Logostician

I don't disagree at all. All of these things are happening in an accelerated fashion right now. AI is a serious threat. We are on or in the leading edge of the last days. Once these things begin, the accelerated pace will bring the world to it's knees in a short 7 year span.

Thank you for pointing out the unselfish, totally giving nature of God. Luk 12:32 Fear not little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Love is biblical. When we come to Christ do we linger on the sins of the old man? If you love a good woman, does her past really matter? If you think divorce is a sin, surely you beleive that the grace of God through Jesus Christ is sufficient to forgive that sin.

You're never alone. Jesus is always with you. Let that knowledge relieve your anxiety.

I've never bought a Bible for myself in my life. My mother bought me one about 40 years ago. And that's the one I still use today. I have a lot of notes in it. About half of them are unreadable now. I still couldn't bring myself to throw it away for a new one.

1 Cor 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

I beleive the wedding garments represent putting on Christ through his salvation. Rev 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in WHITE ROBES? And whence came they? And I said to him, Sir thou knowest. And he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have WASHED THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. Those who come to Jesus, and ask for salvation are saved by Jesus. The offer is made to everyone. But not everyone asks for the salvation that is offered to them. Jno 3:16 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. Jesus provides the wedding garments to those who love him and have been saved by him. At salvation we put off the old man, and put on Christ. At the wedding feast, it is known to Jesus who his followers are. And he provides wedding garments to the sheep he already knows. Rev 19:7-8 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 white linen is the righteousness of saints. The bride of Christ is us. We have made ourselves ready by asking and receiving salvation from Jesus. While the "righteousness of saints" can be equated to good works, and bearing fruit, there are no good works, and no fruit, without salvation. Good works, in the eyes of God, are Jesus in us, doing good works through us. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet not I. But Christ liveth in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. I beleive that the unfortunate man in the parable you have cited, has not asked for the salvation of Jesus Christ. Therefore he has not received it. He has not been washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore he is unfit to enter the Kingdom of God. This is a sad thing. Sadder still is that we see this every day. There are more dry bones in this world than those with eternal life through Jesus Christ. Our job is to bring as many to Jesus as we can, within the will of God. Many will be called. But few will ask in faith for salvation, and therefore choose not to be chosen by God. Peace.

Phi 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. If these dreams come from God, he is more than able to fully reveal them. If they come from somewhere else, he is more than able to reveal that, and remove the source.

Ron 12:2 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. Seeking Jesus is timeless, unless we get caught up in the times.

Jesus is God. Col 2:8-10 Beware that any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of this world, and not after Christ. FOR IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

I don't think God keeps secrets. I think we need to ask for guidance more, and more often. When we walk in the Spirit, the wisdom of God is with us. All true wisdom comes from the Spirit. When the Spirit is indwelling, the dividing line between God and man is broken, as it should be. Jesus died to establish this reconciliation between God and man. So why say I start or end here, and the Spirit in me starts and ends over there. We are one. We are unified with God. Jesus was a full disclosure savior, not a politician. He did not keep secrets. He did not gloss over the difficult things like the persecution Christians would endure, or the impending destruction of the present world. He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life. The whole truth. Our understanding is limited in the flesh, but not because God is keeping secrets from us. Our capacity to understand the truth is directly correlated to the intimacy of our relationship with God, and will be perfected in the regenerated heaven and earth. Will we ever know all the ways of God? I don't think so. Because God is God. He knows all things. And we are not him. But if we ask for answers we will surely receive them. If we seek answers, we will surely find them, and if we knock he will open all things to us. Many things in this present life are revealed dispensationally to the prophets and people of God to bring about the plan of God for maximum salvation of all who will come to him. This is done so we can put the pieces together, and see that everything points to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's will. Moses was given the Law. Jesus later comes to fulfill it. The Law taught. But Jesus saves. The great prophets did not receive the full revelation of God, but I beleive they knew Jesus. God didn't keep secrets, he just revealed things in his time to accomplish his perfect plan. God shows himself to jews first, but extends his grace to gentiles when it is time, in his time. I have faith in God and God's plan. I guess there are things I would like to know. But there are also things I don't really want to know, and just put in his hands, like when I will lose loved ones in this world. I know Jesus is my savior and will take care of me far better than I can take care of myself. And that's more than enough for me.

