Podcasts about gnostics

God is bigger than whatever you're facing in life right now. But not only is He all-powerful, but very loving. In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie teaches on God's deep love for you, faith in the storm, and much more. Notes: Focus verse - 1 John 4 There will be more false prophets and false messiahs in the last days. “Don’t believe every spirit. Test them, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”1 John 4:1 The bible speaks of the spiritual battle we are engaged in. The bible tells us, “To take up the whole armor of God.” Hebrews 13:2 Read 1 John 4:1–3 #1 We are in a spiritual war. Antichrist will be a real person, a world leader; he will deceive the world. John was refuting Gnosticism. Gnostics believed salvation came through “hidden spiritual knowledge,” not Christ. To be a Christian, you must believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and was God among us.He was fully God and fully man and He died on the cross for our sins.He bodily rose again three days later, and He will come again. The purpose of 1 John was so we could know God,and so you could know you have eternal life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,so that you may know you have eternal life.1 John 5:13 (NLT) John uses the word ginosko for 'know'.John is saying, “there is no secret knowledge, you can know this now.” #2 God is bigger and greater than everyone and everything.1 John 4:4 God is greater than Satan, greater than sin, greater than your problem. A. Moses at the Red SeaGod said, “I will fight for you, you need only to be still.”Exodus 14:14 B. David and GoliathGoliath was big, but God was bigger. C. The disciples on the Sea of GalileeJesus was bigger than the storm. #3 If we really know God, we will love others.1 John 4:7–11 #1 God is light.1 John 1:1–2:2 #2 God is love.1 John 2:3–4:21 #3 God is life.1 John 5 Light and love are inseparable, as are truth and grace. Light exposes darkness.Love reaches out to the people in darkness. #4 God’s love is greater than our worst fears.I John 4:18 This is simply having the confidence that you are loved and forgiven by God.He lovingly will guide your life and one day welcome you to heaven. If you are living in fear, especially fear of judgement,you have not yet grasped what it is to be loved by God. Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for you. #5 God will never stop loving you.Romans 8:38–39 Fears change with the passing of time. God has something to say to us at every stage of life. #6 Our love for God is a response to God’s love for us.1 John 4:19 God’s love is what draws us to Him. We’re remembering that love moved in, and fear had to move out. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God is bigger than whatever you're facing in life right now. But not only is He all-powerful, but very loving. In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie teaches on God's deep love for you, faith in the storm, and much more. Notes: Focus verse - 1 John 4 There will be more false prophets and false messiahs in the last days. “Don’t believe every spirit. Test them, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”1 John 4:1 The bible speaks of the spiritual battle we are engaged in. The bible tells us, “To take up the whole armor of God.” Hebrews 13:2 Read 1 John 4:1–3 #1 We are in a spiritual war. Antichrist will be a real person, a world leader; he will deceive the world. John was refuting Gnosticism. Gnostics believed salvation came through “hidden spiritual knowledge,” not Christ. To be a Christian, you must believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and was God among us.He was fully God and fully man and He died on the cross for our sins.He bodily rose again three days later, and He will come again. The purpose of 1 John was so we could know God,and so you could know you have eternal life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,so that you may know you have eternal life.1 John 5:13 (NLT) John uses the word ginosko for 'know'.John is saying, “there is no secret knowledge, you can know this now.” #2 God is bigger and greater than everyone and everything.1 John 4:4 God is greater than Satan, greater than sin, greater than your problem. A. Moses at the Red SeaGod said, “I will fight for you, you need only to be still.”Exodus 14:14 B. David and GoliathGoliath was big, but God was bigger. C. The disciples on the Sea of GalileeJesus was bigger than the storm. #3 If we really know God, we will love others.1 John 4:7–11 #1 God is light.1 John 1:1–2:2 #2 God is love.1 John 2:3–4:21 #3 God is life.1 John 5 Light and love are inseparable, as are truth and grace. Light exposes darkness.Love reaches out to the people in darkness. #4 God’s love is greater than our worst fears.I John 4:18 This is simply having the confidence that you are loved and forgiven by God.He lovingly will guide your life and one day welcome you to heaven. If you are living in fear, especially fear of judgement,you have not yet grasped what it is to be loved by God. Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for you. #5 God will never stop loving you.Romans 8:38–39 Fears change with the passing of time. God has something to say to us at every stage of life. #6 Our love for God is a response to God’s love for us.1 John 4:19 God’s love is what draws us to Him. We’re remembering that love moved in, and fear had to move out. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early centuries of Church history as well as in our day, many cults and false teachings have denied either the full deity or the full humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Groups such as the Arians taught that Jesus was merely God's highest created being, while the Gnostics believed that he was divine and only appeared to be human. What does the Bible teach about the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ? Find out on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29

Professor Michael York rejoins us to discuss the day Wednesday. Sort of. Wednesday is Woden's Day. Odin. But Wednesday is also Miercoles. Mercury. Who is often considered Hermes, who is usually associated with Hermod in the Norse panoply. Or is he? Where does Lucifer come in? Does he? Despite me making this mistake numerous times, it's Venus - not Mercury - that is the "morning star". How about Abraxus? Who? Well, you'll find out.Wednesday spilled into some confusion regarding Saturday, but the answer was recollected post production and is below. Mars became Tyr (Tuesday), Mercury became Odin (Wednesday), Jupiter became Thor (Thursday) and Venus became Frigg (Friday). Saturday came outside the system: The Norse form 'Saturday' means 'hot water day' - which can be translated as 'washing day' or 'washing water day'.It was originally the day that Norsemen took their baths.

In this episode, I talk with the incredible Tobias Churton—renowned scholar of the esoteric and spiritual mysteries—for a mind-opening conversation about his latest book, The Books of Enoch Revealed: The Wicked Watchers, Metatron, and the Fruits of Forbidden Knowledge...Together, we explore the full story of Enoch, the prophet and great-grandfather of Noah, who was said to be taken up into the heavens for direct instruction from the Divine. Tobias unpacks the complex legacy of the Watchers— fallen angels who descended to Earth and unleashed forbidden knowledge that reshaped humanity forever. We also trace the Book of Enoch's journey through time, from its influence in Second Temple Judaism to its esoteric echoes in the Kabbalah and Gnostic traditions.Tobias takes us beyond the surface, bringing clarity to misunderstood prophecies and shedding new light on the apocalyptic visions that have captured imaginations for millennia. We talk about how Enoch's story lived on in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, survived through the Dead Sea Scrolls, and birthed fascinating offshoots like 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch—texts filled with cosmic revelations and hidden wisdom... Get ready to step into the revelations and mysteries of Enoch... Drop In!www.tobiaschurton.comTobias Churton Bio:Tobias Churton is Britain's leading scholar of Western Esotericism, a world authority on Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and Rosicrucianism. He is a filmmaker and the founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today. An Honorary Fellow of Exeter University, where he is faculty lecturer in Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, he holds a master's degree in Theology from Brasenose College, Oxford, and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics, as well as several other films on Christian doctrine, mysticism, and magical folklore. The author of many books, including Gnostic Philosophy, The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians, and Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin, he lives in England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Part-2 to my last convo. On the false accusations that some (Christians) must commit to when they run smack-dab against the sturdy brick wall of Holy Scripture! We're being called Gnostics, Manichean , Anti-Trinitarian, Nestorian, and Aaryan, etc. Oh my-my-my!Thanks for listening!www.divinenature.net

Many Protestants see relics as idolatrous—but are they? We explore the biblical and historical support for relics in Catholicism, and also answer questions on praying to saints, Marian apparitions, and what makes Good Friday “good.” Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 04:54 – How do we support the use of relics when Protestants see it as idolatry?  14:01 – I'm in OCIA. How are Catholics different from Gnostics and Protestants?  21:29 – The bible tells us not to seek mediums or speak to the deceased. How is it then you can speak to the saints?  34:53 – My protestant sister asked me, why do they call it Good Friday if that was the day Jesus suffered and died? Who gave it that name?  42:03 – Why do Catholics take John 6 literally but John 6:58 sounds more metaphorical?  48:39 – How do we know that Marian apparitions are not taking away attention from Jesus? How do we get the title of Queen of Heaven for her? 

Audio Download Questions Covered: 04:54 – How do we support the use of relics when Protestants see it as idolatry?  14:01 – I'm in OCIA. How are Catholics different from Gnostics and Protestants?  21:29 – The bible tells us not to seek mediums or speak to the deceased. How is it then you can speak […]

Open forum debate for the topics listed, as well as as these: Calling all LIBERTARIANS, Feminists, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Muslims, Atheists, SNEAKO/TATE fans, Dispensationalists, Hebrew Roots, Gnostics, Mormons, Black "Hebrew" "Israelites" - Open debate that ALSO includes GEOPOLITICAL TOPICS - the INTEL Agencies and their relationship to the Churches and CULTS and religions in general! call in here https://x.com/Jay_D007/status/1905698429881508205 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Send Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Get started with Bitcoin here: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/jaydyer/ The New Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY44LIFE for 44% off now https://choq.com Lore coffee is here: https://www.patristicfaith.com/coffee/ Orders for the Red Book are here: https://jaysanalysis.com/product/the-red-book-essays-on-theology-philosophy-new-jay-dyer-book/ Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Follow me on R0kfin here: https://rokfin.com/jaydyer Music by Amid the Ruins 1453Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Open forum debate for the topics listed, as well as as these: Calling all LIBERTARIANS, Feminists, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Muslims, Atheists, SNEAKO/TATE fans, Dispensationalists, Hebrew Roots, Gnostics, Mormons, Black "Hebrew" "Israelites" - Open debate that ALSO includes GEOPOLITICAL TOPICS - the INTEL Agencies and their relationship to the Churches and CULTS and religions in general! call in here https://x.com/Jay_D007/status/1905698429881508205 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Send Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Get started with Bitcoin here: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/jaydyer/ The New Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY44LIFE for 44% off now https://choq.com Lore coffee is here: https://www.patristicfaith.com/coffee/ Orders for the Red Book are here: https://jaysanalysis.com/product/the-red-book-essays-on-theology-philosophy-new-jay-dyer-book/ Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Follow me on R0kfin here: https://rokfin.com/jaydyer Music by Amid the Ruins 1453Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Open forum debate for the topics listed, as well as as these: Calling all LIBERTARIANS, Feminists, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Muslims, Atheists, SNEAKO/TATE fans, Dispensationalists, Hebrew Roots, Gnostics, Mormons, Black "Hebrew" "Israelites" - Open debate that ALSO includes GEOPOLITICAL TOPICS - the INTEL Agencies and their relationship to the Churches and CULTS and religions in general! Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Send Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Get started with Bitcoin here: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/jaydyer/ The New Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY44LIFE for 44% off now https://choq.com Lore coffee is here: https://www.patristicfaith.com/coffee/ Orders for the Red Book are here: https://jaysanalysis.com/product/the-red-book-essays-on-theology-philosophy-new-jay-dyer-book/ Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Follow me on R0kfin here: https://rokfin.com/jaydyer Music by Amid the Ruins 1453 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/joinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Enter the Gnostics, 1st-2nd centuries. And they are with us still. Also a look at Gnostic heresy Docetism.

Open forum debate for the topics listed, as well as as these: Calling all LIBERTARIANS, Feminists, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Muslims, Atheists, SNEAKO/TATE fans, Dispensationalists, Hebrew Roots, Gnostics, Mormons, Black "Hebrew" "Israelites" - Open debate that ALSO includes GEOPOLITICAL TOPICS - the INTEL Agencies and their relationship to the Churches and CULTS and religions in general! Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/join Send Superchats at any time here: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tip Get started with Bitcoin here: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/jaydyer/ The New Philosophy Course is here: https://marketplace.autonomyagora.com/philosophy101 Set up recurring Choq subscription with the discount code JAY44LIFE for 44% off now https://choq.com Lore coffee is here: https://www.patristicfaith.com/coffee/ Orders for the Red Book are here: https://jaysanalysis.com/product/the-red-book-essays-on-theology-philosophy-new-jay-dyer-book/ Subscribe to my site here: https://jaysanalysis.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ Follow me on R0kfin here: https://rokfin.com/jaydyer Music by Amid the Ruins 1453 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt7Iy8GlmdPwy_Tzyx93bA/joinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jay-sanalysis--1423846/support.

Title: Church Leaders: Priority #1 Text: Acts 20:7-12 FCF: We often struggle listening and obeying church leadership. Prop: Because obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, we must consider it our highest priority by listening to and obeying our leaders' spiritual instruction. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 7. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Some have noted that last week's message was somewhat surprising. In reading what amounts to essentially an itinerary, perhaps you too did not think that there would be much to learn from such a text. Nevertheless, we see Paul's consistent desire to exhort, encourage, and teach the scriptures to believers all around the Aegean Sea. In what is quickly becoming Luke's emphasis, we will notice yet again the character of Paul in this text this morning. I dare say that as many were surprised by last week's message hidden in a seemingly empty 6 verses, many will be equally surprised by this week's message. Because many a believer has no doubt entered this text and been led to believe that Luke's primary point is the miracle of raising a young boy back to life. However… would it shock you to hear that the death and resurrection of this young boy is actually just an interruption in what is the main point of this passage? Don't believe me? Let's look. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most loving and gracious Father. You have sent Your Son to purchase us from the domain of darkness. You have sent Your Spirit to dwell in us and make us new. And to guide us in Your ways you have raised up for us godly church leaders whose primary objective is to do all that is in their power to ensure our spiritual success. Father, I pray that you might send your Spirit among us today to reveal to us the blessing of Your Dear Son's Undershepherds and their purpose which has been ordained by Christ Himself. May Your people grow in their attentiveness, submission, and love for spiritual instruction. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: Let us get right to the text this morning… there is much to cover. I.) Obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, so we must be attentive and submissive to spiritual instruction. (7-9) a. [Slide 2] 7 - And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, i. From some of the earliest writings we have of church fathers that are not the writings of the apostles, we understand that the early church met together on the first day of the week to worship God together. ii. They called it the Lord's Day. iii. On the first day of the week in creation God created the heavens and the earth. His Spirit moved upon the formless waters and brought order out of chaos. He created light and separated the light from the darkness. On the first day of the week our Savior rose from the dead and brought spiritual light to His people separating them from spiritual darkness forever, bringing them the dawn of new creation. iv. While there are many Christians who believe that the Lord's Day is the equivalent of the Christian Sabbath, there is actually very good reasons to conclude that this is, in fact, not the case. v. At some point in the near future, I plan to do a deeper dive into this matter. The title of that study will be, “Should we celebrate a Christian Sabbath on Sunday?” We'll discuss the arguments posited by both sides and see if we can't find an answer together. vi. Until then, it is important to understand that the church at this time both obyed the Sabbath on Saturday, if they were Jewish, and also gathered together on Sunday as the church, Jew or Gentile. vii. Luke points out here that gathering together to celebrate the Lord's Supper, sharing a fuller meal together, worshipping God and hearing preaching of the Word on Sunday – was all normal and common practice in the church since its beginning. b. [Slide 3] Paul began speaking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. i. Luke and Paul spent a week in Philippi celebrating the feast of unleavened bread, they traveled for 5 days to Troas and then stayed in Troas 7 days. ii. This is the seventh day of their stay in the city of Troas and Paul and Luke intend to leave the next day. iii. Paul is trying to make it to Jerusalem for Pentecost. Pentecost is on the 50th day after Passover. So, if we are tracking, we are about 14 days into that 50. iv. Given what could happen during travel, Paul and his companions are eager to press on – but not so much so that they abandon believers seeking discipleship. v. We see Paul staying up to midnight preaching a message of exhortation from the word of God to the brothers and sisters there in Troas. vi. Although church services would no doubt be held after sunset to accommodate lower class workers, it is certainly not a normal thing for services to have gone on this long. We can infer that from Luke telling us that Paul prolonged his message until midnight. vii. Paul wishes to leave them with as much teaching as possible. viii. The word for speaking here is often used of dialectic teaching where there are questions and answers. It would have been structured and ordered – but there would have been opportunities for discussion as well. ix. Because of this we can reasonably assume that the vast majority of the believers here at Troas were interacting with Paul and Paul was not droning on and on to a group of people who were bord out of their skulls. x. Inferring these details from what Luke has told us, helps us to see this narrative episode for what it is because so often people see it for what it isn't. xi. More on that as we go forward. c. [Slide 4] 8 - Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. i. I literally laughed out loud after the fourth or fifth time reading this passage through. ii. It suddenly occurred to me the potential comedy associated with this little verse. iii. Luke seems to imply that everything upstairs was well lit with many lamps. It wasn't dark. Paul was preaching, so it wasn't quiet. iv. In other words, Eutychus didn't have a lot of great excuses to fall asleep. v. Now as I turned to commentators and scholars to confirm that this is what Luke is saying, I was shocked to see how many different opinions there are on the significance of this little verse. 1. Some, but very few, saw it the way I did where these lights were meant to exonerate Paul and the church in Eutychus' falling asleep. a. There were actually punishments associated with young people falling asleep in the synagogue at that time. b. You could actually be expelled from the Synagogue for 30 days if you were a youth that fell asleep during the teaching of the Word of God. c. Therefore, Luke may be hinting that Eutychus has some of this blame as Paul and the church did not make it easy to fall asleep since it was loud and well-lit. 2. Some conclude that Luke is implying that the upper room was very warm with so many lit lamps. a. Thus, it was very conducive for sleep… in other words the opposite reading of what I saw. b. But, if it were too warm, wouldn't Eutychus have stood a better chance at staying awake at the window? 3. Other commentators, knowing that they were no doubt oil lamps, suggest that the oxygen in the room would have been in low supply. a. Again, indicating that it was conducive to sleep. b. But Eutychus being at the window has the best chance of breathing easy. 4. Still others suggest that this comment of many lamps is intended to suggest that the room was quite full of people, who have brought their torches with them. a. The strength of this interpretation seems to be in keeping with Luke's emphasis. b. Luke is emphasizing Paul and his conduct as a good church leader and with many people there and only 1 falling asleep, again Eutychus is to blame for falling asleep. 5. And even others suggest that the many lights indicate that the Christians were not hiding or meeting in secret. a. Again, a valid interpretation. b. However, if this is Luke's point, it seems to be well hidden since there is no indication of persecution by the authorities in the city of Troas. vi. When we come down to it, we must understand verse 8 in the context of the whole. The miracle, as we will see, and Eutychus' part in all this, is very… VERY small. vii. Luke is telling this story to further authenticate Paul as a servant of God like previous servants you may have seen in the scriptures including both Peter and even Jesus Himself. viii. Therefore, I conclude that this comment about the lights has to be related to exonerating Paul from any blame associated with this accident. d. [Slide 5] 9 - And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the windowsill, sinking into a deep sleep. i. Nevertheless, despite there being many lamps and despite Paul speaking with power and authority, and despite all these folks gathered and discussing the scriptures together, this young man named Eutychus, was sinking into a deep sleep. ii. Now to be fair, it is midnight. Assuming he woke that day at sunrise, and assuming that he spent all day working as a slave boy, which the word “boy” in verse 12 could also be interpreted to mean, and assuming the evening had been full of celebration with the church, feasting, many songs, and long sermons… we can see why Eutychus might have been a little sleepy. iii. And perhaps he sought the window because it WAS getting stuffy in the house and Eutychus sought the cool breeze off the Aegean to keep himself awake? We can assume noble intentions. iv. In any case, Eutychus fights a losing battle with his weak humanity. v. He does not take enough necessary steps to stay awake. e. [Slide 6] And as Paul kept on talking, he sunk into that sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. i. Paul continues to preach because the message is not finished. ii. We even get the impression that most of the church gathered there in the upper room were attentively listening and even participating in discussion. iii. Indeed, Paul seems to be the one making a great sacrifice here. Despite having to leave in the morning, he continues to preach. iv. Nevertheless, Eutychus succumbed to his human need for sleep and fell out of the third story window. v. The expression, picked up dead, is an idiom suggesting that he was dead when he hit the ground. Most likely a broken neck. vi. There is absolutely no reason to believe anything different in this text other than that Eutychus was dead. Not unconscious or appearing dead. Luke is a physician remember. He would certainly be able, with relative precision, to determine if the boy was merely unconscious or dead. vii. Luke says he is dead. f. [Slide 7] Summary of the Point: Since, as we've said, Luke's emphasis seems to be less on Eutychus and the miracle and more on Paul and his excellence as a spokesperson of God in a long line of prophets all the way back to the Old Testament, it is important to see that the message of this text is primarily rooted in a truth about obedient and godly church leadership. Paul is not an Elder of a church, although he is certainly qualified to be one. He is a missionary and an apostle. A Preacher, an Evangelist. His role encompasses various roles we still have even now in the church. Meaning Paul is able to provide an example for us for all church leaders. And we see very clearly in this text, the priority that Paul puts on the spiritual growth of the church. Even though he must leave the very next day, he meets, into the late hours of the night, with these believers in Troas, ministering to them and growing them in spiritual instruction. He lingers with them, at the expense of himself. We see prophets, priests, kings, other apostles, and even Jesus Himself doing similar things. Paul then is a model for us of what Godly and obedient church leaders value most. What they prioritize most in their ministries. And it is, quite simply, the spiritual growth of the church. So, what ought to be the response of the church to such a church leader? We ought to listen attentively and submissively to our spiritual leadership. Yes, Eutychus provides for us a negative example. Even though we can excuse him for being tired – the bottom line is that to a certain degree, he allowed himself to fall asleep. Much like Jesus rebuked his disciples for sleeping while he prayed in Gethsemane, so also, we must see Eutychus' example as a rebuke to us, and recognize that we cannot passively grow in spiritual maturity. We cannot grow closer to Christ by osmosis. Instead, we must actively listen and obey instruction from the Word of God. Transition: [Slide 8(blank)] Well, we already know what happens to Eutychus. In fact, the story is so well known that there isn't a lot of suspense here on what will happen next. But after Eutychus is raised… it might be a shock to you what happens then. Let's get into it. II.) Obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, so we must also greatly appreciate spiritual instruction. a. [Slide 9] 10 - But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” i. Paul, pauses his sermon for the immediate physical need of the young boy Eutychus. ii. He goes down to the street and falls upon the boy. iii. In a scene which is reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha laying upon someone in order to raise them from the dead, Paul embraces the young man and pulls him close. iv. Luke does not tell us that Paul prayed for him. He does not tell us that Paul commanded him to live again. v. Given the fact that he was dead when he hit the ground, one thing we can be sure – it was the power of God, not Paul, that raised Eutychus from the dead. vi. When Paul recognizes that life has returned to him, he assures everyone that there is no reason to be worried or troubled. The boy is alive. vii. So, what now? The boy is raised? Probably time to dismiss everyone and go home right? b. [Slide 10] 11 - And when he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. i. In what could certainly be seen as rather unkind or lacking compassion, Paul returns inside and fellowships and speaks with the church until daybreak. ii. Some may suggest that after such a terrible tragedy being averted only by a miracle from God, perhaps that was a good time to call it a night and return home. iii. Instead, Paul continues to fellowship with the church and even speak further with them concerning the things of the Lord. iv. Probably Luke intends The Lord's Supper here when he mentions breaking bread. v. He stays until the sun rises. vi. This is a true expression of Paul's priorities. vii. Certainly, he did not ignore the physical world, as if it did not matter or was evil – like the Gnostics would later conclude. viii. Instead, he had compassion on the boy who had died, but when he was alive again, he returned to spiritual matters and matters of fellowship with the body of Christ – for these were of utmost priority to Paul before he left them for Jerusalem. ix. Perhaps because he assumed he would never return. c. [Slide 11] 12 - And they took away the boy alive, and were not a little comforted. i. And just in case there was any doubt as to the boy's condition as the night went on – he went away alive with his family. ii. He did not swoon back as if he hung on the balance between life and death. iii. Instead, he was dead, and was now alive. iv. His family left the church assembly after daybreak greatly comforted because he was as he came. Alive and well. d. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Luke again emphasizes the priority that church leadership must give to spiritual growth. Just because something is the highest priority doesn't mean other things aren't important. Paul was obviously not done instructing the congregation in Troas. But he interrupted all that he was saying to go and minister to the young man. However, once he was raised back to life, Paul went right back to breaking bread and teaching the believers again. No doubt even using the vivid death to life illustration to teach on Christ through the Lord's Supper and further explain the nature of Christianity to them. It is very clear that Paul's top priority, even in the midst of someone dying during one of his sermons, was to ensure the spiritual growth of God's children. What do we see as the response? Paul's continued ministry of the Word is met by people who have reordered their life to appreciate the instruction. Even the newly raised Eutychus stays until Paul is finished. If the church leadership is prioritizing spiritual growth, that should also be the priority of the church as well. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 13] Every episode in the book of Acts exposes the work of God to spread the gospel and the kingdom of Christ to the uttermost parts of the earth through His apostles. And in this particular context, we see the priority of those God is using to do this. The priority of church leaders, even missionaries like Paul, is to focus on the spiritual growth of the church. Paul needs to leave on Monday, but the Christians of Troas need his instruction. So, Paul stays up with them until daybreak to instruct them in the Word. Even when he is interrupted by a young man falling from a window and dying, Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raises the young man back to life and then continues ministering to the spiritual growth of the believers in Troas… including the young man who had just been raised. This is a pattern for us describing what every obedient and godly church leader ought to prioritize above everything else. Namely, the spiritual growth of the children of God to be mature and Christlike people. In this little story we see two responses to the priority Paul places on spiritual growth. The first is a negative example of Eutychus. He did not remain attentive or submissive to the spiritual instruction of Paul. Second, we see that after he was raised, Eutychus stayed, proving that his priorities had reoriented around the importance of spiritual instruction. So we too much put spiritual instruction as our primary objective by attentively listening and obeying it. But let me apply this more directly to us today. Let me give you some rather toe crunching applications this morning. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that church leaders are required by God to focus on the spiritual growth of those in their charge. a. Though a miracle occurs in this text, it is very obviously an interruption in what is the priority for Paul. b. Paul sacrificially gives of himself to teach and preach to hungry believers in Troas. He has to depart the very next day, but stays up with them until midnight discussing the things of the Lord. c. They are interrupted by this tragedy, but the moment it is resolved, Paul goes right back to preaching and fellowshipping with the church there. d. The heart of Paul shows a clear priority on the spiritual instruction and growth of God's people. e. If we go back, we see this same heart found in the prophets and godly kings of Israel. We see this same heart in Jesus as he corrects Martha for working while spiritual instruction was occurring. f. No matter what your preconceived ideas of what a Pastor or Elder should be… you must come to grips with the reality that our primary role… the one for which we will stand before God to be judged… is whether or not we focused on the spiritual instruction and growth of God's people. g. Knowing this, it may require you to discard some expectations you may have of your Elders. h. Our culture expects pastors to be all kinds of things that would cause us to sacrifice spiritual instruction as our primary objective. i. Many were raised expecting their pastor to make house visits, hospital visits, go do to door evangelizing, conduct weddings, perform funerals, call on everyone in the church just to check in with them, come to people's houses and mow their lawns, fix their plumbing, and a whole host of other expectations that could require an Elder to sacrifice the one priority that the Lord has placed on his shoulders. j. Now, can an Elder do these things? Should an Elder do these things? Certainly. k. But not at the expense of our primary objective. l. It has been almost a decade, so I feel as though I can speak of it plainly without seeming like I am airing dirty laundry. m. But before I became the pastor here, I was an associate pastor of another church for about 6 years. n. About a year before I was fired, the lead pastor met with me and told me that he did not think that I was called to be a pastor. He explained that I did not seem to have a heart of compassion for others as a pastor should and suggested I become a professor at a seminary since I spent most of my time preparing to teach the scriptures. o. My friends, this pastor was deceived. He was duped to believe that compassion for others, specifically in acts of kindness, should be the primary focus of a pastor. p. And he believed it so much that he was convinced that something was wrong with me for prioritizing teaching God's people His Word. q. I bear no ill will toward him, because the Lord's hand of providence clearly led me to this church, and in June I'll have been your pastor for 9 years. r. But one of the things I have appreciated the most about you as a church family, is that you have allowed me to put your spiritual instruction as my highest priority. s. I must confess that I often feel a longing in my heart to call each of you to check in. I feel a longing in my heart to visit you when you are ill. And when the Lord allows, I do enjoy visiting or calling you and by the end of our conversations I always feel a desire to make it a more frequent occurrence. t. But among the other Elders or the congregation, I have never felt an expectation to do anything other than devoting most of my time to deep study and diligent instruction of the Word of God. u. And for this – I say, thank you. v. And also, let's keep it that way for all the Elders. w. God's primary objective for every spiritual leader, is to see to the spiritual instruction and growth of those to whom He has entrusted to us. x. But, of course, we can pendulum swing too far, can't we? 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that church leaders should only focus on the spiritual growth of the church. a. We notice in this text that in the middle of a long discussion about spiritual things, Paul is interrupted by such a petty little thing as the death of one of the church members.

Today we're doing a beginner's guide to Gnosticism! Housekeeping covers Isaac's Dark Enlightenment series, Ian Carroll drama and Netflix Temptation Island.  Show starts at 18:00 of Gnostic concepts: Secret Knowledge of Sophia, Creation of the false world, Nag Hammadi, Demiurge false god Abraxas, Opposing Forces, Occult embrace, Silicon Valley Simulation Theory and what we can do about it!You can now sign up for our commercial-free version of the show with a Patreon exclusive bonus show called “Morning Coffee w/ the Weishaupts” at Patreon.com/BreakingSocialNorms  OR subscribe on the Apple Podcasts app to get all the same bonus “Morning Coffee” episodes AD-FREE with early access! (*Patreon is also NOW enabled to connect with Spotify! https://rb.gy/r34zj)Want more?…Index of all previous episodes on free feed: https://breakingsocialnorms.com/2021/03/22/index-of-archived-episodes/Leave a review or rating wherever you listen and we'll see what you've got to say!Follow us on the socials:instagram.com/theweishaupts2/Amazon Affiliate shop (*still under construction) with our favorite hair, skin care and horny books: https://breakingsocialnorms.com/2024/08/24/amazon-shopping-list-josie-and-isaacs-list/Check out Isaac's conspiracy podcasts, merch, etc:AllMyLinks.com/IsaacWOccult Symbolism and Pop Culture (on all podcast platforms or IlluminatiWatcher.com)Isaac Weishaupt's book are all on Amazon and Audible; *author narrated audiobooks*STATEMENT: This show is full of Isaac's and Josie's useless opinions and presented for entertainment purposes. Audio clips used in Fair Use and taken from YouTube videos.

Tobias Churton is Britain's leading scholar of Western Esotericism.  He is a filmmaker and the founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today.  An Honorary Fellow of Exeter University, where he is a faculty lecturer in Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, he holds a master's degree in Theology from Brasenose College, Oxford, and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics, as well as several other films on Christian doctrine, mysticism, and magical folklore.  He is the prolific author of 28 books.   This podcast focuses on his newest release:  The Books of Enoch Revealed: The Wicked Watchers, Metatron, and the Fruits of Forbidden Knowledge (2025). For more information about Tobias, please see:  https://tobiaschurton.com/1_home.html This podcast is available on your favorite podcast feed, or here: Have a blessed weekend!

What we say about Jesus matters because in the end, who Jesus is determines whether we're able to really know God or only know about God. For the Arians and the Gnostics, knowing God was impossible; God was too far beyond us, inaccessible to mere mortals. For our Christian ancestors, knowing God was the very essence of faith, and the key was the direct, personal encounter with Jesus. In Jesus, God Himself entered our reality and sought us out — so, to know Jesus was (and is) to know God.   Readings at this Mass: 1 Sam 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23  |  1 Cor 15:45–49  |  Lk 6:27–38

Join us as we explore the intriguing doctrine of Gnosticism, one of the early church's most significant heresies, and its impact on Christianity today. Discover how Gnostics viewed matter as evil and sought salvation through mystical knowledge, challenging traditional beliefs about the body and spirit. We'll also reflect on contemporary parallels that may exist within modern church practices and culture.Mentioned in this episode: ♟️ Church History Matching Game: https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/product/hero-card-matching-game/ ————————————————

Somewhere along the way, we lost the old way of seeing, the deep sense that a pattern lies beneath all things. Scientific materialists insist we're nothing more than arrangements of dirt, that our griefs and joys are sparks in a gray swirl of neurons. The Gnostics preach the world is a wicked trap, that matter is a cage for the spirit. But both stray from the bedrock truth. When God spoke the world into being, He called it good. Not flawed, not worthless—good. Yet, wandering in the world we see now—hard ground, hungry eyes, a planet bristling with harm—we wonder what went astray.

www.ourtruehistory.co.uk

The Garden welcomes back Professor Richard Spence to do deeper dives into some of the well known historic occult groups. From the Essenes to the Freemasons, we touch on many well known groups or schools of thought, and try to draw throughlines where possible. We also discuss some popular media and a bit of fact checking. Is there a direct connection between the Cathars and Templars? What was the relationship between the Templars and the Assassins? We touch on our old friends, the Gnostics. Is Mary connected to the Cult of Isis? What did Dan Brown do and not do? In this almost 2200 year survey, we hit a lot.Professor Spence is a Professor Emeritus from the University of Idaho. He has authored several books and has presented the lectures for several The Great Courses.

Sometimes on this show, big ten-dollar words show up like apotropaic or etiology or deuterocanonical, where, unless you're pretty well-versed in this stuff, you may not know what we're talking about (ok fine- you may not know what Dan M is talking about). This week we're tackling two ten-dollar concepts in one show, so buckle in and bust out twenty bucks! First, we're diving into Gnosticism. We've glanced off this topic several times, but never stopped to talk about what it is. Who were the Gnostics? Where did they come from? What did they believe? Did they know that that's what we would end up calling them? What's with the spelling? Next we're taking a look at a very important manuscript. Codex Sinaiticus--a Latin name for a Greek book about Hebrew people--is a very important manuscript. But why? Where did it come from? What is it? What makes it so vital? ---- For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma      Follow us on the various social media places: https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma Hey! Don't forget to pre-order Dan McClellan's upcoming book The Bible Says So https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/bible-says-so-9781250347466/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGLTkpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQY4Ahs0Hi289IcnsQMh_0OAVf3oGefyUsWkLjhfB8OF8nio1fmroJbXxA_aem_v_4sISp8Zt43zsKfDjx1aA This episode was sponsored by BetterHelp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cougar lays out the Council of Coburn

In this video, Vanese Mc Neill explores the intriguing idea that plasma could be linked to divine encounters and spiritual experiences. She discusses how ancient texts may describe plasma entities and how these phenomena could bridge the gap between science and spirituality. The conversation delves into Gnostic beliefs, Theurgy, and the potential for ancient Egyptian wisdom to provide insights into human consciousness and knowledge.Featuring Dr Hereward TiltonHis book that discusses these ideashttps://rubedo.press/the-path-of-the-...William Henry Articlehttps://www.williamhenry.net/2025/01/...Chapters00:00 Exploring Plasma and Divine Encounters03:10 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality06:13 Gnosticism and Divine Intermediaries08:53 Theurgy and Higher Consciousness11:45 Kundalini and Ancient Egyptian WisdomTakeawaysPlasma may be linked to divine encounters.Ancient texts describe luminous plasma entities.The burning bush story could represent plasma phenomena.Spiritual experiences might have physical explanations.Aristotle's concept of ether parallels modern plasma.Gnostics believed in a kingdom of light after death.Metatron is seen as a divine intermediary.Theurgy is a practice to connect with higher forces.Kundalini experiences can lead to knowledge access.Ancient Egypt may hold secrets to human consciousness.Own Magical EgyptSend us a textMagical Egypthttps://linktr.ee/magicalegypt.comVanese's Magick Works https://linktr.ee/magickworksOther https://www.facebook.com/vanesemcneillhttp://www.magicalegypt.comhttps://www.patreon.com/magicalegyptGet the latest updates on our link tree https://linktr.ee/magicalegypt.com Connect https://www.facebook.com/vanesemcneill Own Magical Egypt http://www.magicalegypt.com Get Heka https://wow.magicalegyptstore.com/heka Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/magicalegypt

In the first and second centuries, a Christian sect found a wide following throughout the Roman world.  They weren't your normal run-of-the-mill Christians. They had beliefs that were nothing like those of any Christian sect today, and they drew the ire of many Christian leaders at the time.  What we knew about them was limited to the writings of their critics until a stunning find in the mid-20th century shed new light on them. Learn more about Gnosticism and the Gnostics, their beliefs, and the reaction to them on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed MasterClass Get up to 50% off at MASTERCLASS.COM/EVERYWHERE Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! ButcherBox New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive 2 lbs of grass-fed ground beef in every box for the lifetime of their subscription + $20 off your first box when you use code daily at checkout! Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some argue that Gnostic writings should take precedence over the New Testament Gospels. But those writings are the product of the Gnostics attempt to merge Greek philosophy with Christianity. In this message, Pastor Lutzer asserts that the New Testament documents are the best sources about Jesus and His apostles. What historical evidence supports this? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001.

In this episode of In Real Time I want to bring some clarity to the verse 1 John 1:9. This was not directed to the believers in Ephesus, but to the non-believers called Gnostics. This verse is being misused if we, as Christians, are taught to confess sins that are already forgiven.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realtimewithrickfry/support

How would you respond if I told you that, actually, Judas was the only disciple who understood what Jesus was doing on earth? Or that I said that Jesus is unrelated to the God who created the world? Or that the God who created the world is not the same as the one who created humans? From a modern Christian point of view, those are blasphemous statements - some more so than others, yet they are all paraphrasing an early Christian Gnostic text, known as the Gospel of Judas. Join us today on Misquoting Jesus to find out more about this surprising, esoteric gospel, and to learn the secrets of the world according to the Gnostics.

Not too long ago, an ancient document surfaced. Written by Gnostics, the reappearance of the “gospel of Judas,” well-known through “The Da Vinci Code,” has been used to undermine the Christian faith. In this message, Pastor Lutzer debunks two claims in this false gospel. What do we find in this Gnostic document? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. 

With this Astro Gnosis presentation I'm making public, April DeConick dives deep into the enigmatic world of Gnosticism, exploring how the ancient Gnostics viewed the starry realms as a battleground between divine sparks and oppressive cosmic rulers known as Archons. She examines how Gnostic beliefs offered a powerful critique of Roman imperial rule, oppressive religious systems, and the nature of suffering. Let's unravel Gnostic cosmology, their rituals of liberation, and the political implications of their spiritual rebellion. Just in time for the archontic chimera that is the election season!Stream All Astro Gnosis Conferences: https://thegodabovegod.com/replay-sophia/The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasisHomepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyteAB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/aeon-byte-gnostic-radio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Pansophers' Podcast! Today, Rudolf talks with esteemed UK author and academic, Tobias Churton. In a wide-ranging conversation, the men discuss the Search for Self as well as Wisdom in the context of history.  Particular focus is brought to aspects of Freemasonic and Rosicrucian history.  Tobias defines his experience of “Pansophia”- the mind of God, Wisdom, and the interrelatedness of knowledge.  This conversation unfolds through the knowledge that “this life is only a beginning”, the distractions of political ideology and institutional religion; and the Rosicrucian paradox of being not of this  World yet engaged and seed-bearing within it.  We explore a move towards freedom of “Science” as a democratic access to “Knowledge,” and “Art” as “Magic”. Tobias outlines a vision that sees dialogues and colloquium find energy over our monologue-culture, and a move from over-specialization of knowledge into a more dynamic, holistic approach to study.  In passing, he notes the “cosmic” view most experts attribute to their knowledge, yet without the benefit of cross-disciplinary application. Music played in this episode All tracks today are by our guest TOBIAS CHURTON! 1) Mysterious Waltz (Track starts at 6:28) 2) CREATION (Track starts at 55:07) 3) GNOSTICS 2022 (Track starts at 1:42:30) Intro and Outro Musicespecially written and recorded for the Pansophers Podcast by Chris Roberts

As we being the "" series, we explore John 3:16-21, where Jesus is revealed as the light that stepped into darkness. This passage highlights a crucial decision: will we live in the light of Christ, or will we continue to hide in darkness because of sin? We'll discuss how the pursuit of "hidden knowledge" by the Gnostics parallels today's culture, where many seek enlightenment within themselves, but Jesus teaches us that true light and life are found in Him alone. As we walk through these themes, we will confront the ways we may live comfortably in the world's darkness, even while professing faith, and how stepping into the light requires bringing every part of our lives—our struggles, sins, and desires—before God. This message calls us to reject the false promises of self-realization and worldly pleasures to embrace the new life offered by Jesus, the true light of the world.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The apostle John wrote the letter to combat the teaching of the Gnostics, who underplayed the seriousness of sin. He emphasises various themes and contrasts, such as Light/Darkness; Love/Hate and Truth/Lies. He shows that God is Light, God is Love and Truth comes from God's Word. Sin now dominates the World. We need to walk in Christ, seek to live a life of holiness by keeping God's commandments. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. # Summary 1 John 4 emphasizes that God is love, urging believers to love one another and to discern true spirits from false ones, grounding their faith in Christ's love.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The apostle John wrote the letter to combat the teaching of the Gnostics, who underplayed the seriousness of sin. He emphasises various themes and contrasts, such as Light/Darkness; Love/Hate and Truth/Lies. He shows that God is Light, God is Love and Truth comes from God's Word. Sin now dominates the World. We need to walk in Christ, seek to live a life of holiness by keeping God's commandments. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. ### Summary 1 John 5 emphasizes that faith in Jesus as God's Son leads to love, obedience, and overcoming the world through God's grace.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The apostle John wrote the letter to combat the teaching of the Gnostics, who underplayed the seriousness of sin. He emphasises various themes and contrasts, such as Light/Darkness; Love/Hate and Truth/Lies. He shows that God is Light, God is Love and Truth comes from God's Word. Sin now dominates the World. We need to walk in Christ, seek to live a life of holiness by keeping God's commandments. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. # Summary 1 John 3 emphasizes the love of God in making us His children, calling for righteousness, love, and the rejection of sin, reflecting Christ's nature.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The apostle John wrote the letter to combat the teaching of the Gnostics, who underplayed the seriousness of sin. He emphasises various themes and contrasts, such as Light/Darkness; Love/Hate and Truth/Lies. He shows that God is Light, God is Love and Truth comes from God's Word. Sin now dominates the World. We need to walk in Christ, seek to live a life of holiness by keeping God's commandments. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. ### Summary 1 John 2 emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ, keeping His commandments, and living in the light of God's love, warning against worldly desires and false teachings.

A @Christadelphians Video:Description: The apostle John wrote the letter to combat the teaching of the Gnostics, who underplayed the seriousness of sin. He emphasises various themes and contrasts, such as Light/Darkness; Love/Hate and Truth/Lies. He shows that God is Light, God is Love and Truth comes from God's Word. Sin now dominates the World. We need to walk in Christ, seek to live a life of holiness by keeping God's commandments. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.### SummaryJohn's letter emphasizes the importance of true fellowship with God, the necessity of confessing sins, and the call to live in the light, contrasting it with darkness.### Highlights-

Revelation, Session Three Christ the Savior, Anderson SC Fr. Anthony Perkins We also went over: https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/articles/tremors_of_doub Sources: The translation of the Apocalypse is from the Orthodox Study Bible. Lawrence R. Farley, The Apocalypse of St. John: A Revelation of Love and Power, The Orthodox Bible Study Companion (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2011), Bishop Averky, The Epistles and the Apocalypse (Commentary on the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, Volume III. (Holy Trinity Seminary Press, 2018). Andrew of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, ed. David G. Hunter, trans. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, vol. 123, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011). Jack Norman Sparks, The Orthodox Study Bible: Notes (Thomas Nelson, 2008), 1712. Venerable Bede, The Explanation of the Apocalypse, trans. Edward Marshall (Oxford: James Parker and Co., 1878). William C. Weinrich, ed., Revelation, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005). Correction from Last Week Revelation was removed from active use because it was being used to support the Marcionists, not the Gnostics [or Montanism as I said in the class!].  Lord have mercy, my brain is too small! Review of Last Week 1:1-3. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.  Who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.   New Stuff 1:4 - 6.  (4) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, (5) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.  To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (6) and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever.  Amen. (OSB) Orthodox Study Bible Notes 1:4 Church tradition maintains St. John dwelt and was bishop in Ephesus, in an area where the seven churches were located along a major roadway. The number seven signifies fullness, suggesting the entire Church is also in view. The doxology is Trinitarian, involving the Father (vv. 4, 6), the Spirit (v. 4), and the Son (vv. 5, 6). This initial greeting (lit., “the Existing, the Was, and the Coming”) may express the Father, the one who is (Ex 3:14); the Son, who was (Jn 1:1); and the Holy Spirit, who is to come (Acts 2) at Pentecost and shall always be present. Or it may denote the character of the Holy One, who is eternally present and exercises lordship throughout history (see Heb 13:8 – Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow). God reveals the meaning of the present in light of the past and the age to come. This title may be a paraphrase of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH (“I Am”), of Ex 3:14. Seven is the number of fullness or completion. The seven Spirits of God most likely refers to the Holy Spirit and His several gifts, as this phrase is included in the blessing with the Father and the Son. Alternately the term could refer to the seven archangels who, according to Jewish tradition, stand before the throne of God (Tb 12:15; see also 1En 20:1–8; 90:21, 22; TLev 8:2; “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.”). 1:5 Jesus Christ is presented as the Risen Savior, Lord of all (see Zec 12:10), giving hope to the early Christians that the Church will not always be dominated by a cruel state. Instead of washed, many Greek texts read “freed.” The term witness (Gr. martys), used only here and in 3:14 in the entire NT, refers to Christ, the authentic witness of all divine revelation; all that God has revealed is summed up in His life, witness, Passion, Resurrection, and exaltation. He has inaugurated the new age, for He is firstborn from the dead in His humanity and has achieved a universal sovereignty by His death, Resurrection, and revelation of His Kingdom for the world's salvation. 1:6 Those joined to the body of Christ in baptism comprise the messianic royal priesthood promised of old (see Ex 19:5, 6; Is 61:6; 1Pt 2:9; and the Anaphora of the Liturgy of St. Basil). This priestly ministry is to offer the world back to God in a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving—eucharistically—as in the Orthodox Church's Divine Liturgy. The universe itself thus becomes hallowed, transfigured, and sacramental. Amen is Semitic. It signifies ratification: an acknowledgment of something trustworthy. From Fr. Lawrence Farley John sends this message to the seven churches in Asia who were under his pastoral care. By choosing but seven of these churches, John widens the intended audience, for seven is also the number symbolic of perfection. Thus the Revelation is intended not only to the seven churches of Asia, but also for the perfect totality of all God's churches. In calling God Him who is and was and who is coming, John describes God the Father as the One who is sovereign over time and history and therefore over all the historical events that touch us. God sits enthroned as Lord of the present, the past, and the future, and therefore there is nothing in the past, present, or future that can ever hurt us. God is the Lord of time and of all our days. The message not only comes from the hand of God, it also comes from the entire heavenly court. All in heaven offer the Church on earth this word of encouragement and triumph. The seven spirits before His throne are the seven archangels (see 5:6, “the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth,” and 8:2, the “seven angels who stand before God”). (In chapter 20 of the Book of Enoch, these angels are listed as Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Saraqael, Gabriel, and Remiel.) Once again, the number seven is symbolic, an image for all the archangels who stand closest to God's throne and hear His counsel. In saying that this message comes from the seven spirits before His throne, John means that this message comes directly from the Throne itself, with secrets not given to the world at large. Later liturgical usage, in which reference to the Father and the Son was always followed by reference to the Holy Spirit, has misled some interpreters into seeing this reference to the seven spirits as a reference to the Holy Spirit. But when the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, He is referred to simply as “the Spirit” (e.g. 2:7; 14:13; 22:17), always in the singular and never as “seven spirits” or as a “sevenfold” Spirit. These seven spirits stand before God's throne; that is, they are portrayed as waiting upon God as a part of His heavenly court. It is inconceivable that the Divine Spirit, co-eternal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son, could be portrayed as such a servant. Indeed, the other references to the Spirit in the Apocalypse carry the suggestion of His sovereignty and authority. The message also comes from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness (Gr. martus; compare our English “martyr”). Christ bore faithful witness before Pilate to the Truth, even at the cost of His Life (1 Tim. 6:13); John stresses this so that we may imitate His faithfulness. The Lord does not call us to walk in any place where He has not gone before. Jesus is further described as the firstborn of the dead. In using this Jewish concept of the firstborn (in which the firstborn son is the main heir), John shows that Jesus Christ is the heir of the whole age to come; the entire coming Kingdom belongs to Him. His faithfulness unto death resulted in His victory and His inheriting all the world. Our faithfulness unto death will result in our sharing that victory. Death has no terrors for Jesus Christ, and so it need have none for us. Thus Christ is also the ruler of the kings of the earth. Caesar may think he has no superior or master, but Jesus, the humble carpenter crucified under the governor Pontius Pilate, is the true Master of the Roman Empire and indeed of the whole cosmos. The Christians of St. John's day, haunted by a sense of their own powerlessness and humility, were thus made to see their true dignity and power. The Church is described as those whom the Lord loves and therefore continues to protect and care for (the present tense is used to denote Christ's ongoing care), and as those who were loosed from their sins by His Blood. This is an important theme in the Apocalypse. The Cross of Christ was seen by secular Rome as His defeat and proof of how pathetic and deluded the Christians were—that they would worship a crucified man. But for John, the Cross is proof of the power of God that defeats all other powers. The Lord Himself said of the Cross, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). For St. John, our faith in Christ and His Cross also “overcomes the world” (1 John 5:5). Thus the Apocalypse speaks not only of us “making our robes white” in His Blood (7:14) but also of us overcoming Satan “by the Blood of the Lamb” (12:11). The Christians are not to be ashamed of Christ's Cross, for through His Blood they overcome death, Satan, and the whole world. In describing the Christians as a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, John asserts the privileges of the Christians in the face of the pride of Rome. The Roman powers may think the Christians are but poor, uneducated, and powerless, to be utterly disdained. John knows them to be God's own Kingdom, one destined to outlast all the kingdoms of the earth, and to be priests to God Himself, with access to His awe-inspiring Presence. Priests had status and honor in the Roman secular world, and St. John says this is the true status of the Christians before God. Bishop Averky 1:4.  The number seven is usually taken as an expression of fullness.  St John addresses here only the seven churches with which he, as one who lived in Ephesus, was in especially close and frequent contact.  But in these seven he addresses, at the same time, the Christian Church as a whole. Grace to you and peace from the Tri-Hypostatical Divinity.  The phrase ‘which is' signifies the Father, Who said to Moses: I am He that Is (Exod 3:14).  The expression ‘which was' signifies the Word, Who was in the beginning with God (John 1:2).  The phrase ‘which is to come' indicates the Comforter, Who always descends upon the Church's children in holy baptism and in all fullness is to descend in the future age (Acts 2). (St. Andrew of Caeserea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, chapter 1). By these “seven Spirits,” it is most natural to understand the seven chief angels who are spoken of in Tobit 12:15.  St Andrew of Caesarea, however, understands them to be the angels who govern the seven churches.  Other commentaries, on the other hand, understand by by this expression the Holy Spirit Himself, Who manifests Himself in seven chief gifts: the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of might, the spirit of light, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of the Lord or the spirit of piety, and inspiration in the highest degree (compare Isa 11: 1-3; “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;.”) 1:5. The Lord Jesus Christ is called here “the faithful witness” in the sense that He has witnessed His Divinity and the truth of His teaching before men by His death on the Cross. “As Life and Resurrection, He is the first-born from the dead (Col 1:18, I Cor 15:20), and those over whom He rules will not see death, as did those who died and rose before, but will live eternally.  He is ‘prince of kings,' and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15), equal in might to the Father and one in Essence with Him” (St Andrew, chapter 1). 1:5-6.  “Kings and priest” are to be understood here not in the strict meaning, of course, but in the sense in which God has promised this to His chosen people through the prophets (Exod 19:6); that is, He has made us, true believers, to be the best, the holiest people, which is the same thing that a priest and king are with relation to the rest of mankind. Venerable Bede. 4. seven. By these seven churches he writes to every church, for universality is wont to be denoted by the number seven, in that all the time of this age is evolved from seven days. Grace. Grace he desires for us, and peace from God, the eternal Father, and from the sevenfold Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, Who gave testimony to the Father in His Incarnation. He names the Son in the third place, as he was to speak further of Him. He names Him also the last in order, as He is the first and the last; for He had already named Him in the Father by saying, “Who was to come.” 5. the first-begotten. This is the same that the Apostle says, “We have seen Jesus Christ for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour.” And in another place, in setting forth the reproach of the cross, he added, “Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the Name which is above every name.” 6. priests. Because the King of kings and heavenly Priest united us unto His own body by offering Himself for us, there is not one of the saints who has not spiritually the office of priesthood, in that he is a member of the eternal Priest 7. cometh. He Who was concealed, when at the first He came to be judged, will be manifested at the time when He shall come to judge. He mentions this, that the Church which is now oppressed by enemies, but is then to reign with Christ, may be strengthened for the endurance of sufferings. pierced. When they see Him as a Judge with power, in the same form in which they pierced Him as the least of all, they will mourn for themselves with a repentance that is too late. Amen. By interposing an Amen, he confirms that without doubt that will happen, which, by the revelation of God, he knows most surely is to come to pass. Gregory of Caesarea. 1:4. John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from the One who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. Due to the existence of many churches in many places, he sent to only seven, mystically meaning by this number the churches everywhere, also corresponding to the present-day life, in which the seventh period of days is taking place. For this reason also he mentions seven angels and seven churches, to whom he says, Grace to you and peace from the Tri-hypostatic Divinity. For by the who is the Father is signified, who said to Moses, “I am He who is,” and by the who was the Logos, “who was in the beginning with God,” and by the who is to come the Paraclete, who always enlightens the children of the Church through holy Baptism, more completely and more strongly in the future. It is possible to understand the seven spirits as the seven angels who were appointed to govern the churches, not counting them equal to the most divine and royal Trinity, but mentioned along with it as servants, just as the divine Apostle said, “I call upon you in the presence of God and the chosen angels.” By the same token, this may be understood differently: the One who is, and who was, and who is to come, meaning the Father, who contains in himself the beginning, middle, and end of all that exists, and the seven spirits the activities of the Life-giving Spirit, following Christ God, who became man for our sake. For in many places each divine Person is indifferently placed and arranged by the Apostle. For this he says here: 1:5a. And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the one who witnessed to Pontius Pilate, faithful to his words in all things, the firstborn of the dead as life and resurrection, for those whom he governs will no more see death, like those who were dead before and rose, but will live eternally. Ruler of the kings, as “King of kings and Lord of lords,” equal in power with the Father and consubstantial. Elsewhere, ruler of the kings of the earth is also said earthly desires. If, according to the Blessed [15] Gregory, this usage of he who is, who was, and who is to come, the ruler of all refers to Christ, then it is not unreasonable that words similar to those which will be said shortly after refer to him, to which also the ruler of all is attached and without the repetition or introduction of another person. For here the addition of and from Jesus Christ appears to confirm the understanding we have presented. For it would be unnecessary if he were talking about the only Logos of God and the person of the Son to add immediately and from Jesus Christ in order to show him as distinct from the other one, the expressions that befit God equally honor and are appropriate to each of the divine Persons, and are common to the three, except for their distinctive properties, that is to say, the relationships , as said by Gregory the Theologian, and except for the Incarnation of the Logos. also clear from the things from which we learn, that in the Gospel the thrice-holy hymn of the Seraphim16 is said about the Son, in the speech of Paul in the Acts about the Holy Spirit, and then about the Father, in the offering of the awesome mysteries, to whom we are accustomed to say this prayer,19 as the blessed Epiphanios says in his homily On the Holy Spirit. these things to show that our own understanding does not contradict the patristic voices, and also, with God's help, we continue. 1:5b–6. To the One who loved us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us kings and priests to God and his Father. Glory and dominion to him to the ages of ages. Amen. The glory belongs to him, it says, who freed us through love from the bondage of death, and washed the stains of sin through the outpouring of his life-giving blood and water. And he has made us “a royal priesthood” so that we may offer, instead of irrational sacrifices, “rational worship”22 as a living sacrifice to the Father.    

Isaac Rodriguez discovered, to his big surprise, that mainstream astrologers never really look up at the sky. As John Lash explained in an earlier episode, tropical (mainstream) astrology isn't really about the stars. The signs are merely named after star constellations that approximately corresponded with the sectors of the signs a few thousand years ago. Isaac Rodriguez learned about sidereal astrology, the kind that goes by the actual star constellations and takes their apparent movement in the sky into account. With the precession of the equinoxes, the positions of the constellations constantly move – or seem to move, from earth's viewpoint. If sidereal astrology were to replace tropical astrology as it is used today, the painful problem for people who are into this would be that their birth chart would be completely wrong. “I made up a term for this, ‘astrology collapse disorder'”, says Isaac. But the two models seem to work on different levels. A higher and a lower octave, if you will. Or, Isaac claims, in the divine reality (sidereal) and in a false matrix (tropical). “I see it like this: Tropical keeps you human, sidereal makes you celestial.” The tropical model keeps us in what the Hindus call samsara, the karmic cycle. “And if we stick to that, we will probably stay in the loop longer than if we study sidereal, which is the way to break the cycle.” The Church condemned real astrology but then allowed an astrology that is like a broken clock, according to Isaac. “So we're living in a false matrix. Tropical astrology is about the very human issues, my love life, my job, my relations, whereas sidereal astrology is about ‘show me my deepest, darkest shadows, show me all, I need to get out of here'.” Tropical astrology has twelve signs. The thirteenth sign is crucial in understanding how to get the “broken clock” to work again. It is a constellation called Ophiuchus, which means the serpent-bearer. In ancient cultures it was associated with a serpent of some kind, like the plumed serpent in Mesoamerican traditions. And it is located right at the Galactic center, where there is a supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A . The Maya called it Xibalba, the crossing. This point was pivotal also to the Gnostics. This is where they located Pleroma, from where Sophia and Christos came. “Could it be that we have a connection to another world through that point? We have to pay attention to that part of the sky”, says Isaac. He tells about the many pieces of evidence for the importance of this point in the universe that you can find in Egyptian temples. Some groups have carried the truth about our immortality and our divine origin through history, and been persecuted for that. But why don't we all know this? Because we have amnesia. There is probably a purpose for that. We are supposed to learn certain things through the illusion of separation and time. But some people who possess the truth hide it for nefarious purposes, Isaac believes. “The symbolism of the age of Pisces is separation from source. The separated parts are supposed to merge through matter, through the physical. But it has also created the opportunity for manipulation and brainwash.” Isaac's website The documentary Code 12 Isaac's Youtube channel Isaac's Instagram

What is gnosticism? Who were the Gnostics? Who are the Gnostics? Miguel Conner is a seeker, student, and host, among other things. He's also pretty brilliant. I asked mostly the wrong questions but he provided the right answers regardless. What is a Demiurge? What are Archons (besides creatures from Lovecraft)? What is the mythology of the Gnostics? There isn't just one. There's never just one. What is the matrix really? Compare notes with some of our other recent shows across brands and I think we're getting this concept crystalized. As best something where quantum, philosophy and religion intersect can be crystalized. So, come on in and get a 1 hour primer.

Revelation, Session Two Christ the Savior, Anderson SC Fr. Anthony Perkins Sources: The translation of the Apocalypse is from the Orthodox Study Bible. Lawrence R. Farley, The Apocalypse of St. John: A Revelation of Love and Power, The Orthodox Bible Study Companion (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2011), Bishop Averky, The Epistles and the Apocalypse (Commentary on the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, Volume III. (Holy Trinity Seminary Press, 2018). Andrew of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, ed. David G. Hunter, trans. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, vol. 123, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011). Venerable Bede, The Explanation of the Apocalypse, trans. Edward Marshall (Oxford: James Parker and Co., 1878). William C. Weinrich, ed., Revelation, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005). Correction from Last Week Revelation was removed from active use because it was being used to support the Marcionists, not the Gnostics [or Montanism as I said in the class!]. The Orthodox Study Bible; “[I]n the second and third centuries Revelation was widely twisted and sensationally misinterpreted, and the erroneous teachings brought troublesome confusion to Christians – a trend that continues to this day.” Review of Last Week The Church wants us to be aware of the Last Judgement but from WITHIN the sacraments and the “good defense” God gives us through them.  Authorship and Dating of the Work The author was St. John the Theologian St. John's disciple Papias of Hierapolis, St. Justin the Martyr (lived in Ephesus), St. Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna who was a disciple of St. John), St. Hippolytus (disciple of St. Irenaeus), St. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian and Origen were early leaders of the Church who knew and witnessed to this. The work itself (see 1:2; also exile on Patmos). The date of the work is AD 95/96 St. Irenaeus; Against Heresies (5.30.3) Purpose of the Work To show things that must shortly come to pass (1:1). Pastoral protection and encouragement to the early Church against state persecution and (internal) heresy. Apokalypsis means uncovering of something that has been hidden. Style and Interpretation of the Work Apocalyptic Literature.  A “visceral” (Fr. Lawrence) and heavily symbolic genre.  It is meant to be prophetic in every sense of the word. “It is a human work.  But it is also an apostolic work, and as an apostle, John tells the truth, striving to convey to us the substance and power of what the Lord revealed to him for our sake.” (Fr. Lawrence) What are we to make of the diverse interpretations offered by saints? Not to be taken literally in the modern sense; “Thus, for example, a literalistic understanding of the images of this book has given occasion, and even now continues to give occasion, for the false teaching of “Chiliasm” – the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.” (Bishop Averky) Bishop Averky says four main categories of interpretation (and calls for a combination): Visions and symbols of the “last times” (end of the world, the anti-christ, second coming) Description of the historical pagan Roman persecutions against the Church in the first century. Look for realization of the prophecies in recent history. Allegorical and moral meaning. The Orthodox Study Bible: “Faithfulness in tribulation” is the main theme, with subthemes of Divine Judgment of human wickedness and The symbolic presentation of most major New Testament teachings concerning eschatology, the study of the last things. 1:1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. Andrew of Caesarea. “An apocalypse is the manifestation of hidden mysteries when the intellect is illuminated either through divine dreams or according to waking visions from divine enlightenment. To be given to Christ, it says, making this statement about him especially with respect to his human , since in the Gospel he above all others dwelt on the sublime and things that befit God. And here, the magnitude of the divinity of Christ is shown through the attending angel, and through the name of the teaching servants, for “all things are his servants.” The must come to pass soon means that some of the predictions concerning them are to come to pass immediately thereafter and the things regarding the end are not to be delayed, because “one thousand years” to God is “like yesterday's day, which is reckoned as having elapsed.” St. Bede. The revelation of Jesus Christ.  The progress with which the Church that had been founded by the Apostles was to be extended, or the end with which it was to be perfected, had need to be revealed, in order to strengthen the preachers of the faith against the opposition of the world. And John, in his own manner, refers the glory of the Son to the Father, and testifies that Jesus Christ has received from God. shortly. That is, which are to happen to the Church in the present time. signified. He wrapped up this revelation in mystical words, that it might not be manifested to all, and become lightly esteemed. angel. For an angel appeared to John in the form of Christ, as will be seen more clearly in that which follows. John. That through John He might lay open to all His servants the things which he, by the privilege of a peculiar chastity, obtained above all others to behold. Oecumenius: When it is said to him, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,” it is as though he said, “This revelation is given from the Father to the Son, and then from the Son to us,” his servants. By calling the saints the “servants” of Christ, he safeguards what is proper to his deity. For, to whom would men belong, unless to him who is the Maker and Creator of humankind? And who is the Creator of human-kind and of all creation? No one other than the only begotten Word and Son of God! For, the present author says in the Gospel, “All things were made through him.” And why does he wish to add “what must soon take place,” although those events which will take place have not yet occurred, even though a considerable span of time has passed, more than five hundred years, since these words were spoken? Because to the eyes of the eternal and endless God all ages are regarded as nothing, for, as the prophet says, “A thousand years in your sight, O Lord, are as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”3 For this reason, therefore, he added “soon,” not to indicate a measure of time which must pass before the fulfillment of what must happen, but to indicate the power and eternality of God. For to him who is, any passage of time, even should it be great and considerable, is something small when compared with that which is unending   1:2. Who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.   OSB: Testimony of Jesus refers to a witness concerning Jesus; not the testimony of Christ Himself. Andrew of Caesarea.  “Christ,” he says, “declared these things to me through an angel, as a master to a household servant, as I had borne witness to my confession to him,” of which, on the basis of the visions to bear witness and, in view of the return of those who hear, to preach both the things which are and which escape human understanding and the things which will occur in the future, for, prophetically, he had seen them both. And clear from what he says: those things which are and those which must come to pass. These are descriptions both of the present time and of the future. St. Bede; testimony. That thou mayest not doubt of the person of John, he is the same who gave testimony to the eternal Word of God incarnate, according as he saw, saying, “Whose glory we saw, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father.”   1:3.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Andrew of Caesarea.  He blesses those who read and hear through the actions, for the present time is near, through which it is possible to acquire the blessing, and to all the work is laid open. As the Lord says, “Work [13] while it is day.” And elsewhere, the time is near, the time of the distribution of prizes, on account of the brevity of the present life in comparison to the future. St. Bede. Blessed. Teachers and hearers are therefore blessed, because they who keep the Word of God find that a short time of labour is followed by everlasting joys. Averky; “The book of the Apocalypse has, consequently, not only a prophetic but also a moral significance.  The meaning of these words is as follows: blessed is he who, reading this book, will prepare himself by his life and deeds of piety for eternity, for the translation to eternity is near for each of us. Fr. Lawrence.  Seven beatitudes (blessings) are pronounced upon (Fr. Lawrence): 1:3 “the one who reads and the ones who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written in it” 14:13 the martyrs “who die in the Lord from now on” 16:15 “the one who keeps alert,” faithfully awaiting the Lord's Coming 19:9 “those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb” 20:6 the martyrs who have “a part in the first resurrection” 22:7 all who “keep the words of the prophecy of this book” 22:14 all those in the martyric Church, “those who wash their robes, so that they may have their right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”  

Are you part of the neo-Covenantal tradition or the neo-Baptist tradition when it comes to law and politics? Today, David defines these two groups based on 30 years of dealing with Christians in the legal and policy spheres. In this episode, though, he explains why the neo-Covenanters are Gnostics and would have Calvin and Kuyper rolling in their graves.

Are you part of the neo-Covenantal tradition or the neo-Baptist tradition when it comes to law and politics? Today, David defines these two groups based on 30 years of dealing with Christians in the legal and policy spheres. In this episode, though, he explains why the neo-Covenanters are Gnostics and would have Calvin and Kuyper rolling in their graves.Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother Mary: Leader, Healer, and Miracle Worker UncoveredJoin us on an enlightening journey as Marguerite Rigoglioso uncovers the hidden life of one of the world's most holy women, based on her new book, The Secret Life of Mother Mary. We delve into her profound influence as a leader of the early Christian community and a pivotal teacher to Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Discover her extraordinary abilities that facilitated divine miracles, such as the immaculate conception and the resurrection of Jesus. We also explore how a deeper connection with Mother Mary can bring healing, empowerment, and awakening spiritual gifts. Through apocryphal texts and modern revelations, we get a transformative perspective on a person whom the Gnostics considered a teacher of Gnosis.Get the book: https://amzn.to/4cQHNgJMore on Marguerite: https://www.sevensistersmysteryschool.com/The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasisHomepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyteAB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Astro Gnosis (Meet the Archons): https://thegodabovegod.com/meet-archon-replay/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/aeon-byte-gnostic-radio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Interview starts at 32:05 Miguel is back after a few years to update us on his going ons, his upcoming Occult book on Elvis - The Magician, alternative spirituality, the silent generation, parallels to Philip K Dick, David Bowie, the Wetiko, shamanism and drugs, open portals and the engineers that have come to enslave humanity, Yogananda, and the Lord of the Crossroads.   We also touch on Gnostic ideas, simulated reality, Astro Gnosis, the Trojan War, Occultism and shadow work, going inward, there is no saviour, being free from freedom, Democracies vs Monarchies, Gen X and race relations, the lost initiations, the Nag Hamadi   https://thegodabovegod.com/   Become a Lord or Lady with 1k donations over time. And a Noble with any donation. Leave Serfdom behind and help Grimerica stick to 0 ads and sponsors and fully listener supported. Thanks for listening!! Help support the show, because we can't do it without ya.   Support the show directly: http://www.grimerica.ca/support https://www.patreon.com/grimerica  http://www.grimericaoutlawed.ca/support www.Rokfin.com/Grimerica   Outlawed Canadians YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@grimerica/featured Adultbrain Audiobook YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@adultbrainaudiobookpublishing https://grimericaoutlawed.ca/The newer controversial Grimerica Outlawed Grimerica Show Check out our next trip/conference/meetup - Contact at the Cabin www.contactatthecabin.com Our audio book website: www.adultbrain.ca Darren's book www.acanadianshame.ca Grimerica on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2312992 Join the chat / hangout with a bunch of fellow Grimericans Https://t.me.grimerica https://www.guilded.gg/i/EvxJ44rk Get your Magic Mushrooms delivered from: Champignon Magique Buy DMT Canada   Leave a review on iTunes and/or Stitcher: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/grimerica-outlawed http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/grimerica-outlawed Sign up for our newsletter https://grimerica.substack.com/ SPAM Graham = and send him your synchronicities, feedback, strange experiences and psychedelic trip reports!! graham@grimerica.com InstaGRAM https://www.instagram.com/the_grimerica_show_podcast/ Tweet Darren https://twitter.com/Grimerica Can't. Darren is still deleted. Purchase swag, with partial proceeds donated to the show: www.grimerica.ca/swag Send us a postcard or letter http://www.grimerica.ca/contact/ Episode ART - Napolean Duheme's site http://www.lostbreadcomic.com/ MUSIC https://brokeforfree.bandcamp.com/ - Spellbound Felix's Site sirfelix.bandcamp.com - Shakespeare's Sonnets

In the Anurag Sagar, India's most Gnostic scripture, souls are depicted as being held captive inside the Palace of Kal, the lord of time and illusion (called "the Demiurge" by the Gnostics). The Satguru does battle with Kal to free the souls. The genuine Living Teacher, the Sant Satguru, guides his or her students through this internal struggle with the mind or ego (the agent of Kal in the matrix of mind), this labyrinth of self-sabotaging, limited belief-systems of the negative power (Kal Mat: the teachings of Kal), so that the initiates may experience Divine Love, Light and Sound within and follow the Path back to God (Dayal, the Merciful One), the Ocean of Love. Today we explore the following, a outline or playlist of what we're covering during this satsang podcast: mystic poems of Sant Dadu Dayal of Rajasthan: The Results of True Love, and, The Vision of the Beloved; a saying from the Gnostic Gospel of Judas which sounds a bit like a Rumi poem; definitions of the term "Demiurge" from Platonism, Gnostic Christianity, Judaism, and the Sant Tradition of India; definitions of the eastern term for the Demiurge: the Kal Niranjan: a false god, negative power, lord of time and illusion as described in footnotes by Russell Perkins in the English edition of a key Sant Mat spiritual classic, India's most Gnostic scripture: The Anurag Sagar (The Ocean of Love, about the teachings of Kabir and Sant Dharam Das); Kal Mat vs. Dayal Mat, Illusion vs. Truth, by Shiv Dayal Singh, also known as Swami Ji Maharaj of Agra from his collection of mystic verses called the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry; also a description of Swami Ji's meditation room-within-a-room and on how we too can create our own meditation space at home; several mystic terms are defined based on the Glossary of Sant Mat and additional footnotes from, The Anurag Sagar; a satsang discourses by Hazur Baba Sawan Singh titled, What's Really Going On Here -- During This Life the Disciple or Devotee Contends With Mind as They Attempt to Merge into the Positive Power; a satsang discourse by Baba Ram Singh titled, If You Really Resolve To Have A Desire To Go Within And Transform To God Almighty, That Is Possible In This Human Form; and I conclude with mystic poetry verses from: Sant Ramdasa of Maharashtra, Maharshi Mehi Paramhans from his Padavali (Hymn 135); a reading from the Sukhmani of Guru Arjan Dev, also from Guru Ram Das (both from the Adi Granth, Sikh Scriptures). The Gnostic Demiurge vs. The God of Love (KAL Mat vs. Dayal Mat) - Anurag Sagar Studies on Spiritual Awakening Radio In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhasoami (Radhaswami) James Bean Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts Santmat Satsang Podcasts Sant Mat Radhasoami A Satsang Without Walls Spiritual Awakening Radio Website: https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/anurag-sagar  

Ready to go into some cosmic, edgy Gnosis? Some Ophite Gnosticism, Lurianic Mysticism, and more? Jon Winder joins us to discuss the symbolism, mythology, and theology of Sabbatean Kabbalah and serpent-worshipping Gnostics. He'll go beyond these worldviews to how they manifest in modern culture and art. You'll get dynamic, unique research and revelations from movies, video games, secret societies, and more. No one here gets out alive.More on Jon: https://swimpool.blog/The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasisHomepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyteAB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Astro Gnosis (Meet the Archons): https://thegodabovegod.com/meet-archon-replay/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/aeon-byte-gnostic-radio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

His grace is greater than our worst sins in the past and big enough to cover whatever sins we commit tomorrow. We know Him and have a Spirit-bound relationship with Him, again, through faith. And finally, through Christ and all we have in Him, we have the power and authority to resist the devil's most relentless schemes.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Living With Assurance by Jennifer Slattery “I am writing to you, dear children,    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.13 I am writing to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning.I am writing to you, young men,    because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children,    because you know the Father.I write to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning.I write to you, young men,    because you are strong,    and the word of God lives in you,    and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:12-14, NIV). Early in my faith journey, I carried an underlying fear that perhaps I wasn't really saved. This fear intensified when I went through a season of doubt. I worried that the very fact that I was questioning certain tenants of my faith, including the authority of Scripture, meant I didn't truly belong to God and hadn't actually yielded my life to Him. I wonder if you can relate. I have not yet met anyone who has completely yielded to Christ. We all have sinful behaviors that hinder our intimacy with Him, doubts we need Him to replace with truth, and fears that hinder our obedience.  Simply put, we are all in the process of transformation. And if we're not anchored in God's grace, our weaknesses, flaws, and the constant accusations from the devil can cause us to doubt our salvation.  This seems to be a challenge experienced by the people to whom John wrote the above passage. I understand why, considering the influence evil was trying to wield in their community. False teachers had risen among them and were spreading a counterfeit gospel known as Gnosticism. Among other things, these heretics claimed salvation through enlightenment rather than through faith in Christ. This, apparently, caused those who hadn't received some “special knowledge” to doubt their salvation.  John wrote to them to counter this destructive teaching and to assure the first century Christ followers of their eternal security. Notice all the ways he affirmed them. First, he addressed them as “dear children”, an endearment that emphasized their standing in God's family. Contrary to the Gnostics' claims, these men and women weren't outsiders. They were adopted sons and daughters (Romans 8:15), chosen by Christ (Eph. 1:4), and united by His blood. He also told them, clearly, that they'd received forgiveness not because of any exclusive “revelation” but “on account of His name.”  Next, John highlighted their relationship with Christ, stating that they “[knew] Him who is from the beginning.” Throughout this letter, John used two Greek words for “know.” One, eidó, refers to a factual, cognitive knowing, such as that the earth is round or plants grow from seeds. In 1 John 2:13, he used a different word, ginóskó, which refers to an understanding or recognition that comes through personal experience. Therefore, he emphasized that they knew Jesus personally. They hadn't just learned about Him cognitively. They'd developed a relationship with Him.  Notice, also, John told them they'd overcome the evil one, the force driving the false teachers and the believers' doubts and insecurities. The devil didn't want those men and women to gain a sense of eternal security. He wanted them to live in fear. Understand, his tactics don't change. While he doesn't have the power to separate us from God, he can, and does terrorize us to keep us from experiencing the soul-deep peace gifted to us through Jesus's death. When we understand evil's strategy and our authority in Christ, we're able to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).  In verse 14, John told the Christ-followers they knew the Father, using the same phrasing as he did for their relationship with Christ. And he ended this poetic section stating that they were strong, filled with truth, and overcomers. Again, while the devil was harassing them and trying to defeat them, he was and always will be a defeated foe.  Intersecting Life and Faith Here's what I find precious and beautiful. God preserved these words in Scripture so that you and I could live confident in our standing in Christ, secure in our salvation. When we begin to doubt those realities, may we speak the words in 1 John over ourselves, reminding ourselves that, because of our faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross, we are forgiven. His grace is greater than our worst sins in the past and big enough to cover whatever sins we commit tomorrow. We know Him and have a Spirit-bound relationship with Him, again, through faith. And finally, through Christ and all we have in Him, we have the power and authority to resist the devil's most relentless schemes.  As we reflect on those truths, our confidence will increase, as will our peace. Further Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 John 10:1-10 Ephesians 6:10-18 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comErick is a radio host and writer. He was an old-school blogger at RedState, serving as editor-in-chief, and he later became a political contributor for CNN and Fox News. Today he hosts the “Erick Erickson Show” on WSB Radio in Atlanta and runs a popular substack of the same name. He's back on the Dishcast to discuss his new book, You Shall Be as Gods: Pagans, Progressives, and the Rise of the Woke Gnostic Left — though it also criticizes the “gnostic right”.For two clips of our convo — on the post-Christian right, and the anti-Christian Trump — pop over to our YouTube page. Other topics: the drop in churchgoing and the rise of the nones over the past few decades; how Covid broke the church-going habit even further; how plagues reshape societies in other ways; Augustine; how churches are sending missionaries abroad rather than to the US; conspiracy theories; the purported “secret knowledge” of the first Gnostics; how the Bible canon was shaped; Bart Ehrman; Erick in the inerrancy-of-the-Bible camp; his wife's cancer; the issue of cremation; sacraments as physical acts; the Resurrection; how Jesus sought out and loved the abnormal; gnosticism on the political left; transgenderism; Scientism; climate change as apocalyptic; Greta Thunberg; how Reagan and Thatcher addressed the ozone layer; Thatcher being the first to talk climate change at the UN; the comorbidities of many kids seeking transition; the Cass Review; the language police; Michael Anton's “Flight 93 Election”; the border crisis under Biden; his student loan forgiveness; resurgent anti-Semitism on the left and the right; protesting at the homes of politicians; the overreach of the Alvin Bragg case; the queer criticism of gay marriage; why “emotional labor” is the lifeblood of a democracy; the Ten Commandments vs critical queer and gender theory in schools; the blasphemy of crosses on January 6; the MSM's failure to simply explain the opposing side; and how America in the 2020s is becoming a version of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Stephen Fry on his remarkable life, Eric Kaufmann on reversing woke extremism; Anne Applebaum on autocrats, Lionel Shriver on her new novel, Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy on animal cruelty, and Van Jones on race in America. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.