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Eschatology Issues LXVII

Question #1:    
Hello Bob,

Your comments on Sh[ea]kinah being a mystical word started a train of thought for me that I hope you can correct if I'm wrong or off in the weeds again.

Mysticism and "special" words are a characteristic of the occult. Occult belief depends on the promise of gradually revealed "wisdom" until one reaches the highest level. (As a former member of the Rosicrucians, I'm well aware of the technique.) I see the same approach in widespread use today whether in commercial "churches," the COVID response in which if we believe long and hard enough we MAY be able to live a halfway normal life in another year or two, the magic vaccine/gene therapy, modern medicine and "passports" that prove we are "safe"/compliant or faith in either political party or prevailing Marxist philosophy to lead us to enlightenment and shangrila. I suspect this is the technique Satan has used since the beginning. We are not yet gods, but They will lead us there if we behave.

The rise of paganism in the world and millennia old practices like child sacrifice (now euphemistically called "a mother's right to choose",) the desire to consult gurus/sages and poobahs like Hollywood actors/human impersonators. government "scientists" and talking news heads seems to have over-ridden rational thinking. That talking heads have called for the elimination of one political party and the massive gun control push (which happened before in Germany with the episode in the Warsaw Ghetto) convinces me this is not all hyperbole. I believe this will be a major element of the Tribulation and an increasingly used technique promoting even the most diverse "products." I suppose the pressure on us who don't see things Their way will be under increasing persecution; we are the Juden of today.

Millennia old practices and beliefs seem to be ever increasing in intensity. But I don't know when in history this has ever been worldwide. We're being herded toward the final solution.

Bob, if I'm off in the weeds again, please straighten me out but everything I read in Scripture tells me this is bound to happen.

I pray all is well with you and yours.

In out Lord,
Response #1:
I'm sorry to say that you make a good deal of sense, my friend. Scientology is noted for this too, of course – and you have to PAY a great deal for those more advanced "secrets" (at least they have this down to a set of transactions with a price tag).

I was sure hoping for a time of respite before the big trouble started. It's looking less and less like that might be the case. 
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” ’ “Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”
Jeremiah 45:2-5 NKJV
When the foundations are crumbling, it's not really reasonable to expect peace and prosperity. Also, it may be – something none of us really wants to admit – that we who are positive to the truth are not yet ready for what's coming and really DO need a lot more tuning up first. Ouch.

Of course one thing that I find interesting which I'm at least able to see with more and more of a detached sense of calm: with the rapid rise of China and the precipitous decline of the US, it's becoming increasingly difficult to see the sort of "Babylon type dominance" emanating from this country which the descriptions of the Tribulation demand. 

Of course, a lot can happen in five and have years. Look what's happened in one and a half!

In Jesus Christ our Rock – the only hope and help we have . . . and the only help and hope we need.

Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Bob,

I was hoping you would point out flaws in my thinking where I was wrong or hyperbolic. I can reasonably well assure you that I'm not ready for the coming trouble even before the Tribulation. This whole business is shaping up far, far worse than I imagined just a short time ago. Psalms are a great comfort. I'll be spending a lot more time there.

The Lord has taken care of me so far. I don't imagine he'll suddenly stop though I do wonder what His test for me will be.

Stay well and safe, my friend. You and yours are in my prayers.

In Jesus,
Response #2:
I don't think ANY of us would claim to be "ready". As in prep for going to war in the military, you do your best to be as ready as you can be, and then, when the balloon goes up, you stand by for some rude surprises . . . and gut it out.

But God DOES always take care of us. And one thing I have noticed about all the scripture I'm reading lately – it all has a tad more meaning to me than ever before. Not that it didn't always have the same power; just that, well, I seem to be paying a little better attention. Guess that will be one of the up-sides of the Tribulation too. As I have had occasion to remark in the past, it is these "fiery furnace" moments when we experience the closest fellowship with Lord we love . . . provided we've been diligently walking with Him before they come on.

Thanks for those prayers! Sending them out to prairie from here as well.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #3:
Hello Bob,

Thank you for sharing this with me. I have had the same experience; I've read scripture many times but now understand much I never did before. Suddenly, the Bible seems written specifically for today. That tells me the Spirit is marshaling his forces and that the show is starting.

I think the war analogy is appropriate. I've heard the stories of stained shorts, wet pants and vomit. It never happened landing in Saigon or Tan So Nhut but on the first patrol when the bullets started crunching through the trees. I don't think anyone can be truly ready for the first time. I've also heard stories of survivors of the Berlin bombings during WWII. They were children at the time but the strength they had is unbelievable.

The Lord looks after his own.

Thank you for your prayers. You are in mine daily as well.

Yours in our Lord Jesus,
Response #3:
Thanks!

And thanks for those prayers.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #4:
Dear Professor 

Thank you for your kind words. Hope the "barn and horse" are in good order now.

One thing my tired brain let me forget to mention was that both of my sipping colleagues told me that we might not have to rely solely on the “Covid Safe App” too much longer as they say that facial and body movement recognition technology is already developed and then all business owners can relax (no sudden $50k fines) knowing everyone will be tracked by the cameras that owners will be required to install at each and every business premises. 

I hadn’t heard of the proposal to date but if so, what a “comfort” to know we can never get “lost” in the crowd ever. The “Covid Safe app” would probably remain as a nice little back up. Australians are quick to embrace new technology from wherever. I still do the scribble in registration - always been a bit behind the main crowd - this new technology will bring me up to date with the mob without me having to do anything!

Just this morning Human Rights is demanding more transparency of the Australian Government banning any and all of our citizens from leaving our country at the moment - so no opportunity to go to the Holy Land even now - and the Tribulation has not even begun. 

There was an interview down on our south coast the other day with one of your nicely off countrymen who is sailing around the world with his family in a yacht. He seems to have managed his own “borders” rather well. Might be the way to go (to the Holy Land) as long as you have an extremely large bank account and a handsome income from investments as he does. I am mindful of your aversion to sea travel so excuse me for bringing that one up.

With the roll out of vaccination many believe we can get back to normal soon BUT today the health reporter for ABC says probably not before this side of Christmas BUT we also don’t know if our vaccine is any good against the new variants, so no dancing in the street just yet - unless of course you are part of an unruly mob. Yourself would concede there are exceptions to every rule - even in language. Also we are taught that all people are equal BUT that some people are much more equal than others. 

Can we relax for a little while? Has there lately been a swell of people proclaiming “peace and security”? 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (we know sudden destruction will follow). Right now we are eating and drinking quite well despite the government restrictions so will it be ominous once that slogan becomes commonplace? The other point ___ was trying to make was “Where do you draw the line with the mark of the beast”? He won’t attend church because his church (and every church) now needs to comply with mandatory reporting of all participants. He considers this as the starting of the mark to culminate in the eventual full mark. “Where do you draw the line”? he asks. He has drawn his line already and refuses to get “permission from government” to worship at church. “Put God first and do not first get permission”, he says. We referred to the “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s; but that did not satisfy him. Matthew 22:31

I suppose it is soon going to get even more confusing for many believers. How far do we render to Caesar? ____ thinks we have gone too far already. What do you think of this idea of his that this is the beginning of taking the mark, sliding towards the full acceptance of the mark? Will be too hard to arrest one’s slide once you start, he says.

__ and I combined on this one to try to explain to him that no one has taken the mark yet and that those that do will take it in full knowledge of what they are doing. He was unconvinced. It saddened me to see how he seems to have aged so quickly in his separation from his usual flock [I remember going downhill mentally and emotionally when I first separated from the mormons (all of my friends)- even knowing that it was the correct thing to do]. In consideration of the co-opting of all religions that antichrist will do, perhaps it is not all bad news for those who drop out of formalised churches. Maybe a reach out to him from me might be in order.

Seems to be a combination of things with ____ and I am thinking what an awful affect it has had on him physically and the “gong” has not yet sounded to signal the start. We need the Spirit more than ever. Keeps reminding me that the Tribulation vision appalled Daniel. I am encouraged by Jesus words at Luke 21:36. Just now I clicked on your Home Page tab ‘Translations’ / Luke 21:36/ BB6A to get some more insight/encouragement so no need for me to ask you any questions about this scripture.

I will pray for those believers who are struggling even now. We all rely on God’s grace through His Son Jesus Christ.

Thank you for all you do in your Ministry. Keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior.

Your student and friend
Response #4:
It's perhaps overused but very applicable to your latest report: "You really can't make this stuff up!"

On the mark, while all of these developments are incredibly disturbing, there is "the mark" . . . and nothing else is "the mark". I have already allowed as how increasingly fascistic government pressures to make citizens do things they would normally never do – and doing so without any actual legal right except the opinion of those in power that it is "the right thing to do" without any convincing evidence or consent of the governed or legal process or consideration of actual legal rights – is certainly helping to condition people to do . . . whatever . . . in the future. But I am confident in myself, God helping me, and in my fellow believers who are taking pains to grow in Christ that 1) we aren't going to be deceived so as not to understand that the actual mark is the actual mark, and 2) we aren't going to be persuaded or intimidated or cajoled or tricked or forced into taking the actual mark – not even on pain of death. And this is all that really matters. Of course things are "going to the devil". Why are we surprised about that? It is distressing to watch, but on the other hand it also can be helpful in aiding us to detach from emotional involvement in this world. It is all dust, after all. But we have a higher hope.

Barn a bit leaky. Horse nowhere to be found. But that does cut down on the oats bill.

Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #5:
Dear Professor 

Good to see your bills are reducing. Oats for breakfast are rather inexpensive here, though I haven’t eaten them for ages.

