Jesus Came To Divide Families

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

The truth divides. Did you know the Lord Jesus came to earth to divide families. To divide families, even though it causes conflict and pain, is God’s will. The truth that Jesus came to divide should be readily known and especially told to new converts!

Jesus Divides Families

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.divide families I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —  a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’  (Mat 10:34-36)

Why is that clear truth about the Lord Jesus Christ dividing families avoided? Because people generally want to preach and hear about a loving, all-accepting gracious Savior, who smiled and preached easy to receive teachings with little or no demands placed on them. They want to believe in a Savior like that, a mythical god, not one which divides families!

Why Jesus Came To Divide Families

Why does Jesus divide families? The God of truth (Isa. 65:16) is the God of the Bible.  Since truth divides, then Jesus would naturally divide his followers away from those who reject and hate God’s truth, even one’s natural family members. Remember, Jesus divides families:

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”  (Luke 12:51-53)

Those same truth rejecters become enemies to the truth lovers as they resist and persecute the follower of Jesus. That test places the Christian with a divided family in a position where he must count the cost to follow Jesus unashamedly! Is he at that point where he must decide if he is going to please God and remain faithful to him or his truth-rejecting natural family? If he returns as a dog to his vomit to win the favor of his spiritually dead family he will lose his salvation.

Jesus Came To Divide – NOT Bring Peace On Earth

To be worthy of Jesus and eternal life, one must side with God’s truth even though it divides his own family. That truth is vital for especially new converts to Christianity when they are tested by family division. Remember: Jesus came to divide as a test and is basic to true conversion!

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A Peaceful Dwelling

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

Have you ever considered how valuable a quiet, peaceful dwelling is? Sometimes the widespread, even medicinal effects of peace and quiet are not readily noticed or appreciated, until they are taken away with noise, strife, violence and the like. Mockers, and other types of contentious people, are peace destroyers and should definitely be avoided just for that.  The profound importance of peace and quiet is noted here:peaceful dwelling

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Prov 17:1)

One glorious day all wicked people will be separated from the righteous, then there will be great peace for the overcomers:

This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 13:49,50)

For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psa 37:9-11)

That gives us an important detail about what heaven is like.  It is a holy and musical place, where only the righteous will dwell, but amidst them will be GREAT PEACE. Imagine a peaceful dwelling like that.  The question is, will you be there to enjoy serving God in that Paradise environment? Do you have peace with God NOW?

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Pet 3:13,14)

Are you putting forth every effort, as mentioned there?

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Textus Receptus is NOT the KJV

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

The King James Only group includes a wide variety of people (some very sincere) who unfortunately continue to aggressively spread misinformation on this subject as fact to the harm of the body of Christ. Some of these same divisive people spread their KJV only message as sincere Christians spread the gospel of Jesus Christ – shocking but true!

The chief argument the King James Only group cites is that key Christian words, and sometimes even wholes verses, are missing from other English Bible versions. KJV ONLY While that statement is true, it is also misleading! Why are they missing? The difference exists because the King James Version of the Bible is based on the Textus Receptus. More modern translations are based on different manuscripts, which do not include the words and or verses found in the KJV!  Hence, the KJV Only main argument is misleading, but it casts suspicion of malicious intent on other Bible translators and versions. The key truth to remember is, those other translations were based on different manuscripts!

Manuscript Debate or Version Debate

That brings up a different controversy and debate entirely! Which Bible manuscripts are most reliable? The manuscript debate is NOT the same as the KJV reliability, which is a version debate! Those who claim the King James Version is a Perfect Bible translation are easily refuted by other reputable translations, which are also based on the Textus Receptus!  For the die hard King James Only Perfect Bible people to learn that the New King James Version, Green’s and Young’s translations are also based upon the Textus Receptus should help some!  If professing Christians favor the Textus Receptus they should use such other versions just for the sake of getting away from the strange incomprehensible archaic wording of the King James Version. Also, specific translation errors scattered throughout the KJV are mentioned in the beginning of those translations and corrected within! It is always safe for the Christian to read various reputable translations and not just one. He will benefit more by such a variety which will also reveal shades of truth from Scripture otherwise unnoticed by only reading one!

There is no question that holy living is the real issue and not what English version of the Bible one reads.  Only the pure in heart will see God (Mt. 5:8) and some who flatly reject the KJV have a pure heart. GOD BLESS YOU.

Graphic copyrighted.

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The Devil Is Looking For Someone To Devour

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

You are residing at a time when your enemy the devil (who is not in the lake of fire yet) is prowling around throughout the earth looking for someone to devour! roaring lion His desires are to spiritually destroy another saint – devour him!

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  (1 Pet 5:8)

The devil doesn’t get distracted from that goal. He continues to plot, scheme and tempt the saints. He is patient and clever and has a wide variety of allurements.  Because Peter’s recipients were born again (1:23), he is definitely issuing this frightening warning to the Christians saved by grace!  This is most serious! Peter wanted them to know they could yet get devoured by the devil and it was their own responsibility to protect themselves from getting devoured [swallowed in Greek] by the devil. Their safeguard against this was to be self-controlled and alert. The devil is known for tempting with sin. Why does he do that? Because he knows the deadly effects sin has on one’s spirit.  The Bible says:

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  (Rom 8:10)

Sin can change a Christian’s righteous standing before God and bring about spiritual death (Rom. 8:12,13).  The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9,10).  Elsewhere we are told to avoid every kind of evil (1 Th 5:22) and the Christian life is a struggle against sin (Heb. 12:4), but to do that we must know what is evil. This is all included in fighting the good fight as a good soldier of Christ Jesus and will bring persecution of some type because of separation from the world (2 Cor. 6:17,18) to keep yourself pure (1 Tim. 5:22).  Being self-controlled will protect the saints from many spiritual snares and traps, but not all.

Being alert [watchful] is another issue and could include rejecting false teachings.  False prophets and false teachers have always been a lethal danger to the Lord’s sheep. Though they are so deadly, they are not always readily known! That is why being alert [or watchfulness] is vital. We are to test the spirits and not just believe them (1 John 4:1). If one gets deceived through false teaching, he will be adversely influenced, even if he is self-controlled! We must be alert! There are doctrines of demons which are communicated to the saints by sincere and zealous people who are serving the devil unknowingly. Unless you are seriously resisting the devil by being self controlled and alert, he will take you down like he has Adam, Gideon, Jeroboam, Solomon, Judas Iscariot and many others! Remember that. GOD BLESS YOU.

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Catholics and Mary Statues

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

These two short videos will reveal the significance that Mary and Mary statues have in the lives of Catholics. The first video shows how sudden destruction came to a Mary statue in a Catholic church as an older man in front lets go of the pole, when a Mary statue is being carried, and it falls.  This was a major tragedy for Catholics present as the video proves. Non Catholics have a rough time believing how important so-called sacred images are to Catholics, but these videos will help. Seeing is believing. Believe it or not Catholics think veneration is passed on to the person represented by the statue. This destruction to a Mary statue was a super disaster as the Catholic Queen of Heaven gets beheaded! (NOTE the reaction of the Catholic nuns in the front row next to the center aisle.)

Statues Are Essential To Catholic Doctrine

Catholicism is reeking with idolatry, yet some refuse to acknowledge it. Too many non Catholics still consider Catholicism part of Christianity. Here is Catholicism’s bold teaching on their sacred images:

“The practice of placing sacred images in churches so that they [the images] be venerated by the faithful is to be maintained.” (Vatican Council II, Costello Publishing Co., Northport, New York, 1984, Vol. 1, p.35)

“From the very earliest days of the Church there has been a tradition whereby images of our Lord, his holy Mother, and of saints are displayed in churches for the veneration of the faithful.” (ibid., p. 193)

“… that by means of the images which we kiss and before which we uncover the head and prostate ourselves, we adore Christ and venerate the saints whose likeness they bear …. great profit is derived from all holy images, not only because the people are thereby reminded of the benefits and gifts bestowed on them by Christ, but also because through the saints the miracles of God and salutary examples are set before the eyes of the faithful, so that they may give God thanks for those things, may fashion their own and conduct in imitation of the saints and be moved to adore and love God and cultivate piety. But if anyone should teach or maintain anything contrary to these decrees, let him be anathema.” (H. J. Schroeder, O. P., The Canons And Decrees Of The Council Of Trent, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1978, p. 216)

Catholics are shown in this second video idolatrously kissing (venerating) the hand of the Mary statue.

