Author: learnbiblical

This Blog is my second attempt to create an online Blog presence. My first Blog at www.LearnBiblical.com was four years ago in which my first Blog was pulled off the Internet in late April 2014. I had purchased the Blog on May 9, 2012 from a company in Phoenix, Arizona called Bloggers Making Money. In that first Blog I published 111 Blog Articles and received comments from France, Germany, the United Kingdom of England, Scotland and Wales, Canada and Asian countries including the Philippines.

Is There Life After Death?

On By learnbiblicalIn Heaven, Hell and Is There Life After Death, The Gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

February 2023

Is There Life After Death?

Do people actually go to either eternal bliss in Heaven

or an eternal Hell after death?

Is There Life After Death? — SettingSun Wellness

  Critics of God and historical Christianity have always asked, “How can an all-loving God punish people forever in hell and punish them for any wrongdoing?”  But here’s the thing, there are many more attributes to God than love.  God is not only “all-loving.”  God is just.  God is holy.  The Bible speaks seven times more about the Holiness of God than the Love of God.  All of these attributes of God combine into the totality of who God is.

 A better question would be, “How can a loving God who is righteous, forgiving, just, and merciful condemn people to hell forever?”  There is a Scripture that perfectly describes this two-fold answer about God that is more completely represented.  This is God speaking to Moses in Exodus 34:5-7: 

 “And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.  And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

  We must understand that God, who is just and holy, must punish those who sin.  His Love does not come at the expense of His Holiness.  God tells us in Ezekiel 18:20, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…”  The answer is simple.  When we sin, we sin against an infinitely holy God.  Therefore, there’s an infinite offense.  This is why eternal punishment is the result.

 The Scripture in Exodus 34:7 appears to be a total contradiction, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, AND that will by no means clear the guilty.”

  We are told that God is keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin … then immediately declares that He “will by no means clear the guilty.”  We are told in Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

  The answer tells us why God gave us the Commandments in Romans 3:19-20, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.“

  God will never clear the guilty — those who think they can enter the Kingdom of God by their own goodness and good deeds.  God wants all to know that is only when they come to the Lord Jesus, asking forgiveness for their sins, and thanking our Savior for washing ALL of our sins with His blood.  That is how we receive God’s mercy, and He takes our guilt.

  God’s holiness and judgment begin to be taken seriously when we consider the effects of sin in the Flood of Noah.  God had to destroy the entire planet earth in order to redeem those millions who would come to believe in Him after the Flood.

  According to an article at Answers in Genesis (AiG), “some people believe the population was relatively low” (whatever that means) because of “wars, disease, and other factors.”  However, if the population growth rate in the pre-Flood world (in the years between 4004 and 2348 BCE) was “equal to the growth rate in 2000, there could have been about 750 million people at the time of the Flood.”

  But “given the extremely long lifespans before the Flood, the growth rate could have been “close to four billion at the Flood” The Earth’s population may have been upwards of four billion in the year 2348 BCE!

  Future judgment is as important now as past Judgment.  Earth currently has about more than eight billion inhabitants.  How many of them will be judged with eternal condemnation if the Lord were to return soon?

  Approximately 31% of the world’s population is affiliated with Christianity.  Let’s leave aside the fact that some percentage of these individuals would not meet an evangelical definition of “Christian.”  According to AiG, if the end of history came this year at least 4.8 billion individuals would be cast into a hell where they would consciously endure eternal torment (Righting America, pp 224-225).  The righteous drowning of millions / billions of human beings prefigures the righteous burning of billions of human beings.

 As God’s judgment in Noah’s flood, so will his judgment appear once again as it is written:

  “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

May be an image of text that says 'The question is NOT Why would a loving God send anyone to hell." The question is "Why would anyone choose hell over a loving God."'

 There seems to be a great division in beliefs on the presence of what the Bible calls “Hell” and if it even actually exists.  Just as Satan has propagated the supreme lie that he doesn’t exist in the minds of those who are in rebellion against a Holy God, so that same archenemy of what is holy is trying to convince these same people that there is no such thing as “hell”.  Logically, the fool themselves by thinking if there is no Satan, and no hell … what do I need with God anyways?  Even some denominations and religious leaders diminish the horror of what hell really is!

  Note this quote of a minister that doesn’t believe that God is a God of Love, nor does he believe in an eternal hell, “For centuries, many ministers have been preaching “hellfire and brimstone” sermons and promoting a religion of fear by teaching that the unsaved face an eternity of torture.  The common teaching is that incorrigibly wicked people will be tormented forever in some fiery, macabre manner in a terrifying place called hell.  This horrible fate usually conjures up in people’s minds visions of an ever-burning hellfire where sinners are continually roasted on spits, and a devil with horns and a tail runs around sticking his captives with a pitchfork.”

 The fact of the manner is that God is Holy and must judge sin.  The Flood of Noah is documented proof.  In Revelation 14:9-11 God makes it clear about a yet future judgment for those who take the Mark of the Beast and take upon them the image of Antichrist:

 “And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

 I, John Barela, ministered in a church several years ago where God was pouring out His Spirit in ways that I had never seen before.  People were coming to our Lord Jesus in amazing ways and responding to His Word.  There was a Methodist congregation nearby where most of their members began attending our fellowship because their pastor did not believe in the Scriptures as the Word of God.

   On one occasion a lady from our congregation called and asked if I would meet with some of the ladies from the Methodist group who were misrepresenting things that I had said, and she wanted me to tell them personally what the difference was between our fellowship and the Methodist teaching.

  There were about twelve at the meeting and it went well.  They asked me if I had said there were demons on top of the Methodist building, which of course the answer was NO.

  They told me that their pastor believes in the Bible exactly the same way that I do.  I knew this was not true but left it at that. Then they asked if I would meet with their pastor and share these things with him in front of them.  I told them yes.  So, they called the pastor and he agreed to meet immediately.

  We had a nice calm visit in his home.  I began by telling the Methodist minister, “We are here because many of your people have joined our fellowship recently and these people think that you and I believe exactly the same way regarding the Bible.  You have a right to believe anything you want, and I am not to challenge you about that.  I am here simply to show the different doctrinal positions we have.  Then I asked him a few questions:

  1.) “Do you believe in the Bible?” He answered, “Oh, yes, of course, I do.”  The Methodist people from his congregation all smiled with satisfaction at this reply.

  2.) “Do you believe in the plenary verbal inspiration of the Scriptures and its historical accuracy.”  He answered, “Do you mean if I believe in the Bible cover to cover and that Adam and Eve were literal people?  I said, “Yes.”  He answered, “Well, no I don’t.  Adam and Eve were not people, but merely an allegory.  And of course, I do not believe in Sodom and Gomorrah or that God rained down fire from heaven and destroyed them.”  I answered him, “I know that is what you believe.  But I do believe Adam and Eve were real people and that God did destroy Sodom with fire from heaven.”  The faces of the Methodist people form his congregation then changed.

  3.) I then asked, “Do you believe in the historical account of Jonah?”  He answered, “Well John, that’s really not important. My wife does, but I do not.  Again, it is an allegory.”  The answer from me to him was, “This puts anyone who believes that the story of Jonah is historical in a position to make a choice.  Do I believe this Methodist pastor who is teaching me that the story of Jonah is a was not a real story, or do I believe in the Lord Jesus who teaches me that the story of Jonah is a true historical story?  Our Lord Jesus teaches us in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  This makes me have to choose because one of you, either you or Jesus, is not telling the truth.  I happen to believe our Lord Jesus is telling the truth.  He tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life …”  This is why many people have chosen to leave the Methodist religion and go to a Christ-centered and Bible-centered congregation.

  Then he responded by saying, “Pastor John, we need to put these things aside and work in citywide crusades for the community.”  My answer to him was, “You would probably be a very nice neighbor, but I could never join you in any type of crusade because our belief in the God of heaven and the Scriptures is totally different.  If anyone asks me if it is all right for them to attend your Methodist religion, I would advise them that a person can never become a true born-again believer following the teaching you just informed me that you believe.  And that they could never grow as a child of God as a member of your congregation.

  4.) I ended our visit by asking him, “As far as you know, how would you classify the ministers, district leaders, and bishops in your Methodist religion as far as being orthodox or liberal?”  Orthodox being Christ-centered and Bible-centered, — and liberal as believing as he did.

  His answer was, “Well there would actually be three groups: Bible and Christ-centered like you (me, John Barela), about one percent. Orthodox, like himself, 10 percent. (He classified himself as non-Bible-believing, and not believing that Jesus is God and the only way to heaven — as Orthodox.)  Then Liberal, a person who believes even less in the Bible and our Lord Jesus, 90 percent.  Bishops can be labeled as corrupt because they control so much money.”  To which I answered, “This seems to clear up everything we wanted to know.  It is evident that you do not believe exactly as I do like these members of your church thought.”  Now they knew exactly why many of their friends chose to leave the Methodist religion.

  5.) I asked him, “Do you believe in Hell as a final judgment?”  He quickly answered, “Oh no, I’m not one of those Jonathan Edwards types of preacher.”  My answer was, “I didn’t think so, but your members here told me that you did when I asked them if you did.”

  He answered, “Oh yes, I believe in Hell a little bit differently than you do.  When couples are going through a divorce, they are going through a type of Hell.”

  We ended on that note.

  The Methodist religion is not alone in its beliefs in Hell and the Bible.  Some denominations and well-meaning Christians believe that hell is a synonym for the grave.  They go to great lengths to prove that Hades, the grave, and hell are all the same things.  If so, why do so many Old Testament and New Testament writers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit make so much about the wages of sin and the eternal destruction of the soul in hell?  Let’s look at some of the scriptures that point to the fallacy of not believing that the penalty for not having Jesus Christ wash our sins away with His own shed blood is an eternal home in hell’s unquenchable fire.

  The word “hell’ appears 54 times in the Holy Bible.  Hell is clearly defined in your Bible as a place of torment and burning.  Only a fool who rejects what he reads would say hell is the grave or just separation from God.  But some denominations dismiss the concept of an eternal living hell, and those who try to make it a biblical metaphor say a loving God would not send anyone to such a place.  But is that true?  True, God is a loving God and He desires that ALL come to repentance and be saved.  God does not send anyone to hell.  It is YOUR choice.  C.S. Lewis summarizes this truth in his classic work, The Great Divorce: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says in the end, ‘Thy will be done,’ All that are in Hell, choose it.”

  God does not send us to this place that our Lord Jesus spoke of where the worm dies not, nor fire quenched.  But YOU DO, out of your own self-will by rejecting a free offer of salvation found only in Jesus Christ you choose to live eternally in hell’s torment.

  “And if thy hand offend thee, cut if off:  it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48)

 Jesus was obviously not advocating cutting off a member of your body, but He was making a point that if you live like the devil, you will make your home with him at the end of time.  He speaks of fire unquenchable and where the worm that eats your flesh, dies not.  Our Lord Jesus is quite literal here.

