Some people think we are already in the prophesied Tribulation period. They need to study their Bible more to discern that that is not the case. To begin with, the Rapture of the Church has not yet occurred, and that must happen before the Tribulation because the Lord's people are not appointed to wrath.
"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." - Romans 5:9
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The above two Scriptures tell us how to escape the 7-year Tribulation. We need to be followers of Jesus Christ; we need to be born-again (John 3:16). We need to repent of our sins, pray and ask God for forgiveness, and put our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Master. We must put God and Jesus first in our lives.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." - Acts 16:31
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6
Once saved by faith in Jesus, you will be raptured to be with the Lord in heaven sometime soon before the 7-year Tribulation occurs and will be in heaven while the Tribulation is taking place on the earth. What a blessed hope ! (Titus 2:13). God is loving and merciful to His people.
Following is a video featuring Gary Stearman and Bob Ulrich of prophecywatchers.com. It deals with myths of the tribulation, and gives great insight into Scriptures concerning the Tribulation and answers questions such as "The reasons why the Tribulation has to happen." They also discuss a new DVD they are offering which is about a girl who wakes up one day and finds herself in the Tribulation period.
If you read the Book of Revelation in the Bible, you will discern that the Tribulation is full of God's wrath and judgment on the ungodly left on the earth after the true believers in Christ are raptured to heaven. You do not want to go through the horrors of the time of "Jacob's Trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). Turn in faith to Jesus Christ now before it is too late !
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.: - Ephesians 2:8-9
Yes, we are living in the last days; and, yes, the Lord's return is imminent. It could happen at any time; it is impending. Nothing at all needs to take place before the Rapture of the Church occurs. If you scoff at all that, you might be interested to know that you were written about in the Bible at 2 Peter 3:3-4 which says,
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
There are about 2500 prophecies in the Bible and 2/3 of them have already been fulfilled. Therefore, it stands to reason that the remaining 1/3 would also come to pass as well; and that includes the prophecies about the Rapture. I have written previously about the Rapture of the Church (found here). I will not repeat myself with all that information again, but I will point out some Scriptures again concerning the Rapture.
Another instance of the Rapture is found at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
Read John 14:1-6 and in particular verse 3 which says: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Jesus is here referring to the Rapture as well.
Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church, before the 7-year Tribulation begins. There may be a gap of a few years after the Rapture before the Tribulation actually begins. At the end of the Tribulation, there is the Second Coming of Jesus where He destroys the wicked left on earth and then ushers in the Millennial Kingdom. Below is a simplification of the differences between the two events.
RAPTURE SECOND COMING
1) Believers meet Lord in air .................Believers return to earth with Jesus
(1 Thess. 4:17) (Revelation 19:14)
2) Occurs before Tribulation ............. Occurs after Tribulation
(1 Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10) (Revelation chapters 6 through 19)
3) Act of deliverance .............. Judgment and destruction of
Following is an excellent video on the Rapture with Ron Rhodes explaining why it must be a pre-tribulation event and other pertinent information we all need to know. Mr. Rhodes has a wonderful sense of humor and by it he helps to make a point.
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; " - Titus 2:13
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father , but by Me." - John 14:6
"When The Spirit of The Age Has a Cosmic Tantrum" is an eye-opening article by Jill Martin Rische concerning current events and the evil found in today's society. It says that the level of hatred in the world - and in America - is off the charts. The article gives links to information about such things as after school satan clubs and other topics of interest that we are faced with today. It also tells us what we can do to make a difference for good in this world. You may read the entire article here
It is hard to believe how drastically America and this world has changed in the last 10 years, and especially are things radically different than they were 20 years ago. We are definitely living in the end times the Bible prophesied ....many signs are converging now on almost a daily basis. Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21.
"(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." - 2 Timothy 3: 1-5
The above verses in 2 Timothy 3 accurately describe the times we are living in right now. If this post sounds negative, sometimes we need to clearly see the evil in order to turn from it so that we may realize the truth when we are told the good....the Gospel of Jesus Christ.... and to recognize that only in Him can we find hope, joy, and a future eternal life with Him in Paradise.
All these end time events taking place right now point us to the soon return of Jesus. That is something to rejoice over !
Following is a recent video on Middle-East events by Amir Tsarfati
In Amir's updates, he always refers us to Scripture. He has a thriving ministry which takes him all over the world. He lives in Israel and has excellent sources that keep him updated on the latest current events around the world, but especially in the Middle-East. Remember, Israel is God's prophetic time clock. God still considers Israel as His special people with whom He made an everlasting covenant in ancient times.
We live in exciting times, with how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in front of our eyes ! It is time to get right with the Lord and be ready for His return. Confess your sins, repent and ask for forgiveness; surrender your life to Jesus and put His will first in your life.
Tomorrow may be too late !
"....except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." - Jesus at Luke 13:3b
Courage is when someone's heart moves them to do something brave. Dr. Charles Stanley defines courage thus, "The quality of mind or spirit enabling us to meet danger, face opposition, or the challenges of life with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness."
