Fish Ministry

FellowHelpers To The Truth

The FellowHelper

FellowHelper is the first part of our corporate name of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc. Shortly after the start of this ministry a hard copy newspaper named “The FellowHelper” was sent out four times a year to over 8,000 recipients. It contained information on all the works and ministry being done by the workers of the organization. In today’s era of technology “The FellowHelper” has evolved into this website that is available 24/7 not only providing information on works and ministry being done but a repository full of riches can be found in the Library section and hopefully insightful sermons and series discussion in the Video section. FellowHelpers To The Truth is an organization of God’s people going about the work of helping God’s churches in multiple areas. We have among our people so much talent just bursting to reach out and bless us. If you need our help contact us, If you want to share your talents join us, If you want to support us please contribute in the Donate section, If you believe it is God’s will, pray for us!
Fish Ministry

F.I.S.H. is an acronym standing for “Fellowship for an International Scripture Heritage.”

It is one of several ministries of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc., a non-profit organization begun in 1982 under initial endorsement of Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Benton, Arkansas.

F.I.S.H. Ministry utilizes on-site missionaries to receive and distribute Bibles and New Testaments on various mission fields, as free-will offerings make copies of the Word available.

Latest Apologetics

1 week ago

(A continued and concluding exposition of Genesis 1:1-2)VERSE TWO: “And the earth/became/a desolation/and a waste/and darkness/upon faces of/abyss/and spirit of/God/brooding/upon the faces of/the waters.”Observations: There are several peculiarities in the Hebrew language which are often strong teaching points. The sentence begins with the conjunctive waw (wow) containing a half vowel. This designates it as a conversive rather than a consecutive conjunction. In Hebrew, a consecutive waw (pronounced as wow) contains a full vowel, usually one of the short a-class. It signifies that what is about to be said is intricately linked to what has just been said; hence, consecutive. However, the conversive waw, pointed by (containing) a half vowel designates a continuation of story, but not dependent upon what was immediately said except in the process of a story, not a consequence or related action.Another peculiarity of Hebrew is the singular form of conjunctions. In English, conjunctives allow the conveyance of continuation, result, consequence, etc. Thus, the language is enriched by “furthermore,” “however,” “subsequently,” “moreover,” “consequently,” “and,” “but,” “additionally,” etc. Since the conjunction in Hebrew appears the same, differing only in a full vowel or else a half vowel, translators preferred to stay almost exclusively with the neutral “and” regardless of context rather than observe context for differences of understanding. This is a real problem in the verse under consideration. The conjunction here should obviously be understood as “but” instead of “and” as determined so by contextual considerations. Verse One stated the completion of creation of both the heavens and the earth. Verse Two speaks of a chaotic condition, but it was not the heavens that became chaotic, it was the earth; hence, “but” is the logical translation of the conjunction as conversive in the progress of the story of unrelated consequence. This is also underscored by the violation of normal Hebrew syntax. The verb is not used first, so whatever is used first receives emphasis: here, the earth is emphasized, not the heavens.The second word of the verse is the verb “hayah” here translated “was” which is unfortunate since there is no “to be” verb in Hebrew. One should note that “was” is here shown in most bibles by normal print to be the translation of an existing Hebrew word, but throughout the rest of Genesis One, “was” is in italics to indicate that it is not the translation of a word, but rather inserted by translators to, in their opinion, help clarify the sense of the sentence. The problem is that if there were a Hebrew word for “was” then it would appear in those sentences, and italicized words would not have to be inserted. This underscores the error of translating “hayah” as “was.” The word “hayah” should be translated “became” or “went on to become.”The next word in Genesis 1:2 describes the state or condition of the earth at that moment using the Hebrew word “tohu.” It is variously translated, “vain, void, desolation,” etc. Tohu” paints a picture of utter chaos, formlessness, ultimate destruction, that is directly opposite to the meaning of “bara” create. Some expositors erroneously present “tohu” as a step in what is supposed to be a process of creation. This is taking unwarranted liberty to deny definitive language. Moreover, the Bible denies that God had anything to do with “tohu.” In Isaiah 45:18 God flatly states that He did not make it “tohu” (here translated “vain”). A form of argument that may be called begging the question is nevertheless true: God is perfect, and a perfect God does not do anything imperfectly. The question remains then as to the cause of a perfectly created earth being thrown into such a chaotic condition. A brief peep into the eternal realm through such passages as Eze. 28:12-19; Luke 18:10; Rev. 12:7 allows important insight into the matter. The fall of the archangel, Lucifer and a third part of angelic beings with him is doubtless the identification of the responsible party. Lucifer is also known as Satan, Abaddon, the Destroyer, the prince of the power of the air, and the god of this world who was created to serve God in the material realm, but fell from his place through the inception of sin and subsequent insurrection. Jesus described his fall as lightening, and his abode as darkness, a universal type of sin. This understanding of the two verses under consideration has become known in the general theological world as “The gap theory.” That there is a gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 should not be considered theory, but theological fact. If language indicators are to be observed in biblical understanding, then the two verses under consideration offer more knowledge than possibly any other two verses in the whole bible. It is impossible to determine how much time existed between the verses. It could have been a very short time, or a considerably long time. There simply is no way to tell; but that a monumental change occurred which would involve some period of time is obvious. The next word in the sentence is "wavohu” which is translated “void, a waste,” etc. It is an extended description of the state of the earth indicated by the former word “tohu.” Such a state excludes any involvement of God who is not the author of confusion, chaos, waste, or that which is void. The next word is “wehoshekh,” which is translated “and darkness.” God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all, John testified, I John 1:5. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. Darkness is a universal type of sin, and it is strongly indicated that darkness covering the earth in its formless state connotes the presence and effects of evil. Furthermore, the sentence states that this darkness covered “The faces of the [great, roaring] abyss. Blackness and darkness covered the surface of the entire former planet. The term “abyss” indicates the total lack of any form or life support system which had formerly been, and there was little difference between the formless mass and the bottomless, vast, expanse of space about it. The next word of the verse is “weruach” which is the word for “Spirit: with a prefixed conjunction. It is genitive case and translated “and Spirit of.” The next word is “Elohim” (God: see above). The following word is “merahepheth” translated “hovering, or brooding” The indication is that the all-powerful Spirit of elohim is standing ready to bring the commands of elohim to pass instantly. It has been taught that in the godhead, the Father is the divine architect, the Son is the form giver, and the Spirit of God is the energetic force that brings it into reality. That seems logical. The place of the hovering or brooding of the Spirit of God was upon the faces of the waters which in some form covered the floating blob that formerly existed as an inhabitable planet. A literal translation of the verse may read as follows: “But the earth became a chaotic desolation and a waste, and darkness existed upon the faces of the abyss; and the Spirit of God hovering upon the faces of the waters.” Isaiah 48:3 gives insight into the manner of God’s creative acts. There are those who twist the words of the Apostle Peter( 2 Peter 3:8) that with God a thousand years is as a day, and a day as a thousand years to teach that there is literally no way of knowing how long and drawn out the process of creation may have been. However that flies in the face of definitive language which states that in the re-construction the days of creation always included an evening and a morning, or what would be considered a solar day. Furthermore, in each of the creative days God spoke, and his own intrinsic power made the meaning of His words come to pass immediately. This was the Spirit of God at work. If this is true regarding reconstruction, then it heavily suggests that it was also true of original creation. Thus did God say, and Isaiah record, “. . .and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.”Consequently, in word meaning, connotation, syntax, language peculiarity, and proper translation of terms it is seen that God created an inhabitable earth which with the heavens was completed in verse one. Oppositional forces to God destroyed that creation, but God reconstructed it as related in Genesis 1:2 to 2:3. As an overview, the bible student will appreciate that there are three creative stories related in Genesis. The first is Genesis 1:1, (the focus of this dissertation) the second is Genesis 1:2 to 2:3. The third is Genesis 2:4 through Genesis 3, the casting down of the perfect cosmos, and the initiation of the present cosmos whose operational tenants are sin and death. ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

ABApologetics.org

2 weeks ago

AN EXPOSITION OF GENESIS 1:1 AND 1:2(Understanding language necessitates a gap of time) To understand the import of the scriptures, it is necessary to build theology one word at a time, It is also necessary to observe the syntax of the language under consideration together with context, means of emphasis, and basic meaning of root words. Finally, the peculiarities of the language of the scripture must be taken into account. In interpreting the scriptures under consideration, the following observations are made which have great bearing on the message.1. Syntax: Hebrew syntax is verb, subject and its modifiers, direct object and its modifiers, and indirect object and modifiers, if there is one. This is the normal construction of sentences in biblical Hebrew. If any other order is used it is for the sake of emphasis since underscore and embolden type was unknown in the early days. Originally the scriptures were written in all caps without sentence break. Every space was eliminated due to the scarcity of parchment or skins.2. Tense: There is no tense in the Hebrew language. This creates considerable difficulty for the occidental mind since it is accustomed to formulating all expressions with reference to time as past, present, future. The Hebrew language sees all things as complete or incomplete without reference to time.3. There is no “to be” verb in Biblical Hebrew. So, “am, are, is, and were” do not exist, but are often supplied by translators. In such cases they appear (in reputable print Bibles) in italics or in bold lettering to alert the reader that it is a supplied word that does not exist in the Hebrew sentence.With the above observations in mind, I will give the scriptures in rough English translation together with such observations that are quite germane to proper message understanding. It is most interesting that the first two sentences of the Bible violate normal Hebrew sentence syntax; hence, emphasis is in play.VERSE ONE: “In beginning/created/ God/ the heavens/ and the earth.”Observations: If this sentence followed normal syntax, it would literally read: “Created God in beginning the heavens and the earth.” The violation of syntax means emphasis is shifted from the verb (created) to another word, in this case “In beginning”. It would seem that any shift of emphasis in the first verse of the Holy Word would naturally land on “God” as the Creator, but not so. Therefore, great emphasis is placed on “In beginning” which would underscore that there were no previous creations of what we call the universe, and certainly no other dispensation or measuring out of eternity which is recognized as time. It is set forth in other places in the scriptures that the entities of existence in that eternal realm were the Triune God, and His messengers (angels: spiritual and mental entities) which had been created prior to material, universal bodies.The action word in this first sentence, the one that would receive emphasis ordinarily, is “created” It is “bara” in Hebrew and means “To cut out, give form to, shape or fashion.” It is 3rd per. masc. sing. It speaks of completed action, not prolonged process, since it is grammatically a perfect (complete action) verb. Otherwise it would have been an imperfect (incomplete action or process) verb. It must also be observed that a period at the end of “and the earth” denotes a completed thought or a finished action.A clue to the method of creation is revealed in the meaning of the term denoting the Supreme Being and Creator. It is here “elohim” which is the highest, most meaningful name of the Creator as unified in all things, especially in office work. Some fifteen or sixteen names of deity are used in the Old Testament due to the office work of God being segregated to fulfill extended needs of fallen mankind. But, here one must be concerned with the first word to designate God because in “the law of first mention,” one finds the greatest and most pointed meaning in the context in which it is first used.Accordingly, reputable lexicons reveal that “elohim” is a composite word filled with theology. It is a combination of “El” which means “exceedingly strong” and is translated “God” as a stand-alone word some 250 times in the English Old Testament. The other word involved is “Alah” which means to swear or to speak with great solemnity. The plural ending of the term is also a language oddity. In Hebrew sentences, verbs and subjects agree in gender; in number, and in definiteness unless something is quite different and thereby emphasized. In the language there are three numbers: singular, dual, and plural. Dual is used to denote a pair such as hands, feet, eyes, etc. Plural indicates three or more. Hence, the plural noun “elohim” consistently used with a singular verb indicates three acting as one which is what “elohim” is in unified purpose and office.Now an attempt is made to translate this designation for the Supreme Creator. It may require a paragraph rather than a three letter word that affords absolutely no visual imagery to the human brain. The translation goes like this: elohim is “The three Who invariably and consistently act as One, Who solemnly speak, and Whose innate, intrinsic power makes the meaning of His words come to pass instantly.” That is “elohim” Note the practical employment of this meaning throughout Genesis One. He speaks and what He says happens instantly.Now, it seems appropriate to attempt a literal translation of Verse One incorporating the meaning (ideas) that are being conveyed in the sentence. “At the very outset of all things material and related to the measure of eternity called time, the three who act as One did by His own intrinsic power solemnly speak; thus were cut out, formed, and fashioned as operational cosmic entities, the heavens and the earth.” (Period! End of thought, action completed)(To be continued) ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

ABApologetics.org

2 weeks ago

BAPTISM DOOR AND GUARD OF THE SPIRIT ENDOWED CHURCH(Requested by several)Baptism in water of a professed believer in Christ Jesus as it was practiced in New Testament times and continues to today, began with one man: John the Baptist. He was sent from God to prepare a people for His only begotten Son. He baptized such as brought forth life-fruit appropriate to repentance. He knew no other method or practice than immersion or burial of a candidate in water. Consequently, the scriptures state that John was baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there. John 3:23.John was austere, but most faithful to his calling. He refused to baptize the unrepentant. Realizing he alone had heaven’s authority to baptize, he must not violate its divine constraints. So it remained until the initiation of the public ministry of Jesus whom John baptized and announced to Israel. Upon the assimilation of the apostolic church, Jesus placed the authority for water baptism in the New Testament church. Presently, it alone has heaven’s authority to administer the ordinance as specifically stated in Matthew 28:18-30. Like John the Baptist, true churches must not violate its heaven-given restraints.The importance of baptism is underscored in Luke 7:29-30, “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” Through the centuries, the Lord’s true churches though known by various names in sundry countries, one name identified them all: Anabaptist. They were, as true churches of their descendants are, adamant about the authority that makes a baptism valid.Following the Divine order, disciples are made through repentance from sin and belief in Jesus as the only Savior. Baptism is then administered upon the authority of a New Testament church and by which the new convert is entered into the Holy Spirit endowed body, the baptizing church.In recent times much has been done to erode faith in the Bible and in the work of the Lord’s churches, not the least of which is about baptism. False churches may sprinkle or pour and even admit infants to what they call baptism, but it is iniquity plain and simple. Still others, claiming to be scriptural and more conservative will not question a proposed member’s baptism as to method or administration. They may claim that so long as it is “Believers Baptism,” all is well. (Believer’s baptism is an idea that it does not matter who administers baptism on a believer). All is never well when man’s ideas supplant the Word of God. There is a bible word for that, too. It is called “Iniquity.” The plain truth is folks who may be admitted to a scriptural church with invalid baptism are denied an understanding of the faith once delivered to the saints, and the unity of Jesus prayer in John 17. They will not stand in troublesome times. They cannot stand because they are in opposition to the counsel of God as much as the Pharisees were in Luke 7:30. Let Satan’s counterfeits do as they may. It remains that heaven recognizes only the directions it has given. Far be it from any of us to assume editorial changes to the Holy Word. ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

ABApologetics.org

3 weeks ago

TO WHAT ARE WE NOW COME“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Heb 12:22-24.These few lines center on the contrast between the law and the church, as expressed by “church of the firstborn.” Here, the Old Testament world of shadows and symbols and the NewTestament world of realities match in a most thrilling way.It begins in the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt. God purchased to Himself the firstborn by the blood of the Passover Lamb. This act emphatically proclaimed to the Hebrews that the first fruits of man, beast, the field, etc. belonged to Him, and such must be yielded to Him or redeemed with fair price. Beyond the Red Sea, a census was taken, and the tribe of Levi almost perfectly matched in number the total of firstborn saved from death by application of the blood, whereupon God traded the firstborn back to the Hebrews for the entire tribe of Levi, who would produce the priests and minister about holy things. It is important to connect the dots here. The Old Testament priests became representative of the firstborn ones whom God redeemed for Himself and symbolic of the church to which we have come. The Levitical priesthood was destined to cease. However, another high priest, after the order of Melchizedek, would serve the covenant people of God without end. This priest, of course, is Jesus, who is THE FIRST BORN from the dead among many brethren.When the new high priest fulfilled every jot and title of the Mosaic Law, He redeemed His people of covenant out from under the old and into the new, the expression of the New Covenant among men is the New Testament church, the pillar and ground of the truth,purchased with His own blood. Soon after Pentecost, gentiles were added. The church grew by leaps and bounds under its missionary efforts. People of this New Covenant are called the “Israel of God,” Gal. 6:16. Moreover, Peter calls them “a royal priesthood.” I Peter 2:9.Consequently, the emphasis is that we are no longer under the law. We have not come to Mt. Sinai, but to Mt. Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem . . . to the church of the firstborn . . . while we have this blessed status and enjoy the understanding and spiritual maturity it affords us, there is much greater personal responsibility regarding submission to the instructions of Christ Jesus, our eternal high priest. We must not turn away from Him who has spoken to us.We must learn to worship and serve God acceptably. While it is sweet to enjoy our relationship with Him as our Loving Heavenly Father, we must hear the other verses as well, and know thatour God is indeed a consuming fire.The church of the firstborn! A lofty position, place, covenant, to which we have been elevated in Christ Jesus. What a joyful position!FOR THOUGHT: What is the contrast under consideration in Hebrews 12:22-24? Who, and what, was under a death sentence in Egypt if the Passover blood was not applied? How does the ancient order of the Aaronic priesthood extend to us today? Who is our eternal high priest? If it was not safe to ignore instructions about the Passover blood, how is it not safe to ignore the instructions of our high priest? See less ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

ABApologetics.org

1 month ago

WHO PREPARES YOUR SPIRITUAL TABLEElisha was a mighty prophet of God in ancient Israel; the successor of Elijah, and a worker of miracles among the people of his time. Some of his mighty works are recorded in 2 Kings 4. A dearth prevailed in Gilgal (rolling hill country) when Elijah visited the sons of the prophets there. At his command a huge pot was prepared for pottage sufficient to feed all the people. One of the food preparation workers went into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine from which he gathered many gourds and shredded them into the pot. When served, the people could not eat. The gourds were poisonous and doubtless very bitter. They cried out that there was death in the pot. Elisha commanded that meal be cast into the pot then the pottage served. And so it was that the food was good and all the people ate with no harm.What a wonderful story! But why is it in the Bible, and does it have meaning for this generation? In a world of sin and degradation, there is almost always a spiritual dearth. Too many times, what is gathered to satisfy spiritual hunger is nothing more than certain religious garbage (Iniquity) that can only produce eternal harm because it is not of God, but of man, or worse, from Satan’s recipe book. It may look good, sound good, and offered as good, but in spiritual affairs nothing is good but that which comes from God. That which is unknown and wild is not to be trusted as a remedy and guide to satisfy spiritual hunger, and to direct the lives of men toward eternal reward.So, Elijah ordered that meal (flour) be added to the pot, and the people served. It was then that they found no harm at all in the pottage. Now flour is the substance of bread. Jesus said “I am that bread of life,” John 6:48. One may eat of the bread that Jesus gives, and find his hunger satisfied. In fact, He stated that those who do not eat of that bread of life have no part with Him. Truly, there is death in the pottage of this world, but Jesus, the bread of life negates the effects of sin and of death by His own eternal righteousness which is imparted to all those who hear Him and follow His directions.Surely, the tables of life are laden for many banquets, but what is being served? On the other hand, there is a banquet provided by the Lord Jesus that a man may eat thereof and live forever. Whose table are you feeding from? Are you confident that yours’ is a banquet of life, or is it a banquet of death from the delicacies of the devil? Jesus said, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. David said, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8. At the Lord’s banquet there is no death in the pot, only life, and that everlasting! ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

ABApologetics.org

1 month ago

UNDERSTANDING ANTICHRISTThe apostle John uses the term “Antichrist” four different times in his epistles; three times in I John 2, and one time in 2 John 1. He affirms that in his day, there were many already by which the last time is made known. In the other references, he describes the spirit, attitude, and nature of antichrist, identifying Characteristics instead of outright personages. Such are appropriate and in total harmony with other bible references. Of course, over the passage of time and through national crises, many actions have been referred to as antichrist. Some of these include Social Security numbers; rationing stamps for sugar, gasoline, and auto supplies during WWII etc. Perhaps a more concentrated focus on the subject will be helpful. The term “Anti” is a prefix to many words. It means “Against” or the opposite to the meaning of the word to which it is attached. “Christ” to the dismay of some, is not the sir name of Jesus, rather it is His title. He is Jesus the Christ. The meaning of this Greek term which is transliterated into English is “Anointed.”Anointing has its roots in the heart of Hebrew history. Kings and high priests were anointed with oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit which did indeed accompany the official anointing with oil. It was the enabling power for the anointed person to fulfill the duties of his office. Only two entities have been anointed in the New Testament. The first was Jesus at His baptism as He embarked upon His ministry of ultimate High Priest, Prophet, King, and Head of the spiritual body. The second was the anointing of the spiritual body at Pentecost. Hence, the Head and the body are Holy Spirit anointed as one as Jesus emphatically prayed in His recorded prayer in John 17. Additionally, John wrote in his epistle, I John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” So, to be antichrist is to be anti-Jesus, in the form of being “Anti” the teachings of Jesus; hence, “Anti” the Holy Spirit empowered body of the Anointed One, even the church which is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And who is more “Anti” the true church of our Lord, and its teachings than the bulk of what is called “Christianity?” It is a chilling thought that some of the Lord’s churches that are allowing themselves to be aligned with “Christianity” as defined by the Catholic and Protestant theologies may unwittingly find themselves in the camp of Antichrist, whose lamps are extinguished at the midnight cry! Is the church of your membership swallowing the antichrist theology of universal church and believer’s baptism? ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

Fish Ministry News

FISH Ministry

2 weeks ago

View on Facebook

FISH Ministry

1 month ago

View on Facebook

FISH Ministry

1 month ago

View on Facebook

FISH Ministry

2 months ago

ANNOUNCING A PERU PROJECT FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. Missionary Doug Clements is starting a work in a needful area in Peru. He has asked FISH Ministry if we could supply 50 additional solar-powered audio Bibles in Spanish for advancing this work. I told him we would be thrilled to help. If you or your church would like to get in on this opportunity, we will receive offerings for the Peru Project until the 15th of June to allow time for procurement of the units and shipping. Clements will be in Peru in July to personally place the units in the most effective areas. We are excited to help get this one done. Designated offerings will be the main source of funding the project, and Undesignated offerings to FISH Ministry will be used to help underwrite the project. Funds should be sent to FISH Ministry, P. O. Box 1023, Bryant, AR 72089 no later than June 10th. Funds may also be received on our website, ... See MoreSee Less

Fish Ministry

www.fishministry.net

FellowHelper is the first part of our corporate name of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc. Shortly after the start of this ministry a hard copy newspaper named “The FellowHelper” was sent out four t...

View on Facebook

FISH Ministry

2 months ago

WINNING THROUGH LOSING“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear” Rev. 13:7-9In the letters to the seven churches of Asia, recorded in Revelation Chapters Two and Three, much is said to encourage God’s people of covenant to be overcomers of the sins that threaten their well-being. and that of the churches. However, as the world nears the end of the present age, it is prophesied that the beast will be given power to make war with the saints and to overcome them. This appears to be escalating at the present time.Modern Christians who long have lived in unparalleled luxuries of life are softened to the point of recoiling in horror at the thoughts of any adversity. Doctrinal compromise is not new. Their preference is to shun Revelation and the dreadful apocalypse envisioned as the age closes. But, we dare to ask just what does it mean that the beast will make war with the saints and overcome them?Certainly, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ has sailed through bloody seas, suffering horribly in the flesh in the dark ages, and the inquisitions of the sixteenth century. Is that what is referenced in Revelation 13? Perhaps there is understanding of these scriptures that escapes those whose occupation it is to make sensational books on religion for monetary gain. Think with me.Several Greek words are translated “war” in the New Testament. Some specifically denote armies of soldiers, while others lend themselves to more figurative scenarios. In Revelation 13:7, the word is “Polemos” from which the English language also gets” polarize, polemics”, etc. The dark ages proved that blood baths did not stop the testimony of churches. Moreover, our adversaries are truly not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places, according to the apostle, Paul. Eph. 6:12It is a point of logic then that the war the beast will wage against the saints will be a war of influence, a war of polarizing the minds of godless beast worshippers against the witness of Christ Jesus, overcoming saints to a point of near complete marginalization. When we understand that “beast” in prophetical terms means government, then we look for governmental powers and personnel to implement words, ways, and means to negate the meaning of the faith, and the power of evangelism. The effectiveness of such governmental actions will engulf all whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God’s people have no trouble identifying measures currently in place which are directly aimed at this goal. Others, more strenuous will follow. Indeed the saints will lose this war, but will have the final, great, eternal victory in Christ that will follow. Hence, in the war of the beast with the saints, we lose the battle, but we win the war in the power of Christ Jesus ... big time!!! ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook