Does the Devil Know More than You?

If the Devil ( Satan ) is a powerfully archangel ( or Guardian Cherub ), then he would understand the Bible and God's plan for the ages better than any short lived human.
And if he is the "god" of this age, and influences what some people do and think, then he might just be getting the world ready to believe his lies.
See, Ezekiel 28:12 - 18,  I Timothy 3:6, Luke 4:5,6 , John 14:30 , Revelation 12:10 -12 and others ),
Lies about the catastrophic events that are foretold in the Bible ( especially the book of the Revelation ). That they are merely "natural" consequences of man's activities ( pollution, and global warming effects ), and not a divine judgment upon the Earth by it's Creator.

I believe many forces have been, are now, and will continue to prepare the people of the world to dis-believe the two witnesses ( prophets, see Rev. 11:1 - 13 ), and others who will be speaking out for God in the last days. This period of preaching is stated as 1260 days ( almost  3 1/2 years ) and  before the physical return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem  on the Mount of Olives ( See: Acts 1:4 -12 and Zech. 14:1 - 9 ).

Jesus of Nazareth was seen by his disciples and by groups as large as 500 persons (1 Cor. 15:6) during the 40 days between his resurrection from the dead and his ascension to the "right hand of the Majesty on High." Then instructing his disciples to wait for the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit, he departed this earth from the summit of the Mount of Olives, just East of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

"...he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. (Acts 1:4-12)

 

A number of passages in the Bible describe the glorious second coming of the Messiah Jesus to save our beleaguered planet from total destruction, and to set up his kingdom on earth. Zechariah tells us that the place of Jesus' return to earth will not be Zion, Illinois, but the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel:

"Behold, a day of the LORD is coming, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in the midst of you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.

"On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD your God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

"On that day there shall be neither cold nor frost. And there shall be continuous day (it is known to the LORD), not day and not night, for at evening time there shall be light. On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter. And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one." (Zech. 14:1-9)

This "grooming" of the minds of the lost has been happening for a long time. With the help of modern means of communication, the false messages are being spread farther and faster than ever before.
The movies of Hollywood and most popular TV series are seen World Wide! The news is relayed from every corner of the global and presented within hours ( and sometimes LIVE ).
And now we have the Internet. It is growing in it's reach. It links us globally. It also has provided a way for an average person to reach the whole world with a message ( or idea, or product, etc ).

Who controls what you get to see? And hear? Who are you to believe?

Now, the reason for this entry is something I read in an editorial from the Cox News Service today. Tom Teepen writes about the United Nations Final Report on Climate Change ( or Global Warming ). He had many interesting things to say, but what caught my attention was his statements that the report claims "Grave Effects ... could begin showing up by 2020.... long-run damage will be catastrophic and irreversible."

So, if the Second Advent ( Return ) of Jesus Christ is to occur approximately 2,000 years after his ascension in 30 A.D. ( see other posts about Date theories, and supporting scriptures ), then the Tribulation Period ( either 3 1/2 or 7 years worth ) should occur before 2030 A.D. It seems as though "the media" and other "authorities", are getting the general public mentally and psychologically prepared to see events to unfold as "natural" results of climate changed. Of course a few things are going to fall out of the sky, but we have all seen enough "end of the world", comets, or asteroids, hitting the earth ( or almost hitting ) in the Movies to expect this to happen.

Speaking of Asteroids, I'm still going to keep an eye out for 99942 Apophis (previously known by its provisional designation 2004 MN₄) when it is scheduled to make a close approach ( inside the orbit of the Moon ) on April 13th, 2029. Concern of about an impact was very high at first, but later "experts" determined it would not hit the Earth or the Moon. Despite the "fact" that there is no longer any significant probability of an Earth impact, the Planetary Society is offering $50,000 in prize awards for a few of the best plans to put a tracking device on or near the asteroid.  For more details, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_MN4

 

In conclusion, it should be expected that Satan understands events that are foretold and he is playing his part by trying to control the world ( and the people in it ). Presently through lies, and later through the false prophet and anti-christ. As children of the King, and in the Light ( not in darkness ), we should be able to see what is coming, and not be fooled by the wiles of the devil.

