Ending The Age of Gentiles

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 NIV)

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4 ESV)

As the year end, let us look at our present age and time.

This day is the age of science. The earth is filled with the knowledge of the material world brought by science. Religions are considered as superstition which bogged down progress. With science, the living standards has improved. We have access to things which even emperors in the past cannot even only dream of. People start to place their hope in science. They declare that artificial intelligence will control the world. The virtual world will supersede the real world. People begin to invest in bitcoin and metaverse. The future will be better and better if we heed the warnings of climate changers and environmentalists. The future is in our hands!

But the Bible tells of a different future is waiting for us. Not a future of human glory and progress with godless science, but a future when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God and His glory. It is a future unwanted by the people today, but it will be good and it will come.

But how do we know that the Bible is true? Because Israel is back in the land and is beginning to take over the whole Jerusalem.

Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD. (Isaiah 11:9 NLT)

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, as the water covers the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 CSB)

Look and Be Saved - 2

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22 KJV)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Look to Jesus and be saved. If you turn your eyes away, you will sink.

"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:29-30 NIV)

Dissolution of the USSR

Thirty years ago on Christmas Day 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the Soviet Union ceased to exist. I think we will soon witness the cessation of another communist state. I do not know if it will be peaceful like the dissolution of the USSR, but it will certainly happen. Karl Marx has to go. The last major Marxist colony, China, has to gain independence.

Behaviour For Special Occasions

Job interviews, VIP visits, weddings and worship. What does all these things have in common? These will cause a person to do the following:

1. Present the best;
2. Show respect;
3. Avoid appearance of evil.

We do these because we want to gain some benefit or praise, confirm to social expectation or religious fear.

Two Types of Work

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB)

Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? (Habakkuk 2:13 ESV)

The are two types of work. One has eternal value beyond daeth and the other will be burnt.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

Works Of Lasting Value

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (Mark 9:41 NLT)

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. (Hebrews 6:10 ESV)

When the Chinese general Yue Fei (岳飛) had defended the Song (宋) against the Jurchens (女真), his works was well recognized by the Chinese and he was considered a national hero (民族英雄). Temples were built in his honour and he was worshipped. But today, the Manchus, who are descendants of Jurchens (女真), are part of China. In order to maintain national harmony, Yue Fei (岳飛) is no longer a national hero (民族英雄) by the Chinese government. When China cease to exist, nobody will remember Yue Fei (岳飛).

When an unknown nobody gave a cup of cold water to one of the least of the Messiah's followers, his work will be remembered by the eternal God.

Remember, it is not what you do that matter. It is who you work for that matter. If the one you work for is eternal, the value of your work will be eternal.

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)

Serve

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

If you are given an opportunity to serve the Lord, seize it. It has eternal value.

Godly Sorrow vs Worldly Sorrow

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5 KJV)

Why is the sorrow of Judas a worldly sorrow? Because he focused on himself. "I have sinned ... I have betrayed ..." There is no God in his sorrow.

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. (2 Samuel 12:9 ESV)
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (2 Samuel 12:13 ESV)

Why is the sorrow of David a godly sorrow? Because he focused on God. "I have sinned against the LORD."

Why Was Jesus Resurrected

Jesus was the only religious leader to be resurrected. All the other religious leaders died, even those who claimed to be more than human, a god or a buddha. Jesus also claim divinity and He proved it by His birth and resurrection.

The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, 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 1:3-4 NLT)

The resurrection proved that Christ was divine.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10 NIV)

The resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and proved that the Bible is the true word of God.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21 ESV)

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31 ESV)

And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Luke 9:22 NIV)

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he. (John 13:19 CSB)

And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (John 14:29 ESV)

They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise from the dead.' So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first." (Matthew 27:63-64 NLT)

The resurrection fulfilled Jesus own claims about His resurrection and proved that He was a true prophet.

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (Romans 6:9 ESV)

The resurrection proved that Jesus had triumphed over death.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV)

The resurrection was the firstfruits of resurrection.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5 ESV)

The resurrection give hope to believers who died in Christ.

"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31 CSB)

The resurrection proved that Jesus is appointed as judge.

Who is Jesus - Bible vs Koran

The Bible and the Quran has different perspectives on Jesus. It leads to different conclusions about Jesus. Only one book can be right. It is not possible for both the Bible and Quran to be true.

Authority
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16 NIV)

People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a 'Trinity' - stop [this], that is better for you - God is only one God, He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust. (Surah 4:171 Abdul Haleem translation)

Salvation
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15 NIV)

"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)

Indeed, We gave Moses the Book and sent after him successive messengers. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the holy spirit (see footnote). Why is it that every time a messenger comes to you ˹Israelites˺ with something you do not like, you become arrogant, rejecting some and killing others? - Footnote The holy spirit is Gabriel, a mighty angel created from light, whose main duty is to communicate Allah's messages to prophets. (Surah 2:87 Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran)

Judgement
For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23 ESV)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV)

"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31 CSB)

And ˹on Judgment Day˺ Allah will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you ever ask the people to worship you and your mother as gods besides Allah?" He will answer, "Glory be to You! How could I ever say what I had no right to say? If I had said such a thing, you would have certainly known it. You know what is ˹hidden˺ within me, but I do not know what is within You. Indeed, You ˹alone˺ are the Knower of all unseen. (Surah 5:116 Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran)

The Gospel of Jesus - Bible vs Koran

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11 CSB)

How do Muslims see Jesus? They see him as son of Mary (Quran 3:45, 3:46, 4:171, 5:17, 5:78, 5:112, 5:114, 19:34, 23:50, 33:7, 43:57).

This is the good news from the Quran:
Remember when the angels proclaimed, "O Mary! Allah gives you good news of a Word from Him, his name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; honoured in this world and the Hereafter, and he will be one of those nearest to Allah. And he will speak to people in his infancy and adulthood and will be one of the righteous." (Quran 3:45-46 Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran)

Where is the good news? I do not see any good news for me from Jesus in the Quran. It was good news for Mary because she would give birth to a son.

Here is the good news for the people of the world from Jesus in the true word of God:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21 NIV)

The good news for us is that Jesus will save us from our sins. But how does Jesus save his people from their sins?
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)

Why is Jesus qualified to save us from our sins? It is because of who He is. When Jesus was regarded as the son of Mary, he brought joy to Mary. When Jesus is the Son of God, He brings joy to the world.

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16 NIV)

Good Old Man and Bad Young Girl

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. (Hebrews 11:17-19 CSB)

By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn't perish with those who disobeyed. (Hebrews 11:31 CSB)

It does not matter whether you are a good old man or a bad young girl. You will have eternal life if you believe in Jesus.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:29-31 KJV)

Fundamentals of Faith

These are the core beliefs of Christianity which anyone who truly interpret the Bible correctly will agree upon:

1. The Inerrancy of Scripture (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20)
2. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9)
3. The Virgin Birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27)
4. The Substitutionary Atonement of Christ (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14)
5. The Bodily Resurrection of Christ (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:14-15)

The core of the core is statement 4, that Jesus had died for our sins and anyone who believe that He had died for our sins will be saved (John 3:36; 1 Peter 2:24). One of the themes of the Bible is God saves and He is choosing a people for Himself (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:9).

The COVID-19 Greek

WHO decides the Greek alphabets for the Wuhan virus and why and how? Is Delta not followed by Epsilon? Why jump so many alphabets to Omikron? Are they afraid that if they go sequentially, one of the variants will be Xi?

Α α alpha a

Β β beta b

Γ γ gamma g

Δ δ delta d

Ε ε epsilon e

Ζ ζ zêta z

Η η êta ê

Θ θ thêta th

Ι ι iota i

Κ κ kappa k

Λ λ lambda l

Μ μ mu m

Ν ν nu n

Ξ ξ xi ks

Ο ο omikron o

Π π pi p

Ρ ρ rho r

Σ σ, ς sigma s

Τ τ tau t

Υ υ upsilon u

Φ φ phi f

Χ χ chi ch

Ψ ψ psi ps

Ω ω omega ô

Well, Sydney Morning Herald gave the reason in "Why WHO chose 'Omicron' not 'Xi' for new COVID variant" (added 2021-11-28).

Birthday Celebrations

On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. (Genesis 40:20-22 ESV)

A friend of mine told me that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because the Bible record only two birthday celebrations (Genesis 40:20-​22, Mark 6:​21-​29). Both were by unbelievers and were presented in a bad light. I did not know that the Bible actually has accounts of birthday celebrations and someone died in each of the celebration.

Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"
"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:21-29 NIV)

What Change When One Becomes A Christian

There will be some change when one become a Christian. There may be immediate changes and there are also slow changes. I remember when I became a Christian in Secondary 3, I lose my fear of exams. I no longer worried about any coming exam.

