Enemy Territory

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on all the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.  Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”  Ephesians 6:10-20 VW-Edition   “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For...

Vicious

“And they did not repent of their murders nor their sorceries nor their sexual perversions nor their thefts.”  Revelation 9:21 VW-Edition   “Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”  Revelation 9:21 KJV   How can something be written prior to describe what the attitude of people will become during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation?  There is only one way to do so.   Using God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, the Bible (Acts 17:11) as our guide, one can get a glimpse into the attitudes and hearts of the people during that time.  Knowing that things are going to continue to get worse (2 Tim. 3:13) and in 2023 watching and being ready (Matt. 24:42-44), believing that the time is sooner than later, though not knowing for certain, our societies around the world already appear to be showing us a preview of things to come.   In the opening verse from Revelation chapter 9, it has been said that ‘sorceries’ refers to drug use.  Of course our societies have become full of searching out witchcraft, things relating to demons, etc., that is certain, but it has also become a place where rampant drug abuse, legalization of drugs and even prescription drugs, some of which have serious mind altering effects, have absolutely exploded with no end in sight.    Writing this in the spring of 2023 there is talk in the news about ‘tranq’ which puts people into zombie-like statuses, with videos found online showing horrific blocks of cities with drugged-out people hunched...

What Happened?

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  1st Corinthians 15:51-52 VW Edition   “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  1st Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV   “For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shouted command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 VW Edition   “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV   The surest sign that you have that you have entered this time period known as the Tribulation is the fact that there...

Cloudy, with a Chance of Jesus

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  1st Thessalonians 4:17   Everyone has seen and experienced, whether partly or fully participating in the precautionary measures placed on citizens of their respective countries around the world regarding COVID-19, governmental and medical professionals dictated measures that were both voluntary and involuntary throughout their respective states and areas of authority.  Many followed these guidance measures out of fear of contracting the virus and becoming very ill or dying from doing so.    To this day, even in South Dakota, there are still a measure of people who continue to follow certain policies, even though they are no longer enforced or in many cases recommended.  The fear is still held in their heart regarding their longevity and well-being.  Yet where is the fear of God (Matt. 10:28)?   Late last week I noticed that the forecast had a chance for substantial snowfall in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.  Paying attention, as I must plan accordingly my work schedule, there was first a winter storm watch and finally a warning.  The snow began late Tuesday afternoon.   While both Dakotas have a well-known history of severe blizzards from time to time, nothing of that sort was being called for.  What would be considered simply a winter storm, in the era of an insurance based risk assessment from governmental weather forecast centers, was all that was forecast.  However, turning on the nightly news,...

Hell’s Mile

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it.  Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit.  Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore from their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name?  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!”  Matthew 7:13-23   There are cities here and there littered throughout America that have a notorious past.  Some of them are not so well known to the general public, others are well known.  For example in Bay City in Michigan had what was known as Hell’s Half Mile, a part of town...