Am i serving myself instead of God. What steps am I taking to correct this 526-1 - 7 - 1

'“What good is it to serve God? It is an empty thing.” (Because their hearts were not in it.) Do you go to church to be critical? To criticize? Or to really worship? Real worship has a life to back it up (Isa 58:3-8)."'

[CM's The Prophets of the Post-Exile PDF]

Isaiah 58:3, "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours." 

"Isaiah 58:6-8 God wants the fast that is accompanied by the loosing of the
shackles of wickedness, lifting the yoke of oppression, feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the poor, clothing the naked, and helping the needy neighbor. Those who thus practice social justice are assured of guidance, healing, and a protective escort. "Your righteousness" may mean the abovementioned acts of mercy or it may mean the righteousness of God which is imputed to those who believe."

[Believer's Bible Commentary]

So am I serving God or am I serving myself? This is a very good and relevant question for me. Do I study God's word out of love for it or to win arguments over the validity of the Bible and Jesus as the Messiah? Am I "feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the poor, clothing the naked, and helping the needy neighbor" with my donation to Christians organizations such as Operation Blessings or am I giving money rather than of myself?

While I enjoy pointing out to unbelievers the many prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled by Jesus I believe studied the Bible primarily because of my love of God's word. I maintain a blog of my KI work and perhaps take too much pleasure checking the number of pageviews by country. Currently I'm getting more pageviews from Russia then the United States. Is this pride or passion?

During the first few years that I was with KI my mother and brother couldn't understand why I worked so hard at something that was not going to award me a degree. Also, I was asked when I would be through with my studies. I said studying the Bible as a lifetime endeavor. Finally, my family accepted what they thought was my near obsession with the Word.

Introspection is perhaps the best way to assure that I'm serving God rather than myself, my ego.

What I'm doing to be fully ready for the future 526-1 - 7 - 4

What am I doing to be fully ready for the future, fully ready for the future for what; a rather vague question. Does it have to do with waiting for Jesus to call His Church home? Is it about planting breadcrumbs for those left behind? Is it about being a prepper to survive tribulation in the lead up the the actual Tribulation?

In my daily walk as I wait upon the return of Jesus for His Church I try to remember Paul'S advice in Ephesians 6:13, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Paul speaks to the whole armour of God, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God helps to keep our thoughts focused on God.

I try to lead a life worthy of being caught up when Jesus comes for His bride. To have even a small portion of the righteousness of Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

What of those who are left behind at the time of the rapture? I suspect that any number of them will remember a born-again Christian friend who had warned them about the soon coming of Jesus for his Church. I have left breadcrumbs for family and friends who will be left behind as I expect that many other BACs have done.

Several prophetic websites such as the Rapture Ready site have information for those who are left behind. The Rapture Ready website has a section titled “Information For Those Left Behind.” I expect that these prophetic websites will be taken down fairly rapidly after the rapture. Nevertheless, while still available, people should be able to go to these sources and read some very helpful information dealing with what happened and why they missed it and what they can do to make sure that they don't fall under the spell of the antichrist.

Full disclosure, I’m something of a prepper. Most of my Christian friends fall into one of two groups concerning the Rapture. Most are pre-trip and expect to be taken out before the horror of the Tribulation begins. The other group think we'll be here for part or all the tribulation but will be protected in place. Although I agree we believers will be taken care of I feel that I should make a certain amount of preparation while I wait either to be called home or caught up.

I wrote the following several months ago, still relevant. "Several Christian websites promote the procurement of long term storage food products and other prepper items such as water purification. Many survival items are necessary in addition to food and water, medical supplies being just one. I’m slowly adding to my suppliers. I have ample solar power at my summer off-the-power-grid home and a lesser amount at my winter on-the-power-grid home. In a normal emergency, I will have this advantage, however, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) would likely wipe out the electronics required with solar power. I've taken the added precaution of placing an electronic Bible, flash drives with Bible teachings and Bible commentaries along with small electronics and a solar charger in faraday pouches. I will be able to satisfy my hunger for the Bible as well as share scripture with my neighbors no matter what happens."

