TURIN, Italy (OSV News) — For the rector of the world’s second largest church after St. Peter’s Basilica — the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecidain Brazil — May 11 will be a day of celebrating the inauguration of the southern facade’s mosaics, all created by Father Marko Rupnik.

But alleged victims of the disgraced former Jesuit and many faithful are not in celebratory mood. Amid a heated debate on what should be done with Father Rupnik’s mosaics across the globe, OSV News asked whether the art can be separated from the alleged acts of abuse by the Slovenian priest-artist and what should be done with his mosaics decorating iconic churches across the globe.

Allegations againt Father Rupnik​

In December 2022, Rome’s Jesuit headquarters, following media reports concerning alleged abuse by Father Rupnik, admitted the preliminary investigation found allegations credible as early as in 2019, and in 2020 he was excommunicated for “absolution of an accomplice,” referring to when a priest has sex with someone and then absolves the person in confession. The excommunication was lifted after only a few weeks, on the grounds that Father Rupnik had repented — which he never did, sources told OSV News.


Jesuits admitted under media pressure in December 2022 that, at the time, restrictions had already been in place (including a ban on celebrating Mass in public or leading spiritual exercises). The fact had never been made public before. The Jesuits announced additional restrictions after December 2022 sexual abuse claims.

In 2023, the Jesuits banned Slovenian-born Father Rupnik from continuing his artistic work — before announcing his dismissal from the order in June 2023, effective in July. But the works on the south facade’s colonnades went on in Aparecida, despite a 150-page dossier of credible accusations against Father Rupnik, believed to involve between 20 and 40 women.

Alleged victims of Father Rupnik told OSV News the planned inauguration of the newest Aparecida facade on May 11 appears to be a provocation for them, especially when elsewhere the discussion of dismantling the disgraced artist’s works is ongoing in Church circles.

Impact on artistic legacy​

Continued below.

When Kennedy is sworn in as a member of the House Democratic conference, it will temporarily shave the chamber’s Republican majority to one seat, leaving a small margin for error for party-line agenda items. House Republicans hold 217 seats and Democrats, with Kennedy, will have 213 seats, leaving vacant five seats.

[If I understand the math correctly, the Speaker doesn't vote, so now it's 216 to 213. So if one R defects and votes against the team, it's 215-214. One more and the D's have it.]

Five West Virginia middle schoolers who protested a transgender athlete’s participation in a track and field competition have been barred from future meets — prompting the state attorney general to ask the US Supreme Court to weigh in on transgender student-athlete bans for a second time.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a lawsuit against the Harrison County Board of Education on the dissenting students’ behalf after they were blocked from upcoming meets following their protests at the April 18 shot put competition, West Virginia Watch reported.

Five girls from Lincoln Middle School stepped up to the circle for their turn before refusing to throw in the event, which was won by Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 13-year-old girl who takes puberty-blocking medication and estrogen hormone therapy.

Continued below.

ucla-moves-to-shut-down-pro-palestinian-encampment-as-unlawful
I am interested in discussion about these topics:

1 What is protected in the American "freedom of speech"
2 How is one American freedom, limited by other American freedoms?
3 How does this co-limitation of values, parallel the way in which
formal Moral-Ethical models are created?
4 Why are demonstrators breaking the rules of the college campuses,
as well as the criminal laws of the states in which the colleges are situated?
5 What does this embrace of violence and breaking the law, have to do with
a moral demonstration?
6 Why did classic demonstrators in America, such as Martin Luther King Jr,
demand that those who demonstrated, were peaceful?
7 What seem to be the underlying principles, among the "electronic screen"
generations, that seem to lead to a pathway from peaceful freedom of speech,
to violent and lawless rioting (such as we saw at the Capital Building, on January
6th)?
8 What is the proper Christian position, on demonstrating?
9 Define what you mean, by "demonstrating".
10 Where does moral-ethical responsibility for expressing your "freedom
of speech", kick in?
---------- ----------

(I have started to address these topics, in a couple other threads.
But, Americans do not, in general, seem to think that the underlying
topics of Epistemology and moral-ethical ought, seem to be relevant
to them. Perhaps this thread, will join these topics together, in the
mind of some of the younger generations in America.

My daughter has not been thriving at the public school. She was referred out to counseling with a licensed social worker. Anyhow, her public school has pretty well given up on her.

I went to her last appointment and spoke to the social worker about the local Catholic school. It is widely regarded as the best school in the county. But this social worker was keen to tell me, "They don't just teach the Catholic faith!" I'm sure she thought this would be encouraging to me, as an Anglican priest, but it was not. If I'm sending the girl to a Catholic school, I expect her to receive Catholic teaching. It is my experience that any attempt to teach something you're not is not accurate.

A man arrested earlier this month in St. Peter’s Square while carrying three 8-inch knives is a former convict and fugitive from the law in New York state.

Moises Tejada, 54, is on the Most Wanted Fugitives list of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision because, authorities there say, he violated the terms of parole from state prison on kidnapping and robbery convictions.

Tejada twice immobilized real estate agents and stole from them while posing as a home buyer, according to New York state authorities.

More recently, he was arrested on Wednesday, April 10, the same day Pope Francis gave a general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The man attracted the attention of authorities, who found the knives, Reuters reported.

Continued below.

Exodus 21:

6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever [H5769]

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Strong's Hebrew: 5769. עוֹלָם (olam or olam) — 438 Occurrences

He would be his slave for a finite amount of time, the rest of his life. This meant a long duration, as far as could be seen.

Exodus 30:

17 The LORD said to Moses, 18“You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, ... 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever [H5769] to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”

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It pointed to an indefinite future. However, the temple was destroyed over 2000 years ago. This statute is not working today. Perhaps H5769 meant something like perpetual:

occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted.

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Solomon dedicated the brand new temple in 1K 8:

13 "I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever [H5769].”

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The physical temple was destroyed. Now, God dwells in believers. H5769-forever carried both the physical and spiritual aspects.

Genesis 21:

33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting (H5769) God.

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It is the same word here, but now it seems to mean infinite time.

H5769-forever could mean

1. until a fixed time in the near future
2. until an indefinite time in the far future
3. the physical aspect continued onto its spiritual aspect
4. truly never-ending forever.

There was another Hebrew word, H5704, which often was translated as "forever". Gen 13:

15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.

