Today’s Bible Verse:
1 John 4:20; “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
Encouraging Word:
When I first started out preparing for this message, I was going to title it “Hate Creates Blindness,” but then the more I thought about it, it also could go the other way. "Blindness Creates Hate.”
Sounds like a two edged sword!
The Bible verse that I chose for today, is one that most of the world is guilty of in one way or another. I believe there are very few people, if any, that can say they do not hate somebody.
Most of those that hate someone, for the most part, don’t have any idea why they hate them in the first place. It might be because of something that happened years ago, or they just hate someone out of shear jealousy. Jealousy is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to hate, especially in our adolescent years as we were growing up. If somebody had something that somebody else wanted, such as a boyfriend or a girlfriend for example, there was an automatic hatred toward that person, most likely because of jealousy. I know, I was on both sides of that coin. Some people just continue to hate that certain person all through life. But those that eventually get over it, or should I say matured, started to realize how immature it was to hold this hatred for so many years. As this type of person continues to hate others, for whatever reason, they blind themselves to how good this certain person could really be on the inside. That is where part of the heading of today’s blog comes in. They are so full of hate because of what took place, that they ignore any possibility of getting to know this person personally.
Thus, "Hate Created Blindness! In other words, they hate this person so much that they don’t want to get to know him or her, so they stay blind.
I’m going to share a time in my life were it almost seemed that everybody hated someone for some reason or other. This was when I was growing up in the seventies and eighties. To start out with, there were those that were so arrogant, it made it easy for people to dislike them even to the point of hatred. In my younger days, once again in the seventies and eighties, I played a lot of soft-ball, both fast pitch and slo-pitch and it never failed, there was always somebody on the other team or in the stands that got on my nerves rather quickly. I had people scream at me and call me all kinds of names from the stands for no other reason other than jealousy. I say this because I never gave them a reason to hate me, so it had to be something else, and the only thing that I can think of is jealousy or, I may have appeared to them as being cocky at times, which is a good possibility.
Most of those that played on our softball team back then had ego problems, but that was all part of growing up.
Others that were hated or despised were those that acted like they were the best ball player that ever walked the earth, when in reality they were mediocre at best. They would strut around pretending to be something that they weren’t. These people, however, did get on my nerves, but again, it was part of growing up. Then there were those that were arrogant because they were above average in the area of sports. They would also strut around as if they were Gods greatest gift to softball. I knew many that fell into this catalogue, because they were the peer group that I hung around with. And because we were one of the top teams in the city where we played, that gave people more reasons to hate us. Here again is where the blindness comes in. Did they hate us because they were blind to who we really were, or were they blind because they didn’t want to know us and therefore, decided to just hate us. I guess they go hand in hand. The guys that were on our team, were for the most part very good guys with the exception of a couple.
Then there were those ball players that I didn’t care for very much, probably because I knew they didn’t like me either. But once I got into a social environment and had a chance to talk with them a bit, I found out they are were nice guys for the most part. The point again is this, when people would view us as a good ball team from the bleachers, and hated us because of that, they were actually missing the forest for the tree. They saw us on the surface, but didn’t know any of us individually, therefore, they lumped us all into one despised group. We were hated because they were to blind to know who we really were, or, once again, were they blind because they just plain hated us to start with.
The illustrations above are just a few small examples of what I am trying to get across. Hear what the following Bible verse says about this. These following verses of scripture are being fulfilled today as we speak.
Matthew 24:7-11; “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”
First thing you may say, because I heard it all before is this, these things have always been a part of our world, and yes, I would agree, but not anywhere near the level they are taking place today. These events that are all around us are referred to as unprecedented events or events that were unheard-of until just recently. We are not hearing the truth about these events that are happening from any mainstream media or social network. They want us to believe that everything is good, so they don’t have to describe the horrible gruesomeness that is taking place in the Middle East. If you are a God fearing person and understand what the Bible teaches about the end days, you will be very aware of what is taking place, and why. To those that have been watching the signs of the times for quite a few years now, are very aware of what is happening today and also what is coming in the very near future. Most of the world has chosen to remain ignorant of the reality of what is written in the scriptures about all the events that will soon come to fruition.
Take this as a warning of things that I believe could come soon, or they could be a little further down the road, but whatever the case may be, if you give your life to Jesus Christ and become born-again, it won’t matter when these things take place, you won’t be here. If you don’t know what I am talking about, do a study on the Rapture of the Church. That is in and of itself another whole teaching.
