Operation Epic Fury isn’t a biblically prophesied event.
Debating whether modern Israel is the same as ancient, biblical Israel or whether modern Jews are from the same bloodline as the original Twelve Tribes muddies the issue and misses the point.
America is working in tandem with, and supporting, a long-time friend and strategic geopolitical ally, Israel, to neutralize a common existential threat. Doing so isn’t “serving our Zionist masters” or “sending our young people to die for Netanyahu.” It’s common sense and the right thing to do because it’s a national-security necessity.
Nor is it against God’s will to oppose the ongoing conflict with Iran. In fact, the current conflict with Iran shouldn’t be cast as a biblical issue at all.
Chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is effectively code for “Wipe Israel off the map and exterminate the Jews,” a goal the mullahs in Iran have openly stated. Therefore, Israel is fully justified in taking strong military action against that threat.
Chanting “Death to America,” regarding our country as the “Great Satan,” building nuclear weapons, and working tirelessly to find ways to continue to kill Americans and destroy our way of life—which the current Iranian regime has been doing for over four decades—are reason enough for America to declare, “Enough is enough.”
We don’t need biblical affirmation, prophetic permission, or a “standing with God’s chosen people” rationale in order to work with an ally to remove the malignant tumor that threatens our kids and grandkids. All we need is the wisdom and courage to see it through.
When he was a young clerk J.C. Penney worked in a small Colorado dry-goods store, he wasn’t given any special authority or status. But he consistently showed up early, treated every customer with unusual respect, and took personal responsibility for even the smallest tasks. His reliability stood out so much that the store’s owners trusted him with ordering inventory, managing accounts, and eventually running the entire operation whenever they were away. His steady character—not flash or ambition—proved he could be trusted with more.
That faithfulness paid off. The owners later invited Penney to become a partner in a new store, giving him far more responsibility than he had ever held before. He poured the same diligence into that opportunity, and it eventually grew into the nationwide J.C. Penney Company. His rise wasn’t sudden or glamorous—it was the natural reward for someone who quietly proved his worth day after day until greater responsibility became the obvious next step.
The Apostle Paul says something a little surprising in his second letter to the believers in Corinth: followers of Jesus will one day appear before His judgment seat.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
This isn’t to judge whether or not the believer is saved. That judgment was already made when Jesus took our place on the cross, God raised Him from the dead, and we believed in that resurrection and confessed Christ as our Lord.
The judgment seat talked about here is the one where the faithful receive their assignments in the world to come based on the good works we did for Him in our lives.
Echoes In Eternity
Our words and actions now will follow us into God’s heaven-on-earth, and when each of us appears before Jesus Christ, He will decide who can be entrusted with which responsibilities as His rule reaches over the whole new and glorious world.
We will have jobs to do in that new world. What an amazing and wonderful eternity God has in store for us! No more death, sickness, pain, or evil.
Nothing done in our lives is meaningless; it all follows us into an endless eternity in an endless universe with the job of keeping God’s creation running and in good order, where we will once again be the full, shining bearers of God’s image.
Earning Some Crowns
The Bible also tells us about our coming rewards and responsibilities and describes them as crowns.
There is the crown of righteousness for those who love Christ’s appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
A crown of life is promised to those who love the Lord and patiently endure the troubles of life.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
A crown of glory is given to faithful shepherds of God’s people.
1 Peter 5:3-4 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
And an imperishable crown is promised to those who are disciplined and run the marathon of life in faith.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
See, God remembers every patient, faithful good work, every resisted temptation, and all of our obedient acts done in love. There is nothing that we do for Him that disappears or is forgotten.
Our rewards and new jobs in God’s heaven-on-earth are real and waiting for us to claim them by what we do in the here-and-now.
3,300‑Year‑Old Egyptian Papyrus Reignites Debate Over the Nephilim
A newly analyzed Egyptian papyrus dating to around 1300 BC has sparked renewed discussion about the biblical Nephilim—figures described as giants in Genesis and Numbers.
The document contains mythological and historical references that some researchers believe may parallel ancient Near Eastern traditions reflected in the Bible.
While not direct evidence of biblical giants, it has intensified scholarly debate about how ancient cultures understood such beings.
“The Bible mentions the existence of giants in a number of key places,” according to Associates for Biblical Research. “The story of David’s confrontation with Goliath (I Samuel 17: 4) is but one example. Deuteronomy 3:11 tells us of Og, the King of Bashan. He was said to be the last of the Rephaim—a race of giants. Ishbi-Benob of II Samuel 21: 16 is another example. Giants and races of giants appear in numerous places throughout the Scriptures.”
This is a repost of the second letter in our Death Row Letters series.
Dear Anti-natalists and Nihilists,
It may strike you as odd, writing letters to those of you who embrace nihilism and anti-natalism from a person on death row. But as I pointed out in my first letter, we’re all on death row. So not so odd after all, right?
I’ll start by making sure I understand who y’all anti-natalists and nihilists are and what it is that you claim to believe. Definitions.
Anti-natalism, according to the cambridge.org dictionary is defined as “…the belief that it is morally wrong to have children or that people should be encouraged not to have children.”
Allow me to point out the obvious here, I’m glad that my parents didn’t think that way. I understand that there may be some who have reason to believe that life is nothing but a sad and miserable existence, even a tortuous, horrible existence.
But I’m quite certain that the overwhelming majority of folks in the world are pretty happy to be alive. This seems self-evident.
So why not have kids, babies, bambinos, babushkas, little bundles of joy? Is the world and life really that bad for you guys and gals that you don’t want to experience the joy and wonder of parenthood?
Plus, how can you be certain that your little one born into this dark and dreary world won’t be the someone who can make life brighter and better for everyone, or at least for some? No? Well, that’s a level of hopelessness and pessimism I will never understand.
It seems to me that we have a God-given instinct to have and raise children to be noble and awesome beings and to reflect the God of creation, to drive back the darkness, and to fulfill an eternal destiny. How can you, or why would you try to smother that instinct?
Genesis 1:28 states the Creator’s intention and purpose for creation this way: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)
What a calling!
Whoa, where has the time gone? I only got as far anti-natalism and left y’all nihilists out of this letter, even though I meant to address you as well. We’ll chat a bit in the next letter, I promise.
Jesus often used stories, called parables, to teach His followers important lessons. One of those lessons is that if you’re faithful with small things now, God will trust you with bigger things later.
In the coming kingdom and the new heaven‑on‑earth, that means real responsibility—leadership, creativity, and purpose.
Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Your character—the kind of person you decide to be—takes work. You have to practice to develop good qualities like courage, patience, honesty, love, and wisdom. And sometimes facing hard things and going through hard times can be God’s way of helping you shape that good character.
Those good qualities you develop aren’t for this life only, they don’t disappear; they continue into eternity.
What Will Follow You?
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Your works are the things you do and the words you speak.
Good works are the ones you do out of love for God and His people. Those works add value to the world around you and they glorify our heavenly Father.
Not-so-good works are the ones that are selfish and dishonest – they don’t glorify God and they aren’t helpful to others around you. In fact, sometimes they can even be harmful.
That means the good works you do now don’t vanish. They show up again in the world to come. What kind of works do you want following you into God’s new heaven-on-earth?
Practicing For Your Future Job
In the future kingdom, we will serve and reign with Him.
Revelation 22:3–5 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
That means that the good character we build now prepares us to rule and serve forever in God’s restored creation.
This life is not a waiting room. It’s a training ground for the new life in the kingdom.
Lucas dumped his big bin of Legos onto the carpet, but he pushed aside the faded, chewed‑up bricks without a second glance. Today he was building a castle, and not just any castle—his masterpiece. He wanted the bright, solid, perfectly‑shaped pieces, the ones that clicked together with that satisfying snap. He searched for the best towers, the cleanest walls, and the strongest foundation. Anything cracked, bent, or worn‑out got tossed into a little “not‑good‑enough” pile off to the side.
As the castle grew taller, Lucas stepped back and admired it. Using only the best pieces made the whole thing stronger, sturdier, and way more impressive. He realized something: if he wanted to build something that would last, he couldn’t use junk. He needed quality.
Now And Forever
The Bible teaches us that what we do now matters forever.
A lot of people think this life is just “practice” and the real stuff starts when God’s grand plan is realized and we are with Him and each other in God’s heaven‑on‑earth future. But the Bible actually teaches something even more awesome.
The old saying, “You can’t take it with you when you go,” isn’t entirely true. You will take something with you from this life into the world and age to come.
Not your smartphone or your Pokémon card collection—but your choices, your character, your love, your faithfulness. Those things last.
Choose The Best Legos
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul says our lives are like a building project. Some people build with gold—good choices, love, serving others, following Jesus. Others build with hay—selfish choices, laziness, ignoring God.
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
When Jesus returns, everything gets tested as if in a fire. The good stuff lasts. The junk burns away. This doesn’t mean you’re in danger of losing the gift of everlasting life with God—but what you build with matters.
Next, we’ll look closer at what all of this means.
This is a repost of first letter in our Death Row Letters series.
Dear Everyone,
We’re all on death row.
The rich CEO in the modern high-rise. The homeless man huddled in a filthy blanket on the street. The young housewife in suburbia. The children on the school playground.
