Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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The law worketh wrath -- how can something good work wrath?

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The gospel of salvation is not just that "we are forgiven of our sins". No the promise is that we are to be the heir of the world. Also this is not simply through faith, but it is through "the righteousness of faith". Let's consider the ledger. On one side you prayed 20 years ago to receive Jesus. That is an asset. Now let's look at the debits, the liabilities. If the liabilities outweigh the assets then what is the "righteousness" of this ledger of your faith? This word the "righteousness of faith" means to have a state acceptable to God. Think of yourself as a farmer. God comes and looks at your fields. Are they acceptable to God? Suppose for twenty years God cannot see anything that is acceptable to God but you say "No, come here, let me show you", and you see this tiny plant that was planted twenty years ago. But God is looking at giant fields that are filled with tares and noxious weeds and poisonous creatures.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Do not confuse this with "works based salvation". The law would be an attempt to do a work for God apart from Him. Perhaps you built a hospital. You were not led by the Holy Spirit to do that, nor did you spend any time in the word of God, instead you figured if I build a hospital God will be happy. In your mind the hospital is a good thing and that has to win me points with God. I am reminded of these charities that give food to starving people in Gaza or some other place. Often the food is stolen by armed militias which we would consider terrorists. Giving food to starving people is good, giving food to terrorists to make them stronger and strengthen their power base is not good. Instead if you have a burden for the poor and starving people you have to go to the Lord to seek His help on how to carry out that burden.

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

OK this is something that so many people do not understand. They think helping poor people is always good and if you don't agree you must be evil. Because of that evil people can manipulate you. Think of what is going on in Minnesota. They estimate $9 billion of taxpayer money went to terrorists in Somalia. How? People gave money to "learning centers" to help those who had autism or had special needs or were poor. They gave money to Medicaid to help the poor as well. Now if there were no government and the only way to give money to the poor was to do it yourself, then there is no way $9 billion would go to Somali terrorists. A learning center to help children with special needs is good, Medicaid to pay for medical expenses for the poor is good. The law is good. But it is incapable of preventing it from working wrath. A knife can be good or bad, it depends on who is holding it. This is why salvation is only through Jesus Christ, He is the one who is Lord of all, that means He is the one that is to hold all things in His hands.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

The law is good, just like a knife, or a shovel or any other tool is good. But we need faith to properly wield that tool. Now the faith is given by grace because we are sinners. If God eliminated everyone who had sinned then He could not fulfill His promise to Abraham and His seed. Now "his seed" refers to Jesus Christ, but it isn't simply according to the flesh. The word of God is a seed that results in faith. Anyone who hears the word of God and believes is a child of faith and thus can view themselves as a child of Abraham in the Spirit.

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Once again, Paul does not simply pull this doctrine out of thin air. It is based on God's word to Abraham that He made him the father of many nations.

 

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Believe against hope

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Now let's dig down on this faith that Abraham had. He believed that God would give him a son from Sarah who was 90 years old. This is what it means to believe against hope.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

When we are called to believe we cannot look at this in the natural.

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rather instead of saying "it's impossible" we need to praise God! When I got saved I prayed to see the Lord return in great glory in the clouds. He said I would. I didn't question that, I didn't say "whoa its been 2,000 years". I simply praised God. It was like being told I had made the team. When I played football there was always that one day when the coach would post the names of the kids who had made the team. Even though I was often a starter I was always relieved when I saw my name and inwardly rejoicing. It was the same feeling. Sure I knew we had a lot of games to play and I knew that simply making the team doesn't mean you are first string, but I would worry about that later. For right now, woo hoo! I made it!

