Contending For The Faith

Praise God, our community of listeners is really growing, it's growing, growing, it really is, and we would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from the following places. Wyoming, Nebraska, West Virginia, Ohio. New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Angola, Israel, the Philippines, and Brazil. We say great big God bless you and welcome to the podcast. Thanks for joining us. And we also want to give a big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. And thank you for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us. We do pray that the manifold blessings of God on your life overtake you and the lives of your loved ones, and we encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. Again, thanks for being a part of our community of listeners, and we'd like to dedicate this podcast to my father, Bishop Clyde A. Roston. Church just doesn't seem to be what it used to be. These new Christians seem to be lesgs rigid than those old holy rollers. You can be saved and still go out to the club and dance and drink. Really? Let's talk about it. God bless you all. God bless you and welcome to our weekly podcast of Contending for the Faith. I am your co-host and my name, Bishop LaCreece Roston, along with my husband, Bishop Ronald Roston. And we do invite you to get your Bible, our notebook, and journey with us as we explore topics that challenge us to mature. And I am going to say a little prayer. Our Father and our God, we do bless you in Yahushua's name. Please, we ask you to open up our spiritual ears and help us with spiritual understanding so that we can hear what you and your spirit is saying. And we asked you to help us, the church, to hear what you're saying in this hour. We do ask all of these blessings in the blessed name of your son, Yehoshua. Amen. So let's dive into our discussion. And the title is The Falling Away. Our base scriptures for this segment can be found in 1 Thessalonians 2, 3, and 1 Timothy 4, 1. And I'll read from the King James Version and the New Living Translation. First to King James, Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 1 Timothy 4 and 1, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Out of the New Living Translation, don't be fooled by what they say, for that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the one who brings destruction. In our last scripture, now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last time some will turn away from the true faith. They will follow the except of spirits and teachings that come from demons. And a quick review from our last segment. Reads, we must continue to lean and depend on the Holy Spirit. We cannot afford to lean on our own understanding and depend on our own strength. That's a setup for failure. It's time in these times of confusion and crisis. God raises crisis leaders, believers who must serve as an example of stability, stability, and integrity in the times of confusion and crisis. That was one of the first lessons that my father, pastor, my first teacher taught us that in times of crisis, God raises crisis leaders and we're looking forward to helping the body grow up into being those crisis leaders who serve as an example of, like you said, stability and integrity. Confusing times will be dangerous and perilous times for the faith and the existence. However, our Savior has overcome the world, and no weapon formed by Satan against his church, against the church of Yahushua, HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, Yeshua, however you call him, his church, none of those weapons that are formed will ever prosper. There is nothing that Satan can do to prevent the will of God from being attained in the earth. In time and in eternity. Amen. The church is built on the revelation from God to man that Yeshua of Nazareth is the promised anointed Messiah, spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. We can rest assured that the purpose of God shall succeed and complete his intended agenda. During this confusion, in this confusing, perilous time, the need for mature Christians. Impeccable integrity and holiness is mandatory. Amen. All throughout the Bible, we have been able to observe different kinds of falling away by believers. As time winds up, however, a major falling away will happen. It will supersede the previous falling aways and will set the stage for the return of Messiah for his church. The departure from the foundations of the faith will even cause the remnant to question their belief system. This last falling away will be easily detected by those outside of the art of safety, those who are not born again. This last fall in a way will represent a major departure from the ways of the first century church. This compromised form of Christianity will be totally acceptable by those who don't recognize the righteousness of Yahuwah and His holiness. It will cause the formation of a counterfeit church, an unholy alliance between the God of this world and those claiming to be children of God. This falling away will facilitate the incorporation and assimilation of the compromised pseudo-Christian. Of this world's system into a body of believers who will ultimately be tainted. They will be crumpled and callous to the holy mandates of the ancient of days. This will happen as the church rapidly runs headlong down the road of encumperism. Ecumenism, ecumenism, ecumenism, ecumenism, ecumenism, that word, and prepares to lose herself in the quagmire of deceptive, compromised teaching. She will embrace teachings that lack the integrity upon which the church was founded. In the scripture in 1 Timothy 4, verse 1 says, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We will see the simultaneous. Of this deceived group to form a one-world religion, a one-world government, and a one-world economy. This great falling away will be a part of the series of events which signal the beginning of the end. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition. Stage for a form of Christianity that denies the power of God to break the power of sin in the lives of the people. It will foster the formation of a church that doesn't mind the fact that it has a reputation for continually existing under the mantle of having an ongoing power shortage. The falling away will be a signal to the enemy that he has accomplished a great victory over the church of the Lord Yeshua Hamashiach. It will testify to the enemy's accomplished purpose of deceiving the church into thinking that it's no problem living a life that is not dedicated to the principles of holiness. Sanctification, and self-denial. It will allow Lucifer to boast that he has successfully infiltrated the ranks of the righteous. He will boast that he has convinced those belong to this group to think like he thinks in terms of self-pleasure and self-satisfaction. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truth-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that do good, traitors, petty. High-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, heaven a form of godliness. Denying the power thereof. Listen, church, from such, turn away. From such, turn away. That's 2 Timothy 3, verses 1 to 5. Additionally, this falling away will open the door for the revealing of a man of the man of perdition. And we refer to the son of perdition as Lucifer, Satan, the great dragon, the arch enemy of the people of God, the church. Well, there has been many hypotheses as to just who this man of perdition is, Suffice it to say that whosoever or whatever he is, he represents a critical point in the countdown of eternity, the last day. According to Jewish eschatology, the last day refers to the day that Yeshua executes his judgment on the earth and simultaneously gathers the dead in Christ and those who are alive and do remain. The term is repeatedly used by Yehoshua in the 60s. Of Job to indicate the day of resurrection and judgment. And the scripture in John that Bishop spoke of is found in John 6, 54 and 55 that says, Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise at the last day. Although it is related to the last days and the last time to denote the Messianic age, it is definitely different. From the last days. The last day, singular, is different from the last days, plural. In John 7 and 37, it says, In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink. In that particular scripture, it refers to the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacle. According to Leviticus 23, 36, this closing day of the Feast of Tabernacles was observed as a holy convocation, a Sabbath. In John's gospel, there's also the thought that God will take care of his own in those troubled times. Yahushua repeatedly said concerning those the Father has given him, that he will raise them up at the last day. Singular. This can be seen in John 6. 37 through 39. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but shall raise it up again at the last day. Singular. John is the only New Testament writer to use the expression. The last day. It is used as an expression that points to Yeshua's activity right at the end of time. It also makes it clear that Messiah's care for his own extends right through the sphere of time to the ushering in of the final state of affairs and eternity. On the negative side, the person who rejects Yeshua and his teaching will find that that teaching will condemn him at the last day, that the spirit of evil will continue to the end is clear. There are different views and difficulties of being sure what parts of Messiah's discourse on the Mount of Olives in the 24th chapter of Matthew refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and what parts refer to the end of the world. But he makes it clear that while his followers will hear of wars and revolutions which must happen, the end will not come right away. Believers will encounter troubles throughout this world's history, and it will persist right to the very end. And that scripture in Matthew 24, 6 through 8. Later, further down, 11 through 13, reads this such, And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass. But the end is not yet. For nations shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be famine and pestilence and earthquake in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure until the end, the saying shall be saved. Very important is the fact that the final great day will see the triumph of God. This is foreshadowed in the Old Testament, for example, in the great passage in which Job says, I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh. I will see God. That's Job 19, 25. There are problems in this passage, but plainly there is the clear expectation of God's final triumph. Before Yeshua was born, the angel told Mary that the child she was to bear will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end. That's found in Luke chapter 1 verse 33. The redeemed will know the fullness of everlasting life. And in his great passage on the resurrection, Paul says that the Messiah will come with those who belong to him. In that scripture, 1 Corinthians 15, 24 reads, Then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God. Father, after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. And Messiah will come with those who belong to him. The apostle goes on to speak of the raising of the dead in a different form, one in which they will be imperishable. In verse 52 of the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, Again and again, the New Testament brings out the truth that when Yeshua returns. All evil will be defeated and the redeemed will know the fullness of everlasting life. For the New Testament writers, the coming of Yeshua HaMashiach into the world to bring about our salvation was the decisive happening in the entire history of the world. His coming set in motion the train of events that would bring about the salvation of sinners and eventually see the complete setting up of God's kingdom, as Revelation makes so very clear. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with men. And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. Yeshua's advent did not mean that all evil would immediately disappear. Both the New Testament writings and the Christian experience make it plain that evil continues. The important thing from the Christian point of view is that the saving work of Messiah has altered everything, Sin has been decisively defeated, and believers have already entered into salvation and everlasting life. However long or short a time it will be before the end of this world. As we measure time, We are living in the last times of the New Testament writers, and they understood it as they understood it. If you enjoy our time together and would like to hear more of our thoughts on mature Christian thinking, pick up our most current books, Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church. Both are available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and major book outlets everywhere. We invite you to view our video library on YouTube at www.youtube.com forward slash user forward slash R-D-R-O-S-T-O-N and www.youtube.com forward slash atsidebishoprdr. Okay, let's talk some more about how the New Testament writers understood that they were living in the last days. Again, according to Jewish eschatology, the last days were considered to be when the Messiah was manifested and walked among mankind. In Hebrews 1 verses 1 and 2, we find these words. Long ago, God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, He created the universe. The second coming of Christ is referred to as the last day, singular. Therefore, we must understand that everything that is associated with his second advent happens at the same time, the last day. This is also referred to as the day of the Lord. And as scriptures read, But of the times in the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as should veil upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are children of the light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. That is found in 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 1 through 6 in the King James Version. Yeah, again and again, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise that some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us, Lord, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to rest. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with perfect heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up, saying then that all these things shall be dissolved. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved in the elements, shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found in him. Without spot, and blameless. That's 2 Peter 3, 9-14. Unfortunately, the clock on the wall says that it's time for us to go. And as always, we admonish you that if you enjoyed this podcast, that you would invite others, your friends, even people who aren't your friends, to join our community of listeners. And we tell you, as we always tell you, we're your hosts. And until the next time, I'm Bishop Ron Rostin. This is Bishop Lacrize Rostin. And together, we say to you, our time is up. And we thank you for yours. And we will continue our conversation in our next segment. Until then, let us continue contending for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints. And in the words of the ancient Hebrews, we do bid you shalom. Shalom. God's peace be upon you.

Praise God, and praise God for our community of listeners, and that our community of listeners are really growing. A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from the following places: Those from New York, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Utah, Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, Egypt, Vietnam, Iraq, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Philippines, Peru, the United Kingdom, and also Mexico. And as always, we do say welcome, welcome, welcome. Thanks for joining us. And also a big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. We thank you for tuning in and sharing some time with us. We do pray the manifold blessings of God on your lives and the lives of your loved ones. We do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. And again, we do thank you for being a part of our community of listeners. In this episode of Contending with the Faith, Bishop Ronald and Bishop LaCreece Roston address the fear and confusion many feel in violent, uncertain times. Using 2 Timothy 3:1 and Philippians 4:19 as foundational texts, they explain that Scripture predicts perilous days but also promises God’s provision for every true need through Christ. The hosts review practical biblical responses: remain rooted in God’s Word, turn away from ungodly influences and false teachers, trust God for provision and strength, and rely on the Holy Spirit rather than our own understanding. They call believers to be crisis leaders—stable, compassionate, and steadfast—so the church can be salt and light amid moral decay and societal breakdown. The episode also previews a future segment on “The Falling Away,” warning of a coming large-scale departure from the faith and deceptive teachings to watch for. Listeners are encouraged to strengthen their faith, pray for guidance, resist compromise, and continue contending for the faith. Join the hosts weekly for scripture-based, practical teaching that equips believers to live victoriously in confusing, perilous times. Shalom—God's peace be with you.

Praise God, our community of listeners is really growing. Heartfelt welcome to all of our newest listeners from Pennsylvania, New York, California, Washington, Egypt, Brazil, Kenya, Pakistan, Cote d'Ivoire, New Jersey, Vietnam, Sweden, El Salvador, Ukraine, Ohio, Uruguay, Iraq, Bangladesh, Colombia, Georgia, Mexico, the Philippines, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Bahrain, Paraguay, Kyrgyzstan, and Texas. We bid you a great big welcome and thank you for joining our community. We also send a big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere; thanks for tuning in and sharing your time with us. In this episode of Contending for the Faith, Bishop LaCreece Roston and Bishop Ronald Roston explore life "in this time of confusion." They open with prayer and ground the discussion in Scripture, especially II Timothy 3:1 and Philippians 4:19, highlighting that the last days bring perilous, confusing times yet God promises to supply every true need. The hosts explain the spiritual reality of soul, spirit, and body, how mankind inherited a dead spirit from Adam, and why people need God’s salvation and provision. They outline key characteristics of perilous times—moral decay, spiritual apostasy, societal disintegration, and widespread confusion—and urge listeners to intentionally lean on God, cast their cares to Him, and remain spiritually alert. Practical counsel includes recognizing and turning away from false teachers, staying rooted in Scripture as the antidote to confusion, distinguishing needs from wants, and cultivating contentment and trust in God’s provision. Philippians 4:19 is presented as assurance that God will liberally supply what is truly necessary for living righteously and persevering in faith. The episode closes with encouragement to keep studying God’s Word, recommended books for mature Christian thinking, links to their YouTube video library, and a blessing of God’s peace and provision. Listeners are invited to continue contending for the faith and to join future conversations.

Join Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston as they welcome a rapidly growing global audience and address the spiritual and societal turmoil of the end of time. Drawing on II Timothy 3:1 and Philippians 4:19, they describe the moral decay, spiritual apostasy, and chaotic behavior that mark these perilous times, and emphasize the Church's need for prayer, discernment, and steadfastness in Gods Word. The hosts explain humanity's fundamental need for God, the necessity of being born again, and the importance of relying on God as provider and refuge. They warn listeners about false teachers, the breakdown of societal order, and the emotional and spiritual challenges believers will face, offering practical scriptural guidance to remain faithful and dependent on God during confusion and crisis. Resources and books by the hosts, plus video links, are shared for listeners who want to explore further. The episode closes with an encouragement to continue contending for the faith and a blessing of shalom.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, Hong Kong, Oklahoma, Singapore, Texas, and Florida. We bless you this Resurrection Sunday morning and celebrate our blessed hope because Yeshua lives. Thank you for joining our community and sharing this time with us. In this episode we examine the biblical feasts (Leviticus 23) and ask how they impact our walk with God. We explore Pentecost/Shavuot—the giving of the Torah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—the symbolism of the two wave loaves representing Jews and Gentiles, and how these celebrations point to spiritual realities in Yeshua. We review traditions like the Three Days of Restoration and the agricultural origins of Shavuot, connecting first fruits imagery to the disciples and the coming kingdom. The discussion highlights how feast observance blends ritual, symbolism, and prophetic meaning for believers today. The episode also addresses our present age: perilous, confusing times described in II Timothy 3. We warn against moral decay and false teachers, encourage spiritual vigilance, and emphasize trusting God’s provision (Philippians 4:19) and remaining steadfast in Scripture and prayer. Join us as we continue this conversation in the next segment, contend for the faith, and grow together in holiness, discernment, and hope.

