Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

[ZNP]

What have my people become

(adapted from Lamentations 4)

FADE IN:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera pans over the desolate streets of the city, filled with rubble and debris. A lone figure is seen walking down the street, his face twisted in sorrow and despair.

Cut to:

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY

The figure, a man in his 50s, sits alone in a dark room. He mutters to himself, "How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed!" He repeats this phrase over and over again, his voice growing louder with each repetition.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera pans over the stones of the sanctuary that are poured out at the head of every street. The figure continues to mutter to himself as he walks down the street, his eyes filled with tears.

Cut to:

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY

The man begins to weep, "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!" He sobs uncontrollably, his body shaking with grief.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera focuses on a pack of jackals feeding their young. The man's voice is heard again, "Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness."

Cut to:

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY

The man continues to weep and wail, "The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them." His cries fill the empty room, echoing off the walls.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera focuses on a group of people, once wealthy and prosperous, now reduced to living in the streets dumpster diving. The man's voice is heard again, "They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills."

Cut to:

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY

The man's cries grow more desperate, "For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her."

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera focuses on a group of once-noble men and women who appear to have once been Navy Seals and Marines, now reduced to beggars. The man's voice is heard again, "Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire. Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick."

Cut to:

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - DAY

The man continues to cry out, "They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field." His body trembles with grief and anger.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The camera focuses on a group of pitiful women, driven to boiling their own children for food. The man's voice is heard again, "The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people."

FADE IN:

EXT. JERUSALEM - DAY

The city is in ruins, with flames engulfing buildings and smoke rising to the sky. People are running frantically through the streets, trying to escape the chaos.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof."

The camera focuses on a group of kings, standing at the entrance of the city, looking defeated and helpless.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem."

The camera then shows a group of priests and prophets, covered in blood, wandering blindly through the streets. People shout at them to leave and not touch them.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men cannot touch their garments. Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not!"

The camera then shows the people of Jerusalem fleeing the city, with other nations looking on and saying that they will no longer stay there.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here. The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders."

The camera then shows a group of people watching for help that never comes. They realize their end is near and that they will not be saved.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save. They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come."

The camera then shows the people being chased by their pursuers, who are in planes, helicopters and using drones, even in the mountains and wilderness.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens: They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."

The camera then shows the daughter of Hollywood, rejoicing and making herself naked. The daughter of Zion is being punished for her iniquities, but so is the daughter of Hollywood.

NARRATOR (V.O.) "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Hollywood, that dwellest in the land of Oz: The cup shall pass through unto thee also; thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked. The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Hollywood; he will uncover thy sins."

FADE OUT.

 

[ZNP]

We are humbled, on our knees, turn to You Lord

(adapted from Lamentations 5)

FADE IN:

EXT. DESOLATE CITY OF JUDAH - DAY

The city is in ruins, with buildings burnt and destroyed. The streets are empty except for a few people wandering around, looking weary and defeated.

CUT TO:

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DAY

A family sits huddled together, looking exhausted and hopeless.

FATHER (whispering) Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us. Behold, and see our reproach.

MOTHER Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, our houses unto aliens.

CHILD We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are as widows.

CUT TO:

EXT. MARKETPLACE - DAY

A group of people is gathered around a well, waiting for their turn to buy water.

MAN We have drunken our water for money. Our wood is sold unto us.

CUT TO:

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

A group of people is fleeing through the desert, with their pursuers hot on their heels.

WOMAN Our pursuers are upon our necks. We are weary and have no rest.

CUT TO:

INT. HOUSE OF A TRADER - DAY

A group of people is gathered around a table, negotiating with a trader.

MAN We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY GATE - DAY

A group of people is trying to enter the city, but they are stopped by the guards.

GUARD Servants rule over us. There is none to deliver us out of their hand.

CUT TO:

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

A group of people is fleeing through the desert, with their pursuers hot on their heels.

WOMAN We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness.

CUT TO:

EXT. DESOLATE CITY OF JUDAH - DAY

A group of people is gathered around a fire, looking exhausted and defeated.

MAN Our skin is black like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.

CUT TO:

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DAY

A woman is sitting alone, looking distraught.

WOMAN They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY GATE - DAY

A group of people is gathered around a gallows, looking horrified.

WOMAN Princes were hanged up by their hand. The faces of elders were not honored.

CUT TO:

EXT. WILDERNESS - DAY

A group of children is struggling to carry a heavy load of wood.

CHILD The young men bare the mill, and the children stumbled under the wood.

CUT TO:

EXT. DESOLATE CITY OF JUDAH - DAY

The city gate is closed, and there is no one to be seen.

MAN The elders have ceased from the gate. The young men from their music.

CUT TO:

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DAY

A family sits huddled together, looking exhausted and defeated.

FATHER The joy of our heart is ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.

CUT TO:

EXT. DESOLATE CITY OF JUDAH - DAY

The city is in ruins, with buildings burnt and destroyed. The streets are empty except for a few people wandering around, looking weary and defeated.

MAN The crown is fallen from our head. Woe unto us! For we have sinned.

CUT TO:

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - DAY

The family is on their knees, praying.

As the scene unfolds, the camera pans over the desolate mountain of Zion, where foxes now roam freely among the ruins of what was once a glorious city. The people of Judah are devastated, their hearts faint and their eyes dim as they bear witness to the destruction of their homeland.

