Question #1:
I was reading in Herodotus Amyntus' son Alexander-when the Persians came
and Amyntus entertained them. And then the Persians demanded their women
come out and Amyntus granted it, but then the Persians started sexually
assaulting them in the banquet area right then and there that Amyntus
was afraid of the Persians and was silent. BUT his son Alexander was
not.
As a question of morality, normally I am for the hierarchy and following
the system even to self sacrifice, and very distrustful of rebellion or
ends/ideal/vision justifying doing questionable things in the present.
But over time I have come to the conclusion that some principles are
more important, some things are worth middle-fingering the system for,
some things worth dying for. And it is something to read a story and
find myself agreeing (for once of a rare few moments, out of all the
books I read) with the person 'rebelling' and at least trying to say
'no.'
If you disagree though, please do make just a line or two because I do
wonder the moral and righteous way. It is applicable to daily life in
little things.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Response #1:
I agree with you. As believers, we are told to "honor the king"
(1Pet.2:17; cf. Rom.13:1-7; Tit.3:1-2); but this is not the Millennium,
so that we are allowed to take proper measures to defend ourselves and
others from violence and abuse (e.g., Lk.22:36). When it comes to "duly
constituted authority", also here believers have a right to avail
themselves of lawful procedures to protect their lives and freedom
(e.g., Acts 25:11), and even to directly oppose it when said authority
is preventing us from doing something we ought to do (as in Daniel
praying) or forcing us to do something we ought not to do (as in
Daniel's three friends refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's idol).
The one thing to add, however, is that such resistance, right or wrong
or in-between, always has consequences, and it is good to think about
that before going off half-cocked in even a justified emotional rage. I
have always been one to err towards resisting injustice from on high (I
am certainly not saying that I am perfect in this!), and I can affirm
that even in indisputably just instances, there is a price to pay for
it, sometimes a very steep one. So be careful to prayerfully consider
before acting and to "count the cost" before committing to any such
resistance (Lk.14:28). In time shortly to come, such resistance will
indeed be necessary to preserve our eternal life.
(4) And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast. And they [also] worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? And who is able to make war with him?" (5) And a mouth was given to [the beast] to speak presumptuous things and blasphemies [against God]. And it was [also] given to him to do what he wished for forty-two months. (6) And he opened his mouth for [the purpose of] blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His Name and His dwelling and those who dwell in heaven (i.e., the family of God). (7) And it was given to [the beast] to make war on the holy ones (e.g., believers) and to conquer them (i.e., the Great Persecution). And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and language and race. (8) And all the inhabitants of the earth will worship [the beast], [that is, all] whose names are not [still] written in the book of life [where they were written] from the beginning of the world, [even the book] which belongs to the Lamb who was slain. (9) "If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (10) If anyone is [destined] for captivity [to captivity he will go]. If it is necessary for anyone to be put to death by the sword, by the sword he must be put to death. Herein lies the perseverance and the faithfulness of the holy ones."
Revelation 13:4-10
Merry Christmas to you too, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
There are so many who say the covid vaccine is the mark of the Beast,
and that if you take it, even if you repent sincerely afterwards, you
are still irreversibly damned...what kind of righteous God would do
this!? What kind of God would straight up LIE about the timing of the
Mark in His own Word, and have it actually come BEFORE the Antichrist
actually shows himself!?
I have yet to see anyone come to one of these people after reading their
article or whatever, scared because they took the vacc, and then the
"teacher" condemned them and told then they're unforgivable for what
they did...but I'm sure it's happened. And these people are perhaps the
most vile, evil, Abominable "Christians" I've ever heard of. And their
God is even more wicked for doing this! These people speak such
blasphemy against God's Grace in HIS NAME!!!
I have not and will not take the vaccine, so I guess I'm still
redeemable to these people...a vile w**** from Hell who has no capacity
to truly care for right and wrong...while people who are truly, I'm
sorry, WERE truly saved and truly lived only for God, are the most vile
of creatures and utterly irredeemable because they took a vaccine.
Response #2:
Anyone who has read Revelation should know that the mark is a mark and
not something else like a vaccine or shot (this thing was not really a
vaccine, not even as close to that as a flu shot, merely an emergency
therapeutic), nor a chip implant, nor a digital currency, nor any other
such thing. A mark is a mark, a visible tattoo (see
the link).
Anyone who would teach damnation for getting a shot is either an idiot
or a seriously evil false teacher (possibly both).
Anyone who teaches that salvation is based on anything other than grace
through faith in Christ is doubtless not even a believer (Eph.2:8-9).
Anyone who keeps listening to drivel like that is going nowhere
spiritually . . . except backwards.
This is what happens in Laodicea. I feel bad for these people (not for
their teachers who should know better), but anyone who eats rotten fruit
and suffers for it but keeps eating it anyway . . .
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
My first response to you was 'oh that is a relief'. It is a weird
feeling observing that you are changing like this and if it is the Lord
then it isn't so scary.
But then I also remembered that I myself have thought about how ever
since I read Psalm 37:25, and have indeed learned better about the Lord
and am not afraid I will get struck down for nothing or for something
small (the opposite really), I am more confident and independent and
that sort of thing.
Somewhat related: I was praying today and saying that there is this idea
that the rules are there for a good reason. And sometimes they are and
sometimes they are not. In the moment when you have to make a decision
that feels/seems wrong but is according to the rules, you may not be
able to figure out if it was a good reason. I can see people doing the
opposite (I mean I understand more). I mean our human rules.
Thank you for your prayers my dear friend. Have a good week!
Response #3:
You're growing closer to the Lord, my friend. That is what consistent
Bible study – and believing it – will do. Good for you!
Rules are indeed important. All human authority comes from God
(Rom.13:1-7; Tit.3:1-2; 1Pet.2:17;
see the link), even though it is
imperfect and sometimes perverse. Without authority, there would be
anarchy, and we believers would not have an environment in which we can
learn about the Lord and serve Him by helping others to do so (see the
link: in SR 4,
"Law and nationalism as restrainers of satanic influence"). So
anytime we're tempted to gripe about inconsistent, unfair, and
burdensome "rules", we need to keep in mind that God is using them to
protect us . . . in order to be able to do His will for our lives.
