Meanwhile, As the World Turns   

   Diplomacy had failed, and a surprise attack from the Western Pacific in 1941 drew America into wars on two continents. 

   Victory in 1945 was exhilarating, but evil was already planning its next move. Allies divided Korea in two - communist and free. In 1950, Kim Jong Un's grandfather, then age 34, persecuted Christians and invaded the free South, aided by two of our WWII "friends." 

   President Trump is on a diplomatic visit to that troubled area. He seeks fair trade agreements everywhere, and wants more pressure on annoying North Korea by his counterparts - not friends - in South Korea and China. 

   This may be our generation's 1941, a moment of truth. The atheistic hermit kingdom must not be allowed to threaten us with nukes, or (irony) share that technology with their religious friends in Iran. Leading from behind, strategic patience and kicking the can were all failing policies. Like him or not, we have a president who works for us in more ways than one.

One Wealthy Swamp
   In Washington, DC, 35 percent of all new mortgages and refinancing so far this year are for more than $500,000. We assume 100 percent of those homes are in the government/lobbyist/lawyer side of town ... the swamp.

   If the swamp is drained, where will those unfortunate residents live?  

😏

Doggone Drug Bust   
   Iditarod - the world famous dog-sled race - has a doping scandal. Four dogs in a team of huskies tested positive for an opioid painkiller after the 1,000-mile race last March. 

   The suspects are impounded. They were unable to post bail, and would not speak with investigators. No other dogs have come forward as witnesses. 

   These huskies did not bite on offers of cat meat in return for confessions and reduced sentences. If they continue their silence, PETA threatens to scuttle future races altogether on the pretense of preventing cruelty to animals. 

      Jimmy 

From Creation to Apocalypse    
All things come to an end, except eternity.    
   
     We hope you found our recent series interesting. If you missed anything, our blogs remain available on this site for many months.   jxdonut.blogspot.com

   What begins also ends. When we accept God's grace, his offer of adoption and sonship, that's a beginning. Next comes spiritual growth. Human death is one ending.

   There is the end of the church on earth, followed by seven years of tribulation, followed by the Second Coming. We believe the "sharp sword" John saw in the vision represents the Lord's voice.

   He spoke the universe into existence, and he will destroy unrepentant people and nations with his voice. He is supernatural, inexplainable, existing in another dimension.

   The Millennium. When we pray, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," this is the fulfillment. 

   John, the last living disciple, received the "apocalypse," English for the Greek word meaning revelation. This conclusion to the New Testament shows God prevailing, saints vindicated, and finally the end of our universe. 

   For those who think Revelation is too difficult to understand, look at this: There are more than 400 verses in Revelation - we counted them - related to much older books in the Bible, either by quotes or agreement in meaning. 

   In his Revelation, God draws from 31 of 39 books in the Old Testament, and 21 of 26 other New Testament books. There is validation on top of validation. It's pretty obvious John couldn't have known all this himself.   

   Yes, a scholar's commentary helps greatly. Reading our Heavenly Father's story from before creation to the new heaven and earth deepens our faith, and puts our lives in better perspective.

   The Bible exists by the Spirit of God, inspiring some 40 authors over 1500 years. The last book agrees with the first. It's not man's wisdom.

      Jimmy

   Beyond the Stars   

 Part 5 

Conclusion

   Revelation 20, speaks of the Millennium, the thousand years in which saints, called ... priests of God ... reign with Christ. 

   It will be an age of peace, safety, prosperity and righteousness. Nature will be restored. There will be order, perfection and beauty, says our commentary. People still will be free to rebel, but there will be consequences!!! 

   Then John sees - Earth and sky fled from his (God's) presence. On a great white throne, God judges the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.

   Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 

   Chapter 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...

   Now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them. The old order of things is passed away. 

   He who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be his God and he will be my son.

   John doesn't mention a back row, nor does he describe anyone as bored.

Chapter 22:

The invitation is open

    The Spirit and the bride say "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 

Are we thirsty? 

Dr. Leutzer

                                          We wrote this series after hearing a sermon 
                                           by Dr. Erwin Leutzer, Moody Church, Chicago. 

   Beyond the Stars   

 Part 4 

   We are there! In the Kingdom! Freely given love and knowledge like we can't here imagine. But, the new heaven and earth is still 1,000 years off. 

   First, the wrath of God must be satisfied. The Lord returns to earth to throw the beast and the false prophet into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. An angel imprisons Satan in the Abyss while the Lord rules earth over a Millennium. We will witness all this, and help rule those still on earth. Can you believe it?  

~

   Revelation 19. John heard - the roar of a great multitude (you and me in the crowd?) in heaven, shouting: Hallelujah!     < louder than a stadium crowd? > 

   Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters 
< louder than Niagara Falls? >   and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 

Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 

   Then John saw heaven open, and - a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. (In Rev. 3, Jesus refers to himself as the faithful and true witness.)

   The armies of heaven (the Father's children, the Son's co-heirs) were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen... 

   The rider has - a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 

   Woe to - kings, generals and mighty men, horses and riders, small and great. An angel seizes the dragon, the ancient serpent (Genesis chapter 3), binding Satan for a thousand years.      Saints - spectators - in the front row? 

Tomorrow:  Conclusion, what comes next?

   Beyond the Stars   

 Part 3 

Will, covenant, ratification   

   God's law, written on tablets of stone, is good. But it's demands result in our condemnation. We cannot obey sufficiently to please him. 

   When we first believe in Christ's atoning death (his ratification of the new covenant), we receive the Holy Spirit. He writes God's law of love on the tablet of our heart (2 Corinthians 4). Only then, we have spiritual power to begin conforming to God's will, starting with love of God and "neighbors."

  

   This is freedom - from condemnation and slavery to the power of sin. It's not liberty to do whatever we choose and rationalize it away.

   We don't sit in the back row and rest. We welcome the Spirit's presence and direction, assisted mainly by the Scriptures. God expects us to overcome our nature and the world's ways; in fact he demands it, as we see in the Revelation. 

   God has an out-of-this-world resurrection for us, in his Son's likeness. His will is that we begin that transformation - growing from birth like any baby - a new creation of character and moral state. We will fully realize our maturity only when we see him. 

   No Spirit, no transformation. With Spirit...

   The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children ... heirs ... co-heirs with Christ, if we share in his suffering in order that we also share in his glory (Romans chapter 8). 

   Suffering? This not trouble-free Utopia. Satan deceives. The Spirit helps us in our weakness ... intercedes for us ... for the saints in accordance with God's will (verse 26). 

   In the New Testament, a saint is one who receives the Son on his terms, remains faithful, trusts and obeys. 

   Revelation 21:7 - He who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be his God and he will be my son. Rev. 3:21 - Jesus told John in his vision, To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with me on my throne...  

   Can you believe it? 

The above is taken from the Bible; this is not the blogger's interpretation.

  Tomorrow: Get ready to cheer ... and mount up!   

     Beyond the Stars     

 Part 2  

Slavery and inheritance

   We all were born slaves. Wow. Paul explains to the Galatians in chapter 4:1-7, ...as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave... So also when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 

Father-Son relationship 

   But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son born of a woman, born under (Mosaic) law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights as sons. < Born again! > Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba - Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son ... and ... God has made you also an heir. 

   The Father and Son - God explains vertical relationship. Males were primary in the old culture. But awesome accounts of women who excelled appear in Hebrew texts as well. The Son died for daughters also.

   Abba is the Aramaic word for father. Jesus spoke Aramaic and used Abba when referring to his Father above. The word suggests warmth, deep emotion, depth of intimacy and confidence. People without loving, teaching, dependable fathers may find this relationship hard to grasp.

Spirit and life

   In Romans chapter 8:12-17, Paul writes, Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature ... For ... you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

  

   Loving sons don't want to disappoint their fathers.

 Tomorrow: A will, and ratification 

   Beyond the Stars   

Part 1 of 5  

 To fellow Christians. Other friends as well.

   We heard a man say he didn't want to go to heaven. He said it would bore him to sit around the throne worshiping God forever and ever. 

   Or, maybe you're like me, at some time or other, hoping to make it into heaven, content to sit in the back row. 

   Is there a back row in heaven? Is it boring up there?

   To follow along, note the following:

*  In God, there is the Father, the Son and the Spirit, all three equally God. 

*  God, who is love, planned his story before he created the universe.

*  Among symbolism he uses to teach us about himself -- the father-son relationship, adoption, inheritance, wills, covenants, ratification, slavery, freedom, life and death. 

   Let's begin with adoption. In the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1:4-5, For he (the Father) chose us in him (the Son) before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. 

   An orphan who has been adopted might appreciate this best of all. Paul didn't believe we are holy and blameless, but that the ransom paid by the blood of the Son - who came to earth in our image to offer eternal life in his image - gives the Father just cause to view us as righteous. Pretty cool. 

 Tomorrow: Slavery, inheritance, the Spirit