The Bible informs us that most of the end time prophecies would not be truly understood until during the last days, when their fulfillment will begin to take place.
"(4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (9) And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." - Daniel 12: 4, 9
There are many prophetic signs and occurrences today that literally scream out "end times are here!" The following video featuring Dr. David Reagan of christinprophecy.org explains in detail many of the signs we are witnessing or will witness soon. At the end of the video, Dr. Reagan gives 50 reasons that show these are the end times we are now living in.
Following is a beautiful video with animals, birds, and gorgeous scenery showing the beauty of God's creation. During the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20), I am sure we will enjoy even greater splendors; not to mention those found in heaven and in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).
"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
"(13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." - Revelation 22:13,14
The above young White-Rumped Shama Thrush looks alert and like he is paying attention to his surroundings and is ready to take action, if need be. Oh, how we need to pay attention to all the signs around us which scream out at us, "Wake up! End times are here! Be ready for Jesus' return!"
I have written much about the Rapture and the 7-year Tribulation. (Go to the search box above and to the right and type in a subject). I will continue to write about the end times right up to the time I either die or I am raptured to heaven, whichever comes first. There is a sense of urgency in my heart and soul that compels me to warn people that we are living in the last hours of the last days.
Unfortunately, many people are so caught up in the affairs and cares of everyday living, that any notion of it all ending soon just floats on by them in an unreal, dreamlike state of non-concern and even of unbelief that it could be true that these are the last days. That falls right into the schemes of the devil; to keep people from realizing that time is running out. The evil one also tries to keep us so busy, busy, busy that we do not have time for Bible reading and prayer, whereby we could grow to maturity in the faith and be able to endure and persevere to the end.
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." - Jesus speaking at Matthew 24:13
Following is a recent video https://prophecywatchers.com featuring Billy Crone and his views on the soon to happen Tribulation. He believes that prophecy can wake up the Church and motivate us to share the gospel and to live godly lives. In many cases, and in many churches, the Christians are asleep where prophecy is concerned.
Billy Crone feels that God wants us to know the future because He built the future and wants to give us a hope of a glorious future with Him....that is, if we are true believers. Human beings cannot exist without hope; the heavenly Father gives us a hope and a reason to live. That is one more indication of His immense love for us.
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" - Hebrews 6:19
"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:5
"There is an intimate connection between the life of the Christian here and the enjoyment and the glory in the day of Christ's appearing." - George Muller
Regarding the Rapture of the Church, C. S. Lewis has said, "Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments."
The Rapture will precede the 7-year Tribulation, because believers are not appointed to suffer God's wrath in the Tribulation.
"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
Perhaps there are some scoffers reading this now, that do not believe in Bible prophecy and say, "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." - 2 Peter 3:4
It is well to point out that today all things are NOT the same as they were a few years ago.... not even 10 or 20 years ago. Read the news in one hand and the Bible in another (figuratively speaking) and you will comprehend that what the Bible prophesied to happen in the last days is indeed occurring now....a convergence of all the end times signs happening all at once, as Jesus told us would be the case in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.
Why take a chance and scoff at the prospect of a soon Rapture of the Church, which is followed by the fearsome and devastating seven year Tribulation? Open your heart and ask God for discernment. What if all the Bible tells us is going to happen is really true? - which it is, because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). If you remain unyielding and do not surrender to Jesus and do not believe in Him with all your heart and soul as your Savior, Lord, and Master; then you will be left behind (after the Rapture of true believers) to face and endure a time of trouble and wrath like the world has never seen before when the Tribulation period occurs.
Why take the chance of being stubborn and hard-hearted and thereby suffer in hell for all eternity? Ask God to open your eyes of understanding and to teach you the truth as you read the Bible. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior (Romans 6:23). Repent of your sins (Mark 1:15). Put your trust and faith in Jesus to save you and believe on Him for eternal life (John 3:16).
The Lord has made it simple. But it requires faith and surrender to Him to make redemption possible. He will not force you. Repentance and Faith must come from your heart.
God loves you.
Jesus is waiting to take you by the hand and call you His own.
Don't delay.
Tomorrow may be too late.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16
Everyone is aware of President Trump's visit to the Middle East as well as Rome. This is prophetic! Trump really wants peace for Israel and the Palestinians, and is working towards that goal. But quite frankly, there will be no true peace in the region until the Prince of Peace (Jesus) returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom.
