John UK wrote:
In times past, Christians in the UK have suffered persecution from the guv (at that time aligned with the RCC) and rather than rebel and fight against them, they chose to leave the country and find another place to live where they could live happily under a different guv. Biblically, this is called fleeing persecution.
Did not the pilgrim fathers do this?

Did not John Bunyan write the classic Pilgrim's Progress from an English prison?

Adriel wrote:
Seems to be a local problem in understanding the Sovereignty of God, around these parts.
Perhaps this explains why human 'responsibility' has a higher place in the scheme of things???

What you don't seem to accept is that humans are responsible for any of their own choices and the ability to make that choice does not impugn or diminish the sovereignty of God.

the Bible teaches both.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (a command for the believer to do) for it is God that works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Both concepts, no contradiction.

This site has hundreds of broadcasters who more than likely represent churches and their people into the thousands if all added together    There are undoubtedly many of whom it can be said they are walking in the light because He is in the light and they have cleansed their hands and purified their hearts that they may drawn nigh unto God.  They’re not perfect but they walk in the fear of God and crucify the flesh with its lusts as they endeavor to walk in the Spirit.

John UK wrote:
..
1. If it be for judgment, then he appears to be wasting his time; I don't see any repentant on account of covid19. .

2. Either way, God is ignored, which is just the way it is in most all of the churches anyway.

2. John it seems too often you paint all of Christianity with a rather broad brush that all have the attitude saying they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, not knowing they are literally wretched, poor, miserable, and blind.   You seem to have the Elijah attitude that is found in I Kings 19:10 but may have forgotten about God’s answer in verse 18.  I personally reject that the vast number of the redeemed represent failed Christianity.

James Thomas wrote:
Bro. US,
That's a good observation and if Genesis 4 is all we had I would have no reason to think otherwise. I agree, God set a mark on Cain so no man would kill him. But why would God protect one who was clearly His adversary?
“Vengeance belongs to me” said God.
Deut 32:35 *To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence*; their foot shall slide in due time...
And furthermore...Deut. 32:43 ..... *he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries*, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
I think you would agree that Abel was a servant and Cain was an adversary right?

Lurker wrote:
...gaps of up to 2500 years which should be an indication that something is amiss... or the Author of the bible is not that great an Author. Regarding the interpretation of the Revelation ...such speculation begins with the assumption that the book must be interpreted post 96AD. How are we to know if this assumption is correct?

A couple of questions.

1. Without questioning whether your understanding of the timing of events is accurate, how does the belief that there is, as you call it a 2500 gap in the fulfillment of prophecy, some how impugns God? Is there not a 4000 year gap between Genesis 3:15 and its fulfillment? A nearly 700 year gap between Isaiah 7:14 and its fulfillment? A nearly 600 gap before the fulfillment of Joshua’s prophecy about Jericho? the Bible reminds us that God inhabits eternity, time is not always a factor in His economy.

2. Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter

At no point do the words, “which have been” appear in the verse.

Whether seen as literal or figurative, these things are said to be future.

James Thomas wrote:
As far as the mark of the beast,
I think the worshipping the creature passage in Romans is not different than the worshipping the beast in the Revelation. And furthermore the mark set on Cain in Genesis 4 is one in the same as the one mentioned in the Revelation.

Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, ***that every one that findeth me shall slay me***.
Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. ***And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.***

God clearly stated the mark on Cain was in response to Cain’s concern that every one that found him would slay him and it states the Lord set a mark on Cain lest any finding him should kill him.

Is there a reason to find a hidden meaning when the passage is clear? Do we not both believe that the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible? I really see no need to render the mark on Cain as any relation to the mark of the Beast in Revelation 13.

Frank wrote:
If I were president, I would do an executive order cutting off all of their government funding. They still get over 500 million of our tax dollars.
My decision would be reversed by some court and if I didn't change it, I would be removed from office.
But just think, by the time I was removed how many little innocent babies would have been spare such a cruel death.
But to the article; no they are not a small business.

Stevenr wrote:
So, my understanding is that 501c3 is more than just allowing givers to write off their donations—I believe it also exempts Churches from property tax. Can you imagine what the property tax bill for your average CC Church would look like?

I see you christian wrote:
John from the uk, you epitomise the attitude of the Pharisees.
The chirch has not replaced the Jews and God has not finished with them..
Both the Jews and the Muslims are Loved by fhe Lord Jesus Christ ...
A broken Jew snd
Muslim He can work with.....a self righteous Christian....He cannot
Forget not, that you where once a regenerate....o you hypocrite

We all need to become swift to hear and slow to speak and remember that in In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Also Proverbs tells us as the virtuous woman that the law of kindness is in her tongue.

B. McCausland wrote:
Some Americans treat their constitution as if were the Bible itself.

Just wondering, in this thread was there a specific comment that raised this red flag for you and caused you to share your concern or were you words just a generic warning of something that needs to be avoided at all cost?

BMcCausland. 4/22/2020 12:26 PM

John, amother description parallel to the stauros is the 'tree', which comes with another Greek term, xylon, meaning a wooden pole as in,
"... When they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre."
The crucifixion mode might be considered as the Roman version of the death penalty by hanging on a stake described in the OT.
BMcCausland. 4/18/2020 8:47 a.m.

However, every time the word crucified, or even cross, appears in NT the corresponding Greek term is stauros, a pole, and the idea is to impale
BMcCausland 4/1/2020 6:47 a.m.

Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says:
"STAUROS....denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake.
John UK 4/20/2020 2:42 a.m.

You are calling it a cross. I am calling it a stauros (pole, stake).
John UK 4/18/2020 4:46 p.m.

But stauros actually means 'pole' or 'stake'.
John UK 4/18/2020 12:04 p.m.

I point out your own thinking

The true issue is integrity of thought and reasoning which follows after valid patterns of logic, without guile, misrepresentation, wrong assumptions, or twisted presumptions.4/22/2020 11:32 AM
B. McCausland 

(this is saying that your thoughts, reasoning, logic , etc is correct while others who don't share your views, are inaccurate)

And what. you practice

My response to QC was to avoid unnecessary repetition of what had been already stated.
4/22/2020 12:26 PM
B. McCausland

(Who are you to say what a person should or should not post and whether is is worthwhile?)