Let's change the spelling of words we don't like

What is the reason? And does God command it?

Dear friend
亲爱的朋友
Can you spend five minutes a day to pray for China?
你可以每天花5分钟为中国祷告吗？
Here are requests for every day of the week for China, I am a foreign Christian living in China and so I am on the ball so to speak in regard to the needs of the Chinese church.
以下是每日为中国所做的祷告请求，我是在中国生活的外国基督徒，因此我讲述中国教会的需求实属情理之中。
Please share this prayer focus with your church/social media groups.
请分享这份祷告在你的教会/社交群体上。
You can even set up a church/social media group to pray for China.
你也可以建立一个教会/社交群体为中国祷告。
Please print out these requests and post on Church notice boards/church websites.
请打印这些请求，并张贴在教会告示板/教会网站。
Please post them on Facebook/Twitter ( daily), your social media profile is meant to be an avenue to help and bless your fellow brethren, USE IT!
请（每天）张贴在脸书/推特上，你的社交群体简介就是助人的途径，请为你的同工弟兄姊妹祝福，请使用它！


2 Thessalonians 3
帖撒罗尼迦后书第3章
Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured,[b] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.[c] 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
1弟兄们，我还有话说：请你们为我们祷告，好叫主的道理快快行开，得着荣耀，正如在你们中间一样；2也叫我们脱离无理之恶人的手，因为人不都是有信心。3但主是信实的，要坚固你们，保护你们脱离那恶者。4我们靠主深信，你们现在是遵行我们所吩咐的，后来也必要遵行。5愿主引导你们的心，叫你们爱神，并学基督的忍耐。

Sunday
周日
Please pray that the Chinese church, would be filled with purity, power and boldness as it meets today. Please pray for the pastors as they preach, for boldness and empowerment. Please pray for the protection of all services.
请祷告中国教会，就像今天一样充满洁净，权柄和胆魄。请在牧师传道之时为他拥有胆魄、允准而祷告。请祷告所有侍奉都得到保护。

Monday
周一
Please pray as the church is 80-90% women. Men need to be challenged and activated into leadership. Please pray that each church would have a group of godly men, who fear nothing but God, and who are prepared to sacrifice themselves for the gospel.
请为教会80％-90％的女士祷告。男士需要经历挑战并活跃在领导岗位。请祷告每个教会都将有一群神的仆人们，他们除了神无所惧怕，也准备好为福音奉献自己。

Tuesday
周二
Plese pray for the next generation, most of the church is made up of middle-aged people. Please pray that there would be an influx of young people and children into the church. The next generation is only interested in the latest fashion and cell phone. Please pray for the children of China, who are under severe pressure to achieve a good score at school.
请为下一代祷告，绝大多数教会是由中年人组成，请祷告教会有年轻人和孩子们进入，下一代仅对最新的时尚和手机有兴趣。请祷告中国的孩子们，他们在学校为了获得好分数面临严重的压力。

Wednesday
周三
Persecution is real, but we can and do share the gospel. Please pray that God would open up opportunities to share the gospel. People are in great need. Many people have mental problems, the society seems stable, but people are hurting very deeply. Please pray that the church, would be salt and light.
迫害真实发生，但我们能做的就是分享福音。请祷告神将开启分享福音的机会。人民有巨大需求。许多人有精神问题，社会看似平稳，但人们内心被深深伤害，请祷告教会将成为盐和光。

Thursday
周四
China people groups, languages and religions | Joshua Project

140 million are unreached. The size of the task is huge, to walk down a street is to be overwhelmed by this mass of humanity. Please pray that every person in China, would hear the gospel.
一亿四千万人未领受福音。这项任务数字巨大，走在街上都会被大量民众所征服。请祷告中国每个人将听到福音。

Friday
周五
Many millions are trapped in Buddhism (500 Million), Communist Ideology (130 Million) and Atheism (500 Million). These ideologies are deep strongholds for the Chinese people and can only be dismantled by fervent and persevering prayer. Especially pray for the leader of China and the members of the CCP.
几百万人陷入佛教（5亿），共产主义（一亿三千万）和无神论者（5亿）。这些意识形态是中国人信仰的主体，仅能通过热切而持久的祷告来废除。尤其为中国领导者和共产党员祷告。

