Why is fear equated with murder?

[placebofactor]

Revelation 21:8 states, ‘The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers ... shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire.’

Why is fear equated with murder? Is fear a sin? The answer lies in the meaning of the Greek word, ‘fearful,’ a New Testament word found in only three other verses of the New Testament. Of course, we all have a natural apprehension when danger approaches. But Matthew 8:26 and Mark 4:40 tell us that the disciples’ fear came from unbelief. It was then, that the Lord leveled his rebuke against them. After His admonishment, he said to them, ‘How is it that ye have no faith?’ He said in Luke, ‘Why are ye fearful, O you of little faith?’

True faith will drive fear away, but only in proportion to its strength. When we apply this teaching to Revelation 21:8. To be fearful bears on those who fear losing their life or material possessions, in this, they reject Jesus Christ though convinced of his truth, even during a period of persecution. When we apply this truth to Revelation 21:8, we can better understand its meaning. So, in the eyes of God, this unbelief or fearfulness is the same as murder, idolatry, liars, etc.”

What are your thoughts on the subject.

[placebofactor]

...If a person decides not to serve in the military, I have no problem with that, but don't put it on the LORD, it's not his will, it's the individual making the decision.

I agree that individuals makes the decisions always. But, I think Matt. 5:38-48 suggests the peaceful solution. And it would also be good to understand this:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man may sow, that he also will reap.
Gal. 6:7

It seems to me that war has always been pointless. In the end people get tyranny anyway.
[/quo
Someone should have convinced Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and the other butchers in history about peaceful solutions. There are people on this earth in the past, present, and will be in the future, evil to their core. I believe these people are demon-possessed because they sold their souls to the devil. Demon possession is something the Christian community does not like to discuss, but like it or not, believe it or not, it exists. Men and women open themselves up to these fallen devils with drugs, booze, and porn, then add to the mix, greed, and pride.

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

[1213]

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

The sad thing is that in many cases the evil people may think that they are actually doing a good thing, defending their own people against some external threat. And many people can be deceived to do bad things, when they don't know enough. It would help, if people would love God as told in the Bible. Unfortunately at them moment world is going the same path that led to ww2. And again, it all starts from that people are taught to hate the other group. And the reasons may look correct, but people should not let fear and hate rule them, because as Yoda says, fear is the path to the dark side, and it leads to suffering.

But, I think people are allowed to defend others and themselves. However, the problem with it is, when people are winning, there is a great chance that they become what they were fighting against. That is why I like this saying:

"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you." ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche

And I believe that is why Jesus taught the peaceful way. Unfortunately it seems that for example in the case U.S. they have become a monster. In a way it is very much like in the story of the lord of the rings. Power corrupts. When people hold the "power ring" long enough, it corrupts. And even if a person was relatively good at first, the position always turns him to the same as he was once fighting against. Evil cannot be won by becoming evil. That is why:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with good.
Romans 12:21

I think that is the only way to win evil. But, it is easier to say than do.

[placebofactor]

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

The sad thing is that in many cases the evil people may think that they are actually doing a good thing, defending their own people against some external threat. And many people can be deceived to do bad things, when they don't know enough. It would help, if people would love God as told in the Bible. Unfortunately at them moment world is going the same path that led to ww2. And again, it all starts from that people are taught to hate the other group. And the reasons may look correct, but people should not let fear and hate rule them, because as Yoda says, fear is the path to the dark side, and it leads to suffering.

But, I think people are allowed to defend others and themselves. However, the problem with it is, when people are winning, there is a great chance that they become what they were fighting against. That is why I like this saying:

"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you." ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche

And I believe that is why Jesus taught the peaceful way. Unfortunately it seems that for example in the case U.S. they have become a monster. In a way it is very much like in the story of the lord of the rings. Power corrupts. When people hold the "power ring" long enough, it corrupts. And even if a person was relatively good at first, the position always turns him to the same as he was once fighting against. Evil cannot be won by becoming evil. That is why:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with good.
Romans 12:21

I think that is the only way to win evil. But, it is easier to say than do.