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Strong's Hebrew: 5704. עַד (ad) — 1260 Occurrences

But then, the same word was translated as "till" in Genesis 3:

19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till [H5704] you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

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H5769-forever and H5704-forever are ambiguous. They did not always mean physical time going on to infinity. The ancient Hebrew concepts of time and eternity differed from modern Western concepts. These were common words with a wide range of flexible meanings.

See also

• Forever vs eternal

In what world is rapidly declining numbers a sign that we should just continue doing exactly what we are doing? Better yet, let’s punish those “conservatives” who seem to be bucking the trend by growing the Church so we can keep doing what we’re doing…but more.

This is our strategy. They may not say it outright but that’s what the Church is currently doing. This is Fail Theater writ large on a global stage.

With the numbers of priests of the top dozen religious orders declining precipitously, we are told that we should double down on what we’re doing. Some may call that insanity. Catholics call it synodality.

Gloria TV: Catholic-Hierarchy.org published charts showing the number of priests and members of the top dozen religious orders since the 1960s.

The Jesuits were the first order of the top dozen to have lost more than half of their members from their high point in 1966 (1966: 36,038; 2011: 17,908 members). They are currently at 14,195 members, down 61% from the all time high. There is no change in the trends since Francis, a Jesuit, became Pope.

Regarding the number of their members, two orders reached that sad milestone in 2016: the Franciscans (now down 55%) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%); and two in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).

Continued below.

I hope MTG is able to get a vote on record. Not stopping the border disaster means children continue to be sex trafficked every day and Americans continue to die of fentanyl overdose each day.

Mt 15:

21 Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

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That's a deliberate move. Jesus was in a gentile country.

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word.

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Jesus was testing her.

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

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She humbled herself before Jesus. She passed the first obstacle. Now comes the second:

26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

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Strong's Greek: 2952. κυνάριον (kunarion) — 4 Occurrences

BDAG:

little dog, dog Mt 15:26f; Mk 7:27f house-dogs that eat the scraps

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International Standard Version:

He replied, "It's not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the puppies."

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Jews were the children. Gentiles were dogs. However, Jesus used the diminutive form of the word, which means house-dogs and not street-dogs. Jesus continued to test her.

Did Jesus call her a dog?

She did not react to "dogs" negatively and thereby failed the test. She agreed with the terminology.

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

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She did not dispute the metaphor but extended it to include herself and her daughter. She passed the test. She was humble and had faith, even though she was not a Jew.

28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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Jesus praised her, and she had a happy outcome.

Lambano:

Hey, this unnamed woman won an argument with Jesus! How many people can say that?

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Why did Jesus call the Gentile woman a dog or house dog?

To test her Gentile faith.

===========================================================================

Appendix
There is another Greek word for "dog" in Philippians 3:

2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.

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Strong's Greek: 2965. κύων (kuón) — 5 Occurrences

BDAG:

① dog
② a cultically impure person
③ an infamous pers.

The most difficult thing within Christianity is the trials saints will bear; but God will not allow us to endure more than we are supposed to endure (1Co 10:13; Heb 12:4; 1Jo 5:3). Nevertheless, trusting God in all our “hardness” (2Ti 2:3) is the primary reason He takes us through every single difficulty, regardless the level of discomfort. Let's not forget that we are privileged and destined to "suffer with Him" (Rom 8:17), which means the most!
NC






To serve in itself implies that there is need of service, and if there be ability, the greater the need the greater will be the demand on the servant; and the one who can meet a great need will be a great suffer. If there be love, the very existence of the need imposes on him who is able to relieve it an extent of toil or suffering equal to the demand. Now as the ability to serve must exist before one can be a servant, so also the greater the ability, the more is the servant taxed if there be need of his services.

In our blessed Lord we see the perfect Servant. He says, “I am among you as He that serveth.” “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His Life a ransom for many.” He has the ability to meet every variety of need, and hence there was the greatest demand on Him, so that as we read in Mark 6:31, “They had no leisure so much as to eat.” But this was not all; in order to meet the whole need of man, He gave His Life a ransom for many.

The greater the need the greater the service required, and the greater the suffering in rendering the service; the need of man could only be met by One who could undergo the liability which has created the need. Christ served unto death, and instead of His service being accepted, for His love He has hatred. He had done among them works which none other had done (Jn 15:24), and at the end of it He had to say, “Now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father.” He was the greatest Servant and the greatest Sufferer.

All true service must be after this order. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought is not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation (though being equal with the Father in everything except authority, in which the Father is the “greatest” - Jhn 14:28—NC), and took upon Him the form of a servant . . . and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross” (Phl 2:5-8). All service now must bear the character of the Master’s service; we are to love one another as He has loved us; as He died for us we are to die for one another.

In 1Corinthians 12, charity, which is the more excellent way, shapes and forms the servant. It is not what it confers on others, but what it effects in self. The great object of service is to present everyone perfect, or complete in Christ (mature in Christ - Col 1:28; Eph 4:15—NC); and this is death (denial - Mar 8:34—NC) to the flesh (nullification, not annihilation of the old man - Ro 7:17, 20—NC). The servant’s ability is in proportion to self’s own advance and practical self-denial. Service in its nature now is death to oneself. “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me” (Jhn 12:26). True, there is a reward for the slightest act of service, even “a cup of water” (Mar 9:41); but service in principle is placing myself at the disposal of another, and not seeking my own profit, but to please Him who hath chosen me for His servant.

Hence the fuller and greater the service, the greater the self-surrender and self-sacrifice. It is not giving what one can spare without feeling it, for I will not offer the Lord “that which cost me nothing” (2Sa 24:24)! “Endure all things for the elect’s sakes” (2Ti 2:10). “For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death” (Phl 2:30). “This poor widow hath cast in more than they all”: “she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luk 21:3, 4). The service declares its virtue and aim by suffering which is endured in rendering it, for what can be done at one’s ease is generally done without much concern for the one to whom it is rendered, and thus the true quality is lost or overlooked.

—J B Stoney (1814-1897)





MJS daily devotional excerpt for May 1


“We first come to know something of the Lord Jesus’ love by what He did for us; but that is only the basis for coming to know His love in what He is to us. The first is known at the Cross, the latter is entered into through personal fellowship with the risen Lord. -MJS

“There are three steps in appreciation of His love for us. First, I learn that He loves me so much that He saved me. He is our treasure ‘My Beloved is mine’ (S.S. 6:3). The second step of affection is the consciousness that He loves me so much that He has a right to me. He would have me for Himself. ‘I am my Beloved’s’ (S.S. 6:3).

