BigJer

Lots of interesting facts in the link. I learned a lot and the message contains a lot of good truth.

One question that bothers me is this. In the passage, there is a strong message of abiding in Christ. no less than five times the word "abide" is used, yet the following message does not contain this one word at all. Not a critique at all, just an observation.

I believe that God is still guiding His people through these dreams and visions. It isn't more revelation or more scripture. It is a matter of keeping His people in line with His will. I REALLY don't think that people that have dreams and visions are more spiritual. Sometimes it is due to their stubbornness that God has to give visions and dreams.

I have had them. Some impressive and some not so impressive but the point is taken nonetheless. Some were in answer to my prayers requests. Some were to warn me of the direction I was going. I am just a bit stubborn, so I need these things to keep me in line.

It is such an hassle putting makeup on two faces.

I have been blessed by many versions of scripture.

I agree that the NKJV is a good option.

I saw a sign that read this:

IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT A CROWD, START A FIGHT

It is my theory that some of us (not just on this board, but generally on most discussion boards) are begging for attention from someone. The quickest way to do this is to start a board fight. It may not be the best way to get attention, but it works nonetheless.

Others just like to argue. They live for a good fight. They say they are fighting for God so they can justify it. Maybe their life at home is crumby. Maybe they can't get out like they would like.

I know this isn't the case with most, so please don't start your own personal disclaimer on this thread on my response. Just ask if you are one of these. If you really are not, fine. If it strikes true in your case, just repent and confess it and go on.

Most of us just like to talk about our thoughts and scriptures on different matters.

I did a lot of bible reading before I ever set foot in a church. I had to check out the info for myself before I latched on to somebody elses teaching.

Yep. There are many like you out there. Others want to know what type of people someone is before they'll go to their church too.

In addition, we need to be witnessing more than inviting.

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Ah, you don't suppose that witnessing could include offering fellowship? Or should I just tell someone "Jesus" and then walk away?

Everyone needs ongoing relationships with other people, to help them find - and then stay faithful to - God. The world has plenty of lone rangers already.

They need to be taught. Encouraged. Held accountable.

Just like anyone else.

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I did not exclude the invitation to church. "More than" is the key phrase I used.

People want to know us before they'll say yes to an invitation. Some must know Jesus first before going to church. That is why witnessing is a vital part of our relationship with those who don't know God personally. They need to experience the fellowship, ongoing relationships, encouragement... before they'll come to church.

Many outside of those 4 walls called church see an invitation to church as a selfish wish of church goers. They must be convinced you care before they'll care about coming. We must go out of our way to reach these people.

It isn't either/or all are needed.

http://www.lifeaction.org/Articles/viewart...sp?id=114114528

Great article! I enjoy many of life actions articles!

Thumbnail sketch of Job.

Job is afflicted. His friends come and claim he sinned. Job says he didn't. They say he did. He says he didn't. A young man comes along and says they are all wrong. etc. etc. God asked, "Job, who do you think you are anyway?" Job repents of his bad attitude and is restored.

I have a better idea.  Invite them to church.

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While inviting them to church is important... we must pray. It is a spiritual battle. We must use prayer. Many will not come to church, but prayer can loosen their stubbornness.

In addition, we need to be witnessing more than inviting.

The Lord does tell us  with absolute certainty who the beast is. 

Yeah, that's why everyone is in such agreement and understanding of who the beast is.

Not!

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I too would like to see who the beast is. Sure would solve all mystery, wouldn't it?

I'll believe it when I see it blink. I've stared at it for 5 minutes and it hasn't yet.

Just kidding of course. It is a beautiful picture. The wonders of creation!

Big Jer, I like you signature.

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Thanks!

On the subject. Watch and Pray. Those are the major instructions.

Whether the number is 666 or 616, or for that matter, any number, or a computer chip---- it won't go on my forehead or hand.

Whether the AC comes from Rome, Germany, Iraq, or even the USA. I will not bow down to anyone that claims to be Jesus Christ, or some other form of deity. Will we be here when he shows up? I hope not, but will prepare for the possibility.

Cute! At least I think so.

Dan(Nazerene)

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Cool that's like being cousins.

I clicked "other" === Wesleyan

Well here is another source that says it is 616.

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Looks like some of our end-times zealots will have some reformulating to do...

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http://www.religionnewsblog.com/11134

Well here is another source that says it is 616.

Well...yeah...but have you SEEN Indiana Jones?    People's faces melt off....evil people, yeah...but still...that's really gross. 

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Notin' makes my day better than watchin' a Nazi have a meltdown!

TLB was never intended to be a replacement for the Bible. It says it is a paraphrase. Can it be helpful? Sure. It is one man's idea of what the bible means. The man that wrote it was trying to help his son, who was unable to understand KJV, understand the meaning of scripture.

I look at it this way. It is great to get one man's view of what a verse means. I place it along side of other BIBLE HELPS as a useful tool in that way.

I have been using audacity. It may not have all the features you are talking about, but it is a GREAT audio recorder. It is freeware. If you also download another program that goes with it, you can save a recording as an MP3 or wave file.

I have found it to be easy and useful.

Reckon yourselves indeed dead to sin, but alive unto righteousness.

He that is dead is FREED from sin.

Follow the Holy Spirit's instructions: "Reckon yourselves indeed dead to sin..." It may not seem to be a reality at first, but IT GROWS ON YOU!

Well put.

One thing that we dare not do is base our beliefs on what we have experienced rather than God's Word. It is one sure way of justifying ourselves and cutting off the spiritual development and the opportunity to living a life that pleases God.

http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/security.htm

Keith does a great job of dealing with this issue in my opinion.

I jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What if we do not confess our sin?

I jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

What if we do not walk in the light?

John 3- in context:

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Pretty plain talk here.

And as for the what ifs..

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

If we truly follow the scriptures and not our "feelings" or someone else's misinterpretation. We will be fine. The Holy Spirit is to be our teacher who leads us into all righteousness, through the written Scriptures.

Let's be BEREANS, searching the scriptures daily..

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Excellent post. There have been a lot of "feelings" and misinterpretations that have taken place already by many popular preachers. Hal Lindsay, Jack Van Impe, and others have been guilty of making statements and predictions that have been proven false. Many are sucked into these and are damaged by them. We must be careful and keep God's Word at hand.

(Although the problem here with MindonFire is what else he was saying.

It's been deleted, but he made a huge post to tell us "heathens" that the "Messias" has already returned and we have all seen him in the news. 13.gif taped.gif rolleyes.gif glare.gif emot-fail.gif

Kind of hard to "Amen!" the message of a guy who runs around with this kind of agenda! wacko.gif )

Agreed.

That makes sense of the responses I've seen then. So was he saying that we all are wrong, but he is 100% right. Can I add some sarcasm to this thread?

I am part way done with a fiction book based on "What if we are wrong". Events happened biblically in my book, but people miss the signs because they don't happen the way we think they should. There are many different reactions to these events by the characters.

I don't think we should be so absolutely sure about the details of the second coming that we could miss it. Look at the way the pharisees got it wrong. God had a totally different plan than they did. I am sure that most of us have it wrong since there are so many varying opinions on how it will happen.

Rather than throwing stones at each other and using sarcasm, I think we should try to understand each other's thoughts on end times. After all, we have these differing thoughts based on scripture, don't we? There should be a spirit of unity rather than a divisiveness.

I am not saying we can never know anything about end times, but we need to be watching and praying, as Jesus said. We need to keep an eye on scripture and the other one on current events to keep abreast of what is happening and keeping our spirits in tune with His.