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2019 Archived COMMENTARY Blogs
January's Commentary Blogs
CB1A;19
In / With SINCERE Humility: A Confession
I am both impressed and humbled by Martin Luther's testimony at the Diet of Worms in 1521.
His example - modeling multiple aspects of Christ-honoring character qualities - warrants following.
We'd like to apply one aspect in this blog: The act of confession when we should indeed express it.
CONFESSION:
We have been building an explicitly Bible-founded end-time position the past 2 decades. We have been tentative on some matters given some steps (toward building an eschat- ological position) are based on interpretations of some texts. Yes, the Final Trumpet (I Cor. 15: 51, 52) Rapture (I Thes. 4:13-18) Gathering (Mt. 24:31; II Thes. 2:1) position is a very explicitly biblical view BUT, like all end time views, also includes interpretations which make the view less than certain.
So here's our confession:
When we first published our book in 2009 we listed two possible options as to how one issue in Scripture affects end-time position- building. Our comments were tied to this verse: Daniel 9:27. (one of the most debated verses in all of the Bible)
The issues relating to the interpretation of this verse are multiple. In this blog, we wish to especially highlight 2 concerns:
1. The actual way this verse is translated by literal English versions of the Bible; 2. The choice we (at Endurance Ministries) make as to which translation we use to build the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering position.
Let's address #1 first ...
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sac- rifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27 ; NKJV)
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (Daniel 9:27 ; ESV)
The translation issue we're highlighting here is this:
One group of literal Bible versions renders the translation of the Hebrew phrase as: "... in the middle of the week ..." while another group of literal versions read: "... for half of the week." (emphases ours) This difference is substantial and most significant.
BOTH translations are evidenced by their committees of translators - that is, BOTH translations are possible given the dynamics of the Hebrew language.
One set of versons brings a translation emphasizing WHEN the taking away occurs ("... in the middle of the week ..." ; KJV; NKJV; NASB; and others) ; the other set of translations highlights the DURATION OF the taking away ("... for half of the week ..." ; NRSV; ESV; and others).
Back to our confession:
In our first book edition we listed both options but favored the option "... in the middle of ..." given the other option had only recently come on the English Bible scene (in a more popular circulation context) through the NRSV and the ESV English translations.
We stated, prematurely (our confession), the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering position could embrace both ways of translating the passage. That declaration on our part was incorrect and we apologize for this temporary inconsistency.
After dialogue with others on this matter, we confess we now need to, for consistency purposes, reverse our tentative view which favored the "... in the middle of the week ..." translation. We now, by way of interpretive decision - step #2 above - believe the more recent translation - in English Bibles - better fits the full Counsel of the Word of God - the analogy of the Bible ; the Scripture interprets Scripture hermeneitical principle.
Thus, our confession is this:
In providing a more thoroughly consistent end-time view, we now believe (and take the interpretive step) that the better translation of Daniel 9:27 should read as the NRSV and ESV render it:
" ... and for half of the week ..."
WHY have we taken this confessional step?
In part, we want to reiterate, as we've done in our book, this fact:
ALL end-time views include interpretive decisions in their view and thus fall short of (in their complete end-time package) absolute Truth. Yes, some end-time views are much more explicitly biblical than others (e.g., the Pre-Trib Rapture view has NO explicit Bible support while the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering view is much more clearly articulated in the pages of Scripture).
While this is true and can be factually demonstrated to indeed be the case - so let's hold this Great Debate so as to better communicate on this important topic! - it's also true that all end-time views include less than certain interpretations.
In conclusion* ...
As Luther did at the Diet of Worms (confessing some of his writings included imbalance - he was but man and thus could err), we, too, wish to confess the need for adjustment. Specifically, we wish to adjust a minor tenet in our position, namely FROM a tentative viewpoint holding the "... in the middle of the week ..." translation to be the most likely correct translation TO a less tentative (but still less than certain) viewpoint (in light of the full Counsel of the Word of God) which holds this belief: The most likely correct translation of the Daniel 9:27 passage includes the phrase "... for half of the week." Given this is an either/or matter, (the actual Truth of the Daniel 9:27 passage cannot include both options above), we claim the "... for half of ..." translation as we further build our holistic eschatological proposal. ( CLICK HEREto view a related diagram addressing this Daniel 9:27 concern.)
We confess our limitations here - everyone is in this boat - but feel we are free to adjust the finer details of the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering (in ever so slight ways like we've done in this blog) for the sake of improving positional consistency as the full Counsel of Scripture is more thoroughly considered. (Note well [NB]: This matter is addressed on pages 94, 179 and 180 in our book.)
NB: One aspect of the full Counsel of God's Word which plays into our decision to publically adjust our stance is based on Daniel 12:11which teaches there are 1,290 days between the taking away of the daily/ regular sacrifices and the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation.
While we confess real issues which require more tentative, less-than-certain conclusions, we also, in light of the clarity of God's Word, bring thus says the Lord appeals as well. These are seen throughout our New Covenant prophetic ministry efforts as we bring these warnings of care based on the clear revelation of God's Word.
PLEASE see our book which weaves this thematic perspective (of both the confession of less-than-certain appeals due to interpretive decisions and "T" truth through explicit Bible proclamation) into a tapestry bringing helpful clarity as to how we need to be living in Christ Jesus today - watchful, obedient followers of Jesus Christ by faith in His precious revelation to us and in sure hope given He is faithful to His Word.
* This is a very deep subject so if you'd like to discuss this more thoroughly with the author of this blog, please email Jon Swanson at email@endmin.org.
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CB1B;19
Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Part 1) On Daniel 8:9-12 & Daniel 11:29-31
We have a major threat today within Christendom. It's tied to this wrong concept: The Word of God is not reliable as Christians' authority for faith and practice.
There are many contributors to this erroneous view. One contribution comes from the many English versions today. Frankly, the English versions vary - sometimes in radical ways. Some have used this reality (of differing data within literal English Bible versions - e.g., Rev. 22:14 - scroll down to blog B32;16) to evidence their claim the Bible is not reliable.
Here's one example of variation in one verse, a variation which pertains to important end-time considerations. ...
The ESV translates Daniel 8:11 in this way:
It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.
Here's how the NKJV translates Daniel 8:11:
He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
[ The "it" / "he" / "him" of verse 11 is the little horn - see the context beginning with verse 9. ]
Did you discern the Hebrew is translated DIFFERENTLY by the two versions?
One states the daily sacrifices were taken away BY him; the other version states the regular offerings were taken away FROM him. This is MOST significant. One Bible version teaches he is the one taking away the daily sac- rifices while the other teaches the daily sacrifices were taken away from him. There's a HUGE difference here!
So how does one RESOLVE the problem, especially since both translations are clearly not paraphrases but lean toward a literal translation theory? Which translation is correct?
GREAT QUESTIONS !
Answer (that is, resolution!) : We use other Scripture to discern which version is the correct one. Here's one related text:
Note: The "him" in this 31st verse is tied, in the context, to the antichrist - the same individual as Daniel 8:9ff (the little horn).
The ESV translates Daniel 11:31 this way:
Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
The NKJV translates Daniel 11:31 this way:
And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
NOTE: BOTH translations of Daniel 11:31 teach the forces which defile and take away the daily sacrifices are aligned with "him" as he is the one who musters the forces which act the way they do. "Forces FROM him ..." (ESV) and "Forces ... mustered BY him ..." (NKJV) - emphases ours - teach the "him" of the verse is working WITH the forces to take away the sacrifices and then go on to set up the Abomination of Desolation. THIS IS MOST SIGNIFICANT.
THIS passage rejects the ESV translation of Daniel 8:11. The daily sacrifices were not taken away FROM him but BY him (through the forces under his control).
This observation is sufficient warrant/evidence - Scripture interpreting Scripture - to REJECT the ESV's faulty interpre- tation of Daniel 8:11 - "from him" - and retain the historical understanding that the daily sacrifices were taken away by him through forces under his power.
While this matter may seem to be an insignificant issue, it is anything but trivial. Is it another example of how some sectors of modern culture are trying to corrupt the Word of God so that the Bible is seen a unreliable. Be warned dear Church! God's Word is MOST trustworthy - Ps. 119:89, 160; Matthew 5:17-20, etc.
NB: The ESV has other translation-based difficulties. For example, contrast the way the ESV and the NKJV translate Mt. 5:22! The ESV, due to its faulty commitment to the Alexandrian Greek text, creates a MAJOR problem because it excludes "without a cause" / "without cause," making ALL anger toward a brother, wrong. Was our Lord Jesus Christ wrong when he had and demonstrated anger toward his Jewish brothers during the times He strongly confronted them? Of course not! The Majority Greek text includes the phrase, "without cause" whereby the inconsistency/difficulty (supported by the Alexandrian text) does not exist.
The "has God said?" attacks on the Word of God continue to deny our Psalm 119:105 sure hope. May we heed the insight contained in Psalm 11:3. Be warned dear Church.
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CB1C;19
A Letter To The KINGS Of This Earth *
Dear Earth-dwelling lords,
Just DO It you kings of the earth!
You act as though the Truths of Almighty God are repulsive to you, so act in accord with your beliefs. Don't play the hypocritical whore.
You hate the one True YHVH God, so just do it: Take Him on, literally!
You think attacking His people in Jesus Christ is sufficient? It's not. PROVE yourselves and the secular worldview to be superior by going after the LORD, the Creator of Heaven and earth. IF you take Him out, you'll be good to go, once and for all. Just do it !
Here's a suggestion toward that end:
Amass your militaries' most advanced high-tech weaponry. Use only the best-of-the-best militia - the mighty men of today. And choose a strategic battlefield, the one which would give you the greatest advantage over the soon-coming One. We would recommend Meggido but you're too wise to choose to fulfill Bible prophecy ... or is(are) your pompous perspective(s) such that even this wouldn't bother you? (at least at this juncture anyway!)
Take note and take full advantage: Take confidence in the prior conditioning which paves your way! You can do this, oh kings of the earth, for so many continue to hold false-hope enthusiasm in the already-failed-attempt concept, the thought advertised in the Independence Dayfilms. Don't pretend (in deceit) that you're not fully aware of these (false) prophetic appeals which so many of the earth-dwellers hold so passionately. You know full well the day is coming.
So just do it. PROVE your superiority over the Most High God. Fight in your battlefield plain and take Him on ... take Him out. Don't be hypocritical like your father the devil. Evidence your claims that the everlasting Creator God is not here and is silent due to your so-called victory of rhetoric - e.g., God is dead, anti-God origin stories and evolution myths (be it be from space because it sure hasn't happened here on earth!); denial of the historical Immanuel; and now contradictory (to reality) rejections that final end-time prophecies are unfolding.
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Be warned you kings of the earth. God WILL appear in the heavens as foretold by His Son in Matthew 24:30 and as revealed in Revelation 6:14-17. Acknowledge, you bound pawns in satan's hands: You will fear when that day unfolds. But due to your deceived state, you will indeed eventually seek to battle against the Most High God as Revelation chapters 16 - 19 declare.
So just do it you kings of the earth. Go for it and contribute to God's will for both heaven and earth - that evil will one day be forever put in its rightful Lake-of-Fire place.
So it has been written (Mt. 6:9, 10; et al.), so let it be done. Even so, please come quickly Lord Jesus.
* Just in case you missed it due to the deceiving influences of Postmodern relative language games - e.g., Reader response faith commitments - the full title of this blog is:
A Letter To The KINGS Of This Earth: A Satire
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CB1D;19
In Response To Response: Denying Preterit Deception
Our response is firm:
Daniel 8:11 should NOT read "from him" but should indeed read "by him" as stated, in different words, in Daniel 11:31.
Now that differing sides have been highlighted - see commentary blog CB1B;19 above - we ask: Which view - ours OR those who promote the ESV rendering of Daniel 8:11 - is correct?
Using Scripture to further interpret Scripture, please consider this additional evidential piece, one toward support for the historical rendering of the preposition - namely, "by" (not "from"):
Daniel 9:27 is clear, at least on this point of debate: The "he" of this verse is the one who makes a covenant with many for one week. Here's how the ESV and the NKJV translate this verse:
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (ESV)
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. (NKJV)
The prince who is to come - not the Messiah/annointed one - via his people, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The context separates what takes place in verse 26 from that which takes place in verse 27. The Messiah is cut off and the destruction of the city and the sanctuary occurs after the 62 weeks. These two events took place in the First Century, A.D. The 70th week is yet future (to 2019) in light of the full Counsel of God's Word concerning end-time matters, for Jesus Christ has not yet returned.
Back to verse 27 ...
The same prince of verse 26 - the one who "is to come" - will make a covenant with many for one week, during which time "he" shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. The full Counsel of the Word of God demands the events of this 70th week are this: They are eschatological - that is, related to END-TIME matters and events just prior to the return of the Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus Christ!
The argument in support of the KJV's/NKJV's translation, "by him," (and indirectly, of the NASB), is certain, and its interpretation sure in spite of what some incorrectly claim, especially given the holistic end-time picture the Bible paints.
In conclusion,
"He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down." Daniel 8:11 (NKJV ; emphasis ours)
WHY is it we are willing to step on toes over this matter?
Because we genuinely LOVE to the extent we are willing to address CRUCIAL matters tied to rightly obeying our Lord's directive to "watch" whereby we are not ill-prepared due to embracing false teaching which contributes to disobedience to His end-time command to be ready as He so outlines, we persist in bringing these truth appeals.
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CB1E;19
We're NOT Being Persecuted !
Christians - those holding biblical worldview convictions - are not hated or ill-treated by the growing secular USA culture.
There are some who reject cultural facts today, who would boldly claim we are not in the era of end-time lawlessness and more outright tribulation. Some of these folks would indeed go on to make claims similar to that of this blog's title and the opening comment immediately above. PLEASE, for your protection, mark/note these false heralds because what they are suggesting - an appeal for us to put our heads in the sand by turning a deaf ear to what is happening in our culture today - fosters dangerous ill-preparedness concerning important end-time matters. The Holocaust continues to offer some crucial lessons for us, today. E.g., the quiet, compromising German church and its sinful refusal to stand up against the evils of their day.
We have testimonials of strong persecution here in the USA on a daily basis. By the way, just because news providers don't cover the stories DOES NOT MEAN they don't exist. But you (the reader) have already wisely come to understand this reality.
Here are some more recent cultural crimes (in light of a biblical Truth standard of justice) against our Constitutional, and even more importantly, our God-given freedoms ...
The Covington High School Intolerance Story
~ MY what injustice on the part of the God-haters - even to the extent of death threats? ... WOW! ~ The half-truth Fake News deception of the left continues to discredit their dishonest moral foundation - recall the lies expressed during the Kavanaugh appointment process. ~ The Social Media mobsters are everywhere and they are making LOUD (but faulty) accusations and are carrying large guns. Question: WHY do the atheists, anti-theists and active agnostics seldom speak out against intolerance any longer, especially now that they are in majority? Hmmm
The Ongoing Disrespect Shown to Public Servants (including gross disrespect for our President)
~ Pelosi, Schumer, Tlaib, Waters, Schiff, Cummings, etc. (these politicians have, to varying degrees, been disrespectful - and yes, President Trump also needs to make some correction on this matter of mutual respect.) ~ Denial of basic services by progressives (in the case of Sarah Huckabee at the Red Hen and Ted and Heidi Cruz due to a disruptive group from a branch of the Democratic Socialists of America organization) is hypocritical, especially in light of past historical cases when their peers, themselves, called for punitive action against those who wished to withhold services - e.g., the bakers in Colorado (Masterpiece Cakeshop) and Oregon (Sweet Cakes); the florist in Washington (Arlene's Flowers); the photographer in New Mexico (Elane Photography); et al. What hypocrisy indeed. WE DARE NOT FORGET THESE evil actions given the opposition is not sorry for (to the extent it will not discontinue 1) calling for unrest or, 2) committing these acts) these past expressions and will continue, in the future, to act against those who endure in living out their more godly convictions.
The Legal Battles currently going through our court system
~ Those persecuted for their personal moral convictions ~ Those seeking to stop evil murder through abortion ... will the Covington HS students be sued by some who are opposed to those who wear red hats while advocating on behalf of the unborn ... who may also include fake charges of illegal bigotry as a result of simply smiling at a drum-beater (who approached the group of high school students in the first place!) ? Again: WOW ~ Punishments (from the anti-God advocates) which do NOT fit the degree of the so-called crime(s) committed ... punitive injustices indeed!
We DO NOT WANT the evils of the rising rebellious society! For an eye-opening contrast between two polar-opposite worldviews, CLICK HERE.
Please recall our predictive insight found in blog CB10C;18. The dark opposition has forced itself into a corner ... because their time is running out! This calls for the enduring patience of the Saints in Jesus Christ.
February's Commentary Blogs
CB2A;19
Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Part 2) On "Translation" Sequence
By way of introduction ...
In harmony with Scripture, one MAJOR internal (to the book) chronology of the New Testament book of Revelation is this:
Fact 1 1st The Seals Rev. 6 - 8 The 7th Seal includes the 7 Trumpets: 2nd The Trumpets Rev. 8 - 11 The 7th Trumpet is followed by wrath: 3rd The Bowls Rev. 15, 16 (acknowledging the historical parentheticals of chapters 12, 13 & 14)
Fact 2 In the context of the days of the passages above (and other passages), we find various people groups. Three groups which we are highlighting in this commentary blog include:
1. The 144,000 2. The 2 witnesses 3. The Church
Fact 3 Details about the 144,000 can be found in Rev. 7 & 14
Fact 4 Details about the 2 witnesses can be found in Rev. 11
Fact 5 Details about the end-time Church can be found in Rev. 2 & 3
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Observations of the texts RE: the 144,000 ...
O1 The 144,000 of Rev. 7 are sealed before the 7th Seal is opened.
O2 Those sealed are protected from the torment of the locusts during the 5th Trumpet period. (The 144,000 are present on earth during this 5th Trumpet era.)
O3 The sealed 144,000 are the FIRST to be redeemed from the earth as they are the "firstfruits" to God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 14)
Summary of observations O1 - O3 above:
144,000 are sealed prior to the opening of the 7th Seal. Their being sealed protects them from the stinging locusts. They are on earth during this locust period - the period of the 5th Trumpet. Sometime during the 6th Trumpet period they are translated to heaven where they are then recorded to be singing a new song before the throne of God (that is, in heaven). Because these 144,000 are the firstfruits, they are the ones who are gathered first - from earth to heaven.
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Observations of the text RE: the 2 witnesses ...
O1 During the 6th Trumpet period, the 2 witnesses are killed and resurrected (and translated to heaven in a cloud). Their gathering takes place before the 7th Trumpet. This event (of the taking up of the 2 witnesses) concludes the 2nd woe of Rev. 8:13. (The 1st woe is the 5th Trumpet era - see Rev. 9:1-12).
Please recall: Because the 144,000 are the firstfruits to God, they are taken up sometime after the 5th Seal - as they are protected through this 5th Seal - BUT before the taking up of the 2 witnesses (who are translated at the end of the 6th Trumpet period).
O2 Once the 2nd woe is past (the 2nd woe period is the 6th Trump of Rev. 9:13-21 and includes the translation of the 2 witnesses - see Rev. 11:11-14), the 7th Trumpet blows. This 7th Trumpet is the last trumpet blast of the Revelation trumpets (also see I Cor. 15:51, 52). This concluding trumpet blast brings on the final trumpet rapture gathering of the Church.
O3 The 1,260-day prophetic ministry of the 2 witnesses ends during the 6th Trumpet period, just prior to the 7th and final trumpet of Rev. 11:15. These 2 end-of-days prophets pre- sent their message(s) for 3.5 years prior to their translation (view this chartfor further details). The period of time when the 2 witnesses are active includes a portion of the Rev. 6 Seals - Seals 4, 5 & 6.
Summary of observations O1 - O3 immediately above:
The 2 witnesses bring prophetic appeal for 3.5 years. As the 6th Trumpet period begins to come to an end - following the event of the taking up of the 144,000 - the 2 witnessses are killed. Three days later they are resurrected and translated to heaven.
There are additional observations detailing this end-time matter of translation order ...
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Quotations of certain biblical texts RE: the rapture gathering of the Church ...
I Thes. 4:13-18 (NKJV)
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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 His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
I Corinthians 15:51, 52 (NKJV) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In conclusion ...
The order of the from-earth-to-heaven translation gatherings of God's end-time people is this, biblically speaking:
A. First: the 144,000 (sometime after the 5th Trumpet) B. Second: the 2 witnesses (at the close of the 6th Trumpet)
C. Third: the Church - those who still remain - I Thes. 4:17 (at the sounding of the 7th Trumpet)
We believe this dear Church of God in Jesus Christ:
In light of Bible data ( in harmony with Scripture ), this presentation is certain and its interpretation is sure.
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CB2B;19
Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Part 3) Honestly Defining The Eschatological Playing Field
Fact 1 No explicit account of the Rapture Gathering of the Church is given in the book of Revelation. All end-time views use inferential interpretation as to where the Rapture Gathering takes place (in the setting of this Bible book).
Fact 2 Other passages speak to the gathering together of God's elect, an event which seems to be separate from our Lord's descent to the earth in His 2nd Advent as described in Rev. 19. (see John 14:1-3; I Thes. 4:13-18; II Thes. 2:1-12; the gathering of Mark 13:27 / Mt. 24:31 - vs. the 2nd Advent of Mt. 25:31)
Fact 3 Unlike most end-time views, the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering viewpoint proposes a 3-part "return of Jesus Christ." We make this proposal based on the full Counsel of Bible data: There is an initial appearing of Christ prior to the gathering event. Mt. 24 & Mark 13 highlight this - and please recall: these words are the very words of our Lord as He describes His return. This 3-part Second Coming also seems to be described in the book of Revelation in this way:
Affirming Scripture interprets Scripture, we suggest starting an end-time Bible inquiry with the clearest and most complete articulation of Christ's coming and the end of the age - again: this description is Christ's very teaching on this matter! Please study Mt. 24 & 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
In this Olivet message, Jesus Christ surely allows for a gap between His initial appearing (Mt. 24:30; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27, 28) and the gathering of His elect (Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27 - "then" and, while Luke 21 does not include the event of the gathering, please note Lk. 21:28 in the context of Mt. 24:33 and Mark 13:29). Pretty cool!
After His sign (Mt. 24:30; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27; also pre- sented in Rev. 6:14-17), the event of the rapture gathering occurs (Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27; and, highlighting the Scripture interpreting Scripture principle: Rev. 11:15ff and Rev. 14:14-16).
Then, after the wrath of God is poured out on those who reject God (in the bowls of wrath), Jesus Christ returns to the earth (Mt. 25:31; Rev. 19).
There are those who discount the proposal outlined above BUT please note well: They do not have sufficient grounds to outright dismiss this viable end- time proposal in light of explicit Bible Truth. Raise questions, yes; outright reject, no.
Here's where God's prophetic ministry continues, but in an even more sure manner ....
While the chronological details above are cast in the setting of a proposal for your prayerful and exegetical consideration - due to interpretation steps taken - we go on to bring application appeals based on end-time Bible themes, ones tied to a very Bible- affirming end-time chronological view. Please look over our many blogs which speak to crucial end-time principles-for-living today. These principles highlight contemporary thematic action steps toward God-honoring readiness, including a perspective of watchfullness built on His holy Word of Truth.
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CB2C;19
It's Simply GOD's Narrow Way
There is an earthly dad who has a child who persists in living in a rebellious, disrespectful way. The dad, in seeking to emulate the Heavenly Father, has set in place the following prerequisite for entering into his (i.e., dad's) relational presence, that is, in a reconciled-relationship manner.
" [ child ], you are more than welcome to come and see me in my declining state BUT it's contingent upon THIS condition (requirement):
You simply (humbly) begin your visit with a sincere confession and apologize that you have acted in most disrespectful ways toward your dad over the past couple decades. If you're willing to honor this needed (in my eyes and I believe in God's eyes) request (gracing you with affirmation of my forgiveness), then YES, by all means, please come. You will most warmly and lovingly - in mercy and grace - be received. Although I have already for- given you (as my Lord has Counseled in His Word), you need to take the action step above - that is, if you desire to see me.
IF you cannot sincerely bring confession, please don't offer it. And yes, this would mean you are not invited to come and see me.
Please HONOR this request from your dad, an elder follower of Jesus Christ and one who tries his best to model our heavenly Father's relational mandates (toward reconciliation) for mankind. As YHVH Father God requires confession in the relational (making-right) process, so too do I require, from you, confession of YOUR sin against me and God by your violation of His 5th Commandment." (Ex. 20 & Eph. 6:1-3)
So here's our simple appeal in this blog:
Unbelievers, Creator God welcomes you into His presence BUT it must be through His Son. Only Jesus Christ forgives sin before God. His death on the cross - including His shed blood - has secured reconciliation forgiveness for all. BUT there's a condition to APPLY this privision!
God asks each and every one of us to confess the truth concerning our sad state that we are all sinners in need. He, through His redeeming glory, uses our sinfulness to encourage us to make right our broken relationship with Him. In fact, He commands it - see I John 3:23. IF we are humble such that we confess our sin and sin's consequence (death - both physical and spiritual) and receive His provision, He, in mercy, graciously, in His Son, Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords, grants cleansing to the extent we can indeed enter His glorious holy presence in fellowship.
Please, dear sinner, HONOR that which God has decreed and simply humble yourself to the extent you're willing to confess the Truth - that you are stained by sin and that you are dead in your trespasses and sins. Accept God's solution to these two most ugly universal human problems (sin and death - sin's consequence, which includes both physical [bodily] death and spiritual [soul] eternal death).
Receive Christ Jesus as your provision for forgiveness of sin before Father God, as this is HIS only chosen provision against sin and death. YES, it really is indeed GOD's way (life eternal) or the highway (of eternal separation from God).
Jesus Christ's followers stated it this way:
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Father God's SON, Himself states it this way:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
John 10:7 Then Jesus said to them, again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep."
Mt. 7:13, 14 [ Jesus speaking ] Enter by the narrow gate [ door ]; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruc- tion, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(above passages taken from the NKJV ; emphases ours)
The choice of the child (in the analogy above) is clear: Rightfully ask for dad's forgiveness, as he asks, and enjoy restored fellowship with him. The other option - also highlighted above - brings grief.
Your choice, dear created child, is clear: Ask for Father God's forgiveness as He so outlines (if you haven't already done so) and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him, FOREVER. The other option - highlighted above - is grievous, one which will indeed bring eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The choice is yours. For more details, please CLICK HERE.
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CB2D;19
PLEASE Reconsider
On February 8, 2019 we noticed a BIG format change on one of our newer web sites. The presentation of the pages on the web site was terrible. The problem was major, not minor. It was bad enough, aesthetically, to prompt the following response ...
Folks, let's be honest. IF hackers, web site hosts or even browser providers - Explorer, Chrome, etc. - (to name only a few potential source threats) change the format relating to software tied to configuration, for example, of web sites, this could cripple one major form of communication. The changes could be so radical in effect that vital material on sites could no longer be available. And this issue - of configuration - is only one of many ways censorship of material could take place. Selective censorship could also easily take place today, even through legitimate channels - e.g., a change in ICANN policy RE: domain URLs, etc.
All the above to say ...
In response to potential threats outside of our control, given approximately 60% of our material is posted online and is most pertinent for 2019 - 2025, please download our Truth-based data.
You can find all our posted materials at the web sites below. (We also bring live presentations which include more sensitive material which we have decided not to post online - additional end-time insight from God's Word.)
As we stated in an earlier blog, one could download the material in about 2 - 3 hours. Suggestion: Use a separate thumb drive or USB data stick / jump drive.
May you, through this Bible-affirming material, be ready as our Lord Jesus has called His true Church to be!
March's Commentary Blogs
CB3A;19
MIMICS Who Bring CHEAP Substitutes
From the very beginning of time, fallen lucifer has tried to replace God's glorious Truths with inferior alternatives. In each bait-and-switch attempt, satan offers substitutes which ultimately bring false-hope dispair. He's even doing this through one of his contemporary pawns: the secular state (who seeks to replace God's beauties in the Church with hopeless fakes).
His cheap alternatives ooze one of his strongest character qualities: DECEIT. These shackle-inducing deceptions are often eternal in duration, at least for many. How sad!
But God ...
YHVH God, who is able to redeem even the darkest bondages, can, AND DOES, bring victory over the evil dragon. He esp- ecially does so through Jesus Christ His Son - the Lord of lords and King of kings - and His Spirit. In seeking to foster proper humility, God asks us to confess our sinfulness and look to His only provision for freedom from satan's eternal prison, the Lake of Fire.
Will you, if you haven't already done so, take God at His Word and receive His Son today? You really can move from dark bondage to the devil to freedom from sin and death.
CLICK HERE for presentations of God's Good News. Don't allow darkness to keep you in its grip. Accept God's loving, full-Counsel outline as to eternal Life with Him. Do so today! In Christ you will find means to discern the contemporary, satanic mimics who, like their spiritual father, bring ugly, cheap substitutes.
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CB3B;19
Present Appeals From The Past
Larry Norman (April 8, 1947 - February 24, 2008)
I Wish We'd All Been Ready *
Life was filled with guns and war And everyone got trampled on the floor: I wish we'd all been ready. Children died, the days grew cold A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold: I wish we'd all been ready.
There's no time to change your mind The Son has come and you've been left behind.
A man and wife asleep in bed She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone: I wish we'd all been ready. Two men walking up a hill One disappears and one's left standing still: I wish we'd all been ready.
There's no time to change your mind The Son has come and you've been left behind.
Life was filled with guns and war And everyone got trampled on the floor: I wish we'd all been ready. Children died, the days grew cold A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold: I wish we'd all been ready.
There's no time to change your mind How could you have been so blind?
The Father spoke, the demons dined The Son has come and you've been left behind ... you've been left behind ... you've been left behind.
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We prepare and are ready in light of the end-time view we hold. CRUCIAL question:
Is our end-time view true in light of actual Bible Truth whereby we are preparing correctly ?
* Lyrics taken from a published YouTube.com concert posted on 10/17/2006 by Rick Vaughn. This song can also be found on Larry Norman's albums: Upon This Rock (1969) and Only Visiting This Planet (1972).
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CB3C;19
Concerns Over A Growing THREAT
Our sincerely DEEP concern is this:
Given the crafty ways darkness goes about deceiving, isn't it wise to embrace a perspective which is willing to - at the very least - listen to Bible-affirming warnings about potentially binding entrapments, ones bringing terrible eternal consequences?
In part, we're concerned about growing closed-minded dogmatism when there is not sufficient biblical grounds to hold certain views.
Two examples are highlighted in this blog:
I have a friend who is not teachable when it comes to Bible insight on some topics (even though she's a believer). She is so dogmatic about what she believes that she won't even give fair consideration to explicit Bible Truth.
After sharing with her about some significant cultural affairs - which I've done on multiple occasions now - concerns found addressed in the Word of God, she simply responds by saying: "I believe differently."
This one doesn't even discern the degree to which she is willfully choosing to put herself in harm's way due to the less-than-certain opinions she holds. It would be one thing if the topics didn't matter much but the issues we talk about are fraught with consequence. They have become MOST significant indeed!
I've done my best to bring warning but what else can I do if she's not open? KEEP PRAYING the Spirit of God tells me.
Allow me to share a second somewhat recent example ...
About five months ago I talked with another who claimed to be a Christian yet who puts his personal convictions ABOVE (as more authoritative than) God's Word.*
At first it didn't seem to me like this was the case because he was affirming a Bible doctrine - the security of the true believer. As we talked, though, it became clear this one's ACTUAL final authority for faith (belief) and practice was NOT the Word of God because he went on (in the very same conversation) to reject other portions of the Word which did not support his dogmatic version of once saved always saved.
I asked him this: "On what grounds do you believe in the security of the believer?" "The Scriptures," he said and then proceeded to show me Bible passages which do indeed affirm two precious Truths:
1. No one can pluck us out of His hand - John 10 2. Nothing can separate us from the love of God - Romans 8
"So the BIBLE is your source of authority for this belief?" I asked.
"Absolutely!" he responded.
I then shared with him some other passages. (I highlighted the fact that these passages, too, come from the same Book of authority!) I included passages that teach the reality of apostasy, shipwreck of faith, God's judgment at times - even wrath - on His rebellious people, the blotting out of one's name from the book and many passages which teach the holistic doctrine of salvation - passages including "conditions" and other enduring "qualities" of genuine saving faith.
He responded, "But I don't believe these things because they teach contrary to the eternal security passages." (KEY: As HE had developed the passages into his foreign-to-the- holistic-Word worldview perspective!)
I then called for a reality check. "If that's indeed the case - that you don't believe these other passages - can you honestly say the Bible (in its whole) is your authority for faith and practice? You seem to be inconsistent in that you accept SOME passages but, when push comes to shove, you reject others."
He didn't know what to say in response.
Here's our passionate, God-given concern:
The rejection of the full Counsel of the Word of God is an all too common reality among Christians today. The act of accepting some Scriptures but not others - "cherry-picking" - is a frequent phenomena of many believers in this age of free grace where some folks feel they can make up their own version of Christianity, unbiblical as it is. THIS WILL NOT FLY ON THE DAY OF ACCOUNTING. We bring this warning because of God-given tough love; we raise this concern because we genuinely CARE for you!
Reality: Half-truths can be dangerous! Imbalances to one extreme or the other - where some Bible passages have to either be rejected outright or twisted/misinterpreted - often lead to consequential disaster.
Here's one example highlighting an imbalanced perspective using the topic eternal security :
The incorrect attititude can be summarized in this way:
1. I am saved. 2. I cannot lose my salvation. 3. Therefore, I cannot fall away from the faith. 4. Therefore, I can embrace the spirit of antichrist, I can live any way I choose, I can even take the mark of the beast ... because I'm already saved.
(Do you see how eschatology** is, in this example, intimately tied to soteriology*** !? The BIBLE warns against certain end-time heresies, which, if embraced, bring eternal separation from God! These TRUTHS matter too!)
The false attitude (1-4) above - a very imbalanced per- spective - is most dangerous indeed.
A fascinating cultural point well made: CLICK HERE.
PLEASE, dear pilgrim, believe and obey the FULL Counsel of God. Satan delights in misleading sheep through half-truths. Don't fall into this common trap.
* Our Lord Jesus Christ addresses this topic in Mark 7:1-9. ** Eschatology: The study and/or doctrine of end times *** Soteriology: The study and/or doctrine of salvation
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CB3D;19
Scripture Interpreting Scripture (Part 4) Addressing End-Time Chronological Fine Hairs
Please view this blog's chart using this link: CLICK HERE
Question: Does the charted time line linked immediately above evidence this faulty charge: "Endurance Ministries date sets in violation of Bible data."
Answer: No, because the "date-setting" issue is tied to the Lord's return. The "date-setting" prohibition does NOT mean we cannot make observation details about the war against the Saints and other end-time events.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Jesus speaking ; Mt. 24:36 ; NKJV)
As a result of the above, we make this claim:
The Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering end-time view never date sets regarding the Second Coming.
~ It doesn't date set RE: the initial appearing of Christ in Mt. 24:30 and Rev. 6:14-17 because we don't know how much time takes place as the heavenly signs blaze. (see Mt. 24:29 & Rev. 6:12, 13)
~ It doesn't date set RE: the final trumpet rapture gathering in Mt. 24:31 and Rev. 11:15 & 14:14-16 because we don't know the duration of the 6th Trumpet era. Rev. 10:5-7: YES; The exact "day or hour": NO, as the "then" of Rev. 11:15 is not specifically defined.
~ It doesn't date set RE: the 2nd Advent of Christ to the earth in Mt. 25:31 and Rev. 19 because we don't know how long it takes the armies (of Rev. 16:14) to gather for the Rev. 19 battle event when our Lord accomplishes a great victory over them through His simple - but powerful - Word!
It's amazing how clear God has been regarding end-time details. His Word is Truth and will come to pass as He has declared.
Please use our Bible reading schedules for end-time reading.
Then He [ Jesus Christ ] said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." (Luke 17:22-36 ; NKJV ; omissions immediately above are made in light of the actual N.T. Greek texts)
In the days of Noah and Lot, many folks were living according to the dictates of their own hearts. It's as though the principle of Judges 21:25b was being lived out by the majority:
" ... everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
Today we find the same perspective emphasized through various appeals, including:
~ Do what YOU feel is best. ~ YOU are the lord of your life. ~ "Let's find what makes YOU happy because, honestly, that's what it all comes down to. ... We're all in this pursuit of pleasure."
In biblical response: There is a way which seems right to mankind, but the end thereof is destruction. And when individual wishesconflict with the power of the majority, watch out!
In a post-Christian day when anti-YHVH God society calls the shots, we find growing hatred and aggressive violence being expressed. According to the Word of God, it will only grow worse.
A question for those still wise enough to seek Him ... (Remember: "Wise men still seek Him.")
Will we heed our Lord's Counsel and, by God's grace, assure our eternal state, whatever the cost? Will we submit to His call, "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it" ? (Lk. 17:33 ; NKJV)
Society will get to a place - shortly - where true followers of Jesus Christ will have to decide:
Will I save my earthly life by yielding to the pressures from the satanic community - pressures to compromise (which will be my own volitional response to the dark mandates) ?
OR
Will I do what Creator/Savior/soon-coming King has called His followers to do: Be willing to take even further steps in losing my life so that I will not apostatize but instead, per- severe in my eternal existence in Jesus Christ the Lord ?
Reality check:
We are NOT accountable to God for other's actions, even when they seek to wrongly rule over us. What we ARE accountable to God for are our actions in response.
Don't allow excuses - ones which won't be accepted by God on the day of accounting - to govern your response (e.g., "The devil made me do it." ... "The secular society forced me to capitulate." etc.).
NO, God holds each of us accountable for our actions.
According to the Word of God, we mustn't compromise, for to do so would be to fall away from the faith. [ The false perspective promoted in the dark film, Silence, will mushroom soon: CLICK HERE (see blog B7;17 for details). ]
Our Lord Jesus has called us to very different actions:
Revelation chapters 2 & 3 have helpful insight ...
His call:
2:5 Repent [ and turn from having left your first love ] 2:10 "Be faithful even unto death" if need be 2:14-16 Repent [ from fleshly compromise ] 2:20 Be sexually pure 3:2, 3 Hold fast, repent and watch 3:10 Persevere/endure (as opposed to compromise) 3:15, 16 Do not be lukewarm - see vs. 17 for qualities thereof 3:19 If degrees of a lukewarm state have crept in, repent and be zealous
Consequences of disregarding His call:
2:5 Removal of your lampstand 2:10 No crown granted, perhaps? 2:17 No overcoming 2:22, 23 He will kill her children (those who work unrighteousness), including apostates 3:5 Blotting our name from the Book of Life perhaps? 3:10, 11 Not kept from the hour of trial ; crown taken away 3:16 Being spit out of His mouth - rejected 3:21 No overcoming
God has graciously highlighted a very simple but crucial mindset through time. His Word suggests the same most helpful per- spective during our end-of-days period:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecc. 12:13, 14
Toward moving in the direction of returning to our first love ... "If you love Me, keep My commandments. ... He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Jesus Christ in John 14 (vv.15, 21)
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ... Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil. 2:5, 12, 13
(passages above taken from the NKJV)
Lord God, please help us endure to the end as Your Son has so clearly outlined in Mt. 24:13, in Jesus Christ's name we ask, amen.
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CB4B;19
God's Familiar Call
Throughout history God's people have grieved Him. He abundantly extends His loving, gracious mercies and yet, His people persist in wandering into spiritual adultery.
This wasn't only so throughout the Torah, the historical books of Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles and the prophets. This sad tendency toward unfaithful compromise is also characteristic of much of the church age. It would not be incorrect to label YHVH God's people, hypocrites.
This unfaithful quality is especially true of the end-time church ... today's church.
But God !
In the context of great apostasy today, YHVH God continues to call His people to repent.
Will we humble ourselves, confess our sin and seek His help to live in ways which honor Him? Will we follow His Son's clear Counsel as graciously given in Revelation chapters 2 & 3?
Dear Church, let's honor our Lord by, in love, obeying Him. Let's stop quenching, grieving and enraging/insulting His Spirit of grace! Instead, may we walk in the Spirit of God and - therein - produce fruits glorifying to God. (The messages in Galatians 5 are SO needing to be pondered by us today!)
May we abide in Christ Jesus our Vine and manifest true faith as opposed to being branches which are cut off and thrown into the fire.
God help us.
And that He does. PRAISE to His glorious name. Psalm 42
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CB4C;19
PRECIOUS Reasons To CELEBRATE
We thank God for His kind insights concerning wise living in these days prior to His Son's return. He has been SO graciously generous to us in giving His Word which informs about thematic and chronological matters so pertinent for today. We've highlighted some pressing concerns in the handouts immediately below:
We also praise Him for the celebrations at hand - we continue rejoicing over THIS significant 2,000-year-old anniversary: The birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2,000 years ago God walked this earth. As we further contemplate the saving victories in His death and resurrection, may the peace and joy we experience in our celebrations bring further praise to and adoration of our dear Savior.
BLESSED holy weekto each and every one!
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CB4D;19
Woe To Those Who Call Evil, "Good" And Good, "Evil"
AMAZING!
Some churches call those who are Bible-proclaiming Amabassadors of Jesus Christ, "dangerous" or "evil" while at the same time - can you believe it! - affirm those who practice abomination life-styles - calling them fellow brothers of humanity and the like. Consider this Word from the Lord:
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! Isaiah 5:20-23 ; NKJV
Woe to some "church" folks who do the same, who go on to express the following attitude by their actions of disaproval of God's Saints in Jesus Christ who press on in declaring His Counsels of warning:
We will not walk in it [the old paths]; We will not listen [to the watchmen's sounding of the trumpet warnings]. (see Jeremiah 6:16, 17)
But God's calls for repentance - His messages of mercy and grace - do not stop there!
Ponder Isaiah 24 - 26 - yes, three whole chapters! In the context of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, recall the words of this precious hymn:
Oh the deep, deep, love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless free! Rolling as a mighty ocean, in its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above. (words by Samuel Francis)
So please consider this offer:
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20 ; NKJV)
For Good News which is eternal in scope, CLICK HERE. IF you enter in, the following Truth rings strikingly dear: In the household of God through Jesus Christ our saving Lord, a hymn of praise is most appropriate:
Read Isaiah 12:1-6
May's Commentary Blogs
CB5A;19
Our GUARANTEE - Our PLEDGE - To You ...
Our blogs - including BOTH "weekly" and "commentary" blogs - are truthful AND are anything but trivial. The appeals we make are of eternal significance, sincerely so.
Our (Truth & truth) bases for extending these words of Counsel/counsel are these:
1. Truth Foundations are used, ones explicitly found in YHVH God's holy Word - the Old and New Testaments;
2. Observations of present-day culture are made;
3. Bible-honoring proposals (in light of the WHOLE Counsel of God's Word) are shared - for examples:
Our claim above (that the proclamations we make are both truthful and significant) can be easily tested.
~ Simply open the Bible and check to see if we are rightly presenting His Word;
~ Evaluate culture and you will discern we, by God's kind mercy and grace, rightly observe it (culture); and,
~ Scrutinize our presentations (BUT please, know and properly represent our position before you speak about it).
FACT: We have not received biblical rebuttals against our appeals - rebuttals which would warrant we discontinue our heralding efforts. We sincerely are committed to rightly Ambassadoring on YHVH God's behalf.
IF you believe to the contrary - that our appeals are in error - then PLEASE contact us with your rebuttal(s) and/or your comment(s). This is a fair request on our part.
For the sake of loving care for God's sheep in Jesus Christ, to the extent we're willing to be watchmen on the wall who even speak tough love at times, we will endure in our God-given assignment until we receive justification to discontinue.
Please write to us. We'd love to hear from you. Email us at email@endmin.org.
May God be praised ... may His people be edified ... may the lost come to Christ as a result of our urgent Gospel appeals!
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CB5B;19
Addressing A Valid Concern
We've heard BOTH charges against us:
1. "You don't say anything in your materials." (Sincerely, one loud voice of opposition has actually said this to us.) What he was getting at, in part, was this: You use the Bible to justify your appeals but others have different understandings concerning these texts you use. Why can't you simply tell us what you believe in your own words. This is one fair appeal he tried to make.
2. "Your sites express your opinions, that's all." What this opponent is getting at, in part, is this: Your end-time position is your view which includes interpretations but many others have different views. "Thank you for your opinion [but dis- continue expressing it, please!]"
We at Endurance Minstries are genuinely THANKFUL we are being heard, though some responses to our Bible-affirming appeals do represent DARK misrepresentation!
RE: #1 above ...
YES, we try to avoid including opinion in our appeals because our opinions don't matter. It's what the Word of God says that matters.
One church board had us come to meet with them. The elders wanted me to state my view in my own words. They didn't want me to simply cite Scripture in support of the appeals we make. So, in honor of their request, I read from my book - my own words - a portion which addressed their concern. What I read from my book was over 80% Bible Truth. They didn't like my response but my point was made. They released me as their missionary shortly thereafter - sad, but true.
RE: #2 above ...
The times when we do confess we include interpretive appeals - opinions - in our materials is a reality step which is true of ALL views. Everyone includes interpretive steps when teaching God's FULL Word because interpretations are inherent in the act. There is not one exception here.
So please, hear us out ...
On one side of the coin, just because we make explicit Bible appeals doesn't, in and of itself, justify rejecting the appeals (especially based on the reality that other possible interpretations of the passage[s] under consideration exist).
On the other side of the coin, just because we confess inter- pretive steps in our prophetic appeals doesn't, in and of itself, justify rejecting the appeals. It's what the Word of God says that provides evidence for the appeal, yes, but let's not forget this: When we take a look at the full Counsel of God's Word, we have to take interpretive steps.
We suggest this so as to get to the real matter at hand:
Let's fairly consider all of the competing views and then decide, for ourselves, which view has the strongest warrant for belief. Where there are multiple competing hypotheses vying for acceptance, let's allow each of the views to make their case. This is a fair and wonderful way to go about considering possible options - in our case, possible eschatological options.
That's WHY, in part, we have suggested the Great Debate. This event would allow viewers to take in different end-time viewpoints in a context where other-view advocates can also raise questions about the weaknesses of the differing views (than the one they hold) - those represented at the event anyway. What a great discipleship moment this COULD be! But, to date, folks aren't willing to enter into this format, or so it seems.
In that context, we offer this:
Prayerfully consider having us come to your church where we would accurately represent differing views and then go on to evaluate the multiple competing hypotheses in light of Bible Truth. What a blessing this would be ... for all involved.
Let us know when we should come and serve in this way.
Back to the main appeal of this blog ...
In conclusion:
YES, we at Endurance Ministries submit to the Word of God as our Truth Foundation in that we quote it regularly AND we do so in the context of this perspective: Let the Word of God say what it says! It can, it does, speak for itself.
AND
YES, we are honest when we have to include interpretation steps in our appeals.
This is another one of those both/and things. Everyone is faced with this predicament ... EVERYONE. Did you hear me: EVERYONE!
Lord, here we are, send us. Please open the doors of opportunity for us to share with local churches what You have so kindly made manifest to us. Lord, thank You for gracing us with the Daniel 11:32-35 privilege. And thank You, too, for reminding us that we need to so depend on Your precious Holy Spirit to bring all things to our remembrance as we seek to be of help to our Family in Christ Jesus Your Son. We humbly ask for this opportunity to present so as to further provide needed Gospel proclamation and to bring additional Discipleship efforts, all in the context of seeking to bring You glory and praise. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen
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CB5C;19
MORE Conditioning: Deceptive, Satanic Voices Continue To Overplay Their Hand
Do you recall the film, The American President ?
In this movie conditioning against one political party was overdone. The script writers once again were so strong in their brainwashing effort that most couldn't help but discern the effort toward fostering the progressive agenda.
It's no different today. Darkness continues to portray character assassination to the extent it's criminal ... at least it should be considered such.
While I'm NOT saying these accusers of righteousness should not be allowed to speak, I am shouting this: Folks, in common-sense discernment, take note of the ongoing EVIL conditioning which is taking place today. Let's discern our day!
Let me cite one recent example of cultural conditioning, one which is influencing millions:
The script writers of the TV series, "Designated Survivor" overplay their hand. They actually instruct the viewing audience to see the "right," the "conservatives," yes, even parts of the Republican Party as those who want to overthrow our government. The writers are bold in their message. They are also subtle, powerfully reinterating their appeals through the use of half-truth appeals. Catch the first season of this series if you don't believe me.
You can't miss the effort ... or is it possible some could actually miss discerning this worldview battle in the day the Bible predicted would be filled with great deception ?
The series' story-line includes this: The terrorists who take out much of the 3 branches of government through a huge explosion at the Capitol are NOT Islamic terrorists but are those within the right - conservatives who even exist in the Republican Party. These are very BAD people the script writers would have us believe. These bad people even hate the arts. Again, catch the series and you'll see and hear what I'm observing.
It's amazing these appeals are so bold. They even use Scripture - Romans 12:21! - to present warrant to deal with the evil - again, as the script writers define evil in the first season anyway. This type of conditioning is shameful.
I should ask a question at this juncture:
Does freedom of speech allow me to even voice this concern? Some would say this is "hate speech" on my part. NOT SO, at all, I assure you! But, who, really, is being hateful here?
Satan often overplays his hand given his days are numbered. His time to dominate the earth is coming to a close. In this context, absurd efforts are manifesting themselves. The Bible offers wise- discernment appeal on this topic IF we would but seek it.
Here's one of many pertinent principles found in the Word of God:
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 ; ESV)
Folks, let's better discern our day! Let's do so in light of precious revelation from our Creator God who is all-good and all-knowing. Let's be willing to draw attention to reality - what's actually going on today.
We can do it IF we're willing to reject dark, satanic culture as we use God's loving, Truthful standard in our assessment. Truth Matters! May we exercise some common sense and employ GOD's higher Truth Foundations - His epistemic authority - as the plumb line in our evaluations.
For those who do, darkness will persecute - that's what the Word of God has forewarned anyway. But we, dear Family in Christ our sure and eternal Hope, can take JOY in the fact that our YHVH God has the final Word.
So for those of us who are in Christ today, take peace and joy in these passages:
Matthew 5:11, 12 John 16:1-3, 33 Romans 8:18 James 1:2-4 II Timothy 3:12 and others
May YHVH God be praised, in Jesus Christ's name, as we press on in walking in His Spirit - those of us who are His. Amen
P.S. One slogan of the bad people in the TV series is, "No Victory Without Sacrifice." Biblically speaking, while the Victory has already occurred, the spiritual warfare continues to rage - very much so. But God !
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CB5D;19
Missing The Point
My wife and I know a Christian acquaintance who holds this attitude:
Jon's view on sexual sins is just that - JON's view.
Our friend completely misses the foundation of our view and, as a result, misrepresents our point, which, in this blog, is this:
It's not our view. It's what God communicates in His Word. ... It's HIS view. And this can be affirmed by simply reading His Word. We, in God-honoring submission, simply comply as we embrace and proclaim it.
One day everyone will give account to our Creator God and Savior. We will give account for our wrongs (including our thoughts, words, deeds and inactions) and for our rights (including our thoughts, words, deeds and, at His compelling, inactions).
As God has, in His mercy and grace, provided our means to be saved, so too does He provide us with His means to walk as He commands.
In application, may we walk in holiness, yes, even to this degree: Be holy as He is holy. We sure can't accomplish this in our carnality but we can shine in holiness as we allow Him - through His Holy Spirit within us - to continue to do that good work in us until our glorification. Once again, Galatians 5 is such a great Bible chapter.
Lord, please help us shine as Your faithful Ambassadors in these end of days until Your Son's gathering of Your elect. In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.
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CB5E;19
Gifts Toward Church Edification ...
Endurance Ministries exists to evangelize the lost (who still need Jesus Christ and His atoning provision) and to disciple God's people in Christ Jesus (toward greater Christ-likeness) unto the triune YHVH God's glory and praise.
This link serves to provide additional discipleship gifts to His Church.
ENJOY!
June's Commentary Blogs
CB6A;19
Highlighting A Count It All JOY Perspective
Have you heard this before:
"Raising kids is like a walk in the park - Jurassic Park!"
But it's oddly, to a degree, true in today's culture.
With similar observation ...
Bible-centered ministry these days is not always well received by some churches. Actually, it's becoming dangerous in some contexts. Sincerely, we've experienced hostility in multiple ways by some church folks.
WHY are some churches responding so negatively toward universal appeals which God has always extended to His people over time?
Is it perhaps due to the sick spiritual condition of some of these churches (and/or individuals) ?
Our Lord said we would incur what He incurred - rejection, various forms of persecution, etc. - as we live godly in Him.
So what's the problem?
We should anticipate this: We, too, will experience similar responses. Recall what happened when Christ Jesus confronted the compromises of His people - see John 7:7. Our Lord even cautioned His opposition on their faulty desire to kill Him.
Today, God's faithful people in the biblical Jesus Christ continue to face in-house opposition as we persist in contending for the faith - Jude 3. Even simple Bible Truths are being questioned by some in churches today. Like the prophets of old who were ill-treated by the people, true Ambassadors - those who biblically represent Him and the full Counsel of His Word - of Christ Jesus are also mistreated.
Our suggested response with your best interests in mind:
1. MARK those who say they are believers but who reject Bible Truths. There exists today - in greater number than we'd care to confess - wolves in sheep's clothing.
2. See those who bring God's Truths as advocates, not enemies. We are surprised by the apparent lack of discernment in this area: Bible heralds should be received, not persecuted for righteousness' sake in Christ-centered, Bible-affirming churches today.
And yet, persecution against God's people in Jesus Christ is growing ... even in churches. So how should we now live ?
Let's count it all JOY when we are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Recall the PRECIOUS Bible verses listed in blog CB5C;19 above. "Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your example to us as to how to respond when we are rejected on God's behalf. Glory to Your name. Amen"
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CB6B;19
Homosexuals Are Sinners Needing Forgiveness Too!
DON'T misjudge us, please!
We mean, by this title, this:
ALL folks are sinners needing God's forgiveness and help in living victoriously over sin, for all come short of God's glorious plan for mankind.*
"So why are you singling out 'homosexuals' ?" some might ask. They may even go on to ask, "And why don't you call us by our preferred names: 'gay' and 'lesbian' ?"
Our answer ...
Well, in response to recent rounds of appeal from members within your own community, we don't, in this blog, chose to be gender focused. Using "gay" and "lesbian" labels are just that: gender specific terms. Thus, we use a word which, by its very definition, is a more general term -
homo same (gender, yes, but the emphasis is only a portion of the dynamic of this issue)
sexual (in the context of this word, "homosexual,") orientation of the sexual partner
The homosexual community might respond ...
"So why use 'homosexual' if the term highlights gender? Because it still focuses on gender, please stop using it!"
To which we respectfully respond ...
1. Thank you for your suggestion but we do acknowledge your response for what it is: your opinion. I do not use the word in a derogatory way but for the sake of minimalizing gender specifics (in this blog anyway) and, more importantly, because the word does accurately define the person so named when we're addressing the sexual orientation of said individual.
2. Please consider God's view on this matter:
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (I Corinthians 6:9, 10 ; NKJV)
Also see James B. DeYoung'swork titled, Homosexuality (Kregel Publications, 2000).
In conclusion, homosexuals are sinners (like ALL of humanity) and need forgiveness and repentance, too. Click Here for Good News!
* A few years ago I had lunch with Josh. I began our discussion by saying something to the effect, "Let's talk in generalities today and put aside the elephant in the room - the elephant being the topic of homosexuality. Josh was kind and agreed. I went on, in the course of our pleasant conversation, to emphasize the same message we're highlighting in this blog: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
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CB6C;19
A Willingness To Confront, In Love, Obnoxitons
Let's begin with a definition since this word is, no doubt, new to most.
"Obnoxitons" those who are obnoxious
[ obnoxious: very unpleasant ; objectionable ; offensive ]
BUT be careful here! As Jesus Christ was considered obnoxious by some, so too do some today label "obnoxious" those who simply proclaim God's Truths as a result of loving care toward compromised church goers.
IF, as the Word of God is proclaimed, these lukewarm folks are genuinely believers in Christ, they would most often respond in humble repentance. BUT if they respond to the Word in carnal ways, might we prayerfully consider responding by sharing the Gospel with them as they may not actually be new-born Saints in Jesus Christ. Not everyone in church is born again.
Recall what our Lord said: "By their fruits you shall know them."
Correct: We are not to judge unto judgment because God is Judge of all. We are those, though, who have been called by God to mark those who persist in appealing for dangerous compromise - one expression of apostasy. WHOA There is a huge potential difference between judgment and speaking factually on matters of importance.
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CB6D;19
Promises, Promises !
There are some who promise peace and safety today. Included within this entire (that is, holistic) group will be those who assure global Christian communities that folks need not be concerned about this one of whom some will correctly say (in the near future): "This is the antichrist."
In response to the revealing of the antichrist, some, in the context of bringing warning concerning the little horn, may even promise peace and safety by offering a sure-clad way to evade the onslaught of darkness against God's people in Jesus Christ during this period which the Bible calls, "the war against the Saints." Wouldn't these claims also be examples of false-hope promises where peace and safety appeals are actually impossible to [correctly] guarantee?
Biblically speaking, no evasion plan is full proof. Truthfully speaking, during this darkest hour of humanity (Mt. 24:21 - the worst time ever!), no one strategy of escape will guarantee all who use it, safety (to the extent they do not experience the wrath of those who rule in darkness). Even though some may incorrectly use Scripture to promise protection during the three-and-a-half year war against the Saints (for example, they may say, "Claim the promise of Daniel 3 where the fire will not touch you!"), the assurance of safety should not be universally offered. In fact, MARK the false-hope promises and those who bring them.
Don't get me wrong! Some will "remain" until the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church - see I Thes. 4. Some will see their evasion plan and implementation actions succeed. But only some.
WHY post this message?
Because true believers' HOPE is in God. Our security is our Savior. While some of us will be martyred, this experience should be considered positive, not negative, because we are safe in our Shepherd's care - whatever our earthly experience - unless, of course, as Scripture teaches, we ourselves choose to apostatize on matters our Saving God has prohibited. Click Here for some examples.
Toward proper mental preparedness unto endurance, we should develop the p e r s p e c t i v e that martyrdom is glorious in light of pertinent Bible information on this issue. Oops, I just lost some! But these things are True in light of God's Word so let's perform a reality check on our own limited perspective and prayerfully consider these protective insights. (And by the way, you KNOW I'm not talking about how other spiritual systems define glorious martyrdom.)
Conjecture here: One potential problem with successful application of these related end-time Bible promises is that some Chrsitians-by- name really don't believe God will see His people in Jesus Christ safely Home - whatever our end.
IF that may be YOUR faith expression - your perspective - at present, we'd encourage this:
SHORE UP P E R S P E C T I V E ! Foster a more biblical personal worldview. And note this truism: Mankind's promises may or may not come to fruition; God's promises are sure. On that note, may we take in His glorious Truthful Word.
We can do this by meditating on the many passages which speak to God's people in Christ being safe in His hands no matter what the darkness may bring. Reading His Word in context of the setting of end times also helps to clarify the big picture. Let's not compromise! Instead, we'd encourage a step in the opposite direction. Take advantage of our end-time Bible reading schedule in the next blog, recalling that God's sure Word will not return void.
May we, His people, endure to the end unto our great YHVH God's glory and praise.
1 Matthew 1 2 Matthew 2 ... etc. ... 27 Matthew 27 28 Matthew 28 29 Psalm 129 30 Psalm 130 31 Psalm 131
August
1 I Thessalonians 1 2 I Thes. 2 3 I Thes. 3 4 I Thes. 4 5 I Thes. 5 6 II Thessalonians 1 7 II Thes. 2 8 II Thes. 3 9 I Timothy 1 10 I Tim. 2 11 I Tim. 3 12 I Tim. 4 13 I Tim. 5 14 I Tim. 6 15 II Timothy 1 16 II Tim. 2 17 II Tim. 3 18 II Tim. 4 19 Titus 1 20 Titus 2 21 Titus 3 22 Matthew 24 23 Matthew 25 24 Mark 13 25 Luke 12 26 Luke 17 27 Luke 21 28 Jude 29 Psalm 1 30 Psalm 19 31 Psalm 119
September
1 Luke 1 2 Luke 2 ... etc. ... 23 Luke 23 24 Luke 24 25 I John 2 26 I John 4 27 I John 5 28 II Peter 3 29 Revelation 2 30 Revelation 3
Precious Most High God, THANK YOU for Your Counsel to us. As we seek Your face in quiet time with You and Your Word, please grace us with fruit. We move forward knowing Your Word will not return void. Use it in our lives, we pray, to wash us, cutting out remnants of our old nature. Please do so through Your two- edged sword. And Father, thank You for sending it forth so as to accomplish that for which You send it. In our lives, Lord, be glorified, be glorified today. In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.
July's Commentary Blogs
CB7A;19
Expressing PRAISE
It is a good thing to give thanks, and praise, to the Lord.
His glories are graciously given to man though He rightly shares His full glory with no one. In this context, this is noteworthy:
Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23, 23 ; NASB)
God graces humanity with adoption unto children of God. But like many things, rushing our glorification before the right time is opening the door to the slippery slope of pride. Yes, those in Christ are new glorious creatures who will, one day in fullness, enjoy eternity in glorious fellowship with Almighty God. But make no mistake: We will never be God. Children of God, yes; God, NO!
A similar matter is outlined in this cultural debate: We find some who are saying, "I am Christ" today, just as the Word of God forewarned would take place before the return of His Son, Jesus Christ. We also hear folks in some churches say, in self exaltation, "I am His hands; I am His feet; I am one with Christ," almost as if they are indirectly saying, "I am Christ." (This is similar to the flattering pastor who tells his congregation, "You are the Gospel." Our response: Heralds of the Gospel, perhaps; theGospel: NO WAY!
And, no kidding, this happened just THIS week: My mom was actually told, in serious tone, she was the "Queen of the Universe!" WOW! How special! Actually, once again, false-hope flattery.
Yes, those in Christ are new glorious creatures who comprise the Body of Christ BUT we are not Christ, Son of God, Savior. In the final step of our metamorphosis we will be given glorified bodies, yes, but that state is not our current experience, nor should it be that we act as such. We are NOT God-men today any more than we will be God in our glorification tomorrow. *
Until the day of our glorification as adopted sons, may we walk in the persepctive of Micah: May we do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God ... the only Creator God known presently in this way: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, we joyfully give You due praise as You alone are worthy. In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.
* This blog so powerfully highlights the importance of whole-Counsel balance of God's Word and what happens when half-truth fallacies are embraced. May YHVH God help us walk in light of the FULL Counsel of His wisdom!
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CB7B;19
And We Think Turkeys Are Stupid !
The wonders of observed science point to the glories of God. When I consider the fine tuning of the Universe, the complexities of living systems and the beauties of His awesome Creation, I can't help but bow the knee in worship of Jesus Christ who has created all things.
The insights of common-sense reason declare the reality of God Most High. Nothing comes from nothing (or a conjectured cosmic egg); random explosions do not create order; contradictions allow for practical discernment; etc. When I consider the gift of mind which YHVH God has allowed mankind, I can't help but acknowledge: He has my attention!
The precious experiences of life point to the honor of human origin having a relational emphasis. When I consider the depth of love God has for lost sinners - Romans 5:8 - I can't help but ask Him: "Lord, having accepted Your love, how can I show You my love in return?"
The soft voice of innate conscience whispers His moral perspective. When I consider the convicting power of this quality of man, I can't help but confess, "Lord, I am a sinner needing Your forgiveness and means to rise above my sinful state."
The firm historical evidences which absolutely deny Deism (God exists but isn't here - a very simple definition) are clear and no one is left with sufficient excuse. When I consider the abundance of historical science pointing to Immanuel, God with us, I can't help but thank Him for gracing us with His generous incentives to believe Him - by faith!
The trustworthiness of His holy Word screams this: "Listen, you truth seekers." When I consider the full Counsel of His faithful Word, I can't help but fear Him as He so often calls His Old and New Covenant people to do by way of response.
When I consider the partial list of epistemic sources (above) which God has so abundantly provided whereby mankind is further motivated to seek Him - Exodus 20; Jeremiah 29:11-13 (in application to/for today's Saints in Jesus Christ); Mt. 6:33; and other passages - I can't help but feel genuine sorrow (because I care) for those who unwisely choose to reject these and other Truths which God has given so that we enter into a restored relationship with Him.
Yes, there are aspects of stupidity - including sexual impulse - in turkey behavior.
Yes, there are aspects of stupidity - including sexual impulse - in human actions too.
So please consider this, you who seek both the truths of man and the Truths of God:
We're the foolish ones IF we reject the many infallible proofs our gracious YHVH God has so kindly, in His LOVE for us, extended. We're actually stupid to reject the eternal provision of God in Jesus Christ: Forgiveness of sin through His death and resurrection victory over death. These are eternal matters. There are no greater issues (those being: sin & death) to resolve before God. One must accept His solutions to these universal uglies BEFORE death - discern the appeal in Hebrews 9:27.
Christians who have sincerely experienced new birth: Walk in loving obedience for God by the help of His Vine and His Holy Spirit.
Non-Christians who yet need to be born again: Receive the love of God in Jesus Christ.
An invitation to churches: We highlight this epistemic theme of how do we know what we think we know in our Truth Foundations' discipleship ministries. Have us come and further equip you in the ministries of Gospel and Discipleship during these days just prior to the initial Second-Coming appearing of our great God and Savior, the Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus Christ.
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CB7C;19
"God's People DON'T Incur His Wrath!" ... Really?!
IF folks honestly want the biblical picture on this matter of God's disapproving response to His people over time, they will take in and affirm the Bible's whole picture. The following passages* are insightful and provide incentive toward correct walk in Jesus Christ, a walk which includes the fear of God in the context of the eternal New Covenant in Christ Jesus:
Deuteronomy 9:7 This verse could also be a summary statement expressing the general trait of rebellion, not necessarily a specific example, though the beginning of Israel's departure out of Egypt (and into the wilderness) began at the Red Sea crossing where some voiced a rebellious attitude - see Exodus 14 & Psalm 106:7. Deuteronomy 9:8 (see Ex. 32 & Deut. 9:9-21) Deuteronomy 9:22 Taberah (see Numbers 11:1-3) Massah (see Ex. 17:1-7) Kibroth-Hattaavah (see Num. 11) II Kings 22:13, 16, 17 II Kings 23:26 II Chronicles 19:2 ; 20:37 II Chron. 29:8 II Chron. 34:19-25 II Chron. 36:15, 16 Ezra 5:12 ; 8:22 Nehemiah 13:18 Job 14:13 Psalm 28:1 Psalm 78:26-31 Psalm 90:7-12 Psalm 95:10, 11 Psalm 106 I Thes. 2:14-16 Revelation 14:9-12
The above list is NOT exhaustive. For example, note CAREFULLY: Matthew 8:5-13 (especially one teaching point our Lord Himself makes in verses 10-12). In response: "Yes, Lord, in loving relationship with You, we rightly fear You given who You are and who we are. You are God and we are not! Thank You once again for Philippians 2:12, 13." (Also see Ezekiel 33 & Romans 11 [especially verses 17-21] in light of the full Counsel of God's Word.)
Let's also include a related aspect of the full Counsel of God's Word on this topic of the wrath of God:
As we say "Amen!" to (in affirmation of) the I Thes. 1:10 and I Thes. 5:9 passages, we go on to note their contexts. The immediate setting of these verses in which God has placed them is I Thes. 1:9, 10 and I Thes. 5:1-10. His mercies are conditionally applied based upon / as a result of what (in light of God's full Counsel) ?
YES, we thank the LORD for His "But God" responses to sinners BUT to whom are these mercies graciously extended?! Confession and humble repentance continue to be necessary elements for receiving His generous mercies. Do you recall the book of Judges? Let's read our Bibles dear Church! Humility of heart continues to be a character quality of God's New Covenant people in Jesus Christ, or at least should be. Beware of some of the teachings of the cult of unbiblical grace and other groups unwilling to affirm all of God's Word.
In response to, "God's people do not incur His wrath," the Bible teaches this: God's obedient people in Jesus Christ do not incur His wrath but if we wander in disobedience, beware! "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecc. 12:13, 14 (NKJV) This includes obeying I John 3:23 and our Lord Jesus Christ's call to obey Him and His Father out of love for God as outlined in John 14, 15.
Father God, You have been so clear. Help Your Church discern the false teachings coming from some compromised churches and so- called Christian teachers. For our protection unto Your glory and praise, in Jesus Christ's holy name, Lord, please open our eyes that we may behold wonderful things from Your Word. And Lord, thank You for Psalm 103. Help us balance the Truths therein. Amen
* Please read them in their context.
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CB7D;19
QUALITY Blogs Extending Crucial Information
Someone recently communicated the following to us:
Do you understand the nature of a "blog" ? Quoting Scripture and then concluding with a prayer is NOT a blog. [ This represents the two-part approach of our "weekly" blogs. ]
So what is a "blog" ?
It's a message. Blogs are often labeled POOR QUALITY / NOT WORTHY OF MY TIME. This is one of the dynamics of blog communication. As a result, most don't put a whole lot of significance in blogs.
BUT
Can we get around this negative quality? If so, how might that happen?
We can grealy IMPROVE the quality of blogs by minimizing limited-perspective opinions and then go on to maximize omniscient opinions. God's Word is just that: As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways and His thoughts higher than our ways and thoughts. God's Word offers His loving insights on important matters of our day.
We often don't like blogs because they're simply human opinion. OK Instead of bathing in that dirty pool, let's bathe in God's pure pool of Truth that matters. What an awesome difference between these two epistemic pools!
Endurance Ministries provides, by God's grace, two types of blogs:
1. Words from YHVH God (and then prayer responses) 2. Words from God's Ambassadors who carefully share His Truths forever settled in heaven
We don't apologize for these communications given how helpful they are in this day of great darkness. If someone doesn't like our messages, that person can stop visiting our site. If, on the other hand, folks are thirsty for practical messages which communicate God's love messages today - ones that have GREAT significance - they can continue reading.
We love you and express that love by sharing worthy, most pertinent insights from God. We hope and pray you continue to ENJOY our discipleship efforts through the posting of these blogs! We'd love to hear from you. Please use the contact us link at the top right of this page.
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CB7E;19
A Heavenly Perspective
We continue to thank our Lord Jesus for His Counsel concerning living on His behalf during these end of days. It's fascinating just how God's accurate Word continues to be a precious source of light in a dark world. What wise, loving Counsel for today - thank You Lord!
(If you need a hard copy of His Word - if you reside in the continental USA - simply email us at email@endmin.org we'll respond to your email with details about securing your end-time Bible - our gift to you. For readers residing elsewhere, please click this link to find petinent end-time Bible wisdom for navigating the rough waters of today and the even whiter waters in the days ahead.)
In His Word - the 66 books of the Bible - the Lord reveals crucial Truths for today ... and tomorrow.
If you're curious as to what's ahead, simply go to His Word for insight second to none. Given Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God are God's Centerpiece in securing restored relationship with Him, we'd encourage you to read the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the Book of Acts. Therein you'll find true presentations on the historical Christ, His Spirit's activity and His loving appeal to be reconciled to God ... forever. As we told a new young Christian just this past week: "Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ unto new birth is the most important life decision one can make." Please visit our Gospel pages for details.
May the JOY of the Lord be our strength as we press on in enduring faith unto His glory and praise.
August's Commentary Blogs
CB8A;19
The Battle Of Definition(Part 1)
A few years ago I had a fascinating discussion with a student on the topic of origins. After some time at the table of debate it became clear to me why, in part, we were at an impasse. We were defining "evolution" differently. Once this communication breaker was exposed, we were able to move forward.
This matter of definitions of terms and phrases is also a crucial concern when addressing yet another topic - the topic of end times. Here are vital terms and phrases which need to be defined biblically, NOT as they are often defined in some Christian churches today.
The goal of this blog is not only to present an appeal for Bible- based definitions on these important end-time terms/phrases but also to highlight this:
IF faulty definitions are attributed to vital terms tied to a particular topic - in the case of this blog, the topic of end times - then our conclusions may be in error. I don't think anyone would disagree with the above. If you do, let's talk - email me (Jon) at email@endmin.org.
If folks agree with the above, let's take the next appropriate step and TALK ABOUT defining these terms in a biblical manner. Let's at least get this important ball rolling!
In the meantime, Endurance Ministries continues to promise this: We will press on (endure) in Bible proclamation of God's Truths (including terms) which are forever settled in heaven.
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CB8B;19
What Design & Final Trumpet Have In Common ...
Almost all of us now know the design argument is back on the table. After all, it's been over 20 years since this appeal has resurfaced in pertinent, contemporary form.
Indeed, the Intelligent Design (ID) group has helped bring design and sufficient cause back into credible light. The simple, yet pro- found appeals are precious. God uses both child-like observations coupled with common sense & deep scientific facts and reason to evidence His Person and His creative glory.
In like manner, the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering of God's people in Jesus Christ is back on the discussion table due to explicit Bible data - data which powerfully trumps the opinion- appeals of limited theological rhetoricand/or persuasion.
Like ID's appeal for observational science (as opposed to the religious science of the evolutionary fairy-tale advocates), Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering advocates appeal to observed Bible Truths (as opposed to those who twist Scripture into saying what it does not say. Write to us and ask for cases in point and we will provide examples. And note: The point we make in our limited :-) theological paper continues to herald God-honoring insight: Click Here and check out our conclusion.
So back to observed Bible data (though some would charge us with taking passages out of context - if we use too much Scripture, we're criticized; if we use too little Scripture, we're falsely charged with wrongly taking things out of context. As the proverb goes: You're reservoired if you do; you're reservoired if you don't [or perhaps you've heard it stated a little differently]. It's like President Trump's recent situation/predicament tied to the Iranian downing of the drone: Dissenters cry: He's wrong if he retaliates while others cry, He's wrong if he doesn't. Go figure ... only in the USA! We have indeed become dangerously UNdiscerning.). Okay, back to observed Bible data ...
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Cor. 15:51, 52 (NKJV)
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" Rev. 11:15 (NKJV)
Scripture SAYS the changing of God's Saints in Jesus Christ will take place at the last or final trumpet. The ONLY series of end-time trumpet blasts in all of Scripture is found in Rev. 8 - 11. Scripture SAYS the gathering together of the elect will take place after the astronomical signs of Mt. 24:29 / Rev. 6:12, 13. The Word also states the Lord will bring an additional sign - the sign of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:30 / Mk. 13:26 / Rev. 6:14-17), an event which constitutes the beginning of the eschatological Day of the Lord. Sometime thereafter* God will gather together (Mt. 24:31 / II Thes. 2:1) His people in Jesus Christ, an event which will take place at the 7th (final) trumpet (see the I Cor. 15 and Rev. 11 quotes above) just prior to the pouring out of His wrath through the Bowls of Wrath - see Rev. 15, 16.
These things will take place - the above interpretation is sure.
In application response, we ask: Are WE ready for (prepared for) this next turbulent decade? God calls His people in Jesus Christ to be watching. Are we heeding His protective command as outlined in Mark 13:37?
* Note the "then" of Mark 13:27.
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CB8C;19
What Neo-Darwinian Evolution Theory & The Pre-Trib Rapture Viewpoint Have In Common ...
Please scroll down to blog CB3A;18 after clicking This Link.
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CB8D;19
Shame Shall Be The Legacy Of Fools
The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. Proverbs 3:35 (NKJV)
On what basis is the quality of foolishness highlighted (in this passage) ? Let's consider the immediate context of this verse:
Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways, for the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, but His sercret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. Here, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: Do not forwake my law. Prov. 3:31 - 4:2 (NKJV)
God desires all to be saved. In the extending of His Counsel to mankind, He graces us with Fatherly advice. This includes the don'ts and the warnings against paths that take one in ungodly directions. In this, God is generous to us in that we are sheep who so easily wander. As a loving Father, He graces us with don't go there instruction. He even adds the incentives which come in the walk of obedience: blessings and glory. Indeed: God is good to us!
IF you are not in Jesus Christ, please receive Him today. IF you find yourself struck with the stain of sin, look to Him for forgiveness of sin through His cleansing atonement. IF you long for a bright eternity (as opposed to a dark, horrific one), askthe only One who can give it and accept His gift of eternal life through His beloved Son, Christ Jesus.
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CB8E;19
Are YOU An Overcomer* ?
One aspect of "overcoming" is tied to watchfulness.
The LORD of lords says the following concerning this present need:
"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6 ; NKJV ; emphasis ours)
Are we watching, discerning our day before our Lord's glorious appearing? Are we watchful in light of an explicitly biblical view of the end of days?
Have you ever heard this type of dialogue: "The first year of life represents just that, the first year of life where the beginning of life occurs at one's 1st birthday." ? Others rightly disagree.
The difference in perspective is easily rectified. Yes, one year after one's birth does indeed represent the day in which the following is celebrated: One year ago, that person was born. The 1st year of life includes this period of time: The day of birth through the time of the first birthday. The 2nd year of life begins after the time of the 1st birthday - literally the minute after the first year of life has taken place.
Have you ever wondered about or even entered into discussion about this related question:
"Is the first year of our present calendar - when the 'A.D.' portion of the calendar began - year zero (which includes days 1 through 365 of the first year) OR does the first year comprise the period of time from day 1 through the 365th day?"
The debate still takes place in come contexts today BUT if the term "zero" is rightly defined, the debate goes away.
Some might respond, "But Jon, different folks have different definitions of '0' so chill out and stop making such a big deal about this matter." My point affirmed! Correct definitions ARE important and it IS a big deal.
IF we talk over the definitions and go on to reach consensus conclusion,* it's at that time we can then move forward and address other issues pertaining to the first year.
In like manner, IF we rightly define the terms which are tied to matters pertaining to end times, we can then move forward in pursuit of establishing a truthful eschatological BIBLE perspective. The following fundamental question needs to be asked at this juncture:
HOW DOES THE BIBLE DEFINE THE IMPORTANT END- TIME TERMS ?
IF it's a biblical view of end times which we're sincerely after, let's allow our SOURCE to define its own terms, NOT foreign- to-the-Word definitions! Once we allow God's Word to define terms and phrases, we can then move on toward building a BIBLE-BASED view on end times.
We're calling for the starting of this process of reconsidering the meanings of crucial end-time terms - the process of getting back to affirming Bible data when it comes to definitions of terms.
Please see our earlier submission of Bible-based definitions of some crucial terms/phrases (also linked below) where we apply this topic to pertinent practical concerns.
Repetition for the sake of emphasizing this key matter:
~ Tribulation - A Bible definition ~ Wrath - Please see one crucial aspect in blog CB7C;19 ~ Daniel's 70th Week - For a biblical definition, see Daniel 9:27. (What does the Bible actually say about this 70th Week?) ~ Day of the Lord - A Bible definition
The goal of this second definition blog is not only to present an appeal for Bible-based definitions on these crucial end-time terms and phrases but also to highlight this:
IF faulty definitions are attributed to crucial terms tied to a particular topic - in our case, the topic of end times - then our conclusions may be in error. I don't think anyone would disagree with the above. (If you do take exception to the above, let's talk - email me, Jon, at email@endmin.org.)
If folks agree with the above, let's take the next most appropriate step and TALK ABOUT defining these terms in a biblical manner. Let's at least get this important ball rolling!
In the meantime, Endurance Ministries will continue to promise this: We will press on in Bible proclamation of God's Truths (including definitions of terms) which are forever settled in heaven.
* The reaching of consensus may not happen given the dissenters of our day BUT this does NOT force us into a paralyzed state (like our USA nation is currently experiencing, in part, due to the ongoing debate of definitions of terms)! We can choose to reject these dissenters and move forward. And that we will. We will move on and enjoy God's big- picture Truth which He has graced us with concerning our day ... the end of days.
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CB9B;19
The FINAL One - Upmanship
The concept of one-upmanship includes the idea of seizing an advantage or superiority over others. In light of this aspect of this word's meaning, perhaps this blog title should be adjusted to read, "The FINAL Word."
Here's our blog point (to both believers and unbelievers alike) ...
People have opinions on many things, BUT, in reality, just how authoritative are those opinions? Will they stand in a setting where other views are also present? Just who will have the last or final word?
Given humanity's limited wisdom and power, it's wise to be open to God's unlimited wisdom and glorious power. HE will have His final Word on all matters under the sun. Truth: He will have His final Word on all matters under the sun!
Given His omniscience - He knows all things - and speaks truthfully concerning future things, it's crucial we all bow to this reality: God has determined a final judgment for all. Are we prepared to give account in such a way He will accept us? CLICK HEREfor means toward reconciliation with the one and only Savior - Creator God.
In this context, people's opinions will not be able to stand in opposition against God's final, authoritative rulings. It's that simple. So we ask in a caring manner: "Have YOU considered this big-picture reality?" Are you at peace with the fact that one day God will call each and every one of us to give account ... to Him ... for the acts we've committed during our short lifetime?
Eternity is a long time. Lord God, thank You for being so clear as to Your upcoming Great White Throne Judgment. May we all do the right thing NOW and bow to You, the from-everlasting- to-everlasting God above all gods.
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CB9C;19
Could It Ever Get To This?
Imagine the court of public opinion asking - after one of their* strategy meetings - "What especially began the fostering of our homeless communities? It was, by far, the Christians who provided shelter, food, clothing, and, may we never forget, who also included the message that people are terrible sinners. The Christians are to be blamed for our present situation. If they wouldn't have encouraged the homeless lifestyle through their services of enablement by giving to their needs, we wouldn't be in the unwanted situation we're in today. CHRISTIANS are to be blamed!"
Given Bible data concerning the end of days prior to the initial appearing of our Savior - see Titus 2:13 - the war against the Saints will indeed begin soon. Are we, as followers of Jesus Christ, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually prepared for this difficult season, especially as we take a stand against the global agenda of darkness?
I've talked with many younger folks in churches today, ones who tend to respond in a way that suggests they are NOT ready for such a turn of events. Yet, in light of the Word of God and in light of global cultural signs, we should indeed be watchful in such a way that we are not ill-prepared for this part of the end of days (when great animosity toward enduring Saints takes place).
* Question: Who, really, comprise the court of public opinion ? Is it really the majority OR is it a relatively small but vocal group passionately heralding their loaded agenda, one which often happens to be very satanic? Hmmmm
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CB9D;19
I Can Only Imagine
Ponder this potential scenario:
A top-of-the-line AI unit (like Sophia) being downloaded with a biblical worldview!
Question: What would be the result?
AoC (Answer of Conjecture) :
This AI unit would say something to the effect: "This download is incompatible with my current programming. Download terminated." (meaning: download rejected)
This possibility highlights a REAL (that is, a present reality) concern, and it's this:
The biblical worldview is considered dangerous and is viewed as hostile by many today.
Do you receive emails from Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) ? If so, do you recall a June, 2019 email from VOM, the one titled, "The Bible is our Enemy" ? In this June email article, VOM included the quote immediately above, one from those bringing persecution against true followers of Jesus Christ.
We (at Endurance Ministries), through our Truth Foundations and Truth Matters ministry efforts, have been bringing warnings along these lines for decades now. The Bible is deemed evil by those who reject God's kind Word. A growing number of these folks go on to say those who persist in proclaiming its messages need to be confronted.
That being the case, we need to better discern our day as the period of time outlined in Matthew 24:9-14. Yes, you've read - heard us - correctly: We are in the days of Mt. 24:9-14. As faithful Ambassadors of YHVH God - by His grace - here's our watchmen-on-the-wall counsel:
Go to the Word of God for crucial insight for living in these days prior to
Use the reading schedule below (in the next blog) if you're not currently using a Bible reading schedule for your regular devotional time with the soon-coming King.
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CB9E;19
2019 Bible Reading Schedule (October - December)
Father God, please open our eyes as we enjoy Your Word!
October
1 Revelation 1 2 Revelation 2 ... etc. ... 21 Revelation 21 22 Revelation 22 23 I Timothy 4 24 II Timothy 3 25 II Timothy 4 26 John 16 27 I Thes. 4 28 John 14 29 II Thes. 2 30 I Corinthians 15 31 Revelation 11 & 14
November
1 Daniel 1 2 Daniel 2 ... etc. ... 11 Daniel 11 12 Daniel 12 13 Mark 13 14 Matthew 24 15 Matthew 25 16 Luke 17 17 Luke 21 18 Hebrews 1 19 Hebrews 2 20 Hebrews 3 21 Hebrews 4 22 Hebrews 5 23 Hebrews 6 24 Hebrews 7 25 Hebrews 8 26 Hebrews 9 27 Hebrews 10 28 Hebrews 11 29 Hebrews 12 30 Hebrews 13
December
1 Psalm 1 2 Psalm 2 ... etc. ... 22 Psalm 22 23 Psalm 23 24 Matthew 1 25 Luke 3 26 Philippians 2 27 Hebrews 12 28 Revelation 21 29 Revelation 22 30 Psalm 150 31 Ecc. 12
October's Commentary Blogs
CB10A;19
The POINT Of The Fig Tree Parable
There is much misrepresentation taking place today.
In this blog we'd like to address how some misrepresent a teaching point our Lord Jesus made during His address on the end of days before His return. AFTER addressing key chronological events (see Matthew 24:3-31), our Lord makes the following point:
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things [the things He highlights in verses 4-31], know that it [or "He"] is near - at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Mt. 24:32-35 ; NKJV)
The point of this parable is simple: When we see the events of verses 4 - 31 unfold, we know His return to the earth is near.
Mark 13 puts it this way: (repetition for emphasis' sake)
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it [or "He"] is near - at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Mark 13:28-31 ; NKJV)
The point in this parable is simple: When we see the events of verses 5 - 27 unfold, we know His return to the earth is near.
A popular DVD presentation titled The Coming Convergence * (2017 by Brent Miller Jr. and team) would have us believe something different. They teach the fig tree of this Olivet Discourse is the re-establishment of the nation of Israel. Time and time again they make this appeal. This is simply NOT correct. While the coming back of the nation of Israel is one important aspect of end-time Bible prophecy, the re-emmerging of the State of Israel is emphatically NOT the fulfillment of this fig tree parable. The context is clear. The re-gathering of Israel is not highlighted in our Lord's address. Instead, other events are (highlighted) - ones which take place before our Lord's 2nd Advent to the earth. Let's heed the true point of the fig tree parable!
WHY do I take the time to highlight this example?
Because there continue to be many appeals which do NOT state the clear message of Bible texts addressing end-time matters. Jonathan Cahn's new book titled The Oracle is yet another example of attributing certain fulfillments to Bible prophecy. But are his interpretations always correct? Is Jonathan our source for end-time prophecy or is our source the explicit Word of God?
So how shall we now live in light of false prophetic voices which bring false teaching concerning the clear Bible Truths our God has graciously bestowed?
We go back to His Word and allow the text to say what it actually says. For help in affirming the actual data of the Mt. 24 text dealing with crucial chronological details, please CLICK HERE.
* There are many good points in this prophetic DVD presentation. End time Bible prophecies are indeed unfolding today. BUT if we impose false interpretations on the clear data of texts in their context, we potentially run the risk of contributing to misinformation on God's important contemporary Counsel on current cultural affairs. Beware! Thank You, Lord, that You provide discerning insight in this deceptive day! Open our eyes, please, as we continue taking in Your precious Word. In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.
Jesus Christ speaking: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:1-6 ; NKJV ; emphasis and link ours)
Unlike other past spiritual leaders, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. As the Truth, how might we abide in the Truth of Jesus Christ? Once again, He graciously brings precious Insight:
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (from John 8:31, 32 ; NKJV)
God seriously graces us with His Truth, Counsel which has eternal significance! His words above bring such refreshment, as do His other teachings.
While some may seek to dirty the Truth above, it is indeed one of the essential doctrines of the Faith. Those who obey the Lord's Counsel walk in blessing - forever - and will thrive. Those who do not will wish they had - forever.
In these end of days, may we walk in His light and in so doing rise above the deceptive darkness in the land. May the fruit of His Spirit - Galatians 5 - be our sweet and abundant blessing as we abide in God's holy Vine, Christ Jesus, the Son of God.
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Notes posted OCTOBER 14 & 20:
In light of our ministry schedule, the commentary blogs which follow - unless stated otherwise - are PAST posted blogs which continue to offer crucial Gospel and Discipleship insight tied to life in Christ today.
We will post these blogs through the rest of the year - 2019 (except for two new concluding CB blogs at the end of the year, Lord willing). Instead of being numbered CB1A;19, CB1B;19, etc., (commentary blogs), they will be numbered PCB10C;19, etc. (past commentary blogs).
THANK YOU for understanding our need to direct more time and effort toward live presentations at local churches. Please email us if you would like information about our more personal ministry efforts.
A footnote to the above ...
Is FICTION Our Truth Foundation?
Dear Church in Jesus Christ,
I need to bring another God-honoring warning:
There seems to be a preoccupation phenomena in global Christian culture today which exalts FICTION above the authoritative Word of God. Two immediate examples come to mind:
1. The Oracle by Jonathan Cahn 2. The End The Book (series) by J.L. Robb
Both offer end-time worldview shaping BUT we'd be wise to remember that it is the Word of God which serves as our compass, NOT fiction that's exciting to read and speculate about. The BIBLE is our standard for Truth. God's explicit revelation is our authority for faith and practice, NOT the interpretive speculations of man which allow for on-the-edge- of-your-seat reading (in the case of The End The Book).
So here's our APPEAL ...
PLEASE evaluate the actual teachings (once you wade through all the mumbo jumbo and superfluous content) of The Oracle.
PLEASE be a Berean and discern the chronological offerings of the book series, The End The Book. Note the eschatological progression presented in this series, especially asking, "Is what's being suggested actually (clearly) taught in the Word of God?" We might find that what's being communicated is actually in conflict with God's love letter of warning to His betrothed!
Family in Christ Jesus, let's place the actual Word of God ABOVE the fiction appeals of declared and undeclared prophetic voices! May we test the appeals made using the "T" Truth of God's explicit Word. Note the new Left Behind * fictions of our current decade! Our safe navigation through the troubled waters ahead is graciously extended by God IF we use His True Compass - His Word. His kind and caring revelation to us offers that Divine Bridge over troubled waters !
* Book 4 of The End The Book series includes, on its cover page, "Like LEFT BEHIND on steroids!"
Please note the following PCB articles (blogs), one's which highlight Bible Truths so crucial for Life in Christ Jesus today.
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PCB10C;19
The Reality Of The Growing Perfect Storm
Do you know about the ways in which the "Jewish Police" went about fostering darkness during WWII? One effort was tied to censorship.
Today, as this perfect storm continues to build, there are those who are seeking to censor some who are highlighting biblical insights, ones which address important cultural affairs. Like the Jewish Police of old, some Christians are exerting pressure to do the same. "Discontinue writing as you do!" they say to those who are appealing for godly living in Christ.
Those making these God-honoring appeals also state the intent behind their actions: In God's kind mercy and grace, we genuinely care about His sheep to the extent we are willing to put ourselves in harm's way as we bring warning.
We discern a growing number of Christians-by-name who (in their actions against God's New Covenant Ambassadors in Jesus Christ) speak out in opposition to God's Word. "Christian Police" who are helping to shape and enforce the ideology of the soon-coming antichrist? Perhaps! By their fruits we shall know them.
WHY is this a valid issue to raise at this time?
IF Bible-affirming heralds - especially those who accurately discern cultural movements which will further contribute to the intensity of the Perfect Storm (once it hits in full strength) - IF these followers of Jesus Christ are silenced, some may fail to discern some of the present deceptions unfolding around us. As God blessed His Old Covenant people with heralds who loved enough to bring timely messages of warning, so too does He bless His Church with some who endure in speaking His Truths in love today.
So be watching for further increase of persecution* against those who bring explicit Bible appeals. In this context, even though the darkness will seek to make these Ambassadors of Christ seem evil, please give their messages Berean-like consideration. Pray and ponder their appeals in light of the clear revelation God has graciously given in His precious Word.
Once again, may we continue basking in His kind Word to us, including the reading of end-time passages which speak to our - today - present circumstances before Jesus Christ's glorious appearing.
* Persecution is not only unfolding in the persecuted church areas. Let's endure! We encourage you to read the N.T. book of Hebrews for helpful, most pertinent-to-today Counsel.
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PCB10D;19
Our Guarantee - Our Pledge - Concerning Our Blog Efforts (this blog combines blogs CB5A;19 and B1;16)
Our blogs - including BOTH "weekly" and "commentary" blogs - are truthful AND are anything but trivial. The appeals we make are of eternal significance, sincerely so.
