"How Long, O Lord?" (Videos ; Current Events and Bible Prophecy)

Yesterday (Sunday) while checking the Internet, I saw information on how Damascus, Syria, was attacked by Israel.   Automatically I thought of Isaiah 17:1 which reads,

"The burden of Damascus, Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. "

I immediately went to "Behold Israel" on You Tube which is current events in the Middle East explained by Amir Tsarfati, a Jew who is a believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior, and who has a thriving ministry out of Israel, where he lives.   He preaches all over the world and I have featured his videos on this blog several times prior to today.   It turns out that Israel made strikes on 6 different targets, one of which was the airport in Damascus.  Isaiah 17:1 has not as yet been fulfilled, but it will happen soon.  Following is Amir's 12 minute video on the Israeli strikes in Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qe0YPh-ldw

Many scholars believe that the Tribulation period may not begin immediately after the Rapture of the Church occurs; perhaps it may be several weeks to several years after Jesus takes His Bride to heaven.....a gap, if you will.  Bill Salus, a prophecy expert, explains this and much more in the following video by prophecywatchers.com in which he and the host, Gary Stearman, have an interesting discussion on Bible Prophecy, focusing on primarily the book of Revelation.  Here is that 29 minute video:

I found something new to think about and to do research on in the above video.  Most believe that when the six seals of Revelation are opened, that that happens during the Tribulation period.  Bill Salus believes the seals happen before the trib.   Here is a portion of Revelation 6, verses 9-11 :

(9) "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10) 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?  (11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

Bill Salus' reasoning is that if this question had been asked during the Tribulation, then they would know that period would last for 7 years, according to prophecy and at the end of that time God would judge and avenge their blood.   Therefore, the seals happen before the Tribulation, (but after the Rapture of the Church), according to Mr. Salus, since these souls under the altar did not know how long it would be.   The souls spoken of here are evidently those who became believers after the Rapture and were martyred.

{Update:  September 8, 2018:   While watching Bill Salus on another interview today,  He clarified that the Seals of Revelation 6 ...specifically Seals one to five....happen during the time gap between after the Rapture occurs and the Tribulation period.  He believes that the sixth Seal and the rest of the judgments poured out on earth happen during the Tribulation.  It is a video which lasts over 2 hours so click below on the time minutes starting at 1 hour and 2 minutes to begin the Salus interview.  Here is a link to that recent video where Mr. Salus again discusses the Seals and so much more:}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NJz_ll8

Let me make it clear that I am not saying that I agree with Mr. Salus' conclusions.  It is just something to throw out there.  It will take research and much prayer on my part to determine whether he is right or not.

The main thing is, get right with the Lord and be ready for the Rapture of true believers.   We believers will not be here on earth when the Seals of Revelation occur.  Focus now on living a godly life and endeavor to always please the good Lord.  Be busy sharing the Gospel and winning souls to the Lord.

How long, O Lord?

We believers today ask that question also as to when the Rapture of true believers takes place as Gary Stearman points out in his interview with Bill Salus.   It is wonderful that we should be watching for the Lord's return but, again, do not neglect in the meantime to live a holy life and to be busy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Time is short!

We are living in the last hour of the last days !

When Jesus returns for His Bride, the true believers, you do not want to be "left behind" to face the judgments and the horrors and the wrath of God which will be poured out during the Tribulation.  I urge you to please read the entire book of Revelation for more insight on future events.  Doing so will instill in you the desire to avoid going through the Tribulation period as it will be a terrible time filled with horrors and suffering and destruction.

Nor do you want to end up in hell, if you are an unbeliever, where all who reject Jesus as their Savior will go if they do not repent and turn to Him in faith and belief.

Jesus loves you and is waiting for you with arms wide open to embrace you with pardon; to give you hope; to give you a future with Him in heaven; to give you eternal life.

Pray and ask for forgiveness; truly and sincerely repent of all sin, which means to forsake your sinful ways and to not live in sin any more.  Have real faith and believe Jesus is the Savior who can wash all of your sins away by His shed blood at Calvary.  Believe also in His resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best:  (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."

"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

The Seven Seals of Revelation - Why A Gap Between The Rapture And The Tribulation (With Video)

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

"The Prophetic Time Clock - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" - Inspirational Weekend

Israel, as God's covenant people, is also the prophetic time clock as you will realize when you study God's Holy Word.  Many people today are not aware of this fact, as the false doctrine of replacement theology teaches that the Church has replaced Israel and what happens to Israel has no relevance in today's world.    When God made a covenant with the Jewish people in ancient times, it was an everlasting covenant.  Bible Prophecy revolves around Israel as my previous post concerning the Psalm 83 war and the Gog of Magog war makes clear; as well as does other previous posts of mine here.

