Tag Archives: #Theology

Huge God-incidences: part 2 – Council of Nicaea 1700th anniversary prayer call

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Now for that latest piece in God’s Invisible Jigsaw from Dr Jurgen Buhler, President International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem:

A special call to 100 days of prayer and fasting to heal the rift between the Church and the Jewish people
By Dr. Jürgen Bühler, ICEJ President

‘This year many churches around the world are commemorating 1700 years since the landmark Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. According to Church historian Philip Schaff, Nicaea was – next to the Apostolic council in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 15 – “the most important and the most illustrious of all the councils of Christendom.” (1)

Nicaea was only the second global council since the days of the original Apostles. In Acts 15, we read about the very first church council discussing how to deal with the new phenomena of Gentiles joining a predominantly Jewish church. In that Jerusalem gathering, the early Apostles had opened wide the door for Gentile believers to join the Church.

Nicaea impacted the Church in a similarly powerful way. But unlike the Jerusalem council, at Nicaea the doors of the Church began to be firmly close on the Jewish people. The umbilical cord was cut between the Church and Israel, even though it was the nation and people who had birthed the Church. It also opened the door for growing anti-Jewish tendencies among Gentile Christians in the following centuries.

To be clear, this development was neither planned nor intended when the council was first called. Yet what made Nicaea end with a very different result from its inception was not inspired by spiritual leaders as in Acts 15, but by the Roman emperor himself.

Emperor Constantine, who reigned from 306 to 337 AD, was a new convert to Christianity. This brought a tremendous sense of relief for the early Church, which had just survived one of the worst waves of persecution a few years earlier under Emperor Diocletian. Constantine not only eased the fears of the Church but decided to make his newly-found faith the most official religion of the Roman Empire….’

Continue reading at https://www.icej.org/blog/1700-years-after-nicaea/

 

Huge God-incidences: part 1 – ‘RT’ and news takes my writing full circle

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Post-holiday blogging plans got diverted last Monday by an invisible ‘poke’ to attend to a paper Neil Mackereth had sent me on 24 April, but which I found had disappeared, even though shown as an attachment – and then emails acted weirdly!  However, connection got made just in time for Neil to send a fresh copy before going away – SO, our Lord must have been on-hand to give a helping hand!

Thus as he’d already written me, not only his meetings over the Palm Sunday weekend but also my delayed action last week and subsequent postings and relevant news, were indeed “God-engineered”, as Neil surmised – rather like a shower of jigsaw pieces:

Other news emerging last week validates my first email on End-times with its top-level security warning, but which may relate to an apparently official anti-Semitic stance in Britain, beyond what I reported last November in..

Police visit fulfills MI5 chief’s 2009 warning! Endgame IS definitely in play!

On February 2009 I write:

‘However, this is just one instance of the growing persecution of believers, principally through a policy supposedly promoting toleration but that’s now a tyrannical tool of intolerance – Equality & Diversity. There are other powers of suppression. Even the previous director of MI5 warns about UK sleep-walking into a police state (‘Abject nonsense’ responded a gov’t minister who lives on another planet)…’

Now 16 years 3 months later:

‘A retired special constable was arrested and detained over a social media post warning about the threat of anti-Semitism in Britain, The Telegraph can reveal.

Julian Foulkes, from Gillingham in Kent, was handcuffed at his home by six officers from Kent Police – the force he had served for a decade – after challenging a supporter of pro-Palestinian marches on X.

Police body-worn camera footage captured officers scrutinising the 71-year-old’s collection of books by authors such as Douglas Murray, a Telegraph contributor, and issues of The Spectator, pointing to what they described as “very Brexity things”.