As I attempt to be "fully ready for the future" I must remember that I'm an ambassador for God and not to be a stumbling block to others by reflecting on "What would Jesus do?"

Lust/ Hated Two Sides of the same coin? 510-2 - 13 - 8

Examples of coveting/ lusting are found in the Bible. Joshua 7:20-21, "20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21  When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted (H2530) them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."

This coveting by Achan angered God so Achan, "his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor" and stoned.

God is very outspoken in His commendation of coveting:

Exodus 20:17, "Thou shalt not covet (H2530) 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."

Covet, H2530, A primitive root; to delight in: - beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ( X great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).

Deuteronomy 5:21. "Neither shalt thou desire (H2530) thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet (H183) 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.

Covet, H183, A primitive root; to wish for: - covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).

Micah 2:2, "And they covet (H2530) 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."

Romans 7:7, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust (G1939), except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."

Lust, G1939, From G1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden): - concupiscence, desire, lust (after). G1937 to set the heart upon, that is, long for (rightfully or otherwise): - covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

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 (G1937); and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Covet, G1937, to set the heart upon, that is, long for (rightfully or otherwise): - covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

Peter is specific as to what we would be if not for our relationship with Jesus. 1 Peter 4:3-5, “3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

Paul offers good advice on how to overcome coveting/ lust, Romans 13:13, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” This walk can be a lonely walk as it goes against the descent into immorality in this country and worshipping the created rather than the Creator.

Paul makes an interesting use of the word recompense. Romans 1:27, “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”

Is desire/ coveting the greatest link between lust and hatred? 510-2 - 13 - 2

God is very direct in his prohibition against coveting. In my opinion, desire leading to coveting is the first step in lusting for something/ someone. When desire controls the lust filled person and he cannot have the object of his lust does it not turn into hatred?

This seems to be the case with David's Son Amnon and Amnon's half-sister Tamar. Amnon used trickery to get his half-sister to come to his home and feed him. He then forced himself on her, soiling her virginity. There still might have been Redemption for Amnon had he married his half-sister, allowed at that time by Jewish tradition. However, 2 Samuel 13:15, "Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone." Amnon had Tamar forcibly removed from his home further dishonoring her.

In digging into Amnon's behavior via Strong's; Hated, H8135, From H8130; hate; exceedingly, hateful, hatred. H8130, to hate (personally): enemy, foe, be hateful, odious, utterly. No question that what Amnon feel for Tamar was lust, not love. When he had his way with her, he threw her aside.

2 Samuel 13:16, "And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her". Tamar's brother Absalom would avenge his sister two years later by arranging the murder of his half-brother Amnon.  

CM mentioned Joseph's coat of many colors and the Virgin Tamar's coat of many colors. Both would be stained with blood, one in a fabrication of the death of Joseph and the other due to the rupture Tamar's hymen. We read in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." There was no good in the rape of Tamar by Amnon, rather more as prophesied by Nathan, 2 Samuel 12:10, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

Coveting/ lust is major tool in Saran’s toolbox. God called King David “a man after his own heart,” however, the sword never departed from his house. Murders and betrayals were legion with the descendants of King David. Very notably were the horrific actions around King Jehoram of Judah and his wife Athaliah.

Just a few of the many Biblical references to brass representing God’s judgment found in the Word of God 526-1 - 6 - 1

Leviticus 26:18-20, "18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass (H5154): 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits."

Brass, H5154, Feminine of H5153; copper: - brass, steel. Compare H5176. H5153, Apparently passive participle of H5172 (perhaps in the sense of ringing, that is, bell metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent (H5175, as denominative) when hissing); coppery, that is, (figuratively) hard: - of brass. H5176, The same as H5175; Nachash, the name of two persons apparently non Israelites: - Nahash.

The above is rather convoluted but finally got to the Nahash, "That thing of brass."
Here a judgment of the land not yielding increase or fruit harking back to Genesis Chapter 3.

Numbers 21:8-10, "8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass (5178), and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 10 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth."

Brass, H5178, For H5154; copper; hence, something made of that metal, that is, coin, a fetter; figuratively base (as compared with gold or silver): - brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel. H5154, Leviticus 26:19.

