#Thess on politics

[thessalian]

Thess vs General Elections

So this hasn't quite hit the news sites yet, but breaking on former-Twitter is that Sunak is going to be having a private meeting with the 22 Committee. Which ... I mean ... I just cannot anymore. For the non-Brits, here is the skinny on what that could very well mean.

What's the 22 Committee? Okay. So. There are 22 backbench MPs whose main job is to take letters from other MPs in the party calling for a Vote of No Confidence in a sitting Prime Minister. That's the 22 Committee - or just The 22. If someone is going before The 22, it means that they're facing a buttload of in-party infighting and are looking at being unseated as PM.

Wait - didn't you guys just get a new PM? Well, a year and a half ago, but yeah, kinda. The Tories have had five PMs in the last fourteen years, three of which have been in the last two years or so. First there was Cameron in 2010 - voted in during the Conservative / Lib Dem coalition government where the Liberal Democrats basically faded into the wallpaper and let Cameron and the Tories do whatever the hell they wanted. Cameron resigned after the Brexit vote in 2016 and, without being given a vote, we got Theresa May. She got ousted in favour of Boris Johnson in time for the 2019 election. Johnson was forced to step down in 2022, mostly because of the absolute disregard he showed for Covid lockdown rules, but a few other scandals in there too, and was succeeded by Liz Truss. Truss lasted less than two months, during which time she absolutely destroyed the UK economy (amazing how fast that can happen), and they put Rishi Sunak, Johnson's former Chancellor of the Exchequer, into the PM-ship in October 2022.

Isn't that a lot of elections? You'd think, wouldn't you? But nope, that's not how it works here. We don't vote for the Prime Minister. We vote for the Member of Parliament in our constituency, and the first party that gets a certain number of seats gets their party leader becoming the PM. So it's the party that's in office, not the specific party leader. Party leaders are chosen by a vote, yes, but not from the public - from members of the party in question. Doesn't matter if the new PM has massively different ideas of how to run things, whole different manifestos, anything like that - if the party chooses a new leader, that leader becomes PM if the party won the last election. And the Conservative Party is the worst of a bad lot, since their membership is 160 old white men. Rich old white men. So the manifesto of the party in government has changed three times in the last two years on the say-so of 160 rich old white men ... and hell, the last time we didn't even have that, I don't think, since most of the people standing as party leader bowed out in favour of Sunak. Anyway, we've had five Prime Ministers and only one election - that in 2019.

You've been talking about there being an upcoming election... Yeah, that's the other thing. For all this wibbling around the place with changing PMs, we are still constitutionally obliged to have a general election once every five years. Johnson was elected in 2019. That means that there has to be a general election by the end of the year, no matter who's acting as Prime Minister.

So why would they be changing party leaders again? They want someone more electable, is why. Not that there is anybody, honestly - Johnson more or less destroyed the Conservative Party in the same way that Starmer has been destroying the Labour Party: by driving out most of the reasonable individuals in favour of elevating sycophants and yes-men. Hence why we've had increasing levels of bullshit from the PMs we've had the last few years. But the party's looking at Sunak and looking at the MP defections and going, "Yeah, know, if we want to stand a chance, we need someone new for them to vote for".

But you just said people didn't vote for-- I KNOW. Unfortunately, almost no one else in this country seems to. Even those of us who do know that we're voting for MP rather than PM kind of have to vote tactically in most cases, because if our constituency seat ends up being won by a MP from the party we don't like, that's a greater chance that the party we don't like get enough seats to have their leader be PM. Add to that the fact that our PMs campaign like US presidential candidates and you've got a recipe for completely fucking up an already fucked-up electoral system.

So how did Sunak fuck up? Well, sane people would say the question is "How hasn't Sunak fucked up?", but currently he's having some issues at least in part because of his insane clinging to the Rwanda Act. I've spoken about the Rwanda Act, where he wants to deport "illegal migrants" (read: refugees) to Rwanda if they turn up here despite the fact that doing so would violate several international laws; the House of Lords isn't playing ball when Sunak just wants to rush it through. Maybe it's so he can say he did something in government, or maybe he's got a lot of money riding on it somewhere along the line, but so far it's been a massive waste of time and tax money and even Rwanda doesn't want in on it anymore. Anyway, there's that and there's the whole thing where health care workers coming into this country on work visas are now no longer allowed to bring their spouses or children. So partly it's the xenophobic bullshit ... and the other part of it is his not being xenophobic enough, because a few Tory MPs are defecting to Reform UK.

What the fuck is Reform UK? It's our Ultra-Right Horrorshow Party. See, it used to be UKIP - the UK Independence Party, whose primary mandate was to get the UK out of the European Union. Which ... has now happened, so both UKIP and the Brexit Party are kind of obsolete. So anyone who wants to be a real fascist joins Reform UK. For example, Lee Anderson, who's insisting that "Islamists" are controlling London and that Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, is a puppet for "the Islamists" ... as is Labour Party leader Kier Starmer, according to Anderson. When he refused to apologise for his bullshit, the party withdrew the whip - which means they booted him out of the party, basically. So he joined Reform UK where he can be as much of a fascist as his little (possibly nonexistent) heart desires.

I've heard that name before, I'm sure: Lee Anderson? Sure. 30p Lee, they called him (and still do). He's the one who insisted that you can make meals for thirty pence per day. Not even per meal - per day. Hence his idea of withholding food parcels from food banks unless people took budgeting and cooking courses. Never mind that the 30p figure came from a batch cooking website and involved buying a lot of things in bulk, which doesn't help anyone who can't afford the initial outlay of bulk foods or, frankly, the time and effort it takes to cook that kind of thing. Anyway, we're getting off-topic.

So you guys are really looking like getting yet another new PM before the election later this year? Maybe. It could be that he's just calling the election early. I just kind of doubt it, since the last thing in the actual news has been that he's having a standoff with the House of Lords over that Rwanda thing. It's possible that he's bailing out so that he's not the one remembered for screwing that particular pooch - the way Cameron resigned after the badly-handled Brexit vote. But 'bailing out' could mean 'resigning as PM' or it could mean 'calling the election for May this year'. We don't know, and until it hits the actual news outlets, we aren't going to.

Fact is that it's going to suck no matter what we do. Both parties are focused on treating the economy like a household budget, and the Shadow Chancellor (the person who would be Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Labour party got into government) is celebrating Margaret Thatcher as an economic model to aspire to. This is the LABOUR PARTY - the one that was started by labour unions and is supposed to be for the fucking workers - and they're quoting Thatcher. Sunak and Starmer, for all they yell at each other across the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, seem to stand for the same things:

kindness to corporations

cruelty to refugees, trans people, the disabled, and the poor

denial of climate change in favour of fossil fuels (see point 1)

curtailing of human rights

It's both of them. We can hope Starmer's lying to court what he sees as the popular vote, but ... I doubt it. And I'm very, very tired of living in a fucking dystopia.

But hey. Even if Sunak resigns tomorrow, at least he lasted longer than a head of lettuce.

#Thess vs the Tories #Thess on politics

[gyuwoncheol]

Hope Is A Dangerous Thing

Pair: idol!Mingyu x f!reader

Genre: Good ‘ol, painful breakup

Summary: No one has ever loved you as much as Kim Mingyu does, and you've also always loved him back just as hard. So why wasn’t it enough?

Warnings: pain. Lots of it. Angst.

WC: 2.2k

Note: aaaah! First SVT work to be posted in publicever. The plot is admittedly cliché but i'm a suckerfor thess types of things and for anything sad and angsty. Enjoy!

He heard the doorbell ring twice in his home, startled at the loud sound against the quiet night he was having just scanning through Instagram. Slowly getting up, Mingyu made his way to the main door to check who his unexpected guest was past midnight. The familiar frame of the girl he loved appearing through the peephole was enough indication and he swung open the big white door right away. But more than the unexpected visit, the look on your face was the bigger surprise.

You had been crying. Red nose, red eyes, tear stained cheeks, and a slightly swollen upper lip. Your small frame semeed to have drowned in a thick grey hoodie to shield you from the cold midnight breeze.

“Hi” you exhaled awkwardly, hands tucked deep into the pocket of your hoodie

“Babe” Mingyu immediately wrapped you in an embrace, concern laced in his voice but he also felt how you tensed up under his touch. “What’s wrong? You didn’t tell me you were coming”

“Yeah I’m sorry” you shakily responded, “can I come in?”

Mingyu found it weird how polite you were being, almost as if you hadn’t spent countless nights in his home. As he welcomed you in the living room, you took a seat on the armchair by the side even when he lead you to the bigger couch where he had been seated. To say he was confused would be an understatement, you were acting like a stranger to him.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Mingyu prodded, bringing you back to reality as he sat closely across you and held your hands.

You didn’t know what to say and even though you tried to hold it in, another fat tear rolled down your cheek. Your vision blurred in an instant and your hands flew to cover your face as the crying started once again.

At this point, Mingyu was even more concerned. He pulled you in his arms, effortlessly lifting you onto his lap to cradle you as you cried. For once, you let go of all your rational thinking and buried your face into his chest, neither one of you caring that you’d wet his shirt. Your brain was racing a million thoughts an hour but you just wanted to be held close by him a few minutes more. Without knowing what’s going on, the raven haired boy simply held you close to him, his large hand rubbing your back up and down even if it actually just made you cry more.

“Babe...” Mingyu started slowly after a while, a pout now etched on his face “I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but could you at least tell me what this is about? I’m getting so worried”

You shut your eyes tight, almost praying that Mingyu would think you had fallen asleep and didn’t hear him but even you knew that was impossible. Besides, though you did not want to talk about it, you needed to talk about it. That’s why you came here in the first place.

Inching away from your boyfriend to sit right beside him, your body facing his, you scanned his features: his week-old haircut, the mole on his nose, his chapped lips, the warm brown eyes that looked back at you with so much love and concern, those cheeks you loved to squeeze, and those soft pink lips that felt best against your own. You had taken many mental photos of your sweet boy in all your favourite moments with him, and though you were sure tonight wasn’t going to be a one of them, you still drank in all his little features, commiting every single one to memory.

You reached your hand up to his cheek, the pad of your thumb gently caressing the skin below it before you let out a heavy sigh as you eyes met his.

“You know I love you, right?” Your small voice squeaked with that little accent he was so used to hearing

Reaching up his own hand on his cheek to cover yours, Mingyu nodded and replied with a sad smile “of course I do”

“Then I’m gonna need you to listen to me okay?” You said as Mingyu’s grip on your hand tightened, as if saying yes to her

Swallowing a large lump on your throat, you took a quick glance at him before looking away, “Gyu...” you said in pain, “I need to let you go”

In that moment, Mingyu was pretty sure he felt his whole world stop, like everything just shut down. Literally. It’s like he went deaf yet still clearly heard what you said. He was hoping it was a mere glitch in the system, or that it was a joke, like it was magically April Fool’s day in the midst of September.

You stared back at Mingyu, a deathly silence overtaking the room as you waited for his answer. It took him so long to respond that you debated about repeating it again.

“No” Mingyu didn’t know how long it actually took him to say that, but he replied with enough conviction to make you snap your eyes towards him

“What?”

“No. I said no.” Mingyu repeated. If awhile ago, he thought you were acting like a stranger, this time he was sure of it. Was he just flung into an alternate universe? What the fuck was going on..

“Gyu..” you sighed heavily, “please don’t be like this” you said as another batch of tears started to blur your vision

“Be like what? Fight for our relationship?” He argued this time, he really didn’t want to raise his voice but a point had to be made. “You said you love me right?”

“Babe, please-“

“You said you love me, right?” He asked again, punctuating every word and wanting— no, needing to get a reply from you

“Yeah! I do!” You frustrated

If Mingyu was being honest, he had always feared this day. But if there was one thing Mingyu was good at, it was at staying positive. He always saw the silver lining at everything. Now this also meant that he was very good at being in denial.

“So why are you doing this? People who love each other don’t break up. They stay together, they work things out together! And we..” he looked at you, eyes pleading desperately, “We will do just that”

“Gyu, it’s not as easy as it seems”

“NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE!” Mingyu finally snapped, “BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE DON’T TRY”

“You think I didn’t try? You think we didn’t try? It’s all we’ve been doing!” You explained, recounting all the efforts you both poured out into the 14 month relationship. “But Gyu, this relationship will never go anywhere when so many people don’t want it in the first place. Your management won’t let you date, there will be fans who won’t agree with it, and my parents.. they don’t want me with you. Everyone is literally coming for us. I can only name two people who actually want us together: Wonwoo and my best friend who’s halfway across the world!”

“My other members would like you…” your boyfriend reasoned out

“Your other members don’t even know about me” you said in a pained voice that brought shame to Mingyu. Had the circumstances been different, he would’ve so loved for his brothers to meet you. He's sure you'd get along well. But he had experienced first hand how catastrophic it got when Jihoon's relationship was found out by management. The rest of them suffered too when it was discovered they had known about it all along and helped keep it a secret. He didn't want to inflict that same fate to his members if his relationship got exposed, so Mingyu always thought it better to just keep it to himself. Wonwoo only ever found out by mere accident.

“Why do we care what others think about our relationship? It’s just between you and I, not you, me, and everyone else”

“I know Gyu” you exhaled, “but truth is, with a job like yours, everyone else will keep intruding no matter what. I wish I didn’t care what they thought, but it kills me that you constantly have to sneak behind the members backs. It also eats me alive that no one in my family wants to talk to me. Yes, I’m happy with you, but I can’t be genuinely happy overall if there are people I’m hurting and-“

“Oh so you’d rather hurt me, is that it?” Mingyu deadpanned, “Cause surely it’s better to satisfy the fans and your family and my management at my cost. Right?”

