Posted in archeology, christianity, cross, discovery

Was part of the cross of Jesus found?

Posted on by elizabethprata

It seems like there have been a slew of archaeological finds related to the bible or Jesus lately. Here is another.

Piece Of Jesus’ Cross Found? Archaeologists Discover ‘Holy Thing’ In Balatlar Church In Turkey
Archaeologists working in Turkey believe they have found a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on. While excavating the ancient Balatlar Church, a seventh-century building in Sinop, Turkey, on the shores of the Black Sea, they uncovered a stone chest that contained objects that may be directly connected with Jesus Christ. Excavation head Professor Gülgün Köroğlu definitively stated:

 We have found a holy thing in a chest. It is a piece of a cross, and we think it was [part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified]. This stone chest is very important to us. It has a history and is the most important artifact we have unearthed so far.

 The stone chest has been taken to a laboratory for further testing. However, the appearance of the chest suggests that it was a repository for the relics of a holy person, according to the team, who showed reporters at the site a stone with crosses carved into it. Many churches claim to possess relics of the so-called “true cross,” though the authenticity of the items is not fully accepted by scholars and scientists. Protestant theologian John Calvin noted that, “if all the pieces that could be found were collected together, they would make a big ship-load,” referring specifically to the cross.

“Ship-load.” Yup. That’s about the size of it. When I traveled through Italy, there was a relic in every church. “Here is a piece of John the Baptist’s finger!” Or “Here is a part of Jesus’ garment!” Or “Look at this shard of the goblet at the last supper!” Or “here is a bone from Saint Peter!” I admit the body parts floating in reliquaries was ghoulish in the extreme.

Turkey is a Muslim state. We often forget that it is the cradle of Christianity. The seven churches were there. Some believe that western Turkey was the location of the Garden of Eden

It is believed that agriculture began in Turkey. Earliest man grew things there. Perhaps Cain? (Genesis 4:2-3).

Two days ago, the site at Laodikeia was added to the UNESCO historical sites

This link has a list of other recent discoveries

This is from last week-
Israeli Archaeologists Claim to Have Found a Palace of King David

We revere the Man-God who was hung on the cross, and we remember the cross, but we do not revere the cross itself. It is a wooden piece, passing away and decomposing, but Jesus will never pass away nor will His word pass away. (Matthew 24:37). Can you imagine the frenzy to “test” this piece of wood for DNA? To “test” it to prove or disprove Christianity?

Our faith rests not on relics but on the living Jesus and His sterling word. The cross won’t be in heaven, but Jesus will be. And that is all that matters. We long to be where He is, resurrected and ruling in perfection and justice.

Posted in israel, peace process

Referendum on peace agreement just might pass?

Posted on by elizabethprata

Secretary of State Kerry doggedly worked until the Israel-Palestinian peace talks revived. They have been dead for four years and not much progress was made in the Bush years prior to that. The last time there was any real progress at all was Bill Clinton forming the Oslo Accords in 1990.

This piece below was in the United Kingdom’s paper The Guardian. There does seem to be a different tone about this round of peace talks, something that has been going on since 1967 after the Six Day’s War. And let us not forget that one month after Israel declared herself a nation in 1948 war broke out from the surrounding Palestinians. Peace is ever-elusive, and due to the bible we know why. Isaac and Ishmael and the one above the other.

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”(Genesis 21:9-13)

This time things are a bit different. Israel is militarily and financially surrounded and isolated. “The European Union has moved to cut off all Israeli entities that operate in the disputed areas of the West Bank and East Jerusalem” reported Russia Today. Financially, this has dramatic impact.

Also, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would put any agreement to a popular referendum for the people to decide. The people are weary and the leaders are worried about the tight isolation they are currently enduring. Of course, America has abandoned Israel and that makes a difference too. Israel cannot count on even one ally at this moment. This has changed their perspective and they may be more willing to “talk.”

We Christians watch anything related to Israel, because that is where the Lord said He would move most dramatically. (Zechariah 2:8, Ezra 6:12). The Tribulation will be kicked off with the covenant being confirmed between Israel and “the many.” (Dan 9:27). So “suddenly” revived peace talks have me total attention! Here is the Guardian essay on the peace talks-

Why I’m (somewhat) optimistic about the latest Israel-Palestine peace talks
One would have to be a fool to ever express optimism about the potential for a diplomatic breakthrough between Israelis and Palestinians. There have been so many pitfalls and missed opportunities over the years it’s hard to gets one’s hopes up about the launching of a new round of peace talks in Washington DC this week between Israelis and Palestinians.

Well I guess I’m a fool because I think there is genuine reason for optimism about these talks. Now to be sure I am setting the bar low (I might be a fool, but I’m not crazy). The gaps between the two sides are significant; the challenge in separating Palestinians and settlers in the West Bank to create a viable two-state solution is supremely difficult; resolving issues like the final status of Jerusalem and, to a lesser extent, the right of return for Palestinians will create a furious pushback from the extremists on both sides who are sternly opposed to any compromise. Nonetheless, there are very good reasons to believe this time – and these talks – will be different.

Israelis strongly support a two-state solution. This is not a new development, but the very fact that two-thirds of Israelis (and a slightly smaller percentage of Israeli Jews) continue to support the idea of a Palestinian state that conforms to the 1967 borders is of enormous importance.

But that so many Israelis are comfortable with the idea of a Palestinian state (something that would have been unimaginable before Oslo in the early 1990s) provides the political opening for an Israeli government to make a deal that turns the idea of two-states into reality.

If these talks fall through – no matter which side is to blame – Israel’s diplomatic and economic isolation will only get worse. Not only will the outside pressure on Israel grow, but Israelis themselves may begin finding themselves stigmatized and constrained by the actions of their government. That alone could very well shift the current cost-benefit analysis on swapping land for peace. In short, Israelis may come to realize, as they did with Camp David and with Oslo and, to a lesser extent, with the pullout from Gaza and with the withdrawal from South Lebanon, that the status quo cannot be maintained.

Influential blogger Dahlia Scheindlin in Israel wrote:

Referendum on peace agreement just might pass
“So as a public service, it is worth reminding everyone that surveys consistently show that a majority of the Israeli public favors a two-state solution. In a June survey for the Truman Institute at Hebrew University, 58 percent of Jews supported the two-state solution, and 62 percent of all Israelis including Arab respondents.”

Would a referendum vote by the Israeli people be the reference in Daniel 9:27 of the covenant “confirmed by the many”? I believe the language of the verse in English and in Hebrew supports this possibility. But as always, it is hard to tell. Prophecy is always clear after the fact and only rarely clearly  understood prior or during. In any case, the broad strokes are there, any ‘sudden’ movement in Israel regarding land for peace hearkens to the Lord’s future judgment on them because “they have divided My land” as He said in Joel 3:2. So we know by looking at the end, that land has been divided and will continue to be divided and the Lord does not like that nor does He want that.

Ultimately it would be good to pray for the leaders on both sides that they would do that the LORD wants, and even though we know that they won’t, we still “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” The John MacArthur Bible Commentary says of this verse, that this city’s name means peace and it is the residency of the God of peace, but has been fought over more times than any other city on earth. Peace will not come to Jerusalem until the Prince of Peace comes to rule personally, (Zech 14:9, 11) so this is a prophetic prayer.

“For there thrones were set for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.” (Psalm 122:5-7)

Posted in examination, pilgrims, sojourners

Ellis Island: Strangers and Aliens on a long journey

Posted on by elizabethprata

My great grandparents and grandparents came through Ellis Island. My maternal grandfather Henry arrived from Bradford, England in 1923, for example. He was 23 years old and single. He had fought in WWI.

My great grandfather on the paternal side, Raffaele, arrived in Ellis Island in 1899 from Roccamonfina (near Naples) Italy. He was 28 years old and married. My great grandfather on the maternal side, Valentino, arrived in 1911 from Lucca, Italy.

“In the 35 years before Ellis Island opened, over eight million immigrants arriving in New York had been processed by New York State officials at Castle Garden Immigration Depot in lower Manhattan, just across the bay. The Federal Government assumed control of immigration on April 18, 1890 and Congress appropriated $75,000 to construct America’s first Federal immigration station on Ellis Island.” (Wiki)

Four generations of my family

Making the decision to go to America was often expensive, dangerous and difficult. Roccamonfina was very far from New York. A world away. Often, the pilgrim walked far distances through many dangers to arrive at the port from where the ship was to set sail. They carried their possessions with them.

Source

After the expense, danger, and arduous travel, immigrants were thrilled to be arriving soon! They constantly looked out for any sign that the Statue would appear through the rain or fog or night or sunshine. They crowded the rails in hopes of seeing the final destination come near. No one was below deck reading calmly, or quietly doing needlepoint. There was no place they would rather be than in the thick of the action, and getting that all-important first glimpse of the statue that was the harbinger of entry to their new home.

Immigrants eagerly anticipating arrival to their new home.

The journey is almost over! They can see their new land!

Oh, the joy!

Above, Immigrants seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Source

When the new Ellis Island building was completed “on December 17, 1900, officials estimated 5,000 immigrants per day would be processed. However, the facilities proved to be able to barely handle the flood of immigrants that arrived in the years just before World War I. Writer Louis Adamic came to America from Slovenia in southeastern Europe in 1913 and described the night he and many other immigrants slept on bunk beds in a huge hall. Lacking a warm blanket, the young man “shivered, sleepless, all night, listening to snores” and dreams “in perhaps a dozen different languages”. The facility was so large that the dining room could seat 1,000 people.”

Immigrants queuing at Ellis Island, The Guardian

Immigrants had to be examined one-by-one to make sure they were fit to enter. They were closely checked!

Source

After the medical exam, there was a legal inspection. “One by one, the passengers were called forward to speak with a uniformed inspector seated on a tall stool behind a high desk. Interpreters helped the immigrants communicate. Twenty-nine questions were asked of every immigrant.” (Source) It was a serious moment. They had to account for themselves. The Judge compared their answers to the ones written in the manifest. There could be no deviations or inconsistencies or the judge would know.

Source

Hundreds of people worked at Ellis Island, waiting for the immigrants to arrive and ministering to them after they were processed.

Depending on how the interview went, some immigrants were rejected and not allowed in. As the new arrivals were processed, depending on their final destination, they were escorted to the stairs, known as the Stairs of Separation. The detainees were walked down the center aisle. Immigrants who were allowed in were directed to the left or right sides. But for the unfortunate few who failed the health or legal inspections, Ellis Island became the “Isle of Tears.”