Water Came Out Of The Rock Despite Disobedience

There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord. Why have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It's not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!"
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, "Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock."
So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence just as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?" Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them." (Numbers 20:8-12 CSV)

God had asked Moses to speak to the rock but Moses struck the rock twice. Please take note of two things:

1. God's severity toward Moses and he was punished for striking the rock twice;
2. God's kindness to the Israelites and brought water out of the rock despite their unbelief.

Thus the mercy (which is injustice) of God often confuse people when their evil deeds bring prosperity instead of punishment.

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 ESV)

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfil 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)

Universally Acceptable Behaviours

You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner - those who are not your offspring. (Genesis 17:11-12 NIV)

On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:3 NIV)

Imagine there is a country where it is legally mandatory to blind every citizen in the right eye so that they can only have a left eyed view. If anyone have two eyes in this country, it would be considered as illegal and injustice to the rest of the citizens. All citizens are taught this from young and accept this a true and right. But to the rest of the world, this country has a cruel practice.

The Jews circumcised their baby boys on the eighth day. The boys are not given an option to reject and every Jew is taught that this is true and right. This article "Can the religious beliefs of parents justify the nonconsensual cutting of their child's genitals? | Practical Ethics" believed that circumcision of male babies is not right. Is this a cruel practice?

So who decides what is a cruel practice? Where is the line drawn? Who decides what is universally accepted? Only the creator and owner of the world has the right to decide. Thus, if you think you have the right, please prove that you have created the world and owned it.

Then there are others who think that "man is the measure of all things (Protagoras)" and there may be no God. So they think it can be decided by reason, science, consensus and democracy. Unfortunately, truth cannot be decide by democracy and even if 100% of the world voted that 1+1=3, it will still not be true. So finally it will be decided by the size of the military and political influence.

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 21:23 NIV)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:21-23 NIV)

Birth And Death

 Many years ago, I wrote about Death And Judgement. Now I write about birth and death.

Three special birth
1. Adam from dust (Genesis 2:7)
2. Eve from Adam's rib (Genesis 2:22)
3. Jesus by virgin birth (Matthew 1:18)

Those who die twice
1. The son of Zarephath's widow (1 Kings 17:17-24)
2. The son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:35)
3. Dead man came back to life when he touches Elisha's bones (Kings 13:21)
4. The son of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:13-15)
5. The daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:25)
6. Lazarus (John 11:43-44)
7. Tabitha / Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42)
8. Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12)

Those who by-pass death straight to eternal life
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24 KJV)
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 KJV)
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11 KJV)

Those who by-pass death straight to eternal death
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelations 19:20 KJV)

Sons of Korah

Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses. (Numbers 16:1-2 CSB)

The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah's people, and all their possessions. (Numbers 16:32 CSB)

However, the sons of Korah did not die that day. (Numbers 26:11 NLT)

God was merciful and the descendants of Korah who survived. Not only did they survived, they were given the opportunity to write psalms 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88.

Moses Struck The Rock Twice

"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle." And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. (Numbers 20:8-11 ESV)

Moses struck the rock twice when God told him to speak to the rock. Because of that, he cannot lead Israel into the promised land.

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." (Numbers 20:12 ESV)

But earlier on another occasion, God did asked Moses to strike the rock once.

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17:6 ESV)

The rock is only allowed to be struck once.

For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (Romans 6:10 ESV)

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)

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)

Because the rock was Christ and He died once for our sins.

I would not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 MEV)

Think I got this verse and the idea that rock was Christ from some YouTube sermon by Adrian Rogers but I have forgotten which sermon.

God's Desire

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 2:4 ESV)

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)

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live." (Ezekiel 18:32 ESV)

It is God's desire that all people be saved. So He sent His only begotten Son to die for the sin of the world so that all who believe in Him shall be saved.

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. (John 3:16 KJV)

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)

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11 NET)

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:10 ESV)

Giving Glory To God By Believing Him

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

Let us once again re-visit God's KPI, that is, the only way to please God is to believe in Him and His Word.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. (2 Corinthians 1:19 ESV)

The Millennial Kingdom

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4 NLT)
The Anointed One will set up His kingdom and rule with the saints for a thousand years.

He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2 NIV)
Satan will be bound during this thousand years.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9 NIV)
And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34 ESV)
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD's glory, as the water covers the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 CSB)
The world is filled with the knowledge of God.

In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old will be mourned as a young man, and the one who misses a hundred years will be considered cursed. (Isaiah 65:20 CSB)
People born during the millennium will live a very long time.

