Milk vs Meat for the Christian

 A few weeks ago Pastor talked about Milk vs Meat for the Christian, Milk for the baby Christian and Meat for the mature Christian. For me this subject hits close to home. More than a decade ago I started to intensely study the Bible with the Koinonia-Institute, an online Christian Think Tank. Here we examine the Bible verse by verse plus related verses. As the brilliance Dr. Chuck Missler oftentimes remarked, "The Bible is a hologram."

Under the unique teachings of Dr. Missler I more or less graduated from Milk to Meat. I was flexing my Christian Meat muscles and then I hit a dry spell. Marketing at Koinonia-Institute changes plus the passing of Dr. Messler, well I let my studies go.

My faith never faltered but was I drifting back to Milk? Was I regressing to need Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:”

No, I'm still clinging to the Meat of the Word.

I felt like The Apostle Paul was talking to me through the centuries when he called the Hebrews immature, backward, untaught, and dull of hearing. Paul expected far more of the maturing/ mature believer who should not only seek the Meat of the Word, rather should teach the Word.

The Apostle Paul said it even more harshly, "Hebrews 5:11-14, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

I'm responsible to God in the sure knowledge of John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The study of God's Word is a commitment I've made for the remainder of my earthly incarnation. After that I hope to hear from the Master Himself.

Ancestors who fought in the American Revolution.

End of file from my sister Mary's records. Mary provided lots of family information researched via books before the availability of Internet programs. I added her information and more to PAF decades ago.

I'm adding this to my Christian blog so the information doesn't get lost.

William Robbins is:

1.  First known American ancestor of this family per US,D2,31,VOL2, pg 731.

2.  William was included in the land grant given to soldiers who took part in the campaign against the Mipmuchhs near Webster in King Phillips War, 1675 per "The Robbins Family"  compiled by Frank Eggleston, Ann Arbor 1926-27. Located at Michigan State Library on Michigan Ave. 929.2 R63r.

3.  William was said to be of Scotch ancestry but not proven.

4.  A Williams of Reading was made freeman 18 Apr 1691.

Williams Robbins is the 7th great grandfather of Sally Jane Cooper.

The father of his wife Priscilla Gowing was Robert Gowing born 1618 Edinburg Scotland.

‐‐---Clark Robbins:

MISC: FOUGHT IN REV WAR

      IGI 13,121 745031/0

batch: 7450361 sheet: none call: 002947

Samuel Burley

1. FOUGHT IN REV. WAR DAR Patriot Index, Washington 1966, located at Michigan State Library, Lansing, MI 973.344 D23d:

Samual Burley (Burleigh) b. 9-22-1745 d. 4-9-1825 m. Rachel Roberts Pvt. Ct.

2. Record of Services of Connecticut Men in the I. War of Revolution II. War of 1812 III. Mexican War Compiled by authority of the General Assembly Hartford 1889:  Under list of ther men who marched from the Connecticut towns "for the relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm" April 1773:

FROM THE TOWN OF UNION:

Samual Burley -- no. of days 6

Jacob Burley -- no. of days 6


2. HELP REFERENCE 213362


!BATCH #: 7450311 NO SHEET CALL NUMBER #: 002898 FOR BIRTH OF SAMUAL AND HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

BATCH #:7207012 CALL NUMBER #:820264 FOR MARRIAGE

4. See family bio ref in father's notes for additional children, also added to PAF file.  Samual and Rachel Roberts had 13 childredn.  Samual was a farmer at Union, moved to Monson 1797.

The Rapture of the Church revisited 2025

It seemed to me that recently there's been less talk about the Rature of the Church. However, with our bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and the great offensive of Israel against Iran perhaps it's time to revisit the coming Rapture of the Church.

The three major viewpoints of the rapture of the Church are Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation and Post-Tribulation.

Call it the Rapture, The Harpazo or the Blessed Hope it will be when Jesus calls His Church home. A wonderful day, an unusual doctrine with a scriptural bases.

1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught (G726) up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

G726 - harpazō - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Pre-Tribulation Rapture is Jesus coming for His Church before the start of the seven year tribulation and this view is in accordance with “The Doctrine of Imminency.” We can expect Jesus at any moment; there is nothing more required for the Rapture of the Church to occur. 

The Jewish Wedding is analogous to what will happen in the lead up to the rapture. Jesus, the bridegroom, ascended into his father's house to prepare a place for his bride, the Church, just as was done in biblical time. Just as the bride was to be ready as the bridegroom could come at any time, the Church should eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus for his Church. A recent video, "Before the Wrath" deals with this.

A Mid-Tribulation Rapture embraces the belief that the Church will be caught at the midpoint of the seven year tribulation before the start of the final three and half years known as the time of Jacob’s troubles.

A post-Tribulation rapture point of view claims that the church will go through the seven year Tribulation. We would meet ourselves in the clouds as Jesus calls us to him as He descended to earth.  We would be going up and coming down at the same time.  seems rather convolted so no, the Church will not go through the Tribulation!

Both the mid- trib rapture and a post-trip rapture point of view deny “The Doctrine of Imminency”.

While there are several Scriptures that imply that the Church will be removed prior to the Tribulation there is that bothersome Revelation 12:5-6, “She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.”

The woman is Israel fleeing after the desecration of the Temple and the breaking midpoint of the seven year year covenant and the start of Jacob’s troubles. The Son of the woman/Israel is Jesus and if His ascension to the Father represents the Church, could this be a mid-trib rapture?

Regardless of my question concerning Revelation 12:5-6, I am still of the belief that the rapture of the church will take place before the start of the seven year tribulation. That said, Christians are being imprisoned, tortured and murdered in many parts of the world.

Although we have been relatively safe since 9/11, we live under the growing threat of jihadists within our country and the indoctrination of our youth. New York City may elect an outspoken believer in Islam as more violence is voted into office. Many students on campuses are turning against Israel and supporting their enemies.

With all this we, the Church, are still here. We've gone through three presidential elections. 

2016 ushered in the Warrior Jehu. Like Jehu President Trump tore down some strongholds.

2020 brought in Biden who followed Isaiah 5:20...
The Rapture seemed so close.

2024 and a return of the Warrior Jehu...
King Cyrus? Or is the fulfillment of Psalm 83 happening? Leading to unwalled villages... a subject for another time. 

Does 2 Timothy 3:16 apply to all scripture revisited?

Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (G2315) and is profitable (G5624) for doctrine, (G1319) for reproof, (G1650) for correction, (G1882) for instruction (G3809) in righteousness: (G1343).

Doctrine: What's right
Reproof: What's not right
Correction: How to get it right
Instruction: How to stay right

In my opiniom 2 Timothy 3:16 is not applicable to all scripture, rather it is in most cases. To me 2 Peter 1 an example of its applicability and deals mostly with “Instruction.”

2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”
Doctrine

2 Peter 1:2, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Correction/ Instruction

2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:6, “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:7, “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.“
Instruction

2 Peter 1:8, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reproof

2 Peter 1:9, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Reproof

2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:11, “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Instruction

2 Peter 1:12, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”
Correction/ Instruction

G2315 - From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathed in: - given by inspiration of God.

G5624 - From a form of G3786; helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous: - profit (-able).

G1319 - From G1320; instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching.

G1650 - From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.

G1882 - From a compound of G1909 and G461; a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction.

G3809 - From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

G1343 - From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.

My Polio Story

 

It all started shortly after the start of first grade. I had a horrific headache and rigid neck and was sent home from school. This was in 1947, several years before the polio vaccine was available. My mother was a registered nurse and likely had an idea of what was going on with my body. I don't remember much until the next day but Mom said that she took me into her bed that night and I think she said I was burning up with fever but I can't remember. 

The next day I had a spinal tap that didn't hurt amazingly enough. It was performed by dr. Paul Kilmer who was my mother's boss as she worked in his office for years. Well it was polio so the next thing I was in an ambulance taking a 70-mile trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was taken to Blodgett Hospital and subjected to a second spinal tap this time I very painful spinal tap. I remember there was a window washer and he heard me screaming in pain and looked so compassionately up through the window. 