Source

“An area on the first floor of the building became known as “the kissing post.” It got that nickname because it is where family and friends waited for their loved ones to emerge from the processing station. After months or years apart, they kissed and hugged and shouted with joy and relief. For the immigrants, the long journey was finally over.” They had arrived. (Source)

Immigrants running to reunite with loved ones. Source

I hope by now that you realize that this tale is not just a pictorial essay recounting the travails my ancestors endured to make it to America. The biblical allusions are many. We are not of this world, we are seeking a new country. We are aliens and strangers here on this world, eagerly anticipating a better one. We must travel a long and dangerous road to get there. All along the way, we constantly think of and speak about our future destination, heaven. Upon arrival, we must be examined by the Judge. Books will be opened. Our names will be found on the manifests. Those who are found fit, will be rewarded, but called to account for every careless word and all our works will be brought to light and good ones rewarded and false ones burned up. Then we will reunite happily with our brethren, in joy, and be ministered to by angels.

Others who find themselves failing the examination will enter the stairs of separation. They will be cast to outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Brethren, if the immigrants from Italy, Slovenia, Russia, Greece…chose to make such an arduous journey and endure so much to arrive at the place where they believed a better life awaited, what of us? We are sojourning to the best place of all. We leave behind the world we knew, laboring within it but not loving it as much as we eagerly anticipate the blessed Hope, the new land, the wondrous glory.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11)

“because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth…” (1 Peter 1:16-17).

The unsaved will be judged at the sheep and goats judgment, where there WILL be separation, and weeping and tears. The sad fact is that none of the sojourners in my family who immigrated from their homeland in Italy or England to America will make it to the Promised Land. They gave up so much to leave their home and risk the journey, but they fell short. Their departure down the center aisle on the Stairs of Separation will be very real on judgment day. They almost made it. They came so close but the distance coming up short is eternal. I hope that won’t be you. Jesus is coming soon, it is time to repent, and ask forgiveness of your sins to the Judge who judges impartially.

Take some time to go back and look at the photos with the verse in mind. We are strangers in a strange land, eagerly anticipating the next. How much will you risk to leave your homeland behind and set out for the new one?

—————————–

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:12

“But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12)

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” (Matthew 12:36)

“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,” (1 Peter 1:17)

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-21)

Posted in news, peace talks, tornado milan

Why Christians should stop sharing hoaxes, acid scarring attacks in India, tornado in Milan

Posted on by elizabethprata

I thought this was well stated:

4 Reasons Christians Need to Quit Sharing Hoaxes
“I’ve seen a trend that’s both interesting and troubling: If I find a hoax in my news feed, chances are it will have been shared by an evangelical Christian. I know that sounds like a terrible thing to say, but it’s true. In fact, it’s so typical and intriguing, that I’ve been keeping track of the phenomenon for quite a while.”

Why should we be holy? Sunny Shell explains in this essay, The Way of Holiness
“Just as the honor of being assigned as an ambassador of an earthly country should not be taken lightly, so we also, who are in Christ, should not take our high calling as children of the Most High God lightly. An earthly ambassador is chosen to live in a foreign land to represent their country, while maintaining every attribute and character of their homeland. An ambassador does not lose or forget who he/she is merely because they live in another country for a time, rather, they honorably and proudly represent their country and their people.”

Tensions rise at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount–

‘The Israeli Government Has Surrendered the Temple Mount’
“In an “unprecedented” move, police on Wednesday informed Jewish groups that the Temple Mount will be closed to all non-Muslims until at least the end of Ramadan, on 11th August. The announcement has provoked renewed anger over anti-Jewish discrimination on the Temple Mount, and sparked calls by activists for a mass-protest on 7th August, at the start of the Hebrew month of Elul.”

There are three to four acid attacks against women a week in India??

‘Rejection doesn’t mean you scar a woman’s face’
“India’s top court has ruled authorities should regulate the sale of acid, which is often used in attacks on women. But that’s not enough, says Suneet Shukla, a campaigner with Stop Acid Attacks. Society needs to change. Customers are now required to present a photo ID when buying acid; retailers have to register the customer and write down name and address, India’s Supreme Court recently ruled. Acid burns the victim’s skin and leads to horrible injuries. There are no official statistics about acid attacks, as they are not documented as distinctive crimes. According to the Stop Acid Attacks campaign, about three to four cases are reported every week in India.”

A massive tornado occurred in Milan, Italy the other day
We will begin with the following disclaimer: You should not stand behind a window in your office and film a tornado. Yes, a guy in Milan, Italy, did that yesterday, and, yes, the video is amazing, but safety first. Twelve people were injured in the storm. Which made us wonder: how often does Italy see these kind of tornados? It is natural, in our modern, weird-weather times, to wonder if the storm in Italy is abnormal, extreme weather for which we can thank our decades of greenhouse gas production. And, as always, the answer is: It’s hard to tell.”

There are occasional tornados in Italy as the article goes on to report, but over water. Tornados need wide-open spaces to generate energy and go forward. Therefore a tornado in Milan would indeed be unusual, as the one in Venice Italy was a last summer.

The Milan tornado footage is incredible. It picks up in a big way after 40 seconds.

The Washington Post link has a few other videos in different angles on this same tornado from other locations in the city where it hit.

