Micah 5:2 is one of the most important Messianic prophecies in the Bible 525 - 8 - 1

Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” In one verse, we are told where the Messiah would be born, that He is eternal and would rule.

“The child was born in Bethlehem, but the Son was from everlasting.” [Scofield Reference Notes]

Bethlehem, a city in Judah, means “house of bread, food” and was the birthplace of King David. It was little, insignificant, and in my opinion perfect for one coming as the suffering Messiah. Ephratah means “ash-heap: place of fruitfulness” and is another name for Bethlehem, avoiding any confusion as which Bethlehem was being referenced.

Among the many prophecies of the coming Messiah is Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

As is often the case, prophets describe one event while pointing further into the future, the later days. Isaiah 66:7-8, “7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

I would summarize the above Isaiah passages as referring to the virgin birth, the coming Messiah, the birth of a man child and prophesied the birth of the State of Israel in one day. The following takes the prophecy to the time of the Second Coming.

“In verse 7 Israel brings forth a male child (the Messiah) before the time of her birth-pangs (the Great Tribulation). In verse 8 she brings forth sons after her time of travail. The first birth took place nearly two thousand years ago at Bethlehem. The second is the spiritual rebirth of Israel, which will occur after the Tribulation. Nothing will hinder God from accomplishing this purpose.” [Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Yesterday, Thanksgiving, I had dinner at my neighbors who are Reformed Seventh-day Adventist and believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is false. Today, a day late I find the following quotation in a commentary referencing the expression goings forth in Micah 5:2. “To Christians, who believe in the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the plural would express the continual generation or the Son from the Father from everlasting and to everlasting, never beginning and never ending; as the Council of Lateran says, "Without beginning ever and without end, the Father begetting, the Son being born (nascens), and the Holy Ghost proceeding." [The Pulpit Commentary]

Micah 5:2, such a short verse but with such depth.

Some insights about the significance of the gifts presented to Christ by the Magi 525 - 8 - 6

Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Some of the commentaries I have read point out that the young child took precedence over his mother, “they saw the young child with Mary his mother.” As an aside and in my opinion, this is where the mother of Jesus should be, in a subordinate to her son, not having the near deity attributed to her by the Roman Catholic Church.

I grew up looking at Christmas cards with the baby Jesus in the manger, the Bethlehem Star overhead in the Magi presenting baby Jesus with gifts. Not exactly the real chronology of the events surrounding Christ's birth. Matthew 2:11 points out that the wise men saw Jesus in a house. Also, Herod ordered the execution all male children under two years old suggesting up to two years has passed since the birth of Jesus.

When the Wise Men presented Jesus with Gold and Frankincense it foretold of the role Jesus would fulfill as both King and priest. The myrrh was predictive of His death.

Joseph, often compared to Jesus, was given gold likely as a symbol of his authority. Genesis 41:42-43, “42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

Frankincense, the incense tree, that is, incense itself. Myrrh, a bitter gum, and costly perfume which exudes from a certain tree or shrub in Arabia and Ethiopia, or is obtained by incisions made in the bark: as an antiseptic, it was used for embalming. [Thayer]

“The treasures they brought spoke volumes. Gold is a symbol of deity and glory; it speaks of the shining perfection of His Divine Person. Frankincense is an ointment or perfume; it suggests the fragrance of the life of sinless perfection. Myrrh is a bitter herb; it presages the sufferings He would endure in bearing the sins of the world.” [Believer’s Bible Commentary]

In Matthew 26 we read when Jesus is in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper a woman broke open an alabaster container of oil and poured it on Jesus’ head. The oil was expensive perfume and when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, “To what purpose is this waste?” Matthew 26:8. Jesus replied, Matthew 26:12, “For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.”

“Christ interpreted her act, and gave it a solemn significance. By this effusion of the precious unguent site anticipated the embalming of the Lord’s body; she showed her reverence for that body which was to be given for the life of the world not many days hence. The full meaning of the mystery of which she was the instrument Mary did not comprehend, but what she had consciously done received a wonderful commendation from the Lord, which has no parallel in the Gospel history.” [The Pulpit Commentary]

God speaking through the prophet Isaiah of the of the later days said, “The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.”

Here Myrrh not included in the gifts, no longer relevant in the later days.

The Biblical concept of “the remnant” is this important to me 525 - 7 - 2

An interesting article by Tucker Whitaker and Andy Coticchio that deals with both the Church and a remnant in Israel, “God Always Has and Ever Will Have a Faithful Remnant.” [https://www.raptureready.com/soap2/wc3.html]

Luke 18:8, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Good question today, however, those BAC alive when Jesus comes for His Church will be in the remnant raptured prior to the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” So yes, the Biblical concept of “the remnant” is important to me as one who will avoid the Tribulation and Important to me as a supporter of Israel.

Throughout the Bible a remnant was saved. Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Long before Abraham and through Noah’s obedience to God, a remnant was saved to repopulate the earth.

God leaves hope that some will be spared. Zephaniah 2:7, “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” Ezekiel 6:8, “Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.”

In Deuteronomy 2 God told the Israeli to pass through the land of the descendants of Esau but that He (God) would not give Israel the land. Deuteronomy 2:5, “Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.? In Micah 2:12 God will gather the remnant of Israel and “put them together as the sheep of Bozrah."

So thousands of years in advance God made sure there would be a refuge for the remnant of Israel during the time of Jacob's troubles. During the tribulation, many Jews will come to accept Jesus as Messiah and many will be killed by the antichrist and his minions. A remnant will escape to Petra. At the Second Coming the remnant “shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10 The scales will drop from their eyes and they will be brought into the Kingdom.

Problems with an Amillennial eschatological viewpoint 525 - 7 - 1

“The amillennialist is bound to argue for a conditional covenant and a spiritualized fulfillment, so that the throne on which Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father becomes the “throne” of the covenant, the household of faith becomes the “house” of the covenant, and the church becomes the “kingdom” of the covenant.” [Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology]

First a few definitions:

Christian Eschatology is the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times

Hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.

Premillennialism teaches that the Second coming will occur before a literal thousand-year reign of Christ from Jerusalem upon the earth thus fulfilling the Davidic Covenant. Hermeneutics here are a literal view of the Word of God.

Amillennialism is a rejection of the belief that Jesus will have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth, that Christ is now sitting on the throne of David and that this present church age is the kingdom over which Christ reigns.

Postmillennialism teaches that this world will become better eventually becoming “Christianized.” After this happens, Christ will return. Rather than becoming a “better” world, the world is chaotic with many of the Islam faith torturing and murdering Christians. There have been cases of actual crucifixion of the followers of Christ who would not renounce Him and swear allegiance to Allah.

Both Amillennialism and Postmillennialism are indicative of a weak Hermeneutics.

Many church leaders either willfully or through ignorance practice a weak Hermeneutics leading them to claim that the Everlasting Covenants God made with Israel has passed to the church though Replacement Theology:

1. Israel forfeited her promises when she rejected her Messiah

2. The promises to Abraham passed to the Church

3. All the Old Testament covenants were conditional

Replacement theology makes the claim that as Israel forfeited the promises/ covenants made to her by God and these passed to the Church which became “spiritual Israel.” The concept of replacement theology marginalizes Israel and the Jewish people making it easier for the world to turn its back on the Jews, most notably during the Holocaust.

As an aside, the movie “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is about two eight-year-old boys who became friends though on opposite sides of a fence surrounding a concentration camp. In another KI class I suggested that these boys were ultimate victims of replacement theology.

http://sallycp-inthebeginninggod.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-boy-in-striped-pajamas-ultimate.html

For the Jew, Replacement Theology lead to the Holocaust. Today, anti-Semitism is very prevalent and the UN is hostile to Israel and sympathetic to the Palestinians. For the Christian, Replacement Theology indicates that God cannot be trusted to keep His word to Israel. Carrying this to its logical conclusion, can Christians expect Him to keep his word to us and honor our salvation?

As a further aside, the following is extracted from a post written shortly before the presidential election of 2012:

“Our current administration seems to be disengaging itself from Israel so come Election Day, the most pro-Israel candidates get my vote. As for the Judgment of Nations, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”’

Fast forward to 2016, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be far more supportive of Israel so perhaps the United States has dodged the bullet of God’s wrath for now. I am praying that President-elect Trump will convince Congress to finally moved our embassy to Jerusalem. This was supposed to have been done some time ago but our country just seems to lack the courage. Hopefully this is the time.

Defining a “false teacher” and discerning false teachings, very much needed today 525 - 6 - 1

Per the Apostle Peter, a false teacher is just that, one who teaches a false doctrine, who brings in damnable heresies. The unsurpassed way to discern false teachings is to study the Word and to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. CM reminds us to be like the Bereans, Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Jesus warned us again and again about false teachers:

Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Mark 13:21-23, " And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christ’s and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

IMO, Jude’s letter was written for such a time as this and written to today’s “The Beloved.” As believers, we are part of the beloved whom Jude is pressuring to “Contend Earnestly for The Faith.” Jude was writing to counter the apostasy that was occurring within the infant church and the arrival of many false teachers. As it was nearly 2000 years ago so it is today with those espousing the New Age as well as adherence to numerous cults.

Not being one to mince words, Paul had this much to say about false teachers. Galatians 1:6-8, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

In the Book of Revelation Jesus speaks through the Apostle John to “The seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Many BAC think we are firmly in the age of the church of Laodicea. “3:15-17 The church at Laodicea was neither cold nor hot. It was sickeningly lukewarm. The Lord would have preferred it to have been extreme in its indifference or its zeal. But no—it was lukewarm enough to deceive people into thinking that it was a church of God, and so disgustingly lukewarm about divine things as to nauseate the Most High. Furthermore, the church was characterized by pride, ignorance, self-sufficiency, and complacency.” [Believers Bible Commentary]

After the vitriolic anti-Christian rhetoric expressed in the resent POTUS election, there was concern we would return to the age of the Church of Smyrna that endured extreme persecution. Thankfully God stepped in as did many in the Christian community and, in my opinion, a man was raised up for such a time as this.

Is President Elect Donald Trump God’s Modern-day Cyrus? 525 - 6 - 8

Over a hundred years before King Cyrus matched into Babylon God dictated a letter to him through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 44:28, “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

Also, as prophesied, Cyrus’ military was unopposed, Isaiah 45:1, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;”

Unlike Cyrus, Trump met with great opposition, opposition from Liberals, from the current POTUS, a bias often lying media, old-time Democrat party hacks not above voter fraud, the Elicits both from without and within his own party and more. The more would certainly include Satan. The liberals and some conservatives were supporting Hillary Clinton even though she affirmed in the third debate that killing an unborn baby just prior to delivery was acceptable to her. That so many people could accept this horrendous crime is a great indicator of how far into the abyss this country has sunk.

Enter the evangelical Christians. Many leaders such as Franklin Graham reminded Christians that their failure to vote in 2012 for Mitt Romney because he was a Mormon likely cost him the election. Instead this bias was rewarded with the re-election of an advocate for Islam who often denigrates Israel and is working on the so-called two state solution. There was a tremendous groundswell of Christians not only in the United States but in Israel praying for Trump to be victorious. Prayer meetings were held often through the night before the election. Donald Trump is the President-elect; however, Obama still has two months to cause damage both to our country and to Israel.

We must be like modern-day children of Issachar, 1 Chronicles 12:32, “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

Like Cyrus who had already conquered most of the known world, Trump is a very successful businessman and, in my opinion, didn’t need the presidency. Cyrus encouraged the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Rebuilding the temple didn’t go smoothly as a wall was needed. Israel was finally given permission to rebuild the wall leading to one of the greatest prophecies of all time. Daniel 9:25, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

The hand of God was involved in the selection of Cyrus to free the Israeli and help them to return to Israel. What is the likelihood that the hand of God was in the election of Donald Trump? Was the imperfect Donald Trump raised up for such time as this? I certainly think so.

For the last several years I’ve expected the wrath of God to fall on the United States as he apparently was lifting his hedge of protection. I see this election as a chance for us to once get it right and return to our core values. It will take some time but I’m optimistic and waiting to hear the words of Jesus, Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

Sadly the “six woes of Isaiah” in Chapter 5 apply to our country. 625 - 5 - 2

With thanks to CM for a simplified listing of the Six Woes found in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 5:

1. Materialism

2. Hedonism

3. Flaunting Sin

4. Denial of the Word of God

5. Relativism

6. Lack of Justice

Materialism: Later this month Black Friday will once again be observed. On Thursday Americans, will give thanks and less than 24 hours later thousand will be pushing and shoving each other in stores hoping to get stuff at huge discounts. In past years, there has been considerable damage done to stores and at least one death as people stampeded to be the first through the door. Many people in America feel they must have the latest and greatest whatever while many in Third World countries just want potable water, food and shelter.

Hedonism, “1. The pursuit of pleasure. 2. The ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.” [http://www.hedonism.com/what-is-hedonism/] Hedonism harkens back to the expression eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die. It’s as if our country has lost its moral compass resulting in drug use, alcoholism and sexual perversion. Hedonism can result in boredom and the possibility of disease, plus a very undesirable eternal destination.

As for flaunting sin, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) community has hijacked God’s rainbow. Not to repeat myself, Obama co-opted God’s rainbow to light up the exterior of the While House after the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage. The LGBT community is having considerable success in getting their deviant lifestyle to be treated as normal. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not just for the homosexuality of their citizens, also for the acceptance by the communities of the sin of homosexuality.

