TBC What's New Feed

Wednesday - December 11

• 1:00 pm Rob Yardley - Opening Message
• 2:30 pm Dave Hunt - What Does the Bible say Will Happen in the Last Days?
• 4:00 pm Paul Wilkinson - Finding Nemo
• 5:30 pm Dave Hunt - Chosen People?

Thursday - December 12

• 1:00 pm Dave Hunt - God is Angry
• 2:30 pm Mark Cahill - Pray for B.O.B.
• 4:00 pm Dave Hunt - How Dependent Should the Church be on Psychological Theories?
• 5:30 pm Keith Gibson - Onward Christian Monarchs

Friday - December 13

• 1:00 pm Mark Cahill - Hey Stranger!
• 2:30 pm Keith Gibson - The Different Gospel of the “Boyfriend Jesus”
• 4:00 pm Dave Hunt - A Critique of Dominion Theology
• 5:30 pm Paul Wilkinson - Covenant Keeper

Saturday - December 14

• 2:30 pm Dave Hunt - The Value of Inflexibility
• 4:00 pm T. A. McMahon - Closing Message

The entire conference will be available online for free or on DVD after completion.

• Faith
• Interfaithism: Uniting Religions for One World
• Who Am I?
• Digital Addiction: What the Neuroscience Shows
• Answers to Three Key Questions about Creation and Evolution
• The Love of God
• Technology vs. Intimacy with God
• Seven Strong Arguments for a Pre-Trib Rapture
• Desert Encounters: Evolutionary Culture and the Christian Message
• Faith is Not a Four-Letter Word
• Getting from Darwin to Engineered Biology
• The Five Foundation Stones of the Early Church
• Where Are We... and Where Do We Need to Be?

This is not science but “scientism,” the worship of science in the place of God. The truth, however, is that science never will be able to explain ultimate reality. We could quickly list dozens of common phenomenon that science has not been able to explain: light, the electron, life, love, conscience, ethics, morals, etc. In contrast to the confidence fifty years ago that physical science would soon explain everything, including mind and personality, most scientists now recognize that science can never explain the most basic elements of the universe and our existence.

Question: I have a Bible question which I don't understand—would you mind teaching me? In a Zoom Bible study originating from a Hong Kong Ministry, the teacher who is teaching suggested it is permissible to worship and sacrifice to the LORD at the high places since the Temple wasn't built yet and is forbidden after the Temple was built:

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire (Deuteronomy:7:5But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
See All...); And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks…. (Deuteronomy:12:3-6 [3] And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. [4] Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. [5] But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: [6] And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
See All...)

1 Kings:3:2-3 [2] Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. [3] And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
See All... said that Solomon offered 1,000 sacrifices to the LORD at the high place at Gibeon and after that God was revealed to him and accepted him, but in 2 Chronicles:1:5Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
See All... Solomon actually went to the Tabernacle and offered at the brazen altar. So, did he do the right thing? 

Response: 2 Chronicles:1:3So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.
See All... tells us that Solomon, early in his reign and before the temple was built, worshiped at a high place. Verse 3 reads, “So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.” We know that the tabernacle was set up there. But, both Deuteronomy:7:5But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
See All... and 12:3-6 clearly tell us that all the pagan materials are to be removed from the high place prior to any worship of the Lord. A “high place” itself is not a pagan location, except if the statues and the other things used in their rituals are there.

Consequently, the reason Solomon worshiped at this particular high place was, as already noted, that the tabernacle was set up there. It was the same tabernacle that the children of Israel, according to the instructions given Moses, had constructed in the wilderness. Therefore, before the construction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, the tabernacle was what God had chosen for the sacrifice and worship by Israel.

It has been pointed out that Solomon’s father King David had previously worshiped the Lord at this high place in Gibeon. First Chronicles 16:39 notes, “[David left] Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon….” The tabernacle was where the altar of burnt offering had been set up (see 1 Chronicles:21:29For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
See All...).

Again, it was not the high place itself that made it a suitable place for the sacrifices, but rather a place cleansed of all pagan paraphernalia and with the tabernacle already set up there.

*Our purpose in this section is to simply show what kind of feedback we receive. We may respond to some of them in private whether or not we agree with their views. 

Dear TBC,

I recently came out of a Dominionist church. You covered the points very well: they're not looking for the Rapture of the church, they're not looking for the second Coming of Christ, the seven-year Tribulation, the global kingdom of the Antichrist, or the Battle of Armageddon when Christ returns to destroy Antichrist and his armies and establish his 1,000 year Kingdom on earth, sitting on the Throne of His earthly father, David, in Jerusalem. They turn the Book of Revelation on its head, and claim Israel has no special role in God’s end times program, and have no right to the Land of Israel ("God is not a racist," I heard one of their teachers say). The Holy Spirit warned me to GET OUT of that church, which I did. The church, btw, is a member of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) denomination. The top echelon of the leadership of the Church of God in Cleveland, TN was contacted about the doctrines the local church was teaching. They had NO problem at all with the Dominionist teaching, and basically said, "Mind your own business." The great apostasy is here. Whole denominations are falling away. EW (email)

Dear TBC,

Thank you so much for taking the time to research the mockery and heresy of The Chosen  [see—www.bit.ly/3UcYlZK]. I meet a lot of people that think The Chosen is the greatest and now I can recommend this video to share what it really is. Well done research, and thank you for sharing with your fellow believers. We need to be aware of this kind of stuff that is leading believers away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, thank you for exposing The Chosen. SM (email)

Dear TBC,

[Concerning the video “The Promised Land Series—Mocking God and Moses”, see—www.bit.ly/4dSew5N] This is more idolatrous "Christian" entertainment. It was hard for me to watch the whole thing. It's so dangerous what they're doing. What's crazy is how many people are flocking, "following" this worldly group. They are being used by Satan, not God. Yet people will take up for it because it gratifies their need for entertainment. Sad. JF (email)

Dear TBC,

I think it is more difficult with The Promised Land than with The Chosen. They claim to represent the life of Jesus but add a lot of their own imagination. I agree that is a big problem. But with this it is obvious it is not a literal depiction of how it would have been. Should we then be so Berean about it? Personally I like some parts with humor and some I really don’t but that’s a matter of taste. Personally, I think we should be careful to dismiss or accept anything.

But ask questions like, “For what purpose is something? Is it educational or entertainment, or is it a strange mix?” And then judge the matter accordingly to its intention. But to be fair with all the interpretations of the Bible, it is hard to find any entertainment that is in line with the Bible. So I have one simple rule: If it is entertainment, it is NOT education. And learning about His ways comes with reading or hearing His Word (Romans:10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
See All...). But it is a fact you have immersed yourself with the Word of God. CJ (email)

Dear TBC,

[Concerning the video “Is the Universe Billions of Years Old? Part 2” with Jay Seegert, see—www.bit.ly/40bzrxr] Thank you for another excellent presentation of the truth of the six literal days of creation. Mark:10:6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
See All... is an important reference. Also, a very important point was made: dead fossils, which the imaginary geologic column shows predate humans, conflict with the first human Adam's transgression bringing death into a perfect creation. The evolution heresy conflicts with the truth of death and salvation in Romans:5:12-21 [12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. [15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. [17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
See All.... Anon. (email)

Dear TBC,

[Concerning the video “Why Does World Opinion Go Against Israel?”, see—www.bit.ly/40tuxML] I can only think that it is the people who truly seek God by the reading of His Word, that their eyes are opened and understand this message. They are in a fight against evil. The world is watching hoping for an excuse to annihilate them. That’s what it seems like. But what choices do they have right now? I pray for them because I know God loves them and He is waiting for them to call on Him. Many of them are turning to Jesus and it’s so amazing. God reuniting with His people! And we are His adoption! Anon. (email) 

THE OUTCOME OF 2024 USA ELECTION IS HISTORY

Has the outcome changed your HOPE? 

T. A. McMahon

President

Keep Thou me ever hungry, Lord,

Until I famish for Thy Word—

Thy Word, which is my meat, my bread,

Thy Word, which feeds whenever read.

Keep Thou me ever thirsty, Lord,

Stay not Thy hand till Thou hast poured

Thy living water in my cup

Which I am humbly holding up.

Keep me dissatisfied, dear Lord;

Use thou Thy Spirit’s shining sword

To pierce my foolish self-esteem

And rouse me from my empty dream.

Keep me awake, that I may hear

Thy bugles calling, loud and clear.

Stir Thou my sluggish soul to fight

For Thee beneath Thy banner bright.

Yea, this my prayer, that I may be

Hungry and thirsty, Lord, for Thee,

Dissatisfied with self, awake!

And this I ask for Jesus’ sake.

— Martha Snell Nicholson, “Until He Comes”

Hizbullah’s Stronghold in the U.S.

Memri.org, 10/22/24, “Dearborn, Michigan—Hizbullah’s Stronghold in the U.S.” [Excerpts]:The local community in Dearborn, Michigan shows visible support for the U.S. government-designated terrorist Iranian proxy in Lebanon, Hizbullah, regularly mourning its slain fighters and referring to them as “martyrs.” Memorials and commemorations for slain Hizbullah fighters, and other Hizbullah-related events, are often held locally, including at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in the city, named for the Bint Jbeil area, one of Hizbullah’s strongholds in Southern Lebanon where members of the community have family ties.

These very public memorials and commemorations are regularly covered by a local news outlet which publishes articles, photos, graphics, and videos about funerals for these “martyrs” in southern Lebanon and about memorial services that are held for them in Dearborn. Other Hizbullah fighters’ funerals are extensively covered by local news outlets….

Even though these public commemorations of Hizbullah fighters are held regularly, they are not reported on by outlets affiliated with major news agencies.

https://bit.ly/4fiwKyI

How Do We Solve the West’s Fertility Crisis?

IntellectualTakeout.org, 8/27/24, “How Do We Solve the West’s Fertility Crisis?” [Excerpts]: It’s no secret that birth rates are dropping across the Western world. A recent OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) report found that the fertility rate among the group’s 38 member nations dropped from 3.3 children per woman in 1960 to just 1.5 children in 2022—well below the replacement level of 2.1 children required to keep populations constant.

To be sure, this is not just an economic challenge but an existential one. A civilization that has lost the will to reproduce is a civilization that has lost the will to live.

According to the latest research, we have indeed lost the will to reproduce. In a study published earlier this month, the Pew Research Center found:

The share of U.S. adults younger than 50 without children who say they are unlikely to ever have children rose 10 percentage points over five years, from 37% in 2018 to 47% in 2023.

https://bit.ly/4gZqIEv

Mixed Land and Marine Fossils in Wales

ICR.org, 8/26/24, “More Mixed Land and Marine Fossils in Wales” [Excerpts]: Flood geologists expect to find marine fossils mixed in the same layers as land animal and land plant fossils. We see it all over the world. Scientists can directly observe the results of massive waves, created by tectonic activity, that crashed across the continents. The global Flood caused many animals and plants to be transported both onto the land and offshore, too.

A recent discovery in Wales brings the land and marine mixing issue to the forefront again.  Conventional scientists from the University of Bristol and The Natural History Museum in London discovered dinosaur bones mixed in the same bone beds with fossils of countless marine fish (and at least one coelacanth), sharks, and swimming reptiles, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

Lead author Owain Evans said: “The bone bed paints the picture of a tropical archipelago, subjected to frequent storms that washed material from both land and sea into a tidal zone. This means that from just one fossil horizon, we can reconstruct a complex ecological system, with a diverse array of marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and placodonts [extinct marine reptiles] in the water, and dinosaurs on land.”

With this evidence, it is surprising that conventional geologists still don’t seem to get it. They see the mixed assemblages and the flooding but interpret it in their deep-time worldview, ignoring the possibility that there was a global flood. Their many “storms” over vast time amount to many floods, just never the one Flood.

Unsurprisingly, a better explanation for these recent Welsh discoveries is the global Flood. It explains the transport of the marine fossils inland, the abrasion, the mixing with land animals, and even the rapid burial. It also makes sense of the dinosaur footprints in freshly deposited marine sediments. Those dinosaurs were likely scrambling to find any remaining dry ground at that point in the Flood, leaving their footprints before being washed away themselves by the next wave.

https://bit.ly/3U47ofF

I recently received a newsletter from a ministry which contained the exhortation: “The Bible says there is a season for everything. This is our season to fight hard—to battle back—to win." 

The timeliness of their statement could not have been better fitting with the main point of this TBC article. We without doubt are in the “last days” (possibly even the last hours) battle before Jesus returns. Scripture warns us that Satan knows his time is short (Revelation:12:12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
See All...) and he's unleashing every wrathful and wicked device he has upon "the inhabiters of the earth."                

Therefore, we need every insight we can find in God's Word that sheds light on how we are to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy:6:12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
See All...). In this article, we're featuring a man of God who embodies the qualities sorely needed in the church today. His name is Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, who wrote most of the Book named after him. He certainly made himself aware of the times, and the Holy Spirit gave him tremendous insights in what the children of Israel ought to do regarding a variety of very difficult conditions. 

For example, when Nehemiah first became aware of the dire circumstances "concerning the Jews that had escaped" and were living in Jerusalem, his reaction was: he "sat down and wept... and prayed before the God of heaven…." Furthermore, he humbly confessed "the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned" (Nehemiah:1:2-6 [2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. [4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, [5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: [6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
See All...).

Nehemiah was a Jew born in Babylon during the 70-year captivity. He was highly regarded by the Persian ruler Artaxerxes whom he served as cupbearer and wine steward. It was a significant position of tasting the king's drink and food in order to keep the king out of harm's way. Yet his duty for the "king of kings" (perhaps the world's most powerful ruler at the time) did not lessen his concern for his Jewish kinsmen and their struggles in Jerusalem.

Artaxerxes the king took notice: “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart” (Nehemiah:2:2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
See All...). 

Nehemiah explained: “Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire? Then the king said to [him], What do you request? So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it” (vv 3-5).

Nehemiah's request of the king tells us a lot about his character. First of all, he immediately "prayed to the God of heaven." Secondly, his request would have him give up an extremely comfortable and honorable position to do work that amounted to hard labor with those who were the poor and struggling returned captives. Not exactly the life he was experiencing among the elite Persian crowd!

I believe Nehemiah's qualities as a leader are sorely missing in today's church leadership. In other words, there are a great many things we can learn about leadership from one whose name means "the Lord comforts." It's not by chance that the Holy Spirit is referred to as "the Comforter." "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things..." (John:14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
See All...). There's little doubt that Nehemiah was used by the Lord to comfort and teach His people, as you will read.

Nehemiah's first request of Artaxerxes was to give him what was needed to help his people. One of the marks of a godly leader is selflessness,that is, one who is completely other-directed.His request included not only building supplies, but also protection from those whose intention it was to thwart the work of God. This he did, but not without first seeking the Lord in prayer, which He graciously answered: "Then I told them [the Jews in Jerusalem] of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So, they [by God's grace] strengthened their hands for this good work" (Nehemiah:2:18Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
See All...).

Even so, the opposition to the "good work" intensified. "But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it (Nehemiah:4:7-8 [7] But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, [8] And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
See All...)." 

Nehemiah's response: "Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them" (v 9).

Again, one of the marks of the Comforter is "He shall teach you all things..." (John:14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
See All...). 

The Holy Spirit then gave Nehemiah a gameplan of how to engage God's enemies. Certainly, prayer first, then a strategy to enable the work to continue. "And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded" (Nehemiah:4:16-18 [16] And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. [17] They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. [18] For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
See All...).

For those who don't see an application for our day, I suggest the sword they might think of is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians:6:17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
See All...). Too often among today's leadership, looking to God's Word is not a priority. It's considered as “impractical.” 

As often happens in times of great struggles, it brings out the best and worst in folks. Nehemiah's leadership qualities not only helped him react and recognize the problem—he "was very angry" at how the Jewish rulers were treating their brethren. It's called usury.Basically, their kinsmen were being put in financial bondage by their kinsmen.His solution was a stiff rebuke: "Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them" (Nehemiah:5:7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
See All...). The end result of his uncompromising stance (which is rare in church leadership today) was thus: "Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest" (v 12).

Doing what's right is always the right thing to do, but it can create other problems. Not surprising, it has a way of cranking up the opposition of God's enemies, as well as a never-ending diversity of attacks such as false accusations, distractions, continual harassments, outright lies, intimidation, false prophets, ad hominem attacks, etc.

Finally, through prayer and obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His grace, "the wall was finished… in [an amazing] fifty and two days" (Nehemiah:6:15So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
See All...). Adding to that good news, while under Nehemiah's administration, the Lord had Ezra teach the people the Scriptures [the Sword of the Spirit!], laying a critical foundation that they might learn and obey God's laws. And as they did, the people and the land prospered.

However, for the brief time period when Nehemiah returned to Babylon from Jerusalem, many of the people drifted away from his governorship and God's laws. How Nehemiah handled their disobedience, I believe, is a lesson in general for every pastor who believes he has been called to shepherd God's flock. Granted, what Nehemiah did in some cases may seem harsh, even outrageous by today's so-called standards, but two words speak loudly to me regarding his approach. They are: No compromise.

Today's word for compromise can best be termed ecumenism, which is an attempt to reconcile all professing Christian religions, even those which clearly contradict each other. Rick Warren, who is the executive director of Finishing the Task mission coalition, is today's best-known advocate of ecumenism that fosters the belief that "can't we all just get along?" is the key to religious unity (see TBC video At Home in Rome on page 8, or online—www.bit.ly/HomeInRome). He's simply following the historic compromise of Billy Graham with the Catholic Church.

Here's what Nehemiah faced when he returned from Babylon, especially in light of those in Jerusalem who had turned back to "wicked works": "And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God" (Nehemiah:13:7And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
See All...). That's reflective of Acts:20:29-30 [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
See All...: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." 

That's just part of today's apostasy that is rampant within professing Christianity.Nehemiah's solution: "And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber" (Nehemiah:13:8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
See All...). 

For decades those of us who have recognized the completely antichrist content of Christian psychology and psychotherapy have pleaded with church leadership to fill dumpsters with their pseudo-scientific lies. Tragically, all to no avail. Psychotherapy is the most popular career choice among today's "Christian" university students. Anyone remember the teaching that God's Word is sufficient and God-breathed? Therefore, adding to it or subtracting from it consists of man's lies (Proverbs:30:5-6 [5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. [6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
See All...).

That which led to the Babylonian captivity had to do with the breaking the sabbath. Not that we're advocating sabbath keeping (it was required for Israel under the old covenant), yet Nehemiah saw the irony: "Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath” (Nehemiah:13:18Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
See All...).

Nehemiah had a solution for those selling things on the sabbath: "Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall [to do business on the Sabbath]? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath" (v 21). Obviously, Nehemiah's "laying on of hands" differed from the popular charismatic technique, yet it was quite effective.

The evil of religious intermarriage returned during Nehemiah's absence in Babylon: "In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people" (vv 23-24).

Nehemiah's solution: "And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves" (v 25). On the one hand, Nehemiah's solution, especially in our day, may possibly result in spending time in jail or at least a psychiatric ward. On the other hand, the long-term grief resulting from a husband and wife whose beliefs are diametrically opposed, will end up being a far more tragic and long-term condition.

Nehemiah reminds us of Solomon's intermarriage with Pharaoh's daughter and issues a warning. "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless, even himdid outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?" (vv 26-27). Nehemiah's addressing the "great evil" of religious intermarriage were sometimes of a very simple and practical solution—although not heeded. One involved Joiada, who was "the son of Eliashib the high priest, [who] was son in law to [the wicked] Sanballat the Horonite" (v 28). What wisdom did Nehemiah issue forth: "I chased him from me."Simple yes, but it's part of the battle of faith that needs to be heeded. 

Although these things took place at the time of the Babylonian Captivity, they were indicated by Jesus that the same and worse would occur at the time of His second coming: "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew:24:3-4 [3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
See All...).

What we know regarding the strategy of Satan, his overall goal as the father of lies is to deceive humanity—which he started with Eve, convincing her of the ultimate lie, "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis:3:5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
See All...). There is no greater deception that robs us of our true hope, the hope that only Jesus, who alone is the Truth, can fulfill. 

Our prayer is that the Lord will raise up leaders and fathers in the church similar to Nehemiah, who was a bold, prayer-first, selfless, uncompromising man of God. They will need the Lord’s help to guide them through the perilous times of unprecedented deception ahead (2 Timothy:3:1-2 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
See All...).

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm:31:24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
See All...)

TBC

• Question: Do Christians still commit sin?
• Question: Should Paul's Epistles be part of Scripture?

Question: Our church is teaching that Christians will not commit sins if they are truly saved. So, are scriptures such as 1 Peter:4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All... talking about unbelievers?

Response: Concerning your question, 1 Peter:4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All... tells us: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

Peter is writing “…to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied” (1 Pet:1:1-2 [1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
See All...).

It is to these believers that Jesus warns, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief…[etc.]” (1 Pet:4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All...). It is to believers that John writes in 1 John:1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
See All...: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Consequently, Peter wouldn’t warn those who cannot sin, nor would John have written of a remedy for those who haven’t sinned. Though the saved (still living in the “old man,” i.e., the flesh) can still say, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph:2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
See All...). 

Yet, Peter still warns the church in 1 Peter:4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All....

Question: What can you tell us about a group who say they are Christians, but tell us that Paul’s epistles should not be in the New Testament? Also, they say that we must learn the Scriptures through Hebrew eyes and culture. Finally, the names “Hebrews,” “Israel,” “Israelites,” and “Jews” have different meanings in today’s context and that “Israel” and “Jews” don’t mean the same people.

Response: From what you have said, you very likely have met a cultist who is presenting himself as the authority when it comes to learning Scripture. The intent to help Christians understand better the Scriptures through Hebrew eyes and culture is not in itself “bad.” But, if any group places emphasis upon these aspects, such as how someone is saved, we’re only seeing through their eyes and their assumed culture.

To them the Bible “must” be in error, because it contradicts what they teach. Yet, if they won’t include Paul as a part of the New Testament, consider what Peter said in 2 Peter:3:16As 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.
See All...: “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 doalso the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (emphasis added).

Further, the Lord has promised to preserve His Word, as in Psalm:12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. [7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
See All...: “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.”

Regarding your question about the meaning of “Hebrews,” “Israel,” “Israelites,” and “Jews,” all speak of the descendants of Jacob (Israel). The Lord distinctly said that “...though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished” (Jer:30:11For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
See All...).

As to their importance as “signs of the times,” the prophet Joel recorded that “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (Jl 3:2; see also Zechariah 7, 8, 12, 14, etc.). Finally, the apostle Paul also noted that God was far from finished with the nation of Israel (Rom:11:1-25 [1] 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. [2] 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, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] 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. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. [6] 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. [7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. [8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. [9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: [10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. [15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. [19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
See All...).

Not only cannot science explain the origin of energy, of life, and of the many diverse species—it also has no answers to life’s ultimate questions. Nevertheless, many scientists deny this fact and continue their determination to arrive at a “scientific” explanation for everything—without any need for God. The following bold declaration from an atheist is only one of many examples that could be given:

“Once there was a time when nothing was explained. Since then, everything which has been explained has been found to have a natural, not a divine, explanation. Although this does not prove that all future explanations will be of like kind, it shows that it is not at all unreasonable to expect this—and it is not a very reliable bet to expect the opposite.”

Evolutionists often claim that creationists deny science. But what science do creationists deny? And what does history say?

Foundation of science

Before discussing science, we should wonder why it even works. Science requires an orderly universe, but why should it be orderly in the first place? Evolution can’t explain it. God gave mankind dominion (Genesis:1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
See All...), implying we are meant to study the creation and find out how it works. However, the Bible teaches a Divine Lawmaker—the God of Order, not confusion (1 Corinthians:14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
See All...)—made the universe. God gave mankind dominion (Genesis:1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
See All...), implying we are meant to study the creation and find out how it works. (See also creation.com/whyscience.)

University, a medieval church invention, first laid the foundations of science. Its pioneers were often clergymen, what we might call natural philosophers (natural philosophy was the old term for ‘science’). A few centuries later, the Reformation led to the rediscovery of a more objective understanding of Scripture, which was transferred to nature. Science historian Peter Harrison wrote, “The Bible and its literal interpretation have played a vital role in the development of Western science.” (See creation.com/roots.)

Let’s explore several scientific branches to see if creationists deny them. Actually, why would we deny these sciences, since creationists founded them? (See creation.com/name-game.)

Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) discovered the three laws of planetary motion. He also invented the refracting telescope used by modern astronomers, and discovered how eyes focus incoming light. He said his scientific work was “thinking God’s thoughts after him.”

Robert Boyle (1627–1691) overturned the pagan-Greek view of four elements: fire, water, earth, and air. Instead, he proposed the modern scientific definition: a substance that can’t be broken down into anything simpler. Boyle discovered that gas volume is inversely proportional to pressure (e.g. the smaller the volume of a gas, the higher its pressure). He also wrote books defending Christianity.

Albert Einstein’s three scientific heroes were Faraday, Maxwell, and Newton (creation.com/einsteins-heroes). Michael Faraday (1791–1867), a member of a very conservative Christian sect (the Sandemanians), pioneered electrochemistry (important for electroplating) and magnetic induction (vital for electric generators). James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) hugely contributed to thermodynamics, and his electromagnetism equations were foundational for Einstein’s relativity. Maxwell rejected Darwinism and affirmed Noah’s Flood. Sir Isaac Newton (1642/3–1727) discovered the laws of motion, gravity, and cooling, and the spectrum of light. But he wrote more about Scripture than science.

Newton also co-invented calculus. Other outstanding creationist mathematicians include Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), discoverer of probability and hydraulics, and Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), who probably discovered more mathematics than anyone else.
So creationists are hardly likely to reject physical sciences, having played a huge part in discovering and developing them. But maybe creationists deny biology? Actually, creationists founded many branches of biology, too.

Gregor Mendel (1822–1884) discovered genetics while he was a monk, then an abbot. Darwin ignored his work and had a completely wrong view of inheritance. John Sanford (b. 1950) invented the gene gun and showed how rapid gene mutation makes evolution impossible. Also, he showed that we would be extinct if long-age dogma were true.

James Simpson pioneered anesthesia, especially to relieve childbirth pain. Some evolutionary propaganda accuses Christians of opposing anesthesia, as it supposedly attacks God’s decree that women suffer childbirth pain (Genesis:3:16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
See All...). Simpson’s biblically justified retort was that God used anesthesia on Adam to make Eve. And Jesus showed that alleviating aspects of the Curse was a blessing. No notable Christian raised any religious objection to Simpson; most were highly supportive (see creation.com/simpson).

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) discovered bacteria. He said they “glorify the Lord and Creator of the Universe.” Joseph Lister (1827–1912) was a dedicated Christian who saved countless lives by inventing antiseptic surgery. Louis Pasteur (1822–1895), a firm believer in creation, disproved spontaneous generation (life from non-life). One antibiotic penicillin discoverer was Ernst Chain (1906–1979), an Orthodox Jew and strident anti-Darwinist.

What’s left to deny?

Evolution relies on variation and natural selection. But creationists don’t even deny these. Not today, and not even before Darwin (1809–1882). We just deny the unproven claim that such processes could turn bacteria into biologists.

Anglican Bishop John Wilkins (1614–1672) founded the metric system and the Royal Society. He also realized that comparatively few Ark kinds gave rise to many more varieties. Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), who some called ‘the Second Adam’ for classifying creatures (Jesus is the Last Adam—1 Corinthians:15:45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
See All...), understood that God created them to vary. Creationists don’t deny real science; they founded most types of science.

Historians of biology inform us that pre-Darwinian creationist biologists understood natural selection was real. But unlike Darwin, they comprehended it was a culling force, not a creative one, and that it didn’t explain the arrival of the fittest.

Creationists don’t deny real science; they founded most types of science. Variation and natural selection are part of the biblical creationist model. As a matter of logic, if something is part of two rival models, it can’t be used to support one against the other.

TBC: For full article and footnotes, see: https://creation.com/do-creationists-deny-science#

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on the Palestinian problem. In Part 1 we began examining the lies (or, if you prefer, the more politically correct disinformation) being told about Israel’s history and its right to the land now called Palestine. God promised Abraham and his descendants (Israel) in Genesis:12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
See All... to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. While God used foreign invaders as a tool of judgment against Israel (Hos 9 – 12; Isa 8; 2 Kgs 17-25, 2 Chron 32-36, Jer 21, 22, 25, 27-28, 32, 34), He always subsequently destroyed those tools. Will America be a tool of judgment, or will we be blessed because we blessed Israel?

Many justice-minded Christians may not be aware of the historical lies being said about Israel and are thus contributing to anti-Zionism –– what Rabbi Sacks calls “the new anti-Semitism.” Speaking at the 2013 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks addressed the cultural path to legitimizing the new anti-Semitism: I tell you that what we grew up with – “Never Again” –– is beginning to sound like “Ever Again.” And at the heart of it is hostility to Israel. . . . In the Middle Ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the 19th century and the 20th they were hated because of their race. Today, when it’s no longer done to hate people for their religion or their race, today they are hated because of their state. The reason changes but the hate stays the same. Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism.

There are seven historical facts about Israel and Palestine that everyone needs to know:

1) The Palestinians have had numerous opportunities to create an independent state but have repeatedly rejected them.

2) The bulk of land acquired by Zionists prior to 1929 was purchased legally from large, predominately absentee, landowners like the Levantine Sursock family.

3) The name “Israel” appears in several key, pre-Christian archealogical finds including the 2nd millennium BC (2000 BC to 1001 BC) Merneptah Stele, which speaks of Israel in Canaan.

4) The name “Palestine” doesn’t appear until 5th century BC, when the Greek historian Herodotus first references “Palestine,” which is derived from the word “Philistia,” which is a reference to the Philistines’ past existence on the southern coast of Canaan.

5) In the area known today as Palestine, there has never been a state that was not Jewish and there has never been an Arab, Palestinian, or Muslim state. The Jews are aboriginal to the land of Israel. The Palestinians are aboriginal to Arabia.

6) Despite claims by Yasser Arafat that “Palestine [in 1881–– the beginning of the Zionist invasion according to Arafat] was a verdant area, inhabited mainly by an Arab people,” historical records demonstrate something very different. Below are just a few examples. Emphasis Mine]

The first official public census, taken by the Turks in 1844, revealed a Jewish population of 7,120, as opposed to 5,760 Moslems.

In 1785, the French historian Constantine Francois Volney described the state of Palestine as “ruined” and “desolate.”

In 1857, the British consul in Palestine, James Finn, reported back to England: “The country is in a considerable degree empty of inhabitants, and therefore its greatest need is that of a body of population.”

In 1867, Mark Twain wrote in The Innocents Abroad: “Stirring senses… occur in this valley no more. There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent – not for thirty miles in either direction.” He goes on to describe Galilee, Judea, and around Jerusalem as deserts devoid of population. And for the country as a whole: “Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies… Palestine is desolate and unlovely… It is hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land.”

The city of Jerusalem is not mentioned anywhere in the Koran, whereas in the Bible it is mentioned 667 times in the Old Testament and 139 times in the New. The only Islamic reference to Jerusalem is in the Hadith literature –– a record of the words, actions, and approvals of the prophet Muhammed. Muslims have no scriptural right to the city. In fact, the Koran even states that the Holy Land belongs to the Jews.

All we have to do is turn to the Qur’an, Surah 5:20-21: And ˹remember˺ when Moses said to his people, “O my people! Remember Allah’s favours upon you when He raised prophets from among you, made you sovereign, and gave you what He had never given anyone in the world. O  my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺. And do not turn back or else you will become losers.”

If Muslims have no scriptural right to Jerusalem, then why do they insist on controlling it? According to Sharam Hadian of Truth In Love Ministry, Jerusalem is only sacred in Islam because they conquered it in A.D. 637. In fact, Islam has absolutely nothing in common with Christianity and Judaism. They believe the exact opposite of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen:12:1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
See All...–3; 15; 17:9–14; Deut 30: 1-10). They believe Abraham took Ishmael (not Issac) to Mecca (not Mt. Moriah) to sacrifice him as God commanded. But according to the Answering Islam website: the Quran itself states that the prophetic line came through Isaac, not Ishmael: “And we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and we established the prophethood and the scripture among his seed” (29:27). Neither does the Quran say that Allah established a covenant with Ishmael and his descendants.

The Muslim scholar Yusuf Ali adds the word “Abraham” and changes the meaning as follows: “we gave (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and ordained among his progeny prophethood and revelation.” By adding in Abraham, Yusuf tries to include Muhammad in the prophetic line, but is in fact only more clearly defining Isaac’s lineage. Abraham’s name is not found in the arabic text of the Quran, which Muslims consider to be perfectly preserved.

In addition to God’s warning in Genesis:12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
See All... that He will curse those who curse Israel, it is important to understand that Israel has a literal future. The church has not replaced Israel and thus God’s covenants with Israel are still valid. According to Dr. Tommy Ice of the Pre-Trib Research Center “the promises in the first three verses of [Genesis] chapter 12 are on the same level as the foundational statements by the Lord in the first eleven chapters of Genesis.” In addition, God clarified that the unconditional Covenant is between God, Abraham and his descendants and is “everlasting”: And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.  And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis:17:7-8 [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
See All...).

In “Why God Is a Zionist,” Dr. Thomas Ice makes an interesting point: This clearly means that one’s treatment of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants is a major foundational principle for an individual or a nation to consider as one of the responsibilities that God has given to all mankind. I have always believed that there was a blessing or curse waiting for how one treats Israel, but my new realization is that within the structure of Genesis it is placed on the same level as the cultural mandate (Gen:1:26-28 [26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
See All...), the establishment of marriage (Gen:2:18-24 [18] And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. [19] And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. [20] And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. [21] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; [22] And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. [23] And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. [24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
See All...), the establishment of civil government after the Flood (Gen:9:1-8 [1] And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. [2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. [3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. [4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. [5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. [6] Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. [7] And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. [8] And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
See All...), and the division of the nations after the Flood as an instrument for restraining evil (Gen:11:1-9 [1] And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. [2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [3] And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. [4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. [5] And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. [6] And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. [7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. [8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. [9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
See All...).

[TBC: For full article and footnotes, please see:]

https://midwestoutreach.org/2024/10/03/the-real-history-of-israel-and-palestine-pt-2/

A creationist present that day secretly and unethically taped the talk without Patterson’s permission and later released a transcript that has caused great controversy, with evolutionists charging creationists with misinterpreting Patterson. That led to an exchange of letters with evolutionists in which Patterson reaffirmed his faith in evolution in spite of its many problems.

Of course, Patterson’s job depended upon his supporting evolution. He “explained” that the famous quote had been misrepresented—that he had not meant evolution in general but merely the “systematics” thereof, since that was the group he was addressing. It is clear from the transcript, however, that he was indeed talking of evolution in general and of his disillusionment after twenty years devoted to it. Evolutionists defend Patterson by saying that he surely knows what he meant, but so can those who go by what he said. If words are to be taken at face value, then what he meant in this unguarded moment is clear—and so is his desire to deny it.

Let it be a settled principle in our minds that the first and chief business of the Church of Christ is to preach the Gospel. The words of Paul ought to be constantly remembered – “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). When the Gospel of Christ is faithfully and fully preached we need not fear that the sacraments will be undervalued. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will always be most truly reverenced in those churches where the truth of Jesus is most fully taught and known.

—Bishop J. C. Ryle (1816-1900, strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of ritualism. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher, from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John.)

Atheists Affirming Christianity?

In 2020, we commented on an interesting phenomenon, "Atheists Need Christianity," which was becoming a growing trend among well-known atheists. More and more were defending Christianity as culturally necessary for preserving a civil society. For Richard Dawkins, it was the chaos, pandemonium, and brutality he witnessed once Judeo-Christian morality and ethos had been removed. Historian and atheist Tom Holland published Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, arguing that had it not been for Christianity, there would not be a Western culture. Atheist Douglas Murray published The Strange Death of Europe and argued that without Christianity, there would not have been an Enlightenment. Holland attends church, he and Murray refer to themselves as Christian atheists, and recently, Richard Dawkins has begun doing the same. It appears Christianity Today has noticed and printed, "Some of Christianity's Biggest Skeptics are becoming Converts."

Tom Holland, an award-winning British author and ancient Greek and Roman historian. At some point in his studies, Holland recognized the difference in values held by the ancient world compared to those he held instinctively. He realized Christianity is the reason we take for granted that it is better to bear suffering than to cause it—and why we assume all human life is equal in value.

As an avowed atheist throughout his adult life, Holland shocked fellow academics in 2016 when he too penned an article in the New Statesman titled “Why I was wrong about Christianity.” And while he may not yet consider himself a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, he confessed he has lost faith in the secular narrative, returned to church, and “surrendered to the truth” of the stories in Scripture (such as the Exodus), whether they are ultimately historical or mythical.

More recently:    

Former New Atheist thinker Ayaan Hirsi Ali made a similar turn just last year. As a research fellow at Stanford University and a Muslim, Ali was once described by Christopher Hitchens as “the most important public intellectual probably to come out of Africa.” But in 2023, she professed in her essay “Why I am now a Christian” (apparently a play on Bertrand Russell’s famous 1927 essay) that her desire and search for a unifying basis for belief in the humanitarian values of life, equality, freedom, and dignity ultimately led her to the Christian faith.

“The only credible answer,” Ali said, “lies in our desire to uphold the legacy of the Judeo-Christian tradition.” She appreciated not only its focus on the intellectual status of humanity but also its “compassion for the sinner and humility for the believer.” In answer to those looking for meaning and purpose in their lives, Ali was compelled to admit that “Christianity has it all.”

It seems sound apologetics in academia is challenging the thinking of atheists combined, I would suggest, with an up close and personal look at a world that has abandoned Christianity. Will these "Christian atheists" become Christians? We pray that will be the case but, in the meantime, they are arguing that Christianity is necessary for a civil society.

https://mailchi.mp/010ce6562334/the-real-history-of-israel-and-palestine-pt-1?e=169825fd77

For years there has been a neopaganism in the academic world called ecotheology. Viktor Ferkiss was a supporter of ecotheology, which, he said, “starts with the premise that the Universe is God.” As with other religions, many articles of this “faith” are held without any evidence to support them. This is especially true among evolutionists. On November 5, 1981, British Museum of Natural History Senior Paleontologist Colin Patterson gave an informal talk to the Systematics Discussion Group at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The most quoted part of his talk was as follows:

“For the last eighteen months or so, I’ve been kicking around non-evolutionary ideas. Now, one of the reasons I started taking this anti-evolutionary view, well, let’s call it non-evolutionary, was [that] last year I had a sudden realization. For over twenty years I had thought that I was working on evolution in some way. One morning I woke up, and . . . it struck me that . . . there was not one thing I knew about it. That was quite a shock, to learn that one can be so misled for so long.

“Now I think many people in this room would acknowledge that during the last few years . . . you’ve experienced a shift from evolution as knowledge to evolution as faith. I know that’s true of me, and I think it’s true of a good many of you in here.”

Religion in science? Of course. On July 5, 1997, “the project manager of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory renamed the Mars Pathfinder Lander in memory of Carl Sagan. He stated that he believed that Sagan was ‘up there’ watching the entire Mars landing [and] that he believed that Sagan had his hand in several of the project miracles. Miracles? There was not God to perform them, but somehow Sagan is managing to guide space like Obi Wan Kenobi guided Luke Skywalker? Faced with what it cannot explain without God, atheistic science has embraced pagan superstition!

Some fossil sharks grew very large.1 Researchers estimate Otodus megalodon, popularized by the Meg movies, was at least 46 feet long and possibly more than 66 feet. By way of comparison, the largest known extant great white shark is thought to be 20 feet in length. Sharks in the fossil genus Ptychodus, considered to be somewhat similar to today’s nurse and bullhead sharks, might have attained body lengths of 32 feet or more. And a Cretodus fossil shark from Italy is believed to have measured between 31 and 37 feet.

A fossil version of today’s bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) was given the species name H. gigas (gigas means “giant”). Conventional paleontologists have acknowledged that size is the only convincing difference between the teeth of the fossil and living versions. Thus, H. gigas seems to have been a giant fossil version of the bluntnose sixgill.

Likewise, the extant snaggletooth shark Hemipristis elongata usually grows to less than eight feet long. However, the extinct snaggletooth Hemipristis serra is estimated to have had a length of almost 20 feet.

Finally, the largest living thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus, can be between 10 and 20 feet long, and its teeth are 0.7 inches long. But teeth of the fossil thresher A. palatasi can measure 1.6 inches. Teeth from the fossil thresher shark “Alopias” Trigonotodus grandis have been described as “highly enlarged versions of thresher teeth.”1

Because shark vertebrae are composed of cartilage, fossil shark vertebrae generally do not preserve well and are relatively rare. However, the vertebrae are sometimes calcified. Scientists can count growth bands within such preserved vertebrae to estimate the shark’s age at the time of its death. These fossil age estimates are uncertain because some sharks show evidence of twice-yearly growth rings during at least parts of their lives, and the number of growth rings can vary in different vertebrae from the same shark. Nevertheless, researchers generally assume growth bands are annual as a first approximation.

Given this assumption, growth ring spacings within a Ptychodus vertebrae indicate it was still growing rapidly at 30 years of age. Likewise, growth rings in a megalodon vertebrae indicate it was still rapidly growing at 46 years old. Normally, growth rates slow down as creatures mature. That these sharks were still undergoing rapid, juvenile-like growth at these advanced ages suggests they were taking a long time to reach adulthood. Similarly, researchers estimate the fossil Cretodus shark from Italy would have taken 64 years to reach 95% of its adult body length. By way of comparison, one study of great white sharks indicated they do the same in about 33 years or less.2

Studies show that long-lived animals often have larger adult body sizes and take longer to mature than animals with shorter lifespans.3 Thus, the large adult body sizes and delayed maturation of fossil sharks are indirect evidence that at least some of these sharks lived longer than today’s sharks. This is consistent with patterns seen in fossilized Crassostrea oysters as well as predictions made by earlier creation researchers.3,4

Since humans in the pre-Flood and start of the post-Flood worlds also experienced much greater longevity (see Genesis 5 and 11), there could be a connection. Additional research may reveal much more and possibly better validate these patterns. These growth rate results should be very encouraging to Bible-believing Christians who accept the great ages of the pre-Flood patriarchs recorded in Genesis.

References

1. For details and sources for these ages and lengths, see Jake Hebert, “Giantism and Delayed Maturation in Fossil Sharks, Evidence for Extreme Longevity?” Creation Research Society Quarterly 60, no. 4 (2024): 267–283.
2. Lisa J. Natanson and Gregory B. Skomal, “Age and Growth of the White Shark, Carcharodon Carcharias, in the Western North Atlantic Ocean,” Marine and Freshwater Research 66, no. 5 (2014): 387–398.
3. Jake Hebert, Richard Overman, and Frank J. Sherwin, “Crassostrea Oyster Fossils Show Evidence of Extreme Longevity,” Creation Research Society Quarterly 60, no. 3 (2024): 171–190.
4. Jake Hebert, “Living to 900?” Acts & Facts, January/February 2024, 17.

https://www.icr.org/article/fossil-sharks-signs-longevity/

When we ask how origins can be explained without God, the reply is that they can’t yet, but one day “science” will be able to do so. Unlike the great scientists of the past who believed in God and built the foundation for science upon that faith, many of today’s scientists worship the universe as all-knowing and without beginning or end. They have nothing else to trust. Robert Jastrow has said, “Astronomers are curiously upset by  . . . the proof that the universe had a beginning. Their reactions provide an interesting demonstration of the response of the scientific mind—supposedly a very objective mind—when evidence uncovered by science itself leads to a conflict with the articles of faith in their profession . . . there is a kind of religion in science. . . .”