Vambram said:

Trump is NOT dangerous.

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He has been judged to be towards women. He even admitted sexual assault when he ‘grabbed they by their…..’.

Or is that history being re written.

Ten years later, and I found this thread again. I hope the OP found his answer. And I do miss Albion.

Marilyn C said:

And why does it have to relate to those who first heard the prophecy? All prophecy is about the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes. They are not always to be fully understood by those who first heard them.

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To John’s audience​

John says he is writing to the 7 churches in Asia Minor - to show them what will "SOON take place". Futurists often say “God’s time is not our time” or something like that - so let’s check some other indications.

They should OBEY (1:3) his letter for the time is NEAR. Imagine you received a prophecy that said something like…
“The Martian Reds will attack the Zorn in the south of Mars in the year 4000!”
Now OBEY this message!
How? It’s incomprehensible - and you would be dead a few millennia before it happens!
OK - still not convinced?

Finally - in 1:9 John says he is their PARTNER in THE TRIBULATION. Not “a” tribulation - but THE tribulation.
The Romans have put him in exile. He already shares in their sufferings. It’s not just soon - it’s already happening! And he is advising them from his own tribulation situation. But when futurists come and pretend they have evidence that it’s all about us, now, today (because that’s just so tempting - so much more exciting isn’t it!?) - what’s the side effect?

They turn the Apostle John into someone impossibly heartless and patronising.
He is in effect saying to the Christians he’s ministering to, "You think you've got it bad! Wait till you see what happens in 2000 years!!!"

Summary: Soon, OBEY for the time is NEAR, and he SHARES in THE tribulation.

John’s book is a sermon on suffering remind them of the foundational gospel events and promises in Apocalyptic Symbolism - which is like the comic book of the bible.

If being fundamentalist is taking the bible as truth, then being christian is fundamentalist,
the bible doesn't prohibit enjoying things, or drinking, or dancing/music etc though.

CoreyD said:

CoreyD said:

That's usually a problem.
Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it - this is folly and disgrace to him.

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I don't see a problem, unless you are stating it is a problem for you. Brother Fervent seems par for the course so far, I would agree with him generally speaking on this.

Could you elaborate on where the problem is you are encountering?

Fervent said:

It takes engaging with it to make a determination

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I'm not sure what you mean by this.

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CoreyD said:

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

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I'm going to take the liberty of making a guess here and say it looks as though Fervent is using the word "it" to refer to "the truth."

If that is the case, it makes perfect sense. He is responding to your OP according to your inquiry.

CoreyD said:

As a Christian, how does one determine what is truth?

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If I were to answer this question I would have replied exactly, and I do mean exactly verbatim with this statement or something very close. Maybe it wouldn't be as concise and precise, but meaning-wise, exactly that point.

Fervent said:

It takes engaging with it to make a determination

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So this, essentially, is the short answer to your OP.


Correct me if I'm wrong Fervent

If it wasn't what Fervent meant, it is still what I would say. You have to engage with the truth to decide if it is the truth.

Isaac the Recluse said:

The Wisdom of Sirach is canonical to the Orthodox Church and is in my Bible. It may not be in your bible, but that only makes it apocryphal by your definition.

I'm sure there's site rules about this.

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Well, it wasn't in the Hebrew Old Testament, and unlike the actual Old Testament books, it is not quoted in the New Testament. I couldn't see any mention of the Apocrypha in the Forum Rules.

Mark Quayle said:

If you want me to 'admit' that it is possible that some babies go to hell, ok. I insist that it is possible, until someone can demonstrate to my satisfaction that babies are born innocent, without the inherent corruption endemic to the rest of us.

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Well, I didn't ask for your opinion to judge you, but you were kind of hiding in the shade brush so I figured I would whistle you out of there. lol

I can read between the lines, even if there are more than three there, and knew the stance but wasn't going to "speak for you." I definitely disagree and to say I have experienced God differently would be an understatement. I think every single case before God, souls that is, is judged individually by an absolutely perfect Judge. I think, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, you believe that also. At least that is what I'm gathering from what you have stated so far.

To posit my particular stance on this, I claim God to be a perfect and righteous Judge who is full of mercy and being more merciful than any of us would incline one to believe Him as a God who is love (1 John 4:7 - 1 John 4:8) to be merciful to children who have never committed any deeds physically, let alone sins, even though being born in sin, and that the blood of Jesus would give God the right to remove that sinful nature they are born with even more easily than He does ours who have committed many thousands upon thousands of sins over the course of our life.

Abraham calls God the Judge of all the Earth in Genesis 18:25, and cries out for Lot who is obviously (if we read Scripture later in Genesis of him upon the angels visit in Sodom) not the most righteous man in the Bible, and far from it if I'm to be blunt on the subject. Yet the righteous Judge had mercy on this man, living in the most sinful and one of the worst judged (if not the worst) cities to ever exist on this Earth.

We know that God forgave Lot because he is recorded in the New Testament differently than we read in the records of the Old Testament. In Hebrews 11 we find all of the saints / patriarchs of the Old Testament recorded as righteous and full of faith. Abraham was not always full of faith! Having doubted enough to try on his own through an alternative method of producing a son by means of Sarah's handmaid. Yet in Hebrews 11 Abraham is recorded as faithful and an example to follow. Lot in 2 Peter 2:7 is recorded the same way and is called a "righteous man" or "righteous Lot."

So then my own opinion on this is the character of God, who is love according to 1 John 4:8, who says we are nothing without love in 1 Corinthians 13:2, and who makes it clear the entire purpose of God's instructions to us is to bring us to the fullness of love itself in 1 Timothy 1:5, and finalizing it with Matthew 22:37 Matthew 22:38 Matthew 22:39 Matthew 22:40 Christ tells us that the entirety of the Law (Bible) hangs on these two commandments meaning God's Law is a Law of love.

So then, to say God would send a child (an infant) who even the secular world considers precious an innocent to Hell, how is He then more merciful than humans? If horrid sinners are appalled at the atrocity of children and babies being murdered, how could we ever make sense of God putting one in Hell? For His glory? In what sense? How does an infant in Hell bring glory to God and reveal His character and person of love? His infinite kindness and forgiveness and gentleness?

Maybe you have some answer to this, but I would certainly be curious as to how such a thing could even remotely be possible to bring glory to a God who is love. For a God who is willing to put His own Son on a cross (Romans 8:32), what rational reason would a person with that kind of love and sacrifice to save us who have sinned (not just been born in sin because of someone else's choices), why would someone that unimaginably kind and merciful ever send a child to literally be punished for an eternity but save Lot?

To throw one more out there for arguments sake, we are saying here (from your stance) that Paul who murdered men by his own testimony, and king David who did the same for personal reasons, and Moses also trying to save his brothers with his own strength and be a hero murdered a man are forgiven, but a little tiny baby who can't speak a word, think a clear thought, isn't fully conscious and can't even care for themselves somehow, in the most loving Person's eyes who has or will ever exist, deserves by His judgment to go to Hell?

In my view, that is exactly why Christ died on the cross, to free those born in sin, but who do not choose to accept it but repent. If no opportunity for repentance is available and sins have not been committed by these infants, why would a Judge who states His entire being, essence, and Law is based on love ever not cleanse them with His precious blood when He can forgive anyone He wants?

Oh I think they are forgiven for being "born in sin" for sure, and cleansed, and much faster and without a second thought by Christ.

With all respect intended, I think maybe some people are confusing an idea of Christ with the real Christ Jesus who said this about children:

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Liturgist said:

The Ark contained the a copy of the word, and according to John 1:1, Christ our God is The Word, so the Ark as a typological prophecy of her holds. Also I would note my denomination would never presume to try to depict the Shekinah in the manner of your image.

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Isn't that about the same as saying the Bible is the word of God and thus the Bible is typologically Christ per John 1:1?

This is from the Old Testament, but did you know that the New Testament teaches these same fundamental truths in the gospel of our salvation? And I don’t mean word for word of what this teaches, but the fundamental truths of the gospel. What determines one’s salvation, whether Old Testament or New Testament, is not only the grace of God, and genuine faith which comes from God, but how we live in conduct, whether we are living righteously in obedience to our Lord or we are living wickedly in disobedience to God. And New Testament – Jesus’ blood sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.

For we read in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 and Hebrews 3:1-19 and Hebrews 4:1-13 that God was not pleased with the majority of those who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. For they were those who craved evil and who were idolaters, revelers, immoral, grumblers, and those who put God to the test. So God put them to death, and they did not get to enter into the Promised Land nor into God’s eternal rest (his salvation from sin and eternal life with God). And these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things as they did. And they were written down for our instruction.

For God regards disobedience to his commands, in practice, the same as unbelief. And belief in Jesus Christ, if it is genuine biblical faith, must be accompanied by death to sin, not just once, but daily putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and walking in obedience to our Lord and his commands in our conduct, and as our practice. This is not to say that we will be perfect in everything or that we will never sin again (1 John 2:1-2), but that sin must no longer be our practice, and obedience to our Lord must now be our practice, by the grace of God, in the power of God, and by the Spirit.

So, we are blessed of God who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked, and who do not follow after the sinful desires of the flesh, but whose delight is in the teachings of Christ and of his New Testament apostles and of the Scriptures, as a whole. And if we delight in our Lord and in the teachings of the Scriptures, and in his commandments to us who believe in Jesus Christ, then we will be those who are walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands in holy living, by the grace of God, and in the power of God. And we will be those who are no longer making sin our practice.

And if we are indeed following our Lord in surrender to his will, in obedience to his commands in daily living, by the grace of God, then we should also be those who are bearing much spiritual fruit in keeping with repentance and with walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands. There should be physical evidence, by how we live, that we are in genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, and he is truly Lord (Owner-Master) of our lives. For we should be working for God, our lives committed to his service, doing what he says, who are also sharing the truth of the gospel with the people of this world.

But if we are living wickedly, in direct defiance to our Lord and to his commands, and if sin is still what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess. Like the old saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding,” i.e. the test to see whether or not our faith in Jesus Christ is of God, and is genuine, is in the results (the fruit). Are we living righteously, in obedience to our Lord, in following his leading and his will and purpose for our lives? Or are we still living in sin and for self without regard for our Lord and his commands?

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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The Way of The Righteous
An Original Work / November 19, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Zceptre said:

Yes, it is the great falling away and the end times and I would definitely say this is the case, but it hasn't ever technically "not" been the case. They killed Stephen, they killed Paul, they killed Peter, they killed the prophets. Blessed are we when we are persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10 - Matthew 5:11 - Matthew 5:12).

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Yes thats true. I think the early church was birthed into persecution then rose to become the official church of the west and east. Maybe thats where it started to go wrong. But still the church and God reined mostly over society up until the revolutions of the mid 20th century.

There were times when people fell away and there were revivals. Maybe this is another falling away and a revival. This seems to be the cycle. But then as the world has become smaller it seems we are having a great falling away globally and not just locally. Thus a great revival should be coming. Whether that is the end times of just another revival I don't know.

But then this would make the conflict even greater as then you will have a great Christian revival and a greater evil as a result in defying Christ at war. It seems to increase in intensity not decrease as history repeats itself.

Modern yellow submarines operate noiselessly.

RLMTL

Robin hood socialism doesn't work, because giving the government more power to steal from certain rich corporations but not others is not going to end well.

rather, what would work is to change back to a hard money standard, to reverse all of these problems:

Fervent said:

What is the context that is supposed to change "who wants everyone to be saved and return to knowledge of the truth" into something other than desiring all to be saved?

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The larger context is the whole of scripture, in which we find that he made each for his purposes, which include those who he made, knowing they would end up in Hell. The nearer context is the whole of 1 Timothy and all of Paul's writings which focus much on the un-Jewish notion of God saving whomsoever he will, and the close context is the chapter 2 preceding and following verses in which Paul calls for prayer for all people, including even rulers and authorities (that the Jews wanted off their necks) in which he mentions himself being the apostle to the Gentiles. The focus of the context is exactly that Jesus is come for all people —not just the Jews.

Fervent said:

You presume that God cannot make free will possible, you think too little of God in your assessment.

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No. I presume that God has no interest in doing whatever silly self-contradictory conjurations humans come up with as though their thoughts represented a possible reality. I don't say that God can't make a rock too big for him to pick up. I say that it is a bogus notion.

Fervent said:

It's not confirmation bias, it's reality. Nor is it "circular' since its not 2 propositions dependent on one another, simply a fact that the determinist must exercise free will to make a denial of it.

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No, he only exercises choice.

Fervent said:

you don't seem to know what that word means.

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Which is why I asked you what YOU meant by it. But now, I see my guess was right. You think humans choose uncaused, even when you contradict it by claiming God gave us [libertarian] free will.

RileyG said:

He hasn’t been active on here for several years.

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Thanks. I was hoping he had come back here.

bob121 said:

Thanks, Servus—honestly I’m still learning the lay-out here.
I’ll take the cue: next time I’ll drop testimonial-style threads in Christians-Only so the encouragers aren’t forced to wade through the inevitable mud.

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Yes, there’s a reason why we have the Christians’ Only subforums.

But the content you placed in the OP as what trolls would do

bob121 said:

you ask for testimonies of grace and within five posts someone’s waving Psalm 137:9 or Hitler to prove a point.

