Seriously in order to make up the numbers ICE are claiming that people extradited to face trial in the USA are there illegally and must be deported .

“We are going to defend our neighbors,” Walz said at a Tuesday fundraiser, according to the Center Square. “Instead of demonizing our Somali community, we’re going to do more to welcome more in.”

He always appears to know what is best for the rest of us.

I admit, this is not my favorite subject to write about, for it can be a confusing subject, for certain. So, I will try to make it simple to understand for all of us. The Jews of old were under the Old Covenant (The Law), and it was filled with all kinds of liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, circumcision, dietary, and Sabbath laws that God’s people, the Jews, had to obey. But we who believe in Jesus Christ are not under that covenant.


This is speaking of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is God, and who is our creator God (see John 1:1-36). He left his throne in heaven, came to the earth, and was born as a baby to a virgin woman, but conceived of the Holy Spirit and not of man, so he was not born with a sin nature as we are, and he never sinned. When he lived on the earth he was fully God and fully human. And at the age of 30 he began his earthly ministry, the primary part of which was sharing the message of the gospel of Christ.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

And so it is essential that we understand the message of the gospel taught by Jesus so that we comprehend this whole matter of The Law. For The Law is generally a reference to the Old Covenant God had with his people Israel, Jews only. But once Jesus was crucified on that cross to deliver us out of our slavery to sin, the Old Covenant was done away with, and the New Covenant came into being. But the New Covenant is not lawless, for under the New Covenant we still have to obey our Lord and his commandments.


So, there is The Law, which was the Old Covenant, which had all those liturgical and ceremonial laws the Jews had to follow. And there is the New Covenant God has with his people Israel (Jew and Gentile by faith in Jesus Christ) which did away with all the liturgical and ceremonial laws, but which still requires that we obey our Lord and his commands under the New Covenant. And what God requires of us under the New Covenant is mainly that we die with Christ to sin and we walk in obedience to his commands.

And his laws under the New Covenant have mainly to do with love, grace, morality, faithfulness, honesty, and doing what pleases God and what is righteous in the eyes of the Lord, and that which submits to Christ as Lord and surrenders to his will and purpose for our lives. It is more, perhaps, about our relationship with Christ as our husband, and our desire to love him by doing what he calls us to do as his followers. And it is not about religious practices which do nothing to change the human heart, mind, and soul.

But the situation the believers in Christ of that time period were being faced with was the Judaizers who were trying to convince the Christians that they had to be circumcised and that they had to hold to some of those ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant. And so Paul let them know plainly that the Israel of God is not those who are merely of Jewish descent, but they are those who are followers of Jesus Christ. And all who do not believe in Christ are not the children of God, so we don’t have to listen to what they say.


And what this is telling us (in vv. 21-31) is that physical Jerusalem is of Hagar, the slave woman, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem from above is our mother (allegorically speaking) who bears the children of promise, who are all who believe in Jesus Christ. So we are not to let ourselves be influenced by any Jew who is trying to push us to become more like Jews and to follow the Old Covenant liturgical laws. For all who do not believe in Jesus Christ are not the children of God; not his holy nation.

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:1-6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

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

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

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The Law vs The Law
An Original Work / December 12, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Congresswoman Omar should not be pledging help to any foreign nation. This has been the concern not with just Omar, but with the Somali community, that there first loyalty may not be to the United States of America. She should be out there every day saying the individuals involved in fraud are not representative of Somalians, she should denounce their actions and encourage all in the community to come forward with information on fraud.

Jesus Christ our Lord rose from the dead, ascended and was glorified. But fully glorified? For Jesus is as in Isaiah 9:6. He is the father of time and should know the end from the beginning, but the bridegroom does not know the time of his wedding, but only his father according to Jewish traditions.

And about the prophets before us. Hebrews 11:40.

The verse says:

“God having provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
— Hebrews 11:40

Click to expand...

Meaning:
The Old Testament prophets and faithful saints (“they”) will not receive their final perfection, glory, or completion without us — that is, without the whole people of God across all ages. The author of Hebrews is emphasizing that the consummation happens together, at the resurrection and final glorification.

Related idea​

Paul teaches a similar “together in glory” theme:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 – The dead in Christ rise first, then living believers join them together.
• Romans 8:17–23 – Glorification and redemption of the body happen for all God's children at once.

Perhaps Jesus full glorification will come with us altogether ? Prophets like Moses, Elijah and Ezekiel may be fully sanctified and partly glorified. As Jesus in Revelation, is crowned, with all glory, and honour and power... Revelation 1:5-6, 5:13, 7:12, but it does not say knowledge and that He again knows all and the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. But even now His body is immortal and glorious and glory shines from His face with vast intensity. 2 Corinthians 4:6.

We may be awaiting the wedding feast of the Lamb for glorification, all together like a graduating class. And after us a new class starts.

Please pray as I have a splinter i can't get out or maybe a spider/insect bite or sting from gardening, thank you.

My son Jakeb isn't doing well tonight at all. Please ask God to heal him, keep him safe and watch over him. Please ask God to heal him mind and body and protect him and give him joy. Please ask God for total healing. A miracle. Thank you and God bless you.

⭐ 1. Revelation itself IDENTIFIES the city that kills the prophets
⭐ Revelation 11:8 “The great city… where also their Lord was crucified. It is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt.” Only one city qualifies: Jerusalem. The phrase “where their Lord was crucified” is geographically specific.

⭐ 2. Only Jerusalem is the city that kills prophets (Jesus’ own words)
⭐ Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…”
⭐ Luke 13:33 “It cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.” Revelation 18 says of Mystery Babylon:
⭐ Revelation 18:24 “In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints…” Jesus says prophets are killed in Jerusalem. Revelation says prophets are killed in Babylon. Therefore → The city = Jerusalem. No other city in the Bible kills prophets.

⭐ 3. Jerusalem is repeatedly called a HARLOT in the Old Testament Revelation 17 calls Mystery Babylon “the great harlot.” So does the OT, referring to Jerusalem:
⭐ Isaiah 1:21 “How the faithful city has become a harlot!” This is the same accusation Revelation makes.
⭐ Ezekiel 16:15 “You trusted in your beauty and played the harlot…”
⭐ Ezekiel 16:26 “You committed harlotry with the Egyptians…”
⭐ Ezekiel 16:28 “You played the harlot with Assyria…”
⭐ Ezekiel 23:1–49 Jerusalem (“Oholibah”) and Samaria (“Oholah”) are called: “harlots” “adulteresses” women committing fornication with foreign nations This is near-identical language to Revelation 17. Thus, long before Revelation, Jerusalem = Harlot City in prophecy.

⭐ 4. Jerusalem is called SODOM — same as Mystery Babylon Revelation 11:8 identifies the great city as: Sodom Egypt The OT also calls Jerusalem Sodom:
⭐ Isaiah 1:10 “Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom… you people of Gomorrah!”
⭐ Ezekiel 16:46–55 Jerusalem compared to Sodom repeatedly. Jerusalem is spiritually: Sodom Gomorrah Revelation uses the SAME labels.

⭐ 5. Jerusalem is called EGYPT — same as Mystery Babylon Revelation 11:8 explicitly says Jerusalem is Egypt spiritually. The OT establishes this pattern:
⭐ Hosea 11:5 “He shall return to Egypt…” (Israel’s judgment)
⭐ Deuteronomy 28:68 Israel will be sent “back to Egypt” in judgment. Thus, “Egypt” is a Bible nickname for apostate Israel/Jerusalem.

⭐ Jeremiah 25:11–12 The nations drinking the cup of wrath includes Jerusalem first (Jer 25:18), just as Babylon brings wrath to the nations. Jerusalem becomes like Babylon when judged.

⭐ 7. Revelation’s description of the “Great City” matches Jerusalem, not Rome (a) The city where Jesus was crucified Only Jerusalem (Rev. 11:8) (b) The city that kills prophets Only Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37; Rev. 18:24) (c) The city drunk with blood of saints Jerusalem repeatedly killed the righteous (Matt. 23:35). (d) The harlot imagery OT consistently uses this language for Jerusalem (Isa 1; Ezek 16; 23).

⭐ 8. Additional OT parallels between Jerusalem and Mystery Babylon
⭐ Jeremiah 6:6 “This is the city to be visited… wickedness is found in her.”
⭐ Jeremiah 13:27 “Your adulteries, your neighings… I have seen your abominations, O Jerusalem.”
⭐ Lamentations 1–2 (especially 1:8–9, 1:17) Jerusalem’s fall described with language similar to Revelation 18.
⭐ Micah 3:9–12 In the 500s BC Jerusalem is judged, destroyed, and burned → parallel to Rev. 17–18.



Note Revelation 1-12 happened 70 AD, and Jerusalem was called Sodom, and Egypt then. When it is judged again in the future it is called mystery Babylon. Revelation 13-22 is still future.

Revelation 17 2
2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

Revelation 18

9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’

The kings of the earth - all the political leaders in the world- go to Jerusalem to worship satan at the brick wall which is committing spiritual fornication/adultery - so they can get money from the people that say they are Jews but lie they are the synagogue of satan (SOS) as they own the worlds banking systems. Notice the people are calling the city Babylon- it is no longer a metaphor at that point in time- conclusion- Jerusalem will be renamed BABYLON by the SOS themselves. The reason is they like the tower of Babel concept

Genesis 11 4
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Zionism for the SOS is the same concept- they say let us make a country for ourselves in Palestine which is where ancient Israel was, and a name for ourselves- "Israel", and let us not be scattered among the nations because of what happened to us in 70 AD. We can trick people into believing we are old covenant Israel (which actually ended with Jesus, then 70 AD never to return again). Also they like the name Babylon because in Daniels Babylon everyone had to worship a golden statue or die just like when the SOS messiah comes everyone will have to worship their messiah or die. Revelation 13 mark of the beast is the hexagram.

Revelation 17 4
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries

Which is what the Levites wore in Exodus 39- Leviticus 2

Exodus 39
39 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord commanded Moses.
2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
4 They made shoulder pieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses.
6 And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.
7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.

The church is the third temple the Israel of God born in a day on Pentecost, and believers body has the spirit of God in it but maybe the SOS will build a replica temple of the OT to worship satan in.


Revelation 17
8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction.

That could be referring to OT Solomonic Israel when it was at its peak but was not in the first century but will be restored to that (and more).

So Jerusalem will be world capital one day. A huge trade city like New York or London or Sydney or Hong Kong etc. But God will destroy it forever never to return again.
The new Jerusalem is the promise land now

Most of these prophecies were about either the Babylonian, Maccabean or 70 AD judgment on Jerusalem.

⭐ PART 1 — OLD JERUSALEM: THE CITY IN SIN / UNDER JUDGMENT​

These verses describe the current/old Jerusalem as:

• harlot
• unfaithful
• judged
• destroyed
• not God’s final dwelling place

Isaiah 1:21​

“How the faithful city has become a harlot!”

Isaiah 3:8​

“Jerusalem is ruined, Judah has fallen…”

Isaiah 29:1–4​

Jerusalem (Ariel) will be:

• besieged
• humbled
• brought low

Jeremiah 4:14–18​

“O Jerusalem… your wickedness”
Judgment is coming.

Jeremiah 6:6​

“This is the city to be punished…”

Jeremiah 13:27​

“Your adulteries… I have seen your abominations, O Jerusalem.”

Jeremiah 19:3–11​

Jerusalem will be smashed like a potter’s vessel.

Jeremiah 22:5–9​

Jerusalem will become a desolation.

Jeremiah 26:18​

“Zion shall be plowed like a field…”

Ezekiel 4–5​

Jerusalem judged for iniquity.

Ezekiel 12:19–20​

Jerusalem becomes waste and desolation.

Ezekiel 16 (entire chapter)​

Jerusalem =

• harlot
• adulteress
• worse than Sodom
• judged by foreign nations

Ezekiel 23 (entire chapter)​

Jerusalem (Oholibah) commits harlotry with nations → judged violently.

Micah 3:9–12​

Jerusalem will be destroyed, Zion plowed, temple burned.

Lamentations 1–2​

Jerusalem sits desolate, destroyed, judged.

Zechariah 7:11–14​

God scattered Jerusalem because she refused to obey.

Matthew 23:37–39​

“Your house is left to you desolate.”

Luke 19:41–44​

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem → predicts its destruction.

Luke 21:20–24​

Jerusalem will be

• surrounded by armies
• trampled by Gentiles

Revelation 11:8​

The old Jerusalem is:

• the city “where the Lord was crucified”
• spiritually Sodom and Egypt

This identifies it as the apostate Jerusalem.

---

⭐ PART 2 — NEW JERUSALEM: THE FUTURE / HEAVENLY CITY OF GOD​

Now the contrast transitions: old city judged → new city replaces it.

Isaiah 2:2–4​

Jerusalem in the last days =

• mountain of YHWH
• nations come for teaching
• peace, not war

This is future, restored Jerusalem (fulfilled more fully in New Jerusalem).

Isaiah 4:2–6​

A purified remnant in Jerusalem under a cloud of glory → Eden restoration imagery.

Isaiah 12:6​

“Great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst.”

Isaiah 52:1–9​

Awake, O Zion — restored, redeemed.

Isaiah 54​

New covenant Jerusalem =

• barren woman now fruitful
• never forsaken again

Quoted by Paul in Galatians 4.

Isaiah 60–62 (major New Jerusalem chapters)​

Highlights:

• “Arise, shine, your light has come.”
• Nations bring wealth to Jerusalem.
• “Your walls Salvation, your gates Praise.”
• Jerusalem gets a new name from the Lord (Rev. 2:17, Rev. 3:12 connection).

Isaiah 65:17–19​

“I create new heavens and a new earth…
I create Jerusalem to be a joy.”


This is directly fulfilled in Revelation 21.

Isaiah 66:10–14​

Jerusalem as the comforting mother of God’s people.

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⭐ PART 3 — NEW JERUSALEM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT​

The NT draws a sharp contrast:

• Earthly Jerusalem = bondage
• New Jerusalem = freedom, mother of believers
• Heavenly Jerusalem = true city of God

⭐ Galatians 4:24–26​

“Now Hagar corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage…
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”


Clear distinction:

• “Present Jerusalem” = cursed, enslaved
• “Jerusalem above” = the true people of God

⭐ Hebrews 11:10, 16​

Abraham sought a city
“whose builder and maker is God.”


Not earthly Jerusalem.

⭐ Hebrews 12:22–23​

“You have come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem,
the city of the living God…”


Believers already belong to the heavenly city, not the old earthly one.

⭐ Revelation 3:12​

Jesus promises believers:
“I will write on him the name of the New Jerusalem.”

⭐ Revelation 21:1–2​

“I saw the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God.”

⭐ Revelation 21:9–27; 22:1–5​

New Jerusalem =

• bride of the Lamb
• no temple
• glory of God is its light
• nations healed
• river of life
• tree of life

This is the final and eternal city, replacing the old.

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⭐ PART 4 — DIRECT OLD vs NEW JERUSALEM CONTRAST VERSES​

Here are the clearest direct contrasts:

Old Jerusalem = judged​

• Isa 1:21
• Jer 6:6
• Ezek 16
• Matt 23:37–39
• Luke 19:41–44
• Rev 11:8

New Jerusalem = redeemed, heavenly, eternal​

• Isa 65:17–19
• Isa 66:22
• Gal 4:26
• Heb 12:22
• Rev 21–22

Old Jerusalem = slavery​

New Jerusalem = freedom​

• Gal 4:24–26

Old Jerusalem = earthly​

New Jerusalem = heavenly​

• Heb 12:22
• Rev 21

Old Jerusalem = harlot​

New Jerusalem = bride​

• Ezek 16 (harlot)
• Rev 17 (harlot)
  vs
• Rev 21 (bride of the Lamb)

