October 3, 2023

I think we should be carefully setting our course through perilous times, which are growing more ominous daily… The Apostle Paul goes on to advise [admonish] Timothy as follows:

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 tim 3:10-15 nkjv

Of course, the “Holy Scriptures Timothy had been learning from childhood,” were the Hebrew Bible teachings [Torah, Law of Moses], as there was no “New Testament” in those days. Paul also warned Timothy:

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 tim 2:19 nkjv

The world in which we now live, truly is becoming more wicked and morally debased at warp speed, iniquity on steroids… too many people are looking the other way, trying to avoid the “reality” of the insane motives and self-indulgent fleshly pursuits of the culture around us. People are in denial everywhere. I recently heard Steve Quayle say that, today, there are mostly two types of people… one processes our insane culture’s trajectory downward, and chooses to look back to, and wish for, how things were; the other type processes the same situations and looks ahead to better times, hoping fatally, that they are to come; only a very few realize things for what they really are [as Biblically defined], and they understand Paul’s admonitions to Timothy as noted above. They, and as do I, believe we are in a irreversible decline of moral and responsible social civility, and Godly spiritual order. The “ship,” of once civilized societies, is sinking in sin and godless cesspools of fleshly indulgences, planned and brought about by wicked men with demonically driven intentions… all God fearing believers need to carefully anchor their hearts and minds to the rock Yeshua, the manifested Torah Word, and heed His call to repentance and obedience… following Him is the only way to safe harbor. Misrepresentations of the Torah and real “person” Yeshua/Jesus, (another Jesus; 2 cor 11:3-5) will surely end in shipwreck.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” heb 12:1-3 nkjv

At the end of Yeshua’s Olivet discourse, in the Book of Luke, Yeshua made this sober statement:

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

It is my observation that the “snare,” that He says is coming over all the earth, is in some ways already here, with some already caught up in it… and as the cesspool spins faster, and more hedonistic revelers find its appeal irresistible, much suffering and pain will inflict the victims as the snare entangles them. To repeat the warning…

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Note what He said, “that WILL come to pass.” I think they are now here and growing more dangerous to those who disregard the “snare.”

Shalom, John