Category Archives: Christianity

Psalms 83 and 2 apply TODAY – Iran admits culpability for atrocities of 6th October

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Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against Israel

83 Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
2 For behold, Your enemies make a [a]tumult;
And those who hate You have [b]lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one [c]consent;
They [d]form a confederacy against You:  (..cont’d at BibleGateway)

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

2 Why do the [a]nations [b]rage,
And the people plot a [c]vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed,[d] saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure: (..cont’d at BibleGateway)

Here’s an apposite play on ‘gaslighting’ – psychological manipulation and control of other people’s thoughts and behaviour through deceit and blame-shifting:

Selection of December’s reports:

Iran Claims Credit for Oct. 7. Hamassacre, Saying it was Revenge for President Trump’s Killing Suleimani

May you and yours be blessed in celebrating Jesus’ birth

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Christmas card

Then the angel said to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night,

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord…”  (Luke 2:8-14)

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My dear readers, have a ‘Mega-merry’ and blessed Christmas, as may be inferred from the OT Hebrew word ashar (Strong’s #833, as in Proverbs 31:28 on the virtuous wife), meaning:

‘happy, blessed, prosperous, successful, from original root ‘be straight, upright’.’

Better still is New Testament Greek’s makarios (Strong’s #3107), which means:

‘from root mak, indicating large, or of long duration…happy, supremely blessed, a condition in which congratulations are in order. It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation.’

This ‘Blessed’ is used in The Beatitudes, or the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5. (Details New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Executive editor. Dr Jack Hayford.)

May it be an especially blessed night of spiritual silence and insight for everyone.

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht is an old favourite, always sending shivvers down my spine!

The above Graz choir’s version is ‘dedicated to all those who are not able to spend Christmas with their loved ones‘.

It was first sung in 1818 in Oberndorf bie Salzburg chapel. My father must have heard it during his residence in Stalag IIIA, near Dresden. Austria looked very attractive, even as seen en-route as a captive transported from the Battle for Crete (1941). So mid-1950s, we took many holidays ‘im Tyrol’ west of Salzburg, often motoring through there later.

This version by ‘Celtic Woman’ is also sublime…

Read/watch this song’s story in “Silent Night! Holy Night!” A Song for the World.

2022-23 PROPHECIES IN PROGRESS > https://t.me/PropheciesFulfilled/11876

THE TECH GIANTS ARE ABOUT TO FALL – Julie Green
Word Received: January 8, 2023′

Something is about to take place in New York City that will get the world’s attention, and great exposures will continue to pour out of that area.’

MY GLORY WILL DESTROY IT ALL – Julie Green
Word Received: June 16, 2022

“For I, the Lord, this day encourage My children to get into My presence, where there is rest. Get into My presence, where I will give you peace, joy, and recovery from the effects of all the tests, trials, discouragement, frustration, lies, and torment from your adversary. My children, sit with Me, and I will lead you, guide you, protect you, and restore you from all the damage satan has done to you. Stop being distracted with the things of this Earth and set aside time to be with Me in your prayer closets. My Children, this is the key in this hour to rise above and not be shaken by what will be seen and heard.”

GREAT DARKNESS IS COMING AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES – Julie Green
Word Received: October 5, 2022

Watch Times Square. Things are not how they appear to be.

November 27, 2023:

To play video of Silent Night in Times Square visit > https://t.me/Jack_Posobiec/36440

How to overcome our spiritual adversary – Revelation 12:11

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New King James Version courtesy of BibleGateway.com

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

12 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

 “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.12 Therefore rejoice,  O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

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On our spiritually limited adversary – Neil Mackereth

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ON TARGET: this latest of my friend Neil Mackereth drew enemy flak whilst he was writing. In its Introduction he refers to his paper of 2021 published God-incidentally as Wow-Wotta-Wednesday: Know Our Enemy’s Strategy along with my 3,000th post –  Satan Has Limited Power, by Veronika West together with a related vision.

THEREFORE, I urge my readers to weigh and pray carefully:

THE  ADVERSARY

Introduction

A couple of years ago I wrote an article entitled “Know Your Enemy” in which I considered some of Satan’s tactics in striving to fulfil his grand strategy of thwarting God’s plan for the redemption of mankind. At that time my focus was on Satan’s endeavours to destroy Israel and to introduce a new world order.

Since then, things have taken a turn for the worse. A great darkness has come upon the Earth and Satan is intensifying his efforts to destroy Israel and the Jewish people.

In this article I ask: Who is Satan and why is he opposed to mankind in general, and Israel in particular?

Answering these questions requires some speculation. The comments that follow do not have full scriptural authority and should be treated with caution!

Satan

In Hebrew the word “satan” means adversary. Satan has come to be used as the name for a fallen angel who rebelled against God and sought to take God’s throne for himself. The Bible gives little information about Satan’s origins and downfall. In Isaiah and Ezekiel there are references to the fall of the “morning star”, translated as Lucifer, which some interpret as referring to Satan, while others suggest it relates to the King of Babylon.

There has been much conjecture and many hypotheses over the centuries: some suggest Satan was a very powerful (perhaps the most powerful) angel and his pride and jealousy led him to rebel against God’s decision to create man (I have not found a scriptural foundation for this theory).

Another suggestion for Satan’s existence is that God, in creating man, wanted us to have freedom of choice, i.e. not be automatons. In order to have freedom of choice (i.e. the option to choose to love, follow and obey God) an alternative has to exist! God gives us all the information we need in order to make an informed choice about the gospel of God and the reality of Jesus as our Messiah. The gospel of God will continue to be preached for as long as God ordains, and during that time, Satan is permitted to roam the Earth (has a legal right?). Again, though some aspects of this theory can be inferred (e.g., from Job), there is no clear scriptural confirmation.

Perhaps Satan’s most significant advantage is that many people do not believe he exists! His and his henchmen’s depiction, particularly at Halloween, as some sort of demonic cartoon characters, has encouraged the view that the devil and his demons are figures of fun; a mythical oddity of no significance to 21st Century man.

However, we can see from Scripture that Jesus took Satan very seriously and even though Satan’s destiny is clear, in the meantime he and his demons will make every effort to undermine God’s plan.

Satan’s Ploys

Satan knows what the Bible says and that the book of Revelation shows that Jesus will return to Jerusalem to take His rightful place on the throne of David, as King of the Jews. He will rule His people and the world from Jerusalem.

Throughout history, Satan has been attempting to prevent the fulfilment of God’s plans. Satan appears to believe that, if he is successful, his eventual banishment to “the lake of burning sulphur” (Revelation 20:10) will not happen. His ploys include:

1. Tempting Adam and Eve (and hence mankind) to sin and fall from God’s grace

2. Seeking to have the baby Jesus killed

3. Tempting Jesus to sin and so become unworthy as Saviour

4. Seeking to destroy Jesus

5. Dispersing the Jews to fragment and destabilise their national identity and/or;

6. Destroying all Jews so that Jesus has no Jewish Kingdom over which to rule and reign;

7. Preventing the re-establishment of a Jewish nation state (Israel) and/or

8. Destroying Israel or Jerusalem, or dividing Jerusalem to ensure areas, particularly the Temple Mount, remain under the control of Muslims

Satan tried the first and seemed to be successful; however, God instigated plan B (or was it always plan A – God is omniscient!). The second ploy was thwarted and the third robustly rebutted by Jesus. Satan appeared to have achieved his goal with the crucifixion, but apparent victory turned to spectacular defeat when Jesus rose from the dead. The fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth ploys have been ongoing throughout history, with varying degrees of success.

However, I want to emphasise the miracle of the preservation of Jewish identity and traditions, over thousands of years, and the huge significance of the re-establishment of Israel as a nation state in 1948; and the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.

Nevertheless, the Temple Mount remains in the hands of gentiles. Zechariah 1:14-16 may be a “model” for the present situation on the Temple Mount: “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” (See Addenda below for detail)

What is the Point?

The point is that “the devil roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. Hamas is the embodiment of that image of Satan, roaming around to devour people. It is imperative that Christians follow events carefully, seek to understand what is happening from a spiritual perspective and encourage their governments to support Israel.

Addenda: Comments on The Temple Mount

The Temple Mount warrants closer examination. The Jews, or more accurately those practicing Judaism, consider the Temple Mount to be the place where God chose to manifest His divine presence (Isaiah 8:18, Psalm 9:11). There has been much confusion about whether the Temple Mount is on Mount Zion.

From 2 Samuel 5:6-9 it is clear that Mount Zion was a fortress that King David captured from the Jebusites. He renamed it City of David and developed and expanded the site. The scope of the City of David can be seen from modern day archaeological excavations. King David’s son and successor, King Solomon, built the first Temple on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1-2) in 957 BC. Mount Moriah is probably synonymous with what we now call the Temple Mount, though its exact location has not been confirmed.

It seems that with the building of the Temple the term “Zion” was expanded to include the Mount and subsequently the whole of Jerusalem and the people of Israel (hence Zionism and Zionists). This collective term can be seen in Isaiah 40:9, Jeremiah 31:12 and Zechariah 9:13. The first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Zion became a term used for the people of God (Isaiah 60:14) and this theme continues through the New Testament (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 14:1). Peter refers to Jesus as the ‘Cornerstone of Zion’ (1 Peter 2:4-6).

The second Temple was built, under the direction of Zerubbabel, in 516 BC and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Jewish tradition maintains that there will be a third Temple on the Temple Mount and that its design has been prophesied in Ezekiel 40 to 47.

Sunni Muslims consider the Mount to be the “Noble Sanctuary”, the third most holy site in Islam. It is revered as the location to which Mohammad was transported for his ascent to Heaven. The Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque were built on the Mount after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 637 AD. The Dome of the Rock, completed in 692 AD, is in the middle of the Temple Mount, on the site where many (but not all!) Biblical scholars believe the Third Temple should be built.

The question remains, why is the Temple Mount still under Muslim control?

In 1967, the Jordanians, with the help of Syria and Egypt, attacked Israel. Prior to the 1967 “Six-Day War” Jordan controlled East Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, and the West Bank. Israel’s armed forces defeated the attack and occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

In the aftermath of the war Israel agreed the return of the control of the Temple Mount to the Islamic Waqf (guardians of Muslim holy sites). This gesture has not led to peace and reconciliation! The Temple Mount is an enclave within Israeli controlled Jerusalem. The Muslims have been granted authority to manage the Temple Mount in accordance with their traditions, while Israel continues to have technical control of the site and monitor access. To add to the confusion, the Palestinian Authority claims sovereignty over the Temple Mount.

In Summary:

Zion was the fortress that King David captured from the Jebusites. He renamed it City of David. It is thought that the location of Zion expanded to include the Temple Mount, and subsequently Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Following the destruction of Jerusalem the name Mount Zion was transferred to its present location across the valley to the south of the walled city. While the physical location of Zion may have changed over the years, the spiritual relevance has remained constant.

The Temple Mount is almost certainly the most contested religious site in the world. There can be little doubt that Jerusalem is different and, considering its size and location, it is truly amazing how significant it is in world affairs! It is the focal point of End-times prophecy and, as mentioned above, it is imperative that we keep a close watch on all information relating to events in Israel and Jerusalem. Finally, the literalist view is that the building of the Third Temple is a major prerequisite for progress (the next step?) along the prophetic time-line of the Bible story.

