Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 16

Annotated Gen.15.8-12 "Deep sleep"

Melchizedek's embassy to Abraham was the high priest and bread and wine established Abraham as the precursor for Jesus Christ. By a Covenant God ordained him as 'Thou art a priest for ever." The Spirit uses the tag 'forever' to establish the eternal priesthood encompassed both heaven and earth. The Covenant between God and Man ensured blessings from the greater to the lesser so Melchizadek was addressing the man. Bread and wine referred to his Son who was the Word which was God. Setting the Word becoming flesh the king of Salem validated Abraham as after his image and after his likeness. In heaven the last Adam as the lord from heaven set his envelope while Jesus as the word become flesh as 'the son' of Abraham.

It is upon this unity of the Spirit his priesthood worked. Thus God in a vision appears to him.'the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision' holds both heaven and earth alike.(15.1)

Abraham's immediate concern was something else," And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" Now God insists the protocol 'how to approach God'. In v.9 God refers to the animals chosen were to be three years old. As with the tag,'forever' the number Three establishes that he was ordained as a priest in his Son.

9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

God caused a deep sleep in Adam "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:"(2.21). Here the deep sleep foreshadows the death of his Son. "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him."(v.12) As a priest Abraham foreshadowed blessings of man in his Son.

Amen.

Matthew 19:26

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 17:20

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Blessings

Sheila,

I am sorry to hear of this cancer. I will e praying for your husband. Please get back to me to update me so I can know more closelyhow to pray for him in this fight.

Jesse,

Is their a way to see someone elses post such as yours when you presented your study of different books of the Bible?

Thank you

David

Yes, Gerald,

Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon king but had a very short reign (January-October 1066) and died by the army of William the Conqueror.

Both the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans were Christianized in the Church of Rome. Both went swiftly to war with one another withing their tribe but also without. They were constantly working to have dominion of the lands of Britain both prior to and after this Conquest. So, I don't think that the Anglo-Saxons were anymore honorable and bound to Christian principles than the Normans or the Danes or the Welsh or the Irish or France or any of the other powerful kingdoms of the European Continent and Isles.

But as I said earlier, God was causing history to go along as He willed. He used various peoples in this fight for land and dominion to forge changes towards His purpose and end goal throughout history. And, as I will say, His goal was not about Israel or Gentiles separately, but to bring to Himself in Christ a redeemed people, Israel and Gentile, from every tongue, people, tribe, and nation to the praise of His glorious graced and that in Christ, all things will be completed and made complete, especially when He returns for His second coming.

Saints, pt2

Only if christians could really understand this. Then we will not feel so guilty when we fail obeying God's commandements. So instead of trying getting there on our own why don't we kneel down and ask God to provide us His grace?

Yes definitely we must try our best. But when we come to our limit (because all people have their limits) it is time to ask for His grace. Grace will get us there where God wants us to go. Nothing else.

Once there was brother in Christ whom for no reason I disliked. Sometime I met him in the church and the dislike for him flared up inside me. But I was feeling guilty about it. A christian feeling dislike for his brother for no reason? Not accepted. So I didn't know what to do. So I just started to command that dislike to go away in the name of Jesus. After doing that for 4-5 rimes I felt like a dark cloud went away and the whole environment got bright. And I was looking that brother with love inside me. In a split second my dislike for him was converted to love for him. Was it that I commanded the dilike? No it wasn't that. It was God who saw my intention and provided me His grace. It never occured such a thing to me any more. I believe it was a message from God who wanted to show me how easy is for God to make us love each other, even our enemies.

It is called "God's Grace" Let us ask for it everyday four lives. No we will not automatically become perfect at once. But step after step, day after day, month after month, year after year, we will increase in Christ.

Have a blessed weekend.

Hi Gerald.

That's ok on the delayed response.

I've been busy and haven't been able to visit the site the last day or so.

Let me get back to you perhaps tomorrow.

GBU.

To the saints.

