THE SECOND COMING ... PART ONE
There are still some loose ends in my life that I was trying to tie up before I began writing about end time events. Even though I have decided to begin this series... that does not mean I finished the other things: it is just that it is taking longer than I anticipated to get that done... if I ever do? With that understanding: I now begin.
I am going to begin explaining (in some detail) how we keep time in today's world. I am hoping by doing that it will explain why for centuries Christian's have “falsely” believed that when Christ was speaking about the end of the world and His eminent return that we (as believers) could not possibly know when that time would be? Of course, that is patently wrong and we (both) can, and should know! The verse I am speaking about is Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (BUT OF THAT DAY AND HOUR KNOWETH NO MAN)
At first blush and to the casual reader that seems pretty clear... right? I mean... no man could possibly know... isn't that what He just said? Well, let's look and see if that is what is meant by what the Lord said.
The Bible is never to be read, followed, or correctly understood by only reading a single verse without further study. I need to repeat that statement so that it will not be easily forgotten: THE BIBLE IS NEVER TO BE READ, FOLLOWED, OR CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD BY ONLY READING A SINGLE VERSE WITHOUT FURTHER STUDY!
That statement does not mean that even a single verse in the Bible is wrong... it is not. But, only pulling verses out here and there without proper comparison and study has fostered countless false cults and churches since the start of Christendom more than 2,000 years ago. The key to proper Bible study and understanding is found in Isaiah 28:10.
However, I will quote verses nine and ten so that you can see why verse ten was given. Verse nine: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
Do you want to understand Bible truth? In other words... do you always want to have to have other men teach: or would you rather “grow up” in the Lord and be weaned and able to understand what you read in the Holy Writ. If you want to be found in the latter group... then follow the next verse which is ten: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”
That is what all believers must do in reading and studying the Bible... that is if you want to find truth? Compare Old and New Testament verses continually: then, you can be certain that you are truly understanding what has been written.
Why do you think the scribes “SEARCHED the Scriptures” daily? In seeking truth they did not find a single line in the Old Testament and then say, “Aha!” No, again, NO... they found a line, then they compared that line with another line... and that one with another, etc. etc, etc. That is precept upon precept... line upon line reading and understanding. Believe me, without that type of study neither you nor anyone else will really understand what the Bible is truly teaching.
Sometimes verses that upon first reading seem easy to grasp and fully understand... after comparison reading with other verses on the same subject in both Testaments means something entirely different than when you first read them.
I'll give just two easy to see examples of why verses need to be compared and read together in order to get to the truth. It is also why a person should always stay with the KJV in your Bible reading. It is because most of the more popular versions being used in churches today subscribe to Westcott and Hort's “conflate theory” and have discarded repetitive or longer verses in favor of being succinct. In other words: if John said it, and especially if he was "wordier"... then why do we need to see it repeated in Luke? The problem with that devilish theory is that great truth is lost, because each man who was inspired by the Holy Ghost wrote about these same events and some added more to the account, and without being able to compare as Isaiah 28:10 teaches: then, truth is lost.
Here is the first example. If you (as a believer) want to know what was written above Christ when He was crucified... you CAN NOT know by reading a single Gospel account! You have to be able to compare what each writer saw and recorded in their respective books: i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
That fact alone ought to cause every true believer in Christ to lay down whatever translation they are reading and pick up the KJV as you are not getting the whole truth as you read!
The same holds true for the second example. And that is the signs that Christ said would precede His Second Coming. The ten signs are NOT found in consecutive verses: again... line upon line (comparing Scripture with Scripture) and precept upon precept!
Well, I didn't get very far this morning and I now have to stop and dress for work. I suppose if I didn't go I couldn't pay my electric bill and without electricity then I can't type, and neither could I ever finish this. Sadly I say... I'm off to work. And I really do mean that... sadly I go!
TIME?
Wednesday April 18, 5:45 am
I awoke this morning about 2:30 and decided to finish my taxes online, I know... I'm late. (lol) Anyway, after doing that I couldn't fall back asleep so I decided to write a short blog and explain what I am hoping to write about next. If I do this, because of the length of the material it will be in several installments?
