Thank you for sharing your beliefs. I agree with you, that the nations of the world are not under God's rule. But there is a period of relative struggle, as God prepares the nations to come under his sovereignty. Indeed, Satan is/was "the ruler of this world", but even in one ruler's kingdom, there can be insurrections and rebellions. Look at the history of Christianity. If Satan's rule was absolute, then Christianity would never have grown, expanded and developed.

Regarding John, you make certain assumptions, some of which I think are reasonable, but it's important to look at the facts. The evidence is there if one has eyes to see, that John failed in his faith, DESPITE the fact that he was Jesus' cousin. if John told all his disciples, go to Jesus, join with him, he is the one, do you think they would NOT have believed him? So why would he NOT tell them to follow Jesus? If someone asked you, even not your disciples, should I believe in Jesus, what would YOU say?

What happened before Jesus arrived at the Jordan? John explained that God told him he would know the one by the sign of the spirit alighting no him. So, up until that point, it means that John did NOT know. So why not? Apparently Elizabeth knew, when Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Why didn't SHE educate her son? The most important event, the actual entire PURPOSE of Israel, was being fulfilled and she didn't raise and educate her son that his cousin is the Christ? The messiah? It makes no sense.

And, Mary and Jesus' brothers thinking Jesus was possessed. What's with that?

The truth is, that faith was lacking. Despite thousands of years of preparation by God and the prophets, when the rubber hit the road, and Jesus was born, even his extended family fell into faithlessness and failed to recognize and believe that he was indeed the Messiah. That ONLY changed right at the end.

If you have never experienced or observed once faithful people falling into faithlessness, on turning away from what they once believed, then maybe you cannot understand it. But even in the last 100 years, we have seen many, many people who once believed in God simply turn away.

That's what happened to John. Is it possible that he had doubts? Yes, his aunty was pregnant, but that was BEFORE she was married with her husband, Joseph. So is it poossible that doubt gnawed away at John, and the idea that his cousin might truly be the Christ he found so difficult to accept, that eventually it was ONLY by a direct miracle from God showing him that he recognized it? But what happened after? Even Peter, even Andrew, even Philip, THEY followed and believed in Jesus and spread his word. Did John?

John thinking that he must decrease and Jesus must increase shows his spiritual ignorance and lack of awareness. ANY disciple who believed in and united with Jesus would increase.

John came in the mission and spirit of Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy that Elijah must come again. Jesus explained this very clearly. BUT John, failed to become Jesus No. 1 disciple. He should have. He should have understood his mission. Even when the Jewish leaders came to ask John "Are you Elijah?" he denied it and said no. But Jesus later explained that he was. So John was ignorant of his own providential mission and purpose.

because John said he wasn't Elijah, the Jews could NOT believe in Jesus, because the last prophecy in the old testament scripture of the Israelites said that God would send Elijah before the Messiah comes. So, the Jewish leaders, etc, challenged the disciples. Where is Elijah, huh? Because they had already asked John if HE was the fulfillment of Elijah's second coming. The disciples queried Jesus about this, and he explained that - if you are willing to believe it - John is Elijah.

When Jesus was alive, Satan was attacking him and God more than any other time in History. The sorrowful fact is, that Satan undermined those around Jesus who should have known his mission and purpose. THAT is why he had to go to the tax collectors, the outcasts, the uneducated. Because THEY had the heart to see and receive him, but those prepared did not.

Read again the parables of the wedding banquet, the vineyard owner, etc. The truth is all there but it takes eyes to see.

This truth only helps us to realize the deep suffering of Jesus, the pain and the loneliness and the profound sorrowful situation he faced, and yet, he got the victory, he won. He is the king of love and the king of heart, despite all of that faithlessness and failure. Only when we clearly come to understand the circumstances and reality to which the gospel is actually a record, can we put the pieces together and truly understand how great the Son of God truly is, and how his heart of love is greater than anything.

I understand that these ideas might not make sense in terms of your existing beliefs, particularly if you've been taught and believed all your life that John the Baptist never made any mistakes, or that Jesus never really faced any severe difficulties in his mission, but the scriptural facts are there.

Thanks for your reply.

Thank you for sharing your beliefs. I agree with you, that the nations of the world are not under God's rule. But there is a period of relative struggle, as God prepares the nations to come under his sovereignty. Indeed, Satan is/was "the ruler of this world", but even in one ruler's kingdom, there can be insurrections and rebellions. Look at the history of Christianity. If Satan's rule was absolute, then Christianity would never have grown, expanded and developed.

Regarding John, you make certain assumptions, some of which I think are reasonable, but it's important to look at the facts. The evidence is there if one has eyes to see, that John failed in his faith, DESPITE the fact that he was Jesus' cousin. if John told all his disciples, go to Jesus, join with him, he is the one, do you think they would NOT have believed him? So why would he NOT tell them to follow Jesus? If someone asked you, even not your disciples, should I believe in Jesus, what would YOU say?

What happened before Jesus arrived at the Jordan? John explained that God told him he would know the one by the sign of the spirit alighting no him. So, up until that point, it means that John did NOT know. So why not? Apparently Elizabeth knew, when Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Why didn't SHE educate her son? The most important event, the actual entire PURPOSE of Israel, was being fulfilled and she didn't raise and educate her son that his cousin is the Christ? The messiah? It makes no sense.

And, Mary and Jesus' brothers thinking Jesus was possessed. What's with that?

The truth is, that faith was lacking. Despite thousands of years of preparation by God and the prophets, when the rubber hit the road, and Jesus was born, even his extended family fell into faithlessness and failed to recognize and believe that he was indeed the Messiah. That ONLY changed right at the end.

If you have never experienced or observed once faithful people falling into faithlessness, on turning away from what they once believed, then maybe you cannot understand it. But even in the last 100 years, we have seen many, many people who once believed in God simply turn away.

That's what happened to John. Is it possible that he had doubts? Yes, his aunty was pregnant, but that was BEFORE she was married with her husband, Joseph. So is it poossible that doubt gnawed away at John, and the idea that his cousin might truly be the Christ he found so difficult to accept, that eventually it was ONLY by a direct miracle from God showing him that he recognized it? But what happened after? Even Peter, even Andrew, even Philip, THEY followed and believed in Jesus and spread his word. Did John?

John thinking that he must decrease and Jesus must increase shows his spiritual ignorance and lack of awareness. ANY disciple who believed in and united with Jesus would increase.

John came in the mission and spirit of Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy that Elijah must come again. Jesus explained this very clearly. BUT John, failed to become Jesus No. 1 disciple. He should have. He should have understood his mission. Even when the Jewish leaders came to ask John "Are you Elijah?" he denied it and said no. But Jesus later explained that he was. So John was ignorant of his own providential mission and purpose.

because John said he wasn't Elijah, the Jews could NOT believe in Jesus, because the last prophecy in the old testament scripture of the Israelites said that God would send Elijah before the Messiah comes. So, the Jewish leaders, etc, challenged the disciples. Where is Elijah, huh? Because they had already asked John if HE was the fulfillment of Elijah's second coming. The disciples queried Jesus about this, and he explained that - if you are willing to believe it - John is Elijah.

When Jesus was alive, Satan was attacking him and God more than any other time in History. The sorrowful fact is, that Satan undermined those around Jesus who should have known his mission and purpose. THAT is why he had to go to the tax collectors, the outcasts, the uneducated. Because THEY had the heart to see and receive him, but those prepared did not.

Read again the parables of the wedding banquet, the vineyard owner, etc. The truth is all there but it takes eyes to see.

This truth only helps us to realize the deep suffering of Jesus, the pain and the loneliness and the profound sorrowful situation he faced, and yet, he got the victory, he won. He is the king of love and the king of heart, despite all of that faithlessness and failure. Only when we clearly come to understand the circumstances and reality to which the gospel is actually a record, can we put the pieces together and truly understand how great the Son of God truly is, and how his heart of love is greater than anything.

I understand that these ideas might not make sense, particularly if you've been taught end believed all your life that John the Baptist never made any mistakes, or that Jesus never really faced any severe difficulties in his mission, but the scriptures are there.

Thanks for your reply.

Thank you for sharing your beliefs. I agree with you, that the nations of the world are not under God's rule. But there is a period of relative struggle, as God prepares the nations to come under his sovereignty. Indeed, Satan is/was "the ruler of this world", but even in one ruler's kingdom, there can be insurrections and rebellions. Look at the history of Christianity. If Satan's rule was absolute, then Christianity would never have grown, expanded and developed.

Regarding John, you make certain assumptions, some of which I think are reasonable, but it's important to look at the facts. The evidence is there if one has eyes to see, that John failed in his faith, DESPITE the fact that he was Jesus' cousin. if John told all his disciples, go to Jesus, join with him, he is the one, do you think they would NOT have believed him? So why would he NOT tell them to follow Jesus? If someone asked you, even not your disciples, should I believe in Jesus, what would YOU say?

What happened before Jesus arrived at the Jordan? John explained that God told him he would know the one by the sign of the spirit alighting no him. So, up until that point, it means that John did NOT know. So why not? Apparently Elizabeth knew, when Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Why didn't SHE educate her son? The most important event, the actual entire PURPOSE of Israel, was being fulfilled and she didn't raise and educate her son that his cousin is the Christ? The messiah? It makes no sense.

And, Mary and Jesus' brothers thinking Jesus was possessed. What's with that?

The truth is, that faith was lacking. Despite thousands of years of preparation by God and the prophets, when the rubber hit the road, and Jesus was born, even his extended family fell into faithlessness and failed to recognize and believe that he was indeed the Messiah. That ONLY changed right at the end.

If you have never experienced or observed once faithful people falling into faithlessness, on turning away from what they once believed, then maybe you cannot understand it. But even in the last 100 years, we have seen many, many people who once believed in God simply turn away.

That's what happened to John. Is it possible that he had doubts? Yes, his aunty was pregnant, but that was BEFORE she was married with her husband, Joseph. So is it poossible that doubt gnawed away at John, and the idea that his cousin might truly be the Christ he found so difficult to accept, that eventually it was ONLY by a direct miracle from God showing him that he recognized it? But what happened after? Even Peter, even Andrew, even Philip, THEY followed and believed in Jesus and spread his word. Did John?

John thinking that he must decrease and Jesus must increase shows his spiritual ignorance and lack of awareness. ANY disciple who believed in and united with Jesus would increase.

John came in the mission and spirit of Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy that Elijah must come again. Jesus explained this very clearly. BUT John, failed to become Jesus No. 1 disciple. He should have. He should have understood his mission. Even when the Jewish leaders came to ask John "Are you Elijah?" he denied it and said no. But Jesus later explained that he was. So John was ignorant of his own providential mission and purpose.

because John said he wasn't Elijah, the Jews could NOT believe in Jesus, because the last prophecy in the old testament scripture of the Israelites said that God would send Elijah before the Messiah comes. So, the Jewish leaders, etc, challenged the disciples. Where is Elijah, huh? Because they had already asked John if HE was the fulfillment of Elijah's second coming. The disciples queried Jesus about this, and he explained that - if you are willing to believe it - John is Elijah.

When Jesus was alive, Satan was attacking him and God more than any other time in History. The sorrowful fact is, that Satan undermined those around Jesus who should have known his mission and purpose. THAT is why he had to go to the tax collectors, the outcasts, the uneducated. Because THEY had the heart to see and receive him, but those prepared did not.

Read again the parables of the wedding banquet, the vineyard owner, etc. The truth is all there but it takes eyes to see.

