Is M-103 the beginning of the end of free speech in Canada.

Protest marches by people from all backgrounds came together in various major Canadian cities to protest motion M103, the Liberal's first step towards outlawing criticism of Islam.

Is there a link to that?

There are numerous links discussing the issues:

Toronto Sun feels the wording is too ambiguous.

This link Protests across Canada shows some of the action.

Many feel this motion is an introduction of Islamic law --
thou shalt not say anything against Islam or thou wilt be punished.

Of course we do NOT believe in criminal things done against anyone. On a personal level we treat the Muslims in our communities with the same respect as anyone else, but this motion has a different undercurrent --

Is Canada heading to impose Blasphemy law

This is not yet a law -- just a motion.

But listen to this video as to the "stages" --
Three stages

Interestingly there was a talk show on the radio the other day, in which a Muslim phoned in, strongly disagreeing with M-103, feeling it is bringing to Canada what they fled from by coming to Canada.

Actually, prior to sharia law bill M-103, came bill C-16. This transgender rights bill not only normalizes a state resembling Sodom and Gomorrah within Canada, it also makes it a crime to refer to transgender people by anything other than their chosen gender pronoun!

Dr. Jordan Peterson was reprimanded for refusing to use these fake pronouns when addressing his students at the University of Toronto:

"Dr Jordan Peterson, of the University of Toronto, said the controversial Bill C-16 could result in him being charged with a hate crime for refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns such as ‘ze’ and ‘zir’ instead of ‘he’ and ‘she’ at work.

He said: “It’s the first time I’ve seen in our legislative history where people are attempting to make us speak their language.”

http://www.christian.org.uk/news/new-canada-bill-hate-crime-refuse-gender-neutral-pronouns/

Of course, in 2004 bill C-250 was passed. The protections it gives to homosexuals supersede the free speech of Christians.

"Critics of the bill claimed that it would prohibit reciting various scripture condemning homosexuality, while supporters pointed out that the bill added an explicit defence against any charge of incitement of hatred for opinions expressed in good faith based on religious texts. Critics of the law however, have expressed concern the courts will abrogate the religious loophole because "good faith" is not clearly defined."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Act_to_amend_the_Criminal_Code_(hate_propaganda)

Given the secular bent of the Canadian legal system, I think we know how this will end.

In 2001, freedom of speech was attacked in Saskatchewan:


"Bible Verses Regarded
As Hate Literature"

"Certain passages of the Bible can be construed as hate literature if placed in a particular context, according to a Canadian provincial court.

The Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatchewan upheld a 2001 ruling by the province's human rights tribunal that fined a man for submitting a newspaper ad that included citations of four Bible verses that address homosexuality.

A columnist noted in the Edmonton Journal last week that the Dec. 11 ruling generated virtually no news stories and "not a single editorial."

Imagine "the hand-wringing if ever a federal court labeled the Quran hate literature and forced a devout Muslim to pay a fine for printing some of his book's more astringent passages in an ad in a daily newspaper," wrote Lorne Gunter in the Edmonton, Alberta, daily.

Under Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code, Hugh Owens of Regina, Saskatchewan, was found guilty along with the newspaper, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, of inciting hatred and was forced to pay damages of 1,500 Canadian dollars to each of the three homosexual men who filed the complaint."

http://www.rense.com/general35/bib.htm

For a look at what is happening with free speech in Canadian schools, here is a video of
Dr Jordan Peterson at a rally, warning people about the danger bill C-16 poses to free speech. A large group of students protesting AGAINST free speech tries to drown him out using white noise speakers and loud chants.

There is absolutely no doubt that the time remaining that we are able to freely
spread the Three Angels Message of warning in Canada is rapidly running out.

Canada’s parliament has approved M-103, a non-biding motion that calls on the government to “condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination,” by a margin of 201-91.

The contentious motion, which sparked nationwide demonstrations and protests by both supporters and opponents in early March, also calls on the government to take steps to “quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear.”

dictionary definition:

TO QUELL

verb
put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.
as in "extra police were called to quell the disturbance"
subdue or silence someone
suppress (a feeling, especially an unpleasant one).

