The Blood Cries Out :: By Angela Scohy

Every time the subject of abortion comes up, all I can think is this: if the blood of one man, Abel, cried out from the ground, what must the sound of 60 million + innocent babies sound like to our Heavenly Father? They’re all with Him now, and they don’t go unnoticed by Him. How much longer can this go on before He steps forward in furious vengeance and protection of the babies, the life and blood, He has placed in the womb? At least 10 states (according to worldpopulationreview.org), and now an 11th state as of August 2026, have no restrictions on abortions at any time up to birth! This is a tragedy!

When God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was also due to outcry – one lifted up to God because of the rampant wickedness occurring there. When it had gotten so unbearably loud in God’s ears, it was then that the Lord’s angels came to visit Lot (Genesis 19:13). Lot showed hospitality to these strangers he knew were in an unsafe position by urging them not to stay in the square during the dark nighttime hours; he insisted they go into his house, he shut them behind his door, and he gave them a feast and unleavened bread (Genesis 19:3). In layers of prophecy, this is itself a picture of the rapture.

Lot, moving quickly in word and deed, passed the test that was given him. He saw them in need and danger, and he was just and showed them love, hospitality, and protection. As we’re told, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). Whether Lot knew they were angels immediately or not, he proved himself a godly man to them.

However, the men outside failed that same test, as they were wicked and of unsound (unhealthy and unsafe) minds. When Lot warned them to flee from the coming destruction (as he was directed to do), they mocked him – even his own sons-in-law thought he was joking, that it was ridiculous. They mockingly said, in effect, “Look at this, Lot has come to judge us!” (Genesis 19:9). Yet it was their very own mocking words and actions that would leave them condemned to the destruction.

This all sounds extremely familiar in today’s society, on all accounts. If we claim to know God, we must know that whether we eat or drink, in everything we do, we are called to bring glory to God. The Holy Spirit in us leads us to desire to keep ourselves and others safe behind the Door (Jesus is the Door) of our spiritual house, where we all will be safe.

Our political platform, which we also stand on, must represent God’s house. Whether we realize it or not, every single word we say and everything we do is a reflection of what we believe. We should pursue speaking only life, love, and good. Those who truly believe in Jesus Christ know that He came to give us eternal life, and it’s only through Him that all of our sins are cleansed as white as snow – this includes the sins mentioned here (if there indeed has been repentance).

Contrary to what some say, religion and politics go hand in hand; they cannot be separated – as justice and righteousness are the foundation of His throne. Our politics are absolutely vital to our country, our states, our cities and our homes. Most importantly, it’s vital to God’s Kingdom, as it affects the people of our land for eternity. The Bible reveals that the kings and rulers’ belief systems greatly mattered to their people’s life, well-being, and prosperity. This is proven all the way through the Old and New Testaments, as each king led the people and either did wickedly or righteously, removing the offending idols.

God’s Word has also foretold that sudden destruction is coming, worldwide this time, upon those who have not believed but have rebelled. However, as with righteous Lot, the angels could not utterly destroy the cities without first removing him from the midst, who was tormented in his soul daily by the other people’s unrighteous, unjust deeds. In the same way that Lot protected the angels by taking them into his own house, to shut them behind the door, the angels protected Lot by removing him to a safe city.

And in this picture He has given us, we can look forward with joyful expectation to be taken by our Righteous Right Hand and removed to the safety of our city on a hill, our own house, behind our Door, before God takes out His fury on this land, which has been increasingly defiled by blood. Until then, we carry on our good works by leading and speaking wisely in our homes, in the schools, workplaces, and politics. God is Love, and Love protects. Love gathers the people and keeps them safely enclosed in the Lord’s house with the unified Holy One’s heart, soul, mind and strength. The Holy One’s mouth, ears, eyes, and members. This is the most important commandment of all!

Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Jeremiah 23:1-8 – God’s Promises to Israel :: By Sean Gooding

In Numbers 23:19, we are told this foundational truth: “God is not a man that He should lie.” We should find solace in this promise, this character of God. In our last look at Psalm 110, we found the most quoted Old Testament passage. In it we see Jesus the King, the High Priest, and that He is powerful and strong. Jeremiah is writing to the southern kingdom of Judah; this is about 627 BC. He is warning the people that there is no hope for rescue. Sadly, many false prophets had told the people that God would rescue the people and destroy the power of Babylon, and the people were holding on to this false hope. The people hated Jeremiah; look at Jeremiah 20:1-6, 18:18 – and the people turned to false prophets (Jeremiah 7:5-11).

When Jeremiah tells them God’s judgments, they say they will repent, but they don’t really repent; they are just doing lip service. So, God sends Jeremiah to tell them that there will be judgement; they will not be able to resist the power of Babylon. They will either die or be taken away as captives. In the midst of this judgment, God gives them a bit of hope. There is a need for a bit of hope because the situation is so bad that, back in Jeremiah 15:1-4, God tells us that even if Moses and Samuel were to plead for Israel, He would not relent. Even these two men could not help. The judgment that was coming is secure and sure. Nothing will stop it.

In the midst of this, God offers a two-stage prophecy for hope. Verses 3-4 offer prophecy that will be fulfilled in the short term, 70 years to be exact, and then in 5-8, there is a yet-to-be-fulfilled future prophecy. The people were captured; we have the story of Daniel and his three friends who end up in Babylon with him. These are a part of that group that is taken as captives into Babylon. Others are left to care for the broken land of Judah and the destroyed city of Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands die, and their bodies are left to the birds of the air and beasts of the fields.

But around 538 BC, as is recorded in Daniel 5 and prophesied in Isaiah 44-45, a man named Cyrus the Mede invades Babylon and takes the nation. He soon begins to send the Jews back to their homeland, and the prophecy of Jeremiah 23:3-4 is fulfilled. The scattered people do come back; they once again are a people, and they stay that way until 70 AD, when General Titus of the Roman Empire invades Israel, kills about 1,000,000 Jews, and burns the temple; yes, that same temple that Jesus walked in.

But there is a future promise that is yet to be fulfilled; in this, we see a man called The Branch of Righteousness. Jesus is referred to as the Branch in Jeremiah 33:14-18, Isaiah 11:1-5, Zechariah 3:6-10, and then again in Zechariah 6:12-13. They are told about a temple that this Branch will build, and we see that prophesied and described in Ezekiel 40-46. Here we are promised, just like in Psalm 110, that He will both be King and Priest, an office only for Melchizedek, whom we established in the last post of Jesus.

We are told in Jeremiah 23:6 that in the day of the Branch, Israel will dwell in safety. They do not dwell that way now, so this is a future, yet-to-be-fulfilled promise. But make no mistake, this will happen. God says so!! One day soon, God will deliberately seek out the Jews from the four corners of the earth, bring them back to the Promised Land, and begin a head-to-head battle between those that hate Israel and the Lord Jesus Himself that culminates in Revelation 19.

It is high time to repent. Call on Jesus and fall on His mercy. The next time you see Him, He will come as the Almighty, All-Powerful Living God whose words will kill millions. Now is the day to be saved.

seangooding@yahoo.ca

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
70 Victoria Street, Elora, Ontario