1. How Can theology cause āend timesā confusion? To study the bible in a comprehensive manner is a worthwhile goal and this is what theologies attempt to do. Once we know the whole, we can better understand its parts. Yetā¦
I. The artificial nature of theologies can vail the scriptures (both intentionally or unintentionally).
When a theology imposes an artificial structure to the bible, rather than using the bibles stated method and contextual progression, it transposes the passages and places a vail over the eyes of the person attempting to understand the scriptures, in both meaning and purpose. Now not all vails completely obscure all the parts, but it often prevents complete understanding or obscures a part's true function....
Follow this link for more: onlinebaptist.com/forums/topic/32099-why-there-is-ā¦
How to develop a life of Holy Meditation and Godly Devotion
Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Morning: Personal Devotions
A good morning starts with the prier day. Be sure to go to sleep early to get enough rest and wake early enough that you are not rushed for the morning activities. Upon waking offer a quick prayer of thanks to the Lord (Psalm 5:3) and a pleasant greeting to any loved ones, shower and prepare your morning drink of choice.
In a quiet uncluttered place bring your drink and bible with a simple notebook and pen. Start with a reverent prayer of thanks and requests for Godās guidance for yourself and your loved ones while they also meet with God in their morning devotions. Begin your bible readings, taking notes as needed. Read relaxed but with intent to comprehend the passage. As you read take noes of anything that comes to mind (Questions, Praises, Promises you wish to claim, thoughts of interest, answers to previous questions you had, etc). After your reading end with a Prayer of thanks and requests for safety and opportunities to be a witness for God throughout the day. Eat breakfast with your loved ones and give them praise.
TIPS: The amount of time does not matter. You can plan for a minimum of 15 minutes to an hour, but the goal is for thoughtful prayer and reading, not just to kill time. If your mind is wandering too much simply finish in prayer and ask the Lord to help you to focus. Over time your concentration will get better. (If needed you can also passively listen to your reading while exercising.) Also refrain from doing non-bible reading (commentaries or studies) this time is strictly for you to be in Godās word.
Noon: Devotional Booklet, Bible Verse Work, Journaling, or etc. While conversing with God.
Lunch time is a good for a small thought from a devotional booklet or to work on bible memorization or simply to journal a prayer to God or about spiritual things. The key is for it to be something thoughtful but also something you enjoy. It can be a time to be creative and just to talk with God about what you are reading, memorizing, writing or thinking. (Just like you would a friend while on a walk.)
Evening: Family Devotions
Theses should be done as a family just before bedtime and after all other issues are dealt with and all is calm and focused, so that Godās word is fresh on everyone minds as they lay down for the night. The Head of household can lead in a bible song and an opening prayer before the Bible reading. After reading the passage aloud, a time of explanation, questions and answers about the reading can be held. Afterward each family member should offer a prayer of thankfulness and requests help and safety for themselves and their loved ones. Parents should then comfort and praise their children as they send them off to bed.
TIPS: Family devotions should not feel like a chore or a punishment. As they are able children can participate in choosing their favorite song or passage in addition to the one prepared. Each child and parent can also read aloud a portion of the set reading as they are able (ie. the young ones can read a verse or two while the eldest a chapter or two). Some also like to do prizes for participation or setting.
Falling Asleep: (Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalm 63:5-7 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.)
After conversing with your loved ones and are laying down Think of all the things God has done for you and will do for you. Cast your cares on him, ask him for guidance and speak to him on the worries you have going on and thank him for the way in which he will guide you through them with his Word. As you drift off to sleep you can sing to yourself a song or psalm in praise to God.
Preparing for Church Attendance: (Psalm 111 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.)
TIPS:
Journaling: (Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.)
Keeping a Journal handy for notes and thoughts will help with study and reflection on things learned. Some things to keep track of are verses of interest particularly of scripture promises that you want God to fulfill in your life just as He did for those in the bible or of struggles you are dealing with in the moment and of blessings you received.
Quick Prayers: (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.)
Try making a habit of taking a moment to pray before and after notable events such as waking up and going to sleep, eating food, starting a drive, before any meeting or event and when hearing of any need.
Personal bible studies: (2 Timothy 2:14-18 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker:... 18 who concerning the truth have erred,ā¦)
Devotion time is not the same as bible study. Devotions are meant be a relaxed time with the Lord to grow your spirit and not necessarily to fill your mind with facts and figures. Occasionally you will have a heart to search out a matter with heavy bible study. This is well and good (Acts 17:11), yet study is a physical mental exercise (Ecclesiastes 12:12). It is important that you not neglect your devotions to do so, or your flesh will become conceited, and your spirit will become malnourished. This condition is the primary reason for divisions among those who know a lot of bible but have neglected spiritual growth. (Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone., Romans 12:9-21)
Psalm 149:1, 4-6 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saintsā¦. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand...
