http://ichthys.com/ 
Eschatology Issues CLXII

Question #1:
So you believe it is the ENEMY which will come like a flood, not the Spirit of the Lord, in Isaiah 59:19, right?

I just wanted confirmation. I looked it up on the internet myself and good majority seem to believe (interpret) it otherwise (We rebuke you, Satan). Thanks for your work. 
Response #1:
Good to make your acquaintance, and thanks much for the positive comment.
When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19b KJV
The last part of Isaiah 59:19 in Hebrew says כִּי־יָבוֹא כַנָּהָר צָר רוּחַ יְהוָה נֹסְסָה בוֹ. The word tsar (צָר) is the key here. KJV is correct in taking this as a noun which is the subject of the sentence and not a participle modifying "river". While not impossible, that is a real stretch since 1) it's not paralleled anywhere else in Hebrew, and 2) it goes against the natural way of reading the verse (KJV's) which yields a perfectly good meaning, especially in the context where the Messiah is returning to "repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes" (Is.59:18). Also, "flooding" is something that the enemy forces do at Armageddon in multiple places (Is.8:6-8; Dan.9:26; 11:22 [in the Hebrew]). Hence my translation:
Although the enemy (i.e., antichrist) will attack like the River (i.e., the great Nile or Euphrates; cf. Dan.11:22; 11:26), the Spirit of the Lord will put him to flight.
Isaiah 59:19b
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #2:
Greetings Bob

I pray to the Lord that all is well with you. I was just reading again through part 3a “The Tribulation begins” and was hoping to get some clarification on the subject of the “future divine facilitation of unbeliever susceptibility to the satanic influence of the previous three passages during the Tribulation” as you explained it. The other three being (2Thes.2:7, 1Jn.4:6 and 1Jn.4:3). 

So this divine facilitation of the empowerment of error in 2Th.2:11 will come upon unbelievers but in other places when you teach on the coming great Apostasy you explain that 1/3 of the believing church militant will fall away and not only betray the other 2/3s but also follow the Antichrist. So will real believers be subject to this divine facilitation of error as well as unbelievers?
Response #2:
I would say that this empowerment affects unbelievers even if they were formerly "believers". Anyone who follows antichrist, anyone who takes the mark of the beast, will by definition have fallen into apostasy and thus not be a believer any longer, having reverted to unbeliever status. 
(8) And then the lawless one (i.e., antichrist) will be revealed, [that same one] whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and destroy when He appears at His [glorious] return – [that same lawless one] (9) whose appearance [will come about] through Satan's empowerment [and will be] accompanied by every [sort of] false miracle, both signs and portents, (10) and by every [sort of] unrighteous deception [designed] for those who are perishing, [namely those who will believe these lies] because they did not open themselves up to the love for the truth so as to be saved. (11) And for this [very] reason God is going to send upon them an empowerment of error so that they may believe the lie, (12) in order that they may be condemned, [even all those] who have not believed the truth but have [instead] approved of unrighteousness.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-12
Naturally, we take the parts in bold above to be unbelievers and do not immediately think of former believers who have at that point reverted to the status of being unbelievers, but no doubt they are to be included since they are also (then) unbelievers. Paul would have had to have used footnotes to have made this any clearer. But that's unnecessary. Believers who apostatize don't get any special consideration from the Lord. In fact, the opposite is true:
(20) For if after having escaped the defilements of this world by recognizing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [these weak believers] should be overcome [spiritually] by becoming involved again in these foul things, then they have become worse off than they were before. (21) For it would have been better for them not to have accepted the Righteous Way in the first place, rather than – once having accepted this holy command [for faith in Christ which was] committed to them – to turn their backs on it now. (22) And so in their case this proverb is true: "The dog has returned to his vomit, and the sow, though washed, to her muddy sty".
2nd Peter 2:20-22
Do feel free to write me back about this in case I've missed the gist of your question.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #3:
Appreciate you for taking the time to answer my question. Yes you got the gist of my concern. This particular interpretation of 2Th.2:11 is really profound. Your exegesis of the Greek is simply amazing and appreciated. I love God’s Word but even more so when I gain precise understanding of what it really means. 