More on the mark. (More confusion all round). Until I again picked up the phone last night and spoke with my childhood friend I had forgotten that he sees the mark as the replacement of the command to keep holy the true Saturday Sabbath being replaced by and mandated in law, to force people not to work on the fake Sunday Sabbath. He claims moves are afoot to pass this law in Europe where he also thinks the antichrist will arise from. Seventh Day Adventist Doug Batchelor tells his audience that they should not fear taking a chip or similar on/in their bodies as this is not the mark, the mark being some invisible thing in your mind. The confusion over this is likely to also appease others concerns about taking the mark when it is mandated for normal every day commerce. This will be despite the fact that people will know that by taking the mark they will be worshipping the devil. By this time rationalisation of survival will be more on people’s mind (the devil you know is better than an unseen hope). I could be a bit off the actuality here but from these examples I have witnessed, people are believing in falsehoods already concerning what the mark is and isn’t. It doesn’t go well for preparation when people believe all sorts of other stuff that is way off the truth already, for when the Blitzkreig hits won’t be the time for sorting out all sorts of false beliefs. The time to do so is now(and also preferably, many yesterdays ago). 

Have I mentioned that the job I now have was applied for by my now colleague - a JW (I didn’t know him at that time). He knocked back the job, which he would likely have got (he is a fair bit younger than me), because it didn’t pay much more than his driving job he had at the time, yet the offered job required much longer hours. His boss sold his business to my boss and forthwith dropped his wages a fair bit so now he thinks my job looks much more attractive. Things can and do change suddenly. God is good.

With scenarios being able to transform in an instant it is wise to learn as much truth to stay focused on Jesus. Thank you providing your Ministry for our benefit. It frustrates me that more do not avail themselves to your excellent writings. A hard slog to get others to indulge. I pilfer bits out to share with others - some of whom might find it a bit daunting especially those that don’t have as much grasp on language (says he who is a 50% er) and those with ingrained RC and other false doctrines deeply etched in their minds (thank you to your correspondent providing good information that I can use).

At night my wife has had some scares on her job so I have been missing bible study. Mostly it has been things like leaping from of the shadows and frightening the daily living lights out of her. So now they have got double the excitement in frightening me too! Fortnightly pension pay days booze sometimes add to the “excitement” for some of the other incidents to escalate. Police do their rounds and thankfully mostly things are reasonable except some of the youth still find great delight in giving out the loud fright. Fun for them but disconcerting for my wife.

I have 2 weeks break from tomorrow - Easter weekend and school holiday break. Time to get back to finishing the shed. 

All in all we are doing very well and are thankful to God for all of our blessings.

Keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior.

Your student and friend
Response #5:
Oats are cheap enough here too . . . except if you're buying enough for a horse. I only eat like one figuratively.

Yes, turns out that sheeple are a lot less difficult to manipulate and control nowadays than one would have hoped before it all hit the fan a year plus ago. Not made of the same stuff as our grandfathers were, it seems. All the more reasons for believers to be well prepared for what's coming. Scripture is very clear that everyone will turn on us. Now we see that this will not involve much of a change from what already is the status quo.

On the mark, as I often have occasion to say, despite the "confusion" out there in the semi-Christian ether, what the Bible says is very clear. And during the Tribulation, when the mark begins to be given at the mid-point, a seminal feature of the Great Tribulation, there really won't be any doubt about "who?" is antichrist – so that there won't be any doubt about what his mark is either. What the Bible has to say about that is a fail-safe litmus test to take away any vestige of any claim of ignorance: NO ONE will take the mark by mistake. So we need not worry about that. Our job is to continue to prepare so as to be ready to fight the no doubt very difficult fight the Lord has given us to fight when that day comes.

Sorry about your wife's situation. I promise to say a prayer for her.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #6:
P.s. Just wanted to add..Again not to say this to be pessimistic but I think things have changed for the foreseeable future pretty much permanently.

Everyone around me (mainly unbelievers) keeps talking about things returning to a Pre-Covid time like in 2019 as if it was a pre-fall Edenic paradise before! This is where most people's hopes lie and they think that their ticket to this "paradise" is the vaccine. I have even heard people refer to the vaccine woefully as our "saviour".

On the news they keep saying that this is our "new normal" and that masks will be around for a long time yet and that the next big pandemic is round the corner. Seeing as we're only a few years off the start of tribulation, I don't want to think like other people do. My hope is in Jesus Christ ONLY. I found life very difficult if not at times impossible PRE-COVID. Of course I am at times really ground down by the loss of freedom of movement and freedom of "free will" itself we all now suffer. The biggest heartbreak is not being able to hug or kiss my sister now for over a year. I'd be willing to risk it but she won't. ___ hasn't seen his brother now for years and this morning I wondered even if he'll ever see him again face to face.

Like I said everyone is holding their breath and waiting to exhale and I don't think they ever will able to again this side of the Millennial Kingdom. You said yourself that you were hoping for years of plenty before the famine. So instead we are looking at a probable steady decline before the tribulation.

Instead of hoping for the pre-Covid "idyll" like everyone else, I'm going to use this time to double down on my study, growth and also hopefully production. I going to daily give myself over to the Spirit and pick up my cross. Aiming in the moment by moment to reflect Jesus' glory and witness Him by my life. I'm going to actively seek peace in all my interactions and decrease my flesh so that Jesus can increase. I know what to do so it's about application and trust everyday and the renewing of my mind and confession when I fail. I want to bounce back when I fall rather than gripe and feel sorry for myself and lose precious time, ground and momentum.

I want to not take any moment of my life from now on for granted as none of us are guaranteed tomorrow here so I want to make every punch count. I want to be grateful for all the blessings I have in my life and give God glory for all of it.

I am looking at this now as the relative quiet before the storm. Everyone else is lamenting the past but instead I am trying to have gratitude for whatever moment and blessing I have from now on as we all know the tribulation period will be much, much worse.

It's hard to think this but in the tribulation period we will look back at NOW as though it was idyllic. We still mostly have family, we have food and shelter despite whatever ravaged state any one of those three are. Most importantly we can still study, practice and witness our faith now without (in most of the West at least) fear of brutality and loss of life. In the tribulation this will NOT be the case.

We will definitely have persecution and may lose our lives for our witness of Jesus Christ. I envisage a time soon when the Word of God will be banned, maybe even stripped from our homes (though never from our hearts and minds).

What's always the most important thing to remember is that whatever happens and whenever, we'll always have Jesus now and forever, now in our hearts and tomorrow face to face for all eternity.

Marana-tha!

In our loving and living Saviour!
Response #6:
"Instead of hoping for the pre-Covid "idyll" like everyone else, I'm going to use this time to double down on my study, growth and also hopefully production." Amen! 

This is what we ALL should be doing. I've noticed that those of us who were not "making full use of the world" have had an easier time of things than those whose entire being has been focused on sucking the marrow out of the few days we are down here on the earth. Those striving for fame and riches and possessions and power and pleasurable experiences are ALWAYS left with a mouth full of gravel in the end. But we who have turned away from the world, denying ourselves and picking up our crosses to follow Jesus Christ are a lot less concerned when things go sour in this temporary world . . . because OUR treasury is in heaven. No thief nor government nor plague nor catastrophe can diminish our heavenly treasure chest by a single coin . . . just as long as we stay faithful to the Savior who bought us life eternal with His own blood.

Of course, we feel the burden of "all this". Who likes wearing masks? Who likes having movement and activities restricted? Who likes doing everything online instead of face to face? Who likes any of the horrific things that are happening as a result of the political intrigues connected directly to this plague and its effects? No Christian I know. But we have the spiritual resources to cope. And we have the absolute confidence that the Lord can and is and will bring us through this sea of trouble "dry shod". And that will be true during the Tribulation as well. 

So kudos to you for your good attitude, my friend! It does take some serious fighting to get to the top of that hill, and more spiritual combat to hold it . . . and regain it when we occasionally get pushed off (that happens to us all, from time to time). But we have to have the mindset you are demonstrating here to maintain the hope and the joy and the peace that our Lord has promised us and that we have a right and indeed and obligation as His witnesses to reflect as long as we are down here in this place. And encouraging one another to take heart in these trying times is necessary – and it is ministry.

So thank you.

In Jesus Christ our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #7:
Dear Professor 

Thank you for the clarity of your teaching on “the mark”. Hard to imagine where most of us would be without your Ministry.

The “right thing” and “doing the right thing” are indeed now stock phrases coming from our leaders here, who know we “know” “doing the right thing” is what we “want” to be doing and seen to be wanting to do!

Interview of a 98 year old veteran of the war on radio yesterday. He was a gunner at the back of airplanes used for bombing.

ABC Interviewer: What was the most important thing you learned from the war?
Veteran: That we should learn to sit down and talk with each other. Too much of what is going on today is all about self and not about the good of ALL people.
Interviewer: What a wise man!

I seriously doubt whether they were even on the same page. Great for the media to cut the interview where it profited their (deadly, IMHO) agenda. There was no discussion of what this would actually look like to the veteran and I suspect they would not want to know or be known to know. It’s great when you have full control of that edit function, particularly useful as in this case being pre-recorded at his home.

The Red Horse. Watching the news last night I felt disturbed noticing quite a few African and some Asian countries have suffered/are suffering huge death tolls from internal conflicts. I thought it will be an even more widespread and sorry state once this becomes commonplace in more countries including perhaps our own. They said the Myanmar/Burma killings have been going on for 35 years and is not confined to the cities but also in rural areas - just it hasn’t been reported much in our media. Wikipedia actually says it is the world’s longest civil war, having spanned more than 7 decades. (Double or nothing). Libya was one of the other countries highlighted in last night’s bulletin.

