Is Capital Punishment Biblical?

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT - What Does the Bible Teach on this Vital Subject?

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)

1. Instituted by God HimselfCapital punishment was instituted by God Himself after the worldwide flood. We learn of this in Genesis 9:6--"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." This verse speaks of a murderer, one who knowingly and violently sheds another man's blood, resulting in death. God here gives man the authority and the right and the duty to put to death the murderer: "by man shall his blood be shed." The reason given for this is based upon the value and sacredness of human life: "for in the image of God made he man." In this case we have justice being carried out according to the rule: "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:23-24). The penalty should fit the crime. In this case the crime is murder and the penalty is death. Notice that Genesis 9:6 was given to man even before the law of Moses was given.

2. "Thou Shalt Not Kill"?Capital punishment is not a violation of the sixth commandment which says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). The proper translation of this verb is "Thou shalt not murder." See modern translations (such as the NASB, the NIV and the NKJV) and also see Matthew 19:18 in the KJV. All murder is killing but not all killing is murder. Some examples of killing that would not be considered as murder are as follows: a) killing the enemy in war (Bible examples: David killing Goliath, Joshua and the Israelites when they conquered the land); b) a husband, discovering a man about to kill his wife and/or children, protects and defends his family by having to kill the attacker; c) a policeman who kills in the line of duty in order to protect innocent life; d) the person carrying out capital punishment, such as the man who must pull the switch for the electric chair; e) accidental killing, when the killer never intended to take someone's life. We should also note that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will "judge and make war" at His second coming resulting in countless numbers of deaths (Rev. 19:11-20).

3. Crimes Punishable By DeathWe are assured that capital punishment is not a violation of the Ten Commandments. This is evident when one studies the chapter which immediately follows the ten commandments: Exodus chapter 21 (the Ten Commandments are found in chapter 20). In chapter 21 we learn that God in His law demanded the death penalty for a number of crimes such as murder, kidnapping, cursing parents, etc. See Exodus 21:12,15,16,17. See also Leviticus 20:10-17 for other crimes punishable by death in the law of Moses.

4. The Executioner As God's ServantIn New Testament times capital punishment was still being practiced. Romans 13:4 says that God has given human governments the authority to execute wrath upon evildoers by means of a sword (a common instrument of capital punishment in New Testament days). The Apostle Paul was living in a day when capital punishment was commonly practiced in the Roman empire (quite unlike our day), and yet he did not condemn this practice. On the contrary he described the person who bears the sword as being God's servant. Thus the one punishing the evildoer does so in the exercise of God's delegated authority.

5. An Effective DeterrentCapital punishment, when consistently practiced, is a very effective deterrent to crime because the fear of death is the greatest fear that man has (see Hebrews 2:14-15). Since death is the king of fears, a man will think twice about committing a crime if he knows it will cost him his life. He will be less reluctant to murder someone if he knows that the worst that could happen to him is to stay in jail the rest of his life with meals provided, television to watch, etc. When swift justice is carried out then "those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil" (Deut.19:20). When the right penalty is not executed speedily, then this is an encouragement to crime (see Eccles. 8:11).

6. Cruel and Inhumane?Is capital punishment cruel and inhumane? Death is usually not pleasant to witness, and certainly those responsible for putting a criminal to death do not have an enviable task. Nevertheless we need to be careful that we do not focus on the criminal and forget about the victim of the crime. Cold-blooded murder is very cruel and inhumane. Forcible rape is very cruel and inhumane. Hijacking an airplane and endangering the lives of many innocent people is very cruel and inhumane. Pushing life-destroying drugs is very cruel and inhumane. In our zeal to protect the criminal we can lose sight of the terribleness of the crime. Regardless of a person's position on capital punishment, all would have to agree that if a murderer is put to death, he will never murder again. It is remarkable that those people who decry capital punishment as being a cruel and inhumane method of destroying people's lives are often the same people who are strongly in favor of abortion rights. Why does a guilty murderer have a greater right to life than an unborn child?

7. Paul's Own TestimonyWhat did the Apostle Paul think of capital punishment? Did he consider it to be unfair and cruel and inhumane? We have already considered Paul's teaching in Romans 13, but we should also make note of what the Apostle said in Acts 25:11: "If I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die." Paul knew that there were certain crimes that were worthy of death, and he knew that those guilty of such crimes must be executed. If he was guilty of such, then he would not refuse to die. He would submit to capital punishment if he had done deeds worthy of such. Of course, Paul was innocent of any such crimes, and yet he was eventually executed under Nero. For what crime? For preaching the gospel of the grace of God!

8. Bright BarbariansEven uncultured men know deep down in their hearts that certain crimes demand the death penalty. This is illustrated in Acts 28 when Paul was shipwrecked upon the island of Melita (Malta) where he met a group of kindly barbarians (v.1-2). As Paul was gathering sticks for the fire, a deadly venomous snake bit him on the hand. Normally such a bite would be fatal in a matter of minutes. When the natives saw this they said, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet justice alloweth not to live" (v.4). These natives saw what they thought was the penalty (death) and thus they assumed the crime (he must be a murderer). They soon learned that they were mistaken, but the point is that these barbarians had a built in sense of justice and they knew that murderers should pay for their crime by death.

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9. The Testimony of a Thief (Robber)
In Luke chapter 23 we have the honest testimony of a man who was being put to death for crimes he had done. This was capital punishment by means of Roman crucifixion. This man was an evildoer, he was arrested, and he was found guilty of crimes worthy of death. Modern methods of execution are generally very mild and painless as compared to Roman crucifixion. What did this man think of capital punishment? Was he opposed to it? Did he consider it to be cruel and inhumane? Did he think it to be unfair and unjust? Here is his testimony (his words to the other condemned criminal): "Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds" (Luke 23:40-41). In other words, he was saying, "We are getting exactly what we deserve: death by crucifixion. What we have done is worthy of death!" Before men and before human government most of us are not guilty of crimes worthy of death. However, before a Holy God every one of us needs to recognize that we have done certain things that are worthy of death (see Romans 1:29-32; 6:23a). As the Old Testament says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). How thankful we should be that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered the death penalty for us: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

10. The Death of an Innocent ManIf capital punishment is practiced, are there not times when an innocent man is pronounced guilty and put to death? Yes, sadly this is true. Our judicial system is far from perfect and there are times when the guilty are justified and the innocent are condemned (compare Deut. 25:1). Even without the death penalty, it is true that occasionally some innocent men are sent to prison even for life. We must remember that there is in heaven a true and righteous Judge who sees all and who knows all and who someday will make right all that is wrong and will straighten out all that is crooked. In eternity, all will be corrected (see Luke 16:25 for an example of this). The greatest example of an innocent man being put to death is that of the Lord Jesus Himself, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22). The only sinless Man who ever lived was condemned to death by crucifixion! As we think about Christ's death, we must remember that it was for our sins that He suffered and bled and died (1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 5:8). "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just (the Righteous One) for the unjust (the unrighteous ones), that he might bring us to God" (1 Pet. 3:18). We are the guilty ones who deserved the death penalty (Rom. 6:23), but Jesus paid it all! He died so that we might live (John 5:24)!

GWZ I.F.

The Gospel of John Challenge

Black Friday and the American Godless Holiday Season

Well, here we go kid-do’s… After the majority of Americans concluded THEIR “godless” Thanksgiving without Almighty God and ALL the realities of Who He is, which is dictated by His HOLY WORD it is “Black Friday”. America’s Thanksgiving and Holiday season now consists of thanking THEIR god’s of self narcissism, human efforts and personal ambitions, while of course eating, drinking and watching football. My friends don’t get me wrong… there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a fine diner with your loved ones, eating good food, stuffing yourself, watching football, exchanging gifts, rejoicing over the work of you hands and even trying to save a few bucks on material things when its done with thanksgiving to Almighty God (1 Cor. 10:31), but the whole mood now in this country at this time of the year is to serve self and in some places it is very subtle and hard to see.

We as a nation have rejected Almighty God’s SAVING message to us and to the world that Almighty God sent His Son to deliver us from our sins.

Godless living affects the majority of Americans today. We as a nation have rejected Almighty God’s SAVING message to us and to the world that Almighty God sent His Son to deliver us from our sins (John 3:16-17).

This “Christmas” message is now drowned out by worldly self interest and personal materialism. Indeed, Satan has won a great victory in replacing the realities of one’s ETERNAL needs for temporal and fading wants (1 John 2:15-17). Whether one is a conservative, moderate, liberal or a progressive commie or whether one is of the lazy poor, the true poor, the middle class, the rich or the filthy rich, the bottom line and common denominator is self generated interest which excludes our Creator and our true ETERNAL needs (Matt. 15:7-9, Rom.1:18-32, 2 Tim 3:2).

Anyone who lives their existence here in time that EXCLUDES Almighty God our Creator, His saving grace and Savior, His Word and sound biblical doctrine is one of utter futility, vanity and is self centered.

What do I mean by serving self? I am sure for many reading this assessment might think I have gone way over the top on this. Well hear me out… The “bottom line” of what I am trying to state is that ANY life (i.e., one’s brief existence here in time), whether conservative, moderate, liberal or a progressive commie, whether one is of the lazy poor, the true poor, the middle class, the rich or the filthy rich that lives out their existence here in time that EXCLUDES Almighty God our Creator, His saving grace and Savior, His Word and sound biblical doctrine is one of utter futility, vanity and is self centered (Eccl., Mark 24:35-39, Rom. 1:20-22). It is the wide road which leads to damnation and ETERNAL ruin and it is named the “do as thou wilt” highway (Matt. 7:13-14, Rev. 20:11-15). This road ends with its travelers doing a Thelma and Louise into ETERNAL damnation and ruin. It would be an awesome thing to interview many of life’s travelers who have taken this narcissistic highway to ruin. I am sure that they would testify in the end that their brief godless existence was NOT worth the ETERNAL consequences (Luke 16:19-31, John 3:16-17, Rev. 20:11-15).

This road ends with its travelers doing a Thelma and Louise into ETERNAL damnation and ruin!

Nothing in this brief fallen world can EVER fill the ETERNAL void of humanity for we were designed to house our ETERNAL Creator (Eccl. 3:11, Rom. 11:33). Go ahead my friend, STUFF IT with all your heart desires (virtuous or vice); Sex, drugs, wine, women, song, IPods, flat screens, new cars, houses, lands and gold, purpose, adventure, glory, whatever; indulge my friend until you possess the WHOLE ENTIRE world (Matt.16:26)! It will NEVER satisfy and in the end you will be as Solomon of old and profess that "ALL is vanity" (Eccl.1:1-5)! You will end up as the rich fool who was building barns only to lose it all in the end (Luke 12:15-23).

"Jesus stated, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

God’s Word states; "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

It is your Creator that loves you with an EVERLASTING love and has ONLY glorious things for you FOREVERMORE (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 21, 22:1-5). That is why you were created. To know God and to enjoy Him FOREVER! Oh the FOOL who would rather seek vain temporal worldly glory and earthly possessions in a narcissistic delusional reality (Luke 12:20, James 4:14, 5:1-5, Rev. 20:11-15).

As we head into another narcissistic godless Christ rejecting “holiday season” may you be sure that you personally know the very One who left Heaven’s glory and put on humanity so He might die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world (John 1:14, 3:16-17, Phil.2:5-10, Heb.10:4-14). That is what our existence (born - die) here is all about!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Ignorant Fishermen Blog

Beloved, Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Who is the TRUE source for ALL Heavenly blessings here on earth and in Heaven above (Eph. 1:3)!

As we celebrate this time of Thanksgiving we are very mindful of many things. We are thankful for our loved ones, a measure of health and a sound mind. We are thankful for the earthly blessings and liberties that we possess as Americans. We are thankful for those who have shed their blood on our nation's behalf which have preserved our freedoms and liberties. We are thankful for the vision and labor of our Founding Fathers which steadfast sought to provide its posterity with a nation and constitution that we may enjoy our unalienable rights as human beings. We are thankful to those who labor for the Lord on our behalf, who challenge us and encourage us in the ETERNAL truths and promises of Almighty God.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you! (1 Thess. 5:18).

But most of all we are thankful for Almighty God our Father for so loving us that He sent His only begotten Son on our behalf (John 3:16-17), that we may be redeemed, forgiven, received, adopted and made righteous in the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:4, 1 Cor. 1:30).

We are truly thankful that we are still able to worship Almighty God in spirit and truth here in America and that we still have a measure of time left to get out His saving message to a dying and condemned world. We rejoice that Christ is coming again very soon and that this fallen world is NOT our home. We have a glorious future forevermore with our Savior and Lord in perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS in Almighty God's ETERNAL day (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 22:5).

May this Thanksgiving be a great blessing to you all! We indeed have much to be thankful for (Phil. 4:4)!

Beloved, The Kingdom of Heaven is truly at hand!

The Ignorant Fishermen

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
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Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Only One Said 'Thank You'

Only One Said 'Thank You'
By Dr. John C. Whitcomb

The Command
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God commands us to give Him thanks for everything He has done, is doing and will do for us.
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"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6).

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1).

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20).
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The Problem

But this is not the normal response of the sinful heart of man. Even in times of health and prosperity, do we genuinely thank God for what He has given us?
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One day, our Lord cleansed 10 lepers who cried out to Him, "'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well'" (Luke 17:13-19). As in the entire nation of Israel, many thousands were physically healed by the Lord Jesus, but relatively few really believed in Him as God and Savior.
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In fact, from the beginning of the world, even in the hearts of our first parents, Adam and Eve, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:21, 22).
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Difficult Circumstances for Thankfulness

While inside the body of a gigantic fish deep in the Mediterranean Sea, with "weeds...wrapped around [his] head" (Jonah 2:5), the disobedient prophet Jonah cried out:
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"I will sacrifice to YouWith the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9).

In response to that amazing prayer, "the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" (Jonah 2:10).

And what about the prophet Daniel? When threatened with death in a lions' den for offering a prayer to "any god or man" (Dan. 6:7) besides the king of Medo-Persia, Daniel "went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Dan. 6: 10).
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Thus, in every conceivable circumstance, "by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:15).
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Why? Because "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

In ETERNITY

What will believers be doing in heaven? We will be saying:
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"Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever" (Rev. 7:12).
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So let us ask God to help us today to thank Him for His infinite grace and love in sending His Son to pay in full the penalty for our sins which we could never pay. What a gift!

Yes, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

Do you want to learn more about this topic?
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Listen to "Only One Said 'Thank You'" by Dr. Whitcomb on SermonAudio.com.

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Rush Limbaugh: The True Story of Thanksgiving

Rush Limbaugh: The True Story of Thanksgiving -link

Rush Limbaugh

America The Unthankful and Doomed

Well my dear friends... we have arrived at another Thanksgiving Day and we as a nation are more unthankful than ever. It is indeed a sign of the times that we as a nation - founded on moral absolutes and the rule of law - are at a final fatal decline. When millions of Americans receive  government befits and many of those have no intention of working or being accountable and are addicted to moral relativism and decadence the jig is up my dear friends. This past 2012 election has showed us that it absolutely pays to be slothful, lazy, greedy, self-serving, lawless, deviant, decadent, deceivers and swindlers, all to serve the narcissistic nature of millions as they hide behind the fortified titled wall, “the poor”.  It will be these very individuals who this Thanksgiving will have nothing to be thankful about for they are all takers and not thankers. The majority of these have been bred and raised with an entitlement attitude and have become the greediest of all Americans. They are moochers and takers, idol and swift to exercise their lawlessness and greed. The socially dependent and government addicts of socialism are more greedy then all the Wall Street bankers and brokers put together. 

The majority of these have been bred and raised with an entitlement attitude and have become the greediest of all Americans. They are moochers and takers, idol and swift to exercise their lawlessness and greed.
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These expect something for nothing and are absolutely void of self respect (Rom. 1:28-32). These believe that they have a right to all that they desire and others should pay their tab to feed their godless passions and sloth. It is absolutely tragic, for in their dependent and socialistic greed they have allowed the state and Satan to hold over them a ceiling of tyranny and remove from them their personal accountability and personal responsibility to society and to Almighty God (2 Tim. 4:1-7). The majority of these individuals (red, yellow, black and white) whose lives revolve around their narcissistic ambitions this Thanksgiving Day will be UNTHANKFUL to Almighty God their Creator and to the American working taxpayers who make their slothful and lawless existence accessible to the idle playground in which they indulge themselves in (Rom 1:18-32, 2 Tim 3:1-7, Jude 1:10). Almighty God is NOT a respecter of persons and will Judge all in that Day according to His RIGHTEOUS STANDARD, the LORD Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:2-4, Rev. 20:11-15). To these, America is the “Land of Give It To Me” and NOT the Land of opportunity.

Another group of Americans that covers the whole political spectrum (Left and Right) are those that work and do provide for themselves. It will be this Thanksgiving that these will get together and enjoy the fruits of their labors with family and friends. They will eat, drink and be merry NEVER once bowing their heads to Almighty God with thanksgiving (Rom. 1:20-21). To these, Thanksgiving Day has become all about THEM and their families. That is what Thanksgiving Day has become here in America. America - whether on the dole or off of it - has highjacked Thanksgiving Day and instead of thanking Almighty God they have become UNTHANKFUL to Him and have EXCLUDED Him (Rom. 1:18-21). These will indulge in the bountiful provisions of this nation oblivious that it is Almighty God from whom all blessing flow. When a nation which was founded on Judeo/Christian values has turn their backs to reality and have gone a whoring after the “gods” of godless moral relativism and self gratitude what hope is there for her?

When a nation which was founded on Judeo/Christian values has turn their backs to reality and have gone a whoring after the “gods” of godless moral relativism and self gratitude what hope is there for her?

On both accounts (the dependent and sufficient), I have personally seen and experienced harsh people and dear people exclude Almighty God on a Day that was set apart to remember Him. Godlessness and unthankfulness to Almighty God exists throughout the political spectrum and is found just as much in conservatism as in liberalism. A thankful heart will acknowledge Almighty God in spirit and truth and an unthankful heart will not (John 3:19-21, 4:24). The victicrats live as lords and the successful as kings. We as a nation today take everything for granted. We have more than any individuals throughout history have ever had and yet we are unthankful and unsatisfied. Kings have never eaten and had such possessions as we do here today that we look at as common and simple. We as a nation have been over run with want and greed and there is no stopping us.

The victicrats live as kings and the successful as lords. We as a nation today take everything for granted. We have more than any individuals throughout history have ever had and yet we are unthankful and unsatisfied.

We as a nation are NOT content and are NOT satisfied. We want, want, want and none of it EVER feeds our famished soul (Eccl. 3; 2 Peter 2:10-14). Only Almighty God the ETERNAL can do that! From conservatism to liberalism, from the rich to the middle class to the entitled victicrat to those who are truly poor, personal gain trumps Almighty God and His ETERNAL saving solution for the individual today. We as a nation today have chosen government in place of the Savior. We have chosen materialism in place of spiritualism (Luke, 12:16-23, James5:1-6). We have chosen a delusional moral relativism in place of REALITY (Rom.1:18-32, 2 Tim. 3:1-7, 2 Peter 2:1-2). We have chosen self created “good works” instead of Almighty God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 10:2-4). We have chosen our wants, desires and wishes over our desperate need for a Savior (Prov. 27:20, 2 Peter 2:10-14). We have desired and chosen the temporal comforts and delusions of this fallen world over the ETERNAL REALITIES of peace, rightness and immortality (Isa. 28:15, 32:17, Rom. 14:17, Gal. 5:19-23, James 3:18); and yes my dear friends, we as a nation have in our heart of hearts have chosen death, Hell and Satan over the ETERNAL LOVE, PERSON AND BLISS of Almighty God (Isa.28:15, 1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 21, 22:1-5). An unthankful heart and a heart that cannot express true thankfulness to the God of ALL creation is indeed a wasteland and a desolation ripe for Hell’s ETERNAL prison hold (i.e., The Lake of Fire) – Rom. 1;21-22, Rev. 20:11-15. This is where we are as a nation today.

An unthankful heart and a heart that cannot express true thankfulness to the God of ALL creation is indeed a wasteland and a desolation ripe for Hell’s ETERNAL prison hold (i.e., The Lake of Fire).

My dear friends there is a remnant (Isa. 1:4-9) throughout this nation today that still chooses to follow Almighty God and knows His Son as their personal Savior as the Holy Scriptures so teach (John 1:12). They are thankful daily for all that Almighty God has provided for them (in time and in ETERNITY) and they are found throughout the social classes today (1 Cor. 10:31). Sadly these are outcasts, rejected and scoffed at by the political parties of today and this godless nation. UNTHANKFULNESS has engulfed our nation and it has taking its toll on our society and culture. We have much my beloved to be thankful for today and everyday. Thanksgiving Day is the norm for the child of God who desires God’s will for their lives and fully appreciates the Savior’s ETERNAL LOVE (Col. 3:16, Phil. 4:4).

Paul warned us what would be the climate of the Last Days and we are fully there as a nation and a world.

Paul stated;

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim. 3:1-7)

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.

How Will Peace EVER Come To The Middle East?

Tensions have always been high in the Middle East, but within the last year we have seen an increasing presence of Russian influence and involvement. Russia has always been behind the scenes stirring the pot, but of late they have been showing their hand quite openly, especially in Syria. My dear friends that presence and movement is all heading to somewhere very soon (Ezek. 38,39). Also the Islamic revolution, which started to take place last year has swept across the Middle East as a wild fire, changing the Islamic climate to legalized extreme and totalitarian. The heart of this Islamic movement is the eradication and destruction of the nation Israel, make no mistakes about it. It is the burning passion which drives these individuals. A year and a half ago we could not have made this statement and have foreseen the Islamic brotherhood's successful revolution and take over. Islamic Anti Semitism is now at a fever pitch and the Middle East has progressed into nuclear warhead ready to detonate. I can go on and on about the Middle East but for times sake I will stop here for it is clear to see who want to know. My dear friends. How can TRUE peace and security EVER come to the Middle East? Think it through. How can these hearts ever be changed and their rage, jealousy and envy discarded? This extreme, violent, vindictive and demonic oppression is rooted in hundreds of years strife, anti Almighty God ETERNAL realities and anti Israeli covenant promises which benefit the whole world. Leave Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth out of this "Middle East" equation and His ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS ABSOLUTES and there are ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS. This also includes unbelieving Israel.

Leave Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth out of this "Middle East" equation and His ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS ABSOLUTES and there are ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS.

My dear Friends INCLUDE Almighty God and His ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS and His Word and all will make sense (John 8:32,36, 17:17). It will be ONLY by the Prince of Peace that TRUE and EVERLASTING PEACE will come to the Middle East and City of Jerusalem (Isa. 9:6-7, 33:5, 53:5, 62;1, Jer. 33:16, Zech 8:3, Matt. 5:35, Rom. 10:2-4, Eph. 2:12-19, Col. 1:20, Heb. 1:3, 10:7-14). How many in vain through out the ages have sought and prayed in sincerity for the peace of Jerusalem WITHOUT knowledge nor understanding (Isa. 29:13, 58:1-8, Matt. 7:21-23, 15:3, 7-9, Mark 12:24)? Throughout the last 2600 years, how many sons of Abraham and the gentile world have totally missed the reality and truth of the Holy Scriptures of just how this Divine peace MUST be established (Deut. 9:6, 28-30,31:27, Lev. 26, Psalm 78, Isa. 53:5, Ezek. 12:2, Dan 9:26, Matt. 15:3-7-9, Luke 13:34-35, Acts 7, Rom. 9-11, Rev. 1:7)?

Through out the last 2600 years, how many sons of Abraham have totally missed the reality and truth of the Holy Scriptures of just how this Divine peace MUST be established.

My dear friend, please try to comprehend that ALL current global events are indeed heading to this destination and EXPONENTIALLY beyond (Rev. 19:11-21)! Remember the words of the Lord Jesus in which He specifically told His disciples to pray, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10).” Oh my beloved! How many people pray this prayer day after day and are absolutely oblivious to what it is testifying to and stating! “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

It will indeed take the horrific seven year tribulation period to wake up the Jew and the gentile nations to this reality (Isa. 24:5-6, Rev. 6:14-17, 17:2).There is absolutely NO hope for Israel and the nations of the world apart for their Creator and Savior, Jesus Messiah (John 3:16-17, Eph. 2:12-16, Heb 1:2-3). It will NOT be until the Jew is reconciled with Jehovah God and receive their Messiah as their sacrificial lamb, propitiation and Savior that the nations WILL BE BLESSED (Isa. 2:1-4, 19:23-25, Micah 4:1-4, Zech. 8:23, Rom. 11:12) and TRUE DIVINE PEACE will go forth out of Jerusalem unto the Middle East and then unto the entire world (Isa. 2:3-4,33:16, 62:1, Jer. 33:5)!

It will NOT be until the Jew is reconciled with Jehovah God and receive their Messiah as their sacrificial lamb, propitiation and Savior that the nations WILL BE BLESSED and TRUE DIVINE PEACE will go forth out of Jerusalem unto the Middle East and then unto the entire world.

My friend, do you have a saving relationship to Jesus Messiah the Savior of the world (Psalm 110:1, Isa. 43:11,52:13-15, 53)? All depends on this very union. His death, burial and resurrection to the Right Hand of Almighty God is the center piece of all ETERNITY (Gen. 22:8, Psalm 110:1, Isa. 53, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rev. 1:18,13:8, 21-22:1-5). He will indeed come back to establish His Kingdom on His earth and the gates of Hell shall not nor NEVER prevent this from happening (Dan. 2:44-45, 7:13-14, Rev. 1:7, 16:13-16, 19:11-21).

As the days grow nearer to the Day of the Lord be sure that you know the Savior and Messiah of Israel as dictated by the Holy Scriptures!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.