http://ichthys.com/ 
Eschatology Issues CLXXI

Question #1:
Hi Bob,

Just a note: I just finished my periodic read-through of 1st and 2nd Corinthians, and I have to agree with you. Your choice of Corinthians as opposed to Romans was wise. Corinthians addresses many things that seem to be corrupting us today where Romans doesn't. Not just homosexuality. It particularly addresses people preaching a different gospel -- which seems to be endemic today.

I recently read of a priest at a Church of Christ here in the US claiming Jesus was not the son of God. Then, another priest of the English Orthodox claimed that 1/3 of the Bible was in error and should be ripped out and replaced with a new gospel. Both women, BTW, which may or may not have had anything to do with it, but I can't ignore Paul's opinion on the subject. When my wife and I tried to find a church that taught the Bible, we could find none. In each, Catholic, Orthodox, protestant and multitude of Jewish sects, they preached doctrines that conflicted with the Bible. My wife found a mentor in Oklahoma who actually read the bible and it took me a while after to find you.

Now with the release of "UFO files" that claim the "aliens" are so much more advanced and the Christian leaders who have been briefed describe as frightening, I expect we'll have a new wave of heresy broadcast and uncounted people will believe it. This may not be the strong delusion Paul wrote about in 2 Thessalonians but it certainly qualifies. Now, I read that there is an AI Jesus you can consult for only $1.99/minute! 

I pray all is well with you and yours and your school year has gone well. You should be close to the end, I would guess, and you aren't having to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous administrators. Things are reasonably well here. My eczema is slowly improving in fits and starts, so I can't complain. Thank you for your prayers.

In our Lord Jesus,
Response #1:
Great to hear from you, my friend!

I did consider doing 2nd Corinthians. In Greek, it is, in my opinion, one of the more difficult epistles to figure out and to explain (that doesn't come through in the English unless one compares a number of versions and sometimes not even then; the end of the first chapter is in particular tough and almost universally mistranslated). But since 1) it seems as if one should do 1st Corinthians first, and 2) I don't know if I have the time to get through both, I decided on Colossians instead. I'm over half way done with chapter one, so I'll have that to add to the already posted introduction in the next month or so.

It's really sad how far the older "mainstream" churches have drifted from the truth. The so called evangelicals are related are not much better, just engaging in excess in different ways (new age nonsense not much different from Gnosticism). As I usually remark, this all helps to explain why ministries like Ichthys and Bible Academy are on the internet. I'd never have been able to hang in there with a denomination.
[p.s., special appeal to any and all who have felt the need to contribute to this ministry over the years but have been unable to do so (because it doesn't accept them): please consider blessing Bible Academy with your godly generosity.]
Re: UFOs. It's all part and parcel of the setup for what's coming, no doubt. People are willing to believe in aliens without the slightest tangible proof, but even though God's inimitable creation is all around them, they are unwilling to listen to Him. It's easy to see how people will be inclined to accept antichrist's representations about himself without much push-back. And all this is happening now before the removal of the Spirit's restraint (link).

In spite of the operation, in spite of having to chair personnel, in spite of the whole effort to get a "world languages major" (in which I am involved), and in spite of all other business and busy-ness, it came to an end (more or less). I got elected vice chair for next fall and I'm already having to deal with issues related thereto. Haven't made much progress on the research yet, but then it's still May (barely).

Hope you are doing well out there on the prairie, my friend. We're growing peppers this year (very rare one), in search of the perfect mole sauce.

Keeping up the prayers on this end – and thanks so much for yours!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Bob,

The alien business has my attention. This last time through the minor prophets, I finally realized that people were as evil then as they are today. In fact, I'm not sure things have ever been different. What is has been before, after all. The only thing noticeably different today is the alien nonsense. I'm curious what government and clergy will do with this "revelation?"

I'm sorry it took me so long to arrive at this. I'm a slow learner. I'm curious about the pepper you're growing and amazed you're making mole! Not a common condiment for midwesterners. Is chicken and mole enchiladas in your future? (I love those things:)

In our Lord,
Response #2:
Re: "I'm not sure things have ever been different". You'd have to go back to the garden of Eden.

Re: "The only thing noticeably different today is the alien nonsense". And even here it's a matter of semantics. What are daemons (lesser deities, dryads, nereids, etc., etc.), if not non-human actors from elsewhere? In either pagan representation of things or Gnostic fantasies, we have a case of super-beings who are not human but supposedly interacting with us. I suppose "aliens" are somewhat more scientific and less theological (to put things that way), but it all amounts to the same sort of "nonsense" as you correctly characterize it.

Re: the peppers and the mole. Reminds me of that old Steve Martin joke I'm fond of quoting. "How can you avoid paying taxes on a million dollars? First, get a million dollars . . . " We've planted seeds. We're still a long way from having a single pepper.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #3:
I never looked at that way, but demons are aliens. And I do believe they are demons if the pictures they are showing us are real (questionable) and not generated by Hollywood or AI (same thing I guess.)
Response #3:
I'm trying to think of an incident in scripture where demons were visible to the human eye. Elect angels many times do appear when they are bearing a message from God (and notably at the birth of Christ), but I don't think the demons are allowed at present to manifest themselves according to God's ground rules – not without risking being cast into the light-less Abyss (cf. Lk.8:31). What will happen during the Tribulation with the removal of Holy Spirit restraint we'll just have to wait and see (link).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #4:
Hi Bob,

An interesting thought and one I hadn't considered. I can't think of any, either. That demons could be thrown out and occupy humans were the relevant facts for me. If they are not allowed to show themselves as I suspect you correctly understand, that means the UFO/alien business is a hoax. 

Two things convince me it's manufactured propaganda. 1) 18 scientists working on UFO related projects have died of mysterious causes since the original announcement. 18 in related work in such a short time stretches credibility to the breaking point. And 2) some of these videos show instant acceleration which would kill any living flesh. After all, Hollywood has been manufacturing aliens for a generation. With AI, all they would need is a model or a Star Trek episode for training then they could manufacture their own inexpensively. If there other worlds, I think they would be mentioned in scripture.

In our Lord Jesus,
Response #4:
When it comes to something so improbable, personally I don't worry about finding reasons to disbelieve it. It's amazing how people will believe all manner of nonsense – lies – but resist the truth . . . even though the Holy Spirit is witnessing it to their heart of hearts. But that is free will . . . and hardness of heart. And it's the reason we're all down here: to use the image of God we have been given to choose for or against Him.

One other observation. It's very rare in human history for ANYONE to keep a secret. What are the odds of a whole bunch of people keeping a secret? That's one reason why conspiracies are so much more common in literature and fantasy than in reality.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #5:
Hey Dr. Luginbill, 

Do you believe it's correct to say that James was speaking to both the rich and poor Jewish believers in his audience in James 4:13-17? When I study this, it just doesn't make much sense to restrict these words only to the rich because my impression was that some of the poor believers were reacting poorly to the trials they faced by seeking to evade persecution (from the rich) and the sufferings that came with being in the lower class of society. It seems this led some of them to take matters into their own hands, trying to control their own destinies rather than trusting the Lord to care for them throughout the process (regardless of whether it was His will for some of them to become wealthier). It wasn't the desire for wealth and the planning that was wrong, but the arrogant, boastful attitude behind it that lacked faith in and respect for God. Lack of faith and trust in the Lord, caused by fear, may have pushed some of these poor believers into desperation to escape their circumstances, testing which the Lord used for their good, but which some of them saw as a negative (instead of being joyful about it all, James 1:2). 

With that said, do you think it is probable that these words in verses 13-17 were also meant for the poor (for one of the reasons just given) as opposed to just the rich exclusively? As in, do you think these words apply to both in their own unique ways? 

How have you been lately? I've kept you in my prayers and will continue to pray. 

In Christ, 
Response #5:
I agree with you. James does have much to say about "the rich" and "favoritism" in his letter. But while one probably has to be of some means, not "dirt poor", to go on a trading trip. To do so it was not absolutely necessary in that day and age to be what we would call (and they would call) "rich". A fur trapper on the frontier might well say the same sort of thing – and they were not known for being wealthy. And I agree as well that this attitude – of taking things in one's own hands without recognizing that "our times are in His hands" (Ps.31:15) – is the problem. We all need Him absolutely. The more we are consciously relying on the Lord the better – because after all every good thing and every deliverance we have ever experienced come directly from Him.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 NIV
This perspective, of trusting the Lord completely, has always been critical to spiritual growth, progress and production, and will be doubly so during the Tribulation.
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
I'm doing well, but still recovering from "it all". Getting back to precisely where I was before surgery has turned out to be a bit tougher going with the last 10-20%. I'm glad it's summer and I have a bit more time for working on physical shape and also for rest.

Keeping you in my prayers too, my friend. How's the new situation at work?

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #6:
Please , please. My message was truthful. I'm just seeking assurance. Please answer me about the occult sin I committed. After that I will ask nothing more. Please I know your very busy .... Please assure me over my Occult involvement ... and then I truly hope I won't need any more to pester you . With love and gratitude in Christ. The church I'm currently attending is in the UK. So. Bob if God is so strict about adding any law or ceremony will he have mercy on my life of serial sin plus the Occult? As a young man I received a powerful baptism in the Holy Spirit while I was alone in prayer and at the same time God gave a word from Ezekiel. When the anointing lifted, I took a walk down the street near the church building. Then I saw coming down the street two young brothers. They asked me if I was free and told me God had sent them to speak into my life. We all entered the church building. One off the brothers saw a bible on the shelf. He said I “ I going to open that bible and God will speak to you . He opened it and said ….The Word of The Lord is …. Ezekiel 2. This was Saturday night. In church Sunday morning, ( before the meeting had commenced) the aged pastor just opened his mouth and spoke …. Ezekiel 2. Called by God and in just a few years how I fell. 

[omitted]

This may have shocked you. HAS GOD FORGIVEN ME OF THAT AWFUL SIN?

[omitted]

Thanks for your love and precious ministry Bob.

Please reply, my brother 
Response #6:
The world today is awash with new age teaching, cult organizations, and occult practitioners and practices. These are key elements of the devil's attempts to enslave unbelievers and neutralize believers. Of course all this stuff is sinful. And we have talked about sin in depth (please read Bible Basics 3B: Hamartiology: the biblical study of Sin; at the link). 

Scripture clearly states that we are forgiven when we turn away from sin and confess it to the Lord (see prior emails). Just because we feel more guilty about sin X than we do about sin Y means nothing to God. There is also sin Z we never even recognized as a sin. But one single sin would have been enough to condemn us . . . but for the blessed fact of our Savior died on the cross for ALL of our sins. 

The main thing about confession and repentance is to learn from our mistakes (divine discipline is helpful for that if we are having trouble giving something up). This was a long time ago for you. I strongly advise you take Paul's advice and "forget about what lies behind" (Phil.3:13) and get moving forward – something that is virtually impossible if we are fixated on guilt about past actions.
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Psalm 32:5 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
p.s., and remember, we confess our sins to the Lord (cf. Ps.51:4) – other people don't need to know (and in many cases "sharing" can undermine the faith of others).
Question #7:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

Apologies for not replying to this until now. I always appreciate your responses and they always help me see things that I didn't see before (even when I struggle to "get it" right away). I've been thinking about many things and my spiritual perspective seems to be ever changing (slowly) day by day (hopefully in the right direction...that's what I'm trying for, even though it's taking a minute). I think you have answered many of my big questions right now and I'm just having to sort out the best way to apply God's truth in my heart and life.

Many of the back dated email postings about things related to mental health, suffering, guilt, etc. have been very helpful and comforting (I like to save screenshots on my phone of paragraphs, quotes, and Bible verses I want to remember).

I did want to ask you about Psalm 56:8. I'm comparing English translations and wonder what the best one is?

My NIV Rainbow Study Bible (which is the 1984 version) reads like this:

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll - are they not in your record? - Psalm 56:8 NIV 

And some others I looked at:

You have taken account of my miseries; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? - Psalm 56:8 NASB 

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? - Psalm 56:8 ESV 

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? - Psalm 56:8 NKJV 

What is the meaning of this verse? Is it primarily conveying that God sees our sorrow and suffering, and is not just ignoring us and our situations? Are the bottle and book just poetic ways of expressing concepts or are they actual physical objects?

Hope you are doing well and that the semester has/is wrapping up well!

In Christ,
Response #7:
It's always a pleasure.

Re: book or bottle? It's "bottle", literally, "wine skin". It seems that the next clause, "are they not in your book?" has influenced translators to level out the imagery (unnecessarily). 

Re: "Is it primarily conveying that God sees our sorrow and suffering, and is not just ignoring us and our situations?" That's right. David is reminding us that God keeps a record of everything we have suffered and he is personally asking God for comfort and "action" as a result (cf. Ps.25:18: "Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins"). This sort of expression will be common enough for us all (if it's not already) once things heat up during the Tribulation:
They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Revelation 6:10 NIV
Done with classes! Doing admin tasks that have fallen by the wayside now for many months. Getting into research mode soon (I say that every May, LOL).

Hope you are doing well!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #8:
Hi Dr. Luginbill,

Re: book or bottle? I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean. Do you mean that only the word "bottle" (wine skin) occurs in the text, or do both "bottle" and "book" occur? And is it just imagery or is there a physical bottle with literal tears somewhere?

Thanks as always for your time! I hope admin tasks and research go well!

In Christ,
Response #8:
Both words are present but some translations ignore the "tears in the bottle" image and homogenize the imagery into one that is completely about writing. So . . . 
Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll - are they not in
your record? - Psalm 56:8 NIV 

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? - Psalm 56:8 ESV
To put it succinctly, ESV is correct; NIV has taken unnecessary liberty with the text (it's "bottle" in the Hebrew in the first half of the verse; "book" only in the second.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #9:
Good morning sir,

Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5. These are the verses where Jesus says that "the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

I've just had the thought - do these verses go along with the fact that the Millennium is the sabbath of world history and that Christ is the Lord of that age?

Is there any further spiritual application of the disciples picking the heads of grain relating to the believers added to the Church during that age? This is another thought I've just had and I'm not so sure if it's correct. I think the main point there is mostly about the actual Sabbath and understanding its proper role.

Thanks you as always,

SR is a great study, thank you.
Response #9:
Good to hear from you! Thanks for the kind words.

Re: "do these verses go along with the fact that the Millennium is the sabbath of world history and that Christ is the Lord of that age?" They are certainly not inconsistent with it. Luke 6:5 actually says, "The Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath". In other words, Jesus Christ is Lord of all and of all things. The fact that it was the Sabbath did not curtail His authority in any way so as to prevent Him from doing whatever it was He saw it as right to do – despite His detractors.

Jesus is Lord of the Church, and this is Age of the Church. He will rule during the Millennium, and He is waiting at the Father's right hand at present until that blessed day arrives.

Interesting observation about the disciples. One could certainly make the application that even on the Sabbath if we have work to do for the Lord, it should be done, regardless of legalistic sensibilities. 

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #10:
Dr. Luginbill,

As you know, we have been studying your "Coming Tribulation" series as a family. We are currently in part five discussing how believers can leave Mystery Babylon. You write, "Isaiah 43:14 describing the later flight from Babylon of unbelieving fugitives at least suggests that travel by sea at this time will also be the likely means of transport (although Is.21:6 indicates that a variety of transport is possible)." I can't see how Isaiah 21:6 indicates that a variety of transport is possible. Perhaps verses 7-9 which tell the watchman to look for chariots, camels, and donkeys could indicate a variety of transport. Could you help us understand this?
Response #10:
That there will be a command to "flee Babylon!" is clear (link). The practical question for believers who receive it will be "how?" That is what I have tried to address in the section you reference. Clearly, at the time of writing of the scriptures, there was no USA, so any commentary on the "how?" has to be speculative. I took the fact that Is.43:14 suggests that there will still be seaborne transport in/from Babylon as a likely means to be available during the Tribulation. Even if technology is set back millennia (doubtful in my estimation), there will still ships, even if sail-powered. The other passage (Is.21:6) is also about the destruction of historical Babylon (which gives us the pattern for Mystery Babylon); there the flight of refugees is via ground transport of various types (as you notice). This indicates to me that there may be other means of exit available since here we are given a list of several possibilities. What this will entail exactly (plane travel?), we cannot know before the time. 

So, yes, this is (necessarily) speculative. But what we can say for sure is that when our Lord gives us a command to flee, He's not going to leave us in the lurch without any means to do so or any idea how to go about it. There will no doubt be many supernatural events during the Tribulation. Scripture tells us of many of them; we should be confident that while a lot of these are potentially terrifying (to unbelievers), there will also be many instances of the Lord providing for us in all manner of supernatural ways to which we are not privy ahead of time.
Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
1st Kings 19:5-8 NKJV

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Acts 8:39-40 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #11:
 Hi Bob,

How is your week progressing? Hope that email/website server problem is all sorted now?

I am gingerly going forward and firing on all cylinders (a little haphazardly and a little gingerly but it's happening!) The sadness of my family drifts into my heart and back again like the tide but then it is firmly replaced and overcome by my love and trust in the Lord which I feel is stronger again!

Just studying and working on the labels for Ecclesiology and I find it so relevant the section on Israel's hardness of heart in rejection of a suffering Messiah. I really feel my Catholic family either are bewildered or stumble over the crucifixion. It's there in central place in all of their churches but they don't seem to really understand it at all. As a person raised in the Catholic church and went to two Catholic schools...the Jesus of the Papacy is NOT the Jesus Christ we know and love as our Lord and Saviour. They seem to believe in a Jesus that hasn't had the victory.

I know you have said before that the RC's rituals and mysticism seem to be a continuation of Jewish legalism and mysticism. What I have realised with this study is that my family is really caught up with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of life (like most others). Also they don't understand suffering and the important role it plays in the plan of God. They assume that if someone is successful in a worldly sense then they are a 'good person' whereas they see suffering as always a punishment for someone who is a 'bad person'. Funnily enough this is exactly how Hindus see the world and is the basis of the Darwinian theory of evolutionary adaptation and 'survival of the fittest'.

They have no concept of undeserved suffering so they struggle to understand why Jesus suffered at all it seems. Whenever they do embrace suffering it is this blasphemous idea that their suffering can be added to what the Lord accomplished on the cross. They believe they shouldn't suffer but have worldly success but when they do suffer it is for self righteous display and self promotion. It is always self, self, self.

I don't believe they are alone in all this as I see that a lot of Catholics are like this. These are not incidental randomly bizarre views but there is a definite spiritual deception pushing all of these competing and contradictory lies together and forward. They are not the only Catholics I know who balance greed and covetousness with a strange mystical self reverence through indulgent self abasing piety. I guess this is just the old monastic asceticism in action. They indulge for a while and then they do 'works' to make up for it.

It's really strange as they seem to compartmentalise everything and nothing connects together. It amounts to a sort of superstitious fear that they can ignore when they focus on money and status (greed/covetousness). They claim to be Christian and also left wing socialists and they say they care about people who are poor etc but the truth is that when faced with people suffering, unless they have the 'praise of men' then they just walk away and look down on people who suffer.

This is the most painful part for me currently..they see I have little in terms of earthly things and they look down on me because of it. They have no idea of spiritual riches and they have sadly mocked me when I have talked about them.

I just think pride drives it all. All the branches of my blood relatives seem to have this overriding pride in themselves. __ has often told me how shocked he is that they have no empathy, compassion or humility at all. I wonder how such people could ever carry their cross and be a suffering servant like our Lord. Maybe they will only leave it to the very last minute to turn to the Lord but of course that will mean no reward. It seems so many seek to 'hedge their bets' in this way.

Their beliefs are kind of a messy hodge podge that a person can seem to afford to indulge in when times are good but we will see how they stand under the fierce heat of the Tribulation proper.

It's strange that despite the fact that I have been brought up inside this hypocrisy, I have always rejected it and gone a different path than the rest of them which thankfully eventually led me to the Lord.

I know that the enemy has weaponised them against me but I do forgive them and I do actually love and pray for them...I am in a MUCH better place over it than before but it still stings but I have peace over that too.

I am not trying to belittle them with this email or be mean but trying to get my head around the way they think and react to things but maybe it is the nonsensical mixture of sin, false teaching and general spiritual deception that we were all mired up in once but are now happily saved from forever! Amen! 

Your friend in Jesus,
Response #11:
There's been a glitch with the insurance because of a new KY law that changes the way that totaled vehicles have to be appraised. It just came in last month and my company, usually excellent, messed it up, apparently. Hoping they don't try to shortchange me. Also, I'm very much snowed under with vice chair duties (hours on it today when I was supposed to get some rest) and it just keeps coming while I'm still fatigued a bit beat up from the wreck. At least tomorrow is Friday!

In terms of the server situation, as I mentioned, they claim to have fixed it . . . and your message made it through the first time (right?).

Very nice analysis of the RC view. I think there are plenty of Protestants who aren't much better off. In any case, this failure to see Christ in Christianity will be the wedge that the beast uses to insert himself and to co-opt putatively Christian groups throughout the world. They already seem ripe for the picking for the most part. See the link for links on antichrist's religion.

Keeping you the situation in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #12:
Hi Dr. Luginbill, 

Thank you for your tremendous work on Ichthys. I've been reading since 2015 and especially enjoy your Eschatology Issues emails. I noticed this week you said:

"It is very interesting. Personally, if I had to guess based upon current events, I'd be mighty skeptical of a fall start. I know things are in turmoil over in the Mideast and plenty "nutty", as you put it, over here. Also, tech is doing some very scary things. But AI isn't ready to take over the world yet. I asked it for some bibliography on Themistocles and it cited me a book with a title, author (actual Greek historian), press and date – but the book didn't exist! When I "called it out", it apologized and said it was "hallucinating", LOL! And as bad as things are in Middle East, I don't see any pan-Islamic movement brewing up at the moment (quite the opposite in fact). And I also don't see any religious/political movement with the power and charisma necessary to propel an antichrist to world domination."

I know there is a delay between when the email is answered and when it is posted on the site. However, I thought you might find it interesting that Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan just signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The "pan-Islamic movement" you describe does appear to be forming just on time. Furthermore, the United States surpassing $40 trillion in debt is quite revealing given the biblical significance of the number 40. It certainly seems like the necessary conditions are being established for a new digital financial system on a unified ledger. However, I think the most striking piece of confirmation we have at the moment is the drying Euphrates forming the Greek Omega symbol. The Alpha and the Omega is signaling the end from where it all began. I've always thought your timeline was accurate, and the blood moon on Purim this year would be especially fitting if a commencement does end up occurring during the Fall festivals. Thanks again for all your work. 

Your brother in Christ, 
Response #12:
Good to hear from you, my friend.

Thanks for the info re: the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement". I had heard something about this but not the details. It might be a start. Everything has to start somewhere. As I say, even without a start before the Tribulation, because of the rapidity of events during that seven years and because of the removal of the Holy Spirit's restraining ministry (link), everything prophesied will happen, even if it has to arise seemingly out of nowhere.