Join Bishops LaCreece and Ronald Roston as they welcome listeners from around the world and explore the biblical feasts, focusing on the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot). They discuss how Pentecost connects Mount Sinai's giving of the Torah to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Mount Zion, showing how Yeshua fulfilled foreshadowing rituals and enabled both Jews and Gentiles to receive God's Spirit. Drawing on scriptural passages from Leviticus, Exodus, Acts, and teachings from Dr. Booker and Dr. Lancaster, the episode explains the historical, agricultural, and spiritual significance of the feasts, the symbolism of the wave offering and firstfruits, and why these holy convocations matter for believers today. The hosts invite listeners to get their Bible and notebook, reflect on the meaning of ritual purity and revelation, and continue the conversation in following segments about other feasts such as the Feast of Trumpets. They close with blessings for Palm Sunday, invitations to read their books and watch their video library, and encouragement to share the podcast with others.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, New York, Texas, and Germany. As always, we say welcome to you. Welcome. Welcome. Thanks for joining us. A big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. Thanks for tuning in and sharing. Thank you. Pray the manifold blessings of God on your life and the lives of your loved ones. And we do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. Again, thanks for being part of our community of listeners. Join Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston on Contending for the Faith as they explore why the biblical feasts matter for God’s people. Using Leviticus 23:1–3 as a foundation, they examine the purpose of holy convocations and what these appointed festivals reveal about God’s plan. This episode focuses on Pentecost (Shavuot): the 49–50 day count from Passover to Pentecost, the Feast of Firstfruits and the wheat harvest, the wave offering of two loaves, and the Jewish traditions tied to the giving of the Torah. The hosts explain how Pentecost commemorated both harvest and revelation and how it became associated with the giving of God’s law at Sinai. They trace the biblical continuity from Sinai to the New Testament: how the first Pentecost (the giving of the law) prefigures the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, Peter’s sermon, and the birth of the early church when about 3,000 people believed and were baptized. The episode highlights Yeshua as the perfect firstfruit, his resurrection, and the 50–day link to the Spirit’s arrival. The conversation also reflects on Jeremiah’s promise of a new covenant written on hearts, John’s account of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on the disciples, and Luke’s account of Jesus instructing the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for power from on high, leading to their witness to the nations. Practical encouragement closes the episode: a call to use the season before Pentecost for fasting, prayer, and seeking the promise of the Father. For further study, the hosts mention their books Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church and invite listeners to their YouTube video library. The episode ends with a blessing of shalom and an invitation to continue contending for the faith.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Ohio, California, New York, Oklahoma, Germany, France, and Spain. We thank all our listeners for joining us and pray God's blessings on you and your loved ones. In this episode we explore whether feasts and festivals are the same, who the biblical feasts belong to, and the true meaning of "the Feast of the Lord" and holy convocations using Leviticus 23 as our starting point. We review the Feast of Firstfruits, showing how Yeshua's resurrection aligns with the barley omer offering and the counting of the Omer. We explain the Pharisee and Sadducee interpretations of "the day after the Sabbath" and how the resurrection is pictured as the firstfruits of the harvest. We then discuss the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), its ties to the wheat harvest and the giving of the law at Sinai, and how Acts 2—when the Holy Spirit was poured out and about 3,000 were baptized—connects this festival to the inauguration of the new covenant. Finally, we offer practical reflections on why these appointed times matter for believers today, recommend further resources, and close with a blessing and an invitation to continue contending for the faith. Shalom.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Texas, North Carolina, California, Brazil, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Italy, and Germany. And as we always say, welcome, welcome, welcome. Thanks for joining us. a big shout out also to all of our listeners everywhere thanks for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us we do pray the manifold blessings of god on your life and a lot of your loved ones we do encourage you if you haven't already done so to listen to all of our segments And again, we do thank you for being part of our community of listeners. In this episode of Contending for the Faith, Bishop Ronald Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston explore why the biblical feasts remain important for Christians today. Using Leviticus 23 as a base, they walk through the meaning and symbolism of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits. The hosts explain Hebrew terms like matzah, chametz, and se'or and discuss how the feasts point to spiritual truths: removal of sin, consecration of the harvest, and Jesus as the fulfillment of Firstfruits through his resurrection. They examine scriptural passages from Matthew, John, Corinthians, and Romans to show how Yeshua’s death and resurrection align with the feast calendar and the promise of resurrection for believers. The episode also covers the historical debate between Pharisees and Sadducees over the dating of the omer and why that matters for counting to Shavuot (Pentecost). Practical implications include living the resurrected life now, the promise of future resurrection, and the call to maturity in faith. Resources and next steps are shared, including the hosts' books and YouTube channels, and the episode closes with a blessing and the traditional greeting: shalom.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, California, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. We thank God for you and rejoice that you have joined our community of listeners. We pray blessings on you and your loved ones. In this episode we explore the Lord's appointed festivals from Leviticus 23 and explain why these feasts matter for Christians today. We review the meaning and observance of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits, and how they point to Jesus (Yeshua) as the fulfillment of God’s plan. We examine the Passover themes: the tenth plague, the lamb as a substitute, the Last Supper, and Jesus as the perfect Passover Lamb whose sacrifice saves us. We note scriptural details like the timing of Jesus’ death, the prohibition against breaking the lamb’s bones, and how those events fulfill the prophetic symbolism of the feast. We explain the Feast of Unleavened Bread and its symbols: matzah (unleavened bread) representing sinless incorruptibility, the removal of leaven as a picture of casting out sin, and Jesus’ burial and resurrection as the ultimate fulfillment of separation from corruption. The episode also covers the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus’ Bread of Life teaching in John 6, showing how physical signs point to the spiritual truth that Jesus is the true bread from heaven who gives eternal life. On the Feast of Firstfruits we discuss the offering of the first sheaf, the counting of the Omer, and the way Firstfruits symbolizes consecration and the resurrection—Jesus as the firstfruits of those who rise to new, incorruptible life. Practical takeaways include the call to separation and consecration: remove spiritual leaven, dedicate the first of your life to God, and live in the reality of Christ’s resurrection. We also invite listeners to explore related books and video resources and to share the podcast with others. Thank you for listening. Until next time, continue contending for the faith and shalom—may the peace of God be upon you.

Welcome and a heartfelt greeting to our newest listeners from Florida, California, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Italy, and Vietnam. Thank you for joining our community — we pray God’s manifold blessing on you and your loved ones. In this episode of Contending for the Faith, Bishop Ronald Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston explore the biblical feasts: what they are, who they were given to, and why they remain relevant for believers today. Using Leviticus 23 as the foundation, the hosts explain the two groups of feasts — the spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost) linked to Yeshua’s first coming, and the fall feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, Dedication, Purim) pointing to His return. They emphasize that these are the Lord’s appointed times (moed), intended as holy convocations and symbolic object lessons that prefigure spiritual realities fulfilled in Christ. The episode focuses closely on Passover and Unleavened Bread, showing how Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial lamb imagery, the unbroken-bone detail, the Last Supper, and the meaning of unleavened bread as sinlessness. Historical practices, scriptural cross-references (Exodus, Leviticus, John, Isaiah, 1 Peter, and others), and cultural context are used to help listeners appreciate the feasts’ ongoing spiritual significance. The hosts close with encouragement to re-listen to the segments, read their books, and continue contending for the faith. Shalom.

Welcome to our episode of Contending for the Faith. We greet our newest listeners in Canada and thank all listeners for joining us. In this episode hosts Bishop LaCreece and Bishop Ronald Roston introduce the topic of the biblical feasts and explain why they remain important for Christians today. Using Leviticus 23 and related scriptures, the hosts explain that these are God’s appointed times (the Hebrew word moed), not merely Jewish holidays. The feasts are presented as two sets: the spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost) connected to the first coming of Messiah, and the fall feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, plus dedication feasts) connected to the second coming. They contrast the biblical lunar calendar (months set by the moon, days beginning at sunset) with the modern Gregorian solar calendar and discuss how keeping God’s calendar restores prophetic and spiritual context to the feasts. The hosts describe the feasts as visual aids that point to Jesus—pictures in the Hebrew scriptures fulfilled in the person of Yeshua. They cite authors like Dr. Richard Booker and Dr. Thomas Lancaster to show how the feasts teach key events: Passover and the crucifixion, Firstfruits and resurrection, Pentecost and the outpouring of the Spirit, and the fall feasts and the return of Messiah. The episode includes an explanation of Passover—selecting an unblemished lamb, applying blood to doorposts, and God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt—and emphasizes the continuing relevance of these holy convocations and the Sabbath. The hosts invite listeners to continue the series and to study the feasts as meaningful connections to Yahushua.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Georgia and Canada. A big shout-out to everyone who listens to our podcast — thank you for tuning in and sharing time with us. We pray God’s manifold blessing upon you and your loved ones. In this episode of Contending for the Faith, Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston explore the urgent call to "Repent or Perish." We discuss the difference between mere regret and godly sorrow, what true repentance looks like, and why turning to God is essential for restoration. We examine the consequences of unrepentant sin, including spiritual separation, continued bondage to sin, the hardening of the heart, and the risk of eternal judgment. The episode also addresses backsliding—how believers can drift away—and God’s promise to heal and restore those who return. The hosts review differing views on whether salvation can be lost, emphasizing two core truths: genuine faith produces lasting change, and God’s grace relentlessly seeks to restore those who repent. Practical steps such as confession, turning from sinful ways, and pursuing spiritual growth are highlighted as paths back to fellowship with God. Join the Rostons with your Bible and notebook as they offer scripture-based teaching, pastoral guidance, and encouragement to maintain holiness. For further study, they mention their books and YouTube video library and invite listeners to keep engaging with all segments of the show. Thank you for being part of our community of listeners. We close with a prayer and a promise to continue the conversation next time on the importance of the biblical feasts. Until then, Shalom.

Hosts open the episode with a warm greeting and a prayerful shout-out to listeners amid a harsh winter, inviting everyone to listen and be blessed. The conversation centers on repentance as the essential turning from sin and the surrender of self-rule to God’s rulership. The hosts ground the discussion in Acts 3:19–21 and define repentance as a profound change of mind, heart, and direction that produces visible fruits: sorrow over sin, a decisive turning away from wrongdoing, and a commitment to new, godly behavior. They emphasize that repentance is more than feeling sorry; it requires concrete change. The episode contrasts godly sorrow, which leads to transformation and salvation, with worldly sorrow, which leads to death. Repentance affects thoughts, motives, lifestyles, relationships, and daily choices, and it is presented as an ongoing practice even after salvation. Listeners are warned about the spiritual and practical consequences of unrepentant sin—loss of fellowship with God, a seared conscience, spiritual apathy, relational harm, and the risk of eternal separation. The hosts urge immediate confession, accountability, removal of triggers, community support, and reliance on God’s grace as steps to break patterns of sin. The episode closes with invitations to explore additional resources, including books and a video library, and a benediction of shalom—encouraging listeners to continue contending for the faith and practicing repentance in daily life.

