GospelNotes.life

Author: Adam

  • Rapture on April 22 and April 23

    How the rapture is on April 23, 2026 Israel time:

    If you don’t know what the rapture is, please see note (opens in a new window): The Rapture

    The true counting of Hebrew months:

    The true start of Hebrew months go by the first sighting of the sliver of the new moon (the modern Hebrew calendar doesn’t do it this way). Hebrew days go from sunset to sunset, rather than midnight to midnight.

    Israel’s Birthday:

    Israel’s birthday was on May 14, 1948, which was the second Hebrew month and day of Iyar 5. This year in 2026, Iyar 5 on the true Hebrew calendar that goes by the first sighting of the sliver of the new moon is from sunset April 22 to sunset April 23.

    5th Day of 2nd Month rapture encryption:

    Iyar 5 is the 5th day of the 2nd Hebrew month. (Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”) This is a massive encryption: There were many signs amongst many people over many years too numerous to list that all pointed to the rapture on Purim, that pointed to modern Hebrew calendar resurrection day, that pointed to moon sliver sighting Hebrew calendar true resurrection day, that ultimately pointed to resurrection day on the Aries-sun calendar (which was used in Jesus’ day) – which is Gregorian May 5, 2026. May 5 is during the 2nd Hebrew Month of Iyar, and mix in the Gregorian day of “5”, and you have a Hebrew-Gregorian encryption for “Iyar 5”. The final encryption is Iyar 5 on the correct Hebrew calendar, which is the moon sliver sighting calendar, which is sunset April 22 to sunset April 23. On this calendar, the first Hebrew month of Nisan began in the evening of March 20, 2026 when the new moon was spotted in Israel. The second month of Iyar began in the evening of April 18, 2026 when the new moon was spotted in Israel, making sunset April 22 the beginning of Iyar 5.

    Purim:

    1. The rapture typology: Blood moons are prophetic signs to Israel of judgement. From 2024-2026, there were three consecutive blood moons on Purim. God was telling us through this Purim blood moon triad that judgement (with the rapture and Tribulation) would begin on Purim. And Purim truly does land on Resurrection Day April 4, 2026 as well (which is Nisan 17 Resurrection Day on the modern Hebrew calendar the Jews go by). Here’s how: In Antiquities of the Jews (Book 3, Chapter 10), the 1st-century (Jesus’ day) historian Flavius Josephus states that the Jewish month of Nisan (which he refers to by the Macedonian name Xanthicus) begins when the sun is in the sign (constellation) of Aries. So, when the sun was in Aries and the first sighting of the sliver of the new moon was spotted, that was the first day of Nisan back in Jesus’ day. Using that concept today, that makes the first month of Nisan 1, 2025 at sunset on April 29, 2025. Purim and Shushan Purim are on the 14th and 15th day of the 12th Hebrew month of Adar. So, by the Aries-sun calendar, if the first Hebrew month of Nisan started on April 29, 2025, that means the 12th month of Adar begins on the first sliver of the new moon on the evening of March 20, 2026. The 14th day is sunset April 2 to sunset April 3, which would be Purim, and April 4 would be Shushan Purim. So, the Purim blood moon triad points to judgement and Tribulation beginning on Nisan 17 Resurrection Day. The encryption is that you have to look at the correct Resurrection Day on the correct moon sliver sighting calendar, in which the April 4 Resurrection Day (per the modern Jewish Hebrew calendar) points to Resurrection Day May 5 on the Aries-sun Hebrew calendar, which translates to Iyar 5 (see above), which points to April 23 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar.

    Joel 2:31 eclipses before the rapture:

    The prophecy of Joel 2:31 tells us that before the rapture, there will be a solar eclipse, and then a lunar eclipse. The prophecy: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD (the rapture and Tribulation).” On February 17 there was an annular “wedding ring” solar eclipse (hinting at the soon wedding of Jesus to His church at the rapture), and then on March 3 there was a blood moon on Purim (the final Purim blood moon in a triad of Purim blood moons from 2024-2026). The annular solar eclipse is also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse, which is also a term used in giving birth, which correlates to Revelation 12:1-2,5 describing the rapture as the birth of the man child that is caught up (raptured) to heaven.

    Hosea 6:2 Prophecy – “After two days (2,000 years) He will revive us; On the third day (2,001st year) He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.” This verse tells us that Christ will return for the Jews after 2,000 years from His first coming. Christ was resurrected on April 6, 33 AD to start this 2,000 years, and will return and finally destroy the antichrist, officially putting an end to the 2,000 years in 2033.

    A few of the actual encounters, experiences, words, dreams and visions pointing to Resurrection Day, which ultimately points to Israel’s birthday on April 23:

    Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

    Joshua:

    A dear brother in Christ named Joshua was visited by the Lord in person back in 2018 and was told that he would be the one to announce the Lord’s coming at the rapture to the world, and that the rapture would be on Feast of Trumpets, September 23 or 24, 2025. This announcement took the rapture watching world by storm, and even those outside were made aware via secular media that picked it up and mocked it. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people of every age and gender from all over the world received many amazing experiences/dreams/visions confirming Joshua’s testimony (many of whom were doubting Joshua’s testimony and seeking confirmation from the Lord – and received it!), including angels marking the date on a calendar. A most dear brother in Christ named Michael (who is mighty in the gospel of Christ), who was deeply saddened when this day had passed, was made by the Lord a type of “signet ring” for Himself – like Zerubbabel – to help Joshua convict the world of his message by proving some math about Joshua’s dates that he had been given from the Lord, as well as testing and proving Joshua as a true man of God with the gospel. While it didn’t happen on this date, it was given to fulfill two prophecies concerning the rapture that it would “tarry” or be “delayed”:

    1. Habakkuk 2:3 – “For the vision [of the rapture] is yet for an appointed time (a Jewish feast); 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.”
    2. Jesus told us a parable of how His coming at the rapture would be in Matthew 25:1-13, and that there would be a “tarry” or “delay”. Verses 1-5: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”

    After this date of September 24, 2025 had passed, Joshua inquired of the Lord why it passed, and on October 13, 2025, the Lord visited him in a dream that night saying, “The 14/15 will pass(over), and on the 16/17 will be the rapture of the church.” Nisan 14 and 15 are Passover and the day of the exodus, and Nisan 17 is Resurrection Day. Christ was resurrected on Nisan 17 between 12 am and 6 am, which would have been Nisan 16/17 anywhere in the world. Also, the Omer count truly does begin on the day after the first weekly sabbath – not the day after Passover. Christ was resurrected on Firstfruits (fulfilling it) – the day after the weekly sabbath on April 6, 33 AD (yes, this was a Monday – not a Sunday – as Satan has once again messed with the calendars centuries after Christ’s resurrection to obscure the true timing of future events. In this particular case, it was with the beginning of the week – Satan getting the world to think and say it’s sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday, instead of the true sunset Sunday to sunset Monday). The dates of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection happen to match with 2026 (no coincidence), making the start of the Omer count on April 6, 2026. A few years ago, a dear sister in Christ named Kim received from the Lord, “Firstfruits, Omer count” 3 times. This was confirming that during Jesus’ crucifixion, as well as in 2026 (since the days line up this year) that the Omer count begins on Firstfruits. Joshua’s “16/17 will be the rapture of the church” has dual meaning: the first being Nisan 16/17; and for the second: a dear brother in Christ named John noticed that Joshua’s 16/17 also means the 16/17th day of the Omer count, which is April 21/22, which is Iyar 4/5 rapture day on the modern Hebrew calendar the Jews go by. The encryption is that it points to Iyar 4/5 on the correct Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar which is April 22/23. Also in 2018, Joshua was told that there would be no World Cup in 2026 as the world would be “unrecognizable”, and that the rapture would happen while Israel is 77 years old as of her birth on May 14, 1948 – and on the Gregorian calendar, on April 23, 2026, Israel will still be 77 years old.

    How does all this point to the rapture on April 23, 2026 Iyar 5?: First, Feast of Trumpets is the 1st day of the 7th Hebrew month of Tishri (7/1). From Joshua’s first date of Feast of Trumpets September 23, 2025, adding 7 months and 1 day (7/1) brings you to April 23, 2026 inclusively. Next, by telling Joshua the rapture would be on Nisan 16/17, He was simply saying that it would be on “Resurrection Day” specifically on the Aries-sun calendar which is May 5, which translates to Iyar 5 (see beginning of note), which points to Hebrew Iyar 5 on the moon sliver sighting calendar, which is April 23.

    Holly:

    A dear sister in Christ named Holly, well over a decade ago before she was even saved, received a dream/vision from the Lord of “April 6”. Resurrection Day 2026 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar was April 6. Later after becoming saved, she received a dream from the Lord during Easter (Resurrection Day) back in 2019 where Jesus was solving what looked like a Rubik’s cube and He said, “Time is off by 4, 5, 6” and was told at that time that “an egg was a clue”. God’s wisdom is manifold, meaning one thing has many layers of wisdom to it, such as this dream:

    1. The egg being a clue was meaning an “Easter egg”, where Easter is the celebration of Resurrection Day. So the egg = Resurrection Day, specifically 2026.
    2. The first meaning is simply 4/5-6 (April 5-6). 4/5-6 is Nisan 16/17 Resurrection Day on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar. April 5 is Easter which is the celebration of Resurrection Day. It was pointing to true Resurrection Day April 6, which in turn is pointing to the final Resurrection Day on the Aries-sun calendar on May 5.
    3. For the second meaning, a dear sister in Christ named Kate prayed for the interpretation of the dream and received this: from Joshua’s original rapture date of Feast of Trumpets, September 23, 2025, there will be 4 months, 5 weeks and 6 days to the rapture. That date lands on March 4, 2026, which is Shushan Purim. But as stated in the section above about the Purim eclipses, we have to find Shushan Purim on the correct calendar: Shushan Purim on the Hebrew calendar the Jews go by (March 4) points to Shushan Purim on the Aries-sun calendar used in Jesus’ day (April 4), which is Resurrection Day on the Hebrew calendar the Jews go by, which points to Resurrection Day on the Aries-sun calendar that lands on May 5, 2026, which translates to Iyar 5, which points to Iyar 5 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar, which is April 23. Now that’s an encryption!

    About a week or less before Easter and Resurrection Day on April 5-6, 2026, Holly received these three things in a flash vision in the middle of the night: Liturgy, Twin, Egg. All three of these things have to do with Resurrection Day (which ultimately point to Iyar 5 – April 23):

    1. Liturgy – Resurrection Day is the most important day of liturgy in the year.
    2. Twin – The apostle Thomas is known as “the twin”, and is the one who doubted the “Resurrection” of Christ until He saw Him face to face.
    3. Egg – The egg meaning an “Easter egg”, where Easter is the celebration of Resurrection Day. So the egg = Resurrection Day.

    F.Emmanuel:

    Back in October, 2025 when the watchmen community was looking at all the different calendars for Joshua’s September 23/24 dates after Gregorian September 23/24 had passed, a brother in Christ named F.Emmanuel.G was putting together a calendar, and as he was receiving it and documenting it, he felt the Holy Spirit all over his entire body, like fire, but not painfully, and this was in his calendar to begin the year 2026, which aligns with the Aries-sun calendar, which would be the calendar all of these Resurrection Day signs point to:

    2026

    1st month: April 18 – 1st day of the month | May 1 – 14th | May 17 – 30th (30 days)

    Kate:

    (This is the Kate who prayed for the interpretation of Holly’s 4-5-6 dream above) Kate lives in the United States and received a Nisan 16 rapture sign (where if the rapture were Nisan 17 Resurrection Day early a.m. Israel time, it would probably be Nisan 16 in the USA). April 18 was Nisan 17 Resurrection Day on the Creator’s Calendar, where the months begin on the full moon instead of the first sliver of the new moon. A few weeks before April 18, an unknown word to Kate called “chantilly” kept popping into her head from the Lord. She looked up the meaning and it’s a vanilla cream used in cakes. She didn’t think much of it at the time and eventually forgot about the word. Then on April 17 (Nisan 16 on the Creator’s Calendar) she was baking a cake for her young daughter Gwen’s upcoming birthday and was making chantilly for it, and completely forgot about her previous experience until the word popped into her head again from the Lord as she was making it. She forgot the meaning so she looked it up again and sure enough it was what she was making that day. The Nisan 16/17 USA/Israel time zone connection points to Nisan 16/17 on the Aries-sun calendar (May 5) which translates to Iyar 5, which points to April 22-23 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar. Not only this, but her daughter’s birthday is April 22 (the one she was making the chantilly for), which should be the day of the rapture in the USA.

    Kate also received a vivid dream on the night of August 23-24, 2025 that was a confirmation to Joshua’s September 23, 2025 rapture prophecy, as well as how the Hebrew months begin at the sighting of the first sliver of the crescent moon: her dream started with her telling her Aunt Sheryl about the rapture. Then she went to the woods and the woods were very brown and there was an owl close to her in the tree (Why an owl? Kate prays that she sees an owl – one of her favorite animals – within 24 hours of the rapture as a sign). She knew it was her rapture owl. She had a book in her hands and looked up in the book what kind of owl it was. It said it was a “crescent owl”. When she woke up, it was the middle of the night and she grabbed her phone and looked up “crescent owl” and there is no such thing. So then she looked up when the next crescent moon was and it was that day, and then next one was September 23, 2025.

    Kate also received a vision that points to an April 22, 2026 rapture USA time as well: a while back Kate received a vision where she saw one of those toy sticky hands. She didn’t understand what it meant until on April 21, 2026 around 7-8 pm Eastern time, her daughter Gwen was opening one of her birthday presents early and it was a red sticky hand. Gwen’s birthday is April 22, and this vision clearly points to an April 22, 2026 rapture as the sticky hand was for Gwen’s birthday.

