2019 Is Almost Here ! Are You Ready For What It Might Hold?

I ended 2018 with a big fall and a broken nose and lots of bruising.  Yep.  I go for surgery this coming week and could sure use some prayers that all goes well.   

Actually, I have faith that the good Lord will make sure things go well.   He has been so trustworthy and a true source of comfort to me in times past, as well as now.  

What in the world does 2019 hold?  Not only for me but for you and the world?  I have written extensively on this blog about how we are in the last hour of the last days and that Jesus could return at any time for the Rapture of the true believers to heaven.   Go to the Search Box at the top right hand side of this page and type in "Rapture", or "end times" (and so on) and several posts will pop up for you to view.

It would be wise to read all of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 in your Bible to ponder over the signs of the end times.  We are there now, friends!  We need to be living godly lives, wholly surrendered to the Lord.  Then when Jesus returns He will be able to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant....."   (Matthew 25:23a).  If the Lord can say that of you, you need not fear what the future holds, if you are a born again believer in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  

We should be living lives that bring glory to God.  Trust in God and His care regardless of circumstances.   That is strong faith.  That is the way to please God.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  -  Hebrews 11:6

So what do we do while we wait for the Lord's return?  Be busy witnessing to others about Jesus and the Gospel.  Time is short and we want to be active in the Great Commission !

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."   Jesus speaking at Matthew 28:19-20.

The above empowering words of Jesus are also very reassuring, for He came to earth to be "God with us."

What does 2019 hold for us?  The world is in chaos right now and full of evil and violence and immorality.  We could see more of that and on a much worse level.   But we could also experience our deliverance in the Rapture of the Church.  No, I am not date-setting.  Only God knows when that time is when true believers are taken by Jesus to heaven.   But the Bible gave us signs to watch for so that we would know the time is near........ it is near, folks!

Here are some words of Jesus from Luke 21:25-28:  "(25) "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26)  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  (27)  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

So do not be depressed and full of fear and dread over all the terrible things that are happening now. Instead, realize we will soon be with the Lord and rejoice over that fact.  Have faith and hope and trust in God;  live for Jesus.   You will be okay.  You will be with the Lord forever, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and have been born again.

Be often in prayer and daily read God's Holy Word.  You will then draw closer to the good Lord and He will draw closer to you.  You will find you will build a close, intimate, personal, love relationship with God through Jesus, His Son.  You will find strength to endure and He will give you a purpose and a hope.  

Keep looking up!

"I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope."  -  Psalm 130:5

"Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart:  for consider how great things He hath done for you."   -   1 Samuel 12:24

Update - Behind The Scenes Reasons Why President Trump Pulled Troops Out of Syria (Video Amir Tsarfati) And Another Amir Video About The Reason For The Season

Again, Amir Tsarfati gives us an informative update on current events in the Middle East.  You can rest assured that his updates are accurate because of his reliable sources;  there is no speculation in his updates, and he tells it exactly as it is.  

I urge you to watch all of the following 32 minute video by Amir for inside information on the pullout of USA troops from Syria.  I will not tell the information  myself.   Amir gives an excellent in depth discussion of it in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmoNLejUC0

As the above video ends, it clicks over to another video of a Bible teaching on the birth of Christ.  In case it doesn't work out or there is a glitch, here is a link to that 45 minute video which also shows Amir's  knowledge of the Bible and his gift of preaching the Gospel.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ZBqvadHFo

Although Jesus was not born on December 25, Amir gives good advice on witnessing to others about Jesus at this time of the year.  Most people, especially non-Christians, celebrate Christmas just because of tradition.   They don't understand the real reason why people celebrate this time of year.  

Jesus is the true gift to us all.  The best gift.   He is our Savior.   He is our hope for eternal life.  

"Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have."   -  Charles Spurgeon 

Let us not only remember Him on one day of the year!

Let us celebrate Him everyday....all year long!

"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

Where Is America In Bible Prophecy? (With Video)

Many people wonder why America is not in Bible prophecy;  others think America is Babylon the Great as mentioned in Revelation 18.  Some believe America is not in the Bible because America will be destroyed by a nuclear attack or an EMP.   

Following is a 29 minute video by Dr. David Reagan which gives excellent information about what the Bible has to say what happened to the ancient Biblical Judah and why it suffered capture by its enemies and how America presently is guilty of the same sins as Judah was.