Verse of the Day (Luke 2) and apposite reminder of history

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Courtesy of https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel

Bible Update PS: just as Holy Spirit told Paul on End-times

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Further to the Bible Update on Paul’s letters to Timothy on what Holy Spirit told him about End-times and how they describe today’s evil:

Visit Richard’s Watch Telegram for more prophecy-related news

Bible Update: events and human behaviour show End-times are here, as foretold by Apostle Paul

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Drawing the previous post to a conclusion with reference to Dr Jan Halper-Hayes’ most important point, as made at the close of her discussion with Steve Schultz, wherein she cites 2 Timothy 3:1, as in this screen-shot, I add “The full chapter describes precisely today’s widespread anti-God wokeness”.

Dr Jan quotes the Amplified Bible translation of Apostle Paul’s letter written about 1,960 years ago, the first verses of which chapter read (emphasis mine):

“Difficult Times Will Come”
But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.’  [BibleGateway.com]

My New Spirit-Filled Life Bible defines the Greek ‘chalepos’ as follows and note: ‘The word describes a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices‘!

A couple or so years earlier Paul had conveyed to his disciple Timothy what the Holy Spirit had told him prophetically:

‘But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]…’

This introductory background clearly foretells today’s great apostasy not only in many main-line denominations but also, according to his announcement this week, by the one who’s supposedly a successor to Apostle Peter presiding in The Vatican, Rome!

Lastly in case you may not have seen, please note the valuable contributions added to the previous post, especially Tim Shey on the City of London’s financial history and his inclusion of these links:

The Deathbed Prophecy of King Edward the Confessor, 1066

A History Lesson: Colonel Isaac Barre

Dr Jan Halper-Hayes confirms military activities (PPU 97.2) – and End-times

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‘But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].’  (2 Timothy 3 – Amplified Bible)

NO such thing as coincidence!

What’s ‘God-incidental’ about last week’s posts on behind-the-scenes military activity, developments in Donald Trump’s court trials and British editor’s recognition of the free world’s urgent need for his leadership? > plus cyber-glytches that wiped the prophecy content from my original post of 2021?

Please also note my intention on Wednesday was to finish two drafts on Bible Updates, but prophecy-related exposure news had to take precedence in my available time.

After I’d closed down Thursday evening, Chris G Bennett said on my Facebook link to the HUGE news about the need for Trump’s return, that Dr Jan Halper-Hayes is about to appear live on Elijah Streams, as in the above screenshot (click to watch).

Furthermore to confirm this ‘Go-incidence’, upon watching I learn she’s an American citizen in her 22nd year of residence within Britain. Yet again my birthday number ‘pops up on the parapet’!

Dr Jan’s chat with Steve Schultz starts at 3:40 mark and he asks about her work as a politico-business psychologist in London with a US Dept of Defense task force. She became more active online after her live debut on GB News refuting their anchors’ opinions, which went viral after being noticed by Donald Trump Jnr and subsequently endorsed by his father, as covered in three posts of last August. 

Since then she’s focusing upon people’s mindsets and their psychological perception and reaction to events, with at least two thirds now being more awake, and so she wants to encourage everyone to do their research and validate matters for themselves.

From 13 minutes Dr Jan and Steve talk about expectations of military action within USA and she confirms President Trump’s continuing function as Commander-in-Chief of the US military. At 32 minutes we see news and interview of the National Guard protecting the US Capitol for Biden’s fake ‘inauguration’ on 21st January 2021. (Instead of the full usual military ceremony he received a military funeral 3-gun salute according to veteran Derek Johnson – search ‘funeral’ on his Telegram for details eg this posting ).

The media assume the NG was present to prevent repetition of protest rallies, as on 6th January. However, I recall seeing rows of those troops not only failing to salute but also standing with backs towards Biden as his car passed by!

At  21:50 Dr Jan warns the situation is likely to get worse before getting better and it’s important that we have resilience in the face of adversity. (Hence her later reference to 2 Timothy 3:1 and things happening in God’s time.)

“Why?” asks Steve. Her answer is that the deep-state cabal is so entrenched after hundreds of years since the City of London was established with separation from the monarchy immediately after the Norman conquest. She outlines its subsequent history and key role in global control. Therefore, taking down the insidious Deep-state is an extensive undertaking. However, from what we see unfolding we realise it “is in the process…you don’t necessarily see what’s underneath”!

“Now, people really wonder if the military is in charge.” From 31 mins Dr Jan shows a video with an interview wherein, “It’s made clear that the military is there to establish military power”.

Later, she refers to the ongoing operations within the USA as well as globally with other nations to deal with drug smuggling and child trafficking – and attests military tribunals are being held. (US military law over-rides all US civilian laws).

Her most important point is made towards the close by citing 2 Timothy 3:1, as shown above. The full chapter describes precisely today’s widespread anti-God wokeness.

For information, here’s a link to Dr JHH’s discussion with Steve on 11th September with my very brief notion on a ninth variation in interpretations of the Book of Revelation:

Intriguing confirmation of End-times discussion – Prophets & Patriots #77

The modern-day restoration of Israel in her weakness – Chris Moyler

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Publishing my friends Neil Mackereth’s and Chris Moyler’s comments on Israel stimulated them to further thought, in what’s been an intensely busy period.

Chris says, “I wrote it all so fast, completely from the hip, in two quick sessions. I have it, completely unedited as a document (but) am currently putting in the foundations for our new extension. Pure crazy, but the LORD is most definitely in it. Chris”

He raises A QUESTION….

“Are Christians interested in the scriptural basis for the support of modern day Israel?

I don’t think so. Maybe just a few……. I presently find myself up against a wall of disinterest.