So much internal conflict going on, much of it rarely reported, that one could be excused for thinking (particularly those now living in those countries) that the Red Horse prophecy is already in process. From the outside Orange Horse and getting more fiery by the day seems to be a conservative observation. Slaughter along ethnic, tribal, religious, political and any other lines that pop into man’s imagination continue.

Another tragedy is the slavery figure of 30 million is thought to be an extremely conservative estimate from case studies worldwide. I could turn my vehicle radio off or turn it to music and not watch the world news and I am sure there would be a lot less turmoil on the planet.

I am extremely grateful for still being able to live in peace and security. However, the “security system” is becoming so secure in our democratic country that any future “misfits” will be sorted swiftly. [though unfortunately not the mobs] In the meanwhile I thank our Lord daily that we live in abundance of His blessings.

Enough of the world; I was prompted by the Spirit to start on the next lesson on the true worship of God and to distinguish this from the pitfalls of things we see with our eyes, of false angel worship and then look at the positive lessons we can learn from Daniel, Revelation and other scriptures in this regard, especially seeing the false visions will play a huge part in deceiving the world. Inevitably we still do have to relate it to what is happening/will happen in this world.

For yet a future lesson I am wondering how to present the Two witnesses, the 144,000 who will be here in the first half of the Tribulation, and how believers can positively know what/who are true and what/who are false? So far I haven’t thought too much of how we will recognise the 144,000 from amongst the hordes of false claimants. (Mormons and JW’s go 2 by 2, or did until Covid restrictions; and they both proclaim their religion as being the only correct one). I instead suspect that the religionists may have shown their true colours beforehand, and they may be the ideal imposters from the beast’s tactical point of view, falsely claiming to now having “seen the true light”.

I am thinking of the 144,000’s allegiance to Moses and Elijah may be a sign, though I suppose that would not preclude imposters from trying to gain a footing amongst believers joining with them by flatteries, much the way antichrist gains his power. Daniel 11:21 ESV. Daniel 11:34 seems to indicate an infiltration of the beasts followers into the believers camp in an effort to destroy all believers.

If I am a bit off course here, please let me know. We are close to the time. Vital to get right with the Lord, and also to get it right.

Good thing about my holiday break is that I listen to much less news so I am sure the world will be a much nicer place for the next two weeks. Hope to catch up with my friend (that will get us both going again) and ___ from whom I hope to get the contacts for some old mormon friends to see where they are at. The shed needs a fair bit more completion. I’d love to retire and have more time but the kids with their larger size require a bigger budget nowadays. BTW our eldest son did pop in last week for 20 minutes on his way back to his job. The Lord is good.

I am grateful to you and your love for us in your sharing all you have learned in the scriptures. Keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior.

Your student and friend
Response #7:
Yes, everyone seems to be on about "what's right" now – even if that "right" is only so in the eyes of the powerful and is highly illegal, trampling on the faces of the weak.

Your veteran understands the principle of fables – make them sting but don't attribute them to specific individuals or groups. That way the wise will know and respond while the fools can think whatever they want. An important skill in cancel-culture times!

Things ARE rotten in the world, and they do seem to be getting ever more so on every front with every passing day (sometimes it seems with every passing hour). But the Tribulation will be worse. So the better we get about dis-investing emotionally from this corrupt and temporary world, looking instead to our heavenly reward, the happier we will be both now and then. Not for nothing did our Lord tell us to "deny ourselves" – which doesn't mean never having an ice cream cone, e.g., but making His objectives and desires our own, and that definitely includes not looking for our happiness and fulfillment in this life or the things of this life. And we can all use a little "shaking out and shaking down" on that score before the end times commence.

As to the 144,000, they will be ministering to Jewish unbelievers, and I have opined that they will probably travel to Jerusalem for their commissioning. Given that the 12 and the 72 were also given miraculous powers, I also am convinced that the same will be true of the 144K – so it won't be too difficult for them to establish their legitimacy among their unique target audience.

Glad to hear that you are getting things done, my friend! I am gradually herding all the final necessities of this semester together, and will soon be more concerned with research and yard work . . . and the work of this ministry of course.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #8:
Hello Bob,

Could this be one of the reasons people are foretold to wish they could die but can't? Or one of the "sores" that will infect them:

"Well, this current research which was released not too long after my original article demonstrates that yes, indeed, ‘RNA does work that way’… Specifically, a new study9,10 by MIT and Harvard scientists demonstrates that segments of the RNA from the coronavirus itself are most likely becoming a permanent fixture in human DNA."

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2021/04/joseph-mercola/covid-19-vaccines-likened-to-software-updates-for-your-body/

https://www.modernatx.com/mrna-technology/mrna-platform-enabling-drug-discovery-development

It also appears that the COVID "vaccines" can create a reverse transcription that permanently alters our genome as I originally suspected. Is it conceivable that this genomic change could be one of Satan's seals? Would the Lord protect us if we volunteer for the jab instead of trusting Him? With the coming "vaccine passport" it will be more difficult to buy and sell without that seal as foretold. Could the gene changes possibly be related to antediluvian nephilim? Is it possible that Satan has convinced us we are gods and heavily promoting that outlook so he can create his own by convincing us to do his dirty work?

Sorry to hyperventilate. I'm seeing more and more prophecy coming to fruition and standing right on our doorstep.

Yours in our Savior,
Response #8:
The seals of the book of Revelation are placed there by God, and represent the trends of the Tribulation which the book of Revelation teaches us about – the opening of the book being the unleashing of the events that blessedly lead to Christ's return, His "unveiling" to the world in glory (that is what "revelation", "THE Revelation of Jesus Christ" means). The seven trumpet judgments are God's judgments (the first of three sets). The "wishing to die" which comes as a result of being stung by the demon locusts is just that, a result of the stinging (this is the fifth trumpet judgment). Believers are exempt from these judgments (we won't be stung). 

None of this has anything to do with DNA or RNA of vaccines. These may have ill-effects (I have my concerns as well as you probably know by now), but there aren't any spiritual aspects to this sort of thing (even if there are political ones). 

As far as equating human genetic manipulation to what the fallen angels did prior to the flood, that is a little bit like worrying that your kid out there playing with sticks and stones in the mud might accidentally concoct a high-yield thermonuclear device. We are WAY below that level of ability to manipulate the creation – and I am convinced that God is about to be calling a halt to even our "sticks and stones in the mud" efforts far before they get anywhere close to that.

But in terms of convincing us that we are "gods", that has always been at the heart of the devil's appeal to human arrogance.
"You will surely not die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that on the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God [or "gods"], knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:4-5
For this was always his thinking as well:
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Isaiah 14:13-14 NKJV
Contemplating the Tribulation, we believers don't need to fear anything material, whether threats or deprivation. But we DO need to be on guard against all lies and assaults on the truth, keeping our "heart-spring" clear of all contamination. 
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23 NASB
In Jesus our dear Savior
Question #9:
I expressed myself poorly again. I apologize. All Satan has to do to seal or mark his own, as I understand it, is turn people away from God. It looks like he's been quite successful. The re-engineering of DNA strikes me as a part of that effort. Specifically, the need to fix what the Lord didn't get quite right as if they know better. The nephilim connection, as I see it, is that today the sons of gods, rather than the Sons of God, are monkeying with creation creating chimera that are unnatural and not a part of God's. Not only animals and plants but now humans. While it may be magnitudes less than antediluvian times, it's the same tune just a different arrangement.

It seems like, as of Revelation 16:11 at least, that people still have the possibility of repentance and salvation. Since these are people who have accepted the beast's mark, you are probably right that nothing physical would affect our salvation -- assuming we live long enough to repent.

Yours in Jesus,
Response #9:
You're fine, my friend!

I don't find the devil doing any "sealing". He's actually not at all interested in human beings whatsoever and would happily destroy us all, given the opportunity. He's only interested in compromising believers and trying to defeat the plan of God (impossible). So while traditional culture and religion sees "two teams", there is actually no other "team" than the one we are blessedly on. There is the Church . . . and everyone else is only being deceived while deceiving themselves. Further, nothing the devil could do or bring about in terms of physical alteration would have any effect on the image of God in every human being residing in the untouchable human spirit. We have free will. And that is the case as long as we are physically alive regardless of our physical state – although it is true that some debilitating diseases et al. do impede one's ability to use it, which is why those who mentally never attain accountability are saved automatically.

So, yes, these people COULD repent – and it is amazing that after experiencing such warning discipline from God that they do not. Amazing to us believers, that is. But we do have to remember that even "nice" unbelievers who live out there lives in "good times" are just as lost – and just as arrogant in rejecting the precious Gift of Jesus Christ. It really is all about free will.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #10:
Thank you Bob. I really appreciate the reply. I will definitely check out your BB7 info. Currently I’m still working my way through BB1 and Peters epistles. My mind has been blown away by the way you describe Bible events. Very much more real than the children’s fluff we grow up on. Keep doing what you do. May you be blessed! 
Response #10:
Thanks!
Question #11:
Hi Bob,

We wanted to wish you all the best this great and noble day of remembrance, the day and event that paved the way for our eternal living hope.

Even the past few days I was raving about your faithful work re the word of God, and wanted to again thank you. You are very much appreciated. I pray all is well w you.

Many blessings, friend.
Response #11:
Thank you!

Happy Easter to you and yours too!

Your good words are much appreciated.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #12:
Re: your sharing that letter about the 1974 tornado in Louisville.

Having experienced a cat4 tornado when at my parents’ house the Saturday before Thanksgiving in 1992, it reminded me of when some of us got repeatedly bombed at night by an A-6 at 29 Palms in early 1976 - you sit there hoping the next one isn’t meant for you and that’s about all you can do. Those 500 pounders really shook the tanks we were in when they hit the ground. Had no curiosity about seeing the tornado as it passed over and made their house shake. It killed six people in Brandon including two just a quarter down the road from my parents. And it does sound like a train . . . just no whistle blowing as it goes by, only the wind.
Response #12:
I take it that this was a mistake. I mean, you didn't do anything to tick off some pilot at happy hour or anything like that. USMC pilots are known for NOT bombing friendlies. But in WWII the army ground-pounders were a lot more likely to get staffed by the Army Air Corps than the Luftwaffe. Hence their SOP: "If it flies, it dies".

