By Robert Anthony September 20th 2024 Jesus began the whole of His ministry with the words, “The Government of heaven is at hand!”  Of course, in the Bible it is written, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17) but a kingdom in Jesus' time was most certainly their form of government.   A kingdom is quite simply a form of government.  When Jesus spoke those words, “The Kingdom is at hand” everyone among Israel knew exactly what He was saying, “This oppressive government  that has rule over you, the Romans, has an expiration date, the government  God has promised you from the beginning... is at hand !”   Something over time has done a tremendous job relegating the written word of God into a mere religious book stealing from it the honor and awe it is due.  There is no ancient book on earth that chronicles our history, the earth before the flood, the truth of creation and generally the story of God with His children better than The Holy Bible - in fact no ancient book even comes close!  And yet the written word of God is so much more than a History Book!   Not to minimize the spiritual nature of the Word of God, not to minimize the eternal overtones and undertones throughout… but consider who the written word of God was written by and to whom it was originally written for... "A Family"!   There is no book on earth like it!   Moses wrote those first five books (what the Jews today commonly refer to as their Torah, torah is Hebrew, of course means, The Instruction ) for his own family – that generation of the twelve sons of Jacob who was about to receive their promised land.  One could say that the Bible is one families story kept throughout generations! Amazing thought, right!? But lets extract religion out of this story even more!  What do you call a document given to a people giving instruction for how to govern and land and a nation??? Perhaps, “A CONSTITUTION”!? Seems clear to me that God gave this family, who would become a nation, their own constitution just before leading them into what would be their eternal homeland. He gave them this constitution in preparation for how to govern their new nation. God said, “Keep this word, this law, this constitution and you will remain FOREVER in this land.  But break this constitution and I will remove you, and scatter you to the nations!” (Deuteronomy 28)   Then came the Son of God. Jesus showed up as a type and shadow of Moses but so much more!  He came to minister to His family and to multiply Greatly His family.  Jesus promised to deliver them (back) their Promised Land, saying, “The Government of God (over this land) is at hand.”  Yes, Absolutely it would have been assumed by ALL  of His audience that Jesus was referring to the Promised Land - He was very direct and obvious in teaching that the intended government of God would soon be returning to the land! But was Jesus really that much like Moses? Did Jesus go atop a mountain and receive a New Set of Laws, or a New Constitution to Israel!?  Well, actually, in a way, He did! Here are some of the things Jesus did just like Moses:   1. Jesus is atop a mountain with God – Matthew 17.  2. Jesus gives them New Laws – John 13:34.  3. Jesus takes them into the wilderness to teach the people God’s ways – Luke 4:42+  4. Jesus gives them a structure and order for leadership – Mark 10:41-45  5. Jesus Promises to them rule over the Promised Land – Matthew 24:15. 6.  Here is Jesus reconfirming the covenant made unto the fathers and that law given to Moses – Matthew 5:17-20. 7. Here is Jesus promising, like Moses, that this world will end – Luke 21.   So the written word of God is a book of history, a spiritual guide and blessing, a book of wisdom and education but to all who would believe, it is also Our Constitution !   And Jesus gave us His Constitution just like Moses . Starting from the very beginning of His ministry: “The Government of God is at hand” and then very early in His ministry, He brought them out into the wilderness, fed them bread MIRACULOUSLY, just like Moses (remember the manna) and gave them His law – we call it to this day, “ The Beatitudes ” (Matthew 5-7). Then He went atop a mountain and revealed God to a chosen three of His disciples.   It can be said while the Old Testament was the Constitution for the Old Covenant, the New Testament is the Constitution for the New Covenant. Does the word,  law  still bother you?  I will admit throughout my youth I had trouble with this word, Law .  Hahaha.  But seriously.  I was rather wild, hurting and unruly in many ways.  Sitting down a younger version of Robert Anthony to teach me a set of laws would have felt confining, unfair and even dictatorial!  However.... If someone had explained to me these things better, with more love and patience, with more understanding and truth... I like to think I would have listened!   Something to consider, the “Ten Commandments” literally translates from Hebrew in English, “THE WORD  OF GOD ”!!!  The Hebrew word “Dabar” is translated here, “Commandments” and they are commandments in a way, but they are so much more!  Think about this, when Jesus came to the earth, John wrote, “The Word of God dwelt among us, The Word of God became Flesh!”  But that same word is, “Dabar” in Hebrew.  So it could be written, “The 10 Commandments became Flesh and Dwelt Among us” and that would be true!!   How amazing is that! Our society and culture (perhaps thanks to the 60’s and 70’s) hates rules – you can debate me but on a whole (especially the young) people despise instruction, rules, corrections, laws, etc.  It is rather unique to meet anyone in today’s America who love law and order.  But what if it was presented better?  What Biblical truths were presented with less crushing and dominance and moreso with love, acceptance, forgiveness, patience, mercy and even, kindness… and LOVE!  Maybe it would be more palatable? And maybe people would realize it is God actually, loving us!   But in a way that’s exactly what Jesus did – He magnified the love of God, injecting His love into heaven’s message to the earth!!  How often did He reteach the laws of Moses!?  How often did He teach them rules, laws and order?  How often did the Pharisees try to catch Him breaking their law?  How often was the debate over the laws of God with Jesus!?  Even when He was condemned to die on the cross, the argument by Pilate, “I find no fault in this man” – Pilate testified, “He broke no laws!” Even His debate with satan was over law and order.   We as a society and culture tend to despise law and order because it has been used against us, with dominance and brutality, fear and condemnation rather than in truth, with love and mercy: God gave us His law, His commandments, His WORD – He gave us His Truth TO LOVE US !! Not to control, confine, dominate or crush us into submission.   God is telling us over and again, “I love you.  I want to bless you.  I want to bring you into a land of promise, into a life of promise.  I have plans for you, good plans, plans you know not of!  Trust me.  You can not get to the blessing by yourselves.  You have to go along with my ways.  I will teach you how to get Victory!  And you will need to learn how to do this….”   Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and that you might live it more abundantly!” (John 10:10)  Jesus said, “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them,  and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” (John 17:8).  This Word, this Constitution from God, was given to us from Jesus that we might have ABUNDANT LIFE!!!  And then, without it, rejecting it, denying the truth, denying the way of abundance and love – How are we to find Life!? The Kingdom of God is a government.  When Jesus returns, He is returning as a King, a ruler, an authority over a land and over the whole of the land!  He is returning to rule the earth in righteousness, justice, prosperity, blessing and love!  And we have His kingdom now !  “The kingdom of God is within you!” He told us (Luke 17:21).  And He has given to us His constitution for His coming government.  And we can live this kingdom now!   Our Constitution from God has been mistaught, misused, abused and manipulated by evil men since the day it was written!  And it will continue to be warred against, even until the last day.  But, children of God, remember, this is the Word, the only Constitution that Sets Us Free!!   We can trust His Constitution.  We can trust Him.  He will finish what He started.  He will bring us to the Victory just like He promised.  He restored Israel after 2,000 years!  Every single thing He continues to promise, He performs!  We can trust Him.  And we can love one another.   The Best is yet to Come.   May God’s bottomless and unending love be received by us all… Amen!?   Greatest brotherly love and affection, With anticipation and expectation for the day! -Robert

by Robert Anthony September 20th 2024 Two assassination attempts now!? How many proceedings against him since 2015? A constant attack against him, his family, his character, his business, God only knows how they were undermining his Presidency while he was in the White House!? AND! Two assassination attempts, SURVIVED!? This President Trump is truly an amazing man. If we, at American Revival Press, haven't been clear enough yet: Let this article act as our unequivocal endorsement for electing President Donald J Trump to the White House this November, 2024! President Trump will: care about America first and then try and save the world, he will close down our borders and work to overhaul our broken immigration system, he will bring an untold number of jobs back to our nation that have been shipped away, he will continue to force Europe to pay their share towards NATO, he is our best shot at ending the war in Ukraine, with his leadership peace could very well return to the Middle East, and yet he will not betray Israel! President Trump will: unleash the power and economic prosperity of our oil and natural gas energy deposits (probably returning us to a net-exporter of energy!), he will return to many of his policies giving tax breaks for "opportunity zones" throughout the cities of America, he will labor to get China and Chinese spy operations out from within our continental US, he will work with law enforcement to make sure our nation is safe again, he will deport every illegal immigrate who is only going to plague our nation for generations to come and yet, he will bless the various minority groups living throughout our nation! He will: rebuke our colleges and universities for their woke agenda which, as a social experiment, has nothing to do with education, he will push back all the radical LGBTQ agenda's without our federal school system, warring against our most innocent and precious children, he will continue to support Pro-Life legislation and fight for the pre-born, he will work to make our military proud again but not LGBTQ proud, proud of being a soldier, serving our great nation! President Trump will shut down many of the big government institutions that have actually been a drain and burden on the American people for decades, if not generations! He will continue to fight for states-rights, just as the constitution afforded them. He will go after the enemies of America (often elected officials) who during Covid broke laws, trampled the constitution and performed all sorts of horrors against their own citizens! He will find the criminals who stole the 2020 election from the American people and he will labor to make our election system free and fair. In fact, he will be the first US President to make sure we have a sound and secure election system, saving our voting Republic for generations to come!! We know President Trump will fulfill these promises he has made because the last time he was elected, he fulfilled the promises that he had made to us while on the campaign trail. He has more than proven himself to be a man of his word, even willing to die for what he believes in! It has never been easier for me to endorse a candidate since I have been old enough to vote. This man doesn't have to be perfect to receive my endorsement but his love for the nation and his policies make him just about perfect to me!! I won't even bother to remind us all what a vote against President Trump means to the nation. It's too hard to imagine what would become of us should the American people lose this election and the White House is stolen from us again. What is most frightening about the other candidate taking the White House is that we simply have no idea what she and her party will do with the power!? Did any of us imagine what they would do with our country over the past nearly four years!? Should they win, they will be emboldened to stamp out the voices of reason and truth. They will be eager to silence all their enemies and any political adversary daring to speak out against them, perhaps worse. They will continue to bankrupt our treasury and our US Dollar could actually be replaced by another global currency!? Should the other side win, we are going to witness the most frightening social experiments ever recorded in history perpetuated upon the human race. And they will take their radical ideas into the schools and into the families to war against our most vulnerable, our children. They will make after-birth abortion commonplace. They will weaken our military with their ridiculous DEI and Work agendas, al the while starting WW3. I dont want to continue with the dystopian vision that this Democrat Party in 2024 wants to fulfill. It's basically the worst parts of the Bible's prophesies about the end of the world. Thank you President Trump for all that you are doing for your family and for us, the American People! Your wife, your children, and your children's children must be so proud of you! And we are too! I pray you get tremendous rewards for all that you have suffered these past 9 years. I pray that you get rewarded not only in eternity but now and in this time! I pray that God surrounds you with the best people, win or lose. If we win you will need the most award winning cabinet and staff ever since there was a country. Should you/we lose, you will need to find the strength to lead the Republican party thru some of the very worst times it will ever, or has ever gone thru. I pray God gives you wisdom and strength. I pray He continues to protect you. The nation is behind you Sir. These elites who have grabbed so much of the power centers of America: the Media, Wall Street, Big Pharma, our Universities, Washington DC, they only represent a small fraction of the nation. You truly have the numbers. I pray the Lord does not allow them to steal this election from us. I pray that many of the state governments decide to shore up this election and in a hurry. I pray God would arrest the hearts and minds of so many throughout the Republican party who are endorsing the other side!? It's an assault and betrayal of the American people, perhaps like we have never seen before!? If we win it will be a miracle. Perhaps the biggest miracle since George Washington and friends founding of America! You enabled them to defeat The British Empire! Surely you can do this small miracle and keep them from stealing the nation from us again. "Save our nation, Lord. When you look upon us, look upon with mercy. When you see all that we have done so terribly, eve against your own name, remember those of us who love you and still want to fight to save this nation! Save us, Lord. Not because we deserve it, but for Your names sake, save our nation." "Amen."

In today’s world, many Christians find themselves wrestling with the relevance of the Old Testament. Some argue that it’s outdated, filled with confusing laws, genealogies, and stories of ancient people that don’t seem applicable to modern life. Yet, when we dismiss the Old Testament, we miss out on a vital part of God’s message for humanity. The Old Testament isn't just a collection of ancient writings—it is the foundation of the Bible’s entire story of redemption. Jesus Himself valued and taught from these scriptures. So, the question we must ask ourselves is this: If the Old Testament was so important to Jesus, should it not be important to us too? Why Read the Old Testament? When we think of Jesus, we often picture Him teaching in parables, healing the sick, and preaching about love and forgiveness. But do we ever consider how much of His teaching was rooted in the Old Testament? In Luke 4:17-21, we see Jesus standing in the synagogue, reading from the scroll of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." (Isaiah 61:1-2) After reading, Jesus declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus saw His mission as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. If the Old Testament shaped how He understood His purpose, shouldn’t we be paying closer attention? Consider this: without the Old Testament, we wouldn’t fully grasp the significance of Christ’s sacrifice. In Romans 5:12-19, Paul contrasts Adam’s sin with Christ’s obedience. Adam’s disobedience brought sin into the world, but Christ’s sacrifice brings redemption. Without knowing the story of Adam’s fall (Genesis 3), we lose the context that highlights Jesus as the “second Adam,” the one who reverses the curse of sin. A Story of Redemption, From Beginning to End The Old Testament is far more than a historical account. It is the beginning of the story of God’s redemptive plan for humanity—a plan that finds its climax in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus. Genesis 3:15 provides the first hint of this plan: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." This verse, known as the protoevangelium (the first gospel), points to a future deliverer who will defeat evil. As the story unfolds, we see God narrowing His focus from all of humanity to one man, Abraham, whose descendants would become a blessing to the entire world (Genesis 12:2-3). Through Abraham’s lineage came the nation of Israel, and ultimately, Jesus Christ. Without the Old Testament, we miss out on the grand narrative of God’s covenant with His people—a covenant that starts with promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and culminates in the coming of the Messiah. This overarching story connects the Old and New Testaments, making them inseparable. Jesus in the Old Testament When we dismiss the Old Testament, we fail to see how Jesus fulfills it. For instance, in Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Jesus didn't discard the Old Testament; He completed it. The sacrificial system outlined in books like Leviticus might seem foreign or irrelevant to modern readers. However, the Old Testament sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would make. The writer of Hebrews draws this connection: “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). This system, which may seem distant to us today, prepared the way for Christ, the perfect and final sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14). Tough Questions and Misunderstandings One reason many people shy away from the Old Testament is the challenging nature of some of its passages. Stories like the flood in Genesis or the conquest of Canaan in Joshua raise difficult questions. How do we reconcile the God of love with what some see as harsh judgment? It’s crucial to remember that God’s actions in the Old Testament are not arbitrary acts of violence; they are part of His larger plan of justice and redemption. In Genesis 6:5, God sees the great wickedness of humanity, noting that “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” His decision to send the flood was not out of cruelty, but out of the necessity to cleanse a corrupted world and begin anew. Similarly, God’s command to drive the Canaanites out of the Promised Land wasn’t senseless violence but a way to protect Israel from the moral depravity of the Canaanite religion, which included practices like child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31). The Israelites were meant to be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 49:6), but to fulfill this calling, they had to remain separate from those who would lead them astray. These hard passages remind us of the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. As difficult as they may be, they point to a God who is both just and merciful—a theme that continues in the New Testament through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. The Old Testament: A Lens for Understanding the New If we read the New Testament without the Old, we’re only getting half of the story. Take the story of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. The tension between Jews and Samaritans doesn’t fully make sense unless we know the Old Testament background found in 2 Kings 17, which explains the historical enmity between the two groups. Similarly, when Jesus refers to Himself as the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11), He is evoking imagery from the Old Testament, where God is often described as a shepherd (Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34). Understanding these references deepens our understanding of who Jesus is and what He came to do. Where would we be without the Old Testament? It provides the foundation for our faith, reveals the character of God, and points us to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus. As 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” The "Scripture" Paul refers to includes the Old Testament. Rather than seeing it as an outdated or irrelevant text, we should approach the Old Testament as a treasure trove of wisdom, history, and prophecy that reveals God’s redemptive plan from the very beginning. Jesus Himself valued it, and so should we. So, the next time you open your Bible, don’t skip over the Old Testament. Dive into it with the expectation that God will reveal something new about Himself and His purpose for the world—because it matters more than you think. Scriptures Referenced: - Genesis 3:15 - Genesis 12:2-3 - Genesis 6:5 - Isaiah 61:1-2 - Romans 5:12-19 - Hebrews 9:22 - Deuteronomy 12:31 - Isaiah 49:6 - Matthew 5:17 - John 4 - John 10:11 - 2 Timothy 3:16

By Robert Anthony September 11th 2024 (( Watch the interview below !!)) Hi Friends. In this episode of All Politics is Local we discuss the Jews Return to Israel but not only that - We discuss how God practically commanded them to return to their land! Scriptural References: Jeremiah 16 and 31, Ezekiel 20 Mr Jeremy Smith is a National Coordinator with Ebenezer Operation Exodus ( http://ebenezer-oe.org ) with the sole purpose of aiding the Jews in their return to their heritage, their land of promise, The Promised Lands of God! Amazing. Mr Smith discusses some of the history of the Jews returned and the politics surrounding the Jews coming back to Israel. The most amazing parts of the interview are when they discuss these prophetic nature of these events and how God gave His word that this would happen in the last days! Amazing. And it's all coming true exactly how the Bible foretold. God is not a promise breaking God, He is a covenant making and promise keeping God! Even when He made the covenant with Abraham, He did not require an oath from Abraham! God made the oath and then fulfilled it! In the same manner, God said "I will scatter my people" but then, "in the end, I will return them to their land!" These promises date all they way back to Abram, in Genesis 15 and continue thru to Moses and the prophets, as God showed so many of them the future! The politics are complicated surrounding this tiny little nation in The Middle East. We discuss how the U.N. originally gave the Jews this land to be their nation! It's quite literally in the charter! But then why has the world refused to support the Jews in their peace and prosperity in the region!? The very nations that voted to give the Jews this land are now banding against them!? Makes no sense, unless there exists a spiritual battle that we can not easily see with our eyes, spiritual forces fighting against Israel and the Jews in their land. Thank you for considering the cause that is Israel and helping to return His people to their land!! What if the return of Messiah is dependent upon the Jews returning to their land!? What if God is waiting for a specific number and then all things will be fulfilled!? What if this is THE Event God is looking at to return Messiah to the earth, to bring peace and a new world of blessing and joy, a sinless world, a perfect world, like they way God intended it!? Many many scriptures lead us to believe this way.... More to come! To Donate to Jeremy Smith on Paypal or Wise contact us: CONTACT US Whenever you have the time - His testimony of returning to Israel is amazing! It is recorded here: https://shepherdsheart.org/our-testimony/ To learn more about Ebenezer International http://Ebenezer-oe.org Or In Israel http://Ebenezer.org.il This is a great video Ebenezer just posted on YoutTube: https://youtu.be/EeJhMSzURtk?si=7-9dmfd4AkZGgZwd Don't forget to check out these articles we posted explaining much about the prophetic nature of the Jews return to Israel and what it means for the rest of the world! THE BLESSING IT IS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD! https://www.americanrevivalpress.org/post/revival-comes-thru-israel-part-one-god-s-chosen-people-but-chosen-for-what Practically Hunting the Jews Down! (Ebenezer Operation Exodus, Jeremy Smith Interview): ( Watch on Rumble - Don't forget to Follow us!! )

Have you ever wondered if there were giants after the great Flood? It's a question that challenges our understanding of the Bible and ancient history. While many myths and stories, like The Epic of Gilgamesh, present distorted versions of the Flood, the Bible offers us the true and uncorrupted account. But what about giants? Are the stories of the Nephilim simply legends, or is there more to uncover? Statue of Gilgamesh The Bible tells us in Genesis 6:4, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that." These giants, called Nephilim, were the offspring of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men." But who were these beings, and did they really reappear after the Flood? The Truth Behind the Giants First, let’s address the facts: the Nephilim existed before the Flood, but the Flood was God’s judgment to cleanse the earth (Genesis 6:17). All flesh that had corrupted its way on earth, including the Nephilim, was destroyed. However, after the Flood, the spies sent by Moses into the Promised Land reported, "We saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim" (Numbers 13:33). Were these the same giants? The Bible helps us answer this. The report given by the spies was described as a "bad report" (Numbers 13:32), one that caused fear and panic among the Israelites. Their description of the giants might have been exaggerated due to their fear. It's also important to note that these giants, the sons of Anak, were post-Flood descendants, not the pre-Flood Nephilim. Goliath and the Sons of Anak Many people connect the story of Goliath, the Philistine giant whom David defeated, to the Nephilim. However, Goliath could not have been a Nephilim. The Bible is clear that the Nephilim were wiped out in the Flood, and Goliath was from a different lineage, being a descendant of the Anakim, a race of tall people (Deuteronomy 9:2). This reminds us that giants can exist in many forms, but they are not supernatural beings like the pre-Flood Nephilim. A Call to Faith, Not Fear Why does this matter for us today? Stories of giants and Nephilim can stir fear, just as they did for the Israelites who feared entering the Promised Land. But their fear kept them from trusting God’s promises. Similarly, we might face giants in our lives—fear, doubt, or sin. Yet, God calls us to trust Him, just as Joshua and Caleb did. They believed in God's power, not in the strength of giants. Jesus Christ offers us the ultimate victory. The Bible says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers" (Ephesians 6:12). Our battle is spiritual, and Jesus has already conquered sin and death through His sacrifice. The giants of the past remind us of God’s sovereignty and power, but Jesus reminds us that through Him, we can overcome any spiritual giant in our lives. Where Do You Stand? As you ponder the giants of history, I ask you this: are you letting the giants of fear and doubt keep you from entering God’s promises? Will you, like Joshua and Caleb, trust in God’s power, or will you be paralyzed by fear like the other spies? The story of the Nephilim and the giants of old is not just an ancient tale. It’s a reminder that God is in control. He has defeated the greatest giant of all—sin—through His Son, Jesus Christ. Will you trust Him today? Romans 10:9 tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." That’s the first step to victory over any giant in your life. Will you take it? Take the Step of Faith If you haven't yet given your life to Jesus, I urge you to do so today. Don’t let the giants of fear or sin keep you from God’s love and grace. Jesus is the ultimate victor, and in Him, you can find peace, freedom, and eternal life. What giants are you facing today, and how will you let Jesus help you overcome them?

Have you ever wondered what dinosaurs can teach us about God? What if the bones of these ancient creatures aren't just relics of a distant past, but evidence of something far more powerful? Could it be that these fossils point us back to the very beginning of time as described in the Bible? For years, science has painted a picture of dinosaurs as creatures from millions of years ago, long before humans walked the earth. But new research is challenging that view, leading many to reconsider how we understand dinosaurs. Is it possible that these incredible creatures lived not millions of years ago but thousands, as the Bible suggests? The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:25, “God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Could this include dinosaurs? If dinosaurs were created on the sixth day of creation along with man, why do so many view them as ancient creatures from "deep time"? Let’s think about this: Why would dinosaur fossils be found in flood sediments, the very kind described in the book of Genesis? Could these bones be a testament to the great Flood that God used to judge the earth, as recorded in Scripture? In Genesis 7:19-20, it says, “And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.” Could the discovery of vast dinosaur graveyards be the evidence of this catastrophic flood? Consider the recent discovery of original soft tissues inside dinosaur bones—a finding that suggests these fossils are much younger than previously thought. How can soft tissues, like blood vessels and proteins, survive for millions of years? Could this point to the truth of a young earth, just as the Bible describes? Triceraptop’s Horn One example is the discovery of soft tissue in a Triceratops horn in Montana. Evolutionary scientists were puzzled by how such tissue could be preserved for so long, but for biblical creationists, this is no surprise. In fact, it fits perfectly with the biblical timeline, where dinosaurs perished just thousands of years ago during the Flood. But this discovery is just one of many that point to the Bible's historical accuracy. The BEDS (Briefly Exposed Diluvial Sediments) model suggests that during the Flood, dinosaurs were able to briefly land on freshly exposed ground, leaving behind nests, eggs, and footprints in flood layers. This supports the idea that dinosaurs lived during the same time as humans, in line with the Genesis account. Consider the idea that these findings could align with the biblical account of creation. If dinosaurs were part of God's creation, what does that say about His power and authority over all things, including time itself? Could this realization cause us to reexamine our relationship with the Creator? Does it stir something in your heart to know that the same God who made dinosaurs also made you, with a purpose and plan for your life? As more discoveries unfold in the "Dinosaur Reformation," we are reminded of one crucial truth: God’s Word has always been true. The prophet Isaiah writes, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Have you taken the time to explore what the Bible says about our origins? Do these discoveries encourage you to take a step closer to understanding Jesus as not only the Creator but also the Savior who offers you eternal life? If dinosaurs—those mighty creatures of the past—can lead us to deeper faith, what other truths are waiting for you to discover in God’s Word? Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”Isn’t it time to find out for yourself the truth that creation reveals? Jesus, who was there at the beginning, offers you salvation and new life. Will you take that step toward Him today? Reference: https://creation.com/dinosaur-reformation

by AR Press Staff August 24, 2024 Updated: Sept 17th 2024 Seems like everything is changing in Israel. It has not been widely publicized but The Temple Mount, the area where they assume the Solomon's temple was originally built around 1000 BC, has been opened to Jews and Christians for prayer!? Have you heard about this yet!? The Status Quo since the Jews took back the Temple Mount during the famous 6-day war in 1967 has been the Muslim's complete and utter control over the mount. Therefore, since 1967 the Temple Mount has been widely accepted throughout Islam as the 3rd most holy site for their religion: Mecca and Medina being the first and second holy sites. The Israeli's have kept that status quo for the Temple Mount - until now! For the past month the Temple Mount has had times available wherein Christians and Jews have been allowed, for the first time in generations, to come and pray. Here is a Podcaster reporting on this development: Original Article: The rebuilding of the Third Temple of Jerusalem is a topic that has captivated many, particularly those of us who hold dear the prophecies of the Bible and the sacred history of Israel. The anticipation surrounding this monumental event often sparks both hope and confusion, with much misinformation circulating on the internet. As Christians, it is important for us to discern the truth, especially when it comes to something as significant as the Third Temple, which many believe is central to future biblical prophecy. The First Temple, constructed by King Solomon around 3,000 years ago on Mount Moriah, holds a place of great importance in biblical history. It was built on the very spot where Abraham was tested by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. This Temple was later destroyed by the Babylonians, and after 70 years, the Second Temple was erected on the same site. However, the Second Temple met a similar fate, being destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Since then, the Jewish people have mourned the loss of their Temple, marking its destruction each year on Tisha B'Av, a day of intense mourning and reflection. Today, there is a growing movement in Israel, supported by organizations like the Temple Institute, aimed at preparing for the reconstruction of the Third Temple. This movement is grounded in a deep desire to see the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the return of God's presence to the Temple as described in Ezekiel's vision, where the glory of the Lord filled the Temple once again. The Temple Institute has made remarkable progress in these preparations. Among their most notable achievements is the creation of a golden menorah, which stands over six feet tall and weighs half a ton. This menorah, designed to biblical specifications, is not just a symbol but a functional piece, intended for use in the Third Temple. Similarly, other Temple vessels, garments for the priests, and even the high priest's breastplate with the 12 stones representing the tribes of Israel, have been meticulously crafted, ready for the day when the Temple is rebuilt. However, the reality of this reconstruction is complex. One significant challenge is the location itself. The Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine built in the 7th century, now stands on the site where the First and Second Temples once stood. This site, known as the Temple Mount, is one of the most contested religious locations in the world. The political and religious sensitivities surrounding this area make the physical rebuilding of the Temple a difficult, if not currently impossible, task. The Israeli government, aware of the potential for conflict, has largely distanced itself from the Temple Mount. The Temple Institute and other private organizations lead the charge in these preparations, but without governmental support, any attempt to lay the first stone would likely provoke widespread unrest. While the actual construction of the Third Temple has not yet begun, the spiritual and material preparations are very much real. Twice a year, priests in training gather in Jerusalem to rehearse Temple services, ensuring that when the time comes, they will be ready to perform their sacred duties. The utensils, the garments, and the knowledge are all in place; what remains is the divine timing and the resolution of earthly obstacles. Thank you for joining us in exploring this significant and complex issue. May we continue to seek the truth with discernment and faith. The question remains: Does God want a Third Temple to be built? Much to be praying about. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Temple https://youtu.be/QrwnNau--es?si=BlPbgbUUNOQJMDXP https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/will-there-be-a-third-temple-in-jerusalem

Grand Canyon South Rim When you look at the world around you—its mountains, valleys, and vast oceans—have you ever asked yourself how it all came to be? Could it be the result of slow processes over millions of years, or is there another explanation? The Bible offers an account of Earth's history that includes a global Flood, described in the book of Genesis. But is there evidence to support this claim? What does the geological record reveal about such an event, and what does it mean for us today? Could the Earth’s Surface Really Have Been Shaped by a Flood? When scientists study the layers of rock and sediment that cover our planet, they often assume these formations took millions of years to form. But what if the Earth’s surface was shaped not over millennia, but by a sudden, catastrophic event—the Flood? The Bible describes a Flood that covered the entire world, and during this event, massive amounts of water would have surged across the continents, depositing and then eroding vast amounts of sediment. But does the evidence fit this account? Consider the sheer amount of erosion that has taken place on the Earth’s surface. Some areas show signs of over 6,000 meters of sediment having been eroded away. How could so much material be removed unless there was a powerful, continent-wide mechanism at work? The Flood, described in Genesis, offers just such a mechanism. Could it be that the massive erosion patterns we see today are a result of the waters of the Flood receding, as the continents rose and the ocean basins sank? Where Did All the Sediment Go? One of the key pieces of evidence pointing to the Flood is the vast amount of sediment found in the oceans. Today, ocean sediments are found in layers over 900 meters thick, and much of this material likely came from the continents during the Flood’s Recessive Stage—the time when the waters receded from the land. But how could so much sediment have been deposited in such a short period? Could slow processes over millions of years account for the massive sediment deposits we find today? The Bible describes the waters of the Flood covering the highest mountains, and as they receded, they carried with them immense amounts of sediment, depositing it in the oceans. Could this process explain why we find thick sediment layers along the continental margins, like those in the Gulf of Mexico and off the east coast of North America? Isn’t it more plausible that a catastrophic event like the Flood could have moved such vast quantities of material in a relatively short time? What About the Valleys and Canyons? If the Flood was real, we would expect to find signs of its aftermath in the form of valleys, canyons, and other deep cuts in the Earth's surface. And that is exactly what we find. Some of the world’s most famous canyons, like the Grand Canyon, could very well be evidence of rapid erosion caused by the receding waters of the Flood. Could these immense features have been formed by slow river erosion, or were they carved quickly by the powerful currents of the retreating floodwaters? Scientists have noted that as the waters of the Flood receded, they carved deep canyons, both on the continents and beneath the ocean’s surface. Submarine canyons, which are deeper than many land valleys, seem to defy explanation if we only consider slow and gradual erosion. Could it be that these canyons were formed by the rapid movement of water during the Flood? Grand Canyon Skywalk How Do We Explain the Uniformitarian Dilemma? Secular scientists often operate under the assumption of uniformitarianism—the idea that “the present is the key to the past,” and that geological processes have always operated at the same slow pace we observe today. But is this assumption really justified? When we look at the geological evidence—massive sediment deposits, extreme erosion, and deep canyons—does it make sense to believe that these features were formed over millions of years? The Bible offers a different explanation. Instead of slow, gradual processes, it describes a global catastrophe—a flood that reshaped the world in a matter of months. Could this be why we see so much evidence of rapid geological change, rather than slow erosion? Could the Flood provide a better explanation for the dramatic features we observe on Earth today? What Does This Mean for Us? If the evidence points to the reality of the Flood, what does that mean for us? The Bible tells us that the Flood was not just a natural disaster, but a divine judgment on a sinful world. However, God also provided a way of salvation for Noah and his family, just as He offers salvation to us today through Jesus Christ. The Bible says that in the days before the Flood, people lived their lives without regard for God, unaware that judgment was coming. Could it be that we are living in a similar time today? The evidence of the Flood serves as a reminder that God is both Creator and Judge, but also merciful and loving. Just as Noah was saved by entering the ark, we are offered salvation through faith in Jesus. Will You Consider the Evidence? So, as you reflect on the geological features of our world—the vast sediment deposits, the deep canyons, and the massive erosion—what will you conclude? Could these be the result of slow processes over millions of years, or are they the evidence of a global catastrophe like the Flood? And if the Flood was real, what does that mean for your view of the Bible and the God who sent it? The Bible presents the Flood as a historical event, and the geological evidence seems to support it. But more than that, the Flood points us to the reality of a God who is involved in His creation, a God who judges sin but also offers a way of escape. Will you consider the evidence and turn to Him today. Reference: https://creation.com/enormous-erosion-recessive-stage

Sedimentary rocks near Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. Have you ever wondered how coal, one of the most valuable natural resources in human history, came into existence? Coal powers much of the world’s energy today, but its origins raise deep questions about the history of our planet. How can we explain coal’s formation and its connection to the biblical account of creation and the global Flood described in Genesis? Could it be that coal is not just a product of natural processes over millions of years, as some scientists claim, but rather evidence of the cataclysmic events God initiated during Noah’s Flood? The Mystery of Coal: Is the Peat Swamp Theory Enough? Secular geologists have long maintained that coal was formed in ancient peat swamps over millions of years. But is that really the best explanation? If coal formed in peat swamps, why do we find marine fossils like clams and fish buried alongside coal seams? If coal formed slowly in calm, swampy conditions, how do we account for the presence of boulders and vertical tree trunks found embedded within coal layers, some of which are even upside down? Can slow and gradual processes explain these phenomena, or do they point to something more dramatic, like a global flood? The peat swamp theory also struggles to account for the vast thickness and sheer size of coal seams. Some seams cover thousands of square kilometers, far larger than any modern peat bog. If today's peat bogs can only form small, thin layers of plant matter, how could the massive coal deposits of the past have formed in the same way? Could it be that something much more powerful and sudden—like the Flood—was responsible? What About the Dinosaurs? And then there are the dinosaur tracks. Imagine walking into a coal mine and seeing perfectly preserved dinosaur footprints hanging from the ceiling. How could these have formed in soft, swampy peat? These tracks tell a story of something very different—a brief moment when dinosaurs walked on dense plant material that later became coal. Could these tracks be evidence of dinosaurs scrambling for survival during the early stages of Noah’s Flood, as the waters temporarily receded? The Bible describes how the Flood waters rose and fell, and during these brief pauses, animals like dinosaurs could have left their mark on freshly exposed plant material. Isn’t it possible that this evidence supports the biblical account? Some of the coal mined in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming What Does This Mean for Us Today? The formation of coal, the presence of marine fossils in coal seams, and the discovery of dinosaur tracks in coal mines raise important questions. Does this evidence support the slow, uniform processes over millions of years that many believe shaped our world, or does it point to a sudden, catastrophic event like Noah’s Flood? If the Bible’s account of the Flood is true—and if the Earth’s geologic features provide testimony to that truth—what does that mean for how we understand our origins? If God really created the Earth, and if the Flood really happened, how should we respond? The Bible is clear that God is not just the Creator, but also the Judge. The Flood was God’s judgment on a world filled with wickedness, but it was also an act of mercy—saving Noah and his family, preserving life, and offering humanity a new beginning. Could it be that the evidence of coal and the Flood serves as a reminder of God’s power, His justice, and His mercy? The Bigger Question: Do You Believe? So, as you consider the evidence in coal and geology, I ask you: Do you believe that the Earth was created by God? Do you believe the Flood was real? These questions are not just about the past—they are about your future. The same God who created the world and judged it in Noah’s day also sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin. Just as the ark was the only means of salvation during the Flood, Jesus is our only means of salvation today. What will you do with this evidence? Will you continue to believe in slow, natural processes that leave God out of the picture? Or will you see the hand of God in the world around you, calling you to trust in His Word and to find salvation in Jesus? The Bible says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The evidence is all around us. Will you believe it? Reference: https://creation.com/beds-coal-origin

by Robert Anthony September 5th 2024 I think, more than any group on earth, I grieve most for the children. I'm serious. Many of you reading this are well-grown, many of you your kids are full grown and you are now grandparents. How can we really understand what our youth are going thru living in times like these!? It's so hard to understand that school shootings are actually a thing . Teachers, Principals, School Administration literally have to go thru training now so they know what to do in case of a school shooting. It's appalling to me that this is our reality - and yet there is not one ounce of my heart angry towards these children. The one thing NO ONE said, and when I say NO ONE, I mean not one article, opinion piece, op-ed, news clip, etc. NO ONE mentioned that President Trump's shooters was only 20 years old and hardly an adult! Quite literally a couple years ago the very young men that took a shot at President Trump, killed two others in attendance and wounded several others, was in high school! Therefore Trump's assassination attempt is almost comparable with a school shooting. Although no politician wants to speak to this. It scores everyone more political points if Thomas Matthew Crooks was a full grown, complex-man filled with some political grievances and other mysterious psychology. In my opinion the story quickly went away because it was just so sad, the reality of what actually happened. What was this young man so upset about? What drove him to such extremes to try and kill President Trump, even willing to shoot and kill others!? But this, in our world, is not newsworthy. The last thing our news organizations want to do is actually look at themselves with honest eyes, taking an account, saying to themselves, "Maybe we did something to contribute to this? Maybe our hateful and hurtful rhetoric and non-stop divisive and hateful language is weary on the morale of the nation!?" And... "Maybe we need to make a change... for the sake of the children!" But no. That's not going to happen anytime soon. As much as I hope this article finds its way before key decision makers and rapidly influences political campaigns, news cycles and America as we know it - I am not a very fantastical person, I tend to be hopeful but I'm well aware that these power hungry people running the world are not much known to repent. So the children continue to cry out!! They continue to shoot each other and worse. This most recent school shooting is merely another event in a long line of mass shootings and school shootings that have hit national headlines. And how many tragedies among our children are happening daily but without being newsworthy? Spend some time at juvenile hall, or within the halls of children's court throughout any major city in America and you will get a quick education. Children are killing children basically daily in our 1st world, wealthy, "advanced" nation. I used to work with juvenile kids as a minister and mentor. I have actually had much experience with this over the years. When most of us were kids the most horrible thing to happen would be maybe a knife fight, or maybe someone was accidentally killed during our high school years? But over the past thirty or forty years, our nation has changed dramatically. Gangs are no longer made up of eighteen to twenty five year old young men, fighting for seniority and power within their neighborhoods. Today's gangs are 10-year-olds, sometimes even 8 or 9 year olds, and they are getting guns and using them younger than ever! While I was working in Juvenile hall I met many young gangs kids who fit this description: 8, 9 and 10 year olds willing to go to war with a rival gang and even kill other children! What on earth happened to our country!? (But the divisive and hateful political leaders will rage on....) I met one young man in Juvenile Hall who was about 14. He was going away for at least 1 year for stealing a car, loading up the trunk full of stolen guns and ammo and cruising around Las Vegas to sell it to his friends and fellow gang members!? He ended up in a high speed chase throughout the streets of Las Vegas before he crashed and killed his best friend. He wept bitterly as he told me about his regret and shame. I can still remember meeting his dad like it was yesterday - I went to court on his behalf to testify of how great he had been doing in Juvy. His dad was totally stoic, he seemed totally and completely uninterested in taking any ownership of this as his failures as a father, his heart was so hard, standing next to me angry towards his first born boy. The judge actually called him out for it in court. (His father was obviously an ex-con himself. Probably an ex or even current "Neo-Nazi" or "White Power" affiliate by the way he was tattooed and dressed.) In Juvy none of these kids had dads around. I would estimate 1 in 20 had a father or father figure living at home. But do a study about all the other troubled-youth. Do a study about many the school shooters in our nation. They all have about the same general story: no parents or uninterested parents, in and out of the foster-care system, drugs, almost all of them are diagnosed with something very early on in life and taking very powerful psych-med's!! (Oh that is another issue!! The Psych-Med's are a Huge Issue that no one wants to talk about!!) And how many of these school shooters are on very powerful Psych-Med's!? Has anyone looked into this about President Trump's shooter?? I'll bet $1,000 he was diagnosed something and on some very potent and mind-warping psych-meds. If these drugs were working, I promise I wouldn't be so upset about it writing to you today. Certainly you can feel my emotion in what I am writing. I was there several times in Juvy, when the drug lady came in and passed out psych-pills as if they were candy. And then, if the kids didnt take their drugs!? They were in a lot of trouble. The prison guards would literally stand there watching them to make sure they swallowed!! I wonder how Big Pharma would respond to such a case study!? What if we found out that the overwhelming majority of these school shooters and kids who are killing each other are all diagnosed with a supposed "mental disorder" and pumped up with some of the strongest medications ever given to kids in the history of the world!! How would it go for Big Pharma if our Congress cared enough to look into this - to open the books and actually take an account to what they are doing to our hurting children in foster care, juvenile hall, Department of Human Services, impoverished inner cities and broken families throughout the US!? I'm going to save you the suspense, What Congress would find is that these powerful mind-drugs are destroying our children - especially the most vulnerable among us... I have looked into this some and know for a fact that many of these kids were on heavy psych-meds when they performed their school shootings. I have written about it in the past. Many of these kids had various "mental health" diagnosis' and many of them were on Big Pharma's psych meds. (But no one wants to let that fact leak out!!) Even since Trump's attempted assassination I have been following the news cycles waiting for one single article grieving for this young man, a young man who was merely a child just a short couple years earlier, wondering what on earth was the matter with him that drove him to do something so terrible. But the article, the empathy, the love for our hurting children doesn't show up.... ANYWHERE! And it breaks my heart. What do the kids need to do!? They are crying out, especially for the past 20-30 years! Like shouting with the biggest mega-phone they can find, "Someone help us!! We are so scared and alone, hopeless and afraid... but all our leaders seem to only want to fight. We don't know where to go, we dont know anywhere in the world that is safe or beautiful. Our parents want nothing to do with us. Our parents, the school and all our teachers have convinced us that there is no God. Is there any Hope? Who will save us from this broken and ugly world!?" And this is exactly what is inside their precious and broken hearts just before the shoot up a school or try to assassinate a US President. At the rate we are going it's going to get much worse. Trust me, we haven't seen the worst of what our children are capable of doing! (And taking their guns away won't change a thing. They will go to all sorts of trouble to get our attention with or without the guns.) As we, adults and leaders and mentors and teachers and celebrities and politicians, all choose to fight and hate and rage and war against each other, as the rhetoric devolves further into only vengeance and disgust - the kids will react, in great desperation and despair. And Why? Simply because they don't know what else to do.... They are just that hopeless. We aren't losing the heart and soul of the nation - we lost it a while ago. The question that remains is, can we revive the little bit of light that remains in America? Can we awaken something to beauty and light and splendor that is so far gone!? God knows. I have hope when I see the very few out among us who are giving all they have to love. And it is a very few... But their light does shine!! Love them, friends. It's not that hard to love, it often even feels good. When your heart starts to get angry or afraid, pay attention. Forgive those you need to forgive, learn to empty out your anger in a healthier and more constructive manner. We all get angry but we can not live in anger, it will kill us. We have to save this nation. We have to. For our children's sake. For our children's children's sake. And if we don't save the nation? Who will...? And Saving America won't come from politics. Politics could help along the way but the politics seems to follow more honest and truer forms of leadership. Have we learned nothing over the past 20-30 years!? We must win the heart and soul of the nation... and I have never found anything else that works for saving the soul, but to Love . And what's so bad about love? Why do we refuse it with such contempt and apathy? We must reconsider our unique and individual role in all of this.... For sake of the children... Prayerfully.

When we talk about the age of the Earth, it’s easy to get caught up in scientific arguments or feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the debate. Is the Earth around 6,000 years old, or is it billions of years as mainstream science tells us? This question isn’t just an intellectual exercise—it has deep implications for how we view God, the Bible, and our faith. For some, the idea of a young Earth seems outlandish. “Are you serious?” many might ask. After all, we’ve been told for years that the Earth is billions of years old, backed by scientific data and methods like radiometric dating. But what if we consider another perspective? What if the Earth is much younger, and what if this matters more than we realize? What Evidence Should We Trust? If you're exploring this question, it’s worth asking: how do we determine the age of anything? Much of the evidence that supports an old Earth is based on assumptions—assumptions about the past, conditions we didn’t witness, and processes we can't directly observe. Take radiometric dating, for instance. This method measures the decay of elements but relies on assumptions about the initial amounts of these elements and the constancy of decay rates. Without a clear historical record, how certain can we be? Similarly, processes like erosion, sedimentation, and even the stability of planetary systems raise questions. If our solar system is billions of years old, why do we see moons and rings around planets like Saturn that show signs of a much shorter existence? Could it be that our assumptions are wrong? Why Does It Matter? This isn't just a scientific debate; it’s a matter of faith. What do we believe about the Bible? If the Bible is true—not just in its spiritual teachings but in its historical and scientific claims—then the age of the Earth matters. The Bible tells us that death entered the world through sin. But if we believe that the Earth is millions or billions of years old, we’re accepting that death, suffering, and decay existed long before Adam. How does that align with the message of the gospel? For many believers, this is where the issue becomes personal. Can you trust the Bible’s account of creation? Does it make sense to believe in a God who created a world filled with death and suffering from the beginning? Or does it make more sense that sin brought death into a once-perfect creation? Questions to Reflect On Instead of looking for immediate answers, perhaps it’s more helpful to ask yourself a few questions: - If death and suffering existed for millions of years before humans, how do we reconcile that with the Bible’s portrayal of a loving God? - How does the concept of death before sin affect the message of salvation and the gospel itself? - What does it mean for our faith if we accept the Bible’s account of a recent creation? These are serious questions worth considering, especially if you’ve struggled with reconciling your faith with what you’ve been taught about the world’s age. The Bible tells us not only about our spiritual lives but also about the history of the Earth. If it can be trusted in one area, can’t it be trusted in others? This conversation isn’t about forcing a conclusion or overwhelming anyone with arguments. Instead, it’s about inviting you to think deeply. If you believe in the Bible’s authority, then the age of the Earth isn’t just a side issue—it affects how you understand God’s character, the nature of sin, and the purpose of Jesus’ death. The Bible presents God as the Creator who was there from the very beginning. If we can trust Him as the author of creation, can’t we trust Him with the details of our lives too? Whatever you believe about the age of the Earth, this is an opportunity to explore your faith more deeply. It’s a chance to reflect on what the Bible says, what you’ve been taught, and what you believe about God’s plan for the world. After all, if the Bible is true, we have nothing to fear in pursuing these questions. Here are the other amazing Bible discoveries that have been found: Noah's Ark in Turkey - Exactly where the Bible says it landed! The Crossing of the Red Sea Site!   The Actual Mount Sinai - It's Top Still Burnt with the Fire of God!

by AR Press Staff Sept 2nd 2024 "Of all the things Jesus did while on the earth as a man", says author and Senior Editor, Robert Anthony, "He certainly never started a new religion." Jesus was a Jew. Never, not once, did Jesus tell His disciples who were technically His friends, to stop being Jewish. He never once told them to separate themselves from their families or culture or nation and become something altogether different. And we must remember, the followers of Christ, even the Gentile ones , were all considered a sect of Judaism for some 200 years following Jesus' death and resurrection! So it begs the question, what happened? How did Christianity become what it is today? An obvious and recognizable religion, arguably the largest one on the earth!? This question, how did it happen , requires some study of history and some real critical thinking. A very important part of the story is to learn about the division that started rather early on between the Gentile followers and Christ and the Jewish followers. Christianity was spreading like wildfire all throughout the Roman Empire, much faster than it was spreading in Jewry, perhaps hundreds of times faster! But the founding members of Jesus' message were all Jews from the Promised Lands of God, all of the original teachers of Jesus' gospel were of course Jews. And another division was created over the Jews desire to keep their customs, feasts, traditions and Mosaic law but even while they followed the principals of Christ - this dynamic was already taking shape even while they were writing the Bible! In Galatians we learn that Paul had to correct Peter in Jerusalem because Peter was teaching the law mingled together with the gospel of Jesus the Messiah. It seems clear that as this division between the Gentile believers and Israeli believers widened, so Christianity emerged more clearly as a stand alone religion, outside of Judaism. But then came the founding of the Roman Catholic Church by Emperor Constantine. Then, all throughout the Holy Roman Empire, this new and obvious religion rose to great prominence on the world stage, ready to rule European kingdoms, politics and culture for some 1,000 plus years! But considering that the founding of the religion of Christianity was actually some three hundred years after Christ, it really does provoke the question, "Did Jesus intend to start a new religion?" Religion is actually somewhat a confusing word. For some, asking about religion, they perhaps want to know what is a persons belief system. For others, when asking about religion, they are referring to the denomination or organization to which a person affiliates. The Bible, on the other hand, loosely defines religion as actions or duties by which one lives out their faith. Like in James, Chapter 1 verse 27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and  to keep himself unspotted from the world." Certainly Jesus knew what He would accomplish in His ministry and life's work! But did He desire for Christianity to become the religion in which it has today? To this we must return to the scriptures and even His own words to understand better, just what was Jesus wanting His friends and disciples to spread out to the world? When someone considers religion they are often going to think of a few fundamentals: a belief system and set of principals to live by, a teacher or teachers to lead the way, even to lead the people, almost always some land and buildings of some sort and finally names: names of sects, names of famous teachers, names of buildings and icons, famous names and titles throughout said religion and its history. Every religion on earth functions with these same basic foundations. Judaism has their Talmud and rabbinical law, they have the law of Moses but also centuries of teaching from their other religious authorities along the way. Islam has of course the Quran but also hundreds of years of teachings from their other respected leaders throughout their near 1500 year past. Hindi's, Sikh's, Buddhist's, etc. all have their original text handing to them their belief system but then a myriad of other teachers building upon what began. Jews have synagogues, Muslim's have Mosque's, Buddhist's and the various others have temples... and Christians have their churches? Or do they (we)? (Was this given to us, these churches?) I would argue that all religion adheres to the same general fundamentals except for Christianity! I would argue that while all other religion falls in line with the same fundamentals, Christianity, at least what was taught by its founder, Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth, functions in stark contrast. Let me explain: For hundreds of years there was no recognizable ruler of Christianity, no buildings were established in the name of its founder, not for hundreds of years, there were various teachers all adhering to this same spiritual way of living in which God was to be both ruler and teacher, Lord and Savior, Supreme . Jesus even went out of His way to teach to His disciples, DO NOT RULE THEM! (He said, "This is what the Gentiles do. But you must not.") And it's in all the gospels! Matthew 20:24-28, Mark 10:35-45 and Luke 22:24-27. Jesus taught them to serve and not to ever lord over them! Jesus never built a building, never created a new name (of His religion) on the earth, never appointed a successor or authority to take His place and He never wrote anything down (that we know of)!! Have we really ever considered this!? In all our Bible Colleges, Seminaries, Christian Television Programs and millions of Church buildings throughout the world... Have we ever just stopped to consider, plainly, Jesus did it totally different than we do . It's easy to refer to Christianity as a religion today. It has all the markings of a religion, the same as every other religion on the earth.... But this is clearly not what Jesus taught to His friends, who became Apostles (all except for Judas, the betrayer). His Apostles never taught us religion either, they never built a building, they never appointed a ruler, instead they had various leaders serving a variety of roles without something that resembled more of a family, rather than a religion: the Bible even teaches, in Titus 2, that the older men should teach the younger and the older women likewise . Sounds less and less like a religion and more and more like a family the more I read the New Testament. Jesus said, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15) And He never ruled them. Instead He loved them until His very painful and horrific death upon the cross, even though everyone left Him to suffer and die alone, He loved them until the end. Thought provoking to consider these things. So what became of us, Christians ? How did we become something so organizational and hierarchical, something so religious, like every other religious tradition upon the earth!? Rereading the book of Acts, as the church was starting, there remains still no religion in that book, The Holy Bible . Even the Jews were never a religion, not until much much later in their history - but they were a family - simply a family from the start. What has become of us? And how did we become this Christianity, what we are known for today? Probably worth considering... Definitely worth praying about... "Lord, what happened to us? And what do we do about it now!?" ((Our Senior Editor, Robert Anthony, often tells the story about how God woke him up in the middle of the night, more than 20 years ago and whispered into him, "Robert, I never started a religion." This revelation changed Robert's life in such profound and lasting ways - so much so he left the successful life he had in business and became a missionary. Robert traveled to some 15+ nations and 40+ US States learning from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, preaching the things God gave to him - and eventually wrote his story down in a book, called, "Jesus did not Start a Religion". You can purchase the book HERE, follow this link .))