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:27-29 NIV)
Jesus will drink with His apostles again.

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10 CSB)
There will be a short break as the Millennial Kingdom transits from the old earth to the new earth.

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17 NIV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. (Revelation 21:1 NLT)
The Millennial Kingdom becomes the Eternal Kingdom!

Looking Forward to New Citizenship

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:34-35 NIV)

True Christians should not be proud of their race, culture or country. After all, you belong to that race culture or country for a life time of about 70 to 80 years. And they will be gone, smashed and broken into pieces and the wind will sweep them away without a trace. We should look forward to be citizens of an eternal kingdom.

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (Daniel 2:44 NIV)

Indeed, nations or kingdoms that do not serve you will perish; such nations will be totally destroyed. (Isaiah 60:12 NET)

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13 NIV)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 CSB)

His Part And Ours - Grace, Faith And Works

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. (Romans 4:19 ESV)

Faith is always difficult to explain. If God promised us something, do we just sit and wait for it to be fulfilled? Is it not written in Romans 4:21 that "what God had promised, he was also able to do"? What else do we need to do? Well, someone by the name of J Sidlow Baxter wrote a whole book (His Part And Ours: God's Promises and Our Responsibilities in the Christian Life by J. Sidlow Baxter | Goodreads) about it, detailing God's part and our part.

But after listening to a sermon by Adrian Rogers: How to Be Strong in the Faith (2052) - YouTube, I suddenly found an easy explanation. It is about sex, so it will catch attention.

When God promised Abraham that he would have a son, Abraham did not do nothing and wait for his son to pop out. Abraham had sex with Sarah. He had to do his part. God worked the miracle through Abraham's action.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

孔子 Self-Perception

子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」(論語2為政4)

The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right." (Lunyu 2:4, translation by James Legge)

Buddha's first noble truth is right perception (正見). But if you do not have the Word of God, you cannot have right perception.

Grace And Luck

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV,NIV)

Luck is grace without ascribing glory to God.

When someone strike lottery, he thinks he is lucky. But according to Proverbs 16:33, it is God that allows him to win.

Children that are born into Christian families are lucky to have a chance to hear the Gospel. When they believed in the Gospel, they are saved by grace.

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)

Important To Experience The Grace Of God

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV)

Every true Christian would have experienced the grace of God. It is how he or she is saved. Every true believer must understand God's grace. It does not matter if he or she does not know theology. You do not even need to know the whole Bible.

But a preacher or pastor who knows theology and have Bible knowledge and preaches it without grace, he will produce Pharisees.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23 BSB)

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

Moses and Samuel

Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before me, my compassions would not reach out to these people. Send them from my presence, and let them go. (Jeremiah 15:1 CSB)

Moses and Samuel interceded for Israel.

Therefore He said that He would destroy them, If Moses, His chosen one, had not stood in the gap before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them. (Psalm 106:23 NASB)

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. (1 Samuel 12:23 NIV)

Noah, Daniel, and Job

Even if these three men - Noah, Daniel, and Job - were in it, they would rescue only themselves by their righteousness." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 14:14 CSB)

What do these three men had in common? They prayed. In a world that ignored God, Noah prayed to God. Daniel prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem. Job prayed continually for his children.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. (Genesis 8:20 NIV)

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. (Daniel 6:10 NLT)

When these celebrations ended - sometimes after several days - Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice. (Job 1:5 NLT)

The State Of Israel Before First Exile

Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before me, my compassions would not reach out to these people. Send them from my presence, and let them go. And if they ask you, 'Where shall we go?' tell them, 'This is what the Lord says:
"'Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;
those for starvation, to starvation;
those for captivity, to captivity.' (Jeremiah 15:1-2 CSB)

Even Moses and Samuel could not intercede for them. Noah, Daniel, and Job could only save themselves and not their families. In the wilderness, Moses was able to intercede successfully for the Israelites after they worshipped the golden calf. During the flood, Noah could save his family. So the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel were worse than the world during the flood and their ancestors during their wandering in the wilderness.

"Son of man, suppose a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its supply of bread, to send famine through it, and to wipe out both people and animals from it. Even if these three men - Noah, Daniel, and Job - were in it, they would rescue only themselves by their righteousness." This is the declaration of the Lord God.