Amidst the ruins, a lone voice rises in prayer: "Thou, O Jehovah, abidest forever; thy throne is from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us forever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old."

But even as the people plead for mercy and restoration, the voice continues: "But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us." It is a heartbreaking moment, as the people realize the depth of their sin and the severity of God's judgment.

As the scene comes to a close, the camera lingers on the desolate landscape, a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the power of God's wrath. Yet even in the midst of the devastation, there is a glimmer of hope, a plea for restoration and renewal that echoes down through the ages.

 

[ZNP]

The Lord had shortened the days

Mark 13:20 And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

This word is in Mark and Matthew, but not in Luke. We have several prophecies telling us how long the 70th week is. It is 7 years, we are also told how many months it is and even many have a day count. So all of that is set in stone in the word of God.

This means there are three ways in which to shorten the days. The first way is the rotation of the earth would speed up, causing the period of time for a day to shorten. You could shorten the days by 1-2% and that would be equivalent to 20-40 days shorter.

The second way is to wait a few days before starting. So even though the 70th week has begun on Nisan 1 you could wait 20 to 40 days before starting the tribulation.

The third way is to do both. It does seem like the orbit of the earth is greatly affected during the Great tribulation and perhaps during the first 42 months we wait a few days before the rapture.

The key point is the Lord has said He has shortened the days and that adds another wrinkle of uncertainty as to what is going on.

However, it is unlikely that God would change the end date as that should fulfill the Fall feasts of Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles and they must be fulfilled every bit as perfectly as Passover, Unleavened bread and Firstfruits were fulfilled.

 

[ZNP]

The apostasy sets the stage for Lazarus resurrection

8 1 but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst, 4 they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her? 6 And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him.

What we see here is that the Pharisees, the organized religion, are looking for a way to get something that they can accuse Jesus of. The plan is to see how he responds to a woman who is caught in adultery. How did they know where they could go to catch a woman caught in the act of adultery? We can theorize and hypothesize but in the end what it comes down to is the Pharisees knew of someone who was in an adulterous relationship. They arranged this trap so that they could catch her in the act. In their attempt to get an open and shut case they used "entrapment" which in the US would cause you to be freed. We see this all the time with the FBI planning, plotting and supplying the weapons for some crime and then arresting the fools that had been manipulated. This isn't speculation here. Jesus stoops down and writes in the ground. In a legal trial a judge will not allow evidence that is irrelevant. If some Pharisee had committed a sin that had no bearing on this trial it would be deemed irrelevant. So these were not just their sins, but sins that were relevant to this trial which is why they will drop the charges.

So what do we learn here? The pharisees are fully invested and sold out in attempting to discredit Jesus. They are not acting as servants of God but rather usurpers of God's kingdom. We saw this with Samson, we saw this with the Whitmer kidnapping plot and we see this with the January 6th trial.

12 Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.

There is a full blown legal battle going on between Jesus and the Pharisees at this point. But look at this:

28 Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.

A debate is not going to do it. They must lift up the Lord on the cross before they will believe. Think about that, there are some seeds you simply put them in the ground, water them and they grow. Other seeds will not germinate unless there is a forest fire. Some people will simply hear the word and believe, others cannot believe until they see Jesus crucified. We see this in creation and we see this in the gospel of John. Let's stop tryin to think that this is a failure, or because they were lukewarm. The Samaritan woman was a sinner when she was saved, how is it any different for those who repent and rededicate themselves to the Lord after the rapture?

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

This is the issue, you have to abide in the Lord's word. Some believers do not abide in the Lord's word. This is what the apostasy is all about. They buy into the idea that the word of God is out of date, or is sexist, or you only need to heed the verses you want to listen to, or it is simply good teachings, or their are too many different interpretations to really know what is being said. In other words they have many excuses to not abide in the word. But that is the the sword that divides soul from spirit. Two kinds of Christian believers, those that abide in the word of God and those that don't.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. 45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.

I have learned this on social media and the internet. There are those who cannot understand what you speak. They will twist, distort, and even lie about what you say. They will do anything to discredit and kill your testimony. The problem is not that you are not speaking the truth, rather it is because you speak the truth that they don't believe you. They seem completely incapable of hearing you.

47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.

So then, learn this lesson. We speak the word, he that is of God hears the word. Not everyone will hear them because not everyone is of God. That is fine, you are speaking for the children of God and they will hear you and you are speaking judgment to those who are not of God. They will be judged for refusing to hear you.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.

And learn this lesson as well. The word of God is like a tank. You are on the battlefield, bullets are flying everywhere. If you step outside that tank you will die. Stay inside the tank and no matter how fierce the fight you will live.

52 The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;

And learn this lesson too. We do not need to be anybody. We don't need to be "greater" than anyone. We only need to be faithful to God. If we are one with the Lord there is no greater honor.

55 and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.

This is all that matters, that you know Jesus and He knows you. This is all contradictory to the apostasy. They have left the word of God and do not abide in it, they think they know all mysteries and are wise and yet they can't understand the word of God and God thinks they are fools. They hold down the truth in unrighteousness, they are like a geiger counter that goes off when it is in the presence of someone speaking the truth. They are trying to cancel each and every believer, and they are able to "kill" those who are outside the word of God. They seek their own glory and not the glory that comes from God. Ultimately they are liars saying they know the Lord and represent Him.

