7-26-21Eyes Wide-Closed: Part VI

Eyes Wide-Closed: Part VI :: By Denis Bowden Published on: July 23, 2021 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles – A primer for beginners/A reminder for waverers – (with editing help from a sister in Christ, Lynda Janzen) Redesigning The Creation of God in Our Own Image: Fallen man does not want anything of God that demands the ultimate price, ‘that he/she must seek atonement through Jesus.’ SIN; THE ALTERNATIVE TO GRACE THROUGH ATONEMENT: In our fallen state, we strive for immortality, but even that, completely bereft of the influence and worship of God. It is an ‘immortality’ entirely of our own design and making. Moreover, in the design we crave to re-create, there must be given us: – beauty – strength – intellect – physical prowess – and, above all, limitless longevity. For without the constraints of age, deteriorating health and cognitive appreciation, we understand and presume that immortality will enable us to forever pursue the depraved lifestyle within whose excesses much of mankind presently chooses to wallow. These foul efforts to create, through scientific/medical and engineering efforts, hybrid super-beings are to have few constraints other than they not turn upon their’ creators.’ And, of course, they are to have no concept of Godly good, of filial love or charity. As an entity in its own right, enabled cognitively through supercomputers, ‘its’ preoccupation would lie entirely within its re-designed carcass, as it attempts to maintain its insatiable lusts within the strictures of its programming. The real aim, of course, is that this entity be physiologically and psychologically fused with the mankind gestated by our Creator God. Anyone or anything coming between those lusts and this ‘creation’ would be destroyed. Living in our midst are men and women who openly advance this cause. To them, it is not hypothesis. And they have rich and famous benefactors who are presently pouring untold sums of money and treasure to bring this about. Moreover, we know of it because, in their contempt of God and mankind in general, they don’t even attempt to hide it. In fact, they joyously proclaim it! I see a direct correlation between these aspirations of medicine/science and technology and their intent to forcibly reduce the present world population. Except there be, of course, provision for the nurture and preservation of a selected nucleus of supportive ‘worker bees.’ Their selection and training would have only one end: to support the ‘wonderful’ elitist world that these monstrous antagonists of God hope to build for themselves. We can also now better understand the ramifications that would have occurred immediately had Adam and Eve also eaten of the Tree of Life. Absent would have been the constraint of all moral restrictions, having been loosened forever as the result of having already eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ The Bible grants us an insight into this view as we read about the pre-flood world that grew following the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. Within some hundreds of years later, this world had degenerated morally of its own accord. Then, following interference by those angelic beings that God had instructed to watch over mankind, our women had consorted with them sexually, and the result was straight out of some insanely twisted, pornographic horror movie. This illegal cohabitation of fallen angels with our women produced all types of hybrids, malformed creatures, including manlike beings of gigantic stature. The ancient Hebraic record, which includes some books not included in the KJV/NKJ Bible, suggests that some of the hybrids were cannibals. As well, the fallen angelic beings are alleged to have taught mankind the design and making of weapons, the art of warfare, and a host of unGodly skills and practices. There is a tendency for some to lay blame on the watchers and then the resulting hybrids, but man was not an unwilling participant. And so, when I look at the Godlessness of these ‘New Order’ aspirations, I draw a distinct parallel. The nature of ‘Fallen Man’ has not changed. Nor will it when it is ruled by denial of God. There can only be merit, that is, earned redemption and eternal life for those who, voluntarily ending their denial of God within the repentant brokenness of a contrite heart, call upon the name of Jesus Messiah: “Jesus…Save me!” Mankind has no right, nor was it ever God’s intent that we should attempt to alter the divinity of the physiological stamp of the DNA that he placed within our flesh, denoting His ownership of our species. As I type, there are those who have already altered our innate and physical being by alteration of the genome of our DNA. They are earning themselves a terrible condemnation. For truly, this is the work of Satan, who wishes every vestige of the existence of God within mankind and mankind itself to be obliterated. Scripture teaches that now, in these last days of the passing of the church age, these creatures will re-emerge. And re-emerging they are. Experiments fusing human DNA with mice and other animals are presently producing another day of strange hybrid creatures. It is something out of a science fiction novel but is actually happening in our day and age! And it revisits the pre-flood world, exactly. Scripture also warns us of the reemergence of demons and the loosing of the fallen angels, who are presently bound. I read recently that governments are now providing huge sums to facilitate further experimentation