Delusional

Lately I have seen on social media people's discussions debating heaven and hell, and other Biblical truths. While the Bible is still the most read Book in the world, we are seeing more and more that people are walking away from its truths, and choosing instead to believe what scripture calls dangerous "delusions". As used in the New Testament, the Greek word for delusion is plane/planos meaning "a wandering, a straying about, one led astray from the right way, that which leads into error, deceit or fraud/corrupter, deceiver, imposter, seducing". However, accepting the deception is a choice: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (mavet - death, dead, place of death (hades)." (Prov. 14:12, 16:25). Death, as we see above, is not just a condition, but includes the place of death, which is hades or hell. Hell exists. God never intended Hell for people, but for the devil and his angels. God does not send anyone to Hell, but it is a choice made by the individual to reject the gift of salvation in Christ and His everlasting life, and instead choose to remain separated from God. Death and the place of death are the results of separation from God, Who is life. Jesus also taught that this place of death is a place of torment as well. The LORD revealed this to His prophet Ezekiel: "Say unto them, As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33:11), This prophetic Word is being delivered to God's people, telling them to turn away from their ways that lead to death. Second Chronicles 7:14 states the same thing: "If My people...turn from their wicked ways...I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Sin is defined as "missing the mark", as if an archer were aiming at a target, but misses that target. God swore on His own life (above) in concern for His people and their sins, yet the church accepts wickedness! Paul wrote that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). He also wrote: "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:22-23). The church is not meant to be the house of sin and death, but of the holiness of God and life. Paul wrote also in Romans when discussing the evil doers of the world, "And such were some of you..." (1 Cor. 6:11). We who are in Christ are no longer to be of that wickedness. Delusions and deceptions will appear as the return of Christ draws nearer. We have already seen cults, false teachers and false messiahs. Paul wrote in order to correct misconceptions, and to lay out the true order of events before the coming of Jesus Christ: "...be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:1-4). We see now the "falling away" from faith that Paul spoke of above: falling away from truth, changing scripture instead of changing ourselves. Paul wrote above of the son of perdition (as Christ said of Judas the betrayer also), whom we call "the antichrist". The son of perdition's coming "is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (apollymi - destroy, put to death, to give over to eternal misery in hell); because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a (the) lie: That they all might be damned that believed not in the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (v. 9-12). "Deceivableness" accompanies unrighteousness, and they will believe THE lie (in Greek), which is the lie first told to man in the garden by Satan: "Hath God said...?" Deception which leads to death starts with questioning, doubting and twisting the Word of God, as it did with Adam and Eve. This delusion comes upon them from the Lord because they chose to hate the truth and prefer the lie. The Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming both the son of perdition, who is the antichrist, and those who are deceived into following him (v. 8). Calling out sin and unrighteousness is not being judgmental. It is what God says in His Word. There is pleasure in sin for a season, scripture says, but you will pay with eternity. The world doesn't just want us to be silent about sin, but to celebrate sin. Don't be deceived. As Paul wrote in Colossians: "...lest any man should beguile you with enticing words...As ye have therfore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith." (Col. 2:4-7). Paul warned further: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (v. 8). There are many philosophies and traditional knowledge of men, but as they are without Christ, none of them can save anyone from death. Only the understanding, knowledge and wisdom hidden in Christ can do that and with full assurance ( v. 2-3). It is too easy for men to be deceived - wake up! Jesus revealed to religious people the source of their rejection of truth: "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not...He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (Jn. 8:44-46). The Book of Hebrews tells us to heed what we have heard: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Heb. 2:1-3). Not only did Jesus Himself bring the news of salvation for men, but He was heard by those who gave witness to His words. God confirmed the truth of those words of the witnesses with miracles, signs and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the manifestation of His spiritual gifts. Knowing the truth, do we remain silent to the lies and their delusion? When we speak the truth of the Word of God, and His salvation delivered to man by Jesus, is it judgmentalism or love? I say it is love. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/23/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

The Leaven of Witchcraft*

Contrary to what some people may think, witchcraft is still around, and presents a spiritual danger to all, including believers. In fact, there is an item being sold on Amazon, called a "Holy Spirit Board", that's really a Ouija Board in sheep's clothing. Its item description says, "Christian Religious Talking Board for Seance with Planchette". We have seen several sources of witchcraft and the occult operating in our area as a result of Satanic activities in the past. "Study centers" that research new age and pagan philosophies and practices have been established here. We have seen the manifestations of witchcraft and occultism in our foreign mission visits, as well. Our spiritual warfare is not with flesh and blood, however, but spiritual powers of wickedness. Frank Perretti wrote novels like "This Present Darkness", and "Piercing the Darkness", that brought this Biblical truth to many readers. We have all seen the rise of strange cults, some falsely associating themselves with Christianity, where men represented themselves as a kind of Messiah who could bring their followers to a heavenly destination. Sadly, the destination that many followers of these cults arrived at was death. As we see signs around us of the end times, wars and threats of war, earthquakes, unusual storms, pestilences, I believe that we will begin seeing the rise of a cult that may deceive even Christians. We will find out more about this cult later, but first, we have been given the tools that we will need from scripture in order to protect ourselves from this wickedness. Paul wrote: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:10-13). The whole armor of God covers, protects and arms us spiritually with a girdle, breastplate, a shield, helmet and sword. Even our feet are spiritually shod in a special way with readiness and preparedness that comes with the Gospel of peace. This armor is not made of metal, but of the spiritual qualities of God: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (v. 14-17). The enemy may use fiery darts against us, but they are quenched by the shield of faith, and the Word of God in our hearts and mouths, which does not return to Him void, but accomplishes what He sets it out to do, establishing the will of God, rather than the will of the devil. We excercise this armor and sword especially in our prayers for all of the saints (v. 18). Paul also warned that we must be vigilant, as he heard of the unrepented sin that had been allowed to continue in the church at Corinth: "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor. 5:6-8). Sin, like even a small amount of leaven, will mix with and leaven the whole batch of dough, or in this case, the whole church. This is about spiritual warfare, and our armor in the midst of it as believers. Paul wrote that wickedness is in the world, and we are in the world, but that same wickedness cannot be accepted in the church, among the brethren. We are to separate ourselves from unrepentant brethren who continue to walk in fornication, covetousness, idolatry, drunkenness, or extortion. (v. 9-11). Although we come to Christ as we are, there is expected to be a change in us, that we not remain as we were. Scripture contains many examples of this leaven of wickedness as it progressed into even the House of God. There was a king of Judah named Manasseh who began his reign when he was only twelve years old. His father had been King Hezekiah, who knew God and honored Him. However, Manasseh "...did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen...For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them....And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: he also observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger." (2 Chron. 33:1-6). Manasseh was practicing every dark art and form of idolatry, including the burning of his own children. However, his practices did not end there: "Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD...And he set a carved image, the idol which he made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever. " (v. 4, 5, 7). The evil had been placed in the house of the LORD, but the leavening effect of his sin did not stop there: "So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err (ta'a - err, astray, stagger in drunkenness, mislead, seduce, addicted to the worship of idols, heretic, to perish, to cause a people to wander from virtue and piety into impiety), and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel." (v. 9). Now the evil and wickedness had spread to all of the people of Jerusalem and Judah. This account also has the sad report: "And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken." (v. 10). The leavening effect of sin had advanced to the point that when the LORD spoke directly to them, they refused to hear Him. Isaiah wrote that although the LORD is a sanctuary to His people, He became a stumbling block instead for those who did not sanctify Him. To those who are the disciples of the LORD, they were to bind up the testimony and seal the law. They were to be as signs and wonders to the people of God, as Isaiah and his children were - waiting upon Him and looking for Him (Isa. 8:13-18). What were the people looking toward instead? Isaiah exposed their words and deeds: "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?" (v. 19). Instead of seeking God, His people were recommending to each other to get answers using occult practices. The church is not immune from being deceived. Paul asked the church at Galatia: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that yoo should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth (prographo - to depict or portray openly before the eyes, to write previously), crucified among you?" (Gal. 3:1). This church had proof of the resurrection before their eyes (Shroud of Turin?). They had this proof, and they had experienced the Holy Spirit, but were now depending upon other works of the law for their salvation. They had left the truth, and gone into error. They had left faith in God, and His righteousness, and began to trust in self-righteousness (v. 2-5). Paul asked again: "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not from him (the Lord) that called you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Gal. 5:7-9). Once the truth (known and proven) is abandoned, and the leaven of lies has begun, the whole church becomes "troubled" (tarasso - to cause inward commotion, to disquiet, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to perplex the mind of one by suggesting doubts). Paul considered this error to be so serious for this church that he even wished that those who had bewitched the Galatians into it would be "cut off" (v. 10-12). The leaven of witchcraft is not a problem of the past only, but is prophesied in scripture as playing a large role in the events of the end times, which, by the signs that we now see, is the time in which we are currently living. Spiritual wickedness will produce worldwide bewitchment that will cause the widespread worship of a person and idol empowered by the devil. John, in the Book of Revelation, wrote of the events on earth and in heaven as the return of Christ draws near. In a prophetic vision, John saw a beast rise from the sea having seven heads, and upon his heads was the name of blasphemy: "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." (Rev. 13:1-2). The dragon referred to here had already been previously identified as the serpent, the devil, Satan, that deceives the whole world. (see. Rev. 12:9). John wrote: "...and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (v. 3-6). This worship is an end time cult that will affect the whole world, and the events of the world, and, like the cults we have seen in the past, it will lead many into destruction. This cult will be born out of Satanic blasphemies. According the the prophetic Word given to John: "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the beast), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (v. 8). The Hebrew written in the very first words of the Book of Genesis, B'reshiet Elohim aleph-tav..., hold the mystery of the aleph-tav Son who was given on the cross before anything else was created. The apostles Peter and John also had this same revelation understanding from the Torah scriptures (see 1 Pet. 1:18-20, also see Jn. 1:1-5). The beast revealed to John will make war against the people of faith in Christ, the saints, and he would be given power over all nations and cultures of people on earth (Rev. 13:7). There is an image of the beast that will be worshipped, a deception created based upon false miracles of the beast, and a mark upon the hand or the head that will be given in connection to the beast, and the beast is associated with the number of a man, and that number is six hundred, sixty-six (v. 14-18). This mark will draw the wrath of God, and grievous sores will break out on those who carry this mark (Rev. 16:1-2). Tracking and information chips that exist now, which are designed to be placed under the skin, are powered by lithium ion batteries that, if they should leak, could cause terrible sores to break out. Could this be a similar phenomenon as the one we see occurring here in Revelation?. As these events transpire, the call will go out from heaven and there will be a harvest of souls and lives, as the angels of heaven are sent to reap the earth. One of those harvests will gather those who will be thrown into the winepress of the wrath of God (Rev. 14:14-20). We have just come through the season of the observance of Passover and Unleavened Bread, in which leaven is searched out and removed from homes. It is time to judge any leaven in the church, as Paul wrote above, especially as we see the leaven of witchcraft taking hold in these times. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/16/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

The Case For The Resurrection*

Often the day to celebrate the resurrection of Christ is referred to as "Easter". However, knowing the origins of the term "Easter" in paganism, I have long preferred to call this day "Resurrection Sunday". It's not that much harder to say these words, which reflect the truth and power of the day, than it is to say "Easter". Many people reject the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, although the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, make reference to it. Not only does scripture bear witness, but there are confirming sources, like the Shroud of Turin, that bear witness in every way to the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the essential foundation for the Christian faith, as we will see. So why do so many people do all that they can to reject and despise this precious gift given to us in love by God? This is nothing new. Jesus gave an account of a king who invites people to a banquet. Those invited came up with all sorts of weak excuses for not attending. We will see this attitude spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who wrote prophetically of the Servant of God who would be abused and marred beyond recognition (Isa. 52:14) and killed, not for His own sins, but for the sins of His people. Isaiah also prophesied what the prevailing attitude would be towards this Servant who went to His death like a lamb for many: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted>" (Isa. 53:3-4). The religious people would think that this Servant must have done something to displease God, and God was punishing Him. However, His suffering and death were for our sins, because He was blameless (v. 8-9). The prophet continues: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (v. 5). Not only was His suffering to pay the price that we deserved, but the stripes of His suffering results in our healing. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (v. 6). This sacrifice made for our sins will be so great, and the evidence for it will be so convincing, that Isaiah wrote that even kings and nations will consider it: "The LORD hath made bare his holy (aleph-tav) arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation (Yeshua - Salvation by God, and the Hebrew name of Jesus) of our God...So shall he sprinkle (naza - spurt, spatter, startle, sprinkle in expiation) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." (Isa. 52:10, 15). Even the individual Hebrew letters that form the word for "sprinkle", which is nazah, spell out the meaning of His purpose: "Behold, the Heir to the throne pierced". As Isaiah brought forth this powerful revelation of the Servant who would suffer and die for the sins of others, he also wrote in the face of these things: "Dapart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isa. 52:11). This knowledge and evidence of so great a sacrifice is to lead us into repentance and cleansing (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). We are also "vessels of the LORD", and this atoning purpose of our Savior should not leave us as we were, but changed. Isaiah mentioned that this precious Servant of Salvation would be despised (baza - despise, regard with contempt, condemned, scorn, worthless). This is not the first time that men would look upon the things of the LORD, and despise them (see Lev. 26:40-43, Num. 15:30-31). As Isaiah prophesied, the awareness of this sacrifice of expiation would go beyond Israel to the nations of the world. Kings and nations would desire to consider it, not because someone told them, but because they saw something to convince them of the matter. The Shroud of Turin is an example of something the eyes could look upon and be moved to consider. The apostle Paul appeared before kings and acknowledged that they were already familiar with Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The Shroud continues to bring the reality of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus to the eyes of many who may not have seriously considered this before. Part of the Biblical evidence for the resurrection of Christ as our Savior, was declared before, and at His birth! Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, decided to put her aside when he found out that she was expecting a child that he had not fathered, but something happened that convinced him otherwise. An angel appeared to him in a dream and said: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS (Yeshua in Hebrew, meaning salvation): for he shall save his people from their sins." (Mt. 1 :18-21). The Gospel then states that this event was a fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah regarding a virgin bringing forth a son, Immanuel, meaning God with us (Isa. 7:14, Mt. 1:22-23). Joseph did not despise the Word of the LORD when it was brought to him, nor did he despise the One who was about to be born who would fulfill that Word. The shepherds, who witnessed a remarkable event full of the glory of the LORD in the heavens when Jesus was born, heard an angel proclaim: "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger'...the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." (Lk. 2:8-16). The shepherds did not despise the Word brought to them by the angel in heaven, nor the infant that they subsequently sought out with haste and found. The angel had identified this infant as "the Saviour" for all people, and revealed the specific sign by which the shepherds would be able to identify Him - an infant wrapped and placed in a manger. Shortly after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph fulfilled the law of Moses by bringing Him to the temple on the eighth day for circumcision, where His name was also confirmed to be JESUS, following the Word of the angel to Joseph before His birth (v. 21-24). There in the twmple, the parents met two special people. The first was named Simeon, who was devout, and was waiting for "the consolation of Israel", which is the Messiah, or "Christ" in Greek. The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. The same Holy Spirit led him to enter the temple that particular day, where he encountered Mary, Joseph, nd the child. (v. 25-27). Simeon took the baby Jesus and held Him up in his arms, blessing God, and said: "...mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Yeshua/Jesus), which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel..." (v. 28-32). To Mary, Simeon prophesied: "Behold, this child is set for the fall (ptosis/pipto - includes the meanings "descend to a lower place, perish, decay of a corpse") and rising again (anastasis - includes the meanings "a rising from the dead, resurrection, restored to life") of many in Israel.; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (v. 33-35). Immediately after this encounter, an aged prophetess named Anna (a form of the name, Hannah, which means "grace"), whose father had been Phanuel (meaning "the face of God"), came upon the family with the child, and gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of the child to all of those "that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." (v. 36-38). The apostle Paul wrote of the foundational importance of the death and resurrection of Christ to all believers. He wrote: "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (referring to the Torah, or Old Testament); And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures..." (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Many people were witnesses to the resurrection, and saw Jesus, not just the disciples, but also five hundred others, Paul wrote. Finally, Paul saw Him, himself, when he had his own conversion experience on the Road to Damascus (v. 5-9). There is no question as to the truth of the resurrection from these eyewitnesses. Paul wrote that, because of this, there was no excuse to believe that Christ was not raised, as even some believers were saying at the time (v. 11-12). Paul wrote emphatically regarding resurrection of the dead: "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain...And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins...But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power." (v. 13-24). There is no completion of the atonement for sin without the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We, as Christians, have no hope and no faith, without the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The final victory of the Kingdom of God over all spiritual and natural powers in the end times would not be accomplished without the authority established in Christ's overpowering resurrection from death, Hell, and the grave. Christ's resurrection is the power behind all of these things. Finally, His resurrection is the power behind our transformation from corruption and mortality to incorruption and immortality. Paul wrote: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin...But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 50-57). Because Christ was raised from the dead, we shall be also, but not only that, those alive who belong to Christ when that trump sounds will be changed in a moment to the same resurrection life. For this reason, Paul wrote, we must remain steadfast and unmoveable in this powerful truth, and therefore, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your faith is not vain, but contains resurrection life (v. 58). The Lord's return is soon, as all of the signs point to it. The truth of Christ's resurrection is a necessary, unchangeable, incontrovertible basis of our faith. To view a remarkable presentation by Dr. Stevenson on the Shroud of Turin, please visit this link: https://youtu.be/BBXgmbHWG64 . *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/9/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

Holy Week*

Today is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of what the Church has called "Holy Week". In Church history, this week was previously called "Great Week" because of all the Lord accomplished during this last week before His death and resurrection. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundational truth of the Christian faith. This year, Passover also occurs during this week, and Passover played a defining role in these important events in this week of Jesus' life. John the Baptist identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". As that Lamb, Jesus died on Passover, and like the lamb thousands of years previously, whose blood was applied to the doorposts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites to save them from the plague of death, the blood of Jesus delivered us from death. The great events that would occur during this last week before Christ's crucifixion had been prophesied by God generations before, and became fulfilled. Prophecies given in the scriptures, and their miraculous later fulfillment, make the Bible different from every other book. It is through these prophecies and their fulfillment, and the undeniable and unchangeable proven truth of scripture, that God seeks a relationship with man, rather than a religion. Jesus continually spoke about this personal relationship with the Father, who loved us so much that He sent and gave His Son for us, to save us. During the last week before His crucifixion, the Passover was drawing near, and Jesus and His disciples traveled towards Jerusalem. Before entering Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples stopped near the Mount of Olives in the town of Bethany. An event happened in Bethany that would be a prophetic preparation for His coming death: "Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Isariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always." (Jn. 12:1-6). The account in the Gospel of John also tells us that many Jews believed on Jesus and came to see both Him and Lazarus, because they were witnesses to the fact that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The chief priests even plotted to kill Lazarus because he was the reason many believed in Jesus (see v. 9-11). A few days later (see Mt. 26:2), still in Bethny, Jesus dined at Simon the leper's home. This was the father of Judas, as mentioned previously. Simon must have been healed of his leprosy by Jesus, or he would not have been able to have guests at his house for a dinner: "there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat." (Mt. 26:6-7). This time, Jesus' head was anointed. Again, His disciples complained of the "waste" of such a precious ointment that could have been sold instead for the poor. Jesus corrected them saying that this woman "hath wrought a good work upon me." (v. 8-10). [Note: Scripture also tells us that Jesus corrected Simon for his condemnation of this woman who had anointed Jesus in this manner. Simon had not even given Jesus water with which to wash His feet, as was customary when a guest entered a home, yet this woman, of whom Simon disapproved, anointed Jesus with precious ointment. (see Lk. 7:44-48)]. It is then recorded that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and covenanted with them to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and from then on looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus (v. 14-16). After Jesus' death, Judas was sorry for the innocent blood that was shed and sought to return the silver to the priests, but they refused to deal with him. He threw the silver he had previously received from them onto the table before them, and went and hung himself (Mt. 27:3-10). That silver was then used by the priests to buy "potter's field" as a place to bury the poor. This was prophesied in Zech. 11:12-13: "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price...so they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter...And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD." While at Bethany, before Jesus was to enter Jerusalem, He gave His disciples an instruction that would be another fulfillment of prophecy. He instructed His disciples to enter into the next town where they would find "...an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightaway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass." (Mt. 21:1-5, Zech 9:9). As Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem "...a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (v. 8-9). They were welcoming the kingdom of their father David (see Mk. 11:10). There were those in Jerusalem who asked who this Man was that was riding into the city, and the others answered, "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Jesus had indeed prophesied that His disciples would find an ass and its colt available in the nexrt town. Many in Israel, when Messiah came, expected Him to throw out the occupying Romans, the oppressors of the people. However, they overlooked the redemptive purpose connected to the promised Messiah. As Isaiah prophesied, the Messiah would come to die for the sins of others, and for their healing. After Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went directly into the temple of God, "and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Mt. 21:12-13). In a similar account of the same event in Luke 19:28-40, the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the crowd who was shouting, "Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." Jesus answered the Pharisees saying, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." An event ordained and appointed by God according to His prophetic Word, will be fulfilled, and there will be a witness to proclaim it. The Shroud of Turin is an example of a witness which testifies to the ordained and fulfilled suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. As we continue to read in Luke, Jesus beheld the city, Jerusalem, and He wept over it, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." (v. 41-42). He prophesied over the city that their enemies would attack and besiege them, surround them, and utterly destroy them, "...because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation." (v. 43-44). Does the Church know the time of the coming visitation of Christ, or will it remain unaware, ignoring all of the signs as Jerusalem did? There is another prophecy from Zechariah, not yet fulfilled, which says that the LORD will destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem. The world is already persecuting those who hold the Word of God to be true, and that the Spirit of God would be poured out upon the house of David, and Jerusalem, and they would look upon "me whom they have pierced", and they shall mourn for Him (Zech. 12:9-11). Isaiah tells the people of God "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put n thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city...So shall he sprinkle (Nazah - startle, sprinkle, the blood of expiation) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.", and Isaiah also asked the question, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Isa. 52:1, 15, 53:1). On the morning of resurrection, such a powerful event happened that the stone was hurled away from the opening of the tomb of Jesus, and the Roman guards who had been assigned to guard the tomb had passed out. All tht was left inside the tomb was an empty burial cloth, which, when John entered the tomb and saw it, caused him to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. These are the events of "Holy Week" that changed the world. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/2/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.