Ponder This... (Denialists, Poem)

Listen to Siri audio version here

See the Ponder This... series here

Denialists deny, that's just what they do.

Reading the 'signs of the time', they misconstrue.

And when what they have long denied 'stares them in the face',

They’re typically the last ones to ‘do an about face’!

Denialists/deniers, we all know their ilk,

And recognize their talk that is as smooth as silk.

And even in the face of their long losing streaks,

They still find followers whose interests they can pique.

 

In all sub-cultures across the world, through their lens,

They convince folks to disbelieve obvious trends.

No matter the subject, like crafty spiders, they weave their webs,

Seeking to influence some minds, as public opinion ebbs.

 

Damages and their transmissibility,

Across untold layers of societies,

Compound when deniers’ escape accountability,

Thus ensuring their future with inculpability.

 

The covid pandemic comes to my mind,

And climate change that puts folks in a bind.

Big government deniers must be having a fit,

With increasing disasters that make budgets unfit! ¹

 

The exploding gross lawlessness across every nation,

Combined with less capital punishment situations,

Means more prisons that offer ‘remaining-life benefits’!

Can you see that will turn tax-payers into hypocrites?! ²

 

There are other issues that by denialists are fused,

And folks are unaware that by devils, such are fueled. 

They love it when we disbelieve what we are seeing,

So from our grossly errant ways, folks won’t be fleeing.

 

Remarkably, many Christians play denialists roles,

Though they ‘know’ The Lord’s predictions that on Earth will unfold.

While as His ‘early warning system’ we should be serving,

Our ‘loss of saltiness’ means we’re …no longer ‘preserving’.

 

Ohhhh, the incredible prices we all must pay, 

When by The Bible’s predictions we are not swayed.

When by its ‘prophecies-to-facts’ success rates we’re not rebuked,

Maybe we will be moved to believe when, from our lands, 

...folks are puked! ³  

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¹ Watch for it. At every level of governance worldwide, taxes will have to increase, initially to un-imaginable levels, as Bible prophecies continue to unfold apace, per Ezekiel 14:12-23, and as The Lord opens the remaining 3 seals on His scroll. See: Revelation – Unsealing the Scroll (Series)

² See: Matthew 24:12 Such scenarios could easily trigger eventual tax-payers revolts, and calls for more and much swifter capital punishments. Imagine the political wrangling and hand-wringing that would likely ensue. I intuit the coming anti-Christ man will be very happy to comply with such demands, especially if it means he can use it as a cover to slaughter Jews and new Christians, as The Bible predicts during the pending tribulation age that’s on the horizon. 

³ To you, does this seem like a really strange notion? Not to The Lord. See: Leviticus 18:25-28 and 20:22-23. There are increasing reports across the world of lands becoming un-inhabitable.

Ponder This... (First Resurrection, Second Death, Hell)

Listen to Siri audio version here

See the Ponder This... series here

I expressed these key thoughts as minor points and footnotes in other posts, but they clearly merit repetition in a separate post. Why? Written across the 2nd and early 3rd ages of human history, The Bible uses 'strategic expressions and phraseology' that are intended to 'reach and speak' to people across the remaining 3 ages on this current version of Earth. The number of cultures, societies and language groups it will reach is unfathomable!!! 

So consider how it conveys the concept of the first and last resurrection. In our day, the word, 'first', has an extremely narrow, often erroneous signification. For example, consider how some religions and cultures have relegated God Almighty to a mere number, totally ignoring the many, deeper significations of that word.

Any serious student of the Bible will clearly recognize the phrase, 'first resurrection', does not refer to a numerical event. Rather, it conveys the notion of several phased resurrections to eternal life, of faithful saints across the ages of human history, people who will have died in faith toward the unseen God Almighty, The God Who revealed Himself to Adam, Enoch and others in the 1st age of history, and later to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and many others in the 2nd and 3rd ages of history.

The 'first resurrection' began with the resurrection of all 1^st and 2^nd ages saints, as indicated in Matthew 27:51-53. This is when the second points of Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:8 were fulfilled. The second phase/event of the first resurrection’ will be at the end of this current 3^rd age of history, known as the church age or the age of Grace. The third phase/event of the first resurrection’ will be at the end of the 4^th age of human history, the tribulation age. It will include people who will have embraced Christ as Savior and Lord during the 7-year tribulation age. (See: Revelation 7) The Bible is not clear regarding a resurrection/rapture event at the end of The Millennial Reign age. I intuit there will not be such an event, unless The Lord's strategic and tactical moves change significantly. (See: Salvation in The Millennium (Series)) The last resurrection event will be at the end of the 6^th age of history, the short post-Millennial Reign age (Revelation 20:11-15). It apparently will include a mix of all saints and sinners who will not have been resurrected and/or raptured during any of the previous ages, and it will precede the promised destruction of the current Earth and universe. In this final resurrection/rapture event, The Lord will consult His Book of Eternal Life (Revelation 20:12) to sort His saints from across the last age(s) of history, from all unrepentant sinners from across the initial 6 ages of history. My, my, what a crowd that will be, folks standing before The Lord God in their brand new, eternal bodies, ready to be assigned to one of two possible eternal experiences.

Thus, the concept of ‘first resurrection’ is not at all related to our narrow numerical concept of merely ‘one’! Have you noticed there is no specific reference in The Bible to ‘the second resurrection’? Though not specifically noted, it is what Jesus inferred in John 5:29, as the resurrection of eternal condemnation, i.e., residency in the eternal lake of fire, with every devil who will have deceived people to commit and not repent of their sins.

Another potentially confusing concept or phrase is 'the second death'. This clearly flies into the face of the notion, 'once dead, always dead!' Therefore, Bible teachers who use this phrase without a clear, contextual explanation, do a potentially serious dis-service to audiences who might not grasp the notion. Perhaps in an effort to avoid confusion, The Lord clearly DEFINED 'the second death'. But... He nestled His definition in the ANTEPENULTIMATE and the ULTIMATE chapters of the ULTIMATE/LAST book of The Bible, the very one most people, even many preachers and teachers, TOTALLY AVOID because it is a challenge to comprehend! The second death is clearly defined as eternal, sentient residency in the lake of fire that burns with brimstone/sulfur, along with every devil (fallen angels) who will have duped people into a life of unrepentant sinfulness. Period. Imagine if this definition was in The Book of Genesis, and several others along the way to The Book of Revelation. I wonder if such might have influenced people's beliefs and decisions... (Any thoughts?)

Moreover, we tend to misconstrue the notion of hell (hades) to refer to an eternal experience. In fact, the Bible clearly, but only once in its LAST book, reveals hell only serves a temporary objective, namely, to host the twin spirits and souls of unrepentant, un-saved sinners UNTIL their resurrection from hell, when they will be raised in immortal bodies, judged before The Lord, then cast into the eternal lake of fire (get this) ALONG with hell! (Revelation 20:11-15). Ergo, I intuit the eternal lake of fire must be so many times bigger and more awful, in so many ways, than hell, which will be cast into this lake, very likely somewhere on the new Earth, per Isaiah 66:22 - 24 and Revelation 22:15. Can your imagination handle that??

Here are my conclusions:

1. Revelation, the last book of the Bible, not about ‘the end of this world’, but is largely about how The Lord will transition from the 4th age of history (the 7- year tribulation age), to the 5th age (the Millennial Reign of Christ with His immortal, glorified saints from all previous ages). The result will be a significantly REFRESHED Earth, possibly similar to the pre-flood, golden age of history. This book warrants iterative readings, and seriously deep study! Even if you don't understand it, READ IT again, and again, and again. Did you know there are blessings to be had just for reading it? (Revelation 1:3) I have read it countless times, and each time, I gain fresh insights, linked to other parts of The Bible. And this year (2023) The Lord opened wide His ‘wisdom vault’, which I shared in 3 series on Revelation. Moreover, read and study it in context of Deuteronomy 32, the last half of Ezekiel 14, Ezekiel 38, 39 and Zechariah 14.2. The last chapters of the primarily prophetic books of The Old Testament (Isaiah to Malachi) convey The Lord's summary or closing perspectives on issues noted in these books. They warrant careful attention and study to perceive The Mind of Christ.

3. Be on guard against quick mis-interpretations of odd expressions and phraseology across the ages and pages of the Bible. First, try to perceive their strategic meanings in context of the times in which they are referenced. Then try to perceive them in the much broader spiritual context of The Lord's multi-millennial plan and messages to humanity. It helps greatly to read such phrases in several Bible versions, e.g., in Biblegateway.com. I always find The Young’s Literal Version and the Complete Jewish Bible to be insightful. 

4. Realize none of this is easy or can be done quickly. It takes a lifetime to develop 'deep study roots' and 'disciple's discipline'. And even after that, we'll still be forever learning, per Ephesians 2:7! The concept of being a 'life long learner' applies, not only in this life, but for us saints, will also apply ...throughout eternity!!!  

As the expression goes, 'You good with that?'

Letter to 3rd Age Christians (Poem)

See the Israel series here 

Listen to Siri audio version here

See the Letters series here

This is a letter addressed to Christians

in this current age of Grace, the 3rd age of human history.

 

Across our world, there may be issues among Christians,

Reconciling events in Israeli societies:

…Crumbled relationships with all her ‘non-citizens’,

…And moves that threaten her political stability.

 

Yes…

We recognize Jews as ‘The Lord’s people’, pre-chosen,

As His kinfolk in His plan to be born as a man,

To become mankind’s ‘kinsman Redeemer’ from our sins.

Thus, we’ve been ‘grafted into’ His spiritual clan.

 

And yes…

We believe and now see how He’s slowly accomplishing,

What He showed to ‘prophets of His program’:

…ALL Jews from around the world, He would be regathering,

…To the land He promised to Abraham.

 

Moreover…

We well know the land He promised is so much bigger,

Than the sliver of land Israel now occupies, ¹

And that their on-going regathering has triggered,

Competing ancestral land claims that can’t be denied!

 

Animus between folks competing for slivers of land,

Is disheartening to see, and to decide how to align.

Yet high above the fray, much more than most, we know the plan!

As it unfolds, and till it’s done, let’s keep these points in mind:

 

As a secular state, Israel was re-born; but soon won’t be,

When The Lord returns to start the 5^th age of our history. ²

Until then, let us focus on the questions The Lord posed, quite aptly,

In Ezekiel’s vision, noted in Chapter 33.

 

‘Should you then possess the land?’, twice The Lord asked,

To Jewish remnants living in the ruins of Judah,

Remnants of folks who had long pridefully basked,

In thoughts they deserved the land, though they ignored The Torah!! ³

 

Historically…

Both Israel and Judah expected The Lord’s protections,

But they both despised His covenant Lordship statues.

Their false sense of security, in these grave situations,

Became a set-up for The Lord’s just judgments pursuits.

 

Thus, dispersal judgment curses came upon both nations,

From The Lord, Who had long ago sworn to their patriarch,

‘I will bless or curse those who bless or curse you.’ Imagine!

Now today, thoughts of their remnants are in the same ball park!!! ⁴

And yes…
The Lord promised to punish nations that ‘divided’ His land,
Lands occupied by Abraham's and Ismael’s descendants,
In response to His first ‘multiply and fill the Earth’ command,
Because they (not The Lord, Himself?) scattered the Jewish remnants?? ⁵

In light of this, here’s what coming up…

…Pre-cursors attest these are the closing years of the 3^rd age,

…Preparing for The Lord’s revealing of the anti-Christ man,

…Whose staunch hatred for Christians and Jews, many Scriptures presage.

…With 3^rd age Christians gone, those in the 4^th age, with Jews might band. ⁶

 

…As from Egypt and Europe, Jewish remnants fled hastily,

…The Bible predicts, from across the world, Jews will again flee,

…Some to nearby countries when Israel has no vacancies!

…Anti-Christian and Jews spirits will manifest globally!

 

…Their wealth and food concentrations will spark a first invasion.

…When in tribulation plagues, the world learns Jews were protected!

…This war will trigger an incredible response from Heaven,

…Since all Israel will have ‘no defensive walls erected’! ⁷

 

…As The Lord’s tribulation plagues continue to churn,

…Global quakes will substantially reshape all lands,

…Preparing the Earth and folks alike for His return.

…All walls and mountains will fall down. None will withstand! ⁸

 

…The second invasion of Israel will then be triggered,

…The world’s remaining armies joined and rushing to attack,

…The Lord, with His army – all GLOWING, alien invaders!

