Many emperors of Rome tried to harm Christians and destroy them like Nero, Caligula, and Domition. But only one tried to eradicate The Scriptures entirely, gathering them up and destroying them, that was Emperor Diocletian. He even had liturgical books gather and destroyed. I believe there is a spirit of Diocletian, it moved through Hitler who made his own bible and burned The Bible, it is moving in Canada as Scripture could be banned, “Legislation introduced in Canada’s Parliament would eliminate the use of “belief in a religious text” as a defense against hate crime charges.
Repealing the exemption in Canada’s criminal code could criminalize sermons and messages using the Bible or other religious texts as the basis for critiquing other religions or addressing issues such as transgender rights, critics warn.” (Mark A. Kellner,
The Washington Times
Friday, March 1, 2024). The potential to ban using Scripture because it is twisted and used by hate groups is the perfect unilateral move to ban the use of Scriptures in the name of equity and the safety of people. That is how it always is, in the name of security and safety rights are stripped, for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, “Article 18 reads: Everyone has the freedom to think or believe what they want, including the right to religious belief…and the right to publicly or privately practice our chosen religion, alone or with others.” (https://amac.us/newsline/society/canada-imprisons-christians-are-we-next/). That includes the right to publically use Scripture.
Canada’s antichristian wave has been going on for sometime, as neighbors are urged to spy and report in apartments and neighborhoods if they see people gathering for home churches or bible studies. This is the spirit of Diocletian at work! To imped access to the Scriptures.
There are many countries where Scripture is banned and so the spirit of Diocletian is at work in them. I fear soon America will follow Canada, as the Supreme Court is considering letting social media censor what they consider misinformation and disinformation, which all they need to do is label Scripture as misinformation when its posted in a schewed way and boom you can’t post scripture on their plateform.
I fear that Spirit of Diocletian is hard at work, but not only in destroying Scripture physically or banning it orally, but by encouraging the rise of Biblical Illiteracy. What better way to eliminate Scripture? Rather than destroy it with fire and ire, convince masses to prefer videos, and other entertainments, get them so digitally occupied and inundated with other voices via technology and then you achieve Brave New World, rather than Orwell’s 1984. The truth though is both methods are being used by the spirit of Diocletian in men to strip the Scriptures away. If we do not defend our God Breathed texts (2 Timothy 3:16), do not be surprised if they begin to disappear.
In America financial institutions have been told to monitor / flag people who buy Bibles because white supremacists & MAGA people use them (https://www.theblaze.com/news/feds-asked-financial-institutions-to-flag-bible-purchases-terms-like-maga-trump-to-identify-extremists-report), and President Biden said at Howard University, “the greatest threat to America is white supremacy, “White supremacy … is the single most dangerous terrorist threat in our homeland,” Biden said. “And I’m not just saying this because I’m at a Black HBCU. I say this wherever I go.” (GISELLE RUHIYYIH EWING
05/13/2023 02:11 PM EDT
Updated: 05/13/2023 02:38 PM EDT, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/13/biden-howard-university-white-supremacy-terrorism-00096811). Just like Canada’s Bill if passed is to protect people from hate crimes by going after Scripture, we see the US Goverment may next follow suite. The spirit of Diocletian is on the move.
Scripture is not white supremacist, God reaches out to all nations and peoples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19), “And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city,” (Revelation 21:26), “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Jesus), clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” (Revelation 7:9), “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come,” (Matthew 24:14), “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!,” (Pslam 117:1), “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter's Sermon at Pentecost
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2: 1-40), “who wants everyone to be “.saved and to understand the truth,” (1 Timothy 2:4), “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him,” (Romans 10:12), “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9), “For God so loved the the whole world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16), and “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). The Scriptures are inclusive! All people can be save in Jesus! The Gospel at its core is not for one tribe, or nation, but for all tribes and nations! It is actually the good news to all peoples, that you no longer have to be a literal son of Abraham, you can be of any race or nationality and become a child of Abraham through faith in Jesus, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29). For it Jesus is who saves (Acts 4:10-12) and any person can have faith in Him!
Banning the Scriptures is bizarre. For the Gospel is inclusive, for all people, even at Pentecost so many nations were saved! If evil people use Scripture for twisted ends that does not make the Scripture wicked! The texts are clearly for all people, and that settles it! Amen.
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