit of evil, God moved in, and things became very strange.

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Does this mean this will happen for you or for me? There is no way of telling. But we do know this: God’s Plan and Purpose is always in motion and nothing will divert, stop or thwart His Plan. It is us – Christians – who are slumbering, not God. He has not forgotten us, but it would seem that we may have forgotten about Him. And why would God rescue a person who did not need or did not want to be rescued?

If we would do as the disciples and Apostles were doing, we just might, once again, see the mighty Hand of God move on our behalf.

Perhaps in our modern context we should remember the significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The timeless themes of freedom, spiritual purification, and humility reflected a commitment to doing what is right in the sight of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:18). Although New Testament believers are not obligated to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, may we never forget that it is our Father in heaven who provides our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church.

(Commentary Break): Please read the significance and the symbolism of verse 5: “So (i.e., therefore), Peter (from the Greek word petros, “small stone, a rock, part of a the greater Cornerstone – God has Plan for Peter), was kept (from the Greek word tēreō, to tend to carefully, to take care of, to keep on in the state in which he is, to reserve for something), in the prison (from the Greek word, phylakē, to guard, watch, persons keeping watch, such as guards or sentinels, of the place where captives are kept, a prison – Peter was not only being held by guards and being watched, he was also being held by God and God was keeping watch over him, keeping him safe), but prayer for him was being made to God intensely (from the Greek word ektenōs, fervently, intensely, earnestly, as reaching a hand out toward.. This kind of prayer is in essence and in fact God reaching His Hand toward Peter), by the church .

This is the interaction of the church and the Apostles with God. It is our service to God that brings God to our rescue. It is our knowing and doing the will of God that moves His Hand in our favor. It is all about God, His Plan, His Purpose and His Ways.

Do you wish to bring God out of ‘His slumber’? Come out of YOUR slumber. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 6. On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

(Commentary Break): God is never too early and never too late. He does not slumber and He never forgets. Remember this. Rest in this. “Seek first His Righteousness and His kingdom and all these other things will be added to you”. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. Verse 8. And the angel said to him, “Put on your belt and strap on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Verse 9. And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

(Commentary Break): When your friends, the watching world and even those in the faith tell you that you are imagining things when God shows you the way or calls you to His service even in the seemingly smallest of matters, search the scriptures; then trust Him first. Obey Him and follow Him. He will never lead in the wrong direction, but always in holiness according to His Purpose. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 10. Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. Verse 11. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

(Commentary Break): Please remember the words from these verses, “When Peter came to himself (i.e., realized what was going on), the results of his obedience were made clear, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me.”

When you hear the voice of God or see His Hand moving, join Him in what He is doing and you will be made safe in His Arms for His Purpose. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. Verse 13. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer. Verse 14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. Verse 15. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Verse 16. But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.

(Commentary Break): I encourage us to see the contrast of looking but not seeing and believing before you see. The former says, “You are out of your mind”; the former says “and they were amazed”. Live in His Amazement! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 17. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place.

Verse 18. Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. Verse 19. When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Death of Herod.

Verse 20. Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one mind they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain<mg1909, 2846=””>, they were asking for peace, because their country was supported with grain from the king’s country. Verse 21. On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. Verse 22. The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Verse 23. And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

(Commentary Break): Verses 22 and 23 give us an astonishing look at the vengeance of God. “Immediately – an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory – (and immediately) he was eaten by worms and (then) died.”

This is an eternal warning to those who would claim the glory of God as their own. Beware pastors. Beware preachers, theologians, and church leaders. Beware unless an angel of the Lords strikes because you try to keep even a small part of God’s glory for yourselves. Remember the fate of Ananias and Sapphira when they held back on God. They immediately collapsed and died and were buried in shame. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 24. But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

Verse 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned when they had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. (End of Acts chapter 2).

I see, hear and read about supposed pockets of Christian revival taking place. I believe most of these spontaneous ‘revivals’ are more like ‘religious flash mobs’. I agree their intentions may be good, but I wonder if the results are life changing and lasting?

Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Revival invigorates and sometimes deepens a believer’s faith, opening his or her eyes to the truth in a fresh, new way. It generally involves the connotation of a fresh start with a clean slate, marking a new beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. Revival breaks the charm and power of the world, which blinds the eyes of men, and generates both the will and power to live in the world but not of the world.

In the USA, the first revival, also called the First Great Awakening, produced an upsurge of devotion among Protestants in the 1730s and 1740s, carving a permanent mark on American religion. It resulted from authoritative preaching that deeply moved the church members with a convicting awareness of personal guilt and the awesome nature of salvation through Christ. Breaking away from dry ritual and rote ceremony, the Great Awakening made Christianity intensely personal to the average person, as it should be, by creating a deep emotional need for relationship with Christ.
Revival, in many respects, replicates the believer’s experience when he or she is saved. It is initiated by a prompting of the Holy Spirit, creating an awareness of something missing or wrong in the believer’s life that can only be righted by God. In turn, the Christian must respond from the heart, acknowledging his or her need. Then, in a powerful way, the Holy Spirit draws back the veil the world has cast over the truth, allowing the believers to fully see themselves in comparison to God’s majesty and holiness. Obviously, such comparisons bring great humility, but also great awe of God and His truly amazing grace (Isaiah 6:5). Unlike the original conversion experience that brings about a new relationship to God, however, revival represents a restoration of fellowship with God, the relationship having been retained even though the believer had pulled away for a time. (see GotQuestions.Org).

Either way, I must defer to scriptures when considering these matters.

Characteristics of Revival:

1. Repentance and Confession:

Genuine revival is marked by a deep conviction of sin and a heartfelt turning away from it. Psalm 51:10-12 captures the essence of this transformation: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

2. Prayer and Intercession:

Revival is often preceded and sustained by fervent prayer. James 5:16 emphasizes the power of prayer: “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.”

3. Renewed Love for God’s Word:

A hallmark of revival is a renewed hunger for Scripture. As seen in Nehemiah 8:1-8, the reading and understanding of God’s Word led to a revival among the Israelites.

4. Holiness and Obedience:

Revival results in a renewed commitment to holiness and obedience to God’s commands. 1 Peter 1:15-16 exhorts believers, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

5. Evangelistic Zeal:

Revived individuals and communities are often characterized by a passion for sharing the gospel. Acts 4:31 illustrates this: “After they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Impact and Legacy:

Spiritual revival has a profound impact on both individuals and society. It leads to personal transformation, church renewal, and societal change. Historically, revivals have been catalysts for missionary movements, social reforms, and cultural shifts. The Great Awakenings in America, for example, were periods of intense revival that significantly influenced the spiritual and moral landscape of the nation.

Conclusion:

While revival is a work of God, it often begins with a small group of believers who are willing to humble themselves, seek God’s face, and pray for His intervention. As such, it serves as a powerful reminder of God’s desire to renew and restore His people, drawing them closer to Himself and empowering them for His purposes. (see BibleHub.com).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 11, Peter’s Report in Jerusalem, The Church in Antioch.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 13, The First Missionary Journey, Paul Turns to the Gentiles.

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THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 2

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 2


The Miracle at Cana, The First Passover, Cleansing the Temple

I will reiterate that although I offer remarks as a “Commentary Break”, this is not meant to be a comprehensive commentary. (I would, however, recommend BibleHub.com Pulpit commentary for a comprehensive and in depth commentary).

This is a commentary on the application of what we read and those things we come to understand. It is not enough to know about the Bible or to know about Jesus. We must know His Words and know Him personally, and still that is not sufficient. It is what we do with what we know that makes the difference. And that is what this is about.

Miracle at Cana

John 2:1, On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Verse 2, and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Verse 3. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Verse 4. And Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.”

(Commentary Break): It is interesting that this chapter and verse begins with the phrase “on the third day”.  The “third day” is often associated with divine intervention and new beginnings in Scripture. God brings transformation in our lives at unexpected times. (This phrase may also indicate a specific time frame, likely referring to the third day after Jesus called Philip and Nathanael as disciples. The “third day”, in addition to symbolizing divine intervention, can also symbolize completeness, as seen in the resurrection of Jesus on the third day.)

We know from these verses that both Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jesus and His disciples were present. Then, when the wine ran out, Mary calls on Jesus. His response, at first, sounds like a harsh rebuke. The text reads, “what business do you have with me woman” could be translated as “what business is serving the wine have to do with Me”? And finally, addressing his mother as “woman” sounds distant or disrespectful, but In the cultural context of the time, addressing someone as “woman” was not disrespectful. It was a common and polite form of address, similar to “ma’am” today. Jesus uses this term elsewhere, such as when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:21) and to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection (John 20:15). This indicates a respectful yet formal tone.

Finally, He is reminding Her that although He can solve this problem, “His time to be revealed as the miracle working Messiah” had not yet arrived.

 As we go about our daily lives, we must be aware that God is directing our lives and the circumstances of our lives – and not the other way around. Our requests and prayers to Jesus are not so much to get God to understand our immediate needs – He has known since before time began. But our prayers and requests should bring us to understand His methods, purposes and plans for us and for our lives.

“Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened to you…how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him”? (Matthew 7:7-11).

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you”. (Matthew 6:33). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

(Commentary Break): Such confidence as Mary expresses in verse five is reflective of her relationship with her Son. An attribute all of us should strive to attain. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. Now there were six stone water pots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each. Verse 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. Verse 8. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” And they took it to him. Verse 9. Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the groom, verse 10, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Verse 11. This beginning of His signs, Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

Verse 12. After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother, and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

(Commentary Break): These verses speak for themselves as they reveal the magnitude of this miracle. This should encourage and inform each of us that Jesus never slights in or on His works. We can be absolutely certain that when we ask anything according to His Will, he hears us. And if we know He hears us in whatever we ask, we can know that we will have the requests which we have asked Him! (see 1 John 5:14-15). Count on it! (End Commentary Break).

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

Verse 13. The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Verse 14. And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Verse 15. And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; verse 16, and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!” Verse 17. His disciples remembered that it was written: “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

(Commentary Break): I am saddened – I am aghast, as you should also be –  to see so many churches that have come to resemble a marketplace or an entertainment center. You can buy ‘favors’, charms and false holy relics, prayer hankies, invest in ‘church bonds’, use an ATM and buy any one of scores of items of religious clothing, jewelry, books, or concert tickets IN THE SANCTUARY, or for the more ‘discriminating’, in the Church lobby. Do you not know the shame and the curse you are bringing on yourselves? Jesus warned that you must repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 18. The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”

(Commentary Break): Verse 18 is perfectly representative of the arrogance of so many pastors and church leaders today when they are confronted with their rebellious, self-centered attitudes. They will invariably say, “Who gives you authority over us?” (End Commentary Break).

Verse 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Verse 20. The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” Verse 21. But He was speaking about the temple of His body. Verse 22. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

(Commentary Break): Jesus prophecies to them, and their ears are dead to His Words. These church authorities, although steeped in the Torah, only understand the words of this world. They are ignorant to the Word of God. (It would be wise at this point to be reminded that Jesus spoke these same words to His disciples in Matthew 24, which are pregnant with prophetic warnings.) (End Commentary Break).

Verse 23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing. Verse 24. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people, verse 25, and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.

(Commentary Break): What a fitting end to this chapter and fitting advice to us, as believers. Many may believe IN HIS NAME because they observed His signs. But Jesus was not entrusting HIMSELF to them.

Many may pursue God for what they can get from Him, so they say that they believe IN HIM, but they show by their speech and behaviors that they DO NOT BELIEVE HIM. Don’t entrust yourself to these kinds, especially those within the church. “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]. He says to you, “Eat and drink,” but his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost]. The “morsel of his compliments and advice” which you have eaten you will vomit up, And you will have wasted the compliments.” (see Proverbs 23:6-8) (End Commentary Break).

This was the beginning of the signs and the miracles of  Jesus, which revealed His glory; and the scriptures say that because of these signs His disciples believed in Him. But let’s not forget that just before His ascension to heaven, the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. (And He sent them out as His disciples and Apostles, anyway.)

It was only when they were faced with the greatest of trials that they not only believed in Him, but it was revealed that they believed Him“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various  trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 3, The New Birth, John the Baptist’s Last Testimony.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 1, part 3, verses 19 – 51, Jesus’ Public Ministry; the First Converts.

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HOW CAN I REALLY BECOME A CHRISTIAN – AND WHY SHOULD I?

 

HOW CAN I REALLY BECOME A CHRISTIAN – AND WHY SHOULD I?

The evangelical Christian establishment will generally tell you that to become a Christian all you need to do:

According to Sue Schlesman, on Crosswalk.com, an author, teacher, podcaster, and church leader, with a Masters in Theology and Culture, who is active in teaching and writing about transformative faith, says this:

You’re not the only person to ask this. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas that question (Acts 16:30-31), Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Paul explained to the Romans, “That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Becoming a Christian is a change of heart and belief. It’s a step of faith, accepting what the Bible says about God and Jesus as true and real. Faith is a transference of dependence on myself to dependence on God. Therefore, the goal of the “gospel” (the good news about Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15) is entering into faith and dependence on God alone for this life and the next. “Being saved” is simply believing in Jesus and accepting Him.

So, Mrs. Schlesman quotes what Paul the Apostle says, and then translates it for us into ‘easy speak’ – or so I say. Simply believing and no submssion required!

According to GotQuestions.Org,, Jesus Christ declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The question then arises – why did we need to be ransomed? The idea of a ransom is a payment that must be made in exchange for the release of a person. The idea of a ransom is most frequently used in instances of kidnapping, when someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until a ransom is paid for the person’s release.

Jesus paid our ransom to free us from bondage! Bondage from what? Bondage to sin and its consequences, physical death followed by eternal separation from God. Why did Jesus need to pay this ransom? Because we are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23), and are therefore worthy of judgment from God (Romans 6:23). How did Jesus pay our ransom? By dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could Jesus’ death sufficiently pay for all of our sins? Jesus was God in human form, God come to earth to become one of us so He could identify with us and die for our sins (John 1:1,14). As God, Jesus’ death was infinite in value, sufficient to pay for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). Jesus’ resurrection after His death demonstrated that His death was the sufficient sacrifice, that He had truly conquered sin and death.
So, How can I become a Christian? This is the best part. Because of His love for us, God has made it exceedingly simple to become a Christian. All you have to do is receive Jesus as your Savior, fully accepting His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins (John 3:16), fully trusting Him alone as your Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Becoming a Christian is not all about rituals, going to church, or doing certain things while refraining from other things. Becoming a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith, is what makes a person a Christian.

And excellent description and definition, wouldn’t you say? Thank you GotQuestions.Org., for making this so ‘simple’. I love ‘easy speak’. Don’t you? No dying to self, no obedient following,

    THEN THERE IS BIBLEHUB.COM and according to BIBLEHUB.COM, the steps needed to become a Christian addresses both an internal spiritual transformation and an outward confession of faith. Becoming a Christian is not merely a one-time decision but an ongoing relationship with God, marked by trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Each step is rooted in Scripture, which serves as the foundation and authority for understanding salvation.

Acknowledging the Reality of Sin

One essential aspect is recognizing personal need. Scripture affirms, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This universal statement highlights that humanity is in moral debt to God, unable to achieve the holiness required for fellowship with Him on our own merit. Archaeological discoveries, such as evidence of ancient cultures mentioned in the biblical narratives, and the preservation of texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls have supported the consistent message that every person needs divine help and deliverance from sin.

Believing in Christ’s Sacrifice

To address this need, the Bible teaches that Jesus-fully God and fully man-lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin, and was raised from the dead. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Numerous historical sources, including the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, attest to the existence of Jesus, while scholarly research supports the fact that early Christians unanimously proclaimed Jesus’ bodily resurrection-an indispensable truth for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Repenting and Confessing

Acknowledgment of sin should lead to heartfelt repentance. “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). Repentance involves turning away from sin toward a life aligned with God’s holiness.

Confession of faith is similarly vital: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Genuine belief is not intellectual acceptance alone, but trust in Jesus as the only way to be reconciled to God.

Receiving Salvation by Faith

Becoming a Christian is ultimately a work of divine grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works (personal efforts), so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith in this context is an active, enduring reliance on Christ’s finished work rather than personal moral efforts. Ancient manuscript evidence, such as early New Testament papyri, demonstrates that these themes of grace and faith have remained central and consistent from the earliest testimony of the Christian community.

Counting the Cost

Responding to Christ’s call entails a willingness to submit one’s life fully. “If anyone would come after Me,” Jesus said, “he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). This means a believer’s priorities, behaviors, and goals increasingly align with God’s Word, fostered by prayer, worship, and the support of a faith community.

Baptism and Public Declaration

While salvation is by grace through faith, the biblical pattern also includes baptism as an outward symbol of the inward change. The practice of baptism, demonstrated in the book of Acts, signifies identification with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Though not a means of earning salvation, it is a meaningful act that publicly declares one’s new allegiance.

Initial Steps of Growth

After professing faith, believers are encouraged to grow in discipleship through:

  1. Prayer: Regular conversation with God, bringing requests, confessions, and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
  2. Scripture Study: Reading the Bible consistently and allowing it to shape beliefs and actions (2 Timothy 3:16).
  3. Church Involvement: Engaging in fellowship, worship, and service within a local congregation. Hebrews 10:25 urges believers not to neglect meeting together.
  4. Sharing Faith: Sharing the message of salvation with others underscores its transforming power and follows the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Transformation Through the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit works within believers to regenerate, guide, and empower them for Christian living. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation manifests itself in loving God wholeheartedly and serving others sacrificially.

BibleHub gives us, in my studied and prayerful opinion, the best description and definition. It is the most accurate. (No ‘easy speak here’).

In my opinion, the first two examples are examples of what I call ‘drive through salvation and spiritual fast food’ served up with sugary soul-drinks to wash it down.

 

Have you ever wondered why the Bible speaks one way about Church and the family of faith and the actual experience VERY RARELY reaches that standard? Maybe the bar is set too low or perhaps there really is no bar in most instances. I say, please re-read BibleHub.com and pray, think – and then act on what God might say to you.

THE GOOD NEWS!

 John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him”.

 So that the word might be SAVED through Him. SAVED. Just what does that word bring to your mind?

“To be saved – SOZO – in the Bible, means to be rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety“. To deliver or protect— (From Strong’s Bible Concordance).

SAVED:  To be made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole (complete with purpose), NOW and for all of eternity,

Made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole In your body. In your mind. In your soul and spirit.

Made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole In your home. With your family, your children, your spouse and relatives. In your work. With your friends. In every aspect of your life.

(This is not a magic formula or a spell. It is the Word of God through your faithful, submissive obedience in following Jesus.

This is the Good News that God gave John to proclaim.

This is the Good News and the reason God sent us His Son. Jesus.

This is the Good News that Jesus proclaims to the world, then and now.

And this is the reason Jesus sends His followers, His disciples, into the world – to tell the world about this Good News.

And how would that to happen?

Now, come with me as we step back in time to around A.D. 30, when Jesus appeared on the scene in Galilee.

Matthew 4, verses 12 through 17.

Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,

BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES —

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,  (SAW A GREAT LIGH”)

AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,

UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”   A LIGHT DAWNED.

Gensis 1:1 tells us that God said “let there be light”; and the Words of God in Matthew 4:16 are no less significant, no less creative and now less prophetic that those from Genesis 1.

Then In verse 17,  read, From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This is Jesus’ first known and His shortest sermon.

In Matthew 4:17, the Bible tells us, FIRST that “From that time what time is this? This can be considered as one of the most important historical time markers in the Bible – it is a line of demarcation.

 This is the point Jesus began His earthly ministry as commissioned by God the Father, and

 This is beginning of the invasion of earth by the kingdom of heaven! The greatest of all spiritual wars has begun!

 GOD is announcing that He has come back to reclaim what is His and those who are His! He is here to take His land and to take His kids back from the devil’s captivity – you and me and millions more like us.

 This event is a NEW dawn, a NEW beginning – no less fantastic that when in the beginning God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT”, GOD is now saying “A GREAT LIGHT HAS DAWNED”.

And like we recited earlier in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, Jesus is saying that time is at hand!

 Next we are told that, “Jesus began to preach and say”,  the word used here from the Greek language is kerusso’. This is NOT a casual statement nor is it just a narration. It is a word of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; something which has been done, first in the Spiritual realm and to be manifest in the natural.  It is not a general statement nor is it a request.  It is PROPHETIC command. Kerusso!

Next, let’s notice that Jesus says “Repent”. What is often overlooked but should be  glaringly obvious is that Jesus does not tell us WHAT to repent from. We typically assume we are to repent of our sins. But that is not what He actually says. He simply says, “Repent”.

But REPENT from what?

Repent, (‘metanoeo’), from the Greek, means to change one’s mind – to change one’s mind for the better.

And if it is that we are to REPENT of our sins, it is just as important to know that the word Sin, from the Greek word ‘hamartia’ – literally means to be without a share in; to miss the mark. To miss the mark both of  all that God has intended for your life and all that He has for you now, and for all of eternity.

It is commonly accepted that Jesus meant that we are to heartily amend, with abhorrence of our past sins. And it can mean that and it DOES mean that. BUT IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

So, when Jesus says to REPENT, the overall meaning, the connotation of this word it to CHANGE AND CONDITION YOUR MIND TO THINK LIKE JESUS, TO SEE THINGS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND TO RESPOND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH AS JESUS DOES.

This requires a radical redefining or our understand. It demands that we turn our minds to what Jesus sas and what He means – even if it makes us uncomfortable.

Jesus is saying that REPENTANCE is a radical reformation and shift in our paradigms. It is a change in our attitudes, and of our mindset, our will and emotions from how we naturally see things to HOW JESUS SEES THINGS. It is a change in the all the choices we make in life so WE CAN SEE THEM AS JESUS SEES THEM.

 Jesus is saying we must change how see or view and deal with our relationships with others, our families, marriage, and even our disputes. How we react to being wronged, how we give of ourselves, of our time of our resources. How we view work, money, wealth, and anxiety. How we view our community, our country and the world and how we view the lost – from how we see them to HOW HE SEES THEM. We must see the world around us and what Jesus is commanding of us AS HE SEES IT.  THAT IS TRUE AND COMPLETE REPENTANCE.

 We begin to see that the Words of Jesus are life giving words. They protect us, they guide and direct us. They strengthen us and provide us with purpose and hope.

And finally, in this verse, Jesus says, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand (The words ” the Kingdom of Heaven” are so descriptive that you must take the definition of each word and consider the impact and importance. 

The Kingdom of God is now at hand, describes the long awaited arrival of the Messiah who is now to establish His Kingdom on earth. As the “Lord’s Prayer” even says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.  A Kingdom of forgiveness, of grace, mercy, justice and eternal salvation.  A Kingdom conquering death, disease, sin and darkness.

 His Kingdom is a royal power, a kingship, dominion, rule and the right or authority to rule over a kingdom; the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom.” This is our calling and our role as Christians, Disciples of Jesus,

And finally, the phrase, the kingdom is now “At hand.”  (“At hand” comes from a Greek word of with a meaning like the ‘crook of your arm’ and with the action like a mounting wave which has the power to knock you off your feet and roll you over and over; indicating a distance which is as close as your hand is to your wrist, AND as Luke 17:21 puts it, “the kingdom of God is now within you”. Romans 10:8 ALSO tells us, that “THE WORD (OF GOD) IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”.

Jesus is saying, we are to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is now at hand”.

Now, FINALLY – Here is a Mystery: 

Believe it or not, and as strange as it may seem, the One who spoke these prophetic words, possesses the power which is able to transform your life, so radically, so completely, so thoroughly, that those who knew you beforehand, would hardly recognize you afterwards.  In fact, if and when you embrace and absorbed His Words into your heart, mind and soul as His devoted follower you would hardly be able to recognize yourself when the process is complete.

You might even have to ask yourself, “Can I really be that man or that woman who went about under my name before?”

You are, in one sense the same person, but in another sense, you will have become someone utterly different. Made new. Reborn. A new creation.

This can be most easily accepted by a new believer, as the rest of us may think, “yes, I have already done this”. But when Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, said, “you must be born again”, He spoke those words in the Aorist tense which means this is a continuing action. The Aorist tense has no regard for the past, present or the future. In this tense they are one-in-the-same. In others words, “In Christ Jesus, you are born anew, each and every day”. He is not saying you must be saved over and over. He is saying our repentance and rebirth in Him is made new and refreshed each and every day. This sanctifying process of perfecting us into the image and likeness of Jesus continues until we are, one day, home with Him, at last!

Please understand that what I am about to say, does not negate the trials, tribulations and troubles we will face in this life. They are part of our being sanctified. Nonetheless, this intensely real power to which I am referring, can pick you up today – right now – from the midst of loneliness, failure, ruin, misery, despair or any difficulty, and in the twinkling of an eye, as Paul said, IN THE MIDST OF THE PROBLEMS YOU FACE IN LIFE, He can begin to solve those problems, smooth out the difficulties, cut you free from entanglements and place you clear, safe and happy upon the highroad of freedom and opportunity – IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HIS PLAN AND PRUPOSES, AND ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO ENDURE THIS PROCESS.

Does this mean your will always be physically well or mentally strong or rich by the worlds standards or famous? No. No. A thousand times no.
But it does mean that you can find purpose and meaning and usefulness in even the worst of life’s circumstances.

He can free you to go and shape your life as God would have it – a life full with purpose and of promises met.

He can throw open the MANY prison doors that hold you captive, and liberate you.

He is the healing balm for the bruised and broken heart.

He can inspire you with new thoughts and ideas, so that your life’s work may be truly original, meaningful and lasting.

He can impart new and wonderful kinds of knowledge, as soon as you really want such knowledge – glorious knowledge – strange things not taught in schools or written in ordinary books.

He can find your true place in life, and put you into it, too.

He can find the right friends for you, kindred spirits who are interested in the same ideas and want the same things that you do.

He can provide you the type of  prosperity that means freedom.  Not as the world knows prosperity.  But the type of prosperity that means true Freedom.  Free to be and to do and to go as God has called you to be and to do.

This Power of God can teach you all things you need to know, if only you are receptive and teachable.

But Jesus said, “You must first repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

So, if your life is lacking the continuous flow of the fruit of the Spirit, the love, the joy, the peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Now, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If your life is missing out on the works that Jesus did, and even greater works of teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom which can heal all kinds of sickness and diseases, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If you are living in loneliness, fear, doubt lack and want, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If you are and your behaviors are “friendly” with the world but at odds with the Words and Teachings of Jesus, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

You know, from the day we are born until the day we die, the 23rd Psalm tells us that we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death in this lifetime. And that God has set at table  before us in the presence of your enemies, and that He has anointed our heads with His Oil and that our cup overflows. And His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. And our dwelling place will be in the house of the Lord, forever.

The day of our salvation is now at hand. You can experience the richness of being saved. You can feast at the table He has set before you, even in the presence of your enemies of lack, want, sickness, poverty disease, loneliness and the like. You no longer need to miss the mark or to be left out of the things He has prepared for your life to Bless you and to prosper your soul.

You are made safe, and rescued from eternal harm. You will have found a rich and fulfilling purpose in and for your life, now. You can be made secure in all your relationships and in all the matters of your life. You can be assured of an eternal life with Him. THIS IS THE TABLE HE HAS SET BEFORE YOU.

For the kingdom of heaven is now at hand!

In the words of the great old hymn: Dear Lord, we want to say to you,

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

Leaning, learning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

Father, we ask that you bless our heart and minds by having read and having heard Your Word and ask You, Holy Spirit, and to plant the seeds of Your Word deep into the soil of our hearts and minds that they will take root and produce your fruit in our lives, some thirty, some sixty and some one hundred fold, and that we will continue to be transformed evermore into the image and likeness of your Son, and our Lord, Jesus. Amen.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

 

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

The phrase if you, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as:

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

IN CONTEXT

1 Thessalonians 1:1, From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Verse 4. For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it happened, as you know. Verse 5. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.

Verse 6. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, verse 7, for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; verse 8, for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Verse 9. For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, verse 10, as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Verse 11. Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; verse 12, and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; verse 13, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

(MY COMMENTS)

We read and hear that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second commandment is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

How much more should we show our love to those who have come to Christ in faith? Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, having labored to bring the church in Thessalonica the Good News, are filled with an overflowing joy at the news that in their absence and through persecution and tribulation, that they have kept the faith and have been found blameless in holiness before God.

Paul goes on to say “and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you”.

This should be our aim and focus. This should be a focus of our prayers and a source of our joy, for one another and for all people who would come to faith in God through Jesus our Christ.

Jesus warns that in these Last Days the love of many will wax cold. Let’s guard our hearts, souls and minds and maintain our love for one another, as from the beginning.

We are told that the one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling.

Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed”. – 1 Timothy 4:6.

PREVIOUS: CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations such as “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch?” – Colossians 2:20.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 11, Peter’s Report in Jerusalem, The Church in Antioch

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 11

Peter’s Report in Jerusalem, The Church in Antioch.

These were special times in the birth, growth and expansion of the Church. It is obvious from what we read that God was mightily at work in the lives of the Apostles and in the Church. So, what has happened since that time? Is He being silent today? Has God gone to sleep? And before you cite a few paltry examples of your own, please read this chapter, then consider your answers. Visions from God? Scores of people coming to faith in Christ at the risk of life and property? Prophecies coming to pass?

(Speaking for myself, I believe it may be fair to say that what has changed is our postmodern Christian attitudes, our commitment to Christ and our lack of humility). These men were not only called by God, but they knew and trusted without any doubt that their salvation and the power, and the kingdom of God and the authority of Christ had come, and the accuser was being thrown down. And they overcame because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and that they did not love their life even when faced with death!

Peter Reports in Jerusalem

Acts 11:1, Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. Verse 2, And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers took issue with him, verse 3, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Verse 4. But Peter began and explained at length to them in an orderly sequence, saying, verse 5, “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came to where I was, verse 6, and I stared at it and was thinking about it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild animals, the crawling creatures, and the birds of the sky. Verse 7. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ Verse 8. But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ Verse 9. But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’ Verse 10. This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky. Verse 11. And behold, at that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea came up to the house where we were staying. Verse 12. And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. Verse 13. And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; verse 14, and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ Verse 15. And as I, (Peter), began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning. Verse 16. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Verse 17. Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” Verse 18. When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

(Commentary Break): It would take too much time and space to explore the insurmountable obstacles of the Jewish religious establishment, the harsh political climate and the unforgiving social order of that day in order for us to understand how incredibly dangerous and practically foolish it would have been to assume that a group of radical religious reformers making wild claims of a Messiah risen from the dead, who were now hearing from God through visions and prophecies could make a difference.

But that is just the point we should take from this. These early Christians were not trying to make a point. They were hearing from God both through the prophetic scriptures of the Torah and through dreams and visions and were being obedient to God, even to death.

(In order to emphasize this point, George Barna, a well-known and highly respected Professor at Arizona Christian University and Director of Research at its Cultural Research Center, focusing on worldview assessment and development, and cultural transformation; also the Sr. Research Fellow at Family Research Council Center for Biblical Worldview, and a Fellow at the Townsend Institute at Concordia University, has recently reported that seventy percent of the Churches interviewed, across the nation, do not believe in the basic doctrines of the Bible. And of the remaining thirty percent, only two percent teach on the basic truths of scriptures such as “did Jesus live a sinless life?” or “is hell real?” from fear of offending the congregants.)

Please read verses 17 again, “Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Take from this what you will. Make what decision you must. But please remember that silence is a decision. (End Commentary Break).

The Church in Antioch

Verse 19. So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. Verse 20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. Verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Verse 22. The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Verse 23. Then, when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; verse 24, for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And considerable numbers were added to the Lord. Verse 25. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; verse 26, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers of people; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Verse 27. Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Verse 28. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. Verse 29. And to the extent that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers and sisters living in Judea. Verse 30. And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders. (End of Chapter 11).

These were the continuing Acts of the Apostles. But to what end? What purposes can be found in this recounting of events from A.D 61 to around A.D. 64?

Purpose of Writing: The book of Acts was written to provide a history of the early church. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Acts records the apostles being Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding world. The book of Acts sheds light on the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our Counselor. Reading the book of Acts, we are enlightened and encouraged by the power of the gospel as it spread throughout the world and transformed lives. Many miracles were performed during this time by the apostles to validate their message. The book of Acts covers the transitional time between the ascension of Christ and the completion of the New Testament canon, and the apostolic miracles were God’s means of authenticating His message through the men who penned the Bible.

 Practical Application: God can do amazing things through ordinary people when He empowers them through His Spirit. The book of Acts shows how God essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). God took a Christian-hating murderer and transformed him into history’s greatest Christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the New Testament. God used the persecution the Christians endured to help stimulate the incredibly rapid expansion of the fledgling church. God can and does do the same through us if we are willing by changing our hearts, empowering us by the Holy Spirit, and giving us a passion to spread the good news of salvation through Christ. If we try to accomplish God’s work in the world in our own power, we will fail. Like the disciples in Acts 2, we must faithfully proclaim the gospel, trust God for the results, and devote ourselves “to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). (see GotQuestions.Org).

I hear people say that these things are above my abilities. And they are correct in a sense. They are from ABOVE. We do not need to be considered special, just gifted by the Holy Spirit. Just use what He has given you and that is enough. These men, the early disciples were considered as uneducated and untrained men, but they were known to have been with Jesus. And, that is enough.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 10, Cornelius’ Vision, Peter in Caesarea, Gentiles Hear The Good News.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 12, Peter’s Arrest and Deliverance, The Death of Herod.

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THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 1, part 3, verses 19-51, Jesus’ Public Ministry

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 1, part 3

(verses 19 – 51)

Jesus’ Public Ministry

This Book and this chapter are not meant to be just a narration of the life and ministry of John the Baptist nor of Jesus’ Himself. It is meant to be an example and a pattern for our lives. It gives us a deeper understanding of the lives of Jesus, His disciples for application to our lives.

Please, as you read and listen to these verses, meditate on them as if you are there, participating. Absorb every word, action and thought. Then, go and do as He has done and what He has taught.

John 1:19. This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” Verse 20. And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: “I am not the Christ.” Verse 21. And so they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Verse 22. Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” Verse 23. He said, “I am THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE THE WAY OF THE LORD STRAIGHT,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Commentary Break: (It is striking how John (the author) refers to John the Baptist in this narration. It is also striking that he uses the phraseology “he confessed and did not deny” as both a first-hand witness and the interrogated. Here is the interrogation and his confession:

(#1). I am not the Christ (assuming he has been asked if he claims to be the One).

(#2). “Are you Elijah?” John’s answer is a simple and straight forward “I am not”.

 And, considering that Elijah did not die, but was taken to heaven in a whirlwind as he rode in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11), then, arguing for a reincarnation (or a resurrection) of Elijah would miss the point. If anything, the prophecy of the Elijah “to come” would have been viewed as Elijah’s physical return to earth from heaven. The Bible is quite clear that John the Baptist is called “Elijah” because he came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), not because he was Elijah in a literal sense. John the Baptist is the New Testament forerunner who points the way to the arrival of the Lord, just as Elijah filled that role in the Old Testament (and might again in the future—see Revelation 11).

 (#3). Next, they asked, “are you the prophet?”, to which John replies with a definitive, “no”. (This question either seems redundant, shows that the priests and Levites were ignorant or denying that Jesus and the prophet could be the same or more likely were pressing him on his answer as is shown when they say, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” To which John answers by quoting Isaiah 40:3-5, “I am THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE THE WAY OF THE LORD STRAIGHT,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

NOTE: This is the quintessential pattern for our testifying to Christ. John does not claim to be anything more than a messenger sent by God, in the pattern and likeness of Isaiah.

 Likewise, we are sent by God as his witnesses: “You shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the remotest part of the earth (see Acts 1:8).

 We are not to make claims beyond those of John the Baptist  nor claims beyond the scope and authority conferred by Christ Jesus, whether as an overzealous and overly ambitious Christian or as do so many cults. (see Christian cults).

 We are to “go, 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 – and only – those things He has commanded”. (see Matthew 28:18-20). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 24. And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. Verse 25. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Verse 26. John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. Verse 27. It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.” Verse 28. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

(Commentary Break: And these messengers asked, “Why then” now becomes the question. “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

A Jewish man called “Yochanan”, (John from the Hebrew language), was baptizing people in the Jordan River in first century Israel, including his cousin who would later become world famous: “Yeshua of Nazareth”,  (Jesus of Nazareth). Many Jewish people responded to the call of this Jewish man to immerse themselves in the river as a sign of repentance, and a desire to get right with God. Some of the Pharisees were also among them. Did Yochanan, (John), invent baptism at this time? Or was it part of Jewish tradition and practice before that? No he did not invent baptism, and yes it was part of Jewish tradition.

And the Hebrew word for an immersion pool built for this purpose, “mikveh”, also points us in the right direction in understanding deeper meaning in the practice. The Jewish laws which had been passed down orally from generation to generation had several things to say about the need for ritual washing, and the most desirable places to do it, and “living waters” (as found in natural lakes and rivers) which were considered to be the best possible situation. (see OneForIsrael.com).

Although the Jews held a misconception of John’s mission to baptize, there is unmistakable symbolism for the coming and prophesied Messiah. The Jews saw a need for ceremonial and ritual cleansing, but John is taking this matter to an entirely new level. Although John is baptizing for repentance and a ritual cleansing of sin, he is introducing One who will obliterate and replace the old understanding of ritual cleansing and baptism with a transformational Spiritual Truth – a Spiritual Baptism which is only possible by the grace of God through a newfound faith in Jesus, alone.

 Let’s be clear. Salvation comes by way of God’s grace and one’s from faith in Christ, alone. Baptism does not save, but it is God’s Sign and Seal, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God. (see Colossians 2:8-15).

This is a radical transformation of our standing before God for all eternity. It is important that we not only the nature of this covenant of this Baptism, but we understand its gravity and, with Whom we are making an irrevocable contract. Imagine the potential consequence of willingly receiving such gift as the salvation of your soul only to turn back on your promise?

 (Dare I say, remember Judas? He was called by the name of Christ, and turned his back his promise. The Bible clearly indicates that Judas was not saved. Jesus Himself said of Judas, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24). Here is a clear picture of the sovereignty of God and the will of man working together. God had, from ages past, determined that Christ would be betrayed by Judas, die on the cross for our sins, and be resurrected. This is what Jesus meant when He said He would “go just as it is written about him.” Nothing would stop the plan of God to provide salvation for mankind. (see GotQuestions.Org). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 29. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Verse 30. This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ Verse 31. And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” Verse 32. And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. Verse 33. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ Verse 34. And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

(Commentary Break): Once again John keeps his testimony brief, to the point and focused on Jesus. This is our pattern for witnessing and testifying to the Christ. God reveals Himself only to those whom He knows, and they will hear His voice and they will follow Him. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus’ Public Ministry; First Converts

Verse 35. Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, Verse 36. and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Verse 37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Verse 38. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” Verse 39. He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day; it was about the tenth hour. Verse 40. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Verse 41. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). Verse 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Verse 43. The next day He decided to go to Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Verse 44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Verse 45. 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!” Verse 46. Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Verse 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” Verse 48. 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.” Verse 49. Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” 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.” Verse 51. 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.”

First, it is Jesus Who calls us by name and it is His Spirit Who leads us to follow Him. No amount of convincing speech will do any more or any less. We give our testimony, as John, and that is sufficient.

Secondly, Jesus has seen us, even before we were aware of Him.

Finally, we should all pray that we too could see “the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”. None-the-less, those of us who are called, will see Him. Rest in that.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 2, The Miracle at Cana, The First Passover – Cleansing the Temple.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN – CHAPTER 1, part 2, (Verses 6 – 18), The Witness of John the Baptist.

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THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 4

 

THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 4

THE TENTACLES OF THE SOCIALIST-MARXIST TAKEOVER

 It is already in your home, government, schools, hospitals, churches and food production. It is in your Federal, State and local governments. You can find it in The United Nations – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – The Commission on Global Governance – The United Nations Globalist Great Reset – Agenda 21 – Agenda 2030 – The Global Community – The Council on Sustainable Development – U.N.C.E.D. – International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – The Social Security Administration – The Internal Revenue Service – etc

.

The United Nations Marxist Agenda 2030 has been embedded in, and is operational in most every nation in the world; and thanks to Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, the I.C.L.E.I., formerly known as the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, has operations embedded in over 406 known American cities and local and state governments, including the U.S. Federal Government, promoting the Marxist  agenda, goals and initiatives of the United Nation’s Agenda 2030.

Many of the goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030, being promoted through the World Economic Forum, are good-sounding and seemingly well-intentioned. The problem is deception. They are masking their ideology, their methodology and their end-game intentions which are purely Communist-Marxist.

I trust and hope you can grasp the magnitude of what has happened over the last 76 years in America and around the world: This may be the establishment of the long anticipated and prophesied One World Government. (also see GotQuestions.org and  The End Time Prophecy Report)

Okay? Got the idea? We, Christians, conservatives, American Patriots, et al, aren’t just in a problem, we are in a transition. And roughly 49% of the American public is buying into it – and the “it” is the Global Marxist agenda as it can be called in contemporary terms, or in definitive terms, the formation of the long-prophesied One World Government, comprised of  “a single world culture and full sovereignty from separate nations to a world organization. This “New World Order” is a socialist, authoritarian global government and court with “global rule of law” and a “one-world economy,” according to the Commission for Global Governance. (Red Text is a quote from the first Director-General of UNESCO, Julian Huxley, 1946).

And this problem reaches to the roots of America. They, the Left and their allies (the American Democrat Party, the CPUSA, Globalists, Progressives, etc.) have taken control of all our major institutions including our educational systems and have successfully indoctrinated our children, youth, teens and young adults, the future adult generations with their poisonous ideologies. This isn’t just an ideological war it is a literal war and it is being waged for our lives and our souls. And this war cannot be won using conventional or traditional warfare methods.

It has almost become cliché to say we are to put on the full armor of God. That has come to be thought of as just a personal defense against sin or for personal use against the devil. And although that is true in a limited sense, when Ephesians 6:10-20 is understood in the full context of the Book of Ephesians, here is what you might see (please read each chapter heading slowly, carefully, prayerfully and studiously):

1.     The Blessings of Redemption ( of the recipient warriors of Christ)I, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus.

2.     Made Alive in Christ (Our position as the recipient warriors)And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them, we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of (your) works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

3.    Strengthened with the Power (The strengthening of the recipient warrior of Christ) – that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

4.    Unity of the Spirit (The call to unity of  the recipient warriors of Christ) – Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says, “When He ascended on high,
He led captive the captives, And He gave gifts to people.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

5.    Be Imitators of God (The Preparation of the recipient warriors) – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God is a fragrant aroma. But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;  for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”  So then be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. Marriage like Christ and the Church Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are parts of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

  1. The Armor of God – (The mental and spiritual Armor of the recipient of the warrior of Christ). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,  and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The letter to the believers at the church in Ephesus and other believers in western Asia minor is not an instructional philosophical letter nor is it a metaphor, although there are similes at work here. Although there can be multiple applications found in Ephesians, this is primarily an instructional letter or “a supernaturally produced manual” on Spiritual Warfare – plain and simple. It must be taken both literally but in the proper context and spiritually, for to the natural man or woman, it is nonsense. And it must be followed precisely. Anything less is failure, and failure is not an option.

NEXT:  THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 5

PREVIOUS:  THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 3

THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 3

 

The Methodologies and Applications 

(For all the variants of Communism)

Next, let’s take a brief look at the playbook designed by a man named Saul Alinsky, a mentor to Barak Obama, and bankrolled by billionaire George leftist globalist Soros.

Responding to the impatience of a New Left generation of activists in the 1960s, in his widely cited Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer (1971), Saul Alinsky defended the Hegelian arts both of confrontation and of compromise involved in community organizing as keys to the struggle for social justice. (And, yes, that is how Barack Obama got his notoriety, also.)

An American community activist and political theorist, Alinsky, through the Chicago-based Industrial Areas Foundation helping poor communities organize to press demands upon landlords, politicians and business leaders won national recognition and notoriety.

Alinsky, was an influencer who contributed to the methodologies of the modern day United Nation’s Globalist-Socialist-Marxist movements. Alinsky often referred to the book, ”The Prince”, written by Niccolò Machiavelli. The general theme of The Prince is ‘accepting that the aims of princes, such as glory and survival’, justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends. Machiavelli’s writings sets readers up for a high degree of ruthlessness and realpolitik, and the book does not disappoint. Subsequently, Saul David Alinsky wrote his book, ”Rules for Radicals based on much of Machiavelli’s principals for the ‘Haves’ on how to hold power, and for the ‘Have-Nots’ on how to take it away. Alinsky recommended working mostly within the system, though in the twisted way Machiavelli is reputed to have done.

Below, you will find Alinsky’s 13 “Rules for Radicals,” offered with his provision that political activism cannot be a self-serving enterprise: “People cannot be free unless they are willing to sacrifice some of their interests to guarantee the freedom of others. The price of democracy is the ongoing pursuit of the common good by all of the people.”

  1. “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood.
    “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone.
    3. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.
    4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.
    5. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.
    6. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones.
    7. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news.
    8. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new.
    9. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist.
    10. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.” It is this unceasing pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign.
    11. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.” Violence from the other side can win the public to your side because the public sympathizes with the underdog.
    12. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.
    13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.

Alinsky’s rules have been used for anti-democratic means and have been effective in setting the stage for and aiding the Communist Party USA to disrupt and transform America’s constitution, legal systems, financial institutions and educational institutions into Socialist-Marxist systems and the unraveling of the fabric of American society.

The Communist Party U.S.A., (officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, (C.P.U.S.A.), is a communist party in the United States established in 1919 after a split in the Socialist Party of America following the Russian Revolution.

The history of the C.P.U.S.A. is closely related to the American labor movement and communist parties worldwide. The party was influential in American politics in the first half of the 20th century and played a prominent role in the labor movement from the 1920s through the 1940s.

The C.P.U.S.A. received significant funding from the Soviet Union and crafted its public positions to match those of Moscow. The C.P.U.S.A. also used a covert apparatus to assist the Soviets with their intelligence activities in the United States and utilized a network of front organizations to shape public opinion.

THE BIGGEST LIE

According to the constitution of the Communist Party USA, (C.P.U.S.A.), adopted at the 30th National Convention in 2014, the Communist Party operates on the principle of democratic centralism, its highest authority being the quadrennial National Convention. Article 6, Section 3 of the 2001 Constitution, laid out certain positions as non-negotiable and all of which are now evident in America’s political, educational and social constructs:

      • Struggle for the unity of the working class,
      • against all forms of national oppression, national chauvinism, discrimination and segregation,
      • against all racist ideologies and practices, …
      • against all manifestations of male supremacy and discrimination against women, …
      • against homophobia and all manifestations of discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.
      • Among the points in the party’s “Immediate Program” are a
      • $15.00 per hour minimum wage for all workers, national universal health care and
      • Opposition to privatization of Social Security.
      • Economic measures such as increased taxes on “the rich and corporations”,
      • “Strong regulation” of the financial industry,
      • “Regulation and public ownership of utilities” and
      • Increased federal aid to cities and states;
      • opposition to the Iraq War and other military interventions;
      • opposition to free trade treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
      • nuclear disarmament and
      • a reduced military budget;
      • various civil rights provisions;
      • campaign finance reform including public financing of campaigns; and election law reform, including instant runoff voting.

(the foregoing is from Wikipedia, The Communist Party USA).

Two Pronged Attack

The Global Marxist strategy is two-pronged. First, is the frontal assault as already described. The second front is far more subtle, deceptive and deadly. It was first introduced through UNESCO as previously mentioned. But it has expanded through a network of powerful organizations such as the World Economic Forum, Agenda-21 (now renamed as Agenda-2030) and has adopted the name of The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Here are their stated goals (which are neither meant to be achieved nor are they to be “sustained”. They are merely a means to a nefarious end):

UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  • Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
  • Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  • Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.