This post will focus on Biblical courage, which relies upon the power of God to strengthen us and to help us demonstrate courage as befits children of God. It takes courage to "be different" and to take a stand for what is true and righteous while living in a wicked and selfish and materialistic world. It takes courage to suffer persecution and insults because of your faith. God is there to help you in all of your trials.
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" - Psalm 27:1
"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." - Psalm 27:14
The two verses above (and the Holy Spirit) have helped me to be strong and to face opposition. Waiting on the Lord will build your faith and strengthen you as you let God be God and wait for His guidance and His help. He is in control and knows the end from the beginning and what the future holds. His plan is best. Trust Him.
Hebrews 13:5b also says that God "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." How comforting. God and Jesus are always with you. That knowledge alone will give you courage. As a child I was moved around from one relative to another; as an adult I have been forsaken by my husband. These verses, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5, fill my heart with love and gratitude for the Lord's tender care and His promises. I can trust God. He will not abandon me nor forsake me.
I was shy, fearful, and insecure as a child and as a young adult. The good Lord has worked mightily in my behalf and when I look back on how many times He has "rescued" me, it has built my faith and trust in Him. He has given me the courage to face the obstacles. It is all by the grace of God and not any of my doing.
"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
In short, to be courageous, you need to have faith in the good Lord. The Holy Spirit will guide you and help you. You need to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That relationship is built by prayer and Bible study. You need to have faith and believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and Master.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
"(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10: 9,10,13
Dr. Stanley tells us that the key to courage and to live your life acceptably is to mediate on God's Word day and night. (Joshua 1:8)
One example in the Bible of courage in action is one we are all familiar with: the story of David and Goliath. David trusted in the Lord because of how he had been helped by God in the past to be delivered from a lion and also from a bear. He had faith and therefore courage to slay the giant, knowing the Lord would help him this time as well. (1 Samuel 17).
"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." - C. S. Lewis
"Even a coward can praise Christ, but it takes a man of courage to follow Him." - Unknown
"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." - Victor Hugo
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." - Joshua 1:9
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - Jesus at John 14:27
One time when I was very upset and agitated (with good reason), I plopped myself down on the sofa and repeated the verse above over and over to try to calm myself down. The Lord blessed my efforts by causing me to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately, and when I awoke I felt a strong sense of peace. Now I still repeat Psalm 46:10 by saying, "Be still and know that You are God." It has a calming peace about it to say it out loud. The Holy Word of God has power ! It can transform anyone from the clutches of the wicked world and the power of satan and mold them into a mild and humble child of God; a life from wickedness to a godly life; a life from loud and unruly actions and brazen speech into a gentle and meek and quiet spirit.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2
In Psalm 46:10, to "be still" means to stop, to cease striving. In today's hustle and bustle world, people are constantly on the go and busy, busy, all the time. Even many Christians do not take time to pray or study the Bible because of their hectic schedules. This should not be so. Sadly, even some who call themselves Christians put their careers first and foremost, always striving and they seldom call upon the Lord. Before I was born-again, I was guilty of putting my career first before anyone or anything. Now I am more happy doing the Lord's work than I ever was previously. There is also a considerable amount of peace within your soul when you know you are in right standing with God and Jesus.
Tied in with being still and quiet, is the willingness to wait upon the Lord. Andrew Murray says that, "quietness is an element of true waiting on God. ......But when it is seen that the waiting on God is itself an unspeakable blessedness, one of the highest forms of fellowship with the Holy One, the adoration of Him in His glory will of necessity humble the soul into a holy stillness, making way for God to speak and reveal Himself."
The quote above by Andrew Murray is from his book/devotional "Waiting on God" . It is an excellent rendition on the subject of waiting on God and you may still find it here .
"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord." - Psalm 27:14
Sometime ago I wrote about how waiting can be good and I quoted Charles Spurgeon who said, "If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord's people have always been a waiting people."
Following is a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon titled "Waiting Only Upon God". It seems to fit including it here because waiting on God involves stillness and a quiet hope.
So, to wait for the Lord is to be done in quietness and stillness. That shows faith. Don't jump blindly into something or say something you may regret later.....wait on God to show the way.
"Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly." - Acts 19:36
Following is a 49 minute sermon by Charles R. Swindoll on being still and being quiet:
You must be still in order to sense God's presence - whether in prayer or in Bible reading It is hard sometimes because even then our minds tend to wander, but we need to focus as much as we possibly can on the Lord and in reverent fear and with a sense of His sovereignty and majesty. Be still in your humble heart and realize God is your Creator, your Lord and Master, as is Jesus, and give Him honor and respect as you pray and as you wait for Him in all matters.
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." - Psalm 62:5
God responds to a meek and quiet spirit. It is pleasing to Him to see us as being meek and quiet. No one likes a loud and brash person; God is no different, except He is more patient than we are. God is love, and in His great love He does not wish any to perish, but to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to believe in the heart that He is the Savior who can wash away all of our sins....and that includes even the brash person, the person we may give up on. God is forgiving.