Those Israel peace talks…Obama spoke with both parties today
“United States President Barack Obama spoke to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, several days after peace talks between the sides officially restarted. The White House said Obama made separate calls to both men in an effort to keep up the momentum. The PA-based WAFA news agency reported that Obama urged Abbas to make use of the current momentum to reach a deal with Israel and stressed his support of the efforts that led to launching the peace process. An Abbas aide told WAFA he hoped a deal could be reached in six to nine months. Abbas reportedly stressed his commitment to a two-state solution and the need to reach a solution in the nearest time possible.”

Remember 9/11? I do. here is a photo of the Twin Towers under construction in 1972, from @HistoricalPics

Posted in five solas, sola scriptura, word

How are we led by the Spirit? And how does that intersect with the Word?

Posted on by elizabethprata

There is a confusing position among some, that there is either obeying ‘only God’s word.’ Those who don’t are in effect ‘running around with a divining rod’ by listening to interior whispers, engaging in mystical practices, and elevating personal experience as equal to the word.

I agree that the holy word is the only benchmark by which we determine truth, walk in the world, and follow Christ. It is the sole inspiration for all we are and all we do.

Before I go on, I want to mention that I am fully aware that this kind of blog entry, an interior musing ripped open to the world, peppering myself with questions and meanderings, also exposes me to misunderstanding. So be it.

I’m puzzled by how far to take the strict stance of “only God’s word.” Stay with me.

Are we not convicted? Are we not led? Are we not burdened for people? I have pondered for a long time, the way that the Holy Spirit helps us. We know He indwells, and He is inside us. He is part of our biology. He transforms our mind and the mind is where the battle is. Many scriptures present these things as fact. So how does the Spirit transform us from craven, evil-thinking people into wholesome people with holy desires? Where does He begin and I leave off?

I am thinking of the how. I am strict on being in submission to the word, but then again, the word becomes absorbed in us and since it is living and active, we do have an inward experience. How does it all work?

In an example, there was a woman at church at Christmas, she was giving out five little bags of homemade jam to her friends and then she came over and gave me one also. I was amazed. I didn’t have any relationship with her to speak of. The small act of surprising generosity touched me deeply and kept her on my mind for 6 months. Our relationship didn’t really change but there was this jar of jam in my fridge and every time I used it I thought of her.

Well 6 months later we were talking about the jam. It came up because our relationship had blossomed by then in an unexpected way and for an unusual reason. I related to her how the gift affected me in such a good way. She said that it was funny, that when she had prayed, she felt strongly that she should give me one of the few jars, even though she didn’t know me really well either. We didn’t know that our relationship would turn to friendship months later, but the Spirit did. We both identified the jam as the beginning even though it took 6 months to start. Her gift was consistent with the bible, because we are supposed to give, but she had only five, so as to who to give her gift to, she felt led by the Spirit that it should be me. I believe that is where the intersection of the bible and the inward experience of the Spirit intersect.

I completely believe that the Spirit leads us in this way. Romans 8:14 says “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” So…HOW does He lead us? I believe He does this by putting thoughts into our mind, burdens on our heart … the fear of God into our knees.

Now, here is the difference, in my opinion, between ‘word of God only’ and ‘divining rod Christianity’.

First of all, I don’t wait for a sign. I do what the bible says to do: love my neighbor, give to widows and orphans, meet needs, help others. But in the specifics, when I ‘get a burden’ to do something to help a certain person, I pray and seek wisdom from the word. It could be a worthless personal desire, after all. For example some Sundays I get a strong feeling to stay home. I feel burdened that this is what I should do. But I don’t listen to that (most times, lol) because I know the bible says not to give up meeting regularly. The ‘burden’ or ‘thought laid on my heart’ was not consistent with the bible and would not be edifying to Jesus.

But if it is consistent with the word then I go forward. Our pastor who is also a counselor said last Sunday that there are couples who seek divorce for non-biblical reasons, and use the Spirit as their justification. “I felt the Spirit leading me into this divorce because He wants me to be happy.” Pastor said, “This is a lie. The Spirit does not lead you away from Christ and His commands but toward them.” So it is dangerous to be led by feelings.

The issue is, where does He begin and I leave off? He is inside me, after all, transforming my mind, instilling wholesome desires, and convicting me of my sins. This is an inward experience. It isn’t divining rod experience, but it is a legitimate inward experience that the Spirit is prompting me to help this person in particular. After all, I can’t help every widow in the county, it isn’t feasible.

But it’s important to check- is this act that I feel burdened to do, or say, or even think, consistent with the word? If no then it stops right there. If yes, then I go forward.

Now here is the intersection of Providence. I work in a fairly impoverished community in GA where there are many needy kids. Many are “orphans” in the sense that they are in foster care, or have only one parent due to illegitimacy or jail issues, abandoned and living with an exhausted grandma, or simply are in desperate need. There are 600 kids at our school and many thousands in the county. There are many single women here too, widows through death, abandonment (divorce) or simply are single and struggling. So the bible commands me to help orphans and widows. Can or should I help ALL of them? No, that’s impossible. Even Bill Gates with all his money can’t help every malaria patient in Africa, even though he is trying. That’s social justice.

The bible says to help. So how do I know who to help and when? The ones the Spirit leads me to. The ones where if I know of a need, I meet that need. If there is a widow in my sphere of church or work, the bible says to meet their needs. Same with orphans. If there is a widow or orphan within my reach that I don’t know about, I trust Providence to send people into her life to help her. Can I help every orphan in the school? No that is impossible. I help the ones whom the Spirit has sent me in the sphere in which He has planted me. I do my part to stay alert to needs and really listen and pray for opportunities. He makes me aware of them when they come along.

