"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

"The Rapture of the Church, End Times, Brexit Commentary" - Inspirational Weekend

Concerning the turbulent times in which we live and the fact that the Rapture of the Church is imminent, we need to carefully consider what path we take in life; a path leading to eternal life, either in heaven or in hell.   How we live - either carnally or spiritually - mirrors our true heart condition and determines our future.   You cannot follow Jesus and live like hell at the same time.   We are now in the last of the last days, the end times.  Wake up and live for God before you wake up one day in hell instead.   But before you die, if you are not a true believer in Jesus, you will be "left behind" after the Rapture to face the most horrendous of times ever during the Tribulation period of 7 years.  There is hope, however, if you turn to God and follow Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, 

First, the commentary on Brexit below by Gary Stearman, emphasizes how we are living in the last days.   Mr. Stearman touches on the New World Order (one global government, one global economy, and one world religion that is soon to take over and change life as we know it, that is, if believers are not raptured before then); he also speaks of the European Union and the Revived Roman Empire, the latter of which is prophesied in the Bible.  Actually, the New World Order is also prophesied in God's Holy Word.  You will find this commentary very interesting.

I keep up with the news mostly from alternative media that is Christian, and if it were not for the promises and hope found in the Bible, I would be very fearful of the future.   God's Word says the Rapture is the "Blessed Hope" at Titus 2:13 :  "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; " (KJV) .   By the way, the Greek construction of this verse favors the translation:  "The great God, even our Saviour , Jesus Christ." This is a clear testimony to the deity of Christ (see Romans 9:5).

The Rapture is spoken of at 1 Thessalonians 4:17,18 where it says:  "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 air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."   The expression "caught up" is from the Greek word "harpazo" and the Latin word "rapturo" or "rapio",  the latter being from which our English word "Rapture" is derived.   Both words mean a carrying away, a snatching away, or being caught up.                             In 1 Thessalonians 4:18 it tells us to "comfort one another with these words."   It is a great comfort to believers to look forward to the Rapture and the fact that we will always be with the Lord thereafter. The Rapture is not a fearful event to true followers of Jesus.   If you are not a believer, then you should be fearful of being left behind when the Rapture occurs.    In another future post, I will talk more about the Tribulation that follows the Rapture.   

There is another passage we need to be aware of found at 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 which follows:  "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."  This proves the immortality of the human soul, contrary to what some cults teach.  

What about the children and babies when the Rapture occurs?  Many point to an "age of accountability" as the determining factor.  In other words, if they are old enough to understand and to make a clear choice for or against Christ.   The Bible does not specify such an age of accountability; but God is merciful and loving and just, and extremely young children will no doubt be taken to heaven during the Rapture.   To me, it depends on the individual child, what level of understanding they have, not a certain age.  Charles Spurgeon believed that "a child of 5 can as truly be saved and regenerated as an adult."  Some believe that the mentally handicapped will also be taken to heaven when the Rapture occurs.   God is full of grace and mercy; he is loving and holy.  He always does the right and just thing.

Since I firmly believe the Rapture is at the very door, I will be posting more here about the end times and Bible prophecy as time goes on, Lord willing.   And He is willing that I do just that, if I live so long.   Times are urgent folks!   So many people are caught up in the everyday affairs of life and of pleasure as well as working more and more to pay the bills and to make ends meet, that they seldom think about God or the Bible, much less about Bible prophecy.   There are all kinds of information on the Internet to warn us about how evil and corrupt society is now, and we need to think of the state of our soul and where we will spend eternity.  The solution is a close, intimate, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   Then you have a secure hope and the promises of God to sustain you.  

Our hope in Christ guarantees our safety.  

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;"    -  Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)