Brother Ron Craig – Shoals Insider

The Book of Revelation Describes The New Jerusalem

Staff — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:59:11 +0000

People will likely ask this question: “If God just renovates the surface of this planet instead of making an entirely new one, where will the inhabitants of this planet be located while He renovates it?

But, the same question could be asked about God’s plans to get the current inhabitants from this Old earth to the New earth; if He does make an entirely different planet. Will this old planet continue to exist until that New earth is finished, or will God make some kind of holding tank to house all of us until He has put the finishing touches on that new one? Good questions that challenge every reader to think! And hopefully provoke the truly interested parties to study! But, I am convinced that God is able to handle that situation and that He has already planned how He is going to take care of it when the time comes—which cannot be all that far away from now.    Of course, the Bible already has the answer. I presented several Scriptures in the previous article that tell us plainly that the planet we inhabit now will be around forever. However, all of the sin scars on the earth’s surface will have to be removed—2 Peter 3:10. And the depth of those sin scars will be the depth of that renovation. But this old planet itself will abide forever—says God’s Word.
   But now focusing on the new. First the new earth—this one renovated. John said in 21:1 that on the new earth there will be no more sea—which means no large oceans. That cannot mean the new earth will be just a desert. Obviously, the ecosystem will be renovated too. The new earth will be well watered. Then…I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). Think now: The new Jerusalem will not be constructed on earth and out of earthly materials. It will be made up in heaven and then be transported down to the new earth. Remember, the Lord assured His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3). He also said that in His Father’s house there were many rooms, which suggests that the city already existed even back then. Of course, if He was going to prepare a place for them, He would obviously come back to get them and take them to that place. Which He also promised them—and us.
   It seems that heaven and earth will come together in that new arrangement.Because, “I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them [on earth], and be their God (Revelation 21:3).’” If you remember, Adam heard God walking in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), suggesting that such was a common practice back in the beginning. And many Scriptures prophesy God will restore that practice.
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

Sometimes their expertise is not so expert after all

Staff — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:33:41 +0000

Christian Author and Pastor Ron Craig

But, what about Ezekiel 38 and 39? Daniel 11:44 is key. As the Antichrist is about to enter Jerusalem to crush it, “news from the east and the north will trouble him, and he will go out [obviously in those directions] to destroy and to annihilate many.” Well, East and North would certainly indicate China (maybe India) and Russia, so that is why at the last he will descend from the North and come back into Israel to annihilate it. That is when God will thoroughly destroy the Antichrist and His armies.

Check out Daniel 2:40-45. In the days of the 10 kings (ten toes—five from the Eastern division of the Old Roman Empire and 5 from the Western division—some with the strength of iron and some like clay), God will set up His visible Kingdom on earth, and it will never be destroyed. In other words, neither Satan nor fallen man will ever rule on earth again. Daniel 7:7-8 speaks of that little horn—the Antichrist—and 9-14 again prophesies that God will destroy the little horn—the Antichrist—and then set up His everlasting Kingdom over all the earth. Also Daniel 7:17-27 describes that same event, but gives additional details. Once again, Daniel 8:23-25 deals with the same events that will transpire in the end-times. Daniel 11:40-45 also describes those same events, revealing once again the demise of the Antichrist.

Strange how so many of those supposed experts on end-time prophecies are so ignorant of actual Bible Truth on that essential issue. They stumble over the number 10, insisting that it refers to the European Union, which at the present includes more than 20 states. And Russia was never part of the Roman Empire territory, so that certainly rules out Russia as the original stomping grounds of the little horn—the Antichrist. The book of Daniel identifies the actual place of origin of the Antichrist—the Middle East, not Russia—and those supposed end-times experts (with all of their studies) do not see it. So their expertise is not so expert after all. Study the Scriptures, not the theology of theologians, because it is not theology that sets people free, but God’s Word (John 8:31-32).

I promised to identify the only end-time teacher whom I know to get it right, that is scriptural, and now is the time. Dr. Finis Jennings Dake spent 100,000 hours on his Annotated Bible, in which he deals thoroughly with this end-time subject, just as he did with many other Bible subjects. I cannot say that I agree with everything he said on every issue, but I myself have spent lots of time over the years searching out his references on this subject. And if you really want to know the full Bible Truth regarding end-time events, then you too will have to do some searching of all the related Scripture passages on the subject. It is well-worth the effort. We have just begun this most enlightening journey.

(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com.)

Evolution is the biggest lie ever sold to humanity

Staff — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 14:55:27 +0000

Christian Author and Pastor Ron Craig

Before getting into those additional Scriptures about God’s use of human beings to do His deliverance projects on this planet, let us consider these alternatives suggested by outright sinners, as well as even by the members of some church denominations.

Maybe there is no God. Everything and everybody merely evolved, just as scientists tell us (and lambast anybody who says different). Thus, there are no actual deliverance projects. Everything happens by accident. And if there is no God, there is no devil, and therefore no judgment, and no hell. Just eat, drink and be marry, for tomorrow we die.

Or, perhaps God does exist, and, even though He used to be powerful, the Almighty somehow lost His almightiness sometime since Jesus was here. Or, perhaps there was no Jesus either. He was merely a legend. (Even some religious people believe that lie.)

Another possibility: God does exist, and He is still all-powerful. But, He simply does not care all that much about what happens on this planet. That would not be a matter of His power or ability, but of His character. (Who would want to malign the character of the Creator? Surely you know! The devil himself must be behind each and every one of these and many other malignant and stupid arguments made by educated people. Educated, but educated in what? EDUCATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE HONESTY.)

