666, the mark of the beast.

[rosered]

Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

So no man can buy or sell without his own number?

What do you use to buy and sell today?

Fiat paper money  :grin:

Hi Fire and Molly and Card

 to your question sis about  buying and selling and having this  certain mark , it does seem to be the mind  [ wisdom of the world]  and the hand  [works /deeds that manifest ]  that  follows  this command

 I have been reading this for  about an hour

 and saw this  just how it is worded here  gave a clue

 Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.


Rev 17:9 And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.



Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.  

there is the  keeping us from the hour of trial that comes upon the whole  world , its that Image of a man/beast

  King Neb made in honor of the kings of the earth    we never know what the   Height  is 6o cubits and width  is  6 cubits  of golden Image  is Man  the 6th  day of creation , here is a number and a man and his name  may Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadrezzar ''Nebo protect the crown"
1) the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive


Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

Dan 3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Dan 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:


Dan 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

hear the sound !    that  is another clue to me as well as the Hour

Luk 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

here is the mountain of the kings of the earth and the place Jerusalem   were they are  burned or taken captive !!!

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.


Jhn 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Jhn 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.


Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.


Jhn 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

 when we obey  His Voice we escape this  all of it  , the burning and captivity !

Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
 lest we recive her plagues , come out of her my people

    there is more on the hour sis
 but this is enough to see it to me     it is to become marked as a man/ beast  and reign with kings for one hour  to destroy the   Great City  


1Cr 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.


1Cr 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.   :HeartThrob:

[rosered]

King Neb made in honor of the kings of the earth    we never know what the   Height  is 6o cubits and width  is  6 cubits  of golden Image  is Man  the 6th  day of creation , here is a number and a man and his name  may Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadrezzar "Nebo protect the crown"
1) the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive


Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

remember the beast that was  King Neb
  and that Is ,   King of Babylon   His name  has some kind of  signifigance  , i need to look into more carefully  though

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 
  there is the Prophecy of  seventy weeks   in Daniel 9 ;24 -27
and the abomination of deslolation   in Daniel 11 all of it
and Revelation Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
it speaks and works   are judged and rejected    for every person  and for all times this is the  Standard  of Jesus Christ  and any one who does not obey this  His criteria  will not be written  in the  Book of Life  and will suffer  great loss  for it ..   the fire and captivity


  I know Gods word is perpetual 
Lasting for eternity.
Continuing or lasting for an indefinitely long time.
Instituted to be in effect or have tenure for an unlimited duration: a treaty of perpetual friendship.
Continuing without interruption. See Synonyms at continual.
Flowering throughout the growing season.

[Middle English perpetuel, from Old French, from Latin perpetuālis, from perpetuus, continuous : per-, per- + petere, to go toward; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
per·pet'u·al·ly adv. perpetual 

c.1340, from O.Fr. perpetuel (12c.), from L. perpetualis "universal," in M.L. "permanent," from perpetuus "continuous, universal," from perpetis, gen. of Old L. perpes "lasting," probably from per- "through" + root of petere "to seek, go to, aim at" (see petition). The verb perpetuate is first recorded 1530; perpetuity is from 1406. Perpetual motion is attested from 1593.

[rosered]

 
  Hi Fire ,
   the forum is working good for me  right now lol , that could change at any moment  though

  Oh Kim the connections are soooo many , I cannot begin to  put them in order 

   I know that  the  5 kings that have fallen  we have this in Daniel

  the Image   head of gold 1
  arms of silver 2
  body of brass  bronze 3
  and legs of Iron and  feet  toes of  clay and iron mixed 4
  make up the Kings /nations ,  greece persia  rome  Chaldea [babylon]
  the riddle is [  one beast / man / king  whos deadly wound  was healed gives power to this    new beast in order[ now  is ]  and the one to come is [ the last one has  no name  but is called terrible which is the 4th beast  ]?

  with teeth of iron After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.


Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.


Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.


And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.


Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Jhn 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.  
  what a riddle / mystery 
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.


Hbr 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.


Hbr 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.


Hbr 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.


Hbr 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

   perdition  scriptures are a good clue to search out now
  I dont have the time , but looked wow , it is starting to make some  sense  finally !   :HeartThrob:

[Nathan]

For me, the head that was, wasn't, and now is . . .is the carnal mind again.  when it became "isn't" was when Christ died to "flesh" on the cross.  And as we are in him, so to the head (mind/authority) of our dragon (devil/adversary/ego) also died.  The resurrection of this dead head comes when we ourselves revive our own flesh by feeding our mind with carnal thinking.  We have the power of life and death.  