To kiss an image is a pagan practice (Hosea 13:2), but Catholicism defends such and places their anathema on all people, including Christians, who oppose it as you just read!  If you aren’t anathematized by Catholicism for something like this, you are NOT a Christian!

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Ants and Famine In The Forecast

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

Southern USA is being invaded by a strange kind of destructive ant from South America, which will surely help bring about end time famine! From New Orleans we read:

Biting ants invade by the millions. A camper’s metal walls bulge from the pressure of ants nesting behind them. A circle of poison stops them for only a day, and then a fresh horde shows up, bringing babies. Stand in the yard, and in seconds ants cover your shoes.crazy ants It’s an extreme example of what can happen when the ants — which also can disable huge industrial plants — go unchecked. Controlling them can cost thousands of dollars. But the story is real, told by someone who’s been studying ants for a decade. ( http://news.yahoo.com/hairy-crazy-ants-invade-texas-miss-150823360.html  )

They are spreading to Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana and seem unstoppable!

“I did a test site with a product early on and applied the product to a half-acre … In 30 days I had two inches of dead ants covering the entire half-acre,” Rasberry said. “It looked like the top of the dead ants was just total movement from all the live ants on top of the dead ants.” (ibid.)

Such ants, and other worldwide problems, are leading to worldwide famine as mentioned in the word of God:

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Rev 6:8)

Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. (Rev 18:8)

Folks, world events continue to fall into place for the end times.

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End Time Global Warming Continues

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

Global warming continues on. Our summer’s heat is bad enough already, but wait until it gets worse and the scorching heat comes as predicted in God’s word (Rev 7:16,17)! The recent heat wave, which is even affecting Alaska, is just a tiny foretaste of what is coming:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A heat wave hitting Alaska may not rival the blazing heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but to residents of the 49th state, the days of hot weather feel like a stifling oven — or a tropical paradise. With temperatures topping 80 degrees in Anchorage, and higher in other parts of the state, people have been sweltering in a place where few homes have air conditioning.

The climate will get hotter, not colder as some think. Just the rapid melting of icebergs is convincing indisputable evidence.  That in turn results in a rising sea level!

Things are changing to the exact details stated in the book of Revelation.  Jesus is coming back, but before that occurs the antichrist will arise. If it happens in our generation, you must be willing to die rather than take the mark of the beast to remain saved:

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:11)

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:35-38)

It takes courage to be a true Christian (Heb. 3:6). The Christian life is not an easy stroll into heaven. This is a wicked and truth rejecting world. Persecution goes with the territory, but you must endure it to the end to be saved (Mt. 10:22). Remember, to die is gain for the righteous — NOT LOSS OR DEFEAT (Phil 1:21).

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Christians Will Judge The Angels

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

While it should be no Bible mystery that Christians will judge the angels, it is a Bible mystery as to the basis of that judgment!angels judged Here is the only reference to this mysterious event:

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Cor 6:3)

That angelic judgment indicates the free will angels have, which has led some to sin as mentioned in 2 Pet. 2:4. Apparently, the overcomers will become aware of the angels’ past activities from the vantage point of that judgment. Could that activity be connected with their ministering to the heirs of salvation (the Christians) themselves?

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Heb 1:14)

Perhaps, but we can’t be sure. Without doubt, exciting and surprising times are ahead for the righteous who endure, including the mysterious judgment of angels — whatever that will be!  The important thing now for the Christian is to live holy and continue in the faith (Col. 1:23). To die in Christ is gain for the Christians living for Christ (Phil. 1:21) for we go home to be with our spiritual family. Remember 1 Cor. 2:9.

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Ishmael, Isaac and Islam

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

In Islam, Mohammed is supposed to be a descendent of Ishmael. So who is Ishmael and what was his connection with God’s covenant and Abraham? Was Ishmael Abraham’s promised miracle son or not? What about Isaac? How important was he? The Bible is explicit and the answer is important, yet devastating to Islam:

And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. hagar and ishmaelBut my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” (Gen 17:18-21)

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” (Gen 21:9-12)

Like or not, the evidence shows that God chose Isaac over Ishmael. God’s covenant was established with Isaac. Isaac was Abraham’s special miracle son through his wife Sarah, according to all the evidence.

Who Was Abraham Going To Sacrifice When Tested?