We’re all on death row.
I’m not saying this to be ghoulish or overly dramatic – it’s just the truth. The Grim Reaper comes for us all (with some exceptions, which I’ll explore at some point in future letters). It may not be by firing squad or Old Sparky the electric chair or lethal injection in some prison basement somewhere, but the result is the same for each of us (again, some exceptions).
The difference between the the vast majority of us and actual death row inmates is that we get to walk around as we please waiting for The Day, while they are sitting in their cells waiting for The Day. That’s a very big difference, isn’t it? Maybe, maybe not.
Because whether you’re on the ‘outside’ death row or the ‘inside’ death row the questions are the same: What are you doing with your remaining time and what is your state of mind during the wait?
We can waste our time wallowing in despair and self-pity, or we can face our circumstance with courage and hope. We can lead an empty, purposeless existence waiting for annihilation and nothingness, or we can believe in and find something more than the empty darkness we imagine.
There is something more frightening than death, and that is living a life without purpose or hope.
So, until my next letter comes your way, don’t be afraid, we’re all on death row together and there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Have you ever heard someone say, “God has a plan for your life”?
Well, He doesn’t.
The Bible doesn’t teach that God has a detailed personal plan and schedule for every decision in every life or that there is only one specific career, spouse, or path that God has predetermined for you.
Instead, God guides each of us as we choose our own paths and make our own decisions.
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
As we have already seen, God has an overall grand plan for His creation and His people, and you and I are invited to participate in His purposes. He is directing history to victory, and we make real choices and walk our own paths within God’s purposes.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
So, our heavenly Father doesn’t have a strict script for each of us to follow. He has a great purpose and asks us to walk and work together with Him in that purpose in a way that fits our own talents, personality, and dreams.
God Knows You
Even though God doesn’t plan every detail of your life, He still knows your heart, cares about even the smallest things in your life, and loves you more than you can imagine.
Sometimes in the Bible God calls specific people to do specific things, like Noah building an ark, but it’s always up to the person He calls whether or not to do what God asks. Free will is never taken away.
It could be that you are called to a specific purpose, but don’t make the mistake of sitting around and doing nothing while you wait for God to tell you what to do.
Plug into God’s grand plan by choosing a path and walking that path boldly, and as you do that, listen for His guidance.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the Lord… and he shall direct thy paths.
Four interesting quotes from about the Old Testament Book of Ezra:
Matthew Henry
“Ezra was a ready scribe in the law of God, and he used his knowledge not for himself, but for the reviving of true religion among the people.”
Charles Spurgeon
“Ezra was a man of the Book, and therefore a man of power. When God means to revive His people, He sets them first to the reading of His Word.”
F. F. Bruce
“Ezra stands as a model of faithful leadership, showing that true reform begins not with walls or institutions, but with the Word of God shaping the hearts of the people.”
Derek Kidner
“Ezra’s story reminds us that restoration is God’s work, yet He chooses to accomplish it through those who set their hearts to study, obey, and teach His Word.”
Christianity in Iran today is both difficult to measure and impossible to ignore. Estimates vary widely because many believers worship in secret, but most credible sources agree that the Christian population numbers in the hundreds of thousands, with some estimates reaching close to one million when including underground house churches. Iran officially recognizes certain historic Christian communities—primarily Armenian and Assyrian churches—but conversion from Islam to Christianity is not legally protected and can result in serious consequences. This makes accurate data challenging, as many converts do not publicly identify themselves.
Despite the risks, numerous observers describe Christianity in Iran as one of the fastest-growing expressions of the faith in the world. Much of this growth appears to be among Muslim-background converts, particularly younger Iranians who are searching spiritually or expressing quiet discontent with the religious-political establishment. Because registered churches are restricted and monitored, many believers gather in informal house churches, small groups, or private settings. These networks are decentralized and largely invisible, contributing to both their resilience and the uncertainty surrounding population estimates.
At the same time, the environment for Christian converts remains highly restrictive. International religious freedom reports and advocacy organizations document arrests, interrogations, church raids, and prison sentences under national security charges. While historic ethnic Christian communities are allowed limited public worship, converts often face harsher scrutiny. Reports in recent years indicate an increase in arrests and prison sentences tied to alleged “security” concerns related to religious activity. Pressure can come not only from authorities but also from families and local communities.
The overall picture is complex: Christianity in Iran exists in a space of both growth and hardship. Public recognition is limited, legal protections are narrow, and many believers practice their faith quietly. Yet multiple monitoring organizations note that the church continues to expand despite these constraints. Whether viewed through demographic surveys, ministry reports, or human rights documentation, the story of Christianity in Iran today is one of persistence—marked by both significant challenges and surprising resilience.
