Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 13, 2024

Good News for Christian Sinners Like You and Me!

God’s Solution for Our Sin Problem!

The world is entirely populated by sinners who all desperately need help! You’re one of those sinners and so am I! It really doesn’t matter what the nature of your sin might be, I’m happy to report that Jesus Christ fully paid the penalty for that sin and, as a born-again Christian, it is not counted against you in the courts of heaven.

In Romans 8:1-4 it is written:

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

The Bible reveals another incredible truth and that is when Christ was crucified, he died for the sins of the entire world to the extent that personal sin is no longer the barrier between God and man that it had once been.

In 1 John 2:1-2 it is written:

“2 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

Jesus speaks to this when he explains to his disciples the ministry of the Holy Spirit in John 16:5-10 where it is written:

5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

We have been placed in the same situation Adam faced, there is only one sin we can commit that will keep us out of heaven; Adam could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; we must receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord if we are to ever get to heaven! Rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior is the one sin that will send an individual to the Lake of Fire!

Yes, this means what I’m suggesting, all of the hideous sins we have heard about, all over the world, were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross! Personal sins, no matter how bad, have all been covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ!

While on earth, there may well be penalties associated with various sins and it could become necessary for individuals who have committed those sins to pay the price demanded by society. That price may have to be paid, but from God’s viewpoint, it does not separate the born-again sinner from his God.

Our struggle with sin is summarized in 1 John 1:8-10 where it is written:

“8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

Although this has nothing to do with salvation, it has everything to do with a Spirit-led life and the joys of our salvation.

As Christians, we restore the power of the Holy Spirit when we confess our sins to God; with the Holy Spirit in control of our lives, we have the opportunity to live out the “Fruit of the Spirit” in our daily walk with Jesus!

In Galatians 5:22-26 it is written:

“22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

How should we respond to God’s gracious gift of salvation to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior? Here is some guidance from Philippians 4:4-7:

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 11, 2024

The Great North American Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, Portions of Mexico, the United States, and Canada Will Experience a Total Solar Eclipse.

While there is complete astronomical certainty this eclipse will occur as scheduled, there is a considerable amount of speculation as to the theological ramifications, if any, of this celestial event.

God has previously used his creation to warn and even punish mankind; the Bible gives numerous examples of this! The question in the minds of many, is this going to be another one of those times?

Is Judgment Deserved?

The moral fiber of the United States has continued to deteriorate as wanton sinfulness increases at a staggering rate. We are witnessing criminal activities from the top levels of government to the ghettos of the cities.

The growing levels of antisemitism do not bode well for this country. Genesis 12:3 is still in full force and effect: “3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

I’m aghast at the heated debates over the suitability of murdering babies in the womb; the many euphemisms for baby murder, abortion, freedom of choice, women’s right to choose and others, in no way lessens the reality of the act, the deliberate, violent murder of an innocent baby in the mother’s womb!

I find it tragically ironic that many politicians today see illegal immigration as the solution to the demographic decline caused, in part, by the loss of millions of American lives through abortion.

The attacks on human sexuality and the family are increasing exponentially as gender choice and sexual perversions of many sorts are presented as the new normal. It appears as if a Satanic deception is enshrouding this country like a dense fog!

The Inevitability of Judgment

No nation, in the history of the world, has escaped God’s judgment when they deliberately ignored God’s commands and the USA will not be an exception to that rule. The Biblical end-times narrative totally excludes any reference to the United States as a world power at the time of Jesus’ return to the earth.

It would appear the United States is no longer a dominate world power during the last days. In my opinion, just two events could shut the United States down as a world power, the Rapture of the Church and a well-placed EMP.

The instantaneous removal of millions of Christians would devastate the United States; the resulting chaos could well be the trigger for the battle of Psalms 83. While Israel is promised protection, the United States has no such promise from God!

The Bible speaks to moral degeneration in Romans 1:18-32; a quick examination of those verses sounds as if one is reading a commentary on current events in the USA. God’s judgment will fall on a nation whose people willfully disobey God’s commands; the only question is when.