After the Rapture of true believers ( the Church, the Bride of Christ) the antichrist will make a covenant for peace with Israel which will begin the 7 year Tribulation, but it will be a false peace and a temporary one at that. After signing the 7 year covenant with Israel, the antichrist will break it after three-and-a-half years.
"And he (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. " - Daniel 9:27
It should be mentioned here that although Israel will have a brief, false peace under the antichrist, there will no doubt be wars in other parts of the earth, as the antichrist goes conquering (Revelation 6:2)
But Christians living now will not have to worry about the antichrist or who he is, because we will be raptured before he comes on the scene, or is revealed. We believers need to focus on Jesus and His soon return and live godly lives and be ready to meet Him in the air.
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 2 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Therefore what is next - for believers - is the Rapture. For those unbelievers who are left behind, more wars, cosmic disasters, and the wrath of God as He judges the ungodly left on earth to suffer the horrors of the Tribulation.
Following is a video by prophecywatchers.com featuring Andy Woods' opinions on the "Middle East Meltdown", in which he discusses the Gog/Magog war and Ezekiel 38 as well as other insightful thoughts and conclusions.
It is Mr. Woods' opinion that Islam is furnishing the theological motivation for the Gog/Magog attack.
"What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools." - Martin Luther
"Such are the conditions prior to Judgment Day. We need to learn from this and not fret when we see these things happening, but say: Christ predicted beforehand that the world would become so savage, coarse, greedy, and so on. Well then! That's the way it is; and it is even going to get worse." - Martin Luther
The above two quotes by Martin Luther sound very negative, but you have to admit what he said is very true of today...these last days we find ourselves living in now. Read Matthew 24.
The good news is, Christians have a blessed hope ! (Titus 2:13) The hope of being raptured to heaven to be with the Lord forever! We should be full of zeal to witness about Jesus to lost souls, especially since the time is short before His return.
Following is an uplifting song about when we shall see Jesus.
Let us remember that only Jesus can bring lasting peace to this world. If you give your heart, soul, and life to Jesus and believe He is your Savior and repent of your sins and ask for God's forgiveness, you will have a certain degree of peace right now. Peace in your soul, knowing you are right with the Lord. You may still have trials and tribulations on this earth, but with the Holy Spirit's help, you will have endurance and strength to persevere.
"(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" - 2 Corinthians 6:2
"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
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" - Titus 2:13
The above flower and fruit (the ball) are on the Cannonball Tree; a tree with its own weapon ! When the cannonballs fall to the ground (or on your head!) they burst open and emit a foul odor. You might say this is a tree with its own armor.
Christians have armor for their use as well. The armor of God, that is. In last weekend's post I dealt with the subject of strength: how to be strong. This weekend we will discuss how the armor of God can make you strong and can protect you in this spiritual battle we find ourselves in every day. Following are verses from Ephesians 6 that describe this armor of God, which verses most Christians are familiar with but I quote it here for unbelievers or those who are not aware of this passage in the Bible.
"(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: " - Ephesians 6:10-17
We cannot win this spiritual battle by our own human effort; we need the Lord's help and His Spirit, and these verses above inform us how to do just that. It is good to take note that, in verse 12, it tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood....in other words, we should not lash out at humans that give us a hard time as though they were the real culprits or enemy. The devil is the real enemy and is able to use people to tear us down and persecute us and to make us lose heart.
Also in verse 12, satan and his fallen angels (demons) are referred to as "spiritual wickedness" and "the rulers of the darkness of this world." Though powerful, they are not as powerful as God and the Lord can protect us and help us by means of the armor of God.
Please note also that verses 11 and 13 admonish us to "put on the whole armor of God." Not just a part of it, but all of it. That is the only way we can stand firm and be strong. Ancient soldiers equipped themselves with all of their armor when in battle, and we should do the same with our spiritual armor.
"Having your loins girt about with truth" (verse 14) ; The girdle or sash was always an important part of their dress in war as well as in peace. It was designed to keep every part of the armor in its place, and to gird the soldier on every side. Likewise, believers need the truth of God's Word to keep things in perspective and to help them endure the battle we face with the darkness of evil. In other words, to hold everything else together as only God's Word is able to do.
"Having on the breastplate of righteousness" (verse 14) ; Here Paul is showing that true believers are to put on righteousness to protect their hearts as a soldier puts on a breastplate to protect himself. This righteousness includes integrity, holiness, purity of life, and sincere piety.
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (verse 15); A peaceful and benevolent attitude which is an essential part of the Christian character. This, like the boots worn by soldiers, will keep you from being harmed by the many difficulties and trials which, like sharp-pointed thorns, may lie in your way and thereby obstruct your progress.
"The shield of faith" (verse 16) The apostle alludes to the great oblong shield which covers the whole body. As faith is the grace by which all others are preserved and rendered active, so faith is properly represented here by a shield by which the whole body is covered and protected. True faith can quench any dart of the devil.
"The helmet of salvation" (verse 17). This protects one's understanding from being darkened and confused by any temptations of the evil one. It also protects from any subtle views of the ungodly.
"The sword of the Spirit." The Word of God; the Holy Scriptures. It comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the workings of the Holy Spirit. The ability to quote God's Holy Word, especially in times of temptation and trials, can cut in pieces (like a sword) the snares of the adversary and his demons.
Ephesians 1:19 tells us: "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."
In other words, God gives us the strength to help us to resist the devil. As stated previously, we are in a war; a spiritual warfare against the wicked forces of darkness. This is particularly true of Christians who are living godly lives and sharing the Gospel. The devil strikes at them especially hard, to bring them down, because he already has the ungodly...the world in general...in his grasp.
So put on the armor that God provides. The Lord will protect you and help you to endure.
"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart - so will you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." - Andrew Murray
We should not overlook what Ephesians 6:18 tells us, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
Prayer gives you strength from the Lord. It just simply makes all things better to pray. When you pray and read your Bible daily, you draw ever closer to the Lord, and that alone gives you victory over temptation and discouragement. When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, you will live more and more in His presence and grow stronger every day.
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." - 1 Corinthians 16:13
The Internet is overflowing right now with the myth that the Rapture will occur on September 23, 2017, because of the alignment of the stars and of what Revelation 12 records. Granted, it is possible for the Rapture to occur at any time, even on September 23, but it is not likely on that specific date. Mainly because of what Jesus said at Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." He also says at Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh." In these verses Jesus made it very clear that no one would know the day or the hour when He returns.
Following is a video by Joel Richardson concerning this big to-do over September 23 of this year. The following video contains a video from Stellarium showing exactly where the stars will be on that date, and it disproves the current theory that it will be the time of the Rapture. It is a very informative video and Mr. Richardson's thoughts on this false sign of September 23 of this year are worth taking note of.
Update : This video was deleted . To view go to You Tube and type in .. The Underground Episode 65 The False Sign of September 23, 2017 Sorry for the inconvenience.
It is very true that this year is worth noting; so many prophecies are coming true almost daily, or are a precursor of what is to come. I have written several posts about the end times, the Rapture, the Mark of the Beast, the 7 year tribulation, etc. You may type any of those subjects in the above right search box to take you to those posts.
Pete Garcia has written an excellent article on how significant the year 2017 is. For instance, 2017 is 70 years since Israel became a nation again (Israel won the right to statehood on 11-29-47); also, this year, it has been 50 years since they regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war of 1967. Remember, the Jewish people are special to God; He made an everlasting covenant with them in ancient times and Israel is the LORD's prophetic time clock. The end times began when Israel became a nation again. You may read Pete Garcia's article here.
Let us not get so involved in dates and prophecy that we neglect the main thing: Jesus Christ, our Lord and King and Savior. We need to stay focused on Him, in worship and in praise. We need to pray daily and read our Bibles daily so we may grow to know Him better and to thereby have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him. He loves us and wants to hear from us and He wants to fellowship with us.
We should live godly lives, in expectation of our Lord's return at any time.
"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." - 1 John 2:28
How refreshing is this small waterfall ! It reminds me of what Jesus called "living water". (John 7:38). God's holy Word is even more refreshing - and more rejuvenating - than even this delightful waterfall shown here. Just a side-note: when I do my daily Bible study I have an internet video going depicting a stream with waterfalls and with birds chirping in the background. It is very soothing to watch and listen to as I read my Bible. It is not distracting as the sound is on low and I only occasionally glance at the moving water. Try it sometime.
This post is about acquiring strength to face obstacles. Reading God's Word and immersing yourself in its faith-building truths will enable you to do just that.... to face hardships and trials with the Lord as your strength.
"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according to Thy word." - Psalm 119:28
Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I could almost end this post with that verse, because it just about sums up everything concerning strength and how it is possible when you have the Lord by your side. You can face anything by the power of God/Jesus and you can endure the impossible in His strength. Philippians 4:13 is a only a part of what Paul had in mind in this epistle as to Christ's abilities to meet all of our needs.
A large part of endurance and learning to be strong is found in the ability to learn to be content in whatever circumstances one finds himself in. (Philippians 4:11). The more you have your mind on Christ and on heavenly things (and not on the lusts of the world), the more you will find yourself content, serving the Lord and living a godly life, with Jesus to guide and strengthen you in all things.
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places," - Ephesians 1:19-20
"Only he who can say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life' can say 'Of whom shall I be afraid?' " - Alexander MacLaren
"You become stronger only when you become weaker. When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires." - Erwin Lutzer
We need to rely on the power of God. God cannot use a person who is self-centered and who relies on his own strength and not on Him. That is the epitome of conceit and pride to rely on your own strength. When we were saved, we were to rely on Jesus as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior. Inquire of the Lord when you are in doubt and need guidance. He is waiting to hear from you. He will give you strength to endure and to face your mountains.
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength...........But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." - Isaiah 40:29, 31
Remember, however, that if you ask for strength, God may give you difficulties to make you strong. It is through endurance that we learn to be strong.
"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is." - Thomas A. Kempis
Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes how he was caught up to the third heaven and that he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." Verse 7 tells us that to keep him from being prideful he was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him. He prayed to the Lord to remove it, but verse 9 tells us:
"And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." And continuing with verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
We can see that the Lord's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was a better solution than to remove Paul's thorn. "Human weakness provides the perfect opportunity for the display of divine power."
To be strong requires strong faith. If you have been born-again the Holy Spirit will increase your faith as you study your Bible and as you come to the Lord in much prayer. Answered prayers is one of the greatest faith-builders there is ! When you are in distress or feeling blue, just remember how many times God has answered your prayers showing how much He loves you and cares for you. Recalling His goodness and faithfulness toward you will guarantee that you snap out of your negative mood and that you will also be encouraged to continue life's journey with much faith in the Lord, which in turn will make you stronger in your walk with Him.
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength." - Francis de Sales
"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength." - Warren Wiersbe
We find ourselves now living in the end times, the last hours of the last days. We need our faith and strength in the Lord to be able to endure these perilous times. (2 Timothy 3:1-5). But, if you are a true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, you will be included in the Rapture of the Church which is soon to happen. You will therefore not suffer the wrath of God which occurs during the seven year Tribulation period. You do not want to be "left behind" and see and experience the horrendous judgments during the Tribulation; that is, if you are not saved now, you must give your life to the Lord in faith, believing in Him with all of your heart and also in His resurrection; repenting sincerely of all your sins and asking the Lord to forgive you and give you a humble and contrite spirit.
Time is short !!
"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16-19
Let us focus now on the good, the lovely, the godly; on the Scriptures and on faith, hope, and love. The world is full of chaos, deception, terrorism, and the threat of nuclear war. Many people are fearful and anxious of the things coming upon the earth. Let us take a peaceful break from all of that and concentrate on the good instead.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8
What good? you may ask. You are alive and privileged to draw breath another day. If you are a Christian - a true believer in Jesus Christ - you have the hope of living forever in all eternity with Jesus and God. That is good news!
Here is a worship song by Chris Tomlin titled "Fear Not" :
The above song reminds us that God is mighty to save and that He will not abandon us. (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6) Even if we die or are killed in a war, etc., God does not abandon us to that fate in the sense that true believers when they die will go immediately into the Lord's presence.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 informs us, (6) "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight: (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
According to the above Scripture, the believer who has died is immediately at home with Jesus. That is so much more preferable to this life on this troubled earth.
