Giving their Kingdoms to the Beast - The Present and Future Course of European Nations

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled, Revelation 17:17 

Leaving aside the particular details of what David Cameron has negotiated, or not, one overriding truth is very evident, namely, that there is a continuing desire among European nations for the centralising of power. Keeping also in mind that the reality of what has been negotiated will be somewhat different to the 'spin' that the Prime Minister and his spin doctors will present to the electorate over coming days, this desire to centralise power will not be given up easily or willingly.

Whatever the outcome of the upcoming Referendum in the United Kingdom, upon David Cameron's negotiations with these other Europeans nations, there is a general direction that European nations are travelling. It is ever onwards to centralised control, with less democracy and the rise of bureaucratic control. It is these features that will aid the rise of Antichrist in coming days!

Events in Europe, and also in the Middle East, ought ever to be of interest to the Bible believer. These two areas of the world are going to play a significant part in the events that lead up to the coming of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, to this world a second time. 

Before that great event comes about, there will be the rise of Antichrist, the man of sin. A number of the nations of Europe will play an important role in his rise and development.

Evolution a 'Theory' - so says the Introduction to The Origin of Species

A Headteacher in Lancashire has been mocked and ridiculed on Twitter for claiming evolution is not a fact. She tweeted: Evolution is not a fact. That’s why it’s called a theory! There’s more evidence that the Bible is true. It was sent in response to another Headteacher who urged teachers to stick to science when teaching the origins of life. Richard Dawkins has even weighed into the argument.

See here - The Guardian - Headteacher mocked on Twitter for claiming evolution is not a fact.

In light of the furore that has arisen about this comment it is worth remembering what was once written by Dr Leonard Harrison Matthews [1901-1986] in the Introduction to an edition of Darwin's Origin of Species. Matthews was a British zoologist and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was especially known for his research and writings on marine mammals. He was certainly no believer in creationism!

Manasseh - the Old Testament Prodigal Son

Manasseh was an unique and privileged individual. He was born during the 15 years that were added to his father Hezekiah's life. He was a royal prince brought up in the palace of a king. He went on to succeed his father upon the throne of Judah. He was also the Old Testament's prodigal son!

We read of Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 v 1-18; 2 Chronicles 33 v 10-13.

I. Manasseh was a Privileged but Wayward King. 

For all his privileges in the royal house:

He lived in complete opposition to the ways of his father. Manasseh scorned that which his father worshipped; and worshipped that which his father scorned. Of Hezekiah it is said that: he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Of Manasseh it is said: he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Stats for January

Parenting Prodigal Children

A synopsis of a sermon preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church 

on Lord's day morning 1st September 2013 as part of a series on the Family

Genesis 26:34,35: And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Despite all the instruction imparted by Christian parents; despite all the efforts and desires of Christian parents to train their children in the ways of God and to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; despite all the prayers that they have offered up to God at the throne of grace; there are times when Christian parents are faced with the distressing situation that their children rebel against their parental authority; and worse still against the Lord and against the Gospel of saving grace.

It is that situation that I want to address this Lord's day. What are Christian parents to do? How do they bear this heavy cross? What relief is there to be found that might alleviate this burden just a little?

In considering children as part of the family we have been stressing the importance of teaching them and instructing them in the ways of God; of training them up in the way that they should go and not in the way they want to go.

Every parent, who truly professes Jesus Christ as Saviour, and who is walking in fellowship with Christ, will desire that their children come to know Christ and follow Christ. Their desire will be that of Abraham for Ishmael: O that Ishmael might live before thee! Genesis 17:18. Or like that of the beloved disciple, John: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth, 3 John 4.