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Isaiah 42:5-43:10 and John 1:1

ISAIAH 42:5-43:10

The prophet speaks through the Spirit of YHVH saying: “I, YHVH, have called you in righteousness, and I take hold of your hand and guard you, and give you for a Brit (covenant) to a people, for a Light to the gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house” 42:6,7

Some say that this is referring to the prophet himself. Really? Was Yeshayahu(Isaiah) called to be a “covenant?” to open blind eyes? To set the prisoners free? Yet re-arrange the letters in the name “Yeshayahu” and we get Y-E-S-H-U-A-H! it was HE who the prophet was talking about. His name means “Salvation” and He came as a ‘blood covenant” that would not simply cover for a year, but to get rid of, wipe out, the sin we inherited. He came not only to his own Jewish people but also to the peoples of the nations outside of Israel.

He not only opened the eyes of the physically blind but also for those who were spiritually blind. Once we did not understand the Bible, or we could have cared less for the Bible, but since we have accepted Yeshua as Messiah and LORD, now we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Torah. Once we lived in spiritual darkness, in the prison of HaSatan, called the “lost world” but we have been freed to follow HIM who set us free.

“And I shall lead the blind by a way they have not known, in paths they have not known. I lead them. I make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight” (42:16)

The new paths are the Torah paths, David wrote; “thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”

By allowing God’s Word to take root in our lives, our paths are made straight, we now know how to tell the difference between the Holy and unholy, between the clean and the unclean. The WORD that is taught to us through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), using God’s chosen teachers is His gift to us, as born-again believers, it is our duty to stay on the right path.

There are “blind people” who have eyes, yet do not see, they may see physically, but they do not see spiritually, God’s Word can change all that (43:8)

MATT 3:1-4:25; JOHN 1:1

We read the ancestry of Messiah Yeshua, his birth during one of the evenings of Sukkot, and his escape with his parents to Egypt when Herod sought to kill him. Later, YHVH “brought up HIS SON out of Egypt” Adonai saw his children go into Egypt through Jacob, and they also came out of Egypt through Moshe, Adonai led HIS SON down to Egypt with Miriam and Yosef, and Yosef and Miriam led him BACK to Israel.

Now, Yeshua, HIS Son leads us ALL out of the Egypt of this world through a relationship with HIM, In John 1:1 it says; “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with YHVH, and YHVH was the WORD” In this we see that Yeshua took part in the creation of this world, as “The WORD” this is the essence of the name “Elohim” the plural G-d who is “Three” yet “One” like; 1 x 1 x 1 = 1

We know that Elohim SPOKE the world into existence. When we speak we use WORDS. So when God spoke, Yeshua spoke as well.
He was /is the LIGHT that was REVEALED in the beginning. Is God's eternal LIGHT in you?
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nuggets from nehemiah

NEHEMIAH 2


17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So, they strengthened their hands for the good work.


THE CAN-DO-MAN


Times were bad in Jerusalem. The walls were broken down; Nehemiah had returned and he was a man on a mission. He inspects the walls, and is eager to do something. He is not going to be put off by Tobiah and his friends and some of the people who were compromising.


In verse 18, we have two very penetrating statements, Nehemiah told them that the Hand of the Lord had been upon him, this is so important, Nehemiah came but he came in God's power, remember what Jesus said in John 15, without me , ye can do nothing. Nehemiah was a man, we are mere men, can we be can-do Christians, yes, but only in God's power. To do any work for God, the hand of the Lord has to be with you


Also, he told them of the words that the king had spoken to him, He had the king's promise, so do we. Promises such as Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:8. Again, when we do a work for God, we rely and stand on the promises of God, sure we can be can-do Christians, but only through god's power and holding on to God's promises


It only takes one man/woman who has a passion to fan the flames of revival in a city or neighborhood. Nehemiah was a can-do-man. He saw the state of the walls and was determined that the walls must be re-built.


Nehemiah is an inspiring person; he said the encouraging words God had said to him and he inspired others. But also, he saw the state of the walls, and saw that the Jews were being laughed at and held in derision, this made his blood boil, so to speak.


Does the state of the church today make you take action? When you see the walls of the church broken down, what is your reaction? Do you care or do you have the reaction of Nehemiah?


There are too many can't-do people in the church today; you can't do this, you may upset our neighbors, you can't speak out the truths of God's word, it might rock the boat in society. One of my favorite sermons is called, "Preaching Outside the Pulpit," by Todd Friel. It encourages pastors and their church members to get out and open air preach. Some maybe can't, but others can, but won't. Most Christian evangelism is not done on Sunday, or during the week by Christians living their lives and going to the world in love. Jesus said GO, yet so many can't-go Christians are in our churches. We need to rebuild the walls in our schools, communities and towns/cities, so let's get out and share the gospel. There will be people in our churches that will say, you can't do that.


In my home town in the UK, every Saturday morning, there is a small group of seven or eight dedicated believers who share the gospel week after week, but where are the others? They are there when there is some Christian event and will gladly come to church and give God one morning per week. But they are can't-do Christians... "Oh I can't do that! What would people think of me?" Answer: They would call you a fool for Christ


It is time to arise and rebuild the walls, so that the church is not held in derision anymore. It is time to be like Nehemiah and to be a can-do Christian and inspire and encourage others. Are you a can-do Christian or a can't-do Christian? Or even worse, are you a won't do Christian?


God bless you,

KK


RESOURCE CENTRE.. If you are in China, you may need a Vpn to access some of these links. Have you enjoyed these devotions, then please share them, we can reach the world for Christ.

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TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries


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Soundslikereign.. beautiful music, you can download this music for free

Sounds Like Reign

Persecuted church

News of the persecuted church

The Voice of the Martyrs

How many Christians believe in the rapture? Is it a common belief?

Guojing,
You still haven't said what your position is. Dispensationalists jump around the Bible like a flea jumping around on a newspaper, grabbing a few words here and a few words there and jumbling it all up. You obviously don't know who Hal Lindsay is. You can read him if you want, I'm not going to waste my time defending him.

I believe in pre-trib rapture.
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Fellowship The gift of prophesying (Read the ruleset before you post)

Tell me what you think about this theory. It involves many gifts.

A School of Sin: Rethinking the Purpose of Suffering in Christian Eschatology

Introduction

For centuries, Christians have pondered the meaning of suffering, the purpose of the Tribulation, and the significance of Judgment Day in God’s divine plan. A fresh theory has emerged, positing that human life serves as a “School of Sin,” where people learn firsthand the profound consequences of sin as a preparation for a spiritually enlightened eternity. This perspective challenges us to consider the Tribulation, typically seen as a period of ultimate misfortune, as an experience designed by God to be among His highest blessings.

The Immediate Judgment Day:
A Personal Apocalypse

In conversations about Judgment Day, it’s often assumed to be a distant event where all humanity faces divine judgment simultaneously. However, another interpretation suggests that from the moment of death, each soul experiences Judgment Day as an immediate and personal event. According to Christian doctrine, death places the soul into a state of “soul sleep,” an unconscious state with no sense of time. From this perspective, the deceased experiences no passage of time between their death and judgment, leading to the sensation of an instant transition from the end of life to standing before Christ. This view reframes the experience of Judgment Day as an individual encounter, imminent for each person, which offers a new urgency to the choices made in life.

The Role of the Tribulation:
Witnesses to the Depths of Sin

If each individual’s “Judgment Day” is immediate upon death, then what, we might ask, is the purpose of the Tribulation? Here arises an intriguing answer: the survivors of the Tribulation may serve a specific, divine purpose. Traditionally, those alive during the Tribulation are seen as unfortunate, living through a period marked by extreme suffering, upheaval, and challenges to faith. However, this theory suggests that those who experience the Tribulation do so not by accident or mere misfortune but because of a unique calling and purpose.

The concept of the Tribulation survivors being chosen as final witnesses of sin suggests that their endurance and resilience allow them to gain an advanced understanding of the true depth and destructive nature of sin. By enduring the darkest trials humanity will face, they are profoundly transformed and enlightened, gaining a level of spiritual maturity and insight that will be essential in the Millennial Reign to follow.

Life as a "School of Sin”

To fully grasp the meaning of life as a preparation for eternity, this theory presents human existence as a “School of Sin.” The notion is that humanity, endowed with free will, is uniquely placed in a world of sin and suffering as a means to fully understand its consequences. Life is thus a divine education: by experiencing the sorrow, loss, and pain caused by sin, humanity is enlightened, gaining an understanding that angels, who do not experience sin in this way, cannot achieve.