Eccl 3:1-3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A TIME TO KILL, AND A TIME TO HEAL. A time to break down, and a time to build up. I beleive that war, self defense, and defense of others, are times to kill. I am a retired Marine. I have killed enemy soldiers. It's not pleasant, but it's necessary to defend countrymen, family, and friends who are unable or unwilling to defend themselves. And it entails putting your own life at risk. King David was a man after God's own heart, and he killed the enemies of Israel, beginning with Goliath of the philistines when he was still a boy. 1 Sam 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands , and David his tens of thousands. Before David fights his battles he asks for God's guidance and help, knowing that the battle is actually his. 2 Sam 5:19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the philistines into thine hand. In the KJV you will see, thou shalt not kill, as one of the ten commandments. The Hebrew word for kill here is ratsach, which means to murder. In the NKJV, and most modern versions of the Bible the word, murder replaces the word kill as a more accurate translation of the Hebrew. Murder is unacceptable to God. Killing, however is not automatically synonymous with murder. And there is a time to kill. Jesus said to love your neighbor AS YOURSELF. This presupposes that we do love ourselves, family, and friends. Not in a prideful way, but in a basic way. And nothing is more basic than life itself. When Jesus says whoever loves his life in this world will lose it, he is talking about carnality, worldliness, and pride, which are the source of sin. But if you truly love God, your neighbor, and even just yourself, you will defend them. Jesus gave his life for us. He didn't kill people who resisted him, like Mohammed, because the first advent was about saving mankind. The Second Advent will be a little bit different. Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. God creates the seasons and times. It's up to us to follow him in all seasons and all times. Not all times will be easy. And there are some very difficult times on the horizon.

The Holy Spirit is the best teacher you can get. Anyone who is saved is never alone. The Spirit of God is always with him. And the Spirit leads, guides, directs, and teaches, as long as we will yield and listen. It's a good idea to ask for this guidance every time you open your Bible. The Spirit of God is the ultimate authority on the Bible. It is the Spirit of God that inspired men to write the revelations of God in the first place.

2 Cor 12:7-9 And lest I be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me What makes you think that Timothy and Paul didn't pray for Timothy's health? Paul loved Timothy like a son. The will of God prevails, and makes us stronger. Physical infirmities are common to all men in this life. And we will all die at the end of this life as a result of these infirmities. But those on whom "the power of Christ may rest upon" will live forever.

Lust seeks the welfare of self. Love seeks the welfare of others. Lust is based on pride/covetousness which is the source of all sin. Love is based on selflessness, and the ability to to look beyond oneself for what is right and true. Agape love comes from God. We have the capacity to love because we are created in God's image. We are told to love God, and our neighbor. This is real love that does not seek it's own carnal reward. It is a love that glorifies God. It is an empathetic love that seeks the wellbeing of others. If you want to know if it's lust or love, ask yourself is it for me, or is it for God, and my neighbor.

My favorite word in the Bible, which I've never seen anywhere else is "Lovingkindness". What a great word! It's the old English translation of the Hebrew "Checed". It's the perfect description of the loving nature of God. As for denominations, my denomination is Jesus. "Nom" means name. Jesus is the name with power that describes who I am better than anything, in terms of what I know, beleive, and identify with. A "Christian" is a Christ man. And that's what I am. And it's enough. I never try to hold to only part of what Jesus is and taught to suit "denomination". But I don't hold anything against those who hold to specific doctrine based on the Bible, as long as it is Christ centered. But we all have our own walk with Jesus. We all have our own personal relationship with him. And it's not denominational. It's Jesus and us. When we see Jesus face to face, doctrine, theology, and denominationalism will be replaced with a more perfect knowledge of the one who stands before us. Until then we should focus on Jesus, and try to return and share as much of his Lovingkindness as we can.

Nothing happens outside the will of God. All things work to his purpose. When Job is afflicted he never even thinks about Satan at all. He gives Satan his proper consideration, which is nothing at all. Job's conversation and thoughts are with God as they should be. As stated by others here Job is an object lesson for everyone who has faith in God. In times of trouble, we will either flee to God, or away from God. Job gets a little bit testy, and defensive with God, but he maintains his conversation with God. He knows there is nowhere else to go. His "friends" give a lot of bad advice. But Job is not deterred. His conversation is with God. That is how we need to maintain our relationship with God through Jesus. We will all face troubles. We will all question why we have to face these troubles, and struggle in the heart and mind with current and future consequences of these troubles. But we need to flee to Jesus and redouble our conversation with him, which is prayer. Jesus struggled with this same thing in a far greater impending hardship than Job could ever imagine. The suffering of Jesus was greater than the suffering of any man. Ever. But his relationship with the Father, and yielding to his will was unbreakable. Luk 22:41-44 And he was withdrawn from them about a stones cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And Jesus went on to die a horrific death on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind. Because that was the will of his, and our, father. That was the act that saved the world. Job is an object lesson in suffering. But Jesus is the fulfillment of all things. Look to him in all seasons, including times of trouble and suffering. He understands it better than anyone.

I beleive that you could make the case that when Jesus took on all of the sins of the world, past, present, and future, that the Father could not, or more approriately would not, look upon all of this sin, especially as it rested upon the shoulders of his beloved son. If the father did forsake the Son for this short time on the cross, however, he would seem to be a forsaking our own sins, rather than his beloved Son who bore them like a crown of thorns. I have no theological basis for saying that Father never truly forsook the Son. God knows. But this is what I beleive. The depth of love and the powerful oneness of the Father and the Son, seem to preclude even a moment of abandonment in all of eternity. Although surely God forsakes humanity that insists on forsaking him by not believing in him and establishing a relationship with him through Jesus. We cannot remain in our sins and see God. We need forgiveness through Jesus. Jesus accomplished this on the cross, for anyone who will beleive. There is strong theology in the mental, spiritual, and emotional suffering of Jesus. He was all man, as well as all God. As a man he felt all of the trepidation we would feel if faced with a tortuous death. And he felt all of the physical pain of this torture. And he felt the loneliness of being the true Lamb of God. Docetism is a false teaching that says that Jesus, as the Son of God, was a spiritual being that was spared this mortal pain. This is false. Jesus felt every ounce of the pain of the cross. Only by being a man, was he able to take the sins of man onto himself. Jesus is the link between God and man because he was both. I beleive he still is, and always will be. For those who love him, I beleive that Jesus took us into himself at the cross, removed the sin, and nailed it to the cross, keeping us sinless by virtue of forgiveness in him. I also beleive that as we were drawn into Jesus, he entered into us, through his Spirit. This is a powerful two way relationship. There is no other like it. Theology is too small of a word to describe the fact that Jesus is all God, and all man, and provides this relationship to us. This is the powerful love of God in an everlasting intense relationship with us. Everything hinges on it. It is now. Although the fullness of heaven on earth awaits.

Jesus is the truth. Jno 14 :6 Jesus saith I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but through me. There is no life without this truth that is Jesus Christ. Jno 11:25-26 Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosever beleiveth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Satan's primary weapon against Jesus and those would be saved by Jesus is deception, which is a denial of the truth of Jesus, and the truth that he is God. This has been seen from the Garden of Eden, to now, and until Jesus himself takes Satan out. Jno 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own. For he is a liar, and the father of it. One of Satan's biggest deceptions is the idea that there is no such thing as absolute truth, and that everything is relative to personal, subjective option. This allows sin to enter, because it denies that God is absolute, true, and absolutely in charge. Jno 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then. Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the TRUTH. Everyone that is of the TRUTH beareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, what is the truth. We are all evangelists because we know the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and are expected to share this and grow the Kingdom of God. To deny this sharing of the truth is tantamount to condemning people to eternal death. Jno 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. So what is this fruit? Acts of love? Certainly. But what is the greatest act of love that truly glorifies God? It is the gospel of truth that saves and brings His people into His kingdom, and the loving relationship with Him, that He has intended from the foundation of the world, and before. Jesus is the rock of truth that withstands and overcomes all else. Mat 7:24-25 Therefore whosever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them. I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not. For it was founded upon a rock. If we truly truly love our neighbor, as Jesus calls us to do, we will surely share this life saving truth, far and wide. And it will be the the greatest act of love we can give. Jesus gave his life on a cross. We can give this truth.