It has always – ALWAYS – been the tactic of Globalist-Communist-Marxists to lie, and “a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth to those who hear it”. So, they say what they want you to believe they are doing while they do what they want done: Global Marxist domination.

(Here is one of their most audacious statements made public 4/10/2017. I they implement all of thier goals, the cost is a complete loss of your freedom – “You will have NOTHING and be happy”, like it or not! ):

NEXT:  THE WORLD IN TRANSITION – PART 4.

PREVIOUS:  THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 2

THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 2

 

  

In 1848 the antithesis to Christianity was born. Communism’s theoretical foundations were laid by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in their Communist Manifesto, and were published in 1848. Its practical implementation started with the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Communism and it’s variants (Marxism, Leninism, Maoism, etc.) would be diametrically opposed to and the sworn enemy of Christianity. These are the forces which will collide in the Last Days and Christ the King will judge and defeat this age-old enemy and his followers.

Invasions and Migrations: 

Waves of migrations and invasions by various Germanic tribes, the Huns, and others disrupted the existing Roman order and led to the establishment of new kingdoms and political entities across Europe.

The Bible speaks of “wars and rumors of war, kingdoms rising against kingdoms and nations against nations”, but this is not yet then end. These are the birth pains of the tribulation which began at or around the time of the birth of Christ, have been intensifying over the centuries and is now at hand.

Feudalism: 

The development of feudalism, a system of land ownership and social hierarchy, became a dominant feature of medieval society, shaping relationships between lords, vassals, and peasants.

Economic Changes: 

Shifts in economic activities, including the decline of Roman trade and the emergence of new agricultural practices, impacted the social structure and development of the period.

Feudalism and the industrial revolution (1848-1840), and the growing influence of “modern capitalism” (1776), were fuels that would create the flames of Communism. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels’ goal was the conquest of political power by workers, the abolition of private property, and the eventual establishment of a classless and stateless communist society – and Christianity, according to Marx, was in the way and must be destroyed or converted.

Although by the mid-nineteen hundreds, Communism was on the wane and declared by some as being “dead”, Communism didn’t have a single “death day,” but the most significant events indicating its decline were in 1989-1991, particularly with the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. These events marked the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet system, effectively ending communism’s dominance in the world.

So We Went To Sleep

With Communism declared effectively out of the way, the West went about its business of building empires and fighting wars. But Marxism was not dead and it certainly was not buried. The Communists-Marxists had learned that a frontal attack on the West, on capitalism and democracy was unwinnable. So in a brilliant move, the Global network, the Global cabal of Marxism rebranded itself and quietly re-emerged, full of new strength and new vigor with the founding and the emergence of the United Nations in 1944 and UNESCO in 1945.

UNESCO, “The United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization” stated purpose was to contribute to peace and security. Collaboration among nations through education, science and culture remains a cornerstone of a peaceful world order, and was being staffed and run by Socialist and Marxist elites. This was the perfect cover story to deflect from and obscure UNESCO’s real purpose and intentions. The U.N. and UNESCO was intent on many things through education, science and culture, but peace and security was not one of them.

If you “will take a hard look at UNESCO, (you can) discern the growing gulf between its actions and the noble precepts of its Constitution and the UN charter. Despite its public commitment to justice, the rule of law and human rights, “without distinction of race, sex, language or religion,” UNESCO strips these rights solely from Israel and denies its religious heritage, history, and legitimacy as the nation state of the Jewish people. UNESCO’s “unrestricted pursuit of objective truth,” and commitment to preserve the historic heritage of all world cultures excludes Israel. Recent resolutions supporting contrived Palestinian claims to Jewish history, land and heritage are part of the UN’s anti-Zionist track record. Despite the legacy of the 1922 League of Nations Mandate and 1947 Resolution 181, anti-Semitism steadily increased as UN membership swelled. By 1967, the tide had turned. In 1975, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin called for Israel’s “expulsion from the United Nations and the extinction of Israel as a State” and this was to a standing ovation. Also under Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, a former Nazi officer, Resolution 3379 equated Zionism with racism. Yet neither anti-Semitism nor Muslim majorities suffice to explain this organization’s hatred of Israel—unless also seen through the lens of encroaching globalism. “The task before UNESCO,” said its first Director-General Julian Huxley in 1946, is “the emergence of a single world culture” by transferring “full sovereignty from separate nations to a world organization. ”The “new world order” will be a socialist, authoritarian global government and court with “global rule of law” and a “one-world economy,” according to the Commission for Global Governance. The Obama Administration provided an example of leftist globalists in action. Bankrolled by billionaire George Soros, and using the radical social-manipulation “rules” of Obama mentor Saul Alinsky, the Left exploits groups like Black Lives Matter as “agents of change” to help usher in their new world order. They fund and direct radical groups to sow chaos and division by politicizing leftist targets such as police by labeling them as “racist.”” (Italicized text above here is an excerpted quote from The Jerusalem Post dated 8/31/2017).

Know Your Enemy

It is very important, before going any further, that you read these revealing quotes by Karl Marx, known as the ‘Father of Communism’ and quotes by Vladimir Lenin, the man who developed a murderous variant of communist ideology known as Leninism.

In them, you will see and better understand the guiding principles of Communism, Marxism, Leninism, Maoism, etc., and you will see these things coming to pass in our world, today.  They are the methods, strategies and techniques for establishing Marxism and a One World Government.  They have always been and still are the standard and goal of Marxism. You should know these things to know how the modern Globalist-Marxist thinks and what they are accomplishing:

Quotes by Karl Marx:

  1. “Take away a nation’s heritage, and they are more easily persuaded. “
  2. “Communism begins where atheism begins. “
  3. “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care, shall be in state institutions. “
  4. “We have no compassion, and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror. “
  5. “The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism. “
  6. “If you can cut the people off from their history, then they can be easily persuaded. “
  7. “The democratic concept of man is false, because it is Christian. The democratic concept holds that each man is a sovereign being. This is the illusion, dream, and postulate of Christianity. “
  8. There are, besides, eternal truths, such as Freedom, etc., that are common to all states of society. But Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience. “
  9. “The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property. “
  10. “When the sufferers learn to think, then the thinkers will learn to suffer. “
  11. “The Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. “
  12. “The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope. “
  13. A heavy or progressive or graduated income tax is necessary for the proper development of Communism. “
  14. “The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.
  15. “The unity is brought about by force. “
  16. “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. “
  17. “There is no greater stupidity than for people to marry and so surrender themselves to the small miseries of domestic and private life. “
  18. “Taxes are the source of life for the bureaucracy, the army and the court, in short, for the whole apparatus of the executive power. Strong government and heavy taxes are identical. “

​Quotes by Vladimir Lenin:

  • ​”Give me your four-year-olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state. “
  • “We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us. “
  • “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses. “
  • “The goal of socialism is communism. “
  • “Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinions calculated to embarrass the government? “
  • “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation. “
  • “People always have been, and they always will be, stupid victims of deceit and self-deception in politics. “
  • “Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world. “
  • “One man with a gun can control 100 without one. “
  • “As an ultimate objective, “peace” simply means communist world control.”
  • “Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism. “
  • “It is, of course, much easier to shout, abuse, and howl than to attempt to relate, to explain. “
  • “Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism. “
  • “One of the basic conditions for the victory of socialism is the arming of the workers Communist and the disarming of the bourgeoisie to the middle class.”
  • “The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves. “
  • “Give us the child for eight years, and it will be a Bolshevik forever. “
  • “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel. “
  • “We are not shooting enough professors. “
  • “Germany will militarize herself out of existence, England will expand herself out of existence, and America will spend herself out of existence. “
  • “It is necessary – secretly and urgently, to prepare the terror. “
  • “The establishment of a central bank is 90% of communizing a nation. “
  • “We want to achieve a new and better order of society: in this new and better society there must be neither rich nor poor; all will have to work. Not a handful of rich people, but all the working people must enjoy the fruits of their common labor. Machines and other improvements must serve to ease the work of all, and not to enable a few to grow rich at the expense of millions and tens of millions of people. This  is the new and better society, and it is called a socialist society. “
  • “There can be nothing more abominable than religion.”

