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Update at bottom.
I've written about the progressive standard that God showed us in the bible about why and when He gives a person or a nation over. That progressive standard in in Romans 1, particularly verses 18-32 in the section titled "God's Wrath on Unrighteousness".
I've noted on this blog about the progression of the acceptance and normalization of homosexuality and gay marriage, accomplished state-by-state through referenda or judicial fiat. I've noted that the last Presidential election's Democratic party platform contained many unGodly elements in it, including promotion of the gay agenda - and that is the platform (philosophy) a majority of the American people chose. Many millions of American evangelicals were more than a little dismayed by that, but not surprised. We are not surprised when the world acts like the world. Very recently, we noted that America's Supreme Court accepted the gay agenda through some important judicial decisions. All this has convinced many of us that America is under judgment.
I've also noted on the blog that the state-by-state acceptance of the homosexual agenda in the US is mirrored on a larger scale with a nation-by-nation secular acceptance of it. Last week, Britain legalized homosexual marriage. Also, Costa Rica has opened the door to it. Australia has opened the door to it. Uruguay and New Zealand have both enacted laws to legalize same-sex marriage which will come into force in August 2013. There are many other examples of nations giving over to the gay agenda.
It is clear that in secular society that great swathes of jurisdictions and sub-jurisdictions have legalized and thus normalized what God abhors.
Yes, God abhors all sins, but homosexuality is the only one He uses AS a judgment and as a benchmark of progress away from Him into darkness. It is clear that in the secular world, satan has greatly advanced in his cause for sin in claiming the worldly mind. That claim is growing exponentially every day. Just as a car is difficult to get out of a snowbank, with enough push, rocking back and forth, and persistence, traction is gained. That time is now. Traction is fully gained and the floodgates are opened. But again, the world is the world. That's how it is. We are not surprised- but we do mark the progress of the world's sin saturation.
In faith communities too, the homosexual agenda has gained remarkable traction. Now, when I say 'faith community", I don't mean legitimate faith. There is no faith except the true faith delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 1:3), but look at this list from Wikipedia:
"Various faith communities around the world support allowing same-sex couples to marry or conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies; for example: Church of Sweden, Quakers, U.S. Episcopalians, the Metropolitan Community Church, the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Canada, Buddhism in Australia, Reform and Conservative Jews, Wiccans, Druids, Unitarian Universalists, and Native American religions with a two-spirit tradition, as well as various progressive and modern Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish groups and various minor religions and other denominations."
This week both Desmond Tutu has stated that he welcomes the homosexual agenda and openly rejected God.
Desmond Tutu Says He Would Prefer Hell Over A Homophobic Heaven And God
Mr Tutu has won the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom among other awards, and was Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. He speaks for a considerable segment of the population on a considerably populated continent. The horrific thing is that he speaks these heresies in the name of Jesus.
Today we read- "Pope Francis On Gays: Who Am I To Judge Them?"
The pontiff broached the delicate question of how he would respond to learning that a cleric in his ranks was gay, though not sexually active. For decades, the Vatican has regarded homosexuality as a "disorder," and Pope Francis' predecessor Pope Benedict XVI formally barred men with what the Vatican deemed "deep-seated" homosexuality from entering the priesthood. "Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?" the pontiff said, speaking in Italian. "You can't marginalize these people."
The Pope is the voice of all Catholics, and the horrific thing is that he speaks these heresies in the name of Jesus. There are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world.
As God gives over the individual to his entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, and as He gives nations over to entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, God also will give over the world to sin and rejection of Christ. The moment He will give over the world to its sin will be the second after the rapture takes place. The world will be then unrestrained in its sin. (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
Daniel 9:24-17 describes the reasons God will begin the Tribulation and the verses record the length of it. God will allow sin to have its day. He will allow it to capture everyone who rejected His Son and thus, believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
We look at the progression in Romans and use that as a benchmark for the wrath of abandonment. We know and see individuals who are enduring the wrath of God's abandonment as they die with atheism or other religions or false Jesus on their lips. We know and see nations enduring the wrath of God's abandonment as they had wholesale turned away from God's laws, and I believe America is one of those nations enduring His wrath now, in current times.
But think on this: how long until God unleashes His wrath by abandoning the world to its sin and takes His bride home?? We are watching an amazing thing happen day by day. The peoples, nations, and faiths- all dismiss God by accepting homosexuality. Really, the world is crumbling.
It is like a sand castle. At first the tide nips at the edges of it. The castle loses a few grains of sand, but the larger structure is unaffected. Then a larger wave comes and swipes away a chunk. The waves return to docility and creep up to the castle in tiny nips, for a while. But then another big wave comes, and piled after that, another. The tide is crunching away as it comes in faster and faster, undercutting the entire structure and it starts to tilt. Soon the castle is a mound and soon after that, wiped from existence.
Not that He won't leave the Spirit to draw men to His bosom in the Tribulation, He will. Many come to faith then. But He will unleash His wrath upon an unbelieving world...
When I see whole nations and whole segments of a false faith community embracing homosexuality as they do, the rapture cannot be far behind, according to my understanding of the progression in Romans, at least. The wrath of abandonment is what Desmond Tutu claims to want, but what he doesn't know is that God has already abandoned Tutu to the wrath of God. He has done the same for those who believe the Pope's lie, also.
The Gospel has the power to cut through the darkness and save. There is no question about that. But God's plan is to retrieve the bride for His Son to love and leave the world to His anger. I believe that the advance of the homosexual agenda is a heavy-duty benchmark for that tipping point. I believe that tipping point is soon to appear.
I leave you with a prayer from John MacArthur:
Father, we are so grateful that You have not left us in doubt about these things which are part of life for us. I pray that You’ll use us to bring the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to people in these horrible chains of homosexual behavior, who have no future, no family, no hope, who live with massive guilt, pain, agony, driving unleashed passions. That You would come powerfully through the instrumentation of Your people to bring the gospel--it alone can save them. Be glorified, Lord. Turn the tide with Your truth and with Your gospel. Save people caught in not only this sin, but in all kinds of sins that are so popular in this culture. Give the gospel a fresh hearing, we ask for Your glory, in Christ’s name. Amen.
----------------------
Further reading
UPDATE
It’s Not What the Pope Said About Gays, It’s How He Said It
I've noted on this blog about the progression of the acceptance and normalization of homosexuality and gay marriage, accomplished state-by-state through referenda or judicial fiat. I've noted that the last Presidential election's Democratic party platform contained many unGodly elements in it, including promotion of the gay agenda - and that is the platform (philosophy) a majority of the American people chose. Many millions of American evangelicals were more than a little dismayed by that, but not surprised. We are not surprised when the world acts like the world. Very recently, we noted that America's Supreme Court accepted the gay agenda through some important judicial decisions. All this has convinced many of us that America is under judgment.
 |
| photo credit: San Diego Shooter via photopin cc |
I've also noted on the blog that the state-by-state acceptance of the homosexual agenda in the US is mirrored on a larger scale with a nation-by-nation secular acceptance of it. Last week, Britain legalized homosexual marriage. Also, Costa Rica has opened the door to it. Australia has opened the door to it. Uruguay and New Zealand have both enacted laws to legalize same-sex marriage which will come into force in August 2013. There are many other examples of nations giving over to the gay agenda.
It is clear that in secular society that great swathes of jurisdictions and sub-jurisdictions have legalized and thus normalized what God abhors.
 |
| photo credit: Dennis Wong via photopin cc |
Yes, God abhors all sins, but homosexuality is the only one He uses AS a judgment and as a benchmark of progress away from Him into darkness. It is clear that in the secular world, satan has greatly advanced in his cause for sin in claiming the worldly mind. That claim is growing exponentially every day. Just as a car is difficult to get out of a snowbank, with enough push, rocking back and forth, and persistence, traction is gained. That time is now. Traction is fully gained and the floodgates are opened. But again, the world is the world. That's how it is. We are not surprised- but we do mark the progress of the world's sin saturation.
In faith communities too, the homosexual agenda has gained remarkable traction. Now, when I say 'faith community", I don't mean legitimate faith. There is no faith except the true faith delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 1:3), but look at this list from Wikipedia:
"Various faith communities around the world support allowing same-sex couples to marry or conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies; for example: Church of Sweden, Quakers, U.S. Episcopalians, the Metropolitan Community Church, the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Canada, Buddhism in Australia, Reform and Conservative Jews, Wiccans, Druids, Unitarian Universalists, and Native American religions with a two-spirit tradition, as well as various progressive and modern Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish groups and various minor religions and other denominations."
This week both Desmond Tutu has stated that he welcomes the homosexual agenda and openly rejected God.
 |
| Wikipedia |
Mr Tutu has won the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom among other awards, and was Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. He speaks for a considerable segment of the population on a considerably populated continent. The horrific thing is that he speaks these heresies in the name of Jesus.
Today we read- "Pope Francis On Gays: Who Am I To Judge Them?"
The pontiff broached the delicate question of how he would respond to learning that a cleric in his ranks was gay, though not sexually active. For decades, the Vatican has regarded homosexuality as a "disorder," and Pope Francis' predecessor Pope Benedict XVI formally barred men with what the Vatican deemed "deep-seated" homosexuality from entering the priesthood. "Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?" the pontiff said, speaking in Italian. "You can't marginalize these people."
As God gives over the individual to his entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, and as He gives nations over to entrenched sin and rejection of Christ, God also will give over the world to sin and rejection of Christ. The moment He will give over the world to its sin will be the second after the rapture takes place. The world will be then unrestrained in its sin. (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
Daniel 9:24-17 describes the reasons God will begin the Tribulation and the verses record the length of it. God will allow sin to have its day. He will allow it to capture everyone who rejected His Son and thus, believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
We look at the progression in Romans and use that as a benchmark for the wrath of abandonment. We know and see individuals who are enduring the wrath of God's abandonment as they die with atheism or other religions or false Jesus on their lips. We know and see nations enduring the wrath of God's abandonment as they had wholesale turned away from God's laws, and I believe America is one of those nations enduring His wrath now, in current times.
But think on this: how long until God unleashes His wrath by abandoning the world to its sin and takes His bride home?? We are watching an amazing thing happen day by day. The peoples, nations, and faiths- all dismiss God by accepting homosexuality. Really, the world is crumbling.
 |
| Photo: Venice Beach, Elizabeth Prata |
It is like a sand castle. At first the tide nips at the edges of it. The castle loses a few grains of sand, but the larger structure is unaffected. Then a larger wave comes and swipes away a chunk. The waves return to docility and creep up to the castle in tiny nips, for a while. But then another big wave comes, and piled after that, another. The tide is crunching away as it comes in faster and faster, undercutting the entire structure and it starts to tilt. Soon the castle is a mound and soon after that, wiped from existence.
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:8
Not that He won't leave the Spirit to draw men to His bosom in the Tribulation, He will. Many come to faith then. But He will unleash His wrath upon an unbelieving world...
When I see whole nations and whole segments of a false faith community embracing homosexuality as they do, the rapture cannot be far behind, according to my understanding of the progression in Romans, at least. The wrath of abandonment is what Desmond Tutu claims to want, but what he doesn't know is that God has already abandoned Tutu to the wrath of God. He has done the same for those who believe the Pope's lie, also.
The Gospel has the power to cut through the darkness and save. There is no question about that. But God's plan is to retrieve the bride for His Son to love and leave the world to His anger. I believe that the advance of the homosexual agenda is a heavy-duty benchmark for that tipping point. I believe that tipping point is soon to appear.
I leave you with a prayer from John MacArthur:
Father, we are so grateful that You have not left us in doubt about these things which are part of life for us. I pray that You’ll use us to bring the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to people in these horrible chains of homosexual behavior, who have no future, no family, no hope, who live with massive guilt, pain, agony, driving unleashed passions. That You would come powerfully through the instrumentation of Your people to bring the gospel--it alone can save them. Be glorified, Lord. Turn the tide with Your truth and with Your gospel. Save people caught in not only this sin, but in all kinds of sins that are so popular in this culture. Give the gospel a fresh hearing, we ask for Your glory, in Christ’s name. Amen.
 |
| photo credit: Fr. Stephen, MSC via photopin cc |
----------------------
Further reading
UPDATE
It’s Not What the Pope Said About Gays, It’s How He Said It
Is it a coincidence that this Pope was installed at this crucial moment in our history? He's been in the office for several months and already he's gaining a massive following even outside of the Catholic Church. I think he's even more magnetic than Pope John Paul. I've seen in many forums that atheists and agnostics alike are saying that they're starting to like this guy. Hmm...It wouldn't surprise me if he turned out to be the lamb that speaks like a dragon.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The title of one of the news articles I read said "Pope's Brazil Visit Could Help Revive Catholicism". hmmm. Exactly as you mentioned
DeleteReally amazing, all this timing.
Well, Elizabeth, just when you think it couldn't get any worse, Pat Robertson just said something to the effect of transgenders are rare and there are no sins associated with that. Wow. The Pope's statement is one thing, but seeing an evangelical make a complete turnaround is just...mind-blowing.
DeleteFrom the blurb I heard on the news, he said if gay clerics repent and ask for forgiveness for their actions, who is he to judge them? The catholic church (well individual priests from what I've seen) then had to go further and say that it doesn't mean he or the church is accepting of homosexuality.
ReplyDeleteI'm noticing that this pope is a master at words. He obviously appeals to people across the board because he comes across as humble, gentle and trustworthy (I wonder if the antichrist will be the same way when he starts to rise to power?) So far though, he's made vague, confusing statements that seem to try to appease almost whoever tries to interpret it. The catholic church then has to release a statement to make his statement clearly in line with their foundational beliefs. It's just so weird.
It's clear he's at the head of the catholic church for such a time as this. If the rapture happened today, he'd fit right in with the development of a one world economy/society and advocacy of the kings and the antichrist. I'm not surprised some priests revealed that they heard the "holy spirit" tell them to vote for him to be pope. He's another big sign that we are really in the last of the last days. Rockstar Pope John Paul was the ecumenism guru but I don't think he came close to saying anything like this.
Pope Francis already pulled that trick once. He recently said that all people will go to heaveN, including non-Catholics, which is a complete reversal of their centuries old stance. Catholics put a curse on non-Catholics ("anathema") and that if they are not in the "true" church they will go to hell. It is why excommunication was such a big deal to them. But when Bishops rose up and said whoa, wait a minute, Pope Frances said he 'didn't really mean what he said, oopsie, maybe I could have said it better. I might have meant it though." All double-speak. And remember he is from the Jesuit order, and the Jesuits are the soldiers and ninjas of Catholicism
Deletehttp://carm.org/dictionary-jesuit
While I know the rapture is not dependent on anything, I find myself wondering if America has to make same-sex marriage legal nationwide before it takes place. My reasoning? America has to fall before Europe and the antichrist rise to power. Homosexuality is judgment from God; for now, same-sex marriage is piecemeal throughout the USA. For God to turn His back on America completely it has to make same-sex marriage legal.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
DeleteI don't think America has to fall before anything takes place, in my opinion. America is a gnat on the pimple of a mosquito as far as history goes and as far as prophecy goes. Homosexuality is becoming just about universally accepted in groups, nations and in false faiths. However, there are still great segments of populations who reject it: namely, Islam. There are still way more nations that ban it than accept it, namely, African nations, Tutu notwithstanding. And China and Russia. The bible doesn't speak of America and we're not a prime player in God's plan.
However, the trend lines could not be more clear. If the tribulation is a building, I think we are to the place where the foundation is laid, the studs are up and the rebar is in place.
It's quite tellng that all the groups you stated, Islam, Russia, China are very fanatical in their hatred for gays and have many human rights violations. So, when Jesus loving Christians voice the biblical stance of sin, then we should be prepared to be lumped in with guilt by association. Good will be called evil and evil called good. ~hopeful_watcher
DeleteHi, it's me again. You're right, America is not the center of God's attention - Israel is. Thanks for correcting me.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous:
DeleteYou're welcome. I tend to get America focused too. :) I am finishing a blog entry right now about the peace talks going on at this moment, really, really amazing. What is happening between Israel and the Palestinians in the talks (as reported by media anyway) is just amazing. Is THIS time the time? Combined with all the other things happening in Syria, Egypt, and the culture, plus the intense focus on the Mid-east and Israel peace and two state solution, perhaps. Just maybe, it is at the door. But then again,His soon appearing is always at the door. He will come to gather His saints and I cannot WAIT!!!
So far no one has mentioned 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. God delivers all sorts of sinners out of sin, including homosexuals, "such we're some of you..." Even though homosexual behavior is an abomination to God, they can find forgiveness through Christ, just as anyone else. Homosexuals are not the enemy, remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities... Pray for those deceived by the homosexual lie.
ReplyDeleteThinking of all the horrible things that are going on in the world I don't understand why the total focus of the end of time is based on homosexuality. I am not gay, so I'm not defending that but I see so many horrible things that humans do to other humans and animals. Does anybody really think God isn't bothered by all the horrific things that are going on in the world ?
ReplyDeleteI agree, it dies seem like a total focus of the end time is on homosexuality. We do mourn for other things happening, however, there is a reason it seems like there is so much emphasis on homosexuality in the end time. That is because of Romans 1:18-32. In that section of passage, God gave us a progression of how and why people & nations are given over to homosexuality. Same-gender fornication is a last stage symptom of a person or nation whom God has given over, and is in fact a judgment in and of itself.
DeleteHomosexuality therefore is both a symptom and a judgment. It is one of satan's huge battlegrounds and indicator of where we are in that progression in terms of a person's or a nations' sin.
I agree, throughout the bible God is indicated clearly He hates all sins. I am sure He is also angry with the idolatry and blasphemy going on, the first two Commandments being broken on such a widespread basis.
priests that are pedophiles go into a confessional box all forgiven?
ReplyDeleteYes...and no. Catholics are not Christians. Their dogmas are not the true Gospel and its adherents are still under wrath, as much as an atheist or a Mormon is. Priests have no power to forgive sin, only Christ does. If a priest who molested a boy asked the boy or parents for forgiveness, that forgiveness is one thing, it's humanly relational, but it would have no standing with God.
DeleteHowever if a priest would repent to the risen Jesus and believe the Gospel just like any person does who becomes justified by God, then yes, a priest would be forgiven. (And he would stop being a priest, thus understanding his Catholic religious scheme is just that, an evil Pharisaical scheme having no standing with God)
Though all sins are not equal in God's eyes, they are equal in one respect: they're all covered. Pedophiles who repent to Jesus are forgiven.