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.

But we know the great I am.

 

[ZNP]

How to remove the blinders

John 9:1 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 When I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay, 7 and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

This story will flip everything on its head. We begin with him being born blind and everyone wondering who sinned and we end with him seeing and the Lord saying that

39 And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind. 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

We see this today. There is a narrative that is the "official" narrative about everything. It is about Covid, about the vaccine, about Trump, about Jan. 6th, etc. If you do not bow the knee to this official narrative they accuse you of being blind and even worse of being a sinner. The people who voted for Trump are called "domestic terrorists" and "deplorable" and "irredeemable". The Lord said He came into the world that they which see not may see and they that see may become blind. The world has a narrative that leads to success. Follow that narrative and you will be successful and feel like you can see, as a result they become arrogant thinking that everyone who does not follow that narrative is blind. But to be successful in the world will kill the soul. 25% of CEO's are sociopaths, corporate formula for success and definition of success makes them sociopaths.

Now it is interesting how the Lord heals this man's blindness. Generally if you throw mud in someone's eye it is to blind them, if you spit in their eye it is to blind them. Both of these are an insult. Yet this is what the Lord does, he puts mud and spit in the man's eye and then tells him to wash in a pool which means "sent". Now compare this with the world, they will congratulate and flatter those who are conformed to this age. It is as though years of flattery have caked their eyes and blinded them. The best way to clean that off is to bear the reproach of the Lord and to obey His speaking.

So let me share my own experience. I went to Rice University. Prior to arriving as a freshman we received all kinds of literature telling us how great and smart we were. This message was reenforced the first week called "freshman week". However, several brothers and sisters fellowshipped with me and although I tried to hide it I knew that the Lord was calling me. I didn't want to be deceived by phonies so I did all in my power to put them off, but in the end I knew I had to choose between the Lord and the world. So then from my Sophomore year I took my stand with the three other saints. Rice was a strongly atheistic university, Christians were mocked and ridiculed. But we took a stand to speak the gospel on that campus every day. They threw a lot of mud at us and even spit at us. But by my senior year there had been a stunning change in the University where all 2,000 students were faced with a decision between Jesus Christ the savior or the ruler of the kingdom of darkness. As a result my sight became very clear concerning the hypocrisy and vanity of all those pursuing what the world had to offer. I could see the misery of a life of sin, and all the lies they tell themselves to anesthetize themselves. In some respects being sent to preach the gospel on that campus was like walking through a car wash. You get cleansed of all the crud Satan has tried to blind us with.

 

[ZNP]

Do you want to know why marriages fail?

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; 10 or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

Did you ask God for your husband or did you wind up getting a stone? Did you ask God for your wife or did you wind up with a serpent?

When the Lord says if you ask for a loaf God won't give you a stone, and if you ask for a fish He won't give you a serpent He is talking about a husband or wife. God is telling you, ask Him and He is promising that everyone who asks receives.

 

[ZNP]

Red Horse Released & Unicoin Released 04/17/2023

https://rumble.com/v2iq07c-red-horse-released-and-unicoin-released-04172023.html

 

[ZNP]

Ezekiel 36:16-31 The Idolatry and blood guiltiness of the Sorcerers

16 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a woman in her separation. 18 And I poured out my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 And I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 20 And when they came to the nations whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when it was said of them, These are the people of Jehovah, and they are gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations whither ye went.

We need to learn from what happened to the the Israelites and how God dealt with them. Blood guiltiness and Idols, those are the two big sins that will separate us from God. Is the job an idol? Is the paycheck an idol? Consider the vaccine mandate. Many believers don’t want to take it, should you claim a medical exemption? Should you claim a religious exemption? I got an email from the union (a day after getting an email from the principal suggesting that you could apply for a medical exemption) and they said the minute you apply for a medical exemption you can go out on leave, use your hours, and lose your health insurance immediately. If you claim a religious exemption you go on unpaid leave and lose your health insurance. I had already rejected both those options. Instead I decided I needed to take a stand and make a statement and do that by retiring. It seems that this is instructive in the way they will force the Mark of the Beast and every day it seems more and more clear that is the case. It is true that they control much of the data on this vaccine making it difficult to absolutely confirm what we believe to be true, however after two years we can get our own data. It is involved in both idolatry and blood guiltiness.

23 And I will hallow my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I [am] Jehovah, saith the Lord Jehovah, when I shall be hallowed in you before their eyes.

This is a very encouraging word that I never heard before. It seems everyone talks about how terrible the Tribulation will be and yet miss this point. There are believers who have profaned the Lord’s name in the midst of the world. During the Great tribulation you will be able to glorify the Lord’s name in their midst so that He will be hallowed in you before their eyes. Simply confess your sins, repent, and obey the Lord. Be faithful to Him in the midst of the persecution.

24 And I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Consider the history of Israel. Yes, they went through the holocaust, but after that they were brought into their own land.

25 And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your uncleannesses and from all your idols will I cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and keep mine ordinances, and ye shall do them.

If you have sinned you can wash in the water of the word. This confuses people so let’s explain. Let’s say a person is a fornicator. They confess their sins, they repent and the Lord’s blood washes them white as snow. But the next day they have unclean thoughts, what do you do about those? You wash in the word. The word is clean water. Set your mind upon the word, the hymns, the songs, fellowship with saints, pray, etc.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

This is a big deal that many miss. If you are a billionaire it may be that money is your god. We don’t trust in money, we don’t trust in chariots, we don’t trust in armies or guns, we have one God and we trust in Him. Now He is promising that He will be our God. Don’t think that people are coming against you to take away your job, think of this as some puny upstart god is challenging you. Have faith that the God of the universe is your God and He will squash that puny upstart.

29 And I will save you from all your uncleannesses; and I will call for the corn and will multiply it, and lay no famine upon you.

We have already had prophesies that there will be a famine on the whole land for seven years. But now we have a promise that if you will set God as your God, if you will walk in His ways, wash in His blood, get a new heart, and wash your mind in the clean water of the word that there will be no famine! This is going to be a very exciting time for believers, God will be a present help in time of trouble!

30 And I will multiply the fruit of the trees and the increase of the field, so that ye may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.

Once again we have seen this happen with Israel. When Turkey ruled the land they taxed the inhabitants for every tree they had. As a result all the trees were cut down and Israel became a horrible waste land. Mark Twain visited the land when it was in this state and described it. But when they returned they appreciated how valuable those trees were. People replanted trees and they especially planted trees they wanted and needed like figs, olives, and other trees. Seventy years later the fruit of the trees has been multiplied and the yield from the fields has also been increased. They have come up with remarkable methods so that even the desert has bloomed again. They planted trees that soak up a lot of water in swampy areas, they planted crops that use little water in arid areas.

31 And ye shall remember your evil ways, and your doings which were not good, and shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities and for your abominations.

It is easy to remember your evil ways because you can see what the rest of the world is doing. I loathe them burning down the Brazilian rainforest so that McDonald’s can sell more hamburgers, I loathe the fact that California consumes more water than they get because of irresponsible agricultural practices. It is easy to see many, many things that we do all over the globe that is loathsome. Burn it all down, raise it to the ground, and then when you rebuild you can do it right the second time around. This what we will be doing in the millennial kingdom.

 

[ZNP]

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Ezekiel prophesied of the rapture, deal with it!

1 The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and Jehovah carried me out in the Spirit, and set me down in the midst of a valley; and it was full of bones. 2 And he caused me to pass by them round about; and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, Shall these bones live? And I said, Lord Jehovah, thou knowest. 4 And he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, Ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah. 5 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.

I have always looked at the Bible as a book that is living where every word is for me. When the Bible talks about Abraham having two sons I see that as historical fact, but I also see that they represent two covenants, one according to the flesh and one according to the Spirit. When they left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea that was historical fact but also my experience as well in baptism. The New Testament says that every word is good for us and is given to us as our example. Therefore I can see that this chapter is a prophecy and there is a historical fulfillment in 1948 for the nation of Israel, but I also believe this word applies to me as a Christian as well. Israel being reformed as a nation in one day is considered the greatest prophecy in the Bible, however, I’m going to say it is the second greatest. I believe this chapter also applies to the rapture. The church is the Israel which is above and we are walking in newness of life. It was extremely difficult for anyone to believe Israel would be reformed prior to the event and in the same way it is extremely difficult for them to believe the rapture prior to the event. We saw pictures of the holocaust which looked like dry bones walking out of the grave. The rapture involves those rising up from the dead, out of the grave.

6 And I will put sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live: and ye shall know that I [am] Jehovah. 7 And I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a rustling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, sinews and flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 And he said unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 And I prophesied as he had commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

This is where we are at today. The sin and corruption is so great it will take a great army to deal with it. When Israel was reformed as a nation it took a few years but by the six day war they were a formidable army and since then they have only grown stronger and stronger. Likewise I believe the end of the age will see the Lord raise an army from the believers, those who are raptured in the first rapture will be the “air force” while those left behind will be the “ground game”. Those saints who refuse the mark and get their heads chopped off will be the “armor piercing shells” that completely rip apart Antichrist's army. I hear many saying there is no chance, the whole world is in Satan's control. You are not factoring in this great army that will be raised from the dead. Yes, physical death, but when that happens all those who are asleep spiritually will wake up as well.

11 And he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off! 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I [am] Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and have caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people.

The Jews came out of the holocaust like those who were walking out of the grave. However, the rapture will also include the opening of the graves. When Israel was reformed into a nation it shocked the world, all the Christian theologians were teaching that these words were allegorical, they weren’t supposed to be taken literally. They were put to shame for their lack of faith. It is the same today as many Christian teachers deny the teaching of the rapture and all the signs that are pointing to our imminent departure. There are even those now who say this word only applies to Israel being reformed! Oh, the irony!

14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I Jehovah have spoken, and have done [it], saith Jehovah.

This of course is the point. Prophecy is given so that we would know that the Lord He is God and there is no other. People were amazed when Israel was reformed and it strengthened their faith. Likewise people will be amazed when the rapture takes place and it will spark a revival, the greatest revival of the entire church age.

 

[ZNP]

EARS TO HEAR (PART 2) - APRIL 20, 2023 HYBRID SOLAR ECLIPSE

I share this link because I don't believe in coincidences and there is already enough evidence to suggest that this pandemic and vaccine are key steps in rolling out the mark of the beast.

 

[ZNP]

When you see all these things

Matthew 24:33 even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors.

Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

In Matthew it says "when you see all these things". In Mark it says "until all these things be done" and in Luke it doesn't say anything.

Prior to the rapture you will still be able to marry, give in marriage, eat and drink. In Mark you are in the rapture, but you haven't seen "all these things yet". But in Matthew the message is to the Jews and before the tribulation is over they will see all these things. They also are looking for the Messiah's coming as well.

 

[ZNP]

How to remove the blinders, part 2, the dishonest steward.

In the gospel of John Jesus heals a blind man by mixing clay and spit, putting it on his eyes and telling him to wash in a pool that means sent.

In Luke we get some details of what happens to those 70 who were sent out. They were joyful that even the demons were subject to them, but we will have to see what those demons were. We are also told that if they don't welcome you wipe the dust off for a testimony against them, similar to washing the clay off the eyes. As we read on we learn about all the things that might blind us.

At this point the ministry is like the story of the good Samaritan. Take care of those wounded by the law by giving them grace and mercy. This is the church, it is like a hospital.

The first warning is to be careful about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They are pretending to be something they aren't and everything that is done in secret will one day be shouted from the rooftop. That is an encouraging word to those of us who were beat up by the law.

Second, focus on eternity, all Satan can do is threaten your physical life, but not your soul or your spirit.

The next warning is that anyone who blasphemes the Holy spirit cannot be forgiven. This is an important word to someone freshly saved. The false prophets will have an enticing song and message, but ultimately you will see them blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

When you die you want to be rich towards God, anything else is foolishness. Again, for a new believer seeking the leading of God this is an important word. You may be given opportunities that look "golden" and yet you know they will take you away from the word and fellowship that you need.

The correct attitude is of servants who are watching for the Lord's return from a wedding feast. Not His wedding, but the world's wedding. We aren't invited to that wedding. Think of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, it was a fairy tale wedding on the outside, and a nightmare on the inside. This is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, pretending to be something they aren't. Why do people sell their souls, for what? So they could be rich in this world, and yet they exchange heaven for that.

We then see Jesus healing a spirit of infirmity, this is another one of the demons that are subject to us, and it causes believers to be unfruitful like a fig tree that He was considering to cut down. She was bowed over with many burdens they put on her so that she couldn't bear fruit. Jesus loosed her from all that religious obligation.

He heals another man who has dropsy, congestive heart failure. He says that if your family and friends ignore your invitation invite the blind, the lame, and the poor. Our blindness as evangelists is that we must bring people to salvation. This is not our obligation, we must share the word, we must be witnesses. What they do with the word is up to them. For all you know a word you spoke will sprout in their hearts in the coming years. In the meantime you can pray for them, but don't let his keep you from speaking to others. Many people need to become blind, lame and poor before they will repent, so you will find many willing to receive the word if they are blind, lame and poor.

So now, we aren't just the church which is the hospital, caring for the man who was beaten up on the way to Jericho, we are actively searching for the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.

And this brings us to "the dishonest steward". It is stunning that after warning us about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and about how everything done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops, Jesus then gives us this story about the dishonest steward. The story seems to be saying his job is to sell the Lord's goods, he hasn't done a good job, and so he receives a bad annual review. He suspects he is about to be fired so he puts everything on sale to sell it quickly.

To me the point is that each of us has received a gift from the Lord. We want that gift to be some great thing, like a used car salesman trying to tell you this is the greatest car, only driven on Sunday to church by a little old lady. No one is buying that story, it is dishonest. So tell the truth, the real testimony, not the "perfect one". Often we want to share at the perfect time, but the Lord is saying forget that, put your testimony on sale, sell it now. Everyone wants to talk about how they spend hours on their knees, but if that is not true, then tell the real story, you spent sixty seconds on your knees.

You don't want to end up in eternity with a whole bunch of talents the Lord gave you but were buried in the back yard. Every experience, every answered prayer, every revelation, you want to share it, even if you give it away at half price.

 

[ZNP]

PROPHECY-- WHAT TO DO?

Be not in a hurry, either you are prepared and braced or you are not.

7 steps

1. Rejoice evermore

2. Pray without ceasing

3. In everything give thanks

4. Quench not the Spirit

5. Despise not prophesying

6. Prove all things

7. Abstain from all appearance of evil

 

[Yaacov]