Sounds pretty ominous

Once government starts "quelling" those who have misgivings about the flood of Islamic "religious culture and laws" into our country, they will have no problem discriminating against people who hold other values.

It's a unique way to circumvent the wall between church and state --


Indeed "the time remaining that we are able to freely
spread the Three Angels Message of warning in Canada is rapidly running out."

I find the Canadian government hateful, inciting hate, and discriminatory. They should pay damages.

“Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, said: ‘Illegal hate speech online is not only a crime, it represents a threat to free speech and democratic engagement.'”

Where Reality is a crime.

That's funny, and yet, fearful.

It is sad that these things are happening in Canada. The USA will not be far behind though perhaps it will be a different topic that gets it going here. And the church that appears as though it is about to fall is heading down that same path.


The good news is that Christ is getting ready to wrap it up! So we may have these trials here, but they will only be for a short time.


All the more reason to get the message out before all these hinderances make it more difficult.

Amen, His child!

How many times have similar sentiments been repeated through history? The EU is well on its way down the path to dictatorship. An "economic trade zone" has evolved into control of borders, immigration, currency, social programs, retirement benefits, and now free speech. There is also talk of an EU army!

"Germany’s defence minister has confirmed that “a united EU military is becoming a reality,”.
Europe’s army is already taking shape,” Ursula von der Leyen wrote in an opinion piece for Handelsblatt on Thursday.

“Germany and France are the driving forces in defence,” Ms von der Leyen boasted, adding that “We’re moving even further ahead with our close partner France” after the two countries agreed to sign a “new Elysèe Treaty” which, amongst other efforts to, in effect, merge aspects of the two countries, includes common defence."

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/01...fence-minister/

Germany, led by a former member of the Stasi who is intent on uniting Europe, in control of a huge supranational military force! What could possibly go wrong?

"And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." (Dan 2:43)

Re 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

"The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones." CCh 37.2


"The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place." CCh 38.6

How would one define "soon?" Jesus said he was coming soon, and the disciples expected his return in their lifetime. That was 2000 years ago. These quotes were written over 100 years ago, which IMO is not "soon."

When I think "soon," especially in the context of last day events, I think months, or perhaps as much as a year. But not 100 years.

A few years ago a friend of mine on their death-bed pointed with a shaky finger to an old shoe box sitting by the bedside, and my friend called it "my promise box." Apparently, many of my friends, friends, would drop by for a "final visit," and my friend would ask each one to write on a little piece of scrap paper, "one promise." When I asked my friend which of the promises were their favourite, my friend actually happened to be clutching one of the scraps in their hand; and this is what was on it: God's people should be bursting with testimonies about this! (compare John 17:3, 1 John 1:1-3) Scripture shows a repeated history of God's people turning crises after crises into opportunity!

SDA have mangled the Book of Revelation so much that "soon" has become a derisive term, as you pointed out. However, the "soon" of the Book actually referred to 70 AD which John would have lived to see. Remember, the angel told John, "He [i.e. Jesus Christ] who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.'" Rev. 22:20

Does God lie? Does one say "quickly" and mean an eternity?

///

I've had it told me, that soon does not mean imminent.

Nor does it mean 100 years, or 2000 years.

Soon
--it means there is no time to waste.
--it is not teaching a necessary time frame for the Lord’s appearance.
--Rather, it means quickly, suddenly, unexpectedly, fast.

Suddenly, with overwhelming surprise, the last crises will strike.

and in another sense --
A person can be enjoying an average day, and then driving on their way home, suddenly, unexpectedly, die in an unexpected accident.
For some "soon" is only a few years == not much time at all to make our calling and election sure.

Revelation is an open book though some portions are sealed. Those things that were to be in 70 AD have been. And those things that will be on the eve of Christ's Advent (2019 or beyond) will be. The Revelation is not the problem. It is the effort to make it fit into man's mindset. Rightly dividing the word of truth is dependent on the Holy Spirit of God that inspired it.

"Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

James and Nadi,

Was Jonah a false prophet? Jonah thought so. He thought it better to die rather than live and be called a false prophet. How did God respond?

Jonah 4:11 "And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-and much livestock?"

Although I am aware of this understanding of "soon" in parts of Scripture I do not at this time subscribe to this line of reasoning for the following reasons:

1. Although "soon" can be understood in the context of speed of approach rather than time frame of occurrence, other phrases such as "time is at hand" indicate when, not speed. The overall tone of NT language regarding the second coming emphasizes its nearness, not its speed.

2. The authors of the NT (and by extension 1st century Christians generally, but this is an assumption on my part) expected the return of Christ within their lifetime, or at the latest that of their children. This is based on phrases from both Peter and Paul such like "as we wait for his appearance" and "as we see the day approaching" etc.

In the context of the discussion, ie: rapidity vs. nearness, I do not think the timing of the death of a single individual, although important to the individual, bears on the question.

Sometimes, talking to an SDA is like reasoning with a member of a cult: they discard context and embrace talking points spoon-fed to them. The above is a classic example. The question is not what "soon" means, but what "soon" means in the context of Revelation, particularly Rev. 22.

THREE TIMES, Jesus said that He was coming soon.

• Rev. 22:7, Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
   
• Rev. 22:12, And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
   
• Rev. 22:20, He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly.

And those THREE TIMES were prefaced by the direct statement of John:

"The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place." Rev. 22:6

That is one bookend. The other is at the beginning:

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Rev. 1:3

***

"SOON", THEREFORE, IN THE CONTEXT OF REVELATION DOES NOT MEAN LIKE LIGHTNING.
Rather, it signifies just a little time until ..., not long before ..., nearly there ...

///

You are comparing apples with oranges.

Jonah was prophesying of something that was based on a condition. The people repented, and God had mercy. Whereas, Revelation deals with the definitive end of all things. God's anger is poured out unmixed in seven last plagues.

This Jonah point has been raised and debunked 144,000 times already.

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James wrote:
""SOON", THEREFORE, IN THE CONTEXT OF REVELATION DOES NOT MEAN LIKE LIGHTNING.
Rather, it signifies just a little time until ..., not long before ..., nearly there ..."

So do you, James, teach that Revelation already happened centuries ago? Since John wrote those words in his lifetime. Revelation 22, in your school of thinking, must have been "nearly there" when he wrote?
But I don't buy the preterits interpretation of prophecy for many reasons --
Also -- to reject that line of interpretation isn't just an Adventist "thing" --
Many Christians would agree with what I stated that have never studied any Adventist books.

Soon -- when it speaks of Christ's coming is relative to a person's time.
It does mean there is no time to waste, for there isn't much time.

No one has to wait longer than their life time.
Death is sleep which knows no time. The next thing a person knows when they awake is that the end is here.

So yes, even John, writing the Revelation given him by Christ, around 90 A.D. didn't have much longer to wait. A few more years till his life on earth was done. In death their is no consciousnesses of time. For Him the next thing he experiences, is being called from the grave to witness His Lord's coming in the clouds of glory to take His people home to the Father's house.

And Peter wrote concerning the question of the apparent length of time before Christ's soon coming:

2 Peter 3:8 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.
3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come...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.
3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
3:12 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?
3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.



Same as the miniature example of Nineveh
The wicked city was facing destruction
BUT God gave them more time because people were still repenting and turning to God
Yet the time did come when Nineveh was eventually destroyed.

In the same way the wicked world is facing destruction
BUT God gives more time because people are still repenting
yet, the end will eventually come

It really doesn't matter the DATE, we all have only our short little life span to " be diligent that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Jonah knew that he was not a false prophet. His message was God given, but he was bias against Nineveh. They deserved the wrath of God that God had sent Jonah to predict. Mercy had not been in Jonah's message.

The point being, you don't think the timing of the end is not conditional upon people?

What evidence do you propose? Here is mine in refutation:

• THREE TIMES, Jesus said that He was coming soon.
   
  1. Rev. 22:7, Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
  2. Rev. 22:12, And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
  3. Rev. 22:20, He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly.
   
