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Four Disturbing Developments with Potential Biblical Ramifications #2

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

In my last post we investigated the first of four troubling developments concerning the United States and Israel.

Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2027, codifies the integration of the militaries of the United States and Israel. This development lends itself to a narrative that the United States may be part of the one world government/economic arm of end times Babylon.

Today we will explore three more troubling developments, revealing Israel, and more specifically Jerusalem as the seat of the Antichrist’s one world religion. This also indicates the nation of Israel and the bulk of its people, as complicit in the rise of Antichrist.

Before we look at the disturbing developments, let’s understand why Israel is in a negative end times position and Jerusalem, the seat of Antichrist’s one world religion.

In Revelation 11, we see a vantage point for the first three and a half years of the tribulation period. The 3^rd temple is rebuilt prior to this time frame. In this chapter there are two witnesses on God’s behalf standing in opposition to Antichrist’s one world religion, government and economy.

The two witnesses are killed at the midpoint of the tribulation, where their bodies lie in the street for 3 ½ days. The city in which they are killed, where the third temple is located is Jerusalem.

(Revelation 11:8) ⁸And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Jerusalem, in its sinful Old Testament periods, is referred to in a few Old Testament passages as “Sodom” and “Egypt” (Isaiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 23.14; Ezekiel 16:1-2, 44-58; Deuteronomy 28:27, 60; Amos 4:10). Jerusalem is undeniably being referred to in Revelation 11:8, as the place “where our Lord was crucified”.

Jerusalem is the worldwide seat of Antichrist religion, in the last days. It ought to be no surprise that troubling and disturbing events are moving Jerusalem towards the fulfillment of prophecies concerning its position in Antichrist’s plans.

PROCLAMATIONS FROM THE SANHEDRIN

The Sanhedrin was the chief and final leading council for the Jewish people in the Old and New Testament times, until the destruction of the second Temple, in 70 ad. In our day the Sanhedrin was unofficially re-established in October 2004. This body has its foundation in Numbers 11.

This re-establishment is in conjunction with the Temple Institute in Jerusalem (more on that later).

On July 20^th 2026 the Sanhedrin petitioned heaven for the revealing of Messiah and the rebuilding of the third Temple. Interestingly, this proclamation assumes their Messiah is alive and needs revealed. This is exactly the language of Antichrist, who desires to supplant the true Jewish Messiah and the Savior of the world, who has been revealed. The Lord Jesus is the Messiah.

The Sanhedrin believes that this proclamation by themselves, as a legal divine court, are binding on heaven, meaning God must do so.

Here are the stipulations of their petition to heaven.

Removing hostile forces from Jerusalem and the nation as well.

This is important to biblical prophecy and the reconstruction of the third temple.

Reveal kingship of Heaven, Mashiach (Messiah), and the Temple.

The Messiah (Mashiach) and King are one in the same and since, the True Messiah, Jesus Christ has come, this is a call for Antichrist.

That the Holy One, Blessed Be He, restore prophecy to the Jewish people

The truth is that our Lord Jesus Christ, not only fulfilled the Old Testament Law, but came to save the world, both Jew and Gentile. He is the Temple of God and all prophecy points to Him, as Revelation 19:10 declares “The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy”.

Therefore, everything the Sanhedrin is declaring is false and not anything YHWH will do, for His Messiah has come and fulfilled His purpose and is returning soon.

The troubling thing is how this event plays into the Satanic Antichrist plan.

In a vacuum this would not mean much, but given how these statements are in line with a plan already underway, which leads to the building of the third temple; where antichrist; magnifies the nearness of the appointed time.

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE, THE RED HEIFER AND NOAHIDE RELIGION

In addition, the Temple Institute (in Jerusalem) is dedicated to building a third temple in our lifetime and this temple, as the wrongly declared, is for the redemption of mankind. This statement ought to cause any Christian to cringe, for the redemption of Israel and all mankind has been made available, in our Lord Jesus Christ’s atoning death and resurrection.

This institute stewards all the temple implements which have been recreated, Levite practice and ritual’s necessary for the foundation of the temple to be rebuilt.

For the temple foundation to be laid, there must be a sacrifice of a red heifer, or red female cow. The temple institute declares that the last red heifer will be brought and sacrificed by the mashiach, or messiah. This is in line with the Sanhedrin’s petition to heaven, and in line with another troubling development occurring in Jerusalem in November.

The Temple Institute has several red heifers ready for this very purpose. The only things necessary, are to remove the Muslim presence from the Temple Mount, and sacrifice the red heifer, revealing Antichrist. As we can see, these three things are already set in motion.

In addition to these developments, in November, there will be a conference, where the Noahide religion is declared the way of salvation for all humanity, regardless of personal religious affiliation. Can you say COEXIST?

The first ever International Congress of Noahides, in Jerusalem, will proclaim a new way of salvation, for all partakers. Organized by groups like the Brit Olam Noahide World Center and the Noahide World Center, the gathering aims to unite delegates from six continents to formally establish a global Noahide Movement. What is this movement?

The Noahide religion is based on the seven laws of Noah, coming after the flood. These are the Noahide laws.

Idolatry: Do not worship false gods or idols. Acknowledge one supreme Creator.

Blasphemy: Do not curse or insult God.

Murder: Do not take a human life.

Theft: Do not steal or rob.

Sexual Immorality: Do not engage in forbidden acts such as incest, adultery, or rape.

Cruelty to Animals: Do not eat a limb or flesh torn from a living animal.

Courts of Justice: Set up a legal system and fair courts to enforce the other

Anyone who follows these laws is pronounced righteous before God, regardless of ethnicity and or religion. This is the basis for the one world religion, and who could argue that these laws are not good. But keeping them does not save anyone.

Remember that with our Lord Jesus reveals these laws in their full scope, which makes following them, for the sake of perfect righteousness, impossible.

To God, as our Lord Jesus reveals, murder is not just the taking of life physically, but to kill with words, to assassinate a person’s character in unrighteous anger (Matthew 5:21-22)—to be sexually immoral is not just to physically do sexually immoral acts; such as adultery, incest, rape …, but to commit the act in the heart and imagination (Matthew 5:27-28)—To God, idolatry is to consistently not love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength, rather than simply bowing before an image (Matthew 22:37-38).

A system where men are saved by what they do, in keeping Noahide laws, is just as ill-conceived as a Jew believing that keeping the Old Testament law, would make them right with God (Romans 3:20-23). It is this kind of religion that will appeal to the masses through Antichrist, even appealing to men who call themselves Christian, when Antichrist rises.

In fact, this is the basis of all apostacy and is necessary for the rebuilding of the temple.

It is a fact that most people across the world would agree with these seven laws, because all people’s groups have and identify with the Noahic flood, and the laws which came from it.

The combination of all these events and what I had written of in my last article, indicates we followers of Jesus must, be prepared to share the gospel, and destroy the self-righteous salvation religion, which leads to countless souls being in hell.

The time of the great apostacy and deception is upon us.

II Thessalonians 2:3-4 ³Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

II Thessalonians 2:9-12⁹The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Antichrist, end times prophecy, National Defense Authorization Act Section 219, noahide laws, one world religion, Revelation 11 | Leave a comment

Four Disturbing Developments with Potential Biblical Ramifications

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

Recently, three developments concerning Israel and the United States have coalesced into a troubling biblical pattern. This pattern could be a necessary path to end times prophetic fulfillments.

Development #1: Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act

The National Defense Authorization Act is an annual federal law establishing the funding of the United States Military budget. It’s the most expensively funded law in the United States.

Aside from the normal excessive spending on questionable defense items, section 219 outlines a new partnership with a foreign government, that will alter the sovereignty of the United States adversely.

Section 219 directs the U.S. secretary of Defense to appoint an “executive agent” to integrate American and Israeli military sectors for the purpose of…

Establishing joint development of highly sensitive technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, quantum computing and autonomous systems. This includes the integration of intelligence agencies like Massoud and the C.I.A.
Mandating “network integration” to link military communications and fuse data between the two countries.
Giving legal support for defending Israeli military interests, although not bringing the militaries to a single force.

Point 1 means that as Israel operates in surveillance so will the United States. This will certainly include further intrusions into the privacy of U.S. citizen, not only by their own government, but also that of Israel.

What makes this more problematic are at least four bills concerning antisemitism, which have been introduced in congress, condemning such acts as denying the holocaust, to speaking against the Israeli government for almost anything.

Recently the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance formed a comprehensive definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by 38 states in America. This document relegates antisemitism mostly to speech, which is problematic in a nation with the first amendment. Below are some of the more problematic portions out of the definition.

“Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions”.

“Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews”.

“Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.”

“Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”

In this small sample of the definition accusing a Jewish person of a real crime, can be considered hate speech.

Speaking against Israel’s current policy in Gaza where over 67,000 Palestinian citizens have died and more than 1.7 million have been displaced, is a criminal act.

Legitimately questioning a foreign military action, which is wildy disproportionate to its reason for said operation, is considered a hate speech crime in 38 U.S. States.

Also, it is hate speech to suggest that Jewish people killed Jesus or had anything to do with killing Jesus. Forget the biblical and historical fact, that Jewish leaders were complicit (with the Romans), in the death of Christ; because to say it is hate speech.

Why is this development so alarming?

In addition to these facts, most Americans would be shocked at how much tax money is given to Israel from the United States government with no input from American citizens, as to if that is what they want.

Many would be shocked by The American Israel Public Affairs Committee or AIPAC. This lobbying group gives contributions to 415 of the 535 to congressmen and senators. This group, with various American Jewish donors, spent more money on a recent primary campaign to unseat an incumbent and critic of Israel, than in the history of U.S. politics.

Making this more troubling is how the current war with Iran is advancing the idea that U.S. interests and Israeli interests are one in the same. This is where we begin to see an intersection with a very troubling biblical type.

Babylon is considered the last days type of one world government and one world religion, which are described in the Old Testament prophecies and the book of Revelation.

We see Babylon rise foundationally in Genesis 11, after the flood. Babel was founded by Nimrod, who is the first type of Antichrist king, with a one world religion and government.

After the flood, GOD reiterated to Noah, that he and his family were to “be fruitful and populate it abundantly (Genesis 9:1-7). The command was to fill the entire earth with people. Nimrod had other ideas.

Genesis 11:1-4 ¹Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. ³ Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. ⁴ And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

In this passage we can see the defiance of Nimrod who built Babel as his first kingdom against God (Genesis 10:8-11). Which was all for the people of the world to ignore God’s command.

Why a tower to heaven? Because Nimrod was “mighty” or a “Gibbor” synonymous with the Genesis 6 “Nephelium” or giants, the abominable offspring of angels who left their first estate and human woman (Jude 1:6).

The first incursion of these “Nephelium” were killed in the flood, although Genesis 6:4 states there were other times this occurred after the flood. The tower of Babel was a two-fold slam against YHWH.

In the first place it was a giant middle finger declaring our tower is so tall a flood won’t kill us. Secondly it was a blasphemous statement questioning God’s promise to never flood the earth again. Its function a temple to Nimrod, who claimed he was a god/man.

This city was the dwelling place of almost the entirety of the earth’s population with one language, one-world government, and one world religion. Babel is personified in the civilization which would arise in its location, Babylon.

In Jeremiah 7:18, 44:17, 25, as well as Ezekiel 8:14, we see how the Jewish people had aligned with religious Babylon, even though it was antithetical to God’s word.

In Daniel 2 and 4 we read of visions of Babylon, the great kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, being destroyed by the Kingdom of God, in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah prophesies it would be Babylon to take Israel into captivity and gives a three-fold prophetic vision of Babylon, which includes Babylon (in Rome) at the time of Christ and the end times Babylon in Jeremiah 50 and 51.

The first Babylon was literally that kingdom which rose up in the area of Babel to dominate the world for a time. The second Babylon, is that of Rome, as it covered the earth, with a one world government and religion, which syncretized all false gods together.

Rome is the fourth beast mentioned in Daniel 7 and that last kingdom, which is a melting pot, of nations tribes and tongues, economic and governmental power and a Co-exist religion that allows for all to be, but the kingdom of God.

This Roman entity, which is of the Babylonian system, would destroy Jerusalem and dominate the world, but in the last days will rise again.

This “Babylon” will be the governmental and economic seat of the Antichrist, and will not be current day Rome or Vatican City, but potentially New York City in the United States. Let us examine the word of God.

I have written much on the founding of the United States and how our system is foundationally modeled on the Roman Republic. There is more than I can write in this article (ask and I can send you links).

Revelation 18:1-3¹After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. ² And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

This passage describes America very well. America has “fallen” from being a nation of morality, to a nation of filth, perversion, idolatry and greed.

More sinful sexual immorality is produced through Hollywood and pornographic movies than any other nation on earth. Sexual immorality through the normalization of abomination, in the LGBT rights and tolerance, is a tower of Babel higher than any other nation. This in addition to the murder of almost 70 million human beings in the womb, reveals the fall.

We can see God’s word epitomized, concerning Babylon, in America.

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her”

When we consider the amount of wealth generated from the United States and its massive economic influence in the world, has there ever been any nation, such as America, in its influence?

³For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

Please read the entire text of Revelation 18 and discover Babylon as arrogant, sitting as a royal entity in its own mind, a port city, that will not be humbled—that the merchants of the earth fornicated and lived in luxury because of their relationship, in commerce.

We see a nation and city that produces every kind of luxury (unnecessary) that the world wants, and “even the bodies and the souls of men”. Not only is this a reference to the chattel slave trade of America’s past, but also the sex trafficking of today, the porn industry of today, and the sports trade trading the bodies of men.

Recently, when NBA teams were looking to purchase the services of Lebron James. An additional $240 million was bet on where he would eventually sign his contract. Has there ever been such a perversion of how everyday people view money and their desire for it, in such foolish betting speculation?

Perhaps the most telling element identifying America potentially as Babylon, is in Revelation 18:23-24.

Revelation 18:23-24 ²³The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. ²⁴ And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

Some who agree with America being end times Babylon, will point to “the voice of the bridegroom and the bride”, as a reference to how marriage in America has dropped precipitously over the last 50 years. It is true the rate of first-time marriages has dropped 60% or more in that time frame (that is astronomical); but I believe the scriptures may be referring to the silencing of the Church through persecution.

Consider that during the covid 19 pandemic, pressure for churches to close, from government officials in Ohio, where there were no legal sanctions on normal fellowship services, led to 98% of churches being closed on Resurrection Sunday.

Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride, yes? Were we not feared into silence, unnecessarily? Yes!

In the time of the dominance of Babylon’s one world economy and government, in New York City (where the foundation of Antichrist’s government is already seated at the United Nations), a persecution of American Christians will make the holocaust look tame, by comparison.

In this movement to silence the Bridegroom and the Bride, “the light of the lamp will not shine” and we are the light of the world, described as a lampstand in the New Testament (Matthew 5:13-16; Revelation 2 and 3).

Make no mistake, laws have been passed and are set to be passed, which moves America closer to this position.

In my next blog, we will see Babylon’s one world religion, as centered in Jerusalem. We will look into two near events, which magnify the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged America and Babylon, Antichrist, National Defense Authorization Act Section 219, Revelation 18 | Leave a comment

Do We Still Believe There is POWER in the Name of JESUS?

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

Christians, we must recover our faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the past several years, in many different places of pastoral ministry, I have noticed a lack in Christians praying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—a lack of using His name specifically when Christians discuss God with others—a lack of understanding concerning the necessity of having faith in His name and holding to that faith in His name (John 1:11-12).

It is my belief, that making speech concerning the One True GOD, YHWH Elohim, generic, is part of Satan’s to deceive Christians, for the purpose of diminishing the power of the Gospel.

This occurs in large part, by convincing Christians we do not need to use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in many applications of our faith and practice.

Consider the desire for many Christians to promote the slogan “One nation under God”. What God will the people be referring too. The US constitution protects a person’s right to believe or not believe in any god of their choosing. Therefore, saying one nation under God could mean a million different things.

For argument’s sake, let us agree that most of the founders of the U.S. were Free -Mason’s, who’s god is not YHWH Elohim (through His Son Jesus Christ), but Baphomet, a representation of Lucifer.

My point is that making plain the God we are speaking of is necessary, especially as Christians. Let’s investigate why.

FAITH IN HIS NAME and all It represents

John 1:11-13¹¹He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

“To those who believe in His name”, is a direct reference to Christ being described as the “Word of God” in the first 10 verses of John 1. What this means is that to believe in Jesus Christ, is not just to believe in His death and resurrection on our behalf, but all that His Names communicate from the Old Testament.

Remember, God’s Triune nature is clearly seen in the Old Testament in God the Father, God the Word (who is referred to as the Son in Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 9:6) and the Holy Spirit. These Persons of the Godhead were revealed from Genesis to Malichi.

Consider the last reference to our Lord Jesus Christ in the last Chapter of the Old Testament, as our Healer.

Malachi 4:2-3 ²But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. ³ You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the LORD of hosts.

Taken in isolation, this verse would mean little, but prior passages already declared the Messiah to be our Healer, which is a prophetic mark of His Messiahship (Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 61:1-3). Which brings us to another aspect of believing in His name, the Word of God.

We discussed that the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is referred to as the Son of God, from Psalm 2:7, but that very same Psalm is from where we get the term “Christ”.

Psalms 2:1-3 ¹Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”

In this passage we can see all three Persons of the Godhead. The “LORD” is in reference to the Father and the Anointed His Son. He is the Son because He is anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure and is referred to as the King the wicked must kiss, to avoid judgment, later in the Psalm.

The word for “Anointed” in the Hebrews language is the word “Hamashiyach” meaning the Messiah (the Anointed One). This phrase translates directly into the Greek language as Christos.

It is very important to understand the breadth of all that is contained in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is more than I have time to discuss right now.

But belief in His name is a real aspect of our faith, and foundational one at that. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Christians seem not to use His name in prayer, because they are either ignorant through poor teaching or to lazy to dig into what the word declares concerning His name.

In the early church it was not only the preaching of the Gospel but preaching faith in His name, which was concidered the whole Gospel. This meant one would have to know Christ, as the eternal word of God and all His varied ministry to humanity as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and soon returning King.

Acts 4:12 ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 8:12 ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized

Acts 10:43 ⁴³To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

The passage from Acts 4:12, is the end of an argument Peter was making before the Jewish religious council, after being detained for healing a man in Jesus name from Acts 3.

Acts 3:3-8³who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. ⁴ And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” ⁵ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

In front of the religious council Peter makes it clear…

Acts 4:10 ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Therefor Peter not only taught and lived faith in the name Christ for Healing and salvation (Acts 4:10-12), but he also communicated to Mark and even fuller understanding of the power that is in Christ’s name, for all who follow Christ.

Mark 16:15-18¹⁵And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Every one of these wonderful miracles can be seen in Acts of the Apostles. Demons were cast out in Jesus name (Acts 16:18)—Believers spoke with new tongues (Acts 2:1-4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:5-7)—Believers were protected from picking up a serpent unintentionally (Acts 28:3-6)—Believers laid hands on the sick and they recovered (Acts 3:1-9; Acts 8:12-13).

In the New Testament period right up to our present day, when God deems necessary, He works through faith in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, to bring salvation, healing, deliverance from demonic forces, and divine protection to His saints.

With all this truth, why is it that Christians struggle to say the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the most basic and foundational aspect of our faith… PRAYER?

Let us heed Christ’s own words

John 14:12-14¹²“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 16:23-24 ²³“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

It is very interesting that many Christians I have been blessed to b around, are unaware they are not following Jesus will and command or refuse to do so when they are instructed.

Clearly our Lord Jesus Christ declares and commands us to pray, asking the Father, in His name. Remember this is not asking “In Your Name”, but “In the name of Jesus the Christ”. The difference between these two is as vast as Christ’s character revealed in all His biblical names.

Remember there is power in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH!

Scripture could not be clearer about whose name we pray in and why.

The above passage reveals praying in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord brings an answer to prayer, that only God can perform, which glorifies the Father, in His Son’s name.

John 16:23-24 reveals that supernaturally answered prayers, to the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, make our joy overflow in faith. Yet I John 5:14-16 goes even further.

1 John 5:14-15¹⁴Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Let me ask, is it God’s will for us to ask Him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or not? Yes, it is. So why do American Christians forget, refuse or struggle to use the name of Jesus and pray in the name of Jesus?

Satan is a semantic master, meaning he changes words and meaning to wash black and white truth into a grey mash of meaninglessness. The name of Jesus Christ signifies God in the flesh come to accomplish God’s will and plan, which means Satan loses.

Satan has invaded the church and convinced God’s people not to speak the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, because that is the devil’s spiritual plan of stopping and hindering God’s presence and power.

1 Corinthians 12:3³Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:1-3 ¹Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

In John’s day, itinerate preachers would travel around to different fellowships and desire to preach. One of the identifying factors for the leaders was, did these people preach and believe that Jesus the Anointed, the Christ, had come in the flesh?

Remembering from where we began, we understood that to proclaim Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is to say the Word had become flesh, that God had come into the world to save it.

To use the name of Jesus Christ in ministry and or prayer, is to declare every time, that Jesus Christ has come and is present with His redeemed. Satan delights to diminish the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in His saints, to where they do not speak His name publicly, privately or in prayer. When this occurs the Holy Spirit is grienved and God’s manifet presence is hindered in the house of His friends.

If the devil can change a persons’ perception of speaking the truth outwardly or to say it in watered down cultural ways he’ll do it, because God’s power only comes through faith in Christ’s name and His word.

Some Christians may wrongly believe that to not speak Christ’s name in prayer or in conversation with the lost, is to make them more comfortable and a sign of how merciful we are.

Let me remind you that the Holy Spirit does not make us comfortable on our way to salvation, but institutes conviction to make us uncomfortable, that we would repent (John 16:8-11).

2 Corinthians 7:10 ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted;

Some Christians believe that what I am suggesting is to be legalistic because God knows what we need before we ask and He knows we are coming to Him in His name.

Well, not so fast. Remember it delights the Father that we obey Him, and His Son told us to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. This is not legalism, as Jesus declared if you love Me keep my commandments.

John 14:15-18 ¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:21 ²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Why would Christians not pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

I believe it must be from a lack of understanding of the power that is in Jesus’ name, which arises from poor discipleship from Christian leaders. This is the reason I am writing the article, because if it is for any other reason Chrisitan’s are not praying in the name of Jesus Christ, it would hinge on pride and unbelief.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Let us pray and speak the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Name above all names.

Philippians 2:5-11⁵Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged I John 4:1-4, I John 5:`14-16, prayer, satanic deception, The name of Jesus | Leave a comment

Be Concerned about Deception, Not Alien Disclosure.

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

I really didn’t want to write this article, but here I am writing it. Let me explain.

Over the last few years discussion about aliens, meaning extra-terrestrial beings that are active in our world with a potential invasion or disclosure, has been increasing. This hasn’t only been on the fringe of media, but more and more in the mainstream.

Just the other day, there was social media report on an alleged meeting concerning a government official and certain pastors in Tennessee. The alleged purpose of the meeting was for pastors to warn their congregations about a coming disclosure of alien activity, which would shake the faith of the unprepared.

When I heard about this meeting, I thought about writing this article, but held off. A couple days later I was reminded of a movie coming out this summer called “Disclosure Day” and read a headline from fox news concerning this subject.

What was the headline?

“Trump Administration Releases Highly Anticipated Files Documenting UFO’s, ‘Extraterrestrial Life’”

This is in addition to FBI director Kash Patel stating the FBI is working with the president to bring clarity to these topics.

It was then I knew I had to write this article.

Christians ought to know if there anything to alien disclosure that is true from a natural or biblical perspective

What are aliens, if they exist, and most importantly what does the Bible have to say?

Christians are not only to have answers to these questions (from the context of God’s word), but also to use that understanding to assist others in holding to the truth, in the age of deception we are living in.

I do not believe in extraterrestrial beings from other planets., nor does the word of God give any indication of that falsehood. Many Christians will conjecture, but if the Bible is our infallible rule of faith and conduct–if it is truly God’s breathed (II Timothy 3:15)—if it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17); then we must agree extraterrestrial aliens are not part of God’s revealed truth.

God has not concerned us with little green or grey men from Mars, or reptilian people from other planets. The focus of God’s word is His redemption of human beings on the earth, through His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.

This is very important, for if God wanted us to know of alien races and far away galaxies, He would have put it in His word.

Human culture, from the fall and alienated from God by sin, has attempted to wash out the truth of God’s love for humanity, which bears His image. Through religion, science falsely so-called (I Timothy 6:20), and popular forms of entertainment over the millennia, Satan has created a narrative, that diminishes humanity, as the crown of God’s creation.

Satan has tempted man to worship the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:18-25), through science fiction, false religion, witchcraft, and the occult. All of these forms point to the stars, or interdimensional beings, as humanity’s progenitors.

From the “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast in 1938, the world has been hooked on alien encounters and science fiction religion. Over the last 50 years entertainment culture has been preaching an alien invasion and super enhanced saviors to protect the world.

The world’s of science and religion are looking to the stars for someone other than God, to save them, rather than simply looking to the Creator for mercy (Romans 1:18-31).

The preaching of an alien invasion, which brings hostile or kind extraterrestrials has formed a collective consciousness, believing something big is and terrible is coming from the stars.

This is part of a satanic delusion, to turn the world against the Lord Jesus Christ.

Depsite the lies, let me be clear, there is an alien invasion coming. Christians, who are referred to as “pilgrims” in I Peter 2:11, which means “alien alongside” in the Greek, will come with Christ, from heaven to invade this world in Revelation 19:11-16. This is of course after the gathering of the saints to Christ (the rapture) and the marriage supper of the Lamb (I Corinthians 15:50-57; I Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:9)

Interestingly, this true “alien invasion” with Christ our King leading, is referred to in Revelation 6 and 19, and the world of rebellious men know Who is coming.

Revelation 6:15-17¹⁵And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Christ’s second coming is the only alien invasion that is on the horizen. Any other disclosure fits into the coming end times deception, which the scriptures clearly reveal.

Matthew 24:23-25^24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand.

Luke 21:25-28²⁵“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Given this information, it is possible that part of the end times deception, which would deceive the elect if possible, is an extraterrestrial disclosure. Recently, those who push the extraterrestrial disclosure are changing their narrative because of a lack of evidence in the stars.

Many government officials are not saying that aliens are non-human entities or interdimensional beings. This is a wise turn, albeit still not true. What does the Bible declare?

Biblically, there is plant life, animal life, human life, created nonhuman life, and abomination life.

Plant life, animal life, and human life belong to the material world, inside of time. It is necessary to understand that human life does belong, in time and eternally, in the realm of the non-material as well, having a spirit, soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23).

Created non-human life is primarily non-corporeal, or not normally visible in the material realm. This category of creation includes angels, both righteous and fallen (Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1), and the living creatures around the throne of God, defined as Seraphim and Cherubim (Isaiah 6:1-8).

We understand that Christ is the one who created all these creatures and has dominion over all of them (Colossians 1:15-18). In the case of angels, although non-corporeal, they can manifest in physical form, when God’s will requires it (Genesis 18-19; II Kings 6:15-17; Daniel 8:16, 9:20).

As to the fallen angels, we understand they are allowed to operate under the satanic system, subject to God’s soveriegnty and will, and are deceptive and malicious.

Fallen angels are not demons, but do come from fallen angels, as is explained in Genesis 6.

Genesis 6:1-2 ¹Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, ² that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

Genesis 6:4 ⁴There were giants (nphil) on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Demons are the disembodied spirits of the offspring of human women and fallen angels, referred to as the sons of God, in Genesis 6. Demons are what I referred to as “abomination life”. God killed these “giants” or “nphil”, in the flood, yet their disembodied spirits wander the earth, until final judgment, parasiting on humans who let them in (Matthew 12:43-45).

As Christians, we understand that our warfare are against these non-human created beings and abomination life, who rebel against our Father. Satan has kept God’s original righteous organization of these entities intact, for the purpose of undermining God’s redemption through Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Satan and his angels can be disguised as good angels and therefore can lead people away from God (II Corinthians 11:12-15).

Consider the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda. This pool had nothing to do with God, His word, or His way of healing. Remember that He is the LORD that heals, from Exodus 15:26 and Psalm 103: 1-4. The point is that God does not use any angel or thing when He heals, in Hisa word, it is all of Him.

The pool of Bethesda was a holdover from the Greek system of god’s and worship, which watered down Jewish faith. This pool was an Asklepion, a shrine to Asclepius, a man who is the father of ancient and modern medicine. He received his knowledge when a serpent whispered medical knowledge is his ear.

The point is that this idea of an angel stirring the water, fooled even the Jews into believing this was an ok process, and led to them trusting in false gods. This practice continues to this day in India, at the Ganges River, where the lame and sinful bath in the polluted waters of this river, hoping the angel will heal them and wash away their sin. This while they pour money into the waters like a wishing well.

My point is that end times deception is real, and whether its little green/grey men, lizard people, interdimensional beings, or “angels of light” that aren’t, they are delusions meant to fool the world and cause apostacy in the saints.

Let’s focus on one of our previous passages to understand how to avoid deception.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In the first place, we understand that those who do not receive the love of the truth, are able to be deceived. This simply means that saying we believe the truth means nothing unless we are hopefully devoted to living in it and following it, even when everything is against it and us.

Yes, this deals with God’s written word, but also the Person of Christ, who is to be leading, discerning, empowering, and keeping us, as He is King in and through our lives. Those who are surface Christians, are at risk of God sending delusion that they would believe the lie.

What is the lie?

The lie has been written of in one other place in the New Testament, in Romans 1.

Romans 1:24-25²⁴Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

The lie is Satan’s concoction that God is malicious, unloving, unfaithful, unconcerned, and a liar. It attempts to undermine God as the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of mankind. The lie tells humans to worship other created beings, rather than the Creator.

All of the alien stuff is an effort to paint God as unnecessary, useless, and a non-factor. The lie uses this to inject doubt about what the Bible declares concerning humanity… That God loves us and through Christ will declare His love and power to the rest of creation for all eternity (Ephesians 2:6-10, 3:1-13).

If you ever meet an alien, command Him to leave in Jesus name, and guess what, it’ll disappear.

There is an invasion from heaven on the way and we, following our King, will have a front row seat.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alien invation, aliens are demons, Disclosure Day, God's plan of Redemption, lizard people, Revelation 19:11-21 | Leave a comment

Beware False Faith is Abounding in America

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

(Jude 1:3) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

With the continuation of the war between Iran against Israel and the United States, it has become increasingly disheartening to see a false Christianity expand across the Church of Jesus Christ, in America.

In this caricature of the faith once delivered to the saints, there is a demand to support the modern nation of Israel, regardless of how problematic their behavior has been, which I have previously written on. That article can be found on my website by clicking the badge below.

Grafted In or Chosen?

Additionally, this caricature is sown into a proliferating religious nationalism, where politicians, government officials, and the president use religious rhetoric and Scripture twisting, to justify United States war objectives and policy decisions.

Additionally, “Christian” leaders, media personalities, and millions of rank and file
Christians are lining up to agree with these falsehoods, which leads to confusion divions, and apostacy in the body of Christ.

It is time for Christian leaders to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints”. It is to this end that I am writing.

How did this massive movement of error begin?

The movement of aligning the faith once delivered to the saints with nationalism began with the moral majority of the late 1970’s to early 1990’s. Under the leadership of popular Baptist minister and president of Liberty University, Jerry Fallwell and televangelist Pat Robertson, of the 700 club. This movement largely failed in its scope and mission to turn the nation”Christian”.

Although failing in its original mission, it revived under the presidential run of George W. Bush in the early 2000’s and expanded with the propaganda campaign to justify the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which were championed under false pretenses.

After two terms of Barak Obama ,with his immoral agenda, evangelicals threw their support behind current president Donald Trump, declaring him as God’s choice, even though his demeaner and behavior were more than problematic.

During his first term, pastors around the country allied with him, for his position on abortion (which is ever evolving to his old position), LGBTQ issues, and the border. After his first term, where he lost to Joe Biden, the chatter began, that he would rise again.

In his third campaign for a second term, Trump accepted the adulation of adoring Christian leaders, they were happy to give more of, often in sycophantic ways. His surviving an assignation attempt convinced many Christians God spared his life specifically, and he won a third term.

Although some Christian leaders have taken steps away from public support based on recent actions, with the rise of new media, there are millions of Christians supporting and defending President Trump, as a messianic figure. This being due to some of his achievements being beneficial to the support of Israel and some seen as pro-Christian.

Concerning these realities, it is time to separate the precious from the vile. Let me state from the outset, I am not for or against the president and this is not a political article. The persecution coming to the United States against Christians will most certainly arise, from the apostate Christianity proliferating from the ideas and people looked at in this article.

To be clear, the United States is not, never was, nor ever will be a Christian nation. There is no such thing, when considering the nations of the world.

Remember, all nations are a drop in the bucket to the Lord (Isaiah 40:15)—remember that when Christ returns, all nations, including modern Isreal, will be against Him. He is returning for His church, of which the remnant of the election of grace (a small portion of Jews who come to Christ through repentance and faith), are part of (Romans 11:5).

The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth was appointed by Donald Trump as “The Secretary of Defense” for the president’s second term. Recently, by executive order of the president, Hegseth was re-titled “Secretary of War”. In November, “The Department of Defense” was renamed the “Department of War”. Both changes are a reversal from 80 years ago, after World War II.

Hegseth is a professing Christian and has been vocal about his being one, even though not clear on what he believes. He is among a growing list of powerful people who are Christian nationalists, that are pursuing goals of that false faith movement.

Recently, what he believes has become as obvious as it is cringe worthy. Addressing a group of miliary commanders Hegseth prayed, concerning the war with Iran…

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our nation,”

“Break the teeth of the ungodly. By the blast of Your anger, let the evil perish. Let their bulls go down to slaughter for their day has come, the time of their punishment. Pour out your wrath upon those who plot vain things and blow them away like chaff before the wind,”

“Give them (commanders and rank and file) wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. Preserve their lives, sharpen their resolve, and let justice be executed swiftly and without remorse that evil may be driven back and wicked souls delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them.”

To dissect his prayer and answer the errors in theology and doctrine contained therin, needs a blog of its own. It’s enough to say that any person who believes God’s wrath comes through human entities or nations, does not understand the message of the Bible.

There are times in the Old Testament where God comes in the form of a warring enemy of Israel, yet the dominate means of wrath is God Himself. For Hegseth to appeal to this as a pretext for a foreign policy decision of the United States is out of the New Testament context.

In the Old Testament, God’s wrath is poured out when his mercy is exhasuted, in supernatural ways, such as, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, The Red Sea death of the Egyptian army, ect.

When God’s wrath is poured out, directly before Christ’s returns, it is unmistakingly God’s Wrath, with no aid from anyone (Revelation 14-19).

Aditionally, Hegseth’s speech portrays the United States as benevolent and on the side of God, or rather God is on the side of the United States.

In another speech Hegseth said this…

“We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing – no quarter, no mercy for our enemy”

Mr. Hegseth, no one deserves mercy, all of us deserve God’s wrath.

But as Christians we are called to give quarter, through mercy and love our enemies, when they surrender.

Franklin Graham

While praying at a Whitehouse event over Ressurection weekend, where other prominent evangelical leaders were present, and right infront of the president, Graham wrongly prayed.

Father, you tell us in the Book of Esther, that the Persians, the Iranians wanted to kill every Jew, woman child and do it all in one day. But you raised Esther to save the Jewish people, Father, we thank you. Today the Iranians, the wicked regime of this government, want to kill every Jew and destroy them with an atomic fire, but you have raised up President Trump, you’ve raised him up for such a time as this; and Father we pray that you will give him victory.

…protect Israel and defeat Iran’s regime.

The entirety of the Persians, in the time of Esther, did not want to kill every Jew. Hamen, the author of the designed holocaust in the Book of Esther was and Agagite, not Persian. Not all Persians wanted this.

The Iranian regime is oppressive and terroristic to its own people, but the war against Iran is not about the Iranian people. This war is about Israel’s desire to be the only power in the Middle East and economic issues which may keep the U.S. at the head of the world economy.