There will, however, be a time in the near future when evil reigns and
believers will be called upon NOT to "follow the rules" . . . when they
come from the devil.
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Revelation 14:9-13 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Hi Bob,
Just something I need to tell you to share with your ministry. You know I feel
really led by the Lord to expose false teaching and cults.
Wanted to warn some of your readers again about Q Anon. It is a cult as is all
"teachings" from the conspiracy theory movement. The reason for the warning is
that it is more and more wedded to the Evangelical Christian Right especially in
America. It's been publicly endorsed by Trump and is also a major player behind
the anti- vaxx, anti-Covid lockdown "freedom" movement.
I think I may have mentioned this before but I think it needs to be said again.
The faith behind this movement is NOT Christian but a mix of pagan, new age and
Theosophy (basically the same thing!)
I did tell you before but again important to say again that they use prayers
from the "I am" cult and also the Church Universal and Triumphant.
Here is a little on both..
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22I_AM%22_Activity
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Universal_and_Triumphant
Obviously I don't advise anyone to go deep into this stuff (as it is occultism)
and also they often quote from these Ascended Masters by channeling demons so I
wouldn't recommend reading the quotes. Knowing some of their lexicon is useful
though.
They are both offshoots of Theosophy which believes in Ascended Masters which
are the fallen angels under Satan coming to earth to teach us how to reach our
"higher potential", positive thinking, through "good vibrations", the "seven
rays" of emanationism (represented by the rainbow), the "awakening" and the
"ascendancy", also to achieve "Christ consciousness". If you learn how the new
age "talk" then you can spot this stuff a mile away. It is basically the idea of
self redemption, self ascendancy and "inner godhood" through meditations and
Yoga (meditation, visualisation and Yoga are hugely important aspects of this.)
There is also a huge overlap with Gnosticism and the idea of gods from the
Pleroma helping humans to break through the "prison" we are meant to be held in
on earth by the "Demiurge" which is the God of the Bible.
I really do believe that this will be the underpinning of the one world religion
as it will have to be pantheistic and syncretic to get everyone on board. The
way Theosophy gets around this problem of appealing to all is that they claim
that Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, Virgin Mary and even Jesus are all avatars or
Ascended Masters. I've said before the New Age is the most obvious choice of
religion for the antichrist. I doubt it will be slightly altered Christianity as
most people hate anything to do with the Bible.
There is a strong leaning in this "religion" towards sexual purity and
vegetarianism so that would fit in with the "forbidding to marry and abstaining
from meats" from 1 Tim 4:3
Most of what passes as the Church Visible is New age already.
Prosperity gospel = visualisation/ positive thinking
Charismatic/ Pentecostalism = Kundalini awakening
Emergent Church = mysticism/ altered states through contemplative prayer
Hebrew Roots/ SDA/ Noahidism/ Messianic = Kabbalistic teaching (Kabballah and
Zohar)
I guess another umbrella term for all of this (aside from New Age) is basically
Occultism.
Of course the best way to see through all these lies is to read our bibles and
stick with spiritual growth. I do think it useful though for your readers to at
least be aware of these things. They don't always come clean and say "we're
occultists!" and they even deny the New Age title but it is a broad road to
destruction after all! I would say the best way to describe the multifaceted and
sprawling lies of the New Age is definitely the broad road!
I don't see Yoga going away anytime soon, do you?
Thought this lexicon of words will help people to spot the New Age
Acupuncture
Affirmations
Ancient
Ancestral Wisdom
Anima, Animus
Archetypes (if related to Jungian beliefs)
Aura
Avatar
Ayurveda
Balance
Be here now
Bio-electrical
Bioenergy
Biofield
Body scan
Bodywork
Body-Mind-Spirit
Breathwork
Cellular memory
Chakra
Chatter/Mental Chatter/Monkey Chatter (as applied to thoughts)
Chi/qi/ki
Cleansing (the body, mind, spirit, soul, memory)
Complementary Healing/Medicine (CAM)
Consciousness, Higher Consciousness
Cupping
Detox/Detoxify
(The) Divine
Divine Center
Divine Consciousness
Divine Feminine
Divine Reality
(The) Doshas
Earthing
EFT (Emotional Field Therapy)/Tapping
Electrical energy (related to healing)
Electro-magnetic (healing)
(An) Empath
Enneagram
Energy
Energy Field
EFT/Tapping
Feng Shui
(The) Five Elements (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood; used in Taoism for
Feng Shui, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other aspects of Taoist?New Age
practice)
(The) Four Elements (air, earth, water, and fire used in astrology, pagan
rituals, and many areas of the New Age and occult)
Frequency/Frequencies
Functional Medicine
Grounding
Guided Imagery/Guided Visualization
Healing of Memories (Inner Healing)
Healing Touch
Holistic
Homeopathy
Inner Healing
Itovi Scanner
Inner Self
Integral Spirituality, Integral Christianity
Integrative care/medicine/healing
Intentional
(An) Intuitive, Intuitive Healer
Karma
Magnetism (usually related to healing)
Manifesting
(A) Medical Intuitive
(A) Medical Sensitive
Meditation
Meridian/s
Mindfulness
Monkey Chatter
Monkey Mind
Natural
Natural Healer/Natural Healing/Naturopathy
Naturopathy
Nidra/Yoga Nidra/Nidra Breathwork
Parasympathetic (legitimate term but often used wrongly in pseudo-science to
sound credible)
Pineal Gland
Positive Thinking
Pranayama
Pranic Healing
Quantum, Quantum Energy, Quantum Field,
Qi-gong
Shiatsu (based on same Taoist beliefs as Acupuncture)
Spiritual Body
Tapping
Sacred Space
Sacred Places
The SCIO (The SCIO is connected to you via a headband and wrist and ankle
straps. It allegedly sends electromagnetic signals to the body and supposedly
scans the body).
Shaman
The Shift
Spiral
Spirit
Splankna (an alleged healing modality)
Tai Chi
Tapping/EFT
Therapeutic Touch
TFT (Thought Field Therapy)
Triads (Enneagram)
Touch for Health
Toxins (in context of detoxifying)
Traditional Medicine
TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine
(The) Universe
Universal Consciousness
Vibrational Jackie Summers
Vibrations
Vision Boards
Visualization
Vitalism
Vital Force
Wellness
"Western" Medicine
Yin and Yang
Zyto Scanner
Any words above appearing in the context of healing indicate the primary basis
for the healing is spiritual, not medical.
In Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
Response #4:
Quite a list! This stuff is infecting everything. And, judging from the number
of yoga shops/salons (don't know the right name), you are right: that stuff is
not going away soon. I did a little Judo and Karate when I was younger but was
put off by the "spiritual side" – similar to yoga.
Whenever and wherever people turn away from the truth, the devil has all manner
of lies, "666
ways" to perdition, but we know that there is only One Way, the Life and the
Truth in Jesus Christ (Jn.14:6).
Here's some links on antichrist's religion which will no doubt happily
incorporate all of the above:
Characteristics of the New Religion of Antichrist
The False Piety of Antichrist's Tribulational Religion
The Anti-Christian Religion of Antichrist and its World-wide Expansion
The Persuasiveness of the Tribulational False Religion
The False Prophet's Administration of Antichrist's False Religion
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Doc...you say no believer would ever add to or take away from Revelation right?... I'm worried I might have done that. I misinterpreted the Beast from the Bottomless Pit (Revelation 11), and while It was an accident and I was sure I was right, I still told others it was the true interpretation. My misinterpretation was hearing "Beast" and assuming it was the same Beast that's associated with Antichrist...I was so scared hearing about it I just panicked and assumed that...I didn't mean to fool anyone, I thought I was warning people...why must I damn myself doing the very thing I try to warn people about?
Response #5:
The beast and antichrist are indeed the same individual. See the link:
Coming Tribulation Part 3B: Antichrist and his Kingdom: The Beast: All about Antichrist
In any case, that verse you are worrying about has to do with willful alteration of copies of the written Word of God for the purpose of spreading lies on behalf of the evil one. If everyone who misinterpreted or wrongly quoted the Bible were going to hell, I doubt if there'd be anyone at all in heaven. Hope you have a nice 4th!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Thanks Bob,
I keep you in my daily prayers too, your ministry, your self and your
loved ones. I am also praying for your secular research. I am praying
through my prayer list now twice a day, once in the morning first thing
and last thing at night.
No rush over this next question as I know tonight you will be posting
for tomorrow and I am looking forward to Sunday's offering.
Today I am re-reading 2nd Corinthians and I am struggling to understand
chapter 3. Paul talks about being absent from the body. Does this refer
to leaving this tabernacle behind (our sinful and mortal body) and to
instead being with Jesus in either our interim body or our glorified
one?
Then it talks about labouring whether present or absent but surely there
is no more labouring for Christ after death as our opportunity to do so
is only in the here and now in the fiery furnace?
Thanks Bob in advance my friend!
In Jesus,
Response #6:
I'm sure you mean 2nd Corinthians 5:9.
You do have a point. What Paul means is that whether we are focused on the here
and now (as we all must be to some degree) or contemplating what is to come as
we are still here, in either attitude we seek to please the Lord. Clearly, there
are no worries about that once this life is over since that will be the end of
all our troubles once and for all:
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 7:13-17 NIV
So "whether in the body or out of the body", means "we want to please the Lord,
regardless of whether we are going to remain here in the body a long time or go
to be with Him very soon".
Looking forward to the latter, but resolved to honor Him even if it is the
former.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Philippians 1:21-24 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hello Robert,
I need your assistance regarding Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell." There is a young man, a believer, who is hung up on
the "destroy both soul and body" phrase. He said he was told that since the body
and soul were both destroyed there is no hell. The question he then had was can
God destroy - eliminate the soul? I tried to respond but told him I had to study
this. I am a bit over my head here and would appreciate your take on this
scripture.
In Jesus
Response #7:
Good to hear from you – hope you are doing well.
It's a good example of how believers can get encouragement from
scripture but should not attempt to build their own doctrine from it –
as if the Church were not a body where each member had its own function
for the good of the whole. Even those with the gift of pastor-teacher
can't "figure out" what scriptures which are not patently obvious on
their face really mean without a good deal of preparation first.
In the specific case you ask about, the solution hinges on understanding
Greek. Sadly, in most if not all versions, the word here translated
"soul" is misunderstood. The problem is that in English culture the
"soul" is thought to be "the spirit". But Greek has a word for spirit (pneuma
cf. pneumatic) and that is not the word we have here. The word in
Matthew 10:28 is psyche (cf. psychology). The psyche (the Hebrew
equivalent is nephesh, cf. Gen.2:7) is the "life" of a person. It is not
a separate organ or spiritual entity; i.e., it is not a tertium quid,
some "third thing" in addition to the body and the spirit. Far from it.
God created Adam by making/forming his body and then breathing in the
spirit – and that is the origin of all human life today as well, namely,
the creation of the human spirit within everyone whenever a person is
born. The psyche/nephesh is the life or "living person" as it says in
Gen.2:7. So English is confused and confusing on this point. We do say
in English, "the ship went down and every soul aboard was lost" –
meaning that everyone lost their physical lives rather than referencing
eternal consequences. That is what is going on in the verse you ask
about as well. Based on the above, here is how I render the verse:
"And do not fear those who can kill your body, but are not able to kill your self (psyche). But fear rather the One who is able to destroy both your self (psyche) and your body in hell."
Matthew 10:28
Even with this translation, I do realize that the above is still capable
of misinterpretation, especially the "destroy" part. Note that the
original is Greek not English and that the words are different and not
exact equivalents in meaning so that they don't have the exact same
connotations. That is to say, in Greek the word does not equal "must be
annihilation" as we may think in English when we hear "destroy".
Scripture describes damnation, the condemnation coming for all who
refuse to believe in Christ, as "the second death". Now we know that the
first death does not result in annihilation: believers go to the third
heaven while unbelievers go to "Torments", the holding pen, so to speak,
where they are kept until the last judgment (cf. Lk.16:19-31). The same
is true of the "second death", namely, there is no end of existence –
it's just so bad in the case of unbelievers that it's described as
"death". Or, to look at it another way, believers go off into eternal
life, but unbelievers do not. They still exist, but it's not a condition
that could be described as "life"; we might call it "eternal death" . .
. except that the Bible doesn't use that terminology. But that is what
the second death is, namely, a horrible existence for all eternity in
the lake of fire, not annihilation, the end of existence.
We are told at Revelation 2:11 that "he who overcomes shall not be hurt
by the second death"; that is a funny way to put it if damnation was the
end of existence. In fact, of course, our Lord is very clear that those
who exit life without faith will find themselves in a situation where
"Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mk.9:44; 9:46;
9:48; cf. Is.66:24).
To apply all this to Matthew 10:28, destroying "self" as well as body in
hell is referring to God's ability not only to do bodily damage – which
ends at physical death in the case of any human harming any human – but
also to inflict ultimate pain and damage on the whole person forever . .
. by casting them into the lake of fire. The whole point of this
passage, therefore, is to demonstrate that while a person might take
comfort in the face of death knowing that physical death means the end
of bodily suffering on this earth, in fact, God is able to prolong that
suffering forever for those who reject Him, doing so through the second
death, through "destroying [any comfort] of body or self/person/heart"
by casting said rebel into the lake of fire.
Thus any and all who want to use Matthew 10:28 to "show" that death ends
suffering are completely misreading and misunderstanding our Lord here.
He is demonstrating the exact OPPOSITE: human beings can ONLY affect
one's body, and after the body dies, they can't do anything more to
someone whom they are afflicting. But God has no such limitation. He is
able to afflict, destroy (not in the sense of annihilation but in the
sense of removing every comfort) not just the body but the whole person
and do so forever. Human beings who inflict punishment do affect the
whole person but can't do so forever since when the body gives out, the
spirit leaves, resulting in the end of physical life (psyche) on earth;
but unbelievers who face the last judgment in the resurrection for
condemnation will have bodies which never go out of existence, bodies
wherein their spirits will spend all eternity. But since they will be
doing so in the lake of fire, that is no sort of "life" and so to say
that this is the destruction of all a person might hope for, not just of
the body but of the entire self, brings the point home with greater
emphasis: this is the second death, an existence so terrible that it
goes by that name.
I've written a lot about this and related subjects in the past. Here are
a few links which might also help:
Against Universalism I: Free Will and the Image of God.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Hello Bob,
Things are changing fast here re 'gender' and I am sure that a populist backlash
is in the making. Given the scant time we have left, I thought I would be well
served by adopting a position that is Biblically sound now before anything else
happens.
I have a male member of my family who wants to 'become female' (albeit a distant
relative who I never see, though he is connected to relatives I do see a lot.)
I wondered if this strikes the right balance?
• Using a person's preferred name so it will not cause distress (especially in
situations where everyone else already is using that name)
• Not using their preferred pronoun as it denies objective reality and may
encourage them in their dysphoria. Pronouns can be avoided when you have little
dealings with a person and their name can be used instead. I'm not sure what I
would do if I had daily dealings with this situation?
• Show people who suffer in this situation Christian love but do not agree that
a man can become a woman or vice versa.
• Only deal with this situation if we have to. Don't get politically enmeshed in
this (or any other issue) and especially do not seek deliverance through
politics.
• When meeting new people who immediately engage on this level (i.e. immediately
ask 'What is your preferred pronoun?') be kind and courteous but keep a distance
as they may prove problematic in the future.
• Leave any female only spaces if I feel unsafe or threatened at all (my safety
and the safety of my loved ones is more important than someone else's feelings)
• When in intimate medical situations, refuse to have someone (for myself or my
loved ones) who is not biologically female if a female nurse or carer was asked
for.
It is really hard to strike the right balance between not causing distress to
people who are already suffering, protecting myself and others from predators
who game the system and simultaneously giving a witness of Jesus Christ.
All our boundaries, whether they are national or physical are being so blurred
that it is almost becoming illegal to protect ourselves and our loved ones from
harm!
I know though that our all in all is Jesus Christ. I will trust Him through
these kinds of unknown waters and it will be good preparation for what is to
come for us in the Tribulation. He will always show us the way and give us safe
passage through. Amen!
In Jesus,
Response #8:
If you're talking about personal ground rules to keep yourself safe, these sound reasonable. Everyone is different and circumstances are kaleidoscopically variable. With so much craziness in the world, the principles behind your rules are good to keep in mind:
Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
Isaiah 59:15 NIV
The wicked strut about on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Psalm 12:8 NASB
When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
Proverbs 28:12 NIV (cf. Prov.28:28)
When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Proverbs 28:28 NKJV
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous man, you take bribes, and you turn the innocent away [from justice] at the gate. So the prudent man keeps quiet at [such a] time [as] this, for it is an evil time.
Amos 5:12-13 (cf. Matt.7:6)
Believers prudently avoid casting pearls before swine (Matt.7:6) but courageously acknowledge the Lord whenever asked to give an account for the hope which is in us (1Pet.3:15). It is important not to confuse the two situations; that sort of discernment takes spiritual growth.
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise (phronimoi: lit. "discerning" or "shrewd") as serpents and harmless as doves."
Matthew 10:16 NKJV (cf. Prov.14:18; Rom.16:19; 1Cor.14:20; Heb.5:14)Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by this renewal of your thinking, so that you may discern what God's will for you is, namely what it is good, well-pleasing, and correct [for you to do].
Romans 12:2
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Hi Bob,
Maybe I'm waxing a bit hyperbolic, but recent news on the tech front is
proclaiming AI is now capable of duplicating a human voice from just a
small sample. AI duplication of actual humans has been used in
cinema/porn for some time. Tech nerds and programmers have a tendency to
boast of their accomplishment, so I'm somewhat inclined to pay
attention. Even photos of presumably actual people can be generated by
AI. Newscasts can and are being generated by AI. Basically, what you see
on TV. read in the papers with photos, what you see on the 6:00 o'clock
news is probably bogus. True, some of it may be honest, but you can
survive playing Russian roulette, too. Should you trust it? AI is less
expensive than paying people.
While I was pulling away from MSM, I occasionally checked Pravda to see
how they were spinning things. It turns out, according to Pravda, Russia
is cleaning the Ukrainian clock. According ti MSM, the Ukraine, thanks
to western help of which more is much needed, is cleaning the Russian
clock. I see no reason why this wouldn't intensify during the
Tribulation. Many people will believe and be convinced as they seem to
be now.
Just my opinion. I hope and pray all is well up there in L-ville.
In our Lord,
Response #9:
Re: ". . . what you see on the 6:00 o'clock news is probably bogus";
pretty much ALL of it is, but that has been true ever since at least
the mid 60's. People in totalitarian regimes learn to read between the
lines. When Hitler gave his new year radio address for 1945 he said
nothing about the Ardennes offensive (battle of the Bulge) . . . so that
even the dullest German realized they must have lost that one big time.
All you need to do is read a headline, pull out the spin and the bias,
and you get the essential info. I.e., re: Ukraine, it's a nasty war (not
that all wars aren't nasty), a lot of people are dying. Is there really
anything much else we need to know about it? It's a lot easier to start
a war than to stop it (the Civil War comes to mind).
On AI, I'm collecting up my upper level Latin midterms tomorrow on which
I gave an essay question asking them to compare an ode of Martial with
one of Horace. Naturally, I gave the citations. Well, I also this AM
signed up for a free service and had the AI answer the questions. It
gave a fair answer but everything was generalized and no specifics
given, the kind of answer a smart freshman or sophomore might give if
he/she spent a half an hour or so on Google and just wanted to be done
with it – but couched in very good English. Here's another response I
got, this one from Chat GPT:
The authorship of the book of Hebrews is a matter of debate among scholars and historians, and it is not possible to definitively say whether or not the apostle Paul wrote the book. While some early Christian writers, including Clement of Alexandria and Origen, believed that Paul was the author of Hebrews, others, such as Tertullian and Eusebius, did not attribute the book to him. Modern scholars also have differing opinions on the matter. There are several reasons why some scholars believe that Paul did not write the book of Hebrews. For one, the writing style and vocabulary of Hebrews is different from Paul's other letters. Additionally, the book of Hebrews does not include a customary greeting or closing that Paul includes in his other letters. On the other hand, there are also several reasons why some scholars believe that Paul could have written the book of Hebrews. For example, the book's author demonstrates an extensive knowledge of Jewish scripture and tradition, which is consistent with Paul's background and education. Additionally, the author's emphasis on the superiority of Christ and the importance of faith aligns with Paul's teachings. Overall, the question of whether or not Paul wrote the book of Hebrews remains a matter of debate and is unlikely to be definitively resolved.
This reminds me of IBM's "Watson" which was able to win easily at
Jeopardy (once the bugs were worked out) . . . simply because it
accessed the internet and added up the response hits. In the above, at
least they are training their AI to "give both sides" to questions where
there is a debate – and then not take sides at the end. The other AI
told me definitively that Paul did NOT write Hebrews. That is the most
common conclusion, and, like much conventional wisdom, is wrong (as in,
"Russia will win over Ukraine easily and quickly" – I thought so myself
on that one). It's worth asking just how useful an AI is which is either
incapable of giving you a straight answer or else falls back on what
most other people think. Not much insight there. Not much to worry about
either – not even for professors who are actually spending time on
grading essays carefully.
During the Tribulation, it won't just be "mis-information". The problem
then will be the "lying signs and wonders" and the huge pressure to
conform. But believers (who have been preparing spiritually) won't be
fooled nor will we allow ourselves to be pressured. That would be beyond
foolish, given the stakes.
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
Revelation 14:9-12 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Hi Bob,
Once again I chose my words poorly. What I meant was what you will see
on the 6:00 news will increasingly no longer have any basis in reality;
it'll be computer generated. I remember in the '70s when MIT began
playing with artificial intelligence. No one at the time expected
anything to come of it. It was written in a cockeyed programming
language called "Lisp." It was aptly named; the language was a
programming disability. I have no idea if it's still used for the
current versions of AI.
The news has been bogus since at least WWII when DoD effectively took
over media. And most likely since the 1850's. Given the recent covid
fiasco, it doesn't appear to have changed. It doesn't appear to me that
people have changed at all in the past 6,000 years except maybe the
sports and snacks they enjoy. I believe that if we do the same things
for which the ancients were punished, we can expect the same thing. I
think we're seeing that beginning now.
Thanks for sharing your experience with AI. You're the only one I know
who uses it. Having known and worked with programmers, I wouldn't trust
anything they did. Although I think you were wise using the application
because some of your students may resort to that. (Computerized Cliff
Notes?) I've worked with IBM before, too, as a systems engineer and I
can't say I would trust them much either. Maybe I just have a bad
attitude.
I'm seeing so much today pointing to the Tribulation, it's chilling. The
social pressure is real and considering '30s and early '40s Germany, I
think we will have to be quite careful of what we say, to whom and who
we consider friends. I've already started that. I consider it basic
training. After all, scripture says that family members will even turn
on family members and I'm beginning to see some of that also.
I have to say, I consider scripture a more credible news source than
WXYZ-TV at 6:00.
In our Lord,
Response #10:
"I consider scripture a more credible news source" – Amen indeed!
God and His Word alone are worthy of our trust.
My point about AI is that while it can manipulate language, there's not
much point in it that I can see for that purpose. Make things up? If AI
tells us over the news that an asteroid hit earth yesterday and everyone
was annihilated, first, that would be fairly unbelievable for those of
us still here, but second and even more important, I'm not sure what
purpose that would serve for the powers that be. And isn't that really
the threat? Namely, as a weapon to advance the purposes of those who
oppose the truth? But if we are heeding the only reliable source of
truth, such lies are unlikely to get any purchase on our hearts. I find
weather reports somewhat useful. When they start handing them over to AI
and it predicts warm and sunny then we get a blizzard, I'll stop
listening to them as well.
Interesting background. Thank you! I have a very good upper Latin class
with some highly intelligent individuals therein, and today they mostly
thought the answers the AI gave were good (I didn't tell them that they
were AI generated at first). But a couple them did point out some
noticeable errors. Bottom line: the thing is good at hedging a
hodgepodge of generalizations it finds on the internet, but not of
coming up with anything import or new, or of conducting any real
analysis. It just frames what it does in very good English (admittedly
not easy!). I don't think it's going to commandeer the nuclear triad any
time soon. That would probably be antichrist's job (talk about
manufactured evil intelligence).
But you are right. Every day it's some new travesty. Just when it seems
like there couldn't be any more such and couldn't get worse there is and
it does. Good training for the time when the pace of disaster is
exponentially worse indeed!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Hi Bob,
Do you think I'm off-base in seeing a parallel to the Tribulation in
Joseph's saga; sold into slavery by family, adoption in Egypt, success
and family returning to beg? What about Jacob's indenture to Laban and
eventual marriage to Rachel? Or perhaps, even Ester's saga, though
farther afield? Could these parables be guides to surviving the
Tribulation?
I pray you and yours are well.
Yours in our Lord,
Response #11:
Well, "all scripture is profitable" (2Tim.3:16), so we mature believers
who read the Bible are always finding useful applications and parallels
every time we read it.
There are certainly deliberate "tribulational paradigms" in scripture,
that is, where scripture itself makes that connection (e.g., the flood,
the exodus). Here are the two links in CT where they are discussed:
1)
Paradigms for the Tribulation (in CT 7).
. . . and a little more generally . . .
2)
Biblical sources for the end times (in CT 1).
It is certainly true that there are aspects of the Tribulation and our
negotiation of it which can be illuminated by all manner of scripture,
including the examples you suggest. David's time in the wilderness being
hunted down by Saul also comes to mind. The only thing I would caution
is against making any temporal connections or direct interpretations
about the Tribulation from such comparisons. That is to say, the fact
that David went to Gath to escape Saul does not mean we should think of
escaping to some safe haven (personally, I firmly believe that David's
move was a mistake); the fact that Jacob served for twenty four years in
total can't be number-crunched to have anything to do with the
Tribulation's time-line; the fact that Mordecai resisted Haman shouldn't
be used to inform how we are to comport ourselves once antichrist takes
over; the fact that Joseph was wrongly imprisoned by his brothers but
then came to rule Egypt shouldn't lead us to think that there will be
any such deliverance while the Tribulation is still going on. In other
words, while we are certainly meant to gain insight and encouragement
from seeing how godly believers of the past handled personal tribulation
of all sorts – through trusting in the Lord with a faith built up by
consistent spiritual growth – it's an overly precise application of the
details I feel compelled to warn against.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NKJV
So by all means . . . we are with David in the desert, with Joseph in the prison house, with Jacob in the hard-scrabble shepherd life, etc., and we have joy in the Lord in spite of all such sufferings, looking forward eagerly to the day of our coronation/liberation/restoration just as these great believers did, knowing that just as the Lord delivered them temporally, we will be delivered eternally when we are raised in glory at our Lord's glorious return.
(39) And through their faith, all of them though they became witnesses [to the world] (lit., "were martyred"), yet they did not receive the promise (i.e., resurrection and reward), (40) since God was looking forward for our sakes to something better, so that they might not be made perfect (i.e., resurrected and rewarded) without us.
Hebrews 11:39-40
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
Bob, I apologize. I really need to keep my questions more tightly
focused. I wasn't thinking in terms of surviving the Tribulation. More
in terms of how to behave, You went into far more depth than I was
thinking -- though instructive . Having said that, I never understood
the Exodus to be a paradigm of the Tribulation. I saw it as, "Here's
what you get if you trust the Lord and what you get if you ignore Him."
Daniel's three friends in the furnace gives me hope for the Tribulation
but I understood it the same way.
I saw Joseph as an example of going through great tribulation and being
blessed at the end, much like we'll go through great tribulation and be
blessed with resurrection and paradise at the end.
Thanks for the explanation. You've given me much more to think about.
In our Lord,
Response #12:
It's my pleasure, my friend.
Certainly, the Tribulation will be a time of intense trouble. Everything
in scripture is helpful to enduring personal tribulation of every sort,
and the chronicles of solid believers in the Bible who managed to endure
are absolutely worthy of consideration on that score.
On the exodus: Pharaoh as antichrist and the people of Israel as
believers who are brought through the "sea of trouble" (cf. Zech.10:11)
while the enemy is entirely annihilated by the Lord thereafter (just to
hit the high points), has a lot in common with the chronology of the
Tribulation. Links:
Daniel's three friends (and Daniel too, re: the lions' den) are
wonderful examples of trusting God in the face of threats from powerful
authority and being delivered. However, we believers here and now also
have to accept the very real possibility of martyrdom from which all
four of these great believers were delivered.
The same thing goes for Joseph. But there will be believers who are
imprisoned during the Tribulation and who yet make it through to the
second advent – when we will be resurrected and then share in Christ's
millennial rule (that will be the case also for those martyred,
possibly, depending on the entire ledger of their response to the Lord
in this life, in more powerful positions; cf. Rev.20:4).
Wishing you a great weekend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hello Brother Robert
Like to ask you a question we see in the gospels where the Lord mentions
that he would provide all our needs and he provided food for those that
were hungry. A question is why was Paul sending a message about him
being hungry thirsty cold and no clothing.
A friend tried to explain to me Paul was not in the will of the Lord
when he was hungry and thirsty and no clothing when he was cold could
you help open up about what I see that he went through his suffering for
the gospel
Thank you
Response #13:
Good to hear from you as always, my friend.
In the gospels, I assume that you are talking about Matthew 6:25-34
(Lk.12:22-31 )? Our Lord does say that we shouldn't worry about what to
eat or wear, and there are many passages in scripture which likewise
affirm our Lord's supervision of us and His taking care of all of our
needs (Job 5:20; 5:22; Ps.33:18-19; 37:18-19; 37:25; Prov.10:3;
Is.33:15-16; 49:10).
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:34-39 NKJV
As the passage quoted above tells us, however, it is not hunger or cold that we should fear: we should be confident that no matter what we are called upon to endure in this life, we have a better life on the other side because we have been rescued from the lake of fire through our faith in Jesus Christ. Believers are called upon to share in the sufferings of Christ (Rom.1:18; 2Cor.1:5-7; Phil.3:10; Col.1:24; 2Tim.1:8; Heb.10:21; 1Pet.4:13; 5:9; see the link), and during the Tribulation that will be so even more intensely so than has ever been the case before (link).
"If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
Revelation 13:10 NIV
The apostle Paul was called upon to endure much more suffering than almost any of the rest of us could possibly endure (Acts 9:16; cf. 1Cor.4:8-13; 2Cor.4:7-12; 6:3-10; 11:16-33; Phil.3:7-11). But we note with joy and take confidence in the fact that our Lord never ever let him (and never lets us) suffer beyond what we can actually endure (1Cor.10:13). Paul may have been without proper clothing from time to time – but he never froze to death; Paul may have gone without food from time to time – but he never starved to death. During the difficult seven years to come, we may be inconvenienced, we may be uncomfortable, we may in fact suffer tremendously before the Lord returns – but we can be absolutely certain that our Lord will never abandon us or forsake us (Heb.13:5): if it is His will for us to be able to endure until the end, then we shall do so . . . just as long as we never give up our faith and confidence in Him even if we get a little cold and hunger – or even a lot (n.b., the Peter series has much about such suffering and "personal tribulation"; see especially: PE 25, PE 26, PE 27).
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved."
Matthew 24:13 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hello Bob,
Hope you are having a lovely Sunday.
I am currently re-reading PE pt 6 and I am still struggling on the part about
"suffering for blessing". When you write after the False Query #2 that residual
pain is for our good and our edification. I am still struggling to understand
this. Is it because we are learning not to sin this type of sin again? Like a
child who touches a hot stove and burns their hand. Even when they remove their
hand and the parent scolds them and the child vows to never do it again, the
pain will still be there and the child will know not to do this again.
Is this what is meant by suffering for blessing and edification?
Thanks in advance my friend!
In Him,
Response #14:
The point is that when we sin, it has consequences, sometimes divine discipline, sometimes the natural results of what we may have done. But after we confess, it's all for blessing – because we are back in the will of God and everything He does for us in His plan is a blessing. So we don't need to feel "hang-dog" about whatever pain was the result of something wrong we did – any more than we should allow ourselves to be depressed by suffering that is for blessing in the first place. As James says . . .
(2) Brothers, when you are being beset with all manner of trials, take pains to be joyful. (3) For you should keep in mind that this testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) So let your perseverance develop fully, that you may become fully mature and entitled to a full reward, having been found lacking in no respect.
James 1:2-4
Ice is finally melting here! Almost ended up on my keester while trying to walk
this AM, however. Tomorrow will be worse after "melt-n-freeze".
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Thanks for straightening that out for me in a way I could understand!
Keep yourself high (up) and dry (-ed out) my friend! Either that or don
some skates and a pillow next time!
Am I way off beam here? In the garden of Eden, the tree of life
represents Jesus. So does the tree of knowledge of good and evil
represent the law? Or am I taking the symbolism too far?
In Him,
Response #15:
My pleasure!
Yes, still a bit slippery in spots today. Probably will be a few days or
so before it's all gone.
Hmm. Well, in some respects the Law may represent the tree of TKGE
(containing more detailed prohibitions), but that tree represented the
essential choice to fail to follow God, and there has always been that
choice, in Eden, before the Law, and after the Law, so I wouldn't want
to limit it.
Hope you are doing well, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Thanks Bob!
Yes I am muddling along and structuring my day around my spiritual
growth and as I am getting a lot of that done through study, I am now
ready to organise a work schedule also!
Stay in fine fettle and upright!
In Him,
Response #16:
That's wonderful!
You are an encouragement to me.
Keep running your good race for Jesus Christ!
In Him,
Question #17:
Hi Bob,
Thanks so much for all your encouragement too!
The one thing that made me smile the most was when you said, "God is glorified
by that!" That's what our lives are all about - glorifying the Lord in all we
think and say and do. So that made me very happy!
I'm glad the ice is on it's way out now. And it's great that you're able to do a
little bit of jogging again too.
Today was a long and busy day at work. I'm going to get an early night tonight -
keep on top of my sleep and looking after myself.
Consistency is good in all the important and healthy things in our lives isn't
it?
With all my heart I love the Lord and I love His Word and I love being in the
family of God!
Your friend in Jesus
Response #17:
Good for you: sleep is medicine, especially with this Covid trouble all
around us at present.
Yes, I plan to get out there and do more tomorrow. Busy time here at the
university and also with "life stuff", but God sees us through it all,
one day at a time. Grateful for that! And grateful to be one day closer
to the end every day. That is a real blessing.
Yes indeed, we need to keep plugging away as best we can. Keeping at it
is the only way I've ever been able to get things done. That''s how the
tortoise won the race! Even if the rabbit was a much better sprinter.
Keeping you and your family in my prayers my friend, and thanks awfully
for yours as well.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Thanks. I have another question I may have asked but forgot what you said (use
this in "Political Action verses Spiritual Growth IV" if that ever comes
around).
Should we as believers boycott (I just use that term as a catchall for refusing
to buy products) certain companies? A lot of Christians say to boycott entirely
companies that produce products that support anti-biblical causes, like a movie
that depicts a trans person in positive light, or has a gay couple for example.
I do have companies that I refuse to buy from just for conscience sake because
of the sheer evil they push for (Disney these days pushing for child sex change
surgery for example), but other than that I would assume we don't need to?
Response #18:
As I've often remarked in posted comments, modern products are so complex that
for a person to be Simon-pure in what they consume on these issues they would
have to go off into the forest and eat roots. As the famous essay, "I, Pencil",
demonstrates, even such a seemingly simple product is impossible to make without
dozens of sophisticated processes at many different facilities requiring
resources and inputs from a large number of companies (many of which are
overseas). How much more a cell phone (for example)!
In any case, as much as possible believers are better off steering clear of all
things political, in my opinion. We are here to grow spiritually, progress in
our walk with the Lord, and help others do the same through engaging in the
ministries the Lord will lead us to – none of which is possible without
diligently studying the Bible under a good teaching ministry, believing the
truth taught, and applying it to one's life. Worrying about the world is
distracting from what for us ought to be "job #1".
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Dr. Luginbill.
I sent this last week and perhaps you didn't get it since you always
respond in a timely manner. Hope you are doing ok?
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
I hope you are well and life is good! I know that the scripture says
that The Mark of the Beast will be on the right hand or forehead and
that you have said in your studies that you feel it will be a tattoo.
Also receiving this mark will mean you have denied Jesus and are
following the Antichrist who is to come, but by not taking this mark
than you will not be able to buy or sell anything. That being said do we
need to worry about this new digital currency that the US is talking
about especially in light of the recent banking failures and perhaps a
pretext for the banks to now go digital? They are talking about
eliminating all cash purchases as the government wants to see and
control our money and purchases. I see a time when our deposited moneys
whether from a payroll direct deposit or social security may not be
deposited if one hasn't signed up for this digital system i.e. The Beast
System.