A big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. We pray that everyone stays safe during this arctic glass of winter we're experiencing. Thanks for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us. We pray the manifold blessings of God on your life and on the lives of your loved ones. We do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our thanks. Again, thanks for being part of our community of listeners. In this episode, Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston lead a faithful, Bible-centered conversation titled "Repent or Perish." They examine Acts 3:19–21 and other scriptures to explain why repentance is essential for entering and remaining in fellowship with God. The hosts define repentance as a radical change of mind and life: recognition of sin, godly sorrow, confession, restitution, and reformation. They stress that repentance is more than feeling sorry—it requires tangible change and the fruit of a new, God-centered lifestyle. Key points include the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, the ongoing need for repentance after conversion, and the spiritual dangers of persistent, unrepentant sin (distance from God, a seared conscience, and loss of fellowship). Practical steps such as immediate confession, removing triggers, seeking community accountability, and relying on God’s grace are offered. The episode also surveys different theological views (Lordship salvation, Free Grace, Wesleyan/Arminian) and emphasizes that genuine faith will bear evidence of repentance. Listeners are encouraged to live under the lordship of Yeshua, pursue holiness, and practice daily turning from self-rule to God-rule. For further study, the hosts recommend their books and invite listeners to continue the conversation in the next segment. Shalom.

Hosts Bishop LaCreece Roston and Bishop Ronald Roston welcome listeners and open with Revelation 12:17 to ask: what exactly is The Remnant Church? This episode explores the biblical idea of a faithful, chosen group that remains obedient to God’s commandments and holds the testimony of Jesus amid widespread compromise. The hosts review Church history, showing how the first-century remnant faced persecution that preserved its integrity and how later political alliances and pagan influences corrupted mainstream Christianity. They emphasize the Church’s Jewish foundation and the importance of recognizing Israel’s ongoing role in God’s plan. The remnant is described as an elected, purposeful body—predestined to stay pure, uphold sound doctrine, and act as a visible, holy witness to the world. The episode explains the remnant’s mission to call the compromised Church back to holiness and to spark a spiritual awakening among Israel in the end times. Practical calls in the episode include a return to obedience, careful guarding against false teaching and cultural compromise, and a commitment to living the life of Yeshua. The hosts close by inviting listeners to continue the series and prepare for the next segment, "Repent or Perish."

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Canada, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Germany. We say as always, welcome. We welcome you. Thanks for joining us. A big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. Thanks for tuning in and sharing time with us. As we continue into the new year, we pray the manifold blessings of God on your life as well as the lives of your loved ones. We do encourage you, You haven't already done so to listen to all of our segments. Again, thanks for being part of our community of listeners. In this episode Bishop Ronald Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston examine the biblical idea of The Remnant Church, grounded in Revelation and other Scriptures. They identify the spiritual threats facing today’s Church —compromise, conformity, seduction, and false teaching—and explain why a faithful, obedient remnant is needed now more than ever. The hosts review Church history, highlight the Jewish roots of the New Testament Church, and call listeners to recover first-century apostolic power, holiness, and obedience. Key characteristics of the remnant are outlined: faithfulness to doctrine, perseverance under persecution, spiritual discernment, evangelism, and the restoration of signs and wonders. The episode closes with a clear call to action: examine your commitment, stand against cultural drift, and join the mission of the remnant. For further study, the hosts mention their books and video resources and invite listeners to continue contending for the faith. Shalom.

Description Welcome to this episode of Contending for the Faith. Hosts Bishop LaCreece Roston and Bishop Ronald Roston welcome listeners, invite you to get your Bible and notebook, and introduce a conversation about The Remnant Church and what it means today. Using Revelation 12:17 as a base scripture, the episode defines the remnant as a faithful minority who keep Gods commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus. The hosts explain that the remnant is not merely a label but a spiritual reality: a group preserved by God to remain obedient, holy, and steadfast amid cultural compromise and upheaval. The discussion describes the remnant's key traits — faithfulness to biblical doctrine, commitment to holiness and sacrificial love, perseverance under pressure, evangelism, spiritual discernment, and a return to apostolic power and signs. The remnant's purpose is to fulfill what the larger, compromising Church failed to accomplish and to serve as a visible, holy witness in the end times. The episode also emphasizes the need for the remnant to demonstrate signs, wonders, power, and authority so it can be a catalyst for revival and the final harvest. Listeners are encouraged to explore other segments and the hosts books for deeper study, to keep contending for the faith, and to walk in the blessing and peace of Yahushua.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Germany and Pennsylvania. As always, we say welcome, welcome to you and thank you for joining us. A big shout-out to all of our listeners everywhere. In 2026, we pray that everyone stays faithful to their calling. Thanks for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us. We pray God's manifold blessing upon you and those you love. Join hosts Bishop Ronald Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston as they open in prayer and invite you to bring your Bible and notebook for a challenging, faith-deepening conversation. This episode centers on Revelation 12:12 and the theme: "The devil is mad." The conversation explains Satan’s role as the accuser, his limited and temporary access, and how Messiah’s victory has fatally weakened him. Because his time is short, his anger intensifies, resulting in increased deception, persecution, and an apparent rise in occult influence. Key takeaways: the Church must mature beyond entertainment to be educated and equipped; believers are called to remain salty—preserving and seasoning the world with God’s truth—and to engage in disciplined prayer, fasting, and holy living. Practical spiritual weapons include faith, the Word, and the whole armor of God. The episode urges urgency and perseverance: stand firm in the victory of Yeshua, press deeper into prayer, and resist the devil’s intensified attacks with steadfast faith. Resources mentioned include the books Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church, available at major book outlets. Closing blessing and charge: continue contending for the faith, stay vigilant, and prepare for the next segment on The Remnant Church. Shalom—God’s peace be upon you.

Welcome to this episode of Contending for the Faith. We open by greeting new listeners from Georgia, Virginia, and Germany, offering holiday prayers and blessings, and inviting everyone to join us in listening to all segments of the program. Our discussion centers on Revelation 12:12 and explores why "the devil is mad." We review how Satan was cast down, his limited and desperate time on earth, and his role as the accuser among the heavenly host. We explain the biblical background of the "sons of God," Satan’s access to the heavenly council, and how his final expulsion and judgment are described in Scripture. We trace the origin of Satan’s rebellion (Isaiah 14), his failed attempts to stop God’s plan of redemption, and how the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua secured decisive victory. Because Satan knows his time is short, his fury intensifies and he targets God’s people with persecution, deception, and attacks. The episode encourages believers to be vigilant in spiritual warfare, to stand firm in the victory already won through the blood of the Lamb, and to deepen prayer, fasting, and study of God’s Word. We remind listeners that God’s purposes will succeed and the devil’s plans will ultimately fail. Close with practical encouragement, scriptural promises of God’s protection, and an invitation to continue the conversation, read recommended books, and remain part of the community contending for the faith. Shalom.