In this “school,” humans learn lessons in resilience, humility, and empathy, understanding the true nature of grace and redemption by experiencing the absence of them. As free beings, the choice to pursue God gains profound significance, for it comes after enduring the consequences of sin and consciously choosing salvation. In short, this earthly experience, though fraught with anguish, becomes a divine preparation—a necessary immersion in the consequences of sin, leading the soul toward enlightenment and readying it for its final destination.

The Final Role of Tribulation Survivors: Enlightened Custodians of the Millennial Reign

From this perspective, those who survive the Tribulation are not merely spared for practical purposes but are prepared to become guardians of the new world to follow. The extreme trials they face are not an end but a form of ultimate preparation, equipping them with insights others may not possess. Their experiences provide them with a refined spiritual maturity and a deep-seated understanding of sin’s effects that will allow them to lead humanity with compassion, wisdom, and an unbreakable resolve against sin.

This experience uniquely prepares them to repopulate the earth and guide humanity into the Millennial Reign, ensuring that this new era is founded upon an enlightened perspective born out of witnessing humanity’s darkest hour.

Conclusion

In this vision, the Tribulation becomes one of God’s highest blessings, not simply a time of suffering but a transformative experience designed for those who are chosen to lead humanity forward. Those who endure it are tasked with a sacred purpose: to become living testimonies of the consequences of sin and the power of faith, offering hope and guidance for a renewed world. They are not merely survivors but exemplars of resilience and faith, bearers of a profound spiritual enlightenment, uniquely prepared for the divine honor of stewarding the earth in God’s restored kingdom.

Through this lens, life’s trials and tribulations are reframed not as punishments but as the highest blessings—essential steps in a divine curriculum that prepares each soul for eternity. In this “School of Sin,” the trials of life serve to educate, refine, and ultimately transform, leading humanity toward a final purpose that, while hidden, is profoundly sacred.

Bible passages that refer to the idea of soul sleep.

Matthew 9:24
Mark 5:39
John 11:11-14
Acts 7:20
1 Corinthians 15:5
1, 52
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
2 Peter 3:4
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JD Vance scheduled to sit down for interview with Joe Rogan

Tomorrow, 10/30/24:

Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is expected to record an interview with the popular podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday morning in an attempt to reach less likely voters, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The podcast – called the Joe Rogan Experience – is seen as a way to reach young male voters, a demographic the Trump team has placed a premium on reaching given their strategy of trying to win the November by juicing their turnout.

Vance’s scheduled interview at 9am would come just over a week after Trump sat down with Rogan for a three-hour recording that garnered tens of millions of views across YouTube and other online platforms.

Remove him from the ballot!!!!

RFK Jr is playing political games, he is trying very hard to rig the system in Trump's favour.

There are some places where he is going to court to get his name removed from the ballot, and other places where he is going to court to keep his name on the ballot.

Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr. plea to be removed from ballot in two swing states​

Kennedy has endorsed Trump and is seeking to have his name dropped from the ballots in states where it could be a boost to his new ally.



Supreme Court rejects push to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from ballot in two swing states​

Kennedy wanted to get off the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan after dropping his independent bid and endorsing Republican Donald Trump in the tight contest. He argued that keeping him on violated his First Amendment rights.

In my view, people should act with integrity. If they aren't running for office then they ought to seek their name to be removed from all ballots, not just a select view. This shenanigans is an attempt to rig the system and is pretty dispicable.
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How to live with regrets?

Psalm 38:

18 Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
Recognition of sin, honest admission, genuine troubled conscience.

God promised in 1 John 1:

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Paul distinguished two kinds of sorrows in 2 Corinthians 7:

10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
How to live with regrets?

Don't live with regrets. Deal with them. Turn your regrets and shame into works of repentance.

Philippians 3:

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead
God's forgiveness is complete. Past failures don't define the future. Growth comes from mistakes. Forward movement is key. Change is always possible.
renderTimingPixel.png

Shaky Compromise Ends Ordinations Ban in French Diocese

Under the guise of appeasement, the war against the traditionalists continues unabated.

The crisis that has rocked the diocese of Toulon in the south of France for many months is about to reach an almost definitive end. Priestly ordinations, suspended for many months at Rome’s request, will resume, but at the cost of a liturgical compromise that reflects persistent tensions for the faithful attached to the Traditional Mass.

The diocese of Toulon in the south of France is known as one of the most dynamic in the country and one of the biggest providers of vocations to the priesthood. For many months, it was under close surveillance by the Vatican for failures of discernment in the recruitment of seminarians and shortcomings in the management of the communities by the bishop, Msgr. Rey. Ordinations were suspended until a solution to the crisis could be found, with the appointment of a coadjutor bishop alongside Msgr. Rey to take over his pastoral duties, which were deemed to be partially lacking.

In the last months, earlier problems of episcopal dysfunction had been resolved, and ordinations resumed, but the case of the Missionaries of Divine Mercy was still pending. The young seminarians of this very dynamic community, which has the particularity of celebrating the traditional Mass in Latin, remained uncertain about their future.

For more than two years for one of them, one year for the other four, they had to wait for authorisation from Rome for their ordination to the diaconate and then to the priesthood. At issue were the community’s statutes, which stipulate that priests must celebrate Mass according to the so-called Tridentine Rite, Old Rite, or Vetus Ordo, i.e., the form of Mass codified by Pope Pius V in 1570 after the Council of Trent and which had been celebrated for centuries in the Catholic Church—colloquially referred to as the ‘Latin Mass.’

Continued below.

Bishop Paprocki Rebukes Spirit of Vatican II Cleveland Priest in Wall Street Journal

Paprocki defends Saint Michael prayer in Wall Street Journal​


A retired priest, Rev. Gerald Bednar, in the Diocese of Cleveland -- the former vice rector of the seminary there -- had a letter to the editor published in the Wall Street Journal, taking an opportunity to oppose reciting the Saint Michael prayer after Mass, which is done at nearly all traditional Latin Low Masses, as well as a growing number of novus ordo liturgies in conservative parishes.

Father Bednar's letter from a few days ago follows. So does one, published in today's paper, from His Excellency Thomas John Paprocki, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois.



Our thanks to Bishop Paprocki for a succinct response and defense.

Continued below.
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Mother Mary Apparition Sparks Pilgrimage in Masindi

Alleged visionaries claim that the Mother of Jesus urged cohabiting couples to sanctify their unions in Holy Matrimony, calling for repentance and prayers for the nation.
Believers, particularly from the Catholic faith, are flocking to Rwensa Hill in Nyangahya Sub-county, Masindi District, following reports of an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.



Alleged visionaries claim that the Mother of Jesus urged cohabiting couples to sanctify their unions in Holy Matrimony, calling for repentance and prayers for the nation.



The Hoima Catholic Diocese has advised caution, as the Church carefully discerns the authenticity of these reported visions.

Continued below.

Christian Church App Development

Hi everyone! I am a student currently working on developing an app that would allow you to find a Christian denominational church near your location when you are away from home and traveling. If you have the time and are willing, the survey linked below would allow me to gain a better grasp on who my users of the app would be. Thanks again for your help!

Google Forms Survey

Burning Ballots

It is likely someone who does not want the votes for those cities (both rather liberal) to get counted. It just goes to show people are way too invested and emotional in who wins that they will destroy people's ballots.
The article says they think they have a video of the car. They will get at least 5 years in prison. The say all three were done by the same person. A conservative because the votes destroyed were most likely liberal.
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Co-Author of The Breached Dam Shows How Fiducia Supplicans Breaks with Church Teaching

In light of the Synod on Synodality and the Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans,concerned Catholics from all over the Houston area gathered on October 16 for a special talk to better understand and oppose the subversion of the homosexual agendainside the Church.

Tradition, Family and Property-Texas (TFP) and America Needs Fatima sponsored the event at the downtown Milford House, which included a book signing and reception.

Senior French TFP Member José António Ureta, co-author of the book The Breached Dam: The Fiducia Supplicans Surrender to the Homosexual Movement, delivered the talk “The Devil’s Final Battle Over Marriage and Family: Can the Church Surrender to the Homosexual Movement?”

Mr. Ureta and his Italian TFP co-author Julio Loredo de Izcue put together a hard-hitting work of just over one hundred pages that documents the gradual process of how the homosexual movement “subverted the Church with homoheresy.” It sadly relates to the efforts of Church officials to introduce the normalization of homosexual sin. However, it also outlines the more recent documents and declarations of other officials affirming the perennial teachings of the Church.

Continued below.
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