Friday Church News Notes
Volume 20, Issue 24 - June 14, 2019
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.
JERUSALEM’S GAY PRIDE PARADE (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Jerusalem’s annual gay pride parade was held on June 6, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 in attendance. To counter ultra-Orthodox protests, the police had a massive presence, posting officers every 10 to 20 meters along the parade route and stationing helicopters and drones overhead. Israel’s first homosexual justice minister, Amir Ohana, appointed hours earlier by Benjamin Netanyahu, joined the parade. The city government refused chief rabbi Aryeh Stern’s request to remove rainbow flags, instead ordering the removal of protest posters that read, “Father and Mother = Family. The courage to be normal.” No wonder the Bible calls Jerusalem “Sodom” in Revelation 11:8. Meanwhile, over in Israel’s second largest city, Tel Aviv’s 21st annual pride parade is scheduled for today, June 14, in the midst of a month long homosexual festival that is one of the biggest in the world. Some 200,000 are expected to march in the parade. Tel Aviv’s Hilton Beach was recently voted “one of the best gay beaches in the world” (“Pride Comes to Tel Aviv for the 21st Time,” Jerusalem Post, June 5, 2019). The city’s LGBTQ community center is funded by the government with workers receiving city salaries. It is obvious that the present return of Israel to her land is not the fulfillment of the prophecies of the New Covenant. For “then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations” (Ezekiel 36:24-31). The present return is for the purpose of preparing for the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70th Week (Daniel 9:27), when Israel will rebuild the temple and make a covenant with the Antichrist which will lead to the return of Israel’s true Christ, Jesus, and the establishment of His kingdom.
A BOOK DOCUMENTING RAMPANT HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE VATICAN (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Bombshell book alleges,” CBSNews, Feb. 15, 2019: “A gay French writer has lifted the lid on what he calls one of the world’s largest gay communities, the Vatican, estimating that most of its prelates are homosexually inclined and attributing much of the current crisis in the Catholic Church to an internal struggle. In the explosive book, In the Closet of the Vatican, author Frederic Martel describes a gay subculture at the Vatican and calls out the hypocrisy of Catholic bishops and cardinals who in public denounce homosexuality but in private lead double lives. Aside from the subject matter, the book is astonishing for the access Martel had to the inner sanctum of the Holy See. Martel writes that he spent four years researching it in 30 countries, including weeks at a time living inside the Vatican walls. He says the doors were opened by a key Vatican gatekeeper and friend of Pope Francis who was the subject of the pontiff’s famous remark about gay priests, ‘Who am I to judge?’ ... Martel says he conducted nearly 1,500 in-person interviews with 41 cardinals, 52 bishops or monsignors, and 45 Vatican and foreign ambassadors, many of whom are quoted at length and in on-the-record interviews that he says were recorded. Martel said he was assisted by 80 researchers, translators, fixers and local journalists, as well as a team of 15 lawyers. The 555-page book is being published simultaneously in eight languages in 20 countries, many bearing the title ‘Sodom.’”
TRUMP THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT TO PROMOTE LGBT PRIDE MONTH (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Trump Becomes First,” Christian Headlines, June 5, 2019: “President Trump ruffled feathers on both sides of the political aisle when he tweeted his support for LGBT Pride Month. On Friday afternoon, the president tweeted, ‘As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. My administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!’ ... President Trump pledged on the campaign trail to focus on LGBT issues, showing himself to be the most friendly towards LGBT issues of any of the Republican candidates. In February, he appointed Ric Grenell, the US Ambassador to Germany, to lead the Administration’s efforts to encourage other countries to decriminalize homosexuality. ... American Family Association President Tim Wildmon said, ‘Homosexuality is not something the president should celebrate. It’s unnatural, unhealthy and immoral behavior. We hope he will continue to stand firm against the so-called Equality Act (H.R. 5) and any legislation that threatens religious freedom. Such legislation will use the full force of the federal government to punish Americans who don’t embrace the LGBT political agenda.’”
CHINA’S SOCIAL CREDIT SYSTEM BANNED 13 MILLION PEOPLE; VENEZUELA TO USE IT TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO FOOD AND MEDICINE (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “China: Social Credit System,” Breitbart, May 14, 2019: “China’s state-run newspaper Global Times revealed in a column defending the nation’s authoritarian ‘social credit system’ Monday that the communist regime had blacklisted 13.49 million Chinese citizens for being ‘untrustworthy.’ The article did not specify what these individuals did to find themselves on the list, though the regime has revealed the system assigns a numerical score to every Chinese citizen based on how much the Communist Party approves of his or her behavior. Anything from jaywalking and walking a dog without a leash to criticizing the government on the internet to more serious, violent, and corrupt crimes can hurt a person’s score. The consequences of a low credit score vary, but most commonly appear to be travel restrictions at the moment. China is set to complete the implementation of the system in the country in 2020. As the date approaches, the government’s propaganda arms have escalated its promotion as necessary to live in a civilized society. ... ‘As of March, 13.49 million individuals have been classified as untrustworthy and rejected access to 20.47 million plane tickets and 5.71 million high-speed train tickets for being dishonest,’ the Global Times reported, citing the government’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Among the new examples the newspaper highlights as dishonest behavior are failing to pay municipal parking fees, ‘eating on the train,’ and changing jobs with ‘malicious intent.’ ... In addition to limited access to travel, another punishment the Chinese government rolled out in March was the use of an embarrassing ringtone to alert individuals of a low-credit person in their midst. The ringtone would tell those around a person with low credit to be ‘careful in their business dealings’ with them. In the system, all public behavior, the Global Times explained Monday, will be divided into ‘administrative affairs, commercial activities, social behavior, and the judicial system’ once the system is complete. No action will be too small to impact the score. ... Using the nominally private corporation ZTE, China sold a version of its credit system to socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. The system would reportedly work through the already established ‘Fatherland Card, a ration card used to distribute food and medicine to Maduro’s supporters. Anyone who indicated opposition to the regime put their food supply at risk. With ZTE technology, the ‘Fatherland Card’ can track the purchases and real-time locations of any Venezuelan.”
DRAMATIC DROP IN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN THE U.S. (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Poll: Church Membership Dropped,” Brown’s Newsletter, April 2019: “Church membership has plummeted in the last two decades by nearly twenty percent. Across the United States, now, only fifty percent of U.S. adults belong to a church and or a religious institution. Further, demographically, the drop was recorded highest among Democrats and Hispanics. Throughout the twentieth century, church and/or religious membership hovered around seventy percent, with the last recording of such in 1999. Meanwhile, the number of persons with no religious affiliation jumped from eight percent to nineteen percent. The new Gallup findings underscore [a] generational dynamic. Among Americans 65 and older, church membership in 2016-2018 averaged 64% percent, compared to 41% among those aged 18-29.”
CHRIST IS KING OF AIONS (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Ti. 1:17). The context is Christ. Christ is mentioned in verses 12, 14, 15, and 16. Therefore, verse 17 is a doxology of Christ. It is a doxology of God with the focus on Christ. The word “eternal” is the Greek aion, which refers to ages both of space and of time. The world system, the universe, was made as the sphere for the working out of God’s eternal purposes. Christ created the aions (Heb. 1:2), and He sits as King over them (1 Ti. 1:17). Aion is often translated “world,” but it is also translated “age” (Eph. 2:7; Col. 1:26) and “forever” (most often referring to God and Christ) (Joh. 12:34; 14:16; Ro. 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Co. 11:31; Ga. 1:5; Php. 4:20; 1 Ti. 1:17; 2 Ti. 4:18; Heb. 1:8; 5:6; 7:24; 13:8; 1 Pe. 5:11; 2 Pe. 3:18; Jude 1:25; Re. 1:6, 18; 4:9, 10; 5:14; 7:12; 10:6; 15:7). The eternal aions also refer to the Word of God. In 1 Pe. 1:23, 25, we are told that the Word of God “liveth and abideth for ever” and “endureth for ever.” This is eis aion, or into the ages. The eternal torment of the unsaved is said to be eis aion aion (Re. 14:11; 20:10), a most fearful concept. In the following verses, aion seems to have the dual meaning of world (physical) and of age (Ac. 15:18; 1 Co. 2:7-8; 3:18; Eph. 4:4; Ga. 1:4; Eph. 1:21; 3:9; 1 Ti. 6:17; 2 Ti. 4:12; Tit. 2:12). The ultimate goal of the aions is described in Ephesians 1:10, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” The word “time” here is the same concept as “age.” Note in Ephesians 1:10 that there are “times,” plural. There are past aions (Col. 1:26), the present aion, and aions to come (Eph. 1:21; 2:7; Heb. 6:5). In Eph. 3:21, “world without end” is aion aion. In brief, aion refers both to the physical universe and to the time universe. Aion refers to worlds of matter and to the worlds of time. The physical universe is the realm or sphere in which God’s plan for the aions take places. The present heaven and earth is the sphere of the past and present ages, while the new heaven and new earth will be the sphere of the ages to come. Christ is King of the aions.
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:11-14).
A BOOK DOCUMENTING RAMPANT HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE VATICAN (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Bombshell book alleges,” CBSNews, Feb. 15, 2019: “A gay French writer has lifted the lid on what he calls one of the world’s largest gay communities, the Vatican, estimating that most of its prelates are homosexually inclined and attributing much of the current crisis in the Catholic Church to an internal struggle. In the explosive book, In the Closet of the Vatican, author Frederic Martel describes a gay subculture at the Vatican and calls out the hypocrisy of Catholic bishops and cardinals who in public denounce homosexuality but in private lead double lives. Aside from the subject matter, the book is astonishing for the access Martel had to the inner sanctum of the Holy See. Martel writes that he spent four years researching it in 30 countries, including weeks at a time living inside the Vatican walls. He says the doors were opened by a key Vatican gatekeeper and friend of Pope Francis who was the subject of the pontiff’s famous remark about gay priests, ‘Who am I to judge?’ ... Martel says he conducted nearly 1,500 in-person interviews with 41 cardinals, 52 bishops or monsignors, and 45 Vatican and foreign ambassadors, many of whom are quoted at length and in on-the-record interviews that he says were recorded. Martel said he was assisted by 80 researchers, translators, fixers and local journalists, as well as a team of 15 lawyers. The 555-page book is being published simultaneously in eight languages in 20 countries, many bearing the title ‘Sodom.’”
TRUMP THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT TO PROMOTE LGBT PRIDE MONTH (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Trump Becomes First,” Christian Headlines, June 5, 2019: “President Trump ruffled feathers on both sides of the political aisle when he tweeted his support for LGBT Pride Month. On Friday afternoon, the president tweeted, ‘As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. My administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!’ ... President Trump pledged on the campaign trail to focus on LGBT issues, showing himself to be the most friendly towards LGBT issues of any of the Republican candidates. In February, he appointed Ric Grenell, the US Ambassador to Germany, to lead the Administration’s efforts to encourage other countries to decriminalize homosexuality. ... American Family Association President Tim Wildmon said, ‘Homosexuality is not something the president should celebrate. It’s unnatural, unhealthy and immoral behavior. We hope he will continue to stand firm against the so-called Equality Act (H.R. 5) and any legislation that threatens religious freedom. Such legislation will use the full force of the federal government to punish Americans who don’t embrace the LGBT political agenda.’”
CHINA’S SOCIAL CREDIT SYSTEM BANNED 13 MILLION PEOPLE; VENEZUELA TO USE IT TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO FOOD AND MEDICINE (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “China: Social Credit System,” Breitbart, May 14, 2019: “China’s state-run newspaper Global Times revealed in a column defending the nation’s authoritarian ‘social credit system’ Monday that the communist regime had blacklisted 13.49 million Chinese citizens for being ‘untrustworthy.’ The article did not specify what these individuals did to find themselves on the list, though the regime has revealed the system assigns a numerical score to every Chinese citizen based on how much the Communist Party approves of his or her behavior. Anything from jaywalking and walking a dog without a leash to criticizing the government on the internet to more serious, violent, and corrupt crimes can hurt a person’s score. The consequences of a low credit score vary, but most commonly appear to be travel restrictions at the moment. China is set to complete the implementation of the system in the country in 2020. As the date approaches, the government’s propaganda arms have escalated its promotion as necessary to live in a civilized society. ... ‘As of March, 13.49 million individuals have been classified as untrustworthy and rejected access to 20.47 million plane tickets and 5.71 million high-speed train tickets for being dishonest,’ the Global Times reported, citing the government’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Among the new examples the newspaper highlights as dishonest behavior are failing to pay municipal parking fees, ‘eating on the train,’ and changing jobs with ‘malicious intent.’ ... In addition to limited access to travel, another punishment the Chinese government rolled out in March was the use of an embarrassing ringtone to alert individuals of a low-credit person in their midst. The ringtone would tell those around a person with low credit to be ‘careful in their business dealings’ with them. In the system, all public behavior, the Global Times explained Monday, will be divided into ‘administrative affairs, commercial activities, social behavior, and the judicial system’ once the system is complete. No action will be too small to impact the score. ... Using the nominally private corporation ZTE, China sold a version of its credit system to socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. The system would reportedly work through the already established ‘Fatherland Card, a ration card used to distribute food and medicine to Maduro’s supporters. Anyone who indicated opposition to the regime put their food supply at risk. With ZTE technology, the ‘Fatherland Card’ can track the purchases and real-time locations of any Venezuelan.”
DRAMATIC DROP IN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN THE U.S. (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Poll: Church Membership Dropped,” Brown’s Newsletter, April 2019: “Church membership has plummeted in the last two decades by nearly twenty percent. Across the United States, now, only fifty percent of U.S. adults belong to a church and or a religious institution. Further, demographically, the drop was recorded highest among Democrats and Hispanics. Throughout the twentieth century, church and/or religious membership hovered around seventy percent, with the last recording of such in 1999. Meanwhile, the number of persons with no religious affiliation jumped from eight percent to nineteen percent. The new Gallup findings underscore [a] generational dynamic. Among Americans 65 and older, church membership in 2016-2018 averaged 64% percent, compared to 41% among those aged 18-29.”
CHRIST IS KING OF AIONS (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Ti. 1:17). The context is Christ. Christ is mentioned in verses 12, 14, 15, and 16. Therefore, verse 17 is a doxology of Christ. It is a doxology of God with the focus on Christ. The word “eternal” is the Greek aion, which refers to ages both of space and of time. The world system, the universe, was made as the sphere for the working out of God’s eternal purposes. Christ created the aions (Heb. 1:2), and He sits as King over them (1 Ti. 1:17). Aion is often translated “world,” but it is also translated “age” (Eph. 2:7; Col. 1:26) and “forever” (most often referring to God and Christ) (Joh. 12:34; 14:16; Ro. 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Co. 11:31; Ga. 1:5; Php. 4:20; 1 Ti. 1:17; 2 Ti. 4:18; Heb. 1:8; 5:6; 7:24; 13:8; 1 Pe. 5:11; 2 Pe. 3:18; Jude 1:25; Re. 1:6, 18; 4:9, 10; 5:14; 7:12; 10:6; 15:7). The eternal aions also refer to the Word of God. In 1 Pe. 1:23, 25, we are told that the Word of God “liveth and abideth for ever” and “endureth for ever.” This is eis aion, or into the ages. The eternal torment of the unsaved is said to be eis aion aion (Re. 14:11; 20:10), a most fearful concept. In the following verses, aion seems to have the dual meaning of world (physical) and of age (Ac. 15:18; 1 Co. 2:7-8; 3:18; Eph. 4:4; Ga. 1:4; Eph. 1:21; 3:9; 1 Ti. 6:17; 2 Ti. 4:12; Tit. 2:12). The ultimate goal of the aions is described in Ephesians 1:10, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” The word “time” here is the same concept as “age.” Note in Ephesians 1:10 that there are “times,” plural. There are past aions (Col. 1:26), the present aion, and aions to come (Eph. 1:21; 2:7; Heb. 6:5). In Eph. 3:21, “world without end” is aion aion. In brief, aion refers both to the physical universe and to the time universe. Aion refers to worlds of matter and to the worlds of time. The physical universe is the realm or sphere in which God’s plan for the aions take places. The present heaven and earth is the sphere of the past and present ages, while the new heaven and new earth will be the sphere of the ages to come. Christ is King of the aions.
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:11-14).
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature., publisher of Bible Study Materials and reports for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY (REPORTS AND FRIDAY NEWS) IS NOT DEVOTIONAL. IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Way of Life Literature preaching and publishing ministry is based at Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. A mail stop is maintained in Port Huron, Michigan.
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