Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

....tell that to someone accepting the Lord on their death bed....clown.

rich boise Loc: Idaho

Thank you for the kind words. I know there are many differing views on how the "end times" play out, even among people who take the Bible seriously. My long time pastor, from the church I grew up in, always said prophecy is much easier to understand after it is fulfilled. That sure is true! But interestingly he is amillenial in his thinking and I totally disagree on that subject but I still highly respect and admire him. I listen to many different teachers and try to remain open to their ideas. It is very difficult to not look at all teaching through the lenses you wear. I really enjoy listening and evaluating what others say and compare it to the Word to see if I need to fine tune my thinking. Most teachers I have heard have some valid points, often ones that I have not considered. One thing I firmly believe is that scripture is multi-layered. I like to start with the plain sense meaning of what I read. As I have been through the Bible, each time I see new things. That is the most wonderful thing. God is much bigger than I can grasp and it makes sense that His Word would be much bigger than I can grasp. But He encourages us to keep on reading, keep on studying, keep on listening. How many times did Jesus say "he who has ears, let him hear"? I pray the Holy Spirit help us have open ears to hear!

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

Until you have an understanding of what the Bible tells us, you will never have an understanding of people are saying. Yet it seems that folks like your self are only looking to get under others skin. Needless to say from this point on, I will not be responding to any post you place, unless it has a little intelligence behind it.

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

It is always nice to find that people do still try to stay open minded. It is not always an eaasy thing to do. What helps keep me in check, and open to the teachings of others, is simply this. I know that I can not be 100% right all the time, remaining humble makes one wiser than one who puffs them self up. Should we boast of what we think we are, we set our selves up to defend what we think we are. Needless to say this leads a lack of understanding, and an inability to learn.

Ranger7374 Loc: Arizona, 40 miles from the border in the DMZ

Now that is the wises statement I've seen on these topics! I love it! Good Job! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

Thank you for the kind words. Though it is just what I gleamed from Yeshua when he said in Mat. 18:3 that we should become as little children.

Darla Loc: Hobbs, New Mexico

Even on one's death bed, faith requires works.

As you know, being such a wonderful grammar police and all, works does not necessarily mean a physical act. It can be verbal and spiritual. As one is dying, he/she must acknowledge the newly-found faith by confessing, repenting, and ultimately accepting HaShem's gift of salvation.

1Jo 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We must act (works) on our faith by confessing our sins in order to receive the forgiveness necessary.

Acts 2:38 says to repent, again, an action that follows the faith that prompted the repentance.

rich boise Loc: Idaho

I am glad that you added the 3rd sentence and on. Clearly we are saved faith not of works lest any man should boast(Eph 2). The snag comes with our understanding or misunderstanding of the words used. Many will think "works" is something you do (I will add myself to that category). Good works specifically. Thinking of works that way it does not work. Most of us would say the thief on the cross could do no works but he was saved. If you count "believing", "repenting", "receiving" as works then you are right because that is what is required.

Darla Loc: Hobbs, New Mexico

Thank you for the affirmation. I was looking for an example, but had forgotten the thief on the cross. You are right, the thief "acknowledged" Yeshua's sacrifice, "confessed" his unworthiness, and accepted the gift of salvation.

Again, thank you for the edification.

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

As I said I would here is why I see Islam as the beast.
First when one looks at Eze. 38 and 39, we find all Muslim nations are named off. Some teach that Magog is Russia, I do not wish to start a debate on that. I have seen their reasoning behind thinking that, yet in the end all we can do wait and see. I do see that Russia has helped Iran with their nuclear program. Yet that has done little to change my thinking.
In Eze. we are given the names, Magog, Persia,Ethiopia,
Libya, gomer, Beth-togarmah, and many others. What we have here to look at is the names given to us. All the nations named were true and living nations at the time. Thay also lived on for many years after. Though their names have changed, the people and the place have not. By looking at maps of the ancient middle east, one can find the nations named. (Keep in mind that any map of that time can not be given full confidants in their accuracy.) What is now Turky, also a nation to the north of Israel, was once the lands of, Gomer, and Togarmah. Magog would have been in the land that is now Georgia, though that was once a part of Russia it is no longer. Persia as we all know is Iran, Libya and Ethiopia still go by the same names. Though some scrip may use the name Phut, rather than Libya.
What stands out here is that in all the nations named, they have one thing in common. They are all Muslim nations. Also today they are ruled by Islam. Even Georgia is a Muslim nation.
Now when looks at what Daniel told us in 9: 26. A ruler will come whose armies will destroy the Temple. As I have stated in another post, many give credit to Titus for this. However when one looks to Josephus, ( know to many as the best historian of his time ) who was there at the time this took place. We find in "The Jewish War" book 6 chapter 4 we find that Titus made a case to leave the Temple intact.
It was burned down on that fateful day, yet is was done by the 10th or the 11th legion, both being made up of Turks, and Persians. They did not wait for any order to do this, they just did it. No one really knows who it was, or why. What we do know, and is backed by history, Muslims destroyed the second Temple. It is theirs to own, and they do so proudly.

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

On that note I feel a need to voice my own understanding. In my studies I have read a book called, "The Letter Writer" It makes an attempt to help us understand Paul's writings a little better. As we all know Paul was a Pharisee, what is little known about Paul is that he was from the house of Hillel.
A little background may be in order here. The Mishnah is the book of Rabbinic law. It gives us the arguments of 2 houses. This can seen as 2 family's, though it is understood as being 2 schools of learning. They were the house of Hillel, (Pharisee0 and the house of Shammai, (Sadducee). Both schools had people on the Sanhedrin. It is with this that we know they understood Law, and used a language that was fitting that task.
Paul when he spoke of works, would most likley have mean that one should work to keep the Torah ( or Law) in all that they do in life. He understood that the sacrifices, and keeping the feast were an importent part of ones faith, yet by them self could do nothing to help a person gain eternal life. Yet faith with them is dead. Keep in mind that this is all intended for a person that lives for some time after accepting Yeshua. Just want to make that clear as day.
Ones faith should be based on love, out of love comes obedience. We can not say we are true followers, yet turn around and live a life of sin.

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

There is so much that even todays Christians dont know of thr Bible because they would rather sit and partially listen to someone on tv, of let a pastor read little bits of scripture to you,,,,,,, and no one picks up their Bible to study it in depth themselves.
The whore of babylon sit on scarlet. That is the color of roman soldiers capes. Scripture is speaking of Herodius who had john the baptist beheaded. Herodius grmother was Mariame, a judean maccabean princess, and wife of Herod the Great, who slaughtered baby boys hoping one was baby Jesus. Herodius left her husband Herod-philip because he did something wrong and his money was cut off. So Herodius took up with Agrippa, where there was money.

Did any of yoj Christians know this? Yet you sit around and determine that the world is going to end,,,,, even though scripture says World Forever, Amen?

It just makes me sick to listen or read such Biblical Ignorance---
Open up your Bible and start studing and reshearching. After about a year then give your scriptural understandings.

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

Well after spending the last 20 years in study, I would say that I can see a 1/2 truth from the Bible when it is given. As for I feel about the way most tele-evangelists teach, they do seem to read only what fits what they wish to make others believe.
It is clear to me how evr that you have no clue as to the topic. True when we talk of the end of Times, folks like you with little or no understanding think end of the world. Yet when you say something like, "scripture says World Forever, Amen?" you have no backing for it.
The world Yes this world is going to end in time. As witness to this please read, Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
As you will note it states TILL heaven and EARTH pass. Feel free to read this in context with the whole of the Bible, you will find that the statement is what it is.
You may wish to learn something of a person before you lay claim to understanding how they think or what they have done in their lives. You see they may just know a bit more than you think. Or is it that you only wish to seem more intelligent than every one around you? If that is your wish, you may also wish to pick your words with more intelligence.
Now would be a great time for you to back your thinking with true BIBLICAL scripture. After all, it is known that the Bible needs no interpretation. It does a great job of doing so on it's own. Like I said, after 20 years of study, I have a good understanding of it. I also know full well that what you claim can not be backed using scripture. Scarlet is also the color of blood.
Now lets take a look at the passage you are referring to. That would be Rev. 17:4. Yet should one take the time to read that passage in context, they will soon find that the women is not a women as you seem to see it. Religions are often refereed to as a women in the Bible. Case in point, the BRIDE OF YESHUA. This is talking of the church, or any that follow His teaching's, and have faith in Who He is and what He has done.
Next you will find that if you had read this passage, it tells of 7 hills. Yes I know many say this is Rome. Yet they may well have over looked that Mecca also sets atop 7 hills. Please note there are 7 kings talked of in this passage as well. 5 are fallen, ( dead) 1 is, and 1 is not yet.
When the 7th one comes he will continue a short time.
Now as for the women, On her forehead we find, "Mystery Babylon the great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth."
Just who was it that fits this? Nimrod maybe? After all he was the father of abominations. He married his mom, and from that we were given an unholy trinity. You see she claimed that her son from Nimrod was the son of god, she was the mother of god, in that the child was a reincarnation of the father. This would make her the mother of abominations. If one was to follow the blood line of Nimrod, they will soon come to what is now called the Arab people.
Now let us back up just a bit in this same chapter. We find that the nations of the earth will agree to give their kingdoms to the beast. In other words they will turn over the rule of their nations to this beast. It may well be that this beast is the United Nations. Once more we are looking at a Muslim run entity. One that will soon become leader of the new world order, or a one world government.
As you said, study. Things are not always so cut and dry when looking at prophecy. One must know what they are looking at. It is clear to me that you may have something to offer, how ever you have chosen a bad way to start off. Sit back and learn something, in your attempt to disrupt, you simply lead to something you had no idea was coming. That being a truth you can not talk around. If you try, keep in mind I will be looking for scripture to back it up. If you can not lead and end with true scripture, and drop the speculation, please do not post.
Also, like dummy if your post is along this line, you will not even be a by line in any of mine.

Ranger7374 Loc: Arizona, 40 miles from the border in the DMZ

The story of Nimrod is interesting.... I am curious however, could it be that Nimrod was the father of the Greek Gods too, for he took on the beliefs of if I am not mistaken the Nephilim or the abominations of the preflood for he found a rock with writings on it, right?

And he used the sorcery written on that tablet or rock and became a giant. I don't know if this is accurate because I am still researching it. But I believe his son may have been Cronis, a Titian that was the father of Zeus. However, he had other children that I believe were also the gods of phoenicia and the amorites, hittites, and philistines, that God told Moses and Joshua to smite and exterminate.

Please confirm, but I believe I'm on the right track. Now, I thought that the Arabs are descendant from Jacob's brother Esau.

rich boise Loc: Idaho

You might read 2nd Peter the third chapter. You might find that things are not as cut and dry as you seem to think.