As I've told others and posted frequently, I'm not as sanguine that the digitalization of currency and other transactions is any more meaningful for our purposes than are the other technological "advances" (for want of a better word) we are presently witnessing. Put it all together and it is an argument for "how can this go on much longer in this way!?" But that is not definitive. To draw an analogy, there have been plenty of occasions when patients were so sick that no one would believe that they could survive until the morning . . . yet they lived on for many years thereafter even in their declining state. That could be the case with the world today as well.

I'm less convinced by the report about the Euphrates or the upcoming "blood moon". That is because the reference to the former has to do with Armageddon, so it will happen very late in the seven years; while the references to the latter (i.e., Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12) likewise are not precursors to the Tribulation but to the Lord's return at the end of the Tribulation. There is also the point that what we (astronomers) call a "blood moon" is probably not at all what is being described in scripture.

We will know soon enough! So we all need to continue to keep our powder dry . . . and keep preparing.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Bob,

Thanks in advance updating my prayer request!

Here is the exact wording from the lost email receipt attached.

I am sorry that you are going through a rough patch too. Do get your rest and don't go short on it. I have been working hard on building up a study momentum for a few days but with my health symptoms and personal struggles on top, I hit a wall with it today and had to give into bed rest all day.

Don't be worried if you do have to take extra rest now and again. I am so guilty in the past of having 'boom and bust episodes' (flogging myself unreasonably on some days only to flop with exhaustion on others) that I should know by now that slow and steady wins the race.

It may be that the thought of the Tribulation starting any minute now, may make us both want to crank it up a few gears but we have both been through significant crises/personal tribulations ourselves, the kind that regular people either collapse from and go into convalescence over or talk about whilst stunned for years and years to come.

It's true that we both have the Holy Spirit and we can carry on 'even when youths grow tired' but there are so many parts of this walk we need to balance out first before we go full steam ahead, I haven't found it yet so I am speaking more to myself here.

Our walk is a mix of growing, being tested, being refined, waiting, producing, studying, meditating, fighting and resting in the Lord!

Remember what Paul found out, that God's grace is sufficient! Whenever we feel we are floundering and getting weary we know that we can boast in our tiredness, weaknesses and infirmities because

The Lord said : (2 Cor 12:9-10)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

I have been here before, whenever I get frustrated on a particular day that I haven't accomplished my spiritual/life goals that day, instead I can take a quiet moment to reflect on the Lord, to pray to Him and meditate on all I have already studied and understood about Him and I can take in the view from the rocky mountain of Zion that I am still scaling up towards the finish line and see all the parts of the journey the Lord has already guided, helped and at times, airlifted me through and upwards.

I once said to you that I didn't dare look back on my ascent to the top as it made me wobble with trepidation that I had made it all this way by faith alone! But now, maybe because I am more mature and I know that I won't fall down just by looking where I am on this journey..indeed it does still take my breath away, the dizzy heights! But now I can genuinely take pleasure and be struck by awe of how far the Lord has brought me up Mount Zion ever since I took those first initial tentative baby steps.

Everything is His and belongs to Him after all and all for His glory. He knew every step we would take and when and He is there for every one of them. He has been there for me when the weather changed, when I slid down a ridge, when I was frightened when night came or lost confidence of climbing any further. He has been there for all of that and is willing and able to be there for the whole world if they are willing too!

It is true that we are not to be idle and the Lord wants a crop from us all but I found that I produce better when I make good use of those moments when I can't push forward the way I wanted and I have to wait a little, the time is not wasted if I spend those moments marvelling at where the Lord has taken me and praising Him for it and glorifying Him. I can then look up and carry on climbing with renewed hope, joy and strength encouraged in my heart to know He will help me up higher and higher no matter what.

It's good to remember that we are not earning our salvation here and it is not a needles and pins salvation but a sure one as long as our faith is sure. The Lord said 'It is finished' and indeed it is! What we are doing now though is proving and improving our faith and accumulating rewards that glorify the Lord whilst helping our brethren to grow and climb to the finishing line also.

Before writing this, I was letting my emotions determine the way I felt about my walk but really it is all about faith and knowing the Lord is true and can be 110% trusted and relied upon and that's all that matters. It really is all about Him because we are His servants. Writing this has ministered to me so thanks for the opportunity! Iron sharpens iron!

Hope this ministers to you too my friend!

Hebrews 10:35-37
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

You know Bob, I am going to try to consider it all joy, whether the Tribulation starts in a month or two or we have another seven years to wait. When you first said that it may be another seven years, unlike the 'pre-trib rapture' people.. I felt discouraged for other reasons (for the longer wait) but now I have rallied and accepted it! Whether it is to be very soon or a few years longer, I will try my best to keep fighting on with joy whether it is labouring in the fields with strength or singing hymns of praise in times of weakness.

I know that Enoch was taken away (translated) because he pleased God (Genesis 5:24/Hebrews 11:5). No doubt Enoch loved and trusted and served God no matter what (and trusted in his promised redeemer) and that his faith was strong and unwavering and that really is what it is all about and also encouraging others to be the same in their faith no matter what befalls them.
Amen!

Hope your week improves!
Praying for you daily! 

Your friend in Jesus,
Response #13:
Prayer update posted.

Thanks for sending the email delivery failure notice info. It was very helpful. I forwarded the error info to my hosting company and they were able to determine the problem and claim to have fixed it. So do let me know if this ever happens again. Apparently, Gmail and Yahoo mail were not sure about Ichthys so they wouldn't allow messages to reach me in the first place. This sort of thing happened years back too with other services, and there was a fix, but it needed to be updated for these two. I think part of the issue is that my hosting company was bought out by the number one domain name assigning company and they have been conducting a bumpy transition and consolidation of the last year or so. Yesterday I had trouble uploaded some things to the website because they changed the FTP parameters . . . without informing me ahead of time.