The people murmured, Numbers 21:5, "And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread." God sent fiery serpents among them and many died or were dying. Moses interceded with God and God had Moses construct a bronze serpent of brass lifted on a pole. Whoever looked at the bronze serpent would be healed of the snakebite.

A foretelling that by the suffering of Jesus on the cross we are justified if we place our faith in Jesus. As an aside, the serpent later became something of a idol to the nation and was finally destroyed in the days of Hezekiah.

2 Kings 25:6-8, "6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. 7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass (H5178), and carried him to Babylon. 8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:"

Two prophecies were seemingly in conflict, King Zedekiah would never see Babylon and King Zedekiah would die in Babylon. Actually, the blind King Zedekiah did both.

Isaiah 45:1-3, "45 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; 2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass (H5154), and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel."

Daniel 5:3-5, "3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass (H5174), of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote."

Cyrus was to take the city of Babylon without a fight. King Belshazzar, the grandson of king Nebuchadnezzar, ordered drinks to be served in vessels taken from the Temple. Then appeared the "Handwriting on the Wall." God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

prosperity televangelists preaching the wrong message 510-2 - 12 - 3

Mark 8:34, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” This call to the people to “deny himself, and take up his cross” is not a great marketing tool. However, it leads us down the narrow path that leads to life.

180 degrees away from denying oneself and taking up one’s cross are the many professing to be ambassadors for God who misrepresent His Word. The “name it and claim it” prosperity televangelists are leading thousand down the wide path that leads to destruction. “

WATCH DEMONS WORK - LIVE IN CHURCH!

“Don't believe DEMONS are in the Church? Watch! 2 Cor 11:15; Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

This video is a montage of telemarketing hustle from April 28, 2013

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsxcaG4Myyk&list=RDIsxcaG4Myyk]

Greed has perverted the simplify of the Gospel as prosperity preachers jet around the world and live in multi-million homes again 180 degrees from the servant humility of Jesus. Luke 9:58, “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

Most of the televangelists seem to treat God in a casual way; almost as a genie in a bottle perverting Bible passages to generate income such as Malachi 3:10.

We are warned in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 

A Christian who is a true ambassador of Jesus will have trials. John 15:18-19, “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

As followers of Jesus we are to emulate His behavior, an impossible task but as we do our best our persona is often resented by those of the world. Such resentment often leads to Christians being accused of being intolerance and, taken to extreme; hatred.

Although we now have a POTUS trying to undo years of far-left damage to our country, it is an uphill fight. Our country becomes more sin-filled each day and lawlessness abounds as good is called evil and evil is called good. Our country needs moral preaching not a false prosperity gospel.

What many seem to ignore is that while we may have a loving God we also have a righteous God. Ultimately, all will be judged; some at the Bema Seat judgment and some of the White throne judgment. Philippians 2:10, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”

My attempt at a word study on “four winds” and what these have done throughout the Bible. 526-1 - 5 - 3

Winds occurs with the number four 6 times in the Old Testament, Strong’s Hebrew H7307; four 4 times in the New Testament, Strong’s Greek G417:

Judgment on Elam: Jeremiah 49:36, “And upon Elam will I bring the four (H702) winds (H7307) from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.”

Four, H702, Hebrew, The second form is the masculine form; from H7251; A primitive root  the idea of sprawling at all fours four: - four.

Winds, Strong’s H7307, Hebrew, From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being. Strong’s H7306, Hebrew. A primitive root; properly to blow, that is, breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication perceive (figuratively to anticipate, enjoy): - accept, smell, X touch, make of quick understanding.

“H. Prophecy against Elam (49:34-39): The Elamites (Persians) will be scattered throughout the earth, but the Lord will bring them back . . . in the latter days. God will set His throne in Elam in the sense that He will rule there in judgment.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Valley of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:9, “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind (H7307), Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”

Daniel 7:2, “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds (H7308) of the heaven strove upon the great sea.”

Winds, H7308, Hebrew, (Chaldee); corresponding to H7307: - mind, spirit, wind. From H306 see Jeremiah 49:36 above.

Daniel 8:8, “Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds (H7307) of heaven.”

When Alexander died, his kingdom was divided into four parts, represented by the four horns which came up. One of was later ruled by a little horn, Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of antiChrist.

Daniel 11:4, “And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds (H7307) of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.”

Zechariah 2:6, “Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds (7307) of the heaven, saith the LORD.” Here Zechariah is dealing both with the Jewish captives remaining in exile and the future Millennial Kingdom.

Matthew 24:31, “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four (G5064) winds (G417), from one end of heaven to the other.”

Four, Strong’s G5064, Greek, Neuter and a plural number; four: - four.

Winds, Strong’s G417, Greek, From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth): - wind. G109, From ἄημι aēmi (to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire; by analogy to blow); “air” (as naturally circumambient): - air.

Mark 13:27, “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four (G5064) winds (G417), from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” Expanded here to include “from the uttermost part of the earth.” Not just the Jewish elect, all who have come to faith.

And again, in Revelation 7:1, “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds (G417) of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.”

Revelation 7:1 refers to the sealing of the twelve thousand persons from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This occurs before the event foretold in Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27, the “coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

In comparing and contrasting the character and conduct of King David with that of his Hittite commander, Uriah, King David is the failure 510-2 - 12 - 1

In making a comparison between Uriah and King David my first thought is power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. King David was and is a man after God's heart who sinned greatly and repented, nevertheless, his sins came at a great cost. Uriah was a military man who was loyal to and a role model for his fellow soldiers.

After being an exemplary military leader King David made a major mistake by staying home and letting others fight his battles including Uriah, one of his mighty men and husband to Bathsheba.

The eye is the portal used by Satan to tempt mankind. 2 Samuel 11:2, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.” The rest is history with Bathsheba seemingly being a willing partner in their adultery.

Pregnancy resulted; what webs we weave when first we seek to deceive. King David called Uriah home thinking Uriah would spend time with the pregnant Bathsheba. However, while the King enjoyed his magnificent Palace, Uriah slept in the courtyard with his comrades. The next night King David plied him with wine and again attempted to get Uriah to go home to his wife. Uriah had great loyalty and empathy for his fellow soldiers again camped with them.

To save Bathsheba King David orchestrated the death of Uriah. 2 Samuel 14-15, "14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die."

God was displeased with King David, 2 Samuel 12:10, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

King David repented and was forgiven by God, nevertheless, actions have consequences. The first child of King David and Bathsheba died and his family was very dysfunctional.

King David and Bathsheba had more children and two were in the line of Jesus. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus descended from Solomon and Mary, the biological mother of Jesus descended from Nathan.

Dabbling in the occult via Video Games and their possible ultimate reality 510-2 - 11 8

Full disclosure, I'm rather hooked on the video game Slotomania rated as "teen," oops. Normally I stick to games not involving vampires, devils, entitles, wizards, little forest folks, witches, humanized animals, genies, pagan gods and goddesses, mermaids, and such. My favorite game was Elvis; however, Elvis has left the room, discontinued likely due to being too normal.

I also don't usually play long term games series but got pulled into one called "Treasure Islands." Sounds normal you think? Not at all. The current round of games I'm playing is Sapphire Skies which includes such games as Moon Huntress, Crystal Spells, Epic Rapid Blast complete with a golden god, goddess of Troy and Medusa Magic who is having a bad snake hair day. 

So why this topic? Reminds me of 1 Samuel and King Saul's encounter with the witch of Endor conjuring the spirit of the prophet Samuel. God forbids necromancy; King Saul paid with his life. Perhaps video games with their many occult subjects and symbols are a gateway to the occult by inviting entities into one's life.

In my opinion, Video games have reduced the individual's sensitivity to others as well creating the illusion fantasy is something of a reality. I'm reminded a near epitome from years ago. At the start of the Gulf War more than 25 years ago I was working for the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company, the creators of the Apache Helicopter. The rotor aircraft carried a pilot and a gunner.

Proud as I was that the Apache took out the Iraqi radar in the opening minutes of the war, one memory has remained with me after all these years. The Iraqi soldiers were running for cover from the Apache 25 mm gun burst. The gunner kept shooting at the retreating Iraqi soldiers as he and the pilot sounded like kids playing a video games by shouting "got one." My epitome was the realization that gunning down soldiers hunting for any available cover represented a lack of any sensitivity. It was like they were playing a video game.

Surfing the net for the effects of video games on young minds revealed a treasure trove of information including:

5 Positive And Negative Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers

[http://www.momjunction.com/articles/effects-of-video-games-on-teenagers_00352668/#gref]

Positive Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers are It Improves The Cognitive Functions, Hand And Eye Coordination, Quick Thinking And Accuracy, Improve Your Child’s Decision Making Skills, and Encourages Teamwork. Hum, sounds like the making of a well-versed soldier.

Negative Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers are Increases Aggressive Behavior, Social Isolation, Adverse Effects On Health and Video Game Addiction. In my opinion could also create a soldier with lacking empathy.

Coming full circle from fantasy to future and deadly uses of video games is the Super Soldier who is certainly not one of King David's Mighty Men.

"Future war will be like today’s science fiction movies and video games. Technologically enhanced, part-automaton super-soldiers— stronger, smarter, faster, and with a dulled conscience that allows them to viciously kill on command— will fight as individuals and highly coordinated “wired-in” teams. They will fight anywhere, anytime, night or day, employing incredibly advanced, effective stand-off weapons using data transmitted directly to their brains from multiple sources: drones, satellites, and fellow super-soldiers. They will excel in urban fighting, the close-in battle necessary to defeat terrorists and other super-soldier enemies. They will be hailed as the ultimate soldier, the dream of generals and small boys. In the end, they will be nightmares."

[Maginnis, Lieutenant Colonel Robert L.. Future War: SUPER SOLDIERS, TERMINATORS, CYBERSPACE, AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR 21ST CENTURY COMBAT]

Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Lessons learned concerning selecting and assigning roles for key leadership within a governing “cabinet”? 510-2 - 11 - 1

Rather than King David's leadership I approached this question reflecting on President Trump’s Cabinet. After eight years of Former President Obama and his minions. It’s like comparing inept, petulant and dishonest children to very accomplished adults.

TRUMP'S CABINET IS FINALLY FULL: Meet who he's chosen for senior leadership positions  May 11, 2017

"While President Donald Trump still has hundreds of key positions to fill that will shape his next four years in office, his Cabinet is now full.
Trump has 24 official members of his Cabinet, and 111 days after he became president, the Senate has confirmed all of them. In the months since Trump took office, multiple high-level hires have withdrawn from the confirmation process, and one senior adviser resigned."

[http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-white-house-cabinet-senior-leadership-positions-bios-2016-11]

The above website provides a concise listing of President Trump’s Cabinet. I selected just a few members.

Rex Tillerson Secretary of State is used to being in charge, now he is part of a team and, IMO, a great support to President Trump.

""Well it is a lot different than being CEO of Exxon because I was the ultimate decision-maker," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday in unusually candid comments to reporters. 
That always makes life easier."

[http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-secretary-of-state-in-rare-candid-1499982239-htmlstory.html]

From Facebook: A TWEET BY SEC. REX TILLERSON

"If you don't understand why President Trump tweets, & you think he should stop tweeting, it's going to be a long 8 years for you."

After eight years of Obama’s limousine liberals how refreshing is this:

Ryan Zinke, New Interior Secretary, Rides Horse to First Day of Work

"Newly confirmed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke decided to come to work on his first day the cowboy way — by riding in on a horse through the streets of Washington, D.C. Thursday morning."

[http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ryan-zinke-new-interior-secretary-rides-horse-first-day-work-n728151]

Dr. Ben Carson Secretary of Housing and Urban Development:

"Ben Carson Just Discovered A Massive Fraud At HUD of $ 1/2 Trillion!" dated April 6, 2017

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwG0Vh2er_c]

Dr. Carson was raised by a single mother who was quite a role model for her two boys. Dr. Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands” is a great read.

Nikki R. Haley US Ambassador to the UN is a supporter of Israel. She has taken the UN members to task for their shameless treatment of Israel.