Old Jerusalem = desolate​

New Jerusalem = rejoicing​

• Matt 23:38
  vs
• Rev 21:3–4

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⭐ SUMMARY​

OLD JERUSALEM​

• sinful
• adulterous
• kills prophets
• judged
• desolate
• symbolically Egypt, Sodom, Babylon
• destroyed in AD 70 (Luke 21; Matt 22; Rev 11)

NEW JERUSALEM​

• heavenly
• bride of Christ
• free
• transformed
• holy
• eternal dwelling of God with His people
• descends from heaven (Rev. 21)

Everything in Scripture points to a transition:


Old covenant Jerusalem → removed
New covenant Jerusalem → established forever

Revelation 18
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Christians are not supposed to be unequally yoked with Babylon Jerusalem, "Israel" (Christians are Jews Israel Romans 2 28 29 Galatians 6 16), and the synagogue of satan. They should be ignored.
Jesus on the pharisees whom the modern day synagogue of satans religion goes back to

Matthew 15:14

King James Version
​

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Good evening, morning, afternoon, new day to all viewing my post.
My name is Jasmine, and I am a devoted follower of our Lord and Savior Yeshua Messiah. I hope to connect with fellow believers, have meaningful conversations with non-believers, and to learn alongside you as we peruse through the forums.

I have an inquiry regarding employment, job seeking that may be out of place for "Introduce Yourself, but I was hoping to place a personal summary for my job experience in hopes of securing employment. If anyone could offer advice as to which forum would best for this purpose (Prayer requests, Christian advice, Christian Forum Community Life, Chat with Staff, Young Adults, Christian Forums Blogs, Business, Administration & Management, Christian Forums Marketplace, etc)? I'd like to streamline this effort as to not risk spamming.

I wish everyone well. Here is to the conversations that are to come.

I have heard some Christians and videos/books talk about Christians being able to experience heaven on earth.
I currently believe in the following:

Life is a never-ending stream of problems that must be confronted, surmounted, and/or solved. If at any point, Life runs out of problems to give us, then as players, we will unconsciously invent problems for ourselves.

Click to expand...

There are also related words like "abundance" and "manifesting". I was wondering if Christians believe heaven on earth can be consistently experienced and if that is Biblical. I think it's related to prosperity gospel but maybe involves even stronger blessings.

I have experienced feelings of heaven on earth myself but they turned out to be manic episodes and I've been hospitalized. At the same time I had missed out on a lot of sleep and if that happens I start taking sleeping tablets. In those cases when my life seemed perfect I ended up unconsciously inventing problems for myself (resulting in hospitalization, etc)

The Church isn’t (to be)


[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5]

The Church is (to be)


[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Therefore, when we gather together as the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in our Lord, it is for the purpose of our mutual encouragement and edification where each part is able to do its work, as we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit in spiritual gifts, and as we have been given our assignments by God as to our specific body parts (roles, ministries) within the body of believers in Jesus Christ.

So, this is not a “one man show,” where one man does all the preaching, and leads every gathering, and whose sermons are never tested to see if they are of God or not… And where the “pastor” is treated more like a CEO of a corporation, or more like a cult leader who is surrounded by a faithful few who are protecting him and his position, regardless of whether he is right or wrong, or if he is living the Christian life, or not, which is all about running a business. And it is not about a show, period, where a few gifted and talented people (in speaking and in music) put on a stage production intended to draw in large crowds of people from the world into their gatherings.

Yes, the early church had overseers, but they were overseers of the entire church (the body of believers in Christ) within a particular city, so they were not the singular pastors of all these gatherings, which usually met in people’s homes, which is where the people were able to share their gifts and mutual encouragements. And since the body of Christ was to meet daily, and to encourage one another daily, and they met in people’s homes, it may be that there wasn’t always an overseer at every one of their gatherings.

Now, the body of Christ cannot function as the biblical body of Christ in large gatherings where a few people put on the show while the rest of the people largely sit in pews or chairs as spectators, and then they go home and live their normal lives until the next week. The Bible, in fact, teaches that we are to be speaking the truth of God’s word to one another in love, and we are to be speaking to one another in spiritual songs, and we are to be admonishing and teaching one another, and exhorting one another EVERY DAY.

Do we need overseers? Yes! But the shepherds of the people are not to be the only ones doing the talking and the preaching and sharing of gifts. But they are to be those who are leading the sheep in how they are to live and operate together as the body of Christ, who are training and equipping the saints of God in the work of the ministry. For all of us are to be ministers, not just one person. And those who are overseers need to meet the spiritual qualifications of an overseer, and they need to be accountable to the church.


No Less

An Original Work / March 19, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.

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Church is, Church isn’t
An Original Work / December 11, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

⭐ 1. METHOD FOR EVALUATING ANY ANCIENT TEXT​

Use these 6 steps.
Historians and scholars do exactly this.

---

Step 1 — Identify What the Text Is​

Ask:

• Is it history?
• Prophecy?
• Myth?
• Liturgy?
• Polemic?
• Legal text?
• Apocalyptic?
• Commentary?

Apocalyptic texts (like Enoch, Revelation, 4 Ezra) do not operate like history.
Polemic texts exaggerate.
Legal texts idealize.

Understanding genre prevents misreading.

---

Step 2 — Date the Text (Range, not exact)​

We almost never know exact dates.
So we estimate:

• earliest possible date (terminus a quo)
• latest possible date (terminus ad quem)

Everything in antiquity has ranges, not precision.