A grateful shout out to all of our listeners worldwide. Welcome aboard. I do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. There aren't too many yet, and it'll be easy for you to do. This will give you a better understanding of where we currently are in our presentation. Again, I say thank you for listening. How often have you heard a statement like this? Yeah, they go to that holiness church down the street. Or, those holy rollers, they go to the holiness church on the other side of town. Fact check. Aren't all of the churches that worship the God of the Hebrews supposed to be holiness churches? All of the local worship assemblies are houses of holiness, right? Hmm. Holiness is not supposed to be a denomination or just designated to a certain group of people. Let's explore the concept of holiness a little bit more. God bless you. Welcome to our weekly podcast of Contending for the Faith. I'm your host, Bishop Ronald D. Roston, and I invite you to get your Bible and notebook and journey with us as we explore topics that challenge us to mature. Let's pray. Our Father and our God, we bless you in Yeshua's name. Please open our spiritual ears and our spiritual understanding so that we can hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the church. We ask this in Yeshua's name. Amen. Okay, let's dive into our discussion. Holiness, it's the prescribed way. Our base scripture is as follows. It's out of 2 Corinthians 7, verse 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. And out of the New Living Translation, because we have these promises, dear friends. Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit, and let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. All right, a quick review from our last segment. God's will is for his people to live a holy, sanctified life. He desires a people that reflect the essence of who he is. Sanctification results in holiness and purification. The key is obedience to the spoken, written, and living Word of God. Obedience means to execute and follow the commands, guidance, leading, direction, regulation, and steering of God, and obedience is the supreme test of faith in God. Obedience brings us back into harmony with God and is the basis for our fellowship with him. God intended for the Hebrews to be a holy people. His intentions, the same for the recipients of the new covenant. His desire for his people hasn't changed. Holiness. Holiness is dedication to God characterized by moral purity and a close relationship. It involves moral perfection, reflecting God's glory, and a determined effort to align one's life with God's will. Let's say that again. It involves moral perfection, reflecting God's glory, and a determined effort to align one's life with God's will. Holiness is being set apart from the profane, avoiding sin and defilement by prayer, Bible study, and obedience to God's Word. And holiness is making conscious choices, conscious choices to live in accordance to God's will and to display his character in our daily lives. Holiness also involves recognizing and overcoming obstacles to spiritual growth. It is a deliberate effort not to be conformed to the ways of the world and a deliberate effort to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, by washing our mind daily with the Word of God. Holiness involves obedience to live in accordance to the commands and rules laid down for us in the Bible, and it is making, again, conscious choices to live in accordance to God's will. It is a deliberate act of putting off the old man and putting on the new man and deciding to live by God's dictate. There are characteristics that should be evident in a holy life. These include peace, faithfulness, humility, lovingly welcome to others, and being acceptive of all of those in covenant relationship with our Heavenly Father. The last characteristic is very important. In a holy life, this characteristic should stand out, a disciplined lifestyle, a disciplined lifestyle. Holiness is displaying God's character in our daily lives. I found it interesting that, and you've heard it said, I'm sure, holiness is required to see God. To literally see the Lord, and in order to perceive him as Lord, holiness is required. Holiness intends for us to go beyond how we dress. It's a lifestyle. It's a lifestyle. God God intends for us, once we're born again, to be holy. In fact, God demands us to be holy. And holiness is not how you live in public view, but how you live when no one is watching. Holiness is living in integrity. No one has to watch you for you to live holy. Holiness is living in integrity. And holiness will cause us to be more in tune with God's guidance and wisdom. Alan Brown suggests that there are these five elements of holiness, being connected to God, who is the source of holiness, being separated to God as his possession, being separated from the common or the ordinary, and being separated from all that God says is unclean or that morally defiled, and last but not least, being obedient to God's Word. Holiness will generate peace of mind, freedom from guilt and shame, and increase our spiritual strength and vitality. We should strive to live in accordance with God's will. We should seek to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. We should pursue righteousness through faith and obedience to God's Word. And as we submit to God's authority and aggressively resist temptation, we will ultimately develop a more disciplined lifestyle in all areas. And this disciplined lifestyle will be evident for all to see, especially our Heavenly Father. You see, holiness will result in a more intimate relationship with God. Once we're born again, we can't get a closer relationship with God than the one we have. And this is true because the God of creation is now living inside of us. You can't get much closer than that, to have God living inside of you. And the fact of the matter is he doesn't just come to visit with us. He comes to abide. He comes to dwell in us. Holiness. Hmm. Another gentleman, Sean Paul, offers us these practices in order to live a holy life. Spend regular time with God. Read God's Word. Obey God's Word. Follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. Run from temptation. Continually surrender to God with regular self-examination and repentance and disconnect from the world. As we speak of disconnecting from the world, we are actually talking about worldly or ungodly practices. The Bible says we've been called out of the world. So we want to disconnect from worldly or ungodly practices. If you enjoy our time together and would like to hear more of our thoughts on mature Christian thinking, pick up our most current book, Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church. Both are available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and major book outlets everywhere. So in accordance with God's holiness, we are commanded not to love the world nor the things of the world, which will all be consumed by the wrath of a holy God. Hear the word of the Lord as recorded by the apostle John in 1 John 2, verses 15 to 17. Do not love the world, nor the things it offers you. For when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2, 15-17, New Living Translation. Holiness means the pure nature of God, separate from evil, aggressively seeking to universalize itself. Holiness is interwoven with righteousness and purity. To see holiness apart from other qualities of a Christ-like life is to wander away from the way of holiness itself. Holiness refers to our relationship with God. Our adoption as God's children allows us to become godly people. Holiness comes to imply the fullness and completeness of God and godliness in all of its facets and meanings. Holy defines the goodness of God. It also defines places where God is present. The Holy Spirit is the agent of holiness. He's the agent of holiness for the church and its leaders. Being sanctified or made holy is the work of the Holy Spirit on the basis of Yeshua's atonement that calls for obedient submission from those who have been saved. Christians are continually being made holy by the work of the Spirit, enabling them to live in submission and obedience to God's commandments and laws. The saints have been summoned by God to live in righteousness and purity. Personal holiness is a matter or work of gradual development. It is a work that is carried out under many hindrances, hence the admonition to watch for and pray and have perseverance. Holiness is the flower of our union with Messiah, and it unfolds through communion with him. Holiness involves and centers around our intimacy with the Yeshua HaMashiach. There are two types of holiness. You didn't know that, did you? Two types of holiness, true and false. False holiness is when one tries to achieve holiness without Yeshua. False holiness really boils down to trying to be in right relationship with God by your works and not by your faith in Messiah and what he's done. We are made holy because of the atoning death of Yeshua HaMashiach. You see, holiness is seen as a reflection of God's own character. It is a result of his transformative work in our individual life. Holiness is the highest form of spiritual commitment and devotion. To put it bluntly, holiness involves complete dedication to God. Let me say that again. Holiness involves complete dedication to God. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of holiness. That's why he wrote instructions to the newly formed churches, Gentiles and Jews alike. He stressed the importance of holiness as a lifestyle. With the current onslaught of evil all around us today and the widespread proliferation of occult practices, holiness is more important than ever. It is a necessity. Not a luxury. It is a necessity, not a luxury because of the current onslaught of evil all around us. The proliferation of occult practices is, I mean, they're teaching Harry Potter in school. That's curriculum. Come on. Holiness is a necessity. It's not a luxury. I am aware that there is a certain segment of Christendom that will say it doesn't take all that. But we must be reminded of the scripture's admonition not to contaminate and defile ourselves by embracing unclean things. Hear the word of the Lord as recorded in 2 Corinthians 2, verses 16 to 18. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Holiness basically means whole. A person needs to be holy. All a person needs to be holy is to be entirely himself or unspoiled, according to the meaning of the Greek work. A holy person is uncontaminated by the world. A holy person is uncontaminated by the world. For he or she lives in union with God, but not without concern for the needs of others. Holiness is lived out in obedience. It's choosing honesty over deception, purity over lust, generosity over greed, and love over selfishness. Holiness in our relationships is we are called to love and serve and forgive as Messiah has done for us. Read Ephesians 4.32. Be holy is to be morally pure, spiritually whole, separated from evil, dedicated to God, and set apart for his purposes. We should have an overwhelming desire to be close to him. We want to be like his son, Yeshua of Nazareth. Ultimately, we are strongly determined to do what is right according to the Word of God. For St. Thomas Aquinas, holiness signifies two things, surety and firmness. The man of holiness is unstained by the world and remains steadfast and his unity to God, according to St. Thomas Aquinas. Holiness signifies two things, purity and firmness. There are practical ways to live holy lives. Praise God and pray without ceasing. Read his word daily. It is a guidebook for living. Confess your sins should you fail, and God will forgive you. Love your neighbor, even the difficult ones, and live to honor God in all you say and do. The Bible, holiness is primarily understood as separation and dedication to God, encompassing both God's inherent purity and the state of being set apart for his purposes. Again, it involves being morally pure, spiritually whole, and dedicated to God's will, reflecting his character. Here's a more detailed breakdown. God's holiness. Separation and distinction. God's holiness is fundamentally about his absolute otherness, his unique and transcendent nature as the creator. He is distinct from all creation and morally perfect. God's holiness is moral surety. He He is perfectly good, righteous, and free from any sin or defilement. That's God's holiness. He's free from any sin or defilement. He is fundamentally unique and transcendent as the creator. His nature is perfect. As far as human holiness is concerned, human holiness is separation from sin. God calls his people to be holy, which means separating themselves from sin, evil, and anything that contradicts his character. Dedication to God. Holiness also involves being dedicated to God's service, aligning one's life with His will and purposes. And it's a moral transformation. Through faith in Yeshua HaMashiach, believers are made holy and are called to pursue a life of increasing moral purity and conformity to God's enemy. And Leviticus 19.2 is a biblical example. God is talking to Moses and he says to him, speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. In Exodus 19.6, he says, and ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. In 1 Peter 1, 15 to 16. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. Romans 12, 1 and 2. present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is and what is good and acceptable and perfect. Last 1 Thessalonians 4 and 3. For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that ye abstain from sexual immorality. Holiness is a process. While believers are declared holy through faith in Yahushua, holiness is also a lifelong process of growth and transformation, known as sanctification. This process involves ongoing separation from sin, dedication to God, and striving to reflect His character. In all aspects of life. Living a holy life provides one inner peace and God's maximum protection, a deeper connection with God, an improved relationship with other Christians, a sense of purpose, and it fosters spiritual growth. My Pentecostal background afforded me access to the saying, Holiness is tight, but it's right. It is. It's the right thing. It's the prescribed way. It is tight. It's, you know, no doubt about it. It's choosing his agenda over our agenda. It's choosing to please him over choosing to please ourselves. Holiness as a lifestyle benefits the spiritual man and the natural physical man as well. Holiness can directly impact our physical health in the following ways. Holiness will cause us to have reduced stress and anxiety, improved mental health, stronger immune systems, healthier habits. Holiness will promote physical activities. It will provide us with a social support network. holiness. It fosters cleanliness and hygiene and the potential for healing. According to Kathy Howard, these five benefits can be acquired by living a holy life. Holiness fosters intimacy with God and builds spiritual strength and stability. Holy living makes us useful and effective for God's purposes. Our holy life causes people around us to glorify God and holiness build peace with God. A holy life pleases God and produces fruit. Some additional benefits of living holy include inner contentment, spiritual growth and maturity. Answered prayer, improved decision-making, positive influence on others, a lifestyle glorifying God, and making disciples. As we live a holy life, the Holy Spirit works within us, empowering us for a victorious and a fruitful life. Holiness the prescribed way. Well, you know what time it is. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with your friends and invite them to our community to join us in our community of listeners. You know it, our time is up. Until the next time, I'm your host, Bishop Roston. We will continue our conversation in our next segment, but until then, let us continue contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. And in the words of the ancient Hebrews, I bid you peace. Shalom.