It takes no imagination to read these quotes into our current day media headlines, and as far back as the late 20th century.

NEXT:  THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 3

PREVIOUS:  THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 1

THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 1

(Please begin with this video. Afterward, please start the audio for the rest of this page).

 

This is a five-part article which, in brief, will attempt to give an overview of the socio-political history of humankind from a spiritual, prophetic Biblical perspective, its tragectory, transition points and its likely outcome.

The world is in transition and its course has been anything but a straight or a smooth line. From conservative to progressive, Democratic to Marxist, moral to immoral,.from peacetime to periods of war, traditional to unconventional, from an aging world population to a sudden resurgence of youth, from primarily rural societies to global urbanization..

And where there is change, it would seem there will be trouble. And it could be said that while some are finding trouble, others are busy making trouble. But it has always been the case, hasn’t it?

If we would divide history into four or five basic time periods, ancient history, medieval history (the dark ages), early modern history, modern history and now perhaps postmodern history, we can see that each transition brings some good change and some trouble of its own.

Secular historians will often connect one period or epoch in history to a succeeding period by explaining the transitional points and the causes driving the transition. They will not, however, attribute the transitions to a “master cosmic plan” or “steps of a creation event”. In other words, God is ruled out.

I would like to offer another explanation, however. I would assert that God, as the creator of all things, is the cause of all things. And that the transitional points in history are transitional points in His Grand Master Plan for the earth, the cosmos and for all of humankind. And to keep it very simple, like reading any well written comprehensive novel – not that the Bible is a novel – you can fine the “topic sentence”, or the main message in the first paragraph. Then if you go to the last chapter you may see how things work out in the end. Everything between these two points are transitional points and supporting evidence. And thus it is with the Bible. So, let’s start at the beginning and see where this leads us.

The earliest period, the Ancient Period of history, often referred to as ancient history, is the time period from the earliest recorded human history to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. It encompasses the emergence of early civilizations, their growth, and eventual decline, including the rise and fall of empires and the development of writing, art, and philosophy.

The Key aspects of the ancient period:

This period begins with the invention of writing systems, like cuneiform in Sumer (around 3400 BCE) and hieroglyphics in Ancient Egypt (around 3200 BCE).

Emergence of major civilizations:

This period saw the rise of powerful civilizations in regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China.

 Development of political systems:

Ancient civilizations experimented with different forms of government, including monarchies, oligarchies, and democracies.

 Military advancements:

The ancient world witnessed the development of new military technologies and tactics, leading to conflicts between different civilizations.

 Cultural achievements:

This period produced significant advancements in art, architecture, literature, philosophy, and science.

All of these characteristics of the Ancient Age, and more, are reprsented in the Bible from “the beginning”. There are, however, some transitional events that were most significant and serve as catalysts for future events. This can be seen when the Bible is studied and kept in the context, that is from the beginning to the end.

(And by the way, transitional periods, particularly in Ancient history, can be the most difficult to explore study and correlate simply because of their age.  But there is one specific event, despite it approximnate date reaching back nearly 4,300 years, and that is the “building of the tower of Babel”. And this one deserves special attention.

The Bible tells of the beginnings of one key period of history which is capsulated in eleven brief verses in the book of Genesis chaper eleven. It tells about the coming together of an ancient people (see Genesis chapter ten) and thier attempt to build a One World Government. It serves as an example and a harbinger of what is coming again in the Last Days. This event and the progression of events that follow help explain how the world has arrived in its current and precarious position and what is coming next.

How can this be so? Odds. What has occurred in progression, as predicted in the Bible, defies all odds. The accuracy of its outcome is beyond uncanny and cannot (or should not) be ignored. I.e., it is coming to pass.

They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’

“The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

“The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:4-6

The Tower of Babel, built around 2242 B.C., was a post-Flood rebellion against God by Noah’s descendants. As told about in Genesis 11:1-9, it is meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages. According to the account, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar. There, they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough “to reach heaven”. The end of this effort was a dispersion of all these people to points around the known globe. However, this Biblical event is considered, by almost all sources outside of Judaism and Christianity, as a legend a myth and a parable meant to explain the historical development of different languages and cultures. But new discoveries are saying otherwise. (see Smithsonianmag.com and Is Genesis History.com).

Viewed correctly and from the context of the entire Bible, it is seen as a prophetic harbinger of future End Time events. (I am taking a large step from the Ancient era to Post Modern Era in the next few paragraphs. If you are interested in the “long way through history, beginning to end, then use this link for a step-by-step, era-by-era Biblical historical timeline, from creation to the re-creation.)

The Bible is consistent in predicting that the world will come together in the Last Days, speaking a common language and nothing they purpose to do will be impossible for them. This time, just as it was at Tower of Babel, the results will be beyond calamitous, they will be disastrous.

There is now, in the last 20th century and early 21st century, an ongoing collaboration of nations which is  leading to the establishmentof a one world government. The framework for which is currently led by the United Nations, UNESCO and the World Economic Forum. Once it is firmly established, the Bible says it will be led by one man. A man who is:

There is a convergence and a concurrence of events, as predicted in the Bible, such as have never happened before, indicating that we are near or at that point now. And coincidence is out of the question – the odds in favor are just too great.

And just for informational purposes, it would seem there are only two events yet to happen before the appearance of the antichrist triggers what is known as the 6th Tribulation Seal and the final seven years of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb. This period encompasses the Second Coming of Christ, the rapture of the Church, the Seventh Tribulation Seal, followed by the seven Trumpet and seven Bowl Judgements. These events will culminate with Christ coming with His armies of heaven to deal the final defeat to Satan at the battle of Armageddon. The beast and his followers will be defeated and condemned to the eternal lake of fire.

Then comes the White Throne judgement, the destruction of the heavens and the earth by a fervent heat.

Thus, the End of this Age, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth (see Revelation chapters 19 through 22).

What is the purpose of the Antichrist?

His purpose is to unite the forces of Satan and to deceive.  There have been two major instances in history that have served as a foreshadowing, a harbinger of the coming Antichrist; a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.

The End of the period of Ancient History:

The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD is often cited as the end of the ancient period, marking the transition to the Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period, are generally understood to have begun with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD and lasted until around 1500 AD. While this period saw significant changes and developments, the primary “cause” is less about a single event and more about a complex interplay of factors that led to the decline of the Roman Empire and the emergence of new social, political, and cultural structures in Europe. This era was also a major transition point for the introduction

In essence, the Middle Ages emerged from a combination of factors: the decline of a powerful empire, the rise of new religious and cultural forces, the disruption caused by migrations and invasions, and the development of new social and economic systems. These factors led to a distinct historical period with unique characteristics and developments in Europe.

The decline of the Western Roman Empire, marked by political instability, invasions, and economic struggles, created a power vacuum in Europe, paving the way for new forms of governance and societal organization.

Religious Beliefs and Practices: 

Religious beliefs, especially Christianity, profoundly influenced daily life, social norms, and artistic expression during the Middle Ages and directed future events.

Rise of Christianity: 

The spread of Christianity, initially under Roman influence, played a significant role in shaping the cultural and religious landscape of the Middle Ages. Christianity would become the one major influence shaping  political, social, economic, and educational structures for centuries to come.

Christianity would also become the greatest polarizing factor in future generations.

(It is also important to note that the prophetic fulfillment of the breaking of tribulation seals one through five (the birth pains of the tribulation – see Matthew 24:8) begin at or around the birth of Jesus through around A.D. 95 and have been overlapping and intensifying to this day. The next transitional event is the revealing of the Antichrist, followed by the appearing of Christ in the clouds of the skies, a heavenly Trumpet blast, the rapture of the Church, “the sealing of the 144,000” and a cosmic cataclysm upon the earth, all marking the breaking of the 6th Tribulation seal and the beginning of the final 7 years of the great tribulation period, such as the world has never seen before and never will again, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb. Also see “Did Jesus and His Apostles Really Say This?”)

NEXT:   THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION – PART 2