Later in the day or early evening I was nearly undressed and two nurses or therapist put me through a series a physical test. I had total movement of my body. They had me bending over and doing turns and such. At that point there was no paralysis. I slept that night and the next morning my mother was visiting and had a friend with her. I was laying in bed and I remember picking up my left wrist and telling my mom I can't move anything on my left side. My left arm and left leg were totally paralyzed. Years later I sent for some of my records and found out that after two weeks I could walk with help, however, I was supposed to be on complete bed rest. 

 As I recall, I spent two weeks at Blodgett Hospital during what would have been considered the more contagious part of the disease. After two weeks I was transferred to a children's Rehabilitation facility called Mary Free Bed. There I had the sister Kenny hot pad treatment. The packs were so hot they nearly seared my skin but they did keep my muscles from seizing. I remember I had a cold and at that time penicillin was far more viscous than today and had to be given every 3 hours. I was having a hot pack session and I thought a nurse was coming towards me with a blue pen in her hand. No pen, it was a hypodermic needle and I got a shot of penicillin in my posterior. I don't remember the rest of the shots but they did hurt. 

While we were mostly children's at Mary Free Bed there was a woman there who was really bedridden and she had polio once before and then contracted again and it just wiped her out. It's funny even at 6 years old I felt sympathy for her. I remember one little girl who did not have polio, rather she had lost her 2 feet and I'm not sure how much of her legs. She had a doctor helping her with learning to use her prosthesis. The doctor had two artificial arms possibly from the war. I remember this courageous little girl wrote a tricycle and I think possibly roller skated. 

Like I said we were supposed to be on bed rest but after three months I found out I could walk, not only could I walk I could run. Although my left leg still has a few minor effects of polio such as a little bit of a drop foot and downward turning of the ankle, I was ambulatory. My left hand and arm were a different story. Even after four reconstructive surgeries the best part of my hand is my little finger which is almost normal. My thumb literally sticks out like a sore thumb but I'm very protective of it. 

I had a few small victories while at Mary Free Bed. I'm not sure what I did both times but I actually was restrained because I was being rather naughty. One of my fondest memories is getting ahold of a roll of toilet paper and getting to the third floor of Mary Free Bed. I looked down the stairwell and holding on the toilet paper, I let it unroll all the way to the first floor. I don't think the nurses were too mad at me but I remember being restrained in a chair until I settled down. 

Being in Michigan, we had a number of snow storms. Family was only allowed to visit once a week, on Sunday. I was told I had a phone call and it was my mother telling me the weather was too bad and she couldn't make the trip. I cried and I said I just knew you weren't coming today. I don't know who was more broken hearted of the two of us. I don't remember the occasion, possibly Christmas, we were sending cards to our mothers. I wrote the word mother on the envelope with the card and gave it to the nurse to mail. By the time Mom received it in the mail mother had been crossed out in the proper address was added. I don't know why the mailman wouldn't know where Mom was I sure did. 

 The Shriners were good to us kids in the hospital. One time they took us to the circus and I had two cotton candies and threw up. At Christmas time they gave us Toys and mine was a little Kewpie doll. After I was released from the hospital I was playing with the Kewpie doll at my friends house. Her father was the local Baptist pastor and by mistake he stepped on my doll and of course felt really bad for breaking it. Strange the things you remember

Dave Hunt’s Book, MP3 "A Woman Rides the Beast"

Here we are in 2025 and a new Pope so time to revisit my posting from 2017. "Good Reading, Dave Hunt’s A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days"

Revelation 17:3, “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

Dave Hunt’s “A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days“ opens with "To the nearly billion Roman Catholics misinformed by their hierarchy; to the 400 million Protestants equally ignorant of the facts; and to the genuine martyrs on both sides, this book is dedicated.”

The book ends with appendix I: "The Lutheran – Catholic Joint Declaration Justification," subject of another Discussion. The joint declaration (JD) was signed on October 31, the same day as in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle chapel.

Dr. Hunt’s book is well written and is thoroughly documented. Although I started reading Dave Hunt’s book several years ago I haven’t read it in order, rather I've skipped around and watched Mr. Hunt’s video, The Woman Rides the Beast. I also have the two MP3 set, "Kingdom of Blood." The first MP3 is recorded by Dr. Missler and is titled "A History of the Church." The second is recorded by Dr. Hunt and is titled "The Woman Who Rides the Beast." Both are very informative and, again, well documented.

Listening to the MP3s, watching the video, and reading about the woman who rides the beast caused me several years ago to take a closer look at the book of Revelation most notably Chapter 17. I grew up Protestant with Catholic friends and never paid much attention to the differences in doctrine. Were it not for my concern for Catholic friends and family members and exposure to Dr. Missler's teachings I would not have dug as deeply into the subject of the modern-day version of the Church in Thyatira as I have.

The RCC promotes a works based salvation basically calling Jesus a liar, John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

A few of the work based perversions (sacraments) of scripture by the Roman Catholic Church includes the belief in the transubstantiation of the bread and wine during mass, that indulgence can be brought, the existence of purgatory, the Marian worship, and the claim of papal authority. Vatican II states 'If anyone says that the sacraments of the new law are not necessary for salvation...... And that without them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of Justification... let him be anathema." Anathema can be something/ someone denounced and/or are cursed.

And in addition to corrupting biblical truths and promoting sacraments the church was also extremely morally corrupt as well. There was great evil committed during the grand Inquisition. Millions were hunted down like animals, and tortured and brutally murdered in these dark days of the Papacy. The grand Inquisition was pretty much an evil alliance between the Spanish government and the Papacy to rob victims of their land and wealth and ultimately their lives. A possible equivalency to 1 Kings Chapter 21. As an aside, it didn't end well for Jezabel, 2 Kings Chapter 9.

Dr. Hunt brings out example after example of popes being appointed by Kings, popes appointing kings and purchase of clerical office. In addition to this marriage of the church to the world, the church has a dismal record of sexual improprieties. In just one example a Bishop Rathurio complained that if he excommunicated unchaste priests "there would be none left to administer the sacraments, except boys. If he excluded bastards, as canon law demanded, not even boys would be left."

Is the woman who rides the beast in the last days the Roman Catholic Church as the One World Religion! Revelation 18:4-5, “4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

The Pope's Red Shoes meets The Wizard of Oz

 Another decade, another Pope. While I'm not particularly interested in Catholic affairs, I respected former Pope Benedict's intellect. That said and full disclosure, I can have a very convoluted sense a humor at times and see patterns were perhaps none exist.

Years ago when Pope Benedict resigned I was half-way listening to the bloviating about the pope’s departure. I heard a comment about his red shoes. I was not aware that the Pope wore red shoes as one of the symbols of his office. I thought about the comparison between the Jesus and the regalia of the Pope. Rather than special red shoes and royal vestment, Jesus walked about in a pair of sandals and homespun and served as our propitiation before a righteous God.

Now where else were red shoes of such importance as at the Vatican? The Wizard of Oz comes to mind. Like me, most of you have probably watched the Wizard of Oz any number of times. After Dorothy's house was flung by a tornado into Oz crushing an evil witch, Dorothy was presented with the witch's red shoes.
I started to make a mental inventory of the primary cast of characters in the story. There was sweet innocent Dorothy who was just trying to get back to Kansas. There was a scarecrow looking for a brain. There was the immobilized tin man looking for a heart. It was amazing how much a few drops of oil enabled him to move his joints. Completing the trio of Dorothy's new friends was the lion looking for courage.

What does all of this have in common with the Catholic Church? Perhaps Dorothy could be compared to the millions of Catholics hoping to go home/ heaven and placing their reliance on church clergy. Accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus to me would be as simple as Dorothy clicking her red shoes together. Given the history of the Catholic Church, popes such as Innocence the third certainly could have used a heart as could the tin man. The requirement for oil by the tin man brings to mind the five foolish virgins who had no oil and were "frozen" in place and not allowed into the Marriage Feast. Like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, there is certainly no comparison between the Catholic Church and the coming Lion of Judah. As for the scarecrow wanting a brain, I would again compare this to those who don't seem to be able to think for themselves and/ or are lacking in Discernment of spirits.

Then there is Malachi and the Prophecy of the last pope... recall the Wizard was exposed as being little more than a puppet master operating the gears and pulleys of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.  When Francis became the 112th Pope the question of his name came up, Francis not Petrus. Interestingly and convoluting enough the name Peter is somehow in Francis' line.

So what of Malachi and the Prophecy of the Popes. The prophecy concerning the 112th and final pope states: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Petrus Romanus, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The end.”