This video is jam-packed with interesting facts we should all know and take note of.   In it, Dr. Reagan tells how Isaiah the prophet brought to light the  eight sins of Judah:

(1)  Injustice

(2)  Greed

(3)  Pleasure Seeking

(4)  Blasphemy

(5)  Moral Perversion

(6)  Intellectual Pride

(7)  Intemperance

(8)   Political Corruption

Sounds like America today, doesn't it ?

To be fair, other countries suffer from the same sins today.  The world is literally going crazy and is in desperate need of help from above.  There will be help soon for true believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior.   The Rapture of the Church could happen at any time, when Jesus shall return and take all believers in Him to heaven to be with Him forever.   Will you be one of them to be saved from the 7 year Tribulation that follows the Rapture?

Please watch the above video and there is a Part 2 video as well on this subject.  

Actually, it would be simpler to give you the link here:

The above second part about America's Destiny brings us more into the present time with current events in light of Bible prophecy, as well as some eye-opening and alarming statistics.  It is a lively discourse and I hope you watch all of it.

True believers, keep looking up and watching for our Lord's return.  Be on your knees frequently in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  

Read your Bible daily.  Study it.  

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."                  -  Acts 17:11

As you pour over the Scriptures daily and pray to the good Lord without ceasing, you will develop a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Son.  Your faith will increase, and you will look forward to the Lord's soon return.  

Believers in Christ have their true home in heaven.  We're just passing through this time on earth.  It is our "schoolhouse" to prepare us for the heavenly home.  

Maranatha !

"Watch!" - Inspirational Weekend

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always. that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  -  Jesus at Luke 21:36

"Watch" and "pray always":  two great duties of man.  To have a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we need to be diligent to prayer; to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Now in these latter days - the end times - we need to watch for the Lord's return with great expectation; to be ready for His imminent return; to be found worthy of heaven and thereby to be living a godly and faith filled life.  Although no one knows the day or the hour of His return, His Holy Word has given us the signs that are prevalent which point to His soon return.  Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 to learn of these signs of the last days.  

We are there !   Right in the last "hour" of the end times and therefore the time of Jesus' return must be very soon.   Only God the Father knows the exact time when our Savior will return.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."    -  Jesus at Mark 13:32.

Now is not the time to be asleep or concerned only with the immediate needs to survive..... to not be involved in materialism nor even to be caught up in the cares of this world and its desires.  The devil uses distractions to keep our focus on anything and everything but doing the Lord's will.   We need to be busy and occupied with the Lord's work of disciple-making; preaching and teaching the Gospel.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."  -   1 Thessalonians 5:6

I have written previously about the Rapture and end times.  For more information go to the "Search box" at the top right hand side of this page and type in "Rapture" or "Tribulation" or "last days" (etc.) and several posts will appear for you to choose which ones that interest you to read.

Following is a 29 minute video from prophecywatchers.com  featuring host Gary Stearman with guest Dr. David Reagan, who is a prophecy expert.   

In this video, they stress the soon return of Jesus.   The Rapture has always been imminent; that is, it could happen at any time.  But now with signs of the end times all converging at once, it must occur very soon.   Be ready !

In light of Bible prophecy and current world events, it makes Dr. Reagan say, "It is like the Lord is shouting from Heaven, 'Jesus is returning soon.' "

One thing of interest is what Dr. Reagan brings to light in the above video.   He said that in the 1800's about 100 people a day were coming to Jesus; in the 1900's about 1000 people a day came to Jesus;  and today, almost 200,000 are coming to Christ in a day.

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."  -   Hebrews 10:37

It is to this future hope that we must look.  Speaking from Heaven's point of view, there is not long to go before  Jesus returns for His Bride, the church, true believers.

Yes, believers have a blessed hope. (Titus 2:13)  We will have an eternity to spend with the good Lord.   In heaven, there will be no more death or sorrow or pain.

"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

Those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior have no such blessed hope.  There should be a dread come upon you when you contemplate an eternity in darkness and torments.  Why not be wise and surrender your life to the good Lord in faith and believe that Jesus is the Savior.  Only He can fill that void within your soul.  He will give you a purpose and a hope.  It is so much better than the alternative.

But we are not talking about "head knowledge" of Jesus.  We are talking about believing with your whole heart and all of your very being that He is the Savior and that only faith and belief in Him enables Him to wash your sins away.  Turn to the Lord in prayer and ask for forgiveness.  Sincerely repent of all sins and do not go back again to a worldly, lustful, and sinful life.  Believe also in Christ's resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10, and 13 tells us:  (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."

Jesus loves you and is waiting to welcome you to the family of God.  He will forgive you and wipe the slate clean.

If you are truly born again (John 3:3), you will surrender your life and will to the Lord and show your love by your obedience to His commandments. 