  Here we are speaking God’s Word to warn all who will listen about a place so horrible that I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go there.  We are not here to scare you, but to warn you.  Realize that you are a flawed individual with a sin-filled past and born to sin as a nature of humanity.

 Our Lord Jesus spoke of this very fact in the lesson of the rich man and Lazarus.  When He spoke of the rich man and Lazarus being separated by a huge gulf and the rich man being in torment, was Jesus just telling a story?  Was He stretching the truth, just to make a point?  Let’s look at the passage.  This is our Lord Jesus speaking.

 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:19-24)

  Notice that those in Paradise have names, such as Abraham and Lazarus… but the “rich man” is nameless, faceless, and so is anyone who rejects the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone (Could this person be you?)

  This place of the abode of the dead, encompassed hell and paradise, as the above verses speak of, but our Lord Jesus emptied Paradise when He was raised from the dead and those who were in Paradise were removed to the third heaven. (Ephesians 4:8-10) But hell and its torments are still there, as it has not been emptied yet.

  Did you know that below your feet are millions and millions and millions of souls crying, screaming, weeping, wailing, gnashing their teeth, and begging for a drop of water on their tongue because they are tormented without rest with fire and brimstone, and they know that they are not getting out?

  It’s not like it is here on the surface, but those who died without Jesus Christ as their Savior ended up there in a spiritual realm of separation from God and are in eternal torment.  Those who reject God’s provision will have to face the consequence of their own choice.  We can either receive Christ’s offer of forgiveness of our personal sins and receive His salvation — or we can reject it.  It’s your choice.

  The unmistakable teaching of the Bible is that all people, whether they are saved or lost, will exist eternally, in either heaven or hell.  True life or spiritual life does not cease when our fleshly bodies pass away in death.  Our souls will live forever, either in the presence of God in heaven if we are saved, or in punishment in hell if we reject God’s gift of salvation.

  God’s Word was designed and written as a love letter telling about God’s love for us, sending His only Begotten Son to die in our place, washing all of our sins away and clothing us with His righteousness.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

  But take heart, my reader.  You don’t have to spend eternity in a devil’s hell and be cast into a “lake of fire” enduring torment and separation from God for all eternity.  You can choose the free offer of salvation and eternal life in heaven with Christ.

The Cross of Calvary

Are you in need of salvation?

  Are you ready to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive this free gift of eternal life?  If so, do it now.  There is no special prayer you must pray to do so.  Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  The following prayer is one way you might make this confession with your mouth:

  “Dear God, I realize I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds.  Right now, I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who lived a sinless life, died in my place to cover my sinfulness, and rose from the dead to give me eternal life.  Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you.  Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

  For more information on salvation, order the DVD “The Gospel — What it is and What it is Not.”  A foundational teaching for all believers, new or old alike.  It answers the question as to why God established the animal sacrifices that culminated in Jesus Christ the Savior.  It covers the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb in Jesus Christ.  It explains the difference between the law and grace.  You will better understand the cults who claim Christianity but do not accept the Gospel of His grace, which is the new covenant.

  An excellent evangelistic tool to reach those who are not yet believers but are seeking to understand what it means to be saved.  It is 1 hour 20 minutes long.

 To order this DVD for tax-deductible gift of $20 or more please contact John Barela at Today, The Bible & You at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma U.S.A. 74013 or please call him at (918) 279-1136.

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013. the name of the original article in the February 2023 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Is There Life After Death?  Do people actually go to either eternal bliss in Heaven or an eternal Hell after death?” www.JohnBarela.com 

Where is AMERICA in End-Time Prophecy?

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

June 2022

Where is AMERICA in End-Times Prophecy?

Torn American Flag

Understanding the meaning of Symbols and Types in Scripture reveals the amazing truth regarding America and its future role in world events.

 America, the greatest country the world has ever known, is described in key end-time Bible prophecy.  It makes sense that the most powerful and influential nation on earth will play a vital role in the final stunning events of the world’s closing history.

The Bible is a Spiritual Book written by God a Spiritual Being given by God the Holy Spirit to Spiritual People

 The USA was present in biblical prophecies all along.  Why weren’t they found?  God’s grace has sent me to share His precious message to more than sixty countries in the world.  In Russia, Asia, and Arab nations especially, they erroneously believe that Christianity is a Western Religion that began in Europe.  They were all amazed to discover that Biblical Christianity is Oriental (Eastern) — not Occidental (Western).  All the writers of the Old and New Testaments were Semites — descendants of Shem, one of the three sons of Noah.  Because the Bible is a spiritual book, it cannot be understood unless the Spirit of the Living God reveals it to them. This is why it is written in:

1st Corinthians 2--14 -- The Natural Man doesn't understand things of the Spirit of God

1st Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

 Orientals are known for their lack of direct speech.  They convey what they want to say through parables, symbols, figures of speech, and the like.  Our Lord Jesus was born of a Semitic mother named Mary and parables were used by him.  It is written in Matthew 13:1-3.

Jesus teaching from a ship to the Multiples in his parables

 “The same day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the seaside.  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  And he spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.”

 The interesting thing about the Sermon on the Mount as it is familiarity know, is that “the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?”  To which our Lord answered in Matthew 13:11, “Because it is given unto you (the disciples) to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

Daniel 12 verse 9 -- The Words are made secret and sealed up until the time of the End

 Moreover, some end-time prophecies were to be sealed until the time of the end.  This is what God clearly instructed the prophet Daniel. It is written in Daniel 12:8-9, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the end.” 

When considering Daniel 7:5, one really does tend to see Russia in the symbolism.

Four Beasts in Daniel 7

 Daniel 7:5 “And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.”

Map of Russia

 “It raised up itself on one side” indicates the dominance the western half of Russia has regarding its immense geographical size, not to mention Russia’s influence upon Europe and the Middle East to its west and south.

 “It had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it” seems to describe a cooperative and/ or influence between Russia and three other countries, obviously with Russia dominating the agenda and manipulating the other three actors.

Is This the End of the Church Age

 God also uses Images and Symbols to make the future known — and recent events have clearly shown us that we are indeed at the time of the end of the church age when a huge change will soon occur. The Rapture of the born-again believers in Christ Jesus will be taken away, and the long-predicted leader of the world will appear on the scene for seven years.

Map of Ezekiel 38 -- Who Are the Powerful Players in the Gog and Magog War

 Many students of Scripture are familiar with the prophecy in Ezekiel 38-39 that tells us about the coming Russian invasion of Israel, along with Iran, Turkey, and others listed in Ezekiel 38. But does God have another item on the agenda for this Bear from the North?  Absolutely yes!

Daniel 7 vs. 5 -- A Bear with three Ribs in its Mouth

Let’s take a look at The Bear in Daniel who Represents Russia

 The bear in Daniel 7:5 is the second of the Four Beasts described in this chapter, (Daniel 7:2-8) “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.  And four great beast came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings:  I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it:  and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”

Four Beasts in Daniel chapter 7

 When we consider the lion with the eagle’s wings, this should come as no surprise that these beasts seem to be easily recognizable as England (British Empire) and the United States.

British Barbary Lion and British Flag Image

The Barbary Lion has been the national symbol of England since at least the Middle Ages.

Meet the Flying Bald Eagle -- United States of America National Emblem

 The Bald Eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782, six years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

A Lion with Eagle's Wings coming out of the Sea

 What’s amazing about this vision is the order. The lion is mentioned first “and had eagle’s wings.”  This confirms history as the United States was British Empire.  One can almost see the wings sprouting from the lion.

Artstation -- The Beast of the Apocalypse

 The second beast, this bear has in his mouth three ribs, and is with another beast like a leopard, with four wings of a fowl and the beast had four heads and dominion was given to it. This same image is given in Revelation 13:2-3, “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”

Russia's Coat of Arm's, Flag and Double-headed Eagle

 What’s very intriguing about the symbol of the bear for Russia is that it really isn’t their official national symbol — interestingly enough, the two-headed eagle is.  The symbol of the bear for Russia seems to have been given to them by the Western world. The bear was even considered as Russia’s national symbol as, accordingly to Wikipedia, the proposers of the idea noted, “Russia is anyway identified in the world with the Bear.” 

Brown Russian Bear and the Russion Flag

 Whether or not the bear is a symbol given to Russia on her own accord or given to her by other nations would seem to be irrelevant.  The fact is, to the world, the symbol of the bear has been bestowed upon the nation of Russia, with or without her consent.

United Nations Ferocious Beast Sculpture Statue in New York City, New York

 Amazingly, the sculpture of this same image here in Revelation 13, was on display in front of the United Nations Building last year (2021) saying that it was the Guardian for International Peace and Security.  They are accurately describing what the Bible is saying to us.

Time for NATO to Close its Doors with Flags of Member Nations in the background

 The body of the leopard in Revelation 13 represents Germany, with the feet of the bear representing the former old Soviet Eastern bloc nations and the mouth of a lion representing Great Britain.  Germany has been manufacturing Leopard battle tanks since 1965.  The eagles’ wings represent the United States.  The sculpture represents the current state of the NATO beast led by the United States. This NATO beast will suddenly have its eagle wings plucked off (we believe by the Bear).

 Some students of prophecy believe that the bear and the rider on the RED Horse in Revelation 6:4 are one and the same, “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”

What do the four horses of the Apocalypse Represent

 The bear is the national symbol of the Russian Federation and fiery red is the traditional national color of Russia.  Some believe the rider on the Red Horse (Russia) will kill the rider on the White Horse (which some believe refers to America who is somewhat of a peacekeeper in the world).  The great sword would represent Russia’s national nuclear arsenal.

America is Mystery Babylon with the United Nations Flag and the Statute of Liberty with a Nuclear Weapon Mushroom Cloud

 Many students of the Word of God believe that mystery Babylon in Revelation 18 represents the United States. As the prophet was told in Daniel 12:9 to, “. . .  Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.“

 This is precisely what we are witnessing unravel before our very eyes.  We are seeing what some believe is the imminent destruction of Mystery Babylon, which many believe refers to the United States.  An attempt was made back on September 11, 2001, to destroy a major symbol of America.

World Trade Center buildings Smoking and being Blasted-1

 On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, suicide attackers seized US passenger jets and crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, killing thousands of people.  The attack remains one of the most traumatic events of  the century, not only for Americans but also for the world.

Flighs Paths on September 11, 2001

 Four planes flying over the eastern US were seized simultaneously by small teams of hijackers.  They were then used as giant, guided missiles to crash into landmark buildings in New York and Washington.  Two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. 

The September 11, 2001 Attack on the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

 A third plane destroyed the western face of the Pentagon — the giant headquarters of the US military just outside the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.  The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m. After passengers fought back it is thought the hijackers had meant to attack the Capitol Building in Washington DC.

US Capital Building in Washington DC

 But God tells us in the Book of Revelation that the future demise of Mystery Babylon will only take ONE HOUR.  Mystery Babylon will FALL IN ONE HOUR. This could have never been fulfilled before, but as we will see, IT CAN BE FULFILED NOW. 

Nuclear Bomb Simulation Shows How Blast Would Destroy 24 US Cities

 The ONE HOUR FULFILLMENT is given to us by God in Revelation 18:1-19, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed through the abundance of her delicacies….  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double…  Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city!  For in one hour is thy judgment come.  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more…  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.  And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!  For in one hour so great riches is come to naught.  And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off.  And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping, and wailing, saying Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.”

 What is it that could cause such destruction IN ONE HOUR that is written of in verses 10, 17 and 19?  RUSSIA! 

Russian Hypersonic Cruise Missile and Hypersonic Glide Vehicle-1

 Russia was the first nation to develop the HYPERSONIC MISSILE.  Why the fear and hype about hypersonic missiles?  First, it’s important to understand the term.

 What military powers — including Russia, China, the United States and North Korea — are working on now is a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).  An HGV is a highly maneuverable payload that can theoretically fly at hypersonic speed while adjusting course and altitude to fly under radar detection and around missile defenses.

Hypersonic Missiles Are Unstoppable Chart

 An HGV is the weapon that’s almost impossible to stop.  And Russia is thought to have an HGV in its arsenal, the Avangard system, which Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 called “practically invulnerable” to Western air defenses.

The Underside of a Russian Aircraft with one Hypersonic Missile on board

 A Russian Air Force MiG-31K jet carries a high-precision hypersonic aero-ballistic missile Kh-47M2 during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia on May 9, 2018.

 “The MiG-31K can strike from unpredictable directions and could avoid interception attempts altogether. The flying carrier vehicle might also be more survivable than the road-mobile Iskander system,” the report said.

 We are witnessing things that were predicted thousands of years ago. And God alerts us in Scripture about what we should do when we do see these things come to pass.   It is written in Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

The Bride of Christ with words that say Look Up My friends for our Redemption draws near -- Luke 21 verse 28

 The Russian Bear is being backed into a corner by the hand of God Himself.  Russia has been as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar were.

Isaiah 17 verse 1 scripture written over Damascus, Syria

What specific roles will Russia play in the near future?

 1.) Look for one strategic ally of Russia to be the first domino to fall, Syria.  Israel will fulfill this prophecy regarding Syria that is found in Isaiah 17:1, “The burden of Damascus.  Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Damascus and Calcutta both claim to be the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. I have been blessed by my Creator to have visited both [Note: The Author of this original article in Today’s Front Page is Mr. John Barela.]

Damascus, Syria will Cease from being a City with a Nuclear Weapon Mushroom Cloud in the background

2.) With the fall of Syria, (which is not mentioned as one of the leagues of nations joined with Russia on its invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38) — the Russian invasion of Israel will be the very next domino to fall.

Understanding the Battle of Gog and Magog -- The Coming Russian Invasion of Israel

3.) Just prior to its terrible defeat on this invasion of Israel, the Russian Bear will fulfill its role regarding Mystery Babylon in Revelation.

 All of this could find its fulfillment within the next year.  All of the right conditions are before us at this moment. 

Crosswalk.com -- What is the Rapture and When Will it Happen

 Somewhere along all of this, our Lord Jesus will fulfill another great promise to His followers given to us in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

The Rapture -- 1st Thessalonians 4 -- 17 sign

 This is the Rapture when our Lord Jesus will return in the clouds and take all of the born-again believers to the place our Lord Jesus has been preparing for us.

Final 7 years of World History under the Leadership of AntiChrist Emmanuel Macron Power Point slides

 All of this will create the perfect condition for the world to be offered peace.  This is when the head of NATO (Antichrist) will offer a special peace treaty and Israel will accept.

2030 Second Coming of Jesus Christ -- 2023 to 2030 Tribulation -- 2016 to 2023 -- 7 Years of Plenty And he will make a firm Covenant with the many for One Week -- Daniel 9 verse 27

Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”  A “week” here refers to a seven-year period of time.  In the “midst of the week” refers to the Antichrist entering the new Temple in Israel after the first three and one-half years of the tribulation and declaring that he is God. 

The AntiChrist at The Third Temple at The Abomination of Desolation

 This 7-year Peace treaty that will be signed will begin the much talked about Great Tribulation when all the world will be forced to take the mark of the beast.  After one-half of the world’s population is destroyed during these seven-years, the Lord Jesus will return to earth to destroy the enemies of God and establish His one-thousand-year kingdom on earth.

Second Coming of Christ with Church-Age Saints Return on White Horses

Revelation 19:11-21: “And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth Judge and make war.  His eyes as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him in upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it should smite the nations: and he shall rule the with a rod of Iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. . . And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that worshipped his image.  These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Jerusalem will be Elevated in the Millennium Kingdom of Jesus Christ and King David

  Our Lord Jesus will rule the world from the city of Jerusalem and all the world will worship Him.  NO more wars, guns, or weapons of any kind.  No more cancer, hospitals or major diseases and people will live in their physical bodies to the ripe old age of 1,000 plus.  No more religious divisions as the entire world will worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Millennium -- Christ's Rule on Earth

 According to the prophesied signs, many of these things could be fulfilled within a YEAR — with the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus WITHIN TEN YEARS!  Look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh.

A little girl with Blonde Hair looking up with Luke 21 verse 28 written next to her

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136.  The name of the original article in the June 2022 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Where is AMERICA in End-Times Prophecy? www.JohnBarela.com 

 

Why the Coming World Leader of Europe and the World Will Sign 7-Year Peace Treaty with Israel

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

May 2022

Why the Coming World Leader of

Europe and the World Will Sign

7-Year Peace Treaty with Israel

Israeli President Herzog with Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey March 8, 2022

God tells us in Daniel 9:27,

 “And he shall CONFIRM THE COVENANT (treaty) WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK (7 years): and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

The Russian Magog Invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38 - 39

Continue reading “Why the Coming World Leader of Europe and the World Will Sign 7-Year Peace Treaty with Israel” →

Amazing Changes Coming! The Millennium: Christ’s Rule on Earth

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

February 2022

Amazing Changes Coming!

The Millennium: Christ’s Rule on Earth

What will life on earth be like in

10 to 50 years?

The Millennium -- Christ's Rule on Earth

 Upon our Lord’s return to earth, HIs first order of business is to defeat the then-current world ruler, the Antichrist and his armies.  After the Lord’s victories at the Battle of Armageddon, He will then set up His government, the Kingdom of God upon the earth.  Our Lord’s thousand years of rule (Revelation 20:4) is commonly referred to as the Millennium.  While some Christians are aware of this term, very few have a concept of what the Millennium will really be like.

Continue reading “Amazing Changes Coming! The Millennium: Christ’s Rule on Earth” →

Could Pope Francis be the False Prophet?

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

October 2021

Could Pope Francis be the 

False Prophet?

Pope Francis at the United Nations with his right hand raised up

 According to Scripture, the greatest religious leader in history, the Antichrist’s right-hand man called the False Prophet, will arise from Rome to force humanity to worship the Antichrist and deceive countless people near the time of Christ’s return. The false prophet is the leader of the false church (“the harlot”) in Revelation 17:1-5, and there is strong evidence that this false church is the Roman Catholic religion.  It is highly likely that the pope has been specifically placed there to be the false prophet who works with the Antichrist throughout the tribulation period.

The Vatican and St. Peter Basilca in Rome, Italy

 From a prophetic standpoint, out of all the popes who have come and gone in the past century, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (a.k.a. Pope Francis), who became pope of the Catholic religion on the 13th of March 2013, has accomplished more in the last two years than all popes combined to bring the pagan religious bride of Antichrist together!

Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron hugging each other in a warm embrace

 The false prophet will promote the worship of Antichrist (Revelation 13:12) and will likely be a leading religious figure, prior to the rapture, in order to ensure a global following for an Antichrist “declaring himself god” (2nd Thessalonians 2:4).  Not only is Pope Francis the top religious figure, but he is also more popular than any political leader, according to a recent poll. Pope Francis holds the record for amassing one million followers on Instagram in the shortest amount of time (under 12 hours) and is one of the most influential world leaders on Twitter, followed by more than 40 million accounts!  Pope Francis also rules over half of Christendom with its 1.3 billion Roman Catholics!  The pope is positioned better than anyone on the scene to fulfill this prophecy.

Chrislam -- One World Religion under Pope Franis's leadership

 The false prophet sets up a “living” image (statue) of the Antichrist that must be worshiped (Revelation 13:14-15).  Pope Francis is already beginning to prepare people of the world to worship image figures of living men. On April 16, 2017, a wax figure of Pope Francis was set up for an Easter celebration.  The statue was afterward transferred to the Petropolis Wax Museum, where it is on permanent display.

Wax Statue of Pope Francis standing in a car

 The Roman Catholic religion has always used Idolatry / idol worship as a means of deception and have been making images for people to worship for many centuries. Is it really any wonder that Pope Francis and the Catholic religion are starting to use wax figures to deceive their flock?

French President replaced by a humanoid robot

 There is also speculation about whether this “image of the beast” (Revelation 13:15) is going to be an Artificial Intelligence (AI) robot, and interestingly Pope Francis has attended many technology conferences on the topic of AI and even mentioned it at this year’s World Economic Forum, which many news reports admitted was “an unusual topic for a pontiff”.  Could Pope Francis be preparing for the creation of a future AI robot in the likeness of the Antichrist?

Miracle Healing of Boy by Pope Francis

 The false prophet will show his power by performing great deceptive miracles (Revelation 13:13-14).  Performing miracles is nothing new to Pope Francis.  Pope Francis is credited with many healing miracles and has already performed one miracle in which he turned dried blood into liquid.

Implanted Microchip -- The Mark of the Beast

 The false prophet will force mankind to receive the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:16-17).  Many Evangelicals and Catholics believe that RFID implants are the “mark of the beast” and are outraged by the technology.  Yet, in a controversial move by the Catholic religion, Pope Francis has come out in vocal support of RFID Chip technologies and the extraordinary potential they hold for mankind!  Francis said:

 “We have examined the scriptures thoroughly, and I can conclusively say that there’s nothing to indicate that RFID Chips are Satanic in anyway. If anything, these devices are a blessing from God himself, bestowed upon humanity to solve many of the world’s ills.”

 In addition, Pope Francis’ private meetings with tech giants including: Apple CEO Tim Cook, former Google CEO and Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, makes you wonder…  Could Pope Francis be preparing for the implementation of the “mark of the beast” in America and around the world?  (Note: Apple, Google and Facebook are part of five American Tech companies that dominate and control every part of the digital life of an individual).

Pope Francis meeting with Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg Pope Francis meeting with Google CEO Eric Schmidt

 The false prophet, along with the Antichrist, will promote and enforce a totalitarian world government, a global economic system, and a universal religion (Revelation 13:12).  Ever since the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has been pushing for global unity in religious matters, global unity in economic matters and global unity in political matters (calling for a “one world government” and a new “global politically authority”).

Pope Francis and Former Israeli President Shimon Peres embracing each other

 Interestingly, Shimon Peres (former Israeli President) wanted to establish an international body representing the world’s major religions with Pope Francis as its leader!  Peres stated, “perhaps for the first time in history the Holy Father is a leader who’s respected, not just by a lot of people, but also by different religions and their representatives”.

