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"When a woman is ready to give birth, she comes to a transition point, at which she often thinks(so I am told), “I don’t want to go through this…”, but it is too late, there is no going back, only forward through the birth process"

An apt analogy PB.

Now just imagine that the woman going through this had absolutely no idea what was happening.Some say we are here to make the world fit for Christ's return and I'd suppose there are many believers that have little to no understanding of what is happening.They have no real context to put the birth-pangs into.Which is why Jesus' testimony is so important.

(Timothy 1:7,8) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..." "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10)

Acts 13 talks of a false prophet that withstood the gospel and the language used to describe what happened to him is provocative to say the least.

Acts 13:11 "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand"

Not seeing the "sun" for a season(a 7 year season?). Considering Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings" it's not hard to see what else Acts 13:11 might be saying.As for "...seeking some to lead him by the hand"..."...if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)

You'd have to wonder what sort of a mind set a woman going through birth pangs without a clue as to what was going on,would have.We go to the doctor in order to not have that mind set because (in addition to other things)he explains to us 'what's to come' and what to expect.

Likewise....

John 13:19 "Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he"

John 6:29 "This is the work of God,that ye believe on Him who He has sent"

Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels"

1 John 5:5 "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Thanks for letting me rant.

Pastor Bill you really ought to have a ping list.

Grace and peace to you all.