Patterns In Miracles

God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. (Hebrews 2:4 NASB)

In an article "Is there a Pattern to the Bible's Miracles? | Joel Arnold", Dr Joel Arnold noticed a pattern in time for miracles in the Bible. They occurred in clusters surround creation, the exodus, the lives of Elijah / Elisha, and the ministry of Jesus.

We can also note that miracles through Moses had wide geographical coverage but nobody was raised from the dead. Miracles through Elijah and Elisha had reduced geographical coverage but there were dead people raised from the dead. Miracles of Jesus were local and personalized and the dead came to life, the lame leaped and the blind saw.

And of course, the miracles of creation (do they qualify as miracles?) geographical coverage is absolute total and absolute life-giving.

Finding God's Will VS Pleasing God

A different perspective on finding God's will.

Finding God's will	Pleasing God
Starts with me	Focused on God's preference
Concerned with methods - what do I do?	Concerned with Scripture - what has He revealed?
God's will is lost, I must find it	"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;" Micah 6:8
The goal is to have a nice life	The goal is to live well - honoring God

From Joel Arnold 2020-12-17 JSM Family Conference

Failed Eco-pocalyptic Predictions

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3 NASB)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

Two years ago (2018-11-25) Facebook lock me out of my own account because they suspect someone is posting on my behalf. I wonder which post caused them to think that my account was hacked? I suspect because I posted this article "The Big Bad Forces of Censorship and Intimidation in Climate Science. Willie Soon, PhD - YouTube" on the day before (2018-11-24) in Facebook.

Climate change and ecology will not end the world. The Bible predicted a golden age of a thousand years before the current world will finally come to an end and a new world will be created. But those who refuse to believe continue to write dire predictions that never come true. It is amazing to know that people continue to believe in climate change despite all these fail predictions.

Below are some links of the failed predictions:

Doomsday climate predictions: wrong then, wrong now | CFACT (2020-01-18)

Why Apocalyptic Claims About Climate Change Are Wrong (2019-11-25)

50 years of failed doomsday, eco-pocalyptic predictions; the so-called 'experts' are 0-50 | American Enterprise Institute - AEI (2019-09-23)

Wrong Again: 50 Years of Failed Eco-pocalyptic Predictions - Competitive Enterprise Institute (2019-09-18)

4 Catastrophic Climate Predictions That Never Came True - Foundation for Economic Education (2019-09-05)

Microsoft Word - Seven Big Failed Environmentalist Predictions (2016-10)

Debunking the Climate Scam - Failed Predictions

Choosing When The Perfect Ends

"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (Matthew 24:21 NASB)

Coming after the worst tribulation the world ever experienced will be a thousand years of peace.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3 NASB)

Satan will be locked up and it will be a world without lies, something we can never imagine today. So isn't it wonderful to have such a world? Why does it last only a thousand years and at the end of it, Satan will be released for a while?

Because we are saved by who we believe and not what we do. During a thousand years of ideal condition, everyone who is born during this period will be doing the right thing. But what is in their heart?

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:7-8 ESV)

When he is released, he will go out and deceive the nations. All those who are born in the millennium, who know Jesus as King, who never know what a lie is, who never know sin, will now make a choice that will determine whether they live or die. Like Adam and Eve of old in their original paradise, they will now choose if they will believe in Jesus or Satan.

The Two Religions Faith And Works

There are only two religions in the world. One says you are saved by who you believe and another says you are saved by what you do.

Faith
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31 ESV)

Works
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:22-23 ESV)

Saved By Doing

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 ESV)

Did I always say that we are saved by who we believe and not what we do? Well, the Bible says you also can be saved by doing stuff.

What must you do?

You must do the will of God.

What is the will of God?

To believe in His Son.

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40 ESV)

Israel Not Rejected For What They Did

This is what the LORD says: "Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Jeremiah 31:37 NLT)

Israel will not be cast away, despite their unfaithfulness. Neither will we be cast away. The same God saves us both.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13 NASB)

Adam's Choice

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person's account when there is no law. (Romans 5:12-13 CSB)

Adam was the first man. Because Adam sinned, so sin entered the world. Because of sin, death entered the world.

But what did Adam do? Did he break any of the ten commandments? He could not dishonour his parents, because he had none. He did not kill, because the only other human was his wife. He could not commit adultery because there was only one woman. He could not steal because everything belonged to him. He did not have to tell lies since he had nothing to cover up. Anyway, the ten commandments were not given yet so he could not break any of them.

So what did Adam do that cause sin and death to enter the world?

Adam did not believe. Adam did not believe the Word of God. Instead, he believed the word of the serpent. Because of his unbelief, sin and death entered the world.