• THOSE THREE TIMES were prefaced by the direct statement of John: Rev. 22:6, "The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place."
  
  That is one bookend. The other is at the beginning: Rev. 1:3, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
   
• Once it is written, so be it. Twice repeated, it is sure. Thrice -- it shall be surely done! The thing is known. BUT FIVE TIMES?!!!!! What then?
   
• "SOON", THEREFORE, IN THE CONTEXT OF REVELATION DOES NOT MEAN LIKE LIGHTNING OR A POSSIBILITY.
  Rather, it signifies just a little time until ..., not long before ..., nearly there ... for certain! 70AD

///

IMO, people have nothing to do with the timing of the end.

1. As per Jesus' words, that day is known only to the Father.
2. Everything happens at its appointed time.
3. Therefore humans have nothing to do with it.

While I agree that "soon" in Revelation indicates the nearness of the event rather than the speed, I disagree that the event referenced is the destruction of the temple in 70CE rather than the second coming. Jesus repeatedly stated "Behold, I come quickly." so the event referenced is his coming. I know of no evidence that Jesus returned in 70CE; certainly not in the manner described in Acts and other parts of the NT.

You would disagree because you are unfamiliar with apocalyptic language. God coming in judgment does NOT mean the end of the world, but the end of the world for those against whom He comes. Think of it like suicide. Why do people take their own lives? Their testimony before is one of terrible distress, a feeling of hopelessness, emptiness, utter loneliness, the end of all things for them.

Jesus described it this way:

"And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” Luke 23:27-31

I can show a great many other examples of such language in the Old Testament; but one will suffice. This is Jude speaking about the end of Sodom and Gomorrah, "... having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." v.7

Who came to Canaan in THE LAST DAYS of those two cities?

///

Good points from scripture! I would still question what they actually and literally mean. There is a quote that comes to mind: "the final movements will be rapid ones," (9T 11), and I think thats a point well-taken because of some of the very texts you have mentioned. Additionally, I would add this:How fast is lightning? Well The return stroke (the current that causes the visible flash) moves upward at a speed of about 320,000,000 ft per second or about 220,000,000 miles per hour.

You're like the elephant that, unable to discern the priceless value of the delicate exhibit, tramples wildly through the china shop only to blow its own trumpet. If John THE PROPHET OF GOD says twice that the Revelation was near and shortly to be fulfilled in his day (and John DOES -- Rev. 1:3, 22:6), what relevance is your own talk about rapidity and speed?

"SOON", THEREFORE, IN THE CONTEXT OF REVELATION DOES NOT MEAN LIKE LIGHTNING OR A POSSIBILITY. Rather, it signifies just a little while until ..., not long before ..., nearly there ... for certain! 70AD

///

• 1. Jon 1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
• 2. Jon 3:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."
• 3. Jon 3:3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.
  4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

and a three day journey crying out every day would include 2 more times!

A prophecy.
Not fulfilled when given.
But fulfilled later.
When they turned from their repentance.
And mercy was no more.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Yesterday morning before I went into the ministers' meeting my soul was greatly distressed. I can not tell you how hard the pressure was. It seemed to amount to an agony, and in the night season it was an agony. I did not know what to expect, or how long this thing was going to persevere. I stood before our people after I came from Minneapolis in the church. I told them what God had presented to me. I stood before them in this room, when the Committee was here. I told them that every one of them that laid that hardness into their hearts when they were at Minneapolis, and that pursued the course they did, they never would see a ray of light till they confessed it. It has not had any influence on Brother Smith, but he stood just as strong to push back. I have had to stand all the time to push, and when I have felt that I could not do it, then the words have come, "I am back of you to push with you." And the light that came to me night before last laid it all open again before me, just the influence that was at work, and just where it would lead. I want to tell you, brethren, whoever you are, I want to tell you, that you are just going over the very same ground that they went over in the days of Christ. You have had their experience; But God deliver us from having the come-out of it as they had. But notwithstanding you have heard my testimony, notwithstanding it was the testimony of the Spirit of God, you have braced yourselves,--a few of you, strong men of determined will,--to carry it out on your line, to fight it out on your line. May God have mercy upon your souls, because you need it. You have stood right in the way of God. The earth is to be lighted with his glory, and if you stand where you stand today, you might just as quick say that the Spirit of God was the spirit of the devil. You have said it now in your actions, in your attitudes, that it is the spirit of the devil. You have said it thus, and you will say it when the crisis will come. And while praying here on my knees, I have had the evidence that there would be a break. The Spirit of God has come upon me, the light of heaven has shown into my heart, and his comforting grace is upon me. My mind is just as clear as a sunbeam; I rejoice in God my Saviour today. I thank God that I have not been discouraged to death; I thank God that I have clung to the arm of infinite power to stand all but alone. The ones that ought to have stood with me, that God would have to stand with me to receive the blessings, have stood to hedge up my way in every step. I want to tell you, brethren, there are debaters among us. I warned them in Minneapolis never to put a minister in a Conference by the side of a debater. For the last twenty years the light has shown upon me in regard to debaters. They will turn light into darkness. That is just what Brother Matthew Larson will do. He has an education, but unless the Holy Ghost shall come upon him, he will never go through with this cause to its close. What is the matter? I am afraid of Brother Larson; I am afraid of Brother Larson. I will not converse with you unless you are with other men. You will take my words. You will put a false interpretation upon them, and you will make them mean this or that other than they shall. And those that stand criticizing, let me tell you, you are walking in the sparks of your own kindling, and you are right down in darkness. It is the word of God. God presented the case before me. I told it to Brother Morrison when we were in Des Moines. Said I: "If you don't come out as Elder Canright, it is because you will be a converted man; but every soul that is connected with you that you have educated and trained as a debater, you will wish that work was undone." Brethren, we are not here for this work. We are not here to study infidel authors, to open our minds to the suggestions of the devil. We are here to get ready for the judgment, and we are right on the borders of the eternal world. Here are many that are to go forth to their fields of labor to strengthen the things that are ready to die, or to be powers of darkness. Now what are you going to do in this matter? {1888 593.1}

I don't understand. If John wrote Revelation in 96 AD, why did he write in future tense?
I did some lookin' and saw that some said John wrote the book before the Destruction of Jerusalem. OK. However, newer evidence says that the date of 96 is probably the correct one.

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1552-when-was-the-book-of-revelation-written

But if Jesus did come in 70, that was the extent of his ministry? The folk who fled into the mountains? Was there a shout and the dead rising? Every eye see Him? I don't think they did.

• I won't bother with Polycarp and them. They lied down on their beds and dreamed up nonsense.
   
• The angel of the Revelation dated the Book in plain and simple language. He said, "I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns." Rev. 17:7. See? No need for Polycarp and those deadbeats.
  
  The angel continued: "The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five [kings] have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition." Rev. 17:9-11.
   
• So in John's day (at the time he was given the vision), it was very near the end of the time under consideration: five kings had already fallen, and the one following the present was not going to reign very long at all. Then the truly terrible and horrible beast was going to arise. And "Babylon" would be burnt to the ground at his hand.
  
  Don't you believe me? Then argue with the angel of the LORD: "The ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled." Rev. 17:16-17
   
• THE PROPHECY OF THE END OF JERUSALEM IN 70 AD.

********************

If I were you, I'd throw away the books of Polycarp, Ireneus, Augustine, the Tooth Fairy and that horrible, horrible Count Dracula. What do they know, except to mangle the truth?

///

Can you explain the prophecy in detail, then? You tell me to argue with the Angel, when that angel doesn't say what you say. I don't see your explanation anywhere.

(BTW, I watched Bela Lugosi many many times play Dracula--thought he was magnificent. I'm quite a fan.)

What do you see?

///

You might be giving away your age by making mention of Bela Lugosi.

I don't mind! I'm 67. Just had a birthday this last week. spent the day at Epcot. I feel fine. 67's OK

Control over every aspect seems to be where the powers that be are heading...

When those in power make rules that stifle others from expressing their views (that may be unpopular), free speech dies.
It is coming. And it may already be here.