Yes, a tough time here but things went better with my teaching yesterday. I'm starting to feel a little better after the wreck. Lots of hiccups with the rehab of our building, but I finally have the right computer (turns out neither of the other two were the right ones) and managed to get it mostly set up now – although I was there a few extra hours today to get to it all. But I'm caught up for the moment, so that's all to the good. Looking forward to "end of watch" tomorrow since I don't have anything on the calendar for Thursday and plan to take full advantage of the small respite before the storm breaks full out.

Thanks for the encouraging email! It does minister to me and I know it will to others as well, my friend.

Keeping you in my daily prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #14:
Dear Teacher,
Something for you to look at and maybe post?
Your student in Jesus,
On Worrying About the Date Of The Tribulation

45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Matthew 24:45-46 (NKJV)
The knowledge of the time of the start of the Tribulation is not meant for the disruption of our lives or for dereliction of duty in any way. It is only to encourage those who are awake to double down on their efforts to finish their duties in preparation for the return of their Master because the start of the Tribulation is nothing more than a seven-year countdown to our God's return.
We are not called to disrupt our lives, make unusual choices, or essentially enter some kind of panicked or waiting mode, paralyzed by ignorance of the details of the unfolding of the Tribulation or by fear of the upheavals that the period appears to promise. Rather, we are called to be even more disciplined and more focused than we have ever been to complete our duties or at least to be found in the middle of our duties when our Master returns.
The Tribulation is still part of human history even if it is the darkest part of the night. Regardless of the spiritual changes that will occur, life will still largely carry on as it always did. For one thing, we will still need to earn a living as we always have. Even when the economy will be designed to lock out believers, for example, the Bible is clear that believers will still be engaged in economic activity at the moment of our Lord's return three years after the most horrible and pervasive persecution of believers in all of history begins. As long too as there are believers of the Church Age in this world, spiritual ministry will persist. Family life will continue too. People will still travel as well.
There is a reason for this. Barring the total destruction of the human race, there is no possibility of erasing human life in all of its expressions. This is what God has ordained that Satan simply cannot change. Economic activity is, by definition, a corporate affair. No one can do everything that is required to sustain human life, so people must trade their skills and productions with each other for the human race to survive, and the drive to survive is very high in human beings even and sometimes particularly during times of great upheaval (which fact explains why Jesus says that in these terrible times, people will still be marrying, giving in marriage, eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building (Matthew 24:37-42; Luke 17:26-37), that is, people will carry on as they always have). While unbelievers will do this as if there is nothing particularly special about the period we will be living through and while things will indeed change in some significant ways (a one-world government and government-enforced mixing of populations for two examples), we will do the same recognizing that our God is about to return and it is okay if we can no longer expect certain things for ourselves that human beings have always taken for granted (for example, our freedom as citizens who are not guilty of some crime).
The Lord did not give us the book of Revelation or knowledge of the Tribulation to weaken our hands and make our feet unsure. Quite the opposite: it is to strengthen us, to encourage us, to prepare us for the final battle before we come into the eternal presence of our King. We have a right to use it as such. We have a right to use every bit of information provided in the Bible to strengthen ourselves for our fight in this world. Knowing that the Tribulation could kick off in a matter of weeks is not cause for confusion and paralysis, but rather the opposite. Everything that Satan could possibly throw at us is well known to us. Everything that he will do is well known to us. His limitations are well known to us. We are an elite unit of soldiers who know everything about the enemies' plans, resources, and hard limitations. That is an incredibly fortunate position to be in. That should make us much more encouraged in our own planning and execution. The enemy may be formidable, but we are in the Omnipotent God's camp, so what does his power mean more than an opportunity to show the unequaled power of our God? 
Since not even Satan — despite all his power — can change how human life works, continuing with a plan to provide adequately for ourselves and our dependents, to set up and maintain our spiritual services to the Church, to pursue an expanding knowledge of Jesus Christ, to take up meaningful positions in our local communities for the Lord, and otherwise conduct a life that is pleasing to the Lord and a blessing to everyone who chooses to be blessed by it is the right way to go.
There is nothing to fear. Like Hananiah, Azariah, and Michael, we know that only what God Himself has ordained will be. We are not at this world's, the Antichrist's, or Satan's mercy any more than our Lord was at the Jews' and the Romans' when He was crucified. Just like what power they had over Him was given to them from above, so also any power that this world and its rulers may exert over us comes from above. They cannot do more to us than our God Himself has commanded…and that for our own temporal and eternal good. They cannot even do less if they wanted because they are tools of His pleasure: everything that they will do was decreed before ever God created anything. Just like the Son of Man was never not going to be betrayed, and the issue was only who would want to do it, so also, we, the Church, must be tested and prepared through the fires of the Tribulation to receive our Husband, and only who is willing to be the tool for that is in question (but not to the Lord God). We will be tested but not destroyed. Those who will be used to test us will be destroyed. They have far much more to fear from the Tribulation than we do.
Therefore, we have every right to be encouraged to carry on with our lives without disruption and fear or paralysis because the Tribulation is for us not against us. All believers would be wise to carry on with life as if nothing important has changed because we should have always conducted ourselves as if our Lord was due to return at any time anyway.
[here is a link to all of our friend's postings]
Response #14:
This is wonderful!

Indeed, it's true:
Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
John 19:11 NKJV
I will be posting sooner rather than later.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:
Hello Dr. Bob, 

I've had some issue I cannot figure out with my normal yahoo email account. I've tried a handful of times over the past month or two to see if I could email you, but always getting failure notices. 

It just occurred to me to try my Gmail, which I never really use, but do have an account. 

Anyways, I hope this arrives! 

One question I've been trying to ask is regarding the 7 churches. When I read through what you wrote in CT about each church, and eventually the infiltration comes into the church more and more until the reformation, you don't specifically say it but I'm thinking it sure sounds like specifically the RCC is THE problem? Perhaps the orthodox type religions as well? I guess I'm curious how much of the downhill slide of the church is credited to the RCC in the letters to the churches. 