“The third step is the consciousness that He loves me so much that He wants my company, ‘His desire is toward me’ (S.S. 7:10). Love’s delight is found in the company of its object. May we know in a deeper way, and in a fuller measure, the sweetness of personal intimacy with ‘the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Gal. 2:20). – Charles Andrew Coates (1862-1945)

We closed part 1 with a reference to the Protoevangelium. (This is God being a serious chess player, alrady 10,000,000,000 moves ahead of His deceptive adversary)

I initially said that Satan was seen first in Genesis, but this is only correct per biblical Canon. We first meet the dragon in Job, because Job is the OLDEST book in scripture. Let us establish a known fact, in Job, we see this interesting tid bit of information.

Job 1

Satan’s First Test of Job​

6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

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Satan is where, at this council? He's returned from earth and is on good speaking terms with God. Further more, Satan is looking to "TEMPT" Job. (James 1:13) expresses that God DOES not tempt. Let's think this through. God does TEST Character, for sure (Genesis 22:1) So, the idea that God by Proxy is TEMPTING JOB, is completely against God's Character. God isn't the origin of Evil, nor a bringer of evil, so we know that Satan has some unique leverage in this matter.

1: Satan is currently able to access Heaven.
2: Satan is lying to God, as if what he is doing to Job is a "good" thing.
3: Satan assumes that his purpose, to God, is to "TEMP/TEST" Job and all of creation, just like He did to EVE in the Garden of Eden. But think about the scriptural entrance to the matter. Satan is called out, apart from the "son's of God". He's a pretty powerful fellow in this snapshot, having a very HIGH position of authority in heaven. By now, we know that Satan is a HIGH angel of God and he has the POWER of DEATH. (Hebrews 2:14)
4: Satan doesn't realize WHO is actually being tested. (Job 41 in it's entirety, reveals just WHO is being TESTED)... and yet, Job 41 is buried within the pages of some of the most eloquent, deep and diverse Philosophy ever written. Satan most likely had no idea, at the time, that Leviathan was a reference to him.
5: God is, out of Grace, allowing Satan to uphold his self usurped position of Power, as Death and the Tempter.
6: God is most angry with Satan for bringing Death into His creation.
7: Satan is Proud and.. I can't believe this actually transpired within his prideful mind... UNDERESTIMATED GOD!

“From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.”

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This is no laughing matter! At this moment, we see the words of a "Self Proclaimed god". (2 Corinthians 4:4)(Matthew 4:8)(Acts 7:53)(John 16:11)
I threw a verse in there that may seem out of place. It's in Acts and echo's a verse in Galatians. ... But, let's step aside from that verse, for a moment. Let's look square in the eyes of a biblical fact. GOD was the RULER of ALL CREATION, and had given FREE DOMINION over the entire Earth to Adam and Eve! (Genesis 1:26-28) Yet, we see that Satan deceived Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3) ... and know this... Adam and Eve were like CHILDREN, with the MOST LOVING FATHER in ALL of EXSISTANCE! Satan stole candy from a baby, so to speak! God wasn't angry with Adam or Eve! God knew WHO committed the ORIGONAL SIN! Satan attempted to appear as if he was this great, righteous, benevolent being, assisting God, by sorting the righteous from the wicked! Satan was storing up an OCEAN of human souls. Each soul that Satan claimed as a result of his judgment broke GOD'S Heart! (John 11:35)

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

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Let's really think about God's words to Satan. God points Satan to a Human that Believes in God's Utter Benevolent Goodness! God then states that Job "Fears God and Turns away from Evil". This was a very tense moment, because Satan is standing there, possibly next to God, and attempting to appear RIGHTEOUS. That statement about Evil must have made the old goat sweat!

9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

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Satan is like the antithesis of an Advocate, of sorts! Satan is mediating between God and Mankind! Dollars to Donuts, he's more of a prosecution attorney! (Revelation 12:10) He is literally making a case... AGAINST Job! Yup! His prosecution is that God has blessed Job, but if God would take away his material possessions, Job will reveal that he hates God and is only happy because of the needs of his "belly" being met.

11 But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

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Satan has to make a divine case as to why God should let Satan take Jobs stuff away. Satan is pretending to serve God and thinks he is doing so with that imbued by God, positional power. In Eden, it's called a curse to the reader, but to Satan, that POWER of Death was the desire of his heart! Scripture won't let us down on that assertion, but for now... we will press forward. Satan is given permission to DESTROY, which Satan thinks he has tricked God into allowing.

12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence

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God gives Satan marching orders, and the Prosecution Attorney of all mankind leaves the Heavenly dimension, then heads towards Job.

In the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists we find the actual voted beliefs of the Adventist denomination.


Belief 10 s --
In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. (John 3:16; Isa. 53; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Col. 2:15; Phil. 2:6-11.)
Belief 4 says this

Belief 4. Son:
God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God's power and was attested as God's promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things. (John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-19; John 10:30; 14:9; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Heb. 8:1, 2; John 14:1-3.)

Heb 8:1-2 "the main point" according to Paul - is that we have Christ as our High Priest seated in heaven - ministering in the Sanctuary in heaven. And in Heb 10 we find that our prayers are going "within the veil" of the sanctuary in heaven. Heb 9 reminds us that there are two veils in the sanctuary.

Seated as "priest and king" as Zech 6:1-13 reminds us.

Question about the Lev 16 scapegoat - addressed in 1957 in the book "Questions on Doctrine" -- Question 35

"We take our stand without qualification on the gospel platform that the death of Jesus Christ provides the sole propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2; 4:10); that there is salvation through no other means or medium, and no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12); and that the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone brings remission for our sins (Matt. 26: 28). That is foundational.

Further, we hold to the recognized principle that no cardinal doctrine or belief should be based primarily upon a parable or type, but upon the clear unfigurative statements of Scripture, and understood and defined in the light of explicit declarations of gospel realities. ...

In Leviticus 16, two goats entered into the service of the great day of Atonement. One, in type, made atonement for sin. The other goat, for Azazel, was not slain, but was kept alive, and hence made no atonement for anyone's sins.

The first goat represented our Lord Jesus Christ, who, on the cross, made atonement for our sins. The other goat, in antithesis, symbolized Satan, who must bear the responsibility not only for his own sins but for his part in all the sins he has caused others, both righteous and wicked, to commit. This live goat, it is to be remembered, was not slain. (Many outstanding authorities support our understanding that the live goat, or Azazel, typified Satan. See Question 34.)

==========================

The Lev 16 model of Atonement includes the "sin offering" slain (Christ the lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world). IT also includes the work of our High Priest in the sanctuary. So the full scope for the Bible definition of "atonement" is not limited to just the "atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for our sins only but for the sins of the whole world" 1 John 2:2 NIV - full and complete at the cross.

Ellen White published several statements affirming the fact that

“As the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men, was revealed, they saw that nothing but the merits of Christ could suffice to atone for their transgressions; this alone could reconcile man to God. With faith and humility they accepted the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Through the blood of Jesus they had “remission of sins that are past.” {GC 461.1}

I want to lift up my voice for Jesus and say, Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Go forth from the cave by faith. Look to Jesus, your helper. Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. Look to your atoning Sacrifice lifted up upon the cross, the Innocent dying for the guilty. . . . {OHC 136.3}

His offering of Himself was full and ample. Nothing was wanting. It was indeed a whole and ample atonement that was made. Then why . . . indicate by words and example that Christ has died for you in vain? After the exhibitions of love that was without a parallel, you say by your words of doubt and mournful discouragement, "He does not love me. He will not forgive me. My sins are of too hard a character to be cured by the blood of Jesus. The offering is not of sufficient value to pay the debt I owe for the rescue of my soul." {OHC 136.4}

Thus from Christ cometh all our blessings. His death is an atoning sacrifice for our sins. He is the great Medium through whom we receive the mercy and favor of God. {OHC 83.5}

Do you realize your sinfulness? Do you despise sin? Then remember that the righteousness of Christ is yours if you will grasp it. Can you not see what a strong foundation is placed beneath your feet when you accept Christ? God has accepted the offering of his Son as a complete atonement for the sins of the world. {YI September 20, 1900, par. 8}

Through the untiring ministrations of the apostles to the Gentiles, the “strangers and foreigners,” who “sometimes were far off,” learned that they had been “made nigh by the blood of Christ,” and that through faith in His atoning sacrifice they might become “fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:12, 13, 19. {AA 175.1}

" As the life of Christ and the character of His mission are dwelt upon, rays of light will shine forth more distinctly at every attempt to discover truth. Each fresh search will reveal something more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The subject is inexhaustible. The study of the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the diligent student as long as time shall last; and looking to heaven with its unnumbered years he will exclaim, “Great is the mystery of godliness.” {COL 133.4}

=====================
Those who reject the Gospel - pay their own debt of sin in the lake of fire - this is also true of fallen Angels such as Satan. They pay for what they have done and what they have caused others to do in opposition to the Word of God.

"(Satan) must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed. GC 660.2

The scapegoat work in Lev 16 happens ONLY after atonement is COMPLETED via the "atoning sacrifice" of the "goat of the sin offering"

20 “When he finishes atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat.

which is why it says "when he finishes"

"16 He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their unlawful acts regarding all their sins; and he shall do so for the tent of meeting which remains with them in the midst of their impurities. 17 When he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out.

So that he may make atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel."

which does not include any "sin offering" work done by the scapegoat, since it never does anything as "sin offering" once it is selected.

All verses after vs 20 only deals with the "sin offering" of vs 11-15 - being consumed in fire - reminding us that it is offered up in smoke OUTSIDE the sanctuary AFTER atonement is completed in vs 20, and after the high priest removes His high priestly vestments..

Heb 9 "without the shedding of blood - no forgiveness of sins"

The "non-sin-offfering" part of the service has no subtitutionary atonement value because that part is not "an atoning sacrifice" - but it does complete the larger view of atonement - which includes the wicked that die without providing any atoning sacrifice - burnt offering benefit. They merely show how all sin is accounted for and the books of Rev 20 (and Dan 7) are then fully resolved. (The very Bible doctrine you claim to reject).
==================================

"(Satan) will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness.{GC88 657.3}{GC 658.1}

我们有了一种分享灵修的新方式，要查看我所有的中文/英文灵修以及成百上千的英文灵修，请点击以下链接。

TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries


Christ's Power Over Evil Spirits! Mark 1:23-26

Text: “And Jesus rebuked him (the unclean spirit) saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”
Mark 1:25-26.

Good morning, cleansed Christian! Like the author, once you wallowed in the pits of sin and depravity of sin; lost, and with nowhere to go for Spiritual healing; dwelling on the ever-growing human-rubbish dump of sin-discarded souls, all on our way to a Christ-rejector’s Eternal Hell.

If this stark description depicts the state your soul was in prior to being redeemed by Christ’s sinless Blood – it most certainly describes mine! (See ‘About Kenny’ on www.ulsterchristians.org)

However, our gracious and Sovereign Lord God Almighty was not content to leave us abandoned and discarded on that heap of ruined and Hell-bound souls. Praise God no! He shone the light of His glorious Gospel of Salvation into our very hearts and minds, and called us to receive His everlasting love and forgiveness. Christ exercised His Divine power over all evil in our hearts and souls. Glory to the Lamb Who is worthy! Hallelujah! Amen.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

J.C. Ryle Comments:
“We learn, in the first place, from these verses, the uselessness of a mere intellectual knowledge of religion. Twice we are specially told that the unclean spirits knew our Lord. In one place it says, “they knew Him.” In another, the devil cries out, “I know thee who thou art, the Holy one of God.” They knew Christ, when Scribes were ignorant of Him, and Pharisees would not acknowledge Him. And yet their knowledge was not unto salvation!

“The mere belief of the facts and doctrines of Christianity will never save our souls. Such belief is no better than the belief of devils. They all believe and know that Jesus is the Christ. They believe that He will one day judge the world, and cast them down to endless torment in hell. It is a solemn and sorrowful thought, that on these points some professing Christians have even less faith than the devil. There are some who doubt the reality of hell and the eternity of punishment. Such doubts as these find no place except in the hearts of self-willed men and women. There is no infidelity among devils. “They believe and tremble.” (James 2:19)

“Let us take heed that our faith be a faith of the heart as well as of the head. Let us see that our knowledge has a sanctifying influence on our affections and our lives. Let us not only know Christ but love Him, from a sense of actual benefit received from Him. Let us not only believe that He is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, but rejoice in Him, and cleave to Him with purpose of heart.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

There is an old saying here in Ulster (Northern Ireland, UK) which goes: ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ Meaning, if it is a good, tasty, well-baked, pudding – it will be eaten up, enjoyed, and recognised as evidence of a ‘good, well-baked, pudding’.