…“Free speech is clearly under attack,” said Mr Foulkes. “Nobody is really safe… the public needs to see what’s happening, and be shocked.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/10/retired-police-officer-arrested-over-thought-crime-tweet/

‘…Mr Foulkes, who volunteered with the force for a decade, had his home searched, and was detained for eight hours, interviewed and cautioned. He had replied to a tweet from a pro-Palestinian activist who had threatened to sue Mrs Braverman for calling anti-Israel protests “hate marches”…

..She told Mr Foulkes that it was ironic the police were “very, very eager” to arrest him over his social media post warning about anti-Semitism, “but when thousands of people were marching through the streets on Armistice Day, chanting anti-Semitic slogans, celebrating terrorism, they suddenly became very meek and mild and didn’t have enough resources or powers”.[RB. But dozens of police surrounded just one Englishman and removed him for protesting the march!!! – Tommy Robinson]

Mrs Braverman said her struggle to reform the system from within had convinced her that real change may now only come from people like Mr Foulkes speaking out…’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/17/suella-braverman-special-constable-arrest-tweet/

PLUS, Boris Johnson’s reaction to other similar news in this PostScript.

In Part 2 we consider a ‘God-engineered’ return to the anniversary of the beginning of Replacement Theology 1700 years ago…

[Image credit: Flying Puzzles by Nokhoog Buchachon, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net]

New Pope wants to strengthen dialogue with the Jewish people

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Yes Neil, the timing of your revisiting the doctrine of Replacement Theology, especially its history, really is “God-engineered” for we now have an indication of further changes within the Roman branch of Jesus’ Church:

Newsmax reports (emphases mine)

‘Pope Leo XIV has told the world’s Jewish communities he wants to strengthen the Roman Catholic Church’s dialog with them, in a message coming after a souring of relations between the Vatican and Israel over the war in Gaza.

The first U.S.-born pope sent a letter to Rabbi Noam Marans, the Director of Inter-religious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee, who posted the letter on the social platform X late on Monday.

“Trusting in the assistance of the almighty, I pledge to continue and strengthen the Church’s dialog and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate,” Leo said in the letter.

Nostra Aetate was a landmark document in the 1962-1965 Council that repudiated the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus and urged dialog with non-Christian religions.

The brief document revolutionized Catholic relations with Jews after centuries of persecution and mistrust. Dialog that ensued over the following two decades made it possible for Pope John II to become the first pontiff to visit a synagogue, giving a speech in Rome’s main temple in 1986, where he called Jews “our beloved elder brothers”.

Continue reading and watching report at Newsmax’s Pope Leo: Jews Dialogue

We seem to have arrived at  a veritable watershed upon the 1700th anniversary of the agreed core beliefs of Christian doctrine and published in the Nicene Creed.

Richard’s Watch goes full-circle: 8 – false theology, BBC bias and anti-Semitism

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WWW, wheels-within-wheels, continue to roll as dear Neil’s revisiting ‘RT’ and strong stand against anti-Semitism takes this blog full circle back to its beginning fourteen years ago in November when my emailing him and other friends on End-times went public. That month I’d already written about a broadcast theological debate and my very first item, after launching with a Welcome to the wider public, continued with a follow-up, viz

False theology and false history

As ever, ‘God-incidental’ timing is intriguing because Neil wrote his latest as a result of a “curious series of events happened over the weekend” (Psalm Sunday) exposing the need for a proper grasp of scripture’s relevance to our times, and he wishes to share:

“Saturday morning I attended a Men’s Breakfast…I went with no intention or expectation of speaking….

There was a guest speaker from America who I did not know, and have never heard. He started by saying that he had decided the best format for the meeting would be if we attenders where to ask any question we liked, and he would answer. There was a long silence; so, to break the ice, I asked “Do you think Gaza could be under the judgement of God?” there was another silence, then he said: “I don’t know about Gaza, but I think America is under judgement”.
I said: “I asked the question because the people of Gaza have been cursing Israel for at least 20 years, and probably 77. In the Bible God says that if you curse my people Israel you will be cursed: there must be an outcome”. He said: “it depends on who you think “Israel” is. It is not the land, it is the people of God who are now “Israel” and there is only one “people of God”. My comment: “that sounds like replacement theology”. He then said something about different dispensations and “grafted-in Theology”, at which point the host stepped in and said we needed to move on to other questions.”

The next day Neil was interrupted during conversation by someone saying she’d heard he’d been “controversial” at the breakfast – but the speaker was entitled to a different point of view. “I tried to explain that replacement theology is not just “a different point of view”. However, I could see I wasn’t going to get anywhere… I don’t know why what happened, happened, but I am convinced it was God engineered.”

The sadness is that very few people understood, or cared about, what had taken place. The woman’s belief that it was a fluffy little difference of opinion between two equally valid points, seems to be the consensus view.”

Such a clueless position, instead of taking a stand against hatred, it implicitly supports….

BBC and ANTI-SEMITISM

As a consequence of writing about ‘RT’ in November 2011 I noticed and posted many times in the blog’s first year on the BBC’s deeply biased reporting against Israel – hence the need for a BBC tag!

AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS that since Neil’s ‘God engineered’ encounters, relevant news emerged on Tuesday regarding a vastly overpaid sports ex-commentator:

Now, let’s get back to what holy scripture says, for this passage in Ephesians 2 featured the next day at a local house group:

Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2 NKJV BibleGateway)

This points to God’s ultimate goal of all people, Jews and non-Jews, becoming united believers in Jesus Christ through His awesome grace. This is extensively explained in the books written to the Hebrews and the church in Rome.

SELAH!

Replacement Theology misses significance of Jesus’ warning of the Abomination

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Reference:  The Lord Hands Out FIVE Jigsaw Pieces on Daniel 9 :

“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not (let the reader understand) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” (Mark 13:14 – emphases mine – re Dan 9:27 NKJV)

As ‘the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy’ (Rev 19:10) then His instruction is indubitably prophetic about this sign appearing sometime in the future. Thus, Jesus not only confirms the accuracy of the angel Gabriel’s prophecy to Daniel but also bears His witness to its coming true, and establishing it according to the principle of Deut 19:15.

In heeding that warning, nearly forty years later Jesus’ followers wisely fled Jerusalem when Titus’ huge Roman army besieged and destroyed the city and temple.

As told in Bio Info, the Lord had put this book in my hand and validated its content by what was being shown simultaneously on BBC. Its author Victor Dunstan examines the time-scales of Daniel’s prophecies and the ‘Abomination of Desolation’.

He cites Gibbon’s ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ regarding the outcome of the six months’ siege of Jerusalem (636-7 AD) during Muslim attacks against the Christian Byzantine empire and conquest of The Levant.

Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, agreed to surrender on condition he submit direct to the Caliph Umar in person:

‘After signing the capitulation, (Umar) entered the city without fear or precaution; and courteously discoursed with the Patriarch concerning its religious antiquities. Sophronius bowed before his new master and secretly muttered, in the words of Daniel, “The abomination of desolation is in the holy place!”

Three decades later the Islamic shrine and Dome on the Rock mosque was completed upon a wing of the ruins of the Temple Mount. Victor emphases – it still STANDS there!.

Sadly, in ignoring the scriptural and historic validity of the Jews and nation of Israel then ‘RT’ aligns itself with endemic racial and religious hatred of anti-Semitism.

Replacement Theology’s ungodly root: despising the Desposyni

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A couple of historical points to add to Neil Mackereth’s Replacement Theology Revisited that I’d like to add are on the heritage of Jesus’ family and His warning prophecy of ‘the Abomination of Desolation’ in Jerusalem:

THE DESPOSYNI 

Occasionally, I refer to the ‘Desposyni’, as for example in Jesus’ Crucifixion Describer in The Holy Name of God:

‘When he made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in the early 4th Century, Constantine discouraged all contact with Jews and the Church severed itself from its Jewish roots – from even the descendants of Jesus’ kith and kin, known as Desposyni.  In doing so, the Church lost a fuller and deeper understanding of the Old Testament.’

Now let’s expand upon this matter with the help of priest and professor Malachi Martin, whom I seem to recall served as Librarian in the Vatican Library, in his seminal The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church published 1981 (page 34, emphases added):

‘..For Donatus preached the old Jewish idea of a temporal kingdom, just as the Ayatollah proclaims in behalf of Islam. The Roman popes, no matter how subordinate they became to political power, no matter how greatly corrupted by it, always saw their spiritual power as distinct from the political and never wholly identified the two. This was the narrow but all-important hair-difference between Donatus and the bishop of Rome.