I hope you are doing well. 

In our good Lord, 
(from northern MI) 
Response #15:
Wow! Sorry to hear that you've had trouble getting through. You're the third person to tell me that this month. I'm not sure whether it's coincidence or there is something else going on. Sometimes my server seems to be inaccessible but they usually get that fixed pretty quick. However, if your email is trying to get to it when we're in a blackout, it'll probably bounce back. The other two were Gmail accounts and I've never had issues with that service before. If you ever don't hear from me within a day or two, it's likely I didn't get the message for whatever reason, so it's worth sending a "did you get it?" mail. [note: seems to be fixed; see prior Q/As]

Re: the infiltration of the Church, historically, yes, in Europe, that was the main source of the problem. However, the REAL problem is the evil one. He has no qualms about using any person or organization that can further his cause. During the Tribulation, it is likely that antichrist's religion, a sham version of Christianity that also incorporates all other religions (all except ACTUAL Christianity), will make use of virtually every organized religious group in the world. Here's a link to the main links on that.

I'm doing much better since the accident, thank you! The Lord got me through last week in spite of everything and I got some good rest this weekend. So I should be "good to go" this week . . . and long as I don't overdo it.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #16:
Hello,

I hope you are doing well and that you are enjoying the summer break from your classes.

Thank you for the encouraging reply, and yes, feel free to post it. I appreciate the opportunity to converse with you.

__ made it safely to Cambodia. He landed in Phnom Penh, went to a Calvary Chapel church service (he said the message was on the first part of Colossians 1), and then got on a 6 hour bus ride to Siem Reap where he will plan on spending his first week, Lord willing. I'm very thankful he is so willing to communicate with us and tell us about his adventures and send some pictures. We've been praying for him and his safe return.

I suppose my next topics would be "church", personal ministry, and just daily life. It's hard to take one's entire life and convey things to others in a piece of writing or a 15 minute phone call. Each person has a lifetime of history, experiences, teaching, understanding, background. So, we'll see how this goes.

Some back history (bullet points / highlights) -

My parents, myself and my brother, my in-laws, my husband and his siblings attended an Assemblies of God church. I have been blessed to have parents and in-laws that have a heart for the Lord and point their children and grand-children to Christ.

My dad started seriously reading the Bible in his 30's. During one of his Sunday School lessons, he told the class if you're happy with your church, then don't read your Bible. His point was that the more you actually read the Bible, the more you see that not all "church" doctrines/tenants/etc. line up with what God's word really teaches. So, over the years, we've sought to have our belief/views/understanding line up with what the Bible actually teaches.

We home-churched several years in which we read through a book of the Bible at a time. Had discussions, Paul and I would see what your site had to say on particular matters, and we also would realize when we weren't really sure of what a passage was saying. All of our hearts have been wanting to really know the truth and not make stuff up. But, we can only understand so much on our own.

[omitted] . . and I started attending [this church]. They say they are non-denominational, anyway...

--- I realize there is a lack of good, substantive, teaching through the whole word of God. If a person is too tied to their church and it's doctrines/teachings, they run the risk of not seeing what God's word really says.

--- I find myself listening to a message and have the following thoughts at different times -

a. this point is thought provoking. I need to examine myself, pray about it, go back to the word of God on it, etc.
b. I think I know what's trying to be said, but it could be worded differently
c. this point is just off or just speculation
d. why am I here

-------------

1. I am benefitting more (spiritual growth wise) from reading through your series and emails. I do get some good reminders through the messages at times, and I am enjoying some fellowship I have. But, sometimes it can seem a little pointless to go and sit for an hour and then go home. What I truly desire in a group of believers seems to be lacking. We should all be growing, encouraging one another, sharing what God is doing in our lives and teaching us, and getting deeper into the Word. I need to be consistently doing that more and more myself.

2. Although, I do believe we need to be having good, solid, teaching (which few churches have), if true believers don't attend a local church (I am NOT saying to be a good Christian you have to find and plug into a local church), how are we to use our spiritual gifts, have a personal ministry, be a blessing and a help to our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord?

3. My days/weeks are spent as follows - 2 very flexible part-time jobs, keeping up on household matters, visiting friends and family from time-to-time, interacting with my children between their jobs / responsibilities / pursuits. I don't have my husband to do things with anymore (happy he is with God, a little sad for me at times), reading my Bible and your studies, and engaging in (let's be honest) some time wasting activities.

4. I don't know if I know what my personal ministry is, and even if I did, how would I go about engaging in it if I drop out of "church" and don't "see people" (slight exaggeration here)? And yet, I'm not really connecting with others outside of those few I've mentioned anyway. I'm sure if a person got involved with different programs/things at that church, then by default you would be spending more time with those that are also involved in that. I just don't have an interest or feel called to anything like that. Plus, I don't believe every point this church does so I couldn't get behind certain things.

5. With my kids being grown, I'm finding myself feeling a little lost at times and wondering what God has for me now. What does He want me to be spending my time on outside of the daily responsibilities? How am I to be interacting with others?

6. What more can we be doing to prepare for the coming tribulation?

I think this is getting long enough, so I'll stop here. Sorry if this seems all over the map.

Thanks,
Response #16:
My pleasure.

Good news about __! I'll say a prayer for his safe return too.

Re: "if you're happy with your church, then don't read your Bible". Love that! That is the RC church's position, only they mean it seriously and not ironically.

I also love your a/b/c/d autopsy of "going to church". It much resembles mine and that of many other believers I've communicated with over the years who since got serious about having a closer relationship with the Lord through the truth. The only thing left out was the "nausea" commonly experienced when "continuing to attend anyway" after reality has finally sunk in.

