Category: The Apostate American Church

Tales of Purgatory: A Place NOT Found in the Bible

PURGATORY

Purgatory: a place taught by (mainly) Roman Catholics, is a place NOT found in God’s Word.

Purgatory: a place taught by (mainly) Roman Catholics, is a place which had its beginnings in paganism and pagan writings.

Purgatory: a place taught by (mainly) Roman Catholics, is a place in which MANY of the church folk find fairly EASY to believe.

Purgatory is supposedly a place where a sinner may go to “burn off” sin and “purify” himself.  When the sinner has burned off enough sins, he may then enter heaven.

Though purgatory is NOT found in God’s Word, it IS found in the many, many tales of that counterfeit Christian religion, Roman Catholicism.

To give their stories a sheen of believability,  RC teachers torture a few verses found in God’s Word.

Like Hebrews 12:19.

“For our God is a consuming fire.”

Or Luke 23:43.

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

So, there is NO Biblical basis for a belief in purgatory.

It is NOT difficult to believe that the concept of purgatory proves popular with the Catholic church folk.  Not many consider themselves “evil” or “wicked“; not many consider themselves (with good reason) ‘good enough’ to make it into heaven AS THEY ARE.

HOWEVER, a great many have little difficulty believing they are “foolish” (a word often used interchangeably with “evil” or “wicked“ in God’s Word); apparently, they consider it a good trade to burn a bit in the fires of purification IF they will at least get into heaven in this manner.

So, the doctrine of purgatory is welcomed by the (Roman Catholic) church folk.

Again, IF Roman Catholics believed God’s Word, they would find NO support for the idea of purgatory.

The concept of purgatory sprung, not from the minds of Catholic theologians, but from PAGAN writers.

The idea of purgatory has roots that date back into antiquity. A sort of proto-purgatory called the “celestial Hades” appears in the writings of Plato and Heraclides Ponticus and in many other pagan writers. This concept is distinguished from the Hades of the underworld described in the works of Homer and Hesiod. In contrast, the celestial Hades was understood as an intermediary place where souls spent an undetermined time after death before either moving on to a higher level of existence or being reincarnated back on earth.
—History of Purgatory

Purgatory is therefore,  a pagan concept which found a popular following in counterfeit Christianity.

One way readers may know purgatory is not a concept found in God’s Word.

It offers a ‘second chance’ to all those deemed initially unworthy to enter heaven.

‘Second chances’ are a popular concept–but they are foreign to Christianity.

In addition, the entire idea of purgatory lessens the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

IF purgatory really did exist, then it would be possible for one to make it into heaven WITHOUT Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
–John 14:6

One additional method for determining purgatory is NOT in God’s Word.

One may search God’s Word itself: there is not only NO mention of purgatory, there is NO mention of anything even remotely sounding like purgatory–UNLESS one is so consumed with an ‘easy’ way of making it into heaven, that one ‘reads into‘ what IS found in God’s Word.

One last way readers may know that purgatory is a fairy tale: it offers a chance for folks to offer PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD to ease the departed’s time of ‘purification.’

What does God’s Word say about PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD?

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
–Ezekiel 18:20

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
–Romans 6:23

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
–2CORINTHIANS 5:10

And FINALLY,

“He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
–Matthew 22:32

One will NOT read of purgatory in God’s Word.

One WILL read of purgatory in the Traditional Tales of the Apostate Churches.

IS Purgatory part of the reader’s salvation plan?

It is not YET too late–although time is surely running out: 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

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

A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple

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

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

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RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image:   Image by LoggaWiggler from Pixabay.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-22. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2022. 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.

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

[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.

Related articles

2THESSALONIANS 2:3: Though Often Referred To As Two Separate Events, the Man of Sin is the Logical Result of the Falling Away

hoodie guy

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”
–2THESSALONIANS 2:3

For all those who watch end times events, 2THESSALONIANS 2:3 is a critical verse: 2THESSALONIANS 2:3 contains what MUST occur BEFORE  Jesus Christ returns to earth.

Many times, men studying this verse look at its events as though they were two SEPARATE ones.

BUT, the ‘revelation’ of the ‘man of sin’–in fact, the man of sin himself–is the logical culmination of the’falling away.’

The ‘falling away’ is the GREAT end times rebellion against God AND His Son, Jesus Christ.

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
–Psalm 2:2-3

It is ALSO a direct result of this great end times rebellion that the kings of the earth–as a result of being DECEIVED by the dragon (Satan) and his other beast, as well as his man of sin (the false prophet, the counterfeit Messiah)–gather their armies to fight against Jesus Christ upon His return to earth.

Little else deceives man like  illegitimate supernatural power. Whether it is satanic power (from Satan) or demonic power (from devils), illegitimate supernatural power is used to deceive mankind and its leaders in the last days.

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
–Revelation 16:13-14

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse[Jesus Christ], and against his army.”
–Revelation 16:16,19:19

To sum up: FIRST the GREAT END TIMES REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST (‘falling away’) happens.

THEN–out of this confused, chaotic time–the man of sin is revealed.

The WHOLE earth is deceived–particularly those who NOW publicly INSIST that they ‘love Jesus.’

“And the great dragon…that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world”
–Revelation 12:9

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
–Revelation 13:4,8

WHAT side does the reader believe he will end up on during the last days: Satan’s side or God/Jesus’s side?

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:  May 25, 2022.]

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RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Photo by Rendiansyah Nugroho on Unsplash.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-22. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2022. 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.

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

[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.

Related articles

The Dramatic Conversion Stories of Unbelievers

dramatic

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:15-16

God’s Word informs that it is because of God’s GREAT MERCY, that ANY men at all are saved eternally.

“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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
–Titus 3:5-7

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
–Romans 11:1-6

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
–Ephesians 2:8-9

SO, even though man is saved ONLY by the grace (mercy) of God, man enjoys being the center of attention.  Wicked and deceived man tells MANY stories about how HE ‘came to Jesus.’

NO ONE comes to Jesus on their own: ANY who ‘come to Jesus’ make that decision BECAUSE of God and His mercy.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
–Ephesians 1:4-6

As Jesus Christ Himself once declared

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
–John 15:16

HOWEVER, if the tares believed the Word of God, they would NOT be tares.

This has led to one of the greatest deceptions of the counterfeit Christian: the conversion tale.

Tales told by unbelievers of their claimed conversion to Jesus Christ usually contain a few of the same items.

1- The conversion story is ALWAYS about how the heathen ‘found God’ or “chose Jesus.’ This runs counter to EVERYTHING said in God’s Word.

2- The unbeliever is almost ALWAYS the center of attention in the story.

3- There is usually MUCH drama and emotion attached to their so-called conversions.

“I cried and cried and cried!  I wasn’t even sure what I was crying about!”

4- The claimed convert THEN emphasizes his conversion by repeating accepted phrases over and over and over.

“I’m on fire for the LORD!”

5- The heathen usually knows the month, the day and the hour which his claimed conversion took place–as well as other odd details surrounding that supposed event.

“I’ll never forget it!  It was the 8th of June at 9 pm! I was watching The Beverly Hillbillies when it happened!”

[Those who have actually experienced the GREAT TRANSFORMATION of being re-born spiritually MAY mention any of the above.  BUT, they USUALLY may mention them MONTHS later, AFTER they have figured out what it was that took place within them.]

ONE THING almost all fake conversions have in common: very DRAMATIC details which the storyteller hopes his audience will believe are true.

HAS the reader ever heard someone tell one of these dramatic conversion stories?

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 26, 2022.]

MORE

MORE

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Photo by Emil Jarfelt on Unsplash.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.

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

[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.

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

RE: our link disclaimer: there are links, from time-to-time which appear on this site which we neither approve nor endorse. The frequency of these types of links will no doubt grow worse. All effort is made to remove such links when we become aware of them.

Related articles

Evil Spirits Are Not Stupid

One of the more popular of Satan’s lies–WHICH IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY PROMOTED by the devil’s network of Sunday social clubs called “the churches”–is the one about how Satan rules over evil spirits/demons/devils.

Satan is a personal, spiritual being who rebelled against God and leads a spiritual kingdom composed of demonic powers who oppose God’s purposes through various “schemes” that are designed to keep men and women out of God’s kingdom and to render Christians immature and ineffective in reaching the world with the gospel of Christ.
—Satan and Demons

MORE

This self-serving lie from the enemy was referred to YEARS AGO in these pages.

Satan does NOT control the devils/demons/evil spirits of this world.

God does.

God controls devils/demons/evil spirits.

As the creator of all, this makes perfect sense.

It is also biblical, as ALL verses from the Old Testament concerning evil spirits affirm that evil spirits are sent FROM GOD.

“Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.”
–Judges 9:23-24

“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.”
–1SAMUEL 16:14-16
—Devils, Demons, Evil or Familiar Spirits: Ten Observations

Satan does NOT control devils/demons/evil spirits–though he will utilize their power whenever possible.

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
–Revelation 16:13-14
— The Many Stories Told By Satan’s Storytellers to Stroke Satan’s Ego

NOWHERE in God’s Word is it written that Satan controls devils/evil spirits/demons.

In fact, quite the opposite is written in Scripture: that these ‘unclean spirits’ come from God, NOT Satan.

This information is VERY IMPORTANT to understand some very basic truths about the end times.

One of these misconceptions took the form of a question several weeks ago.

“Why do demons work for Satan?  Can’t they see the devil is a loser?  Demons are supposed to be a LOT smarter than man.  Can’t demons figure this out?”

It was then explained that demons do NOT work for Satan. Satan has no more control over demons than the average wicked worker of iniquity does.

The story about Satan controlling an empire of evil demons is one that most likely was manufactured and then promoted by one of Satan’s deluded followers.

It is probably more popular than the one about ‘demons being fallen angels.’

NEITHER is true.

Part of the answer to the man who posed the original question a few weeks ago was

“Evil spirits are not stupid–they are evil. Why work for a loser (the devil)?  Exactly!  Evil spirits do NOT work for Satan. Evil spirits are sent from God Himself.”

HAS the reader EVER asked himself where evil spirits come from?

OR, does the reader believe that ‘evil spirits’ do NOT exist–except in the minds of those primitive enough to believe such things?

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 3, 2022.]

MORE

MORE

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR/nirots, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR

© 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.

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

[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.

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

RE: our link disclaimer: there are links, from time-to-time which appear on this site which we neither approve nor endorse. The frequency of these types of links will no doubt grow worse. All effort is made to remove such links when we become aware of them.

Related articles

In Times of Scarcity

scarcity, parched land

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
–Matthew 24:7

According to God’s Word, the last days will be filled, not only with chaos and confusion, but with GREAT SCARCITY among non-believers.

In contrast to all of this heartache among the unsaved, are the MANY promises of God to believers to provide in times of GREAT SCARCITY.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
–Matthew 6:31-32

“Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
–Luke 12:24

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”
–2CORINTHIANS 9:8

Once again, these promises are made to those who follow and obey and fear God.  Others who choose NOT to submit to God’s will, need not apply.

It is ALSO true that these promises do NOT apply to those who mistakenly BELIEVE they are one of God’s people; in other words, those who do not exhibit the transformed life of the believer but those pretenders who take on the religious trappings of Christianity in order to convince other men they are righteous.

A GREAT MANY fool themselves into believing this.

So, if the reader finds himself in the midst of the last days and is plagued by want, perhaps the reader should re-evaluate his standing with God?

MORE: IF: The Conditional Promises of God

God–who CREATED ALL–knows NO scarcity: neither do the followers of God.

One thing the reader may want to remember in the days, weeks and months ahead.

IN TIMES OF SCARCITY, MAN SAYS “CONSERVE!“

IN TIMES OF SCARCITY, GOD SAYS “I OWN THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS.”

“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
–Psalms 50:10

DOES the reader ever wonder WHERE he will end up?

DOES the reader quiet any doubts he may have by thinking of his church attendance?

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: November 22, 2021.]

MORE

MORE

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-21. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2021. 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.

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

Related articles

Just Because God Has Not Yet Smitten America Does NOT Mean That the Nation Is Not A Land of Rebellion and Sin

American Flag

Many Americans believe that just because God has not yet PUBLICLY and CLEARLY smitten the nation that America is NOT a land of rebellion and sin.

And MANY Americans take pride in how good they are and how good the USA is as a whole–even though PRIDE IS A SIN.

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”
–Ezekiel 16:49

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
–Romans 1:28-32

Many Americans believe that because they frequent the Sunday social clubs known as THE CHURCHES, they will go to heaven.

BUT, many Americans are deceived.

America is a land of rebellion, which is PROUD of its rebellion and rebellious attitude and which was BORN of rebellion.

Therefore, America is a land of rebellion and sin.

All of those times past, Americans pointed to their prosperity as ‘evidence’ that they were Godly.  Nevermind that Satan uses the often-prosperous things of the world to corrupt people.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
–James 4:4

What do those poor, deluded souls believe now that America’s prosperity appears to have deserted it?

Just because God has has not YET rained judgment down on America does NOT mean that God approves of America.

It only means that God takes the long view and judgment will come because, with God, judgment is a CERTAINTY.

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

DOES the reader believe that America is a ‘good’ country filled with God-fearing Christians?

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: November 15, 2021.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR file/pd

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-21. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2021. 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.

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

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The Soul

soul

Not a lot of information about the SOUL has been previously published in these pages.

And after some searching, some research and some more searching, it was discovered that what is written on the Internet is a) not very helpful, mostly; b) in many cases is pure speculation; speculation which contradicts what is written elsewhere; and, c) worst of all, what is written sometimes contradicts what little is written in God’s Word.

So, by relying on God’s Word, here is some information about something that is talked about a LOT–but which not much is actually KNOWN FOR SURE: the soul.

1- There seems to be a LOT of confusion about the SOUL and the SPIRIT.

At least–judging by what one finds by using the search engines–what is written down often confuses the SOUL and the SPIRIT.

SOME websites plainly contradict what the Bible says, while others recommend reading books by pagan authors to better understand this concept of Christianity. So much had to be waded through in the effort to find ANYTHING useful for this piece.

At the end of the day: confusion reigned.

2- What about the SOUL? What about the SPIRIT?

Many equate the SOUL with some sort of God-given life force.

After much searching, the following was, by far, the best info on the topic we uncovered.

BUT, it still left a LOT to be desired.

The Hebrew word translated “soul” means a breathing creature, one in which life is present, whether physical life or mental life. The Greek word in the New Testament is similar. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life,” either physical or eternal. Jesus asks what it profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul, referring to his eternal life (Matthew 16:26). Both Old and New Testaments reiterate that we are to love God completely, with the whole “soul” which refers to everything that is in us that makes us alive (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Mark 12:30). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether physically alive or in the afterlife.
—What is the Difference Between soul and spirit?

This can be easily checked as the Bible does refers to the living as ‘SOULS.’

It ALSO refers to those in Heaven as ‘SOULS.’

However, just when you think that ‘soul’ means ‘life,’ (whether in this life or the next)–as was claimed in the quoted passage–Revelation 6:9-10 makes one wonder what “the souls of them that were slain for the word of God” means? The verse hints that the soul is MORE than just life itself.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
–Revelation 6:9-10

3JOHN 1:2 provokes the same questions.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

And what, exactly, was the apostle Peter referring to when he wrote 1PETER 2:11?

One supposes that it is possible for ‘fleshly lusts’ to ‘war against ‘life,’ but it seems that Peter is hinting that the SOUL is something else: a separate entity; a part of man about which little is known for sure.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul”

Genesis also raises the same questions–although Genesis 35:18 COULD be seen as supporting both sides of the matter.

“And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.”
–Genesis 35:18

At any rate, here are some verses which support the ‘soul = life’ claim.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
–Genesis 2:7

“Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.”
–Exodus 12:19

“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.”
–Revelation 16:3

3- There are a LOT of claims that ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ are used interchangeably in God’s Word.

Ecclesiastes gives a bit of information on this topic.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
–Ecclesiastes 12:7

Nothing about a man’s soul.

4- The Catholic Church teaches that the soul is a sort of godly bean-counting sin accountant, which needs cleansing (mostly using the ‘sacraments’ of the Catholic Church) from time to time.  It is the soul which is “stained” by sin.

To understand the Church’s teaching on our cleansing in purgatory, it is first necessary to understand sin and its effects, since purgatory has the purpose of purifying us from our sins. Those who die with no stain of sin on their souls, such as baptized babies, go straight to heaven when they die.
—Purification of the Soul Here or Hereafter

The Catholic Church tells a great many tales, but one of the most enduring is the story they tell about “purgatory.”

To believing Catholics, purgatory is like a mini-hell which lets you loose after you burn for awhile.

As one Catholic priest put it

So Purgatory is like having a great heavenly shower and getting rid of all that stuff that’s there. So when I die, I won’t go straight to heaven first; I will go to Purgatory first and get cleansed.

Just as I would not have dreamed of allowing Sheila to see me in the state I was in when I left work in my father’s slaughterhouse, I would not dream of allowing Jesus to see me until that cleansing. When I meet Jesus face to face for the first time, I want to be purified – with a soul that is shining.
—Purging the Stain of Sin

May Catholics LIKE the story of purgatory because it gives them hope that they will EVENTUALLY go to heaven. The trade-off between some sin in this life and burning for awhile in the fire of purgatory, seems to be a fair one in their eyes.

Purgatory–like so many other of that church’s teachings–is a CLEAR contradiction of what God’s Word says on the matter.

OF COURSE, God’s Word is COMPLETELY silent on the tale of ‘purgatory.’

The Catholic Church appears to also teach that the “soul” and the “spirit” are basically the same thing.

The glossary at the back of the U.S. version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “soul” as follows:

The spiritual principle of human beings. The soul is the subject of human consciousness and freedom; soul and body together form one unique human nature. Each human soul is individual and immortal, immediately created by God. The soul does not die with the body, from which it is separated by death, and with which it will be reunited in the final resurrection.

[…]

In Sacred Scripture the term “soul” often refers to human life or the entire human person. But “soul” also refers to the innermost.aspect of man, that which is of greatest value in him, that by which he is most especially in God’s image: “Soul” signifies the spiritual principle in man.
—What exactly is a soul?

According to the official Catholic teaching, the ways a person can cleanse their souls of minor sins:

  • The sacrament of confession
  • Worthy reception of Communion
  • Sincere act of contrition
  • Penance
  • Fasting
  • Almsgiving

—Venial Sin Forgiveness?

5- Although it is not wrong to refer to the SOUL as ‘life,’–God’s Word does it on occasion–there appears to be more to it than that.  The SOUL appears to be part of man–like the spirit–although God’s Word does not say exactly what the differences between a SOUL and SPIRIT are.

The differences between the temporal, more easily-observed BODY and the ‘harder-to-pin-down’ SOUL (and SPIRIT) are obvious.  HOWEVER, there is something about the topic of SOUL which seems to unleash the poetic speculation in man.

Some have claimed that the soul is what makes a person uniquely their own.

That the SOUL is one’s personality.

BUT, so much of one’s ‘personality’ in this life is shaped by misinformation and sin.

SO, at the very least, it appears one’s personality needs a bit of cleaning–and maybe a bit of updating as well.

And so, at the end of the day, it appears that MUCH MORE study will have to go into the SOUL.

And THAT is not merely speculation.

[NOTE: For all readers who are both inquisitive and have a few minutes, this seems to be a most worthy field of study.]

HAS the reader EVER thought about exactly what the soul is?

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: November  2, 2021.]

MORE:  The Day of the Lord: Reaping the Souls of the Wicked at Armageddon in the Valley of Decision

MORE

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Image by Geralt from Pixabay.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-21. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2021. 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.

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

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