Mike Huckabee for President

I have finally learned enough about each of the candidates for President to say I'd most like to see Mike Huckabee become our next president.

* 3/15/2008: Well at this late stage, it truly would be a miracle for him to become President of the United States. But nothing is impossible for God. Let's just wait and see what happens. Maybe the country will get the leader they "deserve" instead of the kind of man we "need". Many people voted to support Mike Huckabee, even though the media either tried to ridicule him for his strong Biblical faith, or ignored his campaign as much as possible. The whole "process" just makes me long for the day when, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, will rule and reign over the entire Earth ( or at least what is left of it after the Great Tribulation ).

Comments about Global Warming By John Coleman

COMMENTS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

By John Coleman

jcoleman@kusi.com

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming... It is a SCAM.

Some scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long-term scientific data back in the late 1990's to create an illusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental wacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the "research" to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild "scientific" scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda.

Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmental conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15-minute documentary segment.

I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party.

However, Global Warming, i.e. Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. It is not something you "believe in." It is science, the science of meteorology. This is my field of life-long expertise. And I am telling you Global Warming is a nonevent, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. I say this knowing you probably won't believe me, a mere TV weatherman, challenging a Nobel Prize, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning former Vice President of United States. So be it.

I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have thought about it. I know I am correct. There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril.

I am incensed by the incredible media glamour, the politically correct silliness and rude dismissal of counter arguments by the high priest of Global Warming.

In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As temperatures rise, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern will all fail to occur as predicted, and everyone will come to realize we have been duped.

The sky is not falling. And, natural cycles and drifts in climate are as much if not more responsible for any climate changes underway.

I strongly believe that the next twenty years are equally as likely to see a cooling trend as they are to see a warming trend.

*****

Copied and Pasted from Blog,

http://www.kusi.com/home/11131801.html

 

* About Author,

 

John Coleman has been a TV weatherman since he was a freshman in college in 1953 and TV was brand new. He still loves predicting the weather and relating to the television viewers. "I also love working at KUSI NEWS", he adds. "It is a rare thing; a locally owned and managed TV station. And, there are dozens of wonderful people who work here."

John has predicted and shoveled his share of snow. He has been a TV weatherman in Champaign, Peoria and Chicago, Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and New York City. For seven years he was the weatherman on "Good Morning, America" on the ABC Network.

John also cooked up the idea of a cable channel devoted to nothing but weather and spent six years developing "The Weather Channel" on cable. "That's my baby", he says. "The bad guys took it away from me, but they can't steal the fact that it was my idea and I started it and ran it for the first year. I put everything I had into making TWC the success it is."

"As for my "retirement job" at KUSI, it's the most fun I ever had. And the people of San Diego County have been wonderful to me for well over a decade. That's very, very nice. And, that's all I have to say." With that Coleman gets down to work predicting the weather one more time.

Daniel's Seventy Weeks by John Stevenson

 

 

DANIEL'S SEVENTY WEEKS

DANIEL 9:24-27

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

"So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

"Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Daniel 9:24-27).

Daniel's prophecy is made in the context of Daniel's prayer. Daniel was in captivity along with the rest of the Hebrew people. He had been pondering over the writings of the prophet Jeremiah and the promises of a 70 year captivity. This pondering led him to prayer. In the midst of this prayer, the angel Gabriel came to him with this new prophecy.

THE SCOPE OF THE PROPHECY

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place." (Daniel 9:24).

The prophecy has to do with the restoration of the city of Jerusalem. It is a prophecy of the holy city and the most holy place. But that is not all. The scope of this prophecy transcends the mere rebuilding of Jerusalem when it speaks of:

• Finishing the transgression.

• Making an end of sin.

• Making atonement for iniquity.

• Bringing in everlasting righteousness.

• Sealing up vision and prophecy.

From our perspective, we can see that each of these aspects were ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. By His death upon the cross, He finished transgression and made an end of sin and made atonement for iniquity. It is through that atonement that he brought in everlasting righteousness. As a result of this completed redemptive work, there is no further need for vision or for further prophecy as we have the completed Scriptures today.

