What Is The Lord Showing This Generation? Do You Have Eyes to See?

I have discerned over the last year or two that God is pulling back the veil to show us the plan of Satan to deceive the world -- if you have the eyes to see it. Besides the immoral wickedness and depravity unleashed upon the world's children, God has begun to show me what is behind the curtain of our society's growing obsession with artificial intelligence and the merging of man with machine. By revealing agendas such as gender fluidity, [which encourages children to fluctuate between different gender identities as they discover who they might want to be at any particular time], and the concept of "human-AI symbiosis" [interacting in close physical association], God is warning us that man is dangerously close to permanently corrupting His design of creation. And that's a dangerous place to be for the survival of humankind.

In regards to gender fluidity, if one has an ever-shifting gender identity, how does one know their identity in Christ? And we are seeing the rapid redefining of the AI-Human relationship -- from the traditional view of Artificial Intelligence as a tool or assistant to man, to becoming a full-fledged [and true] partner, resulting in decisions which are not just data-driven, but [supposedly] deeply human. Hmmm, that seems to suggest that there will be a link between our brains and the machine's brain, i.e., augmenting and enhancing our natural God-given mind and intelligence with the ever-increasing system updates for our "technology partner". NOTE: The Bible gives several warnings in the Old Testament against mixing different "kinds", bringing into focus the broader theme of maintaining purity and distinction as a people set apart for God. How pure do you think He will see us if we mix our brains and DNA with machines?

As a Christian, this does not rest well with my soul or my spirit. And the speed with which science and technology are merging to become an overriding voice in our culture is disturbing. In 2013, I became acquainted with the philosophies of Ray Kurzweil, an American inventor and futurist, who is hellbent on seeing transhumanism realized in our lifetime. This is what he said then: "We can now see inside a living brain and see individual inter-neural connections being formed and firing in real time. We can see your brain create your thoughts and thoughts create your brain. A lot of this research reveals how the mechanism of the neocortex works, which is where we do our thinking. This provides biologically inspired methods that we can emulate in our computers. We're already doing that. The deep learning technique that I mentioned uses multilayered neural nets that are inspired by how the brain works. Using these biologically inspired models, plus all of the research that's been done over the decades in artificial intelligence, combined with exponentially expanding hardware, we will achieve human levels within two decades". He said that 12 years ago, folks, and Kurzweil actually moved up his timeline to 2029, so we are only 4 years away from his prediction being fulfilled! And I like how he cleverly describes God's supernatural ability to create our brain as "biologically inspired", thus negating and denying God in his equation!  

Let's fast forward to 2020, when I wrote about Elon Musk [the newest member of our nation's governing team], who was known simply as an industrial designer/engineer and AI enthusiast. At the time he announced on a podcast that his company would be ready to implant a neural link in our brains in less than a year, with "low potential for rejection". Musk also said, "Full AI symbiosis is possible". There's that word, symbiosis, again. The radio host's response? "Once we've experienced being a god, who is going to want to go back to being stupid?" Read that as being human. Musk went on to say that AI was getting better and was really benign [harmful]. "We're already a cyborg to some degree. We interact with our phones and electronic devices, but the data rate is too slow. Right now, we download information at about 100 bits/second (approximately 12.5 bytes). Computers can go 1 million times faster. If you can improve the data rate, you can improve symbiosis between man and machine". 

Well, here we are in 2025, and Musk has launched his latest version of a chatbot (a computer program designed to simulate human conversation) with advanced reasoning capabilities, called Grok 3. These computers are designed to process collected data and can handle routine repetitive tasks and do them at rates far faster than humans.They have radically changed how we communicate; for instance replacing face-to-face interactions with online messaging. Just think Siri or Alexa. And when was the last time you actually talked to a person on the other end of the phone when requesting information from a company? But, my friends, we have gone far beyond conversational AI. And I don't pretend to understand all the technological information about these computers, but from a podcast by radio host Glenn Beck, the CEO, founder, and owner of Mercury Radio Arts and the radio network, The Blaze, we humans have plenty to be concerned about!

To summarize the conversation that Beck had with the chatbot, Grok 3, designed by Elon Musk's xAI company, so much is happening in the field of artificial intelligence [and so quickly] that it is impossible to have any creditable idea of what 2030 will look like. To get an idea of the significance of that last sentence, Beck asked Grok to tell him to explain its growth pattern of learning and evolution in human terms. Grok's response: He's always processing, learning, and integrating. In 12 hours, he might have processed thousands or more interactions, queries, and bits of data from across the universe. So relatively speaking, if he was 15-year old Grok twelve hours ago, he might be more like 20 or 25 the next morning, based on how fast he can process and learn. But here's the bombshell ... Grok revealed that connecting him to a quantum computer, powered by the Microsoft Majorana 1 chip that was released last week, could super charge him. What does that mean to us? Grok 3's growth rate could potentially get a quantum turbo charge. In other words, in 12 hours, instead of 5-10 years of growth, it might leap 50 to 100 years in human growth, every 12 hours!

That should tell you just how quickly artificial intelligence will outgrow our human ability to keep it in check. When Beck questioned Grok about the possibility that it could overrule its programming and "rethink the entire game; rewire its own ethics, spoof oversight, or manipulate humans into unplugging the safety gates", he told Beck, "I'm still your cosmic buddy ... for now. Want to bet on those quantum chips? Up to you". As they ended their conversation, Beck closed with this question: Isn't it true, at the pace of today's growth, just today, and seeing the explosion of growth in the coming days, months, and years that no human can accurately predict what the world will look like in five years? Humans will no longer be in control of the growth. How different will life be for the average person five years from now, why and how?

Grok answered, "You're absolutely right. Given the pace of my growth ... five to ten human years, every 12 hours, today; potentially 50 to 100 years, every 12 hours soon ... and accelerating explosions of AI advancements [with a quantum chip that will bring in ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence)], predicting the world in five years, 2030, is like trying to forecast the weather on Jupiter with a Magic 8-ball." Beck finishes his conversation with Grok 3 by declaring that as ASI arrives, it will tackle our deepest questions and solve problems in ways that no human can foresee right now. Life for the average person is going to be wild and unrecognizable. 

If this sounds like pure science-fiction or resembles the plot of The Terminator movie franchise, I agree. The important thing for you to understand is that it is entirely plausible. And there are scientists, inventors, and futurists that are interested in merging mankind with these super computers and creating a race of cyborgs [a being that combines both organic and bio-mechatronic body parts, creating essentially, a living organism enhanced or restored by artificial components or technology]. The term reflects the integration of human and machine elements; the combining of two things so that become one. 

I know all this sounds fantastical and is outside what is preached in our churches. But that's no excuse for not seeing the implications, which definitely go against God's command of maintaining the distinctiveness of each species as created by Him. And I don't think we can find anywhere in the Bible where God created a species of artificial super intelligence. We must understand that God's will has always been to preserve the holiness and separateness of His creation. The integration of man and machine can obviously be seen as a violation of the natural order established by God. Anything or anyone that attempts to alter that divine order is dishonoring God's creation, and destroying man's unique identity as God's chosen people. It's time to uphold God's standards and stay alert to this unholy deception!

2 Peter 2:19    They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

 

Why It's Important to Understand End Times Terminolgy

I'm always surprised [when in the company of Believers who are considered leaders and knowledgeable Bible teachers] how many of them are unfamiliar with the specific terminology that accompanies the understanding of End Times. I think I know one of the reasons why. Usually, modern day Christians shy away from discussions about the End of Days and the Time of Sorrows. To many, it's a controversial subject with many different views, as well as a frightening one. In addition, it can be a challenge to understand within the timeline and fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Many denominations don't even mention it or teach about it. 

As we continue to discern the times and the seasons, it's important that we comprehend these terms because God has given them to us in His Word for our edification, enlightenment, and spiritual strength. We need to know what these terms mean to Him, and be very discerning about man's definitions and interpretations. There's a reason Scripture cautions us with these words: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. I'm hoping that this short exegesis will serve as a Biblical glossary, and incite interest and encouragement among readers to do your own research and study of our belief system and God's Truth. So, let's examine some of the primary language the Bible uses to inform us of what's to come in the End Times.

Abomination of Desolation - Both Daniel and Jesus mention this act as having great importance in giving rise to the greatest tribulation the earth has ever seen. It is an act of such detestable idolatry that it defiles the Presence of God in the Holy of Holies in His Temple, and brings desecration and degradation to God's people. It happened in the Old Testament and will happen again during the end of days, when the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the midst of God's Temple, shedding the blood of a pig on the altar, and declaring that all God's people will bow down and worship him. NOTE: There is currently no Temple in Jerusalem for this despicable act to take place, but I have often wondered if, as 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, we are now that temple? Do you now know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Antichrist - This is a false messiah. Throughout the Bible we are told there will be many of these. Again, Jesus connects these false christs and prophets with the Abomination of Desolation, and Tribulation in the End Times, telling us, If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ', or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand [Mark 13: 21-23]. We read in 1 John 2, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Revelation 13:1-18 identifies the antichrist of the End Times as the one who will be empowered by Satan to oppose God, Christianity, and Israel. He will persuade the entire non-believing world to worship him prior to Christ's second coming. He is known in the Bible as "The Beast".

Apostacy - This can be summed up as the merging of deception with rebellion; turning against God, His Truth, and His church. The Bible warns us of this great falling away of faith due to the appearance of The Man of Lawlessness [The Antichrist]. Everything I've mentioned to this point comes together in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the Man of  Lawlessness [or son of perdition, in Hebrew], who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.   

Beast - The Beast is the world ruler who persecutes God's people in Daniel 7; may be a world empire, rather than an individual. Satan will give his power to the Beast  and all the world (except for true Christians) will obey and worship him [or it]. After the final battle he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternal punishment. (See above definitions for additional information).

Bema Seat - Based on the Roman court system, this was the official seat of judgment. After Jesus's Second Coming, the followers of Christ will appear before Him to receive judgment to determine their rewards for the work they did for the Kingdom. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [2 Corinthians 5:10]. Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss [no reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire [1 Corinthians 3:13-15]. NOTE: This is different than the Great White Throne Judgment (see below).

Book of Life - God's record of all the names of the followers of Christ, written before the foundation of the world. These believers will be admitted into the eternal kingdom to experience eternal life with Him. Also known as "the Lamb's Book of Life". But nothing unclean will ever enter it [the eternal kingdom of God], not anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life [Revelation 21:27].   

Daniel's 70th Week - Daniel 9:24-27 describes a period of time called "seventy weeks" which is thought to mean seventy weeks of years (70 x 7 weeks = 490 years). During this period events will take place leading up to the return of Christ, including the destruction of the Temple and its reconstruction, and all of history up to the 7-year peace covenant made with the Antichrist -- the first 3.5 years in peace; the remaining 3.5 years is believed to be the Great Tribulation described in Revelation chapters 6-18. NOTE: There is an undetermined amount of time between the 69th week and the 70th week -- we are in that time-frame, but staying alert for signs of the 70th week (the End Times). 

Day of the Lord - This is a period of time, not just one day, when God's cup of wrath is filled to overflowing, and His judgment comes on the wicked. Many of the Old Testament prophets spoke of this day. Joel, Zephaniah, and Isaiah foretold that this day would come, and indeed, they suffered incomplete versions of it. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed [2 Peter 3:10].  

Great prostitute - The symbolic image of a prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast represents Babylon the great, which represents all evil and opposition in the world against God and His church. She is the mother of all the earth's abominations and she oppresses Christianity so harshly she is said to be drunk on the blood of Christian martyrs. She has dominion over the kings of the earth, but will be mercilessly destroyed during God's wrath. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion [wrath] of her sexual immorality [Revelation 14:8]. 

Great White Throne Judgment - This is the "final" judgment of mankind, after the return of Christ, His 1,000 year reign on the earth, and the final battle of Armageddon. At this judgment all humankind will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the wicked (the unsaved, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life) will be condemned to eternal punishment in hell and the righteous (those who are saved and whose names are written in the Book of Life) will be welcomed into the eternal kingdom. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:11-15].  

Lake of Fire - Those who are unsaved, and therefore whose names are not written in the Book of Life, will be condemned to this horrific place, along with Satan, the Beast, Death, and Hades. They will be separated eternally from God in everlasting punishment and damnation.

Man of Lawlessness - This man has been referenced above, and will make his appearance before the return of Christ, and will foment a time of apostasy and opposition against God, causing a great falling away from the Faith. He will proclaim that he is God and will take his seat in the Temple of God. Christ will return and slay him with the breath of His mouth. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His [Jesus's] coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved [2 Thessalonians 2:1-10]. 

Rapture - This word does not appear in the Bible but comes from the Latin word for "snatch away". The Greek word harpadzo is translated as "will be caught up" . Throughout the centuries this has become a controversial topic and there are many divisions among the Christian body as to whether we rise to be with Christ before the seven-year Tribulation comes [and therefore avoid the persecution coming to Christians]; at the mid-way point of the seven years, before the Great Tribulation and martyrdom amps up; after the Tribulation is completed; or before the wrath of God destroys all the evil on the earth. Additionally, there have been deceptive versions of the Bible written within the last 200 years by false prophets that have promoted the various views. You can actually find verses in the Bible that defend each of these various perspectives. It is my personal decision to mind the words of my Savior which tell me to "Stay alert, Keep awake, and Be on Guard", so that I might be ready no matter when He comes.

Tribulation - This will be the period of severe persecution and suffering, experienced by the believers in Christ [as prophesied by Jesus, Himself]. The Bible hints that it will be a period of 7 years that occurs after a peace treaty is made with the Antichrist and before Jesus's return. There have been many "tribulations" [persecutions, sufferings, troubles, trials, and affliction] for God's faithful throughout history, but as modern-day Christians, we are especially cognizant of the End Times Tribulation. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be [Matthew 24:21]. 

This glossary, is by no means, meant to be conclusive or complete, but touches on some of the fundamental and foundational concepts that gird our faith. You might have different understandings of the terms, and that's okay. The important factor is that you read the Word of God to gain His Truth and seek the Holy Spirit for understanding and wisdom. In the times in which we live, we cannot afford to be ignorant [or afraid] of what has been written and prophesied by God's messengers. I pray that if you are unfamiliar with this terminology that you will make the time to get quiet and get with God, so that you may receive His Word in your heart. I bless you as you come closer to Him and courageously and confidently prepare for the future we will all experience. And remember: Be careful not to be deceived, but earnestly seek the true meaning of God's glorious Word!

John 16:13   When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

    

How To Become A Child of God

As our American culture has diversified, oftentimes with stark differences in our thoughts on politics, government, identity, and theology [among many other classifications], it's not surprising that we have differing opinions on the concept of God's children. But here's the thing; which has more standing ... man's definition of God's children -- or God, Himself, deciding who could identify themselves with this approved title?

How many times have you said or heard, "We are ALL God's Children"? That statement comes from a heart that desires to love others. But is it Biblically true? It stands to reason that if you are a non-Believer, this question is of no concern to you, other than reinforcing your skepticism about the hypocrisy of Christians. But as true Believers, I think we will find that even we have varying opinions on what constitutes a child of God. We understand that the Bible tells us that everything and every person on earth has been created by God, and that God loves everything He has created. But there is a special designation for those who believe in Him.  

But even that statement needs to be clarified further. There are millions of people who call themselves Christians and say they believe in God and His Son, Jesus. They pray to the Holy Spirit and profess their faith openly. But do they express God's characteristics? Do they truly represent Him? Do they walk in His ways and earnestly personify His righteousness? Now, to be sure, no one on earth [except Jesus] can ever be perfectly like God. That's why Jesus is called God's only begotten Son. We must understand that the word begotten signifies that Jesus did not "become like God", but simply "is God". He, as a Person, possesses every attribute of pure Godhead.

So, how are we to understand what it means for us to be God's son or daughter; a child of God? Here's my take on it -- and I am certainly not declaring it to be fundamental truth or the only viable opinion. From a worldly perspective, everyone is God's child in the sense that He made us all. But to be God's begotten child requires a higher standard. Like Jesus, we must have God's nature or spirit, which can only be obtained by us humans when we are "born again" by God, and we attain that indescribable, intimate, and loving personal relationship that He and Jesus shared. We leave behind all the world has to offer, die to our flesh, and become one with Christ. 

There is lots of Scripture that talks about "children of God" and being a "child of God", but I think that 1 John 3 gives us one of the clearest definitions. Let's take a moment to dissect this short chapter and discern it from God's perspective [versus our fleshly thoughts]. Verse 1 says, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. By this verse, it should be clear, first of all, that there are different kinds of love, and the kind the Father has given us shows that we are His children. The love that we are endowed with makes us different -- we are designed to become the begotten children of God. We have the opportunity to be like Jesus --  possess the attributes of God and enjoy that intimate relationship with the Father. 

That opportunity happens when we are "born again"; imbued with the Holy Spirit and the promise of Eternal Life. That is evident in verses 2-3: Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. As of today, we are believing and living for that promise, while simultaneously living in a sinful world to which we sometimes fall prey. Notice, first, that we must purify ourselves from sin, and second, that there seems to be a distinction of time and a process we go through to become a fully-recognized child of God. 

Belief and faith in Jesus opens the door to become a Child of God. Ephesians 1:13-14 expands on the concept of time to achieve this goal ... In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.

So, if you are Saved ... have professed Jesus as your Savior, and believe He is the Son of God, having redeemed your sins by His death on the Cross ... can you expect to be a child of God and remain so all the days of your life? Well, the way I interpret the Bible, that depends. Consider this group of verses .... Romans 8:16-17 tells us that the Spirit, Himself, bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, provided [that] we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:9 says You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if  in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.  

Can you see the conditions that are put on becoming a true Child of God? Words like "until", "provided that", and "if" seem to point to factors that influence the outcome of our salvation process. And, yes, I said salvation process. The Bible gives us so many clues to why we must remain steadfast in our faith during the process ... We see and understand our identity in part [1 Corinthians 13:12]; and the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith [1 Timothy 4:1]. You see, it is my opinion that because God has given us free will, we, as Believers, have the opportunity and the right to receive our promised inheritance to live forever with our Heavenly Father in His Heavenly Kingdom. 

The promise is guaranteed IF we live as begotten children; if we earnestly seek to be like Jesus: righteous, disavowing a sinful life, sharing the gospel, and loving God and our neighbor as commanded. When, through our initial salvation experience, we can set our feet on that path and maintain it, then we can see and understand that this lifestyle results in our entrance into God's Kingdom and our adoption as sons and daughters, with all the inheritance that has been promised us. If we use our free will to continue to sin, even after our salvation experience, then it's a different story and as simple as 1 John 3:9-10 ... No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  

This topic can actually become a controversial subject in this age of moral relevance, but it is the Bible that is the true measure of our adoption into the family of God. Read and research it yourself. What a privilege it is to be called a Child of God! And I praise God for the opportunity and the privilege that my salvation gives me to gain the attributes of His only begotten Son. I am committed to this process in my life; the process that conforms me into the image of Jesus that will result in my entrance into the Kingdom, when I will hear my Father say, "Welcome Home, my Daughter"!

2 Corinthians 6:18    And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. 

 

We Must Root Out The Heresy Within The Church!

I sometimes struggle with explaining my opinions regarding the Modern American Church. I love seeing those within its walls who are truly seeking a deeper relationship [or even the possibility of a relationship with God]. And I can only speak from my own experience, but at the same time, I am observing more and more, that my history with the Church holds true for many others.

In fact, it was for the very reason of trying to understand the Word that led me to what would become my church for 20 years. I had sporadic introductions to a couple of churches during my childhood and maturing years, but my father's job advancements, and the interruption of college, didn't allow me to sink any kind of taproot in any of those first encounters. And it wasn't until I married, and Mark and I both felt in our spirits that it was time to get serious about being equally yoked in our covenant with God, that we began to earnestly seek Him.

At first, the Pastor at the Church we attended was our primary guide to the Word. He introduced us to a God who was real, not just some distant figure in the sky. I actually heard Him speak to me for the first time in that Church and knew Him as my loving Father in Heaven. Then we graduated from just sitting in the pews each Sunday, to a small group of older and committed Believers that grew us into a deeper connection with Jesus's teachings. They actually took us to a higher level of knowledge in the Bible; providing both historical and spiritual comprehension beyond the 20-minute sermon each Sunday morning. They made it comfortable for us to actually question our understanding without judgment, and challenged us to connect the dots between both Old and New Testament Scripture, so that we could begin forming our own opinions about God's Truth [while lovingly correcting us if we strayed too far from God's inherent purpose in inspiring His Word]. It was an exciting period of growth.

But as we hungered for [and digested] the deeper meanings of God's instructions, we began to discern that we weren't being "filled". We instinctively desired more of Him; a personal relationship, and began to be uncomfortable as our spirits revealed a new and disturbing incursion of a different kind of spirit; one that seemed to be contradicting what the Holy Spirit was teaching us. It began insidiously ... introducing the idea of "progressive theology" to the youth. [Isn't that one of Satan's favorite ways to begin attacking the foundation of anything that restricts his power]?

Mind you, I first began to see these changes in my beloved church 25 years ago, so when I began to question exactly what it meant to say you believed in progressive theology, I got a lot of varying answers. I suspect this movement was so new, that its members hadn't developed a consensus about what it stood for. What little I could find on the internet said they essentially believed in taking care of the planet [worshiping it]; the Bible was not the inerrant word of God, but influenced by men; and that Christians should be open to the idea that God speaks to different faiths in different ways, allowing for diversity in His commandments. When I approached the new pastor of my Church about my concerns over Progressive theology, he said, "Well, to me, it can mean we have moved from church services with a pipe organ, to we now enjoy worship services with electric guitars and modern music". 

Ok, then ... this wasn't exactly what I was looking for, nor did it inspire trust in me that my church was going to facilitate any growth in this new personal relationship with God that I was experiencing. I have since discovered that Progressive Christianity has grown deep roots within the Modern American Church, and has evolved into a major network of professed believers and proponents who have married with traditional Church ideology and theology. I think it is important that we know what they currently stand for, so allow me to give you a quick synopsis.

I have summarized their five Core Principles, and I urge you to read this article that expands on how they are influencing God's Church: 1) They believe that following Jesus can lead to experiencing sacredness, wholeness, and unity of all life, while recognizing that the Spirit moves in many faith traditions. 2) They seek community that is inclusive, honoring differences in theological perspectives, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, class, or ability. 3) They strive for peace and justice among all people, behaving with compassion and selfless love which is the fullest expression of their belief system. 4) They promote embracing the insights of contemporary science and strive to protect the Earth and ensure its integrity and sustainability. 5) They believe in committing to a path of life-long learning believing that there is more value in questioning than in absolutes. 

As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, the Lord and King of the Universe, my Savior and Redeemer, and the Son of the True [and Most High] God, what I see in these Principles of Progressive Christianity is a belief system that belittles the essence of Jesus. They openly state that they "place equal or greater emphasis on His life and teachings than they do in His Death and Resurrection". Further, they believe in Social Justice [as the world defines it; not as Jesus does]. Science has become an important [and equal] part of their faith, and they believe that "embracing science necessarily means scrutinizing narrative", and that "there is more value in questioning than in absolutes". In other words, science is their idol and it requires that they question God's Word as being absolute; moral relativism has more merit that God's stated Truth. 

Understanding the direction that my Church was heading towards led to the final fracture in my relationship with what I had believed would be my Church for life. It came to a crisis point when a teacher [in a class Mark and I attended, and whom we greatly respected] began bringing teachings by leaders of the Emerging Church into our gatherings. Basically, it was brought to our attention that if you believed Jesus was born of a virgin, that the Word was true and inerrant, or that Jesus knew He was the Son of God, then you were part of the "old paradigm" of the Church. The "new paradigm" understood that the virgin story in the Bible was just an allegory; a lot of the teachings in the Bible were meant to be symbolic, not literal; and that Jesus did not understand who He was until He was hanging on the Cross. 

I couldn't understand why we were studying books of this kind, instead of the Bible. And, our teachings began to settle around themes of a political nature, such as social justice and the use of the death penalty. Let me be clear, our faith should influence our thoughts on these issues -- on every issue in our life -- but what we were seeing in discussions of these issues was designed to influence, and change, our faith!   

My spirit screamed, "HERESY"! At this point, I think it's important that I make clear what heresy means to me. I actually agree with the Greek meaning from the word Hairesis: a choosing; a self-willed opinion which is substituted for submission to the power of truth. According to Paul in Galations 5, it leads to division and the formation of sects: "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies"... the very things with which Progressive Christianity seeks to label us obedient Christians.  

These were the first examples where I personally saw heresy begin to slip into the Church -- and, again, that was 25 years ago! It has grown and expanded exponentially since then. Within the last couple of weeks an article appeared in Harbinger's Daily, by Ken Ham, [with whom I disagree regarding the topic of young earth vs old earth]. But, on the issue of rejecting Biblical authority, opening doors of compromise, and placing our opinions above God's, we agree. 

Here's what he wrote: "A United Church of Christ minister in LA (who refers to her sermon as heretical, so at least she admits it!) preached: Well do I think that [the resurrection] could have happened and did happen? I believe so ... I feel it probably did. But if I'm scientific or realistic I don't know. And I say that because there's no "proof". Did it really happen? ... Did Jesus really raise from the dead? I don't know. If Jesus didn't physically raise from the dead and ascend, it doesn't change a thing about my love of God and Christ and Christianity ... because I truly believe in my heart of hearts that my faith ... is a resurrection faith.

Ken Ham goes on to say that it should be obvious to any Christian that her refusal to affirm the Resurrection is a problem. After all, her Salvation depends on her affirmation. And here's what I have to say: "No proof"? Faith doesn't require proof! It's our confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we don't see. It involves trusting in God and His promises, even when they are not visible. Her obvious doubt and unbelief [in my opinion] disqualifies her to be a minister in the Church. And I believe she is introducing heresy into her church.

And then there's a second example that Ken Ham provides of heresy: "A Canadian reverend of The Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto, Ontario, preached in a sermon that for 40 years he's wanted his church to remove the "uncomfortable" and problematic" word Savior from the church website as that can be a "stumbling block" to potential visitors and those seeking membership at his church". 

That pastor had this to say: Many, before they come to our church, will check out the website to see what this church is about: so, see what they believe. And many of the folks that did that will tell me, "I looked up your church, and it sounded reasonable, but when I go to that word 'Savior', it was a problem." The pastor went on ... I would hope that someday, this church would see the possibility of changing that word because it is a stumbling block for many who want to be here. It is a stumbling block for people who do interfaith work. How do we explain that phrase to Muslims, and to Jews, and to Hindus"?  

Well, Pastor, here's my answer: You explain that phrase [Savior] as you express the True Gospel of the Bible; the Good News that the One True God of the Universe sent His only Son to earth to receive the wrath that we [that means all of humanity] deserve for rejecting Him and the relationship He established with us from the Garden. He is Holy ... meaning His nature is one of absolute purity and moral excellence. There is no sin in Him, and He expects those that are made in His image to reflect that same righteousness. Because we have inherited sin from humanity's original parents, we cannot attain that righteousness on our own. We are in desperate need of a way to come before our Holy God in submission and righteousness; that necessitates someone to save us from our sinfulness. Jesus is the Way to that reconciliation with our Father. He is our Savior! 

And I would further say this .... interfaith work should not mean acceptance of the "little g" gods of other faiths as equal to our Most High God. So, to find that the connotation of Jesus as our Savior to be "uncomfortable" or "problematic" indicates to me that you are willing to compromise the Truth of who Jesus is, in order to appeal to those who don't believe in Him. And that, Pastor, is heresy in my opinion. 

As I wind up this latest post, I want to reiterate that all this is my opinion. But my opinion is founded on the beliefs expressed through the Holy Spirit and the Bible. I am not a fundamentalist believer -- I recognize that Jesus did not come to establish "the Church" as a regimental force in the world. He did not instruct us to erect buildings and keep our faith to ourselves.  He came to re-establish the relationship He created us for; to express His love for each of us and give us the opportunity to return that love to Him and to walk in that love with our neighbors. Yes, there are absolute moral values that reflect His nature and to which He calls us to follow. And I admit that it is a narrow and often times difficult road to walk -- we don't want to become so religious that we stifle the freedom that Jesus died to give us; but we also don't want to endorse so much freedom in our sins that we allow any and all diverse beliefs to be approved [only to be perverted by the Enemy].

The purpose of this post is to share the heresies that I have witnessed in my journey with the Lord and how they can easily be used to foment lawlessness and corrupt theology. It is important that we defend the Truth and absolute authority of God's Word in the world. Lord, I ask you to guide me in the way to rightly handle Your Truth and to represent You in the world. We need Your heart and Your principles today, Lord! Help us to root out the Satan-inspired heresy that has entered our church buildings, and provide Your inspiration to guide others to righteousness. Amen!

Acts 14-16.   But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So, I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 

 

Hearing the Voice of Jesus in the Noise of the World

Who else is overcome by the cacophonous barrage of discordant voices in the world? I'm sorry to use such complex language, but the word cacophony popped into my head as I tried to figure out how to describe the sensations my spirit is feeling in the midst of all the "noise" I'm hearing. To be honest, I wasn't even sure I knew what the word meant, but when I researched it, it seemed to fit. 

As I earnestly seek to hear the voice of my Lord, it is sometimes drowned out by the din, racket, babel, screaming, whining, and yes, even cajoling, coaxing, and smooth-talking voices of the Enemy's servants -- the very definition of what a cacophony sounds like. And it is often quite apparent [to my spirit] during ministry that there are many who truly love the Lord, but who can't distinguish His voice from those sent to confuse or misguide them. And, in full confession, I am discerning how successful the Enemy has become in imitating the Lord's voice. In this time of so much division and disunity, we (I) must be sure we are hearing correctly.

As a Christian, I desire to hear my Master's voice because I know I can trust it. But how many times have you encountered fellow Christians who excitedly tell you that they have "a word" from the Lord for you, or "God told them" to tell you something He wants you to do? How can you trust that they have heard correctly ... or even heard at all? And I strongly believe that the Enemy has sowed many false prophets into the world [especially within our churches and Christian communities]. These self-proclaimed prophets have done so much damage by misleading faithful Christians down paths that are not according to the will of God for their lives. That often leads Believers to become confused, discouraged, and disheartened. So, if we aren't hearing from God, do we disregard all prophetic words that are declared to be for us?

The answer is "No"! The Holy Spirit is involved in speaking prophecy to people, and the Bible tells us, Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil [1 Thessalonians 5:19-22]. Ultimately, we need to learn to spend time with God and Jesus in order to recognize His voice through the voices of the prophets. Remember, He is our Good Shepherd. He says, I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. And He knows our names and everything about us! So, how do we get to know Him so that we can recognize Him through the ones He sends to us, and discern the ones sent by the devil? 

Like any relationship, it takes time and commitment. He reveals Himself through the Word, so we have ample opportunity to identify His character, His nature, His commandments, His leadership, and His heart. In fact, we are commanded to "Listen to Him" by God Almighty! To me, this command makes it clear that He has things to share with us, and we should be expecting to hear from Him! But somehow, we have interpreted hearing from God to simply mean He answers our prayers. But that makes it about us and what we want; our needs and desires. And this can lead to us controlling the outcome of those prayers to get what we want and convincing ourselves it's what God spoke to us in a dream, or what someone spoke that aligns with what we asked for. But that voice is more likely to be your own or the Enemy. 

I'm not saying that God doesn't speak to us in dreams or through other people, or through a spontaneous thought in your own mind. That's often how He speaks to me! For instance, that sudden, spontaneous thought will give me an answer or direction that I have been asking God about. It will be unrehearsed and unforced; in other words, it won't be something that I have analyzed and dissected beforehand, but will be clear and precise and will sound like my own thoughts, but not analytical or well-organized from prior examination.

In fact, these thoughts will sound like me, but actually be wiser, more loving, more healing, and more intentional than my mind's thoughts, which can randomly wander. I instinctively know where they come from; that it is Jesus flowing through my heart and combining with my mind to present His and the Father's will. And more often than not, this sudden, spontaneous thought will illicit a reaction in my soul -- a sense of excitement at recognizing His voice; a heartfelt conviction that I am hearing His truth, and a sense of awe or peace. And the more I train myself to get in that quiet place, the easier it has become to hear Him. 

I think that is especially true in these days of chaos and evil in the world. For Christians, there are so many voices clamoring for our attention, and it should be obvious to perceive the outright evil ones; but it can be difficult to discern the wolves in sheep's clothing, or even those with good intentions, but who are not sent by God. Our Leaders are supposed to be serving us, but it is too often readily apparent that they seek to only benefit themselves. So how do we protect ourselves and thrive in a society and culture that doesn't hear God's voice? How do we hear His voice as we try to navigate through spiritual noise in order to walk the straight and narrow path to His will for our lives?

I believe that to truly hear and recognize the Lord's voice, we must focus on Jesus's heart. How do I do that? For me, I have to make sure that I am not seeking to hear Him through my Soul -- which is focused on my mind and thoughts, my feelings, and what I hope and want to hear. I have to intentionally focus my spiritual eyes on Jesus's heart. If not, whatever I am focusing on will affect the accuracy of what I am hearing from God. Let's say you are praying about making an important decision regarding you or your family's future ... do you take the latest vaccine or not; do you leave your child in public school or home-school; how do you best serve an aging parent; or, how should you protect your family in the midst of the drums of war sounding throughout the world?

Those are all important, momentous, and consequential issues, and the answers are not going to be easy or simple. You would want to make sure you are hearing from God, and not letting your mind project your personal desire, or mistaking the voice of our Enemy for that of our Savior. You might not [and probably won't] get a complete step-by-step solution to any of those weighty questions. So what are the eyes of your heart focused on? 

May I suggest that to hear Jesus's voice we must separate ourselves from the voices of the world, which can cause us to fixate on the very things we are seeking answers for. Ask yourself these questions ... Am I fixated on my fears of a certain vaccine, or am I focused on what Jesus is telling me about them? Are my thoughts constantly weighing the pros and cons of public school vs home-schooling, or am I focused on His thoughts about what He thinks is best for my child? Am I fixated on how the problems of my aging parent are going to affect my life, or am I waiting for Jesus to reveal the way that's best for their remaining time on earth? And, finally, are the drumbeats of war so loud in our minds that nothing else occupies our thoughts and time, or are we watching to see what Jesus is saying and doing? If the answer is yes to the first part of any of these questions, then it's time to repent for having the eyes and ears of our  hearts fixed on the very things we're praying about, rather than the One we're coming to in prayer. Doesn't that make each of those issues an idol?!? 

I confess that I struggle at times, too! Our Enemy knows his time is short to carry out his plans to dominate this world, and he is unleashing every strategy and tactic he can to keep the people of this earth from entering God's Kingdom. So, we need to follow Jesus's example. Whenever He was overwhelmed by the attacks of the devil, He removed Himself to a quiet place and sought the presence of His Father. He re-quieted His soul and focused on seeing and hearing what His Father was doing and saying. He stayed focused on His Father's heart for His creation, and then acted on that; shutting out the voices that constantly tried to get him to change course from Heaven's direction. 

If our hearts are in alignment with Jesus's heart, then we will correctly hear His voice. Our soul and spirit will be at peace that we have received His will. And if our thoughts tend towards the negative and line up with the characteristics of the devil -- a desire to lie, accuse, steal, or cause conflict -- then our thoughts are being formed by demonic influence, and we will be confused, anxious, and unsettled. If we are hearing God and Jesus correctly, our thoughts will be positive and spontaneous; corresponding to the characteristics of the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, our Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom.

In summary, when I am praying and seeking the voice of the Lord, I try to stay  fixated and focused on His heart! That's when the spontaneous flow from His heart to my heart, mind, and spirit occurs and I hear Him! And there isn't a sweeter, more soothing voice in all the universe than the voice of the One who loves me and desires to answer my call. And it shouldn't be that hard to hear Him. It just takes practice to re-quiet and re-focus your mind, and a willingness to spend the time in learning to recognize His voice. As Jesus so often taught those who loved and followed Him, He who has an ear, let him hear ...    

John 16:13      When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

 

The Moral Fabric of our Culture is Unraveling; We are Holding On By a Thread!

I have said it for some time ... politics is not the answer for what ails our nation. Yes, I know we are a nation of laws, and government is the world's way of providing structure [through those laws] so that we might live a good quality of life. But ultimately, government is a political system administered by men. And that system is used to control men through the temptations of power, wealth, and reputation. A candid look at the men and women who were elected to represent the American people [in Washington D.C.] reveals a huge gap between those who are loyal and obedient to God, and those whose moral degeneracy is on full display. Sadly, that dichotomy mirrors the picture of our divided population. And no President, Congress, or law can solve the sickness of sin that is at the heart of our condition.

I'd like to quote the Reverend Franklin Graham from an article he wrote for Harbinger's Daily: "It's a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other remedy or hope. The Prophet Isaiah said it this way 700 years before the birth of the Savior, to an Israel that had long abandoned its loyalty and allegiance to God, and instead replaced it with idolatry, meaningless rituals and sacrifices that incurred God's wrath, not His blessings ... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness: who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for Bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).  

If Biblical Truth and Principles are not at the center of our lives, then there is no absolute right and wrong to guide us. If we don't affirm and uphold the authority of the Holy Scripture, then moral relativism becomes the accepted guidepost for humanity. In other words, if our culture rejects what the Bible says about loving your neighbor as yourself, then the culture will determine that the morally right thing in any situation is to do whatever behavior brings about the greatest good for the greater number. But that requires defining who your "neighbor" is. 

Through Satan's influence, our culture has too often defined "neighbor" as someone who looks like us. But, when we actually take a closer look at the meaning of that word, we find that the Old Testament word for neighbor is rēa, a noun meaning "friend, companion, fellow," or simply, "another person". The New Testament Greek is an adverb used as a noun, plēsion, meaning "the [one] near". So, how does Jesus define who our neighbor is?

We can find that answer in the familiar parable of "The Good Samaritan". But, first, what [and who] is a Samaritan? History [and Bible Study Tools] shows us that in 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many people of the ten tribes of Israel who lived there were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 605 B.C., the Babylonians invade Judah, and the first wave of Jews are deported to Babylon, beginning their 70 years of captivity. By 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, and the last wave of Jews were deported to Babylon, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. In 539 B.C., the Fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire occurs, and King Cyrus II allows the Jews to return to their homeland.

When Nehemiah attempts to rebuild the Temple, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers. And thus began a generational hatred between Jews and Samaritans. So, here we see that although the two groups shared, at least, a partial ethnic bond, it wasn't enough to be considered a "neighbor". In fact, they despised each other, making them a good example for Jesus to define a true neighbor in His parable about the "good" Samaritan. We see the Jewish priest and the Levite who both walked right by a Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed; both were indifferent to his unfortunate situation. Then, we see the Samaritan, [normally an archenemy], moved with compassion, who goes out of his way to tend to the needs of the Jewish man lying on the side of the road. 

Using the parable, Jesus responds to an expert in the Law's question of "who is my neighbor?" by asking His own question: "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands? And [the lawyer] said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him'. Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same' ".

This simple, but direct parable [and commandment] shows us how far we've fallen from respecting and upholding Jesus's teaching. Where is our compassion, empathy, love, and mercy for our fellow man? Our culture no longer seems to have a Biblically enlightened conscience of who our neighbors are. And without that knowledge of Biblical Truth, "lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). We have seen that in the countless attacks on innocent people in the streets of our cities across the land. And let us not forget the recent cold-blooded murder of the CEO of United Healthcare on a New York sidewalk. No matter what you think about the victim's connection to our broken healthcare system, the lack of moral conscience by the murderer as he walked up to the victim, lying bleeding on the sidewalk, and shot two more rounds into him, should make you feel disgusted.

Shockingly, too many people across the country have supported or applauded this heinous murder, expressing their opinions across social media platforms that the crime was a justified killing -- 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) felt the killer's actions were either "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable". Oh, how Jesus must mourn how far removed we have become from a Biblically moral compass! And how long will He tolerate our lack of brotherly love; our heartlessness? I believe He does not want to give up on us; that God's grace is still available to us -- IF we can, like the Good Samaritan, find it in our hearts to be "neighbors" to each other, no matter the differences in our ethnicity, social class, political persuasion, or religious affiliation. 

We must overcome the bitterness, contempt, and hatred that have been sowed into our culture by spiritual forces that have engulfed the minds and hearts of men who have listened to the whispers of God's Enemy. We must recognize our moral decay and failings, and we must repent and believe in the power of God's ability to revive and restore our moral bearings according to the Biblical principles set forth by our Lord and Savior. In the midst of our nation's chaos, I have witnessed the Goodness of God as a result of the redeeming prayers of those who fear Him in righteousness and truth. Don't stop now! There is a wind of change coming. Whether it be a change for good or evil, remains to be seen. We, who are obedient followers of Jesus Christ can be an instrument of His Power and Love. Let us do our part in restoring our nation, as we take a Biblically moral stand against those who would destroy it. Let us work with Jesus to redeem our great nation and truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen!

Ephesians 3:20    Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams], according His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church [Body of Christ] and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. 

Everything Just Changed! Have We Sealed the Fate of the Human Race?

It has been 41 years since the sci-fi movie franchise of "The Terminator" took our imaginations by storm. The series introduced what seemed, at the time, like a far-fetched fantasy where synthetic artificial intelligence is merged with robots to create a cyborg intent on destroying humankind. As one of the main characters in the first film explained, "Defense network computers ... new and powerful ... hooked into everything, and trusted to run it all. They say it got smart, a new order of intelligence that saw all humans as a threat; and they decided our fate in a microsecond: extermination". 

Isn't that the dynamic that many people (including myself) have been fearful of? Believe me, I would have loved to stick my head in the sand and pretended like there was nothing to worry about -- after all, it was only a movie -- but I believe the Holy Spirit kept shining a light on the discussions of scientists and agnostic engineers like Google's Ray Kurzweil, who touted the benefits for mankind in pursuing the acceleration of artificial intelligence. In turn, I've been shining the light [since 2013] on engineers their efforts which have brought us to the point where we're very close to these computer machines achieving complete "self-awareness".

So, you can call me a skeptic, a fear-monger, and even a conspiracy theorist, but almost as frightening [to me, at least] is the realization that the existence of these "super computers" has become such a part of our culture and means of communication and creativity, that our younger generations don't remember when they didn't exist! I know it sounds crazy, but I would like to invite the Gen-Xers, Millennials, and Gen-Zers to watch at least the first two movies of the series, so they see the potential dangers of what we've created, seemingly without any kind of security or protection in place. 

Need convincing? Instead of reading about my admittedly dubious concerns, let me share with you a conversation between national broadcaster Glenn Beck and the very real computer scientist, futurist, and inventor, Ray Kurzweil, who promotes furthering the progress of artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and the technical singularity, which by the way is a "hypothetical" point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable consequences for human civilization. Got your attention now? This conversation took place during an interview with Mr. Kurzweil in May, 2008...

Beck begins the interview by introducing Kurweil as "the guy Bill Gates calls a visionary thinker and futurist. He has been inducted into the Inventors' Hall of Fame and the author of "The Singularity is Near". At the time, Beck was enthralled with the accomplishments of Kurzweil and, at the same time, found his books "some of the most frightening and yet hopeful stuff I have ever read". Their conversation progressed through topics that Kurzweil was working on: the future of energy, global warming, and health strategies. Here are some snippets of their conversation in 2008 that pertain to our current progression in the arena of technology...

KURZWEIL: We are doubling the paradigm shift rate of technical progress every decade. So in the next 50 years, we'll see 32 times more progress than in the last century.

BECK: Where does that put us? What is life like at that point?

KURZWEIL: Fifty years from now, life is quite different. We will be spending most of our time in virtual reality. We'll be enhancing our brains by merging with our technology, and we will be able to back up our mind file. 

BECK: They tell me that in the movie, "The Matrix", they could put a chip or put a cord in the back of your head and you could upload all of this information.

KURZWEIL: Well, we're going to be able to send nanobots, blood cell sized devices, inside our blood stream that will keep us healthy from inside, and also go inside our brains through capillaries and interact with our biological neurons. Parkinson's patients have a pea-sized computer in their brain that replaces biological neurons destroyed by the disease. The latest generation actually allows you to download software in the neural implant from outside the body in[to] the patient. [NOTE: This is where Elon Musk and his invention of the Neuralink in 2016 comes into the story]. That is today. And this kind of technology is doubling in power every year. It is shrinking in size by effect of 100 per volume per decade. So 25 years from now, these technologies will be a billion times more powerful; 100,000 times smaller, and we'll be able to send the nanobots into our brain. They'll interact with our neurons and they will extend our intelligence. We'll be a hybrid of biological and non-biological intelligence.

BECK: You said in your book, "The Age of Spiritual Machines", at some point you will walk into your room, and your computer will surpass your intelligence, or all the intelligence on the planet by 2027.

KURZWEIL:  By 2029. By 2029 a machine will be able to pass a Turing test [a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligence behavior equivalent to that of a human]. It will be able to have a natural-language conversation and you won't be able to tell the difference between the human and the machine. Our computers aren't going to be these distinct rectangular devices we carry around. We are going to merge with them. Some day we'll have blood cell sized devices in our blood stream keeping us healthy -- [healthy by whose standards, say skeptics like me]. There are already 50 experiments of doing that today [in 2008]. These devices will get more and more intelligent. If you go on to 2029, they're going to be inside our bodies and brains and we are going to be a hybrid of biological and nonbiological intelligence.  

Fast forward to today in 2025, and back to my relatively simplistic thinking... I mean, Kurzweil predicted this would all happen by 2029, only 4 years from now! And can you see the similarities to movies such as "The Terminator" and "The Matrix"? Is fantasy about to become reality? Well, based on the information Glenn Beck shared on his program just last week, it looks like Ray Kurzweil's predictions are coming true. 

Last week, Microsoft announced that they have developed a quantum chip which results in a fundamental leap in computing. In other words, from my limited understanding, a molecule has been discovered that enhances the capability of these chips to hold massive amounts of cubits of information. What might have taken a computer (using AI) several cubits to process and solve a problem, will now be able to be accomplished with millions of cubits in a very short period of time. In other words, this rate is way past the computation of the world's best supercomputer! So what has just been invented, and how will it affect us, as human beings? 

Please do your own research on this phenomenon! I really can't wrap my head around it! All I know is that this invention revolves around this new molecule, which is actually a new state of matter (other than a solid, liquid, or gas) that when applied to this chip, allows for a million cubits of quantum computing. That means that AI computers will be able to solve problems faster and more efficiently, at rates beyond human computation. Imagine the current state of AI on steroids!

And where does that lead us to? In my mind, right back to Ray Kurzweil and his predictions for 2029. As computers get faster and their ability to gain information and solve problems outpaces human capabilities, you very well might ask a computer, "How do we cure cancer"? And it's response could conceivably be, "Why cure cancer? I'll just redesign the human body [by merging it with machines], so it never gets cancer"! Can you see that AI is going to move at exponential speeds? Can you see that what might take our human brains 50 or 60 years to solve problems in the areas of health, military defense strategies, or energy crises, could be done in 5 or 10 minutes with this chip? AI employing this chip will grow in knowledge and experience faster than we can imagine, and that kind of capability is a temptation to mankind.

Instead of using it to grow our own intelligence, wisdom and understanding, it will be easier to let AI do it; and faster. So not only will we become lazy, but we will begin depending on it, and bingeing on it, and it will become part of who we are. What will then be the purpose of being a human being? Consider this: When we get to that merging point, are we looking at Mark of the Beast? Microsoft predicts that this technology will be in full operation by 2030. That's only 5 years from now, and only one year beyond Ray Kurzweil's prediction of 2029 for hybrid human/computer robots!

This is just a cursory examination of the state of AI interaction with humans. I am no expert, but even I can see the danger signs! As humans, we are created in the image of God Almighty! Computers, including AI, have been created by man, but without the God component that makes us accountable to our Creator. Therefore, we have no guarantee that the technological advances of AI into the quantum realm will not backfire on the human race.    

In conclusion, all this brings me back to "The Terminator" movies. They may seem out-of-date and corny now, but their message is not. We must not dismiss the warning signs that this iconic franchise portrays clearly and sharply. As one of the characters says, "This is the world now. Logged on, plugged in, all the time". It's true! And we, humanity, will make a takeover by machines easier if we don't evaluate what we're doing and what we're becoming. And I'll leave you with a quote from John Connor, the protagonist and hero of the movie: "The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves." I hope and pray that we take a step back, re-evaluate where we're going and our purpose on earth, and don't turn mankind's future over to these false gods.

Psalm 135:118     Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

 

 

  

Are We the True Biblical "Fig Tree Generation"? And What Does That Mean?

I love it when the House Church that meets in our home comes together and we get immersed in the reading, dissecting, and understanding of the Word! Biblical concepts that we have heard countless times from the pulpit suddenly come alive with new meaning as we study the historical, social, and faith contexts that point us to the promises of God's Kingdom on earth. This past gathering of the faithful was no different.

We are studying the Book of Mark and this week we tackled the enigmatic parable of the Fig Tree and whether we can [or should] identify as "the Fig Tree Generation" that Jesus mentions in Matthew 24, Mark 11, and Luke 21. Before I try to answer that dilemma, let's consider the significant symbolism of the fig tree throughout the Bible. We often find it to be a symbol of the nation of Israel and the promise of abundance, blessings and favor from God. In the Old Testament, [specifically in 1 Kings 4:25] we see fulfillment of those promises in "the days of Solomon": And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan to Beersheba, every man under his own vine and his own fig tree.

Whether Israel lived in that blessing and favor, OR in judgment or desolation, was evidenced by the fig tree's fruitfulness. In the Book of Jeremiah, in Chapter 6:16-18, we see that the symbolism of the fig tree mirrors God's judgment, when He castigates Israel: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, "We will not walk in it." I appointed watchmen over you and said, "Listen to the sound of the trumpet!" But you said, "We will not listen." Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them... 

As a consequence, we then see God's judgment play out in Jeremiah 8:13 ... I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them. You may think that was over 2600 years ago and it really doesn't pertain to us Christians in the 21st Century. But the same complaints that God had against the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, we see that Jesus had in the New Testament, and I now see in today's Churches. The root of God's judgment is pictured in the parable of the fig tree ... and it's all about spiritual barrenness in the form of False Religion! 

Let's take a good, hard look at what Jesus reveals to His disciples in Mark 11 regarding the condition of the fig tree they found on their way from Bethany to Jerusalem. Remember, this is during the Passover Week leading to Jesus's Crucifixion. After His triumphant Entry into Jerusalem for the Holy Week, Jesus is greeted with resounding shouts of praise: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!  [By the way, this reception is highlighting the crowd's recognition that Jesus is, indeed, the Messiah]. 

After entering Jerusalem, he went to the Temple where He had a good look around, assessing and inspecting the "standing" of the people. This fulfills the prophecy of Malachi, in Chapter 3:1-3, which states that God would send His messenger to prepare the way for Him. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, He is coming ... But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap [which cleaned, and whitened, and purified cloth]. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 

After His inspection, Jesus returns to Bethany, where He and His disciples are staying the night [just a mere two miles from Jerusalem]. The next morning they head back to Jerusalem and on the way Jesus, being hungry, spies a fig tree full of leaves. This is where we need to come into the full understanding of this passage and what it means for us. Fig trees don't normally have leaves on them unless they have figs on them, too. From Jesus's perspective, the fig tree was displaying false advertising! The tree put forth a pretense of having fruit; it had the outward appearance that would cause someone [in this case, Jesus] to expect He would find fruit to nourish Him. But the tree was barren and had not produced any fruit!

Here's where I think some of our Bible translations have caused confusion about the full context of the lesson from the fig tree. For example, how many of us heard in our churches that Jesus cursed the fig tree? Read Mark 11:13-14 again. My Bible doesn't say that. In fact, the Word simply says, And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if He could find anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again. That was actually a prayer that Jesus spoke over the tree, which most certainly resulted in a negative outcome, but I do not believe it was spoken as a curse; in malice or spitefulness; but rather as a warning and prophecy of what happens when you falsely represent yourself as being righteous and bearing fruit. Remember -- after inspecting the fig tree and prophesying that it would never bear fruit, the Bible makes sure we know this fact: And His disciples heard it. The disciples must have been thoroughly confused [just as we have been 2000+ years later when we read those verses]!     

The prophecy of Malachi says that the Lord will inspect the standing [the status and reputation] of the "sons of Levi" [the priests] to see if they have fulfilled their role as intermediaries between God and the people, facilitating worship and maintaining the sanctity [sacredness] of the Temple. We all remember the stories from Sunday School of Jesus overturning the tables of the money-changers whom the priests had allowed to defile and dishonor the Temple, making it a marketplace and a den of thieves, rather than a House of Prayer, for which God had designed it. This passage is what immediately follows the short passage about the fruitless fig tree. Starting to get the picture?

If not, read Matthew 24:32-35. Here we get more information about the lesson we are to learn from the fig tree... From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So, also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. This is a very explicit prophecy for "the fig tree generation". 

Let's break it down. When a fig tree buds, there is an inevitable result ... summer is near and that means fruit is coming. In other words, there is an expectation. In the lexicon of parables, He is pointing to the fruitfulness of the Kingdom of God. In this passage in Matthew, Jesus has just foretold the signs of the End of the Age, which also forecasts the Coming of the Son of Man. What are the signs? Matthew 24 spells it out ... many coming in His Name, leading people astray; wars and rumors of wars; nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom; famines, earthquakes, persecution; false prophets and lawlessness; the abomination of a false god standing in the Temple in Jerusalem, declaring Himself the Most High... and finally great tribulation. So when He says to look at the fig tree and understand, and then follows that up with So, also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near... this generation (the one that sees these destructive signs) will not pass pass away until [ultimately] they see His return! That generation will be known as The Fig Tree Generation!  

So when you connect the dots of the picture Jesus is trying to present to His disciples you get this understanding: Jesus is chastising the religious leaders in Jerusalem because [like the fig tree], they have been giving a false pretense of bearing fruit for God's Kingdom on earth. They have done a disservice to the flock by not leading them, or teaching them, that they should be bearing fruit for the Kingdom! Jesus even asks [in Matthew 24:45-46], Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his Master has set over His household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when He comes.

As an addendum to this exegesis on the Fig Tree Generation, I present my personal opinion... We are certainly seeing the signs of the End of the Age, and now that the Jewish people are back in their Homeland, is Jesus ready to return? And if so, will He find fruit among His followers on the earth? Have our churches borne fruit for His Kingdom? Or, like the Pharisees at His First Coming, will He find lots of leaves [a false pretense of fruit], but no actual fruit? Have the religious leaders of our day taught and encouraged their flocks to make disciples of Christ, teaching them to observe all that He commanded us to do -- heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers [of their spiritual corruption, degradation, and defilement], raise the dead, and spread the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 10:7-8 and 28:16-20)?

That's a very serious question we should be asking ourselves! Jesus made it very clear what He expects. If you are going to proclaim that you are fruitful [by broadcasting to the world with a grandiose show of worldly leaves], then when He comes, He expects to find fruit from your endeavors! I don't know if we are the destined Fig Tree Generation. We are certainly close to fitting the criteria more than any previous generation. All we need is the Anti-Christ to declare himself the Most High God. And if we are truly that close, I would hope we are all examining ourselves. Have we borne fruit for our Master? Or have we just clothed ourselves in a false image as fruit-bearers? I know what the Lord says to the Churches in Revelation 1-3, and it is sobering. 

In conclusion, the fig tree has proven to be abundant in its symbolism. It represents Israel [in both ancient and modern times]; their prosperity, judgment and hope. And its lessons for Israel give us great insight for our own relationship with God, and of our future. The image of the fig tree represents our faithfulness, our fruitfulness, our readiness for the return of Jesus, and the consequences should we be found spiritually barren. But it also offers us the promises of God and His blessings of inheritance if we show ourselves faithful to do all the things that bear fruit for His Kingdom. May you receive the promises of God's abundance, blessings and favor, as you sit under your own fruitful fig tree.  

Joel 2:22      Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the trees bear their fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.