Dividing God’s Land and Swift Judgment :: By Geri Ungurean

… Which Ensues EVERY SINGLE TIME

Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.

Wouldn’t you think that someone would take notice of the disasters, which historically follow talk of dividing God’s land, and change their ultimate goal?

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).

Perhaps it is similar to when God hardened the heart of Pharaoh…

Florida is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Ian. It is now being called the worst storm in recorded history for the Sunshine State.

Let’s look at what happened before this monster storm concerning Israel.

PM Lapid’s Expected Speech: https://youtu.be/l3B318SvOBk

Lapid’s UN Speech: https://youtu.be/dQVwHjFdahI

I have been asked by a few readers why a state like FL would be struck with such devastation and not a state like CA. I responded to them that our God is sovereign, and He makes no mistakes. We MUST trust Him!

Now, let’s look back at the historical events concerning the dividing of God’s own land and the consequences which followed.

From thewashingtonstandard.com

#1 The last time the U.S. government refused to veto an anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council was in 1979. On March 22nd, 1979, the Carter administration chose not to veto UN Resolution 446. Four days after that, on March 26th, the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty was signed in Washington. As a result of that treaty, Israel gave up a tremendous amount of territory. Two days later, on March 28th, the worst nuclear power plant disaster in U.S. history made headlines all over the globe. The following comes from Wikipedia

The Three Mile Island accident was a partial nuclear meltdown that occurred on March 28, 1979, in reactor number 2 of Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (TMI-2) in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history. The incident was rated a five on the seven-point International Nuclear Event Scale: Accident With Wider Consequences.

#2  On October 30th, 1991, President George H. W. Bush opened the Madrid Peace Conference, which brought Israelis and Palestinians together to negotiate for the very first time. In his opening speech, Bush told Israel that “territorial compromise is essential for peace.” At the exact same time, “the Perfect Storm” was brewing in the north Atlantic. This legendary storm traveled 1,000 miles in the wrong direction and sent 35-foot waves slamming directly into President Bush’s home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

#3  On August 23rd, 1992, the Madrid Peace Conference moved to Washington D.C., and the very next day, Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida, causing 30 billion dollars in damage. It was the worst natural disaster up to that time in U.S. history.

#4  On January 16th, 1994, President Clinton met with President Assad of Syria to discuss the possibility of Israel giving up the Golan Heights. Within 24 hours, the devastating Northridge earthquake hit southern California. It was the second worst natural disaster up to that time in U.S. history.

#5  On January 21st, 1998, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House but received a very cold reception. In fact, President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright actually refused to have lunch with him. That exact same day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke, sending the Clinton presidency into a tailspin from which it would never recover.

#6  On September 28th, 1998, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was working on finalizing a plan which would have had Israel give up approximately 13 percent of Judea and Samaria. On that precise day, Hurricane George slammed into the Gulf Coast with wind gusts of up to 175 miles an hour.

#7  On May 3rd, 1999, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was supposed to hold a press conference to declare the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. On that precise day, the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded in the U.S. ripped through Oklahoma and Kansas. At one point, one of the tornadoes actually had a recorded wind speed of 316 miles an hour.

#8  On April 30th, 2003, “the Road Map to Peace” that had been developed by the so-called “Quartet” was presented to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer. Over the next seven days, the U.S. was hit by a staggering 412 tornadoes. It was the largest tornado cluster ever recorded up to that time.

#9  In 2005, President George W. Bush (the son of George H. W. Bush) convinced Israel that it was necessary to remove all of the Jewish settlers out of Gaza and turn it over entirely to the Palestinians. According to the New York Times, the very last of the settlers were evacuated on August 23, 2005. On that precise day, a storm that would be given the name “Katrina” started forming over the Bahamas. The city of New Orleans still has not fully recovered from the damage that storm caused, and it ranked as the costliest natural disaster in all of U.S. history up to that time.

#10  On May 19th, 2011, Barack Obama told Israel that there must be a return to the pre-1967 borders. Three days later, on May 22nd, a half-mile wide EF-5 multiple-vortex tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. According to Wikipedia, it was “the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.” Source

The New Madrid Fault Zone

Brethren, this is mere speculation on my part, but since Hurricane Ian struck Florida so brutally, I cannot stop thinking about the fault zone called “New Madrid.”

If the New Madrid finally brings an earthquake, it will not only cause death and destruction, but it will literally change the geography of the U.S.!

This is from an article I wrote years ago on New Madrid. Scientists say that it is just a matter of time before the New Madrid Earthquake brings utter devastation to our country.

New Madrid Fault Zone Waking Up: When it Occurs – It WILL Be the Big One (includes map)

For years I have been researching and watching this little-known Fault Zone, which scientists say will wreak much havoc in Midwest states. It is said that a powerful quake in the New Madrid area would forever change the landscape of the U.S.

Earthquakes that occur in the New Madrid Seismic Zone potentially threaten parts of eight American states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

A Little History

The quakes, which occurred between December 1811 and February 1812, produced seismic events measuring 7.0 and greater.

This was called the New Madrid “Sequence” because it happened over a few months. On December 16, 1811, the first quake, which measured 7.5 – 7.9 (moment magnitude), was named the “Daylight Shock.” Its epicenter was located in northeast Arkansas. Although it was very powerful, it did little damage because the area was so sparsely populated.

The initial shock on December 16 was followed by a 7.4 aftershock on that same day. ‘Uplifts’ in the ground gave observers the impression that the Mississippi river was flowing backward!

On January 23, 1812, a magnitude 7.3 quake occurred with its epicenter around New Madrid. Although this shock was said to be the smallest of the four, it did extensive damage – ground deformation, landslides, fissuring, and stream banks caved.

On February 7th, 1812, the largest quake in the series (7.5) occurred in the New Madrid, Missouri area and completely destroyed the town of New Madrid.

In St. Louis, Missouri, many homes were damaged beyond repair as the quake toppled chimneys. It appears that this event happened at “Reelfoot fault” (a reverse fault), which crosses under the Mississippi River.

This created temporary waterfalls along the Mississippi River, which in turn created a wave upstream, thus creating a wave that caused the formation of Reelfoot Lake by damming streams.

Recent news on the New Madrid Fault Zone:

From usatoday.com (from 12/12/2018)

How likely is an earthquake in the Midwest, South? The Big One could be coming

Some East Tennesseans got an early start to their Wednesday when an earthquake centered in Decatur rattled through the area.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The question is not if a massive earthquake will hit more than a half dozen states that border the Mississippi River but rather when it will happen.

A minor earthquake early Wednesday that centered on Decatur in East Tennessee about 60 miles southwest of Knoxville was felt in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

“A 4.4 magnitude earthquake is a reminder for people to be prepared,” said John Bobel, a public information officer for the division of emergency management in Kentucky’s Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. People see indoor objects shake with magnitude 4 to 4.9 quakes, but the quakes generally cause little to minimal damage.

Scientists have seen evidence that the central Mississippi River Valley has seen major earthquakes for more than 4,000 years.

On Dec. 16, 1811, the first of three major earthquakes and numerous aftershocks struck what is now known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a series of faults that stretch 150 miles from Cairo, Illinois, to Marked Tree, Arkansas.

Today the zone threatens Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. That’s a different set of faults than Wednesday’s quake in the East Tennessee Seismic Zone.

Back in 1811, New Madrid, Missouri, itself had only 400 people, St. Louis to the north had about 1,500 residents, and Memphis to the south wasn’t even a twinkle in its founders’ eyes, according to the Central United States Earthquake Consortium. Damage was reported as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia; and the quakes, estimated at 7.5 to 7.7 magnitude, were felt more than 1,000 miles away in Connecticut.

Today, an estimated 11 million people live in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, according to TransRe, a reinsurance company that essentially insures the property insurance companies.

“The big thing we prepare for is with New Madrid,” Bobel said. “Depending on the significance of an earthquake, Memphis, Tennessee, would be gone; St. Louis would be wrecked.”

Keep in mind, the New Madrid quakes of 1811 and 1812 were almost 2,000 times bigger than Wednesday’s 4.4 trembler and released almost 90,000 times more energy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s earthquake calculator. The Feb. 7, 1812, quake formed 20-square-mile Reelfoot Lake, now a state park in West Tennessee.

That’s not as strong as the largest magnitude earthquake in U.S. history, the 9.2-magnitude Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964. But the New Madrid quakes affected an area two to three times larger and 10 times larger than the April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake, which is now estimated as a 7.9 magnitude.

The New Madrid quakes affected a larger area because of the sedimentary rock in the Mississippi Valley, rock such as limestone, sandstone and shale that is made of compressed sediment. The granite of the West is better able to contain the shaking, according to Pennsylvania State University’s Earthquake Seismology Group.

So, what could a big quake look like in the fault zone today? Well, Bobel didn’t sugarcoat it. It would be bad.

“Anything west of I-65, infrastructure would be severely damaged,” Bobel said of the interstate that bisects Kentucky and Tennessee. “The ground could even liquify and turn to mud,” which happened in 1811 and 1812.

In a 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Fault, the Mid-America Earthquake Center at the University of Illinois estimated in 2008 that Tennessee would have the worst damage: 250,000 buildings moderately or severely damaged, more than 260,000 people displaced, significantly more than 60,000 injuries and fatalities, total direct economic losses surpassing $56 billion, $64 billion today when adjusted for inflation. Kentucky would have the next most significant damage, totaling $45 billion, $52 billion today.

Depending on the epicenter of such a quake, “areas within the NMSZ would experience widespread and catastrophic physical damage, negative social impacts, and economic losses,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in 2008. The agency remains concerned that adoption and enforcement of codes that would allow buildings to withstand a strong earthquake are spotty at best, and little retrofitting has occurred.

How likely is such a disaster?

Seismologists estimate that the New Madrid Seismic Zone has a 25 percent to 40 percent chance of producing a significant quake within the next 50 years, according to Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. USGS studies have concluded that the zone has generated magnitude 7 to 8 earthquakes about every 500 years for the past 1,200 years.

Prep your home

Remember, most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and debris, not the actual movement of the ground. To prepare your home, here are some tips from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government:

  • Fasten shelves, mirrors, picture frames and similar objects securely to walls – preferably not over beds, sofas, or other places you may sit.
  • Secure tall furniture, such as bookcases and filing cabinets, to wall studs or masonry. Use flexible straps that will allow the furniture to sway without toppling. Also, secure expensive electronic devices such as televisions.
  • Secure appliances such as your refrigerator and water heater with straps connected to wall studs.
  • Store heavy or breakable objects on lower shelves or in cabinets with latched doors.
  • Have a professional assess your home’s structure for quake vulnerabilities, then repair or reinforce any damaged or weak points.

Brethren, I am praying that this fault zone will remain dormant for a very long time. But it is good to be aware of the possibility of its eruption. I think that the checklist of things to do beforehand is prudent.

Remember the events which have happened in the past when the fury of our God has been kindled by wicked people attempting to divide His land!

With Globalism looming over us and the Biden admin in power, we should expect threats to the nation of Israel.

GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED!

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom B’Yeshua

MARANATHA!

grandmageri422@gmail.com

Articles at grandmageri422.me

 

Societal Characteristics of the Last Days: Part 6 :: By Mark A. Becker

Romans 1:29-30

Introduction

This is a continuation of our Societal Characteristics of the Last Days series. In Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4,we studied Paul’s societal characteristics given to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-7. Part5, Part 6, and Part 7 will be focused on Paul’s Characteristics of the Last Days as given to the Romans in Romans 1:28-32.

Though Romans 1:28-32 is a rundown of the characteristics of the antediluvian world just prior to the judgment of the flood, we can be sure that these characteristics – which are so similar to those in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 – are being repeated today just prior to God’s wrath being poured out during the Tribulation period. After all, Jesus said that the last days would be similar to those of the pre-flood world:

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37-39).

As we did in the first four parts, we will look at the definitions of the words in the original Greek, note some practical observations, include supplemental Scriptures, offer Christian encouragement, and, in a few instances, a sampling of current events in an attempt to expound upon these Societal Characteristics of the Last Days.

I would also like to offer a reminder to the reader of what we had written regarding our position in the world before we came to Christ in the series dedicated to the characteristics found in 2 Timothy 3:

Admittedly, and not surprisingly, this series might very well be considered offensive to the world. This study is viewed through the lens of the Creator’s revealed character and expectations of His creatures found in the Word of God.

The Savior has commanded His children to love all people, including our enemies. Jesus Christ proved His love to all of humanity as He prayed for His executioners while being crucified and, ultimately, paying the penalty of every human being’s sins on the cross, satisfying the Father’s wrath against us.

The truth is, we all were an abomination in the eyes of a Holy and Just God before realizing our desperate need for a Savior and giving our lives to Him. May our love of God and mankind always be our guide as we witness to a lost and dying world, directing them to the one true God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:29 (continued)

Being filled with all… Deceit

The Greek word for “deceit” is 1388 δόλος “dólos” and means a bait, craft, deceit, guile, subtilty (trickery), using bait to alure (“hook”) people, especially those already festering in excessive, emotional pain (brought on by themselves). (“deceit motivated by guile“) uses decoys to snare (deceive) people which implies treachery to exploit the naive (undiscerning) – baiting them through (with) their own greed. [1388 (dólos) is the root of: 1386 (dólios), 1387 (dolióō) and 1389 (dolóō).] From an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meaning to decoy; compare deleazo); a trick (bait), i.e. (figuratively) wile — craft, deceit, guile, subtilty. (emphasis mine)

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1).

The Hebrew word for “subtil” is 6175 עָרוּם “arum” and means crafty, prudent, sensible, shrewd. We see the link between Satan’s craftiness and men’s deceit as they both are meant to produce an evil end at the expense of others in order to preserve and elevate self and self-gratification using subversive craft and trickery with sensible and prudent lures.

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:9-10).

Deception is the way of the world and the world system. Since Satan is currently the prince of this world (John 16:11 and Ephesians 2:2), we should expect that our world would be drowning in deception – especially in these last of the last days – as our Lord warned us (Matthew 24:4) and as we unceasingly witness in our daily walk with the Lord.

We see people today who “pervert the right ways of the Lord” in every sphere of influence. As they do, are they intentionally deceiving others with a nefarious purpose? Are they baiting others to accept things in life that they never would have accepted in the past? What about the church?

Just consider two popular world topics: the acceptance of sexual perversions and abortion. Have people used subtle deceit, playing on other people’s emotions to change their once solid, Biblical, and moral convictions on these issues?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Churches all across the world have engaged in succumbing to societal pressures to conform to the world’s wicked ways.

Here is a sampling of hundreds of current examples I have acquired over the past few years of compromise within the “church” through deceit on just the acceptance of sexual perversions and abortion issues:

Stacey Abrams Preaches, LGBTQ Affirmation is the Epitome of What My Faith Tells Me to Be (disntr.com)

Stacey Abrams Says Her “Christian Faith” Caused Her to Support Abortion (disntr.com)

Raphael Warnock Claims God is Pro-Abortion – LifeNews.com

Mennonites Go Gay, Pass Resolution Allowing LGBTQ Weddings and “Repents” for Excluding LGBTQ People (disntr.com)

Alberta Church Encourages Children to Bring $5 Bills to Tip Drag Queens During Sunday Morning Drag Performance (disntr.com)

Lutheran Pastors Meet Up at Gay Bar for Celebration After Annual Meeting (disntr.com)

Episcopal Church Comes Out in Support of Sex Changes ‘at All Ages’ (breitbart.com)

The Gospel Coalition Calls on Christians to Affirm Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage (disntr.com)

“Lutheran” Lady-Pastor Says The Virtues Taught in Proverbs Are Actually About Lesbians Kissing (disntr.com)

United Church of Christ and Episcopal Pastors Sue to Overturn Florida Law Banning Late Abortions – LifeNews.com

Evangelical Pastor Says He’s Affirming of LGBTQ+ Because of the Bible (disntr.com)

Pastor Says People Against Transgenders are Against God, and Anti-Abortion People Actually Have Abortions (disntr.com)

DC’s Iconic Lutheran Church of the Reformation Hosts Drag Queen Story Hour During Sunday Worship (disntr.com)

Kamala Harris Claims It’s OK for Christians to Support Killing Babies in Abortions – LifeNews.com

Texas Church Hosts “All Ages” Drag Bingo, Major Protest Ensues (disntr.com)

Texas Church Providing Free Chest Binders To Trans And Exploring Teens, Youth [VIDEO] (redvoicemedia.com)

Methodist Pastor Attends Planned Parenthood Rally, Claims Christians Can Support Abortion – LifeNews.com

LGBTQ Activist Says Revelation 7:9 is Proof That God Includes LGBTQ People (disntr.com)

From “fake news” to censoring opinions and applying societal pressures, people are deceiving professing Christians in order to change their once solid Judeo-Christian values and are succeeding at an alarming rate.

Subtilty of deceit originates and comes from Satan:

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

May we all remain in the “simplicity that is in Christ” so we may prosper by His loving hand, and may we all be aware of the subtle and not so subtle deception of the enemy of our souls and his minions.

Being Filled With All… Malignity

The Greek word for “malignity” is 2550 κακοήθεια “kakoḗtheia” and means malice, evil-mindedness, malignity, malevolence (from 2556/kakós, “an evil, vicious disposition” and 2239/ēthos, “custom”) – a malicious disposition (character) that fosters and fondles evil habits. 2550/kakoḗtheia (“malignity”) inevitably shows itself in acts of deceit (treachery) – i.e., what is characteristic of” ‘evil-mindedness‘ that puts the worst construction on everything” (Souter). From a compound of kakos and ethos; bad character, i.e. (specially) mischievousness — malignity. See GREEK kakos. (emphasis mine)

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

Here, again, we have a definition that seems to incorporate many of the other words we have been looking at. The interconnectedness of these societal characteristics cannot be overlooked.

Malignity is a perpetual state of evil within the heart, character, and actions of the individual and, in the case of society (as we are looking at in our study), the collective conduct of a malevolent people in every situation.

We see this most prominently in what’s commonly known as “mob rules.” People, as they so often do, instinctively want to adhere to a crowd regardless of the sinful malevolence or objectively immoral and overtly wicked qualities behind the movement.

Yet, malignity is an individual endeavor as well. After all, you need the individuals to come together to form the mob.

When it comes to individual malignity and its relationship to despitefulness, we will see a sampling of current examples under the societal characteristic heading of “despiteful” below.

The child of God, on the other hand, is implored to…

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).

In order for us to do this, we must – through the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit – recognize the malignity pervading the world and let Christ’s light shine through in our lives as a testament against them and their evil, malignant ways.

… Whisperers

The Greek word for “whisperers” is 5588 ψιθυριστής “psithyristḗs” and means properly, a whisperer; a sneaky gossip (a “back-stabber”); a backbiter, quietly (secretly) destroying another person’s character – i.e., covertly, not out in the open, but rather operating “in a corner.” See 5587 (psithyrismos). From the same as psithurismos; a secret calumniator — whisperer. (emphasis mine)

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:16).

What once was considered an evil behavior and frowned upon by society has become an act that is expected – even encouraged – by everyone from the local teenagers down the street to those in the highest offices of power.

Who can find a trustworthy comrade these days? Rare, indeed, is a loyal friend who doesn’t succumb to the desire to “whisper” to others with tawdry and slanderous gossip. Whether true or fable, it really doesn’t matter; what does matter is first building another up while at the same time tearing another down.

But beware to the one who’s being built up because soon thereafter, the perpetrator will turn on them as well.

The backstabber today is in no short supply. Always done with a friendly smile and phony respect paid to the unsuspecting offended party to their face, the countenance soon changes with the meeting up of another to impart destructive and hurtful words.

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Proverbs 18:8).

No man or woman is exempt from the “whisperer” who seeks to destroy the character of those around them. And everyone seems more than eager to hear the sneaky gossip of another, never realizing that they are next in line for the same. Never satisfied with the ruin of another, they continue on in their pursuit of destroying the next victim, never seeming to run out of prey.

What’s more – as the cancer grows – more perpetrators are doing the same thing to each other, each thinking they are immune to the spreading disease. Each only fooling themselves with intentional blind observation of the coming recompense because of their own enjoyment of hearing the tale of another’s plight. Everyone is socially dead to each other, and yet nobody seems to take notice.

For the man or woman of God, though, we will have no part in this evil practice. For we should be known as those who keep and guard a secret in the hopes of aiding the hurting brother or sister, as we seek to give wise counsel.

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Proverbs 11:13).

In doing this – being a faithful friend – we gain a good name.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

We bear The Name above all names and represent Him to the world as His ambassadors — a mighty responsibility, indeed!

Romans 1:30

… Backbiters

The Greek word for “backbiters” is 2637 κατάλαλος “katálalos” and means backbiter, slanderer, slanderous, back-biting; subst: a railer, defamer. See 2635 (katalaleō). From kata and the base of laleo; talkative against, i.e., A slanderer — backbiter. see GREEK kata. (emphasis mine)

“Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer” (Psalm 101:5).

Whisperers and backbiters are kindred spirits – uniquely inseparable – and are in plentiful supply today. Actually, they’ve been in abundance for quite some time; some would say, forever. But today, it’s a rarity to find one who isn’t a whisperer and a backbiter.

The difference between a whisperer and a backbiter is subtle. And indeed, as noted above, they have their partnership with each other. They are familiar friends, one with the other.

The Greek definition of “backbiter” seems more in tune with those who actually have no regard for offending the other party in secret, but, rather, they quite enjoy committing their evil deeds in public. They appear to have no concern for being found out.

Observing the utter joy in people today who slander, defame, and backbite others in public for their own personal benefit, jealousy, or for getting even from a perceived wrong is downright intense. The endgame for these people always seems to be to destroy somebody’s life, and, usually, the more the merrier for them.

Sadly, even Christians need to be reminded to avoid slandering and backbiting their own brothers and sisters in the Lord, and not to “speak evil one of another.”

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge” (James 4:11).

One would think that if we are to exhibit the love of Yeshua that this wouldn’t be an issue within the body of Christ. Yet here we are with this admonition from James, and, unbelievably, we are witnessing this type of behavior in the professing churches today. This is just one more sign that we are living in the last of the last days.

We need to earnestly heed the Words of our Lord and Savior:

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:35-37).

… Haters of God

The Greek word for “haters of God” is 2319 θεοστυγής “theostygḗs” and means hater of God, hating God, hateful to God (a substantival adjective, derived from 2316/theós, “God” and stygeō, “abhor”) – properly, to abhor God (His will). This rare term refers to people who totally turn against the Lord (used only in Ro 1:30). From theos and the base of stugnetos; hateful to God, i.e., Impious — hater of God. (emphasis mine)

“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:35-36).

Once the rapture takes place, there will not be one person alive who it could be said that they love God.

I expect there will be many who will have deceived themselves in thinking that they were saved and loved God before the rapture occurred, but they will have been false converts, or they followed after a false Jesus and/or a false gospel. It will be imperative for them to use their time wisely and be truly converted during the most trying time on earth. But at least they’ll have a chance.

The vast majority of people left behind after the rapture will, up to that point, have been haters of God and His Son. While this condition will become the worldly norm during the Tribulation, we should expect to see this hatred elevated during the last of the last days, and we certainly see this today! And it’s only going to get worse.

The persecution of God’s people, in the Name of their God and Savior, Jesus Christ, is ramping up all over the world.

The ultimate hating of God is the unfounded hating of the Creator and Savior.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).

So, be prepared, Saint. The world hates you because they hate your Lord. They hate God, and they will hate you for your love and stand for God. In order for them to hate you for loving Jesus, you must also show yourself to be His follower by earnestly loving the brethren.

“These things I command you, that ye love one another” (John 15:17).

And through this love that we have for one another, let us share this God-given agape love with the world who so desperately need it, and introduce them to Yeshua, who is the embodiment of that love!

… Despiteful

The Greek word for “despiteful” is 5197 ὑβριστής “hybristḗs” and means a violent, injurious, insolent man (a masculine noun derived from 5195/hybrízō) – properly, someone “damaging” others by lashing out with a nasty spirit. This kind of individual is insolent (delights in wrong-doing) – finding pleasure in hurting others (G. R. Berry). See 5195 (hybrizō). From hubrizo; an insulter, i.e., Maltreater — despiteful, injurious. (emphasis mine)

This word is translated “injurious” in 1 Timothy 1:13 where Paul applies it to himself when he persecuted the church before his conversion – “… who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

And isn’t this the same for all of us before we came to Christ? Weren’t we all injurious and despiteful of the things of God?

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).

This was the state of the earth before the judgment of the flood and will also be the state of the world leading up to the Tribulation and through the Tribulation.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:7a).

Injurious, despiteful, violent, and damaging to others and God. So is the way of the world without the Savior, and this is exactly what we see today, as did the pre-flood world.

Along with malignity, here’s just a sampling of the violence and injurious propensities we see today:

‘These Attacks Have Racist, Religious Motives’: The Persecution of Christians, July 2022 :: Gatestone Institute

Report: Taliban Engaging in ‘Routine Torture’ of Afghan Christians (breitbart.com)

Gas station shopkeeper accused of stabbing woman after she asked to warm up coffee | The Times of Israel

Canada: Series of Stabbings Leave 10 People Dead, 15 Wounded (breitbart.com)

Woman Beheaded On California Street As Witnesses Watch In Horror | The Daily Wire

Doctor Who Witnessed Abortion: “The Baby Was Cut Into Pieces of Tissue and the Skull Was Crushed” – LifeNews.com

Horrifying Security Camera Footage Shows Robber’ Executed’ A ‘Very Gracious’ Store Clerk: Police | The Daily Wire

How Victims of Rape Are Viewed: The Persecution of Christians, August 2022 :: Gatestone Institute

“The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth” (Psalm 11:5).

There are only two paths for mankind: that of righteousness and spiritual peace and that of wickedness and physical violence.

As Saints of God, we have killed the old man and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12).

Christ is our righteousness, and we should walk in Him.

… Proud

The Greek word for “proud” is ὑπερήφανος 5244 “hyperḗphanos” and means proud, arrogant, disdainful (from 5228/hypér, “beyond, over” and 5316/phaínō, “shine forth”) – properly, over-shine, trying to be more than what God directs, i.e., going beyond the faith He imparts (cf. Ro 12:2,3). From huper and phaino; appearing above others (conspicuous), i.e. (figuratively) haughty — proud. (emphasis mine)

Paul used this word in 2 Timothy 3:2, and both Peter and James applied the word in quoting Proverbs 3:34, as God resisting the proud (James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5).

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5).

Satan’s sin was pride. Man’s struggle with sin always involves pride.

First on God’s list of the things He hates?

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look…” (Proverbs 6:16-17).

And what’s the world’s reaction to what God hates? The world pushes pride in the face of their Creator!

“Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth” (Psalm 73:6-9).

Here’s just a sampling of what took place over this past June’s “Pride” Month:

Columbus Ohio Police Unveil “Pride Cruiser” for Family Friendly Gay Pride Month (substack.com)

US military marches in front of Pride flag, no American flag in sight | The Post Millennial

Duke Energy Sponsors’ Youth Pride Carnival’ for Children (breitbart.com)

Watch as Woman Forces Young Child Against His Will to Stare at Perverts Twerking at Pride Parade (disntr.com)

Parent Tosses Toddler Into Arms of Drag Queens That Just Finished Twerking and Spreading Their Legs in Front of Children at Pride Parade in Hollywood (VIDEO) (thegatewaypundit.com)

5 Things We Saw at DC’s Gay Pride Parade (dailysignal.com)

Harris speaks at DC Pride event including drag queen story time and twerking transsexual | Just The News

Christina Aguilera Dons Bejeweled Phallus, Mimes Masturbation at All-Ages L.A. Pride Performance (breitbart.com)

WATCH: Pride Parade Clips Show Shocking and Bizarre Moments — with Children in Attendance (breitbart.com)

U.S. Marine Corps Goes Woke, Celebrates ‘Pride Month’ with Rainbow Bullets (breitbart.com)

Target Goes All In For Pride Month (prophecynewswatch.com)

Israel’s gay pride parades reveal just how far the nation has strayed from its biblical foundations | All Israel News

Groomers Say Kids Will Be Exposed to ‘Nudity and Kink’ at Pride Parades, But Don’t Worry, It’s ‘Educational’ – PJ Media

Italian Gay Pride Parade Features Topless Virgin Mary (breitbart.com)

Oreo Cookies Tout’ Pride Pack’ for June Pride Month (breitbart.com)

‘Family-friendly’ pride event features’ unbaptisms’ by Satanic Temple, drag dance party | WCTI (wcti12.com)

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3).

This world is deceived by their arrogant pride — and seems to love it so! The societal characteristic of pride has been a universal blight in the experience of mankind and will be until the Eternal Kingdom commences.

Though the redeemed of the Lord have been set free from this contagious proclivity, we can still, at times, struggle with this pervasive scourge. May the brother and sister in the Lord rely solely on the Spirit of Christ, and let not the arrogance of pride be found amongst us.

… Boasters

The Greek word for “boasters” is ἀλαζών 213 “alazṓn” and means vagabond, an impostor, boaster (a masculine noun) – properly, a wandering vagrant (vagabond), imposter, braggart, boasting to anyone who is foolish enough to take him seriously! This kind of person claims many things he can’t really do, so he must always keep moving on to new, naive listeners. [As a masculine noun, 213 (alazṓn) tends to focus on the source of the empty boasting, i.e., the sinful arrogance that drives it.] (emphasis mine)

Paul used this same word in 2 Timothy 3:2.

Here’s what we noted about “boasters” in Societal Characteristics of the Last Days: Part 1:

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

The culture of the United States is a cesspool of boasting. From exalted entertainers and sports figures to the elite corporate and social media tycoons and political talking heads. Those in the upper echelons of public life are as arrogant as they come.

Consider the rulers of other nations; how they boast of their newest weapons, luxury palaces, and the power they wield.

How’s your circle of influence and observations concerning this character trait? Is it as prevalent in your sphere as it is in my everyday walk in this world?

As Christians, we should all declare:

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad” (Psalm 34:2).

Do we see arrogant boasting in our society, from the top-down, today, and does it seem to be intensifying? I’d say it would be an exception for one not to acknowledge this trend.

Arrogance, pride, and boasting are deceived triplets bursting at the seam of man’s idealistic sense of self-worth, a pretense that has plagued humanity since the fall. From the selfie to idolatrous self-love in today’s world, the masses boast of themselves to whoever will listen.

As children of God, we have our marching orders:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:1-3).

March on in faith, Saints of God, and “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God!”

Conclusion

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

We would do well to complete Part5, Part 6, and Part 7 of Societal Characteristics of the Last Days with a well-known verse that reminds us of who we are really dealing with when it comes to these abhorrent sinful conditions of mankind.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

May well all remember who our enemy is.

And may we all be continually Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks, Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?

Keep reaching the lost for Christ while we still have time.

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Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

Email: mab10666@yahoo.com

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