tim_from_pa

I hear you and been saying this for years. The Lord does not do anything randomly, but as the apostle Paul stated in certain "times and seasons". But therein lies my problem. In fact, most of the problems. We do not know when the Jubilee years occurred, and for that matter there are different opinions on Sabbatical years. Fortunately, the yearly Sabbaths and feasts are set by simply watching the lunar motion (but even then we have those who believe in different starts of the month e.g. lunar Sabbaths and Full moon starts (I believe in the traditional New moon). One would think with something so precise as timing that there would not be much room for disagreement except perhaps a counting disagreement I.e. Jubilees and years. That all said, if you have any good sources of when the Jubilee years occurred, I'm all ears. And I tend to disregard happenstance except it's backed up by scripture. For example, Jonathan Cahn notices 50 -year cycles with Israel so that's a Jubilee to him. But there is only limited scripture to support that and it seems that there's a confirmation bias that one looks for incidents to support that theory instead. Besides, based on Daniel 9, a Jubilee mimics the counting of the Homer which is 49 days later than Firstfruits during the week of Passover. The 50th day to Pentecost is a "day to a year" principle - the 50th is also the 1st of the next Sabbatical cycle. The closest biblical hints I found were the days of King Hezekiah circa 700BC) where there was a tandem Sabbatical year and Jubilee the next year. Using astronomy, I calculated a supposed date Jesus was crucified and that year was was is now considered a Sabbatical year, and the next was a Jubilee, making sense that the 490 weeks of Daniel (10 Jubilees) would be completed as prophecied. 1995 was such a year, so the next Jubilee will be in the 2040's by this analysis. The reason I say 2040's is because I am not adamant on the 1995 date, either. But it's around that time apparently give or take a few short years.

Yes, and that's my point. We know the earth is not flat (I can prove that mathematically) thus there's probably an issue with Biblical interpretation IF we believe the Bible is indeed true. And that can be the same regarding time, the age of the universe and creation of life was also my point. The way I know the Bible is true is based on Jesus Christ who testified to the accuracy of all the (OT) Scriptures. Besides his testimony, and tons and tons of archaeological/historical evidence, I can't per se prove the Bible true, but if it's verified by something or someone that we have evidence for, then by that connection I can have faith in what it says, but at the same time never to dismiss the evidence we objectively see as well. It's the same God who made everything. I never want to say something is "proven" or a "fact" other than something we have a reliable mathematical equation for. But there is evidence. And with enough evidence to state a hypothesis, and ultimately a theory, we then assume its fact. But even then ....

I just was going to say, brother, based on the title of this post, I would say if you realized that, then the Lord can use you! (He can't use someone who thinks they are great)

I did not bother answering you because your ad hoc evidence for (so-called) the speed of light would assume uniformity to make everything in all directions appear that way. Even young earth Creationism (link at the end) seems to be grappling for answers. But we don't even have to go back in time to the origin. Even our own galaxy is good enough - 100,000 light years across shows the truth that the age is greater than 6000 years. Now stars that close we do know the distances and the speed of light in a vacuum. If that changes, we could not do our own space communications to the fringes of our solar system. Needless to say, what happens to the energy when light finally slows down to reach us? What happens is when we try to fit a very old universe into a 6000-year-old bag, we run into a bunch of contradictory problems, which BTW are the same as the issues the flat earthers face. This is the reason I stated one might as well become a flat earther as well because of their belief in the firmament and the close proximity of the sun, moon and stars (that handles the d/c problem for them). But when the day is done, Occam's razor is the truth. https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/starlight/does-distant-starlight-prove-the-universe-is-old/

I have to agree with you here, i.e. 3 days and 3 nights or 72 hours. Plus the fact that women prepared spices first and then rested on the Sabbath, whereas another passage they bought spices to prepare after the Sabbath. That implies two Sabbaths and a regular day between them in order to prepare them. No other days of the week work as Thursday crucifixion would require tandem Sabbaths, ie. Friday and Saturday. But... in all fairness I at least give those who believe in a Thursday crucifixion credit for the realization that you can't fit a "3-day burial" in a "one and a half day" bag. I mean, even a little kid knows enough to question how Friday sundown until pre-dawn Sunday morning constitutes 3 days and 3 nights.

That's a terrible thing to say about a family member; yes some people believe in a flat earth the same way young earth (and universe) creationists do claiming biblical authority. And flat earthers even ask "What Bible are you reading?" so despite myriads of evidence of the spherical nature of the earth, they "rather believe the Bible" and everything else is from wicked scientists, trick photography or whatever else. They love to make the accusation that one believes in a round earth "because we were told" when the teacher pointed to a globe in the classroom. So they say we are inventing stories and changing the Bible (as the ad hoc pot crowd would say to the spherical kettle crowd) Likewise, I know the universe is very old because the stars are at a vast distance (d) and we know the speed of light (c) which is a constant. d/c= time. It's solid evidence just like a spherical earth. So why are we denying this? Or again, to put this pragmatically, perhaps you'd like to explain to everyone here how someone going 60 mph 120 miles down the highway will reach you in two seconds? Instead of 2 hours? BTW, just for hits and giggles, that family member of mine is a police officer and he's good at his job, too. Once the news even showed him chasing and apprehending a criminal. He's not a moron.

The crux of what you are saying is the speed of light is not constant. However, you do not address why it would change. There's more or less vacuum between us and even a distant galaxy. So, why would it change? Give some examples. And exclude both relative and general theory of relativity. There is nothing that massive and that fast between us at every angle. Thus, even if there could be speed changes, it would only be selective and random. I want to know what else you know if that would change the speed of light.

You are asking a person who read the Bible countless times if I read Genesis 1:1-2? I think a more pertinent question or questions would be if you understand what I said. If the earth would be covered in water from a judgement, that opens the possibility that it was dry earlier. It was full of light and it could have had life. When God cleared the water and atmosphere, these things appeared in which He assigned their purpose in the recreated world for Adam. First earth age = angelic age and associated life, thus the reason for very aged fossils, etc. This earth age = age for Adam which is more recent. Even science confesses to the fact that mankind as we know it is a recent phenomenon. I won't comment on man-like creatures beforehand. This, as I understand it, is why there's such a severe battle between God's Kingdom and Satan's Kingdom. The forces of evil are jealous that they were overthrown after all that time and given to Adam's race, and even tried to pollute man's lineage (Genesis 6:1-4). What the scientists see are the remains of the ancient age. As for the strawman that nobody believe in a flat earth, I take it you haven't been around on social media and even a member of my own family started believing that to the amazement of everyone. And the thing is that they use the Bible to prove it sounding convincing to unlearned people. My point was if we can do that with space (by misinterpretation) we can do that with time.

We know that the universe is very old. How do we know this? We know that the stars etc are vast distances, and we know the speed of light. If nothing else, the very formula t=d/c tells us how old various space objects are. That's pretty straightforward to know the time something takes to travel is we know its distance and speed of light from it. Like many, I believe in a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. It is important to note that there is no time given in the original creation and for that matter just exactly how God created life. The Bible gives science adequate latitude to find the specifics. The Bible seems to be more interested in the creation of man, or I should say, Adam's race onward and not as the start of things, but as the continuation of earlier history and judgment to replace the prior situation . And even with that, the Bible does not specifically address that in detail, other than to mention tantalizing clues such as Jeremiah 4, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28 and so forth. Again, maybe science can one day answer that, and there's no shortage of apocryphal works that "miraculously" survived, as if for a reason that explains this, and yet it does not directly affect what God wants us to know about sin and salvation so there's no (of should be no) doctrinal test on such things. I find recently the annoying belief in a flat earth despite countless evidences to the contrary, but then again, I have said that if one has problems with space (I.e. the shape of something) we might as well have problems with the 4th dimension, time, and fit 100 lbs of ancient history into a 5-pound bag "to make it all fit". I say, go all the way and believe in a flat earth, too, in other words.

We know that the universe is very old. How do we know this? We know that the stars etc are vast distances, and we know the speed of light. If nothing else, the very formula t=d/c tells us how old various space objects are. That's pretty straightforward to know the time something takes to travel is we know its distance and speed of light from it. Like many, I believe in a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. It is important to note that there is no time given in the original creation and for that matter just exactly how God created life. The Bible gives science adequate latitude to find the specifics. The Bible seems to be more interested in the creation of man, or I should say, Adam's race onward and not as the start of things, but as the continuation of earlier history and judgment to replace the prior situation . And even with that, the Bible does not specifically address that in detail, other than to mention tantalizing clues such as Jeremiah 4, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28 and so forth. Again, maybe science can one day answer that, and there's no shortage of apocryphal works that "miraculously" survived, as if for a reason that explains this, and yet it does not directly affect what God wants us to know about sin and salvation so there's no (of should be no) doctrinal test on such things. I find recently the annoying belief in a flat earth despite countless evidences to the contrary, but then again, I have said that if one has problems with space (I.e. the shape of something) we might as well have problems with the 4th dimension, time, and fit 100 lbs of ancient history into a 5-pound bag "to make it all fit". I say, go all the way and believe in a flat earth, too, in other words.

That's not the stuff I'm talking about: You know very much what I mean by conservative - and I listed the issues. So what's the alternative? Not the other side for sure. Sometimes it is the lesser of the two evils, and I think Trump has repented. And even so, maybe God can use a character like that, who knows? Calling and used of God does not equal salvation. Think Cyrus, Jeroboam II or King Jehu all likened to Trump. Frankly, I get tired of the pseudo-moralistic judgement out there by pots calling the kettles and all these ad hominem attacks. As soon as those attacks are thrown, the argument is lost.

Ummm. no. That's not what I meant. Context. I was talking about world conditions and situations they either do not know, or worse yet, do not care which is effectively the same as being dense. This is not about protesting the "ultra right". The beliefs the present administration that have been pushing lately are Luciferian, but to be expected. I need not say about nature worship instead of the creator, all sorts of sexual identity doctrines, abortion and other abominations. While Trump may not be a personable favorite, he at least has a more conservative stance against this stuff while having a better international policy (esp Israel and the Middle East), better for the economy, better for the border crisis stuff and so forth. These are the things that matter more nationally and internationally. But I agree no man will be the answer except the one that the present global government want - some megalomaniac who will one day want to be worshiped as God Himself. And the digital currency they want so bad (which will track people) will facilitate this. But I know how long that will last - 42 months. The Lord will have to save the planet from the destruction of man against each other.

I live in Eastern Pa, but at night I listen to a small radio station from Artesia New Mexico (just south of Roswell). It's actually a show about guns, the right to the second amendment and such,but one of the guests said that we must not assume anything just because Trump appears to be leading (remember that he lead before). But rather, everyone who wants him in MUST get out to vote,no exceptions. We need to make massive floods of people to vote him in because it's NOT in the bag. He can still lose unless there's enough voters to make any cheating difficult. That said, I predict Trump won't get in UNLESS there is news media reporting to the effect that massive amounts of people came out to vote that way more than ever before (Do you think that will happen??). Most people are too dense on the issues and they care more about immorality such as abortion and rainbow colors rather than the economy (probably they get free hand-outs so why to they care?), the border and international tension, especially with Israel. Thanks to them in the last 3 years I've never seen it so close to WW3 which nobody will survive (thus the Lord will have to intervene and come back as the Bible says). As one commentator stated, this is a fight over ideologies and the prominent one will win which is probably the in-the-gutter filthy sludge and slime one reducing everyone to the lowest common denominator. And may I add, this is a severe spiritual battle as well. I noticed that even "conspiracy" talk show hosts are talking like this with end-times preaching, etc more than most preachers in the pulpits today. On the bright side, there are more converts to Jesus these days than even the hippy days. Iran's people actually want Israel to take their leaders out as they don't want that government and people there are converting to Christ in leaps and bounds. Britain in the last 6 months had a change and all of a sudden the lifeless churches are springing back as people are being baptized and saved. That has been going on here in the USA for the last year and a half since Asbury in February 2023. So the good news is that God seems to call and save a people in revival when something terrible is going to happen. In other words, God is not oblivious to what is going on. But what I am saying is until the Kingdom age, the road is going to be very, very bumpy at best.

Ya know, Vine Abider, I have to agree 100%. What you said has crossed my mind, too. And all these Christian voices are praising Trump like God's chosen. I'm sure the same will be said of Antichrist one day. My stance is this: based on Bible prophecy, if someone can help reform this nation, more power to them. But... as soon as I need a mark (specifically on the right hand or forehead), even if the mark is symbolic for doing and believing in some leader, and if that leader wants worship, and if it's "his way or the highway", then I must say to them, thanks for getting us out of this mess, but that's where I draw the line - follow God instead of trying to be God.

I look at this whole thing as a spiritual warfare and the 'end of days'. When COVID came around and all of a sudden we were doing unconstitutional things like forbidding Christian worship even if precautions were taken and mandating shots (I am extremely suspicious of the medical establishment and do not really go to doctors much - maybe for diagnosis but not necessarily treatments as the Lord will help me once I know what I have, which I am barely ever ill), I could feel the evil in the air. As a matter of fact, I could feel the evil long before COVID but like a cancer it came to a head. That all said, I do not endorse idolizing either side of the political spectrum. The left is definitely evil (LGBTQ+, abortions, free hand-outs to non-Americans while they invade, spurring wars, etc etc) but the so-called right is anything but good. I like the comparison of Trump to Cyrus. Jonathan Cahn compares him to King Jehu. The Philadelphia Church of God compares him to Jeroboam II (which I like that comparison the best) for what purpose? As it was with us and the ancient house of Israel before, the purpose is to BUY SOME TIME for America so that we repent and turn back to God. None of these leaders were what Christians today would call "saved" but they were definitely called by God for His purpose. People have this strange idea that to be called and used of God that they are "saved". But when I pray for America and Israel (those of Judah), I say to the Lord that we need some sort of chance unless He "wants to start the Tribulation soon" because I believe we are that closes to WW3 in the last 3 years whereas beforehand it did not look as dire other than the evil forces were setting thing up for this time (as I mentioned with COVID). If Kamala gets in, look up for your redemption draws nigh as other nations will destroy us and Revelation will unfold. The exception is a miracle I suppose.

It's good you see Israel's place in the scheme of things. As I always joke, with most Protestant churches they list their doctrine like a play one goes to watch in the theater. You have the list of characters, I.e. God, Satan, man, the places, heaven and hell, and the condition that each man is in, and finally the remedy like a knight in shining armor coming to save the day. That's their whole theology and eschatology. Keep it simple folks. But there's no growth and for sure, no understanding "what it's all about" and Israel's role. As a matter of fact, "what we believe" rarely mentions Israel, and Jesus stands alone in a vacuum. I go one step further with Israel (maybe you do too), and consider the historical facts of the two house doctrine. It's just that historians, who are mostly mundane anyway, cannot agree where the Israelites, who never returned to the land, were exiled to and who they became. AS for myself, if we were to believe God's Word, they have to be a sizable multitude and even comprised of many nations (or in many nations). But... and here's the catch, brother Joseph was not recognized by his brothers so they became as Gentiles. That was a foreshadowing. On the other hand, the Jews from the house of Judah retained their identity and as prophesied were of the lineage of the Kings, the Law, Torah, etc. So that comes from the seed bed of Judah, the gospel comes from the seed bed of Israel, although obviously most are not really Christian, but took his name in which, as Isaiah prophesied God would be glorified and facilitate the spreading of the gospel. Space does not allow me to post everything, but Adam was the Head (or supposed to be) for the Kingdom of God with men. So Israel was a type, and indeed the actual Kingdom first starting physically, and then ending in the Spirit the way Adam was supposed to have been had he taken from the other tree of life instead of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now Jesus Christ came to remedy that. So, a Kingdom has people, land, a King, Laws and the like. These are various covenants such as the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant where Israel (being married) agreed to follow God's Laws and Commandments. Of course they did not and could not (and the 'theological lesson' for want of a better term is a whole rabbit hole in and of itself). It would take a conversion, a new man to do that. A perfect Kingdom. So Israel as a whole was set up by God, but now it looks to me that God is calling a few now to be the church, indeed the head, and Israel will be the bride. In the meantime, there is that vast population group as Joseph had the birthright. Judah has the lineage of the Kings (and reminds me of Revelation 1:6 where we as Christians are Kings and Priests). This in turn will result in the coming millennium in which the church will teach the rest of the people His ways and Law, but now written in their hearts. It will be the bride's turn to be glorified as well who prepared herself based on the covenants of many people, many nations, and indeed were and are prosperous and mighty. God will put them through one last trial (aka "Tribulation") for their correction to receive their place in His Kingdom. Many more will be converted then (and actually, that's not the end of salvation in the millennium, either) I can go on and on about the many facets of God's plan and how Israel fits in, and indeed is very much involved. As Christians, if we are Gentile, we were graphed in and partake of all God's blessings which was meant to go by all mankind anyway. But the apostle Paul made it clear we are here because of Israel anyway, and as the Kingdom of God comes in, all those covenants will get their ultimate realization. The problem with the church today is they only see the Law (and subsequent grace) aspect of the covenants. But covenants involving land, people, Kings etc are not addressing that as much as the structure.