Did You Know?... 666 is the day after Ezekiel 8:1. (your welcomeš)
What is the progressive order of Christ's Revelation to Mankind on Earth? In this post we show six progressions as presented in the Book of Revelation.
āāThis Generationā is Spiritualā ~ By John Young
āVerily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.ā ~ Matthew 24:34
Many end times theologies use āthis generationā in Matthew 24:34 as a physical generation because it works better that way with their end times theology. They present it as either the physical generation alive when Jesus preached these words or as a future physical generation that will live when the events would start to occur some time in the unknown future. Those who say the events were on those of the past are called Preterist (who believe the events partially or fully finished around 70 A.D.). Those who say some or all have not occurred are called futurist and are looking for the events to start in order to identify which āthis generationā it will be. These two positions are generally read into the text from already formed viewpoints rather than the context itself.
Yet, contextually Matthew 24:34 is clearly connected to chapter 23 which states, in verse 33 ā Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?ā and verse 36, āVerily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.ā When we study Chapter 23 we see āthis generationā is referring to the spiritual generation whoās father is the devil (John 8:44) but they physically lived among and appeared outwardly as Israelites who claimed to follow God. The passage goes on to state in verse 35 that this generation was present to persecute the righteous generation from Able to Zacharias (about 4,000 years) and would continue to be present until the events of Matthew 24-25 comes to pass to rid them out of the land of Israel.
Contextually this means that both spiritual generations have been on earth from the time of Cain and Able (1 John 3:12) and will be in Israel, and in the world, until the end when Christ our deliverer returns to the land to purge out āthis generationā of vipers and save us. In Matthew 13:30 He states of these spiritual generations, āLet both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.ā Paul the Apostle also states of this time that God is waiting for the gentiles to fully enter in before this purging will take place. Romans 11:25-27 says āFor I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.ā Matthew 23:38-39, in connection to Paulās Passage in Romans 11, goes on to state that God is waiting for the Israel to repent of this generation and say āBlessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lordā before He will fully complete the promise of deliverance form their evil generation. Christ says, āBehold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.ā
In regard to end times, knowing āthis generationā is the āGeneration of vipersā of chapter 23 means the evil people will persecute righteous people ātill all these things be fulfilledā. Seeing āthis generationā is still with us means we are still waiting for the final Olevet fulfillment. This final fulfillment is waiting on several things to come to pass first as noted, 1. For the gentiles to fully come in (Romans 11:25), 2. For Israel the nation to repent and turn to Christ (Matthew 23:39), and 3. For their house (the temple in Jerusalem) to not be desolate (Matthew 23:38). Until then āthis generationā will remain among us. As stated in Matthew 25:46 the final fulfillment will happen with their departure. āAnd these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.ā
Rapture Timing ā Simplified.
By Brother John Young
While there are many nuanced and complicated terminologies and reasonings for when the rapture will occur, most all consistent positions are divided into two types before (pre) or after (post) the tribulation (or no rapture at all) as described in the Book of Revelation. The primary factor that determines which position one takes is determined by what is believed about Israel and the Church. If they believe Israel and the Church are based on separate covenants, then when they read the Revelation, they must put the rapture BEFORE the tribulation. If they believe the Church takes over, or is part of, Israelās covenant then they must place the rapture AFTER the tribulation or to reject the concept of rapture altogether and simply maintain a resurrection at the end of the tribulation or millennium. Saints (believers) appear throughout the Book of Revelation and are only saved from tribulation at the return of Christ at the end of the book so many do accept this as a reason to reject a rapture and simply opt for the resurrection.
In the Book of Revelation, churches by name are dealt with at the beginning of the book and Israel by name near the middle to end of the book, yet saints and sinners in general throughout. Those who maintain a separation of covenants (Pre-tribulationist) will simply keep each group separate and see the rapture occurring in the chapters dealing with the churches (chapters 1-5) and will take the book progressively in order. Yet those who do not (post-tribulationist) must make references to Israelās or saintās gathering apply also to the church as well (chapters 14 and 20-22). If this separation of covenants is not maintained, then the progressive chronology of the Book of revelation itself also cannot be maintained and must be split and overlaid in order to make proper sense (some less constant and unconstrained pre and post adherents will split and overlay the book up to four times to make their given theology work! We will not deal with those here.).
As an example of a truly consistent pre-tribulationist, Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe Arizona teaches a Post-trib pre-wrath theology were chapters 1-11 of Revelation are chronological then starting at 12-16 is read as taking place with 1-11, before continuing again to 17-22.
(See picture: www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/chronology_of_revelatiā¦)
This has the simplifying effect of ensuring Churches, Israel, and Saints, and their terminology, line up with a single rapture and return event, after the tribulation. If it is not done it results in either a pre-tribulation rapture or multi-rapture event depending on the personās misunderstanding of Church and Israeli covenants. While simplifying and compelling, this popular position, as do most Post-tribulation (and many pre-tribulation) rapture theologies, falls prey to several issues.
1. It must split and break up the chapter order of Revelation in order to work.
2. It must conflate terms (ie. insist, without proving, that one term also means the other).
3. It must overlay the seals, trumpet judgments, and vial judgments.
If one removes these three common abuses of the Book of Revelation, the books own progressive structure takes shape into four distinct stages of events which tend to also support a pre-tribulation rapture for church body while keeping the church and Israeli covenants intact and consistent with the overall context of scripture in both Old and New testaments. These divisions can be summed up as:
(See picture: www.facebook.com/BaptistChristians/photos/pb.100064810983595.-2207520000/3464239283588565/?type=3)
In summery:
1. Pre-Tribulationist must keep terminology, and the covenants of Church and Israel SEPARATE, and must keep the book of Revelation in progressive order to be consistent with a true pe-rapture theology.
2. Post-Tribulationist must CONFLATE terms and covenants, split up the book order, and overlay the Judgments to remain consistent with a Post-Rapture theology.
3. Many are unable to do either, so end up with a hybrid of theologies gleaned from those who have gone before them. Many are also so confused by the rapture concept that they simply allegorize much of Revelation to come up with their position on the rapture or in order to do away with it altogether.
4. The two examples above will most likely be the simplest examples of Pre and Post tribulation raptures that are most consistent with the Book of Revelation. Feel free to examine both to determine which is most consistent with the scriptures in order to come to their theological conclusion.
References: Brother Anderson does a good job in presenting his position and is well worth examination His material can be found here: www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/page9.html
My work on this topic is ongoing. What I have can be found here: johnyoungblogs.blogspot.com/ or here: www.facebook.com/BaptistChristians or here: youtube.com/@BaptistChristians
Revelation Playlist: www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
5 reasons to believe the Bible
How are the Chinese related to Noah? Many who have resurched the question have perposed the following points: (copied)
The Sinites were the descendants of Sin (pronounced Sīnī in Hebrew). Sin was the 8th son of Canaan, son of Ham, son of Noah (Genesis 10:17, 1 Chronicles 1:17)...Noah's great-grandson.
Most of the sons of Canaan moved southward into the land named after them. We also know that many of the nations who descended from Canaan's sons, fought battles with the descendants of Abraham, as recorded in the history books of the Bible. However, the direction of the Sinite migration is not mentioned, and they are not identified as one of the warring nations in the conquest of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua. So where did the Sinites go? The evidence that follows points in the direction of China...
1. In the first century AD, a historian named Flavius Josephus identified the "Sinites" as the same people the Greeks called the "Sinae" (from "The Antiquities of the Jews").
2. In the second century, Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus, 100ā170AD), an Egyptian astronomer, mathematician, and geographer of Greek descent who studied in Alexandria, identified "SÄ«nae" as an ancient Greek and Roman name for the people who dwelt south of the "Seres" (Serica-"land of silk") in the eastern extremity of the habitable world. References to the Sinae include mention of a city that the Romans called SÄra MÄtropolis. The South China Sea is labelled as "Magnus Sinus". (See Ptolemy's map below)
In Ptolemy's time, four great empires ruled over the ancient world...
*The Romans ruled the West.
*The Kushan empire was advancing into the subcontinent of India.
*In the East, the Han Empire expanded into central Asia, and developed trade along the Silk Road.
*Parthia, held a monopoly over trade routes linking the East with the Mediterranean.
3. In the 5th century AD, Marcian of Heraclea (a condenser of Ptolemy) wrote, "the nations of the Sinae lie at the extremity of the habitable world, and adjoin the eastern Terra incognita" (unknown lands). That would be the Eastern extremity of the known worldā¦China.
4. The Arabs also used "Sin", and sometimes "Thin" to describe the lands that were farthest to the east. (as written by the author of the "Periplus [travelogue] of the Erythraean Sea").