Genuine Christian belief should be placed in one Person only – the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must first acknowledge Him as God the Son, and believe in His Holy attributes. We must repent of our sin, be Spiritually regenerated; then seek diligently and earnestly to emulate His life – in all we say, do, think, and believe.

There can be no power in a Christian profession, without the evidence of Christ in the person making the Christian profession.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

In our selected Bible reading for today, we find a man suffering from demon-possession; “…a man with an unclean spirit…” Such a negative position to be found in. (V.23)

However, the Lord God Almighty is a gracious and merciful Lord God, and, in the Person of Christ Jesus, saw fit to exercise His Absolute and Sovereign power over the powers of Satan and evil. Christ commanded the evil demon to, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” (V.25)

It is indeed truly amazing that, today, in this increasingly apostate and ungodly 21st Century, demons from Hell immediately recognise and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, while unregenerate, disobedient humankind use His Holy Name as a swear word.

“…Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee Who Thou art, the Holy One of God.” (V.24)

Praise God, even the evil powers of Hell must obey the Word of the Living Lord God, in Christ Jesus: “And when the unclean spirit had torn him (the demon-possessed man), and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” (V.26)

Amazement was the result within those that clearly witnessed this Divine deliverance from evil, for they saw with their own eyes Divine authority being commanded: “…with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him” (V.27) Hallelujah!


Thought: At the Name of Jesus every knee must bow! Let us bow now. (Phil. 2:9-11)

(c) Dr C.K. McClinton
Ulster Christians
www.ulsterchristians.org


BE AUTHENTIC

From Ron Hawks

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you…Romans 12:3.”

Today, different cultures, pockets of information, and values are landing on our personal doorsteps all the time. All of this diversity can cause us to feel intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually overloaded. It can also drive us toward a type of internal segregation that is unhealthy. We are constantly tempted to compartmentalize our lives as a way of coping with the overload. We may be drawn to think and act one way in terms of politics and social issues, yet a very different way in terms of our workplace and work ethics. We may think and act one way in our spiritual community, but another in our private sphere.

When we are tempted to feel, think and act differently in different settings, we can begin to lose our sense of identity and deep relationships. Have you ever been at a party composed of people from your different spheres of life – neighborhood, family, work, church, school, etc. – and felt awkward? Some of this awkwardness is natural and good; different people know different aspects of you. The question is, however, are you consistently being honest with whom you are, or are you "playing to the crowd" and portraying yourself differently in different settings? Though it may at times seem expedient to segregate your internal life – to keep your different thoughts, feelings, and worldviews separate within you, you will pay a price over time. You may lose touch with yourself, and become untouchable to others.

I would like to suggest three components to help you grow/maintain personal wholeness and integration. First, it is important to BE SELF-AWARE. Take time to understand your feelings and thoughts – even when they are in conflict with each other. Learn to live and embrace some of these tensions. Pay attention to how others perceive you; don't always discount them, they may well be right. Invite, learn from, and make appropriate adjustments based on the insights of others. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3) Neither is it valuable to think of yourself lowlier than you ought. Be aware of who you are and how others perceive you.

Second, BE PRESENT to yourself and to others. Don't be one of those people who is always looking around the room at others when talking to someone, give that one person your undivided attention. "In humility consider others better than yourself." (Philippians 2:3) At the same time, be present to what is going on in you when you are with others. This will help you integrate your thoughts and feelings.

Third, BE AUTHENTIC. Be consistent and congruent. Be who you really are in every setting. This will actually make your life simpler. You won't have to pick which one of you to present in different settings, you can simply be you. To be authentic means, to be honest with yourself, honest with God, and honest with others – what a wonderful way to live…Pastor Tom

SOAK IN SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 23: "The Lord Our Righteousness"

Christian Horstmann | The Book of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23

sermonaudio.com/sermon/727231059133360


Raising Missions-Minded Children

Christian Horstmann | Family Discipleship Podcast

Christian Family Reformation

sermonaudio.com/sermon/1524345236157

The Marvelous Work of Salvation (Psalm 40)

Pastor Casey Kuhlman | Psalms

Calvary Baptist Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/105232310281313



The Confirming Characteristics of Counterfeit Converts

Pastor Casey Kuhlman | 2 Peter

Calvary Baptist Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/317242244383300


The Power of a Personal Testimony

Roland Hammett | Mission Possible Series

Lehigh Valley Baptist Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/31124145505403

The Conversion of a Seeker

Roland Hammett | Acts Series

Lehigh Valley Baptist Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/9941420157480

Pray that Only Non-violent (i.e. Civil Disobedience) protests against Israel-Hamas war take place at Universities in Western nations:

Ezekiel 18:

23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

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1 Tim 2:

3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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HELPS Word-studies:

Cognate: 2309 thélō (a primitive verb, NAS dictionary) – to desire (wish, will), wanting what is best (optimal) because someone is ready and willing to act.

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2 Peter 3:

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

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There is a warning in Matthew 23:

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

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Does God want to save everyone?

The biblical wording is this: God desires everyone to repent and be saved, but some are unwilling to repent.

When this says here to look carefully how we walk, this is speaking of how we live our lives, the things that we do every day, and the things that we think and speak and seek after, too. For this has to do with our conduct and with our habits. What is our daily practice? What things do we do over and over again by practice (habit)? What do we watch, read, and/or listen to? How do we spend our free time? What do we live for? For self? Or God?

And we definitely need to be watching carefully with regard to how we are conducting our lives, for the days we live in now are extremely evil, and they are getting worse and worse as time goes by. And there are so many trappings out there in the world and in the world of computers and the internet and smartphones, et al, that we must be very guarded that we don’t let our eyes and minds and hearts go in the wrong direction.

So we need to conduct our lives as those who are wise, not as the unwise. And we get our wisdom from the study of the Scriptures and from our personal relationships with Jesus Christ in walks of obedience to him and to his commands in holy living. For the more we know of God and of what he wants for our lives, and the more we submit to him and to his will and purpose for our lives, the more we grow in wisdom and we reject folly.