I can only say, "Hopefully none of us will ever be put to the test of having to defend with force, family, friends, or self to save a life."

[onewithhim]

...If a person decides not to serve in the military, I have no problem with that, but don't put it on the LORD, it's not his will, it's the individual making the decision.

I agree that individuals makes the decisions always. But, I think Matt. 5:38-48 suggests the peaceful solution. And it would also be good to understand this:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man may sow, that he also will reap.
Gal. 6:7

It seems to me that war has always been pointless. In the end people get tyranny anyway.
[/quo
Someone should have convinced Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and the other butchers in history about peaceful solutions. There are people on this earth in the past, present, and will be in the future, evil to their core. I believe these people are demon-possessed because they sold their souls to the devil. Demon possession is something the Christian community does not like to discuss, but like it or not, believe it or not, it exists. Men and women open themselves up to these fallen devils with drugs, booze, and porn, then add to the mix, greed, and pride.

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

I have thought about it to a great extent. If "good, peaceful people" really want to protect the helpless, there wouldn't be war. First of all, the churches encouraged the wars and prayed troops into the trenches on both sides. Second of all, the men in high places could have time and again chosen a course that would have averted the path to war but chose to go to war in spite of reservations. War is a political, selfish thing that serves the interests of greedy men. If we all chose to resist going to war, there would be none. The churches are foremost in telling their flocks what to do and they all encourage siding with their particular country against another that has the same religious followers as they, and go to war.

[placebofactor]

...If a person decides not to serve in the military, I have no problem with that, but don't put it on the LORD, it's not his will, it's the individual making the decision.

I agree that individuals makes the decisions always. But, I think Matt. 5:38-48 suggests the peaceful solution. And it would also be good to understand this:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man may sow, that he also will reap.
Gal. 6:7

It seems to me that war has always been pointless. In the end people get tyranny anyway.
[/quo
Someone should have convinced Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and the other butchers in history about peaceful solutions. There are people on this earth in the past, present, and will be in the future, evil to their core. I believe these people are demon-possessed because they sold their souls to the devil. Demon possession is something the Christian community does not like to discuss, but like it or not, believe it or not, it exists. Men and women open themselves up to these fallen devils with drugs, booze, and porn, then add to the mix, greed, and pride.

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

I have thought about it to a great extent. If "good, peaceful people" really want to protect the helpless, there wouldn't be war. First of all, the churches encouraged the wars and prayed troops into the trenches on both sides. Second of all, the men in high places could have time and again chosen a course that would have averted the path to war but chose to go to war in spite of reservations. War is a political, selfish thing that serves the interests of greedy men. If we all chose to resist going to war, there would be none. The churches are foremost in telling their flocks what to do and they all encourage siding with their particular country against another that has the same religious followers as they, and go to war.

There exists today a perfect example of evil. It's not a political thing but a religious matter. The terrorist of the Islamic faith. They have their god, and their Koran. They hate and are instructed to kill anyone who opposes their religion. Mohammad ruled with the sword, as did the Roman Catholic church, killing millions of Jews and Christians who defied them died at their hands.

It's not a new thing, it goes back to Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Ishmael was the product of disobedience. Esau, because his family deceived him by causing him to lose the blessing and inheritance of the firstborn, his family feared him. Between Ishmael and Esau, we now have the Muslim nations, from Africa to the Middle East, to Russia, Turkey, parts of Europe, and now America. For the past four thousand years, this religious war has finally come to a boil. We see it in the Islamic terror groups. They live by the sword and will kill anyone, especially Jews and Christians who defy their god, their book, the Koran, and their laws. We are at war with Islam, hiding our heads in the sand will not protect anyone, and neither will cowardness.

A war is coming very soon, nuclear weapons are in the hands of these terror nations and groups. They will use them; they kill their own women and children by using schools and hospitals as shields. They will not hesitate to destroy millions of others. Force is all they understand. Satan is their inspiration, and the coming antichrist will lead them on the final assault on the Jews

So, how wrong is a nation like Israel and America to take up weapons to defend their family, friends, and country?