4. The Blood Relatives of Jesus

Continue reading →

Replacement Theology Revisited – Neil Mackereth

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REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY REVISITED

INTRODUCTION

I am disturbed and distressed by the parlous state of the World and our Nation. With few exceptions, our churches have developed a wishy washy, sit on the fence, don’t rock the boat, non-confrontational form of Complacent Theology.

Where is the conviction, robustness and power of Almighty God? I have a zeal for The Word of God, and truth, which is at odds with the smug wokeness of our time.

I want to focus on Replacement Theology (RT) (also known as Supersessionism), and its manifestation, antisemitism. I have written several papers on this subject and only return to it because it is getting much worse, as a result of the 7th October 2023 atrocities. The “Palestinian Movement” have invented a false narrative that has been taken up by the BBC and other mainstream media platforms, and that narrative has become self-affirming (“it must be right; they are saying it as well”).

First let us look at the historic roots of RT.

Continue reading →

For Info: False theology and false history

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[Published upon launching public blog on 21 Nov 2011, following private emails]

A brief note further to my email on the debate on Replacement Theology.  There is news from two separate sources that the Lord may be drawing this issue to the fore.

The first is found via a comment to the debate. In recent years liberal seminaries have strongly encouraged a new, non-Biblical, Palestinian form of theology through the works of Lutheran pastor Mitri Raheb and Anglican Naim Ateek.

Now, however, Raheb has denounced that error of interpretation (to be polite), as reported in Palestinian Theologian Trashes Palestinian Theology. Continue reading →

End-times Briefing 4: expert’s excitement – More are coming to know this…

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This post, one of my first blogs in November 2011, later featured on the Home page to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events two years later:

As you may have gathered from my Welcome, I’m into eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels!  It’s about  ‘The Last Days’, as in the ancient Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’, and were regarded as the years immediately following Jesus’ ministry. They’re more popularly known in Christian circles as the ‘End-times’.

Come with me to one of my favourite video classes where (the late) Dr Chuck Missler is asking his students, “Why Eschatology?”

“It is very practical”, he answers himself and explains:

“Apparently, we’re being plunged into a period of time about which the Holy Bible says more than any other period – including the time when Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee!

“Now that’s a preposterous statement – and I challenge you to challenge my statement! To do so you need to do two things:

1  Find out what the Bible itself says about this and – this is a bit harder,

2  Find out what’s really going on – but you won’t get that on the ten o’clock news!

“Fortunately, thanks to the internet, the alternative press and to talk-radio you can do some homework and find out what really is going on. The more you do those two things the more you’ll understand why many scholars are extremely excited about the horizon we’re moving into – because it all deals with the return of Christ to rule earth.

“It really is remarkable how controversial this topic is, but there are:

  • over 1800 references in the Old Testament to this event – 17 Old Testament books give prominence to the event.
  • over 300 references in the New Testament – 216 chapters in 23 of its 27 books give prominence to this primary issue: the return of Jesus to rule on earth.

“You may not believe what the Bible says, but what’s utterly astonishing is that so very many claim to believe in Jesus yet have no grasp of the idea Christ is to literally return and rule!”

I respect Chuck for frequently stressing that we shouldn’t take what he says as ‘Gospel’ but always do a ‘Berean check’ per Acts 17:11; that is, to search the scriptures to find out whether or not his ideas line up with them. Also, I admire his public apology for admitting that, having long taught about an anticipated Middle Eastern war from a certain scriptural stance, he’s gained a better understanding from other passages. So Chuck explained why he’d changed his mind.  For more information visit his website at Koinonia House.

What are we to do when mainstream news doesn’t help?  To find out click Not on The 10 o’clock News. [Since blogging this in 2011, heavily biased news has proliferated as a psychological warfare dictating news and denouncing non-MSM as disinformation with intention of governments curtailing independent journalism.]

PS: (20.3.24) From Behold Israel re post-October 7th 2023 Atrocity:

Footnote:

The following posts are just a few examples among many of subsequent eschatalogical developments since Chuck’s video:

Continue reading End-Times Briefings 

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.

