In this episode of Gospelbound, Carl Trueman discusses our culture’s current obsession with identity and changing attitudes about gender and sexuality. He offers a crash course on key historical figures and ideas that have shaped us in profound yet often unnoticed ways, highlights what conservative Christians often misunderstand about the LGBTQ cause, and offers advice when it comes to navigating an increasing hostile culture in the coming years. His new book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution is now a must read for all Christians that want share the Gospel with the community with whom they engage. Watching this video will motivate you to buy the book. Like me you may watch the video more than once. Carl Trueman is an accomplished communicator. If you want more of Carl Trueman can I suggest you go to Thinking in Public with Albert Mohler: The Triumph of the Modern Self: A Conversation with Theologian Carl Trueman.
Self is glorified not God. Basically, your sin nature defines who you are and you are God. This is what they are about to teach children in government schools in Australia. For example: “gender identity is not based on your biological identity, it is how you feel inside and how you express your gender through clothing, behavior, and personal appearance. It’s a feeling that begins very early in life”.
I thought most people were up in arms about the “Safe Schools” curriculum that was introduced in the State of Victoria and I was delighted that the Federal Government decided to get involved and introduce an Australia wide curriculum that would ensure freedom of religion and not teach anything that is anti God.
The so called “Good Society” curriculum is the outcome of the government spending an inordinate amount in development costs. Listen to Martin Isles describe what it teaches. It is worse that Safe Schools which to me is inconceivable but after having watched Martin, I agree that what it teaches our children will make them believe God’s Word must be considered harmful and be banned.
I cannot believe how quickly this nation is turning away from God and I am shocked that this curriculum got past our Christian P.M. and his Jewish Deputy. The good news: this casting off of God and His values fits with Biblical end times prophecy. The much prophesied last seven years prior to Jesus return is fast approaching at which time Jesus said, ” Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28
Jews cower in their homes as Arabs set fire to synagogues and comb the streets for Jewish victims. Failing that, they attempt to break into Jewish homes. They burn cars and whatever else they can lay their hands on. These events are taking place over the last two days, in Israel proper, in the city of Lod, a half hour’s drive from Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Iron Dome Defense System intercepts a barrage of Hamas rockets fired at Israel from Gaza towards Tel Aviv—some 150 at a time
Lod is a mixed city. Its Jewish population has been shouting for help as they remain trapped in their own homes while Arabs run riot. The government has quite rightly been criticized for its tepid response. Only about 30 rioters have been arrested. Finally, on Tuesday evening, the government ordered 16 Border Police companies to the city and declared a state of emergency.
As pathetic as has been the government and police response, it’s Lod’s Arabs who deserve the most censure. They are Israeli Arabs. They have grown up in Israel, not on the other side of some imaginary line, not in the so-called ‘occupied territories.’ Israel makes enormous effort to help its Arab citizens feel a part of the country, despite propaganda to the contrary. In short, there is no excuse for the savagery of this ungrateful minority.
One Jewish woman in Lod, appearing on Channel 11 on Tuesday night, described the relations she had had with her Arab neighbors up until then. She said they were a model of warmth and mutual respect. Most fascinating was hearing how the friendly relationships of years changed in the way a switch is flipped. She said she could feel the difference. Suddenly, they looked at her with hostile eyes. The woman, a sociologist by profession, said she couldn’t explain it. She also said she saw Arabs outside “dancing with joy” as the Hamas rockets flew by.
It is reminiscent of accounts from the 1929 Hebron pogrom, where “Arab homeowners had told their Jewish neighbours ‘today will be the great slaughter,’ and several of the victims took tea with so-called friends who, in the afternoon, became their killers.”
Lod’s violence has now spread to other heavily Arab cities. Bedouin in the south lie in wait along the highways, ready to stone passersby.
Arabs cheered at Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate as they watched a Hamas rocket reach the Jerusalem area on Monday evening, May 10th around 6:00 p.m. Between six and seven rockets were fired in the barrage, which was directed at Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the capital.
Israelis are watching and no doubt reaching conclusions. “All the work we have done here for years [regarding coexistence] has gone down the drain,” Lod’s mayor said. Even the most dedicated peace advocates have fallen silent as Arabs, who a month ago were wishing their Jewish neighbors a Happy Passover, took to the streets with chants of “With blood and fire we will redeem Palestine.”
An Arab Israeli rioter
In terms of “end times” timing this is a very significant watershed event. The hostility will only escalate from here as Jews have to isolate Palestinians living within its borders. World anti Jewish sentiment will escalate as a result. The good news is that we know the end of the story, and whilst Israel still has its greatest challenge ahead involving the Antichrist, Jesus will return to Israel to rule and reign the nations from Jerusalem when it will be known as the “City of Peace” and “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Isaiah 1:26; 2:1-4; Jeremiah 23:6)
Technology is advancing exponentially and its adoption is also experiencing exponential growth. Our lifestyles are set to change dramatically as a result. At the same time governments have recklessly taken on so much debt they are unable to govern responsibly. Money printing is rampant and interest rates close to or at zero. A great financial reset is inevitable. As well, Covid has given governments much more control over their citizens which they will not readily relinquish. Covid has also changed dramatically how businesses operate and in fact how we live our lives. The scene is set for Technochasm. Eric Fry, editor of Fry’s Investment report first used the word Technochasm to describe the phenomenon that is dividing our economy — and our stock market — into distinct groups of winners on one side … and losers on the other. Tech-focused and tech-enabled companies are leaving their old-school counterparts in the dust — both on Main Street and on Wall Street.
Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg in October 2018 that Neom will be completed in 2025, and phase one is nearing completion.
Saudi Arabia is building a futuristic mega-city called Neom deep in a desert bordering the Red Sea.
The state has pledged at least $500 billion to make it happen, and is soliciting further investment.
Another good example of technological change is Electric Vehicles and Driverless vehicles both developing at a phenomenal rate, made possible by 5G. Experts predict that by as early as 2030 – that 95% of new car sales will be Electric Vehicles (EV) largely due to the development of solid state batteries when 1000 km range will become the norm, and charging time cut to 5 minutes (80 per cent). EV self driving cars will reduce the traffic volumes by 80% on the roads. Imagine the impact this will have on our how we live our lives. You will not own a car, you will order a driverless car for each occasion. A minicar for one person to go to work or an eight person vehicle for the family to go on an outing. Homes will no longer need garages. The vehicle that takes you to work will immediately be sent on another errand or to a Battery Recharge Station.
What about robotics? Amazon already has a robotic warehouse. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and for the most of the time it does not need the lights on. Robots make few order processing errors so the Customer Service Department was reduced dramatically.
Robot restaurants are popping up all over downtown San Francisco, as a futuristic option for people to grab fast food for cheap. The latest example is Creator, a robotic restaurant that specializes in making gourmet hamburgers with their all-in-one burger robots. This video takes you behind-the-scenes of their appointment-only smart kitchen to learn more about how robots will be the future of food in urban cities. Why they say Robot restaurants won’t take your job is because without robots these restaurants would not exist because the owners could not afford the space needed nor pay the staff costs required for a restaurant using manual labour.
Blockchain technology is another big disrupter, its impact will be almost if not bigger than the internet. Blockchain technology will break the shackles of centralization and provide better options to end-users. At the core, blockchain is a decentralized, peer-to-peer ledger-based network where there is no central authority. It will take the middle man out of so many transactions across most sectors of industry (trade and finance) and government.
Another aspect of the Digital Revolution is digital money. Bitcoin is already mainstream but in addition China is set to launch the digital yuan latest 2022. America will not be far behind as they realise the digital yuan will give China an edge to challenge America as the dominant international currency.
Put all this radical exponential technological change together with Governments that are no longer able to govern wisely and we have Technochasm. The rich are getting richer and the middleclass and the poor are getting poorer. The young believe previous generations, particularly this generation have destroyed the planet to the extent it now threatens their existence. They are taking to the streets and to violence to effect change, anarchy and lawlessness is escalating. I believe the scene is being set for the prophesied Antichrist to step onto the stage, the strongman able to solve the worlds problems. However, Bible prophecy tells us we still have two significant middle east wars before the little horn (Antichrist) of Daniel 7 & 8 is revealed. Regardless, time is short, Christians need to get about our Master’s business to share the Gospel, the only good news for a world that is facing the wrath of God.
Police in Finland are investigating the leader of an entire denomination for publishing a booklet that disapproves of homosexuality. The author of that booklet, Dr. Päivi Räsänen, which sets forth the Biblical teachings about sexuality, is also under investigation for the crime of “agitation against an ethnic group,” a statute which added “sexual orientation” to the list of protected classes. The maximum punishment is two years in prison.
Dr. Räsänen, who is very impressive for her integrity in the way she speaks up for Christian truth in the public square. (For example, she points out that the Finnish state church is obligated, by law, to base its teachings on the “Holy Scriptures,” and asks, how could it then be illegal to teach what the Holy Scriptures say?) Here is a sample of what Dr. Räsänen, also a medical doctor, has to say:
Dr. Päivi Räsänen is a member of the Finnish parliament and a former Minister of the Interior, no less!
I believe that ultimately the purpose of these attacks is to eliminate the Word of God and discard the Law of God. It is very problematic that expressing Christian beliefs is often seen as insulting in the West. For example, marriage between a man and a woman has become a concept that is understood as restrictive, even threatening. Concepts such as man and woman, father and mother, are dearly loved concepts, and as old as the history of humanity. The attempt to break down the gender system based on two different genders hurts especially children. It is unfortunate how uncritically the ideology of sexual diversity and LGBT activism has been supported and endorsed even by churches.
I believe that every person has the right to hear the whole truth of God’s Word, both the Gospel and the Law. Only people who recognize their sins need Jesus, the propitiation for our sins. We must have the courage to speak about the dangerous effects of LGBT activism. Debatable themes such as immoral sexual relations have to do with guilt. Guilt cannot be solved by denying it, but only by confessing it and receiving mercy and the message of forgiveness in Jesus’ sacrifice. It is impossible to think that classical Christian doctrine would become illegal in the West.
Please pray for Dr. Räsänen and for the other faithful Christians in Finland and in other parts of the world, where many are enduring much worse persecutions. Remember, persecution comes with the territory
The head of the World Food Program (WFP) believes that 2021 could see “famines of biblical proportions” as the economic struggles of COVID-19 may hamper global responses to food shortages caused by military conflicts, the rise of Islamic extremism and locust infestations.
In an interview with the Christian Post WFP Executive Director David Beasley expressed concern for the funding problems that could be in store for 2021. Despite receiving historic levels of funding and leading the food-assistance branch of the United Nations to a Nobel Peace Prize since he took the helm in April 2017, the 63-year-old Beasley warned the fiscal realities of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a decrease in funding at a time when as many as 270 million could be pushed to the brink of starvation. “I think it could be much bigger depending on how you define biblical proportions,” Beasley said. “2021 is going to be catastrophic unless we receive extraordinary financial support. I made a comment in late 2019 that 2020 was going to be the worst humanitarian year since World War II. Then before 2020 hit, desert locusts came on top of that, and then COVID came into the scene.” “If we did not get the support we needed and certain international actions were not taken, there would be famines of biblical proportions, destabilization and migration,” he added. “The international community responded significantly in 2020. We were able to avert famine last year.” The director stressed that the problem for 2021 lies in the fact that government budgets for 2020 were largely set in 2019 based on strong economic indicators before the pandemic hit.
Incredible scale of Kenya locust plague
A major driver of hunger in 2020 was a record infestation of crop-destroying locusts across several countries in East Africa and the Middle East. “New locust swarms are already forming and threatening to re-invade northern Kenya” while “breeding is also underway on both sides of the Red Sea, posing a new threat to Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, and Yemen.” “There is a lot of work to be done.” Beasley said of the WFP’s locust response. “The locust issue is not resolved and they are now on the move.”
Jesus Foretells “End Times” Wars, Famines and Persecution “Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences.”Luke 21:10-11
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the elite Qods Force funds, trains and fights alongside a group of terror proxies that menace the Middle East, including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Badr Organisation in Iraq.
“And I (Daniel) saw in the vision; and when I saw,I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram (Iran) standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great..”Daniel 8:2-4
The prophecy in Daniel 8 is unfolding in our day as Iran’s proxies are “charging westward and northward and southward.
Between 1995 and 2020, four administrations – Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump –sanctioned 10 Iranian proxy groups in five countries. They also sanctioned 86 leaders* from 13 groups supported by Tehran.
Between 2017 and 2020, the Trump administration designated six of these terrorist groups all tied to Iran. One of President Trump’s top foreign policy goals was to limit Tehran’s regional influence and support for militant groups across the Middle East. “From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region,” he said in May 2017. “For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.”
HarakatHezbollah al Nujaba, an Iraqi militia trained, armed and advised by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
Bible prophecy reveals that what comes next is Turkey, Sunni (Goat of Daniel 8) intent on reviving its past Ottoman Empire crushes Iran, Shia and for a period dominates the middle east.
“Then the goat (Turkey) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.” Daniel 8:8
As also revealed in this verse, Daniel next sees the revived Ottoman Empire is broken up into four by whom we can only speculate, perhaps the leader dies or the United Nations or even Russia are possible candidates.
“Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land… It grew great, even to the host of heaven.” Daniel 8:10-11
The above verse reveals that it is out of one of these four nations that the Antichrist will arise.
Daniel is given an interpretation of this vison of the goat and ram in Daniel 8:18-27 and is told to seal it up as it refers to last days events.
“Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” Daniel 8:18-19
“The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Yavan, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.” Daniel 8:20-21
Implications of the Consistent Futurist Interpretation
Step 1: Iranian Invasion of Middle East Step 2: Turkish Response and Defeat of Iran Step 3: Leader of Turkey Dies (one possible explanation for the break up) Step 4: This New Turkey Breaks up into Four Step 5: Out of One of these Emerges the Antichrist
Persecution of Christian women worldwide has risen dramatically in the last year as a new study released by Open Doors International (ODI) found that forced marriages have increased by 16%, and physical violence against women has increased 31%.
Gender Specific Religious Persecution (GSRP) has risen to the highest level recorded in the three years since the report was first issued in 2018, as women face a higher potential risk of religious persecution than men. The report’s data comes from the top 50 countries on the group’s annual World Watch List between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sep. 30, 2020.
Helene Fisher, a global gender persecution specialist for Open Doors International and one of the authors of the report, told The Christian Post that the increased threat to women is often because women have fewer rights in most of the top 50 countries for religious persecution. “Because [women] have fewer rights and fewer protections, they’re just an easier target,” Fisher said. “They can also be targeted with impunity, which means that if there is a population that doesn’t want the Christians to thrive, they can go after the women and girls and there aren’t consequences for those aggressors. So, it is a question of the women and girls having fewer rights for legal protections. [Women] are more vulnerable in the society, and they are just the easiest way to disable the Christian population.”
People pray as they gather for a ceremony on Christmas eve at Central Brooks Memorial Church in Karachi, Pakistan, December 24, 2016.
The five most common “pressure points” among women in the top 50 countries on the World Watch List for religious persecution are forced marriage, sexual violence, physical violence, psychological violence and forced divorce. Each category increased since last year’s study.
Ninety percent of the top 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted report forced marriage as a pressure point, and 86% of countries report sexual violence.
Targeting women, the child bearers, and forcing them to convert is a tactic used to destabilize the future generation of the Church, the development of families and the raising of Christian children.
Trafficking women as a form of religious persecution is on the rise, particularly in Asia and Africa, the report finds. Christian refugees or internally displaced peoples are especially vulnerable to this.
“Trafficking as a form of religious persecution continues to pose a threat in all regions on the World Watch List and it is rising, particularly in Africa and Asia. Globally, 17 countries (up from 10 the previous year) reported incidents of trafficked women and girls,” the report adds. “Countries engaged in conflict were most likely to report instances of sexual violence and trafficking.”
Research from the World Watch List shows more than 340 million Christians globally endure high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, which amounts to one in eight Christians around the world.
Jesus told us that persecution of Christians will increase in the last days before His return. It is just one of the end times signs He has given us. Israel, apostasy in the church, Covid and increased lawlessness are other very significant signs.
Michigan-based Bethany Christian Services announced Monday it will begin placing children in LGBTQ families nationwide.
Bethany, one of the country’s largest adoption and foster care agencies, started offering services to gay couples in 2019 after a legal settlement. The new policy approved by the organization’s board does not include the phrase “LGBTQ,” but says it will “implement a nationwide policy of inclusivity in order to serve all families across Bethany’s core service lines.”
CBN News received the following emailed statement from Bethany: “For the past 75 years, Bethany Christian Services has never wavered from our mission of demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus to children and families. We help families stay together, we reunify families who are separated, and we help vulnerable children find safe, stable homes when they cannot remain in their own.”
“Faith in Jesus is at the core of our mission. But we are not claiming a position on the various doctrinal issues about which Christians of mutual good faith may disagree. We acknowledge that discussions about doctrine are important, but our sole job is to determine if a family can provide a safe, stable environment for children. Unlike many other child and family welfare organizations, Bethany is committed to partnering with churches to find as many families for vulnerable children as possible, and we seek to place children with families that share our mission.”
Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said, “We are now seeing a head-on collision between organizations like Bethany Christian services that had been very committed to a Christian understanding of marriage and the family and human sexuality and gender … and the government.” He said Bethany has surrendered the “Christian convictional part” in order to retain its partnership with the government. “Christians have to understand: If you’re redefining marriage, if you’re redefining parent and family, you are redefining civilization,” he said.
The Bible’s definition of family is clear, a father and mother is necessary, any other definition is contrary to God’s standard. We can now understand that the only way for this world to function as our maker intended is for Jesus to return as prophesied and to rule and reign with His saints. The following Scriptures make it clear we will rule the nations with a rod of iron. It will not be a democracy.
“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, andHe will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:27
“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:8-11
“For the nation and kingdom which will not serve You shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined.” Isaiah 60:12
Who could have predicted that 10 Nazi war criminals would face the same fate that awaited the Purim story’s villain and his 10 sons thousands of years earlier?
When we look toward Iran, a nation that occupies the same territory in which the Purim story occurred (Persia), we see the rise of a fanatical regime whose rhetoric rivals Israel’s most vicious enemies. Now more than ever, it is apparent that history repeats itself for those who refuse to learn its lessons.
The connections between Purim and the Holocaust are clear. At these two separate times in history, a dictator sought to destroy the Jews through mass annihilation.
Take a look at the fascinating parallels between the story of Purim and the Nazis 2,000 years later!
The current leadership of Persia is obsessed with eliminating Israel hence their resolve to develop nuclear weapons. All of this is revealed in Biblical prophecy and demonstrates we are in the last days before Jesus returns to this earth to rule and reign for 1000 years – Millennial Kingdom.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 