Little One

No, I'm stating it's a historically established fact. I believe that the abomination of bloodguilt is what caused the Lord to send the Roman Army to desolate Jerusalem, destroy the temple and put an end to the old covenant worship system of types and shadows. Remember, I believe in a historical timeline of events, I'm not a total futurist. Yet those who prefer religion and tangible people ruling over them rather than an "as-one" relationship with one Lord: Jesus Christ, have created the same "abomination that causes desolation" because they've held their church's "founders" and doctrines of men in higher esteem than they do Christ's teachings and example. Otherwise there would be but one Church whose "head" is Christ alone. Just as the leaders of Judaism set themselves up in Moses' seat (Matthew 23), the pope has set himself up on earth in Christ's seat and declared his word supercedes Christ's and therefore God's. A definite showdown and great humbling is coming for those who have puffed themselves up with the same yeast of self-importance as the Pharisees did. In that day Jesus alone will be exalted in the Earth. Then the pope and all who have exalted themselves over others -- especially in Christ's name -- will be humbled and Christ's true Church of the collective of believers will be revealed. I can't wait!

---------------------------------- It all goes back to the man's attitude in the Garden, when he blamed "the woman you (God) gave me." Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ... So, God put man in charge and made everything Adam's responsibility. Hence the saying, "It's a man's world." But we must also remember that the stone the builder of the world rejects, which in Adam's case was both God and the woman God gave him, becomes the cornerstone in the world to come from the ashes of this man's world.

Like Israel in the days of Elijah, America's troubles stem from uncertainty, from wavering between two opinions concerning "who" is God: God OR mammon? Mammon is anyone or anything else except God that one accredits with being the provider and sustainer of all life and provisions. Where there is wavering between two (or more) opinions, there is no (zero) certainty, and God displays His uncontestable power for those who are certain that God alone is God and are undivided or uncertain about the matter -- as Elijah was, who saw with certainty, the true cause of all Israel's "trouble": 1 Kings 18 16 ... Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. This is certainly why Jesus said, in Luke 16: 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight." Unfortunately, those of us who've been born into, indoctrinated by and thoroughly socialized in The American Way (or any other so-called "way") have been led astray from The Creator's One Way -- which is by faith in Him and the One He sent to reveal Himself to us -- alone. We've learned to exalt ourselves and our self-acquired knowledge and ingenuity as the reasons for our own and this nation's prosperity. We, as a nation, have proudly proclaimed and boasted ourselves to be the greatest, best, and most powerful nation on Earth -- all due to our own hard work and ingenuity. Yet we have been and still are blind to our own duplicity concerning which one of these two we will attribute our prosperity to and therefore love, serve and worship, and which we will hate and therefore want as little to do with as possible. Any part of us who finds the words of God on such matters offensive is the enemy of God, which dwells secretly and quite safely within the psyche of each and every one of us -- that is until he is confronted head-on on this matter and he rises up in defense of himself and his use of and reliance upon money that he himself worked hard to earn -- rather than God -- as the provider of the very breath he breathes, not to mention all he needs, has and desires. Unfortunately, most people confuse this "liar" with themselves and remain blind to his influence within them, thereby increasing it. But as a tree is recognized by its fruit, so the deceiver within and among us is recognizable by the vehemence, vileness and destructiveness of his attitude in such matters: Matthew 7 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Only that part of us who loves ourselves and money, rather than God, will become testy and downright brutal in defense of ourselves and our money. Yet Jesus has made it perfectly clear that those of who love and devote themselves to God will hate money, and those who do will not share the glory that belongs to God alone with anyone or anything else -- including ourselves and money. Deuteronomy 8 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. 19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God. May The Lord God allow any who read this post and become offended by it to recognize the spirit that is resposible for this perceived offense -- and be delivered from it in Jesus' Name. Amen.