The Proximity of Judgment

After the Rapture of the Church, there will be an undisclosed amount of time before Israel signs a treaty with the Antichrist; the signing of this treaty will signal the beginning of the last seven years known as the Tribulation, a time of severe judgment on the world!

I am convinced we are living in the last church age, Laodicea. In Revelation 3:20-21 it is written:

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”

Although the “Age of Grace” is coming to a close, the door to salvation is still open; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and join him on his throne!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | February 21, 2024

For Born-Again Christians Only!

The New Birth Changed You Forever!

Although your body has remained unchanged, incredible things happened to your spirit when you were born-again. As a descendant of Adam, you were born spiritually dead and there was nothing you could ever do, on your own, to change that fact.

Just as Lazarus was helpless in death, until called out of the tomb by the Lord Jesus Christ, so your spirit was helpless in death until called out of its tomb by the Holy Spirit.

While Adam died spiritually in the Garden of Eden, he would not die physically for many years after he had been expelled from the Garden of Eden.

Your situation follows a similar pattern in reverse; while your spirit has been resurrected by the Holy Spirit, there remains an unknown number of years before your body is resurrected at the Rapture of the Church. At that time body and spirit will be joined together in a new heavenly body, not made by human hands. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 it is written:

“5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”

As an extra measure of security, God, the Holy Spirit has joined your resurrected spirit in an eternal, unbreakable union; you have become a Temple of God, the Holy Spirit now and forever! This is beautifully expressed in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 where it is written:

“19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

This is your new reality; you have been-born again into a new family, Adam is no longer your spiritual father, you are no longer under the Adamic curse, you have been made a child in the family of God, God is your spiritual Father and with Jesus Christ, you have been made heirs of God’s glory! In Romans 8:15-30 it is written:

“15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The Future Glory

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

It is important that you know how precious you are to God, to know how greatly loved you are by your Heavenly Father. In Romans 8:38-39 this is gloriously summarized:

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | February 12, 2024

A Profoundly Shocking Change is Coming!

Something is Going to Happen that will Change All Our Lives Forever!

There has been an extraordinary interest in my essay, “Earthquakes and Two Solar Eclipses – a Divine Warning?” A general feeling of uncertainty and restlessness permeates societies all over the world.

Even a slightly cursory examination of the news today reveals a massive amount of discord, social unrest, wars, and rumors of wars. Coupling that with the natural disasters around the world would suggest to most that there is something different blowing in the winds of change!

The degree of difference is the biggest point, when the Bible compares our lives today to the times of Noah, we better realize that something of Biblical proportions is waiting just around the corner!

In Matthew 24:37-39, the Lord warns us:

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

I believe it to be intensely significant that our Lord uses the Noahic flood as an illustration; this was the only time where divine intervention impacted the entire world in such a dramatic fashion.

While there have been many localized miracles with narrow objectives, there has never been a recurrence of a miracle impacting the entire world on such a cataclysmic scale as the Noahic flood!

The Sudden Disappearance of Millions of People all Over the World Will Shake Things Up Bigtime!

God waited 1,656 years before he brought sudden, devastating judgment upon the world; this time he has waited much longer, creation scientists estimate the age of the earth to now be in the range of around 6,000 years old.

I believe this to be a far better number than the millions or billions of years used by those following the theory of evolution. Using Biblical numbers as a basis for calculating, we discover a gap of around 4,344 years, and counting, between the flood and the end of the age as described in the Bible.

The sudden disappearance of millions will only be the first step in the carnage that will follow. The Lord describes this period of time in Matthew 24:21-22 where it is written:

“21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.”

The Times of the Gentiles

For almost 2,000 years now, we have lived in a time where God did not overtly intervene in the affairs of man. While the Holy Spirit has been very active, at a spiritual level, there has been nothing comparable to the divine interventions we saw during the Age of Israel.

The Age of Israel was put on hold for an unknown number of years while God’s plan for gentiles would play out. We are at year 1,991 and only God knows the date he plans to close out the “Times of the Gentiles!”

God had given Israel a third set of 490 years which was cut short at year 483 due to Israel’s rejection of it’s Messiah. The remaining 7 years is on hold until the Church is physically removed from the scene; I’ve written more on this in a series that starts with, “The Seventy Weeks of Daniel.”

The End of Life as We Have Known It

Many, including me, believe we are living in the last days before the removal of the Church; the signs prophesized in the Bible, for the end times, are thick around us. The world will move into its final chapter suddenly and with no warning! This amazing event is described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 where it is written:

“51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As a born-again Christian, by the time you realize something extraordinary is happening to you, it will all be over!

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | January 29, 2024

Longing for the New Jerusalem

A Promise of Better Things to Come!

In John 14:1-4, the Lord comforts his disciples with promises of a new home, I believe this new home is the New Jerusalem which is described in Revelation.

“14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

We have probably all heard the old saying, “Home is not a place, it is a person!” In my experience, I have certainly found this to be true; I am home when I am with my beloved wife of over 71 years.

By God’s grace, we have shared a dwelling for the last 48 years which we call our home, but the truth of the matter is, that dwelling is curiously unsatisfying when my wife is not there! It is the knowledge of her presence that makes that dwelling my home!

As Christians, I am confident our knowledge of the Lord’s presence will make the New Jerusalem feel like our home! When we are with him, we are home! Our knowledge of the Lord’s presence in our lives makes the struggles we face in the spiritual battle much more endurable.

I have chosen Galatians 2:20 as my favorite life verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

By God’s grace, let each of us practice the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives, it is a vastly superior way of life!

John 14 concludes with promises of union with Father, Son, and Spirit; our eternal relationship with God is certain and secured by the power of God!

Glories Infinitely Beyond Our Ability to Even Imagine!

Image from Heavenly News with Kenute P. Curry

The Bible provides glimpses of the New Jerusalem along with the New Heaven and the New Earth which offer tantalizing previews of the glories to come. I honestly believe human language does not have the resources to fully describe the wonders we shall behold when we are there.

It is easy to imagine the difficulties a primitive native would have attempting to understand a modern metropolis using only his native language. There would be no words available to even begin to describe the strange scene. I believe the gap between where we are now and where we will be is infinitely greater!

The last two chapters of Revelation provide us with assorted images of our new home, just enough to stir up our appetite for even more information. For me, it generates excited questions on points not revealed; I truly look forward to this grand experience and rejoice in its certainty.

Sharing A Question on Which I Speculate

I have noticed in Revelation 21:22 that the Holy Spirit is not mentioned:

“22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

Since we worship a Triune God, I wonder why that should be. I’ll freely admit I have no answer for this but speculate on the significance of some other verses I’ve read in the New Testament.

The Lord Jesus clearly establishes the importance of the arrival of the Holy Spirit at the First Advent; in John 14:16-17 where it is written:

“16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

In 1 Corinthians 12:13 it is written:

“13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”

Today, in our social climate, the distinctions would focus on racial groups; the results, however, would still be the same, we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit!

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it is written:

“19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

From those verses, it would appear that Christians, collectively, are the temple of the Holy Spirit now and forever. What do you think the ramifications of those verses are in the context of the New Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit’s temple, and Christians? 

I also encourage you to rejoice in what the Lord has planned; we are given a preview in Isaiah 65:17-19, NIV which I provide as a closing thought.

New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
    and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
    will be heard in it no more.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | January 19, 2024

The New Jerusalem, Our Forever Home!

Two Guys Looking for Their Forever Home!

Looking for Our Forever Home

Several years ago, now, a young stray cat started showing up at our back door looking for food. Needless to say, we started giving that little fellow some food and grew concerned about his well-being. Winter was approaching and as the weather started getting colder, we were concerned about his safety at night.

He had no tags so we didn’t know if he had a home nearby and was just looking for some more food or if he was one of those cats that had no home. We kept an eye out for him and when he started sleeping on our patio, we put a big cardboard box with towels inside to help him keep warm at night.

As the weather kept getting colder and he kept sleeping on our patio, we decided we had to do something for him, so we decided to give him a forever home.

I’m happy to report our little rescue cat now has a forever home where he is safe, warm and loved!

Two Rescue Cats That Now Have Forever Homes!

A Christian’s Longing for Their Forever Home

The Bible reveals that we, as Christians, also have a forever home, a home being prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a time, appointed by God, that we will occupy our forever home but we can only anticipate this by faith alone.

As human beings, we are severely limited in what we can experience encased in these mortal bodies. It is vital to recognize our bodies are temporary tents which we will occupy for only a brief amount of time. Our spiritual essence, made in the image of God, is much grander than anything that would be suggested by looking at our tents. 

As Christians, the reality of our condition is fully hidden from mortal eyes; at the time of our new birth, we were indwelt by God, the Holy Spirit, making us temples of God. The glory of God envelopes us but cannot be seen by the tents we occupy.

It has pleased our Creator to make faith the guiding principle in this Age of Grace. In 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 it is written:

“6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

The entire Christian experience is based on faith; from the moment of our salvation to our last mortal breath we are creatures of faith; looking beyond ourselves to the eternal plan, formulated by God, that determines our life and destiny.

I have, for many years, rejoiced in the truths I find in Psalms 139:16 where it is written:

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

This reassures me my times are in God’s hands and I glory and rejoice in that precious thought!

An Alien Environment

Christians will live out their entire mortality phase as soldiers in an ancient spiritual conflict that has been in progress for thousands of years. We have also been entrusted with responsibilities as ambassadors and priests for our creator. 

God has predetermined the exact amount of time we will devote to these responsibilities and knows precisely the time of our recall. We can rejoice in the sure knowledge that God is working all things after the counsel of his own will and will call us home at the appointed time.

In an interesting twist, we were born on a Satanically dominated alien battlefield and have never actually seen our home; we know of our home by faith alone and eagerly look forward to seeing it in person!

I have noted, with great interest, the alien nature of this battlefield seems to increase with each passing year; there seems to be a deterioration that is steadily plunging everything to ever lower levels of sin and depravity!

This makes the thoughts of home ever so much more welcoming to me.

Next time, “Longing for the New Jerusalem”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | January 2, 2024

Israel, a Mystery with a Glorious Future!

Photo from “My Jewish Learning”

How Can it be That Such a Tiny Spec of Land Could be the Center of so Much Controversy?

The nation of Israel, which is smaller than the State of New Jersey, garners much more attention than most other nations around the world! What is it about Israel that causes so much excitement?

There is one sure thing that makes Israel unique, Israel is the only nation that was given its land by the Creator of the Universe; in Number 34:1-13 the land given to Israel is described to Moses by God, maps of this area are available online.

It was God’s sovereign decision to select the Jews to be his chosen people and to give them this particular parcel of land, and, as a very small part of God’s creation, I, in no way, dispute God’s right to do this. The Jews are God’s people and Israel is their land! This is God’s will and I am completely at peace with that will!

Satan, as might be expected, takes exception to God’s plan and God’s people and has attempted to persecute them during this age of God’s judgment on his people. At the First Advent, Israel rejected their Messiah’s offer of a kingdom and had him killed, instead of crowned. As a results of this rejection, Israel was temporarily set aside as God’s instrument of choice and replaced by a new dispensation, the Age of Grace, the Church Age.

This was all prophesized by the Old Testament prophets where, in addition, the time of Israel’s restoration is described. A time is coming when Israel will again be the center of God’s plans for mankind. God had promised Israel a future time when they could accomplish God’s will for them. In Daniel 9:24 it is written:

“24 Seventy weeks are appointed for your people and for your holy city to complete the rebellion, to end sins, to cover over wrongdoing, to bring eternal righteousness, to seal up prophetic vision, and to anoint the most holy place.”

The Seventy Weeks would be divided into two parts, a period of 69 weeks and the 70th week; the Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem would close the 69-week period during which Israel would be set aside and judged by God for their rejection of their Messiah.

The final 70th week would resume in the last days of the Times of the Gentiles shortly before the return of the Messiah at his Second Advent. I believe we are getting very close to those days!