“MINGYU, NO. It’s not like that. If there was a way that I could make everyone happy, especially you, then I would! But no matter how happy we will be with each other, we’ll still get hurt. We won’t truly be happy if we keep things in secret and keep sneaking away. It’s going to ruin us, Gyu. Your management will keep making it hard for you, my family won’t let you see me, we’ll have trolls hating on us every single day. We can only keep trying but if no one is going to support us, it will all be in vain.” You sobbed as you watched Mingyu’s shoulders slump in defeat, no words left to argue back.

He hated how right you were, how rational you still were despite this overflow of emotions. When your relationship started, you both knew just how many “rules” you were breaking but god, you both were just so in love and smitten with each other that you both just had give it a try. You both latched on to the hope that things would be okay. But hope has always been a dangerous thing, especially when it’s your only weapon in a battle you can’t win.

As you searched for any reaction from the boy in front of you, your most dreaded sight came to life: a tear rolling down Mingyu’s cheek. You immediately wiped it away with your thumb before forcing him to look at you. His eyes were now red and the frown on his face was making itself permanent.

"This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make, Gyu." You cried, "But I don't want it to reach a point where I have to choose between you or my family, or worse, to have you choose between me or your career. You've worked so hard to live your dreams and I'm not going to let you throw it all away for me"

“Is there no other way?” Mingyu sniffed, voice barely above a whisper as both his hands cupped your face

“I wish there was, my love. I wish there was.” You said as you wrapped him in a tight embrace. This time, really holding him tightly knowing it would be the last. “I’m sorry I have to do this but it’s for us. You deserve someone you can proudly show off to the world, Gyu.”

Bullshit, Mingyu thought. You are the girl he should be proudly showing off, if he was just allowed to.

The act of letting Mingyu go was like that of a knife stabbed into your heart only to be twisted a few more times for assurance. You were very much a blubbering mess. “I just hope whoever she is.. sh-she'll love you with allshe's got, a-and won't break your heart like- I am"

Mingyu’s grip around your waist had tightened, if that was even still possible. He buried his face on the crook of you neck and took in all of you, the woman he loved the most, the woman he never wanted to let go of but had to.

“I love you, Gyu. I love you so much” you sobbed hard, body convulsing as you let go of all the pent up feelings

“I love you too baby. I’ll never stop loving you.” Mingyu cried out, your heart breaking into the smallest pieces you knew could never be put back together again

In one quick move, Mingyu attached his lips to yours for the last time, a kiss so sweet yet so sad. You memorised how his lips moved against yours. You wanted to hold on for forever so bad. He was your happiness after all, your safe space, your home.

You both breathlessly pulled apart, tears never ceasing to run down your faces. Wiping your face, you quickly stood up and made your way to the door, wishing so desperately for the pain to be quick and easy.

“Please don’t go” Mingyu’s voice shook in a desperate sob when he caught you by the arm, in a last attempt to keep you by his side. You shut your eyes as your lips trembled. You did not want him to beg like this because it made everything a hundred times more difficult.

“Please baby.... just.. just stay one more night” Mingyu asked, a most desperate frown plastered on his face. With every tear that fell down his cheek, you felt your resolve break more

You turned to face him quickly for one more embrace while he planted a kiss on your forehead. You knew you had to go because staying a second longer would cause you to completely falter. With tears in your eyes, you gave him a tight squeeze and squirmed away from his grip, pushing him back.

“I’m sorry, Gyu” you said painfully, scurrying out his door with the tightest feeling in your chest. If you didn’t just know what you did, you would’ve suspected you were having a heart attack.

Mingyu felt his stomach drop by his feet. He watched his whole world walk away from him and he couldn’t do anything about it. He wanted to run after you, to tell you ‘screw the world, let’s just run away and be alone’ but he knew that was impossible, not when the both of you were at the peak of your respective careers and he especially had the whole world watching his. He knew it had been unfair, and he knew you never would’ve done it unless there was no other way, but he also knew you were right. That it had to be done. But how was he supposed to fall in love with someone else if that someone wasn’t you?

#svt #seventeen #mingyu #svt x reader #seventeen fic #seventeen imagine #seventeen one shot #mingyu fic #mingyu imagine #mingyu one shot #mingyu angst #paula writes✨ #seventeen x reader #svt fic #svt imagine #svt one shot #Hope Is A Dangerous Thing

[friesian]

story i wanted to share: so today while i was at the fair there was a gardening booth and a little old lady was running it. so i walked up with my wife and it turns out it was for local bugs!!! they had bugs pinned a board and the old lady was offering literally anyone simple quizzes about the local bug species so me and my wife were like. oh hell yeah. why the fuck not??

so we do the silly little bug quiz. were talking about bugs and stuff. its fun!! it was totally meant for kids but by god im still a fucking kid at heart. i love bug quiz. eventually she asks us what we do for a living. i say artist my wife mentions shes in college for cyber security.

worst mistake.

eventually she starts making thess political quips WHILE TALKING ABOUT THE BUGS. about online misinformation and the government spying on us because yadda yadda.

me and my wife had to leave because she started talking about like an anology where 'her side' would be wiped out like invasive beetles or whatever. shit was fucking crazy.

#she was so nice. then i guess the facebook took over. #SIGH. #at least i got to see some pretty moths #ly talks

[busybrain7]

22 FACTS ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST : read #19

1. He will be an intellectual genius. (Dan. 8:23)

2. He will be an oratorical genius. (Dan. 11:36)

3. He will be a political genius. (Rev. 17:11-12)

4. He will be a commercial genius. (Dan. 11:43; Rev. 13:8)

5. He will be a military genius. (Rev. 6:2, 13:2)

6. He will be a religious genius. (2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 13:8)

7. He will begin by controlling the Western power block. (Rev. 17:12)

8. He will make a seven-year covenant with Israel but will break it after

three and a half years. (Dan. 9:27)

9. He will attempt to destroy all of Israel.

(Rev. 12)

10. He will destroy the false religious system so that he may rule

unhindered.

(Rev. 17:16-17)

11. He will set himself up as God. (Dan. 11:36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4, 11; Rev. 13:5)

12. He will briefly rule over all nations. (Ps. 2; Dan. 11:36; Rev. 13:16)

13. He will be utterly crushed by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 19)

14. He will be the first creature thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20)

15. He will be a master of deceit. (2 Thess. 2:10)

16. He will profane the temple. (Matt. 24:15)

17. He will be energized by satan himself. (Rev. 13:2)

18.He will do everything according to his own selfish will. (Dan. 11:36)

19. He will not regard the God of his fathers.

(Dan. 11:37)

This is an interesting one as far as lineage. Everyone tries to figure out who it will be but, the Word tells us. Anyone that does not line-up with the Word, we can rule him out. "It is written".

20. He will not have the desire of women.

(Dan. 11:37)

21. His god will be the god of power.

(Dan. 11:38)

22. He will be good-looking and charming.

MARANATHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teresa Bianco

[atomivsquid]

Bruh

I need some friends hmu if you wanna hang out,,

I like

-Jreg

-Realicide and Centricide

-Fallout

-Politics

-Subnautica

-Pokémon

-History

-Liminal Spaces

-Core aesthetics

-The Backrooms

-Homestuck

I go by ze/zem, they/them, purr/purrs, mew/mews, and he/him. You can call me Atomiv, Atom, or Squid, any of thess work!

My discord is 🦑!#0764

#jrumblr #fallout 4 #fo3 #fallout new vegas #liminal spaces #goblincore #cottagecore #jreg #realicide #liminalcore #centricide #pokémon #subnautica #kidcore #homestuck

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

How to Develop Your Spiritual Discernment

by Dustin Benge

We carry the world in our pocket. From international news agencies to social media platforms, we’re endlessly besieged with bytes of stories, political commentary, cultural opinion, conspiracies, blogs, and the ever-maddening notification ping of breaking news. A staggering 3.5 billion people on our planet have been identified as users and consumers of this assortment of media. In fact, most of us will spend an average of three hours every day engaging with this unrelenting barrage of information.

Over the past several months, we’ve seen how quickly news and social media can elicit fear, provoke anger, and fuel movements. This information overload is sometimes more than we can bear and has sent believers and unbelievers alike spiraling into despair and hopelessness as we’re simply trying to discern what to believe.

Throughout Scripture, believers are repeatedly cautioned to maintain a sharpened awareness of the difference between truth and error. Paul implored the Thessalonian church: “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21–22). Similarly, Paul encouraged the Ephesians to “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph 5:10–11). Therefore, spiritual discernment is not optional for the believer but is a clearly commanded necessity for proper Christian living. However, many believers have never been adequately instructed regarding how to develop truly biblical spiritual discernment. Such instruction is vital in the information surplus of our day.

Desire Wisdom Our desire for spiritual discernment is directly related, at a deeper level, to our desire for wisdom. This type of wisdom is to be searched for, longed for, and pursued by every believer. In the opening sentence of his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin said, “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Calvin reminds us that to receive true wisdom, and therefore the spiritual ability to discern, begins with a right knowledge of our Creator. No doubt he would have had Proverbs 9:10 in mind: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The current inability to determine truth from error finds its origin in a fundamental lack of understanding of the holiness and glory of the triune God and the sinful depravity of man.

Like a father speaking to his son, the writer of Proverbs implores, “If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:3–5). Wisdom is more important than finding buried treasure and should be sought after with greater vehemence than all the fine jewels in the earth (Matt. 13:44–45). For at its heart is the treasure of God Himself and without Him we fail miserably at discerning the “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4).

Know Truth In an age of scrutinizing everything as “fake news,” truth seems a rare commodity. A second characteristic for one who desires proper spiritual discernment is to know the truth. In other words, everything we analyze must be viewed through the lens of truth––God’s Word. Paul instructed young Timothy to “guard the deposit entrusted to you” (1 Tim. 6:20) and “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Tim. 1:13–14). Paul uses military language here to heighten the importance of what has been given to our charge. Every believer is called to know the truth of God’s Word to such a degree that we maintain a defensive position against everything that undermines His truth or seeks to violate it in any way.

Any survey of believers makes it devastatingly obvious that many do not know the truth and therefore are defenseless against the increasing onslaught of error. One way to correct this deficiency is to examine our daily intake of Scripture. Are you filling your mind and heart with God’s Word to such a degree that it begins to spring to remembrance as you scroll through social media or turn on the news? Is your first reaction fear, dread, and hopelessness, or is your first reaction the calm reassurance of our Lord: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27)? Knowing the truth sets us free from the shackles of worldly virtues and unburdens us to enjoy the glorious guarantee that God is sovereign and controls all things. The truth that has been “entrusted” to us must be known, both in mind and heart, in order to be spiritually discerning in an age of error.

Test Everything A third component in growing our spiritual discernment is to learn to test everything. Combating issues of falsehood and error within the church, John gives clear instruction to his readers in 1 John 4:1: “Test the spirits.” The word test is a fascinating word in the New Testament and comes from the word that means “the testing of the strength of metal.” In other words, this type of discernable testing requires fire––the fire of our knowledge of God and the knowledge of His Word. If we’re driven by a yearning for cultural acceptance or a comfortable go-along-to-get-along attitude, we will never be discerning people. Never subjugate your minds to the media of this age and blindly be led in paths laid for us by the enemy of our souls. John MacArthur aptly said, “Unless we are willing to examine all things carefully, we cannot hope to have any defense against reckless faith.” Only in careful scrutiny will we be able to discern light from darkness.

Our growth in spiritual discernment depends on our desire for wisdom, knowledge of the truth, and a willingness to test absolutely everything through the lens of that wisdom and truth. So, the next time you begin to scroll through myriads of bits of information, your growth in discernment will determine if your hope is anchored in the solid rock of Christ or the shifting sand of this world.

#How to Develop Your Spiritual Discernment #Dustin Benge #desire wisdom #know truth #test all things

[claudinei-de-jesus]

The Second Coming of Christ

1. The fact of your coming.

The fact of Christ's second coming is mentioned more than 300 times in the New Testament. Paul refers to the event about fifty times.

Someone has already said that the second coming is mentioned eight times more than the first. Entire epistles (Cl and 2Tess.) And entire chapters (Mat. 24, Mat. 13) are dedicated to the subject. Without a doubt, it is one of the most important doctrines of the New Testament.

2. The way of your coming.

It will be personal (John 14: 3; Acts 1: 10,11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 1: 7; 22: 7), literal (Acts 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Apo . 1: 7; Zec. 14: 4), visible (Heb. 9:28; Fps. 3:20; Zac. 12:10) and glorious (Matt. 16:27; 25:31; 2Th. 1: 7 -9; Gal. 3: 4). There are interpretations that try to avoid the opinion that the coming of Christ is literal and personal. Some teach that death is the second coming of Christ. But the Bible shows that the second coming is the opposite of death, for the dead in Christ will rise at that time.

With death we will go to Christ, but when he comes he will come to fetch us. Certain passages (Matt. 16:28; Phil. 3:20) lose their meaning if we replace death with a second coming. Finally, death is an enemy, while the coming of Christ is the glorious hope. Some maintain that the second coming was the descent of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Others teach that Christ came at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but in each of these cases there was no resurrection of the dead, nor the rapture of the living, nor other predicted events that will accompany the second advent.

3. The time of his coming.

Attempts were made to determine the date of Christ's coming, but in none of them did the Lord come at the appointed time for men! He declared that the exact time of his coming is hidden in the divine councils. (Matt. 24: 36-42; Mar. 13:21, 22.) It is a good thing.

Who would like to know in advance his exact time of death? Such knowledge would have the effect of disturbing and rendering the person useless. It is enough for us to know that death can come at any moment; therefore, we must work "while it is daytime because the night comes when no one can work". The same reasoning applies to the end of the present dispensation. That day has not been revealed to us either, but we know that it will be sudden (1Cor. 15:52; Matt. 24:27) and unexpected (2Ped. 3: 4; Mat. 24: 48-51; Rev. 16:15). The Lord warns his servants: "Negotiate until I come"

We give below an overview of Christ's teaching on the time of his coming: after the destruction of Jerusalem the Jews will be banished from all nations, driven out of his land, which will be subjugated by the Gentiles until the end of time, when God will judge the Gentile nations (Luke 21:24). During this time, the servants of Christ will carry on their work (Luke 19: 11-27), preaching the Gospel to all nations (Matt. 24:14).

It will be a time of delay during which the church will often be tempted to doubt the return of its Lord (Luke 18: 1-8), when some will prepare and others will become negligent, while the Bridegroom will delay (Matt. 25: 1-11). Unfaithful ministers will stray, saying to themselves, "My Lord is slow to come" (Luke 12:45).

"Long afterwards" (Matt. 25:19), "... midnight (Matt. 25: 6),‹ the hour and day that none of his disciples know of (Matt. 24:36, 42.50) , the Lord will suddenly appear to gather his servants and judge them according to their works (Matt. 25:19; and 2 Cor. 5:10). Later, after the Gospel had been universally preached and after the world had it rejected, when the people are living completely ignorant of the impending catastrophe, as in the days of Noah (Matt. 24: 37-39) and in the days of the destruction of Sodom (Luke 17:28, 29) the Son of man will come in glory and power to judge the nations of the world and to reign over them (Matt. 25: 31-46).

4. Signs of your coming.

Scripture teaches that the appearance of Christ ushering in the Millennial Age will be preceded by an eventful time of transition, in which there will be physical upheavals, wars, economic crises, moral decline, religious apostasy, infidelity, general panic and bewilderment. The last part of that transitional period is called "The Great Tribulation", during which the whole world will be under the rule of a government against God and anti-Christian. Believers in God will be brutally persecuted, and the Jewish nation, in particular, will pass through the furnace of affliction.

5. The purpose of your coming.

(a) In relation to the church. Thus writes Dr. Pardington: Just as the first coming of the Lord extended over a period of 30 years, so the second coming will influence various events. At the first coming he was revealed as the Child of Bethlehem; later as the Lamb of God, when he was baptized, and as the Redeemer on Calvary. At the second coming he will appear to his secretly and suddenly to transfer them to the Wedding of the Lamb. This apparition is called the rapture or "Parousia" (which means "apparition" or "presence" or "arrival" in the Greek language). At that time believers will be judged to determine their rewards for services rendered (Matt. 25: 14-30). After the rapture, a period of terrible tribulation follows, which will end in revelation, or open manifestation of

Christ from heaven, when he will establish his messianic kingdom on earth.

(b) In relation to Israel. He who is the Head and Savior of the church, of the people of heaven, is also the promised Messiah of Israel, of the earthly people. As Messiah, he will free these people from tribulation, bring them together from the four corners of the earth, restore them to their former land and reign over them as their long-promised King over the House of David.

(c) In relation to the antichrist. The spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world (1 John 4: 3; 2:18; 2:22), but yet another final Antichrist will come (2 Thess. 2: 3). In the last days he will rise from the old world (Rev. 13: 1) and will become the sovereign over a resurrected Roman Empire that will dominate the whole world. He will assume great political (Dan. 7: 8, 25), commercial (Dan. 8:25; Rev. 13:16, 17) and religious (Rev. 17: 1-15) power. He will be anti-God and anti-Christ, and will persecute Christians in an attempt to extinguish Christianity. (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; Rev. 13: 7, 15). Knowing that men desire to have some religion, he will establish a cult based on the divinity of man and the supremacy of the state.

As an embodiment of that state, he will demand the worship of the people, and form a priesthood to enforce and promulgate that worship. (2Th. 2: 9,10; Rev. 13: 12-15.) The antichrist will take the doctrine of the supremacy of the state to the extreme, which teaches that government is the supreme power, around which everything, including itself man's conscience, has to be subordinate to him. Since there is no higher power or law than the State, according to them, God and his law must be abolished in order to worship the State. The first attempt to establish the cult of the State is recorded in Daniel ch. 3. Nebuchadnezzar was proud of the powerful empire he had built. "Is not this the great Babylon that I have built? ..." (Dan. 4:30).

So dazzled was he in the face of human power and government, that the state for him became like a god. What better way to impress men with your glory than to order them to have the symbol of that government worshiped! Therefore, he built a great golden image and ordered all peoples to prostrate themselves before it, under pain of death. The image was not that of a local deity, but it represented the state itself. Refusing to worship the image was considered atheism or betrayal. When instituting this new religion, Nebuchadnezzar as if saying to the people: "Who gave you the beautiful cities, the good roads, and beautiful gardens? The State! Who provides you with food and service, who founds schools and sponsors temples?

The state! Who defends you from enemy attacks? The state! then is the State, this power, not a god? So, what greater god do you want than your exalted government? Prostrate yourselves before the symbol of great Babylon! "And if God had not humbled him from his blasphemous pride (Dan. 4: 28-37), Nebuchadnezzar perhaps would have demanded the worship of his own person as head of state. Like the three Hebrew children (Dan. 3) were persecuted for refusing to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image, so first-century Christians suffered because they refused to pay divine homage to Caesar's image.

There was tolerance for all religions in the Roman Empire, but on condition that the image of Caesar as a symbol of the state was venerated. Christians were persecuted, not so much for their loyalty to Christ, but because they refused to worship Caesar and say, "Caesar is Lord." They refused to worship the state as a god. The French Revolution offers another example of this policy. God and Christ were thrown out and a god, or goddess, made himself the "Fatherland" (the State). So said one of the leaders: "The state is supreme in all things. When the state speaks, the church has nothing to say." Loyalty to the state has risen to the position of religion.

The assembly decreed that altars should be erected in every village with the following inscription: "The citizen is born, lives and dies for La Patrie." A ritual was prepared for baptisms, weddings and civil burials. The state religion had its hymns and prayers, its fasts and feasts. The New Testament recognizes human government as divinely ordained for the maintenance of order and justice. The Christian, therefore, owes loyalty to his homeland.

Both the church and the state have their share in the divine program, and each must be limited to its own sphere. God must receive what belongs to him, and Caesar must receive what belongs to him. But it turns out that many times Caesar demands things that are from God, with the result that the church, very against his will, clashes with the government. Scripture predicts that these conflicts will peak in the future. The last civilization will be anti-God, and the antichrist, its leader, the world dictator, will make the laws of this superstate supreme over all other laws ", and will demand the worship of his person as the personification of the state. The same Scriptures predict the victory of God and that on the ruins of the anti-Christian world empire, he will raise up his kingdom in which God is supreme - the Kingdom of God. (Dan. 2:34, 35, 44; Rev. 11:15; 19: 11-21.)

(d) In relation to nations. The nations will be judged, the kingdoms of the world will be destroyed, and all peoples will be subject to the King of kings. (Dan. 2:44; Mic. 4: 1; Isa. 49:22, 23; Jer. 23: 5; Luc. 1:32; Zec. 14: 9; Isa. 24:23; Rev. 11:15 .) Christ will rule the nations with an iron rod; he will remove all oppression and injustice from the land and inaugurate the golden age of a thousand years. (Ps. 2: 7-9; 72; Isa. 11: 1-9; Rev. 20: 6.) "Then the end will come, when he has given the kingdom over to God the Father and when he has annihilated the entire empire , and all power and strength "(1Cor. 15:24).

There are three stages in the work of Christ as Mediator: His work as a Prophet, accomplished during his earthly ministry; his work as a Priest, begun on the cross and continued during the current dispensation; and his work as King, beginning with his coming and continuing during the Millennium. After the Millennium has accomplished its work of uniting humanity to God, so that the inhabitants of heaven and earth form one big family where God will be everything and will be in everyone. (Eph. 1:10; 3:14, 15.)

However, Christ will continue to reign as the God-man, and to share in the divine government, for "his kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:33). .. A segunda vinda de Cristo

1. O fato de sua vinda.

O fato da segunda vinda de Cristo é mais de 300 vezes no Novo Testamento. Paulo refere-se ao evento umas cinqüenta vezes.

Alguém já disse que a segunda vinda é mencionada oito vezes mais do que a primeira. Epístolas inteiras (Cl e 2Tess.) E capítulos inteiros (Mat. 24, Mat. 13) são dedicados ao assunto. Sem dúvida, é uma das doutrinas mais importantes do Novo Testamento.

2. Uma maneira de sua vinda.

Será de maneira pessoal (João 14: 3; Atos 1: 10,11; 1Tess. 4:16; Apo. 1: 7; 22: 7), literal (Atos 1:10; 1Tess. 4:16, 17; Apo. . 1: 7; Zac. 14: 4), visível (Heb. 9:28; Fps. 3:20; Zac. 12:10) e gloriosa (Mat. 16:27; 25:31; 2Tess. 1: 7 -9; Gál. 3: 4). Há interpretações que procuram evitar a opinião de que a vinda de Cristo seja literal e pessoal. Alguns ensinam que a morte é uma segunda vinda de Cristo. Mas a Bíblia mostra que uma segunda vinda é o contrário da morte, pois os mortos em Cristo ressuscitarão nessa ocasião.

Com a morte iremos para Cristo, mas na sua vinda ele virá para nos buscar. Certas passagens (Mat. 16:28; Fil. 3:20) perdem seu significado se substituíssemos morte por segunda vinda. Finalmente, a morte é um inimigo, enquanto a vinda de Cristo é a gloriosa esperança. Alguns sustentam que a segunda vinda foi a descida do Espírito no dia de Pentecoste. Outros ensinam que Cristo veio no tempo da destruição de Jerusalém no ano 70 d.C., mas em cada um desses casos não houve ressurreição dos mortos, nem o arrebatamento dos vivos, nem outros eventos preditos que acompanham o segundo advento.

3. O Tempo da sua vinda.

Tentativas houve para determinar os dados da vinda de Cristo, mas em nenhuma delas o Senhor veio na hora marcada pelos homens! Ele requer que o tempo exato de sua vinda está oculto nos conselhos divinos. (Mat. 24: 36-42; Mar. 13:21, 22.) é bom que seja assim.

Quem gostaria de saber com antecedência a hora exata de sua morte? Tal conhecimento teria o efeito de perturbar e inutilizar uma pessoa. Basta que saibamos que a morte pode vir a qualquer instante; portanto, dever trabalhar "enquanto é dia pois a noite vem quando ninguém pode trabalhar". O mesmo raciocínio serve quanto ao fim da presente dispensação. Esse dia também não nos foi revelado, mas sabemos será repentino (1Cor. 15:52; Mat. 24:27) e inesperado (2Ped. 3: 4; Mat. 24: 48-51; Apo. 16:15). O Senhor avisa seus servos: "Negociai até que eu venha"

Damos em seguida uma visão geral do ensino de Cristo sobre o tempo da sua vinda: após a destruição de Jerusalém os serão desterrados entre todas as nações, expulsos de sua terra, a qual passará a ser subjugada pelos gentios até o fim dos tempos, quando Deus julgará as nações gentias (Luc. 21:24). Durante esse período os servos de Cristo levarão sua obra avante (Luc. 19: 11-27) pregando o Evangelho a todas as nações (Mat. 24:14).

Será um tempo de demora durante o qual muitas vezes a igreja será tentada a duvidar do retomo do seu Senhor (Luc. 18: 1-8), quando alguns se prepararão e outros se tornarão negligentes, enquanto o Noivo demorar (Mat. 25: 1-11). Ministros infiéis desviar-se-ão, dizendo consigo mesmos: "O meu Senhor tarda a vir" (Luc. 12:45).

"Muito tempo depois" (Mat. 25:19), "… meia-noite (Mat. 25: 6),‹ a hora e no dia dos quais nenhum dos seus discípulos sabe (Mat. 24:36, 42,50) , o Senhor repentinamente vencido para ajuntar seus servos e julgá-los segundo como suas obras (Mat. 25:19; e 2Cor. 5:10). Mais tarde, depois de ter sido pregado universalmente o Evangelho e após o mundo havê-lo rejeitado, quando o povo estiver vivendo completamente ignorante quanto à catástrofe iminente, como nos dias de Noé (Mat. 24: 37-39) e nos dias da destruição de Sodoma (Luc. 17:28, 29) virá o Filho do homem em glória e poder para julgar as nações do mundo e sobre elas reinar (Mat. 25: 31-46).

4. Sinais de sua vinda.

As Escrituras ensinam que a aparição de Cristo inaugurando a Idade Milenial será precedida por um tempo agitado de transição, no qual haverá distúrbios físicos, guerras, crises preventivas, declínio moral, apostasia religiosa, infidelidade, pânico geral e perplexidade. A última parte desse período transitório chama-se "A Grande Tribulação", durante a qual o mundo inteiro estará sob o domínio governo contra Deus e anticristão. Crentes em Deus serão brutalmente perseguidos, e uma nação judaica, em particular, passará pela fornalha da aflição.

