“Why is the Condition of the World so Grave? And What is Your Hope for the Future”?
If the people of the world had chosen to follow the Lord after the Fall or after the Flood, then the governments of the world would have been good governments. Therefore, you cannot blame God for the condition of the world. Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
It is important that you evaluate the news, the media in the light of scripture. We do not have a reliable news source. Now do not misunderstand me, we have many news outlets that are mostly opinions. So, for you or me to get news we will need many sources.
Why are we, the USA, still buying oil from Russia during this war? Talking about sanctions but at the same time our government is buying oil from Russia helping them to finance their war. This has just come to light in recent days. Politicians would have you believe this is being done to keep energy cost down in America but then truth is the shutting down of oil production in America that has created this hardship. We went from being energy independent in 2019/2020 to where we are today. We need to reopen land for gas and oil drilling in America. Why is it closed? It is to force the green new deal on us.
The invasion was postponed until after the Olympics according to agreement between Russia and China. The U.S. and Allies used this information to determine when the invasion would take place. You wonder why aid did not start then to Ukraine rather than after the war started.
What does the Word say about rulers? See Romans 13, i.e., V 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. That does not mean that God forces people to choose ungodly rulers. In a way, we choose our own leaders by our decisions and actions in time. But it also does not mean that God simply set the world in motion and then left all the details up to men. Then Bible is full of good and bad leaders and wicked leaders. The point is God accomplishes His purpose whether the leader is good or bad.
“Bob Wilken said, we must recognize that except in monarchies, dictatorships, and communist countries, people choose their own rulers. And even in those other countries, people chose at some point in the past to be part of the revolution that led to the dictatorship or communist regime. Or they chose to be a monarchy and to appoint a king. Remember Israel’s experience with King Saul.”
America is an exceptional country, bought forth by the LORD. We are a symbol of right and freedom. And you wonder how our government made up of America People can standby and allow this tyrant to slaughter, to murder the innocent, the helpless, to destroy the home of a nation of people. We listen to endless words that make no sense regardless of the many adjectives used to enhance their empty rhetoric.
What we are witnessing by the leaders of our country is not our ordained purpose as a nation. And it also reveals the time in which we are living, 2Ti 3:1 -5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The leaders of America will answer to the Lord for their decisions not to stand against Putin. [Winston Churchill’s remark that “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth” reflected the statesman’s disbelief that Britain would even consider negotiating with Adolph Hitler.] And do we think that Russia and Iran are any less than a tiger? Global warming is not our greatest enemy; it did not invade Ukraine.
Remember this: Zelenskyy begs the world for help
Humanity will not bring peace to this world; It does not matter how many promises are made or peace treaties are signed. It is obvious that God see the world, and the mind of man different than satan would have you believe.
A Look into Prophecy. Let us consider two wars mentioned in the Bible or maybe they are the same war.
1] Ezekiel 38 & 39 describes the same war, Ezekiel 39 :1-24 is restating 38:1-23. It is the LORD who brings Gog back, 38:1-4; 39:1-8. You notice it is the LORD who destroys Gog. The destruction is hard to grasp, 39:9-21. [The issue is how do you understand this war as to the time, where it fits in real time? It is precluded from the Tribulation by the length of the burning and burying. In the last half of the Tribulation the Jews will fleeing for their life from the anti-christ – they will not be burying the dead or burning weapons].
2] In Revelation 19:11-21, we find parallels to the Gog – Magog war of Ezekiel 38 & 39. These wars seem to fit in the Second Coming of Christ and following, [cf. Revelation 19:17-18 with Ezekiel 39:17-20. With the battle of Armageddon set forth in Revelation 14-16, the text in Revelation 19 must refer to some battle? Answer: Ezekiel 38&39 could be the battle.
3] Christ rules with a rod of Iron. [Hebrews 10:13, 1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
4] There is much language that seems to indicate that Israel has been restored to the land and Christ is present. 1 “The expression "in the last days" ( be'aharit hayyamim ), found in Ezekiel 38:16, places these events at the end time, for this phrase is most frequently employed to designate the time of Israel's final restoration to the land and the period of Messiah's rule ( cf. Isa. 2:2; Jer. 23:20; 30:24; Hosea 3:5; Mic. 4:1; Dan. 10:14). Ezekiel also declares that these events occur when the land of Israel "is restored from the sword" ( mesobebet mehereb ) ( Ezek. 38:8; cf. Ezek. 36:1-15) and when the people of Israel "have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel" ( mequbeset me`ammim rabim 'al hare yisra'el) ( Ezek. 38:8, 12; cf. Ezek. 36:22-37:14). Another significant factor in these chapters is the employment of the expression "living securely" ( a form of yasab followed by labetah) in Ezekiel 38:8, 11, 14 and Ezekiel 39:26. This phrase is often employed in reference to millennial security, especially in Jeremiah and Ezekiel ( cf. Jer. 23:6; 32:27; Ezek. 28:26; Zech. 14:11 ). This expression is used previously by Ezekiel in this series of messages to describe a definitely millennial picture ( Ezek. 34:25-28; cf. Mic. 4:4 )
In addition, Ezekiel 39:26 asserts that during the time of "living securely" there will be "no one to make them afraid" ( 'en maharid ). These chronological notices in Ezekiel 38 and 39, in conjunction with the temporal emphasis of the entire context of these six night messages, argues strongly that the events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 transpire at the end time when Israel has already been restored to the land, the Messiah is present, and she has entered into the Peace covenant with Yahweh her Lord.”
Considering prophecy, and the coming events that are certain to happen, what are the things we must focus on. Peter said, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2 Peter1:12 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 2Peter 1:13.
What were these things? They are in verses 2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Add to your Faith, that would be the faith of Christ establishing the fact that at a point of time you believed the saving message of the LORD, 1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. The Faith of Christ is what God has said about His Son, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That is God’s saving message! Do you believe it is true? That is all He has asked you to do to have Eternal Life!
We are to remember the Cross, 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
In Partaking of the LORD’s Supper, you do shew forth the LORD’s death till He comes, 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
The preaching of the Cross is food, strength, direction, enablement for the saved, ; unto us which are saved it is the power of God. And the preaching of the Cross is salvation to the one that believes. Now back to 2 Peter 1:9, But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Forgotten that he was once purged does not do away with the truth that you were once purged. {Hebrews 1:3]. What Jesus gave you is “Everlasting life/ eternal life”, Life with no end.
What is being said to the believer is this: We are to press on reaching forth to the eternal things before us,[ Phil.3:13b -14 but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.]
{“If not, we sink back into a want of power to perceive even the elementary truths of the kingdom of God……The person in this state in his spiritual power of vision sees the near things, the circumstances, allurements, provocations of his daily life, but he has lost the power to look to the far-off things of the life eternal.” Taken from Cambridge Bible, E Sword 2 Peter 1:9.}
2 Peter 1:10 gives the answer to the believer, 2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: “Fall mean to trip, to err, to stumble, 1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. The prize is not eternal life but a reward to the believer for running the race.
We are to add to our faith, 1:5 -8, i.e., v5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; I want to end with the words of Peter: 2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, [It is not the things you do not know but the things you know] and be established in the present truth. 2Pe 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. [You cannot put someone in remembrance of that which they do not know.]
What is the present truth? That Christ is in you and has been since the day that you believed. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. We are to add to our faith, 1:5 -8, i.e., v5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and the LORD makes these a part of our life.
Christ is your Saviour! Do you know that? 1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. If man had wrote this we would have said, he that believeth not God does not have the witness. But God said, he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Have you made God a liar? The attention is on Jesus as the only one who can guarantee or promise eternal life. [guarantee and promise are synonymous terms. His promise is your guarantee, Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. He is the One who carried your sins in His own body on the Cross.
The one and only condition to be eternally saved is to believe. To believe means to be persuaded that something is true. If you believe the saving message is true, then you are saved. There is nothing more for you to do. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life,”. Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
<