These are your words, unaltered, from post #4 of this thread: When I brought up your statement, you avoided explaining it like the plague. And you still have not dealt with it. You made the statement, not I. An honest, humble, and forthright Christian explains something like this when asked about it. They do not avoid the question. They do not dance around the question. They do not accuse the asker of hoarding wealth or being a lover of money. They explain what they meant without tossing out baseless accusations. The fact is, the majority of Americas do not live luxurious lifestyles. And while you single out America, every single country one could name has people in it who live in poverty and others who have great wealth. That is the way the world has always been. No country exists in which every resident lives exactly the same lifestyle and has the exact same amount of money and possessions as everyone else. Sir, my statement was about those who enjoy luxurious lifestyles and the fact is, many more Americans have and still do take for granted everyday what those living in third world nations consider luxuries. In general, we Americans are spoiled compared to people living in other countries. My statement also specifically referred to the Power Elite who have declared this world a Global Community. If the shoe does not fit you personally, Cobalt, then why are you putting it on as though it does? Many popular Christian ministers today miss the true point of Christ's Gospel and the "treasure" it speaks to and preach instead a gospel promising worldly gain -- which is enmity toward God and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 6 ...constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. This statement is as true today as it was in Paul's day. But if you are not among those who enjoy the things most Americans take for granted daily -- computers with Internet and games, cell phones, Food Stamps for the poor and plentiful food selections at indoor markets without flies, air conditioning, satellite TV, movies at your fingertips, indoor plumbing, football and NASCAR races, having pets you can afford to feed and care for rather than eat, a personal motor vehicle, etc. -- then why take what I said so personally? I truly am sorry if you took offense to what I said, but my question is why did you if you are not among those I was referring to?

Hmm. . . I smell social doctrine. The End Times have nothing to do with wealth or the lack of it. Great wealth in the face of extreme poverty has always existed within the world. It is not something new. The earth has never been a place of a level playing field when it comes to material possessions. The End Times are marked, as were the days of Noah by the world being over-run by wickedness. Wealth or lack of it has nothing to do with anything. Wealth, in and of itself, is not an indicator of wickedness. RE: "Hmm. . . I smell social doctrine." I hear someone who loves money and wants to justify holding on to it. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." RE: "The End Times have nothing to do with wealth or the lack of it." So should we believe you or God's Word, Colbalt? James 5:1-6 (NIV) Warning to Rich Oppressors Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. RE: "Wealth or lack of it has nothing to do with anything. Wealth, in and of itself, is not an indicator of wickedness." Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV) Lament Over Fallen Babylon After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Who historically hoards wealth and why, Cobalt? Is it the faithful or the fearful? Those who care for others as they care for themselves, or those who care more for themselves? Disciples of Christ Jesus are to be doing as He did. When did Jesus hoard wealth and advise His disciples to do likewise? Yet if anyone would have been entitled to have much in this world, would it not have been the Lord Himself? Yet He set us a very different example: Luke 12:13-21 The Parable of the Rich Fool Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Hmm. . . I smell social doctrine. The End Times have nothing to do with wealth or the lack of it. Great wealth in the face of extreme poverty has always existed within the world. It is not something new. The earth has never been a place of a level playing field when it comes to material possessions. The End Times are marked, as were the days of Noah by the world being over-run by wickedness. Wealth or lack of it has nothing to do with anything. Wealth, in and of itself, is not an indicator of wickedness. Let Cobalt produce "proof" of what he said he smells in what I posted. Rarely is one so defensive about something they do not love.

At this point I do not know if there is a "rapture" or not. I do know that The Lord promises to protect those who are His in wherever circumstances we find ourselves. Whether I am in this body of flesh, or out of this body, my instructions are ever the same: Love God and others as myself. This simplifies my life so that the circumstances -- which are many and everchanging -- do not supercede my singular purpose, which is to do the Will of the Father one day, one moment at a time. Many circumstances, one instruction = simplicity, money or no money, health or no health, body or no body...

That will not work, and people who post something and then pretend like they never said it, or attempt to place the blame for having said in on someone else have a very short shelf life here. If you are preaching a social doctrine, that all wealth is bad and that everyone should give away all that they have, or they are not a Christian, you are are not my "brother." Because that false doctrine is not found within the pages of the Bible. You didn't get it from the Bible and propagating such a teaching is spreading false doctrine. If you are going to claim things, at least have the integrity and internal consistency to stand by them after you have said them. You quoted me in your other post, then said I wrote something that anyone who read my post could see I did not say. You flat-out lied in print. Therefore you are correct -- I am NOT your brother!

It appears you have misunderstood the question. I was not bringing up the love of money. However, it has been my observation that those who do not have money are quick to state that they don't want it. I am not saying you have no money, I am saying that I don't think you understood the application of my question or, you just wanted the opportunity to quote those verses. I find your definition to be adding somewhat, to grace and simple faith. Jesus spoke those words to someone still under law. We are not under law. For your information, I am not accumulating sums of wealth...just payin the bills, no doubt, as you are. I don't know why you appeared to have thought you needed to take this to the nth degree You have taken my post way off course...this may be your own personal hobby horse, but it is not mine. There is nothing wrong with money...the problem is actually a lack of love as per I Cor 13....seems it does not matter if you even die, if you don't love, God does not care...in Corinthians we learn that even if you give it all away and are a superior Christian in every way that those who judge such things take note, if you don't love, it means.....n o t h i n g This seems to be one of those threads in which much ado about nothing goes on for several pages until finally it gets shut down because it becomes personal. I have hardly been the only one to mention money in this post. Have you not read the remarks others have made in response that have kept it going in this direction as well? I quoted many scriptures referring to the love of money and showing how the desire for wealth leads people astray. It's a very slippery slope. That's why Jesus said in no uncertain terms that the love of God and the love of money cannot co-exist in the same heart. Just watch what comes down the line in the future. All Christians will be forced to choose one or the other -- God OR money. Money is what the mark of the beast is all about. People will not be able to buy or sell without it, and buying and selling takes some form of money. I think you'll see many so-called Christians taking the mark to save themselves from suffering -- despite the fact that they've been told ahead of time that to take it numbers them among the Godless.

That line of thinking is liberation theology, a false gospel. (Not singling you out sevenseas.) Would you please support your statement with a quote from the True Gospel. Your answer might reveal something as to your motives. Because you do not question what Liberation Theology is. And Liberation Theology was formulated and espoused by factions within a specific denomination. The fact is, for the last couple of days, the posts you make condemn wealth in any form. So that sounds like Liberation Theology, and/or Social Doctrine. However: Job 42:10-17 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so he died, old and full of years. As long as you have these passages in the Bible, Liberation Theology is a horse standing on one wooden leg. Job had great wealth. He had even more after his testing. David had great wealth and God calls David a man after His own heart. Solomon had great wealth and God had Him build a temple to Him. Jehoshaphat had great wealth and he was devoted to the ways of the Lord. So your continual assertions that wealth is always condemned rings hollow. Wealth is not condemned, in and of itself. Mis-use of wealth, and love of wealth for it's own sake is condemned. Jesus says of the rich man that it is hard for him to find the way to heaven, not impossible. I have not "condemned wealth in any form," sir. This is simply the "spin" you -- who obviously love money -- put on the scriptures I have quoted that touch on that nerve. I do not question the brand of theology you mention because I've never heard of them to subscribe to them. The only theology and doctrine I subscribe to is The Word of God, period. So stop trying to squeeze me into one box or another in your judgmental labeling system so you can condemn what I've said. I stand on the Word of God alone. The reason God gave Job twice as much as he had before he lost it all is because Job did not stop believing in God after he lost it all, as many Christians would do today if what happened to Job were to happen to them. So unless you've experienced something like Job did, using Job's situation to justify your fondness for wealth is not valid. You still have not quoted the True Gospel to support your views. Could that be because you can't find anything in the Gospel to support your view?

Amen! Some people get their panties all in a bunch at anyone coming between them and their money -- even when what's said is directly from The Lord's own mouth. The degree of one's resistence to The Word reveals an area in which their priorities should be examined. It's a "sore" subject for them, which should tell them something very important. Instead, they get vicious and insulting, which is definitely not of God. Such attitude merely proves Christ's word that no one can serve two masters.

Mark 4:18-19 "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." We live in a world in which money is the common language and speech as well as the medium of exchange for anything and everything. This is what makes the potential to have a lot of it so deceitful. "You're worth it," wealth says. "You've earned it and you deserve it." Indeed, in this world, "Money talks" and "every man has his price," are common sayings. Why? If you walked down the street and offered every person you met either a Bible or $100, which do you think most would choose? While $100 might feed their bodies or fulfill their whims for a few days, the truth contained in the Bible could free and feed their spirits forever. Yet most would value and therefore choose money over a Bible because their treasure is in this physical-material world -- not in the "world" to come. Luke 18:22-25; :29-30 “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”... “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

That line of thinking is liberation theology, a false gospel. (Not singling you out sevenseas.) Would you please support your statement with a quote from the True Gospel.

1. So does that mean that all who have suffered for Christ were somehow being punished or judged? 2. If someone has wealth, does that mean they are not saved or that they need to suffer because they are wealthy? 3. What are you saved out of? Where does Scripture state we are saved out of something? Jesus said we would suffer and be persecuted...and many Christians around the world are under terrible persecution. Wonder what they did to bring that on themselves. 4. That appears to have brought us full circle...please feel free to have another go 1 Timothy 6:9-11 (NIV) Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. The desire for wealth and the desire for God are contradictory and compete for our loyalty. As long as we have enough money in this world, we "feel" secure. But let our finances become shakey and we "feel" scared. See how easily money takes the place of God in our minds and hearts as the source of all we have? See how our ability to earn and have money provides us with a false sense of security that God alone provides? Deuteronomy 8:10-20 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God. Wealth was not intended to be hoarded by the few. Neither is it given so those who have the most can be exalted in the eyes of men and catered to like they were better than (>)others (<). Wealth is given to people by God to spread it around -- so that everyone has plenty not so the few have the most and can live like kings. Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Hmm. . . I smell social doctrine. The End Times have nothing to do with wealth or the lack of it. Great wealth in the face of extreme poverty has always existed within the world. It is not something new. The earth has never been a place of a level playing field when it comes to material possessions. The End Times are marked, as were the days of Noah by the world being over-run by wickedness. Wealth or lack of it has nothing to do with anything. Wealth, in and of itself, is not an indicator of wickedness. RE: "Hmm. . . I smell social doctrine." I hear someone who loves money and wants to justify holding on to it. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." RE: "The End Times have nothing to do with wealth or the lack of it." So should we believe you or God's Word, Colbalt? James 5:1-6 (NIV) Warning to Rich Oppressors Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. RE: "Wealth or lack of it has nothing to do with anything. Wealth, in and of itself, is not an indicator of wickedness." Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV) Lament Over Fallen Babylon After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Who historically hoards wealth and why, Cobalt? Is it the faithful or the fearful? Those who care for others as they care for themselves, or those who care more for themselves? Disciples of Christ Jesus are to be doing as He did. When did Jesus hoard wealth and advise His disciples to do likewise? Yet if anyone would have been entitled to have much in this world, would it not have been the Lord Himself? Yet He set us a very different example: Luke 12:13-21 The Parable of the Rich Fool Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Everyone in the United States lives in the lap of luxury? Brother, those are your words, not mine.

Those who think they will be raptured from a world in which they have lived in the lap of luxurious American lifestyles -- as contrasted with the meager lifestyles of their third-world brothers and sisters -- had better reassess what the Lord's priorities are and make sure they are in line with them. Otherwise, what they forsee as a "rapture" could manifest as a "rejection": Luke 6 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Are you talking about the Parable of the Rich Man,Poor man? The scenario described in the parable Lazarus and the Rich Man exists for the first time in recorded history on a global level today. Have not the wealth-hoarding "Power Elite" declared the world to be a Global Community? Yet in doing so thay have cast themselves in the collective role of the Rich Man and the world's poorest collectively as Lazarus, who sits at their gate, waiting their attention. They cast themselves in this role the moment they declared the world a single community, with themselves as the most prosperous within it.

That line of thinking is liberation theology, a false gospel. (Not singling you out sevenseas.) Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." 1 Timothy 6:9 "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." James 4:4 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Luke 12 42The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Those to whom The LORD has GIVEN wealth are not GIVEN it to amass more and more and hoard it so they alone can live in the most expensive custom made homes and wallow in the lap up luxury and excess and be exalted above others and entitled to the best seats, etc. Those believers who are GIVEN wealth have a great reponsibility to use it as The LORD HImself would use it: to help those less fortunate. 1 Corinthians 1 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 John 3 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. James 5 1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.a 6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. Truth is, money has become the means by which people in this modern world believe they can aquire anything and everything for themselves. It's the false "God" through which our every desire can be fulfilled IN THIS WORLD SYSTEM we call capitalism because every opportunist is looking to "capitalize" on something. This is the nature of our enemy the devil who "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Once again: Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

But the Church -- the Body of Christ -- is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. At least the true Church is. The false church (body of Christ) is controlled by the carnal nature masquerading as Christ, but not doing as Christ did or taught His disciples to do. The false church exalts men and others must obey and serve them. In the true church Christ alone is exalted. All members are equals, though they have differing spiritual gifts, including preaching, evangelizing, healing, etc., none are exalted, none are entitled to have more than others -- otherwise they will be humbled.

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other..." While Christ used the example of "mammon", which is usually translated as "money" here, it also applies to some ONE trying to serve God OR (not "and") one's self, the fleshly nature, which is "contrary to" Christ's nature or character and therefore "anti" God's nature and the nature of His Holy Spirit. It's Spirit OR flesh. One person with one body cannot serve both Christ's interests and the interests of the flesh, which are contrary to Christ. It would be like one person trying to both walk and not walk at the same time, or attempting to turn both right and left at one time. Talk about a state of being divided and conquered: Galatians 5 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. So in short, one person with a single body must make up his mind which ONE he will serve. Otherwise he'd become a "split" personality divided against himself. Luke 11:17 “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." 1 Kings 18:20-21 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Matthew 5:37 "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Matthew 19:11-12 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” There is a physical type of eunuch -- someone who is made "sexless" by physical castration. Kings castrated males and put them (eunuchs) in charge of their harems, for example, because they didn't have to worry about them sampling the merchandise. Also all-male soprano choirs have been made by castrating young boys before they reach puberty and their voices deepen. But there is also a spiritual eunuch, which is someone who chooses to be celibate and not marry (or to remain "pure" or "virgin") so they can devote themselves completely to God, as Paul did, rather than trying to serve two masters -- the Lord and a spouse and children: 1 Corinthians 7 25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. Revelation 14:4 ...the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

Many Christians don't realize it but knowing the "signs of the times" is not accomplished by reading, or hearing, the Word of God, but by putting what The Word says into practice. This is what brings out the distinction between the obedient and disobedient natures within ourselves -- our character's potential makeup, thus enabling us to know the signs of the times. For example, today I read and hear Jesus as He tells us to: "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:30-31) Tomorrow I'm walking down the street and someone approaches me and asks if I can spare $5. What's the first thing that comes to my mind? Do I immediately recall the Lord's instructions, reach into my pocket for $5 and hand it to the person and say something like, "Here you go, be blessed in the name of Jesus and thank you for the opportunity to do what The Lord says"? Or do I look around to see who might be watching, then look the person up and down in an effort to somehow "judge" whether he is a worthy candidate for my generosity and to make sure he is I inquire what he intends to use the money for? The first response would without question be in obedience to Christ. The latter would be contrary to Christ's teaching. So in this encounter I can recognize within myself BOTH the tendencies to do what Jesus says and to not-do what He says. As Paul put it in Romans 7 concerning the instructions of "the Law", we can substitute "Christ's words": The Law and Sin 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b] 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin. So we can see in Paul's predicament our own. There is a distinction that becomes apparent within our own potential character makeup, but ONLY as we encounter the opportunity to do one of two things: put Christ's teaching on giving into practice, OR NOT. A "war" ensues between the two natures or attitudes within us, thus making for us a clear distinction between the part of me that wants to do what the Lord says and the part that does not. Malachi 3:18 "And you will again see [within ourselves] the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those [attitudes] who serve God and those who do not." And what is this observation of this distinction a "sign of the times" of? Malachi 4:1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty. Genesis 1:14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years..." Matthew 16:1-3 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." Matthew 7 True and False Disciples 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ The Wise and Foolish Builders 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” James 1 Listening and Doing 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. "The world" is what influences us to NOT-DO what the Lord says. After all, the world teaches that giving some low-life beggar $5 of my hard-earned money, that he's probably just going to waste on booze or drugs, would be the "wrong" thing to do. And so I keep my $5, let the beggar know what a loser he is for asking people for money, and walk away with my nose in the air and feeling righteous for doing so. Yet what did the Lord say again? "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." To justify my not-giving, I rationalize that the Lord didn't really mean "everyone" and so deceive myself. For The Lord also says in Matthew 25: 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Those who think they will be raptured from a world in which they have lived in the lap of luxurious American lifestyles -- as contrasted with the meager lifestyles of their third-world brothers and sisters -- had better reassess what the Lord's priorities are and make sure they are in line with them. Otherwise, what they forsee as a "rapture" could manifest as a "rejection": Luke 6 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Some of the conditions the Lord has revealed to me concern the state constituting "ripeness". Both weeds and wheat will be present in an obviously mature or "ripe" way at "the end of the age" which is the end of the growing (in grace and knowledge) season when the harvest occurs: Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:37-43 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear." Revelation 1414 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[b] with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man reveals a state of ripeness in which worldly wealth and worldly poverty constitute weeds and wheat. Today we live in an age when the few have been, and still are, amassing great unprecidented wealth and are hoarding it. Monday on MSM news a commentator said the rising DOW indicated the Corporations were still increasing in profits but were holding on to them (hoarding). Meanwhile, the commentator said, the labor force has "flatlined", which is another word for "dead". This reveals a state of ripeness in which the rich are "flourishing" while their laborers are "dead". Many scriptures apply to just such a time as this, when the wicked are "flourishing" and enjoying abundant luxurious lifestyles while the poor are hungry and homeless. (Psalm 37, James 5, Revalation 18, etc) Also pertinent is the fact that the wealth-hoarding "Power Elite" have declared the world to be a single Global Community. Why is this significant? Because in this same Global Community context those who have declared it such are the proverbial Rich Man in this One World Community. The beggar, Lazarus, who lies at the rich man's gate represents those in third-world nations going hungry by the millions every day. This is a state of "ripeness" on a global -- or "whole world" -- scale, which is unprecidented in recorded history, yet is precisely the condition Revelation 14 and Matthew 13 point to. If the world economies represent the life blood of nations, then those sucking the "blood" and hoarding it for themselves are the self-serving Vampires.

Nope. That was not me.

One type of abomination that caused desolation was the dropping of two atomic bombs on cities in Japan by the US: The A-bomb-a-nation certainly caused desolation in Japan. Even Robert Oppenheimer, one of the bomb's scientist creators said of the acts: "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that one way or another. -J. Robert Oppenheimer Unfortunately what no one thought about was how God's Law would apply to such actions: With the measure you use, it will be measured unto you. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Therefore those who devise, develop and use Weapons of Mass Destruction will...