I am teaching through the Thessalonian letters at our midweek gathering at Calvary Chapel Lima. As I read 2 Thessalonians 1:4, all sorts of things came to mind about our day and the condition of the church in America.

Paul says in verse 4 that he and others spoke proudly of you among the churches of God. One of the many things I always try to keep at the forefront of my thinking is what impact the things I say or do will have on my testimony for Jesus. What will this thing or that thing do for the testimony of Jesus that Calvary Chapel Lima is responsible to present? Christians are aware that in most instances the eyes of the world are upon us, watching for any missteps, mistakes, or gossip-worthy actions or words. Now, we must also understand that our faith is already radically out of step with this world. So, there will be times when people will criticize us, even assault our character and reputation for doing what we are commanded to do and what the Holy Spirit enables us to do. In those times we must be bold and courageous for the Lord, not cowering or worrying about what people might think or say. Cultural accommodation is rarely profitable for the believer or the ecclesia.

The Thessalonian ecclesia had a testimony of enduring persecution and afflictions with their faith intact. Herein lies our challenge as American Christians. We have for our entire existence lived beyond the reach of widespread persecution. Our brothers and sisters of the faith elsewhere have for centuries been imprisoned, murdered, or become labor or sex slaves to other people. Islam and the Muslims who practice it are the biggest slave holders the world has ever seen and remain so to this day.

Have you ever considered why persecution and violent atrocities against Christians happen in other places but not in America? The answer is very simple. It hasn’t happened yet, but it is coming to America soon. How can I say that with certainty? I can say this with certainty because I know the source of the persecution. The late John Stott zeros in on what causes persecution of Christians with this definition: “Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.”^[1] In other words, the clash is between those who hold a biblical worldview and those who do not.

Why do we see mass migration of people from nations that hold a worldview that is opposed to a Christian theistic worldview? In the nations migrants are leaving, there is no sanctity of life. Life is disposable and cheap. Pedophilia is rampant. Islam teaches “honor killings,” a legal form of murdering a family member who does something that is perceived to shame the family name. Islam is the single greatest oppressor of women and children anywhere on the earth. Capital punishment is publicly practiced – hangings, decapitations, and burning people alive. There are no cultural morals and ethics that value or encourage honesty, integrity, and character. Virtue is non-existent. There is no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, and no freedom of the press, which means that citizens have no right to speak their minds about anything. In nations dominated by Islam, might makes right. Those in power will do everything they can to maintain that power. Iran just recently murdered upwards of one-hundred thousand of its own citizens who protested the oppression and poverty the mullahs inflicted and continue to inflict on the people. In Nigeria, there is a literal genocide against Christians, and the Nigerian government remains silent or, worse, is an accomplice to this atrocity.

Are these migrants simply seeking to escape their homelands and their ungodly tyrannical governments so they can enjoy the freedoms of the West? It is not to escape those ungodly nations but to bring their ungodliness to other nations and subjugate those nations to the same hatred and persecution of Christians that destroyed Christian populations in those countries centuries ago. This is clear when we see what has happened to Europe. Most of the nations there have been overrun with migrants and illegal immigrants who refuse to assimilate and who refuse to obey the laws of their new homeland. In the United Kingdom, the next step toward eventual Christian persecution is the establishment of Sharia Law Courts and the simultaneous silencing of anyone who objects to this. This provides for the adjudication of issues among the Muslim population. Two-tiered justice is an erosion of the rule of law and a step toward Islamization of the nation.

Jonathan Edwards was an eighteenth-century American pastor, revivalist preacher, and a central figure in the Great Awakening that swept through the American colonies in the early to mid-1700’s. He understood persecution in a way that modern Christians have long since forgotten, even though we have heard this same sentiment expressed repeatedly. He wrote,

One of the greatest paradoxes in Christian history is that the church is most pure in times of cultural hostility. When things are easy and good, that is when the church most often goes astray. When Christianity seems identical with the culture and even when the church seems to be enjoying its greatest earthly success, then it is weakest. Conversely, when the church encounters hardship, persecution, and suffering… then it is closest to its crucified Lord, then there are fewer hypocrites and nominal believers among its members, and then the faith of Christians burns most intensely.^[2]

Perhaps one of the most important and certainly famous sermons Jesus ever gave was His Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in Matthew 5-7. Jesus had something to say about persecution that runs counter to our thinking. He said,

Later in the same sermon Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus’ final words concerning persecution of those who believe in Him came near the end of His earthly ministry. He said,

I have labored the point about persecution to say this: The church is not ready for the coming persecution. The reason I believe the church is not ready is that not enough churches are teaching that persecution is part and parcel of the Christian faith. We have thousands of churches teaching people to speak their desired reality into existence. Leaders shouting “money come to me” are commonplace today. We have Christians who believe they will never be sick or poor because they refuse to acknowledge illness and are promised the riches of this world. We have Christians being taught that they are building the kingdom of God, and when they reach a critical point in their labors to subject the world to their program of reconstruction and dominion, when they believe that much of the world is converted to Christianity, Jesus will return. Everything is being taught to Christians today except what Jesus actually taught about what the days before His return would be like.

Believers in the Middle East, China, North Korea, and even Great Britain understand clearly that what Jesus said would characterize the Christian life is indeed true. American Christianity is about to learn this difficult truth too. However, this is not a word of doom and gloom. It is a word of warning. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

I leave this topic with a word of encouragement and hope. Even though it makes little to no sense to most people, Jesus said that we will be able to “rejoice and be glad” when persecution comes (Matthew 5:12). Rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted? We will if and when we adopt a biblical perspective. Jesus gave us the context, the mindset, the worldview necessary to rejoice and be glad when persecution comes our way in the same verse cited above. Here is the rest of the verse: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We will be able to rejoice and be glad when we understand that this life we live is lived for Jesus, not for this world’s empty promises and decaying treasures. We will rejoice and be glad when we understand that our home is not this earth and that our lives are measured and judged according to our faithfulness to Jesus and our commission to make Him known within our sphere and by the talents He gives us. We will rejoice and be glad when persecution comes, when we understand that all the heroes of the faith who stood against the tyrants of their time with unflinching devotion and Spirit of God-anointed strength are our companions. We stand with those heroes in the same unbreakable chain of fidelity to our King, Jesus. In this world we will have tribulation, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world!

Glory to God!

Pastor Mike

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^[1] John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount. Cited in “Persecution and Suffering For Jesus Christ,” Thomas A Tarrants, C. S. Lewis Institute, March 8, 2019. https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/persecution-and-suffering-for-jesus-christ/

^[2] Jonathan Edwards, Charity and its Fruits, cited in Tarrants, “Persecution and Suffering For Jesus Christ.”

Many things characterize our present day. The rise of Artificial Intelligence, the Technocratic State, wars, famines, earthquakes, tsunamis, and geopolitical intrigue all vie for our attention. Some recent developments have blurred the lines between reality and illusion.

What is most concerning to me is the rise of false gospels. To be sure, false gospels have been with us from the beginning of the church. The Jerusalem Council took action against a form of works righteousness when they met approximately 48-50 A.D.

Paul's letter to the believers in Rome summarizes why Christians must get the true gospel right. He wrote:

The Bible declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. One question that arises is this: What is it that must be believed? That is where we encounter false gospels. Why is this the case? How is this possible when the Bible spells out exactly what the true gospel is? And why does this matter? It matters because life is temporary, but eternity is not.

When was the last time you considered that if Jesus tarries, one day your life will end?

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that:

Every person has an appointment with eternity. We don’t know the day or the hour. But we know that day will come. Therefore, one of the most important questions we must consider is not merely: How long will I live? The far greater question is: Where will I spend eternity?

And an equally important question is: What must I believe to have eternal life? Thankfully, God has not left us to guess.

The Gospel Is About Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9–10 gives us one of Scripture’s great statements concerning faith in Jesus Christ.

Christianity ultimately rests upon a Person. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

He entered human history. He lived among us. He lived without sin. He went willingly to the cross. He died. He was buried. And on the third day, He rose bodily from the grave. Paul summarizes the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4:

Our hope is not that death isn’t real. Our hope is that Jesus Christ defeated it.

Jesus declared:

That changes everything about how Christians understand death. The grave does not have the final word. Jesus does. Because this is true, we must ask…

What Is Saving Faith?

This is something that is very important, and we must understand it clearly. It is possible to know facts about Jesus without personally trusting Jesus for eternal life.

Someone can know that Jesus lived. Someone can know that Jesus was crucified. Someone can know Christians believe He rose from the dead. Someone can attend church. Someone can own a Bible. Someone can even understand Christian doctrine. But merely possessing information about Jesus is not the same thing as saving faith in Jesus.

So, what is the content of saving faith?

Let me state it carefully. Saving faith is faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again to pay one’s personal penalty for sin; and through and by this faith Jesus gives eternal life to all those who trust Him, and Him alone, for it.

Every part of that statement matters. I am going to break this down.

Saving faith is in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not faith in ourselves. It is not faith in religion. It is not faith in a church. It is not faith in our morality. It is not even faith in the strength of our faith.

The object of saving faith is Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus said:

Notice the simplicity and power of those words. He who believes in Me.

Jesus Christ Is The Son Of God

Jesus was not merely a great moral teacher. He was not simply another prophet. He is the eternal Son of God who took upon Himself human flesh. The apostle John tells us the purpose of his Gospel:

The identity of Jesus matters. We are trusting the Son of God for eternal life. Jesus died and rose again. At the center of the Gospel stands the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus did not merely die as an example of sacrificial love. He died for our sins.

On the cross, Christ accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves. Romans 5:8 reminds us of one of the most important things the cross accomplished.

And then came the resurrection. Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. He rose again. The resurrection demonstrated His victory over sin and death.

Therefore, when Romans 10 speaks about believing that God raised Jesus from the dead, Paul is pointing us directly toward the historical foundation of the Gospel. Christian faith rests upon a crucified and risen Savior.

Jesus Christ Paid Our Personal Penalty for Sin

Why did Jesus have to die? Because our greatest problem is not merely that we make mistakes. Our greatest problem is sin. Romans 3:23 declares:

That includes every one of us. There are no exceptions. We may compare ourselves with other people and conclude that we are reasonably good. But other people are not God’s standard. God is. And measured against His perfect holiness, every one of us falls short. Romans 6:23 tells us:

Sin carries a penalty. And that penalty had to be paid. This is where the cross becomes intensely personal. Jesus did not merely die for sin in general. He died for our sins. My sin. Your sin. Our guilt. Our penalty.

Isaiah wrote centuries before the crucifixion:

Therefore, salvation is not God pretending that sin doesn’t matter. At Calvary, God demonstrated just how seriously He takes sin. Our sin was judged in the body of His Son. Jesus paid the price.

Eternal Life Is God’s Gift

This brings us to one of the most beautiful truths in all of Scripture. Eternal life is a gift. Romans 6:23 doesn’t say eternal life is a salary. It doesn’t say eternal life is an achievement. It doesn’t say eternal life is a reward we earn by becoming sufficiently religious. It says:

A gift is received, not earned. That means eternal life cannot be purchased by our good works. We cannot earn it by church attendance. We cannot earn it through baptism. We cannot earn it by giving money. We cannot earn it by trying harder. We cannot earn it by becoming a better person.

If eternal life could be earned, the cross would not have been necessary. Jesus accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. When He cried from the cross, “It is finished!” the work necessary to provide salvation had been accomplished. Therefore, the question becomes: Will I trust Him?

Trust Christ—and Christ Alone

This is where saving faith becomes very personal. We must trust Jesus Christ and Him alone for eternal life. That final phrase matters enormously: Him alone.

Not Jesus plus my goodness. Not Jesus plus my religious accomplishments. Not Jesus plus my church membership, plus my works, plus my ability to reform myself. Jesus Christ alone.

Imagine standing before God and being asked: Why should I allow you into My heaven? What would your answer be? If your answer begins, “Because I...” we immediately have a problem.

“Because I was a good person.” “Because I went to church.” “Because I helped people.” “Because I tried to live right.” “Because I was baptized.” Those answers place confidence in what we have done. Saving faith says:

“My only hope is Jesus Christ. He died for my sins. He rose from the dead. He promised eternal life to those who believe in Him, and I am trusting Him alone.”

That is the difference between trusting Christ and trusting ourselves. Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

Salvation is by grace. Received through faith. Because of Christ.

From Salvation to Surrender

But what happens after we have trusted Christ? The Christian life doesn’t end with believing the Gospel. In many ways, that’s where our journey of discipleship begins.

Paul addresses this in Romans 12:1–2.

Notice the order.

Paul doesn’t begin the book by telling sinners to transform themselves so God will save them. First comes God’s grace. That is the Gospel proclamation. God’s grace is present and active right now.

Then comes our response. Salvation precedes discipleship. We do not surrender our lives in order to receive eternal life. Having received eternal life through faith in Christ, we now have every reason to surrender our lives because He has saved us. That distinction is tremendously important. Good works are not the root of salvation. They are the fruit of salvation.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12 contains an interesting expression. Paul calls Christians to become a “living sacrifice.” In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was placed upon an altar and died. But Paul says Christians are to become living sacrifices. In other words: “Lord, my life belongs to You.” My time belongs to You. My abilities belong to You. My resources belong to You. My relationships belong to You. My future belongs to You. Everything I am belongs to You. That is discipleship.

Someday, every earthly possession we have accumulated will belong to someone else. Every position we held will be filled by someone else. Someone else will eventually live in our house. Someone else will drive our car. But what we did for Christ carries eternal significance.

That leads us to ask: What am I doing with the life God has given me?

Do Not Be Conformed to This World

Romans 12:2 confronts us with another challenge. The world is constantly attempting to press us into its mold. The world tells us what matters. Success. Money. Power. Recognition. Pleasure. Possessions. Status.

But nobody carries a bank account into eternity. Nobody carries their house. Nobody carries their professional title. But we do enter eternity. That is why Jesus asked:

Then finally, Romans 12 instructs us to….

Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

The Christian life involves transformation. God changes the way we think. His Word changes our priorities. His Spirit changes our desires. We begin seeing life differently. We begin seeing people differently. We begin seeing eternity differently.

Instead of asking, “How can I get more out of life?” We begin asking, “How can my life glorify Christ?” Instead of asking, “What do I want?” we begin asking, “Lord, what do You desire?” Instead of living merely for today, we begin living in light of eternity. That is the transformed life Paul describes in Romans 12.

Scripture calls us to do something more. It calls us to consider our own lives. Psalm 90:12 says:

We are not promised tomorrow. That isn’t intended to frighten us. It is intended to awaken us to what truly matters. The most important issue in your life is whether you possess eternal life. According to Scripture, eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.

An Invitation to Believe

So, I want to ask you a very simple but profoundly important question: What are you trusting for eternal life? Are you trusting your goodness? Your religion? Your church? Your baptism? Your accomplishments? Your morality? Or are you trusting Jesus Christ?

The Gospel says that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for your sins. He paid your personal penalty. He was buried. He rose from the dead. And He promises eternal life to those who believe in Him.

You cannot earn that life. You cannot purchase it. You cannot work your way toward it. You can only receive it by faith. Remember the words of Jesus I shared earlier:

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Might have.” He says, “Has.” That is a promise.

And the reliability of that promise rests not upon the strength of our faith but upon the faithfulness of the One in whom we have placed our faith. Jesus Christ. The Son of God. Crucified for our sins. Risen from the dead. The giver of everlasting life. Trust Him—and Him alone—for it.

Conclusion

Life has a beginning and an ending. But Jesus Christ offers something this world cannot provide: Everlasting life. Therefore, there are two important questions before us today. The first concerns eternity. Have I trusted Jesus Christ alone for eternal life? The second concerns today. If I belong to Christ, am I presenting my life to Him as a living sacrifice?

Romans 10 brings us to Christ. Romans 12 calls the believer to live for Christ. Saving faith receives the gift. Discipleship responds to the Giver. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, completely apart from any merit of our own.

And having received that extraordinary gift, we can say: Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself for me. Now I desire to live the life You have given me for You.

Above everything else, may every person reading this know with certainty that their eternal destiny rests upon Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again to pay our personal penalty for sin and who gives eternal life to all who trust Him—and Him alone—for it.

Dr. Mike

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In this episode of SER TV, Denise Shick joins Dr. Mike to discuss transgenderism, the LGBTQ influence on today's youth, what the scientific research really shows, and the silenced sex reassignment post-operative depression and alarming suicide numbers.

Denise Shick is a dedicated advocate, a compassionate leader, and the visionary founder of Help 4 Families. She is the director of both Help4Families and Living Stones Ministries, nonprofit organizations committed to providing support, resources, and hope to families facing life’s most challenging circumstances surrounding their self-identified LGBTQ loved one.

Help 4 Families information is here.

Support Dr. Mike and The Transforming Word Ministries here.

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This is Part 2.

What exactly are some of the claims Jesus made concerning Himself that leave no doubt that He was claiming to be God? Consider the following:

This brings me to a place where I encourage listeners to examine Jesus’ claims as well as the evidence that support them.

Authors Ankerberg and Weldon offer what they believe are seven key things concerning Jesus. Their claim is that there is no other religion on earth able to marshal such compelling claims and supporting evidence.^[1]

Among those claims is that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah predicted hundreds of years in advance of His birth. The first prophecy is found in the first book of the Bible. Genesis 3:15, where we read that the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the power behind the nachash. The last book of the Hebrew Scriptures, Malachi, contains the final prophecy of that covenant. In between, we find many of the Psalms and prophets telling of a coming Messiah and even some of the things He would speak. Among them are Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 53:3-12, Daniel 9:24-27, and Zechariah 12:10.

In the Apostolic Scriptures, we find many more prophecies given as fulfilled in Jesus. John 4:25-26 and Mark 14:61-62 both contain words Jesus spoke, claiming that He was the prophesied Messiah.

We could discuss the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin, that He lived a sinless life, that He claimed to be God’s Son, the promised Redeemer for the whole world, and that He rose from the dead, verified by eyewitnesses to this fact during the lifetimes of those hostile to this truth, yet without dispute.^[2] Jesus ascended, and the prophecy of His physical return is yet future. That return is as Judge of the nations.

The triune, personal God described brilliantly in the Bible exists. He has revealed Himself through the Son, Jesus the Christ. The universe is His creation; therefore, just as God can be known, so too can Jesus. If the Bible’s claims are true, then it is imperative that all people consider the many reasons why it is important to believe in Jesus for everlasting life.

Some might object that all of this is nothing but faith in a myth and unprovable assertions. Let me speak briefly to that person now.

There are many lines of evidence outside of faith and the Bible that point clearly to the existence of God and therefore, Jesus. Since God has taken these additional measures, it would be wise to consider them.

The complexity and interconnectivity of biological systems provide a strong argument for a designer. Even the committed atheist Richard Dawkins admits this. In his book, The Blind Watchmaker, Dawkins says, “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.”^[3] This argument for God’s existence is known as the Teleological Argument, from the Greek telos, meaning design.

This line of argumentation was developed by William Paley in the eighteenth century. Paley believed that the intricate and complex design of a simple watch leads us to understand that there is a watchmaker. Similarly, intricate and complex biological systems lead to an understanding that there must be a designer.

J. Warner Wallace frames the question we must answer concerning apparent design.

…can natural forces alone (i.e. the laws of physics and chemistry, unguided chance mutation, and the creative power of natural selection) account for the complexity and “appearance” of design cited by so many atheist biologists? The complexity we see in cellular organisms must be attributed to one of three mechanisms (or some combination thereof):

Unguided chance

Physical Law

Intelligent Agency

All of us, regardless of worldview, must account for the appearance of design from one of these three causal factors, and the “burden of explanation” is equally shared. As a theist, it’s not enough for me to point to the insufficiency of naturalism and then default to intelligent agency. I must demonstrate the deficiency of chance and natural law and the positive evidence for intelligent agency. The atheist must, however, provide an account for the appearance of design from chance and natural law alone, and the burden of proof is as real for the naturalist as it is for the theist.^[4]

In 2004, Frank Turek and his co-author, the late Norm Geisler, released a book titled I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist.^[5] In the preface to their book, the authors provide a word of wisdom to readers. They write:

…if you’re a skeptic, please keep in mind that you should believe or disbelieve what we say because of the evidence we present, not because we have a certain set of religious beliefs. We are both Christians, but we were not always Christians. We came to believe through evidence. So, the fact that we are Christians is not the issue: why we are Christians is the important point. And that’s the focus of this book.^[6]

What I enjoyed most about this book is that the authors do not rely on the Bible to make their point that it requires much more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian. That may sound strange to some ears. One example among many is found in Chapter Three, which is titled, “In the Beginning There Was a Great SURGE.” The word SURGE is used as an acronym. The S represents the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the U represents the Universe is Expanding, the R represents Radiation from the Big Bang, the G represents Great Galaxy Seeds, and the E represents Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. Turek and Geisler utilize these categories to argue that the evidence from the universe points directly to a beginning of the universe as the Bible describes.

At the time of the writing of Turek and Geisler’s book, Robert Jastrow was the head of the Mount Wilson Observatory. Jastrow was also the founder of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies and a professed agnostic. His credentials as an astronomer and scientist are impeccable. This is why his admission of design is important. He wrote concerning the evidence found ion the universe for design:

Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world. The details differ, but the essential elements in the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same: the chain of events leading to man commenced suddenly and sharply at a definite movement in time, in a flash of light and energy.^[7]

The implications of this admission are enormous. Jastrow would later state unequivocally that atheist and agnostic scientists were being forced by the evidence into a conclusion they did not wish to draw.

Astronomers now find they have painted themselves into a corner because they have proven, by their own methods, that the world began abruptly in an act of creation to which you can trace the seeds of every star, every planet, every living thing in this cosmos and on the earth. And they have found that all this happened as a product of forces they cannot hope to discover…That there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at work is now, I think, a scientifically proven fact.^[8]

This fact was proven scientifically long before Jastrow’s admission. Albert Einstein is famously known for his theory of General Relativity, a theory that he worked on for many years, attempting to prove the universe was static and eternal. When his calculations repeatedly led him to conclude that time, matter, and space simultaneously appeared together, and without this simultaneous appearance the universe would not have appeared at all, he introduced a cosmological constant into his equation to drive the calculations toward a static and eternal universe. That gambit did not work as Einstein and his successors had hoped it would. Einstein and every astronomer after him were forced to admit that the universe was indeed expanding, which means that it has a beginning.

Today, Christian apologists use Einstein’s theory of General Relativity to argue for God’s existence, the very thing Einstein and others sought to avoid. That argument is known as the Cosmological Argument. It is formulated thusly,

1. Everything that had a beginning had a cause.

2. The universe had a beginning.

3. Therefore, the universe had a cause.

In conclusion, I want to state and respond to some of the most common objections to the exclusive claims of Jesus and the Bible, as a means of answering the question why do you need Jesus?

Some will say that what you place your faith in is not important. What is important is the sincerity of what you believe. This is dispelled with one word – Hitler. He believed sincerely that he was doing the world a favor by murdering people all in the name of his hope for a pure race. We would never apply sincerity as a test for authenticity in any area of life. We should not do it in faith matters either.

Other people will say that all religions are the same or that all religions lead to God. This is the foundation of the co-exist ideologies, liberal Christianity, and the philosophy of pluralism from which they arose. While this syncretistic approach to world religions is appealing to many, it is anathema to those actually practicing their faiths. Ask Muslims if Judaism is the same. Or ask Buddhists if Christianity is the same. You will learn quickly that they are not. Islam denies that Jesus is the Messiah and that Jesus is the Son of God. How can this be reconciled? It cannot be.

Why do you need Jesus? You need Jesus because He stands alone among the world’s figures. What other religious figure claimed to bring God down to us? What other religious figure addressed the nature of man – sin and wickedness – and offered forgiveness and a restored relationship with the creator? What other religious figure proved His claims by rising from the dead?

Michael Green reminds us that Jesus stands above and apart from any other. He writes:

We never read of Him (Jesus) needing to apologize or admit He was wrong. And that from the man who was so shrewd in spotting hypocrisy in others! In the Lord’s Prayer, He tells us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses,” but He never prayed like that Himself. Here is the man who dared to claim that he always did what pleased His Father in heaven (John 8:29). Here is the man who could turn to an angry crowd, angry because He claimed that He was one with God, and ask, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46) – and get no answer! Whatever way you look at it, His character and conduct were special! Others have had great influence, though none as great. Others have taught great truths, though none so comprehensive. Others have lived fine lives, though none so fine.^[9]

Why do you and why do I need Jesus? I and we need Jesus because His claims are true. They are supported by eyewitness testimony and have stood the test of time. No one in all of recorded human history has impacted mankind in such positive and life-changing ways as Jesus.

Christian theism teaches that saving faith is faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again to pay one’s personal penalty for sin; and through and by this faith Jesus gives eternal life to all those who trust Him, and Him alone, for it.

Stated another way, Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain for our sins, that we might receive forgiveness, reconciliation to the Father, and everlasting life through faith in Him. This is why we need Jesus.

The Bible affirms this: There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Be blessed today as you seek Jesus.

Dr. Mike

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^[1] Ankerberg and Weldon, Fast Facts, 100-101.

^[2] Discussing the fact of Jesus’ resurrection is beyond the scope of this paper. Two facts are worthy of the readers’ consideration. One, that Jesus was publicly crucified and died. Two, that Jesus was seen alive days later. He interacted with hundreds of people. The eyewitnesses to this gave public testimony of this fact, and no one living disputed it.

^[3] Cited by J. Warner Wallace, “Is God Real? The Argument for God’s Existence from the Appearance of Design in Biology.” http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/is-god-real-the-argument-for-gods-existence-from-the-appearance-of-design-in-biology/#sthash.WMcaVjCb.dpuf

^[4] Ibid.

^[5] Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2004).

^[6] Ibid., 14.

^[7] Ibid., 84.

^[8] Ibid., 84-85.

^[9] Michael Green, But Don’t All Religions Lead To God? (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 34.

How Does A Person Find The One True God?

Our current age is marked by palatable aversion to truth claims. Philosophic relativism and pluralistic postmodernism have hollowed out the meaning of words, concepts, and narratives that have, in times past, provided a foundation for civil society and its advancement.

Today many people have become indoctrinated in an ideology of uncertainty, where questioning everything is seen as wisdom. Unbridled skepticism is not wisdom. It is a disability. It provides cover for those who want to ignore evidence pointing in a direction they do not wish to travel. While there is wisdom in asking questions and seeking clarity from anyone or anything that seeks to communicate propositional truth, it must be admitted that all inquiries of any kind and in every field should seek to understand and/or find truth. Not relative truth. Not truth for you but not for me. The quest of humanity is to learn, find, and discover truth. Objective, rational, logical, reasonable truth is still the object of the research, of the tests, of the hypotheses, and of the exploration on this earth and of our universe.

It is not a satisfactory or livable philosophy of life to state categorically that truth does not exist. The statement itself is nonsensical. The statement is itself a statement sitting upon the foundation that at least one absolute truth exists – that truth does not exist. Therefore, it is self-refuting.

On an individual and personal level, the ultimate search for truth seeks to answer questions such as:

• Who am I?

• How did I get here?

• What is my purpose?

• Can I know anything that is true?

• Is there something beyond this physical reality I call life?

• If there is something beyond this physical reality, how can I know what it is?

On a metaphysical level, questions such as:

• Does God exist?

• If He exists, how can I know Him?

• Is He benevolent, malevolent, or ambivalent toward me?

• Does God have a purpose and plan for me and my life?

• How do we explain evil in the world if God is loving and kind?

Christian theism provides a robust and satisfactory answer to these questions and more. As a system of faith, Christianity makes truth claims and invites investigation and conversation about its propositions. Answers should be observable and/or logical deductions from what is seen in, and known of, our world.

For example, can we know that God exists? Christian theism says yes, we can know that God exists. We know He exists because He has given us a mind that is capable of reason. A mind that is capable of understanding what is seen, comprehending, analyzing, and arriving at conclusions based on available data. This process may be aided by revelation, contemplation, the testimony of other people that is consistent with observable data, and of course faith. We may also apprehend God and know that He exists by direct access. More on that later.

The Christian who seeks to answer the question, Why does anyone need Jesus?, has a ready treasury and rich heritage of doctrinal and theological resources to utilize.

When speaking of God, Christian theism believes and teaches that He is infinite, personal (triune), transcendent, immanent, omniscient, sovereign, and good. Taken together, these characteristics inform us that God is the one prime existent, the one prime reality and…the one source of all other reality.^[1] These things are incorporated in the Hebrew and Apostolic Scriptures through the “I am” statements of both God the Father, and Jesus the Christ (see Genesis 15:7; 17:1; 28:13; 31:11; 35:11; 46:3; Exodus 3:6, 14; 6:2; John 6:35; 8:12; 10:9, 11; 11:25, 26; 14:6; 15:5).

Human beings have been created in God’s image, and God has shared His communicable attributes with mankind. This is the reason people possess the ability to determine specific choices from among many options, why we have personality, and why we think and act morally according to an objective standard of right and wrong. People have an ability to make choices, to be self-aware, and to love other people, sometimes in sacrificial ways. All of these characteristics find their source in the One who created us.

Christian theism also asserts that God the Creator takes an active role in communicating with His creation. This is why Christians believe God has granted people direct access to Himself. This was, of course, the claim of the prophets who spoke the words of God to the people. It is the claim of Jesus as well, who on many occasions said, matter-of-factly, that He only speaks the words the Father gives Him (John 12:49; 14:10).

Christian theism bases its truth claims on the Scriptures. Beginning in Genesis 1:27, we learn that people are created in God’s image. The apostle John testified to the same realities above in the first four verses of his Gospel. He wrote:

The Word that was in the beginning, that is, before time existed, was the logos. We derive our English word logic from logos. John says that the Logos was before time, i.e., eternal, which again is one characteristic of God. God being the Word and the Light of men means that mankind has an inherent ability to think and act morally according to God’s directives and leading. This captures the meaning of the entire phrase In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Christian theism teaches that while man was the crowning achievement of God’s creation (Psalm 8:4-5), his nature has been diminished and weakened. This is because, in the perfect state of God’s presence, man sinned (Genesis 3). Sin affected mankind intellectually, morally, and socially, and his soul was negatively impacted. This is an important point within Christian theism and the answer to why everyone needs Jesus.

Adam’s sin corrupted his soul in the sense that his original state of holiness before God died. His very nature became impaired, and physical death entered into the experience of men. Spiritual death accompanied Adam’s sin as well, meaning Adam became separated from God. This is illustrated in the very first conversation Adam had with his Creator when God called for him to come out from his hiding place and understand what had transpired through his failure.

The fall of Adam highlights for us the right and certainty of God’s judgment upon sin. As I mentioned earlier, modern people have grown accustomed to thinking of morals and ethics as a cornucopia or smorgasbord of choices that they are free to select some or none, according to their thinking or lifestyle, without consequence. This belief is a symptom of a larger problem.

Mankind possesses certain characteristics because God has imprinted them upon us all. We could say they are hardwired within our being. Among those characteristics is an understanding that there are moral certainties that do not depend on our acceptance, approval, or practice, although we would be wise to acknowledge and practice them. This means that morality is an objective standard that originates outside of ourselves. We don’t get to pick or choose which we will acknowledge or ignore. That doesn’t mean people won’t pick and choose or ignore, and, in some cases, do exactly the opposite of what their conscience speaks. It does mean that ignoring or doing the opposite of God’s moral standard has consequences. The reason this is so, is because morality originates with God. He has determined what is good, and perfect, and right because He is good, perfect, and right.

Jesus spoke to this situation when He said:

Therefore, what God has revealed in His Word concerning the condition of mankind before Him is of utmost importance for all people to understand. Once a man or woman has come to this understanding of their condition before a holy and righteous God, the need for Jesus becomes apparent and unavoidable.

John Ankerberg has remarked that,

Ankerberg then quotes Dr. D. James Kennedy from the latter’s book, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?

The point that Ankerberg, Kennedy, and thousands of other authors, poets, musicians, and ordinary Christians with a testimony of what Jesus did in their lives are making is this – Jesus was not just another man. He was not just a moral teacher. Jesus was not just a prophet who spoke the words of God; He was God Himself, who revealed to mankind the path to reconciliation to God the Father and everlasting life through faith in the finished work of Jesus the Son.

This makes Jesus unique and unparalleled in the history of the world. The truth claims that Jesus made concerning His identity cannot be ignored.

Justin Taylor, in an article titled, “Is C.S. Lewis’s Liar – Lord-or-Lunatic Argument Sound?”, writes this:

C. S. Lewis, speaking in 1942… I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. . . . Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.

In a 1950 essay, “What Are We to Make of Jesus?” Lewis works through some of Jesus’s startling claims about himself in Scripture, repeating his insistence that you can’t conclude that he was simply a “great moral teacher.” If what he said is true, Lewis says, then they are the sayings of a “megalomaniac.”

In my opinion, the only person who can say that sort of thing is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion, which undermines the whole mind of man. If you think you are a poached egg, when you are not looking for a piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane, but if you think you are God, there is no chance for you. We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met him. He produced mainly three effects — Hatred — Terror — Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.

It’s here that Lewis addresses the rebuttal that Jesus did not really say these things; his followers exaggerated the story, and the legend grew that he really said these things. Lewis shows how unlikely it would be for the Jews to invent God become man:

This is difficult because His followers were all Jews; that is, they belonged to that Nation which of all others was most convinced that there was only one God—that there could not possibly be another. It is very odd that this horrible invention about a religious leader should grow up among the one people in the whole earth least likely to make such a mistake. On the contrary we get the impression that none of His immediate followers or even of the New Testament writers embraced the doctrine at all…^[4]

Dr. Mike

To be continued….

^[1] James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview catalogue (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Christina Publishing, 1997), 23.

^[2] John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Fast Facts On Defending Your Faith (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2002), 95.

^[3] D. James Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (Nashville, TN: Thomas nelson Publishers, 1994), cited in Ankerberg, Fast Facts, 95.

^[4] Justin Taylor, “Is C.S. Lewis’s Liar – Lord-or-Lunatic Argument Sound?” The Gospel Coalition, February 1, 2016. Here - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/is-c-s-lewiss-liar-lord-or-lunatic-argument-unsound/ It must be noted that some logicians object to Lewis’ framing of the issue. Craig Evans, for one, says of Lewis’ formulation: “This appeal makes for good alliteration, maybe even good rhetoric, but it is faulty logic. Without further qualification, those who adhere to this line of argument commit the fallacy of excluded middle. That is, they overlook other viable alternatives. At least two other alternatives are possible; both relate to how Scripture is understood, and both come into play…A fourth alternative is that Jesus is neither liar, lunatic not Lord, (in the traditional, orthodox sense), He is something else. He may be Israel’s Messiah, the Lord’s servant and perhaps the greatest prophet who ever lived. He could even be called God’s son, but not in the trinitarian sense, in which Jesus is seen as fully God and fully human. As far as we know, this more or less agrees with Ebionite Christianity, a form of Jewish Christianity that emerged in the second century and eventually disappeared sometime in the fifth century…A fifth alternative is that we really don’t know who Jesus was.” See Craig A. Evans, Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels, (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2006), 20. The fifth alternative is the position of modern skeptics, liberal theologians, and those who claim to have abandoned their faith based on their acceptance of questionable data. The participants of the Jesus Seminar would fit in this category as would people such as Bart Ehrman and Robert Price.

End Times Bible Prophecy with Britt Gillette, is a Substack platform exploring today’s news headlines and how they relate to end times bible prophecy. Britt uses a biblical worldview to help others understand what’s happening in the world. In doing so, it’s his hope that people will come to recognize Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (Acts 5:42) and discover a life filled with hope, peace, and encouragement.

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I’m currently teaching through the Thessalonian letters on Wednesday evenings at Calvary Chapel of Lima. A statement Paul makes to the ecclesia at Thessalonica, found in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, caused me to pause and consider the implications of the verse's point if taken too far. Here is that verse.

A few verses later in the same letter, Paul urged the Thessalonians further:

Christians are commanded to love. We are to excel in love toward one another. This is admirable, noble, and Christ-like. Can we go too far in this quest to always be loving? What we see too often today among Christians is the claim that love means refusing to correct, refusing to speak out about wrongs, refusing to confront in an effort to correct a sinning brother or sister. In fact, love is used to excuse sin too often. This has damaging consequences for our own faith and for the faith of others who observe this behavior and, worse, adopt it as their own way of life.

Modern American Christians seem to be fulfilling the parable of the sower and the seeds that Jesus taught in Matthew 13.

I have heard many explanations of this parable over the years. Some of them are far removed from Jesus’ own explanation found in Matthew 13:18-23.

I see in Jesus’ explanation in the verses above the origin of the current lack of discernment, the neglect and even rejection of sound biblical doctrine, and the aiding and abetting of apathy in the least and apostasy at worst. Notice especially verse 22 above: “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

“The worry of the world” and “the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word.” Worry is most often concern about self, about a situation, and about how we might address the things that concern us. The deceitfulness of wealth is simply a love for material things. Now, there is nothing wrong with being concerned about things in our life. There is also nothing wrong with having material things. The key to what Jesus taught is that our worry and the deceit lurking within the accumulation of material things will “choke the word and cause it to be unfruitful.”

In other words, “life gets in the way,” and causes well-meaning Christians to rearrange priorities. Spiritual disciplines almost always slide down that list first. The things that take the place of prayer, Bible study, fasting, fellowship with other believers, sharing our faith, and activities meant to strengthen the faith and life of believers, slowly fade in importance. In parallel with this often imperceptible slide, an attitude of accommodation takes hold. A degree of laissez-faire creeps in in relation to the beliefs, doctrines, and theology of the local ecclesia as well as toward the leadership of the ecclesia. Then, without warning, believers begin to pretend that everyone has a right to live their life of faith as they see fit. This final attitude is almost always driven by a desire not to be approached or questioned by others concerning their own drifting from the faith. Soon these people allow the thorny things of life that demand their attention and resources to destroy their faith.

The most alarming example of this slide into apathy and apostasy is seen in the Christians who have fallen into the deception of deconstruction. For those unfamiliar with the word, it means to tear apart, question, and reassign meaning to words, ideas, and assumptions that have been previously taken for granted. This practice has been employed for decades on American college campuses to undermine authority, hierarchy, and traditional family values. Biblical higher criticism is a form of literary deconstruction.

What I am describing is becoming an issue for the ecclesia of Jesus today. Christians should care about doctrine, theology, and biblical truth, without which we will most certainly become shipwrecked in our faith. This current trend also highlights the need for discipleship. If more of God’s people would engage our assignment - go into all the world and make disciples - instead of building their own kingdoms, which are doomed to fail, perhaps this disaster can be avoided.

I’ll be speaking about this and more at an upcoming conference here in Ohio. Join me on September 26 for this one-day prophecy update hosted by Calvary Chapel Faith Fellowship in the northern Cincinnati area. The event is free, but you do need to register for headcount purposes.

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In this episode of SER TV, Mike's guest Robert L. Maginnis, author of "The Final Algorithm: When Artificial Intelligence Meets the End of Days," argues that the rapid development of artificial intelligence, digital identity systems, surveillance technologies, and centralized control mechanisms should be viewed through the lens of biblical prophecy, particularly passages such as Revelation 13 and Jesus' warnings about deception.

Bob and Mike discuss AI and deception; the image of Revelation 13; Digital identity and economic control; and the need for biblical discernment.

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Pastor Mike Tatlock joins Dr. Mike to discuss his new book "A Compelling Faith In A Compromising Culture." Mike and Mike discuss the impact of postmodernism on evangelicalism; the culture wars; Satan as an angel of light; contending for the faith; and living a consecrated life.

Grace Chapel Church - https://gracechapelonline.org/

A Compelling Faith In A Compromising Culture book - https://www.moodypublishers.com/a-compelling-faith-in-a-compromising-culture/

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In a world where occult and New Age practices are becoming increasingly mainstream, exposing the basics of New Age and occult teachings helps people to identify them when they appear.

Today, demonic elements behind occult and New Age practices ensnare people in numerology, crystals, tarot cards, alchemy, alien contact, witchcraft, and more.

Jac Marino Chen's book, "Ensnared: Overcoming the Darkness of the New Age and Occult With the Light of God's Truth," is the subject of this conversation.

Jac Marino Chen's website - https://www.jacmarino.com/
Get "Ensnared" book - https://ensnaredbook.com/

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In this episode of Soaring Eagle TV, Lee and Mike discuss the following topics:
Lee's Soothkeep Ministry and the speaking schedule he maintains;
The Watchman's Creed, the Infallible Word of God, the Historical-Grammatical-Literal interpretation process, the Gospel, contending for the faith, Prophecy, Israel, and the Rapture.

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In this episode of Soaring Eagle TV, Mondo and Mike discuss: Hermeneutics, Literal interpretation, prophecy, NATO, Spain, President Trump, Israel, Netanyahu, and Israeli politics. We end with a word of encouragement - What does the church need to focus on today?

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Dr. Brad Reaves is a pastor, author, and founder of Coming Soon! Ministries. He is committed to boldly proclaiming biblical truth in the final days and is the Senior Pastor of Cross Way Christian Fellowship in Hagerstown, Maryland.

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After the vote, the delegates fell into a heavy, almost solemn silence when it became clear that the result had been unanimous. They knew the weight of their decision. They literally signed their death warrants. I wouldn’t doubt that every man silently prayed to God for protection.

Washington’s Revolutionary War flag: The Pine tree reflected the colonists’ belief that when human government fails, they have the right to seek justice from God;

Following the vote, Congress debated and made minor revisions to the Declaration of Independence. The final text of the document, largely written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and other delegates, was adopted on July 4, 1776. The formal signing did not occur until August 2, 1776.

Great Britain now knew for certain who these traitors be.

It was the culmination of years of argument and toil to initially attempt to make peace with London and voice their discontent. The Southern states and New York insisted on making peace. It was clear in New England that they were at war, having already lost hundreds of men in battle. Petitions were repeatedly sent to London, which proved fruitless. The king had declared Americans rebels. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania wrote many of the petitions but was absented for most of the votes involving the Declaration since he knew it would lead to war and he was a quaker.

After much argument, Benjamin Franklin was asked to comment. He purportedly said, “The question is not whether, by a Declaration of Independence, we should declare something we are not, but whether to declare a fact something which already exists.” In essence, Franklin was saying to the Congress, “War is upon you; what are you going to do about it?”

When all efforts at peace failed, a new form of government was envisioned--self-government--that was unlike any other on earth… exceptional.

The financial and personal cost of the war was thousands of lives on both sides, a generation of financial hardship, and great personal loss for the signers of the Declaration. Many of the signers were captured and tortured; others had their homes burned, sons killed in battle, and property seized.

The war did cement Americas’ commitment to liberty that shaped America’s destiny. It is forever embedded in our DNA.

After the war, John Adams, upon becoming the first American ambassador to the Court of St. James in 1785, was required to present himself to King George III. It was a bit tense. While departing the king’s presence, the king said, “I pray, Mr. Adams, that the United States does not suffer unduly from the want of a monarchy.”

Like everything made with human hands, it was never perfect. But, like, our Constitution says, “in order to form a more perfect union.” After 250 years, we have shown the world that we can indeed prosper without the want of a monarchy.

“While I live, let me have a country... a free country.” ~ John Adams

We have entered a crisis in which a political party saw fit to import millions of illegal immigrants from third-world countries without any knowledge of their backgrounds, primarily to serve a political agenda in search of new voters. As a result of this influx, the Democrat Party has, in violation of our laws, allowed millions into our country who lack a tradition of freedom and a desire for it, instead seeking financial aid. That exodus also included tens of thousands of criminals their countries were eager to be rid of. This illicit act has caused death and great harm to thousands of innocent Americans.

The Democratic Socialists having hitched a ride on the Democrat Party is a perfect but temporary union

The Democratic Socialists having hitched a ride on the Democrat Party is a perfect but temporary union. The Dems are bomb throwers rather than problem solvers, and the Socialists have plenty of bombs. The Socialists’ intention is to change the face of our country, to eliminate freedom and the pursuit of happiness, and to create a dependent state to exert greater control over the populace.

Does anyone believe that if any government distributes free housing, free food, free healthcare, or anything of value that these radicals are demanding, we will still have the freedom to choose? We will not! If the government covers the costs, it will dictate the terms. Housing will be provided according to their preferences and locations. Healthcare will be as they please, including the determination to alter or discontinue care altogether.

The issues of morality, such as the planned destruction of the family, homosexual marriage, transgenderism, and drag queens, have contributed to the chaos and demoralization of the populace.

The radicals no longer want an America as we know it! Our beliefs, freedoms, morals, and the pursuit of happiness will be dead. The freedom of choice that makes life sweet will be gone.

The socialists are not here to work with any other set of values. They will lie all the way to our destruction. They are here to replace American values with their version of equality and collectivism, which includes the elimination of our greatest asset, the middle class.

If that seems improbable, reconsider. These foreigners, including radical leftists, socialists, and Democrats, are promoting communism that has failed everywhere. In many areas, it is gaining ground because of the ignorance of those who vote for it.

The consequences of this shift are already visible, as communities grapple with increased division and hostility. If we do not uphold our principles, we risk losing the essence that makes our nation unique, resilient, and the greatest country on earth. Show me a better country. Ultimately, show me a better country. God save America!

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” ~ George Washington

Ray DiLorenzo

Ray DiLorenzo is a career pilot having retired after 22 years as a contract fire pilot with the California Department of Forestry (Cal-Fire). He is presently affiliated with Stand Up America US Foundation founded by Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely (Ret).

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Paul Wilkinson and Mike Spaulding discuss Paul's new book, "The Beautiful Simplicity of the Rapture."

The book is available from Ariel Ministries - ariel.org

Subjects discussed include: the Pretribulation Rapture; the Greek and Latin words for rapture; How believers can understand the difference between the rapture and the Second Coming; Daniel's Seventieth Week; Ek versus Dia in Revelation 3:10; and more!

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We are a little more than three weeks away from Go Therefore 2026. We are expecting another powerful gathering of the body of Christ. Please note a couple of revisions.

First, Dr. JB Hixson has joined us this year. He is a familiar name to many and has become a quick friend.

Also joining us is Mark Musser. I’ve known Mark for several years, beginning with my interview with him on the old Soaring Eagle Radio platform. We are fortunate to have him with us as he is on furlough from his missionary work in Ukraine.

John Haller will not be joining us due to his recovery from recent surgery. He will be missed. Please pray for his healing.

Live streaming is available. You may register at the conference website - gothereforeconference.com

If you would like to be added to our email list for this or future events, please leave a note with that request.

Mike

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