Christ Covenant Church

(Jer 31:31-34)1. Jesus is the Yhwh of the OT (and OC).(Luk 22:20 w/v31 “LORD” [Yhwh]; hence Jud 1:5; 1Co 10:1-4)2. Salvation is a marriage to Jesus.(32, “I was a Husband to them” [34b, “for I will forgive their sin”] = God’s covenants for salvation are marital in nature - i.e., they are marriage covenants; NC: Mat 9:15; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7; Because the salvific covenant we enter with Jesus is a marriage covenant, it operates according to the principles of a marriage - gain & maintain: we gain Jesus as our Husband and Savior through formal vows of lifelong love and loyalty [in baptism] and maintain our marriage with Jesus by fulfilling those vows in faithfulness to His commands; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = Pledge/vow of love and loyalty = Faith [Grk., pistus = Pledge of faithfulness – 1Ti 5:12]; Rev 19:8; Jam 2:24; Mat 28:19-20; Consider also, Abe: Gen 17:1-2, 9-11, 18:19 [Gen 15:6 w/9-10 w/18]; OC: Exo 24:7-8 [1Pe 1:1-2] w/Deu 28:1-2; Deu 7:9; Psa 25:10).3. Jesus only saves Israelites/Jews.(31, “house of Israel…house of Judah” = Divided kingdom which is Israel/the Israelites or Jewish people [hence, v33, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel]; Jer 31:1 w/35-37w/30:1-3 w/8-9, 32:37-41, 33:14-15 w/23-26; Eze 36:22-28, 37:16-23, 39:25 w/29; Rom 9:4-5; Jesus became human to seek and save Israelites/Jews alone [Mat 1:18 w/Heb 2:14-16 “Abraham”] = The father of – and first, Jew [Gen 14:12 “Abram the Hebrew”] – i.e., Jew [anachronistic – a member of God’s Jewish covenant people starting w/Abraham] = Jesus only saves Jews; Mat 15:24 [10:6] “lost sheep of the house of Israel” = Jesus refused to go to anyone other than the Jews during His earthly ministry; Psa 121:3-4, 130:7-8).“The new covenant is explicitly, emphatically, and unavoidably national, promising restoration and righteousness to ‘Israel and Judah’ and saying nothing about those outside those national boundaries.” – Jason A. Staples (Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites)4. Jesus’ Jewish new covenant is Judaism 2.0 not a new religion.(33, “I will put My Law within them…”) = “My Law” refers to the Old Testament Scriptures or the religion of Judaism. Jesus established a new covenant - not a new religion. Calling it a new covenant assumes an existing covenant it replaces/modifies in the same religion. IOW: It is still Judaism – just Judaism modified and upgraded [Judaism 2.0 or New Covenant Judaism]. Jesus would be a false prophet if He came to establish a new religion (Deu 12:28-13:1). Hence why He says what He does in (Mat 5:17-18 and Joh 4:22; Consider also: Phi 3:2 “we are the true circumcision” = We are the true Jews – those who convert to – and are faithful to, Judaism 2.0. – including Gentiles [who are grafted in as the lost tribe/sheep of Israel] – Rom 9:1-8 w/22-26 [Isa 7:8]).“Paul’s gospel was by no means a rejection of Judaism in favor of a different system… Paul finds nothing at all wrong in Judaism…[He] did not abandon covenantal nomism [gain & maintain] for another ‘pattern of religion’…Paul [instead] continues to preach God’s special election of Israel, the lasting value of Israel’s covenant, the restoration and ultimate salvation of Israel, and the need for total obedience…Gentiles must be grafted into Israel to share in Israel’s salvation.” – Staples (ibid)5. Jesus only saves Jews who also become disciples.5.1. (Luk 14:26 “cannot become My disciple”) = Jesus’ words are only relevant if becoming a disciple is necessary to possess Him as Savior (i.e., to be saved by Him). Jesus’ demand for disciples also confirms that He viewed Himself as a rabbi since in the Jewish context of the first century, only rabbis had disciples.5.2. How the Jews understood the term, “disciple” = A student of a recognized rabbi, who made the sacrificial and life-long commitment to the study and understanding of God’s Law, according to their rabbi’s interpretation, and trained to imitate his way and life. The Talmud states that a disciple must be more loyal to their rabbi than their family (Talmud Bava Metzia 33a). Hence the reason for Jesus’ juxtaposition in relation to family. Consider also: (Mat 10:24-25 “teacher” = Rabbi [Joh 1:49]; Act 13:1 “teachers” = rabbis [Joh 1:38 “rabbi” = “teacher”] and also Mat 23:8-10 “Rabbi” = Head/Grand Rabbi whose interpretation and life was taught to His disciples by His junior rabbis [Act 2:42]).5.3. PNTM: In the New Testament, the term “disciple” does not refer to someone who is a casual follower – especially in the case of Christ. Being a disciple (the requirement for receiving Jesus as Savior – Luk 14) requires serious dedication to the study and understanding of Jesus’ interpretation of the Law (truth), way and life (Joh 14:6).15.4. Promising to study/understand God’s Law (i.e., becoming a disciple) was not a requirement for entering the OC:1) Only those appointed to the anointed office of priest or king functioned this way – or were called to such dedication (Mal 2:6-7; Deu 17:18-20). As a result, only two passages in the OT use the word “disciple” (Isa 8:16 and 50:4).2) The role of king and priest w/respect to the Law was passive not active. They functioned more as judges than teachers (rabbis). As a result, the purpose of the Law became more about enforcement than education.3) The focus in worship was the temple and the sacrifices made by the priests (sacerdotalism). As a result, teaching was not emphasized.5.5. Discipleship is (then) the thing that makes the new covenant different from the old covenant and keeps us from breaking the way our ancestors broke their covenant (32, “not like the [former] covenant…which they broke”) = OC Israel was plagued with apostasy at the highest levels: her kings, priests and prophets. As a result, her sacred infrastructure (courts for justice, sanctuary for atonement and revelation/law for guidance) was severely comprised – leading not only to large-scale apostasy among the population, but divorce from God and forfeiture of His kingdom and presence among them. Discipleship (i.e., dedicated study and understanding of Jesus’ truth, way and life through the Scriptures) is the divine preventative to apostasy and promise of love and loyalty to God and His Law (Exo 33:13; Deu 17:19-20; Psa 25:10; Psa 119:1-3, 11, 31-32, 33-34, 97, 165 [implied – Deu 8:3/Mat 4:4 – how Jesus triumphs over the value of His temptation]).25.6. (That being said) where do we find this promise of becoming a disciple in Jeremiah 31?Verse (34) = The requirement for every person (from the “least to the greatest” [i.e. not just the priests and king but all of Israel]) entering the new covenant will be their commitment to “know the LORD” – i.e., to study and understand His Law. IOW: everyone must become a disciple. Hence the reason, “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor…for they will all know [the LORD].” All those in the new covenant will be disciples (once more, “know the LORD”) since this is the requirement to entrance (Luk 14:26).5.7. The evidence supporting this (i.e., everyone entering the NC must become a disciple) as the meaning of v34:1) From a requirement perspective, discipleship (as already stated), is the biggest change from the OC to the NC.2) Jeremiah highlights the people’s lack of discipleship (i.e., refusal to get understanding – or ignorance of God’ laws) as the dominant reason for their apostasy (Jer 2:4-5 w/8 = Those tasked w/knowing and understanding God [His laws] refused leading to theirs and the people’s apostasy – Jer 4:22, 8:5-9, 9:12-13).3) God promises to bless those who “know the LORD” w...

(Jer 31:31-34)  1. Jesus is the Yhwh of the OT (and OC).  (Luk 22:20 w/v31 “LORD” [Yhwh]; hence Jud 1:5; 1Co 10:1-4) 2. Salvation is a marriage to Jesus.  (32, “I was a Husband to them” [34b, “for I will forgive their sin”] = God’s covenants for salvation are marital in nature - i.e., they are marriage covenants; NC: Mat 9:15; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7; Because the salvific covenant we enter with Jesus is a marriage covenant, it operates according to the principles of a marriage: gain & maintain: we gain Jesus as our Husband and Savior through formal vows of lifelong love and loyalty [in baptism] and maintain our marriage with Jesus by fulfilling those vows in faithfulness to His commands; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = Pledge/vow of love and loyalty = Faith [Grk., pistus = Pledge of faithfulness – 1Ti 5:12]; Rev 19:8; Jam 2:24; Mat 28:19-20; Consider also, Abe: Gen 17:1-2, 9-11, 18:19 [Gen 15:6 w/9-10 w/18]; OC: Exo 24:7-8 [1Pe 1:1-2] w/Deu 28:1-2; Deu 7:9; Psa 25:10). 3. Jesus only saves Israelites/Jews.  (31, “house of Israel…house of Judah” = Divided kingdom which is Israel/the Israelites or Jewish people [hence, v33, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel]; Jer 31:1 w/35-37w/30:1-3 w/8-9, 32:37-41, 33:14-15 w/23-26; Eze 36:22-28, 37:16-23, 39:25 w/29; Rom 9:4-5; Jesus became human to seek and save Israelites/Jews alone [Mat 1:18 w/Heb 2:14-16 “Abraham”] = The father of – and first, Jew [Gen 14:12 “Abram the Hebrew”] – i.e., Jew [anachronistic – a member of God’s Jewish covenant people starting w/Abraham] = Jesus only saves Jews; Mat 15:24 [10:6] “lost sheep of the house of Israel” = Jesus refused to go to anyone other than the Jews during His earthly ministry; Psa 121:3-4, 130:7-8). “The new covenant is explicitly, emphatically, and unavoidably national, promising restoration and righteousness to ‘Israel and Judah’ and saying nothing about those outside those national boundaries.” – Jason A. Staples (Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites) 4. Jesus’ Jewish new covenant is Judaism 2.0 not a new religion.  (33, “I will put My Law within them…”= “My Law” refers to the Old Testament Scriptures or the religion of Judaism. Jesus established a new covenant - not a new religion. Calling it a new covenant assumes an existing covenant it replaces/modifies in the same religion. IOW: It is still Judaism – just Judaism modified and upgraded [Judaism 2.0 or New Covenant Judaism]. Jesus would be a false prophet if He came to establish a new religion [Deu 12:28-13:1]. Hence why He says what He does in [Mat 5:17-18 and Joh 4:22]. Consider also: Phi 3:2 “we are the true circumcision” = We are the true Jews).  “Paul’s gospel was by no means a rejection of Judaism in favor of a different system… Paul finds nothing at all wrong in Judaism…[He] did not abandon covenantal nomism [gain & maintain] for another ‘pattern of religion’…Paul [instead] continues to preach God’s special election of Israel, the lasting value of Israel’s covenant, the restoration and ultimate salvation of Israel, and the need for total obedience…” – Staples (ibid) 4.1. What about all the promises to the Gentiles? They are all true! Yhwh-Jesus’ new covenant promises/salvation have been extended to the Gentiles provided they too become a part of “the house of Israel.” (Jer 31:32) – i.e., Israelites/Jews through:  1) baptismal vows [faith] to Jesus which grafts them into Abraham thereby becoming part of his descendants – or Israel (Gal 3:26-29 [Rom 11:17]; hence why: 1Co 10:1 [an epistle written to a gentile church] can refer to the Israelites of the Exodus as “our fathers” and Rom 2:26-29 identifies the Gentile who keeps the Law [i.e., practices NC Judaism] as a spiritual Jew [NC Jew] – or the “true circumcision” [Phi 3:2]; Consider also: Jer 31:33 and Eze 36:26-27 w/Gal 3:1-2 [the Spirit is only promised to Jews/Israelites]; Jam 1:1 [“To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad” = As we shall see, Israel’s ten northern tribes were forever lost indicating that James viewed Gentiles as their replacement]; 1Co 12:2 “You know when you were pagans [Grk., ethnos = Gentile; someone following a religion other than biblical Judaism] you were led astray to the mute idols” [false gods of religions other than biblical Judaism] = Implies the Gentiles have become converts of a biblical form of Judaism [NC Judaism]). 2) their faithfulness to the Body and Law of Christ [the church practicing NC Judaism] (Eph 1:20-22 [Dan 2:34, 44-45, 7:13-14, 27] w/2:11-22 w/3:1-10; Gal 6:2 w/15-16; Mat 5:17-20 w/1Co 9:21 [“not w/o the law of God” = A faithful Jew practicing the Law/Judaism; “but under the law of Christ” = The Judaism in force is NC Judaism – or the Law preserved in its upgraded form under Christ]). “If Gentiles have received the Spirit promised as part of Israel’s restoration and are newly adopted heirs of Abraham, they are by definition part of Israel and therefore Israelites…Nowhere does the apostle (Paul) suggest that God has established a new people independent of or parallel to Israel. Instead...’Paul sees but one people of God, which is Israel’ and consequently ‘insists upon the Abrahamic origins of baptized Gentiles because he believes that they have become a part of the genuine people of Israel.’ Garroway (also) rightly emphasizes that Paul nowhere uses the term ‘Christian’…[As a result] Paul regularly applies Israelite language and ethnic markers – even prophecies specifically about Israel – to these uncircumcised individuals…For Paul these faithful followers of Jesus are not saved ‘as gentiles’ because they are no longer gentiles; instead they have become equal members of Israel along with their Torah-observant Jewish siblings. It is this assertion that proved so unbearable to Paul’s opponents…The claim that uncircumcised gentiles are Israelites.” – Staples (ibid) 4.2.  Gentiles becoming Jews is how Jesus fulfills His:  1) Promise to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) that the nations (Gentiles) would also take part in the blessings afforded to their descendants – i.e., Israel/the Jews/Israelites ([Abe] Gen 12:2 [“nation” = Israel] w/3 [“all the families of the earth” = gentile nations]; 18:18, 22:18, [Isaac] Gen 26:4, [Jacob] Gen 28:14). “Everything starts with the presumption of Israel’s salvation and the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham inherited by Israel.  Gentiles receiving the Spirit undergo not only an ethical but an ethnic conversion, being unnaturally grafted into Israel…Gentiles must be grafted into Israel to share in Israel’s salvation.” – Staples (ibid) 2) New Covenant promise to restore and reunite the house of Israel (the ten tribes of the northern territory) to the house of Judah (the two tribes and priests [Levites] of the southern territory)1(Jer 31:1 w/31 and Eze 37:1-14 w/15-24; Mat 19:27-30 [Luk 22:28-30]) in light of Israel’s assimilation into the gentile nations (2Ki 15:29 w/2Ki 17:5-6 w/24 w/Isa 7:8 [Hos 7:8 and 8:8; Amo 8:1-2 w/14 and 9:7-10; Consider also 2Ch 30:11] = Deportation of a large percentage of the population along w/intermarriage between those who remained and the imported pagan population meant that the people – or house of Israel, w/respect to location and lineage, no longer existed. Hence the reason scholars refer to them as the “ten lost tribes”):  

Jesus, the Jews and New Covenant Judaism (Part 1)(Jer 31:31-34)1. JESUS IS THE YHWH OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.(Luk 22:20 w/v31 “LORD” [Yhwh];1 hence Jud 1:5; 1Co 10:1-4)2. SALVATION - IF WE ARE TO BE SAVED - IS A MARRIAGE TO JESUS.2.1. (32, “I was a Husband to them” [34b, “for I will forgive their sin”] = God’s covenants for salvation are marital in nature (i.e., they are marriage covenants).2.2. (NC: Mat 9:15; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7)2.3. Because the salvific covenant we enter with Jesus is a marriage covenant, it operates according to the principles of a marriage: gain and maintain. We gain Jesus as our Husband and Savior through formal vows of lifelong love and loyalty (in baptism) and maintain our marriage with Jesus by fulfilling those vows in faithfulness to His commands (NC: 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = Pledge/vow of love and loyalty = Faith [Grk., pistus = Pledge of faithfulness – 1Ti 5:12]; Rev 19:8; Jam 2:24; Mat 28:19-20; Consider also: Abe: Gen 17:1-2, 9-11, 18:19 [Gen 15:6 w/9-10 w/18]; OC: Exo 24:7-8 [1Pe 1:1-2] w/Deu 28:1-2; Deu 7:9; Psa 25:10).3. JESUS ONLY SAVES ISRAELITES OR JEWS.3.1. Jesus’ new covenant is exclusive to Israelites/the Jews (32, “house of Israel...house of Judah” = Divided kingdom which is Israel/the Israelites or Jewish people [hence, v33, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel]; Jer 31:1 w/35-37w/30:1-3 w/8-9, 32:37-41, 33:14-15 w/23-26; Eze 36:22-28, 37:16-23, 39:25 w/29).3.2. The kingdom of God established by Jesus is likewise exclusive to Israel/the Israelites/Jews ([1Ch 28:5 w/2Ch 13:8 – in both cases, “kingdom of Yhwh”]; Act 1:1-6; Mat 1:17 w/2Sa 7:12-13; [Isa 9:6-7 w/11:1-5 and 12 w/2:1-4]; Jer 23:5, 8; Eze 34:11-15, 37:24-28 [Messiah is connected to restoring Israel as the kingdom of God “my sanctuary is in their midst forever”]; Amo 9:11-15 [Act 15:16-17]; Mic 5:2-4; Zec 9:9-10; Dan 7:13-14 and 27 w/Dan 2:44-45 and [v34 w/Deu 27:6; Isa 5:1-3; Heb 11:10 w/12:22] w/Mat 16:13-18 [Peter] = You are the Messiah, the divine Son/other Yhwh of Dan 7; [Jesus] = Upon this “rock” or divine kingdom My Father - revealed to you and givesto Me, I will restore or “[re]build” Israel [aka, the church, New Israel/Jerusalem/Zion]. And it will have eternal dominion [even against the “gates of Hades”]). Hence the reason the gospels are littered w/Jesus teaching about the “kingdom of God/heaven” and talk about it being “near” or “at hand” (Mat 3:2, 4:17, 23, 6:10, 10:7; Mat 13:24-30 w/36-46 “kingdom of heaven” is in this world and distinguished from “the kingdom of My Father”; Mar 1:15; Luk 10:9, 11:20, 21:31]). Consider also: Eph 2:12 [to have “hope” or “the covenants of promise” we must no longer “be excluded from the commonwealth of Israel”]).3.3. Jesus became human to seek and save Israelites/Jews alone (Mat 1:18 w/Heb 2:14-16 “Abraham” = The father of – and first, Jew [Gen 14:12 “Abram the Hebrew”] – i.e., Jew [anachronistic – a member of God’s Jewish covenant people starting w/Abraham]2 = Jesus only saves Jews; Mat 15:24 [10:6] “lost sheep of the house of Israel” = Jesus refused to go to anyone other than the Jews during His earthly ministry; Psa 121:3-4, 130:7-8).4. JESUS' JEWISH NEW COVENANT IS JUDAISM 2.0, NOT A NEW RELIGION (CHRISTIANITY).4.1. (33, “I will put My Law within them...”) = “My Law” (obviously) refers to the Old Testament Scriptures or the religion of Judaism. Additionally, Jesus established a new covenant - not a new religion. Calling it a new covenant assumes an existing covenant it replaces/modifies in the same religion. IOW: It is still Judaism – just Judaism modified and upgraded (Judaism 2.0 or New Covenant Judaism). Jesus would be a false prophet if He came to establish a new religion (Deu 12:28-13:1). Hence why He says what He does in (Mat 5:17-18 and Joh 4:22). Consider also (Luk 22:20 [“this cup is the new covenant” = The cup associated w/Judaism’s Passover] w/1Co 5:7-8 [“Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast” = Judaism continues to be the religion practiced under the new covenant [mutatis mutandis]; Phi 3:2 “we are the true circumcision” = We are the true Jews).4.2. Furthermore, the Yhwh-Jesus of the old and new covenant is a different God than the (false) god of Christianity:31) Yhwh-Jesusis part of a family of three separate persons/beings and distinct Yhwhs (Gods) versus Christianity’s belief in three persons who are at the same time, existing as only one being and god [Christian doctrine of the Trinity] (Dan 7:13-14 w/Psa 45:6-7 w/Joh 5:18 w/Heb 1:8-9).2) Yhwh-Jesus gives everyone exactly what they deserve/according to their deeds versus Christianity belief in a god who doesn’t give people what they deserve [Christian doctrine of unconditional election] (Jer 17:10; Mat 16:27; Rev 20:11-15).4.3. By the early church calling themselves “the Way” (Act 9:2) they were confirming their religion to be a form (or “sect”) of Judaism (Isa 40:3 w/Mat 3:3]; Act 24:5 [Mar 14:67 “the Nazarene, Jesus”] w/14 “sect” [within Judaism] who “serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets [i.e., practicing orthodox Judaism]”; See also Qumran [1QS/Rule of the Community 8:12-16] “the Way” = By the time of Jesus, this phrase had become an identity marker [shibboleth] of sects within Judaism who were preparing for Messiah’s return [e.g., the Essenes]).4.4. Lastly it should be pointed out that where these first disciples of Jesus met and worshipped was in the Jewish synagogues dedicated to the practice of Judaism (e.g., Act 9:2). Jesus’ people considered themselves to still be Jews practicing Judaism – only in its new covenant form (NC Judaism; NC Jews).CONCLUSION:1) Point Not To Miss: Having Jesus as your Savior is a Jewish thing not a Christian thing. Jesus didn’t come to establish a new religion, but a new covenant for His existing religion, Judaism. Every other religion claiming Jesus is therefore false (e.g., Evangelical Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Mormonism, etc.,).2) Question To Ponder: What about all prophecy and passages promising salvation to the Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews, [lit., pagans] – those not a part of Israel and/or not worshipping Yhwh according to His religion) (Isa 2:1-4, 9:1, 11:1-5 w/10-12, 42:1-6, 43:1-7 [“everyone” includes “all Gentiles” – Rom 15:17], 49:6, 51:4, 60:1, 3; Hos 1:10, 2:23 [Mat 4:15-16, 12:18-21; Luk 2:32; Act 9:15, 10:45, 11:1 w/18, 13:46-48, 14:27, 15:3, 7, 14, 16-19, 23, 22:21 26:17, 20, 23, 28:28; Rom 3:29, 9:22-26, 11:11, 13, 15:8-13, 16-18, 27, 16:4; Gal 1:16, 2:2 w/8-9, 3:8, 14; Eph 3:6-8; Col 1:27; 1Th 2:16; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 4:17])?1 God’s divine name which He not only confirmed to Moses (Exo 3:15; Moses ml already knew the name given his connection to Jethro – apriest of Yhwh) but based on its coupling with v14 (“I am”), a name communicating His reputation as the God who judges – and is to bejudged - on what He does (“I am what I do”).2 Not only do ethnic Jews identify Abraham as the first Jew but the first convert to Judaism (Talmud, Chagigah 3a; Gen 17:1, 18:19).3“Christian” was a derogatory term (slur) invented by the Jews who rejected Jesus to distinguish His disciples from themselves and to denythey were the true followers of Messiah and Judaism (i.e., that they were indeed the people of “the Way”). This is how also it should beunderstood in those passages where we find it in the NT (Act 11:26; Act 26:28; 1Pe 4:16).

(1 Co 13:9-12)FORECAST OF EVENTS THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT 220-272 WEEKS (probability scale of 1-10)1. (9/10) Christ will return to Jerusalem [Mt. of Olives] from the sky above in apocalyptic fashion on an unknown day and time in 2030 with His angels to gather and glorify all of history’s saints.2. (9/10) Christ’s return will also mean the immediate and fiery destruction of Satan and his global army of God-and-gospel rebels who will make an unsuccessful attempt to exterminate the tiny remnant of Jesus Jews who exist in Jersualem and a small church/churches in the world.3. (9/10) Christ’s return will likewise mean the fiery destruction of this universe, the final judgment of humans and angels, the wicked being eternally resigned to the lake of fire and the righteous receiving eternal life in the new heavens and earth.4. (9/10) Christ’s return and its ensuing cosmic catastrophes will surprise the majority of earth’s inhabitants whose present and future outlook on their wicked way of life will be superlatively positive. 5. (6) Another sign that Jesus’ return is imminent will be the perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs arising from our oceans and the paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects.5.1. perplexing presence of UFOs/UAPs arising from our oceans (Luk 21:25 “signs in the sun, moon and stars”) = The invasion of powerful foreign (or alien) entities (Eze 32:7-12; Isa 13:1 w/9-11 w/17-19). In this case, UFOs/UAPs “roaring” out of our seas w/advanced tech or capabilities that leave us at an intellectual loss/perplexed (“and on the earth dismay among the nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the seas”[1]). In this respect consider also (Eze 1:4-5; Eph 2:2 “prince of the power of the air”[2]).5.2. paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects (that causes men to faint and the heavens to shake – Luk 21:26 w/27) = Satan and his demons (the alien architects of the UFO/UAPs) are the heroes or saviors of humanity (2Co 11:14) - and the family of Yahweh (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), its true villains:1) The family of Yahweh:1.1.) are oppressive bigots: they created humanity and the angels with free-wills but then prohibit us from using them in the discovery of self-identity, sexual expression and morality, expecting us to instead imitate them and their rigid system of rules and religion under penalty of eternal damnation if we refuse or rebel.1.2.) are racists: they are the creators of diversion tactics – including false religions, false gods, false alien encounters and messages - all meant to ensure that no one other than the Jews succeed in this world.1.3.) are also frauds: they possess no rightful claim to us or the universe since their creative power and ability is not inherent to them – which means they can be beat (e.g., like Thanos, they stole the infinity stones).2) Satan and his demons:2.1.) were exiled from our material realm for attempting to free us from such tyranny though they have continued to fight behind the scenes ever since.2.2.) have been working tirelessly for almost 6k years to counter Yahweh’s agenda and get our thinking and technology to a place where we are ready to rush heaven and win our freedom (e.g., thinking: Avengers versus Thanos; Fantastic Four versus Galactus; tech: the invention of computers, the internet, AGI, electrogravitic/anti-gravity propulsion warships [UFOs] able to transcend dimensional boundaries).2.3.) do not want to enslave but empower us – including provide the healing and resources we need to live happy lives (humanity only does bad things bc God has not provided them w/enough resources).3) Time is the of the essence, the world must immediately unite if they have any chance of winning the fight that will soon be coming to them if they do not first take it to Yahweh (i.e., conquer the third heaven and home of Yahweh before the destruction of this world. Satan is aware of this universe’s 6k yr shelf-life and the return of Christ).Satan’s story-line is simply an inverted version of Babel. Instead of an assassination in heaven, it will be an ambush on earth (Gen 11:1-9 [consider similarities between Babel and Rev 20:8-9 - esp. Gen 10:32/Rev 20:8 “nations” and Gen 11:3/Rev 20:9 “plain”]). 6. (6) = When Satan formed his coup against God, he not only took a third of the heavenly host (angels) but all the advanced military tech that was in their possession at that time (e.g., interdimensional [manned] warships and drones, telepathy, AI, etc.,) and has been making improvements to it ever since (hence the reason for the multiplicity of new and different UFO/UAPs showing up in our skies Rev 12:4; Eze 1:4-5, 15-21). 7. (6) = The reason the UFO/UAPs are coming out of our oceans is because its deepest parts are the location of the abyss –the exilic home, hiding place and primary base of Satan and his demons after their rebellion against Yahweh. This may also be behind the myth of Atlantis: a city whose residents possess great power and powerful technology banished to their place under the sea by the Gods[3] (Gen 1:2 “darkness was over the surface of the deep [waters]” = The abyss, a watery place of non-order/disorder/deadness, a bottomless hole [pit] in the ocean [Sheol, Hades, Tartarus the bottomless pit – Jon 2:1-6; Rev 20:13] Isa 27:1; Mat 12:43; Luk 8:31-33; Rev 20:1-3 w/8). 8. (6) = Satan and his demons have been secretly working with those people and governments wielding the most influence and power throughout human history (1Jo 5:19; Deu 32:17). 9. (10) = Advanced tech and cures aside, Satan’s sincerity (2Ti 3:13) and worldview/ethic (“will to power”) will be his most powerful weapons in convincing the vast majority of the world to follow him (Ecc 10:4) [4].    10. (3) = In an effort to increase his odds of winning, Satan will attempt to stall the resurrection by abducting the remnant of Jesus Jews on planet earth and moving them via his interdimensional warships (UFOs) to the second heaven (immaterial space outside of God’s home [third heaven] where dead spirits reside, angels fly and spiritual battles are fought – e.g., Rev 8:13, 14:6; Rev 12:7-9; Dan 10:10-13) before the return of Christ (Rev 20:8 w/1Th 4:13-17 w/1Co 15:50-53 w/2Co 12:2 and Rev 1:10 w/4:1-2 [Eze 3:12, 8:3, 11:1). 11. (3…9) = Our alien abduction will be thwarted by Jesus’ return and our (along with the righteous dead’s) instantaneous transformation into human torches who then ambush and destroy Satan, his demons and the world of wicked humans who followed him (Rev 20:9 w/1Th 4:13-17 w/Psa 104:4 [Mat 22:30] and Heb 12:29 [Rev 1:14-16; 1Jo 3:2]; Psa 149:5-9). CLOSING CONTEMPLATION:1) If Satan can make improvements to God’s tech, doesn’t that mean God is not omniscient? If He is, what reason might God possess for deliberately not possessing perfect (unable to be improved) tech at the beginning of our Creation (i.e., before Satan’s rebellion)? What biblical example might provide some support? 2) Why will Satan’s sincerity and worldview be so convincing to so many in our world (and some in our church)?3) How do we keep from being swept away in Satan’s apocalypse?4) What is Nietzsche advocating for and against, by this statement, “When the center of gravity of life is placed, not in life, but in the ‘other world’—in nothingness—life has in reality been deprived of its center of gravity. The great lie of personal immortality destroys all reason, all naturalness in instinct;—all that is beneficent, that is life-furthering, that pledges for the future in instincts, h...

(1 Co 13:9-12)(9 w/12) For we know in part and we prophesy in part…for now we see in a mirror dimly” = What God provides to His people with respect to prophecy is not only incomplete (“in part”) but often a poor reflection of its reality making any consistency in accuracy when forecasting the future almost impossible (e.g., Act 21:11 w/31-33). As a result, the church functions like capricious children (v11) in her efforts to discern coming events. She is nonetheless tasked with this mission – errors and edits included, as God’s prescribed method for planning and preparation (hence 1Th 2:13-14 w/3:1-4 w/5:19-21; e.g., accuracy of weather forecasting for navy fleets on long deployment: > 14 days [<50%], 2-4 days [>90%] “The future of conflict will belong to those who can anticipate the storm and utilize it to their advantage.” - JR Cottingham, National Defense Magazine).[1]PNTM: Our ability to plan and prepare for the coming storm surrounding Jesus’ possible return in 2030 requires we not only remind ourselves of Scripture’s prophetic forecast regarding these things but also make updates or changes as we get closer and clearer. FORECAST OF EVENTS THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT 220-272 WEEKS (on a probability scale of 1-10)1. (9/10) Christ will return to Jerusalem [Mt. of Olives] from the sky above in apocalyptic fashion on an unknown day and time in 2030 with His angels to gather and glorify all of history’s saints (Mat 24:25-36 [Act 1:11]; Luk 21:25-32; Zec 14:4-9; 1Th 4:13-18; 2Pe 3:8 [Isa 46:10];[2] Act 2:17 w/Gal 4:4-6 “fullness of time” = consummation of the [prior] ages [epochs] w/Heb 9:26 “consummation of the ages” [which began at Christ’s death in 30 AD]). 2. (9/10) Christ’s return will also mean the immediate and fiery destruction of Satan and his global army of God-and-gospel rebels who will make an unsuccessful attempt to exterminate the tiny remnant of Jesus Jews who exist in Jersualem and a small church/churches in the world (Zec 14:1-3 and Rev 20:7-10 [9 “camp of the saints” = Gentile Jesus Jews in a small church/churches in the world; “beloved city” = Hebrew Jesus Jews in Jerusalem] and 2Th 2:7-10 w/Mat 16:18 w/2Pe 3:9 w/Rom 11:25 [no more Gentiles are turning to Christ and becoming Jesus Jews] w/26-28 [Luk 13:35, 15:11-32 = Some Hebrews in Jerusalem turn to Christ and become Jesus Jews at/close to His return] w/1Ki 19:14 w/18:4, 13 [also 19:18]; Consider also: 1) Jesus seems to hint at the idea of only a few/tiny remnant of saved in the end by His question in (Luk 18:8). 2) Jesus and Peter both connect His return to the Flood – an event which saved only eight people (Mat 24:37; 1Pe 3:20 w/2Pe 3:3-9 [mention of God’s patience in both seems to suggest we also view the small number of those delivered from His first extinction event as representative of those delivered in His second]).3) God’s deliverance of only a tiny remnant is a predominant theme across redemptive history (Gen 6-9 [Noah and his family in re: to the Flood]; Gen 45:7 [Joseph and his bros/Israel in re: to the global famine]; 2Ki 19:30-31 [Judah in re: to the Assyrian invasion]; Isa 10:20-22 [Israel in re: to the Assyrian invasion]; Ezr 9:8-15 [Judah/Israel in re: to the Babylonian invasion]; Jer 23:1-6 [Jesus Jews in re: to Israel’s apostasy]). 3. (9/10) Christ’s return will likewise mean the fiery destruction of this universe, the final judgment of humans and angels, the wicked being eternally resigned to the lake of fire and the righteous receiving eternal life in the new heavens and earth (2Pe 3:1-13; Rev 20:11-22:16; 1Co 6:3; 2Co 5:9-10). 4. (9/10) Christ’s return and its ensuing cosmic catastrophes will surprise the majority of earth’s inhabitants whose present and future outlook on their wicked way of life will be superlatively positive (Luk 17:26-30; 1Th 5:1-5 “darkness” = Wickedness as the way of life will be popular and prospering causing the majority to miss the bad omens in their midst). The bad omens signaling the soon return of Christ (missed by the majority of the world) will include:1) great apostasy among true churches and the prevalence of false gospels, teachers and churches (Mat 24:10-13; e.g., Christianity and her teachers, the FAG).2) there is only a small number of Jesus Jews left on planet earth and conversion efforts among Gentles in the world have stalled (again 2Pe 3:9; Rom 11:25; Luk 18:8). 3) the (possible) conversion of Hebrews in Jersualem to Jesus Jews before His return (again Rom 11:26-27). 4) global agreement to persecute and kill Jesus Jews – including betrayal by biological family members (Mat 24:9; Luk 21:16-17; Rev 20:9). 5) the biblical gospel (MCG) of the Jesus Jews will be recovered and proclaimed as a testimony to the whole world/all the nations against their false gospels (e.g., FAG) (Mat 24:14 “testimony” = Witness to the truth/true gospel in the face of opposition – most specifically, religious/gospel opposition, as a means of judgment against them – Luk 21:1-15 [parallel to Mat 24]; Consider also that the word testimony’s predominant use in the OT is in respect to judgment - Exo 16:28-34 [Exo 31:18 w/Deu 10:2, 4-5]; Exo 25:21-22; Num 17:10, 35:30; Rev 15:5-7). 6) the obstacle presented by a pandemic of homoerotic narcissism to God’s gospel mission (today’s examples: world celebration of LGBTQ, gender fluidity/gender bending, masturbation - in most cases, a homoerotic act[3], the celebration of the “Queer Last Supper” at the opening ceremony of 2024 Paris Olympics[4]): Noah’s day (Gen 6:12 “corrupt”) = Some ancient Jewish sources view this as a reference to homoerotic narcissism.Abraham’s day (Gen 18-19 w/Jud 1:7) = Sodom and Gomorrah – two city-states/kingdoms (each had their own king – Gen 13) with great influence over the territory to be inherited by Abraham (See Gen 14).Moses and the Israelites in Egypt (Exo 3:6-14 “I AM WHAT I DO”) = A slight variant on the name of the gender-fluid/gender-bending “He-She” Egyptian father of the gods, Atum who masturbated as the means to creating humanity[5] Consider also (Luk 17:26-30) = Jesus’ reasons for referring to both Noah and Sodom with respect to His return is more than simply to make the point that His return will catch most off guard. More importantly, it indicates why they will be caught off guard: for missing the thing which has historically signaled God’s national – or global judgment to be imminent – homoerotic narcissism (Rom 1:18-27) = Alluding no doubt to the past, Paul confirms widespread homosexual behavior – including homoerotic-masturbation [v24] to be the clear historical sign that humanity has reached the tipping point with respect to narcissistic idolatry and God’s ensuing wrath.    5. (6) Another sign that Jesus’ return is imminent will be the perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs in our cosmos and oceans and the paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects (Luk 21:25-27) = Not a contradiction of the superlatively positive outlook of the wicked communicated in Luk 17:26-30]; (v25) “signs in the sun…” [not a reference to cosmic calamity but the presence of foreign and powerful entities – e.g., Eze 32:7-12] w/ “perplexity [at a loss to understand] at the roaring [report – Luk 4:37] of the seas” [not a reference to the effects of the moon on our tides which we understand]; literature/prophecy from the ANE has little/no concern for scientific matters; more often such things are once more a reference to entities] = The perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs in our cosmos and oceans; (v26) = The paradigm-shifting propaganda of the UFOs alien architects. CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: What is the p...