James N. Mattis Secretary of Defense, nickname, “Mad Dog” when asked:
“What keeps you awake at night?” CBS “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson asked Mattis.
“Nothing,” a stonefaced Mattis responded. “I keep other people awake at night.”

[http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/28/mattis-gives-quote-of-the-year-when-asked-what-keeps-him-awake-at-night-video/]

Now that’s leadership other nations take note of unlike the apology tour of the last administration.

There are many more highly qualified cabinet members making up a team to assist our POTUS and VPOTUS in leading our country out of its eight year nightmare.

What is “Mystery Babylon”, and what will become of it? 526-1 - 5 - 4

Mystery Babylon is the great Harlot of Revelation Chapter 17 that meets with utter destruction as foretold in the Old Testament.

Revelation 17:5, “And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.”

Revelation 17:9, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” Seven mountains, Rome and the Vatican, a great possibility!

Revelation 17:18, “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Babylon is mentioned 265 times in the KJV of the Bible. Babylon was the capital of the first World Dictator, Nimrod/ Rebel, meaning "a mighty hunter in defiance of the Lord." Fast forward to the End Days, coming, a one world government united with a one world religion.

Was the Harlot, the woman who rides the beast the Roman Catholic Church as foretold by Jesus in His letter written to the church in Thyatira Jezebel of the Old Testament? Revelation 2:20, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”

Jezebel, the wife of Ahab procured the vineyard of Naboth for her husband, a type of the future RCC’s Inquisition. Eventually Ahab repented and delayed “evil upon his house” until his son’s rule nevertheless, Jezebel didn’t repent and was “eaten by dogs” as prophesied in I Kings 21:23.

Is the Harlot the future One World Church, RCC, Babylon? Forewarning of what would happen to the Harlot when the dogs/ kings of the earth of Revelation 17:18 turn on her? Revelation 18:3, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.”

In the past the Harlot has committed fornication with world leaders including Hitler and Mussolini.

How the Lateran Treaty made the Catholic Church into a state

"In 1929 the long wait finally paid off when Mussolini proved willing to enter an alliance with the Vatican. A precondition of the negotiations was destruction of the parliamentary Catholic Italian Popular Party. Pius XI disliked political Catholicism because he could not control it. Like his predecessors, he believed that Catholic party politics brought democracy into the church by the back door. The demise of the Popular Party caused a wholesale shift of Catholics into the Fascist Party and the collapse of democracy in Italy. A few years later the Pius would follow the same concordat strategy with Hitler to disband the democratic Catholic party there. Eliminating the Catholic Centre-right party helped give Hitler the majority he needed in the last free election before he shut down German democracy."

[http://www.concordatwatch.eu/topic-841.843\]

Both Hitler and Mussolini eventually were defeated, nevertheless, for now the Harlot still has great power.

Soon we will hear, Revelation 18:4-5, “4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.”

Revelation 18:9-10, “9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

Babylon the great Harlot, Mystery Babylon, is no more and those who sold themselves to her will face great loss with the destruction of Babylon and face eventual judgment.

Good Reading, Dave Hunt’s A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days 526-1 - 5 - 8

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.

“To the nearly I 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.” So, opens Dave Hunt’s “A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days.” The book ends with appendix I: "The Lutheran – Catholic Joint Declaration Justification," subject of another Discussion Question. 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 have the "Kingdom of Blood" two MP3 set. 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/ as I'm doing.

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.

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."

Truly, the woman who rides the beast in the last days is 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.”

Elijah and Moses will be the two witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11. 526-1 - 4 - 2

Elijah and Moses will be the two witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11.

Revelation 11:3, "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."

Revelation 11:6, “These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”

Elijah could call fire from heaven and cause no rain for three and a half years. 1 Kings 18:1, “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

Although three and a half years isn’t clearly stated as the time that the heavens were shut up, James and Luke clarify the time.

James 5:17, “Elias (G2243) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.“

Luke 4:25, “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias (G2243), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;”

Elias, G2243, Of Hebrew origin H452, God of Jehovah; Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites: - Elijah, Eliah; Helias (that is, Elijah), an Israelite: - Elias.