Today, life is more complicated. We have more than two voices to choose from. We have so many people telling us so many things. And we have so many people claiming to speak on behalf of God.

As it was in Adam's days, so it is today. If we believe the Word of God, we will choose life. If we do not believe the Word of God, we will choose death. Times have changed, but the options are still the same.

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 ESV)

Believe And Live

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" (2 Kings 5:13 NLT)

People like to believe that the greater the reward, the greater effort is needed. Great thing like eternal life will certainly mean that some extremely great effort must be required of those who wanted it.

First, the bad news. No man can attain eternal life by their own effort.

Next, the good news. You only need to believe in the One who can give eternal life to you.

But nobody believe that eternal life is just a matter of believe. They will try all kinds of difficult tasks and do all kinds of good works. It is so difficult to believe.

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31 ESV)

Do Good

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14 ESV)

Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. (Psalm 37:27 ESV)

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10 NASB)

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT)

"But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27 NLT)

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35 NIV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 ESV)

But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13 CSB)

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16 ESV)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. (Proverbs 3:27 ESV)

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Saved By Who We Believe

We are saved by who we believe, not by what we do. If we believe God, we will live.

This was so from the beginning at the Garden of Eden.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17 ESV)
But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:4-6 ESV)
Adam refused to believe God and he died.

It was still the same during the time of Abraham.
And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6 NLT)

Even today, we are saved by believing in Jesus.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 ESV)
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24 NASB)
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12 ESV)

Are you doing good works to save yourself? You may be very disappointed.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
"But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." (Acts 15:11 NASB)

We do good works after we believed and our works do follow us.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. (1 Corinthians 3:13 NLT)

Life And Death - Bible's Perception

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12 ESV)

The Bible talks about life and death. He who believes in God lives. He who does not believe in God dies. The Bible is a very thick book. But I believe this is a good summary.

God Saves

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31 ESV)
Jesus (יֵשׁוּעַ) means God saves, or more specifically, Yahweh saves. God's salvation is the theme of the Bible.

We are saved by who we believe, not by what we do. God told the people they will be saved if they believe Him. But God revealed His plan of salvation progressively. But at every stage, the underlying theme is always to believe God.

To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26 ESV)
And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6 NLT)
From Adam and Eve, through the antediluvian period till Moses, men thought they were saved by offering animal sacrifices to God.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6 ESV)
The Law was given to the Israelites through Moses. From the time of Moses till Christ, the Israelites thought that offering animal sacrifices in the Temple was how they were saved.

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
"You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.
You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.
Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God - as is written about me in the Scriptures.'"
First, Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. (Hebrews 10:1-10 NLT)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV)

Finally Jesus (יֵשׁוּעַ) came and died for our sins. The revelation of God's salvation is now complete.

Nobel Peace Prize

This is the achievement of a guy who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
After 8 Years Of Unbroken War, Obama Hands Over Conflicts To Trump : Parallels : NPR

This is the achievement of a guy who did not win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump: Sudan to recognize Israel - POLITICO

Conclusion, the Nobel Peace Prize is a sham.

The Empire Paul Built Through Christ - 2

For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18-19 NASB)

I stand amazed at what Paul the apostle had accomplished during his times when transportation was primitive and a day's journey by foot was probably about 40 km. Yet he was able to spread the gospel in about 12 years from Jerusalem to Illyricum (modern day Serbia / Croatia) via Syria and Galatia.

The Roadmap

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)

The world's future was already given in the Bible to the prophets.

World Power
Four Gentile empires will rule the Jews when they live promised land. These four kingdoms are described by the prophet Daniel in Daniel 2:24-45 and Daniel 7:1-28.

1. The seven years of tribulation
2. The 10 kingdoms
3. The beast
4. The 1000 year imprisonment
5. The second Gog and Magog

God's Kingdom
The future of God's Kingdom is given in great detail in Ezekiel 36:01-48:35. Another timeline of God's Kingdom is given in Daniel 9:24-27.

1. The millennium
2. The new heaven and earth (Isaiah 65:17-25)

God's King
The coming of God's King is also given in same Daniel 9:24-27. The King will be the Branch (Isaiah 11:1-9) of David.

1. The rapture to meet the King in the air
2. The return to establish God's Kingdom

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4 KJV)

When Will The Perfect Comes?

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 CSB)

When will the perfect come?

Perfection make sense only when referring to new heaven and new earth. It is only then all prophecies, knowledge and tongues will cease.

Even during millennium, there is still an unfulfilled prophecy of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8).
There is still a new knowledge of what new heaven and new earth is going to be like.
Nations still exist in the millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19).

