[Addendum. . . For each individual searching for the True God, life conspires to instruct: Just this day, (May 29, 2025) in the midst of writing this, I ran into Hiram, an acquaintance I hadn't seen for a few years. Last time I saw him we had talked about the Bible.
As I am wont to do, I encouraged him to my website (JustBibleTruth.com). Not having seen him for those years, then, I couldn't help but note he right away mentioned his church; at least twice. So, I knew (I thought) he wanted to talk some more about the Bible.
I suggested to Hiram these are
exciting times to be alive "for those
with faith" in Christ; as I believe the sign(s) Jesus gave make clear these are the last days of Satan's influence and existence. (
1 John 3:8;
Mat 24:3-14) These words of Christ you are hearing are the "good news of the Kingdom." (
Mat 24:14;
Luke 21:25-28;
Rev 21:1-4) Hiram told me people have been saying these are the last days and the end was upon us for a very long time, and mentioned a man who told him that exact same thing 50 years ago. (
Hab 2:2-4) Hiram is absolutely right, but, we are nearer now than we were 50 years ago. (
Rom 13:11-12)
Also, right alongside Hiram, I have seen those same 50 years he spoke about; and, I definitely do not believe things are the same today as in days gone by; or even as 50 years ago.
In just the last 6 years we have suffered the Covid pandemic that shocked the whole world
[for a day or two], the tolerated invasion of the free nation of Ukraine for no reason except Putin wants what they have, the extremely divisive Bible prophesied protracted
religious war between the peoples who would become today's Muslims [Canaanites] and the Jews, including the destruction of Gaza as called out 2700 years ago in prophecy by Zephaniah and by name. (
Zephaniah 2:3 of 1-7) Add, then, the unprecedented increased natural disasters and on and on and... The world now feels the impact of hate as never before: A first grader hid and carried a loaded hand gun into school and shot his teacher, trying to kill her.
[Can you imagine such a thing could really be true? And yet...] There is constant pushing and shoving between nuclear nations, now including war between Pakistan and India. (
Dan 11:40;
Dan 8:23-26;
Dan 2:44) {On June 2, 2025, the news announced a successful Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russia largely avoiding civilian casualties and specifically targeting Russian Military aircraft; and, changing the face of war. Putin has sacrificed a million of the best and brightest of Russia's own sons and daughters to his war, and continues to slaughter innocent women and children and to destroy their homes and livelihoods, just because he can. Do you think God thinks he should continue alive? How many Russians would rather surrender to Ukraine or just see Putin gone? Mr. Putin must surely be worried about what other targets Ukrainian drones
[or other technologies] might have. His car or his home or...?} These days we live in are very much not the same as days gone by. Warlords are no longer isolated and protected in their ivory towers and by their lies of righteousness! (
Mat 24:21-22) God has conspired to expose them... Considering Bible history, you surely don't imagine our Creator will allow all this badness to continue! (
Gen 6:5-8;
Dan 8:23-25) Now I like Hiram. He is a pleasant man. Again, though, as politely as one could possibly say such a thing, Hiram told me I am a fool in my hope. {He didn't use the word fool, of course, but it was obviously implied.} (
2 Pet 3:3-4 - So, I hope you can see, Peter there explains why I actually consider Hiram's response just another sign we truly are in the last days.) Now here, finally you might say, is the reason I mention my conversation with Hiram: So you can
understand why someone's expression of their faith, even if different from yours, should not seem offensive or even non-productive. "I believe" Hiram and I talking about the Bible amounts to us serving God's purpose, even though Hiram disagrees with my vision in hope. Not saying both or either one of us are necessarily serving
יהוה, mind you, but "serving God's purpose." His purpose is for us each and all to
judge our-own-selves by the faith we are expressing. (
John 3:19;
Mal 3:16-4:3) My hope is Hiram and I were both expressing our faith...
[Again, not saying either of us is or is not serving God, and certainly not saying "truth" isn't important. Having faith in what is truth is an absolute necessity. (
John 18:37) Arriving at an accurate understanding of truth does, however, take a bit of time and effort. (
Heb 5:14 of 11-14) In the midst of our individually learning, then, "God's purpose" is for everyone alive to hear the Good News about his Son Jesus Christ; and then, to "serve God" in
deciding (judging) our own fate based on our favorable response to Jesus's words. (
Isa 45:22-25;
Psa 2:6-12;
John 3:19 of 16-21) Judging ourselves righteous would seem to require we first have an accurate understanding of what Jesus said; of truth. (
Rom 10:11-15;
Eph 4:13-15) If Hiram and I are both sincere, then, and neither allow ourselves to become
Religionists, our discussion is our process of
Christian learning... (
John 8:31-32)]
The discussion between myself and Hiram, don't you see, was serving that purpose of God for everyone to hear about
יהוה and his Son. Now I do know, lots of people think they are serving God by sitting in a
church among organized
Religionists, listening to someone lord it over them by telling them what "they believe" Jesus meant by what he said. Christ, however, very specifically warned against you doing that. (
Mat 23:1-15) Christ said precisely what he meant; and so, you need to be listening to "him." (
Mark 3:31-35) My faith is we serve God by reading Christ's words for ourselves, and then, express (be ready to defend -
1 Pet 3:15) our faith by talking with others about what we learn. So... I simply and lovingly told Hiram someone is going to be right about Christ's return one of these days... Maybe today! He did freely acknowledged that is true; leading me to believe he does believe in Christ and the Bible! His saying my hope is silly, that I am silly, is not offensive, then, because I understand that is just his expression of his faith and expressing our faith is our purpose of life! (
Rom 10:9-10) Please think about these Bible prophecies from Malachi as you consider why I hope my conversation with Hiram was us working
יהוה's works. (
John 6:28-29) How it was us defining ourselves actually to God:
Mal 3:16 ...At that time those in fear of
יהוה spoke with one another.
יהוה kept paying attention and listening, so that a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared him and esteemed his name.
As we spoke together, I was expressing my hope based on what I believe the Bible teaches, and, I assume, Hiram was doing the same. I hope that indicates we are people in fear of
יהוה... That's why I talk to people about the Bible and write these letters: To encourage everyone to give expression of their faith, because I really do believe the Bible when it tells me
יהוה is listening. It's not an encouragement for people to believe what I say. It's my encouragement for everyone alive to listen to Jesus Christ. Our just talking together about Christ and his Father is the thing that's important! I encourage everyone to listen to Jesus and build their own faith, and then, to defend it. (
1 Pet 3:13-15;
Rom 10:9-10) That's what Hiram and I were doing; defending our Faith. Faith is a personal matter between each one of us and God, as we approach him through our own personal knowledge of the words of his Christ. (
John 10:7-9;
Eph 3:8-12;
Heb 10:19-23) That's another nice thing to know about our faith: By our personal expression of "our" faith we are defining for God who we are; letting him know us. Isn't that what Malachi conveyed in the scripture we just read? As people spoke about him, God kept paying attention and listening. (
Mal 3:16-4:3;
Rom 10:9-10) As you speak with others, or just read these scriptures,
יהוה is listening to the response given in your own heart, but also to what you say to others. Your verbal public expression lets him know who you truly are. Note God goes on to say:
Mal 3:17 ..."They shall be mine, says יהוה of hosts, in the day when I make up my special property [gather my chosen people (Gal 23:26-29)],
and I will protect them just as a man shows compassion for his own son who serves him. (18) Then you will see the distinction between the righteous one and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. (
John 6:28-29)
Serving God means listen to and putting faith in the words of his Christ! (
Mark 9:7) Do "you" see and
understand the clear simple
distinction between those serving God and those not? I believe, as Hiram and I talked,
יהוה was listening and writing us in his book of remembrance, or not; based on what is in each of our hearts! What is in our heart is reflected, of course, in what comes out of our mouth... (
Mat 12:34 & 37) I don't think it matters as much if Hiram and I agree with each other, but whether we are each one doing our best to
express our own personal faith in Christ as we have learned him from the Bible. That's what I believe God is paying attention to... Note as
יהוה continues:
Mal 4:1-3 MWT... "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be like stubble for the flames. The day that is coming shall set them all ablaze, says יהוה of hosts, so that I will leave them neither present life nor future hope. (2) But for you who fear my name, the sun (son) of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (3) And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act in justice says יהוה of hosts.
So, God
loves you and me and Hiram... He is paying attention to what we are saying to each other about him. (
Rom 10:9-10)
Even as you read this, you are expressing your own faith about these things Christ has said; inside your own heart and mind. God is paying attention and listening. What other humans think about your faith has no meaning. If you can get every unrighteous human alive to bless you, it means nothing. Hiram expressed his faith, as did I. Here is an important distinction between my faith and Hiram's... "My faith" includes the expectation that what we individually believe is happening to us, is what
will befall is befalling each of us. (
Mat 8:13;
Mark 11:22-24) I believe we are seeing the sign(s) Jesus gave to indicate our deliverance has arrived. (
Luke 21:25-28) Hiram apparently believes not; that world conditions are just the same today as it has always been. Here is the problem: If Hiram believes Christ is not coming now but he is, what does that mean for Hiram? In support of his faith, Hiram referenced
Mark 13:32 where Jesus said no one except God knows the day or hour, not even Christ. Hiram is right; Jesus didn't know or give us the day and hour, but, he did give us the sign(s) of his presence to look for; (
Luke 21:25-28) so as to be in expectation of
יהוה's day. Jesus didn't know the day or hour because we are all playing our our parts in
יהוה's earth wide
drama (
1 Cor 4:9) to bring in everlasting peace and good; (
Rev 21:1-4;
Luke 1:29-33) as we each await God's decision about the very best day and hour, so as to save as many as possible. (
2 Pet 3:8-10) So, I believe Jesus's prophecy about what we should watch for indicates "the time" is here; still without knowing the day or hour, but soon. I'm sure the humanly inconceivable number of suffering people in this world agree. Neither Hiram nor myself, nor any other human, can prove "our faith" is the right one. That's another wonderful thing about faith, though, right? It is our individual chance
[and responsibility] to listen personally to the words of Jesus Christ, (
Mark 9:7) decide in our mind and shape our heart of faith, and then, to express "our faith" with our own mouth for salvation. (
Rom 10:9-10) Our faith is a personal matter and "all" true Christians are growing in it, including Hiram and myself I hope. Actually, Hiram's response about these not being the last days is a fairly common one... (
2 Pet 3:1-7) I highly regard Hiram and this is not any kind of slight or disparagement toward him. Anyone who thinks that has not at all understood what I said... Or, I think, what Christ said. . . End Addendum: Noting how life conspires to instruct all those searching for
יהוה.]