When under attack, Elijah could call down fire, 2 Kings 1:10, “And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.”

When challenging the pagan god Baal Elijah again called down fire, 1 Kings 18:37-38, “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

When Pharaoh would not release the Israelite’s, God used Moses to call down 10 plagues on Egypt. Each plague was a repudiation of one of the Egyptian gods and similar to those recorded in the Book of Revelation.

The plague of waters turned to blood will be repeated during the tribulation as will be painful boils and huge hail stones. Just as there was a profound darkness that could be felt by the Egyptians, this will also be repeated during the tribulation.

Exodus 9:11, "And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians."

Revelation 16:2, "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”

The identities of Two Witnesses will be Elijah and Moses based on powers given to them by God both in the past and during the Tribulation.

Why shouldn't Christians put their trust in clairvoyants, astrology, Ouija boards, fortune tellers, and the like in order to know the future? 526-1 - 4 - 3

Today our world calls good evil and evil good. It’s like there’s a mindset bordering on demonic possession on the part of many. God is very clear that Israeli, and by adoption Christians, should not attempt to know the future by means of clairvoyants, Ouija Boards, and such.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12, “9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”

And today, “Tragically, this nearly 3,400 year-old prohibition is just as much needed in ‘enlightened’ modern times as it was long ago.Henry G. Bosch writes:

Satanism, demons, and the occult are dark, sinister realities, not tricks. One of the signs that we are nearing the close of this age is the widespread interest in witchcraft, astrology, and other forms of the occult. . . . Thousands consult their horoscope each day, attend séances, or seek to communicate with deceased loved ones. There's also a great interest in Satanism and demons. The Bible repeatedly warns against such practices.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Dabbling with occult tools such as Ouija boards seem to be popular. Entities have been known to jump on an Ouija board and pretty much take over a person’s life. An example is the late Jane Roberts who channeled an entity named Seth for decades. Ms. Roberts died at the relatively young age of 55 and had been ill for decades.

Isaiah 47:12-13 calls out sorceries astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, and their ultimate destiny; Isaiah 47:14, “Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.”

There are warnings such as this very straightforward verse, Exodus 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

King Saul was called out by God for violating the office of priest. 1 Samuel 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” Later King Saul attempted to contact the prophet Samuel through a witch who practiced necromancy with deadly results.

King Manasseh was an evil King of Israel, 2 Chronicles 33:6, “And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.”

Later King Manasseh somewhat repentance however, 2 Chronicles 33:16-17, “16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.”

As it was in the days of King Saul and King Manasseh, as it is today. There seems to be a tendency in this fallen world for many to be attracted to the dark side. Avoidance of the occult and putting on the Whole Armor of God our ultimate protection.

Scriptures from the New Testament, that confirm the validity of the eternal “throne of David” 510-2 - 10 - 2

There are scriptures in both the Old and New Testament confirming the validity about the eternal “throne of David.”

Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” From the Old Testament is confirmed in the New Testament.

Matthew 22:44, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Mark 12:36, “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD (Jehovah) said to my Lord (Adoni), Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Here the claim is that The Messiah would be both Man and God. As David's Son, He would be human. As David's Lord, He would be divine.

“David spoke of the coming Messiah as his Lord. How could this be? How could the Messiah be David's Son and his Lord at the same time? To us the answer is clear. The Messiah would be both Man and God. As David's Son, He would be human. As David's Lord, He would be divine.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Mark 12:37, “David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.” Here the common people “heard Him gladly.” Likely they did not really understand what Jesus said but were willing to accept Him as the son of David. As for the Pharisees and scribes, they understood only too well!

Again, in Matthew. Matthew 22:41-45, “41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”

With this Jesus pretty much shut the Pharisees down. Matthew 22:46, “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.”

Romans 1:3-4, “3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

I selected the “Footstool” verses as Jesus presented an argument the elite could not answer without supporting His claim to the Throne of David. The temple leadership rejected Jesus, nevertheless, many of the common people accepted and followed Jesus.

Paul was unique as knew the risen Jesus and was likely schooled by Jesus for three years in Arabia.