Archive for September, 2015
Prophecies of Daniel 11, Part 14
Satan wanted man in order to fall to prove God wrong and to gain control of earth and this realm. This is what occurred with the fall, giving Satan the title deed to earth (from Adam, who actually had it beforehand). The entire unfolding drama of redemption was not simply to save and restore humanity, but to restore all of God’s Creation. This is why Revelation 5 is so very important. It’s not just some measure of pageantry taking place in heaven. It’s pageantry involving the process by which Jesus (the Lamb) is seen to have successfully regained the title deed to earth (the seven-sealed scroll). In heaven, as John watched, nothing could move forward until the Lamb was found to have been “worthy” of regaining that title deed. Without it, Satan would be victor.
Plethora of False Teachers Pointing the Way
Please notice the emphasis is on equipping true Christians for the task of works of service in order that we might build one another up as we become mature in Him (an ongoing process until we get to heaven). We are not to be taught the truth of God’s Word so that we can marvel about how much we think we understand. Nor are we to learn from qualified teachers so that we can run around like chickens without our heads worrying about the sky possibly falling. We are to be equipped for the purpose of service, which builds up the Body of Christ (the invisible, true Church).
Continue Reading September 22, 2015 at 1:42 PM Leave a comment
Christians Need to Stop Date-Setting Predictions Based on Sensationalization
While it is fine to study and learn about the end times or even prophecy in general, I so wish Christians would just focus on the Great Commission. But that isn’t exciting enough for many. They want to “see” or “hear” God. They want desperately to witness the signs in the heavens (that will come at the end of the Tribulation and sporadically throughout), but what then? They’re already in fear now. I cannot imagine how much they will be in fear then.
Our Completely Unrealistic Expectations in Our Relationship with God
Certainly God wants our worship, but doesn’t need it. Yes, He wants our love, but doesn’t need it. Definitely, He wants us to show Him how much we love Him, but lifting our hands, swaying our hips to the music, and shouting out a song during worship doesn’t necessarily prove that to Him. It simply proves that we can dance and get excited about high-amped music. By the way, I’m saying all this as someone who has played drums for years. I’ve played at churches too, but gave that up a while ago for a variety of reasons.
Prophecies of Daniel 11, Part 13
There have always been small, committed groups of Jews within Israel who stood for the Lord though it would seem that in every generation, Satan has been allowed to trap most Jews in his lies. Today, some of the most ardent opposition of Israel are found within the Jewish community. Part of that is simply due to the fact that they erroneously believe that if Israel was not part of the Middle East, there might actually be peace in the world. This is a complete deception because the global elite needs to keep the world in a state of controlled chaos, with rumors of wars and actual wars. Islam would not rest on its laurels or somehow go away if Israel did not exist in the Middle East. Jews would still exist and Islam hates Jews and Judaism. Moreover, aspects of Islam (ISIS, etc.) are being allowed to believe that they are entering another (and final) caliphate (rule of Islam) throughout the world. Islam is being taught to believe that Allah is with them and is why they are making such tremendous inroads into global society. Of course, that is merely a mirage, created by the global elite. When they are done using Islam, it will be quickly and easily put down.
Watch Out for Those Who Teach God Speaks to Them, Pt 4
In Matthew 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness. After 40 days/nights, Jesus was hungry and that’s when Satan struck. He came to Jesus with temptation and Satan used Scripture to promote his temptation. Imagine what might have happened had not Jesus known the Bible. We will never know the Bible as well as Jesus did, but don’t despair. We always have God the Holy Spirit working within us to help us in our time of trouble. When you hear something that sounds great or seems questionable, there is a responsibility to compare it to God’s Word. If you are unsure, then ask someone else whom you trust.
Continue Reading September 14, 2015 at 2:06 PM Leave a comment
Watch Out for Those Who Teach God Speaks to Them, Pt 3
Numerous passages in Scripture teach us that the Holy Spirit indwells true believers (Romans 8:4, Ephesians 1:13b-14). There are a lot of people running around today who call themselves Christians, but unless they are authentic or true believers, the Holy Spirit does not indwell them. If the Holy Spirit indwells us, then we should assume that He exercises His power in and through us as well. His job is to recreate the image of Christ within us (which will not be completed until the day we step through the door of death into eternity). In John 5:17, Jesus asserted the truth that says He and His Father are always working even to the present day. That means that God has things to do and regarding the Church – His Bride – the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (or Him). This means that in spite of Satan’s best efforts – which includes getting Christians to live in unbelief – God will get the job done!
Watch Out for Those Who Teach God Speaks to Them, Pt 2
Every time I read of a prophet (or apostle) or even just an average person in Scripture seeing the Incarnate Christ in His splendor, that individual falls over as though dead! There are a few examples in the Bible where Jesus appears in pre-incarnate visage where His deity is essentially clothed or hidden from view so that He mainly looks like another man and those individuals (like Abraham) don’t pass out or go into a coma.
Watch Out for Those Who Teach God Speaks to Them, Pt 1
Today, it is not necessarily tongues that we are hearing about, but authority that is being claimed. Let’s face it, anyone who is bold enough to say that God told them something is really also claiming an authority that biblically speaking, only the prophets and apostles truly possessed. Moreover, even though the last of the actual apostles died out, there is an apostolic movement today in which people alive now are claiming to have that same apostolic authority. Yes, some people living today have actually come out stating they are full-fledged apostles.
Is Anything Wrong with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Denomination?
While we’re on the subject, take a peak around the Internet and look up Dr. Russell Moore or Ronnie Floyd. These guys are two of the top people in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and they make a ton of money off the tithes and offerings of parishioners within the SBC. Moore is in charge of a $7 million budget for his office alone (president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention). How can this be, especially when another branch of the SBC – one that oversees missionaries – is having to call back hundreds of missionaries from the field because of a huge budget deficit?
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