A big shout out to our recent new listener from New York. Welcome aboard. I encourage you to listen to the rest of our segments. There aren't too many. This will give you a better understanding of where we currently are. Again, welcome, New York. In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Roston explores why holiness is God’s prescribed way, unpacking obedience, sanctification, covenant, and how believers are called to be set apart and reflect God’s character in everyday life.

A warm welcome to our new listener from Singapore and gratitude to listeners across the United States and abroad. In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Roston explores holiness as the prescribed way, examining scripture, covenant, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. Discover why holiness reflects God’s character, how obedience leads to sanctification, and practical steps for living a holy life—Bible study, prayer, resisting temptation, and separating from worldly practices. Join the journey to deepen your faith and reflect God’s holiness in daily life.

Bishop Ronald D. Rothston explains that believers are "eternal ambassadors" with delegated authority from God to evangelize, disciple, and wage spiritual warfare in the world. He emphasizes exercising the authority already given, binding the controlling spirits behind sin, and faithfully shepherding new converts. The episode stresses holiness as essential for effective ministry and outlines practical discipleship steps—quiet time, Scripture study, prayer, testimony, service, and ongoing follow-up—so the church can reflect God’s character and fulfill the Great Commission.

Host Bishop Ronald D. Roston welcomes listeners and opens a prayerful discussion on holiness, using II Corinthians 7:1 as the foundation for the episode. The episode explains what holiness means—separation from evil, intimacy with God, and spiritual maturity—explores the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification, and contrasts true holiness with false, works-based practice. Practical benefits of holy living are highlighted (inner peace, closer fellowship with God, effective witness, disciple-making, and spiritual strength), along with ten and more consequences of a lack of holiness, including spiritual distance, moral decline, and missed blessings. The host emphasizes holiness as the prescribed, covenant way to maintain relationship with God, prepares listeners for future segments on blood covenant, and invites them to continue the journey toward deeper commitment and obedience.

Join Bishops Ron and LaCreece Roston as they explore Revelation 12:12 and Isaiah 14, explaining the devil’s fury, his limited time, and how his wrath targets God’s people. They discuss the biblical meaning of “sons of God,” the devil’s tactics, and practical encouragement to remain steadfast in faith. This episode offers scriptural teaching, pastoral insight, and a call to spiritual vigilance and maturity for believers.

A warm welcome to new listeners from California, Ohio, Georgia, and New Jersey and to all who join us this holiday season. In this episode, Bishops LaCreece Roston and Ronald Roston examine John's vision in Revelation 21 and unpack the meaning of the New Jerusalem for believers today. They teach that Christians are the New Jerusalem and heavenly citizens now, called to live holy lives, resist deception, exercise the authority God has given, and embrace their divine identity and responsibility on earth.

A heartfelt welcome to all our newest listeners from Ohio, Georgia, and New Jersey. Welcome, welcome, welcome — thank you for joining our community of listeners this holiday season. In this episode Bishop Ronald and Bishop LaCreece Roston explore John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, explaining how the Lamb’s wife represents the Church, what heavenly citizenship means now, and how believers are called to live as God’s dwelling place on earth. We encourage you to listen to all segments, study the Scriptures mentioned, and live out the heavenly standard in your daily life. God bless you and shalom.

A warm welcome to new listeners and thanks for joining us. In this episode Bishop Ron and Bishop LaCreece Roston reflect on Thanksgiving blessings and invite listeners to journey through Revelation 21:9–10. We explore John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, explaining why the heavenly city is a symbolic representation of the Bride of Christ—the perfected, glorified church—and what that means for believers today.

Hosts Bishop Ronald and Bishop LaCreece Roston welcome listeners and examine Revelation 21:9–10 to explore whether the Bride, the Lamb’s wife, and the New Jerusalem are synonymous. They trace the significance of earthly Jerusalem, the temple as God’s dwelling, and how believers now house the Holy Spirit. The episode explains the New Jerusalem as a metaphor for the perfected, glorified church—God’s people purified and united with Yeshua—and encourages listeners to study the scriptural images together.

Bishops LaCreece and Ronald Roston welcome listeners and examine key end-time topics—distinguishing the Beast from the Antichrist, explaining the Abomination of Desolation, the Great Tribulation, and the timing of Messiah's return and the Rapture. They challenge common misconceptions, call for letting Scripture speak for itself, and highlight contemporary signs that point toward prophetic fulfillment. Join the hosts for a concise, Bible-centered discussion aimed at unmasking deception and contending for the faith.

Join Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston as they unpack biblical teachings about the Antichrist, the Beast, and end-times deception. This episode compares instructional warnings in John with prophetic visions in Revelation, critiques the pre-tribulation rapture view, and explores signs of the Great Tribulation, including the Abomination of Desolation and the rebuilding of the Temple. Through scripture readings, historical context, and practical observation, the hosts urge listeners to focus on resisting deceptive spirits, understanding key distinctions, and preparing spiritually for the times ahead.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners in Germany, Virginia, and Pennsylvania — and to all who tune in. We pray for God's manifold blessings on you and your loved ones; thank you for being part of our community. In this episode, Bishop LaCreece Roston and Bishop Ronald D. Roston examine Scripture on the Antichrist and the beast, trace the historical development of rapture and dispensational ideas, and challenge common misconceptions while encouraging listeners to read the Bible and grow in mature Christian understanding.

Welcome to this episode of Contending for the Faith — a warm greeting to new and returning listeners as hosts Bishop Ronald D. Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston unpack the origins of modern rapture and Antichrist doctrines. The episode traces how responses to the Protestant Reformation, Jesuit writings, and key figures like Edward Irving, John Nelson Darby, Margaret MacDonald, and Cyrus Scofield shifted eschatology from a historicist view to futurism, popularizing the pre‑tribulation rapture and a single Antichrist figure, and explores the historical impact on churches across Europe and the United States. Join the hosts as they unmask these teachings, compare interpretations, and encourage listeners to study Scripture closely while contending for the faith.

In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Roston explores the biblical call to holiness, using II Corinthians 7:1 as a foundation. He defines holiness as purity and devotion, explains the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, warns against false holiness, and emphasizes holiness as gradual obedience and intimacy with Messiah. The episode surveys benefits of holy living—deeper fellowship with God, spiritual growth, effective disciple-making—and outlines practical and spiritual consequences of unholiness. Listeners are encouraged to apply holiness in daily life and to continue the conversation in the next segment on Blood Covenant.

Bishop Ronald D. Roston explains the apostolic call to "contend for the faith," clarifying the New Covenant, the Kingdom of God as God’s internal government, and the necessity of being born again to receive the Holy Spirit. He urges believers to pursue holiness as a way of life, to test teaching against Scripture, and to consciously choose to let Jesus govern their lives in the face of false doctrine.

In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Roston teaches Christians to contend for the faith — the New Covenant established by Messiah Yeshua — explaining how salvation brings a life governed by the Holy Spirit rather than the law, and how believers face ongoing spiritual opposition. He outlines practical steps for spiritual victory: guard your thoughts with Scripture, cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, pursue holiness as a priestly calling, and fight the good fight of faith through study, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Join Bishop Ronald D. Roston as he challenges listeners to contend for the faith delivered by the apostles, emphasizing holiness, the New Covenant, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This episode explores the reintroduction of apostolic order, critiques secular humanism and heretical teachings, and calls the Church to repentance and spiritual integrity.

Host Bishop Ronald D. Roston examines Jude and 1 Corinthians to urge believers to contend for the faith delivered by the apostles, rooted in Messiah Yeshua’s finished work and the new covenant. The episode explores spiritual warfare, the role of the Holy Spirit, the importance of knowing Scripture, and why holiness and the fruit of the Spirit must mark our lives as a holy priesthood.

In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Roston explores the biblical meaning of covenant—especially blood covenant—showing how God’s promises are sealed, what conditional and unconditional covenants mean, and why love and obedience matter. He explains historical covenant practices and connects them to the new covenant through Yeshua’s sacrifice. Listen for practical reflections on shared identity, the permanence of God’s commitment, and how entering God’s covenant shapes Christian life and responsibility.

A heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from Germany, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We say welcome, welcome, welcome, and thanks for joining us. A big shout out also to all of our listeners everywhere. Thanks for tuning in and sharing some time with us. We do pray that the manifold blessings of God be distributed on your life and on the lives of your loved ones. And as always, we encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. And again, we say thanks for being a part of our community of listeners. The beast the antichrist the anti-messiah what's the difference who are they what are they why are they even mentioned what does the bible has to have to say about them let's take a closer look amass the deception god bless you all welcome to our weekly. Contending For The faith. I'm your co-host, Bishop LaCreece Roston, along with my husband, Bishop Ronald D. Roston. We invite you to get your Bible and notebook and journey with us as we explore topics that challenge us to mature. Our Father and our God, we bless you. In Yeshua's name, please open our spiritual ears and our spiritual understanding so that we can hear what the Spirit has to say. The Spirit of God and what he is saying to the church in this hour. We ask this in Yehusha's name. Amen. Let's dive into our discussion now, Unmasking the Deception. Our base scripture for this segment can be found in Matthew 24, verses 1-10. And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Take heed, take heed, take heed that no man deceive you. That was his response. It's a warning that we can surely apply to the times in which we live. And now we'll do a quick review of last week's segment. The concepts of a pre-tribulation rapture and a single-person Antichrist. Originated as the Roman Catholic Church's refinal to the Protestant Reformers' accusation that the Pope was the anti-Messiah, Antichrist. These doctrines started in Italy, spread across Europe, and ultimately landed in the halls of the church in the United States. The primary focus of Lacunza's work was on the pre-millennial reign or return of Messiah and his millennial reign. And Edward Irving was the key figure who popularized the secret rapture. Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman whose emphasis was on an imminent second coming. The specific doctrine of pre-tribulation rapture was introduced into Irving's circles following a prophecy by Margaret MacDonald. Irving believed in a version of a two-stage second coming, where the rapture of believers would occur only days before the end of the Great Stipulation, not before it began. Irving's teachings on a two-stage return were a major influence on John Nelson Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, who subsequently developed the popular doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture. Based on Lacunda's work, Irvin championed the idea that the Antichrist was a specific future figure who would rule during the Great Tribulation. This interpretation, however. Focus of prophetic understanding away from the prophecy and towards a future to a future individual. Irving's writing emphasized that the reign of the final Antichrist and the Great Tribulation were part of the final end times events leading up to the Second Come. Margaret MacDonald was a Scottish woman who had a prophetic vision of Messiah's return that involved a secret rapture of the righteous right before the Great Tribulation. Her writings suggest a post-tribulation rapture where believers would face persecution from the Antichrist before being caught up to meet Messiah. An 1861 version of MacDonald's vision omitted key passages that described the church going through the tribulation, leading to confusion and bolstering claims that she supported a pre-tribulation rapture. John Nelson Darby was the Anglo-Irish evangelist. His teachings on the rapture and the Antichrist are separated by a seven-year period of Great Tribulation. Darby is credited with popularizing the secret pre-tribulation rapture theory as a distinctive. Separate from the second coming of Messiah. In Darby's schema, the Antichrist is a figure who rises to prominence after the rapture has occurred. Darby believed that this Antichrist figure would be Jewish and would rise to power in Judea. The rapture serves to promote or serves to remove the church from the earth, thereby ending the church age or Gentile dispensation. This allows God to resume his prophetic program with Israel. According to Darby, the Antichrist will be revealed during the Great Tribulation after the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit working through the church has been removed from the world via the rapture. The Antichrist will then be an instrument of God's judgment against the unbelieving world. Now let's look at a final two contributors on our list. Cyrus Schofield, an American theologian, his interpretation of the end times is a form of dispensational premillennialism that includes a pre-tribulation rapture and a future Antichrist. This system, influenced by the earlier writings of John Nelson Darby, outlines a sequence of events leading to Messiah's return. Schofield taught that the pre-tribulation rapture was a central element of dispensational theology. He believed that before a prophesied seven-year period of tribulation on earth, Jesus would secretly and suddenly return to call all true believers, both living and dead, to meet him in the air. The purpose of the rapture is to remove the church from the world before God's judgment is poured out on earth. This relies on the dispensational distinction between God's program for Israel and his program for the church. Following the rapture, the world would be left to experience the great tribulation, a time of immense suffering and chaos. Schofield's end-time scenario places the Antichrist rising to power during the seven-year tribulation period, which begins after the rapture of the church. Goldfield's notes interpret passages from Daniel and Revelation as pointing to a future literal Antichrist, a single individual who will rise to prominence on the world's day. According to this view, the Antichrist will first appear as a man of peace who makes a seven-year treaty with Israel. Then this event would signal the beginning of the tribulation. In the middle of the seven years, he will break the treaty, demand to be washed up and wage war against the saints. This marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the second half of the seven-year period. At the end of the seven years, Yeshua will visibly return to earth with his saints and defeat the Antichrist and his armies in the Battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist will then be cast into the lake of fire. The church is caught up to heaven before the Tribulation. And this is what Schofield taught in his notes. A seven-year period of judgment begins, marked by the Antichrist's rise to power and his subsequent betrayal of Israel. Messiah returns visibly to the earth at the conclusion of the tribulation. Messiah establishes a literal thousand year reign on earth. And these were the notes that are in Schofield's Bible that my father warned me not to read. He said, don't read the notes and don't read the commentary, read the Bible. And that's our recommendation to read the Bible. The last day, the last trump, the great tribulation, the gathering of the elect and rising of the dead, The rapture, the Antichrist. What could it all mean? Unraveling the mystery. Unmasking the deception. If you enjoy our time together and would like to hear more of our thoughts on mature Christian thinking, pick up our most recent current books, Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church. Both are available on Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and major book outlets everywhere. And now back to those major contributors. The last one we want to look at is a gentleman named Todd Hampson, an American author. He holds a dispensationalist view of the end times, with his teaching focusing on a pre-tribulation rapture and a deceptive antichrist who will rise to power after the church has been taken from the earth. Hampson is an outspoken proponent of the pre-tribulation rapture, which holds that believers will be caught up to be with Yahushua before the seven-year tribulation period begins. He asserts that Messiah's promise to spear believers from the hour of trial, Revelation 3.10, refers to the church's absence from this time of God's wrath. He emphasizes that the expectation of the rapture is a source of motivation, not a distraction. Hampson states that the hope of Messiah's return should inspire believers to share their faith and live with a sense of purpose. Hampson believes that after the rapture, some people who were left behind will realize what has occurred and turn to Yahushua. However, he warns that the tribulation will be a time of immense deception and it will not be easy to become a believer. Hampson teaches that the Antichrist will not initially appear as a tyrannical villain, drawing from the imaginary imagery, drawing from the imagery of the first seal judgment in Revelation. A rider on a white horse who comes without a weapon. Hampton suggests the Antichrist will emerge as a charismatic person of peace. Who gains global trust through deception. In his role as co-host of the Prophecy Prose podcast, Hampson cautions against fixating on identifying the Antichrist. He stresses that believers should look for the Messiah, not the Antichrist, focusing on the hope of the blessed return of Jesus it's noteworthy that most Christian dominational dominations do not subscribe to the view of a secret rapture and many interpret the gathering of the elect to occur at the near at or near the second coming of Yeshua. Period of tribulation. As you can see, there are a whole lot of cooks in the kitchen, a whole lot of hands in this pot of confusion, a whole lot of misconception about the deception. But one thing you can be certain of, the Bible does not teach about a secret pre-tribulation rapture, nor elaborate about a single archetype person that is the Antichrist. So let's consider the notion of a single archetype Antichrist. Where do we find that term used in Scripture? How often is it used? Who is it used by? What or who is it used to describe? Right. These questions should be at the forefront of our thinking as we consider the topic of the Antichrist. We find that the term is only used four times in the Bible, and when it is used, it is used as a warning, an identifier of deception. Let's read them. Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard, that Antichrist shall come. Even now are there many Antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2, 22. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world, 1 John 4, 3. For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and is Antichrist. 2 John 1.1. As we hear the word of God speak, we find that the term Antichrist is used to describe those who deny the deity of Messiah and his incarnation into sinful flesh. It is also used to describe and warn of those who don't recognize the oneness of the Father and Son, as Yahushua constantly proclaimed that, I am my Father, I, and my Father are one. The term Antichrist used four times. The scriptures translates to the Greek word antichristos, which means an opponent of the Messiah. It is extremely important for us to realize that the spirit of Antichrist has been released into the earth since the days of the 12 apostles. If we ignore this fact, we minimize the danger of those groups, organizations, and people who possess that spirit. We are not given any details on the Antichrist in 1 and 1 and 2 John. Additionally, the discourse in 1 and 2 John is not prophetic in nature. It is instructional and of a warning characteristic. It is an instructional warning to first century believers. We must understand who the apostle was speaking to in 1 and 2 John, why he was speaking to them and the context in which he was speaking. This is critical if we are to understand his instructions on anti-Messiah and the spirit of anti-Messiah. It will help to clear up the confusion created by the anti-Reformation movement. It will also help clarify the distinction. And differences between the Antichrist and the Feast of Revelation. We find it noteworthy that the Apostle John, the Revelator, the only author to use the term Antichrist, never used it once in another book he authored, the book of Revelation. Revelation is considered the exhaustive blueprint for the end of time and the events that happened during the Great Tribulation. Yet, the word Antichrist fails to appear there. Instead, we find the word the beast, used in reference to the Acts, the modern church attributes to the Antichrist. Again, we must identify who John was talking to and why he was instructing them, being careful to recognize that his discourse was instructional versus prophetic. As John did truly recognize that one would come and oppose Yeshua and tried to replace himself as the Messiah when he was speaking in 1 John 2 of those first century post-Pentecost disciples and believers who had left the church, did not continue in the apostles' doctrine. Denied the Father, and that Jesus is the Messiah. Have begun to teach false doctrine, have become the enemy and antagonist of Yeshua. Had denied the unrepudiated Yahushua, had seduced Christians and led them away from the second doctrine, from the sound doctrine, Andrew. So what we have to understand is that when John was speaking about Antichrist, He was talking to a specific group of believers who were being bombarded by those people who had been disciples of the truth, who had been disciples of sound doctrine, but had left that, had began to deny that Jesus and the Father were one, had begun to deny that Jesus had come in the flesh. And that discourse about the Antichrist was directed to them, and it was an instructional warning. It was not prophetic. We have to begin to understand that. Now, this is going to be a challenge. The beast and the Antichrist, We're going to look at some aspects of the beast and what the Scripture says about him and the Antichrist, what the Scripture says about the Antichrist. So the Antichrist is one who denies that Jesus and the Father are one, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They deny the Trinity. They deny Jesus is the Holy Ghost. That Jesus existed in eternity before time began, and that Jesus was God, manifested in bodily, humane, human form. See, those scriptures that talk about the Antichrist describe people who have strayed from the apostles' doctrine, who began to teach false doctrine, and they were actually an enemy, an antagonist of Christ. An antagonist is one that contends with or opposes their adversary, their enemy or foe, or a person who was against something or someone. And that's what those disciples, they were former disciples of the truth, But they left the truth and began to teach doctrine that was against what the apostles, in fact, had taught. And I think we'll stop there and we'll review this again in our next segment. And we'll compare what the scripture says about Antichrist and what it says about the beast. But right now, it's time for us to go. And so, as always, we want to thank you for your time and for allowing us to speak with you. And until the next time, we're your hosts, Bishop Ron Rostin, Bishop LaCreece Rostin. We will continue our discussion on our next segment. Until then, let us continue contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. And until the next time, we do bid you peace. And in the words of the ancient Hebrews, shalom. Shalom.