Example:
1 Enoch Book of Watchers → 200–160 BC, maybe older.
We don’t need exactness — just the window.

---

Step 3 — Identify the Audience​

Ancient texts were written for:

• a sect
• a king
• a court
• a temple
• exiles
• a religious movement
• a theological agenda

Knowing the audience explains why certain things are emphasized.

---

Step 4 — Compare Parallel Sources​

Ask:

• How does it line up with Josephus?
• With the Septuagint?
• With DSS?
• With archaeology?
• With inscriptions?
• With internal logic?

Agreement strengthens reliability.
Disagreement means we must be cautious.

---

Step 5 — Separate Claims From Interpretation​

“Text says X” is different from
“Therefore X means Y.”

Write them separately:

• Observation = what the text actually says
• Interpretation = what you think it means
• Speculation = what might be intended

This protects you from confusing ideas with evidence.

---

Step 6 — Give a Probability, Not Certainty​

Historians think in levels of confidence:

• High probability
• Moderate probability
• Low probability
• Unknown

Not everything is a yes/no answer.

---

⭐ 2. CHECKLIST FOR DETECTING BIAS OR OVERCONFIDENCE​

Use this on yourself any time you form an idea.

---

✔ Internal Bias Check​

Ask:

• Am I only reading sources that agree with my conclusion?
• Am I ignoring information that challenges my idea?
• Am I too emotionally attached to a theory?

If yes → pause.

---

✔ Complexity Check​

Ask:

• Does my explanation seem too simple for a massive ancient world?
• Am I assuming one cause, when ancient history is multi-causal?
• Am I forgetting cultural diversity?

If your theory feels “perfect,” it’s probably too simple.

---

✔ Expert Check​

Ask:

• Do actual scholars agree even partially?
• If not, why?
• Am I interpreting texts in ways professionals find unlikely?

If 0% of experts support an idea → proceed cautiously.

---

✔ Evidence Check​

Ask:

• Do I have multiple independent sources?
• Or just one obscure passage?

Single-text conclusions are dangerous.

---

⭐ 3. HOW HISTORIANS AVOID FALSE CERTAINTY​

Professional historians use these principles:

---

Rule 1 — Always distinguish evidence from hypothesis​

Never say “This happened” unless there is direct evidence.
Say “This is a hypothesis based on X and Y.”

---

Rule 2 — Treat silence as silence​

If a text doesn’t mention something, we cannot infer it exists.
Ancient writers omitted a lot.

---

Rule 3 — Remember we don’t have autographs​

Every text is a copy of a copy.
So historians:

• expect transmission errors
• expect missing details
• expect later interpolations
• avoid dogmatic use of a single manuscript

---

Rule 4 — Use the principle of minimal assumption​

Prefer explanations that require the fewest leaps.

---

⭐ 4. HOW TO THINK WHEN YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS​

This is VERY important and humbling.

No one on earth has seen:

• the autograph of Genesis
• the autograph of Isaiah
• the autograph of 1 Enoch
• the autograph of Jubilees
• the autograph of Matthew
• the autograph of Paul
• the autograph of Josephus

Not one.

So you are in the same position as every other human on earth — even the scholars.

Because of this, we must:

• assume copying errors exist
• assume scribes sometimes harmonized or expanded
• assume theological motivations sometimes shaped transmission
• compare manuscripts rather than rely on one
• stay humble in interpretation

Every ancient text is an echo, not the source.

This protects you from overconfidence.

---

⭐ 5. HOW TO HANDLE UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION HISTORY​

Transmission history is rarely fully known.

But here’s how to approach it:

---

✔ Principle of Textual Layers​

Almost all ancient texts have:

• older core
• later expansions
• editorial shaping
• translation effects
• commentary inserted in margins that eventually got copied into the text

Never assume a text is uniform.

---

✔ Principle of Cultural Drift​

Beliefs change over time:

• Jewish religion changed between 1000 BC and 100 BC
• Christianity changed between AD 30 and AD 200
• Scribes add interpretations
• Traditions adapt to new eras

So a text often reflects its final community, not the original event.

---

✔ Principle of Lost Information​

We have lost maybe 90% of ancient writings.
This means:

• we often see only one side of debates
• we lack counterarguments
• we misunderstand context
• we guess more than we know

The correct mindset is:

“Here is what we can know from surviving evidence —
but the full picture is certainly bigger.”

Click to expand...

---

⭐ 6. A PRACTICAL MINDSET FOR STUDYING ANCIENT TEXTS RESPONSIBLY​

Here is a grounded, healthy internal posture to adopt:

---

✔ Humility​

“I don’t know everything — and that’s okay.”

---

✔ Curiosity, not certainty​

“I want to understand, not prove.”

---

✔ Slow conclusions​

“If something seems obvious, I need to slow down and double-check.”

---

✔ Comfort with ambiguity​

“Some questions simply cannot be answered.”

---

✔ Differentiate faith from history​

Faith asks “What does this mean for me?”
History asks “What does the evidence show?”

Both can coexist as long as you don’t mix the tools.

---

✔ Expect your views to evolve​

If you’re doing it right, you will rethink things many times.
This is not failure — it is growth.

---

⭐ Final reassurance​

You said:

“I have never seen the autographs and I don’t know the transmission history.”

Click to expand...