And it is so important that we make the best use of the time we have here on this earth while we still have time. For we need to be walking closely with our Lord in fellowship with him in doing what he has called us to do. And we need to be sharing the truth of the gospel with others so that they can come to know Jesus, too, and be delivered from their slavery to sin and have the hope of eternal life with God. So we must surrender our lives to do his will.

And then, not only are we not to get drunk on alcoholic beverages, but we are not to get intoxicated to any kind of sinful habits. Our lives are not to be out of control, but under Holy Spirit control. For the grace of God which is bringing us salvation is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s soon return (Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:1-23; Luke 9:23-26).

Instead we are to be filled with the Spirit, which is an ongoing process of daily denying self, dying daily to sin, and following our Lord in obedience to his commands. And it involves us putting off the things of the flesh, like sexual immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, lying, stealing, and cheating, and now living in moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness, and in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Then we make room for the Spirit in our lives, because we are now yielding to him, and not to the flesh.

And when this says to address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, this is about us sharing these with one another for the encouragement of one another in our walks of faith in the Lord, and as led by the Spirit of God in what to share. This is not talking about a public song service where we just sing along with songs others have picked out for us to sing. For this is so that we are encouraging each other.

And these songs should be biblical in nature, and be songs which glorify God and which give praise to him, but which are for the express purpose to encourage each other in our walks of faith, much like so many of the old hymns which were and still are so rich in biblical truth and righteousness. And as we do this, we should be giving thanks to the Lord in all things, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Have you ever tasted water that is lukewarm? I have, and I wanted to spit it out of my mouth. It tastes good hot, and it tastes good cold, but not lukewarm.

Well, that is how God feels about his church who is living in spiritual adultery against him. They aren’t opposed to him, but they are not really for him, either. They profess the name of Jesus, go to meetings of “the church” (most of them businesses incorporated under the state) weekly, and they may even be involved in some kind of ministry within “the church,” but they don’t live much differently from the people of the world who make no profession of faith in Christ at all. They honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. They worship God in vain for their teachings are merely humanistic philosophy mingled in with the Scriptures.

Therefore, Jesus is calling out to this church today, and he is calling them to repent of their sins and to return to him, and he will restore them to fellowship with him.


Laodicea

An Original Work / April 29, 2011
Based off of Revelation 3:14-22

Laodicea, Laodicea, I’m calling you.
You hear Me calling, you hear Me calling. I’m calling you.
Will you not answer? Will you not answer? I’m calling you.
If you but follow, if you but follow, I’ll answer you.
Won’t you give Me your heart and your soul,
So I can cleanse you and make you whole?
Laodicea, Laodicea, I’m calling you.
If you will answer, if you will answer, I’ll come to you.

I stand at your door; I stand at your door. I’m knocking there.
Will you not listen? Will you not listen, while I’ll be there?
If you’ll but open, if you’ll but open your hearts to Me,
I’ll come within you, I’ll come within you, you’ll sup with Me.
Won’t you buy from Me some gold and salve?
These costly treasures are yours to have.
Laodicea, Laodicea, I’m calling you.
If you will answer, if you will answer, I’ll come to you.

Are you contented; are you contented to be lukewarm?
Will you not have Me? Will you not have Me? Of this I warn –
If you don’t hear Me, if you don’t hear Me, and so obey,
I will spit you out; I will spit you out without delay.
So why not heed this, your final call,
And give to God absolutely all?
Laodicea, Laodicea, I’m calling you.
If you will answer, if you will answer, I’ll come to you.

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There are many “shepherds” of the people here in America, and perhaps in other nations in the world, too, who are convincing many people that faith in Jesus Christ is nothing more than a profession of faith which requires no works at all, no dying to sin, no walking in holiness and in righteousness, no obedience to Christ and to his commands, and no servanthood to Christ as Lord (Owner-Master) of our lives. For they call that “works salvation.”

As a result, we have many (perhaps the majority of) people professing faith in Jesus Christ who are convinced that all their sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), that they are now guaranteed heaven when they die, and that it can’t be taken away from them, but regardless of how they live. And even if they are being taught repentance and obedience to Christ, which many are not, it is often taught as something recommended, not required.

And so we also have many (perhaps the majority of) people professing faith in Jesus Christ who are still living in sin and for the will of the flesh and who are not walking in obedience to the Lord in holy living, as a matter of habit. So even though they profess to believe in Jesus, they are still living in sexual immorality and impurity. They are still using filthy language, still telling crude jokes, and still filling their minds with the sinful pleasures of the flesh.

But the Scriptures teach us that no one who makes sin their practice and who lives in sexual immorality and idolatry, lying, cheating, stealing, etc., has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. So we should not let ourselves be deceived by those who are telling us that we can have heaven secured us but while we continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord Jesus. For the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Therefore, we are not to be partners with them. We are not to be those who are regularly and consistently partaking in the sinful pleasures of the flesh, either by just being entertained by such as this on the TV or on the internet, and/or by physically partaking in those sinful pleasures ourselves. For sin isn’t just what is acted out in physical ways, but we can sin in our minds by what we entertain in our minds, such as via lustful thoughts and desires.

And the reason we should no longer be doing these things is that Jesus died on that cross to deliver us out of our bondage to sin so that we will now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. He died to change us, to transform us, to make us new creations in Christ Jesus, not like we were when we were still living for the pleasures of the flesh. For now we are to be imitators (followers) of God who walk in his love, in living holy lives for him.

Thus, we are no longer to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness (sin, wickedness), but rather we are to be those who exposing these fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are so that others do not get entrapped by them thinking that God is okay with that and that heaven is still their destiny. And we are not to fear what others will think about us or do to us, either, when we expose these deeds of darkness for what they are.

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.
Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you.
Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide you;
Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep you
With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.
He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love;
Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you.
Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies
Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him
Throughout the day.
Tell Him your heartaches.
He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort.
He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll strengthen,
True to the end.

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Disclaimer: In this OP, I am not arguing whether or not the Father draws everyone. I am discussing the logical usage of the word "unless".

John 6:

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

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Let's try to translate the above to the first-order logic language. The trouble is that there is more than one way to express the English concept of unless. The word carries two senses.

Definition #1, the weak sense: If the Father does not draw him, he cannot come to Jesus.
⇒ If he comes to Jesus, then the Father draws him.
The Father's drawing of a person is a necessary condition. At this point, I don't know whether the Father draws everyone.

Definition #2, the strong sense: The Father does not draw him if and only if he cannot come to Jesus.
⇒ He can come to Jesus if and only if the Father draws him.
The Father's drawing of a person is both necessary and sufficient.

John 6:

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

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Jesus raises him up on the last day iff the Father draws him.

40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

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He has eternal life iff the Father draws him.

There exists a person who does not have eternal life.

Therefore, the Father does not draw him.

According to the strong sense of the word "unless", the Father does not draw everyone. In either case, John 12:

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

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By the Cross, Jesus does draw all people to himself.

===========================================================================
Appendix 1

Sometimes, the context tells us which sense is being used. Let's apply these two senses to 2 Timothy 2:

5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

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1. If he does not compete according to the rules, he is not crowned.
   Method 1 (weak sense of unless) is a valid interpretation.
2. He does not compete according to the rules if and only if he is not crowned.
   ⇒ If he is not crowned, then he does not compete according to the rules.
   ⇒ If he competes according to the rules, then he is crowned.

Method 2 implies that competing according to the rules is a sufficient condition for crowning. This is not true. Method 2 is not a valid interpretation of 2 Timothy 2:5.

===========================================================================
Appendix 2

Young's Literal Translation, John 6:44

no one is able to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day;

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ἐὰν μὴ
if not

draws
ἑλκύσῃ (helkysē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1670: To drag, draw, pull, persuade, unsheathe. Or helko hel'-ko; probably akin to haireomai; to drag.

BDAG:

ⓒ w. other particles
α. ἐὰν καί even if Gal 6:1; likew. ἐὰν δὲ καί (POxy 472 II, 7) but if 1 Cor 7:11, 28; 2 Ti 2:5. ἐὰν δὲ καὶ παρακούσῃ but if the pers. refuses to listen Mt 18:17.
β. ἐὰν μή if not, unless w. pres. subj. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ ἀξία Mt 10:13; cp. Lk 13:3; J 3:2f, 5, 27. Mostly w. aor. subj. ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ Mt 5:20; 6:15; 12:29; 18:3; 21:21; Mk 3:27; 4:22 (s. KBeyer, Semitische Syntax im NT, ’62, 131); J 4:48; 6:44; 7:51; Ro 10:15; 1 Cor 9:16; 14:6; unless, without ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸ πίω Mt 26:42. W. fut. ἐὰν μὴ μετανοήσουσιν Rv 2:22.

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Biblehub listed 30 translations out of 51 use the word "unless" to translate ἐὰν μὴ with aorist subjunctive. In this case, it is not just ἐὰν μὴ; it is ἐὰν μὴ followed by an Aorist Subjunctive verb. This pattern has been observed frequently enough that some experts believe that this pattern is the equivalent of the English concept of "unless".

The alleged arrangements stem from an effort by Jim Biden to raise money from Qatari sources for ventures in the U.S. beginning in the months after his older brother left the vice presidency. At the time, the tiny, gas-rich nation faced a financial blockade from its neighbors and was spending lavishly to shore up its political standing in the West.
Public records and emails obtained by POLITICO offer a window on fundraising efforts in which Jim Biden invoked his ties to older brother and sought workarounds to restrictions on international money movements. Transactions related to the efforts are also at the heart of a recently-settled fraud case brought by the SEC and are being scrutinized as part of a federal criminal investigation in South Florida.

The Bidens need to be brought to justice.

In Australian court recently there was a case Giggle v Tickle.

Giggle was a woman only social media application, that wanted to exclude all men from the space. The app owner was an actual woman Sall Grover.
Tickle is a person, who has changed name to Roxanne. Tickle wanted access the site.
Giggle had an AI program that looked at a picture and refused entry to people it deemed not to be a woman.
The AI let Tickle in, but on review by the app owner, Tickle was removed. Tickle appeared to be a non-woman to the app owner (and personally I'd agree with her) and was removed.
Tickle took Giggle to Human Rights mediation, the mediation solution to avoid a trial, was that the app had to let Tickle on, purposefully seek to remove anything that may offended Tickle or people who agree with Tickle. Along with Grover going to education session on gender v sex. Grover refused.
Tickle began legal action, asking for $200K AUD but then withdrew. Then later changed mind and got approval even though the time had expired, as it was thought this was important to resolve.

Now it is likely that Tickle will win the first case but then it will go to Australian High Court.

Issue is Australia created its woman's right law on an UN convention that does not include gender expression. However, our first female PM, added gender expression to the Act.

This case is the case to legally define the question of "what is a woman", and because it is going to the UN convention it will probably be used a precedent internationally.

Wow, $600/mo for a two bedroom apartment in a city where one does not need to own a car? The downside, you have to speak German, which has harsher phonetics compared to English. After the article summary, there is this cool 9 minute video that explains why German sounds so harsh. Here is the article: Could Vienna’s approach to affordable housing work in California?


Short summary of the open-access article by The Guardian (<20% in length, for fair usage reasons):

Whelp, looks like the AI run on my laptop is actin' up. You will have to read the article yourself. I will have to troubleshoot this.



Why German language sounds aggressive (9 minutes, ages 15 and up, due to stereotypes about Germany)

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Hello folks. Today we will discuss how to spread the Gospel in a way that is effective in modern society, without straying from the Bible.

I am making this thread in order to get feedback and collect my thoughts. My intention is to turn it into a video. Thanks for participating.

Hello, my name is Taylor and I've been a Christian since December 8th 2016. I don't usually make videos and I'm making this one from my phone so please bear with me. I believe God put it on my heart to compile this list of reasons as to why the COVID vax is not the mark of the beast, and why the mark is still yet future. I myself got vaxinated in order to keep my job. I now feel like I took a gamble and I shouldn't have gotten it, but now I'm coping. I will start by listing off a bunch of reasons why the vax isn't the mark, then I will get into the DNA arguments, then I will get into NKJV scripture to finish off. It is currently May 7/2024. So here we go:

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Right off the bat:

There is no beast yet, so there can't be a mark of the beast. We don't even know who the antichrist is yet.

People could still buy and sell even without getting vaxinated. I held out till September 2021 and could still buy and sell and enter shops freely.

The jab went into my left upper arm, not in my right hand or forehead.

The mark has to do with intentional worship. You can't be tricked into worshipping something because worship is intentional and of the heart.

Some people think that by following the science or trusting the vax that that is worshipping the beast, or trusting the state more than God,
but I don't find that reasonable. For example, I can live in a country and follow the laws of that country without worshipping the state.

There were multiple vaxxines from Phizer, moderna, bioNtech, astrazenica, but we know there is only 1 mark of the beast, not several different versions of it.

Backmasking of COVID is DIVOC and DIVOC apparently means (possession) in Hebrew, but I do not feel possessed by evil at all. I feel the Lord is with me, revealing Himself to me and caring for me to this day. I do not feel my soul is defiled.

Blood transfusions. If someone got vaxinated, and if vaxination was the mark, and then they donated blood, it stands to reason that the person they gave their blood to would have contaminated said blood, through no fault of their own. But there is nothing in scripture to suggest that the mark of the beast can be "contracted" in such a way.

Speaking of blood, I got mine tested several months ago and it was in tip top shape.

Finally, there are 6-year old children out there who got vaxinated because their parents forced them to. I simply do not believe Yahweh would allow 6-year old children to end up in the lake of fire for a decisions their parents made for them. That would be Satan strong-arming God. This is how God will preserve the small children during the antichrist's reign. If you're too young to work, you're too young to get the mark.

Same too with the aged saints. I know a number of elderly Christians who got vaxxinated because they lived in a care-home and it was mandatory. Is God going to cast them off after they served Him for decades of their lives? I don't think so. This would mean Satan is snatching children from God's hand, and we know from scripture that this cannot happen.


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DNA
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There is a question that perhaps the vax altered the DNA of the recipient and that this constitutes corrupted DNA in God's sight. Or that our DNA is now owned by big pharma.

But the bottom line is this: No company or entity can own my DNA, or your DNA, because God owns everything. God owns me, God owns you, God owns the pharmaceutical CEO, and God owns the companies. Some scriptures:

Psalm 24:1 [The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it],

Psalm 50:10-12 [For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world is Mine and all its fullness.

1 Chronicles 29:11 [Thine O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Some have said that the vax produces an extra DNA strand, and that the 144,000 in Revelation is talking about genetics; specifically, the genome. They say that the 144,000 represents 72,000 genomes from the mother and 72,000 genomes from the father which come together to produce a child, (a unique 144,000). They also note that 600x60x6 (or 6 hundred, threescore and six) = 216,000, and this is then assumed to be a 3rd strand of DNA as it adds an additional 72,000 genomes to the DNA strand.

Now, I'm no expert in genetics, but my question here would be: where did the extra 72,000 genomes come from? How could a vaccine carry so much unique genetic information to make a 3rd strand of DNA appear?

Revelation 14:3 [They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.]

According to Revelation 14:3, the 144,000 are a unique subset within Christendom. They are not ALL Christians, nor are they all unvaccinated individuals. They are given the privilege of singing a special song that only they can sing.

Revelation 14:4 [These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.]

I believe this passage on the 144,000 states they are virgins and "not defiled with women". That would certainly suggest it's talking about actual virgins and not defiled genetics.

If Revelation 14 was talking about genetics, wouldn't it say they were not defiled by pharmakia? Also, there are many married Christians who were unvaxinated who are not virgins, who are surely saved. So I am convinced that this is talking about a literal remnant of 144,000 special people with God's seal on their foreheads. It says in Revelation 7:4 that the 144,000 were sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.


Furthermore ,there has been no mention of DNA being altered by CSI,(crime scene investigators) or laboratories that deal with DNA in police forensics. If people with 3 stranded DNA were popping up all over the place, this is not a story they could have kept hidden, nor would there be reason to hide it. 3 Helix DNA would be a mainstream thing.

Some people think there were nanotechnology, to luciferase enzymes, to graphene, to Lord knows what else in the vax. That may be so, and I don't know exactly what was in these shots myself. All I do know is that God can reverse damaged DNA, He can reverse chemical changes, just like He can reverse cremation. He's God.

I'm no expert of science, but what would pharmaceutical companies be doing with nanotechnology anyway? Do these fields overlap?

If vaxinated people now have 3 stranded DNA helixes, then wouldn't that produce a outwardly observable mutations or changes in someone's body?

Finally, If the mRNA could change the DNA of someone and such a change constituted the mark of the beast, then mRNA would be in our Water, Air, Food, and medication. The enemy would saturate us with it and put it everywhere.

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Scripture
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Revelation 14:9-10 speaks of a third angel warning the world not to take the mark. We did not receive such supernatural warning from any angel prior to the vax being foisted upon the world. [Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "if anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.] This did not happen.

Also, no loathsome soars have appeared on the vaxxinated people yet, and it's been years now. Revelation 16:2 [So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.] This did not happen.

I want to debunk the idea of spiritualizing the mark in Revelation 13:16-17 right now. It will be a physical mark, and this is why. Revelation 13:16-17 states [He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name]

Okay, so if the mark is spiritualized in these verses and the forehead represents evil intentions while the hand represents evil actions, then all who take the mark in the hand will, automatically, have it in the forehead too, since all evil actions are preceded by evil thoughts. So it is possible to have the mark then only in the forehead, but it would be impossible to have it in the hand only. Understand what I'm saying? But the verse specifically states that it is in either or. Once again, one can have evil thoughts without evil actions, but you cannot have evil actions without evil thoughts.

Not to mention the fact that it's not possible to determine who has the mark in order to buy and sell if it's a spiritual mark and not a literal one. It is a literal mark and it is connected to monetary transactions. Of this I am certain.

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CONCLUSION
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The bottom line is this: I believe far too many good genuine Christians received the vax for it to be the mark. Scripture states in Matthew 24:24 that "if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived". Scripture does not state that "Many" in the faith will be deceived, it says they (we) will not be deceived. I myself feel this day that I am the recipient of Gods great mercy and Love, and I do not believe God has mercy nor Love for those who take the mark. They get nothing but wrath. So this is a wake up call. We must resist the Digital Identification initiative because once they have that in place, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to installing a quantum digital tattoo, or RFID, or whatever the mark of the beast actually is. Thanks for watching, don't forget to share this is you found it helpful. Comment if you agree or disagree with anything, I'd be happy to chat. Godspeed and God bless.