This might lose me some readers, but it might actually gain me some extra readers. The theory of evolution is the biggest lie the devil has ever sold the human race. Let me explain. Today (as in all of human history), no human being can accomplish anything without intelligent design. Cars and highways, houses and furniture, food production, preparation and preservation, etc., etc., etc., all require intelligent design! And yet, highly-educated people insist that mankind (who can achieve nothing without intelligent design) came into being by mere accident. All will have to admit that, if man did not come into being by intelligent design by a Super-intelligent Designer, then man truly is a mere accident. Life itself is an accident. There is no such thing, then, as love, because love (true love) suggests purpose. And purpose points to deliberate design.

Even the church-owned-and-operated-college which I attended taught the evolution theory. They tried to tie evolution into the Bible account, but failed miserably to do so. It is embarrassing to think that any church, let alone a large percentage of the church, would capitulate to worldly pressure and not only accept evolution, but actually push that lie on their own church members. I do not envy such hypocrites, because…

God does exist—the God of the Bible. And not only does He exist, but He has lost none of His power. There is also a devil and sin and accountability. Hiding the facts does not alter the facts. It merely deceives people and lines them up for judgment, which is sure to come, and that in the not-too-distant future. Get back to the Bible!

(If you are not a committed member of some other Christian fellowship, you are invited to visit Living Way Fellowship at 2041 County Road 73, in Killen area. From Killen, going north on US 43, turn right on County Road 73 and go 2 and 1/2 miles. We are on the right. You can’t miss the sign out front—Living Way Fellowship. Sunday 10:00 A.M., Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Ron Craig is the pastor, teacher and Christian book author. Contact us at ronwritercraig@gmail.com, or log onto our church website at www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged

on our website, check out my books and audio podcasts. Wouldn’t hurt!)

Pastor Ron Craig: Those that pervert the Gospel message are accursed

Staff — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:41:35 +0000

Author and Pastor Ron Craig

If what is being taught and practiced in much of the modern church is in any way different from what Jesus and the early church taught and practiced, why is that so, and when did it begin to take place? Who had the audacity to tamper with the very Word of God? Remember, according to 1 John 5:10, to deny anything God included in the Gospel message is the same as calling God a liar. In addition, in Galatians 1:6-9, Paul warned against anyone perverting the Gospel message which he preached and said plainly that those who do so are accursed. That is an age-long principle, so was not true just back in Paul’s day. That and all other dire warnings to tamper not with the Word of God are still in effect today. We are supposed to be preaching the same Gospel message, with the same supernatural power, today that Jesus, Paul and others preached back in their days on earth! Moreover, our Savior said in no uncertain terms in John 12:48 that the very same words He spoke on earth while He was here will be the words used to judge everyone at the end of this age. That has to mean that as far as God is concerned the original Gospel has never changed. In fact, all of the above Scriptures, plus a lot of others, plainly bear out that Bible Truth. So, how did the church get to the powerless position it occupies today?

On our church website, you will see several books I have written on this and other Bible subjects. Three of them deal with what is known as Calvinism. The modern church is literally saturated with John Calvin’s cowardly doctrine known as Cessationism. Cessationism teaches that miracles were experienced only by Christians in the early days of the church, and were not meant for later generations of believers. That is an anti-Gospel doctrine, which literally denies all of the Scriptures I have presented in these articles. Cessationism is pushed upon church members in many denominations. Moreover, anyone who dares to question that cowardly teaching is branded as a heretic in numerous cases. However, those pushing Cessationism are the real heretics, according to Jesus, Paul, and the entire New Testament. Let us contend for the original faith—Jude 3. If we do, we can believe God for miracles today just as they did back in those early days. In fact, genuine Bible miracles are being experienced around the world today just as in early days. Since human nature and needs are the same today as they ever were, then we need supernatural solutions just as much as any previous generation! More enlightening historical information next time!

Ron Craig: Enemy still seeking someone to devour

Staff — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 19:17:09 +0000

Reverend Ron Craig

Just a casual observation of world events makes it obvious that God is not forcing His will (as expressed in the Bible) on anyone in the world. It is obvious as well that Satan is attempting to force his will on the population of this entire planet. But remember that the Bible states in no uncertain terms that the devil is now an outcast (John 12:31-32), and that he has been rendered ineffective (Hebrews 2:14), and that we believers have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). How does all that Scripture testimony square with raw documented evidence that evil seems to be prevailing on this planet today?

Here is a Bible Truth many people (even believers) seem not to be aware of. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross had absolutely no effect on the devil himself. He remains the spiritual father of every person outside Christ (John 8:44, 1 John 3:10, 5:19), he still walks about seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), and is still the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan still has the authority of darkness (Acts 26:18 and Colossians 1:13), and still works evil in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). He yet steals, kills, and destroys (John 10:10). ONLY True Christians have been delivered from Satan and his evil powers. That is a key truth you will want to grab hold of. Indeed, the true church must lay hold of the Bible Truth that it is ONLY IN CHRIST that the devil has been defeated and we believers have truly been set free. ONLY IN CHRIST!

If you are truly interested in learning these truths you must research these Scripture passages. You cannot afford to let them pass you by. Jesus said that if you continue in His Word you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32). People bereft of Bible Truth are in bondage to Satan’s lies!

Still does not answer the question about what to do about all the evil in this world. We are getting there. Just needed to establish these foundational truths so we will understand what we can and cannot do about the evil on our planet.

(If you are not a committed member of some other Christian fellowship, you are invited to visit Living Way Fellowship at 2041 County Road 73, in Killen area. From Killen, going north on US 43, turn right on County Road 73 and go 2 and 1/2 miles. We are on the right. You can’t miss the sign out front—Living Way Fellowship. Sunday 10:00 A.M., Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Ron Craig is the pastor, teacher, and Christian book author. Contact us at ronwritercraig@gmail.com, or log onto our church website at www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org.)