End-Times Briefing 4: expert’s excitement – More are coming to know this…

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This post, one of my first blogs in November 2011, later featured on the Home page to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events two years later:

As you may have gathered from my Welcome, I’m into eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels!  It’s about  ‘The Last Days’, as in the ancient Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’, and were regarded as the years immediately following Jesus’ ministry. They’re more popularly known in Christian circles as the ‘End-times’.

Come with me to one of my favourite video classes where (the late) Dr Chuck Missler is asking his students, “Why Eschatology?” Continue reading →

4 – Structure of the Book of Revelation, and conclusion

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Continued from part 3:.

STRUCTURE OF THE REVELATION

 “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.  (Rev 1:17-19 NKJV)

  • The Present:
  • chpt 1. Vision of the Son of Man, the one ascended Lord
  • chpt 2-3. Letters to seven churches (and for all churches)
  • chpt 4-5. Vision of heaven, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb
  • The Near Future:
  • chpt 6-11. Judgments, great tribulation, martyrs and two witnesses
  • chpt 12-16. Woman, child, dragon, beast 666, antichrist, false prophet
  • chpt 17-19. Fall of Babylon, Messianic judgement of Armageddon
  • THE RETURN OF ‘THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ 
  • The Far Future:
  • chpt 20. The Millennium, Satan rebels/defeated, Judgement, lake of fire
  • chpt 21. New heaven and new earth, the Bride, the New Jerusalem
  • chpt 22. River of Life from God’s throne, Tree of Life for healing the nations.

David Pawson explains that each future period has bad news and things get much worse, but the good news is that things will get very much better afterwards. Through it all Jesus encourages his people to ‘endure’ and ‘overcome’ until He returns.

“First, Jesus tells the churches they must deal with internal problems if they are to face external pressures. Compromise in belief of behaviour, tolerance of idolatry or immorality, weaken the Church from within. (LESSON FOR TODAY!)”

For the 2nd period He shows the worst that can happen but believers will not have to go through anything worse! “And the very worst time ahead will be at most a few years”.

Then, Jesus reveals the wonders that will follow in the 3rd period when all believers will be with Him.

CONCLUSION

On a personal note, what impresses me is the comparison of this closing book with the Bible’s first book, Genesis.

Revelation promises a full restoration not only for those who believe in God, to life with Him, but also and because of that for the earth too.

The Tree of Life is a main feature in the garden of Eden, in the beginning, but through it Satan perverted Adam and Eve’s relationship with their fatherly Creator and so they lost and fell from their glory. In the end that usurper gets his just desserts, the saved return to living in the glory of God in the New Jerusalem and the Tree’s leaves bring healing to all people, as it is written.:

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21 NKJV)

This short blog can never hope to do justice to the Book of Revelation. It is an awesome subject but you may wish to meditate upon it yourself along with suitable aids such as in the links below.

Acknowledgements – thank you to:
  • David Pawson, for Unlocking the Bible and books & audio series here and here.
  • Neil MacKereth, for several in-depth courses at Winchester Vineyard church using Chuck Missler’s and David Pawson’s extensive teachings.

PS – click to read about what happened after writing the above post!

3 – Different understandings of The Book of Revelation

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Continued from part 2:

INTERPRETATIONS OF THE REVELATION 

Thus, this complex ‘end-times’ revelation can only be understood with God’s overall purpose for humanity in mind. So, it’s not surprising that scholars are divided over the Book’s meaning and predictions for the end of 1st Century and any later events it may forecast for the world and the Church.

There are five main ‘schools’ of exposition based upon interpretations of when these predictions would be fulfilled, as below:

  • Preterist  – during the first centuries AD with the decline/fall of Roman Empire
  • Historicist – all centuries between the First and Second Advent of Jesus Christ
  • Futurist – end of final century AD (held by early Church and evangelical today)
  • Dispensational – (newest) separate timescales apply to the Church and Israel
  • Symbolic – of spiritual truths, no particular time (some say its spiritual ‘myth’).

Moreover, in ‘Dealing With “Last Things” – The Rapture, Second Coming, Millennium’ my New Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible not only provides a useful summary with charts but also shows EIGHT differing scholarly viewpoints, citing The Last Days Handbook, 1990, by Robert P Lightener, viz:

  1. Saint Augustine’s Amillenial View
  2. A Second Amillennial View (BB Warfield)
  3. Pre-Millennial Pre-Tribulational View
  4. Pre-Millennial Post-Tribulational View
  5. Pre-Millennial Mid-Tribulational View
  6. Pre-Millennial Pre-Tribulational Partial Rapture View
  7. Pre-Millennial Pre-Wrath Rapture View
  8. Evangelical Post-Millenial View

We can now appreciate Hank Hanegraaff’s ‘preterist’ position that Revelation refers only to John’s days 1900 years ago and the persecutions that took place. But he fails to take the whole account into consideration because its closing chapters clearly refer to things that have not YET happened. For example, unprecedented global catastrophes, return of millions of deceased Christians alongside Jesus to overthrow Satan and rule upon earth, Satan’s final rebellion with many nations and demise in the lake of fire, the arrival of the ‘holy city’ and ‘wedding of the Lamb’!

So how are we to understand The Apocalypse? David Pawson suggests using the four main ‘schools’  in conjunction for each of the three main time periods, the present, the near future and the far future (not ignoring the switching between earth and heaven) – yet,

“..the fundamental question is not ‘when?’ but WHY?”

David answers his question:

“Not just to tell us what is going to happen but to get us ready for what is going to happen…Revelation is a ‘manual for martyrdom’…which is why this book becomes so meaningful to Christians under persecution. Maybe this is also why Western Christians in comfortable churches fail to find it relevant.”

Click to continue reading >

2 – A very brief introduction to the Book of Revelation

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Continued from part 1, which closes: ‘In fact, some believers disregard prophecy and scholars have various opinions upon this topic and when, if at all, predicted events will occur.  Also, are such things to be taken figuratively?’

The widest divergence in opinion is over the Bible’s closing book – ‘The Apocalypse’, or ‘Book of Revelation’.  In its original Greek this Book begins as follows.:

‘Apocalupsis iEsou christou…’

‘The unveiling of Jesus Christ (anointed one)’, per Scripture 4 All Greek Interlinear Bible, or as the New King James Version translates it:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants — things which must shortly take place.

[Greek: ‘what which IS-BINDING must TO-BE-BECOMING to-be-occurring IN SWIFTness’] And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1)

John is thought to have been the closest disciple of Jesus, and could thereby personally attest to Jesus’ awesome origin, as in the first of three short letters to believers:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…(1 John 1)

The Apocalypse opens by stating its purpose: an unveiling of God’s plans that He gave to Jesus Christ, for sharing through his surviving first disciple several decades after he witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from death. This account tells how John acquired this information. He became Jesus’ amanuensis in writing exactly what Jesus dictated as personal letters to seven churches in Asia as a result of His having visited them.

NOTE: verse 1’s ‘shortly’ doesn’t necessarily imply ‘soon’ but may mean that when these events that MUST occur do happen, then they will do so very rapidly!!

White Door in SkyNext, John was caught up to God’s Throne Room in heaven where he heard and saw visions about what was going to happen shortly and in the distant future when the Age will be drawn to a close with the bodily return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign upon earth. John had to be reminded to write it all down!

NB: It is the only Book in the Bible to open with a blessing for all who read it and ‘keep’, or observe, what’s written therein, and closes with a curse (of loss of inheritance in the Kingdom) for anyone who tampers with its text and changes its message. The Book of Revelation is primarily for believers, not unbelievers.

In Unlocking The Bible, David Pawson defines this genre of literature as follows:

Unlocking The Bible‘Apocalyptic’ is history written from God’s point of view.  It gives the total picture.  It enlarges our understanding of world events by seeing them in the light of what is above and beyond our limited perception.  This gives us both insight and foresight…far beyond that of the normal historian.

He also gives this snippet:

God is working out his plans and purposes within time…He is the Lord of History.  But it is his pattern, which can only be discerned when he has revealed the missing pieces of the jigsaw. (Emphasis added)

(Now where did we come across that notion before?  See Invisible Jigsaw.)

He points out that the first characteristic of the ‘apocalyptic’ genre is that it’s basically moral. Secondly, that it’s often symbolical so the unknown can be communicated in terms of what is familiar, as in analogy or parable, because it involves not only information but also imagination. 

Click to continue reading >

Prophecy and interpreting ‘The Apocalypse’ – The Book of Revelation – 1 of 4

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Published 27 June 2013 as Note on Christian Prophecy and The Apocalypse about scholars’ differences on prophetic scripture, this is now separated for ease of reading :

Digging into the difference of opinion noted in the Joel Rosenberg re-post unearthed an interesting find – one connecting into what I wrote ten weeks earlier about the origin of this blog. I’ll say more about that later.

Some readers may have queried my covering comment to Joel’s post; (it) “includes opinions of a Bible teacher who thinks its prophecies have happened“.  This merely reflects the actual content of The Blaze interviews.

As Hank Hanegraaff’s online radio show is called ‘Bible Answer Man’, my remark may seem to question that title. Those reading the linked article would note journalist Billy Holloway’s statement that Hanegraaff has “a wildly different take on the matter” to that of Rosenberg for he, “rejected the notion that Revelation and other alleged prophecies apply to today’s world”.

How come? Aren’t both men Christians? A little elucidation is called for…

Doubtless both men meet the basic criterion for a born-again believer, as in the Spirit-inspired instruction of the apostles Paul and John:

…9 if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Chapter 10 of Paul’s letter to the Romans; New International Version)

16 For God so loved the world (that’s you, my reader) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Chpt 3 of the Gospel according to John; NIV)

So, to have faith in Christ it isn’t absolutely necessary to believe everything in the Bible. In fact, some believers disregard prophecy and scholars have various opinions upon this topic and when, if at all, predicted events will occur.  Also, are such things to be taken figuratively?

Click to continue reading > 

Precedence of Prophecy and Theology of Politics (GPS 91.1)

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HABAKKUK 2 (NKJV BibleGateway.com)

I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

By courtesy of James Mark Long

Continue reading →

Few people knew about this…but many more know now!

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This, one of my first blogs and posted on 22nd November 2011, was later included on home page’s About menu to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events added two years later:

NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS

As you may have gathered from my Welcome, with my dear Nina’s patience my time  is spent writing on prophecy and Richard’s Watch began with a brief examination of eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels!  You may know it as ‘The Last Days’ or, more popularly, as ‘End-Times’. The origin of this term is in the ancient Hebrew Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’.

Let me take you for a very brief visit into one of my favourite classes where Dr Chuck Missler (who’s since passed into heaven) asks his students, “Why Eschatology?” Continue reading →

End-Times Briefing 5: expert’s excitement – few know this…

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This post, one of my first blogs in November 2011, later featured on the Home page to inform visitors of the acceleration of prophetic fulfillment, as may be inferred from the links to confirmatory events two years later:

As you may have gathered from my Welcome, I’m into eschatology – the theological study of the destiny and judgement of nations and all people, even angels!  It’s about  ‘The Last Days’, as in the ancient Torah’s description: Acharit Hayamin, ie. ‘Last of the Years’, and were regarded as the years immediately following Jesus’ ministry.  Nowadays, they’re also known as the ‘End-times’.

So let me take you for a very brief visit into one of my favourite video classes where (the late) Dr Chuck Missler is asking his students, “Why Eschatology?”

“It is very practical”, he answers himself and explains:

“Apparently, we’re being plunged into a period of time about which the Holy Bible says more than any other period – including the time when Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee!

“Now that’s a preposterous statement – and I challenge you to challenge my statement! To do so you need to do two things:

1  Find out what the Bible itself says about this and – this is a bit harder,

2  Find out what’s really going on – but you won’t get that on the ten o’clock news!

“Fortunately, thanks to the internet, the alternative press and to talk-radio you can do some homework and find out what really is going on. The more you do those two things the more you’ll understand why many scholars are extremely excited about the horizon we’re moving into – because it all deals with the return of Christ to rule earth.

“It really is remarkable how controversial this topic is, but there are:

  • over 1800 references in the Old Testament to this event – 17 Old Testament books give prominence to the event.
  • over 300 references in the New Testament – 216 chapters in 23 of its 27 books give prominence to this primary issue: the return of Jesus to rule on earth.

“You may not believe what the Bible says, but what’s utterly astonishing is that so very many claim to believe in Jesus yet have no grasp of the idea Christ is to literally return and rule!”

I respect Chuck for frequently stressing that we shouldn’t take what he says as ‘Gospel’ but always do a ‘Berean check’ per Acts 17:11; that is, to search the scriptures to find out whether or not his ideas line up with them. Also, I admire his public apology for admitting that, having long taught about an anticipated Middle Eastern war from a certain scriptural stance, he’s gained a better understanding from other passages. So Chuck explained why he’d changed his mind.  For more information visit his website at Koinonia House.

What are we to do when mainstream news doesn’t help?  To find out click Not on The 10 o’clock News. [More non-fake news sites have arisen since blogging this in 2011.]

Footnote

The following posts are just a few examples among many of subsequent eschatalogical developments:

End-Time Briefings:
  1. The ‘Who?’ and ‘Why?’ of Watching
  2. The ‘When?’ of Watching > NOW!
  3. The ‘What?’ of Watching > Signs!
  4. Theologically “Watch” means…
  5. Expert’s Excitement – Few Know This…
  6. Pastor’s ‘Sign in the Sun’ Vision Warns of Coming Global Cataclysm
  7. New Ager Sees First Pieces of God’s ‘Jigsaw
  8. Daniel and ‘The Wonderful Number’ Jesus Christ

HE IS RISEN! – Time and Quantum effects in Jesus’ Resurrection

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First published in the early years of this blog and repeated annually:

In preparation for the Holy-days’ weekend Nina creates a tableau for contemplating Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. She’s inspired about what items to collect and arrange, usually including a rock with a central hole eroded by the sea and which we found on a beach. It serves as both the ‘skull’ and garden tomb of Golgotha. For example, the above display has a scarf as a ‘river of life’ flowing out of the empty cave/tomb below the cross. (In 2012 it gave an insight that I’ll share below.)

Maundy Thursday is celebrated as the night when Jesus and the lead-disciples ate an early Passover Seder, or meal (see video explanation). Following the meal, one disciple betrayed Him by leading Temple guards to capture Him at night for trial by a ‘kangaroo’ court of Jewish leaders.  It was a foregone conclusion that they’d demand authorisation of His death from Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect, or governor, of Judea.

If you’re unfamiliar with this true story and how it led to Jesus’ gruesome torture, death and burial followed by his amazing bodily resurrection and appearance to His disciples, read doctor Luke’s investigative account and the personal account of Jesus’ closest disciple John. (Later, a Jewish leader violently opposed to them but who encountered Jesus en-route to Damascus would write He was seen simultaneously by over 500 – read 1 Corinthians 15:6)

HEAVEN & HUMAN HISTORIES’ PIVOTAL TIME Continue reading →

Dogmatic dog-collar’s false teaching re Covid-19 – Yinka Oyekan

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Further to the closure of my footnote in the previous post, here’s the dream Revd Yinka Oyekan, senior pastor of The Gate in Reading and president-elect of the Baptist Union, posted on his Facebook last Monday, and which confirmed my opinion of the pompous claims against recognised prophets as appended to my recent blog:

‘I had an interesting dream last night, I saw a minister in a dog-collar teaching people that this COVID19 was a judgement on the nation and using Jesus’ Name. The Lord’s anger flared at the suggestion and He woke me up to pray…

‘So this morning I read the scriptures again that revealed God’s intent for humanity. Jesus healed everyone who came to him and had compassion on the poor and sick, this he said to me is my heart to help the oppressed, to help the poor and to help the weak.

‘My advice – please don’t get sucked in by words which call this Covid 19 a judgement – God loves humanity and wants to protect it.’