    John:

    (This is the same John with the 17th day of the Omer count in Joshua’s section above) The Lord worked through this John to bring to my attention this rapture date in the first place. John had a dream where there were a whole bunch of Christians that were eating in a restaurant that was very fancy. The floor was thick, clear crystal tiles with designs underneath. The restaurant had multiple levels where you could walk up and down and sit anywhere. It had trees and nature and foliage inside and outside the restaurant. It could only have been a place in Heaven so he was taking it – this was the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at the rapture. All of the colors were Purim and Easter (Resurrection Day) colors: purple, yellow, green.

    Kim:

    (This is the same Kim who received the message from the Lord about Firstfruits and Omer count above) A few years ago, a dear sister in Christ named Kim received a word from the Lord: “Susa”. (See the Purim section at the beginning of this note) Susa relates to Shushan (for Shushan Purim), as Susa is the city which was historically Shushan in bible times. How does Shushan Purim point to April 23?: Shushan Purim 2026 (March 4) points to Shushan Purim on the Aries-sun calendar (April 4), which is Resurrection Day on the modern Hebrew calendar the Jews go by, which points to Resurrection Day on the Aries-sun calendar (May 5), which translates to Iyar 5, which points to Iyar 5 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar (April 23).

    Kim and her dear young son Skylar also received a couple things regarding the number 19:

    1. On a phone video recording of her young son, there was a voice from the Lord recorded on the video saying, “19 heart. 19. 19 hurt.” (Presumably something with the number 19 has to do with the joy of Christ receiving His bride at the rapture [heart], and the pain of having to pour out judgement on the unbelieving world to start the Tribulation [hurt])
    2. Then she received a dream from the Lord where she saw Trump saying, “15, 16, 17, 18, [then yelled] 19!” (This dream has many layers of meaning, as we’ve noticed that Trump has done many prophetically significant things on a day that has to do with 19 over the past few years – some even with a count starting at day 15)

    What does 19 have to do with an Iyar 5, April 23 rapture?: Since the Omer count begins on the first day after the weekly sabbath, on the modern Hebrew moon sliver calendar the Jews go by, that would be April 5 (Easter Resurrection Day), making the day of the rapture April 23 (Iyar 5 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar) the “19th” day of the Omer count.

    Daniel

    A dear brother in Christ named Daniel, who has been diligently watching for the rapture since Joshua’s September 23/24, 2025 dates, who takes such a beating from the “wolves” (the mockers and scoffers) unlike any I have ever seen, yet he remains faithful to the prophecies that Joshua was given, and is very bold to declare and share each high watch he comes across despite the beatings he takes every time, is also looking at and declaring the rapture on Iyar 5 – a date that only a few watchmen (out of the tens of thousands) are looking at. Jesus says He will come as a thief in the night.

    Me:

    I’ve personally received over 50 confirmations of a Passover (specifically Resurrection Day) and Purim (specifically Shushan Purim) rapture within the following calendars: Modern Hebrew calendar, Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar, Aries-sun calendar and the Essene calendar, all pointing to the year 2026.

    Godly nations are “born” on Iyar 5 – The Revelation 12 Sign:

    Revelation 12:1-2 — “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman (the constellation Virgo) clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland (crown) of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” This once ever sign appeared on September 23, 2017 in the constellation Virgo (the woman) with the sun at her shoulder, the moon under her feet, the stars of the constellation Leo (along with the planets Mercury, Mars and Venus) forming a crown of 12 stars on her head, and Jupiter (the male child) having been in Virgo’s womb in retrograde for a literal term of a pregnancy on September 23, 2017.

    Godly nations are born on Iyar 5. Revelation 12:5 — “She (the woman) bore a male Child (the church) who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up (raptured) to God and His throne.” There’s the Jewish nation of Israel, and there is the gentile nation of the church. Israel and the church are birthed on Iyar 5. The Revelation 12 rapture sign with the male child (the church) being “born” (raptured) was pointing to the day of “births”, which is Iyar 5: Iyar 5, 1948 (May 14, 1948) on the modern Hebrew calendar was when the nation of Israel was reborn. Iyar 5, 2026 (April 23, 2026) on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar is when the (predominantly) gentile nation of the church will be born/raptured.

    So the September 23, 2017 Revelation 12 Sign was pointing to the rapture on the day of godly national births – Iyar 5.

    Joshua’s announcement of the rapture on Feast of Trumpets, September 23, 2025 was pointing to Iyar 5.

    Feast of Trumpets 2025 was the 8th year anniversary of the Revelation 12 Sign. A male child (Revelation 12 – the church) is circumcised on the eight day. Circumcision is the removal of the flesh, and 8 years and “7” months (a year as a day) after the Revelation 12 Sign the church will be physically “circumcised” and removed from their fleshly bodies. 8 = new beginnings. 7 = completion/perfection.

    Flood/Tribulation Day:

    May 5, 2026 is also the 17th day of the 2nd month on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar – the anniversary of Noah’s Flood. Noah’s flood that destroyed the world with water is known as the first flood. The Tribulation is known as the “second flood” on the earth. May 5 “Flood/Tribulation day” translates to Iyar 5, which points to April 23 on the Hebrew moon sliver sighting calendar.

    Download the Left Behind notes to share with friends and family:

    Left Behind Epistle_2026-04-22Download

    Further reading (opens in a new window):

    Interested in going in the rapture?

    Or were you left behind after the rapture and want to be saved now? Simply believe the gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and you will be saved: that Christ (1) died to pay for all our sins, (2) was buried and (3) rose again the third day. It is by faith alone, not by works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9. The nanosecond you believe that gospel, you are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of your eternal life – Ephesians 1:13-14. It truly is that simple. That’s why it’s called “the good news”. Just don’t take the mark of the beast or worship the image of the beast. For more details on salvation, see our homepage: https://gospelnotes.life

    A dear friend and sister in Christ named Kate: I was commissioned to do a different painting in the summer of 2023. When I finished it I said to myself, that may be my last painting, (I was expecting the rapture that Feast of Trumpets). After I said that I had massive whole body Holy Spirit chills. And I said out loud “not my last painting?” And it happened again very noticeably. Right then I knew what I supposed to paint. The prior years I had been fixated on painting fire, I have a natural ability to do portraits, and I recently have fallen in love with painting clouds, so I felt the Lord had prepared me my entire life to paint this exact painting that showcased all of these elements. As I painted I have never felt closer to the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit. I cried so much of the time I was painting and it came together so quickly. I felt like the Lord was painting it through my hand. I knew I needed lightning to show how fast the rapture will happen even though I don’t assume this is how it will literally look. I knew I wanted a city on fire to show how this is a rescue from tribulation. I knew I wanted our Lord’s face to be calm and welcoming. I wanted to remind the audience of His sacrifice on the cross with the wound in His hand. I wanted Him to be the light source in the darkness. I unintentionally painted 8 people being raptured. Now I think that was a sign pointing at 8 years from the revelation 12 sign.

  • Millions just disappeared. Where did everyone go? The Rapture

    Millions of people from all over the world suddenly disappeared from the earth. This is no hoax, it’s biblically called, The Rapture – where Jesus snatched his believers (true Christians who have faith in Christ ALONE and not in any way offer their own works such as doing good things or being a “good person” [there will be many left behind that say they are Christian, but they do not trust in Christ alone – they feel their works have merit]) away from earth in order not to go through the wrath that God is about to pour out onto the earth – a 7 year period known in the last book of the Bible’s New Testament (the book of Revelation) as the Tribulation. Young children, babies and mentally handicapped people that cannot understand salvation may also be raptured. The rapture is prophesied in the bible in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

    So, first off, don’t believe any of the lies the media is telling you: aliens, CERN, large hadron collider, the government, etc. The bible prophesied that there would be a great lie to explain away the rapture in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10, especially verse 10.

    It’s going to be the worst time the world has ever seen – worse than the Holocaust – worse than the flood in Noah’s day – with the rise of a global leader supposedly bringing “peace and security”, known as, the antichrist to Christians. You don’t have much time. The chaos around the world will undoubtedly reach your doorstep in a matter of days: looting, murders, rape, arson, all sorts of evil. So it’s very important that you do the following things immediately:

    You can see me again, and can live for eternity with me in Heaven and the new earth if you carefully listen me:

    1. You need to know, understand, and most importantly, BELIEVE the very simple Gospel message. This is how to become saved. It’s VERY simple: Jesus is God and was/is the Jewish messiah. (1) He came to earth the first time 2,000 years ago to die on the cross to pay for all your sins and the sins of the world – both Jews AND gentiles (non-Jews). (2) He was buried. (3) on the 3rd day God the Father resurrected Him from the dead – defeating sin and death and for your justification. Believe that, and you will be saved. It’s that simple. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that [1] Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that [2] He was buried, and that [3] He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures”.
    2. In the book of Revelation (the last book in the New Testament Bible), there will be 2 men that rise to power – one rises to ultimate power (called the antichrist who will, “strengthen a deal with the many [nations] for seven years.” This is the Gaza Board of Peace deal), and the False Prophet (who will cause many to worship the antichrist and his image). The false prophet will make EVERYONE get a mark (possibly a chip implant) on either their forehead or right hand in order to buy or sell anything. This is called the “mark of the beast.” The False Prophet will also have set up an “image of the beast” for people to worship – an image of the antichrist. This could possibly be some sort of AI thing. LISTEN: GOD SAYS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THAT ANYONE WHO WORSHIPS THE ANTICHRIST OR HIS IMAGE, OR TAKES HIS MARK WILL NEVER SEE HEAVEN, AND WILL GO TO HELL. So, under whatever circumstance – even to death – do NOT take the mark or worship/use the antichrist or his image. This may mean losing your home and all your possessions that you can’t pay for and not being able to buy food and drink. But some temporary suffering is a lot better than eternal suffering in the lake of fire and brimstone where the worm eats and never dies.
    3. (Reading the bible isn’t a requirement to be saved. Believing the gospel above is how to be saved) Start reading the New Testament! Start with the book of John (the 4th book). This is Jesus’ Gospel (Jesus saying a bunch of times, “Believe in Me alone and you shall be saved”). Then read Romans (the 6th book). This also goes in depth of how to become justified by God through faith in Christ (it may go a little over your head at first). Then read Galatians. This book talks a lot about justification by faith alone – not by works. Then read Ephesians, which talks about who you are in Christ – your identity as a child of God. Read the New Testament. But again: reading the bible isn’t a requirement to be saved. Believing the gospel above is how to be saved.
    4. This isn’t really a step – more motivation. After the 7 year horrible Tribulation period, Jesus will come back with all of his believers and will restore order and set up his new kingdom here on earth for 1,000 years (known as the Millennial Kingdom) and rule the world Himself. After that He will make a new heaven and a new earth and we will live there for eternity. This is where there is no more evil, the wolf will lie down with the lamb, there will be no more suffering, the child will put his hand in the snake’s den and not get bit, the lion will eat the grass of the plains, and everything will be just right. Be here. With me.

    Learn what the true biblical definition of “repentance” is. It’s usually defined today as, “turning from sin, not sinning, reforming one’s life, etc.”, but that is NOT what it means! The word repent comes from the Greek word “metanoia”. The true biblical definition is: “To change one’s mind.” As in, simply, change your mind about who Christ is and about needing Him as your savior as you are a sinner (like the rest of us). You MUST read the bible through the lens of the true definition of repentance AND the simple Gospel message of faith alone for salvation – no works or “being a good person”. If you read the bible through the lens of “working your way to heaven” by being “good” or “doing good things” or by “turning from your sins” in order to be saved, you’ll never see it for its truth. This is where most people that say they’re Christian err. Thus they think you have to have some sort of faith plus works to be saved – when indeed it is simply by faith in Christ alone. So whenever you see the word “repent” in the bible, just change it to “believe.”

    Also, know these other truths:

    What are “the works” God requires?

    John 6:28-29 — Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

    Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

    What is “the will” of God?

    John 6:40 — For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

    What is “the command” of God?

    1 John 3:23 — And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

    Who is it that “overcomes the world”?

    1 John 5:5 — Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

    Who are “the righteous”?

    Romans 1:17 — For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

    What is “the obedience” of God?

    Romans 16:26 — but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith

    What is “grace”?

    Kindness we don’t deserve. God’s unmerited favor. As in: God’s kindness to give us the free gift of salvation and eternal life to all who simply believe the gospel, even though we’re undeserving because we’re sinners.

    Extremely Important: Don’t go searching for more answers on the internet as pretty much 99.99% of articles online are false, legalistic, Calvinist, false articles that will lead you to hell. That’s why so many fake “christians” are left behind, because of these false teachings all over the place.

    Other things to know:

    Do NOT get mixed up with Catholicism or Christian cults that say you have to work your way to heaven by any other means (such as having to turn from your sins or do good deeds) than just having faith – and in your case since you’re in the Tribulation, not taking the mark required by the antichrist to buy and sell or worshiping him or his image.

    The book of Revelation says that the antichrist will put to death pretty much all Christians during the Tribulation, so you have to face the very real fact that you might have to die for your newfound faith. But don’t worry, it will take less than a second and you’ll be with Jesus for all eternity – where there is never any pain, suffering, sadness, depression, anxiety, stress, fear, nervousness, panic, evil or tears. Only infinite love, joy, peace, comfort, kindness and righteousness.

    Humble yourself before God and realize that you’re a sinner just like the rest of us, incapable of saving yourself, and needing Jesus your Savior. Put your pride aside and accept Jesus – your only Lord and Savior. See you on the other side.

    Download this left behind note to share with friends and family:

    Left Behind Epistle_2026-04-22Download

    Further reading:

    A dear friend and sister in Christ named Kate: I was commissioned to do a different painting in the summer of 2023. When I finished it I said to myself, that may be my last painting, (I was expecting the rapture that Feast of Trumpets). After I said that I had massive whole body Holy Spirit chills. And I said out loud “not my last painting?” And it happened again very noticeably. Right then I knew what I supposed to paint. The prior years I had been fixated on painting fire, I have a natural ability to do portraits, and I recently have fallen in love with painting clouds, so I felt the Lord had prepared me my entire life to paint this exact painting that showcased all of these elements. As I painted I have never felt closer to the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit. I cried so much of the time I was painting and it came together so quickly. I felt like the Lord was painting it through my hand. I knew I needed lightning to show how fast the rapture will happen even though I don’t assume this is how it will literally look. I knew I wanted a city on fire to show how this is a rescue from tribulation. I knew I wanted our Lord’s face to be calm and welcoming. I wanted to remind the audience of His sacrifice on the cross with the wound in His hand. I wanted Him to be the light source in the darkness. I unintentionally painted 8 people being raptured. Now I think that was a sign pointing at 8 years from the revelation 12 sign.

  • Antichrist and false prophet

    Antichrist = Donald Trump

    False Prophet = Elon Musk

    Antichrist Donald Trump:

    1. A big, blasphemous mouth: Revelation 13:5 — “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”
    2. A Liar: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 — “The coming of the lawless one (antichrist Trump) is according to the working of Satan, with all power (of the presidency?), signs (Assassination attempts? The Strong’s 4592 Greek word for “signs” here says it means false teachers/prophets deceiving others and saying a person (Trump) is a man from God), and lying wonders (everything he speaks is a lie), and with all unrighteous deception (how many are deceived by this man, especially in Israel?) among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
    3. Prideful: Will exalt himself over all that is called God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 — “who opposes and exalts himself (Trump) above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God (the third Jewish temple that he will build them), showing himself that he is God.”
    4. Was an American president, is currently not, and is scheduled to be again: Revelation 17:9 — “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains (Washington DC is known as the city that sits on seven hills) on which the woman (the U.S.) sits.”
    5. Received a mortal head wound that was healed: Revelation 13:3 — “And I saw one of his heads (this head is symbolic of the antichrist Trump) as if it had been mortally wounded (1st assassination attempt), and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”
    6. No one can “make war” with Trump: No one can win against him. He gets away with everything. Revelation 13:4 — “So they worshiped the dragon (Satan. They don’t even know they’re doing it) who gave authority to the beast (antichrist Trump); and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
    7. He’s worshipped as a god: 2 Thessalonians 2:4 — who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God (after the 3rd temple in Israel is built), showing himself that he is God.
    8. He’s deceived the elect of God: Christ’s two people: the Jews in Israel and christians (real and fake alike) both look at him as a savior of some sort – whether it be of America in general or literally to Israel: their messiah. Matthew 24:24 — For false christs (false saviors: Trump) and false prophets (Elon Musk) will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (the people of God: the christians and the Jews in Israel). Mark 13:22 — For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

    ———

    The number of the beast (the antichrist) – 666:

    Revelation 13:18 — “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

    Donald John Trump in Hebrew is  דונלד ג’ון טראמפ. In standard Hebrew 3-cipher gematria, that’s:

    Hebrew standard = 483

    Hebrew ordinal = 123

    Hebrew reduction = 60

    60 + 123 + 483 = 666

    ‘Donald John Trump’ literally equals 666 in Hebrew gematria, fulfilling Revelation 13:18.

    Donald Trump was the 45th president, born at exactly 45% of the year and 45.45% of the century. What does the number 45 have to do with 666?

    45 / 3 = 15, so that’s three fifteens:

    15 15 15

    ..which reduces to 666 (1+5=6)

    ———

    The following prophecy about the beast (the antichrist) was fulfilled on Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025:

    Revelation 17:8-11

    The beast (the antichrist) that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was (president), and is not (president), and yet is (president). “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (Washington D.C. where the U.S. president rules from is known as the city that sits on seven hills). There are also seven kings (the most recent U.S. presidents). Five have fallen (can’t hold office anymore due to death or term limit), one is (Biden), and the other has not yet come (Trump’s 2nd term). And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was (president), and is not (president), is himself also the eighth [president after Biden], and is of the seven (because he was also the 6th president during his first term), and is going to perdition:

    It’s also amazing to note based on the above graphic of the “7 kings (presidents)”, that the 1st one being Ronald Reagan starts right after Jimmy Carter, who died at 100 years old when Trump was president-elect the second time: right in the middle of when Trump was elected again for a second term on November 5, 2025 and his actual inauguration on January 20, 2025. That’s a sign from God Himself.

    This was fulfilled on Trump’s inauguration on 1/20/2025:

    • Revelation 17:8 — The beast (the antichrist Trump) that you saw was [president from 2017-2021], and is not [president before 12:00 pm, as Joe Biden still is], and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition.
    • Revelation 17:8 — when they see the beast that was [president from 2017-2021], and is not [president before 12:00 pm, as Joe Biden still is], and yet is [president-elect and president after 12:00 pm].
    • Revelation 17:10-11 — There are also seven kings (the 7 most recent presidents as of the time of Biden). Five have fallen (can’t hold office due to death or term limit: (1) Ronald Reagan, (2) George Bush Sr. (3) Bill Clinton (4) George W Bush (5) Barack Obama), one is [president – (the 7th king) Biden], and the other (Trump) has not yet come [to be president]. And when he comes [to be president on 1/20/2025], he must continue a short time. The beast (Trump) that was [the 6th president his first term], and is not [president before 12 pm, as Biden is], is himself also the eighth [Trump’s second term], and is of the seven (the 6th president during Trump’s first term), and is going to perdition.

    ———

    “Mortal” head wound:

    Revelation 13:3 — “And I saw one of his (the antichrist’s) heads as if it had been mortally wounded (*as if* mortally wounded – not *that was* mortally wounded), and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Donald Trump received a head wound by gunshot in an assassination attempt at one of his rallies in Butler, Pennsylvania that healed very quickly. His gunman was from Bethel, PA. Bethel means “House of God”. 1 Peter 4:17 — “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the *house of God* [with the start of the Tribulation]; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey (believe) the gospel of God?”

    ———

    During a U.S. president’s inauguration, it is customary for them to place their right hand on the Bible when being sworn in. During Trump’s second inauguration, his wife Melania held two bibles, but Trump refused to place his hand on them and instead just raised his right hand.

    It is also worthy of mention that Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance, during his swearing in, placed his hand on a bible that his hindu wife was holding up. Hindu gods are demons.

    ———

    1 Corinthians 15:52 speaks about the rapture happening at “the last trump”: (KJV) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

    Yes the word for “trump” here means “trumpet”, but the KJV bible is considered the most dependable English bible and there’s no coincidence that the word used here is “trump” for “the last trump”, being a play on the rapture happening during Trump’s last presidential term.

    ———

    Trump’s new Gaza Board of Peace that is planned for 7 years is the fulfillment of the Daniel 9:27 covenant:

    Daniel 9:27 — Then he (the antichrist Trump) shall confirm a covenant with many (the Gaza board of Peace with many nations involved) for one week (7 years); But in the middle of the week (after 3.5 years) He (the antichrist) shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (in the new 3rd Jewish temple that will be built during the Tribulation). And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

    ———

    The prophecy of Joel 2:31 tells us that there will be a solar eclipse and then a blood moon (lunar eclipse) eclipse before the rapture and start of the Tribulation, which is when the antichrist rises:

    “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord (the rapture and Tribulation).”

    The rapture and start of the Tribulation begins on April 4, 2026: see this rapture note.

    Eclipses in the bible represent judgement. Donald Trump was born on a blood moon, and this eclipse today on February 17, 2026 ends at 9:27 am Eastern Time (the time zone Trump lives in and rules from), and Danial 9:27 is the verse about the antichrist making the covenant with the many for seven years: “Then he (the antichrist Trump) shall confirm a covenant with many (the Gaza board of Peace with many nations involved) for one week (7 years); But in the middle of the week (after 3.5 years) He (the antichrist) shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (in the new 3rd temple). And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

    ———

    The False Prophet Elon Musk:

    Revelation 13:11-17 — Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon (SpaceX Dragon spacecraft). And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence (they were already calling him “president Musk” during Trump’s presidential campaign), and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast (Trump), whose deadly wound was healed (1st Trump assassination attempt). He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth [in exploding rockets and even the ones designed to return safely – imagine John trying to explain what he saw 2,000 years ago] in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast (AI, like ChatGPT, Alexa, Siri and Gemini, which will eventually turn into “Hey Trump” on your devices. Musk founded OpenAI which founded ChatGPT which created the AI revolution) who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast (AI), that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark (possibly a chip implant tied to digital currency (crypto) and your banking and identity info. Musk founded Neuralink which embeds a chip in your brain to control prosthetics with the brain. This will be some of the technology for the mark. Also, Musk loves digital currencies (crypto) and will get rid of paper currency and all buying and selling will go through the new one-world digital currency) or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

    Download the Left Behind notes to share with friends and family:

    Left Behind Epistle_2026-04-22Download

    Further reading:

    1. Millions just disappeared. Where did everyone go? The Rapture
    2. Revelation 17 and 18 Translated

  • Revelation 17 and 18 Translated

    Revelation 17 (the United States and the antichrist beast kingdom):

    1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the United States whose people is comprised of many different immigrants from all over the world,2with whom the other leaders of the earth copied her sinful ways and brought them to their countries (all of the evils of the lust of the flesh [sexuality, all the appeals of the body rather than the spirit in fine foods, drinks, fitness solely for the sake of beautifying the body to attract others, pampering the flesh with massages and the like, etc.], the lust of the eyes [all of the desire to acquire and possess the vast amount of possessions and luxuries] and the pride of life [the people of the United States generally think they’re superior to all other mankind], all perpetuated throughout the whole world media such as TV and radio and internet comes out of the United States), and all the people of the earth have also followed in her sinful ways.

    3So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman (a symbol of the United States) sitting on a scarlet beast (symbolizing the antichrist Trump and his future world kingdom) which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads (which represents Washington D.C. where Trump rules from and the seven most recent U.S. presidents) and ten horns (which represent the ten New World Order “Club of Rome” kingdoms of the world that will be created after the rapture, where each kingdom will have a leader). 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet (colors for kingliness and sin – the United States thinks she’s queen of the world, and is full of sin), and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls (the vast riches and wealth of the United States and its people), having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication (her sinful ways). 5And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (The first kingdom of Babylon back in the Old Testament days was a kingdom like the United States, or rather, the United States is a kingdom like the Babylon of back in the day – full of all power, wealth and the sins of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.)

    6I saw the United States, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus who the antichrist Trump persecuted and killed after the rapture. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

    7But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman (the United States) and of the beast that carries her (the antichrist Trump and his future kingdom), which has the seven heads (which represents Washington D.C. where Trump currently rules from and the seven most recent U.S. presidents) and the ten horns (which represent the ten New World Order “Club of Rome” kingdoms of the world that will be created after the rapture, where each kingdom will have a leader). [The following prophecy describes the state of the United States between November 5, 2024 and January 20, 2025, between the times of Trump’s second presidential win and his second presidential inauguration] 8The beast (the antichrist Trump) that you saw was (president from 2017-2020), and is not (president, as Joe Biden is), and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was (president from 2017-2020), and is not (president, as Joe Biden is), and yet is (president, because Trump was reelected again on November 5, 2024).

    [The following prophecy describes the state of the United States between November 5, 2024 and January 20, 2025, between the times of Trump’s second presidential win and his second presidential inauguration] 9“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (Washington D.C., where the antichrist Trump rules the United States from, is known as the city that sits on seven hills). 10There are also seven kings (the seven most recent U.S. presidents, starting with Reagan). Five have fallen (cannot hold office anymore due to death or term limit), one is (Joe Biden), and the other has not yet come (Trump’s second presidential term). And when he comes, he must continue a short time (he will be U.S. president for a short time). 11The beast (the antichrist Trump) that was (the 45th president from 2017-2020), and is not (president, as Joe Biden is), is himself also the eighth (the next president after Biden), and is of the seven (he’s going to be the 47th president, and was also the 45th president), and is going to perdition.

    12“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings (ten leaders) who have received no kingdom as yet (after the rapture, the New World Order “Club of Rome” [the revived Roman Empire] will create ten kingdoms out of the current countries, where each kingdom will have a leader), but they receive authority (to rule their kingdoms) for one hour (for a short period of time) as kings with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast (their sole purpose is to gain power over their entire kingdom and the people in it, and then give all their power to the antichrist Trump so he can be the sole world leader. This is how such a hated man becomes leader of the entire world – this is not a democracy). 14These will make war with the Lamb (with Jesus when He returns at His second coming, at the end of the seven year Tribulation at Armageddon in Israel), and the Lamb (Jesus) will overcome them (destroy them), for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

    15Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits (the United States), are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (the United States is a melting pot of different people composed of people who immigrated from all over the world). 16And the ten horns which you saw on the beast (the ten leaders of the New World Order Club of Rome Revived Roman Empire), these will hate the harlot (the United States), make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire (destroy her entirely with nukes [Author interjection: We know that the antichrist gains full power to rule for the second half of the Tribulation for 42 months, so this is when the ten kings give him their power. By that time, Trump will have finished serving his second and final term as U.S. president, and perhaps it will be the succeeding president who drives the ten kingdoms to finally destroy the U.S.]). 17For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled (until the prophecies of the Tribulation and destruction of the antichrist are complete). 18And the woman (the United States) whom you saw is that great city (country) which reigns over the kings of the earth (the United States polices the world).”

