Blogs

The Kingdom Light – Episode 1124

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On today’s show, we’re gonna spend some time in the book of Acts, chapter 8. This will be a Bible study into some of the amazing adventures of a man named Philip – complete with signs, wonders, and even the unexpected.

-Show Intro –

Welcome, welcome! Do you see that LIKE button right there? If you don’t mind, go ahead and HIT it, PUNCH it, SMASH it for me. It would also be cool if you’d SHARE this podcast to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. Email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

Now you have heard me say often times that we are called to preach the truth and the good news of Christ. The same was true of Philip. He was a man of God, called to spread the gospel message. And today we’re going to learn some important truths about this calling.

As we open up this 8th chapter of Acts, one of the great martyrs of our faith, Stephen, had just been stoned to death for daring to preach about Jesus. Saul had just given his approval of Stephen’s death. Of course, this was before Saul’s conversion – before he became Paul, one of the greatest Apostles of our faith.

So this chapter begins in a very dangerous time to be a Christian. Yet even as Saul was ravaging the church and having people jailed or worse, Philip was faithfully fulfilling his duty and proclaiming the teachings of Christ. Let’s pick up with verse 5…

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

In a time when people were being imprisoned and even killed for their belief in Jesus, there were obedient men of God who did not shrink from declaring truth. Philip was one of those men. And his obedience was met with great success. Evil spirits came shrieking out of people. Others who were afflicted experienced healing. People found joy in Christ in the midst of turmoil.

So the first thing we learn from Philip is to let nothing discourage you from doing what God calls you to do. Trust me, when you set out to do the will of God, the enemy is going to come after you with roadblocks, quicksand, and everything he can think of to stop you. But we must stand firm and obey God.

As we continue with verse 9, we see that obedience to God brings signs and wonders that get the attention of sinners…

⁹ But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. ¹⁰ They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” ¹¹ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

This guy, Simon, had been a magician – someone who was all about the fame and notoriety. He was an attention seeker. Like one of those people at a county fair, Come see Simon the Sorcerer! Now Philip’s preaching was accompanied by amazing signs, so Simon believed. However, we’re about to see in the next few verses that someone new to Christianity can still fall back into old habits.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

…As though this power could be purchased with money. Boy, was he about to get the rebuke of a lifetime!

²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

Now we know that Peter has always been a little over-the-top. This is the same guy who chopped off the ear of a Roman guard the night they came to arrest Jesus. Some of us might look at how harshly he handled Simon here and say, “Whoa, wait a second there, Pete! This Simon guy is new to the faith. Cut him a little slack, man!” But NO, everything Peter said to him was right. And even though his words may seem a bit much, this is exactly what Simon needed to hear. He needed someone like Peter to get in his face and tell him the real score.

²⁴ And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Even though Simon had believed, he was still seeing the power of God as something to be exploited and used for his own purposes. Recognizing this, Peter called him out for his wickedness. Here we see even those who believe can be in need of correction.

Now let’s get back to Philip, because this dude is all about doing what God says to do and going where God says to go. And doing God’s will can be a real adventure! See, there was another person nearby who was new to the faith and needed some guidance. Picking up in verse 26…

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Let me point out that, when the spirit of the Lord tells you to do something, do it knowing that this is a important opportunity to see God work. Once again, it is in the obedience that we see God’s hand. And we see here that this was divinely orchestrated. This Ethiopian official was primed and ready to receive a word from God – he was actively seeking it. That’s just when the Holy Spirit sent Philip to him. God’s timing is perfect.

As Philip began to explain the words of Isaiah were referring to the coming of the Messiah, teaching the eunuch all about Jesus, there was an excitement building up in his heart. This guy was hungry for the truth of Christ! We see just how excited he was down in verse 36 of this passage…

³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

You see, the truth of salvation through Christ is exciting and desirable. When people who are hungry for something to give purpose and meaning to their lives find out how God loves us and made a way for us to live forever with Him, why would anyone turn that down? Those who long for the light of truth will find it in Jesus, but those who prefer darkness will reject Him.

Now folks, for the grand finale, let’s look at what happened after Philip obeyed God and baptized this Ethiopian official…

³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Okay, hold up. You need to get this picture in your mind. This official, a man so excited to learn of Jesus, who insisted on being baptized as soon as he spotted some water – he comes up out of the water, smile on his face, wipes his eyes and sees what? Philip is gone. Vanished. Poof.

There’s no record here of the dude freaking out that Philip had disappeared. All it says is that he just went on his way rejoicing. He’s just given his heart and life to Christ, and nothing else seems to matter. From this we learn that giving your life to Jesus is more important than anything.

But what about Philip? What happened to him? He baptized a guy, came up out of the water and – suddenly finds himself in another town? Biblical scholars say that, from where that baptism took place to where Philip appeared in Azotus, it’s a distance of about 25 miles. Other manuscripts say that Philip was translated by the Holy Spirit from one place to the other.

This isn’t like the Star Trek transporters – you know, “Beam me up, Scotty.” No this is beyond that. This was an instantaneous, now you see me now you don’t, moving at the speed of thought, kind of thing. Philip’s job with the eunuch was done and God needed him elsewhere. So, poof, now you’re in Azotus. Preach on, Philip!

I love how this chapter ends! A miraculous teleportation from one place to another. Why not? We need not be shocked when God does the unexpected. Take it in stride and go on about our calling. That’s what Philip did. So should we.

Living in the will of God is anything but boring. And we are called to His purpose no matter what obstacles get in the way. Those who press on in obedience will see God’s hand prevail. We will witness signs, wonders, and yes, even the unexpected. It’s all part of the adventure for we who are charged with shining the Kingdom Light.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1123

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We’ve probably all felt alone at some point in our lives. Perhaps a friend moved away, a spouse died, you got divorced, or your own shyness around people has kept you prisoner. Whatever your situation, today we’re going to look at an absolute cure for loneliness.

-Show Intro –

Welcome to the show, everyone. Go ahead and SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. You can email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

If you’re like me, you probably expected things from your life that just never happened. When I was young, I figured I’d end up married, have kids, grandkids, the house, the car, etc. I thought that’s simply what happens. I never expected to get divorced twice, have no children, and face the reality of so many disappointments.

Most times, we get dealt completely different cards than what we expected. When those disappointments separate us from the people we thought would always be there, we can easily fall into loneliness and depression. The enemy tell you that you’re a failure, causing you to isolate yourself further.

This becomes a trap of self-pity that feeds on itself. Negative emotions start to set themselves up as the focal point of your life. Every day you wake up, and there it is, a heavy burden of sadness. It keeps you in a deep dark pit of despair.

[clip from The Princess Bride: “the pit of despair…”]

But there is an escape. There is a way out of this dark place. And you probably already know what I’m gonna say, right?

[clip from Infinity War: “what am I supposed to say, Jesus?”]

Yeah, I’m not ashamed to say it. Jesus is my constant companion. He’s the friend who sticks closer than a brother. I am never alone. He’s always there. That relationship is the foundation of my life. It’s what keeps me going.

Some people will scoff at this. It all sounds like a bunch of clichés. Real life is hard, and you can’t merely say a few magic words and fix it. I hear you. I get the hesitation to believe something that seems too good to be true. But I can tell you from experience, when it comes to life with Christ, it’s not only true, but it’s also too good to pass up.

I’ve heard the arguments, though. Come on, man. You can’t rely on some imaginary friend to defeat loneliness. You need REAL relationships with REAL people! Yep, but my real-life experience tells me that there’s nothing at all imaginary about my relationship with Jesus. It doesn’t GET any more REAL than this! And it’s amazing!

Understand, my life has not been all puppies and rainbows. I’ve had plenty of sorrows. Friends died. Close family members died. I’ve had 2 failed marriages. I was diagnosed with severe degenerative disc disease in my lower back, causing me chronic pain that I still live with today. I have major anxiety issues. Trust me, the list goes on and on.

[clip from Dumb and Dumber: “Man, you are one pathetic loser.”]

Nah, my life is glorious. No matter what comes my way, I never have to face any of it alone. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is the smartest decision I ever made. He has never failed to see me through every situation. But it’s also important to have some good Christian friends to commune with.

Years ago, I talked about this very thing…

[clip from the GC, ep408]

The enemy would love to keep you isolated and cut off from any sources of joy and strength. It took me decades to learn how to spot his tricks. Another benefit of having that close relationship with Christ is, the more time I spend with Him, the more spiritual discernment He gives me. Do I still stumble? Do I still have tough times? Of course, and He’s always there to pick me up and teach me one valuable lesson after another.

I praise God that I finally reached a point where loneliness is simply not part of my life at all. I have the cure. His name is Jesus, and I take Him with me everywhere I go. You can have that same assurance, that same cure. You’ll find, just as I did, that having a relationship with the Creator automatically means loneliness gets kicked to the curb.

[clip from Naked Gun: “You’re outta here!”]

As for cultivating other friendships, be sure to take precautions. People who are also friends with Jesus are gonna be your best choices. And if you have friends who don’t know Him, introduce Jesus to them. Their response will be a good gage as to whether or not hanging out with them is a good idea. The sad fact is, there are a lot of folks who will only bring you down. Being close with God will help you figure that out – if you listen to Him.

Bottom line…a friendship with Jesus is the sure-fire way to beat loneliness for good. And He’ll never let you down.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1122

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We live in a world where people are fascinated with superheroes. Probably because deep down most people desire to be more than they are. The idea of being heroic is inspiring, but the reality is that most of us seldom reach our full potential as human beings, let alone being heroes. Today, we’re gonna revisit this concept as we attempt to revive the hero mentality.

-Show Intro –

I’ll give you a chance to be my hero right now – SMASH that LIKE button!

[clip from Avengers: Captain America says, “Hulk…smash.” Hulk grins.]

If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. You can email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

Here’s a little device for remembering basically what a hero is:

HERO = Helping Everywhere Regardless of Obstacles

Now, some people call it heroism just because, so few people actually show the fortitude to do it. The truth is, it’s really just doing the right thing no matter what.

What do heroes do? First of all, they follow the theme of Micah 6:8… “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Secondly, they SHOW UP. Often times, battles are only won because the right folks cared enough to be there. Thirdly, they FOLLOW THROUGH. They don’t just give mental ascent to morality – they put it into action.

So, heroes 1) possess a moral code, 2) show up where that code needs enforcing, and 3) follow through with the enforcement. They protect the weak, right the wrongs, and make it known that There IS a Standard. They draw a line in the sand and tell evil forces, “This is the line you will not cross without reaping the most severe of consequences.”

And most importantly, real heroes are backed by a righteous God who gives them power and authority to act swiftly and thoroughly. They are continually in contact with Him through prayer and through the Holy Spirit. They are, in fact, agents of the King. It is His work they perform and His justice they carry out – at His command.

It’s important to note here that it is unwise to attempt heroics without certain things already securely in place. Before stepping into the fray, ask yourself these questions… Am I doing this for God’s glory or my own? Am I prayed up and backed up by the Holy Spirit?

The first question is easily answered. If you’re overly focused on documenting your heroics with video or photos to post on social media, you are probably seeking praise for yourself rather than for God. We need to be doing the right things for the right reasons.

