RUSSELL SANDERS

10-8-2025

ETERNAL JOY

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The largest church in Christendom has a teaching, a doctrine, that when a person dies, their unrighteous soul does not go directly to either heaven or hell, but into a state of limbo in between called purgatory. They then teach that a family or friend can pay a priest to pray them out of limbo [purgatory] and into heaven. They call this a ransom that is paid to redeem their soul.

This teaching is heresy [not biblical]. It directly contradicts the bible where it says in Psalm 49:7 and 9, “None [not even one] of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, that he should still live forever [in heaven] and not see corruption.” This makes it clear that no amount of money paid out can serve as a ransom to redeem a soul. The status of our soul is fixed for eternity at the time of our death on earth.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Death is not followed by a second chance at redemption. Choosing redemption is a choice one makes when they are alive; not a postmortem choice.

You must choose God while he may be found. No choices are made after a person dies. It is too late. 

The joy of the Lord is a blessing to the living, and the inheritance of the righteous dead. This joy is eternal. Choose wisely.

HELEN SANDERS

10-8-2025

THE SEED PART 10

DAVID

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Moses had no idea how rebellious the Israelites would become. They were now in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan. What should have only taken days would take 40 years because of their murmuring and complaining.

Rebellions arose and many lost their lives during those 40 years. Idol worship was preferred over worshiping God. After putting up with the rebels for forty years, Moses lost his temper. He struck the rock that would bring forth water instead of speaking to it. Why was this bad? 1 Corinthians 10:4b says, “…that Rock was Christ.” It would cost him his ticket to the Promised Land. He died without ever entering Canaan. God then raised up Joshua to take the children into Canaan. .

When the people preferred a king so they could be like everyone else, God raised up King David. He was given a promise from God through the prophet Nathan. In 2 Samuel 7:13, “He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” The promised seed would come through David's seed.

There would be evil kings that would cause the Israelites to sacrifice their children to Baal, with Satan’s plan to destroy the seed. There would be good kings that would cause the Israelites to get back on track. Their relationship with God was up and down for years.

Isaiah spoke in Isaiah 65:9, “And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.”  Again, in verse 23 he said, “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”

Prophet after prophet warned Israel that they needed to repent and turn back to God, but they did not listen. The prophet Micah prophesied Messiah would come in Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  

Finally, the rebellion and sin of turning away from God caused the Israelites to be taken captive and dispersed. Jerusalem would be destroyed and the light of hope for the promised seed became dim. Several hundred years would pass before they would hear from God. But God would keep his promise. The light would become a flame.

The promised seed would continue, but centuries would pass before that seed would come forth. Tomorrow we will see how a virgin in the lineage of David would be told by an angel that she would bring forth the promised seed.