Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash Knock Knock Something dark is coming. It’s knocking at our doors. This death was just the beginning. It’s a hardcore spiritual war. Knock Knock Don’t mean to scare you, but the time is now. God calls you His warrior. Don’t break your vow. When you chose this life, you knew it wouldn’t be easy. Are you ready, child? Knock Knock It’s time to strap up. Tighten your belt and secure your breastplate. Don’t forget the truth you’re fighting for. Slip on your helmet and pick up your sword. Are you ready for God’s love to pour? Peace is at your feet.That alone is no defeat. However, it’s time for more. Don’t let that faith of yours keep hiding in that drawer. Grab your shield and be ready to roar. Knock Knock Go open that door. You’re equipped for war. September 10th, 2025, changed everything. You see, Charlie’s death wasn’t just political — it was spiritual. His death is showing the evil and hatred that is going on in this world, but it’s also showing how many people want to stand up and fight for the truth. Since Wednesday, Christians all over the world have sensed that something is coming. I, too, have felt something similar, and so have people that I personally know. Deep down, I think we all know that something is coming, whether or not you are a believer. I believe it’s a hardcore spiritual war that’s about to hit. Now, spiritual warfare has always existed. If you’re a follower of Christ, you know this. You know that satan will do anything to slow us down or to make us want to walk away from Christ altogether. However, what I am saying is that satan is going to try and use this death to make us, as believers, stay quiet. He wants us to be scared of being persecuted so that we don’t speak up. In fact, there are people in this world right now who want people who are similar to Charlie Kirk (aka devout Christians) to be killed. I don’t mean to scare you, but this is the reality that we chose to face when we decided to follow Christ. “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.” — John 15:19–20 [ESV] Now more than ever, we need to stand bold in faith. We need to put on the armor of God. It’s time to put on the belt of truth, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Spirit, sandals/feet of peace, and the shield of faith. We are entering into a season of spiritual warfare, and now is not the time to just sit on the sidelines. We need to gather as Christians and spend time together in fellowship, prayer, and in God’s word! We need to get out into the streets and show people who God is through love. That means openly talking about who Jesus is. That means offering to pray with strangers who are having a hard time. That means putting aside extra cash if you can for those who need it. That means being willing to have civil conversations with people who have opposing views from you. That means so many different things. God gave every single one of us different spiritual gifts that we can use to help lead people to Christ, so I encourage you — find a way to know what that spiritual gift is so that you can use it! Even if you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, God has empowered you to go and spread the Gospel and stand firm in your faith. None of us wants to be persecuted for what we believe in, but think about all the lost souls out there! Deep down, those lost souls do not understand what they are doing, missing, or what they will be facing on judgment day. Your boldness in your faith and love for Jesus could be the reason why someone turns to Christ. Your boldness could be the last seed that needs to be planted to save them from eternity in hell. And if you’re afraid, that’s okay — that’s what makes us human. But just because we’re afraid of something doesn’t mean we shouldn’t move. Don’t let your fear be the reason that someone doesn’t get to hear the Gospel. Charlie Kirk’s death broke so many hearts. We all can feel that gap. We know we lost a brother in Christ who was a steadfast warrior. However, we must have hope and remember that we will see him again one day! Until then, we need to make God and Charlie proud! We must stand and fight this spiritual war the way Jesus would — through bold faith, love, grace, mercy, and hope! Here are some bible verses for encouragement: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.” — Isaiah 40:28-29 [ESV] “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me — the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 [NLT] © Sierra Loew