When God tested Abraham with his special son, was Abraham going to sacrifice Ishmael or Isaac?  Again, the evidence is clear:

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Gen 22:1,2)

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Gen 22:9,10)abraham tested

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (Heb 11:17)

To believe Abraham was going to sacrifice Ishmael, and not Isaac, is to go against Scripture.

Isaac and Jesus – Only Begotten

Isaac was not Abraham’s first son; neither was he Abraham’s only son, but in Hebrews 11:17 he is shown to be Abraham’s only begotten son. (Only begotten is a King James term)! That term means he was Abraham’s unique one-of-a-kind son. Isaac was Abraham’s special miracle son. Abraham’s innumerable descendants, as the stars in the sky, would be numbered through Isaac.

Jesus is also called only begotten (and uses the same Greek word describing Isaac in Heb. 11:17)! Jesus is the Father’s unique one-of-a-kind son or one and only son. Jesus being God’s only begotten son does NOT mean he was created, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses wrongly teach, for Jesus is eternal life (1 John 1:1,2). Instead, Jesus is the Father’s one and only special son. God has other sons who got that way by faith in Jesus (Jn. 1:12) or in Adam’s case by special creation (Luke 3:38), but none are like the Lord Jesus! So who is Jesus Christ? Jesus’ scores of names and titles reflect his importance and reveal his identity in a more complete way.

Among other truths, the Lord Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and his blood shed on the cross, where he died for us, is the only way we can get forgiven of our sins and find peace with God (Col. 1:20). Jesus is to be the object of our faith. Millions have been set free from their sin addictions by humbly and sincerely going to God in repentance and placing their faith in Jesus Christ for their personal salvation (Acts 20:21). Without Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, your religion is powerless to save from sin. Dear reader, do you know Jesus NOW? Without Jesus, you can’t have eternal life.

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Kimberly McCarthy, Did She Go Home to be With Jesus

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Eternal Life Blog

Kimberly McCarthy was recently executed in Texas for brutally murdering her 71 year old neighbor in 1997. Immediately before she died McCarthy said she was going home to be with Jesus.  Is it possible she did, according to the Bible? kimberly mccarthy going home to be with jesus Without doubt her crime was heinous and Kimberly McCarthy herself was a cold-blooded, premeditated murderer in 1997, but could her identity have been changed?  Could she really have died with a pure heart, which is needed to see God (Mt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:27 cf. 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; Eph. 5:5-7)?

McCarthy, 52, was executed for the 1997 robbery, beating and fatal stabbing of retired psychology professor Dorothy Booth. Booth had agreed to give McCarthy a cup of sugar before she was attacked with a butcher knife and candelabra at her home, south of Dallas. Authorities say McCarthy cut off Booth’s finger to remove her wedding ring. It was among three slayings linked to McCarthy, a former nursing home therapist who became addicted to crack cocaine …. In her final statement, McCarthy did not mention her status as the 500th inmate to be executed or acknowledge Booth or her family. “This is not a loss. This is a win. You know where I’m going. I’m going home to be with Jesus. Keep the faith. I love you all,” she said, while looking toward her witnesses — her attorney, her spiritual adviser and her ex-husband, New Black Panther Party founder Aaron Michaels. ( http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/26/texas-protesters-execution/2462013/, bold emphasis mine  )

The Dying Repentant Thief

Death bed repentance is taught in Scripture. It is shown by what happened to the dying repentant thief. After he asked Jesus for mercy, he was instantly forgiven and headed for Paradise (Luke 23:40-43)! Based on that passage, perhaps millions have been forgiven during the last couple minutes of their lives. [Some people will be in heaven whom Christians never expected would be there!] Though that is so, that doesn’t mean Kimberly McCarthy was surely going home to be with Jesus, like she said! One must wonder what was the basis of her statement. WHY did Kimberly McCarthy think she was going to heaven, at the end of her life, and not hell for her theft and murder?

Unfortunately, like much of the world, Texas is flooded with the once saved always saved counterfeit gospel. That is where Kimberly McCarthy was placed in prison and probably where she received spiritual counsel. Believe it or not, based on that heretical doctrine, some criminals think they are Christians bound for heaven, if they were ever previously saved! If Kimberly McCarthy didn’t repent of her sins and die with a pure heart, she was deceived and is now in eternal fire. If she died with a pure heart, she did indeed go to be with Jesus. The same holds true for us all! Do you know Jesus NOW?

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