[onewithhim]

...If a person decides not to serve in the military, I have no problem with that, but don't put it on the LORD, it's not his will, it's the individual making the decision.

I agree that individuals makes the decisions always. But, I think Matt. 5:38-48 suggests the peaceful solution. And it would also be good to understand this:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man may sow, that he also will reap.
Gal. 6:7

It seems to me that war has always been pointless. In the end people get tyranny anyway.
[/quo
Someone should have convinced Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and the other butchers in history about peaceful solutions. There are people on this earth in the past, present, and will be in the future, evil to their core. I believe these people are demon-possessed because they sold their souls to the devil. Demon possession is something the Christian community does not like to discuss, but like it or not, believe it or not, it exists. Men and women open themselves up to these fallen devils with drugs, booze, and porn, then add to the mix, greed, and pride.

What on earth would cause a man to destroy the lives of people they don't even know? I'm 87, lived through World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Middle East wars, and studied the lives of Pol Pot, Hitler, and Himler. They were normal people at first, but something happened to them that changed them from normal to beasts, butchers who cared little about anything but themselves. They will take what doesn't belong to them, they will rape, murder, and put such fear into people they will do their master's bidding. We can talk about fear, but everything changes when a person is in the hands of fear and living it. That's my take on it. Evil exists; therefore, war exists. People have to defend themselves at any, and all costs. Sacrifice is necessary, not with the idea of an eye for an eye or revenge, but for the love of your family, and neighbors. There are the young and old who cannot defend themselves against tyrants, so good people, peaceful people are put in positions to protect the helpless.

I have thought about it to a great extent. If "good, peaceful people" really want to protect the helpless, there wouldn't be war. First of all, the churches encouraged the wars and prayed troops into the trenches on both sides. Second of all, the men in high places could have time and again chosen a course that would have averted the path to war but chose to go to war in spite of reservations. War is a political, selfish thing that serves the interests of greedy men. If we all chose to resist going to war, there would be none. The churches are foremost in telling their flocks what to do and they all encourage siding with their particular country against another that has the same religious followers as they, and go to war.

There exists today a perfect example of evil. It's not a political thing but a religious matter. The terrorist of the Islamic faith. They have their god, and their Koran. They hate and are instructed to kill anyone who opposes their religion. Mohammad ruled with the sword, as did the Roman Catholic church, killing millions of Jews and Christians who defied them died at their hands.

It's not a new thing, it goes back to Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Ishmael was the product of disobedience. Esau, because his family deceived him by causing him to lose the blessing and inheritance of the firstborn, his family feared him. Between Ishmael and Esau, we now have the Muslim nations, from Africa to the Middle East, to Russia, Turkey, parts of Europe, and now America. For the past four thousand years, this religious war has finally come to a boil. We see it in the Islamic terror groups. They live by the sword and will kill anyone, especially Jews and Christians who defy their god, their book, the Koran, and their laws. We are at war with Islam, hiding our heads in the sand will not protect anyone, and neither will cowardness.

A war is coming very soon, nuclear weapons are in the hands of these terror nations and groups. They will use them; they kill their own women and children by using schools and hospitals as shields. They will not hesitate to destroy millions of others. Force is all they understand. Satan is their inspiration, and the coming antichrist will lead them on the final assault on the Jews

So, how wrong is a nation like Israel and America to take up weapons to defend their family, friends, and country?

We can choose the way of the world....or choose Christ's way. He championed love and peace and mercy. He said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be the children of our Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" (Matthew 5:44-46, KJV) To be "perfect" as our Father in heaven, we must follow His instructions as close as we can. He is pleased with that attempt. And His instructions, through Christ, are that we do not hate our fellow humans and, of course, do not kill them.

To join in the carnage we would be killing innocent people along with the bad, and killing even those who are the same religion as we. The antichrist is already here, in the form of false religion, which eggs on the politicians and gets their parishioners to join in war. The antichrist is not just one man. It is religion that sets up their leaders as gods. (2 Thess. 2:3,4) It is a composite "antichrist," made from religions all over the globe.

So we can take up weapons if we don't trust God and Christ to have the matter in hand. We can trust them or join in the insanity of the world.