…With a word, this fight will be over, the anti-Christ sacked! ⁹

 

…This will signal the start of The Lord’s Millennial Reign,

…Based in Jerusalem, which will then be raised up high,

…And the surrounding lands, and maybe everywhere, a plain.

…So for Jewish tribulation remnants, what and why?

 

…The Lord will command them all to migrate to Israel,

…Where He will reveal Himself as their rejected Messiah. 

…(Like Joseph’s family met him in Egypt, so regal???)

…That will be a time of mourning, but later, of EUREKA!!! ¹⁰

 

…The Lord ‘will remove from their midst’ the pridefully arrogant,

…Like He destroyed ancient Jews noted above, ‘covenant cheats.

…He’ll ‘seek to destroy’ nations that attacked Israel, peccant,

…Then summon their remnants to His yearly Tabernacle Feasts. ¹¹

 

Finally brothers and sisters…

Pray earnestly as ‘3^rd and 4^th ages ending events’ unfold,

Notably in Israel, but across the whole world, at large.

Beware of secular policies and peoples you condole!!!

To Bible prophecies, hold tight, till The Lord and we …take charge!!!

 

Yours in Christ,

Brother J! Wooten, Jr.

Tucson, Arizona

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¹ See: Our Land-minded God

² See: The Millennial Reign (Series)

³ This was after the last (of 3) Babylonian invasions that occurred over several years. Ezekiel was captured in an earlier invasion, and carried to Babylon. In his vision, The Lord informed him of developments back in Judah.

⁴ See: Ezekiel 33:23-25 then Zephaniah 3:11-13 for The Lord’s questions on this issue, and His promised responses (at the start of His Millennial Reign in the 5^th age of history) to such prideful, presumptive behavior. Jews in Israel today who are aggressively/forcefully settling in lands internationally earmarked and recognized for non-Jews, appear to exemplify the same/similar spirit of ancient Jews whom The Lord chided, then destroyed for their haughty pridefulness. This may appear to be ‘history repeating itself’. Spiritually speaking, that phrase or concept simply points to gullible, sinful humans biting the same devilish bait their ancestors bit! Thus, I wonder if these folks know and understand that?! With thousands of years of successful experience with humans, devils really don't need to change their tactics. They just patiently wait for spiritually ignorant folks in successive generations who are ...guaranteed to bite. 

⁵ Joel 3:2 is likely a key reason many Christians today do not support efforts to negotiate peaceful land solutions in Israel. Admittedly, understanding this verse is ‘well beyond my pay grade’, as the saying goes. If it refers to the Armageddon War at the end of the great tribulation, then The Lord has a host of reasons to punish the nations of the world. And if it’s about who scattered His people, recall, He dispatched His select ‘battle axe’ nations, Assyria and Babylon, to judge and scatter sinful Israel and Judah. Then He punished those ‘battle axe’ nations for going too far, and being too harsh. Thus I wonder, could we today possibly be misunderstanding the true context of this verse in relation to current-day land issues across Israel??

⁶ See: Human History Ages (Series) and anti-Christ (Series). Just as oppressed peoples today find ways to band together, I intuit Christians and Jews, both oppressed by the anti-Christ, might find ways to join hands in order to resist and survive. 

⁷ See: A People un-Walled (Series), Booty, Pre/Post Millennial Reign (Series), and Revelation - Future Attacks in Israel

⁸ See: Global Earthquake (Series)

⁹ The anti-Christ man and his prophet/prime minister will apparently be the FIRST occupants in The Lord’s lake of fire, somewhere on the new Earth that He’s likely already created! They will be ALIVE, in their immortal bodies, in anguish forever. As the first occupants, they will be cast therein well over 1,000 years before satan, all his devils/demons, and every unrepented human sinner from across the 6 ages of human history on this current version of Earth. With your ‘strategic mind’, read Revelation 19 and 20.

¹⁰ See: Deuteronomy 30, Isaiah 10:20 - 23, 35, 60, Hosea 3, 14. Micah 2:12-14, Zephaniah 3, and Zechariah 10 - 14, especially chapter 12:10-14.

¹¹ See: A Forced Reconciliation (Poem)