Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, Dr Luke begins the Book of Acts by bridging the four gospel accounts with the history of the early church. Dr McGee said that in the beginning verses of Acts, it is like all four Gospels were poured through a funnel into a jug: 

The last recorded fact about Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is the Resurrection, which is recorded in Acts 1. In the Gospel of Mark, the last recorded act of Jesus is the Ascension, which is also recorded in Acts 1. At the end of Dr Luke’s Gospel, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit. That is also in Acts 1. In John’s Gospel, the last recorded fact is the second coming of Christ. You guessed it — that is also in Acts 1. (1)

The rest of Acts continues as a bridge between the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. As Warren Wiersbe points out, it would be confusing to turn in our Bibles from John to Romans. We would be left wondering, How did the church in Rome get there? Who is Paul? Thankfully, we have Dr Luke to explain it to us in Acts. 

Give us understanding, Father, as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Acts 1:1-14
1  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

In his Gospel, Dr Luke recorded what Jesus began both to do and teach. In Acts, Dr Luke records what Jesus continued both to do and teach through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

The resurrection is a major theme that continues throughout the Book of Acts. The resurrection separates our faith from all others. There were over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (I Cor 15:6) Unlike the tombs of Muhammad and Buddha, Jesus’ tomb is empty.

4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The apostles received the Holy Ghost (ie Spirit; Gk Pneumati) when Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection (John 20:22), but they had not yet received the ‘baptism’ of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subject of debate among Christians. Some feel it is a one-time experience that happens when a believer is first saved. (1 Cor 12:13) Ie, ever since the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost in Acts 2, Christians who believe are baptized with and sealed with (Eph 1:13) the Holy Spirit. Period. Others believe that there is a second filling of the Holy Spirit that empowers believers, separate from the experience they had when they first believed. Sometimes called the ‘second blessing’ or simply the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’, this is an additional filling (eg Acts 8:14-17). The way I see it, we are leaky vessels; therefore, I pray each day to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, we enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Col 1:27; 1 John 4:15), but throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit comes upon God’s people to empower them for service. I want as much of the Spirit as I can get. Jesus said all we have to do is ask (Luke 11:13).

6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Much like the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:19), Acts has its own built-in outline here in verse 8:

In Chapters 1-7, the focus is on the gospel witness to Jerusalem.
In Chapters 8-12, the focus is on the gospel witness to Judea and Samaria.
In Chapters 13-28, the focus is on the gospel witness to the uttermost part of the earth. 

9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

There is a ‘Church of the Ascension’ on the Mount of Olives, but Luke 24:50 indicates Jesus ascended from somewhere in Bethany. Although there is a very nice ‘Church of the Triumphal Entry’ in nearby Bethphage, where Jesus began his triumphal entry (Luke 19:29), the only landmark in Bethany today is the supposed tomb of Lazarus. I believe we can reconcile this by examining Mark 11:1. Mark includes both Bethphage and Bethany together with the Mount of Olives. Therefore, the Mount of Olives was considered to be part of Bethany. Zechariah 14:4 tells us that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives. That Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives is implied in verse 12:

12  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John [the sons of Zebedee], and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:1-14

The section ends with the Christians continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication. Does that sound like the church today? Not to me either, which is a sign of the times (Matt 24:12; Luke 18:8). The phrase in one accord will recur again and again in the Book of Acts. 

In verse 13, we see Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, was already with the disciples. Identified as the brother of James (Matt 13:55; cf Matt 27:56; cf Jude 1), Judas went on to write the Book of Jude. Although James the Lord’s brother, author of the General Epistle of James, is not mentioned by name, mention is made of Jesus’ brethren in verse 14, which I believe includes James. I believe Jesus’ brethren became believers when He appeared to them after his resurrection. Dr Luke records that Jesus’ half-brother James held a prominent leadership position in the early church. (Acts 15) 

In verse 14, we also see Mary among the disciples. She is not mentioned again in the Book of Acts or any of the Epistles. Although Mary played no leadership role in the early church, and although there is certainly no indication she was any sort of ‘mediator’, one can only imagine the great respect the other Christians must have given her. I suspect that Mary had to remind many of them that she was a sinner saved by grace just like them. I’m sure Mary would have always given the glory to God.

In conclusion, let us always remember that Acts is still being written. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can still see miracles just as they did in the early church. The promise of the Spirit was not just to the Christians in the first century, but to all that are afar off (Acts 2:39). That means us. In our text above, the apostles saw the Lord ascend into heaven. They then waited for the Holy Spirit to empower them so they could start evangelizing and bring in the church age. In our day, the church age is coming to a close. We are waiting for the Lord to return as He promised. We need to be empowered by the Spirit the same way they did. 

In Luke 12, Dr Luke recorded a parable that Jesus told that speaks directly to our situation. Jesus said we should not worry about our daily necessities or storing up treasures for our future. Jesus said, But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Jesus said we should rather invest in his kingdom. He said For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. He told us to roll up our sleeves and get to work — his work. He said Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Have you ever thought about being a missionary? If I can do it, anyone can. If you have it in your heart to do it, tell the Lord so and let Him empower you with his Holy Spirit for the work. Start evangelizing. Put a map of the country you feel led to go to on the wall. Let it be a daily reminder of your goal. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you hear his voice, do not procrastinate. Do as He says.

Finally, the key verses in our passage are 8 and 11. Verse 8 promised power that would accompany the coming of the Holy Spirit and outlined the rest of Acts. In verse 11, we have the promise of the second coming. That is the promise that keeps me going. Jesus is coming back again. The way I see it, without that, we have nothing. With that, we have everything. Father, thank You that miracles still happen today just as they did in the early church. Thank You for giving us the promise of the Holy Spirit, the same as You gave it to them. Please give us discernment to know who to trust and to always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We love You, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

1 McGee, ACTS Chapters 1-14, p vii.

PS: Jesus also said, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? The time is at hand. Ethereum has been chosen as the blockchain vehicle on which the new worldwide economy will be built. (Rev 13:16-18) The stablecoins that will augment this system are already being phased in. The rest is a foregone conclusion. Just because it was not for the Christians in the first century to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power (v 7), that does not mean it is not for us to know. Jesus wants us to discern the time. If the time is indeed at hand, what will you be found doing when Jesus returns?

 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5

 And he [Jesus] said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:7, 8

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post we embark on a journey through the history book of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles. Bless our efforts, Father, and give us understanding in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The author of Acts is Luke, who Paul called the beloved physician. Like Paul, Dr Luke was highly educated. His skillful use of the Greek language is applauded by academia. It is thought that Dr Luke was possibly a slave, as some slaves were highly educated. While today a rich man may buy a Ferrari, in the first century a rich man might buy a doctor. As a doctor, Luke would have taken the Hippocratic Oath, which included swearing never to perform an abortion or practice euthanasia. 

Dr Luke’s history of the early church is an example of an old custom which has recently fallen out of use — letter writing. Acts is a follow-up letter written to an individual named Theophilus. Dr Luke’s first letter to Theophilus is what we call the Gospel According to Luke. (Acts 1:1; cf Luke 1:3)  

Theophilus means lover of God. It is formed from two Greek words, theós (God) and phílos (lover or friend). Theophilus could also mean friend of God and dear to God, but I prefer lover of God. Although we do not know who Theophilus was, it is likely he was a Roman official, since Dr Luke addressed him as ‘most excellent’ Theophilus. (Cf Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25)

Although Acts focuses mostly on Paul and, to a lesser extent, Peter, around this time the other apostles were engaged in missionary activities as well. According to Fox (who derived his history from Eusebius):

Andrew went to many Asiatic nations. At Edessa, Andrew was crucified on a cross rotated sideways like an X. Dr Halley says according to tradition Andrew also preached in Greece and Scythia. 

Philip went to Upper Asia. He was crucified in Phrygia at Heliopolis. 

Bartholomew (Nathaniel) went to several countries including India, where he was beaten and crucified. 

Thomas preached in Parthia and then India, where he was thrust through with a spear. 

Matthew went to Parthia and then Ethiopia, where he was martyred, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah. 

James the son of Alphaeus went to Egypt. (Dr Halley) 

Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (Judas not Iscariot) went to Syria, Arabia, and Mesopotamia. (Dr Halley) He was crucified at Edessa. 

Simon the Canaanite, aka Zelotes, went to various places in Northern Africa, and eventually to Britain, where he was crucified. 

James the son of Zebedee was thwarted from missions by Herod Agrippa who had him slain with the sword (Acts 12:2), ie beheaded.

Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, was stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem. It is not known whether he ever went out as a missionary. 

John, the brother of James and the son of Zebedee, died in Ephesus after he was released from exile in Patmos. Having miraculously escaped a cauldron of boiling oil, John is the only apostle not to die a violent death. 

The author of our Letter, Dr Luke, who traveled with Paul on his journeys, is said to have been hanged on an olive tree by pagan priests in Greece. 

According to Acts 8:4, after the martyrdom of Stephen, believers were scattered abroad and went every where preaching the word. In Acts 11:19, they that were scattered abroad went preaching as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. We read later in the New Testament that when people received the gospel as the result of missionary activities, they often became missionaries themselves. (I Thess 1:8)

These evangelistic efforts changed the world so drastically that it would be impossible to exaggerate their effects. What’s more, Acts is still being written. It is our honor and privilege as Christians to have a role in its composition. Except for James and III John, Acts is the only book in the New Testament that does not end with the word, Amen. 

James’ general epistle may have been the first New Testament Book to be written. John ended his third epistle by telling Gaius he would see him shortly. It is therefore not too hard to see why these letters did not end with Amen, just as it makes sense that Acts does not, because the history of the church was far from finished. 

Acts was written circa 63 AD, as the Book ends with Paul being under house arrest in Rome for two years. Just as the events in the Book of Acts changed the course of history in the decades following the death and resurrection of Christ, the major turning points that would follow in world history were a continuation of these things. The transition of the Roman world from a pagan empire to a quasi-Christian empire, the Reformation, and the birth of America are just a few examples. Around the mid-twentieth century, academics began asserting that the economy is what drives historical events, but this is a minority opinion compared to the many voices of previous generations. The record shows that religion and Christianity have affected history far more than anything else. Trade and commerce are factors, no doubt, especially considering that, according to the Bible, money is a god. Jesus said ye cannot serve God and mammon. Nevertheless, the unsung Hero of the Book of Acts and the rest of world history is the Holy Spirit, or in other words, Jesus. 

I invite you to join me in this survey of Acts as we witness the birth of the church and travel alongside Paul and his companions, being led of the Spirit. Remember, just as Dr Luke had the honor of recording the beginning of church history, it is our honor to write the ending. Philippine national treasure, polymath, author, ophthalmologist, believer on Jesús Cristo, and martyr José Rizal said, 

El que no sabe mirar atrás, de donde viene, nunca llegará a su destino.

He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.

