Who Is "Left Behind"?

While none of us gain, or fail to gain, salvation because of our beliefs about End Time prophecies - how we view Biblical prophecies can, and does, affect the peace of mind of Christian believers.  How can a person have peace in God when he/she does not believe what is written in the Bible authored by God?

The difference between the PreTribulation Rapture / PreMillennial Second Coming believer and the PostMillennial and Amillennial believers - is their view of Bible prophecies.  A PreTrib/PreMillennial believer views the Bible prophecies through the lense of literal interpretation, i.e., hermeneutics.  The Amillennialist does not believe there will be a literal Millennial Kingdom of God on earth and views Biblical prophecies as allegories and symbolism only.  And the PostMillennial believer is somewhere in between.

The PreTrib/PreMillianial believer interprets the complete Bible as the inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God - and that includes His prophecies.  Do we see every word of the Bible as being literal?  No, there are often times in Scripture where metaphors, allegories, and symbolism are used.  However, our approach is to first look at the passage as literal - and if the shoe fits, wear it.  If not, look for a figurative meaning.

Most PostMillennialist and Amillennialist view the Bible as literal - except for prophecies. These they spiritualize and allegorize.

So Amillenial believers will say that we are living in the Millennium now.  And as things get better and better - one day Jesus Christ will return, pass judgement, and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God.  No Rapture, no Tribulation, no Millennial Kingdom - just keep doing what we are doing until He comes. And then the judgment. They view the Great White Throne Judgment as including all believers and non-believers.  One general judgment - and then eternity, heaven or hell.

And PostMillennial believers say there will be a Tribulation and a Millennial Kingdom - but, no Rapture.  Christ will stay in heaven.  The church will stay on earth during the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom periods with Christ ruling from heaven. Then, at the end of the Millennium, He will return, pass judgement at the Great White Throne Judgment - and immediately send non-believers to the Lake of Fire and take believers into eternity with God.

The big problem is that neither of these beliefs is Biblical.  And, in the dialogue below I will be honest - for a while I have been having dialogues with my TimesDaily Forum Friend, Beter - and I have no idea whether he is an Amillennial believer, or just entrenched in a legalistic church, or just wants to argue.  Many times I have suspected the latter.  However, his questions and comments today lead to a good discussion of the End Times judgments  which I feel could be a catalyst in bringing others deeper into their own personal Bible study.

So I feel the dialogue below which we had on the TimesDaily Religion Forum is worthwhile.


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Hi Beter,

In my earlier post, I wrote, "At the end of the Millennial Kingdom - those who died not believing in Jesus Christ will be resurrected and will face Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment - a judgment of punishment for rejecting Him all their lives. They will then join the Antichrist and all other non-believers in the Lake of Fire, hell."

And, you tell me, "Bill, the judgment you call the 'Great White Throne Judgment' is the same as the judgment described in Matthew 25.  There, 'all nations' shall be judged (v.32).  The righteous and the unrighteous shall be judged (v. 46).  Jesus, in describing the judgment in Matthew 25, neither says, nor implies, anything remotely to suggest that this is anything other than THE judgment, the ONLY judgment.  According to your theology, the judgment of Matthew 25 could only be a 'post-Tribulation' judgment and the only persons being condemned in that judgment will be those who survived the Tribulation."

Matthew 25:31-46 is describing the Sheep and Goat Judgment.  When Jesus Christ returns, His Second Coming after the Tribulation, there will be those who survived the Tribulation. Although most who become believers during the Tribulation will have been martyred by the Antichrist - there will be a large number of believers still alive at the end of the Tribulation.  And there will be many non-believers, those who took the Mark of the Beast and continued to deny Christ.

His main purpose in the Second Coming is to put an end to the Tribulation, the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel - and to establish His Millennial Kingdom, the Kingdom of God on earth.  When Adam disobeyed God; he gave a "Quit Claim Deed" for earth to Satan.  Jesus will come to redeem the Title Deed to earth - and to send Satan into the abyss, his jail, for one thousand years.

At the judgment described in the parable of Matthew 25:31-46, there will be two things asked: First, what did you do with My Son, Jesus Christ?  Did you receive Him as your Lord and Savior - or did you reject Him?  Second, what did you do with your fellow man?  Did you display the fruit found only in the salvation of a Christ Follower and tend His sheep, the people for whom He gave His life - or did you care only for your own worldly pleasures and desires?

The first, those who received Him as Lord and Savior, His sheep, He will stand at His right hand.  Those who denied Him, the goats, He will stand at His left hand.  And, Matthew 25:46 tells us, "And these (the goats) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (His sheep) into eternal life."

But first, those on His right, His sheep, will go into the Millennial Kingdom of God, Christ's Millennial Reign on earth, in their mortal bodies.  For one thousand years they will be marrying and having children.  Yet they and their children will still have the sin nature inherited from Adam's disobedience.  The sin nature can and will only be removed through death or the Rapture.  All mortals going into the Millennial Kingdom will be saved, yet they will still have their sin nature - just at we believers today, before the Rapture, still have our sin nature.

Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom after the Tribulation are saved, they are Christian believers and have eternal life in Christ.  However, those born during the Millennial Kingdom still having their sin nature and will still need to invite Jesus Christ into their hearts
(Revelation 3:20) to have eternal life.

During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan is locked in the abyss - so his temptation which has led so many down the wrong path during the Church Era (from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture) and even through the seven year Tribulation - will be missing.  However, even though the temptation of Satan is absent; those born during the Millennial Reign of Christ must still, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ - believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.

Surprisingly, there will be a great number who will not, for whatever reason, apathy, etc., do this.  These are the recruits Satan will find when he is released from the abyss after one thousand years.  And from this group he will recruit his army of billions who will come against the Holy City and Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:7-10) where they will be supernaturally destroyed.  This is the last battle of the End Times.

The Great White Throne Judgment is still pending at this point.  It will happen after the Final Battle and after Satan has been thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and his False Prophet await their leader.  The Great White Throne Judgment is God's final act in dealing with all non-believers.

From that point on -- it is the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem -- and eternal life with Jesus Christ, in the eternal presence of God the Father.

Then, you tell me, "Bill, your interpretation of the 'Rapture' is based on 1 Thess. 4. That passage teaches that both the righteous living and the 'dead in Christ' will be 'caught up together...in the clouds' and will 'ever be with the Lord.'"

That is almost true. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

This tells us that those who died in Christ, i.e., those Christian believers who have preceded us in death -- their bodies are still in the grave, but, upon death, their spirits went directly to be with the Lord -- will be raised first in the Rapture. Then, those of us who are still alive will follow them in being Raptured. However, we are talking about a very brief time between the two events; say, like the time it takes for a blink of the eye. So, technically, those dead in Christ rise first -- but, in reality, it will all happen so quickly that who can notice the time difference?

