Category: Last Days

Judge expected to rule in Bible verse banner suit

In the Lone Star state trouble is brewing. Again. It seems some cheerleaders are making signs with Bible quotes written on them like:

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

Who indeed is against them? Well, it seems that there is a group that wants America free from religion. The group, Freedom From Religion Foundation complained to the school district that the Kountze High School cheerleaders violated America’s First Amendment to its Constitution. This amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

The School District responded to the complaint by banning the signs. So, the cheerleaders sued, arguing that the ban violates their free speech rights, which are also guaranteed in the First Amendment. The Judge has allowed the cheerleaders to continue until he decides the case. The decision is expected today.

What struck me as fascinating is that this anti-religion group stated: “If the majority of the cheerleaders were atheists, would a court support their ‘right’ to hold up a banner insulting Christianity or all believers?”

Wait just minute. There’s a name for this type of argument. It’s a typical argument used by too many these days. It’s saying that apples are the same as oranges. I mean, really, are the cheerleaders insulting non-believers? No. But here’s the rub. There are people who will condemn the right of Christians to speak freely, while they continue to speak their way in public and in schools. [Evolution is a theory. It is one of many theories. But the schools teach it like it was Truth.]

And the cheerleaders didn’t even use the Name of our Lord. Oh, they wrote G-d with a capital letter. That’s the same thing, isn’t it? They’d have been heralded in the media if they’d just said something like, “Who can be against us if our higher power is for us?” But too often Christians, if not outrightly banned, are harrassed and jeered for their faith.

We live among a people of unclean lips. We live in a generation that has no regard for Messiah Y’shuaJesus. They speak about the mother earth, celebrate holidays like the upcoming satanic halloween [I will not capitalize either word, and yes, they go together.]. And cheerleaders in Austin, Texas, are banned from signs that use the word G-d. What would have happened if they’d have said “JESUS” in a sign? Would they have been arrested for a hate crime? [Oh, that’s right, America has not yet adopted such facist methods of control.]

But you know where all this is going, right? It is headed for a time when the world says conflict will end if we just have a world government and a world religion. Confict will end when those Jesus freaks stop their rantings and get with the program. Even the big-box churches are starting to come around and incorporate Eastern-style thought into their teachings. Meditation. Inviting New Age speakers to be on the same platform as their so-called preachers. I mean, isn’t Buddha a brother and equal to Y’shuaJesus, as is Mohammad. All propets right?

Yup, freedom of speech only applies to non-Believers. They won’t use the Name of the Lord Y’shuaJesus. Well, actually, often they do, but it is in vain. Hum. Isn’t that “hate speech” in itself?

I rant. Sorry. Check out the full article at CNSNews.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Micah and a Lasting Peace

Many promise peace. Probably most famous is British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, who promised “peace in our time.” He did this in defense of an appeasement agreement in Munich that allowed Germany to take part of Czechoslovakia. But this didn’t appease Germany. Poland was in its sights. When Poland fell to Germany, England entered what would become WWII. England suffered greatly during the war, with much destruction coming upon it.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1 Thes 5:3

Y’shuaJesus didn’t promise peace on Earth.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 10:34

He promised peace, though, through HIM.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

In the Book of Micah, we find a prophet itemizing the failures of his country–its iniquities. He cries out to his people regarding G-d’s requirements: justice and mercy, walking humbly with G-d. To Micah, proper worship of G-d is the prime ingredient for a proper relationship. Consequences follow when a people loses its relationship with G-d. Destruction. But Micah also promises redemption, salvation. He foretold of the Messiah. He also foretold that the Last Days would usher in a lasting peace with the Earthly reign of Messiah, Y’shuaJesus.

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:3

Bad times come. Bad times go. We ride the worldly roller coaster. Peace we have through all this that is brought into our hearts through our faith in Y’shuaJesus. He is the Only Way to Peace.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Last Days (4)

Again, let me say that there’s more to the Book of Revelation than death and destruction, the end of the world that is depicted in the doomsday media, which seems only to lead us to think of G-d’s plan for humankind as being annihilation. Yet parts, taken out of context, say just people will die out there. Take a look at these verses:

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 6:12-17

Fear. Intense fear. Fear that is getting out of control. Fear that makes people want to dig a hole and bury themselves alive. I awoke one night thinking about the use of fear in the media today. Especially in the financial adviser realm, where we become fearful of losing whatever savings we have and think perhaps they may have the answers to save us.

But there’s something within humans that seem driven to want to experience fear. A lot of people like horror movies and “amusement parks.” I don’t. I don’t like roller coasters. But roller coasters are tame compared to some of the new rides. And then there are various other “sports” that people engage in. I admit, I’ve been on one of those long, peak-to-peak mountain zip lines myself. And maybe it has some value beyond the harnessing of one’s fear. And then there’s bungee jumping. Jump off a bridge with a stretch cord wrapped around your ankles designed to stop you just before you crash headlong into the rocks below. Fun!

But what are we doing to ourselves by allowing our senses to be dulled by all these fearful experiences? I wonder. We feed into what the media is all to willing to give us.

I’ve heard it said that the Viet Nam Conflict (Undeclared War) came to an end as a result of journalists graphic reports on the evening news including video of our soldiers dying in combat. Americans watched it during their dinner, and were sickened by what was going on. Sure, we’d had great journalistic reports in the newspapers, especially during WWII. But a picture “is worth a thousand words.” And these pictures were the same day and of bloody kids, American kids. It was a lot more powerful. And Americans were aghast. But we’re desensitized now. We are no longer shocked at combat, death. Or, perhaps we are still shocked, but feel powerless to do anything about it.

Okay. Moving right along. Fear can direct us into a different course of action. Like the movie Contagion, fear of a deadly virus leads us to accept the word of our government that a vaccine is safe, and to take it. Fear can be used to manipulate us into doing things we would not otherwise do. That can be a good thing, too. I suppose. In some circumstances. But in Revelation, at the point of the Sixth Seal, whatever happens certainly will be big, really big. It will be big enough to really get our attention. And it will be the fear of the LORD. Being really afraid, terrified. Horrified. Not the King James Version of fear the Lord in the psalms. That kind means to look with awe upon Him. No, these people have already apparently made their choices against the Lord our G-d. They are fearful of Him. They are terrified of what is going to happen next.

Now, there is a point, before that Sixth Seal experience, in which people during trials and various other calamities come to look for G-d. At this point, many come to repent. They turn from their current ways—ways of the flesh; ways called sinful—and accept Y’shuaJesus as Lord and Savior.

So. I began with the word apocalypse being used as “The End of the World” or doomsday. And for many the Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse, is just that. It’s in the media portrayed as that, too. I mentioned that the definition of apocalypse is from a Greek word that means uncovering. The Book of Revelation uncovers more fully the Gospel of Lord Y’shuaJesus. There’s Good News! Yet, there’s also some really bad news. Bad news for some, at least. The media focus is on those people. It’s on the Apocalypse as death and destruction. In the Book of Revelation there are two seals that we are shown that people can receive. (See Matthew 24 for Y’shuaJesus telling about one seal a person can receive.) One is a seal given in a world with no use for Messiah Y’shuaJesus. The other seal is one given to those who are willing to give themselves to Messiah Y’shuaJesus. Two groups of people. For those sealed with a demonic mark, the Revelation of Y’shuaJesus as Messiah comes too late, and it means enduring the wrath of G-d, suffering destruction, and death.

For those sealed by the Lord’s angels, sealed with the Holy Spirit, there may come persecution, tribulation, but there is Life in Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Last Days (3)

Apocalypse, I said, viewed through media’s interpretation is death and destruction, the End of the World stuff. Some writers, with what they consider a Christian perspective, have suggested various scenarios that might take place before Messiah returns. They base their writing not only on the Book of Revelation, but also on other Bible Books such as the Book of Daniel and the Book of Ezekiel. At least one writer authored a whole series about those people remaining on Earth after the “rapture.” I haven’t read that series, but through others think the intent is to warn people of what it might be like on Earth while G-d’s wrath is poured out. But, as I quoted Pastor Jeff Shelton, “G-d’s read all the books, and He isn’t gonna do it that way, either.” And I totally agree.

Admittedly, though, I enjoy science fiction, including apocalyptic stuff. I like zombie books, too. I watch the television series Walking Dead, if only to point out the what-not-to-do moments in the program. I like the story lines in the fiction books and movies. Yes, I also like the action. I like the scenarios that are posed. The stories or movies don’t have to be believable, either; they do have to suspend my disbelieve, however. Some do. Some do not. And some reference the Bible and make me more than uncomfortable. Lately I’ve come to think that people could be deceived by the various accounts, especially if they seem as to portray a Biblical story. And maybe even if the book or movie doesn’t hold to a Bible story it leads to deceptive thinking.

Cover of "The Book of Eli [Blu-ray]"
Cover of The Book of Eli [Blu-ray]
Take “The Book of Eli” for instance. It is set AFTER a doomsday event that leaves most people dead and throughout the United States what remains is lawlessness; perhaps the entire world slide into savagery. The main character, Eli, is on a G-d-ordained mission to take a Bible to somewhere on the West Coast. And Eli has special, divinely provided powers. Eventually, the Bible is stolen. The man who took it, knew it contained the way of power. No matter, the Bible Eli carried was made in Brail, for the blind. And Eli continues onward anyway. Through lots of twists and turns, and lots of fighting, Eli eventually gets to Alcatraz, his final destination. The island houses a giant collection of books, and printing presses to make more. Eli recites from memory the entire Bible, which is then transcribed and printed. Mission completed, Eli dies. The nice newly printed Bible is placed on a library shelf next to the Koran. I had sudden and total let down at that. That’s the value of the Bible? It’s equivalent to the Koran? Bummer!

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:7-8

Another movie I enjoyed uses a virus spreading around the world as the apocalypse: Contagion, starring Matt Damon Gwyneth Paltrow Kate Winslet. According to Wikipedia, “the plot of Contagion documents the spread of a virus transmitted by fomites, attempts by medical researchers and public health officials to identify and contain the disease, the loss of social order in a pandemic that leads to martial law, and finally the introduction of a vaccine to halt its spread.” This film, though a work of fiction, was carefully researched, utilizing the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as renowned medical personnel such as W. Ian Lipkin and Lawrence “Larry” Brilliant. To better understand her part as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) doctor, Kate Winslet spent a day with an EIS doctor at CDC in Atlanta.

At least one person, however, sees Contagion as being a bit sinister. “Most people watch movies to be entertained. Well, I for one can say that there was absolutely nothing entertaining about Contagion. In fact, the only difference between this movie and state-sponsored educational movies shown in schools is that with Contagion you actually have to pay to be indoctrinated … and to see Matt Damon. During the cold war, students were shown videos instructing them to “Duck and Cover” in case of a nuclear attack. Contagion conditions the masses to expect martial law and to throw themselves at the first available vaccine in case of a crisis..”—Vigilant Citizen

During the martial law phase, there are food distributions and mostly people stay home, inside. Eventually a vaccine is available, and is slowly produced. A lottery is in place to “fairly” distribute it. The wheels or commerce once again begin to turn. And toward the end of Contagion, the character portrayed by Matt Damon is finally able to pass security screening to shop in a mall; he shows the wrist band he received when his lottery number came up and he was able to be vaccinated. Okay, it’s not like the mark of the beast or anything. He didn’t sign some sort of loyalty oath to the government denouncing Lord Y’shuaJesus. But it didn’t have to, which is why this and other movies like it are troubling to some, and may be deceptive too. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out why. Hint: it has to do with cognitive dissonance.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus

Revelation 22:20

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Last Days (2)

Continuing on. I’ve been giving more thought to the way we perceive “The Last Days.” I mentioned media in general, both print and movies forging our perceptions of the Apocalypse. I’ll come back to this later, and include some specific movies and other’s views on the subject. Today, I want to mention another area that influences us in our views of Apocalypse. There’s a number of fiction and non-fiction books floating around that talks about the “Last Days” and “The Rapture” that are written by writers professing to be Christian Believers. Additionally, we get writers that say they are prophesying a particular event they think going to occur and some even say it will be on a specific date. This occurred not to long ago when an exact day was mentioned. Obviously there are at least a few of us still around, so the Church hasn’t gone off to meet Y’shuaJesus in the air yet.

Referring to all these “Christian” books, a pastor I once worked with put it this way, “G-d’s read all the books, and He isn’t gonna do it that way, either.” That pretty much sums up the gamut of views on the End Times. And since I mentioned “Rapture” I would include it.

ApocalypseSomething to think about: The word Apocalypse comes from the Greek word meaning un-covering. It means revelation. The Book of of Revelation reveals the mystery of Y’shuaJesus, Messiah. Praise the LORD!

Think about it. Lord willin’ I shall be back. Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Last Days

The Last Days. The End Times. The End of the World. The Apocalypse. Images race through our minds of disasters, wars, starving people, hoards of desperate people, cannibals, zombies, disease, and finally death. The images are lodged there from watching those short “trailers” that show a glimpse of an upcoming movie, or watching the movies, or reading the books. Apocalypse to us means: Disaster is coming! Collapse is coming! Wars! Disease! If this were narrated in a video you were watching on YouTube, in the background you’d hear the Doors singing, “This is the End. . .” and you’d see mushroom clouds and refugees marching slowly off screen, carrying what’s left of their worldly goods. Our minds are made up for us. We have been prepared to see the Apocalypse in a particular way. It is The End of the World. The finish to all that we’ve accomplished here on Earth. . . unless. . . unless there is someone to intervene, someone to save us. Thus, as usually is the case in the movie or books, a hero emerges from the sea of common humanity; out of the chaos comes order. Bravo! Applause! The Earth is saved. We all live happily ever after.

Hummmm. You think? Think about it. Lord willin’ I shall be back on Friday. Until then, Lord Bless, Keep, and Shine gently upon y’all.