January 16, 2022 – End Times Prophecy Report

The Apostle Paul’s Revelations

The apostle Paul–formerly the ultra-strict Pharisee called Saul, who was intent on persecuting early Christians–has a tremendously appealing conversion account.

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute any and all Christians he found in that city when he had an unexpected meeting with the crucified and arisen Jesus Christ.

“And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
–Acts 8:1,3 9:1-2

So Saul was quite the vicious, zealous persecutor of any and all Christians he might discover worshiping the wrong way.

THEN, Saul had his quite UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH JESUS while Saul was on his way to Damascus to work high mischief.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”

The encounter left Saul temporarily BLIND and he had to be led to Damascus by holding the hands of his companions.

Saul was blind for three days before his sight was restored in a somewhat-curious manner. Apparently, the plans Jesus had for Saul included the Pharisee being able to see.

“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
–Acts 9:10-16

Certainly a DRAMATIC way for someone to start their new life as a Christian!

So, Ananias went to the aforementioned home and laid his hands on Saul and Saul’s sight was restored.

[Saul/Paul seems to be a particular TARGET of those who desire God’s Word to mean little. These are those who cling to ANY Scripture which they believe might prove their doubt and lack of faith.

MUCH has been made in some circles about the apparent discrepancy in Paul’s accounts of his conversion. In Acts 9:7, Scripture says “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.” While the account in Acts 22 states “And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.”

This is much ado about nothing. The two accounts are not contradictory so much as they are different. Has the reader EVER heard a loud noise but could not make out exactly what it might be? In the first account, Paul says the men heard a ‘voice’; in the second, Paul says they heard not the voice. Might Paul’s companions have heard a voice but not what that voice was saying?

Again, those who WANT to believe God’s Word contains contradictions will believe what they want to believe. NO explanations or ‘clarifications’ will change what they WANT so desperately to believe.]

After having his sight restored, Paul’s life experienced a 180-degree CHANGE.

Saul demonstrated that his life had been transformed: that he was a new creature in Christ.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
–2CORINTHIANS 5:17

He did this by forsaking the things of his former life.

“And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
–Acts 9:19-20

Saul’s radical change in behavior was not immediately believed by many of the early Christians, but eventually Saul was accepted by the early Christians (who obviously observed what Saul was DOING and NOT what Saul has PREVIOUSLY done.)

“But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
–Acts 9:21-31

Now, after this, Saul went off by himself and received the information he used when preaching to the Gentiles.

BUT, where did Saul go?

And where did Saul receive that information from?

Saul–who became the apostle Paul–said that he did NOT receive his information from ‘flesh and blood.’ Paul also wrote that he did not mingle with the other apostles right then, but first spent three years in ARABIA.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.”
–Galatians 1:15-17

Might Paul have been instructed in the finer points of Christianity–which Paul then WROTE about in the letters which became the New Testament–by God and Jesus Christ Himself?

Paul was FULL of information on Christianity after hanging out in Arabia for THREE YEARS. And this information was not easily understood by the OTHER apostles–who had walked with Jesus Himself.

As the apostle Peter wrote

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
–2PETER 3:15-16

So, Paul had his conversion experience on the way to persecute the Christians in Damascus. Shortly thereafter, Paul traveled to Arabia for three years and consulted with authorities who were NOT ‘flesh and blood.’

THEN, the apostle Paul returned to Jerusalem via Damascus and spent about two weeks with the apostle Peter. At this time, Paul–formerly Saul–was FULL of information about Christianity and its namesake, Jesus Christ.

“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
–Galatians 1:18-19

Paul wrote about his experiences (he does NOT say they happened in Arabia; he does NOT even say they happened to him) in 2CORINTHIANS 12:1-6.

Again, WHERE did Saul (Paul) get all of his revelations from?

WHAT does the reader think?

It is not YET too late: there is still a little time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 14-16, 2022.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Image by dmitrisvetsikas1969 from Pixabay.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-19. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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The Isolation of Modern Man

“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
–Jude 1:18

Modern man is in a predicament–largely of his own making–but, AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, assisted and helped along by Satan and the world.

His problem?

His largely self-imposed ISOLATION from others.

Long before COVID-19 and its SELF-ISOLATION protocols, modern man was being taught the advantages of being alone.

This isolation–in many cases, this modern SELF-ISOLATION–is a problem BECAUSE at the one time when man MOST needs the assistance and guidance of his fellows, he has, in many respects, cut himself off from those who might help him.

Even the world cautions against this self-imposed isolation.