In other words, if we are to be victorious Christians as we continue on our pilgrimage to the Celestial City, we do well to look back at where we came from. Meanwhile, let’s pray about how we can best contribute to the conclusion of church history. Father, draw us closer to your Son through the careful study of your word. Please give us the grace to add to the story of your church in a way that pleases You and your Son and your Spirit. Speak to our hearts on this matter as we make our way through the Book of Acts. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews  12:12-24

Prophecy Update: Readers of this blog will recall how, in our last study in John, my prophecy updates had a strong sense of urgency. During the age of COVID, there was a worldwide hysteria that was snatching away civil rights and personal freedoms. America fared better than most places in this regard, but even in America the sweeping changes that took place were like nothing we had ever seen before. Moving forward, we can thank God that we have been given a reprieve. I believe we must do our utmost to take advantage of whatever liberties God has granted us while we still can, remaining alert and cognizant of our position on the prophetic calendar. Our Lord said I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Direct our paths, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

This post is part of a continuing series that I began following the 2016 elections. The previous posts in the series can be found here:

The New Civil War Part 1 (04/07/17)
The New Civil War Part 2 (02/15/19)
The New Civil War Part 3 (05/22/20)

From the beginning of the series, I have emphasized how the new civil war is different from previous wars. This war is a worldwide cold conflict between the new world order and the resistance against it. The new world order clearly wants a conventional kinetic war between the Left and the Right here in the US, but that is the last thing we need and their attempts to divide us and coerce us into a civil war must be resisted. As we see attempts to steer us in this direction from both the Left and the Right, we must be obedient to our precious Prince of Peace and walk in his ways. We are already at war with the new world order. Each successive war that we allow them to manipulate us into is a win for them and a loss for everyone else.

The two major conflicts currently taking place in this regard would be the war in Ukraine and the war in the Gaza Strip. Both these wars are pet projects of the new world order. In the past, I have often drawn the ire of people for defending the US and Israel, either for saying that the US is not bad or for saying God loves Israel. I think much of the disagreement in this regard has to do with one’s point of view. When most people reference a country, what they have in mind is the country’s government. When I reference a country, what I generally have in mind is the people who live there. Of course I have serious issues with the governments of both the US and Israel. On the other hand, I do not see what that has to do with the citizens of these countries. I have never been to DC. I do not believe there is much I could do to have any effect on the US government or its policies, prayer notwithstanding. On the other hand, I have visited nearly every state in the US and lived in four of them. I have found the US to be a nice place to live. When I visited Israel, I traveled from the Golan Heights to Eilat, from Tel Aviv to the River Jordan. I found Israel to be a nice place to visit, if not to live. Nevertheless, God has his own issues with Israel. He is dealing with his chosen people in his own way as He sees fit. I do not consider that any of my business (Rom 14:4). After the great tribulation period, Israel is going to be the head and not the tail, so you might as well get used to them. (Isa 2:3; Jer 33:20f; Rom 11:25f et al)

The fact of the matter is that events are unfolding according to God’s prophetic pattern. It has been said the prophetic design of history is like a train. It is going to arrive on time regardless of what the passengers do. They can move up and down through the cars as the train travels down the line, but nothing they do will affect the ultimate destination. Likewise, the outcomes recorded in Scripture are immutable. As the eyes of the world are on the war in the Gaza Strip, it seems to me the disproportionate response to the October 7 attack is prepping and priming Russia and its allies for the Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38, 39. It seems to me Russia’s inevitable victory in Ukraine will embolden them in this regard.

Let us pray: Father, we know and believe that all of the promises in your Son are yea and in Him Amen. Help us to take a reasoned look at the things that are taking place in the world today and how best to occupy until You send your Son back to receive us. Give us the wisdom to make good decisions. Help us walk in the Spirit and rightly represent You as long as we remain in this world. Give us understanding now as we read thy word. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 2
WHY do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalm 2

The most consequential political figure of our time by far is Donald Trump. In my 2021 Review 2022 Preview, I said I will not vote for Trump again, but I am starting to rethink that. Lately I have been hearing some of our fellowservants whom I respect draw parallels between Trump and Hitler. While I have reservations about voting for him again, I feel that comparing Trump to Hitler is nothing short of TDS. I cannot see any reasoned, rationale for this position. For starters, Trump is loved by people of all colors who love America and see him as someone who will preserve traditional American values. Trump is loved in Israel. So on the race issue, Trump is not Hitleresque. Secondly, Trump proved in his first term that he is the closest thing to a peace president that we have had in the 21st Century. There were no new wars and it could be argued that the ones we had in progress when Trump was elected were scaled back. So on the world conquest issue, Trump is not Hitleresque. (At least not in a military way.)

What I think some people are seeing is a parallel to how the Weimar Republic had become a cesspool of debauchery — like America has — and how Hitler attracted people who wanted to restore Germany to its former glory. Hitler enlisted church leaders to get behind his cause, and jailed church leaders who opposed him. To make this stretch and apply it to Trump is, again, nothing short of TDS in my opinion. It is true that people like Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn have claimed the name of Christ in support of Trump at the ReAwaken America meetings, but this is nothing more than plain-old pandering, a clownish attempt to appeal to Christians with clownish ‘Trump prophets’. There are no plans for a ‘national church’ like Hitler’s Evangelische Reichskirche. There is no Kirchenkampf, or ‘church struggle’ like what took place between the Confessing Church and the clergy members who supported Hitler. Furthermore, the Vatican supported Hitler and signed a concordat with Germany in 1933, yet from all outward appearances, the Vatican seems to hate Trump.

When Dietrich Bonhoeffer publicly opposed Hitler, his February 1, 1933, radio broadcast was cut short by someone who turned the microphone off before the speech had even ended. Bonhoeffer opposed Hitler not only because of his persecution of the Jews, but as a matter of doctrinal principle. Bonhoeffer understood that the salvation of Germany could only be found in Christ. He saw people looking at Hitler as the Savior of Germany, which was theologically inconsistent. I know that there are some naive Christians who see Trump as a savior but even that similarity seems to me to be a stretch too far. Trump is not about to defrock seminary professors who oppose him like Hitler did Bonhoeffer. He is certainly not about to jail pastors who speak against him, like Hitler did Martin Niemöller and many others. Can anyone seriously suppose that Christians would ever deem it necessary to engage in an underground secret resistance against Trump like Bonhoeffer did against Hitler? In Bonhoeffer’s case, it was an honorable endeavor, although it failed and led to his execution.

From my point of view, well-meaning Christians who compare Trump to Hitler have a very shortsighted view of history and a very shortsighted view of our current political landscape in America. We are never going to get another Jack Kennedy for president. Whoever occupies the Oval Office is going to be new world order. In my opinion Haley would probably take us to war and RFK Jr would probably turn out to be a climate change Nazi. At least with Trump, we know what we are getting. The fact of the matter is most of the major problems facing our nation are not going to be solved by the president. If there is going to be significant change, it is going to have to happen at the local level. For proof that this is an effective strategy moving forward, we need look no further than the Amish community. They were unaffected by what were for most of us the most significant events of the 21st century.(1) Why? Because they did not have TVs in their houses with talking heads telling them what to think and what to do. The Amish are completely unvaccinated. They eat healthy organic food that they grow themselves. Because the Amish are self-sufficient and independent, they went about their business without being bribed or blackmailed into being vaccinated, or getting trapped in hospitals with invasive ventilators forced down their windpipes, not to mention being given toxic therapeutics like remdesivir.

Therefore, let us be mindful that local governments can still offer solutions through nullification. Even the new world order understands that local politics are highly effective, which is why George Soros has sunk millions of dollars into local campaigns to get his people elected. One of the most important elected officials is the local sheriff. One church in Illinois managed to stay open during the plandemic because the local sheriff, who was a member, had his deputies posted outside the church during the service. This is known as the doctrine of lesser magistrates and it is a very essential concept to understand. It is how America was originally designed to operate. I touched on this concept and provided links for more information in my post on July 4, 2022. Peaceful protesting in civil disobedience is far more effective than any militia-style armed resistance, which would be a trap, just like January 6, 2021, was a trap. The new world order would love an excuse to persecute more Americans. Even the new world order knows peaceful methods work better. That is how they have managed to further their agenda through the UN and the WEF after their military efforts in WWII failed under the Nazi regime.

For better or for worse, Planet Earth is transitioning to global governance. I can recall sitting in church in the mid-nineties and hearing that ‘none of the major governments are still functioning the way they are supposed to. Rather, they are merely competing over who will be in charge of the new world order’. Here we are three decades later and that truth is nakedly on display for all to see. The highly politicized and biased $355 million judgment against Trump by Judge Engoron is merely a manifestation of the game of thrones that is being played out in the corridors of power.

How then, shall God’s people respond and occupy in light of these events? I have observed that when it comes to politics, people have a tendency to either flippantly critique, mock, and dismiss the person in the seat of power, or else embrace and idolize the man. This is far different from the biblical model of the prophets who advised kings and rebuked them when necessary. Whether the king was good or bad, the prophets always offered serious, godly, counsel. Their frank and candid counsel sometimes cost the prophets their lives, but oftentimes it helped to steer the nation in the right direction. What that means to me is as Christians we should always tell the truth, yet we should not be arrogant. Paul told the Christians in Thessalonica to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we have commanded you (1 Thess 4:11). Whoever emerges as the winner in this year’s election will be in many ways like the king of Babylon was to the Jewish captives in the sixth century. We should give the winner a chance and respond accordingly. Jeremiah advised the people of that day, And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. (Jer 29:7) I am looking at Trump the same way the Jews were told to look at the king of Babylon. If he wins, I believe we should give him another chance to prove himself. We should speak to him in the same matter-of-fact way that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, spoke to Nebuchadnezzar.

In the meantime, consider the wisdom of the Amish. I think they have a lot to teach us. I have often wondered what it was in particular that made them shun technology. As it turns out, the Amish saw technology as something that would make them dependent on the world. By simply trusting God and loving their neighbors, they have thrived and avoided a lot of problems that other Christians have — especially health problems. I’m not going to convert but I will take note and do my utmost to put my trust in God, being very skeptical of what the world is saying. I will do my best to be independent. I will do my best to do as the church in Philadelphia did, ie to keep the word of his patience. Yes, we are in the midst of a new civil war of sorts. I say, let the new world order play this game amongst themselves, and let us sit it out. The only way to win this game is not to play. If I as a Christian have anything to say to today’s politicians, it is to read Psalm 2. King Nebuchadnezzar eventually found that he had to submit to the God of Israel, but he learned it the hard way. Jesus is offering a much easier route. If you put your trust in Him it will have to be on his terms, but you will truly be blessed. If you receive Christ as your Saviour, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Some may be thinking that we do not have to roll up our sleeves and work locally because the rapture is going to save us, but such thinking is foolish. Before I ever even heard the word, rapture, I used to think Jesus would probably not come back until around 2036. Lately, I have been thinking the same thing again. Incidentally, I recently ran across someone who makes a pretty compelling argument for Jesus returning around this same time. Of course, I put no more faith in her theory than the scores of other theories about when it’s going to be, but I found it interesting. A wiser approach than hoping the rapture will save us is to anticipate the next moves of the new world order and prepare accordingly. Just as they told us in advance that COVID was coming, we are now being told Disease X is coming next. They can predict these things not because they are prophets, but because they are orchestrating these events. Dr Bryan Ardis has made some sensational claims concerning COVID which I initially dismissed, but after hearing his rebuttal to the criticisms against him, I am not so sure. If Disease X turns out to be something that causes severe lung damage or massive hemorrhaging in the vaccinated, it will vindicate Dr Ardis. Time will tell. If that happens, I think I will probably do what I did in 2020, ie move to the country and wait it out. Above all, we must not give in to fear. I will never be afraid to lay hands on a sick person (vaccinated or otherwise) and pray for him.

Staying healthy and vaccine-free is key. Healthy organic FOOD is what is important. That is why the WEF is so focused on food. Although the Youngevity products are a bit expensive, I have begun using them again and I noticed immediate results:

• Beyond Tangy Tangerine 2.0
• Beyond Osteo fx (liquid)
• Ultimate EFA

If you have been vaccinated I highly recommend these products as an initial step in the detoxification process. You also might want to try apple pectin. A daily dose of turmeric is essential. If you are suffering any effects from being vaxxed I highly recommend you contact the people at myfreedoctor.com and get some prescription therapeutics. (For some reason the URL works on my phone but not on my computer.)

Beyond that, the only other physical preparations I am making have to do with protecting what savings I have by investing in hard assets and things that are detached from the US dollar. The monetary velocity of the US dollar is rapidly decreasing, indicating inflation will get worse. NVDA may go to the moon but if the dollar collapses the shares will be worthless. In other words, you might be able to make a killing but then again you might not. (For me, profiting off AI is not something I feel comfortable with.) While I try to be prudent, I recognize my investments cannot save me. (Jam 5:3)

Ultimately our hope is not in any government. I reject their pejorative label of ‘Christian Nationalist’. I am a Christian. My Lord’s kingdom is not of this world. I am merely a stranger and a pilgrim here on this earth. (Heb 11:13; 1 Pet 2:11) George Washington said, “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence,— it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master.” This quote was cited in the first book I ever read after committing my life to Christ in 1995: A Fearful Master — A Second Look at the United Nations by G Edward Griffin (Western Islands, 1964). Griffin is 92 years old now. He is most well known for The Creature From Jekyll Island. (American Media, 1994) A year ago someone asked this wise old sage in an interview what his advice would be to the generation following behind him. He thought about it and said to watch out for controlled opposition. That sounds like good advice to me.*

Finally, What is far more important than physical preparations is being prepared spiritually. One day the rapture is going to happen. I don’t know when but I know it will happen. Without doubt. In the Revelation, Jesus rebuked the church in Thyatira. He said that those who committed adultery with the false prophetess, Jezebel, would be cast into great tribulation. Contrariwise, Jesus told the church in Philadelphia Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. I believe one interpretation for Jezebel would be the cult of the new world order (Rev 17:3ff). I believe one interpretation of keeping the word of his patience would be trusting that Jesus is the only way. Jesus said the way is narrow that leads to life and few find it (Matt 7:14). He said the way that leads to destruction is broad and many are on it (Matt 7:13). You do not want to be one of those people who say Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? They were religious and they claimed the name of Christ, but they were lost. If we trust in the word of his patience like the church in Philadelphia, we will be saved from the great tribulation period. Nevertheless, the Bible says we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (It does not say we must through the great tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.) The way to deal with pain is to lean into it. Use the pain to draw you closer to Christ. (1 Pet 4:12f)

I believe a lot of pain is caused when we focus our attention on the wrong things. Consciousness is a zero-sum game. Ultimately we can only focus our attention on so many things at one time. If we focus on the world rather than on Christ, we will get stressed and depressed, but if we focus on Christ, we will be blessed. Exactly how we balance our civic duty in our local community with our directive to be salt and light while keeping our eyes on Christ is something we each have to work out for ourselves. I will leave that for your prayerful consideration.

Father thank You for giving us your word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Thank You that Satan is a defeated foe and we have already won through faith in your Son. Thank You for revealing things unto us that are hidden from the wise and prudent. Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us. Thank You most of all for giving us your Son. He is more precious than anything else imaginable. Please account us worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before Him, in his holy and precious name, the name above all names. Amen.

* The MO of the enemy is deception. (Matt 24:4) Therefore, we need to reevaluate who we can trust. For example, Infowars did a lot of good reporting up until right around the time of the COVID debacle. Instead of calling foul, however, Infowars (along with most of the rest of the so-called alternative media) engaged in the same hysterics as the mainstream media. At that time I wrote that they were ‘falling into the trap set by the new world order’ but in hindsight I believe they knew what they were doing. I have come to the conclusion that Infowars was heavily involved in the QAnon psyop.(2) Alex regularly hosted Steve Pieczenik, a key figure in the Q movement. Jerome Corsi made an entire Infowars show out of ‘deciphering’ Q early on when the movement first appeared. Corsi was fired from Infowars but other things continued to persist. Before the rally in DC on January 6, 2021, which Alex promoted, Infowars reporter David Knight was warning people that it was a trap and that people were putting themselves in danger by going there. Knight was subsequently fired, but vindicated in spades after the arrests were made. Alex would regularly disavow Q but then continue to host Steve Pieczenik. Eventually, Alex stopped hosting Pieczenik when it could no longer be denied he was a purveyor of QAnon-stye disinformation. When Trump was preparing to roll out the shots at ‘warp speed’, Infowars claimed Trump’s shots would be a safe alternative based on the classic vaccine model of a dead or weakened pathogen used to create antibodies. It appears the old ‘alternative press’ has become the new ‘mainstream-alternative-press’. Therefore, for trustworthy news and commentary we need an ‘alternative-alternative-press’. Pray and ask for discernment. Whatever news source you are looking at, check for links to support the claims. Consider the facts of the article but reject the spin. Watch out for propaganda. Eat the watermelon and spit out the seeds.

(1) UPDATE June 9, 2024:

I recently heard about a government study claiming that the Amish fared no better than the general population during COVID. However, this report by Sharyl Attkisson shows how the authors of the study cherrypicked their data to support their false conclusion. What they did was sample a population with both Mennonite and Amish people. The Mennonites, however, responded to COVID the same way most Americans did. They went along with the deadly hospital protocols and took the mRNA shots. The Amish, on the other hand, refused to go to the hospital or take the shots. When prodded by Attkisson, one of the authors of the study even admitted that they avoided sampling a population made up predominantly of the Amish because it did not support the conclusion they wanted. This brings me to the primary reason for this update: what is happening now in 2024.

Recent reports from the Epoch Times and Michael Snyder, reposted on Zerohedge, are replaying the same hair-on-fire fear-mongering we were treated to in 2020. The hoax de jour is bird flu, but the script is essentially the same as before in 2020. In 2020 we saw scary videos out of China showing people dropping dead — from COVID we were told. Now we have scary headlines on ZeroHedge like this one reposted from Michael Snyder about a man who “dropped dead” of bird flu. However, this article from Sharyl Attkisson meticulously documents the sequence of events concerning the man in Mexico who died and tested positive for bird flu. First of all, he did not “drop dead.” He was bedridden for weeks due to a host of medical issues. He had no contact with birds or other animals. Yet the WHO attributed his death to bird flu after a PCR test. Likewise, ZeroHedge has been reposting Epoch Times articles about people who got conjunctivitis (pink eye) and then subsequently tested positive for bird flu via PCR. It is not too hard to see how the Epoch Times could be pressured into running these stories considering their recent legal problems, but why would ZeroHedge repost this tripe? What about Michael Snyder? Are they being paid off?

Regardless of why and how these stories made it into the conservative/ libertarian press, now we are supposed to be afraid. Yes, be afraid. Be very afraid, because an invalid died in Mexico. A few people even contracted pink eye. Yikes! This, of course, all smacks of the same folly we were treated to in 2020. This time is different, however. I do not believe they want us to mask up and stay home again. No, this time they are coming for our food. To do this, they are using the same magic PCR test they used for COVID. (Yet now they have a new, even more sensitive test than the old PCR test — a digital PCR test.) So Dr Scarf is back saying we need to test every cow in America. We already regularly cull millions of chickens, none of which are sick, because of the magic PCR test. All this even though the creator of the PCR test, Dr Kary Mullis, explained the test can be used to find anything in anyone and it cannot be used to diagnose an illness. I wrote about this ad nauseam during COVID. Yet the magic PCR test is just one of the tools in their toolkit. They can also claim methane from cow farts is too dangerous (don’t walk, run!). They claim the nitrogen runoff on farms is too dangerous, when the very air we breathe is mostly nitrogen. Incidentally, that nasty CO2 they claim is going to kill us all if we do not give up our cars only accounts for 0.04% of the atmosphere, and only 3% of the 0.04% is manmade, but back to the cows: Cows are also responsible for that insidious raw milk that is so dangerous; another reason they have to take them away from us. But did you know raw milk is what they drink in Europe? (And everyone knows that the food Europeans eat is much healthier than food in the US.) So why should we give the slightest bit of credence to their ridiculous stories about Fartageddon, or pink eye from bird flu, or anything they try to scare us with using their magic PCR test? We shouldn’t. Period. It is all a hoax, and anyone who is willing to do a little research can see that. But why are they doing this? What is the real reason they do not want us to eat meat?

I recall as a young person watching an episode of 21 Jump Street called Brothers which I believe gets to the heart of the matter. There is a lot of money to be made by using the so-called vaccines on cows and chickens (1 Tim 6:10), but I believe there is a deeper spiritual issue involved. The 21 Jump Street episode was about cults and how they brainwash people by making them abstain from meat. After the episode, there was a short epilogue where Peter DeLuise spoke directly to the camera and warned us kids watching at home to beware of any group that might try to make friends with us and try to convince us to stop eating meat. The most obvious example of this is the Hindu religion. Deprive somebody of protein-rich meat, and they are much more susceptible to spiritual deception. That is why the Bible calls commanding to abstain from meat a doctrine of devils. (1 Tim 4:1-4)

In the Book of Revelation, the rider on the black horse brings famine, which is the end result of their war on our food. The Revelation also warns about the method they use to deceive the world: Pharmakeia in Greek and translated sorceries in English (Rev 18:23), in Latin, the word would be pharmacy. I have lost two family members who appear to have contracted turbo cancer due to the mRNA shots. Others are seriously sick. Besides cancer, bad knees and respiratory problems are among the most common effects from the shots. The reason many people did not get sick from the shots is because different batches had much different amounts of active ingredients. (Anywhere from from 3μg to 100μg depending on the batch.) I believe they want to ‘vaccinate’ those of us who refused the shots by ‘vaccinating’ us through our food. I believe the solution is the same as I said above. Be independent and ignore them like the Amish do. The Amish ignore delusional bullies who want to poison them because complying with them is a sin.

In closing, I believe the situation today is akin to what happened in Salem, Massechuttsets in 1692. We will end with a Final Jeopardy question:

How many witches were executed as a result of the Salem Witch Trials?

…
… Final Jeopardy tune …
…

Answer: 0   
No witches were executed in Salem; that is a fallacy. The teenage girls who were caught dancing naked in the woods, smearing chicken blood on themselves, and trying to use magic to get boyfriends were all given immunity for informing on other ‘witches’. The ones who were executed were Christians who refused to ‘confess’ to witchcraft. Everyone who ‘confessed’ was acquitted.

Do not be afraid of them. (2 Tim 1:7) Do not go along with their delusions, whatever the consequences. That is the only way this stops.

(2) UPDATE July 20, 2024:

Earlier this week, Alex Jones admitted on air that he was indeed heavily involved in QAnon. The mind attack psyop that is Q and the involvement of Infowars dovetails with the shooting near Buttler, PA last Saturday. About the only thing we know for sure about the shooting is that one man was shot dead. Absolutely nothing about this event (including Trump’s injury) adds up. For example, the closeup picture of Trump’s ear that was immediately posted on the Internet can no longer be found. Now, only a few images that do not look like the initial image can be found — even on Yandex. What most commentators are focusing on is the unbelievable level of incompetence that was on display by the Secret Service. The only explanation for this ‘incompetence’ is that it was deliberate. We are watching political theater, literally. There are ways that this event could be used politically, like nudging people into a civil war, but most of all it distracts us from the crimes against humaninty that were foisted on the world in 2020 and 2021. Crimes nobody wants to talk about or hold anyone accountable for. My advice: stay focused on the big picture. Our hope is in heaven. Politics is small potatoes.

UPDATE November 11, 2024:

Well, what we witnessed last week was nothing short of amazing. The big fear was that they would steal the election again and we would be stuck with yet a fourth Obama term. But thanks be to God, Laura Trump exercised her authority as co-chair of the RNC and took necessary action. When the couriers showed up at the polls after hours with their illegal ballots like they did in 2020, they were turned away. There were lawyers there to watch what they were doing. They couldn’t just block out the windows and have their way like they did in 2020.

I very much like what we are hearing from Trump and his transition team. However, I am nothing if not a realist. Trump has people like Elon Musk, Dr Ron Paul, RFK Jr Esq, Lt Col Tulsi Gabbard, and VP elect JD Vance (plus most of America) on his side. His opponents, on the other hand, have a MICIMATT, ie what Ray McGovern called the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank. This is a real war. It is up to us to provide prayer support so we can achieve victory.

The worm is starting to turn. The attorney general of Kansas is suing Pfizer as part of a multi-state lawsuit for lying about their shots. (I know, they should but on trial for murder but it’s a start.) Six counties in Idaho have banned the COVID shots outright. I was wrong when I ended my last post by saying ‘politics is small potatoes’. Local efforts like these are what is needed in conjunction with efforts at the federal level. Here is what I will be looking for during the first 100 days:

• Will most of the J6 political prisoners be pardoned?
• Will we see immediate investigations/ arrests concerning the trafficking of children (aka unaccompanied minors)?
• Will Trump appoint Lt Col Gabbard as secretary of state?
• Will RFK Jr make changes based on hard data on adverse events from the mRNA shots?
• Will Elon Musk and Dr Paul convince Congress to defund the swamp?

In any case, whatever happens, we must remember the words of Solomon:

…¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
…In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5, 6

Father, thank You for restoring integrity to our election process. Thank You that We the People now have a president who is talking not only about stopping the brainwashing and genital mutilation of young people but restoring prayer in public schools as well. Thank You for the hope of freedom. Please help the president-elect make the reforms he is aiming at a reality. Protect him and his team. Bring healing to our nation. Thank You most of all for giving us your Son. I pray that we can have a true revival in America and worldwide, a great harvest. Please let it be so Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jeremiah 6:16

Dear Friends,

For me, the most encouraging (and under-reported) trend in 2023 was the awakening to the existential threat of global governance. More or less everything I have written concerning current events since 2020 was quietly acknowledged to be true in 2023. In some places, state and local governments are beginning to push back against the agenda of the Great Reset, while in other places they are doubling down. Far and away the most important matter for 2024 is nurturing and maintaining our relationship with the Lord. Moving forward, I plan to look to the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein — prayer, fasting, and Bible meditation. Father, direct our paths in 2024. Help us to take heed that no man deceive us. Give us the wisdom to make good decisions. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the Middle East, and the nations of the world. Please account us worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

John Commentary

Genesis Commentary

Daniel Commentary

1st and 2nd Thessalonians Commentary

Revelation Commentary

Joel Commentary

Hosea Commentary

Pointers for Bible Study

One Anothers of the New Testament

John Commentary

Genesis Commentary

Daniel Commentary

1st and 2nd Thessalonians Commentary

Joel Commentary

Revelation Commentary

Hosea Commentary

Pointers for Bible Study

One Anothers of the New Testament

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to offer my complete notes on John’s Gospel in pdf form, which can now be downloaded here.

I’ve added other commentaries under the download menu (hover cursor over menu then click on file, don’t click directly on the download menu). Thank you for reading. Father, thank You for speaking to us through thy word. Help us to prepare to meet your Son, that we may be ready when You send Him to fetch us home. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:1-6

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Jesus appeared to the disciples after rising from the dead. One of the things I found interesting in Israel was how they know where everyone is buried. The tombs of the patriarchs are in Hebron. Rachel’s tomb is in Bethlehem. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are buried on the Mount of Olives. The tombs of David and Absalom are in Jerusalem, as is the tomb of Mary the mother of Jesus. There is no consensus on the location of Jesus’ tomb, however, because it is empty. Praise be to God. After appearing to the disciples, Jesus then sent them to serve even as He was sent by his Father. (John 20:21) However, He was not just speaking to the apostles. The disciples who met Him on the road to Emmaus were there as well. (Cf Luke 24:33ff) All of us who believe are sent. We are part of the New Testament priesthood of believers. (1 Pet 2:5, 9) We have been given authority. (John 1:12; Mark 13:34; Rev 1:6) We have been sent. (John 20:21)

Speaking of Hebron, I found the Muslim marketplace there to be almost as interesting as the tombs of the patriarchs. I met a Palestinian lady who wanted to talk so I asked her how she felt about Jesus. When I told her He is coming back soon, she agreed. She said as a Muslim it is her belief that there will be an impostor who will preceed Him. She said she believes that those who are deceived by the impostor will be damned, and then Jesus will return. Of course, I told her that is what the Bible says too.

In this post, we come to the last chapter in John’s epic account of the life and times of Jesus Christ, THE KING OF THE JEWS … King of nations … KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, King of me. I hope He is your King too. Father, thank You for this glorious journey through John’s Gospel. I pray You will help us unpack this final chapter, that we may finish strong, hearing and receiving all that You wish to share with us for your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 21
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

People often find fault with Peter for going back to fishing. Maybe Peter did indeed go back to fishing when he ought to have been preaching. I tend to think that is so, but maybe he was just hungry? In any case, I believe the fish in our narrative represent souls. If you are going to go evangelizing, you need to keep Jesus at the center of all you do. (John 15:5) They toiled all night and caught nothing, but when Jesus shows up, suddenly the situation changes.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

As always, Jesus knew the answer before He asked.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

If you are feeling some déjà vu that would be because this same thing happened when Jesus called Peter the second time. (Luke 5:4ff) Could this mean this is the third time Jesus is calling Peter?

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved [John] saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Fishing naked? And they say this guy was the first pope?? Peter was certainly not anything like a pope. (1 Pet 5:2f)

8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Why did the net not break as it did in Luke 5? Simple: they left the net in the water. Without the strain of lifting the net up out of the water, the net stayed intact. However, there is a fundamental spiritual truth here. New Christians need the word. If you catch a fish, you need to keep him in the water by the word (John 15:3; Eph 5:26) if you do not want him to get away. That is your responsibility as the one who caught him. I believe that is the significance behind the number of fish that they caught. Why would Jesus have them count the fish? Simple: The fish represent Christian souls. When you lead people to Christ you need to keep track of each and every one of them and be sure none are neglected.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

Just as the bread and the fish represented the word of God and Christian souls when Jesus fed the multitude in Chapter 6, so do they here in Chapter 21. (This is what is known as the law of expositional constancy.)

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Who are these? Some are of the opinion that Jesus was asking Simon if he loved Him more than the other disciples did. Peter made that claim and then failed. (Mark 14:29) Maybe Jesus was exhorting Peter not to be cocky. If so, Peter not only learned his lesson but preached it as well. (1 Pet 5:5f) Others say the these Jesus was referring to were the fish. Since Peter was fishing again, Jesus was asking him if he loved fishing more than Him. Either view seems to fit; something to meditate on. 

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

According to the Bible, love is not an emotion, but an action. (1 John 5:2f) Jesus is in effect saying Peter, if you love me, show it. I once heard of a church that had ‘Feed My Sheep’ painted on the side of their food van that distributed food to the poor. I thought they were being witty, as Jesus was speaking figuratively, telling Peter He wants him to teach the word. (Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4) But later I learned that John used two different Greek words for feed to describe what Jesus told Peter in Aramaic. I think that church may have been spot-on in their interpretation of what Jesus meant. Ie, feed them both physically and spiritually.

Jesus also used two different words for sheep and two different words for love; something else to meditate on:

boskó + poimainó = feed them his word and tend to them in other practical ways as well?
lambs + sheep = feed both the children and the adults?
agapeó + phileó = Because these two words seem to be used interchangeably in many cases in the New Testament, some feel it is splitting hairs to consider why the two different words are used. Notwithstanding, on a technical level agapeó signifies a deeper love; this is the word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 13. The word phileó is more of a brotherly love or affection. The first two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used agapeó, while Peter responded using phileó. Maybe Peter did not feel worthy to use agapeó; considering his failure on the night of the crucifixion, that would be understandable. The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Jesus used phileó. Peter responded again, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I philó thee. I will leave it to you to decide whether I am splitting hairs by bringing this up.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Peter denied Jesus three times, and three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. This grieved Peter, but he needed to hear it or else Jesus would not have repeated Himself three times. Three times Jesus reminds Peter, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Jesus tells Peter that although he failed Him before, when the time comes Peter will give his life for Him and will not fail. Peter will be crucified. Jesus then repeats the same thing He said the first time He called Peter (Matt 4:19): Follow me. The first time, Jesus said Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. I think Peter remembered that as Jesus said once more, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

I thank God for Peter. He reminds me that maybe I’m not so bad after all. Jesus just got done telling him to feed his sheep and to follow Him … to the cross. Immediately, Peter puts his foot in his mouth and says “But what about John??”

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Again, Jesus needs to remind Peter to follow Him and mind his own business. Peter may not look like much now, but he gets better. Before too long, in the Book of Acts, Peter will start leading people to Christ by the thousands. (Ie after Pentecost, when the church was empowered by the Holy Spirit.) In fact, Peter will become so spiritual that just passing by someone and touching them with his shadow will heal them. (Acts 15:15f)

23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
John 21

Jesus is everything. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King. He is our Provider, our Righteousness, our Healer, our Saviour. If we do as He commands, He is our Brother and our Friend. (Mark 3:35; John 15:14) His commandment is that we love one another, as He has loved us. (John 13:34; 15:12, 17) John started by telling us Jesus is the Word made flesh. He ends with Jesus risen from the dead. I do not believe John was speaking figuratively when he made the statement about the world not being able to contain all the books that could be written about what Jesus did. Einstein said there are two ways of looking at things, either nothing is a miracle or everything is a miracle. I choose the latter. And if everything is a miracle that means a lot of books could be written about the things Jesus has done. And He’s just getting started. If the 7000-year timetable corresponding to the seven days of creation is correct — a model that goes all the way back to several of the church fathers — then soon and very soon this earth will experience a millennium of peace with Christ as King. (Acts 13:41) Father, thank You for all You have done through your Son, and thank You for all You have in store for us in the future. All creation groans in travail and earnest expectation over the Revelation of your Son. Please send Him quickly, Father. Please account us worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before Him. I pray this in his holy and precious name. The name above all names. Amen.

CODA: As I begin drafting this post, I am finishing up my one-month trip to the holy land. One of the many places I enjoyed visiting was the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum. There is a plaque in the shrine inscribed with Ezekiel 37:14: And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. We are indeed living in the times of the signs. There in the Shrine of the Book they have a scroll of Isaiah, discovered at Qumran, that predates the time of Christ. It matches the Book of Isaiah in the Aleppo Codex word for word. Also housed in the Shrine of the Book, the Aleppo Codex was written in the 10th Century AD. Edited by Ben Asher, the last of the Masoretes, the Aleppo Codex was the oldest manuscript available until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. (The King James translators used the Mikraot Gedolot of Ben Hayyim, which follows the Ben Asher text of the Aleppo Codex.) The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran proves (yet again) that we have God’s word preserved for us today. When a scroll is found that predates the oldest manuscript we had by 1000 years and matches it exactly, that should settle the issue. The word of God is living. (Heb 4:12) The word of God cannot be broken. (John 10:35) Jesus said Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.