of this type. Amazing, isn’t it that so many major ‘achievements’ of this passing world compliment the Word of God exactly. THE REIGN OF THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS: Hebrews 1:2 “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” God decreed that his Son would be appointed the heir to His created world. And when Jesus returns to judge the nations, He will remain to rule the planet Earth. The earth is to be renewed as occurred through the Flood of Noah. A cleansing is to occur until the earth is restored by God to the pristine glory that existed before our temptation and fall. Note specifically that this verse is acknowledgment that God created the world of man, including the planet itself, through and with Jesus. Thereby we see that as a living ‘entity’ and part of God Himself, Jesus has always existed within the Godhead of the holy Trinity. We should further remember that the Garden has not been destroyed. It is hidden from us. Man is, in his fallen state, forbidden to re-enter it. DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH IN THESE LAST DAYS: What about those institutions we presently call ‘church’? Not all, but much of it has been claimed by the world. The denominational church has become weak unto death. Torn apart by heresy and false pastoring, it leads myriad congregations toward eternal death. Much of it, too much, refuses to teach a literal Scripture. Applying that foul adage from the Garden, ‘Did God really say…?’ (Genesis 3:1). From the allegory of Plato to the pompous pride of men, the denominations have attempted to create, like the ancient King Nebuchadnezzar, another, Bel, a God to suit their own image of ‘how God should be.’ Their ‘success’ can be measured by the eager willingness of converts and congregates to both venerate and worship both strange flesh and idolatrous imagery. The bile also rises in my craw as a physiological reaction every time I hear someone addressed as ‘holy father.’ No one is holy – not one of flesh. Rather, in terms of unholiness, some reign supreme. Even Jesus, while on Earth and in this world, would not claim holiness, allowing holiness only to the person of God the Father. GOD MUST CONFORM TO US, OR ELSE HE IS UNWANTED, DENIED AND HATED. We live in the ‘church age,’ but alas, that which the apostles bound in Jesus’ name was long ago seized. False doctrine and dogma are widely manifest within the institution of the denominational churches. These are often exemplified by ritual, special prayers, and incantations that they say are necessary for you to both understand God and to find Jesus. And, of course, He can only be found through your religious affiliation and commitment. We find then that through the ‘church age,’ vast congregations have been given a series of steps they must take and hoops they must jump through if they are to claim their reconciliation with God in a way that will lead to eternal life. Among the worst manifestations of such practices is claiming specificity of the ‘levels’ of Heavens and convincing congregates that they can earn their way through them with money and expensive gifted donations. I don’t need to name them. You know them already by their diseased ‘fruit.’ Within 200 years of the deaths of the last of the apostles, most of them, as predicted by Jesus, having died violently, the legacy of Jesus had been adulterated and the church infiltrated by usurpers. That’s another story and not a particularly happy one. We who attempt to live through Jesus today still see and experience its foul fruit. FALSE TEACHERS: False teachers are instantly recognizable by their pride, arrogance, and preoccupation with power, often through which great personal wealth can be extracted. They are murderers of true faith and killers of hope. To Whom It May Well Concern: Scripture portends that ‘a special reckoning is reserved and promised for you.’ Even the Commandments of God are not sacred to your machinations as you even endorse abortion and succumb to the world view of homosexuality as a lifestyle of sinless domesticity. You even proclaim your own pleasure in your relationship as you read holy writ from a pulpit that was dedicated to God. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” The Apostle Paul warned of these days: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Tim 4:3-4). These verses speak as a blasting klaxon to warn us against those ‘great pretenders.’ The appearance of godliness is good for business and creates, in the eyes of others, community stature and prestige. Yet, clergy have been convicted of the most heinous of felonies. Dear LORD, how these verses so well describe modern denominationalism in all its panoply of self-gestated glorification! The white chemise of purity worn to the skin is covered by the royal purple of ‘princes’ to denote rank and status. Many would be more appropriately garbed cloaked in the coal-black robes of mourning and death. Though all such sin can be repented and thus forgiven, to see the pulpit occupied by the unrepentant themselves breaks the heart of a true believer. THE ONLY WAY HOME: Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.” – There is no other path to God but through Jesus, the Son of God. – There is no gospel other than the purity of which was taught by Jesus. – You cannot ‘cherry-pick’ the Scriptures for devious ends. And contrary to the derisive question and statement made by Satan, ‘God did say what He said.’ And God does mean everything in every syllable of His holy Word.’ And that Word must be read literally and be taken in its entirety for its truths to be revealed to us. And even that, through a humble spirit, a contrite heart, and much, much, prayer. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” And yet, in the face of great adversity and all kinds of personal hardship, the ever-diminishing brotherhood of true pastors, those true to God, themselves, and to God’s Word, still lead ever-smaller congregations homeward. Thanks be to God! PREPARE: 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 “In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” – Everyone will have had the opportunity to know God. – Ignorance based on denial or derision will not save you. Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” WHEN AND WHERE DID JESUS TELL HIS DISCIPLED APOSTLES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THIS WORLD WILL BE SWEPT AWAY? The setting for Jesus’ great sermon about the last days was the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, where He sat with His disciples overlooking the temple and its attendant buildings. In this context, the disciples asked, “Tell us, … when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). – It was in response to this question that Jesus laid out the basic moral and spiritual course of the world, right up to His return. So “Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (verses 4–8). False christs? Wars? Rumors of wars? Nation rising against nation? Famine? Pestilence? Earthquakes? How could it be that … – centuries before the invention of the printing press, through which millions and millions of Bibles have been produced to teach people about the true Christ; – centuries before the League of Nations or its successor, the United Nations; – centuries before great advances in irrigation and agriculture; – centuries before vaccines; – centuries before all these things that make today’s life (allegedly) so much better— Jesus, seeing past all these achievements, could nevertheless describe the sad state of current human affairs? Amazing! Beyond comprehension within the minute limitations of our wit. Jesus swept away the notion that, over time, as humanity gains more knowledge, more experience, more maturity, it would ‘eternally’ better itself. That is a utopian ideal straight from the maw of Satan, and it leads through arrogant pride, directly to Hell. In those few words, Jesus described that notion for the utter rubbish it was then and remains today. THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS: These things Jesus warned about, however, were just “the beginning of birth pains.” He then described the persecution His followers would face: betrayal, hatred, apostasy and death. Anyone familiar with not only history but also the situations Christians face today in many lands knows how true Jesus’ words were and remain. Nothing Jesus said gives any indication that humanity will progress morally or spiritually. On the contrary, “because of the increase of wickedness,” He said, “the love of most will grow cold” (verse 12). Jesus said that just prior to His return, the human condition will worsen. “Then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (verse 21). Tribulation will be worse than anything the world has seen before in its history of calamity, wars, floods and famine. Jesus pointed to the Flood, using it as a comparison to the last days. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (verses 37–39). Before the Flood, “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain” (Genesis 6:5-6). The ‘First Day’ is the beginning of light and physical time. Gen 49:1 “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” Isaiah 2:2 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” Act 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” 2Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts…” LAST DAYS CONTRASTED WITH THE ‘LAST DAY’: The last day is the end of physical time as we presently know it. However, the ‘last day’ also denotes the beginning of eternal time set for the new Earth. The Bible speaks of a future last day (singular) with only one meaning. John 11:24 “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'” John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Jesus uses this term, last day, in these verses in the singular, indicating a last day, not last days. There are several things that Jesus declares will occur on this last day: – the resurrection of those that believe on Jesus, that He may give them everlasting life, according to His Father’s will. – the resurrection (for) judgment of those that reject Jesus and receive not His words (John 12:48) WHEN IS THE LAST DAY? Matthew 24:36 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Read full chapter (this heading is a link you can click on) And so ends this series. I have prayed on it, shed a tear over it, and felt angst as I described those apostates and heretics who have tried and continue to attempt to drag us with them to Hell. If, through the Holy Spirit touching them, even one new reader venturing upon our website is led to brokenness and contrition, then I am content. And in concert with the many faithful scribes who regularly contribute to the same purpose, I know this to echo our shared hope. To all new readers, “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reach out to you this day and convict your soul, that your eyes may, at last, be opened on this, the last day of your denial!” Maranatha, Denis Bowden denisjbowden@gmail.com This concludes the six-part series, “Eyes Wide-Closed.” :: By Denis Bowden Published on: July 23, 2021 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles – A primer for beginners/A reminder for waverers – (with editing help from a sister in Christ, Lynda Janzen) Redesigning The Creation of God in Our Own Image: Fallen man does not want anything of God that demands the ultimate price, ‘that he/she must seek atonement through Jesus.’ SIN; THE ALTERNATIVE TO GRACE THROUGH ATONEMENT: In our fallen state, we strive for immortality, but even that, completely bereft of the influence and worship of God. It is an ‘immortality’ entirely of our own design and making. Moreover, in the design we crave to re-create, there must be given us: – beauty – strength – intellect – physical prowess – and, above all, limitless longevity. For without the constraints of age, deteriorating health and cognitive appreciation, we understand and presume that immortality will enable us to forever pursue the depraved lifestyle within whose excesses much of mankind presently chooses to wallow. These foul efforts to create, through scientific/medical and engineering efforts, hybrid super-beings are to have few constraints other than they not turn upon their’ creators.’ And, of course, they are to have no concept of Godly good, of filial love or charity. As an entity in its own right, enabled cognitively through supercomputers, ‘its’ preoccupation would lie entirely within its re-designed carcass, as it attempts to maintain its insatiable lusts within the strictures of its programming. The real aim, of course, is that this entity be physiologically and psychologically fused with the mankind gestated by our Creator God. Anyone or anything coming between those lusts and this ‘creation’ would be destroyed. Living in our midst are men and women who openly advance this cause. To them, it is not hypothesis. And they have rich and famous benefactors who are presently pouring untold sums of money and treasure to bring this about. Moreover, we know of it because, in their contempt of God and mankind in general, they don’t even attempt to hide it. In fact, they joyously proclaim it! I see a direct correlation between these aspirations of medicine/science and technology and their intent to forcibly reduce the present world population. Except there be, of course, provision for the nurture and preservation of a selected nucleus of supportive ‘worker bees.’ Their selection and training would have only one end: to support the ‘wonderful’ elitist world that these monstrous antagonists of God hope to build for themselves. We can also now better understand the ramifications that would have occurred immediately had Adam and Eve also eaten of the Tree of Life. Absent would have been the constraint of all moral restrictions, having been loosened forever as the result of having already eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ The Bible grants us an insight into this view as we read about the pre-flood world that grew following the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. Within some hundreds of years later, this world had degenerated morally of its own accord. Then, following interference by those angelic beings that God had instructed to watch over mankind, our women had consorted with them sexually, and the result was straight out of some insanely twisted, pornographic horror movie. This illegal cohabitation of fallen angels with our women produced all types of hybrids, malformed creatures, including manlike beings of gigantic stature. The ancient Hebraic record, which includes some books not included in the KJV/NKJ Bible, suggests that some of the hybrids were cannibals. As well, the fallen angelic beings are alleged to have taught mankind the design and making of weapons, the art of warfare, and a host of unGodly skills and practices. There is a tendency for some to lay blame on the watchers and then the resulting hybrids, but man was not an unwilling participant. And so, when I look at the Godlessness of these ‘New Order’ aspirations, I draw a distinct parallel. The nature of ‘Fallen Man’ has not changed. Nor will it when it is ruled by denial of God. There can only be merit, that is, earned redemption and eternal life for those who, voluntarily ending their denial of God within the repentant brokenness of a contrite heart, call upon the name of Jesus Messiah: “Jesus…Save me!” Mankind has no right, nor was it ever God’s intent that we should attempt to alter the divinity of the physiological stamp of the DNA that he placed within our flesh, denoting His ownership of our species. As I type, there are those who have already altered our innate and physical being by alteration of the genome of our DNA. They are earning themselves a terrible condemnation. For truly, this is the work of Satan, who wishes every vestige of the existence of God within mankind and mankind itself to be obliterated. Scripture teaches that now, in these last days of the passing of the church age, these creatures will re-emerge. And re-emerging they are. Experiments fusing human DNA with mice and other animals are presently producing another day of strange hybrid creatures. It is something out of a science fiction novel but is actually happening in our day and age! And it revisits the pre-flood world, exactly. Scripture also warns us of the reemergence of demons and the loosing of the fallen angels, who are presently bound. I read recently that governments are now providing huge sums to facilitate further experimentation of this type. Amazing, isn’t it that so many major ‘achievements’ of this passing world compliment the Word of God exactly. THE REIGN OF THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS: Hebrews 1:2 “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” God decreed that his Son would be appointed the heir to His created world. And when Jesus returns to judge the nations, He will remain to rule the planet Earth. The earth is to be renewed as occurred through the Flood of Noah. A cleansing is to occur until the earth is restored by God to the pristine glory that existed before our temptation and fall. Note specifically that this verse is acknowledgment that God created the world of man, including the planet itself, through and with Jesus. Thereby we see that as a living ‘entity’ and part of God Himself, Jesus has always existed within the Godhead of the holy Trinity. We should further remember that the Garden has not been destroyed. It is hidden from us. Man is, in his fallen state, forbidden to re-enter it. DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH IN THESE LAST DAYS: What about those institutions we presently call ‘church’? Not all, but much of it has been claimed by the world. The denominational church has become weak unto death. Torn apart by heresy and false pastoring, it leads myriad congregations toward eternal death. Much of it, too much, refuses to teach a literal Scripture. Applying that foul adage from the Garden, ‘Did God really say…?’ (Genesis 3:1). From the allegory of Plato to the pompous pride of men, the denominations have attempted to create, like the ancient King Nebuchadnezzar, another, Bel, a God to suit their own image of ‘how God should be.’ Their ‘success’ can be measured by the eager willingness of converts and congregates to both venerate and worship both strange flesh and idolatrous imagery. The bile also rises in my craw as a physiological reaction every time I hear someone addressed as ‘holy father.’ No one is holy – not one of flesh. Rather, in terms of unholiness, some reign supreme. Even Jesus, while on Earth and in this world, would not claim holiness, allowing holiness only to the person of God the Father. GOD MUST CONFORM TO US, OR ELSE HE IS UNWANTED, DENIED AND HATED. We live in the ‘church age,’ but alas, that which the apostles bound in Jesus’ name was long ago seized. False doctrine and dogma are widely manifest within the institution of the denominational churches. These are often exemplified by ritual, special prayers, and incantations that they say are necessary for you to both understand God and to find Jesus. And, of course, He can only be found through your religious affiliation and commitment. We find then that through the ‘church age,’ vast congregations have been given a series of steps they must take and hoops they must jump through if they are to claim their reconciliation with God in a way that will lead to eternal life. Among the worst manifestations of such practices is claiming specificity of the ‘levels’ of Heavens and convincing congregates that they can earn their way through them with money and expensive gifted donations. I don’t need to name them. You know them already by their diseased ‘fruit.’ Within 200 years of the deaths of the last of the apostles, most of them, as predicted by Jesus, having died violently, the legacy of Jesus had been adulterated and the church infiltrated by usurpers. That’s another story and not a particularly happy one. We who attempt to live through Jesus today still see and experience its foul fruit. FALSE TEACHERS: False teachers are instantly recognizable by their pride, arrogance, and preoccupation with power, often through which great personal wealth can be extracted. They are murderers of true faith and killers of hope. To Whom It May Well Concern: Scripture portends that ‘a special reckoning is reserved and promised for you.’ Even the Commandments of God are not sacred to your machinations as you even endorse abortion and succumb to the world view of homosexuality as a lifestyle of sinless domesticity. You even proclaim your own pleasure in your relationship as you read holy writ from a pulpit that was dedicated to God. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” The Apostle Paul warned of these days: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Tim 4:3-4). These verses speak as a blasting klaxon to warn us against those ‘great pretenders.’ The appearance of godliness is good for business and creates, in the eyes of others, community stature and prestige. Yet, clergy have been convicted of the most heinous of felonies. Dear LORD, how these verses so well describe modern denominationalism in all its panoply of self-gestated glorification! The white chemise of purity worn to the skin is covered by the royal purple of ‘princes’ to denote rank and status. Many would be more appropriately garbed cloaked in the coal-black robes of mourning and death. Though all such sin can be repented and thus forgiven, to see the pulpit occupied by the unrepentant themselves breaks the heart of a true believer. THE ONLY WAY HOME: Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.” – There is no other path to God but through Jesus, the Son of God. – There is no gospel other than the purity of which was taught by Jesus. – You cannot ‘cherry-pick’ the Scriptures for devious ends. And contrary to the derisive question and statement made by Satan, ‘God did say what He said.’ And God does mean everything in every syllable of His holy Word.’ And that Word must be read literally and be taken in its entirety for its truths to be revealed to us. And even that, through a humble spirit, a contrite heart, and much, much, prayer. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” And yet, in the face of great adversity and all kinds of personal hardship, the ever-diminishing brotherhood of true pastors, those true to God, themselves, and to God’s Word, still lead ever-smaller congregations homeward. Thanks be to God! PREPARE: 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 “In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” – Everyone will have had the opportunity to know God. – Ignorance based on denial or derision will not save you. Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” WHEN AND WHERE DID JESUS TELL HIS DISCIPLED APOSTLES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THIS WORLD WILL BE SWEPT AWAY? The setting for Jesus’ great sermon about the last days was the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, where He sat with His disciples overlooking the temple and its attendant buildings. In this context, the disciples asked, “Tell us, … when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). – It was in response to this question that Jesus laid out the basic moral and spiritual course of the world, right up to His return. So “Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (verses 4–8). False christs? Wars? Rumors of wars? Nation rising against nation? Famine? Pestilence? Earthquakes? How could it be that … – centuries before the invention of the printing press, through which millions and millions of Bibles have been produced to teach people about the true Christ; – centuries before the League of Nations or its successor, the United Nations; – centuries before great advances in irrigation and agriculture; – centuries before vaccines; – centuries before all these things that make today’s life (allegedly) so much better— Jesus, seeing past all these achievements, could nevertheless describe the sad state of current human affairs? Amazing! Beyond comprehension within the minute limitations of our wit. Jesus swept away the notion that, over time, as humanity gains more knowledge, more experience, more maturity, it would ‘eternally’ better itself. That is a utopian ideal straight from the maw of Satan, and it leads through arrogant pride, directly to Hell. In those few words, Jesus described that notion for the utter rubbish it was then and remains today. THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS: These things Jesus warned about, however, were just “the beginning of birth pains.” He then described the persecution His followers would face: betrayal, hatred, apostasy and death. Anyone familiar with not only history but also the situations Christians face today in many lands knows how true Jesus’ words were and remain. Nothing Jesus said gives any indication that humanity will progress morally or spiritually. On the contrary, “because of the increase of wickedness,” He said, “the love of most will grow cold” (verse 12). Jesus said that just prior to His return, the human condition will worsen. “Then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (verse 21). Tribulation will be worse than anything the world has seen before in its history of calamity, wars, floods and famine. Jesus pointed to the Flood, using it as a comparison to the last days. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (verses 37–39). Before the Flood, “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain” (Genesis 6:5-6). The ‘First Day’ is the beginning of light and physical time. Gen 49:1 “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” Isaiah 2:2 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” Act 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” 2Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts…” LAST DAYS CONTRASTED WITH THE ‘LAST DAY’: The last day is the end of physical time as we presently know it. However, the ‘last day’ also denotes the beginning of eternal time set for the new Earth. The Bible speaks of a future last day (singular) with only one meaning. John 11:24 “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'” John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Jesus uses this term, last day, in these verses in the singular, indicating a last day, not last days. There are several things that Jesus declares will occur on this last day: – the resurrection of those that believe on Jesus, that He may give them everlasting life, according to His Father’s will. – the resurrection (for) judgment of those that reject Jesus and receive not His words (John 12:48) WHEN IS THE LAST DAY? Matthew 24:36 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Read full chapter (this heading is a link you can click on) And so ends this series. I have prayed on it, shed a tear over it, and felt angst as I described those apostates and heretics who have tried and continue to attempt to drag us with them to Hell. If, through the Holy Spirit touching them, even one new reader venturing upon our website is led to brokenness and contrition, then I am content. And in concert with the many faithful scribes who regularly contribute to the same purpose, I know this to echo our shared hope. To all new readers, “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reach out to you this day and convict your soul, that your eyes may, at last, be opened on this, the last day of your denial!” Maranatha, Denis Bowden denisjbowden@gmail.com This concludes the six-part series, “Eyes Wide-Closed.”