Part Two  Part Three  Part Four  Part Five  Part Six  Part Seven  Part Eight  Part Nine  Part Ten

If you start in verse 1 of Matthew 24 and simply read the text, it could mean anything without the proper context. The timeframe is also largely misunderstood. This is a problem of modern interpretation throughout Scripture and is rife with misunderstanding and outright abuse today in the American Church.

In posts to follow, if the Lord allows, we’ll look at several sections of Scripture in Matthew leading up to chapter 24. The whole context to the Matthew 24 prophecy by Jesus will be much more evident when we arrive at the text by understanding what leads up to it. You CAN understand Matthew 24!

In Matthew Chapter 3, John the Baptist relays God’s threat:

“7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” – Matthew 3:7-13

Matthew 3 starts by detailing the calling and ministry of John the Baptist. All Judaea and the surrounding cities were coming out to be baptized by Him.

Look at verse 7; it seems necessary to understand what generation John is speaking about? What wrath, and upon who is this wrath to come? It seems rather plain; he looks the Sanhedrin in the eye, calls them vipers, and by way of question warns them of the wrath of God to come. Is John the Baptist speaking to people he never met about a judgment of Holy God 2000 years later in America? This seems very unlikely. If you know that you’re supposed to repent of sin, then you should, and indeed America she has her sin, but who is supposed to repent in verse 8? Are we, 2000 years later, also supposed to not think of Abraham as our father? Well, we suppose so, but he’s speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who are Israel’s religious and civil leadership.

Note a conversation later in the life of Jesus that occurs in John 8 between Jesus and these rulers. Jesus explains how He always does what pleases His Father in heaven, and the Sanhedrin do precisely what John the Baptist warned them not to do. Jesus is speaking in verses 37 and 38:

“37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” – John 8:37-38

by claiming Abraham as their father the Sanhedrin have just fulfilled the warning and prophecy by God that John the Baptist spoke in Matthew 3 .

And also, in John 8, Jesus goes on to call the devil their father (this is a rather unpleasant conversation):

“44 Ye 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. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” – Jesus speaking in John 8:44-45

So we must conclude that the wrath of God abides on them because that was the other half of the threat by God given through John the Baptist. Now read the entirety of what John the Baptist says in Matthew 3:7-13 again. (And read verse 14 with it as well. Whoever said the New Testament is bad literature surely doesn’t know who or what the book is about?)

Whether the prophecy in Matthew 3 shifts from that generation to some distant judgment, you decide. There’s more here we could cross-reference to other Scripture, but the point is founded. God has made His threat of judgment to come against that generation.

Also, compare Matthew 3:10 in our text to Matthew 7:15-20.

These two essential and much neglected aspects of Christian growth and maturity need attention by the churches in America; mentorship and fasting with prayer.

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” – Acts 5:42

If you are a serious Christian and have studied God’s word for years while serving in the body by teaching in a group of believers or at home with your family, please consider mentoring a new or infant Christian. Consider taking on two or three by meeting once a week and studying through some aspects of Christianity.

And if you’re new to the faith or know that you are slack in your growth, then you will have to seek out a mentor(s). Importantly, it should be purposeful, involving prayer and studying the Scriptures together, and can even include serving God together.

Probably the place to start is the sure foundations of the faith. Salvation in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, under the word of God alone, to the glory of God alone.  A mentor can lead those newer to the faith by notating verse by verse through the book of John and then discussing what you’ve discovered at a regular time each week while sharing life, growth, and prayer together.

It is recommended to discuss faith without works (James 2:20) and its enjoined truth; so too, works without faith are also dead. More than half of those who claim Christ in America say that some work or ceremony is required for salvation. This needs correcting. But the easy-believism of useless fake converts is rampant as well. The American Church is apostate; hold true to the faith even to the end.

Very few actually want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s a pity; they know not what they’re missing. It’s as though they read the Bible and get preaching, but what God says through His word is not penetrating the dullness of their minds.

Please teach each other to mature in Christ. Being a Christian requires work to bring glory to the Father.

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” – Matthew 6:16-18

And consider fasting specifically from food. Fasting with prayer significantly increases our awareness of God through dependence upon Him. Like serious prayer, the work and growth that fasting does in us are not describable in such a way that would convince you to partake of it. It’s something that you have to do to grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ to see the Kingdom of God up close as you draw nigh to God. Rest assured, He will answer when you begin to fast. Don’t tell anybody that you’re fasting. Fast in secret that your Father, which is heaven, may know and send blessings for your faith. Pray a great many times throughout the day when fasting. Skipping breakfast is not fasting. Be serious; go 24 hours the first time, then longer as desired other times after.

Field & Stream.

This cartridge became available in 1895 in Winchester’s Model 1894 lever action rifle. It was America’s first sporting cartridge to be loaded with smokeless powder and was originally loaded with a 160-grain bullet and 30 grains of powder. This produced a muzzle velocity of about 1950 fps. The cartridge got its name from its .30-caliber (.308-inch) bullet and the 30 grains of powder that fueled it. Since then, the cartridge has been chambered in a wide range of rifles but gained its fame and popularity in the 94 and the Marlin 336.

When it comes to modern .30-30 ballistics, things are a bit improved today. The most common loading is a 150-grain bullet at an advertised 2390 fps. However, for common 20-inch barreled traditional lever guns, real muzzle velocities are closer to 2300 fps. This is a powerful combination and has been used effectively on everything from feral hogs all the way up to moose. You can also get 125 and 170-grain loads, but neither offer any practical advantage over 150-grain loadings, especially the excellent 150-grain Federal HammerDown, which has been specifically tuned for lever guns.

However, there is another option. Hornady offers 140- and 160-grain LEVERevolution loads. What sets these apart is that they utilize a spitzer instead of a round nose bullet. Round nose bullets have always been required in tube fed lever guns, but the soft rubber FlexTip used by Hornady makes these pointy bullets safe in the magazine tube. With the LEVERevolution ammunition the .30-30 has a 13% flatter trajectory and retains about 6% more energy. Regardless the loading, a traditional 30-30 lever gun will recoil between 10 and 13 foot-pounds of energy.

[ … ]

When most think of a 45-70, they think of a 45-70 lever action rifle. However, the first 45-70 was not a lever gun. The cartridge was adopted by the U.S. military in 1873 in the single shot Trapdoor Springfield rifle. The ballistics of original .45-70 ammo was nothing to crow about by today’s standards. It was originally loaded with a 405-grain .45-caliber bullet ahead of 70 grains of black powder, hence the name 45-70. This load had a muzzle velocity of around 1300 fps and compared to modern .45-70 ballistics; it was like throwing a rock. At 200 yards the bullet would drop more than two feet.

With the arrival of the .30-30 Winchester and the 20th Century, interest in the .45-70 waned. It simply could not compete with the flatter shooting .30-30 or the even more modern .30-06. However, in the early 70s Marlin reintroduced their 1895 lever action rifle chambered for the .45-70. A version of Marlin’s much more robust 336 action, the new 1895 could handle ammunition loaded with much higher pressures. Soon, we began to see the second power level of .45-70 ammunition, which included 300-grain bullets being pushed to around 1800 fps. These carried more than 1000 foot-pounds of energy to 200 yards, with trajectories twice as flat as the original loading.

But the advancement in .45-70 ammo did not stop there. The 1895 is a very strong action and companies like Buffalo Bore began loading third power level “heavy” .45-70 ammunition. Recoil is however brutal; out of a Marlin 1895 these heavy loads generate nearly 50 foot-pounds of shoulder shoving punch.

He goes on to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages, and ends up recommending the 30-30 for white tail and 45-70 for moose and elk (or bear and other dangerous game).

From my perspective, I just don’t want that much shoulder punch.  I’m of the opinion that shooting ought to be a reasonably pleasurable experience, and if it is I’ll do it more and get better at it.

A 30-30 lever action rifle is easy to shoot.  Really easy.  Fun, accurate and pleasurable.

Then again, there are folks who have shot all of these guns so much that it doesn’t really matter.  They’re already that good at it all, so no need for much more time at the range or in the field plinking or target shooting.

And if the really big bore gun meets your needs the best, that’s why we have variety.

By the way, I once knew a Marine Scout Sniper who shot the Barret .50.  He came away with headaches every day from the range because of the concussive blast.

He did everything wrong.

A hiker was so determined to reach the top of Arizona’s highest peak that one rescue wouldn’t stop him from returning the next day to try again.

The 28-year-old Brooklyn, New York, man set out to hike Humphreys Trail to reach the state’s highest peak on Wednesday, March 2.

He did all the research on YouTube and AllTrails, a popular hiking website, before starting the hike, The Daily Sun reported. The information the hiker found said it was possible to reach the summit in two or three hours, so he started his hike at about 2:30 p.m., according to the news outlet.

However, on the way up the hiker became lost. He had to call 911 for help, Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies told The Associated Press.

“It was very easy to get off the trail and fall into the snow,” the hiker, identified by The Daily Sun as Phillip Vasto, told the news outlet.

As rescuers set out to help the man, he found the trail and began hiking downhill, FOX 10 reported. However, a search and rescue crew found the man and took him to a lodge parking lot to make sure he didn’t need medical care.

The man wasn’t injured and declined medical attention, AP reported. Rescuers encouraged the hiker to wait for clearer weather and revisit the trail when the conditions are better, according to The Daily Sun.

The next day, however, the hiker set out to try again. He started his hike earlier at 9:30 a.m. and made it far into the hike, FOX 10 reported.

“I was thinking if I start early in the morning, I’ll have all the time in the world to reach the summit,” Vasto told The Daily Sun.

Then he was hit with high wind gusts and less than ideal weather.

“On his descent he got off trail and fell, causing an injury,” the sheriff’s office told FOX 10.

The man called 911 again at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, AP reported. The Arizona Department of Public Safety sent a rescue helicopter to pick him up.

Apparently, it takes longer to reach the summit than three hours.  But let’s assume three for the sake of argument.

It was supposed to take him three hours.  So he set out at 2:30, which would have put him at the summit at 5:30, which is nearly dark.

What was he planning to do then?

He didn’t know how to navigate, he didn’t leave early enough, he got panicked and stumbled around and got injured.  He didn’t come prepared to stay overnight in the bush.  Apparently he didn’t have the equipment (maps, compass, GPS) to find his way there and back.  He had little if any food or water I would suppose, he had no cover.

Don’t do any of those things.

Always prepare for “less than ideal” weather or other conditions.  Always prepare like you intend to spend the night in the bush.  Or one or two more nights than you had planned.

News from Florida.

Floridians could openly carry firearms in public and wouldn’t need a permit to carry them concealed under legislation that now has the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis.

There’s one problem though… The bill hasn’t received a single hearing in either legislative chamber.

While the sponsor of the constitutional carry bill thinks it will be enough to pull the bill directly on the House floor for a vote, opponents don’t seem all that worried.

The controllers aren’t worried because the fix is in.  The fix is always in.

Governor Ron DeSantis was asked if he would support constitutional carry at a press conference Thursday morning.

His direct response: “Put it on my desk I’ll sign it”.

[ … ]

But the legislation on this bill is on life support.

It hasn’t gotten a single hearing in either chamber and the Governor’s endorsement came with only nine days remaining in the legislative session.

It’s easy to say you’ll sign it when it has no chance of passing the chambers of the legislature.

I guess you don’t really think this is important enough to push it, DeSantis.

Not in active combat.  The cat is too smart for that.  The python does have to eat, and left its eggs behind.  That cat sure is wary.  But has the sense to cover up the meal and come back to it later.

Then mama python shows up.  The cat doesn’t much mess with the python.  It just waits.

We saw it, but not he full video.  Here it is.

The only animal in North America other than a large pack of dogs that will stand down a bear. On the videos they go after the legs, the same approach the honey badgers take with lions in Africa. A single bite could break bones.

Ammoland.

Bidens (sic) DOJ doesn’t like the idea that the State of Missouri has decided to protect its citizens from an overreaching federal government and unconstitutional laws. HB85 also known as the Second Amendment Preservation Act or SAPA has really gotten under the skin of the Biden administration because it prevents gun-grabbers at the federal level from coercing with state officials for gun grabs. The law does not extend to various federal statutes, executive orders, administrative orders, court orders, rules, regulations, or other actions that collect data or restrict or prohibit the manufacture, ownership, or use of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition exclusively within the borders of Missouri.

The Federal government’s complaint alleges that the restrictions within HB85 have hindered cooperation and other activities that aid federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts in creating joint Federal Task Forces against Missourians.

The legislation, which was signed into law in 2021 and sponsored by Representative Jered Taylor, invalidates federal firearms laws. Under SAPA, law enforcement agencies can be fined up to $50,000 if they enforce federal gun regulations. You can imagine how infuriated the gun grabbers would be over something like this.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said, “A state cannot simply declare federal laws invalid,” “This act makes enforcement of federal firearms laws difficult and strains the important law enforcement partnerships that help keep violent criminals off the street.”

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said, “After their disastrous arguments in the Missouri Supreme Court last week, the Biden Department of Justice has now filed yet another partisan lawsuit that seeks to attack Missourians’ Second Amendment rights.”

This is not an especially well written article.  Nonetheless, I told you that the FedGov hated this law.  I told you so.

I think the thing about this the FedGov hates so much is that state, county and local LEOs can be sued for $50,000 and fired for cooperating with agents of the FedGov, and barred from ever working as a LEO again in the state of Missouri.

The reason they hate this is because they need local LEOs to assist in protection, addresses, processing, records (e.g., let’s say that FedGov wants to press other charges) and the like.

This continues the saga of he Missouri 2A preservation act.

I wouldn’t make a prediction on what the SCOTUS will do.  What I do know is that if the state of Missouri is serious about this, it won’t matter and any SCOTUS decision will be ignored.  The state doesn’t have to cooperate with the FedGov in anything.  They could decide to arrest agents of the FedGov and thrown them in the state penitentiary if they so choose, and there’s nothing the FedGov could do about it.

One has been seen in the wild.  Despite my predictions of poor performance and rim-locking, it seems to be well-functioning.

Might have to look into one of these given the good price point.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” – Psalm 2:1-6

All men are drawn to the cross of Christ, and all enemies are being made His footstool. He will and does rule and reign from one end of the heaven to the other. Here is the genuine and underlying desire behind the destruction of the family in your civilization, to separate you from the righteousness of Christ Jesus. So that you live under their power in wickedness because the heathen rage while kings and rulers join the thousands of years old global conspiracy against the cross and the great God who created heaven and earth. They hate God and His Christ, and they hate that you would be redeemed unto Him rejecting their evil desires that you join in their disgusting, destructive fraud of the true God and His kingdom. God is the holy Creator; the sin-infested order the oligarchs have created is to attempt the usurpation of Christ’s throne.

The New Order can’t save you. Quite the contrary, having turned you into a mere unit of production, they now want you dead. But have no fear, Christian soldier; the Captain of our salvation has a plan if only you would carry it out.

Jesus makes a man’s heart His and then demands a righteous outward life. The man who is God’s head of the family requires, as does Christ, a righteous family. When many men have their family as Christ’s possession living in righteousness, it spreads as others hear the Gospel from them and see the blessings of God on His people. Whole communities change, the spark of the Gospel catches, and nations turn to Christ as He brings in His kingdom. We’ve seen this ongoing, in ebbs and flows we don’t deny, but now for two thousand years, His handiwork among the heathen is evident. It’s a grievous error to discount the power of the workings of God.

Sadly, some ascribe the power of their devil over Christ until some vaguely knowable future set of parameters that no two men can seem to agree upon when suddenly Christ’s righteousness will appear. If only they could see the appearing of Christ has come to all men and continues by the teaching of His Gospel to every nation and tongue to bring in His kingdom, for He shall reign.

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” – Revelation 11:15

Why do some sit by lamenting the daily minutia of the failing kingdoms of this present world as though observing the heathen rage and kings fighting against the cross were some new sport? God has work for you, brothers and sisters. The Gospel can conquer the kings of this world. The world is being conquered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and can be dominated by the Gospel. Why won’t you join the bands of the Lord of hosts to declare the Kingdom of God and of His Christ to the heathen, some of whom sadly it seems could be with us until the end. It appears that those who say anybody can be saved through faith are the laziest to tell the lost about Christ! Yes, it’s good hard work; that’s what God called you for to do.

“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 2:7-12

Verses 7 through to the end of Psalm Two in verse 12 is where we find that the great God in heaven declared His decree; that by His own sovereign will and plan, He would raise up a people to belong to Christ. A good man leaves an inheritance, but how much more would God that is only good and the only good One give to His only begotten Son a people that would belong to Christ? God’s enemies, heathens and sinners and men of all stripes hear the call of God to come unto Christ with fear and trembling, yet rejoicing that Almighty God who is holy and just would make them His own.

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” – Job 19:25

They knew He was coming; just men, those that sought the face of God’s anointed Christ foretold of the redemption of a people because God himself would stand on the earth in the latter day to make a way for those that were afar off to come unto God, forgiven, reconciled, yes, redeemed.

Christ stood upon the earth, lived among men, and though He had no duty to it, left us filled with awe at the workings and miracles, but they killed Him anyway.

Redemption is a paid price to purchase a possession. But it’s more than that; the people God would redeem were already His; all men are His. Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; the expiation of all that would believe at the appearing of God’s Christ has come unto you who God knows by name!

There was a just man and devout who the Spirit of God had told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, a light unto the world, even to the heathen at the far stretched corners of the earth.

“And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” – Luke 2 26:32

This is the first recorded prayer asked of Jesus when He was on earth. When Jesus was just eight days old, the man looked the Christ of God in the eye and asked to depart in peace to be with Holy Father God.

When you assuredly see the Christ of God, Jesus, then you’ll know. You’ll finally live absent fear, and the fear of death that stalks us all. Seek Him now while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

The most important thing you can ever do is to settle your soul with God; having heard the call of Christ, you can be fit to depart in peace, your conscience spirit returning unto the God that made you, at whatever chosen day the Lord has appointed.

The heathen still rage and the sons of Jacob gnash their teeth at the plan of God, or perhaps at the way He keeps His covenants of heaven to accomplish His work on earth. It’s hard to understand the hatred toward God and his way of redemption. Even those who don’t hate but merely shrug off the knowledge that you can know God to be made a friend. Why hate; what did He do but give you breath and life. Christ is hated or ignored, His plan is hated and scoffed at, and if you could crucify Him again today, you would do it. It seems so odd, who, precisely, are you to declare to God that His plan is not sufficient? Are you a god?

But not so for His sheep that hear His voice when redemption draws nigh by the Spirit of God speaking to your very soul.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:20

Jesus died for your sins and was resurrected from the tomb by the power of the Spirit of God, proving His authority to purchase all those who have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” – Romans 3:24.

Whosoever would believe will be made the fulfillment of the New Covenant to be partaker of the promise of God to give Christ Jesus the heathen. You can be made the fruits of His inheritance, you, a heathen and a sinner, if you believe He can forgive and save your soul, you will be made a joint heir with Christ in the Kingdom of God.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

There’s no other way, no other name; stop arguing against God’s great plan of the ages, and simply accept the gift of the redemption of your soul to God.

Here is how you are redeemed; payment must be made for the redemption of anything, and so much the greater an amount for God’s creation in His own likeness; you who are made in the very image of God. Jesus paid a terrible price for you, the highest cost imaginable. The only begotten Son of God freely gave His perfect, sinless blood which flowed on the earth, paying the price for the curse of sin against you and that by His resurrection, the sting of death would no longer be upon you. You who believe by faith, having the blood applied, can be among those who are His to be resurrected in the newness of life belonging to Father God.

Deny your ungodliness, repent of your unbelief and look to the blessed hope of reconciliation toward God at the appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself a ransom for all. Now is the time.

The grace of God to bring salvation to you and to all men has appeared in Jesus Christ. That’s what happened. That’s the plan of redemption and His way of salvation. While the heathen still rage, Holy God is the perfect gentlemen, coercing none and inviting all, even you. There is no sin that can’t be forgiven and no shame that cannot be covered by the blood Christ spilled to redeem you that you might be His, secure both now to serve Him and into eternity.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:13-14

Look no further; your redemption is at hand. Blessed are they that put their trust in Him.