5. In Sanskrit, the lands to the East of India were called "Cina" (ą¤ą„ą¤Ø). The origin of the Sanskrit name "Cina" is commonly believed to have been the Qin (Tsin or Chin in older transliterations) dynasty or the preceding state of Qin which is traditionally dated to the 9th century BC.
6. The 6th century "Cosmas Indicopleustes" written by Cosmas the Monk , a merchant from Alexandria who sailed to India, referred to a "country of silk" called "Tzinista", which is understood as referring to China, beyond which "there is neither navigation nor any land to inhabit".
7. The name "Sinim" occurs in Isaiah's prophecy of the return of the people from distant lands: "Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim" (Isaiah 49:12). The land of "Sinim" is clearly far off and either in the South or in the East. The Septuagint points to an eastern country. Many scholars have favored identification of "Sinim" with China, the classical "Sinae".
8. Today, the Latin prefixes "Sino-" and "Sin-" as well as words such as "Sinica", are traditionally used to refer to China or the Chinese and are derived from the Greek "Sīnae". It is generally thought that Chīna, Sīna and Thīna are variants that ultimately derived from Qin (pronounced cheen), which was the westernmost state in China that eventually formed the Qin dynasty.
Every tribe, civilization, language and nation can trace their lineage back through history no more than 4,000+ years ago to the descendants of Noah...including the Chinese.
Ten reasons there is confusion on āEnd Timesā Theology among Baptist.
By John Young, 9-23-2023
The āEnd Timesā is of great interest, yet there is confusion and hindrances which keeps even the most experienced bible believer from properly understanding the subject. Below I show generally and simply 10 hindrances I see. If you can think of more feel free to comment them below. Over time we will expound on each in more detail to show why we believe each is a hindrance to understanding the truth.
1. Bible Theology: Of the three main theologies (Covenant, Dispensational, Stewardship), Covenant and Dispensational wrongly lump all bible covenants into one. The only main difference is Covenant holds to a transfer of ownership from Israel and Dispensational holds to a pause of ownership. Yet the bible holds that Promises, Covenants, Testaments and etc. are held by God and only apply to persons qualified by him to be in them and their regulations are to be considered individually held.
2. Order of Revelation: Many have to split up and re-arrange the book to fit their theology. Yet the book does not call for spitting, retelling, or overlaying its events. Rather it shows a clear progression. Covenant and Dispensationist both try to split up and re-arrange the book while ignoring its structure.
3. Division of Church and State: Covenant reject the teaching and commands of the Apostles, that the church and Israel are separate institutions, as stated in Acts 2:41-47; 15; 16:4-5; 21:19-28 in favor of their own theology. Many adherents, particularity Pre-wrath supporters, state boldly, and without fear, that the Apostles teaching and command for the churches to follow is wrong. This a great concern.
4. Appeals to History: While outside history can compliment the scripture it does not have authority to supplant or justify fulfillment of prophecy. This right belongs only to scripture. So, unless the bible shows or states the event as being fulfilled, then the event is yet future. Covenant and Dispensationalist will often appeal to flawed ācustomized to the eventā version of history to fulfill a particular prophesy, so that the scripture will not interfere with their theology on future events. This is wrong.
5. Confusion of Terms: Intentional intermixing of separate and like terms are used to re-order events to favor theology over the plain reading. Day of ā***ā, Gathering, Rapture, Return, Resurrection, etc.
6. Substitution Theology: Often when the plain reading cannot be ignored and there is no scriptural justification, they will simply switch out the terms for one that does fit in their conceived teaching. Some examples are Angels to Pastors, Day of the Lord to Day of Christ, Babylon to USA.
7. Assumption Theology: When coming to a seemingly confusing or hard passage, rather than leaving it alone or searching scripture for an explanation (which usually will contradict his theology), the teacher will uphold his theology by appealing to āIt seemsā or ālooks likeā or āI thinkā statements.
8. Opposition Theology: Rather than developing theologies to give understanding and to show the clarity of scripture on a matter, many teachings arise in opposition to another teaching. Over time this develops In a disregard for scriptural context in favor of promoting one flawed theology over another.
9. Vilifying Opponents: Frustrated by opposition theology that lacks the contextual clarity of scripture, the adherence have little choice but to keep followers by tribalism and fear-mongering, leading to willful ignorance and stalled development of the true scriptural position or investigation on a matter.
10. Biblical Context: Rather than a culture of teaching deep contextual study of scripture, in the order and priority of scripture, theology and opinions of men are sought to teach on a topic and treated as if studying a matter, leading to a prioritizing, reordering and systematizing of things scripture does not.
Whole King James Bible Teaching. In context, Chapter by Chapter.
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