1 Corinthians 10 -- The Lord’s table is the only feast day that we, as Christians, are required to keep. Colossians tells us that these feast days are a shadow of things to come. On the one hand this feast reminds us of the passover, the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of the new fruits and the feast of Pentecost. It reminds us of our journey out of Egypt and into the good land. On the other hand this feast is a rehearsal for the Lord’s coming as the king and the bridegroom. That is the festival of Trumpets. It also reminds us of the day of judgement, the feast of atonement, because we must judge ourselves before partaking and if we partake in an unworthy manner we will be judged. A holy convocation is a “dress rehearsal”. Every time we partake of the Lord’s table we are practicing for when we will partake with the Lord who has returned as both the bridegroom and the Lord of all. We are told in this chapter that we will not be tested beyond what we are able but with every trial God will make a way of escape. So this also points to the coming rapture in which we will escape. We are also told that the gentiles sacrifice to idols and demons. There is one day that all Christians and only Christians keep, that is the Lord’s table. In contrast to that day there is one day that all idol worshippers and demon worshippers keep and that is Halloween. So there is a very interesting contrast between the Old and New Testaments. In both the Old and New testaments the Jewish feast days are a shadow of things to come. The Jews must keep all of these days and yet Christians are only to keep one day, the Lord’s table. Is it possible that these three coming feasts could all take place on the same day? Actually the Festival of Trumpets and the Feast of Atonement are both on the same day if it is a jubilee year. So it is certainly possible that two of the three could be on the same day. Then there are two different calendars, one from Enoch and one from Moses. Obviously the Jews have to observe the calendar from Moses but the church is composed of both Jews and Gentiles, so it is reasonable that where these two walls have been joined that these two calendars would coincide. Jude, Peter, John and Paul all attest that Enoch was divinely inspired. In the Fall of 2020 the tenth day of the seventh month according to Enoch’s calendar is the fifteenth day of the seventh month according to Moses' calendar. Since this is a Jubilee year the tenth day is both the festival of trumpets and the feast of atonement and the fifteenth day is the feast of weeks. Interestingly there is a third calendar, the one the world uses now. At sundown on October 30th of 2020 we had these three feast days all at the same time and also at the same time that the world celebrates Halloween. However, Halloween is always celebrated at night on the 31st, the resurrection, a type of the rapture, is always in the early morning. Immediately after that first rapture he that restrains will be taken away and the man of lawlessness and all the demons are set free on earth. Interestingly October 31st was a Saturday, this is named after Saturn which depicts Satan. It is also a Sabbath day. In conclusion October 31st 2020 was a great sign, a shadow of things to come.


1Corinthians 11:23-34 -- Do this in remembrance of Me. Yes, the Lord’s table is a rehearsal for the wedding, and it is a time for us to practice blowing the trumpet to announce the coming of the King. But, according to these verses we are proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes. We are being reminded every time of how he was betrayed. We learned in the 1Corinthians 10 that when you eat and drink the Lord’s table you have fellowship with Him and you become one with Him. We are proclaiming that we are one with the crucified savior who was betrayed. We are also told we must all eat together like one family looking out for each other.


1Corinthians 12 -- There are two messages in the world. Some are saying “Jesus is accursed” and others are saying “Jesus is Lord”. Would you let someone who wishes to curse you and your family take care of your kids? When your kids watch TV or use the internet there are only two possible messages they are hearing. We have many different gifts in the body, Mister Rogers showed how you could have a TV show with the message “to love your neighbor as yourself”. He was a gift to the body. We have school teachers, we have people in every walk of life. We need every member and every gift. In this sense we are inclusive. However, the body has a defense system that will protect it from anything that wishes to curse the body. We need to identify the Spirit. An eyeball is very different from an ear which is very different from a foot. But the spirit is the same, in each case “Jesus is Lord” or in the analogy they each take their orders from the head. In the same way the body of Christ can be very diverse in the members, in the gifts and in the manifestation of those gifts, yet in every case the spirit is the same: “Jesus is Lord”.

Adonai:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of the true and living God, be magnified.
The Lord Jesus comes soon.

 

[ZNP]

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Ezekiel prophesied of the rapture, deal with it!
...10 And I prophesied as he had commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 And he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off!

Some argue that this army only refers to the house of Israel and that only refers to Jacob and that only refers to the Jews and cannot also refer to the raptured saints.

Yet this army of the Lord of those raised from the dead are led by the Lord to defend Jerusalem at the war in Armageddon. Revelation tells us that Jesus will return to defend Jerusalem with a whole army.

Revelation 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.

Now these armies that are in heaven with the Lord refer to raptured believers. These raptured believers include "the dead in Christ" who rise first.

This picture of a valley filled with dry bones is very appropriate for the Jews, especially after WWII. Between the pogroms and holocaust this seems a very vivid picture of what we saw in 1948.

However, Paul tells us in Galatians that those who are circumcised together with Christ are the Israel of God. The whole Bible, every word is about Jesus. When you see those bones scattered in the valley you have to see the crucified Christ. On the cross one third of the Godhead was put to death, in the Holocaust one third of the Jews were put to death. That is not a coincidence. When Cain killed Abel he was kicked out of the place he was living and had to be wander the earth. When the Jews killed Jesus they got kicked out of Israel and had to wander the earth.

We are told by Jesus that the Bible testifies of Him.

Ezekiel 38 is a picture of resurrection, that is about Jesus. God's people who trust in Him and abide in Him will know the fellowship of His sufferings and they will also know the outstanding resurrection, this is what Paul tells us in Philippians. If you understand that every verse in the Bible is talking about Jesus then you understand that for those of us who are in Christ we can also experience every verse in the Bible.

So the real wackadoo hermeneutics is thinking that this chapter in Ezekiel is about the house of Israel but not about Jesus.

Jesus is the resurrection. There is no resurrection apart from Jesus.

 

[ZNP]

Ezekiel 37:15-28 The rapture and the tribulation solve a lot of problems.

15 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 16 And thou, son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel, his companions. And take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions. 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thy hand. 18 And when the children of my people speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not declare unto us what thou meanest by these? 19 say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions, and will put them with this, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand. 20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thy hand before their eyes. 21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and will gather them from every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.