I don't know too much about the NASB. I'm just happy to hear anyone say that they are excited by the Bible. God bless you in your journey with Him!

Thank you and Amen. Heaven will be the fulfillment of the two great commandments of Jesus to love God, and love our neighbors. We will see Jesus as he is, and our love for him will be multiplied. And we will love everyone else in his kingdom. Imagine that. Loving everyone that you meet. No disease or death is wonderful, but love is the essence of God. Without it, eternal life would be meaningless. God is love. And there is nothing greater. Love is the reason Jesus created us.

Not all people who do evil and appear evil will become worse and worse. And we are not the judges of souls. Some will be saved and become new creatures. Jesus will judge, and save who he will. 1 Tim 1:12-13 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. We were all dead in our sins until we were saved by Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save sinners. Saul wasn't looking too good before his encounter with Jesus, and neither were we. But now we are Sons of God because the Father sees his Son Jesus in us. Only these new creatures in Christ are acceptable to God. Our past life without Jesus is left behind as we move forward with Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The abomination that makes desolate is prophesy with historic and future fulfillment, as is the case with the ancient Roman Empire that destroyed the Temple in 70AD, and the revived Roman Empire that will rise up in the last days. Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. In 167 BC Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, desecrated the temple by halting the sacrifices mandated by God, and sacrificed a pig on an altar to zeus that he erected in the temple. This profaned the temple of God, and eventually led to the war of the Maccabees, which is discussed in the apocropha, which is not in the canonical Bible. But the ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophesy will be fulfilled by the beast, the son of Satan, during the tribulation. In chapter 9 of Daniel, the prophet gives his prophesy of 70 weeks of years covering 490:years. Verse 24 pinpoints the arrival of Jesus in the flesh, and was probably used by the Magi to seek a sign in the stars to find Jesus. But verse 27 refers to the future week of the tribulation, and the beast who first authors a treaty/covenant that allows the rebuilding of the temple with daily sacrifices, but then breaks the covenant at the midpoint of the 7 years. Dan 9:27 And he (beast) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years). And in the midst (middle) 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 (end of this world), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The beast's edict to halt the daily sacrifice in the temple makes it desolate (without purpose). But the true abomination that makes desolate is the beast himself. 2 Thess 2:3-4 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 (beast), the son of perdition (Satan). Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. So that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. The beast is the son of Satan who will for a short time defile the the temple, pretending to be the Son of God, until he, and his unholy army, are destroyed by Jesus and his heavenly host. Rev 19:19-20 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 had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Jesus has always been hated and envied by Satan. Satan was cast out heaven for his pride and sin (Eze 28). Satan has always wanted to undermine God's plan, as when he caused the fall of mankind in the garden, and continues to be the prince of this world. Satan desires to sit on the throne of Jesus. And he will spend a short time there before being defeated by Jesus and his heavenly host. Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are a parody of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, seeking to assume the power and glory of God out of prideful envy. People who hate Jesus are simply displaying their fallen state, putting their own worldly pride before Jesus. There is nothing new under the sun. Those who have eyes to see the truth beyond this world, will see Jesus. Those who have eyes only for themselves, in this world, will remain in their fallen state. Nicodemus is a rare example of a Jewish leader during the time that Jesus walked among us, who reached past his own position of power to truly seek the things of God, through Jesus Christ. But is mankind any better today than it was when Jesus walked the earth? Even with the Word of God preached throughout the world? The way is still narrow. And the gate is still strait. And few find it still. It requires looking beyond oneself, and the world that is seen, to the source, sustainer, and savior of all things, Jesus Christ. He is the way. There is no other way. Any man who thinks he can have it his own way, and be his own way is deceived by the father of lies, Satan. Not surprisingly, Jesus said it best: Jno 4:43-44 Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own. For he is a liar, and the father of it.

It seems that you have a negative view of Christians. Perhaps you have had some bad experiences. But I will not argue with you at a time like this. I will urge you to focus on the one all loving creator of the world Jesus Christ. When you feel alone or unloved, he is always there and always loves. I pray that he will ease your mind, and body. All "science", philosophy, and studies by men, pale next to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I don't mean to lecture, But Jesus is the one and only thing that both of us really need. Please allow him to comfort you. He wants to.