Sure, I'll Play

All of the sudden an email arrived, saying that I'd been accepted as a member of this forum. I do not remember applying.

Maybe I applied a long time ago and forgot. I don't know.

At the age of six I prayed to Jesus on my own. I just believed as simply and sincerely as only a child can. My grandparents prayed daily, which I guess is where I got the idea.

Then four decades happened.

My dad ran off with some woman to another state. Parents divorced, and, being numbskulls, each married a series of other numbskulls. They seemed to love the marriage ceremony but were rather cool toward marriage as an ongoing state.

Can't blame them. Their marriages were marked with domestic violence, armed robbery, sexual perversion, drunkenness, and infidelity.

At the age of fifty-five I have never married, in part because I figured it would turn out as badly as it had for Mom and Dad. But nothing happens -- or fails to happen -- for only one reason. There are many reasons why I'm a bachelor.

Eight months ago I nearly tied the knot. Bought her a ring, set a date, rented an apartment. On the day of the wedding announcement she took me aside and told me she had herpes simplex II but not to worry because I'd probably not catch it, and that the apartment fees were non-refundable.

Did I get angry? Heck, no. I just didn't marry her, that's all. Look, I've been a soldier, jeweler, dance instructor, taxi driver and dispatcher in three major cities, over the road trucker, cement truck driver, shift supervisor in a recycling plant, typesetter, pyrotechician, bookseller, waiter, and, believe it or not, a mystic. I've been to Germany, Sweden, Scotland, Mexico, Greece, Canada, and all of the lower forty-eight. I written two federal lawsuits, one of which succeeded pretty spectacularly. I've written articles for a couple of small, local newspapers and a short biblical treatise that no one wants to read. I've written a few criminal defenses, some of which have worked. That my fiance tried to trap me into a marriage she knew I would not want is trivia.

Over the years I've joined crummy churches of many denominations. There is a saying: "A pastor's education is a mile wide and an inch deep." The teaching at these churches was way too callow and intellectually sloppy for me. Plus, among these churches, three consecutive pastors ran off with women not their wives.

Struggled to really know the Bible for many years. Got thoroughly confused. Began studying history, psychology, philosophy, and history of religion, in search of the truths one cannot learn in Sunday school. That led to an oblique path, deep into Eastern religion. I don't mean some goofy, new age yoga class. I mean the real thing. I've made some bad mistakes. That was the worst, by far.

Then YouTube was invented.

Ran across a very few excellent Christian teachers on Gootube who answered questions that had plagued me and who helped me get back to the truth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Among these teachers were Steven Anderson, William Lane Craig, and, recently, Michael Heiser.

None of these teachers is perfect. Everyone has their personal quirks and individual myopia. But they are each hugely helpful in their own ways. I believe God presents such men in part to salvage believers who have been entangled by the jungle that is the World. At least that's what happened for me.

But I'm still just me. I find church folk to be proudly ignorant and lazy -- and therefore totally incapable of giving reasons for the hope that is with us. Atheists eat their lunch in a debate. I know why I believed when I was six, and I know why I believe today.

I like the statement of faith in this web site, although I'm not sure mankind is congenitally depraved. Rather, I think everyone has the capacity for sin, and everyone blunders arrogantly into sin at some point. God knew that would happen unless He created us as robots. He did not desire more sock puppets; that's what mindless nature is. Instead, He wanted limited, fallible children humble enough to accept rescue from themselves.

I live on three acres of Arizona. After the amusing boondoggle engagement, I bought a rocky hillside in AZ, hitched up the RV, and moved to the desert. Built a tool shed, septic system, and solar setup. I drive forty-five minutes to a job in town. The view is spectacular here, and I am never exposed to a neighbor's appalling music.

There. Now you almost nothing about me.

Can I read your biblical treatise?  

Steven Anderson is an absolute barnstormer of a pastor. Passionate guy. Don't agree with some of his views but love his fire.

Have you been to his church?

Strangelove wrote:Steven Anderson is an absolute barnstormer of a pastor. Passionate guy. Don't agree with some of his views but love his fire.

Have you been to his church?

I have been to the shopping center where Faithful Word meets, yes, but it wasn't during service time. No one was there. I don't live near Phoenix.
Edit: And yes, he is the best on core salvation issues and also on the Book of Revelation.

Strangelove wrote:Can I read your biblical treatise?  

lol Sure. It's in HTML format with accompanying pictures, but I could send it in a zip folder.

[quote="CCornelius"]

Strangelove wrote:
I have been to the shopping center where Faithful Word meets, yes, but it wasn't during service time. No one was there. I don't live near Phoenix.
Edit: And yes, he is the best on core salvation issues and also on the Book of Revelation.

The guy knocks on doors and saves souls. Can't argue with that.

Actually Rev is where I diverge with him. I think he pins America as babylon?

CCornelius wrote:

Strangelove wrote:Can I read your biblical treatise?  

lol Sure. It's in HTML format with accompanying pictures, but I could send it in a zip folder.

Is it online anywhere?

Yeah, he does pin America as Babylon. He makes a good case, citing the thing about all the merchants of the World bemoaning the loss of their market. That seems to point to America because America owns the machine that churns out the world reserve currency. America is the Big Buyer.

If Rome or Tel Aviv went down, all the merchants would be able to continue selling to the only market that really matters.

But I don't claim to know. The one thing I'm sure about in prophecy is the inevitability of surprises. When Jesus comes to rule Earth, we are each of us going to find out we didn't quite have our ducks in a row.

Thank God He doesn't expect us to be Him.

Edit: A distinction can be made between the US and the USA, but that is a whole other can of worms.

Strangelove wrote:

Is it online anywhere?

It is not on line. I've offered it to some web sites that supposedly could use it, but no takers.

At the moment I don't have the money to buy a URL.

The article is pretty much guaranteed to offend just about everyone in some way or other.

CCornelius wrote:Yeah, he does pin America as Babylon. He makes a good case, citing the thing about all the merchants of the World bemoaning the loss of their market. That seems to point to America because America owns the machine that churns out the world reserve currency. America is the Big Buyer.

If Rome or Tel Aviv went down, all the merchants would be able to continue selling to the only market that really matters.

But I don't claim to know. The one thing I'm sure about in prophecy is the inevitability of surprises. When Jesus comes to rule Earth, we are each of us going to find out we didn't quite have our ducks in a row.

Thank God He doesn't expect us to be Him.

Edit: A distinction can be made between the US and the USA, but that is a whole other can of worms.

I don't think anyone would argue Tel Aviv as the great whore. But Jerusalem is referred to multiple times as the harlot/ cheating betrothed of God/ whore so must surely be the mother of all harlots in my eyes. That great city where our Lord was crucified. Synagogue of Satan. Hands filthy with the blood of all the prophets.

Strangelove wrote:I don't think anyone would argue Tel Aviv as the great whore. But Jerusalem is referred to multiple times as the harlot/ cheating betrothed of God/ whore so must surely be the mother of all harlots in my eyes. That great city where our Lord was crucified. Synagogue of Satan. Hands filthy with the blood of all the prophets.

Yeah, I'm not knowledgeable enough to disagree.

CCornelius wrote:Yeah, he does pin America as Babylon. He makes a good case, citing the thing about all the merchants of the World bemoaning the loss of their market. That seems to point to America because America owns the machine that churns out the world reserve currency. America is the Big Buyer.

If Rome or Tel Aviv went down, all the merchants would be able to continue selling to the only market that really matters.

But I don't claim to know. The one thing I'm sure about in prophecy is the inevitability of surprises. When Jesus comes to rule Earth, we are each of us going to find out we didn't quite have our ducks in a row.

Thank God He doesn't expect us to be Him.

Edit: A distinction can be made between the US and the USA, but that is a whole other can of worms.

The distinction between the US and the USA. Indeed. If only everyone knew.

CCornelius wrote:
Yeah, I'm not knowledgeable enough to disagree.

Did a bit on it here.
Evidence is pretty damning.

I'm more interested in the beast these days. Seems to be rising higher and higher lately. Possibly will take out the whore soon.

Strangelove wrote:
I'm more interested in the beast these days. Seems to be rising higher and higher lately. Possibly will take out the whore soon.

Right, yeah, cuz the Beast is going to be angry with the Whore.... That's true.

Doc, Your take on mbtg is spot on.  irrefutable i would say.  Time is growing short for them to have conquered the gentiles in time for their grand millennium so they are speeding up the program.  her "in your face" actions will only grow more brazen.  perhaps her crashing of the global economy will be the last straw.

CCornelius wrote:
Right, yeah, cuz the Beast is going to be angry with the Whore.... That's true.

Couple more lockdowns and I recon there could be full on rebellion.

Bro John wrote:Doc, Your take on mbtg is spot on.  irrefutable i would say.  Time is growing short for them to have conquered the gentiles in time for their grand millennium so they are speeding up the program.  her "in your face" actions will only grow more brazen.  perhaps her crashing of the global economy will be the last straw.

When the new age comes.....peeps wil be begging for the old new world order again lolz.

Strangelove wrote:
I'm more interested in the beast these days. Seems to be rising higher and higher lately. Possibly will take out the whore soon.

I reread your post on the beast. The beast that the whore is slung off from and devoured is the scarlet colored beast.  To him do the 10 kings give their power until the words of God are finished.  This is not the identical beast as the sea beast. The sea beast has crowns upon its horns.   Nor are these beasts identical to the beasts Daniel wrote of.  The 10 toes of Nebbie's metal man are not the ten horns of the scarlet colored beast or the sea beast.  Daniel's beasts and Nebbie's metal man cover the period 606bc until 95ad, the year the NT was completed. The ten toes are the 10 caesars who reigned between the time during which Christ's kingdom was being set up 27-95.

Tiberius 14-37, Caligula 37-41, Claudius 41-54, Nero 54-68, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius 68,69, Vespasian 69-79, Titus 79-81, and Domitian 81-96

This is why John was able to say in his Rev intro that he was then in tribulation and the kingdom.

Bro John wrote:

Strangelove wrote:
I'm more interested in the beast these days. Seems to be rising higher and higher lately. Possibly will take out the whore soon.

I reread your post on the beast. The beast that the whore is slung off from and devoured is the scarlet colored beast.  To him do the 10 kings give their power until the words of God are finished.  This is not the identical beast as the sea beast. The sea beast has crowns upon its horns.   Nor are these beasts identical to the beasts Daniel wrote of.  The 10 toes of Nebbie's metal man are not the ten horns of the scarlet colored beast or the sea beast.  Daniel's beasts and Nebbie's metal man cover the period 606bc until 95ad, the year the NT was completed. The ten toes are the 10 caesars who reigned between the time during which Christ's kingdom was being set up 27-95.

Tiberius 14-37, Caligula 37-41, Claudius 41-54, Nero 54-68, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius 68,69, Vespasian 69-79, Titus 79-81, and Domitian 81-96

This is why John was able to say in his Rev intro that he was then in tribulation and the kingdom.

When I read revelation I see the same scenes repeated in various chapters from different perspectives sometimes using similar terms but not identical.

Where I stand at the moment is ..

Harlot = The zionist NWO. The obvious enemy. Sinful man at his worst. Jerusalem below.
The beast she's riding on = The much more subtle satanic system that people have been snared in throughout history. Satanism. The Luciferian doctrine. Gnosticism. The new age religion.
The second beast = Satan. Man of sin. Son of Perdition. False prophet.

All 3 have been with us from the start. I feel the beast is about to take over.

It's all very allegorical. I'm not too obsessed with it. More like an interested observer in this age, waiting for the age to come. God's age to come that is... not the gnostic new age. Trying to be patient. Trying to walk more of a Christian life day by day. God knows I fail miserably most of the time.

I agree.  Revelation is not consecutive/linear.    As to your confession I immediately thought of this song by Steve Camp.  


When you're alone, your heart is torn,

He is all you need.
When you're confused, your soul is bruised,
He is all you need.
He's the rock of your soul,
He's the anchor that holds through your desparate times.
When your way is unsure, His love will endure,
And peace you will find.

Through all your years, the joy the tears,
He is all you need.

When you give in to that familiar sin
He is all you need.
Guilt has you paralyzed, it slowly eats you alive.
He is all you need.
He'll be faithful to you, though your heart is untrue, and your love's grown cold.
His forgiveness is real, it will comfort and heal
Your sin weary soul.
God love you so,
He'll never let you go,
He is all you need.

He'll be faithful to you, though your heart is untrue, and your love has grown cold.
His forgiveness is real to comfort and heal
Your sin weary soul.
Through all your years,
The joy, the tears,
He is all you need.



It has helped me run to Jesus for forgiveness many a a time after willful sin rather than pining away in a spirit of un-repentance.    If you are not familiar with it, download it.  I hope it will help you as it has me.  God bless you my brother.