I have a range and a sphere and gifts. Thus equipped, I live out my faith. That’s it, it is simple. Just do what the bible says and listen for needs and act according to what the bible says we do. There is nothing mystical. Just Christian life. 🙂

This is kind of a crude visual but think of a dog chained to a stake. There is another dog chained other there. His leash is longer than mine, he has more range (more means, wider sphere). So the Spirit has planted me here, and sent people into my life and me into theirs. My job as a Christian is to be alert and aware of needs, listen for them, pray for opportunities to witness for Jesus through them. I can only submit, know that the Bible’s commands urge me to do, and listen to the leading of the Spirit as part of that living and active word to work out my salvation in fear and trembling within the range He has planted me and with the means He has sent me. For example, I don’t have a lot of money but He has given me a job where I have a lot of time. That is means. I can’t help everybody or interact with everybody or witness to everybody in the world or the nation or the county but the Spirit leads me within my sphere. Providence takes care of the rest.

Back to Romans 8:14 and being led by the Spirit. Pulpit Commentary remarks on the Christian’s ‘inward experience.’

“In verse 14 is introduced a further ground for the assertion in ver. 13, the felt sonship to God of those who have so received his Spirit as to be led (i.e. practically actuated) by it. We say “felt” because, though in this verse the sonship is alleged as a fact, yet, in the following verses (15,16) the inward experience of true Christians is appealed to as evidence of such sonship.“

I liked their phrase ‘practically actuated’. The actuation is my prayer and reading the word and submission. His is the enactment of ability and transformation of mind through knowledge of the word and practical actions with the word as the basis. I’ll never know where the two meet but I think it is important not to discount that there is the other half of the sanctification process where the word becomes actualized by an inward experience we can’t really explain.

I think the preachers we listen to who are so strict on this should be. It is charismania out there. People take this delicate balance of inward leading versus word of God to heretical extremes. Give them an inch and they take a mile. They wait to do anything at all because they ‘don’t feel led’. They proclaim private prophecies upon people. They use this inward leading or burden thing as an excuse to be busybodies, the opposite of the paralyzed Christian who fails to work out their salvation because they are still waiting to be led and too scared to make a move without a sign. Worse, they don’t do anything until they “feel a peace about it’ which is one of the stupider things I hear the people say.

Gill’s Exposition explains the Romans 8 verse this way

“the Spirit of God leads them from sin, and from a dependence on their own righteousness, in paths they formerly knew not, and in which they should go, in the paths of faith and truth, of righteousness and holiness, and in a right, though sometimes a rough way; he leads them to the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ, and to the fulness of grace in him; into the presence of God, to the house and ordinances of God; into the truths of the Gospel, from one degree of grace to another, and at last to glory; which he does gradually, by little and little he leads them to see the iniquity of their hearts and natures, to lay hold on Christ and salvation by him, into the doctrines of grace, and the love and favour of God, and proportionally to the strength he gives:”

So it is ridiculous to deny that there is an inward experience. There is. But we needn’t worry if we are reading the word, desiring what God desires, and looking for opportunities in our lives to obey the commands of God. He does the rest. Like Nike says, Just Do It!

Posted in Indidis, trial

Kenyan lawyer takes State of Israel, Jews to Hague over Jesus’ death

Posted on by elizabethprata

Jerusalem Post is reporting the following. It is not a spoof edition of the paper (Like in the US when some papers do an April Fool’s edition) and the JPost is a credible newspaper. Therefore this is not a satirical piece, but is in fact real.

Kenyan lawyer takes State of Israel, Jews to Hague over Jesus’ death
A Kenyan lawyer has filed a petition with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, suggesting that the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ was unlawful, and The State of Israel among others should be held responsible, Kenyan news outlet the Nairobian reported on Friday. Dola Indidis, a lawyer and former spokesman of the Kenyan Judiciary is reportedly attempting to sue Tiberius (Emperor of Rome 42 BC-37AD), Pontius Pilate, a selection of Jewish elders, King Herod, the Republic of Italy and the State of Israel. “Evidence today is on record in the bible, and you cannot discredit the bible,” Indidis told Kenyan Citizen News.

Yes, those he suggests should have been convicted during the original trial have not been alive for more than 2000 years, however Indidis insists that the government for whom they acted can and should still be held responsible. “I filed the case because it’s my duty to uphold the dignity of Jesus and I have gone to the ICJ to seek justice for the man from Nazareth,” Indidis told the Nairobian. “His selective and malicious prosecution violated his human rights through judicial misconduct, abuse of office bias and prejudice.” … When asked about the case, a spokesperson from the IJC told legal news website Legal Cheek, “The ICJ has no jurisdiction for such a case. The ICJ settles disputes between states. It is not even theoretically possible for us to consider this case.”

Full story at link. It is an unusual story. I don’t know how to respond to this

Here is another link:

Kenyan lawyer on quixotic quest to nullify trial of Jesus
“The conviction of Jesus by Pontius Pilate may be the most famous court verdict ever — and perhaps the most consequential, since it led to Christ’s crucifixion and the founding of a global religion. Dola Indidis, a Roman Catholic, is petitioning the International Court  of Justice, based at The Hague, to nullify Jesus’ conviction and death sentence. Now a Kenyan lawyer wants to overturn Pilate’s decision, though he wants to keep the faith that flowed from it. …  Indidis first brought his case before the Kenyan High Court in Nairobi in 2007, but the court refused to hear it, saying it lacked jurisdiction. Now he is turning to the International Court of Justice, often referred to as the World Court, which is best known for ruling on territorial disputes between members of the United Nations.”

