184 Miles of Blood

1600 stadia is about 184 miles, a bit less than the distance from Bass Hollow to Auburn, which Google maps says is 208 miles if you take the short cut. A river of blood from here to Dadeville, AL, where we used to live, is a powerful picture.

What is this river of blood?  Maybe it represents the life force of this world, the world that follows Satan.  

Leviticus 17:14

14 For the life of every creature[a] is its blood: its blood is its life.[b] Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.

In the Revelation vision, the angel harvests the cluster of the earth, and casts it into the winepress of the wrath of God.  The blood is the lifeforce of the clusters being harvested.  The wages of sin is death.  The valley of Hinnon is where the refuse was burned, just out the Dung Gate and into the valley south of the City Jerusalem.  From there the blood would have flowed into the Dead Sea. But the distance does not work.  This is a picture of spiritual dimensions. 

The Harvest of the Earth

Rev 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.

 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.[c]

Yes, it is a picture of spiritual dimensions.  Paul, writing to the believers at Corinth, said that Jesus must reign until all His enemies are put under His feet. Is He treading the winepress?

1 Cor 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Jesus called Satan the father of liars.  "When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies". Perhaps lies are the lifeforce of those who belong to this world. Those who reject the lies and put their trust in Jesus become free from slavery to this world.  And they escape the winepress of the wrath of God.

The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[b] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

You Are of Your Father the Devil

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” 

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

This great picture of the winepress of the wrath of God should give pause to those who are tempted to trust in this world for their life.  This world is still dominated by those who follow the lies of Satan.  Every day Satan's disciples tell us to trust the scientists and experts for our salvation.  These experts are often the same folks who deny the existence of God, and who believe that the socialist collective can save us.  

The record of socialist collective movements are full of brutal slaying.  It is estimated that eight million were murdered in China's Cultural Revolution, but China does not encourage study of this subject. And their persecution of believers continues today.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chinese-christians-told-replace-christ-with-mao-or-lose-government-support-50764

So we need to arm ourselves for the battle between truth and lies. Let us leave the deception of trusting in ourselves behind, and march in the Army of God.  

The Whole Armor of God

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.  

Yes, we need to keep on keeping on, and pray for strength and power over sin.  God's Spirit working in us will help us through the struggle.  And do not be deceived by Satan's lies.  We cannot save ourselves, but we must trust in our Savior, who will trample the liars underfoot.

Back to the Beginning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening#First_Great_Awakening

History has witnessed many attempts to return to first century believer assembly, sometimes calling it a restoration movement.  For example, the Cane Ridge Assembly invited people to come together for prayer and teaching, and to experience the power of God through interacting with His people. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Ridge_Revival

Many decided to give up the institutions that divide believers, and to unite in assembly that determined to use the Bible as the standard for teaching, and to practice the priesthood of the believer, with control vested in the local assemblies.  Over time it was agreed that immersion in water of believers who have repented is the way into the family of God, by the new birth.  John 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement

But differences in opinions and struggles for preeminence prevented the growth of unity.  Different factions developed that demanded particular doctrines for fellowship.  Divisions over music, name, faith only, etc. prevented the development of unity of believers in one body. 

But Jesus wants His followers to be united.  His prayer recorded in the Gospel of John, shows this clearly.  John 17.  In the beginning believers were united by their faith in Jesus, and by the teaching given by the Power of the Holy Spirit.   

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:2  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[b] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[c] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  

So how do we go back to the beginning?  We need to acknowledge that the Old Testament scriptures are important for our knowing God.  He chose Israel to be a sign to all people, a sign of the blessings and cursing of God.  Blessings for faith, and cursing for unbelief.  The message of the Old Testament is that the Messiah is coming, and the Kingdom is coming. And that without faith it is impossible to please God. 

What is faith?  Faith is trusting God.  Faith always requires us to do something.  What we do does not establish faith, but faith produces the action.  Faith alone is a mistaken idea.  All the arguments about baptism not being part of faith come from a misunderstanding of Paul's comment to the Ephesians, 

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We do not save ourselves by good works, but faith includes good works.  Obeying the simple commands of the gospel is part of what real faith is, it is trusting God.  

The Resurrection of Christ

1 Cor 15 Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Paul explained the connection of baptism (immersion in water by faith in Jesus) to being united in Jesus, 

Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

We need to go back to the beginning, for unity in Jesus (Yeshua, the Messiah).

Upside Down

Man hauling firewood on a bicycle in Malawi, Africa. 

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099298602/

Those men who have turned the world upside down!

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Acts17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews[a] were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

The focus of this world is distribution of physical wealth, power, and control.  Satan uses the desire to feel good and look good to focus our interest on temporary things. Satan encourages us to think that our way is the way.  Physical wealth enables selfishness. But true wealth comes from giving. Upside down.

James, brother of Jesus, says that God has chosen the poor as to this world to be rich in faith.  Thus the man riding the bicycle in Malawi has an advantage over the wealthy tycoon when it comes to trusting God.  The rich have a tendency to trust in themselves, while the helpless cry out to God for help.

The Sin of Partiality

James 2:1 My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Our focus on physical wealth is at best misdirected.  Consider the story of Flukey Stokes.  Being buried in a Cadillac with hands stuffed with $100 bills is not a blessing. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flukey_Stokes 

Our greatest blessings are in our family relationships.  First place is our relationship to God in His family.  All spiritual blessings, those that really count, are in Him.

Next, the blessings of the nuclear family are treasured by those of us so blessed.  The liberal movement to destroy the nuclear family and replace it with the community family goes against God's plan.  Hillary's statement that it takes a village to raise children has a dangerous context.  The destruction of the patriarchal structure of family goes against our Judeo-Christian heritage.  Families with no father are the bitter legacy of the Great Society welfare arrangements that penalize families with fathers. Time to wake up. "Woke" is not cool.  

Family is the foundation of our culture as God intended.  Using our own efforts to provide for our own and others is a blessing. Having government take from others and give to me may be a curse, if I lose my desire to do good works. Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  

Those of you who are interested in communal living should study the history of the Kibbutz settlements in Israel.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz

The basic problem with socialism is that human nature is basically selfish.  Once converted to faith in Jesus Christ, and united in His family, communal living might work.  But Satan's brand of worldly socialism is doomed to failure.  As they used to say in the USSR, "We pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_political_jokes  

On the other hand, the blessings that God has planned for His children make the sufferings of this life a small thing.  

Future Glory

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved.

Tribulation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThDwS79HPhs 

From the Princess Bride, "Life is pain!  Highness.  Anyone who says  differently is selling something."

Tribulation is defined as a state of great trouble or suffering.  World War II, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Flu of 1918 were great tribulations. 

The Roman attack and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, AD 70, was great tribulation.  The revolutions in Russia and China were great tribulations. 

Many are wondering out loud if 2020 is a time of great tribulation.  From the porch of our cabin in the Crow Creek Valley, it does not seem so bad.  But what is coming?

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html

Some folks are offended by my talk about life being a battle.  But it is.  Life is a battle between the forces of good and evil.  Life is our proving grounds.  And the main issue is what do I believe about Jesus?  Is He the Messiah, the Son of God?

Wrong thoughts and actions produce pain and suffering.  The human experience is the source of suffering.  There is a way (many ways) that seem right to mankind, but the end of that is the way of death.  Satan promised greatness and delivered death to Eve.  The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life rule our human nature.  We need a savior.  

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html

Yet, despite the evidence of history, many are enamored of the idea that mankind can save him/her self.  Instead of seeking eternal value, some manage to trap themselves in the very limited scope of this life, and refuse to look beyond.  I am offended by all the talk about listening to our experts, the very people who have advanced the mess in which we find ourselves mired. I will listen to people who believe Jesus is Messiah.

I know how blessed we are in this nation.  I have visited the precious people in India, Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh, and even Papua New Guinea.  People who live a primitive life style, by the labor of their hands and caring for one another. All were once trapped in Paganism, but faith in Jesus transforms their lives and helps them to make good decisions, helping each other. When I first visited, many did not know Jesus.  But now faith is growing, and I get many messages from people who now have cell phones.  How times change. Every day I get pictures on messenger of people who have come to believe in Jesus, and are being immersed in water as He commanded, by His authority, and so they are being added to the number of God's family. 

But our own nation is trying to go backward, away from the Judeo- Christian values which have blessed us. Do not be deceived.  Whatever a man sows, he will reap.  Sow the wind and reap the cyclone. If you think this is tribulation, you ain't seen nothin yet.  

17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.[c]

One hundred eighty four miles.   

Unity in Yeshua

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenism#Ancient_apostolic_churches

Efforts to develop unity among believers world wide must struggle with  perceived needs to preserve traditional institutions and existing power structures.  Thus things get bogged down in endless political intrigues, and preservation of self interest.  Cherished institutions prevent a return to the unity of believers that Jesus prayed for in the garden shortly before His death. 

In fact, unity among believers is a difficult proposition, as Paul discovered in his interaction with believers in Corinth.  

Divisions in the Church

1 Cor 3 But I, brothers,[a] could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[b] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you[c] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Yes, believers are the temple of God, living stones built up into a dwelling for God's presence in the Spirit.  One temple. And we are to build up that edifice on the foundation of Jesus the Christ.

From the beginning there were divisions among the followers of Jesus.  There was a big discussion about whether people of other nations, not Jews, should be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses when they became believers in Jesus.  Finally there was a meeting of the Apostles and Elders, at Jerusalem, and a letter was sent out to the churches with instructions regarding keeping the Law. 

Maybe we need to go back to the beginning.  After 70 AD there were no elders and Apostles at Jerusalem.  The gospel went into all the world, expedited by the Roman legal structures and Roman roads, from England to India. 

Constantine attempted to develop some unity based upon the power of the Roman Empire, with councils of church leaders. But differences produced division, and finally the East and West separated. 

It was never intended that the power of world empire, human politics, should be the source of unity for God's people.  The Holy Roman Empire became a scourge against freedom of conscience.  Those persecuted by the political power centered in Rome are the torch of true faith down through the centuries. The history of the Anabaptist is of interest when we discuss unity. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptism

If we are to have a united community of believers, we must agree on fundamental teaching of the scriptures.  There is no unity in diversity.  A fundamental teaching of the Bible is that one who believes in Jesus as the Son of God must repent and be immersed in water because of the believer's faith.  Jesus commanded immersion for believers.  Infants can not believe and repent. 

We need to go back to Jerusalem and encourage Jews to have faith in Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah.  Believing Jews who have faith in Jesus are to be immersed in water, and be added to the Temple of God.   The Temple is not a new structure built of stone, but the House of God built upon the foundation of Yeshua the Messiah. 

This is the house God promised to build when He had the discussion with David about the temple at Jerusalem, speaking through Nathan the Prophet.  

2 Samuel 7  Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’”  

Yeshua today is reigning from the throne of David, and He wants us to bring glory to Him by being united in our faith in Him.  On the day of Pentecost, following the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel went forth from Jerusalem into all the world, inviting believers to unite in God's House. Now we believers are returning to Jerusalem, back to the beginning, to be one in Jesus Christ. Join with us as we go back to the beginning. Together we will build up the House of God upon the foundation of Jesus the Christ. And we will find unity in Him, by the power of His Spirit in us. 

World Community

 What should be the attitude of those who believe and follow Jesus Christ toward the world community?

God so loved the people of the world that He gave His one and only Son to die on the Cross as a sacrifice sufficient to pay the price for the sins of the world community.  But that forgiveness is appropriated individually by faith, not by merit, but by obedient faith in what God has revealed, and what He is doing.

Therefore I must recognize the value of all people, and work to lead them to the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. 

As Jesus told His disciples, 

The Great Commission

Matt 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The modern movement to deny revealed moral values while accepting everyone on the basis of human feelings misses the mark. Jesus Christ never taught the acceptance of sin, but rather told people to stop sinning. And the transforming power of the new birth by faith gives the believer resurrection power. We are given God's Spirit and raised to walk in newness of life.

In that new life, we are instructed to walk with Jesus, and to make a distinction between ourselves and the world community of unbelievers. 

Therefore believers are not called to develop a secular humanist world movement based upon human values and human feelings. Such a movement (that encourages rejection of moral values taught in the Bible) belongs to this world which is passing away.  My citizenship is in the Heavenly Kingdom, with eternal life in glory.

There is conflict between the two movements, between the forces of this world and the Eternal Kingdom.  Therefore the believers in Jesus are instructed to put on the whole armor of God, and to fight the Good Fight. 

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Yes, we are called to repent, to change our minds about how we live. We are to give up self will as our master, and to submit our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, and to His teaching and leading in the Kingdom of Heaven. As Apostle Paul taught King Agrippa, 

Acts 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 

Yes, believers must not participate in the works of darkness promoted by the secular humanist agnostic atheistic world community.  This community spirit leads to destruction.  Giving approval to satanic practices brings harm to society.  Marriage was given for one man to one woman for the purpose of producing children who can become children of God.  The family is the foundation of society.  World movements that destroy the family are not from God. 

Christ Our Advocate

1 John 2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

"Abides forever"!  What a blessed promise.  Human revolutions do not produce eternal value.  God has given us eternal value in Himself, through Jesus Christ, for whosoever will.

The Kingdom of Heaven

 

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Pilate asked a great question.  What is truth??  The answer is that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

No one enters the kingdom of Heaven except through Jesus Christ.  As Jesus told Nicodemus-

You Must Be Born Again

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e]blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you[f] do not receive our testimony.12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h]

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The nations of the earth have been ruled by human power under the influence of Satan, even when nations claimed to be part of the Holy Roman Empire, or part of the great Anglican British Empire.  Or the German Lutheran Princes who fought against the Roman Catholics.  Eight million of the population of Europe was killed in the Thirty Years war.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War

Many of the immigrants who settled North America had a desire to exercise freedom of conscience in matters of religious faith.  When finally the Bill of Rights was adopted in our constitution, the first amendment attempted to guarantee freedom of conscience.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So most of us who support the election of Donald Trump to another term are not promoting him as our religious leader.  He is running for President of the United States, a nation that guarantees religious freedom.  He does not have to pass a religious test, but we are interested in what he proposes to accomplish through another four years of presiding, God willing. He has promised to support the continuation of our Judaeo-Christian heritage, as opposed to the God hating communist movement that has possessed the Democratic Party. 

His promotion of America first is national politics, a recognition that nations are important, and each nation is to look out for their own affairs, while being fair to others. He is getting us out of dangerous world empire meddling which had caused us so much grief and treasure in the last twenty years. 

Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is about all being united in Jesus Christ, and our showing love and concern to all. But Unitarianism has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.  All who are faithful in Jesus Christ have membership in the Eternal Kingdom.  All who refuse faith in Jesus are condemning themselves to Hell.  So we persuade all to come to Jesus, and to His Eternal Kingdom.

It would be good for you to personally consider whether a respect for our traditional values is of more value than allowing the imposition of Godless communist revolution. Study history.  Our nation has been the source of many blessings to others because of our Christian heritage.  Godless communism has brought destruction to every people where it has been instituted by revolution.  It should be plain to all that we are faced with making a choice between Christian values and Godless communism.  

Please ask Jesus to help you decide how you should vote in the upcoming Presidential election.

Return to Eden??

The Garden in Eden

Gen 3:5 When no bush of the field[a] was yet in the land[b] and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist[c] was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 

8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Perhaps a return to Eden is in order for us to move forward with developing useful resources for life on planet Earth.  God placed Adam and Eve in a garden, to care for it and eat from its produce.  

I grew up gardening, and have always had a garden except when I was in school at Auburn. Today there is a great interest in gardening because of survival concerns.  Garden seed and canning supplies are scarce.  I think there may be value in finding ways that people stuck in unproductive situations may move to some place where they can have a garden, and live in a productive community.  Can we have a return to Eden?

Since working on the Ezekiel Project, I have been interested in a developing gardening system using sea water.  Sundrop Farms in Australia has built a huge commercial development. 

https://www.sundropfarms.com/

Thankfully there is no shortage of sea water, and there are many desert areas where sea water green house agricultural production could be located in unpopulated areas.  One such area is in southern California, around the Salton Sea east of Los Angeles.  Other areas include the northern Sahara in Africa, and the Namib dessert in Namibia, Africa.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namib

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia

The Arava south of the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan is probably the best possible location for Seawater Greenhouse production, and has already been done experimentally by Jordan with the Sahara Forrest project.  

https://www.saharaforestproject.com/office-2/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3igiVzqjltQ

The Ezekiel Water Project can provide sea water for the Arava, and would be a great blessing to the region, providing strategic electric power reserve and a deep layer of Med Sea water on top of the existing shrinking Dead Sea. 

There are solutions already known and working for our global climate problems.  There is an opportunity to provide useful lives for people who are trapped in non-productive areas and situations.  Instead of moving people into the suburbs with instant ghettos financed by the government, we should shift our focus to providing encouraging opportunities for life changing community.  

Gardening and community can transform lives.  Eden was a garden.  Why don't we recognize and enjoy the joys of gardening?

Instead of destroying existing civilization structures, it would be more useful to build productive communities that meet the challenges of joyful life.  

But one thing is most needed.  Adam and Eve enjoyed a great relationship with their Creator until they lost it by rebellion.  A joyful community today would need the renewed relationship with God that has been made available through faith in Jesus the Messiah.  God made some garments from the skins of animals to provide clothing for Adam and Eve.  This pictured the covering for our shame provided when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. 

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html

Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.