That last question is a little trickier. As I said, it’s a good idea to pray at all times. Keeping a constant line of communication open with heaven helps us stay in God’s will. It’s also a good idea to say a quick little prayer before proceeding into a situation. Something like, “Lord, please go with me and dispatch heavenly hosts to assist me in this action.”

So what are some heroic actions we should be ready and willing to do at a moment’s notice? Think of it this way – we are the hands and feet of Christ. We are charged to continue His work. So whenever faced with a situation, think about what Jesus Himself might do, and do that.

Lay hands on the sick and pray for their healing. Comfort those who need comfort. Clothe those who need clothing. Feed the hungry. Help someone cross the street. Wherever you see a need, fill it.

And yes, if you see someone being wronged, do what you can to help them – whether it’s calling the police or intervening yourself. Be wise about it but be willing to do whatever is necessary. This is when being prayed up can keep you from doing something stupid.

The point is to be so much like Jesus that you can easily spot opportunities to do some good. Remember, you’re representing the Kingdom. And if you need a quick reminder of exactly what a Kingdom Hero is, check out what younger me had to say about it…

[KH clip – GC ep309]

Wow. I couldn’t have said it better myself. 😉

Keep in mind, all it takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing. So let’s do something heroic and stop evil in its tracks.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1121

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On today’s program, current events that can’t be ignored – though there are plenty of folks who still won’t believe it.

-Show Intro –

Before we dive in, SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. You can email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. I’m not gonna revel in it. It’s a terrible truth that had to be revealed. And it’s about time. So let’s watch it together…

[lengthy clip of this week’s news on Obama’s involvement in the Russia Hoax]

PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO PODCAST AT RUMBLE.COM/GCM, EPISODE 1121

Folks, this is a dark stain on our country. I know there are some who don’t believe any of this is true, but many of us had already suspected it for years. What’s more, I also believe this is the tip of the iceberg. It’s all connected to a much larger reality – that we’ve been lied to for a very long time, and about things even greater in scope than even this.

This year is only a little more than half over, and what’s been uncovered so far staggers the imagination. But at the risk of sounding like some crazy conspiracy theorist, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The fact is, we’re running out of these so-called “conspiracy theories” anyway. They’re all coming true.

This isn’t about political parties. They’re both infected with the same evil disease. It’s always been about exposing the deep state and those who collude with it. Truth doesn’t need your belief or approval to be true. And I implore you to keep God as your council on these and all matters.

Now isn’t a time for gloating or saying, “we told you so.” This is a time for all of us to get on our knees and ask God to heal our land. This type of scandal could destroy a nation. Pray for America. And don’t stop praying. Things still aren’t yet as crazy as they’re going to be. But trust this: God’s perfect will is in no danger of being nullified. Brace yourselves. It’s not over yet.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1120

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We sure do love our pets, don’t we?! Many of us refer to them as our fur babies, treating them like our own children, and loving them as members of the family. Today’s show is a little different because I wanna address that question that so many of us have pondered – Will we see our pets in heaven?

-Show Intro –

Welcome to the podcast, folks. Do me a favor and SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. You can email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

While some people might say our topic today is a silly or trivial one, you have to admit that the question has crossed your mind at some point. All of us who have had pets have lost pets. They typically live much shorter lives than we do. In fact, someone once said that we must seem like immortals to our pets. We’re there at the beginning of their lives, all during, and we remain at the end. When pets die, we often mourn for them just like we do anyone else.

The fact is, God made these animals that so many of us bring into our lives and under our roofs. He cares for all His creation, and He certainly cares for these critters that mean so much to us – His children. So then, does He allow them an afterlife as He does us? And is there any biblical basis at all for believing that?

Let’s take a quick trip back to the beginning of creation itself. When God first created life, He began with plants and animals and ended with humans. Everything was perfect. Life was designed to thrive. There was no sickness or disease, so there was no death. Of course, everything changed when sin entered the world. But it’s a fair assumption that God’s original design was for life to continue forever.

Fast-forward to present day. There are now all kinds of sickness and disease, so death is all around us. The curse of sin has corrupted this world, so now things indeed get old and decay and eventually die. But there IS an afterlife. Heaven is waiting for those of us who belong to Jesus and have accepted Him as Lord. Is it really such a stretch to think that heaven is also waiting for those faithful creatures who belong to us?

“That’s just silly,” some might say, “animals aren’t like human beings. They’re just soulless creatures.” Well, I dare you to look into the eyes of my dog and tell me there’s no soul in there. “But there’s nothing in the Bible that supports the idea of animals being in heaven.” Really? I would argue that since animals were a big part of God’s original plan of creation that it’s highly likely that they are also meant to be part of His heavenly kingdom.

Consider the following stories and use all the spiritual discernment God has given you. I’m leaving out the names, but these are stories I recently heard from individuals who were simply sharing their personal testimonies. Just take it in and let God speak to your spirit as to their truthfulness…

First, there was a lady who was praying one night. As she was talking to God and thanking Him for blessings and praising Him, she said to Him, “Lord, I know that when I’m in heaven I’m gonna be praising You continually for eternity. But honestly, it’s only been a few minutes, and I have run out of words. How will I be able to praise You forever?” Then God answered her, “I will continually give you new reasons to be grateful and praise Me.”

What this woman’s story teaches me is that this current life is short, and while there are many reasons thus far to praise God, those reasons do seem to be somewhat finite. We also have many distractions in this world which often prevent us from being able to focus on our blessings. But that won’t be so in the life to come. We will be with God forever, and there will be no worldly distractions at all – nothing to take our eyes off of His love for us.

He will pour out eternal blessing upon us, giving us an infinite number of reasons to praise and worship Him for all eternity. And perhaps – just perhaps, mind you – just a few of those unending reasons will be the pets we cared for while here in this life. I like to think so.

Then finally, one man’s near-death experience seemed to answer the question absolutely for him. When an accident severely destroyed much of his body, he went to heaven and met Jesus. While there, he was shown what would be his home. While some dream of mansions, the perfect home for this man was a lakeside house with lots of land around it. He saw amazing colors and he said the grass and trees all seemed to give off a musical tone that, when heard all together, sounded like a beautiful symphony.

As he stood there in heaven on what was to become his forever homestead, a number of animals ran up to meet him. He was astonished when he realized that these were all pets he’d once had. There was a horse, a couple of dogs, and a cat that all hurried to where he was standing – all anxious to greet him. What’s more, he was able to communicate with them. They didn’t speak to him in a human tongue, but there was a language they used that he was able to understand, and this made him very happy.

Now you can take all this with a grain of salt, as it were, but I’m just telling you what I have personally concluded from all of this. Some may dismiss it as wishful thinking, but I do believe there is sufficient reason to believe that we will indeed see our pets in heaven. And I’ve found absolutely nothing to indicate that we won’t.

In the end, there are only two possible answers to the question: Either our pets won’t be there, and we’ll have too many wonderful blessings to miss them – OR, they’ll definitely be there as part of the many blessings of heaven. Frankly, I choose to believe the latter. But suit yourself.

What I think we can all agree on is that, here in this life, our pets are a blessing. We can learn a lot from them. I mean, they often worship at our feet – much how we’re supposed to be toward our Master. They illustrate to us the concepts of loyalty and unconditional love, and they do it far better than most humans. So in that respect, I think they even deserve an afterlife. Don’t you?

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1119

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It may shock you to learn this, but not every long-held tradition or every single thing you were taught is actually true. Today, we’ll discover how important it is to separate fact from fiction by seeking after the TRUTH above ALL else.

-Show Intro –

Welcome to the show, everyone! Go ahead and SMASH that LIKE button. If you enjoy this podcast, please SHARE it to all your social media outlets. Follow our official video page at Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. Email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website at TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

Stop trusting what you think you know, or everything this preacher said, or what that person said, or even the things that I say. Instead learn things for yourself and find out the truth for yourself by reading the word of God for yourself.

Here’s an example of something traditionally or widely accepted as truth which is not. Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden and the serpent convinced them to eat the apple. Nowhere in scripture does it say that the fruit which was forbidden was an apple. Obviously we are not forbidden from eating apples. But you see the depiction in paintings regarding that story and it’s always an apple they’re holding.

[clip1: “how do ya like them apples?” – Good Will Hunting

This is a minor example, however what the Bible actually says is important. The word used in the scripture is simply a word for fruit, and it never actually tells us exactly what that forbidden fruit is because that’s not the point of the story. The point of the story is obedience to God, otherwise bad things happen. This is simply because God knows what’s best for us and also what is not good for us at all.

There’s a far better example I can give you. But this one is going to make some of you doubt me because of what you’ve been taught all your life. And for reference, I went into great detail about this topic almost 2 years ago in an episode titled, “The Truth About the Rapture.” Are you ready for this? Here it is. I can find no biblical support whatsoever for the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Allow me to explain…

Point of fact: the notion of a pre-trib rapture never existed before the 1800s. Once introduced however, it spread like wildfire for 2 main reasons – a) the idea that God’s people would be removed from the earth before things get really really bad is inherently popular, nobody likes the idea of being around for all the horrible stuff, and b) not enough people were willing to search the scriptures for themselves to verify, much less to denounce, this idea.

So what does the Bible really say about this? First you have to understand what the rapture is because that word itself is not in scripture. The word rapture is used to refer to the “catching up” or “gathering” of the church at the second coming of Christ. Frankly to believe in the pre-trib rapture, one would have to completely dismiss or ignore what it CLEARLY states in Matthew 24:29-31. In fact, pay very close attention to the first 4 words of this passage!

That last verse there talks about what we call the rapture, the angels gathering up God’s people from all over the earth. And WHEN does it say this happens? “Immediately after the tribulation.” That’s not my opinion. That’s precisely what the Bible says.

In fact, further down in verse 37, it states, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Now while it might be a more comfortable thing to believe we’ll be taken up before tribulation, the scriptures indicate God’s pattern is to protect His people DURING times of great trouble. Noah and his family weren’t removed from the earth when God sent the flood, but rather God provided for their survival while judgment was poured out on the earth.

And think about this. For that period of time when they were on the ark, they were NOT completely exempt from the reality of that judgment. They SURVIVED it, but they weren’t in the greatest of circumstances. Stuck on that ship, with all those animals, all the smells, waves tossing them about – this was no pleasure cruise.

[clip2: “what’s that smell?!” – Ron Burgundy]

So, while God will indeed provide for his people during the time of the tribulation, that does not mean by any stretch that the righteous will be living completely unaffected by it. That’s not a comfortable thought, but truth isn’t always comfortable.

My point is this. Anyone can take scripture and build a story or a narrative that either seems to make sense or makes you comfortable believing it. But you’re not going to know the truth of it unless you study the scriptures for yourself, meditate on it, and talk to God about it. If you’re not doing those things, you’re liable to believe anything. I know because, for most of my adult life, I trusted what I was told without having the self-discipline to study the Word of God for myself.

This is one of the biggest problems in the church today. There are too many complacent Christians who will blindly follow whatever they hear BECAUSE they lack the knowledge of truth that only comes from being deeply rooted in God’s Word. This requires action. It means you have to actually READ the Bible and communicate with God in order to acquire true knowledge and wisdom. A pretty story is nice, but TRUTH matters above all else.

This is also a good general rule of life. You can’t just automatically trust what people tell you about anything these days. Just because you read it on the internet or saw it in a TikTok video doesn’t mean it’s fact. Far from it! Not even the media can be trusted. This world has been compromised and corrupted by sin, and lies abound everywhere.

If you’re not actively seeking out the truth for yourself and asking God for discernment, you will most definitely be led astray by a cleverly designed narrative that appeals to your feelings. You’ll WANT to believe it, so you will. A story rooted in feelings is powerful and deceives many, but the wise will seek God’s council for truth.

A story rooted in feelings is powerful and deceives many, but the wise will seek God’s council for truth.

Our ultimate source of truth is God Almighty and His Holy Word. Seek after it, or satan will gladly offer you his twisted version of everything. Traditional beliefs that were handed down to you can lead you off track if they don’t line up with scripture. So make the effort. Go to the source.

Remember to LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW the show, and join us again next time for The Kingdom Light.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1118

-Begin Transcript –

On today’s program, I’m gonna talk about one of the big challenges as a Christian. We’re still flesh. We have the tendency to fall into old habits. But we often feel we must present ourselves to the world as though we aren’t still dealing with sinful things. So we wear a facade of righteousness rather than being real with people. Our own righteousness is filthy rags, people see through it quickly, and the world calls us hypocrites. Let’s find a better way.

-Show Intro –

Do me a favor: SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. Email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

Last week I said this…

Let’s face it – this world has a sin problem. The enemy dresses it up and makes it very enticing. Even when we know the dangers of letting it into our lives, our flesh still longs to engage in sinful behavior… The struggle to overcome your carnal nature is more than you can handle on your own. You NEED Jesus!

It’s true. The struggle is real. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean we never have to deal with our own fleshly desires again. No, the enemy will tempt us all the more sometimes to make us stumble so he can discourage us. While it’s true that God gives us the power to resist and overcome sin, it can often be difficult for us to grasp that concept right away. We keep trying to do it under our own strength instead of trusting in His. And we fail. We feel guilty. And the vicious cycle begins again.

Paul talks about this in some detail in the book of Romans, chapter 7. His words may sound very familiar to many of us…

Romans 7:15-23

¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Sounds exhausting, right? And it CAN BE! Now I won’t deny that there are many occasions when God just outright delivers people instantly from certain things. Sometimes He does that. But that’s not always the case. Maybe there are some habits that we are more resistant to letting go of, and so He lets us learn lessons the hard way or over a period of time. The process can be long or short, and it’s often due to our own stubbornness.

Too many times, we hang onto certain behaviors – even though they’re bad for us and we know it’s wrong to continue doing them – because we simply enjoy those things too much. It’s like we’re saying, “Jesus, be Lord of my house, except for this room over here – just stay out of there and let it be.” No, we would never say those words to His face, but our actions are louder than words. We can’t live like that. He’s either Lord of all or He isn’t Lord at all.

To some extent, it’s about habits. We are creatures of habit, and it’s easy for us to fall into certain routines and repeated behaviors. The challenge is to practice good habits rather than bad ones. But we must be intentional about it. Even as we do this, we tend to be too reliant upon our own abilities rather than ASKING FOR GOD’S HELP! We are prideful and want to do things our way and all on our own. That’s not how it works.

God knows our weaknesses. He genuinely wants to help us conquer those things. He’s not waiting for us to screw up so He can smite us! But we need to be humble enough to recognize our need of Him. Many times, it’s as simple as saying, “Okay, God, I clearly don’t know what I’m doing here – so would You please help me?” Then let go of the situation and LET HIM show you the way.

Other times, we keep hanging around a group of people that are a bad influence on us. Who you hang with matters. Here’s one of my favorite Bible verses…

1 Corinthians 15:33

Don’t be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character.

Yep. If you spend a lot of time around people who do bad stuff, you’ll end up doing the same bad stuff. We naturally imitate the behavior of others. So maybe you just need to change your social clique. Hang out with Christian friends you can be accountable to. People that will encourage you in the faith AND go fishing or bowling or whatever with you – like a church small group that participates in fun and wholesome activities.

But most importantly, SPEND TIME WITH GOD! I say this all the time, and it’s true every time. Making the effort to talk with God and share your everyday life with Him is vitally important to anyone’s spiritual walk. The more time you spend with Him, the more like Him you will become. You’ll be amazed at how your overall behavior will change. Your interest in those morally questionable activities will fade away when you let Jesus be part of your WHOLE life, not just a couple of hours on Sunday morning.

Yes, we’re human and made of flesh, and that flesh longs to do carnal things. But we’re also spirit, fashioned in the image of God. The battle between our flesh and our spirit can be a very challenging struggle. But when we stop relying on our own strength and start trusting and asking God for help, we can win the fight. Feed your spirit man with scripture, prayer, and by socializing with fellow believers. And allow Christ access to every room of your house – share your whole life with Him every day. Let Him tackle those things you just can’t handle on your own and watch how masterfully He works on your behalf.

And finally, don’t put on a facade around anyone. Be real and genuine. Sometimes that means openly correcting yourself when you say or do something that’s not Christ-like. This happens to me occasionally at work. I catch myself making a joke that’s a bit, let’s say, unnecessarily crude. My spirit puts me in check, and I instantly tell my coworker, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

At least I’ve gotten to the point where I correct myself. Decades ago, my brother and I were working at a restaurant. We were in the back of the kitchen with a friend who wasn’t a Christian, but he knew we were. I made some off-color comment to be funny, and that coworker stared at me. He said, “Dude, is that something a Christian should be saying?” Ouch. In a flash, his words had humbled me, and I had to apologize.

Showing humility indicates to others that you don’t think yourself better than them. They see you’re a real person, just like they are. Being genuine and allowing yourself to be corrected – even by a nonbeliever – creates a positive impact on them. They see you as someone who is just as flawed as them, yet willing to try to be a better person for Christ’s sake. That’s a great witness!

So don’t be too proud to ask God for help with being a better Christian. And be humble enough to accept correction publicly, or even to correct yourself in front of others. This will not only improve your walk with Jesus, but it will make a bold statement that positively influences those around you. When you let them see how much you still need Jesus, they just might realize that they need Him, too!

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1117

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Today we’re gonna examine the story of Jesus clearing the temple and why, what He said as He did it, and we’ll also note His demeanor. Then perhaps we’ll take more seriously what it means that our bodies are the temple of God.

-Show Intro –

Before we jump in, smash that LIKE button. If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. Remember to follow our Rumble Channel at Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. Email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website at TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

We can see from scripture that Jesus was very possessive of the Father’s house, and rightly so. In this scene from “The Chosen,” we get pretty good idea of how it might have all gone down…

[clip1: Jesus clears the temple]

What was His demeanor? He kinda seemed ticked off to me. Read it for yourself in the Gospel of John 2:13-16. It’s all right there. Jesus was righteously indignant, and He showed everyone how serious keeping the temple pure and holy really is to Him.

As He stated then, the Father’s house is supposed to be a place of worship and prayer. But people had let themselves forget that. They made it into a marketplace, a den of robbers, and nothing holy remained. He overturned their tables and tore down their shops because worldly things have no place within the temple walls.

But then the Bible also tells us that our bodies are the temple of God. With all this in mind, what things that don’t belong there have we allowed to inhabit the Father’s house? What are you allowing in your temple? How do you think that makes Jesus feel? Is it time for a cleansing?

Let’s face it – this world has a sin problem. The enemy dresses it up and makes it very enticing. Even when we know the dangers of letting it into our lives, our flesh still longs to engage in sinful behavior. I know too much sugar is bad for me, but I sure do love me some cake and ice cream! Sin can be a lot more tempting than unhealthy food.

When we sin, we fling the doors of our temple open for evil things to come inside. When we make a habit of this, we allow those evil things to take up residency in the temple. Opening doors and windows in such a manner is an invitation to demonic spirits. Allowing sin to be part of our regular lives gives our bodies over to sickness, infection, disease, mental illness, and death.

The only cure is Jesus, the One who has the power to clean house. We need Jesus in our lives daily to keep the temple cleansed. We need Him to purify us from the inside out. Invite Him in, and He’ll clear out all the riff raff with all the same intensity and righteous vigor that He had when He cleared the temple that day.

The things we watch enter the temple through the eye-gate. The things we listen to enter the ear-gate. What goes in affects what comes out. The words that proceed from our mouths are a reflection of all that stuff we let enter this temple.

So what if you make a habit of watching TV or movies that contain some very ungodly content? What excuses do you make? You might say, “But this TV show I like only has a little bit of nudity – just a little bit of foul language in it.” Okay, ask yourself if you would invite Jesus into your home to watch that show. Uh oh, to harsh?

Let’s say by allowing that little bit of sinful stuff into your spirit that you’re only opening the temple doors a little bit. Guess what? That’s all it takes. How many of you know that just cracking open a window the tiniest bit is more than enough to let in some annoying pests?

[clip2: Miyagi catches fly, “Karate Kid”]

Before you ask, I’ll tell you: Yes, I’m guilty. That’s how I know very well the truth of what I’m saying. I battled with this just recently. There were a couple of shows I was a big fan of, and I excused the fact that they contained more than a little bit of trash my spirit didn’t need. The results were ugly.

Those things built up over time and began to choke out my spiritual life. They got in the way of me hearing from God, so what do you think that did to my walk – and even to this ministry? It’s been over a month since the last podcast. Why? I hit a wall because there was no clear path for me to receive divine inspiration. There was junk in my temple.

[clip3: “This place is a mess!”]

You’d think after all these years, growing up in church, having a preacher for a dad, hearing the Gospel all my life, that I would know better. And to be honest, I did. But I still made my excuses and rationalized to myself that it wasn’t really all that bad. Surely I could let the standard slide just a little bit and be okay, right? Wrong!

If you are making your own excuses, or if you don’t think that just a little bit of ungodliness will hurt your walk with God, let me assure you that you’re either lying to yourself or listening to a voice straight out of hell. If you have a bunch of grapes, and just one of them is rotten, you’d better quickly get rid of it before it spoils the whole bunch.

Satan is sneaky. He’ll use any means to trick you into letting unholiness into your temple. Your love of action films, crime shows, certain kinds of music – he’ll use all of it. He sprinkles in just a little bit of immorality, barely even enough to notice, and it gets into your spirit. Soon, we’re so full of trash that we don’t even notice the smell.

If the enemy can infiltrate our minds, he will twist our thinking. He will make us believe all that stuff he’s moving into this temple is absolutely no threat at all. But if you’re fortunate enough, you’ll start to notice there’s something missing. All that clutter has built a barrier between you and God. You no longer hear Him.

Once that happens, you face the reality of life outside of God’s will. And friends, that ain’t pretty. Guarding ourselves from these things is more important than you realize. The struggle to overcome your carnal nature is more than you can handle on your own. You NEED Jesus!

Not only must we guard against the evil that tries to sneak in, but we also need to make sure we’re regularly taking in the good things of God. The best defense is a strong offense. Pack your temple with the things of God, and you won’t have room or as much desire for the other stuff.

Philippians 4:8

…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Listen to praise and worship music regularly. Read God’s Word daily. Watch shows that are spiritually edifying. Attend church. Pray – communicate with God constantly. These are just a few ways to fill your temple and feed your spirit what it needs. Failure to do this puts you at risk.

Ask yourself, “Are my words blessings or cursings? Are they holy or wicked?” What pours from your mouth is evidence of what’s inside your spirit. Don’t let it become infected with fleshly things. Don’t allow God’s house – your body – to become infested with the wickedness of this world.

Pray every day: Jesus, help me to fiercely and fervently guard this temple from any and all unrighteousness! And let this verse be written upon all your temple gates…

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

I urge you to talk with God right now about what you’ve heard here today. Ask Him to show you anything and everything that’s just cluttering up your temple. Open your heart to hear from Him. Then ask Him for the fortitude to get rid of all that stuff that’s poisoning your spirit and keeping you from living your best life within His will.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1116

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On today’s program, I wanna share with you one of my daily devotionals from this week. It has to do with following the example Jesus set for us, as well as a command He gave us. We’ll expound on the concept of servanthood as it relates to the attitude we should have with others. That’s next on The Kingdom Light.

-Show Intro –

Yeah, you know what time it is. Go ahead and SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. Email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

Okay – last Friday morning, I was getting my day started with a little devotional from my Bible app, and this was just too good not to share. So I wanna start off this episode with a 2-minute video that covers John 13:14. Check it out.

[clip: Jesus teaches His disciples about servanthood by washing their feet.]

Great stuff there, so let’s break it down. Here we see Jesus once again living out the example for us, rather than just saying, “Hey guys, do this.” He made it clear that this is an important lesson to learn, then He demonstrated it through action, showing the humility and grace He wanted us to emulate.

Too often, we see the dirty side of people and steer clear of them for it. The truth is that their faults remind us of our own shortcomings, and we don’t like to admit we have them. But our attitudes toward other people’s sin or misdeeds can come across as judgmental. It can also promote the idea that we Christians are a bunch of holier-than-thou types, making us out to be judgy at best and hypocritical at worst.

But that’s not who we are supposed to be, and it’s not the life we are called to. People need to be able to see Christ’s example lived out in our lives. I mean, think about it. He was God in the flesh, and yet He never came across as one who thinks more highly of Himself than others. His willingness to humble Himself should be an inspiration to us all.

The passage here packs a profound punch. Even God -the Almighty, the Creator of all things, the One and Only Master of everything – humbled Himself to put on the flesh of mankind, laying aside all His glory and heavenly stature, in order to redeem us and free us from the bonds of sin. And if He can lower Himself to being a servant of those He created, then we ought to be able to let go of our pride and humble ourselves in service to one another.

This reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan. You may recall that two supposed “men of God” avoided caring for an injured man along the road by walking across to the other side from where he was so they could pretend not to notice him. Later came a Samaritan man who saw the injured man in need and did not ignore him, but instead he cared for him far beyond what most people would do. Why do we so often tend to behave like those who ignored the need and just walked on by?

We are called to actively serve the needs of those around us. If you see a need, meet it. If you think something good, speak it. And this doesn’t only apply to people in need of food or clothing or other basic necessities. I believe this is also a challenge to us when dealing with those who simply need a Godly influence in their lives. You know what I mean, those who we may tend to shun or avoid because of their sins – certain specific sins.

I’ll just say it. Christians in general often times can seem to be fixated on the sin of homosexuality. I’m not saying we are, but we do often give that impression. We haven’t been very good at explaining our stance and backing it up with scripture – but even when we do that, it can many times come across the wrong way. People then see us as judgy and condemnatory.

Here’s the truth. We all sin. As I said on a recent podcast, that sin is a big deal, but your sin isn’t worse than mine or mine yours. So why is it that we so often treat homosexuality as though it’s a bigger deal than our own sexual sin? My own desires can cause me to stumble.

In His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus said this…

Matthew 5:27-28

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that a man who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

I dare say that I’ve done that more times than I can count. But Christ showed me mercy. My sins are forgiven. Shouldn’t I then show grace to those who are in need of the same forgiveness afforded to me?

Let’s play it out. You meet someone or work with someone or otherwise KNOW someone who is a practicing homosexual. What’s your automatic response? Thank God I’m not like them. Back up the self-righteous truck there, pharisee. Just because you’re not guilty of the same sin as them doesn’t change the fact that YOUR OWN sin would have saved you a seat on the express train to hell had it not been for the love Jesus had for you. Guess what? He has the same exact love for them, too.

So if He can love you in the midst of your sin and make a way for you to be redeemed, can you not likewise love your fellow man who is still steeped in sin and in need of a Savior just as you were? Okay then. So what should be your response? How about treating them as Christ treated you? Love them. Share your own personal story of redemption with them. Present them with the truth about how sin threatens us all and how Jesus can set us free from it.

We all struggle with sin. Sin keeps us from living our best life in a relationship with God. Jesus is the answer.

Now, as I’ve stated many times, we don’t need to sugarcoat the truth. It can be harsh. It cuts like a sword. It might hurt. But if you can offer them the gift of forgiveness in Christ, while making it clear that you’re not judging them yourself, you just might alter their eternal destiny. You can do this by establishing common ground from the start. We all struggle with sin. Sin keeps us from living our best life in a relationship with God. Jesus is the answer. It worked for you, so it can work for them.

It’s the love of God that covers a multitude of sin. Our approach to those who need forgiveness must be from a place of love. It shouldn’t even smell like judgment. Our job is to introduce people to Jesus, tell them how He changed our lives, and encourage them to start a relationship with Him of their own. That’s when the Holy Spirit will step in and water the seeds we’ve sown.

Continue to pray for them and be a friend who’s always there, but let God do what He does best. He will work in their lives, help them see any sin that impedes their growth, and free them from those chains. Because that’s what a loving God does. He’s not asking you to save them. He’s asking you to serve them. Love them like Christ loves you, and they’ll be more inclined to believe that He loves them too.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1115

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We are here to deliver the good news to the world: Christ has redeemed us from sin! But what happened to those who died before Jesus came? This question baffles a great many people. As Christians, we should be able to answer it when asked. Can you? Today, we’ll dive into the scriptures and reveal the truth.

-Show Intro –

First off, go ahead, SMASH that LIKE button! If you enjoy the show, please SHARE it to your social media. FOLLOW our Rumble Channel – Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. You can email us at kingdomlight@usa.com, that’s kingdomlight@usa.com. And for links, blogs, transcripts and more, check out our website – TheKingdomLight.com, that’s TheKingdomLight.com.

I wanna start off by challenging your beliefs a little bit. If you’re like me, you believe the Bible is the infallible and undeniable Word of the Living God. As such, it should hold up under the greatest of scrutiny. Often times, people simply don’t understand. But the best way to interpret scripture is through other scripture.

Let’s start with a verse in Matthew where Jesus responds to those asking for a sign. After calling them wicked for asking as they did, He told them the only sign they’d see is that of Jonah. Predicting His own death, Jesus said…

Matthew 12:40

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Make a mental note of the last few words there, in the heart of the earth. We’re gonna discover today just what that really means.

Now some have said the Jonah story is a fairytale. They claim that it’s impossible for a man to survive 3 days inside the belly of a large fish. Of course, God could have made the impossible possible, but what if the truth is in the subtext?

Jesus made the comparison to Jonah knowing that He Himself would be crucified and buried in a tomb. For the analogy to stand, perhaps Jonah – like Jesus – actually died and was resurrected. Stay with me. Consider that Jonah’s time in the belly of the great fish was very similar to Jesus’ time in the tomb. His body was there, dead, but His spirit was elsewhere. Again, let’s allow scripture to interpret scripture…

Jonah 1:17

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah prays to God in chapter 2. Notice what he says here…

Jonah 2:2

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”

This mention of being in Sheol suggests his spirit and body were separated. Though his body was in the belly of the great fish, Jonah seemed to experience several things outside the fish below the depth of the waters. Therefore, it’s quite logical to assume that he was dead – or at the very least, close to it.

Jonah 2:5-7

“The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.”

This would seem to indicate that Jonah had an out-of-body experience of some sort, and that his spirit even descended into Sheol. Again, this mirrors the experience of Jesus somewhat. It is said that He also went into Sheol and to the place known as Abraham’s Bosom.

The Bible mentions Sheol several times, but we seldom study the significance of this area said to exist below the earth. Is there a place like this literally deep underground? Consider the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross next to him. After the first thief on the other side mocked Jesus and cursed Him, this man defended Jesus. He demonstrated through his words that he believed Jesus truly was the Son of God as He claimed.

Luke 23:43

And he (Jesus) said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

People have argued about this passage and its significance. They say things like, “See that? This guy was a sinner who never got baptized or said the sinner’s prayer or anything. But he still made it to heaven!” But there’s a major flaw in this line of thinking.

Jesus promising the thief he would go to paradise is NOT the same thing as taking him to heaven. Jesus didn’t ascend to heaven until many days later. Paradise is a different place entirely, and it’s in that area under the earth where Sheol is said to be. In fact, paradise and the place called Abraham’s Bosom are one and the same. Here is an artist’s depiction…

For context, let’s look at a parable Jesus told about a rich man and Lazarus…

Luke 16:19-31

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

There’s SO MUCH good stuff contained within this text. And while this was indeed a parable, the story reveals a great deal about the afterlife. It tells of a deep underground realm where there is an area of paradise – where Abraham’s spirit was – and a bit further down and across a great chasm, or divide, there existed another area known as Hades.

It was understood in those days that a soul went to paradise – or the place where father Abraham was – after living a righteous life. This was a place of comfort and peace. Likewise, those who were wicked at the time of death went down to Hades – a place of continual torment. These aren’t the same as heaven and hell, but they were holding places for the souls of all who died before Jesus came and changed everything.

NOW what Jesus said to the thief on the cross makes more sense. He assured him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” And that’s exactly where they went after dying on their crosses. Jesus went there with a mission to set captives free. He descended into that realm to swipe the keys of death, hell, and the grave – or more accurately, the keys of paradise, Hades, and Sheol itself.

But why did it take 3 days? While in paradise with Abraham and all the souls of the righteous who’d died, Jesus delivered the gospel message to them. I believe He explained the concepts of sin, forgiveness, and redemption through His blood. I’m sure they asked Him many questions, and He answered each and every one. That’s where they finally had the opportunity accept Him as Savior – all of them, including the thief who’d shown such faith during crucifixion.

What about those across the chasm in Hades? As the previously read parable clearly suggests, the spirits of the wicked would have also been able to hear this gospel message preached for the first time. Since Jesus took charge of all the keys, He could release any of them who chose to believe in Him. We have evidence of this in scripture, too…

1 Peter 3:18-20

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey…

1 Peter 4:6

For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Some of you may be thinking, “Oh sure, if they’re in the torment of Hades, naturally they’re gonna say they believe just to escape punishment.” This presumes the silly notion that Jesus wouldn’t know their hearts and minds and the wicked might trick their way out of Hades. No, but the point is that EVERY human soul has a chance to accept or reject Christ as Lord.

The same is true today. Even now, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached across the earth. Time is getting short, and soon every soul will be judged according to the choice they make. Accept Jesus and His gifts of salvation and eternal life or reject Him and go the other way. That choice is yours. So, choose wisely. It is, after all, the most important choice you’ll ever make.

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