Thank you for wishing us a Happy 4th. As you know, fireworks are big here so I'll try not to get my fingers blown off or an eye put out.

No. It's only 1/3 as bad. 🤣

I always saw this condition as the weeds in the garden or field. Weeds grow easily, some look similar (e.g. wheat vs tares) and are shallow-rooted. Jesus expected this, and called His followers a "little flock" (whether one wants to apply that to the church or Israel, I think it satisfies both). There are no shortage of scriptures where Jesus said this, and apostles warned about this phenomenon. Personally, I found likes seek themselves out. You can go to any church and everyone is friendly, loving and so forth, but only a few may want to study the Word, Walk in the Spirit and otherwise practice what Jesus would have us do. These brothers and sisters find each other. And on a side note here, I been saying for some time now that the "house church" phenomenon is the way to go and trend of the future. Most of society and Big government don't mind churches if they are approved, and have the right group-think as if the Lord's Word needs government approval by those who can't even run their own houses correctly. As with Jews now, expect true Christians to be persecuted next so more meetings will be in secret.

Yes, and as I always say, there are extreme ends to the swing of the pendulum. But as we Sir Isaac Newton types say, the extreme end of the swing is all potential energy (perhaps just talk). It's best to stay more in the middle (as the Bible would say not to turn to the right hand or the left) and in the middle is all the kinetic energy - the energy of motion and "doing", not just talk.

Your chart is very good. That's how I always understood the timing of events and the 3 days and 3 nights. I think one of the issues with understanding such timing (and this is not the only one) is due to the fact that the Gentiles used a different calendar than the one the Lord gave to Israel, and misunderstandings ensued. However, I am noticing a trend where churches are coming back to the Sabbaths and yearly Sabbaths/feasts at least in the context of understanding the prophetic picture in them and God's plan for the redemption of mankind.

Yes.

Yep. That's how I see it, but with one more critical fact: 4. Palestine never existed as a nation and before Israel became a nation it was basically desolate over there with a very low population density. It's almost as if once Israel became a nation again "all of a sudden" they wanted the land, too. Nobody wants the Palestinians to be absorbed into their nations but since the other nations tend to hate Israel, they don't try to mitigate the conflict, either. I like your underlined point at the end of your comment. This is what I see happening as well. I do believe there's other things, not the least of which may involve AI and genetic modifications of people (possibly the mark?) and there has to be a temple, too for the beast to do his abomination thing in. But I can see things setting up. I said this at least 10 years ago and I'm amazed at how fast events accelerated. Without God's help, I doubt this ol' guy here will know how to function in the world coming up soon.

It is relevant. In the beginning, the Lord created Adam and his race to rule over this Earth. This is our domain. God expected Adam to eat of the tree of life and live forever, but instead, Satan deceived Eve to eat of the wrong tree. The underlying purpose is so that Satan and his minions can control and inherit what was supposed to be mankind's domain - but that part is another topic. And thus we are all familiar with sin, death and so forth in which the entire Bible is about bringing back that which was lost in the garden and to restore everything. So the entire Bible is the Lord, thorough a people and purpose, working to this end and in the meantime mankind gets the lesson that we cannot do it all or rule ourselves (and that's obvious as things are getting worse by the year). It all ends with the end times and a new heaven and earth, but again, God is laying the foundation over time to achieve that end.

I'll add my two cents. The apparent motions of the sun moon and stars in the heavens are like giant clock hands. As a matter of fact, the clock is based on an average solar position at your location. So they are God's signs to announce the timing of His feasts and yes, perhaps events that are prophetic, but the positions in themselves are not what is causing the action. This is where secular scientists misunderstand their purpose and then scoff as if we don't know what causes an eclipse. I'll give an example. You may have an appointment at 10am. So when the big hand is at the 12 and little hand at the 10, it's significant that there's an appointment. But not every position like this has meaning in and of itself. Likewise, the Lord is using the cyclical motion of the heavens, which are predictable, to time when events happen, or God's "appointment". Now as a bonus here, I laugh when people say that there's a lunar eclipse at Tabernacles, or Solar Eclipse at the start of Nisan like today as if its a rare event. Then, that shows they know nothing about these calendars. After all, what phase of the moon does a lunar eclipse happen? And when is Tabernacles? etc etc. The real issue is not that it happens on the feasts, but rather it's not on every feast so like an appointment we pick up our eyes and ears a bit to watch.