 

THE SEVENTY WEEKS

All of these things are to take place within the scope of "seventy weeks" - literally, "seventy sevens." Just as Daniel had been reading of 70 years of captivity, so now he is told that 70 weeks remain.

This reckoning of time seems very foreign to us since we count time by tens, adding up either decades or centuries. The Jews, on the other hand, were Sabbath oriented. It is for this reason that they counted time by parts of seven. Every seven years they had a year-long holiday. Every 49th year all of their debts were forgiven.

Such groups of sevens is not unusual in the Scriptures. A similar wording is used in Leviticus 25:6 where seven weeks of years is said to refer to the 49 years between Jubilees. In Numbers 14:34, the Israelites were told that the 40 years they would spend in the Wilderness would correspond to the 40 days that the spies spent in the land of Canaan. Ezekiel was instructed to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for 40 days. This was to be understood as a day for each year (Ezekiel 4:6).

I want to suggest that these 70 weeks are to be understood by each day of these "weeks" representing a single year. This means that we are dealing with a period of 70 weeks of year - a total of 490 years.

7 Weeks 62 Weeks + 1 Week 70 Weeks

=

49 Years 434 Years + 7 Years 490 Years

 

THE BEGINNING OF THE 70 WEEKS

"So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem... (Daniel 9:25).

This period begins with a very specific event. The event is the issuing of a decree to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem. The Hebrew word translated "decree" is simply dabar, the normal Hebrew word for "saying" or "word." The problem that we have is that the Bible records several different decrees concerning rebuilding within Jerusalem.

Author	Passage	Date	Specifics of the Decree
Cyrus	Ezra 1:1-4	539 B.C.	Permitted Jews to return to the land and rebuild their Temple. This work was discontinued because of false accusations (Ezra 4:6-13).
Darius	Ezra 6:8-12	520 B.C.	Permitted Jews to complete the rebuilding of the Temple
Artaxerxes	Ezra 7:11-28	457 B.C.	Allowed Ezra authority to lead the nation in the Laws of God
Artaxerxes	Nehemiah 1	445 B.C.	Nehemiah given permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem

The first two decrees are far too early to have had any bearing upon the coming of the Messiah. The last decree is too late, though it was adopted by Sir Robert Anderson who taught that this prophecy was to be reckoned in "prophetic years" of only 360 days, measured by twelve months of thirty days each. He used this complicated formula to add up an exact number of days from the final decree of Artaxerxes to the Triumphal Entry of Jesus in A.D. 33. It is evident that the theory is contrived, having been born out of a supposed necessity. The Jews knew exactly how many days ought to be in a year and even added an "intercalary month" upon occasion to correct their calendar. Furthermore, it seems that Daniel himself understood the years of Jeremiah in the usual sense.

Ezra was given his commission in the 7th year of Artaxerxes. That Persian king began his reign in 464 B.C. This would place his decree to Ezra around 457 B.C. Later, in Ezra's priestly prayer, he alludes to possibly having been given permission, not only to build up the Temple, but also to build the walls of Judah and Jerusalem.

For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:9).

Nehemiah comes along twenty years later and goes into mourning when he hears that the walls still have not been repaired. But I would suggest that the decree which had been given earlier was the one described in Daniel's prophecy.

THE CULMINATION OF THE 69 WEEKS

"So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks... (Daniel 9:25).

The culmination of the first 69 weeks is the advent of "Messiah the Prince." It is universally agreed among Christians that this Anointed Prince is a reference to Jesus. In hindsight, it is a simple matter for us to trace back to the four decrees to see which one of them aligned with the coming of Jesus.

Date for the giving of the Decree			Plus 483 Years
Cyrus	Ezra 1:1-4	539 B.C.	56 B.C.
Darius	Ezra 6:8-12	520 B.C.	37 B.C.
7th Year of Artaxerxes	Ezra 7:11-28	457 B.C.	27 A.D.
20th Year of Artaxerxes	Nehemiah 1	445 B.C.	39 A.D.

It is evident from this chart that the first decree of Artaxerxes given to Ezra in 457 B.C. is the one that matches the prophecy of Daniel. The date of 27 A.D. is within the realm of the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.

 

THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME

In verse 26 there is a second person introduced. He is described as "the prince who is to come." He stands in contrast to Messiah the Prince.