Saturday
周六
Please pray for Revival of the church in China, it is only the power of the gospel, that can release China from the power of darkness. Consistent and fervent prayer is needed, please pray that the Chinese church would be filled with power and boldness and would by the preaching of the gospel, CHANGE MANY MILLIONS OF HEARTS IN CHINA.
请为中国教会复兴祷告，它是福音的唯一力量，能将中国从黑暗的权力中释放出来。持续和热切的祷告是需要的。请祷告中国教会将会被力量和胆魄充满，也将被福音的传播充满，因而改变中国几百万人的心灵。

Are you willing to join us?
你希望加入我们吗？
If you aren't a member of our prayer team, please email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com
如果你不是我们祷告团队的一员，请发送邮件至keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com。
These requests are guidelines, please use the books Operation World and Operation China for more detailed information.
这些请求是一些指南，请使用书籍-世界运作和中国运作，获得详细信息。
For news of persecution in China, please go to
Voice of the Martyrs and Open doors

获取中国关于迫害的新闻，请到，殉道者的声音和开放之门。



SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

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CHINESE

神接纳卑微的人

Ying-Ju Chen | 路加福音

Lynnwood Orthodox Presbyterian

sermonaudio.com/sermon/827232213201928

餅酒的本質 The Essence of The Bread and The Wine

Rev. Simon Yin

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/813231849433558


对上帝认识是人真正的荣耀

Luis Fernando Loaiza

圣传归正教会改革宗华语堂

sermonaudio.com/sermon/8162321154854

为什么教会如此重要？

芮牧师

真柱浸信教会


sermonaudio.com/sermon/71123121353434



ENGLISH

When everything goes wrong and God does nothing

Gerard Hemmings

Amyand Park Chapel

sermonaudio.com/sermon/4223114436657

Hugh Latimer, Bishop and Martyr.

J. C. Ryle | Five English Reformers

Dr David C. Mackereth

sermonaudio.com/sermon/81523013462018

Team Players

Robert Gianserra | Book of Colossians

Grace and Truth Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/5723184945972


How to Witness to Roman Catholics Biblically

Mike Gendron

Baltimore Bible Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/11172238306710

親愛的在線兄弟姐妹
這是非常緊急的事情，請為我祈禱
不知道是不是我的電磁波太強了。我召喚的任何人似乎都可以加入我的在線實時聊天，他們受了很多苦。
他們就是日復一日地睡不著。這是一種痛苦。我的骯髒和不尊重的形像在我的大腦中同時傳輸到他們的大腦中，這傷害了我的家人、親戚、兄弟的感情。
希望有超過一百人在網上受苦。請不斷地為我祈禱。請讓他們解除一些電磁波干擾，讓他們好好休息一下。。我奉行耶穌的名譽祈禱。阿門

https://www.b.itch.ute.com/video/Y56m7B1hGfVN/

Remove the . after the letters b and h above and the link will work.

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“The Simplest, Yet Hardest Command”
John 15:2 NIV
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

This passage came up the past week as the verse of the day in the Bible app. Each time I come across this passage, I am reminded of two things. First, it’s one of the most simple commands to understand. You don’t need a college or seminary degree to understand what it means. Second, even though it’s a simple command, it must be one of the hardest commands to live out in our lives.

I often find myself wondering why it seems so difficult to love some people. I want to love others with a genuine love of Christ. I want them to see Him in me and through me. However, I’m often finding it hard to love people who are way different than me. Instead of taking the perspective and attitude that I can love on people and learn so much from them in how they are different, I find myself feeling like I want to stick with small talk and go to talk to others I get along with better.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling. As I consider this, I’m remembering 2 different quotes I’ve seen in the past from TobyMac. One is “Love Difficult People. You’re one of them.” The other quote is “When Jesus said love your neighbor, He knew your neighbor would act, look, believe and love differently than you. It’s kind of the whole point.”

Those 2 quotes are so very powerful and they should stick in our minds every day when we encounter others who we won’t feel as comfortable talking to. We are commanded to love others, especially those who are different from us. I tend to often forget God wants me to learn from others that are different from me. I often want to shy away from getting into conversations that make me a bit uncomfortable.

We all need to remember the people Jesus came into contact with on a daily basis. He got his hands dirty talking to people who were way different and He interacted with them to show the love of God. God calls us to live this command out and reach out to people in any ways we can to show His love.

Funny thing is, even if we talk to people who are different from us, that doesn’t mean we have to agree with what they say or what they do. We can respectfully disagree and still show the love of God. However, I am not good at conversations where I disagree with people. I’ve just never been good at those discussions. I need to remember that I can learn from them and they can learn from me. Showing love and respect is the key.

Jesus told us to love others. No one is excluded from that command.

The phenomenon of cutting people out of our lives is growing, especially among young people, and it's not always beneficial.​

Recently my young adult daughter declared that one of her close friends was “toxic” and she was going to end her friendship with her. Now this was a friend she’d known throughout her adolescence. She was a good friend who had developed certain issues, as many youngsters do, but fundamentally she is a decent person.

I must admit I was concerned about her use of the word “toxic.” It just seems that lately this has become a buzzword for people — especially among the younger generations — to describe someone who is less than perfect. Personally, it’s a phenomenon I find a little disturbing as there leaves little room for forgiveness, growth, or an adjustment of our own expectations.

(However, I would point out that there are some people in life who can be mentally and physically damaging to us. In this case I can totally appreciate that they should be avoided at all costs or encouraged to seek professional help.)

What makes someone “toxic”?​

Continued below.

Revelation 6

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Click to expand...

So Nelson Walters is making the argument that the bow in question here is a reference to the rainbow God displayed after Noah's flood, marking the covenant with the Earth, and he does have a point.. this is the stage for the UN's 2023 SDG summit:


and the UN's symbol contains a laurel wreath crown, like the Stefanos crown referred to in Revelation 6:2
It's an interesting take at least, and seems to have some ground to stand on if Israel were to enter into an agreement to divide land for peace with Saudi Arabia.

The covenant with the many in Daniel 9:27 is "confirmed" possibly at the 2024 summit is the argument being made.

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Hello fellow Christians. I'm Irene from Philippines. Hope this will be a good place to hang out. Looking forward to having nice discussions with all of you.

“We need to go into impeachment right now. I know that people are reluctant and some people are in so-called swing districts,” Ms. Tenney said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.” “But look: we voted for H.R. 1, which is critically important having to deal with energy. If we can’t vote for impeachment of a guy who’s blatantly corrupt — we have the evidence out there.”

Here I am hoping to share my interests and hobbies.

I have an Interest in arts n crafts, I love taking pictures of sunsets, and I collect jigsaw puzzles.

“Fauci admits that masks don’t work for the public at large but still absurdly claims masks work on an individual basis. More subterfuge,” Mr. Paul, Kentucky Republican, posted Sunday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

I think Hosea is mine. I love his word on knowing God and how deep God's love is for His people.

How to stop abortions.

1. Stop insulting single pregnant women.

2. Free child care.

‘They knew everything about her:’ Mother of girl nearly sold on the dark web gives warning to parents​

“I’m always worried about other places-- when you go on vacation, when you go here and go there--but it happened here, right around us,” the mother told us.

She said the FBI came knocking on her door June 29th of this year to deliver news they never expected. They had uncovered a disturbing dark web advertisement.

The man accused of posting that was Kelly Garrett Ivey, 41.

The mother said they knew his name, because they had attended the same church at one point.

“He stole our personal pictures that we thought were safe [shared privately on Facebook],” she said tearfully.

“I don’t want people to get out of it, ‘The church is a bad place.’ Because church isn’t a bad place. There’s predators everywhere,” she explained.

However, she noted that people should not let their guard down, even in places considered safe.

--

[From the article linked on perp's name:]

With school and extracurricular activities resuming from the summer, Camila Zolfaghari, Executive Director of Street Grace Georgia, a group that works to prevent human trafficking, said students and parents need to be aware.

“They really need to watch their online presence. They need to understand exploiters are online trying to meet them, trying to lure them, and presenting as someone safe,” she said.

“Have very open conversations with your kids,” Zolfghari advised parents. “Because they are experiencing all kinds of things through their phones, and if we aren’t willing to talk about that thing with that child, they are just going to assume it’s normal.”

Future of controversial West Bonner superintendent uncertain after recall of two far-right trustees​

Two leading members of the West Bonner County school board were recalled Tuesday in a repudiation of extreme far-right politics that have invaded the rural North Idaho school district.