Next, you ask a good question -- and, you have answered your own question, "Who does that leave behind for the 'Tribulation'? The only answer to that is that only the unrighteous will be left. That being the case, one has to wonder just who John was writing about in Revelation 7:14: 'And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'"

As we are told in Jeremiah 30:7, the seven year Tribulation is the "Time of Jacob's Trouble or Distress." It is God's time to bring His chosen people, Israel, through the Refiner's Fire -- to separate out the remnant of His people who will believe and receive their Messiah, Jesus Christ. While the Tribulation is primarily for the sake of Israel; many Gentiles in the nations will also believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation.

Who is left after the Rapture? You answered correctly; only the unrighteous, only those who have not received and believed in Jesus Christ. However, there will be two great Revivals happening during the seven year Tribulation. First, there will be those who had knowledge of Jesus Christ, many who actually taught about Jesus Christ -- pastors, priest, Bible teachers, Sunday School teachers, deacons, deaconesses, elders, and many other supposedly mature Christians.

And, still, they never truly believed what they themselves were teaching. Yet, from what they have been teaching, they have knowledge of the Rapture, whether they believed it or not -- and when the Rapture does occur -- they will become instant believers. They will recognize the fallacy of the theology they have been following and teaching -- and, they will repent and become true Christ Followers. This will be the First Great Tribulation Revival.

The second will come from the 144,000 new Jewish Billy Grahams we find in Revelation 7:4, "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel."

These 144,000 zealous evangelists, 12,000 from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel -- will bring in a harvest of souls during the Tribulation unlike any that has ever occurred before this. We are told of this in Revelation 7:9, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands."

This "great multitude" is comprised of those who were saved in the initial First Great Tribulation Revival and those who heard and responded to the teaching of the 144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams. And, can you imagine -- a great multitude, the number so large, that one could not count them? That, my Friend, is one great Soul Harvest.

But, the reason they are standing before the throne of the Lamb, clothed in white robes -- is because, as fast as the 144,000 evangelist could bring them to belief in Jesus Christ -- the Antichrist was killing them, making them Christian martyrs.

These are the same martyrs we find in Revelation 6:9-11, "When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also."

Keep in mind that the book of Revelation does not read chronologically from time A to time Z. This is one of the reasons many folks get confused in studying Revelation. Yet, here, there is some continuity. First, in Revelation 6:9-11 we read of those slain, martyred, for their faith -- and then, in Revelation 7:9-17 we read of them standing before the Lord washed in the blood of the Lamb and clothed in His white robe of righteousness.

These were Left Behind -- but, now are saved and have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Then, you tell me, "If only the unrighteous dead and the unrighteous living were left behind at the 'Rapture' (as you believe), and and if, as you say, 'At the end of the seven year Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth, His Second Coming, where he will judge the nations, the survivors of the Tribulation: non-believers will go to the Lake of Fire, hell -- and believers will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies' -- then how did those allegedly unrighteousun-Raptured survivors of the 'Tribulation' somehow become righteous during the Tribulation?

Would they not, by your reckoning, have received a second chance? They were 'left behind' because they were unrighteous, and presumably in a lost state. Then, after the Tribulation, you assert that some of them were saved. But you also say: 'And, you are also correct that NO ONE gets a second chance. I have stated that so many times that I have lost count.'

Count this: One chance to be saved before the 'Rapture.' Another chance to be saved after the 'Tribulation.' I count two chances."

Once again, a good question which will help us clear up any misunderstandings. When we speak of "not having a second chance" to repent and receive His "free gift" of salvation -- this is referring only to this mortal life. In this life, one has until his last breath to repent and be saved. If, however, that person dies, breathes his last breath in this mortal life, without believing and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord, Master, and Savior -- there is no second chance. This person's eternal fate is sealed.

However, those who are Left Behind at the Rapture have not died, they have not breathed their last breath -- so, just as folks do now, they still have the rest of their mortal life to repent and be saved.

Yet, leaving repentance and salvation until the last moment, until just before that last breath -- is rather like trying to walk up an ice covered hillside wearing leather soled shoes. It is a mighty precarious position in which you could find yourself -- a mighty slippery slope. One never knows when that last breath will come.

That is true for us now. Can you imagine how much worse it will be during the seven year Tribulation -- when folks are being killed left and right -- for no other reason than it pleases the Antichrist? That will be a very precarious time in which to live -- and a very unwise time to put off your repentance and salvation until the last moment.

Beter, my Friend, I pray this clears up any misunderstandings we have about the End Times -- and that it encourages many of our Forum Friends to test what we write by comparing it with Scripture (Acts 17:11). And, I pray that our dialogues will be the catalyst which will bring many more to their own personal study of God's Word.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Is It Unchristian To Support Strict Immigration Laws?

Am I being unChristian when I support stricter immigration laws? No. In no way. For all illegal aliens who want to go home and enter America legally; I will welcome them with open arms.

However, I get very bothered by those who break America's laws by sneaking across our border -- and then march through our cities in protest marches, demanding "Their Rights!" What rights? They are criminals; because they are breaking our immigration laws. The only right they have is a ride back to the border -- and let them or their government pay for the bus fare.

Why am I writing this tonight? Because I just watched the news and saw the massive preparations Los Angeles is having to do to prepare for the Immigration Protest March tomorrow in downtown Los Angeles. Supposedly 100,000 will march to City Hall in protest of Arizona's newly passed Immigration Law. And, tomorrow, the Los Angeles Police Department will have to assign 800 additional police officers as crowd control and protections for these protesters.

So, let's examine the facts: (1) 100,000 marchers, many of whom are illegal aliens, will march in Los Angeles tomorrow, (2) Los Angeles has to spend a bundle of money in preparation for this demonstration, (3) and, the LAPD has to spend a bundle of money to put an extra 800 police officers on the streets of Los Angeles, to protect these illegal aliens. Am I the only one to see that something is wrong with this picture?

Wouldn't that money be spent more productively if given to the Education Department, the Fire Department, and the Police Department to make them more effective?

With all the money being spent today in preparation -- and all the funds it will cost to put an additional 800 officers on the street -- at a time when Los Angeles is having to have lay-offs, having to curtail hiring new officers, having cut backs in funds for education, etc. -- we are spending a fortune to protect those who are guilty of crimes, while they march to protest against our laws which they are guilty of breaking. Isn't this picture out of focus?

It would be much cheaper to replace those LAPD officers with ICE officers from the Immigration Department who could check for legal identification -- and, then have buses waiting to take those without legal papers back to the border crossing.

And, then, the U.S. government can send a bill to Mexico City for reimbursement of the cost of transporting their citizens back to the border. Now, that sounds like a plan to me.

Why am I so irked? Is it because these people are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families -- by coming to America? No, that is the history of America. But, if you recall, those early immigrants from Europe, etc., came through Ellis Island -- they did not swim across the border.

What really irks me is that they come into America illegally, making them criminals -- then, they march in protest against the laws they have broken -- demanding "Their Rights!" -- and tomorrow they will be chanting the motto: "First there was Jim Crow! Now there is Juan Crow!" Forgive me, my Friends, but that is crock of baloney! If I were not a Christian; I might say it a wee bit more strongly.

First of all, this shows either their ignorance of Jim Crow -- or that they are downright lying, attempting to piggyback on the plight of the Africans who were kidnapped and brought to this country.

What is Jim Crow?

"Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-Black laws. It was a way of life. Under Jim Crow, African Americans were relegated to the status of second class citizens." http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm

The blacks in America today are descendants of African blacks who were KIDNAPPED in their own countries and brought to America as slaves to be sold. They are descendants of blacks who, even after being freed, were treated very wrong.

Does anyone know of ANY Mexicans or ANY other Hispanics who were KIDNAPPED and brought into America? I do not. To the best of my knowledge; all 12 to 20 million illegal Hispanics in America came of their own accord, illegally, into America. None were kidnapped and forcibly brought to America.

If I were an African-American, I would be very insulted that these people are trying to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of early African slaves by using their history and their plight -- as leverage to force America to grant amnesty to illegal Hispanics today.

Am I being unChristian in writing this? No.

I have great disdain for the same-sex marriage crowd who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.

I have great disdain for the abortion supporters who wants to use the plight of the African-Americans as their piggy-back ride.

And, I have great disdain for the illegal aliens who want to get a free piggy-back ride on the backs of African-Americans.

Personally, I give Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, and all the Arizona legislatures who stood with her, a really big "ATTA GIRL!" and "ATTA BOY!" for having the courage to do what is right and what is best for America. America needs more politicians like these who will take a stand, even if he face of great adversity -- and do what "We The People" voted them into office to do; what their constituents want to see them do to protect us, our families, our communities, and America. Too few politicians can even remember "We The People" -- much less recall what it means.

This November, in the elections -- let's give them a reminder they will not soon forget.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

Eucharist - or - Communion?

While I do not want to always contend with our Roman Catholic brethren; I do feel that it is good that everyone better understand many of the issues where we disagree. That is my purpose in this dialogue; not to argue with or to prove my Friend, Neal, wrong -- but, so that we all my have a clearer understanding of these Biblical teachings and the related teachings of the liturgical churches. Neal is Episcopalian, not Roman Catholic. Yet, on issues such as we discuss in this dialogue, he leans heavily toward the Roman Catholic side.

If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing God's Word with the world -- until He returns.

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the discussion I began titled "Did Jesus Leave Us Two Ordinances: Baptism And Communion?" -- Beter questions Neal/Aude on the use of the phrase "Words of Institution" which Neal tells us are required to bring about Transubstantiation, i.e, the change of the Eucharist or Communion elements of bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ.

Celebrating the Lord's Supper, i.e., remembering the Last Supper, can be called both Eucharist or Communion; for Eucharist is normally defined as: a Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine. However, most Protestants prefer Communion for two reasons.

First, because when we take the elements of bread and fruit of the vine, juice -- we are remembering our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us -- and, we are in communion, i.e., fellowship, with Him and with like minded Christian believers. We are celebrating His life, death, and resurrection which He did for us. And, we reflect upon our own Christian life and what we can do to be more mature Christ Followers.

The second reason Protestants resist using the word Eucharist is because we relate this to the belief taught in the Roman Catholic and other liturgical churches -- that the elements, upon the prayer of a priest -- becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. To us, the mass and the Eucharist, are sacrificing Him over and over again. When, we know that He died once for all. We are to remember Him; not re-sacrifice Him.

Neal tells Beter, "That is because it is not a sacrament to you, no prayer to the Holy Spirit to come upon the elements and become the living Body and Blood of Christ. To us, it is not a memorial rite, rather a means of gaining grace and forgiveness of sins, we are assured that "He lives in us and we in Him." Not just figuratively, but literally and spiritually. A sacrament is not just an ordinance to us. It is the outward and visible sign of a inner and spiritual grace."

You say that through the priest pronouncing this prayer you call the "Words of Institution" -- the elements become the actual body and blood of Christ -- and then, when you consume Him, He lives within you.

The Bible tells us that He, the Holy Spirit, is within us the moment we become a Christian believer. Ephesians 1:13, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."

At that time, the moment of salvation, Christ sends the Holy Spirit to indwell, reside in, all believers. If God, the Holy Spirit, is already in us -- how can we add more God, Jesus Christ? Either the glass is full or it is empty. If it is full -- you cannot add more. And, with Christian believers -- the glass of God within us is FULL.

Yet, we follow His command, His ordinance, which Jesus Christ left us to do, Communion -- in remembrance of Him. Luke 22:19, "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

Then, Neal tells us, "The bishops long ago decided what was to be in the formulae -- and their assistants, the priests, alongside their assistants and lay assistants, have either licenses or, in the case of deacons (are) ordained to preach and marry and proclaim the Gospel, and priests are given a share of the Holy Spirit's power by laying on of hands by the Bishop who is a latter day apostle."

You say the Bishop is a latter day apostle; yet, I find no mention of latter day apostles in the Bible.

Ephesians 4:11-13, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

Here we see the designation of apostles and prophets which were active in the days of Jesus Christ and in the generation which was of Jesus Christ. An apostle is defined, in Acts 1:21-22, when Peter and the other ten remaining apostles took it upon themselves to elect a twelfth apostle after Judas committed suicide, "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." If a man did not actually walk with Jesus Christ and His apostles -- that man could not be an apostle. No man today can claim to have walked with Jesus and the apostles.

The last true apostle, John, died in Ephesus, about 100 AD. The last prophet, John the Baptist, died while Christ was still in His earthly ministry. This leaves only evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We have in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, the appointment of the overseer, in the King James called the bishop. But, if we are to view this passage and Titus 1:5-9 to mean bishop as you do in the liturgical churches -- then all pastors, i.e, priests should be called bishops. A more common usage of the the Greek word "episkope" is to translate it as elder or pastor. Strong's Concordance defines it as: the office of an elder, the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church.

While many Southern Baptists do ordain deacons; this is not the practice of all Baptist churches; nor even of all Southern Baptist churches. In the Baptist General Conference, i.e., General Baptists, our local churches can have both elders and deacons. Elders are the spiritual leaders of the church. This would include the pastors who, being ordained, can preside at weddings. But, the elders are not ordained. They are chosen from the more mature men of the church and help the pastor or pastors in the spiritual leadership of the local church.

The deacons and deaconesses are the ones who keep the local church running on a daily basis -- caring for the facilities, the needs of church members, making sure that all is done to assure that the worship services go smoothly, etc. In Acts 6, where we read of the twelve apostles of the early church choosing seven mature men to be deacons, we will find the duties of the deacons and deaconesses defined -- to take care of the daily needs of the local church, the local body of believers -- while the apostles, i.e., the elders, devoted themselves to the spiritual needs of the church.

However, in smaller churches, or new church plants -- there may only be elders who will do both tasks. For several years, I was one of three elders in a Baptist General Conference church of less that 100 people; and we assumed the roles of both elder and deacon.

But, nowhere in Scripture do we find latter day apostles, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and popes described, defined, or designated.

Neal, you tell us, "They are under the bishop's rule and allowed to share their sacerdotal power in pronouncing of forgiveness of sins in the name of the Holy Trinity, and of calling down the Holy Spirit to make the bread and wine holy, the continuation of the Last Sacrifice of Our Lord. It is a sacrifice of praise and faith, but He becomes present and we do consume him, unworthy as we are. By that we are assured we are free of all sin we have confessed and for which we are truly sorry and do repent and resolve to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit to avoid further sin."

Have you really read what you have written? The priest can forgive sins? I looked for other sources of this statement and found this:

THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12406a.htm

The Christian law also has necessarily its priesthood to carry out the Divine service, the principal act of which is the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the figure and renewal of that of Calvary. This priesthood has two degrees: the first, total and complete, the second an incomplete participation of the first. The first belongs to the bishop. The bishop is truly a priest (sacerdos), and even a high-priest; he has chief control of the Divine worship (sacrorum antistes), is the president of liturgical meetings; he has the fullness of the priesthood, and administers all the sacraments.

The second degree belongs to the priest (presbyter), who is also a sacerdos, but of the second rank ("secundi sacerdotes" Innocent I ad Eugub.); by his priestly ordination he receives the power to offer sacrifice (i.e. to celebrate the Eucharist), to forgive sins, to bless, to preach, to sanctify, and in a word to fulfill the non-reserved liturgical duties or priestly functions. In the exercise of these functions, however, he is subject to the authority of the bishop to whom he has promised canonical obedience; in certain cases even he requires not only authorization, but real jurisdiction, particularly to forgive sins.

Neal, we have only one High Priest. "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).

And, even the Pharisees knew that "only God can forgive sins." This is one of their accusations against Jesus Christ -- that He claimed to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12). Yet, what they were missing was -- that He is God and can forgive sins. Neither a pastor or priest, nor even the pope, is God and can forgive sins. No man, no human, can forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins. And, we have only ONE Mediator between God and man -- the Man, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

And, you say, "and of calling down the Holy Spirit to make the bread and wine holy, the continuation of the Last Sacrifice of Our Lord."

We are told over and over again, in Scripture that Jesus Christ died once for all. There is not place in Scripture that tells us to "continue the Last Sacrifice of Our Lord."

Romans 6:10, "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Hebrews 7:27, "Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for alll when He offered up Himself."

Hebrews 9:12, "And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

Hebrews 10:10, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

1 Pete 3:18, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."

Yet, you tell us that you "continue the Last Sacrifice of Our Lord." Either the Bible is wrong -- or you are wrong. Which is it?

Finally, you tell us, "It is a reenactment of the first Holy Communion which was on Maundy Thursday, just before He was betrayed and given over to suffering and death."

In essence, you and I agree on this. Yet, I would call it the Last Supper; not the First Communion -- for He had not yet died on the cross. Maundy merely means "command" -- in other words, the command He left us during that Last Supper on the Thursday before He died on the cross on Friday -- that through Communion with Him and other saints, we are to remember Him until He returns.

Neal, what I have shared comes from the Bible -- which is the Sole Authority, the Written Word of God, for all Christian believers. It is our User's Manual to teach us and guide us in all aspects of our Christian life, to teach us that we are to be about the task of bringing the unsaved to Christ for salvation. We need no other authority; we need no other traditions; we need no other rituals. He has given us ALL we need to gain salvation and to help others gain salvation. All we have to do is to accept His "free gift" of salvation -- and be Christ Followers.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

Are Folks Born Gay? - And Do Morals Save Us?

On an open Forum dealing with Christian faith; there are several responses which can always be counted on to come from both the non-believers and our Liberal Christian brethren. First, people are born gay and therefore can live a homosexual lifestyle and still be Christian. Second, and this is a result of the Liberal Social Theology -- a person must be doing "good deeds" to be saved.

In this dialogue, I offer a newcomer, Art, on the TimesDaily Religion Forum reasons why both of these misconceptions are not true. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God, and refuting false teachings, until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the discussion "What's The Difference Between Fat And Gay Pastors?" I wrote, "Okay, start throwing the rocks. But, keep in mind that I am not telling you Bill Gray's word; I am telling you what the Word of God tells us. Take it or leave it; but, in leaving it -- a person is also leaving the God who authored it."

And, our new Forum Friend, ArtVandelay, responded, "I will leave it. You believe in a sky fairy who knows all, yet you refuse to accept reality here on earth. For example, there are people who are born gay. Also, there are non-religious people have have exceptional morals, but you refuse to accept reality. Christians claim to be caring and loving, yet they try and repress entire classes of people, and spew hate in the name of the sky fairy. Yes, I opt for no sky fairy."

Art, my Friend, be careful with your wording -- some folks may start to believe you are one of our old banned Forum Friends trying to sneak back in -- say Fish or Deep. In leaving God, I am not sure if you are declaring yourself to be an atheist, an agnostic, or just a vanilla flavored non-believer who does not want to become a Christian believer because you feel that you will have to give up your desired lifestyle. Which is it?

Yes, for a Christian believer, there has to be accountability to God -- and to your fellow Christ Followers. But, far from that being a burden, it is a blessing -- for along with that accountability goes the promise of Jesus Christ that we have eternal life, eternal security, in Him. That is what you are missing when you opt out of the Christian faith.

You tell me, "For example, there are people who are born gay."

Please give us a URL source showing that a "gay gene" has been found by science.

No, I am not talking about quoting an atheist psychiatrist, or a group of atheist psychiatrists, who declares the gay lifestyle to be normal; but, an actual scientist who declares and has proven that he/she HAS indeed found a "gay gene" and therefore proves beyond all doubt that folks are born gay.

Until then, I will stick to what God tells us in Genesis 1:24-31, the sixth day of Creation, when man is created in His image -- and He declares, "It is very good." On all the other five days of Creation, He only declares His work to be be "good." But, on the sixth day, when He creates man, He declares this work to be "very good."

Now, let's skip on over to Leviticus 18:22 where He declares the homosexual lifestyle to be "an abomination" and to Leviticus 20:13, where He declares the homosexual lifestyle to be "a detestable act."

Then, run on over to Romans 1:26 where He declares this lifestyle to be "unnatural" and in verse 27 where He calls it an "indecent act."

You get my drift. Why would God declare His creation of man to be "very good" -- and then, create some of them to be an abomination, detestable, unnatural, and indecent? Does this make sense? Who are we to believe -- God or the atheist psychiatrists? I will go with God.

Then you tell me, "Also, there are non-religious people (who) have have exceptional morals. . ."

Amen to that! There are many wonderful, exceptionally moral people who are not Christian believers. I have never questioned that. However, when we speak of being a moral person, we are not necessarily speaking of eternal salvation. A person can be very moral -- and still not have eternal salvation. So, the task of every Christian believer is to tell folks that they need Jesus Christ, they need to be born again (John 3:3), they need to, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) -- believe and receive (John 1:12) His "free gift" of eternal salvation.

How do they do this? Glad you asked. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus tells us, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if ANYONE hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."

In this Scripture verse, Jesus Christ is telling all of us that He is standing at the door of our hearts, patiently waiting to be invited to come in and be our personal Lord and Savior. Believe it or not, there are things which Jesus Christ, God, cannot do. He cannot lie, He cannot make a mistake, He cannot change -- and, He cannot open the door of your heart and make you a Christian believer.

YOU have to do this yourself. This is the function of the gift of "free will" which God gave to everyone in His creation. Each of us has the "free will" to choose to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior -- or to deny Him. It is your choice -- but, YOU MUST make that choice for yourself. No one else can make it for you.

So, if YOU will open the door of your heart and invite Him in -- He will come in and dine with you. In the Jewish culture of Jesus' day; to dine with a person was the highest intimacy. One did not dine with just anyone; but, only with those who were very special. So, when YOU open the door and invite Him to come in -- He becomes the most special Person in your life -- your personal Lord and Savior.

Art, that should be our main goal in life; far above just living a moral life. However, if one is a born again Christian believer -- he/she will live a moral life. We call that the "fruit" of our salvation; that we strive to do the things which are pleasing to Jesus Christ. And, He did tell us, in Luke 10:27, to, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

That is all part of being a moral, born again Christian believer. For, we are told in James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." We become a Christian believer by opening the door of our hearts to Jesus Christ -- and then, the "fruit" of that salvation is good works, moral works.

If we do not have the good works, as we are told in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, our works will be revealed and tested by fire -- yet, the Christian believer, even if he has no real works (for we are told in Ephesians 2:8-9 that man is not saved by works, lest he boast) -- that believer is still saved, and has eternal life with God. No, my Friend, works, no matter how good -- cannot save a person.

Here it comes! Like rain surely will fall from a rain cloud! Go ahead and say it, "Okay, Bill, how about all those priest who molested young children? Are they moral?"

No, they are not! And, who says they are Christian believers? Just because a person is a priest; just because a person is a pastor; just because a person is a bishop or an elder -- does NOT make them Christian believers.

In the 1970s, Peter Jenkins and his wife, Barbara, walked across America and wrote the book, "The Road Unseen," about this journey. In the book, Jenkins, then not a Christian believer, came upon a Revival Meeting in Mobile, Alabama. The speaker was James Robison, a pastor from Texas. In this excerpt from the book, Jenkins relates this experience with Robison:

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James wiped his forehead and paced across the platform, "I remember an evangelist who walked up to a man in the congregation one night. The evangelist put his hand on the man's shoulder and asked him if he wanted to become a Christian. The man practically growled at the evangelist, 'I'm a deacon in this church!' And the evangelist calmly said, 'Don't let that stand in your way.'"

As most of the people laughed, he continued, "It's possible to be a deacon, an elder, a steward, a Sunday school teacher, and go to church all your life and not know the Lord."

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A moral Christian believer may, and most often will, slip and fall into sin on occasion. However, if a person does this evil consistently -- it becomes their lifestyle. And, a Christian believer CANNOT live an immoral, indecent, abominable lifestyle. For that is living a lifestyle which God Himself has denounced.

So, Art, my Friend, I pray that you will reconsider your choice of opting out of Christianity. When Jesus Christ was resurrected, this assured that all humans will also be resurrected and live eternal lives -- some to eternal life with God, others to eternal self condemnation with Satan. The choice is yours.

And, my Friend, I pray that you will choose well. The brief life we have on this earth; the brief worldly pleasures and desires we can attain in this life -- are but a mere pittance when compared to our eternal life. Eternity is a very long time. Plan well for it.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Get Your Ticket For The Glory Train!

How often have we gotten involved in a discussion about the days of Creation, the act of the Creation itself, evolution, the End Times, salvation, eternal security, etc.? Often these discussions are begun by seekers who are searching for the truth, while, even if he/she does not know it -- seeking God. But, many times, these issues are raised by atheists and secularists as smoke screens; in their attempts to sell their atheistic religion to those who are seeking or to those who have yet to mature in their knowledge of God's Word -- in an attempt to lure them away from God.

The dialogue below touches on several of these issues. I pray that you will find this informative and that you will share it with your
Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sowing seeds, keep sharing God's Word, keep telling folks the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the discussion "Fundamentalism and Moderates" begun by our atheist Friend, Deep, before his most recent banning from the TimesDaily Religion Forum -- and in a recent resurrection of this discussion by Jeeping; the subject of the days of Creation surfaced. In the course of this discussion, we have tiptoed through the time of the Creation, i.e., billions of years versus thousands of years. Then, someone tossed in the Gap Theory; a Liberal attempt to make God fit science. And, then, in Jeeping's recent revival, on to the actual days of Creation: Lunar days -- or periods of millions of years?

At this point, I suggested:

The Hebrew word for "day" is "yom" or "yohm" -- and the Greek word for "day" is "hemera." The word "day" -- in both Hebrew and Greek combined -- occurs 1741 times in 1541 verses in the KJV Bible. Of those instances, at least 80% or better refer to a lunar day, i.e, a 24 hour day. There are time when day does refer to a period of time; but, the great majority of the time, it refers to a lunar day.

Now, since we all know that God is capable of creating anything He desires in an instant, in the blink of an eye; the fact that He took six lunar days must have a significance.

God created the heavens and the earth, and all within this universe, including us -- in six lunar days and then He rested on the seventh. This is our model -- that we are to work six days and take a day of rest. The same with our domestic animals used for farming, etc. -- word six days and a day of rest.

Land produces more abundantly if it is planted for six years -- and allowed to lay fallow, uncultivated, during the seventh year.

Yes, God is pretty smart. But, He knew that we humans are not so much -- so, He set down guidelines -- both in His workings and in His Written Word, the Bible. All we have to do is to follow Him and His divine guidelines.

And, my Friend, Barbaro, responds, "I think if would be extremely arrogant for any of us, including Bill, to think we have an idea of how, when, and how much time it took, to create the earth.....it hurts my head to even think about it..."

And, Sofa chimes in with, "Science has a very good understanding of this verified through the convergence of multiple lines of evidence including geologic, cosmological, astronomical, molecular, radiometric, and a dozen other disciplines. It is simply incredible that we will have people living today in this electronic world that still accept the ramblings of the ancient wise men as literal truth. Bill, God gave us the ability to discern His creation through science. Denying science is to deny His gift to you. Willful ignorance just has to be a sin."

Sofa, my Friend, you have listed a number of fields or disciplines of science; but, the one thing you neglected to tell us is that all of these sciences, and all other sciences -- are subsets of Creation. When "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1) -- that Creation included the complete spectrum of science and all the laws governing the sciences.

You tell us, "It is simply incredible that we will have people living today in this electronic world that still accept the ramblings of the ancient wise men as literal truth."

Not really incredible when one considers that the most Ancient and Wise, the One who authored all the writings in the Bible which you so frivolously denigrate -- is God Himself. Keep in mind that God is omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere present) -- and, that He never has to say, "Oops!" And, this amazing "electronic world" -- guess who gave us the knowledge to create it? Yep! You guess it! GOD!

Then, you tell us, "Bill, God gave us the ability to discern His creation through science. Denying science is to deny His gift to you. Willful ignorance just has to be a sin."

Let's break this down. First, "Bill, God gave us the ability to discern His creation through science."

That is true. But, limiting His Creation to the unfinished fields of science -- is analogous to trying to define the miracle of conception and birth -- by examining the birth control pill.

Then, "Denying science is to deny His gift to you."

Who is denying science? We are merely putting science in its proper perspective, a subset of Creation. I have spent my entire adult working life in the computer field. I began working on computers when they were built from vacuum tubes. If you do not know what a vacuum tube is; ask your grandparents or some other mature person. I worked on and with computers through the vacuum tube era, the transistor era, the integrated circuit era, the VLSI (very large scale integrated circuit) era -- I was teaching seminars and courses on microcomputers before there were such things as PCs (personal computers) and Apples/MACs.

So, I would say that the world of science has been good to me -- and I have great respect for science -- and enjoy studying it. And, I thank God for all the science breakthroughs He has given us.

With all that said -- yes, the Creation was six lunar (24 hours) days -- and God rested on the seventh. If you will go back and study Genesis you will notice that for each of the six days of Creation, each always ends with, "And there was evening and there was morning, the Xth day." But, for the seventh day, this does not occur. Why? Do you suppose it is because we are still in God's day of rest -- and will be until He has finished His intended purpose -- that of bringing all who will, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ; into eternal fellowship with Himself.

I am counted in that eternal fellowship. Are you? As long as your are still breathing on this earth -- it is not to late to accept your "free" ticket on that Glory Train. After you last breath here; your eternal destination is set in concrete. God never has to say, "Oops!" -- but, after this life, He will never say, "Try again!"

But, let me emphasize one more time; we are not saved by what we believe about the Creation; nor how many years we believe it took God to accomplish His masterpiece. We are not saved by what we believe about the End Times, nor how we view baptism, etc.

We are saved -- by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- plus NOTHING else (Ephesians 2:8-9). All the other issues we can discuss, we can debate -- but, we should be willing to occasionally agree to disagree. We should NEVER allow these issues to become divisive among Christian believers.

I will end by saying that Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" -- is the foundation stone of our Bible. If this is not true; how can we believe anything else in the Bible? And, that is exactly why the atheists will fight so hard to disprove the act of Creation.

And, John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1) -- is the foundation stone of our Christian faith. If this is not true, if Jesus Christ is not deity, if Jesus Christ is not God -- then none of us have a hope. And, that is exactly why the atheists will fight so hard to deny God and to deny Jesus Christ. This is Satan's futile attempt to defeat Christ.

To close the Biblical parenthetical declaration -- we have Revelation 22:13, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." and in Revelation 22:20, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

So, my Friends, let's discuss all the Biblical issues; let's enjoy occasionally butting heads over issues; let's present our positions and allow others to present theirs; let's agree or refute those positions -- for these type discussions, which I liken to a good Bible study, will help us all grow and mature in our knowledge of God's Word. But, let us never allow these discussions to become divisive among Christian brothers and sisters. And, let's encourage our non-believing Friends to join our discussions -- for we never know which small seed may grow into eternal salvation for just one more person.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

The Seasons Of Our Lives! - Revisited

In 2005, I wrote and posted the article below on the Sheffield High School Class of 1955 50th Reunion web site.  And, now in 2010, I am posting it on our Bill & Dory Gray Christian Ministries Blog site.   Coming upon it today, it seems appropriate to share with all my Friends - for we all are in a season of our lives.

For some of my youthful Friends, it is still Spring.  For others, maybe Summer is in full bloom. Or you may find yourself enjoying a relaxing Fall with the cool breezes, awesome colors of nature all around, maybe frequent strolls on the beach hand in hand with your life-mate. 

But, Winter is coming and we all must be sure we are prepared for this rewarding season of our lives.  With those thoughts, please allow me to share these thoughts with you.

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  THE SEASONS OF OUR LIVES

When we think of the seasons:
Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter  We can relate these to seasons of our lives.
However, I probably have a somewhat different perspective on that association than many people. My wife, Dory, often asks me, "When are you going to grow up?"  And, I always reply, "God willing - never."

Spring is when the young buds begin to sprout, tender and fragile.  But, nurtured and loved, those young buds soon burst into a beautiful, colorful life of joy.  That was us, the Class of 55, in the early 1950s at Sheffield High School - young, full of life, bursting out in youthful enthusiasm, ready to take on life with all our being.

Yes, I see Spring as a time when the new warmth puts life into our spirits and a spring into our steps.  Spring fever is not a myth; it is that time of year when we want to feel, to experience, to enjoy, to burst forth.

I recall a Spring day in 1953, sitting beneath that large old Oak tree on the lawn at Sheffield High School, feeling the sun warming my soul.  My friend, Roy Green, joined me under the tree and was also afflicted by Spring fever.  One of us suggested that a swim in the Tennessee River was a much better way to spend such a beautiful day, than sitting in stuffy classrooms.  So, off we go in Roy's car, park on Montgomery Avenue, then with inner tube in hand, we walked down to Whippoorwill Hollow on the Sheffield side of the Tennessee River.  What a glorious day for a swim.

Being in high spirits, the decision to swim the river was a natural.  On the first leg of the swim, from the Sheffield side to the Florence side, I paddled the inner tube while Roy swam. Then, on the return trip, I swam as Roy paddled in the inner tube.