Once again I fully appreciate that this prophecy is fulfilled in the restoration of Israel. However, for Christians we also are divided into denominations and all kinds of cliques based on the understanding of God’s word. Catholics are very distinct from Evangelicals. Not only so but there is something known as the apostasy where some believers, like myself, believe that every word of the Bible is the inspired word of God that we are to keep. Others freely say which verses in the Bible you should keep and which you don’t need to, which are important doctrines and which are doctrines you can ignore. These issues will not be resolved with debate. Rather they will be resolved by the rapture. Once there is a rapture it will end all debate on whether or not that is literal. Right now Christians, genuine Christians, know that the world is filled with false prophets and false teachers. The rapture will be God’s seal of approval on true teachers. This is like the resurrection, when Jesus was resurrected from the dead He was designated Lord of all by the Father, that ended all debate on whether or not Jesus was a genuine prophet or whether He was leading the people astray.

23 And they shall not defile themselves any more with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; and I will save them out of all their dwelling-places wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

This is the truth, there are Christians who are defiled with idols and with the detestable thing. The answer is not to compromise, the answer is to confess, repent, and be cleansed. Being left behind will be a great opportunity for many to repent.

24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: and they shall walk in mine ordinances, and keep my statutes, and do them.

The rapture exposes the false shepherds. All the phony shepherds that took care of themselves and led the people astray will be judged. Jesus has always been the Great Shepherd for the last two thousand years, the problem is that some genuine saints were led astray by hirelings and false teachers.

25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever. 26 And I will make a covenant of peace with them: it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. 27 And my tabernacle shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the nations shall know that I Jehovah do hallow Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever.

Let’s not focus on the process. Going through the tribulation is messy, it is scary, and for many it will end quite abruptly with them making a glorious testimony to the executioner. Instead focus on the goal. We will dwell for eternity with God, with the Lord Jesus, and with the saints. The transformation that we have seen take place in Israel is only a foretaste of what we will see over the entire world.

 

[Yaacov]

Some argue that this army only refers to the house of Israel and that only refers to Jacob and that only refers to the Jews and cannot also refer to the raptured saints.

Yet this army of the Lord of those raised from the dead are led by the Lord to defend Jerusalem at the war in Armageddon. Revelation tells us that Jesus will return to defend Jerusalem with a whole army.

Revelation 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.

Now these armies that are in heaven with the Lord refer to raptured believers. These raptured believers include "the dead in Christ" who rise first.

This picture of a valley filled with dry bones is very appropriate for the Jews, especially after WWII. Between the pogroms and holocaust this seems a very vivid picture of what we saw in 1948.

However, Paul tells us in Galatians that those who are circumcised together with Christ are the Israel of God. The whole Bible, every word is about Jesus. When you see those bones scattered in the valley you have to see the crucified Christ. On the cross one third of the Godhead was put to death, in the Holocaust one third of the Jews were put to death. That is not a coincidence. When Cain killed Abel he was kicked out of the place he was living and had to be wander the earth. When the Jews killed Jesus they got kicked out of Israel and had to wander the earth.

We are told by Jesus that the Bible testifies of Him.

Ezekiel 38 is a picture of resurrection, that is about Jesus. God's people who trust in Him and abide in Him will know the fellowship of His sufferings and they will also know the outstanding resurrection, this is what Paul tells us in Philippians. If you understand that every verse in the Bible is talking about Jesus then you understand that for those of us who are in Christ we can also experience every verse in the Bible.

So the real wackadoo hermeneutics is thinking that this chapter in Ezekiel is about the house of Israel but not about Jesus.

Jesus is the resurrection. There is no resurrection apart from Jesus.

We know that Adonai refers to Himself as the Son of man:
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

And we know that mention is made in the book of the beloved prophet Ezekiel AND the book of prophecy Revelations- the last book, which explains the end - of Gog and Magog:

Ezekiel:
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Revelations:
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

And we also know that Adonai spoke of bringing others into the fold:
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

but, beloved - to speak, saying "deal with it!" To what avail?

is it not written:
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

And if, through such practices, you wear down your own spirit,
(for life and death is in the power of the tongue)

is it also not written:
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

If you weaken your own spirit, will that increase or decrease the power of your faith?

Therefore, if thou hast just cause for rebuke - perhaps scripture alone will suffice.

The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of the true and living God, be magnified.

 

[ZNP]

"Deal with it" is a phrase that is often used to imply that someone needs to accept and cope with a situation, whether it be a difficult or undesirable one.

The point is you may not like what the Bible says is coming. For example, the Lord said "you cannot serve the Lord and Mammon". There are believers who are settled and comfortable and they do not love the Lord's appearing. Because of this Paul said there is a crown for those who do love the Lord's appearing.

Much of the exposition of the Bible concerning what it does and doesn't say serves the self interest of those who push that interpretation.

The point then is that yes, all of the things that have been built up with wood, hay and stubble will be burned up and yes, there are believers who will suffer loss and yet be saved but so as through fire.

The sooner they repent the better, hence the term "deal with it". A more scriptural term would be "repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand"

 

[ZNP]

Romans 14:1-5 Diversity of thought

1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

Christians have all been trained in the articles of the faith, the items that are not disputable. But apart from one God and Father of all, Jesus Christ Lord of all, and the faith that has once for all been delivered to us by the apostles everything else is disputable. Do we vote for Biden or Trump, disputable. Do we build a wall on the border, disputable. Do we join the Paris Accords, disputable. Now what exactly does “disputable” mean? Dispute is to argue about or debate, so disputable means you are able to argue about or debate these. However, the meaning of the greek here is more along the lines of to “judge his doubtful thoughts” or even “to criticize his scruples”. The Bible is very clear, a “real Christian” believes that Jesus is Lord, however it doesn’t say anything about whether or not a “real Christian” would ban fracking.