"Suppose I allow dangerous animals to pass through the land and depopulate it so that it becomes desolate, with no one passing through it for fear of the animals. Even if these three men were in it, as I live" - the declaration of the Lord God - "they could not rescue their sons or daughters. They alone would be rescued, but the land would be desolate.

"Or suppose I bring a sword against that land and say, 'Let a sword pass through it,' so that I wipe out both people and animals from it. Even if these three men were in it, as I live" - the declaration of the Lord God - "they could not rescue their sons or daughters, but they alone would be rescued.

"Or suppose I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath on it with bloodshed to wipe out both people and animals from it. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live" - the declaration of the Lord God - "they could not rescue their son or daughter. They would rescue only themselves by their righteousness. (Ezekiel 14:13-20 CSB)

Sign Of The Messiah

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6 NIV)

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:2-3 ESV)

These are the sign of the Anointed One - the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the mute sing, lepers healed, the dead live and the good news was preached to the poor.

And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matthew 11:4-5 ESV)

And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. (Luke 7:22 ESV)

A Faith That Grows

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)

We are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We are saved through faith in the finished works of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the cross (John 3:36, John 19:30).

Because we are saved by His works, not ours, our salvation is assured (1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Timothy 2:13).

But the faith that saves does take time to grow. To have a faith that grows, you need to know God. To know God, you need to know His Word the Bible.

All Religions Are True?

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 ESV)

All religions are true. God can be reached by different religions. Many rivers flow by many ways but they fall into the sea. They all are one. - Sri Ramakrishna (1836-02-18 to 1886-08-16)

Let say there is a big problem that will cause the end of the world. Let say there are found 10 ways that will effectively solve this problem and the world will not end. Nine of these ways do not require the death of any living thing. The tenth way requires the death of your only son. What will you do? Will you offer up your son and say, "Better let him die and save the world, just in case the other nine ways fail" or would you say, "Why don't we try the nine other ways first?"

If God knew of nine effective ways to save the world without the death of any living thing, why would He send His only begotten Son to die on the cross? God would have committed a blunder that even a normal, rational human does not do.

Many people like to say that all religions are true, but may I submit to you that this statement is a lie. If the Bible is true, then all the non-Bible based religions are false. If one or some or all non-Bible based religions are true, then Christianity is false. So it will never be "all religions are true".

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22 ESV)

Origin Of Philistines Solved By DNA

Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor. (Genesis 10:13-14 CSB)

A quote from this article, "DNA shows Philistines, and modern-day Palestinians, were really European - Metro Voice News 2019-07-05":

QUOTE
A dramatic and explosive DNA discovery in Israel has implications for the political struggle between Israelis and Palestinians. Three years ago, archaeologists digging in Israel revealed they had excavated a Philistine cemetery for the first time ever.  Now, an extensive report on the DNA taken from the bones they uncovered has confirmed the origins of the Philistines - one of the arch-enemies of the biblical Israelites.

"We've been able to demonstrate for the first time that the Philistines were immigrants to the region of Philistia," said Daniel Master, director of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon.

Scientists have long suspected that modern day Palestinians are not Arab, but actually descendants of European (and mainly pre-Greek) settlers in the region.

State-of-the-art DNA testing on the ancient Philistine bones showed they had European ancestry and migrated across the Mediterranean more than 3,000 years ago and just before the Israelites were given the land by God.
.. .. ..
The DNA revelations have become a problem for many Arab leaders, but especially the terrorist groups of Hamas which controls modern-day Gaza. If Palestinians have no historical claim of always have lived in the land, why is the conflict between Jews and Palestinians allowed to continue at great cost?
UNQUOTE

For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. (Jeremiah 47:4 NIV)

The Philistines were destroyed by the Babylonians and the current Palestinians are not related to them. Zephaniah 2:7 was fulfilled when Israel was restored in 1948 and rebuild the city of Ashkelon.

Jesus Will Land On Mount Olive

On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:4-5 ESV)

The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. (Revelation 16:19 ESV)

"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16 ESV)

Jesus Is Coming Again From The Cloud

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11 NIV)

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 ESV)

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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. (Matthew 24:30 ESV)

And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:62 ESV)

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27 ESV)

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26 ESV)

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27 ESV)

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. (Daniel 7:13 ESV)

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 ESV)

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,  to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 1:14-15 ESV)

More On Joseph's Bones

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission." (Genesis 41:44 HCSB)

Joseph achieved great things in life. But in Hebrews 11:22, Joseph commendation was not about what a great job he did in Egypt in managing the famine, but about his faith in God's Word regarding his bones.

Have we also have done a great job in our life? But whether we did a good or bad job, our commendation will be like Joseph's, based on our faith in God and His Word.

God's KPI is clearly stated in the Bible. Let us not missed it.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)

Joseph's Bones

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." (Genesis 50:25 ESV)

If we read about Joseph in the Bible, especially in Sunday School context, our focus will probably be his father's favouritism, his God-given wisdom in interpretation of dreams, how his brothers sold him to Egypt as a slave, how he became the vizier of Egypt and how Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.

There is an aspect of Joseph which is likely to be missed when we study about Joseph. He was a great manager. When he became a slave of Potiphar, Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care and he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate (Genesis 39:6). Likewise for the prison warden who left everything under Joseph's care because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (Genesis 39:23). It was the same with Pharaoh, who put the whole Egypt under Joseph (Genesis 41:40).

We noted the Bible's emphasis on God being the source of Joseph's wisdom. Like Daniel (Daniel 2:28) later, Joseph told the Pharaoh that his ability to interpret dreams came from God (Genesis 41:16). The same he told the cupbearer and the baker of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:8). He did not take credit for his wisdom and ability.

So if you are a great manager and a good man who never harmed a fly, do not think that you will be going to heaven because of that. The Bible, which looks at things from God's perspective, emphasized on Joseph's faith in God, his belief and execution of God's will and not his managerial abilities.

For all of Joseph's great capabilities and how well he could run a country, God's commendation of Joseph was that he believed that God would bring the Israelites out of Egypt. This is God's KPI.

So likewise, God's commendation of you, if any, may be not what you expect it to be.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. (Hebrews 11:22 NIV)

Destruction of God's Temple

This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. (Jeremiah 25:11 NLT)

This is what the LORD says: "You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. (Jeremiah 29:10 NLT)

"Hear the word of the LORD, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.' (Jeremiah 31:10 NIV)

Today is Tisha B'av 9th Av 2021 (Saturday evening to Sunday evening).

On 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 a Jew at that time, how can you still have faith in the Word of God? How could you know that the Word of God is true?

The Jews of those days had no choice but to have faith in what was written in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah. When the seventy years were fulfilled and they could go back to Israel, they would know that the Word of God is true.

On 9th Av 70 AD Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple of God was burnt to ground. From then till 1948, how would a Jew still have faith in the Word of God? How could you know that the Word of God is true? This second exile is not like the first where there is a seventy year period to look forward to.

The Jews had no choice but to believe what was written in the Tanakh, looking back at the fulfilled prophecies and looking forward to the unfulfilled prophecies.

For the LORD will scatter you among all the nations from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship foreign gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods made of wood and stone! (Deuteronomy 28:64 NLT)

Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. (Deuteronomy 30:4 NLT)

For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive. (Deuteronomy 4:27 NLT)

The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors! (Deuteronomy 30:5 NLT)

Progressive Restoration Of Israel Prophesied

Destruction of Israel and Jerusalem prophesied by Jesus.
They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 NIV)

Future restoration of Israel and Jerusalem as a sign of His coming prophesied by Jesus.
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. (Matthew 24:32 NIV)

Restoration of Israel in 1948 prophesied by Isaiah.
Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. (Isaiah 66:8 NIV)

All Israel will be saved when the fullness of the nations comes in.
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26 NIV)

And the Jews will recognize Jesus as the Anointed One.
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10 NIV)

And Jesus will take over as the King of Kings.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 NIV)

The Great Awokening

The following quote is taken from Wikipedia:

QUOTE
Woke (/ˈwoʊk/ WOHK) is a term, originating in the United States, that originally referred to awareness about racial prejudice and discrimination. It subsequently came to encompass an awareness of other issues of social inequality, for instance regarding gender and sexual orientation. Since the late 2010s, it has also been used as a general term for left-wing political movements and perspectives which emphasise the identity politics of people of color, LGBT people, and women.
UNQUOTE

There is one more perspective of woke - it is anti-White and anti-Bible.

Salvation Is Always by the Grace 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)

Salvation is always by the grace of God through faith in the His Word.

It has always been so from the beginning of time. Saints of old and new testament are saved in this manner, except that the mechanism of salvation is slowly revealed over time. Before the time of Moses, men had already approached God with sacrificed animals. God revealed through Moses a system of animal sacrifice. Finally in the Gospel, it was revealed that Jesus the Anointed One is the Lamb of God.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 KJV)

He is to offer this bull just as he did with the bull in the sin offering; he will offer it the same way. So the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:20 CSB)

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4 ESV)

Salvation Is Inclusive And Exclusive

"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14 NLT)

The offer of salvation is inclusive. All can be saved.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11 NIV)
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 CSB)
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 2:3-4 ESV)

The means of salvation is exclusive. It can only be through Jesus.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 ESV)
There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all. This was the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6 MEV)

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1 ESV)

Christianity The Most Inclusive And Exclusive Religion

The following is quoted from the article "Christianity is the most inclusive (and exclusive) religion | HuffPost"

QUOTE
Christ's offer of forgiveness and salvation is perfectly inclusive because it is based entirely on his work. The beneficiaries of such grace - what the church is called to be - therefore have no reason to boast in their own superiority (be it financial, educational, social, cultural, racial, etc.) since they know their greatest asset is pure gift. The more "religious" a Christian becomes, the more humble, sacrificial and loving she desires to be.

The irony of this inclusion is that it simultaneously and necessarily excludes everyone who does not come to Christ and trust him alone for salvation. If you are in a sinking ship, and a lifeboat is offered, your only responsibility is to cling to that lifeboat. If you don't believe your ship is sinking, you will have no reason to seek out a lifeboat. Does that mean the lifeboat is divisive? Is it exclusive (in the negative way we use that term) because it will only save those looking to be saved, those open enough to admit they need saving? Or, is not this exclusion precisely the factor that makes its salvation worthy and secure in the first place? Consider two different reactions to the statement, "there's a lifeboat" - 1. "Only one? Ugh." 2. "There's one! I don't have to look anywhere else? Hallelujah!"

No other religion or worldview considers salvation as 100% gracious in this way, and yet that is precisely what makes them all more exclusive than Christianity, not less. If I have to save myself from the sinking ship in any way more than admitting that I'm sinking, then my salvation will be based on my own strength, and the hierarchies become inevitable. The irony of the critics of orthodox Christianity is that in trying to be more inclusive, they actually become less. They propose what Christian theology calls "works-righteousness", which means that something we do or achieve can merit salvation (or whatever term is given to salvation, such as happiness, paradise, nirvana, purpose, etc.). That inevitably throws the burden back upon ourselves, offering no real hope or mercy. It further oppresses the oppressed as well as offers false hope to the "achievers" and successful of the world.
UNQUOTE

Appointed Time

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

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)

At an appointed time in the future, 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.
He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages] - to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10 AMP)

Progressive Restoration of Israel

For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24 HCSB)

Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons. (Isaiah 66:8 CSB)

"Son of man, take a single stick and write on it: Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. Then take another stick and write on it: Belonging to Joseph - the stick of Ephraim - and all the house of Israel associated with him. Then join them together into a single stick so that they become one in your hand. (Ezekiel 37:16-17 HCSB)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:24 HCSB)

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 HCSB)

Why is Jesus Worthy to be the Savior of the World

What made Jesus worthy to be the Savior of the world?

1. He is God
   He was the creator of the world (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3).
   He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).
2. He is Man
   He came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), thus fully human and was born as a servant (Philippians 2:7).
   He came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) and was tempted in every way just as we are, yet He remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
3. He is qualified to conquer death
   He took the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) on our behalf (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 4:4-5, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14) and died for the sins of the whole world (Romans 6:10, 1 John 2:2).
   He conquered death (Revelation 1:18) because He was sinless. After He rose from the dead, He never die again because death cannot hold Him (Acts 2:24).

Jesus, by His obedience and death, redeemed for God by His blood, a people from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 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. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV)

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:6-12 ESV)

Why Is Faith Chosen As An Instrument Of Salvation

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (Job 38:4 ESV)

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18 KJV)

According to This is Math's Fatal Flaw - YouTube, it is mathematically proven that not everything that is true can be proven. The existence of God is true, but it cannot be proven. No Christian can prove that God exists. The Bible never attempt to prove God's existence. Our belief in God has to be by faith.

But the Word of God, the Bible, is true and can be proven true.

The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160 CSB)

Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29 ESV)

Why Are We Saved Through Faith?

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:50 NIV)

"Receive your sight." Jesus told him. "Your faith has saved you." (Luke 18:42 CSB)

God has chosen faith to be the means of salvation because it glorifies Him.

The following quote is taken from "The Spurgeon Library | Saving Faith" where Charles Spurgeon gave the reason why faith was chosen as the instrument of salvation.

QUOTE
Faith is chosen by Christ to wear the crown of salvation because - let me contradict myself - it refuses to wear the crown. It was Christ that saved the penitent woman, it was Christ that saved that blind beggar, but he takes the crown from off his own head, so dear is faith to him, and he puts the diadem upon the head of faith and says, "Thy faith hath saved thee," because he is absolutely certain that faith will never take the glory to herself, but will again lay the crown at the pierced feet, and say, "Not unto myself be glory, for thou hast done it ; thou art the Saviour, and thou alone." In order, then, to illustrate and to protect the interests of sovereign grace, and to shut out all vain glorying, God has been pleased to make the way of salvation to be by faith, and by no other means.
UNQUOTE

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)

Palestinian's Israel Problem

So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, "I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River - the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites." (Genesis 15:18-21 NLT)

God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; you will no longer be named Jacob, but your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel. God also said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will come from you, and kings will descend from you. I will give to you the land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac. And I will give the land to your future descendants." (Genesis 35:9-12 CSB)

The problem with Palestinians is their perception, as quoted from this article in "Hamas's forever war against Israel has a glitch, and it isn't Iron Dome By HAVIV RETTIG GUR 22 May 2021, 5:38 pm | The Times of Israel"

QUOTE
The interview is one of countless expressions of what amounts to Hamas's most fundamental belief about its enemy: that the Jews of Israel are an illegitimate usurper polity, the last vestige of European colonialism, and therefore doomed to failure like all other European colonial projects from the last century. Israel in Hamas's telling is not a people competing with the Palestinians for a single uncomfortably narrow strip of land. It is, like the Soviet Union, East Germany, or the South African apartheid regime before it, a thin patina of political institutions and concepts that will burn away in the harsh light of sustained resistance.
UNQUOTE

The Palestinians thought that driving the Jews out of Israel is like driving the British out of India or the French out of Vietnam. But they did not know that it may be easier to drive the Chinese out of China or the Indians out of India than to drive the Jews out of Israel. Israel's rights to the land of Canaan is guaranteed by God Himself.

Then the Lord's word came to Jeremiah: Aren't you aware of what people are saying: "The Lord has rejected the two families that he had chosen"? They are insulting my people as if they no longer belong to me. The Lord proclaims: I would no sooner break my covenant with day and night or the laws of heaven and earth than I would reject the descendants of Jacob and my servant David and his descendants as rulers for the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will restore the captives and have compassion on them. (Jeremiah 33:23-26 CEB)

Israel's Palestinian Problem

Ephraim's envy will cease; Judah's harassing will end. Ephraim will no longer be envious of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim. But they will swoop down on the Philistine flank to the west. Together they will plunder the people of the east. They will extend their power over Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be their subjects. (Isaiah 11:13-14 CSB)

According the prophet Isaiah, Israel's Palestinian problem will not be solved until all the twelve tribes of Israel are restored.

"Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland. "See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away." The Lord has spoken. (Joel 3:4-8 NIV)

Israel's Enemies

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3 BSB)

Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you. (Numbers 24:9b ESV)

Those whom God wanted to destroy, He first make them enemies of Israel.

The classic example is the Pharaoh of Egypt.
For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Romans 9:17 NIV)

Then we have the Canaanites in Canaan.
So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses. (Joshua 11:16-20 NIV)

In the future, we have Gog of Magog.
The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, face 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 assembly armed with large and small shields, all of them brandishing swords.
.....
You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days, Gog, that I will bring you against my land so that the nations may know me, when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight. (Ezekiel 38:1-4,16 CSB)

The Christian's Only Weapon

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

The Bible is the only offensive weapon in a Christian's armoury. It is the sword of the Spirit and can cut between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow and expose our innermost thoughts and desires.

Every Christian should invest time in sword fighting. The Lord used this sword to fend off all three temptations from the devil. And this is still the only weapon we have.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NIV)

To My Children - 3

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 KJV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

I have spoken on things and events, the two types of things and two types of events. Now I want to talk about time.

Our time is limited and evil (Psalm 90:9-10). It is a one way street going towards death. We should use it wisely.

Invest your time in things that you can take beyond the grave. To live beyond death, you need eternal life. To have eternal life, God must know you and you must know God. To know God, you must do His will. To do His will, you must first know His will. To know His will, you must know His Word. Therefore, invest your time in reading the Bible. Then you will know His will. Then you can do His will. Then you can know God. Then you can have eternal life.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)