Everything was fine until I was about thirty yards from the small cove where we had to go ashore at Whippoorwill Hollow.  All of a sudden, no matter how hard I swam, I could not move.  The river currents were too strong.  Looking up, I saw that tiny cove, that narrow beach, and everything beyond that was just sheer cliff.   If I could not swim into that small cove, I would be swept downstream where I would not be able to get out of the river.  I can only say that it must have been God who brought me ashore; for it was not my strength nor my swimming abilities.  Even then, God was there for me, although I did not know Him at that time.

Yet, Roy and I were in the Spring of life.  Small problems such as that possibility of drowning easily pass and are forgotten.   The next day, we were back at Sheffield High without a thought of what could have happened. That is one of the symptoms of youth; the inability to learn from experience.

The Summer of our lives.  We were all building careers, building families, running the race - not always sure where it was taking us.  We were in full bloom.  Watch out world, here we come!

I don't know if, in the 1960s, you saw Anthony Newley's Broadway play "Stop The World, I Want To Get Off."  But, I was fortunate enough to see the original when it was a new hit on Broadway.  And I will never forget it.  Newley's character in this play was initially a young street lad in London, out to woo, win, and seduce all the girls.  He meets a young lady named Evie, the daughter of a leader of industry.  Seeing his golden opportunity, he marries Evie and goes to work for his father-in-law's company.

The play was sort of a comedy; yet it really made you think about life.  It was a comedy, yet it gave a better perspective on life than most dramas ever could.  Newley's character, throughout the play was dressed in a mime costume; but this did not detract from the message.  Periodically, as life's pressures would build too high, Newley would walk to the edge of the stage, look at the audience, and announce in a high pitched voice, "Stop the world. I want to get off!"  Haven't we all felt that way many times?

Initially, when Newley's character went to his father-in-law's office; he had to stretch very high over his head to reach the door knob.  As the play progressed, the lad increased in stature within the company, until eventually the executive office door knob was at his waist level.  He had arrived.

Now, it was time for Dad to retire and Son-in-Law to take over the family business.  Newley's character was exceedingly successful in growing the company into an international giant.  In the meantime, Evie kept having babies - until at one time, he tells her, "If only all of our plants were as productive as you!"

Newley's character becomes a world leader in industry; rubbing shoulders with world leaders, presidents, prime ministers, the top of the world.  And, as he traveled around the world, he continued to meet and woo women in every country.  In the play, each female conquest in the various countries was always played by the same girl who played his wife, Evie - which lent an ironic twist to his affairs.  He was looking all over the world for love; yet, each time he found it, it looked just like Evie.   Life is often that way.

Then, came the Autumn of their lives.  He and Evie retire to a rich resort island, lived the life of luxury.  Then Evie dies.  That is when he walked out to center stage, with a pathetic, defeated look.  In spite of the vast material wealth he had gained, you knew his life was empty.  That is when he sang the beautiful song "What Kind Of Fool Am I?"


WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?
Words & Music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newly

What kind of fool am I, who never fell in love?
It seems that I'm the only one that I have been thinking of.
What kind of man is this? An empty shell,
A lonely cell in which an empty heart must dwell.

What kind of lips are these, that lied with ev'ry kiss,
That whispered empty words of love, and left me alone like this?
Why can't I fall in love, like any other man,
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.

What kind of clown am I? What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away this mask of play and live my life?
Why can't I fall in love, like any other man,
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.
Although it was in the 1960s when I saw this play during its Broadway debut, and later saw it in Hollywood with Joel Grey playing the lead - I have never forgotten the impact this play, and especially this song, had on me.

I knew that the good life I was living in California and in my travels - the exciting career, the night life, and the parties - were just like Newley's character in "Stop The World."  Playing the clown and never finding true value in life.

However, God stepped in.  Actually, He had a beautiful Filipina lady named Dory step in, under His guidance.  And my life has never been the same since.  Praise the Lord!

Now, we are all in the Autumn of life - and to me, this is an exciting time.  Gone is the youthful, mindless Spring of life; gone is the hot, often disastrous Summer of life.  And now, we can walk in the cool shade of the Autumn of our lives.  We can actually take the time to stop, to see, and to smell the roses; we can stare in awe at God's gorgeous display of colors as we watch the flowers bloom, the trees become many colors.  Life is in full display all around us.

And, because it is Autumn, it is cool and pleasant to walk among and enjoy all of His wonders.  We are in the best season of our lives.  And I pray that you are enjoying your Autumn.  For that is His plan, laid out from time eternal, that you will have an exciting, exhilarating, wonderful Autumn of life.

Winter will come.  But I know that you have given thought to that and have realized that Winter need not be an ending.  It can be the beginning of a new, eternal season with Him. Winter is not a season to fear - if you have stored up your treasures with Him.  Have you done this?

If not, don't you think it is time to really consider your relationship with Jesus Christ?  For He is your promise of an eternal season.   Don't allow your Autumn to turn to Winter, without being sure of your relationship with Him. 

It is never too late - unless you allow Winter to take you before you truly know Jesus.   If you are not absolutely sure that you have that saving relationship with Him, that you have His assurance of your salvation - then, I urge you, no, I beg you - take the time to seek and find Him now, today.

Throughout all of these years, I have been privileged and thrilled to be your classmate, a part of the Sheffield High School Class of 1955.  I look forward to seeing all of you at our 55TH CLASS REUNION in 2010. 

This time, God willing, I will be there - and so will you.

God bless, Bill

The Passover/Resurrection Connection

Today, as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- I would like to share the HFT Connect eNewsletter below from David Hocking's Bible Teaching Ministry -- HOPE FOR TODAY. David is one of the more knowledgeable of our Protestant leaders on End Time Events (Eschatology) and the Jewish religion and culture; and how the two are intertwined.

God told Abraham, and through him, us:

Genesis 12:1-2, Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;'"

That nation toward which God was leading Abraham and his descendants -- is the nation of Israel. And, although it is small, Israel, with the grace of God, is a powerful nation. The miracles which have occurred in their march to independence and sovereignty since 1948 can only be attributed to the hand of God.

Americans and our leaders would be well advised to pay heed to God promise in Genesis 12:3, "And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

That blessing for "all the families of the earth" is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- the promised Messiah.

Let us pray that our current national leaders will stop working so hard to bless the oil producing Arab nations -- and remember that Israel is the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, the Israelis, by God Himself. And, God has made it abundantly clear that if we, America, curse Israel -- He will curse us.

Many years ago, in our Fil-Am Church of Irvine, we had guests from Jews For Jesus, a Messianic Christian organization, come to our service and explain the Seder to us and how we, as Christian believers, can relate this Jewish celebration to our celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Today, on this blessed Resurrection Day, it is good for us to look at how our Jewish friends celebrate their Passover and the relationship between the two. These two web sites will give you a better understanding of that relationship:

The Messianic Israel Alliance:
http://www.messianicisrael.com/news/teachings/passover-and-the-resurrection.html?Itemid=39

Have You Met The Jewish Jesus:
http://www.jewishjesus.org/Article5.html

My Friend, God will bless us as we bless His people, Israel. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing and telling folks that our Savior Lives!