    Revelation 18 (the destruction and fate of the United States):

    1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great (the United States) is fallen, is fallen (utterly destroyed), and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird (desolate)! 3For all the nations (the people of the earth) have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (have partaken in all of the evils of the lust of the flesh [sexuality, all the appeals of the body rather than the spirit in fine foods, drinks, fitness solely for the sake of beautifying the body to attract others, pampering the flesh with massages and the like, etc.], the lust of the eyes [all of the desire to acquire and possess the vast amount of possessions and luxuries] and the pride of life [the people of the United States generally think they’re superior to all other mankind], all perpetuated throughout the whole world media such as TV and radio and internet, that all comes out of the United States), the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her (copied her ways in their countries), and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury (the United States is by far the largest consumer spending country in the world that produces very little of its own, thus, purchasing most of its goods from all of the vast amount of merchants throughout the world).”

    4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people (Author interjection: perhaps the saved believers at the rapture), lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues (her judgement of destruction). 5For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen (queen – think the statue of liberty in New York, known as “Lady Liberty”), and am no widow, and will not see sorrow (the U.S. and its people thinks they’re basically God and can never be touched).’ 8Therefore her plagues (total and utter destruction) will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire (nukes), for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

    9“The kings of the earth who committed fornication (shared in all her many sins) and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city (country) Babylon (the U.S.), that mighty city (country)! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

    11“And the merchants of the earth (remember, the U.S. is the largest consumer country that doesn’t produce its own goods and purchases their goods from merchants all over the world) will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14[Speaking of the people of the U.S.] The fruit (all the many luxurious possessions) that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city (country – the U.S.) that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet (purple and scarlet are colors of kingliness and sin), and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls (the United States is a very wealthy country)! 17For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea (that’s how the U.S. imports most of its goods – by sea), stood at a distance 18and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city (country)?’

    19“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city (country – the U.S.), in which all (countries) who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

    20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
    21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon (the United States) shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters (the U.S. is the center of the world for music and TV and entertainment) shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore (there will be no more working in the U.S. anymore). 23The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore (The country shall be desolate – nothing will happen in it anymore). For your merchants (companies) were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery (TV, music, internet and all the filth and lies and sin that comes from it) all the nations were deceived (following in your footsteps). 24And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth (the antichrist Trump will persecute and kill all who promote Christ during the Tribulation).”

    Further reading:

  • A most excellent gospel presentation on the blood of Christ

    A most excellent comment I came across on YouTube from @no1isokay

    THE GOOD NEWS:

    JESUS PAID IT ALL WITH HIS OWN BLOOD

    GOD GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON: JESUS

    John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved!”

    THE NEW COVENANT WITH HIS BLOOD

    Matthew 26:27-28 “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

    THE GOSPEL OF OUR SALVATION

    1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

    HOW THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS?

    1. HE SHED HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS
    2. HE DIED
    3. HE WAS BURIED
    4. HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY

    THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

    • HIS FINISHED WORK: HIS BLOOD ATONEMENT
    • HIS DEATH
    • HIS BURIAL
    • HIS RESURRECTION

    HE ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION

    Romans 4:25 “Whom was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

    THE FINISHED WORK: HIS BLOOD

    John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

    HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

    THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD

    Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

    WITHOUT BLOOD IS NO REMISSION

    Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

    PURCHASED BY HIS BLOOD

    Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

    FAITH IN HIS BLOOD

    Romans 3:24-26 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

    JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD

    Romans 5:8-11 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

    BOUGHT BY HIS BLOOD

    1 Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

    REDEEMED BY HIS BLOOD

    Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

    NIGH BY HIS BLOOD

    Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

    REDEEMED BY HIS BLOOD

    Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins!”

    PEACE BY HIS BLOOD

    Colossians 1:19-20 “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

    ETERNAL LIFE BY HIS BLOOD

    Hebrews 9:13-14 “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

    ACCESS HEAVEN BY HIS BLOOD

    Hebrews 10:19-25 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

    SANCTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD

    Hebrews 13:12 “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

    HEALED BY HIS BLOOD

    1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

    PURIFIED BY HIS BLOOD

    1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

    HIS BLOOD IS OUR PROPITIATION

    1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write | unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

    WASHED BY HIS BLOOD

    Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”

    SAVED BY HIS BLOOD

    Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

    BELIEVE IN THINE HEART

    Romans 10:9-11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

    SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

    Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

    SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION

    Ephesians 4:29-30 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

    SAVED THROUGH FAITH

    Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

    SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD

    Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

    THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL UNTO SALVATION

    Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just all live by faith.”

    WHAT IS FAITH?

    Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

    FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD

    Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

    FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT

    2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

    WITHOUT FAITH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD

    Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

    TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOR EVER

    Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

    PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: HIS FINISHED WORK AT THE CROSS:

    HIS BLOOD THAT WAS SHED FOR OUR SINS (PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE): SO YOU COULD HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE, FOR ANYONE THAT BELIEVES IN HIM.

    MARANATHA

  • Wisdom vs Knowledge

    What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge? There’s the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why” and “how” in every aspect of life. Knowledge is simply knowing “what” something is. Wisdom is knowing what to do with it, why we do the things we do, how to do it and when to do it.

    You can memorize the 10 commandments and know “what” they are. That makes you knowledgeable in them. But you’re not very wise in them if you don’t understand why we follow those commands and how and when to apply them.

    Another simple example I learned is having the knowledge of what a red stoplight is – simply, a red light on a street. But the wisdom in it is to simply know that we apply the brakes and stop at the red light, and why we stop (so other cars from another direction can fairly get through).

    The way the Holy Spirit teaches wisdom is that God has given us all of His wisdom in His bible. If we pray for wisdom (as we are instructed to), we must read that bible of wisdom and load the information into our minds – even if we don’t understand it at first. Then, now that we have that knowledge loaded into our minds, the Holy Spirit will help us understand why those things are the way they are as we meditate on them and work through them logically, and bring it to remembrance in times of need to help us act on that knowledge, giving us wisdom. And as you’re reading the bible over and over again, He will bring to remembrance other scripture that connects with the scripture you’re currently reading, to give you a more complete picture of the concept God is trying to explain. If you pray for wisdom but don’t read the bible full of all His wisdom, don’t expect Him to just download all that wisdom into your mind. He’s freely given us all of it in His bible, and expects us to diligently search Him and His ways out via the word.

  • The Ways of God: The Truth, The Will of God, Fully Pleasing Him, Walking Worthy of Him

    Three different ways of saying the same thing: walking worthy of God, doing His will for you, fully pleasing Him. What are these things?:

    Of God, the:

    1. Knowledge
    2. Wisdom
    3. Ways
    4. Truth
    5. Will

    In:

    1. Faith
      1. Believing the gospel alone for salvation: that Christ died to pay for all your sins, was buried and rose again the third day – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
    2. Character
      1. Exercising godliness (the conduct and character of God) by walking in the Spirit (producing the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7):
        1. Love (patience, kindness, not envying, not boasting, not prideful – humble, not rude, forgives, selfless, not provoked to anger, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in evil, but rather rejoices in what’s good, bears with others, believes others, has hope in all things, endures all things).
        2. Peace.
        3. Joy.
        4. Kindness.
        5. Gentleness.
        6. Patience.
        7. Forbearance.
        8. Longsuffering.
        9. Self control.
        10. Faithfulness.
        11. Goodness.
        12. Forgiveness.
        13. Thankfulness.
      2. Exercising godliness by not doing the following evil spiritual things:
        1. Pride.
        2. Haughtiness.
        3. Headstrong.
        4. Boasting.
        5. Selfishness.
        6. Coveting.
        7. Envying.
        8. Complaining.
        9. Arguing.
        10. Even thinking of doing something evil or wishing it upon others.
        11. Deceitfulness.
        12. Gossiping.
        13. Slandering.
        14. Talking evil of anyone, to their face or behind their back.
        15. Disobedience.
        16. Being untrustworthy.
        17. Traitorous.
        18. Unforgiving.
        19. Unmerciful.
        20. Lewdness.
        21. Anger.
        22. Malice.
        23. Filthy language.
        24. Foolishness.
        25. Joking around.
        26. Sarcasm.
        27. Cynicism.
        28. Heretical.
        29. Blaspheming the name of God.
        30. Unthankful.
        31. Hatred.
    3. Conduct
      1. Exercising godliness by abstaining from sin:
        1. Adultery.
        2. Lust.
        3. Fornication.
        4. Loving money.
        5. Idolatry.
        6. Violence.
        7. Murder.
        8. Stealing.
        9. Lying.
        10. Drunkenness.
        11. Revelries.
    4. Doing good works
      1. Being useful and profitable to others, easing their burdens – bringing them peace and joy.
    5. Using your ministry gifts (whichever you have have been given by the Holy Spirit) to edify others:
      1. Evangelism: saving souls by spreading the gospel.
      2. Shepherding the flock (leading the church) with your wisdom in the things of God.
      3. Encouraging the brethren.
      4. Correcting, teaching and warning the brethren with all gentleness, humility, kindness and patience.
      5. Helping the needy.
      6. Church administrations.
      7. Prayers, supplications and intercessions for all people.
      8. Prophesying: bringing new knowledge and revelation to the body of Christ.
    6. Learning
      1. Reading scripture, giving yourself entirely to it, meditating on it day and night.
      2. Growing in discernment between right and wrong morally, and in the ways of God vs the ways of the world.
    7. Life
      1. Leading a quiet, peaceable life.
      2. Being content with what we have and thankful for all we receive from our Heavenly Father.
      3. Minding our own business.
      4. Working quietly with our own hands so that we may support ourselves and family, and have money to give to those in need.
      5. Waiting patiently on the rapture, or, the end of the Tribulation.

    To do these things, you must commit them to memory over time and exercise yourself daily in them. It’s a lifelong process of growth. The goal, as Paul states in Philippians 3, is to become a perfect man in the ways of Christ (the above things). Run the race as to win the prize (work hard at these things!). Start by memorizing the character of God in point number 2 (Character). The way to view this note is: point number 1 (Faith) is first and foremost – the only requirement for salvation – and all the rest of the points are equal and in no particular order, and are not salvation issues. 

    Further reading:

    For an exhaustive list of the knowledge of God, see the note: The Knowledge and Wisdom of God.

  • How to Not Be Bored

    1. Turn off the TV and music, and get off the internet (unless you’re reading a bible on the internet of course).
    2. Read the New Testament Bible for about 30-45 minutes, especially the epistles (equates to about 5-7 chapters).
    3. Sit in stillness and quietness and meditate on what you’ve just read, logically stepping through it in your mind and letting the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts into all truth.
    4. Continue to sit in stillness and quietness a lot more and just talk to Jesus. You won’t  hear an audible response to your words, but you’ll find that you can talk for hours (because He’s responding to you silently Spirit-to-spirit). You are never alone. He lives inside you.
    5. You’ll get the hang of it, and the peace it begets is like nothing else.

  • Least and Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

    Matthew 5:17-20

    1. “Do not think that I came to destroy (get rid of) the Law or the Prophets (prophecies). I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away (after the Millennial Kingdom and the Great White Throne Judgement), one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all (all prophecies, including the end of Revelation with the destroying of the current Heaven and earth, and the creation of new ones where we will dwell for eternity) is fulfilled.
    2. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
    3. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

    In point one, Christ tells us that He came to fulfill the law, which we later find out is on our behalf, that anyone who places their faith in Him receives His imputed righteousness. But He also mentions in this point that He does not abolish/get rid of the law – it still stands, just not for salvation.

    In point two, He tells us that those who obey the law and teach other believers to do so as well (again, not for salvation, but because its statutes are good and sums up the holiness of our Father who adopted us as His children) will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. And the opposite is true: while technically we can choose not follow the law and teach other believers that they don’t have to either (because we’re no longer under the law for salvation and that we’re saved by grace and not by works), for doing that we will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

    In point three, He makes an interesting point: that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. The Pharisees were known for the most stringent perfection of law keeping, and not even they were good enough? We have to be more perfect than they? What Jesus is doing here is elevating the standard of the requirement of law keeping for salvation to perfection, naturally leading people to the question: “Well who can be saved then? Since no one can keep the law that perfectly – not even the Pharisees.” Christ partially gave the answer in part one: He will fulfill the law, and we learn later in the epistles of Paul (primarily Romans) that we all fall short of the law’s standard, and the only way to achieve the righteousness that God requires (point three: a righteousness greater than the Pharisees) to enter into the kingdom of heaven is to get the imputed righteousness of Christ that comes by faith in Him alone – not by working the law.

    And again, in points one and two, while we’re no longer saved by following the law, the law hasn’t been abolished (ie: murder and lying isn’t all the sudden ok), and we’re still to uphold it because we agree that its statutes are good (not murdering is good. Not stealing is good), and if we choose not to obey the law and teach others they don’t need to follow it either because we’re saved by grace and not by law keeping, we will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

    Why do we still follow the law if we’re no longer under the law for salvation? Because it’s good, and its statutes bring true joy, peace and freedom (and the entire point of life is to feel peace and joy): it’s good not to murder. It’s good not to lie. It’s good not to steal. It’s good not to commit adultery, etc. The law sums up our Father’s holiness. He adopted us as His children, and like any good Father, He wants His children to grow up to be like Him. It’s like adopting a teenager who was in a street gang. You would want to teach him that the gang is not good, and would want him to separate from the gang. You would teach him good ways (the law) and would want him to start living a good, honorable life. Like Father, like son.

    We uphold the law because it’s good, but we’re not saved by keeping it.

  • Matthew 5-7 Sermon on the Mount Outline

    Matthew chapters 5-7 may sound scary. But all Jesus is doing is elevating the law to its proper place to get His listeners to ask the question, “well who then can be saved?”, as well as giving teachings with wisdom.

    The answer is – no one can be saved by keeping the law, because no one can keep it perfectly. Thus, Jesus is getting them to start looking to the messiah (Him) for salvation, rather than by keeping the law (that they thought they were keeping perfectly).

    Outline:

    1. The 8 beatitudes (or blessings). 8 traits that generally portray a saved person. All these points are simply characteristics of a child of God. When we believe, over time we are transformed into these things by the Spirit (if we choose to separate from the world and don’t resist change and growth in the ways of God in our lives):
      1. Poor in spirit (downtrodden, despised, rejected by the world).
      2. Mourn (at the state of this world). They will receive eternal comfort.
      3. Meek (humble and confident in our Father’s ways).
      4. Seek after righteousness (a strong desire for holiness).
      5. Merciful. They in turn will receive eternal mercy.
      6. Pure (working to keep ourselves undefiled by the ways of the world).
      7. Peacemakers.
      8. Persecuted for the sake of Christ.
    2. Believers are “salt and light” of the earth.
      1. We’re different, in a good way. And we’re to let our goodness (in conduct and character), our works, our godly wisdom and our salvation message (the gospel) shine in the dark world filled with evil.
    3. Christ restores the law to its proper standard:
      1. The Jews in His day must have not really been taking the law that seriously, following it half-heartedly, and thinking they were “doing just fine” with how they were following it. Jesus is restoring the law to its proper standard and showing them how “off target” they really are when it comes to the standard of the law.
      2. He came to fulfill it, not get rid of it.
      3. Even anger at another without a cause is murder.
      4. Even lust is adultery.
      5. Even divorce aside from sexual immorality is adultery.
      6. Swearing by God is not allowed. Simply do what you’re going to say you’re going to do, whether your answer to someone is “Yes” or “No”.
    4. Repaying others for their evil against you:
      1. The old way of doing things was to repay others for the evil they do against you, using the same measure they do to you.
      2. Jesus corrects this thinking and tells us to patiently take their evil and persecutions, and to render kindness and love in return, instead of evil.
    5. A lesson to do things for the right reason:
      1. In giving to the poor
        1. Don’t make a big scene and give your money to the poor in order to be seen and glorified by others (Oh, he’s such a good person. Look at all the money he’s giving away).
        2. Give in secret, for the right reason – that the person genuinely needs help and you have the means to help them. Not for praise from men, but to genuinely help the other, knowing that your money was given to you by God in the first place in order to help the needy. God is the one who works in and through us. It all traces back to God. God gets all the glory.
      2. In prayer
        1. Again, don’t make a big scene in public when you pray in order to be seen by others and get them to think how pious and godly you are, seeking glorification from others.
        2. Pray alone, having a genuine conversation with your Father.
      3. In fasting
        1. Again, don’t make a big scene in public when you’re fasting, making yourself seem all miserable so people will know your fasting in order to get them to think how pious and godly you are, seeking glorification from others.
        2. Act as if you’re not fasting, and our Father will reward you.
    6. Don’t worry about earthly possessions:
      1. Don’t worry about acquiring a bunch of unnecessary, over-and-beyond (our basic necessities) possessions on this earth: a fancy house and cars, fine clothing, etc.
      2. We’re just pilgrims passing through this temporary life, waiting to get to our eternal home – heaven – where our eternal possessions are waiting for us (much better than anything we could acquire on this earth. We don’t know exactly all that will be, but we do know: a mansion, a new body that can teleport, a horse that can fly).
      3. We can’t take any of these earthly possessions with us when we die. And at the end of the day, they won’t bring you any more joy and peace.
      4. Instead, take the money you have left over and give to the poor so they can buy their basic necessities to get through life.
      5. Be content with what you have.
    7. You cannot serve God and money at the same time:
      1. This goes hand in hand with the previous point. Money tells you to acquire more of it and hoard it all for yourself and to spend it on lavish, excess luxuries for yourself. God tells you to buy your basic necessities to get through this temporary life, and to give any left over money to the poor, so that they can buy their basic necessities to get them through this temporary life.
    8. The lamp of the body is the eye:
      1. How you perceive things tells of what kind of man you are: full of light (goodness) or darkness.
    9. Do not worry about your basic necessities in this temporary life:
      1. To get us through this life, when you really reduce it down, all we need is: food, drink and clothing.
      2. And Jesus tells us not to worry about how we’re going to get all that stuff, as our Father in heaven will provide.
    10. Don’t judge others hypocritically:
      1. If you judge someone for something, yet you yourself have the same (or even a different) problem, you’re being a hypocrite. Instead, fix your problem first, then you can correct the other.
      2. And if you do judge someone and have a reason yourself to be judged in anything, you will be judged for that thing with the same level of judgement you rendered to the other for their issue.
    11. Now Jesus goes into salvation messages:
      1. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
        1. Don’t waste effort on sharing the gospel message with hostile people. Give it to them at first, but if they fight it, don’t try and force it upon them.
      2. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
        1. Ask and seek for salvation and godly wisdom and it will be given to you.
        2. This is not saying, “Ask for a $120,000 car and it will be given to you.” It’s talking about salvation and wisdom from God.
      3. Enter heaven by the narrow way
        1. The narrow way that leads to eternal life is faith in the gospel alone – in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for the payment of our sins – no works added.
        2. The broad road that leads to hell is trying to enter heaven by doing good works, by being a “good person”, and all other religions.
        3. Matthew 21-23: Many people will try to enter heaven based on their own works and being a good person, even though they believe in Christ, but they will be rejected and told how they’re not righteous by the standard of the law (they inevitably still practice some lawlessness), and that they ignored the only way to receive the required imputed righteousness that comes by faith in Christ alone.
    12. Being doers of these things, not just hearers:
      1. Those who take these teachings and actually implement them in their lives will be wise and will never fall, no matter how hard the evil world comes at them. They will be found standing in the end.
      2. Those who hear these teachings and don’t implement them in their lives are foolish and will be overcome when the evil world comes at them, and they will be found wanting in the end.
      3. All these teachings are God’s “ways” and wisdom, and we’re to build ourselves up on that foundation so that we will never stumble.

  • Believers are True Family

    The most important thing to the Lord outside of believing the gospel for salvation is walking in love towards all your other brothers and sisters in Christ. In pretty much every epistle written by the apostles, when they thank God for your faith, they also thank God for your love towards all the brethren, and always pray that that love towards each other abounds more and more. Why is this so? Why does our Father desire that His children walk in fervent love towards each other? Because our good relationships with our family are everything: that’s what brings true, lasting peace and joy into someone’s life – a strong, good relationship – not fame, wealth, power or beauty. And a lonely life without joy and peace is a life not worth living. Meditate deeply on these things.

    Other believers in Christ are your true family (not just in name only). They are your true brothers and sisters, who you will spend eternity with.

    Our flesh and blood earthly family is temporal. Our heavenly family is eternal. These are our spiritual “blood” brothers and sisters – our true eternal family where we are joined together by the same Spirit of God that lives within all of us, where we are all born into the same family and all share the same Heavenly Father. Our familial bond of the same Spirit that lives inside each of us is more real and stronger than blood. We’ve all been reborn into the same family of God as brothers and sisters. You know what they say when it comes to family vs friends: “Blood is thicker than water.” However, Spirit is thicker than blood.

    As brothers and sisters and children of our Heavenly Father, we are all extremely and equally special to Him – He does not show favoritism among His children (Galatians 2:6), but loves us all equally.

    As the family of our Heavenly Father, as His children, just like any earthly father, He desires that His children get along and help each other. These are some of the qualities of our heavenly sibling relationships that our Father desires for His children:

    1. Be kind to each other – walk in love toward them unconditionally, selflessly.
    2. Help and serve each other.
      1. Physically
      2. Emotionally
      3. Financially
    3. Sacrifice for each other.
    4. Pray for each other.
    5. Don’t judge each other. Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
      1. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe (Romans 10:4), meaning, righteousness doesn’t come by adherence to the law, but rather through faith in Christ. Therefore, do not judge your brethren in regard to eating certain food or drink, or regarding not observing a festival or a new moon or sabbaths (Colossians 2:16). Also see Romans 14.
    6. Encourage each other.
    7. Lift each other up and esteem each other better than yourself.
    8. Submit to each other.
    9. Gently correct and teach each other with all humility and kindness. Whether it be:
      1. Christian teachings.
      2. A sibling stuck in sin.
    10. Have empathy for each other:
      1. Rejoice with one another in what’s good.
      2. Have compassion on those who are suffering.
    11. Read the Bible together, and learn and grow with one another.
    12. Be unified in the Spirit, walking in perfect love towards each other. This means that all brothers and sisters in Christ should be of the same mind and attitude towards each other:
      1. Rejoicing with each other.
      2. Feeling godly sorrow for each other’s misfortunes.
      3. Being peaceful amongst each other.
      4. Being gentle with each other.
      5. Being kind to each other.
      6. Being patient and long suffering with each other.
      7. Being self-controlled around each other.
      8. Bearing with each other’s shortcomings and burdens.
      9. Not getting angry with each other.
      10. Thinking no evil towards each other.
      11. Not being rude to each other.
      12. Forgiving each other.
      13. Being good and doing good to each other.
      14. Being faithful to each other.
      15. Being humble around each other, not boasting or bragging.
      16. Not becoming envious of each other, but rather rejoicing with each other.
      17. Not coveting each other’s possessions.
      18. Being selfless towards each other, putting your brothers’ and sisters’  needs before your own.
      19. Believing each other without cynicism.
      20. Being truthful with each other.

    Memorize these things and live by these things amongst your brothers and sisters in Christ and you will do well. (These things are the fruit of the Spirit and the definition of love found in Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

    The beginning of Acts (especially chapters 1-4) document the original church that the Jewish apostle Peter founded in Jerusalem, where the first believers came together as brothers and sisters unlike any other time, where they gave up everything to be with each other and to help each other and to live as one with each other:

    Acts 2:44-47 — Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

    Acts 4:32-37 — Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

    Now is your time to get back to that. The church started this way with the Jews in Israel, and will end this way with the Jews in Israel.

    And this I pray, that you may abound more and more in the knowledge of what love is and in discernment of what’s right and wrong morally, being able to test and approve of what’s morally correct, and that you may live by what’s morally good, being pure and blameless in your practical sanctification (your daily walk and growth of holiness) here on earth till the day of Christ’s return, being filled with the fruit of the Spirit that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit while exercising yourself in godliness (moral character and conduct) — Philippians 1:9-11.

    The Lord wants you to take action and be a doer of all these things, and not just a hearer of them — James 1:22-25.

    And remember: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” — 1 Peter 1:3-5

  • The Lust of the Flesh, Eyes, and the Pride of Life – Nourishment

    “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15) – Possessions don’t give us spiritual nourishment. Simply passing the time by meditating on our Father’s ways and wisdom in quietness does, as well as working those ways by day: in our loving and righteous fellowship with others, and benefiting others to ease their burden and bring them joy and peace, in turn bringing us joy and peace.

    *For the ways of God, see note (opens in a new window): The Ways of God: The Truth, The Will of God, Fully Pleasing Him, Walking Worthy of Him

    That’s the truth – the way it really is – what really brings a man true peace and joy – how we were programmed to find peace and joy.

    The lie is peace and joy through: selfishness, greed, possessions, fame, fortune, beauty and power.

    The body needs physical food for nourishment, and that brings our body peace and joy. It’s stressed and depressed when starving, and when it gets tasty food, it’s at peace and joyful (for a fleeting moment, and then it craves more and more endlessly).

    The inner man (us as a spiritual soul) needs spiritual food for nourishment, which is: love, serving others, holiness, purity, righteousness, which nourishes our spirit (us as our inner man) with: true peace and joy.

    John says in 1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (Satan’s ways).” Once you understand this concept of nourishing the inward man with spiritual food vs nourishing the outward man with physical food, where nourishment is peace and joy, then you can understand what John means by: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, which are all worldly, fleshly things that are fleshly nourishment but not spiritual nourishment (Jesus was also tempted with these three things by Satan in the wilderness to begin His ministry):

    1. The lust of the flesh: sex, stimulants like alcohol and drugs, food and drink. They bring fleeting joy and peace to your outward man (your fleshly body), not you as a spiritual soul – your inward man. The spirit (you as your inner man) doesn’t care about these things, nor needs them.
    2. The lust of the eyes: possessions (“toys”), and the money to buy those possessions. Acquiring many useless possessions which truly don’t bring any spiritual nourishment (peace and joy) to the inward man, vs the spiritual food of contentment with what you have, and loving others by giving away your excess money in order to help those in need. The spirit (you as your inner man) doesn’t care about possessions, nor needs them.
    3. The pride of life: pride/ego/the feeling of being better than others for the beauty, popularity, wealth, power, career success and possessions you possess. The truth is, according to the ways of God, is that we’re not better than anyone for these things (the lie of the ways of the world is that we’re valued for these things – the state of the outward man (that brings no peace and joy either our inner spirit man or to others) vs the state of the inward man (which brings peace and joy – or misery – to us as our inner spirit man and others)). The true way to be exalted (thought of and spoken highly of) by God and others is to:
      1. Be humble (knowing all good things you have come from God, and knowing you’re not better than anyone despite all that beauty, popularity, wealth, power and career success you were given by God).
      2. Love God and His character and His holiness and His ways (following them yourself).
      3. Loving all people (especially strangers) by serving them (being useful and profitable to them, benefiting them by bringing them peace and joy through kindness and easing their burdens by helping them).

    So, nourishment is peace and joy. It’s all about seeking spiritual nourishment (for us as our inward man) with spiritual food, vs seeking bodily nourishment (other than what’s necessary to function).

    Spiritual food: loving relationships with God and others; bringing peace and joy to others by being kind to them and helping them; purity, holiness, righteousness; and producing the literal “fruits” (food) of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Galatians 5:22-23 — “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” What is “love”? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not boast, is not proud; does not behave rudely, does not self seeking, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity (evil), but rejoices in the truth (the good ways of God); bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Doing all these things is what brings true nourishment to your inward man – the soul, and brings lasting peace and joy to you.

    Fleshly “food”: actual food and drink, stimulants like alcohol and drugs, sex, pride, beauty, wealth, power, popularity, career success, possessions. The lust of the eyes (acquiring many possessions) gives you pride, making you feel better than others with no possessions. Seeking peace and joy in these things is a dead end. At the end of the day, after lots of meditation on this, you realize that none of this stuff is profitable to your overall peace and joy. Rather, they only generally bring: misery, chaos, depression, anxiety, fear, worry, panic, stress, anger, bitterness, etc. The only things of these that are truly necessary in this life to keep your body alive are basic food and water. The spirit truly doesn’t desire or need any of these things. It desires the literal “fruits” (food) of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (touched on in the paragraph right above).

    If you can ever get yourself to a place where you value and seek the spiritual nourishment 100% over the bodily, physical nourishment (other than basic necessities to remain alive), having complete contentment for your life, you will be one joyful and peaceful person. Not trying to have “the best of both worlds”. It’s hard to deny the flesh and takes much exercise everyday to silence it and its desires (lusts), and I haven’t perfected myself in it yet either, but I try to meditate on walking in the Spirit rather than in the flesh constantly, and there are times when I get in “the spiritual zone”, having fully put away the flesh, and man it feels good – so light and freeing and peaceful. I haven’t perfected myself, but I strive daily for perfection, because I’ve found that that’s the only true peace and joy I find.

    Part of the many layered wisdom of fasting is:

    1. The goal in life is to seek the spiritual nourishment of peace and joy through spiritual food. If we give up fleshly things, we can focus on spiritual nourishment rather than fleshly nourishment.
    2. In regard to bodily, fleshly nourishment, Christ gave up His literal fleshly body for us. If Christ gave up His body for us, what bodily, fleshly things can we give up for a brief moment for Him?

    So, to do this, you MUST separate your body from you as your inner man (as a spirit).

    This world is corrupted (you shouldn’t want corrupted things).

    This is Satan’s world. He wants you to get comfortable in it. Make your home here. Stay awhile. Don’t leave. Enjoy all the “wonderful” (corrupted) things Satan has to offer.

    All the things Satan has to offer – all the treasure and pleasures of the world – appeal to the flesh. All the many possessions to acquire (the lust of the eyes), all the sensual pleasures (food, alcohol, lust, etc. – the lust of the flesh), and his hierarchical system where everything is ranked and is better or worse for their rank, leading to always wanting what Satan says the best is – leading to the pride of life.

    The spirit doesn’t need or desire the things the flesh does. The spirit craves and needs the spiritual things found in Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – love, peace, joy, holiness, goodness, kindness, humility, patience, self-control, gentleness, quietness, faithfulness. The spirit craves: loving and righteous fellowship with other spirits; helping others, being profitable to them; and peace, stillness and quietness.

    Titus 2:12 — Teaching us that, denying ungodliness (the opposite of the spiritual food) and worldly lusts (the lust of the eyes/flesh/pride of life), we should live soberly, righteously, and godly (all spiritual food), in this present world;

    Nothing good dwells in the flesh – only sin (Romans 7:18). And you cannot tame the flesh and perfect it (James 3:8), it must simply be denied and suppressed daily in order for your inner spirit man to shine forth as bright as the noonday sun. The flesh just gets in the way. You just have to suppress the flesh and its selfishness, and you will naturally shine, as you are spirit, and the spirit’s natural character is to be loving, kind, good, gentle, humble, patient, self-controlled, peaceful, joyful, selfless and faithful, who naturally loves helping others and enjoying righteous and loving fellowship with others.

    Again, you MUST separate your body from you as your inner man (as a spirit).

    The flesh just “takes and takes for itself” (give me more, more, more!). The spirit “pushes goodness out” from itself, imparting true peace and joy to others, and generating true peace and joy for itself in return by doing that.

    When you’re feeling a strong craving or desire for things such as food or alcohol or even good smells like coffee, you’re feeling your flesh’s desire for that stuff – not yours (as the spiritual inner man).

    When you feel at peace in a still and quiet environment, you’re feeding yourself as your inward spiritual man. When you feel the joy of helping another or having a positive and friendly conversation with someone, you’re feeding yourself as your inward spiritual man. When you see and hear the joy of another (righteous joy in good things), it’s contagious and feeds you as your inner spirit man with joy.

    Start getting into the habit of what you need, rather than what your flesh desires.

    The more you can deny and cut out your flesh’s lusts, the more room and headspace you’ll have to focus on your spiritual food, and derive true peace and joy from that. When your flesh is worked up, you can’t focus on anything but that, and the goal is you as your inward spiritual man’s true peace and joy, and the flesh’s desires prevent you from experiencing that.

    All you need to do to take care of your flesh to keep it alive and healthy is to:

    1. Feed it basic food.
    2. Give it water.
    3. Clothe it with modest clothing.
    4. Give it rest.
    5. Clean it.

    It doesn’t need anything more than that, and you as your inward spirit man is not affected negatively if the flesh doesn’t get 5 star meals to eat, the finest wine to drink, the most expensive clothes to wear, etc – the spirit truly doesn’t care or desire these things. A cool thing about the way God designed the true needs of our flesh and for us to take care of it in His manifold (many layered) wisdom is to parallel the flesh’s needs to stay alive with the soul’s needs to stay alive:

    1. Feed it basic food: Christ is the “bread” of life. “Eat of Him” (believe in Him) to stay alive for eternity.
    2. Give it water: Water in the bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that comes into you and gives eternal life the nanosecond you believe in Christ for salvation.
    3. Clothe it with modest clothing: White robes in the bible are a symbol of righteousness, and we only get the imputed righteousness that’s required to enter into eternal life from believing in Christ.
    4. Give it rest: We’re to “rest from our works” for salvation, meaning, salvation is by faith alone and not by works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9.
    5. Clean it: After salvation and reaping eternal life through faith in Christ alone, we’re still in this sinful world and should be keeping ourselves clean from the sins of the world.

    The flesh craves anything that can stimulate it through touch and taste and smell and handle. The spirit wants things that only other life can give it. Dead, lifeless possessions can’t provide its needs. The flesh craves other flesh. The spirit craves other spirits. The flesh craves possessions it can handle and interact with. The spirit craves other life that it can interact with, and the life of a being is its spirit, as the body without the spirit is dead.

    Separating enjoying the sights and sounds of nature vs. the lust of the eyes and the flesh:

    Again, you MUST separate your body from you as your inner man (as a spirit).

    There is the sense of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. The sense of sight and sound belong to the spirit (the inward man), whereas the sense of smell, taste and touch belong to the outward man (the body/flesh).

    The spirit’s joy comes from interacting with other spirits: observing them and their behavior (sight), as well as hearing what they have to say (sound). The spirit also learns by what it observes and hears. If you take in goodness (light as Jesus would call it) through sight and sound, you will be full of goodness (light). If you take in evil (darkness as Jesus would call it) through sight and sound, you will be full of darkness.

    The flesh’s joy comes from stimulation through smell, taste and touch. Touch – whether it be stimulation such as sex, or handling and playing with possessions. This is critical to remember going forward: the spirit has no desire for these fleshly things, as its joy and peace comes from the fruits of the Spirit that are taken in by sight and sound, and are exuded by behavior. The spirit doesn’t need food, the spirit doesn’t need sex, the spirit doesn’t need to be massaged, the spirit doesn’t need to smell coffee.

    The lust (strong desires) of the flesh is anything that we (the spirit) don’t care about that stimulates the flesh: the tastiest foods and drinks, alcohol, massages, sex, etc. We are spirit, and the spirit doesn’t care about these things.

    The lust (strong desires) of the eyes is anything that we (the spirit) don’t need that the flesh desires to possess and handle (because possessing things and playing with them stimulates the flesh): beautiful homes, cars, clothing, electronics, etc.

    Why is the lust of the flesh and eyes bad? First, these lusts (strong desires) overwhelm us as a spirit and prevent us from realizing the spiritual peace and joy we need. Second, it breeds all sorts of selfishness, greed, covetousness, envy and sadness. How?: The flesh is never satisfied. It always wants more, more, more for itself! Which would be good if the things it desired profited others, but the things the flesh desires only profits itself. Example: when your flesh sees someone else’s beautiful home and desires one for itself (or to remodel your own), it makes you envious of that person’s property and you covet it. Then if you can’t ever acquire something similar, it brings you sadness. And if you can work to acquire it, you spend excess money on something that won’t bring your spirit any joy and peace (remember, the spirit doesn’t need these things – it needs the fruit of the Spirit) that could have rather gone to help someone who has no home at all, making you selfish. And after you do acquire the new home, shortly after you see another beautiful home, then you become discontent with your home, leading to more envy and covetousness. It’s a vicious cycle that never leads to anything good. And at the end of the day, you as a spirit don’t even care about those things in the first place – only your flesh does. When you have the lust of the eyes (the lust for possessions), your career is never good enough. You covet certain costly possessions, and you work harder and faster and longer to earn more money. And you stress out and get anxiety and burn out trying to get those things. You get envious of others who make more money and covet their possessions, and get depressed and angry when you yourself can’t afford them. Then you get depressed at the thought of having to go to work for such little money where you can’t afford all of your worldly possessions. Instead, walk in the Spirit and you won’t care about possessions. Then you’ll see how little you really need.

    At the rapture/resurrection, we will all receive a new, glorified spiritual body that will never die. It won’t need to eat, it won’t need to relieve itself, it won’t need to clean itself, it won’t need to sleep. If we don’t need to eat, we don’t need a kitchen, dining room or any dishware. If we don’t need to relieve ourselves or clean ourselves, then we don’t need a bathroom or toiletries. If we don’t need to sleep, we don’t need bedrooms. If we don’t need to eat, we don’t need grocery stores or restaurants. If we don’t need homes, we don’t need stores. If we don’t need stores, we don’t need cars to transport goods. You can keep going down the rabbit hole, but the point I’m trying to make is that after you strip everything out that the spirit doesn’t need (the lust of the eyes – possessions – and the lust of the flesh – things like food [that also require the possessions to make it]), you realize we need no possessions – not even a house. If anything, perhaps a chair, but not even a table, as there will be nothing to put on it. At the end of the day, we have a peaceful, quiet, simple life focused solely on our spiritual food (love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, self-control, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness), where we will rest amongst the beauty of a restored creation, bringing joy to each other through righteous and loving fellowship, and traveling with each other to admire the beauty of creation. 

    Now, for enjoying the sights and sounds of nature:

    Does the lust of the flesh and eyes mean that we can’t enjoy anything that is beautiful? No. Remember to separate us a soul from our body/flesh. It all goes back to nourishing us as our soul to bring us true joy and peace. Our Lord is a beautiful and creative being, and part of His glory (His greatness/amazingness) is the creative ability to make beautiful things. He created a beautiful world for us to live in, with lakes and oceans and mountains and rivers and forests and the like to take in. He created the wind and the rain and the creeks and all the animals (such as birds) that each make their own peaceful sounds. There’s also the lack of noise in a remote area where you can just listen to the stillness and quietness. (And remember: this world is under a curse and behold its beauty – imagine the glorified state!) Remember: the sense of sight and sound is for the inward man (the spirit), and to be able to take in the beauty of nature through sight and sound brings much peace to the soul.

    Coming full circle:

    Separating the lust of the flesh and eyes from enjoying the sights and sounds of nature – we are spirits (not flesh), and life is all about feeding our spirit spiritual food to produce true peace and joy in our lives. Out of the five senses, sight and sound belong to the spirit/soul, whereas taste/smell/touch/handle stimulate the flesh. Taking in the natural beauty of creation via sight and sound is peace for the soul. Beautiful possessions stimulate the flesh, as it desires to possess and play with beautiful things, but the spirit doesn’t care about or need these things, as that’s not what the spirit craves (in which the spirit’s food is: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, goodness and faithfulness; peace that comes via knowing your saved; holiness and purity; loving and righteous (sinless) fellowship with others; humility; contentment; stillness and quietness; thankfulness and forgiveness, vs. the flesh’s food of: actual food and drink, alcohol, sex, etc. See the difference).

    The lust of the flesh isn’t saying if you think food tastes good, or if you think humans are attractive, then the love of God isn’t in you. It’s saying if you as your inner spirit man (who literally doesn’t desire those things) decide to let your flesh rule over you and take you over with its lusts for good food and beautiful people, then that’s the problem. The inner spirit man should be ruling over the flesh with its desires for the spiritual things of the fruit of the Spirit – not the other way around.

    So, walking in the flesh and pursuing the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes breeds all sorts of pride, greed, selfishness, envy, covetousness, sadness and anger, which make life not worth living. And the flesh can easily overwhelm and take over the spirit, suffocating the spirit and its natural character and ability to be selfless, loving, helpful, friendly, cooperative, peaceful, joyful, patient, self-controlled, good, gentle, kind and faithful – all excellent things bringing true peace and joy, making life worth living. The flesh takes and takes and takes, and ends up causing those it takes from time, money and effort. The spirit gives and gives and gives selflessly, and reaps its peace and joy from that.

    Exercise yourself and grow strong in walking in the Spirit by silencing the flesh and its desires. Learn to silence the flesh in order to experience the fullness of joy and peace. As with all exercise: it’s hard at first, and can be painful mentally. But over time you get stronger and it becomes easier, and it yields nothing but true peace and joy for the inward spirit man.

  • It all began in the garden of Eden with the temptation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and all ends with the temptation of the mark of the beast

    Pray for godly wisdom and do not doubt. You will receive it in due time. – James 1:5-7

    The flesh = evil (pride and selfishness)

    The spirit = good (selfless, humble love)

    The flesh’s desires (food, drink, alcohol, drugs, sexual pleasure, body pampering, the acquiring of possessions, the desire to be “better” than the next in whatever) are:

    1. Selfish – they only benefit itself.
    2. The flesh’s desires always come at the expense of others, costing others much time, effort and money.
    3. The flesh just wants more, more, more! Endlessly. And can be draining and painful mentally and physically.

    The spirit feeds off of selfless love that it can render to others: kindness, patience, self-control, humility, selflessness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, forbearance, hope, believing, trusting, and feels really good. This spiritual stuff benefits other spirits and in turn benefits itself by feeding the originating spirit with true joy and peace. It’s a beautiful, self-sustaining system that feeds itself by benefiting others. Rather than the flesh that takes and takes only for itself at the pure expense of others.

    Our bodies are the physical manifestation of the knowledge of evil. Sin is an entity that dwells in our fleshly bodies. And when we are born, we are born spiritually dead and our souls are joined to our flesh. When we believe in Christ for salvation, we are made spiritually alive with the incorruptible seed of the Holy Spirit, and are then separated from our flesh with a circumcision performed by the Holy Spirit.

    It all started in the garden of Eden when Satan tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, appealing to the flesh with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life:

    Genesis 3:6 — “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (the lust of the flesh), that it was pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the eyes), and a tree desirable to make one wise (the pride of life), she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

    These are the same three things Satan tempted Jesus with in the wilderness to start His ministry: turn stones into bread (the lust of the flesh), all the kingdoms of the world (the lust of the eyes), and tossing Himself down that the angels would bear Him up, testing God (the pride of life). So you can see, the curse began with the temptations of the fleshly lusts of: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life with man, and began to be reversed with the temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life with God. Man succumbed. God overcame.

    Why did God teach us evil? In his manifold (many layered) wisdom:

    1. To show us what “good” is, and how “good” those of us with eternal life will have it.
    2. To teach us about certain parts of His character that we could never comprehend if it weren’t for knowing evil: patience, grace (underserved kindness), mercy, forbearance, forgiveness, agape love (selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love ultimately demonstrated in giving up His life on the cross).
    3. To find the souls that love what’s good and truly want to be with Him, over those who love evil and are prideful. To find those worthy of His gracious gift of eternal life and the eternal state of blessedness we will enter into.

    Just as He did with the angels: He found out which angels truly loved Him and His ways, and wanted to be with Him (2/3 of the angels), over those angels who loved the thought of Lucifer’s/Satan’s prideful and evil ways (1/3 of the angels). He found the angels who were worthy and deserving. So He’s doing with humans made in the likeness of His image: He’s finding out which humans love Him and His ways, and want to be with Him, over those humans who love Satan’s prideful and evil ways. Finding which humans are “worthy and deserving”.

    The angels got to see, live with and experience God face-to-face in a glorified creation, and some still rejected Him. Angels were born with eternal life, and were subjected to eternal death in hell for rebellion. There is no second chance for them. Humans don’t get to start with those experiences. God is spirit and the spiritual realm is invisible to us, and we live in a cursed creation. Humans are born dead – on their way to hell, but some are made eternally alive by faith in the invisible Christ. There is a second chance for humans. See the opposites?

    Once this 7,000 year “trial period” so-to-speak to find out which angels and humans are worthy of eternal life and His glorious state of blessedness, He will seal us all up and promised that we will never be separated from Him for all eternity. All of the curse will be reversed, we will not know evil anymore and we will all live “happily ever after”.

    It all ends with the temptation of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life:

    Satan loves to copy God. He wants to be like God in the sense that he wants God’s power, authority and worship from other beings (angels and humans).

    What got Satan kicked out of heaven in the first place was his pride of wanting to be like God and ascend above Him in authority and claim worship for himself. He got 1/3 of the angels to choose the side of Satan and whatever his version of heaven and rule he would implement, over God’s current establishment, and they were all thrown out of heaven, cast down to the earth, reserved for the pits of hell for all eternity. There is no second chance for them. They already knew God face-to-face and lived in His glorious state of blessedness, yet still chose Satan over God.

    “If you bow down and worship me, I will give you all this…”, Satan says to all of us.

    In the spiritual realm in heaven, we’ll be able to do all sorts of amazing things that we cannot do on this physical earth yet, such as teleporting (even to other worlds), talking telepathically, levitating and super intelligence. There will be no more pain or sickness, and there will be no more death and decay – in humans and all of creation (nature, animals, etc.).

    Remember, Satan likes to copy God. His end goal is to recreate heaven on earth, and wants to put himself at the top, taking all of the worship and glory for himself. His goal is to get rid of all illnesses, stop the aging process, bringing back “the tree of life” so-to-speak that was originally in the garden of Eden, stopping death, and doing it all using AI to develop new mRNA vaccines and genetic engineering that will finally cure cancer and all the horrible health problems we have, and ultimately halt the aging process, cheating death. He likes to copy God, in which in God’s realm we will be able to talk telepathically and have super intelligence, so Satan wants to hook up the human brain to the internet, enabling humans, in a faux way, to talk telepathically and have super intelligence. He wants to use AI to “reverse the curse” that God has (for a limited time – 6,000 years) bestowed upon all creation for the sin of Adam in the garden, and fix all the problems we have in the world. He even, with the advancements of AI, wants to copy God and figure out teleportation and travel to other worlds.

    But the one thing Satan will never fix is all of mankind’s (every single human on earth) sin nature – our natural will to do what’s morally wrong in the sight of God rather than what’s right. That means, no matter how much we fix up our planet and our physical body issues, there will always still be: depression, anxiety, stress, fear, worry, panic, nervousness, mental pain and suffering, sadness, anger, hatred and bitterness – all due to mankind’s sin nature and lack of ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit 100% of the time (which all believers will do in heaven), because they lack God’s Spirit within them that enables them to walk in the Spirit (in joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness (doing good), faithfulness (doing what you say), gentleness, self-control, not envious, humble, not rude, not self-seeking (seeking the benefit of others over oneself – selflessness), not provoked to anger, thinks no evil, does not find joy in iniquity, but rather finds joy in what’s good, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things). With Satan, there is no love. He is incapable of love. As the Bible says, he is the father of lies and has been a murderer from the beginning. He is full of pride and only wants to be worshipped as God himself. He’s an evil “king”, and the invisible influencer of all the corruption and evil that takes place on the earth. But with God, as the Bible says, God is love. His character/personality (the fruit of the Spirit mentioned above) and His ways bring (1) true freedom from the slavery of all the negative emotional and physical consequences of sin (2) righteousness and purity (3) love, joy and peace, and true love brings true joy and peace in one’s life.

    After the rapture, during the seven year Tribulation, all of this will begin to culminate. All of mankind left behind on the earth will be forced to make a choice: do you choose Satan’s sham version of heaven and him as your “god” presiding over you? Or do you choose God Himself and His legitimate version of heaven? The final choice will be in deciding to take the mark of the beast or not, which will be the ultimate sign of your allegiance either to Satan and his kingdom (by taking the mark), or to God and His kingdom (by not taking the mark, leading to dying for your faith). There’s no second chance after taking the mark, just as there was no second chance for the 1/3 of the angels who were kicked out of heaven, who pledged their allegiance to Satan instead of God.

    During the Tribulation, a man known in the Bible as the antichrist will rise to ultimate power over the whole world, along with another man known as “the false prophet”. The false prophet will implement a system in the world that the Bible calls “the image of the beast” (most likely a powerful AI system skinned as the antichrist himself), and anyone who does not worship it (use it) will be killed. And all who do worship it will be doomed to hell. He will also implement what the Bible calls “the mark of the beast”, which is something that goes into your right hand or forehead, in which you will not be able to buy or sell without it (most likely some sort of chip implant with digital id and banking attached that needs to be used for all purchases). This mark is what the antichrist and false prophet (and Satan behind them) will require for anyone to participate in the things Satan wants to bring to earth: cancer curing vaccines, death prevention, super intelligence, etc. Anyone who takes this mark is pledging their allegiance to Satan and his version of heaven, and will be doomed to hell.

    The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through the Tribulation, you can be raptured into heaven before it begins. Simply believe the gospel and you’re saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of your eternal life.

    There is some good news for those who find themselves in the Tribulation and haven’t taken the mark of the beast yet: you can still be saved and go to heaven. Simply believe the gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (that Christ died to pay for all your sins, was buried and rose again the third day), don’t take the mark, and you will be saved. You will have to die for your faith though. But then you’ll be in heaven where there is only true righteousness, love, joy and peace for the rest of eternity. It’s worth it.

    Satan and his antichrist will not prevail though. At the end of the seven year Tribulation, Christ and all His believers will come back to earth, and Christ will throw the antichrist, the false prophet and all those who have taken the mark into the lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity. Christ will lock up Satan in the pit of hell for 1000 years while He rules the earth during His peaceful Millennial Kingdom for 1000 years, and will then throw Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity, after one final rebellion.

    So, at this final end (and going back to the very beginning), do you take the mark of the beast to buy and sell and feed the lust of the flesh (buying food and drink), the lust of the eyes (acquiring goods and keeping your home) and the pride of life (staying alive in Satan’s kingdom forever)? Or do you reject all of Satan’s fleshly lusts, die for your faith and inherit true eternal life and the true kingdom of spiritual love, joy, peace and righteousness?

    The choice is yours.

  • Judging Our Brethren

    Instead of judging our brethren, we must be unified (in our mindset of salvation and how life is to be lived – in the ways of God) and loving.

    We must gently correct each other with encouragement, building each other up and edifying each other.

    Rather than tearing down, biting and devouring each other, reviling, criticizing and insulting one another.

  • The first church began with the Jews, and the final church will end with the Jews

    Pray for godly wisdom and do not doubt. You will receive it in due time. – James 1:5-7

    The church of Christ began with the Jewish apostle Peter in Jerusalem, and grew in number daily with other believing Jews in Israel. It wasn’t until some time later that the apostle Paul came about and was sent by God to the gentiles.

    So the first church began with the Jews. And in the first church, they all sold all of their possessions – homes, land, everything – and pooled their money together to distribute to each member of the church as they needed. They were all in agreeance with the ways of God: all of one spirit, all of one mind, all of one heart, all of one accord, and all shared everything they had amongst each other. And there was much peace, joy and harmony amongst the church.

    So the first church began that way in Jerusalem with a remnant of Jews, and the final church will end that way in the wilderness with the remnant of Tribulation Jews.

  • Our physical realm teaches us about the spiritual realm

    Romans 1:19-20 — “because what may be known of God is evident among them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

    There’s the physical realm and the spiritual realm. The physical realm is visible to us, the spiritual realm is invisible to us. God designed our physical realm to teach us how the spiritual realm works (which we cannot see or hear).

    About His attributes

    1. The vastness of our world

      It shows His immense power to create all these things, as well as His size.
    2. The beauty

      Albeit in a cursed state, this world is still beautiful. And its beauty shows His creativity and design skills.
    3. The wisdom
      
The fact that all of nature is alive – from the trees to the animals that live in them – along with the fact that the world is so vast and how everything works perfectly together – the sea, the earth, the sky – shows the immense amount of knowledge and wisdom it takes to develop such a system.
    4. The power

      The sheer power of God can be felt in weather phenomena like booming thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

    Day cycles

    God designed our world to go from night to day, dark to light on a daily basis. Light symbolizes life, truth, godly knowledge and wisdom, goodness, joy and holiness. Darkness symbolizes death, foolishness, uneducatedness, sadness and evil. Day after day, the physical realm is teaching us that our spirit needs to go from darkness to light.

    Daily bodily functions to stay alive

    In the physical realm, in order to stay alive and healthy, God designed us to need to: eat and drink, wear clothes, clean ourselves and rest. This whole process of taking care of ourselves teaches us the spiritual truths of how to be saved:

    1. Eating

      Bread is food and keeps our physical bodies alive. The Bible says Jesus is the “bread” of life, and that we must eat of Him. This simply means that we must believe in Him to stay spiritually alive (salvation).
    2. Drinking

      We must drink water to keep our physical bodies alive. For the spiritual: the Bible tells us that water is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Once we “eat” the “bread” of Jesus (believe in Him), we “drink” (receive) of the “water” of the Holy Spirit which gives us eternal life.
    3. Clothing ourselves
      We must clothe our physical bodies to “hide the shame of our nakedness”. For the spiritual: the Bible tells us that white robes are a symbol of righteousness, and that we can only get those robes from Christ. This teaches us that we need to clothe our spirit man with the imputed righteousness of Christ that we can only get from believing in Christ alone, to hide the shame of our sins.
    4. Clean ourselves

      We must clean our physical bodies or else they can feel gross and get infected and fall ill, and sometimes even die. For the spiritual: this teaches us that we need to keep our ourselves clean and pure from the filth (sin) that is in the world – not for salvation, but because it brings true peace and joy, and when we’re filthy with sin, we feel emotionally gross and infected and ill with depression, anxiety, stress, fear, nervousness, panic, worry, anger, hatred, bitterness, etc. Some sins can even kill us.
    5. Rest (sleep)

      We need to rest our physical bodies so they don’t burn out and die. This teaches us in the spiritual realm, for salvation, we must rest from our works for salvation, and trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross alone for salvation, and not in any of our own works: Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

    The agricultural cycle

    The agricultural lifestyle is: planting a dead seed, giving it light and watering it, the seed sprouting and up growing into a big tree, the tree producing useful fruit and providing comfort and shelter to animals, and the ability to be pruned in order for it to grow bushier and produce even more useful fruit. This cycle that repeats itself year after year in the physical realm teaches us about the journey of an unsaved person to a saved believer, who grows up into a perfect man/woman of God and does many good things:

    1. The dead seed is our spirit – we are born spiritually dead. Someone needs to “plant” (or “bury”) us by giving us the “light” (knowledge) of the gospel, and when we understand it and believe it, we become saved and receive “water” (a symbol of the Holy Spirit that comes into us and gives us life – just like watering a seed). When we believe in Christ for salvation, our fleshly bodies are spiritually put to “death” and “buried” (a symbol of planting) with Christ, and then our inner spirit man sprouts to newness of eternal life.
    2. We then become alive and sprout (a symbol of us becoming spiritually reborn and made alive in the spirit).
    3. Then as we continue to have light and water poured out on us (the knowledge and wisdom of God taught to us), we soak it up and grow up into a big, beautiful tree, being firmly rooted and grounded in the soil and built up tall and strong, so as not to be tossed about and knocked over by all of the storms (all of this teaches us that our spiritual journey is one of growth, where we need to be taught the ways of God, and as we’re taught we grow and become strong, firmly rooted and grounded and built up on the foundation of Christ and His ways, so we’re not “tossed about and knocked over” by all the storms of life, whether it be false gospel teachings for salvation, or discernment in the ways of the world vs the ways of God).
    4. Now, once the tree grows up, it starts producing useful fruit for others (this teaches us that a mature and strong believer will produce useful “fruit” for others – the fruit of faith by which others can “eat of” and be saved, the fruit of good works that benefit others, the fruit of love towards others which brings them peace and joy, and the fruit of godly knowledge and wisdom that can teach others the ways of God vs the ways of the world).
    5. And finally, there’s the ability for the vinedresser to be able to prune the tree so that it grows bushier and produces more and more useful fruit – and pruning can be a painful process, but later yields much benefit (this teaches us that the Vinedresser – our Father – can lovingly “chastise” and correct us, as well as make changes in our lives and circumstances (pruning can sometimes be painful) in order to help us grow and abound in producing more and more fruit that’s useful for others).

    Nature

    1. The wind
      In John 3, Jesus relates the wind to the Holy Spirit. Wind is (1) powerful, (2) invisible, and  (3) made of air that our bodies require for life. The Holy Spirit is (1) the power source of God, (2) He is invisible and (3) our spirit needs the Holy Spirit to give us eternal life once we believe in Jesus alone for salvation. Just like with the wind, you can’t see the Holy Spirit, but you can see and hear its effects. Jesus notes that the wind blows where it wishes, signifying the sovereign and uncontrollable nature of the Spirit’s actions (John 3:8). At Pentecost, when the first disciples received the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2:2, the Holy Spirit arrived as a “rushing mighty wind,” marking a powerful entrance. And although the Holy Spirit is powerful, symbolized by a mighty wind, He is also extremely gentle, peaceful and refreshing, like a gentle, peaceful breeze on a hot summer’s day.
    2. The heat of the sun
      The suffering of back breaking, brow beating work in the heat of the day teaches us about what we will receive if we try to work our way to heaven instead of resting in Christ’s finished work – suffering in the heat of hell.

  • I’ll never leave our Father’s kingdom again

    Jude 1:6 — “And the angels (who followed Lucifer/Satan) who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day”. The angels who left their home – they got to live in and experience our Father’s kingdom and know His ways firsthand from the very beginning, and to know Him face to face, and they still chose Lucifer/Satan and the way he wanted things to be.

    I’m never leaving our Father’s kingdom again. I’ve already gone out into the world and lived the dissipated lifestyle of pride, women, drunkenness, revelries, lewdness, the pursuit of money and luxuries, foolishness, crude joking, sports and the like.

    When our Father finally called me to come home, when I got there, He showed me His ways of life in His kingdom, and I finally felt it and understood now that His ways brings true peace and joy, and the life I had been living outside His kingdom, while I was promised freedom (to do what I thought I wanted), as well as peace and joy in those things, while my flesh found joy in them for a fleeting moment, at the end of the day I found them to only bring chaos, misery, depression and destruction, not only for my spirit, but also my flesh. I’ll never go back.

    What are His ways in His kingdom?

    1. His character and conduct

      It all boils down to true peace and joy operating through love and righteousness (holiness, purity). In character towards others: kindness, gentleness, humility, patience, self-control, goodness, faithfulness, forbearance, truthfulness, rejoicing in good.
    2. His provision

      As a good Father with His children, He will always provide for our needs and shower us with love. We are like little children playing in our Father’s house on the weekend with our friends, having our parents take care of all the adult stuff for us – not a care in the world.
    3. No need of possessions

      Our Father’s kingdom is spiritual, and is about the spiritual characteristics listed in point 1 – righteousness, love, joy and peace. It’s a simple, peaceful life. It is not about food and drink or possessions, as the spirit doesn’t need or even desire that stuff. We don’t know yet all the spiritual things He has in store for us, as Psalm 16:11 says there are pleasures forevermore in His right hand (unfathomable, unheard of stuff right now), but what we do know is that we’ll spend our time resting, fellowshipping with each other in love and righteousness, traveling with each other, and working and reigning in His 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom to preach the gospel to the mortals and bring them into everlasting life.

    Luke 15:11-24, the parable of the prodigal son — Then He (Jesus) said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

  • Our natural, carnal and fleshly world

    Pray for godly wisdom and do not doubt. You will receive it in due time. – James 1:5-7

    1. It’s a natural, carnal and fleshly world (not a spiritual world):
    2. Where the natural, carnal and fleshly human body is made of the natural dust of the earth, where the earth and man:
    3. Produces natural, carnal and fleshly stuff:
    4. That fuels the carnal and fleshly lusts of the flesh, eyes and pride of life:
    5. That is fueled by selfish and prideful desires:
    6. In turn filling the earth with pride and selfishness, vs filling the earth with the spiritual things of selfless love:
    7. Giving us the knowledge of good (selfless love) and evil (selfishness and pride):
    8. Where evil ultimately abounds.

    We are spirit, and at the resurrection our natural, carnal, made-of-this-world fleshly bodies will be transformed into spiritual bodies, and will desire the spiritual things of selfless love instead of the natural, carnal things of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride.

    God is spirit, and God is the embodiment of selfless love, and the spiritual realm operates in the knowledge of the good spiritual things. This natural, carnal, fleshly world operates in selfishness and pride, and teaches us the knowledge of evil.

    If this natural world works to please our natural body, then our spiritual world will work to please our spirit.

    Why did God create this natural world? Why did God create for us natural bodies that only desire the sinful lusts of selfishness and pride?:

    To really give us a teaching lesson about the knowledge of evil, so that we would know how bad evil and sin is and why we just can’t have even the tiniest speck of it in our lives, and cannot be associated with it. And those who overcome the desire of wanting to do evil and ultimately get their sins forgiven by faith in Christ alone are deemed worthy of the eternal state of blessedness that all believers will enter into. Whereas those who love sin and evil more than the ways of God and ultimately choose not get their sins forgiven by faith in Christ alone will bear the eternal consequences of that evil and sin with eternal hellfire.
    God has the knowledge of good and evil, and has given angels and humans that knowledge as well, and has given us the ability to do that evil. If God made us to where we had knowledge that there was evil but could not perform it, we would know “what” was evil (we would know that stealing is evil), but if we never actually did any evil and never experienced the results of evil, we would never know the “why” of it being evil, never able to comprehend how destructive it is. And in God’s manifold wisdom, He used this teaching lesson to find for Himself the good angels and humans that truly love Him and want to be with Him, and that desire the good instead of the evil – instead of making us all robot drones who are pre-programmed to “love” Him and His ways (which wouldn’t be genuine love at all). So He gave us freewill to see who would truly love Him and His ways.

  • The function of the church. No one is more important than the other

    The body of Christ (the church which is made up of all the believers) is likened to a human body where each believer of the church is a different body part. The idea is that while we are all a different body part, we each have a special function (or role) to contribute to the entire body so that the entire body functions properly. Example: a nose gives the body the ability to smell. A foot helps the body stand and walk. A toe helps the body balance. That idea being, that if any of these body parts were to stop functioning, eventually the entire body’s ability to function properly would shut down and be ineffective. This is what Paul was speaking about in 1 Corinthians 12.

    Another example that we can use today that wasn’t possible back in Paul’s day would be a car engine: all the parts of the engine are 100% crucial for the proper functioning of the engine. If even the smallest part, say a screw, were to fall out, then the entire engine would break down eventually and be useless. Someone in the body of Christ is that screw, and no matter how small their role may seem, if they weren’t a part of the engine, the whole system would break down.

    The church “body”/“engine”/“system” function is to:

    1. Get others saved.
    2. Raise up and instruct the brethren in all the ways of God, transforming them into perfect men/women of God.
    3. Help the needy.

    Whenever someone gets saved and receives the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives them different “gifts” and a “role” to play in the body by God’s grace. These gifts make up the part/function/role we play in the “body”/“engine”/“system” of the church to make it function properly like a well oiled machine in order to: (1) Get others saved, (2) Raise up and instruct the brethren in all the ways of God into perfect men/women of God, and (3) Help the needy.

    The gifts are:

    1. Godly wisdom.
    2. Godly knowledge.
    3. Faith.
    4. The ability to heal others.
    5. The ability to work miracles.
    6. Prophesying.
    7. Being able to discern different spirits.
    8. Being able to speak heavenly languages.
    9. Being able to interpret the heavenly languages.

    The roles are:

    1. Apostles (messengers of the wisdom of God).
    2. Prophets (bringing new knowledge into the body of Christ).
    3. Evangelists (spreading the gospel, leading others to salvation).
    4. Teachers (instructing the brethren with all the wisdom of God).
    5. Miracles.
    6. Healings.
    7. Helping the needy.
    8. Church administrations.
    9. Speaking in tongues (heavenly languages).

    Some believers may receive more than one gift and role, playing a large part, while others may only receive one gift and role, playing a “seemingly” smaller part.

    No one is more important than the other. The larger parts need even the smallest parts to perform its larger duty. God wrote all of our stories and intertwined them with each other so that we would all help each other with the end goal of getting others saved, instructing the brethren, and helping the needy. An example might be: There’s a mighty, big piece of the engine, and then there’s a most small piece of the engine. The mightiest, biggest piece’s role in the body of Christ is to write an entire epistle to get millions saved and help them understand the ways of Christ. However, that most small piece’s entire sole purpose in it’s entire life (it’s function within the engine) is to, one time, simply share someone else’s wisdom that that other person received from the Lord, that the mighty piece would eventually stumble upon one day and be able to use as a most critical piece of wisdom for their epistle, that would eventually become wisdom and life to all who read the epistle. Had that most small piece never have done something so simple as pressing the “share” button, that mighty piece would have never had seen the wisdom that was shared, and a most massive chunk of wisdom would be missing from that person’s epistle, negatively impacting millions of others down the road. Such is with this epistle you’re now reading.

    We all play different roles. Yes, some believers will play the same role (as there’s not hundreds of millions of different roles), but another grouping of believers will play a different role. And all of our roles function together to ultimately bring about: (1) Getting others saved, (2) Raising up and instructing the brethren in all the ways of God into perfect men/women of God, and (3) Helping the needy.

    Humility:And at the end of the day, it is ultimately God who does these works in and through us, so we don’t get to claim any glory for ourselves: Philippians 2:13 — “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” All the wisdom given to us to share – that’s God’s wisdom, not ours. All the wealth we were given – that’s wealth from God to give to the poor. It is God who raised us up and gave us our roles and gifts, we didn’t choose ourselves or our gifts. It is God who entrusts us with His message and sends us to deliver His message – it is not our message, and we did not send ourselves. We are all just fellow servants of one another, where ultimately it is God serving in and through us. God, through Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:24 tells us that He even gives greater honor to the smaller parts, that we all may equal out (“I don’t get as much honor, but I got a big role in that I’m on the front-line in helping many, so I’m fine with that.” “I didn’t get chosen for a big role, but I receive much honor, as those who received the big role could do nothing without me, so I’m fine with that.”). See Paul, what a mighty man of God who brought us over half of the New Testament and most of the New Testament knowledge and wisdom. Yet, it is God who (1) is the One who died on the cross for us – not Paul, (2) it was God who chose Paul – he didn’t step forward on his own accord, (3) it is God’s wisdom Paul presents – not his own, (4) it is God who sent Paul to the lost of the world – he didn’t send himself. So, Paul doesn’t get any of the credit, it all traces back to God, and all glory and thanks should be rendered to God and not to Paul.

  • The spirit needs fellowship

    “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” — Genesis 2:18.

    The spirit needs and craves righteous (holy/sinless) and loving fellowship with other spirits:

    That’s why the Father has the Son and the Holy Spirit.

    That’s why God created the angels and animals – other spirits to fellowship with. 

    And other kinds of spirits are great to fellowship with, but man needs his own kind of spirit to fellowship with, and that’s why God created Eve for Adam.

    That’s why God designed and instituted family, to always have a special group of people amongst the billions of others to fellowship with.

    That’s why God comes to literally live inside a believer 24/7/365 – to fellowship constantly, forever.

    In this fallen world, some of us lack a family. Some of us lack a partner. But in the restored world, all of this will be perfected again.

    In this fallen world, especially in these days, there’s a shortage of true “righteous” and “loving” fellowship (and more negative fellowship than positive), so it’s easy to become a recluse to protect yourself from hurt. But the spirit naturally knows how to handle these situations: with grace (undeserved kindness), patience, longsuffering, forbearance (tolerance), gentleness, goodness and humility, not returning hate for hate, but rather returning kindness for hate. The spirit naturally and genuinely cares for all spirits and their well-being, and is naturally compassionate. And other hurting spirits pick up on that and are greatly blessed with peace and joy from a spirit that genuinely cares about them.


    And you are spirit. It is natural for you as your inner man, whether you believe it or not. So walk in the spirit – not in the flesh. Suppress the selfishness of the flesh and you will be free to operate in the spirit and you will be amazed and joyed at the goodness that comes out of you.