"But (let it be) the hidden man of the heart, in which is not corruptible, (even the ornament) of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." - 1 Peter 3:4
We have seen that to be still (as in Psalm 46:10), involves to "cease striving"; to let God be God and let Him be in control of our lives. Not frantically pursuing endeavors contrary to God's will. Just to simply rest in the Lord and to wait for Him.
Be still.
Be quiet.
"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." - Lamentations 3:26
"For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength......" - Isaiah 30:15
"And say unto him, take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted..." Isaiah 7:4a
I have said many times that Israel is God's prophetic time clock. The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Israel in ancient days, and He considers them His covenant people, His chosen people, to this very day. Bible prophecy revolves around the Jewish nation. And no, the Church did not replace Israel as some proclaim. The heavenly Father will soon rapture the Church to heaven by Jesus Christ. Except for Messianic Jews, the Jewish people will be left to go through the 7 - year tribulation period after the Rapture of true believers, which is very, very near. Two thirds of Israel will perish during the tribulation period, but at the end the remnant will come to know Jesus Christ. (Zechariah 12 and 14).
I strongly urge you to read Ezekiel 38 and 39. Current events are a precursor to the Rapture and the Battle of Gog and Magog. These are the end times, the last days.
Following is a very recent video by Amir Tsarfati concerning the Middle East situation. Israel is very vulnerable right now as things are escalating in the nations of that part of the world. Amir discusses Iran, Syria, the Russians, Iran's nuclear reactors, and much more in this 20 minute video.
The churches today, or many of them, are just downright lukewarm. This is partly due to the fact that the pastors are not preaching the Rapture and end times Bible prophecy. Most Christians do not realize where we are on the prophetic time clock. It is urgent for them to wake up and be watchful and ready for the Lord Jesus Christ to return to take them home to heaven. Prophecy is not on hold. God is in control and things are not falling apart, but instead are coming together exactly as prophesied.
Now is the time to surrender your life to Jesus and His will. Repent of your sins and ask the Lord to forgive you. It is the time to be walking ever so closely in Jesus' footsteps and to be busy doing the Lord's work and spreading the Gospel. Live a godly life and serve others, thereby also serving the Lord.
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." - I Thessalonians 5:6
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." - Jesus at Matthew 24:42
I cannot get the Fukushima radiation disaster off of my mind ! My heart breaks thinking of how family members and others will develop various types of cancers; of how there will be many deformed babies; many very early deaths of the majority of people. It is depressing to think about all the repercussions of this nuclear disaster ! There are many videos on the internet now concerning the radiation from the nuclear power plant meltdown at Fukushima. I wrote earlier about the grave danger we are in right now and in the near future. Please check it out as well. Below are two videos concerning this that are eye-opening !
I urge you to watch both of these videos. It is urgent and important that we stay informed.
In the second video, the one directly above, it makes the statement that radiation from Fukushima will leak until the end of time. Scientists have expressed that belief.
I prefer to pay more attention to what the Bible has to say about the future. There is still hope! As I have stated many times previously, Jesus' return cannot be that far into the future. We need Him now desperately. He will right all the wrong and will bring to ruin those who are destroying the earth.
"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."
Revelation 11:18
"With God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26b
The Sovereign of the Universe, The Almighty and All Powerful God, will be able to reverse any damage to the earth. After the Rapture of true believers, and after that the 7 year tribulation period, Jesus will return with His saints and He will destroy all the wicked at the Battle of Armaggedon. After that will follow 1000 years of Christ's reign on earth while the devil is bound during that time There cannot be radiation polluting the earth during Christ's Millennial Reign. The earth will be like a paradise during that period. So the Lord has the power to reverse and end any radiation leakage.
But we must keep in mind what 2 Peter 3:9-18 tells us. " the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up...........nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness......Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless......."
If God can create a new heavens and a new earth, He can surely end the dangers of Fukushima radiation. Remember, with God all things are possible. If the old earth, with its pollution and radiation, is destroyed - burnt up - the new earth will be pure and new and uncontaminated.
Look at Revelation 21:1 where it tells us, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." No more sea!! Therefore no more radiation in the sea, and the Lord will make sure there is no more radiation on the land or in the air, as well. But, again, it will be a new heavens and a new earth.
In light of the perilous times we find ourselves living in now, and the fact that Jesus will return at any time, we need to make sure that we surrender our lives over to the Lord ...NOW ! If you are not already a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to pray to the Lord and confess your sins, have a repentant heart (sincerely give up those sins), and believe that Jesus died for you and shed His blood at Calvary so that you might have eternal life by believing in Him and in His resurrection.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10:9-10
You will know you are truly saved by the love you have for Jesus, and by your desire to eagerly plunge into the Scriptures and your wanting to know more about God. You will pray more and learn to develop a close, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Get involved in a true, Bible-based church where you may also be baptized as a public declaration of your faith in the Lord.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:4
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
Revelation 21:7