We have taken that which was, and through Chirst, it became no longer, only for us to turn around and resurrect that which Christ gave his life for in death.  The overcomers are those that come back to, they return to, "repent" to the original order of authority and power that comes only by way of relationship through Christ.  The serpent, the head of the dragon in us must truly be dead, once and for all.  

Mind if I reach back a day or two in this conversation . . .I took the weekend off . . .Nebby was given a revelation of gold.  He saw the vision of Daniel and rather than worship God for allowing it to be he that is the head of gold over the land, he built an idol unto himself . . .all of gold.  He didn't see himself with a head of gold, he wanted it all.  All men have a spirit in them . . .it is the man . .my spirit man.  And when the heart of this man was changed into a heart of a beast . . .it was simply manifesting the fact that this man elected to submit to the beastly nature of his mind "over" his spirit and as such, God let that which was within him, to manifest without him.  He replaced his spirit/godly nature to a beastly nature . . .what's the difference?  A beast, by nature, has no conscience.  It lives on instinct of survival.

When Scripture refers to man being a beast . . .it's referring to the carnal nature of a man, which has no conscience.  All a conscience is, is a spiritually imbredded voice of godly reason.  When Nebby built that idol publicly, he was manifesting blasphemy against God.  The idol was an image of Nebby.  

Next topic was dealing with buying and selling . . . what I sell is my flesh, what I'm buying is life in my spirit.  The five foolish virgins were instructed to "go and buy" more oil . .why?  Because they didn't give all they had in the first place.  Annanias and Saphira . . . proclaimed they gave all they had, and they died as a result.  Unless I give my ALL over to God, I can not spiritually ever be fully effective in the kingdom.

Just thinking out loud.

[Nathan]

Molly, are you saying that before accepting salvation, I must first count the cost?

[Molly]

Molly, are you saying that before accepting salvation, I must first count the cost?

26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

--Luke 14

[Nathan]

I'm not saying we're not to count the cost, my question is, should that be pertaining to salvation.  The reason I'm asking is because that would mean salvation can be "achieved" by works.  But salvation is a free gift . . .

[Molly]

1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 3

[Nathan]

Where are you going with that Molly?

[Molly]

I'm not saying we're not to count the cost, my question is, should that be pertaining to salvation.  The reason I'm asking is because that would mean salvation can be "achieved" by works.  But salvation is a free gift . . .

It's pertaining to being a 'disciple,' as that is what he says--and a disciple can lead to an apostle.

He's talking about building a house.

It costs something to build a house, yes?

[Molly]

Where are you going with that Molly?

The apostle is planting and watering--God is giving the increase.

Paul is the husbandman, like Adam, tending and keeping God's garden.

Paul is the master builder together with God--we are the building.

Paul is the husbandman together with God--we are the garden.

This is a calling.

[rosered]

16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

--Rev 3


PS it's free--

"to buy"

G59
ἀγοράζω
agorazō
ag-or-ad'-zo
From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem: - buy, redeem.

Yes buy of me, without cost, without money.

What will a MAN give for HIS SOUL?  And what is it that a MAN **GAIN** the whole world and LOSE his SOUL?

We have COUNT the number which pertains to MAN and COUNT A COST, although that we BUY of Christ is WITHOUT COST and Paul spake on ALL that was GAIN to me is THAT which I COUNT as LOSS for the surpassing **GREATNESS** of knowing CHRIST = Wisdom of God= given the MIND of CHRIST the **GREATER THEN** Solomon

More excellent, More sure, better then, greater then,

... we have the weight of the gold significant to a number to count pertaining to man 666 verses His name which is equivilent to 888.

The stature is measured in cubits, and who of us by worrying can add a single cubit to our stature, worrying chokes the word and it becomes unfruitful when we are to grow up into the full measure of the stature of Christ.. MARK the perfect man, not be marked as Cain?

If a man be a hearer only of the word he beholds his own FACE = image, overcoming our own face? Glory unto glory, for the glory of man is a fading flower and be made in HIS IMAGE and likeness?

Gees how the heck to line this stuff up  :grin:

I cant get verses my other puter isnt working on this forum, how fustrating

exactly !! :thumbsup:   all that Jesus Has Said will come to pass   the Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus , this doctrine ! is more precious than  gold ,  out faith in Christ Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.


Jhn 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
   the furnace of affliction ... For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.


Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.


Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
  gold    sold  as truth   but is   Rust !
  silver as righteouness  , but is filty rags 
  Bronze  , brass  and judments   but is prision  bars  along with the Iron strength  to perform it

   the  clay toes  are scatterede as  dust  for the serpents food .

[Nathan]

The mixture of clay and iron in the feet not only refer to the mixing of law and flesh with one's walk, but my feet are what I stand on . . .my balance, my foundation . . .  there is no congealing between spirit and flesh, any more than there is between the labor of law and the lust of flesh . . .if you were caught sleeping with another, you were not to be allowed back in, but instead you were to be killed.