Thanks Bob
Response #3:
And thank you, my friend, for your encouragement. We may all will need to have as many of these specifics "down" in the near future.
"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."
Revelation 3:11 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #4:
Thank you for your response. That was beautiful. 

I have another question for you, several years ago, I came across this website Release Your Unlimited Creativity. There is this post about the Garden of Eden that I’d be curious of your opinion on, although I understand that it’s lengthy and you are a busy man.

Many elites believe that Satan is the liberator that can help us escape the matrix.

Here is the article: https://www.ryuc.info/common/recreating_oneself/revisit_garden_of_eden.htm

If you have time to respond, I’d love to hear your point of view. 

Thank you for your time and inspiration,
Response #4:
Thanks much.

I'm not at liberty to be reading and digesting long internet posts of OPW (other people's work). 

If you have a particular question about a particular quote, e.g., I'd be happy to answer it.

Anyone who thinks that the devil can be of any help is stuck in a horrible delusion. 
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 8:44 NIV
The devil only lies. He only seeks our harm and destruction. He is ever accusing believers and NOT seeking our welfare in any way (see the link). Getting involved in anything Gnostic and/or Satanic like this is a very quick way to the dissolution of one's faith and thus to the lake of fire (since only believers are saved).

So I would counsel you to stay far, far away from any such people and/or ideas.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #5:
Thank you, Robert. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me as you are the smartest person I’ve found on the internet talking about this stuff.

You see, I am being majorly attacked by the adversary. I’m not talking about some invisible demon spirits. I’m am talking about Illuminati black magicians. The power they have is unbelievable.

For example, I bought a perfume called Antica Farmicita. In those two words you will see “ant farm”. One morning I woke up and every square inch of my carpeted bedroom was COVERED in ants. I managed to kill all the ones that made it to my hard floor bathroom and then I had to take a shower as I was running late to work. When I got out of the shower, all the ants were gone except for the dead ones on my bathroom floor.

Another night, I couldn’t sleep and had this song with the lyrics “turn around” in my head. I rolled over in bed and my mini fridge had been turned 180 degrees. No one had been in my room all day and when I went to bed it was facing the normal direction. 

They are reading my mind and broadcasting my thoughts. It got so bad that I had to get off social media because I was being harassed. I would have a thought about a picture someone posted, never verbally or otherwise communicated the thought, and the next day that person would comment on my social media page something suspicious and when they had NEVER interacted with me on social media before. 

I have many other examples. 

I just don’t understand why God would allow someone to read the mind of another person. 

I assure you I am not crazy. 
Response #5:
Re: "smartest person . . . on the internet". Thank you – although that's a lot like being called the smartest kid in the stupid row.

Let me assure you that no one can read your mind. However, anyone can see what you do and hear what you say, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what state we are in or what we are thinking if they are allowed to hear us and observe us. Demons thus would have no problem gathering intelligence on you or any of us (and in fact they do this all the time . . . to allow their master to accuse us before the Lord: Rev.12:10; cf. Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5).

My advice is always the same. The only way out of spiritual troubles is confession and repentance (of which we are all in need daily – which is why it is in the Lord's prayer), followed by consistent spiritual growth. That is the only way to "resist the devil", but if we begin to listen to the Spirit and to the truth of the Word of God, we will find that the devil will "flee from us".
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NKJV
And remember. Demons and the devil are creatures. They are powerful but only relatively so. They are not God – nowhere near. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit dwells within you (Rom.8:9) – and He is God. No one and nothing has the power of God.
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1st John 4:4 NKJV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #6:
I know for a FACT they are reading my mind as they are telling people my thoughts, as an example. I’m just trying to reconcile it with God. My ex __ is one of the wealthiest men in the world. __ lived with us for a while. I know for a fact that the Illuminati is real and that they have black magicians with extraordinary powers. 

This is what I believe God meant when he said to Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of knowledge or you will be like God. 