It has been said that the subject Jesus mentioned most was "Fear not". We are so inclined to do just that - to fear. That is, perhaps, why He mentioned it so often - 365 times - either "fear not" or something along similar lines was spoken by the Lord.
Once you become a "new creature" in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:17) you will develop a close, personal and intimate relationship with the Lord; that means your faith and trust in Him will grow and you will not fear the unknown or death. God is in control. He is watching over you and will take care of you.
We need to be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)
Here is a worship video with beautiful landscapes and Scriptures to help relax you and to help you to take in the healing words and message it contains :
And if you will read your Bible, it tells us how everything will end when all is said and done.
God wins! He will gain the victory over satan and the evil principalities. We will live forever with Him in eternity. What a hope! What a future!
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39
For the above to be true for you, you need to accept Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Master. Have faith in Him; believe in Him and in His resurrection, and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9,10,13)
But first you must sincerely repent of your sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness. God looks at the heart, and if you are truly repentant and have a humble and sincere faith, the Lord will hear and answer that prayer to Him for forgiveness and salvation.
The next step is to find a true Bible-based Christian church and to fellowship with other believers. (Hebrews 10:25). Tell the pastor of your decision to follow Christ and to be baptized. Just a note, baptism does not save you but, rather, it is a public declaration of your faith in the Lord and symbolizes being now dead to sin and raised to life.
And please remember how important it is to read your Bible daily. That is the primary way God speaks to us. By daily reading of God's Holy Word you learn of His attributes, His love, and His forgiveness; and you will grow in your love for Him. This draws you ever closer to Him, as does daily prayer. The Lord wants to fellowship with us. And you will discover the power in His Word and the power of prayer. Which in turn empowers us to live a godly life as we become a friend of God.
"We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts." A. W. Tozer
"Assurance is the fruit that grows out of the root of faith." - Stephen Charnock
Faith is the killer of fear. I used to be fearful of many things before I came to know the Lord. Now I have peace and know that I am in God's hands, no matter what happens. Faith gives you a positive attitude and gives you hope.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4
"Be careful {anxious} for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
I have written previously about a gap of possibly several years between the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of the seven year Tribulation period. This post includes a video discussing that very subject. But before we talk about the video, it will be a good idea to discuss the 7 seals of Revelation 6. There we find the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Most of you are familiar with the four horsemen, but many of you probably have not read the Scriptures pertaining to them. Please read the entire chapter of Revelation 6 for your own edification. I will touch on those verses briefly now.
Revelation 6:1-2 (the first seal) speaks of the white horse, "and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given him: and he went forth to conquering, and to conquer." This is the antichrist , who is alive today and will be revealed after the soon rapture of believers.
Revelation 6:4 (the second seal) speaks of the red horse, which symbolizes war.
Revelation 6:5 (the third seal) tells of a black horse, "and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand." Revelation 6:6 reveals that he represents famine, and economic hard times.
Revelation 6:8 (the forth seal) reveals a pale horse, "and his name that set upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
Revelation 6:9-11 (the fifth seal) speaks of "the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Notice that these martyrs do not know how long it will be, so, according to Bill Salus, they must have died and said this before the Tribulation began, because the Tribulation begins when Israel signs a peace covenant with the antichrist, and the Bible tells us how long after that before Jesus returns to destroy the wicked on earth and sets up His Millennial Kingdom. This is expounded upon in the following video.
Revelation 6:12-17 (the sixth seal) speaks of cosmic disturbances to come upon the earth. Instead of repenting, the remaining wicked upon earth choose to try to hide.
The seventh seal begins the seven trumpets.
In the illustration above, the 5th seal is shown as "Martyrdom and the Great Tribulation." In the following video from prophecywatchers.com, Bill Salus explains why he believes these seals of Revelation 6 happen after the Rapture but before the Tribulation.
Please watch this video and decide for yourself if you agree with Bill Salus' conclusions. He "challenges traditional thinking" says Gary Stearman of Mr. Salus.
Whether Bill Salus or anyone else is right or not, we need to believe the Bible and we need to make sure we are right with the good Lord. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. It does not mean that we will be perfect, but that we should have faith in God and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and Master. We should immediately repent of our sins, and not repeat them and live a life pleasing to the Lord. We should surrender to Him totally. His will, not ours, be done.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:22-23
"Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16