The fact that the world is now in such a chaotic and dangerous state has many people alert to what the future may or may not hold; still others don't have a clue what it all means.  If people would read their Bibles and study Bible prophecy, they would have a better grasp of what is transpiring and realize that we are living in the last of the last days.

It is time to wake up before the alarm goes off !  The alarm being God's wrath being poured out on ungodly persons during the Tribulation period.   The Rapture of the Church (Jesus' true followers) is imminent and we need to be watching for His return.   We want to be taken to heaven before the horrors of the Tribulation period begin.  I seem to be stuck on repeating certain information over and over, but that is because it is so important...life saving !... and the fact that there may be new readers to each new post of mine.   Below is a recent video featuring Bill Salus and his belief about the Elam prophecy found at Jeremiah 49:34-39.  He believes that this prophecy concerning Elam is probably next to take place, even before the Psalm 83 war and also before the War of Gog and Magog.

Elam is found in today's Iran.   According to Mr. Salus, Elam goes back to over 4000 years ago, before the days of the patriarch Abraham; and the Elam prophecy was written by Jeremiah around 596 BC.   Basically, the belief is that some type of nuclear disaster will happen there at the Bushehr nuclear plant located near tetonic plates and the possibility of an earthquake happening in the area is very likely, causing a radioactive disaster.   Either that or Israel could attack and destroy the plant.  For more information, Google under "Elam prophecy".  Bill Salus has also written a book on the Elam prophecy found here.

Just a note here, as Bill Salus states in the video above, the Rapture does not trigger the Tribulation period.   We are not told in the Bible how long after the Rapture happens that the 7-year Tribulation begins.  There could be a considerable time gap, or maybe not.   What triggers the Tribulation is when Israel signs a peace treaty or covenant with the antichrist as written in Daniel 9:27:  "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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."  The "one week" mentioned in this verse means seven years.

If you are a Christian, you need not fear all the turmoil, unrest, and terrors of today's world.  You should be cautious and alert and informed, to be sure.  But even if you should die for your faith, you have the promise of being with the Lord forever.  "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."  -  Isaiah 12:2

For those who mistakenly think Christians will have to go through the terrible Tribulation period, there is this verse, "Much more then, being now justified  by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him"  -  Romans 5:9.   Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 tells us, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."   For true believers, Jesus, at his death on the cross,  took our deserved wrath upon Himself.  The price was paid for us.   We should be grateful and praise God continually for His great love and tender mercies !

Don't get confused and overly concerned about what prophecy occurs when.  Be grateful that God has told us what the future holds but, more importantly, live a godly life and be occupied until Jesus returns in doing the work of the Lord, the doing of the Great Commission found at  Matthew 28:19-20,  "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."

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and  from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.........Yeah I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."  -  Isaiah 46:9-10, and 11b

  

"Brexit, The Merchants of Tarshish, and America in Bible Prophecy" - Inspirational Weekend

My photograph above shows a busy but not violent Hawaiian surf with soft floating clouds that remind me of God's glory,   Remember, the presence of God was represented by a cloud to the ancient Israelites (Exodus 13:21 and Exodus 19:9).    Whenever I see or paint clouds, I feel very spiritual and I am reminded of God.   It is too bad that many people give no thought to God, except maybe when they take His name in vain.   America is no longer the country I grew up in over 50 years ago.  The other day I was watching news videos and also videos about Bible prophecy and their fulfillment in the present time and in the near future,  and for some reason I got really upset and bothered more than usual about just how bad things are right now.  As a Christian, I know all the promises of God for believers and the hope of eternal life in heaven, so I don't usually get so upset about all the chaos going on in the present because of the soul-peace that faith in Christ gives me.    I had to get away from all the bad news and pour over the comforting Scriptures immediately to calm my troubled spirit.   It was more a feeling of despair and sorrow over all of the evil going on that upset me, and not so much a spirit of fear.