"...the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Daniel 9:24-27).

Notice the actions of this one who is "the prince who is to come." It is he who will destroy the city and the sanctuary. It must be remembered that, at the time Daniel received this prophecy, there was no city or sanctuary. It had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. But Daniel says that it is going to happen again.

This was dramatically fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Roman General Titus marched against Jerusalem and took the city after a siege of eight months. Since that time, the site of the Temple has been the site of desolation and a complete destruction. Today archaeologists even debate as to exactly where the original Temple was located.

Comments about - Looking for the blessed hope instead of determining when it will come

* Thanks, for your comments. I really appreciate your caring enough to write.

Here is a brief reply, attempting to address your concerns, and to clarify my thoughts on the matter.

******************************************************************************

 

Why is a good question.  Why do you have to be as certain about the exact timing of the Rapture as you are about other issues in Scripture such as the deity of Christ for example.  Do all doctrines need to be held with the same amount of zeal and conviction?  Are not some worthy to die for and others merely your best understanding at this time?

***

I believe we are instructed to learn and understand as much as we can about all things God has in His Word.

And while the "exact timing" may not be knowable, I believe more attention needs to be given to the subject of Eschatology.

 

I Thess: 5:19-22 "...But examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good;..."

 

II Tim. 2:14-26 "Be diligent...accurately handling the word of truth...correct those who are in opposition..."

 

I Peter 2:2 "...milk of the word..."

 

I Peter 3:15 "...ready to make a defense to everyone...for the hope that is in you..."

and

Hebrews 5:11- 6:1 Going beyond milk and the elementary teaching.

 

 

*** I need to go beyond the "milk" that I understand, and that is the basis of most preaching done in churches today.

I feel I know enough about  and understand the "why" and "how" of Salvation by Grace through Faith, and the Trinity that is our God.

And many other basic principles I could show some one in the Word, but various verses on the "end" or the "return" or the "appearing" need more study on my part.

I need solid food.

 

*** Can we know the end is near or how it will unfold? I believe there are a lot of scriptures on the matter, and it is worthy of study.

 

Hebrews 10:25, "...assemble...exhorting...AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."

 

Matt. 25:4 - 9 "wise" virgins were ready and not surprised

 

I Thess. 5:4 we "are not in darkness that the day should overtake you like a thief"

 

Dan. 12:10 " the wise shall understand"

 

Matt: 24:32-34 Parable of the Fig Tree

 

Luke 12:54 - 57   when you see a cloud you know it's going to rain, or when the wind blows..... "do you not analyze this present time?"

 

I John 2:27 "...His anointing teaches you about all things..."

 

 

***

  Is it not possible that two good men like Ladd and Walvoord might each have a theory but since the Bible does not specifically state the timing of the Rapture, but only hints at it, is it not most important simply to be looking for the blessed hope instead of determining when it will come?

 

***

* The answer is really in your question ... "Looking for the Blessed Hope".

* Who is looking? Who should be looking? What should we be looking for?

* What do I give as an answer to the questions,

What is the Blessed Hope? When is the Blessed Hope? When is Jesus Christ returning? How do you know?

 

* All these answers are in the Word of God, and we are children of Light. We should know and see these things.

 

***
 I fear too much energy may be spent on trying to specify more than the Bible does.

 

***

 

* The foundational truths, and the milk of the Word are of foremost importance.

I just need to move past these. My desire is to know and understand the Lord. I believe He wants us to understand more than we do.

He has given us the Word and all the pieces of the puzzle may not come together until we are "face to face", but I believe He wants us to know about Him, His love, and His plan.

It is in my heart to know His plan. So, I study His Word, and I study those who have taken the time to work on the same puzzles. Trying to build on their work. To continue putting the puzzle together.

The more I understand Who God is, what He has created, and His loving plan for "the elect", the more I love Him. The more faith I have to proclaim Him. The better ambassador I can be for Him.

 

** Also, some of the pieces of the puzzle point towards the return at the end of the "Sixth" Day ( 6,000 years ) from the Creation of the world.

With the 7th Day ( 1,000 years ) being the "Sabbath" or millenium kingdom when Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the earth. 