“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.”
—John Donne

This is a thought with which God’s Word agrees–though, naturally, in respects other than the world.

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
–Romans 14:7

The modern world is ALL about isolation from others.

The ‘news’ media CONSTANTLY refers to the wonders of isolation.

The entertainment world adores isolation.

The culture offers each man an ESCAPE FROM OTHERS: the video game; the cellphone; the computer; the home entertainment center.

The culture sets up LONELINESS as one of life’s GREATEST calamities–but then, the culture offers little else but isolation and products which promote being apart.

Oh, the culture doesn’t BEGIN with self-isolation: the culture BEGINS with something else and, very quickly, proceeds to isolation.

This can be seen in all of the devices which help isolate man from his fellows.

While the video game MIGHT ONCE HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY an occasion for ‘gamers’ to gather, it quickly devolved into a game played AGAINST THE COMPUTER’S AI (artificial intelligence). One would think that, for a cellphone to be effective, there would have to be others with which to communicate. BUT, once more, the cellphone quickly became the portable, prime amusement center for moderns. This can be demonstrated by seeing the number of moderns who, though they walk among others, are ALONE, engrossed in their phones; in the images and ideas displayed upon its tiny screen.

Surrounded by many but ALONE.

The same applies to the personal computer: what was ONCE touted as a method of SELF-learning and SELF-enrichment quickly became, for so many, a way of passing the time. Hence, the popularity of SOLITAIRE card games.

The modern way of life includes so many instances of one of Satan’s favorite terms: SELF.

MORE: Modern Man’s Self-Centered Universe

Why does the world and Satan work to isolate man?

One reason: many times, a man by himself may DRIFT into rebellion and sin: being LED by suggestions–rather than ACTIVELY pursue such a course of action.

It could be argued that end times man is RIPE FOR THE PICKING: Satan’s picking.

And when modern man is alone, he is alone with WHAT HE THINKS ARE HIS THOUGHTS.

“If you believe that your thoughts originate inside your brain, do you also believe that television shows are made inside your television set?”
—Warren Ellis

Each person living in his own little universe of his own making. Each person passing his time in his own isolated COCOON, separated from friends, from family, from neighbors, in a way which would likely surprise earlier generations of mankind.

How many know who lives beside (or near) them? How much interaction NOW takes place between those who were once referred to as “neighbors“?

Oh, there are STILL interactions between modern man and any who might provide him with services or other comforts.

There are still those who pay their monthly electric bills.

There are still those who pay their monthly water bills.

There are still those who pay their monthly bills for garbage, the Internet or cable TV.

But how many NOW pay those bills–which once were mostly paid in person–via the USPS or the Internet?

Could this be what’s behind the modern push to BUY online?

Living in the End Times: The New Retail

New Retail: Excitement in the World’s Marketplace

Modern man is cut off from ANY who might influence him in any number of ways.

Modern man is also cut off from ANY who might influence him to resist the coming changes.

[In this regard, has the reader ever invested any thought into why the modern term “influencer” is so heavily connected to the isolation of the impersonal Internet? Why are there no ‘influencers’ who influence IN PERSON?]

The isolation of modern man seems to be an encouraged part of modern life.

How many movies has the reader seen which feature a protagonist CUT OFF from the rest of mankind, struggling–and then thriving–to overcome his alone-ness?

How many articles has the reader read which provide “tips” on how to surmount any torment or disadvantage associated with being alone?

How many ‘modern conveniences’ cater to ONE person, rather than a family or group of like-minded people?

And so, modern man is CUT OFF from his fellows, ANY of whom MIGHT influence modern man to pay closer attention to God’s Word.

But then, perhaps that is merely an incidental benefit of a system which, piece-by-piece and byte-by-byte, tears at the fibers of man’s inter-connectiveness?

“There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
–Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

IS the reader part of the modern isolation?

IS the reader MOVING toward an isolated lifestyle?

It is not YET too late: there is still a little time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 10, 2022.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash.com

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.

ALL such links appearing in End Times Prophecy Headlines, such as those below, should originate at ETPR.

What is the Opposite of Love?

One can spend a LOT of time examining ‘what the opposite of love is.’

Most of the world probably thinks “Oh, that’s easy: hate.”

And there’s a STRONG case to be built that HATE is the opposite of LOVE.

But, upon thinking on the topic a bit, one realizes that this is what man has been taught. NATURALLY, man would think that HATE is the opposite of LOVE, right?

One only has to examine a little of what men exalted by the world have to say on the subject.

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.