5. O propósito de sua vinda.

(a) Em relação à igreja. Assim chamado ao Dr. Pardington: Assim como a primeira vinda do Senhor se estendeu sobre um período de 30 anos, assim como a segunda vinda influirá em vários eventos. Na primeira vinda ele foi revelado como o Menino de Belém; mais tarde como o Cordeiro de Deus, ao ser batizado, e como o Redentor no Calvário. Na segunda vinda anunciada aos seus secreta e repentinamente para trasladá-los às Bodas do Cordeiro. Essa aparição chama-se o arrebatamento ou "Parousia" (que significa "aparição" ou "presença" ou "chegada" na língua grega). Nessa ocasião os crentes serão julgados para determinar as suas recompensas por serviços prestados (Mat. 25: 14-30). Após o arrebatamento, segue-se um período de terrível tribulação, que terminará na revelação, ou manifestação aberta de

Cristo proveniente do céu, quando ele estabelecer seu reino messiânico sobre a terra.

(b) Em relação a Israel. Aquele que é a Cabeça e Salvador da igreja, do povo do céu, é também o prometido Messias de Israel, do povo terrestre. Como Messias, ele libertará esse povo da tribulação, congregá-lo-á dos quatro cantos da terra, restaurá-lo-á na sua antiga terra e sobre ele reinará como seu, há muito prometido, Rei sobre a Casa de Davi.

(c) Em relação ao anticristo. O espírito do anticristo já está no mundo (1João 4: 3; 2:18; 2:22), mas ainda virá outro anticristo final (2Ts. 2: 3). Nos últimos dias ele se levantará o velho mundo (Apo. 13: 1) e tornar-se-á o sóbrio sobre um Império Romano ressuscitado que dominará todo o mundo. Assumirá grande poder político (Dn 7: 8, 25), comercial (Dn 8:25; Apo. 13:16, 17) e religioso (Apo. 17: 1-15). Ele será anti-Deus e anti-Cristo, e perseguirá os cristãos numa tentativa de extinção do Cristianismo. (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; Apo. 13: 7, 15). Sabendo que os homens que desejam ter alguma religião, ele estabelecerá um culto baseado na divindade do homem e na supremacia do Estado.

Como personificação desse Estado, ele exigirá o culto do povo, e formará um sacerdócio para fazer cumprir e promulgar esse culto. (2Tess. 2: 9,10; Apo. 13: 12-15.) O anticristo levará ao extremo a doutrina da supremacia do Estado, a qual ensina que o governo é o supremo poder, em torno do qual tudo, incluindo a própria consciente do homem, tem que estar subordinado. Visto que não existe poder ou lei mais elevados do que o Estado, segundo eles, Deus e sua lei precisam ser abolidos para prestar culto ao Estado. A primeira tentativa para estabelecer o culto ao Estado está registrado em Daniel cap. 3. Nabucodonosor orgulhou-se do poderoso império que edificara. "não é esta a grande Babilônia que eu edifiquei? ..." (Dan. 4:30).

Tão deslumbrado ficou ele diante do poderio e governos humanos, que o Estado para ele se tomou como um deus. Que melhor maneira de impressionar os homens com sua glória, do que ordenar-lhes que o símbolo desse governo fosse venerado! Portanto, ele edificou uma grande imagem dourada e mandou que todos os povos se prostrassem diante dela, sob pena de morte. A imagem não foi a de uma divindade local, mas representava o próprio Estado. Recusar cultuar a imagem era considerado ateísmo ou traição. Ao instituir essa nova religião, Nabucodonosor como que dizia ao povo: "Quem vos deu as belas cidades, as boas estradas, e belos jardins? O Estado! Quem vos provê de alimentos e serviço, quem funda escolas e patrocina templos?

O Estado! Quem vos defende dos inimigos? O Estado! não será então o Estado, esse poderio, um deus? Portanto, que maior deus quereis do que vosso exaltado governo? Prostrai-vos perante o símbolo da grande Babilônia! "E se Deus não o tivesse humilhado do seu orgulho blasfemo (Dan. 4: 28-37), Nabucodonosor talvez tivesse exigido o culto de sua própria pessoa como chefe do Estado. Como os três os filhos hebreus (Dan. 3) foram perseguidos por se recusarem a curvar-se perante a imagem de Nabucodonosor, assim os cristãos do primeiro século sofreram porque se recusaram a render homenagens divinas à imagem de César.

Havia de tolerância todas as religiões no Império Romano, mas sob a condição de que fosse venerada a imagem de César como símbolo do Estado. Os cristãos foram perseguidos, não tanto por sua lealdade a Cristo, mas porque se recusaram a adorar a César e dizer: "César é Senhor." Recusaram-se a cultuar o Estado como deus. A Revolução francesa oferece outro exemplo dessa política. Deus e Cristo foram lançados fora e um deus, ou deusa, se fez do "Pátria". Assim disse um dos lideres: "O Estado é supremo em todas as coisas. Quando o Estado se pronuncia, a igreja não tem nada a dizer." A lealdade ao Estado elevou-se à posição de religião.

A assembléia decretou que em todas as vilas feitas levantados altares com a seguinte inscrição: "O cidadão nasce, vive e morre por La Patrie." Preparou-se um ritual para batismos, casamentos e enterros civis. A religião do Estado possuía seus hinos e orações, seus jejuns e festas. O Novo Testamento reconhecido o governo humano como divinamente ordenado para a manutenção da ordem e da justiça. O cristão, por conseguinte, deve lealdade à sua pátria.

Tanto a igreja como o estado têm sua parte no programa divino, e cada qual deve limitar-se a sua esfera. Deus deve receber o que pertence, e César deve receber o que pertence. Mas acontece que muitas vezes César exige as coisas que são de Deus, atualizando a igreja, muito contra sua vontade, entra em choque com o governo. As Escrituras prevêem que esses conflitos futuramente chegarão ao seu ponto máximo. A última civilização será anti-Deus, e o anticristo, seu chefe, o ditador mundial, tornará as leis desse superestado supremas sobre todas as demais leis ", e exigirá o culto à sua pessoa como a personificação do Estado. As primeiras Escrituras predizem uma vitória de Deus e que sobre as ruínas do império mundial "anticristão, ele levantará seu reino no qual Deus é supremo - o Reino de Deus. (Dan. 2:34, 35, 44; Apo. 11:15; 19: 11-21.)

(d) Em relação às nações. As nações serão julgadas, os reinos do mundo destruídos, e todos os povos estão sujeitos ao Rei dos reis. (Dan. 2:44; Miq. 4: 1; Isa. 49:22, 23; Jer. 23: 5; Luc. 1:32; Zac. 14: 9; Isa. 24:23; Apo. 11:15 .) Cristo regerá as nações com vara de ferro; tirará toda a opressão e injustiça da terra e inaugurará a Idade áurea de mil anos. (Sal. 2: 7-9; 72; Isa. 11: 1-9; Apo. 20: 6.) "Depois virá o fim, quando houver entregado o reino a Deus, o Pai, e quando houver aniquilado todo o império , e toda potestade e força "(1 Cor. 15:24).

Há três estágios na obra de Cristo como Mediador: Sua obra como Profeta, cumprida durante seu ministério terrestre; sua obra como Sacerdote, começada na cruz e continuada durante a dispensação atual; e sua obra como Rei, começando com sua vinda e continuando durante o Milênio. Depois do milênio ter cumprido sua obra de unir a humanidade a Deus, de forma que os habitantes do céu e da terra formem uma só grande família onde Deus será tudo e estará em todos. (Efés. 1:10; 3:14, 15.)

Contudo, Cristo continuará a reinar como o Deus-homem, e compartilhar do governo divino, pois "o seu reino não terá fim" (Luc. 1:33).

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Archbishop Vigano’s  Warns Trump About ‘Great Reset’ Plot

Open Letter To The President Of The United States

DONALD J. TRUMP

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Solemnity of Christ the King

Mr. President,

Allow me to address you at this hour in which the fate of the whole world is being threatened by a global conspiracy against God and humanity. I write to you as an Archbishop, as a Successor of the Apostles, as the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America. I am writing to you in the midst of the silence of both civil and religious authorities. May you accept these words of mine as the “voice of one crying out in the desert” (Jn 1:23).

As I said when I wrote my letter to you in June, this historical moment sees the forces of Evil aligned in a battle without quarter against the forces of Good; forces of Evil that appear powerful and organized as they oppose the children of Light, who are disoriented and disorganized, abandoned by their temporal and spiritual leaders.

Daily we sense the attacks multiplying of those who want to destroy the very basis of society: the natural family, respect for human life, love of country, freedom of education and business. We see heads of nations and religious leaders pandering to this suicide of Western culture and its Christian soul, while the fundamental rights of citizens and believers are denied in the name of a health emergency that is revealing itself more and more fully as instrumental to the establishment of an inhuman faceless tyranny.

A global plan called the Great Reset is underway. Its architect is a global élite that wants to subdue all of humanity, imposing coercive measures with which to drastically limit individual freedoms and those of entire populations. In several nations this plan has already been approved and financed; in others it is still in an early stage. Behind the world leaders who are the accomplices and executors of this infernal project, there are unscrupulous characters who finance the World Economic Forum and Event 201, promoting their agenda.

The purpose of the Great Reset is the imposition of a health dictatorship aiming at the imposition of liberticidal measures, hidden behind tempting promises of ensuring a universal income and cancelling individual debt. The price of these concessions from the International Monetary Fund will be the renunciation of private property and adherence to a program of vaccination against Covid-19 and Covid-21 promoted by Bill Gates with the collaboration of the main pharmaceutical groups. Beyond the enormous economic interests that motivate the promoters of the Great Reset, the imposition of the vaccination will be accompanied by the requirement of a health passport and a digital ID, with the consequent contact tracing of the population of the entire world. Those who do not accept these measures will be confined in detention camps or placed under house arrest, and all their assets will be confiscated.

Mr. President, I imagine that you are already aware that in some countries the Great Reset will be activated between the end of this year and the first trimester of 2021. For this purpose, further lockdowns are planned, which will be officially justified by a supposed second and third wave of the pandemic. You are well aware of the means that have been deployed to sow panic and legitimize draconian limitations on individual liberties, artfully provoking a world-wide economic crisis. In the intentions of its architects, this crisis will serve to make the recourse of nations to the Great Reset irreversible, thereby giving the final blow to a world whose existence and very memory they want to completely cancel. But this world, Mr. President, includes people, affections, institutions, faith, culture, traditions, and ideals: people and values that do not act like automatons, who do not obey like machines, because they are endowed with a soul and a heart, because they are tied together by a spiritual bond that draws its strength from above, from that God that our adversaries want to challenge, just as Lucifer did at the beginning of time with his “non serviam.”

Many people – as we well know – are annoyed by this reference to the clash between Good and Evil and the use of “apocalyptic” overtones, which according to them exasperates spirits and sharpens divisions. It is not surprising that the enemy is angered at being discovered just when he believes he has reached the citadel he seeks to conquer undisturbed. What is surprising, however, is that there is no one to sound the alarm. The reaction of the deep state to those who denounce its plan is broken and incoherent, but understandable. Just when the complicity of the mainstream media had succeeded in making the transition to the New World Order almost painless and unnoticed, all sorts of deceptions, scandals and crimes are coming to light.

Until a few months ago, it was easy to smear as “conspiracy theorists” those who denounced these terrible plans, which we now see being carried out down to the smallest detail. No one, up until last February, would ever have thought that, in all of our cities, citizens would be arrested simply for wanting to walk down the street, to breathe, to want to keep their business open, to want to go to church on Sunday. Yet now it is happening all over the world, even in picture-postcard Italy that many Americans consider to be a small enchanted country, with its ancient monuments, its churches, its charming cities, its characteristic villages. And while the politicians are barricaded inside their palaces promulgating decrees like Persian satraps, businesses are failing, shops are closing, and people are prevented from living, traveling, working, and praying. The disastrous psychological consequences of this operation are already being seen, beginning with the suicides of desperate entrepreneurs and of our children, segregated from friends and classmates, told to follow their classes while sitting at home alone in front of a computer.

In Sacred Scripture, Saint Paul speaks to us of “the one who opposes” the manifestation of the mystery of iniquity, the kathèkon (2 Thess 2:6-7). In the religious sphere, this obstacle to evil is the Church, and in particular the papacy; in the political sphere, it is those who impede the establishment of the New World Order.

As is now clear, the one who occupies the Chair of Peter has betrayed his role from the very beginning in order to defend and promote the globalist ideology, supporting the agenda of the deep church, who chose him from its ranks.

Mr. President, you have clearly stated that you want to defend the nation – One Nation under God, fundamental liberties, and non-negotiable values that are denied and fought against today. It is you, dear President, who are “the one who opposes” the deep state, the final assault of the children of darkness.

For this reason, it is necessary that all people of good will be persuaded of the epochal importance of the imminent election: not so much for the sake of this or that political program, but because of the general inspiration of your action that best embodies – in this particular historical context – that world, our world, which they want to cancel by means of the lockdown. Your adversary is also our adversary: it is the Enemy of the human race, He who is “a murderer from the beginning” (Jn 8:44).

Around you are gathered with faith and courage those who consider you the final garrison against the world dictatorship. The alternative is to vote for a person who is manipulated by the deep state, gravely compromised by scandals and corruption, who will do to the United States what Jorge Mario Bergoglio is doing to the Church, Prime Minister Conte to Italy, President Macron to France, Prime Minster Sanchez to Spain, and so on. The blackmailable nature of Joe Biden – just like that of the prelates of the Vatican’s “magic circle” – will expose him to be used unscrupulously, allowing illegitimate powers to interfere in both domestic politics as well as international balances. It is obvious that those who manipulate him already have someone worse than him ready, with whom they will replace him as soon as the opportunity arises.

And yet, in the midst of this bleak picture, this apparently unstoppable advance of the “Invisible Enemy,” an element of hope emerges. The adversary does not know how to love, and it does not understand that it is not enough to assure a universal income or to cancel mortgages in order to subjugate the masses and convince them to be branded like cattle. This people, which for too long has endured the abuses of a hateful and tyrannical power, is rediscovering that it has a soul; it is understanding that it is not willing to exchange its freedom for the homogenization and cancellation of its identity; it is beginning to understand the value of familial and social ties, of the bonds of faith and culture that unite honest people. This Great Reset is destined to fail because those who planned it do not understand that there are still people ready to take to the streets to defend their rights, to protect their loved ones, to give a future to their children and grandchildren. The leveling inhumanity of the globalist project will shatter miserably in the face of the firm and courageous opposition of the children of Light. The enemy has Satan on its side, He who only knows how to hate. But on our side, we have the Lord Almighty, the God of armies arrayed for battle, and the Most Holy Virgin, who will crush the head of the ancient Serpent. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

Mr. President, you are well aware that, in this crucial hour, the United States of America is considered the defending wall against which the war declared by the advocates of globalism has been unleashed. Place your trust in the Lord, strengthened by the words of the Apostle Paul: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). To be an instrument of Divine Providence is a great responsibility, for which you will certainly receive all the graces of state that you need, since they are being fervently implored for you by the many people who support you with their prayers.

With this heavenly hope and the assurance of my prayer for you, for the First Lady, and for your collaborators, with all my heart I send you my blessing.

God bless the United States of America!

+ Carlo Maria Viganò

Tit. Archbishop of Ulpiana

Former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America

#great reset plot

[giftofshewbread]

Dark Days

By Daymond Duck 

Published on:January 17, 2021

The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election was the most contentious and corrupt election in the history of America (it has been reported that almost 80% of Republicans, about 30% of Independents, and 17% of Democrats believe there was fraud).

The shadow government and globalist elite have used an illegal election to replace a president that wanted to put America first with a president that will push world government, and these people are now closer to their long-cherished goal of a one-world government, economy, and godless global religion than they have ever been.

In my last article, I reported that Dr. James Dobson said the Republican loss of the two Senate Seats in Georgia will lead to the loss of “government of the people, by the people and for the people” because the Democrats will add more Senate Seats (Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico) and more judges to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Republicans lost both seats, so if Dr. Dobson is right, the election fraud has cost America “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

The shadow government and globalist elite have gained control of every branch of U.S. government through the Democrat Party, and there will be no way to stop the surrender of U.S. sovereignty.

Demonic forces have taken over America, and our nation will never recover.

Faithful students that study Bible prophecy on a regular basis are not surprised: We have long taught that the Bible prophesies the following:

the nation of Israel will be re-established (it has),

the Church will grow lukewarm (it is),

there will be global pandemics (worse than Covid),

persecution of Christians (lockdowns, pastors arrested, churches fined),

global economic problems (trillion-dollar stimulus packages, the economy of many nations near collapse),

global famine (unemployment and hunger are spreading),

gross immorality and abominations to God (abortion, LGBTQ, etc.),

deceit will increase (censorship, lying, etc.),

the technology to track all buying and selling (coming on the scene now),

the elimination of cash (digital currencies are now going into use),

the arrival of 10 kings in the world (this could be approved at “The Great Reset” soon),

that the U.S. must decline (this appears to be happening now),

a world government (Biden plans to push it),

an antichrist religion (Democrats have removed God from their party platform), etc.

This is a spiritual war; America is no longer a Christian nation; Biden and Harris have indicated that they will greenlight globalization, rejoin the World Health Organization, push the Green New Deal, open America’s borders, and more.

Fraud has turned America into a one-party nation; voting was worthless; fear, frustration and concern are spreading; many pastors are silent; their church members are like sheep without shepherds in front of a pack of wolves; it is not an easy time for Christians and patriots; this is probably America’s last stand; citizens are upset; and there is a lot of uncertainty about what the future holds for us, our children, our grandchildren, etc.

This has prompted me to offer these thoughts:

God is not surprised, He is still in control, the Church has been told to watch for these things, prophecy is being fulfilled, and these things indicate that this present generation could be the terminal generation (Matt. 24:32-34).

Jan Markell said, “Things are not falling apart; things are falling in place,” and Rev. J.D. Farag said, “God isn’t trying to make you happy. God is trying to get you ready.”

This world is not the Christian’s hope or home; the Christian’s hope is not an anti-Christ world government, corrupt politicians, politically motivated judges and courts, or anything except the Rapture of the Church (John 11:11; Titus 2:13).

The purpose of the Rapture is to give Christians knowledge and comfort about their future and that of their deceased loved ones (I Thess. 4:13-18).

Christians are not alone (John 14:16).

The Gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church (Matt. 6:18).

Nothing can separate Christians from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39).

Christians should set their affections on heaven, stand firm, live by the Word of God, keep the Judgment Seat of Christ in mind, and know that our sins will find us out (Col. 3:2; Matt. 4:4; II Cor. 5:10; Num. 32:23).

A lukewarm attitude, the silence of pastors, and Church members that know very little Scripture signify the end of the age (Rev. 3:15-18).

People who are not saved should quickly and sincerely put their faith in Jesus (not baptism or joining a church) for the forgiveness of their sins (Prov. 3:5-7; John 3:16; 14:6).

Christians should love others, do good works, attend Church, get the gospel out (to everyone, but especially to their family), pray often, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and more (Heb. 10:24-25; Mark 16:15; Psa. 122;6).

Christians should watch the signs and pray that God will consider them worthy to be Raptured before the Tribulation Period arrives (Luke 21:36).

Know that God raises up leaders and God brings down leaders. He had a reason for putting Trump in office, He has a reason for removing Trump, and a reason for putting Biden in office. I tend to believe God is ready to let world government advance, and Trump would have been in the way.

God’s prophecies must be fulfilled, and good will come from every situation (Rev. 1:1; Rom. 8:28).

Here are more of my thoughts along a different line:

On Jan. 6, 2021, an angry mob stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol building, and tragically, 1 person was killed almost immediately, several others died, several police were injured, and there was property damage.

Politicians and pundits immediately blamed Trump, but Congress, the FBI, CIA, the Media, and the U.S. Supreme Court must share the blame (also there have been reports that Antifa and Black Lives Matter were among the protesters and responsible for some of the violence; On Jan. 7, it was reported that 2 members of Antifa had already been identified by facial recognition technology. Some officials deny it, but they proved untruthful in the Russian Collusion hoax).

Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer have boasted that they will fundamentally change America, and they have been involved.

The House tried to dump Trump for 4 years, falsely accused him, impeached him for nothing, and ignored the crimes of the Bidens and Clintons.

The FBI, CIA and others lied and falsely prosecuted people because they wanted to dump Trump, and little to nothing has been done.

A Special Prosecutor was appointed to investigate the Clintons and the Russian Collusion hoax, and the public has been promised a report for years, but it has never been released, and it will probably be covered up.

Politicians, the Media, and some police claim that we are a nation of laws, but they have ignored 4 years of Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioting, looting, burning, injuring people, and attacking the police.

Despite overwhelming evidence of voter fraud, judges have refused to hear the evidence, the U.S. Supreme Court has done nothing, and some people think violence is the only answer (God is the only answer).

Pundits immediately started saying “we must come together,” but it will not happen because the left’s definition of “coming together” is that the right must totally submit. The left will never agree to restrictions on abortion, sexual perversion, drug abuse, etc. (Rev. 9:20-21), and true Christians will not totally surrender.

Simply put, violence is wrong, but Washington is corrupt and broken; frustration started building before Trump ran for President. Millions of people do not want mob rule, one-party rule, their voice to go unheard, to open America’s borders, to surrender America’s sovereignty, to let unsaved diplomats at the UN tell the U.S. what laws we have to pass, different voting rules for different people, the crimes of the Clintons and Bidens ignored, the police attacked, the police defunded, and judges that ignore the law and rule in favor of their own political party.

It saddens me to say it, but I do not believe Congress will listen. According to Bible prophecy, abortion, perversion, drug abuse, and globalism will explode; freedom of speech and freedom of religion will decline; persecution of believers and anti-Semitism will increase; violence will increase; there will be no revival in the Church; and God will soon send the Tribulation Period to deal with godless government in America and the world.

On the other hand, I rejoice to say that God is listening to the grievances of His people. The world is dark, but light is coming, and these tragic events are reasons for hope (I Thess. 5:4-9).

The Christian’s future is glorious, and the nearness of world government and the Tribulation Period implies that the Rapture of the Church is close.

I don’t know how to define close, but I honestly believe the appointment of 10 people to rule over a world government in the next 4 years is a distinct possibility.

Here are some more stories that made the news:

One, concerning false accusers, Democrats praised and bailed out rioters, looters, and arsonists in some cities, but on Jan. 7, 2021, Biden called those that stormed the capitol “rioters, insurrectionists and domestic terrorists.”

Some reports said hundreds of thousands of people attended the March to Save America, and about 40-50,000 went to the capitol.

Thus, most of those that went to Washington were not involved in the violence.

Violence is wrong, and if the Democrats want to “come together,” they should recognize that most of those that went to Washington have legitimate grievances that must be addressed and admit the truth about the involvement of Antifa and Black Lives Matter.

Sadly, there is every reason to believe that hypocrisy, lying and deceit will prevail.

Two, one TV commentator said the reason Pelosi, Schumer, Ilhan Omar and others want to remove Trump from office with less than 2 weeks to go is because removal from office will disqualify him from running for President 4 years from now.

They obviously do not know that they have no control over who will run for President 4 years from now because God raises up our leaders.

As I see it, the President of the U.S. could very well be one of the Ten Kings under the rule of the Antichrist 4 years from now (I am not setting a date for the Rapture).

Incidentally, saying the election was stolen is not an impeachable offense.

Three, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog, on Jan. 4, 2021, Iran announced that it is now enriching uranium to 20%.

Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu said Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, and Israel will not let them do it.

I have been saying it for a long time, but the latter days, latter years Battle of Gog and Magog could be close (Ezek. 38:8, 16).

Four, on Jan. 6, 2021, Rev. Franklin Graham said, “We (America) are in trouble. I believe God’s judgment is coming, for the sins of our nation are great, and they are a stench in the nostrils of our Creator.”

Five, concerning famine, on Jan. 7, 2021, Bloomberg reported that global food prices hit a 6-year high in Dec. 2020, and they are likely to go higher in 2021.

The higher cost of food is expected to increase inflation.

Six, the place that is believed to be the site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus is in an area between Israel and Jordan that was designated a war zone more than 50 years ago.

Land mines were laid in the area, and people were warned to stay away.

Two years ago, Israel started removing the landmines, and the area has now been declared safe.

On Jan. 10, 2021, it was reported that a group toured the area and held a baptism ceremony there.

Seven, concerning the censorship of Trump, and Christian and conservative websites, on Jan. 10, 2021, it was reported that Biden has at least 14 current or former executives of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter ready to serve in his administration or advising his transition team.

In my opinion, one of the primary reasons for censorship is to silence anyone that opposes the surrender of America’s sovereignty to a world government.

Eight, on Jan. 10, 2021, it was reported that a post on Biden’s website says he has plans to defeat the NRA and “end our epidemic of gun violence.”

There are not a lot of specifics, but the NRA is saying Biden will make “a concerted attack on the rights of gun owners.

Finally, God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

#Dark #days #of #winter #evil #rising #biden #harris #pelosi #clinton #obama #bush #wicked #people #globalists #new world order #NWO #The Great Reset #DC #Inauguration #Jan #January #20th #2021 #wall #fence #capital #police #NG #impeachement

[buggie-hagen]

Sermon for 3rd Sunday of Advent (12/13/20)

Primary Text | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear People of God,

Rejoice always. Again, I will say, “Rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). It’s kind of hard to do right now.  We’ve gotten to the point in the pandemic where most of us know someone in our own family or in our friend circles who has gotten sick. Now we’ve begun to recognize the names of people who have died from the virus in our community.  The political world is in shambles. Neighbor is set up against neighbor. Tensions are high. Holidays are being disrupted. Those things we rely and depend on to make our world feel safe are in the end not that reliable. All this on top of life in the world which is already challenging and difficult. Though the world is falling apart we have something to rejoice about. We always do, no matter how dark the moment. We forget too easily. We fall into unbelief when we only see what is immediately in front of us and despair. St. Paul exhorts us to rejoice because he sees the big picture and expects us to as well. He wants us to see beyond what is immediately before our eyes. Rejoicing is the joy we have as Christians. Though we suffer now in many and various ways, we have a God of peace (1 Thess. 5:23). Even more, that we have “salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us” (1 Thess. 5:9-10). That Jesus rose from the dead is always a reason to give us joy. The God who reveals his grace through the Christ is of such benefit to us that it overshadows all those troubles we face in the present time. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5). Through faith we know the way of darkness does not win. Rejoice always.

Pray without ceasing. Again, I will say, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). What does it mean to pray other than to call upon God in our every time of need. I’m afraid that praying is something that has fallen into disuse among many Christians. When we have ceased praying, we have lost something of great value. As an individual, when was the last time you prayed? Or, if your live with family, when was the last time you prayed together? I suspect that many of us have forgotten to pray altogether. But here St. Paul admonishes us to “Pray without ceasing”! God wants us to pray to him and especially in our time of need. We all without exception are in a time of need while we live in the pandemic. You never know how the virus will affect you even if you are the healthiest of persons otherwise. Truth is, we’ve always been in need. Only now, our need is more apparent. Thankfully, God not only commands that we pray, but promises to hear us as we pray. To pray is a privilege we have as Christians, for the Word of God teaches, “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). There is no greater prayer than that of the Lord’s Prayer for this is the prayer that Jesus used to show us how to pray, when he was asked by the disciples. Pray without ceasing.

Give thanks in all circumstances. Again, I will say, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18). Not only has St. Paul exhorted us to rejoice always, but to give thanks in all circumstances. That’s a tall order Mr. Paul. It does not come easy. Well, it may think it is easy when life is going well and we have no troubles or qualms, but usually when life is going well we forget to give thanks. But, when life is not easy, when we feel like we can’t win, when we feel like we’re in a nightmare we can’t get out of………then, giving thanks in all circumstances can feel like a challenge unbearable. What’s more, we think we have every right to roll around in the mud of our misery. Again, God wants us to see the world with eyes of faith—not simply looking at what is immediately around us. To trust in him no matter what. We will endure many miserable circumstances, but faith opens us up so we can see that nevertheless God is faithful. It is like how Joseph’s brothers intended harm when they sold him into slavery. God turned around their harmful intentions into something good—to preserve a numerous people (Gen. 50:20). Lord, we pray that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in now that you would turn it around into something good for us. As You say, give thanks in all circumstances.

This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. St. Paul exhorts, “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). It is God who enables us to do these impossible things: to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, to give thanks in all circumstances. If we trust in our power, we would fail completely. Left to our own will we would sputter and sink. But God is gracious and God is faithful. All these things: rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. And, if it is God’s will for you, then it cannot fail. It is he who will keep you blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not because you will ever perfectly fulfill these. Simply because through faith you have been clothed with Jesus Christ. He is your royal garments, through whom God has forgiven you your sins. And it is this faith Christ has done all these things in you and for you. “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this” (1 Thess. 5:24).

#keypreaching

[banana-with-a-bow-tie]

Our Blessed Hope Part 3: The Post-tribulationist Position

In the last post, I tried to explain the pretribulational view of the rapture which maintains that the Church has a different role than what God has planned for the Tribulation and that we are constantly told to wait expectantly for Christ’s return for us, not miraculous signs or political turmoil. Now I will attempt to deal biblically with the post-tribulational arguments that Christ’s return and glory and the rapture of the Church are the same event.        

In our fallen world with our unredeemed minds, we are bound to have differing understanding and interpretations. Posttribulationists believe the Church will live through the Tribulation, only receiving their resurrected bodies and meeting the Lord in the air when Christ returns in Revelation 19 to defeat the beast and the armies of the nations and set up his millennial reign. This position argues that Jesus promised his disciples that believers would endure tribulation (John 16:33), therefore they conclude the Church cannot be removed until the Tribulation period has been completed. Additionally, they point out that some passages that seem to contradict the idea of a pretribulational rapture, finding similarities in the passages describing the Second Coming, particularly the Olivet Discourse, and passages describing the rapture to be sufficient reason to identify the two as the same event. A close examination of the language in these passages as well as the timeline of events will demonstrate why this is likely not the case.[1]

Tribulations Versus Wrath

         Pretribulationists do not deny that the Church will face hardship in this life, but the kind of suffering that the world will experience at the end of the age is very different from the persecution and trials the Church faces in this age. The Tribulation is described as a time of cosmic turmoil, the stars falling from heaven and the earth being shaken (Rev 6:12–14). Hail, fire, and blood will rain down and destroy the vegetation and the oceans will turn to blood killing life in the sea (Rev 8:7–9). Demonic activity will run rampant, torturing and destroying human life as hell is literally let loose on earth (Rev 9). The sun and stars will be darkened (Rev 8:10), then the sun will scorch the earth with fire (Rev 16:8). The Lord will send oppressive boils and darkness on the wicked kingdom of the world (Rev 16:2,10). He will send an unparalleled earthquake and crush people with one hundred-pound hailstones, destroying the world government of that time (Rev 16:17–20). The suffering and turmoil and death will be so severe, it will be unlike anything mankind has ever experienced. Revelation 6:16–17 informs us that the people on the earth at that time will be able to identify what is happening, “calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’”

         Revelation 9:20 reveals why God sends all these terrible plagues on the world, that is because mankind refused to repent of their sin. This then begs the question, why would the Church need to live through the time of God’s wrath? Every believer in the Church has repented of their sin (2 Pet 3:9) and had the wrath stored up for them propitiated by Christ (Rom 3:25), which is why Paul promised the Thessalonians that they were not destined for wrath (1 Thess 5:9). This promise is confirmed by Christ himself in the letter to the church at Philadelphia when he told them that he would keep them from the hour of testing that would come upon the whole world (Rev 3:10).

The posttribulation view offers two counterpoints. The first point argues that God’s wrath will not begin until Christ returns and slays his enemies with the word of his mouth (Rev 19:15). This argument fails to explain the severe nature and purpose of the judgments seen coming directly from God in the seven years prior to God’s return. Scripture directly addresses these acts of God as his wrath (Rev 6:16, 16:1). If this death and destruction and fire do not reflect God’s wrath, what purpose do they serve? The second point argues that the promise of Revelation 3:10 does not mean the church will be removed from the time of trouble but will be protected by God through this time of wrath. This is hard to reconcile with the severity and universality of the judgments described in Revelation. Rather than hearing that believers on the earth will be protected during the Tribulation, we are told that many of them will be hunted down and executed (Rev 6:9–11; 13:7–10), so much so, as Jesus stated, that the Tribulation had to be cut short to prevent them from being completely destroyed along with everyone else (Matt 24:22).[2] Furthermore, Ryrie points out that Christ did not say we would be kept simply from the testing itself, but the from the hour of testing, the entire period where God judges the world. The plain sense of Scripture seems to indicate that the Church has no reason to live through the wrath of God.[3]

The Olivet Discourse

         Questions about the timing of God’s schedule in the last days are not unique to our time. The disciples of Christ were also confused about the Kingdom he promised, prompting a discourse from Jesus about the end of the age for two chapters in Matthew 24­–25. After describing the signs that will precede his return to earth, Jesus tells his disciples,

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matt 24:30–31).

Posttribulationists point out that the rapture is also described as being announced with a trumpet, gathering believers, and the Lord being present in the clouds (1 Thess 4:16–17), citing this as a reason to view the Second Coming and the rapture as two facets of the same event. While there are similarities, there is enough dissimilarity to make a distinction between the two events, namely regarding who is gathered and how they are gathered.

         Firstly, when Jesus made this statement in Matthew 24, he was asked a very specific question by the disciples regarding the destruction of the temple and how they would know the end of the age had come (vv. 1–3). The Church was not even in existence yet (Acts 2), it was still an unrevealed mystery at this point (Eph 3:4–6), so to mention them here for the first time would have only brought confusion to the disciples’ question. Benware notes that the words used to describe the Church are not used in this passage and that terms like “elect” and “saint” can refer to anyone whom God has saved.[4] Since these Jewish men were asking Jesus about the fulfillment of promises to the Jews, and Jesus gives instructions to those living in Judea (Matt 24:16), it makes more sense to conclude that the elect refers to the chosen faithful remnant left on the earth at the time and not the Church.

         Secondly, Jesus’ description of this gathering at his Second Coming is missing some key details that characterize the rapture. Matthew 24:31 states that the angels gather the elect, but in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 only an archangel is mentioned whose role does not appear to have anything to do with gathering the saints. It is the Lord’s cry of command that catches up the Church to meet him in the air. More significantly, 1 Thessalonians 4 promises that saints who have died in the Lord will meet him in the air first, then living saints will follow, but the Matthew 24 passage makes no mention of the resurrection of the saints. [5] Interestingly, Revelation 19:11–21, the most detailed account of Christ’s return to earth, makes no reference to the resurrection of the saints to meet the Lord in the air either. Instead a resurrection is mentioned in chapter 20 after Jesus lands on earth, judges the Antichrist, binds Satan, and begins his earthly reign (vv. 1–4), which directly contradicts the description of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians. Given these significant distinctions, the similarities in these two passages do not seem strong enough to warrant equating them as the same event.

Citizens of the Kingdom

         One other issue arises in the posttribulationist timeline of events in relation to the Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah 65:20 describes this period as being characterized by long life, that no infant shall die and even people who die at the age of one hundred will be considered accursed by God because they died so young. Zechariah 8:4–5 states the same thing, that those of great age will dwell in God’s Kingdom and children will play in the streets. Micah 4:2­–3 declares about the Kingdom God will establish in the latter days,

and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Revelation 20:7–9 informs us that these nations will be deceived by Satan for a time and form one last rebellion against Christ. The question becomes, from where do these children and nations and sinners capable of experiencing death and rebellion originate? Jesus revealed that those who receive resurrected bodies will be like the angels in heaven since they will not marry and therefore cannot procreate (Matt 22:30). If all the unregenerate sinners are slain and judged by Christ (Matt 25:31–46; Rev 19:21) and all the believers on the earth are given glorified bodies (1 Cor 15:51–52) then there will be no one left on earth to populate the Millennium and fulfill these prophecies. Mortal men of all nations with sin natures and the ability to have children need to survive the Tribulation in order to be judged faithful and enter the Millennial Kingdom.[6]

         The pretribulational framework can satisfy these conditions easily as the Church receives their glorified bodies before the Tribulation, allowing Jews and Gentiles to come to faith during the Tribulation, and those that survive will be the Millennial Kingdom’s citizens (Zech 14:16). Posttribulationists find that it is much harder to harmonize this need with their view. Some have tried to posit explanations such as the 144,000 Jews introduced in Revelation 7 will not actually be saved until after Jesus returns and some unsaved Gentiles will escape judgment. There are several problems with this interpretation.[7]

         Revelation 7:2–3 describe the 144,000 as servants of God who had to be given God’s seal before God’s judgment toward the environment could begin. Ryrie comments, “Posttribulationists weakly explain that the designation is anticipatory of their millennial service when they will have been converted. Any explanation is possible, but is it the most likely meaning of the text? Certainly not.”[8] This explanation is unlikely because Revelation 14:4 describes the 144,000 as faithful followers of the Lamb who did not defile themselves and called first fruits of the redeemed, implying that they are among the first in the Tribulation to find salvation, not the last.

         In order to explain the existence of Gentile nations, posttribulationists point to Matthew 24:40–41, claiming that these verses teach that at the Second Coming some will be taken in the rapture and some will be left in judgment, but that not all will be judged. The first problem with this interpretation is that nowhere in Scripture is there any indication that the wicked will escape God’s judgment and every indication that he will search out every secret thing (Isa 65:12; Rom 2:16). The second problem is the inconsistency of a rapture that takes every believer and a judgment that overlooks some lawbreakers. The third problem is the unlikelihood of a people who somehow lived through the most turbulently miraculous period in world history to that point and witnessed the risen Christ returning in glory yet refused to repent inclining themselves to be the foundation of a society in which knowing and seeking the Lord will be the norm (Isa 11:9–10). The fourth problem is the parallel passage in Luke 17:34–47 answers the question of where the ones taken will go, and rather than being taken to heaven they are taken where the vultures gather, that is in judgment with the rest of those the Lord destroyed and fed to the birds (Rev 19:21). The fifth problem is if the believers are all raptured and glorified at the Second Coming, then the Sheep and Goats judgment Jesus predicted in Matthew 25:31–46 cannot happen as he described. There would be no sheep to judge which must occur at his return in glory (v. 31). Consistently, the posttribulation view is forced to conform Scripture to its interpretation rather than submitting to the text letting the proper interpretation present itself.[9]

Sources

[1] Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy, 244–245.

[2] Ibid., 251.

[3] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 564.

[4] Ibid., 255.

[5] Ibid., 259–260.

[6] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 569.

[7] Ibid., 571.

[8] Ibid., 573

[9] Ibid., 574­–575.

[thessalian]

Apparently they're blaming social media for the unhappiness of the young. But ... see, there's a thing about that. The problem with social media isn't its existence. Social media is a window on the world, and nothing these kids are seeing in the world gives them the tiniest shred of hope that things will get better. The planet is well on the road to fucked and no one in power seems to give a shit. They're watching the economy, the job market - basically the capitalist hellscape we're living in. And they're blamed for fucking everything. And they're saying "Allowing children to use social media [is] like giving them medicine that hasn't been proven safe"? REALLY?

But of course social media's getting the blame. It's a way of getting news unfiltered by media biases (which are often bought and paid for). Just ... people, talking about what the job market's really like and how much their work is actually worth. Talking about what it's like to live in a country where a trip to the hospital costs nothing at point of use and therefore doesn't fucking bankrupt them. Stuff like that. It's harder to make people believe the pretty, petty lies that governments feed into their media machines when there's an actual person saying, "I know for a fact that's bullshit", and then proving it.

I am not fucking surprised that young people are "becoming less happy than older generations". And I feel for those poor kids, because I'm one of those older generations now, and I'm unhappy as shit. Apparently the only increase in happiness overall is in the over 60s - you know, the ones who have retired and are no longer basically abused by an employer paying them the wage of half a worker while expecting them to do the work of two or more.

So basically ... if the jackasses who ran this study are really concerned about the happiness of the young? Maybe they should stop talking about "getting the kids off their damn phones" and start talking about making the world they're seeing through that little electronic window a place worth living in. Or at least a place they can survive. Because right now, the world they see isn't either of those things.

But noooooooo. No, giving them things like a stable ecological and economic footing would hurt the poor beleagured 1%, and we can't have that...

Arseholes.

#Thess on politics

[pastorandrewreynolds]

Because we are citizens of heaven, the gospel now governs our lives. We daily repent and believe.

Last Sunday's sermon is now available on SermonAudio "Gospel Fueled Citizens" Philippians 1:27

Gospel Fueled Citizens

 Stubborn sins – what do you do about those lingering sins that seemingly won’t go away.

The answer is simple: the gospel.

 It is common today for people to make statements like “live the gospel” or “be the gospel.”

yet, nowhere in Scripture are you called to “live the Gospel.” 

The gospel is not something “to be.” The gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, that is not something you do to another person.

The Gospel can’t be lived. 

The Gospel is an announcement for us to take to the world, 

But, when you believe the gospel – it changes you – you will live differently.

Living differently is not the gospel – living differently is the effect of the gospel.

 ·       What does that look like? How does the gospel change my life continually change my life, even now?

·       How can you know if the gospel effects your daily life?

 Explain context/Outline

I.                   Letter Opening: Greetings to All (1:1-11)

A.   Address (1:1-2)

B.   Thanksgiving and Prayer for All (1:3-11)

II.                Letter Body: The Need for Unity in the Cause of the Gospel (1:12-4:20)

1.    Paul rejoices by prioritizing Christ and the gospel (1:12-26)

a.     Paul’s imprisonment progresses the spread of the gospel (1:12-18a)

1)   Even in the face of challenges from outside the church (1:12-14)

2)   Even in the face of challenges from inside the church (1:15-18a)

b.    Paul’s imprisonment exalts Christ, even if he lives or dies (1:18b-26)

1)   Paul knows his circumstances will mature his character and exalt Christ (1:18b-20)

2)   Paul’s dilemma: Paul weighs the benefits of life against the benefits of death (1:21-24)

3)   Paul’s decision: Paul would rather live than die before his work for the Lord is done (1:25-26)

 We have a transition here, from a description of Paul himself and his circumstances, to an appeal to the church in Philippi.

 Paul has just taught about life and death; heaven and hell.

What benefits we gain by contemplating on heaven and hell!

But, we are not to spend all of our time contemplating about heaven. We must take those glorious truths and apply them to our lives.

So Paul now gives us the application.

 Paul’s emphasis is still “unity in the cause of the gospel”

The gospel is not like the flu shot. The gospel is not like paying your taxes. The gospel is not something you only think about or do once a year. The gospel is the constant obsession of the believer.

And so, when the church has unity in the cause of the gospel, the church lives in light of the gospel

2.    The gospel causes the church to live as kingdom citizens (1:27-30)

 BODY:

The apostle had the believers in Philippi on his heart. Regardless of what would happen to him—release from bonds or martyrdom—he wanted them to honor and glorify Christ.[1]

27 conduct yourselves

The Authorized Version has it: ‘Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.’ Nowadays this is misleading. To us, conversation means talk; but it is derived from the Latin word conversari, which means to conduct oneself. [2]

let your manner of life  (Phil. 1:27 ESV)

…in Greek, this is a very interesting word. We get the word ‘politics’ from this word…

πολῑτεύω to be a citizen[3] -- to live as a faithful citizen

This is not simply a vague command about how to live.

Woven into this word is the idea that you have a citizenship – and you need to live consistent with that citizenship.

 You live in a community and you need to live according to the obligations of that community; you need to live according to the moral standards of that community.

This word is always opposed to idiōteuō, “to live as a private individual.”[4] We don’t think of ourselves as living privately/alone.

The Bible uses a number of metaphors to describe the Christian life – some of these metaphors have to do with “city” or “government” – or politics

·       Heaven is like a city (polis);

·       Christ is its sovereign (Kyrios), the King and Lord of the city

·       Christians are its citizens

·       During this life, Christians are sojourners; this life is a temporary pilgrimage

o   You are a foreigner in this world. Do not have friendship with this world.

When you are a citizen, you have: rights and privileges but also obligations and responsibilities.

·       The rights and privileges are countless (we are heirs with Christ)

·       There are also obligations

o   Christian responsibility is not a transient affair but a permanent obligation[5]

o   Look at the your responsibilities with tenacity/grit/determination

Each one is then required to “live as a citizen” (politeuomai), i.e., according to the laws and the spirit of this city, conformably to its statutes.[6]

 Philippians 3:20 teaches us that “our citizenship is in heaven.” Therefore, you must live as citizens of heaven (Phil. 1:27 NLT)

 To live out one’s citizenship is

·       to conduct oneself according to the demands of the constitution

o   to consider oneself in all of one’s actions as a members of the church,

o   and accordingly to say nothing and do nothing that is not appropriate for a citizen of heaven.

But it is also a call to honor, to preserve this heavenly mindset

 …this command ‘conduct yourselves,’ Paul didn’t give it to other cities; only to Philippi – because Philippi had a unique government…

When Paul wrote to this church in Philippi, this Greek city was part of the Roman Empire – the citizens of Philippi boasted in their allegiance to Rome. They were proud to be part of the Roman Empire and to experience the benefits of being part of the Roman Empire.

Paul writes to Philippi, telling the Christians to be counter-cultural. Reminding them that their identity is not found in Rome, but is found in heaven.

The Philippians names were written on the rosters at Rome[7] but their names were, more importantly, written in heaven.

  YOU ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. What is your status? Your status may be poverty/luxury – but by faith in Christ, you posses a far more valuable status in the kingdom of God.

BUT YOUR HIGHER ALLEGIANCE IS TO CHRIST.

 The citizen (politēs) is one who—lives in his community — and participates in the political life of the city (cf. Plutarch, Cim. 17.3).[8]

Every city has laws/constitution. What governs those whose citizenship is in heaven?

 in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,

A heavenly citizenship involves a heavenly constitution; that heavenly constitution is the gospel.

The structure of your lifestyle must be based on the gospel.

 gospel. The word means ‘good news.’

·       The bad news is that God is holy. And because God is holy, sinners are under His judgment. We have sinned, violating God’s holiness, and we receive the penalty; His judgment and wrath against sin.

·       The good news is that Jesus, motivated by His great love for sinners, dies on a cross, and pays the penalty. And now, a person can be right with God, they can be in right relationship with Him, you can have the wrath of God removed, by repentance and faith.

The “good news,” put simply into a few words, is just this: Christ reconciles guilty sinners to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them

 …notice how the gospel is described…

The NT calls the gospel by variously different names to emphasize unique details about the gospel:

o   gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:14 NAU)

o   the word of the gospel  (Acts 15:7 NAU)

o   the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 NAU)

o   the gospel of His Son (Rom. 1:9 NAU)

o   my gospel (Rom. 2:16 NAU)

o   the gospel of your salvation (Eph. 1:13 NAU)

o   THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; (Eph. 6:15 NAU)

o   the word of truth (Col. 1:5 NAU)

o   the glorious gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11 NAU)

o   eternal gospel (Rev. 14:6 NAU)

If it was the gospel of man, then it would be worthy of nothing!

Here in Philippians, the gospel is the gospel of Christ.

·       the gospel which tells about Christ.[9]

o   You study the gospel, and you study the person and work of Christ

o   To live for the gospel is to live for Christ

o   Paul said “to live – Christ.”  Paul could just as easily said “to live – Gospel.”

if you understand Christ you understand the gospel.[10]

It is impossible to preach the gospel without preaching the person, the work, the offices, the character of Christ. If Christ be preached the gospel is preached, and if Christ be put in the background, then there is no gospel declared.

It is the gospel of Jesus Christ; it glorifies his person, it is sweet with the savour of his name. Throughout it bears the mark of his artistic fingers.

 Your living must be worthy of the gospel of Christ

·       walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12 NAU)

·       walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10 NAU)

·       walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, (Eph. 4:1 NAU)

 Being a believer is indeed a high calling. To live worthy of the Good News does not mean that one must live perfectly before being accepted into God’s family—for such a life is impossible outside of the Holy Spirit’s help. Instead, believers ought to live differently because of the grace they have received. When we believe, we become God’s children, heirs of his promises, and members of Christ’s body. And this privilege was bought at a price—the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Believers ought to reflect humility, gentleness, patience, understanding, peacefulness, strength, endurance, and gratitude to God in every aspect of their lives on earth.[11]

To live worthy of the gospel of Christ does not mean we do something to earn God’s grace. Nor does it mean that we work to ‘pay God back’ for what He has done for us in the gospel. Rather, it means that those who have entered the kingdom of God through faith in Christ must live in a manner that reflects the way that Christ their King lived, a point that Paul will eventually make clear in 2:5–11.[12]

 Your living must be worthy of the gospel of Christ

The gospel of Christ demands that you live a certain way. Why? Because the gospel of Christ deserves it.

·       Imagine a set of scales.

o   In the ancient world, if you wanted to buy an item, you would place that item on one set of scales. Then, you would place the necessary amount of money of the opposite scale to even them out.

o   However much money your item deserved, however much money your item was worthy of, that is how much money you would place on the opposite scale.

For the Christian, for the one who has repented of their sins and believed in the death and resurrection of Christ, that person now recognizes the infinite value/worth of the gospel. The gospel of Christ is worth lifestyle/habits/conduct/way of life.

 When you place the gospel of Christ one set of scales, and you place your lifestyle of the other set of scales, do they even out?

Are you living up to this standard?

Does your life demonstrate how thankful you are for the gospel?

o   There is a standard for how the church must behave. That standard is not based on culture or tradition. That standard is fixed and always remains the same.

Do you believe the gospel of Christ is worthy? You can answer that question by looking at how you lived this last week. Did the gospel govern how you lived?

 Does your life contradict the gospel?

 Believers are to have integrity, i.e., to live consistent with what they believe, teach, and preach.[13]

What does that look like? I’m glad you asked! It looks like this:

·       I so want to be with Christ that I believe dying is very much better than living.

·       Yet, I want to remain living, not to fulfill the desires of my flesh, but to edify the church.

o   To conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ means you elevate the purposes of Christ over the purposes of the world.

o   Paul reminds the congregation that they should look to Christ, not Caesar, for their model of behavior, since their primary allegiance is to God and his kingdom.[14]

·       (1:12-26) The Need for Unity in the cause of the gospel – Paul was able to rejoice, even while in chains, because he prioritized Christ and the gospel

o   The church at Rome stood for the gospel, but there was no unity. Some preached Christ from pure motives and some preached Christ from selfish/sinful motives. That hurt its witness.

§  God deliver us from that!

o   The Philippians had the opportunity to witness to the world by their unified stand for the gospel.[15]

·       Titus 2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

o   the supreme purpose of a virtuous life is to make attractive the teaching that God saves sinners.[16]

·       The most important weapon against the enemy is not a stirring sermon or a powerful book; it is the consistent life of believers.[17]

o   I worked at a car dealership as a mechanic. And one day my boss asked me what denomination of Christian I was. I responded by saying, “What makes you think I’m a Christian?” He answered, “because you don’t swear.” And I thought to myself, “is that all it takes? Just don’t swear and people think you’re a Christian?”

o   The world watches your behavior – make sure your behavior is consistent with the gospel of Christ.

o   When you sin, it effects more than just you. When you sin, it effects the reputation of the whole church. People consistently live faithful lives. And then your sin can ruin their reputation.

 The church, every single member, must be united in this gospel cause: to live consistent with the gospel.

Jesus began His public ministry, preaching the gospel, and making 2 demands:

REPENT and BELIEVE

To live a life fueled by the gospel means you daily repent and believe, motivated by love, joy, and thanksgiving for the gospel.

 ·       The gospel governs the life of the church

o   Faith

§  Faith is self-renunciation: seeing we have no righteousness of our own, we escape to Christ (Philippians 3:9)

§  Faith is reliance: as one trusts a parachute, cast yourself on Christ alone (1 John 3:23)

§  Faith is receiving: believe that Jesus died and rose for you personally (John 1:12)

o   Repentance

1.     Sight of  sin

2.     Sorrow for  sin

3.     Confession  of sin

Sin  must first be seen before it can be wept for

Grief  and misery

(2  Corinthians 7:9)

Confession is self-accusing

(2 Samuel 24:17)

4.     Shame for  sin

5.     Hatred  towards sin

6.     Turn from  sin

an  uncomfortable feeling of guilt and humiliation

Intense  dislike;

feel  aversion towards

Turn  from sin and to Christ

  Paul’s abruptness in introducing the first imperative of the letter draws attention to its importance.[18]

…what Paul says here is of fundamental importance. This verse must tower above other verses, because, notice how the verse begins…

Only

The force of the word ‘only’ is tremendous, as if Paul had said, ‘This one thing and this only’. Nothing else must distract or excuse them from this great objective; it must be their all-embracing occupation whether Paul was there or not. [19]

o   Lose sleep to meet this objective!

o   Skip meals to miss this objective!

o   Sacrifice possessions to meet this objective!

 o   Paul may live or Paul may die, but, regardless of what may happen to him, this is the only instruction Paul is concerned about. If Paul dies, Paul wants this verse to monopolize their lives.

o   Paul expressed his concern for the church earlier (1:24–26). He so longed for its maturity that he was convinced that God would leave him on earth to help it grow in faith. In reality it could grow with or without him, and now he spoke of the possibility that he would not come. If he were absent, perhaps because of the unfavorable verdict in his trial or unexpected delays, he still longed to hear of its good spiritual condition. Paul had no inflated ideas about his importance. The church was capable of standing for the gospel.[20]

·       The Philippians spiritual growth brings Paul joy. This is the one thing which will bring Paul joy regarding them.

·       Whatever happens (Phil. 1:27 NIV)

·       Above all (Phil. 1:27 NLT)

Paul does not say, “Now I have 17 points of instruction.” He boils down what the Philippians need to know, to this important command: conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27 NAU)

 1 Peter 2:9

Here is what the gospel does

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION,

Here’s how we must respond

so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Just as he wanted to maintain his testimony for Christ, he longed for the Philippians to remain faithful, too. They would show faithfulness by living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Such a life would not just be legalistic, obeying moral laws. It would show forth the spirit and love of Christ in every human relationship.[21]

Legalism obeys simply out of a sense of duty. Biblical obedience is a delight; you are so thankful for what Christ has done for you, that the cross and resurrection motivates your living.

 BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING: FAITH IN DOCTRINE CAUSES FUELS OBEDIENCE

LEGALISM: YOU CAN OBEY APART FROM DOCTRINE

 Legalism simply gives command, like a drill sergeant, without any explanation.

Biblical sanctification gives commands that are rooted in doctrine.

 CONCLUSION:

Christian, you have a high calling to fulfil. You have received some amazing privileges as children of God, members of the body of Christ and heirs of eternal glory.

You must not only be appreciative of all the good that has come through the gospel of Christ;

Recall this:

o   that ‘rank imposes obligation’ (noblesse oblige)

o   and ‘from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked’ (Luke 12:48).

o   His ‘manner of life’ as ‘a new creation’ in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17) should reflect his gratitude and be the visible proof of the grace which the gospel has brought to his heart (cf. 1 John 3:18).[22]

  Imagine standing before Jesus, he has been stripped naked. He has been flogged so many times, there’s very little skin left on his back.

A crown of thorns spiked to his forehead like barbed wire. His forehead and face are so bloody, his eyes are so full of blood, that when he looks up at you, you can barely see His eyes.

The Romans pick up His body, treating it like worthless garbage, they place His body on a cross.

They stretch out His arms and legs on that cross, and then one by one, nail Him down.

As He hangs upon that cross, naked, cold, bleeding to death, the Father is so pleased with the Son, that the Father pours out His wrath on His Son.

Jesus suffers and pays the penalty for guilty sinners. Jesus suffered the most excruciating penalty ever!

Do you believe in Christ? The next sin you commit, Jesus suffered God’s wrath on the cross because of that sin.

So the next opportunity you have to sin, think about Jesus dying on the cross because of [that] sin. Your heart should be so instantly filled with joy, that you turn from that sin.

That is how the gospel changes your life right now.

 [1] Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 652). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[2] Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 35). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

[3] Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S., & McKenzie, R. (1996). A Greek-English lexicon (p. 1434). Oxford: Clarendon Press.

[4] Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 132). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

[5] Silva, M. (2005). Philippians (2nd ed., p. 81). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

[6] Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 124). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

[7] Motyer, J. A. (1984). The message of Philippians (p. 93). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[8] Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 125). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

[9] Greenlee, J. H. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of Philippians (2nd ed., p. 71). Dallas, TX: SIL International.

[10] Spurgeon, C. H. (1865). The Gospel’s Power in a Christian’s Life. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 11, p. 400). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

[11] Barton, B., Comfort, P., Osborne, G., Taylor, L. K., & Veerman, D. (2001). Life Application New Testament Commentary (p. 848). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

[12] Harmon, M. S. (2015). Philippians: A Mentor Commentary (p. 166). Great Britain; Ross-shire: Mentor.

[13] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Php 1:27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

[14] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2282). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[15] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, pp. 88–89). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[16] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Tt 2:10). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

[17] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 71). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[18] Harmon, M. S. (2015). Philippians: A Mentor Commentary (p. 164). Great Britain; Ross-shire: Mentor.

[19] Motyer, J. A. (1984). The message of Philippians (p. 92). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[20] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 89). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[21] Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 211). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[22] Martin, R. P. (1987). Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 11, p. 91). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

#ConductYourselves WorthyOfTheGospel WorthyOfTheGospelOfChrist ExpositoryPreaching BiblicalPreaching Gospel Faith Repent Believe Repentance J

[almostxinnocent]

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... So Dylann answered your letter right? What he said? I mean I'm not asking exactly what he said to you because I think thess things should be kept in private, but I want to know how he was. Like, he was polite? He was Angry? Sad?

[goddardfamilyrefuge]

It has often been said that “people don’t quit their jobs; they quit their bosses.” A toxic leadership culture can make it difficult to retain employees even for desirable jobs. On the other hand, a healthy and vibrant leadership culture can make employees want to stay at difficult and demanding positions.

In the early chapters of Isaiah, Judah was suffering from poor leadership. King Ahaz trusted in military might and political alliances instead of trusting in the Lord (Isaiah 7). Israel had suffered long from corrupt kings and officials (Isa. 9:8–10:4). In contrast to these poor examples of leadership, God promised that one day a future king would come who would be the perfect leader—the Messiah.

This future king is described as a “shoot” from the “stump of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1). Jesse is the name of David’s father, so this is a reference to the Davidic line of kings. Notice that Jesse’s line is described as a “stump” because it had been cut down in judgment. Yet, from this stump a new growth would sprout. The Messiah would be uniquely empowered by the “Spirit of the LORD” (v. 2). He would be full of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and knowledge (v. 2). Righteousness and faithfulness would be at the core of His character (v. 5).

This king will usher in an age of peace. At that time, even animals who are natural enemies will dwell together in harmony. The wolf and the lamb, the leopard, and the goat, along with the lion and the ox (vv. 6–9). He will gather the remnant of His people from all the nations to live under His rule (vv. 12–16).

>> With the coming of Jesus, God kept His promise of a future ideal King (Rom. 15:12; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 5:5). As Jesus himself said, “I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16). Today, we can look forward to His Second Coming when all these promises will be fulfilled.

[dfroza]

“Listen now, to the voice of the Holy Spirit through what the psalmist wrote:”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 3rd chapter of the book of Hebrews:

So all of you who are holy partners in a heavenly calling, let’s turn our attention to Jesus, the Emissary of God and High Priest, who brought us the faith we profess; and compare Him to Moses, who also brought words from God. Both of them were faithful to their missions, to the One who called them. But we value Jesus more than Moses, in the same way that we value a builder more than the house he builds. Every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Moses brought healing and redemption to his people as a faithful servant in God’s house, and he was a witness to the things that would be spoken later. But Jesus the Anointed was faithful as a Son of that house. (We become that house, if we’re able to hold on to the confident hope we have in God until the end.)

Listen now, to the voice of the Holy Spirit through what the psalmist wrote:

Today, if you listen to His voice,

Don’t harden your hearts the way they did

in the bitter uprising at Meribah

Where your ancestors tested Me

though they had seen My marvelous power.

For the 40 years they traveled on

to the land that I had promised them,

That generation broke My heart.

Grieving and angry, I said, “Their hearts are unfaithful;

they don’t know what I want from them.”

That is why I swore in anger

they would never enter salvation’s rest.

Brothers and sisters, pay close attention so you won’t develop an evil and unbelieving heart that causes you to abandon the living God. Encourage each other every day—for as long as we can still say “today”—so none of you let the deceitfulness of sin harden your hearts. For we have become partners with the Anointed One—if we can just hold on to our confidence until the end.

Look at the lines from the psalm again:

Today, if you listen to His voice,

Don’t harden your hearts the way they did

in the bitter uprising at Meribah.

Now who, exactly, was God talking to then? Who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all of those whom Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for an entire generation? Wasn’t it those who sinned against Him, those whose bodies are still buried in the wilderness, the site of that uprising? It was those disobedient ones who God swore would never enter into salvation’s rest. And we can see that they couldn’t enter because they did not believe.

The Book of Hebrews, Chapter 3 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 43rd chapter of the book of Jeremiah where Jeremiah was falsely accused of lying:

When Jeremiah finished giving the people this answer from the Eternal their God—and he did tell them everything that is recorded here, just as he promised— Azariah (son of Hoshaiah) and Johanan (son of Kareah) and all the other overconfident men in that group spoke.

Leaders (to Jeremiah): These words are lies! The Eternal our God didn’t tell you to say, “Do not go to Egypt and settle there.” These are not His words at all. They are the words of Baruch (son of Neriah), your secretary. He is trying to turn you against us so we will be handed over to the Chaldeans, when they come back. If we listen to his counsel, we will be killed or taken into exile in Babylon.

So Johanan (son of Kareah), all the other army leaders, and all the people refused to obey the Eternal’s command to remain in Judah. So Johanan (son of Kareah) and the other army officers gathered up all the Judeans who had survived and returned to Judah from the countries they fled to. This vast company of refugees included the men, women, children, and daughters of the royal family and everyone else who Nebuzaradan, captain of the imperial guard, had left in the care of Gedaliah (son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan). Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch (son of Neriah) were also forced to join the company leaving Judah for Egypt. And so it was that this vast company of Judeans entered the land of Egypt in disobedience to the voice of the Eternal. They traveled as far as the northern city of Tahpanhes.

While they were in Tahpanhes, the message of the Eternal came to Jeremiah.

Eternal One: While everyone from Judah is watching, pick up some large rocks and then bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Once you’ve done this, give the people this message from the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies and God of Israel: “I am sending My servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to Egypt. I will set his throne over the exact spot where I’ve hidden these stones, and he will spread his royal canopy over this exact spot. He is coming to attack Egypt, and he will bring death to those destined to die, captivity to those destined to be captive, and war to those destined to die in battle. I will start a fire, and then he will burn the temples of Egypt’s so-called gods. He will take these idols back to Babylon. He will pick through the land of Egypt as easily as a shepherd picks clean his robe. And once he’s finished, he will return home unharmed. He will tear down the obelisks of Egypt in the temple of the sun. Yes, he will burn down the temples of Egypt’s gods.

The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 43 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, September 25 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons that looks to the “end”:

Shalom friends. Our Lord foretold that in the "end of days" there would be perilous times -- moral, political, ethnic, and spiritual chaos throughout the world, "as it was in the days of Noah." Of Noah's generation the Torah says: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of humanity was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, so that it grieved the LORD to his heart" (Gen. 6:5-6). Indeed, Paul's description of the character of people before the time of the end is chillingly accurate of our present generation (see 2 Tim. 3:1-7).

With the increasing rise of anarchy and lawlessness throughout the nations, the Scriptures further foretell the rise of a governmental system that would oppress and subjugate the entire world, using surveillance systems and devices to control every aspect of life, so that no one would be able to buy or sell without being tagged as an compliant member of the system. Once a global (cashless) currency system has been established, the prophesied "man of sin" would then arise to embody the presence of Satan on the earth, in mimicry of the advent of the true Messiah.

At first this "man of sin" (איש החטא) will seem to be a man of peace but after his reign is secured, he will reveal his malice by persecuting those who still believe in the one true God, causing great tribulation, especially for the Jewish people. The rise of this "Messiah of Evil" or the "anti-Christ" will be in accordance with the great vision of the prophet Daniel, wherein the final "week" of "seventy weeks of years" is fulfilled...

Presently we are living in the "gap" between the 69th week and the 70th week of years, but we see signs that the gap is now closing, and soon the world will enter into the "tribulation" period... As things get closer to the time of great judgment (יום יהוה), followers of Messiah will be forcefully removed by God's hand (i.e., raptured) either before the tribulation proper begins ("pre-trib"), or perhaps just before the Great Tribulation period ("mid-trib"), the later view being argued because followers of Yeshua will see the advent of the man of sin (2 Thess. 2:3-4). Either way, however, God has not appointed his followers to undergo the unleashing of his wrath upon the world system during the last half of the seventieth week (1 Thess. 5:9), so "post-trib is not a sound eschatological option. The rapture will occur as we are gathered together with the LORD to meet him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

The 70th week of the vision given to Daniel will begin when the "man of sin" appears to make a "covenant" with the people of the world, though he will later set up an "abomination" and force all world citizens to bow down to its image (perhaps similar to Nebuchadnezzar's insanity to force people to bow down before the golden image of himself; at this time the rapture of followers of Messiah may occur). Like Daniel's three friends who refused to bow down before the image, many will refuse to comply and outright worldwide persecution of the Jewish people will take place. This is called the "time of Jacob's trouble" and the "Great Tribulation." Satan will rule only “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” and then the great Day of LORD will seal his doom with the second coming of Yeshua (as described in Rev. 19:11-21).

So, in light of this (very brief) sketch of what is coming -- and as the world system becomes more and more tyrannical as it prepares for the arrival of the "messiah of evil" -- how are you walking out your faith? Remember that spiritual warfare is not an option for the life of a follower of Yeshua. How are you keeping free of fear or anger? How are you preparing for the days ahead? Please feel free to leave your comments below. [Hebrew for Christians]

9.22.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

September 25, 2021

My Lord and My God

“And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)

Thomas has been called “doubting Thomas” because of his initial reluctance to believe in the Lord’s resurrection, but neither the Lord nor the other disciples ever viewed him in such a light. His later ministry, as the first missionary/ martyr to India, speaks clearly of his great faith.

It is only in John’s gospel that we have any specific insight into Thomas’ character. When the other disciples sought to dissuade Jesus from returning to Jerusalem, it was Thomas who urged, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Thomas understood the dangers awaiting them but was ready to go wherever Jesus desired him to go. In the upper room when Jesus spoke of going away, Thomas, still willing to go with Him anywhere, was the only one to ask, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Then, just a few hours later, the Lord had been crucified, and soon “the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19) as they hid themselves in the upper room.

But Thomas was not hiding! The Scriptures do not say where he was when Jesus appeared in their midst, but he was not hiding there like the others. He may well have been out working or witnessing, doing whatever he could to follow the Lord, but he (like the others) had failed to understand Jesus’ promise that He would rise again.

When the other disciples reported that they had seen the resurrected Lord, Thomas, realizing the tremendous significance of such a miracle if it were true, insisted he must see the proof firsthand. Then, when he saw the Lord, he showed a higher comprehension of what had taken place than any of the others, as he whispered in awe: “My Lord, and my God!” HMM