ChatGPT First, we need to reestablish something: satan is a created being, not an entity that is outside of God’s creation. He is not equal to God in any way. “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 “For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?” Psalm 89:6 There’s plenty more where that came from. We know satan is cunning, a trickster, an antagonist, and our adversary. Of course, he’s going to want people to think he’s this all-powerful being that is equal to God. Why do you think he stole a description of Jesus for himself and goes around with the word lucifer as a name? You can read about that here. The point is, people give satan wayyyyy too much credit. If he were God’s equal in any way, then how did God throw him out of heaven and the Garden of Eden, then turn around and curse him? Not king of anything. This belief came about due to mythology, ignorance, and people actually wanting this. There are people out there who truly believe he is the king of hell, and when they get there, it’s going to be one giant party. It’s not, in fact, satan doesn’t even want to go to hell in the first place. Have you ever explored Revelation to see what is going to happen to him in the end? It’s not pretty; he knows what's coming to him, and his goal is to take as many of God’s children with him by whatever means necessary. He doesn’t love you, he doesn’t care about you, he wants to corrupt and lead people to hell because he’s throwing the temper tantrum of the millennium. Let’s look at what this “king” has coming his way. “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” Revelation 20:1–3 Well, here we see a few things. First, an angel is actually holding the keys to the Abyss. (not the same as hell, but that’s for a different day) Second, he is seized and tossed in there, and can’t get out until God releases him in a thousand years. Not looking so tough to me. Don’t pick a fight you can’t finish. “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7–10 So now he’s out, at God’s discretion, I might add, and starts a big ole fight and loses. Loses so bad he’s thrown into that lake of fire we call hell, that many think he is the king of, and gets to stay there for eternity. Here’s the key to all of this. “They (the beast and false prophet get the join him) will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Yes, tormented. Not that big ole party some like to believe. And because I can’t resist looking at original languages and not throw them in my articles, we’re going to look at that word “torment” for a moment. basanizó | βασανισθήσονται | they will be tormented. Which means: “To torment, to torture, to vex, to distress” (1) There’s no party, no kingship earned or sustained, nothing. For too long, satan has held a higher position in this world and our minds than he actually deserves. I’m not saying act like he doesn’t cause havoc, but don’t think him equal to God in any way. We have the power to cast demons out, and we also have the power to think of him differently and not give him what he wants, and that is power. © Jane Isley

unsplash.com By Guest Writer: Sienna Krieg Dear Non-Christians, I wanted to write this letter to you because you are loved. And I desperately hope you know that. There is so much hate and tension between us, and I want it gone. It’s tough to come to terms with Christianity, Jesus, and God. It’s tough to come to terms with atheism, agnosticism, and other beliefs. Let’s face it, it’s hard to comprehend beliefs that we are unfamiliar with. And it’s even harder to understand beliefs we strongly disagree with. I’ve been on both sides of the coin, one where I didn’t understand Jesus and the other, entirely devoting my life to Jesus. It’s really funny how life, or to me, God, works. Just when you think you really know something, a new revelation occurs that completely changes your worldview. The truth is, constantly getting humbled is a part of life. I’m writing this letter to acknowledge that not everything I say is correct. I have been aggressive about my standpoints in Christianity, and I apologize for that. I am passionate about Christ, and that will never change. But instead of being aggressive about it, I want to be gentle yet assertive. I know many other Christians struggle with gently talking to non-Christians. Many times, we are so passionate and caught up in ‘being right’ that we end up being hostile towards others. It’s a fine line that we cross, because for us, Jesus is ‘the truth, the way, the life’. Sometimes we get caught up in trying to win an argument, rather than gently planting seeds. My honest opinion is that you will encounter many other Christians who will be hostile towards you for your views, but you will also meet Christians who accurately spread God’s Word without trying to fight you. My hope is that you will not judge all Christians based on a few individuals, but rather judge each person individually. Everyone is on their own journey, and many have not yet learned to ‘be quick to listen, but slow to speak’ (James 1:19). Christians are not perfect, just as everyone else is not perfect. It’s uncomfortable facing the truth of our humanity, and I hope we can all at least agree with that. But I do want you to know, there is a God who loves you and is waiting for you. He will never turn away from you, and is hoping that you will come to Him. Even if you want to scream at Him, question Him, or talk to Him, He will be glad that you are at least having some sort of connection with Him. God loves it when you make an effort to know Him. And if you aren’t ready for that, take some time to ponder my love letter to you all. Ask me questions, challenge me in the comments. You might be confused about how this is a love letter, but I want you to know that you are loved, regardless of whether you believe in the Lord or not. I love you, my neighbor, and want to represent to YOU what Christ has done for me and countless others. You are wonderfully and uniquely made. I pray that this message finds you and plants a seed. Love, Sienna. © Sienna Krieg