This truth only helps us to realize the deep suffering of Jesus, the pain and the loneliness and the profound sorrowful situation he faced, and yet, he got the victory, he won. He is the king of love and the king of heart, despite all of that faithlessness and failure. Only when we clearly come to understand the circumstances and reality to which the gospel is actually a record, can we put the pieces together and truly understand how great the Son of God truly is, and how his heart of love is greater than anything.

Thank you for sharing your beliefs. I agree with you, that the nations of the world are not under God's rule. But there is a period of relative struggle, as God prepares the nations to come under his sovereignty. Indeed, Satan is/was "the ruler of this world", but even in one ruler's kingdom, there can be insurrections and rebellions. Look at the history of Christianity. If Satan's rule was absolute, then Christianity would never have grown, expanded and developed.

Regarding John, the evidence is clearly there if one has eyes to see, that John failed in his faith, DESPITE the fact that he was Jesus's cousin. Did Jesus' disciples disbelieve what Jesus told them? No. So if John told all his disciples, go to Jesus, join with him, he is the one, do you think they would NOT have believed him?

What happened before Jesus arrived at the Jordan? John explained that God told him he would know the one by the sign of the spirit alighting no him. So, up until that point, it means that John did NOT know. So why not? Apparently Elizabeth knew, when Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Why didn't SHE educate her son? The most important event, the actual entire PURPOSE of Israel, was being fulfilled and she didn't raise and educate her son that his cousin is the Christ? The messiah? It makes no sense.

And, Mary and Jesus' brothers thinking Jesus was possessed. What's with that?

The truth is, that faith was lacking. Despite thousands of years of preparation by God and the prophets, when the rubber hit the road, and Jesus was born, even his extended family fell into faithlessness and failed to recognize and believe that he was indeed the Messiah. That ONLY changed right at the end.

If you have never experienced or observed once faithful people falling into faithlessness, on turning away from what they once believed, then maybe you cannot understand it. But even in the last 100 years, we have seen many, many people who once believed in God simply turn away.

That's what happened to John. Is it possible that he had doubts? Yes, his aunty was pregnant, but that was BEFORE she was married with her husband, Joseph. So is it poossible that doubt gnawed away at John, and the idea that his cousin might truly be the Christ he found so difficult to accept, that eventually it was ONLY by a direct miracle from God showing him that he recognized it? But what happened after? Even Peter, even Andrew, even Philip, THEY followed and believed in Jesus and spread his word. Did John?

John thinking that he must decrease and Jesus must increase shows his spiritual ignorance and lack of awareness. ANY disciple who believed in and united with Jesus would increase.

John came in the mission and spirit of Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy that Elijah must come again. Jesus explained this very clearly. BUT John, failed to become Jesus No. 1 disciple. He should have. He should have understood his mission. Even when the Jewish leaders came to ask John "Are you Elijah?" he denied it and said no. But Jesus later explained that he was. So John was ignorant of his own providential mission and purpose.

because John said he wasn't Elijah, the Jews could NOT believe in Jesus, because the last prophecy in the old testament scripture of the Israelites said that God would send Elijah before the Messiah comes. So, the Jewish leaders, etc, challenged the disciples. Where is Elijah, huh? Because they had already asked John if HE was the fulfillment of Elijah's second coming. The disciples queried Jesus about this, and he explained that - if you are willing to believe it - John is Elijah.

When Jesus was alive, Satan was attacking him and God more than any other time in History. The sorrowful fact is, that Satan undermined those around Jesus who should have known his mission and purpose. THAT is why he had to go to the tax collectors, the outcasts, the uneducated. Because THEY had the heart to see and receive him, but those prepared did not.

Read again the parables of the wedding banquet, the vineyard owner, etc. The truth is all there but it takes eyes to see.

This truth only helps us to realize the deep suffering of Jesus, the pain and the loneliness and the profound sorrowful situation he faced, and yet, he got the victory, he won. He is the king of love and the king of heart, despite all of that faithlessness and failure. Only when we clearly come to understand the circumstances and reality to which the gospel is actually a record, can we put the pieces together and truly understand how great the Son of God truly is, and how his heart of love is greater than anything.