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Showing posts from November, 2021

Signs of the End Times 2 (Mark 13:14-27) & Why it Matters

Bible Passages "When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’  standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again" (Mark 13:14-19 NIV). Abomination Causes Desolation Jesus mentions abomination (βδέλυγμα) which refers to something that is abhorred because it defiles a sacred place causing it to be desolate.  It is considered something that is totally defiling and a pollutant.  Desolation (ἐρήμωσις) in this case indicates the state of being uninhabitable and has to do with devastation and depopulation (Arndt, et, al., 2000

Signs of End Times (Mark 13:5-13) and Why it Matters

Bible Passages "Jesus said to them: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains'" (Mark 13:5-8 NIV).   Deceivers The first thing Jesus tells the disciples to do is to watch out (βλέπω).  He tells them to look out and beware so that no one would deceive (πλανάω) or mislead them (Arndt, et, al., 2000).   In the next verse Jesus states that many people will come and claim "I am he" (εἰμί) which means to be in close connection with in regards to statements of identity or being equal.  In other words, these people would say that they identify as Jesus Christ, when in reality they are not (Arndt, et, al., 2000).   Wars The nex

Elders/Pastors in the Church

Paul's Letter to Timothy "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner" (1 Timothy 2:11-14 NIV). Woman Learning Paul is saying that a woman should learn (μανθάνω) - which in this case is to to gain knowledge or skill by instruction - in quietness and full submission.  The word quietness (ἡσυχία) means to say little or nothing at all and submission (ὑποταγή) means to subordinate oneself in every respect.  In other words, the women should gain knowledge with little or nothing to say and should fully lower their ranks (Arndt, et., al., 2000). Woman Teaching/Assuming Authority Paul states that he doesn't permit (ἐπιτρέπω), or allow, a woman to teach (διδάσκω), or provide instruction neither in a formal nor an informal setting.  He also mentions