Jesus taught that nothing concealed will remain hidden. 

Like I said, I’m just trying to reconcile this fact with God and I don’t know how. 

I have been evaluated by doctors and am not Schzoid or anything close to. No one wants to believe me, but there is nothing that will change my mind to make me believe this isn’t happening. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I hold your words and knowledge in high regard. 

Sincerely,
Response #6:
Re: "Jesus taught that nothing concealed will remain hidden." Nothing being hidden refers to the Lord's analysis of our lives on the other side when everything will come to light. 

Of course, nothing is hidden from Him. He is God. But demons cannot read our thoughts. Just because we are often an "open book" to other people, or even in the case of those with contact with demons being informed of what we have said or are doing, there is still no window into our souls to any but the Lord. Not for believers in Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit in us . . . and He will have no truck with demons.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord, but in the end, the devil, no matter how powerful he is, is still just a creature.

Jesus has called us His followers to peace, and that is something we should endeavor to embrace with all of our hearts.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #7:
Hi Bob,

I'm well into BB 2A and I just passed multiple references to Job. Job is one of my most intriguing books in the bible. The NIV has most of the book formatted as verse. The KJV doesn't and is murky on who's speaking at times. I can pick up some characteristics of verse in the NIV translation, though. My question: What in the original Hebrew in Job in particular and other books, Isaiah, e.g., identifies this as verse?

So far in BB, you have connected strings I haven't considered before. I'm excited to finish the series. You are broadening my understanding. Thank you.

Also, with the ballyhoo over the Israel/Gaza peace (which I doubt will last) pundits and even the left wing Trump haters are claiming peace in our time expecting the Russian/Ukrainian conflict to be resolved, too. I remember somewhere in scripture (Timothy?) that peace would be declared in our time and then the end will come, I can't find the reference. Can you point me to it? Is that to be before the Tribulation or in it?

In our Lord,
Response #7:
Always good to hear from you!

In terms of identifying poetry as opposed to prose in Hebrew, it's usually fairly obvious from the syntax: shortish sentences followed by and/or paralleling other such is a poetic characteristic. Just a reading of Psalms in English, even if it weren't formatted, would suggest poetry. It can be a little hard to tell in, say, Jeremiah, where the two forms shift back and forth (and there are a few places where there are disagreements about which is which in the scholarship) but in Job, for example, the conversational parts are all clearly poetic. If all one did was to paste the text into a word-processor and put each new sentence or long clause on a consecutive line, that would be pretty apparent, I think. I'm not sure how much of the formatting was original to the KJV. I have a version which does format as poetry (Scofield study Bible).

In terms of peace, you might be thinking of this verse:
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
1st Thessalonians 5:2-3 NKJV
Note that this false appreciation comes just before "the Day of the Lord" which means the second advent here. Many in Babylon will assume that antichrist's disappearance (see the link) means the end of trouble, but it's just the beginning. This will also happen on the threshold of Armageddon when it seems that the war is almost over with the snuffing out of the last bit of resistance in Israel – just before Messiah returns. 

As to what is happening now, we know for certain that there isn't going to be any Millennium before the Tribulation and our Lord's return. After the fall of the Soviet union they were talking about "the end of history" and "the peace dividend" . . . and it sure didn't work out that way.

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #8:
Hi Bob,

Thanks so much for your last email! I really needed to hear that and will need to read it a few more times to sink in..

Just on a completely different matter... How should we respond to what is happening in Gaza? I know nothing at all about political Zionism and how close it is to how God wants Israel to be. Has Israel used ungodly means to bring about prophesy and claiming their promised land or is God behind the war against Palestine?

I know of course that anti-semitism is evil and those who curse Israel will be cursed and that God is not done with Israel, we are just in the mystery/church/gentile age now. I have been personally staying away from the whole thing and concentrating on my own walk but was wondering what the best answer would be if anyone asked what I thought being a Christian?