Recently I was thinking about a friend who didn't think the “church” (Ecclesia) would be around to celebrate Easter of this year. I too believed that such a thing was certainly possible and even could be expected. Yet, here we are again. So, as I was thinking about this I decided to post some thoughts on the matter and I will use some material I had gathered awhile back on the Second Coming of Christ.
About three years ago I was asked to deliver a message for an end-time event that was being broadcast over the radio. Dutifully I made copious notes and brought a message at our church that was taped and I then sent it off to the church who had originally asked for it. In total my message was 90 minutes long. Now, the average public speaker uses approximately two words per second. But, that is a person who is only lecturing. If you are excitedly speaking then that number can go quite high: usually I talk fast anyway... and whenever I am excited I also throw a lot of Italian into my message. Of course, by that I only mean I also use my hands to convey speech. With that thought I hope the message I type won't make all those who read feel like saying, “Andiamo A dormire.” (lol)
I explained that to say that in 90 minutes of fast-talking I would have easily spoken in excess of 20,000 words... and I absolutely refuse to hunt-and-peck my way over a keyboard and reproduce 20,000 words. (I just don't have it in me anymore.) However, for any person who might be interested in reading about this... over the course of the next few weeks I will be reproducing some of what I spoke about at that time. This first entry it to just let everyone know what my plans are... and to say that, I (like most believers I know) think that we are living in the last days.
Near the very end of the message I will also will be divulging three things. First: the “only reason” why it was God and not Noah who (before the rains began) closed the door of the Ark. Secondly: I will also explain why one of Noah's first acts after his family was safely on the other side of the Great Flood was to drink himself into a state of drunkenness. Thirdly: I will also tell what I think will be every believer's biggest regret as the snatching away (rapture) is happening. Believe it or not... all of those things do tie into the message of the end-time. So, for anyone who likes teasers and has great patience: well, there you go. lol
A LITTLE SIDEWAYS
Saturday April 14, 2012 9:00 pm
I got home just a few minutes ago from work. We were extremely busy and it was a long and tiring day ): I put away some food and treats I had picked up for our pets and then I came in and read what I had written this morning. I guess I am going to post it but before I do I want to use some cover words from a country song Blake Shelton sings. (Honey Bee) I like it because he begins writing it with the words that the feelings he has keeps piling up and because of that he doesn't get any rest: to that I can relate. So, that is his reason for writing in the first place. Now, here is the part I like. He admits the song isn't great... maybe even a little crazy: and “the words came out a little sideways.” I especially like that part. I guess because I know that nothing I have ever written has been particularly good (a little sideways) but... it is from my heart and it is simply the best I know how to do.
Sometimes I read stanza's and poems from those who really know how to turn a phrase and for the life of me I can't imagine changing a single word in a single line of a good poem or song. Yet, with mine I read them and I know several words in every line could probably be changed and it would become a little better... I am just not sure the words to use or where to put the changes? I have even imagined that if I spent more time in writing what I wrote it might help? But, I really don't think so... it is what it is. (lol)
So, here is my “sideways” poem from early this morning. My heart is sincere, it is just that the prose is lacking.
SONG OF MY HEART RISING
I once knew a season, though only a brief time:
When songbirds sang and life was sublime,
My heart was on fire, and all was well:
Ere... was it only a dream?
I once knew a month, a thirty day span:
I hadn't yet lived... my life just began,
All was possible, and true bliss awaited:
Yet... how could I have known?
I once knew a week... seven happy days:
When times were good, and life felt like play,
I made many plans, and schemes, and dreams:
Albeit... who knows tomorrow?
I once knew a day, such a wonderful day:
Nothing else mattered: “God, come what may,”
Things were right, and sweet, and good:
Mayhaps... it's better we don't know our future?
I once knew an hour... oh, what an hour!
Such sweet beauty, gentleness, and power,
A long life of joy and happiness lay ahead:
Ah... was I to be wrong, yet again?
I now know a life; an hour, a day... a week... a year:
Is there happiness, yes: though betimes still they're tears,
For I once knew a girl... who to me meant the whole world!
Alas... how do you forget what cannot be forgotten?
MUSINGS
Saturday April 14, 9:33 am
I have to leave for work in a few minutes and I had decided to post a short poem I wrote a few minutes ago... now though after reading it through again I am going to consider it for the day before posting? I had such silly dreams last night and in a twisted sort of way that is why I sat down a little while ago and wrote the poem in the first place.