A more than 60% majority voted to recall Chair Keith Rutledge and Vice Chair Susan Brown, according to unofficial election results from the Bonner County elections office.

Rutledge and Brown were two of the three West Bonner board members who voted in June to hire Durst, who was an Idaho Freedom Foundation staffer with no experience as a school administrator or teacher. Durst’s selection inspired community backlash from many parents in the district who argued he was unqualified.

Both Rutledge and Brown campaigned against a school levy that voters rejected in May, which has resulted in major financial challenges for the district. The failed $4.7 million supplemental levy represented a third of the district’s budget.

The recall petition organizers alleged Rutledge and Brown failed to uphold their oaths of office to improve public schools

Dana Douglas, the chairwoman of Recall Replace Rebuild, described herself as a conservative Christian. She said the takeover of the school district is an example of what can happen when parents and voters do not pay close enough attention.

“This community is not going to back down,” Turner said. “We are awake now and we are going to stay awake.”

[Did I hear that correctly?]

[In January of this year,] President Nicolás Maduro met with evangelical Christian pastors from where he ordered the execution of the My well-equipped church plan, [to help fund] "parochial houses so that parishioners can develop their faith in the encounter with God," he announced from El Laguito, in Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas.

The president also launched the Social Church Program, "which serves as a means of supporting those most in need"

So far, 2.500 churches have benefited from infrastructure improvements and maintenance, 1.245 temples have undergone extensive intervention, and 13.915 Venezuelan pastors have been registered to provide them with social protection.

“In times where evil dresses in a cassock and tries to resume hatred and violence, let's say: No to violence! No to hate! Yes to peace, harmony, union and happiness!"

He also added that God will provide the prosperity, peace and happiness of the great Bolivarian Venezuela.

--

[This stuff about 'evil in cassocks' points to some friction between Maduro and the Catholic hierarchy. Venezuela remains majority (~70%) Catholic.]

While confronting Catholicism, Chavismo announces plans with evangelical pastors​

Maduro’s measures intend to allocate resources to social missions to restore temples, support those in need through evangelical volunteering and even create television and radio programs to spread the word of this current of Christianity.

These plans are promoted in the midst of a confrontation between sectors of the Catholic Church and Chavismo, since Maduro has lashed out on various occasions against Catholic actors and especially the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), accusing them of becoming political actors in favor of the Venezuelan opposition.
...
In addition, he reported that he would help launch a television program called Corazón Cristiano, in which “meeting spaces would be promoted in different groups of apostolates and Christian churches framed in a specific agenda of cultural and spiritual actions.”

Finally, he ordered the president of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), Jorge Márquez, to set up a technical table to “give full support to the Christian Church for Christian radio broadcasting.

--

When [Maduro's predecessor Hugo] Chavez was in power (1999-2013), the Government created a program called “Mi Casa Bien Equipada” (My well-equipped House), which had the mission of providing the population with very affordable electrical appliances.

Maduro has had the great idea of rolling out his own version of Mi Casa Bien Equipada, but this time it’s the Mi Iglesia Bien Equipada (My well-equipped Church).

Let me clarify, these aren’t any [and all] churches, only Evangelical ones and I’d even dare to say only Pentecostal ones to be exact.

--

Venezuelan Police raid, arrests at gay spa provoke fears of new persecution​

Within moments of [the police's] arrival on July 23, they had rounded up 33 men, including Araujo and the club’s owner, on charges of indecent outrage, noise pollution and criminal association.

“I still don’t understand,” said Guillermo Luis, Avalon’s 34-year-old owner. “We had all the paperwork and they still arrested us. Not even brothels in Venezuela face actions like this.”

The men were outed and ridiculed, the club was closed for weeks and Venezuela’s LGBTQ+ community fears a new government drive to criminalize homosexuality. The authoritarian socialist state is one of the few countries in South American that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

In the first quarter of the year, the Venezuelan Observatory on LGBTIQ+ Violence recorded at least 60 attacks against the gay community. Thirty percent, the observatory says, were committed by a state agency. [The Observatory's coordinator Velásquez] noted that the raid was the fifth against a gay establishment in the past two years, but the first time such a large group was arrested.

Officers sent the men’s pictures, names and ID numbers to reporters, who posted them on Twitter.