From what I read about Palestinian mentality, I can't see how there ever can be a earthly peaceful resolution in so far of the fact that they seemed to have caused trouble wherever they have gone (Lebanon, Jordan etc) and they seem to have a satanically inspired hatred of the Jews.

People online say these people used to be the Philistines. Is that true?

There is so much misinformation flying about and stoking so much hatred that I want to have an accurate and biblical God honouring view of the current situation.

Of course though, in review of what I have written.. all of this will be redundant seeing as the Tribulation is likely to start up next autumn. So is it likely that something will blow up again to exacerbate Islamic/Jewish tensions before the Mahdi/Antichrist stand off will be revealed?

Your friend in Jesus,
Response #8:
My pleasure, my friend!

Re: "People online say these people used to be the Philistines. Is that true?" If there is any Philistine DNA left in any of those people, I'd be surprised, given what has happened in that area in terms of migrations and conquests etc. over the last three thousand years (but you never know). 

Re: "I have been personally staying away from the whole thing" I think that's the best policy. In terms of answering others, it's alright to have opinions about these things. We all have them, but they don't really mean much. We know that God is working things out according to His perfect plan. Our job is to please Him. I would also try to steer such a conversation back to Jesus Christ. 

Re: "How should we respond to what is happening in Gaza?" I would ask, "WHY we should feel the need to respond to what is happening in Gaza?" 
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1st Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
A peaceful and quiet life which we can pass in godliness and holiness, doing what the Lord wants, namely, focusing on spiritual growth, progress and production, should be our heart's desire. Getting involved in causes or politics for whatever reason is only ever counterproductive to that.

How what's happening in the middle east will affect things going forward, no one down here on earth can tell. Who would have predicted several years ago what has happened over there recently? We can see the signs of the times clearly enough. And they tell us that nothing is predictable but that we are clearly closer to the end than to the beginning. 

There's no problem with praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ who may be involved over there against their will (just happening to live there), but from what I can see and know, there are precious few believers at all in that whole area (even if some do have the name of Christian on their churches). 

Re: "seeing as the Tribulation is likely to start up next autumn" – we will see about that soon enough. In the meantime, we should all be living for Jesus Christ one day at a time, whether He's coming for us tomorrow or we have decades left.

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #9:
Hi Bob and family,

Apologies for the problem with email - I don't know what to do to fix it. Hope you are well with all that is happening around us, I can't imagine coping with snow at my front door! 

I have to have a scan in May to see how far the aneurysm has grown from the last scan in November last, I think I mentioned I will have the op., and hope for a few more years - not that I'm looking forward, or want to go through Tribulation but I'd like to be around to be a help unto others who may have a change of heart.

Keeping you in my prayers as well my friend,

As always dear Bob,
Response #9:
No worries, my friend.

Re: "I don't know what to do to fix it": Just use your gmail address instead (LOL).

Re: "I'd like to be around to be a help unto others who may have a change of heart." That is just exactly the right way to look at this, my friend. None of us fancies putting up with all the things that we'll have to go through if we live into the Tribulation, but if we do, then the Lord has something for us to do. And, having this attitude, you're in good company!
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Philippians 1:21-24 NIV
Keeping you and this concern in my daily prayers – and thanks so much for yours too!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #10:
Hi Bob and family,

Just a note to let you know that I eventually decided to have the operation, after much thinking and praying about it – and it seems I made the right decision.

As you would remember, there were only two choices which were, trust in the Doctor and hope for the best, or I could step away from it and trust in God for whatever He might choose, Either way there was still no guarantee that life would be prolonged for any length of time.

I was in Hospital for 11 days, the first 2 days I had a Heparin infusion, the 3rd day I was prepped for surgery at 8 am, and went into theatre at 10 am. The op lasted for 4&1/2 hours and I didn’t wake in recovery until much later that day, and I woke to see the familiar faces of my family around me, and I was glad to see them!

I cannot speak highly enough of all the staff who looked after me in Hospital – and I thank them for it. If I was a politician, I would sign on the dotted line tomorrow for them all to get a rise that they so deserve. If the relevant politician were to go through the same op as I did, they too would sign the dotted line. There SHOULD be no more debate – JUST GIVE IT TO THEM!

I’ve been at home now for almost a week and feeling stronger every day, the swelling and bruising is beginning to subside, which may take some time.

Happy to be still on this side of the grass for whatever time He gives me – there is still more work for me to do.

As always my dear friend,
Response #10:
Thanks for the update, my friend. I respect your decision and, indeed, I'm sure you did the right thing. These are judgment calls, but there are times when getting medical treatment is the responsible thing to do. This is something that we who would rather be with the Lord need to consider. We may be just as happy to have Him take us home so that we put off or defer reasonable medical attention. But is that the right thing when others are counting on us – not to mention that the Lord may have something for us to do down here yet? This is something I personally have had to face as well, so your courage in doing what was unpleasant but right is a good example.

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #11:
Hi Bob,

Thank you for your genuine concern, always appreciated – and thank you too for putting my condition on ichthys prayer list, that too was appreciated!

Looking forward to whatever time I’m given down here, even if it IS a deteriorating world!

As always my dear friend,
Response #11:
It was my pleasure.

I'm very happy to hear that things have gone well.

Keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #12:
Hello Dr. Luginbill:

Can we have confidence in Bible teachers - those that truly pursue Truth through gifting and diligent study ? How about when teachings amongst those differ?

I lean on you as "gospel." And I truly need you to help me decipher and understand the deeper truths of scripture (thank you so much!). 

I know we have the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word - but can this be without teaching? I would say "no" (post gifting) - unless God allows the Spirit to illuminate where no true teaching is found or available.

Has there (in your opinion) been any teacher(s) (outside of Christ) who has truly taught scriptures accurately? If not, why would God allow this? 

Thank you, teacher. We are all so grateful for you. 

Water in a dry land.
Response #12:
Thanks for the encouraging words, my friend. I would never even ever dare to suggest that Ichthys is the "only place". There aren't, it's true, too many place nowadays where the Word can be found being taught in any particular depth. Of course Curt Omo's Bible Academy is one such good place (link). It's not my job to try and find other places and list them out (Rom.14:4). Even if it were, that would require me knowing more about each one that I would ever have time to commit to the process . . . before I recommended a host of other places. 

Individual believers, on the other hand, need only subject the prospective ministry to "the fruit test" (link). And once they've found a place that works for them (no ministry is everyone's "cup of tea" and not just because of doctrinal issues), the best strategy is to stick with it, putting aside "bones" that occasional make one thing or another "hard to digest".

There is absolute truth. It's in the Bible. Our collective job as Christ's Church is to learn it, love it and live it, and everyone in the Body has a role in that. This ministry would never have happened and I would never have survived and thrived sufficiently to stick with it without the help and support of wonderful believers like yourselves. 

In terms of disagreements, perhaps you're referencing the first Q/A in yesterday's posting? As alluded to there, there is a big difference between a disagreement over, e.g., whether "let the reader understand" in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 are Jesus' words or the writer's on the one hand, and whether or not the doctrine of the Trinity as traditional formulated is correct (it certainly is). 

I think it is fair to say that there are plenty of groups and ministries "out there" which have basic theology and salvation issues mostly straight (not to say I'd agree with everything, water-baptism, a need for church membership, and OSAS being three oft occurring mistake), but the real question is, "where can I grow?" And the reason, in my opinion, as to "why would God allow this?" has to do with the fact that very few Christians in Laodicea are interested in growing. If more were, God would provide. Deciding to do what the Lord wants us to do is a personal choice – and there is none more important.

Thank you both for your friendship, encouragement, and service to the Church of Jesus Christ!

Keeping you and your family in my daily prays (and I'm very grateful for yours).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Dr L,

Here: https://ichthys.com/2B-Eschato.htm

And type in:
" 1) The Jewish Age (2165 - 2 B.C.): "

1) It looks like it should be 2065-2 BC, not 2165-2 BC. Because that section is going backwards in time, and at the end (furthest back in time for that section) it stops at the end at 2065.
And: 2065- 2 (for the 2 BC) - 70 (for the 70 years you mention in that section) gives 1993 
This 1,992 years is only missing the 7 Tribulation years to meet the 2,000 year total of the two Millennial Days as the section explains

2) And I think the next section subtitle "The Age of the Gentiles" should date "4065-2065" not "4065-2165"

When I added the numbers it all works, it seems like there is just a typo on those two subtitles for the dates

Respectfully,
Response #13:
Thank you!

Once again, you've saved the day!

In addition to being bad with math I'm also bad with numbers generally (semi-numerically dyslexic). I accidentally mis-transcribe numbers I just said or looked at, sometimes really egregiously, sometimes deceptively closely as on this occasion. This section in BB 2B comes originally from SR 5 and it's correct in the original.

Your help is greatly appreciated, my friend (as are your prayers)!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Bob,

So far we haven't been hit too hard by the shutdown, but it's causing chaos for the branch of the Air Force that we are developing our software system for (our customers in essence; we are a branch of the Air Force developing a system for a different branch of the Air Force). My team basically works on a Financial & Logistics system that supports the planning process involved in the Air Force budget, and as you can imagine, the Congressional gridlock has played complete havoc with the defense budget this last year. So not only are most of the people we are developing the system for furloughed right now... but they will also face "highly irregular budget circumstances" (that's a nice euphemistic way of putting it, shall we say) if and when they do come back. The damage won't just be limited to them not working for a couple weeks, in other words. I don't envy the financial analysts at the Pentagon whose job it will be to figure out how to take a stab at gathering the loose threads when all the dust settles here. The accounting is going to be a complete mess this year.

Politics aside, I'm praying for all the folks who live in a manner approaching paycheck to paycheck. Affected federal employees have missed one now (the Oct. 15 one), but we are rapidly approaching paycheck #2. Even if I were affected (which I'm not, but if I were) I'd be fine financially, but I know that is very far from true for a large number of people who aren't as stable financially. There are going to be people who can't make rent and can't afford food (etc.), and the longer this goes on, the more of them there will be. And of course the stress and uncertainty in all of this are burdensome for many too.

[omitted]

Spiritual from the devil flak I suppose, and the sin nature. None of this is any different from what you've heard from me before; I don't think the prayer requests have really changed. So I guess just pray that I keep on with it.

Yours in Christ,
Response #14:
You're working hard, my friend. Could you work harder? Without breaking down? Maybe, but as I always say it's important to remember that we are in this for the long haul. We can't afford to allow imperfection (and we are all imperfect) keep us from plugging away, day by day. And when we do stumble, we get right back up and get right back to it (whatever it is the Lord has given us to do). I'm praying for you in these ministries you're doing. 

Thanks for the update and background about the shutdown. I'll be praying about that too. Glad to hear that you personally are not being too terribly put out.

Very grateful for your prayers too, my friend!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:
Thanks Bob,

I really felt I was faltering the last few days but you have given me some much needed perspective.

The truth is I have been getting a little 'weary of doing good' but you have helped me to be strengthened again. I don't know what happened the last few days or so.. I have really not felt myself, felt a bit disembodied and flat emotionally. I have noticed a few people in the past mentioning something about feeling 'spiritually dry'? Maybe it is something like that.

It's not always easy to be operating in the Spirit all the time when people are very fleshly around us and giving into sin without any fight at all. I think I was giving into sin and feeling sorry for myself as a carer rather than picking up my cross. I think I made it more about 'pleasing them' than pleasing Him at times. 

I have said this before Bob, I do struggle with the idea of suffering for doing good but because I do want to walk a good walk for the Lord, I do want to be able to do this and glorify Him. I have prayed more than once that I want to become a great believer but I know that will mean that I will have to grow so as to embrace suffering and rejoice knowing that suffering for good is what God wants me to do. I am working towards getting better at this. Thanks for encouraging me with this. I have rallied now thanks to what you have written. 

It was __'s funeral today. The church is the Parish church of St.Peters which is part of the church of England but after the Anglican tradition. I guess it was a kind of a mass indistinguishable from a Catholic mass. __ was surprised that Anglicans teach transubstantiation. They had communion but I didn't go up for it. I am not sure these days whether to go up for communion in these types of churches or not given what they teach, I am much happier having bread (crackers) and wine at home on Sundays and thanking the Lord that way. Sometimes it is confusing what to show other people in this regard. My neighbour who organised the funeral knows I am a Christian and said she understood why I pray privately and stay at home to study. She said she found the Vicar to be 'pompous'.

There are so few people who are even putative 'Christians' around that it feels sad to lose people who are old school/old guard traditionalists even if we are unsure of their true spiritual status. Even those who just nod to God once a week are now a dying breed in England. This country is drifting further and further away from the Lord each passing day. Posters for seances have sadly gone up around my town again.

I really appreciate you, your friendship and fellowship and prayers and that you are fighting alongside me! I really do hope that I have been some encouragement and fellowship towards you too.

[omitted]

You can share this one.

Your friend in Jesus,
Response #15:
I am glad to hear that you are handling this. I had no doubts. Here's something I wrote to another Ichthys correspondent recently:
We all have areas of particular testing that are more difficult for us personally. These are the areas the devil keeps on hitting (because of past success). It's a good lesson to learn that just because there is peace and quiet on that front today doesn't mean things won't blow up again tomorrow. We have to learn to expect the attacks and accept them in the right spirit and in the Spirit, trusting the Lord to bring us through.
Re: "I'd much rather be happy and joyful and following God's plan for today, whatever that is." Amen! As would we all. And we can have the peace of faith rest in spite of being under attack. The joy will return once we've won the victory and the assault is over (link).

As the Duke of Wellington is reported to have said about the battle of Waterloo (and as I'm fond of quoting), "They came on in the same old way, and we beat them in the same old way". It may be apocryphal but it's a good quote. And it's good advice for all believers who are getting attacked in the same places and ways as before (which happens to us all).

Re: the situation in your country. It's not as if it's all skittles and beer over here either. Everywhere one looks there are signs of the impending end. While we can get upset about the declines and disturbing trends, it's also an indication of better things ahead, and we can take comfort in that!
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."
Luke 21:29-31 NIV
On the prayer request, I'll say a prayer for this person but, honestly, from what you've written I think you need to stay far away (1Cor.5:9-13).

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #16:
Hi Dr L,

On here: https://ichthys.com/2B-Eschato.htm#The_Tribulation_Defined

You wrote "Trumpet #1: Vegetation Stricken: A third of the earth is scorched and a third of its grass and trees are burned up, but no human fatalities are mentioned."

But the verse says that it was all of the grass, along with and a third of the earth and a third of the trees, were burned, unless I misunderstood the verse? The NKJV has it as

"The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the [a]earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up." Rev 8:7

Anyway, take care,
PS: You also mention that the antichrist and false prophet will be allowed unprecedented miracles. Did you mean in the sense that the miracles have occurred before, just that it is unprecedented due to being from this one person/two people (one source, so to speak)? I don't see where the Bible says it would be unprecedented in an absolute sense. 
Response #16:
As to the grass, it does say "all" so that is how I translate it as well. However, "all" in the Bible does not always mean what our overly scrupulous use of the word in modern USA means.  I.e., "all" often means, "the great majority of" as opposed to "absolute completeness with metaphysical certainty".  We feel superior in our usage, but what is the difference between a child saying "I drank all my milk" if on the one hand he/she left half an ounce or on the other there are only drops and film left.  Either way it's not technically "all"; either way it's still by far most of it.  Just a different cultural perspective.  That's how I see this one as well (see the link).
Also, the results of this judgment are said to affect "a third of the earth", so I take that to mean that one third of the land mass of earth will be the focus of this judgment. Since John has just said "one third" twice, he doesn't need to repeat it again since the pattern is set.