Denial of the Word of God. Atheists deny the word of God and work very hard to prove the God they don’t believe in doesn’t exist. While not directly denying the word of God, many claiming to be Christians do great harm from within the family by questioning the truth of the Bible. This prideful and arrogant denial had its start in the garden with the question, “Did God really say that?”

Relativism, "The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied." [American Heritage Dictionary] With no belief in absolute truths one is free to do what is right in his/ her own eyes. This is very apparent in the current presidential election. One example, the Democratic candidate is a proponent of abortion including viable babies. Not only is she doing what is right in her eyes, millions share her “truth.” Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

Lack of Justice: Corruption exists in the judicial area and with those creating and authorizing laws plus a POTUS who has a phone and a pen. Prayers that in a few days the electorate in this country will reject the Democratic candidate who seems to have no concern for justice and is supported by a corrupt Department of Justice. Will the election results be in accordance with Psalm 2:10-11, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Or Proverbs 28:15, “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Covetousness is a form of idolatry 525 - 5 - 4

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” Louis Blanc first used the expression in 1839, however, Karl Marx made the slogan popular. Bernie Sanders and his followers took this to heart with their demand for free college tuition rather than questioning the high cost of an education that often results in no employment or underemployment, free medical and more. As the iron lady of England once said, “Eventually you run out of other people’s money.” However, this does not keep those who covet from demanding more and more and protesting rather than praying to God for guidance.

Anything that we value above God is a form of idolatry. Here in America we’ve gone from the self-sufficiency of the greatest generation who defeated our enemies in World War II to a lackluster generation many of whom want an emotional safe place and covets what others have.

Exodus 20:17, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

It is my opinion that from covetousness comes the breaking of these additional commandments:

Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.” Coveting a woman’s convenience over the life of an unborn baby.  

Exodus 20:14, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” As the expression goes, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.”

Exodus 20:15, “Thou shalt not steal.” Crime is rampant and often justified because someone has more.

Exodus 20:16, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Currently, this has much to do with the allegations and counter allegations being made during the 2016 presidential election.

God reinforced the sin of coveting in Deuteronomy 5:21, “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

Today Micah 2:2 is relevant, “And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.” As an aside, in a quotation from decades ago Ayn Rand is pretty much spot on today, “We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.” [http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/ayn_rand.html]

Fast forward to the time of the New Testament and Paul. Romans 13:9, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” God hates covetousness.

As for me, I will be very relieved when our presidential elections over next week. If Donald Trump is elected perhaps he can overcome the harm done to our country by the followers of Saul Alinsky. Some suggest that Trump may be our Cyrus. If Hillary Clinton is elected, words fail me.

Whatever direction our country takes, God is in charge, Psalm 2:4, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”

Question to ask ourselves, What does our culture condone today that God condemns? 525 - 4 - 4

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Starting with the trifecta of homosexuality, abortion and throwing Israel under the bus:

Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Someone coined the appropriate expression, “Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.”

Last year the White House was illuminated in rainbow colors, co-opting God’s rainbow, in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Fortunately, the gay rainbow only contains six colors rather than the seven in God’s rainbow. Six is the number of man and a bolt of lightning didn’t strike the White House.

Although we serve an awesome God who is jealous of his creation, many are denying God as Creator. Paul tells us in Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” A few verses later Paul shares the consequences/ judgment for a society that worships the created and not the Creator, homosexuality. It certainly seems that God’s judgment is being realized given our administration promoting the LGBT agenda of the acceptance of depraved lifestyles as normal.

Abortion has evolved from the first trimester to viable babies. Abortion early in pregnancy is wrong, however, aborting viable babies is murder. God hates “…hands that shed innocent blood,” Proverbs 6:17.

Last year, Planned Parenthood was caught on video selling aborted baby parts. In our upside-down world of good being called evil, threats were made against the producers of the videos rather than Planned Parenthood.

“A quick and Easy Guide to The Planned Parenthood Videos”

[http://thefederalist.com/2015/09/29/a-quick-and-easy-guide-to-the-planned-parenthood-videos/]

As for Israel, few seem to understand the truth of Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Obama is continuing the unwise effort of bullying Israel to divide the land given to them by God. Joel 3:2, “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.” Here plead is not a passive word, rather Strong’s H8199 which includes “by implication to vindicate or punish condemn, contend, defend, execute judgment.”  

In addition to the above trifecta I would paraphrase Judges 17:6, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Now that God, our King, has been kicked out of our culture, anything goes.

The world seems to be growing darker every day, however, I stand strong in the assurance that God is in control.