Rick Tryon

Watchdog Alert: The Catholic Church

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Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on news and events from the world of faith and religion and brings that content to our readers.

Catholic Diocese of Syracuse Bankruptcy Exit Plan Accepted

A bankruptcy court has approved the Diocese of Syracuse’s exit plan, which includes a comprehensive settlement sending $176 million to survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
From WSTM

Pope Leo XIV Condemns Forced Evacuation in Gaza

Pope Leo XIV strongly criticized Israeli plans for forcibly evacuating Gaza City, calling it a violation of international law. He urged for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and emphasized the duty of clergy to remain with the vulnerable, condemning the evacuation as a form of “collective punishment.”
From The Times

Catholic Men Answer Call to Protect Parishes

An apostolate inspired by traditional Church practices is now training Catholic men to enhance parish security. This initiative is a modern response to growing safety concerns, aiming to prepare volunteers to act as guardians of their local communities.
From National Catholic Register

Tragic Mass Shooting at Minneapolis Catholic School

A horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis left two children dead and around 17 injured during a school Mass. Authorities are investigating the event as a potential hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. The community mourns, with leaders calling for stronger protections for places of worship.
From AP News

They Said It: Four Famous Quotes On Spiritual Warfare

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When a horrific, inexplicable act of intentional evil is carried out by someone, should we always blame it on ‘mental illness’? I think we need to examine the reality more closely in many cases and acknowledge that we are engaged in a battle with spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (KJV)

Here are four famous quotes on the subject.

C.S. Lewis (The Screwtape Letters, 1942):
“There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.”

    John Piper (Desiring God):
    “Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth.”

      Charles Spurgeon (sermon on The Christian Soldier):
      “Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.”

        A.W. Tozer (This World: Playground or Battleground?):
        “People think of the world not as a battleground, but as a playground. We are not here to fight; we are here to frolic. We are not in a foreign land; we are at home. We are not getting ready to live; we are already living. And the idea that this world is a battleground has now been rejected by the great majority of Christians.”

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          Please take a minute to subscribe to the Bible Rebel monthly newsletter – it’s free and will keep you up to date on all our articles, videos, and features.

          Our Mission at Bible Rebel

          1. To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
          2. To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
          3. To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
          4. To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

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          Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will.
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          So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.

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          July/August Highlights

          Rethinking The Rapture: N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture’ Redux

          Why Does God Allow Children To Drown?

          They Said It: Quotes From Os Guinness 

          Chariots Of Fire All Around You: One-Minute Video Message

          Ten-episode Bible 101 video series completed

          Watchdog Alert: Middle East Update

          Osteen Vs Jesus

          Rethinking The Rapture: Another Look At N.T. Wright

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          Continuing our ‘Rethinking The Rapture’ series, I want to revisit N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture” essay.

          Here, Wright addresses the image of believers being suctioned up into the air and taken away to heaven at the return of Christ, as popularized in modern novels and movies:

          “…Paul conjures up images of an emperor visiting a colony or province.  The citizens go out to meet him in open country and then escort him into the city.  Paul’s image of the people “meeting the Lord in the air” should be read with the assumption that the people will immediately turn around and lead the Lord back to the newly remade world.

          Paul’s mixed metaphors of trumpets blowing and the living being snatched into heaven to meet the Lord are not to be understood as literal truth, as the Left Behind series suggests, but as a vivid and biblically allusive description of the great transformation of the present world of which he speaks elsewhere.”

          Wright makes another very poignant observation about the current worldview of some Christians who believe, wrongly in my opinion, that scripture teaches that believers will be scooped up to avoid a ‘Great Tribulation’, then return seven years later with Jesus to dish out the final portion of God’s wrath on the world.

          “Paul’s misunderstood metaphors present a challenge for us: How can we reuse biblical imagery, including Paul’s, so as to clarify the truth, not distort it?  And how can we do so, as he did, in such a way as to subvert the political imagery of the dominant and dehumanizing empires of our world?  We might begin by asking, What view of the world is sustained, even legitimized, by the Left Behind ideology?  How might it be confronted and subverted by genuinely biblical thinking?  For a start, is not the Left Behind mentality in thrall to a dualistic view of reality that allows people to pollute God’s world on the grounds that it’s all going to be destroyed soon?  Wouldn’t this be overturned if we recaptured Paul’s wholistic vision of God’s whole creation?“

          Let’s allow the whole Word of God to speak to us and teach us rather than magnifying pet verses out of context and being seduced by pop theology – like Left Behind.

          Rethinking The Rapture: Introduction

          Rethinking The Rapture: Questions

          Rethinking The Rapture: More Questions

          Rethinking The Rapture: N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture’

          Rethinking The Rapture: What 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Doesn’t Say

          Rethinking The Rapture: Millions Of Christians Were Not Delivered From Wrath

          Rethinking The Rapture: What Does ‘Delivered From Wrath’ Mean?

          Rethinking The Rapture: What Does ‘Delivered From Wrath’ Mean? Part 2

          Rethinking The Rapture: In The Twinkling Of An Eye

          Rethinking The Rapture: Matthew 24:40-42

          Rethinking The Rapture: N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture’ Redux

          Rethinking The Rapture: Send In The Clouds?

          They Said It: Four Famous Quotes On The Founding Of Modern Israel

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          Photo via cottonbro studio at pexels.com

          Regardless of what one my think about the purity of the Jewish bloodline today, the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948 was a remarkable historic event.