The God of Abraham - Theodicy

On 14th August (9th Av) 586 BC Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple of God was burnt to ground. The God of Abraham had lost. Marduk (i.e. Baal), the chief god of Babylon had won. If you were an Jew at that time, you would be wondering why God had failed to defend His land and His city. Yet it was during this dark age that the God of Abraham announced through Daniel the prophet the blue print for the times of the Gentiles.

Likewise today people ask, if God is perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing, why does He permit evil to exist? The answer is actually found in the Bible.

1. The Bible tells us that God's original creation was good;
2. Evil came from the fall of man when he refused to believe in God's word;
3. But God provided redemption by sending Jesus to die for the sin of the world;
4. In due time, God will effect the restoration of His creation to sinless perfection by destroying the current creation and replace it with a new one.

God had His plan laid out before the foundation of the earth. Just as the Jews can stop worrying about being wiped out, we can stop worrying about the end of the world. The prophetic blueprint laid out in the Bible will come to pass. The next coming events will be rapture, the tribulation, the second coming of Christ and the millennium. After that, the old heaven and old earth will be destroyed and a new heaven and new earth will be created. This will be eternal. So we do not have to worry about the end of the world.

Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles

Then it will be that all the nations who have come against Jerusalem and survived will go up each year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. And it will happen that if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, then there will not be rain for them. If the family of Egypt does not go up and enter in, they shall have no rain. This will be the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19 MEV)

Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles, will be the most important festival in the millennium. During the millennium, the celebration of Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles, will become compulsory worldwide.

This day may also be the birthday of the Great King, when He came to earth the first time. It was suggested that He could be born in October, during the Feast of Tabernacles, rightly justifying John 1:14, that the Word tabernacled (dwelt) among us.

And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 YLT)

Resurrection By Christ

"And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice - the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. (John 5:25-29 NLT)

Yom Teruah And Rapture

"Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. (Leviticus 23:24 NIV)
"'On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. (Numbers 29:1 NIV)

Will the rapture occur on the Feast of Trumpets? Maybe, maybe not, according to this YouTube video.

In 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. And 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. (John 14:2-3 KJV)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ESV)

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NIV)

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." (Revelation 4:1 NIV)

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13 KJV)

Sowing And Reaping - Bible vs Karma

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 KJV)

Karma states that everything that happens to a person is caused by something the person has done in the past and everything a person does will come back to the person in future.

But reality tell us a different story. We know that karma is not true. A simple proof is the birth of a baby. Every baby born is the effect caused by a man and woman having sex and not the baby's own action. Yet babies are born differently into different circumstances. We also see the wicked flourishing and not reaping what they sow.

I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree. (Psalm 37:35 CSB)
Look at them - the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth. (Psalm 73:12 CSB)

How does karma and the Bible resolve this inconsistency with reality?

The inventors of karma came up with a unprovable process, called samsara, or reincarnation. With samsara, whatever cause not seen is the present life is actually in a past life and whatever effect will be in a future life.

The Bible also has an unproveable process call last judgement. All the wicked will be judge at the last judgement and no sin shall go unpunished.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36 KJV)

What is unprovable is not necessarily untrue. As in all religions, faith is required. But the Bible has a process to prove that the Bible is the Word of God and that the Word of God is true. In doing so, the Bible can be trusted in all that is affirmed, whether provable or not. For example, prophecies are not provable until it is fulfilled. Likewise when the last judgement come, we will all know it is true.

Sabbath Law

Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.

You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed. (Exodus 23:10-12 NLT)

Pray For Salvation of Souls

Pray
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV)

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. (Romans 10:1 NLT)

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:3 NIV)

Because
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10 ESV,NIV)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

To
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' (Acts 26:17-18 NIV)

Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (2 Timothy 2:26 NLT)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV)

The Real 中國

"Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the centre of the nations, with countries all around her. (Ezekiel 5:5 ESV)

Jerusalem is the real 中國 and Israel is the real 神州 and Jesus is the real 真命天子.

Egypt's Next Three Plagues

Then the Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh's way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.'" And the Lord did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh's palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies. (Exodus 8:20-24 NLT)

"Go back to Pharaoh," the Lord commanded Moses. "Tell him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, the hand of the Lord will strike all your livestock - your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats - with a deadly plague. But the Lord will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel’s animals will die! The Lord has already set the time for the plague to begin. He has declared that he will strike the land tomorrow.’" And the Lord did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn’t lose a single animal. (Exodus 9:1-6 NLT)

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches. The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land." So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike. (Exodus 9:8-10 NLT)

Egypt's First Three Plagues

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. Then announce to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, "Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness." Until now, you have refused to listen to him. So this is what the Lord says: "I will show you that I am the Lord." Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.'" Then the Lord said to Moses: "Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt - all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.'" So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! (Exodus 7:14-20 NLT)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, 'This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’" Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’" So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! (Exodus 8:1-6 NLT)

So the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.'" So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. (Exodus 8:16-17 NLT)

Why Is Salvation a Gift of God

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Why is salvation a gift when we are the one who believe? Let us look at the sequence of salvation - preach, hear, believe, call.

Preach and Hear
First, before we can believe, we must hear. A person born 2500 years ago in Qufu曲阜, Lu魯, Zhou周, would not have the opportunity to hear God's word. So if you can hear the Gospel, it is a gift of God.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14 ESV)

Believe and Call
Preconceived ideas and perception may prevent one from believing. A nationalistic Arab who believe in one God may not accept a Hebrew God. Thus if you can break out of your preconceived perception, it is a gift God.

"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied. (John 1:46 NLT)

How God Spoke To Believers - Bible vs Koran

The Lord said to Moses, "Thus you will tell the Israelites: 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken with you from heaven. You must not make gods of silver alongside me, nor make gods of gold for yourselves. (Exodus 20:22-23 NET)

In the Bible (Exodus 20:1-21), God spoke directly to the Israelites and gave them the ten commandments.

In the Quran (42:51), Allah does not speak to men directly. However, the Quran (4:164) said that Allah spoke to Moses directly.

It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah's permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise. (Surah 42:51 Yusuf Ali version)

Thus, the ten commandments went directly from God to the Israelites, but the Quran went from Allah to Jibreel to Mohammad to the Muslims.

God Spoke To Israelites Directly

And the Lord said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. (Exodus 20:22-23 ESV)

You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. (Deuteronomy 4:15-18 NIV)

God spoke to the Israelites personally at Mount Sinai.

Three Pioneer Generations

Most religions with a recognisable founder also has a corresponding pioneer generation that witnessed the acts of the founder. We will now look at the pioneer generations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Moses
The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. (Exodus 19:9 NASB)
God spoke directly to Moses in the presence of Israel's pioneer generation so that the Israelites will believe in Moses forever. God also spoke directly to the pioneer generation of Israelites and gave them the ten commandments. The pioneer generation of Israelites were also witnesses of the great miracles that God performed during their liberation from Egypt and their wanderings in the wilderness. God had endorsed Moses as prophet in the presence of Israel.

Jesus
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27 NIV)
and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:4 NLT)
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16 KJV)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1 NIV)
Christianity's pioneer generation, who had the responsibility of spreading the good news, were eye witnesses of Jesus's miracles and resurrection. And God also spoke to Jesus directly in the presence of the people (Matthew 17:5, Luke 9:35).

Mohammad
It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah's permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise. (42:51 Yusuf Ali version)
Islam's pioneer generation saw neither Allah nor angel Jibreel. They only see Mohammad, who claimed to have messages from the angel Jibreel. Mohammad also have not seen Allah. Neither did Allah spoke directly to Mohammad although he spoke directly to Moses (Surah 4:164).

Ten Commandments Given To Israel Directly From God

And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:1-2 ESV)

God spoke the Ten Commandments directly to the Israelites. He did not speak through Moses.

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die." (Exodus 20:18-19 ESV)

Christians Are Both Inclusive And Exclusive

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28 ESV)
The Bible is inclusive. There is no racism, sexism or slavery in Christ.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV)
The Bible is exclusive. There is no fellowship between light and darkness.

Kishore Mahbubani's Asian Century

Kishore Mahbubani, a Singapore diplomat, told Asia One in 2016-08-01, that the Asian century is here to stay. Below is an extract from the report from AsiaOne.

QUOTE
"For more than 1,800 of the last 2,000 years, China and India were always the two largest economies in the world . . . the past 200 years have been a major historical aberration," the professor said.
"It's perfectly natural for China, India to resume their places . . . all aberrations come to a natural end."
China, in particular, has the ability to outstrip the economic might of the US - for decades the largest economy in the world - by as soon as 2030, Prof Mahbubani said.
. . .
He said drily: "If you read the papers, most people believe that the biggest flashpoint in the world is (in our region), and that China and ASEAN are about to go to war over the South China Sea.
"It could happen; accidents do happen and it's conceivable that a shooting match between China and the Philippines, between China and Vietnam could take place, but I'll take bets with you - it won't happen."
The reason for that, Prof Mahbubani espoused, is that "the Chinese realise the stupidest thing they can do" is to go to war, as the worst thing for China would be an effort for containment by the US.
"If there's a major conflict in the region, that will be a major geopolitical gift to the US, as it . . . would clearly embarrass China, he added. "It's in their national interest to not have a conflict in the South China Sea . . . and with no war, ASEAN will benefit as well" and the "Asian century is here to stay".
Indeed, if any Asian city has the capacity to emerge as the "capital city" of the Asian century - in the vein of New York and London - it would be our Little Red Dot, Prof Mahbubani said.
UNQUOTE

Professor Kishore Mahbubani may be a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS), but I think he is wrong about the Asia century. With benefit of four years hindsight (2020) and knowledge of Bible prophecy, may I point out his fallacies.

1. Longevity is not eternity
   Just because China and India were the two largest economies in the world for 1,800 of the last 2,000 years does not make it a norm.


2. Software matters
   Religion, ideology, culture and pride can be a hindrance to progress. This is the reason why Europe was able to overtake Asia. This is also the reason why China and India may not resume the leadership of the world. The Asian century is over.


3. The Bible said so
   The Bible tells me that the last world empire will be the new Roman Empire. Roman Empire does not look Chinese or Indian to me. Even if I am wrong in the timing of the fulfilment of Bible prophecies, Professor Kishore Mahbubani may not be right because of the first two reasons.

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron - for iron breaks and smashes everything - and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. (Daniel 2:40-43 NIV)

Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast - terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. (Daniel 7:7 NLT)

Rosh - Adjective or Proper Noun

The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, turn your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him and say: This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, including horses and riders, who are all splendidly dressed, a huge company armed with shields and bucklers, all of them brandishing swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets; Gomer with all its troops; and Beth-togarmah from the remotest parts of the north along with all its troops - many peoples are with you. (Ezekiel 38:1-6 HCSB)

"Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. (Ezekiel 39:1 NIV)

And the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (Ezekiel 38:1-3 NASB)

"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; (Ezekiel 39:1 NKJV)

The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (Genesis 10:2-3 ESV)

The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. (Genesis 10:6 ESV)

The Hebrew word rosh (רֹ֖אשׁ) in Ezekiel 38:2-3 is translated as a proper noun in NASB95 and NKJV and an adjective in most other versions. Almost all the nations in Ezekiel 38:1-6 is found in Genesis 10:2-6. Only Persia is not found. If you believe that Rosh is a proper noun, then Rosh is the other exception. Persia existed during Ezekiel's time. What about Rosh?

Birth Pangs

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8 NIV)

Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:5-8 NIV)

He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:8-11 NIV)

These has always happened, but it gets worse and worse as it approach the second coming:

1. False messiahs;
2. Wars and rumours of wars;
3. Pestilences;
4. Famines;
5. Earthquakes.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 NIV)

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:10 NIV)

The gospel has been preached from the first coming and will continue to be preached until the second coming. It will reach the whole world. It goes west toward Macedonia and went one round the world. When it reached Israel, the Lord will come.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." (Acts 16:9 NIV)

Dr. Kurt Wise's Geological Epoch

In the YouTube video "What's the Natural History of the World According to Genesis? - Dr. Kurt Wise - YouTube", Dr. Kurt Wise came up with the following geological epochs are: Creation, the Edenian Epoch, the Antediluvian Epoch, the Arphaxadian Epoch, and the Modern Epoch.

Interesting.

A Panoramic View of the Bible And What We Can Learn From It - 8

The whole Bible can be summarized with four words - creation, fall, redemption, restoration.
The Bible described creation in two chapters (Genesis 1:1 - 2:25).
The Bible described the fall in one chapter (Genesis 3:1 - 3:24).
The Bible described the restoration in one and a half chapters (Revelation 21:1-22:5).
The bulk of the Bible is about redemption.

What does the bulk of the Bible tell us about the current world view?

1. Evil will only last a limited time;
2. Evolution is not possible due to lack of time;
3. Epicurus is wrong;
4. Karma is false.

Muhammad's Dying Comments to Aisha

Narrated `Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."
Sahih al-Bukhari 4428

And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized him by the right hand; Then We would have cut from him the aorta. (Surah 69:44,45,46 Sahih International Version)

God And Fate

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." (Romans 9:10-12 ESV)

1. For Christians, all things, whether good or evil, will work for our good. We can the the hand of God in everything and we know how it will end. We are created to show God's mercy.
   We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 CSB)
2. For those who are outside the Kingdom of God, things happened without purpose. Or rather, things do not happen according to their beliefs. Good and bad things happened because of fate. They do not know that they exist to demonstrate God's justice.
   The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose - even the wicked for the day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4 CSB)

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:21-24 ESV)

Sequence of Salvation - Preach, Hear, Believe, Call

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14 ESV)

First, the Gospel has to be preached. Then we can hear. Having heard, we can believe. Having believed, we can call upon Him to save us.