The False Prophet has two horns like a Lamb

 The false prophet has “two horns like a lamb” (Revelation 13:11). In the Bible, the Lamb represents Christ, the Lamb of God. The pope takes the title “Vicar of Christ” meaning he is presented as Christ on Earth, in his place.  So, he is literally the most famous man on earth to be “like a lamb,” or like THE lamb.  In addition, the pope’s mitre literally has two horns.  If you go to the Catholic Encyclopedia, they themselves call it a “two horned mitre!”  Indeed, the pope is a like a lamb with two horns!  (Notes: This verse is clearly symbolic, although it’s interesting how it also fits in a literal sense!)

 The false prophet’s message of the devil and Satan (Revelation 13:11). Even the media have picked upon the fact that Pope Francis talks a lot about Satan, the devil.  Nonetheless, Pope Francis’ false doctrine, alone, makes it clear who he serves. Pope Francis declares Lucifer as God, declares having a personal relationship with Jesus is dangerous, denies the existence of hell, claims atheists will go to heaven if they’re good people and that salvation is free, agrees with the evolution / Big Bang theory and rejects Creationism, sees nothing wrong with homosexuality… All the greatest heresies and lies of Satan!

Pope Francis in the Cobra Snake's head at the Vatican

 The false prophet will deceive many, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).  Pope Francis speaks boldly against the Bible almost every week without anyone to stop him!  The silence of many proves that Pope Francis is the greatest false prophet in the history of what has been known as Christendom. The Catholic religion has never actually been part of the true born-again church of Jesus Christ.

Cobra Shaped building at the Vatican

 The false prophet’s inward impression is fierce and dangerous (Revelation 13:11). Pope Francis has been known to attack anyone who opposes or dares voice disagreement with him.  Just this year, the Vatican took new measures to punish critics of Pope Francis in a move that seems to belie the pope’s earlier calls for greater dialogue and debate with the Church.

The Dictator Pope -- The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy

  The Vatican suspended historian Henry Sire after he was revealed to be the author of the bestselling book The Dictator Pope: The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy, a critical examination of the pontificate of Pope Francis.  In it, Sire portrayed Francis as an authoritarian leader who does not brook opposition or criticism.  Contrary to his public persona as a jovial man of the people, Sire wrote that Francis has turned out to be “a papal tyrant the like of whom has not been seen for many centuries” and under his administration, “the Vatican is systematically silencing, eliminating and replacing critics of the Pope’s views.”   He declared:

 “When the publicity cameras are off him, Pope Francis turns into a different figure: arrogant, dismissive of people, prodigal of bad language and notorious for furious outbursts of temper which are known to everyone from the cardinals to the chauffeurs.”

 The false prophet kills people who don’t follow the Antichrist (Revelation 13:15).  Pope Francis is the first such pope in the history of the Roman Catholic religion to be a JESUIT!  Who can cause more harm and martyrdom than a Jesuit pope?  The main enforcer of the Roman Catholic Inquisitions were the Jesuits who were in charge of murdering.  For two or three centuries, many Protestants have given figures concerning the total number of people killed directly or indirectly by the Roman Catholic Papacy during the Middle Ages. The numbers given include 50 million, 68 million, 100 million, 120 million, and 150 million. Roman Catholics typically give much smaller numbers.  Frequently the figures are stated without any information about where they came from or how they were computed.  One can excuse a few thousand cases as exceptional, but millions and millions of victims can only be the result of a systematic policy, thereby showing the harmful results of church-state unions.

The Roman Catholic Jesuit Order Iniquistion methods of Torture that killed Millions

 Pope Francis has taken and administered this same Satanic Jesuit oath which includes the following appalling statements:  

 “I promise and declare that I will, when opportunity presents, make and wage war, secretly and openly, against all heretics and protestants as I am directed to do, to extirpate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex nor condition, and that I will hang, burn, waste, boil, flay, strangle, and bury alive those infamous heretics; rip open their stomachs and wombs of their women, and crush their infants heads against the walls in order to annihilate their execrable race.”

 The false prophet intends to change times and laws (Daniel 7:8; 20-22; 24-25).  Pope Francis can modify divine law as he pleases. One Roman Catholic writer quotes: “. . . the pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God… “In Francis’ first year as Pope, various possible changes to Catholic doctrine were discussed around the Vatican:  

  • change to grant Communion to Catholic couples who are divorced and civilly remarried.
  • change to grant Communion to non-Catholics.
  • change to grant Church blessings to gay unions.

 The false prophet will influence the “kings of the earth” (Revelation 16:14; Revelation 18:3). Today, so many of the European Union’s political leaders are turning and guidance.  In an historic moment back in 2014, Pope Francis addressed the leaders of Europe, the European Parliament in Strasbourg! 

Building of the European Parliament

 French President Emmanuel Macron held an “intense” meeting with Pope Francis, discussing global issues including the fate of migrants coming to Europe.  The very fact that this religious leader is able to influence the leaders of Europe in this way, helping to give them advice and exhortation, shows the great authority this particular religion has in the heights of power in Europe.  No other religious leader has been given such a privilege as the papacy.

Pope Francis intense meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron

 The ultimate source of the false prophet’s power is Satan (Revelation 13:2), so it is expected the false prophet to be surrounded by religious and demonic symbolism.  The religious and demonic symbolism around Pope Francis is very troubling.

Pope Francis flashing Satanic hand signs 

 Evil groups such as the Illuminati and the Freemasons use various hand signals to show their allegiance to Satan, and Pope Francis has been flashing satanic hand signs for years now!  Many times, in public, during his papacy, Francis has flashed the 666-hand signal, the satanic horned hand symbol, and the “hidden hand” masonic sign.

Pope Franicis and a Philippian Cardinal flashing Satan Hand Gestures

  The Bible makes clear that the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) will not be revealed until the Restrainer (Holy Spirit-indwelt Church) is removed (2nd Thessalonians 2:3; 7-8).  Since the false prophet rises to power after the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11), no one will know for sure who the false prophet is until the rapture occurs.  That being said, we can speculate, and it certainly looks like a possibility, especially given the shortness of time.

The Best Rapture illustration of Jesus Christ in the Clouds at the Rapture of the Church

 We are not saying that he is THE false prophet, Pope Francis certainly is an Antichrist in theology, life and prototype. The point of this article is not to identify who the false prophet is, but to warn those here for tribulation.  Also, whether Pope Francis is THE false prophet or not, Francis is certainly fulfilling his role as a false prophet and possibly paving the way for the final false prophet.

Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls of Wrath of the Tribulation Period

  “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).

At that Time if Anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah' or 'There he is do not believe it.'

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the October 2021 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Could Pope Francis be the False Prophet?”  www.JohnBarela.com

 

Today, The Bible & You Q & A

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

January 2022

Q & A

Question: It is so difficult to understand the Bible when I try to read it.  The words seem simple enough, but understanding what those words mean has been very difficult for me.  How is it possible to understand the Bible?  Is there an easy step by step way?

Answer: Your question shows that you are on the right track.  God promises us in Proverbs 8:17, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me shall find me.” 

 The first chapter of the book of Genesis tells us that God made two great lights and set them in the firmament of the heavens, a greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and a lesser light (the moon) to rule the night.  The moon, however, is lightless of itself.  It shines into the darkness only by virtue of its relationship to the greater light, the sun.  It has nothing of itself to offer a world in the dark; it has only the sunlight that it receives and faithfully reflects, just as we have only the light of the Lord, and nothing of our own, to offer the world of darkness around us.  We must take our attention away from us — to the Lord Jesus.  This is what repentance means.

 True repentance is not being sorry for something you have done wrong.  Now if you do something wrong, you should be sorry; but that is not real repentance.  Real repentance is hilariously exciting.  It is facing the facts of life, recognizing how God made you, how you were intended to function, and then being restored to that relationship of mutual inter-availability that the Lord Jesus enjoyed between Himself and the Father, a mutual inter-availability in which you are prepared to let Him be God.  That is true repentance.

 You give Him your hands for Him to work with, your feet for Him to walk with, your lips for Him to speak with, your eyes for Him to see with, your ears Him to hear with, your mind for Him to think with, your heart for Him to love with.  You tell Him, “Thank You for being my Creator within the creature.  You are in Business.” 

 Faith means letting Him live in you through HIs Word.  In any particular situation you encounter, any particular need and responsibility that faces you, you will never let Him until you are prepared to admit that you cannot, and only God can.

  • In what ways, have you tried to live the Christian life for the Lord Jesus, instead of allowing Him to live it through you?
  • In growing faith, what do you need to allow the Lord to be in your life at this time?

 Do you know what it is to live purposefully?

 Is there an urgent sense of mission or some compelling thrust within you which makes life add up to the sheer adventure that God always intended life to be?  If so, there is good news awaiting you, good news about the treasury of purpose and truth and wisdom to be found in the person of Christ, for living purposefully means trading our poverty for Christ’s wealth … our weakness for Christ’s strength.  We exchange the bankruptcy of the fallen Adam for all the fullness of the Life of Christ, and we discover the sheer adventure of allowing Jesus Christ to be God in our experience, for God He is!

 Are you experiencing the indwelling life of Christ?  Are you standing aside, fully recognizing that you can do nothing on your own?  Are you allowing the Jesus in you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to act on your behalf?  Have you allowed God to inhabit all of your life, or are you still cordoning off portions of your life, where our Lord Jesus is not allowed?  Our Lord Jesus desires to indwell each of His followers to the point where their heart’s desire is “All of Him in All of Me.”

The Best picture of a man reading an open Bible

 So many today are trying to claim Christianity apart of Jesus, THE Christ, THE Messiah, THE Savior, THE Son of God, God himself.  They call themselves Christian for many reasons.  Some claim Christianity because they admire Jesus.  Some say they are Christian they are Christians because they were raised in a home where their parents were Christian.  Others refer to themselves as Christians because they attend a Christian church.  Some say they are Christians because they believe in God.  Still others call themselves Christian to fit in, to gain business, to impress others, to cover up a secret life.  Others falsely think an emotional experience, or a baby baptism is enough for them to call themselves Christian.  Some claim to be Christian because they went to a Christian school, lived a good life, or went forward in a church service when invited to do so without true conversion.

 Let me help you here if you have doubts as to whether you may truly be a Christian.  None of the above “reasons” are enough to refer to yourself as a Christian!  These are simply lame excuses, and none are not supported by God’s Word, The Bible.  The Bible teaches that there is only one way you can rightfully refer to yourself as a Christian … you must be “born-again.”  Our Lord Jesus Himself addressed this topic directly in a personal conversation with a devout Jewish Pharisee named Nicodemus telling him: “… Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).”

 Only one way?  Yes, only one way!  That is exactly what the Bible teaches!  No other way!  The Bible describes a process through which you can be “born again.”  There are many scriptures that could be cited to explain the process, but here are the ones that I use when asked:

  1. Realize that you are “lost” — totally estranged from God and separated from God by a sinful nature. (Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”)
  2. Acknowledge that sin deserves punishment. (Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”)
  3. Acknowledge that the Lord Jesus took the punishment for your sins by dying on the cross. (Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrated his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”)
  4. Ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life. (1st John 1:7, 9, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. . . If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”)

 The harsh reality is that if you cannot point to a specific time in your life when you truly went through the above process, then you are not a Christian.

You can become a Christian right now.

Use the following prayer as your own or pray one that contains these elements:

“Dear God, I admit that you are holy and that my sins have separated me from you.  I am a sinner.  I recognize that I deserve punishment.  I also know that the Lord Jesus died for my sins and that He was raised from the dead.  I turn from self and sin and trust You to be my Savior and Lord. Forgive me Lord Jesus.  Take control of my life and help me to be the person that you want me to be.  Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer and saving my soul. Amen.” 

 God promises in the Bible that anyone who asks the Lord Jesus to forgive them, then He will. (Romans 10:13 — “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”)  If you prayed the above prayer or one equivalent to it and meant it, you can be assured that God has saved you and you are “born again.”

 The Bible offers many other words of assurance about your salvation.  One of the clearest descriptions of that assurance can be found in 1st John 5:11-13, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

 NOW, as a “born-again” believer you can call yourself a Christian.  You should unite with a local church where you can grow by learning more about Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word and through small group Bible study with other “born again” Christians.

An Open Bible with Romans 10 verse 9 above the Bible

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136.  The name of the original article in January 2022 issue of Today’s Front Page Christian newspaper was “Q & A.” www.JohnBarela.com.

Candidates for the ANTICHRIST : Is He Alive at this Time?

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

 Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

October 2021

Candidates for the ANTICHRIST

Is He Alive at this Time?

  There are many candidates!

 Many in the past have wanted to be the President of the Entire World.  There are many today who greatly desire to be that ominous leader.  We did an article a while back on the prospect of Emmanuel Macron becoming that leader of the world.  Could he, be it?  According to Scripture, the greatest political leader in history — the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) — will arise from Europe to seek world domination and deceive the world at the end of this Church age.

Barack Obama as The Antichrist

Donald Trump as The Antichrist   Jared Kushner as the Antichrist  Pope Francis as The Antichrist

 Because of the convergence of so many prophecies that are given for the last days, it appears almost certain the Antichrist is on earth and waiting in the shadows for his time to appear and there is much speculation about his identity.  Among the speculation, some of the more popular Antichrist candidates include Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Jared Kusner and Pope Francis and several others.

Could Emmanuel Macron be the Antichrist

 Yet, out of all the Antichrist candidates who have come and gone, Emmanuel Macron, who became President of France on May 14, 2017, has generated more end-time buzz than any other world leader that I know!  This is because Macron seems to fit the exact characteristics of the Antichrist in so many ways.

Landslide Victory for Emmanuel Macron

 God’s Word tells us the Antichrist will rise suddenly from obscurity (Daniel 7:8; Daniel 8:9).  Many news sources have reported on Macron’s meteoric rise, appearing out of nowhere!  A year before the French election, Macron had no political party and no previous electoral experience.  Two years before, he was a virtual nobody.  France has been in chaos from all the terrorist attacks and the far-right Front National candidate, Marine Le Pen, seemed the only answer to the madness.  And yet, Emmanuel Macon won a landslide victory over Marine Le Pen in the French election.  At age 39, he is the youngest President France has ever had, and not since 1958 and Charles de Gaulle has a French President ever won such a powerful majority, taking 351 out of 577 seats!  His rise has been nothing short of meteoric and unprecedented!

E.W. Bullinger (1837 -- 1913)

 The number 666 related to the Antichrist and is possible to be computed (Revelation 13:18).  According to Dr. E.W. Bullinger, “when the name of the Antichrist is known its gematria will doubtless be found to be the number 666”.  There are 36 (6 x 6) total characters in Macron’s name (32 letters, 1 dash, 3 spaces).  If you give each character a value of its position and calculate the sum, you get 666 (1+2+3+…+36 = 666).  Macron won the French presidency by 66.06% of the vote and assumed office on May 14, 2017 (Israel’s 69th anniversary as a reborn nation, what a coincidence!)

Macron Declares he will Govern like a Roman god, Jupiter

 The Antichrist will claim to be God and is worshiped (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4).  Macron has already claimed he will “Rule like the Roman god Jupiter,” in homage to the highest pagan god of all the Roman and Greek pantheons, the king of all the gods in ancient Roman religions.  In open reference to this, Macron’s own nickname in France now is “Jupiter”.  Other names given to him include: “Jesus Macron”, “Europe’s Savior” and “the new Louis XIV” (or the “Sun King” reborn).

 Macron seems to adore the attention, even (jestingly) allowing people to draw attention to the origin of his own name “Emmanuel,” which of course means in Hebrew “God is with us.”  In fact, all parts of his name call him some sort of God or Jesus. except his last name meaning: “a written or printed mark”! Considering that Macron’s parents are atheists, isn’t it a bit odd they named their child like this?

  This is his full name and its meaning:

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron

Emmanuel – God with us

Jean – gift from God

Michel – who is like God?

Frederic – peaceful ruler (“Prince of Peace” is the title for Jesus Christ – Isaiah 9:6-7)

Macron – a written or printed mark

(Revelation 13 tells us “the mark … is the name of the beast (Antichrist)”.

Coincidence?  Or an incredible play on words? 

 Coincidently, Macron’s name in the English gematria totals to 888 (“Jesus” in Greek gematria), also causing some to see him as a Jesus type figure, and he was born on 21 December 1977, which is the Winter Solstice or the shortest day of the year.  It is interesting to note that the reason December 24 and December 25 were picked for Jesus’ birthday is because those were considered to be the Winter Solstice or the shortest day of the year at the time.

Merry Christmas Jesus Christ, it's your Birthday

 Orthodox Bible scholars all recognize that our Lord Jesus was born in the latter part of September, not December.  Technically the world religious system believes our Lord Jesus was born on what is observed as Christmas, December 25th.  With the name of “Emmanuel”, Macron could falsely claim that he is the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Isaiah 7:14:

  “Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” 

Emmanuel Macron, co-prince of Andorra

 The Bible tells us Antichrist will be a prince (Daniel 7:8; Daniel 9:26).  Unlike most European and western leaders, Macron is technically a prince.  Macron became co-prince of Andorra, a small principality located between France and Spain, at the same time he assumed office!

Emmanuel Macron has Roman Ancestry

 The Bible tells us Antichrist will be of Roman descent, rising out of the revived Roman Empire (the European Union) (Daniel 9:26).  Macron has Roman ancestry through both sides of his family, and his country, France, is part of the Revived Roman Empire (EU).  Macron is working on uniting Europe which would be a return of this power and is currently leader of one of the two most powerful countries in the EU.

Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron

 The Antichrist will be a sexual pervert and show no regard “for the desire of women” (Daniel 11:37).  Strangely, young Emmanuel Macron (at age 15) fell in love with Brigitte Trogneux, a married teacher at his school, who at the time was 39!  Despite her initial rejection of him and the fact that she was already a married mother-of-three, Macron did as he pleased and began an affair with Trogneux as a teenage boy anyway.

 The desire of women is to have a family and children.  Macron said he doesn’t want kids of his own. There are also rumors he’s homosexual and has had affairs with a few men.  Macron openly supports gay marriage.

Antichrist Emmanuel Macron possessed by the Devil

 Because Lucifer himself will possess his chosen leader, the Antichrist will be an extremely charismatic leader, who is seemingly friendly and charming.  Macron is young, good looking and charming, according to many articles.  Haaretz News had this to say about Macron:

 “When he takes the stage at rallies, you can feel Emmanuel Macron’s messianic dimensions — the audience’s near-sexual ecstasy, his followers’ blind faith, his speech writers’ evangelical messages.  People yearn to get a picture with him. speak with him, touch him.” 

Emmanuel Macron, grand seducteur

 Macron’s friend describes how the president is a “grand seducteur,” a man who uses his prodigious gifts to get whatever he wants. Macron, he explains, is a polymath, a person who is able to acquire significant expertise in a variety of different subjects to quickly become an expert in them, and that he uses this ability to ingratiate himself with others.

Emmanuel Macron, irresistable charmer

 The Financial Times, quoting a source who has known Macron well for years, detailed how, “…he seduces everyone.  And then he kills.”  The FT source says Macron is always charming, especially with enemies and those hostile to him.  During the election, for example, Macron took particular pleasure in always trying to meet his opponents, even the most hostile, face to face.  He did this, so the source says, because he was and is so confident of his own charm, and in his ability to “win people over.”

Emmanuel Macron, a clever ruthless, psychopath

 I expect the Antichrist to be a clever psychopath who is ruthless towards others behind the scenes (Daniel 8:23).  Macron’s leadership style is beginning to emerge, and it IS ruthless.  For instance, after President Francois Hollande made Macron a government minister, Macron abandoned Hollande and ultimately took his job.  Macron then purged three well-established and senior ministers in the first few days of his administration.  Macron has wasted no time in also lecturing, and greatly offending eastern and central European leaders on what he perceives as their collective failure to accept adequate amounts of refugees from the Middle East into their nations.

Psychiatrist, Andriano Sagatori

 Macron’s consistently scornful approach to the normal rules and boundaries of life has led leading European psychiatrist Adriano Sagatori, who has studied Macron extensively, to actually declare him as a potential psychopath.

Emmanuel Macron, Globalist Ruler of the World

 The Antichrist will become the ruler of the world (Revelation 13:7), beginning his rise to prominence as a person who addresses some of the world’s major problems through diplomacy.  He will appear to be the savior of the world (Revelation 6:2).  Emmanuel Macron is the darling of globalism, he is its very embodiment.  Macron is such a globalist that he has stated that “the French culture does not exist.”  One prime example of Macron addressing world problems is his role of leadership in the “Climate Change” global farce.  Interestingly, climate change, formerly known as “Global Warming”, has always been considered the vehicle by which the globalists will dominate and control the world’s economies.

Jesus Macron Europe's Savior

 Macron has already been successful in France by representing all that is wrong in Europe:  Socialism, no borders, immigration madness, Islam exaltation, and Godlessness.  As a result, Macron has been called “Jesus Macron”, Europe’s Savior and “Sun King” reborn.  Last year, the Rothschild magazine even portrayed Macron as Christ-like walking-on-water photo with the headline “Europe’s Saviour?”

Emmanuel Macron, the god king

 The Antichrist will be the most arrogant person of all time (Daniel 11:36; Daniel 8:25) since he will have the audacity to claim that he is God and will demand the world to worship him (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4).  Macron’s claim that he will “Rule like the Roman god Jupiter,” is in effect a statement that he wants to rule “above every god” (Daniel 11:36).