What is the difference between an old family car and a race car, a Ferrari? It's huge, isn't it?. Similarly the difference between man and God is huge. Can an old car run like the Ferrari? Definitely not. Even if we modify it, change the engine, the suspension, the aerodynamics, everything in it, it will never go like a Ferrari. t will be somewhat faster and that is how much it can be improved.

Can a man walk like God? Is it possible for us to walk/think/feel/behave like Christ? Think of that old car. Even if we try our best we will never succeed to walk like Christ. It is above our abilities. t is above our nature.

God is sinless. His nature is sinless. He doesn't have to fight sin. Sin simply can not touch Him. But we are not. Actually we are sinful. Our nature is sinful.

"God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:"( James 1:13). But we are tempted. Very easily.

God doesn't have try to love someone. Love just comes out of Him naturaly. Because His nature is love. God is love. But we are not love. We can hardly love ourselves. How is it possible to love our enemies?

So we have two different persons with different natures and different abilities. But God wishes us to become like Him. Does God ask the impossible from us? At first sight it seems so.

So we have a problem without a solution? What is the solution?

The miising thing in this problem is called "God's grace". God's grace is what bridges man to God. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to walk like Jesus. There is no other way for people to become like Christ. It does not depend on our abilities, our ethics. Those will not get us far away. It is like a father who asks his child to run, say, 50 miles. And the child is exhausted after a couple of miles. How can that child run the remaining 48 miles? Similarly man can not go far with their own abilities.

...see pt2

Hello Richard,

I agree with you. Those who claim to have deliverance ministries are often so flamboyant in their ministry which brings attention to themselves. Why would they need to resort to such dramatic demonstrations if their work is truly from God?

And as far as how they often speak to demons, they ignore what is said in Jude 1:8 says of the archangels who tells Satan "the Lord rebuke you". When they tell demons where to go and speak ill of them, they are not following Scripture and show that they really do not understand how much power and authority these truly possess. Only Jesus is more powerful and possesses more authority than evil entities. We should beseech the Lord to help us, to come and deliver a person from demonic influence and be on guard against falling into evil traps set by them who take advantage of some minister's excessive, boastful address to demons themselves. Perhaps more prayer and fasting would actually be what God wants them to do before they try to bring release from evil for others.

Additionally, what you speak about concerning what some people label as demons such as lust, lying, etc. are more likely not actual demons specific to such problematic behavior. These behaviors are the result of our sinful corrupted nature that only wants to sin and to invent knew ways to sin. We must fight against our own nature by the Spirit of the Lord and take responsibility to the rise of besetting behaviors that we tend to feed and allow to grow because we , for one , love them, and secondly, we pass them off as demons when in reality it is just our own self that is bringing these behaviors out in our lives.

It seems that some sections of the charismatic/pentecostal community have driven down deep into this type of thinking to the point where every problem, appetite, character flaw are shouted out as demonic, but they are often not so. We have the Spirit of God living within us and we should walk as if we believe that He is God over demons.

Dear Donna,

Thank you for the update.

I had double cataract surgery over a year ago and only need glasses for reading. I hope that you can be in touch with an agency that may help him get the correct eyeglasses for his new sight needs.

I will continue to pray for him to decide to stay where he is at, to realize that this home is doing him much good and his health is improving as a result. I will pray that God will cause his sobriety to continue indefinitely and that he will not feel the need to go back to drugs and alcohol.

You mentioned his son. I did not know he had a son. Does this son live nearby? Is he truly helpful to Arthur's overall health and well-being?

Donna, you have a lot to be thankful today. But there are big concerns still present. Lean on God for each day and its needs for you, Arthur, and your other son, too, who has drug problems, too. God is strongest of all. He can do what seems to us as impossible. And He is compassionate to those who are unable to help themselves much. My prayers are with you and for you and your family.

Thank you for this update.

Cheryl,

You have to log into your account, and then click on the profile banner at the top right corner of the page. That will open up your profile and from there you can open up and view your previous posts.

Hope this helps!

Annotated Gen.14.18 "Melchizedek" We shall come back to Lot after explaining the promise of God to the patriarch.

" And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."

His appearance is as a forerunner to the patriarch who shall observe the act of circumcision as a sign of entering into the life of his Son whose Advent itself is a pledge to the promise of the indwelling Spirit upon all men. The basis of fath is same for both.

The Lord from heaven sets bread and wine so circumcision signifies outward observes condemning the flesh and drawing blood in the process. Mind you it is before the Law of Moses was enjoined upon the nation of Israel. Abraham was to be the priest-king and of the latter aspect we have the proof in his successful campaign against the confederacy of nations.(14.1-17)

As commanded of God he serves as a priest administering the covenant."and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him."(17.23) Thus the Spirit is setting Abraham as the Father of many nations of which the Jews constitute only one part. It is ofthm God promises, " And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth:... then shall thy seed also be numbered./ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee"(13.16-17). The Covenant of the flesh is merely pendent to the Covenant God has entered with his Son. "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."(Ps.110.4)

Circumcision is of no value since his Son shed abroad the Holy Spirit. Upon this promise stands the church of the first born and of the spirits, "the spirits of just men made perfect,/And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling."

Imposter church may contain the seed of Abraham but none of it can be said to be of 'another seed' of Jesus the Mediator. Church of Rome was on the ruins of Rome.

Hello Gerald,

Thanks for this helpful information. And yes, you are correct that in some ways we differ in perspective on some history, but we can read historical accounts to gain understanding of the factors that led to the historical changes God used through time to advance His kingdom, Church, and witness.

I understand that you are UK citizen. I am a U.S. citizen. We have a lot of commonality in our historical past, as many who colonized the New World were from Great Britain. But the U.S. as it grew westward was influenced people from many other nations (mostly European in the early centuries).

I do firmly believe that God is control of all history and works it out according to His plan and purpose decided from before creation as He knew all of what would come about because He decided what would come about in order to bring His purpose to fruition to His ongoing plan throughout history.

Through all the ways, bloodshed, high and low points in history, God promised in Romans 8:28 that ALL things are worked to the end of our good to those who love God and are called by Him according to His eternal purpose of election and blessing to those He determined to redeem through all time. We can rest with confidence that no matter how things work out in history, God does work within history to bring about good to His people.

Ecclesiasticus 44:7 "ALL THESE WERE HONOURED IN THEIR GENERATIONS AND WERE THE GLORY OF THEIR TIMES"

These powerful and wonderful words appear, inter alia, upon the Naval War Memorials at PORTSMOUTH, CHATHAM, and PLYMOUTH. The words are also inscribed on other memorials, such as the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, to honor the fallen, linking their sacrifice to a lasting legacy.

What an amazing epitaph to those who made that ultimate sacrifice. A testament also to those who designed and built these memorials, and chose the wording thereon so very carefully and appropriately.

Grce Dieu

My last bible question I did not get a answer to, how can I see my last question ?

Continued : King Charles ( second also) shouid have read his Bible for it wouid have taught him that God can justly judge a king and give it to another . Even as He can judge a nation and give their land to others . Or chastise them and temporarily give their land to others .

If God be for you who can be against you " but if God be against you what hope have you?

He lost the argument ,he lost the war he lost his throne and in the end he lost his head .

By that civil war the foundations of our political liberty laid when King John signed Magna Carta we're established after the civil war and we got a Constitutional Monarchy . Europes kings trying to keep their absolutism in the end lost them all .

If Ming Charles is a symbol of anything it is to the fact that thectruth is not a tyrant but nor is it democratic but it does have its own imperative . His Majesty is also the foreshadow of Him who is to come and that The Truth must sit on the throne and not another .

Our approaches to history are somewhat different . While not rejecting dates and persons depending on one's starting point we may come to different conclusions .

The foundations of our liberties in Law religion and politics are primarily fiunded upin biblical principles . We are losing them primarily because this nation wants the liberty but is not willing to honour the principles upon which they rest let alone God who gave them . " They that honour me I will honour"

And instead now clsim those liberties are ours by right .an assertion that is denied by history as much as it is denied by the falken nature of man .

There is not a kingdom on earth in history as now that was not founded upon Murder treachery bloodshed and war . If thecUK turned out any different it was only by the grace of God . All kingdoms then are built on sand . This includes Rome .

But the kingdom of God is founded upin better things and will last forever and rightly so.

Nearly every nation first started out as families then tribes each with its own chief or king then one king ruling over them all till finally there was one king over one country . The USA a little different bough it too had tribes and internal warfare . But it's revolution with Britain was in fact the birth of a nation and at any birth there is blood shed . It's roots thus being in Great Brtains liberties. The history of Scotland goes as far back and has much the same history as other peoples . English kings reasons I don't know yet insisted that Scottish kings be in submission to them . They said No. not even the Romans were able to conquer Scotland . When England was strong England subdued them but when weak they rose up and invaded England .but neither couid conquer the other . Geographically they have always been one . But the enemies of England used the animosity to wage war on England . But when England got hold of the Bible in English and by the grace of zGod was converted to Christ she that was always geographically separated from Europe now became spiritually separated also . Then Scotland also go the Bible and preachers like Knox delivered Scotland under God from the superstitious none sense of Rome and became spiritually united with England . Then God in his goid providence without war and by the natural law of inheritance United the kingdoms under James king of Scotland who became Kingnif England . " Let no man separate what God has joined' it is repitrted he said .

Thus we became the United Kingdom of Great Britain .and prospered accordingly . Why some Scots wish to leave this true Union for one that is in name only one can only put down to the fact that thec' Jacobites' are alive and kicking once again .

The Stuarts only lost the throne when they insisted on trying to reverse what God had wrought and return to the European model of rulers . Charles 1st using " the divine right of kings " as his justification . The man shouid have read his Bible

Annotated Gen.13.14-18 "Lift up"

God asks the patriarch to lift in order to see for himself the land his seed shall inherit.

"And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:"

v.15 "For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever."

The tag 'forever' refers to Jesus Christ by whom all things consist.

In the next we have two worlds setting the upper lmit and the lower limit. In ch.15 the lower limit refers to the sea of Egypt. Here the seed is compared to dust of the earth. We have a reference to it in this verse,"Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, ... and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable."(Heb.11.12)

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

From so many instances it is clear where our true worship ought to be. In spirit and truth warrant our faith more than lip-service.

The apostles were nor for worshipping in mega churches,"And all that believed were together, and had all things common;/And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need./And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,/Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."( Acts 2.44-47) Temple precints were neutral places or in the open by the banks of a river where the church gathered with singleness of heart. Unlike Lot had to have his church in the midst of Sodom. How did this simplicity of the apostles was confounded as we see today?

"and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." 3x1000 Not actual number but the church of the first born and in heaven.

Trying to outsmart the Devil: Man's way or God's way

When we hear "deliverance" preachers calling for a demon to go back to hell; or go there the first time clearly we are taking liberties the scriptures won't allow us to do. The demons asked Jesus at the time He was casting them out not to send them to the abyss before the time.

A lack of clear understanding of what the problem of man is comes from titles such as a "demon of lust" etc that somehow is supposed to describe the personality of an entity. There is no doubt; of course that certain illnesses (such as a mute boy) describe a demon and its effects. Not understanding the sin nature; however puts us in danger that if the house isn't cleaned out; as it were a demon after going out brings in 7 more wicked ones. Pride; for instance can replace lust; or alcohol as a vice.

This "one sided" approach to Satan negates the fact that he has many methodologies to meet his goals; and it also doesn't get to the source of the issue; our sin nature which gives Satan legal access to some extent to accuse us; oppress and in some cases at least for nonbelievers possess them with his minions.

This again relates to the whole concept of trying to have a political crusade married to a religious one. God rules over all; but the world system in all its institutions has deep roots in our nation as well as others; whether we choose to admit it or not. To appeal to the masses an ecumenical concept has to reign supreme and there is no doubt that is going to lead to the Babylon religion and economic world system. The deception is that one party or another is the problem. And a lack of REPENTANCE characterizes this whole concept. To bring in the masses we need a lukewarm watered down approach to God's Word which inevitably involves "inclusivity"; and has an appearance of change that is illusory. We all need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Satan is; as I like to say an "equal opportunity" destroyer

Hello Chris

Amen brother. You are right. I think my pastor used that example to give us the message that without letting God change our characters nothing can be done. We can not change our character on our own, with our own ability. We have to let God do that. We actually know what to do but we can not do it. A social worker might had given good advice as well. But still people separare. Why? Because they don't or cannot do the advice that was given to them. But you are right. That pastor should had adviced them as well saying words of encouragement from the Bible.

GBU

Annotated Gen.13.10 "Lot"

" And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar."

" Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house" (12.1) Lot was the nephew who was not called by God as he did with Abraham. 'From thy kindred' included Lot. But by the call it stamped Lot as a son of Adam while Abraham was the heir of promise, and belonged to another seed beginning with Seth. Abram went south and came back where he started so he was following the Word was God, the Word circular. The Word which was with God set a template the last Adam and this lord from heaven was his people in the land of the living while Lot tied to him by flesh and blood showed what a gulf did exist between the,. In this parting of ways, Lot relied on his physical eyes. Plain of Jordan was well watered, even as the garden. Worldly wise it will do. Yes for man without calling he sees wealth as gain and without forsaking all what does his religion amount to. We shall come to it soon.

The Spirit sets a few names leading to Zoar which is synonymous with a trifle, and outer darkness. Egypt and Sodom in one breath, are a bit too steep is it not? But it is how the cities are lined up in the will of God. "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."(Rev.11.8) The adjective 'great' without exception is used to establish the divine Will " The people which sat in darkness saw great light," and judgment is in order. Thus tribulation is 'great' (Mt.4.16;24.21) Jerusalem, Sodom and Egypt are one and the same. Babylon is yet in future, same fate as Babel. Fall of it was the beginning and it sets fall of Babylon as sure and beyond recall. Lot was heading to it both eyes open

Dear Gerald,

In conclusion.

You are right that we are to rule our lives by God's standards as revealed in Scripture as He calls to Himself every true elect person to Christ Jesus to be in Him and placed in His eternal Kingdom by faith. We cannot put our trust in governments no matter how free one is within a certain country. We need to guard our freedoms, of course, so that the cause of Christ and His Gospel can be expanded through His people by His Holy Spirit.

And, we who are such elect, are to adhere to the faith once and for all delivered to us by the apostles, to stand up for it in season or not. I pray that we all will be strengthened to bear what we need to face on account of our faith and living it faithfully privately, amongst the brethren, within our families, and out in the public arena. Let us be light to those who are in darkness of unbelief. Let us not shrink from trials or seek to play it safe when there is much at stake if we fail to stay true to our calling in Jesus Christ.

Gerald Pg. 2

England and Scotland fought for centuries over whom would rule overall even thought the kings intermarried with one another beginning with William I's son Henry I marrying Matilda of Scotland, (who was actually descended from the royal house of Wessex (Anglo-Saxon) as well as the King of Scotland. In 1603 under James I/VI the Union of the Crowns occurred uniting Scotland to the English crown. Under this Stuart dynasty, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England were all united under the English crown for the first time. But also under the Stuarts this newly formed unified England was plunged into a civil war, the result of which being that the English crown cannot rule without the consent of the Parliament. (King Charles I had disbanded Parliament, Oliver Cromwell led the Parliamentarians to victory).

So, in 1688, England (to become the United Kingdom) now operated under a constitutional monarchy. It was in 1707 when England and Scotland gave up their monarchy to become Great Britain under the Acts of Union. During the time of the 1500's-1600's many migrated to the New World seeking not only religious freedom as non-conformists (Pilgrims/Puritans) but also to escape the upheaval in the homeland that was torn apart by strife, overcrowding, plague, dismantling of feudalism, lack of employment, the rise of a non-gentry class, and gentry who were not first born sons to inherit land and estates in England.

There were many factors that led to the migration to the New World. And we can know that God had His hand in bringing into the New World at the opportune time those who worked to form the continental Congress, the Constitution and the Republic that was formed from the American Revolution.

Through the ups and downs of the relations between Great Britain and the U.S., these two nations have become strong allies through 2 World Wars and other political events that brought about this strong bond.

Gerald, is there anything else you wish to discuss about this?

Hello Gerald,,

What Harold are you speaking of who was king of England?

After the Anglo-Saxons, Jutes and Danes invaded the isle of Britain, the Isle was ruled by a number of petty kingdoms, each with separate kings.

In 886 Alfred the Great declared himself "king over all the Anglo-Saxons in Britain after taking back areas from the Danish Vikings. The Isle was divided up into kingdoms ruled by descendents of Alfred the Great. during the 900's the kingdoms were united under Edward the Elder and then Aethlstan to form the Kingdom of the English. In 927 Aethlstan finally defeated the last remaining Danish Viking kingdom of York (Known as Danelaw). This was the first time all of England (not Scotland or Wales) was united under one Anglo-Saxon monarch. In 1016, Cnut the Great of Denmark took the monarchy and merged England with Denmark and Norway as a kingdom.

Before the Norman conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror took control of all of Britain (except for Wales) and merged all the former kingdoms into one, with him as the sole king. The other kings were deposed, killed, or submitted to King William I, relinquishing their role as a monarch. All of the land in England was confiscated by William I and designated as belonging to the crown (monarchy). William I then redistributed the lands among his Norman brethren who assisted him in the Conquest who became lords of the new fiefs and were designated as Earls, Barons, who were given charge of their land designation but not ownership. Each lord needed to supply a set # of knights for the king's service and pay taxes to support the monarchy. The serfs did not have many rights at that time.

In 1284 King Edward I took control of Wales in the conquest of Wales, placing Wales under the English crown.

The Baron's War brought about the Magna Carta, which King John was forced to sign. It established rights to the feudal lords that the crown would uphold. The U.S. Bill of Rights was influenced by the Magna Carta.

See pg.2

Thank you brother Giannis for that important lesson: that it is only by God's Spirit can we have our minds, attitudes, and problems sorted out.

Though, I would have liked to have seen the pastor also giving wise counsel to those with marriage difficulties. As you shared in a later post of the biblical requirement of self-discipline, I also apply that discipline to someone correctly & consistently applying biblical Truths and patterns in both one's personal life and in Church life. So, by definition, a pastor is a shepherd, quite different to the other gifted appointments in the Church. Yes, a pastor (& elder) should be able to teach & lead a Fellowship, but primarily he is gifted (or, ought to be) as a shepherd of his flock.

I think that the pressing need of that couple was to hear some good helpful words from the Bible & with the pastor's mature experience, to both guide them and also to assure them of his understanding of their issues and assured prayers - and of course to follow-up in their progress. But those are just my thoughts, yet fully agreeing that the pastor's words to first seek the Lord in prayer & allow His Spirit to fill and guide them towards forgiveness and reconciliation, is most important. GBU.

If there is death in the pulpit there will be death in the church . If there is death in the pulpit and some life in the church then there is trouble .

It is quite an awful thing that in John 17 the Lord said " I do not pray for the world "

The world is not going to change but rather it is going to get worse .

There are lines with God . That if you cross there is no comeback .