I remember you talking about the Brandon tornado before. I think I would be happy to wait until afterwards to go out and see what's left myself as well.

All good Tribulation prep.
(20) Get out, My people. Go into your rooms and close your doors behind you. Hide yourselves for a little while until My indignation has run its course. (21) For behold, the Lord is about to come forth from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. And the earth will reveal the blood shed upon it, and conceal its slain no longer (i.e., the persecution of believers will be punished).
Isaiah 26:20-21
Question #13:
Hi Dr. Luginbill:

Hope you've had a blessed Easter...

I've found this group (FAI)Frontier Alliance International Dalton Thomas, that is into end times etc.. I think they are similar in their thoughts as I recall yours, but I don't know for sure as my old head doesn't always remember to accurately... So I'd like to know if you think they are OK?

Thanks
Response #13:
I had never heard of them before. I checked out their website and was unable to find out anything about their beliefs – which isn't the best sign. Easy to find out how to donate or buy from their store, however! They seem to be an evangelizing group and their pitch is clearly quasi-military. Their "news" is mid-East centered, so I'm guessing they appeal to "Israel 1948 type prophecy" groups. They are apparently connected with the Hudson Taylor school of missionary activity (at least they claim it).

Happy Easter to you as well, my friend!

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #14:
Dear Professor 

Looks like the auto speller got the jump on you - you are the Professor- I just profess to others that yours is the best site for learning the truth.

Thank you for your explanation of the fable.

So much for not listening to the radio - yesterday Philip Adams interviewed the ex Governor General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, a retired army general. I was impressed how he made light work of answering all the hard poly tickle questions Philip had stored up for him. Peter’s learning from torrid combat situations had him walk the interview tight rope with relative ease, despite the crocodiles in the murky waters below. 

On the way home from the paddock there was radio coverage of a big Easter festival on an island of Indonesia where the population is 95% RC, despite the rest of Indonesia being overwhelmingly Muslim. These island people traditionally believed in a spirit god and a Mother Earth god. In about the 15th century some RC priests that were fugitives/refugees and hiding out on a nearby island got to work on the chief priest and managed to convert him. Three mysterious statues of Jesus, Mary and baby Jesus “miraculously” were found washed up on the island peoples shores and this was a big part of converting the populace to RC. Now they worship the statue of Mary - the other two statues are kept covered so as not to look upon them - an element of “mystery” introduced. The reporter remarked that though she is not religious she was really moved by the beauty of the woman statue - it has something special.

The RC “enlightenment” perhaps is another precursor to a yet more “moving image”. Revelation 13:15. If stone statues found on the beach of an island can have such dramatic effects (together with the RC priests preaching) on the people, imagine what frenzy a talking idol and a priest (false prophet) who can bring fire down from heaven will conjure among the world’s people. Revelation 13:13.

Close to home the tendency of some to worship angels and the like has me visiting this subject which I had thought from our FBT basic lessons, especially from Hebrews, everyone would be well past this one. Me thinks some tendencies need direct confrontation. DO NOT DO THAT! Revelation 19:10. Perhaps we can understand why Moses had so much grief with his people turning to idols so eagerly. No doubt the Israelites had good reasons to be well past idols because of God’s miracles - though the constant craving for the physically tangible and then attributing magical powers to the visible idols seems what brings people “happiness”. Your counsel of divesting emotionally from the things of this life are indeed salutary. As you say, something we all can do improving on. 

Daniel 10:8 demonstrates the power of angels and how we are easily overcome by them. Considering satan can also appear as an angel of light and that his antichrist and false prophet are empowered by him, our spiritual preparation is vital to our enduring to the end.

Professor, the above are some of my thoughts to include for our next weeks fellowship meeting. The tight rope can always be pretensioned before we walk across but pretty dicey doing it mid ravine (Mid Tribulation). Any thoughts on tensioning the tightrope before my lesson are appreciated. A bit sad that such basic things need to be addressed, yet on thinking about it it is a danger none of us are totally immune from. I do notice that Daniel prepared himself for this vision. Yet he was overcome with fear - though yes it was a vision from God. Daniel 10:2
I think I will also add scriptures from Moses’ time. (People haven’t changed that much).

A late start with getting to the work site today and now the wind has come up. Will do a reconnaissance to see whether it is still safe to inflict more aches on this old body up on the roof.
I will try leave off writing to you for awhile so you can also get to your research and yard work.
Thank you for all your replies. Writing to you helps me with my thoughts and my preparation for lessons. Of course your answers are always on target.

Keeping you in prayer.

In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior.

Your student and friend
Response #14:
Very interesting report, my friend. It is so very true that people want what they want and are generally not willing to accept the Gift that God is actually offering. That is the basic explanation for all religions, even for those which dubiously parade the name "Christian". This also explains music-as-Christianity churches, charismatic excess churches, and main-line Protestants having re-adopted RC rituals with abandon. Something for everyone out there – everyone who wants some THING other than the truth.

Seems to me that you are doing a great job dodging the crocodiles, my friend! Good teachers always approach teaching with a war-plan that is a lot like that of a good operational commander, ready to modify it when things don't go as expected (and they never do). Just pack plenty of ammo and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Be careful on that roof, my friend! And do please feel free to write me any time.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #15:
Hi Bob,

I know what you mean about the whole "boot camp" of "spiritual exercises". I've read and researched a lot about it. I like how your church history professor called the Jesuits "the pope's Marine Corp"! I'm not surprised by it because of how much I've read about it but, like you, I am still disturbed by it. It's horrible to be honest, Bob. I read some excerpts from Ignatius' spiritual visualisations. One example:-
"Imagine Christ our Lord present before you upon the cross, and begin to speak with him . . . "
And another:-
"While one is eating, let him imagine he sees Christ our Lord and His disciples at the table, and consider how He eats and drinks, how He looks, how He speaks and then strive to imitate Him".
There's another video on the Vineyard churches website called "Walking with Jesus" which is the same kind of thing. The spiritual director leads you into some rhythmic breathing and relaxation techniques for meditation. Then they read a passage out of the Bible and then using your imagination they get you to enter into that scene, visualise yourself there and engage all of your five senses. Imagine it in detail.

As you know, in my past I read lots of books on the new age, the occult and had books on creative visualisation as well. If you get too deep into this visualisation stuff you can make contact with the spirit world and pick up what they call a "spirit guide" which of course we know is a demon. A demon will happily take any mask you give them. If someone wants to visualise Jesus, the demon will appear as Jesus - they will appear in the way that person thinks Jesus looks. Then if you continue to go deeply into these man-made spiritual exercises the worst that could happen is this false Jesus will begin to speak, to move, to do things and that person thinks they're hearing from the real Jesus.

Those people are trying to visualise Jesus and thinking that that will draw them into a closer relationship with Him. But they're being led from a spiritual reality to a fantasy that they have conjured up in their minds. That's not going to do anything for them when the testing times come. It's a product of their own imagination and they have deceived themselves. I can see how one third of believers will fall away during the Tribulation if this is the road some of them decide to go down. It's what happens when there's no love for the truth.

If your faith depends upon some visible image then you are into idolatry. You are like the idolaters who couldn't believe in a god that they couldn't make a physical form for. Visualisation is an attempt to walk not by faith but by sight. John 20:29 . . . blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The Lord has very good reasons for commanding us to have nothing to do with this kind of thing. Everything He wants us to know about Him for now and His will for us is written in His Word. And we love Him and His truth and that's where we will thrive and grow spiritually and be prepared for the tests and trials to come until that day when we do actually see Him face to face. And that is what we hope for and what we wait patiently for - and what a truly wonderful day it will be!

Also, I had my second Covid shot on Saturday. I had a sore arm yesterday but today it feels fine and no other side effects at all so I thank the Lord for that!

Hope you are well and had a good day. It's a beautiful day here today - lovely blue sky and the sun is shining!

Keeping you in my prayers!

In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #15:
"It's a product of their own imagination" – Amen! That is the critical point. The charismatics do similar things. In fact, all of "this sort of thing" is starting to blend together into one homogeneous mass of falsity. Hmm. Just ripe for antichrist.

This is wonderful stuff – even though of course what it analyzes is far from "wonderful", yet you've "nailed it" in my opinion.

People in Laodicea want the interesting, the exciting and the novel – but they don't want to do the legitimate hard work of gradually growing closer to Jesus Christ through paying attention to the teaching of the truth of the Word of God. It's sad. It's dangerous. But it's a fact.

Great to hear that you are doing well with the second shot!

Pretty weather here in Louisville too. Tulips just coming out.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #16:
Hello Bob,

I hope I wasn't getting exercised over David. (I haven't heard that expression in a long time.) Only the seeming discrepancy between wishing the Lord would "smite" his enemies and turning the other cheek though I see how they are complimentary. Thank you. I have come to the point where I see government more as enemy than friend. This one certainly doesn't seem to reward good works. I'm finding I feel more like David than ever before.

All these government officials are currently under oath to "bear true faith and allegiance" to the constitution. As near as I can tell, few if any of them have honored that oath proving they are dishonorable liars and thieves. If so, there may be another apparent discrepancy between the injunction to avoid association with evil doers and respecting government. Though he with the biggest guns gets the most apparent respect along with the underlying hatred.