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13 ESV)
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Acts 2:21 NIV)
But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called. (Joel 2:32 NLT)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

The Nature Of Truth

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. (Proverbs 30:5 NLT)

Truth must correspond to reality. This is the simplest definition of truth that even a three year old child can understand. But philosophers came up with many more theories. We have this "The Nature of Truth - Epistemology | WIRELESS PHILOSOPHY - YouTube" and "Three Different Theories of Truth" and many others in the internet.

The Bible also has many verses on truth. And the Bible is true.

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (Psalm 119:160 NASB)

Buddhists Are Brave People

Buddhism is the solution Buddha taught to liberate humans from samsara (reincarnation), the endless cycle of rebirth and dukkha (suffering). If samsara is not true, then the endless cycle of rebirth and suffering does not exist and Buddhism become a solution for a non-existence problem.

Samsara is not provable. The problem with samsara is twofold:

1. Presently there is no way to verify it in an objective manner;
2. There is no mechanism to explain how reincarnation might occur.

Just because samsara is not provable does not mean it is not true. But it is unwise to make it the problem to be solved. In fact, samsara is actually a process to make karma true.

Karma is the Indian cause and effect. Karma states that everything that happens to a person is caused by something the person has done in the past.

Cause and effect is true. A simple example of cause and effect is birth. Every human born is the effect caused by a man and woman having sex. However, since birth is caused by the parents' action and not the baby's own action, karma is false.

To make karma true, samsara, an unprovable process, was added. Now the baby's birth is caused not only by the parent's action, but also the baby's action in the past life. Now why a baby is born rich or poor can be explained. And now when we see good people not getting their good rewards or bad people not getting their just desserts even by the time they die, we know that they will get it in their future reincarnation! So karma and samsara together provides a complete system to explain our imperfect and suffering world. We are trapped in this endless cycle of rebirth because of our karmic debt. And Buddha came up with the solution to escape from the cycle.

The goal of Buddhism is nirvana. When one escapes from samsara, one will enter into the state of nirvana. The commonly agreed definition of nirvana is cessation of dukkha (suffering) and liberation from samsara (reincarnation). But what will happen if suffering cease? There are two possibilities, eternal life with pure happiness or cessation from existence. But Buddha did not give an answer to that question. Since the word nirvana literally means "quenching" or "blowing out" in the way that the flame of a candle is blown out, is nirvana the cessation of existence? We really do not know. And if it is eternal life with pure happiness, where would you be since there is no more samsara (rebirth)?

We have to remember that Buddha is from below, unlike Jesus, who is from above (John 8:23, John 3:13). Buddha did not attain nirvana and come back after death to tell what nirvana really is. Jesus died and was resurrected. He himself is the proof that we will be resurrected like Him (Romans 6:5, 1 Corinthians 15:14-20).

All I can say is Buddhists are brave people. They have faith to practice the solution of a problem caused by an unproven process, to attain a final state which is not clearly defined. I am not brave like them. I prefer to have my faith based on provable events.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

Benefits of Bible Study

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100 ESV)

Reading the Bible makes us wise.

Karma Is False

And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:2-3 ESV)

Karma is the Indian cause and effect. Karma states that everything that happened to oneself is caused by one's earlier action, or one's action now decides one's fate in the future.

We know that karma is not true. A simple proof is the birth of a baby. Every baby born is the effect caused by a man and woman having sex and not the baby's own action. So to make karma true, an unprovable process call samsara (reincarnation) was added. So karma and samsara now make a complete system. This system is a fundamental concept in all Indian religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

The Bible agree with the observable fact that karma is false. The Bible also use the birth of twins as a proof.

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." (Romans 9:10-12 ESV)

The Three As of Worship

Action - giving
Attitude - right perspective of God, who God is, who we are, humility
Affection - adoration and Love

Languages

From creation till Babel, the world spoke one language.
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. (Genesis 11:1 KJV)

Then they disobeyed God's instruction to spread abroad and decided to stay together and build a city.
So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:8-9 NIV)

During the Pentecost, God performed a miracle to allow everyone to understand the language of the Apostles.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2:5-11 NIV)

At the beginning of the millennium, everybody will want to learn Hebrew.
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" (Zechariah 8:23 NIV)

In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19:18 ESV)

Finally God will restore one language to the people during the millennium.
For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with a single purpose. (Zephaniah 3:9 CSB)

Jewish Return Prophesied

Who are these who fly like a cloud, like doves to their shelters? Yes, the coasts and islands will wait for me with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the honor of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you. (Isaiah 60:8-9 CSB)

Jews came back to Israel by air and by sea.