“There’s not much difference between love and hate.”
—Ichiro Suzuki

“Love and hate have a magical transforming power. They are the great soul changers. We grow through their exercise into the likeness of what we contemplate.”
—George William Russell

So, HATE is most likely the front-runner in the race to find an opposite of LOVE.

HOWEVER, there is a popular school of thought–led by writer/activist Elie Wiesel–that it is NOT HATE which is the opposite of love, but INDIFFERENCE.

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”

This version of the opposite-of-love seemed to be popular during the latter years of the 1900s.

An offshoot of the INDIFFERENCE-pushers is the HATE IS LOVE GONE BAD folks.

“Hate is just love gone bad. The actual opposite of love is apathy. When you don’t care a damn as to what happens to the other person.”
—-Amish Tripathi

[Tripathi’s quote sounds a LOT like country music song lyrics.]

Finally, there are those who believe that FEAR is the opposite of LOVE.

These seem to be mostly church folks.

“The opposite of love is fear. It is just that basic. For fear is the breeding ground — the simmering cauldron so to speak — of all the resentments, bitterness, anger, and destructive behaviors that constitute and give rise to hate.”
–Bishop Robert O’Neill

[Of course, it doesn’t help your argument if you claim that fear leads to hate.]

MORE: The Opposite of Love Is Not Hate, It’s Fear

So what does the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY have to say on the subject?

God’s Word seems to endorse the notion that the opposite of LOVE is FEAR.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
–1JOHN 4:18

This view is echoed in Second Timothy.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

BUT, God’s Word is clear and forthright. There is NO guessing among believers about God’s Word.

And so, HATE is VERY CLEARLY set out as the opposite of LOVE in the Bible. God’s Word does this most often by presenting a spectrum of behavior with LOVE at one end and HATE at the other.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you”
–Luke 6:27

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
–Matthew 5:43-44

IN CONCLUSION, What is the Opposite of LOVE?

1- God’s Word positions LOVE and HATE so that they are opposing qualities.

2- God’s Word ALSO links FEAR with LOVE–but NOT in such a way that the two are opposites.

3- The Bible really has NOTHING to say about INDIFFERENCE and LOVE.

Which makes sense, since this idea is OF THE WORLD, not GOD.

HAS the reader EVER thought about what the OPPOSITE of LOVE might be?

WHAT does the reader think?

It is not YET too late: there is still a little time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 11, 2022.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels.com

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.

ALL such links appearing in End Times Prophecy Headlines, such as those below, should originate at ETPR.

The Comfort of Convenience

There are THREE points to be made in this piece.

1- Comfort or convenience: which is it?

The first point has to do with someone who said–just this past week–“You are always talking about how COMFORT is a person’s HIGHEST value. But you just said that people will value CONVENIENCE. Which is it? COMFORT or CONVENIENCE?”

Part of the answer to this ran along the lines of “A person’s convenience IS a part of a person’s comfort.”

Although many do NOT see it this way, all the reader needs to do is think a bit on the matter.

CONVENIENCE is used as a prime selling point in MANY advertisements. The ways that convenience leads to a person’s increased comfort (for example, the COMFORT of buying a new car to be had by enjoying the CONVENIENCE that the new, practically flawless vehicle will bring over the customer’s older model) MAY NOT be specifically spoken in the advertisements, but the concept is there and is clearly understood by potential customers.

IN FACT, ‘convenience’ is used as a selling point in advertisements of almost ALL end times products, particularly those products which emphasize the customers’ ‘comfort.’

And so, POINT ONE is “A person’s CONVENIENCE is usually a part of his COMFORT in some way.”

2- End times men value their TIME over almost anything else.

MANY believe their time is much more important than someone else’s time.

Therefore, end times men always keep an eye out for those products/circumstances/services which promise them CONVENIENCE.

3- Thirdly, one of the PRIME attractions the wicked world will dangle in front of end times man will be the claim that doing THIS or THAT will ‘save him time’; i.e., will make his life more CONVENIENT.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT GOD’S WORD WARNS ABOUT DOING ‘THIS or “THAT.’

These THREE points all add up to ONE conclusion.

It appears VERY likely that end times man will value his convenience OVER God’s Word.

So, naturally, Satan will appeal to a man’s COMFORT and CONVENIENCE in order to snare him.

DOES the reader place a high value on his CONVENIENCE?

DOES the reader believe that modern ‘time-saving’ devices are a wonder and marvel?

HAS the reader EVER asked himself what he would do without the benefits of modern time-savers?

It is not YET too late: there is still a little time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 10, 2022.]