Has Jesus Returned?, Part 13

Paul's Teachings on the Return of Jesus

Live from the Mecca of Mormonism, this is HEART OF THE MATTER where . . . Institutionalized Religion Meets Jesus Christ Face to Face. And I’m your host, Shawn McCraney. Lot’s to cover AGAIN this last week. SO let’s pray.

Last week on “When does the Bible say Jesus would return?” And we need to get right to it because Paul wrote more than anyone else and so Paul had more to say about Jesus return. Let’s see some of the examples. Some very powerful some simple persuasive. We’ll start at Romans.

Contextual Understanding of Scripture

Remember remember remember the “W” of our examination: Who was he writing to, Why was he writing to them, Where were they, What was going on around them, and when did this all take place?” This is the reasonable and responsible way to understand scripture. Or you could do something that God never tells us to do in the Bible – forget context and assign everything to our day and age, right? Read into everything as if Paul was writing to you forgetting that it is a literal book of historical significance and was covering those people at that time . . . and we have the benefit of learning spiritual lessons from the content…..

Okay. Romans 8:17-18 Paul writes: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory “which shall” be revealed in us. The problem is with the King James as it does us a disservice because “which shall be revealed in us ought to say something about expediency, like: “Is about to be revealed in us,” because the Greek word is Mello.

Last week we showed how Peter used the same word in 1st Peter 5:1 showing that Peter and Paul agreed – “the glory was about to come!”

Romans 13:11-12 says “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Here Paul gives his readers some direct insight.

Almost all scholars agree that “the day” of which he speaks refers to is the Judgment day. Referring to “the day” he says, the “night is far spent,” (if the night “before the day of Judgment” was far spent in Paul’s day how could we have any night left today?) and he adds that the “day is at hand.”

Interpretation of "At Hand"

Now I could say to you this obviously means was really close but that could just be an opinion, right? So let me give you an example taking from another place where Paul uses the phrase. In II Timothy 4:6 Paul is getting ready to die. The time was approaching and he knew it and it happened. And this is what he wrote: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Now if Paul didn’t die at that time AND he is still living today we know that the phrase, “at hand,” means WAAAAAAY down the road. But Paul died. And at hand meant “near, close.” And this is what he meant in Romans 13:11-12.

So now every futurist on earth has to say that Paul was wrong. This I cannot buy. Paul was not wrong. Man has been wrong.

1st Corinthians 1:7-8 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew that the Lord was coming back within a generation and so he preached it to the people. He admits first that they were “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and then he says: “WHO SHALL ALSO CONFIRM YOU UNTO THE END . . .” If these people were all going to die before Jesus second coming then Paul was wrong.

The Meaning of Maranatha and Its Implications

In first Corinthians 16:22 Paul says: “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” Ever hear Christians use these words? They are usually really sold-out believers who are wearing robes and sandals and the like, right? And if someone displeases them they will say something like, “I deemeth thee, ANATHEMA MARANATHAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” But the phrase means something to the effect of “let him be accursed at his coming.” Anathema is set – we get the meaning but maranatha is the one we’re interested in here because many people translate the word to mean, “the Lord IS coming,” but the word comes from the Syriac, Moran Etho and means, “the Lord COMES.” Present tense verses future tense – a clear indication that Paul was speaking of his time and his day.

In Philippians 3 (20-21) Paul is talking about the Lord’s coming. Then in chapter four he uses the phrase we have already discussed, and says: Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. This was NOT written to us, friends. It was written to people that Paul was personally leading and guiding and protecting.

Paul's Belief in the Imminence of Christ's Return

In 1st Timothy 4:8 Paul writes: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” AGAIN MELLO – “Which is ABOUT to come!” In 1st Timothy 6:13-14 Pau is giving Timothy instructions, and says: “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is more than apparent that Paul believed that Timothy would be around when Jesus returned. It is believed that Paul wrote this epistle around 64 AD and the signs of His coming were not only evident, the forty years Jesus said His return would occur in were close to being fulfilled.

If Paul thought that the Lord’s coming was going to be way out in the future, he would have said to Timothy “to keep these commandments without spot “until the end of your life,” OR “until you die!” But Paul doesn’t write this to Timothy, does he? He writes, “keep these commandments until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s Reassurance to the Corinthians

In Titus 2:13 Pau writes: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Taking the “W”s into account this is really a wonderful and encouraging passage of scripture to the early Saints, isn’t it? “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Reading it today, 2000 years later, and thinking it is still lingering out there can produce faithlessness, and disappointment, and disillusionment. But to read it as historical fact, and in context we are uplifted by the stories, just like Jewish children have been uplifted by the stories of David and Goliath today – stories that occurred many years ago, but contain great spiritual lessons to all who consider them now.

In Paul’s infamous chapter on the resurrection – 1st Corinthians 15 – many people challenge the meanings contained therein but almost all agree that Paul was writing about the Second Coming of Jesus when the “saints who sleep (are dead) will be resurrected to incorruptibility and the saints who are alive at that time will be “changed” in the “twinkling of an eye.” That is all in there, right? Paul was writing to the Christians at Corinth about resurrection and how it was tied to the coming of the Lord. The book was written around 56-57 AD. There were questions about what was the process and Paul says to them – TO THEM – the believers there at Corinth: 1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; “We shall not all sleep, (most agree this means die) We will NOT ALL DIE BEFORE THE LORD’S RETURN.” He promises this to them! He was literally reassuring them that some of them would be living when Jesus returned! Should they have believed him? Of course. Because he was right. Notice he wrote, “We” so he included himself in this. In other words he believed it possible that he might be around for His return.

The Resurrection and the Second Coming

refers to the We twice in these passages, and says:

“Behold I show you a mystery: WE shall NOT all die, but WE (those of us who do not) shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

LISTEN – if all of the Corinthian Saints died before Jesus came Paul was a fraud, and his promises to them were utterly deceitful! But he wasn’t. He was correct. And all the other men since who have promoted and promised Christ’s return were wrong. And are wrong. It’s done, folks. He reigns – spiritually – on high, over his kingdom.

We learn something else from this passage in 1st Corinthians 15. Listen closely to it again: “Behold I show you a mystery: WE shall NOT all die, but WE (those of us who do not) shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, (when?) at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” When does Paul say the resurrection of the dead will occur in this passage? He actually says that some of those saints at Corinth would live to hear the last trump and would see Jesus come. But the order is that before they would be changed the dead would be raised incorruptible. This places the resurrection right there in the first century too. Can you see that? “Does this mean we won’t be resurrected?” Heaven’s no. It just means the resurrection promised in scripture, and tied to Jesus coming is done. All people now die and are immediately resurrected – probably in the twinkling of an eye – prior to entering heaven. The only exception might be (MIGHT BE) those who die and do not go to heaven. They may wait to be fitted with their resurrected body at another time.

Teachings from Thessalonians

Okay, into Thessalonians. Lots to discuss because Paul provides large chunks of information on the subject of the Second Coming in his writings here. Let’s read the first big chunk.

1st Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Understanding the Concerns of Thessalonica

Apparently, the saints at Thessalonica were under the impression that the Lord’s return was eminent and some of them, it appears, were upset or concerned because some of their brothers and sisters were dying before it happened. Maybe their deaths were due to persecution. And it seems they believed that these dead believers were going to miss out on everything the apostolic church was expecting would happen when He came back.

I would suggest that Paul was trying to comfort these believers here in the face of these concerns. And what he tells them here is essentially the same thing he told the believers at Corinth (which we read in part in 1st Corinthians 15) saying: “We will not all sleep (die) but some will be changed in the twinkling of an eye after the dead were raised.” So here Paul is promising the church at Thessalonica the same thing and he says: Some of them would be alive a remain until the coming of the Lord and then regarding those who had died, he said, “The dead in Christ will rise first and then (like he said in 1st Corinthians) those who are living would be changed after.” In these passages the “W” s are really important to remember. If we do we will understand

Paul's Teachings on the Second Coming

Paul made these promises 2000 years ago! In verse 15 he says something interesting. He says:

15 For this we say unto you “by the word of the Lord,” that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Notice first there are no if, ands or buts here used by Paul. He doesn’t say “And we that might be here,” or we are could be alive,” or “and if some of us are alive then.” He says “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord,” clearly indicating that he believed the second coming was… coming.

Additionally, Paul says in verse 15: “For this we say unto you “by the word of the Lord,” Now, to Paul the Word of the Lord could mean one, two or three things. First, it could mean the Old Testament – not in this case. The Old Testament did not give Paul these insights. Or, the Word of the Lord Paul mentions could mean direct revelation he received either by the Spirit OR when he was tutored by Christ Himself in the Arabian desert. That’s possible. But I think the fact lies in the third option – that it is by the Lord’s very words He spoke when He was on earth. In other words if you read Matthew 24 you will discover that Paul echoes 10 statements of the LORD in His writings to the believers of Thessalonica. Due to time I’ll let you make the comparisons. They are not overwhelming but clearly show that “the word of the Lord” Paul was citing were the Lord’s very words spoken in Matthew 24.

Reassurance to Believers

In these next passages listen to what Paul writes: (remember the W’s”)

1st Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons (which, by the way was the title of the LDS owned newspaper back in the day when they too were sure the end was near – anyway, Paul writes to the believers of that day) “But of the times and the seasons brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (in other words, Paul says to them, I don’t need to detail to you the signs of the times – you are aware of them – and he adds (verse 2) 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (and then at verse four) 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”

These are reassuring passages given by Paul to these believers reiterating to them that they were not ignorant but were alive and awake and informed of His return. If the LORD was not coming for thousands of years later why did he write like this to them? I mean why did the early church need to be reminded of these things if He wasn’t going to return for thousands of years later? The evidence is beyond clear – the Apostles believed He was on His way and taught it.

The Anticipation of Christ's Return

If wrong, why do we trust the rest of the things they write? If right, why are we still looking for His return today? Then continuing on in this same chapter Paul writes:

1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What does this passage tell us about Paul’s views of the Lord’s coming? He prays that the Saints in His care would be kept blameless until they died? Nope? But “until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!” All five chapters of 1st Thessalonians ends with a reference to this highly anticipated event. IF the coming of the LORD was eminent in the days of the Apostles it cannot be eminent today.

Let’s look at 2nd Thessalonians. And we’ll begin with 2nd Thessalonians 1:3-10. Bottom line, the passages we are about to read show that Paul was promising the Saints at that time that Christ was coming and would comfort and reward them for their suffering. The NIV reads better than the King James here but let’s read the King James.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we…

The Context of Perseverance and Recompense

Ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

Cannot get around it – Paul was writing to them and encouraging them – and He used and appealed to the Lord’s coming to encourage and support their perseverance. Either he was inspired and led of God or he was no different that Harold Camping. You decide.

The Second Coming as Taught by Paul

One more – 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-8. Now last week we showed how Peter had predicted the end but that he also gave a clarification – that the return would NOT happen until there came a restitution of all things – and we talked about what this meant and when it could possibly occur relative to the rest of scripture. So here in II Thessalonians we have Paul doing the same thing. Yes, he has been preaching the second coming – and has had expectations of it. But here Paul details some things that had to occur first, and so he says:?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Understanding the Timing of the Second Coming

Admittedly, the King James makes comprehension of these passages difficult while the NIV is far easier but since I am always teaching from the King James we’ll stick with it. These passages play such a huge role in how Christians view the second coming we have to take a minute and review them carefully. And then we’ll open up the phone lines.

To begin, remember – our initial question which we posed twelve weeks ago: WHEN does the Bible say that Jesus will return? That was our query. And so this is what I will try and speak to from these verses. The first verse lays this out for us, saying:

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him.” Then in the next verse he addresses an apparent misunderstanding about the Lord’s second coming. Apparently there was a rumor that the Lord had already come. (verse 2) The King James puts it this way:

2 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” But the New King James translates it as, “That the day of Christ HAD come,” and the NASB reads, “that the Day of the Lord has come,” and the ESV reads,

Understanding the Day of the Lord

The day of the Lord has come. In other words, in this case, the question was not, "Is the day of the Lord at hand," but was, "has the Lord come already?" Again, Paul was addressing the notion in the church "that the Lord had already come." Note something important here – Paul and others (including Jesus) taught what all the signs would be like to the believers in the early church, right? They had been told that Jesus would appear on a white horse, and that the earth would be consumed by fire, and the dead would rise to life, etc., right? They knew these things! So how on earth could they have believed that Jesus had come? Because they understood these statements properly and very differently than we understand and read them today! Isn’t that interesting? From this alone, I think we can see that our understanding of Jesus' apocalyptic words must be faulty because these believers thought Jesus had come, so therefore the signs we look for must truly have presented themselves in a manner far different than what we have been looking for.

The Man of Sin

There was a belief that Jesus had come and at verse three Paul says: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” At verse four Paul describes the nature of this “man of sin,” and says he: "(Who) . . . opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." Then down in verse 8 Paul says that this man of Sin (or lawlessness) would be "destroyed at Jesus second coming."

Interpretations of the Falling Away

The “falling away” that would have to first come has been interpreted by many in a number of ways. The LDS leaders and missionaries love this line, and suggest the “falling away” was the loss of what they call “priesthood authority” and the principle elements of Christ’s church – which were restored by Joseph Smith in 1830. Pure convenience, LDS. I would suggest that the falling away was the Saints who fell back into the Law (which the writer of Hebrews so strongly fought against) and that this is a much better contextual definition of it than the LDS contrivance.

But the real focus Christians make of this passage is the part where Paul speaks of “the man of sin being revealed the Son of Perdition.” Of course, this guy has been suggested a thousand ways to Sunday but nothing has materialized – except for who he really was back in the day. Paul gives us a little more information on this Man of Sin and says in II Thessalonians 2:4 that he would “set himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God,” but the problem is today there is no temple for which to set himself up in?

The Antichrist and Modern Interpretations

The futurists have fixed this by saying that another temple will be built but NOWHERE does scripture say this – nowhere. Additionally, we find that in the church that the Man of sin is called the anti-Christ. They typically infer that the antichrist is mentioned in Revelation. Not so. The only place the term is used is in John’s epistles and there John tells us that antichrist has already come! All that is hodge-podge make-believe rhetoric employed by the Schofield futurists to take this literal history and to apply it to our day.

Look at verse five of our text, where Paul says: "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” Obviously, Paul had given them instructions before and maybe they had forgotten or been misled – but he had told them about this “man of sin” and about the falling away. But he was not fully operational or in place, in verse 6 Paul reminds these believers again, and says: "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." In other words, THEY KNEW who this Man of Sin was – they could identify him and they KNEW what stood in His way (at that time) from exalting himself over “everything that is called God or was worshipped.” Then Paul says (to them) that this man of Sin was already at work or in play. He puts it this way: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until…"

The Man of Sin in Paul's Day

In other words, the man of sin was already at work in Paul’s day! Did you miss this? And then Paul tells them: “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” In our day and age, there are all sorts of opinions on who this man of sin was. Vespasian. Nero. But opinions are irrelevant. What we do know is the Man of Sin is history, and He was destroyed at His coming, and the whole thing is yesterday's news.

Proofs from the Epistles

These are the proofs we can take from these passages: Verse 5-6: Paul knew who the man was. Verse 6: He knew who was hindering his power. Since he knew the identities of these two men, we also know he did NOT reveal their names – probably to avoid persecution. Verse 6: Not only did Paul know his name, the believers at Thessalonica knew it too! Verse 5: we know he was a contemporary figure to Paul and that Paul had already addressed this person to them. Verse 7: Tells us the activities of this lawless one were already at work at THAT time, with them. Verse 4: Let’s us know he was going to desecrate the temple. That makes sense. Not for us now – especially where there is no temple.

From this, the second epistle to the Thessalonians was written around 57 AD. The temple was destroyed in 70 AD. So we know that whatever occurred during these 13 years was speaking to this man of sin. All of this proves that the Man of Sin was a contemporary of Paul. So there it is – my estimation of when the Bible says Jesus would return.

Recognition and Understanding

Thirteen segments. I want to thank all the brave preterists who have endured countless attacks and dismissals for their work in this area. These people include my brothers Don Preston, Glenn Hill, all who contribute to the preterist archives online, my dear brother Mark Payzant, the support of my wife and family who too have had to challenge many of their long-held notions to clearly see the forest for the trees. I accept all men and women who are futurists and do not demean them for holding these views. But I would suggest that in order to truly be free, a person has to be willing to drop any and all religious tradition – no matter how reassuring – in order to truly be free. This is just one of the mighty that need to fall. Next week, another – eternal punishment.

Increasing Imminence

There are two illustrations that I think need to be understood before we wrap this segment up on when the Bible says Jesus would return. The first is what Glenn Hill refers to as the Increasing Imminence. What he means by this is that as 70 AD approaches, scriptures speak more and more and more of His imminent return. Let me illustrate this on the board.

On Board Example of Bible

OT – God’s relationship with the COI Transition to Gentiles END JESUS Reign

GENESIS – MALACHI (Silent Period

The Ebb and Flow in Acts: Peter and Paul

At the ebb and flow in Acts where Peter diminishes and Paul increases. Take a close look at the ebb and flow in Acts where Peter diminishes and Paul increases.

The Transition from Jew to Gentile

The Law written on our hearts and minds. Spiritual Body of Believers. Bible lessons spiritually applied. Christianity is wholly subjective. Playing church is done. Dead to sin and law and mediations of Man.

Acts Chapters Overview

ACTS chapters 1-7:57 – Original Apostles ACTS chapter 7:58 – Saul’s name is mentioned only ACTS 8:3 mentions Paul is reeking havoc with the church (the rest of the chapter is Peter) ACTS 9:1-31 Paul’s conversion, then ACTS 9:32-45, 10:1-48 and 11:1-24 Peter Then Paul again in Acts 11:25-30 Then in ACTS 12:1-2 James is killed Then Peter ACTS 12:3-23 Then Paul ACTS 12:24-25, and then all of chapters 13 and 14 And then in chapter 15 PAUL CONFRONTS PETER! And thereafter the rest of the book of Acts is all about . . . PAUL! (Chapters 15 through 28) AND THEN EVERY EPISTLE OR BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITTEN BY . . . PAUL. Until the end. And it’s almost like the Old and New Testament record wraps up with Jesus' original apostles instructing, reminding and encouraging those Jews who converted – in Hebrews, James, I and II Peter, I and II and III John, Jude and Revelation – to remember all they had been taught, that Jesus was coming, and the end of their world was shortly coming.

And that’s it folks. We use the bible to grow in faith, to learn of what came before us, to live in His spiritual Kingdom. But the physical is done.

King James and Homoerotic Desire

Buckingham as "my sweet child and wife." King James and Letters of Homoerotic Desire presents a modern-spelling edition of seventy-five letters exchanged between Buckingham and James. Across the centuries, commentators have condemned the letters as indecent or repulsive. Bergeron argues that on the contrary they reveal an inward desire of king and subject in a mutual exchange of love. So my question for you today is if it is true or a just a rumor rather or not if King James was a homosexual?

Personal Journeys and Faith

I have been a member all my life. My dad started a branch in Chambersburg, now the stake center. I began a study of the scriptures, and the Lord opened my eyes, by showing me problems in the Book of Mormon. Now, there is no one that I can talk to, all my friends and family are members. Where do I go from here? Syd, Chambersburg, Pa. P.S. Ironic, the Book of Mormon has brought me out of Mormonism.

RESPONSE

Sidney, Praise the LORD for His work in your life and your willingness to see. Now, be willing to give Him a chance – a radical chance – a chance to work in you rather than on you through religion. Go to Him and bear your soul. Tell Him your truest of true hearts. Reveal your sin and need for Him. Ask Him to take over, to give you new eyes, a new heart, a new life. Then step back and wait. He will work if you let Him and He usually shows Himself through new vision – or new perspectives – like He gave you when you were reading the BOM. Keep going, keep trusting, and if inclined, pick up His word and start reading without the LDS influence. I would suggest in John. God BLESS BLESS BLESS you. Shawn

Community and Witnessing

From: Derek Melton

Subject: Heart breaking for family friends

Message Body:

My daughter's best friend is a Mormon, she's 9yrs old and has accompanied us to our church (a Bible-believing Christian church) and we have attended an 'event' at their Mormon church, not a service of course, since we're not Mormon. Her entire family is deep in the Mormon church and I'm desperately praying for a way to witness to them. As most Mormons, they're 'great people' and we like them a lot but I feel God laying them on my heart. I know they've been placed in our path for a reason, do you have any materials or things that may be helpful in witnessing to them, without scaring them away? The more I read/learn about Mormonism, the more my heart breaks. Thanks for all you guys do! Love the shows. Thanks!

A FASCINATING EMAIL from a MUSLIM IN EGYPT – “omar”

Subject: i am shoked

Message Body:

I think your program is amazing and speaks the truth. I have family member who are Mormans and they to me are more like Masons. Me myself am Muslim and I truly respect what you say and as a Muslim believe in Jesus or who we call Isa. Thanks for speaking the truth and hope to visit your show one day. Bye from Egypt and all the best guys.

From: Justin

Subject: Truth is…

Message Body:

Hello, this is for Shawn. Thanks for your willingness to publicly contrast Mormonism and what we call a Christian. First and foremost I am a disciple of Jesus and pray the Holy Spirit guides me closer to God. Wait, that is a double negative to say the Holy Spirit bring us closer to God. I understand that the Bible is God breathed and our final authority for practice and faith.

My question is, will you be willing to compare two different beliefs within the Protestant denominations? I agree with you about not claiming any creed and also claim we are the church that serves Jesus as he was a substitute for sin that man brought to this world. I would like to hear your thoughts on a couple different topics, is God completely sovereign vs. free will, and the process of justification and sanctification. Looking forward to hearing from you. Justin Victorino.