> [!title|noicon] **Statement of Beneficence and Benevolence** ^top <br> Living in a time such as this, with all of the unrest, division, delusion, extremism, radicalization, hatred, thievery, murder and fear all over the place, it's imperative to positively promote and support Biblical beneficence and benevolence, to continue being a light in this extremely dark world. The Bible declares many tough things that are hard to digest for a sensitive modern society. There is intense language of spiritual warfare between God and the human race, and of the severe judgments of God upon the wicked -- even judgment unto eternal death, that are happening outright in our day. Left at that, the message of the Bible for the human race at large is deeply gloomy and dark outside of Christ. However, it must always be kept in mind that the Bible is a *spiritual* book. The battle is a spiritual battle, with the Bible acting as the Sword of the *Spirit*: > *And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. . . .* (Ephesians 6:17) > > *Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.* (1 Corinthians 2:13) <br> As such, Christians are to send forth the Gospel (the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God) prayerfully and with love toward the spiritual enemies of God (having once been spiritual enemies to God themselves) -- with compassion, with the desire for salvation and eternal life to the hearers. Sadly, the reaction and response to God's message in return is generally indifference, ridicule, derision and even hatred, because the human race has an intense detestation for the God of the Bible, and His very Word causes them to recoil and to silence the Truth at all costs: > *For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [that is, suppress] the truth in unrighteousness;* (Romans 1:18) <br> Thus, indeed, judgment and death will soon eventuate for the sin-cursed world -- from God Himself. But it shall never come from His people who are called to publicize His Word with the hope of mercy and grace upon those God plans to save. So the description of the Bible as a Sword is a spiritual concept, as God is Spirit, and believers are *never* called to fight physically: > *God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.* (John 4:24) > > *Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.* (John 18:36) <br> The Bible, and thus this website, emphatically rejects any and all physical violence and/or harm to others of any kind as ambassadors for Christ, but rather advances the hope of eternal life through His Word. Nevertheless, we are called to *declare* the harsh judgments of God upon the world for its spiritual bondage to sin and Satan in its agreement to wage war against God. But it is God who brings judgment against His enemies in His time with NO physical action whatsoever taken on the part of His people: > *Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.* (Romans 12:19) > > *And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.* (1 Sam 17:47) > > *Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will be] with you.* (2 Chr 20:17) > > *Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.* (Zech 14:3) <br> When God brings final judgment upon this world, it will be an act infinitely greater than something small such as the sun exploding and destroying the earth and the solar system. God will destroy the entire creation, the whole universe, by fire as it collapses upon itself like a "reverse big bang." This is very obviously not something that any person can do, only Christ Himself can accomplish this. In the meantime, we are simply to warn of this fiery end, just as we would want anyone to warn us of a coming calamity and to publish the Way of Escape for us. The calamity itself cannot be prevented, but an early enough warning may be enough to spare us from the death and destruction left in its wake. And it will be far sooner than the wise of this world have everyone believe. > *Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.* (Luke 17:28-30) > > *But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.* (2 Pet 3:7-13) > > *And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree.* (Isa 34:4) > > *And account [that] the long-suffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;* (2 Pet 3:15)