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Why oh why do they do it? No winners here on any level, just potentially ruined lives.

if a Supreme Court decision was going to be based on the ideology of a deceased Supreme Court justice, then why bother to have any that are living? We could just have, say, Louis Brandeis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Brennan, Earl Warren, Hugo Black and Joseph Story, for starters.

This kind of violence is why we need a judgment and Jesus to come again to make everything right

According to Adventist Today online, there has been a mass mailing of the book GREAT CONTROVERSY by Ellen White to a large segment of the population in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also according to this report, several newspaper articles in Philadelphia have come out against this as being illogical or wrong. I guess those who live in Philadelphia are bothered by the account of persecution, torture, etc., for religious reasons found in this book. I wonder if this might not be doing more harm than good to our Adventist ministry in Philadelphia. [I know what feelings arise in me whenever I'm forced to accept a copy of "The Watchtower" publication given to me by a stranger.] Perhaps it would have been better to use those books in one-on-one contacts, after an interested person asks for it.

Fascinating article http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/50-people-in-the-bible-confirmed-archaeologically/

I've made the decision to transition from my nickname - which I've had here for a very, very long time - to using my real name. In the transition I've kind of kept both. I've also uploaded an actual photo of myself rather than the cartoon version I've been using. Others who are more vulnerable for a wide variety of family or work related or other reasons may prefer to still use nicknames and other representations, and I completely honour that. When the issue has come up in the past, I've been quick to recognise that I'm in a privileged position in being able to say pretty much whatever I want to online without serious repurcusions. Others are not in that situation. For me, I think it will be a bit of a sobering influence: at least once I have been contacted by a real person about whom I had said something on this forum - and that was when I had a nickname. Now that it's all searchable with my own name, it'll lead to additional think-before-speaking, which isn't a bad thing.

"Holiness is constant agreement with God" White, In Heavenly Places, p. 33.4

You bet He did! While grieving for my son, I was really angry with God; and was yelling curses and really nasty things at Him. He interrupted me; and said (almost audibly) "Do you think I did this? REALLY??? I deal with life; not death. The evil one - the Destroyer - has done this to your family. Go ahead and yell at Me all you want - I've been cursed by a lot better than you! I'm am here to grieve with you as long as you want Me here. If you want Me to leave, just say the word." I asked Him to stay; and I apologized for my tantrum. That was the first time in my life that I felt God actually speak to me when I KNEW it was Him. We've been talking a lot ever since. That particular moment was one of the best moments of my life.

How do I treat GLBT's ? I have had friends who were gay, coworkers and those who have requested Bible studies. I honestly believe that I treat them the same as any other person with whom I come into contact. To my knowledge I have no relatives who were a part of the GLBT community/persuasion. Inside, I have strong emotional scars; a husband who only bothered to come out after numerous distasteful incidents. A very close friend who in the 70ties was one of the first to be diagnosed with HIV and subsequently died.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. We are to serve and as needs are met through His power, and guiding, and inspiration, it rebounds to glory to God.

i would be concerned if they summoned his ghost to vote.

She does give a good cut...thanks Gay.

Nan! As a man who ran a hair salon bed and breakfast in my fantasy world..I can say with great authority That is a wonderful cut and really brings out the nape of the neck! Simply gorgeous !

Angels record everything--even your thoughts--and they do it all the time, never failing on account of electrical outages, technical difficulties, a full hard disk, etc. Any Christian should be well aware of the fact all Heaven is watching. One cannot hide from God. Who needs a camera? Do we really suppose earthly justice will be more fair than God's? God says "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." Skip the legislation of background checks, cameras, and all the accouterments to go with it. Teach people more, more about Jesus. He is the only Answer to the sin problem.

"When we try to obey God’s law without grace, our righteousness is like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). True obedience is the result [Not the prerequisite] of a saving relationship with Jesus [not a denomination]. Through God’s amazing grace, we’re freed from the penalty of sin. Such love awakens in our hearts a desire and the power to keep the law." (emphasis mine) I enthusiastically agree with this statement.

http://tinyurl.com/jonne6g Thank God for ADRA being involved

No child or group of children should ever be left alone with a single adult, except when a camera is in operation maybe. That wouldn't eliminate the problem entirely, but it almost would. Hidden cameras should be made available, on a rotating basis if need be, in all public areas, with notice posted at all times that a camera may be watching.

I am listening to all sides of this issue. I am only wanting to share here some of what is being discussed. We tend to think that we have the correct interpretation of these verses. But there are arguments that as you look at things such as context and language that we are reading into the text things that are not in the actual context of what is being discussed. We are so sure of our traditions that we don't realize that we are misreading the Bible. We think it is so clear, but those who look at the Rich man and Lazarus think that here they see the Bible clearly teaching about hell. Or absent from the body and present with the Lord, or one man esteemes one day above another. etc. The verses appear crystal clear to these people, but we know that they are wrong. And there is evidence that we may be in the same boat on this topic. Yes, I believe that the Leviticus references are conclusive enough but we may be reading the wrong conclusion into those words.

Very sad!! This world is sicker and sicker!!

I have difficulty responding to you because you ask me things that are (honestly) over my head. As far as hch goes, I haven't a clue where he's coming from. I can't even fathom how he has arrived at his conclusions. Salvation shouldn't be as difficult as this thread is beginning to make it sound. Jesus said His yoke was easy and His burden light. An easy yoke shouldn't have to include being a master of theology, Hebrew, and Greek. I am not a "lone ranger" in my ideas and personal beliefs. I fellowship mostly with non-traditional SDAs (including many on this forum), Messianic Jews, and charismatics. There are people in all of these churches who believe very similarly to me. That doesn't mean we're right or wrong; it just means we believe the same; and our minor differences should not keep us from worshipping together. We all believe the same concerning the Deity and the role of Jesus and salvation by grace. That is the gospel. I'm off topic here; so again - adios.

Only if you hold an Adventist or historicist view on eschatology. Futurists (which I am) believe that the 1260 days (literal 24-hour periods) are yet ahead of us. No need to debate me on this; my mind is pretty much closed to the historicist view. The day for a year analogy only applies to those prophecies for which it was explicitly stated (Num. 14:34 and Ezek 4:5-6); not for all prophecy in general. If the day for a year application was universal, then the millennium is really 360,000 years long, unless someone can show me a scripture that says "the day for a year application does not apply beyond the second coming".

Based on Rev. 14:9, I would say anyone who gets the mark of the beast from the 3rd angel's proclamation onward in doomed. If the mark is decreed (or covertly given) Prior to the 3rd angel's pronouncement shouldn't be held responsible; but I'm not God. I've heard various people say that your SSN is the mark; that the digitized photo on passports and driver's licenses is the mark, the implanted ID chip is the mark - no one really knows yet, do they? So how can people be held accountable for something that hasn't yet been revealed? There are probably some out there who will claim to have deciphered the secret mysteries of the 3rd angel's pronouncement; and that those who have not studied the ancient languages and bible codes are lost for their lack of knowledge and insight; and therefore are receiving the mark as we speak - unknowingly sealing their eternal fate already. I don't buy it. Salvation shouldn't have a pre-requisite of intimate knowledge of Hebrew and Greek; as well as insight to God's alleged secret bible codes. I shouldn't be that difficult if Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden light.

This may be true for Jews who don't accept Yeshua as Messiah; but Jesus referencing Daniel's writings while he was here was a sufficient Imprimatur for me to accept its authenticity.

Tom. I like your generosity towards Obama. My opinion is more cynical. I think all those corporate contribution require a response that leads our leaders to act in the interests primarily of corporations rather than the people who elected them. I think Obama had to adjust his aspirations and dreams to deal with that. I think the people are waking up to that that's why Bernie and Trump are so popular.

hch, I never even implied that everyone who gets the mark is the beast. The name of the harlot is NOT the mark of the Beast. The mark of the beast does not designate someone as the beast. The mark only authorizes that peson to buy and sell in the market. I refuse to do Twitter (just as I refuse to do FaceBook); so no; I never saw any of your tweets.

"The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great; the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." (Rev. 17:5) Since when is a forehead equivalent to a hat? I could see your point if scripture said "name written on her crown". If the writing is a tattoo on her forehead, it sounds like an identification mark to me. I don't recall seeing any explicit bible verses to back up your assertions. I just see your assertions.

I would add that the West's "addiction to oil" is not just about gasoline and automobiles. It is about all the products made from petroleum by products, from fertilizer, to zip-lock bags, to your plastic dishpan and garbage can, to Chap Stick. Think of all the "plastic" IV bags and syringes and medical equipment. Grief! Our quality of life would take a nosedive without cheap petroleum. And you wondered HOW the economy of the USA could collapse. The whole "reserve currency" BEGAN as a way to maintain cheap oil for the West.

I think it possible that the Vatican/Pope will play a part in the final events, but I think it more likely the Pope will serve as "the False Prophet" rather than the 7th head of the Beast itself. The Papacy would have to rule the entire world, if it becomes the 7th head. Everyone would have to worship/serve the Papacy. I just don't see that. Just reading thru Revelation 13 again. The Beast's "deadly wound" was "by the sword". This could be either the "sword of truth" OR it could be a literal weapon of war. In 13:11 the lamb-like beast rises "out of the earth". The words translated as "the earth" are the same words translated as "the land" - meaning the land promised to Abraham. I think it POSSIBLE that the lamb-like beast rises from Jerusalem, or at least from the current nation of Israel. The lamb-like beast "performs great signs" even making fire come down from heaven" (obviously empowered by Satan). By these signs he deceives men to do what he says. Personally, I believe the lamb-like beast IS "the false prophet". (I don't believe he is Satan himself, BECAUSE he is thrown into the lake of fire, whereas Satan himself is not.) The lamb-like beast tells those on earth to "make an image to the Beast". THEN he gives power to that image. THEN the image causes all to worship/serve the Beast (with the 7 heads and 10 horns). The image then causes everyone to take "the mark". So the image comes "alive" in some sense. The image is a copy of the Beast (with 7 heads and 10 horns). 17:11 says "the beast . . . is himself the 8th" head. In the 8th "head" we see the full flowering of the Beast power. In the image (which rules everywhere, over everyone) we also see the full flowering of the Beast power. I'm thinking the "image" (exact copy) of the Beast IS "the 8th head". And it comes into being because of the lamb-like beast, who rises "out of the land". In 16:13-14: 3 entities are named, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The dragon (Satan) gives power, thrown, and great authority TO the Beast. Which means the Beast cannot actually be Satan, but only an agency OF Satan. In 19:20: only 2 entities - the beast and the false prophet - are "cast alive into the lake of fire". This BECAUSE Satan (the dragon) is only imprisoned in "the pit" for 1000 years.

I'll close my account. Perhaps in the future I'll rejoin sometime under my real name. Not interested in doing so right now. May God richly bless you each and every one in your endeavors! Happy New Year and Shabbat Shalom!

confession time: my avatar covers well how I am in my spiritual being; the 'aka' represents the multiple affectionate nicknames given to me by mother, and also my work collegues naming me what they saw in my personality, as well as various pseudo-names used in this and other online forums.

They're all signs that point to the second coming...until we've arrived the best we can do is keep asking, "Are we there yet?"

9 But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it! Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Je 20:9). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. Thank you, Lord, for those who have that fire in their hearts and in their bones!