Ah! Catholic… please remember that Catholicism is a false religion and the Spirit is not in them. Therefore they would have a darkened mind and no understanding of His word or His ways. Well anyway, (Ephesians 4:17-18).

Posted in end time, peace and security, rapture

Middle East peace: "both states given assurances of peace, security and mutual recognition."

Posted on by elizabethprata

The Jerusalem Post reports today:

Kerry: Israel, Palestinians agree to hold sustained talks on all issues
“The Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet again within two weeks in either Israel or the Palestinian territories to continue peace talks, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday following the initial round of talks in Washington. Kerry, speaking with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators at his side, declared that the parties in the historic conflict had agreed to hold “sustained, continuous and substantive” conversations on all issues requiring resolution for a final peace agreement. Kerry said the parties had agreed that the only solution the conflict is the implementation of a two-state solution, with both states given assurances of peace, security and mutual recognition.“

 U.S. gave Israel, Palestinians letters of assurance in order to renew talks 
Content of letters remains classified, yet probably addresses the issues of borders and refugees; Kerry says objective of talks is to reach a final-status agreement within nine months.

“The United States administration gave the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams on Tuesday letters of assurance which outlined the U.S. position vis-à-vis the peace talks, their conduct and their goals, in order to facilitate the renewal of peace talks, a senior Israeli official said.  The content of the letters remains classified, yet it likely addresses the issues of borders and refugees. Although disagreement remains over some technical details, the parties reached consensus over a number of issues, which Kerry announced at the press conference. In addition to the nine-month timetable with its goal of a final status agreement, Kerry said: “The parties have agreed to remain engaged in sustained, continuous and substantive negotiations on the core issues, and they will meet within the next two weeks in either Israel or the Palestinian territories in order to begin the process of formal negotiation.“

The Great Gathering Up (rapture) is described in 1 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were concerned because they thought the rapture was going to take place very soon, in their lifetimes, yet some of them had died already. The living brothers got worried. Were their dead fellow believers going to miss it? Paul wrote back. That letter is the Thessalonians letter 1 and 2. The reason that Paul was writing to the Thessalonians was to reassure them that the friends and relatives who had died were not going to miss the rapture. Paul began explaining it this way:

The Coming of the Lord
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

You notice Paul said ‘the coming of the Lord’ and uses the pronoun “we”. This passage describes the believing dead who are reunited with their by-then glorified bodies, and the living faithful who will also be instantly transformed into glorified bodies. We will be ‘caught up’ to meet Jesus in the air. In a great glory train He will lead us all home. It all happens very fast in the blink of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52).

By the way, the rapture is also mentioned in John 14:1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

The 1st Thessalonians chapter ends with verse 18. Paul continues in chapter 5.

The Day of the Lord
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

You notice now Paul is now talking about them. He doesn’t even go into the Day of the LORD (judgment) because that was well covered in the Old Testament. Paul acknowledges this by saying to them ‘you know full well…’. It was the rapture they had a hard time understanding. They were confused about the friends who had died and how it was all going to work. How was it going to fit into the new scheme of things? It was a newly revealed concept to all believers. (1 Corinthians 15:51). It was the rapture they had a question about. So now Paul goes on to reference the Judgment Day, AKA The Day of the LORD, but not to explain it, because they already knew.

Even today, two thousand years later it is a comfort to think about the blessed moment when we will be reunited with our Lord. We shall be with Him evermore from that moment, never out of His presence and always in His glory and purity and holiness. Wow. That IS a comfort.

So, in chapter 5:1, Paul begins by saying, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.” That phrase ‘now concerning’ is a Greek way of changing the subject. It was a linguistic marker, meaning ‘pay attention, new subject.’ And Paul does launch into a new subject, the Judgment of the Lord also known as the Tribulation. He is not talking of the rapture any more, but of the wrath of God leveled on the remaining unbelieving world.

 So when we read of people saying “peace and security” it is in fact a harbinger of the rapture, because the phrase is related to those who are in the Tribulation. And since the rapture precedes the trib, how much closer is the great gathering together with Christ? But the phrase “when they are saying peace and security” it does not directly relate to the rapture. When they are saying peace and security destruction comes. We are not appointed to destruction, but of homecoming. Just please be aware that 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 is about us in the rapture and 1 Thessalonians 5 is about them in wrath and destruction- and that is where the phrase “peace and safety” is (or “peace and security” as stated in other translations).

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;” (1 Thessalonians 5:4)

We don’t even need to seek a sign or know when, exactly. It will happen suddenly and then we will be gone. We don’t even need to worry about the wrath of the Lord, we are not appointed to it. (1 Thess 5:9). That Day will not overtake us. We are the “we” Paul wrote about in chapter 4, not the “them” in wrath of chapter 5.

I think the rapture will be soon. Paul thought it would be soon. I believe the point is to understand eschatology so it will give us an urgency to holy living and witnessing. And to live as if each moment on earth will be the last moment before rapture- or death. We live in expectation of the great reunion either of spirit through death or the body if we are alive and raptured. Yes, they are saying peace and safety. Yes, they are talking about confirming a covenant. Damascus is being destroyed and Egypt is falling and a whole host of other things are happening that align with the way Jesus said things will look like in the last days.