1) Re: "reminders". No one is saying that NOTHING good is ever said or observed in a sermon on Sunday at any given local church. The problem is that whatever good is said, a) it's generally not being said with authority (so is it true or not?); b) it's usually a case of one gold nugget in the mud (paraphrasing Jerome re: the Apocrypha); and c) there is so much else which is disturbing or outright wrong that sacrificing the valuable time and effort to get the little good becomes problematic, coupled of course with all of the other negative pulls that go along with being a regular at a church (more about that below). 

Your critique of the fellowship problem is also incisive. For those who argue for fellowship as a justification for church attendance/membership, it really does behoove them to demonstrate that such fellowship at their church is superior to the kind one would get from the VFW or "Red Hats" or Kiwanis or the local garden club, etc., etc. If there is not much of a spiritual element, then the question answers itself. And as your analysis implies, how could there be much of a spiritual element any place where the Word is not being taught in sufficient depth for the believers who attend to grow and so to be able to provide the kind of meaningful fellowship and encouragement we all love to have from genuinely mature believers? 

To close this point out by going back to "reminders", I have observed that genuinely mature believers who for whatever reason chance to attend a church service generally get a whole lot more out of it than do the regulars – because they are "adding in and adding on" truth they already know and believe and live by to whatever "good" gets mentioned, often creating "good" out of mediocre. But that's not something that can be sustained since, human beings that we are, we tend to drop to the lowest common denominator. A mediocre church will tend to reduce a mature believer to their level of mediocrity over time – if only said person can control the nausea long enough for the maturity to wear off.

2) Re: "if true believers don't attend a local church, how are we to use our spiritual gifts?". Assuming this to be a problem (it is in fact merely a challenge), the solution is not to dumb things down, and no mature believer worth their salt would ever be willing to do so anyway. So the way that usually works is that said believer will seek to "help" those in the church through the truth, sharing the truth, trying to get the various groups which might have any sort of teaching function to teach the truth, witnessing to the truth enthusiastically. This almost always results in one of two things: a) civil war (between the old guard a small group of believers who become convinced of the right way to do things); b) said believer is forced out (this is the much more common result). 

There are all manner of spiritual gift combinations. I have written a lot about this over the years (see the series of postings: Ministry and Preparation for Ministry [link is to the most recent one]; and see especially also the link: BB 5: Pneumatology). Suffice it to say here that no two believers have the same exact "cocktail" of talents, and all of us are called by the Lord to perform different individual ministries. These are not "cookie-cutter" named positions in a local church, as if "deacon, elder, pastor" were the only games in town. Not at all. So I can't tell any believer before the fact what their ministry is/will be. We are all given a lot of leeway from the Lord to "figure it out" on our own with the Spirit as we grow. I can tell you that the Lord uses prepared people and provides opportunities for those who are willing to respond. So if we commit to drawing closer to Him, as we grow, opportunities will arise and it will become clear to us over time what it is that the Lord wants us to do. That is my personal testimony (and I've heard it from most others who are doing one thing or another for the Church of Jesus Christ).

But if we try to put that all on a local church, even a good one (if such exists), then we are probably going to be limiting our potential. Everyone needs the truth, through teaching, encouragement, support of efforts to share the truth, reaching out to others, believers and unbelievers alike, etc. Within those broad strokes are infinite possibilities. Only the Lord knows what's best for us to do and He is more than able to lead us into the right path – if we trust Him and let Him. So while your "if" is a legitimate practical question, nothing is impossible for the Lord. But if we compromise where we should not, we shouldn't be surprised if our potential and production ends up being limited.

3) We are all fighting on multiple fronts at the same time. Most of us have jobs, homesteads, families, finances, health issues to attend to, all swimming in the sea of "the real world" which, while we cannot control it, can affect us. But the spiritual front is the most important. The more we invest there, the better in the long run in every way. The "trick", of course, is that we are not allowed to do poorly or give a poor witness on any of the other fronts. We have to continue to be good parents, good children, good siblings, good employees, good citizens, good stewards of whatever God has given us in terms of health and home and possessions, etc. The Lord will help us get the balance right without exhausting ourselves or shortchanging any important area of our lives – as long as we keep what's truly most important as our first priority: Jesus Christ, His truth and His Church. 

This is something we grow into and get better at over time, trusting Him to help us. In terms of "time-wasting", we all need some R&R, and the amount of this varies with individuals and individual situations. Somewhere between "completely goofing off" and "wearing ourselves ragged without any respite" is a sweet spot where we don't have to feel either ashamed or deprived.

4) Covered above in 1 and 2. Good diagnosis of the problem.

5) As suggested, if we put first things first, everything else falls into place. In terms of specifics, we trust the Lord to make these things clear. It can be an emotional process, but we learn not to pay our emotions too much heed. We strive to do day by day what we know is right, and then we can make good choices about specific paths we are led by the Spirit to take.

6) The only reliable preparation for the Tribulation is spiritual growth. Anything we do on the material/physical side of things has an uncertain future. Health carefully conserved can collapse. Money and possessions can be taken away. Relationships can crumble through no fault of our own. But truth in the heart is ours forever. And there is nothing better or more encouraging than close fellowship with the Lord. If we are being called upon to experience that difficult time, walking closely with Him every step of the way will be the one essential thing. That comes from what we have in our hearts, sufficient truth and the habit of deploying it at each and every step. Many are destined to fail the test. But with the Lord at our right hand, we will make it through.
And they will say on that day, "Behold! This is our God! We waited in hope for Him to deliver us. This is our Lord. We waited in hope for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His deliverance!"
Isaiah 25:9

(3) Strengthen the hands that are weak. Bolster the knees that are giving way. (4) Say to those with anxious hearts, "Be strong! Don't be afraid! Behold! Your God will come, as an Avenger. [Your] God will come, as a Rewarder. He will come, and He will deliver you".
Isaiah 35:3-4

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
Zephaniah 2:3 NIV

Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.
Isaiah 26:20 NIV

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:36 NIV
Keeping you and your family in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
http://ichthys.com/