What if the most important thing about you isn’t what you believe — but what story you’re living in? That might sound strange, especially to Christians used to thinking in terms of doctrines or worldviews. But beneath all that, every person is shaped by a story. Whether we realise it or not, we’re constantly drawing from some narrative to understand who we are, why the world is broken, and what we’re supposed to do about it. We’re not just minds that need facts. We’re humans who need meaning. And meaning always comes wrapped in a story. The stories we live by You’ve probably heard the modern ones. The progress story: We’re evolving past all those old ideas. One day, technology will solve everything. The freedom story: Be true to yourself. Break all the rules. Chase your desires and cut off whoever gets in the way. The activist story: The world is broken. But if we work hard enough, if we get angry enough, we’ll fix it. The pleasure story: Nothing really matters, so just enjoy yourself. Travel. Drink good wine. Document it all in square tiles. These stories are popular because they promise a lot. But they don’t deliver. The progress story can’t explain why we still hurt each other. The freedom story often leaves us isolated and anxious. The activist story burns people out. And the pleasure story feels hollow once the novelty wears off. You can try to live in these stories — but they’ll leave you tired, disillusioned, or numb. Sometimes all three. What we need is a story big enough to make sense of our longings and our losses. A story that’s not just emotionally satisfying, but actually true. That’s exactly what the Bible offers. The true myth C.S. Lewis once called Christianity “the true myth.” Not because it’s make-believe, but because it has the shape of the stories that have always moved us. A world made good. A fall into ruin. A promised hero. A great rescue. A future restored. It’s the story behind all the stories we love — but this one actually happened. It doesn’t ignore sorrow. It takes it seriously. It doesn’t offer escapism. It offers redemption. It doesn’t flatter us. It tells us the truth — that we are more broken than we care to admit, and more loved than we dared to hope. The cross is the plot twist no one saw coming: the King dies for the rebels. And the resurrection? That’s not a comforting end to the story — it’s the beginning of something entirely new. Why it matters If you’re a Christian, this isn’t just a story you believe. It’s the story you’re part of. That means your life has a shape — even when it feels directionless. Your suffering has a place — even when it doesn’t make sense yet. Your daily choices matter — not because they impress God, but because they’re part of a real narrative that’s heading somewhere. A story with a beginning, a climax, and a promised ending. And if you’re a writer, this is where it gets exciting. Because the world is starving for stories that ring true. Not just logically consistent, but emotionally real. Stories that don’t just diagnose the world’s pain, but offer something more than cynicism or self-help. You don’t have to write theology or Bible studies to tell the story of the gospel. You can write poetry. Memoir. Personal essays. Novels. Visual art. Letters. Whatever your form, let the true myth shape the way you see — and show — the world. Let your characters wrestle with grace. Let your metaphors echo resurrection. Let your prose remind people that beauty matters — because creation matters. We live in a world drowning in content but starving for meaning. We don’t need louder voices. We need deeper ones. So what story are you living in? That’s the question I keep coming back to. Because everyone lives by some kind of story. And only one of them is true. The Bible isn’t just a collection of comforting verses or ancient rules. It’s a narrative that explains why the world is beautiful and broken, why we long for justice and home, why death feels wrong and hope feels right. It doesn’t just offer answers. It offers meaning. It doesn’t just tell us what to believe. It tells us who we are. And it doesn’t just give us something to stand on. It gives us a story to live in — and to live for. This is not just a story to believe. It’s the story you were made for. What story have you been living in — and how did you know it wasn’t enough? I’d love to hear your thoughts. © Nathan Cole

© Jane Isley August 2025 You’ve read my words, but I began speaking with color, texture, and a camera first, creating narrative-style artwork to tell a story - her story. I held her when she was born, felt her fingers embrace my hand. Before pain made a home in her bones, before doctors and diagnoses. Then came the ache that my kiss could not cure. A silent, searing war beneath her skin. The kind that bends bones and tests all belief. She learned to count pain by hours and measure hope in breaths. But she never cursed the sky. She never let the darkness rewrite her soul. Scripture turned into lullabies for nights when sleep wouldn’t come. I watched her body betray her. I watched it try to dim her light. But it never died. Because something eternal was fueling her strength. I stood on the sidelines, sometimes strong, sometimes shattered. Watching a child become a warrior in slow motion. Her story is not one of defeat. It is not a tragedy. It’s a testimony. And I get to witness that miracle every day. © Jane Isley First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

When people talk about heaven, the image is often the same: clouds, harps, halos. Souls float upward into a spiritual retreat, far from the mess of this world. It’s soothing. Familiar. Almost cinematic. But it’s also wrong. This vision doesn’t come from Jesus. It comes from Plato. And if your hope is shaped by his worldview, not the Bible’s, you may be clinging to a future that God never promised — and ignoring the one he actually did. Plato’s Heaven Isn’t the Bible’s Plato believed the material world was a lower, shadowy realm — a corrupted version of some perfect, invisible reality. To him, the body was a prison and the soul’s goal was escape. This dualism seeped into early Christian thought, especially through thinkers like Origen, who borrowed Platonic ideas to explain Christian truths. Even Augustine, though he ultimately affirmed the resurrection of the body in City of God, wrestled with this tension in his early writings. The result? A long legacy of Christians talking about the afterlife as if salvation means floating away from the physical world forever. But that’s not what the Bible teaches. Resurrection Over Escape The Bible’s hope isn’t about escaping the earth. It’s about God renewing it. In Genesis, God calls the material world “very good.” In Isaiah, the prophet dreams of lions lying down with lambs and swords turning into ploughshares — not disembodied bliss, but a renewed world pulsing with peace and justice (Isaiah 11.) Jesus doesn’t pray for our souls to flee to heaven. He teaches his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). And when Jesus rises from the dead, he’s not a ghost. He eats fish. He bears scars. He walks and talks, and breathes in a physical body. Paul calls it the “firstfruits” of what’s to come (1 Corinthians 15:20) — a glimpse of what God will one day do for all creation. Revelation doesn’t end with souls going up to heaven, but with heaven coming down to earth: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…” (Revelation 21:1–2) The final picture isn’t an evacuation. It’s re-creation. What We Lose When We Get Heaven Wrong If you think heaven is a ghostly afterlife for disembodied souls, you’ll start treating this world like a disposable stage. You’ll live as though what we do here — how we work, love, build, and care — doesn’t really matter. But if you believe God plans to restore creation, then everything matters. Suddenly, your job isn’t just a paycheck. It’s a calling. Your body isn’t just a shell. It’s sacred. Your home, your community, your planet, they’re not background scenery. They’re part of the story God is redeeming. This is why the early Christians were so radical. They didn’t just preach escape. They lived renewal. They fed the poor, cared for the sick, and risked their lives for the dignity of others — because they believed God was making all things new. This Changes Everything The true Christian hope isn’t just about where you go when you die. It’s about what God is doing with the whole world — and how you can be part of it now. So next time you picture heaven, forget the clouds. Forget the harps. Picture dirt. Grass. Trees. Cities. People. Work. Joy. Love. Bodies made whole. Creation made right. Heaven isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a world resurrected. And that’s a far better hope than Plato ever dreamed. Let’s Talk: What picture of heaven did you grow up with? Has it shaped the way you live now — for better or worse? Drop a comment here and let’s dig into it. © Nathan Cole

To read Part 1, click here. This article is really a supplement to part 1. The Reason For Part 2 There are so many posts from women who have had bad experiences with misogyny, and many, not all, deduce that the Bible teaches that the girl child, whatever her age, is a second-rate Creation in God’s eyes. There is no doubt that violence against women and children is not a new phenomenon. In my immediate family, there have been prolonged periods of violence against my mother and my sister. As well as my brother-in-law, who married my sister. The good old days were not so good for some people. But there are other stories for another time. My goal here, if I manage it, is to show further Biblical evidence of where God stands on the issue of women. I’m not ashamed to appeal to the Written Word of God as my ultimate Authority. There are professing Christians, even on this Medium platform, who say, “We know more now.” Non-believers may be able to use that argument, but professing believers have no leg to stand on. Sexuality At Birth Is Not The Same As Race There are different societies and cultures in the world, but only one human race, consisting of different groups having different amounts of melanin. Humans are created in God’s Image, so by default, they must be shown dignity. (Genesis 1:26–28) How Many Sexes Are There? There are two sexes, male and female, based on genetics (X and Y chromosomes) and Genesis 1:26–28, where it is written: "Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” There is mention of different sexes here, but no mention of different races. There is mention of subduing the Earth, but no mention of raping it. Let’s get down to tin-tax. Does God place a higher value on Males than He does on females? Women walk with Highly Esteemed Company Old Testament example: (Dead Sea Scrolls) It is written in Genesis 2:18:"And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper " (H5828 — `ezer, עֵזֶר) comparable to him (H5048 — neḡeḏ) H5828 — `ezer = helping carry the load.H5048 — neḡeḏ = what is in front of, corresponding to, opposite, and before, parallel to. NOT INFERIOR! (Septuagint) Genesis 2:18 "And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper (G998 — boēthos, βοηθός) comparable to him.” The Greek has the same flavour but not the grunt of the Hebrew because it doesn’t include the comparison, but read on. New Testament Example It is written in Hebrews 13:6 "So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper (G998 — boēthos, βοηθός); I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Jesus is our Helper, βοηθὸς boēthos, as shown in Figure 1. Eve was Adam’s boēthos. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, God gave Adam a helper, βοηθὸς boēthos in Genesis 2:20, shown in Figure 2. This is the same word as in Hebrews 13:6! Obviously, the task given to women is no trivial thing. Does a boy have more value to God than a girl? No. The offering demanded by YHVH is identical for both the girl and the boy. It is written in Leviticus 12:6–8 “When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’” Using the Leviticus 12:6–8 perspective to review the apparent Divine Edicts against women in Scripture shows that they are protections for women in a misogynistic society. The women are protected from husbands who try to rush them into sex after a girl child in order to get a boy child as quickly as possible. Having this insight, it is well worth re-visiting Divine Ordinances, which appear to show that women are unclean humans. In a God-fearing Society, the tiniest female is protected from the biggest bruiser, randy male, by the phrase, “It is against God’s Law.” From Which Sex Was The Messiah Intended To Come? Not the male. YHVH informed the Shining One, as is written in Genesis 3:15"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This is a Prophecy of a spectacular miracle because, in nature, the male provides the seed and the female the egg. When the Messiah came, the Holy Spirit supernaturally eliminated the need for the man. In Genesis 3:15 the promise is made about the “Seed of the Woman.” In Matthew 1 and Luke 3, the promise is kept with the “Woman of the Seed,” as shown in Figure 3. The thread of Scripture from there shows that Satan planned to eliminate the Bloodline of the Messiah right up to the Cross. Part of the process was the subjugation of women because one of them would be the one through whom the Messiah would come. So Why Does Satan Keep Trying When He’s Been Defeated? After the Triumph of the Cross, Paul uses the prophetic term “Fullness of the Gentiles” (God’s predetermined number of Gentile Christians) as the trigger for the beginning of the Final Judgement. (Romans 11:25) There is another Prophecy (Hosea 3:4–5), which states that the Children of Israel will return to the Land and seek the Lord their God and David their king. Then He will come. For both of these to come to pass, there must be children born. If Gentiles could be obstructed from breeding and converting, Satan thinks he still has a chance. The same if Jews can be wiped off the map. This is covered in much more detail in part 1. Does God Have Favorites In The Ecclesia? No. It is written in Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse actually elevates the status of women in the culture of the Acts Church — before that time, their value had been stolen by the misogynists under the influence of Satan. Why could a Hebrew wife not divorce her husband, but vice versa was allowed? Examination of the Scriptures shows that, in God’s eyes, marriage is a type of the Christ and His Church. (Ephesians 5:31–33) The names given to the Church are “Bride” and “Body.” These melt into the “Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh,” of Genesis 2:23. She can’t divorce Him and He won’t divorce her, i.e., a model of Eternal Security. Satan has been causing trouble since Genesis 3. Why All The Fuss About Sex And Adultery? In the spiritual realm, God’s abhorrence of profane sexual activity is concerned with worshipping other gods. Man and wife — Adam and Eve — Israel as the wife of YHVH — the Church as the Bride of Christ — are all models of the relationship between God and mortals. Our Lord is a El Kanna, a Jealous God. He is jealous of what is His. He will share our affection with no one. He knows that no one can love each of us like He can. Ancient Hebrew Teachings [Unfortunately, I have lost the reference for the next three paragraphs. They were told to me by someone who had studied in Israel.] The original concept of the Bride Price WAS NOT, as some say, to pay the father of the bride for maintaining a valueless person, a daughter, until a husband would take her out of his hands. It was potential alimony paid by the husband in advance. He paid the money to his bride (not her parents), and it was not refundable. She would lease/buy a field to generate income that was disposed of at her discretion — and hers alone. It was her guarantee against being cast aside. Unfortunately, this concept was hijacked by man. The Bride Price Was Not The Same As The Dowry The purpose of the latter was that the parents of the Bride gave seed money to the son-in-law so that he could generate income to maintain their daughter adequately. This was also allowed to be hijacked by Satan. When a Hebrew couple was newly married (Deuteronomy 24:5), the husband was exempt from military and other duties for a year so that he could establish a relationship with his new bride. Early Talmudic writings mentioned that sex was forbidden while a woman was menstruating. This was a protection from God that prevented the husband from forcing himself on his wife when she did not feel comfortable. The rituals were that, at the end of the flow, the woman would cleanse herself by bathing in pure flowing water. She was then regarded as being a virgin bride, and her husband was expected to treat her as such. So, while he was no longer exempt from external responsibilities, the husband was expected to treat his wife as a virgin bride for a year. But the process was repeated every month, so the husband was expected to treat his wife as a virgin bride, and the wife was expected to act as a virgin bride until death do them part. That is God’s plan for keeping a marriage spicy. It is common knowledge that the marriage between man and woman is the shadow model for the relationship between Jesus and His Church. The Song of Solomon shows that Jesus desires primitive passion from His Spotless Bride. Conclusion It is clear from Scripture, at least to me, that husband and wife are synergistic (i.e., the whole is greater than the sum of the parts), but someone must take responsibility. In Genesis 3, it is Eve who initiated the Fall, but Romans 5:12–19 makes it clear that Adam is the one upon whom the weight of responsibility lies. Satan has done a good job of getting each of the spouses to snarl at each other, but that was not God’s Plan. There is an old management proverb, “It is surprising what can be accomplished when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” It is obvious that most men, though not all, do not treat women well. Christian men misinterpret the Scripture because of poor teaching. It is not so obvious that women mistreat men in a more subtle way by undermining the authority of men and demanding what the ‘culture’ says is their right. Because of these corruptions, both sexes of Christians will lose rewards at the Bema Seat before Christ. The Pulpit has much to answer for in the Church. Good teaching would protect many women and children from needless suffering. Where are the Teaching Priests? (I feel the love.) What sort of Marriage would it be if each side made a habit of trying to out-bless the other? HOWEVER, THE BIG QUESTION Why did/does God allow it to happen?! Why doesn’t He just do a better job!!!!? A perfectly valid question about many things. I have to admit that I don’t know the answer. The only thing I know is that it must be the best way because His Redemption Plan has cost Him so much. You may think that is a piss-willy answer, but it’s the best I can do. © 2026 Brad Banardict. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. First published in The Dove on Medium. Revised and edited by Jane Isley. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Remove labels and step away from all definitions. In truth, we do not know exactly when Christ is going to take the first Resurrection or the second Resurrection. (Well, for the second one, we do get a time frame, but since we don’t know the first, we still don’t know the second anyway.) I have my own opinions based on Scripture regarding the infamous rapture theories and can debate with the best of them. However, simply put, no one knows exactly when the clock will run out, not even Jesus. That’s why we were given Revelation. It is our master guidebook for believers, non-believers, and fence-straddlers. But I’m not here today to debate all the rapture timeline theories. I know it’s coming; I’m prepared to either experience it or wake up one day in Heaven, but are you? I’m here to ask some hard and uncomfortable questions. We are cautioned that to live the life of following Jesus is not easy, we will be met with battles, obstacles, persecutions, and even death for following Him. You can not be a Christian and live an easy life, there is no way. If you have lived a perfectly “blessed” life without storms and trials, then I call into question who exactly is taking your wheel. What I’m talking about today is what kind of person will you become when crap hits the fan. When everything truly starts falling apart in this country and all over the world. Even though Jesus will come out of nowhere one day. Those battles, obstacles, and persecutions we are warned about will get worse with time before Jesus comes. Our world will keep turning from Him, one person at a time, till there’s nothing left of moral compasses or toleration for Christianity. Has anyone ever caught this in Revelations? “I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.” There is only ONE Book of Life. That should hit you hard in the gut; that should make you rethink your faith and where you stand with God. Are you prepared for what will inevitably come knocking on our door? We live in a country that, while yes, pushes back on our faith, we are still allowed to practice. Some may lose jobs because of their faith, but they can move on to find another job, churches get vandalized, but insurance pays to repair them, some are harassed, attacked, or worse for their faith, but they receive medical care, get to file police reports, and have the right to a funeral in their faith, not be buried in a ditch somewhere. I see too many who think our country is horrible now. Ranting and raving, crying and in hysterics, that is the end, we are about to be taken by God. No, we are not. We are not even close to what Revelation makes clear as day. When you have those freedom’s above and more, no — crap has not hit the fan yet. That’s what has me questioning Christians now more than ever before as to whether they can actually handle what is to come. America has become lazy, and so has the church. Because, frankly, too many Christians have grown too comfortable behind their pulpits, pews, and traditions. Living in a fantasy world of the blessed “rapture,” they believe they will not experience at least some of what is to come. This is dangerous, this will lead many to fail and turn from God. Many use Revelations for their answers, forgetting another very important Scripture. Matthew 24, where the disciples ask Jesus, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus is very clear, nowhere does He say, don’t worry guys, I’m gonna snap you up before anything hits the fan, no, instead He says : Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. — ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS — Jesus clearly tells us in verse 9 that we will be handed over to be persecuted, killed, and hated for our faith. Those of us alive when the clock starts counting down will experience this. If you believe in Jesus, then you believe His words. Why ignore these words? Does this scare you, and would you rather stand with your head buried in the sand? Are you ready? Here are some blunt things to ask yourself. When that clock time runs down: Will you be the one who turns a blind eye to those around you suffering and in need of help, to keep what little you have for yourself? Will you keep silent your faith so you can go your way, trying to live another day in hiding? Are you going to be the one who gets on your knees and praises God for each breath you have to utter His name and share His message while you are hungry, cold, and chased down? Are you strong enough in your faith to sit by and watch your family starve, or will you turn away from God and choose to be marked in order to feed them? Will you be able to starve to death or thirst to death with God’s name on your lips, or will you curse His name and take that bottle of water offered by the enemy? Will you be able to live with scraps, or will you turn your back on Him for the pleasures that the world is your comfort now, worth your soul? Are you strong enough to watch your children be mercifully beaten, assaulted, and killed in front of you all, for the enemy to tempt you to renounce Jesus? Whatever theory you might believe about the end times, realize that Christians will experience some of it; we are not immune. I see faith sorely lacking in the Church these days, I see people following like blind sheep who are unwilling to read the Bible or let the Holy Spirit in. I see Christians bending rules set by God so they can make themselves happy, I see lazy Sunday participation and weekly worldly actions, I see laziness — The church is not ready. Persecutions are coming our way. Severe atrocities are already happening to the faithful, right now. If we were meant to bypass that, the “rapture” would have already occurred. And America is not some great and mighty under special treatment and safety from God. All I ask is that you think about this and ask yourself, are you ready, and which book will your name be in? © Jane Isley Screenshot from OpenDoors

I write Scripture-anchored devotions and theological reflections for the quiet pursuit of Jesus. I’m the creator of Rooted Devotionals, simple printable guides that help tired hearts build 10-minute rhythms in real life. Medium Rooted Devotionals on Etsy Want to read more from Nathan? Here are a few places to start: Why Abundant Choice Feels Like Less Freedom The Gospels Don’t Match And That’s Exactly the Point When the World Defines You, Remember Who You Are in Christ

Do I believe this question directly impacts our salvation? No. Do I think it’s a good and fun question to ask to help our understanding? Absolutely! So let’s see what the Bible tells us. First, I’ve decided to use the terms “being” and “angel,” because there are different created entities mentioned in the Bible. So what we know from Scripture is that angels can look human, and even more fascinating is this: “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Heb 13:2 Talk about keeping you on your toes. At least that's what I read from this verse. Who’s to say how many of us have hosted or come across an angel unknowingly? Think about this one for a moment, how would you defend yourself to God on judgment day when asked why you turned away a stranger in need or treated someone poorly when in fact it was an angel? Just food for thought. Anyway, Angels & Wings The Bible does not explicitly state that angels have wings, and I also don’t believe that references to wings for other beings are purely symbolic, especially considering the numerous physical descriptions of Cherubim in the Bible. This honestly makes sense to me because every kind that God created has unique differences and roles within that kind. The beings we commonly know about from Scripture. First up is Gabriel, who is only thought to have wings, based on the passage from Dan 9:21, “Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight.” He is described as a human in appearance, but no literal mention of wings in any verses he is in, not referred to as an archangel, and scared the poo out of Daniel because of his appearance when he saw him. (Mary and Zechariah, too.) Not a clue exactly what kind he is because we are never told that explicitly, we just know he is referred to as an angel, and delivers a lot of messages. Then we have Michael, the only archangel mentioned in the Bible, btw, and he is never said to have wings either. But he is a warrior and protector angelic being; words such as “one of the chief princes” and “great prince who protects your people” are used to describe him. (3) Here Are 3 Fun Nuggets Here is when we learn that Michael is not the only “chief prince,” but he must be a pretty awesome baddy because he has already taken satan on once about Moses' body (4) and will again when he leads his army against him in the future. (5) Michael only says four words in the whole Bible. “The Lord rebuke you!” (well, in Greek it was actually three words) And Michael and Gabriel are the only two named angelic beings in the whole Bible, except Abaddon, from the book of Revelation, but that is also a title, not just a name, and a whole different conversation. We see many other divine messengers of God throughout the Bible who looked human, didn’t have wings, and delivered messages to people, but weren’t named like Gabriel and Michael; instead were simply called angels (messengers). For example, in Gen 19:1 “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening,” the Hebrew word is “malak”, which literally means “angel, messengers, messenger” but they didn’t have wings. And in Acts, we have an angel (same meaning as malak, just in Greek), no wings, committing some B&E and getting Peter and his disciples out of jail. So, What Does Have Wings? We know for certain that the Seraphim have six wings, which are their own distinct kind (1), and Cherubim, also a distinct kind, have four wings. (2) Remember, church tradition and Jewish tradition consider the Cherubim and Seraphim as types of angels, not the Bible per se. Now the question should be going from "Do Angels have wings?" because that is a loaded question to asking the question with the right word first. Angel,Seraphim, Cherubim, or Archangel? Angels are the messengers of God (literally, that is the definition), and the winged beings are their own class of something, but are never called angels in the Bible. Michael and Gabriel are never specified as having wings, but are called angels, not Cherubim or Seraphim, with Michael being the only Archangel. Winging It The wing culture comes from a blending of the verse, “came to me in swift flight,” the Cherubim and Seraphim descriptions, what angels are capable of doing, and artwork over the centuries that kept it going. Could they all have wings, and somehow the angels are able to keep theirs invisible? Absolutely, why not? These are beings who can pack of heck of a spiritual punch, and God loves to give us mysteries to ponder on, but at the same time, we are told which beings do have wings. Like I said in the beginning. Does this affect your salvation if you believe angels have wings? No, but it is fun, fascinating, and helps a person see the Bible, not tradition. © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. Sources: (1) Isaiah 6:2 (2) Ezekiel 10:21 (3) Biblestudytools: Archangel Michael in the Bible. (4) Jude 1:9, (5) Revelation 12: 7–9 (6) Acts 5:17–22 Biblestudytools: Bible Verses about Cherubim Cherub | hak-kə-ru-ḇîm | kerub Seraphim | śə-rā-p̄îm | saraph Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save.