 

Hosea 6:2 "After two days He will bring us to life: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."

 

Exodus 19:10,11 "...the third day the Lord will come down"

 

II Peter 3:7,8 "...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years..."

 

Psalm 90:4 "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or a watch in the night."

Luke 10:35  Good Samaritan left for 2 days worth of money and then he will RETURN

 

Job 5:19 "From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you."

* Yeah, I know I may be stretching this verse too far, but many are just examples of the pattern of 6 and then 7th, or 2 then the 3rd.

 

Exodus 24:15,16 "... six days, and the seventh day..."

 

Matthew 16:28-17:2 "...six days later...He was transfigured before them..."

 

If the Rapture does not occur before the Tribulation Period, I'd like to know this. If it comes first, then it won't matter much to me, only to those left behind. Either way, I want to help get the message out to the "brethren" who may be caught off guard by the Tribulation and the appearance of the anti-Christ, or to leave information for those who must enter the Tribulation after I am gone.

***
Food for thought

***

 

* Thank you, it was delicious!!!!

It got me to put a bunch of my notes into written form. And as time permits, I hope to expand on these and add to them.

******

 

 

 

Scriptural References For Important Beliefs

THE BIBLE:

The Bible in its original documents is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and

without any errors in its statements. (II Timothy 3:16; John 10:35; Psalms 89:34; Hebrews 6:18; II Peter 3:16)

GOD:

There is one God, eternally existent, creator of the heaven and earth. He is manifested in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:9; I Timothy 3:16; I John 5:7; Genesis 1:2)

JESUS CHRIST:

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God who took on flesh and dwelt on earth. He was sinlessly perfect and gave Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice by shedding His blood and dying on the cross. He then came

back from the dead. This was to pay for all sins (past, present, future) for all who believe. (II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 10:10-14; Hebrews 9:12-28; Acts 13:38-41; I Peter 2:24; I

John 3:5)

THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Being God, the Holy Spirit was and is present in all of the plan and work of God. He restrains evil; convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerates all who believe in Christ; indwells, anoints,

and seals the saved; and baptizes all the believers into the body of Christ. He controls the obedient Christians and empowers them for service, and He is the Divine Author of the Bible. (II Thessalonians 2:7;

John 16:7-11; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13; I John 2:20-27; Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8; II Peter 1:21)

MAN:

Each member of the human race is fallen, sinful and lost, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of man. The moment a person receives Christ as his Savior, immediately, the

Holy Spirit indwells the believer who is sealed until the day of redemption. (Romans 3:23; John 3:7; I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14; Luke 24:49; Titus 3:5)

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE FREE WILL OF MAN:

God is absolutely sovereign and in His sovereignty He gave man a free will to accept or reject the salvation that He has provided. It is God's will that all would be saved and that none should perish. God

foreknows, but does not predetermine any man to be condemned. God permits man's destiny to depend upon man's choice. (I Timothy 2:4; II Timothy 2:13; I Peter 1:2; John 6:64-65; Acts 10:34; I Corinthians

1:21; Ephesians 1:5-14; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 9:30-32)

REPENTANCE:

Repentance in salvation means a change of mind from any idea of religion that man may have to accept God's way of salvation. Repentance is definitely necessary for salvation and the following is a quote from

the Old Scofield Edition of the Bible, Footnote No.2, and page 174. "Repentance is the translation of a Greek word (metanoia/metanoeo) meaning, 'to have another mind', 'to change the mind', and is used in

the New Testament to indicate a change of mind in respect of sin, of God, and of self. This change of mind may, especially in the case of Christians who have fallen into sin, be preceded by sorrow (II Corinthians 7:8-11 ), but sorrow for sin, though it may 'work' repentance, is not repentance. The son in Matthew 21:28,29 illustrates true repentance. Saving faith (Hebrews 11:39, note) includes and implies that change of mind which is called repentance." (Acts 20:21; Corinthians 7:8-10; Matthew 21:32)

SALVATION:

Man is saved by undeserved mercy through faith and nothing of man enters into his salvation; it is a free gift. Man's efforts, regardless of how good or well intended, before or after salvation, have nothing to do with it. Salvation is by the finished work of Christ and nothing can be added to it. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Romans 11:6; Col. 2:13)

