KJV Genesis 1
14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
KJV Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

I gotcha covered M.... ;)

Amen.
I'll say it again, actually... I'll just quote Mr. Schofield:
"The Bible, incomparably the most widely circulated of books, at once provokes and baffles study. Even the non-believer in its authority rightly feels that it is unintelligent to remain in almost total ignorance of the most famous and ancient of books. And yet most, even of sincere believers, soon retire from any serious effort to master the content of the sacred writings. The reason is not far to seek. It is found in the fact that no particular portion of Scripture is to be intelligently comprehended apart from some conception of its place in the whole. For the Bible story and message is like a picture wrought out in mosaics: each book, chapter, verse, and even word forms a necessary part, and has its own appointed place. It is, therefore, indispensable to any interesting and fruitful study of the Bible that a general knowledge of it be gained. "

And from Scripture...
KJV 2 Timothy 2
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
KJV 2 Timothy 4
3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Good teachers,references, and such can certainly be beneficial.....but in this day and age there is no substitute for knowing that you know what is, and isn't, in the Scripture from your own reading and studying.

KJV Isaiah 55
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

"I noticed that conservative Christian organizations often do the opposite of what Jesus preached, which I don't understand."
I notice it too AC. I don't understand it either. But, consider the recorded reactions of those who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from death:
KJV John 11
45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
***46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.***

Amongst other evidences, it is the ability of the Author of Scripture to capture the nature of mans character, the condition of the hearts of men, that compels me to continue exploring the seemingly infinite Wisdom contained in that finite book.

I would suggest that this "schmo" being able to call it before it happened(as witnessed by many who gave their lives for that witness) might have something to do with the "Thousands of years of retardation" that followed.....

In fact, there's quite a remarkeable string of strange coincidences, impluasiblities, and straight up miraculous events recorded by many who suffered all manner of persecutions for their testimony.
Check it for yerself...... http://bibleontheweb.com/
And please, don't give up on it until you're certain noone can deceive you on what it contains........

I post these apparently redundant verses to suggest that the Author of Scripture seems to intend a point be made.....
KJV Matthew 12
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

KJV Matthew 16
1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

KJV Mark 8
11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

KJV Luke 11
29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

And then this makes a good summation of the point...
KJV 1 Corinthians 1
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.

KJV Matthew 24

23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25Behold, I have told you before.

ceoyoyo, when satan/antichrist/the beast shows up with "observable and consistent" signs and wonders will you know it for who it is, or will you declare it God and follow it?
I tell everyone here the same as I tell my only child: Noone should dictate your faith to you, but to remain ignorant of the content, mysteries, truths, and overall scope of the Holy Scriptures in this day and age is perilous if for no other reason than to protect oneself from those who will exploit your ignorance, possibly at the price of your eternal soul.

KJV Hebrews 11

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Thar ya go! You tell 'em sweet smell 'em!

What the hell are you talking about? "...as a consequence of his betrayal." Betrayal of whom, or what....?
I'm not sure if Snowden ever took an oath to defend the Constitution but this ol' Jarhead did and I call on every US citizen to take up that oath and realize that it trumps all other contracts or agreements one might make in this society.

I'll tell ya what's terrible and sad... an AC twerp poking his head out from under his rock to make some thinly veiled threat about a man who's actually got a pair. Get back under your rock worm.......

Unfortunately, it's becoming abundantly clear that the greatest real adversary of the average American is...... our own goverment. Much the same for average majorities of populations around the globe. Having lived in a few other cultures around the world it's obvious to me that the vast majority of us all just want a decent life with Creator-bestowed Rights and Liberties and a better tomorrow for our children. Unfortunately, that's just not enough for a very few who now control the goverments around the world.
Simon Barsinisters are real, and it's up to each and every one of us to pop those Power Pills and become Underdogs if we're to save the day. Start by voting for someone without MSM/big money support..... just to see what happens....

https://movetoamend.org/
You should check 'em out and mebbe lend a hand.......

If that's the situation we've reached in America now then it's all over with and not worth saving anyway. i'd liken it to the observation on porn vs. art...... I know it when I see it.
Is there a victim? is there a lie/deception involved? Where's the $ going to and coming from......? It ain't hard to spot "criminal", "legal" is where the criminals are making their hay these days.......
Not meaning to bust on ya Coren, but considering I was felonized for growing a few plants in a closet that only came to the attention of law enforcement due to thieves taking it, getting caught with it, and then sending LEO back to my place..... while elements of our government are gleefully wiping their arses with the document that codifies our God given rights...... I get a little peeved.....
As long as We the People remain hamstrung by "legal" as interpreted by criminals and their lackeys....... our kids don't stand a snowball's chance in hell......
Throughout human history judges and lawyers have determined all manner of shit as "legal". Thank God for those rare individuals like Edward Snowden who've had the balls to take a stand and call shit for the shit that it is. We wouldn't have an America if it weren't for men and women like him.

Don't sugar coat it brother, tell 'em how it is.....

Something having to do with a "victim" comes to mind.......?

Everyone please consider supporting Move To Amend https://movetoamend.org/ and maybe we can begin to rein in the corporate takeover of America.