The Bible teaches us that when sin entered into the world through Adam, death and suffering became a part of humanity. We live in a fallen world and every one of us faces adversity at times. Financial problems; sickness and disease; death of loved ones. As Christians we are not immune to the troubles of this world.
But as the world around us turns more and more away from God–and hates the One he sent–many think we ain’t seen nothing yet. Christian persecution and murder are rampant in the Middle East and even here in America Christians are being marginalized and facing increased discrimination. How do we spiritually prepare for whatever God allows us to go through in the coming years, personally and as a Church?
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Dave Wager joins us at 9am to discuss his book “Beyond the Resistance: Learning to Face Adversity”. Dave and Silver Birch Ranch are currently going through a time of trial and he will share how God is using these difficult times to show His glory and faithfulness. We will also look at how Nehemiah overcame resistance to obey and glorify God in tough times.
Thanks B!
A question to all……. The apocryphal books, I've never read them, are they important? Should they be studied, are they false, and/or heretical? I've heard so many different views over the years that I just skipped them to be "safe," most of the views I've heard and read are negative. Can you gentlemen enlighten me?
1 & 2 Esdras, and 1 & 2 Maccabees were used by many theologians up until the first half of the 20th century, not as a first source for doctrine, but for historical reference. You'll find some old Authorized Versions (KJV Bibles) to include some apocryphal books. At the very least, the old KJV Bibles with marginal notes made reference to Esdras and Maccabees. The Revised Version of 1880 also includes Esdras and Maccabees in the marginal notes. For example, Matthew 24:15 references Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, as well as a comparison to 1 Maccabees 1:54, which describes the 2nd century BC defilement of the Temple by the Seleucid Greeks.
I, personally, wouldn't bother with the other apocryphal books. You're also not really missing anything if you don't read Esdras and Maccabees, but if you're a history guy, you might enjoy Maccabees. Tobit and Judith are personal stories during the Assyrian captivity. Baruch is a captive in Babylon. But the Lord references Daniel, not Baruch and so we have Daniel as the authoritative word. Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon are supposedly chapters that were omitted from the beginning and end (respectively) of Daniel. They are out of character, though, from the rest of Daniel, so they're not included in the Canon.
As with many books, you should read as much as possible so as to be informed. You absolutely never know who you will encounter along your witnessing journey as unto the Lord and knowing something about the background of these books would be beneficial since they are indirectly tied to our faith (I say indirectly as being confused with being Scripture in some contexts, not that they have any inspired content at all, so don't get concerned here).
I read and read and read as much about the world as possible because knowing the enemy helps to me to be at least ready from a cursory perspective to have at least heard of some of these devices Satan has to mislead man.
I have not read most of the apocryphal books, but I am not opposed to doing it, as long as one knows it is not Scripture….they are perhaps historical at best and mythical at worst.
Thanks for clarification, perhaps reading them from a historical p.o.v. Won't be harmful. Thanks everyone.
Certainly. Even reading purely heretical literature such as the Book of Mormon and the English translation of the Q'ran. How do you think those who develop witnessing tracts to followers of these religions and cults get their information? They have to study what the enemy says.
Excellent point!
Actually what I have found is helpful is to obtain good tracts, read them, then work backward to the literature to see where it supports what the tracts are arguing, biblically, against.
Thanks! I appreciate it immensely!
I would recommend a Westminster KJV study Bible. It is the best of the KJV's according to people I trust. I would stay away from all study Bibles with notes and simply ask the Holy Spirit to teach you per John 14:46 and 1 John 2:27.
I assume you do not mean by your above statement about the H.S. teaching that pastors are not necessary. Care to clarify?
Oh ok, understood…… As for the bible recommendation, any particular?
The NKJV uses the best manuscripts in terms of the Majority Text (N.T.) and Masoretic Text versions (O.T.) and as for a study bible, if you can get a Prophecy Study Bible by LaHaye in NKJV, that would be likely your best bet. I know many think the NASB is the best out there for literal translations, but it is literally based on a less reliable Greek Text (Nestle Aland / Wescott Hort).
The reason I recommend this study bible is that it minimizes a lot of the commentary that colors most study bibles from a reformed theological/Calvinist position which is unsupportable in Scripture.
Additionally, I know some of the pastors who know LaHaye personally and also contributed to the study notes of this bible and they are sound teachers who teach from the original languages.
http://www.amazon.com/LaHaye-Prophecy-Study-Bible…
The NKJV jumps back and forth between the good Greek(TR) and the Alexandrian Greek. It is brilliantly marketed as a new Kjv…but it isn’t. It’s a fraud. There are worse bibles but the fact that they weave the Alexandrian into it and don’t disclose it is troubling. I linked a video at the end of my article that show a few of the undisclosed Alexandrian additions. The fact that, for many years, it had a large witchcraft symbol(the triquetra which is heavily used by wiccans today) on the cover also gives me pause. Those who practice darkness communicate with each other through symbols that most of us wouldn’t even recognize. That’s harder to do now with the Internet…and what do you know! That symbol has been removed….
Ok…so what do you use for a Bible?
Wasn't Kennedy involved with many women? Wasn't his father a mobster who ran alcohol during prohibition? Maybe Mr. Kennedy didn't have an altar to the powers of darkness, but his lifestyle was sorely lacking.
The differences between the Textus Receptus Greek and all of the new Greek manuscripts that use the Alexandrian manuscripts are significant and obvious. Much sound doctrine has been deleted and much false doctrine has been added. There at even places where the new versions say the opposite of what the KJV says. I listed numerous resources for those interested in further study.
Kennedy did live a very sinful life and by no means was a believer – but a few months before his death he gave a speech about how he was going to expose the secret cabal that controls world government and the financial system. He was even going to do away with the fed. I guess he wasn’t aware of the fact that his father was a part of the cabal.and that it elected him. It ended up killing him.
Reagan was a high level Freemason, therefore he was not a believer in the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, I'm in need of a new bible but I want to buy the closest to the original manuscripts, any help and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I read the NKJV, but with all the controversies, I want to make sure I'm buying something proper.
Manny, have you ever considered using an electronic Bible? There are many apps that you can download and use on smart phones, tablets and PCs which offer numerous translations. Olive Tree Bible is a pretty good application which features the benefits of several highlighters, folders, tagging (tagging is great) and note taking. The app is free and some translations are as well. They have many resources available for purchase including Strong’s numbers that makes word searching as easy as clicking a mouse. I have used an “electronic” Bible for a couple of years now and feel much benefited from doing so. However, I still own several hard copies and would not want to be without them.
On my tablet and PC I have the ASV, NASB, KJV, ESV, HCSB and NET. Of those, all except the KJV stem from the Alexandrian Text. The HCSB is the least “formal” and I like reading narratives from it as it helps me get the flow of the story. But the 2 I reference most are the NASB and KJV. The others I use for comparison sake.
BTW the KJV uses the TR which stems from a couple of manuscripts from the Majority Text family but is not the Majority Text. The TR was not called the “received text” until a publisher called it “the text received by all”. I have recently begun to be persuaded by the Majority Text argument (not the KJVO argument). I don’t own a NKJV but may end up getting one. As far as I know the KJV and NKJV are the only common translations to use at least part of the Majority Text.
PS The HCSB was originally planned as a modern language version using the Majority Text but ended up using the Alexandrian Text.
Thanks! I'll look into it today.
I use Logos version 5 and enjoy it immensely, but you still have to be very careful of the resources pushed by Logos, which are mostly reformed in nature and there are prodigious Catholic resources available as well. Remember, companies like Logos are businesses first and have been swayed by movements within Christendom to edit the authors of resources to make them gender neutral, etc…, even to the ignorance of the founder and President of the company.
As with anything, keep your thinking cap on no matter where you get your information, especially when it comes to God's Word.
What controversies?
We must face this adversity with a sword in our hand…the sharp double edged sword of the word: http://followingjesuschrist3.com/2014/12/02/the-w…
…And as I recently discovered the most accurate sword comes out of Antioch, where believers were first called christians: http://followingjesuschrist3.com/2015/10/24/the-b…
Just read your post, excellent. I went to NTEB, they have Ronald Reagan as our greatest president, who happens to have read the KJV, wasn't President Reagan involved with astrology? Or was it Mrs. Reagan only? If it was only her, he as a believer should have reprimanded her and not taken part, if I'm not mistaken he did take part.
Which bible do you recommend? What publisher?
Thank you my friend.
NTEB is a mess. I am no fan of it other than the fact that they do have some solid KJV resources. Reagan was most definitely NOT a believer. All of them can talk the talk but zero have been true followers of Jesus Christ. All lies….
All of our presidents have worshipped darkness…except for Kennedy and that is why he died an early and violent death. Our world is wholly owned and operated by certain folks across the pond…on behalf of satan.
I use a Holman KJV but who really knows. I won't touch anything Zondervan. There is a new video on Brian Moonan's youtube channel about a good KJV publisher, but I haven't watched it yet.
I believe you are walking a very fine line when you can state that one is a believer over another. Are you going by their works? If so, then that would mean you would be measuring your own works as well as to your assurance of belief in Christ, which results in no assurance at all until you die, so then the promises of God are null and void in terms of the Gospel for being the source of assurance of salvation.
Care to elaborate on why you believe you can state one person is a believer over another, absent having interviewed them yourself, or heard someone else interview them and ask whether they have trusted in Christ for their salvation personally?
Additionally, I see you have made a lot of comments about particular bible versions, the Greek manuscripts utilized to support the versions (not sure I saw your thoughts on the Masorectic text of the O.T.), etc…. I agree that some Bibles use a less reliable Greek text than others for translation; however, the differences are rather few and far between when it comes to whether a difference results in a change in doctrines taught by Scripture. We must be careful what we focus on as this can even become a god to us.
One thing is sure…if you are failing at the charge of the mosquito, you will fail at the charge of the elephant. Ensure you are practicing your walk with Christ in the small things so the spiritual habits that will develop will be automatic when the elephant knocks your door down.
Amen brother! It is my sincerest hope that all that come here understand the shortness of time we have left. We have to pray fervently as Jesus did, we must reach the lost, neighbors, friends, family the list is never long enough. We must walk filled with the Holy Spirit, praying incessantly.
Amen! Well said, Manny.
I'm feeling so much at peace, I know in the end God's will, will be done. Man can scheme all he wants, after all is said and done, it's God's universe and He will do as He sees fit. To encourage us, to make us understand the things to come, He gave us Revelation, He showed us ahead of time. I'm not afraid of the tribulation, the man of sin, the mark, or whatever horror is written in Revelation, I'm resting on the promises He gave to His children. God is good, He is gracious beyond description, what more do we need but to trust in Him and in His only begotten Son? The antidote for last days anxiety, sadness, stress and adversity is the bible, now if only more Christians would read it. The bible frames what our world view is to be, knowing that all of this will pass soon enough and no matter what we face He will never leave us, He is our armor, man might take our life, but he cannot touch our souls, which is our true self. Maranatha everyone.
"Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ."
I hear you. There is much peace in knowing that God has it all under control and that we are not appointed to wrath. Praise God, Manny! Thanks for being such an encouragement!
You're very welcome! We have so much to be thankful for! As we see the day approaching we need not fear! Nothing can hurt us! Jesus paid for it all! God bless you!
This is how I'm preparing: getting into The Word, I found a small church group that deals with the word correctly, God promised he will not test you beyond what you can bear, He promised He will provide a way through it, Jesus said to take up His yoke, which is easy. Jesus admonished us not worry about tomorrow as tomorrow has its own worries, He also commanded us to watch so we won't be caught unawares. Jesus said we are worth more than sparrows, and God is always faithful. I don't know how much we as the bride will have to suffer before we are taken from this doomed planet, we might see slight to severe persecution, but I know Jesus said we are not destined for wrath or the hour of testing coming upon this whole world. All we can do is trust God and Jesus and believe what's written in Holy Scripture, no one comes to the Father except through the Son. My admonition to anyone reading this: the time is short, call on Jesus while there's time.