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

I have shared that I was on a football team that was undefeated for two years in a row. We won our championship and bowl games. I knew that the coach would do that. Everyone on the team knew that the coach was able to perform, for us to make the team meant we were going to be on the championship team.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

This is what it means to be "imputed to him for righteousness". You have to have complete trust and faith in Jesus Christ, the captain of the host. We don't need backseat drivers doing what is right in their own eyes. The second year on that championship team after being undefeated the first year we had a whole lot more kids try out for the team. I think we had over 70 kids even though we could only keep 40. So what the coach did was schedule a scrimmage in the Bronx, we played against these kids who had this field made of broken glass and pebbles. The coach kept rotating kids in who didn't know what they were doing to make things very confused and as a result we looked like a total mess. After about 30 minutes of this he pulled the first string out and took us to a corner field to just go against their first string while all those other kids continued to get destroyed on the other field. We demolished their first string. We were scoring on virtually every play. But all those other kids did not know this and so they quit before the coach needed to cut them. Jesus is not going to play games, if you don't have complete trust and faith in Him then you will quit on your own. He won't cut you, you'll cut yourself.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

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Super Bowl LX UPDATE.. IPG West Coast Earthquake Volcano Tsunami Warning- Bad Bunny Levi's Stadium

I Pet Goat II Superbowl LX Halftime, Bad Bunny, Apple, LX, 2/8, Volcano, Tsunami, London Underground

 

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SILVER TRIED 7 TIMES - FEBRUARY 8, 2026

 

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The Ark of the Covenant had a golden lid

The Ark of the Covenant had a golden lid, it was 45 inches by 27 inches of solid gold as the lid and you also had two Cherubim made of gold as well. If the lid is one inch thick that would be about 850 pounds of gold. Suffice it to say that whatever the thickness, it was a very heavy lid on top of the Ark of the Covenant that covered the Ark.

Now in the Bible the word of God is likened to fine gold.

This gives us an amazing picture which Paul refers to in Romans 4:

Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

No verse is of its own interpretation. Paul quoted verses about Abraham in Genesis, now he is going to Psalms and quoting David. It is significant that he focuses on both Abraham and David because the Bible promises that the Messiah will be descended from these two. That is according to the flesh. But Paul is showing us how their experiences match and confirm the gospel of salvation to all of us. These two men are very important to Jews for a confirmation of the gospel, but having the same experiences as Abraham and David is how the uncircumcision will also be saved through faith.

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Now Paul goes to a description of the ark of the covenant. The blood of the atoning sacrifice is sprinkled on the mercy seat, the lid, of the ark. That blood is what pays the price for our iniquities and by that blood we are forgiven. All of Christianity emphasizes that our sins are forgiven. Iniquities are the things we have done. These are forgiven and forgotten, the same way a stain on your shirt is washed away and then forgotten. However, we are still sinners, that is our nature. So then beneath the blood is this very heavy covering of pure gold that covers our sins. In the previous post I described "covering" my sins with four hours a day in the word of God, in fellowship, and in prayer. When I first got saved I attended six meetings a week and in addition to that usually went to someones house for a meal and fellowship each week. Wednesday was the prayer meeting, Friday was a Bible study, Saturday morning was a service meeting to take care of the meeting hall, Saturday night was a young people's meeting for college kids, Sunday morning was the main meeting and Sunday night was the Lord's table where everyone shared testimonies of the things that happened that week. All of this time spent in the word and in fellowship was like a very heavy lid on my sin nature. We understood either the mind is on the flesh or it is on the Spirit. It is up to me, I can place my mind on the Spirit by going to one of these meetings, or by reading the Bible or by listening to worship music, or by praying. Or I can place my mind on the flesh by watching TV, going on the computer, etc. Regardless of what choice a person makes both people have the sin nature, one has put a heavy lid on it and one has released the sin nature to roam free. The picture of our being baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is also pointing out that we are to be immersed into God. Our receiving Jesus' forgiveness is to be followed by being immersed into God. Four hours a day seems extreme until you learn that the average screen time for an American is seven hours. People can sit in front of a screen for seven hours a day, but spend four hours a day with Jesus Christ in fellowship, prayer, worship or study and that is "too extreme". But that is why 54% of Christian men confess to spending time in pornography. They have not put a heavy lid on their spirit.

Now to "impute" sin is to reckon like an accountant who keeps a tally of assets and liabilities. This is what is rarely if ever taught in Christianity. The Lord imputes sin. That is what the bible says. If you spend four hours a day on the TV there is a record of that. It is not on a "naughty list" no, the record is kept in your brain. Those four hours will give you an unredeemed brain. In Romans 8 Paul calls that "the mind of the flesh". Ultimately it becomes a habit. You will walk in the house and without even thinking about it the TV is turned on or the computer is turned on. That is "the mind set on the flesh". Likewise if you spend four hours in fellowship with the Lord then that is "the mind of the spirit" and ultimately that can become a habit and so it is "the mind set on the spirit". Not only so but we have a promise "whatever a man sows that shall he reap". If you spend four hours watching TV you are sowing seeds that will spring up. On the flip side if you spend four hours in fellowship with the Lord you are also sowing seeds that will spring up.

When you get "saved" you should realize your mind is like this field. It is overrun with noxious weeds and poisonous things. Get to work. Turn the soil, dig up the rocks, and sow seeds to the spirit. By flooding your field with seeds from the spirit they will choke out and overwhelm all the seeds from the flesh. You can't prevent these seeds from blowing into your field, just driving down the street or talking to someone at work. But you can overwhelm them. The goal is to have a very long list of spiritual assets and minimize the list of sinful liabilities.

 

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Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

This is the gospel that everyone preaches. Whether it is once saved always saved, or whoever, everyone preaches that Jesus' blood pays for our sins and as a result we have peace with God.

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

But this is the second half. I don't know of any "Christian" groups that don't teach this, but many ignore it. Our peace with God gives us access and now that we have access we can pray, standing on the blood of Jesus. The fact that we can bring our prayers before God and be heard, that gives us hope. Jesus gave us a promise that whatever we ask in His name He will do, so we can rejoice in this hope. We are also told that when God answers our prayers He does so in glory.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

James and Peter have shared similar verses, perhaps what James shares is the most comprehensive. But Paul here is giving us the big picture.

We need tribulation to help our prayer life. If everything is great our prayer suffers. Tribulation is not the same as persecution. It could refer to the troubles of life, problems at work, problems at home, etc. So we have prayers that begin with some form of tribulation and this works patience. This is what is very amazing with athletes. They all say that "the game slows down" and what that means is there are many different things going on in a football game or baseball game or in a boxing match. But as the training sets in and everything becomes "second nature" or muscle memory they are able to focus and see what is going on in slow motion. Instead of being overwhelmed and panicking they are "patient". Others use the term "let the game come to you", meaning don't overreact. Now once you are at this level your experience will also become valuable. You hear these stories all the time, some team has this great strategy and then some coach remembers something they did twenty years ago in this same situation. This in turn results in hope. How many times have we seen the bigger, stronger, faster opponent lose? Think about Seabiscuit, he was going up against a bigger, faster, stronger horse. They needed all their experience to train that horse to change and run to the front at the beginning of the race. If they had not done that they would have had no hope, but doing that now they had hope. Paul told us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge dwells in Christ. This in turn is how David defeats Goliath, this is how the Lord puts Satan to an open shame, this is how the Lord snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

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Salvation is much more than simply being reconciled

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Consider our salvation, we were dead in sins, Jesus snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with us by doing what no one else would do.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is an example for us. Every Christian church talks about how Jesus loved us, but the way you commend His love towards others is by following His example. This is what Jesus said in the parable of the Good Samaritan -- "you go and do likewise".

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

We have been justified by His blood -- past tense. We shall be saved from wrath through Him -- future tense.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

We were enemies -- past tense. We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son -- past tense. Much more!

Much of Christianity stops with what was accomplished already and teaches that is what "salvation" is. But Paul says "Much more" that just being reconciled, we shall be saved -- that is a future tense salvation. We were reconciled by His death, but this "much more" future salvation is by His life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

These are two ends, of a process, it begins with us being justified, it ends with us being saved by His life and in between it is filled with joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who is unsaved is "unhappy". They may dispute that. OK, look at the facts. There is an incredibly high number of people who take anti depressants, divorce is a symptom of the unhappiness. I heard a lot of people say they got married thinking it would make them happy, more proof they are unhappy. Look at the ridiculous amount of money spent on entertainment or on drugs or on absurd "toys" like sports cars that cost over $500,000. Our joy is a powerful testimony to people who are sad, depressed, lonely, bored, or unhappy. Think of how unhappy some guy is who spent $10,000 to take his family to Disneyworld for a week only to realize it didn't satisfy.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

This is the issue with the world. It doesn't matter if it is a Hollywood movie, or Broadway play or amusement park, expensive toys, fancy meal, or new clothes. In the end it is all death. In the end you sit there at night realizing everything is vanity, you can't buy joy.

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Without the law you have a conscience which will bother you and even if you can't put the finger on what is wrong you will feel dead within after having sinned. But once the law was given then you could categorize the sins, and list them on a ledger. Imputed basically is like a bookkeeper making a list of your sins.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

So even though they didn't have the law prior to Moses they did have death. Whenever we feel dead it can very likely be tied to sin. Suppose you said something to someone and now you feel dead. You argue that what you said was right, it was true, and that person deserved to hear that. But you are dead. We call that "dead right". So then it wasn't until Paul told us that we are to speak the truth in love that you can understand why you feel dead. Yes, you spoke the truth, but did you do it in love?

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Paul is obviously talking about the offense of Adam and Eve and the gift of grace by Jesus Christ. However, this applies to us. We can commit a sin that kills many people, not just one. Think of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". The point of the movie is how many people would be harmed if this one man had not lived. If he had never lived his brother would have died as a young child, his boss would have been imprisoned, his friend never would have bought his restaurant, his uncle would have been committed into a mental asylum, his wife would have been an old maid, his children never born, etc. The movie shows how one offense can harm many and how the gift of grace by one can abound unto many as well.

And that is the point of salvation. We are rescued from sin so that we in turn can rescue others. We can't actually redeem them, only the Lord's blood can do that, but we can be the hands and feet of Jesus. We can be the ones that bring the gospel to them.

 

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What can the obedience of one man do?

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

I saw this story about sea grass had filled a bay in Australia that was 110 miles long. Scientists decided to study this to see how many plants had grown together to do this. They were stunned to learn that the entire growth was a single plant. It grew and multiplied and became the largest living organism on earth. Sin spread through mankind in the same way, and so is the gospel also spreading through man in the same way. Today we have billions of sinners and we also have a billion Christians.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

We have a mission. Our mission is to give the gift of righteousness and spread this to everyone on earth. This is one organism, with one head, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

God is righteous. You can't condemn a man for one sin if you don't also agree that one act of righteousness can justify a man.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Everyone on earth became a sinner because one man was disobedient. Now imagine how powerful it would be if one man, you, were obedient to Jesus Christ?

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Abraham was justified when he believed God. Many years later the law came in which caused sin to abound. It didn't cause people to sin, that was a result of disobedience. But it imputed sin, it made a ledger like a bookkeeper, and soon we had this incredibly long list of sins that we being done all over the world. Everywhere you turned someone was committing sins.

Well the goal of salvation is that the flip side of this would be true, that all over the earth there would be people who are obedient unto the Lord and as a result grace is reigning all over the earth by Jesus Christ our Lord.`

 

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https://rumble.com/v75ivru-the-jeff...6.html?e9s=src_v1_sa,src_v5_sa_o,src_v1_ucp_a

The Jeffrey Epstein Dream 2-4-26 to 2-8-26 Shared 2-9-26

Prophetic Dreams and Visions from my lovely Jesus

 

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John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord.

So let's consider how he made His ways straight.

1. Of course we have the baptism of Jesus and John's testimony that God told him what he would see when he saw the Messiah. So the Baptism was also John laying hands on Jesus and presenting Him as the Messiah.

2. He told two of his disciples to "behold the lamb of God" and based on his word they left his ministry to join Jesus.

3. He spoke the truth to King Herod and got arrested and then beheaded.

4. While in prison he sent to Jesus and expressed a certain level of exhaustion "are You the promised one or shoulld we wait for another?"

So he is an example to us. Our ministry is for the Lord, so if he wants us to mentor people to then go and serve the Lord on their own, that is His business. We may suffer persecution, we may get arrested, we may get martyred, and we may get worn out. We may get discouraged.

So John's preparing the way for the Lord was laying out an example to all the believers who would follow after Jesus in ministry.

 

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Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

So one response is that if Jesus can change the world by an act of obedience then we also can have a huge impact on the world by our obedience. However, there are many who go the other way and say "Hey if one man's disobedience cause grace to abound then what is so bad about living in sin, won't that cause more grace to abound?"

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

So Paul is saying when we get saved we die to sin. How can you live in sin if you have died to it? Think of the hypocrisy of saying you have been saved while also living in sin. To be saved means you have died to your old life of sin. That person is dead, buried, and has a headstone. You want to dredge that dead person up?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Baptism is a picture that your old man is being buried beneath the water and your new man is coming out in newness of life.

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

So this is what salvation means, it means we are to walk in the newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Salvation means you have received a seed, that word that you received when you first believed is a seed. Water that, take care of that and it will sprout and grow. But if you pull that seed back out of the ground it isn't going to grow.

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

So let's just make sure we understand. Our old man was crucified with Christ. The purpose was that our body of sin would be destroyed. If you understand that then how could you possibly suggest that Christians should continue to serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

This doesn't mean we are freed to sin. It means there are consequences to sin. If you rob a bank you have to pay that back or you have to serve your time in prison. However, if you are given ten years in prison and then die with five years still on your term, we free you from that term.

 

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Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

This is the basis for Christians to say that we will go to heaven. However, the New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth, so it is quite reasonable to say that in future we will live with Him on earth. However, this doctrine is also directly tied to the rapture. At some point there is an evacuation of the earth. Think of our status as Christians as ambassadors of the kingdom of the heaven. At some point when war breaks out you will evacuate the embassy. In the end all of those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord will be killed at Armageddon. Prior to that we will have the rapture when Jesus evacuates the embassy.

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is an example to us. He conquered death, therefore death no longer reigns over Him. Jesus cannot die, He died once and after rising from the dead that is it. So then it is the same with us. Death should not reign over us, rather we should be dead to sin and alive to God. If you understand what Paul has said here he has destroyed this doctrine that some pushed concerning living in sin. That doctrine is persistent, today it is known as "Once Saved Always Saved". Many equate this to the "assurance of salvation". That is a different doctrine. The assurance of salvation means you can't lose your salvation. There is a scriptural basis for this. However, OSAS is more broader, it will often include the doctrine that you can live in sin and still be saved. Paul's point here is that if you are saved and have the assurance of salvation then that means you have died to sin and are now living to God. The fact that you still want to justify living in sin is contradictory to any assurance of salvation.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Many Christians argue that we are all sinners, this is true. But we can also make a choice that sin can no longer reign in my mortal body. Simple question, is sin reigning in your body? Ask the Lord, perhaps you have an addiction to food, maybe you are on prescription medication that you could get off of, maybe you have other addictions that could be stopped. Now this is easier said than done. Paul doesn't stop here, he will follow up on this for the next two chapters.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

The word "yield" is in contrast to reigning. To yield means to give way to pressure. Suppose people tell you "everyone is doing it". Now consider what an "instrument of unrighteousness" is. Let's say I am working for the Minnesota state government and I discover that there are weird things going on with the learning centers for autistic children. You bring it to your boss and he wants you to simply rubber stamp the paperwork. If you do that you are yielding your members as instruments of unrighteousness. Do not give way to the pressure, stand your ground, do your job.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Think about sin, because of the law it has abounded. Jews are not the only ones with laws or with sin. This is true of people all over the world. So we don't let sin reign in our mortal body and we also don't let sin reign in our life.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

So this is a second question. One is about living in sin in our mortal body. The other is what do we do as Christians living in a sinful world even if we are not the ones sinning? Can you work at a company that is doing something illegal? The word is very clear, do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness. There are a lot of gray areas. For example, a salesman is hired to sell the companies products. That does not mean you are to lie about them. Suffice it to say you must be led by the Lord and live by your conscience. We are here on this earth temporarily, the goal is not to make money or advance in our career, the goal is to be faithful to the Lord. He may have placed you in that job for the express purpose of standing for righteousness.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

We are told to serve our boss as unto the Lord. This means when the boss gives you an order and you are obeying you see that order as coming straight from the Lord. Now the Lord would never give you an order to do something illegal. So if your boss is giving you an order that is illegal he is no longer speaking on behalf of the Lord. You are not at the job to be submissive to your job without any concern with your conscience. If you think the boss is giving you an order that is illegal I would go to an elder and fellowship with him what he thinks. If two or three of you agree that the order is illegal then you have clear word, you are not to yield yourself as a servant of sin to obey.

 

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What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Many of us got saved when we were already working. Imagine a man in a drug cartel or street gang getting saved. Fruit worthy of repentance would then be to take a stand against that sinful life.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Free from righteousness does not mean we were free from judgement. Prior to being saved we were servants of sin. This doesn't mean we were criminals. Let's say you spend the weekend watching a movie or TV and then you come to work and talk about that. You are promoting that TV show because no one can participate in that conversation without seeing that same show. For example, the Superbowl is an event they can all watch and then discuss. Now of course, if you do illegal drugs, then you are a servant in the entire drug trade. So if you are living in a world that is separate from God you will become a cog in that machine. As a result you are a servant of sin. While you were doing all that you were not serving God, you were not a servant of righteousness. You were free from all obligations. Now in the church you might have a lot of obligations, if you are in a ministry there would be a lot of obligations there as well.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

So then think of your life prior to being saved. What fruit do you have, what is the result that you can show God when you appear before Him and have to give an answer for the things you have done on the earth? This is why I hate the OSAS doctrine, which is different from the assurance of salvation doctrine. In the OSAS they never ask you what fruit you have. No, that is condemned as "works based salvation". Paul's description of salvation is of a tree being planted. It grows and bears fruit. If your Christian life is not bearing fruit then how can you claim you have the assurance of salvation? The proof that a tree is an apple tree is when it bears apples.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Any fruit unto holiness will be something you will not be ashamed of when you appear before God.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the world you have a job, they pay you money, as a result you are a cog in the machine known as this dark age. You were working for the prince of darkness, even if you were doing good things.

However Jesus has given you a gift and because of that gift you are now free to choose, you can stay working for the prince of darkness, getting fruit that you are ashamed of and ultimately go to hell. Or, you can die to self and sin, you can rise up in newness of life and live to God. If you take the second option you will have fruit unto holiness and that will be the proof, the assurance that you are saved.

 

[ZNP]

You can't be Humpty Dumpty trying to straddle two worlds.

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

If you are a wife during the Old Testament you were really "bound" to your husband. This was a dangerous world to live in as an unmarried woman or a divorced woman. There was no social security. Your children were responsible to care for you in your old age. There was much more shame and the threat of being shunned. The woman at the well is an example of the shunning. The mockery that Samuel's mom suffered is evidence that women were judged based on how fruitful they were. We saw that with Sarah's maid mocking her as well. There are also a number of horrific stories that reveal just how scary the Old Testament was for a woman.

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So the comparison to being bound to the law is equated to the woman being bound by the law to her husband. Paul is comparing the Jewish religion to this husband that they were bound to that died. If you were a Jew you were bound to all the rules and regulations of that religion. Most of us would not consider wearing a blended wool suit as sin, the Bible doesn't either, but it is a violation of their rules. Being in the Jewish religion can be similar to having to deal with "mean girls" in high school.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

In the same way as a woman being called an adulteress is how Jews felt to converting to becoming Christian. You are treated as a leper. Your family and friends "wash their hands of you". Women are much more concerned about becoming shunned then men. For a woman to be shunned is almost certain death in the past, whereas for a man to be shunned simply means he needs to move to another community. People will welcome a strong man with skills even if he was shunned. Women are very different, they are like the intelligence agency for a community. They talk about each person. They will know who their parents are, who they are married to, who their children are, what they do for a job and any negative or positive thing about them. Men are often completely oblivious and don't care about those things. The church is probably going to be two thirds women and children, so they also are a powerful intelligence agency. This can be a good thing, but of course the negative side is women who are given to gossip.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

So understand this, you can't be Humpty Dumpty trying to straddle two worlds. Jews cannot live a double life as a Christian. The same is true of pagans, Moslems, Hindus, or atheists. If you are a Christian you must be all in. When I became a Christian and was baptized my Dad "washed his hands of me". I was rebuked for mentioning Jesus during the Christmas celebration. I decided that I would be all in as a Christian, partly because it had been torture believing in Jesus in secret. Baptism is a very public witness that you believe in Jesus. When my college roommates and friends found out there was a very noticeable shunning that took place immediately. I decided very quickly I would focus on the Lord's approval and not worry about what unbelievers, atheists and others thought.

But you can still pray for your family and friends. They can shun you, they can refuse to hear your testimony, but you can still pray for them. The Lord will be just as caring for their salvation as He was for yours. The Lord worked in my life without their intervention, He can also work in theirs.

 

[ZNP]

We know that the law is spiritual but I am carnal

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Before I got saved I was a "witness". My behavior, my fellowship, my testimony impacted others to sin. Everyone has "regrets" regardless of how much they want to imagine that some psychology trick can erase them. The onlly thing that can pay for your regrets is the blood of Jesus. If I harmed people in the past I can reconcile with them, and I can be merciful and forgiving to those that harmed me. If I am unable to speak to someone I can still pray for them. As Christians we do not have to live in guilt and shame for what we have done, rather we can use that as motivation to pray for people all the more. When people are brought to your mind pray for them. Satan will try to condemn us, so every time something that might condemn you is brought to mind use it to pray for people's salvation and for Satan to be put to an open shame. That will discourage him from using that tactic on you.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Think of that past religion (every culture has a religion, even if you think you aren't, the green movement is a religion, to be anti fascist is a religion. People look at some religions as uplifting the patriarchal society, well other religions are standing against the patriarchal society. Your core beliefs are your religion. If you consider MAGA a cult then you agree that strongly held political convictions can become a religion.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Is it sin to talk about sustainable practices for the earth? No, but because of that all of us can now be condemned. "How dare you drink water out of a throwaway water bottle". "How dare you use a straw".

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

As a result of laws concerning recycling all kinds of abuses spring up. Apparently we separate our trash into three or four bags, follow all the local ordinances to then dispose of it properly only for most of it to simply be dumped in a landfill. We pay extra to have it recycled and yet they simply dump it in a landfill. Soon the mafia runs the waste management company because you can threaten businesses very effectively by either refusing to pick up their garbage, or hitting them with frivolous fines or just dumping garbage on their property. The law becomes a tool in hands of sinners to inflict pain on others.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

You were a small child, everything was fine, then some kid grabbed your toy, you in turn grabbed it back and then the kindergarten teacher said "no fighting". So now you have this rule, did that rule bring peace? No, it simply meant you had to be more stealthy, more crafty, because sin is disobedience. The minute you have something to disobey sin revives and starts the wheels turning in your brain.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

The teacher is giving you rules so that you won't get hurt, but instead the kids now become more devious and get in trouble. Soon they are going to the principals office.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

Think of all the deceit you were told. "This is not fair", "the teacher doesn't like you", etc. We justify being disobedient, give us a command and we will find fault. One person is telling you that you can't put glossy paper in with regular paper for recycling. The other person is keenly aware that all the hassle they have to do with recycling and it all goes in the landfill anyway.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The goal is great, let's be good stewards of the earth. Let's live sustainably.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

No one minds recycling if the paper, plastic, glass and cans are all really recycled. No one minds paying for garbage to be picked up if you are not also funding the mafia to extort you. We don't mind paying taxes until we learn that $9 billion went to fraud and as much as 50% of the taxes in Minnesota is being used for fraud.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

This is the debate between big government and small government. Some people want the government to do all these charitable services to help the poor. Others realize that anything the government does for the poor costs twice as much as it would if the church does it.

Judas condemned people who poured out money on Jesus saying "why this waste, this money could have been given to the poor". But that was not because he cared for the poor but because he held the money bag and took what was put in it. This is just like politicians who condemn you and talk about how much money that we need to give to the poor. Learning centers for autistic children is what they wanted in Minnesota, you would have to be a monster to be against that. But what they got were "learing centers" that did not have any children, instead sent the money to terrorists and scammers.

This is the problem with government, the laws are good, it is just the people who figure out how to get around laws concerning fraud and abuse.

 

[ZNP]

I know that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

When we are trying to get a job done we hate lazy people. Yet we are lazy. I was a teacher and in the teacher's room they would always complain about the students being lazy as though the fault in kids learning was with them being lazy, yet the truth is we were all lazy as children. As a kid we hated when our parents nagged us and yet as parents we become nags.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

I agree that the kids should not be lazy and I agree that the parents should not be nags. These laws are good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Let's be real, we have failed in many respects, some failed as students, some failed as parents, some failed as spouses, no one is without regrets.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

I know that people who have a bad temper regret it, people who get frustrated and lash out regret it, people who get into a panic over nothing regret it. But these things are all within us.

 

[ZNP]

Who shall deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

A lot of people think "I could be a good Christian if I wanted to, I just don't want to". But then when I did become a Christian and wanted to do good I discovered it is far more difficult than it seems.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

So if you don't like to be lazy, if you don't like to be a nag, and yet you are this proves that within you is sin. For example, do you curse people when they cut you off in traffic? Where did that come from?

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Think about people who are serving in the ministry but are grumbling and complaining. They would do good, but evil is present with them.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

This is also true. We appreciate transformed people, we appreciate those who are testimony of Jesus Christ.

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I hate grumbling, I hate complaining, I hate whining, I hate being lazy, I hate being a nag, this is the body of this death.

 

[ZNP]

Who shall deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

The context of this is you are saved, you are forgiven, and now you are serving God but you realize you are still full of murmuring, complaining, gossip, laziness, etc. When I first got saved we were told to start the morning with a "morning watch", spending 30 minutes in the word of God and prayer. But you sleep late and have a very hard time doing it.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Sin doesn't mean adultery, stealing, or murder though it could mean that, what it means is disobedience.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

In my experience if you set your clock for 5:30 when you normally get up at 6:00 it was easy to just roll over and say you would go to bed earlier that night. That doesn't work. Instead, the way to get up early is to get up early. If you do that then when night comes you will be tired and go to bed early too without any reminding.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

We all have this imaginary image of us being filled with the spirit, praying, spending time in the word, etc.

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

It is like making a New Year's resolution to spend more time at the gym. Good intentions but you have to turn it into a habit and you have to build up your endurance, At first fifteen minutes in the word, then 30, and soon you can spend an hour at a time.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

[ZNP]

Vashti -- the left behind -- Divorced

Many people are lifting up Purim as a date fulfilling all the prophecies concerning the rapture before the tribulation.

Chapter 1 begins with the King divorcing Vashti the Queen.

19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

Vashti is a contemporary of Esther so I don't think this is fair to compare her to the Jews that rejected Jesus as the cross. Rather in discussing the rapture I think this would refer to the left behind saints.

20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

And this indicates that those who are left behind do not give Jesus Christ honor. For example, Jesus is the incarnated word of God, if you reject the word of God then that is a dishonor to Jesus.

21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

There are many people who claim to be Christian but would find this offensive. They complain about the patriarchy, they complain about how the Bible says that the shepherd or Bishop should be the husband of one wife who has led his family well. I think we can see that this is what Vashti was rebelling against.

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

The KJV translates Strong's G863, the word for left, in the following manner: leave (52x), forgive (47x), suffer (14x), let (8x), forsake (6x), let alone (6x)

For example: Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken G863 houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

This is a reference to abandoning, forsaking, or divorcing.

Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. The apostasy refers to "Christians" who do not want the Bible to reign over them.

 

[ZNP]

Church seated together with Christ in the heavenlies in Chapter 2 of Esther

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

If we think of Mordecai and Esther as one person, in Christ with two statuses. In the heavens we are seated togther with Christ in the heavenlies. But on earth we are like Mordecai, we learn of corruption and insurrection and we bring it before God's throne in the heavens based on our status as the church.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.