These are facts which makes Grahams rational feel slimy, as it is unbiblical; Rememer Christians do not live under an eye for an eye (Matthew 5:38-44), and we do not call for or support the destruction of human life. Although we live in the world, we are not of it. We are ambassadors for Christ, no other nation or kingdom.

On Pierce Morgan Uncensored Graham butchered Psalm 144

(Psalms 144:1-2)¹Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle— ²My lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.

Graham declared becase King David prayed this, it applies to the U.S and Israeli governments. This is a gross misinterpretation of scripture placed on Christians.

Followers of Christ are citizens of heaven, first, second and forever. Our nation and kingdom is eternal in the heavens and coming with Christ. Psalm 144 is not about God’s plan for the American or Israeli nation, but the time of Israel when David was king.

The Israel of God, from the Old Testament is not modern Israel. The remnant of the election of grace is with the Church of Jesus Christ, which is the Kingdom of God, and not to be fought for with the weapons of this world.

Let consider the words of Christ Himself, before Pontious Pilate.

John 18:35-36 ³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Ephesians 6:10-13 ¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Paula White

Paula White is perhaps one of the worst populist false teachers in America. She was chosen by President Trump in term one and term two to be his in-house spiritual advisor. White’s shameless fleecing of the flock of God is abominable. Yet with prominent Baptist minister Robert Jefreess standing with her, following Graham’s prayer, she compared the president to the Lord Jesus Christ, and guaranteed the U.S. president would be victorious, because of our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

President Trump

To his credit, the president has never professed to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. That said, he is a tremendous narcist and presidential power, as well as people like Paula White, Franklin Graham, and Robert Jeffress, has left him with a messianic complex.

Recently the president posted a horrific post on Truth Social, seen to my left.

Prior to his posting this abominable image He posted concerning what he intended to do in Iran; followed by a Whitehouse post, aligning the president with Christianity.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F—k-n Strait, you crazy ########, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

Followed by this post, he proclaimed…

A whole civilization will die tonight. I don’t want that to happen. But it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” Trump wrote, referring to the killings of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders, although it’s unclear what the full impact of their deaths has been on Iran’s government.

A White House post concerning the president followed.

Trump “stands as a fierce defender of the Christian faith” and “Under his leadership, the U.S. is once again a beacon of religious liberty — honoring the biblical values and heritage that built our nation.” Adding, “On this sacred Easter Sunday, we are reminded that faith is not a private matter to be silenced by government — but a foundational strength of our Republic.

Just today the president posted another Image of himself with an supposed image of Jesus our Lord hugging him, with the line “I was never a very religious man, but with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monsters… That may be God playing His Trump card”.

It may be, like God used Nebadnezzer, He is using this president, but that does’nt mean our president and Christian nationalism is any mor right with Him, than the wicked Babylonians. The image above is idolatrous.

When considering the blood lust comments of these men, we must be careful to distance ourselves from this apostate Christianity, for it is not the faith once delivered to the saints, none of them uphold the precepts of our faith.

We must follow the words and life of Jesus Christ, who did not come to this earth to elevate one human government over another. He came to set us free from the power of sin and its consequence, and raise us in a newness of life.

Be careful saint, increasing fear of persecution from those who must have fealty to their Christian nationalistic tendencies can lead us from speaking the truth in love.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged apostacy, apostate christianity, Donsld Trump as Jesus, Franklin Graham, Jude 1:3, Paul White false teacher, Pete Hegseth | Leave a comment

Why are Many Running to Rome?

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

There has been a troubling trend over the last serval years in the body of Christ: High-profile Christians running into Roman Catholicism.

Recently Candace Owens, Carry Prejean, Charlie Kirk, Sam Shamoun and several others have flirted with and even joined the Roman Catholic Church. In almost every case, the former Christian had a spouse who was Roman Catholic.

Included in this trend are a host of biblical Christians cozying up to prominent Roman Catholic media persons, like Michael Knowles, Nick Fuentes.

Why is this trend troubling?

This movement is troubling because I was raised Roman Catholic. From the beginning of my prayerful consideration of salvation by grace through faith, in Christ (30 years ago), I saw the incompatible nature of the Roman Catholic faith and practice, with the word of God. Not only does the Bible deny Roman Catholic practice and theology, it exposes much of it as an outright blasphemy, and the head of the last days one world religion, under Antichrist.

I have written and taught on this extensively and will provide links to some of that teaching.

https://4rs4thechurch.com/2020/08/26/escape-from-babylon-rome-america-part-1/

https://4rs4thechurch.com/2020/10/09/bold-faced-lies-the-pope-ministers-of-unrighteousness/

Satan’s Greatest Forgery (A multipart teaching concerning Romans Catholic Doctrine

My concern is two-fold. Firstly, that those in this category are falling away from Christ (II Thessalonians 2:1-4; Hebrews 6:4-6) and secondly that those falling away will cause others to leave the word of God for Roman Catholic falsehood; which is sad and grievous to the Holy Spirit.

Why is this taking place? I believe for several reasons.

In the first place, those running to Rome do not know nor hold to the Doctrine of Christ or the true gospel.

What is the true Gospel? Simply put, Christ came to live and fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 4:4-5), step into our judgment as our sins were written into His body on the tree (II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:13-15)—He died, rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-7; John 20:1-23) and ascended into heaven (Luke 24:46-53; Acts 1:1-11)—and all who come to Him in repentance and faith are forgiven and saved, so long as He is Lord of their life (Acts 26:17-20; Romans 10:9-10).

Of course this is oversimplified, and additionally includes… those who are redeemed, are promised He will never leave nor forsake them—and they will be with Him for all eternity in the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwells righteousness.

Some who may have known the true gospel, have fallen into a great error in the church in western civilization, which is confessional Christianity.

A majority of “evangelists” believe people are saved by confessing Christ as Lord (which is a misinterpretation of Romans 10:9-10), do not understanding that the word confession, in the Greek, means not only a spoken acknowledgement, but a life practice that declares with more than words, Christ is my Lord and Savior.

This is not works based salvation, but what John the Baptist declared are works worthy of a repentant person. Many profess Christ, but deny Him by an ungodly, unchecked life, or worse yet, one which has a level of righteousness they believe sufficient to please God. This lines up with Roman Catholicism’s justification by works.

To us, “works” reveal a heart saved and surrendered to the Lord Jesus, from practices produced by Holy Spirit in sanctification; which we participate in (I Thessalonians 4:3-4). Without works the Roman Catholic cannot attain full justification. Christians, on the other hand know we are justified by Christ’s shed blood (Romans 5:9).

Secondly, those running to Rome do not know true Catholic doctrine, many of which are doctrines of demons. Rather than go through the litany of Roman Catholic teaching and why it is not the faith once delivered to the saints, I suggest you read the PDF I have included in this blog entitled “Satan’s Greatest Forgery” (last link above).

It is enough to say that the Roman Catholic doctrine of Christ, concerning the eucharist, which is an everyday bloodless sacrifice of Christ, is enough to send anyone with discernment running from Rome.

Sadly, those running to Rome are enamored with the ability to be self-righteous through religious identification with Rome’s teaching of their being the one true church. The falsehood of religiosity, in practice, generating feelings of goodness and goodwill is a powerful drug.

In these people there is a lack of understanding of the Christian faith, and how it is lived out in the power of the Spirit, in the character of everyday Christians. Like many Christians there is a real lack experience with the presence of God, by His every day moment by moment leading (Proverbs 3:5-7; Romans 8:14).

Additionally, this leads to a lack of God’s presence filling His church, where His majesty, glory and Person are experienced, in Biblical fellowship. The lack of these two staples of Christianity is hurting the Church of Jesus Christ, and are the cause of many falling away from the faith.

Our faith is a reality, where we can be in His presence, based on our being justified and made holy by Christ’s blood, but also Christ coming to inhabit and rule us.

The lack of experiencing the presence of God, is leading many of those falling away to the mystic symbolism and ritual of Roman Catholicism, to gain a sense of the transcendent. A service with mysticism, incense, marble, the fetishes of the mass and well appareled priests, appeals to the need for transcendence. But it is transcendence without the immanence of the one true God.

Another reason for many running to Rome, is the false doctrine growing in American Evangelical Churches of all denominations. These false doctrines take many forms such as the prosperity gospel, Christian nationalism, confessional Christianity, and hyper charismatic practice, which leave many disgruntled.

When compared to Biblical faith, the lack of correction concerning these falsehoods, leads many to desire ecclesiastical accountability. Rome is glad to step in, because despite their blasphemy concerning the doctrine of Christ, they are consistent in allowing only their warped version of Christianity. When this is coupled with the Roman Catholic Church’s refusal to bow to feminism, one can see the appeal.

When people are unskilled at rightly dividing the word of truth, they are primed for the falsehood of Roman Catholicism. Perhaps they have not been born again of the incorruptible seed the word of God (I Peter 1:23), which leads us to understand there is a difference between hearing truth and believing truth, which takes active commitment too obedience.

James 1:22-25 ²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

The loss of doing what is heard from the word of God seems to be the foundation for all apostacy, which we really need to lay hold of this truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 ¹ Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Proceeding the Day of the Lord , which in this context relates to the in gathering of the saints or what is commonly referred to as the rapture of the Church, are two necessary elements, that are connected.

The first is the “falling away”. The Greek word for this phrase is the word “apostasia”, from which we get our English word “apostacy”. The second element is the revelation of the Antichrist, sitting in the third temple.

The falling away occurs in those who have a particular bent from the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It is very clear that all apostacy from the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), arises from that person, not receiving the love of the truth. This is a very particular statement, because the love of the truth is freely given by God to the repentant and faith filled follower of Christ. How is it received? It is received by loving the one who is TRUTH, He who is The Word of God; The Lord Jesus Christ. We receive Him by following Him in faith and loving obedience.

The gospel costs us our life, it is not a means of swaying public opinion or building a brand. It is not a source to prove our righteousness or intelligence. The gospel is about us being redeemed, by God, to bring glory to Jesus Christ. It is not about changing our government to produce a permanent Christian utopia.

The gospel costs us and must be fought for.

Jude 1:3-4 ³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

DON’T FALL AWAY… RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH THAT YOU MAY BE SAVED!!!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged apostacy, Candace Owens, Carry Prejean, Charlie Kirk, Roman Catholic false doctrine, Sam Shamoun | Leave a comment

Grafted In or Chosen?

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

It’s no secret that the current war between Israel and the United States and Iran, has taken on religious overtones. These overtones have only increased confusion concerning the state of Israel and its people.

Are we supposed to bless Israel with unconditional support for all their government does.

The answer is no, Christians are not supposed to unconditionally support the nation of Israel or any nation concerning the wars they fight. There are just wars and unjust wars, for sure, but these are the wars of man, and Christians must remain neutral, for our mission is the Great commission of all people.

For the follower of Christ there is one war we are to fight and give our focus too; that of the war against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, where we as soldiers fight in the unseen realm (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We are to be concerned with executing the will and plan of God’s kingdom, as His ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:17-21), not resisting the evil man with weapons of this world, turning the other cheek, loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us and praying for those who spitefully use and persecute us (Matthew 5:37-44).

Is Israel still God’s chosen people?

No, not as described in scope in the Old Testament, but yes, concerning the individual Jew’s relationship to Jesus Christ.

Before your head explodes at this statement, read on and see if you do not agree.

Why was Israel the chosen people of God?

Simply put, yes, for the bringing forth of the Messiah, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. In this choosing, God gave the law and its practice, as a means of revealing the sin of all men, through revealing the sinful nature of the Jews.

God also revealed how they were to deal with their sin separation from God, through the vicarious animal blood atonement, where their sin was covered. This atonement was to foreshadow God’s ultimate eternal plan, which is Christ, the Lamb slain, before the foundation of the world; where His blood takes away our sin forever. (Revelation 13:8).

For the Jew, who has received Christ through repentance and faith (the first saved were Jews), they are living stones in the chosen people, the elect, who make up the Church. Yet this is the same for the individual Gentile, who received Christ through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

From Christ’s birth, God had been declaring this truth.

Luke 2:25-32 ²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:²⁹“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; ³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹ Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

And…

Ephesians 2:14-18 ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

The truth is clear, the church of Jesus Christ does not replace Israel as the chosen people, but with Jews and Gentiles together in Christ, the church is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy of the chosen people. This cannot be understated, but is so often misunderstood.

Many a Roman Catholic commentator declared that the Roman Catholic church replaced Israel as the chosen people. This is an error and an impetus for Roman Catholic anti-Jewish hatred over the centuries.

Some false teachers, like John Hagee, senator Ted Cruz and ambassador Mike Huckabee, purport a dual covenant theology. This lie from Satan, purports that Israel is still justified under the old covenant. The New Testament repeatedly conveys that Christ’s death and resurrection has made the old covenant obsolete (especially the Book of Hebrews).

Cruz has gone as far as to declare that speaking against the Israeli government is to violate the supposed call of Christians to “Bless Israel” or be “cursed”. This thinking is a mischaracterization of God’s promise to Abraham, where in error Israel is defined to mean modern Israel.

Cruz, a professing Christian, has declared that or Christians to declare “Christ is King” is antisemitic. It is truly remarkable how deceived many Christians are.

Giving unnecessary credence to the duel covenant heresy, is the truth that Israel’s return to the land of their nativity is a fulfillment of prophesy, albeit not one which places a stamp of approval on a government that rejects Christ and is not following YHWH.

Consider some other passage which place Israel in proper place.

Luke 2:25-32 ²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ²⁹“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; ³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

Note how Simeon makes our Lord Jesus Christ the foundation for both Jewish and Gentile salvation. This lines up with many other statements if truth in the New Testament.

Romans 1:16-17 ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 ¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks (Gentiles) seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks (Gentiles) foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

It is very clear that Christ is humanity’s only Way, Truth and Life, both Jew and Gentile. Despite this clear New Testament evidence, “Christians” with an agenda, politically and sometimes religiously, still cite Old Testament passages, concerning blessing Israel or else, such as…

Genesis 12:1-3 ¹ Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. ²I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Notice this is the first place we hear “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you” (also Numbers 24:9). In context, this is referring to Abraham himself, and subsequently the nation that would come from his loins, from which the Messiah would come.

This is a very important distinction, because Israel was chosen, for God’s purpose to end Satan’s dominion over the world, after the fall. Therefore, whenever dealing with any Old Testament prophecy or promise it must be viewed in light of the coming of Messiah.

Genesis 3:14-15 ¹⁴ So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

The promise to Abraham, from Genesis 12 and from the other Old Testament passages must be considered in light of Israel being the means by which the Messiah would come forth. Meaning, when the Seed of the Woman had come their purpose of being chosen to bring Him forth, was fulfilled.

This is the reason they were exclusively called the chosen people. Once Messiah came forth, the status of Israel being chosen, changed, to their being the first who received Messiah, as Lord and Savior, but from that time until Christ comes, the church, with both Jew and Gentile are the chosen, the elect of God. Again, Israel is not replaced as the chosen people, but are the first in the Church of Jesus, who are chosen and elect of God.

Consider, more biblical perspective.

Zechariah 2:8-9 ⁸ For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. ⁹ For surely, I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.

The last line of Zechariah 2:8-9, reveals it as a Messianic prophecy. It is true that initially Israel is spoken of as the “apple of His eye”, as those who would bring forth Messiah, but this was prior to the coming of Christ. He is ultimately the “Apple of His…” the Father’s eye.

For those who would persist in crying foul, consider that the Lord used many relational terms that painted Israel in a non “apple of His eye” light.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

In this passage Israel’s religious good works were like a used menstrual rag to the LORD. That is still true to this day, for they have not followed Christ. Why do we not settle on that truth? Or…

Isaiah 63:9-10 ⁹In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them and He bore them and carried them All the days of old ¹⁰But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.

Although chosen to bring forth Messiah (Revelation 12:1-4), they treated YHWH as an enemy, even furthering this status by rejecting the Messiah in the majority as a nation.

Isaiah 60:12 ¹² For the nation and kingdom which will not serve You shall perish, And those nations shall be utterly ruined.

The “You” in this passage is not in reference to the nation of Israel, but to the King of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Messiah.

Let me ask what became of Israel after its rejection of Messiah? The Nation’s people were dispersed, and the Temple destroyed in 70 ad, as prophesied by Christ Himself. To this day, the enmity between the YHWH and Israel still exists, and Paul declares this.

Romans 11:28 ²⁸ Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

Still, some may persist, that the nation came back together by prophetic fulfillment in 1948. No argument from me (Ezekiel 36-39). I will even grant that the LORD is calling the Jew back to Himself in doing so, but that is not the current secular, even atheistic Israeli government. It is the prophesied remnant.

Yes, He will deal with this remnant not as Israel the chosen nation, but those who are grafted in to His church, having come to faith in Christ. This is backed up by a truth we often miss.

Romans 9:6-8 ⁶ But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, ⁷ nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” ⁸ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

Consider the book of Romans, written to a church of Jewish and Gentile Christians, who were fighting for power.

Romans 11:13-15 ¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

There will come a time, when a remnant of ethnically Jewish people, will come to faith in Christ, being jealous that Gentile Christians know their God, through Jesus Christ the Lord.

In speaking of them, Paul says the chosen Jewish people were cast away, by why?

Romans 11:16-18 ¹⁶ For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches

Paul is saying to the Gentile contingent, that God still considers, eternally, the Jewish person holy (if they believe on Messiah), even though some of those branches were broken off.

Why were they broken off?

Romans 11:19-23 ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. ²² Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

It is clear that the nation of Israel, except for those who have received Christ as Lord, through repentance and faith, are not chosen. This is reflected in Psalm 73:1-3 and Romans 2:29.

Psalms 73:1-2 ¹Truly God is good to Israel, too such as are pure in heart. ²But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

True Israelite are those with pure hearts, which of course is impossible without God’s grace received and active in the heart. It is those Jews who come to Christ, in repentance and faith, that receive a pure hear.

Romans 2:28-29 ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 11:28 ²⁸ Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

Israel, as a nation are still enemies of the Gospel, they are waiting for a messiah, but not Christ. The remnant is waiting for Messiah, but they will find He has already come, at a monumental point of history (Revelation 11).

There are many in the U.S. government aiding in rise of Antichrist (a false Messiah), believing the current war with Iran, will bring the building of the third temple.

It very well may, but our Lord Jesus will never sit in that abomination. Even though Israel, concerning the gospel are enemies of God, they are still beloved by God because of God’s promise to the patriarchs. Those beloved are the remnant.

Romans 11:1-5 ¹ I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ³ “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? ⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

This remnant is a small portion of the Jewish population worldwide, who will at a moment in time, recognize the world is following antichrist, and understand their forefathers crucified their Messiah. Then a wonderful prophesied thing occurs.

Zechariah 12:10-11 ¹⁰ “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. ¹¹ In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

This is the time of revival, the revival of the chosen people of the Old Testament, in the remnant. This is not to be a separate unit, but a Jewish contingent, grafted in to His Church, because of their faith, like that of Abraham, the father of the faithful.

Grafted into the tree that is the kingdom of God, Jew and Gentile, one in Christ. He did it and one day soon, we will all worship before the Throne of God and of the Lamb.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 3:14-15, God's elect, Romans 11:13-23, Romans 11:28, Romans 9:6-8, the chosen people, the church | Leave a comment

Our Hope is Built on Nothing Less then JESUS Glorious Appearing II

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

Titus 2:11-14 ¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

In my last post we looked at what Christ’s first appearing teaches us as Christians. Today we look at what we learn from His second glorious appearing, or what we refer to as the blessed hope.

GRACE TEACHES US TO HOPE FOR HIS APPEARING

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing”. The rapture of the church, our being gathered to Him is real.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Although the rapture is real, it is not the blessed hope, it is what follows the blessed hope. The blessed hope, is Christ’s glorious appearing, as described by Matthew 24:30-31, Mark 13, Luke 21:25-28, and Revelation 1:7.

Read Matthew 24:30-31.

Matthew 24:29-31 ²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark concurs and Revelation 1:7 declares the same “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him”. Note that Matthew 24:30 declares that every eye will see the glorious appearing of Christ, then the rapture takes place in verse 31.

Luke’s Gospel. In dealing with blessed hope, sticks to the circumstances surrounding it, and the timing of this blessed event. In Luke 21 Jesus declares when we see Him coming in the clouds, His great and glorious appearing, “Look up for your redemption (your rescue) draws near.

What is the timing of the beginning of His second appearance? Matthew, Mark, Luke and Revelation appear to suggest “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” (Matthew 24:29). This is important, because scripture relays His appearing arrives, in chapter 14 of Revelation.

Revelation 14:14-16 ¹⁴ Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” ¹⁶ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Prior to Revelation 14 we find a circumstance which catalyzes our desire for Christ’s glorious appearing. Let us look at Revelation 13:7.

Revelation 13:5-10 ⁵ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. ⁶ Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

It is important to remember, our hope in Christ’s appearing before the rapture, is that which fuels and strengthens our faith in the midst of persecution, trials and tribulation. These things, are Satan’s plan of attack designed to make us run from faithfulness and practice for Christ. Our Hope in His glorious appearing, is what enables us to stand when everything appears against our faith and beat the Devil by standing in faith.

Remember when Paul wrote our featured text, the tribulation had not begun, but the blessed hope was to be their encouragement as well as ours, because what is stated in II Timothy 3:12.

2 Timothy 3:12-14 ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them

If we walk in what grace teaches us from our passage, we will face specific trouble against our faith, because we belong to Him. This is the reality of Christ’s words to us, throughout the gospels.

John 15:18-25 ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

John 16:1-2 ¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. ² They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Pain hurts, but let us not shrink in fear, in the midst of difficulties. Be thankful and hold to our unshakable HOPE.

His glorious appearing teaches us we win with Christ and in the end we will live with our LORD and God forever, where there is a new heaven and earth, wherein dwells righteousness (II Peter 3:13).

We also learn we can suffer through anything, so long as we hold to the Blessed Hope.

Meditate on, Dream upon what it will be like to see His glorious appearing.

Let us prayerfully realign our sight with a continual looking, in anticipation, for His Appearing; which is our BLESSED HOPE. This Hope is to bring Peace of Anxiety, Joy over despair, Faith over.

Posted in the Blesed Hope, The blessed hope, the persecuted church, the rapture of the church, theology of suffering, Titus 2:11-14, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Our Hope is Built on Nothing Less then JESUS Glorious Appearing

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

I HOPE for… fill in the blank or blanks. When I was a child, I hoped every spring to summer time baseball game, that what Stan Boney declared the weather would be, is what it would be. At least 60% of the time, I was disappointed in my hope, when the weather man got it wrong. My experience is not one of Biblical hope, but that of the world.

The world has taken biblical hope and made it into either wishful thinking or a quasi-religious devotion, with zero guarantee. How much money is lost, by parents allowing their children to cast coins into a pool of water, making a wish, in false hope. This was one of my earliest memories of the Southern Park Mall, where colorful fountains decorated the walkways.

Little do most know the practice of a wishing well, has a biblical reference and it is not a good one. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus declared one cannot serve God and Mammon. Mammon does not mean money, as some bible teachers proclaim, but the god fortune.

The Jews picked up this false deity, through King Solomon’s foray into pagan worship. The practice of devotion to Mammon, where an idol is placed in a pool, where people cast in money and say hopeful prayers for success; is no harmless child’s fun time

How many “wishes” made in hope, are as empty as those wishing wells, after their owners clean up the money lying at the bottom?

Hopelessness and despair are high on the list of reasons for a suicide rate that is higher than at any time in human history.

Scripture is clear, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

Even though this is true, scripture affirms that “HOPE” in God’s word can carry us through the most difficult times… “I would have fainted, lest I believed to see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). This passage suggests, in line with the definition of faith in Hebrews 11, that if our hope is in God’s word and His faithfulness to perform it, we have an anchor to hold us.

Romans declares that hope in God alone, will never disappoint.

Romans 5:3-5 ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us

Our hope, built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, is a solid rock, yet one aspect of Christ’s four-fold ministry, as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and soon returning King, is our never disappointing HOPE.

There is one hope which will never disappoint. This hope is the foundation for every Christians’ ability to thrive, when times of tribulation come. (Titus 2:11-14).

HOPE FROM GRACE

Verse 11 declares “For the grace of God that brings salvation, has appeared to all men”. Paul is calling to mind the foundation for our current and future hope, which is the grace delivered at Christ’s appearing’s; His first appearing and in His second appearing.

In Christ’s first appearing, He arrived as the fully human/fully Divine Messiah; the Christ. He fulfilled all Messianic prophecy, which includes the manner in which He was conceived (Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-6)—where He was born (Micah 5:2)—where He was taken in Egypt as an infant (Hosea 10:2)—where He would reside and grow as a boy into manhood (Isaiah 9:2)—How He would arrive on the scene at the Jordon River Baptism (Isaiah 11:1-2)—and in the miracles He performed (Isaiah 53:4; Malachi 4:2).

This is only a summary of prophecy our Lord Jesus fulfilled in His first appearing. Christ fulfilling only 8 of 326 Old Testament Messianic prophesies, is a probability of 1 in 10¹⁵⁷that means 1 in 10 with 157 zeros behind it. The probability of Christ fulfilling all 326 is an incalculable number. Now our Lord does fulfill them all, with the incalculable number.

Further prophecies fulfilled in His first appearing concern the Atonement, through His shed blood (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrew 9:14; Isaiah 53:5)—how He would be our legal document of freedom, redemption, and forgiveness (Colossians 2:13-14)—how His resurrection guarantees a new life for us now (II Corinthians 5:17).

In this cross and His resurrection, God’s solution to sin and its result, which is separation from God and His presence forever, to our forgiveness and reconciliation in relationship, and our transformation is guaranteed.

In the cross we see God’s justice, judgment, and wrath against our sin, paid for in Christ’s blood. We also see God’s justice, mercy, and love poured out in the forgiveness of sin and in the giving of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, life transformed now, for eternal life.

This is the first appearance of Christ, establishing grace, and whether the world wants to admit it or not, it has been seen and all are without excuse who reject this grace (Romans 1:16-23)

GRACE TEACHES WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO/ WHAT WE ARE TO CHRIST

The grace of God which has appeared… “teaching us”. not only is the foundation for hope, but God’s grace received, when we all deserve the second death (eternal punishment, teaches us the enormous cost to Christ, in being God’s act of Grace. It also teaches us the personal cost to us, in receiving grace through repentance and faith.

What did it cost Christ (Psalm 22)? The exquisite pain, rejection, and sorrow of becoming our sin, but most importantly, of our Father turning His face from our sin written into His body on the tree… “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Oh, what a cost “And can it be that I should gain?”.

What does it cost us? Let’s look at I Corinthians 6:19-20 and Acts 20:28.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Acts 20:28 ²⁸ Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

We belong to God as His possession, yes children as well, but as His chosen possessed vessels. Grace teaches us this, and we like the teaching. Grace chastens, trains, and prepares us to rejoice in God’s ownership over us, because of the hope we have in Him. Listen to the language used to describe what we are taught.

To live as God’s purchased possession, we must deny ourselves the idea that we are free to live as we desire, apart from God’s direction. Yes, He set us free, but freedom received from God, is not freedom to do as we choose, but freedom to say “NO” to the world, our flesh, and the Devil.”

DENY OURSELVES

The grace which appeared in Jesus’ first appearance, teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts”. The foundation of our expression of faith in Christ is to walk in denial, and I don’t mean that river in Africa. What are we to deny? We deny ourselves, in the way of ungodliness, which are attitudes, thinking, or actions contrary to Christ’s behavior, attitude, and thoughts.

Luke 9:23-25 ²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

This most often is experienced in denying worldly lusts, or the natural desires of life which overblown pull us away from self-denial. The positive side of this is to live soberly (on guard to what we face from the world, flesh, and devil), righteously seeking to live as Jesus did—to live godly in this present crooked age. This will lead to the need for more self-denial

(II Timothy 3:12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

HE OWNS AS SPECIAL VESSELS

Verse 14 declares “that He might redeem (purchase us or buy us back) from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. The first line reminds us of the purpose of His first appearance. Then we read “to purify for Himself”. This means the Lord Jesus Christ chose us, as a particular vessel. The language is similar to that used to describe the role of husband to wife and Christ to His Church.

Ephesians 5:25-27 ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

God’s grace, in Jesus’ first appearing, points to His future appearing. He, the Bridegroom, is for His specially chosen bride; His bride He is purifying for Himself.

His grace teaches us that we are special to Him as a bride is specially chosen by her husband. Wow, chosen and special brides. I realize I am probably not permitted to say this in our culture, but we have lost the blessing, wonder, and grace of a man choosing his bride and that being a good thing.

Ephesians 5 is a model in marriage for how Christ relates to His church. If you are a gal or a guy, you are the bride of Christ, feel honored and seek to clothe yourself with zeal to do good works revealing our husband, the Christ.

This is what the grace of God teaches in Christ’s first appearing, but that grace also calls us to be looking for something specific… our Bridegroom’s return, our marriage to the Lamb, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ; the only hope which will never disappoint.

Next time we will look into this HOPE.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christ's glorious appearing, hope does not disappoint, Romans 5:3-5, the blessed hope, Titus 2:11-14 | Leave a comment

Beyond Measure, but Not Beyond Belief (TRUST)

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Michael J Erdel

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 ⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us

The passage of scripture above is one which illustrates the biblical phrase very well “we walk by faith and not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).

Many Christians would say “Amen” to walking by faith and not by sight, without considering the implications or counting the cost. The passage we are considering today, is a small window in walking by faith, when what is experienced presents itself as contrary to God’s will and is difficult to endure.

Remember that which appears contradictory to our faith, is not always contradictory, but can be complimentary, and even catalyzing to our faith and practice.

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia”

Paul wanted them to understand the “what” and “why” behind the difficulty faced, how GOD was sovereign in and over it, and that there is a purpose in the pain they suffered for Christ.

Let me say from the beginning, there is nothing we experience, as followers of Christ, that is random.

God, our Father, either ordains or allows the circumstances of our lives. Nothing takes Him by surprise, when it comes to His children, as He is there before we arrive and present with us when walk through the pain or the peace. It is most often the painful and uncertain times, which reveal His nearness most, as illustrated by our passage.

How About Some Context?

Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand GOD’s activity, before during and after, the apostle’s time in Asia. The Greek meaning of “Asia” is actually referring to “Asia Minor” or the western shore of Turkey. “Asia” would have been east of that portion of Turkey’s geography. This is important when understanding chronological context of Paul’s “trouble”.

Acts 16:6-10 ⁶ Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. ⁷ After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. ⁸ So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The region named “Mysia” refers to Asia minor, the region on the west coast of turkey. While passing through this region, Paul desires to go and share the gospel in parts east of Mysia, in Asia.

He was “forbidden” and then not permitted by the Holy Spirit to go to Bithynia. This had to be frustrating to the apostle. The Lord then gave him a vision to go to Macedonia.

Someone declaring they have had a vison could cause any red blooded charismatic to sweat with gleeful anticipation. In America, in our time, having a personal vison is seen as in line with a scriptural perspective, although that may not be the case most often. In fact, in many circles, it is taken for granted, that visions are a sign of God’s favor on a person; again not necessarily the case.

It seems many are looking for confirmation, excitement and a justification for doing what we believe God’s called us to do. We often do this, rather than learning to be led by His Spirit practically, as intended (Romans 8:14).

Although a person having a vison from God, may relay God’s favor or calling, biblically speaking, those visions are almost never about personal blessing. In fact, the person having the vision or dream, usually suffers when walking through the vison (Remember Joseph or Isaiah who was sawn in half for His visions and godly character).

Let us consider how joyfully awesome Paul’s life was after he was given the vison of the Macedonian man. Of course I am being sarcastic a bit.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7 ⁵ For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

Remember that Paul had a vision from God leading him and his companions to the cities of Macedonia. We might think, that since God called him, there ought to be little resistance. That, of course, was not Paul’s experience… “when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears”.

When we began, we started with II Corinthians 1:8-10, which sounds strikingly similar to II Corinthians 7:5-7. Most interestingly is that II Corinthians 1:8-10 and II Corinthians 7:5-7 are book ends to Paul’s travels Acts 16 to Acts 17. What were the difficulties which cause Paul’s consternation in Macedonia.

The first place Paul visited in Macedonia was Philippi.

Acts 16:11-15 ¹¹ Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. ¹³ And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. ¹⁴ Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. ¹⁵ And when she and her household were baptized

Acts 16:16-19 ¹⁶ Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

Paul begins his foray into Macedonia by bringing Lydia to Christ, then casting out a demon, which was oppressing a young lady. Hallelujah! The vision brought awesomeness, but also fearful and painful circumstances for Paul and Silas, as state in verse 19.

We understand that the two Christian companions were delivered from jail in the Macedonian city of Philippi, but they still had to face the difficulty of being shackled and confined. After that, the trouble continued and continued.

Acts 17:1-4 ¹ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” ⁴ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

Acts 17:5-6 ⁵ But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

After these fearful circumstances Paul and Silas went to Berea, where the trouble makers followed them. Now that we understand the historical context, let’s look at the struggle throughout and why the LORD our GOD led them through such a time.

^“5For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side”

While walking through the circumstance of this period, Paul and his companions were beyond physical exhaustion. Facing literal physical beat downs, as well as mental assaults from threats and the potential “what if’s”, left them numb and without strength. This was the case for there was trouble or “tribulation” like threats surrounding them.

“Outside were conflicts, inside were fears”

Paul distills down the trouble on every side, by declaring them conflicts, or continued attacks. In addition, he reveals inward fears, which challenged him concerning what he believed about GOD, His goodness, His nearness and His plan.

This left them feeling a very particular way, which is described in I Corinthians 1:8-10

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

“of our trouble”

The word “trouble” is the same word used for “tribulation” and means and effort to stop one from practicing their faith, through death or causes them to flee. This understanding helps us understand what Paul reveals next.

“that we were burdened beyond measure”

The phrase above means to be knocked flat on your face, like a fighter knocked down, but cannot get up, and keeps stumbling to falling flat on one’s face; while attempting to get up. We can call this spiritual CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or concussion syndrome. In this state, we cannot think clearly, having wrong obsessive thoughts. This often leads to confusion and despair.

This state, arising from constant tribulation, is used by Satan, through fear and anxiety to stop the reformation of the mind, we are called to (Romans 12:1-3). In that mental anguish the burden increases to burden down our spirit, soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23).

“that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength”

We must be careful not to associate every struggle and trial we face with passages like II Corinthians 1:8-10, because we often make our own difficulty and at times assign normal trouble as a satanic attack. But, if one is seeking to be fully surrendered to the Lord Jesus and His will, they will face times like Paul.

2 Timothy 3:12 ¹²Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Why would God, who loves us, whom we love in return, place us in these times of tribulation?

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us

There are more than a few reasons for our persecution, which deal with God’s glory, His power being demonstrated over the power of the enemy and many more, but in this instance, Paul declares it is a matter of relational trust.

YHWH wanted Paul and his companions to have no other option, avenue of escape or thought to look for an earth-bound solution. He did not want the mountain of pride or arrogance produced by our figuring a way out for ourselves. He wanted them to TRUST that God, our present Father would win the day, and continue to do so.

Every sincere follower of Christ in every generation unit He comes, must learn this lesson as well.

Do you and I truly trust in Him who raises the dead? Is He our chosen option, whatever the circumstance we are in?

Is He truly enough for us, so that we are content whether being abased or when abounding? Can I declare with Paul in the most difficult times, where human wisdom, strength and ability are nowhere near sufficient, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:10-13)?

May we all determine in heart to say yes, and seek Him, that Christ is fully formed in us, for His glory, as we persevere trusting Him alone.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged burdened beyond measure, God's sovereignty, hindered by satan, II Corinthians 1:8-10, Paul's vision | Leave a comment

Return, Revive, Repair, Restore

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Our Hope is Built on Nothing Less then JESUS Glorious Appearing II

Our Hope is Built on Nothing Less then JESUS Glorious Appearing

Beyond Measure, but Not Beyond Belief (TRUST)

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