Host Bishop Ronald D. Roston welcomes listeners and reflects on the biblical meaning of blood covenants — their role in purification, commitment, and God's relationship with humanity. The episode traces covenant practices from Adam and Abraham through the Noahic and Mosaic covenants, contrasts the Old and New covenants, and explains how Christ's sacrifice fulfills and transforms sacrificial requirements into the call for believers to be a "living sacrifice."

Host Bishop Ronald D. Rostin welcomes listeners (shout-out to a new listener from New York) and explores what holiness means for Christians — its biblical foundation, the call to pursue and perfect holiness through obedience, and how covenant and sanctification shape a holy life. The episode examines Scripture passages from Genesis, Leviticus, Corinthians, John, and Revelation to show that holiness is God’s prescribed way for His people and discusses practical implications for daily living and spiritual growth.

In this episode Bishop Ronald D. Rostin explores the biblical call to holiness: what it means, why God commands it, and how the Holy Spirit works within us to produce personal transformation. He outlines the benefits of holy living, the spiritual and practical consequences of unholiness, and the role of holiness in disciple-making and intimacy with God. Listeners are encouraged to study the scriptures, pursue gradual growth in holiness, and live in a way that reflects God’s character so their lives become a compelling witness to others.

Join Bishop Ronald D. Roston as he examines Jude 1:3 and 1 Corinthians 11:23–25 to urge believers to contend for the faith of the New Covenant. This episode explores how the finished work of Messiah Yeshua calls us to be governed by the Spirit, not the law, and highlights the ongoing spiritual battle against temptation and the tactics of the enemy. Practical guidance is given on guarding the mind, knowing Scripture, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, and pursuing holiness as a royal priesthood. Learn why vigilance, faith, and a transformed lifestyle are essential to standing firm in the Kingdom of God.

Bishop Ronald D. Roston explores contending for the faith through the New Covenant, using Jude and 1 Corinthians 11 to explain Messiah's finished work, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the ongoing spiritual battle. He emphasizes guarding thought life, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit over seeking gifts, living holy as a royal priesthood, and fighting the good fight of faith in daily life.

Hosts Bishop Ronald D. Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston welcome listeners and examine the historical origins of the pre‑tribulation rapture and the single‑person Antichrist doctrine. They trace key figures and ideas—from Jesuit scholars and Edward Irving to John Nelson Darby and Cyrus Scofield—and show how these interpretations spread from Italy across Europe to the United States. The episode highlights debates between futurist and historicist readings of prophecy, the influence of charismatic visions, and how dispensational timelines reconfigured Protestant eschatology. Listeners are invited to study Scripture, engage with the discussion, and continue contending for the faith.

Welcome to Contending For The Faith. In this episode, Bishop LaCreece Roston and Bishop Ronald D. Roston begin to explore whether the book of Revelation truly teaches about the Antichrist and examine the historical development of rapture and futurist interpretations. They trace key figures—Jesuit theologians, reformers, and 19th-century proponents—who shaped modern views, and challenge common assumptions about a pre-tribulation rapture. Join the hosts as they unpack Matthew 24, review the origins of rapture theology, and discuss how historical and theological perspectives influenced contemporary end-time beliefs.

Hosts Bishop Ronald and Bishop LaCreece Roston examine Matthew 24 and challenge the modern idea of a secret pre-tribulation rapture, arguing the Bible describes a single visible return of Messiah. They trace the doctrine's historical development from Jesuit interventions to 19th-century popularizers like Darby and Schofield, and discuss theological implications for salvation and the Great Tribulation. The episode invites listeners to think critically about end-times interpretations, explore related scriptures, and continue the conversation through the hosts' books and future podcast segments.

Join Bishops Ronald and LaCreece Roston as they unpack Matthew 24 and explore the second coming of Yeshua, the meaning of the last day, the great tribulation, the rapture, and the Antichrist. They challenge the idea of a secret rapture, emphasize a visible worldwide return, warn listeners to "take heed" against deception, and encourage faithful preparation and deeper study of Scripture.