My aim in writing about Israel is NOT that we should pontificate about her, but that we should have a sound scriptural underpinning to our prayers. i.e. that our prayers should not be weak and general, but bold and purposeful-prayers of great clarity.

Your thoughts please???? Chris xx”

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Challenges by/to Christians over terrorism cont’d – Amir Tsarfati in Israel

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Neil Mackereth, myself and many, many others are not alone in being challenged, BUT we return a deeper challenge to an oxy-moronic and ignorant approach in responding to downright demoniacal barbarity.

Here’s how Amir Tsarfati puts it this morning (closing emphasis mine): 

“Lately I am being scolded by Christians for not loving the people of Gaza enough. They say I am not being a good example of a follower of Christ.

Just a reminder, Christ Himself will deny entry into His kingdom and send to destruction the goats who will not help His brethren, the Jews, during the tribulation.

In Joel chapter 3, God will judge ALL nations that will come against Israel during that time.

Anyone who wants to kill me and my people just because we are Jews cannot receive my sympathy. He can only get my hope and prayer that he will either repent and get saved – or get killed before he kills me!

And if you have already killed, raped, or burned alive my people, my prayer is that either you will repent and then be punished by the authorities for your crimes or you’ll just be executed if repentance isn’t your thing. No matter what – actions such as those cannot go unpunished!

I can’t remember any time in the Bible when Jews were massacred by other people groups, and God just overlooked it without punishing the perpetrators!”

Read Amir’s frequent updates (warning of videos) at https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel

Also at:
Twitter.com/beholdisrael
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Tsarfati
Youtube.com/user/beholdisrael

Close-up:

 

Modern Israel and Paul’s letter to the Romans – Neil Mackereth

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The previous post with Neil’s covering email refers:

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ISRAEL – SOME COMMENTS ON ROMANS

After 2000 years of study, it may seem unlikely that there will be any truly new insights in our examination of Biblical prophecy. It is possible, however, that some truths will only be revealed at the appropriate time “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end” (Dan 12:4).

There was much that the disciples did not understand until Jesus was crucified, rose again and ascended into Heaven. In similar vein, much of Isaiah is clear to us now, after the cross, but must have been mysterious for the 800 years before Jesus was born

The OT is full of promises and prophecies that show that God has a special relationship with Israel and that they would be “the power in the land”. However, certainly in worldly terms, Gentiles appeared to take over the position of favour on the earth. Prophecy indicates that, in due course, God’s relationship with His chosen people will be restored. “Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written” (Rom 11:25, 26 (KJV)).

“The fullness of the Gentiles” should not be confused with “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24): one refers to spiritual blessing, the other to earthly power. It may be that Jerusalem will not be free of Gentile involvement in its affairs until Jesus returns to take David’s throne. The very expression “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” shows something will change, and implies a difference between Gentile believers and Israel. Is there a counter in Heaven – the numbers mounting while Satan watches, without knowing the target figure?

In Romans 11, Paul (the “Apostle to the Gentiles”) reasons that branches of the Abrahamic “tree” have been broken off and Gentile branches (believers) grafted in. The tree, whose roots Gentile Christians share, is essentially Abrahamic. Note that Paul never considered himself as having ceased to be a Jew, nor as having moved into a new religion, nor did he ever disparage his Jewish pedigree. Jesus as Messiah was for Paul the full expression of Judaism. Later (Rom 11:13-14) Paul added that, despite his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles, the ultimate motivation of his ministry was the salvation of his fellow Jews (Rom 10:1)

The Biblical predictions (prophecies) of a restored Israel are amazing, and the re-establishment of the Jewish nation in Israel, fulfilled in 1948, is even more so. The survival of national identity in dispersion, which the Jews maintained for nearly nineteen hundred years, prior to the rebirth of Israel, was a phenomenon in itself

Continuing in Romans 11 we see that this hardening will stay “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;” and Paul adds, “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob, and this is My covenant with them.” (Rom 11:25-27). Does this mean that Israel will be brought within the blessings of the Gospel of Grace (the New Covenant), or that the Jews will be blessed on a different principle (the Abrahamic Covenant), or a bit of both? I really don’t know. Certainly, there is a remnant saved by grace: “at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5, see also Rev 12:17)

As mentioned above, the OT clearly shows that the Jews enjoyed a special relationship (blessing). Jesus confirmed the patriarchal promise: “Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.” (Rom 15:8, 9). We can understand that the Cross broke down the barrier and levelled all distinctions. As to righteousness “there is no difference, for all have sinned;” (Rom 3:22, 23), as to mercy “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.” (Rom 10:12). However, the promises to Israel are very specific. If there is “no difference”, can God give blessing on a principle, which seems to imply that there is a difference? In other words, the expectation of certain promises to Israel would appear to be inconsistent with the concept of “no difference”!

Romans 11 indicates that Gentile believers and Israel now enjoy the same privileges. Nevertheless, it is part of the same revelation that although grace comes to the Gentile just where he is, it does not confirm him as a Gentile, but gives him a new nationality as a citizen of the Kingdom of God; for in the Church “there is neither Jew nor Gentile.” (Gal 3:28. Contrast with John 4:22, “Salvation is from the Jews”). The promises to Israel, on the other hand, imply that blessing will reach the Jew as a Jew, i.e., recognizing his national position and endorsing his special relationship under the patriarchal covenant. Jesus will return to Jerusalem and take His throne as King of the Jews

The New Testament opens with the record of the genealogy, birth and ministry of Jesus as “the Son of David, the son of Abraham;” (Matt 1:1). Jesus was “a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth” (Romans 15:8). The angel told Mary that the son she was to bear would be King on “the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (Luke 1:32,33). The question the Magi asked: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matt 2.2) appeared to be a confirmation of Jewish expectation