Most of the men were held for three days before they were released. Attorney General Tarek William Saab, amid protests, eventually announced that charges against them would be dropped. But Luis and two of his employees were held for a week; their charges remain pending.

Velásquez says the government is trying to strengthen ties with increasingly powerful and wealthy evangelical Christian groups.

“We see with concern how the government has strengthened the alliance with religious groups that use anti-rights language,” Velásquez said. “These groups have funds and institutional support.”

2Corinthians 5:6 says among other things the words that constitute this thread's title. What do you think of it?

Do Catholics believe that only a Catholic priest can change the bread and wine into the Eucharist? Or can the Holy Spirit do this through an LCMS pastor?

Ok so I have biometrics setup into my tablet but what REALLY annoys me is the fact that in order to get into my tablet I need not only my finger print but also a 20 character password.

I don't use passwords on my desktop I use yubikey and that doesn't also need a password because its super secure. Well, so is a fingerprint. Nobody else in the world has the exact same fingerprint as you its just as good as if it were your DNA. Yet, somehow I need to remember a 20 character password AND use my fingerprint? Why? It makes absolutely no sense because like I said, you are the only one with that fingerprint and its just as good as if the device used DNA to get in.

The only scenario I can think of as to how this is "insecure" is if somebody held a gun to your head and demanded you log into your phone in which case, a password isn't going to help you either. NOTHING is going to help you so surely Samsung is not saying that with a password on top of a fingerprint nobody can get into a device.

Idk, maybe somebody who works in security can explain it to me? Because, to me this feature makes absolutely no sense.

2 Timothy 1:8-14 ESV


What is “the testimony about our Lord”? What is “the gospel”? I ask these questions, for there are many different ideas floating around these days regarding the message of the gospel of our salvation. And how we understand what that means will determine how we interpret this passage of Scripture. For I imagine that most people who call themselves “Christians” are not ashamed to admit that they are Christians, though some may be.

So, what was the gospel that Paul taught and that he suffered for?

He taught that, by faith in Jesus Christ, we are crucified and buried with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Thus, we are to no longer allow sin to reign (have control) in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it will end in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it will lead to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For how can we who died to sin still live in it? (see Romans 6:1-23)

He taught that, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, God condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but to set the mind on the flesh is death, whereas to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. So, if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live (see Romans 8:1-14).

He taught that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are to no longer walk (in conduct, in practice) as the ungodly do in the passions of their flesh due to the hardness of their hearts. Thus, we are not to become callous, giving ourselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. For that is not the way we should have learned Christ. We should have learned to put off our old self, which belongs to our former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true holiness and righteousness (see Ephesians 4:17-24).

He taught that if we walk (in conduct, in practice) by the Spirit that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. And the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, fits of anger, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and other things like these. And so he warned us that those who are doing (practicing) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

[see Galatians 5:16-24; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:6-8; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 1:21-23; Colossians 3:5-11; Romans 1:18-32; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; cf. Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23]

And if we teach, and if we live the gospel that Paul taught, and that Jesus taught, and that the other apostles taught, in their fulness of context, we will also be hated and persecuted for the sake of the message of the gospel like Jesus and Paul and the other NT apostles suffered for the sake of righteousness and for the sake of the gospel of Christ. For not many want to hear that we must put sin to death in our lives and now walk in obedience to our Lord in holy living, in practice, if we want to have eternal life with God. Too many are altering the gospel in order to appease people in their sin.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

Seek the Lord

An Original Work / July 20, 2012
Based off Isaiah 55

“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,
And your soul will delight in richest of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.

“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.
The mountains will burst into song… before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”

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[EDIT] ... I am not sure what forum to put this in, so feel free to move it. I'm new.]

Hello. I think about heaven a lot. Think about the things above, not the things of this earth. Anyways, I was wondering...what is the first thing you want to do once you get home to heaven, besides meet Jesus face to face?

I want to see my vast collection of sports cars. I say this because I believe we will be racing in heaven. That is one of my hearts deepest desires...racing.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I also want to go into outer space and explore!

What do you want to do??

You may like to ponder this diagram and comment.

As a dispensationalist, I believe the church age started at Pentecost 2,000 years ago. Then the Kingdom age is 1,000 years. What I wonder is if Jesus will physically return or if His return is symbolic in some way. Also, I wonder how we will transition from one age to the next. Lots of people think there will be a 7-year tribulation period.