I pray that you and your family have enjoyed a glorious Easter -- as we recall the Resurrection of our Lord.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY!
DAVID HOCKING, HOPE FOR TODAY
HFT Connect, April 4, 2010
http://www.davidhocking.org

Today (all over the world) Christians meet to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Yeshua! Praise God - He is alive and coming again! Last Monday, March 29, was Nisan 14 on the Jewish calendar -the day of Passover. According to Leviticus 23, the Sunday after the week in which Passover begins is the Jewish festival of FIRSTFRUITS which I Corinthians 15 teaches is the celebration of the Messiah's resurrection!

Tonight, David & Carole will be celebrating the Passover with friends and the family of Shuvah Yisrael Messianic Congregation in Irvine, California, where our good friend, Larry Feldman, is the congregational leader and Bible teacher. Hundreds will gather this evening at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine to celebrate this wonderful event!

Here is a brief outline of a Messianic Passover taken from the following passages: Exodus 12:1-20; Leviticus 23:4-8; Deuteronomy 16:1-8

The word "Haggadah" is Hebrew for "story" or "narrative" or "showing forth." Add the meal, and it is called the "Seder" which means "order."

Here are the items on the Seder plate:

Karpas - parsley - used for "dipping." It reminds us of the arrival of spring when new growth begins. The Passover marks the end of slavery, but the beginning of a new of freedom, both physically and spiritually.

Zeroa - shank bone of a lamb - reminds us of the central theme of sacrifice in the celebration of the Passover.

Moror - bitter herbs - reminds us of the bitterness of slavery under the Egyptians, but also of the bitterness of life without true freedom and redemption.

Charoset - sweet mixture of nuts, apples, and wine - reminds us of the mortar used in building in Egypt - the sweet taste reminds us of God's kindness which makes slavery easier to bear.

Chazeret - horseradish - used for the second "dipping"

Betazag - roasted egg - symbol of a "Festival Offering" offered in the temple on each of the three required festivals to attend - Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Also called the "Chaggigah" - also a symbol of mourning over the loss of the two temples.

THE FOUR CUPS OF WINE - Exodus 6:6-7

1. The Cup of Sanctification (Thanksgiving) - "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians"

2. The Cup of Judgment (Plagues) - "I will rid you out of their bondage"

3. The Cup of Redemption (Blessing) - "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments"

4. The Cup of Praise - "I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

The meal begins with the "Brechat HaNer" - the blessing of the candles - the lady of the house lights them - reminds us that the Messiah was the Seed of the woman to bring light to the world.

1. The Kiddush - the first cup of sanctification and thanksgiving - everyone drinks of it.

2. The Urchatz - the washing of the hands - probably the place where our Lord washed the disciples' feet - John 13:1-17

3. The Karpas - parsley dipped in small bowl of salt water (represents the tears shed in Egypt and the Red Sea - both of which are salty - everyone eats the parsley dipped in salt water.)

4. The Yachutz - breaking of the middle matzah - symbolizing our Lord's death - being broken for us - matzah is "pierced" and "striped" and "unleavened" - hidden (His burial) and later to appear (resurrection) - afikomen - "dessert"

5. The Maggid - "telling of the story of the Exodus"

6. The Four Questions:
* Why is this night different from all other nights when we can eat regular bread, but on this night - only unleavened bread?
* Why do we eat only bitter herbs?
* Why do we dip two times?
* Why do we recline while we eat?

7. The Makot (slayings) - the cup of plagues. The use of the finger reminds us of the "finger of God" mentioned in Exodus 8:15

8. Zeroa (shank bone) - reminds us that our Messiah is the Lamb of God!

9. Sulchan Orech (dinner is served)

10. Afikomen (Breaking of Bread - after dinner)

11. The third cup - the Cup of Redemption

12. The Cup of Elijah filled & the door opened

13. The fourth cup - The Cup of Praise

And...Jews around the world will say: "NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!"

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NEWS REPORTS:

FORMER OBAMA AIDE NEW HEAD OF AIPAC
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (Arutz Sheva News):

Lee "Rosy" Rosenberg, a jazz recording industry veteran capitalist who accompanied U.S. President Barack Obama on his campaign trip to Israel two years ago, takes over on Sunday as the new President of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Rosenberg also served on the President's national campaign finance committee.

The new AIPAC President hails from Chicago, the home state of President Obama, and also is on first-name terms with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, President Obama's senior advisor.

Steve Rosen, a former 23-year, high-ranking AIPAC official, told the Chicago Tribune, "I don't think AIPAC has made any secret of the reality that his friendship with the President played a role in Rosy's rise. He's a guy who works very hard at fundraising and in the political arena. It was not as if he was plucked out of nowhere. He paid his dues. But I'm sure nobody was blind to the fact that he's from Chicago."

Rosenberg is known as an expert in bringing in big money from powerful people who generally are not outwardly committed to Israel.

AIPAC claims more than 100,000 members and is considered the most powerful Jewish lobby in Washington. It held its annual three-day conference this past week and heard addresses from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Their relationship has been sorely tested recently because of American and Arab opposition to Israel's building for Jews in long-established Jewish neighborhoods in parts of Jerusalem that were resorted to Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967.

"The fact that he and the president have had a relationship helps now," Illinois Democrat Rep. Mike Quigley told the Tribune.

Rosenberg's ventures have included real estate, a music recording company, and high-tech startups and investing in jazz documentaries.

He replaces Michigan-based David Victor, who recently signed an AIPAC letter asking Congress to "demand" that the Obama administration "enforce existing sanctions law and impose crippling new sanctions on Iran."

ISRAEL SEES DRAMATIC CHANGE IN US RELATIONS IN NEAR FUTURE
(Israel Today News)

While Israeli leaders try to downplay the current tension with the US, unnamed officials in Jerusalem acknowledge that Israel's relationship with America is likely to change dramatically for the worse over the course of President Barack Obama's term in office.

In remarks carried by Ha'aretz, Israeli government sources said the recent behavior of Obama and other high-ranking US officials toward Israel points to an imposed peace settlement with the Palestinians and wider Arab world over the next two years.

The sources noted that one of the US demands of Israel to make up for the recent perceived insult of continued Jewish building in Jerusalem was that all final status issues be on the table in upcoming US-brokered indirect peace talks.

If Israel agrees to that demand, it would mean giving the Obama Administration much more influence over the peace terms Israel would have to accept regarding issues such as control of Jerusalem, final borders and the return of so-called "Palestinian refugees."

Israeli officials again warned that Obama's behavior is hardening Palestinian positions and putting genuine peace even further out of reach. They also cautioned that Israeli public trust in America would further wane.

David Hocking
Hope For Today
http://www.davidhocking.org