SECURITY AND CHASTENING:

Every true child of God possesses eternal life, being justified by faith, sanctified by God, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and is safe and secure for all eternity. He cannot lose his salvation. However, a Christian can,

through sin, lose his fellowship, joy, power, testimony, and reward, and incur the Father's chastisement. Relationship is eternal, being established by the new birth; fellowship, however, is dependent upon

obedience. (I Corinthians 3:11-17; Hebrews 12:5-11; I Corinthians 11:32-39)

THE TWO BIRTHS:

A true child of God has two births; one of the flesh, the other of the Spirit, giving man a flesh nature and a Spirit nature. The flesh nature is neither good nor righteous. The Spiritual Man does not commit any sin.

This results in warfare between the Spirit and the flesh, which continues until physical death, or the return of the Lord. The flesh nature of the man does not change in any way with the new birth, but can be

controlled and kept subdued by the new man. (John 3:3-7; Romans 7:15-25; Romans 8:8; Gal. 5:17; I John 3:9; I Peter 1:23; I John 5:18, I John 1:8)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITY:

The true Christian is an ambassador of Christ, and is commanded by Him to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, the believer's main responsibility in the life is to faithfully proclaim the gospel. As

we are saved by faith in Christ, through God's grace, so we live the Christian life by an obedient faith in God's Word, being disciplined by His grace. (II Corinthians 5:14-20; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; I John 15:8,16; Mark 16:15; I Thessalonians 2:4; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 9:14-31; Colossians 2:6-7; Romans 6:16; Titus 2:11-12; James 1:22; Hebrews 10:38)

THE TRUE CHURCH:

The Church began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and is composed of all true believers. The Holy Spirit baptizes all of us into the one body of Christ. Water baptism is not essential for salvation

but is a testimony to the world. (Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 2:1-4; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5; Acts 10:47)

THE LOCAL CHURCH:

The local church should be comprised of those who trust Christ as Savior. This assembly, therefore, is under the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit. The local church's purpose is for worship, praise, prayer,

fellowship, encouragement, and evangelizing the lost. The pastor/teacher is a man called of God. (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 14:21-23; Hebrews 10:22-25; II Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 4:7, 11-15)

SATAN:

Satan is a real being, the author of sin, and he and his angels shall be eternally punished. (Ezekiel 28:15-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelations 20:10; Matthew 25:41)

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

I believe in the personal, post-tribulational and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-11; II Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 3:10; 4:4; Luke 21:36; Titus 2:13;

Isaiah 26:17-21; 27:1)

THE RAPTURE or FIRST RESURRECTION:

The first resurrection occurs at the physical return of Jesus Christ, who will descend from heaven with a shout. All living believers will be bodily caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The believer's body will be transformed into his new resurrection body on the way up. The believer from this point on will be forever with the Lord. This occurs at the end of the seven years of tribulation ( such as the world has never experienced ). {I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-54; Matthew 24:15-22.}

There is no indication from Scripture that this event will be "secret". In fact if you read the texts, it sounds like this will be a very dramatic, and loud event.

Junk Science - What is it, and How do you know?

I found an interesting website.

It presents a lot of interesting articles about how "science" is mis-used, and mis-interpreted.

Also, it has a lot of facts about the great "Global Warming" crisis the media loves to scare us about.

So, consider spending a few minutes reviewing, and perhaps book marking this website.

 

http://www.junkscience.com/index.html

 

Also, if you have time to read novels, and would be interested in learning more about the truth ( lies )  behind the "Global Warming Crisis", I'd recommending reading the fictional novel "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton ( He does not appear to be a Bible believing Christian, but a "critical thinker" asks questions instead of just believing whatever one else accepts as being true ). He presents many charts, graphs, and facts ( most with foot notes you can check yourself ) that point out how this whole concept has been blown out of proportion and is being used to "scare" the masses of the world. I can't help but think it is part of the globalizing of the nations required for the rule of the anti-christ.

 

I hope I've spend enough time writing about Global Warming ( as it is only one part of the larger puzzle ), and will move on to other topics...... LOL