The next part of this message may be offensive to some, but if it is, it is because they are totally blind to the truth. On a much larger scale, nations hate nations for no other reason other than the fact that they are different, or they have been at war from the beginning of time. This category will eventually hit a level where all nations will one day go up against each other.
Now, let me get into what is the worst kind of evil that is permeating throughout our world today. If you have noticed or even if you haven’t, Israel is in the news almost every day. Not because they want to be, it’s because of all the hatred that is being poured out on God’s chosen people. This hatred of God’s chosen people has escalated on a worldwide level into an all-time high. Of course, the Holocaust was the worst time in history up to now, but a time is coming that will make the holocaust look like a walk in the park. Very few people really know why this is happening.
All Israel ever wanted from the beginning was peace and security and to be able to serve their God, but all the Islamic nations have a different plan, and that is to wipe Israel off the map and kill every Jewish person that is alive today. That is the highest form of hatred today. Islamic children are taught to hate the Jews from the time that they are about two years old. They grow up with one mentality toward the Jews and that is to annihilate the Jewish people once and for all. I will expand on a little later, but know this, Satan is behind all this hatred. Islam’s hatred toward the Jews has definitely blinded them to how good the Jewish people really are. We have heard many times that Islam is a religion of peace. Do peaceful people take off your head because you don’t believe like they do. Christianity says, Love your neighbor, Islam says, Kill infidels, (a person who does not follow the Islamic faith) This would include every religious group on earth if they got their way, but, I can promise you this, that will not happen. I could give you that proof in the Bible also, but for now, you will have to believe me, or read the Bible for yourself.
You can find this truth in Zechariah 12:1-4. In the original Qur’an, it says to kill infidels at least 100 times. They also have a watered down version of the Qur’an that doesn’t expand on all their evil. Similar to the watered down versions of the Bible that are written to deceive many people, and it is happening
Need I say more about this.
Now, let me get into the Spiritual side of all this hate. I’m sure that probably 90% of Christians have never heard this next teaching. First of all, one should not make the mistake to think that the war between Israel and Hamas will be over soon. This “war” has been going on for thousands of years and it will not be settled until Jesus makes his return, which will happen at the end of the Seven Tribulation period. At that moment, all of the world will know that Israel truly is God’s chosen people. Many, from the national media all the way down to local social media warriors, don’t understand the long-term hostility that the Jews and most Muslims/Arabs have for one another. The truth is this, it is a spiritual issue that began with Abraham.
Hear what the following Bible verses have to say about this. I think it is necessary to read the whole account of these next few verses, so you get the scope of where all this hatred came from.
Genesis 25:19-34; “This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan, Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The twin babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger. “When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. (Jacob’s name means “heel catcher.”) Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)( The Hebrew word Edom means "red") Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright. “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.”
As you can see by the last scriptures that I just read, these two nations were at war well before Esau and Jacob were born. They were fighting, even in Rebekah’s womb, which I might add, is further proof that life begins in the womb. The spirit of good and evil was already in their hearts. When Esau and Jacob were born, Esau represented the Arab nations, and Jacob represented the Hebrew nation. The Lord would eventually change His name to Israel, therefore becoming the Father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
This hatred goes all the way back to the days of Isaac and Ishmael as we can plainly see. The descendants of Isaac and Ishmael, have been in conflict since around 2065 BC. There has never been a period of time when they weren’t in conflict and there never will be this side of heaven. The Trump administration was the closest Israel had come to a sustained peace in years, but those who know the Bible, knew that it would not last very long. The reason for all this hatred goes much deeper than the jealousy of one son over another. This reaches deep into the spiritual, as one would realize that this is ultimately a conflict between the forces of good and evil. God will allow Satan to use the descendants of Ishmael to accomplish his final goal that will be played out in epic proportions on the world stage.
Hear what the following verse tells us about spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:12; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
See, as much as we think we are wrestling against flesh and blood; all of our battles are spiritual. And this has really taken on a new meaning as of the last few decades. In case you aren’t aware, the political battles that are taking part in our world today are actually spiritual battles being fought in the spiritual realm. It is a battle of good and evil. Even though there might possibly be a small period of time that looks like things might be getting better, things will eventually get worse and worse until Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation period to take back what He rightfully purchased when He hung on the cross two thousand years ago.