On the miracles, they are unprecedented in that never before has the evil one been allowed to do such impressive ones and so many, so unprecedented in scope and scale. Even our Lord warned about this:

"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Matthew 24:24 NIV

We got through Monday! Wishing you a good week ahead.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #17:
Hi Dr L,

There's this weird dual thing going on internally. On the one hand, for a long time I've thought that when it comes to the Jews I'd rather be like David and Saul, and let myself be hurt than do the wrong move. Not that I am saying I am on David's level. But there's this weird secondary thing I've been experiencing. I do catch news and commentary and I do get a strong sense that if someone in the US does something that the pro-Israeli crowd doesn't like, they do tend to quickly get labelled antisemitic. And I can see how that would tick anyone off. And then there's a sense that so much of the time and energy and resources are being spent on this country far away (which from my normal POV bothers me less due to faith), but I can definitely understand how...like let's say it were Indonesia, people would get the point of having had enough of talking about Indonesia and what they need and spending all the resources and air time on them when those average citizens are suffering day to day. It's just all a mess.

[omitted]

I mean to say I am starting to feel conflicted inside. I do get the anger I see a lot of people starting to feel. As I write I think I need to read the Bible more, because my emotional closeness always protected me from any bad feeling to the Jews. But then I think, but the logic is either good or bad. But no you can't go wrong with reading the Bible. But do you think my thoughts (which are mild compared to others and are complaints others are having more and more) are, sinful, or something like that?

Thanks for your patience with me,.
P.s., I've had personal experience with similar dynamics if you couldn't tell. The insight I learned is to equally apply things. If it's such a tragedy for this person who has had a good life to lose a home, what does that mean for someone who never had a home? Please understand this comes from someone who lived in fear and pain and didn't know what love or good was for a long time, and I didn't even realize even that.
Response #17:
To disaggregate a bit, there's 1) the political issue; 2) the personal issue; 3) relating the two. 

The first thing I would say is that we have no control over what is happening in the middle east – or anywhere else for that matter. So while it is human to have opinions, getting emotionally attached to them is pointless since the only way to implement them is by devoting oneself to politics which for a Christian ought to be anathema (and it never works anyway). Reacting to other people's opinions on these subjects is only playing the devil's game. He likes to upset us with these sorts of things. If international relations are complicated, in the middle east they are ten times more so. No one knows all the facts, not even the players themselves, and of course it is God who is in control of history. If He allows His people to reap the consequences of hardness, that is between Him and them – and all others should stay out of the way or they will suffer their own consequences.

Drawing parallels between one's own life and historical situations might have some benefit if one gets it exactly right. However, it's always better to relate directly to the Lord. Scripture has abundant assurance, comfort, guidance and confirmation that we who have a higher hope and need not look to anyone or anything else but the Lord and His truth.

There's no question but that you've had a hard time of it in your life. But the result has been that you have been led to the Lord and to spiritual growth. So instead of facing eternal death as most human beings will, you are looking forward to eternal life and also to a good report before our Lord on that great day of days. Whatever we've suffered and endured in this life will be gone forever in the next.
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
And her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying."
Isaiah 65:17-19 NKJV
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #18:
Thank you Dr L!

There's a poem I read recently:

"I heard a wood-thrush in the dusk
Twirl three notes and make a star – 
My heart that walked with bitterness
Came back from very far.
Three shining notes were all he had,
And yet they made a starry call – 
I caught life back against my breast
And kissed it, scars and all."

It is just that God does give us good gifts all the time, almost like reminders of Him and His nature and the future.

Please take care of yourself,
Response #18:
You're very welcome.

How true it is. If we do just stop and "count our blessings" we are reminding of how much the Lord has done for us. Then if our hearts turn to salvation and all the eternal wonders to come, it makes the noise and churn of this temporary world seem less – as it is in fact. 

Another thing I like to do is to count up all the things that I dislike about this present world and keep in mind that they will ALL be gone in the next. They say only "death and taxes" are unavoidable, but in New Jerusalem, there will be neither (PTL!).
Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”
Revelation 7:15-17 NIV

" ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.

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