Since 2006, just 18 months after I was saved I began to gravitate to prophetic study. We live in a state of expectation without setting dates and times, but then again, we know He is coming soon! We know this. It is truer today than it was in Paul’s time when Paul said, so therefore He is coming sooner than soon!

As always, keep your eye on Israel. She is the umbiculus urbis, the omphalos, belly button of the world- all the events taking place there should concern us greatly. We should be watching with a laser focus and that should energize us to live as holy people.

“‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 20:7). Consecrate means to set apart or to set aside. Set yourselves apart for holy works. Always ask yourself, is this the thing I want to be doing the moment I hear His trumpet and meet Jesus? Is this the thing I want to be saying the second I hear the trumpet and am caught up? Be holy. He is coming soon.

Posted in charismatic, iran, israel, peace talks

Iran: Armageddon at hand, prepare for war; plus other interesting links

Posted on by elizabethprata

Some interesting links for you.

False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church, A Conference Message by Mark Dever. Mark Dever diagnoses the problem of false conversions in the church and prescribes biblical solutions in his message from Together for the Gospel 2012.This link leads to an audio message.

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Reaction is growing to John MacArthur’s upcoming Strange Fire conference. The conference’s purpose is stated as follows:

“The Lord calls His people to honor Him, to treat Him as holy. Leviticus 10 pictures the consequences of not doing so—of offering to Him strange fire. For the last hundred years, the charismatic movement has been offering a strange fire of sorts to the third Person of the Godhead—the Holy Spirit. And evangelical churches have chosen to be silent or indifferent on the matter. This hasn’t served the church or the Spirit of the church with honor. So what should be our response? Strange Fire is a conference that will set forth what the Bible really says about the Holy Spirit, and how that squares with the charismatic movement. We’re going to address in a biblical, straightforward manner what many today see as a peripheral issue. On the contrary, your view of the Holy Spirit influences your relationship with God, your personal holiness, and your commitment to the church and evangelism.”

The Charismatics do not like this. Dr Michael Brown wrote two articles published in Charisma Magazine responding to the conference’s purpose, here, and calling MacArthur out.

“John MacArthur, Strange Fire and Blasphemy of the Spirit”

and here

An Appeal to John MacArthur to Embrace God’s True Fire

Fred Butler wrote this on behalf of Dr MacArthur:

A Mess in the Maternity Ward?

Annnnd … Dr Brown responded. Again.

Time to Talk, Not Fight: A Response to John MacArthur’s Ministry

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Proclaiming the Gospel has a great blog essay titled-

Christians are Exhorted to Judge
“Many Christians are unaware of their responsibility to judge and test all things. Paul exhorted: “I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9-10). Christians need to take judgment seriously in this life because of the great responsibility that awaits us in the future.”

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Iran: Armageddon at hand, prepare for war
“Iran is again asserting that Armageddon is at hand and that the Islamic regime’s followers, indeed all of Islam, must prepare for a monumental change in the world. Officials of the Islamic regime last month held their annual conference on the Mahdism Doctrine to prepare for the coming of the last Islamic messiah, the Shiites’ 12th Imam, Mahdi. … Ali Larijani, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said at the conference that, “I hope (Iran’s) Islamic Revolution is that of the righteous government before the coming,” according to Fars News Agency, the regime’s media outlet run by the Revolutionary Guards. “Righteous government” is a key to Mahdi’s return, the Shiites believe.”

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Mideast peace talks to begin this week. But why did Israel approve release of 104 terrorists?
“But why are they beginning with the Israelis agreeing to release 104 convicted Palestinian terrorists? Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas refused to agree to the talks unless Israel made a big concession. Abbas pressed hard for the release of convicted terrorists as one of those concessions. But why? Do you convince your interlocutors — or the rest of the world — that you really want peace by insisting on the release of Arabs who have murdered Israelis? Hardly. That said, it’s bad enough that Abbas insisted on such a thing, but why exactly did the Israeli government say yes?”

Posted in desmond tutu, gay, homosexual, pope, rapture, sin, wrath

(Updated) How close are we to rapture? "Pope Francis On Gays: Who Am I To Judge Them?"

Posted on by elizabethprata

Update at bottom.

I’ve written about the progressive standard that God showed us in the bible about why and when He gives a person or a nation over. That progressive standard in in Romans 1, particularly verses 18-32 in the section titled “God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness”.

I’ve noted on this blog about the progression of the acceptance and normalization of homosexuality and gay marriage, accomplished state-by-state through referenda or judicial fiat. I’ve noted that the last Presidential election’s Democratic party platform contained many unGodly elements in it, including promotion of the gay agenda – and that is the platform (philosophy) a majority of the American people chose. Many millions of American evangelicals were more than a little dismayed by that, but not surprised. We are not surprised when the world acts like the world. Very recently, we noted that America’s Supreme Court accepted the gay agenda through some important judicial decisions. All this has convinced many of us that America is under judgment.

photo credit: San Diego Shooter via photopin cc

I’ve also noted on the blog that the state-by-state acceptance of the homosexual agenda in the US is mirrored on a larger scale with a nation-by-nation secular acceptance of it. Last week, Britain legalized homosexual marriage. Also, Costa Rica has opened the door to it. Australia has opened the door to it. Uruguay and New Zealand have both enacted laws to legalize same-sex marriage which will come into force in August 2013. There are many other examples of nations giving over to the gay agenda.

It is clear that in secular society that great swathes of jurisdictions and sub-jurisdictions have legalized and thus normalized what God abhors.

photo credit: Dennis Wong via photopin cc

Yes, God abhors all sins, but homosexuality is the only one He uses AS a judgment and as a benchmark of progress away from Him into darkness. It is clear that in the secular world, satan has greatly advanced in his cause for sin in claiming the worldly mind. That claim is growing exponentially every day. Just as a car is difficult to get out of a snowbank, with enough push, rocking back and forth, and persistence, traction is gained. That time is now. Traction is fully gained and the floodgates are opened. But again, the world is the world. That’s how it is. We are not surprised- but we do mark the progress of the world’s sin saturation.

In faith communities too, the homosexual agenda has gained remarkable traction. Now, when I say ‘faith community”, I don’t mean legitimate faith. There is no faith except the true faith delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 1:3), but look at this list from Wikipedia:

“Various faith communities around the world support allowing same-sex couples to marry or conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies; for example: Church of Sweden, Quakers, U.S. Episcopalians, the Metropolitan Community Church, the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Canada, Buddhism in Australia, Reform and Conservative Jews, Wiccans, Druids, Unitarian Universalists, and Native American religions with a two-spirit tradition, as well as various progressive and modern Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish groups and various minor religions and other denominations.”

This week both Desmond Tutu has stated that he welcomes the homosexual agenda and openly rejected God.

Wikipedia

Desmond Tutu Says He Would Prefer Hell Over A Homophobic Heaven And God

Mr Tutu has won the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom among other awards, and was Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. He speaks for a considerable segment of the population on a considerably populated continent. The horrific thing is that he speaks these heresies in the name of Jesus.

Today we read- “Pope Francis On Gays: Who Am I To Judge Them?“
The pontiff broached the delicate question of how he would respond to learning that a cleric in his ranks was gay, though not sexually active. For decades, the Vatican has regarded homosexuality as a “disorder,” and Pope Francis’ predecessor Pope Benedict XVI formally barred men with what the Vatican deemed “deep-seated” homosexuality from entering the priesthood.  “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” the pontiff said, speaking in Italian. “You can’t marginalize these people.”

The Pope is the voice of all Catholics, and the horrific thing is that he speaks these heresies in the name of Jesus. There are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world.

As God gives over the individual to his entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, and as He gives nations over to entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, God also will give over the world to sin and rejection of Christ. The moment He will give over the world to its sin will be the second after the rapture takes place. The world will be then unrestrained in its sin. (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Daniel 9:24-17 describes the reasons God will begin the Tribulation and the verses record the length of it. God will allow sin to have its day. He will allow it to capture everyone who rejected His Son and thus, believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

We look at the progression in Romans and use that as a benchmark for the wrath of abandonment. We know and see individuals who are enduring the wrath of God’s abandonment as they die with atheism or other religions or false Jesus on their lips. We know and see nations enduring the wrath of God’s abandonment as they had wholesale turned away from God’s laws, and I believe America is one of those nations enduring His wrath now, in current times.

But think on this: how long until God unleashes His wrath by abandoning the world to its sin and takes His bride home?? We are watching an amazing thing happen day by day. The peoples, nations, and faiths- all dismiss God by accepting homosexuality.  Really, the world is crumbling.

Photo: Venice Beach, Elizabeth Prata

It is like a sand castle. At first the tide nips at the edges of it. The castle loses a few grains of sand, but the larger structure is unaffected. Then a larger wave comes and swipes away a chunk. The waves return to docility and creep up to the castle in tiny nips, for a while. But then another big wave comes, and piled after that, another. The tide is crunching away as it comes in faster and faster, undercutting the entire structure and it starts to tilt. Soon the castle is a mound and soon after that, wiped from existence.

I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, 
will he find faith on earth?” 
Luke 18:8

Not that He won’t leave the Spirit to draw men to His bosom in the Tribulation, He will. Many come to faith then. But He will unleash His wrath upon an unbelieving world…

When I see whole nations and whole segments of a false faith community embracing homosexuality as they do, the rapture cannot be far behind, according to my understanding of the progression in Romans, at least. The wrath of abandonment is what Desmond Tutu claims to want, but what he doesn’t know is that God has already abandoned Tutu to the wrath of God. He has done the same for those who believe the Pope’s lie, also.

The Gospel has the power to cut through the darkness and save. There is no question about that. But God’s plan is to retrieve the bride for His Son to love and leave the world to His anger. I believe that the advance of the homosexual agenda is a heavy-duty benchmark for that tipping point. I believe that tipping point is soon to appear.

I leave you with a prayer from John MacArthur:

Father, we are so grateful that You have not left us in doubt about these things which are part of life for us. I pray that You’ll use us to bring the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to people in these horrible chains of homosexual behavior, who have no future, no family, no hope, who live with massive guilt, pain, agony, driving unleashed passions. That You would come powerfully through the instrumentation of Your people to bring the gospel–it alone can save them. Be glorified, Lord. Turn the tide with Your truth and with Your gospel. Save people caught in not only this sin, but in all kinds of sins that are so popular in this culture. Give the gospel a fresh hearing, we ask for Your glory, in Christ’s name. Amen.

photo credit: Fr. Stephen, MSC via photopin cc

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Further reading

UPDATE

It’s Not What the Pope Said About Gays, It’s How He Said It