Kirk Obama race

 Obama's focus on race in disagreeing with Charlie Kirk.

I recently watched a video of President Obama talking about Charlie Kirk.

He said he obviously didn't know him but was generally aware some of his ideas.

Obama names 4 things that he disagreed about with Kirk. They seemed to be all racial-type things. Why does he only pick out racial-type things?

One of those things that he disagreed with Kirk about was that Martin Luther King was "awful."

I don't know what Kirk said about King, and I hadn't really looked into his personal life or his theological beliefs. Of course, I've heard claims of infidelity, and maybe a year or two ago, I heard that he didn't believe in the resurrection. I was rather surprised to hear that he did not believe in the resurrection, since that is an essential proposition of orthodox Christianity, and King was a Baptist pastor. The Apostle Paul said, “if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” 1 Corinthians 15:16-18

So, I looked up King's beliefs and found that he also did not believe in the Virgin birth or the Deity of Christ. These are also essential propositions of orthodox Christianity. To deny these things is really to deny the Christian faith. I also saw that he did not believe in substitutionary atonement.

I don't know if denying these essential truths of Christianity is why Kirk called him an awful person, or if it was the claims that he was an adulterous man. The FBI spied on King, and they claim that they have evidence, which, I read could be made public in 2027. I also read that a close friend of King's, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, wrote a book (And The Walls Come Tumbling Down) claiming that King committed adultery with more than one woman the night before his assassination. I could see this as a reason to claim he was an awful man.

Obama didn't explain why Kirk called him such, and why he disagreed with that assessment.
So why did Obama say he disagreed with Kirk about King?

moral law today

 Christians could do a better job at addressing the accusation that they are being selective and inconsistent in saying homosexual sex is sin when the same condemnation is made towards eating certain seafood (without fins and scales) or wearing clothes made from mixed fibers according to the book of Leviticus (though the consequence was death for homosexuality, while the other prohibitions required being cut off from the people).

I heard this accusation a few days ago while listening to an interview with Cenk Uygur, a founder of “The Young Turks,” who claims to be a “stone-cold Atheist” and cultural Muslim.

I also heard it recently by Bill Maher, an atheist, during his “Club Random” program on which he had Charlie Kirk as a guest.

I also remember hearing President Obama making a similar accusation of selectivity when condemning homosexuality when the Old Testament condemned eating certain foods or wearing certain clothing—he referenced one of these. I think this came up with reference to homosexual marriage.

I can expect non-Christians not to understand the difference between things like homosexuality and eating certain foods or wearing certain clothing. But Christians should have a better understanding about these things.

The Mosaic Covenant (or the Law of Mose), made with Israel, contained moral, social, and ceremonial (or ritual) requirements. The Mosaic Covenant was only for Israel as a nation, but that covenant included universal and timeless moral law. The moral law of God is required of all people, but for Israel, there were other requirements beyond God's moral law, being the social and ceremonial type laws, and this only makes sense, because Israel was a theocracy. The social and ritual requirements of the Mosaic Covenant are unique and specific for Israel, but the moral laws are for all people: the Mosaic Covenant to Israel included the universal moral law of God along with the social and ceremonial. This is why you will not see the social and ceremonial laws required of Israel required in the New Testament writings. The book of Acts makes it clear that the dietary requirements are no longer in force—they were for Israel. But things like murder, lying, stealing, coveting, sexual immorality (including homosexuality) are still contrary to the moral will of God.

Didache and abortion

 

The “Didache,”  a brief anonymous early Christian treatise,

possibly from the first century (some say the Second Century),

also known as 

“The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations,”

deals with Christian ethics.

The Didache has several

“you shall not” type of commandments

with respect to how to love your neighbor.

Interestingly, one of them states,

“You shall not kill a child in the womb nor expose infants.”

So even in the First Century,

this was a moral issue that was addressed

by the young Christian Church.

So, it appears the early Christian community

understood not killing the unborn

as loving their neighbor.

people as reward

 

Those you have impacted for eternity 

may be your greatest reward in eternity.

^“2 And many of those who sleep

in the dust of the earth shall awake,

some to everlasting life,

some to shame and everlasting contempt.

³ Those who are wise shall shine

like the brightness of the firmament,

and **those who turn many to righteousness

like the stars forever and ever.**”

Daniel 12:2-3

^“17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you

for a short time in presence, not in heart,

endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

¹⁸ Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul,

time and again—but Satan hindered us.

¹⁹ **For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?

Is it not even you in the presence

of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.**”

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

Dispies and Israel

 

Dispensationalists are typically more supportive of the present Jewish State in the land of Israel because of their futurist views and because of the Abrahamic covenant. Preterists, it seems, are less supportive of the Jewish State in the land of Israel and more accusatory of the government of evil.

Dispensationalism is a system of theology that sees differing stewardships throughout human history. I understand the stewardships as the people of God for God's purposes, and the most significant ones being the nation of Israel and the “Church.” The distinctions between these two groups are clear in that Israel is primarily descendants of Jacob, existing as a theocracy in a particular land promised to them, while the Church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus as the Christ, and it is not a geographically fixed people and government like Israel was.

Dispensationalists or “Dispies” are “futurists” in that they believe there are many prophecies that are yet unfulfilled, besides the “Second Coming” of Christ, concerning things like the “70th week of Daniel,” the “Great Tribulation” period, the salvation and restoration of Israel as a people and nation, and the “Millennial Kingdom” (1000 year reign of Christ).

Opposed to Dispies and their futurist views are “Preterists” (“praeter” is Latin for “past”), who believe all prophecy was fulfilled in the past, mostly involving the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans in the events of AD70. Most Preterists still believe in a future resurrection of the dead and a Second Coming of Christ (though some believe even those things have already happened in the past).

Dispies, unlike Preterists, believe one of the “dispensations” yet unfulfilled involves a future salvation and restoration of Israel as a people and nation. Of course, that will be through their acceptance and belief in Jesus as the Christ in connection with end time events, especially in connection with His Second Coming. That salvation of Israel as a people and nation will involve the Millennial reign of Christ on earth.

Dispies understand the “all Israel will be saved” in Romans chapter 11 verse 26 to be about Israel as a people and nation. Jews who believe in Jesus as the Christ and Savior from sin at this present time are part of the “Church,” and the Church belongs to the present dispensation. A new dispensation will begin with the future salvation of Israel as a people and nation for the Millennial Kingdom.

There's a futurist view that is non-dispensational, that believes in a future Millennial kingdom, but the salvation and restoration of Israel is not essential—this is call “Historic Premillennialism.” But some may call themselves Historic Premill, as opposed to being a Dispie, and still believe in a restoration of Israel.

Preterists do not believe in this future salvation of Israel as a people and nation for the Millennial Kingdom. They believe that either the promises to Israel have been forfeited, due to their unbelief and rejection of Jesus as the Christ, or those promises to Israel are fulfilled in the Church: believing Jews are joined with believing Gentiles, and the prophecies concerning the salvation of Israel are fulfilled in that arrangement. Preterists believe God is done with Israel as a distinct people for His purposes. There is not a future salvation of the nation—no restoration to the Land of Israel and no literal 1000 year reign of Christ. The Millennial Kingdom is a spiritual reality fulfilled now in the Church—though some believe in a 1000 year kingdom before Christ's return, in which Christianity advances throughout the earth. They might understand the “all Israel will be saved,” in Romans 11:26 as simply a reference to Jews who believe as opposed to those who don't, and they may reference the statement, “they are not all Israel who are of Israel” Romans 9:6. (I had a man get pretty irate at me and remove all my posts, block me and unfriend me on Facebook because I understood “Israel” as referring to the nation of Israel, and he did not—and the funny thing was that his last name was “Savoie.” Why do people get so angry?)

Dispies are typically more supportive of the present Jewish State in the land of Israel because of their futurist views and because of the Abrahamic covenant, which states: “3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3 Preterists, it seems, are less supportive of the Jewish State in the land of Israel and more accusatory of the Jewish government of evil, being occupiers in the land that is not theirs, and presently, accusing them of things like genocide towards the Gazan people. The accusations and conspiracies seem to be getting worse.

Dispies see that God still has a purpose for Israel as a people in the Land promised to them, while Preterists believe that God is finished with them as a people, and they have no Divine right or purpose. Yet even some Jews would be opposed to the Jewish State, because they see it as premature and illegitimate because their restoration will be with the coming of Messiah, and ultimately, they are correct, because any kind of peace agreement now (such as a 2 state solution) is only temporary and lacking, for according to the prophecies, such as in Ezekiel (see Ezekiel chapters 36-39), the restoration will a regathering of all Israel into all of the land of promise.

Understanding the different views of Dispensationalism and Preterism can help understand why some Christians are pro-Israel and others are not. And like everything in life, people will differ, and the division seems to get worse as time passes.

Seventy Weeks

 

The “70 Weeks of Daniel” (Daniel 9:24-27) is a prophetic timetable concerning the restoration of Israel as a people and nation in relation to the first and second comings of Christ.

The “Weeks” are sevens of years and adds up to 490 years. It begins with a command (or decree) by a Persian King after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, “to restore and build Jerusalem,” Daniel 9:25. The 70 Weeks end with the second coming of Christ at the end of “great tribulation” to save and gather the elect and Israel as a people under the terms of the “New Covenant.”

From the time of that command “until Messiah the Prince,” Daniel 9:25, is 69 Weeks, that is, 483 years. The reference to “Messiah the Prince” is to the time and year in which Jesus either started his ministry, or made his "triumphal entry," or was crucified. Some have actually calculated the end of the 483 years to the very day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It's after the 483 years that “Messiah shall be cut off,” Daniel 9:26. The text actually breaks the 69 weeks or 483 years into two time periods, being 7 Weeks and 62 Weeks, and it is believed that the first 7 Weeks or 49 years (7 times 7 years) is the time period it took to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

The Messiah being “cut off” is understood as His execution. Included in the time at the end of the 483 years is the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 by the Romans: “the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.” Daniel 9:26 This was by the Romans under the command of Titus, whose Triumphal Arch commemorates this event. It stands in Rome today just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. 

The final Week, being the 70th Week," is understood by many as not yet fulfilled.  Between the 69th and 70th Weeks is an unspecified period of time: there is a gap of time of unknown length.  That gap is mostly the time during which the people of God for His purposes is the Gentile-Jew Assembly, commonly identified as the "Church."  Prior to this unique people of God, Israel was the people of God for His purposes.  

The final Week, being the 70th seven of years, begins with a covenant be confirmed or strengthened for 7 years.  Then in the middle of that 7 years, there comes an end of the daily sacrifices, and an event takes place that is considered an “abomination” in the holy place of the temple. This abomination causes "desolation," and it continues to the end of the period: 

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. Daniel 9:27

The event in the middle of the Week is understood as the "abomination of desolation" that takes place in the Jewish Temple.  Jesus makes reference to this in the context of His Second Coming, and he says that following that event will be "Great Tribulation."  Daniel also speaks of this Great Tribulation with reference to "the time of the end."  

Jesus said: ¹⁵ ... when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ... ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:15-22    

Daniel wrote:  ​¹ At that time [the time of the end]

 Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch 

over the sons of your people [Israel];
And there shall be a time of trouble [tribulation],
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people [Israel] shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book. Daniel 12:1

The end of the Great tribulation is the end of the 70 Weeks: it is the time of Jesus's second coming, to deliver the saints of God from great tribulation and save Israel as a people and nation:  

²⁹ "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31

The 70 Weeks prophecy was a timetable for the fulfillment of certain things with reference to Daniel's people Israel and Jerusalem in connection with the first and second comings of Christ and what he would accomplish.  Those accomplishments are through both comings of Christ, as some have to do with what Jesus accomplished on the cross for sin and salvation, and some are the realization of the benefits of the cross in Israel and their land.  

Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy. Daniel 9:24

Jesus at His second coming will bring an end to the 70 Weeks and the great tribulation.  He will raise the dead, gather the elect, and restore and save Israel as a people and nation.  Israel will be saved and come under the terms of the New Covenant.  Israel as a people of God is in a state of blindness, while presently the gentiles along with Jews who believe in Jesus are in a place of privilege and blessing, like Israel once was, but that will change with the close of great tribulation at the coming of Christ.

²⁵ For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 

²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
²⁷ For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins."

²⁸ Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. ²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:25-29

The future fulfillment of the salvation of Israel in their land is according to those things determined in the 70 Weeks prophecy.  Those things include what Jesus accomplished on the cross, dying for sins that will make reconciliation and restoration possible.  What Jesus accomplished on the cross is the basis for a new covenant to be fulfilled in Israel.  At the coming of Christ, there will be a resurrection of the dead in Christ, a gathering together of living believers, and a turning to Christ in faith a remnant of Jews who will enter the 1000 year reign of Christ.

When Jesus comes again ... it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. Zechariah 12:3  And then ... ⁸ In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ... ⁹ It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:8-9   ¹⁰ "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. ¹¹ In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Zechariah 12:10-11  

And then...

It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; 

and they [Gentiles] shall come and see My glory. 

¹⁹ I will set a sign among them [Gentiles]; 

and those [Jews] among them [Gentiles] who escape I will send to the nations: 

to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, 

and Tubal and Javan, 

to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. 

And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 

²⁰ Then they [Gentiles] shall bring all your brethren [Jews] for an offering 

to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, 

on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, 

"as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel 

into the house of the LORD. 

²¹ And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says the LORD. 

Isaiah 66:18-21

...to be continued and revised

scoffers

 

Don't be a scoffer...

“... scoffers will come in the last days

... saying,

Where is the promise of His coming?

For ... all things continue

as they were from the beginning of creation.

... The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,

as some count slackness,

but is longsuffering toward us,

not willing that any should perish

but that all should come to repentance."

(2 Peter 3:3-9)