Emmanuel Macron and France's Bastille Day

 Macron has been criticized for taking an arrogant approach, such as when he didn’t conduct the traditional French presidents’ Bastille Day TV interview because his thoughts are “too complex” for such a forum.  Leading European psychiatrist Adriano Sagatori states, “Like all psychopaths, he believes in his higher purpose.  Macron does not love France and will not fight for the French people.”  Sagatori continued, “Macron loves only himself … The paradox is that he appears normal, but we have a case of full-blown narcissism.”

 This impression of Macron is not isolated; it seems to be echoed by many others.  Even his wife ‘thinks he is arrogant’!

 The ultimate source of the Antichrist’s power is Satan (Revelation 13:2), and Satan has [some] supernatural abilities (John 12:31; 2nd Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).  Thus, I expect the Antichrist to possess some unusual or unique traits.  A reporter followed Macron for a week and noticed some unique traits he displayed.  These include not breaking in sweltering heat, possessing relentless energy (which he is renowned for), being able to look at someone and convince them to trust him with his “penetrating blue eyes”, being able to recite perfect Greek, and playing both sides in a bid for a newspaper.

The Antichrist will rule a Ten-nation Confederacy

 The Antichrist will rule a ten-nation confederacy which will rise out of a revived Roman Empire (the European Union) (Daniel 2:31-35; 40-45; Daniel 7:7-8; 19-24; Revelation 13:1-2; Revelation 17:3; Revelation 7:12-16).  Macron’s been pushing to bring together a core 10-nation “Coalition of the Willing” EU Army to prepare European armed forces to take action together in emergencies, and to bind Britian into military cooperation as it leaves the EU.  A coalition of ten European militaries ready to defend i.e., the continent’s borders have been unveiled in Paris, just days after Emmanuel Macron called for a “real European army”.

Fast Facts on the United Kingdom   Fast Facts on France -- Nuclear Weapons

 The Antichrist will have a very strong military (Revelation 13:2; Daniel 7:6).  Macron’s own country, France itself, has the first or second most powerful military in the EU given that it along with the U.K. are the only two countries in the EU that possess nuclear arsenals!  In addition, the guillotine, and perhaps main weapon that the Antichrist will use to kill the martyrs during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 20:4), was invented in France and used extensively in French history.

 I do find it interesting that Macron consistently speaks the most common language of the day — English.  A vast number of Europeans speak (or at least understand) English as a second language.  Thus, is it any surprise that Macron would abandon use of his native tongue in favor of a common language?  He also speaks German.

The Antichrist to make a 7 year peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians (PA)

 The Antichrist is going to make, and sign, a seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).  Interestingly, even Macron has wanted to offer Israel “Safety and Security” as he attempts to do what no one to date has been able to do; to bring peace between Israel and the PA.  Macron is interested in being a significant factor in the attempts to renew talks between Israel and the PA, and the French are already working on their own peace plan!

 Betraying the Jewish state, the Antichrist will seek the destruction of the Jews (Daniel 11:40-41).  French Jews reacted in horror at reports President Emmanuel Macron decision to honor Marshal Philippe Petain, the disgraced Nazi collaborator who authorized the deportation of tens of thousands of Jews to death camps.

Emmanuel Macron, a Rothschild Financial Genius

 The Antichrist will be economically smart, controlling the world’s economy (Revelation 13:16-17).  Also, some think the Antichrist will be a Rothschild or one their puppets — a must for all Antichrists with their love of global financial domination.  Macron is very smart economically having worked for the Rothschilds banking corporation!  In 2012, Macron left Rothschild to become deputy secretary-general at the Elysee for two years, then was quickly promoted to Minister of Economy and Finance.  Ex-minister and senior civil servant Jean-Pierre Jouyet, told Macron at the time he took the job as economy minister: “You’re the boss now.”  Macron is indeed a financial genius.

Emmanuel Macron, an European Union Politcal Genius

 The Antichrist is also a politician (Revelation 17:11-12).  Macron’s now arguably the most important political leader in Europe today, aside from Angela Merkel.  After creating his own party En Marche (named with his own initials), then winning 350 out of 577 seats in the French parliament, all within one year of its creation, and now exploring creating his own party for the European Union and even his own political school — Macron’s considered a political genius!

 The Antichrist will change times and the laws (Daniel 7:25).  Ever since Macron took office, he’s been completely changing many labor laws in France, which have caused multiple violent protests, and wants to change Sunday work times.

Macon and Pope Francis share Common Jesuit Educations

 The Antichrist eventually forms his one-world religion (Revelation 17;18).  There is a strong case for this one-world religion being the Roman Catholic religion.  Emmanuel Macron was born to non-religious, liberal parents but decided he wanted to be baptized a Catholic, at the age of 12, despite his parents’ misgivings.  He then received a Jesuit education until his last year of high school.

Pope Francis and Emmanuel Macron embrace each other cheek to cheek

 Macron visited the pope at the Vatican (headquarters of the Roman Catholic religion and was granted an unusually long meeting behind closed doors with a head of state) in which they discussed migration issues, conflict in the Middle East and the future unity of Europe.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen face each other at French Presidential Debate

 Macron has given another speech on a stage shaped like the Masonic unfinished pyramid, as well as a stage that was lit up in the shape of a cross.  In his debate with Marine Le Pen, Macron flashed the 666 hands signal many times, even on both hands at the same time.  On other occasions, Macron has held up the satanic horned hand symbol.

Could Macron be the Antichrist?

 The Bible makes clear that the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) will not be revealed until the Restrainer (Holy Spirit-indwelt Church) is removed (2nd Thessalonians 2:3; 7-8).  So, no one will know for sure who the Antichrist is until the Rapture occurs. It certainly looks like a possibility as Macron certainly seems to possess many of the credentials of Antichrist.

Pictures about the Rapture of the Church

 The point of this article is not to identify who the Antichrist is, but to warn those here for tribulation.  Whether Macron is the Antichrist or not, it is a guarantee that Macron will rise to a prominent position in European leadership.

  Amir Tsarfati says of Macron:

  “I believe that in Emmanuel Macron’s case I can very clearly say that we are watching a young, West European leader who was groomed by the “one world order’ gang for this powerful position. I am not talking about grooming him to be the Antichrist, but definitely toward leadership of Europe.”

Some other possible Antichrist candidates:

 Here are some more of the key figures we are watching with great suspicion.  Basic biographical information is shown, and reasons given why any of them might fit the role of the Antichrist.

Jared Kushner as the Antichrist no. 2

Jared Kushner

Title & Position: former Senior 

Advisor to President Trump, former

de facto Chief Negotiator for Middle

East Peace 

Age: 36 years old

Born: Livingston, NJ

  Matching Biblical descriptors of antichrist: Denies that Jesus Christ is the Messiah (1st John 4:3; 2nd John 1:7), possibly fulfils an alternative ancestral view of who the antichrist might be as an Orthodox Jew who will fulfill the Torah and claim to be the Jewish Messiah, possible Roman ancestry as well through various European family ties, apparently supports dividing the land of Israel.

Jared Kushner purchase of 666 Fifth Avenue in New York City, NY

  Notes: Donald Trump’s son in law remains mostly a mystery, but he has risen in the ranks of world power very quickly.  He caught the attention of the Bible prophecy community for two reasons.  First, he was appointed by President Trump to lead the U.S. effort to make a final status agreement between Israel and Palestine.  He has since made two separate trips to the Middle East, which are largely shrouded in mystery.  His second trip occurred around the time of the Jubilee celebrations in Jerusalem and the 70th prophetic year anniversary of Israel.  Second, in 2007, Kushner purchased the tower at 666 Fifth Avenue for $600 + $600 + $600 million dollars.  Just coincidence?

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Resigns

 Alexis Tsipras

Title & Position: Prime Minister 

of Greece

Age: 42 years old.

Born: Greece in the area of the 

ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires.

  Matching Biblical descriptors of antichrist: Very close match of Daniel 11:37, many anti-Israel statements and positions, born in the area of “the people of the prince who is to come”, rejects Christ, the Greek Antiochus IV Epiphanes would be a fitting foreshadowing.

 Notes: A sudden appearance, only a couple of years ago was considered a militant communist nobody but is now the wildly popular Prime Minister of Greece.  He is an atheist (no regard for any god — Daniel 11:37) and also living in a non-marital relationship with a woman (“no regard for the desire of women”).  He has two children, one named after the god Apollo, and the other after the pagan prophet Orpheus.  Young, attractive, and charismatic, he carries a messiah-appeal in Greece.  For the first time in modern history, he refused to follow the traditional Christian swearing-in ceremony.  He was essentially elected with one purpose: to roll back austerity in Greece.  If he succeeds, his popularity will skyrocket and could be set for a grand entrance into a large leadership position in the EU.

King Abdullah II, King of Jordan

 King Abdullah II

 Title & Position: King of Jordan.

 Age: 55 years old

Born: Amman, Jordan

 Matching Biblical descriptors of antichrist: Many anti-Israel statements and positions, amazingly both Roman ancestry through his mother and Assyrian ancestry through his father, rejects Christ & YHWH (Daniel 11:37), was literally a prince, his country is physically sandwiched between the potential kings of the north and south of Bible prophecy.

King Abdullah II, Custodian of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel

 Notes: He is relatively young and charismatic.  Interestingly, his command of the English world linga franca is better than his Arabic.  He is seen as peaceful, progressive and uniquely popular in both the West and the Muslim world.  He is the direct descendent and the closest living relative to Muhammad himself.  His probability went up considerably most recently with threats of invading Iraq to drive out ISIS.  Iraq is the most seat of ancient Babylon.  He also happens to be the technical custodian of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which would give him power and persuasive influence to suggest rebuilding the Jewish Temple.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

 Justin Trudeau

 Title & Position: Prime Minister of Canada

 Age: 45 years old

 Born: Ottawa, Canada

 Matching Biblical descriptors of antichrist: Direct Roman ancestry (Daniel 9:26), anti-Zionist, pro-global government promotes lawlessness and immorality (2nd Thessalonians 2:3), leader of the northernmost country on earth (some scholars argue the “king of the north” is the antichrist). 

 Notes: His name is quite interesting: Justin Pierre James Trudeau.  Peter (Pierre) and James were the top leaders of the early Church.  He named one of his sons Hadrien (French version of Hadrian), which is the name of the Emperor Hadrian who ruled from 117 to 138.  Emperor Hadrian was considered to be one of the forerunners of antichrist because Hadrian desecrated the site of the Biblical temple by erecting a temple to the supreme pagan god Jupiter directly over its ruins. Hadrian is also responsible for renaming the land of Israel to ‘Palestina’ in 135 A.D. (Palestina is the Latin version of Philistia, the chief enemy of ancient Israel).  Spelling variations of the name “Trudeau” include Trudon and Trudel, either of which would make the number of letters in his name 6, 6, and 6: Justin (6) Pierre (6) Trudon / Trudel (6).

Zoltan Istvan, Founder of the Transhumanist Party -- Candidate for U.S. President

 Zoltan Istvan

 Title & Position: Founder of the 

Transhumanist Party and candidate

for U.S. President.

Age: 44 years old.

Born: Los Angeles, California 

 Matching Biblical descriptors of antichrist: Direct Roman ancestry (Daniel 9:26), atheist (Daniel 11:37), rejects Christ (1st John 2:22), false messianic tendencies including offering his followers eternal life through “transhumanism”, anti-Zionist, pro-global government.

 Notes: His first, middle and last names each have six letters.  He effectually denounces all forms of morality, calling morality “chains” (see 2nd Thessalonians2:3).  He idolizes science and technology in possible fulfillment of Daniel 11:38 and he voluntarily had his hand implanted with an RFID chip, which uniquely connects him with a possible implementation of the Mark of the Beast.

The little horn with a big mouth, The Antichrist which causes the Abomination of Desolation

 While the antichrist might come from this list, it is also entirely possible he might not come from this list at all, so keep your eyes wide open and your mind fervently fixed on God’s Word.  The antichrist will not be unequivocally revealed until after the Rapture (2nd Thessalonians 2:3, 7-8) or after the Abomination of Desolation.  There is also growing speculation that the antichrist might be a fallen angel or Nephilim or some sort of spiritual entity that arrives after the War in Heaven described in Revelation 12.

Come Lord Jesus

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the October 2021 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Candidates for the Antichrist is He Alive at this Time?”  www.JohnBarela.com

10 Proofs for the Pretribulation Rapture

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

No. 1 in News and Inspiration

September 2016

10 Proofs for the Pretribulation Rapture

The Pretribulation Rapture

  Matthew 24:29-31 is the hands-down favorite passage of Pretribulation Rapture deniers, yet contained in those passages is the VERY PROOF that the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH and the THE SECOND COMING are two separate events.

  Matthew paints a picture of stark terror and physical judgments falling upon the Earth, and then people shall see the ‘Son of man’ coming down from Heaven. Paul on the other hand, talks about none of these things being connected with the Rapture of the Church. Furthermore, Paul says in the Rapture that Jesus comes for us personally and pulls us up into the clouds with Him, but Matthew says Jesus sends His angels for His elect at the Second Coming.

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2nd Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

  The Bible gives Christians in the Church Age a clear command to study the word of God. Not only that, we are also commanded to ‘rightly divide’ what we read there.  There are 3 groups in the Bible that God can be talking to at any given time, they are not the same. First, you have the Jews and Israel as one group, the redeemed Church as the second group, and the unsaved gentiles which make up the rest of the world population at any given time.

Understanding The Differences Between

The Rapture and The Second Coming

# 1. THE 24 ELDERS ARE WEARING THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE START OF THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE.

Revelation -- Twenty-Four Elders Cast Their Crowns Before the Throne of God

  Paul says in 2nd Timothy that believers will receive crowns in that day’ that takes place at the time of the Rapture of the Church.  John, in Revelation 4, is taken up in type in the Rapture and when he gets there he witnesses elders with crowns 2 chapters before the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble in Revelation 6.

  “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” — 2nd Timothy 4:8 (KJV)

  “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” — Revelation 4:4 (KJV)

 # 2. THE BIBLE DOESN’T MENTION A RESURRECTION AT THE SECOND COMING BUT IT DOES FOR THE RAPTURE.

The Three Comings of Jesus Christ -- Calvary, Rapture and Armageddon

  In Revelation 19:11-21, we clearly see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. Church saints mount up on white horses and return with Him. Nowhere in the passage does it mention a resurrection will take place at this time, in stark contrast to the resurrection of Church saints Paul talks about in 1st Thessalonians 4.

 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” — 1st Thessalonians 4:16, 17 (KJV)

# 3. AT THE SECOND COMING THE WORLD WILL MOURN, BUT AT THE RAPTURE IT’S A TIME OF REJOICING.

Beacon Ministries -- 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 16

  Matthew 24:29-31 contains the very proof that the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming are two separate events.  Matthew paints a picture of stark terror and physical judgments falling upon the Earth, and then people shall see the ‘Son of man’ coming down from Heaven.  Paul on the other hand, talks about none of these things being connected with the Rapture of the Church.   Furthermore, Paul says in the Rapture that Jesus comes for us personally and pulls us up into the clouds with Him, but Matthew says Jesus sends His angels for His elect at the Second Coming.

 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man coming in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” — Matthew 24:29-31 (KJV) — Second Coming 

 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment , in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” — 1st Corinthians 15:51, 52 (KJV) — The Pretribulation Rapture

#4. THE EVERY NAME GIVEN TO THE TIME OF GREAT TRIBULATION IS A DIRECT REFERENCE TO NATIONAL ISRAEL AND THE JEWS.

The Time of Jacob's Trouble is Nigh at Hand

  In Matthew 24, Jesus says that there will be a time of ‘great tribulation’, but He does not call it so.  The actual name for this 7 year period of time is found in Jeremiah 30. where the prophet tells us clearly who this time of trial and testing is for.  It’s for Israel.  Jacob’s name was changed from Jacob, his name when he was lost and in rebellion to God, to Israel, the name, God gave him after he ‘wrestled with God’ and got right.  The Bible says that the physical regathering of Israel, which took place in 1948, the Jews and Israel would be in the land but far from God in their hearts and minds.  This is the exact condition we see today in places like Tel Aviv, which is the Sodomite capital of the world.

  “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble but he shall be saved out of it.” — Jeremiah 30:7 (KJV)

# 5. AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING, JESUS RETURNS FROM A WEDDING.

What is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

  Luke says that when Jesus returns for His people Israel at the Second Coming. He has already been at the wedding.  Paul tells us that after the Rapture of the Church we meet the Lord for the great Marriage of the Lamb wedding supper. This event has nothing to do with Israel and is for the Church only.  At the Second Coming this event has already taken place.

 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately.  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” — Luke 12:35-40 (KJV) — Second Coming  

  “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” — 2nd Corinthians 11:2 (KJV) –– The Pretribulation Rapture

  “And He saith unto me, “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” — Revelation 19:9 (KJV)

#6. TWO OPENINGS OF THE DOOR IN HEAVEN.

Stairway to heaven with a White Cross at the top Stock Photo illustration

  In the book of Revelation, Heaven is opened two times, and both of them are connected with the Church. In the first one, John, who is a type of the Church, is taken up to Heaven in a type of the Rapture.  The second time occurs in Revelation 19 where the redeemed saints already in Heaven mount up on white horses and return with Jesus at the Second Coming.

 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” — Revelation 4:1 (KJV)

 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” — Revelation19:11 (KJV)

#7. THE DAY OF THE RAPTURE IS UNKNOWN WHILE THE DAY OF THE LORD’S SECOND COMING IS MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY.

The Rapture -- Jesus in Coming

  Nowhere in Paul’s writings does he mention the date that the Rapture of the Church will take place.  He gives us time clues in 2nd Thessalonians, but not actual day.  John, on the other hand tells us in Revelation precisely when the Day of the Lord will occur. He says that the Second Coming happens 1,260 days (three and a half years) after the Jews flee to the Red Rock City of Selah Petra to hide from the Antichrist.

 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” — 2nd Thessalonians 2:2, 3 (KJV) — The Pretribulation Rapture

  “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” — Revelation 12:6 (KJV) — Second Coming

#8. THE LORD RETURNS TO THE EARTH WITH HIS CHURCH — NOT FOR HIS CHURCH.

Second Coming of Christ with Church-Age Saints Return on White Horses

  Jude talks about Enoch who is a type of a Christian living in the days before the Law of Moses.  Enoch walks with God and then one day God takes him up and out of here in a type of the Rapture. Enoch was not Jewish and had no connection to Israel of any kind. That same Enoch prophesied that at the Second Coming.  Jesus Christ will return with HIs redeemed saints already in tow.

 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,” — Jude 1:14 (KJV)

#9. THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB HAPPENS BEFORE THE SECOND COMING.

Marriage Supper of the Lamb illustration

  A spectacular event happens in Heaven right before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon, the great Wedding Supper of Jesus and His Bride, the blood-washed redeemed Church.  You will take careful note that if the Wedding Supper happens before the Second Coming, then it must be that the Church is already up in Heaven with Jesus.  Where do we go on our ‘honeymoon’? We take a Joy ride on a white horse and return to the Earth in the triumphal Second Coming. Revelation 19:11 starts the ‘honeymoon’ in amazing fashion!  These passages alone show proof  positive that the Church is already in heaven prior to the Second Coming, there is no other way the marriage could take place.

 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” — Revelation 19:9 (KJV) — first the wedding.

 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Fearful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” — Revelation 19:11, 14 (KJV) — then the honeymoon.  

#10. AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT SO SHALL IT BE IN THE END TIMES.

As in The Days of Noah and Lot so will be the Coming of The Son of Man

  Jesus in the gospels says this time period will be like the days of Noah, and like the days of Lot. Wow, talk about conflicting events!  In the days of Noah, a vey small group of people are told to ‘get in the ark’, and are saved when the Door closes shut them in.  Jesus of John 10 says that He is the door, thus we see that being in the ark is a type picture of the born-again believer being ‘in Christ Jesus’.  Not only that, before the judgment falls, the people in the ark are taken ‘up and out;’ as they rise above what rages below.  So we see that this is a type picture of the Church, redeemed in Jesus the Door, being removed prior to judgment.

  In Lot’s day, the opposite happens.  Lot is not taken out, he is told to run away!  And where does he flee to?  Why, he is told to ‘flee to the mountain’. Where do Jews in the time of Jacob’s trouble flee to?  They run and hide to the Selah Petra, where they wait 3.5 years, 1260 days, for the Lord to come get them at the Revelation 19:14 Second Coming. Who does the Lord come with?  Us, the Church. 

  “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” — Matthew 24:37 (KJV)

  “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” — Luke 17:28, 29 (KJV)

  Noah and Lot represent two very different events that have two very different conclusions.  So it is with the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming. They are two remarkably distinct and different events with two polar opposite conclusions.

  Keep looking up, Jesus is coming to get us soon!

 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;” — Titus 2:13 (KJV)

Jew's blowing Ram's Horns -- What is the Time of Jacob's Trouble.

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the September 2016 issue of Today’s Front Page was “10 Proofs for the Pretribulation Rapture.”  www.JohnBarela.com

 

 

 

 

Overcoming the Problem of Failing to Become What You Are in Christ Jesus

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

No. 1 in News and Inspiration

June 2020

Overcoming the Problem of Failing to

Become What You Are in Christ Jesus

How Can a Young Man Cleanse His Way, Psalm 119 verse 9 illustration no. 2

2nd Corinthians 5:17-19, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconcilation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconcilation.”

 The reason many new believers drop-out of church and serving the Lord Jesus is the frustration many experience when they become that New Creature in Christ — having old things pass away and exclaiming, “Behold, all things are become new.”

  Their most common complaint?  Why is it so hard to live the Christian life?

 The question we should all ask ourselves is, Am I what I became — a new creature in Christ?  Have any of my friends and relatives noticed that I have become a new creation in Christ Jesus?  Most believers find it very difficult to live the Christian life.  The answer is that the only person who can live the Christian life is Jesus Christ.  God made us a new creation in Christ, so that HE could live the Christian life in us.

 In talking to many believers through the years, most cannot understand that after BECOMING a Christian, they find it so difficult to be the Christian that they’ve become.  Most have never even been taught of the resources we have by the indwelling presence of our Lord Jesus in us.

1st John 3:8 tells us God’s purpose in redeeming us, “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.“  He came to destroy the effects of the Seed of Adam in us.

 The Bible speaks of two seeds, the Seed of Sinners by Adam and the See of Promise in Jesus Christ.  Having been born as a son of Adam, we are born sinners by nature.  We become a new creation when we are born again of the Seed of Promise in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:18-19, “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobeciience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Galatians 3:19, “Wherefore then serves the law?  It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” 

Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

1st John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

 This is what God is trying to explain to us in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 when he tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.“  When we are born again, God’s seed was planted in us by his Spirit, and that new Seed can only Produce Good Fruit, and the Seed of Adam can only produce Bad Fruit.  Nothing good can come out of Adam’s Seed, NOTHING.

Romans 12:2 puts it this way, “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind: that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  This is how the new seed we have received is to transform us into becoming what we are in Christ Jesus.

Be ye transformed — The Greek word for Metamorphosis, is the same as our English word metamorphosed: transfigured, appear as new persons, with new habits, as God has filled us with his Spirit, whereby we can now worship him in Spirit and in Truth, as how we are told the true worshippers will worship him.

metamorphosis: The life cycle of a butterfly includes a process called metmorphosis where each butterfly goes through 4 stages from an egg to a larva, then to a pupa and finally, they turn into an adult butterfly. These 4 stages of a butter- flies life varies slightly depending on the specific type of butterfly.

 It is similar in the life of a believer.  We are as ugly as a cocoon, but God intends for us to become a beautful butterfly. This is in reference not to the first work of conversion and renovation.  In this sense these persons were transformed, metamorphosed, changed and renewed already.  But the believer continues to progress and grow as we carry on the work of renovation, the renewing of our mind day by day as we read and study God’s Word.  Every believer should be desirous of, and pray for, and make use of those means which the Spirit of God owns us for this purpose.  The new creation in us should be desirous of reading God’s Word, in meditation of his Word, in prayer, and in the ministration of the Word — which is the reverse of being conformed to the world.

 That you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God;  This does not refer to the secret will of God, which cannot be searched into, proved, or known, until time and facts work it out.  It refers to the revealed will of God, as in the hands of Christ, which contains nothing but what is good.  It refers to what we are taught in Romans 8:2, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  It refers to the perfect law of liberty which is to be proved and approved of by all the saints, who delight in it after the inward man.  It refers to those who are daily renewed in the spirit of their minds, and proved, tried and approved of, even by all such who have their spiritual senses.

 This is the reason why people who seek psychological help are so disappointed.  If people have not been born of the Spirit and do not have the Seed of Christ in them, they are incapable of doing good.  They only have the Seed of Adam which can only produce sin.

 God tells us in Psalms 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

 Many parents and those seeking help ask this question every day, “How can anyone seeking help correct their problem and keep their way pure?” And of course God himself provides us with the answer.  By paying close attention to their manner of life and living their life in response to God’s word.

 God continues to explain to us in Psalms 119:11-12, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statues.”

 When we begin to treasure up the Word of God and keep it stored in our heart, we are promised that it will keep us from sinning against God.  The result will be continual response to God of praise and worship.  It will cause a person to want to learn more of God’s eternal Word.

 Unfortunately, because most Biblically illiterate Christians think that they can live the Christian life apart from God. They cannot.  It is as if someone were to plant a peach seed into the ground, and then be disappointed that the tree did not produce oranges.  The Seed of Adam can only produce after its own kind.  We are told in Romans 8:7-8, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” 

 Our natural mind is in fact the enemy of God.  It is incapable to submit itself to the law of God.  In the same way that the law of the nature of a Peach Seed is incapable of submitting to the Law of an Orange Seed, it is totally incapable of producing oranges.

 This is why every human being needs to have the Seed of God planted within them.

1st John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 

Galatians 5:24-25, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the June 2020 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Overcoming the Problem of Failing to Become What You Are in Christ Jesus” www.JohnBarela.com  

The Emerging Church and its Ultimate Goal

On By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

No. 1 in News and Inspiration

January 2020

The Emerging Church and its Ultimate Goal

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

 Our Lord Jesus, before He ascended to Heaven, spent a great deal of His time warning the disciples of the wolves who would enter into the sheepfold.

Emergent Advocate Mathematician, Eric Temple Bell

 This is how emerging advocate mathematician Eric Temple Bell, defined the Emerging Church, “Euclid taught me that without assumptions there is no proof. Therefore, in any argument, examine the assumptions.”  The Emerging Church movement has many assumptions to examine because it buys into popular cultural notions of right and wrong, truth and error.  These popular cultural notions, however, have been shaped and molded by philosophical influences decades and centuries in advance.  It is precisely these notions that become assumptions under which popular culture operates today.  Yesterday’s philosophies are today’s politics and the Emerging Church movement is a political movement to be sure.

The Emerging Church as a Political Movement

 Indeed, one of the difficulties in examining contemporary religious movements is the numerous philosophical influences involved.  The Emerging Church movement exhibits traits of many of the following philosophies: communism, existentialism, postmodernism, relativism, subjectivism, pragmatism, humanism, and philosophies have their own underratedness that is difficult enough to discern.  The task becomes proportionately more difficult enough to discern. Like mining for ore, we may be able to trace some nuggets in the stream of current activity to the originating vein of thought.

Communism PowerPoint SlideSecular Humanism is a Religion        

Acts 20:26-32 “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Grievous Wolves of Acts 20 verse 29

 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  And now brethren, I command you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and the give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

Paganism and Gnosticism

 The Emerging Church is modern day Gnosticism. What is Gnosticism?  The definition of the word Gnostic is derived from the Greek word gnosis, meaning “to know.”  It basically wants you to believe the lie — any lie, regardless of what religious setting you are in.  Once you mix the truth with the lie, you become a gnostic, controlled by the prince of the power of the air.

Yahweh -- Jesus Names   Lucifer the Devil image

 Basically, the Gnostic believes in acquiring special, mystical knowledge as the means for salvation.  According to Gnostic beliefs, there is a Great God that is good and perfect, but impersonal and unknowable. The creator of the universe was actually a lesser deity, a cheap knock-off of the “true God”—who wanted to create a flawless material universe but botched the job.  This is what you find in every form of Gnosticism and esoteric groups. They teach their adherents that there are two gods, one good and one evil.  They teach Yahweh / Jesus is the evil God and that Lucifer, the devil, is the good god. That they are both fighting for the souls of men.

A Utopian Society by 2050   Why Does God Allow Pain and Misery and Suffering PowerPoint Slide

 They teach that instead of having a utopia, we ended up with a world infected with pain, misery, and intellectual and spiritual blindness; all matter is now corrupt and evil.  However, when the lesser deity created man, he accidentally imbued humanity with a spark of the “true” God’s spirit, making man an inherently good soul trapped in the confines of an evil, material body.

Was Jesus Christ a Gnostic illustration

The Gnostic Jesus

 Contrary to a message of salvation through Christ alone (Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”), the Gnostic Jesus brings a message of self-redemption.  Man only needs to examine his inner “spark” to find the knowledge needed to free himself from his material body and reach God.  This alleged purity of heart is the exact opposite of what is stated in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things an desperately wicked who can know it?”

Carl Gustav Jung

 Today, Gnosticism has evolved and branched out from the exclusively spiritual into the secular and scientific. Psychologist C. G. Jung praised Gnosticism as superior to traditional Christianity as a way of thinking.  Another form of Gnosticism denies the existence of God altogether, while embracing an eternal flawed universe.  This atheistic form of Gnosticism doesn’t see the material world as totally evil, but as flawed and incomplete.  Mankind becomes the “deity,” and has the right to improve the human body and the world through their own wisdom.

The Gnostic Scriptures -- The Nag Hummadi Library

 Christianity and Gnosticism are mutually exclusive — it is easy for a Gnostic mindset to seep into our own thinking if we’re not careful (1st Peter 5:8). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”  The Gnostic is pursuing goodness, but instead of seeking to be regenerated by Christ, they grab hold of a man-centered purpose for living.  Gnostic thought makes man “wise in their own eyes” (Isaiah 5:21), something that is also pointed out in (Proverbs 3:7), “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” 

The Holy Word of God -- God cannot make an Error J.C. Ryrie -- What is the best safeguard. The Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied

 Gnostic thinking claims that deeper truth can be found apart from God.  But Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Instead of searching our corrupt, flawed “inner selves for answers, we should instead test everything against the revealed Word of God.  In the end, if it is God’s truth alone that can be trusted.

Isaiah 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this world. It is because there is no light in them.” 

Did the Garden of Eden have a Talking Snake. The Snake talking to Eve in the Garden of Eden.   The Battle between Good and Evil with Angels and Demons illustration

 From the very beginning, the battle between good and evil has been a battle of the truth.  The serpent, in the Garden of Eden, began his temptation by questioning the truthfulness of God’s previous instruction by questioning the truthfulness of God’s previous instruction.  “Indeed hath God said, ‘Ye shall not eat from any tree of the garden? . . . Ye surely shall not die!  For God knoweth that in the day you eat thereof your eyes will be opened, and ye will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1, 4, 5).  And this has been his tactic ever since, casting doubt on the revelation of God.

The Emerging Church Pastor, Doug Pagitt

 The Emergent Church is this same form of Paganism.  One emergent pastor, Doug Pagitt is a Universalist, that everyone will go to heaven, no one will be damned. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Buddhist, a Hindu or a Muslim.  That’s just classic Universal-ism.

Two Wolves Snarling -- The Emergent Church

 What you have here is a form of false religion.  A form of paganism that basically wants to be thought of as Christian because it gains a certain ground.  But the underlying bottom line of this whole emerging movement is they don’t believe in any doctrine, they don’t believe in any theology.

The Emergent Church Pastor, Brian McLaren

 Another emergent pastor, Brian McLaren says nobody has ever gotten it right, so let’s not make an issue out of anything.  Let’s just be open to everything. Let’s not take a position on theology or for that matter, on morality or behavior because hey, there’s no judgment anyway so we’ve all going to end up in God in some ethereal, eternal relationship.  And that’s just non-Christian. It is blatantly, flagrantly non-Christian.  It’s as non-Christian as any false religion.

Rick Warrern -- The False Gospel of the Emergent Church Leaders Exposed Oasis Baptist Church -- What we Believe sign

 God’s people have one function, to guard the truth, to proclaim the truth and to live the truth.  That’s not the mission in a seeker / emergent church. God has this word for those who may be involved in Christ-centric, Bible-centric Church.

A Gospel Centered Church diagram

Revelation 18:4 -5, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plaques.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” 

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the January 2020 issue of Today’s Front Page was “The Emerging Church and its Ultimate Goal” www.JohnBarela.com