          Here are some quotes from some of the leaders of the time who witnessed and were part of that history.

          David Ben-Gurion, May 14, 1948 (Declaration of Independence):
          “The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel.”

            Chaim Weizmann, 1948 (first President of Israel):
            “Miraculously, the Jewish people have survived through the centuries, and now, with the establishment of the State of Israel, we have returned to our rightful home.”

              Harry S. Truman, May 14, 1948 (U.S. recognition of Israel):
              “I had faith in Israel before it was established; I have faith in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it—not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.”

                Golda Meir (reflecting on 1948):
                “When peace comes, we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.”

                Watchdog Alert: The Latest Biblical Archaeology News

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                Photo via Виктор Соломоник at pexels.com

                Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on discoveries and news from the world of biblical archaeology and brings it to our readers.

                Rare gold coin of Queen Berenice II found in Jerusalem (Aug 20, 2025)
                Archaeologists in the City of David uncovered a ~2,200-year-old pure-gold quarter-drachma depicting the Ptolemaic queen Berenice II (3rd c. BCE). It’s the first of its type found in a controlled excavation in Jerusalem and sheds light on Hellenistic-period Jerusalem’s economy and connections with Egypt.
                The Times of Israelעיר דוד

                “For the Redemption of Zion” revolt coin near the Temple Mount (Jul 31, 2025)
                A rare bronze coin minted in Year Four of the Great Jewish Revolt (69–70 CE) was discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden–Davidson Center. The coin’s paleo-Hebrew inscription shifts from earlier “Freedom of Zion” issues to “Redemption of Zion,” reflecting besieged Jerusalem’s mood shortly before the Temple’s destruction.
                The Times of Israelעיר דוד

                Temple Mount bulla with biblical-era personal names (Jul 30, 2025)
                The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced a 2,600-year-old clay sealing (bulla) reading “Belonging to Yed[a]yah son of Asayahu,” names that appear in the Hebrew Bible. Though found in sifted soil (not an in-situ context), it adds to epigraphic evidence for First Temple–period Jerusalem’s administrative activity. OmnesArchaeology

                Dead Sea Scrolls redated using radiocarbon + AI (Jun 4, 2025)
                A peer-reviewed PLOS ONE study combined new radiocarbon testing (after removing 1950s castor-oil contamination) with an AI handwriting model (“Enoch”). Results suggest many scrolls—some biblical—are older than previously thought, with two fragments potentially contemporary with their presumed authors. This recalibrates timelines for script development and Second Temple-era texts.
                Live Science

                Watchdog Alert: Wars

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                Here is Jesus, in Matthew 24:6-7, teaching his disciples about the end times. But also encouraging them to ‘see that ye be not troubled’.

                “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (KJV)

                Russia–Ukraine Conflict

                “Ukraine hit by multiple Russian strikes amid US-led push for end to war”
                Multiple Russian strikes — the largest this month — struck Ukraine amid ongoing diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the U.S. following meetings between President Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders.
                From Al Jazeera

                “Russia-Ukraine exchange fire after Trump-Zelenskyy meet: Moscow launches biggest attack on Kyiv in August; Volgograd governor says oil refinery on fire”
                After a Washington summit between Trump and Zelenskyy, intense exchanges of fire ensued. Moscow launched its most significant August assault on Kyiv, and an oil refinery in Volgograd reportedly caught fire amid the clashes.
                From The Times of India

                “In Donbas, Ukrainians hold out as Russia besieges, bargains for their land”
                Despite relentless Russian pressure in eastern Donbas, Ukrainian defenders and civilians remain fiercely resistant to ceding territory. Even after setbacks, such as the fall of Chasiv Yar, key strongholds like Kramatorsk and Slovyansk hold firm, underscoring both tactical resilience and deep national resolve.
                From The Washington Post

                Israel–Hamas Conflict

                “Israel is evaluating a Hamas proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and partial hostage release”
                Israel is reviewing a deal from Hamas offering a 60-day truce and the release of 28 hostages (10 alive, 18 deceased) in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors. Egypt and Qatar are mediating, but Israel continues demanding full hostage release and is advancing plans for a ground offensive in Gaza City amid escalating violence.
                From Reuters

                “Qatar urges a Gaza ceasefire after ‘positive response’ from Hamas”
                Hamas has positively responded to a ceasefire proposal that includes a 60-day truce, phased hostage releases, and steps toward peace negotiations. Israel, however, has not yet replied. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire, with high death tolls and limited aid access.
                From AP News

                Prince Phillip’s ‘Haunting Desolation’

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                In an excerpt from The Crown, Season 3 Episode 7 (“Moondust”) – a monologue delivered in the show by Prince Phillip the during his moment of mid-life crisis, speaking to a gathering of priests at St. George’s House, the writer and actor capture the essence of a meaningless existence as opposed to the wonder and ecstasy of knowing God.

                “My mother died recently. She saw something was amiss. She saw that something was missing in her youngest child, her only son. Faith. ‘How’s your faith’, she asked me.

                I am here to admit to you that I’ve lost it. And without it, what is there? The loneliness and emptiness and anticlimax of going all the way to the moon and finding nothing but haunting desolation, ghostly silence, gloom. That is what faithlessness is.

                As opposed to finding wonder, ecstasy, the miracle of divine creation, God’s design and purpose.”