So many lost souls out there are going to perish in the Tribulation period unless they come to their senses and accept Jesus as their Savior.   Let me just share three Scriptures in the book of Revelation that describes just one of many judgments of destruction to take place in the Tribulation.  You might want to read all of Revelation chapter eight, but here are verses 7 to 9 of that chapter:  (7) "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth:  and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.  (8) And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea:  and the third part of the sea became blood; (9) And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed."   God's wrath against wicked mankind is being poured out here;  you do not want to go through the Tribulation !   I digressed a little here because I wanted to emphasize actual Scriptures instead of just providing where to find them because, quite frankly, a lot of readers would not look them up in their Bibles; if they have a Bible, that is.    You Christians need to be witnessing to these lost souls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ before the Rapture occurs, which will be soon.  If you are like myself, you may have family members who are not yet saved.  Pray for them.  Share the Gospel with them.  Live a godly life and be a good example to them so they may want the peace and joy that you experience as a believer.

When you are troubled by world events, just remember that God is still in control and always will be.  Things that are occurring now were long ago prophesied in God's Word, and must take place to fulfill those prophecies.   "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."   - Jesus speaking at Matthew 24:13.     But take note, you must have put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and as the Lord of your life in order to be saved.  

In my previous post, I had indicated that I would talk more about Revelation and Daniel's 70 weeks, but I ran across two bits of information about Brexit, and how Britain is now able to fulfill prophecy found in Ezekiel 38; so I decided to write about that first instead.  More on Revelation and Daniel later in another post.   Many scholars believe that Britain is what is referred to as "the merchants of Tarshish" at Ezekiel 38:13.  Also, in that same verse, it mentions about  "Tarshish , with all the young lions thereof."   It is believed that the young lions are past colonies from Britain, like North America and Australia and Canada.   If true, that would mean that America is in Bible prophecy after all.   Here is a link for an excellent article by prophecy expert Bill Salus on this very subject.  

By the way, I highly recommend that you purchase a book by Bill Salus titled, "The Now Prophecies" found at Amazon and other places.  The author attempts to put various prophecies in a rough order in terms of when they occur.   Some things could happen right now (like the Rapture of the Church) and others need more time to occur, to reach fulfillment when the time is right.

Below is a short 9 minute video about Bible prophecies which also mentions Brexit and how it is timely in terms of these last days we find ourselves living in.   

"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."  -  James 5:8

"God Is Speaking" Bible End-Time Prophecies About To Be Fulfilled - Inspirational Weekend

There is a sense of urgency within me to write about end-times prophecies again, as so much is happening now in the world that cries out, "It won't be long now!"   God is speaking through His Holy Word to all who will listen and take heed and prepare for what lies ahead.   Prepare so far as being spiritually minded and having a close, intimate, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   That happens from much prayer and much Bible reading and studying.   Hearing God depends on a relationship with Him, not a formula or a method.

"He that is of God heareth God's words:  ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

-  John 8:47

You must be a true believer in Jesus as your Savior; you must be born-again in order to have and develop this close relationship with Him and to be able to "hear" Him speak to you.   He speaks through His Holy Spirit and through His Word, the Bible.   He also speaks through the church, a Christian friend or family member, or by your circumstances.   There are many ways that God can and will get your attention.   

Recently I have viewed some videos featuring Bill Salus, an author of several books and DVD's on end-time prophecies.   I want to share some of that information with you now.   The first video below is short, about 13 minutes in length.    The other two are each 28 minutes long.   I hope you will take the time to view all 3 videos as they are full of information everyone needs to be aware of.

The first short video follows and is titled "The Middle East Powder Keg" :

In these videos, Bill Salus brings out the fact that the Church will probably be raptured before the Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 prophecies.  However, Ezekiel 38 and 39 will most likely happen before the 7 year Tribulation begins.  

In the Middle East, God's focus is on what He is going to do through Israel.  Israel is still a special people to God; He never broke His covenant with them as it was an everlasting covenant.

For some reason, all I can get is the link to the Part 2 video and not the video image itself .  Please go to this link for more exciting prophetic information from Bill Salus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2a21R0fb4

These videos have information about how Egypt will collapse, and speak also about how ISIS may soon take over Jordan.   Also, Iran is having an evangelical presence and growth where Muslims are becoming Christians; they are having miracles, visions, dreams, and healings.  Could it be that Christians and people in general in America are so lukewarm and indifferent and materialistic and secular that we are not having similar experiences ?  Or at least, not to as strong a degree as those in Iran?

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."  -  Luke 21:28

The world is in chaos, and only Jesus can bring real peace.   We can have a measure of peace right now, despite unsettling world events, if we know Jesus as our Savior.   Soon this earth will be a paradise again during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1-6).  Something to look forward to, as Luke 21:28 tells us.  

"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 speaking at  Luke 21:36