In both Daniel and Matthew, Jerusalem is the focus for End-Time events and that confirms the necessity and huge significance of the re-establishment of Israel and the re-unification of Jerusalem. The history of the Jews is a record of miraculous events: their escape from Egypt, their ordeals and God’s provision on the journey to the Promised Land were miraculous. Their successes and failures, conquests and captivities, their whole history is interwoven with miracles. The seventy years from Jesus’ birth to the dispersion of the Jews were full of remarkable events and prophetic fulfillment. From that time until 1948, however, there seems to have been a lull, as far as Biblical prophecy is concerned. We can now see the miracle of Jewish survival in dispersion. This is a new era: the very existence of modern Israel is the miraculous and essential ingredient for the next stage of prophetic fulfillment

In summary: “God has not cast away His people Israel” (Rom 11:1,2 KJV). In the Acts of the Apostles, Jerusalem was the centre for God’s people on earth, Gentiles were then admitted, “grafted in”. Initially, the Church was essentially Jewish. The Apostles taught in the temple (Acts 2:46; 3:1, 5:42). Their testimony was in line with the old prophecies (Acts. 3:19-26.), and even when the Christians were scattered by persecution, the Apostles remained in Jerusalem.

Those Christians who left Jerusalem evangelised only among the Jews (Acts. 8:1, 4, and 11:19). Peter had to be persuaded to go among the Gentiles (Acts. 10), and that was not popular within the Church (Acts. 11:2-18). Over the centuries the number of Gentile believers grew and the Jewish membership fell away. In Israel today there is a remnant “who obey God’s commandments, and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:17); Jews, and yet Christians; Jews who believe in Jesus, the One whom secular and non-messianic Jews will continue to reject, until He appears.

It is my personal view that there are two courses to the fulfilment of End-Times prophecy:
  1. The church (which includes messianic Jews) will be raptured, and…
  2. The remnant of Israel will then come to recognize who Jesus is, a conviction of sin, repentance and be saved.

Neil Mackereth, 15th November 2023

Challenged by ‘liberal’ Christians on terrorist barbarity – Neil Mackereth’s and Sir Mick Davis’ responses

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I’m struck in catching up with my dear friend’s email along with an op-ed in my daily newspaper, as follows:

‘Hi Richard,

I am being challenged by some “liberal” Christians who appear to be suggesting that parts of the Bible are morally unacceptable. I thought you might be interested in my response.

I can fully understand why many Christians are finding it difficult to know how to react, as we watch the horrors on the news each day. The behaviour of secular Israel is obviously very challenging, and that is not new!

“I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land”. Ezekiel 36:19-24 

This scripture is very significant, particularly for those who wonder why God would re-establish and watch over the mainly secular state of Israel. It is because He said He would. It is for His name’s sake (for the honour of His name). The Abrahamic Covenant is an everlasting covenant, which God will fulfil, not for the sake of His unruly people Israel but to show the world He is God, His name is holy, and He always honours all He has promised.

Notwithstanding what we see happening, if we believe Scripture, and truly want to align with God’s word, we must “Bless and do not curse Israel” (Numbers 23: 19-20; 24: 9). “Comfort My people” (Isaiah 40:1-2); Christ will judge nations on the basis of their treatment of Israel (Joel 3: 1-2).

We also know that all Israel will be saved; that is, the remnant whom God has chosen (Romans 9.27) – I attach some further comments on Romans. [RB next post]

Some further notes:

Re-gathering to the land of Israel does not mean there will be peace (Jeremiah 30:3-7); Israel is unique (1 Chronicles 17:21); A special treasure to God, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6); Entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:1-2).

That is probably enough! The fact is, it is an oxymoron to suggest that Bible-believing followers of Jesus can pick and choose which bits of Scripture they will accept and which they will reject.

Blessings to you and to Nina, may the Lord strengthen and encourage you both at this critical time.

Neil, 15th November

Sir Mick Davis is a former chief executive of the Conservative Party and former Chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council. He writes in The Telegraph yesterday: 

‘…Losing friendships is distressing, but nothing compared to watching raw footage of the October 7 massacres at a London screening I facilitated. The crimes, many filmed by Hamas terrorists, show humanity at its lowest. Purveyors of sickening terror joyfully invoke God’s name while bringing death and defilement to His creatures.

Any opinion that ignores or downplays Hamas’s evil is disconnected from reality and has nothing to offer the search for peace. Yet some deny or cast doubt on these barbaric acts. They justify or “explain” them. Others, like my friend, condemn the atrocity of October 7 when pushed before then condemning Israel’s response. They emphasise “context”, with the apparent implication that Israel had it coming. As if killing parents in front of children, using a severed head as a football, rape, and parading and defiling corpses is an inevitable, reflex reaction to Israeli actions! [Emphasis RB]

Context is indeed important. Here is some: Israel hasn’t occupied Gaza since 2005. Hamas brutally controls Gaza and has attacked Israeli civilians time and again. Israeli measures to contain this terror are painful for Gazan people and open to strong debate. But the terror precedes the response, not the other way round… (continue reading)

He closes, ‘But I am struck by an unpleasant realisation: my friend can choose not to talk to me when our world views and moral compass diverge. But Israel does not have that luxury.’

The Day of The Lord – today’s verse puts ‘global warming’ in its place!

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Holy Writ, as we well know, puts ‘global warming’ mania well and truly ‘in the shade’:

It’s highly appropriate for assessing our placing on the Almighty’s Timeline that we check the lead-in verses at BibleGateway.com (emphases mine):

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 

5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance…’ (cont’d in Verse of the Day) 

https://www.space.com/aurora-alert-solar-flare-eruption-cannibal-cme-november-30-december-1

The LORD’s lull before His Storm – Chris G Bennett

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MOST notable in view of Christopher Wickland bringing “It’s time to tidy MY House!”

THE LORD’S LULL BEFORE HIS STORM

I received this Word many moons ago, but The LORD has brought it back to mind today, brought it up to date, and told me that now is the moment to release it.

The Prophetic Outpouring had gone a little quiet of late. When I mentioned this to my wife, she told me of a well respected person who had said that God had spoken much to His People of late, but that His People are ignoring Him.

So, The LORD has kept a bit quieter than usual — so that we can hear, take in, and act upon that which He has already given us. Only then will he give us more.

I asked The LORD for myself, and this is what I hear today, “This is another lull before a storm!

I AM allowing My Plans to take root and produce fruit before I unleash the Storm upon My Church.

The maelstrom that is currently politics is not limited to the political world. It will include My Church, My People, My Bride.

There is also coming a Shaking and a collapse of several ‘houses of cards’ within The Church.

There is coming a cleansing — a clearing of the Temple.

It shall no longer be a den of thieves and iniquity, but shall return to the House of Prayer that I always intended it to be!

Those with whom I AM pleased — who have listened to Me and obeyed My Spirits direction, shall miss the shaking — but those who practice the perversion of My Words shall fall!” says The LORD.

“Many will be hurt by the revelation to come, but it will be part of my ‘healing your land’!

Even so, I shall hold out the Hand of Restoration for the fallen. I shall always hold redemption before you!” says The LORD.

“This Word is for all who have strayed from the paths of Righteousness and The Gospel of Truth — wherever they are in the world!

I do not change!

My Truth does not change, and My Gospel does not change!

Neither does My Mercy change — it is for all who repent and turn towards Me!” says God.

Along with the Cleansing, will come a Restoration of all who have fallen and then repented.

Leaders and Churches once bound by legalism and error, will be restored as Houses of Prayer and Rejoicing.

Great will be their joy — but even greater will be heavens joy at their restoration.

This has started and will continue for some time. As the work and move of The Holy Spirit, so the Harvest will grow and the Restoration will grow too.

Only those who refuse the correction of The LORD will miss out!

Be ready — it’s all coming!

~ Chris G. Bennett

Anglicans’ apostasy is a clear sign Jesus’ Second Advent is getting close!

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In ‘Looking for the signs of Jesus’ return’ since hearing “This is ALL about to be fulfilled”, one sign in particular continues to be blatantly obvious: the trans-sexual lobbying across church denominations with offensive flags of incomplete rainbows displayed in churches in support of ‘Pride’!  Most repugnant!

It’s one thing to apologise for the way ‘trans’-people have been treated by churches, but another to bow the knee to their selfish demands, deemed as ‘progressive’.

To any thinking Bible-believer it’s just one part of the fallen one’s strategy of attacking the future Bride of Christ to bring great internal division together with divergence from – as well as twisting! – God-given scripture of the Bible.

That source is as plain as a pikestaff in its usurpation of the sign God gave of His first Covenant with humanity – the seven-coloured rainbow.

Nevertheless, in view of my history I’ve been pleased to find churches of various styles have grown greatly in brotherly appreciation, despite the increasing satanic attacks.

Fallen by being kicked out of heaven, the hater of humanity’s main strategy has been to beguile church leaders into being ‘progressive’ instead of standing firmly upon the Word of God. Such reprobate leaders have led their churches into….

The Great Apostasy

2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…

… 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2Thess 2)

That’s New King James Version. The Classical Amplified adds to verse 3 ‘[unless the predicted great [b]falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come]’- footnote [b] ‘A possible rendering of the Greek apostasia is “departure [of the church]“.’

Thus, the foretold falling away doesn’t so much refer to non-churchgoing public turning away from believing in our Father God and Jesus Christ as regular believers choosing to leave behind any belief and deliberately departing from the faith.

In the brief background to my Theological thoughts on salvation and apostasy I refer to ‘lost salvation’ as a topic for Saturday Men’s Bible study. In our online chat and saying the Lord had poked me to blog on it, I added my hope of getting a Deuteronomy 19:15 two-witness confirmation as soon as possible.

Indeed, I thought confirmation emerged with Friday’s news of Justin Welby’s apology for what was wrongly taken as a personal slight by the lead advocate in his Church’s move towards liturgical accommodation of trans-sexuality.

However, the usual personal confirmation was yet to come in Sunday morning’s service. A congregant with top diosecan connections briefed me about the disastrous outcome of last week’s Anglican General Synod.

CORRECT TRANSLATION? 

In last Thursday’s Theological thoughts on salvation and apostasy I refer to the interlinear Greek translation for ‘Falling away’ but noted a friend heading up Prophetic Releasers for UK Revival had commented upon my Facebook version of the previous day’s Bible Update: ‘Great Apostasy’ of Pope and Anglican leaders.

Geoffrey informs me the Literal Standard Translation of the Bible, a major revision of Robert Young’s Literal translation, posits an alternative “that puts a completely different outlook on this verse and the sequence of the departure (rapture) in future events”. He cites verse 3 as:

“do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because if the departure may not come first, then the man of lawlessness may not be revealed – the son of destruction.”

In my opinion, omitting any reference to ‘apostasia’ (falling away) makes the translation too ambiguous and unclear in what we expect of Holy Spirit-inspired revelation. What’s more, it’s just conjecture because the scriptural prophecy is actually being fulfilled in tandem with verses in other books.

So here’s A E Knock’s Concordant Method interlinear Greek translation, as published by Scripture4All, following this Introduction:

Click image for link to read in full

SCHISMATIC GENERAL SYNOD

Now, in catching up with my church friend’s recommended reading from the CEEC (Church of England Evangelical Council) it is abundantly clear the CoE is now moving into DEEP SCHISM

Some CEEC leaders’ comments (emphases mine)

  • “For many in the Church of England a line was crossed this week that we prayed and hoped would not happen.”
  • “We believe these proposals are being pursued without adequate provision and protection for those holding to the biblical, historic and global majority Anglican view on marriage and sexual intimacy. This underlines the failure of leadership by the archbishops and divided House and College of Bishops.”
  • “CEEC regrets that these changes will cause deep division in PCCs and parishes, deaneries and dioceses the length and breadth of the country, in the same way that the Bishops and General Synod are divided.”
  • Above from report of 17th November > https://ceec.info/responding-to-the-15-november-2023-general-synod-decision-looking-forward/
  • Next from report of 12th October https://ceec.info/ceec-welcomes-bishops-dissenting-statement/
  • “It is not very often that bishops from the House of Bishops express their dis-ease at something being proposed by the rest of the House. The statement is significant because of what it says.
  • “First, they name the deep disagreement that exists within the House of Bishops.  To publicly acknowledge the depth of disagreement is significant, given the seismic changes the House of Bishops is pursuing.”

Also, in Premier Christianity’s opinion piece CofE leaders are ‘walking together’ into sin. It’s a bad joke, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre and Christian Concern, Andrea Williams, points out the bishops’ disingenuity

‘It is being widely reported that the Church of England’s governing body, General Synod, has backed trials of services blessing same-sex relationships. The Guardian says “services to celebrate gay marriages could be held within weeks”.

‘The CofE leadership are often at pains to claim that these services – and the prayers within them – only “ask for God’s blessing”, and that they don’t directly bless these relationships or sexual activity within them.

‘This is straight out of the CofE playbook: deceptive language that allows the de- facto approval of sin while pretending they’re not contradicting the Church’s doctrine of marriage. All this nuance is lost within minutes of the vote as media outlets report that these ‘blessings’ are going ahead.’

FOOTNOTE:

This post is an interim update before proceeding with theological thoughts on believers’ possibly losing their salvation, and alternatively to the Lord’s glorious promise of our personal salvation

Richard’s Watch is 12 YEARS OLD TODAY!

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I wish to “Thank YOU” personally for taking your valuable time visiting my blog, no matter whether just to dip in or contribute to some posts, for I appreciate your involvement with my blog or visiting its Facebook page, or Telegram channel with extra prophecy-related news along with Prophecy Validations.

To those who’ve travelled with me over the years I say, thank you very much for your company on this unusual journey.

As you know, it all began in the mid-1980’s when I was in deeply involved in New-Age matters and the Lord struck me with a most memorable event, as told in Bio Info, and which has been so pertinent over Israel’s current war with hamas barbarians.

The ‘coincidental’ double appearance of a book and television documentary about Iran’s ultimate aim of eradicating the state of Israel introduced me to the Biblical history and prophecy relating to the Gog-Magog alliance and to End-times – and its author forecast a massive Muslim movement against the non-Muslim world. Continue reading →

Theological thoughts on salvation and apostasy.

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Time to tackle the theological conundrum of ‘once saved, always saved’ versus ‘falling away’ from faith.

Mulling over first thing with the Lord on today’s blogging I thought about Sunday at 3Counties Vineyard on 1Corinthians 12 and Holy Spirit’s gifts. But upon booting up my phone a message arrived about ‘lost salvation’ as a possible topic for this Saturday’s Men’s Breakfast. (Last weekend was a theological trilogy on Holy Spirit; it comprised that teaching with ministry for the giftings plus Saturday’s double dose of Romans 8 at our breakfast and the Alpha course’s Holy Spirit Away-day.)

Reflecting upon that group’s message about covering a side-issue, once again I got dropped upon from ‘On High’ to write on it! – rather like last Thursday’s jigsaw pieces.

Moreover I was ‘nudged about it being a suitable follow-on to the previous post about major church leaders now implementing apostasy, to the consternation of many laity. (It’s been an ongoing issue ever since launching this blog – 66 posts thus far).

Therefore, I humbly submit the following for consideration:

STUDIOUS DISCUSSIONS

For thirty years men from various churches in Haslemere have enjoyed working our way through various books of the Bible and discussing its verses in depth. In view of Paul’s longest letter being the pinnacle of Christian doctrine, it’s taken us some months to arrive at Romans 8 on Life in the Holy Spirit .

‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.’ (NKJV, Bible Gateway.com)

Last week, in passing, our study-leader referred to losing salvation. He and I cited Hebrews 6 but others objected and reminded us of the ‘once saved, always saved’ dictum.

This difference of opinion has cropped up a few times recently and this week’s leader undertook some research just in case the group decides to consider it. However, he concludes the wiser option is to adhere to our usual practice of examining the scripture under review.

Yet, how does a divergence of opinion emerge when most of us are well-grounded in The Word?

Furthermore, the ‘scripture confirms scripture’ principle means the whole Bible should be clearly understood; thereby leaving us of one accord!

SCRIPTURE CHECK

Here’s a small selection recommended by one of the group for consideration. Lead-in verses from the New International Version will give the cited verses some context:

John 10:28-29 > 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Philippians 1:6 > 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:38-39 > 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

FALLING AWAY FROM FAITH IN JESUS

Yet one must ask; if ‘once saved always saved’ is the correct understanding of the Word of God and faith in His Son Jesus Christ, then how come Holy Spirit foretells in 2 Thess 2:4 a specific ‘apostasia’ (literally, ‘from standing’ – Interlinear Greek), which translates as ‘falling away’?
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of [b]sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’

In the previous post I particularly stressed verse 11, which should generate a righteous fear of the Lord in everybody!

Also, Paul later instructed his disciple Timothy that “the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”

That means not at a contemporary time but at a ‘latter time’ well into the future. However, apostasy began in the first century after Jesus’ life on earth, as attested to or implied by the author of the Book of Hebrews – AND definitely by Jesus’ closest disciple, John.

So, consider carefully Hebrews 6. It opens by saying its addressees have received foundational teaching and so it’s now time to progress: “Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…”

Note well verse 5:

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c]away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.’

We have tasted God and His Word and know Him to be good, and been given gracious giftings in the Holy Spirit – some even baptised in Him. BUT how many disciples today can operate fully in Holy Spirit’s power? Very, very few!

So the author of the treatise to the Hebrews must be referring to the miracles, signs and wonders of those apostles and disciples who were anointed in power, as described in The Acts of the Apostles. What’s more, that should have continued throughout Church history!

CONCLUSION

In view of the theological nature of this matter, this can be but my initial thoughts, submitted for what they may be worth.

I offer this as a way of indicating how two apparently contradictory understandings may be reconciled because they refer to different situations.

‘Once saved, always saved’ applies to all believers who do not fall into the error of apostasy or heretical belief. Some may even experience the supra-natural powers of the Age to Come,. Those who live in that category but subsequently disobey Jesus and scripture by following demonic doctrines and failing to repent and renounce satan, are the ones for whom salvation is withdrawn. Remember, we are to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling, according to Paul at Philippians 2:12.

Do not overlook what Jesus’ closest disciple writes about the apostates he knew or learned about:

1 John 2:19 > Warnings Against Denying the Son

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Maybe John is referring to those who became teachers of Gnosticism, a documented historical heresy, and similar movements in those early centuries in Church history.

Also, Jesus foretells His honouring believers but disowning anyone who disowns Him [Greek ‘amesamenos’ – ‘one-disowning’], which is a deliberate act of disobedience, not one of simple unbelief:
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Luke 12 NIV)

PS. (18.11) To be continued with short posts on apostasy and salvation separately.

Bible Update: ‘Great Apostasy’ of Pope and Anglican leaders

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First, let’s remind ourselves what the Holy Spirit told Apostle Paul around 50 and 64 AD, as in his respective letters to the church in Thessalonica and to his disciple Timothy, as in New King James Version (courtesy BibleGateway.com, emphases mine):

2 Thess 2 > ‘Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of [b]sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the  [d]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only [e]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’

NB. Those closing verses should generate a righteous fear of the Lord in everybody!

1 Tim 4 > ‘Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/13/church-of-england-dedicated-ceremonies-for-gay-couples/

The Lord says “It’s time to tidy MY House!” – Christopher Wickland

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In preparing the next posting upon apostasy in church denominations I found this prophetic word unpublished in my drafts folder.  Maybe six weeks delay is of the Lord?  Once again, I’m blessed to cite Revd Christopher Wickland:

TIME TO TIDY MY HOUSE

Obadiah verse 12. ‘Do not see and gloat over your brother on the day of his misfortune. Do not exult over Judah’s ruin, nor brag on the day of her destruction.’

Continue reading →

The Lord calls prophets into their full role – Chris G Bennett

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A SIGNIFICANT CALL FROM THE LORD TO BE WEIGHED VERY CAREFULLY!  In being nudged to do something I wouldn’t normally do – opening Facebook on my phone just as we’re about to leave the house for a mid-morning meeting – AND seeing Chris had posted this 22 minutes earlier, definitely confirms it’s import. (That’s my birthday number and has occurred far too many times to be ordinary coincidence!)

He writes, as published in His Kingdom Prophecy: The ‘New’ Prophet’s Role

A NEW LOOK AT AN OLD TRUTH!

The Word of God says, very clearly, that He uses the prophetic to keep us informed as to His intention, His plans, and the results for us of ignoring His warning.

And It is also very clear that ‘he who has ears to hear’ what the Spirit wants him to hear, can do so.

“Surely The LORD God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7

‘And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom”.’ 2 Kings 6:12

Without contradicting one iota of these Scriptures, I hear The LORD say that there is a “new role” that He has for His Prophets.

I feel that the use of quotation marks around that phrase is intentionally drawing attention to the fact that this “new role” is in reality a revival of prophetic practice that has not exactly disappeared but at least been hidden in recent times — oftentimes for decades or centuries.

‘Then The LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and The LORD said to me,“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant”.’  Jeremiah 1:9-10

When was the last time you saw a prophet with such authority over nations, or when did you see a prophet “pluck up and break down, destroy and to overthrow, build and plant.”?

Certainly we see the prophets edifying and building people up; we see them prophesying good things and warnings.

However, rarely, if ever, do we see prophets pluck up and break down, destroy and overthrow, build and plant!

So here is what I hear The LORD saying to His Prophets today: “Now is the time for you to step into the destiny I have planned for you since before time.

Now is the time for you to realise exactly why you are where I have placed you — for such a time as this!

I AM offering you a mantle, a new role for this time, but I AM also giving you a choice to step into this new anointing or to decline it.

Almost a ‘New Passover’, if you will, in which I will pass over you in favour of those willing to step up to the mark.

Why am I giving you a choice? Because to accept is to place yourself into the front line of the battle — the battles today, tomorrow, and right up to the final day.

You will become targets of all the powers of darkness, and targets of both church and non-Church groups who will seek to bring you down for your ‘alarmist and warmongering speech’.

The choice is yours”, says The LORD.

“Choose you this day to be in My chosen End-time Prophetic Army, or to watch from the sidelines.

I will not understate the seriousness of choosing to stand and I will not hold it against you if you choose not to do so.

Come to Me and tell Me of your decision and I will honour it, whichever you decide.

Ask Me your questions and My Holy Spirit will answer you.

But only you can decide. It’s up to you!” says The LORD.

Personally, I am willing! How about you?

~ Chris G. Bennett