Yes... why is it taking so long?:hmm:

John 14


1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.


Matthew 24

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Well in another sense, because a person does not or cannot connect to their own spirituality, and prefers to mock people who can and do, I find it odd that they just flat-out assume God doesn't exist. Couldn't exist in their point of view. As someone who's grounded in faith myself, I do see these times as interesting. For those willing to see, you will see.

Yes there were a few books excluded, but because they were not written by the Apostles, and more often than not, were written by a group of heretics called the Gnostics. The Gnostics were people who mixed Greek philosophy and Christianity and developed a religion unsuitable to either. On the Christian end, they were roundly condemned even in the New Testament on account of their denial that Jesus was really a man, that He really died, and that the God of the Old Testament is the one true God.

Ive read these books many years ago as my mother own this version of the bible they were inspiring stories of Jewish male/female warriors/kings.

Some i can remeber (no longer own the book)
Bel and the Dragon.
Sussana.
Tobit.
I and II Macabees.
II Esdras.

Philippians Chapter 4 v8
Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthly - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or recieved or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And God of peace will be with you.

_ _ _

God has made us in such a way that what we think affects the way we feel, and how we feel affects the way we act. If you fill your mind with the eight expressions of abundant life that Paul lists here, you will find fear being replaced by faith, destructive negatives by positives, and God's joy and serenity will fill your hearts.

We are only free in relation to material goods when we are free to use poverty or plenty. Paul had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, a secret which guarantees absolute security.
Why could Paul do this? Because his life was not centred in plenty or in penury or in his cirumstances at all, but in a person - Jesus Christ himself.

Ok - in the interest of full disclosure - I am ordained.

Now - with that being thrown out there - lets be clear. This thread appears to have been started for those who have an interest in biblical prophecy and its interpretation of end times. In reading the entire thing, I saw no one of faith telling anyone who doesn't believe that they need to convert.

The fact that a post on scripture would be so quickly attacked by non-believers is simply a sign that many in today's society do not want to have to answer to a moral and ethical call above themselves. That is their choice, and I commend my fellows for their steadfast faith in such times.

Now - to discuss the issue of end times and the "generational" issue. If one were to look at the link - you would notice that the references used jump around - aka - are taken out of context to create a mocking little story. Such is the way of those who would try and disprove a belief in the Almighty.

Also - Mikhayl has a valid point - to truly understand scripture one must be willing to study Hebrew (and Greek) to grasp it. While I personally have issue with the original post on a few theological levels, I don't feel that a public discussion of those differences would be fruitful, nor appropriate. As a matter of point, it is not up to me to tell a brother or sister that their God-given understanding of prophecy (as compared to the Law) is in error - because its concerning future events. The Law is a different matter entirely.

I will close by simply reminding everyone that a choice to believe or not is a personal one, and that we can, as Christians, allow our lives and thus our actions to be demonstrative of the Life we are given through our Savior. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

I agree about the language issue. I would have throw in Aramaic as well. Intersting note that while on the cross (tree?) Jesus' words were in Aramaic. Other places in scripture as well, "Talitha Cumi..." etc... Some scholars of ancient languages agree that the syntax of the New testament is an Aramaic one and not greek. Sorry, I cannot post current refs on that, but I have many old books on the subject, from when i thought i was going to be an archaeologist...

But just a note to say that I think this is an interesting biblical study. Refreshing to see one and i think it is fine because just look at all the other topics that are discussed in the general forum.

Most religious folk it seems believe that if they cry "Lord! Lord!" often enough, they can contrive to enter the kingdom of heaven. A flock of trained parrots could just as readily cry the same thing with just as little chance of success.

Actually, people who really try and understand Scripture, know that crying "Lord, Lord!" is not going to work...
Matthew 7:21 says it plainly; "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

So, while it is right to rely and trust in Jesus, we must also remember to do God's will as best we can. The cool thing, at least to me, is this: If one will but honestly try and live a life dedicated to trying to do good, having compassion for others and sustaining one's faith, doing those things which are pleasing to God come naturally.

I have a 1611 edition Holy Bible, it has the Apocrypha. Some of the others are Wisdom, Sirac and Baruch. But I agree with the translators that portion shouldn't be used as nothing more than historical reference.

כלנו כצאן תעינו אישׁ לדרכו פנינו ויהוה הפגיע בו את עון כלנו׃

I am ... amazed. I did not expect to find a full-blown discussion on the prophecies of Daniel on a SubSim forum - not even in General topics ( which, to my shame, I have not visited before). I have to admit, it does not make me feel quite comfortable. Why? because it surely cannot help but cause division and hard words from those who are not believers. I wonder what did you expect to achieve Rockstar? How does it help to put such things before those who are certain to pour scorn on and trample and ridicule the truths of scripture? Does it bring such folks any closer? I don't see the merit nor the reasoning. I also think that putting the Isaiah verse in Hebrew is a device of separation, since not so many of us will understand what it is saying.

Having said all that, I am also amazed that there are so many believers on here. Hello bruvs.:)

God did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance...those that be whole have no need of a physcian....

A good freind of mine years ago called me "Johnny Appleseed"...I took that as great compliment...because you never know where the seed will take root...some are meant to toss seed others to water and nuture...you never know that is the point.He said he used to watch me as we interacted with others and how freely I would share the good news of salvation.

Some have entertained angels unaware.
Fight the Good Fight :)

So the reasoning for any believer is to follow the command...and the command was to preach Christ's death as the way to Salvation until He returns...that is the command...period.

Not just when convienient or expediant but always ,unceasingly, with great fever.

Even though this is the Internet, I don't see any reason why people of faith cannot soberly discuss religous topics. As long as they don't spam the forum, and that principle applies to all topics (political, etc).

Bump for topical discussion. Never having done a great deal of detailed theological analysis myself, I find this very interesting.

[/quote]
Even though this is the Internet, I don't see any reason why people of faith cannot soberly discuss religous topics. As long as they don't spam the forum, and that principle applies to all topics (political, etc).[/quote]

OK Neal ( she says with a grin, thinking of starting a thread on PMT) :rotfl:

Iceman, despite your zeal for doing the Lord's work, Matthew 7:6 comes to mind. I fear that unready folk are not in any way made ready, just hardened and antagonised by being spoken at rather than agreeably conversed with - but, you will quite rightly point out to me that such folk do not need to read the thread. I still think it inappropriate, but I will keep quiet from now on:yep: