The editor begins by affirming that Barbados “continues to be a predominantly Christian society” and alludes to evidence of the same in the national anthem. To his or her credit, the editor makes it clear that the church is NOT the building or structure but the people who worship there. For pointing out this, we must thank the editor. Why so? Because not even some church goers understand this!
Ecclesia
So let me elaborate on the editor’s point: the word “church” comes from the Greek word “ecclesia” from which we get the word “ecclesiastical” which means basically “having to do with the church”. Therefore, it is sometimes used as a synonym for “religious” or “clerical” or for “church” itself.
The original meaning of “ecclesia” then is, “the called out ones” which means the people (that have been called out as disciples). It is not the building. The point is very well taken.
Church Response to Covid-19
To be fair to the “church”, early on in the covid-19 pandemic, several ministers did indicate that the church is the people and therefore, continued offering services to those people online with Zoom and other technologies.
One of the reasons why many church goers do not even understand the point made above about the church is because simple things like these get overlooked in church meetings or assemblies because it is assumed that people know. Too many churches are more concerned about “preaching” (which usually means “shouting”) and less about “teaching”.
Most assemblies spend the bulk of their time in helping members, especially new ones, understand WEIGHTIER spiritual matters such as the meaning of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers and the afterlife, to name a few.
Some assemblies also spend time in trying to build a church community and the more resourced assemblies try to help the surrounding communities. I have been a member of such an assembly so I am not speculating or guessing.
The editor devotes a whole paragraph to asking a “barifull” [?] of questions about the response of the church to the covid-19 pandemic. Clearly he or she is not asking about how the church organized for the “continuity of worship” for “services” during the covid-19 pandemic. Rather, the editor seems more concerned about the ESCHATOLOGICAL issues surfaced by the covid-19 pandemic.
Eschatology is “a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind”. This includes teachings about “judgement and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind”. In other words, the editor wants the church’s help in understanding the meaning of covid-19 in the context of the final destiny of mankind!
Pandemic Fears
This is not surprising at all. Sales of bibles escalated especially in the early days of the pandemic. Why? Because most people in Christian societies have already heard, PERHAPS MORE THAN ONCE, that humanity is set to have a rendezvous with the man whom God has appointed to both Judge and Rule the World, Jesus Christ himself. So naturally they thought this was “the end of the world” and got scared!
Perhaps they thought that by buying a Bible, even reading it, that it would “save them”. Now that is very funny! Why not go and buy a book on rocket science and ergo find work at NASA? See how ridiculous and hypocritical this is?
I know you think I am being overly sarcastic but if that is what is necessary to get people to wake up, expect more of the same!
Church’s Work Clear
For years “churches” in this country have been “open” (=not under lock down) and for years “the church” has spent endless effort, time and money trying to bring the gospel to this nation. Every radio station in Barbados carries at least one religious programme every single day of the week. All of these are paid for one way or another. Several carry programmes or “services” on TV. All of these have to be paid for.
All this has been going on, yet on average, church congregations are getting smaller! Now a covid-19 pandemic hits and suddenly everybody wants the church to be open and to “rise to the occasion!” To do what, exactly? Console people who have put their faith in “the government” or in “horses and chariots” or their job? I know I am sounding harsh but hold onto your seahorses for a minute because I am going somewhere with this!
Christian Society?
Let’s cycle back to the beginning, dear editor. What do you and Barbadians mean by the expression; “Barbados is a predominantly Christian society”? I challenge you to respond on this blog.
I can tell you what it CANNOT mean! I CANNOT mean that this is a society of people who have heard the gospel and responded to it as required, by which I mean, in summary, the following:
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1. Acknowledged that we are sinners
2. Acknowledged that Jesus Christ died for our sins.
3. Acknowledged that Christ’s way is the ONLY way out of God’s judgment on sin.
4. ACCEPTED the sacrificial work on the cross even if you do not understand fully understand all its divine legal (yes legal!) and other ramifications.
5. Submitted to the inner work of the Holy Spirit that begins once you have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Ruler.
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Some people call the above being “born again”. I am not particularly fond of religious clichés but if that helps, so be it.
Great Commission
Dear editor, the message of the above is what the church has been “preaching in season” (=no pandemic) and “out of season” (=in the covid-19 pandemic season). That is its mission given by Jesus Christ himself!
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[Jesus speaking] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19 [New International Version]
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I tell you dear editor, that if we stop preaching this gospel, the very rocks and heavens and the seas will cry out harder (they are crying now) and tell you this message in their own way!
The church is not a social club, although it would appear to be so for some DENOMINATIONS.
Does that mean we do not care about people’s bodies, family life, poverty etc? Absolutely not! The same Jesus who preached “Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” is the same Jesus who healed the sick, cast out demons, feed 5,000 one way and 4,000 another way and still had food left over! Comprehensive ministry, Mr / Ms Editor! Spirit, soul and body!
And that power of provision demonstrated by Christ is what true Christians (I make no apology for that phrase!) experience BECAUSE THEY HAVE OBEYED THE GOSPEL!
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[Jesus speaking Sermon on the Mount]
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 [New Living Translation]
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When people were being laid off in the covid-19 pandemic, my son got a job! Needless to say I reminded him at every opportunity about this provision and how grateful he ought to be. Every day I start out by giving thanks for being on “the wake up list” once again and for all the provision around me. I don’t take it for granted!
If you think we have problems, consider the problems of the people in China, as the evil communist government there unravels under the might of the awesome weapons of the heavens and the gathering military forces of the west whose every existence (including ours in Barbados) the CCP has endangered by unleashing the covid-19 virus! If you are not up to speed on China see my blog entry here:
https://barbadosunderground.net/2020/08/14/the-phartford-files-aliens-among-us-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-1418146.
Media Dropped the Ball
While we are here dear Editor, why has your newspaper not reported on the CCP and its shenanigans vis-a-vis the pandemic? Why are people in Barbados so uninformed about the complicity of the WHO in the cover up and the spread of Covid-19 in the west? Why are the alternative narratives re. the wearing of masks not dilated in the media? Whose job was it that to report these things? I challenge to you to respond to these these charges on this blog so we can freely debate them!
Anyone Christian who is au fait with Bible prophecy can help you understand where covid-19 fits into the overall plan for the human race. But you dropped the ball in NOT reporting all sides of the issue!
Doers not Hearers
No dear editor, what people need to focus on is DOING what the Bible says: “Repent”. That is an action word; it did not say “know” as important as that is. It says: “Repent”. Therein lies the problem of this so-called “Christian society”; it is a hearer of the word and not a doer.
The people in Noah’s day heard him speak about the coming flood. For 120 years! They heard, so they knew! They scoffed and they jeered until the rain started to fall and Noah and his family entered the ark. As they say, the rest is history. That is why Jesus said this prophetically while here on Earth:
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Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17: 26 – 27 [English Standard Version].
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By the way, the remnants of Noah’s ark have been found! I publicized this on the blog many months ago. But here it is again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5jpr5QCCGc&w=560&h=315
Conclusion
I hope this was helpful Ms./Mr. Editor although I have lots more to say on the issues you have raised. But I’ll leave you with this:
If you think the covid-19 pandemic was/is a problem, you may not want to know what is coming next! This is what the church should be proclaiming at this time! And if that is what you are thinking, you are absolutely right!
The Church and Covid-19 is the title of the editorial in this Wednesday’s (mid-week) edition of the Nation Newspaper. I find the editor’s outpouring absolutely fascinating so I could not resist the temptation to respond.
Submitted by Ironside
One thing I will certainly say Barbados is not predominantly Muslim. The author of the article is nit-pricking over the words predominantly Christian. People are free as far as I am concerned to exercise their faith anyhow they want.
@David
The video link to the report om Noah’s ark is missing Mr. Blogmaster
@ Ironside
You have me more confused than the Nation ‘s Wednesday Editorial. Is Barbados a Christian Society or not? Use your definition of Christian and give us your opinion.
Here is the editorial.
@ Ironsides
Definition of Christianity ✝️
New International Version
Definition
The Christian faith is the experience of living in a dynamic and new personal relationship with God through the transforming and indwelling power of Jesus in your body and life. The key to this new experience of living, and its essential factor, is trusting God to make you into a new person by allowing him to place the Spirit on behalf of Jesus, his Son, into your mind and body where Jesus (really Jesus, the Spirit, and God, the Father) can do their work to give you a new life.
An example of such a new experience of living
Imagine that your heart has become so weak that you are no longer able to live with any dynamic energy. You can’t do any work. You can’t really enjoy any of the benefits of living. You feel crushed by the challenges of each day. You can no longer effectively fight infections in your body, even with the help of pills. Your basic desire is to escape this state of deadness by sleeping all of the time as your bodily functions stop working or you induce that process by drugs. Your doctors tell you that you need a heart transplant in order to experience a new quality of living. And they have a new heart that is in “perfect” shape that they can place within your body where its power can restore all of your basic vital signs of healthy living. Your doctors want you to have the new heart. The donor of the heart knew in love that this organ, this gift, would dynamically change your life. The heart has been donated and is ready to be placed in your body. All that you need to do is to allow the transplant to be made, to allow the new heart to be placed in your body, to trust your doctors and the donor of your heart enough to go through the process of “dying” when your weak heart is removed so that the new strong perfectly healthy heart can be planted into your body where it can give you a new experience of living. When you “surrender” to the surgery, trusting the doctors and the donor who already trust the process and the organ, the transplant is made, and your body accepts the new powerful working presence of the new heart within you. And you awake from your ordeal, including the surgery, as a new person.
The nature of your spiritual heart
All of the “evil” desires and emotions that “ defile” a person, according to Jesus, come from “the heart” (Mark 7:21 & 15). These desires are replaced by the divine power of God’s Spirit that gives the redeemed and regenerated individual new power that can express desires and emotions that are in keeping with God’s heart rather than a person’s “dead” heart. Solomon, the wise king of Israel and the author of Proverbs, teaches the importance of this process in his instruction to “Keep you heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Paul acknowledges this importance of one’s spiritual “heart” in his teaching that “ if you … believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved … For with the heart one believes and is justified.” (Romans 10:9-10) Hannah, an Israelite woman who lived during the period of time when these people of God were being led by Judges and priests, acknowledged the importance of her spiritual “heart” in her words of prayer and praise as she said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord,” as she prayed for the Lord’s blessing upon his people. (1 Samuel 2:1) After her prayer, “a man of God” came to Eli, the Judge, and told him that the Lord would “‘raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.’“ (1 Sam. 2:35) This individual was Samuel, who served the Lord as a mighty “prophet”. The great prophet of Israel, Isaiah, declares that it is the intention of the “Holy” God “to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15) David, after his sin with Bathsheba, prayed for such a blessing from God in his appeal to have have God “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Apparently God did this for David, because the prophet Ahijah testified that God had praised his “servant David”, because he “followed me with all his heart”. (I Kings 14:8) The great prophet, Ezekiel, announces to the people of Israel that God will perform such a basic transformation in his people as he says, “you shall be clean from all your uncleanesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh….” (Ezekiel 36:25-26) This is the heart transplant that is experienced through God’s gift of his Spirit in his act of justification for the obedient faith of those who are willing to trust God for his forgiving grace and regenerating power in their lives.
Faith is trusting in the goodness of God
After God created the universe with all of its various coordinated systems and the earth with living creatures (including Adam and Eve) with all of the food and resources that they all would need, he “saw all that he had made, and it was very good”. (Genesis 1:31)
He gave man, these human beings that he had created (Adam and Eve), dominion over all of the living creatures that he had made and told them to “take care” of his garden. (Genesis 2:15)
He also gave Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from and to enjoy the trees of the garden that he placed there; but there was one tree whose fruit was forbidden to them, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. (Genesis 2:17) If they ate of it, they would “surely die”. (Genesis 2:17)
So God apparently had given Adam and Eve everything that they needed only requiring from them that they trust him with the exclusive authority and power to determine in their existence what would be GOOD and what would be evil. And so Adam and Eve resided in God’s garden in a personal relationship with God, the creator of everything, and it was GOOD!
Sin breaks the relationship of faithful trust
When Eve and Adam desired this forbidden fruit and decided to eat of it, with the devil’s lying and seductive encouragement, their relationship of faith and trusting submission with God was broken. They didn’t die immediately, but they were expelled from God’s garden and forced to endure pain and hard work to produce their children and their provisions.
Because of this rebellious act of distrust, sin became the inheritance of the entire human race and the relationship of faith that God desired and enjoyed with his human creatures was replaced by separation, struggle, pain, and death. The 3rd chapter of Genesis in the Old Testament contains this report of man’s fall, his rebellion against God’s GOOD will and providential care.
But God in his love didn’t leave humanity alone
The Bible is the record of God’s ongoing efforts to restore this relationship that he intended with his human creatures. It relates over and over again his calls, his invitations, to human beings to trust him, to have faith in his word, and to accept his GOOD gift of grace and his GOOD will.
The record includes the stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the nation of Israel, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph, Jesus, and a group of disciples that included Peter, James, John, Matthew, Mark, Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Timothy and others (see Hebrews chapter 11 for some details regarding this record).
Throughout this record God demonstrates time and time again his loving desire to bless and to care for those who will trust him, who will live in a relationship of faithful submission to his GOOD will and care.
Faith in Jesus brings one back into a GOOD relationship with God
The summary of the gospel, God’s good news is contained in Jesus’ words of instruction and appeal to Nicodemus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
This relationship is restored when a person believes that God offers him/her, even though he/she is a rebellious sinner, the gift of a blessed relationship with him if he/she will have faith in his word and trust him by acknowledging that his Son, Jesus, is Lord, God in human flesh, and in repentance from his/her sinful rebellion accept Jesus’ atoning sacrifice when he was crucified on a cross.
As Jesus began his ministry, he said, “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) When Peter concluded his powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost with a proclamation of the Lordship of Jesus, in response to their question, “what shall we do?”, he replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:36–38) Paul covers this topic of the connection between faith and repentance, belief and obedience, sin and righteousness in Romans chapters 4–8.
God is saying to his sinful human creatures, if you want to live in a GOOD relationship with me, have faith in me, trust me that I can and will bring you back into a joyous and providential relationship with me as you believe upon my Son, Jesus, and accept his sacrifice for your sins.
Like your physician by your bed who is ready to transplant a perfectly healthy heart into your dying body, God offers you his challenging invitation for an amazing personal experience of his loving and GOOD care, by saying in effect, “If you really believe me and trust me or have faith in me, surrender to my surgery and let me give you the heart of Jesus, and I’ll even give you the faith to undergo the process.” But there is a challenging rule that comes into play here. It is this: if you do not trust me enough to accept my invitation, then you will not be able to experence the benefits that you claim to believe that I am offering you. Belief has to be expressed in active faithful obedient surrender or it will not bring you the experience.
But this new dynamic life as a new person with the power of Jesus’ Spirit working within you is not accomplished by keeping a set of divine rules or regularly practicing a series of religious rituals or even believing a creed of theological doctrines. It is surrending in trust to the wisdom and the power and the love of Jesus, the Spirit, and the Father who lives within you.
The GOODness of such faith
Accepting God’s invitation in faith is extremely GOOD. Not only will it deliver you from being separated from God by your sin and death, but it will enable you to live as a forgiven sinner who has been cleansed and renewed by the righteousness of Jesus, God’s Son, and who is able to live with dynamic energy in this world of sickening and deadly forces protected from their harmful effects and ultimately empowered to resist the devil’s lying and seductive words for eternity (see Romans 8:28–39).
Sharing such faith with others in daily demonstrations of trusting God, testifying to the GOODness of his will and the dependability of his promises, can have extensive and everlasting blessings to you and to those with whom you share your faith. The life of “faith” with the Spirit and power of Jesus within you should not be a passive experience in which one just enjoys God’s thrilling blessings. Jesus has work that he wants to accomplish through you as he motivates your desires and empowers the activities of your life. There are hungry men, women, and children that need to be fed and clothed. There are the sick and broken that need to be healed and visited. There are those who are “lost”, perhaps members of your family and friends, who are overwhealmed by the challenges and burdens of living, that need to hear and to see your “witness” regarding what God and Jesus can do when one has “faith” in God’s GOODness and his victorious power. There are your “enemies” that need to be forgiven. God and Jesus need to be glorified by what others see happening in your life as Jesus empowers you to live as a new person of faith on this “battlefield” in which we all live. And they will be glorified as you resist the temptation to be constantly trying to live in accord with your own selfish feable efforts to do what only Jesus can do.
This is what the Christian faith is all about. It is the experience of living in a new relationship of trust and surrender with God through his Son, Jesus, by the indwelling power of the Spirit. And your fundamental Christian ministry is sharing the good news of Jesus’ redemption of sinful humanity. This is why Christianity is not a religion of rules and rituals but rather a life of personal faith in God and a daily walk of surrender and trust in union with him and Jesus.
Are our Christian leaders in compliant as it relates to the definition. King James or New Testament ?????
The pastor said in his ceremony last Sunday, “ God is cleansing the earth “ as he reference COVID. I believe most Christian leaders comments will be similar, if they respond to the subject???
@Vincent Codrington August 21, 2020 9:10 AM
And why are you confused, my brother? Has not Robert Lucas August 21, 2020 6:43 AM answered your question? Let me expand on Lucas, though his “nit-picking criticism” bespeaks a noticeable superficiality.
We could say that Barbados regards itself as a Christian society (1) because there are more Christian churches than mosques, for example (2) because a majority of people are NOT of the Muslim or some other faith (I speak without reference to the last National Census) (3) because the country’s legal/official documents , emblems etc e.g. national anthem, recognize the God of the Bible. It is any and all these. I suspect the the Nation editor is invoking all three of these definitions. He/she should come here and tell us but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that!
Let’s call the first two definitions above “statistical definitions” because they can be determined by a census count. Pretty simple. Such definitions could apply to a Muslim country, Buddhist country etc.
Think about it another way: why did the editor not address these concerns to the Muslim leaders in Barbados?
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Now if we are talking about “practising Christians”, that is a different ball game.
Tony August 21, 2020 11:32 AM has given a description of a practicing Christian, albeit a long one. I posit that someone in a Buddhist country could easily draft an appropriate description of a practising Buddhist; a practising Muslim etc. Are you with me?
But we are straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel (maybe a horse!): what are the real, substantive issues raised by the editor ?
Of lord David! Now we have 2 preachers on BU.
I participated in my church’s zoom services.
At the beginning of the pandemic I determined that I will not go into a church building until January 1, 2023 at earliest.
At the beginning of the pandemic I contacted an administrator of my church, and started to make my standard donation of money to my church for administrative and charitable purposes. Because the church and its work goes on even if my body is not there.
But i int going into no building unless I get carried there, like our brother Owen was carried recently.
Signed
The old lady on the ZR van
P.S. Avoiding Zr’s and all forms of public transportation too. Mostly walking these days.
@Tony August 21, 2020 12:41 PM
The pastor said in his ceremony last Sunday, “ God is cleansing the earth “ as he reference COVID. I believe most Christian leaders comments will be similar, if they respond to the subject???
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Tony, that cleansing is yet to come.
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Rev 21:1 [Contemporary English Version]
I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea.
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I am not a Christian leader but this is what church leaders ought to be teaching about covid-19.
ONE: God used covid-19 to expose the global communist control designs and devilry of the Chinese communist party. Had he not “allowed” it we would have been caught in the grip of the CCP. If you have not done the research or read the article cited in this article do so and come up to speed. No point repeating things here that can easily be verified.
TWO: Covid-19 is a “dry run” for the major diseases that are to be brought upon the earth as laid out in the book of Revelation Ch.16. For reasons which I cannot delve into here , I do not believe that Covid-19 is not one of them but it is certainly one of those general plagues/diseases that have been foretold by Jesus himself in Matt 24. That is yet to come!
THREE: Covid-19 has exposed the collusion of global leaders to control mankind with help from Bill Gates and his quantum dot technology. African nations have awakened to his scheme of testing vaccines there and now he is persona non grata. Think New World Order. If you think the NWO is a conspiracy theory just keep on sleeping. What Christian leaders ought to warn us about is the NWO system for tracking and controlling every human being and everything we do. IT IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN CHINA AND IS POSSIBLE WITH 5G NETWORKS. China has 1/3 of the worlds’ population. It it can work there, it can work anywhere. Look up the controversy surrounding HUAWEI.
FOUR: According to the Scripture, after the NWO comes God’s MWO: Millennial World Order. See Revelations Ch. 20 -21. Never heard MWO taught in church right? I AM GLAD THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BUILDING! . The thousand year MWO and beyond is the hope of all Christians who understand God’s master plan for His kingdom on earth. Church leaders do not teach this because their focus is on heaven, not on a cleansed earth (See REV 21:1 cited above) where Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of all Lords as Scripture declares.
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As I said, these are the salient things the Christian church here ought to be teaching at this time. But most are not. Why? Because most church leaders don’t believe in the real de facto rule of Jesus on the earth. Second, many have not and do study prophecy even though a sizeable percentage of the Bible is prophecy. This is part of the great FALLING AWAY in the church So what guidance can they give? What does scripture say to this failure?
+++WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION!+++
Philippians 2:12 Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Correction:
Second, many have not and do NOT study prophecy etc
(Quote):
TWO: Covid-19 is a “dry run” for the major diseases that are to be brought upon the earth as laid out in the book of Revelation Ch.16. For reasons which I cannot delve into here , I do not believe that Covid-19 is not one of them but it is certainly one of those general plagues/diseases that have been foretold by Jesus himself in Matt 24. That is yet to come! (Unquote).
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So what was the 1918 pandemic aka “Spanish Flu” (and not of Chinese origin) which wiped out a large slice of the global human population estimated at that time to be around 2.5 billion compared to the current 7.5 billion; and climbing?
Was it a descendant of the bubonic plague aka “Black Death” which claimed to have wiped out around a third of the entire population of so-called Christian Europe?
Which ‘evil’ nation or pharaoh was responsible for the plague which, allegorically, killed off the first born Egyptians but spared Yahweh’s chosen people through the “blood of the lamb” (and not that of Jesus on the cross) as celebrated by Jews up to this day in the form of the Pesach aka Passover?
Maybe the next existential threat or pandemic plague would be that of global warming as predicted by the same book of eschatological tall tales.
“ For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who revere my name, the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”
@555dubstreet August 21, 2020 5:05 PM
Very enlightening!
@Ironside ” the NWO system for tracking and controlling every human being and everything we do.”
Question for Ironside: Since human beings have clearly not let themselves be controlled by God, why do you feel [notice I did not say think] that human beings will allow themselves to be controlled by other human beings?
Why does an almighty and all knowing God need ‘dry-runs’.
@555dubstreet August 21, 2020 5:05 PM “If they came from West Africa they probably would have been muslims.”
The West African people who were brought to the Caribbean against their will were very likely neither Christians nor Muslims, but perceived God in their own way, a way that was neither Jewish nor Christian nor Muslim.
Wunna know that i am not big on misogynistic Middle Easter religions.
Why wunna feel that God and his prophets has to be perceived as a Middle Eastern man?
Why can’t God be perceived as being a West African woman?
Ironside and his ilk really, really needs to wake up.
I believe that I have been made in God’s image, and I sure int no Middle Eastern man.
@TheOGazerts August 21, 2020 9:37 PM “Why does an almighty and all knowing God need ‘dry-runs’.”
if as first you don’t succeed [in killing all near 8 billion f us] try and try again.
I guess Ironside feels that this applies to God too.
@Ironside “Most assemblies spend the bulk of their time in helping members, especially new ones, understand WEIGHTIER spiritual matters such as the meaning of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers and the afterlife, to name a few.”
Nonsense.
There are no weighty matters in Christianity.
Jesus Christ himself summed it up is a most unweighty way “love God, Love thy neighbor”
Short and sweet.
This CANNOT be refuted.
@Miller August 21, 2020 8:10 PM
++++Maybe the next existential threat or pandemic plague would be that of global warming as predicted by the same book of eschatological tall tales.+++
What you are referring to is Rev 16:8 -9
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Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
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I note your sarcasm but it is not unreasonable to think of this in terms of “global warming”.
+++So what was the 1918 pandemic aka “Spanish Flu” ……. etc+++
Your entry here gives me opportunity to expand on my statement below:
+++For reasons which I cannot delve into here, I do not believe that Covid-19 is not one of them but it is certainly one of those general plagues/diseases that have been foretold by Jesus himself in Matt 24.+++
A little common sense suggests there would have been plagues and diseases since Jesus spoke about them more than 2,000 years ago. The only logical conclusion to draw is that Jesus was speaking about the INTENSITY of these phenomena as we approached “end time”. Most biblical scholars seem to agree on this. So your observations re. bubonic plague etc fit into this historical / conceptual space.
However, if we follow the chronological sequence of events laid out in Revelations, the plague (disease) spoken about in Rev. 16: 2 is a special one. Even a superficial reading of the verse reveals two things:
[[1]] It is a SINGLE plague (as against a set of plagues that Jesus spoke about)
[[2]] It is breaks out on those who have accepted the one world governance/control mechanism (“mark of the beast”) outlined in Rev. 13: 16 – 17. N.B. A quick survey of Revelations will show that the term “beast” is a symbol used to represent a government.
This is one of the things I meant when I said at the end of the article:
+++If you think the covid-19 pandemic was/is a problem, you may not want to know what is coming next!+++
Hope this was helpful.
@Cuhdear Bajan August 21, 2020 9:32 PM
@TheOGazertsAugust 21, 2020 9:37 PM
As an educator I have met your type of abysmal ignorance, superficiality and failure to grasp the subtleties of language in the classroom a million times and passed appropriate judgment on it then. Thankfully I am now happily retired!
In the matter of eternal issues with which we are dealing here and to which the Nation editor seems sensitive, there is only one Judge. According to Scripture, He keeps copious records and we shall all face Him one day.
So like the rich man in the story of Lazarus and Dives, please continue to dine sumptuously on your stupidity….while you have time! It is your God given, sovereign right!
@ Miller
You may want to get your critical teeth into this:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klASLYlchJM&w=560&h=315%5D
Many Africans in America view Islam as the religion of their people from Africa which was commonly practised in West Africa.
Israel means the Children of Jacob and is the name of a tribal family not the place set up in 1948 on captured land.
Original people in the region now called Israel were black Africans but also mixed with people who were brown from Asia and it became an Afroasiatic community. In Asia both the sun and the moon were worshipped as higher sources of the Universe or God. where yin moon was feminine quality of inward contemplation, relaxing, resting, earth, contracting, breathing in, coolness, night and yang sun was masculine quality of outward expansion, space, heat, day, breathing out, activity. Both male and female possess yin and yang energies in balance in healthy minds and bodies.
Seems to me that if Cuhdear Bajan follows Jesus’ summarized instructions she will have plenty of time to enjoy herself. She also has the back up of repentence if she falls a little short sometimes.
I tend not to worry about prophesy. My actions would be the same if I believed it or not. Try to make the world a little better for everyone until….
Because the very Bible says, “No man knoweth the hour…”
When we get into “weightier” matters we tend to become more exclusive.
@ironsides 11:26 p.m.
ThAnks for explaining, but it left me even more puzzled – Why does an almighty and all knowing God need ‘dry-runs’.
Just as idiotic a statement
“God used covid-19 to expose the global communist control designs and devilry of the Chinese communist party”
“Thankfully I am now happily retired!”
We are all thankful of the fact that ‘dry-run’ is ended.
TheO,
There will not be an answer to your question that makes any sense.
Much of the mouthings of overly religious people makes no sense.
Just another sign of the auto-response!
No thought whatsoever as to the illogical nature of the conventional beliefs.
THEO
YOU ARE 100% CORRECT
PROPER PERUSAL OF THE SCRIPTURES INDICATES THAT THE ALMIGHTY AND OMNISCIENT GOD DOES NOT NEED :”DRY RUNS”
RE Just as idiotic a statement
“God used covid-19 to expose the global communist control designs and devilry of the Chinese communist party”
YOU ARE 100% CORRECT ONCE MORE!
CLEARLY ONE CAN DISCERN “the global communist control designs and devilry of the Chinese communist party” WITHOUT COVID 19
COVID 19 IS OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE “BIRTH PANG SIGNS” DETAILED BY JESUS IN HIS PROPHECY IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE OF MATTHEW 24 TO OCCUR BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
WHEREAS THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS PANDEMICS, COVID 19 IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT HAS AFFECTED COMMERCE UNIVERSALLY LIKE NONE BEFORE.
COVID 19 THUS INDICATES THAT THE PROPHESY OF REVELATION 18, WHICH AFFECTS COMMERCE WITHIN AN HOUR WILL INDEED OCCUR, EVEN IF IT DOES NOT DETAIL EXACTLY HOW
COVID 19 IS NOT A DRY RUN, IT IS A MOST INSTRUCTIVE WARNING
@Dr. GP
What does the Bible say about ‘signs and wonders?
HERE IS A GOOD LIST
https://www.openbible.info/topics/signs_and_wonders
THE JEWS WERE GIVEN THE TEST OF A PROPHET EARLY IN THEIR HISTORY IN DEUTERONOMY 18
THEY WERE TAUGHT THAT IF A PROPHET MADE A PREDICTION, AND IT CAME TO PASS SOON THEREAFTER, IT WAS EVIDENCE THAT HE WAS GENUINE.
CONSEQUENTLY THE JEWS TENDED TO LOOK FOR “SIGNS AND WONDERS”
HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO ACCEPT THE “SIGNS AND WONDERS” WROUGHT BY THE LORD JESUS.
RE August 21, 2020 9:45 PM
@Ironside “Most assemblies spend the bulk of their time in helping members, especially new ones, understand WEIGHTIER spiritual matters such as the meaning of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers and the afterlife, to name a few.”
Nonsense.
There are no weighty matters in Christianity.
Jesus Christ himself summed it up is a most unweighty way “love God, Love thy neighbor”
Short and sweet.
This CANNOT be refuted.
NOW IF YOU WANT TO READ RUBBISH BY SOME ONE WHO SEEMS TO “HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENIES THE POWER THEREOF” HERE IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE
WHEN IRONSIDE OPINES THAT “Most assemblies spend the bulk of their time in helping members, especially new ones, understand WEIGHTIER spiritual matters such as the meaning of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers and the afterlife, to name a few.” HE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. AS THIS IS WHAT GOOD BIBLE BELIEVING BIBLE TEACHING CHURCHES DO, ALL AROUND THE WORLD!
HOW CAN CHURCH MEMBERS KNOW, UNLESS THEY ARE TAUGHT, AND TAUGHT PROPERLY HOW TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH” ?
HOW ELSE CAN BELIEVERS :GROW IN GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AS ENJOINED I 2 pETER 3:18, IF THEY ARE NOT TAUGHT?
ARE NOT CHURCH MEMBERS STILL EXPECTED TO CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN THE “APOSTLES DOCTRINE AS TAUGHT IN ACTS 2:42?
DID NOT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAY “I WILL NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT BRETHREN?
ONLY A VERY IGNORANT PERSON WILL SAY THAT “There are no weighty matters in Christianity”
ONLY A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON SAY THAT “love God, Love thy neighbor” IS ALL THERE IS
ONLY A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON DOES NOT KNOW THAT JESUS TAUGHT THAT HIS FOLLOWERS NEED TO DO MUCH MORE THAN THIS JUST READ THE UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE FOR A START.
THIS RUBBISH IS HEREBY REFUTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT SOUND DOCTRINE, AND IT MUST BE CONDEMNED.
MAY GOD DELIVER US FROM THE IGNORANT RELIGIOUS MORONS AND HYPOCRITES THAT APPEAR ON BU, PROFESSING TO KNOW
BY THE WAY WE LEARN FROM ACTS 17 THAT PAUL SPENT 3 WEEKS AT THESSALONIANS. WHEN YOU DILIGENTLY STUDY IST AND 2ND THESSALONIANS, IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT HE TAUGHT VERY IMPORTANT PROPHETIC CONCEPTS, INCLUDING THE RAPTURE, AND THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST.
IRONSIDE HAS CORRECTLY STATED THAT 2/3RDS OF THE SCRIPTURE IS PROPHESY
Ironside, your Response to the Nations Article is very well written. It is very well thought out, it is Properly Structured. However, what the Naysayers missed (those who complain about too many Preachers on BU), is that during times of trouble, God rises up people to give His Voice of Warning about Repentance and the Importance of Repentance. The Imperative Duty that we OWE to our Progeny and Ourselves is this thing called Repentance, if we want to have a Hope of Spiritual and Physical Survival… That is the only thing that can Stay the Hand of the evil one!
https://dailyverses.net/images/en/kjv/xl/2-chronicles-7-14-2.jpg
HERE IS A BRIEF RESPONSE TO SOME VERY STUPID EMOTIVE QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE EDITORS RANT
Q Has the church been on the ball anticipating such a calamity? Did it see the coronavirus coming?
A HOW COULD THE CHURCH SEE the coronavirus coming? Whereas church folk should know that pandemics will be a feature of the birth pang signs predicted in the Olivet discourse, no one can predict, when such events will occur, or their nature or extent.
Q We ask the latter because the church’s leaders, its priests and prophets are supposed to be a step ahead of others in “hearing” from their God and declaring “Thus saith the Lord . . .”.
A CLEARLY THIS EDITOR DOES NOT KNOW THE TEACHING OF 1 PETER 2:9 THAT ALL BELIEVERS ARE PRIESTS But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
sINCE ALL BELIEVERS ARE PRIESTS church’s leaders, its priests and prophets are supposed to be a step ahead of
CLEARLY THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR OUGHT TO BE TAUGHT THE VERY ESSENTIAL AND WEIGHTY MATTER OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER, AND THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER IS NOT DEPENDENT ON A PRIEST AS AN INTERMEDIARY OR MEDIATOR.,
THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR OUGHT TO BE TAUGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT 1 Timothy 2:5 TEACHES THAT ” there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER CAN APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITHOUT A PRIEST
HEBREWS 4:”16 CLEARLY ENJOINS THE NT BELIEVER THUS:”Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
sINCE ALL BELIEVERS ARE PRIESTS church’s leaders, its priests and prophets are NOT supposed to be a step ahead of THE LAITY
IF THE LAITY DOES NOT STUDY, HOW WILL THEY KNOW WHEN THEIR ARE ENGAGING IN MERE MORONIC MOUTHINGS?
WITH RESPECT TO THE CHURCH THE MORONIC EDITOR ASKS …
Have we been even seeing one united voice on tackling the pandemic?
BUT THIS IS NOT THE ROLE OF ”THE CHURCH”
BESIDES PREACHING THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON AS THEY ENGAGE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION OF MATHEEW 28 AND ACTS 1:8, ONE EXPECTS THE CHURCH TO DO AS MENTIONED IN ACTS 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
IF THE LOCAL CHURCH IN BARBADOS HAS DONE THE ABOVE, THEY CAN IGNORE THE RUBBISH EFFLUXED BY THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR.
RE “the church has appeared to be playing catch-up with COVID-19, and like the rest of society, has been “following the science” rather than being a step ahead.
IT BOGGLES THE MIND, WHY THE EDITOR THINKS THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD BE AHEAD OF THE MICROBIOLOGISTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
RE Some readily acquiesced to the Government’s demands;
WHAT SHOULD THE CHURCH HAVE DONE HERE BUT OBEY THE TENETS OF ROMANS 13 THUS?
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good.
SHOULD NOT THE CHURCH HAVE ALSO FOLLOWED THE TENET OF TITUS 3 VERSE 1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
WHY IS THIS OBVIOUS BIBLE ILLITERATE EDITOR SEEKING TO ADVISE AND ADMONISH THE CHURCH, WHEN HE CLEARLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT HOW THE CHURCH SHOULD ACT?
@Ironside August 21, 2020 11:26 PM “@Cuhdear Bajan August 21, 2020 9:32 PM”
“As an educator I have met your type of abysmal ignorance, superficiality and failure to grasp the subtleties of language in the classroom a million times and passed appropriate judgment on it then.”
Whatever!!
When I was studying English at an excellent university my teacher’s thought that I was able “to grasp the subtleties of language” “and passed appropriate judgement” on me, generally A;s and B’s. LOL!!!.
Thankfully I am now happily retired!
@555dubstreet August 22, 2020 5:11 AM “Many Africans in America view Islam as the religion of their people.”
But I am not American.
Who told me so?
The American themselves makes it clear that I am NOT one of them, so why do I have to share their religious beliefs?
Since humanity originated in Africa, clearly religious also originated in Africa.
Judiasm, Christianity and Islam are all new kids on the block.
Africans knew and worshipped God hundreds of thousands of years before Abraham, Jesus or Mohammed were born.
Africans don’t have to, and should not follow any Middle Eastern religion.
This CANNOT be refuted.
Wunna really feel that Africans were waiting for Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed to be born before knowing God?
To believe that nonsense is the most rediculos, most disrespectful thing I have ever heard.
@GP August 22, 2020 11:16 AM “ONLY A VERY IGNORANT PERSON WILL SAY THAT “There are no weighty matters in Christianity” ONLY A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON SAY THAT “love God, Love thy neighbor” IS ALL THERE IS.”
It was Jesus that said so, not me.
If you and Ironside have a problem with Jesus’ summarising then you have to raise it with him, not with me, because i am “A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON.” Aabysmal ignorant, superficial person who and fails to grasp the subtleties of language.” Maybe appallingly ignorant too.
Jesus also said except ye become as a little child, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Children too are ignorant and naive, abysmally ignorant, superficial, and fail to grasp the subtleties of language. Ask Ironside, he was a teacher and he would know how children are, especially the duncy ones like me. Or even ask me, I have been”parenting since I was 8, so I know children well.
If you have a problem with Jesus’s summarising of the Scriptures as “love God, and love thy neighbour” raise it with Jesus, OK. Because he said it first, not me.
Now lemme go and work in my garden.
Lotta, lotta people want to complicate up Christianity, SOLELY because they want to have power over others.
Stupssseee!!!
Love God.
Love your neighbor. And don’t go calling your neighbor Shitbama, OK.
That’s it.
If I have a choice between Jesus; and ironside+GP.
I choose Jesus any day.
And if it irks Ironside+GP
I remind them that they have no authority over me.
Africans have now adopted and followed Christianity 49% and Islam 42% and Judaism (such as Ethiopian and Sephardi Jews, the Falasha are believed to be lost tribe of Dan). Indigenous native ethnic religions believe in afterlife, spirit worlds and ancestor worship and also evolved with views of other religions such as hinduism.
I am old enough to remember that at the beginning of the HIV/AID epidemic there were those people who felt that a just loving, and all wise God was punishing male homosexuals [but somehow not female homosexuals. Why?] for their sexual activities. But then “God started to punish” hemophiliacs, newborn babies, li’l children who went to the dentist, and middle aged men, like one of my BCC classmates whose father was one of the first to die in Barbados after surgery/blood transfusion, and respectable married women (whose husbands were unknown to them horner men). And soon it seemed that God was vex and determined to punish all of us who ever dared to enjoy sex, to go to the dentist, to marry, to have necessary surgery, to be born…
A completely unreasonable, completely unjust God.
Or our abysmally ignorant understanding of God.
RE If you have a problem with Jesus’s summarising of the Scriptures as “love God, and love thy neighbour” raise it with Jesus, OK. Because he said it first, not me.
WHEREAS JESUS DID SAY love God, and love thy neighbour”
JESUS DID NOT ANYWHERE SUMMARIZE THE SCRIPTURE AS “love God, and love thy neighbour”
Now lemme go and work in my garden. VERY GOOD IDEA
RE Lotta, lotta people want to complicate up Christianity, SOLELY because they want to have power over others.
SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY STUDY TO SHOW THEMSELVES APPROVED AS IS TAUGHT IN 2 TIM2 2:15 AND CAN EXPLAIN THE WORD WELL. THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO HAVE POWER OVER OTHERS, FOR THEY KNOW BETTER.
RE And don’t go calling your neighbor Shitbama,
SHITBAMA IS NOT MY NEIGHBOUR AND HE IS SHITTY BY NATURE AND ACTIVITY ……..AND IN EVERY RESPECT WAS A VERY FAILED PRESIDENT AND LEADER
I NOW REPEAT WITHOUT OUT APOLOGY ….ONLY A VERY IGNORANT PERSON WILL SAY THAT “There are no weighty matters in Christianity” BECAUSE A SERIOUS STUDY OF SCRIPTURES INDICATE OTHERWISE
ONLY A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON SAYS THAT “love God, Love thy neighbor” IS ALL THERE IS, BECAUSE A SERIOUS STUDY OF SCRIPTURES INDICATE OTHERWISE.”
RE i am “A VERY IGNORANT NAIVE PERSON.” Aabysmal ignorant, superficial person ” Maybe appallingly ignorant too.
WELL I JOHN 1:9 DOES TEACH THAT WE SHOULD CONFESS OUR SINS AND James 5:16 TEACHES TO “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
RE Jesus also said except ye become as a little child, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
NOTE THAT WHAT JESUS ACTUALLY SAID IN MATTHEW 18:3 WAS And said Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
YOU CONVENIENTLY AND IN YOUR ABJECT IGNORANCE YOU OMIT THE KEY PHRASE IN THAT SENTENCE………………………Except ye be converted.
GO FIGURE
AS TAUGHT IN ROMANS 1:22 SEEKING TO SHOW YOUR SELF TO BE WISE YOU INDICATE ONCE MORE THAT YOU ARE SIMPLY A FOOL!
RE If I have a choice between Jesus; and ironside+GP. I choose Jesus any day.
LIKE ME, I AM SURE THAT IRONSIDE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT CHOICE
WHO WANTS TO BE NEAR A STUPID CANTANKEROUS BOASTFUL OLD WOMAN
GOD IS VERY GOOD TO ME. HE HAS GIVEN ME A LOVELY WIFE, WHOM I ADORE
IRONSIDE CAME AND GAVE SOME GOOD SOUND BIBLE TEACHING AND YOU RESPONDED WITH YOUR USUAL RUBBISH TRYING TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE WISE. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD RESPOND AS HE DID.
THE OTHER TWO DEVILS ARE HE IGNORED AS HE PRACTICED THE TENETS OF PROVERBS 26 4& 5 THUS
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Boastful????? Cantankerous??? Old????
Somebody needs a mirror????
Perhaps only men are allowed to be boastful, cantankerous and OLD????
Cuhdear Bajan,
Why don’t you behave yourself and pretend that God did not give you a brain nuh?
Isn’t that what the Bible says you should do?
Be a good little Christian woman now! Let the men teach and you only believe! (And thus they persuade you that they hold the keys to heaven!)
AND THEREBY KEEP FOOLISH WOMEN UNDER THEIR FEET!
STEUPSE!
@Donna August 22, 2020 6:24 PM “Boastful????? Cantankerous??? Old???? Somebody needs a mirror????
Perhaps only men are allowed to be boastful, cantankerous and OLD????”
Donna, ya killin’ me den!!! Lolll!!!
2 hours of vigorous gardening using the fork to tackle some “devil” grass, planted some more butternut squash, half an hour in the sea, a cup of bayleaf tea. 110/78/95.
I am very, very good.
Life is so sweet.
@Donna August 22, 2020 6:34 PM “Cuhdear Bajan, Why don’t you behave yourself and pretend that God did not give you a brain nuh? Isn’t that what the Bible says you should do? Be a good little Christian woman now! Let the men teach and you only believe!”
Not only that, do the donkey physical labour, and put nuff, nuff money in the collection plate, while for thousands of years reserving all of the high paid, high status positions for you knw who.
Stupssseee!!!
@GP August 22, 2020 1:42 PM “LIKE ME, I AM SURE THAT IRONSIDE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT CHOICE
WHO WANTS TO BE NEAR A STUPID CANTANKEROUS BOASTFUL OLD WOMAN. GOD IS VERY GOOD TO ME. HE HAS GIVEN ME A LOVELY WIFE, WHOM I ADORE.”
Take note. Write it down if you must. I have zero interest in you or your wife. If you shut your eyes tomorrow she cannot cross my threshold, and if she shuts her eyes tomorrow you cannot cross my threshold. So wunna can keep one another, and may you both live happily ever after.
She has no authority over me.
And neither do you.
The End.
Donna, last week on another thread Hal the know-it-all Englishman wanted to have me “sectioned”
Fortunately, Hal the know-it-all Englishman has no authority over me, and neither does GP, and neither does what’s ‘is name…Ironside.
They can all get lost.
Stupssseee!!!
NO ONE WANTS AUTHORITY OVER YOU OR TO ENTER YOUR THRESHOLD
I DO HAVE AN AUTHORITY IN THE TEACHING OF THE WORD
IRONSIDE AND I CAME HERE AND RIGHTLY DIVIDED THE WORD OF TRUTH. THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN REQUIRED IN THIS DISCUSSION.
YOU PRESENTED ERROR AND DISPLAYED AN IGNORANCE OF THE VERSES YOU CITED AND I CORRECTED YOU. THAT IS ALL
No, that definitely was not all. True that Cuhdear may have left something out of her quotation but she sure captured the “Spirit” of Jesus commandments.
As for the rest of stuff…. blah blah blah …woman get thee behind me… blah blah blah…all uh wuhnuh non Christians gon burn….. blah blah…all uh wuhnuh homosexuals gon burn…. blah blah blah …..
Proverbs 14:12 teaches simply, but importantly ………..There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Why is the church dead and dying in some places today? Because it has departed from the word.SOUND DOCTRINE IS NOT TAUGHT……JUST the “Spirit” of Jesus commandments.
JESUS ACTUALLY SAID IN MATTHEW 18:3 Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
HE DID NOT SAY except ye become as a little child, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Deuteronomy 4:2,Deuteronomy 12:32,Revelation 22:18 ARE THREE SCRIPTURES THAT TEACH THAT WE ARE NOT TO ADD OR SUBTRACT FROM THE GIVEN WORD OF GOD.
Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Revelation 22:18
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
@ TheOGazerts August 22, 2020 7:04 AM & 7:34 AM
Let me start by apologizing for responding to you in the same “breath” as to Madam Dumbness. I should have explained myself on the assumption that you were asking a genuine question.
This is a genuine apology and not sarcasm because I have been reminded that:
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. [2 Timothy 2:24 New Living Translation]
++++++++++
I took the time look up the term “dry run”, not because I do not know what it means, but because I wanted to double-check if had used the term in-advisedly, notwithstanding the fact that I had included it in inverted commas.
Rightly or wrongly, I expect that people who have more than passing acquaintance with higher education or those who read widely, to know that when you include a phrase in inverted commas, that you are (1) quoting someone, (2) taking liberty with a word for effect or (3) using the term in some pejorative sense.
It is a pity that that broad level of understanding / command of the semantics of the English language is not common place on this blog. But I digress.
According to the Internet, a dry run is “a rehearsal of a performance or procedure before the real one”. The Collins 21 St Century Concise Dictionary (hard copy) defines it as: a rehearsal; practice of firing without live ammunition.
The essence of these meanings is that you are talking about an event that is SIMILAR TO ONE TO COME BUT IS NOT THE REAL THING.
While I agree with GP that: “COVID 19 IS OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE “BIRTH PANG SIGNS”, it is much more than that.
As far as I am aware, for the first time in human history, a (successful!) attempt has been made to control the entire population of the world on the pretext of a pandemic of which there have been several before (see thread with Miller starting here Ironside August 21, 2020 11:06 PM)
Instant global communications technology and global structures such as the WHO made this possible.
So Theo, the “dry run” is not finished yet. You are forgetting that we now have to deal with the issue of vaccinations WHEN they become available. Will Bill Gates get his way (inserting a tracking quantum dot in vaccines?!)
Covid-19 is significant because it mirrors the kind of control that will be in place in the period of the New World Order under THE Anti-Christ. It is a “dry run” because Scripture intimates that the Anti-Christ (yet to come):
++++++++
“….forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. [Rev. 13: 16 – 17. New International Version].
++++++++
I hope you can see the step up from global health control via vaccination to economic control via the “mark of the beast” or more commonly, “the chip”. If all these controls were foisted on the human at once, they would reject then but I willing to bet that when the time comes many people will embrace the NWO control mechanism.
So excuse me if I say that one would have to be very ignorant about who God is, to think that HE needs a dry run about anything! It is WE who need it. I don’t know why I should have had to explain this but unfortunately, you have to do this in a country that is only statistically or nominally Christian, a point I explained earlier. It is a country where people:
“..hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power… [2 Tim 3:5 Good News Translation]
I regard the Nation editor’s article as a serious cry for help so I hope s/he is following this. As I said before, I have more to say on the questions he/he has raised.
So unlike GP, I don’t intend to get side-tracked by Madam Dumbness or her sidekick! The eternal stakes are too high!
AGAIN, COVID 19 IS OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE “BIRTH PANG SIGNS”, IT IS NOT A “DRY RUN:’ OF ANYTHING
WHEREAS COVID 19 “the first time in human history, a (successful!) attempt has been made to control the entire population of the world on the pretext of a pandemic of which there have been several before” AND WHEREAS “:Instant global communications technology and global structures such as the WHO made this possible” GOD IN HEAVEN KNOWS ABOUT IT ALL, AND HAS PERMITTED IT TO HAPPEN AS A WARNING TO MANKIND.
NO ONE HAS TO CARE ABOUT THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND ANTICHRIST, IF THEY KNOW THE LORD AS SAVIOUR, SIMPLY BECAUSE BELIEVERS WILL NOT BE AROUND TO EXPERIENCE THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND ANTICHRIST
2 THESSALONIANS 2 MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST CAN NOT, AND WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
ALL TRUE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WILL RISE AT THE RAPTURE PRIOR TO THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST AND THE TRIBULATION
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COVID AND OTHER PREVIOUS PLAGUES IS THAT THROUGH BAD ADVICE BY WHO AND ORDER MAN LED AGENCIES, GOVERNMENTS HAVE MISMANAGED THEIR ECONOMIES.
THE ECONOMIC HAVOC OF COVID 19 IS MAINLY MAN MADE. HOWEVER THE ECONOMIC HAVOC THAT WILL OCCUR UNIVERSALLY IN THE SPACE OF ONE HOUR AS DESCRIBED IN REVELATION 18 IS CONTROLLED BY GOD ALONE……….AND THERE WILL BE NO “DRY RUN”
COVID IS SIMILAR TO THE OCCURENCE DESCRIBED IN REVELATION 18 IN THAT COMMERCE WILL BE AFFECTED BUT COMMERCE WILL RETURN POST COVID 19
IN THE REVELATION 18 SCENARIO GOD WILL BE IN TOTAL CONTROL AND THIS WILL BE THE TERMINATION OF COMMERCE
YOU COME HERE PONTIFICATING AND QUOTING 2 Timothy 2:24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people THEN YOU ARE RUDE TO EVERYONE.
IN LOFTY TONES YOU STATE” I don’t intend to get side-tracked by Madam Dumbness or her sidekick!”
SINCE YOU OBVIOUSLY THINK THAT Madam Dumbness & her sidekick ARE difficult people WHY ARE YOU NOT KIND TO THEM AND PATIENTLY TEACH THEM AND CORRECT THEIR ERRORS
AFTER ALL, ARE THEY NOT LIKE ALL AS DESCRIBED IN TITUS 3:3?
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
SO THAT THEY MAY PROBABLY BE RECEIPIENTS OF THE BENEFITS OF TITUS 3:4-7
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
WHY NOT PRACTICE THE TENETS OF PROVERBS 26 4& 5 THUS
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
DONNA AND THE OLD WOMAN FROM ST PETER MAY BE DIFFICULT REBELS BUT THEY ARE NOT DEVILS BEYOND REDEMPTION
NOW GO AND STUDY REVELATION 17 &18 AND MASTER THE DEMISE OF THE COSMOS DIABOLICUS
OR WORLD SYSTEM.
@GP
There you go again!
Quite correct! Not a devil at all! You won’t find one person who will tell you anything of the kind.
What I missed most during the Covid shutdown is the neighbours that would pass and shout me. You should hear the sweet names!
Never been called wicked in my life! I love people and I love God.
Everyday at random times I thank God for giving me the strength to reach this point in my life. It just bursts out of me without thinking. I take my early morning walk down by the cliffs and burst out in songs of praise at the beauty of creation.
I don’t need any redemption. I good with my God. My God good with me.
@GP August 24, 2020 2:36 PM
All on this blog entry can check that I never described anyone as being a “devil” (apart from the CCP) or “difficult”. Those are YOUR words; because that is what you think about most people on this blog re. religious matters, anyway. What is your favourite term for their views again: “bovine excreta”?
But, YOU MUST STOP TELLING LIES, SIR! You have been caught red-handed. You do know the commandments, right?
You owe me an apology but I don’t expect you are humble enough to give one. It would be out of character. And regrettable since there are some people who are genuinely looking for answers and as the Nation editor put it a “united voice from religious leaders on that issue”. None of this matters to you, does it? Only your gargantuan ego!
But I like how Donna has taken the opportunity to flatter your ego AFTER describing you in YOUR OWN critical words: Boastful????? Cantankerous??? Old????
So, apart from asking you to stop telling lies, I have nothing else to say to or about you. This is where I take out my ignore powder again because regrettably, we’ve been here before!
RE All on this blog entry can check that I never described anyone as being a “devil” (apart from the CCP) or “difficult”.
NOR DID I SAY THAT YOU DID SO.
I SIMPLY ASSERTED ACCURATELY THAT THESE TWO WOMEN, THOUGH : Boastful Cantankerous & Old AND “difficult”” . WERE NOT DEVILS IN MY OPINION
RE I like how Donna has taken the opportunity to flatter your ego AFTER describing you in YOUR OWN critical words
IF THAT WAS INDEED FLATTERY I GIVE THANKS…AFTER ALL WE ARE ENJOINED TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I AM ACCUSTOMED TO THE TWO OF THEM CUSSING ME, I STILL SAY THAT I DONT THINK THAT THEY ARE DEVILS OR INFIDELS LIKE THE THREE OF THAT ILK THAT POST ON BU
RE I have nothing else to say
YOU OUGHT TO HAVE OMITTED THE WORD “ELSE FROM THAT SENTENCE FOR ACCURACY.
NOW GO AND WORK HARDER AT “RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH”.FOR THERE ARE MANY HOLES IN YOUR ESCHATOLOGY. I RECOMMEND DWIGHT PENTECOSTS TOME “THINGS TO COME”
the Nation editor IS STUPID TO EXPECT a “united voice from religious leaders on (ANY) issue”. DOES AMOS 3:3 NOT ASK REASONABLY “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?:
RE I don’t need any redemption.
WE ALL NEED REDEMPTION. THAT IS WHY JESUS CAME.
WE ALL HAVE THE SIN NATURE AND HAVE SINNED (I JjOHN 1:8 &10) SO WE ALL NEED OUR ADVOCATE OUR PROPITIATION AND THE RIGHTEOUS ONE (I JOHN 2:1-2)
I have already been redeemed.
Ironside who claims that people don’t understand the English labguage,
Where exactly did I flatter GP?????
I speak the truth to him at all times as I see it.
And where did he say that you called me a devil????
🤦🏽♂️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyPNvb16azw
@Ironside August 24th at 12:38 p.m. “…the pretext of a pandemic…”
But the pandemic is real, NOT a pretext.
23,528,652 infected people
810,249 dead people makes it real-real.
@Donna August 24, 2020 3:49 PM “Quite correct! Not a devil at all! You won’t find one person who will tell you anything of the kind. What I missed most during the Covid shutdown is the neighbours that would pass and shout me. You should hear the sweet names! Never been called wicked in my life! I love people and I love God.
@Donna August 24, 2020 4:23 PM “Everyday at random times I thank God for giving me the strength to reach this point in my life. It just bursts out of me without thinking. I take my early morning walk down by the cliffs and burst out in songs of praise at the beauty of creation. I don’t need any redemption. I good with my God. My God good with me.”
I second this.
Except I garden instead of walking on the cliffs. And I don’t miss my neighbors at all. I garden our front some mornings and greet the neighbors as they pass by, and sometimes we take the time to stop and chat. After all we can still chat from 6 feet away.
Not I will leave the two boastful cantankerous, arrogant, old men to quarrel among themselves.
Don’t know why they don’t spend more time hugging up their respective wives, instead of haunting BU morning, noon and night.
@David August 22, 2020 9:11 AM: What does the Bible say about ‘signs and wonders?
@ Nation Editor
Starting from where we are at this point in covid-19 these are the major developments that are prophesied to occur.
DEVELOPMENT 1: The New World Order will be established and brought to fruition. According to Scripture, it will consist of a religious arm and a political arm. These are discussed in synopsis from in Rev: 13. Most Bible scholars agree that the religious arm will be the One World Religion led by the Catholic Church (first beast). The political arm (second beast) will be led by the anti-Christ or “Man of Sin” and it is believed that this political ruler will come out of Europe. The latter statement is based on bible scholars’ analysis of the prophecies in the book of Daniel. If Daniel is read in conjunction with history it will be clear that some of the prophecies there were fulfilled hundreds of years after they were made but some are yet to be fulfilled.
I found the book: History of the World in Christian Perspective by Jerry H. Combie a very easy to read discussion of Bible prophecies and how they were fulfilled. I would recommend that every person, believer and non-believer read of this.
The key activities of these two – one world religious leader (a.k.a false prophet) and the Anti-Christ are covered in Revelations Ch:13.
If you want to know how close we are to a one world religion check out what this current Pope has been saying and has been doing:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj-X8HevNqE&w=560&h=315%5D
The period of the New World Order is also the time where the “mark of the beast” will be instituted:
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All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves, they all had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name.
Rev. 13: 16 -17 [Contemporary English Version]
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That is why I have been at pains to point out covid-19 as a “dry run”. Covid-19 is not over yet and we do not know what conditions will be imposed on taking vaccinations when they are ready. In the meantime you can testify to the fact that we are getting accustomed to being told what to do on an UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL SCALE!
DEVELOPMENT 2: At some time during the reign of this “unholy alliance” between “church” and state, an attempt is going to be made to solve the problem between the Jews and the Palestinians in the Middle East. Neither Trump nor any the US President before him has been able to sole this problem. It is understandable that the One World Ruler will want to solve it.
A seven year agreement will be reached and the Jews will be allowed to rebuild their temple (3rd temple) on the site where now sits the Al Asqua Mosque. That treaty will “hold” for 42 months (3½ years). At the end of that period the anti-Christ or World Ruler, President or whatever you want to call him will visit Israel, go to the rebuilt 3rd temple and declare he is God. That act will trigger the Great Tribulation.
DEVELOPMENT 3: Some where between DEVELOPMENT 1 AND DEVELOPMENT 2 and (as many believe) BEFORE the Great Tribulation there will be an event that we have not mentioned before. In religious terms it is called the “Rapture of the Church”. Believers who are alive and “ready” will be miraculously removed form the Earth in an instant. This is the event that Jesus told his disciples that nobody knows the date of, not even He himself. Only the Father has that date. However, in his discourses He did give a period of time when this might occur. In any event He used the parable of the 10 virgins to make the point about preparation for that departure.
It makes sense that God will remove the church so that it does not experience the wrath that will be poured out on those who accept the false religion and mark of the beast control to which it is tied. This leads to the next development.
DEVELOPMENT 4:
The next development is God expressing His judgment on the One World System. This is taken up in Rev Ch:16 which deals with the seven symbolic bowls of wrath. Judgement is poured out on this system because the people in it would not repent as Rev: 13: 8 – 11 explains:
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Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; YET THEY DID NOT REPENT AND GIVE HIM GLORY.
And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores; YET THEY DID NOT REPENT OF THEIR DEEDS. [Berean Bible Edition]
+++++++
DEVELOPMENT 5:
Jesus returns to earth and sets up the Millennial Kingdom ( I call it Millennial World Order). As the name suggests, this will last for 1,000 years. During this period the Devil will be held in captivity and all that was prophesied of Jesus and to which nominal Christians give assent to every year will come true:
++++++++
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen
Isaiah 9: 6 – 7. [Contemporary English Version]
++++++++
DEVELOPMENT 6: After this 1000 years, the Bible says a mind-boggling thing. The Devil will be released!
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When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore.
Rev. 20: 7 – 8. [New Living Translation]
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At first, I found real difficulty in accepting this: Why would God do such a thing? I pondered on it and questioned God until the answer came:
Even though several generations of people will get 1000 years to see what good and righteous government is all about and experience peace, many will not want to have Jesus rule over them with a “Rod of iron” as Scripture puts it. Such is the rebellious nature of the human heart. Therefore, they will be tested…as in the Garden of Eden! And of course those who side with the Devil will be destroyed.
To appreciate this, we need to realize that God is sovereign (“He can do what He pleases”) but has given man a sovereign will – the power of choice you see being taught to the young on TV. The problem is that if we want to “do our own thing” we will have to create our own world because everything belongs to God.
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The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord
Psalm 24:1 [Christian Standard Bible]
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It is that simple!
Mr Editor I hope this as helpful. Please don’t shoot me ‘cause I am just the messenger!
I think covid 19 has nearly nothing to do with a sort of finish line or end destination. During the bubonic plague people thought with the same end of the world attitude.
If you havent read the lost books of eden, they are a historical record of the story of God, Adam, and Eve,
In those books even Adam thought there was an end of the world but was reproven.
Signed
http://www.welovetheoldestparents.com