The Bible tells us that if Jesus doesn’t return, no life would be spared as it says in the following verse.
Matthew 24:22; “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
This verse is referring to the day that Jesus returns to the earth with His Bride (The Church) after the tribulation, to set up His one thousand year Millennial Kingdom. So much for “Dominion Now Theology.” For those that don’t know what “Dominion Now Theology” is, let me explain. Most of the denominational churches believe that Jesus will return to a peaceful utopia that will be ushered in by the world. My question is this, what Bible are they reading from and where do they get this false doctrine that they are teaching as truth?
Read again the message that I just read.
“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Does it sound like Jesus is going to come back to a peaceful world…not likely. Just a side note. I have never met a Jewish person that I didn’t fall in love with right away. They are the nicest and kindest people that you will ever meet as far as a nation goes.
One more area that I need to speak on that is the ultimate hatred known to man. That is when Jesus Christ hung on a cross to die for the sins of the world. They crucified Jesus on a cross of would, yet He made that hill on which it stood. When Jesus first came on the scene to preach the Gospel, He was accepted and loved by many at first because they believed that He was the Messiah. But there were a handful of religious leaders that despised Jesus right away. They eventually were able to turn most of the Jews against Jesus because they had convinced the multitudes that Jesus was not their Messiah. If they knew that Jesus was their Messiah, they would have loved Him and accepted Him as such. It was hatred that eventually put Him on the cross. And because of their hatred toward Jesus, they were temporarily blinded since the crucifixion, and that will end during the great tribulation when all Israel eyes will be opened up. The Jews were blinded because they rejected Jesus and because of that blindness, they continued to reject Jesus as their Messiah for the last two thousand years, with the exception of a few Messianic Jews that eventually came to faith if Christ, Jesus.
Here are a couple of verse that support what I just said.
Luke 19:41-44; “Now as He (Jesus) drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden (Blinded) from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you and your children within you to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
This event happened in 70 AD when Titus Vespasian and the Roman legion leveled Jerusalem on all sides just as Jesus Prophesied would happen because they didn’t accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
The following Bible verses tell us that God did not cast off His chosen people permanently.
They will be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles come in, which is the Rapture of the church. That is when God will remove their spiritual blindness and fulfill the seventieth week of Daniel that was prophesied back in the book of Daniel, which is another Bible study in and of itself.
Romans 11: 25-27; “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
This event will also happen during the time of the Great Tribulation. It will take place at the half way point of this seven year period that is on the near horizon. So, you can see that the Jews have been spiritually blind for about the last two thousand years or so, but that day is coming soon when the spiritual blindness will be lifted, and they will all know at that point that Jesus Christ is and alwasy was their long awaited Messiah all these years. This was prophesied in the book of Zachariah long ago, where he spoke of what will happened to Israel during the second half of the tribulation.
Zechariah 12:10; “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”
Now, look back at today’s title “Blindness Creates Hate, and Hate Creates Blindness” and also todays Bible verse. See what hatred did to the Jews and then what blindness has also done to them. Israel ended up hating their Messiah because they didn’t know it was Him, so they spent the last two thousand years blinded to the truth. And because of this event, they were hated by most of the world and have been persecuted often. Hate creates Blindness. If they would have loved Jesus their eyes would have been open to whom He really was. Their Messiah!
This can’t be denied.
So, how many people in your life do you hate for some reason or other? Well, what does the Bible verse for today say,
“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
So, I guess most of us have a certain sin locked away from our past that needs to be confessed and repented of. If that is the case, ask God to forgive you and release that hatred that you are feeling. Like it says, if you hate your brother (which is all people) then don’t say that you love God. You need to know this, being a Christian can be a hard task at times, but, if you have receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and have become Born-Again into the Holy Spirit, then these tasks become much easier to overcome.
We read this final verse from the book of Revelation, Revelation 3:5; “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
There are many verses in the first three chapters of Revelation that uses the word “overcome” often, to let us know that there are certain things that we need to overcome in life, and if we overcome these things, there are many blessing that come to those that do overcome. Read on your own the first three chapter of Revelation to get the full scope of what I am saying. There is so much more that I could share, but let me end for now with this benediction;
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another,
in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God continue to Bless you in all you do and take care!
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