Sun And Moon Unemployed

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (Isaiah 60:9 NIV)

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23 NIV)

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5 NIV)

Great Tribulation of Seven Years

And he hath strengthened a covenant with many -- one week, and in the midst of the week he causeth sacrifice and present to cease, and by the wing of abominations he is making desolate, even till the consummation, and that which is determined is poured on the desolate one.' (Daniel 9:27 YLT)

God informs us in advance that a great tribulation lasting seven years will come before the second coming of our Lord the Anointed One to establish His kingdom. This seven years will be divided into two 42 months period.

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13:5 NIV)

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25 NIV)

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:3 NIV)

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6 NIV)

Seven Reasons Why God Makes a "Crook" in a Christian's Lot

Found this interesting article, "7 Reasons Why God Makes a "Crook" in a Christian's Lot - Beautiful Christian Life":

QUOTE
"Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?" -  Ecclesiastes 7:13
You may be wondering why God has allowed various afflictions in your life. In an introduction to eighteenth-century Scottish pastor and theologian Thomas Boston's book The Crook in the Lot, J. I. Packer describes a "crook" this way:

But in Thomas Boston's usage the crook is the crooked, that is the uncomfortable, discontenting aspects of a person's life, the things that the Puritans called losses and crosses, and that we speak of as the stones in our shoe, the thorns in our bed, the burrs under the saddle, and the complaints we have to live with; and the lot is the providentially appointed path that God sets each of his servants to travel. (Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot: Living with That Thorn in Your Side, pp. 7-8)

It is helpful to consider God's purposes in your adversities so that you can respond in a manner that brings glory to him. Here are seven reasons  according to Boston why God makes a "crook" in a person's lot, along with related Bible passages:

1. The trial of one's state, whether or not one is in the state of grace.
   Even though we know from reading the book of Job that God allowed Satan to tempt Job to curse God through all the calamities Job faced, including the loss of his children, his wealth, and even his health, Job was not privy to that knowledge:
   And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." (Job 1:8-11; see also 1 Pet. 4:12)
2. The excitation to duty, weaning one from this world, and prompting him to look after the happiness of the other world.
   The apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, came to a place in his life where he knew it was better to be with the Lord when his work in this world was finished:
   For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. (Phil 1:21-24)
3. The conviction of sin.
   Joseph's brothers were convicted of the sin they thought had been hidden for years when coming before the governor of Egypt (Joseph, although unbeknownst to them) to buy grain because of the famine.
   Then they [Joseph's brothers] said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us." (Gen. 42:21)
4. The correction, or punishment, for sin.
   While God forgave the repentant David for his sins of adultery and murder, David still faced consequences for his actions.
   "Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife." (2 Sam. 12:9-10)
5. The prevention of sin.
   Joseph had cause to be prideful when he was young because his father favored him, and dreams indicated that his brothers would bow down to him (Gen. 37:1-11). Although his years spent as a slave and a prisoner were great trials for Joseph (Gen. 39-40), he learned humility of spirit during that time, which would be needed for the work the Lord had for him to save God's people from the famine to come. After Joseph asked Pharaoh's chief cup bearer to speak to the ruler about his unjust imprisonment, he still remained in prison for two more years:
   "In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit"….Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. (Gen.40:13-15; 23)
6. The discovery of latent corruption, whether in saints or sinners, for the due humiliation of sinners.
   Even Moses, who spoke with God face-to-face, failed to obey perfectly. After Moses struck the rock at Meribah to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God commanded him to do, God did not allow Moses or Aaron to enter the promised land (Num. 20:7-11):
   And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them." (Num. 20:12).
7. The exercise of grace in the children of God.
   Paul had a crook in his lot that he asked the Lord to take away, but God refused in order to show the power of Christ in Paul's weakness:
   So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor. 12:7-9)

Christians do not need to fear the "crooks" God allows in their lives but can instead rest in God's faithfulness. Boston reminds us to keep our focus on God's grace, even in our suffering:
The truth is, the crook in the lot is the great engine of Providence for making men appear in their true colours, discovering both their ill and their good. And if the grace of God is in them, it will bring it out, and cause it to display itself. It so puts the Christian to his shifts, that however it makes him stagger for awhile, yet it will at length evidence both the reality and the strength of grace in him.

While we will not always know why God has made a crook in our lot, we can always trust that he is using it for good and his glory in the lives of his beloved children.
UNQUOTE

Answering Epicurus

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

From ancient times till today, we always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

The Bible gave us another answer. Evil will end in God's timing. We look at the big overview of the Bible - creation, fall, redemption, restoration. At the time that God has ordained, He will judge the evil and restore the world to perfection again.