Cain crossed it .King Saul crossed it .Ahab and Jezebel . Others also . King Herod too and when the Lord was brought before him . The Lord said not a word to him ( like Saul) Judas also .

"God will not always strive with man "

Am I advocating not orating for unsaved loved ones?

No.

But let is not be sentimental about their rebellion against God they are as we were once " chiodren of disobedience and " children of wrath ". Or pray for them making excuses for them . They are in a very serious place .

Which " If they do not repent they too shall likewise perish"

Consider we who " once knew not mercy now have received mercy" .

If then we pray that zGod will have mercy upon them ,should we not pray with that understanding of what mercy is? And what is what like when we knew it not? Yet was in such great need of it .

Those who are so indifferent to the increasing warnings of God are but one step and one breath from a lost eternity That one unrepentant thief did not redeem the time given him and when the Lord turned to the repentant thief and gave him a promise . He turned his head away from the unrepentant thief who went into eternity with nothing .

In that Harold was king England was more unified than you suppose and it's infrastructure and the way it was organised made it a very rich prize in deed .

The Normans did not unify the country but they did establish a bit of iron in our character . And when King John began to rule and govern like all European rulers did arbitary dictatorial and a law unto themselves it got so bad that the Norman barons looked to the Saxon King Alfred of what an English king should and at the point of a sword got thecKing to publicly admit that even kings must be subject not to their subjects but to principles of heaven and goid government and in signing the Magna Carta laid the foundations to this nations political liberties .

William in calling all the barons to meet with him near Winchester and to swear an oath to the crown is still renewed at each State opening of Parliament .

This nations true liberties are founded upon biblical principles . But we have exchanged the truth for a lie our liberty for bondage and our true Christian heritage and liberty (founded in thst early first cent and secured at the Reformation) this nation has exchanged for a " mess of pottage" . We are thus heading for storms the like of which we have not seen for over 400 years or so .For when the political power economic and religious powers join up then we will see the persecution of THE faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints" . But thanks be to God " we have this confidence ,God knows who are His " and if men can no longer make righteous judgement God still can and will,sepera ting the sheep from the goats .

As the cross of Calvary loomed people made their choices and took up their positions .

From Judas to the religious leaders . So it is happening now .and if any doubt that consider that if you are taking up,your cross and following Him where it is your actually going to?

Moral behavior only comes from the Spirit

The efforts to enforce a code of morality began with a popular movement in the 1980's. Since any mention of a particular group or organization on this cite that is perceived as negative could get me flagged; let me just say that the same concept exists today.

This is the idea of Dominionism to subjugate the world to somehow expand the church and have the nations of the world prepare for His coming. Again; that ignores clear passages in Revelation and elsewhere of the Tribulation which is meant to bring in the greatest revival in history as well as provide Satan with his masterpiece; the Antichrist. A person who is strongly Post Millennial (more like Preterist) could assess that all the prophecies are either fulfilled already or symbolic. Most just believe that we go straight into the eternal Kingdom with a new heaven and earth with a final conflagration of Gog still necessitating a brief turn for the worse for the world before He comes.

What part of He treads the winepress alone ( Isaiah 63:3) is not understood? Is making the world right for His return considered achieved with the whole world fighting against Christ ( Psalm 2; Revelation 19).

Now if we are way off on Christ's return it is conceivable; albeit seems less likely by the day that some true revival will occur prior to HIs coming. The falling away described in numerous scriptures certainly seems to be occurring; particularly having a form of godliness but lacking the power thereof. ( 2 Tim. 3:5).

The latest "communion" event in D.C. let's just say doesn't take much research to see the sponsors and their heretical teachings; and from what I understand was open to all. However we feel about revival there has to be a sober approach to such an event; and this explains why warnings such as 1 Cor. 11:27 are largely ignored. This is one step further; it appears from what is a scripturally sound approach to the death; burial and Resurrection.

Sorry it is actually 1 Cor 9:24-27.