Our (Truth & truth) bases for extending these words of Counsel/counsel are these:
1. Truth Foundations are used, ones explicitly found in YHVH God's holy Word - the Old and New Testaments;
2. Observations of present-day culture are made;
3. Bible-honoring proposals (in light of the WHOLE Counsel of God's Word) are shared. For examples:
Our claim above (that the proclamations we make are both truthful and significant) can be easily tested.
~ Simply open the Bible and check to see if we are rightly presenting His Word;
~ Evaluate culture and you will discern we, by God's kind mercy and grace, rightly observe it (culture); and,
~ Scrutinize our presentations (BUT please, know and properly represent our position before you speak about it).
FACT: We have not received biblical rebuttals against our appeals - rebuttals which would warrant we discontinue our heralding efforts. We sincerely are committed to rightly Ambassadoring on YHVH God's behalf.
IF you believe to the contrary - that our appeals are in error - then PLEASE contact us with your rebuttal(s) and/or your comment(s). This is a fair request on our part. Please email Jon - our ministry field director - at email@endmin.org.
For the sake of loving care for God's sheep in Jesus Christ, to the extent we're willing to be watchmen on the wall who even speak tough love at times, we will endure in our God-given assignment until we receive justification to discontinue. Moving right along ...
The ministry team at Endurance Ministries continues to praise God for His leading in our ministry since 2000.
Because He has called us to be "cutting edge" in nature, please accept the following "scope-of-blog-ministry" explanation:
We are "pioneering" in one sense of our ministry efforts. The "new" end-time ministry ideas we brought during the first two decades of our service are so new to most that it took a while for our messages to be received. Now that many of our messages (though not all) have been received (by those who want to hear what the Bible actually teaches and who wish to discern present culture thereby), we need to bring the following qualifiers as we continue our blog ministry ...
1. We affirm our prior chronological* (Click Here) and thematic (Click Here for present end-time realities ; Click Here for future projections) appeals. As end-time Ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we are committed to HIS Truths, not our own. As a result of our heralding His Truths, our messages are most truthful - that is, they are, by His grace, faithful to His Word.
2. In seeking to be lights to churches and pastors, we need to stay on the "cutting-edge" fronts. This means we will minimize the parroting of, what now has become, the obvious (e.g., we live in the very end of days just prior to our Lord's initial appearing, very unusual days where the THEMES of deception, rebellious apostasy, personal idolatry and persecution of the faithful in Jesus Christ are unfolding globally). Review other examples predicted almost 2000 years ago in II Tim. 3:1-5.
3. In light of our very different platform - different than many of the popular end-time positions yet most Bible-affirming in chronological position - we will be addressing CRUCIAL topics which will be emerging soon - during the years of 2020 - 2025. We make these "pioneering" appeals due to the NEED to be better prepared for what's ahead. We proclaim these "calls to the Church" in light of our Lord's mandate that His Church be prepared/sober as we further prepare to enter into the eschatological period the Bible calls, "The Day of the Lord."
We make these prophetic appeals 1) because God has commissioned us to do so and, 2) in response to the LOVE He has graciously given us for His Church. May He be glorified in our labors of tough love.
Please write to us. We’d love to hear from you. Email us at: email@endmin.org.
May God be praise ... may His people in Christ Jesus be edified ... may the lost come to Christ as a result of our urgent Gospel appeals!
Dear God Who so lovingly provides, Thank You for Your generous provisions to Your Bride, the Church. Thank You for your protective Counsel. Help us, Lord, to listen to You as we should. Open our eyes as we ponder Your Word. Please embolden us to be all that You've called us to be during this time of awesome Kingdom opportunity! And help us to praise You during the difficult moments ahead (as opposed to cursing You like so many will be doing as Your righteous judgments are lovingly extended)!
* Commentary blog CB1A;19 could be seen as one exception.
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PCB10E;19
Concerns Tied To PRE-WRATH Eschatology
The bulk of this blog is also posted as a handout on our gift page: www.currentmatters.org/gifts-from-em under the title, Rejecting the Bondages of Dumb-Down.
In light of God's gracious revelation, we do know things!
When will we know - biblically speaking - some of the popular end-time positions are incorrect ?
1. Preterit We know - today - this view (including both full and Eschatology partial preterism) is incorrect as an end-time view because Jesus Christ has NOT yet returned and because the end-time signs (highlighted in the Bible) are unfolding - today! Click Here for more.
2. Traditional We know - today - this view is incorrect (as it is Post-Trib typically presented) due to the faulty definition of Rapture Daniel's 70th Week which most Post Tribulationalists often embrace. The historical Post Tribulational Rapture viewpoint is incorrect because Jesus Christ teaches this: There are end-time events which follow the close of the (Bible-defined) tribulation period. Click Herefor specifics.
3. Evolving Note: The "We Have A Problem" diagram (posted at Pre-Trib the "Click Here" link immediately above) also Rapture applies to most Pre-Trib positions, though some changes in the general position continue taking place.
We know - today - the Pre-Trib view is incorrect because the Word of God speaks to the contrary. For examples evidencing this, Click Here.
We will also further know this view is incorrect when the antichrist makes his public debut and the real (that is, the biblical) tribulation and great tribulation against the elect unfold. This is a period of time which will also include "the war against the saints." When the little horn / man of lawlessness comes on the scene, the Church will further know, without doubt, the Pre-Trib Rapture view is incorrect. Please note: Some within the worldly church will deny the antichrist due to great deceptions unfolding during this time. Some will deny we are in the tribulation period though the Bible evi- dences (that is, cultural signs in light of biblical data) will be clear. Don't listen to these false teachers which the Bible predicts will appear!
4. Pre-Wrath We will know this view is incorrect when the Rapture Rapture fails to occur immediately after heavenly signs take place. (Mt. 24:29, 30 ; Rev. 6:12-17) In other words, when, 1) the astronomical signs (of Mt. 24:29 and Rev. 6:12, 13) appear, followed by, 2) the Sign of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:30 and Rev. 6:14-17) ... when these two heavenly events are NOT immediately followed by the Rapture event, then we will know, without doubt, the Pre-Wrath Rapture view is also incorrect.
In seeking to be fair, we go on to ask the same question about the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering view: When will we know the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering position is incorrect?
We will know the Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering is incorrect IF the rapture happens before the tribulation and great tribulation of Mt. 24:9-22. We will also know this view is incorrect IF the rapture fails to take place at the last of the Revelation trumpets - before the bowls of wrath are delivered. (see I Cor. 15:51, 52 and Rev. 11)
We conclude this commentary blog with this familar, practical question:
WHY do we raise these fair concerns?
We do so because we sincerely care!
We do so because we have been called by God to be ready, informed by a TRUE eschatological perspective. Incorrect end-time views lead to ill-preparedness. For example, ponder yet another popular end-time view: Pan-Mil / Pan-Trib, a view often teaching it will all pan out in the end so we don't have to concern ourselves with end-time matters. WOW! How many will be unprepared - who will fail to watch as our Lord has clearly Counseled - in the context of this faulty, half-truth perspective!? Our Lord tells us to be ready for His return and this includes our being ready for the early part of the Day of the Lord when the trumpet blasts occur.
May we be ready and watchful in light of God's explicit caring Counsel to His sheep in Christ. May we heed His instruction to watch! Our Lord was so clear in Mark 13:37 and Rev. 2 & 3 (especially note Rev. 3:2, 3) !
Our other - now updated! - past blogs addressing the weaknesses of the Pre-Wrath viewpoint include:
Regarding all updated blogs: Copyright 2019 by Jon Swanson Permission to use this article and the blogs above is granted IF used as PDF written.
November's Commentary Blogs
PCB11A;19
A Call For TRUE Perspective
[ This blog incorporates multiple articles on the biblical topic of perspective. It is our prayer Truth seekers will be edified by this presentation. ]
In the setting of the grand scheme of things, we ask:
Are you a movie buff?
Do you recall the food critic (by the name of Anton Ego) in the animation film, Ratatouille ?
At one point in the movie he pays Gusteau's Restaurant a visit in order to critique the new kid (i.e., cook) on the block. In light of his dining experience, he shares (in his newspaper review the next day) this dose of introspection:
"In many ways the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and theirselves [sic] to our judgments. We thrive on negative criticism which is fun to write and read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. ..."
Interesting perspective !
Speaking of "perspective," Anton Ego offers this insight in a different setting in the movie:
"... [Do] you know what I'm craving? A little perspective - that's it! I'd like some fresh, clear, well-seasoned perspective. ... Since you're all out of perspective and no one else seems to have it in this bloody town, I'll make you a deal: You provide the food; I'll provide the perspective! ..."
So one may insightfully ask: "What does Ratatouille have [anything!] to do with end-time matters?"
In application on the theme of perspective I respectfully ask: Are followers of Jesus Christ living out HIS perspective today?
What of precious examples to us, examples which model the biblical passages which we highlighted years ago ? (scroll down to blog B33;15 to view pertinent passages)
~ Consider Corrie and Betsie ten Boom - perspective in the most wicked of circumstances ...
Betsie's testimony of PEACE and JOY in the horrific Ravensbruck concentration camp where - in the hearing of birds singing in the cold morning, dreadful work conditions and yes, even lice – their PERSPECTIVE was that of peace and joy.
~ Consider Horatio Spafford (1828 – 1888) - perspective in the setting of grievous loss ... After having lost his four daughters in the sinking of the ship, Ville du Havre, he penned the famous hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul." The fourth verse - stanza 4 - models perspective during the unfolding of the end of days:
"And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so it is well with my soul."
~ Consider the King of kings and Lord of lords: Jesus Christ - perspective in a never-before-experienced unimaginable moment (i.e., separation of relationship with His Father!) ...
He endured the cross:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:1, 2; NKJV) (And keep reading the verses that follow, not to mention the preceding chapter ... the whole book of Hebrews for that matter because the Old Covenant is no longer!)
Thank You, Lord! May we have Your PERSPECTIVE going into this season of the overcoming of the Saints. * Lord, may we live Your Mt. 24:13 mandate: Endure to the end ... and so be saved! Unto Your glory and praise, Father. In the name of your beloved Son, Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen
* Rev. 13:7 ... Daniel 7:25 also miraculously foretells the same!
Our other – now updated! – past materials addressing the crucial theme of perspective based on revelation from God:
In our February, 2018 commentary blog (CB2D;18) we highlighted crucial end-time Bible THEMES which are currently being ex- pressed in global culture today. Please view the main contents of this past blog by looking over this Handout.
In our May, 2018 commentary blog (CB5D;18) we highlighted crucial end-time Bible CHRONOLOGY. Please view the main contents of this past blog by Clicking Here.
Although we posted End Time WAVES of Bible Prophecy years ago - Click Here for a recent repost of this insightful handout - we discern the need to further elaborate on the Second Wave at this time. Due to the 15-count Wave 2 entries on the Wave PDF immediately above, we've created a separate "Wave 2" document. Click Here to view this most helpful Wave 2 discipleship handout.
May we better prepare as our Lord Jesus has so Counseled as a result of our contemplating the Bible-based handouts above - unto our protection and other best interests and unto our great God's glory and praise!
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PCB11C;19
Speaking The TRUTH In Love
In light of blog PCB11B above, Endurance Ministries caringly heralds the following sound bite :
Don't apostatize ! Instead, endure. Do so through watchful discernment * concerning the pressing dangers of deception, persecution and personal idolatry.
If we could choose one timeless teaching from Jesus Christ, one which speaks to some of the matters in bold above, it would be the Parable of the Sower.
And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him [Jesus Christ] from every city, He spoke by a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Luke 8:4-8 ; NKJV ; NB: to further hear, read verses 9-15)
* (Jesus Christ speaking) "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (see Mark 13:37)
Remember: If we neglect the passages God has graciously given us for the purpose of better discerning the many false teachings that are currently being propagated today, will we not be making a con- scious choice toward belittling or casting aside one crucial means He has provided to help us avoid becoming deceived?
Please take advantage of God's insightful Word. Consider our January - March 2020 End-Time Bible reading schedule (Lord willing, posting 12/25 as blog CB1A;20).
Note: We now resume our new Commentary Blog posting.
December's Commentary Blogs
CB12A;19
Pressing THANKSGIVING
This blog is simple: We're calling the Church in Jesus Christ to avoid the mistakes of a complaining heart (recall historical examples in the Torah). Let's redeem the opportunity through the entire Thanksgiving Season (that is, ALL year) !
Instead of a thankless perspective, we are called to this God-honoring one:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18-22 (NKJV ; emphasis ours)
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CB12B;19
CHRISTmas Meditations
Let's not lose sight of the real deal, the historical reason for the Season at hand: The Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, came. Immanuel, God's holy gift to mankind, continues to shine - brilliantly so! YHVH God be praised.
What a celebration indeed! In fact, the Church has a wonderful opportunity here! May we continue celebrating the 2,000-year- old anniversary of the life of Jesus Christ.
The celebration window will continue until His glorious return.
Until the day of His initial appearing, let's continue to allow the same healing salve to bless - yes, that Word which so comforted Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Linus graced the depressed soul in this way:
After Charlie Brown confessed to Linus: "I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about," he went on to ask in desperation: "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!?"
Linus doesn't pollute the opportunity by speaking about the cheap substitutions of secular culture. Instead, by grace, he shares the heavenly light - the real reason for the Season:
"Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about ... And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you [good] tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
May God bless us, everyone, including those who have not yet received the Ultimate Gift: Forgiveness of sins unto eternal life through Jesus Christ - King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen.