Dear Friends,
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians may have been the first book of the New Testament to be written. The General Epistle of James is believed to have been written around the same time. When these and other New Testament books were copied and circulated, it sparked a revolution that sent shockwaves throughout the Roman Empire and changed the world. Like most revolutions, it was messy. The Empire maintained the Pax Romana with an iron fist and did not allow dissent. Those who received the gospel were persecuted horribly. Only a little more than ten years after Paul wrote his epistles to the Thessalonians, Caesar Nero began crucifying Christians. Most of the apostles were martyred beyond the Empire in faraway lands. In some parts of the world, the persecution has continued to this day. The free world has enjoyed a long period without persecution ever since the Inquisition ended in the early 1800s, but signs are appearing on all sides. It is only a matter of time before the world is plunged into what Jesus called great tribulation. For those who are ready, there is comfort. (1 Thess 4:18) For those who are not ready, this will be the worst period of history the world will ever know. (Matt 24:21) The persecution will be worldwide. There will be no tolerance and no quarter for Christians. Anyone who refuses to worship the image of the beast or refuses to take his mark in the right hand or forehead will be martyred.
Father, give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 3
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
The chapter begins with the word ‘wherefore’. As the old exegetical axiom goes, a text out of context is nothing but a pretext. When we start with a ‘wherefore’ we need to consider the ‘therefore’. At the end of the last chapter, Paul said he wanted to visit them in Thessalonica, but Satan hindered them. Wherefore, they were still in Athens. Paul did the next best thing. He sent Timothy to them.
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ [Notice how Paul subtly assures the Thessalonians that they can trust Timothy.], to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
Afflictions are part of being a Christian. Peter wrote Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Pet 4:12-14)
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
Verse 5 presents a sobering warning. Imagine if, in a moment of weakness, you found yourself walking away from the gospel for some works-based heresy. Then the rapture happened and you were left behind. Paul said he sent to know their faith (not works). The world hates the fact that anyone, no matter what they have done, can receive the free gift of everlasting life, but that is the gospel. Jesus said Take heed that no man deceive you. If there was ever a time to be drawing as close to the Lord Jesus as possible, that time is now. [T]hey that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
It was a great comfort to Paul that the Thessalonians were walking in faith. Even though Paul suffered affliction and distress, it was worth it knowing that his labor was not in vain.
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Paul was going to live in any case, but he used the word ‘we’. If the Thessalonians did not stand fast in the Lord, Paul could not say ‘we’ live. But if they stood fast, Paul could say ‘we’.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
Verse 11 has the Trinity in it. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3
Earlier this week I was invited to a dinner party. As we were eating, it was mentioned by one of the guests that the Walmart she shops at only has one checkout aisle that accepts cash now and they do not give change for less than a dollar. If she does not have exact change, she can have the difference credited to her card. You may have heard that there is a supposed ‘coin shortage’ in the US now. This news item dovetails with the prophecy from Pastor Coverstone that I posted a couple of weeks ago. I am still reserving judgment on his prophecy until after September and November have passed, but I do find it interesting that we supposedly have a coin shortage. I was living in Zimbabwe in 2001 when they started issuing larger denominations prior to their bout with hyperinflation. Coins were no longer used. The smallest thing anyone used by that time was the Zim $5 note, which was equal to a US nickel. Of course what followed was one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in the history of the world, if not the worst. I suspect this coin shortage was planned on purpose and I think it may be a sign of coming hyperinflation in the US. With stores like Walmart no longer using coins and limiting their use of cash to one aisle only, it’s clear that they are trying to fast-track us to the cashless society. I believe that ultimately hyperinflation and an economic collapse will be used to usher in a new global currency and the mark of the beast. There was one other Christian besides me at the table. She said, “Well, we know where this is all leading.” I gave her an ‘Amen’ and we both understood each other. I told her that I expect it may happen soon. One or two others expressed mild concern about the cashless society in general but were nevertheless oblivious to the impending doom that awaits them when they are left behind. I did what I could to witness using the open door this discussion provided. Let’s all pray and do what we can. We all know people who are oblivious to what is coming and we owe it to them to do what we can. One of the things you can do is give them a copy of Where Did All the People GO? Nobody in my family will be able to say no one told them because I made sure they all got a copy. I suppose I have given hundreds of copies of this book away over the years. I pray that those who did not read it will do so after the rapture takes place. That is the most important thing we can do for people, pray for them.
Paul ended Chapter 3 with an exhortation for the Thessalonians to love one another and others as well so that Jesus may stablish [their] hearts unblameable in holiness before God. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor. Let us remember to walk in love, that Jesus may stablish [our] hearts unblameable and in holiness before God.
Father, thank You for the apostle Paul and all of the wisdom we have available to us through his letters. Help us to be the kind of Christians that the Thessalonians were. Help us to do what we can to warn others of the wrath to come. Please add to the church daily such as should be saved. Please count us worthy to stand before your Son and to escape all these things that shall come to pass, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Coronavirus Update: There has been some really big COVID news recently:
A study that was conducted by researchers from the US, Italy, and Russia and was posted on the NIH website (the National Institute of Health where Tony Fauci is a director) confirms what I posted almost four months ago: 5G is linked to COVID-19. The abstract for the study states, “In this research, we show that 5G millimeter waves could be absorbed by dermatologic cells acting like antennas, transferred to other cells and play the main role in producing Coronaviruses in biological cells.” The full study can be seen here. Not surprisingly, the abstract was removed from the NIH website today, July 24, leaving only one line of text: “Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.”
The Lancet has retracted their faulty ‘evaluation’ that Hydroxychloroquine is not effective.
Another report that corroborates what I have been saying comes from Dr Carrie Madej. Dr Madej, an Internal Medicine specialist, says that the COVID-19 vaccine is a trojan horse that is being rushed through without the usual required trials and it will change your DNA:
There was a historic debate on forced vaccines between RFK Jr and Alan Dershowitz:
Last but not least, this report cites several randomized controlled trials that prove masks don’t protect against COVID:
