SIGNS OF THE TIMES

. . .for the coming new year; if we make it that long. . .



Jesus said, “When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. Matt. 16:2-4

SO THAT WAS CHRISTMAS

There’s a song in which we find the lyrics... “So this is Christmas, and what have we done?” 
Many opinions on Christmas, most, probably, of no ultimate consequence. However, in the present, there is strife.

THE WILD BEASTS IN THE WILDERNESS

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Mark 1:13

Two things I bear in mind about reading and STUDYING scripture is…

       1. (inspired) MEN are writing

       2. GOD is revealing

Men’s personal life experiences and individual personalities are necessarily incorporated in their recordings of the revelations of God. Otherwise they would have been robots and all four Gospels would read alike. So the applications are both practical and Spiritual. Accordingly, we should always have our spiritual “eyes” open.

Christmas Series - 8 Parts

Santa Claus

Christmas - Part 1

Christmas - Part 2

Christmas - Part 3

Christmas - Part 4

Christmas - Part 5

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas

So That Was Christmas

SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

The following is text (boldface mine) from a website, gotquestions.org where readers submit questions (usually of a Christian nature) to “someone” who theoretically has done the homework for you, and proceeds to answer the question. I don’t know when the question was asked or by whom, as there is no reference given…

                                   _________________________________________

Question: "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?"

Answer: The debate about whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas has been raging for centuries. There are equally sincere and committed Christians on both sides of the issue, each with multiple reasons why or why not Christmas should be celebrated in Christian homes. But what does the Bible say? Does the Bible give clear direction as to whether Christmas is a holiday to be celebrated by Christians? 

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Part 5

Most people who call themselves Christians "do not agree"  with my previous essay on Christmas. That's the polite way of saying you prefer to believe the world's version… the lies. I did not present my "opinions," but the information of the ages.

Why do we resist the truth? Difficult to accept isn't it? The "anti" Christmas message is that which would tear families apart. Isn't that amazing, (shameful, really). The fact that Christmas should have more of a divisive factor in families than Christ does, is a condemnation on us all. Jesus said He would be the divisive factor… not a "holiday".

Do we make are own rules up? 

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Part 4

So, what is wrong

with Christmas?

Christmas belongs to the world. Christ belongs to Heaven.

PICK ONE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Part 3

Christmas is a problem for the Christian. Why, we ask? Because Christmas is a lie and Christians believe it. And what is more egregious, some Christians (if not MOST) do not want to know the truth. A blogger writes… "Christmas is to be a celebration of Jesus Christ". PLEASE, prove it to all of us WITH Scripture. Or is it too much responsibility to prove "your version" of the truth? Or is it just too impossible?? One cannot "christianize" hedonism and debauchery.

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Part 2

The Origin Of Christmas

The date of December 25th comes from ancient Rome and was a celebration of a pagan god, Saturn. This was done long before the birth of Jesus. There was a cause for much wild excitement and celebration. Gift giving and merriment filled the temples of ancient Rome, as sacred priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession, in celebration of a sun god who rose from the dead. This, they figured to be the reason for increasing daylight.

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Part 1

Christmas is a holiday that has an effect on the entire world. It is shared and celebrated by many nations and cultures.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING... AGAIN

Santa Claus... Ho-Ho-Ho… or… Oh-Oh-Oh!
Most people never dig into the history of "tradition" - or why they believe what they believe and do what they do, especially with regard to "holidays". We live in a world filled with rituals and customs, but few people ever wonder about, or seek to understand their origins. We generally accept them without question, passed down from generation to generation. Most people basically do what everyone else does because it is easier and more natural to… "go with the flow!" (one of the reasons for the "sheep" metaphor). Take for example… the Santa Claus experience… "Saint" Nicholas.

Although I would hope to change everyone's mind about the perversion that is Santa Claus, I do not want to present here all the information that is available, nor even half of what is available. Should anyone REALLY care enough to do the right thing, you will need to search out the truth for yourself. But I do want to whet your appetites to know more.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SIMPLE MIND

Ockham's Razor notwithstanding, the simple mind can fathom the complexities and depths of the Infinite and the Eternal. Some of us have been "conditioned" to think, "it is beyond my range of comprehension"… I am not smart enough. Understanding does not come from being intelligent. It comes from knowledge. Knowledge comes from learning. Learning comes from seeking. Is there anyone who cannot learn? With very few exceptions, the answer is No! Is there anyone who will not learn? Oh, Yes (sad). So then, learning becomes a journey of seeking… an adventure of discovery, to uncover.

The Fellowship of the Simple Mind - 2

For you see your calling, brethren, how not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1:26-31

Suffice it to say, I fit that description. Oh yes, God chose foolish me. I was 30 when the Lord revealed Himself to me in the Gospel according to John. He saved me according to His Word when I cried out to Him in shame and guilt. Did I then cease to be foolish? Not in the flesh. But I began to understand.

CHALLENGING THE SIMPLE MIND

I AM CARNAL

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Rom. 7:14






CARNAL = the sensuous nature of man. I am carnal. I was born carnal; I was raised carnal. I was exposed to all kinds of carnal things growing up, mostly by media (entertainment) and advertising, to the point that I am attracted to and my lusts are gratified by all things worldly and all things of the flesh… albeit, momentarily. So are you.

I say momentarily because that is all anyone who seeks “satisfaction” in the flesh can really expect. We live in “a” moment. There is nothing in the temporal, carnal existence that is eternally satiating or fulfilling. Having our senses glutted satisfies for the moment, but then we want the experience again. Our emotions are excited, our senses are heightened, our intellect is stimulated from moment to moment. Because that is what time does… tick-tocks to the next moment. What has “happened” is of no further consequence or consideration, unless it is happening now.

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

1 Chronicles 16:8: Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:34: Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

TEACH US TO PRAY

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. Luke 11:1

Are we having conversations with our Father, or is it more like a monologue? Or… are we barely speaking. Do we fully realize the reality of God, or do we just accept the “tradition” of a supernatural, spectral Divine Being?

DECEIT, COMPROMISE AND COMPLACENCY

Have you died in Christ? But you live. Yet not you but Christ lives in you? Can Christ live in you and not go about doing good? Have you (Christ in you) healed anyone today? Can Christ go about not healing?

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good , and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

THE CHRIST

Then He (Jesus) said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.  Luke 24:44-46

AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

The Coming Again of Jesus The Christ

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

Jesus had just got done telling the disciples that the temple and the city would be destroyed. So naturally, the disciples wanted to know “when” would this happen. But they tagged along two other questions… When will the temple and city be destroyed, What will be the sign of your coming, and What will be the sign of the end of the age? Of course, the temple and the city, as well as around 600,000 Jews and other peoples in the city, were destroyed in 70 AD. Any of the Jews who escaped or were taken prisoner were scattered throughout the lands. Today, the Jews have no means of sacrifice and, therefore, no “sacrificial” means of salvation.

DANIEL 10

The reason for this post is… I was at a Bible teaching on Daniel 10 one day (actually it was a part of a series on the entire book of Daniel) and I believe the “speaker” got it totally wrong.

My scripture text begins at verse 4…

4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!

6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

THE RELIGION of the WORLD

The religions of the world have NOTHING to do with Jesus the Christ any more than the Pharisees and the Sadducees did. I submit…….

UNITED METHODIST AND EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH CLERGY LEAD PRAYER RALLY TO "BLESS" ABORTION CLINIC [Excerpts]

In Ohio, United Methodist Church pastor, Reverend Laura Young, says she believes pro-life protesters in front of Planned Parenthood and other abortion facilities have "misguided faith."

[The problem is manifestly evident immediately. There you have a WOMAN who calls herself a “pastor” and her title is “reverend.” She is about as “reverend” as the irreverend Al Charleton. AND… she’s a homosexual lesbian. All three of those “observations” are against the Word of God… which she apparently rejects. Ergo, she is a shipwrecked reprobate. In the meantime, millions of babies are being BUTCHERED!] ~fb

In fact, she thinks these clinics should be blessed, which is why she went out to an abortion facility called Preterm on October 8th in Cleveland. In 2014, Preterm was involved in the abortion-related death of Lakisha Wilson.

IF WE SUFFER WITH HIM

…if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,  if  indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans  8:17

TRICK or TREAT

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.  Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. Deut. 18:9-12

CEASED FROM SIN

Therefore, since the Christ suffered for us in His body, arm yourselves also with the same mind, because he that has suffered in the body has ceased from sin. 1 Peter 4:1

HYPOCRISY

It is not our doctrines the world laughs at;
it is not our faith the world mocks;
it is not our religion the world despises;
it is our hypocrisy that provokes their scorn.

SPIRITUAL WISDOM

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise keep calm until the end. Prov. 29:11

My (the apostle Paul) speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our  glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:4-8

REPENTANCE

…and He (Jesus) said to them (disciples), "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:46-48

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” Isaiah 30:15

Godly sorrow worketh repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Many think the word repent means “to become religious” or “to stop sinning”; or “to become righteous” …as if we could. Repentance requires a whole new point of view; looking at it God's way. God simply asks us to turn back to Him. This is the way we accept His gift. 

THE WORLD OF ILLITERACY IN THE CHURCH

There is a GREAT problem in the whole world having to do with communications among ourselves. It is ILLITERACY. Today, though, I would direct your attention to this problem within the Church… an appalling situation because we are "handling" the Word of Truth. We have been entrusted with its dissemination.

But this person has blown me away with his/her post on some other blog site. With great difficulty, I got through it.
…from another blog site; I won’t mention where. It was posted a while ago but it’s a prime example of my topic... And it's not unique.
TRY!!! To get through this! ...posted exactly as written.
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TAKE HEED

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food (manna), and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Lest WE Be Castaways

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 
1 Cor. 9:27

Castaway: Greek, Adokimos, ad-ok'-ee-mos
Adjective
Definition:
not standing the test, not approved
that which does not prove itself such as it ought
unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate

ECUMENISM…THE WORLD CHURCH

The pope had a secret meeting with Kim Davis while he was in Washington.  Kim Davis was flown to Washington for a private meeting with the pope.  She's the woman that refused to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples in that county in Kentucky.  She was put in jail for a while. The pope flew her in and applauded her for her courage.  The media (liberals) has found out about this, and they're not happy.  One minute they like the pope because he espouses their agenda, then they don’t like him because he supports Kim Davis’ views on homosexuality. That’s democrats for you. They really don’t care about anything, especially moral issues, except for the agenda of power and control…but that’s another post.

THE MYRTLE, THE CYPRESS, AND THE CEDAR

"The myrtle trees that were in the bottom...."-Zechariah 1:8

IF__________THEN

[A conditional sentence is a two-clause sentence in which the first clause states a supposition or hypothesis and the second clause states the results if  that condition is met. The hypothetical clause which states the condition ("If this . . .") is termed the protasis and the conclusion clause is called the apodosis (". . . then this.").
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES IN THE  NEW TESTAMENT by  William E. Elliot]

This will certainly NOT be any kind of in-depth study or commentary of “conditional sentence verses.” That would take a lifetime. I merely wish to raise the awareness of what scripture says.

LUKEWARM AND LOVING IT

….a government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people. That was the beginning of the Laodicean “church” in the USA, and although the quote belongs to Abraham Lincoln, it was nonetheless instituted by “founding fathers” who put the will of the people above the Will of God.

We elect leaders by the people’s choice. But when a culture does not know it’s right from the left they will most likely choose wrong. The dominating church in the last days (read now, TODAY) is Laodicean, which means “peoples opinions”, or “people‘s justice”. Of course, by definition then, that leaves God out. What happens when the church does not know what is true or right and insists on "its own interpretation" to take place? Well, you get what we got today! What disappoints me (besides myself) is that those who might, or in fact, KNOW the difference are having virtually no impact, that I can discern. The END will not be delayed.

BABYLON HAS COME TO LAODICEA

…and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, 

“BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. 

And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. 

Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits,

and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 

The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 

These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:3-14

SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BE A REPUBLICAN?

In the prior post, I point out that it is contrary to fundamental Christian beliefs and character to vote for a democrat. (I don't think everyone gets that… or WANTS to get it?) There is NO WAY  I can be a part of or support a group that actively promotes, advances, endorses, encourages, helps, campaigns for, supports, advocates abortion and/or homosexuality. That is not only my perspective, but that is my faith, my firmly held conviction, … that's my stand. I loathe the democrat party. To me it is an antichrist. Do I make my point?

But now my title above asks, "Should a Christian be a republican?".

SUBMIT, SUBJECT, SUBJECTION

A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. 1 Pet. 5:5

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:24

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13:1

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

First century New Testament believers and the contemporary “church” are two VERY different phenomena. One started right….one went way wrong.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Luke 22:19

WHAT MANNER OF MEN

A Perspective of Christian Life

I think the less said by me and the more said by scripture the better for us. So there's a lot of scripture here. We should not read scripture with the attitude of, "Oh yeah, I know that verse...I've read it before, I know what it says." ....because then we will "skim" over it. That's not study....that's speed-reading. I continually learn something new from reading scripture I've read before, over again and S..L..O..W..L..Y.

“for in him all the fullness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell.” Col. 1:19

“For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9

JOINT HEIRS

"Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." This is a fact which the Apostle Paul states in Rom. 8:15. We do cry, "Abba, Father." From this he declares that if God has given us the Spirit whereby we call Him "Father," then we are His children, which is plain, fair, and clear reasoning. Then he adds—"If children then heirs."

We are called "joint heirs with Christ." We are co-heirs. It is Our Divine Portion!
~adapted from, The Joint Heirs and Their Divine Portion, Sermon (No. 402) - July, 28th, 1861, C. H. SPURGEON, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.