There is an appointed time for everything.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

This timing is not given to men.
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:7 ESV)

There is a time for iniquities to be full.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16 ESV)

There is a time for desolation to be completed.
During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. (Daniel 9:2 NIV)

At the appointed time, the Anointed One came to die for the sins of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

Then there will be a number of Gentiles that needs to be saved.
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 ESV)

And there will be a number of martyrs to be killed.
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:11 ESV)

Then the Anointed One will come again to bring an end to evil.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NIV)

And bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)

At this present moment, there seems to be no action from God. But God will act when the time come. There will be no delay.
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4 NIV)

In the meantime, before God acts to end evil, good men have to exercise patience and faith.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:12-14 NIV)

Evil men have their chance to repent.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Republicans And Pharisees

Religious people are very moralistic. They talked about right and wrong. They behaved morally and expect the same good moral behaviour from those who followed their religion. It is also the same for many Christian pastors. They expect Christians to be very best of moral people, exhibiting the best of characters, light of the world, salt of the earth.

Then came Christians who voted for Donald Trump, who is really not a paragon of virtue. Some guy by the name of Bruce Gerencser had this to say in his blog "Donald Trump's Bible | The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser":

QUOTE
In November 2015, [my note on 2020-04-24 at 18:00, wrong year, should be 2016] eighty-two percent of voting white Evangelicals helped elect Donald Trump as the forty-fifth president of the United States. Finally, Evangelicals believed they had a Christian president. Never mind the fact that Trump is a narcissistic liar who bragged about grabbing women by their genitals, a man who has been repeatedly accused of sex crimes. In his blessed heart-of-hearts, Evangelicals believe Trump is a Christian. James Dobson says that Trump is a "baby-Christian." Instead of looking at the character of the man, Evangelicals divert attention to the president's agenda. It is here that we see that Trump plays Santa Claus for Evangelical culture warriors. His policies, cabinet, and judicial appointments make it clear that Evangelicals are ruling the White House. It's hard to walk down the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue without running into Evangelicals either praying, going to Bible study, or trying to subvert the U.S. Constitution.
UNQUOTE

Bruce Gerencser was a former pastor who left the ministry in 2005 and Christianity in 2008. Obviously disappointed by bad Christians and the Christian God, Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Bruce should have read the Bible which said that the republican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. While the moral Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this republican. Okay. It is publican, not republican (Luke 18:9-14). But I hope you get the point. God preferred the sinful publican to the moral Pharisee.

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14 NLT)

Finally, God does not always use good characters to run a country. God chose Samson to be a judge of Israel. God used King Jeroboam II to save northern Israel from its political enemies. King Cyrus, who allowed the Jews to return to their homeland, was not even a believer. But the cruel King Nebuchadnezzar, who exiled the Jews to Babylon, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, became a believer. So did Paul the Apostle. What more can I say?

Whores And Whoremongers

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: (Hebrews 11:31-32 NKJV)

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. (Judges 16:1 NIV)

Whores and whoremongers are listed in Hebrews heroes of faith! And there are many more bad people listed. The Bible also record the sins of many who were considered as "good". Heroes of faith became heroes not because of who they were, but because of who God is.

Hell is reserved for those who think that they are good and do not need God. Whosoever who know that they are bad and believed that Jesus can save them will be saved.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV)

Where Is Joseph?

And he identified it and said, "It is my son's robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces." (Genesis 37:33 ESV)

And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die." (Genesis 45:28 NIV)

Israel thought that Joseph was dead. Then he found that Joseph was still alive in Egypt and had became the governor of all Egypt.

Today Joseph is again missing in Israel. What will Joseph be when Israel find him again? Will he become a multitude of nations?

But his father refused. "I know, my son; I know," he replied. "Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations (הַגּוֹיִֽם׃)." (Genesis 48:19 NLT)

The Four Ins And Three Outs of Israel

Israel went in and out of the promised land three times before settling in securely with the coming of the Messiah.

IN1
Israel first go into the promised land when their ancestor Abraham migrated from Ur to Haran to Canaan.
The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1 NIV)

OUT1
Then they went to Egypt to escape famine.
The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. (Exodus 1:5 NIV)

IN2
Then they return from Egypt to the promised land and God parted the Jordan river and Joshua led the Israelites to the promised land.
On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. (Joshua 4:19 NIV)

OUT2
God exiled Israel to Babylon for their sin for seventy years so that the land enjoyed its sabbath rests.
He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. (2 Chronicles 36:20 NIV)

IN3
After seventy years, the Jews returned to the promised land in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
"'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.'" (Ezra 1:1-4 NIV)

OUT3
The exile of Israel to all nations was not described in the Bible but it was prophesied by the prophets.
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. (Deuteronomy 4:27 NIV)

IN4
The return of Israel from all nations was not described in the Bible because it is a current event but it was prophesied by the prophets. Israel became a nation in 1948 and they will stay in the promised land until the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
On that day the Lord will extend his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his people who survive - from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coasts and islands of the west. (Isaiah 11:11 CSB)