My crazy and rambling dreams of last night has nothing to do with the poem whatsoever... it is just that the dreams were so over-the-top that it caused me to think about dreaming: both in the sleeping and waking stages and those thoughts caused me to want to write the poem.
After I consider it throughout my day at work (ugh) I will either post later tonight or I will read it through a couple of more times and either save it or delete it as I do with many other things I take the time to type.
Either way I hope everyone who reads this short blog has a wonderful, safe, and happy day!
IT'S EASTER!!!
Sunday April 8, 2012 8:40 am
I hope anyone who reads this has a great Easter and is saved! It would be a terrible thing to live this life... then die as a lost person: the horror of that (and the consequences that would follow) is almost unimaginable! So... with that thought I would like to wish all believers in Jesus a very happy Easter day... and I would encourage any who might read this and has not yet accepted Christ as Saviour, to do so today!
It was also 33 years ago on this day that my dad died. I'll not go into detail, nor will I try to explain... but, I had left him alone for a brief time and when I returned to the hospital I found he had died in his bed. I could tell he had been gone for a little while. Perhaps within in minutes of my leaving him there all alone, I don't know? I was 23 years old and at that time I was certain I would never again experience any loss in life that would hurt as much, or cause me to grieve more... I was wrong. That could be my life's mantra... "I was wrong." lol
Frost begins one of his great poems with the words: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...” I think in the end, that is what life is: just two roads, or two choices... all the time really. Then, when one choice is made, and because of that only one road is followed... of necessity there must always be such great sorrow and longing for the untraveled road. Especially if in your heart you know the untraveled road was your first choice to take... but, sometimes in life it seems that others have already chosen for you and some are compelled to take the other road.
In reality I know that in a life lived there are great treasures to be found and picked up along the way of either road traveled... yet, there are still whole days and seasons and times when I more fully understand the metaphor found in Matthew 13:45-46... especially verse 46. Maybe even more so on certain days... or sad days... or days where it is raining and it is a certain type of rain that evokes sadness, or cool mornings (like this one) which brings to my mind the fall season and special times in life.
It's sort of awful to reach an age where what was at one time recalled so easily and nothing seemed to escape my mind... now what I want to write only comes in snippets and fragments... if at all. Anyway, I wanted to end this blog wishing my friends and readers some kind sentiments from an old Irish saying I had read many years ago. However, only one line I can recall and it might not even be the exact wording, I don't know? Nonetheless, here is the part I remember and I wish it especially for any true friends I have. "...May the sun shine bright on your windowpane..." (Lol) I really do mean that, but, the single line seems silly now that I wrote it. The best I can remember though is that the entire rhyme was simply wishing a blessing for his friend. So, I wish that for you!
BIG & SMALL NEWS
Tuesday April 3, 2012 12:23 pm
Well, the big news first: I just got home from seeing the newest addition to our family... Clydie Rose. She was birthed yesterday evening, but I was working a late shift and couldn't get there to see her. As of this date we have ten granddaughters and three grandsons. (Rachel, Hallie, Aaron, Ethan, Hazel, Morgan. Erika, Leni, Emmanuel, Adrianna, Trinity, Savannah, Clydie) As I type this I am sitting here and "fake smoking” one of the cigars from the box of pink bubblegum 'it's a girl' cigars I bought to pass out to people. Times have certainly changed. When Tammy was born in December of '74 I bought real stogies and I both smoked one and passed others out. Now, to some lesser news...
Hopefully... fingers crossed... wishing on a star... etc. etc. etc. I have put in for a vacation for the middle of June and if I get it off I am finally hoping to take Virgil to the beach! Yay!!! I have never been to Nags Head beach, but I was told parts of it are both remote and beautiful. And of course both of those things perfectly fit with what I am looking for... and the bonus is that dogs are allowed on the beaches there year-round. I also found several motels that are dog-friendly in the area of Kill Devil Hills, NC. Deb doesn't want to leave our dogs back here for a week so it looks like it will be my little buddy and me left to explore that small part of the world and see what all we can find. I can hardly wait!
Well, real-life calls and instead of sitting here and daydreaming about a possible upcoming trip... I have to go outside and mow: ugh!