Find a true, Holy Spirit filled church that puts Jesus first.  Pray without ceasing and read your Bible daily.  You will then begin to grow to maturity and be pleasing to the Lord.   But keep in mind, it is not works that save you.   It is sincere belief and faith in Jesus that saves you......it is God's gift; it is His grace.

"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


Keep watching !

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend...... and life !

"Endure To The End" (With Charles Spurgeon Sermon) - Inspirational Weekend

Most of us have issues we must endure.  Perhaps it is poor health, rebellious children, an unfaithful spouse, or any number of things.  But let's discuss issues that affect us in our Christianity, such as persecution and attacks from the evil one, satan.  Actually, things like rebellious children or an unfaithful spouse can definitely be attacks from the devil who especially targets true believers with such trials.

Life can be hard.  But faith and belief in Jesus as your Savior can give you strength to endure.  Christians have a blessed hope of one day being in heaven with the good Lord.  There we will have no more sorrow, or tribulations, or hardships to endure. No more hatred from the world because of our faith in Jesus.  (Revelation 21:3-4).

"And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved."     -  Jesus at Matthew 10:22

Such endurance and perseverance is a sure indication of true salvation.  Only he who reaches the goal may be accounted a Christian.  But how do we stand strong and be able to endure to the end?

Faith. 

Prayer.

Much time in God's Holy Word.

During all of life's storms, keep your eyes on the prize :  eternal life in heaven with the good Lord.  If you are in prayer frequently and read the Bible everyday, you will have a close, intimate, personal, love relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  That will definitely enable you to endure whatever life throws your way.

"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."  -  Psalm 18:32

The fact that we are living in the end times according to Bible prophecy, as world events testify to that fact because so many prophecies are on the verge of happening now as there is a convergence of signs of the end times as the Bible predicts; all that should make you realize that Jesus will return soon to Rapture true believers to heaven before the 7 year Tribulation will begin.   Hurry Lord Jesus !!

Hang on a little longer !   Fill your mind and heart with spiritual things and keep your eyes on the things above (Colossians 3:1-2).  "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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 5:3-5, English Standard Version.

Job of ancient times endured much trial and sorrow and in the end the Lord blessed him mightily for his integrity.    The apostle Paul also endured much for his faith and for his sharing of the Gospel. He was persecuted and often in prison, but his zeal never wavered where doing the Lord's work of preaching and setting up churches was concerned.

In Matthew 10:22, enduring to the end most certainly means until death or the Rapture, and not the end of the persecution.  God never lets His people suffer beyond what they are able to endure.  He is always there, guiding and directing us along life's paths.  We are held securely in His loving hands.

In John 10:28, 29, Jesus tells us:  (28) "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand."

If you are a true believer and born again from above, you are secure in the Lord's love and you will never perish.  How comforting is that !  True believers should be full of love and gratitude to the Lord for all He has done and will do.  That should fill them with zeal to share the Gospel and to live a godly life.  In other words, to obey the Lord.  Put Him first in your life.  Your close relationship with Him will enable you to endure all the storms of life, because of your love and faith in Him.

So those who endure to the end will be saved.   That is, they will be presented holy, unblameable , and unreprovable  before the Lord (Colossians 1:22).

"Perseverance and endurance to the end, however bitter, is the evidence of genuine faith."

"Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory."  -  Various authors

"Endurance is a key indicator of  spiritual fitness."  -  Alistair Begg

Following is a 56 minute audio video of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon about enduring to the end.

In this sermon, Spurgeon remarks that perseverance is the badge of true saints.  It is a wonderful sermon and I hope you listen to all of it.  

If you are not saved - not born again - then you do not have this blessed hope of being forever with Jesus in heaven.   You are bound for the other alternative..... hell.   

Eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place !   A long time to suffer unbearable torment.

To gain eternal life and to be with the Lord forever in heaven takes an act of faith.  Faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior.....in Him being the only way to the Father and to realize that only faith in Christ can wash your sins away and make you a new person, a new creation.  (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Give up your life of sin  !   Repent and turn to God in prayer and ask for His forgiveness.   It is a matter of  the heart and soul.  You believe in Jesus with all of your heart, mind, and soul.  

Jesus loves you and He is waiting with open arms to welcome you into the family of God.  

He will embrace you with love and forgiveness.

With such a promise and a hope, how could you not come to the Lord in repentance and love and faith and gratitude !

Romans 10:9,10, 13 tells us:  (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."

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"   -  John 11:25, 26.

"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

"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

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend..... and life !