If it then comes to this digital system do we need to worry or just go
along knowing it may be a precursor to the mark but not the actual mark.
I seldom use credit cards and usually purchase with cash and keep little
money in the bank. Not that I do not trust our government, banks, etc).
Any thoughts on this? It has been report that this may be implemented in
2025. I have also read that some eschatologist feel that year may be the
start of the tribulation.
___'s health has improved some and she is going to a pain specialist who
she feels is helping but unfortunately I am not sure she will ever be
completely healed after all the medical issues she has gone through. I
keep her in prayer daily that our Lord will heal her and more
importantly that she will accept Him as her Savior.
Thank you also for your continued prayers for her and for your hard on
Ichthys.
Blessings,
Response #19:
Apologies for misplacing your email. Don't know what happened. Thanks
for re-sending (having trouble with "Hotmail" on this end again)!
In terms of what the mark of the beast is, you have correctly stated
what I teach at Ichthys (which I feel is just the very straightforward
expression of what Revelation 13 clearly states;
here is a link to one place where this is all hashed out in some
detail).
Regarding "do we need to worry about this new digital currency that
the US is talking about", well, we're told not to worry about
anything (but I know what you mean). I've never been a fan of believers
"prepping" for the Tribulation in material ways. I've always encouraged
spiritual preparation. The latter no one can take from you; the former
can indeed be taken away, no matter how clever or diligent a material
prepper you may be. After all, the beast will arrest many believers in
the course of the Tribulation and at that point all material preparation
will go right out the window. Given that we also can only dimly imagine
the scenarios that might unfold in terms of the specifics which any
material prep would have to address, it seems to me a fool's errand to
go that route – especially to go "all in". Who imagined this switch to
digital currency five years ago? Few, I would imagine. Who imagined all
the things that AI would be doing? Who imagined that what seems like a
huge percentage of our youth would be tricked into "transitioning"? One
could go on, and on, an on, sadly. But however unsettling things are at
present, they will be more so during the Tribulation. And however
rapidly and disturbingly so the pace of change is presently progressing,
it will exponentially more so during the Tribulation. So whatever we
start to worry about now will be greatly different during the few short
years to come – in ways we cannot anticipate ahead of time.
What we DO know is that the Lord is faithful. Absolutely. Jesus us told
us not to worry . . . because GOD takes care of us. Our job is to
believe that with all our hearts. And it IS true, by the way. So
whatever awful things happen now or in short order or once the
Tribulation starts, while we can't have any confidence of anticipating
them or taking sufficient material measures to guard against them, we
can be absolutely sure that our Lord is going to take care of us, that
He is going to employ us like the good Christian soldiers we are to
glorify Himself – if we are only willing to be so employed. And we won't
be ready to be employed/deployed if we are not preparing spiritually
now.
I know that the Lord will keep us fed and clothed until He returns . . .
if it is His will for us to endure until that day. Until then, we do the
best we can interacting with the dark world in which we live, trying to
set the best example we can, an example of deep faith for all who
observe us, the witness of the life and, when prudent, of the Word as
well. Training ourselves to focus on the "end game", a good reward and a
"well done!" from our Lord in spite of the disturbing things we are
seeing and experiencing now (with worse to come), is essential to this.
And such an approach is only even possible for those who are spiritually
mature.
I know you know all this, but you've given me an opportunity to "preach
to the choir", so look for this being posted fairly soon.
I'm happy to hear that ___ is some better. I'm keeping her in my
prayers. Thanks so much for yours as well, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
The arguments people make on the Right Wing for their political action
being what needs to be done are so compelling and make too much sense
for me to brush it off. How do I deal with this?
I pretty much immediately discredit what comes from the Left Wing with
how far gone they are (the things they do these days would be too
disgusting to be put on Ichthys), but the Right Wing for the longest
time seemed to be the logical and rational choice...how do I let go of
it?
Please read my last email too please. I know you may not like talking
about something like this but I need to know if you're willing to answer
(you don't have to put it on Ichthys either if you're not comfortable
with that):
What should be done about convicted pedophiles (specifically ones who
actually have assaulted a child or looked deliberately at illicit
pictures of them)? Asking because I was in a chatroom on social media
and someone said they need to essentially be tortured in the most
painful ways possible for the rest of their lives...One person even said
we should kill them, implying also we need to keep the Gospel away from
them so they're forced to go to Hell (!?). I actually fell for their
arguments for a while until I realized Jesus wouldn't want either of
these, ESPECIALLY not the latter.
I do agree that most of them are probably so far gone they'll most
likely never repent, and there's no doubt they should be punished
severely under the law, but how should this be handled?
Response #20:
As to "what should be done", my question in response would "by whom?"
LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
Psalm 131:1b NKJV
A good example to consider – especially since David was probably king by
the time he wrote this psalm (and was almost certainly in some position
of great authority in any case). You and I are not in any great position
of power. It is not our job, not our responsibility, to issue policy
edicts or to carry them out. If the Lord promotes you like He did Joseph
to be dictator over the whole country, then perhaps you would need to
consider such things. As it is, there is absolutely no point in worrying
about politics in any way shape of form – since you have no say in the
matter at all. Fretting about politics and political/societal issues is
not only a complete waste of time but also a great distraction in terms
of emotion, in terms of focusing on the Lord who is actually in control,
and in terms of getting down to the business of spiritual growth.
What should be done about all of these sorts of matters in these emails?
If we REALLY cared about our country, we believers would double down on
spiritual growth. Why? Because the only influence we actually have is
through our relationship to the Lord. He not only hears our prayers –
and all the more so if we are walking close to Him (Jas.5:16b KJV: "The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much") – but it is
also important to remember that we believers are the "salt" of the
nation, the remnant of the righteous which acts as preservative when the
salt is good. But if it loses its "savor" then "It is fit neither for
the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out" (Lk.14:35).
What should be done? "We" should stick to our knitting in reading, e.g.,
the Basics series (link) . . .
and not waste our time in chat-rooms with unbelievers and Laodicean
believers who are intent on wasting theirs (IMHO).
In Jesus,
Bob L.