After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the Greek Empire stretching 3,000 miles from Macedonia to the Punjab, was divided into 4 unstable powers under 4 warring, ambitious marshals. Asia Minor and Macedonia were under Lysimachus, Egypt and southern Syria under Ptolemy, and Greece under Cassander, and Asia and northern Syria under Seleucus. Hence, in Daniel 11, the description of Ptolemy as the king of the South and Seleucus as the king of the North. Seleucus established a dynasty of … [Read more...] about Laodicea – A Warning
Perseverance
Are You an Unwilling Mustang?
I adopted a mustang from the high desert wilderness in Nevada. He’s a good boy. He has good strong legs. He likes to run and he is affectionate. I can generally make him do what I want him to do. We’ve had our differences. We’ve both had our spills, but I like him. The problem is this horse doesn’t focus. He doesn’t really trust me and so he isn’t really with me when we are working together. If I put a bridle on him, I can make him do mostly what I want him to do. But his … [Read more...] about Are You an Unwilling Mustang?
Lessons Leading to Life
Consider a lesson that the ancient Israelites as the wilderness congregation never learned. It is a lesson that’s so elemental and essential to God’s way of life that embracing this lesson ensures that the followers of Christ can avoid the failures that ancient Israel made. Simply put the lesson that we are to learn is obedience to God and His way to eternal Life. It is by following God’s principles that we will be able to develop eternal relationships with Him and others of like mind. From … [Read more...] about Lessons Leading to Life
Conquering the Struggle
Is there a more maligned name than the name of Jesus Christ? I just recently read something written by Jim Wallis who’s known as an evangelical pastor, a social activist, and a voice of the left-wing of the religious party, the religious left. He says: “It is essential that we understand the religious nature of our present crisis. At this point, “Jesus” is still a very useful tool in the hands of tyrants. The liberationists, socialists, barbarians, and Scythians can … [Read more...] about Conquering the Struggle
Longsuffering
The headline in a recent Wall Street Journal was titled “War in the Middle East is closer than you think.” It didn’t say ‘might be closer’ rather “it is closer than you think”. The subhead to that was: “Russia isn’t parked, (It has not stopped its development of the war with the Ukraine.) Iran isn’t pacified, (it’s going ahead full force with its nuclear program.) and both are coordinating strategies with China.” Russia, Iran, and China are going to become a potent force in the world scene. … [Read more...] about Longsuffering
By Your Patience Possess Your Souls
In Luke 21 Christ is talking to His disciples who have asked Him what the sign will be that "these things" are about to take place. The time of the end is the context: Nations are rising up against nations, kingdom against kingdom. There are famines, pestilences and great earthquakes in various places. As we go further away from these beginning signs which we can observe today it’s going to get more difficult for God’s people as the end times draw nearer. It becomes more intensely … [Read more...] about By Your Patience Possess Your Souls
Remaining Steadfast
God’s Church is central to His plan of salvation for all mankind as a precursor of the “pouring out” of His Holy Spirit on all humanity. But that profound impact is difficult to grasp because the Churches are mostly ignored by the world today. What can we do now to ensure that we stay strong and don’t fall prey to discouragement? There is a process to help us succeed. The beginning of the book of James gets right to it: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, … [Read more...] about Remaining Steadfast