A Glorious Future for Israel!

Israel’s last 7 years, also known as the Tribulation, will be a terrible time of world-wide judgment. The Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, will bring that time of terror to a close. This will be followed by a time of restoration and begin the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jerusalem will be the capitol from which the Lord rules for 1,000 years. This will be followed by the Great White Throne judgment where those whose names are not found in the Scroll of Life, will be cast into the Lake of Fire to burn forever. This is described in Revelation 20:11-15 where it is written:

“11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one who is seated on it. Before his face both earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Another scroll was opened too; this is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged on the basis of what was written in the scrolls about what they had done. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and the Grave gave up the dead that were in them, and people were judged by what they had done. 14 Then Death and the Grave were thrown into the fiery lake. This, the fiery lake, is the second death. 15 Then anyone whose name wasn’t found written in the scroll of life was thrown into the fiery lake.”

The Eternal State

In Revelation 21-22, we are told of the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem which will descend down from heaven. I’m confident there are no words in any human language that could do justice to the wonders we will behold for a timeless eternity!

There’s Still Time to Open the Door!

Eternal judgment is certain for all whose names are not written in the Scroll of Life; the good news is there is still time to know one’s name is in that scroll. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and your God and your name will appear in the scroll of life. In Revelation 3:20-22 it is written:

“20 Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. 21 As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

I urge you, OPEN THE DOOR, Emerge Victorious!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 22, 2023

The Christ of Christmas

For Over Four Hundred Years, God had Remained Silent!

The Prophets of Israel had not heard from Yahweh for hundreds of years; the last revelation had been given to Malachi in the 5th Century BC, then silence.

There was to be a massive change that would be made, instead of giving words of advice and instruction to the Prophets, God was going to send the Word made flesh; God would send the Messiah to take on human form and bring the good news of the Kingdom to Israel!

While there may have been silence from Yahweh, a great deal was happening that would prepare the way for the First Advent. I have used the Schofield Reference Bible from my early days at Berachah Church in Houston, Texas. On page 984, there is a summary of the 400 years of silence which has always been very dear to me; I have copied it below:

  1. The experience of the captivity seems to have destroyed the Jews’ tendency to idolatry. Their problem during the captivity, when they were deprived of the Temple and priest, was to maintain the exalted spiritual and moral ideals given them by the older prophets. Afterward, during the intertestamentary period, the problem continued. Despite the revival of Temple and priesthood, the struggle became one of preserving the prophetic faith of the Jews in the midst of outward persecution and sordid divisions within.
  2. The external means to this end was the synagogue, an institution which formed no part of the Biblical order of national life and which did not develop as a separate entity until after the time of Malachi. Its origin is obscure, but its roots may go back to the captivity when the Jews, who were without the Temple and its rites, met on the Sabbath for prayer. Such meetings, which would give opportunity for the reading of Scripture, would require some order of procedure as well as some authority for the restraint of disorder.  Whatever be its precise beginnings, the synagogue doubtless grew out of the necessities of the situation in which the Jews were placed during the closing centuries of the pre-Christian era. It served the vital purpose of maintaining familiarity with the inspired writings. Upon these the spiritual life of the true Israel (Rom. 9,6 note) was nourished.
  3. Also during this period there was created that mass of tradition, comment, and interpretation, known as Mishna, Gemara (forming the Talmud), Midrasim, and Kabbala, that was so superimposed upon the law that obedience was transferred from the law itself to the traditional interpretations.
  4. During this same period there arose the two great sects known in the Gospel narratives as Pharisees and Sadducees. (See Mt. 3,7 with notes.) The Herodians were a political party rather than a sect.

Among these people, the Jews, governed under Rome by an Idumean usurper, torn by bitter religious controversies, and maintaining an elaborate religious ritual, appeared Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ, and the Savior of the world.”

The world stage was being set by God for the massive change that was coming to mankind; the Pax Romana provided some stability while the Koine Greek provided a way to communicate.

God Breaks His Silence

The four Gospels tell the story of God’s visitation to his creation; the 400 years of silence were broken when the angel Gabriel spoke to Zachariah in the Temple:

 8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. 9 Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10 All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. 11 An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.

13 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. Luke 1:8-13

Six months later, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary:

“26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.”

38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:26-38

Although this happened over 2,000 years ago, the impact of this change still reverberates around the world today! The First Advent concluded with the Holy Spirit coming, to replace the ministry of the Son, with a ministry that is still in full effect even now!

Individual Christians have become a Temple of God, the Holy Spirit! Now, instead of a structure, the Holy Spirit indwells born-again believers! Every believer is a Temple of the Holy Spirit in this Dispensation of Grace, the Church Age!

Observing the Incarnation of God, the Son, at the First Advent!

The time for joyful recognition of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ will soon be here; this year, we observe the birth of the Lord on Monday, December 25, 2023. While no one knows the actual date of our Lord’s birth, the 25th of December is the day we observe and celebrate the event!

The fact the exact date is unknown is relatively inconsequential in comparison to the overpowering reality it happened at all! To think, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, our Eternal Creator God, was willing to join his creation by being born of a virgin woman and taking on the mortal form of his creation is impossible to even imagine!

The Impact of Christmas!

The Lord Jesus Christ was born in a manger, that he might die on a cross for the sins of the world. His death opened the door to reconciliation with God by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior!

This opportunity has divided the world into two groups; those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and been born again by the power of God, the Holy Spirit, and those who have rejected God’s offer of redemption and reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior!

As a direct result of this choice, the world is divided into two groups; those spiritually alive and those spiritually dead. While the entire human race, born of a human father, is born spiritually dead; God has prepared a doorway to spiritual life by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 18, 2023

Adventures with My Sprinkler System

Adding a New Dimension to a Favorite Tool!

Since February of 2000, we have enjoyed the luxury of a yard sprinkler system. For too many years my wife and I found ourselves outside moving sprinklers around the yard in the hopes of keeping the grass alive in Houston’s hot summers.

We had a professional company install a sprinkler system with a Rain Bird controller; this controller worked well for almost 24 years but finally failed in December of this year. Fortunately, the same installer that installed the original system was still available to install the latest model, one with a WiFi capability.

The new controller didn’t come with the WiFi module which had to be ordered separately, but, after careful consideration, I decided to order the module from Amazon. I had noticed before, that our home WiFi network didn’t really reach as far as our detached garage and knew I would have to do something to extend the network to the garage.

After researching my options, I decided a powerline WiFi extender would be the best choice for extending the network to the garage. I chose the TP-Link Powerline WiFi Extender(TL-WPA8631P KIT).

I got both of the components within 24 hours, from Amazon, and got busy to see if I could make this work. My research disclosed there were setup problems that others had encountered so I went into this prepared to deal with problems.

The Rain Bird Controller WiFi is operated exclusively by a cell phone, so I had to download and install the Rain Bird app on my iPhone. My second step was to insert the module into the Rain Bird Controller which was a simple process.

You can see the WiFi module in the lower left corner of the Controller

Just out of curiosity, I tried to set up the WiFi connection without the extender but that was not going to work, I kept getting an error warning the signal was not strong enough to complete the setup.

Since I had been expecting that, I set about preparing the Extender kit and pairing the “Adapter” (on the left in the second photo) and the “Extender” (on the right in that photo). The Adapter would go in the house, and the Extender in the garage.

I decided to select the house plug that was nearest the garage that had an Ethernet connection nearby, the Ethernet was connected to my Asus router which was subsequently connected to a fiber-optic modem and provided access to the internet.

I then took the Extender to the garage and plugged it into the outlet immediately above the Rain Bird Controller and then plugged the Controller into the socket of the Extender as shown.

At that point, the only thing left was to get it set up and operating; it turns out, that was to be the hardest part. The biggest problem was knowing which network to select; a drop-down list of available networks was shown, including neighbors all over the area so I selected my home network but that didn’t work.

I worked on it several hours, talking at length with Rain Bird tech support, who, by the way, spoke good English and was patient and as helpful as he could be; but nothing he suggested could make it work.

My wife was beginning to get hungry and wanted us to have supper, so I finally gave up on the project for the night and took the rest of the evening off.

A New Day and a New Start!

The following morning, having exhausted all of the suggestions from Rain Bird tech support, I decided to have an online chat with tech support at TP-Link. Fortunately, that turned out to be more productive as they were able to help me select the one network that would work.

What was not clear to me from their “quick installation” instructions was the WiFi output was to be found on a network I had never heard of before, “TP-Link_DOCC. I had seen that link and thought it must belong to a neighbor as it was totally strange to me; it just happened to be the one I needed and once I had chosen it, and used the password on the back of the Extender, I was suddenly connected to the internet!

After working on that job for almost a day and a half, you can understand my excitement when it was finally fully operational. Today is day four and I’m happy to report it’s still working perfectly. Believe it or not, I actually had fun solving that challenge and always appreciate a happy ending!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 11, 2023

Our MAGA Government!

Two Factions Fighting for Control!

It is increasingly difficult to watch the news in this day and age as the infighting for control of the destiny of this country continues to play out before our eyes.

There are two distinct factions struggling to establish control over the United States; one faction seeks to restore the historic dignity and power which made this country the world’s foundation for freedom and democracy; while the other faction is seeking to establish a new-world-order where the United States is no more than a small part of a world-wide government that dispenses with national sovereignty!

Those seeking to restore the historic dignity and power are referred to as MAGA Americans meaning:

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Those seeking to establish a “new-world-order” I refer to as MAGA Americans meaning:

MAKE AMERICA GO AWAY!

Sadly, there are both Democrats and Republicans in both factions.

A One-World Government

For over 100 years there has been a movement seeking to establish a one-world government which would include the United States. A major obstacle to the establishment of this government has been the political and economic strength of the United States of America!

Systematic efforts have been put in place to dramatically reduce both of those obstacles to the establishment of a one-world government and the elimination of nationalism. These efforts have been carefully planned to influence all phases of life from childhood on to old age.

An examination of society today will reveal the results of these efforts as it bears little resemblance to the societal priorities of the past. The deliberate collapse of our Southern border and the wild expansion of our national debt are both cases in point; they are only rational from the second MAGA perspective!

The Divine Appointment of Nations

The Bible provides an explanation for the establishment of nations by God. In Genesis 11:5-9 it is written:

“5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”

Mankind had a problem, they were all born spiritually dead and alienated from God; unfortunately, the problem still exists today. Mankind is not inherently good, but inherently bad! God’s decision to create language barriers was intended to reduce the impact of this inherent problem of badness.

Satan’s Effort to Restore the “Oneness” of Humanity

The Bible reveals the last form of government, before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be a one-world government under the control of the Antichrist who is, by that time, indwelt by Satan! We should not be surprised to see the efforts by Satan to create a foundation for his rule during the Great Tribulation.

Even with the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Satanic influence is still substantial while Satan is “the Prince of the Power of the Air!” Ephesians 2:1-2

“2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

I believe we are seeing an ever-growing level of Satanic deception among those who are “dead in trespasses and sins!” Demonic influence is being manifested today, in the lives of the “sons of disobedience;” I can see no other rational explanation for what is going on; logically, it makes no sense at all!

The Catalyst for Satanic Excess

If we are living as close to the end times as I think we may be; then the world situation will continue to deteriorate at a pace known only to God. I have no idea whether we are talking days, weeks, months, or years; only God knows that and he has chosen not to reveal his timing.

There is a time coming, when God will remove the barriers to sin that have been in place during this “Age of Grace”, the Church Age; the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit will be removed when the church is caught up!

What About Born-Again Christians?

As children of God, our responsibility is to obey his commands and rejoice in the promises he has given to us. In his grace, he has revealed born-again Christians will not go through the coming judgment but will be caught up at a time known only to God. This is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where it is written:

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

“15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

I am comforted by those words; I hope you are too!

(Coincidentally we happened to watch the Army/Navy game just after I completed writing the above. I was very deeply touched by the opening ceremonies and saddened by the thought of all we have at stake as a nation!)

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