Posts filed under ‘salvation’
Two Reasons for the Cup
As a young woman goes through the Jewish wedding process, she is focused on the day her groom will come back to take her to the newly finished room in his father’s house. After his father tells him it’s time, the groom will walk through the streets with his groomsmen behind him approaching the bride’s home. He will call out to her as he gets closer. She will come running out to meet and greet him and will be swept up in his arms. They will then turn and go to the room that has been set up for their ceremony and dinner. She will forever remain with her husband as his wife in his father’s house.
Continue Reading August 11, 2026 at 10:08 AM Leave a comment
It Has Come Around Again
It has come around again and it’s here now. The Bible tells us that the people of Noah’s day were so extraordinarily evil that they didn’t know how to think a non-evil thought. Everything they thought, did and said was related to the intense evil in their hearts as it simply bubbled up out of them. They lived out what their hearts thought and intended. This tends to be a theme also of ancient Israel as far as Isaiah, Jeremiah and some of the other Old Testament prophets were concerned. It was very common for political leaders, kings, priests and even the average person in Israel to have hearts of evil while pretending they were not evil. They were fully duplicitous and did everything for their own gain. They would use and abuse people to increase their wealth and sphere of influence. The only love they had was love for self. It was over the top requiring God to seriously discipline them in many cases.
What’s the World Coming To?
The Antichrist is the “little horn” of Daniel 7. Daniel 12 tells us that information, technology and transportation will increase as the age progresses. Look at where we are today, with the Internet, artificial intelligence (AI), cell phones, satellites, electric cars, data centers allegedly for greater cloud expansion, etc. All of this is creating the foundation for the Antichrist to step onto the world’s stage and be able to do what he will do to deceive the world into believing he is God. This has been Satan’s dream since he fell (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28), and he finally gets his chance to try to make it happen (with God’s permission). Of course, it is very short-lived (3 1/2 years; second portion of the Tribulation).
Who Knew Data Centers are Actually Good??
In the article, Erickson further notes that data centers bring in tons of jobs to the local economy. Electricians, plumbers, construction workers and the rest are all needed to build the data centers. He also downplays the noise (or constant humming drone) of a completed and working data center, as though they really don’t have annoying noise that keeps people awake at night.
One other huge thing I noticed is that he provides absolutely no linked facts for any of his statements. He simply presents what really is his opinion on data centers. He does so with authority as though he presents tremendous facts and linkable data to back up his claims. He doesn’t.
Two Roads Every Christian Faces
Some argue that we are able to be saved because God grants us something called “prevenient grace.” This is the belief that God grants us the ability to believe Him prior to our coming to Him for salvation and without this prevenient grace, no one could be saved at all. The truth of the matter for me, is that all people have the ability to believe what they read or hear from any source. Those who come to God in faith believing that He exists and has made salvation available to us do so because of their decision to believe Him. This is exactly what the thief on the cross experienced, while his counterpart a few feet away did not. It was solely a difference in belief regarding Jesus.
Third Chapter Coincidence?
Just as Genesis 3 actually occurred, we can know that Revelation 20 will also actually occur. They are connected. They both point to God’s favor, His mercy and His love for His Creation. While Genesis 3 introduced sin into the entirety of His Creation, Revelation 20 is the start of eliminating all of it in practical terms.
Covenants vs Dispensationalism
It seems to me the very plain teaching of Scripture includes a physical return of Jesus, where every eye will see Him of those living at the time (Daniel 7:13; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 14:14). Seeing Jesus is not in the mind’s eye or somehow spiritually. It is a literal event when He physically returns so that the entirety of the world will finally understand that God is in control. That much is clear and obvious. To attempt to turn this obvious meaning into a spiritual return is repugnant to me.
Secular Progressivism
Please notice that Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus. Yes, he was physically incarcerated at the time he wrote to the Ephesians, but he still considered himself a prisoner of the Lord, not of Rome. Because of this, and even in spite of his incarceration, he believed he had the responsibility of walking worthy of his calling in Christ Jesus. What does that look like? Well, we don’t have to guess because Paul tells us. We should walk with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit.
Is This Normal?
I can easily see now why the Antichrist will be so well accepted throughout the world when he finally does appear on the world’s stage. Everything that has happened up to now has been a dress rehearsal for what’s coming. But I would caution readers about becoming fearful. Thought I believe the Rapture will occur prior to the start of the Tribulation and the appearance of the rider on the white horse (Revelation 6), however even if the Rapture does not occur prior to the start of that seven year period, I firmly believe God will take care of all who exercise trust in Him during those difficult days ahead. We do not need to be fearful about what is here now or what is coming. When we give into fear, we are failing to trust Him, aren’t we? It’s as simple as that. Which do you choose, trust or fear?
We Are Not in Control
We have two choices in life. One, we can continue to try to do things our way, mistakenly believing that we control our own destiny and the things that happen in life. Two, we can come to the true realization that we are not in control at all and that everything that happens to us happens because of God’s plan. If we try to live the first option, we can quickly grow conceited in the belief that we have it going on; that our decisions are what matters and above all things, we walk in a path that we have developed for ourselves. If we live with option number two, we will more quickly come to the end of ourselves, realizing that the very breath we breathe is on loan from God Himself.
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