2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

For two thousand years we have looked at this verse as being about whether or not to be a vegetarian. But the first verse is about any disputable matter, and this second verse is simply an illustration of what he is talking about. For example, there are people today who will only listen to CNN and MSNBC and don’t dare to listen to any other sources of information. If you are going to debate a “disputable” topic some people will seek out a multitude of sources. However, you can find people on the internet who will say anything, doesn’t make it true. So there are others who will only accept the “approved” sources like CNN and the NY Times. So there are some who will only “eat” what the powers that be tell them is safe and there are others who will “eat” anything.

3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

This is the issue we have right now, it is splitting the country in half. Some people are “eating everything” and claiming there was election fraud, others who do not “eat” anything that Facebook, Twitter and the powers that be say is not true are judging those who are claiming there was election fraud. Do not treat your brother or sister with contempt simply because they don’t listen to Steve Bannon or Dan Bongino. On the other hand do not judge those who do.

4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

This is the key point. When you are making a decision on these issues are you realizing that you are a servant of the Lord and you will be judged for the actions you take? If you vote for Trump then you can be held accountable for the peace treaty he brokered with Israel and the UAE. Likewise if you voted for Biden you are accountable for the decision to pay for abortions worldwide and to make them legal right up until birth. Trump and Biden made it clear where they stood on these issues before you voted.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

This is an issue that has bothered me for my entire christian life. I have heard the case to be made about not celebrating birthdays (every birthday celebration in the New Testament is pretty horrible -- though to be fair the Magi were celebrating Jesus birth if not His birthday). Christmas is not Jesus birthday but rather a pagan celebration to the Sun, etc. So on the one hand I don’t want to treat these days as “more sacred than another”. On the other hand the world has done a good job of guilting you and painting you as a “scrooge” if you don’t. To me some issues are clear cut, like abortion, other issues there are two sides to them and both have merit and they are not clear cut. I have made it clear to my kids and family what aspects of Christmas I completely reject as a lie from the world (I consider the whole story of Santa Claus flying around the entire world and sneaking into houses like a thief to give you presents to be a corruption and mockery of the gospel where at the end of the age Jesus will rapture the first fruits and this will be like a thief breaking into the house of the “world” and the worldly church and stealing the treasures). On the other hand we do get birthday gifts and Christmas gifts so that my kids don’t think that Christians are miserly.

Another example, I frequently post links from the Prophecy club yet we have two very different views of the rapture. He is adamant that there is no pre-tribulation rapture, I am equally convinced that there is. My feeling is this is a disputable matter and it is fully up to the Lord on this matter. On the other hand I post links from Pastor Sandy who dismisses the entire idea of a mid tribulation rapture. I disagree with him as well and yet again, this is a disputable matter. The real issue is not how he sees this issue but whether or not he is a servant of the Lord. I consider both Stan and Sandy as servants of the Lord, they will stand before the Lord, good enough for me.

 

[ZNP]

• "All is vanity"

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19 who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

The New Testament does not teach that everything is vanity, rather walking in the vanity of your mind is vanity. So we are taught that you must set the mind on the Spirit. That is the first and most crucial lesson in the Christian life. You can do that by singing hymns, praising the Lord, praying, reading the word, fellowshipping, listening to messages, reading spiritual books, etc.

Idols are vanity. 17 Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 18 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

• "What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?"

Mark 8:36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

1Timothy 4:8 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

We are talking about the vanity of the mind. Godliness is profitable for all things, whereas the vanity of the mind and man's labor under the sun is not profitable because gaining the whole world while forfeiting your soul is a very bad exchange. This is a key principle in godliness, you must do things that are profitable. If you read the Bible it is profitable. Watchman Nee once shared that some said they read the word and couldn't remember anything. He said that is like washing rice in a colander. You don't retain any water but you still get washed.

• "A striving after wind"

Another way to translate this is "a vexation of the spirit". The world is vanity, it appears to be something when in fact it is nothing. For example King Charles is about to have his coronation, his crowning ceremony. One would think that is significant event, in reality it is meaningless. All these prizes, awards, crowns are just a mirage. In a thousand years no one will care. That is not true of the things that are eternal, in the heavens. This is a very significant principle, Jesus is the body of the shadows. Everything you see on earth is but a shadow of the spiritual things. The reason they are a vexation to the spirit is because they look like the real thing but are simply a mirage, a shadow.

• "There is no new thing under the sun"

This is a very significant principle in Bible prophecy. If there is no new thing but rather we see the same cycles over and over again, then we can find patterns and use them to predict future events and guide us.

• "It is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith"

God has given us many travails to be exercised with, and in the NT He likens this exercise as "exercise unto godliness". Setting the mind on the spirit is an exercise and it is profitable unto all things.

• "That which is crooked cannot be made straight"

Tell that to God

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.

Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;

• "That which is wanting cannot be numbered"

This is a key point, we cannot do anything apart from God.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.

• "A striving after wind" (used again)

Ecclesiastes is driving home the point that apart from the Lord you can do nothing that will last, nothing that will be remembered, you cannot make the crooked straight, you cannot do anything profitable.