lastofall

Yes it is the time of the "great me", yet as for wisdom, all that you have mentioned can be found in the Word of God, and we need not look any further, especially since faith cometh only by hearing the Word of God, and by none other. As a matter of reference we may hear from another as long as what they say is in line with God's Word. As for pride we know by the Word of God that God resists the proud, but only gives grace to the humble; or as for people exalting someone, we know again by God's Word that we should not glory in men, but rather if any one glory's, let them glory in the Lord. As for wisdom, many came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, but what did the Lord Jesus say to that, that Behold a greater than Solomon is here, namely the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:44)

Those that are willfully and deliberately sinning are to blame: not the ordinance of man, neither those that enforce the ordinance, nor the rulers (politicians); but the parents. An emotional response does not change the truth of the matter.

[for me anyway] the Word of God tells us plainly concerning this matter, that those given in marriage do well, and those given not in marriage do better: Why? because those given in marriage must needs care for the things of the world for their spouses sake; whereas those given not in marriage may keep their full concentration on the Lord: notwithstanding being married is not at all less than being not married, rather it is the taking on an extra yoke. (1 Corinthians 7:32-38)

[for me anyway] those born of God, born of the Spirit are they that do no longer put their trust into the hands and power of sin, but in God; whereas those not born of God do still put their trust into the hands and power of sin: in this the children of god are manifest, and the children of the devil. (1 John 3:8-10)

"..But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." (Romans 5:20) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:11-12)

[for me anyway] the powers that be are ordained of God and is subject to His will and purpose, and no man can put any thing to it, nor take from it.

[for me anyway] it is a matter of trust, and either we shall trust God or we will not trust Him: and it is the end result that shall determine it, and not what we say to justify ourselves in things made with hands. As for me, I will follow the example which the Lord Jesus Christ made concerning whether He would arm and defend Himself or not: but He chose to trust in His Father instead. "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53) ...but He didn't do it.

"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 thereat: 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) "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (Matthew 7:24) "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. (Matthew 7:26) "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

"Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." (Psalms 78:41)

as for Satan.. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11) as for sin.. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us exactly what to do when we sin, namely, "Go and sin no more".

In conclusion... "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:24-25) "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (1 John 3:20-21)

just to mention also some engraved titles that used to be among their many engraved words that they have displayed there at the Vatican, but now is out of public view: >> Dominus Deus noster papa - Our Lord God the pope; Deus alter in terrâ - Another God on earth; Idem est dominium Dei et papae - The dominion of God and the pope is the same?

[for me anyway] the Lord Jesus Christ takes no interest whatsoever in politics: His interest in in the condition of the heart; this is how it is for me as well, especially knowing by the Word of God that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Beside this God's Word already tells us what the purpose of "the powers that be" are supposed to be for: for protecting the good, and the punishment of evildoers, and that's it. And therefore either a nations governing body will either protect the good, and punish evildoers; or else it shall protect evildoers and punish the good.

..just an extra verse.. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)

[for me anyway] Though not spiritual yet he did have, whether we refer to it as authority or power: Satan did have it over death until it was taken away from him. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14)

[for me anyway] the scripture concludes that this present evil world shall not become better, but shall wax worse and worse, and you know very well that the scripture cannot be broken, no matter what we think: the only thing we can do as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ is to continue living the Gospel, and make the sincere effort to be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good as an example and as a witness.

[for me anyway] just to add to the Truth you have mentioned, that Repenting is the only matter that remains: indeed it is evident that the nation is in the last stage of downfall "a reprobate mind" (Romans 18-32) and God is abandoning it, and except the nation repent much after the manner that the Nineveh repented after Jonah warned them. The difference unfortunately is that their leaders, then the people hearkened to the warning: but now with our nation it can only be said after how Isaiah said "Lord who hath believed our report" we say "Lord who will hear our report?"

God's standard of forgiveness: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12) That's how.

"And they that are [belong to] Christ's have crucified [put to death] the flesh [corrupt nature] with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:24) "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour [protest], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all [any form of] malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

[for me anyway] "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." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49) "There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:44) "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:23)

"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath." (Mark 2:27) "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" (Matthew 12:10) "..it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." (Matthew 12:12)

[for me anyway] for this cause does God abandon a society, because they refuse to repent: and as for this present time, our nation is in its last stage of downfall, a reprobate mind; a mind of depravity, and shall most miserably fall, except it repent as did the Nineveh in the days of Jonah.