I do wish everyone would accept salvation, but I also wish people wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot. It's a personal choice. I find it very difficult to pray for many of these people. I trust the Lord has everything under control and wonder what I can add.

Other questions that have been kicking around for a while which I can never remember to ask:

1. I read a book several years ago about a kingdom somewhere in the Caucasus called Kazaria that adopted Judiasim as a state religion. It struck me as nonsense at the time. Do you know if such a place ever existed?

2. How do we know the earliest manuscripts are the most accurate renderings? It seems to me that the original books and letters would have been widely circulated which raises the possibility that the discrepancies could have come earlier. Even if so, would all later copies be corrupted?

3. A corollary question, do you think the Lord would have allowed the discrepancies if He disapproved?

You and yours are in my prayers daily and I hope all is well.

In our Lord,
Response #16:
Our Lord refused to let the "sons of thunder" call down lightning on that Samaritan village that refused to accept Him and told us to "turn the other cheek" – but He will destroy the hordes of antichrist at Armageddon "with the sword that proceeds from His [own] mouth".

The Roman government was not terrible in Paul's day, but we know well enough from Acts that individual officials could greatly abuse justice. Such has it always been. We believers have the same charges from the Lord even so.

The contemporary name is "Kazakhstan" and there is a story that its king converting to Judaism in the early middle ages – but no one really knows how many Kazakhs became Jews. We don't need to worry about that because anyone born with any Jewish blood is Jewish in the Lord's eyes – and of course there have been gentile additions to the Jewish nation since the beginning (Joseph marrying an Egyptian; Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess; etc., etc.). In any case, in the end, it is that part of Israel which has and will believe that is actually "Israel" (Rom.9:6) – and we believers will all be subsumed into the Israel as the ultimate organization of the Church in the end (with our abode in New Jerusalem).

For question #2, can I ask you to have a look at the following links (since I just wrote up answers to these exact questions in BB 7)?
The Completeness of the Bible

The Present Form of the Bible
For question #3: It seems to me that this is exactly what the Lord did: He provided all we need to get the right answers – but it takes godly work by those gifted to do it, and faith on the part of those who follow their ministries. There are reasons for that, after all!

Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #17:
Hi Bob,

I think if the Lord appeared to me, I would probably die of an heart attack! I think faith is absolutely required at this point and more so in the near future. Fortunately, it's been proven to me that it works as advertised. For all the ranting and raving I may do, I rely on the Spirit for guidance.

I'll see if I can dig up that link on vaccine deaths. At this stage of my game, I read headlines and generally the first paragraph of something that seems relevant. If that first paragraph doesn't do what it should, I generally pass on. I think I saw that on an aggregator site but can't remember where the link led.

It's interesting to note that the CDC has something like 57 patents on drugs and vaccines. They're even listed on Dunn & Bradstreet. Could there be a conflict of interest do you suppose?

So far, my health is good (except for my tired eyes and old bones:) I did have a near COVID death experience on the road some time ago due to someone texting and not paying attention. Nearly ran me off the road. I'm extra alert on the road now, so that I don't hove another COVID experience. Other than that, I haven't had a cold, flu or anything more serious for more than 20 years.

Spring has sprung down here. It appears most of the herbs I rely on made it through just fine. Prayer works! Still too early to tell about the trees. The Lord has provided wild lettuce and greens, so I've been enjoying that. Other folks' plums and pears are blooming and even the defoliated live oaks are leafing. God is good.

Stay well and safe my friend.

In Jesus,
Response #17:
No worries. Last winter if you'd bought it from being run over by a negligent driver, you'd have been a "Covid death" for sure – but now if you've been recently vaccinated and succumb you're no doubt going to be listed as an accident victim.

Wow! 20 years! That's got to be some sort of record. I'm pretty healthy except for lumps and bumps that come with the territory of aging, but I don't have anything like that record. I guess eating all that healthy food pays off!

Sounds pretty down there – we've got daffodils coming up but planting is weeks away. A good thing. I have to put this semester to bed first, and there are "miles to go" before that happens.

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend! Watch out for those Covid-texters while driving!

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #18:
Hi Bob,

You convinced me. I just see so much out there that seems to be reflections of the Tribulation that I get a little "exercised" at times. (I still think the "vaccine" is bad.)

Along those lines, do we have any idea which city is spiritual Sodom and Egypt or is that yet to come? San Francisco? With all the nonsense going on out there with increasing aggression, I wonder if it's just one city.

Thanks
Yours in our Lord and Savior,
Response #18:
"I still think the "vaccine" is bad". It may well be. The naysayers I've heard, the ones with credentials, were most concerned about what might happen in the fall when vaccinated individuals have their immune systems challenged by similar viruses. The jury is at least still out, in my opinion. Also, I may have mentioned, I heard another prominent doc express his opinion that vaccinating people who have recently already been infected by Covid was "bad medicine" for a number of reasons. But I suppose it would be logistically inconvenient to do anti-body tests before dosing everyone. Wouldn't want that. I am thrilled to hear my students are being given opportunities to get the shot (it's gotten down to that age group now in our area), because that will knock out all resistance to going back to normal by the fall (I'm hoping).

Revelation 11:8 is talking about Jerusalem:
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Revelation 11:8 NKJV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #19:
Dear Prof, 

Calvary greetings to you. Thank you for the encouragement. I need it. God bless you sir. Hope your health is doing better as the cold is on its way out.

The house I got and started renovating had some serious issues with the property manager so I had to ask for a refund. Miraculously I got my money back COMPLETE! This is a rarity. They usually keep stalling you till they pay you back incompletely with one excuse or the other. Thank God for His mercy. Gotten another place but till end of this month before they move out. Looking unto God. When school resumes on the 19th we will probably have to look for a place to stay till a place is ready.

My wife has been getting better gradually thank God. I am too. Knee swelling gone but still a little bit tender.

When you say another leg in the testing what do you mean? I have believed God in this matter no matter how I feel but would like to hear from you so as not to miss anything.

Have not yet heard back from ___.

"Won't be long now and we'll all be complaining about the heat (not me, though – don't mind the heat but can't take the cold)." Most times we here complain about whatever weather we have even when it seems perfect. In fact we complain about everything! I have learnt from you to be more grateful. If we complain now what will we do in the tribulation time!- My brain always thinks in those terms.

Our friend's father's burial has been done. Like he has or will write you, he has some really mean relatives who just want to fight in public for imagined grievances. I've tried to encourage him. I remember you both in prayers. I know what it means to me.

Thanx for being there sir.
Response #19:
Good news on the property! I'm praying for you to find a good place . . . and also for next Wed. What I meant is that I have often seen "the day of judgment" put off – and that is a test for us too, as we have been steeling ourselves and preparing for THAT calendar day. But also a good reminder that we have to be ready everyday to plant our cross. The Lord only gives us one day at a time, after all. Praying for your complete deliverance, my friend.

My knee sympathizes with your wife's! A blessing when things get better without serious medical intervention.

Thanks for making the effort with ___. Some people are more shy than others when it comes to contact. I only hear from him rarely myself.

Hoping to hear from our friend soon too, to the effect that he's been able to straighten everything out in the village and get back to his own life. He's got a lot on his plate, not being helped by the fact that his family is behaving in a most un-Christian way. We can pray.

Praying for you and your family, my friend!

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #20:
My Prof sir, all I can say right now is that I love you with the love of Christ!

I will let our friend brief you himself on his matter. Suffice it to say that God has really been at work! Thank God for answering prayers of the brethren for one another. I'm amazed.

My wife and I gathered some other health personnel and materials and drugs for a medical mission today where we will medically attend to members of the church for free. Includes medical talk. Please pray concerning it. A number of people here can't afford good medical treatment so they go for local alternatives some of which are actually harmful. Some are simply ignorant. In collaboration with the pastor we hope to make a difference.

I've had a number of spiritual encounters with people. Thank God for Coming Tribulation series. I know it the work of the Holy Spirit. To some the understanding is like wizardry! 

Again thanx Prof for being there. You are the big brother I never had. I keep praying daily for you.

In Christ
Response #20:
Good news about our friend – even without the specifics!

And good for you that you are continuing to minister and serve our Lord in spite of the pressures you are dealing with, health, living situation, and of course the huge legal load. That says a great deal about your faith and dedication, my friend!

Keeping you in prayer for Wednesday.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #21:
Hello Bob,

Ecclesiastes 5:4 says: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. KJV

I believe you said that the oath you and I took in the military (and the oath all elected and higher government officials take, which is very similar,) no longer applies In our cases. But is/was that not a vow to God? If so, for current elected officials, does 5:14 define them as fools since they don't appear to honor their oath to "bear true faith and allegiance" to the US constitution? This verse doesn't specify tithes or money. The "pay" refers to "vow." Is there anything in the original that would contradict what I read in English?

Thanks

Yours in Jesus,
Response #21:
I don't know that I've ever weighed in on this subject before – except to affirm what our Lord says about oaths and vows, namely, to avoid them if possible (e.g., Matt.5:33-37; cf. Matt.23:16-22; Jas.5:12); clearly it's not possible in the normal conduct of life to do so completely without major headaches which are not necessary to endure, in my opinion. You don't get a choice about jury duty, for example, or if you are called as a witness, and they won't let you opt out because of this issue (they'll let you "affirm" instead – which makes no difference to the Lord, I'm sure).

Speaking of leaders, et al., we are not really surprised that they have not the slightest regard for an oath taken in God's name, do we? Since they have no regard for Himself whatsoever.

Apologies if I've missed the point of your question – feel free to write back.

Here's some Ichthys links on the subject:
Vowing
What is a vow?
Hope you're doing well, my friend! Getting close to being time for the spring planting here (looking for a forecast through the end of April with no frost therein).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #22:
Hi Bob,

I searched for "vows" and "oaths" in the subject index but found nothing. (My search skills stink!) I've followed the Lord's advice of yea and nay (which hasn't always been easy.) Last time was with a probate judge and it seemed to be perfectly acceptable. I don't get called to jury duty any more. Since I don't vote, I saw no reason to register.

No, that our legislators ignore their oaths doesn't surprise me and sadly, I think people expect that. You didn't miss the point of my question and I apologize for attributing to you a position you didn't take. To my way of thinking if we swear an oath, whether invoking God or not, we are obligated to keep it. (Last jury call, I took the oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Couldn't see doing otherwise. Fortunately, it got me rejected for duty in a case against a poor slob who was caught with a nickle bag. I don't approve of drugs and when asked, said so.

All is well here on the prairie. Almost everything is coming back but a lot of damage. So far, it looks like I only lost a pomegranate, a persimmon and a couple of potted plants. All of my bay laurels, sages and rosemarys survived which is an astonishing surprise. God is good. The mesquites are leafing which heralds the official end of winter so it will be coming to a garden near you within a week -- not more than two at the most.

I pray all is well with you and yours and you've successfully negotiated the dentist. I suspect you are only four to five weeks away from end of the school year which should be a relief. Stay well and safe my friend.

In Jesus,
Response #22:
No worries, my friend.

On avoiding jury duty, that's great . . . if that's the way it works in Texas. I've never registered to vote in Louisville in my 30 years here – but I was still called for jury duty (they don't just use voter roles here).

Tooth is doing well, thanks.

Only a little bit longer and I'll be buttoning up the semester. I got tagged for a French search so I'll still have some things I have to do in the "sacred month of May", and I'll have to be getting my research efforts in gear PDQ as well since I wasn't really able to do that last summer what with all the dislocation and additional duties pursuant to Covid.

Plenty to do on the yards too! Looking forward to it, but it does take me a little longer to recover from hoisting bags of mulch and dirt etc. than it used to.

Be careful out there on the prairie, my friend – you don't have a spotter.

Keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #23:
Hi Bob,

How are things with you? How did you get on with your dental work?

I had a nice Easter with my mum in her garden as it was her birthday. Been feeling the heat though lately as more and more nearest and dearest are taking the jab and my age group will soon be called up for it. I am still sticking with my decision to wait and see and not have a vaccine at the moment. The ridicule and antagonism towards me over this is growing so I am (for the most part) declining to tell most people about my views and carry on wearing masks and to social distance (which is exactly the same protocol for everyone who has been vaccinated incidentally!)

Just wanted to share this with you as it could be promising news. There have been some small tests and trials using Ivermectin as a re-purposed drug both as a prophylaxis and treatment once infected with Covid 19.

I will attach the links about this drug. It has been safely used for over 50 years and has had less side effects and mortalities connected to it than ibuprofen! The data looks very good and it is ludicrously cheap to make. One doctor has been petitioning Belgium to start taking it and believes it will eradicate Covid 19 from there in 3 weeks! Bold claims!

I've also heard that aswell as taking Vit D, Vit c with Zinc is really good and also a food supplement called Quercetin. Obviously I'm not a doctor so people would need to look at these things themselves and weigh up possible interactions, allergies etc..

https://www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/ivermectin-for-covid-19-a-cheap-drug-with-a-remarkable-effect

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n747

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu61dtsSLrk

Anyway, I know we shouldn't go off "feelings" but I just feel that it won't be around for much longer. However the control mechanisms and what nots probably will be here to stay..

I thought also you might find these interesting..
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/us/covid-vaccine-evangelicals.html

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-vaccine-hesitancy-could-prolong-the-pandemic#Vaccine-refusal-could-eventually-make-the-pandemic-worse-for-everyone

It's articles like these that will make people like myself into a supervillainess in a few months' time!

In Jesus,
P.s. Found another encouraging video about Ivermectin. I think it is available in the States and certain other countries but not available in the UK. Maybe because of the lack of a demand for anti-parasitical medication in the UK? Not sure.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=28YV8TfTieE
Response #23:
Thanks for the links. I've actually had this prescribed before for topical use (didn't do very much for me there – so good that they've found some use for it!).

Yes, I'm sure that if the bug doesn't completely die out there will be ostracism and push-back against all who didn't get the shots. All the more reason NOT to volunteer that information. Over here, we've got privacy laws against asking people that sort of thing. Not that the current regime is much concerned about law. We'll just have to see what develops.

As I might have mentioned, this has been the toughest semester I've ever had here. I'm doing streaming of classes at the same time I teach some students in the classroom (hard to keep up with both sets without any assistance; assignments flying in over email in all manner of formats, etc., and lots more preparation and cleanup necessary for the E-portion of the classes). Point being that I could not have afforded what happened to my close friend who was wiped out for days after both injections – because I've not been able to miss a beat with all the extra load.

Crown is on and doing well, though still somewhat "twingey" and the jaw still sore. Not the most inexpensive thing I've ever had done either.

I got plenty of sunshine today, and I'm sure that is helpful. I have heard good things about "D" too, and it does seem to help me generally when I'm a bit under the weather.

Keeping you and your family in my daily prayers, my friend!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #24:
Hi Bob,

Here is some follow up info about Ivermectin..

https://covid19criticalcare.com/ivermectin-in-covid-19/

They also recommend Vit D3, Vit C, Zinc, Quercetin and Melatonin. I DO NOT recommend Melatonin. I only took it once and it made me feel very ill indeed. Here is a clinical trial for Quercetin as both prophylaxis and treatment of Covid 19

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04377789

My enthusiasm for natural or tried and tested methods has been mocked for being just part and parcel of anti vax hysteria so I will try to keep shtum. Unfortunately I have already been pigeonholed in my family many moons ago and so I am sort of used to be made to feel crazy! I won't be making it common knowledge myself though it wont stop certain family members blabbing about it to all and sundry. It's a shame but I guess predictable that those who are now
labelled "hesitant" will be deemed enemies of the state or worse still "potential domestic terrorists". I'm just going to roll along with the punches, try to remember that it is not personal and not my battle, that I am only a foot-soldier here.

I hope your work is settling down now and become more "doable". Is there not any assistance available for you from the tech side or even the marking side of things? I'd be happy to help out if I was more local! I will pray for you to have help or more support in this regard.

I'm glad to hear that your crown is in place. Things move so fast that I didn't realise that you had be proclaimed the king of Louisville! They couldn't have made a better choice though, right?!

In Jesus,
Response #24:
Thanks for these!

On "try to remember that it is not personal" – that is SO important. We all have a tendency to fall down on that one. Just read the book of Job. If a great man like that can let "taking it personally" trip him up so badly, the rest of us really do need to take care.

Hah! If I WERE king, boy would there be some changes made around here! Probably a good thing that's not close to being the case. But we will all share our Lord's rule during the Millennium and it will be interesting to see what our assignments are (not really putting in a bid to come back here, however!). I'm pretty sure that our positions will have a great deal to do with our level of reward for how we're doing here and now.

Prince or princess, king or queen, or merely noble nave, we can all look forward to what's ahead.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #25:
Hi Bob,

So just a couple of weeks teaching to go for you. I'd forgotten that you have research to do as well as yard work! Sounds like the vaccinations are whizzing along now and it would be great to be "normal" again by mid-August. Great to see the uni busy and buzzing again.

The restrictions are gradually being lifted over here and ___ had his first footy match last Thursday. First match back and one of his mates ended up with a broken ankle. A bad tackle from the opposition. So he won't be playing footy again for a while now - poor love!

All non-essential shops, hairdressers, outdoor bars and restaurants for table service open again next Monday and the gyms too so ___ will be back in there ASAP! She has just enrolled on a course to be a fitness instructor and she's really excited about it. I think she'll be great at it. She'll keep working and do the course online in her spare time. There'll be some practical stuff to do as well.

So we're getting there. Masks and social distancing are still here but life seems to be very gradually heading in the right direction towards being sort of "normal" again. I don't think they intend to turn back on it now either. We can't afford to now - life needs to go on.

Keeping you and yours in my prayers and thanks so much for yours too.

In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #25:
Thanks for those prayers! 

Great to hear that things are getting back to normal over there! Can't happen soon enough over here. We've developed a new culture of weird behavior that is independent of any realistic concern for this disease which is not knocking people over now nearly as fast as a bad flu season. Whether PEOPLE will get "normal" again is another question. Shows how easily those without the Lord can be thrown for a loop. One would have hoped that all this would have resulted in more interest in the Lord and the Word, but I've yet to see any evidence of that – just the opposite, strangely.

Keeping you and yours in my prayers daily, my friend – and thanks as always for your good efforts.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #26:
Hi Bob,

Even though a few more places are opening up again on Monday it's still not really "normal" over here either. I think I was trying to be optimistic! Mind you, when I came out of work today the city was very busy. Lots of people out and about. But you're right - even with this pandemic I personally haven't seen ANY more interest in the Lord or the Word either. I was thinking about this only yesterday and even though we're in the era of Laodicea I still can't help but be amazed by this. And I haven't seen one unbeliever who seems to have even considered that there might be a God - even with this whole virus thing filling them with fear. I've seen some who have had the vaccine and still be scared to venture out too far. So I wonder too whether people will ever get "normal" again. It's interesting to watch how the world has reacted to this. It's good to take note. A sign of things to come I think.

Just out of interest - has there been much change in the number of people looking on Ichthys? More or less or about the same?

Keeping you and yours in my prayers and hope you have a lovely weekend!

In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #26:
Thanks again for those prayers. 

The plan of God is perfect. One thing it's accomplishing is the complete vindication of God and His truth at every turn. When people still turn out to be people and still make anti-God decisions under ALL circumstances, good and bad, wonderful and awful, it shows that it's not about the environment they are in – it's about what is really deep down in their hearts.

On Ichthys traffic, I got a new server in 2017 so the site would be "secure" and wouldn't be bounced from Google searches for being "insecure". I've noted since that MANY sites are deemed "insecure" (like our university's site for example!), but it hasn't hurt their traffic. By contrast, Ichthys "took a hit" immediately thereafter and has been in decline ever since. But never has it been as bad as recently, in my memory (stats now don't go back past late 2017). So that's an answer. There is also a lot more competition out there. I'm not bothered by it. I figure that whoever really will be helped by this ministry in particular will be led to it by the Lord . . . just as you were.

Beautiful day today! The sunshine helps to dispel the awful faculty meeting I just had to endure. But we are getting close to the end. I got "volunteered" for a French search so I'll still have some things I have to do before getting my research efforts going (I wasn't really able to do that last summer what with all the dislocation and additional duties pursuant to Covid).

Keeping you and your family in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #27:
Hi Bob,

Enjoying the weekly Q&A’s as usual and today’s first few questions made me think about how sad it is that so many don’t know that Jesus established a better way through the strait gate, revealed and led by the Spirit. And as you know, so many verses refute the church visible – telling us the Spirit will teach us if we just pick up the Bible, he will help us to understand the truth by what we read instead of believing and following manmade traditions, which only tell the truth sometimes.

The sad part is that so many think by attending the visible church, they ARE in the narrow way and they also think the strait gate is part of the church system when it clearly isn’t – those two verses and the one immediately following stand alone but few understand them.

I am aware a lot of ichthys readers read my articles and this subject is dear to my heart, as it yours and I wonder, would it be an imposition to ask you to direct those who are obviously questioning the church visible to my article on the strait gate?

I’ll understand if you think it isn’t appropriate for you to do that.

As always dear Bob, your friend in Christ,
Response #27:
Good point, my friend.

I've added to the blurb at the bottom of the email page a parenthetical note about your postings, and will keep this in mind for the future (posted emails are always "old stuff" . . . sometimes VERY old).

Hope you are doing well! Keeping you and your family in my daily prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #28:
Hi Bob,

I remember -- or maybe misremember -- a verse that said basically, "You didn't receive because you didn't ask." Is that an actual part of scripture or have I conflated different passages to arrive at that notion? It makes no difference how I search, I can't seem to find it.

On another note, for our "Happy Camper" or unhappy as the case may be, bread can be made in an heavy iron dutch oven on the stovetop. It also works well on the stovetop as a way to roast small portions of meats, like a 2# roast. (A diffuser might be needed to avoid scorching since contemporary home range burners are pathetic. I use one.) It's how things were done in the chuck wagon days, though they had a better "burner" than most contemporary kitchen ranges with their bed of coals. My oven took a powder sometime ago and I use the oven so little, I haven't had the incentive to go through the shopping drill and listen to all the nonsense sales pitches though I'm getting a hankerin' for pizza.

In regards "Eschatology Issues LXVI," I can sympathize. The COVID fraud is a challenge for all of us and, I don't believe, likely to improve. I learned a long time ago that. "if it walks like a skunk, looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk, it's a skunk." A country way of saying "the purpose of a thing is what it does." The pressure to vaccinate, I believe, comes from people who have a lot invested in the pharmaceutical cartel or government who want's control. Either that, or everything I was told from the '50s until recently about antibodies and immunity was a lie. (Both are possible.)

Fortunately, with my self-enforced "self distancing" out here on the prairie, it may be a while before the nonsense gets to me.

There are several verses that have found a permanent home with me:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Having lived in large cities, I don't believe it's easy or even possible to be still and see the splendors God has given us -- even in this fallen world. (The infernal grasshoppers are back, BTW -- early, too! I'm convinced it's because the Lord's urging me to get chickens.) Moving to the country has been a life changing revelation. And I'm still learning. (I thought I would be done learning at this point.)

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

And -- my apologies:

Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

This last is particularly true with my old, tired eyes. I've found that Ecclesiastes 12:12 is absolutely good instruction. Unlike many of your correspondents, I don't read commentaries, I read the Bible and you. and frankly, I can only read so much before my old eyes poop out. I don't know what I'll do for my next driver's license renewal.

Jeremiah 6:16 has shaped my life up to this point. I realize Jeremiah was speaking of Mosaic law but after the stink and noise of a tiller/mower plus the pain in the neck of driving in for gas and running out at the worst possible time as well as living the experience of 24/7 noise and stink of cities, I stood in the old ways, saw and asked for the old paths and found the rest of the verse is absolutely true. As true as "dunging the vines" and "planting the highest tip of the cedar" is for us today even though that was not the scriptural point. They're still good horticultural techniques. In fact, all of the peripheral analogies in the Bible I've found to be true.

On a somewhat facetious note: There is an 11th commandment not recorded in scripture --

"Thou shalt not use vinegar in BBQ or beans in chili!"

You're close enough to Virginia to be poisoned by that nonsense. BBQed ribs are delicious -- if not ruined with vinegar -- and healthy, too. Vinegar belongs on salads and pickles -- not BBQ. Not that I have any bias, of course.

Yours in the wonders of our Lord,
Response #28:
Before I forget, what I mean by "French search" is that we're hiring someone to fill a term line teaching French, and that requires us to jump through many hoops these days. I'm on the committee doing the hiring.

Thanks for all the good cooking advice and for your insights into scripture. I'll send your baking info along to them.

I don't use commentaries very much either (even though I own a ton of them). I almost never get any positive help from them.

The verse you're trying to remember I think is this one:
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:2-3 NKJV
Keeping you and yours in my prayers, my friend!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #29:
Hello Professor

I hope you are doing well. My family and I are still gathering weekly for Bible study. We have finished the Christology and are just concentrating on the Peter series now. My husband and I alone are still going through the Satanic Rebellion series. I do say that I have learned so much from your teachings and in fact they are beautiful!

I am a bit stuck now in the Jewish Ceremonial Calendar section. Quite stuck! Lets start with what may by a typo, but it may not. In the last statement at II Gap #2 The Age of Israel you say "a seven year period at the end of the Church Age ( and shared in common with the Church Age) which will be treated below. Should that state ( and shared in common with the Jewish Age) ?

In 4) Weeks or Pentecost you mention the 2 bulls. Numbers says 2 bulls, 1 ram and 7 lambs. Leviticus says 1 bull, 2 rams and 7 lambs. Leviticus 23:19 seems to be saying these 2 lambs are in addition to the other 7 lambs already mentioned. Why is there a difference in the number of bulls from numbers to Leviticus?

Leviticus 23:16 my bible says "count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall offer a grain offering to the Lord." I read that to mean that I would add 50 to the number 49. Seven sabbaths plus fifty to get to the feast of weeks. This would be the 2nd first fruit celebration but this time with wheat instead of barley. My question is not about the intercalation but more like, I know everyone is saying 50 days from harvest to harvest hence the word Pentecost but I read 99 days so I'm missing something here.

Also about the 2 loaves, they are made with leaven this time. Is this because we are to be in this world but not of it? 

Thank you for all that you do. In Christ,
Response #29:
Thanks for the update and for your kind comments!

On your questions:

1) While the language is a bit confusing I'll admit, the section is titled "II. Gap #2: The Age of Israel"; so since we are talking about the Age of Israel, stating that the Tribulation is "a seven year period at the end of the Church Age (and shared in common with the Church Age)"; what I mean is "shared between the two ages", but since we're discussing the Jewish Age, I express it from that perspective.

2) On the sacrifices, in my opinion, the "two bulls" et al. are the special sacrifice of the holy assembly on the first day of the festival; the other numbers refer to the daily offerings which are to be offered on every day of the festival.

3) I think this is an "English problem", in that, like my own prose, some Bible translations do make this difficult to understand. Here is how NIV renders this verse, which I believe to be a fair representation of what the Hebrew means: "Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD".

4) On the loaves with leaven, applying the symbolism of the all the ins and outs of the Law is always open to interpretation. I would say that you make a GREAT "application" here – but I wouldn't want to go so far as to say that "this is the specific interpretation of this verse".

Kudos to you and your hubby for serving the Church of Jesus Christ so consistently well!

I'm keeping you and your family in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #30:
Dear Professor

Hope your dental problems are sorted for the long term and you get things done in your break.

Update: The storms passed to the east of us - I was praying it would miss our town as we are not built for cyclonic (hurricane) conditions. The biggest population centres were spared the brunt. I thank our Lord that we were spared. We got some rain here, though not a lot and today it is just mizzle (not enough to be a drizzle). Wear wooly weather for the next 4 days and then warming up a bit. Good excuse for staying indoors today with a cool wind/mizzle mix = me get sick quick if out in the paddock up a ladder - was hoping for warm days to finish the shed project. I just got home after a coffee morning with a few of the other oldish blokes.

Friday night lesson went well. Former RCers said that before they started coming to this fellowship that they had no idea that worshipping saints and statues was forbidden for believers. Now they understand why the born again believers in the Philippines (ex RC) threw their statues and other paraphernalia into the sea - someone’s trash would no doubt then become some finders “miracle” sign.

Question: (only answer when you have time).

He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25 ESV.

Is this fourth person in the furnace an angel? Some think it might have been Christ but I did not think that Jesus would appear to unbelievers (Nebuchadnezzar and the entourage gathered at the furnace). Would that not rule out a Christophany?

In some ways the wait for the end is awfully slow, though no doubt there is plenty of preparation we need to be making to enable us to endure the coming Tribulation to whatever point our Lord has in mind for each of us to exit this world of tears. I am grateful that we (most of us) are still living without physical want as I am certain we will soon regard today as blessed in comparison to the Tribulation. The unseen needs to be our Rock now and even more so then.

It is a great blessing to have your teachings now in preparation for the torrid testing times ahead. Even ___ remarked that the grooming (a term associated with paedophiles and abusers) for “the mark” is happening right now on the official level.

I have noticed that I can’t watch much at all in the way of an escapist TV drama nowadays because of the blasphemy of sacred names. Q & A used to be a place where there was some “useful debate” - though having biased ABC controller generals and majority heavily (NOT heavenly) leaning panel members. How far can they lean before falling over completely? 
Listening to their “reasoning” I would conclude most are firmly in Satan’s camp already. Watching an attractive young woman “advocate” for children as young as 10, or even younger to be able to undergo a sex change without even their parent’s consent! WHAT! The fact that a panel member pointed out that more suicides happen in children who sex change and that we are putting more young people into the high death risk category was of no concern to the politically correct “experts”. They argue it only means we have to do MANY MORE sex changes at the whim of young children backed by psychology experts without parents or religious nuts interfering in the “New Order” [my terminology- their belief system]. This is mainstream prime time television funded by taxpayers to utterly destroy the family, leaving the “system” to decide in the “best interests of the child”. And we are concerned (rightly so) for the Uyghur being incarcerated in China.

Tactics that we employ here include media saturation, advocacy, forced (compulsory) learning in schools of “diversity” (same sex marriage, homosexuality, fluid sexuality - ability to be a she, he, zhe [floater between the two depending how you feel at any given moment in time]. At one time in my life I never thought I would see the MAJORITY of our country vote for same sex marriage. At THIS time I am doubting, BUT much less confident that the MAJORITY will not embrace “will of the whim” surgical/hormonal sex changes without parental consent (even now some parents consent or actively support/encourage sex changes of their very young children). Combine this with the teaching of these ideas as mainstream thinking in our schools, I am thinking we believers are the alternate life stylers, then misfits, then radicals (though NOT free radicals for very long).

Exasperation! If I did not see it I would never believe it!

The Satanic tactic is: See it (often). Hear it (ceaselessly). Believe it (or beware!): SATurAtioN! 
[It is a picture of the abomination that makes desolate]. “We have ways and means to make you believe the lie.”

The grooming is proceeding rapidly to the mid Tribulational frenzy show.

No wonder your Ministry teaches: Do not believe what you see! Do not believe what you hear! Do not believe the world! Jesus has told us beforehand . Matthew 24:3-28.

The world is now seeing and soon will see and hear more of what they want to embrace - false gods - leading to the false god. For believers, we do not see or hear what we want from the barking mad world - it is grating to our senses and repulsive to our spirit. After our Bible lessons on the detestable worship of idols - the things people can see, touch and soon hear speak, it is apparent that people desire a tangible object/person to worship. I admit that as a believer I do long for the day to meet our Lord and Savior face to face. I believe this natural longing of many, will be seen as another tactic the evil one can use to attempt to deceive believers (and succeed in many cases).

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29. ESV

Not seeing is a pertinent instruction for us at all times and more especially so in the deceptions in days to come. As oppression reaches its crescendo we will long for our Savior more than ever before making many susceptible to capitulating to the false christs and false prophets. Mormons already have them. I thank our Lord for His grace and mercy that He has freed me from their grasp. Jesus described these and all imposters: 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27. ESV.

We all need to be aware to clean ourselves inside. These religionists have the polished up their art of glitzing up their tombs to appear wonderful on the outside. BTW bring plenty of your cash - magic perfumed polish is expensive. 

If that did not alarm his hearers (perhaps the dirty old bones aren’t carrying the latest new highly contagious strain of covid); Jesus warns his disciples with multiple descriptions that should hit home for all, including:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15 ESV.

Us sheep seeing another sheep (false prophet) naturally feel safe. Hungry wolves disguised as sheep make for the complete destruction of their prey. Any ex Mormon who has been given to see the light of the truth will understand that the Mormon “prophets” do indeed wear sheep’s clothing but are indeed ravenous wolves, leading the multitude of their flocks to destruction.
Imagine how many [it included myself for more than a quarter of a century], are deceived from a lack of a knowledge of the truth. Once fenced in, warm and cosy with other sheep, fed fib grass that tantalises the senses of the senseless, taught to revere a “living prophet” much more so than dead ones (ram it in with rousing emotional hymns of the latter day “prophet”), and of course, extract the tithing dollars to make the commitment complete - the “conversion” is accomplished.

My reason for bringing this up again is to parallel the pitfalls of RC false teachings of pope, idol worship of images and “saints” and the false Mormon “prophets”, massive temple edifices worldwide, and false priesthood. That so many have been, are being, and still yet will be deceived, well before any actual miracle signs and actual speaking idols parade themselves on the world stage is remarkable - even many would say unbelievable. What the chances for these people and the rest of mankind once the false prophets and idols are indeed remarkably astonishing in their actual power! The false “deliverer” whose Tribulational reign promises the world freedom from the “tyranny” of the real truth needs to be deprived of those who would otherwise be victims but for the grace and mercy of our dear Lord. 

I often pray for those entrapped in cults and other false systems and that the truth will shine through and the false exposed. I know that there are evangelists and apologists that do pray and do teach others. It sometimes brings me to tears thinking of those friends I knew and those that I do not know being led to hell.

I was wondering whether you would consider having on the prayer list for all those entrapped by cults, that the truth will be revealed to them, that the false is exposed for what it really is, even for those in churches that are “slightly off the whole truth” to be shown the truth, and then led to where they can be fed good pasture to endure to the end. There is nothing we can “do for Christ” if He does authorise it or does not facilitate it.

Thank you so much for your Ministry.

Glory be to God and His Christ and the Spirit of Truth.

Your student and friend in Jesus.
Response #30:
Good news on the storms!

And what an insight! Yes, one believer's trash is an unbeliever's treasure. When I read about all the magic books burned at Ephesus in Acts, I can't help thinking how Classicists would consider that a real loss of treasure.

I continue to be amazed at the level and amount of remedial work you're having to do in your Bible study. I think that there's a better understanding of such things over here generally – just VERY little interest in pursuing spiritual growth. 

On your question, I consider this incident a very definite Christophany. As I write in BB 1 about this issue (at the link), the fact that it is only after Christ has ascended that we have our expanded access to the Father makes it even less likely that He would be appearing before the cross instead of the One who represents Him.

Tooth is doing well! Found out yesterday that they've ceased mandatory testing for Covid at U of L (because of our low positivity rate – and I think it'll save them money too). So that is the end of that. Lots of "encouragement" to get the shot, but nothing mandated yet. A bit hard to do over here considering the 4th amendment and also the medical rule of autonomy. 

The issue you bring up is one that is playing large over here as well. But a number of our legislatures are passing laws against it while a number of so-called conservative governors are pushing back against such prohibitions (because of the flak they're getting from corporations who are in the tank for anything evil but popular among the new powers that be). At least that battle seems to be being fought on better ground here. All this nonsense is getting SO obnoxious and despicable it leads me to think that my friend may have it right when he suspects that antichrist may well rise to power by leading a reaction from right of center. We'll certainly find out!

I'm happy to entertain any specific prayer requests you have, my friend. I don't necessarily see the same value in blanket ones as a regular practice – but that is just me (I assure you). I've learned that we need to pray for whatever is on our hearts. When I get around to posting this, perhaps others will be moved to pray in the same way.

Keeping you and yours in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus Christ our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #31:
Hi Bob,

We are well, thank you for asking.

I heard something about Bitcoin this morning, which grabbed my attention and on thinking more about it, I was wondering if the same thoughts had crossed your mind.

As we know buying and selling will become an impossibility shortly in the second half of Tribulation without accepting the mark, so we won’t be able to access money as we know it to do everyday things.

Knowing there is but a scant 5 years before Tribulation begins, Satan is certainly stepping up his agenda – could it be that Bitcoin, an internet commodity, will replace money as we know it and become the universal currency? Seeing the mark is needed for transfer of currency, could Bitcoin be that currency?

Something about it suggests evil to me, particularly the way the world is fast degenerating on a downward spiral and knowing there is little time left, and Bitcoin being a relatively new thing, are we being ‘conditioned now’ to accept it with more to come – it wouldn’t surprise me if this turned out to be true.

Again as always dear Bob, your friend in Christ.
Response #31:
When it comes to the specifics about what the world of that time will look like, there is a great deal we do not know. I certainly never imagined anything like Bitcoin. And when it was introduced, it also certainly never occurred to me that buying, say, 100 of them for a few dollars would have been a pretty good investment . . . at this point. If what you hypothesize turns out to be the case, it will be more than a little ironic that a medium of exchange designed to avoid government oversight will be used for exactly that opposite purpose. So I wouldn't rule it out! It's a good possibility to keep in mind because I certainly would NOT recommend believers to start moving into cryptocurrencies on the assumption that in that way they could still buy and sell without the mark. If we're meant to get through the Tribulation all the way until the Lord's return, He will see us through – and we won't need to resort to seeming clever (before the fact) strategies to do so.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L. 
Question #32:
Hi Bob,

Just to clarify in case you might be thinking I’m saying something different – I understand that no matter what currencies are circulating at that time, no currency will allow believers who refuse the mark to buy and sell anything – as you say, He will see us through.

Apologies if my email was suggesting otherwise.

Again as always dear Bob, with brotherly love,
Response #32:
No worries, my friend. I certainly understood you. I just have a tendency to expand on things. As to the details of what the Tribulation will look like for us, I certainly don't know and no one else does either – but we will find out soon enough. Until then and most definitely "then", we'll need to do what you say here, namely, absolutely trust the Lord with all our hearts to get us through – which He most certainly will, to whatever final victory He has planned for us.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
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