My carnal mind desires to sleep with the lusts of the flesh and "that" is the part of me that must be put to death.  For me, the lusts of the flesh are anything that is carnal, not just of sexual nature.

[Cardinal]

For me, the lusts of the flesh are anything that is carnal, not just of sexual nature.

:cloud9: Amen, He defined lust to me, as ANYTHING that we desire apart from His perfect will in our lives (as revealed by His Spirit). Blessings....

[rosered]

  Hi Nathan and Cardinal ,
  this is my point  though , you see the  scattering  of flesh [toes/iron our own flesh and strength   the mixing ]  by whatever disqualifies us [defiles us ]   
the main thing is  He who does not gather with me scatters abroad  for sepents food / flesh is what is eaten/consumed 
we are to be gathered into the Body of Christ and so hidden in Christ  that we SEE HIM and no longer ourselves any longer
  know   no man after the flesh [judge  in this manner ]  not even Christ 
for He is Spirit and Life [word of God ]
  hope I was able to  refine   this better
  :HeartThrob:

[rosered]

1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Ephes 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh **and** of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that **bringeth salvation** hath appeared to all men

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

This is neat how its shown in the OT as well...

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Psalm 78:18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

:thumbsup:
:goodpost:



And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

  THE BREAKING & BRUISING  Chaldea or Chaldeans = "clod-breakers"1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf (n pr m)

2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris

3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension)  :omg:


Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.


Dan 2:42 And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

DIVISION

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

  this is as always  to me  past for some , to come for some and IS NOW  for some  as all  in the WORD  shall  be fulfilled

  THE FLESH  and the lusting  disqualifies  us in the  race  , Paul  fear lest he preached the gospel   and  would become a castaway [ broken branch]  himself
the  seven churches
  we are runing a  race

gauntlet


noun 1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.
2. the two rows of men administering this punishment.
3. an attack from two or all sides.
4. trying conditions; an ordeal.
5. gantlet 1 (def. 1). 
–verb (used with object) 6. gantlet 1 (def. 3). 
—Idiom7. run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or tribulation.

Also, gantlet (for defs. 1, 2, 4).Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?


1Cr 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.


1Cr 9:3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,


1Cr 9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?


1Cr 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?


1Cr 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?


1Cr 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?


1Cr 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?


1Cr 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?


1Cr 9:10 Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.


1Cr 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?


1Cr 9:12 If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.


1Cr 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?


1Cr 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.


1Cr 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.


1Cr 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!


1Cr 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.


1Cr 9:18 What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.


1Cr 9:19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.


1Cr 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;


1Cr 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.


1Cr 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.


1Cr 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].


1Cr 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.


1Cr 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1Cr 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1Cr 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.


:HeartThrob:

[Molly]

At the same time that the most high God of the universe has become more distant to some, He has become more personal to others.  I spent some time today listening to atheists, who insist that if you are smart, if you are rational, if you are educated, you must deny the existence of God.  All they proved to me is that they are blind.  Insisting, as they do, on an objective proof of God, which they think they have effectively negated with their bogus theory of evolution, (which they also cannot prove objectively,) they will remain blind.

This is because the proof of God is found in a personal relationship with Him.  For some, this falls like rain in a tropical climate.  For others, there is just a glimpse here and there, but that glimpse is enough to wait expectently for, through long dry spells.  For some, this takes the form of an appreciation of Him through the beautiful natural world He created for us.  For others, it takes the form of a deep spiritual communion.  He has given us many ways to see and interact with Him.  Anyone who has tasted of Him, wants more.

Whatever else is happening these days, it seems certain that a large schism is being created between men.  What do I have in common with Richard Dawkins?  Nothing--not even his 'science.'  And, judging by his arrogance and sense of entitlement, he would have nothing in common with me, either.  Although I am happy he has the freedom to express himself, I wish he would afford me that same freedom.  But, unfortunately, atheists are as unforgivingly oppressive as any other religion could ever hope to be.  The history of Russian communism has taught us that much and the hundred million dead testify to it.

So we move forward into a new century, facing the same old issues with a different form.  Men will always insist that others bow down to them, for whatever arbitrary reason they can think up.  The beast wants to rule the world, and he's closer now than ever to achieving that goal.  But for those of us who have a personal relationship with God, there is only One who rules.  For some reason, which I don't really understand yet, this is ok with God.  He is willing to let Man play himself out, even to his own shame and destruction.  God's Spirit is the Spirit of Liberty, which is one of the many things I love about Him.



10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

--Rev 22