Trust Fall ∙

Trust Fall ∙

Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

 – Matthew 24:12

Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

2 Timothy 3:12-14

 12 Indeed, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

 13 But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

In the 21st century, there has been a significant decline in trust. It has been labeled a universal Trust Fall. This loss of trust is not exclusive to any particular social class within society. The two major institutions that have experienced the most significant decline in trust are the government and the media. How ironic that the government is tasked with making changes while the media often acts as its cheerleader.

For a society to operate effectively, social trust is crucial. This refers to the belief that other individuals will behave the way they are expected to, for the most part. Webster defines trust as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. Social trust is having confidence in the individuals that make up a community. Ed Batista developed a simple formula for trust.

Trust = Motive + Reliability + Competence

Throughout most of the 20th century, Americans demonstrated significant confidence in their institutions. In 1964, for example, a pinnacle was reached when 77% of Americans expressed their trust in the federal government to carry out the right decisions most of the time. However, after numerous ethical failures and moral convulsions, just three decades later, in 1994, that number had plummeted to a mere 20%.

Something catastrophic occurred in the 21st century: the Trust Fall transformed into Explosive Distrust. Explosive Distrust is not simply a lack of trust or apathetic detachment. Instead, it involves hostile animosity and a desire to destroy. Those who experience Explosive Distrust believe that anyone who opposes their viewpoints is not just incorrect; they lack legitimacy (Linda Huang, The Atlantic).

Distrust sows distrust. The distrust mindset is considered a spiritual state that has been dubbed anomie. Anomie involves the erosion of standards and values. An erosion of social bonds between an individual and the community results in a sense of disconnection from society, a perception that the system is corrupt.  People are considered invisible and not valued. It devolves into the notion that the only person one can wholeheartedly rely on is oneself (Emile Durkheim).

Explosive Distrust is chilling and threatening. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of such a disastrous situation rampant in the days leading up to His return.

REFLECT & PRAY

Children of the King are to be alert. They are to resist becoming lethargic and chilled by selfish lawlessness.

Father I desperately need Your help to resist the oppressive force of lawlessness in our present age. How easy it is to allow my love to grow cold.

INSIGHT

Matthew 24:3 Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?

Lawlessness is one of the many prophetic strands which characterize the buildup to the eschatological climax, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, He responded with a preview of the general conditions of the earth that precede it and also lead up to His return. He likens them to birth pains.

Matthew 24:12 Because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.

The Greek word translated as increase or abound is plethuno. Plethuno connotes more than being enlarged. It means being multiplied in the American 21st-century colloquial slang supersized.

Lawlessness has a chilling, profoundly demoralizing effect. “Where lawlessness prevails selfish interests, and personal concerns completely overshadow a loving regard for others” (Chouinard). “By definition, the lawless person is motivated by personal, selfish concerns, not by any regard for others or for the rules that govern our intercourse with one another” (Morris).

The Greek word rendered as grow cold is psycho. Psycho means grow cool or cold, but, in connection with the imagery of fire or flame, go out, be extinguished, be snuffed out . . .. The verse has in view the failure rather than the weakening of love” (John Nolland). The Greek verbal form is passive. Which means “the many” do not initiate the action. It simply happens to them. Their love is snuffed out, extinguished. What a somber and bleak picture of things to come.

Betrayal, suspicion, and hating one another are close companions of lost love (Matthew 24:10). What an awful climate to live in.

It is truly remarkable, seemingly incredible, that the Scriptures so accurately describe many of the characteristics of the 21st century. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, the events leading up to His second coming will resemble birth pains, marking the end of the current age and ushering in the age to come.

“It’s cross now, crown then. It is labor now, delivery then. So be patient. Endure. Breathe in; breathe out. Trust that God will work everything for your good. That baby is soon to be born. And the hard and long labor will then all seem worth it” (Donnell).

Revelation 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-7-1

© Dr. H 2023

The paradox of pain ∙∙

The paradox of pain ∙∙

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! – 2 Corinthians 4:17

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Surgery serves multiple purposes, including exploratory diagnosis, eliminating obstructions, removing, repairing, or replacing diseased tissues or organs, broken bones, or trauma. Its primary objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering and pain, and enhance the quality of life.

Following surgery, it is typical to experience pain. Properly managing pain enables the restoration of quality of life and the resumption of essential tasks and regular activities. Effective pain management is critical for healing and recovery, and implementing a postoperative treatment strategy may help minimize the risk of complications.

God the Father is the designer and creator of humanity. He completely understands the human body, spirit, and psyche. Like a medical doctor performing surgery to enhance the well-being of a patient, the Father conducts “spiritual surgery” to improve the condition of each child of the King. Such surgery is often accompanied by pain, much like physical surgery. Indeed, painful sorrow is frequently a crucial aspect of spiritual surgery.

Gaining insight into how the Father utilizes pain for our growth can lead to a paradigm shift in our perspective. Numerous situations exist in which we choose to endure temporary pain to accomplish a desired objective. Athletes, for instance, engage in physically demanding training to prepare for competition. In farming, substantial effort and exertion are necessary up front to yield a crop. The list could go on and on. The examples are endless.

Adversity is a tool that the Father employs to achieve His desired outcomes within us and for us. His objective is not to cause us harm but to strengthen us and foster our character development. Paul, for instance, perceived his personal suffering through this lens. He acquired the skill and knowledge necessary to manage the pain accompanying spiritual surgery.

“Paul’s afflictions were of course neither slight nor momentary in themselves. They were the burdensome and virtually constant accompaniment of his ministry. Yet by comparison with the weighty and eternal character of the glory being prepared for him, he saw them as but slight and momentary” (Kruse).

REFLECT & PRAY

Seeing things from the Father’s perspective changes everything. The Father prioritizes spiritual growth over ease and comfort. Trials and tribulations cultivate endurance and a proven character.

Father, help me to learn to see things as they really are. Help me to see them as You do and be thankful.

INSIGHT

But there is more. While Paul’s struggles are both internal and external, he is focused. However, there is a deeper dimension to Paul’s challenges, which extend beyond the external realm. He directs his attention towards an unseen, internal transformation, where his inner nature is being renewed and strengthened. He has set his heart on the things that are not seen, rather than those that are seen. Everything about a human being runs down or wears out with age, with the singular exception of the human spirit. As we grow through suffering, we become strong in our spirits.

Luke 1:80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit.

How ironic, the physical things that we see now appear permanent and tangible are transient, ephemeral, and do not last. Spiritual things, such as the human soul, endure eternally, even though we cannot perceive them. What we see now is only temporary, fleeting, and ephemeral. The present momentary visible things of life paled for the apostle as he considered the future eternal, invisible things ahead (Constable).

Colossians 3:1-2

 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

The visible realm frequently causes us to feel disheartened and dispirited. We are tempted to lose hope. However, if we prioritize the unseen realities, we can avoid becoming discouraged.

Romans 8:18-26

 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.

 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Suffering is seldom viewed as beneficial or profitable. People do not typically perceive a reason to rejoice in it. However, the Father views adversity as an opportunity for spiritual growth. During times of pain, the facade we typically exhibit is stripped away, exposing our true nature. As our sense of security and comfort are challenged, our authentic priorities, pride, and self-reliance are revealed. God may leverage this opportunity to strip away all our dependencies until nothing competes with the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives (Stanley).

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul conveyed his intimate familiarity with various afflictions such as beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger (2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 11:23-28). Nevertheless, he regarded these tribulations as trivial in comparison to the imminent revelation of glory. As a citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20), he recognized that his earthly existence was fleeting compared to eternity. Moreover, the splendor of the coming age will qualitatively surpass the hardships of the present (Mounce).

If we allow the challenges of life to consume our focus, they will obstruct our vision of the glorious future that awaits us. Our attention must be directed towards the eternal and spiritual concerns that hold lasting significance (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:18) and the things above Colossians 3:2) (Mounce).

Luther expresses regret over time squandered, contemplating the present state of creation instead of its future state. He cites Seneca’s remark that “we fail to know what is necessary because we study unnecessary things.”

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-09-1

© Dr. H 2023

Serve good ∙

Serve good ∙

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

 16 Rejoice always.

 17 Never stop praying.

 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

On October 7th and 8th, 2016, Matthew, a hurricane of category 5, swept through North Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, making it the most formidable storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

In South Carolina, power outages affected a minimum of 600,000 individuals. Hilton Head Island suffered from prolonged water, sewer, and power service interruptions for a few days, and access to the island was restricted until October 11th. The storm hit the island hard, resulting in the downing of over 120,000 trees, leading to significant property and business damages. The storm generated more than 2.1 million cubic yards of vegetative debris collected afterward.

Upon returning to their homes, the residents were confronted with a scene resembling a war zone. The devastation was massive. In the midst of the chaos, Samaritan’s Purse workers arrived to offer assistance in every way possible, cutting and removing fallen trees and providing aid to the afflicted. Alongside their humanitarian efforts, the workers also offered spiritual service, visiting homes to provide care and support to those affected by the disaster, concluding with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ before departing.

They served good!

Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.

Brothers and sisters in Christ share a mutual responsibility to help those who need special care and attention. We are to deal with each person according to their individual needs.

The apostle Paul provides specific instructions on how to serve good. He spells out how to care for those with “special needs.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Admonish the idle

The Greek word translated as idle is ataktos. Ataktos originally described a soldier who had left the ranks. It came to mean undisciplined, unruly, careless, or out of line. It came to refer to those that tend to go their own way and not follow godly principles. Rather than being merely lazy, they are disorderly and undisciplined. Their idleness is characterized by rebellious irresponsibility or willful sluggishness (Black).

Encourage the fainthearted

The Greek word translated as fainthearted, timid, or fearful is oligopsychos. Oligopsychos comes from oligos – small or little, and psyche – soul, mind. The fearful are literally those whose souls are small. These despondent or discouraged folks naturally, almost instinctively, fear the worst. They are fainthearted, fretful, and worried. They tend to look on the dark side of things and want to give up when the going is tough (Wiersbe). Those with large souls, strong souls must help those with small souls to be brave, stand tall, endure, and overcome.

One translation says, “Give courage to those who have little of it” (UBS).

Help the weak

The Greek word translated as weak is asthenes. It refers to those who are without strength. It may be those who are literally sick due to a bodily ailment. It may also be used figuratively for those who are ineffective, feeble, inadequate, or lack strength and vitality. Here it refers to those who are weak spiritually and lack spiritual strength and faith. They need to be warmly and firmly held and comforted.

REFLECT & PRAY

When serving others, we minister to different people differently, depending on their needs. Some need stern warnings; others need comfort; some need help. But everyone needs patience, for we all fall short in many ways (Stanley).

Father, as I reflect upon Your loving care and compassion for me, I realize that You always know the condition of my heart and soul. You are there for me to provide exactly what I need. Encourage me to learn this skill and practice it in helping others.

INSIGHT

The Father designs personal challenges for each child of the King. This becomes our motivation for coming alongside others to help them. Our guiding principle to be patient and provide reassuring love.

Every child of the King undergoes the process of developing strength, stability, and reaching maturity in a unique way and pace. The ones who possess strength in certain aspects are accountable for assisting those deficient in those areas. This collaboration of support and assistance is a mutual obligation among all the children of the King. Each individual is expected to communicate the truth in love while continuously becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:15).

The art of cultivating patience involves both learning and practicing it. The Greek term rendered as “be patient” is makrothumeo. Makrothumeo is a combination of makros – long and thumos – explosive anger, hot, glowing, boiling anger that quickly flares up and subsides. The word picture here is a slow-burning fuse. In English, we speak of someone who is “short-tempered.” Makrothumeo is just the opposite, someone who is “long-tempered.”

It “carries the sense of ‘suffering long’ with regard to someone else. It is, therefore, the appropriate word to use regarding human relationships” (Fee). This word is not about our circumstances. It is about our relationships. It is about remaining cool and calm, even serene. Intense, close human relationships often elicit heated responses. Rather than simply reacting and flipping our lid, we must exercise understanding and forbearance. Paul is exhorting us to practice a more excellent way. We are to be patient and long-suffering with others.

“Be patient with everyone may be expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘speak softly to everyone,’ ‘move slowly with everyone,’ or negatively, ‘do not speak sharply to anyone,’ or ‘do not shout at anyone’” (UBS).

The Father enveloped us with His patience as He drew us into a personal, intimate relationship with Him. We are to be patient with others in the same way. In our own strength, this is impossible. But things that are impossible with people are possible with the Father.

Developing the skill of being “long-tempered” requires practice. Do not expect instant, overnight changes. But any child of the King can do it. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-2-1

© Dr. H 2023

The everywhere-nowhere future ∙

The everywhere-nowhere future ∙

Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. – Isaiah 65:17

2 Peter 3:12-13

 12 Looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

The story is told of a recorded phone call to customer support that went through to an employee’s home when the strict shelter-in-place, work-from-home regulations were in effect during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Client: “No! This is unacceptable. I want to speak to one of your superiors.”

Customer support: “Moooom!”

The year 2020 marked the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, people needed to learn precisely what was happening or how to respond. Nevertheless, this required significant changes in people’s lives. In addition to commonly used terms such as quarantine and home offices, new terminology and concepts became part of the global lexicon, including social distancing, shelter in place, and work from home.

Many business owners and employees are forced to move their workspace to their homes. Classroom education shifted to online classes powered by Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.

Almost overnight, what was considered an incredibly futuristic dream suddenly became a reality. The world would never again be the same, and a new epithet entered the mainstream: the everywhere-nowhere future.

Throughout human civilization, people lived where they labored. In 2020, more than 90 percent of Americans drove to work, and their average commute was about 27 minutes. Urban economics is based upon this connection. Remote work weakens and ultimately severs it. Spatial proximity is replaced by cloud-based connectivity.

An essential outcome of the pandemic was not that we learned how to use Zoom, but instead, we were forced to learn how to use Zoom. “Telecommunications doesn’t have to be the perfect substitute for in-person meetings, as long as it’s mostly good enough. For the most part, remote work just works” (Derek Thompson).

In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. highway system was constructed. It allowed higher-income families to move from downtown to the distant suburbs. In the 2020s, Zoom, and the like, will spread out the population even more.

Silicon Valley is forever altered. Rather than referring to a specific place or geographical location, Silicon Valley is now dispersed across many localities. The metro hub could become obsolete as companies embrace the reality of a permanently distributed workforce. Could the next Silicon Valley be everywhere and nowhere?

After 2020 the city in the cloud will become a more accessible version of the city on Earth. It will be driven by agglomeration, specialization, and convenience. The future of the workplace is everywhere-nowhere.

REFLECT & PRAY

Matthew 24:30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens . . .. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Father what a fantastic future You have in store for all children of the King. From Your perspective, the future is now. Increase the joy of Your presence in our lives a bit more day by day.

INSIGHT

Children of the King already live in parallel realities. We are citizens of Earth and citizens of Heaven at the same time. In a sense, we dwell in an Earth-based city and a cloud-based city simultaneously. But in reality, it is quite different. Rather than being everywhere-nowhere, it is an everywhere–someone actuality.

The Father is everywhere (omnipresent) at once. Wherever the Father is, children of the King are with Him in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:20).

Ephesians 2:4-6

 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

At the same time, a future physical kingdom is coming to Earth. One day the Lord Jesus Christ will return and reign as Messiah and King over the promised kingdom of God. This, however, is only temporary and lasts 1000 years (Revelation 20).

In turn, the kingdom of God on earth will be replaced by a New Heavens and New Earth and is simultaneously a cloud-based and earthbound city. Spatial proximity with the Lord Jesus Christ and cloud-based connectivity will exist congruently for eternity.

Revelation 21:1-3

 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”

Psalms 24:10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies – he is the King of glory.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-1-1

© Dr. H 2023

Rising hope or looming catastrophe ∙

Rising hope or looming catastrophe ∙

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. – 1 John 5:19

Habakkuk 3:3-5

 3 I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.

 4 His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden.

 5 Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind.

In late 2020, five major Western companies developed effective coronavirus vaccines. Vaccinations began in earnest. The results were impressive. There was a significant reduction in both the death rate and new hospitalizations. People began to breathe a sigh of relief. Was there light at the end of the tunnel? Millions hoped so.

Viruses are constantly mutating, and new strains develop. Variants found in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil were highly transmissible and sparked concerns that the vaccines may be less effective against them. Many feared that the worst possible scenario was a real possibility. Could the variants develop immune escape capabilities? Would they be able to elude people’s natural immune response and become vaccine-resistant?

Mutation of the COVID-19 virus was typical. The rate of transition was not faster than usual. However, with tens of millions of people infected worldwide, the prospect of even more pernicious variants was very real.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said. “We need to increase our speed in which we act so that we don’t allow this virus to spread further and allow this variant to become the dominant one in circulation. The clock is ticking.”

Leanna Wen in The Washington Post wrote, “We’re caught between rising hope and looming catastrophe.” Humanity was in a race for survival. Could the threat of the COVID-19 be diminished before new variants overwhelmed the world’s population? To win the race and triumph, the transmission of the virus had to be slowed. The fewer people infected, the fewer hosts would be available to allow the virus to mutate. Was the worst behind, or was it ahead? Uncertainty hung in the air.

Hope is not wishful thinking. Yet many hoped for the best without sufficient basis. Biblical hope is quite different. It is confident expectation based on the facts of the Scriptures.

REFLECT & PRAY

Ephesians 5:16 Make the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Father, we are to walk as children of the light, wise as serpents, gentle as doves, alert and not lulled into the slumber of darkness. Make it so.

INSIGHT

In the 21st century, it is as though humanity has been sedated through the enemy’s stratagems. Biblical truth is no longer part of the collective consciousness.  Reverence for the Father, living God has waned to historic lows. The Word of God, the foundation upon which much of Western civilization was based, is no longer valued, respected, understood, or accurately taught. The Father’s revelation is no longer considered a source of knowledge worthy of consideration.

In 1995 William MacDonald presciently warned, “We might think that plagues are no longer a threat because of modern antibiotics and wonder drugs. However, the great killer diseases are not conquered but merely dormant. They can spread throughout the world as fast as jet aircraft can carry.” That is precisely what happened in 2020. Killer pathogens are lurking, awaiting release upon an unsuspecting and unprepared world. Was 2020 just the beginning?

History is on a collision course with destiny. Throughout human history, there has been pestilence, plague, famine, warfare, and death. The Scriptures speak of a coming, unprecedented time of trouble. It is generally referred to as the Great Tribulation.

Many portions of the prophetic Scriptures speak of horrific events to come. One well-known prediction called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse stands out (Revelation 6:1-8).

From a brief and superficial examination, it appears that the initial four of seven seals are accompanied by the presence of the four Horsemen. The first horseman is a conqueror with a bow and crown and rides a white horse. The second Horseman, mounted on a red horse and wielding a great sword, symbolizes war and bloodshed. The third Horseman carries a balance scale, rides a black horse, and represents famine. The rider of the fourth Horseman, who rides a pale yellowish-green horse, is known as Death.

Examining the fourth horse more completely, the connection between death and disease or plague becomes apparent.

Revelation 6:8 I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, Hades followed him. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth to kill with the sword and famine and plague and wild animals.

Hades is the evil companion of Death. The Greek word translated as death is thanatos. In the Septuagint, thanatos often translates the Hebrew word deber

which means pestilence or plague (Jeremiah 21:6).

The emphasis is on plague, more particularly, death by plague. Hades is personified and pictured following behind. It is as though “Hades is on foot gathering up the corpses left by Pestilence and Death as they struck victim after victim” (Osborne). The outcome is shocking and catastrophic. One-fourth of the world’s population is decimated.

The apostle John alone witnessed these events in some supernatural visual preview of coming events in the distant future. However, any of us can imagine what he saw. Rather than analyzing the words in-depth, experience them in your mind’s eye. For a moment, visualize the four riders on the four horses galloping through hapless humanity, taking victims wherever they go. Experience the terror. Envision something like the dreaded ring-servants of the Dark Lord Sauron, the Black Riders, in Lord of the Rings, only a bit more colorful and monstrous.

(endtimenews.net)

Elements of the four seals have been present throughout history and are in the world today. During the Great Tribulation, these horrific conditions will be multiplied exponentially to unprecedented levels.

Why does the Father do this? There are numerous reasons, not the least of which is to get the attention of the human race. He wants humanity to come to grips with the truth found in the Word of God. The Father uses these crises to turn the hearts and minds of people toward Him.

Revelation 3:2-3 

 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.

 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

The Devil presents himself in disguise, using subterfuge and deceit. He has deceived the world.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

The Greek word translated as lies in the power of is keimai. The basic meaning of keimai is to lie, that is, to be in a recumbent position, to recline, or to lie down. The Greek literally reads lies in the evil one. This verb is regularly used for an infant lying in a parent’s arms. It envisions the world resting in the power of the evil one, held in subjection by the devil (Strong).

Thinking in physical terms for a moment, how large is the Evil One? Suppose for a moment that he is immense, much larger than planet Earth. The enemy of our souls could actually hold the planet in his arms. This creates a terrifying image of the world lying helplessly in his grasp. In the same way, a parent might rock a child to sleep; the Evil One is continually swaying the world, keeping it unaware and half-asleep, hovering between a trance and slumber.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-24-1

© Dr. H 2023