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seemed like it would be more commonplace on Facebook or Twitter than here. Psalm 137:9 and Hitler would be off-topic, since you asked for testimonies of grace, and people who post off-topic posts like that repeatedly just get banned. (Calling political leaders Hitler is explicitly banned in the political sections too.)

By the way, a testimonies of grace thread would belong in the Deeper Fellowship area here, in case you were wondering about that.

In broader social media, debate or report does still apply, but after awhile you have to ask yourself whether it’s worth your time to do the debate. The problem with doing nothing is that the slanderers will drown you out if you don’t post at least one counter argument, they will come to define your message for you. You cannot let yourself be defined by your harshest critics. Still, dealing with abusers/slanderers is exhausting work, even when you have the positional and spiritual authority to manage them. I would never oblige someone to debate themselves into exhaustion over some triviality.

The way I manage my energy is just to stay off social media (aside from YouTube) and put my time into forums where I either rely on other moderators or I have mod tools to deal with rule violators myself and I don’t end up having to fight reputation battles all the time. Authority actually saves a lot of energy in comparison to expensive emotional reactions of fear and anger. But that may not be for everyone.

Instead, I would advise to pick your platforms and your battles, and learn their best practices one at a time. You do Facebook? Learn the best practices there. Twitter? Same. YouTube? Ok. TikTok? Whatever. Forum like this one? Not too hard.

Batfink

mark46 said:

If Trump could kill his most troublesome critics without serious consequence, I don't think that he would hesitate.

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And he probably wouldn't lose any voters.

-- A2SG, forgiveness is fundamental to MAGA...only for Trump, though....

FaithT said:

Same here.

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Especially after the updated translation in 2011.

Always in His Presence said:

House Democrat exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing​

“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the public at large offering advice, support and in some cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” Plaskett’s spokesperson, Angeline Jabbar, said in a statement to CNN. “As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth and took on the GOP that was trying to bury the truth. The congresswoman has previously made clear her long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein’s deviant behavior and her support for his victims.”

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I'm sorry, maybe I missed something. Is there a problem here?

-- A2SG, maybe the insinuations are just too vague for me....

Delvianna said:

So when you run across instances like this, what do you do? I'm not required to engage with it. Like, there isn't quests or anything but how do you handle video games and following Christian ethical standards?

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I've dealt with this situation before with a game that involved witchcraft in the actual dynamics of the game, meaning required, twice. God spoke to my heart and asked me how much I loved Him. I said done and trashed them, even being very heavily invested in with extremely competitive stance in one.

With that said, my opinion is that you said it yourself there, "I'm not required to engage with it." 1 Corinthians 10:23 says all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial, or helpful. We are also called to be in the world, but not of the world in John 17:15 and John 17:16. Lastly, Christ said we are the light of the world, and that we are not meant to be hidden away but like a city on a hill in Matthew 5:14.

Daniel lived in Babylon and was immersed in a world full of witchcraft, but he rejected particular things that he felt dishonored God like eating food offered to idols. I think the entire world is Babylon in that specific sense and we are in that situation now and so long as it is not violating your conscience, I think you are good to go (you are obviously tuned in with God that there are no-go zones from the way you speak). (Romans 14:23)

I have used a few games as platforms to spread the gospel, even posting Scripture on my profile. I say simply have a little talk with God about the games and pray about them, and during that conversation, like He has with me, I think He will guide you into what is acceptable and unacceptable. Some people will tell you it is black and white, but I don't think this is the case. We are children, Sons and Daughters in Christ, and in that we are meant to be more than robots. God made you and I don't think He wants all of us conformed to a cookie cutter shape even being conformed into the image of Christ. The image of Christ, the image of God is love (1 Timothy 1:5 - 1 John 4:7 - 1 John 4:8). We can all look like Christ in His love to others without being robots or cookie cutouts.

Just my two cents on the matter in the pot, but I've had experience in this and found that God showed me what was not ok, and what He not only didn't mind but helped me in winning the games (and yes I actually believe that, call me crazy but He helps me with everything, I wouldn't be ok if He didn't).

Do everything to the glory of God, even if it is playing a game (1 Corinthians 10:31). Love God, love people, be yourself.

Vambram said:

My culture is based upon the Scriptures and the teachings of the LORD God.

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Its a romantic thought. But the mere fact that you have the internet suggests you have been influenced by your culture. Are you Amish though? I guess you'd be getting there.

Vambram said:

There are not any ethnic or national cultures in all the world which faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Of course not. Jesus made it pretty clear that would never be the case. He told his disciples to go EVERYWHERE

Please pray for me. My aunt passed away in June. I am still struggling. Thank you. I am sorry for any inconvenience.