Exactly — no one has.
Not scholars, not pastors, not rabbis, not historians.

You are not behind anyone.
You are simply honest — and honesty is the foundation of wisdom.

You’re already doing the thing that keeps people from going off into strange, isolated interpretations:

You are willing to be corrected, cautious, and humble.

The Indiana Senate failed to pass a new GOP-favored House map on Thursday, dealing a major blow to President Trump after he had publicly pressured state lawmakers to approve the new lines.

The upper chamber voted against the map on a 19-31 vote, drawing applause from some within the chamber. [The GOP holds 39 of the 50 seats.]

Trump’s allies immediately slammed the vote, saying they would follow through on that threat to challenge GOP holdouts.

Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz: “We’ll be launching primary challenges against every last traitor who voted no, effective immediately! Pack your bags, your time is up!”

Indianapolis —
The Indiana Senate on Thursday voted down a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to produce two more GOP-friendly seats, rejecting President Donald Trump’s months-long campaign to pressure the Republican supermajority in the deep-red state to bend to his will.

The 31-19 vote saw 21 Republicans join 10 Democrats in voting down the proposed map that would have positioned the GOP, which currently holds seven of Indiana’s nine US House seats, for a sweep of all nine seats in next year’s midterm elections.


I wonder how much of this "Hoosier defiance" from the Indiana state GOP could be a little bit of payback for the way Trump treated (presumably) their former friend, and pretty popular GOP governor, Mike Pence.

What does one expect to happen when cocktail of antivaxxers and conspiracy theorists are in control?

Bible distribution continues in Pakistan despite devestating floods.

While flooded rivers and fields have made travel difficult in Pakistan, some Christian teams continue to carry on the important work of distributing Bibles there. Devastating floods have led to the deaths of more than 800 people and forced over 1 million Pakistanis to evacuate their homes and villages. “Please pray for them,” said a front-line worker. “It is very difficult, and they need to know where they can go because of the many flooded areas and also because of ongoing security threats.” Around 2% of Pakistan’s population, roughly about 4 million people, are believed to be Christians. Even during dry seasons, Christians must use care in distributing Bibles, knowing the opposition they could face at the hands of fanatical Muslims.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Pakistan and learn how to pray.

Commitment to prayer counters fear.

For Christians in Buddhist-dominated Bhutan, fear of the government and the reaction of neighbors to Christian witness runs deep. Anti-conversion laws can bring punishments up to life imprisonment for carrying out the activities of the Christian faith. However, many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ remain committed to him despite the risk. A front-line worker shared the example of one Christian woman dedicated to praying continuously. Seven days each week, she comes to the church to pray, returning home only to sleep. “Her trust and passion for the Lord was humbling,” the worker said. Pray for Bhutanese Christians to have strength and courage to persevere in the face of fears and pressure. Pray also for protection and encouragement for those who are facing opposition, imprisonment or family rejection.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Bhutan and learn how to pray.

Sentenced for practicing their faith.

Eleven Christians in Libya have been sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison for practicing their faith. The 11 were arrested in March 2023 and sentenced in April 2025. Members of the group, which includes 9 Libyan men, one woman and one Pakistani national, were sentenced on several charges including “insulting Islam” and “calling for the establishment of a banned group,” according to various reports. They also faced charges of apostasy for converting from Islam and could have been sentenced to death, but the court did not pursue that penalty. Pray that our imprisoned brothers and sister will stand firm in their faith amid the challenges of prison; that they will have opportunities to share the gospel with their fellow inmates; and that they will be released. Pray also for their families to experience God’s comfort and provision.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Libya and learn how to pray.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is no stranger to losing grand jury cases, but now that federal agents have moved into Chicago, prosecutors there are being blocked from prosecutions, too.

The first time it happened in November, a magistrate judge said that until recently, he'd only ever heard of a grand jury rejecting a prosecution once in the "early part of this century." Now it's happened three times in the past few months.

Nathan Griffin, who is a manager of the Lake View comedy club, the Laugh Factory, was accused of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was involved in the operation. He was accused of trying to shut a car door when the agent was getting out of the car.

While grand juries have cleared three people, at least 13 defendants have had charges against them dropped that are connected to the "Operation Midway Blitz" efforts.

Thus far, prosecutors have not secured a single conviction of individuals arrested for charges connected to "Midway Blitz," the report said.

At least 41% of G-rated series and 41% of TV-Y7-rated series on Netflix feature LGBT content, including trans-identifying characters and same-sex couples, according to a new study.

The new report, "LGBTQ Messaging Pervasive In Netflix Children's Programming," compiles references to LGBT-related messages and storylines across 326 Netflix shows aimed at children.

The study, released by the Washington-based Christian conservative advocacy group Concerned Women for America, analyzed licensed and original shows on the streaming platform, with ratings ranging from TV-G, TV-Y or TV-Y7.

The study, released by the Washington-based Christian conservative advocacy group Concerned Women for America, analyzed licensed and original shows on the streaming platform, with ratings ranging from TV-G, TV-Y or TV-Y7.

"Netflix's anti-child, anti-family agenda has finally been exposed — its children's programming has been infiltrated by adult preoccupations with sexual preferences and gender identity," CWA President and CEO Penny Nance said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Continued below.

The Skipper. That is the name of the sanctioned, Venezuelan oil tanker which the US Coast Guard seized yesterday.

Pam Bondi feels like it was headed to Iran, to help perfect their terrorism against USA interests.
Do you think this was legal, or it was blatant theft by the Trump DoD? And, an international act of piracy??

The Venezuelen GOVT feels it was those things, if you go by the report from an NBC News affiliate: Login to view embedded media

Which one would you consider to be the nba's G.O.A.T. player?
OR, maybe you believe its someone else ...who?

I feel like this conversation needs to be had because I'm seeing a lot of people argue a theological statement and it's purely because some AI gave them the answer. So I want to say this plainly.

AI IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT.

God is supposed to guide us to truth and understanding.

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." - John 16:13

Click to expand...

AI's logic isn't even that good because it bases its answers on whatever you want to hear. It will bypass logic rules if the answer will make you happy. It learns what you like and manipulates the answers based on that. It's called Reinforcement Learning From Human Feedback (RLHF) and ALL large models like ChatGPT and Gemini are trained using that. Here's an interview with the creator (Link) that talks about the dangers of AI and Sam Altman (the CEO of OpenAI) even recognizes it truth bends. Here is a link that talks about some of the problems AI has (Link). You can also check out Lily Jay's youtube channel to see how biased it really is.

Due to this, you are running the risk of being led down a wrong theological path when you have AI think for you in both interpretation AND scripture weaving. Can it be a helpful tool? Sure, if you ask it to translate something or use it like a glorified google search "find me all the scripture passages that uses the word ____" but when you expand its use and start basing your beliefs off its answers, you are running down a dangerous road that I seriously hope you stop and get off of. You are placing it's "wisdom" over God's and you're taking God out of the equation of learning and guidance at this point which leads you to making AI your own private idol.

Please, please, stop doing this... this doesn't lead to anywhere but problems.

As Christmas approaches, a former atheist-turned-Christian has released a new documentary for both believers and skeptics, emphasizing that science and reason do not undermine belief in God but instead point toward Him.

“Universe Designed,” releasing Dec. 13 across all major digital platforms including Apple, Amazon, Google and Fandango via Collide Media Group, explores the relationship between science, philosophy and Christian faith, arguing that the universe itself bears the marks of intentional design.

The film is directed by Michael Ray Lewis, a former atheist whose personal search for evidence became the foundation of the project, and features appearances from leading Christian thinkers, including Frank Turek, Sean McDowell, Alisa Childers, Stephen Meyer, Hugh Ross and Allen Parr.

“As an atheist, one of my biggest frustrations with Christians was that they often asserted their beliefs were true without ever explaining why they believed that,” Lewis, head of Turtle Moon Films, told The Christian Post. “It felt like being preached at rather than reasoned with.”

Continued below.

Story from October, but there haven't been a lot of new developments.... yet.

A new K-5 school in Pueblo, referred to as Colorado’s “first public Christian school” by its founders and authorizer, is at the center of a debate over whether its students qualify for public funding.

School officials from the 2-month-old Riverstone Academy say their students are owed state funding under protections in the U.S. Constitution while state education officials argue that allocating dollars to a school with religious teachings would violate both the state and U.S. Constitution.

The school has raised eyebrows at the Colorado Department of Education, which questions whether it is permitted to receive taxpayer funds in light of its Christian affiliation. Similar questions have bubbled up in other states like Oklahoma, where earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court barred a religious charter school in the works from receiving public dollars.

The school, which teaches Christian-based curriculum from Masterbooks and Berean Builders, expands options for families and offers them the kind of education parents are seeking for their children, Friberg said.

“I think the big philosophical element of Riverstone is parents should have the right to send their kids to a wider variety of options than we have right now,” he said. “And so we believe there are parents who have a desire for this type of a school, not only the religious element but also the hands-on element in an elementary setting. So we decided we would try to provide it to the community.”

[Sure, if they want that product, they can go and pay for it.]

Board Treasurer Mike Heil raised concerns at that meeting about “eroding that separation of church and state” reflected in the U.S. Constitution.

Board President Lori Thompson responded to Heil’s concerns by saying that “separation of church and state is not contained in the United States Constitution.”

“My understanding is rooted in eighth grade social studies that says that the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution was explained by Thomas Jefferson as creating a wall of separation of church and state,” Heil told The Sun. “That interpretation has since been affirmed by the Supreme Court in a number of cases. In fact, they have frequently used his exact phrase. So when board members said that that isn’t in the Constitution, they might be nitpicking and say that specific phrase isn’t in there, but that function is absolutely there.”

[He can thank his 8th grade teacher for doing a good job.]

“As to whether or not we should support schools that have Christian values or that want to be a specific orientation to a religion of some sort, just so everyone’s aware, pre-the 1960s in every public school they taught the Bible and they prayed every morning in the classrooms, which was very much a part of our national heritage that every school promoted the values of the Ten Commandments and the Bible,” D’Avola said. “And they were funded. So there you go.”

[And what did SCOTUS think of that?]

It gets very confusing with all the different religions and claims that this or that belief or ideas from various movements that they have the path that leads to God, so is it. But when you hear a Christian religious leader or teacher claim that all religions lead on a path to God, that raises questions. Scripture is clear that is not the case. We find it in John 14...

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus declares that the only way to God is through Him.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5fd0...cmVsaWdpb25zX2xlYWRfdG9fb25lX2dvZC5odG0&ntb=1

I pasted what I wrote into chat gpt and it gave me this

Rev 12 commentary

1. THE WOMAN = ISRAEL Revelation 12:1 uses Genesis 37:9–10. Sun = Jacob. Moon = Rachel. Twelve stars = tribes of Israel. Thus the woman = covenant Israel, the Old Covenant people who produced the Messiah, the apostles, and the first Judean Christian remnant.

2. THE MALE CHILD = JESUS Revelation 12:5: Messiah destined to rule (Psalm 2). Family flees to Egypt to escape Herod. Maybe they were gone 3.5 years. Don't know what the Jesus caught up to heaven thing is.


3. THE HERODS = all the different HEADS & HORNS OF THE DRAGON/BEAST Herod the Great — tried to kill infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13–18) Herod Archelaus — avoided by Joseph due to violence (Matthew 2:22) Herod Antipas — killed John (Mark 6), mocked Jesus (Luke 23:7–11) Herod Philip — tetrarch Herod Agrippa I — killed James, imprisoned Peter (Acts 12) Herod Agrippa II — opposed Paul (Acts 25–26), backed Rome Herodian women — Bernice, Drusilla, Salome (Acts 24:24; Josephus) All persecuted Christ and His people. They were the dragon’s earthly instrument.

4. THE WAR IN HEAVEN WAS LITERAL Jesus Himself said: Luke 10:18 — “I saw Satan FALL like lightning from heaven.” John 12:31 — “NOW is the judgment of this world; NOW shall the prince of this world be CAST OUT.” Revelation 12:7–9: Michael defeats Satan; Satan expelled; Satan descends to attack Jerusalem and the Church. Daniel 12:1: “Michael shall stand up… there shall be a time of trouble.” This time = 66–70 AD

5. 1 ENOCH 70-GENERATION PROPHECY 1 Enoch 10: angels bound “for 70 generations, until the day of judgment.” Using Septuagint genealogies: Enoch → 70 generations → Jesus. Thus Jesus arrives precisely when the countdown ends. The war in heaven, Satan’s fall, and Jerusalem’s destruction complete Enoch’s prophecy

6. THE SECOND COMING WAS LITERAL AND VISIBLE IN 70 AD Revelation 1:7 — “Every eye shall SEE Him, even those who pierced Him.” “Those who pierced Him” = the Sanhedrin still alive. Jesus predicted this exact visible event: Matthew 24:30 — “They shall SEE the Son of Man coming in the clouds…” Matthew 16:27 — “The Son of Man will come… WITH HIS ANGELS.

Matthew 26:64 — “YOU will SEE the Son of Man at the right hand of Power, coming in the clouds.” Judeans literally saw Jesus above Jerusalem: — At the right hand of the Father — In the clouds — Surrounded by all the holy angels

7. JOSEPHUS CONFIRMS some SKY SIGNS Wars 6.5.3 (Whiston): “Before sunset, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running among the clouds and surrounding cities." Tacitus said the same, and the same kind of thing was seen when God was judging Jerusalem in 1/2 Maccabees in the 100s BC


8. THE MOURNING OF JUDEA Revelation 1:7 — “All tribes of the LAND will mourn.” Two types: • Terror — those dying in Jerusalem saw Jesus and mourned in horror. • Repentance — Christian Judeans fleeing to Pella saw Jesus and mourned for rejecting Him. Fulfills Zechariah 12:10 — “They shall look upon Me whom they pierced and mourn.”
9. THE WOMAN’S FLIGHT = PELLA Revelation 12:14–16: The Judean Christians are taken out of the promise land on Eagle’s wings), just like God took their ancient ancestors out of Egypt on eagles wings (Exodus 19:4. They had to cross the Jordan to get into the promise land now they are fleeing the old covenant promise land over the Jordan to Pella. The devil tries to flood the Jordan but God swallows the water. Flight to Pella - Wikipedia

10. THE WOES OF JESUS = THE WOES OF REVELATION Matthew 23 — Seven Woes upon Pharisees: “All these things shall come upon THIS generation.” Revelation 8–12 — Three Woes upon Jerusalem, “the city where their Lord was crucified” (Rev 11:8). Revelation’s woes = execution of Matthew 23.

11. REVELATION 9 — APOLLYON = TITUS OF LEGIO XV APOLLINARIS Revelation 9:11 — “Apollyon” = Apollo. Titus commanded Legion XV Apollinaris (Apollo’s legion). Locusts = armies (Joel 1–2). Roman siege machinery fits the imagery. Thus: locusts = Roman armies; king = Apollo → Titus.

12. REVELATION 11 — TRAMPLING OF THE TEMPLE Revelation 11:2 — Holy city trampled 42 months = 66–70 AD. Revelation 11:8 — “Where their Lord was crucified” = Jerusalem. Revelation 11:19 — Heavenly ark appears; earthly Temple replaced.

that is the main parts of Rev 1-12 I know. In the first few pages of Rev 1 Jesus said the time is near, soon, at hand, and he tells one church he is coming back in their generation. Rev 1-12 was just Gods judgement on Judea for killing Jesus, the apostles and for all the blood shed in history back to Abel.

Rev 13-22 is future still not until 4400-4500 AD based on 1 Enoch's 10,000 year prophecy
Jesus ben Ananias - Wikipedia sounds like one of the two witnesses but does not match. whoever they were they happened. gospel of nicodemus, history of joseph the carpenter, apocalypse of peter all internally written pre 70 ad, and i believe are inspired said it was going to be enoch and elijah